{{vpost.name}}

Today, I was reading through some articles on Blavity and there was one in particular that caught my eye: "Is California a Sunken Place for Black People?" I'll admit, the title itself was intriguing, especially after watching the movie, Get Out, and having multiple conversations with my students about the movie. The idea of blackness in California and moving through William Cross' Black Identity development is a conversation that I have with my black students many times throughout the academic year. After reading the article, I was taken aback by the generalizations and lack of context provided in showing the varying levels blackness in California. As a fellow higher education educator and recent Cali transplant, it's important to always provide different lenses of understanding to get a better picture of the whole picture:1. I moved to Southern California three years ago from Washington, DC, affectionately known as Chocolate City. The home of go-go music, mambo sauce and the National African-American History Museum. D.C.is an amazing city where an individual looking to delve deeper into their blackness can visit and learn. Prior to moving to SoCal, I wasn't expecting the same experience I got in D.C., as I understood that it's an anomaly in the U.S. According to the 2016 US Census Bureau, Washington, D.C. boasts a black population of 47.7 percent, compared to the paltry 5.7 percent in the LA–Long Beach–Santa Ana metropolitan area (Data USA, 2015). Hell, the entire state only has about 6.5 percent of black people living here. I knew that my experience would be different than D.C., but I wasn't thinking this would be the holy grail for black people. I will note that the experiences of living in NorCal and SoCal are different, (weather, people, income, etc), but being black anywhere adds a whole other layer.2. The author noted how the black Californians that they've met disown their ties to their black identity and ancestry, which I've found both saddening and hilarious at the same time. I believe we call some of those people "Black Hebrews," or the "enlightened ones". That isn't a California thing, I believe those types of black people are everywhere across the country. Trust me, definitely not a California thing because I've heard and seen them in many other places.3. The idea of black professionals in Cali experiencing microaggressions while working is definitely not a fact limited to the Golden State (no Warriors). It's part of the game with having wonderfully melaninated skin and working in either blue or white collar jobs. I've heard that "I'm too loud" or "too cynical" in the workplace when I was just expressing myself. I was told to calm down when someone yelled a racial slur at me in front of my coworkers while working at a grocery store in Florida. That's just being black everywhere.4. Black excellence is an expression that is usually associated with a black person who does something awesome like going to or graduating from college, but what about the non-traditional route to success? I just had this conversation with one of my black males who graduated and I challenged his thinking about what black excellence actually means. There are many non-traditional examples of black excellence in California that don't receive a lot of recognition. Look no further than the Trap Kitchen founders. Former gang members turned caterers. Black excellence, no? Hell, what about the father who partnered with his fraternity brother to start a photography business to change the narrative of black fathers called, Focused Fathers? The black people that might be shown on TV aren't real, but these people (and others like them) are very much real.5. I'm also in higher education and there is a true epidemic happening in the country when it comes to black students in college. The college going population rate of black students in California is dismal, however, what about the students that are attending out of state universities or colleges? Better yet, what about the black students attending community colleges, private universities or one of the 23 California state universities? Although Prop 209 mainly affected the University of California system's student body since passing in 1996, black students have found other places to call home. It’s not enough just getting these students to college; we have to get them through as well.Finally, California has blackness ingrained in the various systems throughout the state. From being home to the initial black studies department in the country created at San Francisco State University, to the cultural impact of music and entertainment, to leaders in a variety of fields, I don’t believe that Cali is a sunken place for black people at all. California continues to contribute to the black experience more than we know, however, we cannot keep thinking about blackness as this singular experience. Quite the contrary, from the Bay to LA, I believe that similar to other places in the country, blackness is a spectrum that cannot be contained by what’s shown on television or in the media. You can’t go to Leimert Park, Oakland or Compton and say that the black people there are in a sunken place. Like Tupac says, “to live and die in LA, it’s the place to...

