Life. Touch. Poetry. Music. My son's world (which is way more interesting than mine). Psychology (trauma recovery). Photography. People's stories and perspectives. History.
Octavia Butler, (pre-death, of course). However, if anyone can come back, I predict it would be her. She even said so in one of her stories. Dr. Charles J. Ogletree, Jr (Harvard) Jill Scott, Eryka Badu, Billie Holiday, Dorothy Dandridge, Harry Belafonte, Cornel West, Tavis Smiley, Barak Obama, Oprah, Dr. and maybe Bill Clinton. Gabrielle Union, Sanaa Latham, Will Smith, Halle Berry and Zach Braff. Me in the past to say, "don't do it". If I could see any one AGAIN, it would be my Grandparents and God parents.
Nina Simone; Billie Holiday; Eryka Badu (Green Eyez); Talib Kweli; Saul Williams is always rocking it. A true gift to sound and mind. Julie Delpy's accoustic Waltz from the final scene in "Before Sunset". I like music you can feel - not just hear. I also just heard Portishead from a friend - I am loving it. Moby; Jill Scott; Kina's only CD.
Killer of Sheep(Dir.: Charles Burnett). All of 'em. All by Pedro Almodovar (All About My Mother, Motorcycle Diaries). The 400 Blows is easily a favorite. This is a rarity, for French films are generally come off as self indulgent showcases of the dark hued european beautiful. Of course another french film by Francois Traffaut includes this indulgence, but does provide a story with it. Jules and Jim includes a character called Catherine that is easily in the Top 10 of Drama Queens. Requiem for a Dream (Ellen Burstyn makes this movie what it is and if given the right material and direction, that Wayan's brother actually acts); Casablanca; Born Into Brothels. Water! Before Sunrise (must see BEFORE "Before Sunset"; Dogville. Birth. (Nicole Kidman does crazy - well). Sunset Boulevard. City of God;
WEEDS! Higher Education television (local in St. Louis); Heroes. The L Word. Sopranos. Friday Night Lights. Chuck (go figure)
Any thing by Octavia Butler. If you haven't read her before p/u "Parable of the Sower" or "Mind of My Mind". If you are parent check out "Blessings of a Skinned Knee" and "The Mother Dance". The Bible. The Color Purple; Beloved; The Alchemist. The Road Less Traveled. A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown (hilarious and heartbreaking at once). I'm reading When Chicken Heads Come Home to Roost by Joan Morgan, right now.
My mother, my grandmothers and great grandmothers. My beloved grandfathers and my step dad. My son (if he survives with me as his mentor - then he is a true hero by default). Martin Luther King, Jr.; Job. And not to trip, but me.