Black Matter
By Chaz Antoine
Black Matter Nov 21, 2022
11. Regular Black People are Excellent Too
In the spirit of supporting Black businesses—which is always in style, this episode is about a Black AND Asian-queer owned (!!) spot in West Philly that warms our bodies (through food and freedom practice). @GoldenDragonPhilly is a simple aesthetic 'BIPOC vibes to the front' takeout food spot that does something we need more of in our Black hoods, shows Black and Asian solidarity in practice (.) I sat down with (the Black) co-owner, Chellie Faroul for a full meal and critical kiki about…everything from meals to neighborhood development. Chellie a potter artist and all-around homie who knows neighborhood development and how to feed folks through accessibility and with good vibes.
For the academic girls this is a lovely oral history about a queer business that means business when it comes to making sure folks are eaten. I guarantee you will learn something from this episode about how to bring love to work
Disclaimer: This is a BLACK JOY(full) episode of Black Matter podcast. Click play and then click “pay” by following all the info below on how you can support this lovely spot in Black West Philly neighborhood. . Listen to us talk about Black excellence of being regular-degular Black people!
Website: https://www.instagram.com/goldendragonphilly/?hl=en
send coins to their cause via Venmo: @goldendragonphill
Follow Chellie's work @ebiahpotteryco.
Relevant "readings" for this episode
1. The Nap Ministry
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*edited by Jasmine Erdener.
*supported by Center for Media @ Risk, at UPENN.
*host: @chaz-antoine (Venmo) and $ChaziB (cashap)
10. Jolie Means Pretty (in French)
Back like we never left! This episode (and the next 3 to follow) are about capturing and archiving moments of (new) Black joy that I (chaz) and experiencing and learning from while I spend some time in Philadelphia for a short jig at the University of Pennsylvania.
Meet my new friend, Jolie Garret. Jolie is a theater artist and Philadelphia's sweetheart, who was been such a welcoming spirit as I get my bearings in a new place and in a new chapter of life. We all meet that person at a local gay bar where we just feel like we've known each other forever...learn from their stories!
*Also, for the gurls, be sure catch the extended tea at the very end of the episode! Jolie had some 'after dark' kiki about men to share!
Non Black Folks: You like what you hear? Did you learn something? You want to support Jolie? Send him some love: Venmo: @Jolie-Garrett and Cashap: $JolieGarrett
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things mentioned in the episode that you might want to check out:
1. Level Up Bar
2. Texas Wiener
music: All found on "freesound.org"
song 1: Szegari "jazz-piano-orechesta"
Song 2: holizna Lofi "Jazz organ loop-95"
song 3: Migfus22 "Jazz background music loop"
Last song “loose Threads” by podcastAC
9. I Miss My Mother
Please be advised this episode is about grief and healing.
Whenever I am struggling with something personal people in my life tend to say to me, “but we are so proud of you”. Or more specific to this moment, we say “Just remember how proud of you your mother is, and keep going.” I want to take a pause from this narrative. For the ways it can reiterate to us, Black folks, to just keep climbing and we will be okay. I now have experienced more than a few instances in my life where climbing and achieving the success that this narrative is usually referring to has not saved me from pain, trauma, grief and guilt of achieving such things that those who got me here won't get to do. On this episode I unpack some of these feelings and more with my dear friend, Jackie.
Jackie Lawrence is a Black woman from the South. She is a social worker by trade. Jackie is a dreamer, doer and a strategist when it comes to working with the community to assess socio-emotional wounds of oppression. She is also a new wife and mother. All of her identities are used for the highest good and mental wellness her self and her culture.
Helpful links
*Please know that Black Mental Health Awareness week is happening in Richmond, Oct 4-Oct 9.
*Interview referenced in the show: The Urgent Need for Compassion ft: ALOK
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Primary Beat by Johannas Barfield
*bonus* PWIs Need to Get Ready [to do what Black Students Need]: Kayla Corbin
*Special five-episode segment with members of the Black Student Coalition at University of Richmond.
Kayla Corbin is a Scholar and student activist, believer in all things liberation.
IG: @sistahh.girl
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Music and Produced By: Kavon Valesquez Thompson ( Mnli ) Instagram: @kavonmnli.
