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Showing posts from 2020

MIAMI BOOK FAIR 2020 // "Red, White, Black and Blue: Highlighting America’s Racial Illiteracy"

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The Miami Book Fair is now underway, and Kya Publishing is excited to be a part of the virtual festivities, featured in the Virtual Marketplace with a great collection of writers and book/publishing organizations. This year's Book Fair hosts so many great artists, and a full schedule of discussions, panels, and interviews. On November 17, we took in "Red, White, Black and Blue: Highlighting America's Racial Illiteracy" with artist/educator  Keith Knight . Here's an overview of the event, followed by a link so you can check it out this week thanks to the convenient watch-on-demand Miami Book Fair platform! This presentation really resonated, and Keith Knight's direct and engaging communication style made it not only informative but also thought provoking, and emotionally impactful. I felt this. Reflecting back, there were a few images that are still burned into my memory now. Pictures of lynchings and a still photograph of George Floyd (that I have deliberate

MIAMI BOOK FAIR 2020 // "Miami Times: Black Justice & Equality"

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The  Miami Book Fair  is now underway, and Kya Publishing is excited to be a part of the virtual festivities, featured in the  Virtual Marketplace  with a great collection of writers and book/publishing organizations. This year's Book Fair hosts so many great artists, and a full schedule of discussions, panels, and interviews. To start our week off, we had a chance to enjoy a great sessions on November 16: "The Miami Times and the Fight for Equality."  Here's an overview of the event, followed by a link so you can check it out this week thanks to the convenient watch-on-demand platform! This conversation was hosted by Florida-based journalist  Nadege Green  who has investigated and reported on local government in Miami in relation to the impacts on housing, climate, and other issues disproportionately affecting Black and brown communities in Miami-Dade County. Nadege is also the Director of Community Research & Storytelling with the  Community Justice Projec

BOOK REVIEW // "The Meaning of Mariah Carey" by Mariah Carey with Michaela Angela Davis

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Real Lambily members rejoice. If you know, you know. This fall has been a significant one for those who have been relishing in and swooning along with singer and Song Writing Hall of Fame inductee Mariah Carey since the early nineties. It's been now thirty years since we first watched "Vision of Love" sky rocket to the top of the charts, since we saw a young Mariah grace the stage of the career-defining Arsenio Hall show, and takeover the radio airwaves. If you're a true, true Mariah Carey fan, the ups and downs along the way have meant little to nothing, because of simply how much power the music itself has had along the way. At the end of September, Mariah Carey's memoir " The Meaning of Mariah Carey " was released, and decades worth of stories, context, and perspective were confessed. For many, the albums of Ms. Carey have served as soundtracks to our adolescence, to teen years, our twenties, and now even in our middle ages we are blessed to still be

BOOK REVIEW // "What Happened When Charlie Met Claire" by Jeffrey Lee Cheatham II

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Once again, Seattle-based children's author Jeffrey Lee Cheatham II has created a charming tale of life's most significant messages and lessons, through some of the most loveable and charming characters. His personality shines through the pages: if you know Jeffrey, you know the jovial spirit of lightheartedness, kindness, and a thoughtful-yet-quiet intelligence. You know that he is always thinking of his community, and observing his surroundings. He is nurturing the young around him, and serving as a supportive and encouraging professional to his peers. For his third book, " What Happened When Charlie Met Claire ," he brings all of the feel-good sentiments and impactful lessons of his previous stories " The Family Jones and the Eggs of Rex ," " Why is Jane So Mad? " and " Hi Blue Sky ," and introduces us to the curious bird Charlie, and the cool and collected bear Claire, brilliantly illustrated by Johanna Puukila. Through this encounter

