Hello to everyone. 👋
I'm always amazed to see the countries my readers are from - Barbados, Canada, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Iran, Ireland, Japan, Russia, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the USA. Hmm...Russia? Ukraine? Side by side on my list...hmmm. Being side-by-side geographically hasn't worked. If only harmony would prevail.
In Barbados February is dedicated to African Awareness and in the USA, it is Black History Month. That will be my theme for this entry. Perhaps, many of you read to find out about Barbados, or perhaps you may be a fan of someone featured. Still, I feel the need to enlighten as well as inform as I share my thoughts.
This month the local call-in programmes were filled with chat about Rihanna unapologetically displaying her large baby bump given her status as a "National Hero". The fact is she said she was comfortable with her body and showing it even as a teenager. Her "National Hero" status may have more to do with her success in the entertainment and fashion world given that she came from a normal working class background - and she wasn't even an American. Still she conquered. Really there are many Barbadians who leave Barbados and make an indelible mark in their work in other nations. However, her fame in the international music arena propelled her to being a household name nationally. More power I say. ✊🏽
Self-Made
On the topic of household names, I discovered a lovely Netflix drama based on Madame C.J. Walker, an African-American working class woman (actually a washer woman who made a living taking in laundry from other folks) who by the time of her death had become America's first Black female millionaire by creating products for the hair textures of African-American women and creating an African-American beauty culture at a time when there was no such focus for this community by the cosmetics industry. Self-Made was good, clean, educational viewing for most ages. I enjoyed Octavia Spencer's portrayal as the female lead. Besides, I need no excuse to see Blair Underwood plying his trade - though in this instance his character was less than exemplary. Click on the link below to view the trailer.
To Sir With Love
On January 6, 2022, fans heard the heart-breaking news that African-American actor, Sir Sidney Poitier was dead - age 94. Born in the US, but raised in Bahamas, we in the West Indies claim him as one of our own. My Mom in her youth was sweet on him and I have enjoyed seeing some of his movies. While I did not see Lilies of the Field for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor, as a teen, I remember there was a special showing of To Sir With Love for school children at a local cinema and one of my school class' field trips was to go to see this movie. The theme song sung by Lulu is still a fave of mine.
I began this blog on Rihanna's birthday. I did not get to finish it. Between work and household errands, I no longer have enough spare time to post even on a monthly basis, so you will not see as frequent posts.
Jerusalema
Now to the dance that took over the globe. I must've been the last person on the planet to discover this South African song with its infectious beat that made people from nuns to medical teams to flight crews dance the Jerusalema. Enjoy.
'Til next time...
