Greetings! Our GBE “Celebrate Harlem Month 2018” also recognizes National Back to School Month, Children’s Eye & Safety Month and National Medic-Alert Month.
Spike Lee’s “Black Klansman,” which received a standing ovation at Cannes in France, hits theaters here in the USA at the same time the Ku Klux Klan marches this month through the nation’s capital (see “FILM”).
Brilliant author-playwright-activist Gloria Browne Marshall, who joins us in Radio GBE, points to the factors behind the rise of the Klan and the white “hate-wave” gripping the country today in her play “Class,” which has a special one-night reading coming up (see “THEATER”).
THEATER
“Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.” The Iconic Disco Diva Donna Summer comes to Broadway. The musical includes more than 20 well-known Summer hits. Starring Tony Award winner LaChanze, Anana Dubose and newcomer Storm Lever, who portray three different phases of her life and career. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St., New York, N.Y. Call 212- 379-0370 or visit luntfontannetheatre.tickets.com.
“Little Rock,” written and directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj. History called it heroism. They called it high school. The riveting true story of the Little Rock Nine, the first Black students to attend their city’s formerly segregated Little Rock Central High School three years after the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. Limited run through Sept. 8, 2018, at the Sheen Center for Thought & Culture, 18 Bleecker St., New York, N.Y. Visit littlerockplay.com or sheencenter.org.
“Class,” by author, playwright, educator, activist, attorney and media commentator Gloria J. Browne-Marshall. It’s life or death when an angry white student confronts his privileged Black professor. A one-night-only staged reading will take place Thursday, Aug. 16, at 7 p.m. at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 524 W. 59 St., New York, N.Y. For ticket information, call 718-707-1253.
MUSIC
Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams invites all to the free Wingate Concert Series, which, with 107.5 WBLS-FM, will co-present Niecy Tribbett and “Gospel Explosion,” Wednesday, Aug. 15, featuring an evening of praise with live performances by J.J. Hairston, Charles Jenkins, VaShawn Mitchell, Jonathan Nelson, William Murphy, the Christian Cultural Center Choir and more surprise guests, as well as music from Stanley Brown.
The series finale will take place Thursday, Aug. 16, with live performances by Wyclef Jean, Slick Rick, Kool Moe Dee, Mr. Cheeks and more surprise artists, as well as music from DJ Scratch. The evening will be co-presented by 107.5 WBLS-FM’s Dr. Bob Lee and Fred “Bugsy” Buggs, with a very special presentation of “Big Daddy Kane’s Salute to Hip-Hop,” celebrating the 45th anniversary of hip-hop music.
All shows are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m., with gates to the public opening at 6 p.m. All shows are free and subject to change. For more information on the 2018 Wingate Concert Series, visit wingateconcertseries.com.
“Amateur Night at the Apollo,” every Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. World famous Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., Harlem. Featuring WHCR DJs. Visit apollotheater.org.
Black Summer Night for Social Justice, featuring Maxwell, Fantasia and others, Saturday, Aug. 11, at 4 p.m., Forest Hills Stadium, 1 Tennis Place, Forest Hills, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Saturday, Aug. 11, at 7:30 p.m. and Tuesday, Aug. 14, at 7:30 p.m., New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center St., Newark, N.J. For information, call 1-888-gnojpac or visit www.njpac.org.
Anita Baker: Farewell Concert Series, Saturday, Aug. 18, at 8 p.m., 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville, Conn. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Gladys Knight and the O’Jays, Friday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m., Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk, 3052 W. 21st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Smokey Robinson, Friday, Aug. 24, at 8 p.m., NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Rd., Westbury, N.Y. For information, visit ticketmaster.com.
Gladys Knight and the O’Jays, Saturday, Aug. 25, at 7 p.m., The Rooftop at Pier 17, 89 South St., New York, N.Y.
FILM
“Whitney,” an in-depth look at the life and music of Whitney Houston. At select theaters.
“Black Klansman,” an incredible true story. A Spike Lee Joint. In theaters Aug. 10. Check listings.
COMMUNITY
Harlem Week 2018—“Women Transforming the World: Past Present and Future.” Subtheme, “The Community Within the Community,” recognizing and celebrating the LGTBQ community.
Economic Development Day. Saluting Women: keynote speaker, White House correspondent April Ryan saluting “Women in Media.” Summer in the City. Family Festival. Uptown Saturday Night. Harlem Havana Kick-off /Afro-Cuban Musical Festival /ImageNation Film Festival. Harlem Summerstage/Jazzmobile. Friday Nights Out/5K Run and Health Walk. Visit harlemweek.com.
For Harlem is an inclusive annual event that celebrates Harlem’s youth, heritage and community. Monday, Aug. 13, from noon to 6 p.m. Marcus Garvey Park and Richard Rodgers Amphitheater. Visit forharlem.nyc.
The International African Arts Festival (IAAFestival), in conjunction with the National Association of Kawaida Organizations (NAKO), will host a slide show and lecture with Dr. Christopher Williams, entitled, “Africans in China,” Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Restoration Plaza, 1360 Fulton St., Brooklyn, N.Y., at the IAAFestival office, Room 401. Space is limited, so please RSVP. A suggested minimum donation is requested. For more information, call 718-789-3264 or 718-638-6700. Visit www.iaafestival.org.
Tune in to 107.5 WBLS-FM weekly for “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 call 212-592-3279.