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Kyle Donovan, Inventor and NV Magazine CEO and Founder, explains to What's The 411TV host, Glenn Gilliam, about the magazine's purpose and his iFork invention

Kyle Donovan: Inventor and Media Entrepreneur with a New Vision

Kyle Donovan, an inventor and CEO and founder of NV Magazine, has much to be excited about. He established NV Magazine 15 years ago with a "new vision" for a business publication for urban professionals around the country.

"In addition to our print publication we also have a robust website, www.nvm.com," said Founder Kyle Donovan. "And, apps built to connect and inform our audience on how to create economic power and wealth."

Five years ago, along with his publisher, Christopher Chaney, they created the NV Movers & Shakers Awards. What's The 411TV's host, Glenn Gilliam, caught up with Kyle at this year's Movers & Shakers Awards.

Whether scaling the ladder within corporate America or creating a successful venture from scratch, NV has chosen to not only acknowledge, but honor, many of these ground-breakers with its annual Movers & Shakers Awards.

However, this isn't a party for the sake of taking nice pictures and having a cocktail, NV's mission is to empower communities of color through the recognition of these trendsetters and inspire collective collaboration to generate wealth and long term economic stability for the black and Latino market.

An inventor, Kyle holds a patent for the iFork, which he describes in the video below.

Brian Smith, New York Yankees, Senior Vice President, Corporate and Community Relations, talking with What's The 411Sports, Glenn Gilliam, about the New York Yankees involvement with MLB's Diversity Summit and the Bronx community

Brian Smith is Designated Hitter for New York Yankees at 3rd Annual Major League Baseball Diversity Summit

As the Co-Host with Major League Baseball, the New York Yankees were instrumental in bringing the 3rd Annual Major League Baseball Diversity Summit to New York and their Senior Vice President Corporate/Community Relations, Brian Smith, tells me how it came together.

Check out the video interview with Brian Smith

To see our videos when they are posted, subscribe to our YouTube channels: WhatsThe411TV and 411SportsTV

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Brian Smith: Good to see you, we're honored to be here today, this is an amazing event as you can see the turnout, tons of people here, jobseekers and vendors and we're looking forward to be a productive two days here at this summit.

Glenn Gilliam: Were you guys instrumental at all in making sure it came to New York this year?

Brian Smith: We had some conversations in house and we went back and forth with MLB and we decided that this is something we're committed to on a day in, day out basis and it would be a great thing to bring it here to NY. We were excited to partner with MLB, Wendy and her team to make it happen.

Glenn Gilliam: Are the Yankees involved in outreach to other diverse pockets like RBI?

Brian Smith: Across the board there's a push to promote and sustain an inclusive environment and when we mean that, it's not only for the job seekers, for the vendors, it's for our neighbors. We have to provide access and if you don't you're not a productive neighbor and we're committed to being a productive member of our community. We do that by hosting events at the Stadium, I was talking to some teachers a couple of weeks ago and they said the most exciting classroom in New York City is Yankee Stadium, where we host diversity business initiative, where we engage local youth to expose them to careers in the professional sports field.

In addition, through our program such as Healthy Home Plate, where we take young people in from our community who are recognized, you know unfortunately our community is recognized for a number of areas where we're in first place where you're not excited about. For example there's Juvenile Diabetes, Stage 2 Diabetes in Youth, obesity and asthma. We came up with this Healthy Home Plate initiative where we turn Yankee Stadium into a classroom, to educate these young people on healthy lifestyle initiatives, where we bring them in on a consistent basis. So these types of programs and that ongoing commitment by the organization and that push from the ownership down to be a productive member and a cordial and cooperative neighbor, that's our day to day focus.

Glenn Gilliam: Are you a native New Yorker?

Brian Smith: I am from NY, I grew up in Mt. Vernon, NY and because of our organization providing access, a young African American male that grew up on the south side of Mt. Vernon has the opportunity to talk to you today as the Senior Vice President Corporate & Community Relations for the NY Yankees.

Glenn Gilliam: Are you friends with fellow Mt. Vernon, Yankee fan, Denzel Washington?

Brian Smith: No, he's a little older, more around my sister's age, but I know he is a big Yankees fan and we appreciate it and I've seen him around with the NY on his hat and we thank him for that.

Glenn Gilliam: Where did you go to school?

Brian Smith: I'm a graduate of Mt. Vernon HS and I went to undergrad and grad school at the University of Tulsa in Oklahoma.

