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THE ALTERNATIVE VOLUMEPERSPECTIVE 26 ISSUE 40
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HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
More Than 100 NYC HOMELESS STUDENTS g r a d u at e From H i g h S c h o o l
The Black Stars News 2015 Annual Awards Dinner will honor Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles M O RRangel, E T H Rep. A N Yvette 10 0 Clarke, The teens have been honored Donahue Peebles, Barbara in the past week by the city’s S T U R. DE N T S recently Arnwine, graduated fromInez highBarron, school Sabrina Department of Homeless Lamb, Dr. Rudy Crew, Stephen Services. Aside from the in NewByrd, YorkAlia CityJones, despite the and the Central recognition, they have each challenges of being homeless. Park Five survivors of gross injustice They are now preparing to enroll on December 18 from 6:00pm – received a bag with useful things 10:00pmcolleges, at MIST Harlem, in prestigious such 46 West 116th Street. as Cornell University, New York
York and a former chancellor of the New York public schools system.
people may bully you if they knew you lived in the shelter system.” Lawrence’s father, Henry, works as a chef for a local hospital. They were renting an apartment
Pioneering producers attending schools in NYC, Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones, through their 114,658 are homeless, according company Front Row Production, to thebrought New York State “Cat on aTechnical Hot Tin Roof” and Education Assistance and “A Streetcar Named Desire” multi-ethnic cast to Centerwith for aHomeless Students. Broadway. In 2016 they bring In line with that, the city has
“Each and honoree chosen University, Stony Brookfor recognition has demonstrated University.
exceptional leadership and vision in her or his respective profession or “The strength resilience of endeavor and and in some significant has contributed towards thesemeasure young people is inspiring,” creating a more just society in this New York Deputy Mayor country,” says said BlackinStar Herminia Palacio a News founder and publisher Milton statement. “And“Obviously it is this same Allimadi. much work strength and resilience that has needs to be done here and around thefor world.” prepared them anything and
David Dinkins
will propel them forward as they The gala starts at 6:00pm with a cocktail to be followed by the join our next hour generation of future dinner and awards ceremonies. There leaders.”
Charles Rangel
was a member of the New York City Council, representing the 40th council district in Brooklyn, succeeding her mother, Una S. T. Clarke. In the current 114th Congress Clarke serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee, responsible for consumer protection, food safety, energy development, public health, communications, the environment, and interstate and international commerce.
majority. She now leads The Transformative Justice Coalition. Arnwine was for 26 years executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law. Inez Barron, honoree, formerly a State Assembly member, is now a New York City council member and a champion of education for our youth.
“Eclipsed” with Oscar Winner Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway.
Honorees, the so-called Central Park 5, are collectively and individually heroes. They are survivors of one of the ugliest miscarriage of justice in New York’s history; having been railroaded and unjustly convicted for a crime they did not commit and for which they served long prison sentences ranging from seven years to 13 years before being exonerated when the actual rapist confessed. They are: Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, and Kharey Wise.
The Black Star News, which focuses Honoree Imhotep Gary Byrd is on investigative journalism, has a legendary radio talk show host been featured as a result of some if and executive producer, radio DJ, its news scoops, on CNN, The New R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is poet, songwriter, music recording York Daily News, The New York a leading developer and founder of artist and producer, rapper, writer Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest and community activist. He began Content magazine. African American-owned real his career as a radio DJ in Buffalo estate firm with $3.5 billion worth Past Black Star News honorees at age 15. For over 30 years, he’s of properties under development been a talk show host at WBLS and have included: Gil Noble (Like It or management — he was one Is), Rep. Maxine radio in York City. Hebeen making for college as well as a laptop. beforeWLIB but when theNew rental fees efforts Waters, to fight Soledad Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored of the pioneering developerswho O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, also has a Friday night radio Lawrence, one of the they were forced to talk homelessness, especially among for Lifetime Achievement, has Alexus helped turn around and revitalize increased, Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), show on WBAI. served in Congress since 1971. He students, is graduated valedictorian move in the homeless shelter. students. The Department the once-blighted Anacostia Errol Louis (NY1 News), of Amel Honoree Sabrina Lamb,offounderEducation announced last year a recipient of The Bronze medal for neighborhood Washington, D.C. and plans to attendinBrooklyn “They’re homeless because Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr. William of World of Money, is a champion helping save soldiers behind enemy A champion of African-American Pollard (Medgar Evers College), College. She dreams to become a the economics, gapfor between of financial the literacy youth-- shethat it is investing $12 million line during the Korean War. economic empowerment Peebles’ is Herm Edwards (NY Jets), Nayaba pediatrician one day. rents and income,” NYC Social into programs that support contemplating a possible run for NYC teaches knowledge about handling Rep. Yvette Clarke is a Democratic Arinde (Amsterdam News), La-Verna Services Commissioner money, budgeting andSteven planning. -students that are in temporary mayor in 2017. member of the US House of Fountain (Columbia University), “I’m just thinking of how far Banks said. housing, including NewRepresentatives York Deputy Mayor Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of from New Lillian Roberts hiring (DC37),school Desiree Dancy Honoree Barbara Arnwine, civil th I’ve come,” Lawrence told ABC based-community coordinators to(Local the nation’s leading educators. He’s York whose 9 district covers (New York Times), Greg Floyd rights lawyer, is a champion of Herminia Palacio much of central Brooklyn. Before 7. “You 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National president of Medgar Evers College have your head down help them. protecting voting rights of ethnic Out of the 1.1 million students entering Congress in 2007, she because Action Network), and many others. of The City University of New minority groups — the emerging it’s shameful; some will be musical entertainment by opera singer Cassandra Douglas and from harmonica phenomenon William Galison. David Dinkins is honored for Lifetime Achievement — he was New York City’s first African American mayor and also welcomed Nelson Mandela to the city after his release in 1990.
“The strength and resilience of these young people is inspiring.”
INSIDE T HIS ISSUE: IS SUE : INSIDE THIS
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BluePage Sky EPIC pg.8LIKE YUH! 7 BAD
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N AT I O N A L
E n t r e p r e n e u r s C e l e b r a t i n g I N D E P E N D E N C E D AY
Entrepreneurship
is the freedom to live a life of independence. America’s entrepreneurs represent our very own independent risk takers. It takes grit and determination start and run a small business. And it takes risk to produce profit. I have learned first-hand as an entrepreneur that taking risk often leads to mistakes, and mistakes always have a cost associated with them. This is where the U.S. Small Business Administration comes in. We want to help celebrate your Independence Day this year by helping you understand how the SBA can reduce your risk as an American entrepreneur. America’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence 243 years ago, but it took more than a decade for that dream to become reality. Small business owners earn that same independence through starting and running their own companies, and the SBA and its partners can help make that dream a reality on a much faster track. Owning a business can mean personal and financial independence for you and your family. If you are thinking of starting a business, you may start the process by placing your ideas into a business plan. A toolkit is available here: https:// www.sba.gov/tools/business-
plan/1. The next step would be to contact your local SBA district office. An SBA team member may help guide you to the next steps, which will vary depending on the type of business you are starting. If you are an existing entrepreneur looking to gain further independence by taking your business to the next level, then the SBA stands by ready
to assist. Whether you are looking for capital or access to government contracting, the SBA has a resource for you. A major component of the SBA that many are not aware of is its counseling arm. No matter where you fall in the business lifecycle, the SBA has a resource to help steer you confidently to the next level. And the best part: it is all available at no
cost. Entrepreneurship is as American as baseball, hot dogs and apple pie. We are excited to celebrate your independence with you as you lead your small business journey. We wish you a very Happy Independence Day. For the latest information, please follow us on Twitter @SBASoutheast.
