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The Known World
The Known World Thumper Book Review As is becoming an unbreakable and pleasurable yearly excursion, I attended the 2003 Book Expo America (BEA) in Los Angeles. I love the BEA. The convention is all...
Blacktrospective 2008 - Annual Assessment of the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema
Blacktrospective 2008 - Annual Assessment of the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema Kam Williams https://aalbc.com/reviews/the_se11.jpg Film Review Kam's Annual Assessment of the Best (and...
Review of A Raisin in the Sun DVD (2008)
Review of A Raisin in the Sun DVD (2008) Kam Williams a_rais29.jpg Film Review Diddy Stars in Adaptation of Classic Play Available on DVD A Raisin in the Sun Click to order vi...
Brooklyn’s Finest
Brooklyn’s Finest Kam Williams images/img23.jpg Film Review Flawed NYPD Officers Featured as "Brooklyn’s Finest" Brooklyn's Finest Rated R for nudity, graphic sexuality, pe...
W. (2008)
W. (2008) Kam Williams w.htm13.jpg Film Review Oliver Stone Chronicles Bush’s Checkered Career with Damning Bio-Pic W. Rated PG-13 for profanity, sexual references, smoking, alc...
We Need to Talk
We Need to Talk Kam Williams images/51Icf9mwW+L._SL500_AA300_.jpg Film Review Sisters Make Most of Opportunity to Reflect on Relationships in Latest Documentary from Janks Morton We ...
Big Words
Big Words Kam Williams big-words-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Rap Group Reunites on 2008 Election Day in Dream Deferred Drama Big Words In Theaters: Jul 19, 2013 Limited Unrated Running time: 94 ...
Meet Dave (2008)
Meet Dave (2008) Kam Williams meet_d27.jpg Film Review Eddie Murphy Misfires as Brother from Another Planet Meet Dave Rated PG for action, suggestive...
Talk to Me
Talk to Me Kam Williams talk_t65.jpg Film Review DVD Features Don Cheadle as Con-Turned-Controversial DC DJ Talk to Me (2007) (HD DVD/Standa...
The Secret Life of Bees
The Secret Life of Bees Kam Williams the_se11.jpg Film Review Carolina Provides Scenic Rural Backdrop for Female Empowerment Flick Set during Civil Rights Era The Secret Life of Bees R...
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Kam Williams nicole20.jpg Film Review Egotistical Talk-Show Host Humbled at Crass Family Reunion The Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins Click to or...
Just Too Good to Be True
Just Too Good to Be True Thumper Book Review I never thought the moon would rise or the sun would set on the day that I would be writing a review on any E. Lynn Harris book. I use to be a fan of ...
Fifth Born
Fifth Born Thumper Book Review My copy of Fifth Born, the debut novel by Zelda Lockhart, came by way of this year’s Book Expo America convention (BEA). I met Ms. Lockhart and her son at The B...
Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues
Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues Clarence V. Reynolds Book Review This year, we will celebrate the centennial of the birth of prominent writer, civil rights activist, and intellectual James Baldwin. Born in Ha...
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...
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 First: President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House
The First: President Barack Obama’s Road to the White House Kam Williams Book Review "On February 10, 2007, Barack Hussein Obama stood before thousands waiting in the cold in front of the Old Stat...
Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man?
Why Do I Have to Think Like a Man? Kam Williams Book Review "This book is dedicated to all women who are ready to ask themselves, ‘What could I have done differently to get what I wanted out ...
Fire In A Canebrake
Fire In A Canebrake Thumper Book Review "’If all it’s going to do is stir up old memories, it can’t do anything but hurt folks. Who wants to talk about Nagasaki and Hiroshim...
Why I Sued the Bible Publishers
Why I Sued the Bible Publishers Robert Fleming Book Review If there was ever a book title that yelled its intentions, this is it. The book’s author, Bradley Fowler, one of the faithful of Presb...
Read Until You Understand
Read Until You Understand Robert Fleming Book Review With a solid array of books to her credit, Farah Jasmine Griffin has possibly written one of the artistic highlights in the national book marketpl...
