DEFENDER NEWS NETWORK — Because she allegedly didn’t pay her rent for years (and got away with it), La Toya Jackson is being ordered to pay a $360,000 bill. […read more]
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN – RECORDER — For Ci Ci Cooper and daughter Khadijah Cooper, not only didn’t the apple fall far from the tree, it didn’t bother to roll. […read more]
DEFENDER NEWS NETWORK — Tyler Perry’s says he’s finally ready to retire the ‘Madea’ Franchise for good and fans will get to say goodbye to the character with his upcoming Tyler Perry’s a Madea Family Funeral. […read more]
JACKSONVILLE FREE PRESS — “In the years of Cosby’s foolishness it’s hard to believe he would believe he could do the same things as the big time White boys, but it is impossible for me to believe that those women couldn’t find anyone in the country who would listen to or believe them if they had accused Cosby of sexual assault. Most press organizations would have jumped all over such charges with wall-to-wall coverage. I will not speculate as to why they didn’t go public with their accusations against Cosby…” […read more]
THE AFRO — A series of Baltimore Police Department (BPD) scandals since the death of Freddie Gray in police custody and the subsequent uprising, have garnered national headlines. But, over the weekend the negative national commentary on Baltimore police misconduct reached a new level. […read more]
LOS ANGELES WAVE — The tremendous imprint of one of the entertainment industry’s biggest icons continues with this weekend’s release of “Michael Jackson’s Thriller,” digitally re-mastered and presented in IMAX 3D for the first time. […read more]
NORTH DALLAS GAZETTE — This weekend and next week your entertainment calendar is filled with choices for foodies, concert lovers and comedians. Also, you can plan ahead by entering to win tickets to the State Fair of Texas, the State Fair Classic Game and the Dallas Children’s Theatre’s Treasure of Island Reimagined! […read more]
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER — South Minneapolis’ unofficial annual community reunion kicked off Saturday, September 1 with an afternoon of family, free food and fun at Phelps Park. The ninth annual Southside Back in the Day Community Celebration was an old (and new) school jam of residents from Phelps, King, Bryant and Central neighborhoods showing off their Southside pride. […read more]
Global music icon B.B. King is buried at the museum that bears his name in Indianola, Miss. […read more]
THE WASHINGTON INFORMER — You owe it to yourself, to your friends, family and especially your children to see this delightful show that takes us along the road of a broken, abused Black woman in the South who holds on fiercely to love – the strength it yields and the joy that it can provide – until, at long last, she triumphs. […read more]
“Respect” singer Aretha Franklin is gravely ill.
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“Josephine Baker: Black Diva in a White Man’s World” will be one of the highlights of the 12th annual African Diaspora International Film Festival in Washington, D.C. The festival begins Friday, August 17. […read more]
“The American King: As Told by an African Priestess” is a new film, written and directed by Jeta Amata, that delivers a different perspective on the connection between the African Diaspora and Black American culture. […read more]
By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Film Critic By now you know what to expect from Mission: Impossible movies… Daredevil action scenes, breakneck speeds, cunning espionage, inventive direction, top production quality and spot-on performances. Mission: Impossible – Fallout, doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It just ups Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA News Wire Film Critic) He likes to play the hero (Rampage). He does it all the time (San Andreas). It’s what his fans expect (Hercules). His films made him the second-highest grossing movie star of 2017. So, can Dwayne Johnson continue Read More
Joseph Jackson, the patriarch of the Jackson family of superstars, has died. […read more]
Jackson family patriarch Joseph Jackson is terminally ill following a long battle with cancer.