CORY BOOKER & KAMALA HARRIS Amongst Candidates To Speak At Essence Fest
ESSENCE Communications, Inc.
announced that the 2019 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola will host exclusive keynote conversations with five of the leading Democratic contenders in the 2020 Presidential race, including Senator Cory Booker, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Senator Kamala Harris, Former Representative Beto O’Rourke and Senator Elizabeth Warren. These live ‘Presidential Spotlight’ segments will take place on Saturday, July 6 and Sunday, July 7, 2019 on the ESSENCE Power Stage at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA. Following the candidates’ remarks, a question-and answer session with each will be led by Rev. Al Sharpton, CEO of ESSENCE Michelle Ebanks and founder and chair of Essence Ventures Richelieu Dennis and will be aired on MSNBC’s PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton. Attracting an audience of 500,000-plus attendees over July 4th weekend and a total economic impact of roughly $4 billion over 25 years, the ESSENCE Festival has created a “home” for Black communities as the world’s largest cultural, entertainment and empowerment experience. Beyond its ongoing coverage of key civic
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participation and political news, ESSENCE utilizes its Festival platform to go even deeper in its delivery of engagement and content that informs, enlightens and provides an open forum to discuss the issues of most importance to Black women, who represent a critical voting bloc wielding increased electoral influence. “As we look towards the 2020 Presidential election, the importance of Black women and their decisive role in the pathway to victory is undeniable,” said Michelle Ebanks, Chief Executive Officer of ESSENCE Communications. “We are thrilled to offer an opportunity at our 25th Anniversary ESSENCE Festival for our community to hear directly from some of the top candidates in the 2020 Presidential field as they discuss issues that matter most to our community – and how their individual visions and policies align with those issues. As the largest annual gathering of Black women in the country, the ESSENCE Festival is a powerful platform to engage this critically influential and diverse segment of voters, who have had historically high turnout in recent years. It is more clear today than ever that engaging with Black women in a meaningful way isn’t
optional. It is necessary.” Each candidate will appear individually to outline his or her platform, addressing a live audience from the Power Stage at the ESSENCE Festival’s daytime experience. Candidates will then field questions generated directly from the ESSENCE community, which includes more than 24 million Black women. The ‘Presidential Spotlight’ segments will take place throughout the day, with each candidate appearing for 20 minutes:
Satur day, July 6 :
Kamala Harris at 11:18am – 11:38am CT Cory Booker at 1:05pm – 1:25pm CT Elizabeth Warren at 2:52pm –
July 4, 2019 - July 10, 2019
3:12pm CT Beto O’Rourke at 4:04pm – 4:24pm CT
S u n day, J u ly 7 :
Pete Buttigieg at 11:00am – 11:20am CT Attendance is free and open to the public at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. For more information, download the ESSENCE Festival app or visit essence.com/ festival. The ESSENCE Festival is sponsored by Coca-Cola, AT&T, Disney, Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm and Walmart. The ESSENCE Festival is produced by ESSENCE Communications, Inc.
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NEWS
N AT I O N A L M I N O R I T Y S U P P L I E R C O U N C I L N A M E S N E W C H A I R M A N
Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall has been elected
Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). She was elected to a new two-year term during the board’s spring meeting in New York on May 17. LewisHall is currently Chief Patient Officer and Executive Vice President of Pfizer, Inc. “It’s an honor to be elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council. I’ve long admired NMSDC’s work to certify, develop, connect, and advocate for minority businesses, and I look forward to continuing its mission supporting industries and corporations to embrace diversity,” said Dr. Freda LewisHall. During her 35-year career in medicine, Lewis-Hall has been on the frontlines of health care as a clinician, a researcher, and a leader in the biopharmaceuticals and life sciences industries. The common thread throughout has been her passion to advocate for health equity and improved outcomes for all patients.
“I am thrilled to welcome Dr. Freda LewisHall as our board chair,” Adrienne Trimble, President and CEO of NMSDC, said. “She brings extensive experience developing programs and initiatives to address barriers in communities of color. I’m sure she will bring that same passion to advance the inclusion of entrepreneurs of color in the corporate supply chaiqssn. I look forward to her leadership in steering the NMSDC Board of Directors in supporting the mission and strategic direction of our organization.”
“It’s an honor to be elected Chair of the Board of Directors for the National Minority Supplier Development Council.” Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall Before joining Pfizer in 2009, Lewis-Hall held senior leadership positions with Vertex, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Pharmacia, and Eli Lilly and Company. Prior to joining the biopharmaceuticals and life sciences industries, she served as Vice Chairperson
FRESH AIR FUND
SENDS KIDS TO LONG ISLAND The Nassau County, NY Committee will be welcoming 9 New York City children as they arrive in Hicksville on 7/6/2019. Volunteer host families share their summers for one week or more with Fresh Air children, ages seven to 18. A Fresh Air summer means running barefoot in the backyard, riding bikes down country roads, learning to swim, catching fireflies, building sandcastles on the beach, making new friends, and having a lot of fun. Some children are leaving home for the first time, while others are returning to visit the same host families for consecutive summers.
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health-related television programs in major global markets, including The Doctors and Dr. Phil. She also shares health and medical information through GetHealthyStayHealthy. com. She currently serves on numerous boards including SpringWorks Therapeutics, Dell Medical School, Harvard Medical School, FasterCures, the Foundation for the NIH, and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute.
New York City children will arrive in Hicksville to spend one or two weeks with volunteer host families in New Hyde Park, East Norwich, Port Washington, Farmingdale, Jericho, Wantagh, West Hempstead, Greenvale, and Seaford The Fresh Air Fund, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer experiences to more than 1.8 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Each summer, thousands of children visit volunteer host families along the East Coast and Southern Canada. For more information, visit www.FreshAir.org.
and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Howard University College of Medicine and was an advisor to the National Institute of Mental Health. Lewis-Hall graduated from Johns Hopkins University and earned her medical doctorate at Howard University College of Medicine. Dr. Freda Lewis-Hall appears regularly on
NMSDC advances business opportunities for certified minority business enterprises and connects them to corporate members. To meet the growing need for supplier diversity, NMSDC matches its more than 12,000 certified minority-owned businesses to our network of more than 1,750 corporate members who wish to purchase their products, services and solutions. NMSDC, a unique and specialized player in the field of minority business enterprise, is proud of its unwavering commitment to advance Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Native American suppliers in a globalized corporate supply chain.
