Ms. Chevette M. Conley
Writer/Photographer/Photojournalist
The Black United Fund of Illinois honored five extraordinary Chicago entrepreneurs at its 13th Annual “Living Legends/Passing the Torch©” Awards Benefit at The DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago.
With the 2013 theme The Year of the Ancestors, the organization honored posthumously Cleophas Barnes for passing the torch to his daughter, Dr. Kyra Barnes, a dentist and member of the State of Illinois Board of Dentistry; Katherine and Elzie Higginbottom Sr. and their sons, Elzie Higginbottom Jr., founder and CEO of East Lake Management & Development Corp., and Eric Higginbottom, who continues to manage the coin laundry business his parents established; Eunice and John H. Johnson and their daughter, Linda Johnson Rice, chairman of Johnson Publishing Co., founded by her parents; and Jewel Lafontant-Mankarious and her son, John W. Rogers Jr., chairman and CEO of Ariel Investments. NBC 5 Chicago news anchor/reporter Marion Brooks did an incredible job emceeing the program.
The event took place at the renowned Dusable Museum of African American History from 6pm- 10pm at 740 East 56th Pl in Chicago. The tickets were $125.00.
The evening was very elegant with the attire being black tie. It began with a reception, food was served, and everyone was able to mingle and connect with one another before the actual ceremony took place. There was a live band on stage who played some very smooth tunes and a silent auction held from 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm and the things that were bid for were crystal bowls, a 1930’s Renaissance Doll, theatre tickets, Broadway performance tickets, Goodman theatre production tickets, Chicago Symphony performances for four, 3 Chicago Jazz Philharmonic C.D.’s, Chicago Bulls tickets, Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, Cubs, and Blackhawks tickets.
At the awards ceremony, the honorees were very prominent and deserving. The theme for this year was “The Year of the Ancestors.” So the BUFI honored some posthumously. There was Valeria and Cleophias Barnes, who passed the torch to their daughter, Dr. Kyra Barnes a dentist and member of The State of Illinois Board of Dentistry.
During a video about Dr. Barnes, everyone got the opportunity to see how well she performs in her Profession, how she loves to help people directly in her own Community. She decided to keep her Practice in the Chicago area. Her parents paved the way for her great success and were very proud of her. Dr. Kyra Brnes took over her parents real estate business after their passing. She is a hardworking inspiring woman.
Katherine and Elzie Higginbottom Sr. and their sons were also honored. Elzie Higginbottom Jr., founder and CEO of East Lake Management and Development Corporation was very successful. Most people wouldn’t even know those very prominent hotel developments of East Lake Management are owned by African Americans whom are very successful and impressive businessmen.
And there was Eunice and John H. Johnson Rice, who was the Chairman of Johnson Publishing Company. She’s such a Role model of women period. To run such a large company that’s still very successful after so many years with bony and Jet Magazines is still doing well in sales. The famous Ebony Fashion Fair Show which was launched in 1956 for a charitable endeavor. Ebony magazine celebrates black culture.
Jewel Lafontant and her son were also honored, along with John W. Rodgers Jr., Chairman and CEO of Ariel Capital Investments. They were all wonderful and exceptional people who have passed on and received legacies of community service and entrepreneurship. Their Recognitions were all well deserved.
THE Black United Fund is a well respected organization headed by: President/CEO Henry L. English. BUFI has worked for 28yrs to create positive social change. The Black United Fund feels strongly that they should recognize role models & people, who lead by example, motivate and mentor others to become future leaders, and who will also contribute to our communities, and provide history making successes for others to benefit from. It was a great and elegant evening!
The Black United Fund of Illinois is a non-profit, tax-exempt federated organization and a social movement designed to improve the quality of life for African Americans through reliance on self-help at the local community level. At the root of this philosophy is the statewide goal of developing systematic mechanisms to rally resources for the African American community. For more information on The Black United Fund of Illinois visit their website at http://www.bufi.org.

Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson

THE HUNGER GAMES:
CATCHING FIRE (***)
Even though “Hunger Games” set the groundwork for what’s to follow, “Catching Fire” seems to do a better job in establishing the whole thing under Francis Lawrence’s direction. Suzanne Collins’ dystopian young adult novel trilogy turned movie franchise is a sturdy centerpiece and visual and creative spectacle that defies most of the characters’ positions.