Glenn Gilliam: What took you out to Oklahoma?

Brian Smith: I was fortunate as a student-athlete I excelled playing and did decently in the classroom and excelled as an athlete on the football field and I was provided the opportunity to get a full football scholarship to the University of Tulsa and I was recruited by a number of other schools and I said I'm going to get away. And the young kid from New York went to Oklahoma and it all worked out well.

Glenn Gilliam: Where were you before coming to the Yankees?

Brian Smith: When I finished grad school I was briefly with SoBRO, South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, I was a case manager and a teacher but I knew I wanted to get into the sports industry. I still had that drive to work and be involved with sports and I was able to make some contacts and got in front of some Yankee personnel and got my foot in the door as an intern.

Glenn Gilliam: What do you expect from this summit and where do you hope it goes for future years?

Brian Smith: As far as this summit, I wish everybody in attendance a productive two days, I want to see people coming out of here with not only securing jobs opportunities and vendors securing opportunities, I want people to come out of here saying this is amazing, how can I continue this push and this drive and just to be a part of that is incredible. We want to see this grow not only today but on an annual basis.

 

What's The 411Sports host, Glenn Gilliam, talking with Wendy Lewis, Vice President of Diversity and Strategic Alliances at Major League Baseball

Wendy Lewis Bursting with Pride at Major League Baseball’s Diversity Summit

The Collaborative Effort Makes Her Spirit Sing

Excited about the success of Major League Baseball's Diversity Summit 2014, Wendy Lewis, Vice President of Diversity and Strategic Alliances, told What's The 411Sports host, Glenn Gilliam, that the collaborative effort "makes her spirit sing." Ms. Lewis receives great support and enthusiasm from Commissioner Allan "Bud" Selig, Jonathan Mariner and MLB's 30 baseball clubs in the execution of the MLB Diversity Summit.

This is MLB's third diversity summit. It is however, the first in New York City and it opened on Jackie Robinson Day. The Jackie Robinson family will attend a ceremony on the second day of the summit. In addition to Sharon and Rachel Robinson, members of Mr. Nelson Mandela's family will also be in attendance at Yankees Stadium for the ceremony on the second day of the summit.

MLB has taken the lead on diversity and inclusion in sports and has given diversity and inclusion consultation to the other major sports. However, Ms. Lewis knows that the other sports will do things their way and perhaps, one day they will all do something together.

Major League Baseball is different; it does have a special calling.

"We have the legacy," Ms. Lewis stated. "We have the DNA of Jackie Robinson so I think we have an extra source of responsibility here".

Given the legacy of Jackie Robinson, it is disturbing to many that baseball now has the lowest number of African-American players of the top three major sports leagues: baseball, basketball, and football.

Addressing the dearth of African-American MLB players, Commissioner Selig in April 2013, launched the On-field Diversity Task Force to design ways improve the African-American player pipeline.

Major League Baseball is also a big supporter of the Negro League Baseball museum.

Ms. Lewis joined MLB Commissioner's office after spending eight seasons with the Chicago Cubs.

View Video Interview with Ms. Wendy Lewis

To see our videos when they are posted, subscribe to our YouTube channels: WhatsThe411TV and 411SportsTV

Former New York Giants defensive end and television personality, Michael Strahan, talking with What's The 411Sports reporter, Andrew Rosario

Michael Strahan Talks Live with Kelly and Michael and Football Hall of Fame

Although his day is pretty much get up, go to work, go to bed and start all over again, Michael Strahan is having a great time doing his morning show, Live! with Kelly and Michael.

Strahan told What's The 411Sports reporter, Andrew Rosario, during Super Bowl Week 2014, he doesn't see much difference between being on Fox NFL Sunday and talking football and doing his morning show because sports and entertainment are all intertwined.

The real advantage of being on Fox NFL Sunday was being on camera. It prepared him for Live! with Kelly and Michael because just being on camera helps you to get over the nervousness of knowing millions of people are watching.

Additionally, Strahan credits learning television teamwork from working with Terry Bradshaw and crew on Fox NFL Sunday, which was great preparation for Live! with Kelly and Michael.

However, with all that said, what separates Fox NFL Sunday from Live! with Kelly and Michael is that Live! with Kelly and Michael is a lot more animated and there is more talk time than on Fox NFL Sunday.

On Being Elected into Pro Football Hall of Fame

As for the possibility of getting voted into the Pro Hall of Fame (NFL), "It would be amazing," Strahan said.

