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The Victoria and Albert Museum Explores the History of Black British Culture

For the last seven years, the Victoria and Albert (V&A) Museum in London has been working with Black Cultural Archives to compile a collection of photographs that document the lives of Black people in Britain. Now with a collection of 118 works by 17 artists, the museum is currently displaying the collection in an exhibition titled “Staying Power” until May 24 at V&A Museum. (A concurrent exhibit runs until June 30 at the Black Cultural Archives in London.) It aims to “raise awareness of the contribution of black Britons to British culture and society, as well as to the art of photography.”

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Al Vandenberg, “High Street Kensington,” 1976, from the series “On a Good Day.” Museum no. E.432-2010. © The Estate of Al Vandenberg / Victoria and Albert Museum, London.

 

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Armet Francis, “Self-Portrait in Mirror,” London, 1964, gelatin silver print © Armet Francis / Victoria and Albert, London

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Normski, “African Homeboy – Brixton,” London, 1987, printed 2011, c-type print. © Normski / Victoria and Albert, London

This post is courtesy of AFROPUNK. To read more from Alexander Aplerk visit afropunk.com

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New Graphic Novel ‘The Legend of Wale Williams’ Set to Be Released Later This Year

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‘EXO’ (Wale Williams)

Check out “EXO: The Legend of Wale Williams,” a graphic novel set to be released later this year – created by Nigerian-born Roye Okupe (owner/creative director at YouNeek Studios). Set in the year 2025, in the fictional Nigerian city of Lagoon (modeled after the Nigerian city Lagos), a young man named Wale Williams inherits a suit with superpowers after his father goes missing and uses the suit to battle against the terror attacks of a sociopathic extremist. Regarding the project, Okupe says: “From the first day I laid my eyes on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoons in the ’80s, I’ve been hooked on superheroes. Since then, I’ve watched, played and read every single superhero-related title I could lay my hands on: movies, comics, manga, anime, graphic novels, animated movies/series, video games, etc. And then in 2008, after noticing there wasn’t a lot of diversity in the genre, I decided to tell a story about a hero from Nigeria. Hopefully, ‘EXO’ fulfills my goal of adding something unique to the industry.” Check out some images below, plus a trailer (based on early animation tests) for the upcoming graphic novel.

This post is courtesy of AFROPUNK. To read more from Alexander Aplerku visit afropunk.com

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Yes, Black People Survive the Apocalypse

Television director Eric Dean Seaton continues to break stereotypes of African-Americans in science fiction and fantasy with his third book in the “Legend of the Mantamaji” graphic novel series.

When people think of superheroes and science fiction, they often imagine the strong chiseled features and extraordinary powers of white male characters. A two-time NAACP Image Award nominee, Seaton wants to remind comic book and sci-fi fans that Black people can be superheroes, too. With the launch of his third book in the “Legend of the Mantamaji” series Feb. 11, Seaton hopes positive representation of people of color in comics will go a long way to shatter stereotypes about Black involvement and interest in science fiction and fantasy.

“Science fiction and fantasy stories give people of all ages something to dream about. What does it say to children when the only heroes they read about are white?” said Seaton, whose television hits include Disney’s Austin & Ally, NBC’s Undateable and Nickelodeon’s Bella and the Bulldogs. “Black people do survive the zombie apocalypse, people of color exist in the future. They don’t have to be the first person the monster eats. And our interests go beyond civil rights and slavery. Our history is incredibly important, but so are our dreams and creative imaginings.”

The third book in the “Legend of the Mantamaji” series finds Elijah Alexander, the last of the mystical knights known as the Mantamaji, beaten and left for dead. Detective Sydney Spencer has just figured out who is behind the mysterious happenings of a new crime ring and that knowledge has cost her dearly. Time is running out to stop the sorcerer, Sirach, who is hell-bent on controlling space, time and reshaping the world in his image.

“One doesn’t have to wait for the ‘big two’ to offer crumbs of diversity when there are great new franchises like ‘Legend of the Mantamaji’ that often put them to shame,” Alex Widen, Brooklyn comic book expert for Examiner.com, said. “This third volume acts as a perfect bookend to this tale of ancient warriors and sorcerers, and one can only hope that there are more legends to come.”

Seaton’s successful series began with the first two volumes in the series being named among the “Top Graphic Novels of 2014” by Examiner.com and Atlanta Blackstar. With Book 3’s release, the early buzz points to Seaton showing no signs of stopping.

Terreece M. Clarke is a freelance writer/journalist for a variety of magazines, newspapers and websites and a rocking’ wife and mother of three. Follow her on Twitter: @terreece!

