#the langston legacy

[pixelnrd]

The years passed quickly, and in no time at all the triplets were turning 6 years old and starting school. Heather and Jenny threw a big birthday party for their trio to celebrate their huge milestone. They could hardly believe that their once-so-tiny babies were so grown up.

#sims 4 decades challenge #ts4 decades challenge #sims 4 historical #ts4 historical #ts4 legacy #sims 4 legacy #the langston legacy #gen 11 #1990s #heather lenowski #jenny prescott #dustin lenowski #quincy prescott jones #ginger prescott jones #jasmine prescott jones

[urnooboo]

obligatory group photos with family and friends!!! god posing people is such a tedious task but the photos are always so adorable and worth it ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

#pleasant legacy #pleasantgen4 #ts4 #the sims 4 #sims 4 #june qian #maeve langston #rio pleasant #lydia pleasant #olympia pleasant #lee qian #friday pleasant #ambrose pleasant #harley pleasant #lance kane #sims 4 cc #ts4 cc #sims 4 edit #ts4 edit #sims 4 legacy #ts4 legacy #legacy challenge #ts4 legacy challenge #sims 4 legacy challenge

[pureundilutedawesomeness]

I've just spent SO much on pen and paper RPGs!!!

2/3 of it was solo RPGs/gamebooks.

REALLY wish I had Vyvanse so I could actually read it all! (I mean, the gamebooks I can handle because each entry is super short and also they're interspersed with skill checks and combats, but)

#ttrpg #call of cthulhu #fabled lands #fighting fantasy #the solo investigators handbook #legacy of dragonholt #four against the great old ones #the wolves of langston

[cowplant-snacks]

Here's another list of sims related content that brings me joy. They're in no particular order and I plan to do yet another one of these in the future (already working on the list).

Legacy and Gameplay Simblrs:

@servegrilledcheese - one word, GOALS! I'm generally inspired by this simmer's aesthetic and gameplay shots. I especially, appreciate the balance of posing and gameplay screenies.

@apricote - cute cartoonish sims that live in a comfy and dreamy world that is muted yet still colorful.

@dreamstatesims - Cute gifs, cool sims, and gameplay that heavily influences me. I love the balance of adult content with wholesome family gameplay. It's perfection to me.

@shoobysims - cartoon style maxis match sims that are so unique and endearing. (Love the contrast of cartoonish sims and periodic adult content!) ;)

@bug-farm - THE COLORS! Distinct sims style that's cartoony and maxis match. I adore the alien sims in particular. <3

@touchmypixels - Love the editing style, the alien sims in particular make my brain happy, and I really enjoy the interior decorating style too.

@bobnewbie - Beautiful sims, fun family gameplay shots, and bright colors. Also, a balance of posing and gameplay shots that I personally really appreciate.

@pixelnrd - the very first simblr story I ever read fully from the beginning. The Langston Legacy has me hooked!

Builder / Interiors Simblrs:

@catsaar - modern builds that are super creative and detailed like this Simchella lot

Mod Creators:

@tianasimstreehouse - regular and occult food mods, I especially love this baked bean recipe and the U.F.O Jam sandwiches.

@hamsterbellbelle - CC creations that BLOW my mind AND bring me such deep joy. Super creative and I'm in awe of how this simmer's mind works.

Townies:

@helloavocadooo - maxis match style sims that are somehow elevated yet fit perfectly in with the EA premades.

@thelastairsimblr - maxis match style townies. I have ALL of them tagged ready to be imported into my game using MCCC.

@simsontherope - the first townies I ever had in my game. I look forward to seeing them pop up in my neighborhoods. Maxis match sims that look like regular everyday people!

CC Creators:

@objuct - maxis match horse CC that is bringing me SO MUCH JOY! Feels like everything is made by someone who loves sims AND horses, perfection!

@warwickroyals - maxis match style meshes that are beautiful and make my history lovin' heart happy!

#I've already started on list 3 #simblr #simblr community #ts4 #I hope these are helpful #im not that good at writing but I tried! #cowplant recs

[halfmoth-halfman]

Can I ask why you hate Sarah J Maas? Genuinely asking

no 💜

anyway, here's the books by black authors i'm reading/re-reading for black history month:

