The mission of The Department of Afro-American Research Arts and Culture to identify the global significance of the creative contributions pioneered by an international diaspora of Blackness
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Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Hi De Ho (1947)






















Starring:

Storyline
Bandleader Cab Calloway is tiring of his sexy girlfriend Minnie, who in turn is jealous of Cab's manager Nettie. When Nettie gets Cab a job at the Brass Hat Club, Minnie retaliates for his imagined infidelity by setting gangster Boss Mason, owner of a rival club, against him. Will she regret her action before it's too late? (This plot resolves halfway through the film; the rest is a series of 'soundies' featuring the Calloway band's inimitable jive). All-black cast.

 

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Harlem is Heaven (1932)


























Starring:

Storyline
Jean Stratton, a gorgeous teenage girl, arrives in Harlem looking for work. Her talent gets her a job as a showgirl at the Acme Theater. She's soon living at a boardinghouse with the Acme's star attraction, tap dancer Bill Robinson, and his pal, "Chummy" Walker. Both men are interested in the girl, though Jean prefers the younger Chummy. "Money" Johnson, the theater owner, is actually a racketeer, and tricks Chummy into taking the fall for his crimes. Realizing with a broken heart that Jean and Chummy are right for each other, Bill goes to the police with proof of Johnson's guilt. But doing the right thing may cost bill his life...

Monday, January 29, 2018

St. Louis Blues (1929)













Starring:
Storyline
In this all-black cast short, legendary blues singer Bessie Smith finds her gambler lover Jimmy messin' with a pretty, younger woman; he leaves and she sings the blues, with chorus and dancers.