Still Trippin ’
Still Trippin ’ Kam Williams still_7.jpg Film Review Steve Harvey Adds Blue Humor Back to His Standup Act Still Trippin’ Click to order via Amazon Unrated Running ...
African American Lives 2
African American Lives 2 Kam Williams africa11.jpg Film Review Black Luminaries Find Roots in 4-Part PBS Series African American Lives 2 Click to order via Amazon Format: Color, D...
T.D. Jakes: Reposition Yourself - Living Life Without Limits
T.D. Jakes: Reposition Yourself - Living Life Without Limits Kam Williams reposi73.jpg Film Review DVD Version of Bishop T.D. Jakes’ Best-Seller Released T.D. Jakes: Reposition Yo...
Red Tails
Red Tails Kam Williams redtails.jpg Film Review WWII Saga Recounts Heroic Exploits of Tuskegee Airmen Red Tails [2012] In Theaters: Jan 20, 2012 Wide Written By: Aaron McGrude...
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America
Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America Kam Williams Book Review “America is in trouble, and a lot of that trouble—perhaps most of it—has to do with race. Everywhere we tu...
The Brand Within: The Power of Branding from Birth to the Boardroom
The Brand Within: The Power of Branding from Birth to the Boardroom Kam Williams Book Review "What I hope to do with this book is reach out to anyone who wants to get a leg up on their own careers&...
He Talk Like a White Boy
He Talk Like a White Boy Kam Williams Book Review "I have grown tired of hearing people badmouth America. I love my country and claim it as my own because I believe America is good. And...
Goony Goo-Goo and Ga-Ga Too!
Goony Goo-Goo and Ga-Ga Too! Kelly Starling Lyons Book Review Drawing inspiration from her own children, author Kia Morgan Smith has written a fun picture book about the trials and triumphs of ...
The Collected Poems of Nikki Giovanni
The Collected Poems of Nikki Giovanni Rondall Brasher Book Review The Collected Poetry of Nikki Giovanni has been grafted to my hands for the last 3 weeks. This anthology is the chronological atlas...
Muzzled: The Assault on Honest Debate
Muzzled: The Assault on Honest Debate Kam Williams Book Review "Is it possible to talk about Muslims and terrorism without being called a bigot? …What happened to me was not about me a...
The Strawberry Letter: Real Talk
The Strawberry Letter: Real Talk Kam Williams Book Review "I’ve been Shirley’s partner in radio for over ten years now… I am amazed by how she manages to balance her personal and...
Rebirth of a Nation
Rebirth of a Nation Kam Williams rebirt48.jpg Film Review DJ Does Hip-Hop Remix of Birth of a Nation DJ Spooky’s Rebirth of a Nation Click to o...
Thunder Soul
Thunder Soul Kam Williams images/thundersoul.jpg Film Review Reverential Bio-Pic Pays Tribute to Legendary H.S. Bandleader Thunder Soul Rated PG for smoking and mild epithets Running time: ...
Trouble the Water
Trouble the Water Kam Williams troubl1.jpg Film Review Shocking Katrina Documentary Created from Real-Time, Home Movies Shot by Storm Victim Trouble the Water Unrated Running time: 96 minute...
War Dance
War Dance Kam Williams war_da30.jpg Film Review DVD Examines Drive to Dance in the Midst of Ugandan Civil War War Dance Click to order via Amazon Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Sugg...
The Avengers
The Avengers Kam Williams samuel_avenger.jpg Film Review Superheroes Unite to Save the Planet in ‘Marvel’ous Comic Book Adaptation The Avengers [2012] In Theaters: May 4, 2012 Wide Ra...
Ballast
Ballast Kam Williams images/img42.jpg Film Review Ballast Click to order via Amazon Unrated Running time: 96 minutes Studio: Alluvial Film Company Release Date: November 10, 2009 ...
Black in America
Black in America Kam Williams black_11.jpg Film Review Over-Hyped CNN Special Fails to Measure-Up to the Buzz Black in America Click to order via Am...
