Martine Moïse, wife of Assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has been arrested along with 50 people in the assassination of her husband in 2021. Moïse is not being indicted in the planning of his killing; rather, she is being indicted as an accomplice based on statements made by the former first lady contradicting the testimony of other witnesses.
It is also being reported a key witness says Martine Moise was plotting with others to take over the presidency. Jovenel Moïse was assassinated July 7, 2021 at 1 a.m. at his home in Port-au-Prince. Mrs. Moïse was wounded in the attack. She was shot multiple times and airlifted to the United States for emergency treatment. President Moïse, who’s administration was rife with protests over his rise to the role of president, particularly as the successor of former Haitian President Michel Martelly, had foiled a coup attempt in February 23, 2017. Below, the former first lady discusses President Jovenel’s assassination:
“A lawyer for Mrs. Moïse denied the accusations. ‘We do not believe that she is or could ever be a suspect in the case,’ the lawyer, Paul Turner, who is based in Florida, told The Times. ‘She was a victim, just like her children that were there, and her husband.'”
This story is developing.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
The Godfather of Soul is coming to A&E in a documentary directed by award-winning filmmaker and prolific documentarian Debrorah Riley Draper (The Legacy of Black Wall Street, Versailles ’73: American Runway Revolution) . “James Brown: Say It Loud” is a two-day event that delves into the immeasurable musical and cultural impact of the entertainment icon. In addition to Draper, the documentary is executive produced by legendary artist Mick Jagger, Academy Award® winner Ahmir ‘Questlove’ Thompson, Tariq ‘Black Thought’ Trotter, Peter Afterman, David Blackman, Victoria Pearman, Shawn Gee, Zarah Zohlman, Charlie Cohen, and Mari Keiko Gonzalez. The docu-series examines Brown’s incredible life that was as innovative as it was influential.
The two-night special explores Brown’s legacy through exclusive interviews, never-before-seen archival footage and his beloved music catalog. “James Brown: Say it Loud” premieres Monday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 20 at 8PM ET/PT on A&E.
Across four hours, “James Brown: Say it Loud” traces the incredible trajectory of Brown’s life and career from a 7th grade drop-out arrested for robbery in the Jim Crow-era South to an entertainment legend whose groundbreaking talent and unique perspective catapulted him to become a cultural force whose words, songs, style and moves inspired musical revolutions and molded a nation’s view of Black Pride and Black masculinity.
Consistently facing obstacles and unbelievable odds, the documentary details how
Brown persevered through decades of personal demons, racial injustice, and career setbacks to find redemption and become one of, if not the, most celebrated and influential artists of the 20th century.
Featuring never-before-seen archives plus interviews with friends, family, musicians and proteges including Mick Jagger, Questlove, Bootsy Collins, LL Cool J, The Rev. Al Sharpton, Chuck D, Dallas Austin, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, his children Deanna, Yamma and Larry Brown, and many more, “James Brown: Say It Loud” is a definitive look at a complicated life and a reflection on the immense impact Brown continues to have on music and culture today. “James Brown: Say It Loud” is directed by Deborah Riley Draper and produced for A&Eby Inaudible Films in association with Polygram Entertainment and GroupM Motion Entertainment. Peter Afterman serves as Executive Producer for Inaudible Films along with Executive Producer Mari Keiko Gonzales and Producer Sarah Haber. Executive Producers for Jagged Entertainment are Mick Jagger and Victoria Pearman.
Ava DuVernay’s ambitious and powerful film Origin opens nationwide in theaters today. Based on Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson’s critically acclaimed book, Caste, the film engages Wilkerson’s argument that caste is the underlying pin of structural and systemic racism in the United States. Wilkerson suggests we’re so blinded by racism that we’re missing the elephant in the room – caste systems – and their role in maintaining racism in America and beyond.
In the film, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor plays Wilkerson, a brilliant and celebrated journalist, who is developing a thesis on the role caste systems play in racial divisions in the United States. Aunjanue delivers a powerful, Oscar-worthy performance as an intellectually curious woman critically thinking her way through life as real-life dares to flatten her. After experiencing tremendous loss, the character of Isabel continues to explore her proposed theory against the backdrop of major world events that make up what is called, “The Origins of Our Discontents.” Isabel ushers us through caste systems in India, Nazi Germany and Jim Crow-era Mississippi, weaving together a tale of how racism is literally the fabric of our great nation. Ellis-Taylor, a Mississippi native, pours all of who she is into this role and film.