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NNPA Newswire Film Critic Dwight Brown says that “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” worked its magic in its own way, even if its aura doesn’t have a long-lasting effect. […read more]
ABC cancelled “Roseanne” after the star sent a racist tweet about President Obama advisor Valerie Jarrett. […read more]
NNPA Newswire Film Critic Dwight Brown says that “Deadpool 2” isn’t better or worse than “Deadpool.” It’s just different. Deadpool 2 gets 3.5 stars out of 5 stars in our movie review. […read more]
“PIONEERS: Reginald F. Lewis and the Making of a Billion Dollar Empire” was featured during a star-studded reception at the Cannes Film Festival. NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. co-hosted the event. […read more]
A Norristown jury found comedian Bill Cosby on three counts of aggravated indecent sexual assault in the Andrea Constand case. Some legal experts said that Cosby might get another trial. […read more]
Hilton joins in honoring Black Hollywood’s luminary achievers at the 2018 American Black Film Festival (ABFF) Honors at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California. […read more]
John Boyega delivers a solid performance in Pacific Rim Uprising. […read more]
“Flava In Ya Ear” Rapper Craig Mack Dead At 46. […read more]
Bill Cosby’s new criminal trial on the 2004 sexual assault allegations begins April 2, 2018. Photo taken of Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt (left) leading the comedian into court during his trial last summer at the Montgomery County Courthouse on June 5, 2017 in Norristown, Pennsylvania. […read more]
Jesse Holland’s novel “Black Panther: Who is the Black Panther?” gives readers an in-depth look into T’Challa’s world and the lives of the other characters—like Nakia and Princess Shuri—in Marvel’s groundbreaking “Black Panther” comic book series and new film. […read more]
Andrea Constand, the woman at the center of Bill Cosby’s upcoming sexual assault trial, received a $3.5 million settlement from the comedian in 2006.
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Jordan Peele made history as the first African American filmmaker to win an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for “Get Out.” […read more]
Bill Cosby’s last sexual assault trial ended with a deadlocked jury. The new trial will begin April 2. Cosby has maintained his innocence in the case, involving accuser Andrea Constand, from the beginning. […read more]
‘Race to Judgment’ is a reality-fiction novel dedicated to the legacy of Kenneth Thompson Brooklyn’s first Black District Attorney. SelectBooks published ‘Race to Judgment.’ […read more]
“Black Panther” scored $75.8 million on opening day and $192 million over the weekend. […read more]
NNPA Newswire Film Critic Dwight Brown reviews filmmaker Ryan Coogler’s adaptation of Marvel’s Black Panther in theaters now. […read more]
Armstrong Williams (NNPA Newswire Columnist) As the United States becomes increasingly diverse, the necessity for that diversity to be reflected in business becomes all the more important. As one of only three African American owned TV station licensees in the country, I recently wrote the Read More
By Lauren Poteat (NNPA Newswire Contributing Writer) Jenifer Lewis, affectionately nicknamed “Auntie” in Black Hollywood, recently made a special appearance at the Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. where she shared the trials, tribulations and triumphs of her journey to superstardom, while Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) As we look back on the highest caliber films of 2017, the array is diverse, the talent is strong and the entertainment value is solid. These are the films that will make you laugh, cry, think, hug someone Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Entertainer and activist Ossie Davis would be 100 years old if he was alive today. Yet, it’s impossible to celebrate his life without also honoring the storied career of his wife and life partner, Ruby Dee. Given the Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Wow! This is the event movie of the year. So much action; so much haunting drama and raw emotion. And it doesn’t just build to one climax; it crescendos from one climax, Read More
By Arizona Informant Staffers (Arizona Informant/NNPA Member) More than 700 of the nation’s most influential DJs, artists, publicists, models and program directors came together for The Core DJs 28th annual retreat in Phoenix, Ariz. The summit was full of networking, compelling discussions about the industry, Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Della Reese, the legendary actress and star of the classic movie “Harlem Nights” and the long-running CBS drama “Touched by an Angel,” died on Sunday, November 19. She was 86. From Reese’s memorable appearances in movies like “A Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Thomas McClary, the legendary founder of the super group the Commodores, has a new book that takes readers on a journey through Motown, the Civil Rights Movement and a backstage war for the ages. McClary, who co-founded the Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars Denzel Washington may be the most accomplished actor of our generation. Like a chameleon, he’s morphed from the stern father in “Fences” to a dorky, introverted attorney in this meandering crime-drama/thriller. His Read More
