As managing editor of Shadow & Act, Brooke Obie conceived and launched the site’s first-ever digital cover, featuring four of the site’ 2019 RISING Award winners, Logan Browning, James Bland, Jermaine Johnson and Olivia Morris. On Friday, February 22, 2019, just days before Old Hollywood’s biggest night, two hundred people
Just hours before Shadow And Act sat down with Oprah Winfrey and Tarell Alvin McCraney to chat about their new OWN series David Makes Man, news broke that Toni Morrison had died. There had been an atmospheric shift at the literary giant’s transition into an ancestor, and to not discuss the
On July 24, 2019, Brooke Obie appeared on NPR’s popular 1A Movie Club to discuss Disney’s recent live-action remake of the classic film The Lion King. During the episode, which also featured The Lion King stars JD McCrary and Shahadi Wright Joseph, Obie shared how the remake improves upon the animated original, such as having a
“In 1989, the media branded them “The Central Park Five,” as they were wrongfully accused, convicted and imprisoned for the horrific rape and beating of Trisha Meili in Central Park. But that’s not who they are. Thirty years after they were first tried as children ages 14-16, Korey Wise, Yusef
Jordan Peele’s record-breaking movie, Us, had so many twists, turns and double-meanings that I couldn’t help but break it all down. In this piece for Shadow And Act, The Ending of Jordan Peele’s ‘Us,’ Explained, I found many easter eggs from the new-classic horror film. The New York Times cited to the
The Ghana-based Accra International Book Festival Awards has released its 2018 shortlist for the First Book Award and Independent Writers Award. Brooke Obie’s debut novel, Book of Addis, is shortlisted for both awards. From the AIBF announcement: “The shortlist for the Accra International Book Festival (AIBF)’s 2018 First Book Award and
From Shadow and Act: There is no other movie like Barry Jenkins’ genius If Beale Street Could Talk. This faithful film adaptation of James Baldwin’s iconic novel of the same name portrays the beauty of Blackness in all of its glory. In Barry’s Beale Street, Blackness means more than just oppression; Blackness is
From Shadow and Act: “It’s difficult to pinpoint the most beautiful aspect of Barry Jenkins’ film adaptation of James Baldwin’s classic novel If Beale Street Could Talk. It is easily the most beautiful film of 2018, and with a director like Jenkins, the mastermind behind the Oscar’s Best Picture winner Moonlight, at
I spent so many hours talking to Dr. Shirley’s family and his documentarian, and listening to his music while writing this. This is for you, Dr. Shirley ❤️ https://t.co/pBAo9vIcxo — Lumberjack Brooke (@BrookeObie) December 16, 2018 From Shadow and Act: In August 2018, Edwin Shirley III sat in disbelief as
For Shadow and Act, managing editor Brooke Obie reviewed Hollywood’s latest white savior movie, Green Book. It isn’t good. When will Hollywood stop centering white people in Black stories? If the much-lauded Peter Farrelly film ‘Green Book’ is any indication, no time soon. The film supposedly gets its title from The Negro Motorist Green