#bordelon

[beingsoupahbi]

Queen Sugar 2x09

[iblackgirlanonymousblog]

Queen Sugar, the show that not only moves folks to tears, but is literally groundbreaking. There will be some spoilers in this post. With that here is a quick review for the first half of the second season of OWN’s Queen Sugar.

Last season the show ended with Nova Bordelon having been spit on in a bar. We open with Nova no longer with her original partner, Calvin, but some unknown white man. I, personally, was sad he wasn’t part of the first half of the show. I was looking forward to seeing how that was handled. However, it was interesting to see Nova sleeping around. She is very much in control of herself and to see her have so many one-night stands was interesting. All the men were white and in some way favored Calvin. Nova has always held her guard up, as far as relationships, for a long time. That was until she met Dr. Robert Dubois. Dr. Dubois is everything Nova stands for in a man. He is educated, looking out for the betterment of his people and of course, handsome. He is not only her equal but he pushes her. He wants her to affect change in New Orleans and Louisiana on a larger scale. There is this instant connection between the two of them. Nova is visibly anxious about it but, Dr. Dubois persists. Nova was much more vulnerable this season and it was refreshing. Nova sill continues her work fighting for justice and even holds a rally for the New Orleans Community Bail Fund. She gives a powerful speech that sets the tone for the first half of the season. You can watch the speech below.

Instead of moving to the next Bordelon sibling, I want to jump to Micah West. Micah is the son of Charley Bordelon-West and Davis West. Last season, Micah was trying to deal with his father’s infidelity and his parents separation. For the most part, his mother and father did what they could to make his life as normal as possible. Well, as normal as a child who is used to living in a mansion and living the “good life” can be. However, this season Micah learns, in the most frightening way, that being black and wealthy doesn’t absolve him from racism.  We spend most of the season trying to figure out what happened to Micah the night he was arrested. Micah began acting out after the arrest. Not eating, not really speaking to his mother, and being horrified at the sight and sounds of police. There was one point where Blue startled him and he hit him. When we finally learn what happened to Micah, it was hard to breathe. You can watch the scene below.

Micah’s story line was the most powerful of the show. I didn’t think I’d make it through the rest of the season when he was pulled over. Every single day for the past few years, but especially in 2016, we witnessed black death after black death. My heart was racing the whole time he was telling the story of what happened. I will say, I found it poignant that he told his father. Davis did the dance to get his son free the night of his arrest. Yet, he still didn’t seem to understand why Charley was so upset with him. Davis realized, while listening to his son, that his wealth could not keep him from looking like just another black boy to a racist.

This season also allowed us to see Darla on her journey to staying sober. She ended up losing her job when she left early to help Ralph Angel and Charley clean the sugar cane. Darla’s relationship with Ralph Angel has always been tenuous, in my opinion. On one hand, Ralph Angel fought to make sure the family didn’t treat her like she was still an addict. On the other, he acted as if she owed him her allegiance. During the first season, Ralph Angel found a will that left the entire farm solely to him. However, he kept it a secret from his sister but told Darla. Darla began working for Charley after she lost her parking attendant position. Once it was revealed that Ralph Angels father left the farm to Charley, the relationship between Darla and Charley became strained; as did Ralph Angel and Darla’s relationship. You can watch the tense scene between Ralph Angle and Darla below.

I was annoyed the whole season with Ralph Angel. I didn’t appreciate the way he spoke to Darla. I didn’t appreciate that he felt the whole world, including Darla, owed him something. His tense relationship with his sisters hit its breaking point after he revealed his fathers updated will. He was upset that his sisters left St. Joseph and wanted more out of life. Farming was not something Charley and Nova wanted to do. Ralph Angel was coddled. There I said it. He got himself in trouble and because he is the baby boy, his father and Aunt Violet, placated him. When the argument broke out after he revealed he wanted to oversee the major decisions for the farm, he pointed fingers at everyone but himself. Ralph Angel is not ready to care for that farm on his own. Ralph Angel is not ready for a great many things. Including, being a husband. That’s right, he asked Darla to marry him. It is all too much!

The first half of the season was amazing. There is a great deal more to talk about but this will turn into a novel if I discussed everything. I cannot wait until the second half of the season begins. I’m curious to see how Charley grows after her divorce from Davis. What does it mean for her and Remy’s relationship? Will Aunt Violet slow down and take care of herself now? This show is amazing and the female directors, amazing writers and phenomenal actors keep me on my toes. All I can say is, thank you.

Post by,

S.A.

[echoalyssa]

Dating Cameron Dallas Would Include... -Him lending you all his hoodies -Lots of cuddling -Late night talks about life -Going on the MAGCON tours with Cam -Calling him 'Cam' and other cute nicknames -Him giving you a nickname -Doing his hair in the morning -Dragging him to the mall when you want to go shopping -Giving him lots of massages -Him returning the favor -Cameron always being clingy and constantly texting you -When you hang out he always has to be touching you -Meeting the rest of the MAGCON boys -Going on a 'Dat Night' every friday -Cam visiting you at your college -Sierra absolutely loving you -Lots of breakfast in bed -Sweet romantic gestures -Buying a house together -Going trick or treating even if the two of you are a little 'too old' -Taking care if each other

[siribaes-blog]

Nothing like a good slow dance....

