Tasha Hayes

Shepard Fairey: Art in Action

Many great movements are said to be born out of oppression or frustration. Pick a time and you can guarantee that there is always some art form that provides the pulse for a particular movement. Look at the rise of German expressionism, protest songs of the 60s, or the use of documentary film making to promote reform and you’ll see that they all serve as artistic time capsules.

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Shaun King: His Rise to Social Media Activism

Social media has reinvented the way we view activism. No longer do you need to pass out flyers or go knock on several doors to spread the word. A simple tweet to your followers or a post on Instagram will reach more people, in a short amount of time. This is especially true for individuals that are internet sensations or have a massive following. Social media presence is king in today’s society.

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The Hate U Give and its Depiction of Blackness

So far 2018 has been an amazing year for Black cinema. No two portrayals are the same and there is a little something for everyone. While there is still progress to be made these films are refreshing to see. Long before its release, I had been hearing talks of a film adaption of Angie Thomas’ debut novel “The Hate U Give.” The bidding war for the rights was being discussed, reactions to the cast, and even talks of colorism all shrouded the film before it even hit theaters. One of the running themes or emotions I felt while watching this film was the honesty of it all. As a Black woman watching this film I felt seen and I knew so many others would too.

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Nyakim Gatwech: A Shot in the Dark

Who determines what is beautiful? Too often we are told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and that’s not fully true. At very young ages we are bombarded with images that indoctrinate us with what society deems as attractive. However, in reality most people do not meet these unrealistic beauty standards. It’s possible that someone may be well into adulthood before they finally learn how to embrace their features. This was indeed the case for 25-year-old Sudanese model Nyakim Gatwech.

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