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Denzel and John David Washington talk about working on ‘The Piano Lesson’ under the direction of ‘Mama Boy’ Malcolm

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The Piano Lesson, The Piano Lesson film, The Piano Lesson movie, Malcolm Washington, Malcolm Washington The Piano Lesson, Denzel Washington, Denzel Washington The Piano Lesson, John David Washington, John David Washington The Piano Lesson, Pauletta Washington, Pauletta Washington The Piano Lesson, Denzel Washington family, Denzel Washington kids, Denzel Washington sons, theGrio.com

Premiering in theaters on Friday, November 8, the film adaptation of August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning family drama “The Piano Lesson” is a real family affair. Denzel Washington and oldest daughter Katia Washington are executive producers of the film, which was directed by his youngest son Malcolm, in addition to oldest son John David Washington. The matriarch of the family, Pauletta Washington, and Malcolm’s twin, Olivia, also appear as younger and older versions of the same character.

IN recent interview withAdditional” correspondent Mona Kosar Abdi, Denzel discussed working with family and specifically learn how to do it his son Malcolm did this in his first foray as a feature film director.

“When he started, you know, calling it ‘Action,’ and here we go, here we go. We’ll see what he does, you know,” said the patriarch and legend of cinema. As it turned out, Malcolm was up to the challenge. “He was so prepared that there was no reason to be nervous on the first day,” Denzel added.

John David, star of “The Piano Lesson,” agreed, saying, “I couldn’t have picked a better leader to do this. I was excited to see how (Malcolm) saw the work, how he saw the words. He is a brilliant man, my brother, and yet he is very open and susceptible to ideas and cooperation. So I love that quality of his, and he definitely applied it to our work environment, so it was easy,” he continued. “I didn’t think of him as a brother, I thought of him more as who he is, which is a phenomenal director. So in that respect it was easy because I’m just a fan of his work.”

However, it was the influence of one other member of the Washington family that dominated the film; Denzel’s wife, actress and mother of 4 children Pauletta Washington.

“She was on set with us and Denzel always said she was the producer,” said the co-executive producer. Todd Black, noting that the veteran actress plays “a huge part of all four children’s lives” and guides them “with such care, guidance and a strong hand.”

Denzel had a rather different opinion about his wife’s influence on his son Malcolm, who dedicated the film “The Piano Lesson” to her.

“Where’s Dad?” the Oscar winner joked about the dedication, adding, “I’ve been waiting — it’ll keep scrolling, something else will come up.”

He added: “He – and I say this with all love and he’ll let you know – (Malcolm) is a mama’s boy. He will now be sitting on his mother’s lap.

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For John David, the experience of working along with his parents and siblings — together with Samuel L. Jackson, Danielle Deadwyler, Corey Hawkins, Ray Fisher, Stephan James, Erykah Badu and more — was helpful as they worked to further his artistic legacy.

“We were all in the trenches together,” he said. “Likewise, we understand the traditions here, we understand the importance and importance and how relevant August (Wilson) continues to be, and it is our job to lead and uphold that message.”

Thanks to this production, the legacy of the Washington family continues to grow. “I understand, respect and take with me the artists that both my parents are, the people they were before they met, the artists they are, and I try to maintain it and instill it in every project” Jan Dawid continued. “I come to art humble, hungry and longing for knowledge. I just wish to proceed to learn, grow and expand who I will be.

“I think if I do that and attack with urgency, ferocity and ruthlessness, I think that’s how I can maintain or sustain the legacy.”

“The Piano Lesson” is now available in select U.S. theaters and might be streaming on Netflix on November 22.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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MAGA chaos breaks out as Trump supporters turn on each other to rush to Kamala Harris’ defense after election loss

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Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election, but she didn’t lose her smile.

On social media platforms, legions of supporters of the Democratic vp have spent the following 4 years struggling under the load of disappointment and, for some, fatigue in a rustic led by Donald Trump, her Republican opponent.

