From Dallas Hyperlocal News Site DallasSouthNews.org By Me A talented cast brings Alice Walker's classic The Color Purple to life on the stage of The Music Hall at Fair Park. Many felt that Steven Spielberg's adaptation for the screen was as good as it gets, but since opening on Broadway in December of 2005, the play has proved otherwise. The Color Purple is billed as "The Musical about Love" but I think it's more of "A Musical about Survival." From the moment I saw Celie and Nettie appear at stage right clapping hands, I leaned over to my wife and said "I'm already sad." But there wasn't enough time for me to dwell on the Hell that Celie was about to endure, because immediately my spirit was lifted by the company performance of "Mysterious Ways." For a moment I thought I was in church and it took everything in me not to stand up and start clapping my hands. The play stands on its own, and I rarely found myself comparing it to the movie. But it was comforting to hear many of the famous lines that have been repeated over and over through the years: You told Harpo to beat ...

By Shawn Williams - Dallas South News Editor What Do You Want To Do Before you Die? That's the premise of a new MTV Reality Show that will feature a local artist in their 2nd episode that is set to air later this month. On Monday January 25th, MTV's "The Buried Life" will focus on the story of Sam Fuller and his quest to reunite with a son he had not seen in 17 years. Dallas South News is teaming up with The Wolf Group to host a Buried Life Watch Party at 3900 Willow Street near Deep Ellum starting at 7:30 P.M (show starts at 9 o'clock). Sam Fuller will be the featured guest with a special appearance from another star of the episode. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Sam Fuller (L)"][/caption] MTV's "The Buried Life" centers around four young Canadians traveling across the world looking to mark items off of their "Bucket List." While knocking out things they've always wanted to do, the guys also help others achieve some of their life dreams. Trailer - MTV's "The Buried Life" The Buried Life - MTV Shows On a trip through North Texas, the crew came across a gentleman selling his art near downtown ...

This is one of those stories that you've heard about before but not exactly sure what it is.  Well it's pretty self explanatory, but a little more Google research reveals a number of other interesting aspects to this sad story.

Cross posted at Dallas nonprofit news organization DallasSouthNews.org On Saturday, South Dallas artist John Spriggins will open a new show just down the street from his work space.  Spriggins latest work “Paper Dolls” debuts at the South Dallas Cultural Center on October 24th and is a look at how media influence female self image. John Spriggins and one of his "dolls" Early this week I visited John at his studio as he prepared for the show and had a chance to look at some of the 20 images that make up “Paper Dolls.”  Spriggins drafted some of his female friends and acquaintances to pose for a work that offers his take on female sense of self and how self perception is developed. The idea came about as Spriggins and a cousin talked about what it’s like raising daughters in this day and age.  He looked at the images that females receive through various forms of media, but eventually settled on how magazines covers speak to women. If you look closely enough, you may catch that the poses and theme are a nod to the paper dolls that were popular in previous centuries, when little girls would cut out clothes on a sheet of ...

ALL ALONG Written by Tina Arradondo What's on the other side sometimes I know is not for me, I can see through some mountains so clear and perfectly... Is it my fault that I have wisdom that others may see as strange? I feel things that others don't and so I claim it cause It can't change. Is your death predetermined at the time you were conceived? Or do you believe you can make choices that can change what's meant to be? God said "BE" and there I was, put on this path so am I the judge of how I view what's in my path whether it's money, sex, lies or love? The path I'm on is full of twists and turns and mountains I can't climb. When I say can't, I do mean CAN'T. It doesn't matter if I tried. My mind is perfect. The world is flawed. I was created by Divine Law. It's logical that I'd feel radical if to me the 'norm ain't normal. I feel, "whats being bought should've never been sold", You feel, "what's being sold should've never been bought". So what's real? I feel, "Whats being taught should've never been told" and you feel "what's being told should've never been taught", so what's real? To act without thought, then react when the consequences ...

I am so very proud to announce that my friend and classmate Trenton Doyle Hancock has bee selected to participate in the Dallas Cowboys Art Program.  He is one of 14 contemporary artists commissioned by the Cowboys to display their work at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. Good Vegan Progression #2 by Trenton Doyle Hancock Trenton was scheduled for an exhibition here in Dallas at the Dunn and Brown Contemporary this fall, which I was excited to cover.  But when I last asked him about it, he told me it was canceled because he had something in the works with the Cowboys.  When I saw the Dallas Morning News story about the modern art the Cowboys had decided on, I figured that this was the "something" he was talking about. Here's what the New York Times had to say about the project: “This is a fabulous cutting-edge building, and we thought it needed art,” Ms. (Gene) Jones said. Although not a collector, she is an art lover who, along with her husband; their daughter, Charlotte Anderson; and a niece, Melissa Meeks, became involved in the project. But not being art professionals, they turned to a group of people who are. The Times goes on to mention ...