HSBC Bank Donate s To Nation’s First
AFRICAN AMERICAN VETERANS MONUMENT HSBC Bank USA, N.A., (HSBC) today announced a $50,000 grant to the African American Veterans Monument, the nation’s first-ever memorial dedicated solely to honoring the military service of AfricanAmerican veterans and service members. “African Americans have fought for their country in every military conflict since the Revolutionary War, and too often their contributions are underappreciated, as are the hardships they faced,” said Jennifer Stryrbel, Chief Operations Officer, HSBC USA. “Their bravery and sacrifice deserve a national memorial, and HSBC is honored to support the construction of such a memorial in Buffalo where so many HSBC employees and customers live and work.”
“African Americans have fought for their country in every military conflict since the Revolutionary War, and too often their contributions are underappreciated, as are the hardships they faced.” Jennifer Stryrbel, CEO, HSBC USA. Construction of the African American Veterans Monument will begin this summer at a waterfront site in the Buffalo & Erie County Naval and Military Park. The design symbolizes the contributions of African Americans who have served or are currently serving in all five branches of the military, during war and in times of peace. When completed, a dozen 10-foot-tall black concrete pillars will represent each of the country’s military conflicts. The spacing between the pillars represent peacetimes between each war. “The committee has worked tirelessly to develop the plans for the African American Veterans Monument and in two years, we have nearly reached our goals,” said Crystal Peoples-Stokes, Majority Leader of the New York State Assembly and spearhead of the initiative. “This donation from HSBC is a huge step in closing the gap and will allow us to begin construction this summer. We urge the community and both private and public sectors to support its completion, as
July 4, 2019 - July 10, 2019
we are so close to the finish line.” Since 2016, the African American Veterans Monument Committee has been raising funds for this first-of-its-kind monument. Today’s news brings the fundraising total to more than $1.44 million, 93 per cent of the total needed. The Monument is on track to open to the public by Memorial Day in May 2020. Contributions to honor an individual veteran are available through the purchase of an engraved brick paver that will line the walkways of the monument for $250. Additional information on the African American Veterans Monument can be found at AAVMWNY.org or by calling (716) 800-1137. HSBC Bank USA, National Association (HSBC Bank USA, N.A.) serves customers through retail banking and wealth management, commercial banking, private banking, and global banking and markets segments. It operates bank branches in: California; Connecticut; Washington, D.C.; Florida; Maryland; New Jersey; New York; Pennsylvania; Virginia; and Washington. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. is the principal subsidiary of HSBC USA Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of HSBC North America Holdings Inc. HSBC Bank USA, N.A. is a Member of FDIC. Investment and brokerage services are provided through HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., (Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC) and insurance products are provided through HSBC Insurance Agency (USA) Inc. HSBC Holdings plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The Group serves customers worldwide across 66 countries and territories in Europe, Asia, North and Latin America, and the Middle East and North Africa. With assets of $2,659bn at 31 March 2019, HSBC is one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organizations.
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P O L I T I C A L C O M M E N TA R Y
Searching For A Pasttime Paradise To Win? By Justin A. Williams Political Editor
When I was a high school senior, I dedicated myself to exploring music from bygone eras. I had heard from the older members of my family that the music of the 80’s, 70’s, 60’s and older was just so much better than the music of today. With its more violent and materialistic content, with its lack of political or consciousness expanding awareness and with vocal performances that seem inorganic and manipulated, the music of today, to my family and to a wide swath of revisionist and nostalgic critics of the early 2000’s, was simply a falling away from the good ole days. Like a rat after cheese I went through every album I could find, I adopted the look of a Led Zeppelin fan, the lingo of a Eugene Wilde fan and the political machinations of as many 60’s hippie bands as possible. I thought I was doing my family proud, I thought I was becoming a better person and most of all I thought I was doing something useful for the modern man in me. But the past is prologue for a reason, it's always cherished and seen with rose colored glasses. People who couldn’t give two cents to listen to the Rolling Stones are now somehow their biggest fans, people who would never go to woodstock now pine for its innocence and people who couldn’t name one member of the Eagles obsess over their unfortunate breakup. This is all to say that people, myself included, have a problem with a pastime paradise and you don’t have to look any further than this past week's political news to see that a prominent 2020 presidential candidate is at the center of controversy because of it. So if we are choosing a candidate, let's choose one that reminds us of that, of the hard won victories and who stands against evil men; unless we want to see the past turn the present into anything but a paradise.
A pastime paradise evokes Stevie Wonder, who titled his classic song with those two words. His message: most people spend their lives looking and living backwards because its finite and can be manipulated however we wish it to be. Joe Biden this week manipulated a scary past in which Segregationists, a legislative party that was a de facto wing of the old southern democrats/ dixiecrat party that hoped for the end of the negro race and oppossed any and all civil rights legilsation. Biden mentioned how he used to work with James O. Eastland of Mississippi and Herman Talmadge of Georgia, two high ranking members of Congress. Now Joe states plainly that he disagreed with them about almost everything, but that he appreciated the civility they displayed when they simply had to work together. These two men, who would give no quarter to an entire race of their changing America, horrible in their disposition and fear mongering in the tongue, O well, at least despite their dangerous and hateful policies they were civil to a fellow white man. Now I get it, Joe often makes gaffs that show he’s out of touch and these comments reveal a man who because of his whiteness can appreciate an enemy who looks like him. But for many, comparing the past in this way to a present in which, to Joe, the republican party is so uncivil that democrats cannot find a way to work with them with civility is stating that somehow republicans, all of whom admittedly problematic in their policy positions, are somehow worse to deal with than two pastime paradise men who pined for a pre-civil war America. No Joe, as much as Congress has transformed into a place for postering before a media that is so vindictive and vigilant that comradery seems like treachery and cooperation across the aisle seems more like a risk of bad press than a good idea and yes I understand that Joe is a member of a great multitude of people his age and who lived before him who said the past
was a place for two to become one in a way the present can never be, still I lament his comments. But not because I think Joe didn't know any better, because Joe certainly does. No I lament them because people are acting as if seemingly everyone isn’t guilty of the same pastime paradise foraging. Republicans constantly forage through the past for the glory days, for a junkyard of values, policies and tid bits to justify themselves currently and critique the present, what do you think Make America Great Again even means? In fact that was a slogan from a Ronald Reagan Campaign. Republicans have jumped on a Trumpian train heading straight back to 1950, a time that Candace Owens and other black conservatives can enlighten us about how surprisingly good they were for blacks, even though blacks who lived through those times say the exact opposite. It's a time when whites who were born in the 1980’s remark as a white picket fence and cool glass of lemonade on the porch type of America that won two world wars and was right for being in Vietnam, that was stopping communism and treating blacks better than anywhere else in the world, that was segregated but surely equal , at least equal enough, right? The problem with the pastime paradise thinking is that its a human thing, not a republican or democratic thing. Adults pine for college when their midlife crisis hits harder than their sons or daughters can hit a preschool soccer ball. Teenagers pine for childhood cartoons and recess when the SAT or ACT hits harder than a bad case of
acne. Politicians pine for days of civility when they want to remove the guilt from their record as modern critics dissect everyone they've ever worked for or worked with. Its revisionism and it's not going anywhere. We are a memory making race and many memories require revisionism simply because, well, we don’t remember them enough/ correctly. But Joe’s lack of care for how it would sound to laud any aspect of two politicians who wanted to manipulate the federal government to utterly crush all blacks is an example of Biden being far to comfortable being in the leader in the polls for the democratic nomination. It's a mistake that comes with leeway, and a long rope called forgiveness that Joe thinks he has since people love him more for his electability in a world where Trump must be beaten no matter what than they will be inclined to choose to support Sen. Sanders or Sen. Harris or any of the other 21 candidates on the democratic side. But I urge you to read this article, to consider why the past does sometimes deserve our nostalgia. Great deeds were done in spite of the two segregationists Biden so extols, this country began to live up to its lofty promises and ideals, finally, up from slavery came a black lead movement that moved the hearts, mind, money and policy of whites for the sake of good. So if we are choosing a candidate, let's choose one that reminds us of that, of the hard won victories and who stands against evil men; unless we want to see the past turn the present into anything but a paradise.
