TRENDS, TRAVEL, FILM, HISTORY and BOOKS

Trends, Travel, Film, History and Books provide readers with information that might be off the beaten path of their traditional news sources.   Whether its innovation, unique travel, classic or new age films and documentaries, looking at history from a different perspective or discovering new and established authors, it brings a fresh look to things that are either old or new again.

SOURCE:  2015 MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS (MAMA) /SIXTHREECOMMS.COM

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNERS OF THE 2015 MTV AFRICA MUSIC AWARDS KWAZULU-NATAL

Anthony Anderson star of the hit television show “Black-ish” hosted the MTV Africa Music Awards on 7-18-15  at the Durban International Convention Center.   The Fifth Edition of the Show marked the Tenth Anniversary of Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa / MTV Base and coincided with the birthday of the Late Nelson Mandela.  The event saluted and championed African music, youth culture and achievement.  The following artist were honored:

Best Female: Yemi Alade (Nigeria)

Best Male: Davido (Nigeria) 

Best Group: P-Square (Nigeria)

Best New Act Transformed by Absolut: Patoranking (Nigeria)

Best Hip Hop:  Cassper Nyovest (South Africa)

Best Collaboration: AKA, Burna Boy, Da LES & JR: “All Eyes On Me” (SA/Nigeria)

Song of the Year: Mavins: “Dorobucci” (Nigeria)

Best Live: Diamond Platnumz (Tanzania)

Video of the Year:  “Nafukwa” – Riky Rick; Director: Adriaan Louw

Best Pop & Alternative: Jeremy Loops (South Africa)

Best Francophone: DJ Arafat (Ivory Coast)

Best Lusophone: Ary (Angola) 

Personality of the Year:  Trevor Noah (South Africa) 

MAMA Evolution: D’Banj (Nigeria)

Best International: Nicki Minaj 

Artist of the Decade: P-Square

MTV Base Leadership Award:            Saran Kaba Jones & S’Bu Mavundla

 

SOURCE:  Yoshi’s Oakland

Jo Dee Messina

With its title ME chosen by fans, Jo Dee’s newest album – released March 18, 2014 – marks her most personal album to date. Jo Dee wrote, or co-wrote, many of the songs on the album and will release ME on her own newly established label, Dreambound Records. For the first time in her career, Jo Dee is able to boldly do things her own way and pave her own path to success.  Read more  Thursday 7-30-2015 @ 10:00 PM

SOURCE:  Yoshi’s Oakland

GRAMMY© nominated saxophonist & flautist Najee

Two-time Grammy nominated saxophonist and flautist, Najee has made a career following his heart and keen musical intuition by pushing musical boundaries, all of which have made him an

international pioneer in the music industry. Having collaborated with everyone in the music business from Prince, Quincy Jones to Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan and Herbie Hancock, Najee’s technical agility, grace, compositional prowess, unbridled passion and fearless genre bending have made him one of the most sought after musicians of his generation. With two Platinum and four Gold albums under his belt, Najee is an icon whose musical vision spawned an entire new genre by fusing the music close to his heart (R&B and jazz).  Friday 7 -31 -15 @ 8:00 PM

 

SOURCE:  OWN / OPRAH / OPRAH.COM

The Titles Everyone Will Be
Talking About
This month we’re reading about unstoppable heroines, disappointed housewives, sexy sleuths and more gripping tales guaranteed to make the rest of summer a real page-turner.

• 17 blockbuster books to pick up now
• 13 dazzling new beach reads
• The book that changed Pharrell Williams’ life
• 6 titles to read with your best friend

 

 

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

NAACP IMAGE AWARD WINNER TONY ROSE PENS “AMERICA THE BLACK POINT OF VIEW”

— “America The Black Point of View: An Investigation and Study of The White People of America and Western Europe & The Autobiography of an American Ghetto Boy – The 1950’s and 1960’s – From the Projects to NAACP Image Award Winner, Volume One” (Amber Books) by Tony Rose, is essentially a children’s story. A story of tens of millions of African-American children locked away, in the segregated, red lined ghettos and housing projects of America. Living in a bad and horrific environment, in bad conditions, with bad parents, in bad schools, where death rides hard and is known by everybody. —

Nationwide — In this Investigation and Study of the White people of Western Europe and America, author Tony Rose takes you on a four million year autobiographical and historic journey of great beauty and even greater horror.

