ft. ‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’ & Citrus Sunrise Smoothie

February 26, 2021 by Sydney Grant

Welcome to March, everyone! The longest year of our lives is officially almost over, so I hope you all celebrate with some Postmates and Netflix this weekend — you deserve it! In other news, Daft Punk said “One More Time” after 28 years with this farewell video, and the world is demanding justice for Lady Gaga after her two dogs were stolen on Wednesday. What a week.

However you’re planning on spending your weekend, enjoy these quarantivities!

In Honor of Black History Month

People to Know

Jane Bolin

For the final week of Black History Month, I’m highlighting Jane Bolin, who was not only the first Black woman to attend Yale Law School in 1931, but also went on to become the first Black female judge in the US in 1939. Throughout her career, she fought against discrimination in the workplace, working with employers to hire people based on their skills, rather than their race. She was also a fierce advocate for children’s rights and ended the practice of assigning probation officers based on race or religion.

Black-Owned Places to Know

Comfort LA

DTLA & Inglewood

I’d argue we could all use some comfort right now. Comfort LA takes a healthy(ish) approach to good old-fashioned soul food by using clean ingredients to cook up some of the tastiest wings around.

Visit their website or Chownow to place a pick-up order or delivery!

Royal Jelly Harlem

Online

These reusable face masks come in all different patterns, colors, and sizes that are sure to make you stand out wherever you may go. Plus, the seersucker design is Meghan Markle-approved!

Visit their website to order your own!

Bee Love

4327 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Oh honey, honey! This company makes everything from natural lip balms to honey sugar scrub and employs people who have been previously incarcerated to do so. Now that’s sweet!

Visit their website to get yours!

Quarant-streams

‘The United States vs. Billie Holiday’

Watch this if you want to know where Kanye got his sample for “Blood On The Leaves” from:

The United States vs. Billie Holiday landed on Hulu today, just in time to close out Black History Month. Lee Daniels’ biographical drama stars Andra Day as the iconic Holiday, recounting her life, career, and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics’ relentless obsession with putting her behind bars. Using the “war on drugs” of the time as a cover for his obsession, chief Harry Anslinger’s real motive for persecuting the singer stemmed from her decision to sing her haunting ballad “Strange Fruit,” which was about lynching Blacks in the South. Intimidated by her outspokenness, a sting operation was launched against Holiday, led by Black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher.

Holiday’s story is just one example of how law enforcement of the time used the anti-drug movement to quiet Black voices. Day shines as Holiday throughout and nails the singer’s signature raspy voice, so make sure to move this doc to the front of your weekend watchlist.

Stream it via Hulu.

‘Behind Her Eyes’

Watch this if you’re still not over how underwhelming The Undoing’s ending was:

Another week, another limited series to dominate our minds and Twitter feeds. Behind Her Eyes, the six-part Neflix thriller that dropped last week and has been trending ever since, follows Louise, a single mom who shares a magical night out with a sexy, Scottish stranger named David after meeting him at a bar. Unfortunately for her, David has more red flags than your ex’s dating profile, and we’re not just talking shirtless pics of him holding up fish. Rather, as our poor heroine soon learns, not only is David her new boss, but he is also married to a beautiful and mysterious woman named Adele.

Shortly after discovering this, Louise and Adele happen to run into each other on the street (because, obviously) and before we know it, the two are gym buddies/BFFs. Apparently, Louise is as much a sucker for making bad decisions as she is for Scottish accents. As she becomes increasingly entangled in the two’s lives (hitting the treadmill with Adele by day, sleeping with David by night), the dark secrets of the couple’s past begin to come to light, culminating in a jaw-dropping twist come the final episode. Because in this web of secrets, lies, and heavier pours of pinot grigio than that of your college roommate’s, apparently anything is possible!

Stream it via Netflix.

Quarant-reads

‘Between the World and Me’ by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Read this if you want to learn more about the Black experience in America:

What does it mean to be Black in America? And how can we overcome its dark history, riddled with racism and slavery? These are just two of the questions Coates seeks to answer in Between the World and Me, a stunning must-read that’s part memoir, part reimagined history that tackles some of the biggest questions about race and its role in America’s history. Written as an open letter from a father to his teenage son, this nonfiction will be one of the most important books you read, if you haven’t done so already.

Purchase now via Amazon.