How quickly do music and literature change? Evolutionary biology could give us a hint.
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Monday, January 20, 2020
Black Enterprise Founder: ‘We Owe An Apology to Martin Luther King, Jr.’
Decades after his death, the legacy and contributions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the sacrifices he made to bring justice to African Americans and to challenge America to live up to its ideals, are being celebrated more than ever before. It’s fair to say that we have done justice to King’s memory. But the truth is America has not done justice to his dream. In fact, I, and the rest of King’s generation, now between the ages of 70 and 85, owe King an apology.
Due to our lack of leadership and accountability, and despite the conspicuous success of a minority of African Americans, we have failed to do what it takes to lead our people to the promised land of freedom, equality, and the full measure of the American dream.
Two months after the assassination of Dr. King, Earl G. Graves Sr. escorts Mrs. Coretta Scott King on June 8th, 1968 to the funeral of Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
King’s dream was about equal opportunity and economic justice for all black Americans, not just an exceptional few. After making progress toward those goals into the late ’80s, we somehow lost our desire to pursue King’s agenda. Ultimately, we simply stopped fighting, as if we no longer believed that what King died for was worth continuing to sacrifice and fight for. And for that, Dr. King, I am sorry. You left us with an example and a challenge to make a better world for our children. And we’ve failed you.
The evidence shows that our failure is as complete as it is indisputable. Nearly 60 years after Brown v. Board of Education, American education remains largely segregated by race, with black children bearing the brunt of failing public schools. We’re failing King in economic justice. Today, the wealth gap between African Americans and white Americans is wider than ever, and black businesses remain largely excluded from economic power centers–from Hollywood and Silicon Valley to Wall Street and Madison Avenue.
The quality of life for African Americans in our urban centers has hardly improved, and in many cases, has worsened, since many urban areas were destroyed by riots in the aftermath of King’s assassination. Sadly, in nearly every area, from healthcare outcomes to high school drop-out rates to entire generations of African Americans trapped in our prison system, the world we’re leaving to our children and grandchildren is no better than the one we inherited.
I was assigned by Sen. Robert Kennedy to assist Coretta Scott King with getting her slain husband’s body from Memphis to Atlanta. I know intimately the ultimate sacrifice that King made–based on the promise of future generations–so that we would have the opportunities that we enjoy today. It’s a promise we have failed to keep.
Our fight for freedom and justice is not over. We have not won. Memorials aside, my generation owes an apology to King for having dropped the baton, for not taking the torch he lit and running with it. Now, it is up to our children and grandchildren to continue the fight to ensure that King’s dream is deferred no longer, and that all African Americans, not just a select, privileged, or fortunate few, reach the promised land of freedom, equality, justice, and opportunity.
Editor’s Note: This article originally published in 2012.
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Convicted for selling weed, Black man helps start small businesses after New Orleans prison exit
Henry Byous had just come home from the hospital with his girlfriend, who had given birth to their child, a bouncing baby boy.
But their celebration of a new life would soon be cut short.
“I brought him home from the hospital,” Byous tells TheGrio. The new father then remembers running outside to his car to retrieve something. That’s when he was greeted by police. He was arrested and charged for previously selling cannabis to an undercover police officer.
“That was the most hurtful feeling I ever went through,” he recalls.
For selling weed in 2011, the New Orleans native was sentenced to 7-10 years at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, a former slave plantation with a brutal reputation.
“It was shocking,” Byous recalls. “Ya’ll got people with gun charges that’s going home tomorrow—on probation. But here it is I got a weed charge and ya’ll just like, ‘We gonna give you seven.'”
The harsh sentence reflects that the state of Louisiana has some of the strictest marijuana laws in the country. Byous says that the law doesn’t always account for the reality of trying to make a living.
“The person who probably was selling weed didn’t have a weed problem, they had a money problem,” he continues. “If you was to help that person get a great job to where he don’t have to sell weed. Then you will solve his problem on the money, because that’s basically what they are doing it for.”
“I was hustling, trying to make this money for this for this child and not paying attention to everything going on around me,” Byous remembers.
But Byous turned continued his hustle in the penitentiary, this time picking up a trade through a prison reentry program, earning an electrician certification and 15 life skills certificates.
“You can come up here and do what’s right and go home,” Byous says of Angola Prison. “You could come up here and mess your life all the way up and never go home. And I was like, ‘Nah, I’m coming up and do what’s right and go home.'”
Byous stayed on track in prison and was released in 2013. Once he got home, he kept the momentum and started his own company, All Pro Maintenance Services, which provides electric, plumbing and air conditioning services. The company won support from a local business accelerator.