Iron Lady
Iron Lady Kam Williams theironlady_movieposter.jpg Film Review Streep Delivers Oscar-Quality Performance Impersonating Brit PM The Iron Lady Rated PG-13 for violent images and brief nudity. R...
Dead Presidents
Dead Presidents Ted Prigge images/dead.h42.jpg Film Review DEAD PRESIDENTS (1995) (out of a possible ) Directors: Allen and Albert Hughes Writer: Michael Henry Brown (based on a...
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...
The Price of the Ticket: Barack Obama and the Rise and Decline of Black Politics
The Price of the Ticket: Barack Obama and the Rise and Decline of Black Politics Kam Williams Book Review “Barack Obama’s triumph in the presidential election of 2008… contains ...
The Breakthrough
The Breakthrough Kam Williams Book Review ’If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream ...
The Pact
The Pact Kam Williams the_pa18.jpg Film Review Three Black Boys from Newark Overcome Odds to Become Doctors The Pact Click to order via Amazon ...
Pray the Devil Back to Hell
Pray the Devil Back to Hell Kam Williams images/pray_t16.jpg Film Review PBS Series Documentary from Liberia Features 2011 Nobel Peace Prize-Winner Pray the Devil Back to Hell premieres ...
Punta Soul
Punta Soul Kam Williams punta_28.jpg Film Review PARANDA MEDIA 80 Vaughn Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801 Contact: Margery Laing 914-393-3037 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Februa...
Watchmen
Watchmen Kam Williams watchm18.jpg Film Review Long-Awaited Adaptation of Graphic Novel an Underwhelming Disappointment Watchmen Rated R for full frontal nu...
Blackout
Blackout Kam Williams jeffre35.jpg Film Review Straight-to-DVD Drama Revisits the Great Blackout of 2003 Blackout (2007) DVD Click to order via Amazon Audienc...
Cadillac Records
Cadillac Records Kam Williams cadillac_records_movie_poster.jpg Film Review Fanciful Bio-Pic Revisits Rise of Legendary Record Company Cadillac Records (2008) Order via Amaz...
Cover
Cover Kam Williams vivica41.jpg Film Review DVD Mystery Explores Life on the Down-Low Cover Click to order via Amazon Studio: 20th Century Fox DVD...
Dirty Laundry
Dirty Laundry Kam Williams dirty_13.jpg Film Review Brother on the Down-Low Outed by His Kid in DVD Comedy Dirty Laundry (2006) Click to order DVD via Amazon Actors: Loretta Devin...
The Express
The Express Kam Williams rob_br10.jpg Film Review Rob Brown Stars as Late Gridiron Great in Bittersweet Bio-Pic The Express (2008) Rated PG for violence, mature ...
Hancock
Hancock Kam Williams hancoc6.jpg Film Review Hancock (2008) Rated PG-13 for profanity and sci-fi violence. Running time: 92 minutes Studio: Columbia Pictures Film Review...
How She Move
How She Move Kam Williams how_sh32.jpg Film Review Promising Prep Student Returns to Ghetto Roots in Inspirational Dance Saga How She Move Click to order via Amazon Theatr...
I Am Legend
I Am Legend Kam Williams iamleg15.jpg Film Review Will Smith as Last Man on Earth in Adaptation of Apocalyptic Sci-Fi Adventure I Am Legend (2007) Clic...
Uncle Tom: A Oral History of the American Black Conservative
Uncle Tom: A Oral History of the American Black Conservative Troy Johnson https://aalbc.com/reviews/images/Uncle-tom-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Rating: NR Genre: Documentary Directed By: Just...
The Miseducation of Obi Ifeanyi by Chinedu Achebe
The Miseducation of Obi Ifeanyi by Chinedu Achebe Robert Fleming Book Review Some of the world’s finest fiction has been written by Nigerians. Let’s look at the writers from that area in...
Butter: Novellas, Stories, and Fragments
Butter: Novellas, Stories, and Fragments Robert Fleming Book Review Recently, I received a letter from lit legend Gayl Jones, saying that she wasn’t writing anymore. Discovered by iconic editor...
