‘Rebellious Mourning’ Explores Getting Through the Darkness to the Other Side
Those on the journey -- from initial mourning to grieving (finite or long-term) -- must have a guide.
black lives matter
In ‘The Blood is at the Doorstep’, a Family Suffers From an Intransigent Criminal Justice System
Erik Ljung's work is an auspicious cinematic debut which reminds that for every criminal justice statistic, there's a stirring story which deserves to be deeply considered.
Sundance 2017: ‘Whose Streets?’ + ‘Dayveon’
On opening night at the Sundance Film Festival, two films raised questions about how black Americans' experiences can be more effectively shared and understood.
Common: Black America Again
Chicago veteran returns with his 11th album, a record that sees Common reinvigorated and at his most potent and inspired, marking another entry into one of the most consistent discographies in hip-hop history.
Beyoncé and When Music Writing Becomes Activism
The overall response to Beyoncé's "Formation" has been startlingly positive, but mostly for reasons attached to political agendas. It's time to investigate this trend.
Kayaktivists’ Colorful and Effective Protests in 2015
The most elaborately staged spectacle of 2015 was performed by the “kayaktivists”, a group of environmentalists that successfully stopped oil giant Royal Dutch Shell from drilling in the Arctic.
“Sound Is Our Weapon”: Protest Music and Black Lives Matter
"Hell You Talmbout" and "Cry No More" are a new kind of protest song that reintroduces traditional minimalism and congregational singing into this contemporary moment.