Graveyard Shift Sisters

I thoroughly enjoyed Horror Noire: Blacks in American Horror Films from the 1890s to Present by Dr. Robin R Means Coleman. The title is self explanatory as she offers a rich, historical frame for Black artistic participation in the American horror film genre. With a 'know your facts' approach, the chapter that gave me considerable insight into Blaxploitation, "Scream, Whitey, Scream -- Retribution, Enduring Women, and Carnality: 1970s" extends to the reader a phrase I've never entertained that is found in the title; the Enduring Women.
In contrast to Clover's Final Girl, Coleman argues that "1970s horror films featuring Black women handled the Final Girl with noteworthy variation" with characters who were multiplicitous; "highly sexualized" and fought back, not "up against some boogeyman; rather, often their battle is with racism and corruption" which Coleman insists is a never ending battle. They are "resilient" and &…

We lament here much about the importance of African American history in horror. The first contemporary renaissance of filmmaking agency for Black directors, writers, producers, and actors tackling the horror genre was arguably the 1970's within the popularity of Blaxsploitation films.
Blaxploitation horror are reproduced horror tales from the classics (Frankenstein became Blackenstein, Dracula became Blacula, etc.) to re-imagined stories with old themes (vampirism, zombies, etc.) that center around Black characters and often often times Black cultural modes of expression, aesthetics, and community issues (racism, African religion, etc.).
Below are three of my top recommendations for all around enjoyment and beautifully complex central female roles that have been rare to non-existent in the horror genre since.

Tiffany D. Jackson is a Brooklyn, NY native who makes movies and has consulted, written and produced for various media outlets from Rocawear to National Geographic. With her diverse resume, experience, and talents, Tiffany laments that horror is her first love.

How enchanting that my favorite random day just happens to align with my favorite month this year. Friday the 13th gives me an excuse to be all extra weird in my horror fandom and once more, sit through a handful of my favorite Friday the 13th films as well as listen to my favorite retrospective on the series. It's a formidable franchise whose staying power rivals any of the bigger 'icons of fright,' even Freddy Krueger. In 2013, a documentary was released and the announcement of a new film.

My favorites are some of the most contested, debated, reviled, and rage-inducing for many invested in the franchise. Which I admit is more fun than annoying because everyone (for the most part) has really great points, pro and con. My tried and true debate technique is taking the films that I enjoy that many people seem to hate and giving them social relevancy. What's the bigger message hidden within the bad acting, incoherent story and bad one-liners? Because I can almost guarant…

The more I do research about Black folks in horror the more I come across "lazy" extended blurbs about Black survival in horror movies. Yes, I'm calling out some of the more major publications who think it more suitable to go kosher and re-hash once more half truths about the African American experience in horror films. Even when they're attempting depth, it falls short simply because of the theme.

By Eden Royce (@EdenRoyce)
With Women in Horror Recognition Month (WiHM) on the horizon, I thought a post on this topic might inspire you to create something horror-filled. As the horror submissions editor for Mocha Memoirs Press, I come across a great deal of stories, the majority of which are written by male authors.
(Duh, Eden. That’s why places like Graveyard Shift Sisters exists.)  Yeah, I know. Stay with me a minute.

A native New Yorker, Melody Cooper began her writing career as a playwright.  She is the winner of the 2012 SheWrites Playwriting Festival and the Global Culture Play Award. In film, her niche is science-fiction and horror and her screenplay, The Devil You Know was a finalist in the 2012 Creative World Award and International Sci-Fi/Horror Film Festival. Another screenplay she's written, Breaking The Fourth won at the Woodshole Film Festival. She is currently directing a documentary about U.S. vet immigrants deported after their tours of duty and is represented by Abrams Artists.
I'm so happy she reached out to me to share her story as a Black female professional working in horror as well as sci-fi!

Director Luchina Fisher with writers Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes have teamed up to develop a new horror short titled, Danger Word!

The film is about a grandfather/granddaughter duo who have survived the zombie plague and the series of events that follow during granddaughter Kendra's (Saoirse Scott) birthday celebration. The grandfather is played by veteran actor Frankie Faison who's known in Danger Word as Grandpa Joe. Danger Word has recently made its world debut at the BronzeLens Film Festival in Atlanta, GA on Thursday, November 7th 2013 and nominated for Best Short.