HU Students Rally Together for Trayvon Martin Vigil

Students rallied together outside of the student center March 22, 2012 for a candle vigil in memory of Trayvon Martin.  In an emotional program that featured song selections, spoken word, and speeches, students were charged to continue to fight for justice for Martin and to also be aware of the blatant and underlying racism that still exists in America today.

Senior, Kevin Matthews opened up the program with a speech discussing the occasion and giving background information on the killing of Martin and singing group Emphasis followed with a gospel selection that gave a spirit of faith to listeners. Junior, Zainab Mustapha and Senior, Chelsea Balentine both performed selections that advocated hope in the face of adversity and Junior, Tommie Collins fought back tears during his spoken word piece on Martin. The program concluded with a dynamic speech by Junior, Jeremiah Carter and left students both inspired and fortified.

Junior, Gabriel Olayiah commented on the importance for students to rally together in the fight for justice.

“It’s a beautiful thing seeing students come together in support for the fight for justice for Trayvon Martin. There is power in numbers, especially in something as traumatic as this. We as a campus and as young adults need to band together so that people can become more knowledgeable of the many cases that go unnoted and so that justice can finally be served."

As the road to a colorblind society continues, we as a people are still realizing how far we have to go. When an unarmed 17 year old boy was killed for merely looking suspicious in a sweat-shirt, stereotypes and generalizations are being given to African Americans that are ultimately costing lives. Now is the time for us to band together so that justice can be served.

HU Student Potential Wendy Williams Correspondent for The Hunger Games Premiere

Senior Jessica Moore’s motto has always been to think outside of the box and to attempt to do whatever her heart desired, even if it seemed unfeasible. There was no questioning that after seeing The Hunger Games Contest sponsored by Wendy Williams that Moore would enter.

“I decided to enter the contest because I love the series and I think reporting at the premiere would be an amazing opportunity.”

Contestants were required to fill out an entry form and submit a short video explaining why they were the biggest Hunger Games fan. Moore used her creativity and let her quirkiness shine in her video submission that featured dramatizations, comedy, and passion.

“The storyline is so complex and exciting that you literally can’t put the book down…that’s what intrigues me most about The Hunger Games.”

One male and one female contestant will be chosen as winners. Winners will receive an all expense paid trip to Los Angeles, CA where they will be correspondents for The Wendy Williams Show at the red carpet for the premiere of the movie. Winners will also have a chance to appear as guests on The Wendy Williams Show.

“Wendy Williams should choose me because I am a huge fan of the series, I am a good communicator, and I can represent for other fans across the world,” Moore said.

A Conversation with Darryl Bell and Tempestt Bledsoe

The Hampton University Center for Public Policy and Leadership Spring Speaker’s Series, and the Department of Performing Arts co-sponsored a Conversation with Tempestt Bledsoe and Darryl M. Bell Friday Feb. 17 in the Little Theater from 12-1 pm. Bledsoe, known for her role as Vanessa in The Cosby Show and Bell known for his role as Ron in A Different World, discussed the importance of artists using their creative influence to become activists in the community.

Bledsoe and Bell both mentioned the influence The Cosby Show and A Different World had on the African-American community, and specifically, college-aged students. Bell even commented on how Hillman, the pretend college from the show, was modeled after Hampton University and even helped boost college enrollment during the 90s.

Bledsoe believes that it is an artist’s responsibility to use his/her craft as a form of activism and has even used her career as a platform to help make a difference.

“I use my craft as a form of activism in my choices and the roles I play. Growing up on The Cosby Show, I saw the influence of fame and how it can be used in a positive way. I have made a conscious effort to take on roles that have the potential to impact the community.

Bell shares similar beliefs as Bledsoe and reminisced on feelings about working on pressing political and philosophical issues and what he has done since A Different World to impact the community.

“We tackled issues that were deliberately thought provoking and had open dialogues with our writers. Our show affected college-age students, and revolutions have started with college-age students.  I also transcended activism into my personal life and used my celebrity to make an impact on the community. I supported President Obama and held voter registration drives and helped his campaign.”

The discussion seemed to spark the interests of many students wanting to enter the entertainment industry. Senior music recording technology major, Michael Thompson, commented on his feelings regarding artists as activists.

“It is always a good thing to see an artist having an influence on his/her audience; and using this influence to gain support for pertinent issues. This helps get important points across to people who wouldn’t ordinarily follow news events.”

Bledsoe also offered advice to Hamptonians interested in a career in the arts.

“Fully prepare and open yourself to theater and film pieces in order to fully develop into an artist. Create your own path and always stay true to yourself. Never compromise your integrity.

The Hampton University Center for Public Policy and Leadership Spring Speaker’s Series and the Department of Fine and Performing Arts are co-sponsoring a Conversation with Darryl M. Bell and Tempestt Bledsoe Friday Feb. 17, 2012 from noon to 1pm in the Little Theatre. The topic being discussed will be artists as activists.

Darry M. Bell, best known for his role as Ron Johnson in the six season hit sitcom A Different World and three time NAACP Award nominee, had a unique climb to stardom and began his acting career at an autograph signing with Spike Lee. He joked about the high price of Lee’s t-shirts and was later given an opportunity by Lee to audition for the film School Daze. Bell was casted as Big Brother X-Ray Vision.

