Step into my She Shed, where we've stitched together a vibrant tapestry of Black Excellence and the powerful waves it's making in pop culture. Imagine basking in the triumphs of music legends Mary J. Blige and A Tribe Called Quest as they grace the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with their indelible legacy. Picture the influential giants on the Time 100 list, from the lyrical wizardry of 21 Savage to the captivating presence of Coleman Domingo, shaping our cultural landscape. We're breaking down barriers, celebrating award-winners like Divine Joy Randolph, and feeling the raw emotion in Jeffrey Wright's "American Fiction." And for those hungry for literary connection, our virtual book club looms on the horizon, a tantalizing mystery of what our first read will be.
Follow on social media. On Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @sheshedchroniclespod. Music by Martale, https://music.apple.com/us/artist/martale/1200506130, For advertising opportunities please email: sheshedchroniclespod@gmail.com.
Step into my She Shed, where we've stitched together a vibrant tapestry of Black Excellence and the powerful waves it's making in pop culture. Imagine basking in the triumphs of music legends Mary J. Blige and A Tribe Called Quest as they grace the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with their indelible legacy. Picture the influential giants on the Time 100 list, from the lyrical wizardry of 21 Savage to the captivating presence of Coleman Domingo, shaping our cultural landscape. We're breaking down barriers, celebrating award-winners like Divine Joy Randolph, and feeling the raw emotion in Jeffrey Wright's "American Fiction." And for those hungry for literary connection, our virtual book club looms on the horizon, a tantalizing mystery of what our first read will be.
Follow on social media. On Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok @sheshedchroniclespod. Music by Martale, https://music.apple.com/us/artist/martale/1200506130, For advertising opportunities please email: sheshedchroniclespod@gmail.com.
Speaker 1:
Hey y'all, hey, welcome in to she Shed Chronicles. I'm Nikki, your guide here in the she Shed as we explore topics important to women of color, recap your favorite TV shows and the latest movies. And oh yeah, let's not forget about our virtual book club. Come on in to the she Shed, kick off your shoes, grab your favorite beverage and take a well-deserved break. Let's get this party started.
Speaker 1:
Hey, hey, we are here, coming off from the weekend launch of she Shed Chronicles, I am going to share. I'm still on a high. I'm still on a high. I still am overwhelmed with the support. I'm overwhelmed with thinking to myself girl, you did this. Thank you all for riding along with me. Thank you, thank you. I can't thank you enough. I hope that you all will continue to ride.
Speaker 1:
Let's move right into what we will be talking about today. So often, we hear about all the bad things black people are doing in this world. Today, I had an idea to highlight some of the good things that black people are doing. Black people are doing. In addition, I want to introduce you all to a show it's brand new came out on the OWN Network. It's called Never, ever Met. Lastly, we are going to share. Share our very first book club pick.
Speaker 1:
We'll get started with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees for 2024. I was curious to see who the inductees were. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has several different categories that it places inductees into. I went through those categories to see what inductees are Black. I was curious and then that led me down another hole to research. Since the induction of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, how many inductees are Black total For 2024? In the performer category we have Mary J Blige, cool and the Gang and Tribe Called Quest For musical influence. It's Big Mama Thornton For musical excellence, dionne Warwick and Norman Whitfield. I shared that. I did research and wanted to know how many people since 1986 that were Black have been inducted. Not including 2024, it's been 114 Black people groups inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. If we add in the ones for 2024, that will bring us to 120. That got me to thinking and wanting to know how many total artists have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame altogether and I wanted to compare how many Black people versus the total the total individual and groups that have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 1986 is 378. I must say I was actually surprised by the numbers. I thought it would have been a lot less percentage of Black people that would have been inducted, but according to my calculations, 32% of the total inductees are Black. Not too bad. I'm surprised about that.
