Few headline grabbing stories remain with you beyond their initial news cycle. Antoinette Tuff’s story of courage, boldness and empathy is one such story. When confronted by a mentally disturbed gunman, Tuff as President Barack Obama put it was “cool under pressure and had enough heart that somehow she could convince somebody who was really troubled that she cared about them.”
Tuff remained calm and was able to communicate both to the gunman Michael Hill and emergency services. The troubling ordeal ultimately ending in a peaceful surrender and Hill was later sentenced to 20 years in prison. Tuff later relocated to Texas and is a member of the Potter’s House in Dallas. Bishop T.D. Jakes serves as her Pastor but is also boasts a brilliant business mind. Learning more and more about Tuff, he joined forces with Tuff and later Lifetime to tell her story! After procuring rights to the story, Bishop Jakes approached the Lifetime television network to produce the made for tv film “Faith Under Fire” starring R&B superstar Toni Braxton.
Joining Braxton on the film are other notable actors: Malik Yoba and YaYa DaCosta. A week before the premiere, Bishop Jakes hosted a special screening at the church and the stars were big and bright that night! Joining Bishop Jakes on the red carpet were executive producer Derrick Williams, Antoinette Tuff, Toni, Towanda and Tamar Braxton and Tanya Lopez (SVP Lifetime Original Movies). The film is a drama based on the actual events of that fateful day at the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Decatur, Georgia.
Film Synopsis:
Seven time Grammy® Award winner Toni Braxton stars as Antoinette Tuff, a struggling single mom from Georgia who heroically averted a tragedy, saving hundreds of lives when she convinced a deranged gunman who stormed an elementary school to surrender. On August 20, 2013, shortly after arriving to work at the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Decatur, Georgia, Antoinette the school’s bookkeeper, was in the front office when Michael Hill (Trevor Morgan, Abducted), a young man with a history of mental illness, snuck in, armed with an AK-47 and
hundreds of rounds of ammunition.
As the school went into lockdown, Antoinette was left alone with Michael, who repeatedly threatened to kill everyone. Showing enormous courage and empathy, along with nerves of steel, Antoinette convinced Michael to surrender by using her own life struggles to connect with him. Antoinette’s faith in God guided her through the toughest moments of her life, ultimately preparing her for that fateful day.
PRESENTERS INCLUDED: STERLING K. BROWN, MARY J. BLIGE, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, DANIEL KALUUYA, ISSA RAE, CHADWICK BOSEMAN, TERRY CREWS, YARA SHAHIDI, ANGELA RYE, DANAI GURIRA, ISAIAH WASHINGTON, JACOB LATIMORE, JAY PHAROAH, JEMELE HILL, JOSH GAD, LORETTA DEVINE, META GOLDING,
MICHAEL SMITH, TYLER JAMES WILLIAMS, SONEQUA MARTIN-GREEN, JUDGE GREG MATHIS AND MIKE COLTER
Performances by Common and Andra Day
Ava DuVernay Announced as NAACP Entertainer of the Year
Charlie Wilson Honored with Music Makes a Difference Honor
Special #TIMESUP Presentation Featuring Angela Robinson, Kerry Washington,
Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe and Tracee Ellis Ross
Additional Talent Included: Halle Berry, Mandy Moore, Chris Sullivan, Omari Hardwick, and more
The winners of the 49th NAACP Image Awards were announced tonight during the live broadcast from the Pasadena Civic Auditorium which aired on TV One (see complete winners list below). The two-hour live special was hosted by Anthony Anderson and opened with a powerful moment in support of #TIMESUP featuring Angela Robinson, Kerry Washington, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Laverne Cox, Lena Waithe and Tracee Ellis Ross. There was a live pre-show from the red carpet hosted by Terrence J with special correspondent, Tanika Ray.