Beloved - Toni Morrison The Source of Self-Regard: Selected Essays, Speeches, and Meditations - Toni Morrison James Baldwin: Collected Essays - James Baldwin (includes Notes of a Native Son, Nobody Knows My Name, The Fire Next Time, No Name in the Street, and The Devil Finds) Parable of the Sower - Octavia E. Butler Between the World and Me - Ta-Nehisi Coates The Broken Earth Series - N. K. Jemisin Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston Black Leopard, Red Wolf - Marlon James The Legacy of Orisha Series - Tomi Adeyemi The Collected Poems of Langston Hughes - Langston Hughes Well-Read Black Girl - Glory Edim The Mead Mishaps Series - Kimberly Lemming The Legendborn Cycle - Tracy Deonn

and here are some resources for donating and boycotting in support of gaza, congo, and sudan:

how to donate an e-sim with #ConnectingGaza

CareForGaza

BDS Movement & BDS Targeted Boycott List

what's happening in Congo: info + resources + how you can help

The War in Sudan & List of Sudanese Fundraisers

#anon #moth answers #answered #we're focusing on supporting the REAL people trying to live through REAL genocide and oppression #instead of asking about the racist authors who steal that oppression so they can rewrite it through a white lens #and water it down with a bunch of enemies to lovers grumpy x sunshine tall brooding monster man romantasy tropes

[kyriat-sims]

Do you have the Patch-day blues?

Patch-day blues: Game not working. Mods not working. S4S not working. Discord help unavailable. It sucks.

Cry unstoppable under your blanket -> Does not help and gives you a wet blanket and red eyes

Drink a lots and lots of wine -> Does not help and gives you a headache

Go for a long walk -> Does not help but you might feel refreshed. Or exhausted.

Kick your computer really hard -> Does not help and your toe will probably hurt

Read a Sims story on tumblr -> Does probably not help either, but you will have a nice time, and maybe feel inspired. Which is a good thing for when things are back to normal. (Because it will be. Soon.)

Reading suggestions under the cut!

Here are some interesting stories. Some I've already read, and some are on my reading list. I'm sure you will like them too.

The Royal Thornolia Chronicles - @theroyalthornoliachronicles

The Darlington Legacy - @aheathen-conceivably

Gosnoll Ancestry - @sims-half-crazy

The Sewell Legacy - @antiquatedplumbobs

The Curse of the Damned - @inlovewithregencyera

The Langston Legacy - @pixelnrd

The Way We Were - @funkyllama

The Mendoza Legacy - @heartblobs

Sophie of Rostock Story - @royaltysimblr

The Ambroise Legacy - @scythesms

If that isn't a long enough list for you, have a look at this site with even more suggestions:

The Sims story Archive

Now, think about how lucky you are. While you are reading these marvelous stories, some modders are working really hard with updating your favorite mods. Bless them!

💖*Hugs!*💖

#kyriat #reading suggestions #good reads #finding simblr stories #historical reads #simblr

[hannahssimblr]

For Simblr Gratitude Day!

This year, 2023 has been a really really amazing year for me creatively. I wrote over 270K words, I started and finished both parts 2 and 3 of Lucky Girl and I started Lucky Boy! When I began writing last year I really didn't see myself at this point, having written so much, having improved so much, and most importantly, having falling completely head over heels for this amazing community

Without the support and amazing feedback from so many people I would have quit a long time ago, but coming here and talking to you guys and being so incredibly inspired by other work is what really pushed me past the finish line. I want to express my gratitude for every single person who engaged with me this year, for those who liked and commented and shared and left me questions and anon asks, and even those who didn't, and just read along in silence - I see you there! You can't hide! Thank you so much.

This graph only shows my top 10, but I reached over 50 countries this year! that's pure mad.

You can see that it's the Americans and the British who really came through for me, and I'm sorry for poking gentle fun at you in my story - I know you are more than semi-automatic machine guns, UFOs & undesirable tourists, you know how it is, we're like the ignored middle child between you two and I'd be going against my cultural heritage if I didn't act up a little bit.

Most importantly I want to thank specific people today! Starting with @armoricaroyalty for making this day happen, and @daniigh0ul for coming up with the idea. I'm really excited to get to know you both much better in the new year & finally find the time to start reading your stuff - I've heard only good things.

to @sirianasims for poking me to join the writers group that has now absolutely swallowed up my free time (in a good way lmao) and for being hilarious and fun and just generally a gorgeous, open and supportive person. I've been reading Siri's story lately and I INSIST you check it out - I'm on gen 3 and completely obsessed by the thought that goes into this, the complexity of the relationships and really sensitive exploration of difficult material.

to @lynzishell for always being so positive and engaged, always taking the time to leave thoughtful comments and get genuinely excited over everyone's work! I'm DUG INTO her legacy, which is still on gen 1 and it makes my day better every single time I see an update from her - and I'm not even just saying that to be nice. It's an honest to god thrill for me to get to read about her characters. I'm beyond excited for what she's going to do in the new year

@mannylikessims deserves a shout out too for writing some of the best and funniest simlit I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time. Those Villarreal kids (and Jacques, obviously) have me on the edge of my seat. I feel insatiable for this story, like, give me more, all of the time. Just shovel it into my mouth. Manny has also brought me to literal tears with her comments. It's rare enough that you meet a reader that seems to truly understand what you're trying to say in your work - like, right to the heart of it, and Manny is one of those people.