The screams and howls of centuries of terror, violence and brutality transcend time as you, the reader, are taken on a tremendously honest, never before written, seen, heard or read in American literature, epic journey from Africa to Western Europe to the Americas in this compelling, violent, and true story of two turbulent and distinct African-American families of unbridled good and evil, both born and raised in the brutality and horror of American slavery, segregation and Jim Crow.

The journey takes you all the way to the terrifying, vicious and savagely honest, invisible black ghetto world of a child, and then teenager, growing up in the housing projects of the 1950’s and 1960’s, where the schools of hard knocks and “real fucked up shit” are taught, lived, and died in, side by side.

I come from a place that is so invisible that you can hardly see me. Yet, I am despised, hated and feared more than anyone or anything. I am invisible, I live in the real ghetto, the projects. I am poor and hungry, I live in the underbelly of America and I am poor and have nothing. I am a black man, I am a black woman, I am a black child, and I am invisible, until someone kills me. — Tony Rose

Rose explains:

I found out early on that this was not going to be an easy book to write. I wanted to write an autobiography about my early childhood and teen years and the horrific murderers, pimps, gangsters, drug dealers, drug addicts, rapists, child abusers and thieves, that I grew up with, lived with, called family, and write about in “The Autobiography of an American Ghetto Boy”. I soon realized that I could not write about me as an African-American child and teen living in America, without writing about White America, what it was like when I was a child, how it shaped

the people around me and what it is like to now live in America, which for millions of African-American children is horrific, terrifying, and not so very different than it was for me as a child.

I also wanted to write about what it was like for a child and young teenager to grow up in the real ghetto, the projects, and come from a dysfunctional and violent family where contrary to what poor Black people are always depicted as; there was no God, no church on Sunday, no marching with Martin Luther King, Jr., and no singing in the church choir.

I have written this book to show how White racism and White supremacy affected the lives of the people I lived and grew up with. Also as a study of 70% of White people and their genetic ability to hate people who are different than them, and I also had wondered if there had ever been a study based on the White People of America.

I also realized that because I was writing an autobiography that I could not and should not leave out the history of my forefathers, my ancestors. That any autobiography from an African-American should include my/our forefathers going all the way back to Africa and include the story of what Western Europe and the United States of America did to my African ancestors in Africa and on their journey to America in Slave Ships and include their life in America through Slavery, Cultural Destruction, Emancipation, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, Segregation, Institutional Racism, Inter-Generational Poverty, the Civil Rights Era and the Obama Era.

And because a piece of my heritage and blood is Native American, I thought that I would include a small amount of their journey, and also, because a piece of my heritage and blood is Western European(Portuguese, French and English) I thought that I would include the horrors of that bloodline and the rapes, massacres and enslavement that this bloodline perpetuated on my two other bloodlines, and thus begin a study of the White People of America; who they are and where they come from. My hope is that this will be a beginning into a more complete and complex scientific, college and university level investigation and study of The White Man and The White People of America.

And I also wrote this book, because, I always hear White American politicians and people always asking this one basic question, What is wrong with Black People?, so because I am a Black people, I thought that I would make an attempt to answer and explain the question What is wrong with Black people. Well the answer is White people and the explanation is inside this book.

Also, because since the day I was born all I have ever heard is White people talking about Black people, maligning Black people, blaming Black people, accusing Black, defining Black people to this very minute, this very second without a clue as to what the fuck they are talking about. And year after year, decade after decade, century after century goes by without White people being defined by Black people. Well, this book defines who White people are, and blames them for everything that has happened to Black people and people of color in not only America, but, the world.

