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Category Archives: Events

Here you will find Events featuring African Americans or people of the African Diaspora.

African Diaspora World Expo Planned in Atlanta

 

 

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The online magazine AfricanDiasporaTourism.com (ADT) in association with the AD King Foundation will present the African Diaspora World Tourism Awards & Travel Show Expo in Atlanta on Friday and Saturday, April 26-27.

The two-day event will also include an Africana Culture Performances Extravaganza and a Hall of Fame Luncheon. The awards ceremony will take place at the Atlanta Airport Marriott.

The official gala awards ceremony, recognizing people who have made unique and significant contributions in the fields of Black culture and heritage tourism, will take place on Saturday, April 27 beginning with a reception at 6 pm. Noted broadcast journalist Monica Kaufman Pearson is the host for the awards gala.

The African Diaspora World Tourism Awards ceremony will recognize tour operators, travel planners, culture and heritage scholars, tourism ministers and CEO’S, and other professionals in travel. Tribute will be paid to politicians, government officials, and people of all races who have contributed to the development and promotion of culture and heritage tourism in the African Diaspora.

In addition to giving out awards at the ceremony, AfricanDiasporaTourism.com will honor 100 leaders in the Hall of Fame who have made legendary contributions to the field of Black culture and heritage in such a way as to significantly influence tourism.

These include notables like Congressman John Lewis, Mr. And Ms. Muhammad Ali, Ms. Coretta King, Danny Glover, Dr. Julius Garvey, Dr. Asa Hilliard, Bob and Rita Marley, former Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade, former Ambassador Andy Young, Tavis Smiley, Dr. Maulana Karenga, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, Dr. Jean Ping, and many others. The Hall of Fame luncheon honoring these legends will be Saturday at noon.

The Africana Extravaganza, consisting of cultural performances, artistic exhibits and Diasporic cuisines will happen on Friday at 7 p.m. The Travel Show Expo, which will take place on both Friday and Saturday, will allow tourism destinations, corporations and vendors of the hospitality industry to showcase and promote their products.

For registration and more information, visit http://www.ADWT-Awards.com. Discounted tables are available for special seating at the Awards Ceremony for organizations, associations and corporations. Travel Show Expo booths are available for businesses and vendors. Call 404-549-7215 or 404-784-4095 for further details.

 

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Event: Wealth, Education, Family and Community: A New Paradigm for Black America

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Although we as African Americans were officially granted our freedom nearly 150 years ago, many of us do not feel truly free.  Some of us get up and go to jobs that we do not enjoy, working for people who don’t like us very much.   Then, when those companies feel that we’ve gotten out of line or they don’t need us anymore, we are sent out the door.

There is also a great deal of frustration with regard to how our kids are being educated, and the violence that has taken too many young lives in our community.   Mass incarceration has ripped the black family to its core and an entire industry has been built from the prison industrial complex.

The solutions must lie with us.  Taking charge of our individual and collective future requires a set of coordinated strategies that relate to how we build resources, protect our resources and target those resources.  Education must become a leading priority that goes beyond what our children learn in school everyday.  We must recommit ourselves to building and supporting black businesses, strengthening our families and sustaining our communities.

The future belongs to us.

Wealth, Education, Family and Community: A New Paradigm for Black America is a forum hosted by Min. Louis Farrakhan and Dr. Boyce Watkins. Min. Farrakhan and Dr. Watkins will discuss the need for a shift in the way people of color think about building wealth, pursuing education and challenging the obstacles to progress which exist in black America today.  The forum will be exciting, engaging and fulfilling, with the presentation of long-term strategies for African American socio-economic progress and sustainability.

The next step of the Civil Rights Movement must go beyond voting for the right politician.

 

When: Saturday, March 30, 2013, 5 PM CST, doors open at 4 PM
Where: The UIC Forum on the campus of The University of Illinois at Chicago – 725 W Roosevelt (on the corner of Halsted and Roosevelt)
Cost: Free and open to the public

Note: You must RSVP on this form in order to attend the event.

RSVP for the event at this link. 

 
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Posted by on March 13, 2013 in Events

 

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Harlem To Host Its First Black Comic Book Festival To Launch In January

On Saturday, January 12th from 10am to 4pm, The Schomburg Center For Research in Black Culture of Harlem, New York, will be launching their first Black Comic Festival.

It is described as “a dynamic festival for young people that celebrates the rich tradition of black superheroes and features a screening of the film “White Scripts and Black Supermen: Black Masculinities in Comic Books”; a pop-up art exhibition of “Black Kirby”- a visual homage to the legendary comic book artist Jack Kirby by artists John Jennings (SUNY Buffalo) and Stacey Robinson; panel discussions, hands-on workshops, and exhibit tables with premiere black comic book artists from across the country. Free. All ages welcome. Registration is required.”

You can contact schomburged@nypl.org for more information.

 
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Posted by on January 9, 2013 in Events

 

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African-American Children and Families conference set

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — The second annual Conference on African-American Children and Families is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 22 in the Schindler Education Center on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

The conference is designed for educators, administrators, child-care providers, law enforcement, social workers, health professionals and business leaders.

Keynote speaker for the event is Marvin Lynn, associate dean in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. Lynn will present “The Social and Political Context of Education for African American Students in the United States.”

A pre-conference will be held from 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 21 in UNI’s Maucker Union Elm Room.

To register or for a complete list of speakers, check www.vpaf.uni.edu/aac.

 

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Verizon’s How Sweet The Sound

Sep 10 , 2012

Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound Gospel Celebration, the country’s premiere and most prestigious gospel music experience, returns to Philips Arena for its fifth year of celebrating the community. The Gospel music celebration features today’s biggest gospel stars including Donald Lawrence, Yolanda Adams, Erica Campbell of Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and CeCe Winans.

Registration is open for the 2012 Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound™ Gospel Celebration until June 30. Interested choir representatives can visit http://www.HowSweetTheSound.com to sign up to be part of the How Sweet the Sound community. By registering, choirs will have the chance to rejoice in song and praise; sing in front of gospel greats and fans; and compete for a chance to win up to $50,000 in cash and prizes.

Visit http://www.philipsarena.com/events/detail/verizons-how-sweet-the-sound for Tickets

 
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Posted by on August 10, 2012 in Events, Music

 

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James Weldon Johnson Memorial Lecture

African American Studies at Beinecke Library

Arnold Rampersad

“Reflections on a Life in Literature”

Tuesday, September 18, 4pm
Beinecke Library, 121 Wall Street
James Weldon Johnson Memorial Lecture 
Contact: nancy.kuhl@yale.edu

Arnold Rampersad is the author of  many books, including: Ralph Ellison; The Life of Langston Hughes; The Art and Imagination of W.E.B. DuBois; Jackie Robinson: A Biography; Days of Grace: A Memoir (1993), co-authored with Arthur Ashe. He is the editor of volumes including Collected Poems of Langston Hughes; the Library of America edition of works by Richard Wright; and as, co-editor with Deborah McDowell, Slavery and the Literary Imagination. With Shelley Fisher Fishkin he was co-editor, of the Race and American Culture book series published by Oxford University Press. He has been awarded the National Humanities Medal and a fellowship from the  MacArthur Foundation. He is an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the American Philosophical Society. He has taught at Stanford, Columbia, Rutgers, and Princeton.

The James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of Arts and Letters at the Beinecke Library was founded by Carl Van Vechten in 1941 in honor of James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938), poet, novelist, lyricist, diplomat, educator, and noted civil rights leader. The Collection celebrates the accomplishments of African American writers and artists from the Harlem Renaissance to the present.

Co-sponsored by the Department of African American Studies.

 
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Posted by on August 10, 2012 in Events

 

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FAMILY PROGRAM | Folktales Across the African Diaspora with Carl Winters

Saturday October 20, 2012

2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Carl Winters’performance is a high energy presentation that is designed for grades K thru 7. It is curriculum-based and addresses the Language Arts/Reading Standards. Negro Spirituals, Civil Rights/Freedom Songs, hip hop and jazz will be played on 9 kalimbas (African thumb pianos). Participants will engage in call & response, singing, chanting and Total Physical Response (TPR). Audience will also participate in a discussion/Q&A of how kalimbas are used in African countries while a large map of Africa is utilizing. Participants will experience hands on playing of kalimbas. Finally they will make kalimbas.Carl Winters was born near San Antonio, Texas where he grew up listening to blues greats T-Bone Walker and Lightnin’ Hopkins. He was also influenced by a family of gospel singers and fiddlers. While studying music at Texas Southern University, he witnessed an Earth, Wind & Fire concert which inspired him to begin to playing and studying the kalimba (African thumb piano). As an elementary school teacher, he performs for various schools across the country. However, Winters also modifies his program to suit universities, festivals and senior homes. His genres include jazz, blues, Negro Spirituals, Civil Rights/Freedom Songs, gospel, hip hop, oldies, pop and R&B.

Folktales Across the African Diaspora is generously supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation 

Free with MoAD Admission.

 
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Posted by on August 7, 2012 in Events

 

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The Annual African Festival of the Arts 2012

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The Africa International House USA, Inc. (AIH) produces high quality cultural programs that represent arts and cultures of the African Diaspora. Our intent is to promote and preserve African-based cultures, educate the public about Africa and its cultural contributions to humanity, and continue to contribute in a significant way to the cultural and socio-economic survival of African immigrants in Chicago.

The Annual African Festival of the Arts (AFA) is a spectacular celebration of arts and culture from across the African Diaspora.

