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Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Sorry about the lull in blogging. Just getting back into the swing of things after an absolutely amazing visit to Los Angeles. The Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival rocked and I met a lot of sensational individuals -- artists of every stripe. Tune in throughout the summer and you'll get to meet some of them here on the Meltingpot.

In the meantime, I'd like to host my first contest of sorts. Only there's no prize except the pleasure of knowing you helped make the Meltingpot a better place to visit. I'm planning a big update of my links list over there on the side. If you know of any blogs that document the intersection of the African-American/Black American experience with another culture (e.g. Kinky Gazpacho the Black and Spanish thing) please forward the link.

Thanks for sharing and please note that as of July 1st the Meltingpot will be back in full swing.

Peace!

Mixing it Up in California

In exactly one week from today, the 1st Annual Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival launches with a bang. Rebecca Walker will be giving the Opening Address on Thursday June 12 and then the Festival kicks into high gear with writing workshops, film screenings, kids activities and a comedy hour or two. You can check out the entire schedule on the website.

Yours truly will be there to lead a workshop called, "Crafting the Multicultural Memoir" and I'll be doing a reading from Kinky Gazpacho. I'll also be launching a new product that is still very hush-hush, but if you come to the Festival and say, "I Read My American Meltingpot," you'll get a sneak peak and a prize! I want to meet my readers, so if you live in Cali, come on by please and show yourselves.

In case the idea of a really cool festival doesn't excite you, but you still want to meet me in California and win that prize, you can also come to the Eso Won bookstore on Wednesday June 11 at 7pm and show some love. I'll be at this amazing independent bookstore doing a reading and signing and hoping for an Angela Bassett or Denzel Washington sighting because I hear they shop there.

I'm so excited. And I just can't hide it...

Peace!

Dreams Really Do Come True!

Introducing the future of hope and change.

Peace for real!

Kinky in the Midwest and A Question @ Blair Underwood

Because I know that there are about 400 of you who regularly read The Meltingpot, I thought I'd announce that me and my "Kinky" self will be heading to my hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin this Friday June 6 for a reading at Scwartz Book Store in Shorewood, my old stomping grounds.

It's going to be weird reading in a place that I kind of diss throughout the pages of Kinky Gazpacho but I hope folks know that I still have love for Milwaukee. It just wasn't an affirming place for a little Black girl with Big dreams to thrive. After Milwaukee, I'm off to the Windy City to participate in the Chicago Tribune Printer's Row Book Fair on Sunday, June 8. I'm speaking on a memoir panel with three very Meltingpot authors, Rachel Sontag, Jian Ping and Daniel Tommasulo. If you're in the area, please come by and say hello.

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Now about Blair Underwood. Just a question. I happened to catch an old episode of Sex in the City last night and Blair Underwood was on playing Miranda's boyfriend. Not so long ago, I caught him making out with Julia Louis Dreyfus on that show, The New Adventures of the Old Christine. So my question is, "Is Blair Underwood the new go-to guy to play the Black man who dates White women on prime time television?" There's no malice in the question, I'm just wondering how an actor gets that reputation? And does Underwood embrace the role? Is he just happy he is working in very White Hollywood and not solely dependent on Tyler Perry vehicles? I'm just wondering? And should his appearance on these very "mainstream" shows as the object of desire of White women be thought of as progress? I don't recall hearing a lot of hoopla about Underwood being cast as "the boyfriend" so maybe it's a non-issue.

Thoughts? And does anyone know if he shows up in the Sex in the City movie? I'm not a fan, but I'd like to know.