Barack Obama to host pro-democracy forum in NYC

Related story: Obama Foundation Expands Programs to Train Emerging Leaders Across the United States at Democracy Forum

With democracy under threat in the United States and around the world, the promise and potential of the next generation of leaders is more important than ever. On November 17 in New York City, President Obama will join pro-democracy thinkers, leaders, and activists from around the world to focus on the biggest challenges democratic institutions face today. The Obama Foundation is hosting the Forum in partnership with Columbia University and the University of Chicago.

The event will showcase democracy in action around the world. It will highlight the young leaders in our programs and advocates who are deeply engaged in revitalizing the institutions that support a healthy democracy, and modeling the values that have always embodied our best.

It will also draw on the core tenets that all strong democracies are built on, with speakers and guests discussing and debating ideas for how we can make sure our democracies and our institutions deliver.

The Obama Foundation believes that the best chance we have to solve our greatest challenges is to solve them together.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson on Sen. Tuberville's Racist Comments

NAACP President Derrick Johnson released the following statement on Sen. Tuberville's Racist Comments:

"Senator Tuberville's comments are flat out racist, ignorant and utterly sickening. His words promote a centuries-old lie about Black people that throughout history has resulted in the most dangerous policies and violent attacks on our community. We've seen this before from the far-right, and we've seen what they can do when they take power. Next time the Senator wants to talk about crime, he should talk about Donald Trump's hate-fueled rally on January 6, 2021, and the attacks that followed. Perhaps the real criminals are in his orbit."

Democrat Cheri Beasley deadlocked with Republican Rep. Ted Budd in North carolina

North Carolina’s U.S. Senate race is a statistical dead heat with the economy as the driving issue for voters in all parties, according to a WRAL News Poll released on Monday.

The online survey found 43% of likely voters favor Republican U.S. Rep. Ted Budd, while 42% prefer the Democrat, former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Cheri Beasley. Thirteen percent of the 677 likely voters surveyed are undecided. Two percent plan to back Libertarian candidate Shannon Bray, and less than 1% support Green Party candidate Matthew Hoh.

The poll, which was conducted in partnership with SurveyUSA from Wednesday to Sunday, reported a credibility interval of 4.4 percentage points. A credibility interval is similar to a margin of error but takes into account more factors and is considered by some pollsters to be a more accurate measurement of statistical certainty.

The WRAL survey is the third public opinion poll released over the past week showing Beasley and Budd within a single percentage point of one another. Civitas, a conservative nonprofit organization, last week had Beasley ahead of Budd by 0.3 of a percentage point with 10% of respondents undecided. A Meredith College poll on Thursday reported Budd up by 0.3 of a percentage point with 12% of respondents undecided.

Political onlookers say the race will remain tight leading up to Election Day on Nov. 8, with the economy and concerns over abortion access having an outsize influence on the results.

Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story now showing exclusively on Hulu

In late Sept. 2022, Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story closed a multi-year licensing deal with Hulu and Multicom Entertainment Group in conjunction with Locomotive Entertainment (Simon Barnes and Mili Cumic) (UK) and is now showing on Hulu. Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story is a poignant look into the life and rise of the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson (Ledisi). Grammy Award Winner Ledisi brings Mahalia's fight for freedom into the spotlight while depicting Mahalia's own personal search for love. Set in New Orleans, LA, this provocative story covers over five decades of Mahalia's life and explores the tumultuous relationship Mahalia shared with her mother's older sister Aunt Duke (Janet Hubert), legally named "Mahala," Mahalia's namesake after Mahalia's mother unexpectedly passes away. Mahalia's life experiences a resurgence when at 16she moves to Chicago, IL, with her mother's sister, Aunt Hannah.

Mahalia uses those broken years to lean on her faith and her unshakable bond with God as a catalyst to inspire the world. The film explores Mahalia's unbreakable relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (Columbus Short) and her integral role in the Civil Rights Movement. Writer and executive producer Ericka Nicole Malone says, "When I originally wrote Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story, I never imagined the world would embrace it the way it has. I am elated for audiences to see the remarkable work that went behind this film in celebrating and honoring our national treasure Mahalia Jackson, played by a musical icon, in my view, Ledisi. Denise Dowse was a phenomenal director, and I'm incredibly honored to see our vision for this film come to life."

The film is written and Executive Produced by Ericka Nicole Malone, Co-Executive Produced by Phillip E. Robinson (Ericka Nicole Malone Entertainment), produced by Vince Allen (Illicit, Sister Code) and directed by Denise Dowse (Ray, The Resident). The film stars 2021 Grammy winner Ledisi (Selma, Pose), a 13-time Grammy-nominated powerhouse vocalist with a career spanning almost two decades. She's garnered three Soul Train Music Awards, an NAACP Theatre Award and 10 NAACP Image Award nominations. The film also co-stars Columbus Short (Stomp The Yard, Cadillac Records) as MLK, Keith David (Greenleaf), Janet Hubert (The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, AMC's Demascus), Wendy Raquel Robinson (The Game), Vanessa Estelle Williams (Soul Food, 9-1-1), Keith Robinson (Dreamgirls), and Corbin Bleu (High School Musical).

Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story has electrified the film-festival circuit with wins in categories such as The Audience Award: Feature Narrative at Pan African Film Festival; Las Vegas Black Film Festival wins Best Feature Film, Best Actress in a Feature (Ledisi) and Best Female Director (Denise Dowse); Roxbury International Film Festival in Boston with wins for Audience Favorite; Charlotte Black Film Festival wins for Best Feature, Best Actress (Ledisi), and Best Director (Denise Dowse); and an HBO Max 2022 Winner (Best Score) at Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF). Emmy Award and Dove Award-winning composer Paul Wright III is the music supervisor for the film. Remember Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story is now available exclusively on Hulu.

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IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!? documentary coming to Netflix

From celebrated writer and film historian Elvis Mitchell, IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!? is both a documentary and deeply personal essay. The film examines the craft and power of cinema from a perspective often overlooked: the African American contribution to films released from the landmark era of the 70s. It is a deep dive into the impact that point of view had on movies, as well as popular culture, and serves as a love letter to film, posing questions that have never been asked, let alone answered. Crucial artistic voices, including director Charles Burnett, Samuel L. Jackson, Whoopi Goldberg, Laurence Fishburne, Zendaya and others, offer their distinctive prism on the creators and films that dazzled and inspired. The film provides insight into the history of Black representation going back to the earliest days of cinema, and the cultural impact of witnessing unapologetic Blackness. Produced by Steven Soderbergh, David Fincher, Angus Wall and Ciara Lacy, IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!? marks Mitchell’s directorial debut.

IS THAT BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?!? will be released on Netflix November 11, 2022.

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