The reason “The White Lotus” can’t fully commit to its critique on whiteness and power is simply because then white people wouldn’t watch it. By Ebony Purks HBO’s latest hit series The White Lotus aired its sixth and last episode on Aug. 15. Many viewers (particularly viewers of color) were left with a lingering dissatisfaction...
Tag: pop culture
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Unraveling The Fatphobia Behind The Criticisms Of Lizzo
To suggest that Lizzo needs to be “put down” is to recapitulate this trope about the “beastliness” of fat Black people. By Sydneysky G Let me start first by saying this: it’s because she’s fat. If I make nothing else clear, know that the reason for all of the vitriol Lizzo is experiencing is because...
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We Cannot Demand That Robyn Crawford Separate Herself From Whitney Houston
Robyn Crawford deserves to have the space to share how much she loved Whitney Houston. We cannot demand that once-closeted queer folks never speak of their relationships. By Vanessa Taylor By default of being human, there is not an aspect of our lives that exists in complete separation from anyone else. Our stories are tangled...
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How The Male Gaze Sabotages ‘Euphoria’
‘Euphoria’ became dependent on hypersexualizing female characters and weakened their storylines. This essay contains minor spoilers for HBO’s “Euphoria” By Melanie Ojwang HBO’s new hit series “Euphoria” has been lauded by many for its structural creativity and its genuine, but explicit, view into teen life in the suburbs. The story follows Rue, a 17-year old...
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Daenerys Was Always A Narcissistic, Power-Hungry Colonizer
Dany’s descent into genocidal horror was an undeveloped turn of events, not an undeserved one. By Nylah Burton This essay contains spoilers for HBO’s “Game of Thrones” and discussion of r/pe On the latest episode of HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” Daenerys Targaryen, also called Dany, shocked viewers by laying waste to King’s Landing via dragonfire...
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Sabrina Spellman and the Trope of the Frivolous White Girl
Sabrina’s privilege lets her get away with everything, turning her into your basic TV frivolous white girl. by Negesti Kaudo Note: light spoilers of ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ ahead. Sabrina Spellman, the teenage witch, has always been quirky, blonde, and charming. Whether you were first introduced to her through reading the comics, watching the 90s...
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Netflix’s ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ is Another Settler-Colonial Narrative
The roots of Black and Indigenous spiritual practices and witchcraft carry Sabrina’s narrative and many other white witch-centered narratives. By Briana L. Ureña-Ravelo This essay contains spoilers for “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” When I first saw the trailer for Netflix’s “Chilling Adventures of Sabrina” before it was released last week, it piqued my interest. Though...
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The Way ‘Nappily Ever After’ Attempts To Celebrate Black Hair Is Actually Harmful
Nappily Ever After would have significantly benefited from hiring Black people, especially women or femmes, and allowing them creative power. By Jazmine Joyner The natural hair movement celebrates Black hair in its natural form and encourages people of Black descent to embrace their afro-textured hair. I went natural in the fall of 2012, after years...
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We Need Beyoncé’s Unapologetic Pro-Blackness in Mainstream Spaces
Beyoncé creates space for Blackness regardless of her audience, and it’s empowering to witness. By Jazmine Joyner Beyoncé officially changed the game, again, this past Saturday. Her performance at Coachella not only broke streaming records for the festival, but when she took the stage, she also became the first Black woman to ever headline the...
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11 TV Shows We’re Definitely Watching In 2018
Media representation matters. What you see on television has the potential to shape your opinion and worldview. In fact, a report from published by Color of Change found that Black people are misrepresented in television shows and news coverage. Some creatives are creating shows that depict the full spectrum of Black folks, and we’re excited...