*Bonus* Legacy Building 101 with Shira Greer
**Special five-episode segment with members of the Black Student Coalition at University of Richmond.
Shira Greer is a junior at the University of Richmond from Fairfax, Virginia and is majoring in American Studies. She is passionate about using education as a means to promote racial justice, and has worked with the UR Race and Racism Project, the Africana Studies Student Committee, and Black Student Coalition’s Protect Our Web initiative (www.protectourweb.com) to improve the Black student experience at UR. After graduating, she hopes to go into library, archival, or museum work to continue creating social change.
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Produced by: Kavon Valesquez Thompson ( Mnli ) Instagram: @kavonmnli,
beats by Kevin Brown via freesound.org.
*bonus* Will Walker Already Knows the Tea
Special five-episode segment with members of the Black Student Coalition at University of Richmond.
Will Walker, Jr currently pursues the M.S.Ed in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Indiana University-Bloomington. Will is excited by the possibility of developing new theories, practices, and knowledge that will lead to the successful creation, sustainment, and promotion of social equity within American post-secondary institutions. In addition to this podcast feature, Will has published various editorials ( Forbes.com, Inside Higher Ed, UR Collegian) that address the issues and experiences of minority students in higher education. Additionally, Will has presented at several national educational conferences hosted by organizations such as NCAN (National College Attainment Network), SXSW EDU, and NACAC (the National Association of College Admission Counselors). Additional information about Will can be found at http://www.willwalkerj.com.
Twitter handle: @willbwalkerjr
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willbwalkerjr/
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Music By: Kavon Valesquez Thompson ( Mnli ) Instagram: @kavonmnli.
*Bonus* Twisted [University] With TJ Tann
*Special five-episode segment with members of the Black Student Coalition at University of Richmond.
TJ Tann is a recent graduate of the University of Richmond with diverse interests and experience. Passions include advocating for the betterment of underrepresented communities, research and production of scholarship in the realm of political science and American culture as well as a strong interest for entrepreneurship, business strategy and team building. While on campus he advocated and pushed for the advancement of Black students to feel comfortable on campus. In tandem, he also worked to build a business in college encouraging Black students not just feel comfortable, but also empowered to choose their own direction. He continues this ethos today as he works to build a hyper-local logistics company based out of Richmond. He is a Co-Founder of Relai, inc. working to re-imagine everyday logistics by empowering local businesses with within-the-hour delivery. Please feel free to reach out to discuss anything business or community building as he is always looking for ways to connect with new people.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracytannjr/
Website: www.relai.us
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Music By: Kavon Valesquez Thompson ( Mnli ) Instagram: @kavonmnli.
*bonus* You Will Know About Me: Akeya Fortson-Brown
Special five-episode segment with members of the Black Student Coalition at University of Richmond. Hear these students share their story about who they are behind the critical work they are doing to make their college campus show up better for Black students and communities in Richmond. Special shout out to everyone who made these recordings possible because these conversations are critical kiki.
Akeya Fortson-Brown: I am a young entrepreneur & activist looking to make material impacts in my community while also fighting for real and sustainable changes.
Follow Akeya @thehustlelabllc (IG & Twitter), Thehustlelabllc.com
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Music By: Kavon Valesquez Thompson ( Mnli ) Instagram: @kavonmnli.
8. Let's Talk About the Shopping.
This episode is CUTE! Rebecca Keel, my dear friend and fellow queer comrade (*AND Richmond 'top 40 under 40' classmate) sits down during the Inlight programming sponsored by 1708 Gallery, to unpack a critical theory and creative practice that I'm building to produce knowledge from the personal experiences of everyday Black lives that are often silenced. Conartisty (tm Dr. Chaz ho!) is about recognizing the alternative forms of knowledge that represent more than Black trauma and oppression, aka what can we learn from folks like both of our Mother's who in many ways were Rebecca and my first access points into system subversion, and actively escaping oppression and shame placed on our life by state sanctioned violence. You need to listen and get to know us both by learning about the parts of our stories that academia and the nonprofit world etc don't always want us to talk about. It's necessary to value our full humanity.
Of course as part of this season's programming we give our cashaps in the show! In case you miss it, drop a coin below: @Rebecca-Keel-2 (venmo) and @Chaz-Antione(venmo).
*You are bound to learn something from Rebecca because they are truely a spirit destined to live and teach Black queer freedom.
7. 'All About Love' and Being Where You Can Be.