After “doing what she had to do to win” the 74th hunger games, Katniss returns home barely able to relax with family and friends in District 12. When she already has a visitor waiting to meet with her privately — President Snow (Donald Sutherland) who felt she cheated to win with poison berries.
But Snow also feels threatened by her popularity among the common folks. As Snow sets out to alter and destroy her radical image to one in league with The Capitol that would discredit her with the people.
Katniss is obviously the film’s “chosen one” to oppose the Capitol. But for now, she’s given the task to embark on a “victor’s tour” through each district with her combatant partner and wannabe love interest, Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) to convince Snow and The Capitol of their love. Even though the reality of this is different between the couple since Peeta knows he’s playing second fiddle to Katniss’s true love and miner, Gale Hawthorne (Liam Hemsworth) who appears late in the second half whom has to be rescued by Katniss from a medieval arena –type whipping from interfering with the thug-like enforcer known as the Peacekeeper
But at the beginning of each tour stop, Katniss and Peeta goes off script and encounters crowd that hold up the mocking jay hand sign of defiance that quickly leads to public executions . Yet, the couple is trapped by their commitment that if not followed; could lead to the destruction of their district and their family and friends. So the couple hopes to appease the President by publicly announcing their wedding engagement. But eventually, from his view on the balcony and the slight shake of his head, President Snow isn’t buying it like everyone is.
Added to the cast is now Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the head of game makers, Plutarch Heavensbee who appears to be in league with President Snow who decides to alter the upcoming 75th Hunger Games with a unique competition called ‘the Quarter Quell’.
In which each pair of past winners from their district are put through a survival test leading in the survivors battling through task and creatures that befall them in a sea clock that lasts one hour being monitored and observed by Snow and Plutarch in an conservative effort rewrites the rules on Katniss and a rebellion is beginning to swell amongst the people in the poverty stricken district the some starling news.
Even though it is a bit long winded for its two and a half hour running time, Director Lawrence manages to bring out socio-politico message and misguided lure of sports and competition to further Collin’s underlining philosophy and themes from her books.
Along with the interplay and trauma of the main characters in this intricate script that equally lays the foundation well along with the improvement to the technical aspects of the film. And abrupt climaxes on the book fans and moviegoers who might still hunger for a little more than what they were left with.
PG13; 146min. A Lionsgate Release – Presented at selected theaters
NEBRASKA (***1/2)
There is a sense of simplicity and grace that smoothly unfolds, while viewing the latest film from director Alexander Payne who gave us “Sideways” and “The Descendents”.
Centered and titled in the filmmaker’s home state, “Nebraska” is a beautifully, scenic black and white photographed movie that visually echoes director Peter Bogdanovich’s 1971’s “The Last Picture Show” and seems to capture the empty despair in rural America felt by the diminishing population and economy today as the end of innocence.
These same surroundings seem to reflect the uselessness presence of Woody Grant (Bruce Dern), an aging, stubborn feeble minded alcoholic who is living past his prime. When he suddenly receives one of those Publishers’ Clearinghouse-type notices that he mistakenly believes he’s won a million dollars that gives him a purpose.
Even though Woody has been told countless times that he’s won nothing. Woody remains undeterred. making various attempts to “walk” (not run) away from his home and his long suffering wife, Kate (June Squibb) and his two grown sons, David (Will Forte) who thinks his father only wants to live for something. While older brother Ross (Bob Odenkirk), a temporary TV anchorman thinks a nursing home is the best place for his father. Still, Woody continuously slips out on foot headed toward the company’s headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska to collect his prize money in person.
The film initially open with Woody (Bruce Dern) trudging down the emergency lane of the Montana highway. Only to be stopped by the sheriff who takes him into his squad car and back to the station.
Where his son, David (Will Forte) eventually takes his father on a road trip to Nebraska. Already knowing the outcome for his father. But using the time to escape his own mundane life working in a dead end job as an electronic shop clerk, his failed attempt to regain his wife who left him, and a chance to get to know his father better.
Veteran SNL player, Will Forte does a credible acting job through his nuanced performance that plays well off of Bruce Dern’s crusty role exterior. Reportedly, the role was originally offered to Gene Hackman; Bruce Dern is the right touch in a memorable, simplistic performance this film needed.
Clearly, his years as a veteran character actor serve him well here. Where a bigger marquee name might have out-shadowed and discredit the story.
