Coretta Scott King, widow of Martin Luther King, has died

Troop Pays Tribute To The First Black Marines

As February approaches, America is once again preparing to pay special tribute to the contributions of its African-American citizens. Great men and women such as Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will have their stories told and their legacies celebrated, and rightly so. This year, however, with American forces heavily committed in Iraq – and the Marine Corps at the forefront of our nation’s battles yet again – it’d be appropriate to remember the contributions of a lesser-known group of black pioneers as well, the Montford Point Marines.

Today Marines serve in a fully integrated Corps in which African Americans comprise one-fifth of the total troop strength. African-American officers, non-commissioned officers, and enlisted personnel are omnipresent, their service such a normal part of Marine life that it escapes notice. The fact that this was not always so, that there was a time when there were no black Marines, should not be overlooked.

In the months before Pearl Harbor, as the nation’s attention became increasingly drawn to the horrors gripping Europe and the Pacific, President Franklin D. Roosevelt – at the urging of his wife, Eleanor, and faced with the threat of a march on Washington by civil rights activist A. Philip Randolph – signed Executive Order 8802, establishing the Fair Employment Practice Commission and prohibiting racial discrimination by any government agency. With a stroke of his pen FDR had officially opened to blacks not only positions in the post office and other federal bureaucracies, but also in one of America’s most celebrated all white bastions: The United States Marine Corps.

In compliance with the order, which was controversial to say the least, the Marine Corps began recruitment of black enlistees on June 1, 1942 at Camp Montford Point, now known as Camp Lejeune, which was then little more than a field carved out of a dense North Carolina pine forest. Camp Montford Point would become the recruitment and advanced training facility for all black marine enlistees, from 1942 through 1949, when the practice of fielding completely segregated units would be dropped in favor of the fully integrated force we know today. From its humble beginnings, Camp Montford Point would rise to the occasion and pass over 20,000 African Americans through its hallowed grounds, and men who became Marines at Camp Montford Point would go on to serve their country with honor and distinction during the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and beyond. Read the complete history of the Montford Point Marines at http://www.mpma28.com. Now sixty-four years later, black marines have proudly borne their nation’s flag in combat.

From the days at Iwo Jima, to the battles reaching us by way of headlines in Iraq.

This February, with our nation once again looking towards the “Corps” for its defense, I hope we are all encouraged to remember, honor and learn more about the stories of this collection of men as well, men who helped defend and carry the promise of America abroad, even while – for them – it hadn’t been fully realized at home.

Via PRNewswire

Spike TV Green Lights Blade For Series

Spike TV has given the green-light for a television series based on Marvel Super Hero “Blade” as the network’s first original scripted series. The network has ordered 11 one hour episodes, in addition to the previously announced two hour kick-off episode, to be produced by New Line Television, set to commence production in Vancouver this spring. “Blade” premieres in June 2006.

“We’re extremely pleased with the pilot for ‘Blade,’ which delivers a thrilling action-adventure for its built-in fan base as well as a character-driven drama filled with heart pounding tension and suspense,” says Pancho Mansfield, Executive Vice President, Original Programming at Spike TV. “The series will be the first of our scripted fare as we embark on creating a greater mix of original programming for our viewers.”

“Blade” focuses on Marvel’s eponymous immortal warrior fighting a shadowy underworld of vampires who want to destroy the human race. The title character is a half man, half-vampire who uses his superhuman powers and skills to fearlessly battle the demonic creatures of the night in a blood-drenched crusade to prevent the ascendance of vampires over mankind.

The Spike TV weekly series will maintain continuity from the highly successful movie trilogy but will bring the main character into a new storyline with new characters.

Kirk “Sticky” Jones (“Over There”) stars in the leading role of “Blade.” Kirk Jones first became widely known as “Sticky Fingaz,” the front man for the hip-hop group Onyx. He later appeared and starred in a number of feature films including Clockers, Dead Presidents and Flight of the Phoenix. Most recently, Jones appeared regularly on FX’s “Over There” and “The Shield.” Rounding out the series cast are Jill Wagner (“Monk”), Neil Jackson(“Stargate SG-1″), Nelson Lee (“Traffic,” the TV mini series) and Jessica Gower (“Blurred”).

Acclaimed screenwriter and executive producer David S. Goyer (“Blade” trilogy and “Batman Begins”) and popular comic book writer Geoff Johns who worked on the “Blade” tele-movie, have also signed on for the series production. The tele-movie is directed by Peter O’Fallon (“Suicide Kings,” “American Gothic”).

