Uncategorized

http://www.afronerd.com/2020/09/tune-in-every-sun-6pm-for-afronerd.html

Hey AFROnerdists!  We’re back at it again! Listen to a new installment of  Afronerd Radio’s The Grindhouse, airing every Sunday at 6pm eastern.  Your favored internet broadcasters will be highlighting the following topics: it was just announced that legendary actor, Samuel L. Jackson will be reprising his MCU role of Nick Fury for an new Disney + series; controversial comedian/podcaster, Joe Rogan appears to be having problems since his recent move to Spotify with company staffers threatening to strike over the Rogan’s content; veteran comic book creator, Gerry Conway had an interesting screed on Twitter suggesting that every existing superhero comic should be cancelled (ok, where’s he going with this?) in another example of race bended casting, actor Aldis Hodge (One Night in Miami, The Invisible Man) has reportedly been tapped to portray Hawkman in DC’s forthcoming Black Adam film featuring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson;  per usual, Dburt tripped over a new (to him) animated series, entitled Dicktown that seems to do a deep dive into pop culture allusions and has guest vocal talents such as Jean Grae, Zach Galifianakis and the show’s creator, John Hodgman;  the American version of the UK’s Utopia made its debut on Amazon this weekend (Dburt asks whatever happened to that American Misfits redux as well?) ; and in even more Amazon product is expected eith the announcement that The Boys will get an untitled “collegiate” spinoff series;  Did we ever discuss Alamo Drafthouse’s plan to get folks back into their theaters?

A beautiful Black Panther mural honoring the late actor, Chadwick Boseman (and his character gets one in Planet Brooklyn) was unveiled last week at Disneyland as a part of its Downtown Disney shopping district; And it deepens Dburt’s resolve that the character should continue to thrive; Stumptown gets another season and then loses it due to COVIDYoutube star, Arif Zahir is getting the Cleveland Brown vocal gig but its doubtful the audience will know the difference; And lastly, are John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman, Tenet), Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible films) and Keanu Reeves (Matrix and John Wick franchises) really being eyed for potential Marvel projects?…..we’ll deliberate.  Call in LIVE at 508-645-0100.     

OH…and what is the takeaway that this has been a year with Marvel? 

 

“The clapping shall go on for another hour.  Have the first one who stops clapping brought out and shot.”-Donald J. Trump……ok. we’re kidding it was Dr. Victor Von Doom (made you think though, huh?) 

AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!! 

or This link below…..
function openPlayer(s){window.open(“https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/”+escape(s),”Player”,”height=630,width=940,modal=yes,alwaysRaised=yes”)}
Also Afronerd Radio’s podcast format can be heard via Pandora, Spotify and IHeartRadio….more formats to follow!

September 28, 2020

Tune in Every SUN, 6pm for Afronerd Radio’s The Grindhouse Live Broadcast! Topics-Nick Fury @Disney+; Rogan vs Spotify Staffers; Gerry Conway Says Cancel Comics; Hawkman Casting; Dicktown @FXX & More

http://www.afronerd.com/2020/09/tune-in-every-sun-6pm-for-afronerd.html



Hey AFROnerdists!  We're back at it again! Listen to a new installment of  Afronerd Radio's The Grindhouse, airing every Sunday at 6pm eastern.  Your favored internet broadcasters will be highlighting the following topics: it was just announced that legendary actor, Samuel L. Jackson will be reprising his MCU role of Nick Fury for an new Disney + series; controversial comedian/podcaster, Joe Rogan appears to be having problems since his recent move to Spotify with company staffers threatening to strike over the Rogan's content; veteran comic book creator, Gerry Conway had an interesting screed on Twitter suggesting that every existing superhero comic should be cancelled (ok, where's he going with this?) in another example of race bended casting, actor Aldis Hodge (One Night in Miami, The Invisible Man) has reportedly been tapped to portray Hawkman in DC's forthcoming Black Adam film featuring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson;  per usual, Dburt tripped over a new (to him) animated series, entitled Dicktown that seems to do a deep dive into pop culture allusions and has guest vocal talents such as Jean Grae, Zach Galifianakis and the show's creator, John Hodgman;  the American version of the UK's Utopia made its debut on Amazon this weekend (Dburt asks whatever happened to that American Misfits redux as well?) ; and in even more Amazon product is expected eith the announcement that The Boys will get an untitled "collegiate" spinoff series;  Did we ever discuss Alamo Drafthouse's plan to get folks back into their theaters?


