Nate's Northcoast Notes • Black Journalists host program on Biden, Trump and the Black Vote

100 Black Women Coalition Scholarship Reception | Toni Morrison's Paradise | GCUFF Closing Night

By Nate Paige

September 18

GCUFF Closing Night Festivities

The cinematic smorgasbord that is the ninth annual Greater Cleveland Urban Film Festival [GCUFF], which this year virtually showcased more than 80 films, comes to a close tonight. The evening kicks off at 7PM and will include a screening of the Oscar-nominated documentary, "St. Louis Superman", chronicling the true story of Bruce Franks, Jr., the Missouri native, Ferguson activist, and battle rapper elected to the overwhelmingly white and lopsidedly Republican Missouri legislature, who must overcome a number of political obstacles to get a billed passed in his community.

There will also be an awards ceremony, monologue competition, and Closing Night virtual party. Finalists for the Monologue Competition are Brianna Burke, DeJuan Christopher, Crystal Hill, Durrell Lyons, and Britney Onukwugha.

Visit www.gcuff.org for more information.

 

September 19

100 Black Women of Greater Cleveland host (virtual) scholarship reception

The Greater Cleveland Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women will hold its 29th annual Women of Vision Virtual Scholarship Reception Saturday, September 19. The event starts at 6PM on Facebook Live. 

This year's event will honor Judge Lauren Moore-Siggers of the Cleveland Municipal Court and Dr. Rachel Talton, CEO of Synergy Marketing Strategy and Research.

Included among the planned festivities will be the presentation of the Woman of Vision award and the SHE Leads 100 Initiative, recognizing Dr. Shemariah J. Arki, founder of the Ellipsis Institute for Women of Color, and county councilwoman Shontel Brown, who also chairs the Cuyahoga County Democratic Party.

WKYC's anchor/reporter Romney Smith and meteorologist Jason Frazer will serve as co-hosts. More details can be found on the chapter's Facebook page.

Love Is: An Exploration of Toni Morrison's Literature

Literary Cleveland's monthly virtual Reader Series of Toni Morrison book discussions continues Saturday, Sept. 19 from 10am to noon. This month's meeting centers on Paradise, Morrison's 1997 novel.

The discussion leader is Michelle R. Smith, a writer, educator, and cultural facilitator. She is the author of Ariel in Black, a poetry collection published by Guide to Kulchur Press, and the creator of Blax Museum, an annual performance showcase dedicated to honoring notable black figures in American history and culture.

Reader Series classes take the participant on a deep dive into a specific topic or author to gain a more advanced understanding of literature and the world, and are designed to provide history, context and analysis via in-depth discussion. Visit here to register for this event and to see upcoming discussions. ($)

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September 22

Black Journalists tackle "Trump vs. Biden & the Black Vote" in virtual public forum

The Greater Cleveland Association of Black Journalists will host a virtual discussion on this year's Presidential election on Tuesday, September 22. The program starts at 7PM and will feature Shontel Brown, chairwoman of the county Democratic Party, and Donna Walker-Brown, who chairs the county Republican Executive Committee.

The forum will be moderated by WKYC's Russ Mitchell and Real Deal Press correspondent Rhonda Crowder.

Register via Zoom to attend this important and free event, which will also stream on Facebook Live.

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Is there an upcoming event you'd like included in this column? Send the details along with a high resolution photo/graphic, to NorthcoastNotesATtherealdealpress.com at least two weeks prior to the event.

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