Snoop Dog on The High Road Tour (2016). Photo: Alexander Matthews/Flickr
In a full-circle moment, rap legend, actor, entrepreneur and television show host Calvin “Snoop Dogg” Broadus has acquired Death Row Records, the iconic label that launched his storied career. Founded in 1992 by Dr. Dre, The D.O.C. Suge Knight, and Dick Griffey, Death Row is one of the industry’s most storied hip-hop labels that signed Snoop Doggy Dog, Tupac Shakur, Nate Dogg and tha Dogg Pound, Lady of Rage and the Outlawz. After Dr. Dre’s highly publicized exit in 1992 and Suge Knights rise and fall, Death Row records went into bankruptcy in 2006 and was acquired at auction in 2009 for $18 million by WIDEawake Entertainment. The company had been sold multiple times and was purchased by MNRK Music Group, a firm that is controlled by private equity funds managed by Blackstone, in 2019. Broadus purchased Death Row from MNRK Music Group Wednesday.
Chris Gardner of The Hollywood Reporter reports the Hip-Hop legend is happy to purchase the label that gave Broadus his start in the industry. Gardner writes:
“It feels good to have ownership of the label I was part of at the beginning of my career and as one of the founding members. This is an extremely meaningful moment for me,” explained Snoop, who went on to sign with No Limit Records, Interscope, Capitol, Geffen, Priority Records and Def Jam. “I would like to personally thank the teams at Blackstone, MNRK and especially David Kestnbaum, who worked collaboratively with me over several months to make this exciting homecoming a reality.”
The Hip-Hop mogul has a line of wines, partnership with Happy Socks, is an equity stake holder in car care company Sanctiond, has his own band of cannabis Leafs by Snoop, vapes, candles among a myriad of other products.
Broadus is also releasing a new album, B.O.D.R., an acronym that stands for “Back on Death Row,” in partnership with Gala Games, the blockchain gaming platform. The booked and busy entertainer will perform alongside Dre, Mary J. Blige, Eminem and Kendrick Lamar as part of the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show from SoFi Stadium on Feb. 13. He will also co-host The Puppy Bowl with bestie and co-host Martha Stewart again this year for Discovery+.
TheTruthCheck.org spokesperson and actress Jenifer Lewis. (Photo: Tyler Iacona)
Jenifer Lewis is a name that is synonymous with Black excellence in theater, film and television. The Essence MagazineBlack Women in Hollywood honoree has been giving our social media platforms life with her dazzling, engaging and informative posts. In addition to Lewis’ passionate and comedic performances on television, most recently as Ruby, the matriarch of the Johnson clan on ABC’s juggernaut sitcom Black-ish, Lewis is also known for her activism around issues of social justice. Whether supporting Colin Kaepernick at the Emmys, using Facebook Live to tell people to get their “a#*” out to vote or the importance of Juneteenth, the woman known as “The Mother of Black Hollywood” makes her celebrity count by lending her voice to important causes that impact the African American community.
Lewis has recently teamed up with The Center for Black Health & Equity (The Center), which launched TheTruthCheck.org in January, an online training resource to provide African Americans with social media literacy and fact-checking skills to avoid the influence of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation. Lewis joined the TruthCheck campaign to encourage the African American community to check the facts when it comes to health decisions.
“I believe it is critical to collectively lend our voices to share the truth about COVID-19 and vaccines to empower our people to make sound, informed decisions about what is best to save lives,” said Lewis. “We should all be social media savvy and give it the side eye before we believe it and share it.”
Delmonte Jefferson, executive director for The Center agrees with Lewis. “As Omicron and other variants continue the spread of COVID-19, we are finding that the main sources African Americans rely on for information about the vaccines are also the sources not trusted, with social media being the main culprit,” said Jefferson. “Yet, people repeat what they hear from social media without checking for accuracy first. This practice of receiving and sharing misinformation amplifies health disparities and harms the Black community. Truth Check aims to correct this contagious spread of inaccurate and false narratives.”
