Saturday Mornings With Joy Keys

Nate Parker is an American actor and musical performer who has appeared in Red Tails, The Secret Life of Bees, The Great Debaters, and Pride.He was an All-American wrestler in both at Great Bridge High School and at the University of Oklahoma.Parker has been active in charitable work, donating his time both as a volunteer wrestling coach. He is currently developing a feature script to direct and star, THE BIRTH OF A NATION, about slave-turned-revolutionary Nat Turner, through a fellowship with the Sundance Institute Feature Film Program. A Norfolk, Virginia native, Beyond the Lights is a 2014 American romantic drama film directed and written by Gina Prince-Bythewood. The film stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Minnie Driver, Nate Parker and Danny Glover. The film had its premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2014. and is set for a theatrical release in the United States November 14, 2014. trailer : http://youtu.be/5-NsI8lZ5Lw

April Parker Jones stars on the Tyler Perry hit primetime drama If Loving You is Wrong, on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. With a diverse cast and storylines ranging from heartfelt to scandalous, April portrays a single mother, trying to get by with a son in prison and an absentee fathers on this  sexy sleek drama that looks into the lives of a group of husbands, wives and friends that live and love in the same middle class neighborhood.  Tyler Perry's "If Loving You is Wrong" airs on Tuesday nights a 9 p.m. ET/PT on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network.  The mid-season finale is Tuesday, November 4.   April originated the role of Christina in the Off Broadway World Premiere of Plenty of Time at Primary Stages in New York.  For her portrayal she earned two Audelco Award Theatre nominations for Best Actress. Her theatre work has paved her way to numerous and exciting recurring roles on the hit CBS series Jericho, The Young and the Restless, The Unit and The Fosters. Other television credits include: guest star roles on C

Alexis De Veaux’s work is defined by two critical concerns: making the racial and sexual experiences of black female characters central, and disrupting boundaries between forms. She is the author of two award-winning biographies: Don’t Explain: A Song of Billie Holiday andWarrior Poet: A Biography of Audre Lorde. A celebrated writer of poetry, children’s literature, plays, essays and journalism, De Veaux is also an activist recognized for her lifelong contributions to a number of women’s and literary organizations, and a recently retired professor of women's studies at University of Buffalo. With her new work, Yabo, Alexis has returned to her first love: writing fiction.  

Pearl Cleage is an Atlanta based writer, currently Mellon Playwright in Residence at The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta where her play, “What I Learned in Paris,” opened the 2012-2013 Season. Her works include award winning plays, bestselling novels and numerous columns, articles and essays for a wide variety of publications including Essence, Ebony, Rap Pages, Vibe, The Atlanta Tribune, and The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Her first novel, What Looks Like Crazy On An Ordinary Day, was an Oprah Book Club pick and spent nine weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. She is the author of thirteen plays, including Flyin’ West, the most produced new American play in the country in 1994. Her Blues for An Alabama Sky was included in Her the 1996 Olympic Arts Festival in Atlanta and will receive a 20th anniversary revival at the Alliance in 2015. other plays include Chain; Late Bus to Mecca; Bourbon at the Border; A Song for Coretta and The Nacirema Society Requests the Honor of Your Presence at a Celebration of

In My Other Mother, Candace “Candy” Meyers (Essence Atkins) is a successful anchor on a top-rated national magazine show.  Fiercely independent and committed to her job, Candy doesn’t make many friends with her demanding, gruff nature.  In fact, her only true friend might be her long-time manager Lewis (Kendrick Cross).  Candy discovers that an anonymous fan she’s had for years has passed way – and he was her biological father Freddy Nelson!  Content with the love and support of her adoptive family, Candy has never been curious about her biological parents.  That all changes when she travels back for her father’s funeral, meets the Nelson family – including biological uncle Abner (GregAlan Williams), Freddy’s wife Delores (Angie Stone) and her two step-brothers – and discovers that her reclusive, angry and stubborn birth mother, Mary Jo (Lynn Whitfield) is going to be a challenge.  The journey these two surprisingly similar women take getting to know each other will break down walls and open them up to a life

