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What Is the Best and Blackest Movie Soundtrack?
It’s African American Music Appreciation Month (lovingly known as Black Music Month) and what better way to celebrate than to honor just how much music affects another celebrated medium? That’s right, we’re talking film. While Bill Cosby and O.J. Simpson were attempting to make this the most bizarre week in celebrity social media history, Jamie…
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ABFF to Launch 1st Feature Award for Directors in John Singleton’s Honor in 2020
It’s a wrap on the 23rd Annual American Black Film Festival! I got to attend this year on behalf of The Root (I have more coverage from the fest coming soon; look out for it!) and as always, it was delightfully black as fuck. If you were at the festival for even a day, you…
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The Marathon Medal: Nipsey Hussle to Be Honored With Humanitarian Award at 2019 BET Awards
Along with his business acumen and music, Nipsey Hussle (born Ermias Asghedom) was known for his humanitarian spirit. Locals lovingly called him “Neighborhood Nip.” It’s one of the main reasons why the marathon shall, indeed, continue. As writer Sonya Magett perfectly expressed in her April list of hip-hop artists carrying Nipsey’s legacy through their own…
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Emanuel, Produced by Stephen Curry and Viola Davis, Debuts on the 4th Anniversary of the Charleston, SC, Shooting
On the evening of June 17, 2015, 21-year-old white supremacist Dylann Roof marched into what was typically thought to be the purest form of sanctuary—a church—and terrorized a group of black worshippers. Nine people, including senior pastor and South Carolina State Senator Clementa C. Pinckney, Cynthia Marie Graham Hurd, Susie Jackson, Ethel Lee Lance, Depayne…
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ABFF 2019: Shaft Highlights Toxic Masculinity, Wet Glitter, and Grits
They say no one understands Shaft but his woman. But, does Shaft even like women? Yes, he likes pussy, but I mean, as people? Well, the 2019 addition to the franchise challenges that notion a bit with a family member from the new generation—none other than John Shaft’s son. Shaft (2019) was the opening film…
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Toni Morrison: Pieces I Am: ‘Navigating a White Male World Was Not Threatening; It Wasn’t Even Interesting’
Toni Morrison’s work has always been deemed as rich and poetic, perhaps an extension of her very own life. Toni Morrison: Pieces I Am, which premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, looks to be a uniquely intimate look into Morrison, as it was directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, who has been Morrison’s friend for over…
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Do The Right Thing…Again: Spike Lee's Critically Acclaimed Joint Will Be Rereleased in Theaters for 30th Anniversary
If you can believe it, it’s edging on 30 years since Spike Lee implored us to Do The Right Thing. The critically acclaimed “Spike Lee joint” debuted on June 30, 1989, which means it’ll be celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. That calls for a special celebration! Well, that’s exactly what’s being served up as…
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2019 Tony Awards: André De Shields Is a Winner in Hadestown
Curtain Call! The 73rd Annual Tony Awards was full of drama (the good kind) in New York City on Sunday night, and the big winner was a town where the wind blows…any way. Hadestown was, predictably, the biggest winner of the night, picking up eight awards, including Best Musical, Variety reports. On the non-musical side,…
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Bushwick Bill of Iconic Hip-Hop Group Geto Boys Dead at 52
Bushwick Bill (born Richard Stephen Shaw), the hip-hop legend and co-founder of the iconic Houston group Geto Boys, has died. According to his publicist Dawn’s confirmation via TMZ, Bill died surrounded by family Sunday evening at 9:35 p.m. in Houston. He was 52 years old and suffered from Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Dawn also posted…
