The late Diahann Carroll broke interesting, transitional ground starring as “Julia”(NBC, 1968 - 71). Her portrayal of a gracefully dutiful, wholesomely assimilated single mom was the image and embodiment of a white woman with brown skin: Caucasian features, straight hair, and grammatically correct at all times. The character was a widowed, well-paid nurse working for a white … [Read more...]
A space for local and national arts and entertainment stories, with an emphasis on stories pertaining to the African American experience.
New wave of black films crests at 2019 Toronto International Film Festival
(top, l-r) “Dolemite Is My Name,” "Harriet," and "Atlantics;"(bottom, l-r) “Clemency," "Waves," and “Just Mercy” are coming to a theater near you. Nearly 500,000 film lovers flocked to the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), screening hundreds of films from all over the world. Artistry and diversity, the hallmarks of TIFF, were on full display. Black … [Read more...]
Legendary stage and screen star Diahann Carroll dies at age 84
This one hurts. For those of us of a certain age, the multi-talented star of stage and screen Diahann Carroll was iconic. Beautiful and incredibly talented, with a unique gravitas to boot, she was a pioneer who stayed a star for multiple generations with an aura of strength, intelligence and poise that was rarely found in an individual. She passes at age 84 after a long battle … [Read more...]
State’s only African American museum celebrates its first year [photos]
The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG) celebrated its one-year anniversary in grand style with its Northern Lights Gala at Westminster Hall in downtown Minneapolis. The Sept. 27 gala, hosted by former journalist and author Roxane Battle, showcased a night full of entertainment with performances by Johnnie Brown and Ashley DuBose, and live … [Read more...]
Children’s Theatre’s ‘Snow White’ is black (and also a white man)
The Children's Theatre Company production of Snow White, September 29 – December 8, 2019 Joy Dolo is black and she is playing Snow White in a lively rendition of the classic story by the Children’s Theatre Company (CTC) this fall. Well, Snow White is also played by white man Dean Holt. That's actually the whole cast: Dolo and Holt. They both play Snow White, both play … [Read more...]