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HONORED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

STACEY ABRAMS To Speak On Voter Suppression At NAACP Convention York and a formerForum, chancellor of the The Black Stars News The National Association for2015 the Annual author of eight romantic suspense education (CLE) program dedicated Presidential Candidates Awards of Dinner willPeople honor Mayornovels, which have sold more than Advancement Colored to training a cadre of attorneys a legislative session, CEO system. New York publica schools David Charles (NAACP), theDinkins, nation’s Rep. foremost civil 100,000 copies. to identify and challenge voter Roundtable, LGBTQ workshop, the Pioneering producers Stephen Rep. has Yvette Clarke, rights Rangel, organization, announced suppression efforts in communities awarding of the prestigious Spingarn Byrd and Alia Jones, through their The Clarence Mitchell, Jr. Memorial R. Donahue Peebles, Barbara that politician, lawyer and author of color during upcoming election Medalcompany to Ambassador Patrick Front Row Production, Luncheon honors the life and Inez Sabrina StaceyArnwine, Abrams will beBarron, speaking at cycles. Past speakers for the Gaspard, and the signature brought “Cat on a HotNAACP Tin Roof” legacy of a stalwart of equal justice, Lamb, Dr.Clarence Rudy Crew, Stephen the prestigious Mitchell and “A Streetcar Named Desire” Byrd,during Alia Jones, and the Central Luncheon the NAACP’s with a multi-ethnic cast to Park FiveConvention survivors ofingross injustice 110th Annual Detroit, Broadway. In 2016 they bring on December Michigan on July 22. 18 from 6:00pm – “Eclipsed” with Oscar Winner 10:00pm MIST Harlem, 46 West “Stacey Abramsatmay have become Lupita Nyong ’O to Broadway. 116th name Street.during the a household Honorees, the so-called Central 2018 Georgia gubernatorial “Each honoree chosen race for Park 5, are collectively and but she has committed her life recognition has demonstrated individually heroes. They are to fighting for and leadership uplifting the exceptional and vision in survivors of one of the ugliest David Dinkins Charles Rangel Black community,” said Derrick her or his respective profession or miscarriage of justice in New York’s Johnson, NAACP President endeavor and in someand significant history; having been railroaded majority. She now leads The was a member of the New York CEO. “Because of her unparalleled measure has contributed towards and unjustly convicted for a crime Transformative Justice Coalition. City Council, representing the compassion, and in this creatingcommitment a more just society th they did not commit and for which Arnwine was for 26 years executive 40 council district in Brooklyn, diligence to improving civicStar News country,” says Black they served long prison sentences director of the Lawyers’ Committee succeeding her mother, Una S. engagement, educational equality, founder and publisher Milton th ranging from seven years to 13 years for Civil Rights Under the Law. T. Clarke. In the current 114 and eliminating based much work Allimadi. race “Obviously before being exonerated when the Congress Clarke serves on discrimination, so here honored Inez Barron, honoree, formerly a needs towe beare done and actual rapist confessed. They are: the Energy and Commerce and excited to the haveworld.” her speak at the State Assembly member, is now around Yusef Abdus Salaam; Raymond Committee, responsible for luncheon.” a New York City council member The gala starts at 6:00pm with a Santana Jr., Antron McCray, Kevin consumer protection, food and a champion of education for Staceycocktail Abrams, a native of Gulfport, hour to be followed by the Richardson, and Kharey Wise. safety, energy development, public our youth. Mississippi, the ceremonies. first dinnerbecame and awards There health, communications, the The Black Star News, which focuses womanwill to be lead eitherentertainment party in the by Honoree Imhotep Gary Byrd is musical environment, and interstate and on investigative journalism, has Georgia General and a legendary radio talk show host opera singerAssembly Cassandra Douglas international commerce. been featured as a result of some if the first African American to lead and executive producer, radio DJ, and from harmonica phenomenon its news scoops, on CNN, The New R. Donahue Peebles, honoree, is in the William House ofGalison. Representatives. poet, songwriter, music recording David Dinkins is York Daily News, The New York a leading developer and founder of In 2018, Abrams the Achievement artist and producer, rapper, writer honored forwas Lifetime Post, The Village Voice, and Brill’s The Peebles Co., the nation’s largest and community activist. He began Democratic the City’s Georgia — he nominee was NewinYork first Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO Content magazine. African American-owned real gubernatorial andmayor became his career as a radio DJ in Buffalo Africanelection American and also estate firm with $3.5 billion worth Past Black Star News honorees the first black female major-party at age 15. For over 30 years, he’s welcomed Nelson Mandela to the of properties under development luncheon have included some of Experience retail expoGiland diversity Clarence M. Mitchell, Jr., who Noble (Like It gubernatorial in United been a talk show host at WBLS and have included: city afternominee his release in 1990. or management — he was one the country’s greatest legal minds, career fair. More information about served as the chief Washington Is), Rep. Maxine Waters, Soledad States history. Dedicated to civic WLIB radio in New York City. He Rep. Charles Rangel, also honored offor thethe pioneering developerswho such as Kamala Harris,night Eric Holder Annual NAACP National lobbyist NAACP for nearly O’Brien (CNN), Ms. Camille Cosby, engagement, Abrams founded also has a Friday radio talk the 110th for Lifetime Achievement, has three decades. helped turn around and revitalize and Nathaniel Jones. This year’s Convention, including a detailed Mitchell, nicknamed Voza Rivers (New Heritage Theatre), the New Georgia Project, which show on WBAI. served in Congress since 1971. He “the is 101st the once-blighted Anacostia Clarence Mitchell Luncheon will schedule of events may be found by U.S. Senator,” played a Errol Louis (NY1 News), Amel submitted more than 200,000 Honoree Sabrina Lamb, of foundervisiting naacpconvention.org. a recipient of The Bronze medal for neighborhood in Washington, D.C. also include a special honoring key role in winning passage of the Larrieux (Entertainer), Dr. William registrations from voters of color of World of Money, is a champion helping save soldiers behind enemyCivil Rights A champion African-American attorney Damon Keith, Act of of 1964, the Voting civil rights Pollard (Medgar Evers College), between 2014 and 2016. She of financial literacy for youth-she Founded in 1909, the NAACP is line during the Korean War. economic empowerment Peebles’ is who championed for equal and civil Rights Act of 1965 (including the Herm Edwards (NY Jets), Nayaba is also the founder and chair of teaches knowledge about. handlingthe nation’s oldest and largest contemplating a possible run for NYC rights for nearly a half-century 1970 and 1975 extensions of the Rep. Yvette Clarke is a Democratic Arinde (Amsterdam News), La-Verna Fair Fight Action, an organization money,Convention budgeting and planning. nonpartisan civil rights organization. mayor in 2017. The NAACP brings Voting Rights Act), and the Fair member of the US House of Fountain (Columbia University), dedicated to advocating for free together over 10,000 activists, Its members throughout the Desiree United Dancy Dr. Rudy Crew, honoree, is one of Housing Act of 1968, among other Representatives from New Lillian Roberts (DC37), and fair elections, and securing the Honoree Barbara Arnwine, civil th organizers, and leaders to set States and the world are the premier notable accomplishments. The the nation’s leading educators. He’s York whose 9 district covers (New York Times), Greg Floyd (Local voting rights of Georgians. Under rights lawyer, is a champion of policies priorities for the coming advocates for civil rights in their luncheon is held in conjunction much of central Brooklyn. Before 237), Rev. Al Sharpton (National president of Medgar Evers College the pen name Selena Montgomery, protecting voting rights of ethnic willUniversity include a of New communities. two-day continuing legal Congress in 2007, she with a minority Action Network), and many others. Staceyentering is also an award-winning of The City groups — the emerging year. Highlights

