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Hugh Masekela: 10 key performances, from afrobeat to apartheid anthems
The South African trumpeter, who has died aged 78, spanned a huge variety of styles – from disco-pop to fiercely political jazz By Robin...
Jay Murdock
Jan 24, 20184 min read


The return of blaxploitation: why the time is right to bring back Shaft and Foxy Brown
The 70s genre is set to dominate big screens again with a slew of remakes and reboots. But where will these films fit in contemporary...
Jay Murdock
Jan 11, 20186 min read


Mavis Staples on Prince, Trump, Black Lives Matter, and Her Exercise Regimen
“I decided if I want to continue to sing, which I love, I need to keep moving,” the singer and civil-rights activist Mavis Staples said....
Jay Murdock
Sep 12, 20176 min read


Dick Gregory Was a Sledgehammer of Truth
When I saw Dick Gregory speak at a banquet, not a single fork hit a plate. Not a single chair faced away from the stage. Mr. Gregory was...
Jay Murdock
Aug 23, 20174 min read


Diversity on stage: who’s afraid of color-blind casting?
The decision of Edward Albee’s estate to deny production rights over the casting choice of a black actor has reignited a debate over...
Jay Murdock
May 22, 20174 min read


The Reality Show Presidency Goes to War
Why Trump Was Able to Sucker the World on Syria By NEAL GABLER | APRIL 12, 2017 It is pretty amazing how quickly the media and suck-up...
Jay Murdock
Apr 13, 20176 min read


‘We can’t wait for Hollywood to change’ – the directors reframing black hist
From Raoul Peck’s I Am Not Your Negro to Ava DuVernay’s 13th, the factual film-makers tackling race in the era of Black Lives Matter...
Jay Murdock
Apr 3, 20179 min read


Chuck Berry tributes pour in: ‘Greatest rock‘n’roll writer who ever lived’
Some of the most famous names in music have paid their respects to the 90-year-old, who was seen as a pioneer of rock‘n’roll By James...
Jay Murdock
Mar 19, 20174 min read


Joni Sledge, member of the group Sister Sledge, dies aged 60
The singer, known for the 70s disco anthem We Are Family, was found dead in her home in Phoenix, Arizona By Associated Press / Saturday,...
Jay Murdock
Mar 11, 20172 min read


Underground is the history lesson America (and Ben Carson) needs
Now in its second season, the underground railroad drama is a slick yet complex look at one of the least examined stories of the...
Jay Murdock
Mar 8, 20173 min read


Nas & Erykah Badu “This Bitter Land” (BKH Exclusive – Unofficial Video)
#ErykahBadu #MotionPictures #Music #Nas
Jay Murdock
Mar 1, 20171 min read


Moonlight becomes him: Barry Jenkins’s journey from a Miami housing project to the Oscars
He had a hand-to-mouth childhood in a rough neighbourhood, then went to a football college. So how did the 37-year-old end up making the...
Jay Murdock
Mar 1, 20176 min read


From gay rights to Black Lives Matter: why network TV suddenly got serious
Shows such as When We Rise and Shots Fired are introducing social issues into a schedule filled with escapism but can the Big Four ever...
Jay Murdock
Feb 27, 20174 min read


Africa’s Great Civilizations Have Been Suppressed, Gates Says
NPR’s Steve Inskeep talks to Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr., who sets out to change what known about those civilizations with his...
Jay Murdock
Feb 27, 20171 min read


Obama loves it, Trump called it racist: why Black-ish is TV’s most divisive show
It has divided presidential opinion with its treatment of race, but Kenya Barris’s series is redefining modern comedy by balancing issues...
Jay Murdock
Feb 25, 20177 min read


Fans Remember Junie Morrison, the Ohio Players Founder Has Died at 62
The funk legend’s influence on music will live on By Britni Danielle /Ebony / February 17, 2017 Music has lost another legend. Funk...
Jay Murdock
Feb 17, 20173 min read


How Kirk Franklin Is Pushing The Boundaries Of Gospel
Blending secular sounds with an uplifting devotional message, the artist aims to “make God famous” through his music. By Vinson...
Jay Murdock
Feb 17, 201721 min read


Get Out: the horror film that shows it’s scary to be a black man in America
The first trailer for Jordan Peele’s directorial debut about a murderous white community is a refreshing vision in a genre that often...
Jay Murdock
Feb 16, 20174 min read


Al Jarreau, Grammy-winning jazz, pop and R&B singer, dies at 76
Wisconsin native won seven Grammys in three categories in 50-year career. Biggest hits were We’re in This Love Together and Moonlighting...
Jay Murdock
Feb 12, 20173 min read


Ava DuVernay on the legacy of slavery: ‘The sad truth is that some minds will not be changed’
DuVernay’s last film, Selma, was overlooked at the Oscars. Her documentary 13th, which links Trump-era America to its racist past, is a...
Jay Murdock
Feb 6, 20175 min read
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