Ava duvernay documentary

This column from CNN Senior Entertainment Writer Lisa Respers France will become a weekly newsletter later this month. You can subscribe here . Tell us what you'd like to see more of in the newsletter at [email protected] . (CNN) The push for more diversity in Hollywood is both opening doors for creators of color and raising the visibility of those who were already in the room. The overwhelming whiteness of Hollywood is not a new issue. For years, discussion about the need for more diversity, both in front of and behind the camera, has been ongoing within the industry, sparking movements like #OscarsSoWhite and inclusion riders in which stars require increased diversity on sets as part of their contracts. But as the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police led to protests and a global conversation about race, racism and privilege, there appears to be some serious self-reflection happening in Tinseltown. Civil … [Read more...] about Creators of color, your time in Hollywood is now

(CNN) Having already aired director Ava DuVernay's documentary " 13th," about the legacy of the 13th Amendment, Netflix ups the ante by devoting a six-part series to the 14th with "Amend: The Fight for America." It's an ambitious project that mixes various techniques, stars and historians to enliven the history and connect it to the present, with its most conspicuous weakness being the contributions of host and producer Will Smith . Enacted in 1868, the 14th Amendment has become one of the most-litigated amendments in US history. Its key provisions , promising equal protection for all persons, have proven remarkably elastic, becoming the foundation not only for civil rights but women's rights, marriage equality (both involving mixed-race and gay couples) and immigrants. "Amend" employs multiple methods in bringing that history to life and powerfully connecting it to the battles of the 21st century, with the rise of extremist forces rooted in white supremacy. Those narrative … [Read more...] about ‘Amend’ brings Will Smith’s starry touch to the 14th Amendment’s tumultuous history

A version of this story appeared in CNN's Pop Life Chronicles newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here . Tell us what you'd like to see more of in the newsletter at [email protected] . (CNN) Let's be clear right from the top — celebrating Black stories and Black creators should be a to-do 365 days a year. Of course, it's February. So what better time to learn the history of Black excellence than during Black History Month? Amid America's reckoning on race, streaming platforms are putting Black storytelling front and center . And it's not just your typical historical fare like the hit "Roots" or "Selma." More from Pop Life Chronicles Love for Britney Spears is late in coming, but powerful Asians in Hollywood more visible than ever 'The next Taylor Swift' is not what the world needs When it comes to Black history, it's important to recognize the traumatic struggle Black people have faced for centuries … [Read more...] about Watch more than just ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ this Black History Month

South by Southwest (SXSW) — the annual film, media, and music festival in Austin, Texas — has added U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to its lineup of keynote speakers. Buttigieg joins Priya Parker, host of the New York Times podcast “Together Apart,” and Charles Yu, author of Interior Chinatown, as the keynote lineup at SXSW, according to a report by Deadline . “The three Keynote Speakers we’re announcing today are a perfect complement to our Conference lineup for SXSW Online 2021,” ‎SXSW chief programming officer Hugh Forrest said. “Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will emphasize SXSW’s continued focus on how technological innovations are transforming mobility,” he added. Forrest went on to mention that filmmaker Ava DuVernay, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, and former president George W. Bush have also been added to the lineup. “Bush is the third president to speak in our conference, is part of what makes SXSW special and we look forward to … [Read more...] about SXSW Adds Pete Buttigieg as 2021 Keynote Speaker

Peniel E. Joseph is the Barbara Jordan chair in ethics and political values and the founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is also a professor of history. He is the author of several books, most recently, " The Sword and the Shield: The Revolutionary Lives of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. " The views expressed here are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN. (CNN) Malcolm X's radical legacy continues to undergo an extraordinary resurgence in American politics and culture over half a century after his death, 56 years ago this week . Peniel Joseph No less than Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X hovers over this national moment of reckoning around racial justice. His continued resonance in policy arenas related to ending mass incarceration, police brutality and the war on drugs is evident. So is Malcolm's indefatigable pursuit of a … [Read more...] about We can finally meet the real Malcolm X