Uncategorized
https://www.blackenterprise.com/morgan-state-university-hbcu-shooting/
An active shooter is on Morgan State University campus, Baltimore police confirmed. According to NBC four students have sustained non-threatening gunshot wounds.
Authorities are urging people to avoid campus areas around “Thurgood Marshall Hall and the Murphy Fine Arts Center,” and to stay put in a protected area while police evacuate a dorm building where the suspected shooter is believed to have fled to, 11 News reported.
According to WBALTV, Morgan State University is not able to provide many details around the shooting, however, the institution is investigating.
News of the HBCU shooting began to spread across social media as users became aware of the incident.
“Active shooter on Morgan’s campus right now! 4 people shot,” Dr. Stacey Patton reported on her Facebook profile.
Another Facebook user urged followers to “Check on your people!”
ABC News reported from the scene of the shooting and received a firsthand account from a witness.
“The bullets hit the glass behind my head,” the unidentified witness said.
“It all happened so fast and you ain’t get a chance to react.”
Baltimore police are focused on apprehending the shooting suspect who is still on campus. At press time, the number of casualties increased from four victims to five, according to CBS and citizen reporting via X, formerly known as Twitter.
This mass shooting follows a shooting that took place Sept. 24 at Tuskegee University’s West Commons housing complex, according to HBCUBUZZ. Several people were injured in the situation with one person having life-threatening injuries.
The Jacksonville shooting massacre that occurred just one month ago at a Dollar General store where the shooting suspect attempted to gain entry onto Edward Waters University—another historically Black college and university—but was chased by a campus security guard, BLACK ENTERPRISE previously covered.
BE is covering this story closely and will provide up-to-date information as the story develops.
RELATED CONTENT: HBCU Campus Officer Who Confronted Dollar General Gunman Doesn’t Thinks He’s A Hero
BET+ is once again bringing culture to Christmas with 12 new films and specials heading to the service this holiday season! From musical dramas and romantic comedies to action-packed thrillers and the always hilarious Ms. Pat, there’s something for everyone on your list on BET+
Featuring all-star talent, like Tami Roman, Tichina Arnold, Vivica A. Fox and Skyh Black, fan favorites, like Jasmine Guy, Terrence Carson and Dorien Wilson, triple threats like Serayah, Romeo Miller, Macy Gray, MC Lyte and Tamar Braxton, and a roster of directors and writers of color, like Robin Givens, Debbie Allen and Terri J Vaughn, these authentic Black stories will provide some genuine Christmas cheer all season long.
November 2
A Wesley Christmas Wedding
When the Wesley family gets back together for a glorious Christmas Wedding, they must overcome the shenanigans of a Momzilla, a few crazed exes and new family additions – some wanted, and others tolerated – before the betrothed couple says, “I do.”
- Cast: Dorien Wilson, Jasmine Guy, Terrence “TC” Carson, Loren Lott, Terayle Hill, Valerie Pettiford, Judi Johnson. Kiki Haynes, Kevin Savage,, Mike Merrill, Aaron Spears, Rolonda Rochelle, Skylar Mitchell and Red Grant
- Director: Patricia Cuffie-Jones
- Writers: Bree West and Chazitear
- Executive Producers: Chuck and Bree West of OCTET Productions and Devin Griffin and Jerry Leo for BET+
- Co-Executive Producers: Marvin Neil and Lorisa Bates
- Co-Producers: Chazitear, John Baldasare, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez and Noelle Broussard
- Genre: Family / Drama
Heart for the Holidays
Hardworking businesswoman Rachel travels to the small town of Cheverly for a life-saving heart transplant. Fate connects her with a heart donor, Ms. Sims, who tragically dies in a car accident. In Cheverly, Rachel crosses paths with Amy, who also received an organ from the same donor. As Rachel attempts to leave the town, an inexplicable force keeps her bound to Cheverly, and she discovers a deep affection for the community. Amidst her journey, Rachel unexpectedly falls in love with Scott, Amy’s brother
- Cast: Erica Peeples, Kyle Lowder, Starletta DuPois, Chuck Inglish, Lanelle Cooper, Leila Weisberg, and introducing Asia Harmony.