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Happy. Healthy. Loved. These are the dreams we have for our children. So we cherish the moments when little giggles fill the room, imaginations take us on great adventures, and when it seems our hearts could burst with pride and love. Here and now, we’d stop time if we could. Because when kids are being kids, we all feel better.
Let’s get every child covered. If your child needs health insurance, Fidelis Care is just a call, click, or visit away.
Call: 1-888-FIDELIS Click: fideliscare.org/everychildcovered Visit: A Fidelis Care community office near you. Search for locations at fideliscare.org/offices
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TTY: 711
To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Medicaid, Child Health Plus, Essential Plan, and Qualified Health Plans through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777.
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ENTER TAINMENT P &G A d d r e s s e s R a c i a l B i a s W i t h N e w F i l m “ T H E L O O K ” Continuing the conversation from its Emmy Award-winning film “The Talk,” Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG) today released a new film designed to spark reflection and conversation on racial bias and inequality. Titled “The Look,” the film highlights bias as experienced by many Black men in America and is available beginning today together with educational resources at www. talkaboutbias.com. “The Look,” a film highlighting bias as experienced by many Black men in America, is available beginning today together with educational resources at www.talkaboutbias. com. “We want to live in a world that is equal and inclusive – in race, gender, ethnicity, sexual identity, ability, religion and age – but the reality is, it’s not fully equal or inclusive and one of the core reasons is bias,” said Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer, and Procter & Gamble. “Empathy can be a particularly effective antidote to bias, and we created ‘The Look’ to change perspectives, prompt personal introspection, and bring people together for a conversation to ultimately change hearts and minds.” “The Look” follows a Black man throughout his day as he encounters a variety of ‘looks’ that symbolize a barrier to acceptance. In the film, the windows of a passing car are raised after his son waves to a young girl in the back seat, occupants of an elevator seem to shut him out as he approaches and workers in a department store watch him with suspicion as he shops. For each scene, historical records and contemporary stories are provided at www.talkaboutbias.com to spark discussion and understanding on how these small ‘looks’, whether intentional or not, can have a potentially bigger impact. The film ends with the line ‘Let’s talk about the look so we can see beyond it.” “ W e w a n t t o l i v e i n a w o r l d
t h at i s e q u a l a n d i n c l u s i v e – i n r a c e , g e n d e r , e t h n i c i t y, s e x u a l i d e n t i t y, a b i l i t y, religion and age – but the r e a l i t y i s , i t ’ s n o t f u l ly equal or inclusive and one of the core reasons is bias.” - MARC PRITCHARD
CHIEF BRAND OFFICER PROCTER & GAMBLE.
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“We believe we have a responsibility to use our voice in advertising as a force for good by addressing issues like bias. As it has already done for so many who have seen ‘The Look’, we hope this film leads to constructive conversation, understanding and positive action,” Pritchard added. The film and website were produced in collaboration with SATURDAY MORNING, a creative collective founded by executives in the advertising industry who came together to create ideas that bring awareness to and shift perceptions
norms. ‘The Look’ is designed to constructively challenge people to look beyond what they think they see,” said Damon Jones, Vice President, Global Communications and Advocacy, Procter & Gamble. “Beyond highlighting bias, this film also celebrates the strength, humanity and resilience of Black men who are thriving amidst many obstacles. It is one part of a comprehensive effort that will help address individual and institutionalized bias to create meaningful change.”
“The Look” was shot by a deliberately diverse leadership-duo, Director Anthony Mandler of Stink Films with Malik Sayeed as Director of Photography, and is launching as part of an integrated campaign at www.talkaboutbias.com. It will be followed by a series of nationwide community conversations, individual and classroom educational resources and reading guides, informative and inspirational podcasts, virtual reality extensions and ongoing digital and social media activities through the end of 2019. This program is designed to
“The Look,” a film highlighting bias as experienced by many Black men in America, is a v a i l a b l e b e g i n n i n g t o d ay t o g e t h e r w i t h e d u c at i o n a l r e s o u r c e s at w w w .ta l k a b o u t b i a s . c o m . ( P h o t o : B u s i n e s s W i r e ) on racial bias and injustice. “The story of ‘The Look’ is based in the real-world experience of thousands of Black men across the country who experience bias in different ways, big and small, every day. This film is an opportunity for the world to see – and feel – what it’s like to walk in their shoes,” said Kwame Taylor-Hayford, a cofounder of SATURDAY MORNING. “Partnering with companies like P&G on thought-provoking and authentic work like ‘The Look’ will lead to deeper and richer conversation that will inspire change.” “Bias is part of the human condition, something we all have and something we all experience. It is most frequently unconscious, formed by generations of social
Over the past year, P&G partnered with BET Networks on a comprehensive study of Black men, called Black Men Revealed, highlighting compelling data on prevailing narratives in media and entertainment, including those on parental involvement, relationship status and economic pursuits. Insights from this study are being shared with groups across the country to enable more accurate, positive portrayals of Black men in film, television and news – all key factors in addressing the underlying bias in society.
The film premiered last week at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in France and BET Networks’ inaugural social impact conference, META Convened by BET Networks in Los Angeles.
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go beyond simple awareness and equip and enable individuals and communities with tools to create lasting, substantive change. P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.
