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 […]
Category: Arts & Culture
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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, […]
Posted in!Front Page
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 […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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 […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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 […]
Posted in!Front Page
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 […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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 […]
Posted inENTERTAINMENT
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 […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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 […]
Posted inBooks
Jay-Z’s Roc Nation forms book publisher with Random House
This combination photo shows the logo for a new imprint for Roc Lit 101, left, and Jay-Z, founder of Roc Nation, who is starting the imprint with Random House. (AP Photo) By HILLEL ITALIE, AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A decade after publishing his memoir “Decoded,” Jay-Z is forming a more lasting partnership […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Charley Pride, Black country music superstar, dies at 86
In this Oct. 4, 2000, file photo, Charley Pride performs during his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame at the Country Music Association Awards show at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File) By Mark Kennedy AP Entertainment Writer Charley Pride, one of country music’s first Black superstar […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
New Orleans stage and screen actor Carol Sutton dies at 76
In this May 1, 2019, file photo, actress Carol Sutton arrives at the World Premiere of “Poms” in Los Angeles. Sutton, a fixture on stages in her native New Orleans who built a steady career on the big and small screens, including roles in the 1989 comedy “Steel Magnolias” and the TV series “Queen Sugar,” […]
