Well, it’s February 1, and that means it’s Hourly Comic Day, Imbolc (the halfway point between midwinter and the spring equinox), AND the first day of Black History Month all in one! If you’re already overwhelmed by all the many things packed into the first day of the shortest month of the year amidst a still-raging global pandemic, give yourself a little break, and enjoy this tasty Afternoon Snack with us.
This year, we learned that Black History Month was started in the 1910s, initially as a one-week celebration, by scholar Carter G. Woodson:
More importantly, Woodson believed that history was made by the people, not simply or primarily by great men. He envisioned the study and celebration of the Negro as a race, not simply as the producers of a great man. And Lincoln, however great, had not freed the slaves—the Union Army, including hundreds of thousands of black soldiers and sailors, had done that. Rather than focusing on two men, the black community, he believed, should focus on the countless black men and women who had contributed to the advance of human civilization.
Daryl Michael Scott, Association for the Study of African American Life and History
POME fave Ashanti Fortson is kicking off the month with a Twitter campaign for Black creatives that’s already filled with amazing talent! If you, dear reader, are in a position to hire for paying creative work, here’s your reminder to respect these kinds of resources and social media campaigns: reference them all year round, and make sure your offers to young creatives are genuine, fair, and worth their time!
The Young Adult Library Services Association published their 2021 Great Graphic Novels for Teens list, which has 126 titles to sate even the most voracious comics-loving teen in your life! ComicsBeat covered the YALSA’s top ten of these titles, with links to snag your own copies (if you aren’t already in line to get them from your library). We were surprised and pleased to see Guantanamo Voices in the top ten, which we got to review last year!
Last week’s news was dominated by Reddit’s vengeance campaign against a GameStop short sale using the retail trading app Robinhood, which of course generated not only analysis but a flurry of memes. Check out our favorite labor newsletter Strikewake for a reasoned but searing take on how the Robinhood model affects regular-degular non-stock-having people.
Sundance Film Festival, one of the biggest events for indie movies in the U.S., went online this year, and Micheal Cuby write for them.us on the most exciting LGBTQ+ films that virtual festival-goers can enjoy from their own homes!
We’re sad to end on a solemn note, as the music world bids farewell to pioneering pop musician and producer Sophie, who died this weekend in an accidental fall. We recommend revisiting this Vulture interview with her, which sheds light on her process, and her ambitious plans for the future of pop music.
Until next week, take care and stay warm, POMEs!