theHotness

October 19, 2014

Category: theHigh-5

theHigh5: Viola Davis, Wangechi Mutu & Liz Peña

Whoa so much going on this last week, it was hard to pick just five things! Here’s what you may have missed:

1. Viola Davis as Annalise and her last 3 minutes on How To Get Away With Murder: The more Annalise removed, the more we felt her pain. Yet, in that moment no one could deny her strength in the midst of such raw vulnerability. Yes, ladies, I think we all felt this scene in our guts and the tears were in our eyes because as women, particularly as women of color and especially as Black women, we have to wear this mask every day. This mask of toughness, of unbreakability, of grace under fire or else risk getting pigeonholded into a stereotype of anger (Angy Black Woman), insanity (Crazy Latina), sassiness, weakness, etc. Removing that mask, looking her man (“The Man”) eye-to-eye and asking him those 9 words was EVERYTHING, but mostly it was strength and resilience in the face of authenticity. And y’all do know taking off that wig & makeup at the height of primetime viewing was also Viola Davis and Shonda Rhime’s not so subtle middle finger to media’s #lessclassicallybeautiful B.S.!

2. Wangechi Mutu In London! On Facebook and Instagram we couldn’t stop checking for pics from Wangechi’s solo show opening at Victoria Miro Gallery. The pics of people eating chocolate mermaids and of her trying on clothes at Duro Olowu’s fab boutique beforehand were awesome! But the pics of Wangechi just chillin’ with icon Grace Jones and cheesin’ with fellow Kenyan, Lupita Nyong’o, thrilled us to no end and have us so jelly that we weren’t across the pond enjoying all of the Mutu UK magic ourselves.

3.) The Walking Dead in Real Life: Our beloved Michonne, star zombie-killer Danai Gurira kicks ass in dope shoot for Byrdie.com.

4.) Nigeria’s Kidnapped Girls May Be Released: News of a ceasefire agreement with Nigerian’s military and Boko Haram could lead to freedom for over 200 school girls who have been in hostage for 188 days now. #BringBackOurGirls

5.) The death of Cuban actress and director Elizabeth Pena: We discovered you in La Bamba, loved you in Lone Star and keep meaning to see you in Jacob’s Ladder– #RIP Elizabeth Peña! Tough, sexy, and passionate, Elizabeth became only the fourth Latina member of the Director’s Guild of America when she joined in 2002. So sad to hear she has transitioned.

Tags: "how to get away with murder", "The Walking Dead", #BringBackOurGirls, #HTGAWM, Boko Haram, byrdie.com, Danai Gurira, Elizabeth Pena, Grace Jones, La Bamba, Lupita Nyong'o, michonne, viola davis, Wangechi Mutu