By Nadine Matthews, Special to the AFRO Actor and director Damien D. Smith is on a roll. His film “Jinn”, about a teenager whose life is turned upside down after her mother simultaneously converts to Islam and goes through an identity crisis, won the Special Jury Award at the most recent South by Southwest Festival (SXSW). […]
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Show on Slavery Prompts Artist to Quit Montreal Jazz Fest
By The Associated Press American singer-songwriter Moses Sumney canceled his Tuesday night performance at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, protesting the event’s ties to a show on slavery performed by whites. The black entertainer criticized the festival for supporting “SLAV,” a theatrical production on black slavery that he said constitutes cultural appropriation. Instead of performing […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, TV and Film
Film Review: ‘The First Purge’ is depressingly prescient
By The Associated Press This Fourth of July, we’ve got a chance to celebrate America’s birth in a very American way — watching internecine warfare, spasms of savage violence and a dark government conspiracy pulling the strings. That’s right, it’s time for a new Purge. “The First Purge ,” the fourth film in the franchise, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Baltimore Community, Baltimore News, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS
RAMBLING ROSE
By Rosa Pryor, Special to the AFRO Hello my dear fans and readers. How are you? I am doing well, thank you for asking. Honey Child! Have I got something for you that will keep you happy; just check this out. First of all, I want to wish each one of you a very happy […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, National News, NEWS, TV and Film
Oprah-Backed ‘Rape of Recy Taylor’ Recounts Black Woman’s Ordeal
By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer When Oprah Winfrey saluted unheralded #MeToo crusaders at the Golden Globes last January, she chose a rape victim from 1940s Alabama to drive home her point. “Recy Taylor, a name I know, and I think you should know, too,” Winfrey said, sketching the outlines of the African-American woman’s assault by […]
Posted inArts & Culture, D.C. Community, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE & STYLE, Living, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
Vintage Wishes Creates Vintage Queens, an all Female Cypher in DC
By Charise Wallace, Special to the AFRO The rap industry may be dominated by males, but females continue to write their own history, which is why DMV based producer Ramone Messam is launching Vintage Wishes, a royal hip-hop gala that includes a fashion show and an all-female cypher, Vintage Queens. Messam originally introduced high school […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Baltimore Community, Baltimore News, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS
Following Death of Pioneering Founder of Flair Studio, Willia Montague Carries On Legacy
By Lisa Snowden-McCray, Special to the AFRO When Willia Bland decided to start a school to teach Baltimore girls etiquette and self-esteem back in 1968, she was 43 and the nation was in turmoil. “She started her business after Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated, and she started it because she wanted to empower young girls […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE & STYLE, Living
Natalie Gillard Uses Her DIY Talents to Promote Inclusion
By Nadine Matthews, Special to the AFRO When most people think of DIY they think of furniture or household accessories, but Natalie Gillard, a passionate DIYer who routinely creates her own clothing and household items, took DIY to the next level when she created a board game. Not only did she create the board game but […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, Baltimore Community, Baltimore News, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS
LIVING FOR THE WEEKEND
“Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come in with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight, never landing, until the Watcher turns his eyes away in resignation, his dreams mocked to death by Time. That is the life of men. Now, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music
Anita Baker to be Honored at BET Awards, Jamie Foxx to Host
By MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer Legendary singer Anita Baker will be honored at the 2018 BET Awards, which will be hosted Sunday by Jamie Foxx and feature performances by Nicki Minaj, Snoop Dogg and Migos. DJ Khaled is the leading nominee with six at the show, kicking off at 8 p.m. Eastern from the […]
Posted inArts & Culture, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, D.C. Community, ENTERTAINMENT, LIFE & STYLE, Living, NEWS, Washington D.C. News
Shawn Yancy Presents 10th Girl’s Night Out Benefit
By Charise Wallace Special to the AFRO Reporter Shawn Yancy is showcasing her 2018 10th Girl’s Night Out evening of entertainment, fashion and food for a special cause, Saturday, June 23 at American University’s Kaizen Arts Center Fox 5 D.C. From 5 to 9 p.m., it will be a night to remember as Yancy will […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, BUSINESS, ENTERTAINMENT, TV and Film
Netflix’s Top Spokesman Fired Over Use of Racial Slur
By The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says he fired the company’s top spokesman over use of the N-word. The spokesman, Jonathan Friedland, confirmed in tweets that he was leaving the company, saying he was insensitive in speaking with his team about words that offend in comedy. In this Aug. […]
