Arts & Entertainment

from New York Amsterdam News Issue #46 November 18- 24, 2021

by AmsterdamNews

» Food

Film/TV page 15 | Theater page 17 | Food page 20 | Jazz page 21

Your Stars

29th African Diaspora International Film Fest is back––Nov. 26 through Dec. 12

By LAPACAZO SANDOVAL

Special to the AmNews

There is an African proverb that says, “Those who respect the elderly pave their own road toward success.” There is great wisdom imparted in this simple statement.

Mother Africa and the ancestors are calling, as they often do, and starting November 26 through December 12 there is a wonderful opportunity to listen, hear and watch because the African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF) will be celebrating their 29th anniversary both in person and virtually.

There are special screenings planned followed by Q&As at Cinepolis in Manhattan, a selection of in-person screenings at Cinema Village, and an online selection of 77 films from 38 countries from November 26 to December 12, 2021, including 38 world, U.S., and New York premieres.

“I’m particularly excited to open ADIFF NYC 2021 with ‘The Sleeping Negro,’ a thought-provoking film that explores what it means to be a Black man in America today. I can’t wait to participate in the in-person conversation that will take place with director Skinner Myers on Opening Night. It’s been too long since we’ve been able to get together in person to celebrate Black culture in such a powerful way,” shared Diarah N’Daw-Spech, the festival’s co-founder.

The ADIFF fest is presenting an eclectic selection of recent and less recent films that are thought-provoking and entertaining, some by independent filmmakers and others coming directly from major international film festivals such as Berlinale, Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, FESPACO, and Durban. Several revivals are also part of the program.

ADIFF 2021 wants to recognize FESPACO––the largest film festival on the African continent that, since 1969, represents a rare opportunity for African storytellers to showcase their creations on a global stage––with a selection of 15 FESPACO titles including some in competition this year. Other highlights include a World Black History program, a strong selection of South African cinema, LGBTQ+ themed films, Special Presentations, and Zoom conversations. Opening Night film, the critically acclaimed drama “The Sleeping Negro” by Skinner Myers will have its New York premiere screening in person at Cinepolis on Nov. 26 in the presence of the filmmaker. According to Ulkar Alakbarova on moviemovesme.com, “The Sleeping Negro” is “a superb character study of a Black man, how he sees himself and how he was treated by society, it is surreal yet real and terrifying.”

Following on the footsteps of the LA Rebellion filmmakers, the film’s director Skinner Myers tells a very personal and intimate story in a radically non-traditional cinematic style as a means to express freely his feelings as a Black man in America.

Other highlights Include:

The world premiere presentation of “Fighting for Respect: African American Soldiers in WWI” by Joanne Burke, a historical documentary that captures the plight of African American soldiers who fought in WWI, receiving the Croix de Guerre military decoration from France, while still fighting discrimination and hatred at home in America.

· “A Son (Un Fils)” by Mehdi Barsaoui is an intense family drama starring FrenchTunisian actor Sami Bouajila, winner of the Orizzonti Award for Best Actor, Venice Film Festival 2019 and winner of the César Awards, France for Best Actor in 2021. The in-person Gala screening of the film on Dec. 9 at Cinepolis will be followed by a Q&A.

www.AfricanDiasporaDVD.com www.AfricanFilm.com www.NYADIFF.org

Still from “Fighting for Respect: African American Soldiers in WWI”

-HBO’s ‘Black and Missing’ debuts Nov. 23er claiming a one-time occurrence 2: An employment situation that is 3: Not employed workers to perform the service or labor in the past, and will -

OR it is a seasonal need and the petitioner claiming a seasonal need must show that the service or labor tionally tied to a season of the year -

Additionally, a petitioner can claim ularly employ permanent workers to perform the services or labor at the porarily supplement its permanent staff at the place of employment due to a seasonal or short-term demand; and the temporary additions to staff -

