New Urban Comedy Thriller, "Pieces of David"

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DEE PRODUCTION STUDIOS ANNOUNCES VIMEO RELEASE OF THE URBAN COMEDY THRILLER "PIECES OF DAVID 

 

Chicago, IL -- Deep Production Studios announced today that its 2017 urban comedy thriller Pieces of David will be released on February 14, 2019 on Vimeo. Written, directed, and produced by Lawrence Lee Wallace, Pieces of David stars Cynda Williams and Anita Nicole Brown in a dark comedy that has been billed as Pulp Fiction meets Big Little Lies.

Cynda Williams, who has previously been featured in One False Move (1992), Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999), and Mo' Better Blues (1990) stars as the hard-nosed Detective Elaine charged with investigating a heinous crime. Anita Nicole Brown, Chicago native, aspiring actress, and type 1 diabetes activist, takes on the role of Diane.

Pieces of David follows the darkly humorous story of four women, including Brown's Diane, who accidentally kill a man they unknowingly were all romantically linked to. Panicked after the murder, the women attempt to dismember and dispose of his body. The film chronicles their attempts to cover up the murder while the authorities are hot on their trail, with Williams' Detective Elaine leading the charge.

69-Year Old Black Pageant Winner Featured on Cover of Speakers Magazine

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MS. BLACK FIT AND FINE IS THE COVER STORY OF FEBRUARY SPEAKERS MAGAZINE

Detroit, MI  The February issue of Speakers Magazine is online and the printed copies will be distributed to all attendees at the Michigan Association for Female Entrepreneurs (MAFE) at the organization's annual Women's Leadership Forum, March 26 at the Hilton Garden Inn Southfield on 26000 American Drive, Southfield, Michigan.  Dr. Geneva Williams, who is on this month's cover, is the co-host of the event and will facilitate a panel of powerful women who will share their wisdom, insight, inspirational stories and action-oriented strategies for creating lasting change.

In addition, Speakers Magazine publisher, Pam Perry, will be onsite doing podcasts, live-stream videos and real-time social media updates.

"With this being the Year of the Woman, this year's forum will surely bring out more woman and promote more dialogue about the issues that women face daily," said Dr. Williams, who hosts a weekly podcast called Ignite2Impact and is also the reigning Ms. Black Fit and Fine.

See How After 30 Years in Prison Gibran Tariq Became A Successful Entrepreneur

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MEET GIBRAN TARIQ, AUTHOR & CEO OF A NEW AND THRIVING BLACK-OWNED PUBLISHING COMPANY

Nationwide  -- For most of his life, he was the guy most wannabee thugs wished they could be. Officially declared a "menace to society", he was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for his role as mastermind of a series of daring bank robberies in the 70's. Two involved shootouts. One with the police. The other with a citizen in a bank parking lot where he narrowly missed being killed. While confined, he took part in an even more daring prison escape.

As a boy, he toyed with the alphabets like most kids his age played with marbles, and from the start, there appeared to be a household conspiracy to convert him into a writer. By the time he was ten, he possessed a private library fit for a scholar, a new typewriter, a big desk, and plenty of blank paper. By 11, he had mastered the dictionary, was a whiz at Scrabble, and was an honor roll student in school. At twelve, he had completed his first novel.

By his 13th birthday, he had discovered hustling and adopted "the streets" as his home. By 14, he was in reform school for assaulting a police officer.

Blackface Controversy and America's Perception of Real Black Faces

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VA GOV AND ATTY GEN MINSTREL BLACK FACES EVOKE AMERICA'S UNCANNY PREOCCUPATION WITH REAL BLACK FACES

Nationwide  C'mon. I need ev'rybody singin'. Coon Man (aka Virginia Governor Ralph Northam) you take the lead. I need all eleven seceding Southern states to join in: "I wish I was in the land of cotton, old times there are not forgotten." Now Northern States I need you to chime in. After all, you insured the enslaved cargo and the enslavement ships; exported the harvest from the enslaved labor; and ultimately removed the troops from the South ushering in Jim Crow. A monumental betrayal of African-Americans! Sing from your gut: "Look away, look away, look away Dixie Land."

