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AME CHURCH: SPOTLIGHT
From Bishops, Elders, Executive Positions, to preaching in the AME pulpits,
it is a Black Thing. As much criticism takes place, there is also admiration
of keeping tradition, TRADITION. The Motto: God Our Father, Christ Our Redeemer, Man Our Brother. This is the motto of the AME Church.
As other denominations, the AME Church has structure within its organizations. Bishops are Chief Officers, elected for Life. The Presiding Elders supervises an appointed district comprised of churches. The Pastor has full charge of the church and will be advised yearly if he/she are to return to the appointed church.

Just when many critics tried to place a negative label on the AME Church, history was made when for the first time in 213 years, a WOMAN was elected BISHOP in the AME Church. This woman is Reverend Dr Vashti Murphy McKenzie. Before being elected, Bishop, Murphy McKenzie served ten years as the first female pastor of the historic over 100 years old Payne Memorial AME Church in Baltimore Maryland. Impressive! While this is impressive indeed, there are other women within the AME Church preaching in the pulpits. Support is given to these Ministers Of God and great things are happening in the church.

HISTORY OF THE AME CHURCH, FACT NOT FICTION:
The AMEC was established in 1787 by Richard Allen, Absalom Jones and others in Philadelphia. In 1794 Bethel (Mother Bethel AME To Many Today) was established with Richard Allen as the minister. Many Black Methodists were faced with racism and successfully won the right to exist as an independent institution without interference of non black methodists. History tells us of factual accounts where non black methodists blatantly denied black methodists the right to pray, the right to practice the methodist doctrine and lead people to the knowledge, the praise, the understanding of God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. It is quite understandable why the AME CHURCH would maintain control of their denomination.

1816 The AME CHRUCH Established Formally As A Denomination
Today it continues to be evident the positive direction the AME Church is going in. Like other denominations, there is criticism to decisions this denomination makes. Politics good/bad is always in the mix of every denomination.
The AME Church is not without being in the mix of good/bad politics. As we conclude our editorial, we want our visitors to know we will continue to bring knowledge about other denominations. Awareness is always a good thing.
As for the AME Church, we will be contacting the appropriate persons on a highly criticized decision to retire ministers at the age of 75. It is our findings that many ministers were not pleased with the decision, especially if they are capable to continue to preach and their congregation wants them to stay on being the shepherd of their flock. However we understand the flip side of the decision. There are many younger ministers who serve as assistant pastors and it is fair when this decision gives them a chance to lead a congregation and feed their famiies. It's kind of like passing a torch. It is our hope that we can get a response to this highly talked about decision. -onpointt.com 2005

Phyllis Hyman (1949-1995). This SOPHISTICATED LADY was a singer, model and actress. Phyllis Hyman was born in Philadelphia, raised in Pittsburgh in the Northern Heights community. Her musical career moved her to New York City, where she performed in various clubs doing background vocals. During one of her performances, Norman Conners saw the beauty and he heard the beauty of Miss Hyman. The voice is very amazing, a captivating voice that compares to no one today. Conners offered Hyman a chance to be a guest vocalist on his album YOU ARE MY STARSHIP (1976 Betcha By Golly Wow).

Her first solo album Phyllis Hyman (1977) received great reviews. The star began to rise. Broadway called her name and she responded. Hyman accepted a role in the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies a tribute to Duke Ellington.
Hyman was nominated for a Tony for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and she won a Theatre World Award for Best Newcomer.

Moderate success happened when she made music with Arista Records but the label and Hyman would not see eye to eye.
Disatisfaction came mutually from both Hyman and Arista, thus both Hyman and Arista Records parted way. Hyman moved on.
In 1985, Phyllis Hyman released the album LIVING ALL ALONE. With the surgence of videos, more people were able to connect with this great lady, with a great voice. More and more she would have legions of fans, who simply could not get enough of her.
Hyman appeared in the Spike Lee Joint School Daze, The Kill Reflex and she performed for muscisians Grover Washington Jr, Lonnie Liston Smith, Chuck Mangione, The Whispers, Barry Manilow and more.

Hyman was indeed in the prime of her life and her career was really moving in a direction that seemed positive. With the released of her next album PRIME OF MY LIFE (1991), many felt she was going to be at a career level of major success. The album was the biggest of her career. Hits from this album include Don't Wanna Change The World, Liviing In Confusion, I Found Love and
When You Get Right Down To It. I REFUSE TO BE LONELY (1995) was Hyman's last album. Listening to this album clearly shows deep, and personal issues Hyman was facing. Many of the songs Phyllis Hyman recorded were songs that stayed hopeful of love and a paeaceful life. Hyman would soon be faced with the hope of both these things, which someone eluded her.

It is no secret that on the afternoon of June 30, 1995 Hyman commited suicide hours before a scheduled performance at the Apollo Theatre. Her assistant, and the authorities found her body in her hotel room. There was vodka, sleeping pills and suicide note: "I'm tired. I'm tired. Those of you that I love know who you are. May God bless you." It is now known that Phyllis Hyman struggled with bipolar disorder, depression and alcholoism. There were also troubles with accepting the weight gain and financial issues. Phyliss Hyman, the Sophisticated Lady passed away six days shy of her 45th birthday. In 1995 Hyman's final album was released I REFUSE TO BE LONELY.