I've just recently started reading @rebouks Somnium and Forever In Between (Don't do what I did if you haven't read yet - start with Somnium) and when I say I am HOOKED I mean it. The visuals alone are enough to make me want to burst into tears with the knowledge that I will never wrangle something so beautiful from the game, but you know what, that's okay, because I can come here and sob over Becca's work instead. I'm not even halfway through and I'm already bowled over by the character development, the dialogue, the humour, everything. The only thing I wish is that I had unlimited free time and 0 commitments so I could absolutely consume this work in one sitting, but I guess savoring it is good too.. Thank you Becca for pure inspiration <3

@pixelnrd for The Langston Legacy, a decades challenge which was actually the first sims 4 legacy I ever read - I stumbled across it on my very first day on simblr and I've loved loved loved it every since. The visuals are gorgeous, the story lines are always engaging, and just about every topic under the sun has been covered now. The dedication to accuracy is really admirable, and now that we've reached the 80s I'm genuinely beginning to feel nostalgic. I always find myself wanting more. I'm so much looking forward to the 90s! (And I can't believe you've made it this far, that's an achievement and a half)

Other storytellers and creators I want to shout out are @simstrashkingdom, @bakersimmer @simmysunset @igglemouse @simsstuph - You guys have created some really great stories this year, and I so long forward to reading more!

To @nexility-sims for creating our wonderful writing group (and for pairing with me) I'm dying to start reading your work properly, because even the small bits I've read have been so beautiful.

And to everyone else in the writing group! I know I have so many stories to catch up on, and I'm very intimidated by that fact, but I know that it means that 2024 holds a lot of exciting times! I want to learn from you all and be inspired and support you, so this is the year I'm going to do it <3

#simblr gratitude day #there's so much #so many people to thank #i'm so sorry if i forgot someone i'm overwhelmed

[mogai-sunflowers]

MOGAI BHM- Day 11!

happy BHM! today i’m going to be talking about music and literature during the Harlem Renaissance!

Literature During the Harlem Renaissance-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of Langston Hughes, a Black man with short hair. In the photograph, he’s sitting with his arm resting on the back of a chair in front of a table and a bookshelf. He’s smiling widely and wearing a light-colored long-sleeved collared shirt with thin, vertical white stripes. End ID.]

One of the spheres most influenced and prominent during the Harlem Renaissance was that of Black literature. Black writers began to publish works about being Black in America, about Black pride and stories, about forging a racial and cultural identity, and as Black stories began to become more told on stages, they also began to be told more through literature. 

Magazines were a huge part of literature during the Harlem Renaissance- they were opportunities for Black writers to collaborate and reach larger audiences. Some of the most influential magazines of the era include the NAACP-published The Crisis, and Marcus Garvey’s and the UNIA’s N*gro’s World. Publications such as these boldly discussed racial topics and allowed readers to connect with their own racial identities.

The most famous writer of the Harlem Renaissance, indeed one of the most famous and influential American writers ever, is Langston Hughes. Langston was many things- he was a poet, an essayist, a novelist, and an activist. He is most known for his poetry, but all his genres of writing revolved around racial identity. Hughes is known for saying that Black artists rejecting their racial identity stood in the way of them truly creating Black art. 

Langston’s most famous works include The Weary Blues, a poetry collection about Black jazz and blues musicians and Black life in America, famous for incorporating blues and jazz into his writing as well as Black American dialects. He also collaborated with other famous artists like Aaron Douglas and Zora Neale Hurston on the magazine Fire!!, a bold magazine for Black artists focusing on race, sex, intersections, and more. Hughes wrote about and memorialized the Harlem Renaissance in his autobiography The Big Sea.

Zora Neale Hurston was another very famous writer during the Harlem Renaissance. She wasn’t afraid to write in an explicitly Black way- she wrote in Southern Black dialects, about Black pride and autonomy, and didn’t worry about appealing to a white audience, which earned her criticism for being “too black”- a label she wore with pride. She was also known for writing about colorism within Black communities. Zora wrote famous works like “Their Eyes Are Watching God” and “Barracoon”.

The Harlem Renaissance saw the growing popularity of many, many writers. Other famous Harlem Renaissance writers include Countee Cullen, whose poetry chronicled Black lives in America, Claude McKay, whose famous story ‘Home to Harlem’ detailed the life of a Black soldier, James Weldon Johnson, whose famous poem ‘Lift Every Voice And Sing’ has been set to music, and many, many others.

The Harlem Renaissance left a huge legacy on Black literature.

