Happily Divorced And After

By Naomi K. Bonman

The first week of Pan African Film Festival is a wrap with just a few more days to go. Last week we seen a plethora of great films from a variety of genres ranging from comedy-romance to social justice to action. The screenings all took place at the Cinemark Rate 15 Theatres at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza located at 3650 Martin Luther King Blvd in Los Angeles.

On Thursday, February 8, the festival opened by with ‘Love Jacked’ featuring Amber Stevens West, newcomer Shamier Anderson, Mike Epps, Lyriq Bent, Marla Gibbs, Angela Gibbs, Demetrius Grosse and Nicole Lynn. ‘Love Jacked’ is a romantic comedy written by Robert Adetuyi and Linda Eskeland, and directed by Alfons Adetuyi. The film follows the love story, or lack thereof, of Maya (played by Amber Stevens West) who takes a trip to Cape Coast, South Africa where she ends up falling in love with after capturing the attention of a handsome African man. Only to later be disappointed by what was supposed to be the most exciting time of her life. Upon returning back home to Los Angeles tries to make things seem glorier than what they are to impress the likeness of her father Ed (played by Keith David). 

“If any dad that has daughters you understand that you just want the best for her,” Keith explained on why he believes this movie is one to see. “And if you have a daughter like mine that you sometimes butt heads with they don’t always agree with you in that moment, so you have to have words about it. But in time they come around.”

On Friday, February 9, premiered a special screening of “Behind the Movement”.  We all heard and know the story about Rosa Parks; however, many do not know it on a deeper level. Most assumed because as it has been stated throughout books and news articles was that Rosa was tired. But she was not tired, but fed up with the treatment towards our people. 

“I always knew who Rosa Parks was and that she was the one who sparked this movement,” Meta Golding explained when asked how it felt to play such an iconic character in history. “This film was really educational for me about Mrs. Parks and Raymond Parks, her husband who she always described as the first real activist that she ever met because he was an activist in the 30s. When I found out I got the role I was initially terrified because I knew how much Mrs. Parks meant to everyone, not just in this country, but around the World, so it was really daunting. But then it became a tremendous responsibility to attempt to try and tell her story and because the power of film can become what we think of us the power of history.”

She continues, “I felt a tremendous responsibility, but more than anything a tremendous honor to step into the shoes of this giant.”

On Wednesday, February 14, the center piece film was none other than a special screening and premiere of “Black Panther”.

For more information on PAFF and the screenings, please visit www.paff.org.

By Naomi K. Bonman

These last few years have been booming with African American writers in television. From ‘Empire’, ‘Star’, ‘Power’, ‘Dear White People’, ‘Insecure’, ‘Claws’, and ‘Luke Cage’, just to name a few, these shows all have one thing in common—they are ran by an African American.

To commemorate Black History Month, the Paley Center for Media Los Angeles gathered prominent, Black showrunners, creators and executive producers to discuss the current state of the industry. I was able to attend the panel discussion which I found to be very enlightening and informative. The panelists consisted of: Cheo Hodar Coker, Creator/Executive Producer/Showrunner, ‘Luke Cage’; Courtney A. Kemp, Creator/Executive Producer/Showrunner, ‘Power’; Janine Sherman Barrois, Executive Producer/Showrunner, ‘Claws’; Karin Gist, Executive Producer/Showrunner, ‘Star’; Prentice Penny, Creator/Showrunner, ‘Insecure’; and Justin Simien, Creator/Executive Producer, ‘Dear White People’. The moderator for the evening was Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight host.

The discussion ranged from topics surrounding the increase of more African Americans and show business who are calling the shots to the content that we choose to put out there. It is refreshing to see more of our stories told BY US.

“We can now say that ‘I want more people of color as directors’,” Barrois explains. “’I want more people of color in editing jobs. You don’t have to say if they send you all white writers, “I’m not hiring all white writers’, why would I do that?”

The industry is now becoming more diverse to where opportunities are expanding for people of color. No more are we only considered as a possible option.