By Stacy Brown (The Washington Informer/NNPA Member) Fats Domino, the rock pioneer who inspired Elvis Presley, the Beatles and countless other superstars, died Wednesday at his home in Harvey, Louisiana. He was 89. Mark Bone, chief investigator for the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office, told NPR Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Family members, friends and fans are grieving the loss of television and stage icon Robert Guillaume, who died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. Guillaume, 89, is survived by his second wife, Donna Brown, a son and three daughters. Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Considering all of his major accomplishments, why hasn’t someone made a film about Thurgood Marshall’s life that was comprehensive? He was the lawyer who won the Brown v. Board of Education United States Supreme Court case, the founder Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Jamaican model Danisha Carmala Scott, the 2009 Miss Jamaica World Model Fast Track Winner, traveled more than 1,500 miles, all the way to the Big Apple, for New York Fashion Week (NYFW) on a mission to get signed Read More
By Lauren Poteat (NNPA Newswire Contributor) During a star-studded showcase of social activism, creativity and courage, BET celebrated the achievements of Black women and girls at the “Black Girls Rock! 2017” awards show. Taraji P. Henson, the award-winning actress and star of the hit television Read More
By Barrington M. Salmon (NNPA Newswire Contributor) For Juan De Marcos González, there are three pillars that are constants in his life: family, spirituality and music. From his days as a relative unknown paying his dues, to the enviable position he now occupies, each of Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) “Detroit” tells a story of racial injustice and police brutality, based on fact, which is easy enough to believe and has parallels with today’s problems with police criminality and impunity. But since this important subject is not new, Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) This hilarious and relentlessly bawdy take on a girls’ weekend reunion in New Orleans is following in the footsteps of some very popular female-appeal movies like “Sex In the City” and “Bridesmaids.” But “Girls Trip” is not a Read More
By Dorothy Rowley (The Washington Informer/NNPA Member) Famed R&B crooner Lloyd Price, known in his heyday as “Mr. Personality,” has long enjoyed what few of his peers can claim: a nearly 70-year career as a shining star in the entertainment business. The Kenner, La., singer-songwriter, Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) The job of a good documentary is to probe, uncover and get answers to tough questions. The job of a promotional reel is to exalt its subject. This non-fiction film lays squarely in-between. On some levels it’s revealing. Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Bill Cosby will face another criminal prosecution. A trial date of November 6 has been set by Montgomery County Judge Steven O’Neill, the District Attorney announced via Twitter on Thursday. In June, a 12-member jury split on whether Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) NORRISTOWN—Saturday morning, Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill finally bent to the will of the jury and declared a mistrial in Bill Cosby’s sexual assault case. “The legacy remains intact,” said Andrew Wyatt, the longtime spokesman for the Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Bill Cosby said he channeled Nelson Mandela when prosecutors offered him a deal just before his trial for aggravated indecent assault started nearly two weeks ago, the NNPA Newswire has learned exclusively. The iconic comedian said he recalled Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) The jury remains deadlocked in the Bill Cosby trial, as it seems increasingly obvious that the judge in the case is trying to coax—or perhaps force—a decision from jurors. Judge Steven O’Neill appeared angry—or frustrated—at 9 p.m. Thursday Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Marguerite Jackson’s testimony in the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial might have changed the course of history, but the jury will never hear it. Even though Judge Steven O’Neill allowed testimony from Andrea Constand’s neighbor, who said the Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) For more than 17 years, Nicole Henry has been singing and performing in front of fans, friends, family members and industry leaders. Now, the jazz sensation will face a much tougher crowd: publishers and journalists. Henry is scheduled Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) In Norristown, Pennsylvania—a small, but not quite sleepy town just south of Philadelphia—Bill Cosby stands trial, accused of sexually assaulting Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee. While the trial started with the theatrics of an episode of Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) The third day of the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial was a decidedly bad day for the iconic comedian, as testimony from his accuser and her mother may have swayed weary jury, that might be growing tired of Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) (Warning: Contains some graphic descriptions) NORRISTOWN—The Bill Cosby trial was turned on its head on Tuesday as the prosecution’s star witness, Andrea Constand, took the stand and told jurors that the comedian left her humiliated and confused. Constand, Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) (Warning: