LZ Sunday Paper Newsletter: The "WWGW Say About Washington, D.C.?" Edition

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Readers,

Big news! I made myself a Facebook Page! Please click on the link and "Like" it! I don't know what that does but hopefully it gets more people to see and share all of our important news and information of the week.

Also, I hope you are continuing to celebrate Black History Month, perhaps by seeing "Black Panther," which seems to be making its own Hollywood Black History. There are so many articles about the amazing breakthroughs for African Americans in Hollywood. Lots of coverage of the historic nature of the production including its even larger than normal-for-a-Franchise movie budget and unprecedented grass roots marketing. And other accolades, not the least of which being that the movie is actually good-- which is absolutely fantastic.

There's been several kinds of positive encroachment on the Hollywood Establishment, at a minimum. Stress on "incremental." For recognition and opportunity given to the expertise--in front of and behind the camera-- of black, queer, and female talent. I'm glad Marvel waved their Marvellous wand over the property and made a SuperHero Movie by and for African Americans, but also for as broad an audience as they can garner. It is fantastic progress that I didn't see the same kind of questioning, vitriolic, toxic Twittersphere and other signs of resistance to the deviation from the norm of superhero character as I did for, let's say, "Wonderwoman." And we certainly have *heard about it* for months--big, loud marketing--which is more than we can say for the ignoring, the narrow marketing, the critical stony silence, the no-press-coverage-til-it-'surprisingly'-made-money for the female- and African American-skewing "Girls Trip," the first film produced, written, and starring (female) African-Americans to break the +$100-million mark. And the momentum feels real, after "Moonlight," "Get Out," "Selma," "Precious," and more.

I guess I am just observing that this isn't a breakthrough moment that came out of nowhere. Like most "moments," it's actually built not only on the more recent breakthroughs of the African American film community--including women--but on decades worth of path-forging. I am just thinking of the countless others who have chipped away at the seemingly impenetrable rock of resistance, until the avalanche finally happens.

We're approximately 100 years into the history of commercial film-making for the public. 20 years in, the journey had an unlikely breakthrough with Hattie McDaniel-- in 1939-- winning an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for 'Gone With The Wind.' A problematic role by modern standards, it remains iconic and meaningful. It's also simply amazing that the Academy nominated her for that role and awarded her the Oscar over GWTW co-star Olivia Havilland and three other well- known, white, actresses.

I still find it offensive and shocking that McDaniel, who you can barely see peeking up at the very bottom right edge of the frame of this photograph, was required to sit at a separate, small round table, segregated from the long banquet tables populated by every(white)one else including her GWTW cast, director, and crew who went on to sweep 8 major wins, including hers, out of 13 nominations. Her white agent, William Meiklejohn, sat with her. The fact that she was in the room to begin with was a "favor," or strings were pulled, or something, since The Coconut Grove at The Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles was still a restricted place which didn't allow blacks in at all.

The opportunities for women of color in the ensuing ~60 years have been few and far between. The recognition was even fewer and further between. For instance, it took 50 years for Whoopi Goldberg to win the Oscar in the same category as McDaniel. But it's amazing to peruse the steady reminders represented by the achievements in every category for the next eight decades. They are undeniable stepping stones. I'm especially fascinated by the early achievers. They came and went, doing their part. Or they came and stayed. Nagging. Persistent. Unstoppable. Both roles are vital to achieve progress.

I hope that "Black Panther" is the continuation of the momentum we've seen in very recent years, driven by every great film, script, performer, director, producer and also by not-so-gentle-reminders like #OscarsSoWhite when the momentum is lost.

Please keep sending me stuff you think is interesting here. Anything from anywhere that helps me present the most interesting takes on women in business, politics, digital, tech, media, the arts, and pop culture, is welcome.

For more places to read stuff during the week, or share and comment any time follow me on Insta and Twitter @LZSundayPaper. And yep at the new LZSundayPaper Facebook.

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Forward

Enjoy the long weekend,

LZ

THE PIC(K) OF THE WEEK:

The Mystery Of Amy Sherald's Portrait Of Michelle Obama via The New Yorker

A Talk With The Woman Who Designed Michelle Obama's Portrait Dress via Marketplace

IN HONOR OF PRESIDENT'S DAY:

Donald Trump, A Playboy Model, and A System For Concealing Infidelity via The New Yorker

MEDIA, DIGITAL & TECH:

Vice Media Sued By Former Employee Alleging Systemic Pay Discrimination Against Women via The LA Times

What It's Like To Raise Venture Capital Funding As a Black Woman In 2018 via Refinery29

How Google Maps Leads Women Seeking Abortions Astray via Gizmodo

Photo Algorthithms I.D. White Men Fine, Black Women Not So Much via Wired

CAMPUS CLIMATE:

What Women Want via The Harbus

ARTS, SPORTS & POP CULTURE:

'Black Panther' Cinematographer Rachel Morrison Shoots and Scores via Vanity Fair

Chloe Kim Fulfills Her Full-Fledged Destiny, From 'Baby Girl' To Full-Fledged Dragon via ESPN

A Girl Scout Sold 300 Boxes Of Cookies Near A California Marijuana Shop via The New York Times

Lena Dunham On Her Decision To Have A Hysterectomy at 31 via Vogue

ICYMI:

Noone Is Silencing Katie Roiphe: #MeToo Has Started A Robust, Complicated Conversation, Whether Or Not She's Listening via The Cut

…AND WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE ABOUT:

Woman Speaks For Record Breaking 8 Hours Without Being Interrupted By A Man via The Onion

The LZ Sunday Paper™ launched at the dawn of 2014. We expose and recirculate interesting content that is about, and frequently by, women in business, with a dose of ultra-relevant culture. We think that culture comes high and low, not much in between. Our audience is vast and not gender-driven. Every week we expect to deliver at least one good laugh. Send suggestions, clips, or names of people you think might enjoy this to LZSundayPaper@gmail.com.

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