The ships that appeared off the coast of Africa didn't emblazon a Confederate flag but a red, white and blue flag, with stars. And we were all led to believe enslavement was a southern peculiar institution: "Den carry me back to ole Virginny." The real black faces know better.

Checkout This New Organization Looking To Funding Black-Owned Businesses

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MEET THE MEN BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION THAT HAS ALREADY GIVEN MORE THAN $6 MILLION IN FUNDING TO BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES

Nationwide -- Invest in an entrepreneur of color and the rest of the dominoes will fall. Charlotte's Urban Advisors, an impact investment consulting firm, recently announced the launch of a fund that replicates this idea.

The Urban Progress Community Fund backs minority-owned businesses that are "high-impact," which, by the fund's standards, means it creates jobs, hires a diverse workforce, and offers services or products beneficial for low to moderate-income people and communities.

The hope is a single investment -- in some way, shape or form -- can help boost the economy, bring about upward mobility and achieve social justice.

Chicago Black History Museum to Recognize Community Leaders With "Gentle Warrior Awards Gala"

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NATIONAL A. PHILIP RANDOLPH PULLMAN PORTERS MUSEUM, IN COLLABORATION WITH THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR, PRESENTS THE 2019 A. PHILIP RANDOLPH "GENTLE WARRIOR AWARDS GALA" FUNDRAISER

(left to right) Juliana Stratton, the first Black woman elected lieutenant governor of Illinois; Jessie White, veteran Secretary of State, who has held and effectively run the office longer than any other; and Robert Reiter, President of the Chicago Federation of Labor, the third largest central labor council of the national AFL-CIO

Chicago, IL -- The National A. Philip Randolph Pullman Porter Museum (NAPRPP) in collaboration with the Chicago Federation of Labor, Presents the 2019 A. Philip Randolph "Gentle Warrior Awards." The gala and fundraiser will be held at Chicago's historic Parkway Ballroom, 4455 S. King Drive on Sunday, on February 24 from 5pm to 9pm.

The "Gentle Warrior Award" pays tribute to A. Philip Randolph, Founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first Black Labor Union in America to be chartered under the American Federation of Labor. Randolph was one of America's foremost labor and civil rights leaders, who became known as the "Gentle Warrior."

In 2000, in his honor, the NAPRPP Museum created the Gentle Warrior Awards Gala to recognize individuals who exhibit a similar commitment, focus and, tenacity that Randolph displayed.

Attorney Renamed Top 10 Immigration and Criminal Lawyer

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ATTORNEY ZULU ALI RENAMED TOP 10 IMMIGRATION AND CRIMINAL LAWYER BY ATTORNEY AND PRACTICE MAGAZINE

Nationwide  -- Attorney Zulu Ali of the Law Offices of Zulu Ali in Riverside, California has been named Top 10 Criminal Defense Lawyer and Immigration Lawyer in the state of California by Attorney and Practice Magazine. Specializing in providing attorneys and legal practitioners with insight and advice from other legal professionals, as well as opinions and updates on the latest legal news in a wide variety of practice areas, Attorney and Practice Magazine awards list was created to recognize the achievements of the top 1% of trial lawyers. The organization awards the top attorneys in several legal practice areas including Immigration and Criminal Defense.

Attorney Zulu Ali, a native of Shelbyville, Tennessee, is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served with the Marine Security Forces. After graduating from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy, Attorney Ali served as a sworn police officer with the City of Shelbyville, City of Lewisburg, and Vanderbilt Police Departments, respectively.

Attorney Ali earned a Juris Doctorate (law degree) from Trinity International University Law School and a liberal arts degree with an emphasis in African Studies from Regents College through a consortium with Tennessee State University.

New Film and Soundtrack to Feature R&B Star, Barachi

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LINDSAY GUION, ALBUM PRODUCER + CONTENDER FOR THE 61ST GRAMMY AWARDS, LAUNCHES FILM + SOUNDTRACK, "THERAPY"

Nationwide -- Therapy represents the point in the horizon where the future soul kisses the past. The project brings the sweet sincerity of classic soul to the swag-branded strains of today's techno-pop. It's a global sound, sun-kissed in Miami, incubated in L.A. and polished to perfection in the skies between.

