Truth in Reality

02/14/2017

“It’s important for me to show images to my children that reflect their beauty so they can grow up in a world where they look in the mirror ― first through their own families, as well as the news, the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the White House and the Grammys ― and see themselves.”

"I feel it’s vital that we learn from the past and recognize our tendencies to repeat our mistakes."

01/13/2017

"Hidden Figures pays tribute to its subjects by doing the opposite of what many biopics have done in the past—it looks closely at the remarkable person in the context of a community...the film celebrates individual mettle, but also the way its characters consistently try to lift others up. They’re phenomenal at what they do, but they’re also generous with their time, their energy, and their patience in a way that feels humane, not saintly."

Movies about brilliant scientific or mathematical minds often focus on their subject’s ego—not so with a new film about three African American women who worked at NASA in the ’60s.

12/21/2016

Do you think more portrayals of "the invisible middle" (a phrase coined by Melissa Harris Perry to describe more nuanced images of black women that are rarely seen) will change the impact of consistently narrow media stereotypes of women of color?

12/14/2016

Issa Rae making it plain. One of our WCW everyday 🔥

11/25/2016

"Why is it that black women always have to play someone with a perceived negative identity—slave, housekeeper, a victim of domestic abuse, villain—in order for them to be recognized as great actresses?"

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/11/why-hollywoods-portrayal-of-black-women-is-problematic/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=theroot

2016 started off great with lots of visible leading black women in television. In series including Empire, How to Get Away With Murder and Queen Sugar, black women continue to show that they can hold their own when it comes to leading a television series. But knowing that, I have to say something th...

10/20/2016

We hope to see you TONIGHT, Thursday, 10/20 in Brooklyn for our domestic violence and sexual assault awareness survivor speak event. With the constant erasure of the voices of those whose lives have been impacted by gender-based violence, we hope you will come out and help us break the silence in a safe space to share about your experiences. Your voice matters!

10/11/2016

Truth In Reality, in conjunction with the Ferguson Response Network, has partnered to host our signature event on October 20, 2016 in ten cities across the U.S. The name is based on the fact that in the US a woman is sexually assaulted every 90 seconds and battered every 9 seconds.

This national initiative to honor the experiences of survivors of domestic and sexual violence is being held in light of the recent controversy around director, writer and actor Nate Parker's film Birth of a Nation and his sexual assault trial. With very little exception, the entire narrative has been focused on the accused perpetrators. Truth In Reality CEO Sil Lai Abrams and Ferguson Response Network founder Leslie MacFadyen decided to partner on this initiative in an effort to challenge society's tendency to erase or silence victims and survivors by re-centering them and providing a platform for their voices and experiences to be heard.

The current list of cities hosting events (in formation) are:

New York, NY
Houston, TX
Chicago, IL
Charlotte, NC
Baltimore, MD
Grand Rapids, MI
Washington, DC
Minneapolis, MN
TBA
TBA
Exact locations and times will be announced shortly.

If you would like to host your own event, visit http://www.truthinreality.org/truth_in_reality_s_signature_99seconds_event_to_be_held_nationally_on_oct_20_2016.

10/01/2016

"Her commitment to using her voice to draw attention to social issues hasn’t wavered since her childhood days. Now, as a woman who works both onstage and on camera, Brooks said there were clear differences when it came to effecting social change."

The Orange is the New Black star, who has won acclaim for her role onstage in The Color Purple, talks about diversity, stereotypes and Broadway

09/28/2016

"Our adorably awkward black girl—whom so many of us identified with as our own alter ego—is still present and entertainingly awkward, but now she’s also perpetuating some of the most clichéd and damaging stereotypes about single black women in America."

Have you seen Insecure? Do you agree or disagree with the writer of this article?

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2016/09/is-insecure-preying-on-black-womens-insecurities/

09/16/2016

Zadie Smith on the need for more diverse narratives of Blackness.

09/16/2016

http://hollywoodsblackrenaissance.com/reel-sisters-carolyn-a-butts/

Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival and Lecture Series is the first Brooklyn-based festival devoted to women of color filmmakers.