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fantastica-daily · 4 months

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American Fiction Movie Review

Coming out just in time for Christmas weekend is first-time feature director Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction – it’s this sly, brainy dramedy that’s all about a joke that totally blows up in the face of Thelonious Ellison, aka Monk (played by the amazing Jeffrey Wright). Monk’s this super serious, straight-laced, blank-faced lit professor who writes elaborate, fictional tomes about Ancient Greek that basically no one reads. He secretly wishes to have a popular bestselling book.

Monk’s Black, and because of that, his books end up in the “African American fiction” section instead of where he feels they really belong. Editors are on his case to make his Aeschylus sound more street, but Monk’s having none of that. He’s all about staying true to his academic roots. Then, he stumbles into a reading by the successful, but in his opinion, sellout author Sintara Golden (Issa Rae), and you can feel his internal scream.

In a fit of rebellion, Monk writes this over-the-top novel, “My Pafology,” loaded with every Black stereotype he can think of, thinking he’s giving the finger to the literary world. But surprise, surprise – they love it and throw a ton of cash at him. The movie’s screenplay, based on Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, is sharp and witty.

Jefferson makes sure to show us the sides of Monk’s life that have nothing to do with race. Can he convince his mom (played by Leslie Uggams) to get proper care? Can he connect with his gay brother (Sterling K. Brown), his no-nonsense sister (Tracee Ellis Ross), and the gorgeous, newly-single neighbor (Erika Alexander)? There several other fun characters, including John Ortiz as the money-hungrey literary agent, and Adam Brody as a slick Hollywood producer hoping to turn Monk’s controversial book into an award-winning film.

Trust me, you’re in for a wild ride with American Fiction – it’s clever, thought-provoking, and just a whole lot of fun. It’s in my Top 10 of the year.

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S.L. Wilson

#american fiction #movie review

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onewordshy · 8 days

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I'm watching the Fallout tv show with my friends and every time Leslie Uggams pops up on screen I go "that's Leslie Uggams."

#they got Leslie Uggams

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historyhermann · 1 year

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My Dad the Bounty Hunter Review

My Dad the Bounty Hunter is a coming-of-age animated sci-fi adventure series by Everett Downing Jr. and Patrick Harpin. Both have worked in the animation industry for many years, often as storyboarders or writers. However, this is their first series they have created on their own. This review will have spoilers.

Reprinted from Pop Culture Maniacs and Wayback Machine. This was the twenty-fourth article I wrote for Pop Culture Maniacs. This post was originally published on February 14, 2023.

This animated series centers on the story of Terry (voiced by Laz Alonso), a Black father who has a secret job: he is a bounty hunter named Sabo Bok. One day, his children, annoyed by his constant disappearances, stowaway in his flying car, and find themselves in a spaceship. Terry is forced to care for his precocious daughter Lisa (voiced by Priah Ferguson), and his nerdy, but anxious, son Sean (voiced by Jecobi Swain). All the while he faces his former business partner, Gorlox (voiced by Rob Riggle), and the Conglomerate, represented by The Fixer (voiced by Jim Rash) who is a bit like Agent Smith in the Matrix franchise.

Personally, I was not planning on watching this series, and knew even less about it, as no one has even bothered to create a Wikipedia page for it! In an effort to watch more shows made by Black creators, I decided to give this series a chance, and I was impressed by what I watched. The voice actors and animation was top notch, as is the music selection.

In some ways, My Dad the Bounty Hunter felt familiar. That's because voice actors like Yvette Nicole Brown, Kari Wahlgen, Yvonne Orji, Christian Lanz, Keith Ferguson, Andrew Morgado, and SungWon Cho, who voice Krs, Lootbat, Tess and other assorted characters in this series, are all well-known voice actors. They are known for their roles in The Ghost and Molly McGee, Velma, Fairfax, Elena of Avalor, Victor and Valentino, Craig of the Creek, High Guardian Spice, Gen:Lock, and The Cuphead Show.

Furthermore, the plot line of this series reminded me, in more ways than one, of episodes of Dogs in Space and Cleopatra in Space, which share some of the same voice actors. It even made me think of the first season of Star Wars: The Bad Batch, when Omega and the Bad Batch are on the run from various bounty hunters who want to kill or capture Omega.

Since the series is for all ages, there rarely blood spilled, just some laser battles, fights, and the like. Sure, no one is invincible, but also, no one gets seriously hurt, apart from Terry crash-landing on a planet and some scuffles. There aren't assassinations on the scale of the Immediate Murder Professionals in Helluva Boss or mass murder akin to the season one finale of Invincible.

