Things We Love About #GrowingUpBlack

by: April D. Byrd

#GrowingUpBlack is trending online and if you've clicked it you've probably experience some nostalgia...if you're black.

There are a few moments we love about growing up black and some, not so much. It has been an experience, If you can relate chances are you grew up with some flava.

What were some of your favorite memories...or memes of growing up black? follow this conversation and the latest updates on Trey Anthony's Facebook fan page.

Ava DuVernay Won’t Be Directing ‘Black Panther’ Movie

by: April D. Byrd

The first Black female superhero movie director moment is going to have to be put on hold...for now. 

It turns out those rumors of Ava DuVernay directing Marvel’s Black Panther movie were not totally factual—she considered it, but passed.
 
The Selma director told Essence she did meet with execs about bringing the story of Marvel’s first superhero of color to life, but they had different ideas of how to move forward.
 
“I guess I'll declare my independence from this rumor on 4th of July weekend and Essence weekend!” DuVernay said on her way to accept a McDonald’s 365 Award during the Essence Festival in New Orleans.

“I'm not signing on to direct Black Panther,” she added. “I think I’ll just say we had different ideas about what the story would be. Marvel has a certain way of doing things and I think they’re fantastic and a lot of people love what they do. I loved that they reached out to me.”
 
The Black Panther movie is currently in the works, with Chadwick Boseman (Get on Up) slated to play the role of T’Challa, the ruler of the fictional nation of Wakanda and the first Black superhero to appear in a mainstream comic book franchise in the 60s.

“I loved meeting Chadwick and writers and all the Marvel execs,” said DuVernay. “In the end, it comes down to story and perspective. And we just didn't see eye to eye. Better for me to realize that now than cite creative differences later.”
 
The civil right pilot she recently shot for CBS, tentatively titled For Justice, didn’t get picked up. “We turned it in the week of the Baltimore uprising, and we had an uprising in our piece when we filmed it,” she said. “I think they thought it was a little close to real life. But I had an absolute ball making it.”

DuVernay, is currently filming a love story set against Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. 


Read the full post here.

You can follow this conversation and the latest updates on Trey Anthony's Facebook fan page.

Write What Is Sacred Workshop Is Back In Session!!!

Happy New Year!! GET IT DONE!!

It's a NEW year!!! It's time to take bold steps towards achieving your goals and pursuing your passion. Join me for the Write What is Sacred creative writing workshop in Toronto Canada on Jan 31st from 10am-3pm. This class is for new writers, emerging writers or established writers.To ensure this workshop is  accessible to all, slots will be offered at a sliding scale of $49 to $99 dollars. Register for class now to take advantage of these awesome discounted rates!

 REGISTER HERE!!!