The films shot and books written about the Transatlantic Slave Trade Holocaust and Slavery, including Amistad, Roots and Twelve Years a Slave, all had White people involved, as either writers, directors, producers or executive producers, and even the writers of the books, Alex Haley, Solomon Northup, etc., all had White people involved as Publishers and Editors. So the true and detailed story of the atrocities and horrors of what the White people of America and Western Europe did to West Africa, Africa, its people for five hundred long years and to the generations of hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of millions of Africans, those of African descent around the world, including African-Americans, has never really been told. Who these White people were, what they were, where they came from, what made the White people of Western Europe and America go crazy and have a blood lust and hatred for Africans, Africa, African-Americans and people of African descent, to enslave and colonize them for five hundred years has never been told.

It is my hope that the poor, underprivileged, disenfranchised, African Americans in the housing projects and ghettos of urban and rural America and Black Africans throughout West Africa and Africa and the poor People of Color around the world who have been put into generational poverty and cultural destruction through the hypocrisy and greed of the White People of Western Europe and America will by reading this book know that they have nothing to be ashamed of. That the shame is on every White person of Western European and White American background who walks the face of Gods green Earth.

And, I wrote this book, because 70% of the White people of America have never, ever, had to or been made to take responsibility or to atone for their sins and the atrocities, horrors and sins of their ancestors. In fact White people still continue to malign Black people, disrespect Black people, make fun of Black people, pass laws that would hinder and take away Black peoples affirmative action and voting rights. All the while, even though the 30% of the White people of America who mean well and try to do everything they can to right the wrong that America has done, still allow their Politicians to continue to blame and make fun of that poor Black mother with three children on food stamps as if she was the cause of all the United States ills.

Yet America still gives tens and tens of millions of dollars to some tribesmen in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan and billions and billions of dollars to other nations and their armies in Egypt, Israel, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan and Iran, while here in America our military veterans are sleeping in the street and working parents can’t make enough to feed their children healthy food and the masses of Black people in America have nothing, but a rat’s nest, fucking project or ghetto apartment. These same White politicians have continuously belittled and look down on, lied to, cheat and blame Black people for everything wrong with America, with a smugness that always suggests and says that no atonement, reparation or thought for Black people is necessary for anything, especially the horrors of slavery, Jim Crow and segregation, and that our ancestors pain, suffering and blood for this country does not and did not matter. So I thought I would write a book that also tells Black people and especially White people why reparations and atonement from White people and the United States Federal Government is necessary.

And finally I thought, well, everything else has been done to try to repair Race Relations between Blacks and Whites in America; so I thought that I would try to do something different than had ever been done before.

Which is to give White people, along with my unique African-American childhood and experience, detailed in The Autobiography of an American Ghetto Boy section of this book, the cold hard facts, mixed with the truth, over and over and over and over and over and over, and over, and over, and over again, about what did happen between Black people and White people in Western Europe and America.

After you have read the “An Investigation and Study of the White People of Western Europe and America” section of this book, my hope is that White people and Black people will finally understand what happened and why. And that with the knowledge both cultures, both so-called races, will begin a dialogue that can be truly open and honest. Please let me know if I have done that. You can email me at amberbk@aol.com when you have finished reading the book.

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

RLJ ENTERTAINMENT AND URBAN MOVIE CHANNEL PRESENT BLACKBIRD

A heartfelt coming-of-age story EBONY Magazine

…the movie is sure to spark a lively post-film conversation Shadow and Act/Indiewire

The film evokes a lovely spirit in every capacity, from its performances to its look to Polks lyrical direction — Houston Chronicle

Los Angeles, CA — BLACKBIRD, the provocative film acquired by RLJ Entertainment (NASDAQ: RLJE) will be available on VOD and Digital on July 28, 2015 and Blu-ray and DVD on August 4, 2015.

BLACKBIRD (www.blackbirdthemovie.com) tells the story of seventeen-year-old Randy (Julian Walker), a devout Christian who is hiding a secret inner struggle – the denial of being gay. Since his father (Isaiah Washington) left, Randy takes care of his emotionally disturbed mother (MoNique) and is the kind of friend all of his classmates can depend on. It is not until he opens himself up to love that he discovers that becoming a man means accepting who you really are.

