Baltimore Center Stage Announces New Director of Learning and Social Accountability Baltimore, MD, January 4, 2021—- Baltimore Center Stage is excited to announce the addition of Janal Daniel to its leadership team and artistic staff as the new Director of Learning and Social Accountability. In her role, Daniel will not only oversee all educational programming, […]
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Herself film review
(L-R) Daniel Ryan, Erika Roe, Dmitry Vinokurov, Mabel Chah, Clare Dunne and Aaron Lockhart star in HERSELF (P)hoto: Pat RedmondCourtesy of Amazon Studios) By Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire Film Critic She’s building from the ground up. Her self-esteem, confidence and a home. Physical, emotional and psychological abuse wrecks its victims and can produce pervasive […]
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Historic milestone reached in development of Universal Hip Hop Museum
The Universal Hip Hop Museum By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent @StacyBrownMedia L+M Development Partners formally announced financing for a $349 million development project on the Bronx Harlem River waterfront in New York, including the Universal Hip Hop Museum. Construction is scheduled to commence in January. The project had been delayed, in part, […]
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Actress Lynn Whitfield talks HU training, ‘citizen’ artistry
During a break while hosting an acting master class with the students at Duke Ellington School of the Arts, actress Lynn Whitfield spoke to the {AFRO} about her career, the perks of a Howard University education and the importance of being a citizen artist. (Courtesy Photo) By Micha Green AFRO D.C. Editor mgreen@afro.com While she […]
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IN MEMORIAM: Rap legend, Whodini’s John ‘Ecstasy’ Fletcher dies at 56
“Ecstasy” was part of the Brooklyn rap trio Whodini! who had hits throughout the 1980s including Friends, The Freaks Come Out at Night, One Love, Five Minutes of Funk, Big Mouth and Funky Beat. By Nsenga K. Burton NNPA Newswire Correspondent The blogosphere is weeping over the loss of legendry rap star John “Ecstasy” Fletcher, […]
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AFRO Review: ‘Ma Rainey’ Masterpiece
Academy Award winner Viola Davis portrays the trailblazing Blues diva Ma Rainey, also starring the late Chadwick Boseman in his final performance. Boseman, far left, died on Aug. 28 at the age of 43, after a long battle with colon cancer. Netflix’s television adaptation of August Wilson’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, is now available. (David […]
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Soul film review
Jamie Foxx in Soul By Dwight Brown, NNPA News Wire Film Critic Passing the love of jazz on to a younger generation, cloaked in the sweetness of an animated movie, is a genius move. It’s a bit jarring. A New York City middle school band is murdering the Disney song “When You Wish Upon a […]
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Roland Martin makes strides with digital newscast
Digital media and television journalist Roland S. Martin (Image courtesy BlackPressUSA) By Valerie Fields Hill and Allana J. Barefield, Texas Metro News/Garland Journal, I Messenger via NNPA Digital media and television journalist Roland S. Martin has much to celebrate: He turns 52 this week and his popular digital newscast recently celebrated its second anniversary. And […]
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Facebook encourages buying Black this holiday season
The Gill brothers of Frères Branchiaux are some of the local entrepreneurs featured in Facebook’s #BuyBlackFriday Gift Guide, which encourages supporting Black businesses during the holiday season. (Courtesy Photo) By Micha Green AFRO D.C. Editor mgreen@afro.com Even though the last-minute holiday rush still exists, with COVID-19 restrictions requiring some stores to operate differently or close […]
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The gift of a little knowledge
By J. K. Schmid AFRO Freelance Writer Every millenial dreads being found out as corny, but in the spirit of seeking truth and reporting it, here goes: The greatest gift I ever got was a full set of encyclopedias. I don’t remember the brand, but they were huge, black, hide-bound tomes. Each spine had a […]
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The gift of music and gratitude
“Early Days: Best of Led Zeppelin Volume One,” and “Latter Days: Best of Led Zeppelin Volume Two,” represented arguably the most thoughtful Christmas gift I’ve ever received (so far). (Photo by Sean Yoes) By Sean Yoes AFRO Senior Reporter syoes@afro.com I’ve got to tell my “Best Christmas” story in two parts. I’m pretty sure I […]
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Christmas gifts and memories
By Jessica Dortch AFRO News Editor One of the best gifts I’ve ever received was an Amazon Kindle tablet. Now, this may not seem like a major gift, but for an avid reader like myself, it was perfect. Although I love the touch and feel of a hardback book, I wanted to go digital and […]