Bill McGoldrick, Vice President, Original Programming and Lisa Ullmann, Director of Original Programming, are executives responsible for production at Spike TV. Avi Arad, Chairman and CEO of Marvel Studios, Ari Arad, Executive Vice President, Marvel Studios, Jim Rosenthal and Jon Kroll of New Line Television will serve as executive producers.

Via PRNewswire

Hattie McDaniel Featured On New 39 Cent Postage Stamp

Hattie McDaniel, movie actress, singer, radio and television personality, and the first African American to win an Academy Award today became the 29th honoree in the U.S. Postal Service’s long-running Black Heritage commemorative stamp series.

The 39-cent Hattie McDaniel commemorative stamp highlights the achievements of this legendary performer who won the Oscar for her role as Mammy in the award-winning 1939 film Gone With the Wind. The new stamp is available today only in Beverly Hills Post Offices and nationwide tomorrow, January 26.

“When you are a person who is determined and hard-working, the tables can be turned. Hattie, though the youngest child of former slaves, achieved her greatest honor doing what she loved most — entertaining — for her role impersonating a slave,” said Edgar Goff, nephew of Hattie McDaniel. “Her favorite expression was, ‘Humble is the way.’”

Although McDaniel was often heavily criticized for playing maids and other stereotypical roles, she worked behind the scenes to battle racism and discrimination. McDaniel is remembered for saying, “I’d rather play a maid than be one,” and although she encountered racism in Hollywood, she and several other black actors worked to change the film industry from within during the 1940′s.

“The United States Postal Service is proud to salute the life and extraordinary legacy of Hattie McDaniel,” said James C. Miller, Chairman of the U.S. Postal Service’s Board of Governors, who dedicated the stamp. “This stamp is a powerful reminder of her unprecedented contribution to Hollywood and to her pioneering legacy to help make this country a better place.”

The ceremony took place at the Margaret Herrick Library of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where the Hattie McDaniel collection includes photographs of Hattie and other family members, as well as scripts and other documents. The collection also contains a large number of recordings from the radio program, “Beulah.”

Joining Chairman Miller from the Postal Service was Delores Killette, Vice President, Consumer Advocate. Also participating in the ceremony were Academy President Sid Ganis; Edgar Goff, nephew of Hattie McDaniel; Kim Goff Crews, a grandniece of McDaniel and Dean of Students, Wellesley College; Dr. Mynora J. Bryant, International Grand Basileus, Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc. of which McDaniel was an honorary member; Ann-Marie Johnson, National First Vice President, Screen Actors Guild; Johnny Grant, Hollywood’s Honorary Mayor; Linda Hopkins, Jazz and Blues legend; and Vonzell Solomon, performer, 2005 “American Idol” finalist and former postal carrier.

“We at the Academy are proud to see a portrait of Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar, gracing a U.S. postage stamp,” said Academy President Sid Ganis. “We hope this newest recognition will remind Americans everywhere of the great stride forward made by this unassuming pioneer.”

Among the honored guests were cast members from Gone with the Wind including Ann Rutherford, Patrick Curtis, Mickey Kuhn, and Cammie King Conlon; Wonderful Smith, McDaniel’s friend and Chauffeur; Karl Malden, Member Emeritus, Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) and past president of the Academy; Jean Picker Firstenberg, Member, CSAC, and CEO, American Film Institute; Al Iniguez, Pacific Area Vice President, U.S. Postal Service; Bill Almaraz, Los Angeles District Manager, U.S. Postal Service; Koula Fuller, Beverly Hills Postmaster; and members of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

McDaniel joins 28 other honorees in the Postal Service’s Black Heritage commemorative stamp series which salutes outstanding African-American activists, theorists, writers, educators and leaders. Other notable Americans in the series include: the first African-American woman to be honored on a U.S. stamp and the first honoree in the Black Heritage series, abolitionist Harriet Tubman; Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.; prominent historian and son of a former slave, Dr. Carter G. Woodson; writer and composer Scott Joplin; Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall; and classically trained performance artist Marian Anderson.

McDaniel was born June 10, 1895, in Wichita, Kan., and raised in Denver, Colo. Showing signs of her talent at an early age, she dropped out of school as a teenager to tour with vaudeville companies and traveled with musical
ensembles and minstrel shows, including one run by her father. She sang on Denver radio as early as 1925, and she wrote and recorded several of her own songs.

McDaniel arrived in Hollywood in 1931 and soon began to appear in films. She is credited with appearing in more than 90 films, but is believed to have appeared in as many as 300, including uncredited roles as extras, maids, and chorus singers. She sang a duet with Will Rogers in Judge Priest (1934), a film directed by John Ford, and she often appeared alongside many of the brightest stars of the era, such as Clark Gable and Jean Harlow in Saratoga (1937) and Katharine Hepburn in Alice Adams (1935), which featured a comic performance by McDaniel. Some of her other notable films included Show Boat (1936), In This Our Life (1942), which was praised for the depth and humanity of its black characters, and Since You Went Away (1944).