Deliciously conflicted, the actor presents himself as a hopeless romantic trapped in the chiseled young body of a driven, multi-faceted and highly successful brother in possession of the means and desires to play -- a player in every sense: musically, financially and sexually. This cooks up into quite a quandary. Thus, the soundtrack to our Valentino's sensual short film: Therapy.

Therapy unfolds in a dream state haze, weaving a story of lovers caught up in the spell of passion and desire that soon dissolves into obsession, an ultimatum... and consequences. The heat is palpable. From "Honey" which drips with warm keyboard chords and percussive palpitations to the more innocent, back-in-the-day love letter "Tell Me" in which Doo Wop intersects where the Bass drops.

First Black Woman to Chair Maryland State Bar Association's Tax Division

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HBCU ALUM BEVERLY WINSTEAD, ESQ BECOMES FIRST BLACK WOMAN AND PERSON OF COLOR IN HISTORY TO CHAIR THE MARYLAND STATE BAR ASSOCIATION'S TAX DIVISION

Baltimore, MD  -- Beverly L. Winstead, ESQ made history when she was appointed as Chair of the Tax Division for the Maryland State Bar Association -- the first Black woman and person of color to hold the position since the organization was founded in 1896. She'll serve her first term through fall 2019.

As Tax Chair, the Bowie State University alumna immediately assembled a Diversity and Inclusion Committee to prioritize recruitment and mentoring for diverse attorneys and law students in the tax field. She's also created guidelines for members to prioritize diversity and inclusion initiatives in their workplaces and hiring practices. Additionally, under her leadership, the Tax Section created a statewide tax hotline to assist furloughed federal employees and government contractors during the longest government shutdown in US history.

A personal and business tax expert, Attorney Winstead is the managing attorney for the Law Office of Beverly Winstead, LLC where she handles client disputes with the IRS and state taxing agencies. She also serves as Clinic Director and Clinical Law Instructor for the Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic at the University of Maryland, Carey School of Law, where she advocates on behalf of low income taxpayers and teaches students advocacy skills needed to resolve federal and state tax controversies. Attorney Winstead is also a member of the Steering Committee for the American Bar Association's International Tax Section and Vice Chair of the Tax Section for the National Bar Association.

Black-Owned Businesses on a Path to Domination

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BLACK-OWNED BUSINESSES ON A PATH TO DOMINATION

Nationwide -- There was a time several decades ago when the existence of even a single Black-owned business was enough to invoke feelings of pride and accomplishment that rang throughout a Black community. We were proud and seemed to walk taller past that business on the corner that we knew was owned by one of us. Even if we didn't know the owner, there was that feeling that they were representing the best of each of and every one of us, and that felt good.

Fast forward to 2019 and that good feeling has grown exponentially.Black-owned businesses of today are no longer typecast to barbecue joints and barber shops. Think of any line of business and chances are, African-Americans make up a share of the ownership. It's not every day we stop to reflect on the fact that some of the best small businesses are Black-owned, but when the thought occurs, it can be strong, warm, and empowering.

Blacks still represent a small share of American entrepreneurs, but according to SmallBizTrends.com, a 2018 survey revealed that black business ownership was up 400% from the previous year. In fact, of all the minority business owners launching in this time frame, African-Americans made up the largest share. This data speaks volumes and calls attention to the acceleration of black entrepreneurial success. More exciting is the kind of businesses we're starting. Our grandparents' barbecue joints and barber shops are not what Black gen x'ers and Black millennials have in mind. These generations are already neck deep in their own flavors of business, including software & tech companies, investment firms, and manufacturing.