It’s about a fair shot
Now Byou’s is paying it forward, working with the First 72+ program, assisting other formerly incarcerated people to start their own businesses too, as well as find transitional housing and mental health services in the first days of their release.
The program’s small business incubator has helped launch or scale-up 22 small businesses, with great success. According to First 72+, more than 63 percent of those business owners work full time for their business.
Byous says he has had a personal hand in six of these small businesses, including repair businesses and a barber shop.
“I can’t be more proud of myself. This is me. I’m doing this now. This is my new life. Pat myself on the back. Let’s go. You know. My sons, hope [they] follow in dad’s footsteps and keep this process going.”
Byous says his example should demonstrate that it’s time to get rid of draconian marijuana sentencing laws and background checks that prevent incarcerated people from getting a fair shot at jobs.
“I’m on a righteous path that I need to be on,” says Byous. “Finding it was like finding peace with myself. And once I did that. I was able to see that I can help others.”
WATCH Henry Byous interview about his journey to start over above.
The post Convicted for selling weed, Black man helps start small businesses after New Orleans prison exit appeared first on TheGrio.
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Julius Malema Calls For The Creation Of ‘United States Of Africa’
South Africa’s firebrand opposition leader Julius Malema wants the formation of a “United States of Africa” that will bring together the entire continent in one economic bloc.
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party leader said he envisions continental unity at the political level and was planning to use South Africa as the launchpad for the idea if he wins the next elections.
The EFF is South Africa’s third-biggest party with 43 parliamentary seats out of around 400, as per the last general elections.
“We want to lead Africa, we want a United State of Africa. With one currency, with one economy, with one parliament, with one president, with one judiciary,” Malema told delegates at an EFF annual general meeting that re-elected him as the party leader on Dec. 16.
“(An Africa) … where all member states will be held accountable, we want Africa to be one. With this South Africa, it is just a starting point. And why? Because political freedom came from up there in the north. Economic freedom must come from the south going up there.”
“We cannot have one Africa while the continent is still divided on the internal political landscape. Malema is seen as a person who represents the African agenda, while allegations point that he is not such person who will carry such program,” said political analyst Sibusiso Ndlovu.
Julius Malema Calls for the Creation of ‘United States of Africa’ | The African Exponent. https://t.co/e6SbrtFzEm
— BC Marketing Global (@Mansur_Abdullah) January 2, 2020
Julius Malema for President of the United States of Africa? pic.twitter.com/lgcJ3WRKEJ
— Larry Madowo (@LarryMadowo) December 16, 2019
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Sunday, January 19, 2020
5 reasons we know Sundance 2020 will be lit AF: Kerry Washington, Issa Rae, Lena Waithe to take over
There are so many reasons we are looking forward to bundling up and hitting the slopes at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival.
7 films we can’t wait to see at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival
Thanks to the long list of content coming from talented Black content creators and extensive programming from The Macro Lodge and The Blackhouse Foundation, there will be plenty of opportunities to turn up.
Immersive experiences, star-studded events, and countless film screenings abound and we’ve got the rundown of the 5 unmissable places to be and things to see this year:
Fantastic Films
There are so many titles we can’t wait to see and one such example is Justin Simian’s Bad Hair. Sundance will open with the world premiere of Bad Hair on Thursday, January 23 at The Ray Theatre in Park City. It stars Elle Lorraine, Vanessa Williams, Jay Pharoah, Lena Waithe, Blair Underwood, and Laverne Cox.
Synopsis: When an ambitious young woman is pressured into getting a weave in order to succeed in 1989’s image-obsessed world of music television, her career flourishes though it comes at a cost much greater than money.
MACRO will host a panel discussion on the film on Saturday at their In Conversation: Director Justin Simien & The Cast of Bad Hair event.
Writer/director Justin Simien will stop by the lodge to discuss his brilliant, satirical, psychological thriller. Simien’s incisive wit with startling moments of horror are woven throughout this deliciously nostalgia-drenched creation starring Elle Lorraine, Ashley Blaine Featherson, Yaani King Mondschein and James Van Der Beek who will also appear to discuss their roles.
Issa Rae Takes Over
With the return of Insecure still four months away, we are so excited to get a glimpse of what’s to come in the hit show’s fourth season and there will be plenty of opportunities to do just that.