Speaker 1:
What I find interesting about the 2024 inductees is that Cher is being inducted this year. Is that Cher is being inducted this year after she called out the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in December of 2023. She was on the Kelly Clarkson show promoting one of her Christmas songs. It was a new Christmas song. She couldn't understand why she had not yet been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cher said you know what? I wouldn't be in it now if they gave me a million dollars. I'm never going to change my mind. They can just go. You know what themselves. They can just go you-know-what themselves. It's going to be very interesting to see if Cher accepts. The announcement of the inductees was recent as of this recording, there isn't anything out there yet on what Cher's thoughts are on being nominated. Now Another list was published and it is the Time 100 Most Influential People for 2024.
Speaker 1:
Once again, I was curious, wanting to see how many Black people made the list and for the Time 100 list, it is divided up into several categories. We will go through each category and I'll share the Black people who made the list. Our first category is artist, and the first person I saw is 21 Savage. 21 Savage made the list and each person who made the list had someone write what they thought about them and how influential they had been to them. Burnaboy wrote about 21 Savage and he said that I know what it's like to rise above challenging beginnings and it makes his success all that much more remarkable. Throughout his work, including on his newest album, american Dream, which opens with a reflection by his mother on their immigration story, 21 maintains an authenticity that resonates deeply.
Speaker 1:
Another artist that is on the list is Coleman Domingo. This was really exciting to see him on the list. He had a really great 2023. He was in that movie, rustin on Netflix, and also in the Color Purple, lenny Kravitz wrote about Coleman, but there was nothing referenced about the color purple. The color purple just did not have a good year for when it came to awards. You know they didn't do well in that awards category at all.
Speaker 1:
Another Black artist that is on the list Divine Joy Rudolph. Oh, pardon me, divine Joy Randolph. This woman has had an incredible year. Y'all know she swept all of the awards for 2024. She got the Oscar, she got the Golden Globe and it's all. For this movie that she played in called the Holdovers. I saw the movie even before all of the award buzz and I thought she did a great job in the movie. When I was watching it did I think it was award-winning acting. I did not. But I'm not going to take anything away from Joy. I am so happy that she has had a phenomenal year. So again, congratulations to Miss Randolph.
Speaker 1:
Another artist that made the list is Jeffrey Wright. He was the main character in American fiction. He didn't win the Oscar. I was so sad about that. It was a great movie. If you all have not seen American fiction, see it. Great movie. And although Jeffrey didn't win the Oscar, the writer won the Oscar for best. Hold on, let me check. All right, I got it now. The film won the Oscar for best adapted screenplay and it is a black man and his name is Cord Jefferson. Let's keep it moving.
Speaker 1:
Time 100 list Fantasia. Barrino is on the list. Taraji wrote about Fantasia. Taraji talked about seeing Fantasia on American Idol. She said that when she met her years later, she learned that she is a cancer sweet and sensitive, but with a quiet strength. You can feel it in her presence and you can hear it in her powerful voice. When she sings, she transcends. It's like she goes somewhere else and you just have to go with her. I'm with Taraji. Those were such kind words that she wrote for Fantasia. To finish up the artist category, we have Leslie Odom Jr, latoya, ruby Frazier she's a photographer and James McBride, the novelist.
Speaker 1:
The next category for Time's 100 Most Influential People is icons, and look here, taraji P Henson is on the list. This was so refreshing to Raji. Although she did an amazing job in the color purple, she was not recognized on the award shows. Mary J Blige wrote about to Raji and she says what I love most about her is that she is unapologetically herself. Taraji is a real woman. She doesn't bite her tongue and she's not afraid to stand up for what she believes in. She's always true and authentic and she's just as fearless on screen, which is why she's one of my favorite actors, watching her commit 1 million percent to whatever character she's portraying is amazing. Her courage really sets her apart in Hollywood and in real life. Burna Boy is on the list as an icon. Take a listen to some of his firsts. Burna Boy's deeply original flow and his signature groove have conquered the world with an impressive series of firsts. In 2023, he became the first African artist to sell out a US stadium and in 2024, he became the first Afrobeats artist to sing at the Grammys.
