By George L. Cook III African American Reports.
I know I usually cover more serious topics but a little fun every once and awhile never hurt anyone. I really enjoyed BET's The New Edition Story but there was just one thing that was really frustrating every 5 to 7 minutes...
While most of the focus was on La La Lands 14 Academy Awards nominations this was also a great year for African American actors and directors. This a record year that features a record number 6 black actors being nominated. There are the usual nominees like Denzel Washington and Octavia "I'm in every movie coming out for the next two years" Spencer, but there were a few surprises thrown in. Here is a complete list of the African Americans actors and directors nominated for Academy Awards.
Best Picture:
Fences
Hidden Figures
Moonlight
Lead Actor:
Denzel Washington, “Fences”
Lead Actress
Ruth Negga, “Loving”
Supporting actor:
Mahershala Ali, “Moonlight”
Supporting actress:
Viola Davis, “Fences”
Naomie Harris, “Moonlight”
Octavia Spencer, “Hidden Figures”
Best Director:
“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins
Adapted screenplay:
“Fences,” August Wilson
“Hidden Figures,” Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi
“Moonlight,” Barry Jenkins; Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney
Best documentary feature:
“13th,” Ava DuVernay, Spencer Averick and Howard Barish
“I Am Not Your Negro,” Raoul Peck, Remi Grellety and Hebert Peck
Memphis Grizzlies Forward, Zach Randolph, announced today that he will be making a $20,000 donation to the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association’s Plus-1 Program.
The program is directed by MIFA to pay utilities services for people in need. His donation will cover the payments of more than 100 Memphis households.
Randolph’s contribution will go straight to the MIFA Emergency Services Plus-1 Program to keep utilities connected for over 100 Memphis families.
He will also be visiting 2 families who will benefit from his gift on Monday, Jan. 23 after a brief check presentation at the Memphis MIFA offices.
This will be the seventh year that Randolph has contributed to MIFA and Memphis Light, Gas and Water.
U.S. Rep. John Lewis is having quite a run in the literary world.
On Monday, the American Library Association released its annual list of awards for children's books and announced the Georgia Democrat received a record four prizes for "March: Book Three," the last of a graphic trilogy about his civil-rights activism and winner last fall of the National Book Award for young people's literature. The latest honors for "March," a collaboration among Lewis, congressional aide Andrew Aydin and illustrator Nate Powell, include the Coretta Scott King award for best children's book by an African-American and the Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in children's literature. All three "March" books recently reached high on best-seller lists after a harsh public exchange between Lewis and President Donald Trump, whose legitimacy Lewis has challenged.
"I'm delighted and honored that America's librarians are supporting March with these awards," Rep. Lewis, 76, said in a statement. "I love books and I love librarians. When I was growing up I tried to read every single thing I could. I hope these awards will help inspire all of our young people — and some of us not so young — to read, to learn, and to act. 'March' is a guidebook reminding us that we all must speak up and stand up for what is right, what is fair, and what is just."
[SOURCE]
Discover the inside story of the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of one of its most iconic figures, Congressman John Lewis. March is the award-winning, #1 bestselling graphic novel trilogy recounting his life in the movement, co-written with Andrew Aydin and drawn by Nate Powell. This commemorative set contains all three volumes of March in a beautiful slipcase.
By George L. Cook III African American Reports
Donald Trump has made many statements about what he would do for African Americans if elected. He said that he would do such an excellent job of making the lives of African Americans better that in four years they would vote for him in record numbers. He even staged a dog, and pony shows with the likes of Ray Lewis, Steve Harvey, and Martin Luther King III to show how much he cared them. He promised many things, but the updated White House website reflects none of that.
There are no mentions of civil rights, voting rights, housing, or education under the issues tab. This is what comes up today on 01/22/2017:
Not that some of those issues are not important to the country as a whole, but it's very telling that the civil rights tab that used to be there has been moved. That shows that this issue is not important to Trump and that he has and only will pay lip service to it.
When it comes to housing not being mentioned Trump's appointment of Ben Carson as leader of HUD lets us know all that we need to know about how important Trump feels this issue is.
Also an ominous sign for African Americans is where Trump promises to stand up for our law enforcement community. What does he mean by that? He has already nominated a man to be U.S. Attorney General who is no fan federal investigations in police forces across the nation. He has also spoken in favor of the "policing" policy known as stop & frisk which catches very few criminals and only works to even further alienate the police from the community. Will Trump support bad cops such as Micheal Slager who shot an unarmed man to death as he ran away from him?
The updated site also does not mention of education at all which should be a major issue to all regardless of race. That's not on the site because then Trump would have to show the cuts he plans to make to education that would overwhelmingly affect black and brown students as well as hurt black colleges like Talladega College that marched in Trump's inaugural parade.
As for voting rights I didn't expect anything to be there because if many of these bogus voting laws had been struck down, you can make an argument that Trump would not be president. Why allow people to vote who would not enable you to remain in power four years from now?