From 1947 until 1952, McDaniel played the title role in The Beulah Show, which was broadcast on national radio. As the first radio show to feature a black star, The Beulah Show was praised by the NAACP and the National Urban League. Although McDaniel again played a maid, she insisted that her character not speak in dialect, and she successfully negotiated the right to alter scripts that did not meet her approval. Shortly before her death, McDaniel was preparing to replace an actress in the television version of the The Beulah Show. McDaniel died of breast cancer at the age of 57 on October 26, 1952.

The stamp was designed by Ethel Kessler of Bethesda, MD and features a 1941 photograph of McDaniel by Tim O’Brien of Brooklyn, NY in the dress she wore on February 29, 1940, when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

The Postal Service continues its commitment to honor the historical achievements and contributions of African Americans. Through the popular Black Heritage stamp series these significant and educational contributions will continue to be recognized in the future. To see the Hattie McDaniel commemorative stamp and other images from the 2006 Commemorative Stamp Program, visit the Postal Store at http://www.usps.com/shop and click on “Release Schedule” in the Collector’s Corner.

Via PRNewswire

Samuel L. Jackson To Be Honored At Mann’s Chinese Theater

Hollywood star Samuel L. Jackson will be honored with a hand and footprint ceremony at Mann’s Chinese Theater on Monday, January 30th, 2006, at 10:30 A.M.

Having appeared in over 90 theatrical and television films, Jackson is respectfully labeled as one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood. His films have grossed more money in box office sales than any other actor in the history of filmmaking.

Honorary Hollywood Mayor Johnny Grant will serve as the master of ceremonies at the event. Revolution Studios founder and “Freedomland” director Joe Roth will also speak.

Jackson will next be seen opposite Julianne Moore in Revolution Studios’ suspense thriller “Freedomland,” a highly charged and gritty mystery of a carjacking, a missing child and a neighborhood torn asunder, based on the best-selling novel by Richard Price. The film will be released by Columbia Pictures on February 17th, 2006.

“I have had the privilege of working with Sam on numerous films, and there is no one more deserving of this honor,” said Roth. “He is one of the most talented and professional actors I have ever worked with, truly one of the greats of our time.”

Following “Freedomland,” Jackson will also be seen in “Black Snake Moan” and “Snakes on a Plane” and will begin production next month on the feature film “Home of the Brave”.

Jackson made an indelible mark on American cinema with his portrayal of Jules, the philosophizing hit-man, in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” In addition to unanimous critical acclaim for his performance, he received Academy Award(R) and Golden Globe nominations as Best Supporting Actor. Recently, Jackson appeared as Mace Windu in the final episode of the Star Wars trilogy “Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith.” In early 2005, Jackson topped the opening weekend box office charts with the success of “Coach Carter,” in which he portrayed real-life high school basketball coach, Ken Carter, a dedicated role model and advocate for students succeeding in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.

Jackson made movie history with his portrayal of a drug addict in Spike Lee’s “Jungle Fever” when he was awarded the first and only Best Supporting Performance Award ever given by the judges at the Cannes Film Festival. He also won the New York Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor for that performance.

Jackson’s other film credits include “XXX: State of the Union,” “The Incredibles,” “Twisted,” “S.W.A.T.,” “XXX,” “Star Wars: Episode II,” “Changing Lanes,” “The Caveman’s Valentine,” “Unbreakable,” “Shaft,” “Star Wars: Episode I,” “Sphere,” “Jackie Brown,” “Die Hard: With a Vengeance,” “True Romance,” “Jurassic Park” and “Patriot Games.”

On television, Jackson starred in John Frankenheimer’s Emmy Award-winning “Against the Wall” for HBO. His performance earned him a Cable Ace nomination as Best Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries, as well as a Golden Globe nomination.

Jackson’s career began upon his graduation from Morehouse College in Atlanta with a degree in dramatic arts. He went on to perform in numerous stage plays, including “Home,” “A Soldier’s Play,” “Sally/Prince” and “The District Line.” He also originated roles in two of August Wilson’s plays at Yale Repertory Theatre. For the New York Shakespeare Festival, Jackson appeared in “Mother Courage and Her Children,” “Spell #7″ and “The Mighty Gents.”

