~ AN AFROCENTRIC GATEKEEPERS PALACE FOR INFORMATION ~


Otta Benga, Formerly Enslaved
The Epitome of a Nubian Knight

Otta Benga, Formerly Enslaved<br>The Epitome of a Nubian Knight

Followers of Nubian Knights Network
"Thanks For The Support Everybody!!!"

QUOTATIONS OF "BLACK"

"Whenever I use BLACK it relates to some history of Africans in that particular place. It’s the idea of the color BLACK as a metaphor, or as a representation of African-Americans. It’s the notion of BLACK- BLACKNESS - and all its other meanings in relation to the history of race..."

- Fred Wilson



"Most of my fortitude to continue doing the work comes from the moral outrage I feel about the injustices that Black people endure disproportionately daily."

- N. Abdul-Wakil



"In the end, what matters is not skin shade but pan-African consciousness. Loving your complexion, your nose, lips, hair length and texture, no matter what the politics or trends decide, and simply be. That's the problem with us (African folks). We're still learning how to love ourselves. So used to glorifying others and putting others first..."

- Dredlocks Tree

The REEL Black Same Gender Loving Filmography Resource (A 24/7 ONLINE FILM DATABASE)

The REEL Black Same Gender Loving Filmography Resource (A 24/7 ONLINE FILM DATABASE)
Click The Pic To Access The Film Library Database! (166 Films)
LAST UPDATE: Monday, December 3rd, 2012

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Net Neutrality FAQ: What's in it for You


Net Neutrality FAQ: What's in it for You
Tim Greene, Network World
Oct 24, 2009 3:51 pm




The FCC has approved a notice of proposed rule making on the subject of net neutrality, and here are a few questions and answers to help shine a light on what that means. (See "FCC takes first step toward net neutrality rules") What exactly did the FCC do? The FCC agreed to consider what regulations, if any, to impose on ISPs (Internet Service Providers: Cablevision, Time Warner, Verizon DSL/Fios, etc. - BIG ROD) about the applications and services that they allow, ban or rate limit. The process calls for formally proposing rules and holding public hearings on them. A vote about the rules themselves will take place sometime next year.

What is net neutrality anyway?

It is the common name for creating and preserving what the FCC calls the "open Internet". The FCC is trying to write rules that enforce six principles it says ISPs must uphold to preserve what the commission calls the "open Internet." These rules would tell ISPs to:
  • allow sending and receiving all lawful content.
  • allow all lawful applications and services.
  • allow all lawful devices that don't harm the network.
  • allow access to all network, application, service and content providers.
  • ensure there is no discrimination against particular lawful content, applications, services and devices.
  • reveal practices necessary network management that might limit the other five principles.
Who wants it?

A majority of the FCC, Google and other Internet-based companies, consumer advocacy groups and Internet luminaries such as Vinton Cerf and Tim Berners-Lee. They fear that without rules, ISPs will impose tiered service levels, making the top-level services so expensive as to rule out their use by innovators trying to start Internet-based businesses. They are also concerned that selectively banning certain applications such as VoIP will reduce consumer choice about how to make voice calls. There have been cases where ISPs blocked VoIP and rate-limited peer-to-peer traffic like that used for gaming and file sharing.

Who's opposed to it?

The loudest opposition comes from AT&T, Verizon and other Internet providers. They say the rules would block charging extra for premium services, the financial incentive they need to invest in network upgrades that keep traffic running smoothly. They say the rules would unfairly restrict what they call differentiating services that might justify higher rates than competitors charge. They say the consequences of net-neutrality rules would be one of two things: higher flat rates for services or paying by the byte for Internet traffic. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also has introduced a bill to block the FCC's net neutrality rules.

What does it mean to businesses?

If net neutrality prompts higher Internet access rates for all-you-can-eat ISP services, businesses would have higher ISP bills. Usage-based fees might or might not increase costs to individual businesses depending on how much they use the Internet. Businesses that rely on the Internet to provide services might face decreased demand if their customers are forced to buy more-expensive services in order to consume their products. For example, a business that sells HD video downloads over the Internet might sell less if customers have to buy premium Internet access in order to enjoy a movie.

What does it mean to carriers?

Carriers fear net neutrality will restrict their ability to make money off their networks to the point that they will slow the rate at which they invest in network improvements that boost Internet performance. They also say they buy into the principles of an open Internet and that no rules are needed.

What does it mean to residential Internet users?