It is the largest neighborhood festival in Chicago, and said to be the largest of its kind in the U.S.
Thousands of people from around the world come to Chicago’s Washington Park, Labor Day Weekend for this authentic African experience. They are transported to African villages across the Diaspora with vibrant drumming, storytelling, dancing, interactive demonstrations, historical artifacts, colorful and rich fabrics, informative health and wellness workshops, as well as fascinating entertainment.
This year marks the 23rd anniversary of the festival and a perfect opportunity for Reflections of Our Culture…this year’s 2012 theme.As we reflect, …we must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward and understand why and how we came to be who we are today.

 

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The Success Myth

By Heidi Grant Halvorson

Thomas Kosa
Author, Heidi Grant Halvorson

Quick: Think of a successful person. Someone who isreally good at what they do.

Now, in a word or phrase, tell me why that person has been so successful. What makes them so good?

Obviously, I can’t hear your answer.  But I’d be willing to wager that it had something to do with innate ability.

“He’s so brilliant.”

“She’s a genius.”

“He’s a natural leader.”

These are the kinds of answers people — particularly Americans — tend to give when you ask them why certain individuals have enjoyed so much success.

Pro athletes, tech whizzes, bold entrepreneurs, accomplished musicians, gifted writers: We marvel at their extraordinary aptitude, assuming they must have won the DNA lottery to be so good at what they do.

Deep down, many of us believe that the key ingredient to success is innate ability. So, naturally, we try to stick to doing the things that come easily to us, while avoiding wasting time and energy on the things that don’t.  (How many times have you heard someone say “I’m just not a math person”?  How many times have you said it?)

This would all be fine, if success really were all about innate ability.

But it isn’t. It isn’t even mostly about innate ability.

When you study achievement for a living, as I do, one of the first things you learn is that measures of “ability” (like IQ) do a shockingly poor job of predicting future success.  Intelligence, creativity, willpower, social skill aptitudes like these are not only profoundly malleable (i.e., they grow with experience and effort), but they are just one small piece of the achievement puzzle.

So, what does predict success?  Research tells us it’s using the right strategies that leads to accomplishment and achievement. Sounds simple, but strategies like being committed, recognizing temptations, planning ahead, monitoring your progress, persisting when the going gets tough, making an effort, and perhaps most importantbelieving you can improve, can make all the difference between success and failure.

The problem with thinking that success is all about ability, is that it can lead to crippling self-doubt.  When something doesn’t come easily, we assume that we “just don’t have what it takes,” and we stop trying. We close doors, robbing ourselves of opportunities to realize our full potential.

By contrast, studies show that people who believe that their skills and abilities can grow not only succeed more, but they also enjoy their work more, cope more effectively with challenges, and experience less anxiety and depression.

So the next time you find yourself thinking, “I’m just not good at this,” remember, you’re just not good at it yet.

Heidi Grant Halvorson is Associate Director of the Motivation Science Center at Columbia Business School.  She is the author of Succeed and Nine Things Successful People Do Differently.

Join a live chat with Heidi Grant Halvorson on how to be successful at 2 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, July 25. Ask questions now.

 
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Posted by on July 25, 2012 in Events

 

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Harlem Book Fair 2012: 5 Other Hot New York Destinations

 by Roz Edward

Make it a point to get to the annual Harlem Book Fair 2012, presented by Quarterly Black Review, with panels in the Langston Hughes Auditorium at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The HBF offers book readings in the courtyard, and vendors on 135th Street. Don’t miss the teen book talk with author Ellis Cose as part of the Schombrug Center’s The End of Anger Summer Reading Series.

Saturday, July 21 at 10 a.m.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture | The New York Public Library

515 Malcolm X Boulevard | New York, NY 10037 | www.schomburgcenter.org

While you’re soaking up Harlem’s rich culture visit the Studio Museum, the foremost exhibitor of the work of African American artists. The permanent collection contains works by James Van Der Zee, important African and Caribbean artifacts and paintings by post-World War II artists.


144 West 125th Street
New York, New York 10027
(212) 864-4500
www.studiomuseum.org

In Carol’s Daughter flagship location, the whitewashed brick walls, blond wood shelves and subtle fragrance, offer spa-like tranquility. You’ll find the coveted new hair care product Monoi (pronounced muh-noy), the ancient Tahitian ingredient that prevents breakage.

Carol’s Daughter
24 West 125th Street
Harlem, NY 10027
(212) 828-6757
www.carolsdaughter.com

This is Uptown’s sole antiquarian bookshop specializes in local history, African and American: Colonialist and Revolutionary books, art, and ephemera relating to the Morris/Jumel Mansion and its community: Harlem, Washington Heights, African America, Africa, and the Black Atlantic are their specialties.

Jumel Terrace Books
426 West 160th Street
New York, New York 10032
(212) 928-9525
www.jumelterracebooks.com

SWING is a lifestyle boutique offering an eclectic mix and full range of apparel, children’s wear, home decor, beauty products, art, music and lifestyle products. Their ever-evolving inventory features an array of distinctive brands, exclusive and high-end European brands, and an array of hand-selected products from around the world.

SWING
1960 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd.
(Corner of 118th Street)
Harlem, NY 10026
(212) 222-5802
http://www.swing-nyc.com

The designs by the luxury milliner and hatter is a favorite of infamous editor-at-large and “America’s Next Top Model” judge, André Leon Talley.

Hats by Rachel Rae
featured at the Museum of the City of New York
Museum Shop
1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street
New York, NY 10029
(212) 534-1672
Or by appointment with Rachel Rae: www.itsaraerae.com

 

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National Black Pre-Law Conference Provides Game-Changing Connections and Insider Knowledge to Aspiring Black Lawyers

Thinking about exploring law school but need to get the facts and connect with those who are currently going through or have already been through it in order to make a more fully informed decision? This fall, Houston, the fourth largest city and one of the most diverse cities in the country, hosts the only comprehensive national pre-law conference in the country. The Eighth Annual National Black Pre-Law Conference and Law Fair 2012 will be held from Friday, November 2, 2012 to Saturday, November 3, 2012 at The Westin Galleria Houston. This event focuses on reaching out to African Americans interested in becoming lawyers in order to provide them with game-changing information, resources, and contacts to increase their chances of success.

This year’s schedule is jam-packed with powerful workshop sessions, panels and town hall meetings/forums covering everything any aspiring lawyer would need to know to make an educated decision regarding pursuing a professional legal education and career. There will be thought-provoking panel discussions made up of expert law school administrators and accomplished and knowledgeable law students, law graduates, lawyers and judges from across the nation.

Key ‘insider’ information will be shared about navigating the admissions process, conquering the Law School Admission Test, writing personal and diversity statements, financing a legal education, selecting a law school, preparing for and making the most of the law school experience, intelligently coping with diversity issues, passing the bar exam, managing student loan debt, considering different legal career options and paths, finding success in the legal job search, and advancing in one’s career. Special workshops will train participants on effective networking and relationship building, etiquette and business image, leadership and service, and strategic planning. The event even delves into the more controversial issues including whether law school is worth the investment with the looming debt load and fewer jobs in this unstable economy, the unique challenges and concerns African Americans face in legal education and in the profession, as well as the legal education reform movement.

The conference will showcase keynote speakers and guest speakers who will share words of encouragement and their own personal journeys to lawyerhood. This year’s keynote addresses will be given by Angela Rye, Executive Director and General Counsel of The Congressional Black Caucus and Director of Strategic Partnerships for IMPACT, Cassandra Sneed Ogden, Executive Director of The Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO), Brian Tippens, Director of Hewlett-Packard‘s Global Procurement Sustainability & Innovation organization, Carla D. Pratt, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Law at Penn State University’s Dickinson School of Law, Leonard Baynes, Professor of Law and Director of The Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development at St. John’s University School of Law, and Sherry D. Williams, Senior Vice President and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer at Halliburton.

The conference will also feature two signature events, an advice clinic and a practical assistance session where participants can receive help from law students and attorneys. Furthermore, the popular Law School Recruitment Fair will give pre-law students the opportunity to talk to law school representatives from approximately 100 law schools at all tier levels from across the country. The event will close on a high note with special recognition and a pinning ceremony dedicated to aspiring Black lawyers in attendance.

With only 7% of law students and 5% of all lawyers being African American, the need for greater representation remains high. This groundbreaking ‘must attend’ event is free of charge and open to the public. A nominal seat deposit is required to reserve your seat, and secure the conference bag, e-books, resources and materials.

High school students, college students and graduates, working professionals, career changers, college multicultural, career and pre-law advisors, as well as supporters and parents are all encouraged to take advantage of the amazing benefits this world-class conference offers. Further information and updates regarding the conference schedule and featured speakers and panelists can be found at the official conference website at http://www.BlackPreLawConference.com. You may also call 281-247-4026 or 281-944-LAW4 (5294).

 
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Posted by on July 11, 2012 in Events, Law

 

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Jill Scott’s Summer Block Party – For Adults Only

Jill Scott's Summer Block Party – For Adults Only

 

When Jill Scott throws a Block Party, like the one she staged at the Verizon Center last Thursday, let it be known that this was not your average family outing! This party was strictly for grown ups.

Scott’s “Summer Block Party” did keep folks entertained, and took some back to their school days, opening with the still amazing rap duet of Salt-N-Pepa. Like soup-and-sandwich, you can’t have one without the other, and despite the 25 years that have passed since their debut, these girls still got it going on.

Rolling through their hits “The Mike Sounds Nice,” “I’ll Take Your Man,” “Whatta Man,” and “Shoop,” the two who have barely aged a day, could have handled the show all by themselves. But they were just the openers! Emceed by another ageless entity, Doug E. Fresh, the first part of the party took the audience, which was primarily made up of the over-30 crowd, back to their teenage, or in some cases, pre-teen years.

