Orson Wells’ rich, brilliant & ultimately doomed character Charles Foster Kane died, alone and unloved, in his California mansion. At the time of his passing he was a deformed, corrupt and far removed from the genius displayed in creating his mass media empire. In the aftermath of Michael Jackson’s I couldn’t help but think of ‘Kane..’ Michael’s Zanadu had been stripped from him a few years back, leaving him wandering from rental to rental home, such as the one he died in in Los Angeles yesterday.
Michael was prepping to try to recapture his once elevated status with 50 sold out shows at London’s massive O2 arena. But that was not to be. In fact I believe that the stress of preparing for that show, after his long performing layoff, played a role in his demise. With the music, videos and event tour that supported ‘Thriller’ Michael re-invented the art of the blockbuster album, creating an international stardom that endures. And, sadly, for the last twenty five years of his life Michael was in a losing battle with himself, trying to match that magical year even as the culture changed, the record industry imploded, and his personal demons ruined his reputation.
At several points in his life Michael revolutionized pop culture. He lead the first black teen group to cross racial lines. With Quincy Jones, he produced a trio of albums (Off the Wall, Thriller, Bad) that reinvented the rules for black artists musically and in terms of international appeal. The videos, grandiose, elaborate and full of wonderful dancing are still the gold standard for the merging of music & image. Along with Eddie Murphy, Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, and so many other media legends, Michael made the ’80s a golden age for black pop culture.
I, like so many of you, grew up with Michael Jackson. With my mother, sister and family friends I attended the Jackson Five’s first Madison Square Garden show. Over the years I attended eight Jacksons/Michael Jackson shows and spend countless hours over the last forty years thinking about and, often writing about that man. In fact a book I did about him, The Michael Jackson Story, in 1984 jump started my career. It was first book and first exposure to the media machine that both celebrated, reported about and, ultimately, ripped him apart.
It’s hilarious how one sided much of the immediate commentary about the man has been. Sinner or saint? More apt is artist and sinner. People want to simplify a truly complex life. We have to be sophisticated enough to acknowledge that greatness and a touch of evil dwelled in the man. I’ve always believed that transcendent art emanates from the purest, most evolved parts of our soul. But that highly spiritual achievement doesn’t absolve us of our daily misdeeds. To simply brand him a smooth criminal, as some have, or to overlook his tragic nature, as have others, is to deny his humanity. The meaning of Michael Jackson’s life — as a black man, a sexual being, a abused and abusing adult — will be interpreted to fit the prejudices of the speaker. His music — it speaks volumes.
We’ve all loved Lauryn Hill to a fault and even I would be tempted to jump across the pond to see her perform live. It’s been years for me, and she wasn’t at her best during her performance at the Smokin Grooves Tour I saw back in Philly (maybe 1999 or 2000-ish??). It was her, Jurassic 5, The Roots, and Outkast was the headliner. What happened to that tour? It brought together some really great artists. Well, Lauryn is citing health reasons for canceling her performance at Stockholm Jazz Fest as well as her entire European tour but offers no further detail.
I read in Sister 2 Sister that Estelle was recently announced as performing at Stockholm’s Jazz Fest in Lauryn Hill’s absence.
Anyone ever been to this festival? I’m curious to know about the size and popularity of the event.
Black film producer & promoter Ralph Scott will appear on the June 22nd edition of “Inside Urban Hollywood” with host Tanya Kersey and co-host Tiffini Bowers to talk about opportunities for independent black filmmakers from the perspective of a veteran promoter of black film. Scott is the Executive Producer of BET J’s “The Best Shorts & Black Stories.” He is also the Co-Founder and Program Director of Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center also, Co-Founder of – Visual AIDS: A cinematic look at the HIV/AIDS epidemic; and now Executive Producer of “Lens on Talent: A Filmmakers Challenge” along with “Black Stories” a documentary showcase both in fourth third year of production for BET and BETJ soon to be Centric. The show will stream live from the home page at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/insideurbanhollywood.com on Monday, May 18th at 6pm PST/9pm EST. Listeners can call-in and ask questions to 646-200-3290.
SPEYSIDE, Tobago — With a steady rise in violent crime including an alarming increase in homicides, Trinidad and Tobago has overtaken Jamaica as the “murder capital of the Caribbean”.
While homicides increased two percent in Jamaica in 2008, murders were up a staggering 38 percent in Trinidad and Tobago.
(source: Kansas City Star …don’t ask, that’s just where I landed and got the best explanation)
Demonstrators wave green flags. They wear green ribbons tied around their wrists and arms. They hide their faces behind green bandannas. Some of the women wear green burkas.
