Giulia:
Katie Halper
April 15, 2008 | 3:29 pm EST
What do Brigitte Bardot, beach litter, and American rappers on skid row have in common? They’re all on the TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup! The Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Check out some of our most popular stories of the week, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites!
Katie:
Top 10 Reasons to Go to the Havana Film Festival in New York
* * *
Nicole:
6 Million Pounds of Trash Found On World’s Beaches In One Day
“Take A Bite” Out of Climate Change
Once Upon A Time Mommy Wasn’t This Pretty
* * *
Gina:
The Fresh Air of the Flight of the Red Balloon and Hou Hsiao Hsien
In his latest project, hip hop artist, actor, and filmmaker Pras Michel (The Fugees) goes undercover for 9 days and nights as a homeless person in downtown LA’s notorious Skid Row. I met up with Pras in a hotel lobby in Manhattan to discuss Skid Row, the documentary based on his time on the street living with 90,000 people in a 50 square block area. Pras talked to me about Muhammed Ali, why he likes Obama and doesn’t go for Bill Cosby, how Oprah and Snoop could help the “lost African-American generation” by meeting face to face, and why we’re in a “transitional moment.”
Check out www.skidrowthemovie.com to find where it’s showing near you.
Why did you make this movie?
To make people aware. The majority of Americans just want to be able to work and provide. People on Skid Row … they just want to be able to work, they don’t care what it is. A lot of people think if something’s going on over here and not where they are, then it doesn’t affect them. We have to get away from that mindset.
Read the rest of this entry »
The TakePart Top 10 Weekly Roundup is a compilation of the week’s most notable stories from our entertainment-meets-social-action blogging network. Several topics really stood out this week, including the Oscars as social advocacy inspiration, civil rights and Black History Month, and lots of hot news on entertainment going Green. Check out our most popular posts of the week on these subjects, as well as a few TakePart blogger favorites.
Katie:
Happy Belated “Freedom to Marry” Week!
Rosa and Raymond Parks: Valiant Valentine #5
* * *
Nicole:
Top 10 Oscar Picks to Inspire Social Action
Cornel West: Black Thoughts On Black History Month
* * *
Gina:
Top 10 Best Picture Winners That Inspire
* * *
Kerry:
This year Oscar turns 80 and with big show less than 5 days away I thought it might be nice to reflect on years past. Thus, I present to you the Top 10 Oscar Best Picture Winners That Inspire. Each title is listed along with the year it won.
Did I miss your favorite? Leave a comment with your pick for the most inspiring Best Picture winner and I’ll post the best comments next week on the Takepart Blog
1. Gandhi 1982 (directed by Richard Attenborough) - It makes sense that a biopic of one of the world’s most inspiring people would also be inspirational itself. Ben Kingsley gives an outstanding performance as Mahatma Gandhi, the lawyer turned activist and leader that confronted the British and urged for non-violent protest. In a way, I think it all comes down to this quote:
Gandhi: “Whenever I despair, I remember that the way of truth and love has always won. There may be tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they may seem invincible, but in the end, they always fail. Think of it: always.”
Read the rest of this entry »
and learn more about the teachings of Gandhi.