At age 77, this is the kind of life achievement role that should earn Bruce Dern an Oscar nomination that would a highlight A slight altercation occurs when Woody suffers a head injury but refuses to go home. Instead, a rest stop is arranged for a family gathering at Woody’s hometown of Hawthorne, Nebraska. Where Woody’s millionaire status becomes headline news that brings out all levels of moochers from relatives to a former business partner, Ed Pegram (Stacy Keach), each making their claim from early years of helping Woody during his drinking binges. But it takes his wife, Kate to set everyone straight when they all tried to gang up on Woody
Of course, we’ve already got the scent early on that Woody was hardly the perfect father, husband and/or friend with those that crossed his path or part of his life.
Eventually, Woody learns the truth for himself when he and David finally reach the company office in Lincoln. While David also learns the reason for his father’s action was the hope to make up to his family, by leaving something for them. While only wanting a new truck and an air compressor.
It’s a bit idealistic and impractical considering David’s own financial state. How he suddenly he steps up near the film’s finale; to trade his car to provide the truck and a compressor his dad always wanted While at the same time, giving Woody a chance at dignity and self worth, enough to drive out through the center of town in a fitting “driving off into the sunset” finale.
“Nebraska” is a funny, personal and poignant, cinematic ode to living through aging, instead of aging without living. Somewhat, but then again, not -so different kind of movie from director Alexander Payne that is quirky and authentic as his previous films. Honest, heart-felt and funny “Nebraska” becomes a road movie that is his wanderlust to his home state and rural roots that we all can relate to.
PG-13; 114min. A Paramount Pictures Release – Presented at selected theaters
DELIVERY MAN (**1/2)
A humanely funny, often thoughtful romantic comedy, “Delivery Man” puts on a different twist to a familiar premise with some moral and social overtones.
In potentially one of his better (and potent) screen performances, Vince Vaughn plays David Wozniak, the well-meaning but unreliable underachiever truck driver for his family’s meat business who is ridiculed and teased for his ineptness by his two chunky brothers over his ineptness.
While secretly David is also in debt $80G’s to loan sharks. The latter isn’t played out well with much creditability to the text of the film.
But when he visits his girlfriend, Emma (Cobie Smulders), a rookie female cop who reveals to him that she’s pregnant. David hesitates in his Ultimately their discussion leads Emma to feel David is not suitable father material and decides she will raise the child alone.
However, David claims he thinks might want the child. Even through soon after, his best friend and lawyer in training, Britt (Chris Pratt) tells David that he’s not disciple enough. David replies that all he needs is order in his life.
One would think becoming a father would lead to such a conclusion that would straighten out most “boys-to-men” slackers and a definite “game changer”. Still, David’s life-so-far is viewed by others indicates his best intentions are more lip service than action.
Until David returns home to his apartment to find a visitor waiting on him. (It’s really strange how easy people can be in David’s apartment before he arrives.). A lawyer from a fertility clinic reveals twenty years ago, David collected a large sum of money from countless sperm donations there under the Now, David learns he happens to be the biological father to 533 kids. In which 143 of them have filed a lawsuit seeking to know “who their daddy is”.
At first glance, the premise sounds far-fetched. But fact is stranger than fiction and the timing might help this movie from the recent news reports of a man’s sperm donation fathered over 150 kids. Just like the real-life1979 nuclear plant meltdown that occurred before the release of “The Chinas Syndrome”.
Now, David has something to prove to himself that he’s not the slacker he is. After he given an envelope with the description of each of the plaintiffs, David secretly begins to seek out and observe each plaintiff.
Initially, David is curious and becomes excited that his sperm helped produce a young NBA star. This initial discovery embolden him to not reveal his true identity, but to take a different stanza when he takes a chance in believing a drug addict has a new job at Bloomingdale; tries filling-in for a wannabe actor working at a coffee shop on his first audition.
These and other small gestures makes David he could be their “guardian angel”, lending support without revealing his connection to each plaintiff from the envelope. Using his encounter to prove to himself that he’s not as incompetent as everyone thinks he is.
And to show Emma that he can be “the true and involved father’ beyond his sperm donations to her child. Eventually, David’s efforts lead to a public and personal revelation.
An interesting comedy that has something to say about our beliefs and behavior that was based upon the 2011 indie movie, “Starbuck” with the same writers. Still, I felt watching “Delivery Man” seems to take the long way around to reach its point.
PG-13; 103min. A DreamWorks Picture Released through Touchstone Pictures – Presented at selected theaters