12 of the Greatest Hip-Hop Groups

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June 16, 2016

EASYE — Click the image above to hear some of the greatest hits from N.W.A.

In honor of Black Music Month, the Birmingham Times is highlighting some of the great musical groups across several genres. So far, the series has covered soul (June 2) and gospel (June 9). Today, it’s all about hip-hop. (We wrap up the series on June 23 with the top jazz groups.)

By now, everyone knows that hip-hop began in the 1970s in the South Bronx with a focus on MCs, break beats, and house parties. From those humble beginnings, the music grew beyond the African-American community in the late 1980s and became the world’s most listened-to music in the new millennium.

Here are some of the groups that have contributed to the genre’s popularity and staying power.

Wu-Tang Clan

They’re not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. They’re not the highest selling hip-hop group of all time. They’re not known for crossover hits. Still, some argue that this could be the greatest rap group ever. Wu-Tang launched a half-dozen successful solo acts and combined incredible lyricism with a martial arts vibe to create a plethora of classic tracks that continue to stand the test of time. Individually, the Wu are great, but they will always be synonymous with unity. When the Wu-Tang Clan came out with “Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)” in 1993, it’s safe to say that the world wasn’t ready for the Staten Island, N.Y., crew—Robert “RZA” Diggs; Gary “GZA” Grice; Clifford “Method Man” Smith; Corey “Raekwon” Woods; Dennis “Ghostface Killah” Coles; Jason “Inspectah Deck” Hunter; Lamont “U-God” Hawkins; Jamel “Masta Killa” Ireif; Russel “Ol’ Dirty Bastard” Jones and Darryl “Cappadonna” Hill.

OutKast

The best-selling rap group of all time, OutKast is considered one of the originators of the Southern hip-hop movement along with UGK—but that’s where the comparisons end. On their early albums, Andre “André 3000” Benjamin and Antwan “Big Boi” Patton blended their southern twang with complex wordplay. Over time, they matured and incorporated different styles into their tunes while simultaneously crafting an incredible catalog of hits. One critic wrote: “Their evolution has been astounding. From Southern corner boys to fiery preachers to intergalactic pimps to off-kilter pop singers, their limitless imaginations have allowed them to transcend rap. It’s almost as if they’ve created their own genre. OutKast is Southern, East Coast, and neo-funk all at the same time.”

Run-DMC

“More than any other hip-hop group, Run–D.M.C. is responsible for the sound and style of [hip-hop] music,” wrote AllMusic Editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine. “Musically, they moved hip-hop and rap music away from the funk- and disco-oriented sound of its beginnings into an altogether new and unique sonic imprint.” Onstage, old-school rappers had previously performed in flashy attire and colorful costumes and, in the case of acts like Whodini, had background dancers. Run–D.M.C. performed with only Joseph “Run” Simmons and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels out front, and Jason “Jam-Master Jay” Mizell on the turntables behind them, in what is now considered the classic hip-hop stage setup: two turntables and microphones. Historically, the group achieved a number of notable hip-hop milestones—the first number-one R&B-charting rap album, the first rap act to appear on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, and the first rap act to sign a major product endorsement deal (Adidas). Run–D.M.C was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009.

Click the image above to hear some of the greatest hits from, Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five

Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five

“It’s like a jungle/sometimes it makes me wonder/how I keep from going under.” That may be one of the most iconic lines in all of hip-hop and arguably one of the most recognizable in music. Lead rapper Melle Mel kept returning to the same weary conclusion about life in the hood on the group’s acknowledged magnum opus, “The Message.” It was Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five—Joseph “Grandmaster Flash” Saddler; Robert “Keef Cowboy” Wiggins; Nathaniel “Kidd Creole” Glover; Melvin “Melle Mel” Glover; Guy “Rahiem” Williams; Eddie “Mr. Ness/Scorpio” Williams—who fomented the musical revolution known as hip-hop. The combination of Flash’s turntable mastery and the group’s energetic raps, which ranged from socially conscious to frivolously fun, made for a series of 12-inch records that forever altered the musical landscape. In 2007, Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five became the first hip-hop group inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Public Enemy

Carlton “Chuck D” Ridnehour, William “Flava Flav” Drayton, and the Bomb Squad burst onto the scene with “Yo! Bum Rush the Show”—and they never looked back. Every Public Enemy album had a message, and it wasn’t subtle. Chuck D made sure anyone listening knew exactly what he was talking about on “Fight the Power,” “911 is a Joke,” “Can’t Truss It,” and “Shut ‘Em Down.” This group was not afraid to take on American icons like Elvis Presley and John Wayne in favor of their own heroes. With Richard “Professor Griff” Griffin; Norman “Terminator X” Rogers, and the S1Ws providing backup, Public Enemy became the face of counterculture and one of the biggest forces of nature in hip-hop history. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Click the image above to hear some of the greatest hits from N.W.A.