In addition to Ellis-Taylor, Origin showcases powerful performances by Niecy Nash Betts, who stars as Isabel’s loving cousin Marion, Jon Bernthal as Brett, her doting husband and Emily Yancy as Ruby Wilkerson, Isabel’s mother who is the protagonist’s heart and soul. Origin is peppered with weighty scenes like the one featuring Ellis-Taylor and Audra McDonald, who plays Miss Hale, Isabel’s friend and confidant. They speak candidly about race, love, loss and how those three things co-exist in romantic relationships. The actors give every inch of themselves to the characters wringing emotions out of each other and audience members who are pulled into the scene because many have experienced the same trauma and are living through with the characters. Isabel is haunted by the memory of Trayvon Martin, an argument with her husband and the microaggressions by colleagues that are normalized in academic settings. The performances in this film leap from the screen and into your conscious as you are along for a ride that has no end.
The realization that neither racism nor caste have an end and continue to impact our daily interactions with loved ones, oppressors, neighbors and colleagues is what makes this film brilliant and heartbreaking at the same time. In addition to the compelling storyline and outstanding performances, the cinematography is exquisite. Matthew J. Lloyd, who is known for his work in the superhero genre, applies a different type of lens to the subject delivering incredible images that emote and help pull audiences into the scene.
Originis quite possibly one of the first films to represent the complicated existence of dynamic Black women who do the heavy lifting of studying and writing about intersectionality as journalists, scholars and authors. DuVernay, whose direction is also Oscar worthy, offers up an image of a Black woman who is vulnerable, powerful, intellectual, accessible, honorable, loving, sexual, complicated, thorough, certain and uncertain about the world in front of and behind her simultaneously which is refreshing. Wilkerson and DuVernay’s writing captures the precariousness of being a Black woman in America searching for the truth and challenging the status quo around difficult issues like racism and caste systems.
Much like the character of Isabel and the book Caste, filmgoers will leave theaters thinking their way through life and questioning their ideas about a myriad of topics including the murder of Trayvon Martin. DuVernay’s Origin is bold, courageous and righteous and it is the film many Black folks knew we needed but never thought we would receive.
Origin opens nationwide in theaters January 19, 2024. Check local listings for movie locations and showtimes.
This review was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
Spelman College Board Chair Lovette Russell announces $100 million historic gift from businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda Stryker and her husband, William Johnston, Chairman of Greenleaf Trust. (Photo: Spelman College)
The internet is bustling with news that Spelman College, a historically Black women’s college and the number one ranked HBCU in the land for 17 years, has received a gift of $100 million. The record-breaking gift is reportedly the largest single gift ever to an HBCU.
The historic gift was given by businesswoman and philanthropist Ronda E. Stryker, a trustee of Spelman, and her husband, William D. Johnston, chairman of the wealth management company Greenleaf Trust. Ms. Stryker serves as director of the medical equipment company Stryker Corporation, which was founded by her grandfather Homer Stryker.
“Stryker has been a Spelman College Trustee since 1997. She has worked for decades to empower women through higher education and advance opportunities for additional marginalized groups.
The $100 million comes as Spelman College marks 100 years since its official naming in 1924.
$75 million of the $100 million will go to endowed scholarships for future students, helping Spelman College continue to attract the best and brightest students, while working to remove any financial barriers that prevent qualified students from enrolling at Spelman. The remaining $25 million will be used to develop an academic focus on public policy and democracy, improve student housing and provide flexible funding to meet critical strategic needs.”
Spelman students commemorated the historic gift with a special ceremony:
It’s that time of year again – awards season and 2024 “URBAN ONE HONORS: Best in Black” is in the mix. URBAN ONE HONORS is billed as the ultimate celebration of Black Excellence, acknowledging individuals whose remarkable achievements and significant contributions have left an indelible mark on the arts, media, music, and the community. Presented by TV One, the 2024 “URBAN ONE HONORS” is the official kickoff celebration for TV One’s 20th Anniversary, marking two decades of excellence in entertainment. The two-hour “URBAN ONE HONORS: Best in Black” event premieres during Black History Month on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at 8p/7c, on TV One and will be simulcast on CLEO TV. Dani Canada will serve as host and emcee.
