JAMES EARL JONES
James Earl Jones was a brillant actor of the stage and screen. His magnificient voice and stage presence made him unforgetable. His starring role in The Great White Hope was so very memorable for me. His performance was as powerful as it was poignant.
DIAHANN CARROLL
Diahann Carroll was a multi-talented artist. She was a gifted singer, actress and model. Her career spanned six decdes. As a child, watching Ms. Carroll play a nurse on the first television series to feature an African American female in the leading role, meant more than I can describe in words.
KATHERINE SERGAVA
Katharine Sergava was a Russian ballet dancer and an actor. When I met Ms.Sergava, she was in her seventies and was an instructor at Herbert Berghof Studios (HB Studios) on Bank Street in Greenwich Village, New York. Ms. Sergava had an elegance, a keenness, a textured approach to the art of acting. Through …
SIDNEY POITIER
Sidney Poitier remains a iconic actor. His roles highlighted the complexity and beauty of the human experience. His famous film portrayals are a testatment to our common humanity and to the resilience of the human spirit. Significant Roles
THE ART OF ACTING
Due to the times and my circumstance, watching “A Raisin in the Sun” had a powerful influence on me. It was one of the first films, that I can remember and could understand, that clearly examined and articulated the pain and profound frustration of the African experience in America. The film’s influence on me was …
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
There are no words that can adequately describe how I felt seeing children risk their lives during the Civil Rights Movement. Being a child myself, my first emotion was fear. Later as I saw and came to understand what these courageous children were doing and what they had accomplished through their spiritual and physical courage, …
THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT
The Women’s Movement began long before the 1960’s. However, during that time period, the Women’s Movement had a different kind of significance due to the other civil unrest that was taking place in the U.S. The protest for women’s rights that occured during the 1960’s impacted opportunities for women for generations.
THE ANTI WAR MOVEMENT
In the 1960s, the horrors of the Vietnam War were broadcast to many through their televion sets. Millions watched the killing and destruction in daily doses via the evening news. The Anti War Movement was a response to what people saw and felt. Killing and destruction can be difficult for adults to watch, imagine …
BROOK BENTON
Brook Benton had a wonderful distinct way of delivering a song. “Think Twice” and “It’s Just A Matter of Time” are only two of his well known hit songs that were popular during my early years.
DINAH WASHINGTON
Dinah Washington was a musical diva in her time. Her amazing voice and lavish lifestyle gave her celebrity status. Her many hits songs were loved by high and low alike.
ETTA JAMES
Etta James had a unique voice and style. The love ballad, “At Last” was made famous by Ms. James. “I’d Rather Be Blind” was another song, that was a favorite in my early years, it was also made popular by Ms James.