Gameworld book: Dylan Rudee's life is an epic fail. He's bullied at school and the aunt who has raised him since he was orphaned as a child just lost her job and their apartment. Dylan's one chance to help his family is the only thing he's good at: video games. The multibillion-dollar company Mee Corp. has announced a televised tournament to find the Game-Changers: the forty-four kids who are the best in the world at playing Xamaica, a role-playing fantasy game that's sweeping the planet. If Dylan can win the top prize, he just might be able to change his life. Author C.J. FARLEY was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and grew up in Brockport, NY, with stops in Middle-earth, Xanth, Earthsea, and Narnia. Farley’s biography Aaliyah: More Than a Woman was a national best seller. A former editor of the Harvard Lampoon and a former music critic for Time, Farley is a blogger, columnist and senior editor at the Wall Street Journal. Game World is Farley’s first novel for young readers.

Anthony McGill, just named Principal Clarinet of the New York Philharmonic beginning in September 2014, held the same position with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra since 2004. He was chosen to perform with Yo-Yo Ma, Itzhak Perlman, and Gabriela Montero at President Obama’s inauguration in January of 2009. Performances throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South Africa in recital, chamber music and as a soloist with orchestras consistently receiving rave reviews. As an educator, McGill is on the faculties of The Juilliard School, Peabody Conservatory, Manhattan School of Music and Bard College Conservatory. From Chicago, McGill attended The Curtis Institute of Music and is a recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant, as well as the first Sphinx Medal of Excellence. See www.anthonymcgill.com

September is Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month. An estimated 6 million people in the United States have an unruptured brain aneurysm, or 1 in 50 people. Special Guest: Survivor Theresa Robinson: She suffered a subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) known as a brain aneurysm, however she is a survivor. In March 2012,she suffered a brain aneurysm that caused her to need surgery and extensive rehabilitation. During her recovery period, she experienced more time in the ICU due to seizures and other health issues as a result of (SAH). Although rehab was drilling and painful both physical and emotional she had outstanding therapists and psychologists to help her get back on her feet, literally. Special Guest: Stavropoula I. Tjoumakaris MD is an Assistant Professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. She is also the  Neurovascular Fellowship Director, Associate Residency Program Director & Clerkship Director in the Cerebrovascular Surgery & Endovascular Neurosurgery department at Thomas Jefferson University Hospi

Time of the Locust: Travel into the heart and mind of an extraordinary autistic boy in this deeply imaginative debut novel of a mother’s devotion, a father’s punishment, and the power of love. Sephiri is an autistic boy who lives in a world of his own making, where he dwells among imagined sea creatures that help him process information in the “real world” in which he is forced to live. But lately he has been having dreams of a mysterious place, and he starts creating fantastical sketches of this strange, inner world. Brenda, Sephiri’s mother, struggles with raising her challenged child alone. Her only wish is to connect with him—a smile on his face would be a triumph. Meanwhile, Sephiri’s father, Horus, is sentenced to life in prison, making life even lonelier for Brenda and Sephiri. Yet prison is still not enough to separate father and son. In the seventh year of his imprisonment and the height of his isolation, Horus develops supernatural mental abilities that allow him to reach his son.  Morowa Yejid

Amanda Warren plays Lucy Warburton who is the mayor of Mapletonon the show HBO show The Leftovers. http://www.hbo.com/the-leftovers/#/ Born and raised in New York, Amanda Warren received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts, and her Master of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama. Most recently, Warren appeared in USA Network's 'Royal Pains.' In 2012, she had a recurring role on the final season of 'The Closer.' On the small screen, Warren has also appeared in 'Detroit 1-8-7,' 'Gossip Girl,' 'Rubicon,' 'Law & Order,' 'The Good Wife,' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Warren's film credits include 'The Adjustment Bureau,' 'Deep Powder,' 'All Is Bright' and 'Seven Psychopaths.' Warren began her professional career on stage receiving rave reviews for her work in The Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of 'Three Sisters,' Terrence McNally's 'Golden Age' and Lincoln Center Theatre's 'When I Come to Die,' for which she received an AUDELCO nomination for her p

