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Michael Jai White is a renowned actor and martial arts expert best known for his exhilarating performances, dynamic characters, and impressive martial arts choreography — something best seen in martial art flicks such as Blood & Bone, Take Back, and Undisputed 2. However, it was his venture into comedy with the release of 2009’s Black Dynamite that allowed MJW to transcend his traditional roles and show his comedic prowess. And now, building on the success of Black Dynamite, White is introducing the audiences to a whole new character: The Outlaw Johnny Black.

Judging by the trailer for The Outlaw Johnny Black, the upcoming film, which is scheduled to release on September 15, 2023, pretty much continues in the same vein as previously released Black Dynamite, despite the narrative differences. In fact, besides mentioning the Black Dynamite movie in The Outlaw Johnny Black trailer, both trailers are actually narrated by Byron Minns, an American actor who occasionally provided narration in the Black Dynamite animated show.

For those who haven’t watched it, Black Dynamite is an energetic satire of 1970s blaxploitation films, in which White, with his recognizable martial arts skills, portrayed the self-titled hero and brought the film to life with a particular flair of humor and comedy that aren’t typically associated with action films. His portrayal of the eponymous character Black Dynamite, an ex-CIA agent on a path of vengeance, introduced a unique blending of both comedy and martial arts presented in an entertaining and exciting way.

The movie was a massive success among audiences at the time of its release. It was well received by critics, with many praising this loving and meticulous send-up of 1970s blaxploitation movies as funny enough for a frat house movie night and clever enough for film buffs. But its success showcased Michael Jai White’s ability to tackle comedic roles, allowing him to demonstrate his versatility as an actor. It was Black Dynamite’s blending of cinematic genres, the mixture of action, comedy, and satire, that helped set the stage for White’s next adventure as The Outlaw Johnny Black.  

As said before, The Outlaw Johnny Black continues along the same path forged by Black Dynamite, taking pretty much the same satirical approach. This time it’s satirizing Western films, allowing White to show his acting range in both action and comedy. But instead of a former CIA kung-fu-loving agent, White now embodies a character who’s a fearsome gunslinger, a well-trained foot-to-the-face combatant, and a hilariously engaging figure. And yet, there’s an undeniable sense of continuity when it comes to White’s character in the new film, despite them being entirely different narratives.

Both Black Dynamite and Johnny Black share the same traits as characters. Both are skilled and formidable men on a path of vengeance, with Dynamite avenging the death of his brother, while Johnny seeks to avenge his father’s death. Both share more than just toughness; both Dynamite and Johnny Black have a side to them that brings laughter to the audiences, regardless of the fact that their respective narratives are at least a century apart.

More importantly, Michael Jai White’s transition from the character of Black Dynamite to Johnny Black speaks volumes about his acting abilities. Not because of character portrayal — Black Dynamite and Johnny Black are basically the same character, just placed across different centuries. It’s White’s signature integration of martial arts into a mixture of action, comedy, and satire that really shows the depth of his creative genius and the breadth and depth of his comedy skills.

The massive success of Black Dynamite provided Michael Jai White with a foundation upon which he could build the main character of The Outlaw Johnny Black, so we can say with some degree of certainty that the former has paved the way for the latter. 2009’s Black Dynamite and its subsequent tie-ins proved that action and comedy could merge into an entertaining film experience, setting a precedent upon which MJW could expand in The Outlaw Johnny Black.

In the end, the legacy of Black Dynamite is evident in The Outlaw Johnny Black, and anyone who has seen the former will recognize its “kick-butt and laugh your heart out” humor right away. The vibrant character, the instantly recognizable humor, and the over-the-top action and fight sequences all stem from the success of Black Dynamite. The tonal similarities between the two prove that Michael Jai White can be both an ass-kicker, a gunslinger, and a comedic gut-buster, using the success of one role to catapult him into another.

Still, despite the obvious similarities between the two characters and the two movies, MJW continues to leave a mark on cinema through his unique blend of humor and mastery of different genres. Indeed, Black Dynamite may have walked, but thanks to the strides of its star, Michael Jai White, The Outlaw Johnny Black now rides.  

BGN interviews the cast of Swagger.

Featured in the interviews are: Reggie Rock Bythewood (Creator & EP), Isaiah R. Hill (Jace), Quvenzhane Wallis (Crystal), Shinelle Azoroh (Jenna), Orlando Jones (Emory) and Tristan Wilds (Alonzo).

In season two, we meet the man-children Jace, Phil, Nick, Musa, Drew and Royale as they are entering their senior year of high school. All but Phil will be attending Cedar Cove Prep; a predominantly White institution where wealthy board members control the entire operation from the hiring of faculty to the enrollment of students. It is a school of power and influence. For all of their academic success, their basketball program has not been competitive until Emory Lawson, the athletic director, managed to acquire the Swagger players. Almost overnight, Cedar Cove’s basketball program becomes elite, attracting the attention of Alonzo Powers from Gladiator Sneakers. Games are attended by top college scouts from the nation and are live-streamed for thousands of fans. With winning comes scrutiny and the players find themselves under a microscope as they vie for a national high school championship. Everything is going right in the life of Jace Carson and his family. Jenna is renting a house in a residential neighborhood and her cosmetic sales business is booming. Then, a video surfaces that threatens to destroy it all. It is surveillance footage of Coach Warwick, Crystal’s former coach, being beat down in an alley. The attackers are masked but Coach Warwick believes he has found evidence proving the Swagger players were involved. As this speculation reaches the public eye and social media, the bond of brotherhood the players have built is tested. Their once promising futures are in jeopardy.