Since his breakout role in A Different Role, Bell has had a plethora of film and television credits, including; recurring roles on Living Single, For Your Love , Cosby, and appearances on The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, and  Regis and Kelly.  

Bell has dedicated service to the HBCU community, and recently hosted the Ford HBCU Business Classic for TV One. This was a competition for students from historically Black colleges competing for scholarship money to start their own business.

Tempestt Bledsoe, best known for her role as Vanessa in The Cosby Show began her career at the tender age of ten. After finishing the last season of The Cosby Show, Bledsoe enrolled at NYU’s prestigious Stern School of Business, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Bledsoe also has numerous television and film credits and her most recent works include appearances on The Hallmark Channel’s original movie Wishing Well, Steven Bochco’s Raising The Bar, Oxygen’s Husband For Hire, and the voice of Abbey on Disney Channel’s The Replacements.

Tempestt has long been viewed as a role model for young people. She has served as National Spokesperson for D.A.R.E., and The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.

Faculty and students are encouraged to come to this event to hear how someone’s craft can be used to make a difference by two of television and film’s activists.

Afro-Punk Event



HU student ambassadors of Afro-Punk will be facilitaing an event Friday Feb., 17, 2012 from 2-5pm on the first floor of the Harvey Library. Students are encouraged to come and learn more about the Afro-Punk movement and will have an opportunity to complete a survey and enter drawings for an iPad, Chipotle and Starbucks gift cards, and tickets to the HU/HU or Alpha Caberts.

Afro-Punk became a touchstone of a cultural movement strongly reminiscent of the early days of Hip-Hop. Alternative urban kids across the nation who felt like outsiders discovered they were actually the core of a boldly innovative, fast-growing community. The online members have been the driving force behind the exploding Afro-Punk culture, creating an authentic virtual home in www.afropunk.com, and nurturing the musics best and brightest expansion of the Liberation Sessions, a live performance series hosted by James Spooner.

In 2005, the very first annual Afro-Punk Festival debuted to wildly enthusiastic crowds at the iconic Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM). Co-curated by Matthew Morgan and James Spooner, the festival celebrated and unified the cultural cornerstones of Afro-Punk: music, film, skate, and most importantly, the fiercely independent and influential individuals that are the lifeblood of the Afro-Punk community.

Hampton Alum Creates Buzz in the Film Industry

           

Colen Wiley at the Urbanworld Awards

            Hampton University alumnus Colen Wiley has created a lot of buzz in the entertainment industry with his post-Katrina inspired script titled After the Storm. What started out as Wiley’s graduate school thesis project at New York University, soon turned into plans for a feature film production and has even earned the support of esteemed filmmaker Spike Lee and other key film industry figures.

 Wiley's script won the 2011 Urbanworld Screenplay Competition sponsored by BET and HBO, and also won the 2011 Spike Lee Production Fund Award. He began working on After the Storm in 2009 and is looking to begin filming this summer with plans of premiering in 2013. Actor Wendell Pierce, best known for his performance in the HBO series The Wire and native New Orleanian, has signed on to star in the film.

Wiley was inspired to write After the Storm after visiting a friend in New Orleans and envisioned how the post-Katrina environment he observed could develop into an allegory. He relied on the experiences of people he knew, along with his research and observations to help make his script authentic and insightful.

           “I have several good friends whose families have endured tremendous hardships as a result of Katrina.  Some have even had relatives that died.”

             Wiley was a political science major at HU, was the salutatorian of his class, and won the President's Cup award in 2004. Wiley attributed the knowledge he gained from his political science classes to him becoming more keenly aware of the social and political happenings around him.

           “Katrina had a great deal of political and sociological undercurrents beneath it, and I’ve subtly tried to pick at a few of those with this project.”

           Wiley took a few film and acting classes, and co-directed a short film while at HU. Wiley recognized the unique educational and cultural experiences he endured at Hampton University and noted its role in his overall development.

           “I learned a great deal in the classroom while I was there, but an even bigger part of the experience was to be a part of an environment of such beautiful blackness. That turned it into an education that was truly unique. It helped to make me comfortable and confident in my own skin. That is vitally important as a storyteller.”

           History professor Robert Watson, HU’s history instructor, commented on having Colen Wiley as a student.Wiley believes that that everyone who sees the film will walk away with a different experience.

           “Colen Wiley was an excellent student. He was very goal oriented in class and always had a vision of how he could make a difference. He served as a positive role model for his peers and led by example. Wiley also comes from great stalk. His father was an outstanding writer which had a good influence on him.”


           Wiley believes that everyone who sees the film will walk away with a different experience.

           “I don’t believe in trying to force feed anyone with any particular message with my films.  When you try to do that, people usually reject it because they feel like you are trying too hard to teach them something.  The best way to reach someone is to entertain them.”

           He also wants to portray things that mean something to him and that resonates deeply when audiences see it.

           "I'm very careful to keep things as authentic and truthful as possible. At that point, it's up to the audience to take from it whatever they will."

Wendell Pierce who is set to star in the film

Dubois Open Mic

Dubois Hall, also known as "Club Dubois" will be holding its infamous open mic Thursday Jan. 26, 2012 at 8pm. Come out and enjoy music, spoken word, and the commradery of fellow pirates. The show begins at 8pm and is known to always attract a good crowd and talented performers.