A beautiful Black Panther mural honoring the late actor, Chadwick Boseman (and his character gets one in Planet Brooklyn) was unveiled last week at Disneyland as a part of its Downtown Disney shopping district; And it deepens Dburt's resolve that the character should continue to thrive; Stumptown gets another season and then loses it due to COVIDYoutube star, Arif Zahir is getting the Cleveland Brown vocal gig but its doubtful the audience will know the difference; And lastly, are John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman, Tenet), Tom Cruise (Mission Impossible films) and Keanu Reeves (Matrix and John Wick franchises) really being eyed for potential Marvel projects?.....we'll deliberate.  Call in LIVE at 508-645-0100.     

OH...and what is the takeaway that this has been a year with Marvel? 

 

"The clapping shall go on for another hour.  Have the first one who stops clapping brought out and shot."-Donald J. Trump......ok. we're kidding it was Dr. Victor Von Doom (made you think though, huh?) 

AFTER CLICKING ON THE HIGHLIGHTED LINK, GO DIRECTLY TO AFRONERD RADIO!!! 


or This link below.....
function openPlayer(s){window.open("https://radio.securenetsystems.net/v5/"+escape(s),"Player","height=630,width=940,modal=yes,alwaysRaised=yes")}


Also Afronerd Radio's podcast format can be heard via Pandora, Spotify and IHeartRadio....more formats to follow!


September 28, 2020

Watch: Rihanna Gives A Sneak Peek At Her Next Savage X Fenty Show On Amazon

https://www.essence.com/fashion/rihanna-returns-to-amazon-for-savage-x-fenty-show/

Rihanna just keeps raising the bar. On Thursday, the beauty mogul took to her Instagram to announce the return of her annual Savage X Fenty show. The extraordinary fashion experience will celebrate the bold and fearless Fall 2020 collection and will feature a combination of models, actors and dancers.

As a follow up to last year’s groundbreaking event, the show will have an all-star lineup of performers including Hip-Hop icon, Travis Scott, Bad Bunny, Roddy Rich, Ella Mai, Miguel, Mustard and Rosalia. Savage X Fenty show veterans such as, Bella Hadid, Big Sean, Cara Delevingne, Christian Combs, Normani and Paloma Elsesser will all make their return and will be joined alongside newcomers, Lizzo, Demi Moore, Erika Jayne, Gigi Goode, Irina Shayk, Laura Harrier, Paris Hilton, Rico Nasty, Shea Couleé, Willow Smith, Chika, Miss 5th Avenue, Jaida Essence Hall, and many more.

The high-voltage collection is packed with unexpected pairings and surprising newtarget="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Amazon.com/savagexfenty (opens in a new tab)">Amazon.com/savagexfenty and Savagex.com.

The Savage X Fenty show will stream exclusively on Prime Video on October 2nd.

The post Watch: Rihanna Gives A Sneak Peek At Her Next Savage X Fenty Show On Amazon appeared first on Essence.


September 27, 2020

Everything Coming to Streaming in October

https://nerdist.com/article/everything-coming-to-streaming-in-october/

Spooky season is upon us! Thank the 2020 demons or whoever is in charge of this terrible year. Though things might not be getting better outside at least we can take solace in scary movies and heavy woolen sweaters. Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu all have a bunch of brilliant Halloween movies, TV series, and specials coming your way in October so of course, we’ve curated five of our faves and collected the full listings for your perusing pleasure at the bottom of this piece!

Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror

Everything Coming to Streaming in October_1

Shudder

Where to watch: Prime Video
When to watch: October 1st

If you haven’t watched this brilliant Shudder original then make sure to check it out on Prime Video this October. Directed by Xavier Burgin, and based on the book by Robin R. Means Coleman this documentary chronicles Blackness in horror and the impact of Black horror featuring Black horror icons like Tony Todd, Jordan Peele, and Rachel True.

