Check out the 2018 American Black Film Festival

THE NATION'S LARGEST GATHERING OF BLACK FILM & TELEVISION ENTHUSIASTS

Be a part of the American Black Film Festival (ABFF®) experience. From June 13 through 17, 2018, join our community of artists, executives and industry tastemakers who gather each year in Miami Beach to showcase emerging talent, celebrate Black culture and create opportunities for people of color to achieve success in the entertainment industry. Enjoy five action-packed days of red carpet premieres, master classes, celebrity conversations, tech talks, exclusive parties and more. ABFF® is at the forefront of diversity in Hollywood and continues to inspire generations of new artists and storytellers! Be a part of this coming summer’s hottest event.

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) is an annual event dedicated to showcasing quality film and television content by and about people of African descent. Founded by Jeff Friday, it supports emerging artists to foster a wider range of images, stories and storytellers represented in the entertainment industry. The ABFF is committed to the belief that Black artists deserve the same opportunities as their mainstream counterparts, and is recognized as a vital pipeline for Black talent in front of and behind the camera. Annually held during the month of June, the festival is comprised of five action-packed days of films, engaging panels, networking events and more…from the star-studded opening night screening to the inspirational closing filmmaker ceremony.

Since its inception in 1997, the festival has been held in several locations — from Acapulco, Mexico, to Miami, Florida. The festival is today the nation’s largest gathering of Black film and TV enthusiasts, with approximately 10,000 attendees. The 22nd annual ABFF will take place in Miami Beach, June 13-17, 2018. The Founding and Presenting Sponsor is HBO®.

The ABFF encourages and rewards artistic excellence, providing a platform for more than 1,000 narrative feature films, documentaries, shorts and Web originals. Alumni success stories range from veteran producer Will Packer (Ride Along, Think Like A Man) to young auteur Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) – testimony to the festival’s mission to introduce and connect talented newcomers to the industry at large.

The festival traditionally opens with a Hollywood movie premiere, followed by independent film and television screenings. In addition, each year the ABFF presents over 30 exciting events and networking activities designed to educate, nurture career development and inspire festival attendees. In 2016, the ABFF worked to find new ways to spotlight female filmmakers. In 2017, the festival focused on educating festivalgoers about career opportunities within the business and innovations in entertainment technology. In 2018, we are pleased to announce the return of the Careers in Entertainment Center, offering master classes, tech talks and careers in entertainment sessions by leading media companies , along with our traditional lineup of entertainment, celebrity conversations and talent discovery programs co-programmed with our partners HBO, Comcast NBCUniversal, Turner and TV One.

Learn more about the ABFF here: http://www.abff.com/

Can we all agree that comparing a black person to an ape is racist?

By George L. Cook III African American Reports

I can't believe that in 2018 people are actually questioning whether comparing a black person to an ape is racist. Are people that ignorant? Listen to more below.

24-year-old single mom graduates from Harvard Law School

Becoming a lawyer was always a goal for Briana Williams. But when she became a single mother a year before finishing her Harvard law degree, her dream seemed almost impossible. The 24-year-old shared a candid post about how she decided to complete a final exam in April 2017 while in labor before heading to the hospital to give birth.

“I immediately requested an epidural so that my contractions wouldn’t interfere,” the mom writes. “To say that my last year of law school, with a newborn, and as a single mom was a challenge would be an understatement.”

Beating all odds and statistics, Williams walked across the graduation stage with her adorable mini-me, Evelyn, the two of them wearing matching caps and gowns.

Williams tells Yahoo Lifestyle that the road to success wasn’t easy, and there were times when she thought she couldn’t do what she needed to do.

“There were many days that I’d go into a depression because I felt overwhelmed and let the pressure of what I was trying to do get to me. I suppose I just did what I had to do, regardless of how I felt on the inside, because I did not want people to be able to say that I had to choose between motherhood and success,” she reveals. “I refused to allow anyone to assume that my daughter could hold me back in any way when she is such a fundamental piece of my success and courage. I knew that if I persisted, I could help other similarly situated women.”

Read more: Single Mom, 24, Graduates From Harvard Law School: ‘Let’s Keep Beating All Their Odds’

I went into labor in April- during final exam period. I immediately requested an epidural so that my contractions wouldn’t interfere with my Family Law grade. And, with tears in my eyes, I finished it. This “biting the bullet” experience is quite quintessential of my time at Harvard. To say that my last year of law school, with a newborn, and as a single mom was a challenge would be an understatement. Some days I was so mentally and emotionally fatigued that I did not leave my bed. I struggled with reliable childcare. It was not atypical to see me rushing through Wasserstein to the Dean of Students’ office with Evelyn in her carriage, asking DOS can they keep her for a few until class was over. If not, she’d just have to come with me to class. Evie attended classes often. So I’m going to be honest with you guys.. I didnt think I could do it. I did not think that, at 24 years old, as a single mom, I would be able to get through one of the most intellectually rigorous and challenging positions of my life. It was hard. It hurt. Instagram can make peoples’ lives seem seamless, but this journey has been heartwrenching. However, I am happy to say that I DID do it. Today, Evelyn in my arms, with tears streaming down my face, I accepted my Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. At first, I was the anomaly of my [marginalized] community. Then, as a single mother, I became a statistic. Next, I pray that- for the sake of my baby, I will be an example. Evelyn- they said that because of you I wouldn’t be able to do this. Just know that I did this BECAUSE OF YOU. Thank you for giving me the strength and courage to be invincible. Let’s keep beating all their odds, baby.

A post shared by Briana Williams, J.D. (@lovexbriana) on May 24, 2018 at 1:12pm PDT

Valerie Jarrett responds to Roseanne Barr's racist tweets

Valerie Jarrett, former adviser to President Barack Obama, responded to actress Roseanne Barr’s comment referring to her as an “ape” on Tuesday.

Meet the woman that canceled 'Roseanne', Channing Dungey

[UPDATE: VALERIE JARRET RESPONDS TO ROSEANNE'S RACIST TWEETS]

Looks like Barr should have checked the organizational chart at ABC before she made her racist tweets. The ABC Entertainment president is Channing Dungey who just happens to be...African American.

The shows stellar ratings and an apology weren't enough to mitigate those racist comments, and now Dungey/ABC has canceled "Roseanne."

Dungey said in a statement to CBS News, "Roseanne's Twitter statement is abhorrent, repugnant and inconsistent with our values, and we have decided to cancel her show."

Dungey has a long career is television and film.

In 1991, she graduated from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television.

Dungey began her career in entertainment as a development assistant for Davis Entertainment. She later joined Warner Bros. as a production executive, where she helped develop and supervise a number of commercially successful films including The Bridges of Madison County, Heat , The Matrix , and The Devil's Advocate.

She joined ABC Studios in the summer of 2004 and worked as head of drama. She oversaw the development of ABC Studio shows such as Scandal, Criminal Minds, How to Get Away with Murder, Nashville, Quantico, Army Wives and Once Upon A Time.

In 2016, Dungey made headlines when she became the first African-American to run the entertainment division of a major broadcast television network.