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http://www.afronerd.com/2022/08/primal-s2s-time-jump-tollywoods-rrr.html

 

Afronerd Radio can now be heard LIVE courtesy of Apple Music/Itunes

Let's get it, folks!  Welcome to the latest episode of Afronerd Radio's Mid Week in Review broadcast airing each and every Wednesday on the BTalk 100 internet radio network.  Join your gamma-irradiated AFROnerdists hosts, as they elucidate on the goings-on in blerd culture. The topics to be explored are: Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal is in the midst of season 2 on Adult Swim and viewers might have noticed a time jump from the prehistoric to the Gilded Age during the 5th episode. Let's discuss.;  after noticing so many highly praised discussions centering on Netflix' Tollywood action film, RRR, Dburt decided to check it out for himself.  And it pretty much lives up to the hype; troubled/disturbed actor, Ezra Miller (The Flash, Justice League) finally acknowledges that perhaps he has some mental issues that have to be addressed; James Bond casting rumors have started up again for the umpteenth time but the regular cast of candidates might be out of the running this go around;  noted screenwriter/producer and purveyor of the CW Arrowverse might be chosen to helm the DCEU as the Warner Media equivalent of the MCU's Kevin Feige and we give our thoughts; And lastly, our thoughts about the arrest of a Black budding actress who was arrested in Atlanta and how her entitled behavior led to the altercation to be mischaracterized and become viral on the internet.      

One thing that Dburt is doing (finally) is investing in cryptocurrency, courtesy of Roundlyx. We would implore our followers to investigate, discern and then explore by using our referral code: afro-87A4BF

https://blackgirlnerds.com/5-black-owned-wellness-apps-to-keep-you-calm-and-centered/

An article from U.S. News and World Report stated that “being Black is bad for your health.” If that’s not bad enough, racism and police brutality highlight the daily threats Black people face when doing everyday things like sleeping (Breonna Taylor), shopping (George Floyd), or jogging (Ahmaud Arbery). The world debates the significance of our lives, bodies, and right to wellness and self-care. The situation has evolved to a crucial point.

Over the last few years, conversations around mental health within the Black community have taken on new meaning. Studies show that since the pandemic, 48 percent of Black adults were more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and depression. Finding the right support can be a challenge. However, some apps make it easier than ever. We can have the benefits of mindful practices and therapy right at our fingertips.

There are plenty of good reasons to start incorporating a wellness routine into your day. It can keep you focused on the present moment, manage stress and anxiety, and decrease negative thoughts, just to name a few. Here’s a collection of Black-owned wellness apps to keep you calm and centered, no matter what life brings your way.

Shine

I found the Shine app at the start of the pandemic. It proved to be a life saver. It kept me company on my morning walks. It’s a daily self-care app that helps people “rest, heal, and grow through difficulty.” Founded by Marah Lidey and Naomi Hirabayashi, the app provides an introduction to the idea of meditation as it serves as a guide to mindfulness for your everyday life. Lifting your spirits, worrying less, and sleeping soundly is what Shine is all about.

One of my favorite aspects of this app is that it teaches breathing techniques, how to follow you’re breathing, and different ways to meditate. It includes daily meditations, weekly courses, and virtual workshops.

Ayana Therapy

This digital platform provides people from marginalized communities access to therapy by matching them with licensed therapists “who share their cultural traits, identities, and experiences and enable them to communicate virtually.” New users take a questionnaire that helps ensure the best matches. Founder and CEO Eric Coly saw a rising concern with mental health in the corporate space — companies, universities, and non-profits. Ayana Therapy offers services for families, couples, and groups.

Liberate

This app provides meditations and discussions, specially designed with the Black experience in mind. The wellness studio helps develop daily meditation habits that will lead to a better mental state. It’s “meditation for us, by us.” Liberate is not only just a meditation app, but it is a safe space for the Black community to get in the habit of participating in daily meditation.

Creator Julio Rivera produced this app after discovering meditation as an outlet at the peak of his career. This mediation journey aims to support the realities of being Black in the modern day, aided by a carefully-curated library filled with over 200 topics. Each topic is led by a Black teacher who represents a wide range of experiences and heritage in their practice. It truly is a space to feel safe and receive the benefits of meditation.

Alkeme

Alkeme is a new healthcare and wellness system dedicated to the Black community. Alkeme intends to take agency over its health outcomes, starting with mental health as one of the community’s more pressing needs. The platform features a catalog of live-stream and on-demand content consisting of mental wellbeing techniques, guided meditation sessions, and practices hosted by mental health practitioners trained to meet the unique needs of their Black audience.

Exhale

To cope with the recent occurrences of racial injustice, Katara McCarty created Exhale. Exhale is an emotional well-being app designed for all women of color. This app provides time to exhale by releasing everything that is no longer serving you and replacing it with what the app calls “soul medicine.” Soul medicine refers to medicine for the depths of your soul which include: positive energy, healing, and love. As women of color, there are systems of oppression every day that cause hurt to our souls, bodies, and minds. This app’s intent is to serve as refuge and healing.

As the world begins to take more notice of ways to affect real change in current systems of racism and injustice, a good start is to use the resources that are becoming available to support access to safe spaces. Black people deserve safe spaces to nurture their wellbeing and healing. Also, to have open conversations about experiences that are unique to us. Hopefully, utilizing these apps will have an impact on the wellness of not only Black people in general but also their families and communities, to begin to close the gap in health outcomes that exists.

https://nerdist.com/article/lord-of-the-rings-playlist-music-of-middle-earth-the-hobbit-howard-shore-led-zeppelin-leonard-nimoy/

There are many things that The Lord of the Rings franchise is known for having done to perfection. You might associate The Lord of the Rings with mindblowing scenery, incredible costumes, or even some truly delicious food. But if there’s one thing that Lord of the Rings has brought to us, it is a whole slew of epic music. Of course, we’re partially talking about Howard Shore’s iconic scores for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. But we’re also thinking of all the music this incredible series has inspired throughout pop culture. To celebrate this musical legacy, as well as the upcoming The Lord of the Rings series, The Rings of Power, Nerdist put together some of our favorite Lord of the Rings music and created what you might call the One Playlist of Power. It’s our way to get you hype for #NerdistTolkienWeek, which takes place from August 29 through September 2 to celebrate The Rings of Power‘s release.

