One of the two murals that sparked the NAACP's call for action.
(Photo: atlantablackstar.com)
One of the two murals that sparked the NAACP’s call for action. (Photo: atlantablackstar.com)
Christina Colman of NewsOne is reporting that the Jefferson County, Alabama chapter of the NAACP is calling for the removal a two murals that they deem to be racist and offensive.
The two large murals found in the building’s lobby depict slaves picking cotton while a White overseer watches from the county courthouse with a backdrop of white people in more “prominent positions”. Created by Chicago artist John Warner Norton, the murals are said to represent the old and new south; drawing comparisons between its agricultural base to its industrialization.
Opponents of the Mural argue that it’s location in the courthouse is especially problematic because the courthouse is supposed to be a place of justice and fairness, yet the murals depict the opposite of these principles.
Jefferson County Historical Commissioner Linda Nelson opposes the proposed removal of the murals, saying:
“Everybody recognizes the historical discomfort that they represent, but where do you stop with this sort of thing? It’s just not a good thing to do to those murals and it’s just not a good precedent.”
In an effort to preserve the murals, Nelson went on to suggest commissioning an artist to add a third piece chronicling the regions progress following the civil rights movement and adding informational placards to explain the murals context.
However, Hezekekiah Jackson, President of the Metro Birmingham NAACP, expressed that the murals, like the confederate flag, represent dark historical periods and do not belong in the county courthouse building. Jackson says,
“It symbolizes a time when bigotry was the order of the day and a lot of good people said nothing and did nothing even though they felt something…We want to be known as a county that has moved beyond that point.”
While stilll pushing for the removal of the murals from the courthouse, some opponents have proposed that the Murals be donated to a Confederate Museum so that their historical significance can be preserved.
The removal of the murals has garnered the support of three of the five commissioners, and the NAACP plans to continue pressing the issue until the murals are removed.
This post was written by Reginald Calhoun, editorial assistant for the Burton Wire. He is a senior Mass Media Arts major at Clark Atlanta University. Follow him on Twitter @IRMarsean.
U.S. president Barack Obama and Pope Francis share a laugh during the papal visit to Washington, DC.
(Photo: Google Images)
U.S. president Barack Obama and Pope Francis share a laugh during the papal visit to Washington, DC. (Photo: Google Images)
Peter Baker and Michael D. Shear of the New York Times are reporting that U.S. President Barack Obama welcomed Pope Francis,the spiritual leader of the world’s 1.2 billion Roman Catholics to Washington, DC. Pope Francis was received with much fanfare by the president who praised his moral authority that “comes not just through words but also through deeds.”
President Obama and Pope Francis participated in an exchange of gifts.
Mr. Obama presented the pope with a custom sculpture of an ascending dove, which serves as an international symbol of peace as well as the Christian symbol for the Holy Spirit. The president also gave the pontiff a 206-year-old key from the home of Elizabeth Ann Seton, who was the first native-born American to be declared a saint and was canonized 40 years ago.
Pope Francis presented Mr. Obama with a bronze bas-relief plaque commemorating the 2015 World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia.
Pope Francis delivered remarks in English shortly after his ceremonial arrival. Baker and Shear write:
“Speaking to his ‘brothers’ at the cathedral where John F. Kennedy was eulogized in 1963, the pope was warm and encouraging, but also spoke clearly and with simple language that was unmistakable in its emphasis. He praised the bishops for their work on behalf of immigrants and for the first time praised their ‘courage’ in handling the church’s sex-abuse scandals.
‘I am also conscious of the courage with which you have faced difficult moments in the recent history of the Church in this country without fear of self-criticism and at the cost of mortification and great sacrifice,’ the pope told the bishops.
Like his predecessors, he urged the bishops not to remain silent toward the ‘innocent victim of abortion.’ But he mentioned the highly charged issue only as the first in a long list of other matters, including children who die of hunger and bombings, immigrants who ‘drown in the search for a better tomorrow,’ the elderly or sick, the victims of terror, war and drug trafficking, and an environment ‘devastated by man’s predatory relationship with nature.’
