Page 5 Portland Observer OCTOBER 12,1989
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ENTERTAINMENT
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ECUME)
REPORT
By Garland Lee Thompson
NORTHW EST AFICAN AMERI
CAN WRITERS PUBLISH 1ST
ANTHOLOGY
In a historic occasion, Sunday after
noon, September 24, 1989, 2-5 PM,
the newly formed Northwest African
American W riters W orkshop pre
sented its first published anthology
o f new written works.
"VOICES OF KUUMBA"
"VOICES OF KUUMBA" (the Kiswa-
hili language for crestivity). is athe
title o f the collected works o f poetry,
short story, essays, playwrighting,
etc (the final scene from a play of
mine, that won the W ashington, D.C.
One-act Play Festival, "Sisyphus &
The Blue-Eyed Cyclops," is also
included).
The new anthology was edited and
the Forward was written by Useni
Eugene Perkins, who founded the
W riters W orkshop unit here in Port
land, and arranged sponsorship and
meeting space at the Urban League
of Portland.
Under a grant from the metropolitan
Arts Commission o f Portland and
printing by the Poratland Public
Schools, the first collected group of
Oregon African American writers have
"hit athe deck running," with this
newest Oregon black book.
Charlotte Lewis, athe graphic artist,
did the cover impressively for the
new five hundred test copies that just
made it off the PPS presses in time
for the first ever book signing, pres
entation reception and party held at
the YW CA office on Martin Luther
King Blvd, just north of Killingsworth.
Several writers and poets. Kamau
Anderson, Malaika Ashanti (who did
the typing for the publicaation),
Karima Aziz, Mattie Ann Callier-
Spears, Joe Franklin, H.A. Hagood,
Joyce Makini Harris, Donna Johnson,
Jimi Johnson and myself read from
or spoke about their works, which is
dedicated to the late greaat writer,
James Baldwin, at the friendly neigh
bor reception in North Portland.
O ther writers, who are included in
the new book are: Carole Rohr Aquino,
"Backlash" (a short story), J. Lynn
Ervins, "Better Than the Day Be
fore" (a poem), Sherrian Haggai, "Man
of Mine," and a group of poem ,
Pearl W ood Lewis (sho is 93 years
old), "In The Meadow" and another
poem, "Reaching Out," Selaaelo
Maredi (sho is a South African play
wright now living in Portland, O re
gon), contributed his poem, "Hunger
in My Rich Land," Pamela Slaughter
(two poems). "Creation" and Di
lemma," and " Faye Ann Williams-
Bell (two poems), "A Divorced
Mother's Love" and "The Liberator."
(It is important to note that this is the
first time that any portion of mine
play, "Sisyphus & The Blue-Eyed
Cyclops," has been published after it
v a s written twenty years ago and
performed in Los Angeles by actors
Paul W infield and D"Urville Martin,
in New York, by actors A1 Freeman
Jr. Morgan Freeman and Adolf Cae
sar, at Howard University, W ashing
ton, D .C ., Princeton University and
toured the South by the Carpetbag
Players of Knoxville, Tenn.)
USENI EUGENE PERKINS HON
ORED
A special plaque and award was given
to Useni Eueenc Perkins, himself a
playwright and author of several
The S.O A. Band Shines On "Diamonds In The Raw"
Behind-The-Scenes
(Byline=Lisa Collins)
MCA Hosts Big Bobby Brown Bash:
The attire was "after five" and the
party, - i n celebration of the sale of
5,000,000 units of Brown super smash
debut LP, was hosted by MCA Rec
ords president A1 Teller himself.
Everyone puton their best ( the guest
o f honor came decked out in red sik)
and the party clearly lived up to its
billing as guests included MCA red-
cording star Tiffany (who was cele
brating her bvitrhday), members of
New Edition, Keenan W ayans-still
in talks with Fox-TV over his pro
posed speical, Eddie Murphy, Janet
Jackson, Thomas Hearns, Jody
W atley, Mica Paris, Babyface, and
Bebe W inans (who Brown him self
confesses to being a big fan of)...,On
the home front, word has it Brown
recently moved his girlfreind and
their newborn into a king-sized, $1.5
million newly-purchased estae in
Atlanta. Others include "LA & Ba
byface", Pebbles^nd former Klymaxx
lead, Joyce Irby...Meanwhile, actress
shari Belafonte (formely of the TV
series "Hotel"), has set June 9 as the
date o f her up coming marriage to
actor Sam Behrens (formerly of
General Hospital, presentlyu fo "knots
Landing”). It is the second marriage
for Belfonte.
