Salamishah Tillet
Posts
Why Beyoncé Should Be Considered an Auteur
She is essentially one on the new film, but she has also demonstrated throughout her career just who is in charge of her art.
10 Works and Performances That Helped Me Make Sense of 2023
Global conflict and personal loss encouraged our critic to seek out art that gave her a better understanding of grief and healing.
Lauryn Hill Continues to Evolve on Her ‘Miseducation’ Anniversary Tour
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill,” as well as her legacy with the Fugees, the singer and rapper reveled in the...
‘Purlie Victorious’: Ossie Davis’s ‘Gospel to Humanity’ Returns to Broadway
The stars Leslie Odom Jr. and Kara Young and the director Kenny Leon discuss the revival, and why its satirical take on racism is still...
Why Nina Simone Was Always Ahead of Her Time
A recently unearthed live version of “Blues for Mama,” written by Simone and Abbey Lincoln in the 1960s, took on domestic abuse in a momentous...
Directors Savanah Leaf and A.V. Rockwell Talk ‘Earth Mama’ and ‘A Thousand and One’
The directors of “Earth Mama” and “A Thousand and One” compare notes on complex portraits of Black motherhood that reject ’90s stereotypes.
Apocalypse Nowish: An Octavia Butler Opera May Be Prophetic
Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon adapted Butler’s dystopian “Parable of the Sower.” Their opera makes its New York debut at Lincoln Center’s Summer for...
How the Oscars and Grammys Thrive on the Lie of Meritocracy
Despite all the markers of excellence, contenders like Danielle Deadwyler, Viola Davis and Beyoncé weren’t recognized for the highest honors. Niche awards don’t suffice.
11 Ways I Escaped Reality This Year
Our critic was haunted, in a good way, by the performances she saw in movies, theater and TV that offered glimpses into other worlds.
11 Ways I Escaped Reality This Year
Our critic was haunted, in a good way, by the performances she saw in movies, theater and TV that offered glimpses into other worlds.