N.W.A.

Nearly 30 years since they released their first album, Andre “Dr. Dre” Young; O’Shea “Ice Cube” Jackson; Eric “Eazy E” Wright; Lorenzo “MC Ren” Patterson; and Antoine “DJ Yella” Carraby remain at the forefront of hip-hop. Songs like “Straight Outta Compton,” “F**k Tha Police,” and “Express Yourself” are still referenced today, and a recent biopic introduced the group to an entirely new generation of fans. The legendary group said what they wanted, when they wanted—and didn’t care who was offended. N.W.A. was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016.

De La Soul

Very few debut albums—of any genre—were as critically acclaimed as “3 Feet High and Rising.” In fact, it was selected by the Library of Congress as a 2010 addition to the National Recording Registry, which selects recordings annually that are culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant. “Me Myself and I” from the album is among the rap classics. Kelvin “Posdnous” Mercer; David “Trugoy the Dove” Jolicoeur, and Vincent “Maseo” Mason weren’t afraid to differentiate themselves from what everyone else was doing by providing a balance to a lot of the gangsta rap that was popular at the time. De La Soul is one of two groups on this list who were members of the Native Tongues posse, a hip-hop collective that introduced artists like the Jungle Brothers, Black Sheep, Queen Latifah, and the next group on our list.

A Tribe Called Quest

Put together Kamaal “Q-Tip” Fareed (one of most talented producer-rapper hybrids in hip-hop); Malik “Phife Dawg” Taylor (a man of memorable raps) Ali Shaheed Muhammad (a magnificent producer and DJ), and Jarobi White (part-time member and full-time friend), and you have a standout group. While West Coast acts glorified gangsta culture, and later East Coast acts were obsessed with money and fame, Tribe sat comfortably in the middle, addressing relatable, real-word issues and encouraging listeners to just be themselves.

Beastie Boys

Of their eight albums, all went but one went double or triple platinum, and their debut album sold 10 million copies. Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz, Adam “MCA” Yauch, and Mike “Mike D” Diamond started as a punk group. But after the success of their first hip-hop song “Cookie Puss,” they put down the instruments and picked up the mics. The rest is music history. With the addition Michael “Mix Master Mike” Schwartz, they were a magnificent live act.

Click the image above to hear some of the greatest hits from Fugees

The Fugees

Hard to believe their debut album bombed. But who even remembers that? The Fugees’ second album, “The Score,” sold six million units and is widely regarded as a hip-hop masterpiece. Tracks like “Ready or Not,” “Fu-Gee-La,” and “Killing Me Softly” turned the group into hip-hop royalty. After releasing their classic album, all the group’s members embarked on solo projects. Lauryn Hill started work on her critically acclaimed “The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.” Wyclef Jean began producing for a number of artists, including Destiny’s Child and Carlos Santana. And Pras Michel, along with Mya and Ol’ Dirty Bastard, recorded the single “Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)” for the soundtrack of “Bulworth,” which starred Warren Beatty and Halle Berry. As a group, the Fugees never made another album together.

Eric B and Rakim

Universally recognized as the premier DJ and MC team in all of hip-hop during rap’s so-called golden age in the late 1980s, Eric “Eric B” Barrier and William “Rakim” Griffin are among the best ever. With Rakim providing his profound lyricism and Eric B on the turntables, the group went through a five-year stretch with classics like “Paid in Full,” “Follow the Leader,” “Microphone Fiend,” and “Don’t Sweat the Technique.” Rolling Stone magazine said the group’s debut album is “exhibit A in the case for Rakim as hip-hop’s John Coltrane. His incandescent thought-bubble rap on ‘Paid in Full’ is all iced flow and sly beat-dodging, a good-versus-evil meditation that calmly frames thug life inside real-life economics (an appetite for ‘a nice big plate of fish/Which is my favorite dish’) and incorporates a novelist’s eye for detail (‘Ain’t nothin’ but sweat inside my hand’).”

The Geto Boys

Some consider the Geto Boys—Brad “Scarface” Johnson; Willie “Willie D” Dennis, and Richard “Bushwick Bill” Shaw—gangsta rap pioneers. Their lyrics were certainly some of the most hardcore in the genre at the time, but to focus on that would be to sell short the Houston-bred group. Their albums “Grip It! On That Other Level” and “We Can’t Be Stopped” are Southern hip-hop classics, and songs like “Damn, it Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” and “The World Is a Ghetto” truly showcase their talent. One would be hard pressed to find a better rap-song opening than the first line of “Mind Playing Tricks on Me”—“I sit alone in my four-cornered room staring at candles.”