Via PRNewswire

Lincoln And NBA Legend Earvin Magic Johnson Kick Off Football’s Biggest Week

The celebration for football’s biggest week shifts into high gear on Wednesday, February 1, 2006 with an event celebrating some of the game’s greatest names. Ford Motor Company’s luxury brand Lincoln is staging Lincoln Presents: A Legendary Night, a spectacular fund-raising event hosted by Lincoln, NBA icon Earvin “Magic” Johnson and retired NFL great Robert Porcher, III.

Lincoln Presents: A Legendary Night will be held at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and will benefit three charitable organizations; the Magic Johnson Foundation, Porcher & Friends Charities, and the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History.

VIP guests, athletes, celebrities, and patrons of the arts will experience first hand the museums new NFL exhibit “Gridiron to Greatness: African Americans in Professional Football.” It’s a collection of over one hundred pieces of photography, text, art and artifacts, video and memorabilia chronicling the history and contributions of Blacks in professional football, and their place in the rich tradition and history of the National Football League.

The exhibit, which runs through March 26, 2006, explores the issue of racism and the role of sports desegregation. It features football legends and greats such as: Hall of Famer Barry Sanders, Jim Thrower, Hall of Famer Lem Barney, Rodney Peete and Robert Porcher, all of whom will be on-hand to autograph special edition, one-of-a-kind Game Books commemorating the “Gridiron to Greatness” exhibit.

“Ford Motor Company and Lincoln have had a long and proud history with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History and similar institutions across the country that recognize the Black experience in America,” said Darryl Hazel, president, Ford Customer Service Division. “Gridiron to Greatness showcases those who have lived the American Dream through hard work and perseverance, and whose accomplishments we celebrate as a significant mark on the nation’s history.”

The evening’s hosts Hazel, Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Robert Porcher III will lead a poignant tour through the museum’s core exhibit, which takes an unflinching view into the tumultuous journey and uplifting history of African Americans and their experience in America. The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History will additionally grant each attending guest an associate membership to the museum.

A Legendary Night entertainment portion will be just that … legendary! The incomparable Harvey Mason and Friends will be performing live, featuring an incredible line up of entertainers including the song styling of Howard Hewitt and Vesta Williams, with Freddie Washington on Bass, Paul Jackson on Guitar, Everett Harp on Sax and more. The culinary masters at Seldom Blues and Sweet Georgia Brown will provide signature dishes and cocktails throughout the evening.

Guests will enter the lincolnlounge give-a-way where the winner will receive a trip for two to “Vegas Sizzles”, a special Magic Johnson event in Las Vegas during the Memorial Day weekend. The winner will be drawn at random from those who registered on-line during the evening, at Lincoln’s recently launched urban website lincolnlounge.com. For more information on Gridiron to Greatness log onto http://www.maah-detroit.org.

Via PRNewswire

Dates Announced For The 4th Annual Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival

Run & Shoot Filmworks, Inc. recently announced the dates and call for entries for the 4th Annual Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival (MVAAFF). The four-day event runs from Thursday, August 10, through Sunday, August 13, 2006 at various locations in Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs, MA. The festival is currently accepting shorts, documentaries, features and screenplays. The deadline for all entries is Thursday, June 15, 2006. Submission forms are available on the official festival website at www.mvaaff.com.

Dubbed “a filmmaker’s film festival,” the MVAAFF continues to stay true to its original mission: to shine light on the multitude of undiscovered talent which exists in the Black film community. Founded in 2001 by Run & Shoot Filmworks, Inc, a New York-based film production company, the MVAAFF is a fun-filled, inspirational retreat committed to showcasing the works of emerging independent and established filmmakers. Under the keen leadership of the festival’s producers, entertainment industry veterans Floyd A.B. Rance III and Stephanie Tavares-Rance, the MVAAFF continues to gain national awareness and has carved its niche in the ever-growing arena of film fests.

“Since its inception three years ago, the festival has truly become a breeding ground for talent and a foot in the door for countless storytellers,” say the producers, adding that a handful of entries in previous years were acquired by various companies including HBO and Showtime. “The MVAAFF is a wonderful platform for aspiring filmmakers and industry veterans to convene, take advantage of the vast resources we have to offer and discuss the future growth of African-American films.”

Last year the festival screened 50-plus films including the premiere of John Singleton’s action flick Four Brothers. The event attracted more than 1,000 movie buffs and special guests such as multi-talented actors Daphne Maxwell-Reid and Jeffrey Wright; Shelby Stone, executive producer of HBO’s award-winning film Lackawanna Blues and celebrity acting coach Tracey Moore. On the final evening, presenting sponsor Cîroc vodka awarded a $5,000 cash prize to Ron Mayes, winner of the Short Film Competition, for his compelling film State of Grace.

