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https://nerdist.com/article/millie-gibson-interview-doctor-who-ruby-sunday-lucky-day/

Doctor Who season two is in full swing as the Fifteenth Doctor continues his mission to get Belinda Chandra home. However, in episode four, we take a short recess from this ongoing story to weave Ruby Sunday back into the mix. In the episode, she’s trying to process everything she experienced while traveling with the Doctor while also missing her alien best friend. Ruby thinks she’s found love in Conrad, a podcaster who coincidentally met the Doctor years prior. But things predictably go awry when he turns out to be a no-good, very bad dude. We caught up with Millie Gibson to talk about Ruby’s trauma, working with Jonah Hauer-King, and more. 

Nerdist: “Lucky Day” takes Ruby through the wringer, and it’s so sad! She’s already in a vulnerable emotional space. She thinks she found companionship and love with Conrad only for him to be a vile conspiracy theorist with a grudge against UNIT. How do you think that experience will change her and how does she try to heal from it? 

Millie Gibson: If I was her, I’d look in the mirror and just sob, but she’s stronger than me! However, in the end, she does say to Kate, “I think I just need time by myself alone to figure some things out.” and that’s what she needs. I picture it being some kind of Gallifreyan therapy or something that Kate’s given her or a contact to get with all the past companions for therapy meetings… I can say that she comes back in episodes seven and eight, so that gives you a little bit of insight so that she’s ready for more. They haven’t broken her completely yet. 

That’s great news! This ending definitely did not feel like a farewell for Ruby. When her story does come to an end, what do you think would be a nice sendoff for her? 

Gibson: Oh, that is such a good question! I picture her rocking it out with her band. I don’t think she’s going to go near men anytime soon [laughs]… I personally wouldn’t. And probably just nipping with Belinda every now and again. I think she just needs a simple life. She’s got her two mothers, she’s got her friends, even though they think she’s mental. We need to ask Russell [T Davies], but I hope it’s a happy one, not a sad one because she’s had many of them.

I’d love to see her living life as a musician. In this episode, we see Ruby and Kate at odds about how to handle Conrad. Kate really pushes the limit and allows the Shreek to come out and nearly kill him, while Ruby asks to protect him and even saves him. Why do you think Ruby held so much compassion for him at that moment despite his betrayal? 

Gibson: Ruby is just made up of love. She has a lot of love to give, and even though that love for Conrad got taken advantage of, I think death would’ve eaten her up too much versus him serving time for his wrongs. And if he did die, UNIT would have been in a whole lot more trouble than they were in the first place. So she was using her Doctor brain, but also her Ruby brain. 

You’re absolutely right about that. It would’ve made them look more like the villain in that situation. Saving him showed that UNIT would reveal the truth but their job is to save him just like it is to save all of humanity on Earth, even those who don’t deserve it. 

Gibson: Exactly… I should have said that in so many more interviews! [laughs] 

Well, maybe we will see Ruby and Conrad together again. Through it all, you and Jonah Hauer-King had such great chemistry. Was it your first time working with him? And what was it like to collaborate with Jonah on set? 

Gibson: Yeah, it was my first time working with him, but hopefully not my last, because he’s an incredible actor. I remember reading the script and not knowing who [was playing] Conrad. So I was messaging Russell like, “Come on, tell me!”. And he was like, “Oh, has no one told you? It’s Jonah Hauer-King.” And I was buzzing, to say the least. He’s really gifted and he’s such a giving actor, and he has such a beautiful, calm nature about him on set that I really need. He is nothing like Conrad, obviously. 

There’s that almost Amy and Rory situation when they’re looking for the Shreek and he’s like, “It’s you and me. I can be the Doctor.” And it was almost that comedy romcom element of finding the monster like Scooby-Doo. We could never do that again because, like you said, he’s vile. I will miss that. But Jonah is so good. Those two versions of Conrad, I didn’t see it coming, even though I knew what was happening. He really went from this goofy, lovable nerd to this absolute monster. I also love that the real monster in both of the standalone episodes I’ve done, “73 Yards” and “Lucky Day,” is that the monster is the human, not the actual monster. 

Ahhh humanity. We are always our worst enemy. Considering everything that Ruby’s experienced, do you think meeting and traveling with the Doctor did more harm or good in her life? 

Gibson: Well, she never would’ve found her mom, so that’s definitely helped her as a person. I think in anyone’s daily life, you have to go through challenges to find yourself, and you’ve got to go through the bad to get through to the good. I just don’t think she’s at the really good part yet. But I do think if she didn’t meet the doctor, she wouldn’t be the person that she is today. It’s taught her a lot. It’s broken her a lot, but it’s also made her so much stronger, so much wiser and so much more brilliant. I feel like she’s going to be like Kate when she’s older, and she wouldn’t be like that if she hadn’t met the Doctor. 