H-2B petitioners must also provide fication from the U.S. Department of Four-part documentary series “Black and Missing,” by multiple Emmy winner Geeta Gandbhir and award-winning documentarian, journalist, author and activist Soledad O’Brien, follows sistersin-law and Black and Missing Foundation founders Derrica and Natalie Wilson as they fight an uphill battle to bring awareness to the Black missing persons cases that are marginalized by law enforcement and national media. The series, which was three years in the making, takes on new urgency given the renewed national conversation on “missing white woman syndrome.” “Black and Missing” debuts back-toback episodes Tuesday, Nov. 23 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT), with the final two episodes airing back-to-back on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at the same time. All four episodes of the series will debut on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max. Haunted by these stories of vanished loved ones and driven by the need for attention and assistance for these forgotten women, former law enforcement officer Derrica and public relations expert Natalie operate a grassroots organization that raises awareness in communities, alerts media outlets to the plight of thousands of women and children and urges police departments to allocate more resources to this scourge. Cases of missing Black people remain unresolved four times longer than those of white people. “Black and Missing” pulls back the curtain to explore how systemic behaviors and attitudes stem from centuries of deeply rooted racism. The series also exposes the stark disparity in the media coverage of white and Black missing persons. This intimate look at Derrica and Natalie’s personal crusade to locate missing Black people also highlights stories of hope and closure as the Black and Missing Foundation contributes to the resolution of several high-profile missing persons cases. The Black and Missing Foundation works in several ways to change the narrative surrounding missing Black people, providing volunteers for work on the ground, and serving as an important advocacy platform to help bring these stories to light. By keeping these stories and the missing in the news media, Derrica and Natalie put increased pressure on police departments to keep cases open and active. “Black and Missing” includes wrenching testimony from the families and loved ones of missing women, from activists and volunteers with their own stories of loss to law officers and historians with first-hand experience in this field. Participants include John Walsh, founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children; Vince Warren, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights; Dr. Renee Murrell, FBI victim specialist; Glenn Kirschner, former assistant D.A.; Debra Sines, former assistant U.S. attorney; Thomas Stack, Baltimore head of trafficking; T.J. Smith, Baltimore chief of police.

“Black and Missing” kicks off a collection of four gripping documentary titles that debut on Tuesdays, beginning November 23. Exploring crime-related stories and the issues surrounding them, the anthology includes:

“Life Of Crime: 1984-2020” (November 30), an intimate verite documentary that spans 36 years in the lives of three friends from Newark and captures the highs and lows of the vicious cycles of drug addiction and street crime in one of the roughest parts of New Jersey. Directed by Jon Alpert.

“The Slow Hustle” (December 7), a searing look at corruption within the Baltimore Police Department, through the prism of a veteran officer’s mysterious death, as local journalists, family and the community strive to find the truth. Directed by Sonja Sohn.

“The Murders At Starved Rock” (December 14 and 15), a three-part documentary series exploring the 1960 brutal murders of three women in Starved Rock State Park in LaSalle County, Illinois, and the decades of questions and doubts that have haunted the son of the prosecutor in the case, as the man found guilty seeks to clear his name after 60 years in prison. Directed by Jody McVeigh-Schultz.

Visit www.hbo.com/movies/ black-and-missing for more info.

“Black and Missing” (HBO)

16 • November 18, 2021 - November 24, 2021

THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS

A R T S & E N T E R T A I N M E N T

Keith Boykin pens new book ‘Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America’

By LAPACAZO SANDOVAL

Special to the AmNews

New York, wake up. Harlem, you know the time without a watch or a sneak-apeek at your cellphone. The changes are in the wind, and yes, we’ve been there before but there is something—different—and even if you can’t place your finger on it, something deep inside confirms it.

In Keith Boykin’s new book “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America” he asserts that we are in the middle of a cold, civil war. And coming from prominent journalist and prolific author Keith Boykin we should all pay attention. Boykin is co-founder and first board president of the National Black Justice Coalition and is that brother who is courageous enough to take a deep dive into the political cesspool, looking through the blah-blah bullshit of politics to find out some truths.

Facts. This is a dangerous era we are living in, and in many places, the social order is unraveling, and this makes white people feel deeply threatened by African American progress. Now, we can take a moment and ask ourselves the biggest question, which is: “What progress”? And the answer (which is heartbreaking) is that for a large pocket of white Americans, any progress is too much progress. Facts.

Peep the bold title of Boykin’s new book— ”Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America”—the title says it all. The book doesn’t shy away from the statistical, in-your-face-facts, that America is changing in a way that’s making a lot of people uncomfortable about who they are.

Boykin knows his world. He’s a CNN political commentator, New York Times bestselling author, and a former White House aide to President Bill Clinton. Wait. There is more. Boykin teaches at the Institute for Research in African American Studies at Columbia University in New York and previously taught at American University in Washington, D.C. He was a co-host of the BET Network talk show “My Two Cents,” starred on the Showtime reality television series “American Candidate,” was an associate producer of the film “Dirty Laundry,” and he has appeared on many other TV shows, including BET’s “Being Mary Jane.” A graduate of Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School, Boykin is a Lambda Literary Award-winning author of four books.

Now, you understand the weight that Mr. Keith Boykin brings and the in-depth analysis that lives inside “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America.” Why are African American people so hated in this country?