Music During the Harlem Renaissance-

[Image ID: A black-and-white photograph of Louis Armstrong, a Black man with short hair. In the photo, he’s wearing a white, button up, collared undershirt beneath a light-colored suit jacket and a black bowtie, and he’s playing a trumpet. End ID.]

If there’s one aspect of the Harlem Renaissance that has had the most lasting impact on the world, it is music. Two of the world’s most popular, well-known, and influential genres, jazz and blues, were developed by Black musicians around and during the Harlem Renaissance. Developed in New Orleans, jazz music became an international music phenomenon.

Jazz was fast-paced, exciting, and had a focus on musical improvisation, allowing musicians to come up with their own music on the spot. Blues, a post-war musical genre that focused on slowly, passionately expressing deep emotions and difficult truths, became a staple of music in the Harlem musical scene and the Black musical scene across the country. 

One of the staples of the Harlem Renaissance was a vibrant night life- this included many night clubs where Black musicians played music- as time went on, these night clubs became extremely popular, attracting huge crowds every night. They were a beautiful celebration of Black music, culture, and unity, and clubs like this are what led to the rising popularity of many Black musicians during the Harlem Renaissance.

Some of the most famous musicians of the Harlem Renaissance were Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Gladys Bentley, Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, among many others! Louis Armstrong is famous for songs like ‘What A Wonderful World’, ‘Hey Dolly’, and ‘La Vie En Rose’. Songs like these are still famous today, as are songs by the likes of Bessie Smith and Duke Ellington.

Jazz and blues music were the beating heart of the Harlem Renaissance, and to this day they are some of the hugest genres in the world, cementing the influence of Black people on the world of music.

Summary-

Literature during the Harlem Renaissance heavily focused on Black identity, pride, experiences, and exploring Black life in America

Famous Harlem Renaissance writers include Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, County Cullen, and Claude McKay

Music during the Harlem Renaissance was largely jazz and blues, two Black music styles

Music performances at night clubs sustained the energy and popularity of the Harlem Renaissance

Famous musicians of the Harlem Renaissance include Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Gladys Bentley, and Cab Calloway

tagging @intersexfairy​ @metalheadsforblacklivesmatter​ @neopronouns​ @justlgbtthings​ @genderkoolaid​ @spacelazarwolf​ 

Sources-

https://macaulay.cuny.edu/seminars/henken08/articles/h/a/r/Harlem_Renaissance_and_Literature_fb80.html#:~:text=The%20Harlem%20Renaissance%20brought%20along,to%20signify%20their%20cultural%20identity. 

https://www.biography.com/authors-writers/langston-hughes-harlem-renaissance 

https://www.zoranealehurston.com/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/harlem-renaissance-literature-guide 

https://www.history.com/news/harlem-renaissance-writers

https://www.biography.com/musicians/louis-armstrong

https://www.biography.com/musicians/bessie-smith

https://www.history.com/topics/roaring-twenties/harlem-renaissance#louis-armstrong 

#mogai bhm #mogai #mogai community #bhm #black history month #blm #black lives matter

[wickedsrest-rp]

Name: Jasper H. Langston Species: Spellcaster Occupation: Geology Professor Age: 32 Years Old Played By: Joe Face Claim: Dev Patel

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but probably more the stones than the sticks."

Professor Jasper H. Langston is a geology professor at the University of Maine in Wicked’s Rest. He lives alone at his residence, Langston Manor, at Seven Peaks. Unbeknownst to most people, he is also a spellcaster with a special affinity for earth elemental magic. Outside of academia, he frequently holds solo expeditions into the Mines, hoping to find a friend he had lost so many years ago.

Speaking of so many years ago, Jasper also lost something else, a lot of someone else. As far as he knows, he was an orphan abandoned by his parents and adopted by his uncle, Flint Langston. What he doesn’t know, however, is that Flint, his biological uncle, killed every last member of their family. Why? Because Flint, who was not a spellcaster, believed that magic had plagued their family. Flint believed that the mystic arts were a curse upon their bloodline. Flint believed he was the only one who saw it, who needed to do something, and who had the grit and determination to save their legacy and wrest it from “Satan” himself.

Flint, however, didn’t believe that he had to kill the baby Jasper. It would have been too much for him. So, he adopted the boy, told him lies about his parents, and made sure to always remind him to never go into the Mines. Flint believed that the Mines would somehow seduce Jasper toward magic, a fate that he wanted to prevent so he could absolutely purge the demonic taint of the unholy arts upon their family. Slowly, and little by little, Flint raised Jasper far from magic, believing that he had snuffed out any supernatural flame within the boy, the same boy who would then help usher in a new path for their family, a path far away from the magic their family had practiced for generations.

