Summer is upon us ladies and gentleman, and although I know you're probably in the gym working on your fitness in preparation for the upcoming months, don't forget to take a little time for yourself and focus on some TLC. And by that I mean television lying on the couch. If your Netflix queue is empty and you're looking for some new suggestions, xoNecole has you covered, sis.
Here's everything that's new and black AF on Netflix this May:
B*A*P*S - May 1
Amazon
B*A*P*S was an underrated cinematic masterpiece and possibly one of the greatest comedy films made in the 90's periodt. Don't @ me. When two ambitious waitresses from Decatur ditch their jobs and fly to Los Angeles to audition for a music video that could potentially fund their dreams of opening a hair salon/soul food restaurant, they meet an ominous stranger who offers them a lucrative deal that leads them to the estate of an elderly millionaire. Nesi (played by Halle Berry) and her best friend, Mickey (played by Natalie Desselle) find themselves in a whole new world filled with bidets and butlers and make an unlikely friend in the process.
Her Only Choice - May 1
Netflix
When a woman and her husband find out news that she is expecting after years of infertility, they are ecstatic; only to have that dream dashed in an instant upon discovering that she also has breast cancer. After losing her mother to the same fight years earlier, Tasha (played by Denise Boutte) must make a choice to fight for her life or sacrifice it to save her unborn child.
Knock Down The House - May 1
Netflix
While this is an extremely unpopular opinion, I believe that Donald Trump getting elected as president was one of the best things that has ever happened to our country and the Netflix original documentary, Knock Down The House is proof. Last year, we saw a historic number of women run for office and win, proving that the American people are angry, and these women are a part of the coalition that's fighting back. Featuring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Cori Bush, this doc takes an in-depth look into the campaigns of four women who ran for Congress in the 2018 elections.
Tuca & Bertie - May 3
Created by the producer of Bojack Horseman, Tuca and Bertie is an adult animated comedy series that features a sensible songbird (played by Ali Wong) and a carefree toucan (played by Tiffany Haddish) who struggle to navigate their adult lives and find their identities as women (bird-women). The show, much like its predecessor, is a dark comedy but instead focuses on topics that millennial women face every day like career instability, harassment, and sexual frustration. You can binge watch these BFFs experience life after 30 this Friday.
Pose: Season 1 - May 10
Craig Blankenhorn/FX
The FX hit-series Pose is coming to a streaming platform near you, and now you can experience all of the glamour and drama these ladies of drag have to offer in HD. Set in the 1980s, this series follows the rise of NYC Ball Drag culture through the eyes of a group of transgender women fighting for space in a very intolerant world. The show was brought to life by creator of American Horror Story, Ryan Murphy, and will premiere for a second season this summer.
See You Yesterday - May 17
The Stefon Bristol-directed See You Yesterday is a next level sci-fi style film that tells the story of a brilliant young science prodigy named C.J. who loses her brother Calvin in a tragic police shooting. She and her best friend, Sebastian, develop a plan to invent homemade time travel backpacks in an attempt to alter history, and to their surprise, it works and sends them on a number of dangerous trips in the past.
Moonlight - May 21
David Bornfriend/Courtesy of A24 Films
Winner of the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2017, Moonlight is a heart-wrenching tale based on the semi-autobiographical play In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue by Tarell Alvin McCraney, and tells the story of Chiron, a young boy from Miami who struggles to navigate his sexuality while dealing with a drug-addicted mother and school bullies. This drama features Janelle Monae, Mahershala Ali, and Naomi Harris and was the first film with an all-black cast to win an Oscar.
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal - May 21
Netlix
Wanda Sykes has been a staple in the comedy world for decades, and now she finally has her own Netflix special. Tackling topics like racism, politics, and reality TV, as always Wanda holds nothing back in this hour-long standup show.
The Perfection - May 24
Netflix
When a cello prodigy reunites with her former mentors only to find that they have a new favorite student, all hell breaks loose and grossness ensues. This psychological thriller featuring Logan Browning is not for those with a weak stomach.
She's Gotta Have It: Season 2 - May 24
David Lee/Netflix
Nola Darling is back to give us all of the polyamorous drama we've missed so much of over the past two years. This 1986 Spike Lee remake took the internet by storm in 2017 when the series was released, and it was renewed for a second season last January. Last season ended with a mildly uncomfortable dinner party featuring a few of Nola's beaus at the same dinner party and a case of butt injections gone wrong, so I can only imagine what chaos will ensure May 24th.
When They See Us - May 31
Get your tissues and black power fists ready ladies and gentleman because this Netflix original limited series will make you want to take it to the streets and fight the man your damn self. Created and co-written by Ava Duverney, this show tells the story of five teens from Harlem who were wrongfully accused and convicted for a crime that they did not commit. The series paints an emotional portrait of what life was like for these men from the year 1989, when they were initially accused, all the way up until 2014 when all five men were exonerated.
