Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 21, 1993, edition 1 / Page 15
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Cftatlottc ^ost B ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Section THURSDAY October 21,1993 What’s happening to blacks on TV? .M'it' By Winfred B. Cross THE CHARLOTTE POST The-costs of 'Living Single' and 'Martin' - ' f. NBC's Cosby Show" television afm has decid ed to turn back the clock on how it de picts blacks. While "Cosby" was not flaw less, it at least attempted to show blacks were more than one-dimensional and did func tion in the middle and upper- middle class worlds. It also showed that writing and good interaction between charac ters could be funnier than put- downs and playing the dozens. But those days seem to be gone. Turn on your TV set and you'll see the return of some damaging stock characters - mammies, coons, tragic mu lattos and a new type - coon bucks - are the latest rage. And the louder the better. Fox network's "Martin" is certainly one of the loudest, and one of the most hurtful. The show earns the honor without the aid of car crash es and gun battles. No, the mouth is the chosen weapon. Lines are screamed at each other, even during friendly gatherings, which always take place in Martin's (come dian Martin Lawrence) apartment. None of the char acters - especially the char acterizations done by Law rence - know the meaning of the words softspoken or fi nesse. But there's no need for fi nesse on this show. Bad writ ing is the culprit. Actors don't need a sense of comic timing because they don't have anything funny to say. That's why necks work (done flawlessly by Lawrence's Shenene character), fingers point, shoes get thrown to the floor in preperation for a flght and eyes bulge: make it look furmy, even if it dosen't sound furmy. "Martin" runs rampant with the coon stereotype, only with a '90s twist. The Martin character pops his eyes, let's out high-pitched "whazups" (slmlllar to the way Jimmie Walker used to yell "dy-no-mite" in the '70s) and cuts the pure fool But he's '90s chic because he takes no mess from the man and he's sexually active. That makes the brother cool. It doesn't matter he's a chau- vanist or treats his woman Gina (Tisha Campbell - a tragic mulatto if there ever was one) like a possession Instead of a person. The brother gets the best of both stereotypes - the humor of the coon and the swagger of the buck. The brother's got it going on. But "Martin" is not the only culprit on Fox. "In Living Color" leaves no stone un turned. True, the show is a satire and teases everybody from Michael Jackson to the Pope, but it can do so in some very unfurmy ways. A recent skit on Jackon's alleged sex ual molestation of a 13-year- old boy went way past poking fun and landed on the far side of tastesless. But the show has never been much on taste anyway. The Fire See TELEVISON On Page 2B. i®mH Sounds By Winfred B. Cross- Various Artists Produced and Written by Darrell Brown and David Batteau Word/Epic ☆☆☆☆ 3/4 Very few black musical art forms would exist if it were not for gospel music. Soul, r&b, hip-hop, jazz, blues - you name it, and gospel has had an influence over it. And there is no musical genre as passion ate or powerful. So having secular artists do gospel is no real big deal. Heck, that's where most secular artists come from - the church. Aretha, Patti, Dionne - they all owe their ca reers to gospel. Even hard core hip-hoppers JodecI start ed in the church. Thankfully, there's a good number of secular artists which have not forgotten where their roots are. Writers and producers David Bateau and Darrell Brown have as sembled an eclectic group of songs, singers and musi cians for what may become the best pop/gospel event of the year. What Brown and Bateau wanted was a sound that com bined the fun of r&b and the inspiration and Joy of gos pel. They have done so with aplomb. This record brims with soul and spirit. The singing goes beyond this world See SOUL MISSION On Page 2B -I. s ^ SOUL MISSION In Review: Dance troupe wows Winthrop i' * i- ' M Dumakude By Sandra Hawley SPECIAL TO THE POST ROCK HILL - Thokoza, a 30-year-old South African singing group opened the Museum of York County's eighth annual Africa Alive! celebration with a perfor mance that entertained and enlightened the audience at Winthrop University's Tillman Auditorium. Adorned In a combination of vibrant traditional gar ments and American dress, the five women vocalized the joy, pain and reality of South Africa with an inten sity that crossed cultural lines. In the choral style of countrymen Ladysmith Black Mombazo, Thokoza wept, crooned and shouted through freedom chants, prayer hymns, lullabies and wedding songs. While the lilting voices of the women were woven to gether in haunting melodies, 9 year old Mandla Msoml, son of group leader, Thuli Dumakude, provided the binding thread of the performance as the solo percus sionist. His talent was showcased In several fervent songs of celebration and freedom. In addition to mellifluous a capella tones, Thokoza of fered up thick slices of South African culture and histo ry through energetic dances and compelling theatrics. In less than two hours the six performers talked, sang and educated the audience about the coming of the first European settlers to South Africa, the spirituality of Zulu women, the amusing traditions of weddings, the necessity of strong community ties and the leadership of Nelson Mandela. Applause rose from the audience as the singers spoke passionately about the dismantling of apartheid next year. "We want you all to save your pennies now and come celebrate the end of apartheid with us next year," Tho koza leader. Thuli Dumakude beamed, 'because you and your prayers have been with us through It all." Without dwelling on the pain of apartheid, the group launched into an animated freedom song and Duma kude encouraged the audience to respond in South Afri can fashion with a rousing 'Yabo!" (Translation-Yes, That's Alright). The singers made it obvious that their mission is one of celebration and hope. Diverse and memorable, Thokoza's performance brought the audience as close to reality in the townships and bantu stands of South Africa as possible. Although the word "thokoza" means happiness in Zulu, there is no doubt that these performers have expanded the meaning to encompass a richness and an abundance of spirit and life that defies definition. Adorned in traditional dress, Thokoza's tributes to the ancestors, the people and leaders of South Africa through song, dance and drama created a compelling performance and an ideal kick off for The Museum of York County's Africa Alive! celebration.
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 21, 1993, edition 1
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