Saturday Mornings with Joy Keys

As the first anniversary of President Barack Obama and the First Family’s historic sojourn to the Republic of Ghana approaches (July 10-11, 2009), the occasion will be marked by the release of an equally historic documentary: Obama in Ghana: The Untold Story. Produced, written and directed by Tony Regusters, a veteran, Washington, DC-based TV news producer, the film captures the special events and celebrations connected with the first-ever visit by America’s first-ever Black President to a nation in Sub-Saharan West Africa. Tony is a native of Philadelphia, PA, where he made his first entre into communications working in the advertising department of the Philadelphia Inquirer. He went on to sell advertising for Philadelphia radio stations WWDB-FM and WWDB-FM, and then, at age 23, became the publisher of The Third World Journal newspaper. With those experiences under his belt, Tony was invited to join the advertising staff of a newly created Essence magazine, where he became one of the magazine’s top account executives. Five years later he successfully transitioned from advertising to the editorial side of media - which led him into an award-winning career as a TV news producer. Tony has been a producer for CNN & CNN International, and held similar positions at Fox News/Washington (where he was the White House producer for Brian Williams, now anchor of NBC Nightly News). Tony was also a press secretary for Rep. Maxine Waters – and is the originating producer of BET’s award-winning Teen Summit program. Tony’s latest project is Obama in Ghana: The Untold Story - a feature-length documentary film that is commanding considerable attention here in the US, in Africa, and around the world.

Tananarive Due is the American Book Award-winning author of novels, screenplays and a civil rights memoir. She co-authored From Cape Town with Love: A Tennyson Hardwick novel with Blair Underwood and her husband Steve Barnes. Tananarive Due and Steve Barnes also worked on Casanegra: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel (2007), in collaboration with actor Blair Underwood. Due won an NAACP Image Awards in the category of Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction for “In the Night of the Heat: A Tennyson Hardwick Novel" by Blair Underwood, Tananarive Due, and Steven Barnes. Her website is at http://www.tananarivedue.com  Steven Barnes is an award-winning author of twenty-three novels, including the New York Times bestseller The Cestus Deception. He has been nominated for both the Hugo and CableACE awards for his work in television. Visit his website at http://diamondhour.com/AboutSteve.en.html. Book website: http://books.simonandschuster.com/From-Cape-Town-with-Lov... YouTube video clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybb1yPPs0fc  

DeeDee Foster is from Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, where she comes from a very musical family. Her mother, Pat Foster, was a singer, pianist, and composer. Her father is the lead singer of the quartet gospel group, The Original Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. DeeDee moved to Los Angeles, California to pursue he

Special Guest: Dr. Rani Whitfield: Dr. Whitfield, “Tha Hip Hop Doc” or “H2D”, engaged in a twelve-month campaign, five days a week during the evening drive on WEMX Max 94.1 FM. His commercials, aptly titled the “Hip Hop Medical Moment,” became a main draw that spawned the attention of his fellow Baton Rouge natives. Breast cancer, breast-feeding, hypertension, HIV and any other health topic that affects the Black community, became the subject on a given night. Special Guest: Charles Modlin, MD, FACS, is a Kidney Transplant Surgeon, Urologist and Founder and Director of the Minority Men’s Health Center of Cleveland Clinic's Glickman Urological Institute. Dr. Modlin is not only the sole African American transplant surgeon in Northeastern Ohio, but he represents one of only 17 African American transplant surgeons in the entire United States. Check out the link: http://www.menshealthmonth.org/week/

Fierce. Fearless. And, of course, FOXY. That’s the invincible Pam Grier. After watching the larger-than-life star on the screen for more than thirty years, her fans will be salivating to read about her life in FOXY: My Life in Three Acts (Springboard Press/Grand Central Publishing Hardcover). The never-say-die actress/singer/icon opens up and lets the world into her life to witness her triumphs, failures, challenges, and loves, which include the likes of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Freddie Prinze, Sr. and Richard Pryor. She also talks in detail about a couple of well-heeled mystery suitors. This saga of one of the world’s most beautiful women—and the overcoming every hurdle that gets in her way will bring tears and cheers as she survives everything, even a bout with cancer. Pam Grier began her acting career and achieved fame in the early 1970’s when she starred in a number of popular films including Coffy, Foxy Brown, and Sheba Baby. In the 1980’s, her accolades continued as Pam worked alongside Paul Newman in “Fort Apache: The Bronx,” starred Ray Bradbury’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” and earned an NAACP Image Award for Best Actress in a play through her role in “Fool for Love” by Sam Shepard. In the 1990s, her performance as the title character in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown earned her nominations for Best Actress from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Golden Globe, the Screen Actors Guild, and the NAACP in 1997.Additionally, her performance as the Nightingale in HBO’s “The Empress’ Nightingale” earned her an Emmy Nomination from The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2000.

