Author Archives: BlackBook

BlackBook Premiere: New Papi Shiitake Video For ‘Enjoy The View’ Deals w/ More Serious Pandemic Matters

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The artistic fallout from the coronavirus crisis seems to genuinely be upon us right now, as we’ve recently debuted new tracks/videos that have to do with isolation (Golden Aquarians’ “High Enough”) and PPE (iDKHOW’s “Leave Me Alone”). But the video for Papi Shiitake‘s “Enjoy the View”—which BlackBook also premieres here—confronts an even more serious aspect of the crisis.

The new project by Best Behavior frontman Alex Gruenburg (along with co-writer/musical-conspirator Ryan Sieloff), Papi Shiitake’s new single is cool, alt-surf-rock, with artful, tremolo’d guitars, and a languid, hip-hop beat. But the accompanying clip shows Young Tuxx—who is actually Gruenberg, in alter ego mode—and his muppet pal Lil Tuxx (everyone should have a muppet pal during quarantine), dealing with scaring up enough money to pay the rent—though it’s all handled with a sly sense of humor. To wit, a fake newspaper headline blares, Happiness For All! Global Warming Reversed. Hunger Eliminated.

 

 

It shines a light on the plight so many are facing right now, as potential eviction numbers mount, due to the high joblessness rate. No one, from the states to the federal government, seems to have a workable plan to deal with it.

Gruenburg himself has been isolated in Brooklyn since the lockdown went into effect in March, but has also been busy playing chef and running Toki Toki, a vegan Korean barbecue stand at Bushwick’s beloved Tradesman bar. And regarding more serious matters, the Papi Shiitake track “Born As Lovers” appeared on a recent Rough Trade Black Lives Matter benefit compilation.

He gave us the lowdown on the lead up to “Enjoy The View.”

Where have you been and what have you been doing during quarantine?

I’ve been in my Brooklyn apartment for most of quarantine, I started living alone right before the pandemic hit. In a strange way the isolation has been extremely liberating, and that’s where most of the content for our upcoming EP Quarantine Dream comes from.

Is there a significance to the name Papi Shiitake?

I was actually on a trip to Colombia, staying with a family that grew shiitake mushrooms in the mountains outside of Bogota. The name Papi Shiitake came to me and it seemed perfect for this project. People love to say it.

Is it a long term project? Will there be a full album?

Most definitely. The project kind of came out of nowhere, but we’ve already recorded multiple records’ worth of material. We’re hoping to put out our first full length early next year.

Why did you create the alter ego Young Tuxx? What part of you does he represent?

Young Tuxx was born in the ice bath. I did a session with Wim Hof, who can withstand incredibly cold temperatures with the aid of a breathing technique. He had us submerge in these ice pools and when I emerged I felt a new spirit within myself. My heart became a diamond formed under pressure and I became Young Tuxx.

 

 

What is Lil Tuxx like?

Lil Tuxx is honestly one of the coolest people I’ve ever met. People love to see him on the street and hang out with him. We both like to have a good time, which is probably why we get along so well. After the shoot I really missed him. Hope he comes back for a live show.

The video is about trying to come up with the money to make the rent. Do you think we’re not talking enough about how many people face eviction as a result of the pandemic?

Absolutely. People were barely making rent before the pandemic in NYC. Not everybody has the luxury of leaving the city for the suburbs. If we want to save New York City we need to start with the people of New York City. The same applies to the rest of the country.

What is your assessment of the way this country has handled the coronavirus crisis?

It’s a huge bummer, isn’t it? Really thought the US would band together more to fight this. Look how Europe and Asia are handling it. They will definitely be having live shows before us. I’m jealous.

Give us a quick encapsulation of Toki Toki.

I love to cook and I absolutely love Korean BBQ. I’m not vegan, but I realized that I’ve never had any good vegan Korean BBQ. So I came up with a recipe for vegan bulgogi and people started to really love it. Toki Toki is being served at Tradesman, one of my favorite bars in Brooklyn. Stop by and have some onigiri!

