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Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy
Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy Thumper Book Review I decided to be ambitions this summer and read a number of non-fiction titles. I blame ...
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) Kam Williams startrek-2013-blueray.jpg Film Review Read the comments now. Read our review after you see the film (there some spoilers). Kirk Matches Wits with Rogue Co...
Blacktrospective 2013 by Kam Williams
Blacktrospective 2013 by Kam Williams Kam Williams http://aalbc.com/reviews/20-feet-from-stardom.jpg Film Review Blacktrospective 2013 - Annual Assessment of the Best in Black Cinema Each year we pub...
Red Hook Summer
Red Hook Summer Kam Williams red-hook-summer.jpg Film Review Latest Spike Lee Joint Deserves to Get the Hook Red Hook Summer (2012) In Theaters: Aug 10, 2012 Limited R, 2 hr. 1 min. Drama Directed ...
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013)
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013) Kam Williams the-butler.jpg Film Review Forest Whitaker Delivers Oscar-Quality Performance in Emotionally-Searing Civil Rights Saga Lee Daniels’ The Butler...
Summer Snow
Summer Snow Thumper Book Review Summer Snow: Reflections from a Black Daughter of the South, is a collection of essays by Trudier Harris, based on her memories, observations and opinions that came ...
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer
The Last Last-Day-of-Summer Vanessa Vanzie Book Review A combination of fun, friends and awesome adventures make for a summer vacation that you never want to end. The Legendary Alston boys are no exc...
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom Kam Williams mandela-2013-alternate-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom In Theaters: Nov 29, 2013 Limited PG-13 for sexuality, intense violence...
The Summer of my Fifteenth Year
The Summer of my Fifteenth Year Robert Fleming Book Review There are so many gems to be discovered in independent publishing. Every now and then, you come across the book that makes your mind sit up ...
Bestselling DVDs for 2013
Bestselling DVDs for 2013 Kam Williams https://aalbc.com/reviews/zanes-sex-chronicles.jpg Film Review Best-selling DVDs for 2013 #1 • Zane's Sex Chronicles Season 1 Click to Buy Via Amaz...
Changing the Game
Changing the Game Kam Williams changing-the-game.jpg Film Review Ambitious Ghetto Orphan Tested in All Ways in Sobering Coming-of-Age Changing the Game [2012] In Theaters: May 11, 2012 Limited Dram...
An Oversimplification of Her Beauty
An Oversimplification of Her Beauty Kam Williams an-oversimplification-of-her-beauty.jpg Film Review Annoying Narration Ruins Jay-Z Produced Romantic Romp An Oversimplification of Her Beauty (2013)...
Speaking of Summer
Speaking of Summer Brenda M. Greene Book Review Mental illness in fiction provides a lens and a relatively safe space by which readers can examine its complexity and impact on the lives of the indivi...
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain
Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain Kam Williams kevin-hart-let-me-explain.jpg Film Review Hottest Stand-Up Comic Wows Sold-Out Garden in Concert Tour Finale Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain In Theaters: Jul 3, 20...
Olympus Has Fallen
Olympus Has Fallen Kam Williams olympus-has-fallen-angela-bassett-Morgan-Freeman.jpg Film Review Olympus Has Fallen (2013) Click to order DVD from Amazon In Theaters: Mar 22, 2013 Wide ...
Pain & Gain
Pain & Gain Kam Williams pain-and-gain-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Crime Caper Recreates Real-Life Kidnapping Plot Pain & Gain (2013) In Theaters: Apr 26, 2013 Limited Rated R for graphic nudi...
Saving Lincoln
Saving Lincoln Kam Williams saving-lincoln.jpg Film Review Chronicles Lincoln’s Long-Term Relationship with Close Confidant and Bodyguard Saving Lincoln (2013) In Theaters: Feb 15, 2013 Limit...
Winnie Mandela
Winnie Mandela Kam Williams nelsonandwinnie.jpg Film Review Jennifer Hudson Portrays Infamous Icon in Warts-and-All Biopic Winnie Mandela In Theaters: Sep 6, 2013 Limited On DVD: Dec 17,...
Hava Nagila: The Movie
Hava Nagila: The Movie Kam Williams hava-nagila.jpg Film Review Musical Documentary Celebrates Festive Folksong Hava Nagila: The Movie (2013) In Theaters: Mar 1, 2013 Limited Documentary, Drama, Sp...
Better Mus' Come: In Theaters: March 15, 2013
Better Mus' Come: In Theaters: March 15, 2013 Kam Williams https://aalbc.com/reviews/better-mus-come.jpg Film Review Better Mus’ Come In Theaters: Mar 15, 2013 Limited Written and Directed by Stor...