Speaking to bishops who have not always agreed with his spiritual emphasis, the pope said that he had ‘not come to judge you or to lecture you.’ But he nonetheless offered what he called ‘reflections which I consider helpful for our mission,’ including a warning against yielding to ‘the temptation to become notaries and bureaucrats.’”
Pope Francis’ next stop will be in Philadelphia, PA where he will deliver mass on Sunday.
Wondaland takes a picture with an excited fan.
(Photo Credit: the Burton Wire)
Wondaland poses at Centennial Park during the final stop of their Eephus Tour as part of Toyota’s unique listening experience for fans of the Supergroup. (Photo Credit: Nsenga Burton)
In case you’ve been living under a rock, Wondaland is a musical collective composed of some of today’s hottest musical acts including Janelle Monáe and Jidenna. It is also the name of a label headed by Monae, who counts Prince, Sean “Puffy” Combs, Big Boi from Outkast and Stevie Wonder as musical influences. In what is sure to be a super group, Wondaland consists of Deep Cotton (Nate ‘Rocket’ Wonder and Chuck Lightning), St. Beauty (Alex Belle and Isis Valentino), Roman GianArthur, Jidenna, whose hit song featuring GianArthur Classic Man, burned up the Hip-Hop and R&B charts and of course Monáe, who is also the iconic and award-winning label head giving new life to a music industry thought to be on life support. Monáe is an artist that can rock a music video, commercial, stage or venue like no one else, drawing love and support from a diverse group of musical elders, peers and fans alike.
Wondaland is Monáe’s brainchild. She is creating “a new movement and space for the future of music and culture,” says the Black Girls Rock award winner. The artist, whose style of music and performance is eclectic, is also a businesswoman partnering with a roster of artists to change the musical landscape of black music. Monáe has been in the press recently for having her microphone turned off during a Wondaland performance for NBC’s Today Show when broaching the topic of police brutality. Wondaland was performing “Hell You Talmbout,” a protest song, when Monáe was effectively silenced by having the microphone cut off and being talked over by a Today Show anchor just as she was saying, “We will not be silenced.”
In keeping with not being silenced, Wondaland whose tour to promote their Wondaland album “The Eephus” returned to Atlanta, GA, the place where the collective was conceptualized in order to finish the final performance of the tour. Monáe discussed why this final concert was so important during a press conference held at Centennial Park in Atlanta. “This is where it all started. This is where Wondaland was founded and built, because of everyone in this community,” says the musician. “Whether we saw you at a party or in the streets or a restaurant, you have inspired our music and the sounds of The Eephus.”
Wondaland‘s connection to the community is on full-display at a Centennial Park community event, sponsored by Toyota which turned Centennial Park into a literal drive-in where fans could come and experience Wondaland’s music and meet the artists. At the event, scores of adoring fans lined up to take pictures with the eclectic collective. Wondaland welcomed the fans with love and adoration, thanking them for their support and chatting them up to learn more about the members of “the community.”
Wondaland‘s approach to their art evokes memories of Melvin Van Peebles’ 1971 cinema classic, Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song, in which a revolutionary, dressed like an outlaw, takes on the police and wins. Van Peebles states in the credits that the film is starring ‘The Black Community,” highlighting the link between pop culture, community and activism.
Roman GianArthur, who showed up dressed like a bandit, echoes the sentiments and consciousness of that period, marked by the Black Arts Movement. “We don’t approach social justice as celebrities or artists, we approach these issues as human beings first and foremost. For us, it’s a natural thing to do,” says the multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and engineer.
“A lot of times you have artists that do whatever they feel and sometimes that means being in the studio all the time or on stage. That’s fine for them, but we also feel like we have a duty to be in the community. This is the way that we choose to participate,” he adds.