Speaker 1:
Continuing on with icons to sing at the Grammys. Continuing on with icons we have Thelma Golden, and Michelle Obama wrote a note about Thelma. She says as one of the most influential people in art, thelma knows the power of flipping an assumption on its head. Her exhibits at the Studio Museum in Harlem and previously the Whitney, not only stop you in your tracks, they also show you so much more about the depth of the Black experience. Her steadfast dedication has given voice to a new generation of artists and curators who are ready to stir our souls too, folks who may have otherwise gone unnoticed had it not been for Thelma's eye for talent and potential. She's bringing others along for the ride.
Speaker 1:
Next up we have Frank Mugisha, and I probably slaughtered his name. My apologies. Hillary Rodham Clinton wrote about him. She said in the face of death threats and intimidation, of lost jobs and lost friends, and as one of the few out gay people in Uganda, Frank Mugisha has never backed down from fighting for the LGBTIQ plus rights you all in Uganda. I mean he should be committed because just this year, uganda's constitutional court upheld the abusive and radical provisions of the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Act. Larissa Kujwe, who is a researcher at Human Rights Watch, said the ruling will have a detrimental impact on all Ugandans, including LGBT people, families and communities, who continue to suffer the stigma that the Anti-Homosexuality Act enshrined into law. Can y'all believe that in 2024, this is going on Unbelievable.
Speaker 1:
Another icon doing amazing work is Julianne Lusange. Julia helps out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country that's torn apart by decades of conflict. Women and girls live with the daily reality of violence, extreme hardship and the denial of fundamental rights. She co-founded SOFE P-A-D-I, which works to prevent sexual and gender-based violence, to support and empower survivors and to help them rebuild their lives, and empower survivors and to help them rebuild their lives. She's also on the board of the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, which each year, helps thousands of people regain their dignity. It's so sad this type of stuff is going on in the world.
Speaker 1:
Let's move on to innovators. The first innovator we'll talk about is Sia Khalisi. He is a rugby player in South Africa. He's the captain of the national rugby team. You can't really separate South Africa's history from rugby. Nelson Mandela once offered rugby as an olive branch between opposing sides of the country, so there's an immense amount of pride. When it comes to the sport, it's like the connective tissue of the nation. Through political strife and energy crisis and the effects of COVID-19, sia has made rugby into something more than just a competition. His multiple victories, the country's victories, have meant so much.
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Another innovator on the list is Rachel Hardiman. Believe it or not, the US remains one of the most dangerous developed countries on earth to give birth in. American moms are dying at unacceptably high rates in a crisis that is too often happening in the shadows. Our moms shouldn't have to beg for their lives, and Rachel Hardiman isn't afraid to say so. Her anti-racism research has been at the forefront of our fight to end our nation's maternal health crisis, uplifting evidence-based solutions to address the root causes of racism in our healthcare system. This is a topic we will dive deeper in here on she Shed Chronicles. It's mind-blowing the stories that I have read regarding racism when it comes to childbirth. The last innovator on the list is Maya Rudolph. You all know her from her time on Saturday Night Live. Amy Poehler writes about Maya. She says that Maya gives to us over and over and over again. We should count ourselves lucky that we get to live in a world where the hilarious California mama named Maya Rudolph is here to soothe our pain.
Speaker 1:
Our last category for Times 100 Most Influential People is the Kennedy Odeid is being recognized. Kennedy is living proof that individuals can lead themselves and their communities out of poverty. His background a refugee growing up with no formal schooling in Kibera, one of the largest slums in Kenya gives him a deep understanding of his community and others like it. His work has earned him the trust and admiration of all those around him. Kennedy finds ingenious solutions Schools for the most vulnerable girls, training programs for men to combat domestic violence, safe houses for survivors, community libraries, employment programs, innovative clean water kiosks, a community cooperative bank. There's no challenge he won't take on. He's a busy guy. Another pioneer being recognized is Sharon Levine. She is from St James Parish, louisiana. Sharon founded the advocacy group Rise, st James in 2018 to draw attention to the environmental racism that has turned the community she loves into Cancer Alley. Wow, rather than leave her home, when corporations made it a valley of death, sharon insisted this land would yet live. She has taught us that we must listen to the people of Cancer Alley and she continues fighting for them every day. She is definitely an advocate for the people.