Flat monthly rates that are common now would likely remain, but ISPs might charge more for them. Or they might shift over to billing for the amount customers download, forcing customers to think twice about what they use the Internet for. At the same time, they would be able to use the Internet to make phone calls without worrying that the traffic would be blocked.

The rules would have the biggest impact on what services?

Without rules, ISPs are most likely to limit bandwidth hogs – gaming, streaming video - and VoIP. Many large ISPs such as AT&T and Verizon are also voice carriers, so VoIP riding the Internet is a threat to their revenue streams. The flip side is that providers of VoIP services that rely on the Internet ought not to be hindered by the ISPs.

Friday, October 23, 2009

"Loupe" - A Black Same Gender Loving Play At
The International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival
October 24th-31st, 2009 (Ireland!)



LOUPE

IMDLALO PRODUCTIONS, ZIMBABWE

Comedy Drama - 24 Oct (16:00, 20:00), 25 Oct (16:00), 26 Oct (17:00, 20:00), 27 Oct (20:00), 28 Oct (20:00), 30 Oct (20:00), 31 Oct (16:00, 20:00)

at OUTHOUSE THEATRE @ 105 Capel Street
GOOGLE MAP

Prices (euros): €10.00 / €13.00 / €15.00
Jump To Online Booking (Tickets)


Set in a homophobic environment where fear is the order of the day family bonds are put to the test as sexuality and political intolerance foster hatred. Kilem and Sizwe are blood brothers but when their realities are challenged a trail of destruction follows.

This is a moving comedy that will leave you in tears and stitches. It’s never easy to be different it’s easier to follow the crowd This nerve wrecking heart breaking story takes you through the nuances of Zimbabwe politics and takes a magnified look at the troubled society. Winner of the Zimbabwe National Art Merit awards 2008 for Best actor Tafadzwa Muzondo and Best production the show will definitely give you an insight into a different world.

“The play to watch, it will stir your emotions and make you chuckle aloud… hilarious yet touching… certainly a great show” HIFA-LUTIN…

“tackled homosexuality, promiscuity and partisan politics with a remarkable flow and fluency… refreshing in the lighting effects, the stage arrangement and blending of the two man cast that had the audience hugging and praising the actors” THE STANDARD




Thursday, October 22, 2009

"Passing Ceremonies" at Nuyorican Poets Cafe
A Play About Black SGL Love
November 5th - 21st, 2009 ONLY! (NYC)



Juneteenth Legacy Theater
Lorna Littleway Co-Founder
and
Sugar Valley Theatricals
present

Passing Ceremonies

by Steve Willis
Directed by Sue Lawless**

Starring

Bryan Webster*
& James Edward Becton, III*
With Armand Valdes & Tom Martin

A story about same gender loving Black love, set in the hereafter, where poets Bruce Nugent and Essex Hemphill meet. Backstage.com calls it a "promising new play" with "sharp characterization." "Bryan Webster's glistening performance... mixes humor, intelligence, perception, and grace."



In a cafe somewhere between "earth life and paradise" poet, essayist and activist Essex Hemphill (1957-1995) meets Harlem Renaissance writer and visual artist Richard Bruce Nugent (1906-1987) and together they try to figure out if they really belong "on the other side". Essex is anxious to finish a project he was working on shortly before his death: a book on the lives of older black gay men. He wants to interview Bruce, but Bruce insists that it is now impossible for Essex to complete the book. Throughout the play, the two spar, lament, Hemphill share stories about their passions, and challenge those left behind to "pick up [their] weapons." Juneteenth Legacy Theater & Sugar Valley Theatricals present Steve Willis' Passing Ceremonies, a poetic, fantastical tribute to these two icons of African American, Same Gender Loving literature.




9 Performances Only
November 5th-21st, 2009
Thursdays-Saturdays
7:00PM


TICKETS ON SALE NOW
for

Passing Ceremonies
At the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
236 East 3rd Street
(between Avenues B & C)


Reservations
: 212-780-9386 or nuyorican.org

These performances of
Passing Ceremonies
are generously funded by
The NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
and

The Lower Manhattan Cultural Council

*members AEA **member SDC

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Go Virtual for Safer Online Shopping


Go Virtual for Safer Online Shopping

To foil online fraudsters looking to steal or sell your regular credit card number, you may want to use a virtual credit card instead.

Erik Larkin, PC World



Even if you're diligent in protecting your PC from every online hazard imaginable, you may not be able to do much about the biggest threat to your data--and to your finances. Thieves can tap into millions of financial records belonging to companies that charge or process credit cards.