Sources: Whatculture.com, Soulinstereo.com, mtv.com, en.encylcopedia.org

Growing Kings, Inc. to recruit 100 mentors in 100 days beginning Father’s Day

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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growkingpix1 — Marcus D. Carson (right), founder, executive director, growing kings, Inc. with Birmingham Mayor William Bell. Growing Kings, Inc. will host its annual 100 mentors in 100 days to kick off event at Regions Field Sunday. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

Marcus D. Carson (right), founder, executive director, growing kings, Inc. with Birmingham Mayor William Bell. Growing Kings, Inc. will host its annual 100 mentors in 100 days to kick off event at Regions Field Sunday. (PROVIDED PHOTO)

Growing Kings, Inc. will host its annual 100 Mentors in 100 Days kick-off event at Regions Field on Sun., June 19 at 3 p.m. The event is free for males ages 18 and older who are interested in becoming a Growing Kings mentor.

From June 19 to Sept. 27 the organization aims to recruit 100 mentors for its school-based enrichment program.

“We know that young men who don’t have access to positive male influences are at a much greater risk of dropping out of school or winding up in jail,” said Marcus Carson, executive director of Growing Kings, Inc.

According to a research brief published by Child’s Trend, young males with positive perceptions about their mentor relationship often earn higher grades, are considered to be better students, more likely to go to college and less likely to start using drugs and alcohol.

“When we talk about our future that encompasses the Birmingham youth as a whole. These are our children — why not invest our time into them,” said Birmingham mayor, William A. Bell, Sr.

Growing Kings has established partnerships with local corporations, civic organizations, and university athletic departments who will serve as mentor recruitment pipelines, providing the organization with men from within their establishments to be mentors.

“Mentoring our city’s youth is critical to ensuring a promising future for our communities,” said Alabama Power Human Resource and Ethics vice president, Johnathan Porter.

Once recruited, new mentors will complete a one-day orientation to learn about Growing Kings’ history and their effective teaching practices aimed at supporting at-risk youth. A variety of outreach events will take place over the course of the 100 Days as a way to build community with those involved in the campaign.

Attendance at Regions Field on Sunday will include complimentary food and refreshments, and a ticket for the Barons game against the Mississippi Braves. Registration for 100 Mentors in 100 Days can be done on the Growing Kings’ website, www.growingkings.org.

Growing Kings is a nonprofit organization that provides mentoring services to at-risk male youth in the Birmingham City School System.

Housing authority kicks off annual Fatherhood initiative in barbershop

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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barberpix1 — Michael Lundy, HABD president and CEO, used the barbershop to kick off the housing Authority's annual Fatherhood initiative.

By Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

For The Birmingham Times

Michael Lundy says the barbershop is historically the man’s cave, where no subject is out of bounds.

“It’s an opportunity to come and talk,” said the president and CEO of the Housing Authority Birmingham District, “and feel free to talk about socioeconomic issues, talk about political issues, to talk about everyday life.”

HABD is taking advantage of the sanctity of the barbershop by using it as the venue of its annual Fatherhood Initiative. Officials of the housing authority and others met for two hours Tuesday at Jimmy’s Barber & Style in Crestwood Festival to have a frank conversation with the men and boys who were there.

Lundy said he wants youngsters to know the importance of having strong character and obtaining a solid education. To the adults present, he wanted to convey a simple message: Be Responsible.

“Too often, we allow the mothers to raise the kids and we allow the government to financially support our children,” he said. “We have to, as men, take on that responsibility. For too long, fathers haven’t been in the lives of their children. You don’t necessarily have to be married to the mother, but you need to be in the life of your child, of your children.”

The Rev. James Mason, pastor of the Church of the Way International in Woodlawn, was among the speakers. He reminded the men there that “you are what God has called you to be.”

“Every man in this room has made some kind of mistakes,” he said. “Can’t nobody point the finger at anybody because all of us are sinners. We’re just here to help each other.”

Mason urged the patrons to be men of love, not men of hate. He added that fathers should follow the example of God, adding “God is not an absentee father. He is not a deadbeat dad.”

Other speakers Tuesday included Raymond Howard, author of “From Crime To Christ,” and Eldridge Knighton, who recounted his experience of being robbed and shot twice in the head 12 years ago.

“As men, we have a responsibility to our children to give them a family,” said Knighton, president of the Morton Simpson Residents Council. Morton Simpson is located in the Kingston neighborhood.

