In Mandingo, big black buck Mede (boxer Ken Norton) is raped by his owner’s wife Blanche (Susan George). Continue reading
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Category: Black History
9/5/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm featuring Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers – A Day at the Races (1937).
All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm featuring Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers is from the movie A Day at the Races (1937). The singer in the segment is Ivie Anderson from Duke Ellington’s Orchestra. The list of dancers is including Troy Brown, Dorothy Miller, Johnny Smalls, Norma Miller, Leon James, Snooky Beasley, Willa Mae Ricker, Ella Gibson, and George Greenidge. (Apparently, the dancer listed as John Bunch is in fact, Troy Brown). Whitey himself can be seen on the sidelines. He is identifiable by the streak of white in his hair. Continue reading
9/1/25 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Michael Jackson’s This Is It -Documentary Film (Full Movie 2011)
This compelling documentary follows pop icon Michael Jackson during the days leading up to his untimely death as he prepares for a series of 50 shows. Continue reading
9/1/25 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project – Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions.
By Walter Rutledge
It seems our narratives, our cultural and historic legacy, is being erased or altered to fit a new national fiction. It is becoming extremely important to tell our own stories and to share and protect our narratives. This was the mission of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project production Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions. The impressive and stylish sold-out presentation took place on Saturday, August 23 at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance.
8/28/25 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: The Richard Pryor Show – Mojo Healer
Richard Pryor shows up with energy and comic timing as Mojo The Medicine Man, who attracts his cult with the divine words “Let Mojo heal it!” Continue reading
8/24/25 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Shirley Caesar, Dorthy Norwood, Inez Andrews, & Albertina Walker – Mary Don’t You Weep and More
The Caravans (Inez Andrews, Dorthy Norwood, Shirley Caesar, Albertina Walker, Delores Washington) singing at the 2007 BET Gospel Celebration. Continue reading
8/21/25 O&A NYC DANCE: O&A NYC Embeds With CBDLP for Chicago Dance Event
By Walter Rutledge
Out and About NYC Magazine (O&A NYC) will embed with the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) for the Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions performance on Saturday, August 23, 6pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. The magazine has begun to document the artists from the ten dance companies performing in this unprecedented evening of Black dance excellence. The event is being documented with written commentary, video interviews and a review of the performance. The historic and cultural importance of this “consortium of the creative” needs to be brought to the attention of the theater going public. Not just in the great city of Chicago but to our international audience. Continue reading
8/19/25 O&A NYC DANCE: The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project And Dr. King’s Beloved Community
By Walter Rutledge
The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) will present Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions on Saturday August 23, 6pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street). Co- Directors Kevin Iega Jeff and Mashaune Hardy in coordination with co-curators Gary Abbott and Jeff have assembled a cast of ten of Chicago’s most exciting and progressive dance companies. This production will put meaning/message to movement for a transformative evening celebrating the city’s Black dance excellence. It will also emphasize the historic impact of Black dance on the cultural identity of the city of Chicago. Continue reading
8/16/25 O&A NYC DANCE: The Era Footwork Crew – Chicago’s Urban Terpsichoreans
By Walter Rutledge
Los Angles urban dance warriors perform Krump, Memphis dancers have the Juke, New Yorkers are Flexn and Chicago homies dance Footwork. Footwork music began evolving in Chicago in the early 90s, drawing on Ghetto House and Juke but adding complex layers of odd, almost compulsively frenetic rhythms; it grew hand in hand with the athletic, high-octane dance style that shares its name.
The dance/theatre urban storytelling style is accompanied by original lyrics and music tracks that reflect social justice, inequality and systemic racism. For over ten years Chicago’s Era Footwork Crew has introduce Footwork to the urban “dance battles” and the greater international dance community. Era Footwork Crew continues to make the urban dance style as synonymous to Chicago’s cultural identity as Deep-Dish Pizza. These Urban Terpsichorean will be part of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) in Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions, which will premiere Aug 23, 2025, 6:00pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street). Continue reading
8/14/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Kevin Iega Jeff and The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project – Pedagogy. Community. Legacy
By Walter Rutledge
Life is an ever changing, ever evolving adventure. On the adventure life requires us to react, adapt and hopefully reinvent. Sadly, when we stop making history we become a part of history.
Kevin Iega Jeff continues to make history. His latest adventure is the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) in Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions, which will premiere Aug 23, 2025, 6:00pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street). Jeff is both the Co-Director (Mashaune Hardy Co – Director) and Co- Curator (Gary Abbott Co – Curator) of this production, which promises to be evening of Black Dance excellence. CBDLP unites ten Chicago dance companies for an evening of diverse and artistically/socially relevant performances. Continue reading