After Salt-N-Pepa pumped up the crowd, there was a marked shift in energy when Kem, with his smooth soul sound, came on stage with a 12-person band all dressed in white. Despite the fact that he has only released three recordings, the audience seemed very familiar with his lyrics, singing along with “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” “Share My Life,” and the Grammy Award-winning “Why Would You Stay.” Kem showed that he too could kick it “Old School” when his band and backup singers performed a medley of 70s songs; the Emotions “Best of My Love,” Earth, Wind & Fire’s “Can’t Hide Love” and Chaka Khan and Rufus’ “Sweet Thing,” which backup singer L’Renee blew the roof off on.

Despite Kem’s mellow groove, the crowd was ready for Scott, but a long band change followed since Kem’s band and Scott’s band are relatively large. But leave it to the ultimate MC, Fresh to keep the party moving, launching into a tribute to Chuck Brown, who he called “a friend, a Real friend,” while the deejay played the best of Chuck B. to the delight of a D-M-V crowd still reeling from the May death of the Godfather of Go-Go.

Fresh took it a notch further, going into his own repertoire of human beat-box rhythms, including an extended version of “The Show,” which utilized all of Fresh’s skills as a rapper and beat-boxer. Adding the icing to the cake, he demonstrated how the “Original Dougie” dance should be done, interlocking smooth, flawless moves that should have been impossible for someone at the advanced age of 46. Not only did he do the real Dougie, but showed the basketballer’s version of the Dougie as well as the “Golf Dougie,” all to the absolute delight of the crowd.

But when it came down to time for Scott, the anticipation in the air was palpable. And the incredible Ms. Scott – singer, songwriter, poet and actress – did not disappoint. Her 100-minute set started with a rousing “It’s Love,” from her first album, “Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1,” setting the stage for a night of total entertainment. At one point, she pulled out a straight bob wig and placed it on her latest hairdo, a short natural that showed off her beautiful features, and morphed into rock-and-roll Jill after a duet of “All Cried Out Redux,” with Fresh, who appears on her chart-topping CD “The Light of the Sun.”

Perhaps what makes Scott so endearing to people are her monologues and honesty, and she spared no details from the recent weighing of her breasts; “under these 22 pounds … is a heart,” she quipped, to a raunchy infomercial for a male freshener, which she dedicated to Rick Ross and Waka Flocka Flame.

 
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Posted by on July 1, 2012 in Events, Music

 

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Verizon’s ‘How Sweet the Sound’ Returns to D.C.

by drowley@washingtoninformer.com (WI Web Staff Report)
Verizon's 'How Sweet the Sound' Returns to D.C.

Local Choirs Perform to Win Prizes, Advance to National Finale

(Tickets Go On Sale 10 a.m., June 22)

 

WASHINGTON, DC – Critics from coast to coast have called it everything from “Fierce” and “Uplifting” to “Authentic” and “Emphasizes Worship.” No matter how you view it, one thing for sure is the fact that Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound™ is a musical celebration unlike any other. It is the ultimate gospel music experience that pays tribute to gospel music and provides choirs a platform to showcase their talent. For the fifth year in a row, gospel music fans and enthusiasts from coast to coast will witness the country’s premiere and most prestigious gospel choirs and have a chance to see first-hand what critics have been raving about.

Registration is currently open for the 2012 Verizon’s How Sweet the Sound™ Gospel Celebration and interested choir representatives can visit http://www.HowSweetTheSound.com until Saturday, June 30 to sign up to be part of the How Sweet the Sound community. By registering, choirs will have the chance to rejoice in song and praise; sing in front of gospel greats and fans; and compete for a chance to win up to $50,000 in cash and prizes. After registering, choirs will be judged for their chance to advance to the regional competition.

This year, one of seven power-packed regional finals and musical celebrations will be held in Washington, D.C., 7:30 p.m., Sept. 12 at Verizon Center. Tickets are $20.99, $16, $11. Tickets are available at the Verizon Center box office, all TicketMaster locations and online at ticketmaster.com

Other cities hosting the competition, as part of the 2012 Verizon How Sweet the Sound™ tour, are Dallas, Atlanta, Newark, Detroit and Los Angeles. Competing choirs will vie for their chance to advance to the finale in New York scheduled for November 4 at the Barclays Center, where they will compete for a chance to win cash and prizes and the title of “The Best Gospel Choir in America.”

GRAMMY® award-winning, songwriter, producer, arranger and music director Donald Lawrence will serve as host and be joined by GRAMMY® award-winning entertainer, producer, author and syndicated radio host Yolanda Adams. In addition, Erica Campbell of Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, Bishop Hezekiah Walker and CeCe Winans will serve as resident judges for this year’s competition and also perform on stage, alongside Lawrence and Adams.

Last year, Tarboro, N.C.-based Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir won the grand prize and the title “Best Gospel Choir in America.” The choir used their prize money to support “Weight On The Lord” – a program designed to help people in their community make healthier lifestyle choices. They were also able to kick off their “How Sweet The Tidings” program just in time for the holidays. The program afforded them the chance to adopt five families for the holidays, giving them food and gifts.

“Anyone would love to have the bragging rights of calling themselves “the best church choir” in the nation,” said Kristian Herring, director of Salvation and Deliverance Church Choir. “How Sweet the Sound truly helped change our lives.”

 
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Posted by on June 18, 2012 in Events, Music

 

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Amiri Baraka – Founding Father of Black Arts Movement – to Highlight Leimert Park Book Fair

amiri baraka

Amiri Baraka

*(Los Angeles, CA) -  Often referred to as the “ founding father of the Black Arts Movement,” Amiri Baraka is as committed now as ever.

And, as a result of his consistent life-long commitment and dedication to documenting the African American experience in the United States, Mr. Baraka will be the featured artist during the 6th Annual Leimert Park Village Book Fair, “Tribute to the Black Arts Movement” beginning at 10 a.m., Saturday, June 30, 2012 on the Vision Theatre parking lot at Degnan Blvd. and 43rd Street, Los Angeles.

Considered one of the most important times in African American literature and art, the Black Arts Movement (BAM) reflected the intensity of the Black Liberation Movement, which started after the February 21, 1965 murder of Malcolm X and went through the mid 1970s, according to Mr. Baraka.

“After Malcolm X was assassinated we came to believe there really was a war against Black people and not just the work of some disconnected racist white folk,” he explained.  Malcolm’s assassination “drove us from Greenwich Village to Harlem.”

Already established as an influential poet, writer, activist, Mr. Baraka had significant work published in the early 1960s including his first volume of poetry, Preface to a Twenty-Volume Suicide Note in 1961; his seminal work on Afro-American music and culture, Blues People: Negro Music in White America in 1963 and, his Obie Award winning play, Dutchman in 1964.

In 1965 Harlem, Mr. Baraka founded the Black Arts Repertory Theatre/School (BARTS) with like-minded artists including Larry Neal and Askia Toure’ among others.

For the better part of a year they sent five trucks a day into the Harlem community promoting art shows, poetry readings, music, graphic illustrations and drama on vacant lots, playgrounds and in housing projects.

“The Black Arts Movement was inspired by what Malcolm X talked about,” Mr. Baraka commented.  Another of his influential poems, “Black Art,” confirmed Malcolm X’s philosophy with language “we want poems that kill,” in a time that also boasted slogans like “Arm yourself or harm yourself,” and a favorite from the Black Panther Party for Self Defense, “Off the pigs.”

In fact, he credits one of his 1967 poems, “Black People,” for causing the “first time I got in trouble.”  Mr. Baraka says he was arrested and sentenced for “possession of two guns and a poem.”  That poem, considered more lethal than the guns, netted him a three-year sentence, which was overturned after he spent less than a week in jail.

The “second” issue of trouble surrounded his penning “Somebody Blew Up America,” after the bombing of the New York World Trade Center in 2001.

“I could see the World Trade Center from the third floor of my house in Newark, New Jersey,” he offered.  “We were particularly frightened by (then) President Bush’s statement that terrorists had blown up the World Trade Center because they hated us and our democracy.  All I could think of was that the (Ku Klux) Klan was the terrorism that we knew and that Afro-Americans had gotten to this country through terrorism.”

After reading the poem at a local festival, Mr. Baraka was stripped of his recent honor as New Jersey’s Poet Laureate and the $10,000 stipend that went with it.  He continues as Poet Laureate of the Newark Public Schools.

In between, Mr. Baraka has served with National Black Assembly; Black Radical Congress; The Congress of Afrikan People;  created numerous artistic expression spaces with his wife, Amina; and as Professor of Africana Studies at the State University of New York.  His latest offering, “RAZOR: Revolutionary Art for Cultural Revolution,” recently was published by Third World Press in Chicago.

“As a poet and political activist, I thought it silly to exclude my politics from my poetry,” Mr. Baraka explains.  “”If you choose to tell the truth, you have to accept what goes with it.  Then, you have to carry it on.”

For aspiring artists he advises, “Know that you’re not going to be rich and that you’re going to be attacked for telling the truth, especially if it’s against corruption.”

“Know that what you say is going to come back at you,” he added.  “It’s like being a soldier.”

Mr. Baraka will open the Leimert Park Village Book Fair (LPVBF) on the main stage at 10 a.m., participate in a panel on the Black Arts Movement with Pan African Film Fest’s Ayuko Babu and renowned poet Sonia Sanchez at 1 p.m., and perform poetry on the main stage in a special tribute to Gwendolyn Brooks at 3 p.m.

“We couldn’t be more excited about Mr. Baraka’s participation,” exclaimed LPVBF founder, Cynthia Exum.  “His confirmation to participate adds significantly to our already stellar line up.”

About Leimert Park Village Book Fair
LPVBF is a non-profit 501 © (3) organization whose mission is to promote, encourage and advocate literacy, education and the love of reading throughout the Greater Los Angeles area.

