Richard Roundtree

What started as a curious search for information has turned into a small business for a Pittsburg man. While looking up facts about prominent African-Americans, James Williams discovered so many things that he decided he couldn't keep them to himself. In 2002, he began publishing annual calendars with information on hundreds of African-American inventors, innovators and pioneers.

When I was in school, I was always interested in United States history   -James Williams

 

What started as a curious search for information has turned into a small business for a Pittsburg man. While looking up facts about prominent African-Americans, James Williams discovered so many things that he decided he couldn't keep them to himself. In 2002, he began publishing annual calendars with information on hundreds of African-American inventors, innovators and pioneers.

When I was in school, I was always interested in United States history   -James Williams

 

Way back around 1970, two things happened in movie land. First, the ratings system replaced the old Production Code, meaning movies could pack in plenty of sex, violence and other naughty stuff as long as a big R was attached to the poster. And second, the studios finally realized there was an untapped African-American audience, eager to see movies featuring people who looked like them.

rated X by an all-white jury!   -Melvin Van Peebles

 

Way back around 1970, two things happened in movie land. First, the ratings system replaced the old Production Code, meaning movies could pack in plenty of sex, violence and other naughty stuff as long as a big R was attached to the poster. And second, the studios finally realized there was an untapped African-American audience, eager to see movies featuring people who looked like them.

rated X by an all-white jury!   -Melvin Van Peebles

 

This will be more in the vein of "snubs" or "WTF?" nominations/non-nominations/wins because the one thing that's fun about the Oscars is how everyone has an opinion over how much they screwed up. Honorable Mentions: Special Honorable Mention: Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989) gets NOTHING, despite perhaps being the best film of 1989 amidst hostile race-relations at the time.  

Though he is considered a long shot, if he wins the Oscar, Daniels will be the first black filmmaker to earn the directing statuette. "Precious" has six Oscar nods, including best picture, best actress for newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and best adapted screenplay. Mo'Nique is considered a lock to take home the best supporting actress prize for her stomach-wrenching turn as Precious' abusive mother.  

His latest medical examination revealed President Barack Obama is having a problem kicking the cancer sticks, just like too many other African-Americans who have found it a challenging habit to break. As someone who quit smoking cigarettes more than four years ago after more than 30 years of being a half-pack a day smoker, perhaps I can offer some patriotic advice. Just quit: You might miss it from time to time, but you will never regret it.  

Black History Month ends in February, but in the world of film, black history has a chance to be made just a few days later, during the Academy Awards on March 7. Lee Daniels, who made the harrowing Harlem tale "Precious: Although he is considered a long shot, if he wins the Oscar, Daniels will be the first black filmmaker to earn the directing statuette. "Precious" has six Oscar nods, including Best Picture, Best Actress for newcomer Gabourey Sidibe and Best Adapted Screenplay.  

Step aside Shaft and slide over Super Fly. Make room for "Black Dynamite," starring Michael Jai White in the title role. That's right. That's the main character's given name.