Rock 'n Roll pioneer Chuck Barry has died.
(Photo: Google Images)
Rock ‘n Roll pioneer Chuck Barry has died. (Photo: Google Images)
ABC News is reporting legendary Rock n’ Roll musician Chuck Berry has died. Dean Shabner of ABC News writes:
“St. Charles County, Missouri, police said they responded to a medical emergency on Buckner Road at approximately 12:40 p.m. Inside the home, first responders found an unresponsive man, but despite immediately administering lifesaving techniques, the 90-year-old man could not be revived. He was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m., police said.”
Berry is one of the creators of rock and roll. His hits include the songs “Maybellene” (1955), “Rock and Roll Music” (1957) and “Johnny B. Goode” (1958). Berry refined and developed rhythm and blues into the major elements that made rock and roll distinctive, with lyrics focusing on youth, the fast life, rebellion and featuring guitar solos and showmanship. Berry was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
The entrance door to Villa Lewaro.
(Photo: Nsenga Burton)
Villa Lewaro foyer. (Photo: Pinterest)
Madam C.J. Walker, Reverend Richard Allen, Absalom Jones, the American Women’s Heritage Society, Queen Nzinga and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC) are just a few of the historical figures and organizations explored during Toyota’s Let’s Go Places Black History Month tour. Over the course of four days, writers had the opportunity to visit historical landmarks like Villa Lewaro, Madam C.J. Walker’s restored historic residence. Born Sarah Breedlove in the Louisiana Delta, Walker, the nation’s first self-made woman millionaire made her fortune by developing and selling black hair care products to the African American community.
Built in 1917, Walker’s summer residence, Villa Lewaro, was the intellectual gathering place for notable leaders of the Harlem Renaissance including James Weldon Johnson, Zora Neale Hurston, W.E.B. Du Bois and Langston Hughes. Located in Irvington, NY, her neighbors included real estate mogul John Jacob Astor and oil magnate John D. Rockefeller. Walker commissioned Vertner Woodson Tandy, New York State’s first registered black architect to design the summer home. Vertner who is also a founder of Alphi Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., modeled the home after an Italian villa. Upon her death in 1919, Walker left the home to her daughter A’Leila with the stipulation that after her daughter’s death the three-story, stucco villa should go to the NAACP. The NAACP quickly sold the property for financial solvency and it became a retirement home for forty years.
Historic marker of Madam C.J. Walker’s Villa Lewaro.
(Photo: Nsenga Burton)
Villa Lewaro. (Photo: Nsenga Burton)
The entrance door to Villa Lewaro.
(Photo: Nsenga Burton)
A beautiful chest in Villa Lewaro. (Photo Nsenga Burton)
The top of the fireplace made out of stone in the foyer at Villa Lewaro.
Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 due to it’s architectural significance, Villa Lewaro showcases the beauty, architectural integrity and great sense of style held by America’s first, self-made woman millionaire, who valued the work and expertise of other African-Americans like Tandy. It is befitting Ambassador Harold Doley, Jr. and his wife Helena are the current owners of the property and have lived at Villa Lewaro for 24 years. Doley is the founder of Doley Securities, LLC, the oldest African American owned investment banking firm in the nation. In 1981 he was named the Founding Director of the Minerals Management Service of the United States Department of Interior. Under Doley, Minerals Management became the second largest income source to the United States Government. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan appointed Doley as the American Ambassador to the Ivory Coast. He was also named Executive Director of the African Development Bank, a multi-lateral development institution and a sister institution of the World Bank. Serving as Executive Director, Doley increased the AFDB’s capital by more than 300 percent. Upon his return to the United States in 1985, Doley continued his African development work by founding the U.S. – Africa Chamber of Commerce to increase trade between African nations and the United States.
At the age of 21, Ambassador Doley visited Villa Lewaro while training in investment banking on Wall Street, and decided then he would one day live here. “I took the train here and thought one day I want to own this home. It’s important that this home be in black hands and fulfill Madam’s goals,” says Doley. The Doleys, who have lived at Villa Lewaro for 24 years and worked closely with the National Trust to honor the architectural integrity of the estate, in addition to the legacy of Madam C. J. Walker, have placed Villa Lewaro on the market leading many to wonder what will become of the designated landmark. Brent Leggs, Senior Field Officer for the National Historic Preservation Trust says, “Our intent is to protect the property with the strongest legal tool possible which is a preservation easement.” He adds, “They [The Doleys] have lived here for 24 years and beautifully restored the property so they will be making the easement donation to the national trust and the easement endowment so we can monitor this easement in perpetuity.” According to Leggs, the easement is expected to be in place by March of 2017.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual. It is the first of a series of articles related to the Toyota Let’s Go Places Black History Month Tour. The next article in the series will feature Mother Bethel AME.
