Louis Gasset jr.

Born May 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY, Lou has a flair for projecting quiet authority, and has scored well personally in string of diverse and ocassionally challenging roles. The aspiring actor caught a break in his first Broadway Audition for "Take a Giant Step" in 1953, amazingly beating out 400 other candidates for the role at the age of 16. His acting career soon florished and his work in the state and film versions of the ground breaking drama about an African- American family life in Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the sun" 1961 proved a watershed. This led to numerous appearances on network series in the 1960's and 70's culminating in 1977 when he picked up an Emmy for his eloquent portrayal of Fiddler in the landmark ABC mini-series "Roots". He's been in movies such as The LandLord, The Skin Game, Sadat, Travels with My Aunt, The River Niger, Enemy Mine, The Deep, An Officer and a Gentlemen, and Iron Eagle.

Gasset jr. has been described as a man with many visions. I learned that he attended the University if New York and has Honarary degrees from Spellmen and Shaw University. I thought it was interesting to know that he was here at NCCU doing plays 27 years ago, when I heard that I was actually amazed as to how many celebrities had graced this campus before becoming what they are today. At the Lyceum I learned of his many awards such as his Golden Globe and Peoples Choice award. I also learned about him as a person and his personal batter with cancer and drugs. I just thought it was amazing to share his story from growing up in the streets of the ghetto to living in Beverly Hills. Gasset spoke of the people who inspired him most such as his great grandmother who lived to be 116 years old and his grandfather who sold the best watermelons in the south.

I think that Louis Gasset jr. is an incedible human being not only because of his celebrity but because of what he has done for his community and race. Gasset started a non - profit organization call Eracism. Its overall mission is to do exactly that, erase racist america. He is a man that believes that our most important commodity is our children because they are what makes our future. I think it was interesting of how he spoke of the children of our genration and how they only see big cars, men with money, diamonds, and fine women. I also thought it was amazing that he plans on taking gang related kids on a 30 day pilgrimage to Africa to show them where they come from or as he would say " Try to reconnect our original African values". I enjoyed the Lyceum I think Gasset is a very inspirational and a very big humanitarian. I enjoyed his speech and thought that he sent a great message.

Director Rubin Whitmore II

Rubin Whitmore II a video music director, he has directed videos for artist such as Too Short, Uncle Luke, The Temptation, and many more. Even though many of them are out of my generation...... anyways he was only in class for a short amount of time. He discussed videos of today and what they represented which is basically porn. Which I don't understand he makes these and then talkes about how they are degrating to women and how he wouldn't allow his daughter to watch cable television. Reading the list of videos that he has directed I saw the video Hoe Bangin by Ice cube and Mack 10 all I can say is wow! I hate videos.... the ones with naked females..... making men expect this appearance and behavior from all females. What ! thats funny considering he is the reason that many parents don't allow there kids to watch television. But great guy, great message.....not really much to say....good luck in the future on movies!

Sofia Quintero

Born to a Dominican- Puertorican family in the Bronx of New york. She has written hip- hop novels Explicit Content, Picture Me Rolli and Burn, and a fourth novel Diva Don't Yield, and two screen plays,Corporate Dawgz and Blind Date, as well as co-edited the anthology Friday Night Chicas. Her fiction and film, which are intented to reach a multi-cultural audience, seek to inspire young people to turn their lives toward creative problem solving and self- determination. Pronounced one of the "New School of Activists Most Likely to Change New York" by City Limits Magazine, Quintero she is also the co-founder of Chica Luna Productions, a non - profit organization that supports women of color who use popular media to engage social justice themselves.
Now that you know a little about her you can understand why I say this she is amazing and I love everything that she represents. She is a strong, beautiful, and intelligent Latina and I love it. Its beautiful to see part of me embraced. Her presentation to the class was very good, which I can say because it held my attention. My favorite part of her presentation was the silent movie titled "Slam" . I liked how we had to interpret what we thought was going on in the film through the actors actions. To hear the classes responses was very funny. Some thought the girl was pregnant and the guy was angry and many assumed that they were having a cultural bash amongst each other about who was the blackest. It turned out that they were arguing about him excepting his responsibility's. I thought the message was deep and wanted to see more of the film. She made alot of great points as well, especially sense most of the class is going into the media industry.
1.) All media is trying to sale you something.
2.) Go for your dreams
3.) Anything is possible

I also think that its hot that she started a non- profit organization called Chica Luna Productions, a young minority organization helping females make urban films. I think thats HOT!

I enjoyed her and everything she stands for, keep doing your thing mami ....

¡representando ser más fuerte.... amor qué usted hace y hace lo que usted ama!

(representing a stronger being.... love what you do and do what you love!)