Star date: 2259. Capt. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) has just been called on the carpet following an expedition to a primitive planet where, in the course of saving Spock’s (Zachary Quinto) life, he violated the Starfleet’s strict sanction against interfering with alien civilizations. Consequently, he is demoted in rank and summarily stripped of the […]
Author Archives: Kam Williams
Special to the AFRO
Posted inBooks
Mimi’s Village and How Basic Health Care Transformed It
“Mimi’s fictional village is like thousands of real villages in the developing world, where health care, especially among infants and children, is poor or uneven. As a result, every day, 21,000 children under the age of five die, most of them from diseases that could have been prevented with basic health care. Mimi’s Village is […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Roots and Rise of Venus and Serena
Richard Williams was born and raised in Shreveport, La., where he was left traumatized by having a railroad spike driven through his leg for refusing to behave deferentially towards a gang of white racists. Understandably, that experience played a significant role in shaping the youngster into the highly-ambitious and fiercely-overprotective father he would later become. […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Top Ten DVD List for May 7, 2013
Doc Martin Special Collection: Complete Series http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00A27O0N4/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 The Rabbi’s Cat http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00ATK0024/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Upstream Color http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BC75H5S/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Witness: A World in Conflict through a Lens http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00AHFWIBM/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Steel Magnolias http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BNV9WCW/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Deep in the Heart http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BIYQQ6Y/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Marley Africa Road Trip http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BIYQP4C/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Jack Reacher http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00AS1Q8FW/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Clandestine Childhood http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B009V19302/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Mama http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00AIBZM40/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 Honorable Mention Elmo: The Musical http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BF4S1X8/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 What Plants Talk about http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00BQI49VG/ref%3dnosim/thslfofire-20 […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Blue-Collar Beau Meets Bourgie Fiancee’s Family
After dating for over a year, Wade Walker (Craig Robinson) is head-over-heels in love with his girlfriend, Grace (Kerry Washington). He’s ready to pop the question, and has even purchased a ring, but there’s a slight problem: he still hasn’t met her parents yet. Because of her background, Grace is a little ashamed of her […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Downey Back as Bon Vivant Billionaire/Smart Aleck Superhero
This film represents the seventh installment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series kickstarted by Iron Man in 2008, and since followed in succession by The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, and Captain America and The Avengers. The sensible question I suppose you’re probably interested in having answered is whether the franchise is showing any […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘Pain & Gain’ Star Anthony Mackie Talks about Making It
Born in New Orleans on Sept. 23, 1979, Anthony Mackie attended the Julliard School of Drama. He was discovered after receiving rave reviews for playing Tupac Shakur in the off-Broadway play Up Against the Wind. His film debut was as Eminem’s nemesis, Papa Doc, in 8 Mile. His performance caught the attention of Spike Lee, […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Lynn Whitfield Helps Reformed Thug in Modern Morality Play
Brendan King (Crawford Wilson), a kid raised in the foster care system, was sent away at the age of 15 after being caught dealing drugs and running guns as a member of a notorious gang known as Avenue D. Upon parole a few years later, the juvenile offender was released to the custody of Vanessa […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kam’s Kapsules: Weekly Previews That Make Choosing a Film Fun
BIG BUDGET FILMS Iron Man 3 (PG-13 for intense violence and brief sensuality) Latest installment of the Marvel Comics franchise finds the brilliant billionaire-turned-intrepid superhero (Robert Downey, Jr.) teaming with a precocious, prepubescent sidekick (Ty Simpkins) to take on a new nemesis, Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), the maniacal madman behind a recent string of terrorist bombings. […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Undisputed Truth From an Undisputed Champ
Born in Brooklyn on June 30, 1966, Michael Gerard Tyson is an all-time boxing great who, in his prime, struck fear in the heart of opponents. He compiled an impressive record of 50 wins, 5 losses and 1 disqualification (for biting off an opponent’s ear) over the course of an incomparable career in which he […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The Motherhood Diaries: A Humorous Look at Motherhood in the New Millennium
“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve kept a diary… Instead of writing out all the shenanigans of my life on paper, I share them with five thousand of my closest friends on Facebook… As the mother of wonderful, precious children, ages 13, 10 and 5, I think I’ve got this motherhood thing down, […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Herman’s House
Seventy-two year-old Herman Wallace has been imprisoned at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola ever since he was found guilty of committing bank robbery back in 1967. His sentence was later lengthened to life after he was convicted, solely on the testimony of a fellow inmate, of stabbing a prison guard to death. Was he a […]
