Hell No

The Color Purple is an all time favorite of mine, a movie that makes me cry, laugh and smile. The acting is phenomenal and has very good editing. In this particular scene, Sophia(Oprah Winfrey)  is seen in the town center with her children. The cuts in this film are so smooth particularly at 0:20 when Miss Millie(Dana Ivey)asks Sophia if she'd like to work for them. It goes form Millie looking down at Sophia, to Millie looking down at Sophia and Sophia getting ready to turn around and face her. The camera then cuts to a scene of over the shoulder of Sophia eye to eye with Millie. After the eye to eye scene it cuts to a mid shot or two shot including Millie and Sophia. This is now a close middle shot as a white man slaps Sophia for what she said to Millie. It's followed by a mid shot of Swain(Lawrence Fishburne), yelling at Sophia not to do it, it cuts back and forth to a close up shot of Sophia's hand scrapping against the car, similar to when a bull's hooves are scratching against the ground as if he is about to charge. It cuts to a scene of a mid shot of a crowd rushing towards Sophia and the man that slapped her is on the ground. Afterwards a wide shot of a crowd gathering around as Sophia yells and tries to defend herself. The scene ends with a middle shot of Sophia begging the mayor for help which then progresses to a wide shot of the mayor knocking Sophia down.

Interview; Let's Talk Love

Sound Walk

The North Bronx. I was born here. I grew up here, and I live here. I am not sure if I'd choose another place to call home. Vibrant, unexpected and full of culture. The North Bronx is so diverse, people coming from different walks of life all occupying the same space. Many times we as people walk in areas and do not pay attention to the things we see or the sounds we hear, sometimes our headphones die or we leave them at home and we have no choice but to listen to the things that we hear around us. As I wake up I hear the birds chirping. I start my journey by leaving my front door, I am either departed by barking or silence depending on the mood my dog is in. I can hear my neighbor's dog whimpering for attention, followed by the creak of my front gate. I live by a busy main road, full of cars beeping. As I continue on my long dreaded walk to the train station I hear gas station attendants pumping gas and the toot of the buses as they drive by. I hear people shouting, leaving me wondering who has energy this early in the morning. As I get to the train station, I hear people, their conversations and their shoes clicking and clacking. Journey over as I hear the loud rumble of the train approaching. I decided to walk again on my way home, because the morning wasn't as full of energy. I hear the music blasting out of cars. The North Bronx is mainly known for our West Indian population. Although what I hear most is old school reggae and newer school dancehall, there are still hints of reggaeton and bachata. The North Bronx wouldn't be the North Bronx without men yelling "Taxi, Taxi" although very disturbing, that is how I know I am where I am supposed to be. Once home, creaking gate, before I even use my loud keys to open the door, I am greeted by loud barks of excitement. Isn't it good to be home?

Define A Space : Essence of NYC

As an artist, I hope to capture the people of the diaspora in their natural forms, I want to capture them at their happiest, doing things they truly enjoy or things that showcase them with inner peace. I want to use my art to break all the negative stereotypes placed on my people. We are Beautiful! We are Strong! We are Fierce! To quote Kendrick Lamar "My black is beautiful". I want to show my people of the diaspora in a positive light and glorify them. My work will be more Afrocentric and express my people their natural form, their natural bodies, being authentically and unapologetically "melanated". Emphasizing the features I now glorify because before I never understood them. I come from a mixed household my mom being Black and Indian and my father being AfroLatino and White.  I always looked to my dad with his lighter skin and his hazel eyes and wished that I received features like that. I hated the color in me unknowingly and wished for looser curls. Until I decided that I have to embrace every part of who I am, knowingly and lovingly. My creations will be there to inspire self-love and positivity for young or old Black people. As people of the diaspora, we are often put down, shamed and trapped in a box of what we should be. As an artist, I will dismantle the barriers and the stereotypes of what we must be portrayed by accentuating the features that we are taught to hate. We come in different shapes, sizes, and shades. It is time that we bring self-love to the African diaspora and beyond.