LPVBF is produced by Exum and Associates in partnership with LA. City 8th District Councilmember Bernard C. Parks.  Bernard and Shirley Kinsey are co-chairs.  The LPVBF also is supported by public partners Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, 2nd District; the City of Los Angeles; the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs; the Bernard and Shirley Kinsey Foundation; Community Build, Inc.; and the Leimert Park Village Merchant’s Association.  Sponsors include Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, Capri Capital Partners, Nestle U.S.A., Inc., Sempra Energy, KPFK 90.7 FM radio, Xerox, Pepperdine University Graziadio School of Business an Management, Time Warner Cable, KABC-TV Channel 7, and United Parcel Service (UPS).

 

 

 

source:
Rae Jones
Raediant Communications
raediantcommunications@hotmail.com

 

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Grand opening of Black Archives is Saturday

In preparation for the opening of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Shannon Julien (left) and Jon Zwillenberg, both collection librarians with the Kansas City Public Library, install the final exhibits into glass cases Tuesday morning at the newly renovated building, located at 1722 E. 17th Terr. The grand opeing is June 16.

More information

• Grand opening ceremonies for the Black Archives of Mid-America begin at noon Saturday and run through 4 p.m.

• The archives’ collections will be available to researchers beginning June 26, following a teachers’ conference next week. Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, as well as by appointment. Those seeking access to archives collections can call 816 221-1600 or forward an email through the archives’ website, http://www.blackarchives.org.

In 1908, the average weight of the Lincoln High School football squad’s offensive linemen was 170 pounds.

The team finished with three wins, no losses and two ties, defeating Sumner, Independence and St. Joseph’s.

These details, hidden away for the past six years, are within reach again. They’re inscribed on a 1908 team photograph that is part of the Black Archives of Mid-America’s collection.

The archives, which closed in 2006, reopens this weekend.

The team photo and other displayed items are among thousands of the one-of-a-kind artifacts, manuscripts and photographs that for years were locked away from researchers, inaccessible and even feared at risk. Now the materials are on file in the archives’ new home at 1722 E. 17th Terrace, in the 18th and Vine District.

The artifacts compliment a new permanent exhibit, “With My Eyes No Longer Blind,” that illustrates Kansas City-area African-American history by artfully juxtaposing portraits of community leaders arranged against a Kansas City skyline of buildings that figure large in area black history.

The archives’ reopening means a more complete version of Kansas City’s story is accessible, said Doretha Williams, executive director.

“We have a narrative that needs to be told and that is why the Black Archives is important,” Williams said. “The African-American narrative cannot be removed from the overall narrative of Kansas City.”

Yet, for the past six years, something close to that had happened.

Due to the financial issues that dogged the organization, the archives shut down in 2006, effectively sealing its collections inside its former firehouse headquarters at 2033 Vine St. State officials inspected the collection and announced that immediate steps needed to be taken to protect it from deterioration. At least one demonstration was held outside the archives’ locked doors, protesting the danger posed to the documented record of the Kansas City area’s African-American community.

Yet today, only a few items appear to have suffered from mold issues, Williams said.

Those have been forwarded to specialists for evaluation.

“It’s pretty amazing that most of it has come through unscathed,” said collection librarian Jon Zwillenberg.

That would have pleased Horace Peterson, who began assembling the artifacts in the early 1970s.

Peterson was the archives’ animating spirit and the collection reflected his enthusiasm. While it included traditional archival photographs and historic documents, it also included antique comic books, period baseball apparel and even a former slave cabin.

“History is too important to leave to historians,” Peterson enjoyed saying.

Peterson died in a 1992 drowning accident. By 2006, the archives was in peril, with problems that included failure to pay property taxes or file necessary documents to maintain its standing as a nonprofit corporation.

Jay Nixon, then the Missouri attorney general, intervened and helped lead a dialogue to save the collection. A variety of institutions, among them the Kansas City Parks and Recreation Department, the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Kansas City Public Library, joined to re-imagine the archives’ mission.

Most of the archives’ holdings were moved out of the firehouse to the new location in 2010. Since then, cataloging and processing has been challenging, Zwillenberg said. Sometimes, he said, he comes upon collections in which the rare is commingled with the everyday.

“You would have an artifact from the 1920s next to 10 photocopies,” he said. “So, that has been a focus, to separate out the primary materials.

“But that’s exciting.”

Through that process, Zwillenberg and others selected a variety of artifacts to display. They include a program from “50 Years of Freedom,” a musical review from 1913 produced 50 years after the Emancipation Proclamation; a portrait of Ada Crogman Franklin, wife of Kansas City Call founder Chester Franklin; a photograph of Duke Ellington inscribed to the Franklins by the composer; and a program from a 1941 Ellington concert.

Such artifacts will be rotated, all complimenting the new permanent exhibit that seeks to present Kansas City area African-American history not through a traditional timeline but along concurrent paths devoted to themes such as housing, health, education, labor and the professions, media and leisure. The exhibit follows themes detailed in the 2006 book, “Take Up the Black Man’s Burden: Kansas City’s African-American Communities, 1865-1939,” by Charles Coulter.

“When we began looking around the region, there were no interpretive exhibits that really told the story of this community in this region,” said Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner, Kansas City Public Library deputy executive director, who helped develop the exhibit.

“We really felt the archives was the place for that.”

The exhibit’s title, “With My Eyes No Longer Blind,” references a Langston Hughes poem.

“We want everybody to have their eyes opened to the contributions of African-Americans in this region,” Kositany-Buckner said.

The archives, as well as its newly renovated home, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, soon may be considered the equivalent of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York or the DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago, said Delia Gillis, University of Central Missouri history professor and archives’ board member.

Barbara Peterson, widow of Horace Peterson and archives board chairman, said the new location in the 18th and Vine District will re-position the institution within the Kansas City cultural community and make its collections more accessible.

“We are looking forward to being able to open our doors and have the community come in and take advantage of the materials there,” she said.

“I’m really pleased and happy at how it turned out.”

To reach Brian Burnes, call 816 234-4120 or send email to bburnes@kcstar.com

 

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Cheap$kate: FREE events in NYC this weekend

Laura Marling

Photo credit: Laura Marling

Laura Marling, Michael Kiwanuka and Willy Mason at Celebrate Brooklyn!
Venture out and celebrate Brooklyn tonight with some international flavor from across the pond. British folk singer-songwriter Laura Marling and British soul singer Michael Kiwanuka will take the stage at the Prospect Park Bandshell, along with songwriter Willy Mason, as part of this year’s FREE Celebrate Brooklyn! concert series. (Though it is FREE, there’s a suggested donation of $3 at the door, so if you can afford the minimal fee, don’t be a total Cheap$kate and fork it over.) Various artists will perform throughout the summer, so check the site to see if your fave musician will grace the Bandshell stage. (Thursday, 7-10 p.m., FREE, Prospect Park Bandshell, closest entrance at 9th St. and Prospect Park West,bricartsmedia.org)

Street fair

Atlantic Avenue Extravaganza
Head to Brooklyn on Saturday for the first-ever Atlantic Avenue Extravaganza, presented by the Atlantic Avenue Business Improvement District. Enjoy sidewalk performances, store events, tastings, demos and more along the bustling avenue from the Brooklyn Queens Expressway down to Fourth Avenue. Make an afternoon of it! (Saturday, 1-5 p.m., FREE, sidewalks along Atlantic Ave. from BQE to Fourth Ave., atlanticavebid.org)

 
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Posted by on June 14, 2012 in Events

 

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South Africa Remixed

Saturday, June 16, 2012

To mark South African Youth Day, the Schomburg Center examines the country’s burgeoning arts scene. Hear a set of drum ’n’ bass by musician Nomsa Mazwai, see short films curated by ImageNation Cinema Foundation, and participate in a discussion on youth culture. South African consul general George Monyemangene provides opening remarks. Registration is recommended.

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

4/5 Train515 Malcolm X Blvd (Lenox Ave), (at 135th St), New York Show map

 

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Lorraine Hansberry Theatre hosts Opening Night, featuring Robert Townsend and his film ‘In the Hive’

Opening Night at the San Francisco Black Film Festival will kick off at the historic Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, 450 Post St., Union Square, Friday, June 15, with a 6 p.m. VIP Red Carpet Reception, 7 p.m. screening of Robert Townsend’s “In The Hive,” starring Loretta Devine, Michael Clarke Duncan, Vivica A. Fox and featuring newcomer Jonathan McDaniel, “a young Denzel,” along with a panel discussion and VIP Red Carpet Afterparty.

“Hollywood Renaissance Man” Robert Townsend, actor, comedian, producer, director, television executive, writer and humanitarian, takes director’s credit for “In The Hive.”

“In the Hive” director Robert Townsend is coming a day early, on Thursday, to promote his film, which opens the festival. Based on a true story, its universal theme is one person making a difference in the lives of many. Michael Clarke Duncan, Loretta Devine, Vivica A. Fox and newcomer Jonathan McDaniel headline the film that tells the story of how a cook in rural North Carolina changed the hopeless lives of young men discarded by society.

“We’re pleased to have Robert Townsend’s film that was produced in collaboration with One Economy as part of the our 14th festival,” said festival director Kali Oray. “It is a signature piece that leads what I am seeing as a redemptive theme, considering films like the international ‘Fambul Tok’ of Sierra Leone, which demonstrates forgiveness in its highest form, and Kevin Epps’ ‘FAM BAM,’ JR Valrey’s ‘Block Reportin’ 101’ and Jacquie Taliaferro’s ‘10-10 Gotta Win’ and other films. The San Francisco Black Film Festival, in alignment with our mission, provides a platform for established and emerging filmmakers,” added Oray.