Three years after her death a posthumous album was released with unreleased songs published for the first time. The album was entitled Forever With You (1998). Most of the songs were love songs and ballads still trying to find love, love still eluding. Her body of work remains, a voice is stilled from bringing forth new music but we have a collection of great work , from a great lady who in the end found peace- just not of this world. The Essence Of Phyllis Hyman will forever remain with us.

Ramsey Emmanuel Lewis, Jr is an American Jazz Pianist and Composer.
Known as The Great Performer, Lewis was born in 1935, in Chicago.
Ramsey began playing the piano at age four, this is where his musical experience began.
At the age of 15 Ramsey Lewis was introduced to Jazz, by a fellow church musician.
In 1956 Ramsey Lewis formed the Ramsey Lewis Trio (Eldee Young and Issac Holt). Holt and Issac would leave the Trio adn form their own (Young-Holt Trio). Cleveland Eaton and Maurice White reaplaced Young and Holt. More changes would follow when Maurice White left the trio and was repalced by Maurice Jennings in 1970.

Not only is Lewis an amazig jazz artist, he hosted Chicago's Smooth Jazz WNUA (95.5 FM).
His successful syndicated show Legends of Jazz could be heard in various cities and countries. Since 2005, Lewis has a radio show for London's Smooth FM (Again titled Legends Of Jazz).
n 2006 Ramsey Lewis and PBS joined together to bring viewers Legends of Jazz. This is a hard working man no doubt. As of December 2006 viewers can hear Ramsey back in Chicago on the Ramsey Lewis Morning Show. This show can be heard on various Jazz stations aorund the country. CAREER HIGHLIGHTS! Ramsey is a recipient of three Grammy Awards/Gold Records.
Ramsey Lewis also has three honorary Doctorate Degrees.

Notable Music From Ramsey

The In Crowd, Hang On Snoopy, Wade In The Water

The beauty of this film came from all directions. This movie dispelled many myths. The movie, A PATCH OF BLUE reversed the racial stereotypes. It was a movie you could walk away from and be glad that you were not a ignorant, racist full of hate.
If you were a believer in love, where you didn't draw the color line in the sand, this was the movie for you. A PATCHOF BLUE was a gripping movie that had alot to say for it's time. The actors performances were very believalbe. Indeed this was a drama, a drama that didn't stray from the plot. Shot in black and white, you really felt the pureness from everyone and everything happening around all characters. It is a must see film.

When BRAVO at OnPointt.com talks about this movie dispelling myths, we are talking about the ways in which people categorize blacks and whites. Interestingly enough in this film, Shellye Winters plays a prostitute, who is fouled mouth, abuses he daughter, and verbally abuses her own father. She is a street woman, and this type of potrayal isn't readily identified to white women on silver screen in the 60's era (Not in a consistently way). Sidney Poitier plays a very distinguished man, a profesional who despites the discrimination he faces in the time of the 60's, he shows compassion to the blind girl. It is so good to see a movie that isn't potraying blacks as 'comic relief', 'buffoons', very refreshing to see. This movie proved to be a box office hit (Southern States Included). Fact: An eight second kissed was deleted from the movie when shown in the South. MGM's Pandro S. Bernan said he would produce this movie only if Poitier would play the leading role. What a compliment for the Oscar Winner (1963 Lillies In The Field).

Stay tuned for more Bravo Film Seekers!

CABIN IN THE SKY made history in the Production World of movies. Notably this was an All-Black cast. In the era of the 40's, it was unheard of for an All-Black cast movie to be shown in the south. The script did not have the stereotypical buffunory acting surrounding it. The script called for characters to have a sense of humor to a degree, but the film was to remain a dignified film. Notably the film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song "Happiness Is A Thing called Joe".

This film really touched on the whole concept of doing right or doing wrong. The struggle of it all. The choices that many of us make will determine the outcome of our lives. This is a must see film with very talented actors/actresses who paved the way for others to enjoy the successes they have found on the big screen today. Their professionalism taking on roles such as these and other roles that called for stereotypical acting truly paved the way not only for actors but for filmmakers as well.

It is a pure film the whole family can enjoy. It takes you to a time where things were simple, sacred and full of morals. Temptation came in the form of Georgia Brown, played by Lena Horne, Lucifer Jr/Lucius Ferry was played by the great actor Rex Ingram (De Lawd/The Lord, In the all black cast movie Green Pastures).
Legendary actress Ethel Waters played Petunia Jackson and Eddie 'Rocheser' Anderson/Joseph 'Little Joe' Jackson. Make it a point to see CABIN IN THE SKY. This film has held up well over the years, the message rings loud, clear and true. This is a must do! Get your copy of this film because it is a must view.

FOR MORE DISCUSSION ON THIS FILM, VISIT THE LINK BELOW