Pop superstar Robyn Rihanna Fenty receives the Harvard Foundation's Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian award from foundation director and Harvard professor of neurology S. Allen Coulter.
(Photo: Google Images)
Pop superstar Robyn Rihanna Fenty receives the Harvard Foundation’s Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian award from foundation director and Harvard professor of neurology S. Allen Coulter. (PHOTO: ROSE LINCOLN/HARVARD STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Pop superstar Robyn Rihanna Fenty was awarded the Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations Peter J. Gomes Humanitarian Award on March 1. Fenty is well-known for her music, performances, fashion and personal life, but her charitable contributions are often overlooked. In 2006, the Grammy award-winner founded The Believe Foundation, her first foundation, which raises awareness of the impact of blood cancers such as leukemia, particularly on children. This foundation has recruited and registered nearly 4,000 bone marrow donors. The Believe Foundation also provides educational, financial, social and medical support for children suffering from blood cancers. Fenty founded this organization when she was just 18-years-old.
During her speech, Fenty talked about her grandmother, in whose honor she named the Clara Lionel Foundation. Founded by Rihanna in 2012, the non-profit is dedicated to funding and facilitating groundbreaking education, health and emergency response programs for impoverished communities all over the world. In support of Rihanna’s philanthropic efforts, fashion house Dior has announced they will be donating a percentage of proceeds from each “We Should All Be Feminists” t-shirt – made famous on their Spring 2017 runway and Rihanna’s Instagram – to the foundation. The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations is also a partner in the Dior effort.
Pop superstar Rihanna Fenty rocking her Dior shirt. (Photo: Instagram)
When receiving the award, Fenty spoke of her desire to help young people from a young age and how she followed her grandmother’s advice. Fenty says her grandmother always said, “If you got a dollar, there’s plenty to share.” Fenty has also established an oncology and nuclear medicine wing at Queen Anne Hospital in Barbados and a scholarship program for Caribbean students studying in the United States. The Barbados Ambassador for Children and Youth supports the Global Partnership for Education and Global Citizen Project, a multiyear campaign that will provide children with access to education in over 60 developing countries, giving priority to girls and those affected by lack of access to education.
Ms. Fenty is an excellent example of someone putting her wealth and celebrity to good use.
Read more about Fenty’s Harvard Humanitarian Award at Caribbean 360.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Tyler Perry's 'Love Thy Neighbor' premieres on OWN, March 4 at 9/8c.
(Photo: OWN)
Tyler Perry’s ‘Love Thy Neighbor’ premieres on OWN, March 4 at 9/8c. (Photo: OWN)
Saturday nights are for love and laughter. Beginning Saturday, March 4, at 9/8c, Tyler Perry’s ‘Love Thy Neighbor’returns to OWN in the season premiere. Love Thy Neighbor is a showaboutamiddleclassfamily — theirdailyjoys,struggles,triumphsandfumbles.
Much of the action on the show, centers around The Love Machine, anoldlocomotivecarconvertedtoadinerthatservesupallofHattieMae’soldrecipes and lots of laughter. Check out a sneak peek of the new season below:
Mahershala Ali is the first Muslim to win an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role in 'Moonlight' and Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Fences.' (Photo: Google)
Mahershala Ali is the first Muslim to win an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘Moonlight’ and Viola Davis won Best Supporting Actress for her role in ‘Fences.’ (Photo: Google)
Mahershala Ali made Oscar history last night with his Best Supporting Actor win for his performance in the critically-acclaimed film Moonlight. Ali became the first Muslim to win the honor in the 89-year history of the Academy.
Beloved actress Viola Davis won her first Oscar as Best Actress for her performance in Fences, giving an outstanding acceptance speech.
Barry Jenkins’ Moonlight won best film, which was announced after a stunning mixup in which La La Land was accidentally read as the winner. Jenkins also won for Best Writing Adapted Screenplay.