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5 Ways the Stages of the Moon Have Been Said to Affect Creativity

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Moon and creativity

The Moon and the Zodiac

Many people believe that their zodiac signs have a major impact on their personality traits, but there are also spiritual religions that believe zodiac signs, when understood in relation to the moon, can give a major boost to a person’s creativity. Each sign is unique, and each would be impacted in small ways by different occurrences with the moon, according to Amy Herring’s Astrology of the Moon. In her book, Herring stresses that astrology is a science of “potential, trends, and likelihoods, not fact,” but she also explains the belief that “planetary energies” can impact human energy. For this reason, Herring says people can maximize creativity by learning about how their sign tends to react to the moon.

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Casting Jason Momoa as Aquaman Renewed Excitement for DC Franchise

All respect to the Pacific’s favorite son, Aquaman, and I don’t mean that to be facetious. Yes, Aquaman was the butt of a lot of water-based jokes for a long time, but the character has had a recent resurgence of respectability and, frankly, awesomeness. The I-Guess-We’re-Not-Calling-It-The-DC-New-52 has produced a lot of groan-worthy, controversial and just flat-out not-great books, but one really good thing that came out of it was Geoff Johns writing Arthur Curry back to relevance. Johns has since left the book with a few writers following him, but the Aquaman comic has continued to be of good quality since.

Even while Arthur Curry continued to be a straight white male (OK, fine male Aquarian) superhero in the newest iteration, like the vast majority of comic book heroes from the major publishers, it never raised any alarm bells for me. I mean, this was Aquaman, fam. Dude just got back into the big leagues, I had other diversity battles to fight. Then came the news that Aquaman was not going to be the movie star version of a lean and incredibly handsome white heartthrob who loves the ocean (Lord knows we’ve got enough of those running around Hollywood). Instead we got Jason Momoa, who 14 people might know from playing Conan, but you probably know him from ripping a dude’s throat out as Khal Drogo on Game of Thrones. Or as Daenery’s husband. Surely one of those. At any rate, my first reaction that he was being cast as Aquaman was in the neighborhood of … “Oh.”

Fast forward to the first poster dropping and the Internet losing its collective mind over it. All respect to Kim Kar … I’m lying, I don’t really care, but Jason Momoa’s first poster as Aquaman kind of broke the (nerd) Internet that day. And you know what? It should have. It’s amazing. It also made me realize something — he kind of looks exactly like Aquaman SHOULD look. I mean, we’re talking about DC’s King of the Seven Seas, what is the likelihood that THAT DUDE would be a white guy from Maine? Nah, give me the Polynesian God who fell straight from Olympus and landed in an audition for some role across the Narrow Sea. All of a sudden, because Jason Momoa is in these panel streets lookin’ like Poseidon, let alone King of the Seven, he has instantly become DC’s most intriguing movie character and development (though Michelle McLaren directing Wonder Woman is still a hell of a draw for me).

Read more from William Evans at Black Nerd Problems

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Kanye West Announces Video Game Idea That Will Have Gamers Leading His Late Mother Through Heaven’s Gates

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Hip-hop star Kanye West has been known to incorporate his love for his mother, the late Donda West, in many of his musical projects, but the rapper is now translating that same love into a new video game.

Kanye West’s famous wife, Kim Kardashian, has already used aspects of her life to launch a successful video game, and it seems like West will be embarking on the same mission.

During an interview with Power 105.1’s The Breakfast Club, West revealed that he has been working for months on a video game based on his single “Only One.”

In the song, which features former Beatles star Paul McCartney, West pays tribute to his mother, who died in 2007, in what he says is a conversation between his mother and his daughter North West.

While he didn’t say much about what the game will entail, he did explain what the game’s premise would ultimately be.

“The idea is that it’s my mother going through the gates of heaven,” he said during the hourlong interview. “And you’ve got to bring her to the highest gate of heaven by holding her to the light.”

Outside of that short description and the fact that West said he will be designing the game himself, there aren’t many more details about the rapper’s gaming project.

While he did say he has been working on the project for about six months, he didn’t reveal how much work he had left on the game or hint at any set release date.

The announcement of the new video game comes as a surprise for some hip-hop fans, but West says he has always been an avid gamer and started designing games when he was still in grade school.

Back in 2009, he told Details magazine that the first beat he ever made was actually for one of the video games he was trying to design.

While this latest game has a holy theme with his mother in mind, his first video game idea had a completely different topic in mind — the kind of topic that one might expect from a young boy in middle school.

“The main character was, like, a giant penis,” he said. “It was like Mario Brothers, but the ghosts were, like, vaginas. Mind you, I’m 12 years old, and this is stuff 30-year-olds are programming.”

