Enough bitching. Time to praise and ponder. If you're looking for models on how to join art, fun, genre, social consciousness, multimedia and brown power, you could do worse than the collective/business Sister Outsider Entertainment.
This ad/venture started by Elisha Miranda and Sofía Quintero (not their first; they also started Chica Luna in E Harlem) does more things that I can do justice to in a single blog post. But let me start with this shocking fact: it runs in the black -- a miracle for any cultural enterprise -- by smartly mixing profit-generating services with its more educational/artistic/empowerment projects.
They produce and promote films/TV, books and theater that addresses issues of women of color -- all colors, all national origins, all sexual persuasions, but with a definite bent to hip hop sensibility. Nice to see brown all over the production teams as well as the subject matter.
Under the aliases E-Fierce and Black Artemis, respectively, Elisha and Sofia have put out books that are "street lit" without the misogyny and homophobia, "chica lit" without the neck-poppin' and chola-istic clichés, unafraid of erotica, cross-ages appeal and not diluting to the lowest common denominator. A couple of years ago, I really enjoyed Sista Hood (sorry I never got to do the story I promised, Elisha!) and am looking forward to checking the rest of the Sister Outsider library.
If you want an up-close and personal look at this multimedia powerhouse in action, check this event tonight, promoting a curriculum guide (and I'm sure, a pedagogical theory for liberation) based on the collective's books:
NYU Author Book Release Party
Conscious Women Rock the Page
Using Hip-Hop Fiction to Incite Social Change
Black Artemis aka Sofia Quintero, E-Fierce aka Elisha Miranda, Jlove aka Jennifer Calderon and Marcella
Wednesday, April 16, 6:00-9:00 PM
The Center for Multicultural Education and Programs
Kimmel Center, Suite 806
(60 Washington Square South)
It's free, with a wine and cheese reception afterward. Prepare to be wowed.
[images via Sister Outside site]
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