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One on One with the Oscar Nominee Best Actor: Jesse Eisenberg PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams   
Friday, 21 August 2015 20:07

Born in New York City on October 5, 1983, Jesse Adam Eisenberg and his two siblings were raised in East Brunswick, New Jersey by their parents, Amy (née Fishman), a clown, and Barry  Eisenberg, a professor.  The actor grew up in a secular Jewish family that originated in Poland and Ukraine.  His sister Hallie Kate Eisenberg was a child star best remembered as the adorable pitch girl in a string of popular Pepsi Cola commercials.

Jesse Eisenberg is an actor/playwright who recently appeared in his play, The Spoils. He previously wrote and co-starred opposite Vanessa Redgrave in the stage production, The Revisionist.   And in 2011, he wrote and starred in the play Asuncion.

His big screen credits include Zombieland, Adventureland, The Squid and the Whale, Roger Dodger, The Double, Night Moves, Why Stop Now, The Education of Charlie Banks and The Social Network where he landed an Academy Award nomination for his riveting portrayal of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

He's in The End of the Tour which is currently in theaters, and he's currently shooting a movie with Woody Allen. Among his other upcoming releases are Louder Than Bombs, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice where he assumes the iconic role of Lex Luthor.

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One on One with the Grammy-Winner artist Ne-Yo PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams   
Wednesday, 29 July 2015 23:33

Shaffer Chimere Smith, aka Ne-Yo, was born in Camden, Arkansas, but raised in Las Vegas, Nevada by his mother, a musician of Chinese and African-American descent. He began making a name for himself as a singer/songwriter in 1999, going on to compose hits for Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans, Christina Milian, B2K, Mario and others, and also to record four solo albums.

In 2006, he added acting to his repertoire, making his screen debut in Save the Last Dance, later appearing in Stomp the Yard and, more recently, in Battle: Los Angeles. Here, he talks about his co-starring opposite Cuba Gooding, Jr. and Terrence Howard as Andrew “Smoky” Salem in Red Tails, a World War II saga recounting the daring exploits of the Tuskegee Airmen in the skies over Europe.

[The interview below was conducted in 2012]

Kam Williams: Hi Ne-Yo, thanks so much for the time.

Ne-Yo: No problem, brother. Thank you.

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A Tête-à-tête with Danisha Danielle Hoston: The "Home Free" Interview PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams   
Monday, 13 July 2015 19:22

Headline: From Single-Mom on Welfare to Self-Made Millionaire!


Danisha Danielle Hoston was born in Los Angeles where she was raised by a single father and a mother who was in and out of her life. After graduating from high school at 16, she matriculated at UCLA, earning a BA degree in Mass Communications with a specialization in Business Administration.

Danisha Hoston's life changed dramatically in her early 20s when the father of her child was diagnosed with cancer and died ten weeks after their daughter’s birth. Just a couple months later, she was laid off from her job and became dependent on the Welfare.

Despite being a struggling single-mom, Hoston managed to become a self-made millionaire by building her own commercial real estate business. Today, the most important role in her life is being a mother to her daughter, and building a loving home with her new husband, former NFL tight end, George Wrighster and her stepchildren for their new blended family.

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One on one with Jordan Davis' mother: Lucy McBath PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams J.D.   
Tuesday, 16 June 2015 20:41


Headline: Mother of Jordan Davis Reflects upon the Loss of Her Son


Lucy McBath is the mother of Jordan Davis, the unarmed teenager gunned down at a Florida gas station for refusing to turn down the radio which was playing loud rap music. Although Davis' murderer, Michael Dunn, has been convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crime, Lucy McBath has remained a very vocal advocate on behalf of all victims of such violence. Jordan Davis was her only child that she had after many miscarriages.

Here, she reminisces about Jordan Davis while discussing 3½ Minutes, Ten Bullets, a documentary chronicling the trial of her son's killer. She also discusses her commitment to the Black Lives Matter movement and to pressuring the criminal justice system to hold all violators of Black civil rights accountable.

