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The Great Black Hero – Andscape

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People have complimented actor James Earl Jones’s voice in some ways through the years, mostly noting that his booming baritone gave the impression of our collective conscience. And yet such descriptions fail to capture the depth of how deeply he spoke to us, sometimes fluidly, sometimes ominously, but all the time seemingly nearby.

Jones’s voice was like vinyl, or quite the moment between the needle touching the record and the sensation of the music coming out. It didn’t matter if it was R&B or something more upbeat, Jones had the range to encompass it. When he died Monday at 93, I assumed of him because the on-screen father of princes who would change into kings — Akeem in , Simba in , Luke Skywalker in . But I also considered a few of his lesser-known roles and the way he became a central figure in black culture. Because of his willingness to play black heroes and black on a regular basis people, he became a hero to all of us.

Jones played a sanitation employee within the 1974 film, for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor. It was a movie which may not be made now, because dating a garbage man or a domestic employee with six children will surely be seen as unrealistic. And yet, what’s more real than love at first sight? Than courtship? Than giving every part you have got within the name of affection, even in case you only have dishwashing liquid for bath time or a straightforward record player and two harmless Frisbees? The addition of sugar, honeysuckle and a giant completely happy expression became Jones’s signature, an allegory of the professionalism, seriousness and unmistakable smile he dropped at his craft.

In 1993, nearly 20 years after and lower than a yr before he voiced Mufasa within the animated film, Jones played Earnest Moses in , a concerned citizen whose record collection was rivaled only by his wild wigs. In retrospect, that chutzpah was a measure of the actor’s range. At the film’s climax, because the neighborhood fended off rampant gang activity, Moses brandished his prized record collection, and people black vinyl Frisbees were removed from harmless.


At 6-foot-2, Jones was already larger than life, but his voice made him a tower the ultimate. Making his debut because the voice of Darth Vader in 1977, he’s the dark character most remember, but latest information reveals that Jones was not he paid his due salary. Darth Vader is nothing without his dark voice and haunting breath. I like this franchise and experience the portrayal of Moff Gideon in . Imagine Darth Vader taking off his helmet at the top of the primary trilogy and revealing a face to match that magnificent voice.

Yet his masculinity remained unyielding. How else could one play boxer Jack Johnson, the primary black heavyweight champion, in or Thurgood Marshallfirst black Supreme Court justice? Malcolm X (Jones played the Nation of Islam leader within the 1977 documentary Muhammad Ali) and Paul Robeson (whom he played on Broadway within the 1977-78 season) weren’t beyond Jones’ reach with their radical politics. Jones was not visibly energetic within the civil rights movement, but he said he considers his roles related to racial issues to be his contribution to the fight for civil rightsWith his creativity and kindness he became a job model and representative for lots of us.

Jones once said that Johnson’s story was “more about hubris than race.” What an incredible commentary on a black athlete, let alone black people. Hubris is defined as “excessive pride,” even arrogance. But in a rustic where blacks are treated like second-class residents, how else are you able to rise from the canvas if not by being supremely confident? That’s radical politics, not perfect science. We are a proud nation, and we’re spiritual, because God gives grace to the common-or-garden.

Jones sometimes appeared to speak with a better power. “Remember who you are,” he said from the clouds in . It was a spiritual reminder that completely complemented his son’s redemption story. “The king has returned,” Rafiki said within the movie, which as a baby I assumed was a message to Simba. But with a couple of more years of experience and the freshness of Jones’s departure, I understand that Rafiki was talking about two kings.

It’s incredible—and terrifying—to think that Jones’ story and these stories won’t have happened. He was born in 1931 in Arkabutla, Mississippi, a baby of the Great Depression and the much more dangerous Jim Crow. When Jones moved to Michigan along with his maternal grandparents at age 5, he became nearly mute from first grade through his freshman yr of highschool due to a painful stutter.

“In Sunday school, I was trying to read my lessons and the kids behind me were falling on the floor laughing,” Jones told The Guardian in 2010. “When I went to school, my stuttering was so severe that I stopped trying to speak correctly.”

