Black History month

May 23 2013

Hollywood by Choice

For the past 21 years the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) has been entertaining us with films, not only from America but around the world. For many of us it was our first look at films made for and by Blacks from Africa and other parts of the world. And 21 years later it continues to be an eye-opening experience that has helped broaden our scope of the world and the roles people of African descent play.

Lisa Olivia Fitch  |   OW Contributor
Mar 7 2013

Ten days that link the Diaspora

Carter G. Woodson’s initial 1926 “Negro History Week” included both the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. But even the now-expanded monthlong commemoration is too short to contain all the exciting goings-on. Case in point—the Pan African Film Festival.

Feb 25 2013

Black Americans in Paris

Think Paris, and the Eiffel Tower, the Champs-Élysées and haute couture come to mind. But the City of Light also is rich in African American history. Keeping this history alive are tour companies that share it, up close and personal, with visitors to France.

Feb 21 2013

Celebrating its 39th awards dinner

The 2013 Black Business Association’s (BBA) President’s Award will be presented to Walter Rhodes, vice president of Supply Management for Southern California Edison, for exceptional commitment to increasing procurement opportunities, contract awards to qualified African American firms and his tireless support of the BBA advocacy mission and programs, according to the association.

Rhodes was specially selected by the BBA’s president, Earl “Skip” Cooper II, who himself will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Francesca Murray  |   OW Contributor
Feb 14 2013

Honors iconic photographer Gordon Parks

African American History month is in full swing with events happening all over town. On Feb. 9, Macy’s and the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) took its part in celebrating by hosting “In Conversation,” a panel discussion honoring the 100th birthday of Gordon Parks.

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”