Special Guest: Born and raised in Nigeria, Nneka is deeply influenced by her roots. The political and social states of her home country are often prevalent in her music and live performances. It is this message of awareness, hope and love that made her a perfect fit for a collaboration with Nas and Damian Marley, both legendary artists and personal influences of Nneka’s. “With this tour,” Nneka explains, “we represent the fact that we are all connected to one another, all part of one entity and one source – which is love.” Fresh off of the release of her first US album debut Concrete Jungle, Nneka has been announced as the support act for the historic Distant Relatives Tour with Nas and Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley hitting the road May 2010. The tour will stop in major cities across the country in support of their Distant Relatives album, which is a celebration of not only to the bond between the two artists, but the connection to their African ancestry, which inspired the album both musically and lyrically. The tour extends Nneka’s highly successful introduction to the United States, having been heralded by the likes of Spin, Rolling Stone, and Billboard, among others as the next “it” artist of 2010. Her stunning performance of “Heartbeat” on the Late Show with David Letterman left fans enthralled, and Perez Hilton has proclaimed her music to be “a gift to the world.” More recently, the critical acclaim piqued the interest of national retailer Whole Foods, who is now carrying her album as part of their “Artist Discovery” program. Concrete Jungle is in stores now on Epic/Decon.

Keesha’s latest role is starring as Gigi on the highly anticipated comedy “Are We There Yet?”(TBS). She teams up once again with Ali LeRoi and Terry Crews (Everybody Hates Chris) and also with Essence Atkins (Half & Half). After recurring on the comedy series for four years, Keesha eventually signed on as a series regular, much to the delight of the show’s many fans. Keesha was also on the big screen last year in the Tyler Perry hit film, Why Did I Get Married? alongside Perry and Janet Jackson. In addition, Keesha had a substantial arc on the first season of “Everybody Hates Chris,” in which she played ‘Sheila Ridenhour,’ Chris’ hot next-door neighbor, on whom Chris’ dad had an awkward but innocent crush. Keesha’s other television credits include principle roles in “Still Standing,” "The Game", “Tracy Morgan Show,” As the World Turns,” “Another World,” “Welcome to New York,” “Third Watch” and “Law and Order: SVU.” Her film credits include roles in Ernest Dickinson’s Never Die Alone, the comedy Malibu’s Most Wanted, Pootie Tang with Chris Rock, American Adobo and Bull Run. www.keeshasharp.com

SPECIAL GUEST:Gary M. Blau, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist and is currently the Chief of the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Center for Mental Health Services. In this role he provides national leadership for children’s mental health and for creating “systems of care” across the country. Prior to this, Dr. Blau was the Bureau Chief of Quality Management and Director of Mental Health at the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF), and the Director of Clinical Services at the Child and Family Agency of Southeastern, Connecticut. http://www.syste

SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION tells the story of the American civil rights movement through its powerful music -the freedom songs protesters sang on picket lines, in mass meetings, in paddy wagons, and in jail cells as they fought for justice and equality. The film features new performances of the freedom songs by top artists, including John Legend, Joss Stone, Wyclef Jean, and The Roots; riveting archival footage; and interviews with civil rights foot soldiers and leaders, including Congressman John Lewis, Harry Belafonte, Julian Bond, and Ambassador Andrew Young.  The freedom songs evolved from slave chants, from the labor movement, and especially from the black church.  The music enabled blacks to sing words they could not say, and it was crucial in helping the protesters as they faced down brutal aggression with dignity and non-violence.  The infectious energy of the songs swept people up and empowered them to fight for their rights. SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION celebrates the vitality of this music.  Directed by Bill Guttentag and Dan Sturman (Nanking), and executive produced by Danny Glover, SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION is a vibrant blend of heart-wrenching interviews, dramatic images, and thrilling contemporary performances -- a film of significance, energy, and power.

Special Guest: Lamar Tyler-Producer of "You Saved Me" film- http://yousavedmemovie.comSpecial Guest: Dr. Shane Perrault is the founder and lead psychologist at African American Counseling http://africanamericanmarriagecounseling.com/. Special Guest:Nisa Muhammed: Founder of the Black Marriage Day-http://www.weddedb

One of the most popular soaps is “The Young and the Restless.” A multiple Emmy Award winning show, it debuted in 1973 and focuses on scenarios that revolve around elegance, wealth, and big business. And for nearly two decades, Victoria Rowell has been a part of it, enthralling millions of fans with her legendary character, Drucilla Winters. Drucilla moved to Genoa City in 1990 and in the years before her fall from a cliff in 2007, her storylines have involved illiteracy, a society marriage, sexual trysts, murder suspicions, and all-around mayhem. Victoria is a true insider, and now with her debut novel, SECRETS OF A SOAP OPERA DIVA (Atria Books; $16.00; May 4, 2010, she gives the goods on what really goes on behind the scenes in the volatile, powerful—utterly narcissist—world of soap operas. Victoria Rowell is an advocate, mother, former foster child, versatile actress, and New York Times bestselling author of The Women Who Raised Me. Known as the feisty Drucilla Winters on “The Young and the Restless,” she has been nominated twice for a Daytime Emmy and awarded twelve NAACP Image Awards. Victoria also co-starred with Dick Van Dyke on “Diagnosis Murder” for eight seasons. To learn more about Victoria Rowell, visit her website at www.victoriarowell.com.