Toria Edmonds-Howell is a friend and colleague in life whose hustle and glow I admire and respect. She stopped by the podcast to continue the ongoing conversation this season about ‘Everyday Black Matter’ film and giving Black women their flowers for how much of our lives are influenced by their love. Speaking of love and Black women joy, on this episode we both share our personal journey tea about reading the book All About Love by the one and only, bell hooks, and how we are trying every day to commit to a practice of (Black) love at home and at work. This episode is calm-kiki going, off of Toria’s energy. I inspire you to listen while sipping hot tea and journaling, aka writing to yourself. Process what love means, feels, and looks like to you, and where in this (crazy) world do you find space to just be.
*Write to Black Matter podcast on insta (@iammylife_chaz) to share your tea about this episode and ill respond in the next show! Support this podcast! Here, @ChazAntoine or $ChaziB.
Links for this episode
1. Support North24Home, Toria’s new business venture!
2. Read: All About Love by bell hooks
3. Watch: Everyday Black Matter Film and DONT TOUCH MY HAIR rva
6. What's Your Practice? *Inlight 2020
This is one of my most joyful episodes of this show thus far! I've longed to capture the vibe shared between my mentor and friend, Dr. T and I. Wherever we go together we are loud. Period. Dr. T is the main reason I decided to go to grad school and use books to curse out wypipo while on the clock. We’ve been making history together ever since our first meeting where she prepared me to "transcend" above and beyond all things cosmetic "diversity and inclusion." I selected Dr. T as one of the star guest for 1708 Gallery's Inlight 2020 Exhibition, becuz she's both a big part of Everyday Black Matter film and constructing the theories I'm building expertise on in my Blackademic writing...listen to hear more on this.
This episode is about love and the importance of holding space to just be with those who inspire you, who see you clearly, and who always have something to say that makes you show up at work the next day wit just a bit more step in your walk. I am so greatful for this Black woman. Honestly, truly pour a cup of whatever you're sipping on these days and get into this vibe. It's an episode for the gurls, the Aunty's, and Black Mama's too.
Contribute to us/Donate to Black Matter production:
@Tawnya-Pettiford-Wates (venmo)
@Chaz-Antione (venmo)
****PS: Catch the unedited live-stream from Inlight 2020: Here.***
*music featured: "Conartistry beat" made/produced by Chaz Antoine, Johannes Barfield, and Wes Taylor.
*Paired Reading for the Geeks:
#Academiasoviolent, so let's celebrate by Anthony Williams
-Let's Talk Reparations By Dr. T
5. "A Messy Year" Wit Aurora Higgs at Inlight 2020
Friend to the show, Aurora Higgs, finally kikis with me for her own episode, and the tea is critical. Special shout out to EVERYONE who worked with Black Matter to make our Inlight 2020 project official AND cute. Big thanks to 1708 Gallery, the Valentine for hosting, and many many more Richmond sweeties.
Also for y’all dying to *see us* that missed Inlight 2020, *click here* to watch the (unedited) episode that was live-streamed on Broad Street as part of our exhibition, “A Messy Year.” Black Matter podcast was live and lit during InLight to add more mess to the craziness that 2020 has been. And don’t forget as part of stepping up our tea for season 2 and launching ‘Everyday Black Matter’ film is reparations in practice. Dont just listen. Drop a coin!
$AuroraHiggs $ChaziB, @chaz-Antoine
Music ft episode by/made in collab with Johannes Barfield.
4. A Lit Read on Fugitivity
Tune in as we gear up for Inlight 2020 and talk about the theory and practice behind (and beyond) Black Matter media productions. Armond is a Blackademic in his own right and one of my mentors who helps me plot and strategize ‘how to survive and thrive in academia without repressing joy’. Grateful af for his work, his friendship, and his dedication to younger emerging scholar-artist like myself.
Armond Towns is an assistant professor of Rhetoric and Communication Studies at the University of Richmond. His research interests include Black studies, media and communication philosophy, and political economy. When he is not reading and writing, he plays video games and drinks coffee. Follow Dr. Towns here.
Episode Reads
3. The Homeplace: A Site of Resistance (essay) by bell hooks.
4. Antonio Gwamchi: The Prison Notebooks:
*All beats made in collaboration with Johannas Barfield
*special thanks: Wes Taylor and 1708 Gallery, Inlight 2020 crew!
