Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023) dir. Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, & Justin K. Thompson
When I say this movie was worth the wait. Animated art and storytelling in its highest form.
i'm going to make a life i love even if it's not the one i expected or thought i wanted. and i am going to let myself be proud and grateful of what i do have. i am allowed to be proud of it without other people realizing the gravity of what i have accomplished in scale to my life and abilities. i do not need permission.
You are a writer because you write. That's truly all it takes. You don't have to prove your worth to anyone. Your love for storytelling and desire to create is enough.
Jackie Ormes, the first Black American woman cartoonist
When the 14-year-old Black American boy Emmett Till was lynched in 1955, one cartoonist responded in a single-panel comic. It showed one Black girl telling another: "I don't want to seem touchy on the subject... but that new little white tea-kettle just whistled at me!"
It may not seem radical today, but penning such a political cartoon was a bold and brave statement for its time — especially for the artist who was behind it. This cartoon was drawn by Jackie Ormes, the first syndicated Black American woman cartoonist to be published in a newspaper. Ormes, who grew up in Pittsburgh, got her first break as cartoonist as a teenager. She started working for the Pittsburgh Courier as a sports reporter, then editor, then cartoonist who penned her first comic, Torchy Brown in Dixie to Harlem, in 1937. It followed a Mississippi teen who becomes a famous singer at the famed Harlem jazz club, The Cotton Club.
In 1942, Ormes moved to Chicago, where she drew her most popular cartoon, Patty-Jo 'n' Ginger, which followed two sisters who made sharp political commentary on Black American life.
In 1947, Ormes created the Patty-Jo doll, the first Black doll that wasn't a mammy doll or a Topsy-Turvy doll. In production for a decade, it was a role model for young black girls. "The doll was a fashionable, beautiful character," says Daniel Schulman, who curated one of the dolls into a recent Chicago exhibition. "It had an extraordinary presence and power — they're collected today and have important place in American doll-making in the U.S."
In 1950, Ormes drew her final strip, Torchy in Heartbeats, which followed an independent, stylish black woman on the quest for love — who commented on racism in the South. "Torchy was adventurous, we never saw that with an Black American female figure," says Beauchamp-Byrd. "And remember, this is the 1950s." Ormes was the first to portray black women as intellectual and socially-aware in a time when they were depicted in a derogatory way.
One common mistake that erased Ormes from history is mis-crediting Barbara Brandon-Croft as the first nationally syndicated Black American female cartoonist. "I'm just the first mainstream cartoonist, I'm not the first at all," says Brandon-Croft, who published her cartoons in the Detroit Free Press in the 1990s. "So much of Black history has been ignored, it's a reminder that Black history shouldn't just be celebrated in February."
Never underestimate the power of blind faith. It can manifest in ways that bend the laws of physics or break them entirely.
How to Motivate Yourself
1. Visualize yourself succeeding. Imagine what you will be doing, how you will look, how others will be reacting or relating to you, how you will feel …
2. Break your main goal down into lots of smaller, more manageable pieces. Then, just do “the next thing”. Don’t get bogged down by everything you still have to do!
3. Remind yourself that every tiny bit of effort counts. It all adds up and makes a difference in the end.
4. Make a start – even if you’re just committing yourself to doing 10 minutes of something you don’t want to do. Often the hardest part is overcoming the initial feeling of dread or inertia.
5. Put on some of your favourite upbeat music. That can help to get your moving, and also change your mood.
6. Get a friend – who also wants to improve their motivation – to join in the commitment to see this project through. It’s easier when others are hanging in there with you – and you also keep each other more accountable.
Tina Turner, 1971
REST IN PEACE to the baddest to EVER do it.
1939-2023
Black Music Month: The history of Black American music in 10 minutes
Country is missing. These are just the "main" genres. Once you tie in our sub-genres, fusion genres and regional styles like doo-wop, jump blues, zydeco, jazz rap, Motown (its own sound), G-funk, psychedelic soul, chopped and screwed, deep house, Piedmont blues, house rap 🤌🏽
Benefits of having an abundance mindset:
Greater success: Abundance is a state of mind that can lead one to think that they don’t need to worry about running out of what they need.
Management of stress: People with an abundance mindset tend to be more relaxed and less stressed than those with a scarcity mindset.
Higher self-esteem: People with an abundance mindset tend to have higher self-esteem and feel more confident in their abilities.
Less anxiety: People with an abundance mindset tend to experience less anxiety than those with a scarcity mindset.
Less materialism: People with an abundance mindset tend to be less focused on material possessions and more focused on experiences and relationships.
More social: People with an abundance mindset tend to be more social and have better relationships than those with a scarcity mindset.
More confident in your abilities: People with an abundance mindset tend to be more confident in their abilities and are more likely to take risks.
Less wasteful: People with an abundance mindset tend to be less wasteful and more resourceful than those with a scarcity mindset.
Eartha Kitt photographed by Gordon Parks for LIFE magazine in New York City, 1952.
Went through this thread the other day 🔥
- The Gap Band brothers (only Charlie is still alive) hated each other at an early age and got fleeced from their manager. (source: Charlie’s autobiography)
- Weldon Irvine, an acclaimed jazz-funk keyboardist whose ‘70s recordings were sampled by the likes of A Tribe Called Quest and Boogie Down Productions, wrote 500+ songs including the lyrics to To Be Young, Gifted and Black, shot himself in front of an office complex (his label building, I think) in New York on April 9, 2002 (due to dispute about his music rights).
500 what!? Wow. I’m familiar with Weldon, but not that part of his résumé.
SN: This detail is prob well known, but I’ll add it anyway. “To Be Young, Gifted and Black” was a penned as a dedication to Lorraine Hansberry after her passing to cancer per the request of Nina Simone, who was a close friend of Lorraine.
5 Ways to Make Your Writing Sessions More Productive
1. Set specific goals: Before each writing session, establish clear objectives for what you want to accomplish. This helps you stay focused and motivated throughout the session. Whether it's completing a certain number of pages, reaching a specific word count, or finishing a particular section, having a goal in mind keeps you on track.
2. Create a conducive writing environment: Find a quiet and comfortable space where you can minimize distractions. Eliminate clutter, turn off notifications on your electronic devices, and set up a writing area that inspires creativity. Some people find instrumental music or ambient sounds helpful for concentration, so experiment to find what works best for you.
3. Develop a routine: Establish a regular writing schedule and stick to it. Consistency builds momentum and makes writing sessions feel more like a habit. Whether you prefer to write early in the morning, late at night, or during specific time blocks throughout the day, find a routine that aligns with your energy levels and other commitments.
4. Use productivity techniques: Explore different productivity techniques to enhance your focus and efficiency. One popular method is the Pomodoro Technique, which involves working for a concentrated period (e.g., 25 minutes) followed by a short break (e.g., 5 minutes). Repeat this cycle several times, and then take a longer break (e.g., 15-30 minutes). Other techniques include time blocking, task prioritization, and setting deadlines.
5. Minimize self-editing during the drafting phase: When writing your first draft, try to resist the urge to constantly edit and revise. Instead, focus on getting your ideas down on paper without judgment. This allows for a more continuous flow of thoughts and prevents self-censorship. Save the editing for later drafts, as separating the drafting and editing stages can lead to increased productivity and creativity.