Lenny Kravitz Makes Debut: Ac
tress Roxie Roker was at her best the
other night in the role of mother at
the Holywood showcase of her son,
Virgin recording artist Lenny Krav
itz. Roker danced in the aisles before
making her way to the front o f the
stage as the crowd rocxkied at the
Roxy. Other notables on hand in
cluded Teena Marie as well as his
wikfe, cosby actress Lisa Bonel. In
fact, Kravitz began his set with a
song off the LP, "Flower Child", which
was written for his wife, Lisa. (W e’ll
take a closer look at this new talent
next wee.
Roger Mosely's Last Acting Project?
"The fadet that they've got two acad
emy award nominees Denzel W ash
ington and Bob Hoskins may make
this film work" said Roger M jsely
books, honoring him for his work in
conceiving the concept and organiz
ing thca W orkshop that produced
this historic new book c r Oregon
black writers.
In Perkins' Introduction to the book
he writes: "Oregon has a raich liter
ary tradition, and some o f America’s
finest writers live in this scenic North
west state or come here to participate
in various writer's conferences, semi
nars and workshops. However, few
African-American writers who live
in Oregon Have baenefited from his
tradition and consequently, tahey have
been conspicuously ignored. Whether
tahis has been by intent or not, the
African-American writer in Oregon
has received li nited literary exosure,"
"The works herein represent a sam
pling o f the writings that have em a
nated from our workshop. They re
flect a variety of styles, themes and
careative expressions which reaffirms
the rich literary tradition of African-
A m eriacanj bonded to slavery to
produce such noted writers as Phillis
W heatley, Jupiter Hammon, Coun-
tee Cullen, Zora Neal Hurston, Lang
ston Hughes, Richard W right and
James Baldwin. Indeed, it is tradi
tion that celebrates and captures the
unique experience of African-Ameri
cans who have survived slavery and
other forms of social and economic
oppression. Despite efforts to con-
atrol and inhibit their litaerary espres-
sions, African-American writers have
persistently Waged an endless struggle
for their voices to be heard." W raite
on, Useni and tahe Workshop.
OREGON POET-LAURATE IS
PRESENTED THE NEW ANTHOL
OGY
As a foilow-up to the introduction
and presentation of the new book, on
Tuesday night, September 26,1989,
I, as a member of the new published
anthology, did present a first edition
copy to William Stafford, Oregon's
famous retiring poet-laurate, after his
appearance and reading at Delialah's
Coffeehouse restaurant, at their
Tuesday night reading series in
Portland.
Also Dr. Darrell M lllner, chairper
son of the Black Studies Department
of Poartland State University, received
his copy personally from myself. He
is the head of the dpartment where I
teach my new fall class, "African
American Playwriaghts, Their Craaft
and Legacy." He has agreed to rev-
ei w athe new black book for his reac
tions and interest. W rite on, Dr.
Millner. (The next meeting of the
NW African American W riters
Workshop will be Sunday, October
22, 1989, 3-5PM, 6600 SE Division
Street, Portland, OR (66th & D ivi
sion Street)
o f his upcoming film "Heart Condi
tion". It is the stroy of a white man
who is transplanted with the heart
(and ghost) of a black amn. The ghost
later convincing the man to find his
murderer. Mosley's co-starring role
in the upcoming movie, could well
be his last major acting role. Said
M osely, "If something comes that
puts me in front o f the camera, fine,
but that's not my motivation. After
getting a chance to direct on M ag
num, I realize where the real power
is~behind the camera, producing and
directing."
Apollnia Nabbed InTwo-Day Anti-
Drug Sweep: Actress-singer ( and
former girlfriend o f "Prince") Patri
cia "Apollonia" Bernhardt, 30, was
recently arrested in Los Angeles as
she tried to opurchasc less than an
ounceof marijuana. "Iam not a user",
Apollonia was quoted as saying. In
fa c t, according to her spokesperson,
the actress (who purchased the mari
juana from a 10-year old girl), was
durijng research for an upcoming
movie that deals with streetkids.
AHowever, as o f our presstime, the
singer’s $25,000 black Mercedes Benz
(confiscated as part o f the sweep)
was still being held by the Los Ange
les Police Department..
