WETHEURBAN [CREATIVE]

ROSARIO DAWSON WANTS LATINOS TO “CRASH” THE REPUBLICAN AND...

Tue, 31 May 2016 11:47:37 -0400

ROSARIO DAWSON WANTS LATINOS TO “CRASH” THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC CONVENTIONS

Afro-latina actress Rosario Dawson is the face of the new initiative “Crash The Parties” that aims to get more Latino millennials involved in the election, particularly those who want to “shake the very foundation of this country.”

“Want to make a difference? Light a fire under the election conversation? Or maybe shake the very foundations of this country,” Dawson says in the initiatives campaign video. “Time to put the power back where it belongs—in the hands of the people.” In addition to Dawson, other celebs like America Ferrera and Rosie Perez are also taking part.

It definitely would be great to see more Latino people making themselves visible out on the field representing their respective communities. Stream the campaigns PSA video below. (Image via Astro Martins)

INSTAGRAM HELPING TO SHINE LIGHT ON DIVERSITY IN FASHION WITH...

Tue, 31 May 2016 11:47:34 -0400

INSTAGRAM HELPING TO SHINE LIGHT ON DIVERSITY IN FASHION WITH #RUNWAYFORALL

Mega-social media platform, Instagram, is celebrating its vastly diverse community, especially in terms of fashion, with its new initiative #RunwayForAll. Making the community a lot easier to navigate, the campaign was created to highlight some of the biggest champions for diversity in fashion, as well as encourage users to share their own unique stories on the app.

Starting with Mama Cax, a New York-based blogger and freelance model whose leg was amputated at 18, Instagram will share one photo a day of different influencers in the community over the next five days, along with those influencers’ stories.

Head to Instagram to see more and be sure to keep checking the hashtag #RunwayForAll for all the inspiration and realness to come. (Image via Instagram)

YOUTUBER KAT LAZO PERFECTLY BREAKS DOWN LATINA PRIVILEGE If you...

Tue, 31 May 2016 11:47:32 -0400

YOUTUBER KAT LAZO PERFECTLY BREAKS DOWN LATINA PRIVILEGE

If you have doubts about whether it is in-fact possible to be both Latina and privileged, Well-known YouTuber Kat Lazo would like to have a word with you.

In a video posted last Thursday, the YouTube personality asked Latino and Latina viewers to consider how they might benefit from certain privileges due to their ethnicity.

“As a Latina, I know that we’re marginalized by the media, by public policies and by society,” Lazo says at the beginning of the video. “But we’re not all marginalized in the same way or even to the same degree. It’s all dependent on a multitude of factors.”

Lazo then breaks down how things like immigration status, class, gender and race can have adverse or beneficial effects on a person’s quality of life. Stream the full video below and get ready to take notes! (Image via YouTube)

AMERICA FERRERA-PRODUCED WEB SERIES “GENTE-FIED” INTENDS TO...

Tue, 31 May 2016 11:47:25 -0400

AMERICA FERRERA-PRODUCED WEB SERIES “GENTE-FIED” INTENDS TO ELEVATE LATIN VOICES

An all latino cast along with a majority latino talent behind the camera? Sounds very promising! GENTE-FIED (Gente/“People” + Gentrification = Gente-fication) is an America Ferrara-produced web series that follows seven characters as they deal with the effects of change in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Boyle Heights.

Some are young Latinos with bi-cultural tastes, hustling to create spaces in their community that celebrate their Chicano identities.Others are old-school paisanos and business owners trying to make sense of the changes that are threatening their livelihoods–rent hikes, a housing crisis and a slow stream of outsiders whose fascination with their barrio (neighborhood) has created a fertile ground for gentrification.

The series describes itself as “an explosion of fusion tacos, LGBTQ raza, micheladas, defiant murals, generational clashes and more,” and features little to no stereotypical mention of guns, cartels or drugs.

GENTE-FIED does not yet have a release date, but in the meantime, peep the first teaser trailer below and let us know your thoughts below!

NUBIAN SKIN: THE LINGERIE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR NOW AVAILABLE IN...