- Director: David Mitch Parks
- Writers: Erica Peeples, David C. Bernat and Lori Beth Bernat
- Executive Producers: Damien Douglas, Kevin Weisberg,Philip B. Goldfine and Devin Griffin and Jerry Leo for BET+
- Co-Executive Producers: Marvin Neil and Lorisa Bates
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez and Noelle Broussard
- Producers: Erica Peeples, Binh Dang, Erica Steele
- Genre: Drama
November 9
Christmas Angel
Troubled R&B megastar Angel St. James is the face of every major magazine and news outlet. However, when her fake happiness peaks, she is forced to face her reality. While driving to get away for a few days, her car breaks down on a desolate road. A simple stranger offers to help fix her car. She decides to step out on faith and enjoy Christmas with this random stranger and his 8-year-old daughter. She discovers the magic of Christmas, love, and the family she always wanted.
- Cast: Skyh Black, DaniLeigh, Romeo Miller, Elise Neal, Tamar Braxton, Daniel O’Reilly, Iris Gasper
- Director and Writer: LazRael Lison
- Executive Producers: Devin Griffin and Jerry Leo for BET+
- Co-Executive Producers: Marvin Neil and Lorisa Bates
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez and Noelle Broussard
- Producers: Tatiana Chekhova and LazRael Lison of Summer House Pictures, Charles F. Porter
- Genre: Family / Drama / Romance / Music
November 16
Sworn Justice: Taken Before Christmas
On Christmas Eve, a hardened detective and her DA boyfriend are both informed that each other has been kidnapped. As the world closes for the holiday, they are locked out of their computers and phones and must follow the demands of the menacing voice giving them orders. This leads to a snowy night of cat and mouse thrills as the two fight for their survival.
- Cast: Mishael Morgan, Leland B. Martin, Vivica A. Fox , Melyssa Ford, Preacher Lawson
- Director: Nicole G. Leier
- Writer: Jennifer Snow and Nicole G. Leier
- Executive Producers: Beth Stevenson, Nancy Yeaman, Stan Hum and Devin Griffin and Marvin Neil and Rene Rodriguez-Lopez for BET+
- Producer – Myles Milne, Jess Reis
- Genre: Action / Thriller / Suspense
November 23
The Ms. Pat Show Holiday Episode “Father Christmas”
Pat tries to give Terry the perfect Christmas by finding his real father. When she can’t track him down, she and Denise embark on a wild Plan B involving a mall Santa.
- Cast: Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, J. Bernard Calloway, Tami Roman, Theodore Barnes, Briyana Guadalupe, Vince Swann, and Brittany Inge
- Director: Debbie Allen
- Writer: Patrick Walsh
- Executive Producers: Patricia “Ms. Pat” Williams, Jordan E. Cooper, Francie Calfo, Brian Grazer, Pamela Oas Williams, Lee Daniels, Deborah Evans, Jon Radler
- Co-Executive Producer: Mary Lou Belli, Natalie Berkus
- Producers: Erin Smithey, Latisha Fortune, Jahil Fisher
- Co-Producer: Nicole Carrasco
- Genre: Comedy
So Fly Christmas
After being stood up at the altar on Christmas Eve, Wyvetta loses her love on her favorite holiday. To show solidarity, Wyvetta’s best friend, Dione, suggests that the two of them renounce love. Things become complicated when Dione falls for a mild-mannered record store owner and tries to keep it under wraps.
- Cast: Tichina Arnold, Tami Roman, Robert Christopher Riley, Laurissa Romain, Jackee Harry, Tommy Davidson, Michael Colyar
- Director: Terri J Vaughn
- Writer: Clarence William IV
- Executive Producers: Summer Crockett Moore, Tony Glazer and Maureen Guthman, Devin Griffin and Jerry Leo for BET+
- Co-Executive Producers: Lorisa Bates and Marvin Neil
- Producers: Pierre Romain, Julie Solinger, Marc Johnson
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Noelle Broussard, Rene Rodriquez
- Associate Producer: Anthony Commodore
- Genre: Comedy / Drama / Romance
November 30
A Royal Christmas Surprise
Riley is planning the perfect Christmas for her soon to be husband, Mandla. As Riley’s family hosts Mandla’s South African royal parents in Kentucky, Riley receives a surprise from Mandla that will jeopardize her plans with her future husband.
