Greetings! Sterling K. Brown made Golden Globes history as the “This Is Us” star became the first Black actor ever to win in the Best Actor, TV Drama category. Brown offered this comment to press backstage: “I feel a tremendous sense of pride. To finally be the first of something is really interesting because I never considered myself to be a trailblazer. I just try to stand in truth all the time, and if I come from a place of truth, that’s all I can do. I can’t worry about trying to be Jackie Robinson or anything else, but I’m honored.”
Oprah Winfrey became the first Black woman to win the esteemed Cecil B. DeMille Award for Lifetime Achievement at the Golden Globes event and stole the night with an amazing speech that created an “Oprah for President” moment. Winfrey’s remarks brilliantly highlighted the case of the late Recy Taylor, “who in 1944 was abducted by six armed white men, raped, and left blindfolded by the side of the road coming home from church.”
Winfrey expounded, “They threatened to kill her if she ever told anyone, but her story was reported to the NAACP, where a young worker by the name of Rosa Parks became the lead investigator on her case and together they sought justice. However, justice wasn’t an option in the era of Jim Crow.” The high point was her declaration, “Their time is up!” The room exploded with applause.
THEATER
“Josh” tells the story of “The Black Babe Ruth,” Josh Gibson, a Negro League baseball player who some say died of a broken heart. Gibson was determined to make it into major league baseball, despite the odds. Set in the 1940s and based on real events. Jan. 25-Jan. 28, Thursday 3:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8 p.m., and Sunday 4 p.m. Black Spectrum Theatre Co., Roy Wilkens Park,177th Street and Baisley Boulevard, Jamaica, Queens, N.Y.
“An Adam Experiment” provides a rare glimpse into the life of Adam Clayton Powell Jr., who fought for social justice and equality during the Civil Rights Movement while also wrestling with his own demons. Opening night, Friday, Jan. 12, at 7 p.m. Billie Holiday Theatre,1368 Fulton St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For tickets, call 718-636-6995 or visit thebillieholiday.org.
“Sistas: The Musical,” St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St., New York, N.Y. Running through January 2018. For information, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com.
“The Lion King,” Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit http://minskofftheatre.box-officetickets.com.
“Aladdin,” New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, visit aladdinthemusical.com/tickets.
MUSIC
Regina Belle, Friday, Feb. 2, at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.
A Night of Love, featuring Anthony Hamilton, Kesha Cole, Avant, Tamia, Eric Benet and Donell Jones, Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m., Prudential Center, 25 Lafayette St., Newark, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
An Evening of Love, featuring Brian McKnight, K-C and JoJo, Christopher Williams and Al B. Sure, Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m., The Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino, 39 Norwich Westerly Rd., Mashantucket, Conn. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Jeffrey Osborne, Friday, Feb. 9, at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic: Funky Fat Tuesday Celebration, Tuesday, Feb. 13, at 8 p.m., B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 W. 42nd St., New York, N.Y. For information, call 212-997-4144 or visit ticketmaster.com.
Patti LaBelle, Friday, Feb. 16, at 8 p.m., St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt Street, Staten Island, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Boyz II Men Live in Concert, Saturday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m., Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, N.J. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Ladies Night R&B Super Jam, featuring Xscape, Bell Biv Devoe, K-Ci & JoJo, Tank, Faith Evans, Mint Condition and more, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m., Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave. (at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Flatbush Avenue), Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
70s Soul Jam Valentines Concert, featuring The Stylistics, The Emotions, Bloodstone, Peaches and Herb and The Blue Notes, Saturday, Feb. 17, at 8 p.m., Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway at 74th Street, New York, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Mardi Gras Madness Tour, Sunday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m., The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
COMEDY
Mo’nique, Friday, Jan. 19, at 7:30 p.m., Nyack Levity Live, 4210 Palisades Center Dr. A-401, West Nyack, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
FILM
“Color of Water,” featuring Academy Award winner and 2017 Golden Globe nominee Octavia Spencer. Check local listings.
Academy Award winner Denzel Washington is back in another iconic character portrayal in the film “Roman J. Israel, Esq.” Available at selected theaters. Check your local Listings.
“Last Flag Flying,” starring Laurence Fishburne, is a film about three Vietnam War veterans taking an unexpected trip to accompany the coffin carrying the body of the slain Marine son of one of the friends to New Hampshire for burial. Check your local listings.
BOOKS
Dr. Vanessa K. Valdes will discuss her latest book, “Diasporic Blackness: The Life and Time of Arturo Alfonso Schomberg,” with Kevin Young, director of the Schomberg Center. His original collection forms the core of the collection found today at the Schomberg Center. Reception and book signing to follow, Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Blvd., New York, N.Y. For information, visit www.nypl.org/events/programs/schomburg.
COMMUNITY
“King in New York” commemorates the 50th anniversary of the death of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “King in New York” traces the civil rights leader’s encounters with New York from the 1950s until his assassination in 1968.The exhibition’s historic images chronicle King’s sermons in churches and speeches to the United Nations, his discussions about race relations with New York City’s mayor and his relationships with New York’s own network of activists. The images reveal a lesser known side of King’s work and demonstrate the importance of New York City in the national Civil Rights Movement. Now through June 1, 2018. Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave. at 103rd Street. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 212-534-1672 or email info @mcny.org.
Hear Imhotep Gary Byrd on 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly with “Express Yourself,” Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and simulcast over WLIB 1190AM. The full show can also be heard on HD radio at WBLS-HD2 and at WBLS.com.WLIB.com and iHeartRadio. IGB is also heard on WBAI-FM 99.5 with Radio GBE: “The Global Black Experience” and “The Global Beat Experience,” Fridays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Archived online at www.wbai.org. For bookings or to reach us about your GBEvent or for comments, email Co-Editor Nyerere, nyerere1@aol.com, find us at Imhotep Gary Byrd on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @GBELIFE or call 212-592-3279.