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 Ctat1ut 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