Troy

Kalyani Magazine - a semi annual literary print magazine by women of color - has it's third issue on the theme "How I Got Over". This represents poetry, prose, and artwork by women of color from around the world. Editor-in-chief – Shubha Bala Managing Editor – Priya X. Agrawal Managing Editor – Colleen Thompson Table of Contents for Issue #3 2 • Interview with Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene 10 • Nigerian Dyke Holy Text by Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene 12 • first poem since by Yvonne Fly Onakeme Etaghene • Writing • 16 • Becoming a fish by Anna G. Raman 17 • Time is a Blanket Sewn from Strips of Cloud and Rainbow by Zahra Murphy Patterson 23 • Mumo by Alexandria Delcourt 24 • On Forgiveness by Alexandria Delcourt 26 • the people say by Maisha Z. Johnson 28 • Termination at 19 (or On wisdom) by Adrienne Christian 30 • Backyard American Dream by Gia Bernini 34 • how i got over by Adrienne Christian 35 • My Palestine Stands Still by Laila Shikaki 36 • Numbers by Hope Wabuke 38 • At Sixteen by Latorial Faison 39 • Miso Without Tofu by Sophia E. Terazawa 43 • certainty by Angeline Yang 44 • Should Love Come Looking by Jehan Roberson 46 • In Praise of My Butt by Nadia Alexis 47 • Fantastic Bon-Voyage by sahara borja 55 • Epilogue by Maria Gregorio 56 • Scattered Pieces by Rashida James-Saadiya 58 • This Is Steadiness In Breath by Romila Barryman 60 • Palladia by DeMisty D. Bellinger 65 • To the Owner of Lonely Nights by Jehan Roberson 68 • Black on my Skin Dream by Kaitlynn Lane 70 • brazilian symphony by Annie Gustin • Visual Art • 33 • Elastic Energy by Molly Solanki 57 • back to us by Maurica Roland 72 • Two Sisters…Tropical Waltz by Annie Gustin 86 • Cover Art: Deneen by So Yoon Lym More at: http://kalyanimagazine.com

U.S. Department of Labor For Immediate Release Dec. 12, 2013 Office of Public Affairs Contact: Jennifer Marion Washington, D.C. Phone: 202-693-5795 Release Number: 13-2156-ATL/BOS 2013-219 Email: marion.jennifer.r@dol.gov African-American literature, authors central to Labor Department’s Books that Shaped Work in America project WASHINGTON – From Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” to Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” African-American literature and authors are represented in the titles of fiction, nonfiction, plays and poetry included on the initial roll of Books that Shaped Work in America. The Web-based project, www.dol.gov/books, part of the U.S. Department of Labor ongoing commemoration of its 100th anniversary, and in partnership with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, aims to engage the public about the department's mission and America's history as a nation of workers as portrayed through published works. The project serves as an online book club where people from all walks of life can share books that informed them about occupations and careers, molded their views about work and helped elevate the discourse about work, workers and workplaces. At the same time, the site provides a unique way for people to learn about the mission and resources of the U.S. Department of Labor. "The Books that Shaped Work in America initiative explores the dignity of work and our progress in expanding America's fundamental promise of opportunity for all through the lens of literature," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez. "This progress cannot be understood and fully appreciated without also examining the struggle for access to opportunity and equal rights that has been a part of the American experience, particularly with respect to African Americans in the 20th Century.” Work, like our nation, is constantly evolving, and so Books that Shaped Work in America is no different. To get it started, 24 individuals, including Perez, eight former secretaries of labor from Democratic and Republican administrations, civil rights leaders, authors and media personalities submitted suggestions. Among the contributors: former Secretary of Labor Alexis Herman, President of the National Urban League Marc Morial and the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau head Latifa Lyles. Their recommendations are included on the initiative's website, along with brief summaries of each book and links to related U.S. Department of Labor resources. Now the public is invited to expand the list. A simple, online form, which can be found at http://www.dol.gov/books/form, makes it easy for anyone to suggest a book. From August Wilson’s collection of plays in ‘The Pittsburgh Cycle’ to Claude Brown’s ‘Manchild in the Promised Land’ to Isabel Wilkerson’s ‘The Warmth of Other Suns,’ many of the books on the list demonstrate the relationship between work and the African-American experience. While workplace discrimination was often a barrier to opportunity, good jobs and hard work was also a tool for overcoming inequality. Many of the books on the list reflect this and demonstrate the positive impact a changing workplace had on the nation. Books like Richard Wright’s ‘Native Son’ and Zora Neale Hurston’s ‘Their Eyes Were Watching God,’ along with memoirs from Frederick Douglass and Dorothy Height, have influenced the working lives of both those who fought for equal rights and all of us who benefited from their efforts. The project was inspired by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress' 2012 Books That Shaped America exhibition, which explored the impact of books on American life and culture. Many of the books in that exhibition had work as a central theme, bringing to light the significant role published works have played in shaping America's view of workers and workplaces throughout its history. Created in 1913, the mission of the U.S. Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. To learn more about the department's history, visit www.dol.gov/100/. # # #

Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library - Inside cover and first page of Austin Reed's manuscript. Years ago, a rare-books dealer browsing at an estate sale in Rochester came across an unusual manuscript, dated 1858. The family selling it said little about where it had been for the last 150 years. It appeared never to have left upstate New York. Scholars now believe that the mystery manuscript is the first recovered memoir written in prison by an African-American, a discovery that Yale University says it made after authenticating the document and acquiring it for its Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library. The 304-page memoir, titled “The Life and Adventures of a Haunted Convict, or the Inmate of a Gloomy Prison,” describes the experiences of the author, Austin Reed, from the 1830s to the 1850s in a prison in upstate New York. Read the full NY Times article written By Julie Bosman Published: December 11, 2013

Holy Lockdown: Does the Church Limit Black Progress? Jeremiah Camara http://amzn.to/holylockdown Holy Lockdown: Does the Church Limit Black Progress? Why are there many churches, yet major problems in Black communities? Why are Blacks amongst the most Jesus-Praising people in the world, yet the most fragmented and economically dependent? Is there a correlation between high praising and low productivity? Holy Lockdown addresses the paradox that exists within the Black community. One that reflects the abundance of Black churches coupled with the abundance of Black problems. There are approximately 85,000 predominately Black churches in this country, meaning, we could have 1,700 Black churches in every state! Holy Lockdown takes a critical and long overdue look at the psychological impact the church and sermonic rhetoric has made on the Black collective, and it explores the possibility of the church as being a contributing factor to many social problems facing Blacks. Jeremiah Camara is the author of the books Holy Lockdown: Does the Church Limit Black Progress? and The New Doubting Thomas: The Bible, Black Folks, and Blind Belief. He received national attention as a frequent guest on the Michael Baisden Show and Lib Radio. Camara continues to speak nationwide about the perils of blind belief and religious preoccupation. Camara, was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1989, he created a video documentary titled Psychological Wars, which examined subliminal messages in sitcoms, cartoons and commercials that negatively impacted the psyche of African Americans. The documentary was endorsed by noted Black educators Na'im Akbar and Jawanza Kunjufu. Camara was once a member of one of the largest Black churches in Cincinnati, Ohio. Baptized at an early age, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, shortly after high school, where he began his quest toward a deeper understanding of spirituality. While in Cleveland, he began to diligently study the Bible and gave serious thought to becoming a minister, or at least living an active life in the church. During that time, he attended a Baptist church at least two or three times a week. Like many, he felt the church could provide him with the substance he was missing in the way of answers, meaning and purpose in his life. There came a time, however, when he began to distance himself from the church not because of a particularly bad experience or negative incident, but because he had begun to expose himself to other forms of thought, spiritual concepts and ideas. I began to see the church as just one source of knowledge. The diversity of the world and its kaleidoscopic array of infinite ideas and wisdom would not permit my spirit to be confined only to the teachings of the church. It also disturbed me deeply to witness Blacks praising so much, but producing so little, says Camara. Camara returned to church, but this time as an investigator. Visits to churches of varying denominations brought to light a common thread linking the vast majority. Mostly all, in his opinion, were preaching a gospel of powerlessness. Following a long investigative hiatus, he rediscovered this same theological impotence when he moved to the Atlanta-metro area, where he quickly discovered that church was big business. He knew then the time had come to write a book shedding light on the many psychologically crippling aspects within the church. Camara adds, African Americans have been theologically conditioned to rely upon supernaturalism and divine intervention to solve problems. In the long run, this has hampered the ability to think logically and practically when it comes to addressing critical issues. The time has come to sober up and reevaluate our relationship with religion.