Unfortunately for Flint, he would not be the only influence in Jasper’s life. Ostracized by his peers for losing his family and for living with his creepy uncle in an equally creepy cabin in the woods mountains, Jasper would inevitably make friends with another outsider, a young girl named Faith. Jasper’s first friend inspired in him a curiosity for the forbidden fruit, and together, the pair went under Flint’s nose to explore the mines. Every Saturday night, after Flint would be long asleep, the children would venture out into the tunnels, until that one tragic time when Jasper lost Faith to the haunting shadows of the mines.

Flint was furious when he found out what had happened. He didn’t care that Jasper, still a young boy, was traumatized by the event, by the disappearance of his friend. All Flint cared about was that he stop exploring the mines. But Jasper would not be denied. Despite being continuously grounded and strictly surveilled by his uncle, he still managed to continue sneaking into the mines whenever he could, trying to find Faith but never really getting any closure, never really making any progress on his own.

So he made new friends, the kind that would make Flint go on another murderous rampage, and started to dabble in magic to try and find Faith, ironically making the old man's fears come true. Jasper quickly found out his affinity for earth elemental magic, though he still had no idea why that was, but could not find an actual mentor to teach him the basics of spellcasting. Most of what Jasper learned, he learned himself. Or through sketchy means and terrible makeshift “teachers.” But he still could not find Faith.

A few months ago, Flint Langston passed away. A few weeks ago, Professor Jasper H. Langston finished overhauling Langston Manor, turning it into a more comfortable lair of sorts to live in. A few days ago, the geology professor reopened the entrance to the mines on the manor grounds.

How long will it take for him to finally find Faith? Or should the question be: How long will it take for the mines to claim him as well? Over time, mountains crumble while hills are raised. Which one will Professor Jasper H. Langston be?

Character Facts:

Personality: Diplomatic, enigmatic, aloof, distant, self-reliant, mediatory, even-handed, fair, indifferent, impartial

Jasper comes from a long line of spellcasters but he isn’t aware of such information because his non-spellcaster uncle, Flint, who believed their magic was a curse on their bloodline, murdered them all, only sparing Jasper who was still a baby back then. 

Jasper lost a friend, Faith, while exploring the Mines, and despite his uncle’s warnings, has kept returning to the Mines to try and find them. It got so bad that his uncle had the mines’ entrance on the manor grounds closed. Upon his uncle’s death, however, he reopened that same entrance to make his expeditions easier and closer to home. So far, zero deaths.

Desperate and obsessed, Jasper recently pursued magic to help him in his crusade to find his friend Faith. Because of his lineage, he has a natural affinity for earth elemental magic, but because he’s taken to magic a little late in his life, and because he’s had no real mentor or actual training, and because his work schedule is hell, he is barely decent at it.

A few summers ago, Jasper dated his fellow professor at the University of Maine, Nancy Go, who teaches business and economics. She still has a key to his place and often spends nights in one of the rooms even without his permission.

He has taken his geology mentor’s daughter as his protégé, even though he’s aware that the girl would rather be a performer than follow in his very strict father’s footsteps.

Jasper has a dog named Val, short for Valentine, who’s a cross between a beagle and a Japanese spitz. Born on February 14, Val has her own room in the manor and is very loud when it comes to strangers but is very docile in Nancy’s presence. Nancy could murder Jasper in cold blood and Val would just watch. 

The H in “Jasper H. Langston” stands for Harlan.

#retired

[pixelnrd]

Life with the newborn triplets was intense, but Heather and Jenny worked as a team. Their days were dictated by routines - feeding, burping, and finally sleeping - all designed to keep everyone happy.

They named their little trio Quincy, Jasmine and Ginger. And as they grew, their needs became more complex. Gone were the sleepy newborn days and Jenny and Heather found themselves exhausted. They reassured each other that things would get easier in time. When the going was getting tough, they would look down and their amazing little trio and remind themselves of how lucky they were and grounded themselves in the moments of sweetness.

Jenny was in her element with the babies, but privately, Heather found herself struggling. She had not fully overcome her grief at her mother's death, and being a mother herself she found herself wishing daily that she could pick up the phone and call - to ask for advice, to ask for help, for her Mom to come over and make the baby stop crying and tell her she was doing a good job. But she couldn't allow herself to break down - she had to remain strong for Jenny, they had to remain a team .