All in all, I found My Dad the Bounty Hunter a fun watch. Even so, I would have preferred, just as I did with Season 2 of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, for 1-2 episodes to air every week, rather than all the episodes dropping at once on February 9th. That would allow for more time to take in what is happening in each episode. On the other hand, the series almost seemed to be designed for a binge, since a lot happens in a short period of time, assisted by music and fast-pacing. The series was undoubtedly affected by the fact that, reportedly, 99% of it was produced "at-home" because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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There was nothing to dislike when it comes to the show's cast. This is despite the fact that this is Laz Alonso's first major voice role, while Jecobi Swain and Priah Ferguson are new to voice acting. They only voice characters in Hamster & Gretel and Firebuds. The same can be said for the more seasoned voice actors, including, apart from those I mentioned earlier, Jamie Chung (as Vax) and Maddie Taylor (as Torga). There are other new voice actors such as Leslie Uggams (as Grandma), Everett Downing Jr. (as Bogdog), and Devin Bright (as Player 2). This gives the series life and makes the characters much more relatable.

Just as The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder is likely to garner a Black audience, the same is the case for My Dad the Bounty Hunter. It is designed for families, especially, like many other all-ages series currently out there. In addition, characters like Lisa, who is sassy and intelligent, may become beloved. Some might even connect to the fact that she organized a gambling den at her local school and held high-stakes poker games. She is like Maya in The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, in that she when she gets passionate and determined, no one can stop her. In fact, Lisa becomes skilled with a sword, and plays a vital role, especially when helping her dad out of some tough situations, as does her brother Sean.

As I've said in other reviews, 3-D animation is not always my favorite. For instance, I think the Tales of Arcadia can be a bit hard to watch at times due to the animation style. However, the animation is done very well in this series. It is as strong as the flowing animation in D4DJ. Computer generated images can be good if they are animated with a distinct style, but traditional, 2-D animation, is just as good. The series was supposed to be 2-D originally, but it cost less to do 3-D, as they didn't have to build sets, while flashback scenes were 2-D, which separated "the present from the past" as Harpin noted.

Due to the fact that My Dad the Bounty Hunter is only 10 episodes, there isn't much time for lore, or even exploration of everyone's backstory. There's some backstory given for Terry, Tess (Terry's wife), and a bit for Lisa, but that's it. Even so, this doesn't take away from some of the messages in the series, emphasizing the importance of family, togetherness, and overcoming obstacles. This creates a wholesome series which sticks with you, episode-to-episode.

This fades away when the story centers on brutal exploitation of the Chillas by the Conglomerate. These creatures are imprisoned and forced to mine minerals for no pay (i.e. as slaves), with the materials only used to make the Conglomerate that much richer. Unlike Qui-Jon Jinn, who only freed Anakin from slavery on Tatooine, Lisa, with the help of Vax and her comrades, frees all of them. She ultimately convinces her dad, Terry, to side with her, once he realizes he is doing the wrong thing.

Watching My Dad the Bounty Hunter made me think of the exploitation of the worms in Futurama, especially exemplified by Slurms MacKenzie, who caused the caves to collapse, when he parties one last time. There are similarities to the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi in more ways than one, or rescue missions in Star Wars Rebels and Star Wars: The Bad Batch, which ends up freeing those imprisoned, often by the Galactic Empire, even if it puts their lives in jeopardy.

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The season one finale of My Dad the Bounty Hunter leaves the door open for more seasons. It remains to be seen if Netflix will go that route, or whether it will treat it like City of Ghosts, a curiosity which executives deemed as needing no continuation. I remain hopeful that despite all the shenanigans going on at Netflix right now, they will renew the series.

After all, since the series is based on the dynamics within the family of co-creator Everett Downing Jr., there is likely more to explore in that realm. There are other plotlines which could be told in a second season. Perhaps Lisa will have a boyfriend, or even a girlfriend, and family conflicts may erupt, changing this from a happy family-friendly series into a more mature one.

Even so, it is likely, more than not, that a second season would continue to portray a loving Black family, and have additional sci-fi elements, which the creators said they incorporated into the series the best they could. When asked about another season, one of the co-creators said he would like to focus on Tess and "give her a shot in the captain’s seat."

Furthermore, since the first season of My Dad the Bounty Hunter was said to be a "love letter to animation, science fiction, and Black families" rolled into a wild action-comedy, it is possible that another season would go even further. There is a lot which can be done with animation, unlike any other medium, which makes it apt for storytelling. Of course, not every animated series is superb, and some are subpar. But, when animation is done well, it shines like nothing else. This series shines.