Based on the same title novel by Larry Duplechan, the film, which released in theaters in April, is directed by Patrik-Ian Polk (Noahs Arc, The Skinny). The film stars Academy Award® winning actress and comedian Mo’Nique (Precious), Isaiah Washington (Greys Anatomy, Blue Caprice, The 100), Terrell Tilford (Single Ladies, Guiding Light), D. Woods (MTVs Danity Kane), Gary L. Gray (The Cosby Show, Bring It On: All Or Nothing), Torrey Laamar, Kevin Allesee, Nikki Jane and introduces breakthrough actor Julian Walker. Creating an emotional rollercoaster ride for viewers, this incredibly talented cast portrays the difficult journey into acceptance and love. The film is executive produced by Sidney Hicks and MoNique Hicks and produced by Keith Brown, Patrik-Ian Polk, Carol Ann Shine and Isaiah Washington.

The Blu-ray and DVD includes never-before seen special features, including deleted scenes, audition footage, a behind the scenes featurette, and special music video by cast member, D. Woods.

Blackbird
Director: Patrik-Ian Polk
Distributor: RLJ Entertainment
Release Date: August 4, 2015
DVD Cat#: TSB00243DVD
DVD UPC: 0014381002430
Blu-ray Cat#: TSB00271BD
Blu-ray UPC: 0014381002713
Rating: R
Year: 2014
Runtime: 99 Minutes
#WeAreBlackbird #BlackbirdDVD

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

AMERICA THE RACIST? WHY THE CANCER OF RACISM CONTINUES TO DESTROY THE SOUL OF AMERICA!

Nationwide — America the Racist? by author H. J. Harris is a must-read for white and black Americans as current events from police shooting of unarmed black men to the racist massacre of 9 black Americans in a Bible study class in Charleston, South Carolina.

This 172-page book sets forth a concise, easy-to-read, historical, spiritual, and psychological treatment of Racism in America – its causes, evolution, and possibilities for the future. Once we understand why we are where we are as a nation, then we are better equipped to determine what we must do to truly become the one Nation under God described in Dr. Kings dream and the Pledge of Allegiance.

With the election in 2008 of the first African-American President, many thought that the scourge of racism in America was finally over. It appeared that America had faced the spiritual dilemma of racism and delivered on its creed of equality and justice for all.

After Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America, many believed that the race issue was finally resolved. White and black Americans together elected the first African-American President in history.

However, immediately after the election of President Obama, a loud raucous segment of America emerged, seeking “to take our country back”. The true meaning of take our country back was a desire to return to the days of Jim Crow – of institutional racism that has defined American since its inception.

Recent examples in the headlines of police brutality and the killing of unarmed black men is the tip of the iceberg of a paradigm of racism that has framed the true meaning of America from the Declaration of Independence to tomorrow’s headlines.

The shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, the shooting in the back of unarmed Walter Scott, in Charleston, South Carolina, and the choking death of Eric Garner in New York City are all a part of the many instances of fatal interactions between black men and police.

A chapter in America the Racist? entitled Thank God for Television again shows how white Americans are in complete denial of the existence of racism until videos surface that show what is really happening in this country.

The racial discourse that now dominates the news and politics clearly indicates that the information covered is this book is critical to understanding and resolving the Paradigm of Racism that has been a cancer on America since its inception.

America the Racist? shows why the cancer of racism is so deep that many black and white Americans are not able to get beyond the ingrained racism they have been taught from the beginning of this nation.

America the Racist? reveals why the Paradigm of Slavery created by white Americans must be replaced by a Paradigm of Freedom that can only be created by black and white Americans working together to build a New Vision of one nation under God.

Mr. Harris book answers many important questions about Racism in America:

