Zan Banger

Black women say this every day and in every way, and I think it's time for us to stop. To paraphrase Beyonce, why do we waste our time on critique when you haven't absorbed the last notes. So, here's someone else saying it. I'm gonna bookmark it and reuse it because...whew.

@TheRealAsabiLee I meant body of work over the course of a series of guided practices. The contestants could build their portfolios, get one-on-one time with people with tons of experience, AND practice things like the studio sessions and get REAL feedback (like the confessional convos).

Dear Project Greenlight: I'm here for providing opportunities to those typically shut out of studio systems, but it doesn't make sense to do so without education and support. Why not make an Apprentice-style challenge show for budding auteurs and eliminate based on body of work?

The WINNER could be given the Project Greenlight movie and funding, having already worked on a season full of projects and developed some skills that independent filmmakers don't have to have. Two shows in one, with a much better cushion and better prospect of success. IJS.

@AndrewVU041 I thought you were talking about how folks were able to clearly articulate the issue in confessionals, but no one said to her in week one: There HAS to be a script. These are the problems we see - fix or remake it so these are solved. Have something for us to see next week.

@ambernoelle I also think Hearts & Bones is terrible and beautiful and complicated: "Why won't you love me for who I am, where I am? ...Because that's not the way the world is, baby. This is how I love you, baby." Whew.

@questlove @lynneedenise As a regular degular, I can cosign and say that the relief from the constant onslaught of American-branded racism allows a status of chill that is hard to resist. It gets a little diminished when you see other Brown/Black (non-Americans) catching more hell.

@lynneedenise during our time living in Europe (93-97) there is a level of normalcy over there you INSTANTLY feel the second you visit. I also realize I come with a cache of being an artist so hard to tell what my red carpet treatment would be if I was just regular ass ahmir. but....

@naima However, when I was a teacher, *I* was not threatened or assaulted, but I definitely taught with some folks who caught it from kids. In defense of the kids, some of those teachers were really disrespectful, in that way adults are when they think they can talk any old kinda way.

@naima In fairness, when I (Gen Xer) was a junior, a senior started yelling at (and walking up on) a mean, old, grouchy Geometry teacher. He didn't hit him, but the teacher in my class (think Uncle Jesse) grabbed his bat and sprinted down the hall to intervene.

I don't think I can recall a single incident of a student fighting a teacher. Not a one.

The most revealing part about this entire piece is an Oscar voting actor directly disparaging Viola Davis’s acting and then admitting to having not even seen The Woman King. ew.com/awards/oscars/…

@The_A_Prentice @theashleyray Also gonna add the "gospel" live version of One More Try. I agree that he doesn't sound *Black* but can't agree that he doesn't sound soulful. And I feel like when Aretha Franklin, Mary J, AND Whitney cut songs with you? That's something.

@theashleyray That’s an interesting point. But throw on George michael with blacks people and see what happens. His version of As with Mary j blige slaps.

Here’s where we settled on the blue eyed soul top 5: Michael McDonald (GOAT), Teena Marie, Darryl Hall, Kenny Loggins, and George Michael. Thoughts?

@KwaniALunis 2.

Random survey: How many Black teachers did you have from K-12?

Listen! I don’t date Preachers, Politicians or the Police.

@AdrianCJax I'm so sorry. There is nothing that prepares you for this day, no matter how long you see it looming on the road ahead. Your mom's gift of the words (even though she had clearly already written them on your heart)? 💯. I love this for you. Thank you for sharing her.

@Linds_Zolna @itsJeffTiedrich @oneunderscore__

@itsJeffTiedrich @oneunderscore__ I’m 43 and I rarely pick up the phone for callers I know

Before the next election, you might want to find a better way to poll anyone under the age of 30 since they would rather pick up a pinless grenade than a call from an unknown number.

i wrote about the ability to survive neglect, and how surviving is not the same as being alive. jonnysun.bulletin.com/13-zz-plant

Some perspective for those who still don't get it: If I were forced to be infected by either HIV or COVID, I would choose HIV without hesitation.

It’s quicker to get a gun in the black community than it is to get a book. That is the problem.

Happy Halloween! My kid was excited about every house that knew what he was. A lot of folks were unfamiliar with Stranger Things and thought he was a Venus flytrap. 😂

Yikes. Ouch, pastor. Just... Telling all the people's truths too loud.