...::The Rose That Grew From Concrete

We all know the urban street corner can be hard, harsh, deadly. 

But have you seen this?? This is some amazing dancing by these four brothers on a street corner in Oakland, CA. And the music is so ... visceral. 

No wonder this video has gotten almost 1,500,000 views on YouTube. Dancers are No Noize (red jacket), Man (Black jacket), BJ (striped shirt), Dreal (white shirt). Directed and edited by Yoram Savion. Music by Erk tha Jerk. 

Out of the harshest of places, in the hardest of times, four young Black men created a thing of beauty. Amazing.

...::Media Still Slighting Blacks In The Age Of Obama

Get thee behind me...

There is a Black Face in the White House, but media coverage of the Black community has not significantly improved. So says a new study by the widely-respected Pew Research Center. In fact, the study says, media coverage of Blacks may have gotten worse. Who woulda thought it. Read more here.

You may have their attention, but you don't have their control

...::Taking Aim At The Black Male Cock...iness

If you have not heard of artist Fahamu Pecou, remember you read of him here first at "In The Mix". inthemixcomment.blogspot.com . Powerful, edgy, disturbing, aesthetically pleasing-- all the things good art should be. Stay tuned for a new body of work from the Fahamu Pecou Art Studio in Atlanta. The new show is called "cock.aim.shoot." The show examines the projection of sex and violence on and from black male bodies... More details coming soon...

...::A Ton Of Pound

...::Call For Films: The Black Man And His Art And Style

An annual film festival is seeking films on Black men and their creativity.

The International Black Man Film Festival is in its eighth year. Films will be screened in November 2009, in Atlanta, USA, in 2009, and in Atlanta and Lagos, Nigeria in 2010.

Festival Director Yemi Toure says: "Our theme for 2009 is 'Creative Fire! The Black Man and His Art and Style'. So we are seeking films about Black men as creators, survivors, style setters, poets, visionaries, builders and ground-breakers, as well as graphic artists, painters, dancers or sculptors".

Features, documentaries, student works, short films, older works and works in progress are all welcome.

Because the Festival is international, films about Black men from anywhere in the world are eligible. Women and people of all races are equally welcome to submit works.

Films in any language are welcome. Submit works in DVD format. There is no submission fee.

Send to: Yemi Toure, IBMFF, 2165 Rugby Ave - 613, College Park GA 30337, USA. Two copies of your work must be submitted to that address. Phone 1-404-432-2194.

For 2010 in Nigeria, reach Tenisio Seanima, Festival Assistant Director-Nigeria, at 0703-477-8543. All films from anywhere in the world must be submitted to the USA address.

Deadline for 2009 was Sat.12.Sep.2009, but later submissions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The Festival will be held in Atlanta on Sat.07.Nov.2009. Festival web site is blackmanfilmfest.net.

...::From A Father To All Sons

"Son" by Alfred Crawford. A father warns all sons about the dangers of the streets. Very powerful spoken word piece. From the Apollo stage.