One of the most important films released in the 2020s is The United States vs. Billie Holiday. It was released on February 26, 2021. It was directed by Lee Daniels. The producers of the projects are Lee Daniels, Jordan Fudge, Rucker Tooley, Joe Roth, Jeff Kirschenbaum, and Pamela Oas Williams. Suzan-Lori Parks created the screenplay. It starred the actors and actress of Andra Day (who is a great musician in real life) playing Billie Holiday, Trevante Rhodes, Natasha Lyonne, Evan Ross, Dana Gourrier, Erik LaRay Harvey, Tallulah Bankhead, and Garrett Hedlund. The movie is based on the book of, "Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs" by Johann Hari. The War on Drugs existed long before the 1970's and the 1980's with Nixon and Reagan. Billie Holiday was harassed by the federal government because of her outspoken political views in opposition to racism, lynching, and oppression. Audra Day was nominated for the the Academy Award for Best Actress and won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama; the film was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song ("Tigress and Tweed"). Filming started on October 6, 2019 at Montreal, Canada. Tons of people have praised Audra Day's performance as Billie Holiday. The film details the life of Billie Holiday being targeted by the Federal Department of Narcotics with an undercover sting operation led by the black Federal Agent Jimmy Fletcher, with whom she had an affair with. Day captures the diverse life of Billie Holiday. The movie has Holiday an interview with a fan. Law enforcement didn't like her song "Strange Fruit" which condemns lynching in the South and other places of America. Harry Anslinger or the Federal Bureau of Narcotics have a vindictive vendetta against Billie Holiday in the film. Ansligner was not only a racist, but he said that jazz was of "the devil." The War on Drugs was used by the powers that be to not only criminalize non violent people who suffered drug addiction. The War on Drugs was utilized by some in the government to expand the prison industrial complex, strip resources from oppressed communities, permitted racism, and made false racist stereotypes against black people including other people of color. On civil liberty grounds alone, the War on Drugs has been a disgrace. That is why it should end with alternatives to help those with drug addiction. People know how I feel about Lee Daniels. It is what it is. Lee Daniels said that a white man can call black people the n word and still loves black people (Daniels wants white people to say the n word). Lee Daniels called himself a sellout and make an anti-black woman comment about welfare lines. Recently, he said something about criticizing white racism, but he has refused to condemn his previous self hating comments. Two things can be true. Lee Daniels made problematic statements, and the movie about Billie Holiday has the right to be known to the public. The movie didn't sugarcoat Billie Holiday's life. It showed her as she was. Billie Holiday was a genius musician with defiance, courage, and a creative spirit that inspires us all. Race and sex are involved in the film. While black and white people use drugs in similar rates, black people are jailed more percentage wise than whites even if they are convicted of the same crime. Women disproportionately experience abuse, rape, domestic violence, and other crimes in our world. We have to condemn evils, and we are clear that Billie Holiday never deserved this mistreatment by her own government. Billie Holiday was a musician, an activist, a lover, and an old soul who brought her creative power in changing the world forevermore. Rest in Power Sister Billie Holiday.
One Night in Miami is 2020 film directed by Regina King (in her feature film directorial debut) with a screenplay of the same name. The movie is about a fictional meeting of Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke at a room at the Hampton Housei n February 1964. The film detailed their celebration of Muhammad Ali's victory over Sonny Liston in a boxing match. Many people didn't believe that Ali would win (especially boxing journalists), but Muhammad Ali had the boxing skills to defeat Sonny Liston (who is an outstanding heavyweight fighter in his own right. George Foreman once said that the only man who intimidated him was the late Sonny Liston. Liston had massive punching power). The movie starred Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. in the lead roles, with Lance Reddick, Joaquina Kalukango, Nicolette Robinson, and Beau Bridges in supporting roles. The movie was based on the stage play from Kemp Powers with the same title about the fictional meeting of Malcolm X. What is true in the film is that Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown were well known friends. In fact, Muhammad Ali said that one of his biggest regrets in his life was not being friends with Malcolm X anymore after Malcolm X left the Nation of Islam. Many of the actors and actresses in the film are: Kingsley Ben-Adir, Eli Goree, Aldis Hodge, and Leslie Odom Jr. in the lead roles, with Lance Reddick, Joaquina Kalukango, Nicolette Robinson, and Beau Bridges in supporting roles.