“ STACEY ABRAM S . . . . . . h as c o m m it t ed her life to fighting for a n d uplif ting t he Bl ac k c o m m u n it y.”

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N AT I O N A L

Efforts to End Political Violence in Haiti Led By CONGRESSWOMAN After returning from a trip to Haiti during which she saw evidence of politically motivated violence carried out by gangs allegedly affiliated with the Haitian government, Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Financial Services, worked with Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-13) to ensure that language addressing the political crisis in Haiti was included in the report accompanying the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2020. Congresswoman Lee, in her capacity as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, helped negotiate the language, which expresses great concerns about civil unrest and specifically mentions incidents in La Saline in November 2018, involving alleged human rights abuses and the burning of homes. The State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill was approved by the Appropriations Committee, along with the accompanying report, on May 16th on a vote of 29 to 23, and is scheduled for consideration on the floor of the House of Representatives this week.

Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill to address this urgent crisis.”

“During my recent trip to Haiti, I was shocked and appalled to learn of the massacre and the burning of homes in La Saline and other evidence of politically motivated violence, and I am deeply disturbed by the allegations that the Haitian government may have been involved,” said Congresswoman Waters. “I thank my friend and colleague, Congresswoman Barbara Lee, for working to include language in the report accompanying the State,

Committee, includes the following language regarding the crisis in Haiti: “The Committee is greatly concerned by civil unrest in Haiti. The Committee expects the Secretary of State and USAID Administrator to support dialogue aimed at resolving the political crisis and ensuring that upcoming elections are transparent and inclusive. The Committee is especially concerned about the incidents in November 2018 in La Saline, including alleged human rights abuses and the burning of homes

The report accompanying the State, Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill, as approved by the Appropriations

in the area. The Committee encourages the Government of Haiti to address the real grievances in the country, including access to housing. The Committee encourages the provision of technical

support for thorough and independent investigations into both the allegations of corruption and human rights violations.” The report also includes the following additional provision conditioning U.S. foreign assistance for the central Government of Haiti on progress towards reforms: “Haiti.—Pursuant to subsection (c), funds are withheld for assistance for the central Government of Haiti

unless the Secretary of State certifies and reports that the Government of Haiti is taking the following steps: (1) strengthening the rule of law including by transparently selecting judges based on merit, reducing pre-trial detention, respecting the independence of the judiciary, and implementing reforms to increase transparency and accountability including through the penal and criminal code; (2) combating corruption including by implementing the 2014 anti-corruption law and prosecuting corrupt officials; (3) increasing government revenues, including through tax reforms, and increasing expenditures on public services; and (4) resolving commercial disputes between U.S. entities and the government of Haiti.” Congresswoman Waters led a delegation to Haiti on April 24, 2019, during which she saw evidence of politically motivated violence in La Saline and nearby neighborhoods. The delegation met with residents of these communities, who described a series of brutal attacks over the past six months, carried out by alleged government-connected gangs and police officers. Upon returning to the United States, Congresswoman Waters discussed Haiti’s political crisis with Congresswoman Lee, members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and other concerned Members of Congress, and they agreed to work together to pursue justice for the people of Haiti.

PAT R I C K G A S PA R D T O R E C E I V E P R E S T I G I O U S S P I N G A R N a w a r d

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s foremost civil rights organization, has announced that Ambassador Patrick Gaspard will be awarded the prestigious Spingarn Medal on July 24, 2019, during the 110th NAACP Annual Convention, taking place in Detroit, Michigan. The award recognizes Gaspard’s lifelong commitment to equality and civil rights. Gaspard, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, moved with his parents to the United States when he was three years old. He served as political director for President Barack Obama in the White House and as the Executive Director of the Democratic National Committee, overseeing the party committee’s efforts to re-elect President Obama. In 2013, President Obama nominated Gaspard to the post of United States ambassador to South Africa. He worked to strengthen civil society and worked in partnership with the South African government to develop the country’s healthcare infrastructure and to support innovations in local governance. He also worked to connect South African entrepreneurs to United States markets;

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develop clean, renewable, and efficient energy technologies; and to end wildlife trafficking. “Patrick Gaspard is a global champion for civil and human rights. His contributions to campaigns to end police brutality, improve access to affordable health care, and increase dignity for working families is unparalleled,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. "For over 100 years, we have honored leaders who have served as pillars in the fight for justice and this year’s selection of the Patrick Gaspard is no exception.”

“The NAACP has been a beacon and an inspiration to me my entire life; Its leaders blazed the trails we now walk, and helped make my career, and the careers of countless other organizers and activists, possible,” said Gaspard. “The previous recipients of this incredible honor are among my greatest heroes, who showed us what dedication and the courage of our convictions could achieve. To be in their company is beyond humbling. I am enormously grateful for this recognition, and will do all that I can to try, now and in the years to come, to live up to its promise.”

“Ambassador Gaspard’s service within the Labor Movement as well as his tenure as a member of the Obama administration has always inured to the benefit of all Americans,” said Leon W. Russell, NAACP Chairman, National Board of Directors. “His service in the diplomatic corps as Ambassador to South Africa during a challenging period of that nation’s development was stellar.”

legislative session, a CEO Roundtable, LGBTQ workshop plus the highly anticipated NAACP Experience retail expo and diversity career fair. More information about the 110th Annual NAACP National Convention, including a detailed schedule of events, may be found by visiting naacpconvention.org.