Butterfly Rising
Butterfly Rising Troy Johnson images/tanya_wright.jpg Film Review A Letter from Tanya Wright Tanya Wright author/writer/director, BUTTERFLY RISING My name is Tanya Wright. I am an actress...
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 ...
Blacktrospective 2005
Blacktrospective 2005 Kam Williams https://aalbc.com/reviews/movies69.jpg Film Review Blacktrospective 2005 A Look Back at the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema by Kam Williams 2004 m...
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise Kam Williams /reviews/images/maya-angelou-older.jpg Film Review An Intimate Look at the Life of Iconic Poet, Writer, and Activist Excellent (4 stars) In Theaters...
The Dhamma Brothers
The Dhamma Brothers Kam Williams the_dh16.jpg Film Review Inmates Find Inner Peace thru Meditation in Death Row Documentary The Dhamma Brothers Unrated Running time: 76 minutes...
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...
Ain’t Nothing Like Freedom
Ain’t Nothing Like Freedom Kam Williams Book Review “Elected six times to the House from the state of Georgia, Cynthia McKinney cut a trail through Congressional deceit like a hot ember throug...
Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope
Michelle Obama: First Lady of Hope Kam Williams Book Review ’I will never forget the unabashed affection the president-elect displayed [Election Night] as, with the whole worl...
Hope on a Tightrope
Hope on a Tightrope Kam Williams Book Review ’We are now in one of the most truly prophetic moments in the history of America. The poor and very poor are sleeping with self-de...
American Tapestry: The Story of the Black
American Tapestry: The Story of the Black Kam Williams Book Review “On November 4, 2008, Michelle Obama stood before a crowd of thousands of roaring, singing and weeping supporters in Chi...
The Audacity of Hope
The Audacity of Hope Kam Williams Book Review ’There’s a school of thought that sees the Founding Fathers only as hypocrites and the Constitution only as a betrayal of the grand ideal...
Michelle Obama: A Life
Michelle Obama: A Life Kam Williams Book Review “Here is the first comprehensive account of the life and times of Michelle Obama, a woman of achievement and purpose—and the most unlik...
You Made Me Love You
You Made Me Love You Robert Fleming Book Review Like Ishmael Reed, Clarence Major, and other legendary African-American male writers of their generation, John Edgar Wideman, at eighty, is nearing the...
Sankofa University: Studying African-Centered History and Culture
Sankofa University: Studying African-Centered History and Culture Robert Fleming Book Review Dr. Burnett Kwadwo Gallman’s Sankofa University: Studying African-Centered History And Culture, is a...
The Henry Louis Gates
The Henry Louis Gates Robert Fleming Book Review Henry Louis Gates, Jr., one of the nation’s most acclaimed scholars, is a masterful jack of all trades, including educator, editor, critic and ...
Kinyarwanda
Kinyarwanda Kam Williams images/kinyarwanda_movie_poster.jpg Film Review Rwandan Tragedy Revisited in "Crash"-Like Ensemble Drama Read an interview with the film maker Alrick Brown Kinyarwanda ...
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...
Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds
Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds Kam Williams good_deeds_movie%20Poster.jpg Film Review CEO Torn between Employee and Fiancée in Tyler Perry Morality Play Good Deeds [2012] In Theaters: Fe...
White Chicks
White Chicks Kam Williams white_15.jpg Film Review White Chicks (PG-13) Starring: Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans Directed by: Keenen Ivory Wayans Release Date: 06/23/2004 Run time: 105 min. Genr...
Amistad
Amistad Michael Dequina images/amista36.jpg Film Review Amistad Rated R for some scenes of strong brutal violence and some related nudity. Starring: Morgan Freeman …...
The Black Candle
The Black Candle Kam Williams the_bl1.jpg Film Review DVD Explains Roots of Kwanzaa Celebration The Black Candle: A Kwanzaa Celebration Click to order via Amazon Unrated ...
