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Black Hollywood Reflects on James Earl Jones’ Influence

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As many individuals proceed to react to the death of veteran actor James Earl Jones on September 9, 2024, we’re learning increasingly more about his life and the impact he had on a few of Black Hollywood’s biggest stars.

The legendary actor, 93, was perhaps best known for his powerful voice, lending his voice to iconic characters similar to Darth Vader and Mufasa. However, he once lived with a stutter and overcame multiple periods of self-imposed muteness early in his life.

When Jones was inducted into the American Academy of Achievement in 1996, he shared his thoughts interview what it was like growing up in Mississippi and Michigan.

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“It wasn’t that I stopped talking; I just found it too hard to talk,” Jones recalled, adding that moving from Mississippi to Michigan together with his grandparents, who raised him, traumatized him significantly. As a result, he spent his first 12 months of college mute, a period that continued into highschool.

It was not until he met his highschool teacher, Donald Crouch, that Jones began to interrupt his silence, discovering his love of poetry in the method.

“(Crouch) said, ‘Do you like these words? Do you like how they sound in your head?’” Jones explained. “He said, ‘Well, they sound 10 times better when you say them in the air. It’s a shame you can’t say these words.’ He started challenging me and pushing me in the direction of speaking, and using my own poetry and then other poets… pushing me in that direction, in the direction of recognizing and appreciating the beauty of words.”

It’s hard to say what would have happened without Crouch’s crucial intervention. But it is simple to say what Jones would have done for a lot of future black Hollywood stars.

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“He’s my hero,” Denzel Washington said. Diversitywho noted that his college theater profession was inspired by Jones’s performances in “Emperor Jones” and “Othello.”

“I didn’t set out to be as big as him. I wanted to sound like him. He was everything to me as a budding actor. He was who I wanted to be,” Washington continued. “There weren’t many serious black actors that we could emulate; imitate, admire. There was Sidney (Poitier); on stage, there was James Earl Jones. That’s what I remember.”

Ava DuVernay paid tribute to Jones in multiple posts on Instagram Stories, concluding with the caption, “A job well done. A gift well given. Blessings on your journey,” per Entertainment Weekly.

In the post on XKerry Washington shared, “Your voice has left an indelible mark on film and theater. Your roles have shaped our imaginations. Your legacy will live on forever. Rest in peace, Mr. Jones.”

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Wendell Pierce wrote in his own memorial post on X“The embodiment of genius. The embodiment of humanity. Artistry of the highest order. A personal hero of monumental talent. Once in a generation. My soul is broken by the news of his passing.”

Colman Domingo shared a photograph of a young Jones on Xwriting, “Thank you, dear James Earl Jones, for everything. Master of our craft. We stand on your shoulders. Rest now. You gave us the best.”

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Meanwhile, Courtney B. Vance, who hung out with Jones and his family six months ago, said: Diversity regrets not reminiscing about more of the times he shared the stage with the late actor, including their performances in August Wilson’s play “Fences,” in addition to the time they performed a scene from the play together on the 1987 Tony Awards.

“The first table read, I didn’t know how to address James—I called him ‘Sir.’ I was the only one who didn’t know anyone. And I was a total newbie, because I had just started doing theater. I didn’t know the difference between a stage and a stage. Everyone was bringing me in. They were teaching me,” Vance recalled.

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He added, “James would like to be remembered as a gentleman, as someone who loved his family. Everyone else in his generation didn’t have role models, so they had to find a way to get out. They were all pioneers. Moses Gunn, Cicely Tyson and James in ‘The Blacks’ was a play that changed Broadway as much as ‘Fences’ did, allowing black performers to have careers.”

Vance also recalled the last time he saw Jones (who’s survived by his son Flynn) at his home in upstate New York earlier this 12 months.

“The whole family was there and we were all laughing and talking about old times,” he said. “He said to me, ‘Courtney, they’ve got me so stuck in this bubble, I think I’ll live to be a hundred.’ I said, ‘Jimmy, I know you will.’”

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com

Entertainment

Mara Brock Akil wants to make a movie “Girls” – only needs financing

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Until now, the cultural trace of the story of Mara Brock Akil is undeniable. Her latest series, “Forever”, had all of us in our feelings last weekend (including this creator). But for fans of her earlier work “Girlfriends”, “Love Is” and “The Game” there’s also also also one query that never disappears: Will we ever receive the precise sending for ladies “girls”?

