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Blacktrospective 2009 - Kam’s Annual Assessment of the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema
Blacktrospective 2009 - Kam’s Annual Assessment of the Best (and Worst) in Black Cinema Kam Williams https://aalbc.com/reviews/precious_movieposter.jpg Film Review Kam's Annual Assessment of the Best ...
We the Party
We the Party Kam Williams wetheparty.jpg Film Review The African-American answer to American Pie! We the Party [2012] In Theaters: Apr 6, 2012 Limited Comedy Directed By: Mario V...
This Side of Glory
This Side of Glory Thumper Book Review This Side Of Glory: The Autobiography of David Hilliard and the Story of the Black Panther Party by David Hilliard and Lewis Cole On my continuing quest in read...
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...
Prodigal
Prodigal Chauncey Ridley Book Review David Covin’s Prodigal is a well-tuned engine of richly resonant, polysemous form firing on all cylinders: a hip, ripping thriller set in the mean streets o...
A Fool Indeed
A Fool Indeed Clarence V. Reynolds Book Review To say that Charles Fuller has a lot going on is putting it mildly. The one-time ladies’ man is newly married to a woman whom he has dedicated him...
Bastards of the Party
Bastards of the Party Kam Williams bastar2.jpg Film Review Documentary Highlights the Grim Side of Ghetto Gangsta Lifestyle Bastards of the Party Film Review by Kam William...
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party
Dave Chappelle’s Block Party Kam Williams block_2.jpg Film Review Conscious-Raising Concert Flick Combines Comedy and Hip-Hop Dave Chappelle’s Block Party Excellent (4 stars) Unrated ...
Salmon Croquettes
Salmon Croquettes Tony Lindsay Book Review Salmon Croquettes is a debut novel rich in prose. The book is loaded with purposeful dialogue and heartwarming descriptive scenes. The novel’s authent...
Night Catches Us
Night Catches Us Kam Williams images/img2B4.jpg Film Review Period Piece about Prodigal Black Panther’s Released on DVD Night Catches Us Click to Buy via Amazon.com Rated R for vi...
Front Row Seat: A Photographic Portrait of the Presidency of George W. Bush
Front Row Seat: A Photographic Portrait of the Presidency of George W. Bush Kam Williams Book Review “I was privileged to work with Eric Draper during my entire Presidency. I got to know him ...
Party Crashing
Party Crashing Kam Williams Book Review ’Unlike their parents and grandparents, young black Americans no longer view their political identity as black and white, so to speak. Today,...
The Black Agenda
The Black Agenda Robert Fleming Book Review Who was Glen Ford? If you ask that question of some of the best critical thinkers in the Black community, they would say Ford was one of the most capabl...
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 ...
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...
American Gangster
American Gangster Kam Williams washin61.jpg Film Review Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe Square-Off in Harlem Heroin-Trade Saga American Gangster (2007) Click to o...
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...
Fruitvale Station
Fruitvale Station Kam Williams fruitville-station.jpg Film Review Bittersweet Biopic Recounts Final Hours in Oscar Grant’s Life The video is a news report which includes video of Oscar Grant I...
Getting To The Good Part
Getting To The Good Part Thumper Book Review Hello. It only took me a few hours to read this bad boy. I guess I can qualify it as one of those books that can make you lose sleep. So, if some words ...
Snapshot
Snapshot Tony Lindsay Book Review In Snapshot, Camryn King demonstrates the power of a page turning thriller. Through King’s beautifully descriptive screens, narrative pace, believable dialog, ...
Do the Right Thing
Do the Right Thing Kam Williams do_the8.jpg Film Review 20th Anniversary Edition of Spike Lee Classic Now Available on DVD Do the Right Thing Click to order via ...
The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power
The Loneliness of the Black Republican: Pragmatic Politics and the Pursuit of Power Kam Williams Book Review “This study introduces readers to key figures across a spectrum of black Republican...
Fear of a Black Republican
Fear of a Black Republican Kam Williams fearofablackrepublican.jpg Film Review Fear of a Black Republican Unrated Running time: 111 Minutes Studio: Shamrock Stine Productions DV...
It’s A Thin Line
It’s A Thin Line Thumper Book Review It’s A Thin Line may be the title to Kimberla Lawson Roby’s latest novel, but it also describes the condition of my last nerve that this book jumped ...
Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson Kam Williams Book Review "As the ’Bad’ tour moved to St. Louis, a 13 year-old boy named Peter joined the entourage. This kid had been with us in New York and was now...