Peeples
Peeples Kam Williams peeples-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Peeples (2013) In Theaters: May 10, 2013 Wide Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexuality and drug use) Running time: 95 minutes Comedy Dire...
Linsanity
Linsanity Kam Williams linsanity.jpg Film Review Linsanity In Theaters: Oct 4, 2013 Limited Rated: PG Running time: 1 hr. 28 min. In English and Mandarin with subtitles Distributor: Ketchup ...
Life Is a Game
Life Is a Game Kam Williams Book Review ’The choices we make determine our destiny and whether success or disaster is achieved. We either elevate to greatness or descend to obs...
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus
Da Sweet Blood of Jesus Kam Williams the-sweet-blood-of-jesus.jpg Film Review Da Sweet Blood of Jesus [2015] In Theaters: Feb 13, 2015 LimitedRating: UnratedGenre: Drama Runtime: 2 hr. 3 min.Stu...
Dark Girls (Preview)
Dark Girls (Preview) Kam Williams dark-girls-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Dark Girls: Real Women, Real Stories Click to order via Amazon This documentary exploresd the deep-seated biases ...
Rising from the Ashes
Rising from the Ashes Kam Williams rising-from-the-ashes.jpg Film Review Documentary Chronicles Rise of Rwanda Cycling Team Rising from Ashes In Theaters: Aug 2, 2013 Limited Unrated Running time: ...
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie
Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. Movie Kam Williams evocateur.jpg Film Review Biopic Revisits Rise and Fall of Talk Show Flash in the Pan Évocateur: The Morton Downey Jr. M...
Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain
Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain Kam Williams kevin_hart_movieposter2011.jpg Film Review Concert Flick Features Highlights of Funnyman’s 90-City Tour Kevin Hart: Laugh at My Pain [2011] ...
What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman
What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman Robert Fleming Book Review This was a labor of love. Over seven years ago, it was the mission of Dr. Lerita Coleman Brown, a Harvard-tr...
Genesis Begins Again
Genesis Begins Again Shafika Burke Book Review Genesis Begins Again by Alicia D. Williams is a powerful, poignant, and ultimately empowering middle-grade novel that highlights issues sure to interest...
Raisins in Milk
Raisins in Milk Brenda M. Greene Book Review Raisins in Milk by David Covin is a coming of age story focused on a young girl, Ruth-Ann Weathering, who is subjected to the staunch racism and stark rea...
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975
The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 Kam Williams black_power_fist.jpg Film Review Black Revolution of the Sixties Revisited via Swedish Cinematic Collage The Black Power Mixtape 1967-19...
A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond
A Game of Character: A Family Journey from Chicago's Southside to the Ivy League and Beyond Kam Williams Book Review "A fundamental teaching my parents always emphasized [was] that life happens to...
12 Years a Slave
12 Years a Slave Kam Williams 12-years-a-slave-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Chiwetel Ejiofor Stars in Adaptation of Solomon Northup’s Memoir In Theaters: Oct 18, 2013 Limited November 1,...
King’s Faith
King’s Faith Kam Williams kings-faith-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Reformed Gangsta Seeks Redemption in Modern Morality Play King’s Faith (2013) In Theaters: Apr 26, 2013 Limited Rated PG-13 ...
Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary
Mumia: Long Distance Revolutionary Kam Williams mumia-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Reverential Biopic Paints Sympathetic Portrait of Controversial Cause Célèbre Mumia: Long distance Revolut...
The Sapphires
The Sapphires Kam Williams the-sapphires-movie-poster.jpg Film Review The True Story of Four Aboriginal Girls Who Risked Their Lives Entertaining the U.S. Troops during the Vietnam War The Sapphi...
Temptation
Temptation Kam Williams temptation-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Adulteress Wife Shamelessly Violates Vows in Latest Tyler Perry Morality Play Temptation (2013) In Theaters: Mar 29, 2013 Wide Rated ...
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas
Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas Kam Williams Tyler-Perrys-A-Madea-Christmas.jpg Film Review Tyler Perry’s A Madea Christmas In Theaters: Dec 13, 2013 Wide Rated PG-13 for profanity, crude...
Venus & Serena
Venus & Serena Kam Williams venusandsernea-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Revealing Biopic Examines Roots and Rise of World-Class Williams Sisters Venus & Serena In Theaters:...
War Witch
War Witch Kam Williams war-witch-photo.jpg Film Review 12 year-old Endures Host of Horrors in Haunting Coming-of-Age Drama War Witch (2013) In Theaters: Mar 1, 2013 Limited Drama Directed By: ...