The Rev. James Mason talks as a patron gets a shave from shop owner Jimmy Shallow. (SOLOMON CRENSHAW JR. PHOTOS, FOR THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES)

Galvin Billups, director of resident services for HABD, said the two-hour event also serves as a kickoff for other housing authority efforts. Those include midnight basketball play and a job fair.

The Fatherhood Initiative began in 2011 as a Father’s Day event promoted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

HABD in 2014 expanded the local initiative to include sessions on parenting, life skills, job training and job referral. This year’s six-week initiative includes the barbershop sessions, a jobs and resources fair and a celebration luncheon. The resources fair will also include recreational activities for fathers to share with their children.

Additional barbershop talks are set for July 12 and August 9, each at Jimmy’s Barber & Style. Also, a Fatherhood Resources Fair is 10 a.m. on Friday, June 17, at Smithfield Gymnasium and a Fatherhood Luncheon will be 12:30 p.m. at Morton Simpson Community Center.

All events are free and transportation is provided. For more information, call (205) 521-0769.

With Eye on Election, City Officials Weigh $5M for Neighborhood Cleanup, Schools

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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By Barnett Wright

The Birmingham Times

Birmingham’s next city elections may be 14 months away, but it’s not too soon for the mayor and city council to address key issues that will resonate with voters. With all current officials likely to seek re-election in August 2017, neighborhood cleanup and support of the city’s school system could become pivotal campaign issues.

This week, Mayor William Bell announced plans to spend $2 million to demolish abandoned homes, $2 million for weed abatement, and $1 million for reading programs in city schools.

“We need five now to continue our momentum,” said the mayor, referring to the amount of money being spent on his initiatives and the slogan he is using to promote his plan.

The city has said the money can come from cost savings across all city departments, but council leadership has delayed the spending, saying the proposal is rash.

“The items that were presented to us were not concise, and details such as how the projects will be completed once the money is approved were left out,” said City Council President Johnathan Austin. “It’s one thing to just throw money out to someone, it’s another thing to have a plan in place from beginning to end that showcases how projects will start and conclude.”

Austin also said the mayor’s plan was indicative of a problem the council continues to have with the administration.

“My colleagues and I could not be more thrilled to devote additional funds to improving Birmingham,” Austin said, “but we want to have all our questions answered concerning these items to ensure that each and every financial decision we make is good for the entire city.”

The item will be taken up at the council’s next meeting of the Committee of the Whole later this month. The mayor said he was disappointed that the council didn’t move forward on his recommendations.

“Citizens have called, emailed, and texted, telling me that this is what they want,” Bell said. “This is the priority. We want to put that money right back into the neighborhoods by continuing to attack two of our biggest issues—overgrown lots and abandoned homes.”

In the last nine months, the city has demolished more than 420 structures and cleared 10,000 blocks of right-of-ways, 4,000 vacant lots, and almost 2,000 city-owned lots, according to the mayor’s office.

Mayor Bell said he was just as disappointed that money for specific reading programs in the schools was delayed. “Too many of our children are reading below grade level,” he said. “This is a critical and immediate need.”

Kristena Hatcher: From Birmingham to Hollywood as HR Executive with leading entertainment firm

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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kristenapix — Kristena Hatcher (COURTESY)

By Ebone’ Parks

The Birmingham Times

Kristena Hatcher’s best advice to live by is: Know your worth and don’t allow anyone else to define that for you.

The Alabama native lives by that quote and hasn’t let anything stop her from becoming a successful woman in her career. Hatcher is a HR Executive at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), the world’s leading full service entertainment, media and sports agency in Los Angeles, California. Her role at CAA is talent acquisition, establishing and maintaining collaborative partnerships across the business.

Kristena is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she received her Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice. She also received her Professional Resources Certification through the HR Certification Institute. In addition, she has completed coursework in Human Resources Management at UCLA.

Before moving to Los Angeles to work at CAA, she was an Executive Recruiter for Morgan Samuels, an executive search firm that places senior executives and C-level talent across industries including digital media and entertainment consumer packaged goods and engineering and contraction.

“I moved to Los Angeles from Birmingham where career opportunities on the business side of entertainment are not as prevalent. I am extremely proud to work at CAA and play a leading role in hiring for a company that represents the most accomplished and iconic artists and brands in the world.”

Her role at CAA is to work with Motion Picture, Television, Comedy and Foundation departments to identify and hire candidates who share CAA’s entrepreneurial spirit and will.

A typical day for Hatcher at CAA is unpredictable, but on a regular basis she is interviewing clients, working with agents and executives on hiring decisions, providing guidance to assistants on career growth.