The style of Wondaland reflects the fashion of the 1960s as they show up looking like a motley crew of individual style that somehow works well together. Their presence speaks to historic moments when black art, fashion, music, film, literature, politics and activism collided to shift culture. One can think of the Harlem Renaissance or the Black Arts Movement (1960-1975), which is definitely an influence on the collective. Monae offers, “Our parents come from that era (The Black Arts Movement). We have family members who brought that history and culture to us. My roots are in the universe, but the black community has shaped and inspired all of us. It’s just a part of our DNA, naturally.”
Wondaland‘s black consciousness is in sync with the Black Lives Matter movement, a civil rights movement committed to social justice for people of color in the United States. Jidenna offers, “For us, the time that we’re in right now in the country is an important one. We all recognize that and the importance for humanity to be able to look to each other and see the humanity in each other,” says the Stanford graduate. “When we see each other and we see something different in each other, we look at that and should embrace it. That’s something we always think about; the importance of embracing what makes you unique even if it makes others uncomfortable,” he adds.
Wondaland is definitely a unique group that is embracing their individual identities to form a complex musical and cultural collective. The group’s ability to use music, style, and substance to bring about change in the music industry and society through the formation of a label is important. It is the business component of their charge that the group hopes will ensure their longevity and sustainability, which is what inspired Monáe to make the leap from artist to label head. The music industry is constantly changing to fit in with the new way music is listened to, this is why a music industry app can be useful to those wanting to connect to the industry.
“Showing that we’re not all monolithic, diversity is good, making positive jamming music with social awareness, all of those things. When I see that, I want to move on it,” says the NAACP award winner. It was meeting the individual members of Wondaland that spurred the creation of the label. “I was just moved by being around these artists. I don’t think I would have taken on that responsibility [as a label head] had I not met these individuals,” she adds.
Hopefully Wondaland‘s formula for success — great music, performance, social justice, activism and community awareness, will continue to make business sense for the collective committed to changing the world one LP at a time.
This article 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.
Regina King wins a 2015 Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie.
(Photo: Google Images)
Regina King wins a 2015 Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie. (Photo: Google Images)
A beautiful thing happened on the way to the Emmys. Just as those of us watching the 2015 Emmys were wondering if a person of color was going to win anything last night, Regina King was announced as the winner of the Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or a Movie category. Yes, Brenda Jenkins from 227, who has been steadily grinding on Hollywood’s big and small screens for decades, took home the statue in a category where fellow nominees included Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, and Angela Bassett for American Horror Story: Freak Show; Mo’Nique for Bessie, and Zoe Kazan for Olive Kitteridge.
What made the win even more fabulous, was King’s reaction, one of shock, awe and true surprise. To say that she did not see this win coming is an understatement – as understated as her brilliant performance as Aliyah Shadeed on ABC’s critically-acclaimed hit American Crime. King delivered week after week, as the Muslim sister of a fatally-flawed brother Carter, who was fighting a battle as a black man in America, he would never win.
King, who has served up amazing performances in other ensemble television productions like 24 and Southland, not to mention held her own while playing opposite film superstars Will Smith, Jamie Foxx and Sandra Bullock, gave a lovely speech while receiving much love and respect from fellow actress Taraji P. Henson, who gave her the award along with Empire co-star Terence Howard. King has recently joined the cast of HBO’s The Leftovers, where she plays the role of a doctor left behind in the most desolate place in what may be the afterworld. . Maybe she’ll add another Emmy to her shelf next year.
Viola Davis made history as the first African-American woman to win for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Dramatic Series. (Photo: Google Images)
Celebrated actress Viola Davis made history last night as the first African-American woman to win in the Best Dramatic Lead Actress category at the Emmys. Davis “bossed up” and gave the acceptance speech of all acceptance speeches, quoting Harriet Tubman and evoking Soujourner Truth’s famous 1851 speech “Ain’t I a Woman” calling out Hollywood for the historically limited roles for black women. Davis said, “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is simply opportunity. You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there,” said the star of ABC’s wildly popular How to Get Away with Murder. She went on to thank writers including Shonda Rhimes, “who have redefined what it means to be beautiful, to be sexy, to be a leading woman, to be black.”
