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THE MY HERO PROJECT Global Exchange
THE MY HERO PROJECT Global Exchange
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Black/White & All That Jazz Betty and Carol say: It is impossible to fit someone as multi-faceted as Herb Jeffries into a single theme of heroism. Jeffries has lived the equivalent of many lives in his 96 years, any one of which most people could only dream of. His 1930s Bronze Buckaroo film series, gave Americans a new hero… the cowboy of color, who made huge contributions to the history of the American West. As a headliner in Las Vegas, Jeffries opened new doors for minority entertainers. Singing with the legendary Duke Ellington band, he brought music and joy to people around the world. Jeffries has been knighted by royalty and honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Walk of Stars in Palm Springs and Las Vegas. He owned a Paris café that welcomed existentialists, including Jean-Paul Sartre, and survived a plane crash that set him on a spiritual path he continues to follow today. A 10-minute film is not long enough to do his story justice, so we focused on one aspect of Jeffries life, the fact that he was Irish and Sicilian, yet lived his life as a man of color during a time of enforced segregation. This film represents just one facet in the life of a man who truly represents the best of humanity… not just because of his fight for racial equality, but for the way he lives his life. Jeffries is one of those magnetic people whose sheer joy and love of life touches the hearts of everyone around him. |
About Betty and Carol Betty Bailey and Carol Lynde became fast friends while working for WGNX-TV, in Atlanta, where Bailey was a political reporter and Lynde was Chief Photographer. The two never lost touch, no matter where their career paths took them. Bailey has a masters degree from Columbia University, Graduate School of Journalism, and currently works as a freelance writer in Southern California, specializing in feature stories and profiles. Lynde is the winner of 10 regional Emmy awards and is Co-Producer of "Arizona Wildlife Views," a half-hour series created by the Arizona Fish and Game Department for Arizona PBS stations. Betty says: I have written stories for the MY HERO website for about 5 years and, now, the MY HERO Short Film Festival offers even more flexibility in storytelling, with the incorporation of video and sound. As journalists, working in print and broadcast news, we sometimes have to tackle stories that are violent and distressing. Telling stories through MY HERO offers a nice balance. Here, we can share those positive, inspirational stories that, otherwise, may never be told. |
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