So while the concept was pretty juvenile, it actually took quite a bit of talent for a young Kanye to make any progress on the game.

“You’d have to draw in and program every little step — it literally look me all night to do a step, ‘cause the penis, y’know, had little feet and eyes,” he continued.

No word out yet on if West ever plans to go back and revisit the penis-themed video game idea.

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9 Awesome Comics Represented at the Black Comix Arts Festival To Add To Your Collection

Last month, The Afronauts launched by attending the inaugural Black Comix Arts Festival presented by the Northern California Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Foundation. The Black Comix Arts Festival’s mission is to celebrate the creativity and subjectivity of African-Americans in the comic arts and popular visual culture, and it included a grand exposition, kids’ activities, special guest artists’ presentations, film screenings, cosplay events and much more. The event was held at the San Francisco Public Library, the Children’s Creativity Museum and City View at METREON. The Afronauts were the only media visibly in attendance, and we were able to interview half of the 28 artists/writers in attendance.

Here are some of the comics we would like to highlight from the event:

‘Siba’:

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Siba is a young girl who is known for her huge appetite, kind heart and loyalty to her friends. Her two childhood best friends, Kevin and Jeff, are troublemakers. They always get into fights, stealing from shops and pulling pranks on people. Together they enjoy their childhood sharing the good times in the neighborhood.

Christopher Garner and Sebastian A. Jones:

‘Dusu’

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Hidden from his kin and sheltered from his future, Dusu is raised among the Galemren (Wild Elves) in the secret heart of the Ugoma Jungle, a world in which he does not belong. But Dusu is not entirely human either. He is on the path to something more. Dusu must focus his rage and become the savior of Ugoma before all he loves is destroyed.

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MECCAcon, Another Upcoming Black Nerd Event to Get Excited About

Conventions are rapidly growing. For supporters of diverse representation in comics, there’s nothing better than conventions dedicated specifically to those ends. A sense of belonging is a curious thing in comics lately, and if you’re on this site you probably nerd hard in the paint and consider representation important. Enter: MECCAcon. You won’t find a better atmosphere and more opportunities to support your favorite writers, read diverse characters and meet spectacular nerds, so it’s obvious your trip to the Midwest should be scheduled for September.

Black Nerd Problems talked with Maia “Crown” Williams, the founder and organizer of MECCAcon, to learn more about your next favorite convention.

Black Nerd Problems: What is MECCAcon?

Williams: Midwest Ethnic Convention for Comics and Arts – or MECCAcon – is a large comic book and artist convention held annually in Detroit. I started developing it October 2013. The primary reason MECCAcon was established was to instill knowledge primarily in the younger art culture. I also wanted to show Detroit that women know about this stuff, too. We read and watch other things besides romantic mumbo jumbo. It is my mission to make sure that children know that all “heroes” do not look the same; that many actually look just like them. It is also important to learn the origin of comic books, what the historical facts come from, and what the word “hero” actually derives from. I am very much into knowledge of self, and I love to share my knowledge, but in a fun way. Children in all communities love comic books and art. Unlike many “comic cons,” we don’t focus only on comic books. Art has several mediums, especially in Detroit, and we want to highlight them all. MECCAcon aims to highlight comics, science fiction, steampunk/steamfunk, fine art, music, graffiti, Black speculative fiction, DJ artists, handmade artisans, urban gardening, fashion, African martial arts and more.

BNP: What is the biggest challenge you face organizing a convention like this one?

Williams: Money is the biggest, and being taken seriously as a woman in this business comes second. Funding is crucial in all aspects. All of the finances weigh down heavily, especially for the simple fact that 90 percent of it comes from my own pockets. It can be stressful, and sometimes mentally draining at times. I like to focus on the children’s faces every time I get that moment of “what the hell was I thinking?”

To get information about MECCAcon and read more from Jordan Calhoun, Black Nerd Problems lick here.

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Confirmed Deal Between Marvel and Sony Sparks Rumors of Spider-Man, Avengers Crossover on the Big Screen

For years, comic book fans have recognized Spider-Man as one of the Avengers, but after some complex business deals granted Sony the rights to Spider-Man and his universe in the 1990s, fans feared that a big-screen crossover would never come true. Fortunately, the latest announcement by Marvel and Sony revealed that Spider-Man may finally co-exist with his fellow Avengers in upcoming films.

Spider-Man lovers received heart-stopping news Monday night thanks to a long-awaited announcement from Marvel and Sony.