This series is unique, even on Netflix. While the streaming platform hosts shows like Princess Power, Ada Twist Scientist, Dogs in Space, Hilda, The Dragon Prince, Bee and Puppycat, and Dragon Age: Absolution, nothing even comes close to this series. The same can be said for the upcoming Agent Elvis and Mulligan.

The only comparison with this series is on other streaming platforms, specifically in the Star Wars franchise, a flagship grounding Disney+ in the streaming wars. Perhaps, My Dad the Bounty Hunter is being used to compete with those series. Although, if that is the case, it would be absurd, since the other series are much longer lived, and likely have more money behind them.

In the end, while My Dad the Bounty Hunter is not my favorite series ever, I thoroughly enjoyed watching it and I'd definitely recommend it, as it can be watched in its entirety during a morning, or an afternoon.

My Dad the Bounty Hunter is currently streaming on Netflix.

#my dad the bounty hunter #netflix #the bad batch #star wars the bad batch #sw tbb #the proud family louder and prouder #the proud family #pop culture #reviews #futurama #star wars #city of ghosts #capitalism #exploitation #animals #families #Youtube

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droughtofapathy · 2 months

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"Welcome to the Theatre": Diary of a Broadway Baby

Encores! Jelly's Last Jam

Encores! slated its first two shows early this year, with the last one in June, so I don't know what that's about. But this was far more enjoyable than Once Upon a Mattress. A complex and off-putting protagonist makes a compelling figure in this dance-heavy concert presentation of the 1992 Broadway musical. The women of this show are all breathtaking with powerhouse voices. Leslie Uggams has one big number and that 80-year-old broad brought the house down all without taking a step. Joaquina Kalukongo was excellent, of course. But my greatest love goes to the Hunnies, Stephanie Pope, Mamie Duncan-Gibbs and Allison M. Williams, the original Hunnies in that 1992 production, back in their roles after 32 years, and more gorgeous than ever. Living proof that 60-something women are sexy, flexible, and bursting with talent.

Verdict: Why I Love the Theatre

A Note on Ratings

#jelly's last jam #encores #nycc #musical theater #welcome to the theatre: diary of a broadway baby

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cozyaliensuperstar7 · 4 months

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Hollywood 1960s-1980s

retrokingdanny:

Jayne Kennedy photographed on set of the NBC television drama “Cover Girl”, 1977.

Eartha Kitt photographed by Paul Harris at her Beverly Hills estate in Los Angeles, 1982.

Lola Falana photographed by Roberto Ferrantini in Italy, 1967.

Marvin Gaye photographed by Jim Britt at Motown’s Golden West Studios in Los Angeles, 1973.

Donna Summer photographed by Harry Langdon in Los Angeles, 1978.

Pam Grier photographed in Los Angeles for the film “Foxy Brown”, 1974.

Bernadette Stanis photographed in a promotional session for “Good Times”, 1975.

Diahann Carroll photographed by Martin Mills in Los Angeles, 1968.

Chaka Khan photographed on North Vine Street in Los Angeles, 1975.

Sheryl Lee Ralph photographed in the Broadway production of the musical "Dreamgirls”, 1981.

Loretta Devine photographed in the Broadway production of the musical "Dreamgirls”, 1981.

Pam Grier photographed by Harry Langdon in Los Angeles, 1973.

Leslie Uggams photographed by Harry Langdon in Los Angeles, 1979.

Michael Jackson photographed by Steve Schapiro on set of the Cher Show, 1975.

#jane kennedy #eartha kitt #lola falana #marvin gaye #donna summer #pam grier #bern nadette stanis #diahann carroll #sheryl lee ralph #chaka khan #loretta devine #leslie uggams #michael jackson #black hollywood #beautiful black people #1960s-1980s

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princesssarisa · 1 year

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Fictional Character Ask: Miss Piggy?

Favorite thing about them: Where to start? Her glamor and confidence. Her hilarious ego. Her unstoppable feistiness and determination. The funny contrast between the elegant, glamorous lady persona she performs and the tough, brash "pig" side she can never quite hide. (Which I just recently realized is relatable to those of us on the autism spectrum trying to perform social expectations). Her unexpected moments of real sweetness and vulnerability. It's no wonder she's such an icon!

I also love that even though she's heavyset, she has total confidence in her own beauty. And even though the other Muppets sometimes make annoying jokes about her weight, she's still treated as beautiful and desirable by men of various different species.

Least favorite thing about them: Her violent streak, especially her habit of karate chopping Kermit. The tradition of female-on-male violence being played for laughs should really be questioned, not just with the Muppets but in all media.

Three things I have in common with them:

*I'm a plus-sized female.

*I have a temper, though I don't let it show as much as I used to.