Black history is as essential to American history as its white-dominated components. Oftentimes, our history’s recounting is usually assigned to our designated celebration month in February. While we should certainly celebrate our history and the leaders that brought us to where we are today, there shouldn’t be any limits placed on when we can learn about it. Further, there shouldn’t be any limits placed on who we should learn about. While these figures are certainly important, there is certainly an extensive list beyond Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rosa Parks.This is where the lovely Karyn Parsons comes in. With her non-profit organization Sweet Blackberry, it is Karyn’s mission to highlight lesser known African-Americans who have made significant contributions to this country, and to showcase them to children everywhere. With a series of animated short films exhibiting notable figures such as Janet Collins, the first black prima ballerina, Sweet Blackberry is giving a much-needed space to the quiet storms of black history. Continuing with the journey, Sweet Blackberry is now raising funds via Kickstarter to produce its new animated short, highlighting the first black female pilot Bessie Coleman.We sat down with Karyn to chat about how Sweet Blackberry came to be, the voice-over talent that her projects have accumulated, her advice to little black kids looking for a representation of themselves in media, the strength and impact of her village and even what she thought about Hilary Banks as president.Blavity: Hi Karyn, thanks for joining us! We’re super excited to chat with you about your dope new project! So, let’s kick it off: Tell us more about Sweet Blackberry and its background!Karyn Parsons: A long time ago, my mother was a librarian. And she worked in the Black Resource Center—she headed the department—and she came across stories in black history that I had never heard. One day she told me this story about this man named Henry “Box” Brown, an enslaved man who had a box built and shipped himself from Virginia to Pennsylvania. Once the box was opened on the other side, he was a free man. And I just thought that story was so incredible and unbelievable. I told all of my friends about it and they had never heard about it either. I thought, we should all know about this story, it’s like a fairy tale. So, I wanted to create this story for kids—and stories like it—about a man who told himself, “I’m going to find a way to change this.” That story, was the impetus.Additionally, I wanted to create something that didn’t make parents feel bad for plopping their kids down in front of the TV—something that was entertaining and educational. In this series, what are usually presented as obstacles are shown as opportunities. If we can plant these seeds on how African-Americans have done such great things and have become the fabric of this country, we can essentially change how all children view race.B: I love that! Telling stories that are lesser-known. In that same vein, your next installment is Bessie Coleman, who I actually have a background in. I learned about her in elementary school and became obsessed with her. Even learning about her at that time is very rare as she is still a lesser-known individual than, say someone like, MLK.KP: Yes! I’m so excited that little girls will get to look to her like “Whoa! A black woman pilot!” I read up on Bessie and as time went on, loved and appreciated her more and found that there just isn’t enough of her out there. I actually portrayed Bessie in a stage play reading in which Bessie Coleman would come to a woman in her dreams, and that was my first introduction to her as an adult. This was post Fresh Prince days, and I truly fell in love with her spirit. To be living in Texas in 1921-1922 and decide as both a black person and a woman—facing discrimination from both angles—that she wanted to become a pilot. That she wanted to just do it. When faced with your own challenges, you can look to people like her and ask, “What would Bessie do?”B: Absolutely! I see the animated series is streaming on Netflix now. As far as this next installment, what is your ultimate goal in terms of reach? Who do you most want to see this?KP: While this is definitely geared toward very young kids—roughly four to seven year olds—in that it’s a picture book come to life, what I’ve come to find is that parents are sitting and watching with their smaller kids because they are also learning and are intrigued. And that’s really exciting to me! Additionally, when I went to schools, the content wasn’t limited to younger kids, but extended as far as 8th grade. I went to one particular school and I screened the films from pre-K all the way to 8th grade and their questions could not be more different from age group to age group. The outreach has been largely facilitated by strong word-of-mouth and I would like to make a more deliberate outreach for further expansion, such as in other countries, of which has already begun. I believe we are on the right track, but I would love it if we were actually in the curriculum.B: That’s great! I feel that your content is so accessible, providing that “edutainment” feel.KP: Yes!! We all know fairy tales like the back of our hand, right? How come we can’t know Bessie Coleman the same way? I just want