Misinformation around Covid-19 has had negative consequences for African-American populations. Nearly 900,000 people have died from Covid-19, the majority of whom have been Black and Indigenous. When adjusting for age, Pacific Islander, Latino, Indigenous and Black Americans all have a COVID-19 death rate of double or more than that of White and Asian Americans, who experience the lowest age-adjusted rates. Misinformation about COVID-19 and the vaccines have certainly played a role in these disparities.
TheTruthCheck.org endeavors to end the spread of misinformation and to tackle disinformation, the intentional spread of misinformation to intentionally deceive specific populations by helping African Americans learn to be more discerning in the information about Covid-19 found on social media. With a history of activism and a robust social media presence, the “Mother of Black Hollywood,” is the perfect person to help make that happen.
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The Truth Check has been funded by the CDC Foundation to support The Center and effective community outreach initiatives centered on communities of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) to share accurate, culturally appropriate information about the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines and to link adults to vaccine services.
To learn more about the campaign and how to spot misinformation on social media, visit TheTruthCheck.org.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire. Dr. Burton serves as a subject matter expert for this campaign.
February is Heart Health Awareness month. Nearly 647,000 Americans die from heart disease each year, making it the leading cause of death in the United States. Heart disease causes 1 out of every 4 deaths in this country. Millions of people are literally fighting for their lives every day. Meet McKenna Lewis, a woman who is waging and winning her war against heart disease, which has taken the lives of family members and friends. An elementary school principal, read McKenna’s inspiring story of survival below:
BEST REJECTION LETTER EVER
I do not talk about my heart health journey often because I despise pity and I don’t see myself as frail, sick or impaired; I also don’t want anyone to assign those dispositions to me. I see myself as whole, healthy and healed!!!
My family has a history of heart disease. My dad, older brother and sister all lived and died with issues related to heart disease. My mom is a stroke survivor and works diligently to live a heart healthy life. I thought I escaped the heart disease gene; however at age 38, I was diagnosed with Chronic Heart Failure (CHF). Since then I have had several heart procedures, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation and at one point my heart was struggling and I had a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line pumping a medication that aided the pumping of my heart. Despite my grim prognosis, I simply did not accept it. I did not see myself as sick. Most days I didn’t feel sick and honestly it just was not cute. (SMILE)
I had no idea how sick I was because my prayers were silly as I reflect. “God just let me be cute if I have to go though all of this.” I was in and out of the hospital. I went so often I just took a suitcase when I had certain symptoms. The lady at the registration desk said to me one time “ma’am this is not a hotel, ” to which I replied, “Ma’am you are a lie. This is chateau Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Tell them to get a room ready on the 4th floor NW Tower overlooking the heli-pad.” I knew the nurses by name.
On one visit my Dr. said that based on my ejection fracture (EF) he was recommending me for heart transplantation. Folks it got real at that moment. “Sir I am not THAT sick.” (I am sure they thought I was CRAZY!!! My brain never processed or accepted my prognosis and instead of going with it I had a talk with my GOD!!! I researched and made lifestyle changes (walking daily, nutrition, rest). I also worked with my team at the Advanced Heart Failure Clinic at WHC. Welp, needless to say I was accepted for transplantation and then rejected based on improvement. I have been kicked out of better places.
I give GOD all of the glory and honor. So many people who had better prognoses than I did have died and I’m still here!!! Fast forward 11 years later. I have my dream job (elementary school principal) and I own a peloton –see y’all on the leaderboard –look for me at the bottom. I walk 3-5 miles daily and I have not been in the hospital for over 3 years. My doctor said he doesn’t know what to do with me because despite having heart disease I am doing better than the team expected.
I live around the corner from the new trauma hospital in my community and I am reminded daily that I am incredibly blessed!!! There are so many people that were and continue to be super supportive on my journey to better health. I thank you all for your encouragement, your prayers and your love. I hesitate to call names because so many people were so kind. The outpouring of prayers and love sustained me on the days that were tough.
