This piece is going to be a bit off the cuff for Obsidian Tea. Remarking on an observation of a trend I think as a culture we need to look at and be careful of: Fetishization and social commodification of oppression and adversity. That’s the fancy way of saying there is a lot of social …
And why colourblindness is an issue I went to bed early and noted there was some drama at the Oscars. Never one to care much about award shows, I wasn’t interested enough to learn more. At 3 am, I groggily checked my phone and found what I assumed to be minor drama was blowing up …
What the context of “the slap” can teach outsiders about Black culture Read More »
I’ve been asked a question for as long as I can remember. “So, where are you from?” People of all colours, backgrounds, and ages have always been curious about a thing I was bound to disappoint on. “Here,” or “Ohio,” were my confused answers. All the while, I tried to figure out why I was …
Recently at a workshop, I slowed class down and had us stop and think as we listen to the well-known song, Strange Fruit. The class was about listening to lyrics and the importance of understanding the story. As the song stopped, I found myself struggling to find words to describe the emotion that I was …
Recently at a workshop I slowed class down and had us stop and think as we listen to the well-known song, Strange Fruit.The class was about listening to lyrics and the importance of understanding story. As the song stopped, I found myself struggling to find words to describe the emotion that I was overwhelmed with. I looked out until crowd of faces, that mostly didn’t look like mine, and I saw a vast range of emotions that I didn’t quite understand.
I have a gentle soul and somehow I’ve ended up with a livelihood centered around that gentleness and educating. I see so many people expecting and feeling entitiled to that kindness. As though compassion ends when a person isn’t nice to you. That every Black person you know should be able to give you that. …
For the first time in my life, my words have left me without my permission. They fly away like dandelion seeds in a gentle breeze and I worry they will never come back. My thoughts, a rolling royal blue- Black ocean in a storm that won’t seem to end. I’m lost, without a paddle and …
What do I have to do for you to acknowledge my humanity? Read More »
Are you a blues dancer looking for more resources? Learning to learn more about the dance? About Black culture? Whether you are new to the style, looking for resources, or just want to gain some context, this article has what you are looking for! Check out this article for a simple summary of blues dancing. …
As an ally, it is important to call out people who are racist or participate in erasure. But let’s face it: Having conversations around cultural appropriation and racism are hard. Often, the majority of discussions are either extremely serious or a bit heavy handed. There is a lot of hurt, discomfort, blame and guilt involved. …
Cultural Appropriation: Making Hard Conversations Easier Read More »
Music is the heartbeat of Black American culture. Right up there with church, and dancing. I LOVE all of the music that has come out of our culture. I always find it a bit distressing when people who dance to our music say “I love blues but I’m not really into hip hop/rap” or ” …
So, you love blues but not Hip Hop (Soul, R&B, Funk, or other Black musics) Hm. Read More »
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