Greetings! It’s GBE African Liberation Month 2012 and the World African Diaspora Union is urging all to focus on ways to support and influence a principled and successful outcome of the African Union’s African Diaspora Summit on May 25-26. For more information on the programs, contact Baba Watusi Branch at (718) 523-3312. For information about Atlanta programs, call Empress Oyah at (770) 912-7053 or Dr. Akilah at (404) 564-6484 or visit www.myintimatecafe.com.
Theater
- Tennessee Williams’ classic “A Streetcar Named Desire,” featuring Blair Underwood, Nicole Ari Parker, Daphne Rubin-Vega and Wood Harris. Sixteen weeks only. At the Broadhurst Theatre, 253 W. 45th St. For tickets and more information, call (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com or www.streetcaronbroadway.com.
- The WBLS Mother’s Day Brunch, Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 13, brought to you by “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess” at the Brooklyn Marriott. Featuring a live performance from the hit Broadway show, which critics have called “a must-see” and was proclaimed the “No. 1 Musical of the Year” by Time. Featuring the Jeff Foxx Band. To purchase tickets, visit ticketmaster.com and enter promo code PBLSTW.
- “Zora Returns to Harlem,” featuring NAACP Award winner and New Orleans actress Antonia Badon, comes to NYC Technical College (186 Jay St.) on May 3-5. For more info, call (718) 260-5595.
Music
- The Bowery presents “An Evening With Anita Baker” on May 6 at Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave. For more info, call (212) 247-4777 or visit www.radiocity.com.
- B.B. King’s Blues Club presents George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars on May 6 at 8 p.m. B.B. King’s also hosts the Manhattans on May 10. B.B. King’s Blues Club and Grill, 237 W. 42nd St. For more info, call (212) 997-4144 or visit www.bbkingsblues.com.
- The McDonald’s GospelFest, May 12: “Honor Thy Mother,” featuring Shirley Caesar, Donnie McClurkin and others at the Prudential Center Arena. Go to ticketmaster.com for tickets.
Film
- “Marley,” a film by Kevin MacDonald, playing at the Landmark Theatres Sunshine Cinema, 143 E. Houston St., between First and Second avenues, and Brooklyn BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave. Visit www.bobmarleymovie.com for more info.
- The 19th New York African Film Festival presents “21st Century: The Homecoming,” now through May at the Jerome L. Greene Performance Space, Columbia University’s Institute of African Studies, the Maysles Cinema Institute and the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s BAMcinematek. For more information, visit www.africanfilmny.org.
- Based on the best-selling book, Steve Harvey’s “Think Like a Man” is playing at a theater near you.
Community
- Women in Support of the Million Man March (WISOMMM) is hosting a VIP reception to welcome the Hon. Minister Louis Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam, on Fri., May 4. Those interested in purchasing tickets or reserving one of the limited sponsorship opportunities are urged to call (973) 353-9888 or send an email to info@wisommm.com for more details. Farrakhan is appearing specifically to raise money for WISOMMM’s Legal Defense Fund.
- On Sat., May 5, Farrakhan will make a public address in the WISOMMM sanctuary building, located at 23-25 Washington St. Doors will open at 1 p.m., and the address will begin promptly at 3 p.m. Seating is limited and will be on a first come, first served basis.
- The Nation of Islam will also debut, for the first time outside its own facilities, “The Nation of Islam Historic Exhibit (1930 to Present).” The exhibit chronicles the rise of the Nation of Islam and the significant impact it has made in America and around the world. The exhibit opens Thurs., May 3, and will be open 12-8 p.m. that day and Fri., May 4, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. At the WISOMMM African Cultural Center, 15 James St., in Newark. To purchase tickets for any of the events or to make a contribution to WISOMMM, call (973) 353-9888 or go to www.wisommm.com and click on Legal Defense Fund.
- The Ausar Auset Society is hosting a book party to introduce Ra Un Nefer Amen’s latest book, “Bazi Success Strategies: Organize Your Success Efforts Around the Forces that Control Them.” Learn to ride the waves of the life force’s elements to success and well-being. Sat., May 5, at 6 p.m. at 626 Flatbush Ave. in Brooklyn. For more information, call Taui at (718) 469-3199, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., or email nvm@nilevalley.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.