Well said Queen Viola, well said.
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.
The Charles Theater was evacuated because of a shooting threat posted on social media.
Photo: Google Images
Stanley Nelson’s critically-acclaimed documentary The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution
Erica L. Green of The Baltimore Sun is reporting that a threat against the Charles Theater, screening Stanley Nelson’s critically-acclaimed documentary The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution, caused the evacuation of the theater on Saturday, September 19. Apparently, a call about a shooting threat made against the film and theater, came into the film’s New York distribution office. The distributors then notified Buzz Cusack, the owner of the Charles Theater, who then notified police. The Charles Theater, which is one of Baltimore’s premiere screening venues, was evacuated. The film screening, post-screening discussion with the film’s director Nelson and subsequent screenings for that day were also cancelled.
Green reports:
“Detective Jeremy Silbert of the Baltimore Police Department said officers were investigating ‘a threat posted on social media,’ about the Charles Theatre. Police were informed of the threat around 1:30 p.m., he said.
‘In addition to our investigation, and out of an abundance of caution, we have increased patrols around the movie theater,’ Silbert said. Cusack said that all screenings of all movies at the Charles were canceled for the rest of Saturday.”
Baltimore was the most recent stop on Nelson’s screening and discussion series of the film along the East Coast.
A still shot from the film, "War Room."
(Photo: Google Images)
The filmmakers and cast of ‘Straight Outta Compton.’ (Photo: Google Images)
Writing for the Associated Press, Lindsey Bahr is reporting the top grossing films of the last month have all had primarily African-American casts and doubled their modest budgets opening weekend, underscoring the reality that moviegoers of all backgrounds — wait for it — watch all categories of film. This information is something that black filmmakers, writers, producers, distributors and scholars have been saying for decades.
Bahr writes:
“‘Straight Outta Compton,’ ”War Room’ and ‘The Perfect Guy’ blew past industry expectations and made headlines in what is usually a sleepy time of the year. The films are as different as they come, but in a time when African Americans are still underrepresented on screen, the five week streak is notable because it could signal changing times.
Stars of the film ‘The Perfect Guy,’ Michael Ealy (l), Sanaa Lathan (c) and Morris Chestnut (r). Photo: Google Images
‘It’s practically unheard of to have five weeks in a row where the No. 1 movie in America is led by an African American cast,’ said Gitesh Pandya, editor of BoxOfficeGuru.com.
Paul Dergarabedian, Senior Media Analyst for Rentrak agreed.
‘It is notable, but this is just how it should be. Movies should reflect the ethnic makeup of real life. It shouldn’t be a shock to anyone to see these kinds of results at the box office,’ said Dergarabedian.”
Members of the 2015 Southside Heat girls soccer team.
(Photo Credit: Holland Reid Photography 2015)
Members of the 2015 Southside Heat girls soccer team. (Photo Credit: Holland Reid Photography 2015)
In July 2015, the U.S. women’s soccer team won the World Cup in front of a record-breaking television audience of 26.7 million American viewers. More Americans watched the U.S. women’s soccer team dispose of Japan than watched the NBA title game between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers. The U.S. women’s soccer team is currently on a victory tour and it is safe to say that America has caught up with the rest of the world, finally giving the world’s most popular sport the proper support and respect it deserves here in the states.
The U.S. women’s soccer team is showcasing their prowess on the soccer field while playing against international opponents during the 10-city tour which kicked off Aug. 16 against fellow Women’s World Cup participant Costa Rica at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. The rise of the U.S. women’s soccer team reflects the dues that American women have been paying in order to play and grow this sport throughout the world. The popularity of U.S. women’s soccer players like Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Hope Solo, Michelle Akers and Briana Scurry have helped stimulate the interest that young American girls have in being a part of the most popular sport in the world.