Upsets include Denzel Washington’s loss in the Best Actor category for Fences, which went to Casey Affleck for his performance in Manchester by the Sea. Ava Duvernay and Raoul Peck lost the Best Documentary award for 13th and I Am Not Your Negro to O.J.: Made in America.
This post was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Protesters took to the streets of Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, to protest the presence of “foreigners” in the country based on the widespread belief that many are engaged in criminal activity and taking jobs from South Africans. Police responded to the protesters with water hoses, rubber bullets and tear gas.
South African president Jacob Zuma condemned the most recent wave of xenophobia, asking for calm and stating that most immigrants in South Africa are law-abiding citizens who add value to society and the economy.
Targeted migrant groups include Zimbabweans, Somalis and Nigerians. Xenophobia in South Africa is not new. In 2008, scores of immigrants were killed, while hundreds fled to other countries after xenophobic attacks occurred for similar reasons. King Goodwill Zwelithini, chief of the Zulu people, was blamed for the attacks in 2008 after releasing a video telling “foreigners” to pack their bags and go home.
The most recent spate of xenophobic attacks started in Rosettenville, a neighborhood south of Johannesburg, where residents burned down a dozen houses that they said were being used by Nigerians as drug dens and brothels.
Herman Mashaba, mayor of Johannesburg, was being blamed for inciting this most recent xenophobic violence after saying that South Africans were being held hostage by foreigners, who are often blamed for the country’s high unemployment rate.
Lucy (Abigail Spencer) works with 'Hidden Figure' Katherine Johnson (Nadine Ellis) in episode 107 of NBC's 'Timeless.'
Lucy (Abigail Spencer) works with ‘Hidden Figure’ Katherine Johnson (Nadine Ellis) in episode 107 of NBC’s ‘Timeless.’ (Photo: NBC)
Timeless follows the adventures of Lucy Preston (a history professor played by Abigail Spencer), Rufus Carlin (a scientist played by Malcolm Barrett) and Wyatt Logan (a soldier played by Matt Lanter) as they attempt to stop Garcia Flynn (Goran Visnjic) from changing the course of American history through time travel.
Sony Picture’s Television’s Timeless premiered on NBCon October 3, 2016 and as luck would have it, Timeless is currently airing on NBC Monday nights. The show about time travel features three episodes dealing with the never-before-told stories of three African Americans who played integral roles in American history and culture.
These stories of interest include:
· “Space Race” (EP 107) which follows the ground-breaking work done by African American physicist and mathematician Katherine Johnson and her pivotal role in the success of John Glenn’s Friendship 7 space flight in 1962 and who is featured in the hit film, “Hidden Figures.”
· “The Murder of Jesse James” (EP 111) that highlights the first Black US Marshall, Bass Reeves, who came to be known as “The Lone Ranger.”
· “The Lost Generation” (EP 113) about the legendary performer Josephine Baker who became a spy for The Allies during World War II.
Perfect for binge watching, discussion and insight during Black History Month, Timeless reflects the good things that can happen when education and entertainment meet on network television.
The aforementioned episodes (107, 111 and 113) are available to watch on NBC.com and for purchase on iTunes.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
You will always know a condition of a people by what is expressed in their music.
Narrated by Chuck D (of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame group, Public Enemy), FunkJazz Kafe: Diary of a Decadeis an award-winning documentary film that conveys the evolution of Black music and culture as told by the pioneers and next generation of soul music innovators. Covering the late 1980s through the early 2000s, this story reveals the ongoing challenges with the “mainstream” industry of the time, its impact of the departure of soul music and offers solutions for progressing responsibly for artists of today.
This is a classic film for music and social history lovers.
Special appearances in the film include: Janelle Monae, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Outkast, Dr. Cornel West, Common, Dick Gregory, Cee Lo Green, Roy Ayers, Jamie Foxx, George Clinton, Public Enemy, Omar, Caron Wheeler (Soul II Soul), N’Dea Davenport (Brand New Heavies), Loose Ends, The Mizell Brothers, Stic Man (Dead Prez), Talib Kweli, DJ, Kemit, Dallas Austin, Raphael Saadiq, Bilal, Organized Noize, Doug E. Fresh, Eric Roberson, Lil John Roberts, Algebra Blessett, Anthony David, Jamal Ahmad, Meshell NdegeOcello, Joi Gilliam, Dionne Farris, Van Hunt, Speech and many others.
