What's Blaq Been Up To at 31M - Part I

Bonding with like minded beautiful Sisterlocked sisters...

Getting retightened by the fabulous GiGi &
making new locked friends.

GiGi, the best consultant ever.

I met this queen at Gigi's shop.
She's been on loc'down for 7 years.


Watching wonderful movies starring great African American actors & actresses.
If you haven't seen American Gangster,
check it out on the big screen (not bootleg).
Denzel's performance is phenomenal and you'll be educated
about another revealing facet in African-American history.
Albeit not a proud facet - this true story demonstrates the
potential for anyone in America to become successful.

The Great Debaters

A true story, two great African American Oscar winners,
Denzel Washington, Forest Whitaker and Oprah
as Executive Producer
- need I say more?


Little publicized, but highly acclaimed Talk To Me starring
the talented Don Cheadle in an Oscar worthy performance
as Ralph Waldo "Petey" Green.

The true story of a Washington, DC,
charismatic radio personality
who just happened to be an ex-con
and who became a shock jock
way before his time. Petey told it like it was and addressed
social consciousness and issues at a pivotal time in
the history of Washignton, DC and America.
The music of the era is slammin', the costumes are awesome
and the storyline is always entertaining,
sometimes funny, deep and educational.

Cheadle is joined by the talented, scene stealing
Taraji P. Henson. (You know we first discovered
her in Baby Boy - " I hate you Jody!!!!...
Ohhhhhh, Jody I love you,
Jody, I love you!!!"
And as Terrance Howard's pregnant girlfriend in
Hustle & Flow who dropped those Oscar winning lyrics,
"Ya know it's hard out here for a pimp.
When he's trying to make the money for the rent."

Other talents included: Cedric the Entertainer and Mike Epps
Both put their comedic personalities aside and held their own with the seasoned cast.

I highly, highly recommend this movie.

For pure entertainment value I've seen Tyler Perry's, Why Did I Get Married. Fun-E as hell! I loved it! I would go and see that again and again. Janet's acting has improved - but hey, da girl gotta do sumthin'. Her albums ain't sellin'!
But Jill Scott was a breath of fresh air.

This Christmas - A feel good African American Christmas movie. Nicely done and entertaining. You can take the whole family. I can't recall any cursing, and they don't show anything that the kids don't see on regular TV. It's a good, entertaining message about family, loyalty, forgiveness and love. Chris Brown does an admirable job in his first acting role. Regina King is lookin' too good and Del Roy Lindo is such an awesome actor. There is something so commanding about his presence.

Listening to great music:

My new favorite artist, Ledisi - this girl is BAD!!!!

Chrisette Michele (another of my new favorite artist)
The beauty with the chameleon voice is a Norah Jones,
Macy Gray, Corinee Bailey Rae, Erykha Bahdu mixture,
without trying to "be" these talents.
She has a phenomenal range
and it all sounds natural and sweet to my ears.

On top of the fact that the boy can just plain ole sing -
Joe sings to a woman's heart.

Angie's always telling it like it t'iz and I love her voice.

Jill Scott - well - enough said. She's in a class all her own.
If you ever get a chance to see her live - don't miss it.
This woman's voice can be so soft and sensual,
but she has some lungs and can s-a-n-g!

Mary J. Blige, the Queen.
MY girl continues to positively lift sisters.
I have this CD in my car, on my home and work computers,
my iPod and my workout MP3 player.
I'm planning a Blaq/MJB treat for my readers real soon.
You don't want to miss it!

To be continued....

Black History Month Viewing at 20M

I've been attached by the flu bug that's raging in Texas - flat in bed for 3 days. A nasty little virus causing fever, chills, cough and body aches. Today's the first day I feel well enough to write. Being bed ridden forced me to relax some and watch some movies. I had the pleasure of viewing these three wonderful Black films. I highly recommend all three, particularly Color of the Cross - a must see for all Christians IMHO.











HBO's awesome Lakawana Blues, based on the acclaimed autobiographical one-man show by Ruben Santiago-Hudson (who wrote the adaptation and appears in the film) co-produced by Halle Berry and Santiago-Hudson.

The film's full of African American talent and heavies - MosDef has a role as an oh-so-smooth performer in the jook joint - gettin' everyone jammin'. (I love me some MosDef ta def!) Del Roy Lindo, Terrence Howard, Louis Gossett, Jr., Rosie Perez, Macy Gray, Jimmy Smits (who gives a great performance,) the incomparable Jeffrey Wright - an unhearalded super talent (watch his performances in Shaft, Boycott and LB - phenomenal!) Of course, LB wouldn't be LB without it's two key actors young Marcus Carl Franklin and S. Epatha Merkerson, who convincingly became "Nanny" Crosby, owning the role which garnered her an Emmy, and rightly so IMHO. (I've never known how to prounce her name. I have a whole new respect for her acting talents after her performance in this film.)

It's interesting seeing the processed hair of both men and women of the period. There's a wonderful scene where Rosie Perez is hotcombing Macy Gray's hair and accidentally burns her.

The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings('76) starrying Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones and Richard Pryor. I had never seen this film before. The title is so misleading - no wonder I'd never seen it. I only stumbled upon it this weekend while channel surfing. It was fun watching all the greats. I enjoyed the writing and seeing Billy D all sharp, cleaned and processed in that yellow suit in the closing scene!


Color of the Cross

The first depiction of Jesus as a black man, Color Of The Cross is also the first to suggest that the Crucifixion could have been racially motivated. Color of the Cross presents a fresh, never seen before perspective on the history of Christianity.

The movie addresses four areas: Jesus and his disciples, the state of mind of the Romans occupying Judea, the issues facing the Rabbis in the Sanhedrin, and the family life of Joseph, Mary and their remaining children as they were affected by Jesus' persecution.

The film blew me away! It's one that I will watch again and again because of it's depth. I love the fact that it's references and script are historically true to the KJV of the bible and the portrayal of Jesus as a wooly haired Black man took my breath away and moved me. Debbie Morgan's portrayal of Mary is intense and dynamic giving me cause to "see" the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixation in a broader, human context.

(These opinions are mine - and not intended for public debate.)