42
42 Kam Williams 42-dvd-blue-ray.jpg Film Review Jackie Robinson Biopic Recounts Historic Breaking of Baseball’s Color Barrier 42 Now Available on DVD! (July 16, 2013) In Theaters: Apr 12, ...
Priscilla: Engaging in the Game of Politics
Priscilla: Engaging in the Game of Politics Robert Fleming Book Review In this novel, Priscilla: Engaging in the Game of Politics, Dr. M. J. Simms-Maddox weaves the fabric of her life with the narrat...
Black Chess
Black Chess Denolyn Carroll Book Review “Life’s a chess game…There are infinite possibilities and multiple universes, depending on the choices you make,” asserts Celeste, the ...
Black Power, Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice
Black Power, Black Lawyer: My Audacious Quest for Justice Carol Taylor Book Review Much more than a memoir, Black Power, Black Lawyer traces not only Nkechi Taifa’s personal life, and her decad...
Outliers
Outliers Kam Williams Book Review ’This is a book about outliers, men and women who do things that are out of the ordinary. I’m going to introduce you to one kind of out...
No One Left Alone
No One Left Alone Eryka Parker Book Review The inspirational book No One Left Alone opens with the author sharing how members of the Boston community came together and, united, dealt with their grief...
It All Begins with ‘I’: The “New Rules” of Thinking and the Simple Secrets t
It All Begins with ‘I’: The “New Rules” of Thinking and the Simple Secrets t Kam Williams Book Review “What is your deepest desire? Probably the same thing most others really want: a happy an...
Soul Food Junkies
Soul Food Junkies Kam Williams Soul-Food-Junkies-poster.jpg Film Review Soul Food Junkies - Premiering January 2013 on Independent Lens Soul Food Junkies 64 minutes In this PBS ...
Twenty Feet from Stardom
Twenty Feet from Stardom Kam Williams 20-feet-from-stardom.jpg Film Review Backup Singers Belatedly Get Their Props in Pop Music Documentary Twenty Feet from Stardom In Theaters: Jun 14, 2013 Limited...
Black Power Inc.
Black Power Inc. Rondall Brasher Book Review I would like to initiate my review of Cora Daniels’ Black Power Inc. by eluding to a quote attributed to Malcolm X, too Black’too strong. T...
Looking for Sweet Love
Looking for Sweet Love Emanuel Carpenter Book Review Can a sista get some love? That’s the question addressed in R.L. Byrd’s new book "Looking for Sweet Love." The story takes place in...
Mama Dearest
Mama Dearest Thumper Book Review As many of you know, Mama Dearest is the last book written by E. Lynn Harris. I was a fan of Harris’s during the Invisible Life days and a few books ...
Best Selling DVD's for 2011
Best Selling DVD's for 2011 Kam Williams https://aalbc.com/reviews/aalbcdvd6.jpg Film Review 10 Best Selling DVDs on AALBC.com for 2011 This is the first DVD bestseller's list that I've compiled and ...
The Power of Presence
The Power of Presence Tony Lindsay Book Review The Power of Presence is a training manual for those looking to improve life, but not merely the life of an individual but those that depend on an indiv...
Balls of Fury
Balls of Fury Kam Williams balls_8.jpg Film Review Balls of Fury Film Review by Kam WilliamsRated PG-13 for profanity, crude behavior and sex-related humor. Running time: 90 minutes ...
Black Food
Black Food Robert Fleming Book Review Black food, aka Soul food, is celebrated all over the world for its delicious ingredients, tangy flavors, homegrown recipes, and traditional richness. This book,...
Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris
Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris Thumper Book Review Visible Lives: Three Stories in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris is an anthology aptly described by its title. The authors, Te...
Granddaddy’s Dirt
Granddaddy’s Dirt Thumper Book Review I started Granddaddy’s Dirt, the latest novel by Brian Egeston, with an awareness of the promise he displayed in Whippins, Switches and Peach Cobbler in ...
Echoes of a Distant Summer
Echoes of a Distant Summer Thumper Book Review In Standing At The Scratch Line, Guy Johnson created one of the most memorable protagonists in literature with King Tremain. Johnson’s second no...
The Black Church: Where Women Pray and Men Prey
The Black Church: Where Women Pray and Men Prey Kam Williams Book Review “If you are a single black woman regularly attending church and tithing, or you are a woman with children that accomp...
