L. Malik Anderson

James Gavins’ afrofuturistic, sci-fi thriller-based film “Cicada” explores a parallel universe in which a psychotherapy simulator will ease the trauma from Black history in America. It debuts this afternoon at 4 p.m. with a film screening followed by a panel discussion at the UW Union South Marquee Theater.
“I’m kind of in-between sci-fi and psychological thriller, that’s kind of my jam,” Gavins told Madison365.
Gavins produced the film in partnership with the Wisconsin Institute of Discovery...

The Madison Museum of Contemporary Art highlights its collection of modern and contemporary Mexican art in its latest exhibition.
Caja de visiones, or “Box of Visions” includes pieces from the artistic renaissance in Mexico during the first half of the 20th century. However, these pieces are featured alongside recent work created by Mexican and Mexican-American artists working in the Midwest today.
“We have a lot of things we’ve done for this exhibition because it’s a major one for us. It goe...

Anne Marie Herman will spend an entire afternoon cooking food and frying fish cakes — but as soon as she places a plate of fish cakes on the table, they’re gone.
“Sometimes I even try to hide it but they find it before the meal,” Herman said.
Herman said her fish cakes are always a hit among her friends in the Caribbean Association of Madison (CAM). She orders small boxes of codfish from Canada, prepares a batter, and fries them in a large pan so she can make a lot of them at once. Members of...

In 1970, a group of Black business owners from Milwaukee purchased Peoples Brewing in Oshkosh, making it Wisconsin’s first — and only — Black-owned brewing company in the state's history.
The group, led by Theodore "Ted" Mack, called United Black Enterprises, hoped to establish a brewery for their community.
For Mack, the idea stemmed from the notion that the Black community should run the businesses of the services and products they consumed. So United Black Enterprises, or UBE, tried to acq...

Voces de la Frontera will commemorate two decades of grassroots organizing for immigrant and workers rights during their 20th Anniversary Gala this Friday, Sept. 17 at the American Serb Hall in Milwaukee.
“The gala is not just our annual largest fundraiser, but a space that we created where we hit the brakes on our passionate, relentless organizing that we do,” Voces de la Frontera Co-founder and Executive Director Christine Neumann-Ortiz told Madison365.
Neumann-Ortiz founded Voces de la Fro...

Oshkosh author Lori M. Lee envisioned a fantasy world where young readers could escape for her debut middle grade novel Pahua and the Soul Stealer. She also wanted it to reflect her own heritage.
“I wanted to write something specifically Hmong,” the author said.
Best-selling publisher Rick Riordan released the book today. Lee will visit Barnes and Noble in Appleton for an in-person event at 6 p.m. tonight as part of her book tour.
Pahua and the Soul Stealer incorporates both southeast Asian m...

This summer streetwear clothing store Envy Fits and Fashion expanded into a bigger location at the Fox River Mall in Appleton.
“We sell urban clothes,” co-owner Philip Bennett said. “We go to shows to see what’s trending for that season and if it’s popping, we bring it to Appleton,” Philip said.
Envy Fits and Fashion carries brands such as BAPE, Born Fly, Hustle Gang, Jordan Craig, Lacoste, Le Tigre and Staple, among others. All of these brands incorporate elements of Hip Hop, sportswear, pun...

Race to Equity launched the “HearUs” youth justice podcast following the state’s plan to close Lincoln Hills School for Boys and Copper Lake School for Girls by 2021.
“I had to be willing to be open with my story and my life in order to gain that credibility to eventually help other people,” 21-year-old participant Maya Simms said.
She spoke about her experiences with the Dane County Juvenile Detention Center, including her life before and after. Simms also talked about the judgment young peo...

This summer, certified peer specialist Tara Wilhelmi, the founder of EOTO Culturally Rooted, set out to create a community space for Black youth and young adults.
“I was sitting in my office while we still had dreary weather. I thought on a nice day I should take a pop-up table and sit in the park and just be in the park and get to know people,” Wilhelmi told Madison365.
However, Wilhelmi thought other people would think she was strange if she just sat alone working in the park so she decided...

Financial analyst Matthew Hanna designed a card game to touch on uncomfortable topics concerning race.
“I wanted to make a game part true-false trivia and part debate,” he said.
“Right Or Racist” contains 500 cards; 300 true or false stereotype trivia question cards, 100 debate cards to promote dialogue, and 100 player cards used to keep score. The scores measure right-leaning or left-leaning bias for each player.
The game either confirms or combats stereotypes based on data, studies, and gen...

The State Bar of Wisconsin recognized UW-Madison law student Crystal Stonewall as the 2021 Outstanding Public Interest Law Student of the Year.
“At just 23 years old, Crystal already sports a highly impressive CV with numerous examples of her sincere commitment to be a “change agent, an interpreter of the law, an advocate of legal rights, a representative of the ‘invisible,’ and a voice for the voiceless,” according to the State Bar of Wisconsin’s website.
The award honors current law student...

The Music Theatre of Madison’s The Yellow Wallpaper, a musical adaptation that explores feminist work, the horror genre, and mental health issues, premieres this weekend.
The Yellow Wallpaper, a new musical written by composers Erin McConnell and Evan Lange, runs from Aug. 13-15. The production features MTM’s Executive Director Meghan Randolph as “the Woman.”
“People should come and see this show because Megan is incredibly talented and will scare the pants off of you,” Co-director Janine Gar...

The Latino Chamber of Commerce has launched the Protege a Wisconsin (Protect Wisconsin) campaign to help businesses stay open and reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the state.
“One of the reasons we thought it was important to start this comprehensive plan for businesses was because we saw the number of COVID cases going up in the state,” President and CEO Jessica Cavazos said.
New coronavirus cases have surged to levels not seen since the rollout of the vaccine. Public Health Madison & Dan...

Local arts collective CultivArte plans to host an art festival on Saturday, Aug. 28 to promote the work of Latinx artists in the state.
“The idea of festivals are very closely tied to our culture and our roots,” visual artist Angelica Contreras said.
“Cuentos de la Madre Tierra” Festival de Arte Latinx (“Stories of Mother Earth” Latinx Art Festival) will take place in the parking lot of Sherman Avenue Methodist Church. The event is both organized and led by a collective of local Latinx artist...

Deshawn Mckinney explores the complexities of intergenerational trauma and forgiveness in his debut chapbook, father forgive me.
Originally from the Northside of Milwaukee, the writer and poet published his first book earlier this year through Black Sunflowers Poetry Press. He recently won the 2021 River Heron Poetry Prize for his poem ”Anansi Me.”
“I wanted to grapple with generational trauma; the way that it manifests within the self and the way that it follows one throughout their journey ...