Speaker 1:
We have a couple of more categories. We will move into Titans, and Patrick Mahomes is a Titan. A-rod wrote about Patrick Mahomes. About Patrick Mahomes. A-rod says that Patrick has always had the heart of a champion. He remembers Pat as a young kid coming to practice with his dad to tee up baseballs for him and teammates. He distinctly remembers giving him the worst advice ever, which is don't play football. The money's in baseball. He's happy to be wrong and glad that Patrick didn't listen. Patrick has transcended the game of football to become one of the most respected athletes of all time, both on and off the field. His insatiable desire to win is outdone only by his passion to give back and make the world around him better.
Speaker 1:
Asia Wilson is our next influential person that we will talk about, also a titan. Tom Brady wrote about Asia. He says that Asia possesses a unique combination of natural skill and unwavering determination. Determination this rare blend has propelled her to achieve remarkable feats in her career, with two WNBA championships with the Las Vegas Aces, two WNBA MVP awards, a WNBA finals MVP award, a WNBA Finals MVP award, an NCAA title at the University of South Carolina and even an Olympic gold medal. Asia is undeniably a generational talent. And that brings me to Kaitlyn Clark. No, she's not on the list, but I think I heard that she's getting a shoe deal. Asia doesn't have a shoe deal. Why does Caitlyn have a shoe deal? I'm not taking away from her talent, but did y'all hear those accolades that Asia has? I'm just saying I'm just saying I'll move on. I know I need to stick to this list. I'm going to get back to the list.
Speaker 1:
Our next Titan on the list is the Sunda Brown Ducket. I actually know the Sunda. Let me reel it back. No, I don't know the Sunda. I've met the Sunda before and we had conversation. Met the Sunda before and we had conversation. She was in Dallas for a luncheon and I got to meet her, the Sunda Brown Duckett. She's a longtime friend of Jamie Diamond. Jamie wrote this note about the Sunda and he says she's a passionate advocate for financial inclusion, determined to put more undeserved Americans on the path to financial health and resilience. She helped launch Advancing Black Pathways, jpmorgan Chase's initiative to help more Black Americans achieve sustained economic success, and at TIAA she is striving to help the 40% of all Americans at risk of running out of their retirement savings, while also tackling the underlying issues and inequities fueling the nation's retirement insecurity. Kelly Robinson is next on the list. Sarah Ellis writes about Kelly. As president of the Human Rights Campaign, kelly Robinson has a vision for a more equal and just world that, paired with her talent for building coalitions across all intersections, has taken the LGBTQ plus movement and the larger social justice movement by storm when it's most needed. In no short order, she has ignited innovative campaigns that uplift the most marginalized in our community, including queer, people of color and transgender people.
Speaker 1:
Our last category is leaders. William Ruto is the leader that we will talk about. He is the president of Kenya. Justin Worland writes about him. He says that Ruto has emerged as a key voice of Africa's climate ambitions, hosting a summit in Nairobi last September that drew leaders from around the globe. The event concluded with a unanimous agreement from African countries in attendance to rapidly expand renewable energy over the next decade, aided by $23 billion in pledges to catalyze the continent's climate goals. That's it. That was our partial list of times 100 most influential people of 2024. I think it was about a quarter of Black people on the list. That is a great thing.
Speaker 1:
Let's move into the new TV show that is on the OWN Network called Never Ever Mets. Never Ever Met. It comes on Fridays, 8 Eastern. It's hosted by Taronda Jones. That is the lady who played Portia on Empire. The title gives you a hint as to what this show is about Never Ever Mets.
Speaker 1:
It is bringing seven couples on the show and these couples have never met in person. It's not a catfish situation, because they have been on FaceTime or Zoom, so they've seen each other. They just have never met in person. All of the couples, with the exception of two, live in different states. The couples that live the same state. They actually live near each other, but they just have never met. For example, it is this couple Her name is Sandia, she's 27, and the guy that she's dating is Chris. They both live in Miami, florida, but have never met. That's odd. Now, granted, these two have only been dating for three months, so I guess that's reasonable. I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 1:
The other couple. They are in the Los Angeles area. They are Greg and Millie. Greg is 31. Millie is 32. But here's the kicker They've been dating three years. How is that? How is it? Y'all have never met and both live in LA. Well, I guess it isn't any worse than Shay and Josh. Shay and Josh have been dating 12 years. Shay's 30. Josh is 32. He lives in Memphis. She lives in Copper City, florida. It gets better. Josh, he has two kids. He has a 12-year-old son and a 3-year-old daughter. So how have they been dating for 12 years? I don't know. I don't get it. Hey, I'm just reporting on the show, that's it.