Kristena owes the “turning point in her career” to her time working at Morgan Samuels. “The experience I gained there was invaluable and prepared me for working at such a multi-faceted global company as CAA.”

When she’s not working, Kristena volunteers as a career motivational speaker to various women group events, UCLA students, and Bresee Foundation at-risk youths; participates in playground building projects for disadvantage kids and prepares and delivers food to the homeless.

She also likes to travel and learn about diverse cultures in different parts of the world. “I also enjoy attending art shows and escaping the city by hiking some of the amazing trails we have here in LA,” she said.

Her motivation comes from her family and the work environment at CAA.

“I am inspired by my family, especially my mom and dad, who are a constant source of motivation,” she said. “Everyone at CAA is passionate about the work they do and about the agency’s clients. Their passion is infectious and inspires me to always do my best.”

110th Annual Session of the National Baptist Congress arrives in Birmingham

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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NBCpix1 — From Left: First Lady Vernita Wesley, Greater Shiloh MBC, Birmingham; Pastor Judy Johnson Sr. Pastor, Cliaborne Family of Faith Worship Center; and First Lady Esther-Phillips, St. Philips MBC, Dallas.

Photos by Stephonia Taylor Mclinn

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Dr. Sheila Bailey, author and President of Sheila B Ministries Inc. delivered the keynote address for the Women of Wisdom Luncheon on Tuesday, June 14th.

Dr. Bailey was among several internationally acclaimed speakers to address attendees and delegates at the 110th Annual Session of the National Baptist Congress (NBC) which convened this week through June 17 at the Sheraton Birmingham Hotel and Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.

The annual gathering of this year’s Congress is expected to register 3,000 delegates, pastors and ministers, lay- leaders and friends.

Dr. Michael W. Wesley, Sr., senior pastor of the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Birmingham is serving as the host pastor and leader for the Birmingham Host Committee for this year’s Congress. Reverend John Cantelow III, senior pastor of the Sixth Avenue Baptist Church in Birmingham serves as co-host pastor.

Workshops and seminars include sessions exclusively for women seeking to improve their leadership skills; for preachers seeking to improve their sermon preparation and delivery; and for ministers interested in the area of evangelism and church growth.

Keynote speakers also include Dr. T. L. Brown, General Secretary of the National Missionary Baptist Convention of America; Cornell Brooks, National President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Reverend Gregory Jackson, First Vice President of the Lott-Carey Foreign Mission Convention.

Church leaders, researchers meet at UAB to discuss HIV epidemic

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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HIVpix1 — Moderator the Rev. William Francis spoke about how he was denied by the church when they found out that he was HIV positive. (EBONE' PARKS PHOTOS, THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES)

By Ebone’ Parks

The Birmingham Times

Moderator the Rev. William Francis spoke about how he was denied by the church when they found out that he was HIV positive. (EBONE' PARKS PHOTOS, THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES) — Moderator the Rev. William Francis spoke about how he was denied by the church when they found out that he was HIV positive. (EBONE’ PARKS PHOTOS, THE BIRMINGHAM TIMES)

Members of the black church and the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) met this week to discuss ways to address the HIV epidemic.

The Faith Leader Town Hall meeting combined The Black Church & HIV: The Social Justice Imperative with the UAB Center for AIDS Research (CFAR): Behavioral and Community Science Core. The goal was to connect the faith based community to address HIV and health disparities of the community.

“Whatever faith you are a part of, we are called to be sensitive to be compassionate,” said Rev. Keron Sadler, National Health Manager for the NAACP. “We’re missing a mark, we’ve got to learn how to be like Jesus and he loved people in spite of and not because of.”

The Black Church & HIV aims to train pastors on HIV as a social justice issue; secure formal resolutions from denominational leadership; and integrate HIV-focused coursework into required seminary curricula.

According to the Alabama Department of Health, in 2012 more than 4.8 million people were living in Alabama, 26 percent of whom were African American, accounting for more than two-thirds (63 percent) of those living with HIV in the state.

Several community and faith leaders spoke to discuss the issues that beyond doubt occur in the community and in the church.

Community and faith leaders discussed the HIV issues that occur in the community and in the church

Moderator Rev. William Francis is a part of The Black Church and a HIV Initiative Ambassador. He spoke about how he was denied by the church when they found out that he was HIV positive.

“We can talk theology all day if that’s what you want to do, but you will lose. It’s not about theology, it’s not about sexuality, it’s about humanity…if you are not willing to save a life, you are not willing to save a soul,” Francis said.

Francis also discussed that through a “social justice mindset, is to have a kingdom mindset.”

