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Nikki Lane, Ph.D
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What is Summer School?

Summer School is what happens when a dope ass professor teaches critical social and cultural theory in a bar.

If you’re intellectually curious, get excited by the prospect of deep thinking, and stimulating conversation, then join Dr. Nikki Lane for a series of lectures about Black popular culture and sexual politics in America. Enjoy an evening in the company of other smart folks like yourself as you tackle discussion questions for the night. Enjoy happy hour drink specials at the H St. location of the upscale pizzeria Red Rocks. Enjoy an engaging lecture from a dynamic, funny, and gifted  lecturer.

Bring friends. Bring bae(s). Bring your curiosity to Summer School.

Summer School 2019

August 14

Wakanda Forevever: Reading Blackness in Film

The release of Disney’s Marvel Comics’ film Black Panther was a world-wide event. Black moviegoers dressed up, coordinated dances, and took pictures of themselves doing the “Wakandan salute.” Black people all over the world celebrated the superhero film not only for having nearly entire cast of African and African American actors and actresses, but also in its commitment to telling a story rooted in questions ongoing within the African Diaspora and for having a multitude of representations of kinds of Blackness. Additionally, the film’s director and co-writer, Ryan Coogler, ensured that much of the production itself was led by Black producers and designers. The film and its production highlighted the lack of representation of Black people in the major Hollywood blockbuster film genre and in Hollywood more generally.

In this lecture, we’ll contextualize the film Black Panther by considering its place within the history of representations of Blackness in the film industry in the U.S. I’ll introduce you to critical theories of race and representation, and together consider what we think it means for Disney and Marvel Comics to be in the business of representing Blackness to the world.

Who all gon’ be there?
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“I‘m Black and I’m Proud”: Black Pride and Black Queer Life in DC

May 8

Lecture notes

Important quotes, reading list, and discussion questions

Black LGBT Pride Celebrations (hereinafter referred to as Black Pride) in the United States is different from “general” LGBT Pride Celebrations. Black Pride Celebrations are a special collection of events meant to celebrate and address the specific issues of local Black LGBT people and highlight Black LGBT and allied businesses and creatives. They are organized by a diverse group of Black local stakeholders.

In this lecture, I discuss the history of Black Pride Celebrations, the first of which was held right here in Washington, DC. I also discuss the Black queer communities which gave birth to it. I’ll share bits about my current research project that is actively working to collect and preserve archival material related to Black Pride Celebrations. Got old photos, posters, pamphlets, or other material from Black Pride? Bring them! 

From Stripping to Dog Walking: Cardi B and the Rise of Women Who Rap

June 12

Lecture notes

Important quotes, reading list, and discussion questions

In this lecture, we will discuss the noise over which black women who rap must contend in order to make their voices heard. We will discuss the ways that black women who rap work within and outside the boundaries of what is understood to be “appropriate” for black women within and outside of hip-hop culture to do and say. We’ll focus on the meteoric of Cardi B asking how she has consistently disturbed the boundaries around norms of racialized gender and sexuality.

We’ll discuss how black women who rap have consistently managed to overstep these boundaries using the language of hip-hop, which is typically a domain where men and masculinity reign supreme, to question hip-hop’s patriarchy and heteronormativity and exposing its fault lines. We’ll end by thinking about how black women who rap dare us to listen to what Black women have to say about their experiences of race, gender, and sexuality.

On Being Ratchet and Boojie: Black Class Politics in the 21st Century

July 10

Lecture notes

Important quotes, reading list, and discussion questions

In this lecture, we will discuss the noise over which black women who rap must contend in order to make their voices heard. We will discuss the ways that black women who rap work within and outside the boundaries of what is understood to be “appropriate” for black women within and outside of hip-hop culture to do and say. We’ll focus on the meteoric of Cardi B asking how she has consistently disturbed the boundaries around norms of racialized gender and sexuality.

We’ll discuss how black women who rap have consistently managed to overstep these boundaries using the language of hip-hop, which is typically a domain where men and masculinity reign supreme, to question hip-hop’s patriarchy and heteronormativity and exposing its fault lines. We’ll end by thinking about how black women who rap dare us to listen to what Black women have to say about their experiences of race, gender, and sexuality.

Sponsors

Thank you to  these generous sponsors for contributing to my dream of educating EVERYBODY who wants to learn contemporary critical theory, and apply it to their everyday lives. Y’all the real MVPs.

Gold Sponsors

Our Gold Sponsors couldn’t make it, but wish they could. To show support, they’ve sponsored a free ticket for someone else.