GRAMMY™ and EMMY Award-winning singer, OSCAR®-nominated actress and legendary Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, will be recognized as the prestigious “Entertainment Icon Honoree” at the 6th Annual Urban One Honors. Blige joins esteemed honorees: Dionne Warwick, recognized as the Lifetime Achievement Honoree; Chlöe, celebrated as the Generation Next Honoree; Frankie Beverly, honored as a Living Legend; and Donald Lawrence, acclaimed for his Inspirational Impact. A star-studded lineup of performers and presenters including Teyana Taylor, Bebe Winans, Damon Little, Angie Stone, and October London round out the entertainmentalongside a reunion featuring KeKe Wyatt, Chanté Moore, and Nicci Gilbert (cast members of R&B Divas). GRAMMY™ Award-winning singer and actress LeToya Luckett returns to host the Urban One Honor’s “Backstage Pass,” featuring exclusive interviews with the show’s honorees, performers, and presenters.
In honor of this twenty year milestone, throughout the year, TV One is set to roll out an array of special programming, featuring curated retrospectives, exclusive behind-the-scenes content, and a series of commemorative events. As part of the festivities, viewers can anticipate engaging interviews with key figures who have shaped the network’s journey and showcase iconic moments that have defined TV One over the past 20 years. The anniversary celebration underscores TV One’scommitment to delivering exceptional content and fostering a deep connection with its audience.
This article was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
The Burton Wire made it another year. Whew! While many were happy to leave 2022 in the rear view mirror, 2023 came with the shenanigans and reminded us that the only thing certain in life is change and sometimes change is good and sometimes it is bad. As we ring in the 2024 New Year and reflect on who we’re ushering into the New Year and leaving behind in 2023, let’s take a look back at the top stories of 2023 impacting communities in the African Diaspora here and abroad.
The Loss of Icons, Athletes, Entertainers and Influencers
You may have heard death comes for the young and 2023 was no exception. Sadly, English footballer (soccer) star Anton Wilkes, 26, died in a boating accident n Miami in January. Soccer phenom Christian Atsu, 31, was killed in a major earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria in February. Nearly 56,000 people died in the 7.8 earthquake and the Ghanaian star was one of them. Atsu, who grew up in abject poverty, went on to play professional soccer for the 2013 Ghanaian Africa Cup team and was selected to FIFA’s 2014 World Cup Team. Atsu’s body was found by his siblings two weeks after the earthquake. He received a state burial March 4, 2023 in Accra.
Legendary running back turned actor Jim Brown passed away as did his famed co-star and fellow icon Racquel Welch. Olympic track and field star Torie Bowie died from complications following childbirth. Former Tennessee basketball star and two-time coach Nikki McCray-Penson died of cancer and pneumonia while former LSU basketball star Danielle Ballard was killed after being struck by a vehicle. Basketball greats Willis Reed and George McGinnis passed away this year as did baseball legend Willie Hernández, who led the Detroit Tigers to the 1984 World Championship.
Iconic actors and trailblazers from across the globe transitioned. Activist/performer Harry Belafonte passed away in April after living a life full of iconic performances and civil and human rights activism that spanned decades. Pioneering Sudanese Actress Asia Abdel-majid was killed in crossfire during fighting in the capital of Khartoum in May. Abdel-Majid is considered a pioneer of theater in Sudan and the country’s first professional stage actress.
Safi Faye, the mother of African Cinema, died in February 2023 at age 80. The Senegalese filmmaking started making films in the early 1970s, with the short film La Passante (The Passerby, 1972), followed by Kaddu Beykat (The Voice of the Peasant, often translated as Letter from my Village, 1979), which would become the first film by an African woman filmmaker to be commercially distributed. This was followed by a prolific film career from the 1970s to 1990s that included fiction and documentary films. Faye died in Paris, where she was based, and was cremated in her home village of Fadial, the place that was the subject of her second feature length film, Fad’Jal (1979.) The film was a love letter to the Serer village in southern Senegal.
2023 was not kind to Black and Brown American actors. In addition to Belafonte, iconic and award-winning actors Lance Reddick, Ron Cephus Jones and Andre Braugher passed away this year as did soap opera icons Ellen Holly and Kamar de Los Reyes. Let’s not forget the beautiful model/actress Gail O’Neill, who passed away in October, leaving millions of Black Gen X women shell shocked, because as little girls, she was one of the few Black teen models we saw and admired, while growing up.