Clive Barker’s Books of Blood

Everything Coming to Streaming in October_2

Hulu

Where to watch: Hulu
When to watch: October 7th

One of horror’s most magical and maniacal minds, Clive Barker is getting the movie treatment again with a new anthology film based on his classic short story collections. We don’t know which tales will be adapted but from the trailer it looks like it’s going to be a spooky good time, and if you want to get to know the Books of Blood check out our introduction piece!

The Haunting of Bly Manor

Everything Coming to Streaming in October_3

Netflix

Where to watch: Netflix
When to watch: October 9th

Our true feelings about this show are under embargo but we can say that the trailer looks amazing and we adore it and we cannot wait til Mike Flanagan’s The Haunting of Hill House follow up to hit screens. Following a young American who heads off to the titular house as a live-in nanny this is a take on the ghost stories of Henry James and it looks perfectly splendid.

Welcome to the Blumhouse

Welcome to Blumhouse

Prime Video

Where to watch: Prime Video
When to watch: Throughout October beginning Oct 6th

Hulu and Blumhouse have been delivering multiple genre movies on a near-monthly basis and now the studio is offering up a series of family-themed horror for Prime Video. Beginning with Black Box and The Lie on October the 6th and followed up by Evil Eye and Nocturne on the 13th the feature films all center on themes of home, love, and the redemptive or destructive nature of those that we love and the places that we call our own.

His House

Everything Coming to Streaming in October_4

Netflix

Where to watch: Netflix
When to watch: October 30th

This critically acclaimed horror focuses on a young couple who emigrates to the UK only to find themselves trapped first in the horrific British immigration system and then a mysterious cul-de-sac which holds a dark secret. This is a huge get for Netflix and should be at the top of your must watch list.

You check out the full listings for October below!

NETFLIX
Oct. 1

A.M.I.
Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls
Along Came a Spider
Bakugan: Armored Alliance: Season 2
Basic Instinct
Black ’47
Bom Dia, Verônica / Good Morning, Verônica
Cape Fear
Carmen Sandiego: Season 3
Code Lyoko: Seasons 1-4
The Dukes of Hazzard (2005)
Employee of the Month
Enemy at the Gates
Evil: Season 1
Familiar Wife: Season 1
Fargo
Food Wars!: Shokugeki no Soma: The Second Plate
Free State of Jones
Ghost Rider
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Gran Torino
Her
House of 1,000 Corpses
Human Nature
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
I’m Leaving Now
The Longest Yard (1974)
Oktoberfest: Beer & Blood
The Parkers: Seasons 1-5
Pasal Kau / All Because of You
The Pirates! Band of Misfits
Carlos Almaraz: Playing with Fire
The Prince & Me
Poseidon (2006)
The Outpost
Stranger than Fiction
Superman Returns
Sword Art Online: Alicization
Troy
The Unicorn: Season 1
WarGames
We Have Always Lived in the Castle
The Worst Witch: Season 4
Yogi Bear
You Cannot Hide: Season 1

Oct. 2

A Go! Go! Cory Carson Halloween
Ahí te encargo / You’ve Got This
The Binding
Dick Johnson Is Dead
Emily in Paris
Òlòtūré
Serious Men
Song Exploder
Vampires vs. the Bronx

Oct. 4

Colombiana
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet
Oct. 6
Dolly Parton: Here I Am
Saturday Church
StarBeam: Halloween Hero
Walk Away from Love

Oct. 7

Hubie Halloween
Schitt’s Creek: Season 6
To the Lake

Oct. 9

Deaf U
Fast & Furious Spy Racers: Season 2: Rio
The Forty-Year-Old Version
Ginny Weds Sunny
The Haunting of Bly Manor
Super Monsters: Dia de los Monsters

Oct. 12

Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts: Season 3

Oct. 13

The Cabin with Bert Kreischer
Octonauts & the Great Barrier Reef

Oct. 14

Alice Junior
BLACKPINK: Light Up the Sky
Moneyball

Oct. 15

A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting
Batman: The Killing Joke
Half & Half: Seasons 1-4
Love Like the Falling Rain
One on One: Seasons 1-5
Power Rangers Beast Morphers: Season 2, Part 1
Rooting for Roona
Social Distance