Via PRWEB

National Arbitration Forum Issues Decision on Stevie Wonder’s Domain Name

Grammy award-winning musician and entertainer Stevland Morris (known by the stage name Stevie Wonder) successfully defended his trademark in arbitration following the discovery that stevie-wonder.com was being used by another party.

Stevland Morris a/k/a Stevie Wonder filed a complaint electronically with the National Arbitration Forum asserting legal rights to the domain name stevie wonder.com. The arbitrator found that the domain name was registered by the Respondent, Lad, on April 27, 2000, and resolved to a web page featuring information about the famed musician as well as links to various competing and non-competing commercial websites.

Ruling in Stevie Wonder’s favor, the National Arbitration Forum arbitrator concluded that Wonder had established common law rights in the STEVIE WONDER trademark based on Wonder’s 40+ years of celebrated composing, recording and performing. The arbitrator ruled that stevie-wonder.com was “confusingly similar” to the STEVIE WONDER trademark and that the Respondent registered and used the domain name in bad faith by incorporating the trademark without Wonder’s permission or consent. The arbitrator further ruled that the Respondent, who did not submit a response in the case, lacked legitimate rights to, or interest in, the disputed domain name, and ordered that it be transferred to Wonder.

The decision was reached in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a popular alternative to lengthy and expensive trademark lawsuits. The National Arbitration Forum administers more than 1,000 Internet domain dispute resolutions like that of Stevie Wonder each year.

A copy of the decision, Stevland Morris a/k/a Stevie Wonder v. Lad, is available for viewing on the National Arbitration Forum website at: http://www.arb forum.com/domains/decisions/584849.htm.

Via PRNewswire

The Boondocks Gets Greenlight For Season Two

Adult Swim has given the greenlight for a second season of The Boondocks, the new hit series from creator Aaron McGruder, based on his award-winning comic strip of the same name. The network has ordered 20 new episodes of the series, which is produced by McGruder’s production company, Rebel Base, in association with Sony Pictures Television.

Called “brilliantly funny” and “a water cooler series that lives up to the hype,” the series made its premiere on Sunday, Nov. 6, 2005. It ranked as the best series premiere in Adult Swim history, and has consistently ranked among the top programs on basic cable each week among young adult viewers. This month, The Boondocks was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Comedy Series.

New episodes are expected on Adult Swim in late 2006. Ten episodes of the initial 15-episode order have already aired this season.

“Thank God for The Boondocks and Aaron McGruder,” said Mike Lazzo, Cartoon Network’s senior vice president, programming and production, responsible for Adult Swim.

“Adult Swim’s passion for this show has been evident from day one, and we’re thrilled to be on this journey together. Aaron has created a group of amazing characters that tell entertaining and thought provoking stories, and we are so grateful to have found the perfect home for them,” said Zack Van Amburg, Co-President, Programming & Production for Sony Pictures Television.

In The Boondocks, when Robert “Granddad” Freeman becomes legal guardian of his rambunctious grandkids, he moves from the south side of Chicago to the quiet and safety of “The Boondocks” (in this case, suburban Woodcrest), hoping that he can ignore them altogether and enjoy the fourth quarter of his life in peace. But Huey, a 10-year-old left wing revolutionary, is determined not to enjoy the affluence of suburbia. This attitude is seconded by his 8-year-old brother, Riley, a proud product of contemporary rap culture. Although they torture each other and provoke the neighborhood, they are no match for Granddad, who is eccentric even by “crazy-ass-old-black-man” standards.

Aaron McGruder is creator and executive producer of The Boondocks. The series is produced by Rebel Base in association with Sony Pictures Television. Reginald Hudlin is also an executive producer on the series.

Via BUSINESS WIRE

PBS To Offer Special Programming For Black History Month

From history to culture to drama to independent film, PBS features year-round programming both created by and about African Americans. In honor of Black History Month, PBS will broadcast a variety of new and encore presentations that celebrate the rich history of African Americans. The centerpiece for this month of special programs is a four-hour series by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., which uses genealogy and DNA science to trace the roots of a group of African-American citizens back through American history to Africa.

Other program topics include a look at the little-known founders of the Black Panthers movement, and an examination of a three-night riot that took place in July 1964 in Rochester, New York, which tore the city apart and from which it has never recovered. THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN, the nine-time Emmy Award-winning television movie starring Cicely Tyson (with a new introduction from Queen Latifah), will also be shown. With a breadth and depth that can’t be found anywhere else on television, these compelling programs examine the cultural contributions and distinguished heritage of African Americans.