“The San Francisco Black Film Festival organizers and volunteers see the festival as more than just entertainment,” said Rey Ramsey, co-founder and chairman of the board for One Economy, which has brought broadband access to over 300,000 low income Americans and is located on four continents. “We’re beginning a relationship that will launch on-going educational opportunities that include screenings and panel discussions beyond opening night. Most important is the message of the movie: ‘In the Hive’ is about real people and represents what’s happening every day around the country. Stay tuned for the additional educational programs in the upcoming months.”

SFBFF films

Some festival highlights include “In The Hive,” directed by Robert Townsend, a universal story of the triumph of the underdog when just one person decides there is a better way and that the weakest among us is noble and has great worth. Former De Young Museum Fellow Kevin Epps’ “FAM BAM” examines the Black family structure and its resilience. Jacquie Taliaferro’s “10-10 Gotta Win” showcases the importance of voting, and JR Valrey’s “Block Reportin’ 101” gives the 411 on the Block Report brand of journalism and how it serves people and communities that are often denied outlets elsewhere.

Actress Loretta Devine, right, portrays the real life heroic figure of “In the Hive,” Vivian Saunders, left.

“Fambul Tok” (“Family Talk”) by Sara Terry chronicles Sierra Leoneans drawing on ancient traditions of addressing issues within the safety of the family circle to make their communities whole again. “Elza” by Marriette Monpierre is the dramatic tale of a young Parisian woman of Caribbean descent who returns to her native island of Guadeloupe looking for the father she has never known.

For a list of other films and workshops on animation for youth 12-17 with special guest Leo Sullivan, Bill Cosby’s legendary cartoonist, visit http://www.sfbff.org/z2011-aftr-fest/2012-schedule-shell.html.

Celebrity sightings

The list of celebrities grows as the festival nears. Jonathan McDaniel of “In the Hive,” Bill Cosby’s legendary cartoonist Leo Sullivan, who created “Fat Albert and the Kids,” Morrie Turner, creator of syndicated comic strip “Wee Pals,” James Weston II, seen most recently in “Red Tails and Transformers,” Welterweight Champion of the World Karim “Hard Hitta” Mayfield, Romancing the Bass’ Tony Saunders, playing at the Hansberry June 22, Larry Batiste, pre-Grammy Awards music director, KMEL’s Lady Ray, Charleston Pierce, who’s lighting up the airwaves for Cadillac, Samm Styles, Warner Bros. director for “Black August,” Y’Anad Burrell, founder and creative director of “Fashion on the Square,” author Alonzo Tucker, Dr. Maxine Hickman, president of the San Francisco National Coalition of 100 Black Women are among those attending the Red Carpet VIP Reception and other events.

The late Ave Montague, founder of the San Francisco Black Film Festival. – Photo: SF Chronicle

Invited guests include Robert Townsend, Loretta Devine, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Clarke Duncan, Danny Glover, Carl Lumbly, Delroy Lindo, Jordin Sparks, Mike Epps, Shabaka Henley, Ted Lange, Michael Lange, Jerri Lange, Belva Davis, Barbara Rodgers, Clifford Brown Jr., Nikki Thomas, Steven Anthony Jones, Brenda Payton, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

The San Francisco Black Film Festival is a platform for established and emerging artists that was founded by the late arts impresario Ave Montague. SFBFF continues since her death in 2009 under the leadership of her son, Kali Oray, and his wife, Katerra Crossley, with a team of volunteers and well-wishers who understand the arts are more than entertainment.

What about the San Francisco Black Film Festival?

We thank you for catching the vision to support the growing brand of the San Francisco Black Film Festival that is about more than entertainment. It’s about providing a cultural platform for exchange of ideas. It’s about commerce as people come into San Francisco for dinner before or after a film, use cabs, BART, Muni and stay in hotels.

Newcomer Jonathan McDaniel lights up the screen of “In the Hive” like a “young Denzel.”

It’s about creating synergy for volunteerism, job training and job development around the film industry and tangential industries. It’s about building on the legacy of founder Ave Montague for future generations. It’s about collaboration, as the San Francisco Black Film Festival partners with the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, Calvary Community Church, Wells Fargo Bank, PG&E, California Tobacco Free Project, Recology, Urban Game Suite, Rainbow Grocery Co-op, San Francisco Bay View newspaper, the Jazz Heritage Center, KPFA, KPOO, LaHitz Media, Bay Area Black Journalists Association, African American Arts and Culture Complex, Academy of Art University, One Economy Corp. and more. It’s about multiculturalism and it’s about you!

For more information, visit www.sfbff.org and listen to JR Valrey of BlockReportRadio.com interview SFBFF co-director Kali Oray:

 

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Fun in the Sun: Five Summer Festivals to Check Out

Summer’s here again, which means a plethora of opportunities to get out and get into something good. Whether you live in a major hub or a small town, when the weather breaks, there’s something for everyone to do. In case you need a few ideas, here’s a look at five upcoming summer festivals to whet your appetite for travel, music, books, and film.

1. Essence Music Festival
The most popular black music festival will return to New Orleans on the weekend of July 6-8. This year’s guests include Aretha Franklin, D’angelo, Marsha Ambrosious, Goapele, Fantasia, Eve, Estelle, The Robert Gl asper Experiment, and SWV. This is just a sampling of the action-packed weekend’s entertainment. Awkward Black Girl’s Issa Rae will be speaking. Super-fine actor DB Woodside will be in attendance. And gospel acts include Mary Mary, Fred Hammond, and Israel Houghton. Tickets are still available.

2. Montreal Jazz Festival
This Canadian festival has long provided a home for soul and jazz acts of note. This year’s talent includes Janelle Monae, Esperanza Spalding, Seal, and Norah Jones. In addition to an introduction to a host of new international music acts, you’d also get to experience the breathtaking sights in Montreal. The festival runs from June 28 to July 7. It combines free outdoor shows with ticketed concerts.

3. New York Summerstage
This is a bit of cheat; it isn’t a festival. It’s a summer concert series–one of the best in the country. This year, it will reunite Amel Larrieux and Bryce Wilson, who will perform as Groove Theory for the first time since the early aughts. Other performers include Tamia, the Res-Talib Kweli-fronted band Idle Warship, Robert Glasper Experiment, Bobby Womack, Goapele, and Eric Roberson. Check dates and times at the website above.

4. The Harlem Book Fair
This one -day event, which brings together some of the biggest names in black books, gets bigger and better ever year. Its panels are annually televised on C-SPAN. Its vendors are friendly and often provide you an audience with the writers of your favorite books. A mix of urban and contemporary lit, the Harlem Book Fair combines outdoor performances and sellers, with indoor workshops and speakers. This year’s event takes place on Saturday, July 21.

5. The American Black Film Festival
Looking for an excuse to jaunt off to Miami Beach this summer? Here’s one. The American Black Film Festival will be there during the weekend of June 20-23. Each year, it boasts the world premieres of many African American and world films. This year’s list of films includes Matthew Cherry’s buzz-w orthy feature, The Last Fall, Russ Parr’s church-set drama, The Undershepherd, starring Isaiah Washington, and The Dark Party, co-written and directed by Kadeem Hardison. For those interested in learning more about filmmaking, the festival offers crash courses in various movie-making processes.

Whatever your interests, start researching and planning now, and you’re sure to spend your summer months partying the nights away. Do you have plans to attend any of these events? Are you headed to another fun function you’d like others to know about?

 

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Danny Glover, Lonette McKee et al. Set for Coalition of Theatres of Color Town Hall Meeting, 6/4

Danny-Glover-Lonette-McKee-et-al-Set-for-Coalition-of-Theatres-of-Color-Town-Hall-Meeting-64-20010101

Danny GloverLonette McKeeBarbara MontgomeryDaniel Beaty,Roscoe Orman and other veterans of New York theater will address “Can NYC’s Theatres of Color Survive in the New Economy?” at the Coalition of Theatres of Color (CTC) Town Hall Meeting on June 4 at 6PM at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard (135th St. & Lenox Avenue) in Harlem.

The public is invited to attend this free Town Hall Meeting, which will also feature journalists Esther Armah, Bob Law and Felipe Luciano. There will be special performances by Obie winner Daniel Beaty and the Grammy and Oscar-nominated youth group Impact.

“Each of the CTC theatre institutions have been operating in New York for 35 to 45 years. These CTC members have launched careers of superstars and culturally inspired multicultural communities and the nation,” pointed out Woodie King, chairman, CTC and the founder and producing director, New Federal Theatre. “Yet, according to various reports, CTC members receive less than one-tenth of one percent of the total funds earmarked for arts and culture from city, state and private funding. It’s imperative that elected officials, public and private grantors and theatre audiences understand that it’s important to ensure that New York’s Theatres of Color receive equitable funding.”

Founded in 2004 at the urging of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee to address inequitable funding for theatrical institutions of color, CTC continues to advocate parity in funding and resource allocation between its members. The CTC institutions have a tradition of addressing the needs of the community and preserving and promoting its cultural heritage.

Some of America’s most high profile actors from Denzel WashingtonSamuel L. JacksonMorgan FreemanLaurence FishburnePhylicia RashadHattie Winston, Charles Dutton, Phyllis Stickney andLucy Liu to Alimi Ballard (“Numb3rs,” “Fast Five”), Daniel Dae Kim (“Lost,”“Hawaii Five-O”) and Donald Faison (“Scrubs,” “Clueless”) to South African producer/playwright Duma Ndlovu (“Shelia’s Day”) and playwright/director Mbongeni Ngema (“Sarafina”) were nurtured and showcased on the stages of CTC’s historically multicultural New York City theatres. While there has been a growth in Broadway shows featuring Black stories, the talented actors, writers, producers, technicians, designers, directors, dancers and choreographers are still sharpening their craft at historically Black and multicultural theatres.