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One on One with the Grammy-Winner Singer and Actress: Alicia Keys PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams   
Wednesday, 29 April 2015 18:32

Alicia Keys burst on the scene in April of 2001 with the release of the single Fallin' from Songs in A Minor, the critically-acclaimed debut album which launched her meteoric rise. A piano prodigy who studied both jazz and classical composition at the prestigious Professional Performance Arts School of Manhattan, the class valedictorian was admitted to Columbia University at just 16 years of age, but soon took a leave to pursue her musical career. Among the many accolades she's already collected are 15 Grammys, along with multiple American Music, Billboard, Soul Train, Teen Choice, People's Choice, NAACP Image, Rolling Stone Magazine, VH1 and BET Awards.

Hailing from Harlem, Alicia Keys was born on January 25, 1980 to Teresa Auguello, a paralegal, and Craig Cook, a flight attendant. The stunning diva is a delicious mix of Irish, Italian, Jamaican and Puerto Rican lineage, and she's been named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People, FHM Magazine's 100 Sexiest Women in the World, Maxim Magazine's Hot 100 and VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.

A true Renaissance woman, Alicia Keys is not only a gifted singer/songwriter/arranger/musician/actress, but also the author of a best-selling book comprised of poetry, lyrics and intimate reflections called Tears for Water.  She made her big screen debut in 2006 playing a seductive yet ruthless assassin in Smokin' Aces, following that well-received outing with a measured performance as Scarlett Johansson's best friend in The Nanny Diaries.

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A Tête-à-tête with the talented Keke Palmer and the Oscar Nominated Queen Latifah PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams   
Monday, 20 April 2015 19:50

Keke Palmer is a multi-talented actress, singer, songwriter and talk show host who made her screen debut at the age of 10 in Barbershop 2 before landing a breakout role a couple of years later as the title character in Akeelah and the Bee. The emerging ingenue has since embarked on an enviable showbiz career in film, on TV and in music while also finding time to give back to the community.

By contrast Oscar-nominee Queen Latifah (for Chicago) started out as a hip-hop artist before adding acting to her repertoire. She’s also proved to be a popular spokesperson for everything from Jenny Craig to Pizza hut to CoverGirl cosmetics.

Here, the two talk about Brotherly Love, a hip-hop driven drama starring Keke which was produced by Latifah.

Kam Williams: Hi Queen [Latifah] and Keke [Palmer], I’m so honored to have this opportunity to speak with both of you.

Keke Palmer: So are we.

Queen Latifah: Thanks, Kam [Williams].

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Oscar-Winner Kevin Costner Reflects on Life, Career and His Latest Film PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams   
Saturday, 21 February 2015 23:30

Kevin Michael Costner was born in Lynwood, California on January 18, 1955. He began his career in independent films, gradually earning small parts in more established movies. His first major motion picture role was in the coming of age comedy, Fandango.

Throughout his career, Costner has varied his choices with comedy, action and drama role. He has appeared in such popular box-office hits as No Way Out, Bull Durham, Field of Dreams, The Bodyguard and Wyatt Earp. And his exceptional filmmaking abilities were showcased in Dances with Wolves, which he produced, directed and starred in, and which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.

In addition to appearing in memorable roles in JFK, The Untouchables and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Kevin Costner re-teamed with his Bull Durham director Ron Shelton for the hit feature Tin Cup. He also starred in Thirteen Days, successfully collaborating again with his No Way Out director Roger Donaldson. His other film credits include For Love of the Game, The War, 3,000 Miles to Graceland, Dragonfly and The Postman, his second directing effort.

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A Tête-à-tête with one of the best lawyers in America: Benjamin L. Crump J.D. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Kam Williams J.D.   
Saturday, 13 December 2014 20:45

Through his legal prowess and advocacy in the Trayvon Martin case, the Martin Lee Anderson Boot Camp case, and the Robbie Tolan Supreme Court Case, attorney Benjamin Crump has already secured a significant legacy founded in Constitutional law.

