I
am so proud of my New York Brothers and Sisters for commemorating the
tragedy and travesty that was Greenwood, Oklahoma, also known as BLACK
WALL STREET. As an Oklahoman, I am well aware of the building ire that
has grown ever since the PBS documentary about Black Wall Street. I was
impressed because so many of our brothers and sisters, who had doubted
that Black people even existed in Oklahoma, immediately resonated to the
series of events. Especially brother/friend, Michael Green, who
immediately wrote a play about it in the 80s, and continued to present
it over the next three decades - regardless of who came to see it.
Now we have a critical mass, because time has caught up with the victims and perpetrators.
I
am sending a copy of this flyer to my Black Oklahoma Homies! They will
be so happy to know that Brothers and Sisters in Harlem are with them
in solidarity.
This is a link to the article I posted on Green Wood, Oklahoma. Please also read at your leisure.
They did it and hid it, but truth crushed to earth will rise again. And
always remember one main thing: Black people in Oklahoma had guns and
fought back - they did not duck and run; the bomb was dropped because
the caucasoids were losing the fight.
I am proud of my brothers and sisters in Oklahoma and Harlem, USA
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
SHADES OF TRUTH THEATRE
VOZA RIVERS/NEW HERITAGE THEATRE GROUP
AND
THE ROBEY THEATRE COMPANY
PRESENT
HARLEM'S 1ST ANNUAL
BLACK WALL STREET FESTIVAL
PREMIERING
TUESDAY JUNE 1, 2021
QUEENS PUBLIC LIBRARY
In
June 1921, a series of events nearly destroyed the entire Greenwood
area of Tulsa Oklahoma. Built on what had formerly been Indian
Territory, the community grew and flourished as a Black economic and
cultural mecca—until May 31, 1921
when a white mob began a rampage through some 35 square blocks,
decimating the community. Armed rioters, many deputized by local police,
looted and burned down businesses, homes, schools, churches, a
hospital, hotel, public library, newspaper offices and more. While the
official death toll of the Tulsa race massacre was 36, historians
estimate it may have been as high as 300. As many as 10,000 people were
left homeless. The incident stands as one most horrific acts of racial
violence, and domestic terrorism, ever committed on American soil.
FEATURING 3 SHORT PLAYS
The Plan
Written & Directed by Michael Green
Double V (The Magnificent Dunbar Hotel)
Written by Levy Lee Simon & Directed by Ben Guillory
Hope all is well and that you are enjoying this wonderful season of Spring and renewal.
You know I am always happy to share good news about a friend or someone in our community, and I am over the moon about my brother friend, Jamal Joseph, whose book, "PANTHER BABY," has been selected to be a CBS TV series. Absolutely AWESOME!!!
Jamal is the consummate all around genius - writer, producer, artist, child development specialist. His IMPACT Repertory Theatre has transformed the life of many a child who needed the proper guidance to display his or her talent, into a major individual tour de force. They have toured all over the world, and have been nominated for an Oscar for "RAISE IT UP" with Jamia Nash, in 2007.
It's clear that Jamal has always been devoted to Black people, and through enhancing all our talents and capacities. Starting at such a young age, his awareness and commitment led him away from negative gang and street activities to becoming a member of the Black Panthers. I truly hope CBS allows him to display the story to its fullest.
Jamal was my writing mentor during my days at the Harlem Screen Writer's guild, and often mentioned he was in the process of penning the Autobiography. When he finally completed it, he as also in the middle of putting together a tour for IMPACT, among other things. I have so much admiration for his and Voza Rivers drive, energy, dedication and activism and the fact that these two empower themselves, each other, and so many of us around them.
Make sure you watch out for, and support PANTHER BABY when it comes out. In fact, get the book in advance of the movie - it's well worth the read. And most definitely support the series when it comes out.
My congrats to Jamal for yet another milestone.
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria DULAN-Wilson
"PANTHER BABY" SLATED FOR NEW TV SERIES
Dear Family, Friends and Supporters,
New Heritage Theatre Group is very proud to announce that its Senior Executive Artistic Director, Jamal Joseph's book "Panther Baby" has been selected by
CBS to become a TV Series.
Writer, Director, Producer, Poet, Activist ,OSCAR nominee and Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University School of the Arts in the Film Department Jamal is also an a co-founder of IMPACT Repertory Theatre. and heads up New Heritage's Film Division, New Heritage Films.
As a teenager Jamal Joseph wasincarcerated for his active participation in the New York Chapter of the Black Panther Party. Upon his release from prison he was introduced to Clarence B. Jones (former personal attorney to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) Voza Rivers and Lainie Cooke who had recently formed Greenlight Films. Greenlight optioned Jamal's script Liberated Territory about his experiences as a young Black Panther . In 2012 Liberated Territory became part of the source material for Jamal's celebrated book Panther Baby.