The NAACP Spingarn Award was established in 1914 by the late Joel E. Spingarn then Chairman of the NAACP Board of Directors. It was given annually until his death in 1939. The medal is awarded “for the highest or noblest achievement by a living African American during the preceding year or years.” A fund to continue the award was set up by his will, thus, the NAACP has continued to present this award. Previous recipients of this award include: Mrs. Daisy Bates (Little Rock Nine), Jesse L. Jackson, Myrlie EversWilliams, Earl G. Graves Sr., Oprah Winfrey, Cecily Tyson, Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier and the Honorable Nathaniel Jones. Other highlights will include a Presidential Candidates Forum, a

June 20, 2019 - June 26, 2019

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NEWS

CON EDISON Projects Lower Summer Bills For Homeowners Con Edison is forecasting lower bills for

residential customers during this summer season, compared to last year, as the energy company invests more than $1.5 billion in its overhead and underground electric delivery systems to meet usage demands on peak hot days. A typical New York City residential customer using 350 kilowatt hours per month can expect a 6.5-percent decrease from $102.84 in 2018 to $96.20 in the June-to-September period. A typical Westchester residential customer using 500 kilowatt hours per month can expect an average decrease of 16.2 percent from $134.68 in 2018 to $112.88.

solar and other products and services that can help reduce monthly bills and provide a cleaner environment.” In a Con Edison pilot project, five White Plains electric school buses, normally idle during the summer months, will have their batteries fully charged and on standby to

Other investments focus on upgrades and reinforcements, including 27 network transformers and 58 overhead transformers. The company also plans to upgrade 61 underground feeder sections and 262 overhead spans. Con Edison projects that peak demand for

The projected decrease in residential bills is largely due to lower supply costs. Con Edison buys electricity on the wholesale market and provides it to customers at cost. Monthly bills for business customers are expected to be about the same as last year. A New York City business customer using 10,800 kilowatt hours with a peak demand of 31 kilowatts can expect average monthly summer bills to increase slightly from $2,156.55 in 2018 to $2,201.92 this year.  I n n o v at i o n & I n v e s t m e n t s The company is also expanding new and evolving technologies such as battery storage. In separate projects, batteries are in place in Westchester, the Bronx and Queens to support the grid on sweltering summer days. “We strive to lead the transition to the clean energy future that our customers want and that new technology makes possible,” said Tim Cawley, president of Con Edison. “In addition to developing battery storage and installing smart meters, we’re making it easier for our customers to choose energy efficiency,

provide 75 kilowatts to the electric grid on peak hot days. Con Edison has installed a 10.6-megawatt hour (MWh) battery system on company property in Ozone Park, Queens. Con Edison will charge the batteries when demand for power is low and then discharge that power at peak times, taking pressure off the grid. On City Island, Con Edison has installed a 1-MWh battery system that will provide power to the grid as needed.

electricity this summer will reach 13,270 megawatts. The all-time record is 13,322 megawatts, which occurred at 5 p.m. on July 19, 2013. The company is always exploring new ways to keep service reliable. Con Edison has installed 4,000 remote monitoring devices in manholes to detect heat and gas in underground structures. By detecting heat and gas, the company can help identify needed repairs before electrical equipment fails. Con Edison also takes

infrared images of underground cables to look for hot spots that might indicate a repair is needed. Save More with Energy Efficiency Upgrades Customers can save money by using less energy. Con Edison offers customers incentives to make money-saving upgrades to their homes and businesses. For this summer, Con Edison is offering residential customers:  A $25 rebate for buying a new Energy Star room air conditioner;  $25 or more in rewards for enrolling a standard window air conditioner in the company’s Smart AC program;  Up to $90 in rebates and rewards for a Wi-Fi-enabled AC. The company will provide a free Wi-Fi device that lets a customer control a room air conditioner through an app;  A $50 rebate for buying a smart thermostat and another $85 for registering it with Con Edison. Since 2009, Con Edison’s energy efficiency programs have helped about 650,000 customers make upgrades preventing 5 million tons of carbon emissions. That’s the equivalent of taking more than 1 million cars off the road. As of 2018, the electric upgrades save nearly 2 million MWh of usage a year. The electric upgrades have saved 7.8 million MWh since 2009. The company also encourages customers to consider whether solar energy is right for them. Customers have completed nearly 26,000 projects that produce about 248 megawatts of clean, renewable power. That is equal to 325,500 MWh a year, enough to prevent more than 230,000 tons of carbon emissions, or the equivalent of taking 49,000 cars off the road.

L E G I S L AT O R A B R A H A M S P l a n s T o T r a n s f e r C o u n t y T o V i l l a g e (FREEPORT, N.Y.) Nassau County Legislator Kevan M. Abrahams (D - Freeport) announced he is reevaluating plans to transfer Cow Meadow Park to the Village of Freeport due to the dilapidated conditions of parks already owned by the village. During a press conference at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park on Thursday, June 6, Legislator Abrahams was joined by community leaders and community stakeholders who oppose the transfer of Cow Meadow Park to the Village of Freeport. Those residents joined Legislator Abrahams to say the village should invest more resources in their own deteriorating parks before assuming control of Cow Meadow Park. Cow Meadow Park is currently owned and operated by the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation and Museums. The

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County was considering transferring the property to the Village of Freeport, however, Legislator Abrahams raised concerns about the plan after discovering neglect at village-owned parks such as Martin Luther King, Jr./Steven Street Park, John J. Randall Park, Bishop Frank O. White Memorial /Northeast Park, and Glacken Park. “Our parks are a valuable community resource that when maintained properly, serve as welcoming community hubs and recreational facilities. However, I cannot in good faith give the Village of Freeport any additional municipal land knowing their current parks are in disarray,” Legislator Abrahams said. “Before taking on the additional responsibility of Cow Meadow Park, Freeport Village must invest the time and resources into their existing parks so they can reach their full potential.”

June 20, 2019 - June 26, 2019

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C O M M E N TA R Y

At Black Colleges, Baseball Teams Are Missing Before each game, Clarence Carter III glances across the diamond as the opposing team warms up. He peeks in the dugout, scans the outfield and takes inventory around the infield during batting practice, counting how many African-Americans he can spot on the other team. This is not an unusual drill for AfricanAmericans playing in the major leagues, where their numbers have dwindled in recent decades, or in the similarly exclusive world of youth travel baseball. But what makes this exercise striking is that Carter, a junior infielder at Bethune-Cookman University, plays for — and often against — one of America’s historically black colleges. “It did catch me by surprise; I’m not going to lie,” said Carter, who transferred to Bethune-Cookman from a community college in Fullerton, Calif. “I would have thought coming to an H.B.C.U. there would be more black people, but things aren’t always what you expect.”