Oct. 16

Alguien tiene que morir / Someone Has to Die
Dream Home Makeover
Grand Army
In a Valley of Violence
La Révolution
The Last Kids on Earth: Book 3
The Trial of the Chicago 7
Unfriended

Oct. 18

ParaNorman

Oct. 19

Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 2

Oct. 20

Carol
The Magic School Bus Rides Again The Frizz Connection

Oct. 21

My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman: Season 3
Rebecca

Oct. 22

Bending the Arc
Cadaver
The Hummingbird Project
Yes, God, Yes

Oct. 23

Barbarians
Move
Over the Moon
Perdida
The Queen’s Gambit

Oct. 27

Blood of Zeus
Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt: Season 4
Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine
Vilas: Serás lo que debas ser o no serás nada / Guillermo Vilas: Settling the Score

Oct. 28

Holidate
Metallica Through The Never
Nobody Sleeps in the Woods Tonight
Secrets of the Saqqara Tomb

Oct. 30

Bronx
The Day of the Lord
His House
Somebody Feed Phil: Season 4
Suburra: Season 3

Oct. 31

The 12th Man

HULU
Oct. 1

90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days—Complete Season 4
90 Day Fiancé: Complete Season 7
All-Star Halloween Spectacular: Special
Bizarre Foods With Andrew Zimmern: Complete Seasons 9 & 10
Bride Killa: Complete Season 1
Cutthroat Kitchen: Complete Season 13
Dr. Pimple Popper: Complete Season 4
Going for Sold: Complete Season 1
Guy’s Grocery Games: Complete Seasons 18-20
Halloween Baking Championship: Complete Seasons 1-4
Halloween Wars: Complete Seasons 3-8
Hell’s Kitchen: Complete Season 18
Homicide City: Charlotte: Complete Season 1
Homicide Hunter: Lt. Joe Kenda—Complete Season 9
Man with a Van: Complete Season 1
Moonshiners: Master Distiller—Complete Season 1
Murder Comes Home: Complete Season 1
My 600-lb Life: Complete Season 8
My Feet Are Killing Me: Complete Season 1
Property Virgins: Complete Season 18
Supermarket Stakeout: Complete Season 1
Sweet 15: Quinceañera—Complete Season
The Flay List: Complete Season 1
Twisted Love: Complete Season 1
31 (2016)
A Beautiful Mind (2001)
Across the Line (2015)
After Life (2010)
Anti-Trust (2001)
Blade (1998)
Blood Ties (2014)

Blade 2 (2002)
Blue City (1986)
The Curse of Downers Grove (2015)

Blade: Trinity (2004)
Deep Blue Sea (1999)
The Do-Deca-Pentathlon (2011)
Double, Double, Toil and Trouble (1993)
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
The Executioners (2018)
The Express (2008)
The Eye (2008)
Fallen (1998)
Girls Against Boys (2013)
Good Hair (2009)
Guess Who (2005)
Hostel (2006)
Hostel: Part II (2007)
House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
The Hurt Locker (2009)
Ice Age: The Meltdown (2006)
Interview With the Vampire (1994)
Joe (2014)
Judy & Punch (2019)
Kicking & Screaming (2005)
Killers (2010)
Lady in a Cage (1964)
Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985)
Martyrs (2016)
Mud (2013)
Nurse 3D (2014)
The Pirates! Band of Misfits (2012)
The Portrait of a Lady (1996)
The Quiet Ones (2014)
Raging Bull (1980)
The Sandman (2018)
Senorita Justice (2004)
Sk8 Dawg (2018)
The Skull (1965)
Snakes on a Plane (2006)
Spaceballs (1987)
Species (1995)
Superbad (2007)
Thanks for Sharing (2013)
Tooth Fairy (2008)
Triumph of the Spirit (1989)
Vampire (2011)
Wayne’s World 2 (1993)
When a Stranger Calls (2006)
William Shakespeare’s Romeo+Juliet (1996)
Zombie Killers: Elephant’s Graveyard (2015)

Oct. 2

Monsterland — Hulu Original
Connecting: Series premiere

Oct. 3

Ma Ma (2015)

Oct. 4

Saturday Night Live: Season 46 premiere

Oct. 5

Dragon Ball Super: Episodes 1-131

Oct. 7

Clive Barker’s Books of Blood (2020) — Hulu Original Film
Ellen’s Game of Games: Season 4 premiere
Next: Series premiere

