contributors - Adam Howard

about Adam Howard

'Mad Men' makes rare nod to civil rights movement

By Adam Howard

9:17 PM on 03/25/2012

theGRIO REPORT - 'Mad Men' made a rare nod to the civil rights movement, which was jarring for a show that has been criticized at times for "focusing almost entirely on an all-white...
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Academy Awards 2012: Was Billy Crystal's Oscars blackface in bad taste?

By Adam Howard

9:02 PM on 02/26/2012

theGRIO REPORT - During Billy Crystal's now customary Academy Awards opening montage, where he is digitally inserted into the year's nominated films, audiences may have been surprised to see a peculiar image -- Crystal in blackface...
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Academy Awards 2012: Handicapping 'Help' stars Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer's Oscar chances

By Adam Howard

10:30 AM on 02/25/2012

OPINION - In this post I'll try to break down Spencer and Davis' competition and determine what fans of 'The Help' should expect on Sunday.
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Denzel Washington in 'Safe House': Why it's good when he's bad

By Adam Howard

8:04 AM on 02/10/2012

OPINION - For the most part, Denzel Washington has played a prototypical hero but lately, like in his new film 'Safe House' for instance, he's taken on edgier, darker -- even villainous roles, and as a fan, I think it's a great thing...
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'The Help' Oscar backlash: The roles aren't demeaning, Hollywood's lack of diversity is

By Adam Howard

8:47 AM on 01/25/2012

OPINION - On Tuesday morning the racially-themed drama scored four Academy Award nominations, including two for Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer. Along with the expected plaudits and praise from fans of the film -- there was a notable backlash...
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Oscar nominations: 10 years after Halle and Denzel's historic night, 'Help' stars could win big

By Adam Howard

8:44 AM on 01/24/2012

theGRIO REPORT - Ten years later, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer have scored Oscar nominations for their leading and supporting roles in 'The Help' (respectively) and are poised to make history at the Academy Awards all over again...
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'Red Tails': If George Lucas war film flops, are black audiences to blame?

By Adam Howard

6:00 AM on 01/20/2012

OPINION - 'Red Tails' won't attract audiences because it was hard to finance. The film will have to deliver dramatically or it will have been all for naught...
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The evolution of Eddie Murphy's movie career

By Adam Howard

10:25 AM on 11/05/2011

OPINION - Eddie Murphy has had one of the most mercurial movie careers in modern Hollywood history...
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How Lumet's 'The Wiz' became a black cult classic

By Adam Howard

8:22 AM on 04/11/2011

OPINION - Does 'The Wiz' hold a candle to Lumet's most seminal work -- hardly. But it's still a fascinating part of an incredible career that has sadly come to an end...
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Why 2010 was a bad year for black films

By Adam Howard

8:29 AM on 02/26/2011

OPINION - Is prejudice really behind the paucity of quality black films and roles or are we not spreading the love with our pocketbooks enough to get good work recognized?...
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Is African-American comedy dying in drag?

By Adam Howard

11:41 AM on 02/18/2011

OPINION - There's something a little sad about these undeniably talented comedic actors resigning themselves to endlessly return to this tried and tired formula...
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'Michael' is no thriller, but it isn't bad

By Adam Howard

8:12 AM on 12/14/2010

REVIEW - The good news is if you approach this new album entirely on its own merits and without next to no expectations, it won't disappoint...
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Why did I see Tyler Perry's movie, too?

By Adam Howard

2:03 PM on 04/02/2010

REVIEW - As a piece of filmmaking, 'Why Did I Get Married Too?' fails on almost every conceivable level...
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Are the Oscars finally colorblind?

By Adam Howard

8:52 AM on 03/07/2010

Do the nominations of Sidibe, Mo'Nique, Daniels and Freeman herald a real shift in the Academy Awards' rocky reputation with the black community?
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'Brooklyn's Finest' is flawed but fiercely entertaining

By Adam Howard

8:03 AM on 03/05/2010

REVIEW - As a piece of entertainment Antoine Fuqua's new film is first-rate but as food for thought it falls short...
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Blacks have endured a decade-long jobless recovery, leaders say

By Adam Howard

6:31 PM on 02/10/2010

In a meeting that many in the African-American community considered a long time coming, President Obama met with black leaders today ...
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Chris Matthews to theGrio: No regrets on 'forgot Obama was black' remark

By Adam Howard

2:45 PM on 01/28/2010

In an interview with theGrio, Matthews said, "I thought I was saying something wonderful and positive about America."
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