The multi-talented content creator will also be sharing her upcoming film The Photograph co-starring Lakeith Stanfield and Y’lan Noel. The film’s writer and director will sit down with Issa Rae to chat about the love story due out on Valentine’s Day. The event, The Photograph: Fireside Chat Featuring Director Stella Meghie and Issa Rae, is happening at the MACRO Lodge on Saturday and is sponsored by Universal Pictures.
Synopsis: A sweeping love story starring Issa Rae and Lakeith Stanfield about forgiveness and finding the courage to seek the truth, no matter where it may lead you. Meghie and Rae come to discuss their new film that will debut in theaters nationwide on Valentine’s Day 2020.
Power Couple: Kerry & Nnamdi Asomugha
The notoriously private couple is rarely spotted out together but that may change at Sundance. The talented duo has been hard at work and they’re both ready to share their projects with the world. That means multiple chances to see their work, hear them speak at their panels, and it’s likely we’ll spot them together at one of the zillion amazing events throughout the week.
Kerry Washington is unveiling her film The Fight at the festival and appearing at the MACRO Lodge on Friday for the Celebrating The Fight event.
CAA Amplify and The Ford Foundation partner to host a reception to celebrate Kerry Washington and the premiere of The Fight, an inspiring and emotional insider look at how the ACLU’s battles to protect our civil liberties and the legal gladiators on the front lines fighting them.
Synopsis:
On Sunday, The MACRO Lodge will host Sylvie’s Love: In Conversation with Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Writer/Director Eugene Ashe and Producer Gabrielle Glore.
The delicate meld of romance and music transcends this sweeping romantic story through changing times, geography, and professional success. The filmmakers as well as stars Tessa Thompson and Nnamdi Asomugha stop by the lodge to talk about the film, an ode to the unstoppable force of love in our lives.
Exclusive Experiences
HBO, TNT and TBS will host Our Stories to Tell, a 3-day pop-up experience that will celebrate their commitment to multicultural storytelling, creators and audiences. This multi-day event will take place during the first weekend of Sundance beginning Friday, January 24 through Sunday, January 26th and will be located in the heart of Main Street.
Programming highlights during Sundance include an exclusive dinner honoring Black Women in Hollywood with participating talent Issa Rae, Yvonne Orji, Robin Thede, and Lena Waithe and a conversation with the stars of Insecure to discuss the upcoming fourth season.
Audible will host their first-ever Audible Speakeasy and there, guests will be invited to relax through daily, 30-minute sound baths hosted by a leading voice in sound bath experiences, Sara Auster. Guests will be introduced to sound meditation with guided instructions focused on breathing practices.
On Sunday, the Audible Speakeasy will present the Transcendence of Narrative Panel, hosted by the Los Angeles Times. Celeb participants include Tessa Thompson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Colman Domingo, and Justin Simien.
Los Angeles Times writer Mark Olsen will lead a conversation about how great narratives can be told and retold, exploring how different storytelling formats inspire and inflect creation and provide new opportunities and challenges.
The Blackhouse
The Blackhouse Foundation once again returns to the Sundance Film Festival and this year welcomes Facebook
Facebook will be on the ground at The Blackhouse workshopping with and creating content to promote black filmmakers and their stories at the festival. The Blackhouse Foundation
Warner Media will welcome the fam to the festival at the Meet The Filmmakers Party on Friday night. On Saturday, they’ll host a low-key conversation with Issa Rae and Prentiss Penny who will spill secrets on the upcoming season of Insecure.
On Sunday, Warner Media will host their See Yourself In The Work We Do Brunch and we’re sure it will be one of the highlights of the weekend. Later, BET will present their panel Project CRE8: A Meditation on Dreaming.
OWN will host a brunch on Monday morning that highlights its next televisions series from Ava DuVernay Cherish The Day.
The post 5 reasons we know Sundance 2020 will be lit AF: Kerry Washington, Issa Rae, Lena Waithe to take over appeared first on TheGrio.
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Guess how many Black actors won big at the SAG Awards + complete winners list
The 2020 SAG Awards went down on Sunday night and stars like Lupita Nyong’o, Jennifer Lopez, Sterling K. Brown, Logan Browning, and more were on deck for the annual awards show held at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
While several Black actors were nominated for standout roles, none of them managed to takehome a trophy in big categories at the awards show where the winners are decided by their peers.
