Tonight at 6pm, the Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture will be hosting the Half and Half Panel discussion on exploring Dominican and Haitian identities. The discussion sounds like it will be pretty interesting and it will bring up some fiery topics that exist between the two nationalities. Race, economics, politics and colonial legacy will all be on the agenda. It’s a free event so if you can make it out.
I came to the realization earlier this week that I haven’t posted too many Dominican dishes with these weekly posts. Had to change that today. Check the recipe for Arepas Dominicana, a traditional corn meal and coconut cake, below…
We’ve talked about people bleaching their skin on the blog before, but recent events have brought the subject back to the forefront, with Sammy Sosa, of all people, looking like a totally different person at a recent event in Miami. His explanation? He’s been bleaching. Check out quote from Sammy below…
…Speaking publicly for the first time since photos of him from a recent musical award ceremony were published on the Internet, Sosa said that the skin lightening is the result of the use of a facial cosmetic cream.
“It’s a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed and whitens my skin some,” said the former slugger during the “Primer Impacto” program at the Univision Spanish network.
“It’s a cream that I have, that I use to soften [my skin], but has bleached me some. I’m not a racist, I live my life happily,” said a smiling Sosa during the interview….
My question is, what’s explanation for the light contacts? The slickbacked Jheri Curl? It’s all a bit much to take in, from my end, at least.
The racial dynamic in the Dominican Republic, Sosa’s home, is complicated, to say the least. There’s plenty of reading material out there on the subject, so I won’t try to get into it too much here, at very least because I’m far from an authority on the subject. I just wanted to float this story out to those who may not be aware of it, and get the conversation going.
A workshop production in honor of the highly acclaimed underground rap duo the Beatnuts, written by long time music writer Sacha Jenkins, co-conceived with noted promoter Peter Oasis. Deez Nuts explores the rich musical legacy of the Beatnuts through the performance of their tunes by the maestros themselves; Deez Nuts also canvases the sights, smells and characters of their native Corona, Queens. A fellow Queens-ite turned journalist, on a fact-finding mission, returns to the old neighborhood in order to meet group members Psycho Les and JuJu. This journey not only nets cultural nuggets about the Latino duo and their surroundings, but crucial observations about self and the state that created Hip-Hop.
Not just an old school snap, but also a new show about The Beatnuts, Written & Conceived by Sacha Jenkins (of Ego Trip fame) and directed by Tommy Smith. The show’s part of this year’s Hip Hop Theater Festival, which starts tomorrow night. Check out the info below…
A workshop production in honor of the highly acclaimed underground rap duo the Beatnuts, written by long time music writer Sacha Jenkins, co-conceived with noted promoter Peter Oasis. Deez Nuts explores the rich musical legacy of the Beatnuts through the performance of their tunes by the maestros themselves; Deez Nuts also canvases the sights, smells and characters of their native Corona, Queens. A fellow Queens-ite turned journalist, on a fact-finding mission, returns to the old neighborhood in order to meet group members Psycho Les and JuJu. This journey not only nets cultural nuggets about the Latino duo and their surroundings, but crucial observations about self and the state that created Hip-Hop.
Our resident photographer, Jose Martinez, recently took a trip to Japan. We are big fans of his work so we had to spread love. Check out the world through his lens in 35mm color, and black and white.