Social media stars did not fare better. TikTok star Britney Murphy a.k.a. Britney Joy and her mother Sherie Murphy were killed in a car accident in June, leaving social media fans reeling. Joy had just posted a Tik Tok before walking out of the door to take the fatal car ride. Brandon Smiley, reality star and comedian passed away from a drug overdose. The son of iconic comedian and radio host Rickey Smiley, Brandon Smiley’s death left his father, family and millions of fans stunned and bereaved. Brazilian reality TV star, model, and influencer Luana Andrade died after undergoing liposuction as did influencer and ‘Wild ‘n Out’ star Jacky Oh, 33, who passed away following a mommy-makeover,. Oh left behind three children and a grieving partner, comedian and actor DC Young Fly. ‘Extreme Weight Loss’ star and influencer Brandi Mallory, 40, was found deceased in her car November 9, leaving behind thousands of grieving fans.
The music world said goodbye to R&B crooner Jesse Powell, the Godfather of Black Music Clarence Avant, Queen of Rock n’ Roll Tina Turner, De La Soul’s David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, Fred White of Earth, Wind & Fire, Lola Chantrelle Mitchell a.k.a. Gangsta Boo, The Whistpers‘ Gordy Hardmon, The Drifters’ Charlie Thomas, Rudolph Isley, founding member of the Isley Brothers, rapper Melvin “Magoo” Barcliff and Detroit’s legendary Amp Fiddler.
Politicians, Trailblazers and Civil Rights Icons
Trailblazing longtime U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a nurse from Texas who helped bring hundreds of millions of federal dollars to the Dallas area as the region’s most powerful Democrat, died on New Years Eve. She was 88. Herbert “Bertie” Bowman, the longest-serving African American congressional staffer in history, who worked on Capitol Hill for more than 60 years, died in October. Charles J. Ogletree Jr., a Harvard law professor who helped reframe debates around criminal justice, school desegregation and reparations during the 1990s and 2000s, passed away in August. He was a mentor to former U.S. President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. Boniface Alexandre, who served as Haiti’s provisional president for two years after the country’s 2004 coup, died in August of this year. Thulani Maseko, a Swazi human rights lawyer who lobbied to end Eswatini’s (formerly Swaziland) absolute monarchy was assassinated in October. New Jersey councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, (GOP), was gunned down outside of her home in February. Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, was arrested for her murder four months later.
Natural Disasters Left No Continent Unturned Natural disasters plagued the globe reminding us you still can’t fool with “Mother Nature.” Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and Morocco killed thousands, major storms (Daniel) heavy rain and flooding hit Libya, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Cyclone Freddy took out over 1,000 people in Malawi, and scores in Mozambique and Madagascar, displacing upwards of 184,000 people. El Niño hit all of Latin America and the Caribbean leaving a trail of devastation behind. Over 100 people died in wildfires in Maui.
Settlements, Reparations and Recognition, oh, my Things weren’t all bad in 2023 with good things happening across the globe. The family of Henrietta Lacks reached a settlement with Thermo-Fischer-Scientific, a science and technology company that used cells taken without Lacks’ consent in the 1950s to develop products it later sold for profit. The reparations movement in California is still going strong with many municipalities either starting or forming commissions to address compensation to the descendants of enslaved Africans. Evanston, Illinois, became the first city in the country in 2021 to actually pay reparations to its eligible Black residents, and New York recently enacted a commission to study the effects of slavery there. Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley also called for reparations at the United States Reparations Convention in April 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Vice-President Kamala Harris announced the U.S. would provide $100 million in aid to the Caribbean. While Caribbean Nations held important roles at the coronation of King Charles III in 2023, Belize joined Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Dominica in removing the monarch as the head of state.
History Makers Iconic rapper Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott became the first woman rapper inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Trailblazing rapper Dana “Queen Latifah” Owens inducted Elliott at the ceremony. For the 46th Annual Kennedy Center Honors, Elliott paid tribute to rapper/actress Dana “Queen Latifah” Owens, who became the first woman rapper to be honored at the prestigious event.
Justice for Tupac?
As for legendary rappers, there was finally an arrest made in the murder of legendary rapper Tupac Shakur. In October, Duane Davis was arrested in connection with the famous rapper’s murder. Davis is one of the last living witnesses to the shooting of Shakur in Las Vegas. Shakur was murdered in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas September 7, 1996.
