Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King

"Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'" - Dr. Martin Luther King

Did On Screen Black Presidents Pave Way for Obama?

Well ladies and gentlemen, it's that time of year again. The news cycles are once again roaring up for another presidential election. I must be honest, nearly three years since Barack Obama's inauguration, I'm still stunned that a black man is president of these here United States.

Now in the years since Obama's election, many things have been attributed to his achievement of becoming the first black president. People say he ran a solid campaign. Others say he engaged the youth like few politicians have. Millions were wowed by his great speeches, and some would even say his early adoption of social media was a deciding factor in his election. Being that this blog focuses on film and television, I can't help but wonder if previous on screen portrayals of black presidents, assisted in Obama's rise to the White House.

Moving Ahead in 2012

Where has the time gone? It seems with each passing year time seems to move even faster.

I must say even though I did not get to blog as much as I would like this year, I am definitely enjoying the process and even small amounts of exposure. December has been a bit of a tough month for me (two wsidom teeth being removed and fighting a recent cold hasn't helped matters) but I am certainly looking forward to more blogging and more topics come 2012. Just a taste of things I plan on discussing in the coming year: Blaxploitation films and their legacy, black journalists and the prime time dilemma, the movie ' A Birth of a Nation,' the Poiter Persona, black presidents (yes, presidents with an S) and a host of other things.

For those of you who have read this blog from the outset or may have just started reading within the last month or so, I definitely want to say, Thank You. Here's to a more a fruitful and productive next year to all of us. *Raises glass.*

Louis Gossett Jr. on Blaxploitation Films and Black Actors

 ". . . The responsibility for film imagery must be extended to the producers who come up with these scripts. The blame can't be placed on black actors because they have to work - any place and any time they can. They have rent to pay just like everybody else."

                                      - Louis Gossett Jr., NY Amsterdam News, 1974

Remembering Heavy D

I was shocked like many of you were to find out Dwight Myers -better known to the rest of the world as Heavy D- had died at just 44-years-old earlier this month.

Heavy D was probably best known for his 1991 hit 'Now That We Found Love,' which was a hell of a popular song when it dropped. I vaguely remember dancing to it as a child way back it when.

Heavy D didn't just leave his mark on music, his talents extended into the film and television world as well. As stated in his IMDb page, Heavy D had put in more than 20 years worth of acting experience at the time of his death. His last onscreen role occurred in the recently released film 'Tower Heist.'

If anything, Heavy D's death is reminder that nothing is promised to us beyond the here and now. We should all seek to leave some sort of positive impact while we still have time. It is only fitting that Heavy D's last tweet was "Be Inspired!" Heavy D certainly was that, and a lot more, while he was with us.