Oh So Worth a View in Black History ~ Ava Duvernay

 (Erik Carter for The Washington Post )

You know her name, you know her work, her filmography; but what you may not know is the mark she has made on
Black History.

Did you know she is the first African American woman to win Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival, for her movie Middle of Nowhere.  For Selma, she became the first Black woman to be nominated for a Best Director Golden Globe, and the first Black woman to have a film nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.  Her Oscar 1st do not stop there, for she was the first Black woman nominated for an academy award for Best Documentary Feature for her film 13TH.  While A Wrinkle in Time, made her the first Black Woman to direct a film over $100 million dollars.  With When They See Us, nominated for 16 Emmy awards, making her one of only two Black women in the history of the Emmy's to receive multiple nominations for directing.

Continuing on her journey of 1st in Black History, her latest project, "Origin", co-written by DuVernay and Isabel Wilkerson, based on Wilkerson's best selling book
"Caste: The Origins of our Discontent", was so impactful at it's showing at the Venice Film Festival that it received a nine-minute standing ovation.  How significant is this, well, it's a first time a Black American Woman has had a film "compete" for the Golden Lion, the grand prize of the Venice Film Festival, in festival's 80 YEAR EXISTENCE.   

DuVernay's contributions are Oh So Worth a View, because her portrayals of blacks and minorities in a society that does not "see" us, her filmography truly reflects the black and minority experience on a day-to-day basis.  Rather it's in a time of fighting for equal rights and to be treated as human, as with Selma, and it's depiction of  "Bloody Sunday" which portrays the horrific violence by state and local lawmen against peaceful protestors simply marching from Selma to Montgomery, for their rights.  Or fighting for your life in a society that punishes you without proof because justice is not the point, When They See Us, DuVernay's Netflix series is a chilling, and as the mother of two black men and three black grandsons, a scary story of just how swift the racism in this country, supersedes the truth on any given day and when that racism is yielded in the form of a badge, all to often, the lives of minorities, especially men, are left irreversibly scared, reduced and in all to many cases, their lives are taken. 
At the time of writing this post, Origin, her latest film, had a limited theatrical release by Neon on December 8, 2023, in Los Angeles and New York and is set to expand to a wide release on January 19, 2024, which I will most definitely will be seeing.  Bringing modern day and societal racism to the forefront of today's society through a personal journey and the perspective of a "Caste" system, I truly believe Duvernay as the writer and director, is the perfect person to tell this story.

Oh So Worth a View in Black History, Ava DuVernay.  

To learn more about Ava DuVernay and why she is Oh So Worth a View in Black History, please view the sites below to learn about her production company, and some of the films, documentaries and series in her body of work.  

Array, Production Company
Multi-platform arts and social impact collective dedicated to narrative change. 
https://arraynow.com/
https://www.instagram.com/arraynow

I Will Follow
Middle of Nowhere
Selma
A Wrinkle in Time
Origin
This is the Life
13TH
Queen Sugar
When They See Us

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Oh So Worth a Read ~ Jungalow Decorate Wild by Justina Blakeney

 

Posing against my pillows making me feel like I did good with my pillow selections tee hee hee

I LOVE INTERIOR DESIGN...I love interior design more than anything...there is just something about a beautiful room.  So you can imagine my delight when I came across this gem at Home Goods.  If you know anything about Justina Blakeney, then you know her book is everything you need to know for mixing colors, prints, patterns, textiles and most of all, bringing you to your space in a that sophisticated but warm and cozy BoHo way. 

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Starbucks Run Playlist

 

Everyday without fail, I go get Starbucks. Yes, I know how much I spend, but it's cheaper than attorney's fees for

killing the residents at my property. Don't Judge Me!⁠

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Oh So Worth A Taste - Malibu Cafe

Life sized chess board, Jenga, Connect Four, outdoor pool table, corn hole, chandeliers gracing the trees, free photos VW mini van photo booth, even paddle boats for two if you want to impress your date or just have fun.  Malibu Cafe at Calamigos has all this and so much more for you.  Dining, drinking, celebrating anyone?  They have a great bar, lots of space for celebrating, hanging out and spending time with family and friends and they even have special events such as, Puppaween, get it, for the pups and even bring in snow for their winter wonderland event.  It's a great time, but the food and drinks are why it's Oh So Worth A Taste.
Every time I've been here my meal has been amazing and the bartender was my kind of guy.  He kept the drinks just the right mix to keep me relaxed, laughing and wanting more. While the food, there is NOTHING like great french toast and they do not disappoint.
Don't take my word for it, check out their Instagram to see what you're missing, but you can peep my pic below of me and my girls hanging out for my birthday.

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Madge Says: Don’t Stop Believin’ Your Vagina Is A Powerhouse

Madge the Vag: Your Vagina Is A Powerhouse!

I've had three kids, ranging in size from 5 lbs 4 ounces to 9 lbs.  I didn't need to do anything to "grab back" you might say, buuuuuuttttt I also feel like since I've hit my 50's I need to make sure I stay that way. 

Yes, I am terrified of the day I have to wear Depends or any other protective gear.  You're laughing, but when I  had my 8 lb 5 oz baby, I had to get a catheter and I was traumatized cause no told me I might not be able to hold my urine.  I pulled the cord to call the nurse and sat there sobbing because I had literally urinated all over myself while trying to get to the bathroom.   Humiliated, in shock and apologizing for the mess I'd made, the nurse rubbed my shoulder and told explained to me why it happened, catheter, that it was normal and I'd be back to normal in a day or less.  YES I AM TERRIFIED, to this day!  

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Why Straight Women Marry Each Other

ABIGAIL HAWORTH ~ Marie Claire Magazine 07.05.16

Mugosi Maningo and Anastasia Juma's homestead lies among a cluster of hamlets that make up the remote village of Nyamongo in far northern Tanzania. There's no road to their circular thatched houses in the bushland, only a snaking dirt track carved out by cattle on their way to graze. It's early May—the rainy season in this part of East Africa—and the sky is growling loudly. The two women rush to gather crops before the inevitable downpour hits. "My wife and I do everything together," says Juma, 27, a petite woman wearing a fuchsia T-shirt and short braids in her hair. "We're just like any married couple."

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