Tribeca 2021: 'Ferguson Rises' Review

It's been seven years since the murder of Michael Brown. Ferguson Rises returns to his hometown to examines what's changed (and what hasn't) in that Missouri community. My review is here.

My Interview With Ephraim Asili, the Writer-Director of 'The Inheritance'

The Inheritance is a daring mix of fiction and documentary, telling the story of a group of Black Philadelphia residents who form a collective. That plot is scripted, but it's inspired by filmmaker Ephraim Asili's actual experiences, and he also includes archival footage of different Black artists, thinkers and activists. For MEL, I had a great conversation with Asili about his film, his time in a collective and what he wants his project to achieve. He's an incredibly smart guy, especially when it came to educating me about how collectives are different than utopias. Hope you enjoy.

Trying to Listen to "Strange Fruit"

It's one of America's greatest protest anthems. It's also one of the most painful. For MEL, I went long on the incredible, ugly "Strange Fruit."

'One Night in Miami' Review

One night in February 1964, Sam Cooke, Jim Brown, Malcolm X and Cassius Clay hung out. What did they talk about? One Night in Miami imagines that evening. My review is up at MEL.

'Education' Review

And, just like that, we've come to the end of the Small Axe anthology. For MEL, I reviewed Education ... and also looked back at the series as a whole. 

'Red, White and Blue' Review

For years, John Boyega spun his wheels in the Star Wars films. If you want to see what he's capable of, check out the latest in the Small Axe anthology. For MEL, I reviewed Red, White and Blue.

'Fruitvale Station' and Black Lives Matter

For MEL, I wrote about Ryan Coogler's first film, which is now on Netflix.

'Mangrove' Review

For the next five Fridays, Amazon Prime Video will be unveiling Steve McQueen's Small Axe anthology of films. First up is Mangrove, which I think is pretty damn great.

How 2020 Became the Summer of "Fast Car"

After all these years, no matter how many times you’ve heard it, “Fast Car” remains a shock. There was nothing like it on the radio in 1988, and there really isn’t anything like it now. Its spare, candid tone — in its musical arrangement, in its lyrics and Chapman’s vocal performance — always catches you off guard. You feel like you’re eavesdropping on a conversation between two lovers — actually, you’re just listening to the woman’s side of the exchange. But although 1980s pop wasn’t devoid of socially conscious songs, “Fast Car” felt like a bulletin from a world that rarely showed up on the charts. After decades of songs about cars as freedom, Chapman wrote perhaps the saddest. It’s a song about how a car can’t really take you anywhere.

For MEL, I wrote about Tracy Chapman's beautiful song, which reentered my life (and lot of other people's) in a profound way this summer. Hope you enjoy.

My Interview With Muta’Ali, Director of 'Yusuf Hawkins: Storm Over Brooklyn'

In August 1989, Black teenager Yusuf Hawkins was killed in Bensonhurst by a white mob. Now, a new HBO documentary looks back at his murder and its aftershocks. I spoke with director Muta'Ali about how to keep victims from becoming mere symbols. Our talk is over at MEL.

What Does "The Way It Is" Have to Do With Black Lives Matter?

Bruce Hornsby's song inspired Tupac, which inspired the next generation of hip-hop activists. I get into all that over at MEL.

My Interview With Robert P. Jones, Author of 'White Too Long'

I really enjoyed this. For MEL, I spoke with Robert P. Jones, religious scholar and author, whose new book White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity is an insightful, statistic-driven look at how white Christians have perpetuated systemic racism. We had a great talk.