In 1962, Fannie Lou Hamer was ready to cast her first ballot – but Mississippi wasn’t ready to let her vote. Denied registration, she fought for rights for Black Americans. Continue reading
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Category: Black History
3/11/24 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN ON HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Mahalia Jackson Documentary
This timeless documentary about Mahalia Jackson, the legendary Queen of Gospel, features Jackson herself telling her story of her life and times! Continue reading
3/10/24 O&A NYC CELBRATING WOMEN IN GOSPEL: Battle of Jericho- Mahalia Jackson Singing before Martin Luther King Jr. Sermon
3/9/24 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN- SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Nancy Wilson at the Newport Jazz Festival (August 15, 1987)
Nancy Sue Wilson a singer whose career spanned over five decades, from the mid-1950s until her retirement in the early 2010s. Wilson recorded more than 70 albums and won three Grammy Awards for her work. During her performing career, Wilson was labeled a singer of blues, jazz, R&B, pop and soul a “consummate actress”; and “the complete entertainer”. Continue reading
2/29/24 O&A NYC BLACK HISTORY THROWBACK THURSDAY: James Brown- Say it Loud I’m Black and Proud
Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud performed by James Brown and written with his bandleader Alfred Pee Wee Ellis was released as a two-part single in 1968. The single held the number-one spot on the R&B singles chart for six weeks, and peaked at number ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
2/12/24 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY- BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Sounder (1972)| Cicely Tyson | Paul Winfield | Kevin Hooks
Four Oscar nominations went to Sounder a moving drama about a family of Louisiana sharecroppers facing hardships during the Depression. The story concerns Nathan Lee Morgan (Paul Winfield), a black man sent to a prison camp for committing a petty crime. When his wife Rebecca (Cicely Tyson) sends their young son (Kevin Hooks) to visit him, the boy’s journey becomes a life changing rite of passage. Critic Roger Ebert praised Sounder, calling it “a film for the family to see.” Continue reading
2/10/24 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Philadanco at the Joyce
By Walter Rutledge
The Philadelphia Dance Company, better known by its sobriquet Philadanco, is having a stellar New York City season at the Joyce Theater. The all-to-short four-day five performance series will conclude to today Saturday, February 10 with two performances: a 2pm family matinee and an 8pm finale. The season has successfully highlighted the works of four emerging choreographers Tommie-Waheed Evans, Nijawwon Matthews, Ray Mercer and Chris Rudd: thus, continuing the company’s role in perpetuating the Black dance tradition. Continue reading
2/5/24 O&A NYC DANCE PREVIEW: Ray Mercer- Philadanco- Balance of Power
By Walter Rutledge
Dance/choreographer Ray Mercer is living his best life out loud! The Omaha, Nebraska native can be seen eight times a week as a member of the Broadway juggernaut The King Lion. This week Mercer’s artistry will be on full display at the Joyce theater during the New York Season of Philadanco, February 6th through February 10th at the Joyce Theater. Continue reading
2/4/24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize
Keep Your Eyes on the Prize is a traditional song Gospel Plow also know as Hold On. The song became influential during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s.
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2/1/24 O&A NYC BLACK HISTORY MONTH THROWBACK THURSDAY : Cab Calloway- Minnie the Moocher
Minnie the Moocher is a jazz-scat song first recorded in 1931 by Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, selling over a million copies.”Minnie the Moocher” is most famous for its nonsensical ad libbed (“scat”) lyrics (for example, “Hi De Hi De Hi De Ho”). Continue reading
