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Kam Williams
Interviews
Rashida Jones
Younger Daughter
of Jazz Icon
Quincy Jones
Born in L.A. on
February 25,
1976, Rashida
Leah Jones is
the younger
daughter of jazz
icon/composer/arranger/record
producer
Quincy
Jones and
actress Peggy
Lipton of Mod
Squad fame. Rashida was
raised in Bel
Air and attended
the prestigious
Buckley School
where she was a
member of the
National Honor
Society and
voted the “Girl
Most Likely to
Succeed.” The
academic
overachiever
also received
religious
training at a
Hebrew school en
route to Harvard
University, and
she continues to
practice Judaism
today.
Not one to
shrink away from
controversy, the
brainy beauty
came to the
defense of her
father as a
teenager when he
was criticized
by Tupac Shakur
in a 1994
interview with
Source
Magazine.
During a rant
against
interracial
relationships,
the late gangsta’
rapper
specifically
indicted Quincy
Jones for
marrying a white
woman, adding
that his
children were
“all mixed and
[expletive] up
because they
were biracial.”
Although some
might question
the wisdom of
even getting
into a pissing
fight with a
gun-toting,
convicted felon
who advocated
selling crack to
kids, Rashida
nonetheless
summoned up the
gumption to
confront Tupac,
publicly taking
him to task for
his scathing
remarks. His
curious
response,
however, was to
woo her big
sister, Kidada,
and by 1996 the
couple was
engaged and
planning their
wedding when
’Pac was blown
away in an
ambush which
remains unsolved
to this day.
The next year,
Rashida
graduated from
Harvard before
kick-starting
her acting
career in the TV
miniseries
The Last Don.
Since then,
she’s been a
staple on the
tube, appearing
on such shows as
Freaks and
Geeks,
Boston Public,
Chappelle’s
Show, and
most recently,
The Office.
And her new
sitcom, Parks
and Recreation,
where she will
co-star opposite
SNL alum Amy
Poehler, is set
to premiere on
NBC on April
9th.
Although twice
named to
People Magazine’s
50 Most
Beautiful People
in the World
list (in 2002
and 2007),
Rashida remains
grounded, having
been
romantically
linked not only
to heartthrob
Josh Hartnett,
but also to
relatively
homely-looking
guys like Tobey
Maguire, SNL’s
Seth Meyers,
Mark Ronson, and
John Krasinski,
a fellow cast
member on The
Office,.
Here, she talks
about her new
movie, I Love
You, Man, a
romantic comedy
where she plays
the fiancée of a
nerdy loner
(Paul Rudd)
desperate to
make a friend
(Jason Segel) to
serve as best
man at their
impending
wedding.
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KW:
Hey Rashida,
thanks for the
time.
RJ:
No problem.
KW:
What interested
you in making
I Love You, Man?
RJ:
First of all,
the script was
hilarious, and
it was just
really nice to
find a female
character that
was dynamic,
outspoken,
interesting and
actually an
important part
of the plot.
KW:
How did you feel
about the
picture’s bawdy
brand of humor?
RJ:
I’m not easily
offended. I have
a pretty high
tolerance for
raunchiness or
shock value, so
I’m the wrong
person to use as
a gauge. I just
liked the fact
that the comedy,
for the most
part, is
definitely based
in reality which
naturally lends
itself to making
crazy jokes.
KW:
I’m probably a
little more
prudish than the
average person,
because I will
admit that at
the screening I
attended, the
rest of the
audience was
howling from
beginning to
end, and they
even gave it a
hearty round of
applause at the
end. I loved it,
too, but I was
certainly
shocked here and
there.
RJ:
That’s great!
KW:
How did you like
working with
Paul Rudd and
Jason Segel?
RJ:
They’re both
absolutely just
the most
generous, kind
and hilarious
people I’ve ever
worked with. It
was really a
treat.
KW:
I see that your
new sitcom,
Parks and
Recreation, will
be premiering
soon. Will you
continue to
appear on The
Office?
RJ:
It’s not looking
that way at the
moment, because
I’m playing a
different
character, and
those shows are
scheduled to
come on
back-to-back.
KW:
You’ve got a new
movie and a new
TV show. Which
medium do you
prefer to work
in?
RJ:
It’s nice to be
able to do both
TV and film.
They both have
their advantages
and
disadvantages.
Hopefully, I’ll
be able to
bounce around in
both.
KW:
I was very
impressed by
your performance
and chemistry
with Paul in
this film. So,
if it’s a big
hit, as I
suspect, I’d
guess this is
going to be a
real breakout
role for you.
RJ:
Thank you. I
hope that that’s
the case. If
not, at the very
least, I’m
really proud of
it. I think it
turned out
really well.
KW:
I know that you
also sing. Any
plans to pursue
that further
right now?
RJ:
Music will
always be a part
of my life, but
career-wise,
acting is where
my heart is.
KW:
I heard that you
have a
photographic
memory. Is that
true?
