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Documentary films elevate important stories often set aside by dominant culture. The film American Reckoning bravely tells an often ignored narrative of Black self-defense and the multiple consequences of resisting white supremacy.
Wharlest Jackson Sr. was a husband and father of five who worked three jobs to support his family and was treasurer of his local chapter of the NAACP. In 1967, while driving home after working overtime from his factory job, he was murdered. Someone took his life by placing a bomb on the driver’s side of his car.
As the story of the NAACP coming to Mississippi to protest Wharlest Jackson’s death is told, the audience is taken on a familiar journey: Black folks organize to vote and white Southerners organize to shut it all down with terrorism. Footage of members of the Ku Klux Klan brazenly parading around town in their hoods and robes, faces exposed, and openly threatening Black people at their Klan rallies is jarring, but in American Reckoning, the audience witnesses Black Southerners with guns ready to protect themselves and their property unapologetically. Directors and producers Yoruba Richen (The Killing of Breonna Taylor, The Sit In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show) and Brad Lichtenstein (When Claude Got Shot) show viewers a side of Black resistance not often seen. American Reckoning takes the audience on a civil rights emotional roller coaster that thankfully ends with a sense of hope.
Three years before Jackson’s murder, his friend, co-worker, and NAACP local president George Metcalf was severely injured when a bomb was placed under the hood of his car. As the Black community organized to peacefully protest the murder attempt, they also armed themselves for protection. A high point in American Reckoning is when the film turns its lens to the Deacons of Defense and Justice. A group of Black men travel from Mississippi to Bogalusa, Louisiana, to meet with the Deacons to learn how to organize themselves to protect their community by openly practicing armed self-defense.
Black people arming themselves to protect their families in the South is not a new phenomenon. There’s a wonderful montage of historic paintings and photos of Black resistance in America from the 1600s to the 1960s as professor Akinyele Umoja (author of We Will Shoot Back) shares that Black communities taking up arms to protect themselves with force was not an unusual notion. The notion of non-violent protest was unusual. Your usual civil rights documentary from this time period would show Black people stoically sitting at lunch counters while screaming white people pour hot coffee on their heads or Black people getting beaten and knocked over by fire hoses while bitten by German shepherds. There is none of that here. Nah. We see brothers with shotguns ready to protect their families against the Klan. We see Black women, children, and elders peacefully protesting while protected by Black men. Seeing the footage of Black men in this time period organizing in barbershops and in Black neighborhoods prepared to defend themselves is inspiring. I wish there could have been more about the Deacons. I really loved this part of the film.
Hillary Bachelder’s expert editing blends never-before-seen archival footage from the 1960s with interviews from the 1990s and current day that connect the 21st-century civil rights uprising with the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. The directors don’t shy away from showing the sexism that existed in the civil rights movement back then, giving a multifaceted nuance that humanizes the movement.
American Reckoning is also a heartbreaking chronicle of the continued injustices faced by Jackson’s family who, for over fifty years, have tried to get the American justice system to find and prosecute the men responsible for their father’s death. The Jackson family is just one of thousands of Black families who dealt with the consequences of their loved ones being murdered for just wanting to live head held high with human dignity during Jim Crow. According to the documentary, in the late 1960s in that area of Mississippi, there were over 46 unsolved murders of Black men, women, and children. The documentary alleges these were possibly at the hands of a select club within the KKK. John Lewis has a meaningful cameo appearance late in the documentary, which makes this family’s journey even more compelling.
American Reckoning is a part of FRONTLINE’s Un(re)solved initiative, a series of documentaries that showcase the federal government’s investigation of over 150 cold cases from the civil rights era. Un(re)solved includes a podcast, a web-based interactive experience, and a live traveling augmented reality installation.
American Reckoning reminds viewers of Black communities’ unstoppable ability to protect themselves and advocate for justice. This way of life has always been how Black people have lived in America — connected to resilience and authentic power no matter what. Although American Reckoning is very tough to watch at times, the end left me feeling inspired, ready, and able, knowing that Black resistance lives in our bloodlines.
American Reckoning opens theatrically Friday, February 11, 2022, for a one-week exclusive engagement in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Monica Film Center. American Reckoning then premieres on PBS’s FRONTLINE February 15, 2022, 10PM ET/9PM CT streaming on PBS.org/frontline and in the PBS video app February 16, 2022.
Documentary films elevate important stories often set aside by dominant culture. The film American Reckoning bravely tells an often ignored narrative of Black self-defense and the multiple consequences of resisting white supremacy.
