By Edwin Freeman Photos: Event Flyer Queens, NY – The Queens Underground International Black History Film Festival returns for its highly anticipated 2024 edition, showcasing a diverse array of cinematic works that explore the rich narratives and perspectives of the Black experience from around the globe. Taking place on Friday, April 12th from 5:00pm – 10:30pm and Saturday, April 13th from 3:00pm – 10:30pm at the Choclat Loft (113-10 Sutphin Blvd, Jamaica, NY 11435), this year’s festival promises an immersive celebration of drama, action, comedy, and music through a curated selection of feat ..read more

By Edwin Freeman Photos: Edwin Freeman As an actor who has starred in major hits like Notorious and Luke Cage, I know the power of Black stories reaching a mass audience. But as a filmmaker, I’ve also seen how critical it is for Black creators to maintain ownership and control over those narratives.  In today’s streaming age where “content is king,” there is an insatiable demand for compelling stories and perspectives. Black independent filmmakers are perfectly positioned to fill that demand with authentic, underrepresented voices and experiences. The data backs this up. Despite making u ..read more

By AP Photos: Wikimedia Commons\YouTube Screenshots LOS ANGELES (AP) — Louis Gossett Jr., the first Black man to win a supporting actor Oscar and an Emmy winner for his role in the seminal TV miniseries “Roots,” has died. He was 87. Gossett’s first cousin Neal L. Gossett told The Associated Press that the actor died in Santa Monica, California. A statement from the family said Gossett died Friday morning. No cause of death was revealed. Gossett’s cousin remembered a man who walked with Nelson Mandela and who also was a great joke teller, a relative who faced and fought racism with dignity and ..read more

Photos: Lincoln Center\YouTube Screenshots\Wikimedia Commons Presented with NJPAC and the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition and JAZZ HOUSE, Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) presents The Sarah Vaughan Centennial, hosted by Grammy and Tony Award winner Dee Dee Bridgewater at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater, April 19-20, 2024 at 8:00 P.M ET Honoring Sarah Vaughan an, the venerated vocalist, pianist, and band leader whose influence on the music persists, this performances features past Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition Winners as special guests, includingCyrille Aimée ..read more

By Edwin Freeman Photos: Edwin Freeman Hollywood took a major stride towards inclusivity at the 96th Academy Awards, with Black talent leaving an indelible mark across multiple categories. While Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” took home the coveted Best Picture prize, the evening belonged to the Black actors, filmmakers, and artists whose exceptional work was deservedly celebrated. Jimmy Kimmel returned as host, keeping the star-studded proceedings lively and entertaining. Black excellence was front and center from start to finish, with prominent actors like Zendaya, Dwayne “The Rock” Johns ..read more

By Danene Rey Photos: Edwin Freeman Acclaimed actor and filmmaker Edwin Freeman, known for his standout roles in the 2009 blockbuster “Notorious” as legendary hip-hop deejay Mister Cee and the hit 2016 Marvel series “Luke Cage” as Young Pop, has more recently made his mark behind the camera. He produced and directed two groundbreaking documentaries – 2019’s “Modern Day Slavery,” which shed light on the racial disparities and injustices within the American criminal justice system, and 2023’s “Beats & Lyrics,” an inside look at the early days of hip-hop. Now, in an exclusive interview with D ..read more

Photos: Kino Lorber Film distribution company Kino Lorber is proud to present a new 4K restoration of the film ‘One Hand Don’t Clap (1988) by Kavery Dutta Kaul, a vivid celebration of Calypso and Soca music and a pioneer film in the recognition bestowed upon this artform. One Hand Don’t Clap will open in theaters in NYC on March 8th at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Opens on April 8th in Los Angeles for special screenings at Laemmle Theaters, including Claremont, Glendale, Monica Film Center, and Town Center 5. One Hand Don’t Clap captures the vibrant story of calypso and the emergence of soc ..read more

By Edwin Freeman Photos: Edwin Freeman This Black History Month, I encourage my fellow brothers and sisters to watch my powerful and timely documentary “Modern Day Slavery.” As a critically acclaimed film producer and director, I created this film to examine the disturbing parallels between America’s history of chattel slavery and the racial inequities that still plague our criminal justice system today. Despite making up only 13% of the U.S. population, African Americans account for 33% of the prison population. Black Americans are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of whites. These ..read more

Photos: YouTube Screenshots Among U.S. audiences, Black consumers spend over 81 hours per week with media — 31.8% more than the general population, according to the latest Nielsen’s Diverse Intelligence Series report, “The global Black audience: Shaping the future of media.” With record-setting engagement and influence, what Black audiences expect from media—and how they access it—is changing. In the quest for representative content, 73% of Black American audiences pay for three or more streaming services. Black audiences also feel that they could be better represented in the advertising targ ..read more

By Edwin Freeman Photos: Edwin Freeman This past week, I had the honor of joining my friends J. Alexander Martin, co-founder of iconic fashion brand FUBU, and Markuann Smith, executive producer of the hit MGM+ series Godfather of Harlem, at Floss Magazine’s release party in NYC. As we mingled with other Black luminaries from entertainment and business at the chic Pando 39 restaurant, I was reminded of the immense power we hold when we take control of our own narrative through media. Far too often, mainstream outlets have perpetuated negative stereotypes about our communities or simply ignored ..read more