He was helped by an English teacher who discovered that he wrote poetry and he told him it was so good that he needed to prove he really wrote it by reciting it out loud in front of the category. He recited his poem without stuttering.

Even when Jones famously recited abolitionist Frederick Douglass’s essay on rage and freedom, , it was clear that he couldn’t be contained by childhood trauma or white supremacy. He couldn’t be pigeonholed, which meant that stereotypes couldn’t contain or define him.

He had the voice of God and the range to play any man. What made him superhuman—that stunning, black baritone construct—made him ours as well: an important black hero and hope.

Ken J. Makin is a contract author and host of the podcast Makin’ A Difference. Before and after commenting, he thinks about his wife and sons.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Jennifer Lopez allegedly wants ‘revenge’ on Ben Affleck, revealing how he ‘let her down’ in the bedroom amid embarrassing divorce

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Soon-to-be-four-time divorcee Jennifer Lopez is reportedly gearing up to disclose unflattering details about her relationship with Ben Affleck following their recent split.

According to a brand new report, Lopez, 55, who has previously praised their passionate sex life in her music, is now considering changing her praise and should be preparing to release a song that paints a very different picture.

jlo-ben-affleck revenge
Sources claim that singer Jennifer Lopez wants to embarrass her soon-to-be ex-husband Ben Affleck with songs about his poor bedroom performance. (Photos: @jlo/(Instagram; Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

As tensions between them intensify following their breakup, a more essential side of their time together begins to come back to light.

Lopez, who once bragged about watching the “Good Will Hunting” actor have sex in the bedroom while singing sensual lyrics in “The Greatest Love Story Never Told,” appears to be changing his tune on Affleck’s abilities in the bedroom.

“When things were going well between them, J.Lo put Ben and his bedroom skills on a pedestal,” the insider said. revealed to In Touch, “but she’s taken off her rose-tinted glasses and is telling people he was actually a pretty selfish and basic lover.”

This marks a major change from Lopez’s previous tributes to Affleck, in which she appeared to idolize him each personally and physically.

Her latest album, This Is Me… Now: A Love Story, released in February, was intended to have a good time their renewed romance.

Lopez’s ninth studio album featured a companion film that showcased their relationship in a vibrant light. While she produced the project herself, In Touch’s alleged source claims that Affleck played a major role behind the scenes, likely controlling the narrative greater than people realize.

Just two months after the project’s premiere, the couple announced their end of collaboration and have remained separated ever since.

However, Lopez’s tone has reportedly modified drastically. She not praises Affleck’s talent but as a substitute expresses frustrations about their personal lives, especially his mediocre performance in the bedroom, a brand new report claims.

“She’s so pissed she wrote all those sexy lyrics about him,” an alleged insider told In Touch, claiming Lopez is considering writing one other song that exposes Affleck’s flaws.

The person said at the time: “She says she’s now ready to write a breakup song that hits where it hurts most and makes up to him for all the ways he let her down, including in the bedroom.”

Adding that Lopez uses writing as an outlet for her emotions and that her team is fully supportive of the idea, the anonymous spokesperson said, “She’s very emotional and angry right now, and part of the way she deals with her emotions is by keeping a journal and writing. Her team is encouraging her to channel that into songwriting.”

Lopez’s longtime manager Benny Medina and her team are reportedly urging her to pursue the project, though some speculate they’ve been working behind the scenes to break Affleck’s image since their marriage began to unravel.

This alleged manipulation is not any stranger to those that have previously been involved with Lopez’s life.

Her first husband, Ojani Noa, recently spoke to the Daily Mail about the similar treatment he experienced during his marriage to the star.

“(Her people) wanted her to look good for everything that was coming out — the movie, the album, and they didn’t want any bad publicity,” Noa claimed. “They made it sound like I didn’t want to be with her, and it was the opposite.”

There’s no word on whether Lopez plans to officially channel her frustrations with Affleck into recent music. She’s currently promoting her latest film, “Unstoppable,” a project she co-produced with Affleck and his longtime friend Matt Damon. Lopez recently attended the Toronto International Film Festival to advertise the film, although Affleck was noticeably absent.

