30 Women, 1 House, 2 Days = Video
By Keith Boykin, in music
Thursday, August 10 2006, 10:36AM
What happens when you put 30 women and "trans folk" of color in one house for 2 days? If you're Hanifah Walidah, you come up with a clever new music video and a movie. The movie is a documentary film called "Keep It Movin'," and it features behind-the-scene discussions and "intimate moments" that take place during a 2 day shoot of Walidah's new music video "Make A Move."
It's a simple concept. It's not quite reality TV, but you could call it a "reality music video." Artists, activists, teachers, and others have to interact with one another for a common goal. The people involved are straight, gay, bi, trans, Black, Latin and Asian. "This all made for a thick stew of connection, conflicts and consciousness," the coordinators reported. "Regardless of the differences, there is something that happens when women come together for a mission and the rare moments of complete safety are embraced. Our shoes come off, our baggage is unpacked, our laughter is unleashed, and we let free in a way that has rarely if ever been captured on film."
From the 1950s to the Present
Over the course of a single spring weekend, Walidah and her crew set up shop in a Brooklyn, NY brownstone with an idea to do something that she had never seen before. She wanted to create a video would be the first to depict gay women of color "in a celebratory, complex and witty manner," the producers say. True to her roots, even the cast and crew of the production were "all queer, predominantly women and trans," according to a press release.
Walidah also makes a conscious effort to reach back to the past, starting her video with a scene from the 1950s and using the documentary to feature interviews with "elder gay women" who have experienced the women's party culture for decades. What will we learn? "The laughter still sounds the same and the love remains," according to the producers.
Walidah (formerly hip hop artist Sha-Key) has been breaking down boundaries for more than a decade as a recording artist. She's often compared to the sounds of Bjork, Grace Jones and Nina Simone, and during the past 10 years she has provided her voice to the Brooklyn Funk Essentials. And earlier this year, she was the musical director and scored a hip hop/spoken-word adaptation of "The Wiz".
The video is available on the Internet now, and The Make A Move documentary (“Keep It Movin’”) is due out for the holidays.
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Comments conceal
meme
August 10 2006, 11:21AM
Who cares!
Derrick from Philly
August 10 2006, 11:32AM
If one cares about strength, resilience, and tremendous courage among black gay people, one can't ignore black gay women. If you do, you AINT got no accurate picture of what's important (and maybe good) about being black and gay.
Liquid Fonts
August 10 2006, 11:53AM
So very true Derrick, one of the beautiful things that can be said about the black gay community is that we don't segregate ourselves as gay men from black gay women like in mainstream gay culture and I really believe we are the better for it.
Troy
August 10 2006, 12:15PM
Oh, but the best thing is some of us who are transgendered don't even know it and would hate on others among us even to the extent of being hateful on another brother's website...What would a Stonewall or N.Y. City or any city, be like if a few of them we don't try to understand didn't come through in the struggle and then, just WHO would care....If you only knew. Some labels and costumes fit to a tee, even for those without a clue...
meme
August 10 2006, 1:49PM
Right on soul brothers! Again,who cares!
We do
August 10 2006, 3:46PM
Well, it's apparent that you don't meme but you're not everybody.
Keith Boykin
August 10 2006, 4:08PM
Meme,
If you really don't care, then please don't bother to post any more unnecessary posts telling us how much you don't care. If you do so again, I will be forced to remove your comments. Thank you.
Keith
Mark Corece
August 10 2006, 4:37PM
LOL,(Gasp) I love this web site. Well after that I just I have to say that as an artist I loved it. I definately felt the sincerety in the project and that's important.
Shabaka![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
August 10 2006, 5:09PM
Oh I just love it when we all get together for a just cause. After all this is what humanity is all about. A rainbow. Great work!!
Derrick from Philly
August 10 2006, 5:56PM
Thank you, Shabaka. It's all about diversity, isn't it? Well, it should be. Meme probably thinks we're being a little to sensitive about this inclusion of black gay women and their issues, but we need to remind ourselves it aint all about men. Over the last two years reading and commenting on the gay blogs, I've learned that young gay men (black and white) are very concerned about getting rid of the stereotype that all gay men are effeminate. They want to put forth a more masculine image of gay men. That's great. All masculine gay men have to do is "Come the f--k out the closet!" then feminine/effeminate males will no longer be the dominant image. But one of the criticisms I do have of the masculine gay men who hate the effeminate stereotype is that too many of them seem to believe that misogyny has to be part of a more masculine image. They say things that are more insulting to women than straight guys, and that aint right, Mister Thaing.
meme
August 10 2006, 9:28PM
Now don't get upset, you all made you comments, in fact, a couple of you made comments about what I said, I did not get angry. After all this is a free country, There are far greater other things we could be discussing.
Me not
August 10 2006, 10:46PM
Yes but who are you to dictate what we should or should not discuss? If you visit here regularly you find that sometimes Keith will talk about politics but sometimes he keeps it light. Just because you don't care doesn't mean we don't. When you use the words "who cares", expect that there will be an answer, one that may not be in your favor.
meme
August 10 2006, 11:24PM
It is not my intention to dictate anything to anyone. In fact, I said what I thought, not what all of you thought. I sense that gay-African-Americans men/women spend too much time on being excepted in the media and less time on making real chanegs. Why not talk about wealth building in the gay-African-American community: Gay people buying homes and the like. I thought this site was about wealth building, my bad.
brohemian![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
August 11 2006, 1:49AM
lord ha' mercy. i was gonna post something snarky but decided better. anyhoo, LOVE hanifah walidah - she's one one the most brilliantly creative people i've met in a long time. i look forward to checking out KEEP IT MOVIN when it's released. hanifah, we miss you in the bay area! thanks, keith.
Steve
August 11 2006, 7:45AM
What a nice video. That looks like a group of people I'd enjoy having as friends. They all seem very comfortable with who they are. How great is that?
Thank you for posting, Keith.
DeeJay
August 11 2006, 9:22AM
I applaud anyone - straight, gay, and everything in-between - with the courage to show the world who they are and to "live out loud".
IMO, the courage to "be" is not limited to issues of sexual orientation or the SGL community. Most of the drama I've encountered in life can be traced back to folk who feel the need to repackage aspects of themselves - upbringing, economic class, educational background - to order to fit in.
In the end,it's always easier to walk in the light of truth about who YOU are. So I say, more power to these sisters. Strong black folks are strong black folks, PERIOD!
t
August 13 2006, 8:44PM
As a gay black woman I thank Keith for thinking about us with and the inclusion. And I thank my gay brothers for the support and love too.
Hanifah Walidah
August 16 2006, 3:46PM
Thank you everyone for such beautiful feedback. Thank you Keith for supporting.
I was just talking to a couple of my close brothers about how both men and women need to mix more at the parties both house and clubs, ya know? I much prefer a mixed party. but it always depends on the folks in the party not just the gender, I guess. Still I love my boys.
Side note: If you can take the time. On my site there is a link to write LOGO (or just click here). I'm still trying to get their attention to the video. It would be nice to see this reflection of gay women on a national front. Support if ya can.
Blessings to you all.
Hanifah
www.suckaforlife.com
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