Greetings! This weekend is the 16th anniversary of the Million Man March: Holy Day of Atonement in Philadelphia, with the Hon. Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam, Sun., Oct 9 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Educators, scholars and activists from around the country will also gather to convene the “National Conference on the State of Black Education and the Mis-Education of Black Youth” at the International House of Philadelphia, located at 3701 Chestnut St., Sat., Oct. 8 from 3 to 10 p.m.
THEATER
- “Benito Cereno,” by Robert Lowell, directed by the legendary Woody King Jr. The historic Amistad mutiny, with the heroic African Prince Cinque, comes to life onstage at the Flea Theater, 41 White St. between Broadway and Church Street. Through Oct. 18. For more information, call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.facebook.com/HorizonTheatreRep.
- Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Angela Bassett and Academy Award nominee Samuel L. Jackson star in the Broadway debut of “The Mountaintop,” Katori Hall’s Olivier Award-winning drama, directed by Tony Award nominee Kenny Leon (“Fences,” “A Raisin in the Sun”). Performances on now, with the official opening on Oct. 13. Featuring original music by Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and Tony Award nominee Branford Marsalis. At the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. For tickets, visit Telecharge.com.
- “Loving Him is Killing Me,” a hilarious, inspirational play about the dramatic life of Elizabeth Johnson, starring Tyson Beckford, Kenny Lattimore, NeNe Leakes, Angie Stone and many others. Through Oct. 9 at the Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway. For more information, call (212) 465-6500 or visit www.beacontheatre.com.
- Esther Armah’s “Saviour?” a provocative, dramatic new love story about white privilege, Black women, sex and betrayal, in a limited engagement at the Dwyer Cultural Center, 258 St. Nicholas Ave. at 123rd Street, between St. Nicholas Avenue and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Friday, Oct. 7 through Sun., Oct. 30. For tickets, call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.takewingandsoar.org.
- The Classical Theatre of Harlem in conjunction with the Hip-Hop Theater Festival presents the world premiere of “Seed,” a story of Harlem in the ’80s and ’90s. “Seed” begs the question: How far are you willing to go protect the future of a community and its children? Performances through Sun., Oct. 9, at the National Black Theatre, 2031 Fifth Ave. at 125th Street in Harlem. For tickets, call (866) 811-4111 or visit www.seedtheplay.com.
- “Black Angels Over Tuskegee,” the story of the pioneering first African-American fighter pilots, now playing at the Actors Temple Theatre, 339 W. 47th St. between Eighth and Ninth avenues. For tickets, call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.
- “Mama, I Want to Sing: The Next Generation,” by Vy Higginsen, with original music by Wesley Naylor. Now playing at the Dempsey Theater, 127 W. 127th St. between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Malcolm X boulevards. For more information and tickets, call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com or mamafoundation.org.
- “Baby It’s You” follows the creation and rise of the independent record company that gave us the popular girl group the Shirelles, the Isley Brothers, Dionne Warwick, Chuck Jackson and more. At the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 44th St. For more information, visit www.babyitsyouonbroadway.com.
- “The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith.” Now running on Broadway at St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St. For tickets, call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.stlukestheatre.com.
MUSIC
- Jazz at Lincoln Center presents “Wynton Marsalis at 50” Oct. 12-15 at the Rose Theatre, Broadway at 60th Street. For more information, call (212) 721-6500 or visit www.jalc.org.
- WBLS-FM and WLIB present the Circle of Sisters, New York’s largest expo saluting women of color, Oct. 8-9 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Manhattan. The expo presents a wide variety of star-studded events, celebrity speakers, author seminars and the best of R&B and gospel music entertainment. This year’s expo is the biggest ever. For more information and schedules, go to wbls.com or wlib.com.
- The Ausar Auset Society will host “Sankofa Showcase,” featuring some of New York City’s most conscious artists in a positive, cultural and relaxing environment, Sat., Oct. 15, 8:00 p.m. to midnight. At 626 Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. For more information, call (718) 460-3199.
- Celebrate jazz music and culture at the annual “Jazz Treasures: Legacy, Legend and Heritage,” Mon., Oct 17 at 6:30 p.m. Featuring jazz legend honoree Randy Weston and more. At the Rotunda of Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn. For more information, call (845) 384-6350 or visit www.transartinc.org.
COMMUNITY
- “Harlem Arts Advocacy Week,” nine important days of celebrating arts, culture and history, is still running through Oct. 10. For schedules and more information, call the Harlem Arts Alliance at (347) 735-4280. To RSVP for events, email RSVP@ harlemaa.org.
- Harlem Park to Park presents its second “Harlem Harvest Festival” kicking off Octoberfest, Sat., Oct 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Whether you’re a foodie, yoga enthusiast, budding salsa impresario or family looking for fun activities, the festival has something for you. At Phillip Randolph Square at St Nicholas Avenue between 116th 117th streets. For more information, email Valerie@valincpr.com.
- The fifth annual African Day parade, when Africans in the Diaspora, including all people of African Descent, reconnect to “Mother Africa.” The parade will start on 135th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard and proceed south to 122nd Street and Malcolm X Boulevard. After the parade, there will be a concert in front of the Harlem State Office Building. For more information, visit adelewomen.tripod.com or www.myspace.com/nkwanta.
- The Center For Culture (the Afrikan Poetry Theatre) presents “World of Writing Workshops,” featuring Louis Reyes Rivera. Get information on self-publishing your book, signing contracts with publishers (big or small), and ebook, print-on-demand and audio publishers, Sat., Oct. 8 and 22 from 4 to 6 p.m.
- Also presenting “Heritage Sunday,” a sacred experience of pan-African theology. Master Teachers presents professor James Small, pan-Afrikanist and historian, speaking on “Afrikan Spirituality: What is it and Why We Should Embrace It?” Sun., Oct. 9. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. At 176-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica. For information, call (718) 523-3312. Free admission!
- “Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes” Sun., Oct. 23 at South Street Seaport and Pier 17 in NYC, Take the first step. Register today. For more information, call (888) DIABETES, Ext 3412 or visit stepout.diabetes.com.
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM daily with “Imhotep’s On-Air Guide to Black Events” and “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m., and on WLIB-AM with “The GBE Mind Flight,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to midnight (simulcast on WLIB-AM/WBLS-FM from 7-8 p.m.). The full show can be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2. IGB is also heard on WBAI-FM 99.5 with the GBE 2.0 “Global Black Experience” and “Global Beat Experience,” Saturdays from 5 to 7 p.m. We are archived online with both shows at www.wbai.org. To reach us about your event, email gbemail2@yahoo.com, find Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter at GBELIFE.