RJ:
No. I don’t know
where that came
from. I think my
dad might have
said that in a
moment of pride,
adding to the
list of things
he’s proud
about.
KW:
Speaking of your
father, is there
any truth to the
rumor that he
was the taxi
driver for the
Fresh Prince
of Bel Air?
RJ:
No, that’s not
true. Who told
you that?
KW:
My son, who
knows every
episode inside
and out. It sure
looks a lot like
your Dad in that
opening
sequence. And
his name comes
up as executive
producer right
after the
cabbie’s seen on
the screen. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4BQxpXYPk8&feature=related]
RJ:
I know.
KW:
Incredible! I
always thought
that I had a
piece of inside
knowledge that
the cab driver
was Quincy
Jones. But you
would know. Do
you think the
actor even looks
like your Dad?
RJ:
Kind of. I can’t
really remember,
but kind of.
KW:
I’ve always told
people that it’s
Quincy Jones,
but I guess I’ve
been wrong all
these years.
RJ:
I don’t know,
maybe I’m wrong.
KW:
Well, it’ll be
interesting
Googling to get
to the bottom of
it now. You’ve
made People
Magazine’s 50
Most Beautiful
People twice,
five years
apart, most
recently in
2007. How does
that feel?
RJ:
It feels really
nice. Maybe I’m
getting better
with age.
KW:
What I find just
as interesting
is you’re making
Harper’s
Bazaar’s Best
Dressed List.
RJ:
Yes, thank you.
KW:
How would you
describe your
sense of style?
RJ:
I like to wear
what make me
feel great,
which can mean
the color, or
that the fit’s
right, or that
it’s just an
interesting
piece of
clothing. I like
to change it
up.
KW:
Do you have
favorite
designers?
RJ:
I do have
designers that I
love to wear,
like Philip Lim
and Marc Jacobs
whose stuff I
know will look
good on my body.
But still, I
always like to
express myself
by changing
things up.
KW:
What was the
idea behind that
series of
hilarious public
service
announcements
you and Natalie
Portman made
together? I saw
them on youtube.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7xT3eiX35w&feature=related]
RJ:
It was right
before the
election, and we
went to the
writers of Funny
or Die because
we basically
wanted to do
something poking
fun at those
political
commercials
which we felt
were way too
serious. So, we
decided to do
something really
stupid.
KW:
How do you feel
about Obama’s
winning?
RJ:
I’m elated! That
was the only
hope we had left
in this country.
It made me feel
really proud to
be an American
for the first
time in a long
time.
KW:
In terms of
Judaism, are you
Orthodox,
Conservative or
Reformed? Do you
keep a kosher
kitchen?
RJ:
No, I do not
keep kosher. I
grew up
reformed. I
never had my bat
mitzvah, but I
still practice
and go to
synagogue on
high holidays.
KW:
Who are you
inviting to your
Seder this year
at Passover?
RJ:
You know, I
don’t have a
Seder. I always
have to
piggyback on
somebody else’s.
I’ll probably go
to my friend’s
parents’ house.
KW:
I’m not Jewish,
but I wrote a
piece about a
Seder I was
invited to that
look like the
United Nations,
since they had
invited a motley
group of people
of every color,
creed and
ethnicity. There
were more
Gentiles there
than Jews.
RJ:
How nice. That’s
real the spirit
of Passover.
KW:
What was the
source of your
beef with Tupac?
RJ:
He did this
interview in
The Source
Magazine in
which he started
ripping on
interracial
relationships,
saying that they
ruined the black
race and stuff
like that. I got
pretty irate and
frustrated, so I
wrote him an
open letter.
KW:
When he was
murdered, did
the police come
to speak to you?
RJ:
No.
KW:
Just kidding.
How did you feel
when your
sister, Kidada,
started dating
him?
RJ:
He apologized a
lot, but we had
to work through
it.
KW:
Is there any
question no one
ever asks you,
that you wish
someone would?
RJ:
That’s a good
question, but
no, I can’t come
up with an
answer to that,
because I’m so
used to being
asked
everything.
[Chuckles]
KW:
The Columbus
Short question:
Are you happy?
RJ:
That’s really
sweet. Yes, I
actually am
happy. Thank you
for asking.
KW:
The Laz Alonso
question: Is
there anything
your fans can do
to help you?
RJ:
Not for me
particularly,
but something
that irks me is
the crazy,
stalker-ish,
aspects of this
voyeuristic
culture. People
are never really
satiated by
looking at
celebrities
whose lives have
nothing to do
with their own.
It’s just
supporting this
really awful
culture where
people are being
harassed and
stalked every
day, every
minute of the
day. I don’t
think that’s
what people
bargained for
when they
decided to
become an actor
or singer. It
can start with
people not
supporting that
tabloid
culture.
KW:
That’s probably
why the WASP
philosophy is
that your name
should only in
the paper twice,
when you’re
born, and when
you die.
RJ:
There you go. I
like that.