I've been critical (privately) of the caller in the Henry Louis Gates case.  This was due to my assumption that the caller was someone who couldn't believe that two black men would have a reason to enter a house in this neighborhood. The 911 tape of her phone call released today tells a different story. Gates arrest 911 call - "One looked kind of Hispanic but I'm not really sure, and the other one entered I didn't see what he looked like at all,"  the caller tells the dispatcher on the line.  You can listen to a portion of the tape here but click the link withing the player to listen to the entire call which lasted nearly 3 minutes. From the jump I believed that the phone call which was made was in order, and if she had indeed said that two black men entered the house, then that's what she saw.  But in listening to the tape, this caller went out of her way to say that she didn't know if there was a break-in happening, and never said that the subjects were black. Racial profiling is real, but where is it in this case?

One of the biggest complaints that I heard regarding last year's groundbreaking spcecial Black in America on CNN, was that it painted the African-American community with a negative brush. Struggling fathers and mothers, Black women who can't find a man, people in prison, the argument was there for the making.  But it was also the place I remember hearing that White Americans with a felony have a better chance of getting a job than African-Americans without one. This time, CNN is touting a solutions oriented approach with Black in America 2 that airs Wednesday night at 8 PM Central, and Thursday night at 7 PM.  Without directly responding to criticism of their generally well received first attempt, marketing for the program has promised something more. Last night my family and I sat down to watch the 40 minute screener sent to us by CNN.  There were five impactful segments which were included: The story of "Journey for Change," a youth empowerment program founded by activist Malaak Compton-Rock A segment on Black Marriages and one couple's fight to stay together A look at the Tyler Perry phenomenon and the success of his studio Steve Perry and Capital Prep, a school he founded in Hartford, Conn.  Capital Prep has ...

I've been asked to serve as an official host* for Ford Executive Earl Lucas, exterior design manager for the 2010 Ford Taurus, when he's in Dallas this Thursday July 23. EARL LUCAS Lucas grew up in Dallas, attending Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet High School that also launched recording artists Erykah Badu and Norah Jones.  This is part of an effort by Ford Executives to hit the road this summer to introduce people around the country to the new 2010 Taurus and its story. While in town, Lucas will drive the Taurus to various locations around Dallas, some of which will be suggested by Dallas South and the Dallas South Family.  So here are a few places I think Mr. Lucas should visit while in town.  Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comment section. SOUTH DALLAS CULTURAL CENTER -  3400 S. Fitzhugh Ave. DALLAS There's no doubt the Taurus should make it's way to South Dallas, home of historic Fair Park.  The South Dallas Cultural Center is an Afro-centric venue that provides instruction and enrichment in the performing, literary, media, and visual arts.  Auto design has a component of visuals arts to it. The center’s activities spotlight works that explore contemporary issues facing ...

American’s Employees Build on Graves’ Legacy Of Diversity and Inclusion as a Business Imperative FORT WORTH, Texas – American Airlines employees Gary Kennedy, Senior Vice President and General Counsel, and Frank Stanton, Tower Manager-Chicago, were awarded the first Earl G. Graves Award for Leadership to recognize their work in advancing diversity and inclusion within the company and in their communities in a ceremony Wednesday at American’s headquarters. The award was established in honor of Earl G. Graves, Sr., founder and publisher of Black Enterprise magazine, who influenced many of American’s diversity initiatives during his tenure on AMR’s Board of Directors. Graves helped American establish its practical, business-minded approach to diversity and worked to demonstrate that American’s diversity efforts are integral to its business goals. Graves served on AMR’s Board of Directors for many years and chaired the AMR Board Diversity Committee from 2002 until his retirement in 2008. Graves attended the event and personally recognized the honorees along with American Airlines Chairman and CEO Gerard Arpey, Roger Staubach, Chairman – AMR Board of Directors Diversity Committee, and a number of American Airlines and American Eagle employees. “At American Airlines, we have always taken very seriously our responsibility to promote diversity and inclusion,” ...