There is a litany of reasons African-Americans have turned away from baseball. While baseball’s struggles to attract African-American talent and fans are well documented, the depth of the issue comes into sharper relief for teams in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, a group of historically black colleges and universities stretching from Maryland to Florida. At each of the nine MEAC colleges that compete in baseball, the baseball teams often feature more white and Latino players than AfricanAmericans. Consider the standard-bearer for the conference, Bethune-Cookman, which has won 19 MEAC championships and plays its home games at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, the same field where Robinson first suited up for a game after signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers. At times this season, the Wildcats have not started a single

African-American player. There is a litany of reasons AfricanAmericans have turned away from baseball, including the decimation of youth programs in areas where there historically have been large AfricanAmerican communities and the sport’s ballooning costs — both for equipment (a top-shelf aluminum bat runs about $325) and exposure (participating on travel teams can cost thousands of dollars a year). Billy Hawkins, a University of Houston professor who has written extensively on race and college sports, said young black athletes have become less likely to gravitate toward baseball because they — and their parents — have an easier time envisioning success in football and basketball. The numbers reflect that: African-Americans comprised 7.8 percent of opening day roster spots in the majors this year, down from the peak of 18.7 percent in 1981. “Major League Baseball hasn’t developed a cultural relevance similar to those other leagues,” Hawkins said of the N.B.A. and N.F.L. “These other leagues have prospered in attracting black players, but also having a blackness like you’d talk about in music or dress. For some reason, M.L.B. hasn’t evolved similarly.” To stay competitive, H.B.C.U.s have had to cast a wider net. Lynn Thompson, the athletic director at Bethune-Cookman since 1990, said he saw the start of the decline of baseball growing up in Daytona Beach in the late 1960s; in neighborhoods where his friends once rode their bikes to play sandlot ball, redevelopment paved over ball fields in favor of basketball courts and parking lots. Bethune-Cookman began recruiting out of Florida’s deep pool of Latino players early on, and Thompson said that he has given the same marching orders each time he hires a baseball coach, something he did for the sixth time last

August. “We just happen to be historically black; we’re not exclusively black,” Thompson said. “Our job is to tell the great story of

with the league's foremost expert. If Bethune-Cookman’s baseball team, which has four African-Americans, does not resemble its student body, which

Bethune-Cookman through the lives of these great kids who wear our uniforms, wherever they come from and whatever they look like.” This is a complicated stance, and it has drawn criticism. It is not unusual for H.B.C.U. football teams to recruit white kickers or punters, or to look farther afield to fill out their tennis and golf teams. But baseball can strike a different chord, particularly because of the legacy of the Negro Leagues and Robinson’s stature as a civil rights icon. “We’ve taken some heat from some people,” Thompson said. “But look, we’re Division I, and if you’re a high school kid and you’re playing right field and batting .198 and you think just because we’re an H.B.C.U., you think you ought to be able to get a scholarship, you’re wrong.” He continued: “When you come to bat against the University of Miami and this guy’s throwing 96 miles per hour with a slider that falls off the earth, you’ve got to be able to perform. Ain’t no excuses then.” Marc Stein has covered Jordan. He's covered Kobe. And LeBron vs. the Warriors. Go behind the N.B.A.'s curtain

is 79 percent African-American, it is nevertheless a melting pot. This year, there are players who are Dominican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Colombian, Peruvian, Mexican and Jamaican; there also are white players, who make up about half the 28-player roster. The team’s first-year coach, Jonathan Hernandez, 33, grew up in Hialeah, Fla., a heavily Cuban community near Miami, where he was a product of Major League Baseball’s Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities youth program. He has put together a promising recruiting class — including two African-American players — that is ranked 60th among Division I programs, according to one analysis. Bethune-Cookman is the only H.B.C.U. on that list. “I know that we’ve got to be able to give black players more opportunities,” Hernandez said. “There are definitely talented baseball players out there, and we have to find them.” Finding them, though, is getting harder; N.C.A.A. data from 2018 showed only 4 percent of college players are African-American. And when an H.B.C.U. identifies an exceptional black prospect, it soon finds itself competing against

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Happy. Healthy. Loved. These are the dreams we have for our children. So we cherish the moments when little giggles fill the room, imaginations take us on great adventures, and when it seems our hearts could burst with pride and love. Here and now, we’d stop time if we could. Because when kids are being kids, we all feel better.

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ENTER TAINMENT

C a r d i B , D J K h a l e d , M i g o s , H . E . R . , L i l N a s X , B i l ly R ay C y r u s , T o P e r f o r m At " B E T AWA R D S "

BET Ne t w o r ks announces

the first group of performers for the 19th Annual BET Awards including Cardi B, DJ Khaled, Migos, H.E.R., Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus, Lizzo, Mustard, Lil Baby, City Girls's Yung Miami, Lucky Daye and Kiana Lede. Hosted by Regina Hall, the 2019 BET Awards will air LIVE on Sunday, June 23, at 8 PM ET from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles on BET. Additionally, the network announced the first group of presenters that will take the stage, including Taraji P. Henson, Lena Waithe, Morris Chestnut, Yara Shahidi and Marsai Martin. As previously announced, Cardi B leads this year's nominations with a total of seven, including Best Female Hip-Hop Artist, two separate nods in both the Best Collaboration and Video of the Year categories, Album of the Year and the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award. Drake follows with five nods for Best Male Hip-Hop Artist, Video of the Year, Best Collaboration and the Coca-Cola Viewers' Choice Award. Other leading nominees include Beyoncé, Travis Scott and J. Cole, who received four nominations each, with Bruno Mars, 21 Savage, Childish

Gambino, H.E.R. and Ella Mai each scoring three nominations. The 2019 BET Awards will simulcast LIVE at 8 PM ET across seven Viacom networks in the U.S. including BET, BET HER, MTV, MTV 2, MTV Classic, VH1 and Logo. Internationally, the show will simulcast for the first time on BET Africa at 2 AM CAT on June 24, followed by international broadcasts in the U.K. on June 24 at 9 PM BST, South Korea on June 25 at 9 PM KST and in France on June 25 at 9 PM CEST. Internationally, BET will honor Best International Act in-show, along with the fan-voted category Best New International Act, during the live red carpet preshow.

Connie Orlando, Executive Vice-President, Head of Programming at BET, will serve as Executive Producer for the 2019 BET Awards along with Jesse Collins, CEO of Jesse Collins Entertainment. BET.com/betawards is the official site for the BET Awards and will have all the latest news and updates about this year's show. Follow us @BET_PR and @BETAWARDS BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation's leading provider of quality entertainment, music, news and public affairs television programming for the AfricanAmerican audience. The primary

BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant AfricanAmerican consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for black entertainment, music, culture and news; BET HER, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the African-American woman; BET Music Networks - BET Jams, BET Soul and BET Gospel; BET Home Entertainment; BET Live, BET's growing festival business; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET around the globe. The BET Awards is one of the most-watched award shows on cable television according to the Nielsen Company. The BET Awards franchise remains as the number one program in cable TV history among African-Americans, and it is BET's number one telecast every year. It recognizes the triumphs and successes of artists, entertainers and athletes in a variety of categories.

NEW SHORT FILM IMAGINES AN AMERICA WHERE ROE V. WADE IS OVERTURNED With states recently passing abortion bans, the new short film “It Happened One Night” gives a realistic depiction of what the future of America will be if state legislators continue to follow suit.

a realistic depiction of what the future of America will be if state legislators continue to follow suit….

