Pan African Film Festival 2015: The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

The Stars Show Up to Support Praiseworthy Documentary The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution

Loretta Divine 

Richard Gant  

The red carpet was on fire at the opening night screening and VIP reception for the 2015 
Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles California. 

The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution made it's Los Angeles debut one week after making its mark at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Written and directed by accomplished filmmaker Stanley Nelson, the Black Panther documentary chronicles the rise and fall of the Black Panther Party from 1967 to 1973. The film dedicates the entire 116 minutes to exploring the motivations that triggered the rise of this urban based revolutionary youth movement and also exhibits FBI files which documents J. Edgar Hoover's tactics in using Cointelpro (Counter Intelligence Program) to decimate the Black Panther Party and its accomplishments. The film features well known Black Panthers such as Huey Newton, Kathleen Cleaver, Eldridge Cleaver, Michael McCarty and Bobby Seale. 

Serayah McNeil (Empire)

Actors Isaiah Washington, Jimmy Jean-Louis,
Richard Gant, actresses Loretta Divine and

Jimmy Jean-Louis  

Serayah McNeil (Empire) Councilmember Curren Price were just of a few well known faces to flatter the runway of the very well attended opening night events and film screening for the 2015 Pan African Film Festival.

Isaiah Washington 

After the first theater was filled to capacity, another theater was utilized to handle the overflow. The overflow theater quickly filled up as well with an audience eager to absorb information about this riveting documentary and its game-changing subjects.

Serayah McNeil (Empire) 

The Pan African Film Festival which is now celebrating its 23rd anniversary will run from February 5th thru the 8th at the CineMark's Rave Cinema at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles, California. 

Yougnesse Williams
Editor-At-Large

(Photography - Richard Gant, Loretta Divine, Serayah McNeil, Isaiah Washington on the
Red Carpet, by Yougnesse Williams -  JimmyJean Louis' photo is from his official website)

Dick Gregory - A Man of All Seasons, Receives a Star on #HollywoodWalkofFame

Dick Gregory received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Feb 2, 2015! It was so exciting! 
I got a message from my girl, Caroline Hodges (She looks just like Oprah!) "Carla, are you going to attend the #HollywoodWalkofFame tomorrow?
They are honoring #DickGregory! and I can't be there - can you go?!" I said,
" I wish I could! I'm in San Francisco, working on a project - awww, snap!

Dick Gregory receives a STAR on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 

Dick Gregory? Our Sage? - How awesome!
He has kept so many people grounded over the years.
At the same time, he taught people how to treat us. All with humor."

Happy 56th Anniversary, Mr. & Mrs. Dick Gregory! That's the kind of commitment I'm talking about! It reminds me of a definition of LOVE
 "Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
 bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails."
(1 Cornth 13:7)

Mr. & Mrs. Dick Gregory celebrate 56 years of marriage. 

Michael Colyar, Honoree, Dick Gregory and
Dr. Michael B. Beckwith 

Let's celebrate! The  Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and
#TheHolywoodWalkofFame honored Dick Gregory - a man that truly is 100%  for real.

#StevieWonder honors #DickGregory
w/ Dominique diPrima #KJLHRADIO

Civil Rights Legends - Celebrated by Oprah.

Thank you, Greg Johnson, Dominique DiPrima, and the staff at KJLH Radio, for all that you do in the community!
@IAmDickGregory  @looklikeoprah2 @MichaelColyar  @drmichaelbb @Oprah @diprimaradio

A Love Supreme - America's Legends Who Paved the Way

I was listening to John Coltrane's A Love Supreme,

and looking at

Oprah honor 14 (living) Civil Rights Legends

at Bacara Resort and Spa, in Santa Barbara, CA.

It was a lovely two day celebration which culminated in

A Sunday Gospel Brunch @ Oprah's Estate in Santa Barbara, CA.

Ambassador Andrew Young, Berry Gordy, Rev. C.T. Vivian, Diane Nash, Dick Gregory, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., Congressman John Lewis, Rev. Joseph Lowery, Juanita Jones Abernathy, Julian Bond, Marian Wright Edelman, Myrlie Evers-Williams, Quincy Jones, Sidney Poitier and
Harry Belafonte (not able to attend).
Photo= Harpo Studios, INC.

