Bunny Aint No Kind of Rider

sandieshaw: (from Uncut’s ‘Ultimate Music Guide: The Smiths’)

Fri, 31 May 2013 19:07:00 -0400

(from Uncut’s ‘Ultimate Music Guide: The Smiths’)

intothebeautifulnew: Abomah, the African Giantess Abomah was an...

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:30:52 -0400

Abomah was about 6'10" tall, but wasn't over 7', as she was billed to be -- note her plumed hat (and very likely heels, too).

Back in the early 1900's, even celebrity couldn't prevent a black woman from having to work as a nanny. This photo bothered me far more than any of the ones from her show days.

splendiforous

intothebeautifulnew:

Abomah, the African Giantess

Abomah was an extremely tall woman who became something of an international celebrity, playing across Europe & Australia &, of course, the United States in the early 1900’s. A good number of photos still exist of her towering elegantly over this person & that. (use the arrows on either side of the photo to view additional pictures)

Several sources say her real name was Ella Grigsby; a newspaper advertisement also calls her “Ella Abomah.” Because Grigsby was the name of her parents’ slaveholder, she was reluctant to use it and sometimes went by the name of Ella Williams. In nearly all sources, she’s known simply as “Abomah.” Originally from Columbia, South Carolina, she didn’t particularly want to leave home to go on the road, but while working as a cook for a well-off family she was finally convinced in 1898 — probably through the waving of cash. Showpeople who were genuine freaks, as they called themselves, could make an excellent wage, especially if they were congenial and could combine their oddity with talents. Basically, if they could “rise above” their affliction and show this to an audience, they could play at the best circuses.

It’s said that Abomah and her manager took her act to Europe because audiences were more receptive there to a very tall, strong, beautiful black woman. As usual, the show publicity claimed she was African; an article in a British newspaper put out this bit of appealing fantasy:

She was formerly one of the attendants and body guard of the barbaric King of Dahomey, whose Amazonian warriors have been famous alike for their prowess and cruelty. Trained for her bloodthirsty calling from early childhood, she was inured to hardship and pain. Her stature increasing out of proportion to her years, she became a particular favorite of the monarch, and led his army. This extraordinary woman stands over eight feet in height, and can easily support the weight of a man on her outstretched hand.

It was also claimed that Abomah was one of the Dahomey Amazons.

While most newspapers praised her poise, intelligence, and “dusky beauty,” they also praised her singing voice. Apparently, though, the show had to have its period touch of racism: Abomah sang “The Honolulu Belle,” and was encored, and at the close of the entertaiment gave “All coons look alike to me” with equal success. (This was actually a very popular song in the time period, sung at both black and blackface minstrel shows.)

After touring in Europe & South America for more than fifteen years, she returned to the US and worked for Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey and at Coney Island. Her career continued into the 1920’s, and then apparently she disappears from history. I don’t know anything about her personal life — whether she was married, had lovers of either gender — I haven’t seen a reference to this. I like to hope she made it back to South Carolina.

thefader: DANNY BROWN TOUR PSA with baaur. starts TODAY!

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 14:56:23 -0400

thefader:

DANNY BROWN TOUR PSA

with baaur. starts TODAY!

Photo

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:01:32 -0400

REALEST WORDS EVER SPOKEN, AND I FEEL THAT

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:52:56 -0400

REALEST WORDS EVER SPOKEN, AND I FEEL THAT

the-clayprofessor: free-parking: The Louvre is evacuated...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:51:59 -0400

the-clayprofessor:

free-parking:

The Louvre is evacuated before German invasion in 1939, its works returning in 1945

Wow. This job took more than two men and a truck. I have a feeling that conservators today would be pretty appalled by the harness they strapped around Venus.

wow!

RAY J NEEDS TO FUCKING CHILL thefader: MY SONG ABOUT HAVING SEX...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:44:12 -0400

RAY J NEEDS TO FUCKING CHILL

thefader:

MY SONG ABOUT HAVING SEX WITH KIM KARDASHIAN IS NOT ABOUT HAVING SEX WITH KIM KARDASHIAN, SAYS RAY J

nevver: On this day in 1950, J. D. Salinger’s “For Esme - With...

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 13:38:11 -0400

nevver:

On this day in 1950, J. D. Salinger’s “For Esme - With Love and Squalor” was published in The New Yorker.

YOUVE GOT THE JUICE NOW TOOTHPICK

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:49:36 -0400

YOUVE GOT THE JUICE NOW TOOTHPICK

crutie: Nokia Music, ‘That B.E.A.T’ New Orleans Bounce...

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:20:43 -0400

crutie:

Nokia Music, ‘That B.E.A.T’

New Orleans Bounce documentary

i found it here great website.

AWESOME mini doc if you havent seen this yet. def worth checking out!

FREEDIAFREEDIAFREEDIA

therobiness: mcfreshcreates: Hoochie Mama -...

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:24:06 -0400

therobiness:

mcfreshcreates:

Hoochie Mama - McFreshCreates

“FOO! WHEA CRAIG AT?!”

Photo

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:15:18 -0400

sign can be found on broadway and myrtle

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:29:51 -0400

sign can be found on broadway and myrtle

Photo

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:19:26 -0400

beautiful black

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:17:45 -0400

beautiful black

aceboogz1: @xdannyxbrownx rocking out on stage #afropunk...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 18:15:22 -0400

aceboogz1:

@xdannyxbrownx rocking out on stage #afropunk #redbull

<3 shit was live AF

afrokinkilove: DIY Shealoe Butter - 1/2 cup shea butter 1/4...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 15:41:46 -0400

afrokinkilove:

DIY Shealoe Butter - 1/2 cup shea butter 1/4 cup aloe vera gel or aloe vera juice 2 tablespoons of coconut oil or evoo (coconut oil is recommended to make the mixture less greasy) 3-5 drops of tea tree oil (Acts as a preservative to prevent mold) 1 teaspoon of honey (preservative) A few drops of Vitamin E oil (optional, use as preservative)

gotta remember this one

shootboostsmoke: Show’s actually sold out, getting in because...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:45:22 -0400

shootboostsmoke:

Show’s actually sold out, getting in because of reasons. So happy right now, needed to something ridiculous before spring break was over.

They’re also opening up 50 more spots for RSVPers if you email RSVP@afropunk.com

hiphoptoday: Danny Brown - Kush coma (Prod by Skywlkr) (New)

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:44:29 -0400

hiphoptoday:

Danny Brown - Kush coma (Prod by Skywlkr) (New)

perv-robot: before he was known as Trinidad James blue streak...

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 15:39:13 -0400

perv-robot:

before he was known as Trinidad James

blue streak was my shit