To listen to the discussion, please click below:

Listen to discussion here

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

You see, the phrase “United We Stand… Divided We Fall” has a lot of truth and merit to it! Christ gave us even greater insight when He said in [Matthew 12:25] a house divided, a city divided and a nation divided cannot stand. The reality is that God shows us a powerful principle concerning this truth. It is found in [Genesis 11:6] concerning the Tower of Babel. God said because of their “Unity” there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish if they put their minds to it. Now, if these were ungodly people without the prophetic purpose of God at heart, what could this mean to a people fulfilling the call of God on their lives and pursuing the purposes of God’s Kingdom. Ahh!

Unity a wonderful word, but requires deliberate action. That’s why I appeal to you today as Paul did in [1 Corinthians 1:10] when he said, “let us all agree with one another in what we say and that there be no divisions among us, but that we be perfectly united in mind and thought.” Paul exhort us to unite and conquer by majoring on the majors. You see, when we walk in unity we can accomplish supernatural achievements. We can walk on Water together. It’s a beautiful and powerful thing.

Unity: being one; combining into one; something that is whole; harmony [Psalm 133]. It is only when we come together in one mind and one accord in Jesus that we will have power and will be able to move in Spirit and Truth toward using our spiritual authority that God gave us—that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.  Unity the key to seeing souls saved… Unity the key to living in the Power of God… Unity the key to being used by God…

Let’s make the right choice based on an understanding of truth. Disunity causes great threat to our survival as a people. Without unity everything begins to crumble, becomes weakened, paralyzed, and ineffective. We are called to divide and conquer. This will only happen when we major on the majors, “We as a people.” We must be unified. We must strive and remain as one. There is Power in Unity!

Black History Month!  “All For One and One For All”.

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This month, Macy’s celebrates Black History Month by welcoming a host of innovators in fashion, entertainment, art, music, literature and technology, who are pioneers in their industries. Innovation is one of the cornerstones of Black culture, helping to propel trends, widely influencing pop culture, and changing the face of history. From music to science, Black culture has created a wave of change that has helped drive the country to new heights. With innovation comes an extraordinary opportunity to push boundaries, challenge the status quo, and make unprecedented waves.

This year, Macy’s special guests will discuss how they blazed their own paths and how the connection to their heritage helped inspire their success. Macy’s will also celebrate those making a difference and impacting their local communities, while helping to pave the way for future generations.

As part of Macy’s Black History Month celebrations, actress, writer and producer Issa Rae will appear at Macy’s Baldwin Hills in Los Angeles. Macy’s will also welcome Emmy-nominated actress and equal rights advocate, Laverne Cox, at Herald Square in New York City. Both will participate in moderated conversations about Black history, their inspirations and innovation in showbiz.

“These upcoming Black History events serve as wonderful opportunities for Macy’s to bring bold, ground-breaking Black innovators into our stores and to our communities,” said Kristyn Doar-Page, Macy’s vice president of Diversity & Inclusion Strategies. “As a retailer committed to celebrating trailblazers, Macy’s is thrilled to open a space where our community can engage with these artists as they share their life stories and inspirations.”

Issa Rae’s rise from web series creator to one of Hollywood’s It-girls is nothing less than remarkable. Rae’s content has garnered millions of views online and two Golden Globe® nominations for Best Actress for her hit show, HBO’s Insecure. Issa’s web series, The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl was the recipient of the coveted Shorty Award for Best Web Show, and her first book, a collection of essays, is a New York Times Best Seller. Issa has graced the cover and pages of major national media outlets including Essence, The Hollywood Reporter, Vanity Fair, The New York Times, CNN, VOGUE and TIME with appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America, The View, and more.

“I am excited to be working with Macy’s during Black History Month to celebrate those young and old whose innovation and talents are transforming American culture and making undeniable contributions to art and entertainment,” said Rae.