- Cast: Jennifer Freeman, Thapelo Mokoena, Abena Ayivor , Sello Maake Ka- Bcube, Trisha Mann-Grant, Tony Grant, Andi Anderson, Andrae Bicy
- Director: Beautie Masvaure
- Writers: Charlie Mihelich and Beautie Masvaure
- Executive Producers: Maureen Guthman, Billy Dundee, Jennifer Freeman and Devin Griffin and Jerry Leo for BET+
- Co-Executive Producers: Marvin Neil and Lorisa Bates
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez and Noelle Broussard
- Producers: Chevonne O’Shaughnessy and George Shamieh
- Genre: Romance / Family / Drama
The Christmas Ringer
After her career is derailed by her manager-fiancé, the reigning Princess of Christmas and defunct R&B singer retreats to her family’s home for the holidays where her mother convinces her to direct the family’s ragtag church choir so they can win a Christmas Choir Competition.
- Cast: Trenyce, Kelly Price, Tyler Lepley, Chrisette Michelle, Arischa Connor, Q Parker, Akbar V, Tamika Scott, Jarrett Michael Collins
- Director: Patricia Cuffie Jones
- Writer: Patricia Cuffie Jones and Gregory Adams
- Story by: Gregory Adams
- Screenplay by: Patricia Cuffie Jones and Gregory Adams
- Produced by: Swirl Films and Eric Tomosunas
- Executive Producers: Gregg McBride, Abbey MacDonald, Ron Robinson, Devin Griffin, Brian Rikuda, Jerry Leo
- Co-Executive Producer: Nick Roses, Marvin Neil, Lorisa Bates
- Producers: James Seppelfrick, Keith Neal, Jimmy Watson
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Noelle Broussard, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez
- Genre: Romance / Drama / Faith / Music
December 7
Never Alone for Christmas
When Lauren gets cold feet and calls off her wedding to Miles, neither had dreamt they would be forced to spend Christmas alone. Unbeknownst to the other, each winds up at the same Cajun Christmas retreat for singles with someone new on their arms.
- Cast: Mignon Von, Allen Maldonado, Macy Gray
- Writer and Director: Kenny Young
- Story by: Kenny Young, Phil James, Ned Nalle and Grits Carter
- Executive Producers: Devin Griffin and Jerry Leo for BET+
- Producers: Ned Nalle, Phil James, Stuart Kosh, Grits Carter
- Co-Executive Producers: Marvin Neil, Lorisa Bates, Stephanie Payne, Derick Halliman, Jacques Wiley, Wayne Witherspoon, André Holzendorf, Margaret Johnson-Holzendorf
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez and Noelle Broussard
- Produced by: A Copper Beeches/Wainwright Park Media Production
- Original Songs: Never Gonna Be Alone for Christmas and Santa’s Vent
- Genre: Drama / Comedy / Romance
December 14
Christmas Rescue
A man abducts the love of his life from her holiday-themed wedding in a desperate last attempt to win her back.
- Cast: Robin Givens, Raven Goodwin, Donny Carrington, Catfish Jean, Mario Van Peebles, Cameron Bailey, Samantha Neyland Trumbo
- Director: Billy Givens-Jensen
- Writers: Shateka Johnson, Robin Givens and Billy Givens Jensen
- Produced by: Swirl Films and Eric Tomosunas
- Executive Producer: Robin Givens, Ron Robinson, Devin Griffin, Brian Rikuda, Jerry Leo
- Co-Executive Producers: Abbey MacDonald, Marvin Neil, Lorisa Bates
- Producers: Gold D. Morgan, Keith Neal, Jimmy Watson, James Seppelfrick
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Noelle Broussard, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez, David Eubanks
- Genre: Romance / Comedy
Favorite Son Christmas
After the death of their father, Blain has taken over the Graceway Church as Pastor, but their finances are in dire straits. Looking to the Jubilee to save the day, First Lady Rita suggests a SO GIFTED reunion to rouse the necessary ticket sales. Will the brothers and their wives overcome old gripes and truly reconcile for this Christmas reunion to be successful?