Harry this argument falls apart because you are getting your Hispanics confused. The Mexicans trying to slip under the fence at an Arizona border are the the same as the wealthy folks who fled Castro's Cuba. They have nothing in common except a language--barely.

I grew up in a building that looked very much like the one shown in this animation. I clearly recall reasoning that Santa was fiction based upon the fact that we had no fire place from Santa to descend. The projects, however, actually do have chimneys. When I was a kid we would dump our trash down a chute where it was periodically incinerated and the noxious smoke was released through a chimney. Today they use compactors and God know where the smushed-up rubbish goes from there. I recall trying to explain my reasoning to another kid, in an attempt to dispel the myth of Kris Kringle. The kid simply would not believe me. Many years later, I heard the kid went on to pastor a church.

Apparently these photos were taken during the Nelson Mandela Memorial Oh by the way, First lady not peeved, says photographer who caught the Obama selfie

Cynique it can all be part of the same game. Kayne's celebrity and that of his baby's mama is not an accident, it is orchestrated; there is a machine, behind it. I would not be surprised, in the least, if this latest Kayne rumor was planned as well--turning Mandela' death into a publicity stunt. I'm I "out cynnicing" the cynic here? I'm not a fan of Kanye's either, but to me this is one of those instances where I don't hate the player, I hate the game. He should also listen to his own lyrics

Yes someone made this all up. It happens all the time. The only reason I discovered it was fake was that I tried to find the source I could not. Eventually I came across Kayne's denial: "Despite recent media reports, I've never said anything to dishonor or trivialize the life or transition of one of the most inspiring leaders--KANYE WEST (@kanyewest) (December 9, 2013) As outrageous the statements were, coming from a Kanye West it sounds perfectly plausible as something he would say. But since we have children at the controls and journalist greeting us at Walmart "legitimate" news sources picks this crap up and it goes viral. Of course the social media further compounds the situation, so much so that the truth gets drowned out (not that anyone cares about the truth). Everyone in their haste to be the first to share, and garner the fleeting, but lucrative surge in traffic posts the information without vetting it. Even when they are wrong the just say, "oops" and we forget all about it. This is one example of my strongest critiques of how the net has changed adversely. It has gotten to the point that I really don't believe anything I find on-line unless it is coming directly from the source.

Cynique, from what I can tell this is a fake story. From Wikipedia to Facebook, an alarming amount of what we read on-line is simply wrong. Lies always spread more quickly than truth, but on-line the effects are hyper-exaggerated. For Kayne the controversy fuels his fame, for the rest of us, God only knows.... Below one of the various versions of what Kanye was reported as saying: In an interview with WGCI radio in Chicago, the notoriously self-promoting rapper said that yesterday's death of the 95-year-old South African leader will finally allow people to focus more of their attention on West's own accomplishments. West was asked who he thought on the world stage today could possibly replace Nelson Mandela in terms of leadership, and his unconventional answer left heads spinning. "I am the next Nelson Mandela," West responded. "I'm only 36 years old, and when I look at everything I've accomplished, it's the only comparison that makes any sense. By the time I'm 95, I'm going to be a bigger hero than he ever was. "Nelson Mandela did a lot of good work, don't get me wrong. But I think I'm on track to do something even bigger. I liberate minds with my music. That's more important than liberating a few people from apartheid or whatever. "Not to say Mandela wasn't for real. I have mad respect. I just think we need to keep things in perspective here. Anyone can be replaced. And I think I'm well on my way towards being the next great black leader. I'm already worshiped around the world. And there's more to come." "I've blazed a trail with my career," West responded. "I faced immeasurable racism when I entered this profession. I mean how many black rappers can you name that came before me? I was a pioneer. And now I'm doing the same thing in the fashion world. "Not to mention I have a bigger market than he ever did. Mandela was working in South Africa, which has, like what, six people? I started my magic here in the USA and then I took my business global. Worldwide baby. "I just want everyone out there to know. I see y'all crying on the TV. Being all sad. Just know that Kanye's gonna carry on Mandela's legacy. There's nothing to worry about. I got this."