Black Beverly Hills Apparel Brand Being Sued By Hotel

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BLACK BEVERLY HILLS APPAREL BRAND IS BEING SUED BY THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL

Los Angeles, CA  -- Black Beverly Hills is no stranger to lawsuits in the city of Beverly Hills. The first lawsuit was filed by the City of Beverly Hills where Robert China Berry Jr. had to defend his company from the city. The City wanted to shut him down based on the name of his company as well as an alleged case of trademark infringement. Black Beverly Hills settled the case by only having to tweak its logo to stay in business.

Now, The Beverly Hills Hotel is suing Mr. Berry and Black Beverly Hills for alleged trademark infringement. Mr. Berry feels this is a pattern and that he is being singled out because of the name of his business and what it represents to the urban community in Los Angeles. "The reason for our design was to pay homage to the famous black architect Paul Revere Williams who designed the Polo Lounge, Crescent Wing, and the hotel's signage. It is not our intent to infringe," Berry said.

The Beverly Hills Hotel is operated by the Dorchester Group and is owned by Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), an arm of the Ministry of Finance of Brunei. The Dorchester group has been protested for more than three years because the oil-rich sultan said he would introduce Shariah law in Brunei with penalties, including death, for homosexuality. The Sultan, one Hassanal Bolkiah, oversees the small but vastly wealthy country of Brunei, where Sharia law has been implemented. As Wehoville points out, this would allow the country of Brunei to sentence gay and lesbian people to be stoned to death, among other atrocities - with occasional protests that include actors and activists as diverse as Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Richard Branson, and John Legend.

HBCU Grad Becomes Certified Balloon Artist

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FISK UNIVERSITY ALUMNUS RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION AS CERTIFIED BALLOON ARTIST

Nashville, TN  -- Lamar M. Allen, founder of Nashville-based balloon design company LaMarvelous Balloons, has received international certification as a Certified Balloon Artist. The certification was administered by the Qualatex Balloon Network, a professional organization dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and quality in balloon decorations. There are only 4,000 Certified Balloon Artists worldwide, 4 of them (now including Allen) located in Nashville, TN.

The CBA certification process is a key program in the Qualatex Balloon Network, which establishes industry standards and guidelines for balloon professionals. To achieve certification, CBA candidates are required to:

1. Satisfactorily complete a series of exams;

2. Apply knowledge of skills and techniques by designing and building professional balloon deliveries, arrangements, and decor;

3. Demonstrate their understanding of design theories, delivery techniques, and business systems through an oral presentation to a panel of industry leaders.

See How Frederick Douglass Global Fellow Chinwendu L. Maduegbunam Benefits From Studying Abroad

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Of the more than 330,000 U.S. students studying abroad, only 6.1 percent are African American and 10.1 percent are Latino. This is one in a series of articles by students of color who are breaking down barriers by studying abroad thanks to the Frederick Douglass Global Fellows program, which awards 10 full scholarships a year to students at Minority Serving Institutions.

These students will periodically share their stories, hopefully inspiring others to apply. Join our social media campaign, #CIEEmpowered #MSInspirational #FrederickDouglassGlobalFellows, that is celebrating these extraordinary students, like Chinwendu L. Maduegbunam, a senior at Fayetteville State University, and their experiences studying abroad. Please view and share Chinwendu’s video story at http://bit.ly/ChinwenduMaduegbunam

"Embracing My Imperfections Studying Abroad in London"

Growing up in North Carolina, I was shy and my need to be perfect in everything I did made it difficult to connect with others. I always thought I had to be perfect: playing basketball, earning high grades, being the perfect daughter, etc.  I feared how others would judge me so I rarely opened up to others. But traveling to London as a Frederick Douglass Global Fellow in the summer of 2017 was an opportunity for me to grow.

I always desired to travel abroad and learn how other people lived, to connect with experiences that differed from my own. Exploring the streets of London, visiting the peace walls in Northern Ireland, and learning about British culture with new students was fun and relaxing. I loved living each day with a singular purpose: enjoying life. In my new environment, I no longer felt suffocated by the desire to be perfect.

Leaving perfection behind, I finally had an opportunity to connect with others in sharing circles that were an important part of the program. Each day, we gathered together to reflect on our experiences. Through the collective sharing of our past struggles and privileges, we laughed and cried together, and I had a space to practice vulnerability and break down my walls.

