Ratchet Definition via Tumblr Trying to explain what “ratchet” means to a group of non-black friends (bi-racial, Indian, and Filipino to be exact) was more difficult than carrying two cups of water through the desert without drinking any. It was like talking to a brick wall. They were convinced that being ratchet is a mix…
(Click Here to Read FULL article @ The Grio…) - From The Grio — In Zoe Saldana’s recent Allure interview, the Afro-Latina actress has once again stated that she is unconcerned with any backlash she receives for playing legendary singer and activist Nina Simone. In a perplexing statement, she compares her controversial casting as “The High Priestess…
Magazine advertisements are designed to sell products to readers, but new research uncovered an unsuspected impact. More than half of ads targeted toward men reinforce hypermasculinity, which promotes callous, aggressive, violent behavior toward women and sex. Megan Vokey, lead author of the University of Manitoba’s research report, found that 56 percent of the eight magazines…
It seems as though every other week something has sparked outrage amongst black people. Friday, an image of a doll surfaced online, and people assumed it was a Barbie™ or possibly an idea for one. This is not a Barbie™. And will probably never be a Barbie™, but that didn’t stop people from sounding off…
There’s no denying the power of an online petition. In 2012, over 750,000 people started petitions on Change.org, over 25 million people signed their names and there were thousands of success stories across the globe. If you have a cause or a complaint anyone with Internet access can start an online protest, and after enough…
We are a brown blur, a coded caricature painted in broad strokes where we are all “sassy” and “urban” and cannot simply clean the kitchen floor without finger-snappin’ and mouthpoppin’ at our appliances.
Last week, Michaela Angela Davis spoke with Jacque Reid on the Tom Joyner Morning Show about a new campaign she is spearheading at Spelman College called “Bury the Ratchet”. Davis is a leading image activist that works to transform the ideologies associated with popular depictions in today’s society and culture by supporting and promoting positive images. Davis…
Earlier last week, Disney’s unveiling of Princess Sofia caused an uproar amongst certain people. Once executive producer Jamie Mitchell told Entertainment Weekly, “She is Latina,” making her the first-ever Hispanic Disney princess, other executives tried to tone down that notion. Joe D’Ambrosia, vice president of Disney Junior original programming, toned down the promotion saying, “We never actually call it out….
If one is to believe that Hollywood truly pays attention to the desires of its audience and explores those authentic nuances on film, then one has to believe that no one is ever in love with — or attracted to — an overweight, black woman. Never. White filmmakers have ignored her, while their black counterparts,…
Last week, BET president Debra Lee was surprisingly candid in explaining why her network has yet to make a 100% turnaround in terms of presenting what we typically call ‘positive’ content: “Our audience always says they want this kind of programming, but they don’t show up.” Welp. Lee doesn’t get a total pass in my book; just…