Again, I don’t share this testimony for pity but simply because I want to celebrate my survivor story and encourage someone dealing with health challenges (physical or mental). Have faith, do your part and work with your medical team!
The month of February is popularly known as Black History Month and the month we celebrate our romantic partners on Valentine’s Day. February is also known as Heart Health Awareness month in which scores of organizations work valiantly to end the fight against heart disease. Heart Health Awareness month was first established by President Lyndon B. Johnson in December of 1963. President Johnson urged Americans to pay close attention to the problem of heart related diseases and to support programs committed to finding solutions to this health issue impacting millions of Americans. Fast forward nearly 60 years later and Americans are still in the fight against heart disease which is the leading cause of death for men and women in this country.
Black women’s organizations like Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, The Links, Incorporated and Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated have partnered with organizations like The American Heart Association (AHA) to help fight heart disease which is the leading cause of death of women.
The American Heart Association (AHA) is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke with more than 40 million volunteers and supporters. Each year, the AHA partners with a myriad of organizations to raise awareness, educate people on the risk factors of heart disease and to promote heart healthy lifestyles and practices. Go Red for Women™ campaign is AHA’s signature women’s initiative and is a comprehensive platform designed to increase women’s heart health awareness and serve as a catalyst for change to improve the lives of women globally. As part of the Go Red for Women™ campaign, women across the globe wear the color red on National Wear Red Day.
In partnership with the American Heart Association, each year the women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. participate in Pink Goes RedCommunity Impact Day initiative to raise awareness around issues of heart disease. This year the nation’s first sorority for collegiate Black women, focused their programming on heart disease and diabetes which disproportionately impacts African American populations and is a risk factor for heart disease. Chapters across the globe curated programming around heart related issues and recommitted to existing programming like “Walking with the Supreme” in which members pledge to walk 8,000 steps each day to improve heart health.
The Camellia Rose Chapter of The Links, Incorporated hosts a livestream discussion, “Go Red, Live Bold, Live Fierce, Live Healthy,” to raise awareness of heart disease, communicate risk factors for African-American women and hear a story from heart disease survivor Elma J. Browning McKay who is a member of the Links and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. Camellia Rose member Juliet Hall (top right) hosted the discussion, which featured a presentation by Dr. Jennifer Mieres. (PHOTO: TBW)
The Links, Incorporated also celebrates heart health through their #GreenGoesRed initiative with programming that underscores HeartLinks, their signature program dedicated to fighting heart disease established in 2005. Black women’s civic organizations understand how heart disease uniquely impacts African American communities in general and Black women specifically. According to the AHA, cardiovascular diseases kill nearly 50,000 African American women annually. Of African American women ages 20 and older, 49 percent have heart diseases. While heart disease affects African American women disproportionately, only 1 in 5 African American women believes she is personally at risk and only 58% of African American women are aware of the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. Only 36% of African American women know that heart disease is their greatest health risk. Black women’s civic organizations like The Links, Incorporated curate programming to combat these troubling statistics.
Jack and Jill of America, Incorporated also works diligently to raise awareness about heart disease and how it impacts Black families through their partnership with the AHA and robust social media campaigns #JJGoesRed and ongoing programming around addressing health issues. Every 80 seconds, heart disease claims a woman’s life which can be devastating to families in our community. With 252 chapters representing 40,000 families, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. is acutely aware of the importance mothers play in improving the lives of all children.
Black women’s civic organizations understand the importance of combatting heart disease which is the leading killer of all women in this country. They collaborate with organizations like the American Heart Association and the National Heart and Lung and Blood Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NHLBI) among others to educate, inform and inspire Black women to be proactive in the fight against heart disease. Black women can win this fight by knowing risk factors, making heart healthy lifestyle changes and being proactive in their medical care and self-advocacy as a patient.
To learn more about the symptoms of heart attack and stroke and how you can combat these ailments, visit the American Heart Association.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Instagram or Twitter @Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire
Janet Jackson performs at Chastain Park in Atlanta, GA, September 26, 2015. (Photo: Yvonne Cowser Yancy)
5-4-3-2-1. The countdown has begun to the premiere of the Lifetime/A&E documentary of the life of pop superstar Janet Jackson. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Janet Jackson’s eponymous first LP Janet Jackson (1982), the four-hour television event will take place over two days.