PHOTOS: Lupita Nyong’o, Sterling K. Brown, Logan Browning and more stars sparkle at the SAG Awards
Check out the full list of winners:
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
JOAQUIN PHOENIX / Arthur Fleck – “JOKER”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
RENÉE ZELLWEGER / Judy Garland – “JUDY”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
BRAD PITT / Cliff Booth – “ONCE UPON A TIME…IN HOLLYWOOD”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
LAURA DERN / Nora Fanshaw – “MARRIAGE STORY”
Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
PARASITE
CHANG HYAE JIN / Chung Sook
CHO YEO JEONG / Yeon Kyo
CHOI WOO SHIK / Ki Woo
JUNG HYEON JUN / Da Song
JUNG ZISO / Da Hye
LEE JUNG EUN / Moon Gwang
LEE SUN KYUN / Dong Ik
PARK MYUNG HOON / Geun Se
PARK SO DAM / Ki Jung
SONG KANG HO / Ki Taek
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture
AVENGERS: ENDGAME
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
SAM ROCKWELL / Bob Fosse – “FOSSE/VERDON”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series
MICHELLE WILLIAMS / Gwen Verdon – “FOSSE/VERDON”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
PETER DINKLAGE / Tyrion Lannister – “GAME OF THRONES”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series
JENNIFER ANISTON / Alex Levy – “THE MORNING SHOW”
Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series
TONY SHALHOUB / Abe Weissman – “THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL”
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series
PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE / Fleabag – “FLEABAG”
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
THE CROWN
MARION BAILEY / Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
HELENA BONHAM CARTER / Princess Margaret
OLIVIA COLMAN / Queen Elizabeth II
CHARLES DANCE / Lord Mountbatten
BEN DANIELS / Lord Snowdon
ERIN DOHERTY / Princess Anne
CHARLES EDWARDS / Martin Charteris
TOBIAS MENZIES / Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
JOSH O’CONNOR / Prince Charles
SAM PHILLIPS / Equerry
DAVID RINTOUL / Michael Adeane
JASON WATKINS / Harold Wilson
Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series
THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL
CAROLINE AARON / Shirley Maisel
ALEX BORSTEIN / Susie Myerson
RACHEL BROSNAHAN / Midge Maisel
MARIN HINKLE / Rose Weissman
STEPHANIE HSU / Mei
JOEL JOHNSTONE / Archie Cleary
JANE LYNCH / Sophie Lennon
LEROY McCLAIN / Shy Baldwin
KEVIN POLLAK / Moishe Maisel
TONY SHALHOUB / Abe Weissman
MATILDA SZYDAGIS / Zelda
BRIAN TARANTINA / Jackie
MICHAEL ZEGEN / Joel Maisel
Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Comedy or Drama Series
GAME OF THRONES
The 56th Annual SAG Life Achievement Award
Robert De Niro
The post Guess how many Black actors won big at the SAG Awards + complete winners list appeared first on TheGrio.
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PHOTOS: Lupita Nyong’o, Sterling K. Brown, Logan Browning and more stars sparkle at the SAG Awards
Hollywood’s brightest stars gathered at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles for the 2020 SAG Awards on Sunday night. Stars like Lupita Nyong’o, Sterling K. Brown, Logan Browning, and more sparkled as they hit the red carpet before heading inside for the main event.
Check out a few of our favorite looks:
Logan Browning
The Dear White People star looked like royalty when she hit the carpet in this gorgeous, girly gown.
Daveed Diggs
This multi-talented man hit the carpet looking pretty dapper and showed off several rings on both hands.
Caleb McLaughlin
The Stranger Things star looked bold in his cobalt blue suit with unusual embellishments on his highwater pants.
Lupita Nyong’o
This lovely lady was all smiles in a beautiful black and white gown and adorable updo.
Danai Gurira
The actress was red hot in a form-fitting gown and stunning jewels around her neck.
Samira Wiley
The Orange Is The New Black alum wore a one-shoulder navy dress that seemed perfect the occasion.
Sterling K. Brown
The This Is Us star never disappoints on a red carpet and this time he donned a grey and black tuxedo for the 2020 SAG Awards.
Jennifer Lopez
The Hustlers star’s look was a bit understated despite her black gown’s long train.
Priah Ferguson
The talented young star from Stranger Things wore an age-appropriate yellow dress and accentuated her look with a pink belt and matching shoes when she ht the carpet.
Cynthia Erivo
The Harriet star showed off a dramatic look in this vibrant red and pink gown and platinum blonde hair.
Storm Reid
The talented teen who co-stars in Euphoria wore a sweet floral dress and pointy white heels when she hit the carpet.
The post PHOTOS: Lupita Nyong’o, Sterling K. Brown, Logan Browning and more stars sparkle at the SAG Awards appeared first on TheGrio.
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