Oct. 8

Scream 4 (2011)

Oct. 9

Terminator: Dark Fate (2020)

Oct. 11

Infamous (2020)
Savage Youth (2018)
Scotch: A Golden Dream (2018)

Oct. 12

The Swing of Things (2020)

Oct. 14

The Bachelorette: Season 16 premiere

Oct. 15

The Purge: Complete Season 2
Treadstone: Complete Season 1
Bad Roomies (2015)
High Strung (2016)
It Came from the Desert (2017)
Life After Basketball (2019)
Playing With Fire (2019)
The Escort (2016)

Oct. 16

Helstrom: Complete Season 1 — Hulu Original
The Painted Bird (2019)

Oct. 17

Shark Tank: Season 12 premiere
Momma Named Me Sheriff: Complete Season 1
Mr. Pickles: Series finale

Oct. 18

Friend Request (2016)

Oct. 19

America’s Funniest Home Videos: Season 31 premiere
Card Sharks: Series premiere
Supermarket Sweep: Series premiere
Who Wants To Be a Millionaire: Season 2 premiere

Oct. 20

The Voice: Season 19 premiere
F*ck That’s Delicious: Complete Season 4

Oct. 21

Black-ish: Season 7 premiere
The Conners: Season 3 premiere
The Goldbergs: Season 8 premiere

Oct. 23

Bad Hair (2020) — Hulu Original
Superstore: Season 6 premiere

Oct. 26

Homeland: Complete Season 8
What to Expect When You’re Expecting (2012)

Oct. 29

American Housewife: Season 5 premiere
Bad Therapy (2020)

AMAZON
Oct. 1

30 Days Of Night (2007)
A Knight’s Tale (2001)
Battlefield Earth (2000)
Blood Ties (2014)
Drugstore Cowboy (1989)
Eight Millimeter (1999)
Funny Girl (1968)
Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Guess Who (2005)
Joe (2014)
John Carpenter’s Vampires (1998)
Killers (2010)
Kindred Spirits (2020)
La Sucursal (2019)
Madea’s Big Happy Family (2011)
Mud (2013)
National Security (2003)
Next Level (2019)
Noose For A Gunman (1960)
Nurse (2014)
Quantum Of Solace (2008)
Raging Bull (1980)
Señorita Justice (2004)
Southside With You (2016)
Spaceballs (1987)
Species (1995)
Thanks For Sharing (2013)
The Big Hit (1998)
The Da Vinci Code (2006)
The Departed (2006)
The Gambler Wore A Gun (1961)
The Grudge 3 (2009)
The Mask Of Zorro (1998)
The Mothman Prophecies (2002)
The Pianist (2003)
The Wedding Planner (2001)
Triumph Of The Spirit (1989)
1992: Berlusconi Rising: Season 1 (Topic)
40 & Single: Season 1 (Urban Movie Channel)
America’s Great Divide: From Obama to Trump: Season 1 (PBS Documentaries)
Cisco Kid: Season (Best Westerns Ever)
Cities of the Underworld: Season 1 (HISTORY Vault)
Cold Case Files Classic: Season 1 (A&E Crime Central)
Get Shorty: Seasons 1-3
Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror (Shudder)
Liar: Season 1 (Sundance Now) Mrs. Wilson: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)
Mystery Road: Season 1 (Acorn TV)
PNS Kids: Spooky Stories!: Season 1 (PBS Kids)
Tales of Tomorrow: Season 1 (Best TV Ever)
The Great British Baking Show: Season 1 (PBS Living)
The Loudest Voice: Season 1 (Showtime)
Thou Shalt Not Kill: Season 1 (PBS Masterpiece)

Oct. 2

*Bug Diaries Halloween Special – Amazon Original Special
l *Savage X Fenty Show. Vol. 2 – Amazon Original Special

Oct. 6

*Black Box – Amazon Original Movie (2020)
*The Lie – Amazon Original Movie (2020)
The Transporter Refueled (2015)
Mr. Robot: Season 4

Oct. 8

Archive (2020)

Oct. 9

Movies Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
*Chasing the Crown: Dreamers to Streamers – Amazon Original Series