"It would be amazing and hopefully it happens. But, it is one of those things you can't worry about because you can't control it. And, you go out and you play as hard as you can for as long as you can, and hopefully it's appreciated, and the votes come in your way. And, if they don't, you go back to the drawing board and continue to live your life because being in the Hall of Fame (Pro Football) or not, doesn't mean you stop living. It means you keep on going and doing what you continue to do," Strahan continued.

Life seems to be good for Strahan, right now, really good.

Update: Michael Strahan was elected to the NFL Football Hall of Fame on February 1, 2014.

The induction ceremony for the seven-member class took place on August 2, 2014, in Canton, Ohio.

Check out Andrew Rosario' interview with NFL Hall of Famer Michael Strahan

Super Bowl Gospel Celebration founder, Melanie Few-Harrison talking with What's The 411TV correspondent, Cristina Twitty

Melanie Few-Harrison Celebrates 15 Years of Super Bowl Gospel Celebration

Melanie Few-Harrison Channels God and her Mother to Keep Super Bowl Gospel Festival Going

In creating the Super Bowl Gospel Celebration, Melanie Few-Harrison, never thought about the longevity of the event, she just thought that this was the vision that God had given her and she wanted to see it to fruition.

"I just said to God I will do it to you tell me to stop," she said. "There was no time, no certain length none of that. It was just Lord, if you want me to do it, let it be about you and give me the strength I need to get through. That was it; that was it."

Her friends didn't think her idea would fly. However, Melanie doesn't take "no" for an answer.

She would ask her mother, "Mommy is it no in five minutes or is it no right now?"

And, it was her mother's strength and mantra "keep a going" whenever you face difficult times is what Ms. Few-Harrison lives by along with God's guidance.

In thinking about her journey, Melanie channeled her deceased mother and things got really emotional.

Watch Melanie Few-Harrison's Video Here:

To see our videos when they are posted, subscribe to our YouTube channels: WhatsThe411TV and 411SportsTV

Protesters holding a sign at the rally to Bring Back Our Girls, the nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Hiram

Bring Back Our Girls Rally Hits New York City

Thousands of people converged on Union Square Park in New York City on May 3, 2014, for the rally called, Rock a Crown for #234, to protest the abduction of 234 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by the Nigerian Islamic militant group, Boko Haram.

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Protestors at the Rock A Crown for 234 rally in New York City's Union Square Park. Photo Credit: Kizzy Cox/What's The 411 Networks

Gugulethu Mlambo told What's The 411TV host and veteran reporter, Kizzy Cox, that she had planned to attend brunch in Manhattan with friends. However, when Mlambo heard the news about the abducted school girls in Nigeria, she decided that what she needed to do was take action.

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Gugulethu Mlambo, organizer of RockACrown #234 Rally to bring attention to the kidnapped schoolgirls in Nigeria. Photo Credit: Kizzy Cox/What's The 411 Networks

Watch video of Bring Back Our Girls Rally (Commentary Follows)

 

What's The 411Sports reporter, Andrew Rosario, talking with Fox Sports Analyst, Pam Oliver

Fox Sports Analyst Pam Oliver Talks About Super Bowl and More

What's The 411Sports reporter, Andrew Rosario, talks with Fox Sports analyst, Pam Oliver, about reporting from as close to the action as you can get and being one of the few women doing what she does.

The interview took place at Media Row during the NFL's Super Bowl 2014 media week in New York City.

Check Out Pam Oliver Video Interview:

NFL Football Hall of Famer Michael Strahan at Super Bowl 2014 Radio Row in New York City

Michael Strahan, NFL Hall of Famer and Media Personality, Tops What's The 411TV's 25 Most Interesting People of 2014

Actress Susan Sarandon, MLB's Wendy Lewis, Fox Sports' Pam Oliver,
USTA's D.A. Abrams, National Book Award winner, Jacqueline Woodson,
and RLJ Enterprises' Traci Otey Blunt are Among the Top 10

BROOKLYN, NY; December 31, 2014 - What's The 411TV, a Brooklyn-based media company, today released its list of 25 Most Interesting People of 2014, and NFL Hall of Famer and media personality, Michael Strahan tops the list.

What's The 411TV's 25 Most Interesting People of 2014 was developed from interviews conducted by What's The 411TV reporters between January 1, 2014 through December 12, 2014. The list consists of celebrated personalities to artists seeking to break through to ordinary people doing extraordinary things to New Yorkers rallying for the return of the more than 200 Nigerian schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram. Many people on the list are local to the New York City metro area, while others are national or global figures.