this to be super engaging. I hated history as a kid because it was presented to me as so dry and serious. But think about how much you loved School House Rock! You didn’t think about the fact you were learning, you were singing along! I still to this day sing along to my multiplication tables!B: I love it! Let’s talk about the Kickstarter for the Bessie Coleman installment itself. These perks, though! From Hamilton tickets to Fresh Prince alum signing merch. Can you tell us a bit on how these perks came about and how you gained interest for your project for others to sponsor and jump onboard this movement?KP: Honestly, Tatiana Ali is on the board of Sweet Blackberry. She is such a brilliant person—and I always thought that—but every year she is more incredible than the last. I’ve also been fortunate that the Fresh Prince cast and I have been so tight. I am able to reach out to them and ask if they can help and they are always happy to do it. They are all so supportive of Sweet Blackberry.B: So good! There’s truly a village surrounding this effort. In that same vein, I see you’ve accumulated such great voice-over talent on the series from Queen Latifah to Chris Rock. How did those people join the project?KP: Yes, that’s that village you talked about! Queen Latifah came from Will [Smith] early on who hit her up like, “Dana, would you like to do this” and she was like, “Yes, that would be great, I would love to!” and she came onboard and knocked it out incredibly. Alfre Woodard was actually the first one to come on board. I was writing the project and Alfre’s voice was actually the one to come to my head halfway through writing it. And it would not leave; I just heard her voice. So, I had to call her. I worked with her many years ago on a miniseries, and I reached out to her and she said, “Yes!” She is so incredible. As an actress, yes, but if you can believe she’s even more so as a woman. And Chris Rock—as you know, he did an episode of Fresh Prince—I actually reached out to him for the project on Facebook! He of course had such a busy schedule, and I’m like, yes we will work around it! I knew he had daughters and we were doing the story of the first black prima ballerina Janet Collins who had been operating in a white space and was faced with the crushing revelations of being rejected. But she kept going and ended up being the first African-American regular to perform at the Metropolitan Opera, before Marian Anderson. So, seeing what Chris did with Good Hair and having daughters, I knew he would understand the significance of telling Janet Collins’ story, and he did! Or the significance of Misty Copeland jumping on to contribute to one of the perks as a fellow dancer who, of course, knew about her and says, “I would not be here if not for her.” That’s the beauty of Sweet Blackberry because not too many people know about Janet who paved the way for people like Misty, who we all know. I want to keep those stories alive.B: Yes!! You see these images on social media with little girls posing exactly like Misty and it melts my heart! So, of course it’s important for them to know the figures who paved the way. As someone who is providing a platform for those stories to be told, if you had one thing to say to black children, especially to inspire them, what would you say?KP: You’re capable of so much more than you think you are. And I want to be careful how I word this, especially to younger children. Our country has a history, and we’re doing our part to try to heal from things that have happened in the past. And sometimes we don’t see our stories of black people as accomplishments, but they’re there! Even beyond Sweet Blackberry, there are so many children’s books out there so I would say, reach for them! For every one story you come across, there are hundreds and hundreds more. You can look at these people who came before and know that you can do it. You can do whatever you want.B: So, I have to ask this! I’m sure you’ve seen the “Hilary Banks for President” meme campaigns. If she were real—I mean, she is real to ME—and actually became the first black woman or woman president, would she be featured in the Sweet Blackberry series?KP: Oh, definitely!! I’m sure her story would be very interesting as she wouldn’t be someone who has to go through as many obstacles, but she would be so strong-headed like, “I just want to go do it!” Can you imagine the bills she would sign into existence?! And everything would revolve around fashion! She’d be like, “Forget about being the first lady or first man; it’s all about me!”  B: Thank you so much Karyn for joining us! Tell the folks where they can find Sweet Blackberry and how they could contribute to the crowdfunding campaign!KP: Thank you! You can go to sweetblackberry.org and we have the Kickstarter link right when you open the page, or you could go to kickstarter.com/gold and we’re on the front page there as well. If you like what you see, I encourage you to please donate whatever you can! We have 30 days to reach our goal of $50,000, or we don’t keep any of it. Please tell your friends and spread the word on social media—we’re on Facebook and Twitter! We are a non-profit organization, but we all get richer by learning these stories, so whatever you can do to help, I greatly appreciate it. This interview has been edited and...

