Tag Archives: Racism

Nazi Town USA Makes Timely Debut on PBS

“It looked like any summer camp in America.  It looked normal.  But it wasn’t normal.  It was Nazi camp.” If you’ve ever gone to summer camp as a kid, you probably joined your Girl or Boy Scout pals… or devout … Continue reading

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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