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So I’m three episodes deep into Black Earth Rising, starring our very own Michaela Coel, Noma Dumezweni and Emmanuel Imani, as well as John Goodman - and I am loving it! I'm loving it so much that this month I decided to break form once again [see my recent quick review on Poet in Da Corner], and write a TV review rather than a film one. Cast ✮✮✮✮✮ As I write it is raining outside, I have my cup of tea to the right and have just turned on my central heating. Yass darling, TV season has arrived! And as the weather changes to its favourite position of cold in London, I change from Theatre trips in the evenings, bars and cinemas at the weekend - to the TV. In the comfort of my own home, I take joy in embracing my introvert self, and hybernating during this season, on my couch in front of the tele.  The Title With the Internet giving access for people of colour to connect across the globe like never before; Black Twitter “checking” even the most notable celebrities and their racially loaded language; Not to mention the wave of Black British actors/ actresses that have gotton success across the pond – compared to my childhood - this definitely feels like a Black (Earth) (Up)Rising. Imagery of a volcano exploding sits firmly in my photographic mind and is symbollic of the suppression of many voices, opinions and view points... until now! The blood coloured lava sizziling in the centre of the earth is the blood of the people that have lost their lives or their families in the name of ego, power and colonisation. The earth, therefore has no choice but to explode, because of the build up of oppression. Well... that's what I got from the title (lol). Title ✮✮✮✮✮ Check out the trailer and Comment below your thoughts on Black Earth Rising :) Politics aside (you know that isn't possible right?) - what I really enjoy about this 8 part series is watching an international cast, filmed partially in London do their own accents! A slight rant - As a trained Actress myself I am tired of auditioning in an American Accent. I know I know... I'm an actress so I should be able to do any accent! Well yeah I should... and that includes my own! Not wanting to crush anyone's hollywood dream or jump on the Samuel L Jackson band wagon of the annihilation of the African American by the Black British overtake, but I do want to say two things (I'm learning quickly through this blogsite to say what I mean in fewer words); 1) I want to be like Michael Caine. I want to be able to portray the lives of people who look like me (and SOUND like me) because WE exist. 2) I love Angela Bassett. She can do no wrong! But if someone was to ever have the fabulous idea to write a screen play of say... Olive Morris and her legacy, I'd struggle to focus if Angela Bassett were cast as Olive Morris! So Black Earth Rising is that rare but very real instance where - as I sit on my sofa with my central heating on high - my introverted spirit resonates with the oddities and eloquence of Kate Ashby. She represent the other type of mixed race - read my Nine Night review of a detailed account of the different types of mixed experiences - She represents one of the many multi-faceted, multi-layered experiences of being Black and British! Story ✮✮✮✮✮ You can watch Black Earth Rising on catch up on BBC Iplayer, and if you're up to date catch it on BBC Monday's at 9pm (GMT time) Comments are closed.
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