Greetings! Voting opens now during Black History Month 2019 for the 50th NAACP Image Awards—Entertainer of the Year nominations. The winner will be revealed during the two-hour special airing live on TV One, Saturday, March 30, 2019, from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. The five nominees are: Beyoncé, Chadwick Boseman, Ryan Coogler, Regina King and LeBron James. The voting is open to the general public beginning now by visiting the NAACP Image Awards Entertainer of the Year site, www.naacpimageawards.net. Voting closes March 4, 2019. Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest and largest nonpartisan civil rights organization. You can read more about the NAACP’s work at www.NAACP.org.
THEATER
“Beneath the Layers” by playwright Travis Wright. The story of a woman who works in corporate America as a marketing manager. Gifted at her job, she becomes the go-to person whenever there’s a major campaign on the line. She learns that success has enemies she never knew existed. Saturday Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Dempsey Theater, 127 W. 127th St., Manhattan; for information, call 914-258-6476.
“The Sable Series: The History of Black Shakespearean Actors,” directed by Dathan B. Williams, starring James Edward Bection, Debra Ann Byrd and Nathan B Williams. Period costumes by Gail Cooper Hedit. Monday, Feb. 25, 7 p.m. at the Julia De Burgos Performing Arts Center, 1680 Lexington Ave., East Harlem, NYC. Encore-Performance-Talk Back and Special Reception. Make your reservation at www.Eventbrite.com.
MUSIC
The St. George Theatre 89th Anniversary Red Carpet Gala and Benefit Concert in Staten Island presents one of the most successful groups of all time, The Mighty O’Jays! Saturday, March 30, 8 p.m. (doors open 7 p.m.). Icons of the legendary Philadelphia soul sound movement for over five decades, The O’Jays have been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame the Vocal Group Hall of Fame, and the Grammy Hall of Fame. The annual Red Carpet Gala serves as the principal fundraiser for St. George Theatre Restoration Inc. and features a pre-show cocktail reception, prime seating, the Georgie Award presentation and an after-party in the grand and mezzanine lobbies with open bar, hors d’oeuvres and dance music. The first 12 rows are reserved for gala attendees. For more information regarding the gala including purchasing gala tickets and prime seating, sponsorships and journal ads please call: 718-442-2900 x 504. For reservations, visit: www.stgeorgetheatre.com.
TV
C-SPAN’s “Black Migrations”—LIVE 12:15 p.m. ET Saturday, Feb. 23, 2019. Each year, the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History establishes a Black history theme. This year’s theme is “Black Migrations.” Hear about the journey that enslaved Africans made to the New World and about the northern and western movement of 20th century African-Americans. It was 400 years ago—in 1619—that enslaved Africans first arrived in the Virginia colony. Speakers include Columbia University’s Jelani Cobb, University of Delaware’s Tiffany Gill and WAMU Radio’s Kojo Nnamdi.
“American Soul.” BET dramatic TV series inspired by Don Cornelius’ classic “Soul Train.” Check local listings.
FILM
“BlackKklansman.” Spike Lee’s Oscar-nominated look at the infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan. Featuring John David Washington (son of Denzel). Based on a true story. Check theaters for listings.
The African Diaspora International Film Festival will celebrate Black History Month at Teachers College, Columbia University, 525 W. 120th St., Manhattan with a selection of films about the multiple dimensions of Black history. Opening Feb. 28, with free screening of “Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango” by Dom Pedro, a revealing historical and musical documentary that celebrates the contribution of Africa to the development of the Tango. Highlighting the ADIFF program is the East Coast premiere presentation of “The Robeson Effect,” Juney Smith’s latest documentary that celebrates the life and accomplishments of actors Danny Glover and Ben Guillory, co-founders of the Robey Theatre Company named in honor of pioneering actor, public speaker and opera singer Paul Robeson. A red carpet and VIP reception will start at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 1 at the Cowin Center at Teachers College, Columbia University. The 8 p.m. screening will be followed by a Q&A with Smith and actors Glover and Guillory. For more information, contact Diarah N’Daw-Spech at 212-864-1760/ fax 212-316-6020 or email pr@nyadiff.org.
“If Beale Street Could Talk” is about a woman in Harlem who desperately scrambles to prove her fiancé innocent of a crime while carrying their first child. Directed and written for film by Academy Award winner Barry Jenkins. Based on the book by James Baldwin. Check theaters for listings.
COMMUNITY
Join the Schomburg Center in Harlem Feb. 21 as it marks its annual commemoration of Malcolm X on the anniversary of his assassination. Malcolm X rose to prominence as he gave eloquent voice to the anger and struggle of African-Americans during the tumult of the 1960s. See a screening of the Smithsonian Channel’s “The Lost Tapes: Malcolm X” which offers an up-close look at the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of one of its most charismatic, and controversial, leaders. For more information, visit www.nypl.com
Celebrate Black History Month with noted African-American specialist and author Elvin Montgomery, Ph.D. and his collection of cultural artifacts, rare historical treasures and memorabilia at Introductory Black History Collectibles Sale Saturday, Feb. 23, at BHCS Brownstone, 2009 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., Harlem. Scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., admission req. (RSVP requested via Eventbrite). For more information, visit www.elvinm.com.
Listen to Imhotep Gary Byrd’s “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 NextRadio. IGB’s “Beat Experience” is heard Fridays 7 p.m. to 0 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.