entertainment
Jill Scott
you like and that you have a good understanding of. We clicked in the first film, and never really separated after we walked away from each other. We still called each other. “How’re you doing?” “How ya been?” “How are the kids?” “How’s the wife?” And then, here it is a couple of years later, we’re doing another film, and everybody just sank right back into character.
KW: Attorney Bernadette
Beekman says she loves your acting, and was wondering whether there are any plans to resume shooting “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.”
JS: I certainly hope so.
We’ve been talking to HBO about resuming. The reason why we didn’t continue shoot- ing was because I was preg- nant and Ramotswe was not pregnant! (Chuckles) So I had to wait until I after had my child, and then once I did, I felt he was too young to travel on a plane for 16 hours. So that was one of the reasons why we went on hiatus. At this point we’re looking at scripts and trying to see how to con- tinue the show because the feedback and excitement has been exceptional.
KW: (People also say) they
thought your accent on the show was incredible, and almost did not believe it was you speaking. How did you perfect it?
JS: What’s funny is that I
spent about a month and a half learning the wrong accent. I didn’t know it was wrong until after I arrived in Botswana. The people of Motswana said, “What are you talking about? That is not a Botswana accent. You sound like you’re from Zimbabwe.” And they are very particular if you are going to represent their culture. Their dialect is specific, so I had to unlearn everything I had learned, and then learn again.
KW: Why do you refer to
the people of Botswana as the Motswana?
JS: You live in Botswana,
you speak Setswana, and you are Motswana.
KW: How has motherhood
changed your views on life and career?
JS: Well, I am making an
effort to truly live. I don’t mean to imply by that that I haven’t been alive before, but with my son being here and such a powerful force in my life, he’s given me a freedom to be more. I think that sometimes we can get stuck, and just the fact that he’s here says so much to me about my own existence.
I didn’t think I’d be able to
have children, and this level of blessing is something I can’t even put my finger on. I don’t even know where to begin to describe the emotion. I feel like I have a lava stick in my spine that’s propelling me for- ward to do larger things like going on tour with Maxwell, doing stadiums, and leaving my old record label to look for a new one that can support my new effort 100 percent. I appre- ciate my old label very much, but it’s time to move forward. So, my son has given me the courage to get out of any box that I’ve been in.
KW: (People) think your
music is beautiful and as smooth as silk. They say, Philly has produced more than its share of talented artists. Do you think that growing up in Philadelphia has tempered your work?
JS: Yes, this might sound
terrible, but there has been segregation in Philadelphia for many years. The Italians live around Italians. The Greeks live around Greeks. Spanish people live around Spanish people, particularly Puerto Ricans. And Black people live around Black people.
That makes us culturally
thick, because if you want to hear real Puerto Rican music, you go to Little Puerto Rico. If you want to eat real Italian food, you go to Little Italy. Everybody’s welcome in any neighborhood in Philadelphia.
KW: It isn’t like Boston
where a Black person couldn’t even walk through an Irish or Italian neighborhood when I lived there.
JS: Well, in Philadelphia,
you are welcome, and that’s the City of Brotherly Love. I think that makes us culturally thick and sound, so you can experience all kinds of cultur- al authenticity.
KW: (There are those who
hope) you plan to put out more poetry books. (They want) to know, what’s the way you’ve most changed, creatively, since your first album?
JS: I think I’ve changed
more as a person and, as I change as a person, there is new added creativity. I’ve seen more, I’ve met more people, done more things with dogs, and walked on more beaches.
Jazz Explosion starring Jazz Artist Marion Meadows will serenade concert goers as we celebrate the inaugural of the Dr. Charles H. Wright Vision Awards May 1, 2010 at the Dr. Charles H. Wright Museum. 1st show includes strolling dinner, awards ceremony, concert, and after party. Also, special guest Charles “Gator” Moore, and Jazz band John Smith and Daja. Tickets start at $35.00 order your tickets at www.charleshwrightmuseum.org or by phone (313) 494-5800. This event is presented by Hi-Line Gallery in conjunction with Charles H. Wright. Also, an official event of Freedom Weekend.
HILARIOUS MOVIE ”OF THE YEAR!”
“THE MOST“
James Thomas, WRBU-TV/”FIRST LOOK”
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE
From page D-1
The more I see, the more I
wanna do, and the more I do, the more I wanna see.
KW: (Fans want) to wish
a happy birthday to you and your son, Jett. I know yours was April 4. Happy birthday! When’s his?
JS: Thank you. His is the
20th. KW: Is there any question
no one ever asks you that you wish someone would?
JS: Wow!
If there is, I don’t
know what it is. KW: Are you ever afraid? JS: All the time. KW: Do you have any re-
grets?
JS: Yes.
KW: Are you happy? JS: All the time. KW: When you look in the
mirror, what do you see? JS: A woman. KW: What was the last
book you read? JS: I read three at a time.