Dr. Marjorie Innocent, Senior Director, NAACP Health Department, said the church has been a safe in the past for social issues.

“The impact, the influence, the passion, the commitment of faith leaders in addressing HIV is going to be very core to us being able to address it and eliminate not just the disparities, but the new cases of the disease,” she said.

Edward Jackson, Community Engagement Coordinator for UAB Behavioral and Community Sciences Core, said, “The goal (of the Town Hall meeting) was to bring faith base and key community leaders into a setting so we can have the dialogue so we can engage and remove health disparities, to develop research, methods and other cohorts.”

Robin Lanzi, Co-Director at CFAR Behavioral and Community Science Core, said she was pleased with the spiritual aspect of the meeting. “I feel that we were all very blessed by it; it was an amazing uplifting time for all of us to reflex on what we can do, what we are doing and ways to continue to build and partner together.”

Head, Heart and Feet was the general message for those in attendance: Using your head for knowledge, you heart to have a will to serve and your feet to actually act on the HIV epidemic.

A number of ideas were suggested at the end of the meeting.

“A lot of attention is brought to people who are infected by HIV, and equal attention has to be given by people who are affected by HIV; the opportunity for us to have more people participating in HIV research is great as long as we’re able to get that information out there,” said Tommy Williams, who works in research at UAB Alabama Vaccine Clinic.

A few church leaders also volunteered their church to be involved to help deal with the HIV epidemic.

“What needs to happen is a sensitivity training because people don’t know a lot about what’s going on,” said Pastor Wayne Taft Harris Jr. of Horizons; The Place, “if we get past the theology and look at humanity, I think things would be different.”

Ensley High School grad an accomplished Hollywood actor

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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By Chanda Temple

Birmingham City Schools

Ensley High School graduate Yohance Myles is an accomplished Hollywood actor with appearances in the CW network’s “Containment” and the AMC network’s ” Into the Badlands.” Currently, he is working with actress Sanaa Lathan on the Fox drama mini series “Shots Fired,” which is slated to be released in 2017.

He returned to Birmingham on Thursday, June 16 to share what he’s learned on his journey to the big screen. During his “Actor’s Studio: The Being Within” workshop, he will discuss his life’s journey to becoming a SAG actor, how to maneuver the waters of becoming an actor and more. The workshop was held at Ramsay High School, 1800 13th Ave. South, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The workshop was not only for aspiring actors and actresses but also those not in the theater world because Myles discussed the importance of how his passion drove his desire to make it to the top.

“I want to show people how to be purposeful: how to understand and use Godly wisdom with your gifts and talents. This will include: being enlightened spiritually, mentally and physically,” he said. “When you manage and understand the purpose of those things, everything else takes its course. People see what I do and they ask me, ‘How do you do what you do?’ I’m here to have a sit down and give real answers. ”

Myles, 36, has appeared in more than 40 TV and film projects. He also teaches theater and film acting at Jackson State University in Jackson, Miss. He is a married father of four. He has a BA in performing arts from Alabama State University and he has an MFA from LSU. During his visit, he will also discuss how one manages family and career, which is a frequent question he receives from fans and friends.

“I didn’t wake up to where I am. It did not just happen overnight,” he said. “People think I have arrived but I say, ‘Naw man, I’m still enjoying the flight.”’

He added that he returned to Birmingham to highlight the good here.

“I’m definitely a part of the positivity that is happening in Birmingham,” Myles said. “That’s my hometown. You will always be a part of what you come from.”

For more information, send emails to Myles at Artofbeing_workshop@yahoo.com. Or call or call 205-427-7832.

Also, contact Yolaine Joseph Sykes at dreamkeepersproductions@gmail.com. Or call or call 205-800-4933.

Living According to Your Faith

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Birmingham Times

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June 16, 2016

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For years, I was told to “name it and claim it” or “believe and receive” and for years, I did those very things. The result…absolutely nothing. I didn’t get anything and I didn’t understand it. I went through the Bible, found a scripture, and I BELIEVED! I would see other people with new cars and I would CLAIM IT. I mean why not. God’s not a respecter of persons…right? After coming up empty handed time and time again, I began to question the validity of the common church jargon or at least I accepted it didn’t work for me. Maybe that “respecter of persons” thing was simply church lingo too.

Recently, I heard a pastor say something very interesting. “You get to choose how much God will bless you.” Without any effort, my mind immediately went back in time. “Over twenty years ago, someone told me something very similar, but it didn’t work,” is what my flesh was saying. But before another thought emerged, the pastor backed it up with scripture.

According to your faith….

Four words that pack a power punch!

