The Beginning of A Diva's Downfall, Billie Holiday

I know for me when I hear the name Billie Holiday I can remember sitting on the living room floor waiting anxiously for the movie, "Lady Sing The Blues".  This movie gave me great admiration for Diana Ross who portrayed the role of songstress, Billie Holiday to perfection.  I mean this lady aura screamed sophistication.  It's hard to imagine someone so beautiful hurting herself with heroin.  For those of you that follow the story of Lady Day a.k.a. Billie Holiday beyond "Lady Sing The Blues" aren't foreign to the news that Billie Holiday was heavily addicted to the drug, "heroin".  She struggled for years with her addiction that lead to a role of abuse, incarceration, illness, and many other cruel things that come along with drugs.  Many men loved her or I will say loved the fact of being with someone of her status.  Her voice is one that no one can duplicate.  Some even try to compare her vocals and lifestyle to Whitney Houston.  I'm sorry but, they must be smoking whatever Whitney was smoking.  Listen to her voice.  It is phenomenal.  Also, anyone who watched the movie fell in love for the very first time every time they watched it.  Every little girl had the biggest crush on Louis McKay whom was portrayed by the ever so handsome Billy Dee Williams.  "You going let my arm fall off" , in my Billy Dee William's voice.  I recently found out that Louis McKay was the total opposite of how he was portrayed in the movie.  In fact, he allegedly was manipulative, sinister, and a fearful mob enforcer.  But, Billie Holiday seemed to have a strong effect on many men she encountered whether it was platonic, business, love interest or casual conversation.  She even sent Frank "Blue Eyes" Sinatra in crying fit.  This was abnormal to those around him because he allegedly didn't cry for the departure of his close friends like Humphrey Bogart or Joe Kennedy.  Allegedly, while visiting her in Harlem Metropolitan Hospital on her death bed she begged for him to cop her some dope.  Of course, he didn't and later that day her liver failed, sent her into a coma and she passed that evening.  That's a sad way to leave this place we know as life.  However, we will see this cycle reciprocate for many more years to come in other celebrities.  I thank you all so much for visiting my site and I will like to leave you with a treat of one of my favorite tunes from Lady Day...

The History of The Mack

For those of you who have learned me through the postings on my blog, this will come as no surprise.  I am a big fan of black cinemas from the late sixties and early ninety's era.  I know that's lame.  However, these were the best movies.  It also gives you the history of some of your favorite actors/actress.  For instance, "A Hero Ain't Nothing But A Sandwich" happens to be one of my top 5 must see movies.  Did you know that Cicely Tyson was the mother and Paul Wynnefield was the Stepfather of the heroin addicted child, Benji?   Well, I'm going to dedicate this post to the men who consider themselves players or ballers.  I mean that in a positive way.

A lot of upcoming hustlers are big fans of the movie, "The Mack".  What a lot of people don't know is that that the movie was based on the life of the largest drug dealer/pimp, Frank Ward.  The movie was handsomely funded by Frank Ward and he worked side by side to ensure that actor, Max Julien portrayed him correctly.  He even went as far as providing protection for the cast while filming.  Also, Cadillac driven by Goldie in the film was his personal vehicle.  If you are a true fan of "The Mack" you will remember the Player Ball and Player Picnic with the scene of the junkie nodding off at base while playing baseball.  Well, that wasn't an actor.  Frank paid fellow pimps and junkies to be involved with certain scenes for a more realistic effect.  The scene when Goldie's main chick, Lulu (Carol Speed) were teaching the rest of the girls how to boost (shoplift)  is a craft that Frank taught in his stable as well.  Shortly, after filming Carol and Frank began a brief relationship.  Fellow cast mates were leary of the couple's dating because Carol Speed was known to be a bit naive.  I guess they feared him turning her out to be a prostitute.  That was a fear that they didn't have to harbor for long.  Frank Ward and his bottom lady (main prostitute) were later shot execution style inside of his Rolls Royce.  It was rumored that  The Black Panthers were responsible for the murder.  Unfortunately, with no longer funding for protection the cast and film crew had to relocate to L.A. to finish filming the movie.  Huey Newton also insisted that benefits from the premiere went to The Black Panthers' milk fund in Oakland, CA.  The picture above below the title is actually Frank Ward, Max Julien, and Frank's Brother.  The second picture is of Frank and his brother.
Again, not enough words can tell you how thankful I am for each and everyone of you that take the time to read what is on my mind by visiting this site.  But, I will tell you that I am forever grateful for all of you.  May God bless you abundantly...Peace.....

What Is The Story Behind The Move

Whenever the topic of the MOVE bombing is mentioned I can think back to being a little girl getting ready for Mr.David's funeral.  I can remember hearing my grandmother say "my Lord" in a light whisper.Then I remember our fist black mayor, Wilson Goode later taking full responsibility for the catastrophe.
For those who don't know what The Move is I am going to give it to  you brief.  If I misconstrue any information correct me.  The MOVE Organization  is a family of strong, serious, deeply committed revolutionaries founded by a wise perceptive, strategically, minded Black man named, John Africa.  They highly supported natural laws.  Meaning they had no regard for the laws that we as citizens try hard to abide by.  Basically, they're saying "Screw Man Made Laws" in so many words. Read between the lines.  Although, I respect their beliefs and think that it was totally heartless for a block to bombed and some of them killed I still think that they should had respected their neighbors as well.  Come on you can't be living in a home so foul that it's affecting those that live around you.  It had to be horrible for the City's Mayor to intervene.  No it had to be horrendous for City Hall to intervene, period.  But, after the bombing there were only two survivors.  Therefore, no one could tell you what they experienced at the moment of the bombing but, Ramona or Birdie Africa.  Birdie Africa now goes by the name of Michael Moses Ward, he was 13 yrs old when the tragedy taken place.