T.H.U.G✊🏿

Where a teenage girl is constantly switching between two worlds... Speaking on the act of code-switching, which is when you're turning 'it' on and turning it 'off'... referring to one's blackness.

It is a film inspired by the book 'The Hate U Give' written by Angie Thomas. She happens to be a huge fan of rapper, Tupac as well. While writing this book Thomas was able to find a connection with the term "THUG LIFE" and events taking place in today's society such as: gang violence, black on black crime, white crime, police brutality and a 'corrupt' system.

When attending #NABJ18 in Detroit, #MelodicallyInTune sat in on the Arts and Entertainment Taskforce, 20th Century Fox Presents a Clips & Conversation Reception where director of the film, George Tillman Jr. spoke with moderator Roland Martin and fellow journalists and other professionals about the movie schedule to hit all theaters on October 19.

The main character, Starr Carter played by Amandla Stenberg is constantly reassured that her father Maverick Carter (Russell Hornsby) did not name her Starr for no reason and that not everyone was giving the same superpowers.

The Carter's (Regina Hall, wife/mother), growing up in Garden Heights only wants a better life for their family. Starr and her siblings Seven (Starr's half brother) and Sekani were all given unique names with a special meaning. None of them attended their "neighborhood school" because the only thing people do there is either get jumped, high or pregnant. Starr's parents sent them off to a predominantly white private school called Williamson.

"Our live is here [Garden Heights] because our people are here."

Garden Heights was one world but the school they actually attended was another. For instance, talking slang makes white people seem cool but for Starr it would only make her hood.

"We have not been trained to be unapologetically black"

-Roland Martin, NABJ18 Convention

The director Tillman Jr. faces these same experiences until this very day.

In the movie he wanted to display that Starr could have a white boyfriend, black best friend and still live the best of both worlds. He continues on to say "be who you are, don't be afraid of being who you are!"

We must have conversations about black and white people so that things can keep getting better and we can keep moving forward.

It's a movie displaying that "where you live does not define who you are." At one point within the movie, Starr feels as if she has to be quiet so she don't seem like a poor girl from the hood who just now saw her friend get killed.

At a point within the movie, Starr's uncle Carlos (Common) plays the role of a cop and states how the views of police officers are different and that we live in a complicated world. After being given two different scenarios, most people as in white people when dealing with blacks being pulled versus dealing with someone else white they "don't see it as a crime but another traffic stop gone wrong."

One of the incidents Tillman used as motivation amongst completing this film was the Philando Castile, who was a 32 year old man at the time who got pulled over in Falcon Heights, Minnesota and shot to death by a cop.

Within the movie it shows how it's "Just US for justice." Us meaning black people... Starr has to deal with the fact that her second life of people doesn't understand the seriousness of what happened to her best friend Khalil (Algee Smith) and being black in America.

"Violence brutality, it's the same story just a different name."

"Division is how they win unity is how they crumble."

The concept of acting black but still keeping the same white privilege isn't an option for black people.

Director Tillman Jr. presented this film to 20th Century Fox Pictures by telling them it's not only about the things that are happening right now today in society geared towards police brutality but also displays personal growth, love, respect, relationships amongst others and yourself...

Watch the official trailer of The Hate U Give.

The entire movie is heartfelt and had us in tears drowning in our feeling with a remarkable ending.

Spike Lee to premiere new movie "BlacKkKlansman" in Detroit at NABJ convention

Film Director Spike Lee is bring a highly anticipated film to theatres this summer.

"BlacKkKlansman," directed and co-written by Lee and produced by "Get Out" director/writer Jordan Peele, it is being praised as a must-see summer release. The movie won the Grand Prix prize at the 2018 Cannes Film Festival.

Before the August 10 premiere of the movie "BlacKkKlansman" the attendees of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) will have a chance to see it few days prior to its release. On August 4 at an event that will feature appearances by Lee and upcoming actor John David Washington. Prominent media figure who hails from Detroit, TV personality and former "Access Hollywood" host Shaun Robinson, will moderate a discussion between Lee and White.

