By The Associated Press The lights dimmed and the crowd of men and women erupted into applause and hoots April 18 evening as Hollywood’s blockbuster “Black Panther” premiered in Saudi Arabia’s first movie theater. Though it was a private, invitation-only screening, for many Saudis it marked one of the clearest moments of change to sweep […]
Category: ENTERTAINMENT
Posted inNational News
Cosby’s Star Witness Says Accuser Spoke of Plot to Frame
By The Associated Press The chief accuser at Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial talked about framing a celebrity before going to police with her allegations in 2005, a key defense witness testified April 18 as the TV star’s lawyers began putting on their case. Marguerite Jackson, an academic adviser at Temple University, said Andrea Constand […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Bearden in Baltimore City Public Schools
By Sean Yoes, Baltimore AFRO Editor, syoes@afro.com The vast majority of people who pass through the Upton Metro station, the second busiest Metro stop (Penn-North is first) in the city, probably don’t realize that an American art masterpiece hangs in their midst, looming over all that enter. “A Baltimore Uproar,” is perhaps the most famous mosaic of […]
Posted inBaltimore News
Living For The Weekend
By Valerie Fraling, Special to the AFRO “The years of imprisonment hardened me…. Perhaps if you have been given a moment to hold back and wait for the next blow, your emotions wouldn’t be blunted as they have been in my case. When it happens every day of your life, when that pain becomes a […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Laz Alonso Shows a Whole Different Side in New Film
By Nadine Matthews, Special to the AFRO It was a reunion of old friends for Laz Alonso and his co-stars in his new film “Traffik,” which opens April 20. “I’ve known Roselyn Sanchez for over 10 years,” Alonso tells the AFRO. “I know Paula from “Jumping The Broom.” That was 10 years ago so Paula Patton […]
Posted inSports
Former NFL Great Michael Vick Doesn’t Dodge His Past
By Mark F. Gray, Special to the AFRO Michael Vick became an NFL legend by eluding defenders that were trying to stop him. With his playing days now over Vick doesn’t run away from his past as he candidly shares his life story around the country while making an appearance at First Baptist Church of Glenarden’s […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, ENTERTAINMENT, Media, National News
Judge Rules Jury Can Hear Bill Cosby Quaaludes Testimony
By The Associated Press Prosecutors in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault retrial can read the comedian’s prior testimony about giving quaaludes to women before sex to the jury, the judge in the case ruled Tuesday. Judge Steven O’Neill ruled Tuesday that prosecutors can read the testimony into the record at Cosby’s retrial on charges he drugged […]
Posted inAfro Briefs, ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT, ENTERTAINMENT, Music, National News
Kendrick Lamar the 1st Rapper to Win Pulitzer
By The Associated Press Rapper Kendrick Lamar’s “DAMN.” has won the Pulitzer Prize for music. It’s the first non-classical or jazz work to win the award. The Pulitzer board on Monday called the album a work that captures the complexity of African-American life. Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for music for his album “Damn.” […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Nina Simone, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, to be Inducted into Rock Hall of Fame
By MESFIN FEKADU, AP Music Writer CLEVELAND (AP) — Bon Jovi, the Cars and four first-time nominees, including Nina Simone, will be inducted Saturday night as the 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class. Dire Straits, The Moody Blues and Sister Rosetta Tharpe, who died in 1973, will also earn the prestigious honor at […]
Posted inNational News
Mavis Staples to Receive Underground Railroad Museum Award
By The Associated Press CINCINNATI (AP) — The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati says it plans to celebrate the life of singer and activist Mavis Staples with one of the museum’s highest honors. Mavis Staples (Courtesy photo/www.mavisstaples.com) The center will present Staples with the Everyday Freedom Hero Award at a reception on Friday. […]
Posted inARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
CNN’s Don Lemon to Contributor: Be Honest
By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — CNN’s Don Lemon apparently has his limits. The evening host shut down a former Donald Trump aide — and paid CNN contributor — on Thursday, telling him not to come on his show and lie to the American people. Lemon and Jason Miller were talking about special […]
Posted inNational News
How Kathleen Cleaver Conquered War With Love
By Tilesha Brown, Special to the AFRO Kathleen Neal started out as a painter, but by the time she graduated high school, she was on an entirely different path. She would enroll in Oberlin College in Ohio her freshman year, then Barnard College in New York before dropping out completely and joining the renowned Student […]