Broadcast Premieres
AFRICAN AMERICAN LIVES (New)
Wednesdays, February 1-8, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET
Renowned scholar Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., W.E.B. DuBois professor of the Humanities and chair of African and African-American Studies at Harvard University, takes Alex Haley’s Roots saga to a whole new level. Using genealogy and DNA science, Dr. Gates tells the personal stories of eight accomplished African Americans — a neurosurgeon, a TV pioneer/philanthropist, an astronaut, a music entrepreneur, a sociologist, a movie star, a minister and a comedian — tracing their roots through American history and back to Africa.

INDEPENDENT LENS
“Negroes With Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power” (New)
Tuesday, February 7, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings)
Credited with inspiring the Black Power movement, Robert Williams led his North Carolina hometown to defend itself against the Ku Klux Klan and challenge repressive Jim Crow laws. “Negroes With Guns” follows Williams’ journey from southern community leader to exile in Cuba and China, a journey that brought the issue of armed self-defense to the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

INDEPENDENT LENS
“July ’64″ (New)
Tuesday, February 14, 10:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings)
In the summer of 1964, a three-night riot erupted in two predominantly black neighborhoods in downtown Rochester, New York, the culmination of decades of poverty, joblessness and racial discrimination — and a significant event in the Civil Rights era. Using archival footage and interviews with those who were present, “July ’64″ explores the genesis and outcome of these three devastating nights.

FANNIE LOU HAMER: COURAGE AND FAITH (New)
February 2006 (check local listings)
Using archival footage and interviews with those who knew her well and were affected by her actions, this program chronicles the extraordinary life of Fannie Lou Hamer and introduces her to a new, younger generation. Mrs. Hamer attended the 1964 Democratic National Convention as a member of the Mississippi Democratic Freedom Party and challenged the all-white Mississippi delegation. Many credit her presence at the convention as the impetus for the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Interviews include Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC); Dorothy Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women; Rutgers University history professor Clement Price; and numerous members of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party. Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, narrates.

SHARED HISTORY (New)
February 2006 (check local listings)
SHARED HISTORY is the intimate story of the relationship between two families whose connection was forged in slavery and has endured to the present. The filmmaker, the great-great-granddaughter of a slave owner, and Rhonda Kearse, a descendant of one of the enslaved families, seek to understand and reconcile the reality of slavery with the shared lives and affections between the families.

Encore Presentations
AMERICA BEYOND THE COLOR LINE WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listing)
Henry Louis Gates Jr., Harvard’s chair of African-American Studies, travels the length and breadth of the United States to take the temperature of black America at the start of the new century. In four programs, Gates travels to four different parts of America — the East Coast, the deep South, inner- city Chicago and Hollywood. He explores this rich and diverse landscape, social as well as geographic, and meets the people who are defining black America, from the most famous and influential to those at the grassroots.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF MISS JANE PITTMAN (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listings)
PBS presents a rebroadcast of this groundbreaking nine-time Emmy Award- winning television movie from the 1970s. Based on the best-selling novel by Ernest J. Gaines, the fictionalized historical drama from director John Korty follows 110-year-old Jane Pittman, played by Cicely Tyson, on her incredible life journey from the end of the Civil War in the 1860s through the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Through the years, Miss Jane survives the last vestiges of slavery in Louisiana, Jim Crow laws, encounters with the KKK and the slaying of her husband, only to triumph in the end over social injustice. The broadcast includes an introductory segment hosted by Queen Latifah.

THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listings)
This special is the first documentary to provide an in-depth examination of the history and contributions of African-American newspapers. Since the early 1800s, black newspapers have existed in almost every major city in the United States. THE BLACK PRESS: SOLDIERS WITHOUT SWORDS gives life to this fascinating, little-known history by weaving interviews with editors, photographers and journalists of the black press with archival footage, photographs and the music of Grammy Award-winning jazz artist Ron Carter. Stage, screen and television actor Joe Morton narrates the film.

BRIARS IN THE COTTON PATCH: THE STORY OF KOINONIA FARM (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listings)
This program explores the unknown story of Koinonia Farm, which may have been the most daring social experiment in the South during the last century. Blacks and whites lived together on the Georgia farm, broke bread at the same table and were paid the same wages. The commune, started in 1942, became the target of white anger — with bombs, boycotts and shootings. Out of this violent history grew the worldwide movement of Habitat for Humanity International. Former UN Ambassador Andrew Young hosts.

INDEPENDENT LENS
“A Place of Our Own” (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listings)
Stanley Nelson is a third-generation upper middle-class African American who spent the past 40 summers in Oak Bluffs, an affluent African-American resort community on Martha’s Vineyard. Building on personal stories of summers past, “A Place of Our Own” explores the world of black doctors, lawyers and journalists who created social clubs, professional organizations and a refuge for African Americans.