One Night in Miami premiered at the Venice Film Festival on September 7, 2020, a first for an African-American woman director. The film was released in limited theaters by Amazon Studios on December 25, 2020, before being released digitally on Prime Video on January 15, 2021. It received critical acclaim, with praise for King's direction, the performances, and Powers's screenplay. The film earned three nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Odom, Best Adapted Screenplay for Powers, and Best Original Song ("Speak Now"). Regina King also earned a Best Director nomination at the 78th Golden Globe Awards. The film starts in 1963. Muhammad Ali almost lost a boxing match to Henry Cooper at Wembley Stadium at London. Ali was skinnier then. He met with soul singer Sam Cooke at the Copacabana in New York City. NFL player Jim Brown came to Georgia to visit the family friend Mr. Carlton on a vast plantation. Carlton ladles praise on "the great Jim Brown," but when Brown offers to help Carlton move some furniture, Carlton reminds Brown that "you know we don't allow n_____s in the house." In real life, Jim Brown experienced tons of racism, but he didn't back down from oppression. Elsewhere, Malcolm X returned home and discusses his plans to leave the Nation of Islam with his wife, Betty Shabazz. On February 25, 1964, the men are all in Miami for Ali's title bout against Sonny Liston. X meets with Ali in a hotel room before the fight, and the two pray in a traditional Islamic fashion. That night, Jim Brown is a ringside commentator and Cooke and Malcolm X are in the crowd as Muhammad Ali upsets Liston, making him the world heavyweight champion. The movie showed the 4 men meet at Miami on February 25, 1964 for the Ali vs. Liston fight. Malcolm X talks with Ali in a hotel room before the fight. Both pray in a traditional Islamic fashion. Muhammad Ali winning the match to be the world heavyweight champion caused a new era of boxing. It was celebrated worldwide, and Muhammad Ali gave new confidence to a younger generation of black Americans desiring total black liberation.
Afterward, Malcolm X invites the other three men to his motel room. Their hopes of a party are dashed when X makes it clear they are the only ones he invited. He wants to spend some time reflecting on their accomplishments, but tension between him and Cooke arises. X thinks Cooke has sold out the black community by pandering to white audiences, and Cooke refuses to feel guilty for his success. Muhammad Ali informed the men of his plans to announce his conversion to the Nation of Islam, causing more tension. Jim Brown discusses his plans to become a film actor, and wonders if it will go smoothly. The film (this is fictional by the way) showed Malcolm X and Cooke having more tensions. Malcolm X didn't like Cooke's music. Cooke said that his success and creative autonomy is itself an inspiration to the black community, and while he still cares about the black struggle in America, protest songs are not commercially viable. Malcolm X confronts him with the success of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" in the movie.
The tension arose, because of the FBI harassment of Malcolm X and fears his schism with Elijah Muhammad. X is devastated that Ali has second thoughts about his conversion. X said to Ali that he is planning to form his own organization and asks him to join. Muhammad Ali refuses to join, as he felt is is a betrayal of Elijah Muhammad. A knock at the door informs them that the press has gotten wind of the meeting. As Muhammad Ali prepares to talk to the media, he asks X to come with him. When they leave, Cooke tells Brown that he has had similar thoughts about "Blowin' in the Wind" and has already written a song, but not yet performed it. In the aftermath of the night, Ali officially changes his name to Muhammad Ali, while X's life is thrown into chaos as he suffers the consequences of his split with the Nation of Islam; his house is firebombed, but he completes his autobiography. Cooke debuts "A Change Is Gonna Come" on The Tonight Show. Brown leaves the NFL to pursue his movie career. The film ends with a title card with a quote from X about the inevitability of martyrs for the cause, and that he was assassinated on February 21, 1965. The movie has universal acclaim. The film relates to our time about what to do involving racial justice matters. The movie, though fiction, relates to the diverse factions of the black freedom struggle. Black people are different. We want the same goal which is black liberation, but we have different approaches to that same goal.
