Black is the New Black
A documentary by Yvonne M. Jones
(Coming in January 2011)
Whatever happened to Jheri curls? For that matter, where did pigs feet go? Has anyone worn a dashiki recently, bragged about their Indian ancestors, or used The Green Book to find a safe place to eat down south lately? Anyone? Bueller?
In the last century, many cultural phenomena once commonplace in everyday black life have either vanished or are teetering on the brink of extinction.
This isn’t always a bad thing. (Does anyone really miss lynching? Or the sharecropping system? I didn’t think so.)
Though it can be a sad thing. (Sorry, but I do miss the days when inner city black girls ruled double dutch. But the teams from Tokyo are tearing it up!)
Or maybe the jury’s still out? (In this economy, I have a feeling the rent party is due for a big comeback.)
As we settle down into a millennium, with a biracial American president, Black is the New Black celebrates, eulogizes, or kicks to the curb once integral features of African American life in the 20th century that are gone or on their way to disappearing forever. Things like:
- afro picks
- affirmative action
- the black newspaper
- the tragic mulatto
- black farmers
- the chitlin circuit
- the one drop rule
- kente cloth
- the numbers
- The Klan
- blaxploitation films
- the paper bag test
- chains and door knocker earrings
- large black singers in the studio, slim tone-deaf divas on stage
- running away to Paris to be black and artistic
- economically mixed all-black neighborhoods
- Pullman porters
- skin bleaching cream
- black disenfranchisement
…and much more.
With a unique blend of reverence, “tell it like it is” attitude and a healthy dash of humor, this entertaining doc promises to give vanishing Afro-Americana a historical perspective. In-depth interviews will mingle with a fast-paced display of memorable imagery, graphic technology and soulful music, transporting the viewer to times and places that may gone–but should never be forgotten.
Got something to add? Want to be featured in the doc or know someone who should? Contact me ASAP at yvonne (at) yvonnemjones.com so we can go black to the future