Ava DuVernay was honored as the NAACP Entertainer of the Year. NAACP Chairman Leon W. Russell presented the NAACP Chairman’s Award to William Lucy, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson presented the NAACP President’s Award to Danny Glover and several members of the Memphis Sanitation “I Am A Man”Workers were also in attendance – they were presented with the NAACP Vanguard Award earlier in the week during a press conference at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, TN. Charlie Wilson was honored with the Music Makes a Difference honor which is bestowed upon an individual within the recording industry who has achieved worthwhile success and inspiration for civic engagement, criminal justice, education, economic opportunity, or criminal justice.
In addition, some of the biggest names in film, television and music appeared in the LIVE telecast including: Sterling K. Brown, Halle Berry, Mary J. Blige, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya, Issae Rae, Mandy Moore, Chadwick Boseman, Terry Crews, Tracee Ellis Ross, Yara Shahidi, Angela Rye, Danai Gurira, Isaiah Washington, Jacob Latimore, Jay Pharoah, Jemele Hill, Josh Gad, Loretta Devine, Meta Golding, Michael Smith, Tyler James Williams, Omari Hardwick, Ava DuVernay, Jurnee Smollett-Bell, Chris Sullivan, Sonequa Martin-Green, Judge Greg Mathis and Mike Colter.
The 49th NAACP ImageAwards production team included Executive Producers Reginald Hudlin and Phil Gurin, Tony McCuin as Director, Byron Phillips as Producer, and Robin Reinhardt as Talent Producer.
The winners of the 49th NAACP ImageAwardsin the non-televised categories were announced during a gala dinner celebration that took place Sunday, January 14, 2018, at the Pasadena Conference Center – the event was hosted by The Real’s Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
The NAACP ImageAwardsis the premiere multicultural awards show. It celebrates the accomplishments of people of color in the fields of television, music, literature and film, and also honors individuals or groups who promote social justice through creative endeavors.
Nominees for the NAACP ImageAwardsare determined by the number of entries received by the deadline. To be eligible, projects must have had a national distribution date between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017. From those entries, a nominating committee selects five nominees in each of the 56 categories. To determine the winners, the members of the NAACP vote via a secured online site. The results are tabulated by the ImageAwards auditors, Bert Smith & Co., and the results are confidential until the envelope is opened LIVE on stage during the TV One telecast.
THE WINNERS OF THE 49TH NAACP IMAGEAWARDS ARE:
Television
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Jay Ellis – “Insecure” (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Marsai Martin – “`black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited – Series or Dramatic Special
“The New Edition Story ” (BET)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special
Idris Elba – “Guerrilla” (Showtime)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited -Series or Dramatic Special
Queen Latifah – “Flint” (Lifetime)
Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special)
“Unsung” (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series
“The Real” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series
“The Manns” (TV One)
Outstanding Variety or Game Show – (Series or Special)
“Lip Sync Battle” (Spike)
Outstanding Children’s Program
“Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series)
Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
Roland Martin – “News One Now” (TV One)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble
“The Annotated African American Folktales” – Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Editor),Maria Tatar (Editor), (Liveright Publishing Corporation)
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction
“Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies” – Dick Gregory (Author), (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author
“No One Is Coming to Save Us” – Stephanie Powell Watts (Author), (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography / Autobiography
“Becoming Ms. Burton – From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women” – Susan Burton (Author), Cari Lynn (Author), Michelle Alexander (Foreword By), (The New Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional
“The Awakened Woman: Remembering & Reigniting our Sacred Dreams ” – Dr. Tererai Trent (Author), Oprah Winfrey (Foreword By), (Simon and Schuster)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry
“Incendiary Art: Poems” – Patricia Smith (Author), (TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children
“Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History ” – Vashti Harrison (Author), (Hachette Book Group)
In one of the most anticipated award ceremonies of the year, the NAACP Image Awards kicked off with its non-televised categories at a gala dinner last night in Los Angeles. Big winners for the night included Jordan Peele, Bruno Mars, Idris Elba, Mary J. Blige, The Manns, Kendrick Lamar, Roland Martin and many more!
