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Happy Black History Month! It’s a time of reflection and celebration of the Black icons who inspire and bring happiness to us. So let’s give some love to the Black women of the anime world who show up and show out, from the women who make every second of screen time count to those we think deserve more time in the spotlight. Let’s take some time out this Black History Month to give flowers to the Black women of anime whom we love.
Michiko Malandro — Michiko to Hatchin
There’s something so enthralling about a rough-around-the-edges woman with a soft side. Michiko has not had the easiest life between growing up in an orphanage and having quite a few run-ins with the law. But she’s always maintained a protective and caring spirit about herself. After she fell in love with Hiroshi Morenos, something that was not intended, the two begin dating. One day, though, a bus that Hiroshi was supposedly on explodes, seemingly killing him.
Michiko is heartbroken and ends up getting arrested, where she runs into a former friend, Atsuko. It’s there that Atsuko taunts Michiko with a photo of Hiroshi’s daughter Hana and how he’s alive and has moved on without her. This sets Michiko on a mission of her own to not only find Hana but see for herself if the love of her life really is alive and had moved on.
She would of course have to wait for that as she was still in prison. Twelve years later, Michiko breaks out, and this sets our main story in motion. Can Michiko heal from her years of tangling with law enforcement? Can she be a proper guardian to Hana? Is Hiroshi really alive or was Atusko just trying to get a rise out of Michiko? You can watch Michiko to Hatchin on Crunchyroll.
Yoruichi Shihouin — Bleach
Whether in cat or woman form, Yoruichi is one interesting Shinigami. Her mature and calming presence makes her enthralling to watch. However, on occasion she’s not above showing her playful side. This is especially true when it comes to teasing the men around her, specifically Ichigo. The scenes of Yoruichi having her fun with Ichigo at the hot springs is one of the funniest scenes in Bleach, which is really saying something.
It’s still not known how exactly Yoruichi acquired her cat form, but she seems to be the only Shinigami we meet with this exact power, making her for a versatile and interesting character. This is doubly intriguing as her cat form has a masculine voice that her woman form doesn’t have. This makes for a funny reveal when a character sees her transform for the first time. You can see everyone’s favorite feline Shinigami on Hulu.
Coffee — Cowboy Bebop
It’s a shame we didn’t see more of Coffee on Cowboy Bebop. She was not only a bounty hunter with a cool car, but she had a distinct look as well. The silhouette of the large fro and the skin tight clothing brings to mind the ’70s Blaxploitation era, one that has had its fair share of scrutiny but love and acclaim among the Black community as well. In fact Coffee’s inspiration was none other Pam Grier herself in the movie Coffy.
We meet Coffee as she asking around about a man by the name of Domino Walker. Domino had a big bounty on his head, and who can blame Coffee for wanting to get her hands on that prize pool? She crosses path with everyone’s favorite Bebop duo, Ed and Ein, who are trying to find some food to bring back to the ship. In exchange for a watermelon purchase, she asks the watermelon seller to help her in her pursuit of information.
This sets off a chain of events in which Coffee ends up with Ed and Ein in the trunk of her car and her getting arrested for kidnapping. Then she becomes one of the people chasing after Domino as he runs across the top of a train, Coffee in her car of course. Thanks to Shaft falling into her car, she crashes but does survive. You can see Coffee’s brief time on Cowboy Bebop in the hilarious episode “Mushroom Samba” on Netflix.
Karui — Naruto/Boruto: Naruto the Next Generations
Karui is another character that we really could use more of. She’s the wife of resident foodie and sweetheart Choji Akimichi and the mother of their daughter Chocho. Though Karui currently lives in the Leaf Village with her family, she’s originally from the Hidden Cloud Village, home to the bombastic and talented Killer B. Karui is headstrong, devoted, and fiercely protective of the Raikage, the aforementioned Killer B. She yells at Team Kakashi for letting Sasuke get away with attacking B and even lets out her anger on Naruto for doing so, though it’s later said by her teammate Omoi that she feels bad about it afterward. This shows that she’s not a fan of her temper.
Later on she falls in love with Choji and the two get married, even having a daughter by the name of ChoCho, who is a perfect mix of her parents in both looks and personality. We can see that in the new era, Karui is more laid back and relaxed in contrast to her temperament during the war. She even questions if ChoCho requires training as they are in a time of peace.
