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Afrikana Film Festival includes live performances, panels, workshops
“The Birth of a Planet,” a 30-minute documentary film about post-Civil War era “Richmond Planet” newspaper editor John Mitchell, will launch the three-day, 7th An- nual Afrikana Independent Film Festival at 7 p.m. Sept. 15 at The Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The event is free and open to the public.
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Witness signature dropped for absentee ballots during pandemic
Absentee voters who receive their ballots by mail likely will not need to have a witness present when they cast their vote at home in Virginia’s June 23 primary election to choose candidates to run for the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives. Attorney General Mark R. Herring announced Tuesday that he agrees with a federal lawsuit seeking the temporary suspen- sion of the state’s current requirement that voters casting mail-in ballots have someone present as they open the letter containing
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Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr feasts
Since June 17, Muslims marking Ramadan observed the holy month of fasting in the Islamic calendar. Eid celebrations break the fast and begin the 10th month on the Islamic lunar calendar at the sight of the new moon.
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They’re calling, making plays in the NFL
Robert Griffin III’s ongoing health struggles in Washington leaves the NFL with six African-American starting quarterbacks to kick off the season. Griffin, the former Heisman Trophy winner and first-round draftee out of Baylor University, has been replaced by Kirk Cousins.
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Sisterhood still connects poet Nikki Giovanni
Poet, scholar and activist Nikki Giovanni feels the loss everyday of her best friend Toni Morrison.
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Filmmaker finds his passion while fighting for his life
Nile Price uncovered his passion for film from a hospital bed.
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New Smithsonian museum is ‘worth the wait’
Re “New National Museum of African American History and Culture opens to fanfare, tears,” Sept. 29-Oct. 1 edition: When I first heard a few years ago that there was going to be a Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, I was immediately over the moon with joy.
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Lights and cameras
The 8th Afrikana Film Festival recently presented the premier of its first film production “Ninki Nanka” on Sept. 16. The film was written by revel denkyem, directed by LeRon Lee, and produced in partnership with Oakwood Arts and VPM.
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Richmond writer chosen for top artist residency program
Longtime Richmond area writer Robin Farmer has been selected for the prestigious Djerassi Resident Artists Program in Woodside, Calif.
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Virginia suspends use of Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Virginia has suspended the use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine after federal health agencies warned that the single-dose inoculation may cause a rare, and potentially fatal, blood clot disorder.
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Faith, coping with loss highlight new book by co-pastor of New Kingdom Christian Ministries
For Sanya B. Young, writing a book about handling life’s challenge is helping her deal with the grief over the death two years ago of her husband, Dr. Leonidas B. Young II.
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Celebration Sept.17 honoring gospel musician Bubba Johnson
Gospel singer, songwriter and musician Bubba Johnson will be honored for his contributions to gospel music at “The 50 Year Journey Celebration: Honoring Gospel Pioneer Bubba Johnson” at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at Jerusalem Baptist Church, 16210 Short Cut Road in Doswell.
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State historic markers honor Black church, civil rights leader
When Rev. Charles Henry Johnson moved in 1890 from Richmond to Bristol, which served as a railroad town, he became the minister of a little wooden church started by 39 freed slaves. A few pastors had come through Lee Street Baptist Church, which was organized 25 years earlier in 1865, but Rev. Johnson stuck, according to a Dec. 17, 2017, article in the Bristol Herald Courier.
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Former L.C. Bird football star is college team catalyst
When Nassau County, N.Y., Community College needed big yardage this past football season, they gave the ball to Yahkee Johnson. “Yahkee was our catalyst. That’s who we went to in crunch time,” said Nassau Coach Joe Osovet. “He’s not only a dynamic performer, but also a great person.” Johnson was a ringleader this past fall in Nassau’s undefeated football season.
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4th Annual Afrikana Independent Film Festival starts Thursday
Raymond Santana, who was 14 when he and four other youths were wrongly charged with the attack and rape of a female jogger in New York City’s Central Park in 1989, will moderate a discussion about the now Exonerated Five case following a documentary film screening at the 4th Annual Afrikana Independent Film Festival this weekend in Richmond.
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Kenyan marathoner breaks 2-hour barrier
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge made athletics history on Saturday when he became the first person to run a 26.2-mile marathon in under two hours, stretch- ing the limits of human endeavor and passing a milestone few thought could be reached for decades if at all.
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Former area football standout signs with Hampton University
Former L.C. Bird High School sensation Yahkee Johnson has signed a full National Letter of Intent to continue football next season at Hampton University.
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Johnson named executive director of BHM
Adele Johnson has been named executive director of the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia. Ms. Johnson has served in the position on an interim basis for more than a year. The full appointment became effective Jan. 1.