Green is the signature campaign color of the man on whose behalf they protest, Mir Hossein Mousavi. But green carries other significance in the Islamic world.
“Green has typically and historically been associated with Islam,” said Ibrahim Hooper, spokesman for the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C.
It’s not an official association, nor is it religious or sacred in meaning, Hooper said. But the color green is found in several religious and cultural references and has come to symbolize fertility, peace and the Islamic depiction of paradise…
…Right now, in the midst of the political protests in Iran, green is earning a new significance, a sign of solidarity, a “way for them to express their opposition and their unhappiness with the way the election was conducted,” Rahman said.
I thought including a few excerpts with some background on the protests currently going on in Iran may be helpful to some readers. Feel free to comment with more resources and links, and I will update this post with info periodically as I find it.
Hours after polls closed in a hard fought election in Iran, both President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and moderate rival Mir Hossein Mousavi claimed victory.
Mousavi, Ahmedinejad both claim victory, following overwhelming voter turnout.
“I am the definite winner of this presidential election,” Mousavi said at a news conference in Tehran. Mousavi’s supporters say the former prime minister was taking the “upper hand” and was expected to win two-thirds of the vote.
Mousavi’s election would be a huge upset victory. Just weeks ago, Admadinejad was expected to cruise to reelection.
While Mousavi declared victory, Iran’s state-run media declared Ahmadinejad the winner. According to Iran’s state-run TV, Ahmadinejad had garnered 68.8 percent and Mousavi 28.8 percent of the 10 million votes counted thus far.
Mousavi and other candidates have alleged voting fraud and while there is no concrete data backing Mousavi’s claims of a victory, the candidate and his aides made it clear that if official numbers do not show him to be victorious, they will fight them…
…Many locations extended voting hours to accommodate the throngs of people. Iran’s news agency reported that more than 70 percent of Iranians who are eligible to vote participated in Friday’s election.
Long lines wrapped around nearly every polling center ABC News visited, revealing a deep interest in this election, which has pitted current Ahmadinejad against popular reformist candidate Mousavi.
The month leading up to Iran’s 10th presidential election was filled with a rare show of democratic energy — heated public debates, mass demonstrations and rowdy rallies in streets around the country.
President Obama said today that he is “excited” about the “robust debate” taking place in Iran, and that it shows change is possible…
…The draw of the election — which the world is watching closely — is so powerful that even some expatriates have returned to the country to cast their ballots.
Ibrahim, an Iranian-American who declined to give his full name, flew from California to Tehran to vote for a change in foreign policy.
“We would like to have common goals between United States and European countries,” he told ABC News. (source: ABC World News)
For Iran’s young people, it’s about a wide variety of issues, everything from high inflation and rising unemployment to the social and religious climate to better relations with the West. The involvement of Iran’s young — nearly one-third of the voters are estimated to be 30 years old or younger — means that stakes are high for the presidential candidates. In the past, much of Iran’s young population has boycotted past elections, but for the first time, many young Iranians believe they can make a difference.
Clashes broke out between police and groups protesting the election results from early morning on Saturday onward. Initially, the protests were largely peaceful. However, as time passed, they became increasingly violent. Some protesters began to get violent after the results of the election were announced. Angry crowds in Tehran broke into shops, tore down signs and smashed windows. [1] The worst civil unrest in Iran for over a decade took place as protesters set fire to tires outside the Interior Ministry building and others formed a human chain of around 300 people to close off a major Tehran street.
However by June 14 the protests had grown considerably and took a much more violent turn. Cars were being parked in the middle of the streets and highways in Tehran, and the highways leading to the city, blocking traffic heavily along with burning buses and trash cans. Protestors started attacking shops, government offices, police stations, police vehicles, gas stations and banks. Large protests which escalated into riots had also broken out at Tehran University, Amirkabir University, and Shahid Beheshti University where students started burning and destroying various buildings and items around the campuses. Valiasr Street was completely crowded by protesters and young students attacking policemen and IRGC officials. The police had installed a barricade around Mehrabad Airport and Imam Khomeini International Airport fearing that the protesters were planning to attack them and had also blocked all streets leading to the Interior Ministry, where protesters were burning tires outside of the building, and were throwing rocks and Molotov cocktails. (source: wapedia.mobi)
In an attempt to quell the protests, many internet sites have been blocked, especially any social networking sites such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, foreign broadcasting websites, and reformist websites as well. Text and SMS, and international calls from Tehran were blocked, and by late Sunday, the cell phone services had been shut down. (source: wapedia.mobi)
I love this song. It is the only song to bring tears to my eyes when I hear it. Luther really left us with a present on his final album, particularly this song. The tears are because the song is so beautiful. Yes, there’s an overtone of sadness from the loss but the memories he shares in the lyrics are joyful.