Despite their split, the duo have remained in touch, reportedly raising their combined family together. Lopez and Affleck were recently spotted at the Polo Lounge at the Beverly Hills Hotel, where they met up with their children — Affleck’s daughter Seraphina, 15, son Samuel, 12, and Lopez’s twins, Emme and Max, 16 — for a family chat.

Art often imitates life, and Lopez’s story suggests she could use this tumultuous time to fuel her creativity. Whether it’s a chart-topping song or successful movie, the fallout from this breakup could encourage her next big hit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Fans slam Oprah Winfrey’s ‘shady’ move to hide her secrets after blocking upcoming documentary on her life

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Oprah Winfrey has officially halted production on her online documentary, but fans want to know why.

The billionaire actress and former talk show host reportedly spent “a fortune” to make sure the docuseries never saw the sunshine of day after she fell out with Oscar-winning filmmaker and director Kevin Macdonald over the biopic project.

oprah winfrey documentary
Oprah Winfrey faces criticism after paying a “fortune” to block a documentary about her life. (Photo: MICHAEL TRAN/AFP via Getty Images)

According to Page SixA rep for the 70-year-old media mogul confirmed she paid to shelve the documentary after her content take care of Apple expired in September 2022.

“As her Apple TV+ deal was coming to an end, Ms. Winfrey purchased the rights to her docuseries and has since decided to put the documentary on hold,” Oprah’s spokesperson told Page Six.

Additionally, one other source said, “Kevin made a video, but Oprah didn’t like it and refused to make changes, so Oprah gave Apple her fee back.”

While speculation suggested McDonald refused to comply with Winfrey’s requests to edit, the TV personality’s team denied the claims, with Oprah’s camp insisting to Page Six that “it just wasn’t the right time to do the documentary.”

It comes amid speculation that Winfrey spent “millions” on the rights to the documentary. However, Team Oprah dismissed the concept the deal was price seven figures.

Deadline Originally announced as an Oprah Winfrey documentary for Apple TV+ in January 2021, MacDonald teamed up with Emmy-nominated producer Lisa Erspamer to create the now-cancelled biopic, which was to be presented in two parts.

They previously worked together on the documentary “Whitney,” which premiered in U.S. theaters in July 2018.

Internet users reacted to the news that the documentary had been frozen, with many wondering whether Winfrey was fearful that some damaging information was about to be released.

“Well isn’t that suspicious!” one person wrote within the Page Six comments section. Another person asked, “What is she afraid of or hiding?”

Similar footage appeared on the X program. For example, in response to an article concerning the cancellation of the documentary, an individual identifying himself as a Donald Trump supporter he tweeted“What is Oprah hiding?”

Another X account published“Oprah Winfrey spent a fortune to prevent a documentary from being released, that sounds credible… money tells the truth… not the truth.”

Winfrey was a goal of conservatives throughout the 2024 presidential campaign. The Tennessee State University graduate endorsed Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris, drawing the ire of Donald Trump’s MAGA legion.

After making a surprise appearance on the Democratic National Convention in August 2024, Winfrey faced backlash from Trump supporters over allegations of abuse related to the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy in South Africa.

Winfrey apologized to the parents of scholars who accused a Leadership Academy worker of molestation in 2007. Tiny Makopo, a dormitory supervisor at the college, he was acquitted of 14 charges related to allegations of abuse.

Winfrey’s announcement that she would hold a virtual “Unite for America” ​​rally in support of Harris also sparked outrage from the appropriate.

Critics have relentlessly hounded the “Beloved” star over her alleged “disappearance of girls” allegations, despite no evidence to support the disappearance of any Leadership Academy students.

Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. After graduating from college and dealing in journalism, she became a household name, hosting the favored program “The Oprah Winfrey Show” from September 1986 to May 2011.

The so-called “Queen of All Media” has built an empire price $3 billion. Winfrey earned an Oscar nomination for her role within the 1985 film “The Color Purple.” She can be a two-time Emmy winner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA

This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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‘Family Matters’ Star Jaleel White Admits to ‘Damage’ He Suffered Playing Steve Urkel

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Jaleel White opens up about the

Fan-favorite Family Matters actor Jaleel White was a fan favorite on the enduring ’90s sitcom, which ultimately resulted in damage to his voice.