Featured image by Getty Images.
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Anyway, I personally think that the less shallow folks out here may contemplate calling things “quits” or they at least distance themselves a bit from their partner (and what I’m referring to is serious relationships) due to all of the stress and strain that oftentimes comes with the holidays whether it be financial, familial, due to their tight schedules or something else.
Listen, I would hate for you and your man to miss the fun and happiness of experiencing this time of year, all because you are so overwhelmed or irritated that you can’t really enjoy it. That’s why I have a few practical tips for how to avoid allowing the typical holiday season stress from INFECTING your relationship.
Manage Your Expectations
GiphyUnmanaged expectations. If there is a main reason why the holiday season tends to be so stress-filled for so many people, I’d bet good money that this is the cause. And when you’re in a long-term relationship, expectations can manifest themselves in all sorts of cryptic and/or unexpected ways. You might have relatives who assume that you are going to be with them for Thanksgiving or Christmas when you have other plans in mind. You might be thinking that you are going to spend one amount for presents while your man is thinking something totally different. When it comes to scheduling, your signals may be crossed.
And you know what? To all of these scenarios, this is where clear and consistent communication come in. Don’t assume anything. Don’t dictate anything either. From now until New Year’s, mutually decide to check in once a week, just to make sure that you are both on the same page as it relates to the holidays and what you both are thinking will come along with it. The less blindsided you both feel, the less stressed out you will be. Trust me on this.
Set (and Keep) a Budget
GiphyOkay, so I read that last year, 36 percent of Americans incurred some type of holiday-related debt. Hmph. Last year, there was still some sense of normalcy in this country, chile, so I can only imagine what finances are gonna look like over the next several weeks. That said, since I don’t know a lot of people who don’t find being broke stressful, make sure that you and your bae set a budget and then stick to it this year — no ifs, ands or buts.
Because really, y’all — it doesn’t make sense to deplete savings and/or max out credit cards for a few days of giggles only to be damn near losing your mind because you don’t know how to make ends meet come Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
And by the way, this tip doesn’t just speak to things like food and gifts; I also mean travel. If it doesn’t make a ton of sense (or cents) to be all over the place this year — DON’T BE.
Keep Matthew 5:37 at the Forefront
GiphyIf off the top of your head, you don’t know what Matthew 5:37 says, no worries, here ya go: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” That verse right there? Oh, it’s a boundaries lifesaver! I say that because do you see “maybe” or “I’ll think about it” in there? Nope. LOL. It says that you should tell people “yes” or “no” and leave it at that — and that complements Anne Lamott’s quote, “’No’ is a complete sentence” impeccably well. Yeah, you’ve got to remember that anything beyond a yes or no to a request is privileged information; you don’t owe anyone details or an explanation.
Besides, if you are really honest with yourself, when someone asks you something and you give a “Umm, let me think about it” kind of reply, more times than not, you already know what your answer is going to be — so why not let you both off of the hook? Give your response. Commit to that. And let everyone (including yourself) get on with their lives and schedules.
I promise you that when it comes to those holiday parties, you are pissing more folks off by not RSVP’ing or doing so and not showing up than just saying, “Thank you but not this year” off the rip.
Remember That Your Personal Space Is Privilege Not a Right
GiphyA friend of mine recently bought a new house and invited me over to come see it. He’s a single man with no children, so as I was taking in all of the space that he had, especially as I walked through his finished basement, I joked about relatives coming to live with him. “Hell no” and “absolutely not” were pretty much his immediate responses as he went on to say that some folks even had the nerve to be offended when he told them that he had no intentions on taking DNA in.
Ain’t it wild how people think that your stuff is their right? And yes, that brings me to my next point. Your home is your sanctuary space. If you want to host folks this year — cool. If not, ALSO COOL. Please don’t let folks (family included) guilt you into how they want you to act or even into what they would do if the shoe was on the other foot. You are not them — and as one of my favorite quotes states, “If two people were exactly alike, one of them would be unnecessary.” (A man by the name Larry Dixon said that.)
Hell, my friends? They know that I am good for sending them random things that they need or even want all throughout the year. Coming over to hang out at my pace, though. Uh-uh. Chalk it up to being a card-carrying member of the ambivert club yet I like keeping my living space personal — and I sleep like a baby, each and every night, for feeling that way.
Always remember that your space, your time, your resources, your energy and shoot, yourself period (including your relationship), are all things that are your own. You get to choose how, when and why you want to share them. The holiday season is certainly no exception.
Cultivate Some “You Two Only” Traditions
GiphyIt’s not uncommon for some couples to hit me up after the holiday season to “detox.” Sometimes it’s due to the financial drama (and sometimes trauma) that they experienced. Sometimes it’s because they allowed their relatives (especially in-laws) to get more into their personal business than they should’ve. More than anything, though, it tends to be because they didn’t get enough quality time together and so ended up feeling “disconnected.”
