An Appreciation
Culture
With DJ Mister Cee’s death, hip-hop mourns the loss of an irreplaceable titan
The legendary Brooklyn DJ, who played vital roles in Big Daddy Kane and Notorious B.I.G.’s careers, died at 57
Culture
Actor Louis Gossett Jr. loved Hollywood even when it didn’t love him back
Gossett’s decadeslong career broke barriers and he had the scars to prove it
Culture
Acting great Carl Weathers was the ’80s action movie hero for the Black community
He was the one man who gave Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone a run for their money
Culture
Andre Braugher was funny and ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ was his magnum opus
Award-winning actor discovered his comedic talents late in his career
Culture
Richard Roundtree was famous for ‘Shaft.’ But that wasn’t his most important role.
He believed his character on ‘Being Mary Jane’ brought a new depth to television
Culture
Clarence Avant was the guy who made sure Black stars got paid
For six decades, Avant, who died at age 92, was a peerless dealmaker in entertainment and politics
Culture
America loved Tina Turner. But it wasn’t good to her.
The star escaped from her abuser, but the conditions that created him remain
Culture
Jim Brown showed boys like me there was a better place to run toward
In my tough Cleveland neighborhood, we appreciated how Cleveland Browns great stood up for himself and other Black people
Culture
Harry Belafonte embodied mid-century Black uplift
As a ‘race man’ he put his time, money and even life on the line