The short, showcased at the Global Women in Film Corner at Cannes Film Festival, examines an America that has overthrown Roe v. Wade and has turned a blind eye to sexual assault victims. The pro-choice short film was written, directed and produced by Jabreé Webber; a recent graduate of the University of Southern California with an MFA in the Film and TV Production. Starring General Hospital’s Paulina Bugembe and Drumline: A New Beat’s Duain Richmond, the film highlights a distressing decision for a Black woman with an unintended pregnancy in the aftermath of sexual assault. Incorporating the conversations of #MeToo and #ProChoice, this film personifies the negative consequences that could occur with state legislatures banning abortion.

Set in 2022, the ten minute short follows Bugembe’s character Tia as she grapples with a tough reality after returning home from a scheduled procedure. Unbeknownst to Daniel, her fiancé portrayed by Richmond, Tia's choice inspires a point of contention for the couple who would otherwise be happily in love. With the pressures of the outside world rising, the couple struggles to maintain their relationship and are forced to make a hard decision about their future together.

“It Happened One Night” gives 6 | NewYorkTrendnyc

“In this film, I explore the influence of money and power as it pertains to sexual assault and the survivors' livelihood,” said filmmaker Jabreé Webber. “Additionally, I explore the topic of sexual assault and how it affects survivors in their day-to-day, interpersonal relationships.” This film is important and timely as state

legislators across the country continue to pass laws banning abortions without any exceptions for rape or incest. The film links key issues of pro-choice and sexual assault as it illustrates a possible outcome for women in America as these new state laws pose a severe threat to overturning Roe V. Wade by the Supreme Court. “I am utilizing my voice and talent to raise awareness around this issue,” said Webber. “This film is a piece about social issues that affect our country as a whole.”

allowed her to discover her love for film-making. Whether acting, writing or directing - Jabreé aspires to combine her love for being behind and in front of the camera in the same ways that her mentors have. Jabreé aspires to utilize her talents in order to impact social change and enrich young people while also transcending social inequalities.

“It Happened One Night” has also been selected to be showcased at the Global Impact Film Festival and Independent Short Awards. Jabreé Webber is a fearless artist with an incomparable drive, distinctive approach and charismatic nature. The Detroit native graduated high school at the young age of 16 and is an honors graduate of the University of Southern California's School of Dramatic Arts and the School of Cinematic Arts' MFA Film and TV Production program. The artist’s exposure to different types of storytelling

June 20, 2019 - June 26, 2019

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ENTER TAINMENT BEYONCÉ and Others Help BROWN SUGAR Celebrate Black Music Month B R O WN SUGAR , the popular subscription video on demand service from Bounce, is kicking off summer with a fresh lineup of titles to celebrate the season. June is Black Music Month and to honor the occasion, Brown Sugar has curated a series of films from music legends such as Prince: Purple Rain, Michael Jackson: The Journey, Beyoncé: On Top, Rihanna: No Regrets and Winans: The Lost Concert. For Father's Day, consumers can explore the "Brown Sugar Daddies" collection of movies featuring influential father figures: Hotel Rwanda (Don Cheadle), Sounder (Paul Winfield) and The River Niger (James Earl Jones) as well as Season six of the Bounce original series Family Time (Omar Gooding). Debuting on the service this month are new titles including Ali: A Living Legend (Muhammad Ali), Before They Were Kings: Vol 1 (Chris Rock), Before They Were Kings: Vol 2 (Dave Chappelle), Laff Mobb's We

Got Next (Brely Evans), Sudie and Simpson (Louis Gossett Jr.) and The Other Brother (Mekhi Phifer). Popular returning titles in June are Foxy Brown (Pam Grier), Truck Turner (Isaac Hayes), Cooley High (Glynn Turman), The Mighty Quinn (Denzel Washington) and The Black Godfather (Rod Perry).

Viewers can watch these films and countless others on Brown Sugar along with complete seasons of top-rated Bounce originals such as Saints & Sinners, In The Cut and Last Call. Brown Sugar is available on Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast, Comcast Xfinity X1, Amazon Channels,

Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Kindle, Android and Apple smartphones and tablets and web browsers via BrownSugar.com. There is a free 7-day initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99/month thereafter. Visit www. BrownSugar.com for more information.

PLEASE PLAY RESPONSIBLY.

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ENTER TAINMENT N E W P R E S I D E N T T O L E A D N Y T H E O L O G I C A L S E M I N A RY Rev. Dr. Walrond has begun her new role as the New York Theological Seminary’s (NYTS) 12th president — and as its first African American female president —on June 3rd marking a historic milestone for the 119-year-old institution. Dr. Walrond brings more than two decades of leadership in academia and ministry that will help shape new and distinctive programming to enhance the Seminary’s reputation in the nation and around the world. Established in 1900, NYTS has prepared women and men for faith-based ministries in New York and throughout the world for over a century. Among the distinctive attributes that distinguish the Seminary are its emphasis on ministry and mission, its openness to both women and men and its diversity of denominational and cultural traditions represented in its student body and alumni. Walrond’s appointment marks a new era for the Seminary’s increasingly diverse and multi-faith community. Walrond is mindful of the institution’s tradition and is looking forward to leading it into a new era. As president of NYTS, Dr. Walrond said she was proud “to have the opportunity to show all women that there are still many opportunities to be ‘the first’,” and she hopes that her Presidency can serve “as an example of what intelligence, discipline and determination can bring.” “As I assume the Presidency, I think about becoming the first female and the first African American female, and the great responsibility that accompanies this historic moment. My hope is to work collaboratively with the faculty, staff, students and board members to make NYTS a world renowned theological institution for preparing students for urban ministry. The more I learn about the history of New York Theological Seminary, the more I appreciate its vision — not just for the future of theological education, but for societal matters including education for incarcerated people,” she said. “The former administrations set a bar that I will strive each day to surpass, as I challenge myself and the NYTS community to make this historic and revered Seminary greater and grander.” “NYTS is truly blessed to have found such a dynamic and wellprepared leader. Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond combines extraordinary vision and understanding of the

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importance of seminary education to ministry with solid, successful administrative experience directing major organizations. I have no doubt that she will lead the school to new heights and great success,” said Jeffrey C. Slade, M. Div., J.D., Chair of the Presidential Search Committee and Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of NYTS. Rev. Dr. Lawrence Hammond, Chair of the Board of Trustees at NYTS added “Dr. Walrond is truly the one that God has sent in this ‘Kairos Moment’ to lead our institution to its next level of academic excellence based on a solid foundation of vision and faith. We are extremely excited to have her join us in our ongoing pursuit of making NYTS a leader in theological education within the urban context.” Dr. Tamara R. Henry, Assistant Professor of Religious Education and a faculty representative on the Presidential Search Committee stated, “We are delighted to welcome Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond as New York Theological Seminary’s new president and thrilled about the possibilities that await us together as we write this new chapter of our institutional story. As a search committee, we were not only impressed with the breadth and depth of Dr. Walrond’s experience, but also her exceptional capacity as a visionary leader, which will bring a fresh, bold and energizing approach to engaging theological education in the twentyfirst century.”

