Macy’s Salutes Gordon Parks, an American Master, in Celebration of Black History Month

Macy’s, in partnership with The Gordon Parks Foundation and the American Black Film Festival, honors Gordon Parks with a series of special events at select Macy’s stores nationwide


“Macy’s is thrilled to partner with The Gordon Parks Foundation and the American Black Film Festival to honor the legacy and work of famed artistic master Gordon Parks,” said Dineen Garcia, Macy’s vice president of Diversity Strategies. “Exemplary Americans like Gordon Parks serve to inspire generations with a rich legacy of achievement that crosses boundaries and continues to inform and inspire the work of those who follow in their footsteps. From photography to film and music, Gordon Parks is the perfect American hero to honor during Black History Month celebrations at Macy’s.”

“The Gordon Parks Foundation is pleased to partner with Macy’s to celebrate the centennial of Gordon Parks for Black History Month. Parks’ genius was based on the respect and trust he brought to his subjects not only through the lens of his camera but through his own personal story. Macy’s is committed to keeping icons like Gordon Parks in the public eye to inspire future generations,” said Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr. executive director, The Gordon Parks Foundation.

“The American Black Film Festival is honored to be a part of the celebration of Gordon Parks,” said Jeff Friday, CEO of The Film Life Inc., and founder of the American Black Film Festival. “Gordon Parks had a profound impact on the arts as the first African-American to work at “LIFE” magazine and the first to write, direct and score a Hollywood film (“Shaft,” 1971). He was a true renaissance man; a celebrated photographer, musician, writer and film director who captured some of America’s most captivating images and told some of American history’s most compelling stories through his lens. We are proud to be part of this tribute to him this Black History Month.”

Gordon Parks: Black American Icon events at Macy’s will consist of a variety of celebrations. Featuring photographic installations Gordon Parks’ iconic images, “In Conversation” events moderated by representatives from The Gordon Parks Foundation and American Black Film Festival, “The Learning Tree” children’s events, and Soul Jam music, dance presentations, Macy’s stores will examine, honor and celebrate the many arts-based accomplishments of this unique American icon. Taking place at 14 Macy’s locations nationwide including stores in Atlanta, Bowie, Chicago, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., each store will offer one or more of these event elements. The “In Conversation” discussions will focus on Gordon Parks’ influence on film and the future of African-American cinema. Featured speakers at select locations will include actors Omari Hardwick (“For Colored Girls…,” “Sparkle”), Eriq La Salle (“ER”), Lamman Rucker (“Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns,” “Why Did I Get Married?”), Terrell Tilford (“Soul Food,” “One Life To Live”), Malinda Williams (“A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” “Soul Food”) and Malik Yoba (“NY Undercover,” “Why Did I Get Married?”).

The “Children’s Learning Tree” events held in conjunction with The Reading Circle, will highlight Parks’ literary life as children build their own unique books. Finally, the artist’s musical legacy will get the party started with special Soul Jam events geared towards a younger generation. Featuring DJ’s and dancers, the Soul Jam sessions will highlight the “Shaft” era in music for a new audience.

From Feb. 1 - 28, visitors to macys.com/celebrate will be offered the opportunity to enter for the chance to win a trip for two to the American Black Film Festival in Miami and a $1000 Macy’s shopping spree courtesy of American Airlines. (Please visit www.macys.com/celebrate for complete entry rules or visit the event store for more information.)
Below are the stores and select event information for Macy’s – Gordon Parks: Black American Icon celebrations:

Macy’s Herald Square – New York, NY – Feb. 7

Macy’s Pleasanton Stoneridge – San Francisco, CA – Feb. 8

Macy’s Downtown Brooklyn – New York, NY – Feb. 9

Macy’s Baldwin Hills – Los Angeles, CA – Feb. 9

Macy’s Northland Center – Detroit, MI – Feb. 9

Macy’s Center City – Philadelphia, PA – Feb. 13

Macy’s State Street – Chicago, IL – Feb. 14

Macy’s Lenox Square – Atlanta, GA – Feb 16

Macy’s Metro Center – Washington, D.C. – Feb. 21

Macy’s Union Square – San Francisco, CA – Feb. 21  - SOLD OUT!

Macy’s Galleria at Hidalgo – Houston, TX – Feb. 21

Macy’s Downtown Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh, PA – Feb. 23

Macy’s Bowie Town Center – Bowie, MD – Feb. 23

Macy’s Aventura – Miami, FL – Feb. 23

For a complete listing of Macy’s Black History Month events, please visit www.macys.com/celebrate.


*PHOTO BY TONI PARKS PARSONS

Celebrate Black History Month In the Workplace - Yay or Nay?

There was a time when I would have thought that companies celebrating Black History Month were completely forward-thinking.

These days, I'm not so sure.

I think that most companies that do at least make an effort to promote diversity by celebrating ethnic and cultural events, whether it be Black History Month, Chinese New Year or Cinco De Mayo, really do start out with good intentions.

However, unless you are very careful with your planning, completely do your research (not relying on wikipedia and the internet entirely for information), and look to your employees within the particular ethnic group in the planning, these types of "celebrations" can often backfire.

It's great to have Black people in the company speak about their experiences and how they've climbed the ladder to VP or President of the Company, however, a lot of what is offered as "Black History" is watered-down, completely commercial and downright patronizing.

