Noir

As this year is coming to an end very soon, I can’t help but look back at some of the memorable high-points in black art & culture.

Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley was chosen to paint the official portrait for the first black former president Barack Obama.

Amy Sherald

Amy Sherald was chosen to paint the official portrait for the first black former first lady Michelle Obama.

Erin Jackson

Erin Jackson (she’s only 25, y’all!) made her introduction in this year’s Winter Olympics as the first African-American on the United States speed-skating team.

Tarana Burke

Tarana Burke, the woman behind the #MeToo movement, because of this movement so many victims of sexual assault and harassment have been able to seek justice and come forth with their stories.

Laverne Cox

Beyond being an spokesperson for the LGBTQ+ community, Laverne Cox is the face of “Glam Masters” on Lifetime. Cox made history this year as the first trans woman to appear on the cover of Cosmo.

Ryan Coogler

Ryan Coogler used his film Black Panther to change the old-fashion genre of superhero films. Jamie Broadnax, editor in chief of the site BlackGirlNerds.com said it best, “It’s going to bring in a lot of people who don’t even really go to comic-book movies.”

Serena Williams

Speaking of Black Panther! Serena Williams made an awing return after maternity leave at the French Open this year, where she revealed her Black Panther-inspired catsuit which resulted in her being banned from wearing it at future openings.

Lena Waithe

This year Lena Waithe created the show “The Chi”, to show a “human side” of the south side of Chicago.

Tarell Alvin McCraney

This year Tarell Alvin McCraney brought a “gay play to Broadway”. The play “Choir Boy” discusses issues of toxic masculinity in the lives of black men, and began its run at the Manhattan Theatre Club December 12th, and begins Broadway performances December 27th.

Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse

Spiderman: Into the Spider-verse - a film directed by Bob Persichetti, Peter Ramsey, and Rodney Rothman starring Shameik Moore, Jake Johnson, and Hailee Steinfeld is not a great film because of the serious manner in which it embraces black culture, but the subtle/ obvious ways in which it does. This movie talks about the topic of double consciousnesses in a unique way he’s unlike his peers: 1. because of his color and 2. because he has super powers! The stylistic choices of Miles’s costume compared to the traditional Spiderman get-up, was genius.

(I DEFINITELY am doing a full review of this at a later date; too good not to)

The Hate U Give

The Hate U Give - a film directed by George Tillman Jr. starring Amanda Sternberg, Regina Hall, and Russell Hornsby, discusses racism, police brutality, dueling identities and double consciousness, and the power of language.

(I might do a full review of this movie later because it’s so deep)

Sorry to Bother You

Sorry to Bother You - a film directed by Boots Riley, starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, and Jermaine Fowler, discusses themes of capitalism and false consciousness in a dark, comical manner.

Blindspotting

Blindspotting - a film directed by Carlos López Estrada, starring Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, discusses gentrification, racism, and police brutality.

This is just a small list of some of the accomplishments made by black people this year. All in all, I would say that 2018 was a great year for black artists, and I really hope that this momentum continues into 2019.