Sometimes you just have to wonder if racist trolls actually watched an episode of Star Trek before. The newest entry into the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek: Discovery, is the first to feature two women of color in prominent starring roles. When the first trailer for the CBS show appeared online, Sonequa Martin-Green and Michelle Yeoh were subjected to an intense wave of racial hate.Many racist trolls called their appearance in the show's first images a sign of a coming "white genocide," but many of these oblivious racists have forgotten that Star Trek may be the most diverse franchise in TV history.The TV franchise's storied history has featured black actors and actresses such as Whoopi Goldberg, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, and Avery Brooks throughout various series. Not to mention the show featured the first interracial kiss on TV between Nichelle Nichols and William Shatner in the original 1960s series. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly on Thursday, June 22, Martin-Green reminded the so-called fans of that very fact.   “I would encourage them to key into the essence and spirit of Star Trek that has made it the legacy it is — and that’s looking across the way to the person sitting in front of you and realizing you are the same, that they are not separate from you, and we are all one,” she told EW. “That’s something ‘Star Trek’ has always upheld and I completely believe that is why it’s been a mainstay in society in the hearts of so many people for so many decades.”She added that the franchise with as a lead character is taking the franchise in a new but familiar direction. "We should go boldly where nobody has gone before and stay true to that.” The outrage is just one more example of white tears.The former Walking Dead star will grace your screen when the show premieres on CBS All Access beginning Sept....

Many people believe that the U.S. Park Police's decision to detain three black teens who were desperately trying to quench people's thirst Thursday, June 22 was racially motivated.According to WJLA ABC 7, two undercover police officers cuffed a 16-year-old and two 17-year-old teens accused of selling bottled water at the National Mall without a vendor's permit. The officers also detained and released an adult who they discovered was not involved in the selling at all.Undercover @usparkpolicepio handcuffing kids on @NationalMallNPS for selling water. pic.twitter.com/7iSqP4UYMq— Tim Krepp (@timkrepp) June 22, 2017Thanks to tour guide Tim Krepp, his photos of the incident went viral begging the question would this happen to white kids doing the same thing. “My kids sell water and everyone smiles at them,” Krepp tweeted. “These kids do it and get arrested. It IS racist.”After learning about the situation, Washington D.C. Councilman Charles Allen wrote a scathing letter that Friday to Park Police Cheif Robert MacLean reminding the top cop that this arrest would not happen if the teens weren't black.  “I can’t help but think how the reaction by these same officers might have varied if different children had set up a quaint hand-painted lemonade stand on the same spot. While still the same violation of selling a beverage without proper permits and licenses, I doubt we would have seen little girls in pigtails handcuffed on the ground,” Allen wrote. I sent the following letter to Park Police Chief MacLean regarding yesterday's handcuffing of kids selling water on the Mall. pic.twitter.com/bzY4I77E91— Charles Allen (@charlesallen) June 23, 2017The fact that the teens were cuffed was the real issue here for Allen and many critics. It's also not a stretch to say that matters could have turned south quickly resulting in the young men's death.“Officers placed them in handcuffs for the safety of the officers and of the individuals,” Sgt. Anna Rose of the U.S. Park Police said in a statement.Ultimately, police issued a verbal warning and released the parties involved to...

The BET Awards is never without a bit of drama, which came in the form of an interview that somehow went all the left resulting in Joe Budden and Migos squaring up on camera. It all started when DJ Akademiks told Migos member Takeoff that there "seems to be a running joke" with him not being featured on the group's signature hit Bad and Boujee. Takeoff retorts, "I ain't left off Bad and Boujee. You think I'm left off Bad and Boujee." After that, it's hard to determine if DJ Akademiks couldn't understand Takeoff's heavy Georgia accent or maybe Akademiks was being funny, but he asks Takeoff to repeat himself several times in the short video. Joe Budden who is initially on the sidelines quiet can be seen getting increasingly agitated, demanding Akademiks to, "wrap it up!" Ultimately, Budden makes a face at the camera and drops the mic, walking off before the interviewer or group members could close the interview. The three friends maintained a united front and immediately stood to see what Budden was "trying to do". When asked what the confrontation was all about and why Budden seemingly instigated the beef, he responded, "They was just a little too sassy for me that’s all.”Check out the awkward interview...