I know you can't please all the people all the time and while it's nice to be "considered," some things are better left to those who really know what they're doing when it comes to putting on diversity events in the workplace.

Another option might be to "practice what you preach" so to speak, 365 days a year, 12 months out of the year instead of a day or week in February.

I'm just saying.

Kimberla Lawson Roby, Winner of the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Kimberla Lawson Roby is the 2013 Winner of the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction.  Roby self-published her first book 17 years ago and has sold over 2,000,000 copies of her titles.

 

 

(February 5, 2013) – New York Times, USA Today, Essence, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Kimberla Lawson Roby won the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction for her novel, THE REVEREND’S WIFE (Grand Central Publishing).  This is Roby’s first nomination and win from the NAACP, and THE REVEREND'S WIFE is the 9th novel in her popular Reverend Curtis Black Series—a saga that centers on a prominent pastor and his wife and their struggles with money, power and infidelity.  The 44^th NAACP Image Awards show aired live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, CA, Friday, February 1, 2013, on NBC.

 

Roby has published 18 novels, and her latest, THE PERFECT MARRIAGE (Grand Central Publishing), was just released January 8, 2013.  THE PERFECT MARRIAGE tells the story of Derrek and Denise Shaw, a husband and wife who have everything:  unconditional love, a beautiful daughter, (2) six-figure incomes, and a gorgeous home.  But sadly, they are hiding a terrible secret:  they are both addicted to drugs.

 

In 1996, after receiving many rejection letters from literary agents and publishing houses, Roby’s mom insisted she shouldn't give up on her dream of becoming a published writer, and Roby’s husband encouraged her to use her business background to start her own business and self-publish.  It was then that Roby and her husband borrowed money from his 401K account, took out a small bank loan, and used some of their personal savings.  As a result, Roby sold just over 10,000 copies of her first book within 6 months, found a literary agent, and her second novel was sold to a major publisher.  In May 2013, her 19^th novel, A HOUSE DIVIDED, will be published by Grand Central Publishing, a division of Hachette Book Group (New York, NY).

 

Kimberla Lawson Roby is the author of the bestselling works The Perfect Marriage, The Reverend’s Wife, Secret Obsession, Love, Honor, and Betray, Be Careful What You Pray For, A Deep Dark Secret, The Best of Everything, Sin No More, One in a Million, Love and Lies, Changing Faces, The Best-Kept Secret, Too Much of a Good Thing, A Taste of Reality, It’s a Thin Line, Casting the First Stone, Here and Now and Behind Closed Doors. She lives with her husband in Illinois.

www.kimroby.com

For further details, contact:  Connie Dettman; cad7164@yahoo.com; 815.988.6604

2013 NAACP Image Awards

After watching last night's televised NAACP Awards, I had mixed emotions.

I was super excited for all of the honorees and glad to see that it has become quite a diverse event.  I mean it is the "National Association for the Advancement of Colored People," and I suppose that should include all colors.

A bit disappointed that some old favorites weren't present and that some who received awards didn't bother to show up to pick them up in person (for whatever reason).  Sad to hear that Sheryl Lee Ralph "tweeted" that she hadn't been invited to the NAACP Awards in 20 years.  How quickly we forget, huh?

For me, and many people, the highlight of the evening was, and should rightfully have been, the lifetime achievement award presented to Harry Belafonte by Sidney Poitier.  These two men have always walked the talk and they're now octogenarians and still doing what they do - pushing forward.

Harry Belafonte gave a most conscience-stirring speech.  If you missed it, "google" it.

But, I couldn't help but wonder what he thought about the "freestyle" performance by will.i.am and Common in which they invoked Beyonce's name to rhyme with Harry Belafonte.  I recalled how Mr. Belafonte had called out the young successful entertainers of our time, Beyonce and Jay-Z, in particular for not doing more for their Black people.

Things that make you go, "hmmmm."

A TRIBUTE TO BELVA DAVIS - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2013

THE BAY AREA BLACK JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION
and the Honorary Committee Present:

"A Tribute to Belva Davis"

Saturday, February 23, 2013

7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.

Yerba Buena Center for the Arts - The Forum
701 Mission Street (at 3rd Street)
San Francisco

Purchase tickets at:

www.ybca.org/belvadavis

Telephone:  415-987-ARTS (2787)

"Broken City" directed by Allen Hughes

Allen Hughes' directs "Broken City" starring Mark Wahlberg and Russell Crowe.  

You may know Allen Hughes from his joint efforts with twin brother, Albert Hughes, whose credits include "Menace to Society."

There has been much debate about to whom the quote, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely,' can be attributed, but there is no debate that it's true.  This movie underscores that quote.

Set in New York City, the story follows Mark Wahlberg as an ex-rogue New York City detective who takes on an "undercover gig" of sorts for Mayor Hostetler played by Russell Crowe.  

Catherine Zeta Jones does a great job as the Mayor's wife, and the cast of characters which includes, one of my favorite actors, Jeffrey Wright, holds your attention.

It starts out a little slow, but stick with it - you're in for quite a few surprises and an unpredictable ending.

In theaters now and remember the opening weekend is important.  

It's a three-day holiday for most of us, so what better way to celebrate Dr. King's legacy and the second term of President Obama than by supporting Hughes' latest project.

Museum of the African Diaspora - Monday, January 21, 2013 - FREE ADMINISSION

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