Category Archive for "Celebrity Sightings" | The Girl Next Door is Black

Seeing Broadway’s First Black Cinderella

Monday, December 8, 2014 12 Celebrity Sightings, Culture + Society, Travel, US Travel African American, black american firsts, black Americans, black women, Broadway Permalink 0

Cinderella Broadway Playbill Autographs | The Girl Next Door is Black

When I heard of Keke Palmer’s casting as the first black Cinderella on Broadway, I didn’t imagine I’d end up seeing the show in person!

It was a girls night out: sisters and groups of friends; an adorable Girl Scout troop of mostly pre-tween and tween black girls and quite a few mother/daughter pairings attended. One little girl dressed like a little lady wearing pearls and donning an updo, accompanied by her very chic and sophisticated mother who wore an enviable black cape, melted my heart. I attend a lot of plays and as I snarked to my sister, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many black people at a play in my life.” I’m so used to being one of few.

I Don’t Pop Molly

Thursday, August 29, 2013 2 Celebrity Sightings, Culture + Society, Life, Pop Culture, San Francisco Big Sean, Black people, celebrities, cultural appropriation, drugs Permalink 0

“I don’t pop molly, I rock Tom Ford.”

– Jay-Z, “Tom Ford“, 2013

If you listen to hip-hop these days, you’ve no doubt heard all the references to molly (basically ecstasy): “I Can’t Seem to Find Molly“, “Popped a molly, I’m sweatin‘” or maybe you’re even listening to Miley “cultural appropriation” Cyrus’ latest song. She sings about poppin’ mollies in “We Can’t Stop“. [She told producers she wanted “something that sounds black.” Girl, get your life! I give major side-eye to people who reduce blackness to the sliver of sub-culture of which they are aware. You need to diversify your black exposure. 13 million black Americans aren’t all the same. It’s like if Rihanna said she wants a “white” sound for her next album and had bagpipers all up in her video. Have a seat with your pancake booty that has no business twerking.]

What It’s Like to Breakfast with Jay-Z and Beyonce

Thursday, August 16, 2012 4 Celebrity Sightings, Life, Pop Culture Beyoncé, brunch, celebrity, Celebrity Sightings, family Permalink 0

Beyonce Jay-Z Celebrity Sighting | The Girl Next Door is Black

I have this knack for seeing famous people in cities outside of Los Angeles. I don’t remember the last real famous person I’ve seen in Los Angeles, but if I fly somewhere else, given my track record, I’m likely to see someone of note.

About 4 years ago, I was in Houston visiting the fam. My younger – too fly for her own good – sister, N, suggested we breakfast (yep, I used it as a verb) at a cozy, vibrantly decorated, restaurant called The Breakfast Klub, known for their chicken and waffles. It’s owned by a Kappa (as in Kappa Alpha Psi: black frat; famous for cane stepping; if you don’t know, now you know), so everything that would normally be spelled with a “C” is spelled with a “K”, like the “katfish and grits” dish. Kute.