April 2025 Edition

Culture, History, & News

Star Wars

The movies and books of Star Wars has become a cultural phenomenon with many enthusiasts. The diverse species of characters and futuristic adventures make for an entertaining experience. The documentary, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed (2007) provides social commentary of the films’ effect on culture with parallels to history, politics, and mythology.

Princess Leia is the twin sister of Luke Skywalker and a member of the rebel alliance that challenges the new tyrannical government. The documentary highlights her journey from princess to worthy adversary. Filmmaker Peter Jackson comments on her: “She’s not just a love interest as a lot of princesses in these stories tend to be. She actually has her own story, her own mythology. She turns out to be a Jedi and that’s very much a journey she has to take herself” (at time mark 33:10). This character description shows the complexity of Princess Leia.     

The scifi film Pumzi (2009) by filmmaker Wanuri Kahiu takes place thirty-five years after World War III in an East African community. The film title means “breath” in Swahili. The protagonist, Asha, is a curator of the virtual national history museum. She lives in a homogeneous society that has authoritarian undertones. Due to the war, there is water scarcity and the outside world is deemed radioactive. The community forbids dreaming and it relies on kinetic energy to produce water for the population. One day, Asha makes a ground-breaking discovery that threatens life in the community.        

The characters Princess Leia and Asha have some similarities in their struggles. Both are facing a transition from an assigned role (princess, curator) to the forefront of leadership. Their autocratic societies force a decision upon the heroines to challenge or submit to the status quo. Whatever shall they do? Watch both films at the end of this newsletter to find out.

*Reposted article from the May 2021 Edition.

💖For Additional Reading

1.) Disney: A Star Wars Movie Timeline of Every Film in Order of Release

2.) Wired: Kenyan Sci-Fi Short Pumzi Hits Sundance with Dystopia (2010)

3.) Forbes: Would It Be Ethical to Colonize Mars? (2015)

4.) Air Force Magazine: What’s a Space Weapon? The Answer Can Be Complicated (2020)

Art/Film/Literature News

A Culture That Signs

The deaf community has a rich and vibrant culture that includes people from various walks of life. Meet featured people from this community through their film, dance, and family life. The short film: The Silent Child features a young girl learning sign language for the first time. Antoine Hunter is a professional dancer who founded the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival. The Vich Family make fun and funny YouTube videos about marriage and family life.

The movie: The Silent Child (2017) introduces a young child, Libby, who has grown silent in a distracted and busy family. On the surface it appears her silence is related to being deaf, but a closer look reveals troublesome family dynamics. The arrival of Joanne, a teacher, awakens her to the power of sign language and true friendship. According to the movie: “90% of deaf children are born to hearing parents.”

Antoine Hunter is a professional dancer and Oakland, California native. He founded the Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival and emphasizes the importance of the deaf community’s history, culture, and language. He states: “Dance was a way to communicate with people.”

The Vich Family posts humorous YouTube videos about marriage and family. Arthur and Amanda are both deaf and parents to three hearing children.

Watch the videos below to learn more about this extraordinary cultural community!

Business/Non-Profit/Inspirational News

Scholarship Winner

Chase Matthews is a South Fulton, Georgia high school senior and scholarship recipient. She has earned $6 million in scholarship offers and acceptance to 155 colleges across all 50 states. She intends to become a pharmacist and entrepreneur. Congratulations to this talented and inspirational young lady!

Blacknews.com: Black Teen from Georgia Earns $6M in Scholarships, Accepted to 155 Colleges (March 2025)

Book Review

The Way Home

Kardea Brown is a former social worker turned television cook. Her book: The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Islands Food and Family with over 100 Recipes (2022, 304 pages, kindle edition) is part memoir and part cookbook. It has recipes for traditional Southern cuisine and “New Gullah” nouveau dishes. She shares her Gullah-Geechee culture and cuisine for all to enjoy! A very good read!

🌷Book Quotes:

“I always enjoyed watching cooking shows in much the same way as some people like to watch soap operas.”

“52% of the Africans who became Gullah came from Angola and the Congo.”

“One consistent crowd-pleaser was Swamp Water, which was basically spiked sweet tea, lemonade, and ginger beer.”

News Videos (7)