*I love music and entertainment.

Three things I don't have in common with them:

*I'm not an actress or a model.

*I'm not attracted to frogs.

*I'm not blonde.

Favorite line:

From The Great Muppet Caper, when she's insulting Nicky Holiday after he frames her for the jewel theft:

"You can't even sing! Your voice was dubbed!"

From Muppet Treasure Island:

"Well hello, Looooong John!"

And when Long John suspends her over a cliff (after Kermit/Captain Smollett had left her at the altar and Captain Flint had marooned her):

"You know, I'm beginning to see a pattern in the men I date."

brOTP: Most of the other Muppets (even if they do sometimes make fun of her, it's clear that they really are friends), and her dog Foo-Foo.

I'd especially like to see her share more friendship moments with Janice, since they're the two most prominent female Muppets from the "classic" era of the '70s and '80s.

OTP: Kermit, in the moments when her temper and his reluctance to commit don't get in the way.

nOTP: Nicky Holiday from The Great Muppet Caper, or worse, Constantine from Muppets Most Wanted.

Random headcanon: Quite a few of the other Muppet pigs are related to her. According to Frank Oz, she has many siblings – part of why she went into show business was because she couldn't bear the thought of becoming an overworked housewife with too many kids like her mother was. It makes sense to think that some of her siblings went into show business too, as did their children. Muppets Tonight made it canon that Andy and Randy, who originally played her brothers in Muppet Classic Theatre, are really her nephews – I also imagine that the two little girl pigs who played her daughters Belinda and Bettina in The Muppet Christmas Carol are her nieces, cousins to Andy and Randy.

Unpopular opinion: I agree with @ariel-seagull-wings that she looks better with curly hair, or at least wavy hair, than with straight hair. That said, her frizzy '80s perm in The Muppets Take Manhattan was a little extreme: loose curls suit her better.

Song I associate with them:

"Mad About the Frog" from the Leslie Uggams episode of The Muppet Show.

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"Some of These Days" from the Loretta Swit episode of The Muppet Show.

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"Never Before, Never Again" from The Muppet Movie.

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"Miss Piggy's Fantasy" from The Great Muppet Caper.

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"I'm Gonna Always Love You" from The Muppets Take Manhattan.

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Favorite picture of them:

#character ask #miss piggy #the muppets #ask game #fictional characters

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foreveralwaysanauthor · 2 months

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Lexi's Basic Info

Name: Alexis Amara Warren

Of all the faceclaims I've had to do over time, I think Lexi's was one of the easiest I've ever done. For the 60s, we have Leslie Uggams (I Spy); the 80s, Michelle Thomas (The Cosby Show); the 90s, Tatyana Ali (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air); and now, Whitney Peak (Gossip Girl).

Nicknames: Lexi, Alex, Lex Luthor (a DC comics supervillain; the nickname is only used by her brothers, and Lexi acts like she hates it, but she actually finds it kind of funny)

Age: 18

Date of Birth: July 4

Zodiac: Cancer

Birthstone: Ruby

Nationality: Canadian-American

Sexuality: Lesbian

Birthplace: Yarmouth Regional Hospital, Yarmouth, Nova Scotia

Current Residence: Mountain Street, Camden, Maine

Occupation: High school senior, semi-professional figure skater

Talents/Skills: Talking her way out of situations, sarcasm, reading lips, and flying (she has her private pilot’s license and only flies her dad’s plane)

Birth order: (biological) younger of two, (adoptive) middle of five adopted kids

Biological siblings: Micah Edward King

Adoptive siblings: Sean Colton (22), Isla Blair (20), Ian Wyatt (15), and Tessa Hadley (12)

Parents: Nathan Robert Warren and Liana Eden Moore

Biological parents: Isaac Jordan Bergeron and Heather Abigail King

Signature:

Height: 5’4”

Race: Bi-racial (African-American and White)

Eye Color: Brown

Hair Color: Black

Glasses or contact lenses: None

Distinguishing features: Scar on right shoulder from surgery

Mannerisms: Clicking her nails together and bouncing her leg when she’s anxious or thinking, licking her lips subconsciously, and constantly tugging her hair when she has the chance

Health: Weak left leg after breaking it, untreated anger issues, and lupus

Hobbies: Collecting crystals and plants, rewatching 90s-00s anime/cartoons (Avatar, Ouran High School Host Club, Sailor Moon, etc.), reading tarot, making sarcastic comments, buying books even though her to-be-read stack is a mile long

Greatest flaw (in their opinion): How long she can hold a grudge. Regardless of whether or not the person has apologized, if Lexi thinks she’s been wronged in any way, she will absolutely hold some sort of animosity toward that person for a long time. While she isn’t always aggressive in showing her hatred or distrust of a person, she makes it very obvious that she doesn’t appreciate them being around.

