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The long-awaited animated television series She-Ra (1985) has finally received its reboot, and this new series is making a big splash with its four award nominations.

The show carefully blends heartbreaking themes with humor for a powerful series with a labyrinth of emotions. The show’s creator, Noelle Stevenson, has produced a work that reflects, refines, and reifies the concentration of diversity and inclusion. She-Ra is a spectacular show and enforces what Wonder Woman started — that female superheroes slay.

The reimagined show comes to delight both fans of the original and those who are new to the series. It is currently now on its fourth season, and it is not slowing down. The new She-Ra has a stunning new series of princesses of color (POC) and ages, while keeping as close to the prototype. The series rivals that of Voltron and The Dragon Prince, with its incorporation of LGBT members appearing as normal as any other characters. Each episode delivers a tear-jerking conflict that slowly simmers underneath the surface, setting up a powerful reveal. The four seasons present two characters, almost sister-like, going through a journey of realization, friendship, bravery, and understanding.

The charming cast is composed of strong and talented voice actors. The strong Adora/She-Ra is voiced by Aimee Carrero. The loveable Bow is voiced by Marcus Scribner, and the dazzling Glimmer performed by Karen Fukuhara, which concludes the best friend squad. The villainous assemble is composed of equal talent. AJ Michalka voices the fantastically strong feline, Catra, and her good nature gal-pal who stands by her side, Scorpia, is voiced by Lauren Ash. The leader of the Horde, Hordak, is voiced by Keston John, and the evil sorceress, Shadow Weaver, is voiced by Larraine Toussaint. This cast proves to be as strong as the sword She-Ra holds.

The show begins with its introduction to the titular character, Adora, who will later be known as She-Ra. The opening theme song “Warriors,” by Aaliyah Rose, is a beautiful work that balances female empowerment with friendship that effortlessly syncs with the message of the series. The setting is Etheria during a great war where we find Adora in the middle of training. She, with grace and skill, is brushing her teeth and striking a punching bag with a silhouette image of the soon to be named queen. This initial point of view reveals that Adora is on the side of the evil Horde, which shows that good and evil are not as distinctly clear as other shows have established. Adora along with her friends/team in the training room take down the evil princesses. This animated series has an explosive start, yet the way it maintains that momentum is truly a feat worth all its accolades.

One of the most notable aspects of this show is its multidimensional villains. Characters are galvanized forward to feel more real with every delicious narrative arc that gives rise to their backstories. These descriptions of their lives allow us to see that being empathic is a superpower we all hold. Each villain makes known why their characters are as they are. Villains are beaten down, pushed aside, and forgotten, but they never give up hope that they will rise from the ashes. They are survivors. Catra is probably the most misunderstood super-villain on the show. Her past, however, is not the only one that is revealed in the span of the program. Scorpia was pushed aside by her best friend. Shadow Weaver had the best intentions but was clouded. Hordac was discarded and hopes for his redemption. These villains show sides that are more multifaceted than other villains.

Adora and Catra are sisters in arms. They grew up together and endured so much pain. They are now comrades turned enemies battling one another, and the cause of this stems from hurt. Their battles are more meaningful because of how close they were. These two young women are complementary opposites at odds with one another. Their costume design helps to emphasize their polemic relationship. Adora is orphaned and taken in by the Horde. Her life begins to change when she is a teenager. Her life has been taken from her in more than one way as the story develops. She has been selected to wheel the sword of power and will be the one to free the people of Etheria. This honor is not a choice for anyone. Adora’s life in the Horde was slightly different than that of her friends. She received more encouragement, praise, and even more attention from Shadow Weaver. Meanwhile, Catra has lived in the shadows of the golden child (Adora). Catra had to be satisfied with second place, with less love, and with less trust. The only way she can win is through rising in the ranks against her best friend.

As the year has developed and the number of superheroes grows, She-Ra has come to offer something more than just another hero with great hair. She-Ra stands for empathy, compassion, and self-sacrifice. The magic that is She-Ra and the Princesses of Power speaks volumes to how friendships can corrode. These friendships often do so because of toxicity and a lack of understanding of the other person’s pain. She-Ra expresses that no matter how strong and brave a hero is, they are not without their own struggles. This superhero show reveals that not all who are evil are truly evil; some are just misunderstood, and sometimes good is found in the most unlikely places. Adora/She-Ra’s compassion, love, and gentler qualities prove that heroes can be defined by more than just brute force.

