David Parks delivers keynote speech at 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards
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"Meet the Black Press" Breakfast at the Washington Post |
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3rd Annual Black Press All Awards Winners presentation |
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Listen now: David Parks (Superfly). |
(BlackPressMagazine.com) - The late great Gordon Parks, Sr., who was famous for co-founding Essence Magazine and authoring the book, The Learning Tree, which was an autobiographical sketch of a young boy coming of age, was honored with the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD as part of the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards Luncheon held at Jordan's 8 Restaurant near Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor given. Previous honorees included the late John H. Johnson (2005) and Earl Graves, Sr (2006). Gordon Parks died on March 7, 2006 and he would have been 95 years old on November 30, 2007.
David Parks, 63, the son of the late legendary photographer, accepted the honor on behalf of his dad during a moving acceptance speech at the "Meet the Black Press" breakfast hosted by the Washington Post. The event, which honors Black-owned media professionals, executives and companies committed to media diversity, took place during the 180th Anniversary of America’s Black Press.
"We need the Historical Black Press Foundation because it's important that our voices get heard," Parks told the breakfast attendees. "I know that if my dad were alive he would be supporting [the organization] and DC [Livers] so I am, too," he said.
The event, which was presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation, also remembered Chauncey Bailey, the fallen Black Press hero who lost his life earlier this year after writing a controversial article. He worked for the Oakland Post newspaper.
"We've known for years how dangerous it is to tell Black America's story. newspapers like the Birmingham Times were fire bombed, journalists have been tortured and worse. In 1827, even before slaves were freed, they somehow learned to read, write, publish and distribute a newspaper - the Freedom's Journal," said Livers. "It's clear that to some, nothing is more dangerous than giving Black people the truth. That's why Chauncey Bailey was killed and many more before him. We have to remember our fallen heroes because their story - like all stories - must be told," said Livers.
Later that day, Parks delivered the keynote speech at the 3rd Annual Black Press All Stars Awards Luncheon. "The Learning Tree is the most important book that my father wrote because it was a stepping stone for him personally and professionally,” said David Parks, who won two purple hearts for his own autobiographic book entitled, G.I. Diary. “It allowed him to write about the experiences he lived growing up in Kansas in the 1920s, and it led to his directorial debut as a filmmaker." Gordon Parks Jr. directed “Superfly” while David was the producer. Parks discussed both projects in his speech.
Parks’ speech, entitled “Communicating in the New Millennium,” gave listeners a birds-eye view of his life on the road with his dad. He also included tips for young people on how to break into the industry and discussed his role in the projects that he worked on with his father including the hit movies, “Shaft” and “ Leadbelly.” Parks gave the crowd a verbal sneak peek of the trilogy on the Buffalo Soldiers that he’s working on.
“I’ve done the ‘Gordons.’ I’ve worked for Gordon Sr. and Gordon Jr.,” he said. “Now it’s time to do me. I’ve been working on a lot of White projects, now I’m ready to tell the Black stories that I’ve always wanted to tell.”
Presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation, the grassroots organization that preserves the history of the Black Press and provides a gateway to over 450 Black-owned newspapers and magazines, the lunch was sponsored by Van McCoy Music and BlackPodcasts.com. Other winners included Black Enterprise Magazine for "Best Black Magazine, K'wan Foye for Black Author of the Year and Drahma Magazine for "Best New Black Publication," among others. The LEGACY AWARD was presented to the late Van McCoy and the CENTENNIAL AWARD went to the Pittsburgh Courier. The award to Philadelphia Tribune for "Best Black Newspaper" accepted by Philadelphia native and reality TV star Darra "Like Dat" Boyd. Urban American Outdoors for "Best Black TV Show," The Africa Channel for "Best TV Network." (For more go to the Black Press Store)
“I knew we had to have this event, and I knew it had to be at Jordan's 8,” said DC Livers, who is managing editor for HBPF. “Imagine a Black Press Week lunch, with a speech from the son of the man who founded Essence magazine at a venue owned by the founder of Black Entertainment Television. It was the right place at the right time for the right reason. I’m honored to be a part of bringing David Parks to Washington, DC."
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NEW! For the first time every, you can bring the magic home. To purchase your very own BlackPodcasts.com Limited Edition CDs visit http://www.blackpress.org/store.htm RIGHT NOW The Girls Empowerment Brunch, which was held as part of the Black Press All Stars Awards Weekend, was so well received that another has been scheduled as part of the Black Academic Olympics on March 14, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. in Washington, DC as part of our Black Press Week celebration. To learn more about previous events see the Girls Empowerment Brunch pdf. To hear interviews with writers and editors for the new book, Being a Black Man including editor Keith Merida and writer Hamil Harris, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com and enter keyword: Who's Who.
WINNER CEREMONIES: View photos, and hear podcasts from Black Press. Learn more Register to attend the next Black Press All Stars Award Ceremony on Friday, December 8, 2007 in New York City. Register to attend: https://www.acteva.com/go/blackpress. Hear a previous All Stars Awards Winner Ceremony right now. To listen to a podcast, visit http://www.blackpressradio.com. Use keywords to search your desired topics in the archives.
Participate in the Black Academic Olympics: Join schools systems across the United States in competing in the 1st Annual Black Academic Olympics to be held on Sat., February 16, 2008 in Washington, DC presented by the Historical Black Press Foundation.
Start your own Hip Hop blog or podcast: Registration is underway for the "Start your own Hip Hop Publication Workshop on Dec. 8, 2007 in NYC. $25.00 per person up to 30 people. To be considered send resume, cover letter, work samples, web links and goals to [email protected]. To register visit https://www.acteva.com/go/blackpress.
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NEW! For the first time every, you can bring the magic home. To purchase your very own BlackPodcasts.com Limited Edition CDs visit http://www.blackpress.org/store.htm RIGHT NOW
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Black Press Magazine has also interviewed Carl West for the State of Hip Hop: The Podcast and filmmaker Camille Holder Brown, a former Spike Lee intern who recently won the Paul Robeson Award and Janaya Black who was one of the original members of BET's Teen Summit Posse as part of its series on hip hop film and entertainment.
LISTEN to the podcasts from the Hip Hop Journalism Summit and Black Press All Star Awards
Black Press will conduct pre-, during and post-event podcast interviews, write articles from the 3rd Annual Black Press All Star Awards event were held on Sept. 14-15, 2007 and help promote the event as part of the media sponsorship commitment. The 4th annual Black Press All Star Awards is currently accepting application for individuals who want to be apart of the panels, sponsorship list or judging selection committee to help determine the winners among the submissions comprised of newspapers, magazines, websites, publicists, authors and others in the Black media industry. The event will be Sept. 19-20, 2008. To be considered, send your bio, weblink and photo to [email protected]