The fiercely private five-time Grammy award-winner who is part of the Jackson clan, an American musical dynasty, will open up about her rise to superstardom, complicated relationship with her superstar brother Michael, the infamous 2004 Super Bowl incident and subsequent blacklisting by the entertainment industry and becoming a mother at age 50. The internet is buzzing over speculation that Justin Timberlake, with whom the triple threat has had a seemingly precarious friendship, makes a surprise appearance in the documentary, executive produced by Janet and her brother Randy.
Producers Workerbee spent more than three years filming the documentary and were granted exclusive access to archival footage and Janet’s never before seen home videos, along with star-studded interviews.This documentary is being hailed as the definitive story on Janet Jackson, one of the best-selling and highest-earning artists in music history.
The documentary will be simulcast on Lifetime and A&E. Part one of the documentary debuts at 8 p.m. ET. and Part two will premiere the following night at 8 p.m. EST.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. In the interest of full disclosure, Nsenga is one of Janet Jackson’s biggest fans and will not be reviewing the documentary because Nsenga cannot be unbiased in this instance. She knows her limits. Follow Nsenga on Instagram or Twitter @Ntellectual or @TheBurtonWire as she will be live tweeting the documentary while sitting in her living room, sipping champagne and rotating her Janet Jackson t-shirts.
The nation is mourning the passing of Cheryl Hickmon, national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, the nation’s largest African-American sorority. Hickmon was elected president of the organization dedicated to sisterhood, scholarship and service November 21, 2021 at the 55th national convention held in Atlanta, GA.
Hickmon, a beloved and celebrated member, served the organization for 39 years. The Connecticut native was initiated into the Alpha Xi Chapter at South Carolina State University in 1982 and was an active member of the Hartford (Conn.) Alumnae Chapter. The national office of the sorority released a statement announcing Hickmon’s death which reads as follows:
“It is with great sorrow that Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. shares the passing of our beloved National President and Chair of the National Board of Directors, Cheryl A. Hickmon. President Hickmon transitioned peacefully on January 20, 2022 after a recent illness.
President Hickmon was a devoted member of Delta Sigma Theta since 1982 and served in various capacities at the chapter, region, and national level before being elected National President. She is remembered not only for her role as a leader but for being a colleague, friend, and most of all, sister.
The entire sisterhood of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated mourns the loss of President Hickmon. During this difficult time, we ask that you respect her family’s privacy and keep them in your prayers.”
In addition to serving as the national president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Cheryl was employed at Montefiore’s Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Health in Hartsdale, NY where she supervised the In Vitro Fertilization Laboratories for Andrology and Endocrinology. A licensed Clinical Laboratory Technologist, Hickmon worked in the Reproductive Medical Laboratory for more than 30 years.
Members and supporters have been offering remembrances and calling for prayers in response to Hickmon’s death. Florida representative Val Demings, who is a member of the sorority, shared her thoughts via Twitter:
Twitter
Organizations including the NAACP and fellow Black Greek Letter Organizations like Omega Psi Phi, Phi Beta Sigma and Alpha Kappa Alpha have issued statements about Hickmon’s passing.
Cheryl Hickmon is the daughter of the late Dr. Ned Hickmon of Hartford, CT and Bishopville, South Carolina and the late Consuella Anderson Hickmon of Hartford, CT and Cincinnati, Ohio. She is survived by her two older brothers Ned and David Hickmon.
Hickmon’s bio reads, “Cheryl lives her life by the motto … ‘Don’t measure life by the number of breaths you take but by the number of moments that take your breath away.'” She was 60.
