By Dwight Brown NNPA Film Critic “Gospel music has kept us afloat. It’s very important to black people,” says Mavis Staples. Staples and Smokey Robinson narrate “Rejoice & Shout,” a comprehensive, historical and enligtening look at the phenomenon of gospel music. Gospel music has evolved along with the African American experience for over 100 years. […]
Fast Five (***1/2)
By Dwight Brown NNPA Film Critic It’s like jumping into a car, shoving it in gear, stomping on the accelerator and driving recklessly without a seatbelt. From the opening, adrenalin-pumping prison bus escape to a heart-pounding car theft aboard a fast-moving train, Fast Five throws it down from the jump… Car thief Dom Torreto (Vin […]
Life, Above All (***1/2)
By Dwight Brown NNPA Film Critic Thirty years after the AIDS epidemic first rattled the world, it still rages in sub-Sahara Africa. Few films have captured the plague’s fury on the motherland, until now. This enligtening, sensitive and inspiring screen adaptation of Allan Stratton’s novel “Chanda’s Secrets” puts a human face on a cure-defying disease. […]
Fort Lauderdale — 100 Years In The Making
Remember when Fort Lauderdale was crowned the ultimate party town for rowdy frat boys on spring break? Times have changed. Gone are the throngs of adolescent revelers (they’re in Cancun). Gone are the hippy swimwear boutiques that used to… .>> Read More
Miami — Luxury Vacations for Grown-ups
Miami is often portrayed as a mere playground for twentysomethings. In fact, this versatile city/county offers bliss to mature, moneyed adults seeking luxury, culture, a quiet refuge, fine dining and sophistication with their sunny vacation. >> Read More
Ten Best Films of 2010
By Dwight Brown Film Critic NNPA In 2010, high-quality movies abounded, though there was a noticeable dearth of black themed-movies — except for Tyler Perry films. Still, great African-American actors found high caliber product in which they could display their talent. The top 10 movies listed are the tip of the iceberg. Check them out […]
Barbados: The Good-Time Caribbean Island
Barbados is the good-time Island. This easternmost Caribbean isle is south of the hurricane belt (good weather), has average 84-88 degree temperatures (warm sun), and is inhabited by friendly people (fraternizing with locals is a joy). Tony resorts (from boutique to big) are plentiful, cultural sites abound (steeped in history), a variety of sports are […]
Puerto Rico: A Sea, Sand and City Vacation
Puerto Rico boasts 272 miles of coastline, diverse beaches (calm waters to pounding surfs), a world-renown rain forest, tasty cuisine (if you don’t gain ten pounds in P.R., you haven’t lived!), friendly people and a swinging nightlife. Travelers can choose between an idyllic resort getaway, and a … >> Read More
The Island of Curaçao Jazzes It Up — New Festival. New Vibe. New Resort.
Curaçao, part of the Caribbean’s Netherland Antilles Islands, is just 35 miles north of Venezuela and well south of the hurricane belt. It’s a vibrant, arid isle, largely populated (150,000) by African and Dutch descendants and also home to people of 40 different nationalities. Add to the mix music lovers who trekked to Curaçao for […]
The U.S. Virgin Islands — 3 Unique Isles, 3 Unique Experiences
Arawak, Taino, Carib and Ciboney tribes inhabited the three main U.S. Virgin Islands–St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix. Then in 1493, Christopher Columbus explored the isles and named them for Saint Ursula and her virgins. Spain, the U.K, Netherlands, France and Denmark ruled the archipelago for 400 years until the U.S. purchased it for […]