Hi Carolita congrats on your book. Given all of the favorable reviews I saw posted on Amazon: http://amzn.to/revengeofa you were pretty modest in touting your book :-)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0JAKEDDTvU Winnie Mandela bannished & banned to Brandfort. Interviewed by SA documentary filmmaker Kevin Harris for his 1983 documentary: "No Middle Road To Freedom".

Hey Gibran here is a short link you can use to send people to Amazon: http://amzn.to/coochie3 I'll add this book to your AALBC.com Page and link to this excerpt here. Thanks for sharing info about your new book.

New Book "On The Shoulders of Giants" is a Captivating Introduction to African American History For Young Adults Brooklyn, NY (June 23, 2013) -- Using a blend of compelling characters and events, On the Shoulders of Giants by Orey Brockington, III (Brockington Enterprise, June 2013), is a must read for young adults interested in learning about the dramatic events and heroes of African-American history, and a superb choice for social studies teachers and school libraries. Brockington's rich but concise narrative recalls both tragic and heroic events in African-American history from the 1600's to the present. Additionally, the book offers young adults and middle-school students of African-American heritage an invaluable lesson about self-love. "In light of the violence, poverty, and all too often failing schools pervasive in African-American communities," says Brockington. "On the Shoulders of Giants will enlighten some and remind others of the pivotal events in the history of the struggles and sacrifices African-Americans have made to advance civil rights." Brockington's poignant - but straightforward narrative - relates the stories of the heroes who selflessly fought for freedom, civil rights, and a life of opportunity for their children. The author never succumbs to sentimentality, which makes the book ever more powerful. Inspired by "growing suicide rates, depression, and an education system that is failing our children," explains Brockington, his book is intended to help readers to apply the lessons of the past to help them overcome problems and to be inspired and empowered about their own futures. On the Shoulders of Giants serves as an invaluable resource for educators in an educational environment that overwhelmingly glosses over, or ignores, African-American history. About the Author: Naturally motivated and proactive, the Grambling State University-educated Orey Brockington, III has always been busy making positive contributions to society. When Brockington sees a need, he tries to help fill it. His industrious nature has led to many successes and the launching of new projects. He has used his instinctual innovation and marketing experience to reach a universal audience through his products. The New York native currently resides in Brooklyn, where he serves as an influential mentor by way of his community service and church related activities. On the Shoulders of Giants is available through Amazon. About the Book: On the Shoulders of Giants by Orey Brockington, III Published by: Brockington Enterprises ISBN: 978-0-9895019-0-3 Pages: 80 Price: $19.99 Pub Date: June 2013 PRESS CONTACT: Orey Brockington III (917) 653-0088 oreybrockington@gmail.com

Congrats on your new book D.C.

http://bit.ly/theconver

I guess I find it funny because it just epitomizes the absurdity of "high" fashion. But on a more practical matter these super high heeled shoes are simply bad for you. How many women have I seen, often overweight who have to pack a pair a flat shoes to wear home after attending an event in 5 inch heals... I'm glad men have no pressure to wear shoes that are just bad for your feet. The days of hammer toes from wearing pointy shoes are long gone. We don't have to worry about processing our hair, painting our faces, or showing up to an event wearing the same suit.