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ENTER TAINMENT PROFILE Iconic Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, actress and philanthropist, Mary J. Blige is a figure of inspiration, transformation and empowerment making her one of the defining voices of the contemporary music era. With a track record of eight multi-platinum albums, nine Grammy Awards (plus a staggering 32 nominations), a 2012 Golden Globe nomination, and five American Music Awards, Blige is a global superstar. In the ensuing years, the singer/songwriter has attracted an intensely loyal fan base—responsible for propelling worldwide sales of more than 50 million albums. Born in the Bronx, New York, Blige began moving people with her soulful voice when at 18 she signed with Andre Harrell’s Uptown Records in 1989, becoming the MCA-distributed label’s youngest and first female artist. Influenced at an early age by the music of Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan and Gladys Knight, Blige brought her own gritty, urban-rooted style—fusing hip-hop, soul and honest, frank lyrics—to the forefront on her 1992 debut album What’s the 411? The multi-platinum set, executive produced by Sean “Diddy” Combs, quickly spun off several hits, including two R&B No. 1s: You Remind Me and
……MARY J. BLIGE
Real Love. Blige helped redefine R&B and began forging a unique niche for herself on the more personal second album, 1994’s My Life. Blige is an artist that uses her gift of song to lift spirits and touch lives while bringing her heart, soul and truth to those who are willing to listen. She is loved for her passionate, chart-topping hits like “Be Without You”, “No More Drama” and “Family Affair” all of which have made her a force in music. In October 2013, Blige for Matriarch Records/Verve Records/Interscope Records released her first-ever holiday album titled, A Mary Christmas in collaboration with legendary producer, David Foster. Blige’s holiday album features her soulful interpretation of classic holiday tunes including Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, and The Christmas Song. Blige is joined by a number of A-list guests, such as Barbra Streisand, and duets with Jessie J, The Clark Sisters and Spanish collaboration with Mark Anthony. Blige, who co-penned I Can See in Color for 2009’s Precious soundtrack, has branched out into acting. She appeared in Tyler Perry’s
dramatic comedy, I Can Do Bad All By Myself in 2009 and starred in Rock of Ages, alongside Tom Cruise, Alec Baldwin and Russel Brand in 2012. Taking on a more dramatic role, in 2013, she starred as Betty Shabazz in the TV movie Betty & Coretta, a biographical story about the widows of Malcom X and Martin Luther King Jr. Then in November 2013 Mary J. Blige starred as the mysterious guardian angel “Platinum Fro,” in the holiday musical film drama Black Nativity. Ramping up her acting career, Blige has guest-starred on the ABC comedy, Black-ish and the FOX musical drama Empire and most recently, starred as
Evillene, the Wicked Witch of the West on the NBC musical, The Wiz LIVE! In 2014, Blige released her 13th studio album, The London Sessions, which reached the No.1 position on the Top R&B Albums chart and included a behind-the-scene documentary of her recording sessions that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2015. Blige is close to completing her 14th studio album and recently finished The King and Queen of Hearts World Tour with Maxwell. The 24-date tour, produced by Live Nation took Mary to cities throughout Europe and the U.S. Source: www.maryjblige.com. ©2019 New York Lottery
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ENTER TAINMENT
“TWISTED MELODIES” Tells Donny Hathaway Life Story The Apollo Theater graciously asked me to come and review a play they are featuring entitled “Twisted Melodies” about the life of Donny Hathaway. Hathaway was a musical genius plagued by mental illness in the form of paranoid schizophrenia. His diagnosis was severe and medicine only served to exacerbate the illness. In fact it retarded him, taking him on a journey of frenzied highs and devastating lows. The causes of schizophrenia are complicated and still being researched. There is some thought that heredity may play a role. Research does show that genetics may deem who is more likely to develop schizophrenia or other similar mental illnesses that produce hallucinations or cause the sufferer to separate from reality. A viral illness in childhood could affect the way the brain developed. Also, the brain’s neurotransmitters, which are the key to nerve cell communication may have caused some sort of imbalance with communication within the brain. Drug use, as well as lack of oxygen to the brain are also factors that could lead to schizophrenia. Harlem’s Apollo Theater premiered this one-man play under the directorship of Derrick Sanders, the lighting of Alan C. Edwards and the marvelous stage design of Courtney O’Neill. “Twisted Melodies,” written by and starring brilliant singer and performer Kelvin Roston, Jr., imagined the final
days of Donny Hathaway. Kelvin was outstanding in the role, masterfully bringing to life the tormented soul of Donny Hathaway whose life and career was plagued with bouts of paranoid schizophrenia. Kelvin took the viewer inside the world of Donny Hathaway. He made you feel Donny and even sympathize with his plight as Donny tried to put together the jumbled pieces of his life. Haunted by paranoia, voices, noises, high pitched frequencies, apparitions, shadows and ghosts locked in his mind, schizophrenia played havoc on Hathaway’s life, marriage, friendships and career which were often at a crossroad. Mr. Roston takes the viewer through Hathaway’s early beginnings in gospel and later jazz, blues, and soul, and via character building episodes with his grandmother. He sang the hits Donny had with Roberta Flack “The Closer I Get to You” and “Where is the Love?" which won them a Grammy in 1973. Hathaway’s hits included “This Christmas,” “Someday We’ll All Be Free” and “A Song for You.” Donny was both an arranger and studio musician for artists such as Aretha Franklin, Curtis Mayfield, and the Staples Singers. Roston was so masterful in his control of the stage, he began a song that so moved the men in the audience they became his impromptu backup singers. Their bass voices harmonizing so beautifully you felt like you were being
MOVIE REVIEW: MA
G et h o m e saf e w i t h Ma . Image used from slashfilm.com
Octavia Spencer has had a very interesting career. After winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2012, she has gone on to star in many high profile
films such as Snowpiercer, Hidden Figures, Zootopia and The Shape of Water. But before she was such a high profile actress, Octavia Spencer mostly worked smaller roles in films most notably in horror. She had small, even barely noticeable roles in Pulse, Drag Me To Hell and Rob Zombie’s Halloween II, the latter being only a decade ago. Things have changed so quickly for the talented actress. Now Spencer returns to the horror genre this time as the main star and villain in the titular Ma. Will her foray into horror villain be successful, or should Spencer have stayed away? The story for Ma is like the character’s
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false nature: it only wants to play it safe. The story follows Maggie, a teenager who has moved with her mother back to her old home town. She quickly makes friends and in an attempt to get alcohol befriend a woman named Sue Ann who is incredibly generous and kind to them, so much so
that she offers to open up her basement as a place for them to drink and party. Soon Sue Ann’s home becomes the local hang out for all the high school students and she earns the nickname Ma. However after a few disturbing events the kids begin to move further away from Sue Ann which ends up making her more and more dangerous. On the surface Ma comes off as a simple stalker film and unfortunately for the film and us it mostly is. Things start off rather slow with the kids and Sue Ann getting to know each other more and more, it honestly begins more like a drama then a horror film. But once it becomes clear that something is wrong with Sue Ann things begin begins to steadily spiral into
taken to church. In fact, these audience members were so incredible they could have auditioned for the Apollo Talent Night and all won. Like a choir director, Roston never flinched. Leading the men on as if it were the most natural thing for the audience to become part of the play. It was a remarkable! I was so impressed by this outstanding performance of a man who both suffered for and had great joy in his art. I encourage people to get their tickets since the play has a limited engagement. It runs from Thursday, May 30 to Sunday June 2nd. The Thursday and Friday shows are at 8:00 pm and the Saturday, June 1st show is at 3:00 and 8:00 pm. The play ends Sunday, June 2nd, with a 3:00 performance.
