Im Back and I'm Broke

While I wait on my rent (partial) to arrive electronically via the UK, I thought I'd drop in for a sec and visit.

People have asked me why did I have a Old School music 2011 obituary instead of one dedicated to actors and it hadn't occurred to me that I hadn't found one that was comprehensive.

Also, I give my condolences to Dick Anthony Williams, a fine actor who was more than Pretty Tony from The Mack. I wanted to get the clip from Players Club where he teaches LisaRaye how to shoot like a father would do with their son. That was a pretty touching moment because it's one thing for men to stick around long enough to become real dads but when they teach their daughters how to face the world and it's adverse moments, is really special.

So instead of made-for-TV movies and bit movie parts, I chose this clip -

So, I haven't forgotten my mission to include books and other media in this blog. Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting a young man that worked the magazine booth at Crenshaw Mall. Yeah, it's been through many changes and though I can't wait until they get another cajun/creole/real soul food place inside, I'd say this booth is worth stopping by. If you'd rather shop from home, here's the website.

Finally, don't forget to bookmark us as we continue our mission to bring positivity.  Oh yeah, speaking of positive things.  Today is the day after Oscars and from what I saw, I wasn't impressed.  In fact, it makes me want to push harder for indie films.  While my congrats to Octavia Spencer means nothing, I must add my $0.02 about us getting recognition for being oppressed.  It reminds me of an ass I used to work with that once told me out of nowhere that Black women were the most oppressed people on the planet.

Let's see.  I'm brown-skinned with nappy hair, not a babymama, never worked as a domestic or been on public assistance, educated, never been in jail or named as defendant in a lawsuit.  Not in 40+ years.  Where is my damn movie?

Whitney - RIP

Long before the voice and fame, music's latest fallen angel made her TV debut on 1981's Gimme a Break with the late Nell Carter 

 

Don Cornelius - RIP

Thank you for the memories!

In Memoriam 2011

A little late but this is the most comprehensive music list I could find. Courtesy of soulwalking.uk.

Also, to my Uncle Hosea (Enox), you are very much missed!

Books Into Movies

In my haste to complete minor marketing projects ASAP for different clients so I could pay bills, I thought of several things.  One was a book I'd real called Black Starlet.  I got it from Waldenbooks in the Fox Hills Mall and got deep into Donald Goines and other authors telling a Black experience that had nothing to do with slavery.  This was the mid-to-late 80s and truthfully, there was nothing that impacted my young adult life but it was damn entertaining for a period when I needed a smile.

Anyway, I gave Iceberg Slim's Pimp to a male friend because it was just too heavy at the time and around this time I discovered blaxploitation films.  I'd seen I'm Gonna Get You Sucka and Blacula several times but I wanted to hear more from the "unsung" folks. 

So I rent Black Starlet from a place in Inglewood on Manchester and the Avenues (all I remember was Grady from Sanford and Son had a travel agency across the street).  It was silly but told the truth about the casting couch.  While Juanita Brown may have been entertaining back in the day, if she were to make a comeback, Viola Davis, Angela Bassett, Halle and about 200 other Black actresses wouldn't have a damn thing to worry about.  Here is a review that is a little less forgiving.

There are no YouTube clips of this movie and I'm not about to give Amazon $40 either. Yes, it is also titled Black Gauntlet but it made me remember the importance of preserving our works.

Waldenbooks is no more in L.A. and the last time I was in Fox Hills/Westfield, they were closer to having a biblioteca since the Borders Express is also history.  Then yesterday's L.A. Times article inspired me to make more positive changes in the New Year.  It is about Marcus Books in the Bay Area and the challenges it currently has with Amazon and its pricing policies.

We should not let our contribution in books, movies and other media dissolve into thin air or fight with a corporation.  This is why I've decided to add books to my posts and begin a campaign to promote literary events as well.

Comments? Suggestions?  Hit me at jwswindell@gmail.com

Bubba Smith Update

TMZ is not one of my favorite sources not because they tell the truth but because I think they can go lower than snail poo when it comes to telling someone's business.  However, this is what they are saying about the death of Bubba Smith.

They also seem to go through Black/AA employees like water, IMO.

Just in Time For Halloween-Carol Speed

Clients are coming left and right but I thought I'd stop by and share a gem I discovered about a year ago.

Carol Speed had a short career and I found it interesting that she had a brief part in 1997's 'Jackie Brown but was cut at the last minute.  Hmm
Here she shares some other accounts with the Original Foxy Brown as well as her short stint in Hollyweird.

A video I'm having a hard time finding is Abby.  The stunts are a little better than TNT but from what I've seen online (I was six when this was in major release and my mother was not about to let me see it), it sounds like it would make for a good weekend.  Then again, I never get tired of the original Blacula.