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Kick Off Black History Month With These Five Essential Shows And Movies

Monarch Movie Recommendations

Although we honor Black history all year long.
We understand that February is the universal month to celebrate and to help everyone learn about Black culture.
Movies like Selma, 13th, and 12 Years a Slave are the typical ones on the top of everyone’s list.
To provide some variety, we curated a list of several other films that not only shine the light on Civil Rights pioneers confronting systemic racism and prejudice but also celebrate the various aspects of Black lifestyle and culture.

YOU PEOPLE
Written and directed: Kenya Barris & Jonah Hill
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Jonah Hill, Nia Long, Lauren London

Follows a new couple and their families, who find themselves examining modern love and family dynamics amidst clashing cultures societal expectations, and generational differences.

LOUDMOUTH
Written and directed: Josh Alexander
Starring: Jesse Jackson, Barack Obama & Chuck Schumer
Executive produced by John Legend

This documentary profiles the life of Rev. Al Sharpton.
His rise as one of the most notable and recognized voices against racial injustice. Capturing footage from his youth with him participating in political rallies, protests, and movements up to the present day, with the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY
Written and directed: Shonda Rhimes
Starring: Michelle Fairley, Ruth Gemmell & Adjoa Andoh

Bridgerton blew the world away when it premiered on Netflix Christmas 2020.
So the promise that the Bridgerton universe was expanding with a prequel spin-off centered on her majesty Queen Charlotte has been highly anticipated.
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is set up as an origin story that will focus on young Charlotte’s betrothal to King George III. Thus, great liberty was taken into reimagining the character with a focus on the debated theory that the real-life Queen Charlotte might have been the first British monarch of mixed ancestry. The prequel will look to dive deeper in that direction imagining what the Regency era could have been if indeed Queen Charlotte had black roots.

THE 1619 PROJECT
Written and directed: Roger Ross Williams
Starring: Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones producer of The 1619 Project which started as a book and a podcast is now headed to the small screen.
A six-part docuseries will reframe” American history, connecting the centrality of slavery in history. With an unflinching account of brutal racism that endures in so many aspects of American life today.

HARLEM
Written and directed: Malcolm. D.Lee & Tracy Oliver
Starring: Meagan Good, Grace Byers, Tyler. Lepley & Juani Feliz

Four ambitious, headstrong, and stylish girlfriends take on the mecca of Black Culture.
Harlem showcases Camille a young anthropology professor at Columbia University, Tye a successful app creator, Quinn the trust fund fashion designer, and Angie the confident yet jobless singer-actress. Navigating the ups and downs of career, love & life together on the streets of Harlem, New York.

Further Reading
6 years ago
Authors: Summer 2020
3 years ago
Hip Hop: Spring 2023
2 years ago
Movies: Winter 2024
5 years ago
Hip Hop: Summer 2021

SEPTEMBER GRAY
Proprietor of September Gray Fine Art Gallery

BIO 

Gray’s life’s work is a reflection of her enduring passion for the arts. Following a noteworthy career in the performing arts, Gray launched a successful fine art consultancy practice wherein she was celebrated for her ability to assist corporate and private collectors with articulating and executing single acquisition and long–term collecting strategies. Gray’s career in the arts and decade as an art consultant inform her role as gallerist. An avid collector, Gray has a talent for “speaking the language” of both artist and collector and a knack for connecting the gallery’s clients to works by artists whose vision and methodologies resonate with their individual tastes, complement their existing collections and honor their overall investment strategy and appetite for risk. Gray holds a B.A. in Art History from DePaul University. A committed art education advocate, Gray serves on a number of non-profit boards and is co-founder of The Gray Foundation, an organization committed to building a world of enriched life options for youth through the promotion of art and education. Gray shares art news and collection strategies in her electronic quarterly journal, The Gray Book.

https://septembergrayart.com/

JUSTIN SULIVAN, CFP
Senior Vice President Market Leader

BIO 

Justin oversees a team of professionals striving to achieve the highest level of client satisfaction. His top priority is that the team not only meets, but also exceeds the client’s expectations. Through Justin’s leadership and commitment, he helps ensure that the client benefits form a full complement of investment, trust, financial planning and private banking services to help them achieve their financial goals.