There are multiple reasons this country is negatively impacted by race, starting with the historical facts that this very land was stolen and the indigenous people subjected to genocide, in an attempt to wipe them and their culture off the face of this earth. Now add in the mix, the infusion of slave labor, from Africa, that worked the business industries, owned by white slave owners, and the fact these men, women, and children were considered their property, and we have the foundation for a perpetual shit-show.

But the younger generation might cry out “that was then, this is now” and believe that not being in actual chains is evidence that equality has been achieved. They would be dead-ass wrong, but I can understand why they would feel the need to distance themselves from the brutal facts. So, let’s fast-forward to the America of today. In Boykin’s “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America,” he identifies four, recent “cataclysmic crises” that have knocked the stuffing out of America: the pandemic, the economic shutdown, the rise of the racial justice movement, and the uncovering of racists, brought to light by the inept, and evil Trump administration and its ignorant, and dangerous supporters.

To borrow from the idiom derived from the Sebastian Junger nonfiction book, “The Perfect Storm,” to describe a rare combination of events or circumstances creating an unusually bad situation, the four crises came together, Boykin writes, after the murder of George Floyd. This is the African American man who was MURDERED by Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin. This murderer placed his knee on Mr. Floyd’s neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds, after he was handcuffed, and lying face down. We only know this because brave people recorded the murder.

Mr. Floyd’s murder, Boykin writes, “would provide the pretext for the president to instigate a new crisis of democracy,” one that led to widespread efforts on the part of the police to suppress the voices demanding justice by people of color, and their allies—but no such effort was made to silence the angry whites who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

People, can you imagine Black and Brown people who would have dared to be that stupid? This fact shows the way justice is measured in America. If you are white, you can get away with illegal acts.

America remains more divided than at any time in decades. That’s how terrified white people are of the new, multiracial emerging majority.

Boykin argues that African American voters have often been too forgiving of political leaders who have failed to deliver on their campaign promises.

I’m sincerely confused, does America believe that folks won’t rise up? We can no longer avoid its long-overdue reckoning with the past.

Keith Boykin and his new book, “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America,” is a deeply troubling and deliberately provocative book. He understands that we must raise essential questions about our path forward.

Here is what Keith Boykin author of “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America” had to share about why he believes we are in the middle of a cold, civil war.

AMSTERDAM NEWS: Thank you, for taking the time to discuss your new book, “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America.” America is getting darker, isn’t it?

KEITH BOYKIN: Yes, it sure is.

AMN: Please describe your new book?

KB: “Race Against Time” is really where we are as a country, right now. We are in the middle of a cold, civil war.

AMN: Yikes.

KB: It’s real. We are a country divided and we are at a point of dissolution, and it’s a dangerous place for us to be. In particular because millions of white Americans are very invested in protecting the status quo. They are doing everything they can to prevent this ‘darkening America’ and everything from fighting us in the streets, to racial profiling us, to leading an insurrection against us, to passing voting restrictions laws, to make it more difficult for us to participate in our democracy, to gerrymanderingcongressional districts to prevent us from being [properely] represented in the countries legislature.

AMN: Mr. Boykin. That’s a lot.

Below is an excerpt from Keith Boykin’s new book: “Race Against Time: The Politics of a Darkening America.”

“After a deadly pandemic, shocking incidents of police brutality, a racial justice crisis, and the fall of a dangerous demagogue, America remains more divided than at any time in decades. At the heart of this national crisis is the fear of a darkening America—a country in which there is no longer a predominant white majority.

“As the Republican Party has lost the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections, its leaders have incited white Americans in a last-ditch race against time to stop the advance of a new, multiracial emerging majority. Keith Boykin, longtime political commentator, has watched this white resentment consume the GOP over the course of a life in politics, activism, and journalism. He has also observed the divisions among Democrats, as white progressives have postponed demands for full racial equity, while Black voters have often been too forgiving of party leaders who have failed to deliver. America can no longer avoid its long overdue reckoning with the past, Boykin argues. With the familiarity of personal experience and the acuity of historical insight, Boykin urges us to fight racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia, and save the union, not just by making Black Lives Matter, but by making Black lives equal.”

92Y hosts Halle Berry, in person and online, Nov. 19

Join Academy Award-winning actress Halle Berry for a special advance screening of her new film, Netflix’s “Bruised,” followed by a conversation. Marking Berry’s directorial debut, “Bruised” follows a simmering and disgraced mixed martial artist—played with characteristic grit and grace by Berry herself—as she attempts to make a comeback and confront her past. Hear Berry discuss the inspiration for the film, what it was like to be both behind and in front of the camera for the first time, stories from behind the scenes, and much more. ing and Halle Berry in conversation

Friday, Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m., $10 (Online tickets are for the talk only––they do not include the screening. Talk begins at 8:50 p.m.)