Interviewer: Jeandra LeBeauf

Video Editor: Jamie Broadnax

Season 2 of Swagger is currently streaming on Apple TV+

Dashawn Walker is a high school graduate and gun violence survivor. Though he has mostly recovered physically, the 18-year-old remains anguished following his ordeal, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

On February 21, 2023, the then-17-year-old was walking home from school in North Philadelphia when a man exited his vehicle and shot him 10 times. The recovery was grueling—a dozen surgeries that left Walker hospitalized for months. He had to complete his senior year at the Mathematics, Civics, and Sciences Charter School virtually. Despite these challenges, Walker hoped to walk alongside his classmates at graduation. However, this never happened.

Veronica Joyner is the chief administrator of his school. She personally interviewed Walker in the admissions process and, when she found out about his attack, became worried for the student. Soon, however, her concern morphed into fear.

After discovering that Walker was targeted, Joyner and the school board decided to exclude the teenager from all in-person activities, including graduation. This decision stemmed from Joyner’s fear that Walker’s shooter could attack him again, this time at school. 

Walker’s assailant was identified as 20-year-old Micah Roane. Though he resides in the same neighborhood as the teenager, the two have never interacted, Walker saids. The teen insisted that the pair never had any previous conversation or altercation. Captain James Kearney of the Philadelphia Police Department shared that Walker “seemed like a good kid” with no prior run-ins with the law; prosecutors also confirmed that he was not involved in any street violence.

“I was the victim, and I felt like I was the problem,” said Walker.

Walker attempted to reason with Joyner to no avail. “My heart goes out to Dashawn, but I didn’t create the situation. My actions didn’t involve me in something that got me shot,” Joyner told the Inquirer.

She claimed that Walker should be satisfied that the school helped him graduate and that prom and graduation ceremonies are privileges, not rights. 

Over the years, Joyner has made headlines. The Education Law Center filed a lawsuit against the charter school earlier this year involving a girl who had an argument with her classmates. That same organization filed another lawsuit in 2019, alleging that the school rejected a 6-year-old’s admission because she required services for ADHD, according to the Philadelphia ChalkBeat. Joyner was also listed in a 2008 employment discrimination lawsuit from a former instructor at the school.

After the shooting, Walker was informed by several of his friends that Joyner kept commenting about how he could afford designer items, insinuating that he participates in illicit activities. Despite denying such comments, in an interview, she did question where his family earned the money for his prom suit, which cost upward of $1,000. 

Joyner has much to boast about regarding her charter school’s achievements, including their recent mock trial international champions, 6ABC Philadelphia reports. But, regardless of its success, her recent actions mar an already significant event not just for students but the city, given the district’s recent initiative. Suffering from considerably high drop-out rates and unsatisfactory graduation rates, Philadelphia’s Superintendent Tony Watlington Sr. announced a plan to improve academic performance within the school district and boost success rates, according to Pennsylvania Capital Star. 

Still, there is a bright spot in Walker’s future. He plans to attend Shippensburg University and major in either business or health care. He also hopes to start a support group for other victims of gun violence. Walker is beginning a new chapter in his life. Though he can’t change the past and there is no guarantee that he can ever change Joyner’s mind, he wants to make a difference.

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Who among us hasn’t dreamed of having a horse of our very own? One that we can bond with as we ride off into the sunset? Well, if you’re a horse person, now you can make your dreams come true… At least, digitally. A brand new Sims 4 expansion pack The Sims 4 Horse Ranch brings horses back into the game for the first time in more than ten years. The Sims 3: Pets last allowed them on its PC/Mac versions, but that was all the way in 2011. Take a look at the trailer for this new The Sims 4 expansion pack, which makes our horse-loving hearts beat a little faster.

The Sims expansion packs always bring fans a bevy of game-enhancing delights. But this new Sims expansion back is all about the horse. A release shares that you can “customize hoofed friends in Create a Sim, or get new horses by rescuing or purchasing them. Foals can also be born on your ranch. Sims can learn the Riding skill, and horses can train in the Agility and Jumping skills. Skilled horses and riders can even win awards at the equestrian center.” Horses, in short, are part of your fictional family, so you had better take care of them. The Sims 4 Horse Ranch will allow you to bond with your horses and foals. The game notes that they will “have lots of special interactions with both Sims and other horses.” Other cute critters in this expansion pack include mini goats and mini sheep. We love them all already.

This Sims 4 expansion pack has more than just new animals, though. It also brings back something else that hasn’t been around since The Sims 3, “Nectar.” And by Nectar, we mean, The Sims wine. Cheers! Additionally, the expansion will have new items and settings for your Sims to explore. From riding competitions and line dances to harvesting prairie grass and collecting horse manure, this game expansion has it all.

The Sims 4 Horse Ranch expansion pack releases on July 20 and costs $39.99. Those who order early will receive some special bonuses.

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