Posted in Black Joy, Celebration, Feature Spotlight, On The Radar

Black History Month #FanFilmFavorites at AMC Theaters!!

Just in case you might have missed it or you just want to enjoy a fan favorite for the second time!!

It’s that time of the year again where AMC Theatres is offering moviegoers a chance to see fan favorites for only $5 this Black History Month. AMC has announced their Black History Month $5 Fan Faves promotion set to run through the entire month of February, offering four different movies that celebrate Black culture and feature Black filmmakers, writers and actors.

The promotion is available at 175 AMC locations across the U.S. showing a different curated film each week of the month. Each week of the promotion in February, AMC Theatres will select one of the curated films for two showings a day. The included movies are:

  • February 2-8: “The Equalizer 3” 
  • February 9-15: “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
  • February 16-22: “The Color Purple”
  • February 23-February 29: “Soul”

“Black filmmakers and actors have given the world some of the most inspiring and captivating cinematic experiences, and that tradition has continued over the past few years with some amazing films that span multiple genres,” in a statement from AMC.

Moviegoers can check their local theatre’s participation and get tickets online at amctheatres.com.

Posted in Black Joy, Celebration, Feature Spotlight, On The Radar

Highlighting Black Excellence in the 2023-24 Golden Globe Nominees!!

It’s that time of year again…Award Season is upon us!! With the releasing of the Golden Globe nominations on yesterday many of us could not wait to see who was in the running. Considering the lack of content (due to the writers and actors strikes) I was very curious as to who would get a chance at winning the golden statue. This was especially the case regarding Black excellence !!

So let me take a moment to highlight Black Excellence with the 2023-24 Golden Globe nominees, check them out below:

Best Actress in a musical or comedy (Film)

  • Fantasia Barrino, Celie in The Color Purple

Best Supporting Actress (Film)

  • Danielle Brooks, Sofia in The Color Purple
  • Da’Vine Joy Randolph, The Holdovers

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy (Television)

  • Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary

Best Actor in a Drama (Film)

  • Colman Domingo, Bayard Rustin in Rustin

Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy

  • Jeffrey Wright, Thelonious “Monk” Ellison in American Fiction

Best Actor (Limited Series, Anthology, or TV Movie)

  • David Oyelowo, Bass Reeves in Lawmen: Bass Reeves

Best Original Song

  • Lenny Kravitz, “Road to Freedom”

Best Musical or Comedy Series (Television)

  • Abbott Elementary

Best Animated Film and Cinematic and Box Office Achievement in Motion Pictures

  • Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse

Best Stand-Up Comedian On Television

  • Trevor Noah: “Trevor Noah: Where Was I”
  • Chris Rock: “Selective Outrage”
  • Wanda Sykes: “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer”

The Golden Globes Ceremony will air live on CBS on January 7th, 2024, 8-11 pm/ET (You can also stream on Paramount+ and the CBS app).

Posted in On the Desk..., On The Radar, Resources

For All My Richmond, VA Folks!! Banned Book Swap-Virginia Teach Truth Day of Action

Teach Truth Day of Action is co-coordinated by representatives of Black Lives Matter at School, the Virginia Education Association, and the National Education Association. It is one of many Teach Truth Day of Action events being held across the United States at historic sites. 

As states like Virginia are seeing an increase in book bans it is essential to counter those outside voices!! This is an outdoor event where teachers, young scholars, community members, and educational leaders can come together to learn, teach the truth, and support the freedom to read!

All are invited to come with a book and leave with a (different) book!!

See more information below:

Saturday, June 10, 2023
2:30pm – 4:00pm 

Sacred African Burial Ground in Shockoe Bottom 1554 E Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219

Banned Book Links

Top 11 Most Banned Books of the 2022-2023 School Year, Pen America
Top 10 Most Banned Books of the 2021-2022 School Year, Pen America
Banned Books, ACLU
Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2010-2019, American Library Association
Top 100 Most Banned and Challenged Books: 2000-2009, American Library Association
Banned Books Week: Defend the Right to Study People’s History, Zinn Education Project

Additional Information

  • How to Book Swap: Bring a book in good condition to trade. It can be used or new (there have been banned books at just about every used book store or thrift store we have visited). You will come with one book and leave with another. 
  • Altar/Ancestor Table Offering: There will be an opportunity to make an offering to the sacred ground. You can bring an item to leave such as flowers, fruit, bread, etc. or bring a personal item that you want to put on the altar during the gathering, but take with you after such as jewelry, photos, trinkets, etc.