You can see Karui in the 4th Great Shinobi War arc in Naruto on Netflix and as a mother on Boruto on Crunchyroll.
Happy Black History Month! It’s a time of reflection and celebration of the Black icons who inspire and bring happiness to us. So let’s give some love to the Black women of the anime world who show up and show out, from the women who make every second of screen time count to those we think deserve more time in the spotlight. Let’s take some time out this Black History Month to give flowers to the Black women of anime whom we love.
Michiko Malandro — Michiko to Hatchin
There’s something so enthralling about a rough-around-the-edges woman with a soft side. Michiko has not had the easiest life between growing up in an orphanage and having quite a few run-ins with the law. But she’s always maintained a protective and caring spirit about herself. After she fell in love with Hiroshi Morenos, something that was not intended, the two begin dating. One day, though, a bus that Hiroshi was supposedly on explodes, seemingly killing him.
Michiko is heartbroken and ends up getting arrested, where she runs into a former friend, Atsuko. It’s there that Atsuko taunts Michiko with a photo of Hiroshi’s daughter Hana and how he’s alive and has moved on without her. This sets Michiko on a mission of her own to not only find Hana but see for herself if the love of her life really is alive and had moved on.
She would of course have to wait for that as she was still in prison. Twelve years later, Michiko breaks out, and this sets our main story in motion. Can Michiko heal from her years of tangling with law enforcement? Can she be a proper guardian to Hana? Is Hiroshi really alive or was Atusko just trying to get a rise out of Michiko? You can watch Michiko to Hatchin on Crunchyroll.
Yoruichi Shihouin — Bleach
Whether in cat or woman form, Yoruichi is one interesting Shinigami. Her mature and calming presence makes her enthralling to watch. However, on occasion she’s not above showing her playful side. This is especially true when it comes to teasing the men around her, specifically Ichigo. The scenes of Yoruichi having her fun with Ichigo at the hot springs is one of the funniest scenes in Bleach, which is really saying something.
It’s still not known how exactly Yoruichi acquired her cat form, but she seems to be the only Shinigami we meet with this exact power, making her for a versatile and interesting character. This is doubly intriguing as her cat form has a masculine voice that her woman form doesn’t have. This makes for a funny reveal when a character sees her transform for the first time. You can see everyone’s favorite feline Shinigami on Hulu.
Coffee — Cowboy Bebop
It’s a shame we didn’t see more of Coffee on Cowboy Bebop. She was not only a bounty hunter with a cool car, but she had a distinct look as well. The silhouette of the large fro and the skin tight clothing brings to mind the ’70s Blaxploitation era, one that has had its fair share of scrutiny but love and acclaim among the Black community as well. In fact Coffee’s inspiration was none other Pam Grier herself in the movie Coffy.
We meet Coffee as she asking around about a man by the name of Domino Walker. Domino had a big bounty on his head, and who can blame Coffee for wanting to get her hands on that prize pool? She crosses path with everyone’s favorite Bebop duo, Ed and Ein, who are trying to find some food to bring back to the ship. In exchange for a watermelon purchase, she asks the watermelon seller to help her in her pursuit of information.
This sets off a chain of events in which Coffee ends up with Ed and Ein in the trunk of her car and her getting arrested for kidnapping. Then she becomes one of the people chasing after Domino as he runs across the top of a train, Coffee in her car of course. Thanks to Shaft falling into her car, she crashes but does survive. You can see Coffee’s brief time on Cowboy Bebop in the hilarious episode “Mushroom Samba” on Netflix.
Karui — Naruto/Boruto: Naruto the Next Generations
Karui is another character that we really could use more of. She’s the wife of resident foodie and sweetheart Choji Akimichi and the mother of their daughter Chocho. Though Karui currently lives in the Leaf Village with her family, she’s originally from the Hidden Cloud Village, home to the bombastic and talented Killer B. Karui is headstrong, devoted, and fiercely protective of the Raikage, the aforementioned Killer B. She yells at Team Kakashi for letting Sasuke get away with attacking B and even lets out her anger on Naruto for doing so, though it’s later said by her teammate Omoi that she feels bad about it afterward. This shows that she’s not a fan of her temper.