Collectively CTC members brings over 350 years of artistic achievement with critically acclaimed and award-winning presentations. New York City members are AUDELCO, (Manhattan) Black Spectrum Theatre (Queens), Billie Holiday Theatre (Brooklyn), H.A.D.L.E.Y Players (Manhattan), Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center (Bronx), National Black Theatre (Manhattan), Negro Ensemble Company(Manhattan), New Federal Theatre (Manhattan), New Heritage Theatre Group (Manhattan), Pan Asian Repertory Theatre (Manhattan), Paul Robeson Theater (Brooklyn), and The Afrikan Poetry Theatre (Queens).

Read more:http://broadwayworld.com/article/Danny-Glover-Lonette-McKee-et-al-Set-for-Coalition-of-Theatres-of-Color-Town-Hall-Meeting-64-20120528#ixzz1wTbvYCvF

 

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Interview with Eva Greene-Wilson, Co-organizer, Anancy Festival 2012 Washington DC

Eva Greene-Wilson

This week we have a conversation with Eva Greene-Wilson Co-organizer, Anancy Festival 2012 Washington DC. The Anancy festival is June 9th, 2012. Here is our conversation with Eva.

What Caribbean Country are you from?
My parents are from Trinidad and Tobago. Most of my family is still there.  A very small number of us live here in the US, and we try to stay close.

Tell us about Anancy Fest 2012 Washington, DC?
I am a Caribbean American parenting blogger, and I approached Dr. Claire Nelson several months ago about doing a children’s event with the Institute for Caribbean Studies.  When the opportunity arose, she contacted me, and I was happy to get involved.

What is the main goal of the festival?
The goal of the festival is to introduce children to the wonderful Anansi stories.  Many children have heard of Anansi with various spellings and stories.  Even comic book characters have been based on Anansi!  We would like to make the connection to the Caribbean for the children and parents who attend.

What can we expect this year?
This is our first year, and our event is taking place in the morning, so we have a parent’s corner with coffee and light morning foods, face painting for the kids, storytelling, crafts, and giveaways.  Our event is more of an extended story time at the library.

Tell us about this years line-up?
This year, we are fortunate enough have Dr. Claire Nelson herself telling stories at the event as well as well know Jamaican  author Joelle Cohen Wright performing a sketch she is tailoring just for our audience of Caribbean, Caribbean American, and American families.

What does Anancy mean to you?
I grew up in a home that I knew was different.  We ate different foods, had different sayings, and our own stories.  I work very hard to keep my children and my readers connected to Caribbean culture, and I believe that the Anancy stories and this festival are an important and enjoyable way to connect our children to their heritage.

What does Caribbean American Heritage month mean to you?
Many of the achievements of black America can be attributed to a person of Caribbean heritage, and this is a fact that is often overlooked.  Influential writers and thinkers of the Harlem Renaissance, proponents the Civil Rights movement, and many of todays artists and entertainers have a Caribbean background.  Caribbean American parents and children need to know how powerful their heritage is, not just as a person of African, Indian, Chinese, or other ethnicity, but as a descendant of Caribbean people. For America, I feel that it is important for non-Caribbean people to know that the Caribbean is more than just a vacation destination that produces beautiful music and beautiful people.  It is a small place that produces beautiful minds as well.

Do you think there is enough being done to pass in Caribbean and African history to the next generation?
I think that as with any culture in America, the pressure to assimilate is there.  Kids and teens, just by their nature, often do not want to stand out from the crowd as different, especially if they are new to the country.  I have tried to instill in my own children that their Caribbean heritage is more than grandma and grandpa’s accents, more than great music, parties, and good food, but it is a work ethic, focus on education, and will to succeed that I feel is stronger in people of Caribbean descent in America than in many other immigrant groups.

The festival this year is in four cities and growing. Where do you see the festival 5 years from now?
I would hope to see it spread to New York, and other areas in the US and Canada that have large Caribbean populations.

What other projects and events are you working on?
I am a homeschooling mom of 3, working outside of the home, so I don’t have too many projects outside of educating my kids, my job, and my blog. I do online events for my blog, Socamom.com, including radio shows and twitter parties.  I just completed one for the Universal Music, the Marley line of coffee and House of Marley.

When you are not busy with work and projects what do you do to relax?
I am pretty much always busy, but when I do get a chance to relax, I enjoy spending time with my family, experimenting with recipes with my husband, and dancing with the kids.  We are a dancing family!

My favorite Caribbean author is…
Claude McKay. I find his story fascinating, and although I don’t agree with all of his beliefs, his poems are beautifully written.

My comfort food is….
my cousin’s roti!

If I wanted to impress someone visiting my city….
I would take them to the new Martin Luther King Memorial.  It is really impressive.

Thanks for the time. Where can we learn more about the Anancy festival?
You can check out my blog at Socamom.com or icsdc.org for more information on the event in our city.  Go to AnancyFestival.com, http://facebook.com/anancyfestival and Jamaicans.com for information on our city and others.

 

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Consortium of Doctors, Ltd. to Dedicate African-American Family Monument

First African-American family monument ” src=”http://www.savannahtribune.com/sites/www.savannahtribune.com/files/images/2012-05-23/3p1.preview.jpg” alt=”
First African-American family monument ” width=”188″ height=”250″ />
First African-American family monumentThe Consortium of Doctors, LTD will hold its 21st annual meeting in Savannah, July 26 through July 29, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Savannah.

On Saturday, July 28, 2012 from 1pm -3pm the organization will celebrate the 10th anniversary and rededication of the first African-American family monument in America which is located on the historic Savannah Riverfront. Rev. Dr. John Foster will lead a brief ceremony with clergy encircling the monument.

A book signing and reception will be held from 5pm- 7pm to meet the authors. The bouquet of doctors banquet will be held from 7pm-9:30pm.On Sunday July 29, 2012 from 8am to 9:30am The Consortium of Doctors, Ltd. will attend the St. Phillip A.M.E. Church in Academia Regalia. Rev. Dr. John Foster is the pastor. To obtain a reservation form email:drbemc@sbcglobal.net. Deadline to RSVP is Monday, July 16, 2012

 

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(Series!) Blogging While Writing

Thursday, July 19 at 7 p.m.
(Series!) Blogging While Writing
Are bloggers the new writers? Is there a difference between blogging and writing? Writer Jozen Cummings (UntilIGetMarried.com) talks to Rembert Browne (grantland.com,500daysasunder.wordpress.com) and Gene Demby (huffingtonpost.com/black-voicesand postbourgie.com), to discuss their independent blogs, their work for mainstream media outlets, and how bloggers have become the voice of a generation.

FREE! To register, click here.

 

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2012 AFRICA DAY CELEBRATION NYC

All are invited!

Date:                              Friday, May 25, 2012.  Time: 6:00PM-1:00AM

Venue: Al Iman Community Center,2006 Westchester Avenue, Bronx, New York 10462

Program: Launching a new African relief project called: African Rapid Relief Mobilization whose mission is:

 

1. To trained, certified and maintain a relief army of one million global African volunteers, ready, able and willing for quick relief deployment- African Rapid Relief Mobilization.

 

2. To assist in maintaining peace, democracy and stability through outAfricaby all peaceful means necessary, whenever there is political, ethnic or religious conflict-African Peace Soldiers.

 

Invited Speakers include: Religious Scholars, Disaster Management Experts, Diplomats, Elected Officials, Charity Officials, NGO officials, Medical Doctors, etc…

 

RSVP: relief@africanpeacesoldiers.org or call 718-829-2323. http://www.africanunionday.org

 

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Bernice King to Tout Mother’s Memoir in D.C. Region

by drowley@washingtoninformer.com (WI Web Staff Report)
Bernice King to Tout Mother's Memoir in D.C. Region

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The University of Alabama Press is proud to announce that Bernice A. King will sign copies of her mother’s memoir, Desert Rose: The Life and Legacy of Coretta Scott King from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 26 at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial. The tour will continue later that day from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. as King signs the book at Busboys and Poets in Arlington, Va.

“When I first visited the monument of my father, I was both proud and humbled…proud to be the daughter of a man who impacted the world globally and humbled that our nation would bestow such an honor upon him,” said King. “The book signing of my mother’s memoir Desert Rose: The Life and Legacy of Coretta Scott King at the memorial is an opportunity befitting the tremendous love, dedication and impact she had not only on my father and his life’s work, but also the world at large.”

Desert Rose was written by Coretta’s sister Edythe Scott Bagley, who partnered with award-winning author Joe Hilley during the editing stages to ensure the story was complete, comprehensive and compelling.

Although Bagley passed away in June 2011, the dream of Mrs. King to have her story published is being carried on through her daughter and Edythe’s son, Arturo Bagley. Desert Rose details Coretta’s upbringing in a family of proud, land-owning African Americans from Marion, AL, with a profound devotion to the ideals of social equality and the values of education, as well as her later role as her husband’s most trusted confidant and advisor.

As Coretta’s older sister, Edythe shared in almost all of Coretta’s many trials and tribulations. Desert Rose charts Coretta’s hesitance about her romance with Martin Luther King and the prospect of having to sacrifice her dream of a career in music to become a minister’s wife. Ultimately, Coretta chose to utilize her artistic gifts and singing voice for the Movement through the development and performance of Freedom Concerts.

This book also charts Coretta’s own commitment and dedication, in the years that followed King’s death, to the causes of international civil rights, the antiapartheid movement, and the establishment of the King Center in Atlanta and the national King Holiday. Coretta’s devotion to activism, motherhood, and the movement led by her husband, and her courageous assumption of the legacy left in the wake of King’s untimely assassination, are wonderfully detailed in this intimate biography.

The MLK Jr. National Memorial is located at 1964 Independence Ave. in Southwest D.C. The Busboys and Poets signing will be held at the Shirlington location, 4251 South Campbell Ave. in Arlington (Phone: 703-379-9756).

