with A Different World
By Dr. P. Natema Bey
An Article In Word, Sound Power and YouTube Cheat Sheet =*
(Click links in article for viewing)
In Times like These Social media creates an opportunity for creatives to connect with their future selves. If you could get that without making the mistake that the leveled platforms make you better than your mentors.
While surfing on Instagram I came upon a photograph of one of my favorite actors as well as one of my favorite locations in my hometown. After careful glare I recognized Shaza Zulu?, the actor who played my crush character and part of two who influenced my "I Can Change the world" attitude.
Freddie Brooks was a airheaded college girl with a love for social justice and this tall drank of Watta who played the character "Shaza" was Gary Dordan and the Female character his girlfriend, Cree Summers.
Not only did they remind me of my real friends they actually felt like poster Children for keeping up the fight for what
is right and non materialistic.
Freddie Brooks was Denise Huxtable's class mate, A natural hippie and her strong black man friend. The on-screen couple gave it's #BlackLove it's 90's introduction on the reel. Dordan's character eventually became a side piece to education so the stories of the college students could evolve. Shaza was painted too Pretty Ricky" for the humble heartfelt character cree played to trully fall for. yet myself and Soo many other female watchers were hooked on dem, on him.
🤪😷🤫🙌
Shaza Zulu and Freddie Brooks Break Up
A Different World Episode Featuring
Cree Summers, Gary Dordan, Patti LaBelle and Diane Carol
Since the Cosby show has been thrown into obscurity like babies in bathwater due to a conviction of Creator and Clean Comedian, Bill Cosby's Higher Education healthy spin off "A Different World" has been overlooked and it's talent underbooked.
The smart progressive half hour television show about black students at Historically Black Colleges held a special place for those who went onto attend higher education and felt the need to succeed.
Each Episode refused to ignore issues of racism, sexism, illnesses as other shows were quick to do and it lacked the quick wit talk back that most black shows offering the idea that name calling and making fun of one another was a primetime showcase.
"Crash and burn" was his caption to the photo taken where I had completed a music video shoot almost 6 months prior. The virtual lightbulb appeared. Even though my bookings were corona cancelled including a show with the legendary Norman Connors in the UK it wasn't over for my music.
I had soo much footage from so many different Productions it was time to complete the video and release it to the world. Gary's photo also spoke to me in ways I needed. It said don't worry about catching up. Crash, Burn and Walk Way on Fire.
That photo was an inspiration for me as his character had been on "A Different World" to be social media validated. (Deep Sigh) I am a location scout and born hippie. It was great to see him, modern man standing unscathed and un-bothered.* (Un-bothered Like Omarion Can You Feel Me)
This is the moment the world has been waiting on. *"We are the ones we are waiting for" To save ourselves. *Savior Self. It feels just like it did before Myspace was gone and Obama was elected to office *"Can You Hear Me" In "Times Like These" There is opportunity for change.
An opportunity to begin again and Moor inspiration for change. The post also inspired my husband to edit the entire video in hours over night. Thanks Gary for keeping him on his toes.
This brings us to the video "Times Like These" the post apacolyptic 3 mins and 14 secs of Sound Sovereignty Soulfully suspended in Pandemic as it was released early March 2020 Releasing the music video on YouTube for the song written by Poetica Bey Composed by Daryl Marshall visuals edited by Mahdi Sufi El Directed by Poetica Director of Photography Cody Ashlock.
It has An Erie sense of timelessness and timelyness all at the same time with a smiley cheeky thick woman in a cherry red fez with what looks like a crashed airplane behind her she jurates, shimmys and shakes while looking like Sufi's Queen to lyrics like:
"Times like these, you make your enemies your friend, True to the end..Ever changing, ever ranging. Nothing strange when we're at war, In times of Peace Prepare for...
Times Like These"~Poetica Bey
YouTube Cheer Sheet*
(*) reference music links that I feel convey the sound of these words and phrases that are relatable to those mentioned in this article. Please enjoy them as you read.
*Cree Summers
Savoir Self
*Poetica "We are the ones" Poem live on Unami Mound aka
Philadelphia Museum of Art
We Are The Ones
*Omarion
Can You Hear Me
*Poetica
Times Like These
Different World Theme Song
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