This obituary was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Pioneering fashion journalist Andre Léon Talley dies. (Photo: Google Images)
Andre Léon Talley, a trailblazing figure in fashion journalism has died. Talley was born in Washington, DC and raised by his grandmother Bennie Frances Davis in Durham, NC. According to his memoir A.L.T.: A Memoir, Talley’s grandmother worked as a housekeeper for Duke University. To escape the oppressive climate of the segregated American South and the sexual abuse and bullying he experienced as a child, Talley would escape into the pages of Vogue which he would purchase on the “white” side of town. Coupled with the fashion influences of the Black church, Talley would develop his signature style as he grew into an adult. Talley graduated from Hillside High School in 1966 and North Carolina Central University, an HBCU, where he majored in French literature in 1970. Talley also earned a M.A. degree from Brown University where he earned an M.A. and moved to New York for an apprenticeship at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).
Introduced to trailblazing fashion editor Diana Vreeland by a classmate, Talley would meet Andy Warhol, which is how he began work at Interview Magazine. Talley also worked for Women’s Wear Daily as their Paris Bureau Chief and briefly at the New York Times, before landing at American Vogue, where his career and status as a pioneering and influential fashion journalist was cemented. Talley would work closely with legendary editor Anna Wintour, serving as Creative Director and editor-at-large for the iconic publication.
A force, Talley wrote two memoirs (A.L.T. and The Chiffon Trenches – May 2020), books on fashion and played a major role in advancing the careers and opportunities for African-American models and photographers. Below he speaks about meeting iconic model Pat Cleveland:
Talley also worked closely with Karl Lagerfeld, Tom Ford, Diane Von Furstenberg and Marc Jacobs.
Talley starred as a judge on America’s Next Top Model and wrote an influential 2018 op-ed for the Washington Post entitled, “The Historic Blackness of Tyler Mitchell and Beyoncé’s Vogue Cover.” At the time of his death, Talley had been involved in a protracted legal battle over a home he had rented since 2004 from George Malkemus, the former CEO of Manolo Blahnik and his partner.
Vogue is reporting Talley died of a heart attack. He was 73.
This obituary was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Legendary actor Sidney Poitier has died at 94.
(Photo: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences)
The internet is buzzing with news iconic actor Sidney Poitier has passed away. Poitier is the first Black man to win a Best Actor Academy Award for his portrayal in Lillies of the Field. He is also known for his work in groundbreaking films The Defiant Ones (1958), A Raisin in the Sun (1961), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (1967) and In the Heat of the Night (1967),which interrogated issues of race, class, gender and social justice.
The Miami born, Bahamian-raised Poitier moved to the United States at age 15, eventually earning a role in Blackboard Jungle (1955). In a career that spanned six decades, Poitier won the best actor Oscar in 1964 for his portrayal of an ex-serviceman who helps East German nuns build a chapel in Lilies of the Field.
Poitier also worked as a director in television and film, most famously for a series of black-themed films co-starring Bill Cosby entitled Uptown Saturday Night (1974), Let’s Do It Again (1975) and A Piece of the Action (1977). Poitier directed the hit film Stir Crazy (1980) starring comedy legends Richard Pryor and Gene Wilder.
In addition to the Best Actor Academy Award, Poitier has been recognized for his excellence in the craft, civil and human rights activism, and being vocal about issues of representation on screen. Poitier, who grew up poor and left school in the 3rd grade to help his family, worked as a dishwasher. In order to pursue acting seriously, he taught himself to read beyond his 3rd grade education, dedicating himself to learning the craft of acting and filmmaking. Poitier’s investment paid off in dividends.
In 1974, Poitier was made an honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by Queen Elizabeth II. He also received a Kennedy Center Honor (1995), the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Barack Obama (2009), Golden Globe Awards for Lillies of the Field (1964), The 1982 Golden Globes Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement and a Grammy-award for narrating his autobiography, “The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography,” published in 2000. Poitier, a dual citizen of the Bahamas and the United States, was appointed Bahamian ambassador to Japan in 1997 by President Bill Clinton. He served in that capacity until 2007.