The good news is that you can make your recorded credit card number worthless to any thief. Virtual credit card numbers--which you can get from some banks, PayPal, and a new online service--allow for additional fraud protections.

Banks typically offer fraud liability protection to guard against stolen or misused card numbers, but the hassle of proving your innocence and dealing with the aftermath might be just as painful as losing your money. Virtual credit card numbers keep you from having to deal with either scenario. Merchants process virtual numbers just as they would a standard card number, and you can use the numbers for online or phone purchases that don't require showing your card. However, if you're buying will-call tickets or anything else that requires you to present the card used to make the purchase, you shouldn't use a virtual number.

Virtual credit card numbers may be your best defense against credit card theft these days. A regular credit card number has real value on the Internet's black market, and data breaches in which criminals steal such numbers are on the rise. In August, the U.S. Department of Justice charged a Florida man with taking part in a huge heist of financial data from credit card processor Heartland Payment Systems. By the time authorities caught that suspect, the damage may have already been done: The stolen numbers almost certainly changed hands and appeared on underground sites that offer card numbers for a mere $2 each.

A crook who steals a virtual credit card number, however, gets only a meaningless string of numbers. If you have a credit card (not a debit card) from Bank of America, Citibank, or Discover, or if you use PayPal, you already have free access to the feature. A new online service called Shop Shield also provides various levels of protection.

All of those offerings add an extra step to any purchase, since you must first create a new card number through a banking site, desktop software, or a browser plug-in. That extra step is worth it, though, as every virtual number is tied to the first merchant that uses it, so any subsequent charges to the same virtual number are denied. Other options may allow you to set a spending limit or an expiration date.

How to Create a Virtual Card Number

Bank of America cardholders can create a virtual card number by logging in to the online banking site, clicking the View Options link to the right of the credit card account, and then choosing Create a ShopSafe account number. From there, you can set a spending limit and expiration date. Head to Bank of America's site for more on ShopSafe.

If you have a Discover card, you create a virtual number via Discover's Secure Online Account Number page. Discover also offers downloadable software for Windows that runs from the system tray. (Click the Download Now button under Desktop Version on the same Web page.) The software can pop up to allow you to create a virtual card number when you're making an online purchase, and it can fill in forms.

For Citibank, log in to online banking and click on Virtual Account Numbers in the upper-right corner. You can also download software by logging in to citicards.com or universalcard.com, selecting Get a Virtual Account Number from the 'Tools and Services' drop-down menu, and then clicking Download Now. Citi's software works much the same as Discover's desktop app does.

PayPal users can grab a browser plug-in for Internet Explorer or Firefox (only for Windows) by logging in to their account, choosing Products & Services, and then clicking the PayPal Plug-in link under 'More Products and Services'. The plug-in adds an icon to the upper-right corner of the Web browser with drop-down menu options to create a Secure Card virtual number and perform other PayPal tasks.

Virtual Numbers, Virtual Profiles


You can tie Shop Shield to any credit card or checking account. It creates not only a virtual credit card number but also a faux e-mail address, name, and other contact information for use with the number. You can create such profiles either at the company's site or through a Firefox add-on (installed as part of your signing up at the site; an add-on for IE is in the works). Once installed, the add-on recognizes shopping sites and autofill forms. Shop Shield offers a free level of service linked to checking accounts; a pay-as-you-go service for debit and credit cards ($1.99 per use, plus a $0.49 charge for transactions less than $25); and an "unlimited" service for checking, debit, and credit-card accounts, priced at $99 annually.

Soon, you'll likely be able to add some benefits of virtual numbers, such as spending limits and merchant restrictions, to regular credit cards and debit cards. MasterCard, which bought the company that licenses the software used for most virtual credit card offerings, says it is working on a service with both features. In the meantime, virtual credit card numbers will keep potential data thieves chasing a moving target.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Colman Domingo Stars In "A Boy and His Soul "
A Black Same Gender Loving Play
Now Playing Through November 1st, 2009 (NYC)





EXTENDED!
NOW PLAYING THRU NOV 1

Vineyard Theatre presents
A BOY AND HIS SOUL

Written and performed by Colman Domingo
Choreographed by Ken Roberson
Directed by Tony Kelly

Where do you get soul?

From the kitchen rotary phone cord your sister stretched out nine feet? From never learning the real secrets of your crazy cousin until you were older? From the broken Easy Bake oven your brother used to torment your sister’s Barbie dolls? Or from the memory of watching your parents sell the house you grew up in?