Event Hosted by The Real’s Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley
Attendees included: Sterling K. Brown, Susan Kelechi Watson, Yvette Nicole Brown, Samira Wiley and more
The winners of the 49th NAACP Image Awardsin the non-televised categorieswere announced during a gala dinner celebration that took Sunday, January 14, 2018, at the Pasadena Conference Center – the event was hosted by The Real’s Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley.
Talent attending included: Abdul Williams, Amanda Lipitz, Andrew Finkelstein, Angela Jollivette, Angie Edgar, Anthony Sparks, Beverly Bond, Brad Bernstein, Chelsea Hettrick, Chris Robinson, Damien Escobar, Damon Davis, Daniel Mooney, David Karabinas, Debra Lee, Dondre Whitfield, Emily V. Gordon, Erica Anderson, Ethan Hutchinson, Fredricka Whitfield, Iyanla Van Zant, James Ward, Janine Sherman Barrois, Jemele Hill, Jill Dickerson, John David Washington, Joshua Dubois, Julie Anderson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karissa Valencia, Kay Hanley, Keegan Kuhn, Keesha Sharp, Keith David, Ken Whittingham, Kevin Hooks, Kip Andersen, Kristin Robinson, Kumail Nanjiani, Kwyn Bader, Ledisi, Lena Waithe, Lonnie Chavis, Lynn Whitfield, Major, Mark Ford, Mark Nicholson, Marvin Sapp, May Chan, Mekita Faiye, Merle Dandridge, Michael Armstrong, Michael Smith, Michelle Lewis, Morgan Di Stefano, Natalie Paul, Paula Dofat, Pinky Cole, Reginald Hudlin, Rodney Scott, Sabaah Folayan, Salli Richardson, Samira Wiley, Scott Mills, Somi, Stacey Kim, Stella Meghie, Sterling K. Brown, Susan Gray, Susan Kelechi Watson, Tara Montgomery, Tina Lifford, Tituss Burgess, Woody McClain and Yvette Nicole Brown.
Winners in 47 categories were announced during the event (see complete winners list below). The remaining 9 categories and Entertainer of the Year will be announced LIVE on stage during the two-hour star-studded 49th NAACP Image Awards which will broadcast LIVE on TV One on Monday, January 15, 2018, the national holiday honoring the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at 9pm/8c as a two-hour special hosted by Anthony Anderson. The one-hour pre-show airs live from the red carpet at 8pm/7c.
For all information and the latest news, please visit the official NAACP Image Awards website at: http://www.naacpimageawards.net.
The winners of the Non-Televised Categories for the 49th NAACP Image Awards are:
Television Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Jay Ellis – “Insecure” (HBO)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series Marsai Martin – “`black-ish” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Joe Morton – “Scandal” (ABC)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series Naturi Naughton – “Power” (Starz)
Outstanding Television Movie, Limited – Series or Dramatic Special “The New Edition Story ” (BET)
Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Limited-Series or Dramatic Special Idris Elba – “Guerrilla” (Showtime)
Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Limited -Series or Dramatic Special Queen Latifah – “Flint” (Lifetime)
Outstanding News/ Information – (Series or Special) “Unsung” (TV One)
Outstanding Talk Series “The Real” (Syndicated)
Outstanding Reality Program/Reality Competition Series “The Manns” (TV One)
Outstanding Variety or Game Show – (Series or Special) “Lip Sync Battle” (Spike)
Outstanding Children’s Program “Doc McStuffins” (Disney Junior)
Outstanding Performance by a Youth (Series, Special, Television Movie or Limited Series) Caleb McLaughlin – “Stranger Things” (Netflix)
Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble Roland Martin – “News One Now” (TV One)
Outstanding Host in a Reality/Reality Competition, Game Show or Variety (Series or Special) – Individual or Ensemble LL Cool J – “Lip Sync Battle” (Spike)
Recording Outstanding New Artist SZA (RCA Records/Top Dawg Entertainment)
Outstanding Male Artist Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Female Artist Mary J. Blige (Capitol Records)
Outstanding Duo, Group or Collaboration Kendrick Lamar feat. Rihanna (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Outstanding Jazz Album “Petite Afrique” – Somi (Sony Music/OKeh)
Outstanding Gospel/Christian Album (Traditional or Contemporary) “Greenleaf Soundtrack Volume 2” – Greenleaf Soundtrack (RCA Inspiration)
Outstanding Music Video/Visual Album “That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Song – Traditional “That’s What I Like” – Bruno Mars (Atlantic Records)