Laverne Cox is a two-time Emmy-nominated actress and Emmy-winning producer best known for her work on the critically acclaimed Netflix original series Orange Is The New Black, where she plays the groundbreaking role of Sophia Burset. Her work as an actress and advocate landed her on the cover of TIME magazine as well as two Emmy nominations, back-to-back SAG Awards for “Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series,” a Critic’s Choice nomination, and consecutive NAACP Image Award nominations. Cox is a renowned speaker and has taken her empowering message of moving beyond gender expectations to live more authentically all over the country. Her work as an advocate landed her a coveted spot as one of Glamour magazine’s 2014 Women of the Year. She is the recipient of the Dorian Rising Star Award, the Courage Award from the Anti-Violence Project, The Community Leader Award from the LGBT Center of New York City, was named one of The Grio’s 100 Most Influential African Americans, one of the Top 50 Trans Icons by the Huffington Post, one of Out magazine’s Out 100, was ranked number 5 on the 2014 Root 100 list and is a part of Ebony’s Power 100.

“I am grateful to be working with Macy’s during Black History Month to contribute to powerful conversations about the transformative work being done by young innovators,” said Cox. “There is never a better time to discuss the contributions made by the Black community, and what an inspiration it is to be among those fighting for change.”

At each of the Black History Month events, Macy’s customers will have an opportunity to meet and greet with event special guests. For additional information on Macy’s Black History Month festivities and special guests, please visit macys.com/celebrate.

Macy’s Black History Month events will be held at the following stores:

Macy’s Baldwin Hills (Los Angeles) – Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. with Issa Rae

Macy’s Culver City (Los Angeles) – Thursday, Feb. 15 at 6 p.m.

Entrepreneurship is becoming more relevant, especially among our youth. Youth are seeing the liquidity and benefits of being your own boss. Not only do you set your own hours, but you are in control of how much money you make. There’s no worrying about not working enough hours during the week to make what you made the following week or having your salary tapped to where you can’t make anymore more money, even if you did work an extra ten hours during the week.

However, although this sounds amazing because it is, the steps in starting and a maintaining a business can be quite difficult in the beginning stages. This is why programs, such as Black Ivy Financial Group were created; to assist and train youth on the tools that they need in order to succeed in their business.

Black Ivy Financial Group was founded by Bridgett Myrell. She and her team of experienced licensed professionals specialize in providing a series of financial literacy workshops for parents and students that incorporate the A-G requirements in Math, Language Arts, History, and Critical Thinking. They introduce the students to basic financial terms such as budgeting, debt management, saving and investing, college planning and how to be a savvy consumer.

BIFG was at the 3^rd Annual Black History Expo in san Bernardino on Saturday, February 3, where they trained a group of students in how to write a business plan and how to pitch that business plan in 60 seconds to potential investors.

For more information about the workshops or BIFG, please email Myrell at admin@blackuvyfg.com.

The “biggest fight of my life” Sheila C. Johnson once shared wasn’t co-founding Black Entertainment Television or ending her 33-year marriage to Robert “Bob” Johnson, with whom she raised two children and started a television network.

It was getting zoning, planning and other local government permits to open a hotel and spa in the village of Middleburg, Virginia. While her proposed Salamander Resort and Spa would eventually create dozens of jobs and pay millions in property and other taxes, the village government fought her every step of the way.

Her hard-earned wealth granted her few advantages. “None of that matters,” she told CNN in 2016. “As an African-American, they didn’t want me to do this. It was the fight of my life. I’ve never been more frightened in my life.”

Yet Johnson never backed down. “Change is always difficult, so there was inevitably going to be some opposition,” she shared in an email. The battle was so epic that it spanned a decade. 

Founded in 1787, Middleburg, a village of just 673 residents in the 2010 census renowned for its steeple chases and fox hunts, considers itself the “Nation’s Horse and Hunt Capital”. Johnson, an area resident, certainly fit the theme. Proposed in 2002, the equestrian-inspired Salamander—with its riding trails and horse paddocks—kept to the town’s traditions. The nearly 350 acres Johnson purchased for Salamander was once owned by former U.S. ambassador Pamela Harriman, the celebrated horse lover who was a one-time daughter-in-law of Winston Churchill. Plus Johnson’s daughter, Paige, is an elite equestrian who competes all over the world.

“I was naïve about realizing that I was south of the Mason-Dixon Line and a lot of people got very nervous about this African American woman coming in and building this resort,” the 68-year-old Johnson admitted in an exclusive interview early in 2017. No stranger to racial discrimination, growing up, the Pennsylvania-born Johnson moved more than a dozen times before settling in Maywood, just outside Chicago, because her neurosurgeon father’s race frequently became an issue.

