Category Archives: Curator’s Notes

I was a huge boxing fan at one point in my life so I guess I am what you would call a “retro” boxing fan. I watched all of the Ali / Foreman / Norton bouts during the 1970′s. Followed Sugar Ray Leonard from the Olympics through all of his title bouts in the 1980′s. And of course there’s Mike Tyson. I followed him both in and out of the ring into the 1990′s. I have to admit that after Tyson boxing lost it’s appeal for me. After all of Tyson’s antics he also fell off my radar, until recently.

Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic is a new a documentary by Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Marina Zenovich on the legendary comedian that will debut at 8 p.m. Friday, May 31 on Showtime. Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic was also just screened at the Tribeca Film Festival.

There is currently a biopic on the life of Sugar Ray Robinson in the works…

Bishop The Eastside Nappyhead and Sista ToFunky have been friends for four years. We share the same passion for individual creative expression and he is a very grounded brother who is focused on his people, history and his art. Check out Negros Americanos and see what they have in store.

Tina Allen is no longer with us but her sculptures can be seen around the world.

Whoopi Goldberg has produced a documentary on Moms Mabley, titled I Got Something To Tell You, that will be premiering at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Goldberg has been working on this doc for at least three years.

Women’s History month is a very special time at the Museum Of UnCut Funk. As we celebrate the accomplishments of women in every aspect of  American History, we are focusing on women in the arts. To help us make this year’s celebration more note worthy we are honored to have Nancy Goldstein, author of Jackie Ormes: The First African American Woman Cartoonist, as a guest content contributor.

Thank you Nancy.

According to Shadow and Act, Spike Lee spent years trying to get his Jackie Robinson project financed and produced (unsuccessfully), only to eventually watch Legendary Pictures and Brian Helgeland launch their own Jackie Robinson picture with Chadwick Boseman. (You can read our post on the movie “42″ here).

So when I first I heard that there was a Marvin Gaye biopic in the works, Jesse L. Martin was the name that was attached to the starring role. This was years ago. Then I heard that it was not going to happen because of issues getting music rights approvals from Barry Gordy. Then recently I heard that the film was back in production with Lenny Kravitz in the lead role. Then I heard that Marvin’s son had a problem with both the film and Lenny starring in it. Now it appears that this project has come full circle, with Jesse L. Martin back in the lead role.

Seems like I have been seeing a lot of Prince lately. A few weeks ago he was on Jimmy Fallon with his new band 3rd Eye Girl performing his new song, Screwdriver, and delivering a blistering guitar smashing rendition of his classic, Bambi. He presented the Record Of The Year at the Grammys. There is supposed to be a new album and a tour. Now he is performing at SXSW…It’s definitely getting way too funky up in here!

Here is an update to my previous post on the highly anticipated documentary Free Angela And All Political Prisoners (click here to read)….the film is being distributed by Codeblack Films, a division of Lionsgate, and will open on April 5, 2013 exclusively in select AMC theatres in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Oakland, Philadelphia and Atlanta.

According to Tommy Mottola of The Mottola Group (the producers) it looks like SuperFly The Musical is finally coming to broadway.

Sista ToFunky and Bianca Gray share a passion for being entrepreneurs. We have forged a friendship that exceeds our day jobs and we provide each other with a level of support that few can understand. The Museum Of UnCut Funk is delighted to support Bianca in her latest endeavor.

I did a post on the Golden Legacy series about a year ago where I featured the author Bertram Fitzgerald. All 16 titles is the series were represented but I did not show any pages from the inside of these books. I have now added a few pages below.

Ethel Smith wrote “Come and Be Black For Me” for The Baltimore Sun several years ago. When she shared this article with the Museum of UnCut Funk I could definitely relate, as I too have been asked once a year to do “something” for Black History Month. I hope you enjoy reading this.

Betty and Coretta, the Lifetime Original Movie, premieres February 2nd and will probably run periodically throughout Black History Month. Betty and Coretta tells the dual real-life stories of Coretta Scott King and Dr. Betty Shabazz as they create an unbreakable life-long bond after their husbands’ tragic assassinations. Specifically, the movie follows them as they continue on as single mothers and keepers of their husbands legacies.

We celebrate the 84th birthday and the official holiday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by presenting some of his famous speeches and interviews. While we remember the man, let’s also reflect upon his words. You can also read the text and hear King’s delivery of his famous “I Have A Dream” speech here.

Brian Helgeland and Legendary Pictures are producing a new film based on history’s most celebrated baseball figure, Jackie Robinson, in collaboration with Robinson’s widow, Rachel Robinson.

Addison Scurlock and his sons spent much of the twentieth century photographing leaders, lumniaries, and local Washingtonians. From the original Scurlock Studio on U Street to the Custom Craft Studio and the Capitol School of Photography, the Scurlocks’ imagery was viewed and shared by thousands of people.

Chrysler just released their new commercial featuring Berry Gordy riding in their new Motown 300C. This spot is supposed to air during the Super Bowl. It is nice to see Gordy and Motown get the accolades they deserve. Give them their flowers while they are here…