These strong princesses are warriors. They fight their enemies with power, skill, and bravery in order to protect the world they love. Catra is the only person who understands Adora and vice versa. Yet, the show always walks a fine line between their friendship. The contrast of good and evil, and even the blending of it, at its core, is what makes the spectacle worth watching. She-Ra lives and fights for something bigger than herself, and that is a hero’s journey. She-Ra proves that anyone can be a hero.

The post Review: ‘She-Ra and the Princesses of Power’ Is Worthy of Your Time and My Personal Female Icon appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

Kevin Hart is finally conceding that he did not correctly handle the backlash over resurfaced homophobic tweets from years ago that derailed his chance at hosting the 2019 Oscar ceremony.

He addressed the controversy in his new Netflix series, Kevin Hart: Don’t F―k This Up, in which the Jumanji star gives his fans a raw look at his life behind the scenes in the last year—including the Oscars debacle.

“Looking back at it. What I thought it was, it wasn’t. And my approach to dealing with it, because of the assumption that I had, was just wrong,” he says of the controversy in the doc.

He continued: “I fucked up. … Instead, I said, ‘I addressed it.’ I said, ‘I apologized.’ I said, ‘I talked about this already.’ I was just immature.”

The comedian stepped down last year from hosting the Oscars, which he called a dream job, after mounting pressure from the LGBTQ community and its allies over resurfaced homophobic tweets from several years ago.

Hart initially tried to dismiss the controversy, but revealed that he’d stepped down after the Academy called to tell him to apologize or “we’re going to have to move on and find another host.”

“I have made the choice to step down from hosting this year’s Oscar’s,” he tweeted at the time. “This is because I do not want to be a distraction on a night that should be celebrated by so many amazing talented artists. I sincerely apologize to the LGBTQ community for my insensitive words from my past.”

Looking back, Hart says he realized that his approach was all wrong, especially after going on the Ellen DeGeneres show to explain himself. DeGeneres also received backlash after revealing  she called the Academy of Arts and Sciences to ask its leaders to reconsider Hart. Many complained that the interview portrayed Hart as a victim.

“I had conversations with tons of gay friends. I remember Lee Daniels telling me, ‘Kevin, it’s not about the apology. It’s about you saying you don’t condone violence. And that’s when the light bulbs really started going off.”

The Netflix series also shows the different attempts at damage control from Hart’s team. But overall, the comedian realized the fault was his. 

“I missed an opportunity to say simply that I don’t condone any type of violence in any way, shape or form to anyone for being who they are,” he said.

The post Kevin Hart Admits He ‘Was Immature’ About The Oscar Backlash Over Homophobic Jokes appeared first on Essence.

Spies in Disguise opens in theaters this week and stars Will Smith as famous super-spy Lance Sterling who turns into a pigeon when he accidentally ingests a ‘biodynamic concealment’ invention by young scientist Walter Beckett (Tom Holland). Now, Lance Sterling must find a way to stop a cybernetic villain from destroying the world as a […]

Passion typically pushes us to excel at what we love and there are those who turn their passion into art or career.

Although education is vital to success, not having a formal education doesn’t take away from being great at what you do and shouldn’t hinder your chances of becoming successful. Whatever leads you to what makes you happy should be pursued with the type of energy needed to make it happen. Celebrity chef Jerome Brown has taken a path that has led him to be recognized for his passion and he understands the unprecedented road he took has cemented his success.

He laid down his utensils long enough to cook up this interview with Black Enterprise.

Why did you choose a career in the culinary arts and how did you pursue it when you knew it was what you wanted to do?

Cooking runs in my blood. My mother was a dietitian, my father was a chef. Every man in my family can cook. Not that the woman in the family can’t. However, we as men really have the knack for it and won’t hesitate to go into the kitchen and throw down at any given moment. I guess it’s safe to say that cooking chose me rather than me choosing cooking. When I was 19-years-old, I joined the US Army. I chose the job of being a cook because it was something I knew I was good at. (At least I thought I was) Boy did I learn a lesson. Cooking in the Army is one of the toughest jobs to ever have. You’re always the first in and the last out. Ultimately, I left the military with a culinary arts degree. Best decision I ever made in my life.