Yeah these short days are the least favorite time of the year for me. Well from planet's perspective we are just a blip on the radar. We will destroy yourselves and Earth will cleanse itself our existence, leaving no record we were ever here. The Dinosaurs lasted over 100 millions of years. It would be remarkable if humanity lasted as fraction of that. Even 100 million years is merely a heart beat in the life of our big blue marble...

THE 15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF SLAM, LAUNCHING A 4-DAY MASTERCLASS SERIES WITH AWARD-WINNING FILMMAKER MARC LEVIN (DECEMBER 5-8, 2013) Tonight the Maysles Cinema brings you the film that captivated critics and judges from Sundance to Cannes and turned slam poetry into the global phenomenon it is today: Marc Levin's SLAM. Join acclaimed poet and performer Saul Williams, Sonja Sohn (of The Wire), Bonz Malone, Bob Holman, Liza Jessie Peterson, Richard Stratton and Marc Levin at the Dempsey Auditorium in Harlem (127 W. 127th Street) for the 15th Anniversary of this seminal film and the first gathering of the talent behind it since 1998. The discussion will be moderated by hip-hop turntablist, composer and author, DJ Spooky and the film will be introduced by actor Michael K. Williams (The Wire and Boardwalk Empire). Everything kicks off at 7:00pm! In the nights to follow, the Maysles Cinema will journey back through Levin's decades of documentary and realist-fiction filmmaking with works that explore defining themes in our collective psyche: race, class, politics, religion and urban identity-themes that provide a lens through which to examine social and cultural dynamics at every level in modern America. In addition to SLAM, the Masterclass will include the following screenings: WHITEBOYZ, a humorous take on the no man's land where black and white meet in popular culture; GANG WARS: BANGIN' IN LITTLE ROCK and its follow-up; a preview of Levin's in-progress documentary FREEWAY: CRACK IN THE SYSTEM, followed by MR. UNTOUCHABLE, for a look at the world of gangster capitalism through the stories of real American Gangsters, LA's "Freeway" Rick Ross and Harlem's own Nicky Barnes; clips from BRICK CITY, CAPTURED and CHICAGOLAND, as part of Sunday's session on Documenting Urban America; and PROTOCOLS OF ZION, Levin's journey to unfold the ancient conspiracy theory that re-emerged after 9/11: blame it on the Jews. Stars, producers and writers from each film will join Levin for post-screening Q&As, including Piper Perabo (of USA's hit series Covert Affairs), who was cast in WHITEBOYZ shortly after graduating from college. "Freeway" Rick Ross, who stood at the center of crack epidemic and CIA/Contra/Cocaine connection, and Joseph "Jazz" Hayden, an original member of Nicky Barnes' Heroin Council, will also join us for the FREEWAY: CRACK IN THE SYSTEM & MR.UNTOUCHABLE evening-two generations of drug kingpins turned activists, live in the same program. The full schedule with speakers can be found below. Levin has a long and influential history with Al and David Maysles going back 1970, when he worked as an apprentice editor on their rockumentary classic, GIMME SHELTER. "In those few seconds when a young black man is stabbed by a Hells Angel, violence, music, sex, drugs, race, gangs and politics all collided," says Levin. "The impact was profound, historically and personally. The Maysles helped birth the independent film community here in New York, paving the way for the raw, authentic aesthetic that's inspired me and so many others. It is an honor to reconnect with Al and to present my work in his house." For film series details and advance ticketing: www.maysles.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/MayslesCinema Twitter: @MayslesCinema About Marc Levin Marc Levin is an independent film producer and director. He is best known for his dramatic feature film SLAM, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Camera D'Or at Cannes in 1998, as well as his BRICK CITY TV series, which won the 2010 Peabody Award and was nominated for an Emmy for Exceptional Merit in Nonfiction Filmmaking. He has also received three Emmy Awards and four duPont-Columbia Awards. To learn more, visit www.blowbackproductions.com and www.brickcitytv.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blowbackproductions About the Maysles Documentary Center: The Maysles Documentary Center, a not-for-profit organization, is dedicated to the exhibition and production of documentary films that inspire dialogue and action. Through the Maysles Cinema and education programs, we engage diverse communities in creative self-expression, communicating ideas and advocating needs. Please note: All Masterclass: Marc Levin screenings will be held at the Maysles Cinema (343 Lenox Avenue between 127th and 128th Streets) except for Slam: A 15th Anniversary Celebration which will be held at the Dempsey Auditorium at 127 W. 127th Street near Lenox Avenue. Thursday, December 5th-Sunday, December 8th Masterclass: Marc Levin (Identifying and surveying exemplary careers in documentary production through an expansive lens.) Thursday, December 5th, 7:00pm @ the Dempsey Auditorium (127 West 127th street) Slam: A 15th Anniversary Celebration 7:00pm Performance: Darian Dauchan Samantha Thornhill Jon Sands 7:30pm Slam Introduced by Michael K. Williams (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire) Marc Levin, 1998, 100 min. Filmmaker Marc Levin won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival and the Camera d'Or at Cannes for his feature dramatic directorial debut that helped catalyze the global spoken word movement. Slam, starring Saul Williams, Sonja Sohn (of "The Wire") and Bonz Malone, is a prison drama about a young black poet jailed on minor drug charges, who uses his gift with