Maybe you get soul from listening to the music on WDAS FM with your mother in the backyard at midnight on a hot summer evening. From Stevie, Aretha, Marvin, Chaka, Barry, Gladys...and Colman.

Come groove into 1970’s West Philly at Vineyard Theatre and discover the "captivating" (Newsday) new play by Colman Domingo, of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical PASSING STRANGE and Logo Network’s ‘THE BIG GAY SKETCH SHOW’ that NY1 hailed as "Theatrical gold! A tour de force... with so much heart ...and soul."

GET ‘SOULED’ THURSDAY OCTOBER 29, 2009.

Colman Domingo in A Boy and His Soul in a moving and hilarious New Play that explores the life-experiences of a young African-American man in 1980s Philadelphia, propelled by the beat of classical soul music.

There will be a Talk Back after the performance with Colman Domingo led by our own (Black SGL brutha) Bryan Glover.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Black Teen Set Afire Now Charged for Earlier Fight


blAck
americaweb.com

Teen Set Afire Now Charged for Earlier Fight

Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 5:23 am
By: Denise Stewart, BlackAmericaWeb.com

A Black Missouri teen, who last month was doused with gasoline and set afire by two white schoolmates, now faces charges himself as he recovers from burns over most of his body.

Walter Currie Jr., a 15-year-old in Poplar Bluff, Mo., was burned on June 13 after an exchange with two teens with whom he reportedly had a previous altercation.

The youth who allegedly doused him with the gasoline and lit the fuel has been charged with assault as a juvenile, Currie’s parents said.

On July 6, several weeks after the incident, authorities gave Currie and his parents notice that he is being charged in connection with another incident where a teen related to the youth who set him afire was hit in the face, said Winonia Currie, Walter’s mother.

“All of a sudden, they decided to charge him with something that happened on June 10, but Walter said he didn’t have anything to do with it,” she said.

Because all of the people involved are juveniles, court officials in Butler County, Missouri said they can give only limited details on the incidents and cannot discuss names.

“I can tell you that there are charges against everyone involved,” Lesi Smith, chief juvenile officer for Butler County, told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

The suspects have not been revealed publicly and could not be reached for this story.

Walter Jr. said the teen who burned him told him he had gasoline and a lighter, and then began to spray him with the fuel before striking the lighter. Walter Jr. ran and jumped on a car, rolling on it to try to stop the burning. He even shed some of his clothing.

Initially, the youth suspected of burning Walter Jr. was arrested and was being held in a juvenile detention facility. He has since been released, according to sources familiar with the case.

The Curries say they want to see justice for their son. They want the 16-year-old to face stiff penalties.

“I want him to serve some time,” Walter Currie Sr. told BlackAmericaWeb.com.

Winonia Currie said her son is scheduled for a hearing on Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. and the teen that set her son afire is scheduled on the same day, in the same courtroom, at 2:30 p.m.

The Curries say they have only lived a couple of years in Poplar Bluff, a town about 125 miles south of St. Louis, Mo.

“It’s like a country city,” Winonia Currie said.

Though the family has received words of encouragement from black and white residents, Mrs. Currie said she questions whether everyone will get just treatment.

“The prosecutors have told us they will do everything they can to try him as an adult, but we’re getting very little information,” she said.

The charges for Walter Jr. bring additional hardships for the family.

“We’ve had all these medical bills. The insurance will only cover so much. We have to take him back and forth to the hospital in St Louis,” she said. “Now we have to try to find a lawyer. That’s more money.”

Doctors have told the Curries that it may be two years before their son’s burns are completely healed. He suffered burns on much of his body, including his face, chest, neck and arms.

“The physical wounds are healing, but we still have to deal with the mental stability,” Mrs. Currie said.

The incident has taken a devastating toll on the Walter Jr. and the family, said Tierra Shaffer, Walter’s older sister via email. “He has nightmares of being burned alive,” she said.

The Harlem School of the Arts Theatre
Presents "Light In The Cellar" (NYC)



The H.A.D.L.E.Y. Players
at The Harlem School of the Arts Theatre
647 St. Nicholas Avenue (off W. 142nd St.)
Present

"Light In The Cellar"
Written by Gertrude Jeannette
Directed by Patricia R. Floyd

SYNOPSIS: Southern family moves to Harlem in the 1960's to escape racial discrimination, only to face discrimination of a different kind.