The truth is that movies like One Night in Miami can allow people to see the truth about these four giants of the 1960's. The truth is that these 4 men did meet in Miami back in 1964. Also, it is true that all men were real life friends. Malcolm X had disagreements with the Nation of Islam, because he felt that the NOI back then didn't use encourage political engagement in the black freedom struggle to cause legitimate results. Malcolm X wanted to work with the overall black freedom struggle in order to put international pressure in America to make America accountable for its crimes against black Americans. He said that he promoted this goal in his OAAU organization. OAAU stands for the Organization of Afro-American Unity that he formed in 1964 with the help of John Henrik Clarke (and other Brothers and Sisters). Malcolm X was punished by the NOI for his comments about JFK. Many black nationalists have criticized the film for in their minds disrespecting Elijah Muhammad. Elijah Muhammad was the son of a sharecropping preacher in Georgia. He saw white racism first hand from discrimination to lynching. That is why he felt so angry at injustices against black people that he promoted the NOI. People know of my religious views. I'm not a Muslim, but I do recognize the conditions of massive anti-black oppression that gave rise to the NOI in the first place. Malcolm X accused Elijah Muhammad of adultery and having many ladies pregnant. To this day, NOI followers deny this allegation. Karl Evanzz and other authors wrote literature on Elijah Muhammad's life too. Some people act like Elijah Muhammad was as bad as Nazis and the Klan which isn't the case. Do I agree with every single doctrine of the NOI? No, as I believe in the existence of the Son of the living God obviously. Do I agree with Black Love, Black self-determination, loving Blackness, and total independence plus justice for all black people (as tons of people in the Nation of Islam has advocated for decades)? Yes. The book "Blood Brothers" document the friendship of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali along with their split. Sam Cooke was ahead of his time with promoting ownership in his music which was taboo during the 1960's. Jim Brown started his movie career in 1966 with the Dirty Dozens (which I have seen before). Malcolm X was becoming more progressive in supporting international collaboration, opposing the Vietnam War, and being more active to unite with any civil rights groups genuinely in favor of results. Jim Brown focused on economic empowerment in the black community in what we call black capitalism in our time. The events of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other human beings make that film always relevant in our time. So, the movie shows the unity and the diversity of of the overall black community and the black struggle for justice in general.
During the 2010's and 2020's, there has been a massive increase in athletes supporting political causes so greatly that we haven't seen this level of consciousness since the 1960's. Famous sports leaders and unsung athletes across the world are going about to fight for social change. This is not new. Althea Gibson supported civil rights in her life. Gibson brought down barriers involving the sports of tennis and golf. Women like Gibson has inspired the Williams' sisters in their socially conscious endeavors too. We know about Jackie Robinson. Jackie Robinson not only played in the MLB as the first black baseball player in the MLB since the 19th century. He also invested money into the Civil Rights Movement, formed a black owned bank in New York City, and later reject Nixon's far right extremism during the late 1960's and early 1970's (as Jackie Robinson was a liberal Republican for a time). Muhammad Ali opposed the unjust Vietnam War and wanted black people to love their black identities in many speeches. Kareem Abdul Jabbar has not only written articles for social justice. He has been on the frontlines to advocate for the just causes of racial equality and human freedom. Jackie Joyner-Kersee has been a leader to help our her community with programs, giving speeches, and encouraging fellow people to follow their dreams. Today, you have tons of WNBA Players supporting Black Lives Matter, other social causes, and being in support of equality. Renee Danielle Montgomery has been a basketball player for years. Now, she is the Vice President and part owner including investor in the Atlanta Dream. She won the WNBA Championship 2 times in 2015 and 20187. Also, she was NCAA Champion in 2009. Renee Montgomery has always been outspoken to oppose police brutality, racism, and any injustice. Her Renee Montgomery Foundation handled out barbecue meals and water, Gatorade, and other supplies for protesters in Atlanta, Georgia. Lebron James has worked to fight against police brutality, and he supported policies to expand voting rights for American citizens. Even Michael Jordan in recent years has come around to invest in social justice work.