MeToo: Sean “Love” Combs Don’t Live Here Anymore Me Too chickens finally came home to roost when Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, former R&B singer and long-time girlfriend of music mogul Sean “Diddly” Combs, filed suit against the celebrated rapper for rape, abuse and sex trafficking, settling the lawsuit for an undisclosed amount of money. In September, MTV honored Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ legacy, presenting him with the Global Icon Award at the 2023 VMAs. Diddy, 54, accepted the award and performed at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Combs’ performance was his first performance at the VMAs since 2005. During his acceptance speech, Combs “shouted out” Ventura for “holding him down during the dark times.” Ventura filed suit the next day alleging rape, sex trafficking and abuse and settled shortly thereafter but the damage was done with other women coming out and accusing the rapper of rape, sexual abuse and revenge porn leading the “Love” rapper to step-down from his position as chairman of the Revoltnetwork.
The Rise and Fall of Jonathan Majors Perhaps the biggest entertainment story of the year is the precipitous fall from grace of white hot Hollywood film actor Jonathan Majors, who was dropped from pretty much every project after being charged with assault and harassment following an altercation with his former girlfriend Grace Jabbari on March 25th. Majors was found guilty of one misdemeanor assault charge and one harassment violation in connection with the incident.
Majors’ outstanding performances in The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Creed 3, “Lovecraft Country,” Ant Man and the Wasp: Quantumania,The Harder They Fall and Devotion had him pegged as the next Hollywood superstar until fallout from the altercation with Jabbari.
The jury found Majors guilty of one count of reckless assault in the 3rd degree and a non-criminal charge of harassment as a violation. The jury found Majors not guilty in two other charges: one count of assault in the 3rd degree and one count of aggravated harassment. The incident was caught on videotape in which he is alleged to have assaulted Jabbari leaving a laceration behind her ear and twisting her arm. Majors’ attorney Priya Chaudry said the actor was “completely innocent,” despite the release of text messages and phone messages that suggested otherwise.
Neither Chaudry’s protestations nor Majors’ timely courtship with actress Megan Good could save Majors from the inevitable. Marvel Studios fired Majors on December 18, the day of the guilty verdict. The actor was set to play Kang, the major antagonist in MCU’s next superhero offering. Majors starred in season 1 and 2 of “Loki,” but there has been no mention of Season 3. The Sundance darling Magazine Dreams, a bodybuilding drama, was pulled from the theatrical release calendar and Majors was dropped from the Walter Moseley project, The Man in My Basement.
Majors is also reported to have been dropped from consideration to star in an Otis Redding biopic and was dropped by his management team (Entertainment 360) and PR firm (Lede Company). The U.S. Army pulled a campaign featuring Majors following his arrest. Majors also stepped down from the Gotham Film and Media Institute board and its Sidney Poitier Initiative. Majors’ sentencing is scheduled for February 6, 2024.
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
Disgraced Paralympic athlete and convicted murderer Oscar Pistorius has been granted parole by the South African criminal justice system. Pistorius was jailed in 2016 for the murder of his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Pistorius shot and killed Steenkamp in Valentine’s Day in 2014 in his Pretoria home. Pistorius claimed he accidentally shot Steenkamp multiple times through a bathroom door because he mistook her for a criminal. Evidence in the trial proved Steenkamp was a victim of domestic abuse by the celebrated athlete known as “The Blade Runner” and he was convicted of “culpable homicide” and reckless endangerment following the trial. Pistorius was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Check out Sky News‘ report on Pistorius’ release from prison:
Pistorius will be released in time for the New Year.
To read The Burton Wire‘s coverage of Pistorius’ trial, click here.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
(Atlanta – December 4, 2023) After a weekend of vote tallying and several close races, the Atlanta Film Critics Circle (AFCC)has announced its 7th annual awards celebrating the top film achievements of the year.
The AFCC’s Best Film of 2023 is Oppenheimer, a biographical thriller portraying the life of nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, the film swept the AFCC’s awards in several categories, including Best Director (Christopher Nolan), Best Actor (Cillian Murphy), Best Supporting Actor (Robert Downey Jr.), Best Cinematography (Hoyte van Hoytema), Best Ensemble, Best Screenplay (Christopher Nolan), and Best Score (Ludwig Göransson).
