West End Presbyterian Church shares music, fellowship with community
The church bells of West End Presbyterian Church ring out majestically every hour on the hour.
Inez Reid’s tireless work for domestic violence awareness
Inez Reid, director of social services at Cluster House in New York City, is one person who is totally aware of the horrendous, terrifying darkness of domestic violence—and she is doing something to fight it.

Felix Soto keeps hope alive at Cluster House
It is 4 p.m. Friday, and Felix Soto, UPwards employment specialist at Urban Pathways, is about to begin his one-hour session at the Cluster House, 902 Amsterdam Ave. in New York City.

Gary Kirkland brings creativity, enthusiasm and enjoyment to patients at MPC
Sunshine and a gentle summer breeze are the order of a glorious August Saturday afternoon at the Manhattan Psychiatric Center’s Casa Verde, located at the Ward’s Island complex in New York City.

‘A Lighthouse in NY’ at the Shomberg
There is a lighthouse in Harlem, and it shone brilliantly on Friday, Sept. 27 when the Antigua and Barbuda Progressive Society (ABPS) and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture launched “A Lighthouse in New York,” a groundbreaking exhibit that will run through Jan. 4, 2014.

James Baldwin works released as eBooks
James Baldwin’s major novels, plays and nonfiction were recently published as eBooks by Vintage Books on Tuesday, Sept. 17.

Carib Lingo: Damian Marley’s reggae cruise offers something special
Carib Lingo
Have you been looking for a super special getaway package for next fall? Well, look no further. Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley and Norwegian Cruise Lines have something very special for you. It’s the first annual Welcome to Jamrock Reggae Cruise, a one-of-a-kind, five-night musical voyage that will set sail from Miami to Jamaica in October 2014.

‘Mother of George’ shines at Angelika Sept. 13
Andrew Dosunmu’s highly anticipated film “Mother of George” makes its New York premier on Sept. 13 at the Angelika Film Center, 18 West Houston St., after winning the well-deserved Best Cinematography Award at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival.

Christopher Martin signs with VP Records
Jamaican singer Christopher Martin, the new face at VP Records, is all set to combine music and charisma as he blots the ink of his recently signed deal, which has him gearing up for his full-length debut album with the Caribbean record label.

Casting Pearls ‘Soul Doctor’ at Circle in the Square Theatre
“Soul Doctor,” the Broadway musical about the life and music of Shlomo Carlebach and his incredible association with the legendary vocalist-musician Nina Simone, opened earlier this month at Circle in the Square Theatre, located at 1633 Broadway in New York City.

Fast food workers go on national strike Aug. 29, continue demand for $15 an hour
Today, fast-food workers all around the country staged yet another walkout to rally in favor of a living wage and better benefits—with New York leading the charge.

Jackée tweets her way into off-Broadway
For a special one-week only engagement beginning Friday, Aug. 23 and running through Tuesday, Aug. 27, Emmy winning actress Jackée will light up the New York City theater world as the star of “NEWSical the Musical.” “NEWSical the Musical” is the forever-changing, completely unsanitized musical mockery of all the news that’s fit to spoof.

Plastic can make you sick
What did we do before we had plastic? How did we survive? We have plastic cups, dishes, bottles and wrappings for food. If it wasn’t for plastic shower curtains, we would not be able to sing in the shower without water splashing all over. We are a converted plastic generation that’s addicted to plastic gods. We even have trees and flowers made from plastic. The difference between a plastic tree and those produced by our Creator is that plastic trees don’t grow; they only collect dust. Plastic is not biodegradable and is not friendly to our planet. Eating plastic will not extend your lifespan.

More than a sleepover, a real eye-opener
Our union proudly represents nearly 9,000 members who work in New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) developments. Their work ranges from apartment repairs, to grounds caretaking, to boiler and elevator services, to rent collections. A third of them also live in NYCHA apartments. Long-standing resident and worker frustration reached a new high with threatened sequestration cuts in federal dollars—the main source of funding. The $208 million cuts would mean a loss of jobs and services. Despite Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s pledge to restore $58 m
Heat stroke in little folks
Summertime means playtime, but playtime in overbearing heat can cause heat exhaustion and heat strokes in little folks.
Belafonte, Jay Z disagree on ‘social responsibility’
It has been a year since Harry Belafonte, legendary singer and civil rights activist, expressed his disappointment with the way music moguls Jay Z and Beyoncé have “turned their backs on social responsibility.”

Commentary Trayvon, tragedy and travesty
Like many Americans, my sleep was troubled this weekend. It was troubled by the ghosts of past injustices, a feeling given fresh currency by a late-hour “not guilty” verdict given in Sanford, Fla., that freed George Zimmerman in the shooting death of unarmed teenager

Ngoma Africa Band brings it with ‘Bongo Dansi’
“The Ngoma Africa Band belong to the fans,” said Ebrahim Makunja, the East African, Tanzanian-born founder of the group of musicians based in Germany. “Musicians are just the servants. We are the first African band from Tanzania to use its music as a cross-cultural bridge to the world.”
Africa Sings!!! Soweto Gospel Choir sings praises
Africa Sings!!! is a special, month-long series that celebrates the rich legacy of Africa's World...

