Tag: storytelling
-
A Celebration of Wham!’s Enduring Holiday Gem “This Christmas”
•
Wham!’s “Last Christmas” arrived In December 1984 as a shimmering holiday treat, blending George Michael’s lush vocals with a heartbreak-laden melody against an irresistibly festive synth-pop backdrop. 40 years later, it remains a snapshot of a transformative moment in music, culture, and queerness and one of pop music’s enduring Christmas…
-
Puerto Rico Been Black: Bomba 101
•
When you hear an instrument speaking to you, listen closely. I visited Puerto Rico earlier this year to inhale and exhale but spent most of my time listening and learning the Black rhythms of the island. I attended live performances, two nights in a row, that included Black Puerto Rican…
-
JENNICET GUTIERREZ
•
When Jennicet Guttirez, a Latine undocumented Transgender activist, landed in Washington, DC, to attend the White House Pride Reception on June 24, 2015, she was ready for the moment that would not only change her life but become a pivotal moment in LGBTQ history. Born in Tuxpan, Jalisco, Mexico, Jennicet immigrated to the United…
-
Alejandro Rodriguez | Indiana, IL
•
I’m from northern Indiana, I grew up in between East Chicago Indiana, a town 25 mins south east of Chicago and another town on the opposite side of northern Indiana named Fort Wayne. Lucky for me those are two of the most diverse areas of Indiana. I grew up in…
-
songs that soundtracked the AIDS crisis: tasmin archer’s “sleeping satellite”
•
i can still picture us hanging out in his dimly lit room as he sang his heart out to tasmin archer’s “sleeping sattelite.” i didn’t get it. i just didn’t hear what he did. where was the beat? how do you dance to this? what the hell was is it…
-
J Aces Lira | Chivago, IL
•
I recall my time in high school. During this time, I’m making intercity commutes and my mom was struggling with eviction notices and constant housing moves. For a period of time, we were homeless and struggled to make a smooth transition between the last place and the next option. I…
-
Sean Anthony | Buffalo, NY
•
My name is Sean Anthony. My very first Ballroom name given to me was “Baby”. I was the youngest in the house and had a baby face, still do til this day lol. As I grew older I changed my name to Kharma, I gave myself the name because I…
-
TEVIN CAMPBELL
•
most recording artists only wish to have recorded with quincy jones and prince, but by age 14, tevin campbell worked with both. tevin’s first two singles, the jones produced “tomorrow (a better you, a better me)” and “round & round” (written & produced by prince) landed inside the r&b top…
-
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN
•
olivia, i honestly love you. i remember the stereo with the big knob and bright neon dial. every morning i stared at it as my grandmother dressed me for kindergarten. i stared at the dial set on WCAU 98FM and wished the radio played at least one of my favorite…
-
Today, I am 28.
•
In this photo I was 4 years old on this day, I was happy. That smile in this picture was intentional and I can remember like it was yesterday. On March 19th, I turned 28 years old, so my childhood is a little fuzzy. But that day sticks with me.…
-
LISA ISADORA CRUZ (LA GINGER VALDEZ)
•
La Mujer Boricua! Lisa Isadora Valdez was born in la isla del encanto Puerto Rico on September 23, 1958. Most people will know her by her stage name of “Ginger Valdez.” She began performing in Puerto Rico when it was still illegal to walk around looking like the “opposite” sex.…
-
Janet Jackson: A Deep Appreciation Of
•
i met robert on the very first day of school in the seventh grade in september 1989. as soon as i walked into the classroom and witnessed him commanding space with his beautiful spirit, i knew the semester would be different. i would no longer be the “only one” in…