HASHTAG BLACK EXCELLENCE!

Soooo….

Let’s chit chat about #BlackExcellence for a minute. I happened to be watching a few movies the other day when I was braiding my hair, and the thought to just write about a few black actresses that randomly came to mind.
I feel like I would have been a really good actress. (Let me tell it, ha-ha!) I would play the heck out of a drama roll! Like, a deep, heartfelt show or movie. #ThisIsUs comes to mind. I don’t know if I could exactly cry on cue like that though. (Mm…)
So! As you know. I love me some books. I LOVE to read! I’d choose a book over a tv any day. But just like a good ole book, it’s nothing like a good ole movie. A good ole black movie at that. Something that you can relate to in a sense, ya know what I mean?

Tarija P. Henson– I love her. I mean, what is not to love right?! She is such a beautiful spirit. AND HER TAIL CAN CRY IN THE DROP OF A DIME TOO! I be like, ‘How she do that?’ She is so talented. This is her calling Chile. She’s been one of my favorites since ‘Baby Boy, with Tyrese Gibson. And I enjoyed ‘No Good Deeds’ with Idris Elder. I don’t give a dog on if he was mean to her. I love him! (HA-HA!) Tarija made a speech once about how she moved to California when she was 26 years old, with a baby on her hip. People told her she ‘wouldn’t’ and she ‘couldn’t.’ And now look…
She stood strong to what she believes in and what she wanted. She didn’t listen to the naysayers and she pushed through. Heck! She pushed all the way through. Taraji P. Henson is 47 years old. And she said, ‘I am just getting started.’ I feel like Taraji would be like a cool Cousin or Auntie, right?!

Give it up for the beautiful Taraji P. Henson ya’ll!!

(A round of applause.) Ha-ha!!

Queen Latifah- I mean, what more do we need to say. It’s her name. Queen. First thing that always comes to mind, Set It Off, duh!! Right? I would love love LOVE to meet Queen Latifah! #Wow. What would I say to her? She just seems so real, and genuine.  She’s all around amazing! Hip-Hop, everything! And the things she spoke about in her raps. Speaking on black woman. I love this here woman, I ain’t lying! Queen is like the cool family/friend that you meet at the cookout, that you feel like you’ve known forever. Queen once said, ‘Look at people for an example, but then make sure to do things your way. Surround yourself with positive people.’

Hmm, let’s see who else…

Angela Bassett– Chile! Chile! Chile! ‘Waiting to Exhale’ ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ ‘What’s Love Got to Do With It.’ Man!! That lady done played in some good movies! I know I’m missing quite a few. She looks so good too. Black does not crack!! Ms. Bassett once said, ‘Don’t settle for average. Bring your best to the moment. Then, whether it fails or succeeds, at least you know you gave all you had. We need to live the best that’s in us.’ I agree.

Loretta Devine– I love me some Loretta ya’ll. I do! She done been up in some stuff too! She reminds me of home. Ha-ha. I know that sounds crazy but, it’s true. She reminds me of someone from down South, the country. She’s the fun neighbor who always pops up at ya house without calling first. (Tee-Hee.) I just absolutely love her. Her voice is so distinctive too. I could hear her on the TV, and know right then exactly who she is. I love it. I feel like every role she has played, is so her. She just fits every part perfectly. So naturally.

Kimberly Elise-I like Kimberly Elise. I’ve enjoyed a few movies she has been in. I most definitely watched the show, ‘Hit the Floor’ when it was on. It was my jam. Whatever happened to it anyways? Is it coming back on? Kimberly Elise said, ‘I can be dramatic. I can be funny. I can be sexy. I can be sad. I can be glad.
I really like that.

Nia Long- We just gone go right ahead and take a moment of silence! I love her. (Yelling. Like, picture me saying that at the top of my lungs, okay!) I wanted to be her when I saw her on ‘Friday!’ She is absolutely beautiful. I just love everything about her! Umm, of course I love me some ‘Love Jones. Ha-ha! I would, wouldn’t I? But I really do feel like my favorites are, ‘The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday.’ I cry every time I watch ‘The Best Man Holiday’ It’s so real, and full of love and family

Octavia SpencerHidden Figures, The Help, Fruitvale Station. (I will never watch that movie again. Mychal B. Jordan. I wasn’t right for days after seeing that movie.

Regina KingRay Charles, and  227. I love 227!

Gabourey SidibePrecious, and Empire. (I really love her! She is so bright and lively.)

Gabrielle Union- Gabe! That’s my girl. She done played up in some stuff. #Love&Basketball is the first! For one, that is one of my favorite movies. Like, top five favorite movie! She was that chick in high school that was always trying to be funny towards Monica. Ha-ha! #Childish

Remember, ‘Bring It On’?! Another back in the day classic that I want to add to my DVD collection. ‘The Birth of a Nation’Sleepless’ ‘DADDYS LITTLE GIRLS’ Yes! One of my favorites!! That was a really good movie. And of course, the lovely Idris Elder. ‘Good Deeds’ Mmm…what else? Oh yeah, ‘Cadillac Records.’ Oh! How could I forget. Think Like A Man #1&2. I was so eager to watch that dog on movie. Ha-ha! I was probably trying to think like Rob at the time. And last, but not least, ‘Being Mary Jane.’ I loved season one and two! I think three. What season is out now? But I really can’t get into it now. I really want to read her book though. ‘We’re Going To Need More Wine.’ Hold up, one more. ‘Two Can Play That Game’. (I’m just gone laugh, and leave that right there. #BackInTheDayTings.)