By Jonathan Gonzalez a horror film. Honestly the pacing is quite good allowing us time to get to know the characters and establish the relationship with Sue Ann and the others. Be that as it may once the film finally forms into a horror film things become rather generic and even predictable. Sure it’s still a well made horror film with some decently tense moments and the third act itself is very exciting and makes for a very good, grand finale but it really does feel like “been there, done that” and in a time when horror films are better, smarter and more creative then they’ve been in years and especially coming from the auteurs at Blumhouse I expected so much more. The story does have potential and even lightly touches on some interesting ideas. Unfortunately it doesn’t try to go for that potential, those “lightly touched ideas” come far too late.
The characters for Ma are mostly forgettable Sue Ann is a very good horror villain. Her initial kind and generous demeanor does a good job of masking her true self and even threw myself off guard for a moment. Despite her height and age she still manages to be an incredibly intimidating and imposing character in her moments of rage and in her quieter moments such as her manipulating the kids are rather unsettling. But Sue Ann is far more then a villain meant to be feared, in fact Sue Ann is one of the most sympathetic villains I’ve seen in a very long time. Throughout
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Donny Hathaway fell from the window of his 15th floor room at New York’s’ Essex House Hotel on January 13, 1979. He was 33. Given the hell he went through it would not be inconceivable that Donny committed suicide as ruled by the coroner. However, many of his family and friends suggest it was simply an accident. Tickets for Twisted Melodies are available now at the Apollo Theater Box Office. Located at 253 West 125th St in Manhattan. Call: (212) 531-5305, and/ or Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or online at www.ticketmaster.com. Go see “Twisted Melodies,” it is truly a great Apollo offering. I highly recommend it.
the film there are flashbacks of Sue Ann as a teenager and what sent her on the path to becoming who she is. While I feel they could have gone further and more grim with these flashbacks they still do an excellent job of framing the character. It isn’t long before you learn why she clings to these kids, why she has violent out bursts and before you know it you actually find yourself rooting for her from time to time. The only flaw in her character is that the writers wanted to make Sue Ann a victim of racism, seeing that she’s lived her life in a predominately white, Podunk town but it only comes into play in the last ten minutes and as such doesn’t work which is a shame because it only would have made the sad, tragic story of Sue Ann even stronger and herself even more of a likable character. That being said I would honestly love to see Sue Ann in another film. If the likes of Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and The Stepfather could find ways to come back surely Sue Ann as an idea or two up her sleeve. Maggie is an OK character. She’s more a typical horror movie hero: selfless, noble, wants to help everyone, etc, etc. She isn’t bad but she is bland, I honestly had to wrack my brains to think of anything to talk about her character but I keep coming up with nothing. The remaining cast of characters aren’t even worth mentioning. They exist to take up space and that’s about it. Heck, calling them paper thin would actually be giving them too much depth. There were far too
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HE ALTH
HEALTH DEPARTMENT LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO PREVENT OVERDOSE
The Health Department has launched a campaign in bars and nightclubs in Brooklyn to inform New Yorkers that fentanyl – an opioid 30 to 50 times more potent than heroin – has been detected in the cocaine supply. People who use cocaine, even occasionally, may be at risk of an opioid overdose. Health Department staff will visit bars and nightclubs in Williamsburg and Bushwick to offer coasters and posters that inform patrons that cocaine may contain fentanyl. All venues will be offered naloxone – the medication to reverse an opioid overdose – to keep on premises with first aid supplies, as well as training and kits for
& Restaurants, and House of Yes for their enthusiastic support of this initiative.” “Safety is always of the utmost importance when New Yorkers are enjoying a night out. This awareness campaign recognizes that nightlife spaces can actually provide an opportunity for people to look out for each other,” said Ariel Palitz, Senior Executive Director of the Office of Nightlife. “The Office of Nightlife is proud to stand with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in taking a harm reduction approach to the public health challenges posed by fentanyl, and we are pleased to see such strong commitment and
all interested staff. In 2016 and 2017, fentanyl was found in 37 and 39 percent of overdose deaths involving cocaine without heroin, up from 11 percent in 2015. This suggests that some people who died from overdoses involving cocaine and fentanyl may not have intended to consume opioids. North Brooklyn was selected for the campaign because of its high density of bars and nightclubs and status as a nightlife destination for New Yorkers citywide. The Health Department is working with Brooklyn Allied Bars & Restaurants (BABAR) to reach bar and nightclub owners as well as staff. This campaign is an expansion of a pilot on the Lower East Side in May and June 2018. “We want people who use cocaine occasionally to know that fentanyl may be mixed into cocaine and may increase their risk of an overdose,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “Bars and nightclubs are an important avenue to reach people who use drugs with potentially lifesaving information. We need people who use cocaine to know that they should use with other people, so someone can call 911 in case of an overdose, and always carry naloxone. We are grateful to the Mayor’s Office of Nightlife, Brooklyn Allied Bars
partnership from the nightlife community in Brooklyn and all boroughs in this effort.” “We are thankful for this opportunity to partner with the Department of Health on this important campaign,” said David Rosen, Co-Founder of Brooklyn Allied Bars and Restaurants (BABAR). “The Department of Health should be commended for their proactive research, campaign development, and outreach efforts. Over the past several years, BABAR has worked on various patron safety initiatives, so we understand and value the role our nightlife community can play in keeping our city safe.”
Fentanyl was detected in 39 percent of cocaine-involved overdose deaths without heroin in 2017, up from 11 percent in 2015.
“House of Yes is excited to partner with the Department of Health on this vitally important initiative,” said Jacqui Rabkin, Marketing & Cultural Director at House of Yes. “At House of Yes, we are quickly earning a reputation as a ‘club with causes’ for using our platform to elevate conversations around consent culture,
environmental sustainability, queer and feminist issues, and safer spaces. It is therefore a no-brainer for us to support this outreach campaign that will help educate cocaine users about the dangers of fentanyl contamination, and increase naloxone training for nightlife providers. We look forward to working closely with the Department of Health to keep our community safe.” “The Health Department’s campaign is the embodiment of a person-centered, harm reduction approach to overdose prevention. In recognition of the reality that people may be more inclined to experiment with cocaine at nightclubs, DOH has tailored a judgment-free plan designed to reach this potentially at-risk community. Education is crucial in preventing overdose. Once again, I commend DOHMH, and hope other cities will take note,” said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal (D/WF-Manhattan), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse. “We know that fentanyl is 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin and the likelihood of overdose is even greater when fentanyl is present. That’s why I’m pleased to hear that the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will be visiting local bars and nightclubs in Williamsburg and Bushwick to raise awareness about fentanyl and ensure that venues are equipped with naloxone – the medication used to reverse an overdose – and first aid supplies in the event of an overdose,” said Council Member Stephen Levin. “We need to ensure that people who use are well informed of the risk of potentially having fentanyl in their supply. We know there are ways to prevent people from overdosing and this is a positive step forward in addressing this serious epidemic.” In New York City, someone dies of a drug overdose every six hours. In 2017, there were 1,487 confirmed overdose deaths. Opioids were involved in 82% of New York City overdose deaths last year, and the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl was the most common drug, involved in 57% of deaths. From January to September 2018, there were 1,055 confirmed overdose deaths. Drug overdose death remains
at epidemic levels in New York City as illicitly manufactured fentanyl continued to be present in the drug supply. Fentanyl has been found in heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and ketamine, as well as in benzodiazepines and opioid painkillers acquired from non-pharmaceutical sources. Opioid overdose deaths are preventable, and naloxone is available to all New Yorkers who need it: All major chain pharmacies (Walgreens, Duane Reade, Rite Aid and CVS) and nearly 500 independent pharmacies in New York City now offer naloxone without a patientspecific prescription. New York State will cover co-payments of up to $40. Naloxone is available for free from registered Opioid Overdose Prevention programs, including syringe service programs. The Health Department also offers regular naloxone trainings at its main office in Queens and Tremont Neighborhood Action Center in the Bronx; trainings teach New Yorkers to recognize the signs of an overdose and respond by calling 911 and administering naloxone. The trainings are free, and all participants are offered a free naloxone kit. New Yorkers can download the Health Department’s free mobile app, “Stop OD NYC,” to learn how to recognize and reverse an overdose with naloxone. The app also links individuals to nearby community-based programs and pharmacies where naloxone is available without a prescription. Treatment with methadone or buprenorphine is highly effective for opioid addiction and can reduce the risk of overdose. Individuals seeking support or treatment for substance use issues for themselves or their loved ones can contact NYC Well by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL, texting “WELL” to 65173 or going to nyc. gov/nycwell. Free, confidential support is available at any hour of the day in over 200 languages. If you witness an overdose, call 911 immediately.
