This Verizon ad has been running widely lately, featuring some fine young black artists. The ad was originally developed as part of a black history month celebration.
Extended interaction online and at live events include a health challenge, several videos, and events; though it looks like it hasn’t updated since it’s limited launch in February, while ads are still in heavy rotation. The whole campaign is aimed at inspiring young people to reach their potential–great job!–by buying their products. #thisisanadnotacharity
Following an incident where actor Jonah Hill used a homophobic slur in a verbal altercation with a paparazzi , Hill took to The Tonight Show to offer his mea culpa.
His behavior deserves no excuse and he asks for none. He still shouldn’t have done it, but it wasn’t the worst apology we’ve heard lately.
The Roots, for the uninitiated, is a live hip hop band that has been challenging the status quo of Hip Hop for more than 25 years. You may know them from their most recent gig as Jimmy Fallon’s house band on his show and the new Tonight Show.
With skits like these, it’s easy to see The Roots are more than just a backing band, they’re an intricate part of the show. Likewise, they are more than a Hip Hop act, they have been an intricate part of the Hip Hop landscape for decades. Sadly, if you are using wikipedia to see if I’m right, you will miss out on some of their oldest, amazing work on Do You Want More and Illadephia Half-life .
This week, The Roots release their 17th album, …And Then You Shoot Your Cousin. Once again, they ask us to reconsider what Hip Hop is, and can be. The album is by turns deeply emotional, unexpected, and solid head-nod-inducing. Well worth a listen. Check out their live performance of the operatic …And then You Shoot Your Cousin, from their NYC Public Theater performance below.
If you are a science lover then you have probably noticed that Neil deGrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist and public intellectual par excellence is everywhere these days. He has been cable news’ go to guy for all things science lately, and his lively personality and informed opinion have him commenting on everything from black holes to organized religion to Wu Tang.
Most notably, he is the host of the updated Cosmos, a beautiful, moving and mind-blowing look at the universe we call home. If you have ever wondered about your place in the universe, you must watch this. If you have never wondered about your place in the universe, then it is time you do.
It’s safe to say that deGrasse Tyson has made his bones–his well-earned credibility make him a celebrity worth listening to. In addition to being an all-round brainiac, he has done something quite remarkable–he has become well known as an Astrophysicist who is also black, rather than becoming famous for being a black scientist–a nuanced difference that comes down to being a content expert rather than a notable quota-able, marginalized except to show “hey, look he made it so we can’t be racist!”
Then he said this–a clear, simple compelling answer to disparity that puts institutional barriers into sharp focus:
From the outer Cosmos to the inner workings of institutional racism deGrasse Tyson brings reasoned, measured and reflective thinking to the masses! You, fine sir, are doing it right!
To celebrate Easter and Help you with that lent promise, Dunkin Donuts has introduced the peep donut, a little processed pastel piece of heaven, topped with the icon spun sugar sweet chick peep.
People have a bizzare if loving relationship with the peep. Someone took the time to make this:
and this:
along with a million other little scenes made of/with peeps
So sticking a peep on a donut seems like it should have happened sooner. With recent news that obesity among young people is down, you may be thinking the peeps donut is just glazed devil, but hold on! Eat your peeps donut with abandon! The peeps donut, weighing in with 310 calories has less calories than several of the healthy eating options:
While literally keeping my nose clean the other day, I happened to notice there on the back of my pack of Kleenex a design description that caught my eye.
Irie Yellow? Irie is a patois word that originated in Jamaica meaning alright, but also cool, and an adjective for everything superlative. So then I started to look for the description on the back of the other packs that came together and found a whole island theme going on here: Irie Yellow, Marley Green, and Calypso Blue
The bold geometric designs are attractive, reflect design often found in the Caribbean and avoid typical exotic tropes like palm trees and jungle scenes. All in all, well played, Kleenex. Way to give a design nod to the islands without turning the theme into Margarittaville on a tissue.
You almost got two thumbs totally up for avoiding stereotypes altogether but……Marley green?…Okay, I get it. Still, well played.
From the same people that brought you 12 Years A Slave comes another beautifully crafted historical biopic, Belle. This film is based on the true story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the illegitimate granddaughter of the Earl of Mansfield.
The trailer is beautiful and the film won accolades at the Toronto Film Festival.
Now the question is “Can Fox Searchlight make movies about people of color triumphing that are set int he present day?” No, Fox, Baggage Claim doesn’t count…
We all find ourselves tethered to that little box of joy–the smartphone–sometimes a bit more than we should. In the coming week smntks will be looking at the impact that our media saturated environment has on us for both good and bad.
Today from Unicef comes a great example of the good we can do with our smartphones. Instead of just clicking like, do something you know you should do anyways: put your phone down for a few minutes.
The Tap Project challenges you to put down your phone: 10 minutes touch free will result in a day of clean water for a child in need. How many days can you donate while you clear your mind?
There may not be a lot of room in big time mainstream media for breaking down stereotypes, but lots of web series are riding to the rescue with some fresh and interesting takes on race. We heard from some of the first ladies of web wonderful-ness last week. New week, new web goodness for you. Got two minutes? Check out the latest: “Try This Instead”. If you love it, share it!
Susan X Jane 
