9/8/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Empathy (Part One)- A Conversation with Debbie Allen

By Walter Rutledge


In 2015 O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge interviewed Debbie Allen at the Faison Firehouse Theater for Dance Noir Magazine (DNM). The print article would discuss her relationship with Katherine Dunham. The video was produced as visual notes for the upcoming Dunham article. When the magazine suspended publication, out of respect for DNM Founder/Editor-in-Chief Carol Lloyd, we held the material with hopes of eventually printing the article for DNM. After eight years Ms. Allen’s words remain relevant, inspiring and informative and should be shared. We call this first installment Empathy. Continue reading

8/13/23 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Delta Rhythm Boys – Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho performed by the Delta Rhythm Boys resemble many other spirituals who dual propose. The song  alluded to eventual escape from slavery – in the case of this song, “And the walls came tumblin’ down. The lyrics refer to the old testament verses Joshua 6:15-21, which tells the story of the Battle of Jericho in which Joshua led the Israelites in battle against Canaan.  Continue reading

6/18/23 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Tramaine Hawkins – Praise The Name of Jesus


Tramaine Hawkins sings Praise The Name of Jesus from the Tramaine Live Album (1990) Continue reading

 5/29/23 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WaleStylez- FASHION: 10 Most Unique Dark Skin African Men

10 most unique dark skin African men you never seen before. Are you tired of seeing the same old representation of black men in media? Look no further than this video. 
Continue reading

4/10/23 HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Ruby Dee- Harriet Tubman and The Underground Railroad (1964) |


The excellent Ruby Dee plays the escaped slave Harriet Tubman and her attempts to rescue enslaved family members and friends through the pre-Civil War Underground Railroad. aka “Go Down Moses.” With Brock Peters, Ossie Davis, Isabel Cooley and Ethel Waters Continue reading

3/31/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Lady Marmalade- LaBelle – (1975)

Lady Marmalade, a song by black R&B/Rock girl group Labelle, was written about a prostitute from New Orleans, Louisiana. The song’s inspiration was from Bob Crewe’s observations of New Orleans. It was originally recorded by the group Eleventh Hour for their greatest hits album. Continue reading

3/25/23 IT’S SATURDAY- ANYTHING GOES: Michael B. Jordan- New Calvin Klein Underwear Model

Creed star Michael B. Jordan is the new Calvin Klein underwear model – here is the full ad along with some additional photos. Continue reading

3/20/23 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WaleStylez: How the British copied good morning from the Yoruba language- Faabu Yoruba Folktale Cartoon

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr.

Faabu A Yoruba Folktale on how British men derived good morning from the Yoruba language. Continue reading

1/23/23 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Sparkle

With a plot inspired by the history of the Supremes, Sparkle is a period film set in Harlem, New York during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Continue reading

1/16/23 O&A NYC HAIL THE KING!: Martin Luther King Jr.- The Other America

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s 1967 speech at Stanford University where he expounds on his nonviolent philosophy and methodology.
Continue reading