Outstanding Album “DAMN.” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Outstanding Song – Contemporary “HUMBLE.” – Kendrick Lamar (TDE/Aftermath/Interscope)
Literature Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction “The Annotated African American Folktales” – Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Editor),Maria Tatar (Editor), (Liveright Publishing Corporation)
Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction “Defining Moments in Black History: Reading Between the Lies” – Dick Gregory (Author), (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author “No One Is Coming to Save Us” – Stephanie Powell Watts (Author), (HarperCollins Publishers)
Outstanding Literary Work – Biography / Autobiography “Becoming Ms. Burton – From Prison to Recovery to Leading the Fight for Incarcerated Women” – Susan Burton (Author), Cari Lynn (Author), Michelle Alexander (Foreword By), (The New Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional “The Awakened Woman: Remembering & Reigniting our Sacred Dreams ” – Dr. Tererai Trent (Author), Oprah Winfrey (Foreword By), (Simon and Schuster)
Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry “Incendiary Art: Poems” – Patricia Smith (Author), (TriQuarterly Books/Northwestern University Press)
Outstanding Literary Work – Children “Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History ” – Vashti Harrison (Author), (Hachette Book Group)
Outstanding Literary Work – Youth / Teens “Clayton Byrd Goes Underground” – Rita Williams-Garcia, (Author), Frank Morrison (Illustrator), (Amistad/HarperCollins Publishers)
Motion Picture Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture Idris Elba – “THOR: Ragnarok” (Marvel Studios)
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture Tiffany Haddish – “Girls Trip” (Universal Pictures)
Social media lit up last weekend with news that The Rickey Smiley Morning Show would end in Dallas and no longer be heard on 97.9 The Beat. Early reports erroneously reported that the show would be replaced with a revival of sorts for the “Mark in the Morning” (which ended last year) fueling rumors of a format change, but the syndicated show which began in Dallas has been replaced by talent at the Dallas station, Veda Loca. Smiley had no time for bitterness or shade, but set the tone in the video by addressing the change purely as a business decision.
Watch the video, below.
With syndication ruling the airwaves, the move came as a huge shock, though many listeners loathe ‘piped in’ shows which currently dominate the landscape of local radio. Many listen to Smiley’s morning show and watch the show’s segments on “Dish Nation” later in the day, so the unexpected and unprecedented move comes as a shock to listeners who have taken to social media to express their shock, anger and to demand Smiley’s return.
Smiley being the great sport he is returned the favor in kind. In a nearly 10 minute live video, he encouraged listeners to instead of actually support Veda Loca and her new morning show. Recounting her support to the team in its infancy which began at the station, Smiley stated repeatedly how deserving of the prominent time slot (dominated by men) he feels Veda Loca is.
As we’ve grown to expect from Rickey Smiley, he didn’t deliver his message without a little preach to it. Smiley told viewers of the video to understand the importance of letting some things go in order to receive new ones. He let viewers know that he’s currently on a press tour for his newest book “Stand By Your Truth” and has no time for bitterness when he’s actually increasing.
Smiley will no longer be on the air in Dallas- a top five media market in America, but remains on the other markets he is currently heard in. Other rumors speculated that the show would be going away altogether, which is unfounded.
Smiley encouraged everyone to give Veda Loca a chance, which is what he got when Steve Harvey left the market in Dallas. He stands by the station’s decision and encourages listeners to continue supporting the station. That’s how you handle change, embrace it!
You can still see all the team’s antics on “Dish Nation” and follow them on their very active social channels!
Last week, People reported that Jeannie Mai from The Real and her husband of 10 years Freddy Harteis are divorcing. The reason behind the split is their separate stances on children.