The post Millie Gibson on Ruby’s Traumatic DOCTOR WHO Return and Working with Jonah Hauer-King appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/youve-heard-of-aave-but-do-you-know-about-black-american-sign-language/

Growing up Black meant watching how I spoke. My parents taught me that gaining respect meant speaking with proper grammar and pronunciation. In other words, I wasn’t allowed to use slang around adults.

Yet as a child, I always noticed the intricacies and the differences in how Black people spoke when we came together. When I was older and introduced to African American Vernacular English (AAVE), I learned how important language is to our culture.

Most recently, I learned about another language tied to the Black community: Black American Sign Language (BASL).

If you’ve never heard of this language, let’s talk about how it came to be and what it means to Black people.

First, let’s see how language, both spoken and signed, has been a crucial part of the culture of Black Americans.

A Recap of AAVE

As a dialect of English, AAVE has its own words, grammar rules, and sounds, and is used by Black Americans. The term vernacular means that it is a spoken language.

Some key components of AAVE that you may have used but not have been aware of are:

• The use of double negatives.
• Distinct pronunciations of certain words such as “nothing” in standard English to “nuttin‘” in AAVE.
• Replacing words in standard English.

There are some that perceive AAVE as a ghetto or a lazy way of speaking, but it is not. It is a unique way of speaking that caters to Black Americans.

Over the past few years, many AAVE terms have become associated with Gen Z slang. Yet it’s important to note that AAVE isn’t just trendy lingo. AAVE is a way for Black people to communicate and relate to one another.

It came to be through Black people adopting parts of the English language to their needs, a similar action that happened with American Sign Language or ASL.

What Is BASL?

There are about 11 million deaf or hard-of-hearing Americans, and Black deaf people make up eight percent of these. While Black American Sign Language is not a direct replication of AAVE, their purposes and functions are similar.

BASL “paints pictures and expresses messages in ways that just bring another layer and flavor to the whole notion of what Black language is,” described Candas Barnes, an ASL interpreter in the documentary Signing in Black America.

Although there are similarities between ASL and BASL, there are distinct differences between the two. In ASL, one hand is typically used to sign. BASL often uses two-handed gestures. When gesturing, BASL focuses on hand movements around the forehead area, and ASL focuses on the lower body.

Wade Green, an ASL performer, explained in Signing in Black America, people who use BASL tend to use more facial expressions. He signs, “I can see, let’s say their attitude, their personality, their swag.”

With such complexities and nuances, you may be wondering how BASL came to be.

The History of BASL

Black ASL came to be through segregation.

In 1817, the first school for the deaf in the United States opened, but it didn’t admit Black deaf students. When Black deaf schools started to open in 1869, the white deaf schools began teaching a distinct form of sign language, a form that focused on lip reading and using fewer hand gestures. At the same time, the Black deaf schools focused on learning a traditional form of American Sign Language.

When the schools came together, there was a clear distinction between how the white deaf students and Black deaf students signed. As time progressed, white deaf students leaned more toward oralism and lip reading, and Black deaf students stuck to ASL.

Because of this separation, Black deaf students started to incorporate their own signs and words.

BASL in the Modern Day

Currently, there is an evolution happening with Black ASL. There is a shift between how the older and younger generations sign. The older generation tends to stick to more traditional signs of ASL. However, the younger generation has added new words and expressions to the language.

Many Black deaf people have incorporated common phrases of Black English such as:

• “I know that’s right.”
• “Boy, bye”
• “I’m down.”
• “Ain’t nobody got time for that.”

Black ASL takes on body language and expressions of Black English. For example, someone might sign the word “fierce.” Instead of just signing the word, they might add a hand snap or a head tilt.

There are also efforts being made to preserve Black ASL and communicate the importance and value of this language. Such work is being done at Gallaudet University by Carolyn McCaskill, who is a professor and co-director of the Black ASL project. Their goal is to be able to teach and share information about BASL with the next generations.

Famous Black Deaf Pioneers

So now we know what Black ASL is and why it’s an important part of the Black deaf community. Now, let’s recognize some pioneers who have aided in the progression of this language.

But who are the people who help Black ASL grow? Your mind might jump to Justina Miles, the infamous ASL interpreter at Rihanna’s Halftime Super Bowl show. Yet, there are others you should be familiar with.

Warren “Wawa” Snipe is an actor and hip-hop artist. His rap career started in 2005 when he began signing to dip-hop, or hip-hop through deaf eyes.

CJ Jones is a man of many talents: an award-winning actor and producer. He also created the Na’vi Sign Language in Avatar 2.

Dr. Carolyn McCaskill is a professor who has earned a BA in psychology with a minor in social work, along with an MA degree in counseling of the deaf. She is also the second deaf Black female to receive a Ph.D. from Gallaudet University.

Black ASL is a fascinating language. It is a reminder that within the Black community there are so many diverse groups of people. Whether deaf, queer, trans, etc., it’s important that we keep recognizing and learning about all types of people in the Black community.