Speaker 1:
Another couple on the show is Dominique and Alexis. Dominique is 31. Alexis is 30. He's from Chicago. She's from Brooklyn. Two more couples Aaron is 51. He's from LA and he's dating Diamond, who's 44, aaron proposed to someone else. What? I'm not getting it.
Speaker 1:
Okay, moving on, the last couple is Brandon, who is 35. He has small children and Sienna, all children and Sienna, and that's his excuse for not being able to connect with Sienna, who is 43 and she lives in New York. They've only been dating 10 months. They are all in one house. The girls are sleeping in one room, the guys are sleeping in one room. They have like seven twin beds lined up in each room, which is very strange because they are in a mansion and somewhere in the California hills. The way that the couples met is each guy planned a date for their special person. They met on their first date and then they all came back to the house and things got started.
Speaker 1:
Something that stood out for me is the fact that Chris and Sandia they are not going to last. Chris is a playboy. He was already talking about how he and Sandia are not exclusive. That's not his girlfriend, and what he likes to do with girls is give them three or four great days and then ghost them for like two weeks to make them yearn him even more.
Speaker 1:
Red flag, dominique and Alexis. That is not going to work either. As a matter of fact, I'm not sure if I am going to continue to watch this show if Dominique stays on the show, because they're both jealous. Dominique got upset because he felt as though Alexis was flirting with one of the other guys in the house, which she is. That's Alexis's personality. She's a flirt and she did it on two different occasions and that ran him hot. So much so they got into this going back and forth, where at one moment they were being playful and then the next moment it turned serious and Dominique was pushing on her. I don't know if I'll continue to watch the show or not. Y'all let me know what you think about the show if you had a chance to watch it.
Speaker 1:
Now let's get to our part of the podcast that I have been anxious to get to. We are getting ready to announce our first book club selection for our virtual book club. Are y'all ready? Yeah, I know, I know, I know you're ready, but let me just first get into how we are going to work our virtual book club. You all will have a week to get your books. So we are announcing today by next Friday you should have your books in hand. We are going to read a certain number of pages each week and then we will come back and discuss the book. It would be great if you all would engage with our other virtual book club members on social media. That is going to be our connection.
Speaker 1:
For our first virtual book club read, we will have a guest that will be joining me in the she shed. I have asked her to come in and join me each week to discuss the book. I put out a request on social media for suggestions for our initial book for our virtual book club. I received several selections. Now it is time for us to find out which book it's going to be. What I have done is placed each book into a wheel. It's like a wheel of fortune. I am going to spin the wheel that is going to be our book club selection. I am going to record myself spinning this wheel and I'm going to post that on social media for y'all to see. All right, here is the wheel with our book club selections on it. Now I am going to spin the wheel so that we can find out what our book club selection is going to be.
Speaker 1:
Oh my gosh, it is Sisters with a Side of Greens. The author is Michelle Stimson and she is local to the Dallas area. It is 368 pages. You all need to run out to Amazon today or not run out to Amazon, but you know, get to amazoncom to purchase the book. To purchase the book, because on next Friday we will announce which pages we'll be reading for discussion the following Friday. I am super excited. Thank y'all for joining me to find out what our book club selection was. Until next time hope, love, faith and peace. Wait before you go. I want to say thanks for hanging out with me today. You didn't have to, but you did. Oh, by the way, are you about to go on social media, fabo? Can you please do me an itsy bitsy favor? Share this episode on your social media. If not, please do so the next time you log on and, while you're there, be sure to follow she Shed Chronicles pod on all platforms. Until next time, may you continue to have hope, love, faith and peace.