Wharlest Jackson Sr. was a husband and father of five who worked three jobs to support his family and was treasurer of his local chapter of the NAACP. In 1967, while driving home after working overtime from his factory job, he was murdered. Someone took his life by placing a bomb on the driver’s side of his car.
As the story of the NAACP coming to Mississippi to protest Wharlest Jackson’s death is told, the audience is taken on a familiar journey: Black folks organize to vote and white Southerners organize to shut it all down with terrorism. Footage of members of the Ku Klux Klan brazenly parading around town in their hoods and robes, faces exposed, and openly threatening Black people at their Klan rallies is jarring, but in American Reckoning, the audience witnesses Black Southerners with guns ready to protect themselves and their property unapologetically. Directors and producers Yoruba Richen (The Killing of Breonna Taylor, The Sit In: Harry Belafonte Hosts the Tonight Show) and Brad Lichtenstein (When Claude Got Shot) show viewers a side of Black resistance not often seen. American Reckoning takes the audience on a civil rights emotional roller coaster that thankfully ends with a sense of hope.
Three years before Jackson’s murder, his friend, co-worker, and NAACP local president George Metcalf was severely injured when a bomb was placed under the hood of his car. As the Black community organized to peacefully protest the murder attempt, they also armed themselves for protection. A high point in American Reckoning is when the film turns its lens to the Deacons of Defense and Justice. A group of Black men travel from Mississippi to Bogalusa, Louisiana, to meet with the Deacons to learn how to organize themselves to protect their community by openly practicing armed self-defense.
Black people arming themselves to protect their families in the South is not a new phenomenon. There’s a wonderful montage of historic paintings and photos of Black resistance in America from the 1600s to the 1960s as professor Akinyele Umoja (author of We Will Shoot Back) shares that Black communities taking up arms to protect themselves with force was not an unusual notion. The notion of non-violent protest was unusual. Your usual civil rights documentary from this time period would show Black people stoically sitting at lunch counters while screaming white people pour hot coffee on their heads or Black people getting beaten and knocked over by fire hoses while bitten by German shepherds. There is none of that here. Nah. We see brothers with shotguns ready to protect their families against the Klan. We see Black women, children, and elders peacefully protesting while protected by Black men. Seeing the footage of Black men in this time period organizing in barbershops and in Black neighborhoods prepared to defend themselves is inspiring. I wish there could have been more about the Deacons. I really loved this part of the film.
Hillary Bachelder’s expert editing blends never-before-seen archival footage from the 1960s with interviews from the 1990s and current day that connect the 21st-century civil rights uprising with the civil rights movement of the late 1960s. The directors don’t shy away from showing the sexism that existed in the civil rights movement back then, giving a multifaceted nuance that humanizes the movement.
American Reckoning is also a heartbreaking chronicle of the continued injustices faced by Jackson’s family who, for over fifty years, have tried to get the American justice system to find and prosecute the men responsible for their father’s death. The Jackson family is just one of thousands of Black families who dealt with the consequences of their loved ones being murdered for just wanting to live head held high with human dignity during Jim Crow. According to the documentary, in the late 1960s in that area of Mississippi, there were over 46 unsolved murders of Black men, women, and children. The documentary alleges these were possibly at the hands of a select club within the KKK. John Lewis has a meaningful cameo appearance late in the documentary, which makes this family’s journey even more compelling.
American Reckoning is a part of FRONTLINE’s Un(re)solved initiative, a series of documentaries that showcase the federal government’s investigation of over 150 cold cases from the civil rights era. Un(re)solved includes a podcast, a web-based interactive experience, and a live traveling augmented reality installation.
American Reckoning reminds viewers of Black communities’ unstoppable ability to protect themselves and advocate for justice. This way of life has always been how Black people have lived in America — connected to resilience and authentic power no matter what. Although American Reckoning is very tough to watch at times, the end left me feeling inspired, ready, and able, knowing that Black resistance lives in our bloodlines.
American Reckoning opens theatrically Friday, February 11, 2022, for a one-week exclusive engagement in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Monica Film Center. American Reckoning then premieres on PBS’s FRONTLINE February 15, 2022, 10PM ET/9PM CT streaming on PBS.org/frontline and in the PBS video app February 16, 2022.
Activate your child’s motor skills with our list of the best activity cubes, toddler activity centers, busy boards, and more!
How many of you remember playing with a bead maze activity cube at the doctor’s office? It seemed those delightful toys were a waiting room staple of every pediatrician or dentist I had the “pleasure” to visit. There’s just something so satisfying about pushing wooden beads along a twisting wire rollercoaster. All this time, I thought activity cubes were nothing more than toys, but it turns out they offer so much more, especially for babies and toddlers!