 

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African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and BeyondThursday, May 17

African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and BeyondThursday, May 17

By Louis Jacobson •

“African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond” is proof that black artists not named Jacob Lawrence or Romare Bearden produced a ton of compelling 20th century art, even if it makes it into our museums less frequently. The sprawling exhibit features 100 works by 43 artists—a generous mix of painters, sculptors, and photographers. The latter group includes such celebrated figures as Roy DeCarava and Gordon Parks, but there are unexpected finds: Marilyn Nance, who artfully photographed a range of religious activities; Tony Gleaton, who assembled a wide-ranging survey of African influences throughout this hemisphere; Earlie Hudnall Jr., who made a striking image of a bare-chested boy in rumpled jeans leaning against a wood frame; and Baltimore-born Roland L. Freeman, a master of unexpected tableaux, such as an aging ’50s-era car set against a rickety, laundry-bedecked series of back porches, the downscale equivalent of Robert Frank’s famous image of a covered car amid palm trees in Long Beach, Calif. While the paintings in the exhibit touch on subjects ranging from farm labor to the civil rights struggle to homelessness, the artists channel stylistic influences as varied as Van Gogh, Gaugin, Picasso, and Hopper, a reminder that art soaks up cultural influences like a sponge. The exhibit’s boldest stroke is to include a number of fully abstract works. Most have no obvious visual connection to African-American themes, but some are exceptional. None is more so than a 1974 sculpture by Frederick Eversley: a circular black form that harbors a mysteriously glowing orb at its center. The explosion of visual diversity offers a counterpoint to “The Black List,” an exhibit that just closed at the neighboring National Portrait Gallery—50 repetitive portraits of famous African-Americans.

The exhibition is on view 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily to Sept. 3 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Eighth and F streets NW. Free. americanart.si.edu. (202) 633-7970.

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2012 in Events

 

Wendy Raquel Robinson Celebrates 15 Year Anniversary of ‘Giving Back’ to the Community

wendy raquel robinson*(LOS ANGELES) – This year commemorates Wendy Raquel Robinson’s Amazing Grace Conservatory 15th Year Anniversary, working with youth ages 5-18 to create a stronger and more vibrant community for youth where they can freely express themselves through acting, dance and voice.  The mission of Amazing Grace Conservatory is to train and develop emerging artists and at-risk youth in the performing arts by offering a well-rounded and culturally enriching, educational program in an environment that is nurturing for their personal, artistic and professional growth.

“This is a very special year for us, says Wendy Raquel Robinson, Co-Founder of Amazing Grace Conservatory.  “We are celebrating fifteen years of enhancing our community as well as the youth in Los Angeles, by providing a home away from home! I am so excited about the overwhelming support from the community and friends in the entertainment industry throughout the years it truly has taken a village. From the beginning, our mission has been to create a memorable theatrical experience that our children, friends and family will cherish for a lifetime.”

Wicked takes you on a journey back to the Land of Oz long before Dorothy drops in, when two other girls meet up and develop a unique relationship.  One is born with emerald-green skin, smart, fiery and misunderstood and the other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable journey, and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.

Declared the best musical of the decade, Amazing Grace Conservatory proudly presents their 15-Year anniversary production of Wicked at the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. Amazing Grace Conservatory’s Wicked, based on the novel by Gregory McGuire, book by Winnie Holzman will include both original and AGC-inspired musical selections including ‘BUZZING’ by recording artist and AGC Alum, Mann.

Over the years, AGC has developed a reputation of producing confident and creative young people who have completed graduate studies  at  Yale, Tisch, Howard and Julliard just to name a few. Additionally, many others are doing off Broadway productions, as well as television and film projects.

Wicked opens Saturday May 19, 2012 and will run Saturday, May 26, 2012 at 7:30 PM and Sundays,

May 20 & 27 at 6:00 pm at Nate Holden Performing Arts Center, 4718 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA  90016.

Under the direction of critically acclaimed NAACP AWARD WINNER, Denise Dowse (“Criminal Minds,” “Ray,”) and executive produced by NAACP Wendy Raquel Robinson (“BETs The Game,”), AGC has successfully produced such stellar productions as, “Dreamgirls,” “West Side Story” “Guys & Girls,”  “Oliver With A Twist,” “Annie” and “Sarafina,” just to name a few.

Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door.  For more information, please call 323-732-4283.  Ample parking is located nearby.  Visit us at www.amazinggraceconservatory.org for more information.

 

 

African-American girls learn about college opportunities at campus event

By: Tamara Chapman

On Saturday, May 19, 100 African-American middle and high school girls from Cherry Creek Schools will descend upon the University of Denver for a crash course in possibilities.

They’ll learn about the curious world of insects, the hazards of climate change and the mysteries of fractals. They’ll sample some disciplines outside the sciences that draw upon math skills, logic and analysis. And they’ll be briefed on how to prepare for college-level work and how to negotiate the admissions process. Finally, they’ll learn about life at DU.

The program, known as CARE for Black Adolescent Girls, is the brainchild of Assistant Professor Nicole Russell and Associate Professor Lori Patton, of the Morgridge College of Education. CARE stands for College Aspirations, Readiness and Empowerment, Russell says, noting that it aims to get African-American girls focused on college while alerting them to the career possibilities associated with the STEM subjects—science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Russell, an expert in math education, sees the program—and the resulting partnership with Cherry Creek Schools—as a way to reach out to an underserved community while building an admissions pipeline to the University.

“DU is really focusing now on inclusive excellence. This is an attempt to help African-American girls learn about the opportunities open to them at the University,” Russell explains, noting that the African-American community tends to view DU as a high-quality but financially out-of-reach institution. Many black students simply don’t realize that private universities are among their options and that resources are available to them.

To bring CARE to life, Russell and Patton partnered with the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, whose faculty are conducting the science and math workshops. The two also coordinated with other campus entities—residence life, admission and various academic programs—to create a daylong event that introduces the eighth-, ninth- and 10th-grade girls to the college application process, to campus culture and to African-American college students pursuing degrees at DU. A number of the DU students have volunteered to lead campus tours and to shepherd participants through the day’s events.

Brooke Gregory, executive director of high school education at Cherry Creek Schools, sees the CARE program as the perfect complement to the district’s own efforts to tailor STEM instruction to career possibilities and to support college preparation among its students.

“I think the opportunity to engage with a university of the caliber of DU is phenomenal,” she says, noting that CARE’s outreach to younger girls aligns with the district’s deployment of individual career and academic plans, known as ICAPs. These personalized documents help each high school student devise an academic path to college and career. Where other outreach programs target juniors with two years of high school behind them, CARE works with girls who are just beginning secondary schooling, meaning they can chart their time—and their ICAP— to ensure they take enough math and science.

CARE also demonstrates how math and science are applied outside the classroom and within careers—a concept Cherry Creek Schools is developing in its programming. “I can say that math leads to careers in engineering,” Gregory explains, referencing a hypothetical conversation with a student, “but if kids don’t know what an engineer does … that becomes a struggle.”

Russell hopes to host a CARE event every spring, with alumni from the program mentoring the girls who come after them. If all goes according to plan, Russell says, participants will include DU among their college prospects.

To evaluate the effectiveness of the program, and to add to her data about African-American girls, Russell will conduct pre- and post-event surveys of CARE participants, questioning them about everything from college readiness to their awareness of STEM careers.

The CARE event is funded by two $8,000 DU public good grants awarded to Russell and Patton.

 

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Michael Baisden and Zane Reception/ Booksigning to be Held in New York City at BookExpo America on June 6th at 5pm


– ACGI’s African American Pavilion at Bookexpo America will host a celebration of Zane and Strebor Books and the “Welcome to BookExpo America” reception and booksigning event for author and radio/TV talk show personality Michael Baisden. –


Michael Baisden

Nationwide (May 7, 2012) — Amber Communications Group Inc’s 2012 African American Pavilion Booth at BookExpo America booth will be hosting a special “Welcome to BookExpo America Michael Baisden” Reception and Booksigning for the internationally renowned author, radio and television talk show personality, and a Celebration and Booksigning of New York Times and Essence Magazine Best-Selling Author Zane and the Strebor Books Legacy, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York City, Wednesday, June 6, 2012, 1:00pm – 5:00pm in the ACGI African American Pavilion Booth. The event will be coordinated by Heather Covington of Disilgold.com, Troy Johnson of AALBC.com and Charisse and Harvey Nunes of The Book Look.
Baisden was recently voted, once again, as one of the most influential men in radio. As a prominent social activist, he spearheaded the famous Jena Six march in 2007, advocated for National Free Clinics to get volunteers, was credited by the Obama camp as being one of the major forces behind the historic presidential victory, and was publicly congratulated by President Obama for his efforts and outreach with his One Million Mentors National Campaign to Save Our Kids.Michael Baisden is undeniably one of the most influential and engaging personalities in broadcast history. His meteoric rise to #1 is redefining radio with the numbers to back it up. The show is syndicated by Cumulus Media and is heard in over 78 markets nationwide with over 8 million loyal listeners daily. Since his radio show debuted nationally in 2005, Mr. Baisden has captured the hearts and minds of millions of Americans with his provocative mix of relationship talk, hot topics, politics and the best of old school with today’s R&B. When it comes to entertaining, enlightning and educating, no one in talk radio compares. His high energy and love for interacting with his listeners is just one reason for the popularity and success of The Michael Baisden Show.

2012 kicked off with the announcement of a partnership with Michael Baisden, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and African American Fraternities for the Mentoring Brothers Campaign to recruit more African American mentors for Black boys. In March 2012 Baisden along with Rev Al Sharpton held a rally in Stanford, FL to protest the injustice over the lack of an arrest in the killing of Trayvon Martin, a teenager who was just walking home from the store. Over 30,000 people attended the rally along with the teenager’s parents and other leaders.

