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I would love to connect with other Black historians, librarians, and archivists (formally educated or self-taught) who focus on fashion and costume history, art history, textiles, crafts, and cultural anthropology.

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Removing the Wool: Killer of Sheep’s Charles Burnett on Watts storytelling, LA Rebellion and Black domestic life on film

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OMG...Vogue's MET Gala Issue...✨💓💓💓

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Billie Holiday, Berlin, 1954.

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Black Rock n Roll Musicians

Happy Black History Is Everyday

Betty Davis 1944-2022

Chuck Berry 1926-2017

Sister Rosetta Tharpe 1915-1973

Big Jo Turner 1911-1985

Tracy Chapman living

Jimi Hendrick 1942-1970

Tina Turner 1939-2023

Fats Domino 1928-2017

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Tina Turner

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Music in Film: Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) dir. Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

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Ahmir-Khalib Thompson’s Summer of Soul (…or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021)

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funk singer, betty davis ꨄ

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Black Women of Rock & Roll in the 60s and 70s:

Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Marsha Hunt

The Ronettes

Betty Davis

Norma-Jean Wofford a.k.a “The Duchess”

Poly Styrene

Merry Clayton

Tina Turner

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A New Book By 'A Vibe Called Tech' Founder, Charlene Prempeh Spotlights Black Pioneers From Across the History of Design via Vogue (click) Photo: Marlboro advertisement, “Where the flavor is,” by Emmett McBain, 1972.

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Music in Film: Summer of Soul (… Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised) (2021) dir. Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson

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Marpessa Dawn in Paris wearing a dress from Leonard’s spring/summer collection (1968).

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The Blood Of Jesus (1941)- Dir. Spencer Williams

In the rich history of low budget Black cinema, there are a few rare gems that I feel every Black person should see in their lifetime. Among them is "The Blood of Jesus" (1941), a groundbreaking film directed by the multi-talented Spencer Williams. This film lays the groundwork for Black indie films with its ghastly folk aesthetic, non linear storytelling and angelic imagery. "The Blood of Jesus" remains an essential cinematic experience even after more than eight decades.

Now why THIS film?

"The Blood of Jesus" holds a special place in the annals of Black cinema as one of the first feature-length films to be produced and directed by a Black filmmaker. This milestone not only paved the way for future filmmakers but also provided a platform for authentic representation and storytelling.

The storyline is the classic “in between heaven and hell” trope and it is executed in such a stylistically sound way that it kept me glued to the screen. It reminded me surrealism and Dadaism which was huge in white cinema and literature at the time. This is early Afrosurrealism, dare I say. We see masterful interaction with atmospheric lighting, symbolic dream sequences, and breathtaking slow dissolves. It has lots of non-linear storytelling which is seen in many different Black indie films, especially from the 90s and it was fun making this connection.

Here’s a brief synopsis:

The film tells the story of a young woman named Martha, played by Cathryn Caviness, who is accidentally shot by her husband, Razz Jackson, portrayed by Spencer Williams himself. As Martha lies between life and death, her soul is caught in a cosmic struggle between the forces of good and evil. The narrative takes the viewers on a spiritual journey, as Martha's soul encounters various characters, symbolizing the temptations and choices she must confront. The film skillfully weaves together elements of Christianity and African American spirituality, highlighting the interconnectedness of faith and culture.

Written by your favorite Black film head, welcome to Nigga Mag.

-M

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The incomparable Ms. Lynn Whitfield 🤍