Journalist Ashley Kang (left) listens to Quante Wright during today’s Talk Back session at the South Side Communications Center. Below listen to a brief comment made by Wright about re-entry into the workforce following incarceration. He was the subject of a cover story in this month’s Stand Newspaper. Wright was joined on this mornings panel by author General Davis.
The Syracuse University event for the 4th Annual Community Read-Out (Black & Banned) was held at Bird Library. The event was organized by Professor Dr. Joan Bryant (far left).
We wonder what would have surprised Malcolm X (aka El-Hajj Malik al-Shabazz) more, the fact that his autobiography was banned and called a “crime manual” in Jacksonville FL, or that 50 years later a marathon community reading about his life would be held at Syracuse University (SU). For the next two days additional readings of The Autobiography of Malcolm X (as told to Alex Haley) will be held at Onondaga Community College and Beauchamp Public Library.
The Autobiography was a great choice for Banned Books week on many levels, but most important, Malcolm X’s story speaks to the heart of the American experience. For further exploration of his legacy, we also recommend this book by Rondell Collins.
Interestingly, one year before the book was published, Malcolm was interviewed by writer Al Balk, who later became a professor at SU’s Newhouse School.
Actor Kenan Thompson came to Syracuse University for Parent’s Weekend. He talked about his career from Disney and Nickelodeon days to Good Burger, Fat Albert and his 13 year run with Saturday Night Live. Thompson is the longest tenured African American actor in Saturday Night Live’s history.
Earlier this week Thompson re-united with Kel Mitchell on the Tonight Show for the “Good Burger” sketch.
93Q/WNTQ-FM’s Amy Robbins was the emcee for the abbreviated version of the New York State Fair Daily Parade on Saturday.
Larry Willmore
The folks at Newhouse told us big things were on the horizon for Larry Wilmore when he appeared here as part of the Conversation on Race and Entertainment Media series. Wilmore just celebrated his 100th episode of “The Nightly Show” earlier this week. Here’s an interview he did on “Fresh Air.”
Cuse Culture Magazine co-founders Victoria Coit and Vanessa Campbell (right) made a presentation during their kick-off event last night.
Here are some of the photographs from the Cuse Culture Magazine launch party,which was held at the Nikao Events Company.
Nikao Proprietors Tina and Ken Hills with Coit and Campbell posed in the courtyard of their urbane establishment.
Fashion execs Lakisa Renee & La Shaun Jones (LSK Modeling and Events) take a selfie with local basketball star Mika Adams-Woods.
Sophisticated ladies at Nikao
Cuse Culture Photographer Vanessa Campbell with E. Smith (aka Smitty).
NYC
Coit and Campbell creators of CuseCulture.
We read a post by CEO Gwen Webber McCleod recently that said African American women are starting businesses at a rate six times the national average, and employing almost 1.4 million people. Last week, WAER’s Mark Bialczak profiled journalists Victoria Coit and Vanessa Campbell and their efforts to launch a magazine here in Syracuse called CuseCulture.
They are planning a kick-off event June 25.
Journalist Sherri Williams (left) captures video of Colton Jones, a student organizer, during today’s Stand with Baltimore rally (at Syracuse University).
Special thanks to journalist/social media expert Sherri Williams for her comprehensive coverage of “The General Body” and “Stand with Baltimore” movements. Her work (in various forms), as it relates to the #Black Lives Matter Movement, is deserving of an award from the Syracuse Press Club.
Steps of Hendricks Chapel