Dateline: Mississippi, 1946, which means many of the Magnolia State’s soldier native sons are making the adjustment back to civilian life after serving overseas during World War II. But the fighting isn’t over for Sergeant Ronsel Jackson (Jason Mitchell), a Black man reluctantly returning to the repressive Jim Crow system of segregation. Mary J. Blige […]
Author Archives: Kam Williams
Special to the AFRO
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Denzel Delivers Oscar-Quality Performance as Attorney with Asperger’s
Roman J. Israel (Denzel Washington) is a high-functioning savant on the autism spectrum who has been practicing law in L.A. for the past 36 years. The brilliant attorney has spent most of his career under the radar, writing legal briefs in a rear office for indigent criminal defendants, while his partner, William Henry Jackson, serves […]
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Academy Embraces Diversity with Oscar Nominations
The Academy Awards embraced diversity this year, nominating seven actors of color: Denzel Washington and Viola Davis for “Fences,” Mahershala Ali and Naomie Harris for “Moonlight,” Octavia Spencer for “Hidden Figures,” Ruth Negga for “Loving” and Dev Patel for “Lion.” “Moonlight,” the Golden Globe-winning Best Drama about growing up gay in the ‘hood, landed 8 […]
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John Legend Acts in ‘La La Land’
Ohio-born John Legend is an award-winning, platinum-selling singer/songwriter. His work has garnered him ten Grammy Awards, an Oscar and a Golden Globe, among others. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where he studied English and African-American literature, Legend participated in a wide range of musical activities while in college. John Legend is one of […]
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Jumping Up and Down about Issac Ryan Brown
Issac Ryan Brown is best known as Young Dre from the ABC Series “Blackish.” He was introduced to America on the television show “America’s Got Talent” at the tender age of 6, when he dazzled the audience and judges alike with his singing and dancing talents. Issac Ryan Brown is one of the stars of […]
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Ruth Negga, Star of ‘Loving,’ On Quietly Changing the World
Ruth Negga was born in Addis Ababa on Jan. 7, 1982 to an Irish mother and Ethiopian father. An only child, Ruth was raised in Limerick, Ireland from the age of 4, and attended Trinity College in Dublin where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Acting. Ruth Negga, the Irish and Ethiopian star of ‘Loving,’ […]
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Forest Whitaker Touches Down in Alien Tale ‘Arrival’
Forest Whitaker was born in Longview, Texas on July 15, 1961, but raised in Carson, California from the age of 4. He earned an athletic scholarship to Cal Poly Pomona where he switched his major to music after a back injury prematurely ended his football career. Forest Whitaker is one of the stars of ‘Arrival,’ […]
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Interview with “Birth of a Nation” Director/Writer Nate Parker
Actor/humanitarian-turned-writer/director Nate Parker first received critical attention for his starring role in “The Great Debaters” opposite Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. Nate received an honorary Doctorate from Wiley College, the school featured in the fact-based story. More recently, Nate starred in “Beyond The Lights” opposite Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Minnie Driver, and Danny Glover. He also appeared […]
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Reverential Biopic Revisits Life of Infamous Slave Revolt Leader
Nat Turner (Nate Parker) was born into slavery on October 2, 1800 on a sprawling plantation located in Southampton County, Va. There, as a precocious child, he exhibited a thirst for knowledge at an early age and learned to read the Bible with the help of his masters, Samuel (Armie Hammer) and Elizabeth Turner (Penelope […]
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Eddie Murphy Portrays Selfless Chef in Poignant Period Piece “Mr. Church”
Marie Brody (Natascha McElhone) was told she only had half-a-year to live when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1965. But, not wanting to upset her daughter, she initially hid the fact that she was terminally ill from 10 year-old Charlotte-“Charlie” (Natalie Coughlin). Eddie Murphy a chef in the movie “Mr. Church”. (Courtesy Photo) […]
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Denzel Reunites with Fuqua in Worthy Overhaul of Kurosawa Classic
Directed by the legendary Akira Kurosawa in 1954, “Seven Samurai” was a groundbreaking film which had a profound influence on the evolution of cinema for generations to come. Superficially, that seminal work merely reads like a martial arts epic set in 16th century Japan. Yet over the years, it has spawned a cottage industry of […]
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Chewing the Fat with Comedian Craig Robinson
Craig Robinson first made his mark on the stand-up comedy circuit at the 1998 Montreal “Just for Laughs” Festival. Now headlining venues and festivals across the country, he performs as a solo act as well as full-band sets with his band, “The Nasty Delicious.” Craig Robinson. (Matt Sayles/AP) Before deciding to pursue his comedy career […]