Short Story Club


  1. Dreams Do Come True
  2. Endless Game
  3. Ready To Die
  4. The Risk


In My View


  1. Living A Value Based Life
  2. Self-Care In A Crisis
  3. Baby Girl Expectations
  4. My Feminist Journey
  5. The Experiential Diary


Fragments


  1. The Importance Of Basquiat
  2. Get To Know Steve McCurry
  3. The Passage That Changed Me
  4. Let’s Talk 1984
  5. Literature So Black
  6. Dave The Storyteller
  7. 10vs10 A Lockdown Tale of Enjoyment
  8. Views
  9. An Ode To Insecure
  10. Michaela Coel Is The Goal
  11. The Elite Desperate Housewives
  12. Ugly Betty: Was It Really Love?
  13. 90s Black Cinema


Poet’s Corner


  1. Breakdown
  2. Delusions Of Grandeur
  3. Helen Of Troy
  4. Crush
  5. Truest Self
  6. What Do I Want?
  7. Rise
  8. Best In The Multiverse
  9. A Complex Affair with Misery
  10. I Did The Love Game Wrong

90s Black Cinema


Powerful black woman. What does that even mean?


To be a powerful black woman can mean a lot of different things.
The capability to empower is powerful. Loving and accepting yourself is powerful. Choosing yourself is powerful. Being passionate about the things you do in life is powerful. Loving others is powerful. Losing yourself and finding your way back is powerful.


Power is versatile and that’s why I believe that the representations of black women in 90s cinema provided beautiful images of strong black women, which contrasted previous representations consistently showcased. The leading ladies of Black 90s cinema were not passive beings, and their behaviours and actions really powered the films we were presented with in that era in a way that hasn’t really been replicated in the present day. At least not yet.


The following is an assortment of truly iconic images that show black women on the big screen being powerful in more ways than one.



Waiting to Exhale (1995)

Angela Bassett is an icon, that is undeniable.
Here she depicts a woman who is beyond fed up and has reached the stage of lighting up the existence she had in flames in order to move on like the renewed woman she is. Her character is claiming back her power and dabbling in some problematic behaviour, but we can forgive her for it because she’s making a STATEMENT!

Another powerful image presented is this one that shows the joy and comfort of sisterhood. Here is a group of black women coming together to support one another, to laugh, cry and just merely be. Look at all those pearly whites and the ways these women glow, powerful!




Set It Off (1996)

Now I don’t condone crime or the use of guns, but the premise of Set It Off means that both are ever present.


This image stands out to me because of the calm and control the women exhibit here. Also, let’s be honest, it’s just a bit badass and badassery is powerful. These women go from being beaten up by the circumstances of their lives to saying, “I’m captain now!”

The joy these women show when they get their first break is powerful. Although the means aren’t something to be condoned, the triumph and success of their first robbery presents them in a powerful light. Doing something you’re not meant to do but getting away with it is slightly empowering. Also, money is power isn’t it.





Poetic Justice (1993)

Oh, miss Janet, we do love you!
In Poetic Justice, she is the queen of side-eye because men just be talking at times and she recognises this. This is not a woman you’re going to run game on, you can just see it!

The power she holds in these images is confidence, sensibility and of course, beauty. She’s serving beautiful, confident black woman throughout and she’s a joy to watch.





Love Jones (1997)

Nia Long said, I’ll give you confident, sexy and passionate!
I just feel empowered looking at this, that’s all I’ll say. Also, watch the film, it’s brilliant (I’ve watched it about a million times).

We love images of ride or die friends. Here are two women who are there for one another through different circumstances; always showing up and showing love. Ladies who laugh together, we love to see it!





How Stella Got Her Groove Back (1998)

YAAAAAS! She’s back. Let’s go Angie and hello Whoopi.
This film as a whole was brilliant in terms of depicting a woman getting back in touch with herself and all the things, she lost from investing herself solely in a man who quite frankly wasn’t worth it. Here we see two women engaging in an activity they’d long neglected and seeing the happiness flow within them. Look at them glow, those smiles are important. There’s pleasure in rediscovery and power in reclaiming your life.


We love the scepticism sometimes. I’d rather call it sensibility and sizing up, because there’s power in moving accordingly. This still gives me life because I can relate.





Sister Act (1992) & Sister Act 2: Back in Business (1993)

Oh happy day!
Just look at her shine. Front and centre, leading others and introducing them to a change of pace. A powerful image of a versatile pioneer.


The torch is passed down. Lauryn here echoes the movement that Whoopi started. A protégé succeeding in leading the next generation, we love to see it!





Love and Basketball (2000)
I know it’s not quite 90s but let me live!

Chase your dreams girl!
Here we are presented with a beautiful black woman chasing her dreams and succeeding. She has goals to achieve and she is happy doing just that. An inspirational image to young girls out there with similar aspirations. This one’s for the sporty girls!


Embracing love and being carefree with that lover is powerful. I think there’s an importance in seeing black women love and be happy doing so, rather than everyday suffering. She’s not pretending to be anyone else; she’s just enjoying spending time with the man she loves.