Calvin Cordozar Broadus was born on Oct. 20, 1971 in Long Beach, Calif. where he was nicknamed Snoopy by his parents because of a striking resemblance to the Peanuts cartoon character. A promising rapper from an early age, he began performing in the sixth grade but was waylaid by brushes with the law in high […]
Author Archives: Kam Williams
Special to the AFRO
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
On the Go with Essandoh!
Hypnotizing audiences as D’Artagnan, the slave who was mauled to death by dogs in Django Unchained, Ato Essandoh stars as Dr. Matthew Freeman in the second season of BBC America’s highest-rated series premiere ever, “Copper.” Born in Schenectady, New York on July 29, 1972, Ato also returns as the fan-favorite former carjacker and Watson’s (Lucy […]
Posted inBooks
God’s Graffiti: Inspiring Stories for Teens
“I was raised in poverty, surrounded by drug dealers, gangs and community violence. My mother was addicted to crack cocaine and alcohol. I rarely went to church… somehow God’s grace found and saved me when no one and nothing else could… God’s Graffiti takes a look at young men and women in the Bible who […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Big Words
It’s November 4, 2008, and Brooklyn is bristling with anticipation about the impending election returns to see whether or not Barack Obama will be the nation’s first African-American president. But the magic of the moment is pretty much lost on John aka MC Wordsmith (Dorian Missick), James aka Jay-V (Gbenga Akinnagbe) and Terry aka DJ […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kam’s Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
BIG BUDGET FILMS 2 Guns (R for profanity, brief nudity and pervasive violence) Espionage thriller about a DEA Agent (Denzel Washington) and a Naval Intelligence Officer (Mark Wahlberg) tricked into mistrusting each other while infiltrating a drug cartel. With Paula Patton, James Marsden, Bill Paxton and Fred Ward. The Smurfs 2 (PG for rude humor […]
Posted inBooks
Cynthia McKinneyA 21st Century Gadfly
“Elected six times to the House from the state of Georgia, Cynthia McKinney cut a trail through Congressional deceit like a hot ember through ash. She discovered legislators who passed laws without reading them… black-skinned individuals shilling for the white status quo. She excoriated government lassitude over Hurricane Katrina… held the only critical Congressional briefing […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Sam Jackson, Snoop Dog Voice a Snail’s Tale
Theo (Ryan Reynolds) is routinely ridiculed by his friends for entertaining what they see as the impossible dream of one day competing in the Indianapolis 500. Even his brother, Chet (Paul Giamatti), suggests that, “The sooner you accept the reality of your existence, the happier you’ll be.” After all, Theo is just your garden variety, […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
It’s Giant Robots vs. Subterranean Sea Monsters in Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Showdown
When an undersea earthquake ripped a massive fissure along a fault line beneath the Pacific Ocean, it left a crevice wide enough for a race of subterranean sea monsters to escape and rise to the surface. Dubbed Kaiju, these Godzilla-looking creatures quickly launched a series of assaults on cities all across the planet. With millions […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Martyr? Or Accidental Victim? Oscar Grant’s Tragic Story
Oscar Grant (Michael B. Jordan) and his girlfriend, Sophina (Melonie Diaz), were returning to Oakland in the wee hours of the morning after attending a New Year’s Eve 2009 celebration when their crowded train was stopped by police in response to a report of a disturbance. Oscar was among a number of male passengers ordered […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Fan of Fana
Born in on May 13, 1971, veteran South African actor Fana Mokoena garnered worldwide acclaim for his powerful portrayal of General Augustin Bizimungu opposite Oscar-nominees Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo in Hotel Rwanda. He previously worked with World War Z director Marc Forster on Machine Gun Preacher where he played John Garang, leader of the […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Hot Comic Dazzles at Madison Square Garden
Move over Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Steve Harvey and Katt Williams, the hottest black comic around right now is Kevin Hart. The diminutive, 5’ 2” funnyman has skyrocketed to the heights of showbiz ladder lately, making myriad memorable performances on both TV and film. This year on TV alone, he’s hosted Saturday Night Live and launched […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kam’s Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
BIG BUDGET FILMS Despicable Me 2 (PG for crude humor and mild action) Action-oriented animated adventure finds reformed evildoer Gru (Steve Carell) grudgingly leaving his recently-adopted daughters (Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier and Elsie Fisher) to spy for the Anti-Villain League in order to apprehend a diabolical criminal (Benjamin Bratt) bent on world domination. Voice cast […]