Poitier shares four children with his first wife Juanita Hardy, to whom he was married from 1950 to 1965. In 1976, the celebrated actor married former Canadian actress Joanna Shimkus, with whom he shares two daughters including actress Sydney Poitier. He is survived by Joanna, his wife of 45 years, five daughters and a host of grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Gina Poitier-Gouraige, who passed away in 2018. No cause of death has been given for the legendary actor’s death. He was 94.
This news article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Writer, producer, director and star Aml Ameen (Melvin) embraces Aja Naomi King (Lisa) in a scene from the Amazon Prime film Boxing Day (2021).
In 2021, the box-office did not disappoint with outstanding films on the big screen and streaming apps like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Apple TV +. Films like Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog, Denzel Washington’s A Journal for Jordan, Ridley’s Scott’s House of Gucci, Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos, Jeymes Samuel’s The Harder They Fall and the Marvel Universe’s first Asian superhero film Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings have made a variety of lists as they should. I wanted to use this list as an opportunity to elevate some films that may have been undervalued or overlooked for a variety of reasons including subject matter, perceived lack of star power, genre or release date. Check out some of the top films of 2021, some of which you may not have heard of and others you may not wish to forget as we head into 2022.
BOXING DAY (Amazon Prime Video)
Looking for global Black love or remembering what being in love feels like? You’ve found it in this funny, heartwarming film that takes viewers from the Dirty South to South London. Inspired by writer, director, and star Aml Ameen’s life, Boxing Day follows Melvin (Aml Ameen), a British writer and former soap opera star living in America, who returns home to London for Christmas to introduce his American fiancée, Lisa (Aja Naomi King), to his energetic British-Caribbean family. Their relationship is put to the test as she discovers the world her fiancée has left behind including a superstar former girlfriend named Georgia (Leigh-Ann Pinnock). Marianne Jean-Baptiste gives an endearing performance as Shirley, Melvin’s mother who is getting her groove back following a painful heartache. Ameen and King show the magic that can happen when the Diaspora comes together in life and love.
KING RICHARD (Warner Bros.)
If teamwork makes the dream work was a film, King Richard would be it.King Richard is the engrossing story of a father’s determination to write his talented daughters into the sports history books, 78 pages at a time. Will Smith plays Richard Williams, the father who understands his daughters’ greatness and the context in which they are living, from the moment they were born. Partnered with a dedicated and focused mother Oracene “Brandy” Williams played brilliantly by the white hot Aunjanue Ellis, the Williams family endeavors to take Venus (Saniyya Sidney) and Serena Williams (Demi Singleton) to the top of a tennis world resistant to their presence or participation. Williams uses strategy, humility and confidence to engage legendary tennis coach Paul Cohen (Tony Goldwyn) who helps Venus hone her skills while Brandy literally keeps Serena in the game of life and tennis. Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (Premature, Gun Hill Road) and executive produced by the Williams sisters and Smith, the film offers a humanistic view of Richard Williams as a loving father who makes sure two black girls from Compton, can rewrite their destiny, rise to the highest heights and belong wherever they choose to be.
MY NAME IS PAULI MURRAY (Amazon Prime Video)
The life of Rev. Pauli Murray is American history that is as important to the present as it is to the future. This documentary takes you on the journey of Murray, a non-binary African American woman, who was the first Black woman ordained as an Episcopalian priest and co-founder of the National Organization of Women (NOW). The filmmakers make plain that Murray lived many lives – a professor, lawyer, poet and activist — all of which changed the course of society for the better. Murray’s legal theories were so brilliant and influential Supreme Court justices Thurgood Marshall and Ruth Bader Ginsburg used them to win some of their most historic cases. This documentary offers few bells and whistles – simply Murray telling and extraordinary story of a fully evolved human being in pursuit of justice and happiness.
