Exercise Your Creative Control

I would like to start this review with a bit of honesty – keeping it completely one hundred, as they say – I do not really understand the platform/content of the site I am about to review. Not all of it anyway. And more important, I don’t like some of it either. But what I do like, I love, and all of it is something that I appreciate and find refreshing. But I am getting ahead of myself, so let me start with the basics.

Creative Control is a website co-founded by music video directors Coodie and Chike, the creative minds behind Kanye West’s first video “Through the Wire” along with Erykah Badu’s controversial 2010 video “Window Seat.” The site is a part of the DD172’s portfolio, Damon Dash’s umbrella entertainment company. Read more

The Era of The Black Video Mixtape

I am a huge believer in independent black film and media, if for nothing else, because I think that it allows black folk to create media that speaks very specifically to our varied realities. At the moment, I feel like black filmmakers are on the cusp of a renaissance, in no small part due to the internet. Rather than wait for another studio to endorse and distribute our content Read more

The Make-up Myth: The Introduction

Masters of the lie, the visual lie.

Look at you.
You got on heels, you ain’t that tall.

You got on makeup,
your face don’t look like that.

You got a weave, your hair ain’t that long.

You got a Wonderbra on,
your titties ain’t that big.

Everything about you is a lie,
and you expect me to tell the truth?

F*ck you!
~ Chris Rock, Bigger & Blacker

Okay, that’s a bit much but it lies adjacent to a different point that we here at AfroThought have been meaning to tackle. Recently an associate expressed befuddlement that guys always approach her when she feels she is not looking her best or at least not presented in a way she would prefer her first impression to appear aesthetically. She gave an example of an instance when she was approached while she had no make-up on. We doubt she was busted, but apparently she didn’t expect to be seen. Conversely, whenever she is out on the town looking like a “vision of perfection” from her “hair follicles to her toe nails” only the C-team steps to her. We figured we should clear any misconceptions over this image phenomenon by presenting our perspectives.

The Gentleman’s Thoughts

The Genius’ Thoughts

The Prophet’s Thoughts

Behind the Ground Zero Mosque

posted courtesy of Mind the Brain

Blow Me! Sincerely, Vuvuzela

As I understand the saying goes “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” The vuvuzela is a horn approximately one meter in length, commonly called a “stadium horn” and blown by spectators at soccer (football) matches in South Africa. The horn can reach volumes of 127 decibels and can cause permanent damage to unprotected ears. But seriously, they aren’t that crucial. Read more

Is it me or…?

DISCLAIMER: Clearly this is particular to my experience and I don’t mean everybody. But I’m in the heat of the moment and I want to generalize. Besides, if majority rules…

I am officially disappointed in everyone. People really suck, and no, I’m not jaded. People just never make sense. I’m so angry about this, because I see the logic in each situation. I am a reasonable person. I have a good grasp on reality. When I screw up, I’ll say so; and when people screw up, I’ll say that too. And when people just fail, it continues to disappoint me and makes me realize more and more how much people… well… suck. Read more

Love and Shoes

It is not easy picking out the right pair of shoes.
There are quite a number of things one must consider…

You are in the shoe store and become overwhelmed with the vast variety of shoes on display. There are almost too many shoes to choose from: different colors, different fabrics, different heels, flats, stilettos, boots, sneakers, etc….and of course different prices! Some are intriguing, while others do not interest you in the very least. Read more