Contains some graphic descriptions) NORRISTOWN—On the first day of the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial, Kristen Feden, a Montgomery County, Pa., assistant district attorney, said that Cosby’s own words, taken from police statements and a deposition, would Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) If anyone’s been asking whatever happened to Ruben Studdard, they probably haven’t been paying too much attention. In the 13 years since he brightened the world of pop music with his American Idol-winning romantic balladry, Studdard has warmed Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (The Washington Informer/NNPA Member) The arguments go back and forth. Detractors of comedian Bill Cosby say he made his bed and should suffer the consequences. Supporters argue that greed, extortion and a campaign to distort his legacy, by alleged racists, have Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Rarely do urban tales balance authenticity with solid drama elements and strong emotion. “Boyz n the Hood” and “Straight Outta Compton” are perfect examples. “Lowriders” is in their league; it checks all the boxes: acting, direction, writing and Read More
By Delaney George (Data News Weekly/NNPA Member) Fashion is not just the clothes, the hair, the shoes or the accessories; fashion is every little element combined that makes “the look.” Make-up is one of those crucial elements that can make or break your desired look. Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) “My music is the spiritual expression of what I am…I want to be the force that is truly for good.” It was a while before the legendary jazz musician and saxophonist John Coltrane got to a place where Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) “Trainspotting” was a breakthrough film back in 1996. An edgy, eccentric blend of debauchery and rebellion set to one of the best British rock soundtracks ever made. Twenty years later, the original director Danny Boyle (“Slumdog Millionaire,” “28 Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Bee Bop. Jazz. The 1950s and 1960s were a hotbed for cool music, and the hip musicians, who played those genres on records and in smoky, dimly lit nightclubs, were a special breed. Years later, most people still Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (The Washington Informer/NNPA Member) Joni Sledge, the second eldest sister in the hit pop group Sister Sledge, died of a preexisting medical condition, according to TMZ. Sledge passed away at home in Phoenix, Ariz., on Friday, March 11. She was 60 Read More
By K.P. Williams Pop, Rock, Jazz, and Classical. These are all separate genres of music. But what happens when you put two of them together? You get “opera in jazz” rather than “jazz opera,” according to jazz musician and opera composer Terence Blanchard, who is Read More
By Lauren Victoria Burke (NNPA Newswire Contributor) During an unexpected made-for-Hollyood moment, “Moonlight,” a film directed by African American Director Barry Jenkins, took the award for Best Picture over favorites such as “La La Land” and “Hidden Figures.” The film is a complex coming of Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) He’s back. At least on social media. Perhaps buoyed by several recent – and scarcely reported court victories and even a measure of improving health – legendary comedian Bill Cosby has returned to Twitter to celebrate Black History Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) In her book, “Hidden Figures,” author Margot Lee Shetterly pays homage to the African-American women who worked as human computers in the space program. It’s a book that’s spawned an Academy Award-nominated movie and has brought to the Read More
By Lauren Victoria Burke (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Looks like the myth that Black films can’t make big money in Hollywood is about to become a thing of the past. In early February, “Hidden Figures” passed “La La Land” as the top-grossing (domestically) Oscar-nominated film in Read More
By Lauren Victoria Burke (NNPA Newswire Contributor) On February 1, the first day of Black History Month, the National Museum of African American History and Culture premiered the Oscar-nominated documentary “I Am Not Your Negro,” which features commentary by James Baldwin. The film is a Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) The mark of a brilliant actor is that he or she can give a compelling performance even in a film that doesn’t shine. That’s the case with Idris Elba, as he nearly saves this light, interwoven contemporary London Read More
xXx: The Return of Xander Cage Trailer 1 (2017) Vin Diesel Action Movie HD [Official Trailer] […read more]
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) “Rock. Paper. Scissors. Grenade launcher.” Those are some of the essential power-play components in this badass action film. Vin Diesel, the lord of “The Fast and the Furious” franchise, has just upped the mojo of his spy-thriller “xXx” Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (The Washington Informer/NNPA Member) Bill Cosby continued his vigorous defense of his innocence and his famous brand last Thursday as the iconic, but troubled, comedian’s legal team argued that public statements in his defense are not defamatory. Cosby’s lawyer, Angela C. Read More
