By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — In between bites, licks, and sweet slurps of the ever-sweet treat that is ice cream, have you ever stopped to think of where this creamy delight came from? Dating all the way back to 4th century Persia in modern-day Iran, many ice cream flavors are created out of boundless whimsy and ingredients; however, that wasn’t exactly the case when it comes to modern ice cream manufacturing techniques. The father of ice cream, a Black man named Augustus Jackson, would go on to change cold delicious history. Born in Philadelphia on April 16, 1808,…
Author: Logan Langlois
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville has seen pivotal moments of Black influence, from the bustling Black blues and business center that was Jefferson Street, to the establishment of the legendary Fisk University. Music City has also seen hundreds of Black businesses throughout its years selling their soaps, art, food, and culture. Few can recall the first Black business to open its doors. Before owning his own business, he would spend his life enslaved, and while owning his first business he would do the same. Throughout it all he would continue to beat his odds. Historical accounts first mention…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — The world of Black cinema is far deeper and more diverse than what is usually exemplified in mainstream consciousness. Even when horror movies are made up of largely Black casts, the films are still usually directed by white filmmakers who for obvious reasons are limited in communicating the Black perspective. So, in the spirit of the spookiest season of the year, here are five horror movies directed by Black filmmakers who set out to do that very thing. The Justin Simien 2020 film Bad Hair is a perfect example of a movie with a…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Currently, many elements of Black art are receiving more exposure than ever before. However, shockingly, the effect that Black voices have had on cinema is surprisingly overlooked. To celebrate Black cinematic influence in his city, Jama Mohamed partnered up with the local Black entrepreneurs at Slim & Husky’s in 2019 to establish Pizza and a Movie Night. After leaving Belcourt on good terms in 2020 to pursue other ventures, Pizza and a Movie would continue to gain traction under the current showrunner Sheronica Hayes. “His vision for it was to also engage Black artists…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — In a little cozy shack beside their one-story house in the country, happily married punks Hope and Hunter fill out another order of shirts for another local band who heard about them via word of mouth. It’s a typical order for the couple; they’ve built quite a dedicated following in the local alt-music scene since their first printing job in April of 2019, later becoming the formally established Gnarly Prints LLC in 2022. “Our first terrible, terrible, mess of a learning process DIY screen that we made was for F-Hero,” Hope laughed. “I had…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — As the clock inched closer to 5 pm on the third day of the four-and-a-half-day Blue Ridge Rock Festival, Murfreesboro concertgoer Muffin checked her phone waiting to see if the weekend she had paid slightly under $400 for was canceled for good. Her concert expenses included the full four-and-a-half day general access, as well as one night of the “Club Experience” excluding expenses such as her $300 Airbnb and $150 in gas it took to get to the Virginia International Speedway where the music would be held. She watched as the clock ticked past…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Black influence on alternative genres outside of funk, disco, and hip-hop/rap are often overlooked in mainstream discussion. One such counterculture that has seen substantial Black influence from the scene’s foundations into the current decade is the Goth scene. Goth music wasn’t directly headed by Black musicians, though Black music would strongly influence what would become the pinnacle of Goth culture. One such staple was the August 6 1979, release of Bauhaus song Bela Lugosi’s Dead, an homage to a song dedicated to one of, if not the first, widely celebrated gothic icons, Bela Lugosi’s…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Reyna Roberts, upcoming Epic Records country music artist, talks about her recently released single, upcoming album, writing process, and what her experience has been in Nashville trying to make it in Music City’s music industry as a Black woman. Born in Alaska but largely growing up in California before moving to Nashville, Roberts would receive recognition from numerous women in country music early in her career, such names including Mickey Guyton, Reba McEntire, Jamey Johnson, and Carrie Underwood. After discovering newfound support from industry heroes, fans, and family, Roberts decided to move to Nashville…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Civic TN accuses the Tennessee State Senate of evading meaningful discussion surrounding common sense gun reform as the state’s most recent special session continues. The non-partisan civic engagement coalition says that lawmakers are failing at fairly representing the priorities of Tennesseans by delaying steps contributing to long-standing legislative change. Civic TN Executive Director Matia Powell also said that the Senate has been actively attempting to stifle criticism against the bill from both common citizens and state representatives. The special session was called following the devastating shooting at Covenant School which killed six people. A…
By Logan Langlois NASHVILLE, TN — Nashville Justice League has just welcomed another group endorsing Freddie O’Connell in the coming runoff election taking place September 14th. Music City Musicians, an assembly of local Nashville musicians, publicly endorsed the progressive candidate and his approach to supporting the creative working class. Lisa Sherman Luna, Executive Director of TIRRC Votes of Nashville Justice League said that O’Connell was the obvious choice for the organization and anyone else concerned for the living conditions of the every-person. “We need to create the conditions so that folks who are trying to make it in our city,…