Brother to Brother
Brother to Brother Kam Williams brothe73.jpg Film Review Brother to Brother buy DVD Via Amazon Directed & Written by Rodney Evans Distributor: Ventura Distribution Unrated Running time: 90 minu...
G
G Kam Williams g.htm13.jpg Film Review Great Gatsby in Blackface Gets a Gangsta Makeover G R for sex, expletives and brief violence. Running time: 96 minutes Distributor: Andrew Lauren Productions...
Hoodlum
Hoodlum Michael Dequina images/hoodlu40.jpg Film Review HOODLUM (1997) A film review by Timothy Voon http://us.imdb.com/M/reviews_by?Tim+Voon Copyright 1998 Timothy Voon (out of a p...
In the Mix
In the Mix Kam Williams in_the41.jpg Film Review Usher Moonlights as Mafia Bodyguard in Cross-Cultural Romance In the Mix Rated PG-13 for sex, expletives and violence. Running time: 97 minutes Di...
The Covenant with Black America
The Covenant with Black America Kam Williams Book Review Book Review by Kam Williams "Why a Covenant with Black America? In short, because’ without organization, black folk will ...
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...
Dreams of My Ancestors
Dreams of My Ancestors Kam Williams Book Review “Approximately 455,000 African men, women, girls and boys were the original ancestors of the estimated 40 million African-American people i...
How to Grow as a Musician
How to Grow as a Musician Kam Williams Book Review ’This is a book about growth, success, and personal discovery. It is designed for musicians who want more out of their careers- though you d...
Tavis Smiley Books
Tavis Smiley Books Lynne d. Johnson Book Review Tavis Smiley, syndicated radio and BET talk-show host, is committed to making the world a better place. This is his mission. His first book, Doing What...
Street Judge
Street Judge Thumper Book Review In his fiction debut Judge Greg Mathis, star of the syndicated Judge Mathis TV show, releases Street Judge, a mystery/thriller with a message. Although I ha...
Zodiac Saga 2 The Balance of Power by Kaitlyn McKnight
Zodiac Saga 2 The Balance of Power by Kaitlyn McKnight Robert Fleming Book Review There are quality novels in the Young Adult novel market. It’s not easy or simple to do these hybrid collection...
Duende
Duende Robert Fleming Book Review Poet Quincy Troupe’s literary magic has elevated him to the forefront of modern American writers. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he, the son of a catcher in the ...
Undivided: A Muslim Daughter
Undivided: A Muslim Daughter Kam Williams Book Review “They didn’t talk. Not for 10 years… Instead, a mother and daughter tiptoed with pain around the deepest gulf in their lives...
Star Trek (2009 #11)
Star Trek (2009 #11) Kam Williams star_t5.jpg Film Review Flagging Sci-Fi Franchise Resuscitated by Eye-Popping Prequel Star Trek ...
Breasts
Breasts Kam Williams breast49.jpg Film Review Headline: 22 Topless Women Talk about Their Boobs Breasts - A Documentary (1996) Click to order via Amazon Unrated Running time: 50 minute...
A Great Day in Harlem
A Great Day in Harlem Kam Williams a_grea34.jpg Film Review DVD Documentary on the Anatomy of Historic Jazz Photo A Great Day in Harlem Click to order via Amazon Plot Synopsis: Art Kane, now...
Blacktrospective 2010 - Annual Assessment of the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema
Blacktrospective 2010 - Annual Assessment of the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema Kam Williams https://aalbc.com/reviews/images/Just-Wright.jpg Film Review Blacktrospective 2010 - Annual Assessmen...
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,...
Oreo
Oreo Thumper Book Review I’m thinking, pondering, you might say, that possibly the sign of a good book isn’t the fact that it is in print. Maybe, the sign of a good book should be wheth...
Gay Rebel of the Harlem Ren…
Gay Rebel of the Harlem Ren… Thumper Book Review Richard Bruce Nugent is the best well-kept secret of the Harlem Renaissance. Nugent isn’t unheard of in the annals of the Renaissance; ...