NOW, HOW DID ONE OF MY TOP FIVE FAVORITES SLIP MY MIND!!

Sanaa Lathan- BOMB!!! Now, I really really love her too. #Love&Basketball belongs to her. I know this sounds so corny, but that movie is about me. Maybe without the basketball though. But the years sure come into play. She’s so beautiful. With lots of hair, and with no hair at all. Have you seen her hair cut! Man!! She is so dope! As you already know, ‘The Best Man.’ and ‘The Best Man Holiday’ is one of my favorites. Lawd! Everyone was in that movie. That is what made it so good!! I liked, ‘The Perfect Guy’ with Morris Chestnut and Michael Ealy. And ‘BROWN SUGA.’ (Yaass!) With Taye Diggs. What else…Oh yeah, ‘The Wood.’ Ah man! The Wood is definitely one of my faves. ‘The Family that Preys Together.’ Chile! She was a piece of work in that movie right?! ‘Blade’ with Wesley Snipes. (Now that’s back in the day for real ain’t it!)

Regina Hall- ‘GIRLS TRIP’ that’s first to come to mind right!!?? But guess what? I ain’t even seen it yet. I know, I know. Ugh. I’m going to watch it with my Husbae. * All Smiles* ‘SCARY MOVIE.’ I could still watch ‘Scary Movie’ til’ this day and still trip. (I’m not too big on the other ones though.) So dumb. ‘About Last Night’Think Like A Man 1&2, ‘The Best Man’ and ‘The Best Man Holiday’ (Two of my favs.) YA’LL REEMBER PAID IN FULL? Mekhi Phifer, Woody Harris, Cam’ron.

Lynn Whitfield- ‘GREENLEAF’ Now, that is my show. I was show happy when it came on Netflix! I kept missing it when it was on TV because I was watching so many things I feel like at one time! So yeah, Demand and Netflix looked out! ‘A Thin Line Between Love and Hate’ Wasn’t she the biggest BI in ‘Madea’s Family Reunion?’ MAN! She got on my nerves in that movie. She was the worst!

Alright ya’ll. I have to head on out now. Naomi is ready to eat. (Ha-ha) That lady ate five tacos yesterday. 5 TACOS!! I just got Thai delivered to the house. So, yeah. She’s pretty hype about that.

But before I go, I must share all the love I have for Viola Davis!!! Viola Davis hands down is my FAVORITE!!! FAVORITE!!!! FAV-VOR-RITE!!! Of course, ‘How To Get Away With Murder’ comes to mind first. That show is off the chain. I always walk away looking like a deer in headlights! I be, what they say? #Shooketh. I LITERALLY JUST BURST OUT LAUGING!! She is so fierce, direct, vibrant, strong, brave, and REAL. Let me tell you something, when that lady took them lashes off, her makeup, and marvelously snatched that wig off in HTGAWM!! (I think that was on Season One.) I remember yelling out loud at the TV. She told the truth and nothing but the truth in that scene! You know that’s a black woman’s life when she gets home. She is everything! I will watch anything that she is in. You hear me?! I ain’t lying! I really enjoyed her in ‘Fences’ with Denzel Washington. Of course, ‘The Help’, I even enjoyed the ‘Suicide Squad.’ She’s just bomb! I mean, what else is there to say!!

‘You can’t be hesitant about who you are.’ -Viola Dyers

She’s so beautiful. Ugh, I love her!

I know! I know! I know!

Trust me, I know!

It’s sooo many amazing people I left out.

And I mean no harm. Charge it to my head and not my heart. I know later on I will think of some other actresses and say to myself, “Now, April! How could you forget about her!?? Watch! I betcha its gonna happen. I legit came up with this blog while I was laying on the couch filling up my basket on Amazon with a lot of #BlackExcellence movies.

How do you feel about laying on your couch all day for ‘Sunday Jumpstart’ (After church.) just watching movies all dog on day?! I just wish I could get a little bit of rain in the desert right about now. That would just make everything even cozier. Ugh. It never rains here. Oh, well. Instead, it’s supposed to be super windy today. I reckon I’ll have a sandy meet and greet once I go outside.

So, yeah. Let’s enjoy us some #BlackExcellence today, with a big ole bucket of popcorn.
Extra butter!!

My heart goes out to all the people who lost loved ones to the tragic happenings in the Florida shooting. I could only imagine, Jesus Christ. God Bless everyone. #Florida.

Two things I will never be  ashamed of!!!! LOVING JESUS!! AND BEING BLACK!!!

I’m Just Saying….