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 ...
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...
Sucka 4 Luv
Sucka 4 Luv Kam Williams sucka-4-luv.jpg Film Review Sucka 4 Luv (2014) Click to Buy or Rent This Film Unrated Running time: 84 minutes Distributor: Pierre Films Romance Film Review...
Blue in Green
Blue in Green Robert Fleming Book Review On August 25, 1959, jazz trumpeter Miles Davis escorts a white girl to a cab, lights a cigarette outside Birdland, and a city policeman harasses the black man...
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...
Wrong on Race
Wrong on Race Kam Williams Book Review ’It must be acknowledged that in the progress of nations Negroes have shown less capacity for government than any other race of people. No independen...
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...
Evan Almighty
Evan Almighty Kam Williams evan_a1.jpg Film Review God Asks Modern-Day Noah to Build Ark in Faith-Based Family Comedy Evan Almighty Rated PG for crude humor and scenes of ...
Black Swan
Black Swan Rondall Brasher Book Review When Poetry Takes Wing Black Swan by Lyrae Van Clief-Stefanon was published in 2002. This lapse of time annoys me because I somehow missed this rare "lot...
Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is
Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is Kam Williams keyshi1.jpg Film Review BET’s #1 Rated Reality Series Released on DVD Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is’ (...
A Good Day to Be Black & Sexy
A Good Day to Be Black & Sexy Kam Williams a_good15.jpg Film Review Sexplicit Action Aplenty in Raw, Raunchy Romantic Romp A Good Day to Be Black & Sexy Click to order...
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 ...
The Presidency in Black and White: My Up-Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America
The Presidency in Black and White: My Up-Close View of Three Presidents and Race in America Kam Williams Book Review “[This book] gives readers a compelling behind-the-scenes look at race re...
New Harmony: A Mother’s Story of Love and Loss
New Harmony: A Mother’s Story of Love and Loss Robert Fleming Book Review A complete reading of this debut novel by Leon E. Pettiway, a professor emeritus at Indiana University and an ordained Buddhi...
To the Mountaintop: My Journey through the Civil Rights Movement
To the Mountaintop: My Journey through the Civil Rights Movement Kam Williams Book Review “On January 20, 2009, 1.8 million people crowded onto the cold, hard grounds of the nation’s cap...
The End of Anger: A New Generation’s Take on Race and Rage
The End of Anger: A New Generation’s Take on Race and Rage Kam Williams Book Review "The End of Anger is an exploration of why it is that many blacks are feeling optimistic these days&hellip...
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention Robert Fleming Book Review Dr. Manning Marable, a professor of history at Columbia University and author of fifteen books, knew how important and controversial ...
Paul Mooney: It’s The End of the World
Paul Mooney: It’s The End of the World Kam Williams images/paul_mooney.jpg Film Review Paul Mooney Concert Flick Shot at Strip Club Paul Mooney: It’s The End of the World Very Good (3 star...
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 ...
The Help
The Help Kam Williams images/thehelpposter.jpg Film Review Read a statement to the fans of The Help from the Association of Black Women Historians Segregation Era Saga Explores Unquestioned Social...
Blacklash: How Obama and the Left Are Driving Americans to the Government Plantation
Blacklash: How Obama and the Left Are Driving Americans to the Government Plantation Kam Williams Book Review “There is this strange notion that because I am black I should agree with all blac...
Before Brown
Before Brown Kam Williams Book Review "Before Brown details the ferment in civil rights that took place across the South before the momentous Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954. T...
No Surrender
No Surrender Robert Fleming Book Review When news reached me about the death of renowned poetess, Ai, I knew that I must write something about her and her unwavering lyrical examination of the hu...
Blend In or Fade Out: A Memoir
Blend In or Fade Out: A Memoir Robert Fleming Book Review The main theme of identity takes center stage in Colnese M. Herndon’s emotional riveting memoir, Blend In Or Fade Out, as the writer in...
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...
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...
Kamp Katrina
Kamp Katrina Kam Williams kamp_k69.jpg Film Review An eye-opening expose’ welcoming white Americans to the Third World Kamp Katrina Click to order via Amazon ...
Femme du Monde
Femme du Monde Tara Betts Book Review Spears Jones’ second collection Femme du Monde does not simply unfold the artful experiences of a woman who has traveled and soaked up the internatio...
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...