BET proved, once again, that making the New Edition biopic miniseries was the best thing they could ever do, that The New Edition Story is the gift that keeps on giving and that the members of New Edition are deserving of legendary status and respect.Hands down, the NE tribute was the best thing about the 2017 BET Awards.The littles (Jahi Winston, Caleb McLaughlin, Myles Truitt, Dante Hoagland and Tyler Williams) kicked it off with "Candy Girl."Then we went through the solo phases of NE with....Algee Smith giving his spot-on Ralph Tresvant with "Sensitivity."Luke James proving he's literally Johnny Gil reincarnated with "My, My, My."Woody McClain had folks doing a double take once more with "My Prerogative" as Bobby BrownWhy did Bobby Brown hold on to the mic like that pic.twitter.com/fXiTAFgnPF— Jeff (@JayJazzi) June 26, 2017and Bryshere Gray, Keith Powers and Elijah Kelly with Bell Biv DeVoe's 90s anthem, "Poison."Then, after receiving their award -- Ralph, Bobby, Ronnie, Mike, Ricky and Johnny took to the stage to perform "Telephone Man" and "If It Isn't LoveThen, the three generations of NE -- The Littles, Newer New Edition got with New Edition, and took to the stage for what can only be described as an iconic and legendary performance. 18 members of NE!? Wow.You can watch it below:ICONIC #BETawards pic.twitter.com/2XtG7U0Ara— Jasmine (@JasmineLWatkins) June 26, 2017BET, thank you for this. You really do "got...

Chicago is the birthplace of monumental movements, celebrated musical icons and decadent art history. Just like our pizza, our culture is deep with rich narratives and delicious colloquiums that are truly addictive. The Windy City is undergoing a renaissance period of black creatives and artists.  There is no denying that Chicago houses the diamonds of the underground music ; Chance the Rapper, BJ the Chicago Kid, Noname Gypsy and Jamila Woods just to list a few. Now, David Ellis is the rapper you need to know.David Ellis is the future of conscious rap. Hailing from the Southside of Chicago, a proud Chicago State alum, Ellis channels his love for dismantling patriarchy, racism and the structures in place that affect the disadvantaged. Ellis acknowledged "I want my music to make people act, politically. I want my listeners to overthrow, protest, research. Most of all, I want them to create their own perspective. That is the aesthetic of art, the beauty of it. Rap is art."With a beautiful amalgamation of jazz instrumentals, eclectic beats, and supraliminal bars. He has featured at Young Chicago Authors, University of Chicago, Northern Illinois University, North Coast Music Festival and opened for Famous Dex at Chicago State University. In fact, Minister Louis Farrakhan asked the rapper to perform at the Mosque Merriam. He has been featured on numerous blogs, Fake Shore Drive, Hip Hop Detox and Four Star Chicago.David Ellis seamlessly raps about black economic empowerment, feminist ideals and black boy joy. The 23-year-old is proud to be black, from Chicago and preaches the conscious truths we need to hear. The activist has organized with BYP100 Church on the 9 and F Your Institution (FYI). Similarly, Ellis was pivotal to the #SaveCSU movement, in which his alma mater Chicago State University was threatened with closing due to Governor Rauner’s lack of state budgeting. The students overthrown this decision through protesting and shutting down the Dan Ryan expressway in the city of Chicago. ( You can hear David Ellis talk about the #SaveCSU movement in his song “Budget or Else”) The artist explained "Activism to me is a obligation, it is reciprocity. We have to give back to communities that made us who we are. Chicago State University is a staple in the South side community. It keeps Roseland, Chicago's Southside, alive. It is a nucleus."David Ellis brings Hip-Hop back to life, each song is a new lesson about our history, black socioeconomics, and revolutionary rap. He has an innate gift for teaching. The recent college graduate majored in Sociology at Chicago State and wants to become a college professor. The artist is truly multifaceted with diverse talents, leadership and progressive ideals. However music is your true passion and calling. The artist elaborates :"Rapping is medicinal. It is healing. It heals people and it heals me. All of the anxiety, stress, I just write it away". His next EP "This Too Shall Pass" will be releasing this summer 2017. Check out his latest video "Nah Nah...