 

Revelation: Stormy Daniels Wants to Talk to You About How Much She Loves Horses

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After months of endlessly going mentally, emotionally and psychologically off the rails, god knows we need every bit of joy we can get right now, however unexpected it may be. And though it was likely no one could have even imagined spending an evening chatting about horses with Stormy Daniels, it might just be a perfectly reasonable way to yank us away from the madness for a bit.

Ms. Daniels is, of course, the adult film star whose unfortunate encounter with a pre-presidential Donald Trump made her very, very famous. Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who was said to have made a hush payment to her, wound up in prison; and her attorney Michael Avenatti was subsequently indicted for fraud.

But Stormy, who it turns out is an accomplished equestrian, stands decidedly with her dignity intact—and in fact is now featured in a new book fittingly about equestrian adoration. And this Thursday, August 20, the venerable One Grand Books (of Narrowsburg, the Catskills) will host an event via Zoom which will bring Stormy and author Sarah Maslin Nir together for a lively discussion about the latter’s new book Horse Crazy—which bears the delightfully charming subtitle The Story of a Woman and a World in Love with an Animal.

 

 

Maslin Nir is a NY Times reporter and Pulitzer Prize finalist, whose 2015 exposé on the manicurist business caused more than its share of controversy. But Horse Crazy wants only to celebrate our universal infatuation with one of the world’s most beautiful and loyal creatures, of which there are two million in the US alone. So Thursday’s event is obviously an absolute must for horse lovers—but also for anyone for whom spending an hour with two such fascinating women, talking about such exquisite animals, would prove an ideal antidote to all the ugliness taking place around us right now.

“I think one of the most fascinating things about the love of horses is that these animals—despite the elite trappings that surround them—are themselves democratizing,” offers the author. “In my book I ride with black Texas cowboys reclaiming their legacy, Indian cavalry officers across Rajasthan, and swim rare Marwari horses in the sea with an English socialite.”

And of her upcoming Zoom accomplice, she enthuses, “Stormy is a horse girl at heart, and I instantly bonded [with her] over these animals.”

No surprise, whenever Daniels posts a picture of one of her steeds, the lascivious jokes follow—to which she characteristically replies: “He’s not my type, I prefer thoroughbreds.”

Cost for the 6pm event is $24 , which includes a free signed copy of Horse Crazy (regular price $28). A Zoom link will be sent to ticket holders.

 

One Grand Books, Narrowsburg

Exclusive: Loupe Artist Caison Wang’s Cultural Guide to Shanghai

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Caison Wang, Regression

 

 

America’s relations with China are in a particular state of tatters—and it’s hardly even worth recounting exactly who is responsible for that situation. And with the TikTok ban imminent, don’t expect the outlook to get any rosier any time soon.

But art generally has a way of rising above the political clatter, and reaching across the borders/oceans. Of course now, with Americans all but grounded for international travel, the cultural exchanges will all be digital. Which is why the influential art streaming app Loupe has become ever more relevant—especially as its new motion art channel was recently launched, offering a whole new level of engagement with its carefully curated stable of global art talent.

One of those artists is Caison Wang, who studied Stateside in Atlanta, but is currently residing in the creative hotbed that is Shanghai. And as part of a pandemic inspired (meaning, we can’t actually travel right now) new series, BlackBook, in conjunction with Loupe, has engaged her to create a guide to some of her city’s most unmissable cultural destinations—including even where local artists like to go for a good night out.

 

Caison Wang, Surveillance

 

Caison Wang’s Cultural Guide to Shanghai

 

“I am a Shanghai-based artist, focusing on installation and sculpture related to social phenomenon, the human spirit, psychological values and consumerism. I have been based in Shanghai for The Swatch Art Peace Hotel residency since 2019, and it has been an exhilarating chance for me to enjoy a luxury studio in a centuries-old hotel, and meet professional artists from around the world. Creativity and diversity are central to the city; Shanghai is an incredible place to link with the international art market, and has created a new regional culture by absorbing cultures from all over the world.