Phat Girlz
Phat Girlz Kam Williams phat_g31.jpg Film Review Plus-Sized Sisters Find Acceptance in Africa in Cross-Cultural Romantic Comedy Phat Girlz Rated PG-13 for sex, expletives, and crude humo...
Supremacy
Supremacy Kam Williams supremacy.jpg Film Review Supremacy In Theaters: Jan 30, 2015 LimitedOn DVD: Apr 21, 2015Rating: UnratedGenre: DramaDirected By: Deon TaylorRuntime: 1 hr. 46 min. Distributor:...
Bring It On 4
Bring It On 4 Kam Williams bring_60.jpg Film Review Fourth Installment of Cheerleading Franchise Out on DVD Bring It On 4: In It to Win It Rated PG-13 for profanity, crude humor and su...
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...
Katt Williams: American Hustle
Katt Williams: American Hustle Kam Williams americ22.jpg Film Review Pimp Comedian’s Concert Film Out on DVD Katt Williams: American Hustle Click to order via Amazon Very Good (3 sta...
Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing Thumper Book Review The year, 2002, I decided to take Black History Month literally by reading books that expanded my scope of being black in America. I decided to read Last Man Sta...
Race
Race Kam Williams Book Review “There is a lot to learn from this book. If you are feeling cynical and discouraged that you can’t fight the powerful, read it! If you want to learn the ...
Phenomenally Me
Phenomenally Me Chris Hayden Book Review In a dark room with a blue light In the basement, music just right Nothing going down but the Mellow sounds of Mr. DJ’s turntables Going round" Boyz...
Barack Like Me
Barack Like Me Kam Williams Book Review "Ray Charles said the secret to life is timing. He was right on, especially when it comes to writing a book. When I handed in this book ...
Corridors of Genius
Corridors of Genius Robert Fleming Book Review So many conflicting words have been written about the King of Pop, Michael Joseph Jackson, (1958-2009). Glenda R. Taylor’s Corridors of Genius tak...
Mama Dearest
Mama Dearest Idrissa Uqdah Book Review Motherhood Gone Wild? New York Times Bestselling author, E. Lynn Harris had released twelve acclaimed novels before he suddenly pas...
Kiss and Tail
Kiss and Tail Kam Williams http://aalbc.com/authors/Kiss-and-tail.jpg Film Review Video Vixen’s Victims Get Even on Damning DVD Kiss and Tail: Hollywood Jump Off Click to order via Amazo...
Looking for Lincoln
Looking for Lincoln Kam Williams lookin7.jpg Film Review Checkered Legacy of Lincoln Revisited by PBS Series Looking for Lincoln Click to order via ...
Mississippi Damned
Mississippi Damned Kam Williams mississippi-damned.jpg Film Review Mississippi Damned In Theaters: January 16, 2009 (limited) on Netflix Written and Directed by: Tina Mabry Rating: UnratedGe...
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...
2012
2012 Kam Williams images/wpggjvvb.jpg Film Review Roland Emmerich’s Apocalyptic Adventure Arrives on DVD 2012 (2009) Click to order via Amazon Actors: John Cusack,...
Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer
Anita O’Day: The Life of a Jazz Singer Kam Williams anita_20.jpg Film Review DVD Revisits Career of Recently-Deceased Jazz Great - Blue eyed soul at its very best! ...
Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey
Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey Kam Williams barack3.jpg Film Review Obama Bio-Pic Recounts Rise to the Presidency Barack Obama: The Man and His Journey Click to order v...
Captain Phillips
Captain Phillips Kam Williams captain-phillips.jpg Film Review Somali Pirates Hold Captain Hostage in Navy SEAL Rescue Thriller Captain Phillips In Theaters: Oct 11, 2013 Wide PG-13 for intense ...
Crips and Bloods
Crips and Bloods Kam Williams crips_12.jpg Film Review Gangsta’ Documentary Graphically Recounts History of L.A. Turf War Crips and Bloods: Made in America Click to o...
I.O.U.S.A. (One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt.)
I.O.U.S.A. (One Nation. Under Stress. In Debt.) Kam Williams iousa.8.jpg Film Review DVD Explains Financial Crisis in Layman’s Terms I.O.U.S.A. (One Nation. Under...
Cosby: His Life and Times
Cosby: His Life and Times Kam Williams Book Review “[Bill] Cosby grew up in a Philadelphia housing project, the son of an alcoholic, largely absent father and a loving but overworked mother&...
