SELMA, BLACK MESSIAH & the Ethics of Loving Black

December 15, 2024
2 mins read

By Mark Anthony Neal | with thanks to NewBlackMan (in Exile)

Wednesday, February 11, 2015.

“Could you be love, and be loved?”—Bob Marley

“Oh, in another life, I bet you wouldn’t know that”—D’Angelo

It was one of most genuine Loving Black moments that we’re likely to see in American cinema this year; Niecy Nash, portraying Coretta Scott King’s childhood friend Richie Jean Jackson, welcomes into her home, or quite literally her kitchen, a group of hungry Negroes. The group, which included Martin Luther king Jr, Ralph Abernathy, James Orange, Hosea Williams and James Bevel, would use Jackson’s home to strategize the Selma campaign. That scene though, with the free flow of grits and gravy…bacon and biscuits was a reminder of the ethic of Loving Black; you can’t be on the front lines with your belly empty.

History don’t often remember who was cooking it up in the Kitchen—unless it’s a tireless Black domestic praying for a new day—and yet Ava Duvernay gave us this small glimpse of Loving Black, to not only acknowledge the labor of women who were on the first line, if not the front line, but as a gesture of love to us.

I’ve thought often about such gestures recently with regards to corporate media production. The occasions where we truly feel loved, by and within, that enterprise, are few and far between.

Ava DuVernay’s SELMA and D’Angelo’s BLACK MESSIAH are visuals and sonics of Loving Black—an ethical practice in which you never have to question that they (our artists) and theirs (their art) are all in for us. Loving Black is not simply the act of loving Black (though that’s something to aspire) but a something else, as in a politics in loving, as only Black can love itself, in a world where Black is so often perceived as absence, deficit and pathology. A something unconditional.

Loving Black are those women like Diane Nash, Jackson, Coretta Scott-King, Amelia Boynton (who still walks the earth at age 103), and Ella Baker, who held tight the movement, even through the benevolent patriarchy and homophobia of its male leadership. Baker, for example, might not have appeared in the film, but her spirit clearly informs DuVernay’s filmmaking; Baker is in that kitchen with Jackson; she is on that bridge being beat with Lorraine Toussaint’s Boynton. Loving Black.

It is in the spirit of Loving Black, that I have been fundamentally stunned at the rancor and disparagement directed at SELMA and BLACK MESSIAH. In a media landscape in which our humanity is regularly assaulted–and often enough at the hands of those who are ostensibly us–SELMA and BLACK MESSIAH are nothing short of open arms; D’Angelo’s mumbling sweet nothin’s in our collective ears—come a little closer.

Lacking in ridiculous claims for refunds for BLACK MESSIAH (as if the standards of art and love, wouldn’t demand refunds for much of what passes for commercially viable Black music) or those Historians of the trained and arm-chair variety, who apparently attended screenings of SELMA with historical reference volumes sitting in their laps—is what Historian and Cultural Critic Treva Lindsey calls a “critical generosity.”

Loving Black is about loving back what loves you, and loving it enough that when it don’t feel like love, it is love that delivers that message.

Almost two generations ago, Bob Marley asked—in the midst of the first post-Civil Rights era nadir—“could [we] be love and be loved?” The question remains as relevant during this second nadir. While we claim that #BlackLivesMatter, perhaps the relevant point should be do #BlackLivesLove?

SELMA, BLACK MESSIAH & the Ethics of Loving Black

185 Comments

  1. Hey! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog beforebut after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new to me.Anyways, I’m definitely delighted I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!

  2. Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to help with SearchEngine Optimization? I’m trying to get my blog to rank forsome targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good results.If you know of any please share. Appreciate it!

  3. เล่นบาคาร่าออนไลน์ได้อย่างไม่ยากเย็นแค่เพียงเข้ามาที่ UFABET กดเข้าหน้าสมัครก็สารมารถทำเงินได้โดยทันที เราเป็นคาสิโนออนไลน์ที่ยอดเยี่ยม ระบบใช้งานง่ายเป็นมีคณะทำงานรอให้คำปรึกษาและแนะนำแม้เกิดปัญหา บริการดีคุ้นเคย จะเล่นพันออนไลน์ทั้งทีควรต้องUFABET

  4. Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to create areally good article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and never manageto get anything done.

  5. Great blog you have got here.. Itís difficult to find quality writing like yours these days. I honestly appreciate people like you! Take care!!

