Top 40 Election Day Party Jamz!

It is important to get out and VOTE on November 2^nd.  Pack up that boom box and lots of size D Energizer batteries (Radio Raheem style).  Turn up the volume and draw in the crowds outside your polling place—remember, you can't block the entrance!  Get folks’ attention with this list of feel-good, motivational songs (in no particular order):

A Brand New Day-The Wiz soundtrack

Wavin’ Flag-K’Naan

You Got to Believe Something-Pointer Sisters

Respect Yourself-Staple Singers

I’ll Take You There-Staple Singers

Respect-Aretha Franklin

A Change is Gonna Come-Otis Redding

You’re All I Need to Get By-Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

Sisters are Doing it for Themselves-Aretha Franklin

Oh Happy Day-Aretha Franklin/Mavis Staple

Everyday People-Sly and the Family Stone

Someday We’ll All Be Free-Donny Hathaway

I Got You (I Feel Good)-James Brown

Wakeup Everybody-Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes

War-Edwin Starr

What’s Going On-Marvin Gaye

Stand by Me-Ben E. King

You and Your Folks/23rd Psalm-Blind Boys of Alabama

You Got to Move-Blind Boys of Alabama

Get Up, Stand Up-Bob Marley and the Wailers

People Get Ready- the Impressions

Beautiful Brother of Mine-Curtis Mayfield

We’re Gonna Make It-Damian Marley

Compared to What-Les McCann & Eddie Harris

Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing-Incognito

Work To Do-Isley Brothers

Fight the Power-Isley Brothers

Somewhere Over the Rainbow-Iz

Brother's Gonna Work It Out-Willie Hutch

Better Days are Coming-Jimmy Cliff

Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho-Mahalia Jackson

Yes We Can Can-Pointer Sisters

Taking it to the Streets-Quincy Jones

I Just Want to Celebrate-Rare Earth

Sunshine (I Can Fly)- Raul Midon

Wonderful World-Satchmo

Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours-Stevie Wonder

You are the Sunshine of My Life-Stevie Wonder

Give More Power to the People-Chi-Lites

Man in the Mirror-Michael Jackson

VOTE!!!

Top Twenty Black Horror Films for Halloween!

Get your scary on with your very own Black horror film festival. These are just a few I get a kick, er, scream out of…

Night of the Living Dead (1968)

The Black guy doesn’t die first, but the movie’s end is gut-wrenching (pun intended) all the same!

J.D.’s Revenge (1976)

Glynn Turman channels his inner-gangster, complete with a conk and a straight razor… and it works!

The Blood of Jesus (1941)

Spencer Williams crafts a beautifully shot morality tale about staying on the path of righteousness.

Def by Temptation (1990)

The cast from Spike Lee’s School Daze—James Bond III, Kadeem Hardison, Bill Nunn, and Samuel L. Jackson-- reunite for this shocker about temptation and sin.  Go Granny!

Street Tales of Terror (2004)

A trio of frightening fictions—stay out of the water, away from abortionists, and don’t trust your drunken friends!

Bloodz vs. Wolvez (2006)

Three words—Hil-ar-ious! When the Wolvez poop on the floor…omg!

Petey Wheatstraw:  The Devil’s Son-in-law (1977)

With Rudy Ray Moore starring don’t expect a true scary movie.  But, there is a devil, and a mammy…oh boy.

Crazy as Hell (2002)

I miss me some Peter Benton from ER.  Get your Eriq La Salle fix—whew he is literally a sexy devil!

 

Killjoy (2000)

If Michael Jackson came back…as a killer clown.

Kill Joy

Tales from the Hood (1995)

Lessons on staying true to the ‘hood.  Sellouts be damned!

Sugar Hill (1974)

“Hey Whitey, you and your punk friends killed my man…I’m not accusing you “honk.” I’m passing sentence and the sentence is death!”  A classic Black horror line!

Dr. Black, Mr. Hyde (1976)

Ex-NFL'er Bernie Casey turns into a blue-eyed devil and wreaks havoc in Watts.

Abby (1974)

Abby, girlfriend where’d you get that fly white suit?  This is a demon with some serious style.

Blacula (1972)

R.I.P. William Marshall and Vonetta McGee.

Scream, Blacula Scream (1973)

Pam “Lisa” Grier reclaims voodoo, reminding folks it is a respectable religion…not some crazy wizardry as other movies would have us believe.

Soul Vengeance (1975)

Yep, this is the infamous movie…Brother Charles gets his revenge with his—ahem—manhood.  But this is also a film that has a lot to say about police brutality and recidivism.

Spirit Lost (1997)

Leon shows plenty of booty as he gets busy with a ghost.

Ganja and Hess (1973)

Duane Jones of Night of the Living Dead fame is back.  This time he’s with horror Goddess—Marlene Clark.  Bill Gunn stars and directs this gorgeous, haunting film.

Ganja & Hess

Son of Ingagi (1940)

The Black middle-class on full display.  A monster ape is shaking things up, but Black love prevails.

Chloe:  Your Love is Calling (1934)

Racists lynched Mandy’s man—after she steals one of their babies, she plans to walk on their graves.  Keep your chin up Mandy!

For more ideas also check out blackhorrormovies.com.

For a scholarly take on Black horror, check out Horror Noire:  Blacks in Horror 1890s to Present.

For a whole lotta religion mixed with your horror, check out Nollywood (“Nigerian Hollywood”) films such as 666.

"666"

Hip Hop Halloween Hitz! Top 10

Ok sinners, get your Halloween remix on with these horror jams (in no particular order)...

A Nightmare on My Street—DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince

Bones soundtrack—Snoop Dogg and various artists

Mind Playing Tricks on Me-Geto Boys

Chuckie-Geto Boys

Diary of a Madman-Gravediggaz

Snoop Dog’s Hood of Horror soundtrack—Snoop Dogg and Various artists

Tales from the Hood soundtrack—Various artists

Vampire-Kung Fu Vampire

Hokus Pokus-Insane Clown Posse

Now Eat soundtrack-Brotha Lynch Hung

Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys

Kung Fu Vampire

Insane Clown Posse