Author: MJ VanDevere

MJ VanDevere is a doctoral candidate at a predominately white elite institution in the South who uses humor to combat racism, sexism, and all the other –isms that seek to diminish her greatness. She is a self-proclaimed “stand-up snob” who does not have a favorite comedian, so please don’t ask unless you have several hours to spare. Some of her favorite movies include, Life, Dead Presidents, and Happy Feet. If, she could only do one thing for the rest of her life, it would definitely be laugh, and maybe write. Adulting is her greatest work in progress.

“True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality”: Life and Labor of a Freedom Seeker

As founder of the recently constructed “National Lynching Museum,” Bryan Stevenson is committed to yielding the power of narrative. During a talk at the 23rd annual Black American Film Festival in Miami, the lawyer and activist detailed the power of narrative in the construction and continuation of the horrid practices

Teddy Pendergrass: ‘If You Don’t Know Me’ Review

We would be amiss to kick off African American Music Appreciation Month without mentioning the new documentary Teddy Pendergrass: If You Don’t Know Me. In addition to interviews with record executives and other people in the industry, the film features interviews with his family, including his 100-year-old mother. The documentary

‘Tuca & Bertie’: An Animated Exploration of Contemporary Womanhood

Tuca & Bertie is a Netflix animated series voiced by comedians Ali Wong and Tiffany Haddish and produced by cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt (BoJack Horseman). The series follows the titular birds’ friendship and their radically different approaches to navigating life as women. Bertie (Wong) is a mild-mannered young professional who struggles

The Digital Disruption of Visual Art: A Much Needed Revolution in the Making

By MJ VanDevere and Doug Alston, co-founder of JARO Media Services   Many of us know Swizz Beatz (Kasseem Dean), the legendary producer behind sounds from some superstars like Jay Z. You may not know that in addition to his musical prowess he is an avid art collector. Beatz is

Review: ‘The Chi’ Returns For Its Second Season

After what felt like too long of a hiatus The Chi has returned to Showtime and does not fail to disappoint. With unexpected twists and turns and the deepening of relationships between our favorite characters, The Chi reminds of us why we fell in love with the brainchild of the

We Need to Talk About ‘Black-ish’

As it finishes up its fifth season, the sitcom black-ish has solidified itself within the televisual landscape as a landmark project. It has won over two dozen NAACP Image awards since airing in 2014. Yara Shahidi (Zoey) has successfully landed her own spin-off, Grown-ish, where she serves as the series’

Guava Island: The Relationship Between Art, the Artist, and Community

In his latest venture, Guava Island, Renaissance man Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino) shares the screen with Rihanna and Letitia Wright (Black Panther) to bring forth a tale of black cultural expression and the power of art. Guava Island tells the story of musician Deni (Glover) and his passion for

‘The Last O.G.’ Returns for a Second Season

The Last O.G. kicks off its sophomore season right where it left off, with lovable lead character Tray (Tracy Morgan) navigating a city that is no longer the same, and his new role as a father to teenager children he has only just met. This time around, however, Tray tries

‘Juanita’ Review: A Black Woman’s Journey Outside Her Comfort Zone

Starring the often underrated Alfre Woodard, Juanita follows a single mom who works long hours as a nursing assistant at a senior citizens home to support her grown, slacker children. One son is in jail in a kind of “wrong place at the wrong time” scenario, the other is on

Tune In To Netflix’s ‘Turn Up Charlie’

Executive produced by and starring Idris Elba, Netflix’s Turn Up Charlie follows once popular DJ, Charlie Ayo (Elba), whose fall from fame eventually lands him the inadvertent position of nanny for his childhood friend, David (JJ Field). The story takes place as David, a famed Hollywood actor returns to London

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