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Tag Archives: race
Does Uhura’s Empowerment Negate Sexism in ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’?
Yes, Uhura rocks. And yes, she asserts her agency. But no matter how opinionated, smart and fabulous she is, the gains made by Uhura begin to erode when you factor in the incessant sexism swarming around. Continue reading
‘Middle of Nowhere’: A Complicated, Transformational & Feminist Love Story
Originally published at Bitch Flicks as part of Women and Color in Film and TV Week. I often talk about how I want to see more female-fronted films, created by female filmmakers, including women of color on-screen and behind the camera. I want complex, strong, intelligent, resilient, vulnerable, flawed women characters. I want more realistic … Continue reading
‘Yelling to the Sky’: Gender, Race and a Girl Struggling to Survive Her Chaotic Homelife
Originally published at Bitch Flicks as part of Women of Color in Film and TV Week. Yelling to the Sky struck a visceral chord with me. I related to it in a way I often don’t with films. I’m not a biracial woman growing up impoverished, who turns to selling drugs as a means of … Continue reading
The Zoe Saldana / Nina Simone Biopic Controversy Illustrates the Need for More Black Women Filmmakers
Originally published at Bitch Flicks. When Zoe Saldana was recently cast as legendary singer Nina Simone in her upcoming biopic, the decision ignited a firestorm of controversy. People have vehemently criticized the decision. Not because Saldana isn’t a skilled actor (she is). But because her skin is much lighter than the music icon. I’ve wanted … Continue reading
‘Beasts of the Southern Wild’: Gender, Race and a Powerful Female Protagonist in the Most Buzzed About Film
Hushpuppy, the protagonist of ‘Beasts of the Southern Wild,’ is a pint-sized powerhouse. An indomitable survivor. She’s brave, tough and strong-willed. There’s a fierce intensity, and an old wisdom behind her eyes. Honest, vulnerable and sweet – she is the film’s moral compass, its anchor. Continue reading
“All the Pieces Matter”: LGBTQ Characters of Color on ‘The Wire’
Originally published at Bitch Flicks. The Wire is the greatest TV series of all time. Period. Now, I know I’m not really making some bold claim as many, many, many, many critics have professed their unabashed love for the crime drama. No other show has painstakingly depicted the complexities of racism, the inner city and … Continue reading
‘The Hunger Games’ Review in Conversation Part 1: Female Protagonists, Body Image, Disability, Whitewashing, Hunger & Food
As I’ve written before, I love The Hunger Games, both the book and film adaptation. We desperately need more strong female protagonists like Katniss Everdeen on-screen. The riveting young adult series contains many complex social issues. But just because I enjoyed it, doesn’t mean the film didn’t suffer some problems. As we both love talking … Continue reading
Women, Sexism, Racism & the Economy: Why Congress Needs to Reauthorize Unemployment Insurance
This post is part of the HERvotes Blog Carnival: Protecting Unemployment Benefits. The phenomenon of Occupy Wall Street has galvanized people to speak out and take a stand against economic injustice. The 99% moniker implies we either belong to the elite upper echelon…or there’s everybody else. But within that 99%, a variety of experiences and … Continue reading
Why We Need to Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day, Not Columbus Day
Most people in the U.S. think of today as Columbus Day. But I refuse to celebrate this asshole. A shitty explorer (who refused to admit that he wasn’t even in Asia), Columbus kidnapped, colonized, maimed and committed genocide to the Indigenous peoples here. Oh yeah, that really sounds like someone we should honor with their … Continue reading
The Opinioness 