Todd Johnson | theGrio | African American News and Opinion

'Red Tails' director Anthony Hemingway and star Nate Parker hope film soars at box office (VIDEO)

5:41 PM on 01/20/2012

theGRIO VIDEO - Red Tails took producer George Lucas two decades to complete and was hampered by lack of interest by major Hollywood studios in its all-black cast...

Common: 'No regrets' on n-word track with Maya Angelou (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

1:00 PM on 12/19/2011

theGRIO REPORT - Common told theGrio he has no regrets over using the N word on a track featuring poet Maya Angelou...

Swizz Beatz gives Bronx charter school ultimate gift (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

9:00 AM on 12/15/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Copeland is a star in the national ballet scene -- and, because of her talents, even caught the eye of musical legend Prince...

Man claims he used drug funds to launch Tyler Perry's career (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

2:10 PM on 12/02/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - In his new book, radio executive Melvin Childs claims he used drug funds to launch Tyler Perry's career - eight sold-out shows at Atlanta's House of Blues in 1998.

Black Muslim is changing the face of fencing (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

4:30 PM on 11/22/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Ibti, as she's known to her friends, is as unique a site on the fencing circuit as you'll see -- a young African-American Muslim woman who chooses to wear a headscarf or hijab while she fences...

Walt Frazier talks NBA lockout, diabetes and diet (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

9:00 AM on 11/11/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - NBA Hall-of-Famer is trying to guide anyone who will listen down the path of living a healthy lifestyle...

Fitting in fitness: How women can make it work (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

12:15 PM on 11/02/2011

theGRIO REPORT - Several fitness experts agree - working out requires you to 'work out' your schedule...

Immigration law brings city workers to Alabama's farms (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

9:10 AM on 10/26/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - The law has led Latinos to leave the state in droves - and has left industries like farming in desperate need of a workforce...

Is black America sitting out 'Occupy Wall Street'? (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

11:45 AM on 10/06/2011

theGRIO REPORT - Several African-Americans at the Occupy Wall Street protests say more black involvement is needed...

Brother of 14-year-old execution victim speaks out (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

6:00 PM on 10/04/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Charles Stinney, 79, the younger brother of 14-year-old execution victim George Stinney, speaks out...

J. Cole is ready to emerge from hip-hop's sidelines (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

10:00 AM on 09/26/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Cole, whose rap moniker is a shortened version of his first name Jermaine, has built a huge following based on the success of three previous mixtapes...

Misty Copeland takes ballet to new heights (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

9:00 AM on 09/25/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Copeland is a star in the national ballet scene -- and, because of her talents, even caught the eye of musical legend Prince...

Black voters cautiously optimistic about Obama speech (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

12:15 PM on 09/09/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - TheGrio's Todd Johnson watched Pres. Obama's jobs speech in Brooklyn with a small group of African-American voters...

Sharpton: No conflict being civil rights leader and TV host (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

6:10 PM on 08/23/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Sharpton sat down exclusively with theGrio's Todd Johnson to discuss his new MSNBC show...

Burress: Jury saw me as black man with a gun (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

2:55 PM on 08/16/2011

VIDEO - Embattled football star Plaxico Burress opens about his time in prison in an interview with Bryant Gumbel on HBO's 'Real Sports'...

Black British activist gives riots a viral voice (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

11:16 AM on 08/10/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Darcus Howe, a 68-year-old writer and broadcaster, has lived in London for nearly 50 years...

Bronx principal with white supremacist ties fired (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

12:20 PM on 08/02/2011

theGRIO REPORT - Borzellieri was fired because 'many of his opinions' were deemed 'incompatible with the philosophy and practices of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and with Catholic schools throughout the Archdiocese'...

Mary Mary brings 'Something Big' to gospel music (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

8:56 AM on 07/20/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Grammy-winning gospel duo Mary Mary say gospel music is still fighting traditional labels...

'Fathers Now' keeps black dads from doing time (VIDEO)

By Todd Johnson

8:53 AM on 06/16/2011

theGRIO VIDEO - Newark Mayor Cory Booker is a firm believer in the program, which he helped get off the ground in 2008 with a combination of private and public dollars...