3. MY SONGS DONT NEED TITLES *Part 2*
Keep listening! Also s/o to Dr. T for the voice over you'll hear in this episode. -Black Matter.
To keep up with this kiki, check out the film(!): Everyday Black Matter.
*All beats featured in this episode by Johannes*
2. My Songs Dont Need Titles. *Part I*
Johannes and me meet for the first time in person to unpack his Blackademic work and our collaboration on Everyday Black Matter film. If you haven't watched the film yet; DO IT. This is one of many "talkback" kikis we'll host on this platform. Johannes is the lead musician on the film. After (virtually) working together to create a type of Black Matter we both vibe wit, I had to bring him on the podcast! *Special guest Aurora Higgs drops by to kiki about her scene in the film using Johannes's beat. Tune into *part 1 AND part 2*... It was too much tea for one ep.
PSA: Ally and Comrades. Drop $AuroraHiggs and/or $JohannesBarfield some love for their work on Everyday Black Matter film [$$], cause we been out here and we need reparations now.
Episode Reads
- Tina M. Campt, Listening to Images,
- Chaz Antoine and Crew, Everyday Black Matter (Film)
- Imagination of the Marginalized by bell hooks
- bell hooks, Black Vernacular: Architecture as Cultural Practice (article)
- Rebecca Walker and Crew, "The Geek" by Mat Johnson, found in Black Cool: One Thousand Streams of Blackness (anthology)
*All beats featured in this episode by Johannes*
1. You Are The Breakout Star in Any Relationship.
Welcome back gurlz! On this episode, the muva-fuck-in openin act of season 2 (!) is here! The one and only, Chelsea Lemore! Radia host and Single In The City Podcast creator & host + newest addition to 'Real Housewives of Richmond' is here! This season opener episode brings you nothing but raw and real kiki from my home office. We're spilling community tea and unpacking Everyday Black Matter film (our new film project, link below).
Chelsea is one of my favorite Richmonders and bishh tune into this episode to find out exactly why. It’s a critical kiki. Periodt.
Oh’ and y’all BETTER show the podcast and our new film some love cuz I'm working hard during this crazy ass year. Share the episode link. Drop Dr. Chaz a coin [ $ChaziB, @Chaz-Antoine] (And, yes, we’re done with grad school hoe! Put some respect on my name).
***Episode Paired 'Reads'
- Everyday Black Matter (Film directed by Dr. Chaz0
- We Need to Talk About Digital Blackface...
- The Remix: Hip-Hop X Fashion (documentary).
- Crunk Feminist Collective
- All Boys Aren't Blue by G. M. Johnson
10. Fi-nali-tea: The gays vs queers
9. Practice Wucha Preach
Join Felix d’Eon, (and the gurlz) for a cute kiki about art, theory, and living how we wanna live through our creative practice.
@FelixDeon's interdisciplinary career as an artist and maker is extraordinary, unapologetically sexy, and remixes "traditional" notions of representation (aka we're here, we're queer). He and his artsy-crew parade the streets of Mexico city and worlds beyond, pushing queer-erotica to the center and cultivating space where we can be, just Be. Felix is down for a Black Matter kiki & given the current moment where just having a kiki around the table wit the gurlz feels far away, wrapping season 1 has been about celebrating memories and love between my friends and myself. Re-listening to this convos from last year Spring break inspires me to keep the joy up and find new ways to stay close wit friends because we give each other live in darkness. Hit PLAY. SUBsCribE. ShaRE. POST a review.
music; (1). Intro/ "Black Matter Main Beat" produced by @Aureliobabbit & @Gersonbonilla, (2). "Realism" By Text Me Records/GrandBankss, (3). closing beat: "Come On In" by Silent Partner.
****Somethin More: Suggested Reading----For the geeks listenin! pair with this EP: Black Looks: race and representation by bell hooks +More on felix
8. DONT BE SALTY, BE EXCITED
Since we’re home a lot more (you better be!) waitin out COVID19, I've been missin brunch and kiki wit the gurlz! Soo, this episode is a compilation of 2 kitchen table talks wit reoccurring cohosts, muva madison moore and sis kadeem fyffe. Plus a surprise new guest, Chris Brown! (Not that one but just as cute!)...He's a sweet Black queer aspiring model-and-zaddy in training who we met out at the gay bars in Orlando and drunkenly invited to chosen family thanksgiving (2019). Hope this episode brings you joy and makes you reminisce the good times with ya gurlz, shooting the shit, pre-corona. This is Black Matter episode 8 Betches!!!
