The Bottom of Heaven

Are You Planning to See Precious?

Claudia — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:40:11 +0000

Will you be seeing the film, Precious? I’m mulling over the reasons for my own reluctance to embrace Lee Daniels’ new movie and its enthusiastic supporters, so I ask this question without judgment as a way to initiate dialogue. Buoyed by the moral validation of Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry, Precious will surely have a strong impact [...]

On Behalf of Aspirations

Claudia — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 02:51:34 +0000

The day after President Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009, I attended my first meditation retreat. Instead of the relaxing getaway that I anticipated, I came away from the day of deep reflection and concentration exhausted, but strangely exhilarated. Most importantly, I learned something about myself that (I hope) will allow [...]

Dear Boy in the 2nd Grade Lunch Line

Frieda — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 02:10:08 +0000

Last month I began taking a community theatre class here in New Orleans. The course is a 14-week community based theatre project open to college students and community residents. The course consists of workshops on Black Arts Movement history in the South, performing arts, thoughtful readings and group discussions. The class is high energy and fun with [...]

Just A Toy Store: Bambara’s “The Lesson”

Claudia — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:29:45 +0000

The most important moment in Toni Cade Bambara’s short story “The Lesson” comes when Sylvia and her best friend, Sugar, approach the threshold of F.A.O. Schwarz toy store. Instead of going inside, they pause. They hesitate and “hang back.” For me it is this small, wordless gesture from the young black girls, who had once [...]

Finding Fifteen Minutes

Claudia — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:16:07 +0000

Yesterday I took a long hard look at my priorities. I’ve become so frustrated, so exhausted with my lousy time-management skills that I’ve decided to get creative with a strategy that I call Finding Fifteen Minutes. Simply put, I have two pretty reasonable goals that I’d like to reach by December and this is how [...]

TBoH Nominated for Best Cultural Review Blog!

Claudia — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:27:38 +0000

I’m very proud to report that our blog has been shortlisted for a Book Blogger Appreciation Award in the “Best Cultural Review” category. We sincerely hope that you will cast your vote for us, but whether or not we win the top prize, it is an exciting and humbling experience to be recognized by the book [...]

Lost & Found: Pretty Wings Edition

Claudia — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 13:31:45 +0000

So how was your summer? I finished a few research projects, put my toes in the Atlantic Ocean, and learned the Cupid Shuffle at the family reunion. My family and I delighted in a backyard garden full of tomatoes. But of all the special moments this summer, I don’t think I’ll ever forget the afternoon [...]

First Blogoversary!

Claudia — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 23:26:08 +0000

My sister and I started The Bottom of Heaven a year ago as a place to ask questions about the innovative, the unexpected, and the neglected aspects of black American life and culture. But we are most grateful to you, our readers and commenters, for joining the conversation and helping us to grow as bloggers [...]

August 29, 2005

Frieda — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 14:47:09 +0000

They seemed to be staring at the dark, but their eyes were watching God. – Zora Neale Hurston Posted in miscellaneous

TBoH Rant: Newsweek’s Review of Hurricane Katrina Comic

Claudia — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 17:56:37 +0000

There is something sadly disingenuous about Adam B. Kushner’s recent Newsweek review of the graphic novel, A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge by Josh Neufeld. The article offers tough criticism of the comic, which may be warranted (although here’s a more thoughtful piece that offers a different assessment) but then goes on to give the [...]