  6. When I initially commented I clicked the „Notify me when new comments are added”checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get fouremails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove me from that service?Thanks a lot!

  7. At this time it sounds like Movable Type is the preferredblogging platform available right now. (from what I’ve read) Is that what you’re using on your blog?

  8. hello there and thank you for your info – I have definitely picked up anything new from right here. I did however expertise some technical points using this site, since I experienced to reload the web site a lot of times previous to I could get it to load properly. I had been wondering if your hosting is OK? Not that I am complaining, but slow loading instances times will sometimes affect your placement in google and can damage your quality score if advertising and marketing with Adwords. Anyway I am adding this RSS to my e-mail and could look out for much more of your respective fascinating content. Ensure that you update this again soon..

  9. You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for even more passionate writers like you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.

  10. Hey very cool web site!! Man .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I’ll bookmark your blog and take the feeds also…I’m happy to find a lot of useful information here in the post, we need work out more techniques in this regard, thanks for sharing. . . . . .

  11. The very heart of your writing whilst sounding agreeable initially, did not settle perfectly with me after some time. Someplace within the sentences you were able to make me a believer unfortunately only for a short while. I however have a problem with your jumps in assumptions and you would do nicely to fill in all those gaps. In the event you can accomplish that, I could surely be impressed.

  12. With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any problems of plagorism or copyright infringement? My website has a lot of completely unique content I’ve either authored myself or outsourced but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my permission. Do you know any techniques to help protect against content from being ripped off? I’d certainly appreciate it.

  13. This design is incredible! You certainly know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Great job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  14. Thank you for your own hard work on this website. Debby really likes engaging in investigation and it’s really obvious why. Most people notice all of the powerful mode you make priceless guidelines via the web blog and even increase response from website visitors about this point so my princess is without a doubt being taught so much. Take pleasure in the rest of the new year. You’re the one conducting a very good job.

  15. I haven’t checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend ?

  16. This design is wicked! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog (well, almost…HaHa!) Fantastic job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool!

  17. Hello! I just wanted to ask if you ever haveany trouble with hackers? My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I endedup losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup.Do you have any solutions to stop hackers?

  18. I don’t even know how I finished up right here, however I thought this submit used to be good. I don’t know who you might be however certainly you are going to a well-known blogger if you happen to aren’t already 😉 Cheers!

  19. Hi! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing months of hard work due to nodata backup. Do you have any methods to protect against hackers?

  20. I don’t even understand how I stopped up right here, however I assumed this put up was once great. I don’t realize who you are but definitely you’re going to a well-known blogger if you happen to are not already. Cheers!

  21. Hi there colleagues, how is everything, and what you wish recommendations for an omega 3 diet to say regarding this piece ofwriting, in my view its genuinely remarkable in favorof me.

  22. It’s actually very difficult in this active life to listen news on Television, thus I onlyuse internet for that reason, and get the hottest information.

  23. I blog often and I truly thank you for your information. This great article has really peaked my interest. I’m going to take a note of your blog and keep checking for new information about once per week. I subscribed to your RSS feed too.

  24. Heya i am for the first time here. I found this board and I find It really useful & it helped me out a lot.I hope to give something back and help others like you helped me.Also visit my blog post: Pellamore Moisture Therapy

  25. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in truth was once a enjoyment account it. Look advanced to far delivered agreeable from you! However, how could we communicate?

  26. Hi, I do think this is a great blog. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may return yet again since i have saved as a favorite it. Money and freedom is the greatest way to change, may you be rich and continue to guide others.

  27. Hello! I know this is somewhat off topic but Iwas wondering if you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’mhaving difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!

  28. Everyone loves what you guys are up too.This sort of clever work and exposure! Keep up the terrific works guys I’ve incorporated you guys tomy personal blogroll.

  29. I will immediately clutch your rss as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Kindly allow me recognize in order that I may subscribe. Thanks.

  30. Very well written information. It will be valuable to everyone who utilizes it, as well as yours truly :). Keep doing what you are doing – i will definitely read more posts.

  31. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again very soon!

  32. Thanks for any other great article. Where else may anybody get that kind of information in such aperfect manner of writing? I have a presentation subsequentweek, and I am on the search for such info.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Previous Story

Black Love…Matters: Raheem DeVaughn’s Love Sex Passion

Next Story

The Hugely-Talented Virginia Chihota Brings Her First Solo Exhibition to the UK

Latest from Blog