church, community and abroad. Her reach extends from several Christian denominations, colleges and universities to ministry work in South African, Canada, India and the Caribbean. She has served as a visiting speaker at the Heyman Center for Humanities at Columbia University, Union Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary and Spelman College. Dr. Walrond held senior leadership roles at Zion Temple Church in North Carolina and Lakewood Elementary School in Durham, North Carolina. In 2005, Dr. Walrond earned her Ph.D. in Special Education and Literacy from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She also holds a Master of School Administration with a focus in Educational Leadership and a Master of Arts in Teaching with a focus in Learning Disabilities from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her commitment to ministry and education led her back to school post-doctorate to earn a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary here in New York City. She received her

undergraduate degree from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Walrond has been recognized by many organizations for her dedication to empowering the community. She was awarded the NAACP Leadership Award for her work in the African-American Community, was honored by the New York Liberty Women’s National Basketball Association, National Council of Negro Women and National Action Network and received “A Woman Who Worships Award” at McDonald’s GospelFest. Dr. Walrond is also the Author of two books; My Body Is Special (2017), a book that empowers children to take ownership of their bodies and provides them with problem solving tools to help them prevent unhealthy touching, and e-book Stronger Than Your Worst Pain: A Guide to Activating Your Inner Power, a book that empowers women to recognize their passion, power and potential to overcome life’s most difficult challenges. Dr. Walrond is married to Michael A. Walrond Jr. and they are the proud parents of Michael III and Jasmyn.

“I have watched Dr. Walrond evolve in her ministry for decades and she is a tireless faith leader with a devotion to uplifting communities through theology and education," said Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson, Senior Pastor of the historic Grace Baptist Church in Mount Vernon and Chairman of CNBC (Conference of National Black Churches). "She was the first female to preach at her hometown church in Texas and now she’s the first female to lead the New York Theological Seminary. We in the faith community are inspired by her unparalleled devotion to ministry and advocacy!” For over a decade, Dr. Walrond served as the Executive Pastor of First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York where she focused on administration, ministry development and staff supervision. In that capacity she used educational and organizational strategies to maximize FCBC’s capacity and influence in the

June 20, 2019 - June 26, 2019

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HE ALTH

NEW REPO RT on H e a lt h of O l d e r A du lts i n NYC

The NYC Health Department has

released a report examining the health of older adults in New York City. The report summarizes the current health status of older adults, ages 65 and older, in NYC. The report, developed in collaboration with 12 local government, academic, health care, and community basedorganizations, demonstrates the Health Department’s commitment to helping make New York City a place where everyone has the opportunity to age in good health and with dignity. Older New Yorkers currently make up 13% of the city’s population. The number of older New Yorkers is expected to grow by over 41% from 1,002,000 in 2010 to 1,410,000 by 2040. Life expectancy in New York City is 81.2 years, 2.5 years longer than the national average. About half (49%) of older New Yorkers were born outside the U.S, coming from 130 different countries and speaking over 90 languages. The findings in this report reflect the cumulative health effects of racism, discrimination, and other injustices that have resulted in a lack of access to education, good jobs and the ability to build wealth for older adults of color, with lower incomes, and immigrants.

lesbian, gay, or bisexual.  Older adults who identify as Latino (27%) or Asian/Pacific/Islander (26%) are more likely to live below the poverty level compared with those who identify as Black (19%) or White (17%).  17% of older adults in New York City report being a caregiver and many help raise grandchildren.  39% of older New Yorkers engage in 150 minutes or more of moderate exercise per week.  About one-third of older New Yorkers report having one or more

insurance:  6% sometimes go without needed health care. 12% are sometimes unable to afford the medications they need.  Communities and health care providers can support the health of older adults by creating opportunities for safe physical activity and reducing risks for injury inside and outside the home: In 2016, falls among older New Yorkers led to 289 deaths, 30,492 emergency department visits, and 16,661 hospital stays.

sexual partners in the last year; 52% of older men and 26% of older women report being sexually active in the past year.  6% of White older adults reported using a condom the last time they had sex compared to 16% of Black or Latino older adults.  Although 97% of older New Yorkers are covered by some form of health

Older adults are more likely to die from pedestrian injuries than any other age group in New York City.  Communicable disease among older adults remains an important health challenge: Older adults have a higher risk of getting influenza and pneumonia than adults under age 65, and they are more likely to suffer serious

“Structural barriers based on race and ethnicity affect health over the course of an individual’s life,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “Healthy aging is not a luxury only for those who can afford it. Healthy aging is a right for all New Yorkers.” “New Yorkers are living longer than ever, and while many flourish, others experience a variety of significant health issues,” said Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “This report helps define the changing needs of older New Yorkers so that in partnership with our sister-City agencies, we can work to meet these needs and best serve this growing demographic.”

Data Highlights from the Report:

 40% of older New Yorkers identify as men and 60% as women.  3% of older New Yorkers identify as

consequences from or die from these diseases. More than half of Legionella cases in New York City occur among older adults. Among people living with HIV/ AIDS in New York City, one in ten are older adults.  Dental problems adversely impact quality of life for many older adults: Four in ten older adults have lost six or more teeth due to tooth decay or gum disease. The Health Department continues to work with its partners through current programs to improve older adult health. Examples of current programs include:  The Geriatric Mental Health Initiative (GMHI) is administered under the Office of Treatment in the Division of Mental Health and funded by the City Council; the goal of GMHI is to improve the capacity of community-based organizations to identify depression and alcohol/ substance use disorders among older adults and to connect those in need with support services and/or treatment or to provide those support and treatment services. There are 22 community based organizations participating in this initiative.  Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives for Seniors (PEARLS), is an evidence-based model that has been shown to be effective in older adults with depression. The PEARLS intervention reduces depression symptoms and improves quality of life in older adults, over the course of 6-8 in-home sessions, over a period of six months. The Program has been available in NYC since, July 1, 2016, and has 9 teams, operated by 4 community based organizations, across all 5 Boroughs  DOHMH’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program in the Division of Environmental Health collaborates with DFTA in: training DFTA’s Case Managers on falls prevention in the home; conducting outreach and education with DOHMH’s Home Safety Checklist; and co-chairing New York City’s Falls Prevention Coalition.