His inauguration on January 20, 2025 will mark an unprecedented return, provided that the last 4 years since he left the White House in 2016 have been marked by lawsuits and criminal convictions.

In her November 6 concession speech, Kamala admitted that the end result of the race was not what she expected, but she never seemed dismayed by the political turmoil, only much more invigorated to fight for the soul of America and its democracy.

Fans now know that she took the defeat in stride and wasn’t even in a rush to reunite along with her family after three months of an arduous campaign. On November 10, Meena Harris, Kamala’s niece, shared two shutter showing a public official having fun with a game night along with her great-grandchildren Amara and Leela, Meena’s daughters.

Kamala Harris defended by Donald Trump supporters after critics focused on her while drinking a glass of wine during family game night. (Photo / s: Meena/Instagram.)

“Back to where it began just a number of months ago. My everlasting gratitude to everyone who showed up. We love her very much,” wrote the author of “The Truth About Mrs. Claus” within the caption. The post received hundreds of likes and countless comments.

One follower graciously wrote, “Hold her for us, hug her for us, THANK HER FOR US. We are all very proud.” And one other said: “It’s so bittersweet, but I’m so glad he can experience that kind of love and joy again.”

The photos were also distributed on X, where they managed to construct a following of fans sparring between Harris and Trump, something neither candidate had managed to do with their message of a united country.

In the photos, the previous district attorney wore a Howard University sweatshirt and black pants, and her signature silk press was clipped into her hair. She laughed open-mouthed as she sat on the ground and played Connect Four along with her nieces.

But on the app run by Elon Musk, people zoomed in and noticed that Kamala had a glass of white wine next to her. The tech billionaire bought Twitter in 2022 and has since modified its name to X. The platform has turn into a hotbed of controversial support for Trump, with Musk being one in every of the struggling politician’s leading supporters.

The MAGA-affiliated coverage apparently tried to use the drink to discredit Kamala. They wrote, “OF COURSE,” as the red arrow drew attention to otherwise unnoticed glass on the ground.

But as an alternative of triggering a flood of replies demeaning Kamala, it prompted users to defend her despite their political beliefs.

“Seriously, this is giving Republicans a bad name. It’s not bad for someone to have a glass of wine” – person he tweeted. Second commentator he said“I voted for Trump. This looks like a fun game night. Why is a glass of wine bad?” And a 3rd voter supporting Trump he wrote“Trump fan here. Do you know how much most of us drink?”

Several other responses indicated a shared belief that it was time to stop insulting her. Once upon a time like this tweet read: “I wish we could let go now. There isn’t any need to keep delving into it. It isn’t any longer a part of our lives. Let her drink. She has nothing to do with us anymore.

Harris lost after garnering 71 million votes and 226 Electoral College votes compared to Trump’s support of 74 million votes and 312 electoral votes, which included each swing state.

Vice President and President Joe Biden have said there can be a peaceful transition of power despite circulating conspiracy theories.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Celtics star Jayson Tatum made a $200 million move to bring the WNBA to St. Louis-Essence

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 23: Jayson Tatum attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Netflix’s “Starting 5” on September 23, 2024 at The Egyptian Theater Hollywood in Los Angeles, California. (Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic)

Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum proves that securing your bag means supporting the entire community.

Freshly secured The largest NBA contract in historyTatum reportedly intended to make a $200 million bid to move the WNBA to St. Louis – a decision that would change the landscape of girls’s skilled basketball in the Midwest.

This groundbreaking initiative comes at a pivotal time for girls’s basketball, which has seen unprecedented growth in viewership and engagement, particularly amongst Black women. For Tatum, who recently signed with historic contract value $315 million for the Celtics, this investment can be greater than just a business enterprise – it’s a chance to create lasting change in skilled sports.