FEATURING:

A.C. Davison*, Valarie Tekosky*, Norman Smalls, Toni Ann DeNoble, Albert Eggleston, Benja K*, Steven Lee Edwards, Colette Bryce, Leopold Lowe*, RayMartell Moore, Nzingtha Smith, and the children of The Harlem School of the Arts

*Appearing Courtesy Actor Equity Association

October 23 - November 15, 2009

Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 2:30 PM

HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE - PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY

TICKETS - $22 GENERAL, $18 SENIORS/STUDENTS
$18 GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE
$8 CHILDREN UNDER 14

OPENING
Sunday, October 25, 2009
2:30 PM - Reception to Follow
$25 For Everyone

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23 & SATURDAY OCTOBER 24
FREE WILL OFFERING (Donations Only)

For Tickets & Info: 212-368-9314. Seating Limited.
Reserve online at: www.ticketannex.com or (866) 388-4-TIX or (866) 388-4849

African Diaspora Film Festival 2009 (NYC)




African Diaspora Film Festival 2009


WHAT: COME CELEBRATE WITH US THE 17TH ANNUAL AFRICAN DIASPORA FILM FESTIVAL!!
- 101 films
- 63 world, US and NY premieres
- 46 countries

WHEN: Starting on Thanksgiving Weekend, Friday November 27 and running until December 15

WHERE: Six different venues in Manhattan

UPCOMING SCREENINGS - SPECIAL EVENTS:

OPENING NIGHT - Wole Soyinka & Nothing But the Truth - Fri, Nov 27 @ 8:00PM - Anthology Film Archives

CENTERPIECE - Inside Buffalo - Fri, Dec 4 @ 8:00PM - Cowin Center (Teachers College)

GALA SCREENING - Harimaya Bridge - Sun. Dec 6 @ 5:30PM - Thalia Theatre (Symphonie Space)

A NIGHT IN MOROCCO - The Tale of a Mchaouchi Wrestler / Moussem Lamchaoucha - Tue, Dec. 8 @ 6:30PM - Thalia Theatre (Symphonie Space)

GALA SCREENING - Arugba - Wed, Dec. 9 @ 8:30PM - Anthology Film Archives

WOMEN INDIES NIGHT - The Little Black Shool House & Portia White, Think on Me - Thu, Dec. 10 @ 8:30PM - Schomburg Center

Black Same Gender Loving ARCHIVE
Programming Author Series (Harlem, NYC)



Monday, October 26, 2009, 7:00 PM

WRITING WHAT WE KNOW


Join us for a lively reading and discussion with four writers whose thought-provoking innovative works challenge conventional social and cultural norms. Readers include Pamela Sneed, Herukhuti, Curu Necos-Bloice, G. Winston James, and Cheryl Boyce-Taylor. Hosted by Steven G Fullwood, project director of the Black Gay & Lesbian Archive. Books will be available for purchase in the gift shop prior to the event.

Monday, November 2, 2009, 7:00 PM
SONGS FROM THE PARADISE


Three esteemed writers read from their latest works and engage questions about being immigrants, creative artists, and pushing against the grain of social norms as queer artists of color. Featuring Staceyann Chin, Anton Niblett, and Curu Necos-Bloice. Hosted by Steven G Fullwood, project director ofthe Black Gay & Lesbian Archive. Books will be available for purchase in the gift shop prior to the event.

For more information, contact Steven G Fullwood at 212.491.2226 or via email at sfullwood[AT]nypl-dot-org.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Mos Def and Dr. Cornell West on
HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher




You know... I agree with some of the things that Mos Def said on this particular Real Time with Bill Maher show. I'm in total alignment with him when he said (summary paraphrase) "I'm from the projects. I know DANGER.... someone from the projects ain't worried about that boogeyman shit." I definitely feel that way and further, everytime I get on a New York City Transit train I wanna scream when I hear the message "...protect yourself. If you see suspicious activity on the train or platform edge, do not keep it to yourself". I mean YO, IT'S A FUCKING JOKE THAT 8 FREAKIN' YEARS LATER (ALMOST A DECADE NOW) WE ARE STILL ON WITH THIS BROKEN RECORD (PROPAGANDA OF FEAR MESSAGES) BY SAYING THIS SHIT! I think people are capable of articulating if there's a potential danger without having a propaganda message reminder constantly. And then it end with NOT "...have a nice day" BUT "...have a SAFE day". Like Mos Def said, if someone is going to get you, then they're going to get you. Ain't no one going to make no damn video tape of what they're going to do to you. Now I'm not proposing that there aren't real threats out there, but at the same time I'm a Black man living under a FUCKING potential and very real siege everyday. It is more likely that I'll have a run in with a white racist police officer and possibly shot and killed than in my honest opinion, then a blown up building or other activity by terrorists. The NYPD as Mos Def said are hired terrorists of the state.