An example of the desire for young girls to continue learning and growing this sport is reflected in the Southside Heat (commonly referred to as The Heat), the only competitive female African American teenage soccer team in the city of Atlanta.
The Heat, which is a member of Southwest Atlanta’s Tiger Soccer Club, has risen to athletic prominence over the better part of a decade. Ranked 39th in the state of Georgia and among the leaders in Athena U15 Competitive Soccer, the team marched into fall season play after an undefeated season in 2014. The Heat has established itself as a tough, nose to the grind bunch with an undying passion for the game.
“When you look at the soccer level in Atlanta, it’s a quality level,” says Coach Domenic Martelli, an Olympic Development Region 3 board member and former West Point Military Academy Assistant Coach (Women) who supervised a weeklong Developmental Camp with the Heat this summer. “It’s only a matter of time before this group is competing in Athena A or B division. They were great – very receptive and they worked very, very hard.”
Fred Spencer, whose daughter Simone Spencer (12) has been playing soccer since the age of four, left another team to join the Heat this season upon hearing of its stellar reputation.
“We weren’t pleased with the last club she was with,” said Spencer. “She’s getting a lot more skills and training here. She likes the camaraderie of the girls and she’s having fun.”
In addition to developing great skills and having fun, the girls also have a strong, sisterly bond.
“What makes them special is their cohesiveness,” said Ronald Freeman, President of the Tiger Soccer Club. “They’re friends. They do well in school. They come from very supportive families and they love to play soccer. I think that they have been a great representation of girls’ soccer in South Fulton and they’ve encouraged a lot of other young ladies to consider soccer.”
That’s a good thing considering that Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank recently announced he’s bringing a new Major League Soccer team to Atlanta. The team, named Atlanta United FC, will play their first game in the new Atlanta Stadium in March of 2017. With the growing interest in soccer and the sport’s increasing accessibility to African-American girls and boys, The Heat may be cultivating the next World Cup Champion on their roster who may one day play in the World Cup.
If the members of The Heat keep up the hard work, dedication and tenacity, then that day is not too far away.
This article was written by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of The Burton Wire, an award-winning news blog covering the African Diaspora. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
Thomas Page of CNNAfrica has compiled a list of five African food bloggers you should be following right now to keep up with food news. From Ghana to Namibia, African food bloggers are making traditional recipes and bringing new, mouthwatering meals to your technological device. African food bloggers are growing in numbers as a consequence of the subject matter being of great interest to more and more people. It comes as no surprise to find that these bloggers are growing in numbers. There are many people out there who may be thinking about starting their own food blog but may not be confident enough, due to the lack of followers they may have. All the bloggers we see today had to start somewhere. So even if it means telling friends/family to spread the word about your blog/social media so more people can click that follow button, or whether they choose to go down the route of buying followers, or even looking at reviews of online bots on sites like https://newmarketinglabs.com/top-instagram-bots/ to control your account for you so you automatically like other peoples content/posts (and hope for something in return), if this helps build someone’s confidence to the point where they share quality traditional recipes online for the world to see, who are we to complain? Just like food bloggers are starting to become popular, so is the food marketing world.
People from the team behind Ceres PR are but one factor in the growing showing of food online, and the new media wave that is coming with it. If you have a passion for African food and would be interested in expressing it in the form of a blog then finding the right web hosting provider will be at the top of your priorities. Reading these iPage reviews would be a suitable starting point.
Check out three of Pages’ recommendations below:
MY AFRICAN FOOD MAP
No one can accuse My African Food Map of being unambitious. Blogger Tuleka Prah has set herself the monumental task (or should that be pleasure?) of bouncing around the continent a month at a time, documenting the best local recipes and producing short videos on each country.
