I
I
P GE12
The "e pert id r p
ouldn"t I t. Ho -
ever, tod y r p i r u bly the
hotte t trend in Americ n popul r
mu ic nd it ju t eep ettin
hotter! It' een ey element in
ever I bl creen movie • nd in
the month he d, three top r p
trIce T. LL Cool J nd Ice
Cube ill debut a cto in film
that promi e to tell it Ii e it i on
Americ ' me n treet !
The fir t, rough-edged r pper
Ice T' been livln' I rge on the
L. . hip-hop cene ince the
mid-Sf)' . He ained prominence
ith the theme to "cotars",
controversial 1988 movie bout
cop anCS g ng in L.A.
Now. Ice is et to tar a
dreadlock-weari ng undercover
policem n in "New Jack City",
ritty crime dr ma to be relea ed
by Wamer Bros. next month. The
c t i rounded out by "Saturday
Night Live" comic Chris Rock,
Bill Nunn who pi yed "Radio
Raheem" in "Do The Right
Thing, " Tracy Camilla Johns who
st rred in "She's Goua Have It,"
actress-comedienne Phyll is
T (Pupl.,
Thin ) Fit : V. nilli
Ice i bein ued by Southern
C liform r p nd d nee troupe
c lled Step By Step ho cl im he
tole hi debut in le, "Ice Ice
Baby" from one of their tune .
The memb of Step By Step are
I 0 member of Iph Phi
Alph , Americ ' olde t Bl c
fr te rmty, nd their ong i
derived from one the Alpha mo t
f mou ch nt .
The guy are doubly-m d be
cau e, b c in September, Vanill
Ice aid "lee Ice Baby" w s in
. spired by the Alpha ! He now
'Black H TO ' i a
. - - --. -
titeny of "accompli hment
by DERRICK C. LEWIS
SIIl/l Writer
Flip Fraser's "Black Heroes in
the H a 11 0 f Fa me" is a n a P:
propriate compliment to this
month's Bl ck History celebra
tions.
he show, which plays at the
Music Hall Center until Feb. 24,
features a 45 member ensemble
comprised of actors, ingers ,
4. cers, u tc a ,tenin
the age-old story of Black
achievement.
More than a ba ic history les
son, "Heroes" is a celebration of
the diversity of the Black ex-
perience. ,
Featuring an entertaining and
Insiteful debate by the likenesses
of Malcolm X. Marcus Garvey,
and Martin Luther King over
their respective ideologies. the
show focu es their ideas on a
present-day context.
in "The Hard Way," murder
my tery being rele ed by
Univer I March 8th.
Unlike Ice T, LL didn't
he itate t the chance to portr y
policem n. And while The
Hard Way" i bound to open up
new opportunities for LL Cool J,
"Uncle L" has no mbition of be
coming a movie t r!' .. But of II
the film slated to hit movie
Garvey' message was self-help
by obtaining control of our
economic future, and paying
homage to our African ancestry.
While all the mes age were
not the same, the goals were
similar. King said, "Freedom
Summer may be in the past, but
by remembering our history we
can make the 9O�s a decade of a
new dawn."
Malcolm said, "Until we
no tOt,. e ill never
be proud or unite," and Garvey
said, "You might be taken out of
Africa, but Africa runs in you.
Until we acknowledge who we
are, we will never be respected."
Besides yesterdays heroes,
the show focused on todays
heroes, like Nelson and Winnie
Mandela. Winnie Mandela was
practi ly at the front of the
anti-apartheid movement while
Nelson was in prison. The
release of Nelson Mandela after
27 years of unjust imprisonment,
TODAY'S REALITI,ES of' showed the world the- resilience
unmet dreams caused the of his character.
audience to express more en
thusiam for Malcolm's views
over King's.
King spoke of the hope of
eradicating racism, while Mal
colm spoke for equality by
whatever means necessary.
"HEROES" ALSO focused
on Black heroes from long ago,
some revealed in the history
books and some mysteriously
left out. There are the Great
Kings of Africa, like Aknenaten,
n Egyption Pharaoh, who wa
the founder of monotheism, the
wor hip of one god, or Malian
King Mansa Mussa, the riche t
king of his time, a devout Mu -
lim who laid the found tion for
West African Islamic tradition.
Imhotep, the architect of the first
Egyptian pyramid, and many
others.