His considerable acumen as both a litigator and an advocate has ensured that those most frequently marginalized are protected by the nation’s contract with its constituency. His landmark civil rights legal battles will be taught in textbooks and referenced by both this and future generations interested in understanding the scope of our fundamental Constitutional protections.

Attorney Crump has been recognized as one of the National Trial Lawyers’ Top 100 Lawyers, Ebony Magazine’s Power 100 Most Influential African Americans, and bestowed the NAACP Thurgood Marshall Award and the SCLC Martin Luther King Servant Leader Award. In spite of his immense professional responsibilities, he still finds time to serve his local community.

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Exclusive Interview with the Olympian athlete: Dr. John Carlos Ph.D. PDF Print E-mail
Written by Patricia Turnier   
Monday, 29 September 2014 21:26

 

Dr. John Wesley Carlos was born on June 5th 1945 in Harlem, New York. He is of Cuban descent and can understand Spanish. John Carlos’ father, Earl Carlos Sr., was a businessman and World War I Veteran. He was a man proud of his appearance in all circumstances and carried himself in a dignified way. He had to work hard from an early age (like most African-American children of his era, especially in the South of the country) and his parents were born as slaves. When he participated in World War I, he got wounded and received the Medal of Citation Award for his stoicism on the battlefield. When he returned back home, he had to face racial hatred, economic discrimination, the Roaring Twenties, the Stock Market Crash in 1929, the Dust Bowl in the mid-thirties and World War II. Despite the difficulties, he never became bitter. He met his future wife, Vioris Lawrence, in 1941, who was later John Carlos’ mother.

John Carlos’ childhood dream was to become an Olympic swimmer, but because of racism, he was prevented from practicing in NYC area pools. However, he didn’t let this shatter his dream of being an Olympian. Carlos therefore turned out to be a track and field athlete and professional football player. He won the Bronze-medal in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics, on October 16. After the race, he and Gold medalist, Tommie Smith, raised their fists in a Black Power salute on the podium, while wearing Olympic Project for Human Right (OPHR) badges which provoked one of the largest political controversies in the history of the Olympic Games. His Black Power salute on the podium with Tommie Smith who won the Gold medal (at the time) provoked tremendous political controversy, one of the biggest in the Olympics’ history. Silver medalist, Peter Norman from Australia also wore an OPHR badge to show his support for the two Americans. The athletes chose an international platform to protest and make sure that their grievances would not be ignored. It became a cause célèbre. Around the time of this Olympics in Mexico City, there were student protests, riots, and shootings in the capital.

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Exclusive Interview with One of the Most Talented Canadian Actors: Christian Paul PDF Print E-mail
Written by Patricia Turnier   
Monday, 28 July 2014 19:20

From left to right:  Lindsay Owen Pierre (as Malcolm X), Christian Paul (as Dr.  Martin Luther King and Kareem Tristan Alleyne
(as Rashad, the bodyguard of Malcolm X)

Christian Paul was born in 1973 at Montreal’s Notre-Dame Hospital.  He has Haitian and Quebecer origins.  His birthday, May 18th, is an important date for Haiti -- the first Black republic in the Americas – as it represents the celebration of the country’s flag.  Christian Paul is a multilingual film and television actor.  He appeared in French and English productions in Canada since 1998, when he started to act professionally.  Prior to this, he was a tennis player.  His father taught him the sport at the age of 7, and tennis became a big part of his life till his mid-20s. He was a junior national doubles champion. At 17, he obtained a full tennis scholarship at the University of Louisiana in Monroe, and played NCAA tennis for four years, being named athlete of the year as a junior as well as a senior.  Christian Paul completed his undergraduate degree in Communications.  Hence, he developed an interest in film, television and theatre. He decided to come to Montreal to totally devote himself to theatre and acting. After attending the Dawson theatre program in Montreal, he began his career as an actor. In the late 90s, he became a frequent collaborator to Untimely Ripped Theatre, a Montreal based company that created original theatre in and out of the city. There, he penned, and co-directed his first play called 2000 televisions.

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