Promote Your Event On New frocentric Platform Bringing Afrocentric Programs To Our Community

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JUST IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH, NEW PLATFORM BRINGS AFROCENTRIC EVENTS TO YOU

Nationwide  -- A new event platform called frocentric connects Black and African people within diaspora to events that are 'Afrocentric' in nature.After understanding that larger, well known ticket sites do not have a problem listing and taking money from right-winged, anti-Black organizations, Wilson, 40, the founder of frocentric started building his own platform.

Even with a background in both programming and digital marketing, it took over a year to take frocentric from concept to launch.

He said, "I built frocentric from the ground up with the aim of serving the black experience by creating a common hub where people can find similar events in one place. The true value of any event or meetup is what you received from attending. However, the energy surrounding the website where you buy your tickets is just as important as the message."

With the slogan 'Find Events that Matter', the concept of frocentric is more than just an event marketplace, but a platform geared towards promoting events that channel the black experience through activism, business, music, culture and arts.

Black Author Pens Thrillers About Art Theft

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AUTHOR GWENDOLYN CAHILL RELEASES "WHISPERING ARISING" -- A POWERFUL DETECTIVE SWOOP THRILLER

Nationwide  -- Gwendolyn Cahill-Gee, creator of Detective Swoop and author of They Shall Swoop will win your heart with her debut art theft novel and knock you out in the sequel, Whispering Arising. They Shall Swoop, an action-packed mystery features art theft specialist Detective Ted Swoop whose chase to stop the unwanted intruders of Omari Boutique, an award-winning Afro-Caribbean art gallery in Newark, New Jersey leads to a spelling binding tale of international intrigue, cover-ups and mysterious deaths.

Readers, novelist and famous movie directors have expressed great enthusiasm for Detective Swoop. Literary Pearls is proud to announce that a pending two book deal is in the works.

Gwendolyn comments, "Diddy fell in love with Detective Swoop. We want to develop a movie and series based on Detective Swoop. There are several well-known directors interested in the project. They Shall Swoop and the sequel, Whispering Arising, keeps you reading."

Black-Owned Mama Biscuit Brand Makes History

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BLACK-OWNED MAMA BISCUIT® SCORES DISTRIBUTION WITH WALMART, SAM'S CLUB, WHOLE FOODS, AMAZON, AND WEGMANS WITH 127-YEAR OLD FAMILY BISCUIT RECIPE

Washington, DC -- Meet Lesley Riley, CEO of Mama Biscuit® (www.mamabiscuit.com), the family-friendly, all-natural, gluten-free gourmet baking company. What started as a loving tribute to her grandma's 127-year old family recipe for mouth-watering southern biscuits to comfortable cobblers has now become a popular must-have with over 60 scrumptious products and 32 items in rotation. Mama Biscuit® celebrates 4th anniversary with distribution in Walmart, Whole Foods (selected markets), Sam's Club, Amazon, Wegmans and QVC and more to come.

"I wanted to create the nostalgia of home cooking from my grandma's recipes with a modern twist. That is what Mama Biscuit® is. Simple and authentic handwritten recipes passed down from generations," says Riley. Mama Biscuit®, Riley, is scheduled to appear on 'In the Kitchen with David' on QVC, on March 17.

Lesley Riley launched her online gourmet baking company in 2015, after cooking for family and friends for years. The former restauranteur, recipe developer is affectionately called 'Mama Biscuit'. After trial, tribulation, and rejection from traditional banks to secure funding to launch her business, Riley self-funded Mama Biscuit®, and continues working her day job as an IT Project Manager. "My first baking creation for retail was an Apple Pear Pistachio Gourmet Biscuit, this cleaner, healthy and delicious breakfast/dessert item quickly became an instant hit. Through consistency, word of mouth and persistence, we have secured national distribution from major brands. My team consists of 15 outstanding employees which include family members for quality control, sales, marketing, and support. When you bake with love, you have fun and it comes out in the taste," says Riley.