T I P S F o r S TAY I N G H E A LT H Y I n S U M M E R By Kit Rich Fitness Expert Summer has always equaled playtime which is when you want to look and feel your best. Celebrity fitness trainer and creator of KICHGO, Kit Rich, gives five helpful tips to stick by this summer. We all know that taking care of yourself is important, but taking extra care of yourself is crucial during the summer’s warmer months. TIP #1 : WORKOUT IN THE MORNING Working out in the morning sets the tone for the day. After all, we have more hours of sunlight so check off the “workout” box early so you can enjoy the rest of your day! It also keeps you from over indulging as you want to continue feeling good and tend to not overdo it.
You should sweat 30 minutes 6 days per week. On the 7th day, do 30 minutes of
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light stretching or walking. It’s important not to do a full body workout every single day because you don’t want to over train. Whether you are traveling or are home for the summer, KICHGO makes it easy to workout. Better known as the big gym in a little bag that weighs less than 2 pounds (equal to 2 cans of soup!), it contains 11 tried and true items including resistance bands, handles, ankle straps, dual-sided sliders, door anchor, inflatable Pilates ball, and jump rope. Videos curated by Kit are included and range from 5-30 minutes. TIP #2 : WATCH SALT INTAKE It’s important to watch your salt intake, especially during the summer, to prevent excess bloating and water weight. Increasing your potassium intake after a salty meal can also help push out excess sodium. Foods
you should gravitate towards include bananas, spinach, tomatoes, and oranges. Remember eat foods in their most natural state and avoid highly processed. TIP #3 : HYDRATE Make sure you drink enough water—8 glasses per day. Summer heat is often harsh which can affect your skin and it’s a great way to help your body flush out waste through sweat. Piggy backing off tip #2, if you do feel bloated, drink more water as it flushes out the salt.
For those who don’t enjoy drinking water, add a squeeze of lemon or a splash of cranberry juice (unsweetened). Both have health benefits and help flush your system. Tip #4 : TAKE VITAMINS It’s so important to take vitamins and stay healthy all year long, but if you need
July 4, 2019 - July 10, 2019
an excuse to get started, summer is a great one. Taking vitamins can reduce the risk of skin damage—Vitamins C, E, A and D. To keep your skin glowing, Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Skin Food and Hum Glow Sweet Glow are great. TIP #5 : OPT FOR A SPRAY TAN This one may seem silly but it will make you feel better! Being tan also tricks the eye to make you look thinner, not to mention it’s a much healthier option than baking in the sun. If you would like to speak with Kit Rich or would like additional tips specific to your audience, please contact Brooke Cockrell at brooke@creativepitchgroup. com or 818.209.3800. For more information on KICHGO visit www. kichgo.com. For more information on Kit Rich visit www.kitrich.com.
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TECH NOLOGY LIFE Camp’s FIRST-EVER MOBILE TRAUMA UNIT Came To Barclay Center June was Gun Violence Awareness month, and on Friday, June 28th, LIFE Camp’s first-ever Mobile Trauma Unit hit the streets of Brooklyn, NY in front of the Barclay's center near Dean street entrance. Violence Intervention & Prevention Specialists, (VIPS), neighborhood resources, and a genuine love for people, this vehicle was designed to help transform communities by bringing therapeutic wellness services, conflict resolution and mediation training, and healing techniques to areas that have suffered from trauma and stress caused by gun-violence. Erica Ford has served the community for over 31 years;
awarded 2018 MCsilver Awards from NYU and The Culture Creators Awards 2018. Most recently seen on Angie Martinez show and The Breakfast Club expressing her passion for providing a peace haven for any youth that experiences gun violence in their community. The unveiling of the brightly-colored RV sparked a much need conversation around addressing gun-violence as both a public health and safety issue. It’s been nearly 15 years and lots of hard work since the idea of a mobile trauma unit was conceived. Nonetheless, LIFE Camp’s CEO and Founder Erica Ford remains determined to promote
and normalize peace throughout the community. “Hurt People, Hurt People, but Healed People, Heal People”
says Erica. “When we lead with love, we all become more self-aware. This self-awareness leads to compassion.
Compassion leads to Peace”. The organization offers programs and other holistic approaches to reinforce self-esteem and respect for life among one another while connecting and mobilizing youth to prevent and heal from violence in New York City’s most underserved communities. As co-creators of New York City’s Crisis Management System, there have been 0% shootings in LIFE Camp’s catchment areas where VIPS are deployed, and this system is directly responsible for a 15% overall decrease in shootings in New York City, with as much as an 80% decrease in individual service areas.
FL511 MOBILE APP a d d s n e w f e at u r e s
New features have been added to the FL511 Mobile App. These features are available on the updated app: Camera images have been added to the map (and can be enabled in the settings). Message signs have been added to the map (and can be enabled in the settings). There is a second nearby camera image to incidents, where available. A new icon has been added for congestion incidents. The user can toggle between low and high accuracy location data (higher accuracy or reduced power consumption). The incidents list is now sorted based on proximity. The truck parking facilities list is now sorted based on proximity. The FL511 Mobile App is a component of the Florida 511 (FL511) Advanced Traveler Information System (ATIS), which provides real-time information on crashes, congestion, construction and
closures on all of Florida’s interstates, toll roads and major metropolitan roadways. The goal is to increase safety and reduce travel time on Florida roads. The mobile app has been available for Apple and Android devices since 2012. It underwent a significant update in 2018 and early 2019 in response to today’s rapidly changing technology. The app was updated again on May 31st on Google Play and on June 4th on the Apple App store to add these features. Additional system components include a website in English and Spanish, Twitter feeds, Facebook and Instagram pages, and others to improve the safety on Florida roads. The FL511 system is the state’s official source for traffic and travel information. FL511 provides information on congestion events, crashes, construction and maintenance activities; and travel times on all interstates and toll facilities and several Florida routes, so drivers can make better choices about their travel plans. The public information service is accessible by
MOVIE REVIEW: MA many moments where I forgot most of these characters even existed and time and time again the shock of seeing a character who I forgot all about was more alarming then the film’s jump scares. It’s clear all the attention was given to the character of Sue Ann, as it should, but without memorable or likable characters to support the film really just comes off more as a one woman show.