As much as I LOVE most of Bill Maher's views he's totally off base by saying in the very beginning of this clip that racist police officers (that Mos Def was alluding to without having to say it) and terrorists are apples and oranges. Terrorism is terrorism, and the scale in which they happen doesn't minimize who it is happening to. But Bill is a white man and his reality is always going to be different than that of a African peoples living in Amerikkka. It's really just that simply.

And as Mos Def so aptly mentioned, we NEVER question what terrorists motivations are. I've always said that 9/11 didn't just happen out of thin air. What did the United States do COVERTLY to FUCK with another nation to the point hat they'd plan and pitch a large scale terror attack on the U.S. - And this is the discussion that never happens.

And, oh yeah, THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE HAS GOT TO GO!!

March/Rally Against Hate Crimes This Saturday!
By Nathan James - Author & Activist


49-year-old Jack Price was beaten so severely
he suffered a broken jaw, ruptured spleen,
every one of his ribs were fractured,
and his lungs both collapsed.
He languishes in a coma, on a ventilator, in a city hospital.



Third World Newsreel Office Mural
It's Really BEAUTIFUL ART!!!
(Also... Fall 2009 Film/Video Workshops!)

Third World Newsreel Office Mural










| TWN Workshops: The Fall 2009 Edition!


Tuesday, October 20th, 6:30 PM
New Approaches to Fundraising ** Free **
Grants, investors, loans, house parties - how are people raising money now - with various guest speakers. Includes: Shaady Salehi, of Active Voice, on strategies such as their successful "Prenups" program, which helps forge more productive relationships between the media artist and its funders.

Tuesday, Oct. 27th - New Media Series
Part 1: Web 2.0 with The Hip Hop Association
Blogging, websites, podcasts, RSS - an introduction to the use and rationale for the various social media. Best practices, how-to's and why-to's and where to find the help to get started.

Wednesday, Oct 28th - New Media Series
Part 2: Transitioning to New Media Platforms: with Ann Bennett
It's not enough to make your film for theatrical and television broadcast - you have to plan to have your production work on various media platforms simultaneously. What do you need to know and plan for, and how to get the info you need to "catch up".

Editing: Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro Workshop
6 week course on Saturday Afternoons This Fall - STARTS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3rd!
Learn to edit through examining films, exploring media literacy principles - and learning Final Cut Pro and DVD Studio Pro, in a 6 week course on Saturday afternoons from 1-3 PM. The class costs $300 and an application and pre-registration is required. Registration includes free entry to the Wednesday Night Workshops. Taught by filmmaker Alonzo Rico Speight. For application/ info, email: workshop@twn.org.
All editing classes are on Saturdays at 1 PM.

All classes take place at:
Third World Newsreel
545 Eighth Avenue, 10th Flr
between 37th and 38th Streets
1, 2, 3, A, C, E, N, R, W to Times Square
212 947-9277 x 15
email: workshop@twn.org

Register Now! Email: workshop[at]twn.org.


MISSION / ABOUT US...

TWN is a 501(c)3 nonprofit alternative media arts organization that fosters the creation, appreciation and dissemination of independent film and video by and about people of color and social justice issues.

It supports the innovative work of diverse forms and genres made by artists who are intimately connected to their subjects through common bonds of ethnic/cultural heritage, class position, gender, sexual orientation and political identification. TWN promotes the self-representation of traditionally marginalized groups as well as the negotiated representation of those groups by artists who work in solidarity with them.

Ultimately, whether documentary, experimental, narrative, traditional or non-traditional, the importance of the media promoted by the organization is its ability to effect social change, to encourage people to think critically about their lives and the lives of others, and to propel people into action.

New 44-Cent KWANZAA Postage Stamp
Released From the United States Postal Service


New 44-Cent KWANZAA Postage Stamp
Released By The USPS October 2009




The USPS (United States Postal Service) just released the new iteration of the venerable KWANZAA stamp and to coincide with the recent price increase of 44-cents for all first class regular mail. The stamp is not bad and I like it; though it is the third stamp iteration for KWANZAA hands down, the very first KWANZAA stamp (started back when the postage was 32-cents) still remains my top favorite. I really wish they hadn't changed it ver the years, but I support the effort of the KWANZAA stamp's continued existence in it's many incarnations.