#sims 4 decades challenge #sims 4 historical #ts4 historical #ts4 decades challenge #sims 4 legacy #ts4 legacy #the langston legacy #gen 11 #1990s #heather lenowski #jenny prescott #quincy prescott jones #ginger prescott jones #jasmine prescott jones

[urnooboo]

obligatory wedding photoshoot HAHAHAHA

#pleasant legacy #pleasantgen4 #ts4 #the sims 4 #sims 4 #maeve langston #june qian

[thottybrucewayne]

Thotty's Spring-Summer TBR

To be started

Excluded: Making Feminist and Queer Movements More Inclusive by Julia Serano Darkly: Black History and America's Gothic Soul by Leila Taylor Toward the African Revolution by Fanon Black Disability Politics by Samantha Dawn Schalk and Sami Schalk Notre Histoire: The First Hundred Years of Haitian Independence by Ghislain Gouraige Jr. Sexed Up by Julia Serano The Color of Kink: Black Women, BDSM, and Pornography by Ariane Cruz Flowers for the Sea by Zin E. Rocklyn Against the Loveless World by Susan Abulhawa Miss Major Speaks: The Life and Legacy of a Black Trans Revolutionary by Toshio Meronek Revolution is Love: A Year of Black Trans Liberation by Qween Jean and Joela Rivera Sisters in the Life: A History of Out African American Lesbian Media-Making Editor(s): Yvonne Welbon and Alexandra Juhasz Keith Haring's Line Race and the Performance of Desire by Ricardo Montez Queer Latino Testimonio, Keith Haring, and Juanito Xtravaganza: Hard Tails by A. Cruz-Malavé

To Be Finished

When Chickenheads Come Home to Roost by Joan Morgan Whipping Girl by Julia Serano Black Trans Feminism by Marquis Bey Reel to Real: Race, class, and sex at the movies by Bell Hooks Culture and Imperialism by Edward Said

Re-reads

Black Marxism by Cedric Robinson Anarcho-Blackness Notes Toward a Black Anarchism by Marquis Bey Anarchism and Black Revolution by Lorenzo Kom'boa Ervin Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire Cistem Failure by Marquis Bey Every Tongue Got to Confess: Negro Folk-tales from the Gulf States by Zora Neale Hurston The Book of Negro Folklore Editor(s) Langston Hughes & Arna Bontemps

Reccs

An Unkindness of Ghosts by Rivers Solomon The Deep by Rivers Solomon Black on Both Sides: A Racial History of Trans Identity by C. Riley Snorton Some Wear Leather, Some Wear Lace: The Worldwide Compendium of Postpunk and Goth in the 1980s by Marloes Bontje The Blood of A Thousand Roots by Dane Figueroa Edidi My Soul to Keep by Tananarive Due My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Street Style by Ted Polhemu Belly of the Beast: The Politics of Anti-Fatness as Anti-Blacknes By Da’Shaun L. Harrison The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi Insights: Film & Television by TRUDY Shuckin' and Jivin': Folklore from Contemporary Black Americans by Daryl Cumber Dance

#thotty speaks #Thotty's Library #Reading with Thotty #We making out the depression spiral with this one!!!!!!!! (maybe)

[ayshanagina]

Art and Poetry

Poetry and art, two seemingly distinct forms of expression, often intertwine in a mesmerizing dance of creativity. Each medium has its unique language, yet they share a common goal: to evoke emotion, provoke thought, and stir the soul. In this exploration, we delve into the harmonious relationship between poetry and art, uncovering the ways in which they complement and enrich each other.

At their core, both poetry and art are vehicles for storytelling. While poetry weaves narratives with words, art communicates through imagery, color, and form. Yet, when combined, they create a multi-dimensional experience that transcends the boundaries of language and perception.

Consider the works of renowned poets like William Blake and Sylvia Plath, whose words evoke vivid imagery and provoke profound emotional responses. Blake's illuminated manuscripts, adorned with his own illustrations, transform his poetry into visual masterpieces. Similarly, Plath's confessional poetry, coupled with her haunting sketches, offers a glimpse into the depths of her psyche, blurring the lines between word and image.

Likewise, visual artists often draw inspiration from poetry to inform their creative process. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, for instance, sought to imbue their paintings with the lyrical qualities of poetry, embracing themes of love, nature, and spirituality. Through their intricate compositions and symbolic imagery, artists like Dante Gabriel Rossetti and John William Waterhouse brought to life the ethereal landscapes of Tennyson's "The Lady of Shalott" and Keats' "La Belle Dame sans Merci."

Beyond mere inspiration, poetry and art engage in a symbiotic dialogue, each influencing the other in profound ways. The abstract expressionists of the mid-20th century, such as Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning, drew upon the spontaneous rhythms and improvisational techniques of jazz poetry to inform their gestural painting styles. The result was a dynamic fusion of word and gesture, sound and color, creating a visceral experience for the viewer.

