Go with the Flo

FLO

ANTHONY

As the filmmaking team for “The Woman King” travels to Brazil to promote the historical movie, Viola Davis and her husband and producing partner Julius Tennon are celebrating the success of the film’s No. 1 debut at the box office, grossing $19 million domestically, reports Variety. Award winning actress Kerry Washington and her husband, former NFL AllPro player Nnamdi Asomugha, were a big help in making “The Woman King” top the box office. The couple bought out theaters in Oakland, California, where he played football, her hometown of Bronx, New York, Prussia, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. at 3 p.m. on September 18. Washington tweeted out the information and said it was “on a first-come, first-serve basis.” The film had its world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival on September 10, then one week later, opened in theaters. Davis portrays Nanisca, a brave warrior and a General of the Agojie, the all female warrior unit that protected the West African kingdom during the 17th to 19th centuries...........

Common now has a chance to become an EGOT. The Oscar, Emmy and Grammy award winner will have an opportunity to win a Tony when he makes his Broadway debut in the role of “Junior” in the Broadway debut production of Stephen Adly Guirgis’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Between Riverside And Crazy,” directed by Austin Pendleton. “Between Riverside And Crazy” will begin previews Wednesday, November 30 and will officially open on Monday, December 19 at Second Stage’s Hayes Theater. Common’s character Junior is the recently paroled son of ex-cop and recent widower Walter “Pops” Washington, played by Stephen McKinley Henderson who is struggling to keep one of the last rent stabilized apartments on Riverside Drive in New York City...........

Tongues are wagging that Cardi B and Offset hosted a Fashion Night Out party in the Big Apple on September 17 to celebrate their friend Tokyo Stylez’ birthday, Bossip reports, The Creative Director in Residence at Playboy, the Bronx-born raptress sported a humongous diamond Playboy logo around her neck. Other notable attendees at the soiree included new femcee Ice Spice, Cardi’s sister Hennessy Carolina, Carmelo Anthony, “Stranger Things” actor Caleb McLaughlin and Meek Mill.........

Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network announced recent Emmy Award-winner Sheryl Lee Ralph and Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent J. Hughes will be honored at the 2022 Triumph Awards on Wednesday, September 28 at Jazz at Lincoln Center. In addition to her Emmy Award-winning role on “Abbott Elementary,” Ralph is a Tony Award-nominated actress, singer, author, and activist. Hughes, her husband since 2005, has represented the Philadelphia area in the Pennsylvania legislature for 35 years and currently serves as the Democratic chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. They join fellow honorees: Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Will Packer, the creators of Harlem Week, and Fashion Bomb Daily’s Claire Sulmers......

53rd annual African American Day parade marches down Harlem after two-year in-person hiatus

By TANDY LAU

Amsterdam News Staff, Report for America Corps Member

From online to in line, the African American Day parade is finally back on Harlem streets after spending the past two years streamed virtually. On Sunday, Sept. 18, marchers headed uptown on Adam Clayton Jr. Boulevard from 111th to 137th Street.

This year’s theme is “Good Health Is Essential.” The five grand marshals were medical professionals Dr. Michelle Henry, Sandra Lindsay, Bernard Robinson, Pamela Abner and Dr. Gary Butts while NYC Schools Chancellor David Banks was also honored.

“Sharing the hugs, smiles, and appreciation reminds me of why I fight the tough battles,” said local State Senator Cordell Cleare. “Connecting with the people is what keeps me grounded and in touch with their concerns and needs. It’s hard to imagine we have not been out here in person for two years. Everyone was overdue. Congratulations to the parade committee on the 53rd Annual African American Day Parade.”

Mayor Eric Adams was there. So were Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell, Attorney General Letitia James and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. And 92-yearold Charles Rangel and local Assembly Member Inez Dickens rolled through in the backseat of a cherry red, 1975 Chevy Caprice. Even Rep. Lee Zeldin was present to shake hands and campaign for governor, although the color combination of red, black and green were visibly absent from his crew.

The parade was founded during the tail-end of the Civil Rights Movement and has run the third Sunday of September each year, for the past 53 years. For some, the festivities served as a platform for the continued, unfinished pursuit of equality.

“I was proud to represent our district on the Freedom Fighter’s float along with former political prisoners and Black Panthers because our fight for freedom is ongoing and we are Black every day,” said local city councilmember Kristin Richardson Jordan.

The December 12th Movement chanted for reparations while the Women’s Community Justice Association promoted the potential Rikers’ alternative women’s center in Harlem.

And there’s catching up to do after two years of livestreams and Pix11 broadcasts. This year’s Miss Harlem Shake was a combo deal, with 2022’s winner Lizzy Chanel sharing the spotlight with past burger queens Kay Angrum (2020) and “Toe Whoppin” Tina Sims (2021). For winning the local restaurant’s contest, they receive $1,000, $500 to charity and lots and lots of food. Sims remembers attending the parade every year as a child and Angrum recalls watching from her grandmother’s fire escape. Now they’re sitting in the best seat in the house, in the back of a parade convertible cruiser. As for why there’s youngsters dressed as condiment bottles accompanying them?

“I have my niece with me, and my nephew—there’s a couple of other kids here that [are] dressed up in the Harlem Shake outfits,” said Chanel. “We have the shakes, the burgers, the fries, the ketchup and mustard.”

(Bill Moore photos) Youngster enjoys Sunday’s African American Day parade in Harlem. (Benny Polatseck/Mayoral Photography Office photo)

(Bill Moore photo)

Tandy Lau is a Report for America corps member and writes about public safety for the Amsterdam News. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one; please consider making a taxdeductible gift today by visiting: https://tinyurl.com/ fcszwj8w