Founded by Bishop Dr. Claude Porter through PLCCA Inc. to bring communities together and support children as they prepare to return to school, the Bridging

By Bonnie DeShong Founded by Bishop Dr. Claude Porter through PLCCA, Inc., to bring communities together and support children as they prepare to return to school, the Bridging the Gap Parade & Community Resource Fair has grown into the largest multicultural parade and community event in Chicago’s western suburbs. The event unites the villages of…

Bonnie DeShong The film Forgotten Island is a story of friendship and the things that remind us of what makes life worthwhile: our memories. Josephine “Jo” Yuson’s (H.E.R.) father has moved to America and left her to live with her grandmother, Lola Fatima (Dolly de Leon), in the Philippines. Lola has told Jo stories about…

Bonnie DeShong August 12th through the 14th, over three thousand Black Aerospace professionals came to Chicago to celebrate OBAP’s 50th anniversary.  I was so honored to be invited by one of the founding members of the organization, Captain William Norwood, who is also my uncle in love, to attend this year’s conference. It was an…

Bonnie DeShong Photo Credit – Roger Mastroianni The film The Notebook is one of my favorite films of all time. Yes, I cry every time I see it. I never read the book, but I wondered how the book and film would evolve to the stage and become a

To fully appreciate “Spider-Man: Brand New Day,” you might want to watch “Spider-Man: No Way Home” first. At the end of “No Way Home,” Peter Parker has Doctor

By Bonnie DeShong To fully appreciate Spider-Man: Brand New Day, you might want to watch Spider-Man: No Way Home first. At the end of No Way Home, Peter Parker has Doctor Stephen Strange erase the world’s memories of him to protect the multiverse.

Bonnie DeShong Writer and director Christopher Nolan has done it again. He has crafted an epic film that runs three hours long but captivates the viewer until the very end. I admit that I wasn’t feeling well and was tired when I went to see “The Odyssey,” and I wasn’t looking forward to sitting in…

Bonnie DeShong I recently picked up Jayne Kennedy’s memoir, PLAIN JAYNE: A Memoir, and it was a game-changer for me. You might know Jayne as the stunning model, sportscaster, and actress who was married to Isaac Kennedy, but trust me, there’s so

Bonnie DeShong Broadway in Chicago has brought the Broadway touring company of WATER FOR ELEPHANTS to the Nederlander Theatre. When you enter the theatre, you hope that the performances will be something as exciting as the circus curtain façade.

Bonnie DeShong Recently, I attended an exhibit produced by Honey Pot Performances and curated by The Chicago Black Social Culture Map (CBSCM) titled, The Doctors—a crew of young Black men from Mendel Catholic High School who elevated the school’s

By Bonnie DeShong Photo Credit: Joan Marcus, 2025 Ladies, have you ever thought about how easy it is for us to vote, open a bank account, or go wherever we like? There was a time when women were not allowed to do any of these things. They had to

Bonnie DeShong The Furious takes place in Asia. We aren’t told where in Asia. We follow a journalist, Matia (JeeJa Yanin), who is following a lead on children being kidnapped in this city. She is found out, and an amazing fight scene takes place. Wang Wei (Mo Tse), a mute handyman whose daughter Rainy (Yang…

Bonnie DeShong I usually don’t have the opportunity to sit and watch television, let alone binge-watch a series; however, recently, a friend, knowing I like sci-fi and horror films, suggested I check out the Netflix series The Boroughs. I popped my popcorn, sat in the middle of my bed, ready for what I thought would…

Bonnie DeShong BACKROOMS is a science fiction psychological horror film in which Clark (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a failing discount furniture store owner, is separated from his wife and forced to live in the store. He is seeing a therapist named Mary (Renate Reinsve) to try to understand his situation. We learn that Mary has some psychological…

By Bonnie DeShong I Love Boosters is a film that tries to mix comedy, crime, and horror, but seems to get lost along the way. With a promising lineup like Keke Palmer, Taylour Paige, and Naomi Ackie playing members of The Velvet Gang, you’d expect a thrilling ride. However, the movie flips between quirky heists…

Students from high schools across Northwest Indiana were honored for their achievements during the Urban League of Northwest Indiana scholarship event.

Join us as The Gene Siskel Film Center celebrates 25 years on State Street, featuring the cult favorite "Cooley High" among its top three films.

Join us June 3-14 in New York for the Tribeca Film Festival 25th, featuring 118 films, including 103 world premieres and 86 shorts.

Bonnie DeShong Photo Credit – Patti Perret Is God Is began as a play written by Aleshea Harris. In 2018, a production directed by Taibi Magar opened Off-Broadway at Soho Rep, running from February 6 to March 11, and won 3 OBIE awards. Fast forward to 2026, and Aleshea Harris has brought the story of…