The "BlacKkKlansman" event will take place at the Detroit Film Theatre at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

“Every year we try to identify films that have a really big impact," says Kelley L. Carter, NABJ Arts and Entertainment taskforce chair

The NABJ national convention which brings several thousand writers, editors, photojournalists, and other media members and students together in one major city. The 'Motor City' is this years city of choice from August 1-5.

The "BlacKkKlansman" screening is one of several movie and TV events that will take place at the NABJ convention. There is a packed lineup of workshops and panel discussions relating to media, world and minority issues.

Past conventions have given members an early glimpse of films such as "Django Unchained" starring Jamie Foxx and introduced members to "12 Years a Slave."

This year other screenings will include "The Bobby Brown Story" event that will be attended by the real Bobby Brown and actor Woody McClain, who plays him in the upcoming BET drama.

Events tied to "Meet the Campbells" on TV One, "Greenleaf" on the OWN network, and an event about the original docuseries "Warriors of Liberty City" from Starz and Luther "Uncle Luke" Campbell, the iconic rapper and front man for 2 Live Crew.

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In an interview with USA Today, Lee stated "BlacKkKlansman" is not just a period piece, but it also addresses racism in the Trump era.

Washington, son of Denzel Washington and former college football player at Morehouse, spent four years with the United Football League as a running back.

Now, plays the lead role of Ron Stallworth, an African-American police detective who teams up with a white colleague (Adam Driver) to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s.

Love for the Culture🌍

I believe everyone should be "cultured" within some way knowing about others and their way of life!

The WorldFest is a festival that takes place in downtown Louisville at the Belvedere every first weekend in September. This year marks 15 years of diversity! Over the years Louisville has over 100 languages spoken in public schools and 35 percent of the city’s population growth comes from international residents from over 150 different countries throughout the world.

The festival scheduled from Friday, September 1 until Monday, September 4; the first day of the festival was a complete wash out. Thanks to the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey the activities for Friday's opening day were all cancelled.

If you're a food lover like myself than you would have a hard time deciding what to eat as well. There are different food vendors such as Mexican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Ethiopian, American, Caribbean, Cambodian, Greek, Mediterranean, Vietnamese, French and Italian options to eat from.

While at the festival I was able to sample various drinks and food I personally am not a fan of tea. However this black owned business, tea manufactured in Kentucky gave me a change of taste buds. Paradise Island Tea, gave out small cup samples of their tea. I first tried their apple peach tea followed by their passion ginger flavored tea. I definitely was not a fan of the ginger but the apple peach made me forget I was even drinking tea... that flavor was delicious reminded me more so of juice.

Black Eyed Peas? Gross! (of course you may think differently) Have you ever had mashed black eyed peas fried? Surprisingly I have... and it was actually good! It seemed more so like I was eating a hush puppy or a piece of cornbread.

It's called Àkàrà also known as bean cakes or fritters. It is a West African and street food.

I passed away some time by walking around eating some amazing gelato as I observed all the food vendors and what they have to offer.

I stumbled across a food vendor called Taj Palace, an Indian based restaurant located on Goose Creek. My first time having Indian food wasn't bad at all. I got the Chicken Chili and Vegetarian Samosa. The chili had sweet and sour masala sauce,

however due to the peppers it made it spicy more than sweet. As for the Samosa those were fried 'triangular patties' with peas and potatoes cooked with spices. I was not able to finish it all... thankfully the vendor had to-go boxes.

Amongst all the food there were many vendors selling merchandise. There are many different tables filled with jewelry, in-scents, oils, african soap and toys as handmade clothing hung on racks along with purses to match. Also, there are tables for those promoting their business and organization. I found a school that I am interested in checking out to further my fluency in french.

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So we have the food and shopping aspect covered but you can't forget about the music... and amazing people all out having a great time. Playing, dancing, swimming, and watch others enjoy themselves.

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Before leaving the festival I had to go back for some more amazing gelato because who knows when the next I'll be able to make it out Prospect, KY! A great time indeed it was definitely looking forward to next year.