It’s been said that there comes a critical moment in every African-American comedian’s career when he’s asked to put on a dress. Among those who’ve succumbed to that subtle pressure over the years are Flip Wilson (TV’s Geraldine), Jaime Foxx (TV’s Wanda), Marlon and Shawn Wayans (White Chicks), Eddie Murphy (Norbit and The Nutty Professor […]
Author Archives: Kam Williams
Special to the AFRO
Posted inBooks
‘Raw Law: An Urban Guide to Criminal Justice’
“I understand that it is really hard out there, when you target a community. I think of this generation as a generation of great swimmers left in an ocean. As you navigate your way through life, some of you will get out of the water safely. But the sharks own the ocean, and one such […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
The King’s Speech Lands a Dozen Nominations
The Oscar nominations were announced early Tuesday morning at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills by last year’s Best Supporting Actress-winner Mo’Nique (for Precious) along with Academy President Tom Sherak. The King’s Speech, the inspirational bio-pic about King George VI’s struggle to cure his stutter, has emerged as the early favorite in the annual […]
Posted inBaltimore Community, Baltimore News
Dr. West’s Prognosis for the Country’s Prospects
Dr. Cornel West is a prominent and provocative public intellectual dedicated to democracy. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard in three years and obtained his master’s and doctorate degrees in philosophy at Princeton. Since then, he has taught at Union Theological Seminary, Yale, Harvard and the University of Paris. He has written 19 books […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘Psych-ing’ Out Dul
Dulé Hill stars as Burton ‘Gus’ Guster on the USA Network series “Psych,” which airs on Wednesdays at 10 p.m. EST. Best known for his work as Charlie Young on “The West Wing,” Hill first came to prominence as The Kid opposite Savion Glover and Jeffrey Wright in the Broadway production of Bring in ‘Da […]
Posted inBooks
The 10 Best Black Books of 2010 (Non-Fiction)
1. The Grace of Silence: A Memoir by Michele Norris 2. Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority by Tom Burrell 3. Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family by Condoleezza Rice 4. The Next Big Story by Soledad O’Brien with Rose Marie Arce 5. Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve […]
Posted inMovie Reviews
Annual Assessment of the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema
Ten Best Black Feature Films 1. Just Wright 2. Why Did I Get Married Too? 3. Prince of Broadway 4. Brooklyn’s Finest 5. Lottery Ticket 6. For Colored Girls 7. Night Catches Us 8. Blood Done Sign My Name 9. Frankie and Alice 10. Takers Best Black Documentaries 1. We Need to Talk 2. Biracial, […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A Potpourri of Suggested Stocking Stuffers
As the holiday season arrives, families across the nation await sumptuous meals, camaraderie and gifts. Include these popular films as stocking stuffers or gather around the TV on Christmas Eve for a foray down memory lane. The Night before Christmas and More Classic Holiday Tales The Most Wonderful Time of the Year: Natalie Cole Live […]
Posted inBooks
Reader’s Corner
Black Business Secrets During these dire economic times when the overall unemployment rate in the U.S. is at 9.8 percent, you can be sure that that figure is at least double in the African-American community. And after the Democrats took what President Obama referred to as a “shellacking” on Election Day, they appear prepared to […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Renaissance RZA
While best known as the founder, producer, and mastermind behind the Wu-Tang Clan, RZA has built an incredibly diverse and successful career as a musician, a composer of film scores, a producer, an actor, a businessman, a player and advocate of chess, and as the author of the best-selling The Tao of Wu and The […]
Posted inBooks
President Obama’s ‘Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters’
“In this tender, beautiful letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama has written a moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation. From the artistry of Georgia O’Keefe to the courage of Jackie Robinson, from the strength of Helen Keller to the patriotism of George Washington, President Obama sees […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Kerry Washington on Everything from Films to Family to President Obama
Winner of the 2005 NAACP Image Award as the “Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture” for Ray, Kerry Washington is a versatile, talented and fearless actress who has built an impressive list of credits over the course of her relatively brief career. She has also garnered critical acclaim for recent roles in Mother and Child, […]
