6/8/20 O&A NYC LOCKDOWN LEARNING:  Rome Clashes with Hannibal and Carthage- Barbarians Rising

An epic 700-year battle for freedom begins as the barbarians rise against Rome; Hannibal builds a rebel alliance and conquers the Alps, in “Resistance”. Continue reading

6/3/20 O&A NYC LOCKDOWN ENLIGHTENMENT: Malcolm X- Addressing Police Brutality (1962)

In 1962, a confrontation with the LAPD outside a mosque resulted in the death of a Nation of Islam member. It was an event seized on by an outraged Malcolm X, who would condemn it in an impassioned speech.
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6/2/20 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: 6 Things Black Men Tell Their Sons About Traffic Stops

READ CAREFULLY! These six observations on what to do when you are pulled over during a police traffic stop can save your African- American/Latino son’s life. Continue reading

5/20/20 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY- ON WEDNESDAY: President Obama’s Message to the Class of 2020

Watch President Obama celebrate America’s high school seniors as part of Graduate Together: America Honors the Class of 2020. Continue reading

5/30/18 O&A NYC DANCE: Pascal Rioult- The Craft of Choreography

By Walter Rutledge

RIOULT Dance NY begins the New York City season on Wednesday, May 30 thru Sunday, June 2 at the Joyce Theater (175 Eighth Avenue, at 19th Street, NYC). The company will present Written for Dance an evening by founder/choreographer Pascal Rioult that celebrates the historic connection and collaborative power of the choreographer and composer. Written for Dance is inspired by the music of Russian composers representing three distinct musical periods – the romantic, the neo-classic, and the contemporary. Continue reading

5/15/18 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Chadwick Boseman’s Howard University 2018 Commencement Speech

Howard University alumnus Chadwick Boseman provides words of inspiration to the Class of 2018 during Howard University’s 150th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 12 in Washington, D.C. Continue reading

5/1/18 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Be The Best of Whatever You Are – Martin Luther King Jr

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s tale of the street sweeper teaches you to be the best at what you do regardless of your situation in life. That we should always aspire to be the best in our work and in our life. Continue reading

7/11/17 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Malcolm X- The House Negro And The Field Negro (2009)

Malcolm X’s The House Negro And The Field Negro speech was delivered in 1965 in Selma, Alabama. It happened while Martin Luther King Jr. was held in jail for his famous march on Selma. Malcolm X gave this speech to young protesters who received it very well. Continue reading

5/16/17 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Kevin Doe- Persistent Experimentation

Inspirational-TuesdayKevin-Doe

Kelvin Doe was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone in 1996 as the youngest of five children. His creative instincts have been with him as a child and he would often dream of solutions to problems in his community. At the age of 10, he started scavenging for scrap electronics parts from dump sites after school for his inventions. Continue reading

(Repost) 8/30/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- TRIBUTE: Three Black Kings- An Ailey Classic

By Walter Rutledge

3-blk-kngsThree Black Kings was the last dance and music collaboration between choreographer Alvin Ailey and composer/musician Duke Ellington.  Continue reading