Movie of the Month – Imitation of Life

Exactly 50 years ago today Imitation of Life, the legendary film about racial identity, was released in theatres nationwide. The film was adapted from Fannie Hurst’s novel and a remake from the 1934 original.

Imitation of Life told the story of Sarah Jane, a light-skinned Black girl (both of her parents were Black), who could pass for White, played by Susan Kohner. She dealt with extreme emotional turmoil, eventually rejecting her mother, played by Juanita Moore. The film also starred Hollywood legends Lana Turner and Sandra Dee.

In the 1934 original Sarah Jane was played by a light-skinned Black actresses named Fredi Washington. In 1959, the Sarah Jane character was Susan Kohner, who happened to be Mexican and Jewish. Both actresses in the 1954 version, Kohner and Moore, received Oscar nods for best supporting actress and Kohner won the Golden Globe.

Imitation of Life was a huge success for its time, racking in $6.4 million dollars and being the ninth most successful film in n 1959. Furthermore, the film’s handling of race and the “tragic mulatto” character is a slice of history for its era.

There have been talks for years about an Imitation of Life remake, but no word on who or when.

The most memorable scene from the movie was Annie dying and the iconic Mahalia Jackson singing at her funeral. I love me some Mahalia Jackson. She will get you back to Jesus in a minute!

Get into the clip of Mahalia Jackson singing here!

House Passes Hate Crimes Bill

Excellent news. The House of Representatives passes the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HR 1913) by a vote of 249-175.

The bill, sometimes known as the Matthew Shepard Act, now moves to the Senate where companion legislation was introduced yesterday by Sens. Ted Kennedy, Arlen Specter and Olympia Snowe, among others. See how your representative voted here.

Pillow Talk with Raw Daddy: Marcos Covington

Pillow Talk is my interview series with adult stars of both gay and str8 porn.

My first interview is with porn star: Marcos Covington.

1. Tell us about yourself (age, where you from, etc.)

Marcos Covington; originally from Detroit, currently located in Atlanta. Verbally direct (some say blunt). I stand 6’1, weight 180. Moderately hairy, jock, boy next door appearance, soft full kissable lips, thick thighs, a plump ass, good dick 9×3- cut, decent looking feet… over all I got the Goods U Love, Want & Need! I start filming again next month (May 2009), for various websites and production companies. I invite and encourage everyone reading this interview to join my Yahoo Group; to stay current w/ my forthcoming projects.

2. How long have you been in the adult industry?

12 yrs. I began dancing in clubs, private parties, escorting, print modeling, live sex show performer, webmaster, adult talent recruiter, Hiv/Aids counselor, and currently a performer in porn movies.

3. How did you get into the adult industry?

I would say it happened naturally (smiles)… a friend “Mario” informed me of a website (Blackshots.com) and the fun he had performing in front of a audience w/ live chat, he thought it would be a great outlet for me to explore… so the next day I logged on to preview. Liked what I saw, the following day I was performing as well.

4. Was being in porn a dream of yours or something that just kind of happened?

Yes. I’ve always wanted to venture into porn, after seeing my 1st porn movie (Deep Throat).

5. What was your first day on the set of porn movie like?

I was like so totally Nervous! It showed in my performance also. It helped that Tony @ Chocolate Drop & Ty Lattimore were patient w/ me while I got control of my nerves and anxiety. Since then I believe I’m getting better and I’m comfortable saying that I’m liking what I see of myself a lot more. My next movie to be released from Ty Lattimore Entertainment is (Atl Graffiti)… I enjoyed doing this scene the most out of the 3 previous movies. It was shot outside, somewhat were we could be seen by passers-by; which made the experience all the more Fun.

6. How long do you think you will do this?

Honestly, as long as there is an avenue for me to explore it. I’m not fond of placing stipulations and time restraints on myself. When I feel I need to step away from performing and entertaining, I just do it… until I feel I have something beneficial to express.

7. As you know, I’m just about to start my own production company that will put a positive and fresh face of Men of Color in porn! What is your biggest beef about the porn industry?