"Once again, What's The 411TV reporters have selected so many amazing and interesting people for What's The 411TV's list of 25 Most Interesting People of 2014," said Ruth J. Morrison, CEO and Founder, What's The 411 Networks. "This is our way to say thank you to those on the list, to congratulate them and to celebrate their accomplishments. Similar to last year, it was not an easy task for our reporters and producers to narrow down the list to 25 and since we couldn't, we also have a list of three honorable mentions."

Below is a list of What's The 411TV's 25 Most Interesting People of 2014 falling into the categories of sports; film; literature; music; television; fashion and style; and business and entrepreneurship.

1. Michael Strahan – Pro Football Hall of Famer (NFL) and media personality; on his way to becoming "King of All Media" – Interviewed by: Andrew Rosario

2. Wendy Lewis - MLB Senior Vice President, Diversity & Strategic Alliances; for being able to play with the boys - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

3. Traci Otey Blunt – Corporate Executive Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, RLJ Enterprises – leveraged political communications to transition to corporate communications, marketing, public relations and investor relations, as well as the promotion of the Urban Movie Channel. Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam using a Samsung S4

4. Kyle Donovan – Inventor; Founder, NV Magazine; entrepreneur motivating others to make a difference - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

5. D.A. Abrams - Chief Diversity Officer USTA; helping to make diversity a reality within tennis - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

6. Pam Oliver – NFL and NBA sportscaster; for treading where few women have gone in sports and for taking the high road during a public demotion – Interviewed by: Andrew Rosario

7. Jacqueline Woodson – National Book Award-winning author; gracious after a fellow author muddied her introduction as the winner of the National Book Award for Young Adult Literature for her book, BROWN GIRL DREAMING – Interviewed by: Luvon Roberson

8. Bring Back Our Girls Movement (NY) – rallying cry to rescue over 200 girls kidnapped in Nigeria by Boko Haram; lesson learned: sustaining a movement is hard work, particularly when it seems that no one else cares– Interviewed by: Kizzy Cox

9. Susan Sarandon – Academy Award and BAFTA award-winning actress; committed to human rights causes; worked with Amnesty International – Interviewed by: Bianca Peart

10. Melanie Few-Harrison - Founder of Super Bowl Gospel Celebration; creator of the first and only gospel event sanctioned by the NFL for Super Bowl Weekend– Interviewed by: Cristina Twitty

11. Remembering Ruby Dee - Memorial Service; friends and family celebrate the life of award-winning actress, Ruby Dee– Interviews by: Kizzy Cox and Rita Obi

12. Frank Savage - former investment banker and author of THE SAVAGE WAY: Successfully Navigating the Waves of Business and Life; a highly accomplished Global Wall Street Financier with a distinguished career in international banking, corporate finance, and global investment management - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

13. Melba Moore – singer and actress; her faith keeps her going - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

14. Jamal Joseph - artist, poet, director, producer, educator, and founder of Impact Repertory Theatre; developing leaders– Interviewed by: Christopher Graham

15. Lionel Hollins - Head Coach, Brooklyn Nets; a real standup guy, deeply connected to family and community - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

16. Brian Smith - NY Yankees SVP Corporate/Community Relations; merges baseball and community development - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

17. Daisy Llewellyn – Stylist, reality television star of Bravo's Blood, Sweat & Heels; and author of Never Pay Retail Again: Shop Smart, Spend Less, & Look Your Best Ever; She is the Queen of Effortless Chic - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

18. Richard Sherman – cornerback for Seattle Seahawks (NFL); Did we say, FEARLESS! – Interviewed by: Andrew Rosario

19. Teddy Bridgewater - NFL Quarterback, Minnesota Vikings; made it to the big stage; still grounded and fulfills promise to family - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

20. Mark Jaffe - President/CEO Greater NY Chamber of Commerce; a business leader who supports raising the minimum wage - Interviewed by Glenn Gilliam

21. Khary Lazarre White - Founder and Executive Director, Brotherhood Sister Sol; creating the next generation of leaders - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

22. Claudia Rankine – poet and National Book Award Finalist for Poetry for Citizen: An American Lyric ; her images show the violence of American racism's "micro" assaults – Interviewed by: Luvon Roberson

23. Michelle Miller - CBS Correspondent; proud advocate of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam using a Samsung S4

