What Directing My First Short Film Taught Me About Black Stories
I’m a junior in college studying film production. This year, I accomplished something I’ve been wanting to do for years: produced a short film written and directed by me. The film was made as a thesis/final project for my Film Production minor. And now that I’ve wrapped production, I’ve learned so many things that only […]
Tina Turner’s Freedom Of Expression Taught Me And The Black Women In My Life To Be Unapologetic
So I was scrolling through my Twitter feed — as I typically do when I wake up in the morning — and I came across an update in my notifications. “Tina Turner among artists being considered for induction into the Rock & Roll hall of Fame”. I was flabbergasted. I couldn’t even take the moment in because, in my mind, […]
Tips to Bag Your Quarantine Bae — and A Cuffing Playlist
It’s primetime for the cuffing season, as we begin to enter the season of love and a true day of passion, Valentine’s Day. Whether you already have a bae in mind or you’re dealing with your singledom as the holiday slowly arises. This is the perfect playlist to either get in your feelings or cozy […]
Sneakin’ and Geekin’: Three Grown AF books From My Childhood That I’m Re-Reading As An Adult
As a child, reading books was one of my favorite activities. On the weekends while my friends were playing outside, I loved reading chapter books in my room. Weekly trips to the school library and receiving a summer reading list were the highlights of my elementary and middle school experience. I went so hard that […]
Keama Official Sits Down With Temple Indigo
Preserving culture rests on the shoulders of artists. No matter the kind, whether orators, painters or designers, the stories that we tell create the culture that we embrace. It’s not created in department stores or on runways – it’s in our DNA, our hair, our skin, our homes and our places of worship. We have […]
One Thing From 2020 That Should Keep Going? Black Women Winning
We made it out of 2020. Take some time to sit with that. Celebrate. You survived! Now that we’re past that whirlwind of a year, some people may want to forget it altogether. Others may look back on it and only see dismay and chaos. Being on “the other side” might make you want to […]
These Black Women Are Disrupting Fashion While Reminding Us That We’ve Always Been The Blueprint
When it comes to trends, whether in beauty or fashion, Black women have always been the blueprint. We’ve created and worn styles worthy of runways far before we ever gained access to them. Black woman designers are continuing to set the tone for what’s fashionable while centering their cultures and identities. And, increased access via their social […]
How SZA’s ‘Hit Different’ Came For My Life…and My Entanglement
I ain’t even gone hold ya….I’ve been craving an emotional connection that my casual partners do not provide me. I’m very keen on defining relationships and not crossing boundaries. If we have discussed our situation and have determined that we are just fucking, then we just fucking. Lol. Of course, we can have conversations outside […]
Celebrate Every Black Woman Or Leave Us Alone: Music, Awards & Palatability
Music genres — like award shows — have a history of boxing in mainstream artists, while excluding alternative artists. Within the last few years, genre-benders have forced nomination boards to develop new categories that accommodate their unique sound. And while these categories allow for a little more wiggle room, they still have an undertone of palatability. Between the media […]
Temple Tunes: The Playlist for Manifesting into 2021
2020 has been beyond overwhelming and is notably one of the most tumultuous years I’ve ever experienced. From the beginning of a pandemic to the loss of so many legends like Chadwick Boseman and Kobe Bryant, this year has brought a wave of emotions. But even amid the chaos, there is still room for positive […]