- Cast: Tank, Darrel Walls, Loren Lott, Serayah, Lisa Arrindell, MC Lyte, Jekalyn Carr, Anthony Evans
- Director: Robin Givens
- Writer: Patricia Cuffie Jones
- Story by Tiffany Warren
- Produced by: Swirl Films and Eric Tomosunas
- Executive Producers: Tiffany Warren, Lorisa Bates, Devin Griffin, Brian Rikuda, Jerry Leo
- Co-Executive Producers: Marvin Neil, John Baldasare, Abbey MacDonald
- Producers: Wes Cyphers, Jimmy Watson, Ron Robinson, Keith Neal
- Co-Producers: Rene Rodriguez-Lopez and Noelle Broussard, David Eubanks
- Creative Producer: William Givens-Jensen
- Genre: Faith / Family / Music / Drama
December 21
Whatever It Takes
It’s Thanksgiving weekend, snow is falling, Christmas is on the horizon and the promises of the New Year are near. Navigating careers, life and the nuances of friendship, five women bond over the imperfections in their love lives. The holidays bring some of them their greatest wishes and others their most profound losses.
- Cast: Tami Roman, Kandi Burruss, Brely Evans, AJ Johnson, Rayan Lawrence, Kendrick Cross, Stevie Baggs Jr, Zuri James
- Director: Taliah Breon
- Writers: Tu-Shonda Whitaker and Amaleka McCall
- Produced by: Roman Ramsey Productions and Swirl Films
- Executive Producers: Tami Roman, Jill Ramsey, Eric Tomosunas, Ron Robinson, Devin Griffin, Brian Rikuda, Jerry Leo
- Co-Executive Producers: Abbey MacDonald, Nick Roses, Marvin Neil, Lorisa Bates
- Producer: Gold D. Morgan, Keith Neal, James Seppelfrick, Abbey Macdonald
- Co-Producers: John Baldasare, Noelle Broussard, Rene Rodriguez-Lopez
- Genre: Family / Drama / Romance
Belmont’s Back On The Block
Alright y’all, the runaway Netflix hit Castlevania is back on the scene with a gangsta lean! I was hyped off the trailer! Yes, it’s based on a game, but it plays no games. Outright, Castlevania: Nocturne is a streamlined piece of animated glory. The pacing is as perfect as it can be for this medium and is grounded by a story that takes the series to new levels. From the writing and voice acting depth to the spellbindingly detailed action sequences, the creative teams at Project 51, Frederator, and Powerhouse Animation took notes and came back with some heat! Let me tell you right now, a lot of what Nocturne is bringing to the table is gonna make racists and bigots of all kinds big mad.
*Note* – Since the entire series is available from day one there will be light spoilers throughout. Also, for the fullest effect, read this to the “N—- In Paris” instrumental.
Story & Pacing
As a piece of animation sourced from a video game with thirty-seven years of lore, it’s a wonder that anyone could make anything cohesive out of this. Nocturne is a feat of creative collaboration. Last we left the world of Castlevania, a resurrected Dracula was chilling with his boo Lisa, Trevor and Sypha saved the day and had a child on the way.
Nocturne is set three hundred years in the future and places the supernatural right alongside the political turmoil of the French Revolution. We follow Richter Belmont from the traumatic death of his mother Julia in colonial Massachusetts to his coming of age in the Old World of the French countryside. Here in France, the stage is set with the drama of a looming revolution and the possibility of a change in power. Where there is a power struggle, please know that vampires are somewhere thirsty to get involved. Not long after setting us up and introducing Tera (a Speaker from the same clan as Sypha), her daughter Maria (also gifted in magic), Edouard (an opera-singing monster hunter), and Annette (a former slave and badass sorcerer).
