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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (June 2, 2004)
JUNE 2. 2004 <ri'1 JJo rtlan h (¡Dhseruer Page B3 ‘Soul Food’ Serves up Last Episode Departure leaves no black dramas on television The fifth and final season of television’s longest-running black drama. Showtime’s “Soul Food,” has served up its last episode, leaving behind an uncertain fu ture for the genre. The cast o f Based on the 1997 hit film of Showtime's the same name, the multigenera- ‘Soul Food.' tional saga o f one Chicago family The NAACP has been one of Show tim e’s most Image award popular series, making stars out winning series o f Vanessa W illiams (not the bought African former Miss America), Nicole American reality Ari Parker and others. to television. Fans held “Soul Food” view ing parties and the show ’s offi cial W ebsite amassed over 10,000 hits daily. But after last w eek’s finale there is no significant black dramas left on the air. Showtime decided it was best could revive the series if it wanted “to go out on top with high rat to. ings and high-quality storytelling,” “This show speaks to its audi said series executive producer ence on a personal level, espe Tracey Edmonds, although in cially in the African-American creasing production costs might culture. That’s because we have have been a factor. African-Americans writing for Yet Edmonds said the story these characters, African-Ameri line will be left “open-ended cans directing episodes, reflect enough” so that another network ing theirtrue lives and lifestyles.” deserves more credit from those w ho’ve dismissed it as a mere movie spin-off. “The fact that it worked is what m atters,” said T hom as, adding, "in general, dramas are having a hard time right now if they aren’t law or cop shows. It’s just that no one is willing to give a black drama a chance.” The reality of network televi sion is that it is driven more by profits than social conscious ness, so unless an “ethnic" show has crossover appeal to a wider audience, it will never achieve true hit status. “You have to appeal to blacks and whites in the audience,” said W hile it never came close to being as big a cable deal as some thing like “The Sopranos," the NAACP Image award-winning series marked a turning point, said Ron Simon, curator for the Museum o f Television and Radio in New York. “Soul Food represents the be ginning steps ot trying to answer the question: How do you deal with the new African-American reality on television?” he said. “It’s not dealing with stereotypes and the way (white people) think things are. It just shows the great potential o f African-American drama on television." Rochell Thomas, an associate editor at TV Guide, “Soul Food" $34.99 (WRMOICE Phone w/60 Mins. Included No Contract - No Credit Check f REEDOH PHONE Max Tour to Feature Line’s Artists The public is invited to meet the Interstate MAX artists and take a tour of station art along the Inter state MAX Yellow Line on Thurs day evening, June 10. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with a reception at the Expo Center Station and brief introduction to the artwork. At 6:30 p.m., partici pants will board a MAX train and the tour begins; ending at the Expo Center at 8:40p.m. Artists will describe the artwork at their station during the tour. The tour will stop at every other station heading southbound on the Inter state MAX and the remaining half of the stations will be visited on the northbound return trip to the Expo Center. Attendees who can't stay for the entire tour may leave at any time. Each of the 10 stations reflects the rich history of the community including the Japanese American internment at what is now the Expo Center, the thriving African-Ameri can music scene in Albina, the flooding of the city of Vanport. the cattle industry in Kenton, and Local artists created tiles with an Afrocentric flair at the North Killingsworth Street Interstate light- multicultural heritages from Africa, rail station. Artwork that reflects the rich multicultural histories o f the community is reflected at South America, India, and Poland. each station along the new line. historian Tim Brooks, "and the black audience isn’t big enough if w hites w o n ’t w atch, too. Whites certainly will watch black shows if they d on't feel excluded by it.” Dee LaDuke, author o f "M ak ing Great Television,” noted that white shows have become part ot the "normal TV viewing expe rience" for black viewers, "but white people don’t themselves make (black shows ) a first choice. Convincing the broadcast net works that these lives are as rich and sexy, tragic and funny as any that have succeeded on televi sion ... is the next step for the reflection of race on television.” $124.99 Phone and 1 st Prorated Month of Service $60/month 300/3000 Mins. No Contract - No Credit Check - No Credit Card (503) 735-1422 RCCYCie YOUR c e l l PHOHE! We Buy Cellular Phones and Pagers B88-9PECEII FAST TRACK MARKETING Northwest Cooking Woods 100% Mesquite Charcoal, Mesquite Wood, Hickory, Pecan, Wild Cherry, Oak, Sugar Maple, Plus Other Woods & Supplies Call For Appointment - Ask for Paul P.O. Box 20741, Portland, OR 97294-0741 503-254-0774 Fresh, Affordable Produce on Alberta Author Offers Success Strategies Recent research has shown that African-American males start fall ing behind in kindergarten. If we add to this the fact that there are more African-American males in carcerated than incollege, twoques- tions beg for answers. First, why is this allowed to go on, and who benefits? “We know that education ben efits the society,” said author Michael Alan Townsend. In his book, "Black Power: Strat egies for Achieving and Utilizing Power in America,” Townsend ex amines these issues. “In New York State alone there Cooperative announces summer season nWGESFORACHIEVWG ANDUTliZWGPOWERW AMERICA m 1 < • -, ; i ’ • T-* ,i »if*» AIM:« i■„ h OcW are at least 60,000 African Ameri cans incarcerated or on parole. None of these individuals currently has the right to vote. The beneficiaries of such a policy are definitely not the people in the communities where these felons come from," he said. Townsend offers many strate gies detailed in his book, which is available at the publisher’s Web site, www.bronxvillage.com for $9.95. Inner-City Rap Movie Coming (AP) — Filming is riod. scheduled to begin July Brewer has described 10 on an inner-city rap the $2.8 million indepen movie produced by John dent production as the Singleton and directed by story of a "pimp-hustler filmmakerCraig Brewer. with a mid-life crisis who “Hustle & Flow," star wants to rap,” ring Terrence Howard John Singleton Singleton was nomi (“Big Momma's House"), nated for a best-director A nthony A nderson (“ Barber- Oscar for 1991’s "Boyz N the shop") and hip-hop artist Ludacris, Hood." His films also include “Po- will be shot over a four-week pe- etic Justice" and 2000’s “Shaft." i Recognizing the need to provide healthy, affordable, high quality food to north and northeast Portland neighborhoods, the Alberta Cooperative Grocery, 1500 N.E. Alberta St., is excited to announce a new summer season of the Alberta Farmers Market. The cooperative will offer seasonal produce from local growers, ready-to-eat food and weekly entertainment. Farmers Markets, which are held Sundays, begin on June 6 through Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. until 2p.m. The goal of the Alberta Farmers Market is to serve diverse commu nities and provide a space for area residents to connect with local food producers. Musical guest Schicky Gnarowitz will kick off the Alberta Farmers Market s eclectic weekly music schedule with an upbeat, fun klezmer music. For more information, volunteer opportunities or vendor booths contact 503-287-4333. Terrorism Concerns Cancels Show (AP) — Hip-hop star Missy Elliott canceled a planned concert in Jakarta, Indonesia after theU.S. Embassy warned Americans about potential terrorist attacks in the country. Elliott had been scheduled to perform last Wednesday as part of an international tour. “We apologize to al I the fans of Missy Elliott because of this can cellation," Roberto of Lunar En tertainment. the show’s promoter, said. 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