Gone Too Soon, Literature, Poetry1 Comment

NOC Poetry: R.I.P. Amiri Baraka

January 9, 2014May 23, 2019 Keith Chow

The world lost a titan of the Black Arts Movement when the poet Amiri Baraka passed away today in Newark, New Jersey after several weeks of hospitalization. Baraka was 79 years old.

On twitter, honorary NOC Saladin Ahmed wondered if Baraka was the first poet to reference superheroes in his work.

"Who has ever stopped to think of the divinity of Lamont Cranston?" –I wonder whether Baraka was the first poet to reference superheroes?

— Saladin Ahmed (@saladinahmed) January 9, 2014

The poem Ahmed was referring to, “In Memory of Radio,” comes from Baraka’s first collection of poetry, Preface to a Twenty Volume Suicide Note, which has been reprinted below. In it, Baraka — then still known as Leroi Jones — uses The Shadow to bookend the poem:

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It's a Draw, Television2 Comments

It’s a Draw with Natalie Kim Debuts in One Week

January 9, 2014February 20, 2014 Keith Chow

I am so stoked to announce a new video series we Nerds will be bringing to you dear readers. My friend, the New York City-based actress/writer/artist Natalie Kim has a new — and awesome — YouTube show called It’s a Draw with Natalie Kim that will be debuting exactly one week from today. You may recognize Natalie from her other web series including Super Twins, the comedic web series about fraternal superheroes, and the indie comic review show Inked TV.

Natalie is also part of the SIUniverse fam since her story “Ching Shih: Queen of Pirates” (with art by Robin Ha) was featured in Shattered.

On It’s a Draw, Natalie will interview comedians, cartoonists, and YouTubers — all while drawing at the same time. The show is officially part of the Channel Frederator network, and we’ll be bringing you the show here at The Nerds of Color every Thursday starting on January 16.

After the jump, check out a clip from Natalie’s interview with former Saturday Night Live player Horatio Sanz.

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Gone Too Soon, Martial Arts, Movies3 Comments

Run Run Shaw and the Impact of Kung Fu Movies on Black America

January 9, 2014April 2, 2015 David F. Walker

Originally posted at BadaAzz Mofo

Earlier this week, Run Run Shaw, co-founder of the legendary Shaw Brothers Studios, died at the age of 106. Shaw Brothers was responsible for some of the greatest kung fu movies of all time, and introduced the genre to American audiences in the 1970s with their film Five Fingers of Death. In my new book, Becoming Black: Personal Ramblings on Racial Identification, Racism, and Popular Culture, I discuss the impact of Shaw Brothers, Bruce Lee, and kung fu movies in the essay “To Be Chinese, Or Not To Be.”

Here is an excerpt:

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