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2017 ‘Black Girls Rock’ honorees celebrate empowerment
‘Black Girls Rock’ hits BET airwaves on Tuesday
Golden Globe-winning actress Taraji P. Henson will host “Black Girls Rock! 2017, airing at 8 p.m. Tuesday on BET.
Recorded on Aug. 5 before a live audience at the Performing Arts Center in Newark, N.J., the awards program is now in its ninth year. It was created by philanthropist Beverly Bond and celebrating the contributions of Black women in the fields of music, entertainment, medicine, entrepreneurship and visionary aspects.
“Celebrants” for 2017 honors include Congresswoman Maxine Waters (Social Humanitarian), actress Issa Rae (Star Power), Black and Missing Foundation Inc. founders Natalie Wilson and Derrica Wilson (Community Change Agent), Grammy Award-winning songstress Roberta Flack (Living Legend), businesswoman Suzanne Shank (Shot Caller) and “Black-ish” star Yara Shahidi (Young, Gifted and Black).
While accepting her award earlier this month, Rae, best known for her web series “Awkward Black Girl,” said, “Once I learned to like me more than others did, I didn’t have to worry about being the funniest or the most popular or the prettiest.
“I was the best me, and I’ve only ever tried to be that,” she said. “So I want to thank the Black Girls Rock for honoring the version of me that I hope will only improve, and I’m a Black girl who rocks, baby!”
In her powerful acceptance speech, Waters, a Democrat in California, said, “I am you, and you are me. We have power, we have endurance. We can do things that others have told us we can’t do. I don’t care how big you are, I don’t [care] how high you think you are, if you come for me, I’m coming for you.”
Performers at the evening of empowerment include Anthony Hamilton, India Arie, Ledisi, Sza, Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Tyrese. The star-studded roster of presenters includes Maxwell, Wood Harris, Tiffany Haddish, Robin Thede, Anthony Anderson, Jay Ellis, Anika Noni Rose, Jussie Smollett, Ne-Yo, Laz Alonso and Rutina Wesley.
We Speak Entertainment
OFFICIAL TRAILER RELEASED FOR “CALL ME MICKY,” EXECUTIVE PRODUCED BY DOMINIQUE JACKSON
New 22-minute documentary short follows Micky Angelo Petrillo after transitioning at 59, with the acclaimed POSE star helping bring his story to the screen
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — NEW YORK: The official trailer for CALL ME MICKY, a new documentary short Executive Produced by acclaimed POSE star Dominique Jackson and directed by Andrew Rasmussen, has been released on YouTube ahead of the film’s upcoming festival run.
The 22-minute documentary follows Micky Angelo Petrillo, a larger-than-life New Jersey native who transitioned at 59 and is now discovering what comes next.
Rather than presenting transition as the conclusion of Petrillo’s story, CALL ME MICKY focuses on the life unfolding afterward — through Pride celebrations, open mics, friendships, storytelling and Petrillo’s increasingly public embrace of the man he fought decades to become.
Jackson also appears in the film, joining Petrillo for an intimate on-camera conversation about identity, visibility and what it means to finally live openly as yourself.
Internationally recognized for her commanding portrayal of Elektra on FX’s groundbreaking series POSE, Jackson is an actress, model, activist and producer who also served as an Executive Producer of the acclaimed documentary I’M YOUR VENUS, which premiered at the Tribeca Festival.
Petrillo is the author of the memoir Walking the Earth: First as a Woman, Then a Man.
While CALL ME MICKY captures one chapter of Petrillo’s much larger story, the film offers an intimate portrait of a man discovering that becoming yourself is not the ending — it may only be the beginning.
CALL ME MICKY is produced by CARDINAL, a New York City–based creative production company, and directed by CARDINAL co-founder Andrew Rasmussen.
The film begins its festival run this fall, with additional screenings and festival announcements forthcoming.
Watch the official trailer for CALL ME MICKY:
For more information, visit https://www.CallMeMickyFilm.com
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