CANDYMAN (Universal Pictures)
In the fourth installment of the Black horror cult classic Candyman (1992) Director Nia DaCosta takes viewers on a journey into the modern-day horror that is gentrification and police occupation in Trump’s America. Against the backdrop of one of America’s most storied housing projects Cabrini Green in Chicago, Anthony (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II), a visual artist, delves into an old tale about a murder in the housing projects. Anthony, who lives a bourgeois life with his lover Brianna (Teyonah Parris) who manages an art gallery, seeks inspiration for his latest painting in all the wrong places. Researching the story of what happened to Helen Lyle leads Anthony to roads less traveled and an introduction to Burke (Colman Domingo), a dry cleaner that holds many secrets. Written by DaCosta, Win Rosenfeld and horror maestro Jordan Peele, Candyman implicates all of the characters in the conjuring of this evil presence that refuses to die. With stunning visuals including art and cinematography and DaCosta’s intelligent reimaging of who Candyman is and what created him, makes the film feel more like a psychological thriller than a slasher like its predecessors. Candyman offers a smart window into the precarious world in which we’re living and why we should all be horrified.
SUMMER OF SOUL (Fox Searchlight)
Iconic musician and bandleader Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson makes his filmmaking debut with the documentary that is as much a historical document as it is an homage to Black musical excellence. Thompson, founding member the legendary Roots crew and son of a jazz musician, escorts viewers into a world of Black music, fashion and culture at the Harlem Cultural Festival held at Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park) over the course of six weeks in 1969, one hundred miles from Woodstock. This documentary features electrifying performances and chronicles the socio-political times in which Black people in America were living. Black musicians from all genres of music – funk, blues, jazz, classical, rock and roll, folk, gospel – played simultaneously personifying the influence of Black innovation and creation in historic Harlem, ground zero for Black Arts and culture in the 20th Century. Footage with spine tingling performances from Nina Simone, the Staples Singers, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson, the Fifth Dimension, Sly and the Family Stone and so many more, Summer of Soul shows the magic that happens when Black creatives and artists come together and reminds viewers of the cultural significance Black music played in a revolution that was not televised.
PASSING (Netflix)
With a cast that includes Ruth Negga, Tessa Thompson, Alexander Skarsgard and Andre Holland and a story based on a novel written by American novelist Nella Larsen, Passing is a must-see movie about the reality of passing at a time when being Black equated to having no rights and a life with no value to empowered Whites other than as unpaid or low-wage labor. One wrong move by a Black person could result in certain death or an uncertain future. The story takes place in Harlem where Irene (Thompson), a light-skinned Black woman married to Brian (Holland), a Black physician, unexpectedly runs into a former high school friend Clare, a light-skinned black woman who is passing for White and married to a wealthy White man John (Skarsgard) from Chicago. Writer, producer and director Rebecca Hall captures the tension between the women as their lives become increasingly connected. The psychological dance between Irene and Clare as they literally sidestep landmines in a race war — some of their making – in which they have the most at stake. With beautiful Black and White cinematography that makes one feel as if they are looking through a photo album, Hall visually demonstrates that issues of race, sex and class aren’t always as Black and White as they may seem.
FATHERHOOD (Netflix)
Fatherhood is a film about a happy family rocked by tragedy. In a refreshing departure from his usual role as the funny lead or sidekick, comedian Kevin Hart convincingly plays Matt, a broken-hearted father trying to raise his newborn daughter after the unexpected loss of his wife Liz (Deborah Ayinde), one day following childbirth. Matt tries to balance the difficulty of raising a happy and productive child as an only parent with professional and romantic aspirations while navigating the precarious terrain of dealing with parents and in-laws yearning to maintain their connection to their deceased daughter. Alfre Woodard delivers a powerful performance as Marian, Matt’s mother-in-law who is working through grief and the fear of losing her granddaughter. Hart holds his own in scenes with Woodard and Frankie Faison who plays, Liz’s father Mike. Lil’ Rel Howery, DeWanda Wise and Paul Reiser round out the cast playing the chorus to a devastating tragedy.