I started working with Loupe as a graduate student in the United States in 2018. The platform shares many artistic talents to a wide audience, and it eliminates cultural barriers between the public and the artist. I have continued my work with Loupe in Shanghai and believe it is an incredible experience for emerging artists wherever they live and work around the world.”

 

 

Caison Wang, Seven Sins

 

Power Station of Art

On the desolate site of the 2010 World Expo, the Chinese government has transformed an old power station into an artistic gem. Power Station of Art (PSA) is the first state-owned contemporary art museum in China, so while that precludes shows that might be deemed too avant-garde, it is also the main site for the Shanghai Biennale. I think PSA provides the community with an open showground for modern culture, hence removing the gap between art and life, boosting the collaboration and knowledge production between different cultures and art categories.
My first group exhibition titled #HASHTAG in Shanghai was at the PSA. It was selected as one of three winning proposals for the 2017 Emerging Curators Project. I was so excited to be invited by the esteemed curators to exhibit my works “Mechanical Avalokiteshvara” and “Unconscious Hierarchy.”

 

 

Swatch Art Peace Hotel

Peace Hotel is at the center of the Bund and one of the most famous hotels in China. In 2010, the south building was redesigned by Swatch for the artist residency program, in which artists from around the world are invited to live and work on two dedicated floors. Its unique operational concept blends a retail environment with a hotel, workshops and apartments where artists live and work. Gifted artists from around the world are selected by an international committee.
The Swatch Art Peace Hotel has its own exhibition room on the first floor, which features 480 square meters for art exhibitions that are free to the public. Exchanges and interactions among visiting artists are always very lively and there is a lot of idea sharing amongst Chinese and Western artists. “Open Studio” events encourage communication among artists, the management team, the local art community and the public.
I was so lucky to be invited by the program to do the residency for six months in 2019—it provided me with a significant chance of sharing art. This incomparable historical building inspired me a lot in my creation process. During these six months, I learned and shared art, culture and fun with artists from different countries. I extended my research topic “Unconscious Hierarchy”(fig) and built a new installation that was shown during open studio night.
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Square Gallery

A space engaged with pushing the boundaries of contemporary art. I love this art space because it has a unique form—it mutates together with the times it lives in. Initially located in Suzhou in a 900 square meter warehouse, it has hosted over 40 different artists from 15 countries. Since 2015, Square Gallery has held exhibitions and art fairs in China and Europe.

 

 

The Press by Inno Coffee

The Press, built-in 1918, was the first newspaper office of Shenbao for over half a century. In 2015, it was refurbished to become Inno Coffee, and it also retained the architectural imprint of the past. It’s a spacious and impressively renovated café. You could easily spend several hours reading, working, or just hanging out there.

 

 

Bund 18

This is my favorite drinks and dancing place, and I often recommend visitors to go there. Bund 18 was once the Chinese headquarters for the Chartered Bank—it is a historic building, that features the city’s most famous nightlife spots, including Bar Rouge, Mr. & Mrs. Bund, as well as a café and art gallery, all amidst iconic views of the Shanghai skyline.

 

Watch: Pussy Riot are starting…a ‘RIOT’

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It didn’t get much coverage in the States, but last month Pussy Riot’s Pyotr Verzilov was arrested in Moscow, and charged with “petty hooliganism”—though it’s doubtful that the incident was anything but politically motivated.

It landed in the middle of the explosion of protests in America following the surely racially motivated murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis—the aftermath of which the Trump administration is now dealing with by veritably starting the next American civil war.

So, no surprise, Pussy Riot are pissed. And, well, they are about to start their own “RIOT.” Indeed, that is precisely the title of their new single and video, released today. Of course, it totally rips; but naturally, it also has a lyrical message that should have the bad guys turning tail and running away as fast as they can.

 

“yeah sex is great
but have you ever fucked the system
hate to hate
and my religion is resistance
gatorade
the only thing they water plants with
fuck the state
men love when women only whisper”

 

The last line decisively reminds of their relentless message of female empowerment, especially poignant following their recent single “HANGERZ,” which was a fearless meditation on women’s reproductive rights.

