Greetings! The world continues to reverberate from the shock of the sudden death of beloved “Queen of Pop,” Whitney Houston.
Her star-studded homecoming church service in her hometown of Newark, N.J., this past weekend brought “the soul of the black church” to a world- wide audience. The touching event gave many a deeper understanding of “Nippy,” as she was known, her gospel/ church roots and how much Houston truly loved the lord.
THEATER
The National black Touring circuit presents the black History Month Play Festival, Feb. 3-26, honoring African- American political heroes and sheroes A. Philip Randolph, Zora Neal Hurston, Adam clayton Powell Jr. and Rep. barbara Jordan. Performances Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. For locations and more information, call (212) 279-4200.
“Black Angels Over Tuskeg- ee,” 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.
“The Gershwins’ Porgy & bess,” now on broadway with four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, Drama Desk nominee Norm lewis and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier. At the Richard Rogers Theater, 226 W. 46th St. For tickets and information, call (877) 250-2929 or visit www.porgyandbesson- broadway.com.
Alicia Keys presents “Stick Fly” (“When it comes to family…you’re stuck”), a new play by lydia R. Diamond, directed by Kenny leon. Now playing at the cort Theatre on broadway, 138 W. 48th St., between Sixth and Seventh avenues. For tickets, call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com.
Whoopi Goldberg’s “Sister Act,” the stage musical based on the 1992 movie of the same name, features funky, soulful songs by Alan Menken and Glenn Slater and the dynamic debut of Patina Miller. At the broadway Theatre, 1681 broadway. For more information, visit www.sisteractbroadway.com.
“The Fannie lou Hamer Story,” featuring Audelco Award winner Mzuri Moyo.
Fri.-Sat., Feb. 24-25 at 8 p.m. at the Riverside church, 91 claremont Ave. at 120th Street. For tickets and more information, call (212) 870- 6700.
MUSIC
Dianne Reeves is coming to Jazz at lincoln center, broadway at 60th Street, Fri.-Sun., Feb. 24-26. For more information, call (212) 721-6500 or visit www.jalc.org. Positive community and the Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngbood present a “classic black History Month Dance Party Tribute” to Hal Jackson on his 73 years in broadcasting. The dance will celebrate fitness, fellowship, family and fun to benefit the Hal Jackson Youth Development Foundation.
Fri., Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., Mount Pisgah baptist church, Spann-Washington Fellowship Hall, 760 Dekalb Ave., brooklyn. For more information, call 718) 388-3900 or (718) 525-6184.
FILM
The annual black History Month film screening at the Schomberg center honors the two-year anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti with a special preview screening of Guetty Felin’s “broken Stones,” a feature-length documentary about self-recovery after the tragic quake, followed by a panel discussion with the filmmaker and special guests. Thurs., Feb. 23, 7-9 p.m. Free. To register, go to www.schomburgcenter. eventbrite.com or call (212) 491-2040. For more information, visit www.africanfilmny. org or call (212) 352-1720.
Amnesty international kicks off Death Penalty Awareness
Week on Mon., Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. with a screening of the documentary “borrowed Time,” spotlighting death row inmate Reggie clemons, and a panel discussion. Panelists include vera Thomas, clemons’ mother; lawrence Hayes, a death row exoneree and founder of FACE; and Tanya Greene, an AClU lawyer. In the ballroom of the city college of New York’s North Academic building. Free. For more information, emailfreereggieclemons- now@gmail.com.
EXHIBTIONS
“Freedom’s Sisters,” a dynamic multimedia exhibition, celebrates 20 African-American women, including historic 19th-century figures and contemporary leaders. “Freedom’s Sisters” includes an essay-writing contest, in which an award of $10,000 in scholarships is given to local students. Among those included in the exhibit are Ella J. baker, constance baker Motley, Shirley chisholm, Kathleen cleaver, Myrlie Evers-Williams,
Fannie lou Hamer, Dorothy Height, charlayne Hunter-Gault, barbara Jordan, Mary Mcleod bethune, Rosa Parks, Sonia Sanchez, coretta Scott King, betty Shabazz, Harriet Tubman, c. Delores Tucker, ida b. Wells and more. For more information on the exhibition, visit the Malcolm X & Dr. betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational center, located at 3940 broadway, or visit www.theshabazzcenter.net.
Her Word as Witness: Portraits of Women Writers of the African Diaspora,” created and photographed by Laylah Amatullah barrayn. On view now through March 31 at the Skylight Gallery, 1368 Fulton St., between brooklyn and New York avenues in bedStuy. For more information, call (718) 636-6949 or (646) 573-2422 or visit www.restorationplaza.org.
“Malcolm X: A Search for Truth” contains speeches, sermons, radio broadcasts, diaries, correspondence and other documents handwritten by
Malcolm X or typed and edited under his direction. At the Schomberg center, 515 Malcolm X blvd. For more information, call (212) 491-2200 or visit www. nypl.org.
COMMUNITY
The second annual urban health conference “Urban Ecology and its impact on Our communities,” saluting the late Dr. Muriel Petioni, is coming Feb. 23-26. Register to attend today by calling (212) 862-7200 or visiting www.harlemhealthyliving.com/ur-banheath.
Join imhotep Gary byrd and Herb Boyd, noted author, journalist and lecturer, Sat., Feb. 25 from 1-4 p.m. at the Hollis Presbyterian church, 100-50 196th St., Hollis, Queens. imhotep will engage Boyd in a thought-provoking interview for black History Month, analyzing the life and times of our beloved and controversial Malcolm X as detailed in boyd’s latest book,
“by Any Means Necessary: Malcolm X: Real Not invented.” The discussion will be followed by a book signing by boyd. Free. For travel information, contact the church office Tues.-Fri, at (718) 776- 4646.
Manning Marable’s controversial book on the life and legacy of Malcolm X will receive another knockout blow at CEMOTAP’s Sat., Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. at a forum where Malcolm’s former secretary, Abdullah Razaaq, will help set the record straight. Popular educator and WbAi radio host bashir M’chawi will interview him.
Admission is free. The CEMOTAP center is located at 135-05 Rockaway blvd. in South Ozone Park. call (718) 322-8454 for additional information.
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 WlibAM 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.