words to regain his freedom. Real-life poets Williams and Sohn wrote their own material. Of the film, Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Brace yourself for a slam-dunk of a movie, in an in-your-face cinema verite-style that makes Godard's 'Breathless' seem like a cartoon." Slam was produced by Levin, New York nightclub owner Henri Kessler, and Prison Life magazine founder Richard Stratton, who spent eight years in prison on marijuana charges. Levin first encountered Williams during a 1996 poetry reading at New York's Nuyorican Poets Cafe. 9:15pm Q&A with Saul Williams, Sonja Sohn, Bonz Malone, Bob Holman, Richard Stratton, Liza Jessie Peterson, Marc Levin and DJ Spooky moderating. Trailer Friday, December 6th, 7:30pm Whiteboyz Marc Levin, 1999, 92 min. Whiteboyz is a black white comedy (or a white black comedy depending how you see it) starring Danny Hoch, Piper Perabo, Dash Mihok, and Mark Webber, and featuring rapper Snoop Dogg. Written by Garth Belcon, Richard Stratton, and Hoch--known for his acclaimed one-man shows Jails, Hospitals & Hip Hop and Some People-Whiteboyz takes a fresh, off-beat look at race and urban culture, as it follows three white Iowa teenagers dreaming of gansta rap stardom. Fat Joe, Dead Prez, Mic Geronimo, Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh also appear in the film. Q&A with Danny Hoch, Marc Levin, Piper Perabo, Garth Belcon, and Richard Stratton. Saturday, December 7th, 4:00pm Gang War: Bangin' in Little Rock Marc Levin, 1994, 60 min. Back in the Hood: Gang War 2 Marc Levin, 2004, 53 min. Gang wars in sleepy Little Rock, Arkansas, home of newly elected President Clinton? Gang War: Bangin' in Little Rock is the HBO documentary that shocked the country, sounding the startling wake-up call that the gangs of LA and Chicago had metastasized to middle America. Made possible by unprecedented access to major figures on the scene, Gang War offers an unflinching look into the lives of local boys and girls, (black and white) who claim to be "G"s for life. Back in the Hood: Gang War 2 follows Leifel Jackson, one-time leader of the OGCs (Original Gangster Crips), as he is released from prison after almost a decade behind bars. Q&A with producers Daphne Pinkerson and Michael Skolnik, Director Marc Levin, and Gang War subjects Leifel Jackson (via Skype) and Steve Nawojczyk (via Skype). 7:30pm Preview of "Freeway: Crack in the System," Marc Levin's forthcoming feature documentary The real Rick Ross is not a rapper. He's an urban legend in South Central LA, a black godfather figure whom most people have never seen, but know by name and reputation. He's "Freeway" Rick Ross, the man who stood at the center of the crack epidemic, and whose name has been inextricably linked to the CIA-Contra-Crack connection. His story defies all odds and stereotypes and proves that truth is indeed stranger than fiction. Mr. Untouchable Marc Levin, 2007, 92 min. This is the story of the real American gangster--Harlem's godfather, the biggest black drug kingpin in the history of New York City--Nicky Barnes. Featuring exclusive interviews with Barnes for the first time since receiving his life sentence, Mr. Untouchable is the true-life story of a junkie turned multimillionaire drug lord, who came to dominate the heroin distribution business and build his own powerful crime family. Q&A with Marc Levin, Joseph 'Jazz' Hayden (former Nicky Barnes associate, Mr. Untouchable subject), and 'Freeway' Rick Ross (via Skype) followed by a reception. Sunday, December 8th, 4:00pm Documenting Urban America: A Masterclass with Marc Levin, Mark Benjamin, and Dan Levin This masterclass is all about looking through the lens of the street, exposing the gritty, raw reality, and celebrating it as the incubator of America's popular culture. It's about capturing a naked truth--sometimes beautiful, sometimes brutal--and giving a voice to the voiceless. The conversation will focus on how to shape and style these urban stories and characters in a way that reaches a broad audience without sacrificing authenticity. Clips to be shown: Brick City, Captured, CHICAGOLAND, the forthcoming docu-series for CNN. 7:30pm Protocols of Zion Marc Levin, 2005, 95 min. After the twin towers fell twelve years ago on September 11th, an outlandish and bigoted rumor rose up that claimed that no Jews had died in the attack. Marc Levin first came upon this in a conversation with an Egyptian taxi driver, who said that all Jews had been warned to stay home that day and that everything was written in the 100-year-old book, "The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion." How could this discredited forgery fuel this resurgence of post-9/11 anti-semitism across the globe? In the film, Levin talks with Black Nationalists, Arab Americans, Kabbalist Rabbis, and the founder of the website Jew Watch, among others, in an attempt to understand the roots of this virulent and outrageous strain of anti-semitism. Q&A with Marc Levin and Albert Maysles. Want to Become a Maysles Cinema Founding Member? Enjoy great benefits including free admission to all Maysles Cinema Screenings. Please visit our website for more information Maysles Cinema Membership To see our calendar and find out more about films screening later this month, please visit our website: Maysles Cinema Calendar Suggested $10 donation at the door for all screenings but no one is turned away for lack of funds. Press comps are also always available for members of the press. The Maysles Institute is made possible with public funds from the New York State Council for the Arts (NYSCA) and the Union Square Awards. Maysles Cinema 343 Lenox Ave (127th and 128th streets) New York, NY 10027 The Maysles Cinema was founded by documentary filmmaker Albert Maysles and is directed by Jessica Green.