Prah, who is a filmmaker, thought many online recipes lacked the style and flair needed to sell African cuisine to the digital market.
By photographing food properly, Prah believed she might “transport the flavor of the food to someone who doesn’t know what it is but might want to try it.”
So far Ghana, Kenya and South Africa have been thoroughly — and beautifully — covered. Expect more to come.
Kedjenou. (Photo Credit: Afrolems)
AFROLEMS
Bringing pan-African dishes to the masses, with a a special focus on Nigerian recipes, Afrolems‘ modus operandi is “to stylize African food so it can be internationalized.”
There’s plenty of substance to be found on their blog, with recipes as niche as they come.
Snail four ways? No problem.
Seasonal and celebratory dishes, particularly West African, are their staple, with some seriously lovely photography to boot, such as this mouth-watering bowl of Kedjenou from Ivory Coast.
My Burnt Orange blogger Freedes, a Ghanaian ex-pat. (Photo: Google Images)
MY BURNT ORANGE
Run by Freedes, a well-traveled Ghanaian ex-pat, My Burnt Orange‘s “Afro Cosmopolitan” recipes have attracted the attention of food lovers with their lively fusion elements.
Traditional dishes such as goat leg sit alongside biltong risotto as worlds collide on the dinner plate.
Freedes could never be classed as a shy food blogger, and video walkthroughs give plenty of insight as she guides you through cooking her take on dishes from all over the continent.
Grammy-nominated music legend 'Uncle' Charlie Wilson (Photo Credit: Kwaku Alston)
Grammy-nominated music legend ‘Uncle’ Charlie Wilson (Photo Credit: Kwaku Alston).
It makes Charlie Wilson happy to see his fans smile and have a good time to his music. The crowd-pleasing elder statesman of R&B and soul music knows he’s put on a good show whenever he can ring his sweaty clothes out or see his adoring concertgoers sing along to his extensive catalog of pulsating funk classics as a member of the Gap Band and current chart topping romantic ballads as a beloved solo artist.
A nine-time Grammy nominee, Wilson, affectionately known throughout the music industry as “Uncle Charlie,” put himself in the position of anyone from his loyal fan base. It’s extremely important to the 62-year-old wailing vocalist with the convincing grunt and infectious smile to always give his ticket buyers a highly energetic live experience. “You ain’t gonna see nobody else like me after I leave the stage,” says a confident Uncle Charlie via phone. “That’s the only way I know how to perform.”
“If you spend money to go see a show, you should see one. Anybody that comes on behind me, they gonna wish they had come on before me.” Beginning in the 1970s and throughout the 80s, The Gap Band churned out timeless groove-laden staples like “Outstanding,” “You Dropped a Bomb on Me,” “Party Train,” “Early in the Morning,” “Yearning for Your Love” and “Burn Rubber.”
Uncle Charlie came back onto the scene as a leader in digital era R&B, consistently dropping an unparalleled canon of heartfelt songs including “Charlie, Last Name Wilson,” “You Are,” “Without You,” “There Goes My Baby,” “Magic,” “Goodnight Kisses” and “My Love Is All I Have.” His second wave of success was initially met with some resistance from record executives and other entertainers who thought Uncle Charlie’s time in the spotlight had expired.
Uncle Charlie ignored his naysayers, knowing there was still place for him in contemporary music. “People can say things to make you change your mind to make you think it will never happen for you,” he says. “I’ve changed the face of adult R&B. People come out in droves to see [Uncle Charlie], and that’s just a blessing.”
Growing up in Tulsa, OK, the entertainer and songwriter synonymous with crooning “shabba-dabba-dwee-dwee-dwee” was inspired to perform by watching his minister father deliver sermons. A pioneer for black music out of the Midwest, The Gap Band was the first band of color to come out of Oklahoma. The musicians rubbed shoulders with rock acts like Leon Russell, The Rolling Stones, KISS and Kansas. To this day when Uncle Charlie is in the studio, he comes up with numerous ideas and records his vocals in one take.
