By Neonu Jewell
In the wake of Barack Obama's nomination for President of the United States we have recently seen programming air that would previously have had to wait until February. This is one of the many great results/changes we are beginning to see in this country that have nothing do with politics.
I have heard lots of comments and conversations around CNN's series Black in America. Most people I spoke with had mixed feelings about this series.
I want to tell you about a program you may not have seen, because it did not get the same publicity, The Blacklist Volume One. It is excellent!...
The Black List Volume One is directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, portrait photographer and filmmaker, with interviews by Elvis Mitchell, acclaimed NPR radio host, journalist and former New York Times film critic. The program presents notable African-Americans, through individual portrait vignettes, sharing their insights, experiences, and hopes about being Black in the United States.
Kareem Abdul-Jabaar's and Toni Morrison's portraits resonated and touched me the most. Diddy actually makes a profound statement that made me realize something I had not thought about. I, like many of you, complain frequently about the R&B/Hip Hop music of today. How it all sounds the same and that it is not really creative music made by musicians, just technology and sampling. But Diddy pointed out that the music programs have been cut out of federal public school funding (after my tenure in public school). Wow! Of course! Now we are all hearing the results. Many artists come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The newer generation of existing and budding artists never had the opportunity to learn an instrument. Musical instruments and lessons are expensive, but mixing records or CDs is affordable.
The Black List Volume One is being shown on HBO and is available ON DEMAND, where available through September 21. This program is not to be missed.
Please comment with your thoughts on these programs.
I have heard lots of comments and conversations around CNN's series Black in America. Most people I spoke with had mixed feelings about this series.
I want to tell you about a program you may not have seen, because it did not get the same publicity, The Blacklist Volume One. It is excellent!...
The Black List Volume One is directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, portrait photographer and filmmaker, with interviews by Elvis Mitchell, acclaimed NPR radio host, journalist and former New York Times film critic. The program presents notable African-Americans, through individual portrait vignettes, sharing their insights, experiences, and hopes about being Black in the United States.
Kareem Abdul-Jabaar's and Toni Morrison's portraits resonated and touched me the most. Diddy actually makes a profound statement that made me realize something I had not thought about. I, like many of you, complain frequently about the R&B/Hip Hop music of today. How it all sounds the same and that it is not really creative music made by musicians, just technology and sampling. But Diddy pointed out that the music programs have been cut out of federal public school funding (after my tenure in public school). Wow! Of course! Now we are all hearing the results. Many artists come from disadvantaged backgrounds. The newer generation of existing and budding artists never had the opportunity to learn an instrument. Musical instruments and lessons are expensive, but mixing records or CDs is affordable.
The Black List Volume One is being shown on HBO and is available ON DEMAND, where available through September 21. This program is not to be missed.
Please comment with your thoughts on these programs.
No comments:
Post a Comment