B O O S T O X Y G E N H e l p s Yo u B r e at h e B e t t e r D u r i n g T r av e l s The great outdoors is just that, great, but nature comes with a price. Allergies and poor air quality can really do a number. Hiking and mountain biking are tremendous activities, but during certain times of the year, efficiently and effectively breathing during them can be a strain. BOOST OXYGEN is portable, easy to use, and refreshing! Using supplemental oxygen improves sleep and lifts your mood, it also

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increases mental alertness and stamina. BOOST OXYGEN supports altitude acclimation, migraines and when dealing with poor air quality. You can also ward off shortness of breath, headaches, dizziness and nausea. (Adult pro tip – BOOST is a lifesaver when it comes to hungover mornings!)

promotes energy, better mental acuity, increased capacity for exercise (and quicker recovery), as well as boosting

the immune system – so you can really get outside this summer and BREATHE!

Increased oxygen intake has been reported by health professionals as the natural health and well-being aid that

June 20, 2019 - June 26, 2019

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MOVIE S

MOVIE REVIEW: MA 

G e t h ome sa fe with Ma . Image used from slashfilm.com

Octavia Spencer has had a very interesting career. After winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2012, she has gone on

to star in many high profile films such as Snowpiercer, Hidden Figures, Zootopia and The Shape of Water. But before she was such a high profile actress, Octavia Spencer mostly worked smaller roles in films most notably in horror. She had small, even barely noticeable roles in Pulse, Drag Me To Hell and Rob Zombie’s Halloween II, the latter being only a decade ago. Things have changed so quickly for the talented actress. Now Spencer returns to the horror genre this time as the main star and villain in the titular Ma. Will her foray into horror villain be successful, or should Spencer have stayed away? The story for Ma is like the character’s false nature: it only wants to play it safe. The story follows Maggie, a teenager who has moved with her mother back to her old home town. She quickly makes friends and in an attempt to get alcohol befriend a woman named Sue Ann who is incredibly generous and kind to them, so much so that she offers to open up

her basement as a place for them to drink and party. Soon Sue Ann’s home becomes the local hang out for all the high school students and she earns the nickname Ma. However after a few disturbing events the kids begin to move further away from Sue Ann which

ends up making her more and more dangerous. On the surface Ma comes off as a simple stalker film and unfortunately for the film and us it mostly is. Things start off rather slow with the kids and Sue Ann getting to know each other more and more, it honestly begins more like a drama then a horror film. But once it becomes clear that something is wrong with Sue Ann things begin begins to steadily spiral into a horror film. Honestly the pacing is quite good allowing us time to get to know the characters and establish the relationship with Sue Ann and the others. Be that as it may once the film finally forms into a horror film things become rather generic and even predictable. Sure it’s still a well made horror film with some decently tense moments and the third act itself is very exciting and makes for a very good, grand finale but it really does feel like “been there, done that” and in a time when horror films are better, smarter and more creative then they’ve been

By Jonathan Gonzalez in years and especially coming from the auteurs at Blumhouse I expected so much more. The story does have potential and even lightly touches on some interesting ideas. Unfortunately it doesn’t try to go for that potential, those “lightly touched ideas” come far too late.

The characters for Ma are mostly forgettable Sue Ann is a very good horror villain. Her initial kind and generous demeanor does a good job of masking her true self and even threw myself off guard for a moment. Despite her height and age she still manages to be an incredibly intimidating and imposing character in her moments of rage and in her quieter moments such as her manipulating the kids are rather unsettling. But Sue Ann is far more then a villain meant to be feared, in fact Sue Ann is one of the most sympathetic villains I’ve seen in a very long time. Throughout the film there are flashbacks of Sue Ann as a teenager and what sent her on the path to becoming who she is. While I feel they could have gone further and more grim with these flashbacks they still do an excellent job of framing the character. It isn’t long before you learn why she clings to these kids, why she has violent out bursts and before you

know it you actually find yourself rooting for her from time to time. The only flaw in her character is that the writers wanted to make Sue Ann a victim of racism, seeing that she’s lived her life in a predominately white, Podunk town but it only comes into play in the last ten minutes and as such doesn’t work which is a shame because it only would have made the sad, tragic story of Sue Ann even stronger and herself even more of a likable character. That being said I would honestly love to see Sue Ann in another film. If the likes of Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers and The Stepfather could find ways to come back surely Sue Ann as an idea or two up her sleeve. Maggie is an OK character. She’s more a typical horror movie hero: selfless, noble, wants to help everyone, etc, etc. She isn’t bad but she is bland, I honestly had to wrack my brains to think of anything to talk about her character but I keep coming up with nothing. The remaining cast of characters aren’t even worth mentioning. They exist to take up space and that’s about it. Heck, calling them paper thin would actually be giving them too much depth. There were far too many moments where I forgot most of these characters even existed and time and time again the shock of seeing a character who I forgot all about was more alarming then the film’s jump scares. It’s clear all the attention was given to the character of Sue Ann, as it should, but without memorable or likable characters to support the film really just comes off more as a one woman show.

Acting for Ma is carried solely by one person Octavia Spencer gives an excellent performance as Sue Ann. From the simple start Spencer is captivating and as the film goes on she gets better and better. Spencer makes for a frightening villain and is effective whenever she is driven to anger and violence. But the moments where we’re meant to sympathize with Sue Ann are even better. Not only are these moments moving but she creates such empathy for her character that the idea that she’s on the brink of a violent rampage is nonexistent.

At Black Colleges, Baseball Teams Are Missing both elite programs with more resources and professional teams dangling signing bonuses. Sherman Reed, in his ninth season as the coach at Coppin State, said that he commiserates with a handful of African-American college coaches, like Edwin Thompson at Eastern Kentucky and Kerrick Jackson at Southern University, about the difficulties of recruiting. “Economics plays such a big part of this,” Reed said. “More than people want to say.” Showcase events that gather the best talent, for example, can cost about $800 for a player to attend, and include as many as 1,000 players — but

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perhaps only a dozen African-Americans, Reed said. Of those, he said, eight might have major-college tools. “It’s a rat race to get those kids,” Reed said. “We like the kid, but Penn State is there and likes the kid, Vanderbilt is there and likes the kid. They always ask, ‘Coach, how many guys have you got drafted?’ I tell them, ‘If I get you, you’ll be the first one.’” At the other end of the food chain, he said, are the emails and phone calls from African-American high school players who Reed believes should be aiming lower than Division I. “Instead of ignoring the kid’s video, I try to be truthful,” Reed said. “I might say, ‘There’s some tools I like, but there’s a good junior college in your area where

you can learn your trade.’” The sweet spot for Reed works something like this: a tip from his extensive web of contacts about a player who, for whatever reason, has fallen through the cracks. Someone like Jahmon Taylor, a live-armed pitcher from Altamonte Springs, Fla., whom Rickie Weeks Sr. — the father of a former big leaguer and top overall pick out of Southern University — said was not being recruited. Or a player like Nazir McIlwain, a first baseman from Passaic, N.J., who could not afford the admission fee to a showcase that might have showed off his sweet swing to bigger programs. Lynn Thompson, the athletic director at

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Bethune-Cookman since 1990, gives every new coach he hires the same marching orders: “We just happen to be historically black; we’re not exclusively black.” Both are seniors at Coppin State now. Taylor owns the record for career strikeouts, and McIlwain set the one for hits. But they are among only six AfricanAmericans on Reed’s current roster. Back at Bethune-Cookman, Hernandez hopes for a similar progression for Khalil Smith, a freshman outfielder from Southfield, Mich. Smith starred on an entirely African-American team in high school, and he was close to Demetrius Sims, a minor leaguer in the Miami Marlins organization who starred at Bethune-Cookman.