According to Simon & Schuster, Michael Baisden is “probably the most successful self-published African American male author out there today.” With nearly 2 million books in print both hard and soft cover, his books blend the perfect combination of entertainment, humor, provocation and sexuality. Michael’s vibrant personality on and off the air has made him a people magnet.

He began attracting attention with primarily female followers as author and publisher of the highly successful best selling books: “Never Satisfied: How and Why Men Cheat”, “Men Cry in the Dark”, “The Maintenance Man”, “God’s Gift to Women” and most recently a hot new book “Never Satisfied: Do Men Know What They Want.” Baisden is currently writing his 6th book to be released in 2012. Two of his titles ultimately were adapted into stage plays playing to sold out crowds across the US.

New York Times best-selling author, Zane, is undeniably the largest selling author of her genre in the world. Her books on sex and erotica have sold in the millions. Her company Strebor Books is dedicated to publishing a wide diversity of both fiction and non-fiction books. Strebor Books is committed to finding and developing the careers of cutting-edge authors who take risks with their stories.

A personal vision of Zane’s, Strebor Books International examines every aspect and characteristic of the human spirit. From contemporary romance to science fiction, from mystery to erotica, from paranormal to historical, from political to religious, no genre is overlooked amongst the continuously expanding catalog of titles.

Zane has the power of discernment when it comes to ascertaining “the next big thing” as proven with her own success; going from a grassroots publisher to running an imprint of Simon and Schuster in less than five years.

Zane is the creator, scriptwriter and executive producer of “Zane’s Sex Chronicles,” the highly rated Cinemax series based loosely on her real life, and the upcoming “Zane’s The Jump Off,” premiering on Cinemax Spring 2013. She is currently writing two feature film screenplays, a broadway musical, and her novel “Addicted” is scheduled to be filmed this summer by Lionsgate.

She is a huge advocate against domestic violence. Her book “Breaking the Cycle,” dealing with the effects of domestic violence on children, was the 2006 NAACP Image Award winner for Outstanding Literature. She was featured in the HBO documentary “The Black List,” which examined the lives of African-American overachievers like Toni Morrison, Colin Powell, Russell Simmons, Sean “Puffy” Combs, and Chris Rock.

Swiss Public Television has also produced a documentary on Zane entitled “Zane: Queen of Erotica,” that was translated into several languages and broadcast throughout the world.

Amber Comminications Group Inc’s African American Pavilion at BEA is no stranger to influential men and women alike, particularly those in the literary world. Since ACGI’s Publisher/CEO Tony Rose founded the African American Pavilion at BEA in 2004, the event has featured special guest appearances by Magic Johnson, Haki Madhubuti, Wesley Snipes, Tavis Smiley, Zane, Tom Joyner, Kassahun Checole, W. Paul Coates, Dr. Cornell West, George Fraser, Omarosa, Sybil Wilkes, Flava Flav, Coach Tony Dungee, Prodigy of Mobb Deep, Terrie Williams, Dr. Steve Perry (CNN & Random House), Max Rodriguez (The Harlem Book Fair) and Annette Thomas (NAACP Image Awards Literary Coordinator), to name a few.

Along with Michael Baisden and Zane, the 2012 invited guests will include: Book Industry Leaders – Carol Mackey (Black Expressions Book Club), Troy Johnson (AALBC), Ron Kavanaugh (Mosaic Books), Malaika Adero (Atria Books/Simon and Schuster), Dawn Davis (Armistad Press / Harper Collins), Judith Curr (Atria Books/Simon and Schuster), Cheryl Woodruf (Smiley Books), LaToya Smith (Grand Central Publishing), Dante Lee (Diversity City Media), Dr. Farrah Grey (Philanthropist), Wade and Cheryl Hudson (Just Us Books), Clara Villarosa, Lesleigh Underwood (Kensington Press), Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati (Publicist) and Selena James (Kensington Press). Authors will include: Mary B. Morrison, Omar Tyree, Mary Monroe, Victoria Christopher Murray, Irene Smalls, Kevin Weeks, Kevin Johnson, Lynette Velasco, Renee Flagler, James Tanner, Darryl King, Artie Fletcher, Denroy Morgan, Levar Fisher, Dorothy Hughes and many others.

Media personalities covering the event will include: Charisse and Harvey Nunes (The Book Look), Don Thomas (The New York Beacon), Renee Minus White (The Amsterdam News), Calvin Reid (Publishers Weekly), Diane Patrick (Publishers Weekly), Flo Anthony (Entertainment Journalist), Pat Stevenson (The Harlem News), Dr. Bob Lee (WLIB & WBLS talk show personality), Kam Williams (International Reviewer), Michelle Gipson (Written Magazine), Danny Tisdale (Harlem World Magazine), Kyle Donovan (NV Magazine), Sam Chekwas (Black Book News Magazine), Cynthia Horner (Cinnamon CHIPS Publicity – Word Up! and Right On Magazine), Kenneth Harris (Kenthephotographer), Hal and Debbie Jackson (Hal Jackson’s Sunday Classics). More media TBA.

BookExpo America, one of the largest book trade exhibits in the world, provides independent African American book publishers, self publishers, authors, Black Interest Imprints at major publishing houses, distributors, literary agents, publicists, librarians and bookstore owners exposure to 20,561 book buyers and booksellers from across the globe. The event takes place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, New York City June 5th – 7th 2012.

Now in its ninth year, Amber Communication Group, Inc.’s African American Pavilion Booth at BEA, exhibit space, will showcase African American books, authors, products and publishers. There will be great opportunities to learn, share, educate, sell and network.

There is an open invitation to join book industry professionals and authors for the “6th Annual Black Pack Party”, Wednesday June 6th, 6-9pm at Londel’s Supper Club, 2620 Frederick Douglas Blvd (at 140th St) Harlem, NYC.

Hosted by AALBC.com, MosaicBooks.com, Linda A. Duggins, Written Magazine and The Book Look. All are invited to party, mix and mingle uptown in Harlem as they celebrate book industry professionals, authors and friends.

For more details, visit www.AfricanAmericanPavilion.com
For further information on exhibiting, book display and book signing at ACGI’s African American Pavilion at BEA, contact:
Tony Rose, Publisher/CEO
Amber Communications Group, Inc.
1334 E. Chandler Blvd., Suite 5-D67
Phoenix, AZ 85048
602-743-7211
amberbk@aol.com
www.AmberBooks.com
www.AfricanAmericanPavilion.com
www.QualityPress.info

 

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Jazz Legend Marcus Belgrave Hits Chandler


WRITTEN BY FLOYD ALVIN GALLOWAY
He has played with some of the greatest legends in jazz, Ray Charles, Max Roach, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Mingus, Tony Bennett, Marvin Gaye, Sammy Davis Jr., Aretha Franklin, Wynton Marsalis and many others from jazz, blues to soul. The trumpet master, a legend in his own right, Marcus Belgrave was tutored by Clifford Brown before joining the Ray Charles touring band.

Belgrave will perform one night only, 8 pm., Friday, May 4, at the Ocotillo Golf Resort Ballroom, 3751 S. Clubhouse Drive, Chandler. “A Legendary Night of Jazz” will feature Belgrave, his wife, Grammy-nominated vocalist Joan Belgrave plus Valley favorite Papa John DeFranseco and friends.

Currently a professor of jazz trumpet at Oberlin Conservatory, is a popular clinician and instructor, frequently a member faculty member at Stanford Jazz Workshop. A composer, arranger, trumpeter, recording artist, and producer, Belgrave first earned recognition at the age of 18, when he performed a solo in Alexander’s Ragtime Band on the album The Genius of Ray Charles.

A versatile performer who plays avant-garde and traditional New Orleans jazz, blues, and ragtime, Belgrave is an original member of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and has toured with the group since 1988. A Motown fixture during its height he has played on many of its hits.

His performances on more than 30 recordings can be heard on such labels as Arabesque, Hip Hop, Blue Note, Atlantic, Columbia, and Detroit Jazz Musicians Co-op Productions. Among his recordings are the critically acclaimed Marcus Belgrave with Detroit’s Jazz Piano Legacy, Volume 1, with Tommy Flanagan and Geri Allen; The Best of Ray Charles; Jazz at Lincoln Center; and Marcus Belgrave Presents.

Belgrave learned music from his father, a bugler in World War I.

“My father used to see me playing with his trumpet as a child and when I turned six he bought me a trumpet and the rest is history as they say,” said Belgrave in a phone interview. “A musician’s life has its ups and downs, but for me life as a musician has been great. I’ve played with some great cats,” expresses Belgrave.

The Detroit resident that grew up in Chester Pennsylvania found out recently that he and the Hammond B-3 great DeFranseco have a lot in common. Both are from the Chester area and grew up close to 15 miles away from each other.

DeFranseco’s two sons Joey and Johnny followed their father into the music business and have made a name for themselves.

Belgrave is known for his dedication to youth education. He is cofounder of the jazz studies program at the Detroit Metro Arts Complex and the Jazz Development Workshop in Detroit, and he was a founding faculty member of jazz studies at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.

Vocalist, producer, songwriter, Joan, began her musical career singing in the choir of the Baptist church. Her musical education continued while studying classical voice. Her versatility as a musical stylist allowed her to perform as a vocalist in various genres of music from Jazz, Blues, and Gospel to Soul. Joan arrived in Los Angeles From Michigan in the late 70’s performing primarily as a lead vocalist. A powerful voice and her own jazzy/blues style, her 2005 release CD “Variations” embodies all of this and more.

This will certainly be a legendary night to remember. For tickets and information call 602-295-5023.

 

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