Middle-earth awaits in this sonic journey. Check out Nerdist‘s Middle-earth Playlist below and get ready to rock out, quest epically, and musically meet Hobbits, dwarves, elves, and more.

Some of these are songs you may already have on your Lord of the Rings playlists. But “Concerning Hobbits” is a classic and deserves that thousandth listen. Meanwhile, other songs may be new to you. We could not more thoroughly recommend that you listen to “The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins,” performed by Leonard Nimoy. Not only does that song offer us nerdy nirvana, but it will get stuck in your head.

Of course, no Lord of the Rings musical adventure would feel complete without Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” or “Misty Mountains” performed by Richard Armitage. And doesn’t that just go to show you the breadth and depth of Lord of the Rings-related music? We can’t wait to add even more amazing tunes to the line-up when The Rings of Power premieres.

We’ll leave you to explore the rest of this LOTR playlist for yourself. But if there’s one thing we can guarantee, it’s that having it on in the background will make every part of your life feel like a grand adventure. In fact, we’re pretty sure you’ll get to the end and then head back (again) to the beginning.

The post Let This LORD OF THE RINGS’ Playlist Bring Epic Music to All Your Quests appeared first on Nerdist.

https://blackgirlnerds.com/queen-nanny-jamaicas-military-strategist-and-hero/

The thing about Black History is that it spans continents and countries, including the island of Jamaica. Before the time that the island became known as the land of reggae music, it was a place of refuge for thousands of African descendants. Within Jamaica’s history is the story of the legendary Queen Nanny.

Queen Nanny was known as the fearless leader of a community of Africans who fought and reclaimed their freedom. If you’re curious about this piece of history, here is the legend of Queen Nanny of the Maroons and how she fought for Black freedom. 

Queen Nanny and the Maroons

Before Jamaica was colonized, the land was inhabited by a group of Indigenous people called the Arawaks or Tainos, who lived peacefully on the island for many years. They were believed to have come from South America 2,500 years ago. They gave the island the name Xaymaca, meaning “land of water and wood.” The Tainos would later be important allies to Queen Nanny.

When the Spaniards took over the island and brought over enslaved Africans, some escaped their bondage and created independent communities within the island. The Spaniards referred to these people as “simaroons,” which later would be shortened by the British and referred to as the “maroons.”

It was believed that Queen Nanny and her brothers were the first to lead these slaves into freedom and start these settlements. Escaping into the mountains of Jamaica where the vegetation was rich and hard to access, Queen Nanny partnered with the Tainos to establish a new way of life on the island. 

When the Spanish left the island and before the British took over, previous slaves were set free and joined the Maroons, making them one of the largest populations on the island. These Maroons thrived for years through developing a trading system and becoming knowledgeable about the island. It was Queen Nanny who help the Maroons maintain their freedom and help others gain theirs as well. 

Who was Queen Nanny?

Very little is known about Queen Nanny’s origin. Some say that she came from Ghana, and others say she was a part of the Ashanti tribe. Although not much is known about her younger years, more is known about how she played a critical role in Jamaican history. The story of her bravery has been passed down through generation after generation, allowing us to put together the pieces of her heroic story. 

What we do know about her was that she was small in size but had piercing eyes and was the leader of the Windward Maroons. There is much controversy about how she arrived in Jamaica, and depending on who you ask you might get a different story. Some say she was brought to the island as a slave and then fought for her freedom, while others believe that she came of her own will.

When the British took over Jamaica, Queen Nanny fought against the British and was believed to have saved more than 1,000 slaves within her lifetime. It was during the first Maroon War from 1655 to 1740 that she became known as a ruthless but effective military strategist. 

With a military of around 3,000 soldiers, Queen Nanny used an abeng or a cow horn to communicate complex messages over long distances to her army — messages that the British could not understand. She also initiated guerilla warfare by having her soldiers use camouflage to hide amongst the trees and launch surprise attacks on the British soldiers. Occasionally she would allow some British soldiers to go free just so they could go back and warn the other soldiers of the dangers of attacking her people.

On one of the highest mountains on the island, a Maroon settlement was created and named Nanny Town. Although the British would eventually take over the town, they would have to endure numerous attacks from the Maroons and withstand Nanny’s strategic ambushes.

In addition to her combat strategies, some believed that Queen Nanny had magical powers. She was believed to have been a practitioner of Obeah, a spiritual practice that some believed gave her magical powers and made her bulletproof.

Fun fact: Queen Nanny sent her soldiers to Haiti to train Haitian soldiers. Her tactics were one element that helped the Haitians win their war. 

When the first war ended, a peace treaty was signed. The British and the Maroons eventually learned to work together. The Maroon culture began to become a mixture of British and Jamaican culture. 

Nanny Town was rebuilt and would eventually be renamed Moore Town. Although the name changed, Queen Nanny’s legacy lives on. Today, you can see Queen Nanny’s image on the 500-dollar Jamaican banknote bill. In addition, on March 13, 1932, Queen Nanny was named a national hero.

“Queen Nanny of the Windward Maroons has largely been ignored by historians who have restricted their focus to male figures in Maroon history. However, amongst the Maroons themselves, she is held in the highest esteem” (Jamaicans.com).