With the core cast of heroes set, the story closes in on the coming of the Vampire Messiah and using the revolution to rack up the corpses of the poor to use to make night creatures in their undead army. To be fair, this is the core plot device in each season of Castlevania entries, but it’s done in a way that adds depth to each layer of characters. Nocturne bounces from Game of Thrones levels of political intrigue to Supernatural-like use of the occult to the intimacy and emotional intelligence of Steven Universe. All of it used to drive animated expression on par with Cowboy Bebop and Vampire Hunter D. Pacing of the series was one of the more polarizing elements with both critics and audiences. Suffice it to say, the pacing of Nocturne is near perfect, it can be re-binged immediately with no fatigue. It’s the ‘new game plus’ of animation.
Performances & Writing
In the face of a resounding win for the Writer’s Guild of America and the strikes still being upheld by the Screen Actor’s Guild, let’s give the appropriate flowers to the performances and the script that inspired them. They wrote and acted the hell out of this. While a lot of us make the point that on-camera actors in voice acting can be a contentious topic, this cast was beyond stellar.
Central to the plot, Belmont (played by Edward Bluemel) holds the family name down with that trademark filthy mouth and as much wit as a stand-up comedian doing improv. It was refreshing for the main titular character to play the back seat for the first time in a long time. All of Nocturne’s stand-out performances come from, literally everyone else. Zahn McClarnon’s Aztec vampire Olrox was brilliant. McClarnon’s raspy calm fury made every line he delivered feel like it meant two things at once.
The series has always done well with its representation of whomever was onscreen but for Nocturne, the women of the cast really shine. Easy to do when you have film and TV vets like Nastassja Kinski and Franka Potente pitted against one another in a mother-off as Erzsebet Báthory and Tera Renard. It can’t be said enough in enough ways: the depth achieved by these performances cannot be oversold. It has already been broughten. Thuso Mbedu and Elarica Johnson bring unapologetic Black girl magic (literally) to Annette and Drolta Tzuentes. Their edgy and justified rebelliousness bursts off the screen.
That Writing Room Be So Black
Every Castlevania season has some fire quotables, but this season was just busting them out left and right. Maybe it’s the politicized backdrop alongside the real-life politics we experience daily. Maybe lead writer and show creator Clive Bradley woke up with a vendetta and opted to put his foot on the neck of every animated project on Netflix. I do not know. What I do know is that like Across The Spider-Verse and TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, Nocturne is written as perfectly as possible for the medium. We as audiences really eating this year off these three projects alone. Whatever research and dramaturgy the writing team had to commit to for this paid all the way off. Not one predictable line and each one-liner came off clean – they should’ve had this crew on CSI Miami helping David Caruso out. When the awards roll out for this, put some respect on Zodwa Nyoni, Temi Oh, Testament, and Clive Bradley’s names.
When Haiti, Voudou (never “voodoo”, which is the Western mockery of African practices), or Yoruba show up with so much authenticity in Nocturne, remember there are three Black writers on deck this season. When we are in the room, we can tell our intentionally erased histories anywhere. A serious tip of the hat here as someone is Black American and Haitian. Short of Lovecraft Country‘s third episode, “Holy Ghost” Yoruba practices don’t get much love in mainstream media. This is actually a big deal.
Fantastic Hands And Where To Catch Them
Folks, light spoilers ahead – I have way too much hype for the action scenes to not say the whole thing. This is some of the greatest animated action outside of a Japanese anime production house. Definitely going to have to highlight a lot.
In the opening scene with Olrox putting the magical beats on Richter’s mother Julia Belmont?!? Yall. Despite Julia being the best of both Belmont prowess and Speaker clan magic and putting up a hell of a fight; she got rocked. How Olrox played games with her the whole time then switched up on her and went right to his Aztec roots. Mans changed into the winged serpent and said, “They call him Kulkukan!” After he caught the body, threatened third-grade Richter, and stepped over Julia like Allen Iverson did Tyronne Lue! I knew he was him after that.