If it even need be said, sometimes only a “RIOT” will do.

 

 

Summer ‘Buyout’ Destination: The Catskills’ Eastwind Hotel & Bar

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Obviously seeking creative ways to decisively bounce back from this bottom-line-devastating pandemic, hotels have gotten impressively creative—for instance, those clever “buy now, stay later” programs. And fast emerging is a new “buyout” trend, wherein one assembles one’s most beloved friends and family to take over an entire hotel for a weekend or more. Kind of like a wedding party, except no one has to deal with the responsibility of actually getting married.

Kilkea Castle in Ireland, for instance, can be had for just $8000 a night. Head over to the Continent, and France’s Hotel Château du Grand Lucé is going for precisely double that—and well worth it, we must add. But since Europa remains off limits to Americans now (see what happens when you don’t wear your masks?), we’re obviously inclined to propose something distinctly more geographically attainable.

 

 

Now certainly The Catskills, the sprawling Upstate New York region just about two hours from NYC, is going on about 15 years of steady hype—yet has somehow remained pretty much unspoiled by the usual urbanista plunderers. Perhaps because it is yet still a bit sylvan for pampered cosmopolitan types? But we spent a weekend last year at the casual chic Eastwind Hotel & Bar (located in Windham and new to the scene in 2018), to where you can get decisively away from all those maddening NYC stresses—as well as the heightened social distancing issues—and yet not really want for any of the perks of being in a big city.

And yes, the hotel is now offering two-night buyouts for just $9000 in total. This includes 16 rooms and suites spread over two buildings, plus three Lushna Cabins, should you choose to invite your, um, glamping friends. It’s all done up very stylishly in an aesthetic we could only admiringly describe as Scandi-rustic, far more appealing than all the faux-farm hipsterati stuff that has so blighted Brooklyn these last several years.

 

 

And you could really only be bored at the Eastwind if you wanted to be. Windham Path, Diamond Notch Falls, and Mine Kill Falls are just a few of the ridiculously scenic hiking trails; there is mountain biking, horseback riding, yoga on the lawn, and even an authentic wood-barrel, Finnish style sauna; and, for the foodsters in your group, opportunities for local foraging. There are also two Writer’s Studios amongst the rooms, should you choose to ignore your companions, and instead spend the time finishing your Great American Novel.

“We have definitely seen an increase in bookings over the last few weeks,” says Co-Founder Bjorn Boyer. “People are wanting to get outdoors and enjoy nature, and there are an array of options for our guests such as hiking, biking and fishing. Eastwind provides a quiet place to unwind, reconnect with friends and family, or work remotely. From a contactless check-in to breakfast delivered to your room, we are continuing to do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of our guests and staff.”

 

 

We we visited, we were admittedly most content just playing games in the lounge, or chatting up the bartender over martinis and manhattans. But the Eastwind serves up five-star level breakfasts and dinners in that same lounge area, which can also be enjoyed by the fire pit or elsewhere out on the lawn (though keep an eye out for picnic stealing Yogi Bear types).

Boyer concludes, “Guests who buyout Eastwind can enjoy all of the property’s no contact amenities: cocktails can be delivered to outdoor decks, or even to guests’ rooms…or anywhere they are on the property. Staff can also provide group buyouts with outdoor BBQ dinners prepared over an Argentinian wood fired grill, and served under the stars.”

And considering how much time since March we’ve spent staring up at the ceiling, those stars actually sounding really good right now.

 

BlackBook Premiere: Marieme’s Soulful Cover of ‘A Change is Gonna Come’ is a Rallying Cry For Our Times

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Through the twin tragedies of a global pandemic and the racial injustices brought to light by the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and so many others, Senegalese-American songstress Marieme has been one of the genuine voices of hope in our little corner of the world. To be sure, between her always empowering music, and her poignant words in an essay recently penned for BlackBook, she has reminded us that surely we can come together to overcome whatever and whomever stands against us.