There’s no question that talent is what drives someone like you in your craft, but how do you handle the demands of the business aspects of the industry?

Learning the business is the most important part of what I had to do to be as successful as I have been. It’s a lot like the music industry. Part of learning your craft is learning how to approach the very thing that will make or break your career. I tell young chefs all the time to learn the business. I handle the demands by surrounding myself with those who have my best interests in mind. I plan my schedule along with my team in order to maximize my day to the fullest. I also plan for a mental break so that I can keep things in perspective.

The Recipe for Success

What is the thought process when creating a menu for a specific event and/or a restaurant?

When planning for a specific event, I take into consideration the type of event, the time of year, the region where the event is taking place. Doing so will allow me to offer a variety of things the guest will appreciate. I also like to consider local products that produce a certain taste profile. The goal is to offer an experience to the guest and give something that’s a total but pleasant surprise.

How has your path led you to become a celebrity chef? What difficulties did you face, if any and what would you do differently, if given the chance to do something again?

In hindsight, I don’t know that I would do anything any different from what I’ve already done. My mistakes were lessons that I was able to capitalize on. While I was Shaquille O’Neal‘s personal chef, he gave me some advice. He told me to develop a short memory, learn from anything that goes wrong, quickly pick up the pieces and move on. Becoming a celebrity chef was something that I didn’t set out to do. In fact, I let other people call me that title. I just live up to the things that have made me successful. I live from the premise that ‘Great service is long remembered after a good meal.’ For me, that’s the key to my success. Having said that, I view any challenge that I may have faced as a front-row seat to life’s business class. I use to be embarrassed that I didn’t go to culinary school. One day a light bulb came on and I realized that the fact that I didn’t go is what makes my journey just that more special. For that, I give God all the credit.

Related: Southern Culture Foods Founder and Chef Shares Her Recipe for Success with You

How does your mindset change when it comes to your work when dealing with the ‘average’ person and coordinating with a ‘celebrity’ client?

My mindset doesn’t change. For me, when I’m dealing with the so-called ‘average person’, my goal is to raise their expectations. It’s already going to be an experience for them, however, my intention is to blow their minds. When coordinating with a celebrity, my finished product will cause that person to be reminded of why they hired me in the first place and to ensure they hire me again. There’s a responsibility with the gift of cooking. Especially when the title of celebrity chef proceeds me. I cannot operate at a lesser level.

You’ve appeared on numerous television shows over the years, how do you handle the pressure of being filmed while working and does your approach change when the cameras are rolling?

When I’m on television, I’m extra mindful of my breathing and the fact that I must keep talking. The worst thing one can do when on television is to have what I call a dead spot. Complete silence while the camera is rolling. The goal of cooking on television is to educate and entertain. I call it ‘edutainment’. I prepare by reading up on everything I’m going to cook. Every ingredient has a story. I love to give little known facts about ingredients that will oftentimes send people straight to Google. I think Google should give me a check for that. LOL!!!

A dash of ambition

You have two upcoming gigs where you are the featured celebrity chef, for the Tom Joyner Cruise 2020 and the Sonoma International Film Festival, both taking place at the end of March. How do you prepare for such events and how is the preparation for you mentally as far as what you plan on presenting on the menu?

Any organization or entity that thinks enough of me to bring me in to prepare a meal is in for a pleasant surprise. Again, it’s all about the preparation beforehand. I think about what’s going to be different from what the crowd expects. The other thing is that I want to always give a signature dish. What this does is keep the audience in the posture of expectation. My approach is very different when the crowd is hype and the expectation is in the air. I live for those moments.

Based on your experience, what advice and suggestions would you give to anyone wanting to pursue their passion?

Pursuing any passion takes a level of focus that can only come from that individual. I tell parents all the time that when you see a gift in your child at an early age, you should cultivate that gift. For those who discover their gift as an adult, I encourage that individual to first, take the craft seriously, learn the business, network in the area you want to go into, and always remain teachable. The moment you think that you have arrived is the moment you’re going to fall. Stay humble. He exalts the humble, he reduces the proud.