Dick Gregory apologizes to Bill Clinton

I thought I would share these comments by noted comedian and long time civil rights advocate Dick Gregory who shook the house at the State of the Black Union. During this bit he “apologizes” to Bill Clinton on behalf of all African Americans for “confusing” him by referring to Bill as the first Black President!

Pemon Rami and Maséqua Myers - Examples of Excellence in the Arts

Pemon Rami and Maséqua Myers - Examples of Excellence in the Arts

By Earl Calloway

A kid who once ran around the Chicago public housing developments Stateway Garden, Ickes, Dearborn and Hilliard Homes and the Lord only knows where else several decades ago has become a serious film producer after becoming successful in the theater. In 1969, Anthony Ray, who's name was changed during a Yoruba ceremony to Pemon Rami, and two members of his acting group, Ronald Mathew and Fred Clark as youth frequently visited the Chicago Defender. I knew them well, and though Ronald and Fred relocated to other areas in the Mid-west, Pemon Rami remained in the Windy City. Pemon's interest in theater penetrated deeply as he continued to explore dramatic elements and the dynamics of its urgent concepts. What had began as a mere interest grew stronger and stronger and perpetuated his interest at Theodore Ward's Southside Center for the Performing Arts and continued at the 8th Street YMCA where he established an Experimental Theater. In order to keep the dramatic performances alive he sacrificed time and labor at various part-time jobs to secure finances to continue his ambition.

In 1968 he met Maséqua Myers while performing at Calumet high school and together they establish the Lamont Zeno Theater on Chicago' West Side in 1973. While he produced and directed the Lamont Zeno Theatre Maséqua devoted herself to children's art. Actually Maséqua established the Ajabu Children's Theater as a department of Zeno's cultural projects. Both artists won top prize awards for their creative talents during the Black Theatre Alliance One Act Play Festival in 1976. Maséqua became Pemon's wife in 1975. They have two sons, Babatunde and Tacuma and five grandchildren. Eventually Pemon was critically acclaimed as an exceptional director, a dynamic producer and an amazing writer. He directed the first play for X-Bag Theater in Chicago and over thirty productions in Chicago and other cities. In fact he has completed production on the forthcoming film "Of Boys and Men" which recently premiered at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles, California. Pemon served as producer, Carl Seaton directs. Robert Townsend stars as the principal character while Angela Bassett co-stars. Faizon Love and Victoria Rowell perform supporting roles. While visiting the set of this production, its location was like a homecoming reunion. Individuals present were Sam Greenlee who produced "Spook Who Sat By The Door", Ron Pitts (the first African American TV camera operator in Chicago, Pemon Rami, Robert Townsend, Maséqua Myers, Douglas Alan Mann and others. It was wonderful watching Maséqua supervising the interns she recruited for the film training program and their son Tacuma serving as the film's photographer.

Pemon Rami and Maséqua have dedicated their lives to working in the theatrical arts since they met in 1968 and co-chaired the student workshop at the National Black Power Conference held in Philadelphia. The two dedicated artists have often been compared to the lives of Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee experience in the theatrical profession. In addition to enjoying tremendous success in the theatrical profession, television, radio and multimedia producing films have become a significant artistic element in their experience. Producing movies provides an entirely different concept to Pemon and Maséqua. After enjoying action in the theatrical experience, they have totally been involved in the production of such films as "Mahogany", "Dummy", "One In a Million", "Torn Between Two Lovers", "The Blues Brothers", "Cooley High" and "The Spook Who Sat By The Door". Pemon Rami and Maséqua eventually increased their inventive capability establishing a series of radio dramas entitled "A Taste Of Culture" on radio station WBMX in Chicago that averaged 300,000 listeners per show. While working in Phoenix, AZ., for seven years, the couple changed that city's concept of culture and art as managers of the Phoenix Black Theatre Troupe and through their extensive involvement with the Arizona Commission on The Arts. Productions produced included "Fresh," a Black musical revue based on the writings of Oscar Brown, Jr., "Bubbling Brown Sugar," and a statewide tour of "Ain't Misbehavin' ". In addition, the National YWCA contracted the couple to produce, direct and co-author videos entitled, "Faces of Racism". "It's Okay to Say No Way" and the Dorothy Height Story.

After relocating to Los Angeles in 1989 Chicago-born actress Marla Gibbs invited Maséqua to serve as Academy Director and Instructor for the Marla Gibbs' "Crossroads National Education and Arts Center of Los Angeles. Pemon Rami served as General Manager producing concerts that featured legendary entertainers such as Nancy Wilson, The Winans, Stevie Wonder, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Robert Townsend and the late Carl Anderson. He also produced the first series of African American red carpet feature film premieres, in a Black owned theatre, including "A Rage In Harlem," "Living Large," "James Brown the Man and His Music," and "The Josephine Baker Story". Maséqua Myers produced the romantic comedy "Miss Dessa" which received nine Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP theatre awards, including Best Play-Producer for Ms. Myers, and Best Director for Pemon Rami. Maséqua provided casting services and company management and Pemon as director of the national theatre tour of the musical "Madame Lilly", starring legendary Gladys Knight. Maséqua Myers and Associates is a multidisciplinary consultant and production company in the arts and media founded in 1992. In July 2001, Pemon joined with Maséqua to expand her company. The company in association with PBS/KCET developed a documentary treatment on the effects of culture, ethnicity and race on mental health. In December 2006, Maséqua created and produced "Stories From The Soul" a half hour, TV series for the Black Family Channel. The pair have received awards from, The Joseph Jefferson Committee of Chicago, Chicago Black Theatre Alliance, The Phoenix Top Ladies of Distinction, Arizona Commission on The Arts, Phoenix Family and Child Services, Arizona Health Education Media Makers Award, American Advertising Federation, International Television Association, The National Association of Audio Visual Communicators, The Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Award, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center's President's Award, Proclamation from the Los Angeles City Council and the Key to the City of Detroit. Recently the couple received the Life Time Achievement Award from the African American Arts Alliance of Chicago.