Danny Glover

Feb 14 2013

Hollywood by Choice

Some of Hollywood’s best talent, bar none, gathered together for a night of celebration, recognition and promise. The red-carpet event was presented by the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) and the African American Film Critics Association (AAFCA).

PAFF honored the best and the brightest in its annual “Night of Tribute” on Friday, Feb. 8, 2013, at the Taglyan Complex in Hollywood.

Feb 14 2013

African American Angelenos celebrated

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, accompanied by 9th District Councilmember Jan Perry, celebrated the contributions of African American Angelenos during the city’s African American Heritage Month opening ceremonies at City Hall on Friday. Among those being feted were actor-director-producer-writer LeVar Burton, far left; actor-philanthropist Danny Glover, between Perry and Villaraigosa, and actor-rapper-philanthropist LL Cool J, right.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Feb 23 2012

Hollywood by Choice

Hats off to the recently departed 2012 Pan African Film Festival. 

To the community’s delight, the film festival and art show returned to our own backyard at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, and the adjoining theater now known as The Rave Cinemas. 

The festival, often referred to simply as PAFF, continues to showcase great feature-length films, such as Steve Harvey’s “Think Like a Man,” scripted from his best-selling book, which kicked off the festival. 

Oct 13 2011

Inhabitants living in unbearable hell

Despite the lack of attention in the media, the situation in Haiti remains dire. Despite money donated by international organizations and regular people, real relief has not reached the people who need it the most. The blue tarps that blanketed the city, reminiscent of the early reporting by Anderson Cooper, are still there—an obvious sign that things have not returned to normal.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Feb 12 2009

Be a part of history

 You still have five days to enjoy and be a part of the 2009 17th Annual Pan African Film Festival (PAFF). Check out their Web site, select movies or panels and make it a point to be a part of African American film history.

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.”