The Seduction of Mr. Bradley
The Seduction of Mr. Bradley Idrissa Uqdah Book Review The Seduction of Mr. Bradley by Chicago author Minnie E. Miller tells a very different kind of love story, a love story complicated by prefere...
The Darkling
The Darkling Robert Fleming Book Review This debut novel, by Keoni Anderson, has all of the earmarks of one of the pulps from the golden age of science fiction, with Henry, the fresh-scrubbed ...
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina
Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina Kam Williams Book Review “As the only African-American soloist dancing with the prestigious American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has made history. Bu...
Casanegra
Casanegra Linda Watkins Book Review From the moment Casanegra crossed my palms, I was curious. Not only for the content of the story within, but for the story of the trio of authors that penn...
My America: Langston Hughes on Democracy
My America: Langston Hughes on Democracy Ahmad Wright Book Review My America: Langston Hughes on Democracy by Randal Maurice Jelks is self-described as “a commentary on select Langston essays, poems,...
Lost in Language & Sound: Or How I Found My Way to the Arts: Essays
Lost in Language & Sound: Or How I Found My Way to the Arts: Essays Alvin Romer Book Review Poetry and prose if presented and mixed well with a demonstrative esthetic can work wonders for anyone try...
Red Light Special
Red Light Special Thumper Book Review Yeah, yeah, surprised that I am reviewing, no less read, Red Light Special by Risqu’. Well, I am too. don't let the surprise be about the sub...
Premium Rush
Premium Rush Kam Williams premium-rush-movie-poster.jpg Film Review Manhattan Serves as Backdrop for Adrenaline-Fueled Bike Thriller Premium Rush (2012) In Theaters: Aug 24, 2012 Wide Rated PG-13 ...
Snakes on a Plane Review
Snakes on a Plane Review Kam Williams snakes7.jpg Film Review "Campy Fright Flick Loads of Fun in Spite of Cheesy F/X and Clich’-Ridden Script" Snakes on a Plane Excellent (4 sta...
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 …...
Giuliani Time
Giuliani Time Kam Williams giulia9.jpg Film Review Documentary Portrays Presidential Hopeful as Racist Mayor Giuliani Time Click to order via Amazon DVD Release Date: November 21, 2006 Run Time: ...
Hairspray
Hairspray Kam Williams hairsp27.jpg Film Review Hairspray Click to order via Amazon Rated PG for teen smoking, mild epithets andsuggestive content. Running time: 107 minutes Studio: New Li...
Ice Age: Continental Drift
Ice Age: Continental Drift Kam Williams ice-age-4-moive-poster.jpg Film Review A Frenetic Animated Adventure Strictly for Tykes Ice Age: Continental Drift [2012] In Theaters: Jul 13, 2012 Wide Rat...
Idlewilde
Idlewilde Kam Williams idlewi20.jpg Film Review Musical Set at Southern Speakeasy Released on DVD Idlewild Click to order via Amazon R for profanity, ethnic slurs, nudity, sexuality and violence. R...
It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’
It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’ Kam Williams its_pi6.jpg Film Review It’s Pimpin’ Pimpin’ Click to order via AmazonUnrated Running time: 77 minutes Studio: S...
Jumping the Broom
Jumping the Broom Kam Williams images/jumping_the_broom.jpg Film Review Ghetto Meets Suburbia Comedy Co-Starring Alonso and Patton Arrives on DVD Jumping the Broom Click to order DVD fr...
From Ike to Mao and Beyond: My Journey from Mainstream America to Revolutionary Communist
From Ike to Mao and Beyond: My Journey from Mainstream America to Revolutionary Communist Herb Boyd Book Review Like many red-blooded American boys, Bob Avakian’s early years were consumed wi...
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...
The Meaning of Michelle
The Meaning of Michelle Kam Williams Book Review “Michelle Obama is unlike any other First Lady in American History. From her first moment on the public stage, she has challenged traditional Am...
What Went Wrong in Ohio
What Went Wrong in Ohio Kam Williams Book Review With the November elections just over the horizon, this might be as good a time as ever to take note of what happened in Ohio in 2004 in order to b...
Ordinary Girls: A Memoir
Ordinary Girls: A Memoir Brenda M. Greene Book Review Jaquira Diaz, in her memoir Ordinary Girls, crafts a story that illustrates the intersection of race, ethnicity, sexuality, and poverty on the li...
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...