The Black List Vol 1

There are events that move you, words, testimonies that shake the very foundation of your fears, insecurities and hope. The Black List Vol I, the brain child of NPR legend Timothy Greenfield-Sanders and veteran film critic Elvis Mitchell is such an event; the moving confessions and opinions of some of the most successful African-Americans in this country are healing and refreshing in this new day of Change. From all walks of life the insight of how they have witnessed this country gives faith that we are all on the right track and that what we feel is valid growing up in the United States. I caught it the first time at the tail end of the special when the Tony Award winning stage performer Bill T. Jones was speaking on his experiences from the alter to the stage. I couldn't quite believe what I was hearing and thought of Mr. Jones as the inspiration for the Character Leo Proudhammer from the James Baldwin novel 'How Long has the Train Been Gone".

Louis Gossett Jr, saying that he didn't get a call for two years after winning the academy award in 1984, with all the promise and passion in his voice; you can hear that it was a peak in which he climbed so hard to get, and feeling that he could name is price and his picture, still, he found that Hollywood was unkind to him even though he had earned it's highest honor. Giving proof that no matter how far we climb up the mountain, there is still unseen peaks to dig our feet and hands into.

I don't think in all my years in the music business have I ever seen a more subdued and humble Sean Combs, and the realization that Biggie in essence is the legacy of Bad Boy's stamp in hip-hop history. What we strive for, dream for, dream to be, the success we have had in this country was measured by the spirit of people who didn't give up and never let go of the dream, no matter origin, education or access. These people knocked down the doors and dare us still to do more, strive for more, push to be more.

Chris Rock is all of his "So right, but so wrong" sense of humor said that he is waiting for the Sista Barbara Streisand (writing, staring and directing) we still have steps to make and foundation to crack.

MacArthur "Genius, playwright, Suzan-Lori Parks speaking about the individual actions of us all and taking away concern about the "man" and his or her function in the world and impact on our life. We should be far past this time in life. "The man ain't worried about us, he has successfully outsourced the hating, brillant".

With a long list black hero's like: Kareem Abdul-Jabar, Colin Powell, Al Sharpton, Toni Morrison, Zane, Slash and Keenen Ivory-Waynans; The Black List Vol I is a must watch for all races, creeds and economical colors.