24. Ericka Pittman - VP Brand Strategy, Blue Flame Agency; a leader in business and personal branding - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

25. Christopher Chaney, Publisher of NV Magazine; creator of NV Magazine's Movers and Shakers Awards - Interviewed by Glenn Gilliam

Honorable Mentions

Yamina Collins – first time novelist, author of sci-fi romance novel, THE LAST KING; bringing episodic novels back into vogue - Interviewed by Luvon Roberson

Skoolie Escobar – Alabama rapper and entrepreneur trying to bring consciousness back to hip hop through the use of thought provoking visuals in his music video that accompanies his new single, Check Out My Watch – Interviewed by: Rita Obi

Tren'Ness Woods Black - President and Chief Strategist of Tren'ness Woods-Black, LLC; one of the keepers of the flame of Sylvia Woods' legacy. Sylvia Woods was the founder of Sylvia's restaurant in Harlem - Interviewed by: Glenn Gilliam

Previous personalities on What's The 411TV's list of Most Interesting People include: the late Maya Angelou; Motown Founder, Berry Gordy; Brooklyn Nets principal owner Mikhail Prokhorov; Willis Reed; Jeremy Lin; Mike Tyson and more.

About What's The 411TV

Based in Brooklyn, New York, What's The 411TV is a division of What's The 411 Networks, a media/news, marketing, and events company. What's The 411TV connects sophisticated multi-cultural audiences with its content through its distribution platforms of television, online, mobile, and social media.

What's The 411TV produces two weekly television shows, What's The 411, an award-winning entertainment and lifestyle television show and What's The 411Sports, a sports news and commentary television show.

What's The 411TV's celebrity portfolio consists of interviews with Magic Johnson, Beyonce, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Danny Glover, Harrison Ford, Samuel L. Jackson, Angela Bassett, Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Hudson, and many, many more.

About Ruth J. Morrison

Ruth J. Morrison is the CEO and Founder of What’s The 411 Networks, an integrated media, marketing, and events company, which produces the award-winning weekly news and information television show, What’s The 411 and What’s The 411Sports. The company covers the Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks, New York Giants, US OPEN, and other sports events. A video streaming pioneer, she developed and launched from conception the City of New York's multi-channel cable television network and served as a Communications Director and Legislative Advisor to a New York Member of the U.S. Congress. She is the first African-American independent television producer to have a weekly television show on WNYC-TV and for three years, she worked in Brasil as an entertainment and television licensing consultant for an American company. Ms. Morrison earned a master's degree in Interactive Telecommunications from the prestigious Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and she was a Communications Fellow at the Annenberg Washington Program of Northwestern University. She taught courses in telecommunications at Fordham University and she completed her coursework towards a Ph.D. in Political Science at Columbia University.

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Josh Smith waived by Detroit and reportedly headed to Houston

Josh Smith, Waived by Detroit, and Headed to Houston

A Josh Smith - Dwight Howard Reunion is on Tap

Forward Josh Smith, cleared waivers today after being waived by the Detroit Pistons on Monday. Smith is reported to be headed to the state of Texas to join James Harden and the Houston Rockets organization.

The Dallas Mavericks, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies were all suitors for the services of the forward, reported by ESPN.com, and in the end, Smith chose to re-join his AAU buddy, Dwight Howard.

With this acquisition, it seems like Houston may not have a problem after all.

The 2014-15 season was the second year of the 4-year, $54 million dollar deal Smith signed in the summer of 2013, now an after-thought as his days in the motor-city have shifted to the lone-star state.

In Detroit, Smith was expected to form a formidable front-court along with Bigs Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe, but the overcrowding of the post-area shifted Smith out-of-position thoroughly exposing him at the three.

It's no secret that Smith cannot shoot with consistency to say the least.

If CP3, Blake Griffin, and DeAndre Jordan of the Los Angeles Clippers formulate the members of Lob-City out west, Smith is, and was the lone-member of Brick-City, Mid-West.

Yes, he is that bad from outside.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, from 3-10 feet from the basket, Smith is shooting a career 35% from the basket.

From 10-16 feet, Smith is shooting 26%, and from 16 to the three-point shot, 34% and 27% respectively.

Reading those statistics can ruin your day and at this particular juncture in time, your holiday season, but Smith isn't all that bad.

He is a two-way player.

His sanctuary is underneath the basket.

Like Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks, Smith excels in Bully-ball.

