Underground E7: Innocence Lost

demetria lucas April 21, 2016

James, James, James.

The ungodly visiting Reverend has decided it's time for 7 year old James to get in the field to pick cotton. Previously, Ernestine had seduced Massa Tom into agreeing to put James in the woodshop with his brother, Sam. But this spineless mofo is so pressed to get on the good side of the preacher who doesn't even like him, that he puts James, who is probably his child, in the field.

Ernestine and Sam try to explain the rules of the field to James, who just doesn't get it. Ernestine tells him about wearing two masks, one for white folk, one got black and how even when you're mad, you can't show it. James says he never had to do that around TR, Massa Tom's son. Ernestine tries to make him understand, "things are different now."

Poor Lil James. He goes out in the field and his hands are bleeding and swollen, he’s hot, the break water is filthy so he won't drink it, which means he's dehydrated. Lawd. And he's expected to pick 300lbs* of cotton, a grown man's share. He ain't about this life. Sam, who also isn’t used to this-- he's been in the woodshop-- tries to help the baby, guiding him through the field. At the weigh in, Sam switches bags with James, who is 75lbs short, so James won't get lashes.

TR rolls up all cheery at the weigh in to see his friend. Bruh, bad timing.

"Nina" Review: Simone Deserved Better Than This

demetria lucas April 19, 2016

Let’s get this out of the way: Nina, the much-discussed biopic about legendary songstress Nina Simone, is bad. Really bad.

Now let me explain why.

Undergroud E6: Take Me to the Water

demetria lucas April 14, 2016

Last but not least: ROSA "MF" LIE. Bay-bee (say it with a NOLA accent), our girl CAME THRU!!! I said last week that she's a bit naive , but she's her mother's daughter and there's no way she was raised by Ms. Ernestine and ain't got no spirit in her. The boys gotta stop doubting Rosalie as a house girl and treating her with kid gloves. She didfight-- and win-- in a battle with the overseer, and she did kill the dogs that were hunting them, and she did escape from the catcher she came face-to-face with. She be bout it, but rarely gets the credit for it.

This week we find out that not only can Rosalie swim, she can clearly negotiate and handle her own alone. Our girl jumped off the boat and swam-- because she's the only one who can-- to shore unnoticed, found some Native American kinfolk, plead her case effectively and got the lost boys on the boat some much needed help. Cause that "let the boat float to shore and we're just gonna duck for cover" plan wasn't hitting on not any cylinders.