my mom says she’s not a hugger. but when i put my arms around her on a gloomy day or after bad news she’s the last to let go. my dad says he doesn’t want gifts on his birthday, but i see the way his face light up when i get him a card with a nice message and a box full of chocolate anyway. he’s just a kid inside, still. it makes him giddy. my brother never says i love you. but when i tell him “i just need to finish the dishes before i vacuum!” he wordlessly goes to vacuum the entire house before i can, and if he sees me struggle with a wrapper or a jar or a bottle he mutters ‘c’mere’ and opens it for me without even sparing me a glance. the thing is, people love you quietly, and you love them quietly, and the air is buzzing with tiny but grand gestures & once you look for them, you find them everywhere. i think that’s really beautiful.
In an effort to share a little black and queer history during this turbulent Pride month, here’s a comic about one of my favorite musicians, Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
I almost included this tidbit, but then I got lazy bc I didn’t want to draw a bus, but now I kinda wish I had.
If you were wondering what “gospel rock” sounds like:
1964. Not ancient history. The Beatles were climbing up the charts with “She Loves You” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand.” Surfer rock had the Beach Boys “I Get Around” was was competing with Jan and Dean’s “Dead Man’s Curve. Manfred Mann’s “Do Wah Diddy” was a hit with staying power. The Supremes performed “Where Did Our Love Go?” on tv this year or early in the next.