See, activity cubes, activity centers, and busy boards are great ways to develop your little one’s fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination as well as improve critical thinking and teach cause and effect. Certainly, there are many kinds of activity cubes on the market, so we did the work and found the ones that struck the right balance between cost and features. For the most part, our goal was to stick with non-electronics, but we couldn’t help ourselves and also threw in a few items that require batteries. We’re all geeks here at GeekBaby, after all.
It’s crucial to develop your child’s fine motor skills, but just as important are their gross motor skills, and swings are proven to strengthen a child’s balance and coordination. So, for the perfect compliment to an activity cube, check out our list of the best baby/toddler swings indoors or out!
All right then, let’s do this. Read on for fifteen cute, cool, geeky activity toys for your baby.
Wooden Activity Cubes
Ever played the app Cut the Rope? It’s a simple but engaging puzzle game enjoyed by not only kids but parents alike. So, the first item on the list brings Om Nom and friends to life with many puzzles, hooks, and doorways to interact with. In short, this large activity cube is big enough for older toddlers, small enough for barely standing infants, and something even parents themselves will enjoy!
This activity cube is adorable and filled to the edges with fun activities. In addition to a zigzag track and spinners, there’s also bead mazes and animal puzzles, to name just a few of its features. Not to mention, this cube helps with hand-eye coordination and teaches cause and effect. For me, it’s all about those cows and ducks. So cute!
How can one make an activity cube more active? Add wheels! This cube has it all, including a learning clock and a side that helps teach numbers, colors, and shapes. However, it should be pointed out that this is not a training toy for walking and should be used by experienced walkers only. Otherwise, holy cats, is thing awesome!
Wooden Activity Centers
Tree Top Adventure Activity Center
In addition to being toddler-sized and filled with interesting and adorable activities, this activity center makes for excellent nursery decor. I mean, look at how cute that snail and ant are! Even the bumblebee is delightful, and I’m deeply afraid of bees (real ones anyways). Plus, this table is sturdy enough for toddlers to pull on without tipping, making it great for strengthening their standing skills.
Looking for more ways to decorate your nursery? Hop on over here for some baby nursery themes and decor ideas!
Deep Sea Adventure Activity Center
On the other hand, perhaps you prefer the ocean over the forest. Well, we got you covered! Loaded with fun activities and ultra cute sea creatures (that crab is giving me life!), this activity center is another great choice for the nursery, especially for an underwater themed one. Above all, this bright, colorful, and highly detailed activity center is sure to capture your child’s imagination!
From the tree tops, to the deep seas, and now to outer space, this activity center is ready to send your child’s imagination to the moon and back! Filled with features that develop your child’s fine and gross motor skills, this rocket would be a fantastic addition to any space-themed nursery. Even more good news, absolutely no ego-driven billionaires had a hand in making this rocket!
Travel Activity Cubes
Designed for infants to develop and enhance their senses, this plush cube is perfect for entertaining your little one while on the go. We recommend keeping one of these cubes with your stroller and/or in the car, so you always have it when you’re out and about with your child. However, if camping isn’t your thing, hop on over to the seller’s full Etsy shop for lots of other options!
Everyone loves Lego. That’s a fact. Okay, maybe not a fact but you get my meaning. This cube is perfect little builders ages 2 and up. The string-attached Lego pieces mean no missing pieces or painful footfalls in the dark. In addition, this tiny cube will keep any toddler entertained for on-the-go brain stimulation and learning. Fine motor skills will be honed right before your eyes with this touch of throwback. Another perk, it’ll easily fit in a purse, pocket, or pouch, making this a great option to bring along on any trip.
Not only is each of these cubes tiny and adorable, but they’re also unique due to their variety of designs and colors. Options include Hello Kitty; planes, trains, and automobiles; underwater; and a sweet, tactile sheep friend. These cubes are made for a learning baby on the go, perfect to battle the road trip blues for baby and you.
Busy Boards
This wooden “iPad” for toddlers uses hands-on and visual stimuli to keep kids interested. As they grow, they can practice their letters or drawing skills with the individual light-up buttons to create and learn. The on/off switch flip switch, light-up buttons, and easily stowed design make this a great option for long car trips or adventures through the grocery store.
Maybe you want all of the fun activities a proper activity cube offers but don’t have the space (or you just prefer flat rectangles over cubes). Well, this customizable busy board is the perfect solution for you. Hang it on the wall, or tuck it under the bed, if that works better. Wherever you decide, just know, your little one is going to all about this!