  • Philip Jean-Pierre

Platinum Sponsors

Our Platinum Sponsors have purchased multiple tickets to show their support. They are our heroes.

  • Lydia Kellow-Bennett
  • Cheryle Lane
  • Jess Vooris

Promotional Sponsors

Thank you for helping us spread the word! We appreciate you and want everyone to know how amazing you are.

Instagram

Aight so boom. . Here I am. Gray hair peeking out Aight so boom.
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Here I am. Gray hair peeking out from under this beanie, feeling grown and not just because of the gray hairs or because I know every word to that Anita Baker record behind me, but because I find myself in a moment in my life where I feel limitless. I'm feeling real "who gone stop me, Boo?" and the only answer is "Nobody, except me."
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I started my second semester teaching at Duke last week. I'm teaching two courses: Black Feminist Theory and Queer Theory. So yes, I'm teaching what I do and it's feeling good to be doing the work while teaching it as well.
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The research phase for my next book has begun and it feels so good to be in the thick of it. In the thick of making the theory felt.
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I'm moisturizing. I'm loving. And this year, I am diving deep into Sweetness. Making my life sweet, my tea sweet, and spending my time being sweet to the people I love.
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Last thing, is that this time of year, the MLK Jr. holiday, is special to me for a lot of reasons. I hope you are spending the day making a dream come true for yourself.
Listen... 👀 . 2023 better act right. I ain't g Listen... 👀 
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2023 better act right. I ain't got time for no foolishness.
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I'm writing my next book and I don't need no weapons formed against me because I'm out here trying to prosper!
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"One thing I know two things for certain" (Megan Thee Stallion 2021) 2023 ain't bout catch me slippin' and my cup overfloweth with love so I'm certain that if I do slip and/or slide "like I'm from the 305" (Cardi B 2018), I will have help to pick my face up off the floor.
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Happy New Year 👀
Aight so boom . Made it through my first bout of C Aight so boom
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Made it through my first bout of COVID. COVID is whack, but them antivirals was hitting and so were the calls and sweet messages folks sent to check in on me. 
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Thinking deeply about how I wrote a paper about Megan last year for the Journal of Linguistic Anthropology that explains Megan's treatment in public, particularly in black public spaces. It remains highly relevant. It's called "Ratchet Black Lives Matter: Megan Thee Stallion, Intra-Racial Violence, and the Elusion of Grief." I'm happy to share if you DM me. 
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Enjoying my fresh face as much as my red lipsticks these days. It is such a delight to love and like yourself. Get into it.
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This Fall was big, emotional, and full of new new growth. I'm immensely grateful for this growth. I'm enjoying this woman I'm becoming. She is going to have a hell of a memoir.
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You know the best thing about growing? Having good friends around rooting for you to shed that layer of self that no longer serves you. Shout out to my homies for keeping me grounded and sane. Yall some real ones.
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I'm spending the last few days of December in deep contemplation about my intentions for the next year. How do you cap your year?
Happy Halloween 🦇 from the aerobics studio of J Happy Halloween 🦇 from the aerobics studio of Jaquana Fonda.
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I love all Tricks and Treats (including candy corn).
Aight so boom... . I'm in Durham yall. Like that' Aight so boom... 
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I'm in Durham yall. Like that's where I reside. Durham is growing on me. I like it here.
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My office is cute. The end of the summer was cute. This fall in North Carolina is cute.
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I was feeling low today and was reminded of the words of Megan Thee Stallion, "Bad bitches have bad days too." So I phoned a friend, and did something sweet for myself.
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So much is going right for me that even when things feel hard, because they absolutely are, I have enough good stuff going on to be able to rest in gratitude.
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You ever just feel loved? I do. Right now. I have so many people who love me and care for me and cherish me. Yall know who you are and yall some real ones.
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Is it me or is everyone getting more emails? I get too many emails. And actionable ones. Like I have to do something with the email. Is Mercury in AOL right now?
#face #her #face #her
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Lesson Plans

  • Lesson Plan: Black Women in FilmFebruary 6, 2017 - 1:00 pm
  • Nikki Lane. All Rights Reserved. Permission required for reuse.Lesson Plan: Beyoncé’s LemonadeMay 31, 2016 - 8:20 am

Crosswords

  • The Purple One: A Crossword TributeJune 25, 2016 - 10:00 am
  • Great Moments in Ratchet History: The CrosswordJune 7, 2016 - 8:20 am
  • Crossword Puzzle: Black Stuff from the 90sMay 4, 2016 - 1:23 am
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