P.O.V. “Chisholm ’72 — Unbought & Unbossed” (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listings)
This documentary recaptures the times and spirit of a watershed event in American politics, when Shirley Chisholm, an African-American woman, dared to take an equal place on the presidential dais. The New York Democratic congresswoman’s bid engendered strong and sometimes bigoted opposition, setting off currents that affect American politics and social perceptions to this day.

SLAVERY AND THE MAKING OF AMERICA (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listings)
This groundbreaking series chronicles the institution of American slavery from its origins in 1619 — when English settlers in Virginia purchased 20 Africans from Dutch traders — through the arrival of the first 11 slaves in the northern colonies (in Dutch New Amsterdam), the American Revolution, the Civil War, the adoption of the 13th Amendment and Reconstruction. With such unprecedented breadth come entirely new perspectives on and facts about slavery. These new perspectives challenge many long-held notions (such as the idea that slavery was strictly a southern institution; it was, in fact, a national institution) and highlight the contradictions of a country that was founded on the principle of “liberty and justice for all” but embraced slavery. Morgan Freeman narrates.

THIS FAR BY FAITH: AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUAL JOURNEYS (Encore)
February 2006 (check local listings)
In six hours of powerful storytelling, THIS FAR BY FAITH examines the African-American religious experience through the last three centuries. From the arrival of the early African slaves through the Civil War, reconstruction, Jim Crow, the great depression, the civil rights era and into the 21st century, the series explores the connections between faith and the development of African-American cultural values. Lorraine Toussaint (“Any Day Now,” “Crossing Jordan”) narrates.

Via PRNewswire

All-Star Cast Lend Voices To The Adventures of Brer Rabbit

“The Adventures of Brer Rabbit,” an all-new full-length animated feature based on Dr. Julius Lester’s prized adaptations of the classic tales, comes to DVD March 21, 2006 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Parents and children alike will delight in the rib-tickling adventures of the resourceful and mischievous Brer Rabbit as he gleefully outwits his animal friends with clever schemes that keep them guessing what he’ll try next! Fun filled bonus features, including games and activities, make “The Adventures of Brer Rabbit” the perfect treat for any Easter basket and a lasting treasure for the whole family. With an irresistible soundtrack created especially for this film, “The Adventures of Brer Rabbit” is a lively, heartwarming classic that will be watched over and over again.

The all-star voice cast includes Danny Glover (“Antz,” “The Color Purple”) as Brer Turtle, Wayne Brady (“Roll Bounce,” “The Wayne Brady Show”) as Brer Wolf, D.L. Hughley (“Scary Movie 3,” “The Hughleys”) as Brer Fox, Wanda Sykes (“Monster-in-Law,” “Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps”) as Sister Moon, and Nick Cannon (“Drumline,” “Love Don’t Cost a Thing”) as Brer Rabbit, the playful trickster at the center of all the action. Spirited and entertaining, “The Adventures of Brer Rabbit” updates the richly imaginative oral tradition of African and African-American folk tales first put down in writing by Joel Chandler Harris more than 100 years ago and more recently recognized by acclaimed author Dr. Julius Lester. The DVD is priced at $22.98 SRP. Preorder close is February 14, 2006.

Via PRNewswire

New Artists Added to the 2006 Essence Music Festival Lineup

Essence Festivals, LLC., officials announced today that hip hop veteran LL Cool J, comedian/actor Cedric “The Entertainer” and R&B legend Maze featuring Frankie Beverly will join previously announced Queen Of Hip Hop Soul Mary J. Blige, at the 2006 Essence Music Festival, July 1, 2 and 3. The Festival will take place in its new interim home, state-of-the-art Reliant Park in Houston, Texas — a city with a dynamic melting pot of cultures and a venue for world-class shopping, restaurants and nightlife. ESSENCE will continue to work closely with city and state officials to help rebuild the city of New Orleans and its educational system.

Additional stellar artists will be announced in coming weeks.

The Essence Music Festival, known as “the party with a purpose,” is the nation’s largest annual African-American event and gathering of musical talent in the world. The Festival has become a destination of choice for families and friends as they schedule their reunions. This multigenerational Festival offers free Empowerment Seminars during the day and exciting performances at night, where Festivalgoers can dance and sing along with the biggest names in entertainment-rhythm and blues, classic soul, hip-hop, neo-soul and jazz.

Via PRNewswire

Jeremy Miller Takes the Helm of The Source Magazine

The Board of Directors of Source Enterprises, Inc., the parent company for The Source magazine, announces industry veteran Jeremy Miller as the new president and chief executive officer of the magazine.