White, who played Steve and Steffon Urkel, was a special guest at this yr’s 90s Con in Daytona Beach, Florida. On Sunday, September 15, he spoke on a panel moderated by “Halloweentown” star Kimberly J. Brown.

Jaleel White talks about the
Jaleel White opens up in regards to the “damage” he suffered while playing Steve Urkel on Family Matters. (Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic)

According to Peoplethe 2 discussed the 47-year-old’s run because the country’s favorite nerdy neighbor. White revealed that the “high-pitched, nasal” voice that has develop into synonymous along with his character actually “damaged” his voice.

He said he saw a physician and was told, “What happened was that I spoke in the same tone for a long time during puberty. If the tone had been everywhere, it wouldn’t have damaged it as much.”

He added: “It’s in remission and I feel good now.”White, who joined the solid of the hit series when he was 12, told Brown that his voice problems got worse when he was about “15 or 16.”

“I felt like I was really losing control. I kept getting messages from the network saying, ‘We can’t hear him. Please be more clear,’” White said. “It was terrifying for me.”

He told the audience that he didn’t work with a vocal coach during his time on the show, so he didn’t know the way to properly protect his voice. People magazine also reported that White, who’s now the host of the sport show “The Flip Side,” is now working with a vocal coach and a physician to protect his vocal cords and “get them under control.”

White expressed no regrets when asked if he would change Urkel’s famous voice. “I wouldn’t do anything differently. It was a great experience and a small sacrifice to make to leave a hell of a legacy,” he said.

Family Matters aired from September 22, 1989 to July 17, 1998. During this time, White’s voice was also very talked-about within the animation world, as he lent his voice to Sonic within the Sonic the Hedgehog series from 1993 to 1996.

Although he has played many roles in his nearly 40-year profession, White is best often known as the sensible pest Urkel. But it wasn’t meant to be.

On a 2021 episode of TVOne’s Uncensored , White revealed that his suspenders-wearing character was supposed to appear on the sitcom only once. But his infectious personality and “did I do that?” catchphrase caught America by surprise, and the writers kept him, unknowingly making him the star of the show. He confessed that the remaining of the solid didn’t prefer it.

“I wasn’t cast at all,” he says within the clip. “They knew what it was about… I didn’t think about being cast in ‘Family Matters,’ because it was just going to be a guest appearance, one and that was it.”

In this episode, White examines the initial resistance from the “three adult” solid members, who already had established careers but now felt they were being overshadowed by a toddler actor.

The “Three Grownups” featured Jo Marie Payton, who played Harriette Winslow, whose character was based on the TV series “Perfect Friends,” Vel Johnson, who played Carl Winslow and gained notoriety for “Die Hard,” and Aunt Rachel, played by Thelma Hopkins, who starred in the favored Eighties sitcom “Gimme a Break!”

“I didn’t see myself stepping on anybody’s toes, stealing anybody’s shine,” White said within the “Uncensored” special, later adding, “And I don’t have to keep telling adults that. They know what I mean.”

In 2022, Payton revealed that White “wanted to physically fight” her after she objected to a scene through which he portrayed Urkel’s “gangsta” cousin, OGD, which stood for Original Gangsta Dawg.

But she admitted that she’s had nothing but love in her life these days, something she revealed in an interview with Atlanta Black Star last October.

“I don’t like to repeat things. Things happen and we move on,” Payton explained, sharing that she expressed the identical sentiment during a performance at 90s Con this yr.

YouTube courtesy of People

“As I said on that panel, if I saw Jaleel today and he said, ‘Hey, Jo Marie,’ I would hug him. No hard feelings,” she added.

At the price of his voice, White made Steve Urkel one of the recognizable figures in American television history and a popular culture icon.

In his upcoming memoir, “Growing Up Urkel,” White recounts his life as a toddler actor and the way he became an adult star. The book is about to hit shelves in November.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mMFIOGsIdA


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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