Steve Harvey and Armstrong Williams have asked black people to wait and see what Trump does. Well if the updated website is any indication he is not going to do much.
By George L. Cook III African American Reports
By George L. Cook III African American Reports
My wife and I are always on the lookout for anything that commemorates the historical presidency of Barack Obama. We found another commemorative magazine that we hadn't seen previously and I would like to share that with you all.
TIME Barack Obama: Eight Years
In his historic presidency, Barack Obama led the United States through eight tumultuous and remarkably active years. And in this definitive, one-of-kind Special Edition, TIME’s experts assess the impact his administration had on the U.S. economy, foreign policy, health care and so much more. Along with spectacular and often moving images, TIME’s unmatched writers and reporters give this presidency a clear-eyed context through issues of race, inclusion and military approach. This edition delivers sharp, fresh stories and a bonus: TIME's foray into augmented reality, in which the cover and several inside pages spring to life via curated audio and video pieces accessed easily through the free TIME Special Edition app.
Check out the inspiring speech newly elected California Senator Kamala Harris gave at the Women's March on Washington.
By George l. Cook III
President Obama's time as president is up and many of us democrats are missing him already. Just remember that if anyone deserves some time off it's one of our greatest presidents ever, Barack Obama.
Talladega College's marching band was able to raise over $500,000 to go to Donald Trump's inauguration from donations by Fox News viewers. Conservatives flocked to the band's GoFundMe page after school's president appeared on "The O'Reilly Factor" to beg for the money. Many gave not to support Talladega College but to spite those who didn't want the band to go. I hope they enjoy the money for now but hopefully someone will remind them "that all money ain't good money." George L. Cook III African American Reports.
Donations on a GoFundMe page set up to cover Talladega College's Marching Tornadoes band expenses for the Trump inaugural parade trip went over $500,000 this weekend.
The fund, which originally set a goal of $75,000, stood at $580,000 as of early Tuesday morning ( 01/17/2017).
More than $300,000 in donations poured in last Friday, after Talladega College President Billy Hawkins appeared on Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" last Thursday night.
Approximately 3 million viewers tune into O'Reilly each night, making it one of the top rated cable shows on American television, according to Media Life Magazine. The donations continued through the weekend.
In a Friday news conference, Hawkins called the response "probably the single-greatest fundraising effort" for the school. Almost 10,000 donors have contributed on the GoFundMe page, many of the donations coming in relatively small amounts of $10, $20, $50 and $100.
Read more: Talladega College band donations top $500,000 after O'Reilly appearance
By George L. Cook III
Today on the day we honor Dr. Martin Luther King his son went to meet with Donald Trump. I'm not so disappointed that he went but I'm not happy about when he went. Hear that reason below.
A son of Martin Luther King Jr., Martin Luther King III had a meeting and representatives of his policy making body The Drum major Institute with Donald Trump to discuss voting rights on MLK Day. I actually don't have a problem with King meeting with Trump but I do have a problem with doing it on the King Holiday. This makes it look as if King is being used as prop in Trump's dog and pony show. Listen to Martin Luther King III discuss the meeting below.
Trump had the audacity to attack John Lewis but he doesn't realize he's a little boy going at a grown man who had done grown man things.
This week, President Obama delivered his final weekly address thanking the American people for making him a better President and a better man. Over the past eight years, we have seen the goodness, resilience, and hope of the American people. We’ve seen what’s possible when we come together in the hard, but vital work of self-government – but we can’t take our democracy for granted. Our success as a Nation depends on our participation. It’s up to all of us to be guardians of our democracy, and to embrace the task of continually trying to improve our Nation. Despite our differences, we all share the same title: Citizen. And that is why President Obama looks forward to working by your side, as a citizen, for all of his remaining days.
Newly elected California Senator Kamala Harris has decided that she cannot support Jeff Sessions nomination for US Attorney General. Read her statement below:
I have deep concerns about Jeff Sessions' ability to defend the rights of all Americans -- I will be voting against his confirmation. We need an Attorney General committed to equal rights for all, including women, people of color, and the LGBT community. It is clear after his confirmation hearings that person is not Jeff Sessions, and that is why I oppose him.
Members of the Congressional Black Caucus should follow the lead of civil rights icon and Georgia congressman John Lewis and not attend Donald Trump's inauguration.
By George L. Cook III African American Reports
In a move that surprised many Steve Harvey has met with Donald Trump to discuss issues in the black community. I believe Trump plans to use Steve Harvey to legitimize Ben Carson in the black community. Harvey may believe he is doing the right thing and may mean well but is misguided on this one. Well I hope that's the case and he hasn't sold out. Listen to more of my thoughts below.
In an exclusive interview for “Meet the Press,” Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) said he believes Donald Trump’s election is illegitimate because of Russian interference in last year’s election. Watch that clip below.
Read more: DOJ unveils police reforms in Baltimore
In unprecedented move, Senator Cory Booker is about to testify against fellow Senator Jeff Sessions during his Attorney General confirmation. Listen to his passionate testimony below.