Great Queens of Africa were
al 0 featured. Ashanti Queen
aTdoT Y.a ante aa, o. c
cessfuJJy drove out Brf ti h In
vaders of her country. Berber
Queen Dahia Al-Kahina. who
rough t agai nst the Arab in
vasions of North Africa in 682
A.D. Charlotte Sophia,
grandmother of British Queen
Victoria, bet you didn't know
that.
Other scene from the play
were 'Freedom Fighters,' which
included such names as Tous
saint L'Ouverture, Harriet Tub
man, Huey Newton, and Steven
Bico: "Sheroes,' Rosa Parks,'
Angela Davis, Ida B. Wells,
Black mothers, and others;
'Heroes,' Alexander Pushkin,
Kwame Nkrumah, W.E.B.
Dubois, and Paul Robeson to
name a few; 'The Great
Athletes'; and 'The Great Enter
tainers,' featuring favorite rein-
Fe,dback Litl.: Recently. a
caller bugged bout the new face
ditions by Nat "King" Cole,
Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong,
Diana Ross, Bob Marley, and
Marvin Gaye.
Fraser's creation, with the
help of J.D. Douglas and Ken
Kendricks, broke box office
records aU over Britain during a
three-year tour.
"Heroes" has been seen by
more Black Britons than any
other previous thl trical produc
tion: Fraser say it was created
to "preserve our heroes nam s
and promote our heroes aims."
He says Black children need to
know their history. "They need
to know that we come from a
long line of heroes and sheroes,
and that they can go out and do
the same thing, it's not all doom
and gloom."
Upcoming Events
Complied Md edited
By KASCENE BARKS
February 23rd
AFRlCAN·AMERICAN CULTURE
Ron Jack.on En.emble perform. •
medley of mu.lc •. reflecting
Afrto.l-Amerlolln O\Awe. Chandler P.-i<
Library, 12800 H.rper .t 3pm.
(287 -6558).
AFRICAN BASKETRY -e a the r
Naweng teachea the ancient craft of
beak making. MCer1 proyIded; agee
10 & older. Cha Ubrary, 17731 W,
Seven MI at 2pm. (935-5346).
AFRICAN DANC DEMONSTRATION
-Suridlata Kelta with the Omowale
African Or\n1m ... & Danoera preeents a
1ectlIe/ demon traUon of trad.tionaI W t
African dance & Instnmenta. Audenoe
pertlclpetion. Franklin Ubrary, 13851 E
McNichol at 2pm. (287-8581).
·AZTEC INFLUENCE IN DIEGO
RIVERA ART· - Th flret program Is a
FREE, four-part lecture.. which will
e)CJ)lore th1 hlatoric & cultural link btwn
th fwnOl8 artI.t & the myllterlous Indian
aoctety. 3pm .• t the Hubbard !chard
Community Cou'lcII Center, 2�7 Bagley.
(393-5517 Of 843-&598).
LACK HI TORY MONTH FORUM - -
Th. HI.tory of Afrloan·Amerloan
R."MNlotl to U.S. Im�rtan.t War •• - from
WWI, to Vietnam, to the R o/st U.S.
Mid ... War Today", 4pm. 1945 Grand
Rlv • Dlnn will follow the meeting.
ChlIdc«e provfded. donation Ia $3 or $1
for unemploy d and fixed Inoome.
(ge2-4979)
FILM -DiSOOY ngJazz & Disooyering
1he Mu 0 of Africa will be shown t 1 pm
at the Detroit H toric Mueeum, 5401
Woodward. FREE. (833-1805).
HI TORY LE ION -Phyll.a Sanoho
provtdee ., oral tory of the culture of
Ubet1a & demonetrC- UbertM cooking.
Audenoe partlolpatlon. Chaney Ubrary,
18101 GrMd River at 2pm. (935-4314).
HOWARD PAIGE -The uthor of the
forthcoming Afrioan-Amerlcan CookJng
for Preschoolers pr sent alect�e, .lIde &
fo'od sampling progr.m focualng of
famll cooking together. Highlights the
culinary heritage of W Afrtca. Campbell
Ubr8l)', 6625 � Fort at 2pm. (297-9380).
MOZELLE EDWASRDS·HUNTER
Present a cost�ed Interpretation of
African & African-American fotktales.
Children's Ubrary, 5201 Woodwetd Ave
at 2:30pm. (833-1490).
PLAY TO WIN -This exciting mualoal
pia')' by New York's TheatreworkslUSA
chronld_ the pion ring Black athlete,
Jackie Robinson. Agea 7 & older.