The Contradictions of Fair Hope is a new documentary film directed by S. Epatha Merkerson and Rockell Metcalf In July of 1865. Over 4 million slaves have been freed. Forced to roam the antebellum countryside, many of them are ill prepared and unable to cope with the realities of their new-found freedom. This documentary examines a little known aspect of American history, when newly freed slaves throughout the South formed “benevolent societies” to respond to abject hunger, illness and the fear of a pauper’s grave. The documentary sets the stage in rural Alabama, prior to Emancipation, and traces the development, struggles, contributions and gradual loss of tradition of one of the last remaining African American benevolent societies, known as “The Fair Hope Benevolent Society” in Uniontown, Alabama. Through gripping human stories of some of the last surviving society members and interviews with historians and local residents, the film provides an unprecedented look at the complex and morally ambiguous world of Fair Hope juxtaposed against the worldly pleasures of what has become known as the annual “Foot Wash” celebration. "Foot Wash celebration" is a euphemism for an off-the-chain festival in the woods, attended by up to 100,000 people. One can buy BBQ, tee-shirts, fried snickers candy bars and all the things you would expected to be able to buy during events like this. What makes Foot Wash so wild are the rampant illegal activities that it is known for; including drug sales and prostitution. The film makers said they were interested in explaining how benevolent societies, in general, helped Black communities after the end of Slavery, by providing aid to the sick or providing money for burial to it's members. Later as insurance companies began to cover Black people benevolent societies started to die out. The Fair Hope Christian Benevolent Society is one of the few that remain and is almost 130 years old. The "contradiction" comes in as the filmmakers try to reconcile how "Foot Wash" came from the Fair Hope Christian Benevolent Society. Here is the trailer from the film Learn more about the documentary film The Contradictions of Fair Hope Here is another short video from the perspective of some other attendees On Youtube you can find many more graphic displays of the activities at Foot Wash. This so called "contradiction" in the film is the American story.