Cohost; Chaz Antoine (host), madison, kadeem, and Chris!
*****Music shout-outs (in order)*****
- Black Matter Main beat: https://soundcloud.com/darklightblue and https://soundcloud.com/gersonbonilla232
- Beneath the Moonlight by Aaron Kenny
- Sudden Vision by Chasms
- (After “Flippy flipflop"} Come on in by Silent Partner.
- Black Matter Main Beat
7. chile con mango
Owner and chef, Polo Abram of PDX based, Mis Tacones 🌮🌮🌮 https://www.facebook.com/mistaconespdx/ shares tea on things 💋 Queer 💋 POC 💋 Vegan Taqueria 💋. You'll hear what it's like living in the Portland queer POC scene while kiki-ing it up with me in their home country (Mexico!!!) for a well-deserved spring break trip. Polo is an artist, activist, and all around home-maker that believes a real kiki must have food made right from the home, blending together the flavors of being both queer and Mexican.
PS. Richmond! While Mis Tacones is way in PDX (far af) dont forget we got @soultacorva right in Jackson Ward AND Shockoe! Check them out in honor of this episode.
There's vegan queer vibes COAST TO COAST!!!
6. #SchoolGirlHussle wit the Dr. Ki(ara)
From Lizzo to colorism Blackademics, Kiara Lee-Hart and I talk all things that interests us while keeping our loud and everlasting friendship in the mix.
Kiara is a passionate writer, with two children’s books exploring colorism and parental incarceration (Light-Skinned, Dark-Skinned or In-Between? and Be a Man Tyrone: What Happens when Daddy Goes to Prison), a long-running blog (theblackertheberry.org). Kiara owns a t-shirt line called #SCHOOLGIRLHUSTLE. Its mission is to promote girls and women staying in school and proceeds go toward school supplies for local women and girls in need. In 2016, she was selected as one of Style Weekly’s 2016 Top 40 Under 40.
She's a warm friend and represents everything the Black Matter platform well brining LOTS of dimentionalities to the mic.
5. We Need to Heal: Black Men and Black Matter.
This is a raw recording from a Black Men's Retreat I attended in ATL put on by: https://kemeticyogi.com/ with a group of very diverse Black males, some gay and some straight identifying.
To follow along check out the text reviewed in this episode:
- Random Acts of Flyness, Episode 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYadBZIace4&has_verified=1
- Flying Lotus, Until the Quiet Comes by Kahlil Joseph: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pVHC1DXQ7U
- Fabulous, The Rise of the Beautiful Eccentric. by madison moore: Prince Excerpt
4. Becuz Every'ting Black Matters
We recorded LIVE @ the 4th Annual Afrikana Film Festival! The gurlz, Enjoli Moon, Julian Glover, and Terrance Daye, are sipping tea for a very cute and loud kiki to share the vibe on all things Black and excellent.
*Shout out to everyone who popped into this episode and interuppted the broadcast!
***And special thanks to C'est Le Vin for hosting us on their patio. DOPE Vibes and heavy pours. ; )
3. 'You gon be my new best friend': Chaz Antoine & Wes Taylor
A light-heared educational kiki wit the one and only--wes taylor. Listen to us talk Black dimentionalites and form our new friendship as wes has just signed on to be on my dissertation committee!!!!
- Also! special thanks to Wes for making our logo for the show...before we even had any recordings. #theghetto ; )
2. Tea n kiki wit madison more
madison moore is not only the 'haus muva' to all things BlackMatter, they're my good sis! Dr. moore has been a fabulous source of inspiration and motivation to get out and engage wit the gurls. Listen to us black femme academics share ideas experiences about living in community--together and always.
- We're sipping tea thanks to Kelli Lemon's space at the Urban Hang Suite. STOP what you're doing and GO THERE!!
1. Neeew Yorkkkk in the Background w/Kadeem Fyffe
Cover beat by: Aurelio babbit and Gerson bonilla
Episode 1 with sis to the host, Kadeem. Let's talk Black dimentionality and fashion!