When Richter realizes who he is, puts some respect on his family name, and goes ultra instinct?! The burning blue flame of the holy cross should’ve told everyone what was up. You know in any anime, animation, video game cutscene, hell even YouTube AMVs – when somebody looks with that blank stare. Everybody dying. Hands got to working like Kuvira fighting the Beifongs while he’s fire and water bending! Lawd.
Let’s not forget Maria “We need a union” Renard. When homegirl hit that Baltimore two-step on the church pew while conjuring spirits from beyond the veil! Then had the nerve to use her foot to hit that past portal like a rhythm gymnast?! We live.
Annette in the church basement going off on Drolta and the night creatures?! Nobody was safe from Annette earth bending the stone while metal bending swords into existence and catching bodies with both at the time! When she took the bars off the jail cell and laid Drolta down quite flat? Yeah, here for that.
Racists ‘Bout To Be Big Mad
The platform formerly known as the bird app is already a flutter with the coldest takes possible on seeing the topics the show covers. Shoutout to producer and nexus point for the series creation, Adi Shankar, who never shies away from saying touchy things in his works. Castlevania: Nocturne is saying the quiet parts loud as hell.
First off, they make no bones about the big bad really being about the convergence of church and state. Maria goes in and just says as much, keeping it real about the plot point. So many real-life ills can be traced back to that particular relationship. Watching the church align with the aristocracy against the poor in order to maintain the religion’s status quo makes more sense IRL than not (don’t make me tap the sign).
Annette and Edouard being Black and in France caused a little uproar online, but folks want to act like Black folks didn’t build more than half the ‘civilized’ world through slave labor. People need to read books and touch grass. This version of Annette is a Haitian former slave who is a descendant of two Orisha (the pantheon of the Yoruba spiritual practice), Ogun and Orunmila. Not only does this bring African spirituality to the lore, but this convergence of spiritual cultures turns into a platform for that kind of imaginative inclusion. The best part is Annette’s mentor talking about ‘discarding the God of the whites’. I know that spoke to folks on a few levels.
Olrox being gay and indigenous was a narrative wrinkle that folks didn’t see coming. Not only does it humanize Olrox, but it opens the floodgates for humanizing gay characters in other pieces of media. Making them an anti-hero further complicates Olrox and makes his experience unique even among other unique characters. Knowing that Indigenous and First Nations cultures view the gender and sexuality spectrums with more dignity gives even more weight to the choice to include him.
Drolta’s design choices were epic and had people asking how someone, ‘had access to hair dyes for a gradient hairstyle’ in the 1700s. Like for real? Anyway, to design a Black vampire hailing from Egypt with ties to Sekhmet from the Egyptian pantheon was another epic choice by the creative team. That hair texture!?!? Them thigh-high heel-less boots?! Broke the mold on that one, let me you that her final transformation was S-tier!
There are characters added that don’t exist in the source material, there are others that have been changed from the source material. When Black and Brown people can’t even be conjured in the imagination of a creator, for so long, no one should be offended when they are imagined into something by design. People want to call it ‘woke’ and don’t know what it means. There is so much power in what was written into these characters, anyone with something negative to say about it simply doesn’t want that power to be with the marginalized.
Endings
Long story short, Castlevania Nocturne is a dope addition to the series. It is a stripped-down but somehow also amped-up season of multicultural mysticism that is going to give audiences exactly what they asked for. Whether they want to recognize it or not. A near-perfect outing made up of the kind of creative alchemy that begs for three more seasons. Get comfortable and be ready to binge on this beautiful bit of animated glory. Castlevania: Nocturne is available in its entirety on Netflix.
Watching Castlevania? Find BNP’s other reviews of the series here.
Want to get Black Nerd Problems updates sent directly to you? Sign up here! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, and Instagram!
The post Nightskins In Paris: Castlevania: Nocturne Review appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.