My biggest beef is not w/ the industry itself… it’s that some people in the industry and some of those who view porn think that we as performers and those of us that provide various adult services have no morals or intelligence.

8. What would you like to change about the porn industry?

Nothing; there’s so many variation of porn to chose from. I’m more concerned w/ getting better in front of the camera and displaying quality work.

9. Name some porn stars you have worked with that you really enjoyed

Rock of Rockafellaz Entertainment, Krave Hollywood of Coco Boys (R.I.P), Jaloni of Down South Boyz (R.I.P), Blu-Black of Bacchus and Ty Lattimore of Ty Lattimore Entertainment, a host of others!

10. Who would you like to work with?

Venom of Chocolate Cream Productions, Kidd of ChocolateDrop Entertainment, Jovonne & City Bwoy, Da Da of Thug Seduction and a plethora of other performers, some of which who aren’t in porn per say… Tim Clay, Jawbreaker, Down South Bro, Dick Monsta… just to give you an idea of ppls who excite me!

11. Would you star in a bi or str8 porn?

Yes. Sending my info & photos to various production companies.

12. How and when did you lose your virginity?

W/ my girlfriend @ age 12 on her grandmothers couch.

13. Do you get into any kind of fetish play?

But of course (smiles)…. I have a heavy ass fetish, love to view people enjoying themselves, underwear fetish and a heavy cum fetish… some other things as well.

14. Do you prefer 1-1? 3somes? Groups?

No preference; I like it all… me w/ dudes & females.

15. What’s your favorite position to fuck?

My favorite position as a top would have to be, the bottom on his back w/ his legs up or around me… u get my entire dick that way!

16. Are you top? Bottom? Vers? If you are Vers, do you lean more towards the top or bottom or truly 100% vers?
Top; in my current movies. I’m fully versatile in my personal life w/ a dude I’m interested in. I’m considering it more often recently to explore being versatile in some forthcoming movies. Stay tuned to see!

17. What turns you on about a man? Sexually or non sexually?

Men! That’s my answer by default; the detail on that is… I don’t have a type, just start by being a man- we’ll work out the rest as we progress. I have a Dark-Jones… dudes my complexion & darker… open to all, slim or slightly chunky… in my sexual experience no 2 men have been the same!

18. Where do you see yourself in the next few years in regards to the porn industry?

Unknown honestly; I’m interested in continuing to live & find out myself.

19. Do you have a website?

Yahoo Group.
http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/MarcosCovington

20. Here are Raw Daddy’s list of questions I ask each interviewee.

• Name 5 of your favorite music artists

Yolanda Adams, Teena Marie, Chaka Khan, Rahsaan Patterson & Lalah Hathaway

• What’s your favorite color

Pink! Yes, pink… it’s my favorite color. I adore what the color pink represents (Harmony), and it’s also the color of my birthstone.

• What’s your favorite curse word

Damnit!

• New York City or Los Angeles

Unable to choose just one; I love them both… family & friends in Los Angeles, I love to shop for clothes in New York

• What’s your favorite lube

JO; it feels so good on my dick when I j/o and it doesn’t stain your sheets. That’s a hot selling feature, I j/o often!

• McDonald’s or Wendy’s

Wendy’s; there’s nothing like a baked potato

• If you can be anywhere, where would it be and why?

My bedroom; it’s the most tranquil place in the world

Whore Works

I’m getting this info from a blog called Living Out Loud with Darian. If you are in the NYC area or plan to visit it from May 14-30, definitely check it out!

Whore Works takes a sharp, witty, balls-out look at a black male hooker’s day-to-night struggle with hating and sometimes loving men who are paying him for his services. Performed by an incredibly talented cast of two actors; Juan Michael Porter(The Whore) who also serves as the playwright and Bryan Webster(The Client).

Director and screenwriter Stephen Winter describes Whore Works as “some of the most shockingly fresh and lacerating theater I’ve seen.”

If you live in New York or the surrounding area this is definitely a show you don’t want to miss. There’s something powerful about black gay love on screen or in the case of Whore Works, lust, but onstage in front of a live audience it’s explosive! For once there is a relationship in the theater that reflects the lives of black gay men in all its complexity.