Oct. 10

Jack And Jill (2011)

Oct. 13

*Evil Eye – Amazon Original Movie (2020)
*Nocturne – Amazon Original Movie (2020)

Oct. 14

A Most Beautiful Thing (2020)

Oct. 15

Halal Love Story (2020)
Playing With Fire (2019)

Oct. 16

*Time – Amazon Original Movie (2020)
*What the Constitution Means to Me – Amazon Original Special

Oct. 21

Cyrano, My Love (2019)

Oct. 23

*Mirzapur – Amazon Original Series: Season 2

Oct. 26

What To Expect When You’re Expecting (2012)

Oct. 27

Battle Los Angeles (2011)

Oct. 29

Soorarai Pottru (2020)

Oct. 30

*Truth Seekers – Amazon Original Series: Season 1

Oct. 31

I’ll See You In My Dreams (2015)

Header Image: Netflix

The post Everything Coming to Streaming in October appeared first on Nerdist.


September 27, 2020

A Compelling, Heavy Hitting Debut: ‘What We Don’t Talk About’ Graphic Novel Review

https://blacknerdproblems.com/a-compelling-heavy-hitting-debut-what-we-dont-talk-about-graphic-novel-review/

I was HYPED to get a review copy of this graphic novel. While not intimately familiar with the author, I had seen her art online in a few places. Like the Dr. Harold Moody (once described as Britain’s Dr. Martin Luther King) Google Doodle and a few of these gorgeous pieces of dancing, smiling, carefree brown-skinned women for AARP. While I didn’t know Charlot Kristensen, the creative behind the work, I saw enough of her art to know that it contained a warmth, not every digital artist is capable of bringing true warmth to their work and she used all the colors to capture attention in every piece of hers that I saw. So, when I had a chance to review her debut graphic novel, I was so happy and agreed.

What We Don’t Talk About is a heavy hitter of a debut for a graphic novel. The book follows Farai who, has been in a relationship for two years and has never met her partner’s parents. Until this weekend. She’s not prepared for the crap show that awaits her. Neither does her significant other even try to prepare her for the folks who raised him.

The first pages introduce us to one Farai, daughter of Zimbabwean immigrants, and girlfriend to Adam whom she’s hurrying to meet. Her bedroom invokes visuals of a person who loves color, loves plants and who is an artist. And she carries on a conversation with her mother on the phone and she assures her that “He’s different:” we’re treated to art supplies all over the room tucked into corners, brightly colored curtains and rugs and potted greenery making real estate everywhere. Already, I get the impression that Farai brings light and color and life wherever she goes. Whether that is appreciated elsewhere is to be seen.

Taking a train with her lover out the city to her parent’s impressive home means a weekend with his parents that doesn’t turn out great. Their home becomes an oppressive place where Farai finds herself the target of racist jokes, sly generalizations on people who are different, and the feeling of simply being unwelcomed. Tragically, it is also a place where she finds her boyfriend Adam quiet, subdued, and not willing to find his voice to support her.

Her partner isn’t willing to rock the boat, and stand up to his parents when he knows, himself, that Farai is uncomfortable. Or that his parents, especially his mother is dismissive. Even wearing a simple, colorful headwrap, something she often wears–out for a short trip on the lake with the parents is frowned upon as he tries to get her to change out of it–for the sake of not being too “loud” or too different.

At 100 pages, I was impressed with the depth of the narrative and how fine the graphic novel’s pace moved along the story. Kristensen’s art is gorgeous, and she vividly paints with color to express different moods and create a world that looks like ours. In her artwork, she is an effective storyteller using emotions that appear on the faces of her characters and their body language to add layers to any scene.

The bowed head of Adam entering the house and continued behavior of trying to retreat into himself at dinner when a conversation gets heated. The severe looks his mother, Martha, gives Farai at times. The cool expressions she wears when saying backhanded compliments. The physical distance she places between her and Farai–it’s incredible to read and follow along with.