BOOK REVIEW // "More Than Enough" by Elaine Welteroth

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Stories like More Than Enough are so important. Voices like Elaine Welteroth's are crucial. This book was an exceptional narrative about a young woman with a dream, and her journey towards realizing that dream. We need to hear stories like this, because it reminds us that not only are our aspirations acceptable, but that they are also attainable. There is a quote from Entertainment Weekly on the cover of the version I purchased that says this book is "the millennial Becoming ," and I have to agree. While I was equally as inspired by Michelle Obama's autobiography, I can definitely see the parallels in their experiences, despite their different industries. One thing that is consistent, is that both women remained true to themselves, and it was their authenticity and strong family support that often led the way. It was their personal truths, and understanding of themselves, that allowed them to break ceilings and influence millions. I love a good biography, because it

REELWORLD FILM FESTIVAL: One-on-One with Clement Virgo and Tonya Lewis

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Since 2001, Tonya Williams has guided the annual Reelworld Film Festival in her hometown of Toronto, and spearheaded the development of this creative movement in support of Canadian filmmakers who are Black, Indigenous, and racialized. Even before it was hip and trendy to highlight diverse voices in the mainstream, Reelworld provided a consistent platform to allow Canadians to tell their stories and celebrate their truths on screen. Running this year from October 14th through the 29th, the Festival features a range of presentations, webinars, panels, short- and feature- films, and allows for the heightened profile of dedicated artists and programs in support of the film industry.  Moderated by Festival CEO/Founder Tonya Williams, a "One-on-One Conversation with Clement Virgo," took place on October 16 providing viewers with an hour-long glimpse into the director's inspiration and insights. This year--the Festival's 20th--Clement is being presented with the "Awar

TIFF 2020: Ava DuVernay Shares Film Insights with Cameron Bailey

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This evening was blessed: Toronto International Film Festival Creative Director and Co-Head Cameron Bailey guided the " In Conversation With... " series featuring director Ava DuVernay, and through digital presentation expressed that the year 2020 was heavy with change...as well as purpose. We have to appreciate these moments now more than ever. The conversation series has already been transformative, with creatives across the city and globe tuned in digitally to hear experts speak about their careers, their passions, and their artistic visions. Even without the usual TIFF buzz on the streets of Toronto, the events have still felt very powerful, and the information has been intangible. Ava DuVernay is a name that is already so embedded with the historical documentation and understanding of our generation: provocative messaging, and thought leadership in race relations, equity, and rational, conscious, common sense. Her delivery is always pointed, clear, and personable...her w

TIFF Presents Regina King's Feature Film Directorial Debut, "One Night in Miami"

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Imagine being in a room, on one of the most memorable nights of Muhammed Ali's boxing career, and engaging in conversation and celebration with the champ, with Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown. In 1964--when these powerful Black men were breaking barriers and pushing boundaries--being able to hear their thoughts and personal declarations about life, race, and purpose. Last week at the Venice Film Festival, and this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, the play "One Night in Miami" was brought to the big screen in Regina King's feature film directorial debut. We can trust Regina King to authentically tell Black stories. We can trust her, because she has been doing it effortlessly for decades now. In the 80's as Brenda Jenkins on 227, in the 90's in all of our favourite Black films from "Boyz in The Hood" to "Friday," "Higher Learning," and "Poetic Justice," and in so many other influential movies ("Jer

TIFF Features DJ D-Nice and Anthony Mandler "In Conversation" about Music & Film

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In the third night of the Toronto International Film Festival, another engaging installment of the TIFF Bell Digital Talks series went live on tiff.net. Musical expert and photographer, Derrick Jones (aka DJ D-Nice) and film and music video director Anthony Mandler were the featured guests " In Conversation " with host Talia Schlanger. The discussion lasted just under an hour, and gave viewers an overview of the artists' careers, connecting their talents and experiences along the way. The conversation started with MTV, for both young men, growing up in New York, drawing impressionable inspiration from the innovative combination of music and visuals that was captivating young folks around the world. For D-Nice, it was Run DMC. For Anthony, Madonna. The integration of genres, fashion, visuals, and sound captured their imaginations and were instrumental in how their personal and professional lives developed in the years to come. "MTV was everything to me," said D-N