Please don’t let that happen. Listen, I’m not even a holidays kind of woman and yet, I will absolutely sit myself down with some hot chocolate and chocolate chip cookies to enjoy a Hallmark holiday film or two. Aside from the fact that most of them are lighthearted and sweet, I also like that they usually focus on couples loving on each other amidst all of the holiday beauty and ambiance — which is something that all couples should set aside some time to do.
Maybe it’s a vacation. Maybe it’s a staycation. Or maybe it’s my personal favorite, A SEXCATION. Whether it’s for a few days, the weekend or even overnight — don’t you let the holidays go by without setting aside time for you and your man to celebrate one another. Don’t you dare (check out “Are You Ready To Have Some Very Merry 'Christmas Sex'?”).
GET. SOME. REST.
GiphyI once read that 8 out of 10 people get stressed out over the holidays and 3 out of 10 lose sleep during to it — and when you’re stress-filled and sleep-deprived, that can absolutely lead to hypersensitivity, making mountains out of molehills and even not being in the mood for sex.
Your relationship can’t afford to go through any of this, so definitely make sure to prioritize rest. I don’t care how unrealistic it might seem during this time, sleep should never be seen as a luxury; it will always and forever be a great necessity.
That said, try to get no less than six hours of shut-eye in (check out “6 Fascinating Ways Sex And Sleep Definitely Go Hand In Hand”) and even ask your bae to take a nap with you sometimes (check out “Wanna Have Some Next-Level Sex? Take A Nap, Sis.”). Not only will sleep help to restore your mind, body and spirit but, when it’s with your partner, it’s an act of intimacy that can make you both feel super connected, even in the midst of what might feel like chaos.
___
Holiday season stress is real. Still, never give it the permission or power to throw your relationship off. Put you and your man first and let the holidays be what they are gonna be, chile.
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Featured image by Shutterstock
Using the same material from the interior of the Volvo EX90, Hudson crafted a wool-blend car coat and waistbelt that combine the vehicle’s Scandinavian design with his signature tailoring and intention. The exclusive collection launched on October 20, and each piece is made-to-order by Sergio Hudson Collections.
Courtesy
In October, I traveled to Charleston with a group of journalists to get a firsthand look at Hudson and Volvo’s location. During a fitting, Hudson said his goal is to make “great work that can stand the test of time.”
“People can look back on and say, ‘I remember when Sergio did that collaboration with Volvo,’” he continued. “Thinking about aligning yourself with classic brands that speak to where you want to go. And I think that's what this collaboration kind of means to me and my business.”
Hudson pinpoints his mom as the biggest influence for his designs. This collaboration was no different.
“This particular coat reminded me of the swing coats that my mom used to wear in the early 90s. You know, diva girls in the early 90s had Sandra suits,” he said, referring to Jackée Harry’s character in 227. “My mom wore those and she would have these matching swing coats to go over them. And that's where the initial idea came. This would be around the same time that we had our Volvo. So she would put on her suit, her swing coat, get in that red Volvo, and go to church.”
Courtesy
With this capsule and beyond, Hudson wants to see more staples rotating in and out of closets this fall. He advises fashionistas to build her closet out with essentials to mix and match that aren’t just stylish but also sustainable.
“It's just those special pieces,” he said. “You can wear the same shirt and pants every day and nobody will notice. But if you have a special boot, a special coat, a special bill, a special bag, that kind of speaks to everything that your style stands about, that is something you should focus on.”
These are the same kind of staple pieces that return to our Pinterest boards and TikTok feeds season after season. Fast fashion has never been Hudson’s aim. “I'm trying to create a special pieces that can stand the test of time,” he said in his warm, Southern accent. “I'm only creating those kind of pieces from here on out.”
Courtesy
For Hudson, this collaboration is revolutionary. It’s his first time working with a car company and experimenting outside of his wheelhouse in this way.
“This is a Scandinavian brand, and, you know, it's 70 years old. I'm an African-American boy from South Carolina that has had a brand for 10 years. So I think bridging those two worlds and seeing the similarities was the beauty of this project,” he explained.
Though Hudson and his partner and CEO of Sergio Hudson Collections Inga Beckham have made massive strides in just 10 years, Hudson said the industry is far from where he wants to see it when it comes to Black representation. He pointed to how few Black designers were at this year’s Met Gala despite the theme being Black dandyism.
“The fact that I dressed 18 people speaks to how many of us weren't there,” he said. He implored more of industries, fashion and beyond, to collaborate with Black designers often.
“Allow mentorship. Allow funding. Allow great design to shine through,” he implored. “When it comes to being a designer of African descent, when you can't get the funding that your counterparts have, you can't compete. When you get opportunities like doing a collaboration with Volvo, or you get opportunities to be at the Met Gala, that's putting us on the equal playing field, but really the funding behind it is what we need to take it to that desk level.”
Featured image courtesy