By Edward Henderson (San Diego Voice and Viewpoint/NNPA Member) Imagine being in the running to direct the newest Spiderman film. What kind of script would have to cross your desk to make you drop out of consideration? For me, it would have to be something Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) As we go forward, movies guide us. They give us directions. They motivate us. They provide rest stops, comic relief and flashbacks to the past. And they reassure us that we will thrive. It’s a perfect time to Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) James Baldwin, the intellectual, civil rights activist and renowned author, left behind some biting and enlightening words about racism and the status of the Black community that are just as relevant today in this age of the Black Read More
Rocking That Style! Aunni’s Fashion and Beauty Column By Andrea “Aunni” Young (AFRO/NNPA Member) Celebrity beauty expert and Bluffa Jo Cosmetics creator Maisie Dunbar once told her social media followers “God sent me to Ghana for 2015 Mercedes Benz Fashion Week,” and that “Ghana chose Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Steve Harvey has a lot on his plate these days. The comedian, who is beloved by millions, has been busy preparing for the reboot of the classic “Showtime at the Apollo” talent contest that will air on Fox. Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) It must have been two weeks of pure hell for First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. First there was November 22, 1963 to November 25, the time span between the assassination of her husband and his funeral. Then the Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Saroo Brierley, a five-year old boy from a small town in India, got lost on a train ride, wound up at the massive Howrah Junction railway station in Calcutta and became an orphaned street kid. An Australian couple Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Watching this humorous film is like getting a funny greeting card that makes you laugh as it warms your heart. This ode to the joy and angst people feel as their family reconvenes for the certain chaos, gluttony Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Nearly 40 years ago, “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” set the bar very high for sci-fi films that eschewed conventional all-out action sequences and garnered their strength from immense suspense, evocative visuals and mind-numbing mystery. “Arrival” is Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) For a long time it was a forbidden love. Through slavery, the reconstruction era, on into the 20th century, particularly in the South, interracial romantic relations were looked down on and marriages were illegal. Anti-miscegenation laws were on Read More
By Lauren Victoria Burke (NNPA Newswire Contributor) Some films rely on pyrotechnics and special effects to get attention. Other films are jolting just by retelling a true story in a direct way. The film “Loving,” released earlier this month, is the latter. “Loving,” which highlights Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) The 2016 New Orleans Film Festival kicked off its 27th year by opening with the U.S. premiere of Rob Reiner’s new film LBJ. That genius bit of programming was due to the high quality of the presidential bio Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) In just his second feature film, writer/director Barry Jenkins tells a compelling story about sexual repression and ambiguity through the eyes of a vulnerable and confused little boy, who grows up to question his sexual identity as a Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) Has success spoiled Kevin Hart? Forbes Magazine lists him as 2016’s highest paid comedian with an annual income of $87.5 million, from June 1, 2015, to June 1, 2016. Unlike many of his cohorts (Jerry Seinfeld, etc.) Hart Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) The New York Film Festival celebrated its 54th year by trying something new. For the first time in history, its Opening Night World Premiere was a documentary. Even more noteworthy, this non-fiction film is by director Ava DuVernay Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Wire Service Film Critic) Finally, a filmmaker unearths one of the biggest secrets in American history: slave revolts. It’s a lesson rarely mentioned in history books, though it’s common knowledge to anyone who has taken a Black History course. Kudos to Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) In the original 1960s The Magnificent Seven, seven gunfighters assembled to help a Mexican peasant village fight off villains. That’s the basic premise. This 2016 version is an update that blends old classic Westerns with a new Western Read More
By Dwight Brown (NNPA Newswire Film Critic) For 41 years the Toronto International Film Festival has attracted the world’s best films and built and audience. At the 2016 festival, 480,000 film lovers filled seats, screened movies and experienced the festivities. Credit TIFF’s Artistic Director Cameron Read More
By Stacy M. Brown (NNPA Newswire Contributor) The struggles of an interracial marriage, families divided by race, religion and politics and the conversion of one Jewish woman to Islam are all upcoming segments that will be featured on Bishop T.D. Jakes’ new talk show which Read More
[FORWARDTIMES.COM/NNPA MEMBER] Oprah Winfrey is learning a thing or two from her network’s new drama series ‘Queen Sugar.’ The veteran talk show host revealed to Entertainment Weekly that a scene from the Ava DuVernay-helmed show gave her an idea for her longtime beau, Stedman Graham. Read More
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