Liberation Theatre Company shares holiday cheer at Art in Flux Harlem
Sandra A. Daley-Sharif and Spencer Scott Barros, founders and producing artistic directors of the Liberation...
Inaugural Ceremony embodies theme of "Renewing America's Promise"
The climactic swearing-in of President-elect Barack Obama, will take place on January 20, 2009, beginning...

Happy Valentine's Day "from the Heart Series with Billie, Etta, Dolly"
An eclectic array of songs colors the romantic new series, "From the Heart," a rapturous...

Award-winning Hugh Hefner doc gets NAACP Image Award nom
"It happened in quite an unusual way. The NAACP heard about the film, and that...

Carmen de Lavallade celebrates 80th: We'll be loving you always
A beautiful legend was celebrated on Sunday, March 6, on the occasion of her 80th...

Monty Alexander makes Lincoln Center stop
The takeoff was sweet, man. Real sweet. Looking dapper in black slacks, a white shirt,...

Pan Jazz 2010: A-List, new-generation line-up at Lincoln Center
The 6th installment of Pan Jazz U.S is HUGE! The bigger-than life, multi-disciplinary cultural, June...

Dalton Narine's 'Mas Man' screens at NY International Film Fest
"Mas Man Peter Minshall Trinidad Carnival Artist" (King Carnival Productions, Ltd. 2009), produced and directed...

'HappySad' makes history in Tobago; has NY premiere at Riverside's ADFF
Talk about an enchanting Caribbean Diaspora story. It's "HappySad" (2008, Trinidad & Tobago, 105 mins.)....

Carnival Special:Freddie McGregor added to concert lineup
Hey, all you lovers rock fans. And you rasta music fans. Everybody. Guess who'll be...

Carnival SpecialWIADCA: "Bridging Culture" in Brooklyn
What a weekend! Yes! What an absolutely magical long weekend for the 43rd West Indian...

Aime Cesaire's 'A Season in the Congo' opens at the Lion's Theatre
The brutal season in the Congo continues to look very bleak. As such we proceed...

Geoffrey Holder choreographs great moves for ICAD Film Salon Series
Do you believe in magic? I do, and you would too if you hung around...
Dream and reality dominate Humer's 'Hotel Savoy'
Hotel Savoy.jpg Hotel Savoy Room.jpg No captions, credit How would you like to be one...

'Fela!' dazzled Broadway with brilliance, majesty, and "no artificiality"
Will Broadway ever again experience the inextinguishable fire and sweet, soul-scorching passion of another fascinating,...

Duane Stephenson's 'Black Gold' selected Best Buy for Black History Month
Duane Stephenson, one of reggae's most innovative young artists, pockets gold! To be precise, "Black...

'Le Quattro Volte' scores at Film Forum
The credits roll in silence. A succession of images take over the screen in hushed...

Debbie Tucker Green's 'Born Bad' at Soho Rep
If you were raised Caribbean, you can bet that when you heard the hymn, "What...
Cultural explosion lights up "Fela!" anniversary
On Tuesday, October 23, "Fela!" celebrated its one-year anniversary on Broadway. The hit musical (which...

Geoffrey Holder's 'Prodigal Prince' graces Ailey 2010 season
Geoffrey Holder was in his element. Well, actually one of them, since he is one...

Africa Sings!!!Best summer cabaret pick: Blue Nefertiti's 'Paris@Night' grand finale show
You can't miss this one! Blue Nefertiti's "Paris@Night" grand finale show and after-party will take...
Berman's 'Hefner' portrays image of a great warrior
The age-old adage of "You can't judge a book by its cover" is indeed a...

Africa Sings!!!SummerStage flies high with Baaba Maal, Salif Keita, Bassekou Kouyate
SummerStage 2010 is flying high. And rightfully so. This year marks the 25th anniversary of...
Africa Sings!!!Knitting Factory Records release magnificent Fela reissue series
The "Africa Sings!!!" Group just struck gold. We just received a collection of Fela CDs...

Africa Sings!!! Angelique, Les Nubians, Wale, K'NAAN and others represent in NYC
If you're not in, you're out. If you're not feeling it, you're dead. Really, if...

'Independent Africa' theme colors 17th African Film Fest
The victorious banner "Independent Africa" will color the 17th New York African Film Festival (NYAFF),...
Francophones unite for Haiti on March 15
March is the international month of La Francophonie, which is celebrated by over 200 million...
The Schomburg Center shares love of Black history
Every day of every month of every year is Black History at the world-renowned Schomburg...

Casting Pearls:'On the Levee' lets loose on the Great Flood of 1927
I love stories--wonderful, enlightening stories that teach us something that we had no idea about....
Casting Pearls:Al Pacino's Shylock moves 'The Merchant of Venice' from the Delacorte to Broadway
Al Pacino, the legendary Tony Award-winning actor, just completed an illustrious eight-week run as Shylock...
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