In 2-point field goals and from 0-3 feet from the basket, Smith is shooting 48% and 67% respectively, which includes what he does best: finishing at the rim and dunking.

Smith can also handle the ball like a point-forward and is a willing passer, averaging 4.7 assists this season.

Alongside Howard, who isn't the most offensively polished big-man in the middle, Smith will have many chances to clean the glass and convert easy baskets.

A career average of 7.8 rebounds says so.

Not to mention the easy highlights that are almost a given when Harden and Smith run the break, which should make Smith an instant fan favorite in H-Town.

On a team among the upper-echelon of the Western Conference, the Rockets grant Smith the opportunity to do something that he hasn't been able to do for a while: compete.

Let's be honest, the Eastern Conference is weak compared to the West outside of Chicago, Washington, Cleveland and Toronto (Not sold on Atlanta yet, despite its 21-7 record), and honestly, Detroit did Smith a service.

The motor-city is in the midst of a rebuilding process. Piston's ownership is rewarding Stan Van Gundy, this off-season, with full basketball autonomy, as he is the Head Coach and the President of Basketball Operations.

Stan is concentrated on grooming the young talent in Detroit which means winning, for now, is not a priority.

Translation: It is not the right place for a capable hot-head like Josh Smith.

In Houston, Smith can make a difference.

Imagine Howard and Smith in the lane combining their career averages in block shots of 2.2 and 2.0 respectively, while Patrick Beverley terrorizes guards on the perimeter.

Imagine a world where Smith will be encouraged to face-up and play closer to the basket which will benefit his game and pad his stats all-together.

Imagine Smith learning from one of the best big-men in the history of the NBA in Head Coach Kevin McHale, who has just signed a three-year extension, worth over $13-million per-season to remain in Texas.

Imagine the new big-three in the West: Harden, Howard and Smith.

It all sounds nice doesn't it?

Factor in the fact that Houston will be paying Howard for one season, via the pro-rated portion of the bi-annual exception of $2.077 million, reported by Bleacherreport.com and you have what is called, a steal.

Book cover for author Farah Jasmine Griffin's book, HARLEM NOCTURNE: Women Artists & Progressive Politics During World War II

BOOK CLUB Report: The Riverside Book Club

Anyone who knows me knows that I am all about the written word and I love a good discussion about great books. As What's The 411TV's Book Editor, I had the opportunity to participate in a discussion when I visited The Riverside Book Club at The Riverside Church in Manhattan on Saturday, September 13, 2014.

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The Riverside Book Club meeting od September 13, 2014

The book under discussion:

HARLEM NOCTURNE: Women Artists & Progressive Politics During World War II
(New York: Basic Civitas, 2013)

Author: Farah Jasmine Griffin

www.farahjasminegriffin.com

Overview: HARLEM NOCTURNE

As World War II raged overseas, Harlem witnessed a battle of its own. Brimming with creative and political energy, Harlem's diverse array of artists and activists launched a bold cultural offensive aimed at winning democracy for all Americans, regardless of race or gender. In HARLEM NOCTURNE, esteemed scholar, Farah Jasmine Griffin, tells the stories of three black female artists whose creative and political efforts fueled this movement for change: novelist Ann Petry, a major new literary voice; choreographer and dancer Pearl Primus, a pioneer in her field; and composer and pianist Mary Lou Williams, a prominent figure in the emergence of Bebop.

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Author Farah Jasmine Griffin listens intently as members of The Riverside Book Club discuss her book, HARLEM NOCTURNE: Women Artists & Progressive Politics During World War II

As Griffin shows, these women made enormous strides for social justice during the war, laying the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement before the Cold War temporarily froze their democratic dreams. HARLEM NOCTURNE captures a period of unprecedented vitality and progress for African Americans and women in the United States.

(This overview is taken from: www.farahjasminegriffin.com)

My Take-Away from The Riverside Book Club's discussion:

HARLEM NOCTURNE sparks memories for book club members who either lived in Harlem during the 1940s or who recall being told stories about that time in Harlem. Oral history keeps the stories of Harlem's history alive and vibrant, even in the face of enormous change today, with Harlem's gentrification.

Meeting Info: The Riverside Book Club meets every month on the 2nd Saturday, from 11am to 1pm.

Contact: Mary Biggs at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more about The Riverside Book Club

Invite What's The 411TV Book Editor, Luvon Roberson, to your next book club meeting!

Contact her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or @LuvonRwriter on Twitter.

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