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MOVIE S

MOVIE REVIEW: Brightburn  Everyone knows the story of Superman. A baby who escaped the destruction of his home planet, crashed to Earth and was raised by a kindly couple in the middle of nowhere. He grew into the very personification of truth, justice and the American way, protecting the innocent and living by a strict moral code. Of course the idea of a “What If” story has always existed such as what if Superman grew up to become a villain? That’s what the film Brightburn delves into and it does not pull any punches with it’s concept.

The story for Brightburn is clever and very tense. The film follows Tori and Kyle Breyer, a young couple who find a baby in a spaceship and raise him as their own. The child, Brandon, initially grows into a kind young boy and early on a sense of tragedy already sets in. It hurts to see this family being happy and not having a care in the world and seeing this intelligent boy with so much potential and knowing full well what monster he will become gives a strong sense of dread throughout. It isn’t long until Brandon begins to turn evil and from here the film chooses not only to take it’s time with his transition but adds a unsettling sense of realism to it. Tori and Kyle soon discover images of gore and mutilated bodies mixed among hidden pornography in Brandon’s room, Brandon becomes quiet and aggressive. A rather interesting aspect of this is his growing sense of toxic masculinity where he begins to obsesses over and stalk a fellow classmate, acting as if she belongs to him. It isn’t just simply a Superman type character turning into mustache twirling super villain but rather psych 101, a look into how a boy turns into a serial killer which truly makes the whole thing even more disturbing. The story goes through a slow burn, building up to when Brandon becomes the bad guy and as it progresses the tension grows more and more to the point that even simple scenes keep you on edge. The tension pays off greatly with Brandon’s full transformation and final rampage which is exciting as it is terrifying and disturbing and it all works so well thanks to the building of tension. The subversion is interesting and works very well, however the problem with it is that it also comes off as accidentally xenophobic. Superman has always meant to symbolize an immigrant, now more then ever. So to make the immigrant the violent

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psychopath who rampages through the “heartland” comes off quite bad. It was clearly an after thought but still one that leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth. Whoops. Not only that but it feels even more could have been done with the story. While it is tense and engaging with a good payoff it still comes off as a simple serial killer origin and seems to play it safe too often. Much more could have been done with the story however what we get is still quite good and nice starting point in what has the potential to grow.

The characters for Brightburn are interesting but flawed Tori and Kyle Breyer are both pretty good characters though at times Tori can be more problematic. Tori is a good and loving mother who always defends her son and believes there is good in him. That’s fine, heck it’s what really lends itself to the tragedy of it all. However it doesn’t take long for it to become irksome as there is clearly something wrong with Brandon and her refusal to see it goes to far. Kyle, on the other hand, is a more likable character as from early on he knows

something is wrong and keeps trying to so something only to be stopped by Tori each and every time. Brandon is an interesting parallel to Superman. While Superman wants to do good and protect the innocent Brandon is cruel, arrogant, violent, misogynistic and wants to rule over mankind. This makes for not only an interesting juxtaposition but a pretty good villain. But like the story itself Brandon could have been so much more. The problem is that the writers wanted him to get to being The Bad Guy as soon as possible and thus threw out any kind of character development he could have had. Brandon starts off as an average

By Jonathan Gonzalez

boy: A good student, a good son who loves his parents, just your run of the mill American boy. However, he soon starts hearing sounds from the ship he arrived in as a baby, hidden in his parents barn, and at the drop of a pin is ready to become evil. Just like that. No struggle, no conflict, just “Oh, guess I’ll be evil then”. Again this is a boy who had a normal, loving upbringing and he never once questions why he should be evil. He never fights the temptation, he never simply wants to remain the good boy he’s always been and if that had been the case it would have given his character so much depth and would have lent itself to the film so greatly. He may be a good villain but he could have been more: A sympathetic, tragic character. Acting for Brightburn is well done Elizabeth Banks does well as Tory Breyer. Banks does a good job, working well with her costars and coming off sincerely as a mother protecting her child. Banks manages to carry the film through many scenes and is always a commanding presence.

David Denman does a good job as Kyle Breyer. Denman gives one of the finest performances of his career as his performance really made me feel for Kyle’s plight more and more. It is nice to see him doing more serious roles which really add to his acting talent. Jackson A. Dunn gives a phenomenal performance as Brandon Breyer. Dunn is incredibly unsettling as Brandon coming off as both cruel and smug all while being calm and collected. He has his moments of outbursts where he shows the underlying rage of his character and in such moments is intimidating

June 20, 2019 - June 26, 2019

but it’s his collected moments, his calculating moments which make him memorable. Mark my words this kid is going to have a long and successful career in the horror genre. Lastly the effects and makeup are absolutely stupendous. The effects used for Brandon’s powers are truly unbelievable. With his heat vision, flight and all the destruction he wreaks with them makes it seem like the film had a larger budget. However the budget is only six million and the filmmakers managed to make it look bigger and grander then it’s small budget would suggest. The makeup and gore effects are also effective. I tend to like gory movies and as such it would take a lot to cause me to even flinch. Brightburn didn’t make me flinch, he caused me to reel in disgust. The more practical effects are startling and grim looking painful and realistic while the minimal use of CG gore is used to it’s greatest potential as one moment in particular shocked me so much that I gasped out loud in the theater. Even John Wick 3 wasn’t

this visceral. With such good gore effects and even kills Brightburn is truly not for the faint of heart. Final Thoughts: While it doesn’t reach it’s full potential Brightburn is still a very entertaining horror film and an interesting “What If” Superman film. The story is tense and has some good ideas, the acting is done very well, the effects are amazing and the finale is a well earned payoff to the whole film. It isn’t for everyone but if a dark and gory subversion of one of our more beloved heroes is up your alley then check out Brightburn. Verdict: 3/5

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BLAZING A PATH FOR HBCU ACHIEVEMENT

Join six future Black media stars as they begin their journey. Head to www.nnpa.org/chevydtu and be there at the beginning.

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June 20, 2019 - June 26, 2019