FBI Takes Firm Stance With NW A:
News of a letter from FBI officials
to Priortiy records regarding LA-based
rap group N.W .A.'s encouragement
of "violence against and disrespect"
for law enforcement surfaced in the
recording industry just recently. In
the letter, the FBI took exception to
the advocationj o f violcnfce and
assault, particularly as it relates to
the tunc entitle"...Tha Police", re
counting tension between LA street
gangs and the LA P olice
DcpartmcnL..Short Takes: Singer Ray
Charles was named chairman of the
Rhythm &Blues Foundation, a non
profit W ashing ton D.C. based group
that assists R&B
THE NATIONAL BLACK TALENT
DIRECTORY
The National Black Talent D irec
tory's publisher, J.J. Jones, announces
the launching o f registration ¡or the
second annual edition. 10,000copies
are distributed throughout the coun
try to major studios, film companies,
producers, record companies, talent
theatrical agencies, and other key
decisionmakers in the entertainment
industry.
Portland's Minority Artist Raepre-
sentatives,Int ..Joe(B ean)K eller,is
registering black artists now, with
the deadline: October 15th, 1989.
For information, call (503) 288-1662,
P.O Box 12471, Portland, Oregon
97212
P & 3’s
B E A U T Y SALO N
B E A U T Y S U P P L IE S
231 N. Lombard
Suite 200
Portland, OR 97217
.ombard
Vancouver
Gt
Here
N
Peggy Sumner
(503)289-0205
First Single, "I'm Still Missing Your Love." Catches Fire At Urbat Radio
Tabu/Epic recording artists The S O S. Band are back in action with a fast-rising, streetwise single, "I'm
Still Missing Your Love," and a new album, Diamonds In The Raw, slated for October 3 release.
Produced and co-written by Curtis Williams (of Kool & the Gang fame). "I'm Still Missing Your Love"
made its Billboard Black Singles clhart debut at #87* and promptly jumped to #67* in the week of
September 16. The song seems destined to join the S O S Band's impressive string of Eighties hits like
"Take Your Time (Do It Right)," "Just Be Good To Mew," "Tell Me If You Still Care," and "The Finest."
The Forthcoming album includes tracks produced by Curtis Williams; the team of Eban Kelly & Jimmy
Randolph;and T heS .O S . Band's own Jason Bryant. Theultra-funky "Goldm ine,"andthe hypnotic "Men
Don’t Cry." The new LP is the first to feature The S O S. Band's new female lead vocalists, Freddi Grace
and Chandra Currelley, along with stalwart members Jason Bryant, Bruno Speight, and Abdul Raoof.
Diamonds In The Rough is dedicated to the late Billy Ellis, a founding member of The S.O.S Band whose
lyrical saxophone solo pierces to the heart of "Hold Out."
Having completed highly successful tours of West Germany and Japan earlier this year, The S.O.S.
Band are planning more international concert dates befor embarking on a major U S. tour in support of
Diamonds In The Rough.
THE S.O.S. Band: Shining on with "I'm Still Missing Your Love" and Diamonds In The Rough, cn Tabu/
Epic Cassettes. Compact Discs and Records.
Best Ribs in Portland '88 & '89
Best Soul Food
'88 & 89
[ open m ik e ]
Specialties:
BBQ Ribs A
Chicken
Gumbo
October 14 & 28
C raw daddy’s
C R EO LE
Cajun Chicken
C O O K IN ’
Shrimp Creole
Red Beans
1432 N E B roadw ay
P ortla nd 97232
Hot Links
TUES - THUR
T R IA S A T
I l :30am - S.íXyim
Much M o re l!
All singers
WELCOME /
I I :30am - 9:00pm
MORE FUN THAN
BOWLING
by Steven Dietz Now Thru October 15th
I
At The Portland Center For The Performing Arts
j
I
Exciting 20th Season
Opening Production
WOZA ALBERT!
By Ngema, Mtwa & Simon
Now Thru October 25th
At SW 3rd & Burnside
1 .united IEngagement
Back B\ Popular Demand
Phone
224-4001
For Reservations
performers who have fallen on
hard times.. .Randy Jackson-young-
Support O ur Advertisers!
Say You Saw It In The, ? j ,
est m ember of the famed singing
clan is about to release his solo LP on
A&M... Next week: Jasmine guy talks
about her upcoming role in "Harlem
Nights."
PortlandObserver!
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