Special Guest: Susan Vierczhalek, MD, FAAP, FABM, IBCLC is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics New York University School of Medicine and is the medical director of the Bellevue newborn nursery, and of the Bellevue Breastfeeding Program and co-director of the high-risk newborn follow-up program.  She serves as the American Academy of Pediatrics New York Chapter 3 Breastfeeding Coordinator, Chair of the New York State Breastfeeding Coalition and Vice-chair of the New York City Breastfeeding Leadership Council.  She is a Fellow of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine and an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. Special Guest: Karen Hylton-McGuire has been a Neonatal Intensive Care (NICU) nurse for over 35 years.  She received her BSN from Carlow University in Pittsburgh and her MS in nursing education from Adelphi University on Long Island.  She is currently pursuing her PhD at Molloy College on Long Island.  Ms. Hylton-McGuire is certified in Neonatal Nursing and is an Internationally

August is Psoriasis Awareness Month-Psoriasis is a common skin condition that causes skin redness and irritation. Most people with psoriasis have thick, red skin with flaky, silver-white patches called scales. Special Guest: Jerry Bagel, M.D.: He is a member of the National Psoriasis Foundation Medical Board.  www.psoriasis.org  Dr. Bagel is the Director of the Psoriasis Treatment Center of Central New Jersey. Dr. Bagel has been named a Top Doctor in the Castle Connolly Medical Top Doctors of the New York Metro Area every year from 2001-2013. He was named a 2005 New Jersey Top Doctor by New Jersey Life; a Best Doctor in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly in 2001 and 2003; and received a Patients’ Choice award in 2008 as well as in Inside Jersey in 2013.  He has published extensively on the topic of psoriasis in such journals as The Journal of theAmerican Academy of Dermatology and The Journal of Drugs & Dermatology.   

McKinley Freeman stars as the handsome, sexy, and mischievous LA Devils professional basketball player Derek Roman on VH1’s Hit The Floor series.  Hit the floor airs Monday nights at 9pm ET on VH1. http://www.vh1.com/shows/hit_the_floor Freeman was born David Freeman in Champaign, Illinois. He played NCAA Division I basketball for the University of Illinois. After graduation Freeman decided to trade his NBA dreams for an MBA in Marketing and MIS from his alma mater. IBM recruited Freeman out of the Masters program to become part of their international marketing and business development team. While In Atlanta a friend coaxed Freeman into auditioning for All My Children’s Sexiest Man in America. Freeman made the final five. From there Freeman moved to LA and landed roles in All of My Children, Days of our Lives, General Hospital and Samantha Who. He also guest starred on television in CSI, NCIS, ER, In Justice. Freeman co-starred in the feature film End of Watch with Jake Gyllenhaal, Delta Force, and Green Ca

In Comeback Dad, Nima Babineaux (Tatyana Ali) looks like a woman who has it all – she is an accomplished pianist who runs her own music school and is engaged to Spence (Brad James), a successful engineer who adores her.  But, in truth, she has never recovered from her alcoholic father, Othell (Charles Dutton), walking out on their family and it has made it hard for her to truly trust anyone.  When Othell decides it is time to make amends and tries to reenter her life, Nima begins an emotional and eye-opening journey she could have never expected.  Loretta Devine stars as Malinda, Othell’s sister. The ensemble cast also includes Donna Brisco, Elizabeth Omilami, Ja’El Robertson, Takara Clark, E. Roger Mitchell, Todd Anthony and Palmer Williams, Jr. A graduate of The Yale School of Drama, Charles S. Dutton has a career spanning theater, television and film, and is one of the few actors to earn Tony, Emmy® and Golden Globe nominations for the same role. He received multiple award nominations, including the Tony

New York Times Bestselling Author Kimberla Lawson Roby has published 20 novels which include  THE PRODIGAL SON, A HOUSE DIVIDED,THE PERFECT MARRIAGE, THE REVEREND’S WIFE,SECRET OBSESSION, LOVE, HONOR, and BETRAY, and BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR. She has sold more than 2,000,000 copies of her novels, and they have frequented numerous bestseller lists, including The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and Essence Magazine, just to name a few.  Kimberla is a recipient of numerous awards including: 2013 NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction, the recipient of  the 2013 Author of the Year – Female award presented by the African-American Literary Award Show in New York, and the recipient of the 2014 AAMBC Award for Female Author of the Year. The Prodigal Son: The Reverend Curtis Black hasn't spoken to his son, Matthew, in over a year-not since Matthew dropped out of Harvard to marry his girlfriend, Racquel, and be a full-time father to their infant so