Jill Scott
One of the ones I’m reading right now is an autobiography, “The Secret Life of Salvador Dali.”
KW: What was the last song
you listened to? JS: It was something really
cool by an artist from DC. I can’t remember his name.
KW: Was it Wale? JS: Not Wale, his counter-
Haygood & Company
Seventh Annual Mother’s Day Celebration/Cabaret
On Saturday, May 8, Bert’s
Warehouse, 2739 Russell (inside Eastern Marketplace), will be the site for the 7th Annual Mother’s Day Celebration cabaret, pre- sented by Haygood & Company, Graystone, Arcadia and 20 Grand Productions. It runs from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. and with old school sounds by Ronnie Bailey “The Love Train,” a 50-50 raffle, photos by the Legendary Arthur Baby and Rockin’ Roy, plus cash giveaways of $100, $50 and $25. Food and setups will be available. The cost is $15 in advance, $20 at the door.
Tickets can be picked up at
Sonny’s Clothing, Grand River and Greenfield; Jeff’s Clean- ers, Livernois and Fullerton; and Bert’s Marketplace, Eastern Market. Also, for tickets and more information, call Kenny Haygood (313.318.2301), Frank Haygood (248.238.6026), Loretta DeLouch (248.559.5215), Lillian Brantley (313.535.7679), Myrlin Moore (313.897.2149), Styx Williams (313.268.2523), Raina Smith (313.933.4335), Gregory Booker (313.454.8862), Sheri McClen- don (313.933.4701), Margaret Henderson (313.893.9377), Miles Adolph (313.283.4721) or Aureo Larkin (313.272.6278). —ADV.
part. A friend of mine played me his album in the car and I found it really interesting.
KW: What is your earliest
childhood memory? JS: Wow, that’s another
good one. Let me think… It was playing with my dog, Benji. He was my best friend.
KW: If you could have one
wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
JS: I would want a clean planet.
Reflections
April 21-27, 2010 Page D-2
is stumbling.” (He’s right.) Mary J. Blige has spoken
of a different situation. She says there are actually people out there who liked her more when she was plagued with personal issues, including drugs and attitude. But Blige is very pleased with her “new, improved and happy” life, so those who prefer the old Mary will never be appeased.
We keep hearing about
those so-called “Tea Party” people who are so against President Barack Obama — who is doing a highly com- mendable job — and health care reform. Well, it goes way beyond health care.
The overwhelming major-
ity of them — and they are almost always Republican — are upset because things are changing in America and will never be the same again. A Black president. A Hispanic Supreme Court Justice. A female Speaker of the House. Gay people asserting their rights. People in general demanding respect. And on it goes. Plus, it’s just a matter of time until Whites are no longer the majority in this country.
that there was once a vocal group called the Cavaliers, several of whom were broth- ers of the Temptations.
MEMORIES: “Tired of
Being Alone” (Al Green), “I’ll Bet You” (Funkadelic), “Take Your Time (Do It Right)” (the S.O.S. Band), “This Time I’ll Be Sweeter” (Angela Bofill), “Hearsay” (the Soul Children), “Straight Up” (Paula Abdul), “Are You That Somebody?” (Aaliyah), “Turn Your Love Around” (George Benson).
BLESSINGS to Renaye
Coles, Antoine Foster, Derek Smith, Charlotte A. Brooks, Sabrina Owens, Cynthia Bailey, Randye Bullock, Frances J. Warren, Stephanie Davis, Ronald Rhodes, Melvin A. Chapman, Barbara Scott and Phil Smith.
WORDS OF THE WEEK,
submitted by reader Greg Hendricks: “The harder you try to deny who you are, the more you set yourself up for so much pain.”
Let the music play!
(Steve Holsey can be
reached at
Svh517@aol.com and P.O. Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.)
From page D-1
BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…
“DEATH AT A FUNERAL”
PRODUCED BY
SCREEN GEMSPRESENTS ASIDNEY KIMMEL ENTERTAINMENT/WONDERFUL FILMS/PARABOLIC PICTURES/STABLE WAY ENTERTAINMENT PRODUCTION KEITH DAVID
SIDNEY KIMMEL WILLIAM HORBERG CHRIS ROCK SHARE STALLINGS AND LAURENCE MALKIN WRITTEN RON GLASS KEVIN HART
MUSIC BY
CHRISTOPHE BECK PRODUCERS
DIRECTED BY
NEIL LABUTE
EXECUTIVEJIM TAUBER BRUCE TOLL DEAN CRAIG GLENN S. GAINOR BYDEAN CRAIG
CHECK LOCAL LISTINGS FOR THEATERS AND SHOWTIMES
2 COL (3.75") X 6" = 12" MICHIGAN CHRONICLE WED 4/21
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