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"I’m proud to be gay, and I consider being gay among the greatest gifts God has given me, " Apple CEO Tim Cook has said in a letter written for Bloomberg Businessweek,  while  publicly coming out as gay and declaring his support for equality.

Tim Cook, though the CEO of perhaps the most prominent company in the World today, has managed to  keep a low profile on his personal life. In the letter he  says that his decision to publicly acknowledge his sexuality was  intended to "bring comfort to anyone who feels alone" and to "inspire people to insist on their equality."

The United States (U.S) Justice Department announced on Friday 10, 2014 that Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the son of the African dictator of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has settled the embezzlement, corruption, money laundering case. According to the United States Justice Department, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, who is the Second Vice-President to his father, has agreed to a $30 million settlement to resolve the U.S. government's accusations that he used money plundered from his country to acquire massive assets in the Unites States, including private jets, Ferrari, a $30 million mansion in Malibu, California, and Michael Jackson memorabilia such as a crystal-encrusted glove.

This week, Americans, including me, commemorated the 237th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. In public places and churches, and surely in private places, American sang their favorites songs, hymns, and the national anthem. In America the Beautiful, God Bless USA, or Star Spangled Banner, the theme of freedom rang in the singers’ ears:

The Woman King movie, released in 2022, has been a master piece. It is another movie, beyond Coming To America and Black Pather, to show Black people as independent people, with structured societies, not slaves, savages or just happy to sell their people. The Woman King has built on the previous movies to  solidify the foundation on Black society and culture.  It has continued the movement, this time going further on highlighting the role played by Women in protecting Africa. The performances of the women in the movie led by Viola Davis, Thuso Mbendu, Lashana Lynch, and Sheil Atim are outstanding. It is a movie to watch by almost every one (except children). 

The 2021 Oscar Academy Awards ceremonies were different: delayed for two months, limited attendance, no after-parties, no usual red-carpets dramas. However, two awards made history: Daniel Kaluuya as supporting actor in a critical movie about the Civil Rights struggles by Blacks in America and Chloé Zhao as Best Director, becoming the first woman of color, ever,  to win the title.  

Coming to America movie, released in 1998, was a master piece. It was one of the first movies to show Black people as independent people, with structured societies, not slaves, savages or just happy to serve as  butlers. Coming To America set a precedent and solidified the foundation on Black society and culture.  It started a movement. Coming 2 America is a sequel. It goes further.  It is a movie to watch by almost every one. 

Evangelist Dr. Charles Mutua Mulli's has been living an extraordinary life.  Over 30 years, his fundation, Mully Children's Family or MCF, has rescued more than 12,000 children from the slums and dangerous streets of Nairobi, Kenya, rehabilitated and reintegrated them in the society. Some are doctors, teachers, social workers, and other professionals operating around the world. They all call him "Daddy Mully".

At the onset, The Widow series is just a story about a widow searching for a closure on the disappearance of her husband. Then, the series ends up being a masterpiece uncovering the complexity of human tragedies,  civil wars, war crimes and genocides in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, and how Rwandan leaders, working with corrupt Congolese Army (FARDC) military generals, use these tragedies to loot Coltan from DRC and smuggle it into Rwanda. 

At the onset, Black Earth Rising series is a masterpiece, capturing the complexity of human tragedies. Civil Wars, war crimes and genocides leave heavy loads, including physical, mental and spiritual scars. Black Earth Rising goes beyond that. Beyond tackling head on the issues of mental health and post traumatic syndromes (PTSD), Black Earth series challenges the views about justice for the victims, democracy in the affected nations,  and accountability of leaders and actors and protagonists.

Spike Lee's "BlacKkKlansman" has reaffirmed the genius of the producer.  The movie follows in the footsteps of "Malcom X".  BlacKkKlansman highlights the contemprary racial issues in America, the way Malcom X did for the 60's. The real hero, Ron Stallworth, played by John David Washington, the first black officer to work for the Colorado Springs Police Department, who launched a covert investigation into the Ku Klux Klan planning criminal acts of violence, is a role model.

With Black Panther, Ryan Coogler created a master piece. It is a movie to watch by almost every one. With a predominantly Black cast and strong women characters, it is inspirational for Blacks: young boys, girls, and adults.
Science fiction enthusiasts, political activists, anti-poaching activists,  diplomats, intelligence services operatives, humanitarians, those fighting against child soldiers recruitement or aduction of young girls by armed groups, and you name it, will certainly find Black Panther movie appealing.