XAVIER DANIELS

BIO  

Paintings are influenced by his experiences with brotherhood at both Morehouse and as a firefighter. In creating his art, he is actively thinking about the perception of black men and attempting to be a catalyst for a different view on the black male experience. According to Daniels, the conversations happening in popular culture about black males leave them invisible in discussions about themselves. The portraits of black men Daniels creates are large in an effort to symbolically assert black male presence into those conversations. His work has been shown around the world through Almine Rech and Richard Beavers Gallery. Xavier lives and works in Atlanta, Georgia.

https://xavierdaniels.com/

MARRYAM MOMA

BIO

A Tanzanian-Nigerian visual artist based in Atlanta, GA, is renowned for her prolific exhibition history. Moma’s dedication to her art has earned her prestigious residencies at The Migration Artist Residency, Atlanta, GA, and a blended residency and teaching opportunity at The Swimming HoleFoundation in Upstate NY. The Hambidge Center for the Arts awarded her a Distinguished Artist Fellowship, enriching her narrative-driven solo exhibitions like “ICONoclasts.” This showing intertwines paper cut elements to celebrate and empower revolutionary Black figures. Moma continues to innovate within her practice, expanding her presence through murals, public art installations and exhibitions including an indoor mural for Clark Atlanta universities student innovation lounge sponsored by Dell Technologies and Home depot, ICONoclasts Atlanta building-wide public installation sponsored by Dashboard and If Not Us then Who public digital art mural sponsored by A&E Atlanta. 

https://www.marryammoma.com/

DL WARFIELD

BIO

Atlanta-based artist DL Warfield, a veteran artist who has consistently proven himself a talent of the highest caliber – one who has delivered at the highest levels repeatedly throughout his life and career. Yes, many artists are talented; DL Warfield is prolific.

Warfield’s body of work proves his instinctive knowledge and understanding of pop culture and has given him a permanent place at the cutting edge of the new and next. From St. Louis to New York City, Atlanta and worldwide, his talent, skill and endless creativity have taken him to the top of his field again and again, and he intends to push forward wherever a path to artistic excellence can be forged.

The following is a snapshot of his works and clientele. 

Nike, Sprite, Heineken, Anheuser-Busch, Geffen Records, Sony Entertainment, DreamWorks, Sony Music, OutKast Inc., Universal Records, Boys & Girls Clubs, HBO, Virgin Records, Coca-Cola, Adidas, Vibe Magazine, automotive giant Ford Motor Company. He designed the branding for the City of Atlanta’s Film and Entertainment office and at the same time, His fine art has been featured at national landmarks, including the Time-Life Building in New York City, and the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, KY, which he loaned two original pieces for three years.

https://dlwarfield.com/

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region. 

www.eddiefontno.com

RSVP

We are no longer accepting RSVPs for the Art of Luxury Lifestyle Dinner, but you are welcome to RSVP Here for the Portrait Reveal Event from
9:30PM to 11:30 PM!

ROBERT KOOL BELL| LE KOOL CHAMPAGNE

BIO

For many years, Robert Kool Bell, Leader and Co-founder of Kool & The Gang, sought out Grand Cru Vineyards from owners that have been selling for generations and decided to work with Paul Berthelot a Multi-Vintage producer since 1884. Voila The Celebration Champagne was born! 

https://lekoolchampagne.com

EDDIE FONTNO

BIO

A native of the Bronx, New York, is most inspired by the brilliance and uniqueness of excellence within the African American culture. The subjects of his work have all possessed a transformative greatness, which paved the way and changed the lives of many, providing a guiding light for the world around them. Fontno takes a subtle approach and focuses on that “light” to capture the detailed nuances through his usage of graphite and oil paint (black and white) that enhances the contrast between light and dark. Fontno’s never-ending quest to find truth and beauty in its most natural form is reflective in the choice of figures in his pieces; paying homage to those who have in some way shaped his view of the world and positively affected his evolution as an artist, father and man. Fontno attended the High School of Art & Design in New York, New York and Howard University in Washington, DC. His work has been displayed in the White House (Madam Vice President Kamala Harris’ private office) and the much-acclaimed October Gallery in Philadelphia, Pa. He has also been commissioned for portraits throughout the Northeast region.

Website: www.eddiefontno.com