A screening of FunkJazz Kafé: Diary Of A Decade will take place Feb 22 at the Plaza Theater at 6:30 p.m. in Atlanta.
There will be a Q & A with the film’s producer, writer and director Jason Orr, directly following the screening.
Follow FunkJazz Kafé on Twitter@funkjazzkafe or Instagram @funkjazzkafe.
Writing for REMEZCLA, Manuel Bettancourt contributed to a list of 15 Afro-Latino Movies that should be streamed during Black History Month. Check out some of his selections below:
They Are We (2014)
Synopsis
Emma Christopher’s ebullient They Are We began with a simple question “Can a family separated by the transatlantic slave trade sing and dance its way back together?” Tracing back the origins of the Afro-Cuban songs and dances brought by an ancestor during the trade to Perico, Cuba, Christopher eventually found a remote village in Sierra Leone where, upon watching a recording of the Cubans’ songs and dances the people exclaimed “They are we!” Christopher’s film is a colorful celebration of Afro-Cuban culture, rhythmically pulsing with the percussive songs that have survived through centuries. (Available on Amazon)
Orfeu Negro (1959)
Synopsis
Marcel Camus’ retelling of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth set during Rio’s Carnival won the Palme d’Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival. (It’s also Barack Obama’s mother’s favorite film of all time!) Scored by a who’s who of bossa nova composers, including Antônio Carlos Jobim, Luiz Bonfá and João Gilberto, the vibrantly-shot film follows trolley driver Orfeu who, despite being engaged to be married, falls for the young newcomer to the city, Eurydice. True to the myth it is retelling, their love story is doomed from the beginning, but French director Camus finds plenty of joy in their many scenes together, including the colorful dance sequences during Carnival, which map the Greek iconography of the Orpheus tale onto Afro-Brazilian and Candomblé traditions. (Available on Amazon and iTunes)
O Dia de Jerusa (2013)
Synopsis
As its title promises, Jerusa’s Day aims to present a day in the life of a woman living in the neighborhood of Bela Vista in São Paulo. Dealing with her loneliness in a community filled with widows and single women who live day to day, this short film offers a glimpse into what Jerusa’s world looks like with surprising candor and empathy. (Available on KweliTV)
Manos Sucias (2014)
Synopsis
Executive produced by none other than Spike Lee, Josef Wladyka’s debut feature follows two brothers, a desperate fisherman and a naive young man, who embark on a journey trafficking drugs up the Pacific coast of Colombia. And as they tow a narco-torpedo filled with million of dollars worth of cocaine, their differences will soon make their already dangerous trip: while Jacobo, still reeling from being left by his wife and losing his young son, wants to make enough cash to head to Bogotá, his younger brother, would-be rapper Delio, aspires to the glitzy gangster life. Both a thriller and a character study of these two Afro-Colombian young men, Wladyka’s film breathes new life into the Colombian drug flick, away from the busy streets and out into the green and oceanside outdoors. (Available on iTunes, Google Play and YouTube)
Find more Afro-Latino films and synopses at REMEZCLA.
Photo: News broadcaster and journalist Luis Manuel Medina. (Photo: Twitter)
Photo: Twitter Feed
Eric Levenson and Sarah Faidell of CNN are reporting radio hosts Luis Manuel Medina and Leonidas Martinez were killed during Medina’s monologue while broadcasting on Facebook Live. Levenson and Faidell write:
“As followers of Luis Manuel Medina’s Facebook Live video watched another of his radio monologues on Tuesday, two loud bangs rang out. Viewers heard a woman yell. They then watched Medina look up from his microphone, his eyes tracking something off-camera. The video abruptly ends. Medina, along with his radio co-worker Leonidas Martinez, were shot and killed Tuesday while hosting their radio program in San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic, attorney general Jean Rodriguez said in a statement. The Facebook Live video that appears to show the final moments of Medina’s life remains up on his page, flooded by commenters mourning his death.”
Co-worker Dyanna Garcia de Fernandez was injured during the incident. Medina was host and Martinez co-host and producer of the show “Milenio Caliente,” on 103 FM. They talked about social and political issues.