As I research through various bits of literature, I wanted to present a holistic picture of fathers in honor of this Father’s Day. Some of us have been blessed with beautiful, meaningful relationships, but there are some of us who haven’t. Seeing a friend of mine clearly drinking away their pain in association with Father’s Day prompted me to share this poem. I will post more as I find them that cover the range of emotions that we feel towards our fathers.
Losing Someone Special
a poem by Jayme K. Strain
Deserted–
A lost dog
Wandering the streets
With no direction,
All alone.
Confused–
Not knowing why
You would run away from your little girl,
Leaving me with no father,
No guidance.
Searching–
For you, my father,
Who should be here
Teaching me to ride a bike,
And tucking me in at night.
Frustrated–
You harmed your body
With hurtful drugs,
Triggering you to commit dangerous actions,
Only causing more pain.
Distressed–
Knowing you won’t ever come back
To see your girl,
All grown up,
Losing all hope.
Exultant–
Learning that you did some right,
Changing your life around,
Just in time for God to say,
‘It is your time.’
Reconciliation–
Finally realizing where you are,
Looking down from heaven,
As my guardian angel,
Now, showing me the way.
(BLACK PR WIRE) ( June 10, 2009) CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – Trinity Designs, Inc. may be the new kid on the block making collectible dolls, but this new-comer is undoubtedly headed for unprecedented success after its Spring 2009 debut in Chicago and Atlanta. As the newest African American owned Doll Company of the 21st century, Trinity Designs, Inc. focuses on creating collectible fashion dolls designed in the likeness of minority groups. From various occupations to social groups, Trinity Designs, Inc. will provide an array of minority inspired dolls.
“The Essence of…” Doll Collection, the premier line of Trinity Designs, Inc., is designed to capture the true essence of the sorority sister and fraternity brother. “The Essence of a Delta” is the first doll of this series. This 16” fashion collectible is like no other as she proudly poses displaying her sculpted hands in the Delta sign. Not only is she beautiful in her crimson velour sparkle gown and diamond jewelry, but has a voice that is just as sweet. She sings a verse of “She’s a D. E. L. T. A.”, making her the first audio equipped collectible fashion doll.
The owner and designer, Niccole Graves, being a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. herself, strives to create dolls that exude classiness, poise, and elegance. Mrs. Graves takes pride in providing intricate detailing in each doll design that makes each doll absolutely exquisite.
The pre-ordering for “The Essence of a Delta” will be May 15, 2009 thru June 25, 2009.
Visit www.trinitydesignsinc.com to order and for more information.
About Trinity Designs, Inc.
Trinity Designs, Inc. was created in 2006 by Niccole Graves although the idea to create minority inspired dolls was birthed in 2001. Trinity Designs, Inc. aspires to offer a full line of ethnic collectible fashion dolls, truly capturing the essence of the beauty of a people. Dolls currently in design phase include: The Essence of a Zeta, The Essence of Lady Ivy, The Essence of Lady Sigma and The Essence of a Lambda.
TRINITY DESIGNS, INC. –“Creating minority inspired collectible dolls of various occupations and social groups.”
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It sounds like something out of a movie than reality. On June 6, 2009, Alysa Stanton, a divorced mother with one 14 year old daughter from a Jewish suburb of Cleveland, was officially ordained a rabbi from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. Her next move is south to Greenville, North Carolina where she will preside as rabbi over Congregation Bayt Shalom.
Stanton, 45, grew up in a Pentocostal Christian home and converted to Judaism more than 20 years ago while attending Colorado State University, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. (source: HAARETZ.com)
“I’m honored and awed by this achievement,” she continues. “But I am foremost a rabbi who happens to be African-American, not The African-American Rabbi.”
Congratulations to Alysa Stanton!
The TIME magazine article shares a lot about Alysa Stantons career even before her joining Hebrew Union College. It’s hyperlinked above and would be a good read for those of you who want a bit more. I haven’t found any video interviews that would embed in WordPress.
Award winning documentary film HEART OF STONE by New Jersey native Beth Toni Kruvant which will be premiering in Los Angeles at the Hollywood Black Film Festival on Saturday, June 6th at 1:15 PM.
HEART OF STONE is a powerful film which documents the remarkable story of African American principal Ron Stone who single-handedly, along with the support of the school’s alumni, changed the lives of former gang members in New Jersey through a groundbreaking program.
Principal Stone was an unconventional African American educator who stunned many in Newark when he married a Jewish woman. His unconventional attitude was at the heart of the conflict resolution program he created in order to work with the school’s gang members whom the local police dismissed as fated criminals.
