Some Good News on the "Digital Divide"

I remember President Clinton talking about this ten years ago but as one might imagine I haven't heard or seen much about it in recent years. This is a very upbeat story in today's New York Times. There's been progress and the drop in hardware costs has helped but high school is still way too late to be introduced to the internet.

But this story does illustrate some positive steps. And yes, the "Billy Johnson" referred to in the article is in fact the NFL's legendary "White Shoes!"

ABFF Writers' Lab

Calling All Screenwriters!

Are you a writer on the path to becoming a professional screenwriter? If so, it's time to hone your craft. Celebrating its 10th Anniversary, American Black Film Festival (ABFF), in association with HBO Films, will host a seminar for up to six qualifying writers designed to provide career guidance for emerging screenwriters.

The HBO Writers Lab is a mentoring program that will offer practical insights into what to expect from script writing as a profession, with the goal of providing an encouraging and supportive environment in which to openly discuss story, the creative and "notes" process, and the challenges of writing under the guidelines of others. The session will be led by HBO Films’ vice president, Sam Martin, who oversees the development and production of feature-length projects for HBO Films. Among her most recent projects are the Emmy® and Golden Globe-winning "Lackawanna Blues" and "Empire Falls," as well as "Sometimes in April."

The HBO Writers Lab will assist in preparing selected participants for collaboration within the studio system and beyond. For entry applications, please visit www.abff.com

Getting PROUD in ... Idaho

On Sunday March 5th, PROUD's Denise Nicholas was the special guest for the Idaho Black History Museum's reception and screening of the film. On Saturday there was a reading and book signing for Ms. Nicholas' new novel Freshwater Road, a story about a woman's journey into adulthood during the political and social upheavals of the civil rights movement. A portion of book sales purchased from the museum will go support its programs and activities.

Rebuild the New Orleans Library

Much of the New Orleans Public Library system was destroyed by Katrina. For example, in the hard hit lower Ninth, there was "nothing salvageable" at the MLK Branch.

The photos are hard to look at, but important to see.

The New Orleans Public Library is asking for any and all hardcover
and paperback books for people of all ages in an effort to restock
the shelves after Katrina. The staff will assess which titles will
be designated for its collections. The rest will be distributed to
destitute families or sold for library fundraising. Please send your
books to:

Rica A. Trigs, Public Relations
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70112

If you tell the post office that they are for the library in New
Orleans, they will give you the library rate which is slightly less
than the book rate.

We are donating a number of books including new copies of "Proudly We Served."

Meet Mason Veteran and Cast and Crew on March 12

Join Mason Veteran Lorenzo DuFau along with cast & crew members for a question and answer session on Sunday March 12 @ 4:15 PM at the Magic Johnson Theater in Harlem.

PROUD Comes Home to New York

Opens March 10 for one week only ...

Magic Johnson Theater
2309 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
New York, NY 10027
212-665-6923

In 1944 the crew of the USS Mason enjoyed liberty in Harlem - an opportunity to be off the ship while enjoying some of the best food and music in the world in Harlem.

Sixty years later, a film about their lives and adventures during World War II comes to the Magic Johnson Theater.

That is bringing it back around to the beginning