To strengthen the offer, Tatum has partnered with distinguished business leaders in St. Louis, Richard Chaifetz and David Hoffmancreating a powerful team of investors committed to constructing a sustainable franchise. Their proposed home court can be the state-of-the-art Chaifetz Arena at Saint Louis University, providing a wonderful foundation for what could turn into a cornerstone of St. Louis’ sports culture. Louis.

The moment of taking this initiative is especially essential. Recent changes to WNBA regulations will now allow NBA players to take ownership stakes in teams, opening up recent opportunities for investment and representation in women’s sports. Tatum’s quick motion to seize this chance sets a compelling example for skilled athletes looking to make a significant impact of their communities.

While greater than a dozen cities are competing for a WNBA expansion team, St. Louis stands out thanks to Tatum’s vocal support and deep connections in the community. The city’s proven track record in supporting skilled sports combined with Tatum’s vision for inclusive excellence create a unique fit for the WNBA’s expansion plans.

As this story unfolds, one thing is obvious: Tatum’s potential investment offer is about greater than just adding one other team to the league – it’s about creating opportunity, inspiring the next generation and constructing a legacy that extends far beyond the basketball court. His commitment to bringing skilled women’s basketball to St. Louis represents a significant step forward in the evolution of skilled sports that would help shape the future of girls’s athletics for years to come.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Yale University will launch a course devoted to Beyoncé and her legacy

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Beyonce, Yale course on Beyonce, theGrio.com

WITH a record 99 Grammy nominations and recognized as one of the crucial influential artists in music history, pop superstar Beyoncé and her vast cultural legacy will be the topic of a recent course at Yale University next yr.

The class, titled “Beyoncé Making History: Black Radical Tradition, Culture, Theory, and Politics Through Music,” will deal with the period since her 2013 self-titled album. “Cowboy Carter” and how a world-renowned singer, songwriter and entrepreneur generated awareness and engagement with social and political ideologies.

Daphne Brooks, a professor of African-American studies at Yale University, intends to use the artist’s extensive repertoire, including recordings of her live performances, as a “portal” for college kids to study black intellectuals, from Frederick Douglass to Toni Morrison.

“We will take seriously how the critical and intellectual work of some of our greatest thinkers in American culture resonates with Beyoncé’s music and consider how we can apply their philosophies to her work,” and how at times this has been at odds with “black radical intellectual tradition,” Brooks said.

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Beyoncé, whose full name is Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter, shouldn’t be the primary performer to take a college-level course. Over the years, courses have been offered on singer-songwriter Bob Dylan, and more recently, several colleges and universities have offered courses on the singer-songwriter Bob Dylan offered classes with singer Taylor Swift and its lyrics and popular culture legacy. This also applies to law professors who hope to engage a recent generation of lawyers by utilizing a famous star like Swift to give context to complex, real-world concepts.

Professors at other colleges and universities have also included Beyoncé of their courses or suggested classes in regards to the superstar.

Brooks considers Beyoncé in a league of her own, crediting the singer with using her platform to “spectacularly raise awareness of and engagement with grassroots, social and political ideologies and movements” in her music, including the Black Lives Matter movement and Black feminist commentary.

“Can you think of any other pop musician who has invited a group of grassroots activists to participate in these long-running multimedia album projects that he has been commissioning from us since 2013,” Brooks asked. She noted that Beyoncé also tried to tell a story through her music about “race, gender and sexuality in the context of the over 400-year history of enslavement of African Americans.”

“She’s a fascinating artist because historical memory, as I often call it, and the impulse to be an archive of that historical memory, is present throughout her work,” Brooks said. “You just don’t see that from any other artist.”

Brooks previously taught a well-received class on Black women in popular music culture at Princeton University and found that her students were most excited in regards to the section on Beyoncé. She expects her classes at Yale to be especially popular, but she tries to keep the category relatively small.

Those who manage to snag a spot next semester shouldn’t get their hopes up about seeing Queen Bey in person.

“It’s a real shame because if she was on tour, I would definitely try to take a class and see her,” Brooks said.

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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