Even on pages with no persons visible–thoughts from Farai are accompanied with panels and artwork that fit the scene, perfectly. After Adam and Farai have an argument in the house, she retreats outdoors to a shady tree area to draw and try to distress. After a talk with Adam with him apologizing, they make up, but she still looks troubled. A page of artfully placed panels reveals her inner thoughts of wanting her boyfriend to be present and be there for her. Leaves pulled by the wind from the branches of trees float on, in a flurry surrounding these panels in some chaotic dance. Perhaps mirroring some of the feelings our protagonist was feeling–all the emotions inside her flying around. Definitely, not calm.

While I loved the pacing, the depth of the narrative, and how the ending gave some closure to the situation, I really wanted more of Adam and Farai interacting. As a reader, we are treated to so many pages of Farai finding herself in situations with Adam’s parents–especially his mother. There’s not enough of these two and that may even speak to how abandoned Farai feels in this strange place with these strange people that she’s trying her best to get along with. Some of the dialogue was a bit clunky at times, but it all smoothed out for the big scenes, especially the climax of the book’s conflict that leads to the ending.

What We Don’t Talk About works on so many different levels. Perhaps we all haven’t been in Farai’s shoes–but for persons of color, we’ve all experienced the micro and macro aggressions that comes with having skin that isn’t fair and being in places where you’re seen as less than, or a threat. Reading along reminds me of all the acquaintances that never grew into deeper friendships because of distasteful jokes about Black hair at the office or the dismissing of how certain folks were treated right in front of us by campus police or other authority figures. I retreat back into a memory of considering giving my heart to someone, specifically someone non-Black, and having a great epiphany that meeting the family wouldn’t go well by certain red flags I’d already witnessed.

I happen to come across a review for this book that of course, enraged me: it spoke of the reviewers’ dislike of Farai. Most of the reader’s reading of the book interpreted the protagonist as her being disrespectful in her confrontation of Adam’s parents and how she should have been calmer and collected in trying to reach a middle ground with them. The review also detailed that young people of today all seem to believe that only their opinion matters. No one else’s. And that made me pause because it was a tune I’ve heard before. Several times, in fact. It reminded me that… folks of color just can’t win. Living in so-called post-racial society has made some think that discrimination on the grounds of race doesn’t happen or happen as often anymore.

How many times was I told that I should have educated someone in a way that was kinder? How many times have I been told that my delivery should have been softer? How many times has my Black body been at the mercy of someone who was quick to dehumanize me with mere words? How many ways have I been expected to bend and break myself into positions and into boxes for someone else’s benefit, learning, ease of comfort–how many times do women of color, especially Black women have to do this on a daily basis? Why do we code switch, wear a more conservative hairstyle for the job interview, tone down a love of color, or a certain style of clothing or a certain genre of music to be more…neutral? Likable? Less threatening? Loveable?

What We Don’t Talk About is a graphic novel that carries great weight– tackling issues of being in an interracial relationship and of what it means to be non-White outside the United States. Set in the UK, this is a compelling read that is both timely and relevant. Even at 100 pages, there is enough social commentary and narrative meat on being different, on being brave enough to talk about the things folks don’t want to talk about, and how your skin will present you as unworthy to some.

Easily read in one sitting, I love that this book reinforces that race does play a part in how the world perceives us, how even a simple meeting the parents can be disastrous and hurtful, and knowing your self-worth–even if the one who is supposed to be yours–won’t. Charlot Kristensen’s debut is a memorable one and I look forward to the storytelling she will bring to us with her future work. With her talent and her flair for artfully expressing the feelings and words that don’t always get spoken or verbally expressed, I can already predict her next project will be equally moving and insightful.

8.7 Muted Conversations at The Dinner Table Out Of 10

Buy a digital copy here, purchase physical copies of the graphic novel here and here.

See our site’s other graphic novels reviews here.


Charlot Kristensen is an Afro-Dane Illustrator based in Dublin. She graduated with an Illustration degree from MDX University, London, in 2015 and is a member of the Drawn Chorus collective. Her work was featured in the anthology We Shall Fight Until We Win (404 Ink / BHP Comics, 2019) Having a black mum and coming from a mixed family, Charlot believes that representation is important to our development. Her art often represents women of colour in hope of empowering them and changing their narrative. The main focus of her work is comics, editorial and book illustration.  See her online at  charlotkristensen.com  and on Twitter and Instagram

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The post A Compelling, Heavy Hitting Debut: ‘What We Don’t Talk About’ Graphic Novel Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.


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