‘As a nation, and also in the Twin Cities, Black journalists, writers, directors and actors aren’t being cultivated.’
Nadine Matthews
Nadine Matthews is a contributing writer at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. She can be reached at nmatthews@spokesman-recorder.com or on Twitter at @deeniemedia.
Posted inWomen’s History Month
Women’s History Month Salute: Leslie Barlow
‘I want my work to be honest, but I also want the person or people that are being represented to feel connected to it as well.’
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies, Television
Alabama’s Africatown history comes to life in ‘Descendant’
The documentary, which won the U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award: Creative Vision at Sundance in 2022, was shot over four years and has as its jumping-off point the generations-long search for the slave ship, Clotilda.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Hulu’s ‘1619 Project’ docuseries puts slavery at heart of American history
The six-episode series, like the source material, spins a truth both ugly and beautiful at the same time.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies
Mpls filmmaker talks about getting her first feature done
‘I wanted to make a story in Minnesota because that was my hometown.’
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies
Sundance Film Festival 2022 roundup
Once again, this year’s Sundance Film Festival was virtual and once again, a plethora of interesting films is very likely to land on your small screen some time this coming year.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Favorite TV shows featuring upper-class Black life
It seems that TV is finally broadening its lens on the Black experience.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies, Music, Television
R&B piano prodigy Billy Preston could have been the fifth Beatle
The new Beatles docuseries ‘Get Back’ shows that R&B musician and pianist Preston was more than just an ‘old mate.’
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Grab the eggnog—it’s time for holiday TV fun!
It’s that time of year again when our TV screens become a cornucopia of holiday cheers!
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Ginger Commodore to bring ‘whole lot of soul’ to Christmas classics
Ginger Commodore will be performing soulful Christmas classics at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres December 14-15.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Yaya DaCosta talks new show ‘Our Kind of People;’ healing from trauma
Yaya DaCosta spoke to the MSR about her new show ‘Our Kind of People,’ a drama about Martha’s Vineyard’s Black elite.
Posted inArts + Culture, Books, Featured, Television
MSNBC host Craig Melvin’s book celebrates dads, charts the redemption of his father
Craig Melvin ‘s work on NBC’s “Today” helped bring his own life and relationship with his father full circle.
Posted inArts + Culture
‘Black Renaissance’ YouTube originals offer thrilling but fleeting moments
‘Black Renaissance’ examines Black art and creative culture in a historical context, honoring Black creative legends and political legends…
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
Star of legal drama ‘Delilah’ says her character champions the voiceless
Maahra Hill stars in ‘Delilah,’ a legal drama on the Oprah Winfrey Network, created by the same team behind its popular drama ‘Greenleaf.’
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies, Television
Celebrating Women’s History Month: A salute to powerful Black women in Hollywood
Highlighting Black women power players in Hollywood.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies
All the drama, none of the trauma: joyful depictions of Black talent, narratives
Here is a selection of films that celebrate Black life. Some are classics you might want to revisit, some more recent that deserve discovery.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies
2021 Sundance Film Festival: choice picks to look out for
A list of some of the most exciting films to look out for as they come to theaters, TV, and streaming in the coming year.
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies, Television
‘Bridgerton’ offers groundbreaking portrait of Blacks in aristocracy
Adapted from the novels by Julia Quinn, ‘Bridgerton’ as conceived by Shonda Rhimes, features a multiracial cast marked by scandal, romance, angst, and power-plays.
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Former inmate Michael Powell sings Beethoven new opera
This year, Heartbeat Opera built on that collaboration with ‘Breathing Free,’ affirmatively celebrating Black voices in the classical music space.
Posted inArts + Culture, Television
‘Impact of Murder’ highlights Black mom’s triple domestic abuse tragedy
Looking for signs of potential abusive behavior is a crucial part of young women vetting of potential partners