And now comes the exhilarating news that she will be releasing a string of ideologically connected singles throughout the remainder of summer, under the unambiguous banner Songs For The Revolution. The first of these is an impassioned, stirringly soulful update of the Sam Cooke classic “A Change is Gonna Come.” With its inspiring passages like, “There been times that I thought I wouldn’t last for long / Now I think I’m able to carry on / It’s been a long, a long time coming,” it is poignant and relevant right now in more ways than one could reasonably count—even 56 years after its initial release.

 

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“It’s hard to wrap my head around that,” she says, “the fact that not much progress has been made, and that oppression was just rebranded, over and over again. I’ve been profoundly moved by the Black Lives Matter movement in a way that I’m sure many have been moved to take actions, to end racism once and for all for the remainder of our lives.”

Most importantly, she comes at the challenges that lie ahead from a position of optimism, at a time when surely unprecedented levels of pessimism and cynicism hang over our nation like a threatening storm cloud.

“I believe that things will change for the better,” Marieme insists, “because of the visibility and broader understanding that has taken place; and we see things changing already at the core. The reimagining of a better world is going to take Radical untamed love! And self awareness! 2020 has been truly a year of consciousness already, and I’m looking forward to the healing it’ll bring for people who’s lives depend on it! A change is here! You are the Change!”

That’s just what we were thinking.

 

It’s Bastille Day: And Here is a Truly Extravagant Way to Celebrate

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With the modern history of our countries so inexorably intertwined, you’d think France and America would play a little nicer in the geopolitical sandbox. The latter’s Independence Day—which celebrates something the French helped us win—has just come and gone, and the former’s Bastille Day (July 14), which was influenced by the latter, is now upon us. Let’s all get along, no?

Alas, the Stateside tradition of celebrating the turning point of the French Revolution is mostly confined to our major urban areas. And now this insidious pandemic has even made that nigh impossible. But American Francophiles with a taste for more than just a classic salade Lyonnais or simple bavette steak can now get their Gallic on Michelin style, via an opulent new partnership between NYC’s Gastronome Catering—headed by Pop Burger founder Jonathan Weizmann—Studio3, and beloved French elderflower liqueur St-Germain.

 

 

Indeed, the aforementioned three have combined their epicurean and stylistic acumen to create a special Bastille Day gourmet tasting kit, aptly titled Menu du Quatorze Juillet. The exquisite four-course dinner, by venerable Gastronome Chef Alex Ureña, starts with uni & caviar, moves elegantly on to peekytoe crab with avocado, gets serious with roasted chicken avec oyster mushrooms and spinach/parmesan puree, then finishes beautifully and sweetly with an irresistible pamplemousse custard. And all paired with delectable St-Germain Spritz cocktails.

“It was not me alone,” Weizmann explains of its inception, “but it was reaching out and seeking to develop an idea, and then using the potential of the talent, from Studio3 to St-Germain and on to Chef Ureña. This is something deeper than simply a menu; it is about people coming together and creating something unique in this difficult time.”
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The special packaging, by Studio3, is also an essential element of its epicurean/aesthetic appeal.

“It is so important to choose and work with people who are experts at their craft,” Weizmann insists. And Studio3 are amazing at what they do. This luxury meal kit was packaged with TLC…every detail was handled with care and branded to perfection. All the senses are awakened, with the goal of transporting the recipient to another place. In this case, France!”

And certainly, 231 years of ironic distance means that we can, indeed, celebrate Bastille Day luxuriously.

To purchase a Menu du Quatorze Juillet Bastille Day gourmet tasting kit, visit Gastronomecatering.com. At just $250 for two people, it will be delivered directly to your door. And, because why not, it will be available through August 14.

 

National Tequila Day: Three Singularly Sultry Cocktail Recipes from El Tequileño

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Like champagne, tequila has a denomination of origin, meaning that it must be produced in one of five Mexican states:  Guanajuanto, Tamaulipas, Michoacan, Nayarit, and Jalisco, the main tequila producing region, where you can also find the town of the same name. It’s located about 320 miles from Mexico City. And aren’t we all interested in origin these days?

