Editor's Note: Five Things I Am Thankful For This Year

As we take a moment this holiday season to slow things down and pump the brakes, I wanted to reflect upon the top five things I am truly thankful for this year.

1. Attended the Black Enterprise Entrepreneur Conference And Expo. On the same day that Oprah wrapped-up her 25 year-old daytime talk show, I had an opportunity to witness history, attending a one-on-one personal conservation with Earl G. Graves Sr., the founder of Black Enterprise Magazine, and his son, Earl G. Graves Jr., president and CEO of the magazine. The intimate conversation, which revealed both their professional and personal lives, was led by President Obama's (and Michelle's) Harvard law professor, Charles Ogletree. I was just glad to be in the house to witness history. This is the first time that the Graves held a forum such as this. It was spell bounding to witness the respect interaction between a black father and his son. ( As a side note, I periodically provide auto content to the magazine.)
2. First Published Car-Buying Feature Story In Essence Magazine. Earlier this year a good friend of mine, who happens to be a senior editor at Essence, gave me a once in the lifetime opportunity to write a feature story for the magazine. Unlike my other published articles, I wasn't required to quote other experts in the article. I was allowed to write the article from my point of view, sharing my own personal experiences and referencing my website. I guess this seals the deal and truly makes me an expert (LOL).
3. Having the Opportunity to Review A New-Vehicle Weekly. In many ways, I still feel like a big kid. Every week I have an opportunity to review a different ride. I no longer have to depend upon the opinion of others in the industry regarding today's hottest (or not so hot) rides.
4. Attended the American Black Film Festival in Miami. During the fourth of July holiday weekend, GM provided me a front row seat to the American Black Film Festival. Not only did I get a chance to have lunch with the founder of the festival, but to also hang out with some of the movers and shakers in the film industry, while at the same time getting a chance to kick-up my hills and chill on Miami's infamous South Beach. All I can say is what an experience. This once in a lifetime experience rated right up there with being a VIP guest of Toyota at last year's Soul Train Music Award where I was caught on tape dancing. I still marvel at the fact that I was in attendance for both events.
5. Of Course, I Am Thankful for Family and Friends. Just a few months ago my independent mom, who is in her early seventies, had major eye surgery to restore her failing sight. I thought my aging parents were going to become dependent upon me for everything, since I am the youngest in the family for all of their errands plus more. Thank God due to the miracle of modern medicine she now has 20/20 vision and she no longer needs me (or my brothers) to take her to the store (or run other errands). She actually has her independence back again, allowing her the ability to tool around town in her Ford Mustang convertible. Since eye surgery, I think her vision is actually better than mine. And, I am extremely thankful for everyone who continues to use my website as a point of reference, before buying or servicing a vehicle. You just don't know how much I truly appreciate you.

Cadillac Helps Fuel the Next-Generation of Black Filmmakers

 

Like a hurricane, the American Black Film Festival, also known as the ABFF, and a fleet of Cadillacs took over Miami’s South Beach earlier this month. Over a four-day period approximately 5,000 industry movers and shakers, independent filmmakers, script writers, aspiring actors, self-appointed film critics, fans of independent black films and those who just wanted to be in the mix were in Miami for what has become one of the world’s premiere culture events.





Yes, even the NFL’s T. O. surfaced at the festival, making a respectable acting debut in the must-see comedy-drama, Dysfunctional Friends, which is expected to be a hit once it’s released on the big screen.

And unlike the previous film festivals, this one was truly a special occasion for the ABFF, since it was celebrating its 15th year. As Jeff Friday, the founder of the ABFF, and his model-like, super-smart wife Nicole revealed at a private luncheon attended by a few folks from the media, they never envisioned that this festival would grow this large or have such an impact.

During the course of the conversation, Friday also recalled how it was just a few years ago when the festival was only attracting around 200 or so attendees where he literally knew everyone in attendance on a first-name basis. Well, of course this isn’t the case today.

Thank God Friday and a close niche of associates decided to step-up their game when it finally dawned on them that the mainstream film festivals like Sundance weren’t embracing black films or those that were directed by black filmmakers. As opposed to boycotting the event and/or meeting with the leadership team of the mainstream festival to request that they make provisions, Friday decided to turn his dream into reality, launching what we now know as this much needed outlet to help discover the next-generation of black filmmakers.

So because of Friday and his determination to turn his larger than life dream into reality, we now have a viable outlet for black storytellers, screenwriters and the like who only hope that they too will someday have the longevity of such trailblazers as Melvin Van Peebles, Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, Robert Townsend and Keenan Ivory Wayans.

In fact, Wayans was being honored at this year’s festival for being one of the few people in the film and TV industry providing a platform for cultivating talents such as Jim Carey, Jenifer Lopez, David Alan Grier and Tommy Davidson through his hit comedy TV show - In Living Color. And we can’t forget that Keenan Wayans has also been instrumental in personally nurturing the careers of his siblings and the next-generation of Wayans too.





In addition to the ABFF sticking to its usual format of debuting twenty independent films, which is the ultimate dream of any independent filmmaker to have his work to make the cut out of over 400 films that were submitted to the film festival for consideration, Friday along with his wife surprised the audience by kicking off the event’s first ever ABFF Hall of Fame Class. The inductees of the inaugural class, who were all in attendance, included such notables as Robert Townsend, Bill Duke, former HBO executive Olivia Smashum and Chairman and CEO of the Uniworld Group Inc., Byron E. Lewis Sr., who provided the seed money to launch the ABFF.