Location: Detroit Institute of Arts. 5200
Woodward. (833-7900 or 833-2323).
LAVE NARRA nVE -A two-chetaoter
live performance about an acaped sl.ve
finds himself In Detroit vi the
Underground Railroad. Open to the
publlo.. 1 pm. & 2:30pm. at MAAH, 301
Fredl1ck Doug! s. (833-9800) ..
SOUTH AFRICA: -One Year Aft r
Mandela'. Rele e - Rog r Jardine.
South African student, at 7:30pm.
Location: Pathftnder BookstOfe, 50191/2
Woodw.rd. FREE, but donations are
appreciated. (831-1177).
February 24th
EXHIBIT --The Poirayal of the· Blaok
Mu.Jolan In AmerloMJ Art. - Febru8l)' 24 •
Metch 9 at the MtIIn petrolt Ubrary, 5201
WooOti d In the Unlv, Cultur Center.
3rd FL Exhibit H.II. Tu ••. ·S.t.,
9:30.m-5:30pm. & Wed., 1pm.-8pm.
FREE (833-4043).
EXHIBITION - Th Ife & photographs of
Milt Hinton, Jazz Muatolan, February 24
thru May 31. Location: Detroit HlstortoaJ
Museum, 5401 Woodw.d. (833-180S).
HI TORY OF THE OVtNG IMAOE
Them.tlc film aerie. will pre ent'.
program of fllma Independently produced
btwn 1910-1950 for African-American
audl noes. Filma are at 1pm. In the
Lecture Hall (Detroit IMUtute of Arts);
tlcketa ete $2.50 each. F� 24th ttvu
May 9. The Feb. 24th lecture by Jamee E.
Wh compleme th prC98ln. Call
(833-2323) for schedul .
MARCUS GARVEY: VISION OF
AFRICA -Author Dr. John Henrlk
Ctat1<e, apeak t the Shr1n ' of the Black
Madonna, 7625 Unwood, at 7:30pm. The
topic will be Th� Usa of H'-tory In the
Strugg/�s for Freedom. C I (491-0n7).
LECTURE _, Brought to Ught: A Black
Film Industry, 1910-1950, -. 3pm.lecUe
by James E. Wheeler. Location: L.eot\xe
Hall (Detroit InstiMe of Arts). (833·7900
. or 833-2323).
RICHARD POUSETTE·DART - T hi.
e)(hlblt will be ahown February 24 - April'
7, Wed.-Sun., 9:30am.-5:3Opm. FREE.
donations of $3 Of $1 are auggeeted.
Location: The Detroit lnetltute of Arts,
5200 Woodward Ave. (833-7900).
SCAR OF SHAMe -A notable silent film
atx>ut a cl slcaJly trained plMI t who
marries a laundry woman In order to
re cue her from corrupt Influencea.
Location: "Detroit Institute of Arts, 5200
Woodward. (833-7900 or 833-2323).
PECtAL EXHIBIT --The Art of Black
Cln�ma: A S./ectlon from the Collection
ofJameiE. Wheel.,.. Feb. 24 - M •• 24.
FREE. Location: Detroit In Itute of Arts,
5200 Woodward. (833-7900 or
833-2323).
February 25th
PUBLIC INPUT seSSION - ' Reg d.
ng the special neecb of elderly reeldlng In
Planning & Servlo Ai 1-A at 2:3Dpm.,
at the Book BldO, 1249 W Ington Blvd,
Conferenoe Am. 13th FL. (222-5330).
February 28th
PRE·SCHOOL DAY -The I_t Tuee.ln
F b. 26 has been r Of apeoIIII
actlvttlee for pr. ctloolera. ActtvttJee wiD
Inolude a qulok w.lk·through of the
. Mu.eum, storytelling, .N & oraft ••
T e.ohers & p.rent •• hould m.ke
r rvatlon. by OIIIUng MMH (833-8100).
The eventa are from 1011m.-1pm.
,February 27th
APARTHEID ANb NEL ON MANDELA
- -S/gnmoanoe for the United Stat •• • Ie
the tltl of a FREE progr.-n to be held from
4:30 to 7:15p.m.,.ln the P�dy·Kreege
Ubrary·. Kresge Auditorium (on WSU
campus). (577-6429).
.