(Click on to Oprah.com to watch the video)

The history of America is multi-faceted. Sweet precious jewels that shine, ever so brightly for one and all of us to see, emulate, learn and grow, using that energy to move forward.

Thank you, each and every last one of you, who paved the way for us to live in our land, as human beings. Thank you, Oprah, for caring so much about humanity at large and loving WE.

With love & light,

Carla

#Oprah #Selma50 #TeamBH

Golden Globe Awards - Let's Hear it for the Winners!

I am so glad that George Clooney, who recently tied the knot with a beautiful woman who seems to adore him, recieved the Cecil B. DeMille Award. You see, George Clooney is truly one of my favorites in Hollywood. George Clooney can act his behind off, and to top it all off, he is a true humanitarian.

Hey! Hey! To Greer Grammer, Miss Golden Globe - You ROCKED, Baby Girl!
Best Original Song - GLORY, by John Legend and Common - Sound track for the film, "Selma"  - BRILLIANT!


Best Original Score - The Theory of Everything, The Stephen Hawking, Eddie Redmayne Story - Johann Johannsson

Best Musical or Comedy Motion Picture - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Motion Picture - Amy Adams (YAY!)


Best Screenplay of a Motion Picture - Birdman, Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez


Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture - Patricia Arquette - For the film Boyhood


Best Performance by and Actor in a Mini Series - Billy Bob Thornton, in the mini-series "Fargo"


Check out the clip from the film, "Big Eyes" - Margaret Keanes' story.

There are so many wonderful people who get up on the stage of life, and in my book, you were all winners at the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards!

Love & light,
Carla

Unbroken - Louis Zamperini's Testimony

"The hardest thing in life is to forgive. Hate is
self-destructive. If you're hate somebody, you are really hurting and hating yourself." Louis Zamperini

We all must face our fears in life. It's how you handle them that makes all the difference in the world (your world - your life.) Word?

First of all, I was in the OC(Orange County), spending time with the McDevitt Family, and got a chance to borrow/read the book, Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption (2010)
The non-fiction war/drama book, is written by Laura Hillenbrand, a Best Selling Biography.
I loved the book. I laughed, cried and felt Louis Zamperini's pain. Life is a son of a gun (a trip!)
.Mr. Zamperini's life is a testimony to that fact...All we need to do is keep on giving thanks to the Great I AM, and remember not to give up - no matter what. Yes, keep it moving...

The non-fiction film is Produced and Directed by Angelina Jolie. The film opens Dec 25, 2014 - It is a MUST SEE!
BRAVO Hillenbrand & Jolie! GO ON! 

#WomenWorkingIt
#IAmUnBroken
#LouisZamperini
#McDevittFamilyROCKS
#TeamBH

Love & light,

Carla

"We Gotta Pray" Alicia Keys

We must treat one another like human beings. Every life counts.
Sending love & light,
Carla

#WeGottaPray
#TeamBH

Baccarat Lights up Rodeo Drive - November 23, 2014 - January 2015

Baccarat Chrystal Chandelier -
+GEARYS Beverly Hills 

Did you know that the City of Beverly Hills is lighting up Rodeo Drive tomorrow - 6:00 PM?
Well, now you will just have to bundle up your family/ friends and get on over to Rodeo Drive, between Dayton and Brighton, and get a good spot! You don't want to miss this lovely, FREE event!

YES, Baccarat, in conjunction with the man, the legend, Tom Blumenthal, CEO, GEARYS Beverly Hills and our lovely Mayor Lili Bosse and her crew at the
 City of Beverly Hills, are going to make
Rodeo Drive - BING! BANG! BOOM! with lights,
Honey Child!

Rodeo Drive in the spot light, thanks to Baccarat, and
GEARYS Beverly Hills

Details: GEARYS Beverly Hills |  Baccarat | City of Beverly Hills |  RodeoDriveLifestyles.com 

Love & light,
Carla