In the realm of ekphrastic poetry, writers respond to visual art with words, offering their own interpretations and insights. Through the poet's eyes, the static canvas comes alive with new meaning and narrative possibilities. Anne Sexton's "The Starry Night" and W.H. Auden's "Musée des Beaux Arts" are prime examples of how poetry breathes new life into iconic works of art, inviting readers to see them through a fresh lens.

Moreover, poetry and art serve as powerful tools for social commentary and cultural critique. From the protest poems of Langston Hughes to the politically charged canvases of Frida Kahlo, artists have long used their creative platforms to challenge the status quo and advocate for change. By blending word and image, poets and artists amplify their voices, sparking dialogue and fostering empathy in the face of injustice and oppression.

In essence, poetry and art are kindred spirits, bound by their shared quest for truth, beauty, and meaning. Whether separately or in tandem, they have the power to illuminate the human experience, transcending time and space to touch hearts and minds across generations. As we continue to explore the infinite possibilities of creative expression, let us celebrate the enduring legacy of poetry and art, forever entwined in the tapestry of human culture.

In the symphony of life, poetry and art are the melodies that echo through the corridors of our souls, resonating with the rhythm of our shared humanity.

And nothing unites art and poetry more than the mere feeling of melancholy, which is my most adored form of writing ;)

#aesthetic #artwork #poetry #literature

[kindred-sims]

List 3 of your favorite sims from other simmers you enjoy and explain why (Send this to 10 other blogs 💖💖)

Hello!

This was actually kind of tricky because I'm incredibly indecisive, but I believe I narrowed it down pretty well!

- Zelda Darlington from @aheathen-conceivably 's Darlington Legacy.

- Violet Sewell from @antiquatedplumbobs Sewell Legacy

- Daisy Weston from @pixelnrd 's Langston Legacy

Honestly, I don't have overly specific reasons as to why I love them, I just think all their stories are equally investing and are good reads!

#asks #answered

[tani-b-art]

Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story

Perry’s legacy in film, in Black American culture is imprinted. Generationally. What he’s done in the industry is groundbreaking. His non-traditional approach and method to all he’s accomplished is a testament to what we’ve always done as Black Americans when it comes to everything — having a seat at our own table we built. He broke the mold and shattered the glass ceiling. He truly has the Black American, ancestral lineage of perseverance running through his blood!

I also learned so much more about him and his relationship with his mother and his mother in general that I hadn’t known. Also, parts of him speaking about his mother connected a lot of why he has certain perspectives on life and relationships. The Black women in his life (his mother and aunt who is hero-like in my opinion for the type of action of love) truly played the biggest roles in his shaping as a young boy to becoming a man. We got an inside view of his mind and the journey of him becoming who he is.

Seeing the enormity of his success just is positively moving and stirring. I found myself super proud with the scenes of the grand opening of his ultimate studio! Those parts of the docu had me feeling like I could conquer anything. All of the studio grand opening touched my heart and made me smile tears of joy in the simple fact that he is the embodiment of our ancestors’ love, hope and courage. He built on what they started and I can feel them saying, “Well done.”

It’s moving and emotionally charging.

He also allowed us into the parts of his life as a father to his son. You can tell all that he does and is doing is to be able to give out the love he wished he could’ve gotten from the father-figure in now life. His relationship with his son is so beautiful.

The intimate portrait, bio styled documentary was a great watch. I definitely recommend.

Now….I must speak on the issues that I took with aspects of his footprint on the landscape of film.

Perry loses me when he says things like, “…what we’ve done to each other as Black people who are successful…”. He referenced the boycotting Amos ‘N’ Andy had received in its time along with Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Amos ‘N’ Andy’s controversy: this show (was a TV adaptation of the radio sitcom of two white men who “adopted stereotypical dialect, intonations, and character traits that had been established in the blackface minstrel tradition in the 1800s”) came out in the midst of the Jim Crow era. An era we all know served to present imagery of Black Americans in racist propaganda replete with racist stereotypes and tropes. And the actors weren’t white men in blackface but actual Black men in these roles. Which is also the similar criticisms Perry’s Madea character receives.

The two shouldn’t be paralleled. Amos ‘N’ Andy was clearly stereotypical mockery (and no condemning the actors at the time) while Walker’s book is “inspired, in part, by a story that Walker's sister told her, about a love triangle involving their grandfather.” It is an account of real life experiences—a real depiction of what Black people, specifically Black women, were going through in the early 1900s in the Deep South. On the heels of freedom (this is post American slavery with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation) yet still facing the aftershocks of “ending” slavery (racism has never ended), Black women still faced slave-like treatment from former plantation & slave owners and now sexism & patriarchal treatment from their partners (I say now not in a sense of this being completely new). All while gaining more freedom in their outspokenness for the domestic plights they faced with their significant others and demanding equal rights.