Theater Info:

Whore Works
Kraine Theater, 85 East 4th Street between 2nd & 3rd Avenues, New York

Thursday-Saturday, May 14, 15, and 16
Thursday-Saturday, May 21, 22, and 23
Thursday-Saturday, May 28, 29 and 30

All performances at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are $18

Quincy LeNear & Deondray Gossett’s Official Statement on The DL Chronicles

“If the DL Chronicles is cancelled, we have not been officially notified from the network. Though we have suffered through an extremely long hiatus (more than a year), we are confident that here! TV will eventually get around to getting us back in production. We understand the viewers’ frustration as they have watched shows that premiered when The DL Chronicles did go into second and third seasons, like here! TV’s, The Lair, which is now in it’s third season, while DL Chronicles only did one season after a successful and critically acclaimed first run.

The show also won the network its very first GLAAD Media award for Best Television Anthology. So we are just as clueless to the decision- making as most viewers are. The network has been silent about a production start date, and haven’t been very forthcoming with concrete reasons as to why it’s taking so long to greenlight us.

We urge viewers to make their voices heard and cause enough noise to make the network execs listen. Your voices are louder than you could even imagine. We want to thank all the fans who have decided to take action into their own hands and demand the programming that they so want and deserve. Keep up the fight!”

Deondray Gossett and Quincy LeNear

Motivation Spotlight: FARRAH GRAY

Embedded video from CNN Video

24 year-old entrepreneur Farrah Gray began contributing to his family’s financial support at the age of six. Within a few years, at the age of 14 he became a millionaire. Part of what motivated him to begin earning money at such a young age was watching his mother work so hard.

Gray was only eight years old when he formed the Urban Neighborhood Economic Enterprise Club (U.N.E.E.C.) on Chicago’s South side, an organization that encouraged youth to become entrepreneurs. U.N.E.E.C. was the forerunner of New Early Entrepreneur Wonders (NE2W), the flagship organization he opened as one of the youngest people on Wall Street. NE2W enlisted, educated and engaged “at-risk” youth by creating and developing ways for them to acquire additional income.

As a teenager, Gray founded and operated numerous business ventures, including selling pre-paid phone cards, a One Stop Mail Boxes & More franchise and creating Farr-Out Foods, which generated orders of over $1.5 million.

Gray is now a syndicated columnist, an AOL Money Coach, co-CEO of a real estate company and co-publisher/editor-in-chief of Prominent Magazine. He lives in Las Vegas.

The Jacksons – "Body"

Aiight its time for another blast from the past.

I love the music from the Jackson Family and this song is from the Jacksons (minus Michael and Jermaine).

This came off the Victory album with Marlon handling the lead on this song!

I must admit I listen to this song a lot when I work out! LOL

Check out the video and Randy Jackson giving us some serious “swag” at 2:14 and “booty shake” at 4:28 in the video!

Movie of the Month – Noah’s Arc: Jumping the Broom

This is movie is a must in every gay/bi men of color’s DVD collection.

I loved the iconic show “Noah’s Arc” and making it into a movie was the least LOGO could do after being totally stupid in cancelling the show after 2 seasons.

I’m a big proponent of gay marriage and this movie was right on time with 4 states (and hopefully more) that will acknowledge gay or same sex marriage.

I highly suggest this movie especially for those who didn’t get a chance to see it in theaters.

For those who did see it, I would like to know what was your favorite scene and why!

You can buy it at your local gay store or online at: here

Track Season is upon us!

I used to run track back in the day and I regret that I didn’t continue. From the photos above and below you know why I regret it. LOL

Enjoy!

Anti-Gay Bullying Leads Another 11 Year Old To Suicide

Just a week after the death of Carl Joesph Walker-Hoover, we have another 11 year old in the Atlanta area that has committed suicide due to anti-gay bullying. Again the mother went to the school to complain and the bastards did nothing at the school to stop it.

Boy I can see why parents now do home schooling more or put their children in private schools.

Sad!

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution