JUNE 2. 2004
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‘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"
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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.”
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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
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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.
The U.S. Embassy issued a
statement reminding U.S. citizens
to remain aware of the “continued
potential for terrorist attacks
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“A convergence of local and
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the potential threat," the embassy
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