(Netflix photo) (Courtesy photo)

By LINDA ARMSTRONG Special to the AmNews

why he believes we are in the middle of There is a heavenly comedy on Broadway—can the church say “Amen”? Amen. “Chicken & Biscuits” playing at Circle in the Square Theatre on West : Thank you, for 50th Street, takes everyone to church taking the time to discuss your new book, -as Black playwright, Douglas Lyons— making his Broadway playwright ening America.” America is getting darker, debut—tells us the hilarious story of the Jenkins family. The father, who was the pastor of the church, has died and his homegoing brings home a lot more than : “Race Against Time” is really where family members to mourn. It brings we are as a country, right now. We are in home siblings who have a very vivid rivalry. It brings home sisters—Baneatta and Beverly––complete opposites in : It’s real. We are a country divided demeanor, education, culture and def-and we are at a point of dissolution, and -initely in attire. It brings together Baneatta and the gay son she won’t accept, ular because millions of white Americans Kenny and his white, Jewish boyfriend, are very invested in protecting the status Logan. And, of course, it wouldn’t be a quo. They are doing everything they can complete comedy set at a Black pastor’s to prevent this ‘darkening America’ and church funeral, without there also being everything from fighting us in the streets, -a family secret. - Yes, Lyons manages to put it all in there. There’s also some hilarious ten-strictions laws, to make it more difficult sion every time that Logan encounters for us to participate in our democracy, to Baneatta—tension rendered delight-congressional districts to -fully hilarious by utilizing the challenge music from Clint Eastwood westerns. Every family has people in it that know how to bring the tacky and the crazy and that is definitely sister Beverly and her Below is an excerpt from Keith Boykin’s -teenage daughter—La’Trice.

Norm Lewis and the cast of “Chicken & Biscuits”

There are a lot of marvelous elements to this show, but I don’t want to give them away. When you first step into the Circle in the Square Theatre––which is perfectly suited for this production––you hear gospel singing and it gets you in the church spirit. The elaborate scenic design by Lawrence E. Moten III, sound design by Twi McCallum and lighting design by Adam Honore all lend themselves to you feeling that you are about to catch the spirit. Costume design by Dede Ayite and Hair/Wig design by Nikiya Mathis also complement this production. Looking out into the mixed race audience I felt so wonderful, just seeing all of us in this theater setting together, after all that we have been through with theater being shut down due to the pandemic. “Chicken & Biscuits” offered this audience a comedic fare that everyone gobbled up. There was constant laugh-

Cleo King & the Cast of “Chicken & Biscuits” (Emilio Madrid photos) ter and applause as we watched the humorous creation of Lyons manifest before our eyes. The cast is an ensemble that just works well together. Cleo King was strong and pigheaded as Baneatta; Norm Lewis—making his Broadway debut in a play—was absolutely hilarious as Pastor Reginald Mabry, especially when it came to him saying some words about the dearly departed pastor and reading inspirational scriptures from the Bible. Lewis took those scripture readings to a heavenly level of humor and we all ascended with him! It was gloriously funny! Ebony MarshallOliver was marvelous and humorous as tacky, cursing, boob-showing sister Beverly, coming to her father’s funeral hoping to catch a husband. Aigner Mizzelle was delightfully obnoxious and annoying as La’Trice, a teenager looking for money and hoping to drop a rap demo. Devere Rogers was engaging as Kenny, the gay son, who while accepted by his late grandfather, couldn’t figure out how to get to a higher ground with his judgmental mother Baneatta. He also proved to be multi-dimensional as he interacted with his boyfriend Logan and his sister Simone. Alana Raquel Bowers was funny as Simone, a sister who felt that Kenny stole her attention when he was born and who also casts judgment on his life choices. Natasha Yvette Williams plays Brianna Jenkins and gives a stunning performance. Michael Urie as Logan is absolutely priceless. He takes that character to a level of hilarity that had the audience in tears.

“Chicken & Biscuits” also has brilliant direction by the youngest Black director on Broadway, who is also making his Broadway debut—Zhailon Levingston. Go see “Chicken & Biscuits,” playing through Nov. 28, and indulge in a heavenly, sumptuous, comedic theatrical dish.

For more info, visit www.chickenandbiscuitsbway.com.