We hear faith and talk faith, but do we really understand faith? Do we understand that our faith is the mode that moves the hand of God? Do we understand that faith is the vehicle that can change the trajectory of our lives? Can our minds even conceive what happens when our faith connects with His will?

But faith is a verb. It requires action!

Operating by faith requires us to do the very thing “man” tells us can’t be done. Operating by faith causes us to take steps that don’t make sense to “man.” Operating by faith allows us to be at peace in the face of what would drive others crazy.

I love Hebrews 11! It charts the faith of several men and women of God. It also gives us a glimpse of what their faith led them to do. I’m sure their naysayers thought they were foolish, but faith got the last laugh.

By faith, Noah built an ark before rain came into existence.

By faith, Abraham left a place of comfort with no idea of where he was going.

By faith, the prostitute Rahab hid the spies, knowing she was risking her very own life.

I believe in my heart that even today someone is being called to be the next Noah, Abraham, or Rahab. Someone is being called to do something that is only possible with God. If that’s you remember this…the God we serve is not a respecter of person (Romans 2:11), but He is a respecter of faith. I challenge you to acknowledge Him in all your ways and allow Him to direct your path. And when He speaks, act. Matthew 9:29 concludes by saying, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” That promise should be reassuring to us all.

For more about Tijuana J. Williams, visit www.sharingmyheartblog.com

People, Places and Things By Gwen DeRu

By

Birmingham Times

-

June 16, 2016

0

IT’S SUMMER TIME!

ENJOY ART ON THE ROCKS AND JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION!

THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND AND NEXT WEEK

HAVE SOME FUN IN THE SUN!

TODAY:

OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, every Thursday at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials, 4 p.m. For more call (205) 326-2881

LIVE AT STEEL, 8 p.m. with SHARRON performing and DJ CDUBB in the Mix at Steel on First Avenue at 23rd Street, downtown Birmingham. Get your live music and dance on every Thursday night.

FRIDAY:

ART ON THE ROCKS at the Birmingham Museum of Art, 7- 11 p.m. featuring artist, makers, musical guests and downtown businesses.

COMEDIAN FORTUNE FEIMSTER at the StarDome Comedy Club, this weekend.

FANCY FRIDAYS, 5 p.m. featuring JILLIAN GRAY with YARBROUGH & COMPANY every Friday at Legends on 18th Street North, Downtown. Birmingham. This is an After Work Experience hosted by Keely and Tiger and catered by Chef Jones. Call (205) 212-4406 for more.

PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.

DARIUS RUCKER with DAN 8 SHAY and MICHAEL RAY at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater, near in Tuscaloosa.

SATURDAY:

JUNETEENTH FREEDOM CELEBRATION, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. with artistic and educational activities.

ALL YELLOW LEMONADE DAY PARTY, 2- 7 p.m. at Steel 1st and 23rd Club, 2300 First Avenue North,

SOULFUL SATURDAY at Steel 1st and 23rd Club,

ZOO, BREWS AND FULL MOON BAR-B-Q, 5-9 p.m. at the Zoo.

SUNDAY:

SLOW ART SUNDAY, 2-3 p.m. at the Birmingham Museum of Art.

MONDAY:

HAPPY MONDAY!

TUESDAY:

OLIVIA’S HAPPY HOUR, 4 p.m., every Tuesday, at Olivia’s Bar and Lounge with $.50 wings and drink specials. For more call (205) 326-2881.

PLUM BAR on 17th Street, Downtown.

TIDE AND TIGER ON THE PATIO, 4 p.m. until on Graymont across form Legion Field.

FOR TEENS, YOUTH AND YOUNG AT HEART:

YOUTH TODAY INSPIRED BY ALABAMA CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS – BCRI’s Legacy Youth Leadership Program (LYLP) will be facilitating a panel on “Youth Today Inspired by the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights” (ACMHR), today, 6 p.m. in BCRI’s Woods Community Meeting Room. The program is free and open to the public. It is the second of a three series program.

SUMMER GAME NIGHT – Game Night will be hosted tomorrow, 5 p.m. – Midnight at The Dannon Project’s Purpose Center located at 2324 5th Avenue North, downtown Birmingham, near the U.S. Post Office. The Dannon Project (TDP) is a nonprofit organization located in Birmingham, Alabama created to assist youth and adults in transition to rebuild, repair and restore their lives. Get out to have fun playing some of your favorite childhood board games including Monopoly, Scrabble, BINGO, Trivial Pursuit, Sorry, Twister, Wii Bowling, chess, checkers, dominoes, card games and other party games. For more information, call (205) 202-4072.