Mai has been adamant from the beginning that she doesn’t want children and Harteis has been adamant that he does. 10 years later, neither has really changed their mind or their stance and are now at an impasse in their loving marriage. Yeah…really love each other, just not enough to agree on having children.
How does this happen? Two people love each other, but not their choices. In the clip below, Jeannie tells her co-hosts about the heartbreaking impasse at which she and her husband currently find themselves.
If the two disagreed on children going into the marriage, do you think the marriage was doomed from the beginning? In scripture, we talk about being “unequally yoked” which applies to more than belief and faith. More and more professional women are opting against childbirth and child rearing altogether. What Mai has decided is not status-quo, but it certainly is understood by many.
Do gender roles have any bearing on the conversation and is there an unreasonable expectation on women to want to bear children? If the two were unequally yoked about children from the beginning, why pursue? Amos says two can’t walk together except they agree (Amos 3:3). Let’s talk about that.
How much agreement is enough to get married and how much disagreement is too much to move forward in a relationship or to choose not to marry? Do you think that Jeannie is afraid and that they will eventually have children?
We want to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Power Couple Donates Home to National Domestic Violence Organization
LaTroy Hawkins and wife Anita
Former Major League baseball player, LaTroy Hawkins and his wife, Anita Hawkins recently donated a home to be used as a domestic violence shelter to Women Called Moses, a non-profit organization created to be an “underground railroad” for victims of domestic violence. The house can accommodate up to twelve families and will include a relaxation room where the residents can journal, meditate and reflect, dedicated to Find One Reason to Smile, the non-profit organization founded by Anita Hawkins.
Anita Hawkins, a survivor of domestic violence herself, has raised nearly $20,000 through Find One Reason to Smile to support Women Called Moses. When Debra Bowles, the founder of Women Called Moses, mentioned the overcrowded shelters throughout the United States and the enormous amount of money she spends to safely place domestic violence victims in hotels monthly, Anita knew right then that she wanted to help in a larger way.
“I have supported Women Called Moses for a number of years because of the life-changing work they’re doing,” said Anita Hawkins. “However, they were limited because they didn’t have a safe place to house them. LaTroy and I decided right away to purchase a house to provide a safe environment for domestic violence victims and their children.”
The Hawkins’ purchased the home in the southern sector of the Dallas Metroplex for around $200,000 and partnered with Antioch Fellowship Church, who is sponsoring the renovations to the house. The house is expected to welcome its first residents before the end of the year. “We are so grateful to LaTroy and Anita Hawkins for donating this home to us,” said Debra Nixon-Bowles, founder and president of Women Called Moses. “The shortage of safe housing causes many women to have to return to their abusers. This house is uber important as it will help us expand our services and save lives by providing a safe haven to many, many families from all across the country.”
Women Called Moses seeks to prevent and end the cycle of violence against women through education and advocacy services provided to individuals, families and community agencies throughout the United States of America. Women Called Moses hosted its annual fundraising gala, themed “Heels 2 Heal” on Sunday, October 22 at the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and featured national recording artist, Michel’le, who recently shared her experiences with domestic violence in the movie, “Surviving Compton.” For more information on Women Called Moses, visit www.womencalledmoses.org.
Few headline grabbing stories remain with you beyond their initial news cycle. Antoinette Tuff’s story of courage, boldness and empathy is one such story. When confronted by a mentally disturbed gunman, Tuff as President Barack Obama put it was “cool under pressure and had enough heart that somehow she could convince somebody who was really troubled that she cared about them.”
Joining Braxton on the film are other notable actors: Malik Yoba and YaYa DaCosta. A week before the premiere, Bishop Jakes hosted a special screening at the church and the stars were big and bright that night! Joining Bishop Jakes on the red carpet were executive producer Derrick Williams, Antoinette Tuff, Toni, Towanda and Tamar Braxton and Tanya Lopez (SVP Lifetime Original Movies). The film is a drama based on the actual events of that fateful day at the Ronald E. McNair Discovery Learning Academy in Decatur, Georgia.
