Midwest BSFA member Napoleon Maddox is in France for the foreseeable future (thanks, global pandemic! *side eyes*), but that hasn’t stopped him from doing his thing, content wise. He has been working on a radio show called Bestown State of Mind. Last week’s episode celebrates the May birthdays of and links between Toussaint Louverture, Malcolm X and Sun Ra. Check it out!
For more episodes of Bestown State of Mind, visit www.mixcloud.com/napoleonsolovox.
It’s back! Midwest BSFA member Napoleon Maddox leads The Deconstruction Period performances during the Underworld Jazz Festival at MOTR Pub on May 25 & 26! Continue reading “The Deconstruction Period is Back!”
Midwest BSFA member Napoleon Maddox is looking very steamfunk in this photo! You can hear about the backstory for Twice the First Time, his new show at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, during a free talk on Feb. 21! (The performances of Twice the First Time are Feb. 22-24.)
I love performances that keep me thinking about them long after they’re over. I alluded to this here on the blog when I saw Dana Michele: Yellow Towel and Okwui Okpokwasili’s Bronx Gothic at the Contemporary Arts Center. It recently happened again after I watched Napoleon Maddox workshop “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine” at Chase Public last week. Continue reading “Musings on A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine”
“Just waiting for the dominant culture to bestow equality, recognition, and acceptance upon marginalized groups is a sucker’s bet.”
That comment was made on a story about the launch of the “People of Colo(u)r Destroy Science Fiction!” Kickstarter campaign from earlier this year. It was in response to someone else on the thread saying that being “gimmicky” is fine until you’re too gimmicky and then you “become BET.” (As if diversity and inclusion are “gimmicky.” *scoff*) I’m a firm believer in the importance of supporting the projects you’d like to see in the world so nonsensical statements like this one don’t phase me. I’m just going to keep putting my money where my mouth is. If you can afford it, you should, too. Here are a few more projects I’m supporting as we head into 2017. Continue reading “Projects I’m Supporting, Part Deux”
We recently talked to Midwest BSFA member Napoleon Maddox about his Dec. 18 event “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine,” a performance that will merge the real lives of Millie-Christine McKoy (subjects of his upcoming show, Twice the First Time) with Octavia Butler’s science fiction character, Dana, from the novel Kindred. Continue reading “Napoleon Maddox Talks About “A Dance Between Dana Franklin and Millie-Christine””
In August, members of Midwest BSFA participated in a music video for rEVOLUTION Cincy’s newest song and the team is having a viewing party on Oct. 1. rEVOLUTION Cincy is a movement to encourage citizens to think about the issues that are important to them, to communicate those issues, and then to take personal action. The motto: Be the Change You Wish to See. Continue reading “rEVOLUTION Cincy Video Premieres on Oct. 1”
That’s right, it’s our anniversary! A year ago today, I posted the first entry on this blog and started working on something that has become near and dear to my heart. Midwest Black Speculative Fiction Alliance has allowed me to indulge in programming and conversations that have expanded my imagination and fed my spirit. I can only hope that it’s done the same for our members and those around us.
Midwest BSFA member Napoleon Maddox talks to jazz musician Graham Haynes about Afrofuturistic music ahead of IsWhat?!’s next installment of “The Deconstruction Period” at Woodward Theater on May 23.
Continue reading ““We Create. The Labels Come Later”: Graham Haynes on Afrofuturistic Music”
Jazz musician Graham Haynes, son of legendary jazz drummer Roy Haynes, will guest conduct the next installment of The Deconstruction Period on May 23 at Woodward Theater in Over-the-Rhine (Cincinnati).
Continue reading “New York Jazz Musician Graham Haynes to Participate in The Deconstruction Period”
