The Roots perform Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around from the 2014 soundtrack of the film For A Revolution. In this clip, which juxtaposes black and white footage of 20th-century Civil Rights protests with color footage of the band performing in a recording studio. Continue reading
Tag: Civil Rights
1/27/26 O&A NYC HAIL TO THE KING: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks ( Act IV The Assassin)


The Fourth Act of Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks starring John Jones as Dr. King, Sheila Rohan as Rosa Park and James E. Murphy as the Assassin.
1/18/26 O&A NYC HAIL TO THE KING!: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks (Prelude)


Martin: a ballet by Gordon Parks, an original five-movement ballet chronicling the struggles of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Filmed in 1990 the work stars John Jones as Dr. King and Sheila Rohan as Rosa Parks, featuring choreography by Real Lamb. “Martin” (PBS, 1990), about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Parks served as executive producer, director, composer, keyboardist and documentary photographer for this boldly ambitious project. Continue reading
2/7/25 O&A NYC BLACK FACTS: Emmett Till- His Death, Mother, Grave, & Facts

Emmett Louis Till was a 14-year-old African American who was lynched in Mississippi in 1955, after being accused of offending a white woman in her family’s grocery store. Join us as we discuss historical moments leading up to the death of Emmett Till, and how his death, helped fuel the Civil Rights movement. Continue reading
1/25/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks Act V- Mourning Place

The final act of Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks takes place after the death of Dr. King . John Jones (Dr Martin Luther King) Sheila Rohan (Rosa Parks) and James E. Murphy (Assassin). Continue reading
1/24/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks ( Act IV The Assassin)

The Fourth Act of Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks starring John Jones as Dr. King, Sheila Rohan as Rosa Park and James E. Murphy as the Assassin.
1/23/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin Act III Letter From The Birmingham Jail

Martin Act III: Letter From The Birmingham Jail – Dr. King (John Jones) is arrested and while in jail he writes the now historic letter from the Birmingham Jail. With the help of Rosa Parks (Sheila Rohan) King is able to disseminate his message to the masses. Continue reading
11/5/24 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Sam Cooke- A Change Is Gonna Come

A Change Is Gonna Come is a song by Sam Cooke, released on December 22, 1964 by RCA Victor. Though only a modest hit for Cooke in comparison with his previous singles, A Change Is Gonna Come became an anthem for the American Civil Rights Movement. The song is widely considered Cooke’s best composition and has been voted among the best songs ever released by various publications. In 2007, the song was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress, with the National Recording Registry deeming the song “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.” Continue reading
11/5/24 O&A NYC ELECTION DAY 2024: America Keep Your Word !

A soliloquy from a Black man from the 1960’s about the injustice of the American system. He makes a simple yet poignant request “America needs to keep its word”. Liberty and justice for who? You? Me? Continue reading
4/4/24 O&A NYC HISTORY- ON THIS DAY: A Firsthand Account of The Assassination of Dr. King
The assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., the most prominent leader of the American civil rights movement, happened on April 4, 1968, as he stood on the second floor balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He had come to Memphis to lead a march by striking sanitation workers. In response to King’s death, more than 100 American inner cities exploded in rioting, looting, and violence. James Earl Ray, a career small-time criminal who became the object of a more than two-month manhunt before he was captured in England, pled guilty to the shooting. Continue reading