Black Cops Against Brutality
Black Cops Against Brutality Kam Williams Book Review ’Police brutality reminds me of the darkness in history when the master whipped the slaves just because he could’ There can be no mo...
The Dow Twins' Legacy: 50 Years of Disco Reflections
The Dow Twins' Legacy: 50 Years of Disco Reflections Michael A. Gonzales Book Review Coming of age in the disco era 1970s, even as a kid, I knew about the cool clubs where people dressed fly and boog...
Shoe Fetish 2: Grown Into High Heels
Shoe Fetish 2: Grown Into High Heels Carol Taylor Book Review Shoe Fetish 2: Grown Into High Heels is part social commentary, murder mystery, female empowerment novel; and is as much a search for sel...
Culture Worrier: Selected Columns 1984—2014: Reflections on Race
Culture Worrier: Selected Columns 1984—2014: Reflections on Race Kam Williams Book Review “These pages represent some of the valuable lessons I’ve learned about people and media over t...
The Secret
The Secret Kam Williams Book Review ’What is the Secret? The Secret is the law of attraction! Everything that’s coming into your life you are attracting into your life. And it&...
Stepping into Womanhood: A Black Woman’s Poetic Journey
Stepping into Womanhood: A Black Woman’s Poetic Journey Sister Shiree Sarana Book Review After reading sistah Traci Brooks’ book, Stepping into Womanhood: A Black Woman’s Poetic Journey,...
Trespass: Portraits of Unhoused Life, Love, and Understanding
Trespass: Portraits of Unhoused Life, Love, and Understanding Clarence V. Reynolds Book Review Have you ever come upon or passed a homeless/unhoused person and experienced an emotion that tugged at y...
Raceball: How The Major Leagues Colonized The Black and Latin Game
Raceball: How The Major Leagues Colonized The Black and Latin Game Robert Fleming Book Review As a life-long baseball fan, I�m always on the look-out for meaningful books on the sport with its pa...
The PACMAN Plan
The PACMAN Plan Tiffany M. Davis Book Review The PACMAN plan is an ambitious debut by Sam A. Kempt. Set in the smoldering background of Austin, Texas, this book takes an eye-opening look at race, ...
Life of a King
Life of a King Kam Williams Life-of-a-king-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Life of a King In Theaters: Jan 17, 2014 Limited Rated PG-13 for drug use, violent images and mature themes Running t...
Crazy Rich: Power
Crazy Rich: Power Kam Williams Book Review “Heirs to a Band-Aid and Baby Powder fortune, the Johnsons have enjoyed unimaginable wealth since Johnson & Johnson was founded in 1886—bu...
Out of the Furnace
Out of the Furnace Kam Williams out-of-the-furnace.jpg Film Review Ex-Con Searches for Missing Sibling in Gruesome Revenge Thriller Out of the Furnace In Theaters: Dec 6, 2013 Wide Rated R ...
Sweet Dreams
Sweet Dreams Kam Williams sweet-dreams.jpg Film Review Sweet Dreams In Theaters: Nov 1, 2013 Limited Unrated In English and Kinyarwanda with subtitles Running time: 84 minutes Documentary Dir...
Things Never Said
Things Never Said Kam Williams things-never-said.jpg Film Review Battered Wife Finds Strength in Poetry in Female Empowerment Flick Things Never Said In Theaters: Sep 6, 2013 Limited Rated R for s...
Boys into Men
Boys into Men Paige Turner Book Review BOYS INTO MEN: RAISING OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGE SONS By Paige Turner An old Parliament Funkadelic album was entitled America Eats Its Young. While this se...
ASCLEPIUS
ASCLEPIUS Robert Fleming Book Review Someone is killing all of the doctors opposed to the monopoly of the big drug companies. Those committed to the world of alternative medicine become aware of the ...
Dearly Beloved
Dearly Beloved Shaundale Rénā Book Review Dearly Beloved: Prince, Spirituality, & This Thing Called Life opens with a recommended viewing of Sign O’ the Times and a curated list of songs se...
Southside With You
Southside With You Kam Williams southside_with_you.jpg Film Review Inspirational Biopic Revisits Barack and Michelle’s Very First Date Southside With You In Theaters: August 26, 2016 Wide ...
Walking Among The Kudzu
Walking Among The Kudzu Emanuel Carpenter Book Review In H. Victoria Hargro Atkerson's latest book, "Walking Among the Kudzu," readers are taken on the journey of the life of Shelby ...
Hair Power - Skin Revolution: A Collection of Poems and Personal Essays by Black and Mixed-Race Wome
Hair Power - Skin Revolution: A Collection of Poems and Personal Essays by Black and Mixed-Race Wome Kam Williams Book Review "I can honestly say I have a passion for language… I enjoy writi...