Best quality (in their opinion): Probably how protective she is. Lexi is the type to act first and think later, leading her into some dangerous situations as she forsakes her own safety to protect the people she cares about. Whether it’s a family member, friend, or even a stray animal, she goes out of her way to ensure their safety. She has a great sense of loyalty, which could eventually be her downfall.

Biggest fear: Abandonment. When she was seven, she overheard her group home’s leader telling a potential adoptive family that she had been given up by her parents due to her not being the same race as them. She knew well enough what that meant, but it wasn’t until her biological parents reached out to her at the age of ten, asking her to get tested to see if she would be a donor match for the kidney her brother needed, that she realized how deep it went. They stayed in contact during her testing, but as soon as they realized she wasn’t a match, they ditched her once again. She tried reaching out many times, but they eventually sent her a letter, telling her to stop as they no longer considered her their daughter. Although she has since grown from that and is now quite content in her adoptive family, the thought of anyone leaving her, sends her spiraling.

Hogwarts House: Slytherin

Favorite ice cream: Caramel swirl

Favorite color: Sage green

Favorite number: 9, how old she was when she was finally adopted out of foster care

Favorite songs: all-american bitch by Olivia Rodrigo, girls like me don’t cry by thuy, and The Archer by Taylor Swift

A place they want to visit: The Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, California

#character info

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bestmusicalworldcup · 4 months

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Additional casting has been announced for the Jelly's Last Jam, the second show in the 2024 Encores season.

The cast features Nicholas Christopher as Jelly Roll Morton, John Clay III as Jack the Bear, Joaquina Kalukango as Anita, Tiffany Mann as Miss Mamie, Billy Porter as the Chimney Man and Leslie Uggams as Gran Mimi. Original cast members Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Stephanie Pope Lofgren, and Allison M. Williams will reprise their roles as the Hunnies.

Jelly's Last Jam features music from Jelly Roll Morton and Luther Henderson, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and a book by George C Wolfe. The Encores production is directed by Robert O'Hara and runs from February 21 to March 3, 2024

#jelly's last jam #musicals #theater news #not a poll

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blackfemmecharacterdependency · 11 months

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MAY Celebrity Birthdays & Events

All Month Long: Mermay

May Birthdays

Taurus Stars (Apr 20-May 20)

1: Saidah Arrika Ekulona, Victoria Monet 2: Golda Rosheuvel 3:Chinenye Ezeudu, Danielle Deadwyler, Genevieve Nnaji, Jessia Sula, Meagan Tandy 5: Gabrielle Nevaeh Green, Kimberle Crenshaw 6: Gabourey Sidibe, Adrienne Warren, Bresha Webb, Sasheer Zamata 7: Devyn Tyler 11: Dominique Thorne 12: Vanessa Estelle Williams, Kim Fields 13: Pearl Thusi 14: Tamara Dobson, Lisette Malidor, Laya Lewis 15: Anjelika Washington, Bahia Watson, Sommore, 16: Janet Jackson, Aleyse Shannon 17: Cynda Williams, Francis Callier, Rochelle Aytes 19: Grace Jones, Angel Theory 20: Gina Ravera

GEMINI SEASON BEGINS

Gemini Stars (May 21- June 21) 21: Da’Vine Joy Randolph 22: Naomi Campbell 23: Riann Steele 24: Patti Labelle, 25: Ebonee Noel, Octavia Spencer, Zazie Beetz, Leslie Uggams, Aïssa Maïga 26: Pam Grier, Lauryn Hill, Madeleine Mantock, Marie Pierra Kakoma, Yandeh Sallah 27: Left Eye, 28: Gladys Knight, Megalyn Echikunwoke, 29: Laverne Cox, Mel B, Ashleigh Morghan, Michole Briana White, Pearl Mackie 30: Javicia Leslie, DeWanda Wise, Zoe Renee 31: Cupcakke, Normani, Petronia Paley, Tonya Pinkins

May Events:

1: May Day, Mother Goose Day | 4: STAR WARS DAY: All The Black Femmes || Star Wars Movies & Shows BFCD Masterlist 2022 | 11: Twilight Zone Day | 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia | 18: World AIDS Vaccine Day | 20: World Bee Day | 22: World Goth Day | 23-27: African Liberation Week | 24: Pansexual/Panromantic Visibility Day | 25: African Liberation/Freedom Day, Geek Pride | 26: World Dracula Day, World Redhead Day | 29: OUR BIRTHDAY

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