My loves, I have been writing, working and planning non-stop but externally- I've had the pleasure of working on some really cool podcasts with some dope ass creators- I promise to share more when the time is right.
Until then, thank you for your patience and your kind words of encouragement, as I hope to bring this weekly journal back to a consistent cadence. (I know it's late night, but here is my entry for this week.) <3 <3 <3
It is Pride Month, it's Black Music Month and it's Juneteenth! So it's safe to say that this month is definitely in my top 3 of celebration moments for the year.
This Pride season, I wanted to celebrate Black Love. The reason that I chose Black Love during Pride is because I wanted to celebrate images of us loving ourselves and sharing special moments- highlighting moments of intimacy.
Sometimes when we think of "gay love" we immediately think sex.
But, I wanted to find moments of intimacy, pleasure and "love making" which did NOT involve that particular physical act. The innocence of love is quite beautiful, nuanced and the art of seduction can be subtle. I hope that you all will check out these films and enjoy the moments of queer black love as much as I have.
My first "moment" comes from Sidra Smith's "A Luv Tale" (1999). The scene that I chose is when Gina Ravara's character "Taylor", offers to comb the hair of her love interest, Candice" (Candice is portrayed by Michele Lamar Richards). I love this scene because Taylor is clearly falling for Candice at this point, but her only wish is to give her a moment to be relieved of stress for the day. (Candice is a big time magazine executive bogged down by the pressures of her career and failing marriage. While Taylor is a free spirited photographer - with mad game, btw.)
The interaction is foreshadowed with Taylor proclaiming "I had a dream about you." Of course the viewer (and Candice)all began to have an inkling of what that "dream" might be. But to all our surprise- Taylor's dream is innocent. She dreamed that she was combing Candice's hair.
*Cues* "Don't Touch My Hair" by Solange.
Hair combing is personal, sacred and almost ritualistic. It's also very private and venerated. Believe me, it's not often that black women let anyone touch our hair unless we really trust you, you're related to us OR we are partners.
I love this scene, and this film. At this moment, you can see the trust building between our two protagonist. Taylor is becoming more confident in her feelings for Candice, and Candice is beginning to release her guard and entrust Taylor with her openness to the possibilities.
Kudos to Sidra Smith for such a lovely screenplay. It was truly ahead of its time- a queer love tale about a black woman falling for another black woman- encompassing a star studded cast in the 90's-it's almost unreal!
(Yes, that Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell with MC Lyte plus Felicia from Friday aka(Angela Means)with the stars...there's just a lot of Black girl magic in this short film.)
If you get a chance this June, check out the original "A Luv Tale"(Amazon)- BET has a spinoff, which I can't wait to see.
PS We turned it out at Photoville (there are a few snaps in my IG)- Next stop is Cocktails & Culture: Songs of Freedom
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