Sista ToFunky’s Interview With Dr. Yvonne Sims

I remember rushing to my computer to order my copy of Women Of Blaxploitation the minute I learned this book had been published. I felt as if there was someone else who “got it”… about one of the greatest times in Black cinematic history and the impact that Black women had in these films.

Six years ago I contacted the author, Yvonne Sims. We had a great conversation, like two old friends reminiscing about their childhood.  Yvonne shared her reasons for writing the book and her love of Black films and the 70’s. Like some friendships, a number of years had passed since the last time we talked. I recently reached out to Yvonne again and we picked up where we left off.

I would like to thank Yvonne for taking time out to do this interview. As promised, this time I will keep in touch. I can’t wait to talk to her about her next project.

Dr. Yvonne Sims is an Assistant Professor of English. Sims earned her Ph.D. in American culture studies from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio; Master of Arts in comparative literature from the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, S.C. and a Bachelor of Arts in English from USC.

Yvonne Sims Upcoming Work:

• A forthcoming chapter in an anthology called Florence Griffith Joyner: Sexual Politician in a Unitard “ in A Locker Room of Her Own; Celebrity, Sexuality and Gender, and Female Athletes. Eds. Joel Nathan Rosen and David Odgen. University of Mississippi Press (in press).
• J’ai deux amour: Josephine Baker and the Duality of Identity in the United States and Paris, France:” in American Multicultural Studies: Diversity of Race, Ethnicity, Gender and Sexuality. Ed. Sherrow Pinder. Sage Publications, 2012

Yvonne Sims Works in Progress:

• Blacula and Blade: Tortured Souls/Cultural Outsiders in Vampire Film Narratives” (Article)
• Josephine Baker and the Construction of Stardom (Book)
• Anthology on Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s Thrilla in Manila (Article)