A.G. GASTON: THE MAN, THE MOGUL & HIS MISSION – Make It Happen Theatre Company (MIH) Drama Camp students will perform the original play A.G. Gaston: The Man, The Mogul & His Mission on Saturday, 2 p.m. at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. The play was written by Alicia Johnson-Williams, under the direction of LaShanna R. Tripp, with choreography by Byron Bradley. It is Free as a part of BCRI’s Juneteenth Celebration.

A DIALOGUE ON YOUTH ISSUES – Community First Birmingham will host its third Community Initiative forum with a focus on addressing ongoing issues facing youth and young adults in our communities, Saturday, 3:30 p.m., at the Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church Riley, 3428 Maple Avenue, S.W. Birmingham, AL 35221. Panelists and attendees will work to develop substantive solutions that can be put into practice immediately. Elected leaders are invited to attend and participate in this important dialogue. For more information, call (205) 396-4647.

ZOO, BREW AND FULL MOON BAR-B-Q – Join the Birmingham Zoo, Saturday, 5:30-9 p.m. for the second annual Zoo, Brews and Full Moon Bar-B-Que event at the Birmingham Zoo! New this year, craft beer fans will love the selection of tastings from some of the finest specialty brews around. Enjoy samplings from over 10 breweries from all over Alabama and the southeast. In addition to beer, there will be plenty of other libations, including wines and non-alcoholic beverages. Attendees will enjoy food from Full Moon Bar-B-Que and chips from Golden Flake. This family event includes live music by Park Band, a Talladega Superspeedway pace car and street team, Dino Discovery, animal greetings and walkabouts, train rides, special kids activities and much more!

HAPPY HEALTHY KIDS FAIR – Join other children and parents in the Birmingham Area at the Happy Healthy Kids Fair on August 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Riverchase Galleria.

FOR BUSINESS OWNERS:

DIVERSE SUPPLIER AUTOMOTIVE SUMMIT – The Southern Region Minority Supplier Development Council will host a summit, today, 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Westin Birmingham. The agenda will include General Sessions featuring OEM and Prime Suppliers, a networking luncheon and a Round Table Matchmaker Session.

COFFEE AND DONUTS – Meet and network with other business owners, today, 9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. at the 45th Street Baptist Church or the corner 76th St. and Division Ave. in East Lake. Share your business information. Don’t forget to have your business cards.

ASBCC ENTREPRENEURS & INNOVATORS CONFERENCE – The Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce is hosting a conference for business owners June 23-24 at the Hilton Birmingham Perimeter Park.

FOR MOTORSPORTS LOVERS:

FIRST MEXICAN DRIVER TO WIN A NASCAR NATIONAL SERIES – Daniel Suárez driver of the No. 19 Arris Toyota in the NASCAR XFINITY Series became the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR national series race with his victory at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday. A graduate of both the NASCAR Drive for Diversity and NASCAR Next programs, Suárez clinched a spot in the inaugural NASCAR XFINITY Series Chase as he continues to lead the series standings.

FOR MUSIC LOVERS:

Jazz SAXOPHONIST JESSY J at the Perfect Note in Hoover at 8 p.m. Saturday.

JAZZ IN THE PARK – Enjoy JAZZ IN THE PARK BIRMINGHAM at Ensley Park, Sunday, 6-9 p.m. with DANIEL ‘JOSE’ CARR JAM SESSION. FREE.

TIDE AND TIGER LOUNGE – Don’t miss the FATHER’S DAY SHOW, June 19th with TJ HOOKER TAYLOR and RENITA BRAXTON PICKENS. CHECK OUT….the TIDE AND TIGER! Every Tuesday enjoy wings for 50 cents and $5 drinks at half price. Every Sunday enjoy music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s with DJ Tide and Tiger. For more information, call (205) 503-3880.

FOR COMEDY LOVERS:

AT THE STARDOME: Every Thursday is Positively Funny Improv. Check out FORTUNE FEIMSTER. Fortune Feimster, the Southern comic who hails from North Carolina, has been making quite a name for herself as an actor, standup comedian, and writer since moving to Los Angeles in 2003. In fact, Variety named Fortune one of their “Top 10 Comics to Watch” in 2014, and she has been reaching new heights ever since. Most known for her work as a full-time performer and writer on “Chelsea Lately,” she can now currently be seen in the recurring role of Nurse Collette on “The Mindy Project.” Call (205) 444-0008 for more.

Well, that’s it. Tell you more next time.

(People, Places and Things by Gwen DeRu is a weekly column. Send comments to my emails: thelewisgroup@birminghamtimes.com or gwenderu@yahoo.com.)