Later on she falls in love with Choji and the two get married, even having a daughter by the name of ChoCho, who is a perfect mix of her parents in both looks and personality. We can see that in the new era, Karui is more laid back and relaxed in contrast to her temperament during the war. She even questions if ChoCho requires training as they are in a time of peace.
You can see Karui in the 4th Great Shinobi War arc in Naruto on Netflix and as a mother on Boruto on Crunchyroll.
Downtown Santa Monica CA and the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated February 23, 2024
In 1957, Silas White, a Black entrepreneur purchased a valuable plot of land in Santa Monica, CA. White wanted to >NBC Los Angeles reported.
White had already started renovations, but unfortunately, his dream would never become a reality. A year after White’s purchase, the city seized the land, citing eminent domain, which “refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use, referred to as a taking.” Four years later, White passed away and the story almost died with him. It would take decades before White’s descendants learned about their family legacy.
And today that land is home to the Viceroy Hotel on Ocean Avenue. But how did White’s descendants learn about their family’s land? It’s all because of Where Is My Land?, an organization founded by Kavon Ward aimed at helping “Black Americans discover connections to stolen land through research, data, and technology,” helping their descendants reclaim said land, and educating the public.
In 2022, Ward helped the Bruce family reclaim their Manhattan Beach property, which “was taken under similar terms in the 1920s.” Thanks to Ward’s efforts, “Los Angeles County transferred the property back to them, righting a century-old wrong.”
“I think it opened up a lot of hope for Black people who have had their land stolen,” stated Ward. “It means money…Money for the violation of civil and human rights, and money for taking land that could’ve gotten them more money.”
For Milana Davis, White’s niece, the family’s spokesperson for Connie White who now resides in North Carolina, “It’s frustrating. Disappointing…Maybe the right thing will finally be done and my cousin will receive some form of restitution for what was done to him.”
“It’s an open wound with no remedy,” Davis added. “From what I’ve been told, there were already 2,000 people signed up [for the Ebony Beach Club.”
Ward and the Whites recently met with City Manager David White and Councilwoman Caroline Torosis. “Torosis said the city is working on adopting a citywide equity plan, which includes exploring models for restitution and reparations, but so far it’s unclear how support exists on the council with regards to returning the land to the White family.”
The City of Santa Monica released a statement, which read in part, “Santa Monica hears and acknowledges the voices on this topic in the community and is actively seeking appropriate and realistic remedies.”
“We know that for those who have been wronged by the city’s past discriminatory practices, justice can’t come soon enough, and we take what we’ve learned from the families and individuals who have been harmed by these acts very seriously,” continued the statement. “We are a better city because of their continued attention to these issues and we are committed to getting this right.”
TOPICS: ancestors black familyThe post Descendants Of A Black Entrepreneur Are Fighting To Reclaim Their Family’s Land In Santa Monica appeared first on Essence.
For many of us, Avatar: The Last Airbender was more than just an animated show about kids who could wield the four elements. Avatar was a show that, despite the humor, actually packed a lot of dense subject matter into its 40-something-minute runtime (counting the commercials). In fact, the series is a treasure trove of wisdom and great life lessons, some of which include dealing with grief (as was the case with Uncle Iroh and his son), as well as the meaning of change and transformation, as was the case with Prince Zuko.
So, while the show might be originally intended for children, it has pearls of wisdom that people of all ages can learn from. Let’s dive into these moments and break them down to an audience of those who are already familiar with Avatar and those who are just discovering its magic for the first time. Please note that we will be only discussing Avatar: The Last Airbender, but we might give Korra an honorable mention. So, without further ado…
The Importance of Balance
Aang’s role as the Avatar is to maintain the balance of power between the four nations, and throughout the series, he struggles to maintain that same balance within himself. Fortunately for us and Aang, we have over three seasons of Aang learning and sometimes re-learning to find and master his own inner peace. The entire show teaches us, over and over again, the importance of balance as a key to a fulfilling life.
The Peace of Letting Go
The entirety of the series revolves around Team Avatar trying to stop a 100-year war campaign started by the Fire Nation’s ruler, Lord Sozin — Fire Lord Ozai’s father. In the chronological first volley in this centennial war, the Air Nomads, Aang’s monastic order, was completely wiped out. This was an attempt to instill fear, seize control, and prevent the rise of the Avatar — which was supposed to be reborn into the Air Nation following the death of Avatar Roku.
