Modern Technology and Bolt the movie

I loved 3D movies growing up.

I remember it was a big deal when they were going to show "some movie" (don't even remember) in 3D and there were paper glasses with one red and one green lens that came in the Sunday paper for the event. You had to have a color TV so I went to my grandmother's house to see it because all of our sets were black and white.

I wanted BabyGirl to see a 3D movie but the only one that has come out recently was HM and you know how I feel about her ass (not poor exploited and unparented Miley but the character HM).

Well, I heard "Bolt" was coming in 3D so I took BabyGirl.

The minute she put on the glasses she reached her hand out and tried to touch the people because they were SOOOOOO big and clear and close! It was a priceless moment. She kept giggling and moving around it was too much fun! About midway through she started taking the glasses off and looking at everybody else with glasses.

Overall, I loved the concept of the movie. It's about a dog who doesn't know he's "movie" dog and when he get's off the set he has all kinds of mishaps attempting stunt-like behaviors. In the end he realizes he's happy just being himself, a regular dog. Of course all of this wasn't absorbed by a 4YO but it was something she enjoyed and so did I. PLUS, the animals could understand each other but to humans they sound like dogs, cats and hamsters.

Liked this one. Don't think we'd buy it for the collection but definitely not a waste of 2 hours!

Black princess?

Is this an appeasement, or are we asking for trouble?


What's up with the toothless bug, that may not be racist but it stereotypes southerners. I live in KY, so I know when a stereotype hits home. Everything I'd ever seen mocked was REAL down here and suddenly it wasn't funny.

Overall, I still think Disney is the debil and doubt that the message will be any better with a Black lead. Each story teaches you to wish you were something you are not. My daughter watched Mulan II (someone figured I wouldn't mind since she was non-white, that is NOT the criteria) and is now singing, "I want to be like other girls" and I have to stop her and tell her that she should want to be herself because she is beautiful, smart and funny.

I'm all for separate but equal. Separate means we do it our way, equal means the same resources behind it. We need to pull out of this crap.

I remain hopeful...but doubtful.

Movie recommendations

I'm not a big movie fan. I love a good movie, but I'm often disappointed as good ones are hard to come by.

African Girl recommended The Namesake on her blog. I'm usually a fan of this type of movie. It's like what a good reality show would be like. You're just watching as the characters lives happen to them. It's really a great story that a couple could watch. It's not too mushy for the men and it's romantic and sentimental enough for the women.

"G" rated movies that are not full of talking animals and have real Black characters are almost unheard of. So I had to check out College Road Trip.


What I liked:
1. That it had two caring parents and two exceptional children who weren't terribly mean to each other.
2. It was funny to adults.
3. No Black men dressed as women. (Big ups to Dave C.)

What I didn't like:
1. The make up was bad! Raven looked hot in all that ish.
2. The father was the chief of police and the only friends of the parents we saw were white and all of Raven's friends were non-Black. Is that a statement on "making it"? Do you run out of Black counterparts?

I would recommend this for an older child. Maybe 3-4th grade and older. Younger, it will probably hold their attention but they won't get it.

Two movies and two thumbs up!

Nick Jr. is the debil too!

It's more than Disney. I could go on about a bunch but let's also take a look at Nick Jr. and their insistence on eliminating the positive images of Blacks. I came back to this because I was speaking to a local author who published a series of books that show images of how Blacks have been portrayed over the years. She not only collects Black memorabilia but all "happy meal toys" from McD's and a lot of Disney and other toy-type items. She is 58 and when I finished sharing my sentiments, she said in a low voice. "You just helped me see what was right in front of my own eyes." In her book on the Black child, she shared that often Blacks were shown as animals (mainly crows and bears) in children's books. And it's still going on, just subtly. She hadn't paid attention to what was on TV for children because she doesn't have any. She said to me, "They don't even want our images in front of their own children so they make us animals."

Exhibit A: Positive Black images
Gullah Gullah Island was a great show on from December 1994 - January 1998. The show is no longer on nor are the DVD's still available in retail stores. (I hear reruns are on Noggin but I don't get that channel) Total run: About 3 years.
Little Bill showed a great family life with real stories. Aired September 2000-September 2002. No DVD's available and was on CBS on and off on Sunday's. Total run: 2 years

Exhibit B: Other minorities and Black's animals
Dora the Explorer has been running non-stop since 1999 and they made a spin-off show, Go Diego Go in 2005. Both are Latino and teach Spanglish. Total run: 8 years and still going.
The Backyardigans were created by a sister and features some Black voices, but they are little creatures and not real children. Running strong since 2004.

The whole point that I'm making is that if you even WANT to expose your children to positive images of themselves to spark their imagination and creativity (before they are able to read) then it is a hard and arduous task.

Kirikou and the Sorceress-DVD Review

This movie was highly recommended by members of a Black homeschooling e-group that I belong to. I rented it on Netflix first to check it out and all I can say is WOW!

This one is good for all ages! The synopsis from the website can tell it better than me, but by all means CHECK THIS OUT. It is a wonderful adventure.

SYNOPSIS: A tiny voice is heard from inside the womb of a pregnant woman : "Mother, give birth to me !"
"A child who can speak from his mother's womb can give birth to himself", replies the mother. And so a little boy is born, cuts his own umbilical cord and declares : "My name is Kirikou"

The tiny Kirikou is born into an African village upon which a sorceress called Karaba has cast a terrible spell: the spring has dried up, the villagers are being blackmailed, the men of the village have either been kidnapped or have mysteriously disappeared. "She eats them !", the superstitious villagers declare….

Karaba is a stunning and cruel woman, surrounded by fearless and servile fetishes. But no sooner has Kirikou delivered himself from his mother's womb than he wants to rid the village of Karaba's curse and understand the cause of her wickedness.

His adventure-filled voyage leads Kirikou to the Forbidden Mountain, where the Wise Man of the Mountain, who knows of Karaba and her secrets, awaits him.

NOTE: There is nudity but after a few minutes even my 13 yo nephew quit giggling and got into the real story. Also, it is much cheaper at www.kirikou.net than in stores. My favorite bookstore wanted $30 for the DVD but it's only $18 on the official website.

Little Gods - DVD Review

Right out the gate this video had my, then 2 year old, daughter mesmerized!

The video shows four Black children, who are siblings, doing things that we should all be teaching our children. The children's parents produced this very educational video.

The video skillfully teaches children that we should strive to be as the Creator in our own way in everything we do. Each set of scenes is categorized into one of the 99attributes of God (the video does not do all 99, just 5-7 I think). For example "The Powerful" shows the children demonstrating basic calisthenic exercises. "Compassionate" shows the girls taking care of their dolls and hugging each other.

As a Muslim, I can use it as a teaching aid for religion class but I know non-Muslims who use it and say that they don't feel that it "proselytizes".

Scenes include:

Children setting the table
Cleaning up their toys
Doing arts and crafts
Eating fruit
Getting dressed (jackets, shoes only)
Counting/Math
Watering plants
Washing hands
Exercising
Learning geography
and the list goes on and on

Muslims and non-Muslims will find this video a great teaching tool. It is one that will be enjoyed for years. My daughter "burned out" on it after about 3 months of watching it daily, but has picked it up again at 3 because now she is more interested in tying her shoes and putting on her coat and reading numbers. So I'm sure she'll continue to grow into it.

I've seen it at bookstores that specialize in Black books and I've seen it online at www.finalcall.com