Mecca Verdell, Rebecca Dupas, Brion Layalihilmia, Shelly Washington, and Gayle Danley are the “Baltimore Queens of Poetry.” Some of the most dynamic poets in America happen to be from the Baltimore area and these five slayed a sold-out crowd of hundreds recently at the historic Arena Players playhouse. “The Baltimore Queens of Poetry” brought spoken […]
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, Religion
Kirk Franklin Recieves Pandora Billionaire’s Plaque
On Thursday Aug. 15th, fourteen-time GRAMMY® award-winning artist, songwriter, and producer Kirk Franklin was honored with a Billionaire plaque from Pandora. The music streaming company surprised Franklin by presenting him with the prestigious award on stage at the Los Angeles stop of his LONG LIVE LOVE TOUR. Franklin was moved by the honor. He says, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Media
KOFI TYUS: THEN AND NOW
By Jessica Dortch, Special to the AFRO, jdortch@afro.com As an accomplished artist-activist, and recently, the recipient of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Award for Best Editorial Cartoon, Kofi Tyus remains humble about his artistic contributions to African American society. However, behind the thought-provoking and award-winning artwork is the same man whose life’s work is spreading […]
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Philadelphia Honors Patti LaBelle with a Street – but spells her name wrong
By Defender News Service Philadelphia honored singer Patti LaBelle with her very own street earlier this week. Unfortunately, the signs didn’t get her name right. The city’s Streets Department didn’t capitalize the “b″ in the legendary soul singer’s last name on the signs that were put up before Tuesday’s ceremony on Broad Street. A stretch […]
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The African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA) TV Honors Winners Announced
By Sentinel News Service Ava DuVernay’s “When They See Us” earned four wins from the African American Film Critics Association, who today, announced the winners of its upcoming AAFCA TV Honors. The highly popular Netflix limited series about the infamous Central Park rape case that resulted in the arrest and false imprisonment of five Black […]
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Robin Thede Looks to Build Legacy in HBO Sketch Comedy Show
By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Robin Thede knew plenty of talented African-American woman comedians, but only a few were getting hired on popular TV comedy shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “Mad TV.” So, Thede decided to create her own show featuring some of the industry’s funniest Black […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Baltimore News, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS
Comedian Defends Charm City
By Mark F. Gray, AFRO Staff Writer, mgray@afro.com Comedians are the windows into the soul of society. They make audiences laugh at issues and events that are troubling and today they seem to have as much credibility as any of America’s newscasters. Comedy Central Central’s Trevor Noah and HBO’s Bill Maher are pundits who are trusted more […]
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A$AP Rocky Found Guilty of Sweden Assault, Won’t Face Prison
By DAVID KEYTON Associated Press STOCKHOLM (AP) — American rapper A$AP Rocky was found guilty of assault Wednesday in Sweden, where his jailing after a Stockholm street brawl drew the close attention of U.S. President Donald Trump. A judge and jury found the rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, and his two bodyguards hit […]
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Cicely Tyson Joins Cast of Ava DuVernay Series on OWN
By The Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cicely Tyson will join the cast as a series regular in Ava DuVernay’s new romance anthology series on OWN, “Cherish the Day.” In an April 27, 2018 file photo, Cicely Tyson speaks at her Hand and Footprint Ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre, in Los Angeles. PWN […]
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Georgia Teen Wins Google Competition, Gets $30K for College
By The Associated Press STONECREST, Ga. (AP) — A Georgia high school graduate has won a $30,000 college scholarship through the “Doodle for Google” competition. Citing a Google statement, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Arantza Pena Popo’s design was featured on the tech giant’s homepage Tuesday. The nationwide contest asked grade schoolers to redesign Google’s logo based on […]
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Finally, Missy Elliott Will Receive MTV Video Vanguard Award
By MESFIN FEKADU AP Music Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Missy Elliott, one of the most iconic players in the history of music videos, will receive the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards. MTV announced Monday that Elliott will also perform on Aug. 26 at the Prudential Center in […]
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Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz to Open Performing Arts Center
By The Associated Press MACEDON, N.Y. (AP) — Singer Alicia Keys and music producer husband Swizz Beats are planning to create a performing arts center in upstate New York. The couple’s proposal to transform an industrial site in rural Macedon was introduced at a town board meeting Thursday. In this March 14, 2019 file photo, […]