Apparently Akil wants it as much as we do.

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In a recent seat in “Sherri” Akil said she was trying to revive the movie “Girls”

“I want to tell this story … I want to write an epic film (” Girls “); I tried to tell this story, “Akil admitted before I revealed that its biggest road blockade on this project was financing.

“So I have a good idea for us now,” she added. “Where is your phone? Do you know someone who has $ 50 million on your phone? Do we have five people who have $ 10 million? Do we have 10 million (people) who have five?”

Considering what variety of viewers Akil loves the work, social media users were shocked, hearing that the creator of “girls” is trying to get financing their projects.

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“From the CV Mara Brock Akil should not be begging you to invest in her stories. This is crazy,” commented one user About the actual fact.

“If sex and city got two spinoff films, we can finish girls, someone will open their wallet” Another user wrote on Twitter.

While Shepherd was joking about “handing over the album” to finance the film, she also emphasized how difficult it’s to get projects in Hollywood, even throughout the case of essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably essentially probably essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially essentially probably essentially essentially probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably essentially probably probably probably probably probably probably essentially essentially essentially probably probably essentially probably the most respected names in the game. The premiere of “Girlfriends” in 2000 and ran for eight seasons, giving us 172 episodes with the participation of Tracee Ellis Ross, Golden Brooks, Jill Marie Jones, Persia White and Reggie Hayes. The program suddenly stopped in 2008 through the writers’ strike, leaving too many unanswered fans about Joan, Toni, Maya, Lynn and William.

Still, Akil didn’t lose hope. And she didn’t lose gratitude for the fans base, which stays to be going to history.

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“I really want to thank the audience because you didn’t let go and (I),” Akil added.

Lena Waithe attributes to

To

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Janelle Monáe, Fast Cars & Future Worlds: Cadillac’s F1 Launch means a new era of American innovation – Essence

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Under the shining lights contained contained contained contained throughout the style of Art Deco South Beach, the new era of American perfection roared to life. Cadillac, a luxurious automotive brand, has long been related to innovation and cultural prestige, presented its official team Formula 1-TWG Motorsports X Cadillac F1-on one night the celebration, which gathered fashionable, future design and non-systemic expression. In the middle of all this, standing like lightning between heritage and future energy, he was an artist and 10-fold grammy nominatedJanelle Monáe.

Janelle Monáe, Fast Cars & Future Worlds: Cadillac's F1 Launch is a new era for American innovations
Janelle Monáe on the official global premiere of TWG Motorsports X Cadillac F1

In the re-image to the Queen Theater contained contained contained contained throughout the style of the Nineteen Forties-the night-transformed Cadillac-Monáe club delivered performances for a crowd as electric for the rationale that vision of the brand. It was a deliberate collision of speed, style and telling stories. Guests very very like Victoria Monét, Micalene Thomas and Jurnee Smollett were present.

“The brand had just had a place in my heart,” Monáe said, asked why she said “yes” to the performance. “Cadillac was part of my life since I was once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once small. My dad had two sedans and the wood of the fleet. I just remember how he was with him contained contained contained contained throughout the automotive, and he was collecting me from school in Cadillac. This is more more more vulnerable to be the one American company that represents the innovation, because they could thoroughly be contained contained contained contained throughout the automotive.

This kind of full moment every time you realize what this premiere really represents. Cadillac is currently the one American luxurious brand entering the exclusive, dominated by the euro world of the Formula 1-SPORTH racing, which, which, Historically, he didn’t sculpt his place for a black presence. Until now.

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And then he’s monáe-defective, futuristic, deeply rooted. An ideal character to anchor the evening.

There is a reason why Monáe moves so freely contained contained contained contained throughout the media – Music, Film, Literature, Fashion – but he throughout the least times feels as whether it’s just starting. He sees no boundaries. He doesn’t consider staying in a single lane.

“I always discover new things about my art and who I am, allowing myself to redefine how I look at life, music and creativity. I am constantly building global building,” says the singer “Electric Lady”. “I’m in the middle of the world now – I am building more music, more visualizations, more communities, more great ideas that, hopefully, will open the future for more artists and will be as innovative as they want.”

