24 Fact-Based Films Celebrate Women's History Month
women's history month DVDs and VHS
After Mexico gained its independence from Spain, the newly independent country organized itself into several states. In the northern Coahuila y Tejas, there were many Native peoples like the Alabama, Apache, Aranama, Atakapa, Caddo, Comanche, Coahuiltecan, Cherokee, Choctaw, Coushatta, Hasinai, Jumano, Karankawa, Kickapoo, Kiowa and Wichita that the nearly bankrupt Mexican government had little resources to subjugate. So they invited immigrants from the US, called Texians, to help keep down the aborigines. Soon the immigrants outnumbered the Mexicans and Natives put together. These Texian immigrants made little effort to assimilate, making little to no effort to learn the language and customs of their new home. Even though slavery was illegal in Mexico, the Texians (who numbered about 30,000) simply ignored Mexican law and brought 5,000 slaves. Before long, Mexican president Bustamante sought to restrict futher American immigration to Mexico, recognizing they were up to no good. Before long, the Texians took up arms and ultimately gained independence from Mexico.
Joel McCrea, not Texian, but played one on the radio
By 1850, Texians started referring to themselves most commonly as Texans. The Texas Almanac of 1857 waxed purple about the mere dropping of the letter "i," continuing the Texan tradition of making something out of nothing, moaning [in Chris Elliot's fancy lad voice] "Texian...has more euphony, and is better adapted to the conscience of poets who shall hereafter celebrate our deeds in sonorous strains than the harsh, abrupt, ungainly, appellation Texan -- impossible to rhyme with anything but the merest doggerel."
Happy Pig Day
celebrate with pig-related dvds, vhs
Who's black and whose black?
DVD, VHS, etc
As Black History Month rolls on, I asked myself a question that may seem stupid to most people: Who's black? And then I started wondering, who's not? And how is it decided? Does the individual or society determine what we are or is it a combination of both? Are there other factors? Is this the Family Feud or actual objective science?
Race as self-identification
In 2009, all rational and educated people now accept that race is a human construct, which isn't to say that it's meaningless. As long as people are treated differently (preferentially, discriminatorily or just differently based on presupposed differences) on the basis of race, how society constructs and applies that race is worth thinking about. And, ideally, there shouldn't be any shame in recognizing broad cultural differences either. Why should "white pride" be offensive? Pride in er-one, I say. Minor caveat: to even assume that American society has reached a consensus on race defies reality – that's why Dave Chappelle instituted the racial draft. So step with me into a blog of shadows and substance, things and ideas into, to coin a phrase, the Twilight Zone.
Barack Obama, Halle Berry and Alicia Keys all chose black
Race as self-identification
Some people argue that race is primarily a self-identification. If someone views themselves as black, provided they have some Sub-Saharan ancestry, then that's their right. Barack Obama, Halle Berry and Alicia Keys all have one white and one black parent. All were abandoned by their black fathers and raised by single white mothers. All consider themselves black. I'm OK with that I suppose, in part because society tells them that they're black as well... except for Alicia Keys. I honestly thought she was a white girl with cornrows until I saw that she was in The Secret Life of Bees. I mean, seriously, my cousin NaTisha would more likely be thought of as black.
Cinema of Mali
DVDs & VHS
Backrground of Mali
750 - 1076 1230 - 1600 1340 - 1591
750 - 1076 1230 - 1600 1340 - 1591
Historically Mali was part of three Sahelian Kingdoms. The Soninke-dominated Ghana Empire, the Mali Empire (which established Timbuktu and Djenne as major cities) and the Songhai Empire. These kingdoms controlled Trans-Saharan trade of gold, salt and other precious comodities. It collapsed following an Imazighen (aka Berber) invasion. When the European nations established sea routes for trade, the Trans-Saharan trade economy collapsed. To make things worse, the region grew increasingly desertified. France invaded the weakened nation and occupied Mali from the early 1800s until independence in 1959. Today, Mali is economically one of the poorest countries in the world.
Malians outside a cinema
Culturally, however, it's quite rich. Like its West African neighbors, it's also highly diverse. Most of its people are Bamana. There are also large populations of Soninke, Khassonke and Malink are all Mandé. There are smaller numbers of Peul, Voltaic, Songhai, Taureg, Bozo, Dogon, and Moor. Altogether, more than 40 languages are spoken.
Malians outside a cinema
Culturally, however, it's quite rich. Like its West African neighbors, it's also highly diverse. Most of its people are Bamana. There are also large populations of Soninke, Khassonke and Malink are all Mandé. There are smaller numbers of Peul, Voltaic, Songhai, Taureg, Bozo, Dogon, and Moor. Altogether, more than 40 languages are spoken.