The post You’ve Heard of AAVE, but Do You Know about Black American Sign Language? appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/diana-ross-and-the-rise-of-the-jackson-five-the-story-behind-the-discovery/

According to the legend, Diana Ross discovered the Jackson 5, and the Supremes singer played a pivotal role in bringing members of the Jackson family — an absolute colossus in music history — into the spotlight. And though Ross is often credited with their discovery, and with a good reason, the story reveals a collaborative effort involving Motown Records and Bobby Taylor, who initially introduced the group to the Detroit label. But before we discuss how Diana Ross came to be credited with the Jackson 5 discovery, let’s first dive into the band’s history.

The story begins in Gary, a city in Indiana that was notorious for its high crime rate back in the 1960s, and sadly, its notoriety still remains. Joseph Jackson, who would become professionally known as Joe Jackson, was a hard-working man who failed to make it in the music business, so he hoped to relive his stage dreams through his children. As a means to achieve this and to keep his kids away from the streets and gangs, he had three of his eldest sons (Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie) form a band in 1964. Two years later, Michael and Marlon joined the group.

Following Marlon and Michael’s entry into the ban, the group began winning various talent shows across different schools in Gary, including the show at Theodore Roosevelt High School. They would go on to perform at several other venues in the Chicago area. In 1967, the Jackson 5 won both talent competitions at Chicago’s Regal Theater and Harlem’s Apollo Theater. During his Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech, Jermaine Jackson disclosed that Gladys Knight first approached the band and sent their demo tape to Motown Records, led by Berry Gordy Jr.

However, Gordy didn’t like the tape, and it ended up being rejected and sent back. The band also recorded an early version of Big Boy, their first single, for One-derful Records, but that was rejected by the label as well. They were eventually signed by Steeltown Records, led by Gordon Keith, under whom they re-recorded Big Boy in January 1968. The single and their rising popularity finally caught the attention of Motown Records in July 1968.

Motown Records is among the best-known and influential record labels in music history, with a rich catalog of Black soul artists and groups. It was a rather disciplined and efficient record printing machine, with teams of songwriters and producers creating hit after hit for the label’s artists to sing. Motown would create a complete image of the artists and decide who sang which song and with whom. This recipe, though depriving artists of creative freedom, made many of them quite famous: Diana Ross included.

As per our opening statement, legend has it that Diana Ross discovered the Jackson 5. After all, she did host a party in their name in her own home in Los Angeles in 1969, thus bringing them into the spotlight. Even the band’s first record was titled Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5. But what most people don’t know is that Ross’ purported discovery of the Jackson 5 was, in fact, a marketing ploy by Motown, as Ross’ perceived involvement gave the Jackson 5 more credibility.

In actuality, Gladys Knight was the one to put the Jackson 5 into Motown’s crosshairs, and Motown’s producer Bobby Taylor was the one to personally bring Jacksons to Motown by convincing Gordy to sign the band. Diana Ross, already a superstar, simply embraced the role assigned by Motown’s PR machine and helped promote the Jackson 5. She became their mentor and helped catapult their fame by endorsing them and appearing alongside them in early promotions. This partnership not only launched the Jackson 5’s career but also cemented Ross’s influence as a music icon who shaped the future of pop and soul.

She also focused more on Michael Jackson, whom Joe recognized as a talent equal to or even greater than the Jackson 5’s original lead singer, Jermaine. Ross groomed Michael Jackson as a star, and Michael developed an infatuation with Diana Ross that would last a lifetime. In the end, Joe Jackson’s dream was complete, and the whole family moved to California. During their time with Motown, the Jackson 5 became immensely popular with audiences. It was the first recording act to have its first four singles reach the top of the Hot 100.

The band’s biggest draw was the incredible voice and talent of the new lead, Michael Jackson, whose solo career Motown launched in 1971. He soon became the crown jewel of the entire label and went on to become the King of Pop. With that said, the Jackson 5 remains a cultural treasure and one of the pillars of Black American music. So, while Diana Ross didn’t technically discover the Jackson 5, her influence and endorsement ensured they had an iconic launch.

The post Diana Ross and the Rise of the Jackson Five: The Story Behind the Discovery appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.

https://www.themarysue.com/walton-goggins-shut-down-an-interviewer-who-would-not-stop-asking-about-aimee-lou-wood/

After season 3 of White Lotus dropped, fans were confused by what was happening with Aimee Lou Wood and Walton Goggins. Now, a journalist wouldn’t take no for an answer when asking Goggins about it.

During the final episodes of the series, Goggins and Wood unfollowed each other on social media. It then turned into fans trying to figure out what happened and connecting everything through their use of the song “Silver Springs” by Fleetwood Mac. The online chatter was so loud that other cast members heard it and others like Jason Isaacs shut it down. Now, Goggins had to do it and was clearly not happy about it.