After 40-years of work in film and theater acclaimed screenwriter and playwright Charles Fuller launches his first novel, SNATCH: The Adventures of David and Me in Old New York. Well-known for A Soldier’s Play which won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama (1982) and his Academy Award nominated film, A Soldier’s Story, (1985) which garnered an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture and a nomination for Best Screenplay for Mr. Fuller. This new exciting children’s book debuts on June 2, 2010. SNATCH fulfills a promise Mr. Fuller made to his now middle-aged sons Charles III and David Ira Fuller nearly a half century ago, that he would create a story in which the two of them would be the heroes in a historical adventure during the turbulent times in New York before slavery was abolished. Set in “Five Points” a notorious neighborhood in New York City in 1838, Snatch is a tale about two brothers, David and Charles, “free” black kids, who while fishing in the Hudson River on a day in September meet and help a fugitive slave, Freddie Johnson elude a gang of slave catchers led by a mysterious man called “Snatch.” Over thirty-six hours, the two brothers engineer a wild chase and escape through the streets and tunnels of Old New York helped by the “Brewery Witches,” a trio of girls from the neighborhood. Mr. Fuller’s rich, multi-layered children’s adventure novel provides a glimpse into the little known history of life for free blacks in antebellum New York during the 1830s. Both historically authentic and entertaining, “Snatch” is a must read for book lovers of all ages.

Paula Lucas doesn't wear a cape, but to thousands of American women and children being abused around the world, Paula may be their super-hero. For 14 years Paula lived what looked like an ideal life as an American overseas: A Newsweek photojournalist husband, world wide travel, a successful advertising, marketing and PR business and three beautiful sons. She also hid a terrible secret: the children suffered severe child abuse and Paula, horrific domestic violence, at the hands of her husband, making every day a nightmare. While living in a shelter, Paula founded a non-profit organization and began her work. In April 2001, she launched an internationally toll free domestic violence and child abuse hotline, 866-USWOMEN. In 2009, Paula's growing team provided services to 273 Americans with 248 children in 64 countries, received 1424 crisis calls & emails, relocated 11 families fleeing domestic violence back to the USA, and provided an additional array of services including legal consultations, legal retainers, professional counseling and basic needs assistance to dozens more. While the organization has won numerous awards, the Pièce de résistance came in April 2010, when the US Department of Justice awarded the Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center with the National Crime Victim Service Award for extraordinary efforts in direct service to crime victims. Americans Overseas Domestic Violence Crisis Center 866-USWOMEN National & International Toll Free: 866-USWOMEN (866) 879-6636. Give on-line at www.866uswomen.org

Special Guest: Yvonne Bynoe is the founder of the blog SophisticatedWomanandMama.com, a blog focusing on Gen-X/Hip Hop generation working mothers. Yvonne edited “Who’s Your Mama?”: Unlike other “motherhood” books that focus exclusively on the experiences of affluent, married White women, Who’s Your Mama? The Unsung Voices of Women and Mothers centers on the perspectives of a cross-section of American women who are actively engaged in crafting identities and family structures (including remaining single and/or childless) that speak practically to their personal beliefs, intimate relationships, and socioeconomic realities. Yvonne is the co-founder and former president of the Urban Think Tank, the first Hip Hop generation policy organization, has been acknowledged as an expert on popular culture and politics by news outlets such as the New York Times, New York Daily News, Los Angeles Times. She has been interviewed on CNN, FOX, MSNBC and numerous national and regional radio programs. Yvonne is the author of Stand & Deliver: Political Activism, Leadership and Hip Hop Culture and the Encyclopedia of Rap and Hip Hop Culture. Her writings have been included in several anthologies, including We Got Issues: A Young Woman’s Guide to a Bold, Courageous and Empowered Life, are used in numerous college courses and have appeared in the Chicago Sun Times, Washington Post, Colorlines, The Georgetown Journal of International Affairs, AlterNet.org, the Urban League’s Opportunity magazine and other publications.

Special Guest: Rebecca Walker is the author of the original Third Wave primer To Be Real: Telling the Truth and Changing the Face of Feminism; the bestselling post-civil rights memoir Black, White, and Jewish: Autobiography of a Shifting Self, winner of the Alex Award from the American Library Association; and What Makes a Man: 22 Writers Imagine The Future. Rebecca's memoir, Baby Love: Choosing Motherhood After a Lifetime of Ambivalence was published in March 2007 to acclaim in the New York Times, People Magazine, the Washington Post, Babble, and on the KTLA Morning Show, NPR, and many more. Her latest collection, One Big Happy Family, explores the explosion of non-traditional family configurations in the US, and includes perspectives on polyamory, transracial adoption, househusbandry, and single motherhood. Rebecca may be best known for her role as the original leader and founder of Third Wave Feminism, the movement, and the co-founder of the Third Wave Foundation, a non-profit that works through grant-making, leadership development, and philanthropic advocacy to support young women ages 15 to 30 working towards gender, racial, economic, and social justice. Rebecca is the daughter of Pulitzer-prize winning novelist Alice Walker and esteemed civil rights attorney Mel Leventhal.