Black in Period Films

I gave the limited series two scores. One for history lovers and one for more casual period film fans. I participated in the watch party that was going on. Viewers watched and tweeted using the hashtag #selfmadenetflix. It was an interesting experience and I really enjoyed watching along with people. It reminded me of how it was during the Roots 2016 premier. Tons of people watching the same thing and having a great time watching period films which is something I love. I had to talk about the series, because I felt a lot of things while watching it and I’ll start with the good. The Good A major part of the period film experience is the costumes and set decorations. These are absolutely amazing. It isn’t very often that we get to see black characters in Edwardian era clothing. The series started in St. Louis in 1908 and ended around 1918. So that is 10 years that are represented in costume. We can see the change in characters through their change in clothing. This is especially i...

The upcoming Netflix series titled, Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker   is based on the book, On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C. J. Walker by Walker’s great-great-granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles.  On Her Own Ground is the first full-scale, definitive biography of Madam C. J. Walker—the legendary African American entrepreneur and philanthropist—by her great-great-granddaughter, A'Lelia Bundles. The daughter of slaves, Madam C. J. Walker was orphaned at seven, married at fourteen and widowed at twenty. She spent the better part of the next two decades laboring as a washerwoman for $1.50 a week. Then—with the discovery of a revolutionary hair care formula for black women—everything changed. By her death in 1919, Walker managed to overcome astonishing odds: building a storied beauty empire from the ground up, amassing wealth unprecedented among black women and devoting her life to philanthropy and social activism. Along the way, she formed ...

One of the great things about Blair Underwood (besides his good looks and talent) is how engaging he is. Because of how active he is on his social media platforms, period film fans have been gifted with a behind the scenes look at the  Madam C.J. Walker mini series. Blair  Underwood is playing Charles Joseph Walker,  Madam C. J. Walker husband.  #OnSet #Netflix Havin' nothin' but fun playing CJ Walker, husband to #MadamCJWalker played by the incomparable #Amazing #AcademyAwardWinner @octaviaspencer pic.twitter.com/AfZUaXOsJb — Blair Underwood (@BlairUnderwood) August 6, 2019 We get a nice shoot of the script and Blair in his costume. His demeanor and poise is perfect for stories taken place in the past.  Becasue of how he holds himself the costume looks natural on him; as if he is from the era. It takes a village...fo real! Just another day @ the office. Lol! #CJWalker husband of #MadamCJWalker @octaviaspencer #Netflix #AmazingCast...