Mark Anthony Neal's Blog, page 672

Jill Scott Sings "Strange Fruit"

'Morgan Freeman introduces Jill Scott's full performance of Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit" from Shining A Light: A Concert for Progress on Race in America, presented by A E Networks and iHeartMedia. ' -- +A&E 

PBS NewsHour: Spike Lee on Three Movies Everyone Should See--Including the One Banned in France

'Film director Spike Lee’s knowledge of film history is deep and is no stranger to sharing his lists of must-see movies for aspiring filmmakers. Chief arts correspondent Jeffrey Brown spoke with Lee ahead of the release of Chi-Raq, a modern reimagining of the Ancient Greek comedy Lysistrata set in modern-day Chicago neighborhoods rattled by gang violence.' -- +PBS NewsHour 

Farm to Table Family: Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Pomegranate Molasses

'This dish from Madcapra is a bit of a Middle Eastern spin on a Thanksgiving staple: sweet potatoes. Brushed with garlic oil and grilled to a perfect char, these sweet potatoes are a downright dream with a dollop of tangy yogurt, a sprinkling of salty olives and tart pomegranate seeds, and a drizzle of complex pomegranate molasses. This is the kind of thing you can use to inject a little life into your dinner, all winter long.' -- +FarmtoTableFamily 

If You're Not White It's Harder To Get Mental Health Care

'Here are five barriers that make it harder for people of color to access mental health care.' -- +AJ+ 

Ebony Magazine Marks 70th Anniversary with Cover Featuring Jesse Williams + Harry Belafonte + Zendaya

CHICAGO (November 23, 2015) — EBONY® Magazine today released its 70th Anniversary Collector’s Edition Cover. The cover of the December/January issue boldly urges its readers to “Stand For Something”.  With a central focus on advocacy, audacity and the arts, the double issue also rolls out the 2015 Power 100 List, with a header that reads “Power (100) To The People”.
The message of this impactful cover is plain: Standing for something has a very long tradition in the Black community. Witness 88-year-old Belafonte on the cover passing the baton of Black power and pride to generations of entertainers to come. Inside, the editorial team captures the metaphor and the reality.
For 30 years, the Power 100 list has paid homage to the outstanding achievements of African-Americans. Among the game changers honored this year are NBA player and literacy advocate Russell Westbrook, Coca-Cola CFO Kathy Waller, the casts of Empire and Power, Boeing Chief Information Officer Ted Colbert,singer/activist Janelle Monae, actresses Regina King, Viola Davis, Jada Pinkett Smith, Apple VP of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives Lisa Jackson, hair-care entrepreneur Miko Branch, and minister at the front lines in Ferguson, Rev. Traci Blackmon.  These achievers have had noteworthy accomplishments over the past year, representing a variety of fields, including politics, business, education, media, religion, music and more.
“It is truly an honor to celebrate the tremendous talents and accomplishments of the honorees on this year’s Power 100 list,” said Kierna Mayo, editor-in-chief of EBONY Magazine.  “From the #BlackLivesMatter movement to technology disruptors to the boardrooms of Fortune 500 companies, all of the selected individuals have made an undeniable impact. They represent outstanding examples of greatness, and provide hope and inspiration for the next generation.” 
The famed EBONY Power 100, 70th Anniversary Gala presented by Nationwide, will take place on Wednesday, December 2 at The Beverly Hilton in Los Angeles. The 70’s inspired gala serves as a celebration of Black pride and promise, EBONY’s mission for over 70 years.  
“As the curator of the African-American experience, EBONY is proud to salute this remarkable group of leaders,” says Chairman Linda Johnson Rice. “When the company was started by my father, his vision included celebrating African-Americans at our finest. It is a great honor to acknowledge the accomplishments of the 2015 Power 100 honorees and our 70th Anniversary on one spectacular night.”
For a fourth consecutive year, Nationwide will proudly present the prestigious affair to celebrate honorees on the 2015 EBONY Power 100 list.
"Nationwide is honored and privileged to serve as the presenting sponsor of the EBONY Power 100 Gala celebrating the 70th Anniversary," said EVP and Chief Marketing Officer Terrance Williams. "Through this great partnership, we are proud to pay tribute to the past and present honorees whose commitment to excellence represents the very best in the country."   
Hosting the star-studded evening will be comedian, actor, writer and late-night host, Arsenio Hall. Hall is best known for his work on the celebrated Arsenio Hall Show, as well classic comedies like Coming to America and Harlem Nights.
In addition to Nationwide as the presenting sponsor, EBONY Power 100 Gala sponsors include Cadillac, Hilton Worldwide, United Airlines, The Home Depot, Hennessy, Fashion Fair Cosmetics and Twitter. 
The 2015 Power 100 list will appear in the December/January issue of EBONY, on newsstands starting November 25. The full list of the EBONY Power 100 and gala details can be found at http://www.ebony.com/power100-2015/.
Follow the fun: #EBONYPower100 | @EBONYMag

"Four Dead in Ohio"--Remembering Another Era of Student Protest

The Isley Brothers' cover of Crosby + Stills + Nash + Young's memorial for the four college students killed by The Ohio National Guard in 1970 was important because it implicitly offered tribute to Black students killed in lesser known protests at Jackson State (1970) + South Carolina State--The Orangeburg Massacre (1968).

Charlie Rose Show: Shonda Rhimes on Kerry Washington and 'Scandal'

'Scandal creator Shonda Rhimes talks to Charlie Rose about casting Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope -- and why she wanted to make sure "every African-American actress working in town" have a chance to audition for the role. Rhimes' new book, Year of Yes, is on stands now.' 

"Power concedes nothing without a demand..." -- In Support of Duke Students

Brooklyn Made: Truthworker Theatre Uses Hip-Hop and Social Justice

'Behind the scenes at Truthworker Theatre Company , a social justice based, hip-hop theatre company for high school and college aged youth in Brooklyn, NY.  This season, they have remixed and remounted two productions: BAR CODE: A Performative Analysis of the School to Prison Pipeline & IN|PRISM: Boxed In & Blacked Out in America.' -- +BRIC TV 

Amid Growing Youth Violence In Chicago, One Woman Offers A Safety Net

'A devastating number of the city's young people have lost their lives to gun violence over the past few years. Diane Latiker has built a program in order to make these children's lives safer.' -- +NPR