Uncle Charlie’s contributions to music inspire generations of hip-hop, R&B and pop artists. Anytime the recipient of BET’s 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award collaborates with talent, he observes their recording techniques and absorbs their creative flow. He calls Snoop Dogg his “nephew,” saying he admires the West Coast rap legend’s easygoing demeanor. “[Snoop] flows with anything,” says Uncle Charlie. “He comes up with his own parts and other parts to add to your flavor.”
Singer/songwriter R. Kelly’s prolific nature is something else that impresses Uncle Charlie. “He’s pregnant with music,” he adds. “He writes five or six songs a day. We were writing four or five ideas and got one song out. He writes whole songs.” Priding himself on hanging with artists who brag on themselves, Kanye West’s professionalism and attention to detail also resonates with Uncle Charlie.
“[Kanye] is a no-nonsense kind of guy in the studio,” continues Uncle Charlie. “When he’s about music, he’s about music. He’s flawless. I like his punctuality. When you get to the spot, he’s already at the spot.”
Uncle Charlie released his seventh solo LP, Forever Charlie, earlier this year. This past summer, the soul survivor dropped his 256-page memoir,I Am Charlie Wilson. The biography made the New York Times’ Best Sellers list, chronicling the transparent entertainer’s brushes with fame, success, shady business deals, prostate cancer, sibling rivalry, overcoming drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and revitalizing his musical career.
Going through something like having prostate cancer did not stop Uncle Charlie and it doesn’t have to stop you. If you are experiencing symptoms of prostate cancer such as needing to go to the toilet regularly, straining while you pee or feeling like your bladder is not completely empty, you should get this checked out. It will be easier for doctors to find out what the underlying cause it if you are seen to early enough. By looking into a company like Advanced Urology you will be able to find specialists who will make your concerns their main priority. With their help, you can put your mind at ease and help make life a little bit easier. Your health is very important, so putting yourself first in situations like these should be made a priority.
Always quick to share stories about his past, writing a book is something Uncle Charlie, a NAACP Image award winner, has wanted to pursue for the past 15 to 20 years. “God has a plan for me,” he says, “always have. My story will be told like it’s being told now. It’s time for people to know who the real [Charlie Wilson] really is. Everything I’ve asked God for, he’s given it to me.”
A prostate cancer survivor, Uncle Charlie is now a spokesperson for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He normally speaks before black men and their families about getting tested and treatment options. The performer has also been clean and sober for two decades. Uncle Charlie says maintaining a strong faith involves him relying on constantly praying and believing in his himself. “I have a happy home and everything else is God,” says Wilson.
This post was written by Christopher A. Daniel, pop cultural critic and music editor for the Burton Wire. He is also contributing writer for Urban Lux Magazine and Blues & Soul Magazine. Follow Christopher @Journalistorian on Twitter.
NBA legend Moses Malone holds the championship trophy for the 1983 NBA Finals. (Photo: Google Images)
NBA LEGEND MOSES MALONE DIES
ESPN is reporting three-time NBA MVP and basketball legend Moses Malone died on Sunday in Norfolk, Va. ESPN.com reports:
“The Virginia medical examiner’s office said Monday that Malone died of natural causes, listing the cause of death as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Det. Jeffrey Scott of the Norfolk Police Department confirmed that Malone died in a Norfolk hotel room. Malone’s body was discovered when he failed to report to a celebrity golf tournament in which he was scheduled to play.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement noting:
“He was among the most dominant centers ever to play the game and one of the best players in the history of the NBA and the ABA. Even more than his prodigious talent, we will miss his friendship, his generosity, his exuberant personality, and the extraordinary work ethic he brought to the game throughout his 21-year pro career. Our thoughts are with Moses’ family and friends during this difficult time.”
Malone was the first player to go pro right out of high school, signing with the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association in 1974. He played the following season for the Spirits of St. Louis before moving to the Buffalo Braves after the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.
