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

8/19/21 (REPOST) O&A NYC TRIBUTE: A Conversation With Dudley Williams Moderated By Jennifer Dunning

On Thursday October 23, 2014 Dance critic and author Jennifer Dunning talked with Dudley Williams about his career that spans almost six decades. Clack Center NYC hosted A Conversation with Dudley Williams at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Bruno Walter Auditorium, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza at 6pm.. Williams was frank, funny and informative, discussing a wide range of his experiences with some of the world’s most renowned choreographers. 

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11/22/16 O&A NYC REVIEW: Black Violin Breaking Stereotypes In Brooklyn

By Walter Rutledge

Black Violin perform at the Kids Inaugural concert for children and military families, one of the events ahead of the second-term inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington

Black Violin, the classically trained duo violist and violinist duo of Wilner Baptiste (Wil B.) and Kevin Sylvester (Kev Marcus), opened the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College 2016- 2017 season with classic style. Accompanied by DJ SPS on turntables and Nathaniel Strokes on drums Black Violins performed a varied program to a packed diverse audience. Billed as Black Violin: The Unity Tour Wil B. and Kev Marcus have taken their classical background combined with their love of hip-hop and created a truly signature multi genre sound they refer to as “classical boom”. Continue reading