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Tag Archives: Racism
Rita Moreno Just a Girl Who Decided To Go for It Debuts on PBS
“I always wanted to be a movie star.”–Rita Moreno. Rita Moreno’s dreams of movie stardom did come true, and then some. A boatload of prestigious awards and honors continues to replenish her trophy shelf and cap her amazing 70-year career, … Continue reading
Posted in Film, Theater, TV
Tagged Academy Award Winners, American Masters, Film History, Hispanic Heritage Month, Latinx Studies, Mariem Perez Riera, Marlon Brando, Norman Lear, One Day at a Time, Oz, PBS, Racism, Rita Moreno, Sexism, The Electric Company, Theater History, West Side Story, Women's Studies
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The Long Song Sings Slavery’s Truth on PBS
“If only my tale were so simple.” I will never forget how I felt in the days following ABC-TV’s 1977 broadcast of Roots, the dramatic miniseries adaptation of Alex Haley’s controversial novel. Shock and shame come quickly to mind. As … Continue reading
The Time Is Still Right for A Time for Burning
“Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood.”–Martin Luther King, Jr., 1963. It’s hard for me to admit, but until recently, I never connected the dots between … Continue reading
QuestTheDoc on PBS Champions Family Resilience
“Our society is incredibly polarized right now and, I believe, desperate for opportunities to connect across the various barriers that we think separate us: race, class, religion, geography, political party,” says filmmaker Jonathan Olshefski. “I want viewers to see themselves … Continue reading
Celebrating Black History Month on HBO and PBS
As Black History Month draws to a close, what better day than Presidents’ Day 2018 to shine a light on African-Americans who’ve defied cultural, economic, sexist and, most especially, racist roadblocks in pursuit of higher education. Tonight, Monday, February 19, … Continue reading
A Time for Burning Revisited at the Film Forum in NYC
Just a quick heads-up…encouraging my FrontRowCenter readers living in the New York metropolitan area to attend a highly anticipated screening and Q&A at Film Forum, 209 West Houston Street, in New York City tonight, Tuesday, January 23, 2018. The landmark documentary, A … Continue reading
Lorraine Hansberry: Sighted Eyes Feeling Heart Debuts on PBS
“We had her voice for as long as we really needed it, if we were wise enough to listen.” Actress/activist Ruby Dee makes that startlingly prophetic statement (Dee died in June 2014) about her lifelong friend and colleague at the … Continue reading
American Masters Celebrates Bambi Artist Tyrus Wong
“Tyrus Wong’s story is a prime example of one of the many gaping holes in our society’s narrative on art, cinema and Western history,” said writer/producer/director Pamela Tom. “By telling his story, I wanted to shine a light on one … Continue reading
Posted in Art, Film, TV
Tagged American Masters Tyrus, Animation, Art and Artists, Bambi, Chinese Americans, Film History, Immigrants and Immigration, John Canemaker, Pamela Tom, PBS, Racism, Tyrus Wong, Walt Disney
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Queen Latifah Is Red Hot as Bessie Smith on HBO
“I’m looking forward to people finding out who Bessie Smith is, if they don’t know about her already.”–Queen Latifah. You may come to HBO’s latest bio-pic, Bessie, knowing little or nothing about blues singer Bessie Smith (1894-1937). But by the end of … Continue reading
Posted in Cable, Film, Music
Tagged African-American Studies, Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Bisexuality, Dee Rees, HBO, Ma Rainey, Mo'Nique, Music, Queen Latifah, Racism, Singers, The Blues, Women's Studies, Zanuck Company
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Children of Giant Takes a New Look at an Old Film on PBS
Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, James Dean, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo and film director George Stevens. Through the years, it’s been hard to dodge the after-hours buzz on this stellar crew. It’s also hard to imagine them playing second fiddle to anyone, but that’s what … Continue reading
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