Those experiences taught Johnson a resilience that served her in that fight and even now. “I learned the life of hard knocks and racism but I was also able to assimilate into the different cultures and do what I had to do to make things work,” she said.

A woman of many firsts, Johnson was the first African American woman to achieve a reported net worth of $1 billion. She is the first African American woman to own three professional sports teams in three different leagues—the NBA’s Washington Wizards (where she serves as both president and managing partner), the NHL’s Washington Capitals and the WNBA’s Washington Mystics. She was even the first African American woman to become a cheerleader at her alma mater, the University of Illinois, where she is on track to receive an honorary doctorate in May 2018.

Johnson is also a renowned philanthropist. The Sheila C. Johnson Design School Center at the Parsons School of Design in New York City, where she serves on the Board of Governors, bears her name. At the Harvard Kennedy School, she endows the Sheila C. Johnson Leadership Fellowship to support emerging leaders primarily focused on erasing disparities in underserved African American communities. 

As an African American woman entrepreneur, Johnson has blazed new trails in the corporate-dominated hospitality industry. Boasting 168 guestrooms and suites, an on-site stable, a 23,000-square-foot spa and a cooking studio, Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, the crown jewel in her impressive constellation of almost ten hotels, has won coveted Forbes Five Star and AAA Five Diamond honors. Johnson added Nopsi New Orleans to the Salamander Hotels and Resorts family in summer 2017 with Hotel Bennett in Charleston, South Carolina set to join summer 2018. 

Back in Middleburg, Johnson reports that “Salamander has certainly contributed to an economic upturn in the town through taxes, paying for water and wastewater treatment plants, and attracting visitors who frequent local businesses, including galleries, boutiques and wineries.”

Beth Erickson, Visit Loudoun’s president/CEO since 2014, cosigns Johnson’s impact. “When Sheila opened Salamander, it was the only new luxury destination resort in the United States that opened in 2013 and, by opening it alone, it created 400 jobs,” Erickson shared. “Occupancy taxes from Salamander have exceeded $1.3 million per year.”

“Some of those taxes,” reported Erickson, “went directly to improving sidewalks and crosswalks in Middleburg. It created revenue that allowed the town’s failing pipes to be replaced.”

An added bonus is through the Middleburg Film Festival, Johnson, who is also a film producer with ‘Lee Daniels’ The Butler’ among her credits, “has literally brought Hollywood to Loudoun County” according to Erickson. 

Held annually in October, Erickson said the festival has put “us on the map in the company of Cannes, Telluride, Sundance and that is wonderful company to keep.” ‘Mudbound’ and a talk with its acclaimed African American female director Dee Rees was a highlight of the 2017 festival. In 2016, the festival screened eventual Oscar winners ‘Moonlight’ and ‘La La Land.’

Throughout her life, Johnson, who epitomizes “black girl magic,” has thrived on excellence and challenging herself.  “I always try to look for areas in which we, as African Americans, do not do,” she said. “I just feel as though I can do it just as well, if not better.”

“I never used my race as an excuse to not be able to do something,” she said. Not with her fight in Middleburg. And not in life.

By John Coleman, Community Photographer

Monuments honoring and celebrating the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  his life, works and words continue to be conceived and constructed in concrete, bronze and steel; of water, wax and spray paint and     sited in hallowed places, such as among England’s most revered figures in Westminster Abbey in London (30 feet tall); hewed from America’s “Stone of Hope” on the National Mall in D.C.    (20 feet); Artfully presented as a flock of birds flying as one, “Free at Last”, at Boston University where Dr. King earned his PhD; or (9 feet) A universal figure, Dr. King here is an African Benin Chief, holding a Coptic Cross in one hand and an Indian Prayer Wheel in the other, in MLK Plaza, Chicago, IL; Or in Sweden; in Jerusalem; in Havana, Cuba; in Harlem or in San Bernardino.   Recognition and appreciation of/for Dr. King broadens and deepens, still, 50 years after his martyrdom.