LI.F.T. -Your Invited to a qu.rterly
breakf t m ng: FOCUS ON WOMEN,
CHILDREN, & YOUTH, at Oak Grove
A.M.E. Church, 19801 Cherrylawn at
Pembroke. Breakf.st .t 7.m. For
r ... rvatJons, call 882-4548 no later tMn
Mon., Feb. 25. -
March 2nd
MOTOWN PERf 0 MANCE -T h e
Temp4a one & Four Tope, p.rform
one night � at the Fox ThMIre III
8pm. 'fIokMi.... 5. Info (M7-eaoq -
C!wge tIok ... (M5-!!!!).
Can You H Ip
EEKINQ ALUMNI-comm_oe a-
Re\.W'lIon, of 1e50, 51, 52 & 53,
P. O. Box 20828, F_neWe, MI 48220.
CHAD EYCLA U ION-P .0.
Box.2082 , FerncWe, 41220, oaeoe.
5, 1881. (837-58800). '
FINNEY CLA I REUNION -al •••• ot
1870, 1871 1872, October a, 1.,.
Looking for umnl we wfll need MIp
(313n48-8&43). ' •
MACKENZIE CLA REUNIO ---'prll
27, 1881 t the Wwren ct.ae.I In
Warren, MI. (3131748-8843).
NORTHERN CLAI REUNION -2 5
Y oombfned 01 of 1 M3 thru
� 988, September 21, 1881.
(313n48-9843).
Send -- �il .n;;ounoement. and
Inform.tlon to: P. O. Box 03580,
125� 1 Second S1., Highland Park,' MI
48203, Or c II (313) 8 '·0033.
L.L. COOL J (Billy), the
upreme king of rap music, now
teps into the acting potlight
playing an undercover
policeman in "The Hard Way."
Michael J. Fox and James Wood
star in this action-comedy
scheduled for release Marcb 8.
Additionally, his current top
selling Single, "Mama Said
Knock You Out" is featured in
the opening ntghtc! b scene of
the film.
In his direct, putt-no
punches tyle, L.L. says of his
acting debut, "There's no rap
ping, 'I playa cop. I'm not up
for doing no exploitation
thing." With regard to future
film ambitions, he ays he i
going to be very selective, "No
stereotypes for me. I w nt it to
be big." If past succe ses are
• y InClleaUo, I. r Ie tl •
determination will propel him
toward future accompliShments
in the' enter. inment field.
At 22, he is already a ..
seasoned showbiz pro with six
year of solid hits behind him.
Since recording hi first record,
"1 Need a Beat," in 1984, L.�.
has consistently produced rap
records with rhyme, rhythm and
reason. While till in his teens,
"B igger and Defier, "hi ·second
LP, sold three million copies.
His honors include 10 Soul'
Train Awards, New Yotk Mu'ic
Award for Beat Rap Album' in
1989 and two American Music
in a letter and
--_ .. -
w
Award nomin
RAIS D IN St. Albums,
Queens, James Todd Smith
(L.L.) has been into rap since he
was nine. At the age of 13, he
began recording demo in bi.
ba ement.
Soon after, he started endinl
hi home-made tapes to record
companies. ,roducer Ric
Rubin, then a student t NYU
nd co-owner (with Russell
Simmons) of the new Def
Jam/Columbia Record label,
responded to one. ,of them.
• By the time he wa 16, L.L.'s
-I Need a Beat" was rele sed
and hi meteoric ascent to star
dom began. the following year
he gave us the hit album
"Radio," followed by a cameo
appearance in the film "Krush
0, "," wh r r
his sinlle "I Can't Live Witho"t
My Radio."
Despite hi heavy schedule,
L.L. also find time' for cause
that help young people. One of
his proudest moment wa wben
he headlined a .Ju t Say No to
Drugs concert at New York"s'
Radio City Music Hall at the �
request of First Lady Nancy
Reagon. Thi year, he also'
acted as honorary chairperson
of the Footlocker' Cool Scbool
Contest. Last year his signature
Kangol hat and gold 'chain were
donated to the Hard Rock Cafe·
in New York City.
C
, Pick the Big one In any state and call
e'
A
AU cIIIII Sl.OO 1# mht. SJ.OO .. lUId'i mW.
, We will purchase 2.00 worth
of Lottery Tickets for you and record
them irt your name. Tickets purchased at
least five days in advance will b mailed
to the purchaser prior to the drawing. '
, Tickets can b purch ed up to 5 hours
/ prior to th lottery c}osing;
CKET