Dear Mary, Dear Luther: A Courtship in Letters
Dear Mary, Dear Luther: A Courtship in Letters Carol Taylor Book Review Dear Mary, Dear Luther: A Courtship in Letters is an epistolary love story of a 1930s courtship between Mary Brooks and Luther ...
Three Days Before The Shooting…
Three Days Before The Shooting… Robert Fleming Book Review When legendary African American writer Ralph Ellison died in 1994, everyone who loves good books mourned at his passing and wondered i...
Making Friends With Black People
Making Friends With Black People Kam Williams Book Review ’NIGGER. White readers, I should warn you right now that if reading this particular epithet makes you uncomfortable, you're goin...
When Minorities Lead in America: A Black Theologian’s Political Journey
When Minorities Lead in America: A Black Theologian’s Political Journey Alexis E. Jackson Book Review A worthwhile read, When Minorities Lead in America by Dr. Herman J. Fountain Jr. is one man&rsquo...
The Hood Health Handbook
The Hood Health Handbook Kam Williams Book Review "In all my world travels, never have I picked up a book with the kind of love, concern and information that I’ve seen put into this book&hell...
Bamboozled by Jesus
Bamboozled by Jesus Carol Taylor Book Review Part self-help, part comedic memoir, part inspirational and motivational how-to, Yvonne Orji’s Bamboozled by Jesus is heartfelt and relatable advice...
Legend of the Orange Scepter
Legend of the Orange Scepter Robert Fleming Book Review It’s very difficult to write a Young Adult fiction. Also, the difficulty only increases when you add elements of science fiction and fant...
Kingston Noir
Kingston Noir Robert Fleming Book Review With his first anthology for Akashic, Iron Balloons, Colin Channer, author of the celebrated novel, Waiting In Vain, showcased the full range of contempo...
Zion and Zara Stories: The Big Bike Race
Zion and Zara Stories: The Big Bike Race Amanda Robinson Book Review Good children’s books are hard to come by. Many of them lack morals for children to learn from or educational content to gro...
The Presumption of Guilt: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates
The Presumption of Guilt: The Arrest of Henry Louis Gates Kam Williams Book Review "This book is about more than the arrest of one man. It is abut how we need to examine our criminal justice syst...
Rudolph Lewis: The Prophetic Voice of the Poet
Rudolph Lewis: The Prophetic Voice of the Poet Miriam Decosta-Willis Book Review Rudolph Lewis In his lyrical Mockingbirds at Jerusalem: A Poetic Memoir, poet, editor, and former professor and l...
The Prime Anniversary
The Prime Anniversary Brianna-Christine Alicea Book Review Jay Wright is an acclaimed poet, essayist, and playwright. Wright is the author of several collections of poetry, which include but are not ...
The Memory Librarian
The Memory Librarian Robert Fleming Book Review When I think of singer-actor-fashion icon Janelle Monae, the word eclectic comes to mind. She is everywhere in the media, on every platform. Along with...
King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis
King: A Filmed Record… Montgomery to Memphis Kam Williams king-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Oscar-Nominated, 1970 Documentary Chronicling Career of Dr. Martin Luther King Returns to Theaters King: ...
Man of Steel
Man of Steel Kam Williams man-of-stelle-poster.jpg Film Review Superman’s Roots Explored in Riveting Reboot of DC Comics Series Man of Steel In Theaters: Jun 14, 2013 Wide Rated PG-13 for pro...
The Pirogue
The Pirogue Kam Williams la-pirogue.jpg Film Review Senegalese Peasants Set Out for Spain in Seafaring Tale of Survival La Pirogue (2012) In Theaters: Jan 23, 2013 Limited Directed By: Moussa TourÃ...
Prisoners
Prisoners Kam Williams prisoners.jpg Film Review Parents and Police Search for Kidnapped Kids in Mesmerizing, Multi-Layered Mystery Prisoners Now Available on DVD Win a Copy of Prisoners on ...
The Purge
The Purge Kam Williams thepurge-movieposter.jpg Film Review Barricaded Family Fights to Survive in Futuristic Horror Flick The Purge In Theaters: Jun 7, 2013 Limited 1 hr. 25 min. Rated R for profa...
Riddick
Riddick Kam Williams riddick.jpg Film Review Vin Diesel Reprises Role as Alien Antihero in Futuristic Sci-fi Adventure Riddick In Theaters: Sep 6, 2013 Wide Rated R for profanity, nudity, sexuality...