Many of the AFCC’s Top 10 films effortlessly combined compelling storytelling with an examination of societal issues that stretch back for decades.
“It’s always hard to narrow down our favorite films of the year, but this year felt particularly tough thanks to a plethora of incredible options,” said AFCC member Devindra Hardawar, Senior Editor at Engadget and co-host of The Filmcast. “In the same year we saw Barbie reckon with toxic masculinity and the limits of living in a patriarchal society, we also saw films explore the evil of building the atomic bomb and Native American genocide.”
In a year punctuated by ongoing wars, labor union strikes, and advanced leaps in artificial intelligence, Oppenheimer delivers a timely – and terrifying– message about the pursuit of technical progress without consideration of the consequences. The film’s cultural significance also transcended its own contents when it became part of a celebration of the
movie-going experience. Oppenheimer was released the same weekend as director Greta Gerwig’s box office and critical hit Barbie. Rather than creating a divisive face-off at the box office, the overlapping releases prompted an unlikely theatrical double-feature dubbed “Barbenheimer.” Barbie also landed in the AFCC’s top films of the year.
It seems fitting, then, that the Best Supporting Actor race resulted in a tied vote between performances in the two films, with Ryan Gosling winning Best Supporting Actor for his role in Barbie as Ken and Robert Downey Jr. winning for his portrayal of politician Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer.
AFCC advisory board member Josh Sewell said the committee counting votes required several rounds of tallying in some categories due to how tight the races were, including a near 3-way-tie in the Best Supporting Actor field. “Only a handful of votes separated the back half of our Top 10, which speaks to the overall quality of the filmmakers and
performers,” he said. “That seems fitting in a year when actors and writers were forced to strike in order to prove how valuable their work is to the industry.”
Rather than splitting the vote, actress Lily Gladstone won it twice, securing both Best Lead Actress and Best Breakthrough Performer for her work in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon. “Lily Gladstone, the AFCC’s choice for both Best Actress and Breakthrough Performer, is the heart and soul of Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon,” said AFCC member Curt Holman, film columnist for Creative Loafing. “As the film documents a murderous conspiracy striking the Osage nation in the 1920s, Gladstone infuses hercharacter with dignity and a complicated emotional life that transcendspotential clichés as a victim.”
Other winner highlights this year include director Celine Song’s Past Lives, which won Best First Feature, Da’Vine Joy Randolph for Best Supporting Actress in The Holdovers, French film The Anatomy of a Fallfor Best International Feature, and John Wick: Chapter 4 for the AFCC’s second-ever Best Stunt Work award.
AFCC member Nsenga Burton, Ph.D., Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Burton Wire, said the winners signaled a year for large collaborative efforts, sometimes at the expense of smaller, character-driven films. “As you can see from the list, ensemble films were the big winners this year for AFCC,” she said. “But I’m excited to see breakout star Lily
Gladstone and screenwriters and filmmakers like Celine Song and Cord Jefferson make the cut.”
Co-founded by longtime Atlanta film critics Felicia Feaster and Michael Clark in 2017, the Atlanta Film Critics Circle is an attempt to fill a void in the local film community, and in the representation of Atlanta’s media on the national stage. The AFCC is supported by its Advisory Board and longtime critics Jason Evans, Will Leitch, Hannah Lodge, Michael McKinney, Kyle Pinion, and Josh Sewell. Composed of a dynamic mix of 34 Atlanta-based critics working in newspaper, magazine, and online journalism, the AFCC’s mission is to establish a national presence for a film critics group in Atlanta and to foster a vibrant film culture in Atlanta, already home to an exploding film industry production presence.
Members (critics living in and/or currently writing for global, national, regional
and/or Atlanta metro area outlets) of AFCC voted on December 3 for the group’s
annual awards.