1. How the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were impacted by signers who owned slaves and endorsed slavery. The slavery issue was a deal breaker since many of the original signers of the Declaration of Independence owned slaves.
2. Why the issue of slavery was so important that over six-hundred thousand (600,000) Americans died in the Civil War.
3. How American Christians have perpetuated segregation and separation. 11:00 am on Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour in America.
4. What the Bible has to say about the spiritual impact of slavery on the future existence of America.
5. How sex and economics have been at the core of American Racism, discrimination, and injustice.
6. How racism has impacted every facet of American life from sports to law enforcement, from military service to the color of God. There was a time in the not so-distant past when black police officers couldnt arrest white people or ride together in a police patrol car.
7. Why black Americans rarely form partnerships in business and find difficulty working together. The difference in the psyche of blacks born in America and West Indian blacks.
8. How the white slave master captured, broke the spirit, and institutionalized the vicious, vulgar process employed in the Making of a Slave.
9. How the Hundredth Monkey Phenomenon applies to slavery and impacts condition and behavior of black Americans.
10. Why the power of television was the single most important tool in showing the truth of America racism to the world.
11. Does America have the Moral Authority to promote liberty and freedom to other countries when racism undermines the liberty and freedom of black Americans?
12. Why the Barack Obama presidential campaign can be the catalyst in healing America of the cancer of racism.

It is for these reasons, the urgency of NOW, that the publisher has elected to re-publish America the Racist?

The information contained in this book is critical to all black and white Americans as they face both the greatest challenge and the greatest opportunity to save America and help it live out its creed.

 

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

LEGENDARY SINGER-SONGWRITER AND PRODUCER BUNNY SIGLER RELEASES NEW SINGLE “BUTTERMILK AND CORNBREAD” FEATURING INSTANT FUNK

Los Angeles, CA — Four-time Grammy winning producer-singer-songwriter Bunny Sigler releases his second single, Buttermilk and Cornbread from the brand new, critically acclaimed album Bundino. The prolific songwriter who produced the Philly Sound intrigues his audience once again by showcasing his classic R&B sound going back to his roots with the funky, stand-out track as his follow-up on the R&B driven album featuring disco band, Instant Funk.

Complete with soulful ballads honing in a contemporary sound, Sigler pushes his vocals on this upbeat and lighthearted tune. Buttermilk and Cornbread, Bunny describes is a blues track that reminisces of southern cooking and sweet country memories. Sizzling with that down south sound, Buttermilk and Cornbread has a catchy chorus and a sensory smorgasbord of lyrics.

This feel good song recalls relaxing times and nostalgic jam sessions uninhibited sing-alongs with friends that seem endless. The six-minute songs highlight is the unexpected trumpet solo that cuts in between at the halfway mark and the blend of unison backup vocals.

Backed by longtime collaborators, Instant Funk, the band has teamed up once again with Sigler. Currently in the studio working on new material, they’re ready to hit the road again and bring their live performances worldwide.

…Sigler has no problem with shaking things up, and he demonstrates his comfort with envelope pushing through Bundino. — Soul Tracks

Along with the original mix of Buttermilk and Cornbread, Bunny will also release a special remix version of the song an upbeat rendition of the standout single produced by Joe Gallagher, Bunny Sigler, Instant Funk, and Saint Man. The remix will have listeners wanting more and radio hosts playing the track on repeat. A music video to accompany the single featuring Instant Funk

SOURCE: #Bunny Sigler / YouTube /CD Baby

Buttermilk and Cornbread

 

SOURCE:  Blacknews.com

Nationwide — The Jakki Price Show engages listeners with topics and issues that mainstream media refuse to talk about. Previously, Ms. Price has been on the airwaves with two different shows which she has used as training ground for this one! For years, she has had to be safe in her perspectives. Now, Ms. Price realizes and recognizes that her voice reflects those of people worldwide and she’s ready to talk!

All the concerns, worries and issues that people deal with aren’t always discussed in mainstream media. Rather, they are discussed in beauty shops, barbershops, over drinks or card games. Jakki is about to change that! She recognizes

that NOW is the time to take these issues out of the shadows and present them on a safe platform and talk about what is really on peoples minds!

Topics such as:
* Black Militants Today: Do they make a difference 50 years later?
* Our Youth STILL being jailed for no reason!
* Doctor cuts off childs penis! Why?
* Loving the Black Child Do we know HOW?
* Incest in the Black Community
* Sexually abused MEN!

Not only does Jakki speak about issues taboo to the mainstream, she works with industry experts on how to resolve them and asks her audience for their input. Her goal is to bring out the questions so that the discussion can lead to meaningful answers and proactive actions.  www.blogtalkradio.com/jakkiprice
Wednesdays, 8pm-10pm