Readers have placed The Last Sunday by author, Terry E. Hill, on Black Expressions Bestsellers List. Black Expressions is one of the largest online book clubs targeting the African American consumers. Many readers are comparing Hill to the late E. Lynn Harris whose popular books chronicle the lives of "Down Low" African American men. Hill is one of few writers that has been able to capture the interest of the large African American book buying market with a story that revolves around a same sex relationship. Come Sunday Morning is his first novel and the first book in the Sunday Morning Trilogy. The sequel, When Sunday Comes Again, was released at the end of 2012 and was selected by the Sankofa Literary Society as number 3 of the 5 best fiction books of 2012. The finale, The Last Sunday, was released in October 2013. The subject matter has resonated with readers because it mirrors several high profile scandals in prominent mega churches. In Come Sunday Morning a beautiful pastor’s wife, Samantha Cleaveland, arranges the assassination of her husband Hezekiah T. Cleaveland in the pulpit of their mega church after learning of his homosexual affair. The story continues in the sequels with Samantha being challenged by people who suspect she played a role in her husband’s death. Book reviews and more about Terry E. Hill can be found at: http://aalbc.it/terryehill Harry Brown I could not help but think about you when posting this ;-)

Sure religion gives people something to believe in which sustains them, but that is not all. Religion, perhaps more importantly, gives people a code of ethics and standards of behavior which are crucial to the success of the individual, the family and our community. Now those standards of behavior are unlikely to be achieved by anyone, but they set a bar for which we strove. Today we really don't seem to have any code of ethics. Seemingly anything goes. We use any language we want anywhere, we dress any way we want and we don't seem to be able to form and maintain cohesive families. We struggle in terms of education, employment and business creation. Harry I believe your rants against religion are misdirected. Religion is not the problem. Evil, greedy people are they problem. They will pervert any an everything to enrich themselves. Religion and our culture are the casualties. The book you recommended is indeed a classic. Slave Religion: The "Invisible Institution" in the Antebellum South Originally Published 1978 Publisher: Oxford University Press Pages: 416 Twenty-five years after its original publication, Slave Religion remains a classic in the study of African American history and religion. In a new chapter in this anniversary edition, author Albert J. Raboteau reflects upon the origins of the book, the reactions to it over the past twenty-five years, and how he would write it differently today. Using a variety of first and second-hand sources-- some objective, some personal, all riveting-- Raboteau analyzes the transformation of the African religions into evangelical Christianity. He presents the narratives of the slaves themselves, as well as missionary reports, travel accounts, folklore, black autobiographies, and the journals of white observers to describe the day-to-day religious life in the slave communities. Slave Religion is a must-read for anyone wanting a full picture of this "invisible institution." I The African heritage 1 The African diaspora 2 Death of the gods II "The invisible institution" 3 Catechesis and conversion 4 The rule of gospel order 5 Religious life in the slave community 6 Religion, rebellion, and docility Conclusion: Canaan land Read a Free Preview

I just published Kam's Review of Long Walk to Freedom -- coincidentally he did mention that this film was far superior to the flick Winnie Madela which came out a few months ago. I also published his interview with co-star Naomi Harris.

I suspect the British actors Idris Elba, as Nelson Mandela and Naomie Harris as Winnie Mandela will submit better performances than the Americans Terrance Howard and Jennifer Hudson did in the same roles in the film Winnie Mandela, which came out in September.