9/25/23 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The life of Alvin Ailey


Alvin Ailey revolutionized the world of dance by honoring the African American experience, but his journey was not without its struggles. 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

8/8/23 O&A NYC DANCE/FILM: Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center Bringing Its Groundbreaking History To The Screen

By Walter Rutledge

Please excuse my self indulgent opening digression. It is the perfect example of  history being rewritten and romanticized to create propaganda more palatable to the American founding fathers myth. . Continue reading

7/29/23 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WaleStyles: Wise African Proverbs And Sayings – Great Deep African Wisdom

By Adewale Adekanbi Jr. 

WaleStyles shares wise African proverbs and sayings for some Saturday morning wisdom.

Continue reading

7/27/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Billie Holiday – God Bless The Child (film)- Presented by Chicago Blues Museum

Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan [April 7, 1915 — July 17, 1959) an American jazz singer and songwriter Nicknamed “Lady Day” by her friend and musical partner Lester Young. Holiday had a seminal influence on jazz and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly inspired by jazz instrumentalists, pioneered a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Continue reading

5/3/23 O&A NYC MILESTONES- HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMES BROWN: Live at the Boston Garden, April 5, 1968

On April 5th 1968, James Brown gave a free concert at The Boston Garden which became a thing of legend.  Only 24 hours earlier civil rights activist Dr Martin Luther King Jr. had been assassinated resulting in widespread violence across the United States. The mayor of Boston was persuaded to let the concert go ahead and it was broadcast live across the city by WGBH-TV. Continue reading

4/25/23 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Harry Belafonte – Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) (Live)


Harry Belafonte sings his most popular song Day-O, an excerpt from his television special Harry Belafonte in Concert (Japan, 1960)”. Recorded live at Sankei Hall, Tokyo, 18 July 1960. From the album Calypso” (1956) Continue reading

4/25/23 O&A NYC IN MEMORARIUM:  Harry Belafonte Dies At 96

Harry Belafonte, a multi-talented entertainer and activist who broke barriers in the film and music industry, and was instrumental in the civil rights movement has died at 96.
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

4/6/23 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Missing You- Diana Ross Tribute To Marvin Gaye

Missing You performed by Diana Ross and written, composed and produced by Lionel Richie as a tribute to Marvin Gaye shortly after his untimely death.  Continue reading