The situation with Megan Markle is not new, but it is a painful situation dealing with race and other subjects. Us, who are black Americans, saw this coming a mile away. From the start, we (who are black people or anyone of any color who understood this as not shocking) knew that massive controversies would exist after Megan Markle married Prince Harry. For centuries, the British Royals have been complicit in imperialism, colonialism, racism, and other forms of oppression. That is proven by the British Empire never banned slavery until 1833. That is proven by Winston Churchill making overtly racist remarks, and it's proven by the Berlin Conference of the 1800's. Prince Philip is known for making racist comments for years, even desiring to be a virus to handle population issues if he is reincarnated. Therefore, we know what the deal is. Megan Markle and Prince Harry were married in a religious building with massive TV coverage worldwide. It had singing (even with many black people in a gospel choir) and a lot of pageantry. Little did they know that later on, they would experience a lot of emotional turmoil. Many in the British press not only presented articles disrespecting the couple. Some, in the British press, had articles using overtly racist rhetoric. The couple left Europe, stayed at Tyler Perry's homes, and then went to live in another place in America. Megan and Harry talked to Oprah about their horrendous experiences. I don't believe they were lying for many reasons. One is that Harry is a witness to the racism, Megan's words seem genuine to me, and those hurtful words that Megan was subjected too aren't going to be forgotten. Megan Markle said that one person in the Royal family said about concerns about the color of her child. Anyone who disrespects a little child in racist terminology is lower than low. The sad irony is that Megan Markle is a very light skinned biracial woman whose physical image didn't exempt her from white racism. It shows that racism isn't just found in America but globally. The paradox of Megan Markle is that she has a space that very few black people have in our time. In our modern society, many colorists would not give the same empathy to a dark skinned black woman as they would to Markle because of the obvious reason. This is not Markle's fault. It's the fault of sick system and racists who want to harm human beings who look like us. The unjustified mistreatment of Megan Markle should open anyone's eyes on the viciousness of anti-Blackness. We, who are black people or others who know of these things, are not shocked. The whole pageant of the Royal Family is a smokescreen. The reality is heavily omitted by smoke and mirrors. Get rid of the false image reveals the truth that there is a large current of racism in UK society. With many of us Americans, what you see is what you get. We are overt with our views on every issue. Piers Morgan, who has constantly obsessed with Markle and denied her words, being fired outlined the results of his actions. We know that Piers Morgan has been involved in many scandals and even once supported Trump until way late into his administration.
Recently, there has been controversy with Sharon Osbourne. Sharon defended Piers Morgan's disrespecting Meghan Markle by claiming that she was lying about experiencing racism and depression. Not only was Sharon disrespectful to the host Sheryl Underwood. Sharon (who is known for disrespecting black people constantly) outright was arrogant and condescending to assume that it's Sheryl should educate her on racism. This person Sharon is older than 50 years ago. A Google search can educate many people on racism and its impact on black people. Sharon Osbourne is the same person who called the actress Holly Robinson Peete "ghetto" as Peete has said. We have reports that allege that Sharon Osbourne once called former The Talk host Julie Chen anti-Asian slurs. So, Sharon is a racist, and Piers Morgan is known for her disrespecting Markle and his scandals for real. Every time the subject of race comes about, people like Sharon wants to be angry and ignore reality. Black people have shown the world how real racism is, and it's not our responsibility to soothe the egos of white racists. We desire justice without compromise. To be free, you have to sacrifice and reject tokenism. So many people are naive about the real world. You have to have solidarity with black people not just in the States but globally. The historical legacy of the British Royal institution is reflective of the long legacy of white racist tyranny (found in America and other countries in the world). Harry is part of the equation too. Markle married Harry after Harry wore a Nazi uniform in a Halloween party. Harry and Williams are speaking to each other not in a great deal. Also, Megan Markle made a voluntary decision to marry into the British Royal Family. That is her business, but it our right to explain the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that many British Royals used a front to proclaim themselves as arbitrators of a new era of inclusiveness and colorblindess, but recent events prove that to be a total fiction. That is why while Harry lives in America, he doesn't lose his privilege as he has wealth with tons of influence. Another myth is that Markle's light skin somehow would make her not experience vicious racism from elitists. The other myth, that is promoted by racists and sellouts, are that biracial people are superior aesthetically to black people (with 2 black parents). We know that some (not all as tons of biracial people have upright character and fought for black freedom for a long time) biracial human beings have made disrespectful comments about black human beings like Keke Wyatt, Amber Rose, Danileight, Meechie X (who calls black people the n word regularly and promotes an occult-inspired anti-Christian music video when New Age leaders are known to include many white racists). Megan Markle being disrespected by racists have no place and have no justification at all period. Markle and Harry should be treated with dignity and with respect. At the end of the day, black people have every right to set up institutions that we control, advance resources, building our black families, and advocate for our justice. We have no malice, but we believe in black liberation without apology. So, we are clear to reject racism, colorism, and any evil harming the globe.