Miller was instrumental in The Source’s success as he worked for the magazine for nearly 15 years by building the magazine’s circulation and serving as Chief Operating Officer where he was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the magazine and its publishing division. Miller currently publishes Down magazine, a magazine he created, a year ago, when he left The Source. Down magazine is dedicated to southern hip-hop music and culture and continues to be published.

“Having worked at The Source for the past 15 years, I am pleased to assume the position of CEO and restore the magazine to its rightful position as the preeminent hip hop magazine,” says Miller. “I am confident with new leadership, along with valued members of the current editorial department and staff that we will wholeheartedly bring our collective expertise, journalistic talent and passion for hip-hop to the table to execute and distribute an exceptional hip-hop ‘bible’ for the readers.”

David Mays, previous CEO and Ray “Benzino” Scott, former president of The Source magazine were terminated by The Board of Directors of Source Enterprises, Inc. At this point, they are fully cooperating with the board’s transition.

Via PRNewswire

Nelly Dominates The Charts With His Newest #1 Smash Hit Grillz

Universal Records’ multi-talented, multi-platinum superstar Nelly can add yet another milestone to his phenomenal career stats, as he becomes one of music’s most consistent, multi-format #1 hit-slingers. The St. Louis based rap icon lands his fourth #1 single on Billboard’s “Hot 100 Singles” chart with his smash hit “Grillz,” featuring Paul Wall and Ali & Gipp. His previous “Hot 100″ #1 hits include “Hot In Herre” and “Dilemma” in 2002, and 2003′s “Shake Ya Tailfeather.”

“Grillz,” a catchy song that showcases the growingly popular street trend of putting removable custom-fitted jewelry (mostly diamonds and platinum) on the teeth, was initially geared and promoted as a “street” single. However, the song and video have continued to gain momentum exceeding initial expectations. “Grillz” currently dominates all radio formats, claiming the #1 spot on the rap, urban mainstream and crossover radio airplay charts. It has remained the #1 song on the Rap chart for 5 weeks in a row, while maintaining the #1 spot on the R&B/Hip-Hop charts for 3 weeks consecutively; making “Grillz” 2006′s first multi-format #1 hit song. And due to the song’s increasing popularity, the label recently shipped the record to the Top 40 format where it’s expected to become Nelly’s 12th Top 10 hit.

The “Grillz” video is currently the #1 video on MTV and also ranks in the Top 5 on the network’s live daily countdown show, TRL. The Fat Cats-directed clip has been the #1 video on BET for the past two weeks, while consistently ranking in the Top 5 on the channel’s signature show 106 & Park throughout December and January. The song is also exploding at iTunes, Yahoo and AOL and is quickly becoming a top-selling 2006 digital download. And as of January 24th, two versions of “Grillz” will be available as ringtones at all telecom carriers.

“Grillz” is a new song from SWEATSUIT, a CD compilation that combines Nelly’s 2004, ground-breaking, simultaneously-released albums Sweat and Suit. The 3x Grammy winner has sold nearly 30 million albums worldwide and has established himself as one of the world’s most successful artist/entrepreneur/actors. His self-launched imprint with Universal Records, Derrty Ent. is gearing up for Ali & Gipp’s Kinfolk collaboration and Murphy Lee’s sophomore album.

Via PRNewswire

50 Cent: Bulletproof Becomes a Blockbuster Hit at Retail

Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced that 50 Cent: Bulletproof, the hit title created in collaboration with hip-hop music sensation 50 Cent, has sold through more than one million units.* Since its global launch in late-November, 50 Cent: Bulletproof has been in high demand at retail stores in the U.S. and U.K.

“The exciting convergence of gaming and music helped make 50 Cent: Bulletproof one of GameStop’s top selling titles in the month of December,” said Bob McKenzie, Sr. Vice President of Merchandising.

50 Cent: Bulletproof boasts over four CDs worth of music including new exclusive music by 50 Cent, more than a dozen music videos and tons of bonus features. It is available for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system and Xbox(R) video game and entertainment system from Microsoft.

“Gamers and 50 fans alike have enthusiastically responded to the groundbreaking fusion of frenetic gameplay and the lyrical imagery of the exclusive 50 Cent music tracks in 50 Cent: Bulletproof,” said Cindy Cook, Chief Strategy and Marketing Officer, VU Games. “The strong sales of Bulletproof underscore the undeniable appeal of the artist, his music and the engaging interactive experience that this game delivers.”

More information about the game can be found at http://www.50centbulletproof.com/.

Via PRNewswire

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