And you greater than likely can feel that when approaching cooperation. For her it’s about energy. It’s about resonance. It’s about constructing something that did not exist before.

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“I am very non-binary in the way I think about where I can go, who I can be and who I can work. She is always sexy for me, when I can cooperate with an artist or a company or with another community in which I can not necessarily be every day, and we create something that is one of a kind,” he says.

This spirit was dense in peace. A mix of creation – musicians, technological entrepreneurs, designers, athletes and influential – like all of the tissue of real -time culture.

Janelle Monáe, Fast Cars & Future Worlds: Cadillac's F1 Launch is a new era for American innovations
Janelle Monáe on the official global premiere of TWG Motorsports X Cadillac F1

It’s easy to wander away in Formula 1 gloss and chic silhouettes. But Monáe doesn’t move through the world, making wealth. When the subject of luxury appeared, it was measured. Intended. Even a bit delicate.

“I grew up with my parents’ parents. My mother was a janitor, my father was a trash, my grandmother served food for 25 years. I watched the uniforms and live payments. My dad bought a used Cadillac at auction.”

For her, luxury was not about labels – it was about safety. It was Sundays contained contained contained contained throughout the kitchen. It was a bill that did not hang over your head. It was safety, not throwing away.

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“I try to use all my possibilities to take my family and let them experience what I experience. I hope that one day we will simply be able to remove this division [the idea that] Luxury is only for a higher level or people who earn a certain amount of money, “it stopped briefly.” I want people like my parents work for the community, have more access to things that have one percent. “

There is throughout the least times something quiet radical in watching a black woman occupying a place in high-power rooms-he does it without compromise. This made the presence of Monáe in Miami so significant. Not only did she appear. Changed the atmosphere. Its performance was electric.

It was a kind of performance that not only entertained, but completely calibrated the room again. This moment, tonight – was about honoring the roots throughout the dream of ahead. It was about taking space that weren’t originally built for us and remodeling them into our image.

It was a real present evening. Reminder that black creativity, black perfection and black luxury are fundamental.

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When Cadillac is preparing to take his place on the F1 net, the meaning of voices very very like Monáe cannot be overestimated. Her presence and vision are rooted in capital, expression and expansion, and if the long term of Cadillac resembles the world he builds, it’s a step forward.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Taraji P. Henson played in the upcoming thriller Tyler Perry

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Tyler Perry Studios is preparing for the next release of the film – and that is one other thriller. This summer, Taraji P. Henson, Teyana Taylor, Sherri Shepherd and others are to look in the upcoming thriller of Perry “Straw”.

According to Netflix“Słomiana” concerns the “Lonely Mother, whose world spreads in chaos, when her day goes from evil to worse to catastrophic, when she tries to take care of her sick daughter. Pushed to the edge through the world, which seems indifferent to her existence, is forced to face impossible elections in a society that does not offer her safety net.” Taping her character Janyah as a single mother was something she could confer with from experience.

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“Janiyah is a woman who doesn’t have much in life, but she has a lot of love for her child,” said Henson Entertainment every week. “I’m a lonely mother, so I understood her journey and her struggles. She is a lonely mother who tries to utilize the cards which have been given in her life best.

Noticing how the film “shows how easy it is that people in a difficult situation can be disregarded or deprived of civil rights by a system that is to protect them,” added Henson:

“If likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high it’s possible it’s possible likelihood is high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high high you almost actually can possibly possibly possibly be a fighting single mother, you likely can in no way times pay for this extraordinary lunch, and kids who cannot afford this extraordinary lunch, get a separate lunch. And you already know what is happening then? Children begin to hassle your child. As parents, they feel the pain of our youngsters deeper than them, so it meant for her.

The film, which based on Henson is crammed with “crazy twists”, which could surprise the viewers, was reportedly shot inside 4 days, while the actress worked on one other project.

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“Thinking that we shot in four days when I was still working on” Night Fight Night “,” Henson explained. “But that is what I like in Słrier Perry; he’s fast, and I’ll even be fast. He knew he had a limited time with me. He used it accurately … The topic is a bit dark, so I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad that I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once living only in the world of this character for 4 days, because this energy is transferred, and just somewhat little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little little bit of a follow you. I used to be once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once once glad when it happens, and I’m very different from one other character.

“Straw” takes place at Netflix on June 6.

Tyler Perry says that there is a

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This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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