Shantology

Where you'll find all things aesthetically DIASPORAN, socio-politically BLACK and cosmologically FUTURISTIC.

[shantology]

Iggy went Full Iggy again

Iggy went Full Iggy again

[thedandylionproject-blog]

All of it is a political expression…White people have all kinds of archetypes, from Brad Pitt to Al Bundy, everything in between. The cultural paradigms that are aggressively promoted to young black people and young poor people are extremely narrow.

Yasiin Bey (via thedandylionproject)

[neoretro]

[reneecoxstudio-blog]

Renee Cox, “AMERICAN FAMILY”, Fur, 2001

[shantology]

Triptych: Wangechi Mutu

(Terence Nance, Director, Barron Claiborne, Co-Director & Shawn Peters, Director of Photography)

[shantology]

The Triptych: Barron Claiborne

(Terence Nance, Dir. and Shawn Peters, Dir. of Photographer)

[shantology]

My homies, the Aquemini duo that is Terence Nance and Shawn Peters, were enlisted to created this triptych of 3 contemporary artists - Sanford Biggers, Barron Claiborne and Wangechi Mutu.

[shantology]

For Love Of Ivy (1968)

Starring | Sidney Portier                                                                                                     Co-Starring | Abbey Lincoln, Beau Bridges, Nan Martin, Lauri Peters and Carroll O'Connor Soundtrack | Quinsy Jones

[shantology]

#4 - Nina Simone

Musician. Jazzist. Vocalist. Pianist. Activist. Priestess. Need I say more?

Photo by: Teenie Harris,

[shantology]

#5 - Octavia Butler

If Sun-Ra is the Father of Afro-futurism, than it's mother would have to be Octavia Butler. Highly influenced by the fantastic, sci-fi and a nuanced reading of the history of Black people in America, Octavia fused elements from ancient Africa, the modern and the future state to develop a manipulated metaphorical, social critique of race, class, gender, spirituality and sexuality. As a MacArthur genius, she was the first science fiction writer awardee.

[shantology]

The death of a teenager in Florida has raised several questions about race and the burden placed on black boys.

[shantology]

#6 - Founders of Alpha Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated

In 1913, after breaking away from Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, which at the time was involved in more social activities for its collegiate members and served as a sister extension of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, twenty-two women on the campus of Howard University decided to found a sorority that would be based on the principles of sisterhood, scholarship and service. Less than two months after becoming incorporated, thus giving it official status and prominence, Delta Sigma Theta's first major activity was to participate in the Women's Suffrage Walk of 1913 in the nation's capital city, Washington DC. The young women walked alongside Mary Church Terrell, an honorary member who was one of the first African American women in U.S. history to receive a college degree (she received her undergraduate degree from Oberlin College in 1884 and a master's in 1888). Although the sorority was admonished by Black leaders for participating in the march and experiencing racial discrimination from many of the white women suffragists, they nevertheless maintained their position regarding fighting for the end of gender discrimination. The sorority's mission is founded upon a five-point thrust:

Economic Development;

Educational Development;

International Awareness and Involvement;

Physical and Mental Health; and

Political Awareness and Involvement.

Today the organization has over 200, 000 members with over 900 chapters internationally and is the largest, most powerful Black women's organization in the world.

In Spring 2000, I joined this proud lineage of women activist and crossed the burning sands of Alpha Chapter, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. My childhood was shaped by several Deltas who played prominent roles in my education (although my mother is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.) and before I stepped foot on Howard campus as a freshman, I knew that I wanted to contribute to the legacy of these illustrious women.  

[shantology]

#7 - Tituba

Tituba was an enslaved woman originally from South America of African descent who was a priestess who turned Salem own it's head during the infamous 1692 Salem Witch Trials after being tortured and accused of practicing witchcraft in early America's Puritanical society of Massachusetts. I read Ann Petry's Tituba of Salem Village at some point in my childhood and remember being so taken with the mystique of Tituba. It wasn't until much later in life that I'd discover more about Vodou, Voodoo, Obeah and African spirituality as a whole but clearly this story made a deep impression on my psyche as it relates to my understanding of the practice of African magic and its misinterpretation by Europeans.

[shantology]

#8 - Grace Jones

Jamaican-born model, singer, actress, avante-garde Afro-futurist performance artist Grace Jones is simply a bad ass for every reason, of her own who isn't afraid of her body, of her sexuality or the free expression of her every whim and desire.

[shantology]

#9 - Harriet Tubman bka Black Moses

Harriet Tubman (Araminta Harriet Ross) is one of the most infamous women in history, let alone Black history. She was a rebel, the conductor of the United States’ Underground Railroad, a spy and nurse for the Union Army, abolitionist and advocate for woman’s suffrage. After leaving her husband, who was a free African American who refused to go North, she escaped to her freedom and over her lifetime took 13 trips and freed over 70 enslaved Africans. She also recruited rebels for John Brown’s insurrection at Harper’s Ferry. Despite the fact that she was the victim of a major head injury caused by being beaten by her master for refusing to tie up a captured runaway, she lived a long life of courage. 

“I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.” ~ Harriet Tubman

[shantology]

#10 - Queen Nanny of the Maroons 

Jamaicans can boast of the folkloric tales of Queen Nanny, an Akan woman who was captured in West Africa and sold into slavery in Jamaica. She and her brothers ran away from their plantation and escaped to the hills in Jamaica’s known as the Blue Mountains. After establishing a free community for maroons, Nanny set up a community similar to that of Akan culture in Ghana. For a period of over 30 years, she freed over 800 enslaved Africans, much like her American parallel Harriet Tubman. Known as an “obeah” woman, or Akan priest, her infused her spirituality into her ideology and practices. The area where she settled became known as Nanny Town. Because of its strategic location, the maroons were able to defend themselves from British colonizers.

[shantology]

Top 10 Dopest Black Women of All Time - The Short List

In honor of Women's History Month and the fact that I'm a Black woman, I'd like to acknowledge the top 10 flyest sisters to touch down on planet earth. Well, at least this is my list today...it changes over time but I think this list best represents the women whose spirits I conjure (even the few that are still alive) when I want to tap into my magical powers.