That’s a very
good philosophy,
but I think I’m
way beyond that
now. [Laughs]
KW:
The Tasha Smith
question: Are
you ever afraid?
RJ:
Yeah,
definitely. I’m
afraid of
roaches.
KW:
Then don’t move
to Manhattan.
RJ:
I know. I’ve
lived in New
York, so I
already went
through that.
KW:
The “Realtor to
the Stars” Jimmy
Bayan question:
Where in L.A. do
you live?
RJ:
I live in L.A.,
but I’d rather
not say where.
KW:
I understand.
Teri Emerson
would like to
know, when was
the last time
you had a good
belly laugh?
RJ:
During the
entire filming
of I Love
You, Man. It
was incredible
how much I got
to laugh on the
set.
KW:
The bookworm
Troy Johnson
question: What
was the last
book you read?
RJ:
I am reading
this book called
Human Smoke
by Nicholson
Baker. It’s an
account of the
events leading
up to World War
II from
different
perspectives of
people around
the world.
KW:
What was it like
growing up with
such talented
and well-known
parents?
RJ:
I don’t know
what it’s like
to not grow up
with that,
because I don’t
have the other
experience. But
my parents made
a concerted and
effective effort
to really keep
us normal. I had
a wonderfully
loving,
supportive and
sheltered
childhood, so it
never really
occurred to me
that that was an
issue until I
went to
college.
KW:
How did you like
Harvard?
RJ:
It was great. I
had a wonderful
experience
there.
KW:
Have you ever
traced your
ancestry?
RJ:
Yeah, my dad had
our family tree
done a long time
ago. My
great-great
grandmother on
one side was a
slave. We were
able to trace
our ancestry
back through her
owner’s lover
and her owner
who gave her his
last name. On
the slave owner
side, there was
a long lineage
which included
American
presidents and
Winston
Churchill. I
don’t know a lot
about my mom’s
side, but she’s
Irish- Jewish on
one side, and
Russian-Polish-Jewish
on the other
side.
KW:
The music maven
Heather
Covington
question: What
music are you
listening to
nowadays?
RJ:
I’m a big
Kanye
West fan. And I
really like this
singer/songwriter
named Bon Iver.
KW:
What was the
biggest obstacle
you’ve had to
overcome in
life?
RJ:
I would say
dealing with
sickness and
death.
KW:
I’m sorry to
hear that.
Thanks again for
the interview,
Rashida, and
best of luck
with both the
new movie and
new TV show.
RJ:
Thank you.
To
see a trailer
for I Love You,
Man, visit:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRLf04gH7mc
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Blacks in Hispanic Literature: Critical Essays
Edited by
Miriam DeCosta-Willis
Blacks in Hispanic Literature is a
collection of fourteen essays by scholars and
creative writers from Africa and the Americas.
Called one of two significant critical works on
Afro-Hispanic literature to appear in the late
1970s, it includes the pioneering studies of
Carter G. Woodson and
Valaurez B. Spratlin, published in the 1930s, as
well as the essays of scholars whose interpretations
were shaped by the Black aesthetic. The early
essays, primarily of the Black-as-subject in Spanish
medieval and Golden Age literature, provide an
historical context for understanding 20th-century
creative works by African-descended, Hispanophone
writers, such as Cuban
Nicolás Guillén and Ecuadorean poet, novelist,
and scholar
Adalberto Ortiz, whose essay analyzes the
significance of Negritude in Latin America. This
collaborative text set the tone for later
conferences in which writers and scholars worked
together to promote, disseminate, and critique the
literature of Spanish-speaking people of African
descent. . . .
Cited by a
literary critic in 2004 as "the seminal study in the
field of Afro-Hispanic Literature . . . on which
most scholars in the field 'cut their teeth'."
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Sister Citizen: Shame, Stereotypes, and Black Women in
America
By Melissa V.
Harris-Perry
According to the
author, this society has historically exerted
considerable pressure on black females to fit into one
of a handful of stereotypes, primarily, the Mammy, the
Matriarch or the Jezebel. The selfless
Mammy’s behavior is marked by a slavish devotion to
white folks’ domestic concerns, often at the expense of
those of her own family’s needs. By contrast, the
relatively-hedonistic Jezebel is a sexually-insatiable
temptress. And the Matriarch is generally thought of as
an emasculating figure who denigrates black men, ala the
characters Sapphire and Aunt Esther on the television
shows Amos and Andy and Sanford and Son, respectively.
Professor Perry
points out how the propagation of these harmful myths
have served the mainstream culture well. For instance,
the Mammy suggests that it is almost second nature for
black females to feel a maternal instinct towards
Caucasian babies.
As for the source
of the Jezebel, black women had no control over their
own bodies during slavery given that they were being
auctioned off and bred to maximize profits. Nonetheless,
it was in the interest of plantation owners to propagate
the lie that sisters were sluts inclined to mate
indiscriminately.
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posted 15 March 2009
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