We’re counting down until June for our weekly live tweet of Queen Sugar. Make sure you join us over at www.twitter.com/SiriboeSquad

[avaduvernayfans]

"They are trying to intimidate us, but we.are.not.afraid" -Nova Bordelon #QueenSugar S2 #19days #OWN

[beingsoupahbi]

Queen Sugar 2x08

[beingsoupahbi]

Queen Sugar 2x01

[iblackgirlanonymousblog]

                                              NOVA BORDELON

Nova Bordelon, the writer, activist and herbalist. Nova is the outspoken and unconventional Bordelon sibling, and eldest of Charley and Ralph Angel. Nova is an interesting character for two reasons. First, for those who read the book, Nova does not exist. Her character was created specifically for the television series. Second, for all the work Nova does in her everyday life, she is trying to figure out how to be a revolutionary and in love. As per usual, there are spoilers ahead.

During the day, Nova works as a reporter for the Daily News discussing racial inequality in New Orleans and Louisiana at large. She is an activist, a writer and an herbalist. For those who are wondering what an herbalist is, she sells marijuana. She uses her dealing as way to keep an ear to the streets. Nova is also carrying on an affair with a married law enforcement officer who is white. In a time where black lives matter is being yelled from the rafters, she finds herself at odds with her beliefs. We’ll get there, though. Nova’s activism goes above and beyond writing about the black lives and inequality of black people in New Orleans. Nova develops a relationship with a young man who goes by the name of Too Sweet. He is being wrongfully prosecuted and Nova is working towards making sure he is not only freed, but that people understand what is really happening within the criminal justice system. Nova even goes so far as to use money meant to be used on the farm to save Too Sweet. This causes even more of a strain between her and her siblings, especially her sister Charley.

Along with attempting to repair a strained relationship with her sister, that she exacerbates by discussing her sister’s crumbling marriage, she is also struggling to figure out her own love life. Nova is bi-sexual and in the first season has two love interests; Calvin and Chantal. One of the first scenes we see of Nova is an intimate scene between her and Calvin. The shot of Calvin and Nova is one of most beautiful scenes in the show. This is one of the first times, and probably one of the few times, we see Nova completely…free. Nova’s character is presented as tough and constantly running to take care of her family, to take care of her community and to show her boss that there are more important things than the scandal surrounding her sister’s marriage. Nova, like many eldest siblings, carries all the worries with her. Add to that her being a black woman, and she’s carrying the world. When she’s with Calvin there is no denying their connection. Then we learn that Calvin is married and a police officer. She seemingly ends her affair with Calvin and meets Chantal during a radio interview.

Nova cannot seem to give herself fully to Chantal. In large part because she still cares for Calvin and she is focused on Too Sweet and her investigation into issues of inequality. Chantal and Nova eventually part ways and Calvin enters Nova’s life again. He left his wife and is fully committed to Nova now. He even called in a favor to get Too Sweet’s charges completely dropped. Nova is ready to fall directly into Calvin. The most powerful scene for Nova, in my opinion, is when Nova and Calvin are out on a date at a local bar. A fellow officer and friend of Calvin comes up and speaks with Calvin and Nova. That is until Nova introduces herself and he realizes she’s the writer of the article implicating the police department for racial inequality and injustice. The man calls Nova out of her name and grabs her ass. Calvin then proceeds to beat his ass. Before the man is pulled out of the bar he does the unimaginable. He spits in Nova’s face. There are few things more disrespectful than spitting on someone. The implication of spitting on a black woman makes it even more offensive and heartbreaking. You can watch the scene below:

Above all else, Nova is an activist. Her form of protest is the written word. The significance of the man she loves being a white cop doesn’t go unnoticed and is tremendously important. How does she help spark a revolution and love a man who, solely on a superficial basis, is part of the system she is fighting against? How does Nova combat this? Black women dating outside of their race is not uncommon; especially this day and age. Yet, aside from the racial comments or stares people may have given them, there is an extra caveat with Nova and Calvin’s relationship. When the other cop begins to berate her and then spits on her the shot of her wiping her face is so powerful. She may have expected stares or whispers. Yet, being spit on was never in her thoughts. Hell, I don’t think it was even in the mind of the viewers. I audibly gasped in my living room when it happened. Initially, Nova was embarrassed and ashamed that she was sleeping with a married man who wore a badge. That never stopped Calvin from loving and supporting her. When Nova needed him most he was always there. Even if it wasn’t in the traditional sense. Nova fought against her love for Calvin constantly. Their relationship is not an all-consuming love. Rather, it is hard and frustrating. On one end, Calvin is attempting to get Nova to understand his side regarding the issues she is fighting. On the other hand, Nova realizes he is trying to understand and eventually gets it. For Nova to be spit on, and Calvin being powerless to stop it, we see something happen to Nova that we have never seen; vulnerability. The one emotion she has seemingly worked so hard to escape is on full display.

Nova can control her writing and the narrative it creates. She can control her activism and how she fights for equality. What she can’t control is love. Queen Sugar’s Nova Bordelon is vibrant. She is an herbalist, an activist, a writer and a lover. She is fire and ice. Nova knows Calvin is a good man and it is amazing to watch them fall in love. Their story is not the traditional love we constantly see on television. It’s also not the traditional type of love that we see for black women on television. For Nova, it is the one thing that she fights for that gives her pause. She can’t just dive into it the way she does her writing and her activism. The love is bigger than her. No matter what is in store for Nova in the second season of Queen Sugar, it’s safe to say it will be exceptional.

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S.A.