Last week CBS announced Jamal Joseph’s gripping memoir "Panther Baby" will be adapted as a TV series with Gina Prince-Bythewood directing and The Queen’s Gambit‘s Scott Frank, Timberman/Beverly and Reggie Rock Bythewood producing.
The friendship between Jamal, the Bythewoods and Scott Frank is a treasured one . Jamal met Scott Frank at a session spent at Sudance. Jamal and Reggie Rock Byethewood met at the home of legendary fellow activist Yuri Kochimaya when Jamal was first released from prison. They have been friends ever since. The Byethewoods and Scott Frank have been constant supporters of Jamal's work including being donors to IMPACT Repertory Theatre the youth arm of New Heritage Theatre Group
Jamal and Voza, along with Joyce Joseph, Courtney Bennet and Alice Arlen began IMPACT REPERTORY THEATRE
in 1997 as the youth and empowerment program at New Heritage. Over the last 20 plus years, the IMPACT program has received many honors and has seen its members attend college, become professionals in many fields and also come back to run the program.
Over the years IMPACT has been honored by the support of many Below Harry Belafonte and the IMPACT members and Janet Jackson performing with IMPACT during HARLEM WEEK
This is absolutely wonderful; and I have to
give my brother/friend, Voza Rivers, high praise on his
accomplishments. The wonderful thing about Voza is that he keeps
growing, expanding, doing more, exposing us to more and more, while
simultaneously learning, growing, and accomplishing even more applying
his love for Black writers and international and multicultural
interaction.
Any and all accolades accorded Voza is well
deserved. He's set records in his productions, community activism, and
writing, and interaction with Japanese, Cuban, and other cultures. I,
myself, have personally been the beneficiary of Voza's mentorship as a
member of the Harlem Black Screen Writer's guild. And I will always be
grateful for his confidence in my writing skills when I was flying low
under the radar. I actually found my writer's voice and was privileged
to work with some of the greatest Black writers, producers, and artists
of all times. It was like living a dream - sharing my work with fellow
writers; going through the metamorphosis that pulled out depths I didn't
know I had.
Voza
Rivers is one of the most prolific, creative, well liked, hard working
Fine Black Man on the Planet. Congratulations to him for this latest
recognition.
VOZA RIVERS
HONOREE
The Ossie Davis Award
in Recognition of Your Work as a Theater Producer
and Documentary Filmmaker
NATIONAL BLACK WRITERS CONFERENCE
November 14, 2020
7:30 pm
Voza Rivers' work as an award winning, international producer, music executive, co-producer of theater, film, music and live events has been presented globally including Japan, Africa, and Cuba, and viewed by millions. He is Executive Producer of New Heritage Theatre Group, and provides leadership to Oscar and GRAMMY Nominated IMPACT Repertory Theatre, The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, HARLEM WEEK, Harlem Arts Alliance, and Community Works. Rivers' collaborations include Committed Artists South Africa, the Harlem Shakespeare Festival, Columbia University School of the Arts, Aaron Davis Hall, Schomburg Center, Manhattan School of Music,
Lincoln Center Theater, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Apollo Theater Records.
By Gloria Dulan-Wilson Hello All - Konichi wa! My Brother/Friend, Producer extraordinaire, Voza Rivers, has assembled a spectacular production for you that you definitely won't want to miss, this Friday, October 25, at the Joseph P. Kennedy Center in Harlem.
Toward the end of the Second World War,
Masato (a mechanic of Japanese Speacial Attack Units in Kagoshima,
Japan) and Hikaru, an American Japanese kamikaze pilot of Japanese
Special Attack Units in Kagoshima, Japan) are close friends and happen
to hear the radio pick up weird wave. The radio show talks about the
terrorism attack on NY, Japanese baseball players playing for Major
League Baseball teams, and the fact that terrorism is called "kamikaze,"
etc.
They notice that the radio show is from the
year 2019, which is the future period for them. And they learn that
Japan was defeated in the war on August 15th, 1945, and they tell the
fact to their captains but nobody believes them. Even though, Hikaru is
ordered to fly as Special Attack Units members.
Hikaru faces the dillemma as he has to
be part of fights against his mother's homeland America. The night
before Hikaru flies out, 'God of Radio' makes a smart move.
Now that you know
What are you going to do about it?
Make your reservations now!
Arigato
Stay Blessed &
ECLECTICALLY BLACK
Gloria
s
Voza Rivers, Executive Producer, New Heritage Theatre Group