Complete AFCC Award List
BEST FILM: Oppenheimer TOP 10 FILMS (ranked from first place to tenth place)
1. Oppenheimer
2. Killers of the Flower Moon
3. The Holdovers
4. Past Lives
5. Barbie
6. May December
7. Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
8. American Fiction
9. Anatomy of a Fall
10. Poor Things
BEST LEAD ACTOR:
Cillian Murphy, Oppenheimer
BEST LEAD ACTRESS:
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR:
TIE – Robert Downey Jr., Oppenheimer; Ryan Gosling, Barbie
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS:
Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers
BEST ENSEMBLE CAST
Oppenheimer
BEST DIRECTOR:
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
BEST SCREENPLAY:
Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer
BEST DOCUMENTARY:
Still: A Michael J. Fox Story
BEST INTERNATIONAL FEATURE:
Anatomy of a Fall (France)
BEST ANIMATED FILM:
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY:
Hoyte van Hoytema, Oppenheimer
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:
Ludwig Göransson, Oppenheimer
BEST STUNT WORK:
John Wick: Chapter 4
AFCC Special Award for BEST BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMER:
Lily Gladstone, Killers of the Flower Moon
AFCC Special Award for BEST FIRST FEATURE FILM:
Celine Song, Past Lives
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual. Full disclosure: Nsenga is a member of the Atlanta Film Critics Circle.
Photo: Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical Experience
Photo: courtesy of Dominion Entertainment
Photo: Director Robert John Connor (Photo: courtesy of Dominion Arts)
In entertainment, there are ûber talented people who are known as triple threats and then there’s veteran award-winning director, stage actor, writer, singer and producer Robert John Connor (Greenleaf, A Different World,The Cosby Show, Glory). Connor is a jack of all trades and master of many. He is as well-known and respected in television and film as he is on Broadway where he has been putting in work for nearly four decades.
The CEO/Artistic Director for Dominion Entertainment Group and founder of Dominion Arts Foundation, Inc. has worked closely with a who’s who of entertainers including Tony Award-winner Joaquina Kalukango (Paradise Square, Lovecraft Country, One Night in Miami, When They See Us, Instinct, Robin Roberts Presents: Mahalia), Tony Hightower (Money Train,If Loving You Is Wrong, Madea Gets a Job,The Haves and the Have Nots) and Enoch Armando King (Till, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Drumline, Madea’s Family Reunion just to name a few.
A Morehouse alum, Connor began honing his craft in the iconic Atlanta University Center by studying film, music, television and theater. He continued his studies earning a Master of Theater-Dramatic Media from the University of Georgia. While many applaud Atlanta’s $10 billion film and television industry, scant attention is given to those who laid the groundwork for a thriving industry to emerge. Robert John Connor is one of many who paved the way so an incredible industry could emerge.
Connor has impacted the artistic careers of over 21,000 youth through his Dominion Arts Foundation, a nonprofit organization he founded to provide critical low-cost/no-cost training and mentorship opportunities to at-risk, aspiring youth and young adults who wish to secure respectable careers in the arts and entertainment industries, but struggle to be seen, heard, or hired.
Known for producing some of Atlanta’s most memorable theatrical productions, Dominion Entertainment focuses on the development and production of high-quality arts and entertainment around the world, placing a heavy emphasis on diversity in subject matter. In this vein, Dominion has produced shows such as Mahalia: A Gospel Musical, Jar the Floor, and A Lesson Before Dying and Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical Experience.
Connor has ushered 1500 youth through his stage productions through the Dominion Arts Foundation, and; almost 8,000 high school students during his era at the award-winning Tri-Cities High School Visual and Performing Arts Magnet Program, home to many of Atlanta’s most famous and iconic talents like Andre 3000, Big Boi, Kandi Burruss and Kenan Thompson. Connor also taught at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and the Fine Arts Magnet Education program at New Manchester High School, which produced renowned performers Ne-Yo and Rutina Wesley (Queen Sugar). He currently serves as Director at the Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts. Through this role, he has worked with a variety of schools including Pebblebrook High School which produced Lil Yachty and Carlos Valdes,
A celebrated creative, Connor’s annual production of Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical Experienceis an Atlanta treasure and a must-see event every year. Suffice it to say, wherever Robert John Connor lends his talents, excellence follows.
The Burton Wire got a chance to chat with Connor about his illustrious career and Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical Experience.
TBW: What made you pursue a career in theater?
RJC: When I was 13, I was cast in a middle school production of Bye Bye Birdie and that experience changed my life. There was something about that experience that let me know that theatre was my sacred space. As a kid I loved to act and sing.
TBW: Were your family and friends supportive of your career choice? Why or why not?
RJC: Yes and no. I grew up in Pittsburgh so football was/is big. I was always respected as the kid in the neighborhood who was into the Arts and my mother supported me in it 100%. My dad, I don’t think knew how in the beginning. I was the only person in my family who pursued the Arts. Over the years I think my father came to the realization that this was to be my life’s work and supported me 1000%.