Harambee (ha-RAHM-bay'-AY)
Let's All Pull Together




My Block of 10 KWANZAA Stamps I Received In The Mail

Friday, October 16, 2009

President Obama Is Asked By 4th Grade Youth:
"Why Do People HATE You?"

Out of the mouth of babes. You have to respect the innocence of the youth and some of their non-pretentiousness. Sometimes I wonder if growing up and becoming acculturated with a lot of negative "bias disease" is worth it.

The Huffington Post
At a town hall meeting in New Orleans Thursday, fourth-grader Terrence Scott earnestly asked the question that has probably been on many people's minds as they witnessed the rage that has been directed at Obama these last few months: "why do people hate you?" The young man seemed genuinely concerned as he asked the question, and he went on to tell Obama that "They supposed to love you." Obama responded by giving the young man a hug while saying, "That's what I'm talking about." Then came the hard part of actually answering his question.



Watch CBS News Videos Online

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

SCARRED JUSTICE:
The Orangeburg Massacre of 1968
Screening at The Gatehouse (Aaron Davis Hall)
Friday, October 16th, 2009 @ 7:30PM (NYC)


SCARRED JUSTICE: The Orangeburg Massacre of 1968
Post-screening CONVERSATION w/filmmaker Judy Richardson
Friday • October 16th, 2009 • 7:30 pm • The Gatehouse

Harlem Stage Tickets 212.281.9240 Ext. 19 or 20

Harlem Stage Gatehouse
150 Convent Avenue (at West 135th Street)
New York, NY 10031


Tickets are $5.00

This gut-wrenching documentary film explores the events of February 8, 1968, two nights after students from a predominately Black college attempted to bowl at the city’s only bowling alley, where the owner refused. Tensions rose and violence erupted as gunfire from white police officers left three African-American students dead and 27 wounded on the campus of South Carolina State College in Orangeburg, S.C.

Join filmmaker Judy Richardson after the presentation of SCARRED JUSTICE: The Orangeburg Massacre of 1968 for a discussion and reception.

Bestor Cram, director/producer/cinematographer, has dedicated his career to focusing on issues of social justice and history. As the founder of Northern Light Productions, Cram’s films have received numerous festival awards, and his work has been screened at Sundance Film Festival and broadcasted on PBS.

Judy Richardson is a notable documentary filmmaker and Civil Rights activist. She gained her notoriety as the educational director for the critically acclaimed PBS documentary film series “Eyes on the Prize,” which received the Peabody Award as well as several Emmys. Richardson continues to be one of the most influential forces behind documenting and commemorating the African-American experience.

Co-presented with Black Documentary Collective. A presentation of the Harlem Stage Partners Program.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

United States President Barack Obama
Receives Nobel Peace Prize For 2009
On Friday, October 9th, 2009


ROD --


This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.



Thank you,

President Barack Obama

5 Things You Can Do To Stay Healthy
By Dr. Elaina George



5 Things You Can Do To Stay Healthy
By Dr. Elaina George


Instead of waiting for the outcome of the healthcare debate to decide your fate, use some simple common sense strategies to take back the power to control your own health.

1. Start exercising

An increase in activity of as little as 20 minutes 3 times a week can make a difference in your risk of heart disease, diabetes and obesity. You don’t have to get fancy with a gym membership. Try taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator, or park further from the entrance when you go to the market or mall.

2. Eat Smaller portions

You may not want to give up your junk food or fried food, but try to limit your portions. Instead of buying a six pack of soda, buy a two liter bottle. You can better control the portions along with your intake of calories.

3. Drink more water

The average person should be drinking 1 ounce per kilogram of his/her weight in water per day. (1 lb = 2.2kg).

Studies have shown that people eat more when they are dehydrated because the signals in the body can confuse hunger with thirst. If you are hungry, try drinking an 8-12 oz glass of water before you decide to eat that snack.

4. Avoid salt

The average American diet consists too much salt. Salt is found in everything from canned foods to frozen foods. Not only does salt make your body retain water, it also dulls your sense of taste when it comes to sugar. As a challenge, decrease the amount of salt you eat for about 1 week, then drink a non-diet soft drink. Not only will you lose about 3-5 lbs. of water weight, but you will see that the soda is incredibly sweet. In addition, try to use sea salt.

