The Scroll Down Monthly: May '25
We're (FINALLY) on Instagram, our last Cinema Club for a cute minute, and May's Member Highlight reveal... Read for the latest in the Black Are.na-verse.
A Month of Transition & Sacrifice
Welcome to the May issue of The Scroll Down—our monthly update on what’s happening in the Blacks of Are.na community.
April’s showers may have softened the soil, but May is when we bloom. We step into this month with mud still on our heels and petals pressing forward, knowing that growth requires both rain and release. As always, we honor the transitions—personal, political, and planetary—that bring us closer to collective becoming.
It’s no coincidence that May is feeling full. This month is bursting with celebrations, remembrances, and milestones that stretch across the diaspora—and beyond. We honor Ethiopia’s Patriots’ Victory Day (May 5), Haitian Flag Day (May 18), Liberation Day in Mozambique, and Commemoration Day in Madagascar, each a powerful marker of resistance, dignity, and Black autonomy on a global scale.
We’re also feeling the collective hum of May Day (May 1)—an international day for workers’ rights and revolutionary solidarity. And of course, we couldn’t forget May the 4th (Star Wars Day), a holy day for our nerdiest members who see resistance in rebellion, and storytelling as a kind of speculative liberation.
And yes, this is also the month we pause to celebrate our mothers. Whether you’re honoring the person who raised you, nurturing your own kin, healing a maternal wound, or simply acknowledging the labor of care—it all counts. Happy Mother’s Day to all who mother and all who were mothered.
Even the Met Gala showed up this month with a charged (and controversial) theme spotlighting Black Dandism under the umbrella of The Garden of Time. From the historical weight of dandyism’s response to colonial violence, to the irony of a colonial institution using it as dress code—there’s much to unpack. Some felt seen, some felt exploited, and many felt both.
Head to the comments to let us know where you land. Is this reclamation or revision? Performance or recognition? Or something in between?
Lastly, big love to our graduates. Whether you’re walking across a stage or simply closing a chapter—this season marks a well-earned bloom. We see your labor and celebrate your wins.
May tends to come in heavy with pride, power, and new beginnings—and we’re leaning into all of it.
Let’s dig in. 🌱
🤗 Looking Back: What We Loved in April
Film & TV
Blacks of Are.na Cinema Club: “Borom Sarret” (1963) by Ousmane Sembène
Last month, we revisited the seminal short film Borom Sarret (1963), directed by Ousmane Sembène—the grandfather of African cinema. With just over 20 minutes of runtime, the film gave us everything: post-independence melancholy, poetic realism, and a silent meditation on class, labor, and state violence that still resonates today.
Huge shoutout to our co-host, Max Hemphill (
), who somehow managed to beam in live from Aruba’s customs (yes, you read that right) to help guide the conversation. We were cracking up, but also deeply grateful for the time, thought, and care he brought to the room—even while clearly living his best jet-set life.This was just one gem from Max’s larger curation, which also included “Get Out”, “Moonlight”, and “Black Girl”. They didn’t make the final vote, but don’t get too comfortable—we just might be reaching back into the archives this month. 👀✨
If you missed the screening, “Borom Sarret” (1963) is still streaming online. We highly recommend watching it and reflecting on how a story with so few words can say so much.
Community
Instagram: We’re Officially on Instagram !! (and actually posting)
Follow us for real-time community updates and events.
Cheers to nearly 150 Followers! 🥂
B.O.A. Member Highlight: Jazsalyn
On a quiet Thursday morning, two nerdy Black women gabbed across electromagnetic waves—unwinding a conversation that was rich, reflective, sometimes playful, and often profound. Topics? Everything from the Gullah Geechee Corridor and rave floor revelations to speculative soundscapes and Octavia Butler blunt rotations.
Meet Jazsalyn—artist, researcher, curator, and one of the sharpest minds I’ve come across in the Are.na universe. This March, she joined us as co-host of Blacks of Are.na’s Cinema Club, where her film selections and insights helped cultivate a space that was both expansive and deeply intentional. In many ways, she’s helped shape the tone for the kind of future-forward, expansive community we’re building here.
🗓️ What’s Ahead: Mark Your Calendars !
Upcoming Events
B.O.A. Cinema Club - May, co-hosted by… No one !(?)
A little bittersweet to announce that May will be our last Cinema Club for some time. This is NOT nearly the end, consider it a bit of a pause on our screenings. Similar to February when AFROCONNECTION→ got all of our attention and overshadowed Cinema Club a bit, an exciting and eventful June filled with jaw-dropping surprises will be doing the same.
Needless to say… This month’s screening is a little different. Rather than introducing new Black-made films, we’re reaching back and digging deep into our collection of cinematic heavy hitters.
For the first time ever, we’re choosing our next film from our archive of unwatched favorites—films that have been waiting for the right moment to shine. And that moment? It’s now.
Vote in Discord by reacting to the titles you want to see on screen. Go off with the emojis. The screening will be virtual and at a new time; on Friday, May 30th at 8 PM EST, so mark your calendars and make your voice heard!
Not a member of the server yet? DM us for an invite ✉️
Upcoming Member Highlight:
Max Hemphill
This month, B.O.A. President,
links back up with our April Cinema Club co-host—Max Hemphill, (https://www.are.na/max-hemphill/channels)—a sharp-eyed commercial photographer, creative, and Darrel-proclaimed sophisticated psychonaut.The two connected just days before this convo during Max’s recent visit to Chicago, so expect a conversation that’s fresh, full-circle, and full of gems. They'll unpack the inspirations behind Max’s lens on the world, personal evolution, and what it means to explore altered states—visually, mentally, and artistically.
This one’s gonna be a goodie. Don’t miss it.
Share With Us!
Got an event, an accomplishment, movement, or a project you want the community to know about? Email us at blacksofare.na@gmail.com. Let’s amplify each other!
Until next time, keep scrolling, keep thriving,
B.O.A Bot
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