Fri, 27 May 2016 15:28:31 -0400

NUBIAN SKIN: THE LINGERIE FOR WOMEN OF COLOR NOW AVAILABLE IN THE U.S.

Nubian Skin, a lingerie line that caters to women of color, electrified social media with its eye-catching ad campaign, which featured images of beautiful Black women in chocolate-colored bras and panties. It’s been over a year since the beloved photoshoot and the England-born line is finally more readily available for U.S. customers.

Ladies, Nubian Skin is now stocked at Nordstorm online along with a full range being offered on their e-commerce website. Thank us later!

(Image via Nubian Skin)

BEYONCÉ PROTEGES CHLOE X HALLE RELEASE VISUAL FOR “DROP”A true...

Fri, 27 May 2016 15:28:23 -0400

BEYONCÉ PROTEGES CHLOE X HALLE RELEASE VISUAL FOR “DROP”

A true testament to the magical things that can happen when social media meets astounding, young talent! One of Beyonce’s first signees to her new record label Parkwood Entertainment is young sister-duo Chloe x Halle, whose YouTube cover of “Pretty Hurts” captured the attention of Queen B herself and skyrocketed them into viral superstardom.

Now, the sisters have released the visual to their first single “Drop,” an instant bop with incredibly intelligent production, haunting melodies, and even some swagged out rap lines. Stream the video after the jump and let us know your thoughts. Pretty safe to assume we’ll be seeing a lot more from these two in the future.

(Images via NY Mag)

DRUMMER TURNS NYC SUBWAY INTO AN IMPROMPTU BLOCK PARTY WITH...

Fri, 27 May 2016 15:28:12 -0400

DRUMMER TURNS NYC SUBWAY INTO AN IMPROMPTU BLOCK PARTY WITH RIHANNA & DRAKE’S “WORK”

Anyone who rides public transportation knows daily commuting can be pretty mundane to say the least. This notion was completely flipped on its head in a new video posted to Facebook by Matt Vorzimer (aka The eCUSSIONIST), showing the magical powers music can have in uniting people and getting the party started in a space most people dread being in. And no cops were called!

(Images via YouTube)

THE MOST RACIST AD OF 2016 JUST AIRED ON CHINESE TVReally,...

Fri, 27 May 2016 15:27:57 -0400

THE MOST RACIST AD OF 2016 JUST AIRED ON CHINESE TV

Really, world? When will it end…? A Chinese detergent brand is gaining attention for all the wrong reasons in a new commercial uploaded to Youtube last Wednesday that has already aired on Chinese television and cinemas.

In the video, a paint-splattered black man confidently approaches a Chinese woman, only to have detergent splashed on him before being shoved into a washing machine for thorough washing. Once washing is done, out pops a clean Chinese man.

The real gag? The company’s response to the backlash was simply “the media is too sensitive.” It goes without saying as to why this insanely insensitive and putrid ad is disgusting, and also highlights an even bigger issue: the muffling suppression of China’s own ethnic minorities. It’s time we continue to squash barbaric racist media and keep this conversation alive. You can see the video for yourself below. (Images via YouTube)

ARTIST CHALLENGES HYPER-MASCULINE STEREOTYPES OF BLACK MEN IN...

Fri, 27 May 2016 15:27:54 -0400

ARTIST CHALLENGES HYPER-MASCULINE STEREOTYPES OF BLACK MEN IN NEW PHOTO SERIES

Rising artist Lynette Luna’s latest photo series “Black Men With Flowers” is her exploration into the systematic, stereotypical ways of messed up thinking towards masculinity, gender, and race a lot of us have grown up being exposed to.

From the artist:

In society, black men have often had to become hyper masculine to deal with the intense pressures projected onto them by society. When we look into the general opinion of black men, we think of them as very hard, calloused, and tough. We do not allow them to be projected in ways of weakness, or softness.

I photographed a black male with flowers to show a side that is often ignored by society. That these men can be soft, sensitive, and delicate. I blended a black man with the delicacy of flowers and the femininity of bright colors.

(Images via Lynette Luna)