The Colors of Love TV Series

So we are proud to announce that coming this Winter our Off-Broadway hit play The Colors of Love will debut as a TV Series on a select number of NYC cable channels, including MNN (Manhattan Neighborhood Network).

In addition to its network debut The Colors of Love will be streamed online for viewing both domestically and abroad. Since the show’s initial run the writers of the Movement have been working day and night to create a series that is actually the prequel to the play. Unlike most shows this series will go back in time and chronicle each couple both prior to their meeting and of course the beginning of their relationships.

We are teaming up with several other people and production companies that will really take the piece to the next level. What's even more unique is the final episode of the series will lead into the play and The Colors of love will return Off-Broadway to captivate its audience’s attention in a multi-media fashion come spring 2012.

The Movement continues to move!

Social Responsibility or…… “Not My Responsibility”

Is it considered acceptable to condone a behavior as long as you are not the one that is the actual perpetrator??
So many instances come to mind when I think about this.                        

What immediately comes to mind is the fact that when you walk down any urban, predominantly Hispanic or Black neighborhood there’s bound to be three things: A liquor store, a Laundromat, and a Chinese food take-out restaurant. Are we oblivious to these things simply because we tend to walk pass them as if they commonplace and expected? Or are we contributors to them?

Originally the thought came to mind when I was I thinking about society as a whole and where we stand in comparison. When do we hold ourselves accountable for the way our neighborhoods are run, or do we find it easier to just throw our hands up carelessly?

The change must start with us, right?

The notion that most residents in many of these neighborhoods are not permanent could be a contributing factor; or more importantly that in low income, lower middle class parts of the city the residents have no control over what is put in their neighborhoods to begin with. For many of us it’s just that we don’t care enough to put the wheels in motion to start the change. We actually take advantage of the late night craving for greasy Chinese food, or a bottle of something from the corner liquor store. Now don’t get me wrong, I am all for supporting local businesses that will flourish and make our communities better. In this case maybe the Laundromat is the least harmful, but one on every other block may be a bit much.

So the question then becomes, are we guilty for donating to such businesses that do not portray any positivity? Should we be grateful to have these  so called “conveniences” or do we just walk pass and keep our mouths shut awaiting the day to “move on up”?

Yet Another… ”Oh You Speak Spanish???” Moment

Frustrated yet again in a Black and Hispanic neighborhood (that is now sprinkled with a few white people, but that’s another story). There I stand in the corner bodega; I asked the man stocking shelves for something in Spanish and he directs me to the front counter.

When I ask the man behind the counter he hands me the can and I pay and leave.

About 5 minutes later I return, again dealing with the attitude of the “I hate my life, or hate my job, or I simply hate any non-Spanish speaking person” man behind the counter. I explain to him that I needed to change the expired can he sold me.  With no apology at all he hands me another can, expired, I hand it back and then another….expired.... I hand it back. And then he hands me my money. Nothing said.

I then see the older, nicer man that helped me earlier and he offers to get me a new can. We speak in Spanish and he apologizes and goes to the back.

When he returns with my new can the man behind the counter rings me up and smiles, saying “I didn’t know you were Latina”.

Preferenes?

So a Black girlfriend (I say her race for a reason) of mine and I were hanging out along with the President of the Movement and we were having “girl talk”.

The topic of her dating came up.

I asked her as beautiful as she is, why is she having a hard time and what does she think it is?

She stated that "most Black men don't want women that look like me, but rather Spanish girls like you all with the long pretty hair, straighter nose, etc".

Now we were a bit uncomfortable because we don't see ourselves that way. Nor do we think this to be true. As a Latina, as well as a Black woman, it is bothersome to know that Black women feel this way; is this the consensus or just one woman’s experience? Are Black men doing this on purpose and if so why? Is it a preference or once again subconscious selection due to social acceptance to things that are closer to White?

This would then be creating a larger division between Black and Latina women if Latinas are being seen as the first selection or, as some have called, "the new white girl".

As we strive for unity, not only racial/ethnic between Black and Latino but as women, how can we move forward if this is the stigma within the community?

Yet Another… ”Oh You Speak Spanish???” Moment

Frustrated yet again in a Black and Hispanic neighborhood (that is now sprinkled with a few white people, but that’s another story). There I stand in the corner bodega; I asked the man stocking shelves for something in Spanish and he directs me to the front counter.

When I ask the man behind the counter he hands me the can and I pay and leave.

About 5 minutes later I return, again dealing with the attitude of the “I hate my life, or hate my job, or I simply hate any non-Spanish speaking person” man behind the counter. I explain to him that I needed to change the expired can he sold me.  With no apology at all he hands me another can, expired, I hand it back and then another….expired.... I hand it back. And then he hands me my money. Nothing said.

I then see the older, nicer man that helped me earlier and he offers to get me a new can. We speak in Spanish and he apologizes and goes to the back.

When he returns with my new can the man behind the counter rings me up and smiles, saying “I didn’t know you were Latina”.