This is at least the most basic of information you’ll need to properly celebrate National Tequila Day, this year landing on Friday, July 24. It’s also necessary to select a sip that exhibits your knowledge and good taste…one of which is most definitely small maker El Tequileño (pronounced “El Tek-Eh-lane-yo”). It has only been available in the States since 2019 (a venture now under the direction of Florida’s Paradise Spirits), though its history reaches back to 1959, when the US and Mexico had, shall we say, significantly better relations.

 

 

And from their smooth Blanco, on to their luxurious Platinum, and further on to their coveted Reposado Rare, the taste and textural spectrum is decidedly impressive…and inclusive.

This August, flying in the face of a pandemic-plagued travel biz, the brand will also open a chic little bolthole, directly adjacent to the distillery, and pithily names the Casa Salles Hotel Boutique. It will feature just 25 rooms, a pool, a spa and restaurant—and is just the sort of place to sub for the stays in charming little palazzos in Florence that we won’t be having.

But for now, with National Tequila Day fast approaching, we asked the good people of El Tequileño to grace us with three of their most interesting cocktail recipes, so that we might celebrate in style—because, of course, we would never do anything less.

 

 

El Tequileño Blanco | Cocktail: La Batanga

Ingredients:
2oz El Tequileño Blanco
1oz freshly squeezed lime juice
Top with Mexican Cola
Method: Coat the rim of a highball glass with coarse sea salt, fill the glass with cubed ice, add El Tequileño Blanco and freshly squeezed lime juice, top with Mexican Cola. Stir with knife.
About: Created by the late Don Javier Delgado, founder of world famous Cantina La Capilla in the magical town of tequila, La Batanga has been the signature drink of his establishment since the early 60s and has always been made with El Tequileño Blanco. It is always stirred with the same knife that is used to cut the limes, as Don Javier would say it added flavor.

 

El Tequileño Reposado | Cocktail: Mango Margarita

Ingredients:
1.5oz El Tequileño Reposado
2oz Mango Puree
1oz Mango Liqueur
1.5oz fresh lime juice
Method: Add all ingredients to a shaker over fresh cubed ice. Shake until ice cold. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with a piece of dehydrated mango
About: Located within the El Tequileño distillery grounds are 14 mature mango trees around 150 years old. These mango trees have a natural influence during the open fermentation process and positively impact the resulting flavor profile of El Tequileño tequila. During the months of June & July the mangos are ripe to pick and we like to create fresh mango margaritas

 

El Tequileño Platinum | Cocktail: El Dragon Rosado

Ingredients:
2oz El Tequileño Platinum
1oz Lime Juice
1oz Agave Nectar
1 whole dragon fruit flesh
Method: Add all ingredients to a blender, add one cup of ice and blend until smooth. Serve in a rocks glassed with a salt rim, garnish with dragon fruit slice and mint sprig
About: Throughout the region of Jalisco, you can find an abundance of a specific Cactus species that produces a fruit that locals call ‘Pitaya roja’ aka ‘Dragon Fruit’. Around the town of tequila there are many of these cactus plants which produce fruit which is harvested during the summer months!

 

Essay: ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ Star O-T Fagbenle on Racial Fairness in the Entertainment Industry

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Since first appearing on the screen in 2002, English actor O-T Fagbenle has been perpetually busy with film and television projects, including starring roles in popular mini-series’ like The Interceptor and The Five. 2017 saw the premiere of the outrageous comedy Maxxx on E4 (now streaming on Hulu), for which he starred, produced, wrote and directed.

In that same year, of course, Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale debuted to widespread acclaim, followed by three wildly successful seasons, with a fourth on the way. In it, Fagbenle plays Luke Bankole, husband of Elisabeth Moss’ rebellious June Osborne—a role which made him a bonafide star in America. Later this year, he’ll appear alongside Scarlett Johansson and Rachel Weisz in Marvel’s much anticipated Black Widow.