Toni Braxton and Babyface have great musical chemistry spanning years and decades now. Their debut duet album of Love, Marriage, and Divorce was one of the greatest R&B albums of the 21st century and of all time. It was released on February 4, 2014 by Motown Records. It won the Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. The album is a metaphor for their friendship. They were once great friends, until Toni Braxton lost a lot of money by the late 1990's. Babyface was involved in her career. They had a very lax relationship until recently. Now, both Toni Braxton and Babyface are great friends in 2021. Every song on the album describes the complicated nature of love, marriage, and divorce. The music was recorded at Brandon's Way Recording in Los Angeles County, California. In real life, both Toni Braxton and Babyface have gone through divorces. It's a subject that both of them especially can relate to. The lead single of the album was the song Hurt You. The album was Babyface's first new studio album in 7 years, and Toni Braxton's first new album since her 2010 album of Pulse. The song Hurt You rose to the number 1 spot on Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart for four weeks. Other classic songs on the album are Where Did We Go Wrong, Roller Coaster, Sweat, etc. Tons of people have given the classic duet album positive reviews. The album was so great that Toni Braxton decided to make future albums to this day. Both artists made quality R&B music for so long, that their duet was a throwback to the songs from the 1990's. Songs were heavily written by both Toni Braxton and Babyface. Music will always stand the test of time. Both artists have shown a blueprint where future musicians can rely on to express their new music for future generation to enjoy diligently.
Hip Hop is international. It's a culture that is found in not only America, but in Latin America, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Oceania. The diverse nature of hip hop contributed to its acceptance by many cultures. Many international hip hop artists use hip hop to promote fun, political causes, and they use it for other purposes too. Kwaito is the largest form of hip hop in South Africa. It has a similar growth like American hip hop. Kwaito was used using post apartheid South Africa as a way for artists to express themselves. Kwaito relates to fashion and language too. The genre uses the voices of the oppressed as a way for human being to find their creative power. Famous South African hip hop artists are Tumi, HipHop Pantsula, and TUks Senganga. The South Sudanese musician Emmanuel Jal uses hip hop to heal war torn African youth. Jamaica have hip hop music from American and Jamaican influences. Hip Hop has Afro-Caribbean ties in its origin. Kool Herc is a person of Jamaican heritage, and he is the founder of hip hop. That why he brought the sound systems, technology, and techniques of reggae music to New York City during the 1970's. Jamaican hip hop artists back in the day rapped in both Brooklyn with Jamaican accents. Jamaican hip hop back then and today are influenced by anti-colonialism messages, Rastafarians, and other cultural parts. The rapper Awkwafina is an Asian American woman who raps too. Some international hip hop artists want to come to America to seek opportunities. The Sri Lanka born Tamil hip hop artist of M.I.A. (Maya Arulpragas) said that he wants to build a bridge between industrialized nations and non-industrialized nations. Even K-pop in South Korea has been influenced by hip hop. South Korean hip hop artists are common with Korean b-boys, etc. In France, hip hop artists include people like: McSolaar, Bobba, Supreme NTM, Kerry James, Nekfeu, Ninho, Gims, and other human beings. In the United Kingdom, we know about artists like Stormzy, Skepta, Dizzee Rascal, Wiley, Stefflon Don, Little Simz, Nadia Rose, Roots Manuva, Plan B, Ms. Dynamite, Lady Leshurr (who is an Afro-British woman with outstanding lyrical ability), etc.
There are tons of prominent Caribbean people who made a huge difference in world history. One great Caribbean person that I have known about for years is Jamaica Kincaid. She is an Antiguan-American novelist, essayist, gardener, and gardener writer. She was born in St. John's Antigua and Barbuda. She made literature that talked about the experiences and of black Caribbean people. She wrote about the excesses of tourism in the Caribbean about how some visitors just go to have fun without knowing the socioeconomic burdens of the workers in tourism (from low pay, exploitation economically, and workers being stereotyped). Her writings oppose colonialism, neocolonialism, imperialism, racism, and other evils. Her works are complex. Her life experiences have influenced her writing. A Small Place in 1988 was one of her greatest books. I read the book before in real life. The book criticized the Antiguan government for promoting the tourist industry in being allied with the British colonial legacy.
By Timothy
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