Walker’s book and the following film adaptation received backlash on account of the increasing fracture between Black women and Black men in a post “free” society.

Perry also mentioned the not so pleasant views Langston Hughes had with Zora Neale Hurston and her usage of the Black Southern dialect in her writings. That too is incomparable because again, she conveyed real life. These were not caricatures she fictionalized for comic relief.

(please leave Alice Walker and Zora Neale Hurston’s works alone in correlation to yours)

Or in an appearance from Killer Mike (in Perry’s documentary) alluding to the fact that other groups of people don’t take issue with the negative depictions of their people in film.

One — yes they have and do. Has he spoken to any other ethnic group to ask?

Two — yes, your core demographic, who is Black, will have the most dialogue regarding your work. Who else would? White people? No, because you don’t make art for them. Your work is rooted through the lens of Black Americans. Of course the biggest critique will come from us.

We have a very different relationship with our own country and the world at large. Centuries of ridicule in minstrel shows with not Black (because yes, it wasn’t only white people performing in blackface to mock us) people donning blackface or in film with dangerous propaganda that single-handedly created a racist, terrorist group (k k k). We are still dealing with the aftermath of these harmful depictions and are in constant corrective mode. It’s a continual action.

He spoke about intention as well. And while I don’t believe Perry’s intention of the Madea character (or any of his characters in his films, shows or plays—that’s a different conversation…among other talking points surrounding him can be discussed in an entirely separate talk) was to be problematic it is very damaging to the representation of Black American women — two things can exist. Especially considering all the negative portrayals and images of us over the many, many, many years in all forms of media that the character fits into (again no condemnation on any of the actresses at the time).

But with everything I’ve said, Madea will just always have a kindred connection with me.

I was first introduced to Tyler Perry years ago from a cousin who lent me a VHS of both “Madea’s Family Reunion: The Play” and “Diary of a Mad Black Woman: The Play”. And when Madea came across my screen in that loud shiny red funeral squirt suit, there was an instant likability! I laughed more than I had from anything scripted — in fact, his plays were the first time I had ever watched a stage play. And from then, I have always had a special place in my heart for his plays and for Madea! I purchased 6 DVDs of his plays afterwards and the “Diary” film while I was in my freshman year in college and those plays got me through my first year.

I am glad he’s since retired the character and opened a new chapter of the work he’s putting out but I can acknowledge that Madea and the work pre-Madea’s retirement has been and is a source of joy for me.

And I think that’s what Tyler wants to do with all that he does.

Bring us joy.

#Maxine’s Baby: The Tyler Perry Story #Tyler Perry #cinema #Black America #film talk #Black American cinema #film industry #Southern culture #Black tumblr #Black American culture #might be typos

[image-junkie]

THE ARTIST & HER WORK: ELIZABETH CATLETT

Elizabeth Catlett (1915-2012) lived a storied life. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be an artist, and pursued her dreams by receiving a BA in Art from Howard University in 1935.

She married Charles White (another legacy artist), and together they moved to NYC, where their circle of friends included the likes of Loïs Mailou Jones, Charles Alston, Aaron Douglas, Jacob Lawrence, and Langston Hughes. 

In 1946, the pair moved to Mexico, where Catlett was a guest artist at the printmaking collective Taller de Gráfica Popular (TGP). This was a formative time in her practice, as her work became increasingly sociopolitical. She began spending time with Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo, and David Siqueiros and was committed to representing strength and struggle in her work. During the Red Scare of the 1950s, her activism and work with TGP came under investigation by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and the U.S. embassy in Mexico. She was declared an "Undesirable Alien" and was prevented from returning to the States. By 2002, her citizenship was reinstated, and she became a celebrated artist around the world. Images:

Charles White. Elizabeth Catlett in her studio. c. 1942. Black-and-white photograph, 3 5/8 × 3 9/16" (9.2 × 9 cm). Private collection. © The Charles White Archives

Elizabeth Catlett (1915–2012), Head of a Negro Woman, 1946 Gift of Robert L. Johnson, © 2020 Catlett Mora Family Trust/Licensed by VAGA at Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY.

Elizabeth Catlett, Head. Carved limestone, 1943. Approximately 13 1/2x9 1/2x7 1/4 inches. (sold for $ 485,000 in 2021)

Elizabeth Catlett, "Which Way?," 1973–2003, lithograph, 11 x 14 ½ in. (27.5 x 37 cm), edition 4 of 25. Courtesy of the Elizabeth Catlett Family Trust.

Image of Elizabeth Catlett at work in her studio, circa 1983

#elizabeth catlett #women in art #female artists #20th century art #sculpture #printmaking #photography #charles white #frida khalo #diego rivera #nyc artist #mexico art #art history #black and white #artist studios #artist profile