At a time when racial divisions have come very much to the fore of the American conversation, he graciously offered to pen an essay on an entertainment industry “system” that is yet still doing a very poor job of offering good opportunities to black talent, both in front of and behind the camera—and how that situation can, and must be corrected.

 

O-T Fagbenle in The Handmaid’s Tale

 

 

On Giving Black Talent the Same Chances

 

I remember coming in for the table read for a big acting job. I went through hair, makeup, through the production office, I met the writers, the writers’ assistants, the producers, the producers’ assistants, I met catering and the drivers and on and on and I didn’t see a single black person. Not one.
I thought to myself… I wonder if anyone else sees this? Is it uncomfortable for anyone else that they can see that the company they work for hasn’t really hired black people behind the camera or any who are Heads of Department (HOD)?  None in sound, or editing, or in the camera department and on and on.
For those of you in the industry, think back on the last job you were on and count how many black HODs there were, or the job before that. Take a moment.. it’s likely to be a quick exercise.
In my career of more than 50 productions (so well over 1000 HODs, writers and other positions of power) I’ve worked with about 10 black people who were HODs, executives or directors. I don’t think it’s for the most part because of racist bastards. I think it’s because:
1. The people in power don’t really notice.
2. They almost exclusively give first chances to white people.
3. They believe that there aren’t many black people qualified for the job.
They are there, but it takes extra effort to find them, often it means taking a risk and the job is already hard enough! It means forcing oneself to not go with the usual practices of hiring and it also means calling it out.
I wonder… why aren’t my white counterparts calling it out as outrageous when they walk around set and don’t see black people behind the camera or in a writing room or amongst the executives again and again? Why aren’t I consoling them as they say how fed up they are with it? Why don’t they insist that the same chances given to the first time white director, producer, DP are given to up and coming black people?
But then I look at myself and wonder why am I not more vocal about it? The truth is – as much as it bothers me, it’s because I’m afraid that there might be repercussions for speaking up. Mainly because well… no one wants to be the squeaky wheel on a team, much less be a lone black person bringing up race. Awks! I’m just trying to get along and be liked! I’m just trying to do my bit as a professional. But me not saying something is… well, a little racist. I’m not talking about the person but the inaction… Bear with me…

O-T Fagbenle in Maxxx

 

In a way it’s irrelevant if any person thinks they aren’t a racist. The question is, do we act in such a way that helps maintain racist patterns in society? In this instance, how am I – O-T – ineffectual in changing the hiring practices of the companies I work for? When I look at my company, or my team of agents, publicists, stylists, lawyers etc., how many black people did I hire? I have a company too. Am I a racist? No.
Do I contribute to racist systems if I’m not hiring/interviewing black people or making noise when I realise the companies I work for are doing the same? Yes.
I think it’s an important shift in thinking. It stops racism being “out there” done by ugly people we don’t know. It means that there is great work to be done combatting racism right here at home. Not amongst racist individuals, but in apathy against racist hiring patterns. How many black people did we interview for that assistant job (assistants often go on to be producers and series writers)? How many did we interview for the HOD job? I’m not talking about giving undeserved jobs. I’m just asking how many people got a chance to interview?
If you’re in the industry maybe you’re like me? Maybe you’ve noticed that the jobs you work on don’t have black HODs or execs or writers or producers… maybe they have one. Maybe you’ve noticed that the agency you work with doesn’t really have many black agents or assistants (because assistants become agents), or the fancy production company doesn’t have black executives.
I encourage you to see racism as a system that either you are actively confronting and working against, or allowing to be the status quo and then, in effect, supporting. Sure creating a mentoring program at your work is a good start. But I encourage you to:
Try harder to acquaint yourself with the great black professionals in the industry you don’t know.
Give an up and coming talented black person that first shot that every single person on set once got. A foot in the door that doesn’t hold the caveat “they got it because they were black” (you had no racial caveat to your foot in the door). Just give someone that same first shot that you were afforded and you may have already afforded others.
It’ll be a great start.

 

Photo Credits:
Photographer: Emily Assiran
Groomer: Stacy Skinner
Stylist: Mindy Saad