A prolific Nigerian playwright, novelist and screenwriter now based in London, HALF OF A YELLOW SUN is Biyi Bandele’s feature film directorial debut. This first feature follows his distinguished career writing and directing plays for the Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Court, and writing screenplays for the BBC and British and international film productions. Bandele has previously written and directed a short, THE KISS (2009), a psychological thriller. For television, Bandele wrote Not Even God is Wise Enough directed by Danny Boyle for BBC2 in 1994. His prolific writing for theatre includes his adaptation of Aphra Benn’s Oroonoko, which was a huge hit for the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2000, and was successfully revived by New York’s Theatre for a New Audience in 2007. Bandele’s fiction writing includes Burma Boy published by Jonathan Cape in 2007 (published as The King’s Rifle, Harper Collins in the US in 2009). Film Synopsis: Olanna (Thandie Newton) and Kainene (Anika Noni Rose) are glamorous twins f

Byron Hurt is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, writer, and anti-sexist activist. Hurt is also the former host of the Emmy-nominated series, "REEL WORKS with BYRON HURT."  His documentary, Hip-Hop: Beyond Beats and Rhymes, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and broadcast nationally on PBS’ Emmy-award winning series Independent Lens. Byron's latest film, Soul Food Junkies, won the CNN Best Documentary Award at the American Black Film Festival and Best Documentary at the Urbanworld Film Festival in New York City.  Soul Food Junkies aired nationally on PBS’ Emmy-Award winning series Independent Lens in January and April 2013. A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated, Hurt’s next film is called Hazing:  How Badly Do You Want In?  Teaser video: http://vimeo.com/95424400 website: www.bhurt.com

David Ajala is becoming a force of nature on the entertainment landscape. He was most recently seen in Fast & Furious 6 alongside the late Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. Ajala also completed work on the Wachowski feature Jupiter Ascending, and the indie film Kill Command. Additional notable credits include, One Day, The Dark Knight, and Payback Season. Appearing in A wide range of television roles, Ajala was a rapper in the television series Trexx and Flipside, in addition to major guest roles in award winning shows including Law & Order: UK, Death in Paradise, Silent Witness, and the wildly popularDr. Who. Ajala began his career performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Courtyard Theater in Stratford-upon-Avon. He's performed in productions of The Witness, Hamlet, and A Midsummer Night's Dream, among others. Ajala was awarded Best Acting Performance by the Royal Television Society in 2009. David currently plays Will Van Renseller on ABC's tv show Black Box.

Dr. Carl Hart, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry at Columbia University. He is also a Research Scientist in the Division of Substance Abuse at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Hart is a member of the National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse and on the board of directors of the College on Problems of Drug Dependence and the Drug Policy Alliance. A native of Miami, Florida, Dr. Hart received his B.S. in psychology at the University of Maryland, and received his M.S. and Ph.D. in experimental psychology and neuroscience at the University of Wyoming.  He lives in New York City.  For more on Dr. Hart, visit: http://www.highpricethebook.com/. His book HIGH PRICE: A Neuroscientist’s Journey of Self-Discovery That Challenges Everything You Know About Drugs and Society (Harper Perennial, paperback on sale 6/10/2014), is based on 22 years of research as a groundbreaking neuropsychopharmacologist about the study and science of drug addiction, but it is also a provoc

Mitchell S. Jackson is a Portland, Oregon native who lives in Brooklyn, New York.  He received an M.A. in writing from Portland State University and an MFA in Creative Writing from New York University.  He has been the recipient of fellowships from Urban Artist Initiative and The Center For Fiction. A former winner of the Hurston Wright Foundation’s award for college writers, he teaches writing at New York University and is the literary editor of Dossier Journal. Jackson published the eBook collection Oversoul Stories and Essays in the summer of 2012. Bloomsbury USA will publish his novel The Residue Years in August of 2013. The Residue Years switches between the perspectives of a young man, Champ, and his mother, Grace. Grace is just out of a drug treatment program, trying to stay clean and get her kids back. Champ is trying to do right by his mom and younger brothers, and dreams of reclaiming the only home he and his family have ever shared. But selling crack is the only sure way he knows to achieve his dr