Here in San Bernardino, the MLK Monument/Statue is located at 300 N D Street facing East in a small park that rises to the San Bernardino City Hall entrance. The park includes a fountain as water quietly flows over a bed of smooth river rock and the area around the statue where annual celebrations have been held since its beginning.

San Bernardino’s two-part 2018 Celebration of the life, works and words of Dr. King began hours earlier with a Community Awards Breakfast on the CSUSB campus which allowed time for travel several miles to Downtown before opening the celebration at the statue.

From Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs

The Navy joins the nation in celebrating the history of African American Sailors and civilians during African American/Black History Month, February 1st to the 28th.

This year’s theme is “African Americans in Times of War,” which recognizes the contributions African Americans have made to the nation during times of war from the Revolutionary War to present-day conflicts. 

ALNAV 007/18 encourages commands to participate in heritage celebrations and special observances throughout the year that honor the contributions, unique histories and cultures Navy’s diverse Sailor and civilian team. 

This month’s observance has its origins in 1915 when historian and author Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Dr. Woodson and the association initiated the first Negro History Week in February 1926. Every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as National African American/Black History Month since 1976.

“We should celebrate our unique backgrounds because each Sailor brings something different to the fight and this makes us a stronger, more lethal team,” said Rear Adm. John Fuller, commander of the Carl Vinson Strike Group and one of Navy’s African American flag officers. The strike group is currently deployed to the Western Pacific.

African American Sailors and civilians play an integral role in the success of the Navy as part of the One Navy Team. African Americans serve in every rank from seaman to admiral and perform duties in nearly every rating in the Navy. Currently, African Americans make up 17 percent of all Navy personnel, or roughly 64,000 Sailors. This includes more than 58,000 enlisted and 5,000 officers. Further analysis shows 17 percent of E-8 and E-9 Sailors are African Americans that hold a range of leadership positions. Nearly four percent of flag officers are African American Sailors.

A breakdown by gender indicates there are currently over 45,000 African American males and more than 18,000 African American females currently serving in the Navy. 

“Those serving today owe our success to the veterans who transformed our Navy into a more diverse force,” said Fuller.

According to the September 2016 “One Navy Team” memo from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson, actively being inclusive and open to diverse perspectives will produce leaders and teams who learn and adapt to achieve maximum possible performance, and who achieve and maintain high standards, be ready for decisive operations and combat. 

Diversity also influences various thoughts, ideas, skill sets, and experiences which ultimately helps increase the effectiveness of the Navy. Integrating Sailors and civilians from diverse backgrounds enables the Navy to recruit and retain the nation’s top talent from a wide pool of skilled personnel. 

The Navy supports minority youth development and encourages the pursuit of careers in science and industry through science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs. The Navy also partners with organizations including the National Naval Officers Association, the National Society of Black Engineers, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) in support of African American service members and civilians. 

A complete educational presentation, including a downloadable educational poster on African American/Black History month, can be requested from the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) by email at deomipa@us.af.mil.

For more information, visit www.navy.mil, www.facebook.com/usnavy, or www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/

 

By Lue Dowdy

Belly Dance Instructor, Deeveatva Foy a.k.a. Zada is What It Do! 

The art of belly dance is a very sensual and seductive dance style. It has a way of memorizing people, especially with the sounds of the coin belt which is typically worn by belly dancers. It helps improve muscle tone, increase flexibility and range of motion while achieving better posture and a new sense of confidence and self-expression.

My girl Deeveatva Foy is a professional belly dance instructor that has been teaching over six years. She currently teaches a class at Infuse Dance Studio located in the city of Riverside off of University Street. I’ve been participating in her class for about two years now and I absolutely love it. It helps me to stay fit while getting my sexy back. She teaches the class two different choreographed pieces once a month. Deeveatva has a unique style and a way with people. She takes her time with you and allow you to feel comfortable and go at your own pace. 

Ladies if you’re looking for something different, I recommend this class. We meet every Tuesday night at 7 p.m. Help me wish Deeveatva Foy a happy birthday. For information please see flyer or contact Zada via face book. It’s okay to get yo’ shimmy on. 

Until next week L’s!