After months of speculation and unconfirmed rumors, it has finally been revealed that Sony and Marvel closed a deal to bring Spider-Man into Marvel’s Cinematic Universe (MCU).

While they did not reveal which film Spider-Man will make an appearance in, the speculation and guessing games have already begun with most signs pointing at an Avengers-related movie.

In the comic books, Spider-Man joined the Avengers back in the ’90s but has yet to appear alongside any of his super-powered allies in theaters.

This latest deal not only confirms that Spider-Man will be swinging his way into the MCU, but it also revealed that the next installment of the multibillion-dollar Spider-Man franchise will be undergoing a serious creative overhaul.

“Under the deal the new Spider-Man will first appear in a Marvel film from Marvel’s Cinematic Universe,” the statement on Marvel’s website revealed. “Sony Pictures will thereafter release the next installment of its $4 billion Spider-Man franchise, on July 28, 2017, in a film that will be co-produced by Kevin Feige and his expert team at Marvel and Amy Pascal, who oversaw the franchise launch for the studio 13 years ago. Together, they will collaborate on a new creative direction for the web slinger.”

Based on Marvel’s confirmed film release dates, three likely films have surfaced as front-runners for introducing fans to the new and improved Spidey.

He could appear in Captain America 3: Civil War, which is set to be released in May 2016; Doctor Strange, which is set for release in November 2016, or Guardians of the Galaxy 2, which is set to be released in May 2017.

Fans expect that Spider-Man will be joining the patriotic hero himself, Captain America, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

Either way, Marvel is just happy to be bringing Spider-Man to his rightful home on the big screens.

“Spider-Man has more than 50 years of history in Marvel’s world, and with this deal, fans will be able to experience Spider-Man taking his rightful place among other Super Heroes in the MCU,” Marvel’s statement continued.

With Fox and Marvel having a similar deal as Sony and Marvel when it comes to the rights of X-Men, some fans were hopeful that the latest crossover deal could encourage Fox to loan out the beloved academy of mutants.

Unfortunately, there are no signs that this deal is in the works nor is it likely when considering the history between Fox and Marvel.

Sony and Marvel have had a much better relationship than the comic giant has had with Fox, so it could still be quite some time before we see the X-Men joining forces with any other Marvel fan favorites.

 

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10 of The Greatest Black Superheroes Of All Time

Growing up Black and watching Saturday morning cartoons, watching sci-fi and superhero movies was oftentimes frustrating due to the lack of identification with the characters. Often we did not see ourselves portrayed as the superhero. Image is very important to children, and by not seeing superheroes who look like them and always being portrayed as white men has an effect on a child’s self-esteem.

However, to me it seemed that comic books were always a little more progressive than mainstream media. In fact, you can trace the rise of modern Black superheroes to the civil rights movement. For example, the X-Men characters of Professor Xavier and Magneto have even been compared to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. While comics have not been a bastion of diversity, they have offered us some great superheroes to identify with as young Black children, which in turn helped to inspire the next generation of artists to create even more Black superheroes. Today, there are literally hundreds of Black superheroes and heroines across all mediums with the most iterations coming in the form of comics. Here is a list of my top 10 superheroes.

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10. Spawn (Al Simmons)

Spawn first appeared in 1992. A CIA agent devoted to black ops. Once there, he began to question the morality of what his agency was doing. Murdered by his partner in a blazing inferno, Simmons’ soul was sent to hell because he had knowingly killed innocents during his days in the CIA. Simmons made a deal to sell his soul in order to avenge his murder and see his wife. Spawn is ranked 60th on Wizard magazine’s list of the “Top 200 Comic Book Characters of All Time,” 50th on Empire magazine’s list of “The 50 Greatest Comic Book Characters” and 36th on IGN’s 2011 “Top 100 Comic Book Heroes.” Spawn was featured in an animated HBO series, a feature film and several video games.

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9. Spider-Man (Miles Morales)

He first appeared as Spider-Man in August 2011. The inspiration for the character was taken from both U.S. President Barack Obama and American actor Donald Glover. Following the death of Peter Parker, a teenager of Black Hispanic descent, Morales, is the second Spider-Man in the Ultimate Marvel Universe. However Morales isn’t the character used for the Disney XD show Ultimate Spider–Man. However, he does appear in a third season storyline in which Parker travels through various parallel universes and encounters those dimensions’ versions of Spider-Man, including Morales, who is voiced by rapper/actor Glover. “Spider-Man” writer Brian Michael Bendis has stated that he favors incorporating Morales into the Spider-Man feature films. Miles Morales appears as a playable character in Marvel Super Hero Squad Online, Spider-Man Unlimited and Lego Marvel Super Heroes.

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