HEART OF STONE traces a once-affluent community in the Weequahic section of Newark, NJ and how it deteriorated into a community riddled with gang violence. It shows how one man – determined to restore one community – risked his own life to take on the challenges of an inner city high school (Weequahic High School). As its devoted principal and champion of change, Ron Stone demonstrated how one human being can inspire and impact others in a life-changing way.
Director & Producer: Beth Toni Kruvant 2008
Executive Producer: Paul Bartick Composer: Ben Decter
Editor: Anand Kamalakar Director of Photography: David Harges
Good Footage Productions Running time: 84 minutes
Heart of Stone — an inspirational documentary film by independent film producer and director Beth Toni Kruvant — documents the challenges of an inner city high school in the Weequahic section of Newark, NJ and the workings of its devoted principal Ron Stone, ambitious Jewish and African American alumni, students, and even gang members, to restore the school’s safety and past glory.
Urban life in Weequahic changed abruptly after the 1967 Newark Riots. Jewish families moved out and were replaced by many poor African Americans. For the next 30 years, a culture of discipline was replaced by a culture of crime as academic performance plummeted and the Bloods and Crips ruled campus and the streets. It was not until 2001 that Weequahic High School saw a glimmer of hope with the arrival of its new principal, Ron Stone, who vowed to return the school back to its former glory.
Principal Stone was an unconventional African American educator who stunned many in Newark when he married a Jewish woman. His unconventional attitude was at the heart of the conflict resolution program he created in order to work with the school’s gang members whom the local police dismissed as fated criminals.
Stone, who watched students engage in a mass brawl upon his arrival to the school, was able to make a truce with the gangs and even establish the school as a “non-violence” zone. He partnered with the Jewish and African American alumni to raise funds for college scholarships, but it was the familial relationships he developed with students that inspired gang members to leave the comfort of the streets and attend college.
HEART OF STONE provides a thought-provoking look into America’s history of racial tension and why education is the road to change.
Stone proved through his personal life and through his leadership at Weequahic High School that it is possible for people of different races to work together to create better and safer communities.
AWARDS
Audience Award – 2009 Slamdance Film Festival
Kaiser Permanente Thrive Award – 2009 Cinequest Film Festival
Best Documentary Feature – 2009 Cinequest Film Festival
Best Feature Film – 2009 Philadelphia Film Festival
HEART OF STONE DATES & VENUES
Hollywood Black Film Festival
Saturday, June 6th at 1:15 PM
Laemmle #3
9036 Wilshire Blvd.
Beverly Hills, CA 90211 http://www.hbff.org/
Tonight (June 2, 2009), viewers will get a wake up call to take better care of our earth during the 2 hour documentary “Earth 2100″ airing on ABC. A character named Lucy will narrate the story of her 100 years of life in a culture where consumption trumps preservation leading to shortages in our natural resources and population decline. Who knows what the future really holds, but this documentary depicted in 2 dimensional cartoon images and 3 dimensional live images accompanied by video commentary presents a real bordering on surreal representation of our life in less than a century. The documentary does present an alternative perspective at the end of the year 2100 if we take appropriate steps to preserve our environment.
Popular Catholic priest Alberto Cutié, even nicknamed Father Oprah, recently made the decision to leave his home in the Catholic church after admitting to a sexual relationship with a woman. Months earlier, he had approached an Episcopalian church in the Miami area, where he resides, about being an Episcopalian priest. He was greeted with open arms and standing ovations yesterday (May 31, 2009), as he took the podium for the first time as an Episcopalian priest where the vow of celibacy is not required.
I am not Catholic, but I have often wondered about the vow of celibacy for priests. It seems unnatural to forbid yourself from any contact with women even in the name of God.
Do you think Catholic priests should take a lifetime vow of celibacy?
Do you think that taking the vow of celibacy attributes to deviant behavior amongst Catholic priests?
CBS Early Show- Father Alberto Cutié, explains his recently exposed love affair.
from CNN- CNN’s Rick Sanchez And Miami CBS & FOX Station Report: Photos released of a Miami priest [Father Albert Cutie]. He’s supposed to be celibate, but the pictures show him getting very cozy with a woman on a South Florida beach. Father Alberto Cutie is now on leave as the church tries to figure out how to deal with this scandal. Parishioners are shocked by these photos showing their priest, Father Alberto Cutie, locked in a loving embrace with a brunette on the beach. The pictures, from TV Notas magazine and obtained by the Miami Herald, were reportedly taken on Miami Beach in February.
from CNN- CNN’s Rick Sanchez Reports: Father Alberto Cutie Joins Episcopal Church Leaves Catholic Church – 05/28/09
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HEART OF STONE
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