]]>How do you deal with the fact of not fitting to the norm? When you’re black and live in a world designed for men and white people? When you don’t look French enough although you feel every inch Parisian? How do you make the world acknowledge who you are?
THE VIDEO IS BELOW
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During a stopover in Palo Alto, I took a side trip to Stanford where the African and African American Studies Department was hosting its annual St. Clair Drake Memorial Lecture.
The guest speaker was Nate Parker, first seen a few years ago with Denzel Washington in The Great Debaters. He came to screen his first full-length film and present his militant stance with strong and unequivocal statements.
Referring to the permanent “state of emergency” in America, he cited the murder of young Mike Brown in Ferguson, the prison system that disproportionately jails Blacks and concluded with his long-time hero, Nat Turner.
Nat Turner is the main character of The Birth of a Nation. His name may be relatively unknown in France but he is by no means a fictional character. This slave, a hero of the Black struggle, organized a slave uprising in 1831. Nate Turner’s film tells the story of that bloody uprising.
The title of the film deliberately echoes the D.W. Griffith movie, well-known for its depiction of the abject state of the racist ideology that flourished in the U.S. at that time. To ensure that his film would be seen by the greatest number of viewers, especially high school students, Nate Parker refused Netflix’s financially attractive offer to finally settle with Fox Searchlight.
Like most of those at the conference, I was impressed by the powerful presentation of this committed actor whose sharp reserve is more remiscent of media personalities.
Let’s hope this film will shake up the white consensus that has pervaded the Oscars for the past few years and obtain its due in the 2017 ceremonies.
]]>As your network correspondent in the US, I’ll keep you posted on goings-on in the heart of African American culture and will bring you exclusives on the biggest events through reports from New York, interviews and conferences, like for example, the one I took part in at the iconic Apollo Theater in Harlem. I’ll also take you inside the BET Studios in Washington and backstage at the network’s most important ceremonies like BET HONORS, coming up in March.
I’ll tell all about Martin Luther King Day and Black History Month. You will also be introduced to celebrities on a regular basis.
As usual, you can watch me on BET presenting exclusive documentaries.
BET BUZZ – Monday through Friday at 8:10 PM All the lifestyle and celebrity news presented every week by RAPHAL, HEDIA and myself.
LES DOCS INEDITS – every Sunday at 9:05 PM Every week, a new BET exclusive documentary presented by ROKHAYA
]]>Dr Eddie Glaude, Jr, , Ph.D. – Author and Chair of Princeton University’s African-American Studies Department and Taylor Branch – Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, author and historian best known for his award-wining trilogy of books chronicling the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, were among the panelists. AT the standing room only event, our moderator, Brian Lehrer, asked each of us to share our views on racism and white privilege.
It was a magical moment!
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We were undecided about the cover photo but my editor came up with the idea to have Brigitte photograph me and use my head shot as the cover. Taking into account the subject of the book, I had to put my hair in the best hands.
I made an appointment at my favorite salon, Polished Haircare where they know how to treat all types of hair. As unlikely as it seems, it’s a real trial to find a good salon for curly or kinky hair in Paris in 2015. Polished Haircare is where I located knowledgeable professionals for both treatment and styling.
On the day I went, Nicole Pembrook, hair stylist and salon owner, after an Aveda oil treatment, created a voluminous style for the book cover. One of the advantages of curly hair is that it can be worn short or straightened to play with its length.
My Hair finished, I went to the famous Make Up Forever, that created the Black Beauty Academy whose make-up artists are trained to bring out the best in black and non-white skin. The blogger, Fatou N’diaye was instrumental in its creation.
Fanny Miosotis was waiting for me at the shop located on the rue des Francs Bourgeois.
Noticing that I don’t use make-up very often, she chose a light and natural look. It was right in line with the Afro! spirit. You be the judge.
]]>A year later, Sunday August 9, activists from around the country came together to remind the world of the banal cruelty of the loss of hundreds of Black lives, snatched with impunity in a most brutal and inhuman manner. Between emotion and reverence, in a heavily spiritual atmosphere, grave faces surrounded the families of victims of police crimes.
Several hundred people, some young, some not so young, Americans of diverse origins, all observed four and a half minutes of silence (a painful echo of the four and a half hours that Michael Brown’s body laid on the ground when no help was allowed near him) before going to the Greater St. Mark’s Church.
That same evening, the Police shot another 18 year-old boy.
The next morning, during a peaceful demonstration by church representatives, there was a massive and incredible arrest of 57 people including Dr. Cornel West and my friend, the activist Rahiel Tesfamariam.
I’ll keep you posted on the latest this week-end in my latest article for REGARDS. I’ll also tell you about women activist who are making a difference – the Rosa Parkses of today – in an upcoming issue of the French ELLE.
Translated by Alberta Wilson
]]>The launch party brought together Lilian Thuram, Zinedine Souaem, Inna Modja, Imany, Françoise-Marie Santucci and Katell Pouliquen from Elle, Kery James, Juliette Fiévet, Sebastien Abdelhamid, Aya Cissoko, Aïssa Maïga, Fatou Ndiaye from BlackBeautyBag, Awa Ly, Raphal Yem, Princess Esther Kamatari, Chrystèle Saint-Louis-Augustin, Kareen Guiock, Eriq Ebouaney, Lucien Jean Baptiste and Anasthasie Tudieshe among many others!
Black Spoon catered the affair.
Big thanks to Phyto Specific and Nuhanciam for their help.
]]>Since you are reading these lines, I know that you know who I am – a committed journalist and author, especially passionate about equality.
Until now I have expressed myself on TV, on the radio, through my books and documentaries and even most recently in my graphic novel, “Pari(s) d’amies.” I want, first of all, to thank you for supporting me throughout the years – time flies, right? With RokMyworld I have something a little different for you.
Interacting with you on social media made me realize that some of your questions have gone unanswered. I get tons of questions covering a wide range of subjects that I often discuss. You frequently ask me about this book or that film related to issues that I’m committed to – or not – or you want to know how people in other countries react to my views.
On a personal side, you want to know who my hair stylist is. This is a crucial question in a country where very few stylists know how to properly maintain natural hair. Maybe you want to know where I bought my earrings or where I found the dress I wore in my last appearance. At RokMyWorld, you will find my political and social positions, my city guide including, My news, MY culture, MY fashion picks along with my outings and culinary discoveries.
Rok is my nickname that I’ve had forever and my world is of course, your world too. The now world! My blog is not mine alone but a shared platform where experts from many walks of life will give their tips and points of view. Names coming soon… Guests will stop by to make their contributions on subjects that we are interested in and it goes without saying, your comments will be posted. I hope my blog will be the place where you and I can get to know each other better and share our ideas and interests.
Looking forward to seeing you in my world and don’t forget to sign up that’s the only way to stay connected.