Personalized Outer Space Busy Board
How about a personalized busy board with an outer space theme? Add your child’s name and, if any of the attachments don’t suit your child’s interests, the seller is willing to work with you to build the ideal busy board perfect for your child. And, if space isn’t your thing, the Etsy shop has loads of other themes to choose from, so check them out!
If soaring across the galaxy is your jam, be sure to check out our list of Star Wars nursery decor recommendations!
Unique Activity Toys
Gosh, this is cute. It’s also got some really fun features. Press the nose for pig sounds. Rotate the gears to build fine motor skills. Pound the top for fun effects. There’s more, of course, but really, it’s all about that adorable little piggy. charming and delightful, what’s not to love? I suppose if you don’t love pigs as much I do, you could always go with cow option.
Focusing on helping your little one to learn by having fun, this learning cube lands in the middle of busy toy and educational toy. Each of the big, colorful buttons sends kids on a learning journey. They can count to ten, practice the alphabet, learn colors, and even develop rhythm and musicality. Seriously, this thing’s won loads of awards and accolades, so you don’t have to take our word for it. Check it out!
While not a cube, this activity toy will keep your baby or toddler engaged while introducing them to the world of math early! You can try calculating the amount of fun you and your toddler can have, but the limit simply does not exist. Your child is sure to love the brightly-colored shapes, numbers, and counting disks, but really it’s all about that magnetic fishing rod for some dexterity fun! In a nutshell, this is an excellent choice for starting off your little one’s math journey right.
The post Top Activity Cubes, Toddler Activity Centers, & More appeared first on Geek Baby Clothes.
When I was growing up, my parents religiously followed the ERSB Rating System such that when I was 12, any game that was Rated T for Teen was completely off table for even a conversation because it was intended for 13+ year olds. Unwilling to wait, I had to write a two-page petition explaining why I should be able to purchase and play Age of Mythology, a game that deeply spoke to me mostly, because I was a preteen nerd and most of all loved mythology. The ability to create an empire inspired by various mythological heroes and monsters was too good to pass up. And as such, Real Time Strategy Games hold a special place in my heart as a byproduct of having to endeavor in such a way to be able to play that one. This meant that when I saw “Roguelike RTS” I knew I had to try it Rouge Command.
You may be wondering how do you combine RTS and Roguelikes, and that answer is by starting with the RTS framework and layering in roguelike elements to spice. Each level starts out with your Engineer placed somewhere in a procedurally generated map. You step up your first refinery, start mining crystals, and then eventually build a small army that you then send to destroy the enemy base. You’re on a timer, so there is an impetus to be efficient with your time and resources. However, with the different action elements with units and buildings having skills that can be activated in real time, there are various slow time toggles that you can adjust so you can make sure you have a full state of the board. After completing the area, you’re offered a variety of rewards ranging from Cards that represent new units and their corresponding structures, upgrades, and the ilk that help prepare your expedition crew for the next area.
Since Rouge Command was still just a demo, the drafting feature wasn’t fully implemented yet, so the first couple runs had similar rhythms but enough previews to be tantalized by what will come later. Furthermore, the pathing commonly associated with roguelikes was completely unavailable, but the familiar branching tree map in the preview definitely gave some classic FTL vibes which I won’t ever be mad about.
The amount of modularity is really neat as one of the available upgrades was “Upon death, unit has a chance to spawn two bomber units” that you were then able to put on the cheap trash Robo-Micro and a different Hack reduced the cost by a third. This meant that amassing a large swarm of this Robo-Micros was enough to overwhelm the enemy settlement, because each time they killed the cheap unit small bombs would proceed to wreck havoc. The endless deluge was enough to progress.
Rouge Command still had some micromanage-y aspects of the game that took a second to get the hang off even with the comprehensive hotkeys, and there weren’t always enough visual indicators that I successfully activated one of my units skills, but the microcosm of the experience was enjoyable. The lo-fi sci-fi aesthetic worked for me, the sound design was very satisfying with all of the beeps, boops, and explosions. And while I didn’t get far enough to leverage some of the more bombastic units or figure out how to wrap the environment entirely in my favor, the mere possibility is intriguing.
Rogue Command is functionally an RTS game with some light roguelike elements, but the framework of a roguelike does allow for some neat moments and decisions that aren’t in other RTSs. While we’ll have to wait until the full game to fully see the concept realized, the demo has promise, and I’ll be circling around once the full release happens.
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The post First Impressions of ‘Rogue Command’ appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.