When Aang learned that his entire order had been wiped out by Sozin, whose successor now ruled the Fire Nation, he was understandably shaken. However, going through his Avatar state, he also recognized the importance of letting go of the past so that he could focus on fully embracing the present and preparing for the future — which for Aang and the gang involved stopping the Fire Nation’s rise to supremacy. This is one of the most inspirational moments in the series.
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Sokka is a young Southern Water Tribe warrior and one of the only non-benders on Team Avatar — the others being Appa and Momo. He’s initially treated as the comedic sidekick throughout a large chunk of the series considering that he doesn’t actually have bending powers and that he struggles with feeling “less than” in several episodes throughout the show.
However, as the series progresses, Sokka proves to be an excellent military strategist, a relentless warrior, and a well-respected and loved member of Team Avatar while still holding the title of funniest character in the entire show, save for the Cabbage cart dealer — those poor cabbages never stood a chance. Sokka teaches us that everyone has hidden talents and that it’s entirely okay to be different.
People Can Change for the Better
People don’t really like change, as it’s often hard and unpleasant to do. Yet, there’s plenty of change in Avatar. One of the biggest changes that is the most near and dear to many fans’ hearts isn’t that of Prince Zuko but that of his Uncle Iroh. We meet Uncle Iroh in the very first episode as a calm and wise old man, but the truth is that he was once a ruthless military leader for the Fire Nation’s throne — he’s actually Fire Lord Ozai’s older brother and an extremely powerful firebender who is practically a living legend among other fire soldiers.
However, Iroh does harbor a very deep pain and regret, and this would be in the death of his son, Lu Ten. Lu Ten was mortally wounded during the Siege of Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom. This happened at the same time and because Iroh finally succeeded in breaching the Earth Kingdom city’s night-impenetrable Outer Wall. This moment, which otherwise would have been the crowning jewel in Iroh’s military career, turned into a moment of unprecedented sadness for the Dragon of the West — one of the titles given to Iroh due to his ability to breathe fire.
Upon hearing of his son’s death, Iroh abandoned his militaristic ways and had a breaking and then eventual softening of his heart. Iroh’s transformation into a caring older man who appreciates the little things and tries to spread serenity wherever he goes is one of the driving factors that led to Prince Zuko’s transformation into a more benevolent character.
You Decide Who You Are
Toph is one of the best characters in the entire animated series. She is not gifted in height; she was born blind and came from the Beifong family, a very powerful and influential family in the Earth Kingdom who were considered nobles in Republic City and abroad. Just like Sokka, she was often used as the comedic relief, and oftentimes, her sense of humor was more on the blunt, brash, and unapologetic side. However, Toph’s rebellious nature belied a genius mastery of Earthbending, to the point that there is a real debate to be had that her ability could mirror that of Aang’s out of the Avatar state.
Given her disability, it’s easy for many to write Toph off as helpless or a pushover, but she continuously proved that she’s anything but. She didn’t allow other people’s perceptions of her to define who she was and the path she wanted to carve for herself in the world. Toph’s day-to-day, granite-like determination in the series teaches that we define ourselves — and we choose to accept or reject who we are and want to be every day.
Honorable Mention: Even the Strongest Need Help
This last honorable mention goes to The Legend of Korra, and this life lesson is about strength. Despite being a formidable bender with mastery over all four elements, Korra’s vulnerability, particularly during her battles with Zaheer, points towards a universal truth: even the strongest and most brilliant among us can’t face every challenge alone, and that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but a courageous acknowledgment of our own limitations.
In fact, this lesson is prominent in both The Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender, as we see that both immensely powerful protagonists didn’t accomplish their goals solo. Whether this goal was to stop a souped-up fire tyrant or bring balance to the spirit and material worlds, all of this was made possible through the help of good friends they could rely on.
Final Thoughts
Nearly two decades have passed since the first airing of Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which we saw Aang and the Gaang navigate adolescence against a backdrop of a century-long and devastating war. The Avatar had plenty to learn about himself and the world before he could save anyone, and some of the life lessons he and the rest of the Team Avatar learned are so universal that they’ll remain relevant and true for a very, very long time.