TBW: Your decades-long career has been exemplary. What do you consider to be your most significant accomplishment and why?
RJC: It has nothing to do with my career. Being a dad to my daughter Ryan is singlehandedly my greatest accomplishment. Cultivating young artists to become their best selves comes in a close second.
TBW: What is your favorite Broadway show (as a fan)?
RJC: I think Hamilton was well done, but I also liked War Horse a great deal. My taste is very eclectic.
TBW: I know that your annual holiday production of Black Nativity (Atlanta) is coming up. What’s the importance of this play in today’s world and why should theatre enjoyers encourage a friend or other loved one to go and see it?
RJC: For me I just think people need catharsis, especially during times like this. Black Nativity (Atlanta) is an experience that is hard to describe. It’s theatre, its worship, its celebration, it’s dance. Most importantly, it is a show that speaks to all ages and backgrounds. It’s a story of hope and joy. The caliber of talent in the show is unmatched.
Black Nativity: A Gospel Christmas Musical Experience is running at the Ferst Center for the Arts December 7-17, 2023. Tickets can be purchased atwww.blacknativityatl.com.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
“The South Got Something to Say,” are now iconic words uttered by then up-and-coming rapper Andre “Andre 3000” Benjamin of the group Outkast after winning the Best New Rap group award at the 1995 Source Awards. Met with cheers and jeers, one-half of the Outkast duo (made up of Benjamin and Antwon “Big Boi” Patton) set the room and industry on fire by espousing the virtues of being a Southern rapper in an industry dominated by East Coast and West Coast Hip-Hop at the time.
Fast-forward nearly 30 years later and Southern Hip-Hop has blazed a trail and built a dynasty that cannot be denied with the staying power of acts coming out of Atlanta like Outkast, T.I., the Migos, Ludacris, Houston, Memphis, Miami and other Southern cities. Virginia’s Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott recently became the first woman hip-hop artist to be inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. To say that Southern Hip-Hop’s industry dominance is proven is an understatement. As the documentary attests, the South had been saying something since before Outkast exploded on the international scene changing the game and flavor of hip-hop for decades to come.
In honor of the 50th anniversary of hip-hop, Emmy award-winning video journalist and filmmakers Ryon Horne and Tyson Horne (brothers) endeavored to make a documentary exploring the rise of Southern Hip-Hop in tandem with the rise of the city of Atlanta as a major international city. There is no greater example of this evolution than to have Atlanta’s flagship newspaper, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution produce a documentary about the influence of Southern hip-hop, really Atlanta’s influence on hip-hop, and the city that rose up with the rappers from modest beginnings.
AJC‘s Ernie Suggs and DeAsia Paige added producing and writing talents to help buoy a film that took place under the leadership of relatively new editor-in chief Leroy Chapman. Ryon Horne stated, “Getting this film made was a perfect storm of events. We had the right people and talent in place who understood the cultural significance and importance of celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop and the South’s influence on the culture.”
“The conditions were ripe for Atlanta to take this thing built in New York and remake it in its own image,” said AJC Editor-in-Chief Leroy Chapman. “The AJC witnessed this evolution. We were there at the beginning. There have been other films about the 50th anniversary of hip-hop but none that tell it like this. None that bring it home to Atlanta.”
The project marks the launch of AJC Films, part of the storied newspaper’s recently announced effort to transform itself into a modern media company through new voices, content and mediums.
“Atlanta is now one of the country’s largest production hubs for film and television, and the AJC has documented the history of Atlanta, Georgia and the South for the last century and a half,” said AJC President and Publisher Andrew Morse. “We are excited to partner with talented local filmmakers to bring the power of our archives to life for AJC subscribers and fans of great nonfiction content on a variety of platforms.”
The documentary features some of the biggest names in hip-hop, including Jermaine Dupri, Dallas Austin, Killer Mike, Lil Yachty, Zaytoven, Baby Tate and Goodie Mob. The film premiered November 2 at Atlanta’s Center Stage which also featured a day of panels and events discussing the significance of the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop and Atlanta’s global influence on Black culture.
“The South Got Something to Say” is available to watch at ajc.com/hiphop. The AJC is in talks with potential partners for wider distribution on streaming platforms and cable networks.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire. Follow Nsenga on social media @Ntellectual.