5. Avoid high fructose corn syrup

Studies have shown that most products in this country are made with high fructose corn syrup that is contaminated with mercury (a known neurotoxin). Instead try to choose foods made with cane sugar. When you drink soft drinks that are made with sugar you will be less likely to crave salt and be able to stop with one soda because there is no ‘sugar high’ that leads to the craving that makes you want to have more.


Dr. Elaina George is Board certified Otolaryngologist who started Peachtree ENT Center with a mission to practice state of the art medicine that is available to everyone. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in Biology. She received her Masters degree in Medical Microbiology at Long Island University, and received her medical degree from Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Dr George completed her residency at Manhattan, Eye Ear & Throat Hospital. Her training included general surgery at Lenox Hill Hospital, pediatric ENT at The NY-Presbyterian Hospital, and head and neck oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. She has published in several scientific journals and presented her research at national meetings.

To contact Dr. George for speaking engagements or media appearances, please call (901) 413-0203

Also, check out her health blog:
Dr. Elaina George

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

2nd Annual Queer Black Cinema
Intl Film Festival 2009 At
The National Black Theatre and Maysles Cinema
October 15th - 18th, 2009 (NYC)



QUEER BLACK CINEMA PRESENTS the 2nd Annual Queer Black Cinema International Film Festival 2009 sponsored by Gay Men of African Descent. The festival is from October 15th to 18th at the National Black Theatre and Maysles Cinema in the heart of Harlem. Details can be found at www.queerblackcinema.org.

Join QBC for a great line-up of award winning Black LGBT themed fi lms from around the world, including a candlelight vigil/rally in remembrance of fallen LGBT youth of color featuring performances by The Lavender Light Gospel Choir, activist/blogger Kenyon Farrow and others community leaders, followed by a special Queer Youth Cinema Series.

The film festival opens October 16 at 7pm with the award winning film Mississippi Damned written and directed by Tina Mabry, produced by Morgan Stiff and co-produced by Debra Wilson. Mississippi Damned received Best Narrative Feature at the American Black Film Festival 2009 and awards at several other film festivals. The cast includes Michael Hyatt (The Wire, The West Wing, Greys Anatomy & ER), Tonea Stewart (A Time To Kill, In The Heat of the Night), D.B. Woodside (The Temptations, Romeo Must Die & Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Josse Harris Thacker (In Living Color, Brooklyn’s Bridge to Jordan). Co-producer Debra Wilson (Jumping The Broom, Butch Mystique) is expected to be in attendance along with cinematographer Bradford Young, best known for his award winning short Parah by Dee Rees.

The festival will also honor Stonewall activist/ singer and legendary male illusionist Storme Delaverie with a special performance of A Lady Within The Jewel Box Revue, a mini musical written by Angel L. Brown featuring Paris (Paris is Burning), Freddie Wright, ByancaRaye and introducing Stefon Royce as Storme. For a complete schedule of the films and events including the award ceremony featuring the E. Lynn Harris Living The Dream Literary Award please go to www.queerblackcinema.org . For the Black LGBT Film & Book Market in association with Queer Black Cinema, with a host of talk backs with authors and filmmakers including the cast of Finding Me Truth, please go to www.TheBlackLGBTFilmBookMarket.com.

Tickets for the fi lm festival go on sale on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at www.queerblackcinema.org. Vendors, sponsorship and advertising opportunities are available until October 1, 2009. Contact info@queerblackcinema.org. If you would like to become a volunteer for the fi lm festival please contact info@queerblackcinema.org, subject: Volunteer. The next meeting will be Saturday, October 3 from noon to 2pm, at GMAD’s Brooklyn office.

All press inquires contact press[at]queerblackcinema.org.

No FATS. No FEMS. [Beauty BIGOTS]
A Social Video Commentary By XemVanAdams


This is video is an astute "reading" of Black homosexual & bisexual men for commonly held superficial standards of beauty; and widespread internalized homophobia & gender expression discrimination that manifest as effemiphobia. And best of all, it was made by a young brother. Check it out.


Friday, October 2, 2009

Jamil & Michael's
Same Gender Loving (SGL) Wedding
Pics From Sunday, Septmeber 13th, 2009

Hey Black Family,

A friend sent me these pics from an email that appears to be floating around and being forwarded.

Since, at least I haven't seen any Black same gender loving (SGL) weddings with two Black males I figured I'd share these pics. I personally don't know the two bruthaz who got married and not associated with them. Just sharing the pics I got.

This is quite beautiful...





























































CONGRATS
Jamil & Michael