SWAN SONG (Apple TV+)
Cameron, a loving father played brilliantly by Academy award-winning actor Mahershala Ali finds out he is terminally ill just before learning he has a second child on the way with his beautiful and doting wife Poppy (Naomie Harris). Presented with a life-saving and life-altering solution to his demise, Cameron must decide whether or not to change life’s trajectory or to stay the course and accept the future he knows instead of the unknown. Through this process, Cameron learns more about life, love and his full humanity as a man. Ali Mahershala Ali’s the hell out of this role taking viewers on this precarious ride of uncertainty. Academy award-nominated actresses Harris and Glenn Close deliver stoic and weighty performances. It-actress Awkwafina plays Kate and Kate’s duplicated giving Cameron more insight into his decision.
This article appeared originally on BlackPressUsa.com. The article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Rising opera star, countertenor and recent finalist on NBC’s The VoiceJohn Holiday — who recently made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice (December 16) and the New York Philharmonic in Handel’s Messiah at The Riverside Church (December 14 to 18) — stars in the film After/Glowby award-winning director Ryan McKinny.
John Holiday stars in Helio Arts’ film After/Glow. (Photo: Helio Arts)
A vibrant reimagining of Schumann’s iconic song cycle, Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love), the film embarks on a sensual cinematic journey, which fuses poetry, song and spoken word by acclaimed poet Marc Bamuthi Joseph. The film is available exclusively at Helio Arts, a new online platform at the nexus of film and the performing arts. After/Glow is the first project of Helio Arts and is co-executive produced with Drax Productions.
The film features the virtuosic performance of Holiday and the original work and spoken word artistry of Joseph — a TED Global Fellow and Guggenheim Social Practice recipient whose opera libretto, We Shall Not Be Moved, was named one of 2017’s “Best Classical Music Performances” by The New York Times. After/Glow brings the spark of new love, the smoldering of desire and the haze of loss, leaving viewers basking in the raw power of intimate human connection. Holiday leads the cast, which is rounded out by Eboni Adams and DeMario Adams. McKinny won Best Rogue Director at the 2021 Seattle Film Festival for the film.
Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love) was composed in 1840, during a year which accounted for nearly half of Robert Schumann’s song output. It also marked the year he married pianist Clara Wieck, who provided the inspiration for the work and fueled the composer’s attraction to love lyrics. Featuring texts from Heinrich Heine’s Lyrisches Intermezzo (from his Buch der Lieder),the 16-song cycle was completed in the space of about a week.
“When John Holiday mentioned to me that he was looking at the ridiculously difficult task of both singing and playing Schumann’s Dichterliebe, I immediately knew we had to make it into a film. But not wanting to leave poor Heinrich Heine and Robert Schumann to do all the heavy lifting, I asked Marc Bamuthi Joseph to write new poems, inspired by the originals,” said McKinny, himself a lauded opera singer who also served as writer and editor for After/Glow. “A story of love and sex, despair and death started to form, and the end result takes Schumann’s beauty, Heine’s romanticism, Bamuthi’s visceral sensuality, Eboni Adams and DeMario Adams’ stunning screen presence along with John’s herculean musical performance and rolls them together into something truly special.”
Founded by McKinny in February 2021 during the height of the pandemic when many opera and theater companies began offering their live capture of performances online, Helio Arts takes home viewing to the next level with commissioned narrative and experimental films — whether opera or other music, spoken word or dance — that allow viewers a fresh take on the classics and new works alike. The platform’s revenue-sharing model is also a way to support performing artists whose livelihoods have been among some of the hardest hit during the pandemic.
After/Glow was developed with the generous support of arts and entertainment company Drax Productions and produced by Tonya McKinny. Cinematography is by Ryan McKinny and Tonya McKinny.To stream After/Glow, visit www.helioarts.com.
ABOUT HELIO ARTS and DRAX PRODUCTIONS:
Helio Arts is a digital home for streaming performing arts films. On the Helio platform, viewers will find original content from independent creative teams and arts organizations like Houston Grand Opera, The Joffrey Ballet and Minnesota Opera. Helio blends all art forms for new and exciting digital content streamed right to the screen.
Drax Productions is a New York-based boutique production company that partners with and invests in creators in the performing arts, streaming, TV and film worlds to bring their dream projects to life.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on Twitter @Ntellectual.