Acting for Ma is carried solely by one person Octavia Spencer gives an excellent performance as Sue Ann. From the simple start Spencer is captivating and as the film goes on she gets better and better. Spencer makes for a frightening villain and is effective whenever she is driven to anger and violence. But the moments where we’re meant to sympathize with Sue Ann are even better. Not only are these moments moving but she creates such empathy for her character that the idea that she’s on the
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brink of a violent rampage is non-existent. She even manages to have quite a few darkly humorous moments that honestly had me chuckling. It truly is one of her most entertaining performances and I am so happy she not only made a return to horror but stepped out of her comfort zone to play the villain. Even with all of Ma’s flaws, and there are many, Spencer’s performance alone was more then worth the price of admission. Diana Silvers’ career has only just begun but already she’s hit the ground running. A little over a week ago she had a small, but still very memorable, role in the excellent Booksmart and is now one of the leads in a major horror film. Sadly Silvers’ performance in Ma isn’t as good as her last role but even so she still does a decent job. I can’t even lay anything at her feet as she isn’t given strong material to work with as the film is a vehicle for Spencer. Granted Spencer is the reason why the film works but giving her co-stars better material could
mobile app, website in English and Spanish, Twitter messages, Facebook, Instagram, texts alerts and more. FL511 provides camera snapshots on major Florida roads, so users can see road conditions ahead of time. The goal is to provide information about current conditions to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently in Florida. To accomplish its goal, FL511 provides the latest traffic information and road conditions throughout Florida, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Before heading out, drivers should visit the FL511.com website for important
traffic information and incident alerts to plan their travel. In addition, be sure to download the FL511 Mobile App, now with voice interaction feature so users can speak a request for their destination. Once on the road, have a passenger check to avoid using a phone while behind the wheel. Get the Florida 511 Mobile App on Google Play, or download it from the Apple App Store. Travelers can follow FL511 on 13 Twitter handles, on Facebook @FL511, and Instagram @Florida_511. For more information, visit the website at FL511. com to Connect.Know.Go.
By Jonathan Gonzalez (cont'd from page 8) have made the film better. That said it still ins’t a bad performance and I look forward to seeing Silvers in her next project. Juliette Lewis does a fine job as Maggie’s mother Erica. Lewis comes as simply being there for most of the film, of course her character does have to run off to work and training seminars for the first two acts. By the third act she finally has more to work with and as such gives a solid, albeit brief, performance.
Evans all lucked out because of they had little to work with then these kids had nothing at all. They were flat, dull as wood and painfully forgettable but it isn’t their fault. What can they do? They show up, make a group and that’s that.
Luke Evans plays the father of one of the kids as well as the main source of Sue Ann’s rage and misery. Like Lewis, Evans’ performance is brief but is still well done and memorable. Though I must admit he could be distracting as his moments caused my mind to drift to other films where he played a villain though these only lasted for a minute or two.
Final Thoughts: Ma isn’t a great film however it still is pretty good. The story is generic but still has it’s moments such as a truly good third act, Sue Ann is a great villain and Octavia Spencer’s performance was so excellent that she managed to carry the film through it’s weakest moments. Some of the supporting cast do well when they finally have something to work with though the side characters are still bland. Over all the film itself is no classic but Spencer is still incredibly entertaining and Sue Ann definitely deserves to becoming a recurring villain, the two of them are that good!
The rest of the supporting cast is completely forgettable. Silvers, Lewis and
VERDICT: 2.5/5
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ENDNO TE S
E m i n e n t D o m a i n B e c o m e s “ I M M I N E N T LY Y O U R S ”
The play “ I m m i n e n t ly Yours” , is currently appearing at Theatre 80, located at 80 St Marks Place in Manhattan. Presented by the Negro Ensemble Company, directed by Count Stovall and written by Karimah, “Imminently Yours,” will run until June 30. The story line is about a location inhabited by descendants of slaves who had the mountain area for over 136 years. Initially there were 20 families. They dwindled down to 3 families as the youth moved into the cities and took on jobs, leaving their inheritance of the land behind to the older folks who was able to keep their existence on the land secret for over a century. The property was valuable because homestead buildings existed by a beautiful lake, all this concealed from the curious public by a curtain of poison ivy. As time went by, relatives of the initial families forgot about or ignored their claim to the land and stopped visiting the enclave. Therefore, the remaining elders who lived off the land, never got the opportunity to tell the youth the history of the land and how they acquired it after slavery. This left the youth unaware of the value of the land, their legacy to the land and their history to it. This ignorance proved ultimately damaging.
As time went by, relatives of the initial families forgot about or ignored their claim to the land and stopped visiting the enclave.
There were some amusing parts wherein the elders staved off any nosey intruder with empty guns and blind Lillie Mae used her blindness to feel up men. The elders however
the governor. The cagey elders were sidestepping James, when Mildred, a visiting relative, played by Nia Akilah Robinson, who visiting with her lawyer mother Edna portrayed
The residents of the mountaintop community take a selfie before leaving. Photo by Jonathan Slaff. were not wasting their time in their hidden dwelling where they had never paid taxes but studied and spoke several languages. Unfortunately, their peaceful concealed lives were uncovered when James, a young lawyer played by Ryan Desaulniers, visited the mountaintop as a representative of
by Colette Bryce, was unable to read the warning signs the elders were trying to give her. Unfortunately Mildred did not understand the efforts of the elders to keep her quiet and enamored by James, she revealed the mountainside, dwellings and lake to the young lawyer. The lawyer revealed the
existence of the elders played by Arthur French (Oscar), Dorothi Fox (Lillie Mae) and Alberta (Edythe Jason) to the governor to his regret. The dwellings and lake were of special interest to the governor who used Eminent Domain to take the land from the elders and their way of life was forever gone. Eminent domain refers to the power of the government to take property for the public good. While there is a vested right to property ownership in the United States and owner rights to their land considered important, ultimately if the government has a stronger interest, it can exercise its power of eminent domain if it deems seizure of the property is for the public good. However, that does not mean government can take your land without providing “just compensation.” Owners can use what is known as “condemnation” to object to the taking of their property under what is known as “condemnation” generally the government ends up with the land after paying what they feel is fair market value. The play does not blame anyone but ultimately the confiscation of property from these descendants of slavery seemed historically unjust and proved to be both sad and tragic. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:00 PM and Sundays at 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM. Call the Box office at 866-811-4111 for tickets. For Group sales call 212580-9624.
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BLAZING A PATH FOR HBCU ACHIEVEMENT
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