Hey, okay, she gave me an applause, because
they must be my regular, okay.
So, let me go out and try again, so that y'all
can give me a real good applause.
So, I walk out and introduce myself, y'all can
give me the applause that I think I deserve
as of 35 years, not as of 35 years old, 35
years of Mister Showcase, so, y'all watch me now.
Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands
together for the founder and director of the
Black Academy of Arts and Letters, Mr. Curtis King.
That was a little better.
I'm not going to do it this time, I'll just
wait, because I want to give this a
performance, I want you to see the show.
I know some of these are reserved seats, but
since we're not completely sold out, I'm going
to ask the ushers, so somebody just sit in your
seat, don't get up a second, because there's
plenty of good room here.
We are really excited to have two incredible
dance companies here, and we have one of our
board members, Annette, where's Annette?
Miss Annette, tell her to come on, and then
you, one of our board members and one of our
big supporters, Miss Larcene Bland.
Miss Larcene, stand up.
Remain standing, one second.
Let me just say something, stand up, Miss Larcene.
Larcene was a very high-profile individual who
worked with a major corporation, Blockbuster,
and of course, we all know what happened to Blockbuster,
but Larcene was one individual who made sure
that the Black Academy always got a donation as
a part of our 25 film fees.
And we miss you, we appreciate you, everything
you've done, so I want you all to give a big
applause for Larcene Bland.
Come on, you can do better than that.
Thank you.
Come on, Annette.
And this is one of our current board members,
and Miss Eula.
Come on, come up here, right quick, Eula.
Come on, Eula's one of our Devout board members.
She's still raising money.
If you're not a member of the Black Academy, we
want you to be a member, we take American
Express, Visa, MasterCard, Bank of America
card, and post-date checks. Amen.
Hello, everyone, and welcome.
My name is Annette Williams, and we would like
to say welcome on behalf of the board, we would
like to welcome each and every one of you to
this event tonight.
We hope you have enjoyed, sit back and just get
some rhythm and soul going on.
I don't know how I got up here, but since I am,
I guess, hello, hope you have a great time.
The Black Academy is an awesome organization.
I've been a part of this organization for over
30 years, and it just gives us an opportunity
to meet those individuals and celebrities that
oftentimes, you would never get a chance to be
close to.
So sit back and enjoy. Bye-bye.
I want the celebrity that you can get close to.
Before we start the show, Terria Lice left on a
burgundy Ford Explorer plate number.
CW6D944 is parked at the City Hall parking lot.
And Ms. Annette Lee, yeah, I know she don't
like to do this, but how many people got the
works of Annette Lee?
Stand up, Ms. Annette Lee.
Today is her birthday.
Ms. Annette Lee is one of the greatest artists
of our time.
You will see a lot of her work.
All you gotta do is Google Annette Lee, and you
will see, you're going to say, oh my God,
that's the lady we're talking about?
So Ms. Annette Lee, I will sing Happy Birthday
to you, but I just cannot sing.
So we're going to dedicate this program to you
tonight for your birthday, and we want you to
know that we love you.
Last year, Ms. Annette Lee did a special piece
for us that we sold for the Black Academy of
Arts and that's for our 34th season.
And as a matter of fact, we'll have some of
those posters in the lobby.
You can buy those posters for $10, and you
can't get an Annette Lee special nowhere for no
ten bucks.
So now having said all of that, are y'all ready
to see some really great dance?
Come on, give it up for the weekend special,
Black Dance. Give it up!
Give it up! can
at the front
of the hall
at the front
of the hall
at the front
of the hall
at the front
of the hall
at the front
of the hall
at the front
of the
familiar faces, worn out places, worn out
faces, bright and early for the daily races,
going nowhere.
Their tears are filling up their glasses, no expression.
Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow, no tomorrow.
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad,
the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've
ever had.
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take.
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
mad world.
Children waiting for the day they feel good,
happy birthday.
And I feel the way that every child should, sit
and listen.
Went to school and I was very nervous, no one
knew me.
Hello teacher, tell me what's my lesson, look
right through me.
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad,
the dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've
ever had.
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take.
When people run in circles, it's a very, very
mad world.
Mad world.
And I march on.
Mad world. (applause)
I'm kissing you.
You're my father.
You're my soldier.
But tell me, will you save me?
You're my best friend.
You're my husband.
You are my doctor cousin.
You're the light of my life.
You're my everything.
And I love you.
I love you.
Yes, I love you.
I need you.
I can't live without you.
I trust you.
I trust you with every action.
Just teach me what keeps me.
Just take me when we make love.
I can feel all your spirit deep inside of me.
Baby, you're so pure.
I'm kissing you forever and ever and ever.
I love kissing you, kissing you.
You are my love.
Everything about you.
It's been so many years since we've been together.
It's a special thing.
We can fight again.
We can grow again.
Be ourselves again.
And I love you more than music.
Yes, I love you.
Yes, I love you more than music.
I'd rather be kissing you.
Oh, I'd kiss you.
Yes, I love you.
If you hear this message wherever you stand,
calling every woman, calling every man,
we're the generation that can't afford to wait.
The future started yesterday, and we're already late.
We've been looking for a song to sing, search
for a melody, search for someone to lead.
We've been looking for the world to change, you
feel the same.
Then go on and say if you're out there, sing
along with me if you're out there.
I'm going to believe that you're out there.
Stand up and say it loud if you're out there.
Tomorrow's starting now, now, now.
No more broken promises, no more calls for war.
The last is love, a peace that we're really
fighting for.
We can destroy hunger, we can conquer hate. Put
down the arms and raise your voice. Join us today.
I've been looking for a song to sing, search
for a leader, but the leader was me.
We were looking for the world to change. We can
be heroes, just go on and say if you're out there.
Sing along with me if you're out there.
I'm going to believe that you're out there.
Stand up and say it loud if you're out there.
Tomorrow's starting now, now, now.
Oh, now, now, now.
If you're ready we can shake the world and
believe again the stars were there.
We don't have to wait for destiny, we should be
the change that we want to see if you're out there.
If you're out there and you're running down,
stayin' loud.
Screamin' out loud if you're out there.
Sing along with me if you're out there.
I'm going to believe that you're out there.
Stand up and say it loud if you're out there.
Tomorrow's starting now.
If you're out there.
If you hear this message wherever you stand,
calling every woman, calling every man,
we're the generation that can't afford to wait.
If you just started yesterday, we're already there.
If you're out there.