He also played for the Rockets, 76ers (twice), Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he finished his career during the 1994-95 season.
The Virginia native was named one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players, was the Finals MVP in 1983, as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA title. He was 60-years-old.
Tropical Storm Erika hits the island of Dominica, Aug. 28, 2015. (Photo: Google Images)
MORE BAD WEATHER THREATENS DOMINICA
Caribbean 360 is reporting tropical storm hit Dominica is being threatened by more bad weather. Dominicans (the Eastern Caribbean island different than the country of Dominican Republic) have been advised to be vigilant as more rains are expected over the coming days, as the island tries to recover from the damage caused by Tropical Storm Erika.
According to a 6 a.m. advisory from the Dominica Meteorological Service, a westward moving tropical wave is forecast to produce more shower and isolated thunderstorm activity during the next 24 to 48 hours, and residents in areas prone to flooding, landslides and falling rocks have therefore been advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution.
Moderate sea conditions are expected during the next 24 to 48 hours with waves peaking near seven feet, the Met Office added.
Dominicans are also being advised to pay close attention to the other two disturbances.
Conditions are favorable for development of another tropical wave in the Atlantic, although it is expected to turn northwards before reaching the Lesser Antilles. A third wave just off the coast of Africa is expected to follow a similar path to the system ahead.
Schools have remained closed since Tropical Storm Erika hit the island late last month, which resulted in the deaths of 30 people. The World Creole Music Festival has also been cancelled.
Still photo from the film Desde All. (Photo: Google Images)
VENEZUELAN FILM WINS TOP PRICE AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL
BBC News is reporting Desde allá (From Afar) has won the top Golden Lion prize at the 2015 Venice film festival. This is the first time in the 72 years of the film festival that a film from Latin America has won the top award.
The author writes:
“In his debut feature film, director Lorenzo Vigas tells the story of a rich man who gets sexually involved with a young man from one of the city’s gangs.
‘I want to dedicate this prize to my amazing country, Venezuela. I know we have a few problems, but if we talk about them we will overcome them,’ Mr. Vigas said.”
Pablo Trapero’s Argentinian crime thriller, The Clan, won the Silver Lion for best director.
The film, which was a blockbuster in Argentina, tells the true story of an ordinary Buenos Aires family that abducted wealthy people for ransom and hid them in their house before killing them.
Idris Elba and Abraham Attah star in Beasts of No Nation, a Netflix original film. (Photo: Google Images)
GHANAIAN TEEN ABRAHAM ATTAH WINS BEST YOUNG ACTOR AWARD IN VENICE
Ghanaian Actor Abraham Attah, 14, was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor for his performance as a young orphan who gets drafted into the child army of a ruthless warlord (Idris Elba) in Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation. Directed by True Detective season 1’s Cary Fukunaga, this marks Netflix’s first foray into original feature films. Inspired by Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, Fukunaga brings to life the story of an African child solider named Agu (Abraham Attah) forced to take up arms in a civil war. the domineering Commandant (Idris Elba) teaches Agu the ways of war as he prepares the young fighters – his “family” – for the brutal battles ahead.
Actress/Singer Vanessa Williams received an apology on stage at the Miss America pageant from CEO Sam Haskell. (Photo: Google Images)
VANESSA WILLIAMS GETS APOLOGY FROM MISS AMERICA
Sam Haskell, the CEO of the Miss America pageant apologized to actress/singer/dancer Vanessa Williams on stage Sunday at the Miss America 2016 pageant, 32 years after Williams was stripped of the crown because of a nude photo scandal. CNN’s Holly Yan reports Haskell apologized to Williams and her mother for the way the scandal was handled.
“‘I have been a close friend to this beautiful and talented lady for 32 years,’ CEO Sam Haskell told Williams. ‘You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned.'”
This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire, which covers news of the African Diaspora. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.
