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Peeking behind the ‘Bluff City Law’ curtain

NEW TRI-STATE DEFENDER — “Bluff City Law” centers around the ofttimes fraught, father-daughter relationship between main characters Elijah and Sidney Strait. Elijah (Jimmy Smits) is a famed civil rights attorney and pillar of the community whose personal life isn’t so neat and tidy. Sidney (Caitlin McGee) is his daughter, who reluctantly leaves corporate law to rejoin him at the family law practice. She’s the hotheaded new jack to his more tempered, old-school personality.

Published

6 years ago

August 31, 2019

Oakland Post

Jimmy Smits and Caitlin McGee were among the “Bluff City Law” stars at the Itta Bena restaurant on Beale Street for a press junket Tuesday. (Photo by: Greg Campbell | NBC)

By Joy Doss

Many of us have heard by now that “Bluff City Law” is filming in Memphis; actually IN Memphis. Not trying to fool us with narrow shots of Atlanta streets or, worse, New Orleans. This is exciting!

The New Tri-State Defender was invited to participate in a press junket Tuesday at Itta Bena restaurant on Beale Street. I was more than thrilled to be part of a small cohort that gathered to speak with the cast and one of the producers, David Janollari.

Columnist Joy Doss on Tuesday mixed and mingled with actor Jimmy Smits and others starring in or helping to make “Bluff City Law,” the series that is being filmed in Memphis and debuts Sept. 23 on NBC. (Courtesy photo)

“Bluff City Law” centers around the ofttimes fraught, father-daughter relationship between main characters Elijah and Sidney Strait. Elijah (Jimmy Smits) is a famed civil rights attorney and pillar of the community whose personal life isn’t so neat and tidy. Sidney (Caitlin McGee) is his daughter, who reluctantly leaves corporate law to rejoin him at the family law practice. She’s the hotheaded new jack to his more tempered, old-school personality.

This theoretically makes for great yin-yang balance. But for good TV, we need some conflict. And in real life that personality mix can slice both ways!

The show brings together some major talent – some well-known, some little known, some you will soon know, some you know if you know.

From Michael Luwoye (two-year “Hamilton” run as both Hamilton and Burr, “The Gifted” and “She’s Gotta Have It” season 2) and star-in-the-making Stony Blyden (Nickelodeon alum, “The Edge of Seventeen,” and “Dude”) to Jimmy Smits (“NYPD Blue,” “West Wing,” “Sons of Anarchy” and a stellar guest star spot on “How To Get Away With Murder”) and Jayne Atkinson (“House of Cards,” “Madame Secretary” and “Criminal Minds”), they have stacked the deck with acting chops and star power.

As the main cast members passed through our cohort, I noticed a common thread – the mention of activism, advocacy, justice/social justice or political awareness in general.

Josh Kelly (“Robbie”) served in the military and told us how he loves to see justice prevail. “This show is all about standing up for the little guy,” he said.

The unapologetically political McGee was a kindergarten teacher for several years and named her dog partially after Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“On a personal level, I would never be able to do a show that didn’t align with my own moral compass,” she shared. “I’m fine with playing someone a little hard-edged, as long as she’s on the right side of history….”

Growing up in a humanitarian home, MaameYaa Boafo (“Briana”) has always been connected to social justice in her real life. Her dad worked for a refugee agency finding housing for refugees.

“Being able to blend my art…feels like a win-win. I am so grateful specifically to be a part of ‘Bluff City Law.’” In addition to acting, she helps with a school that her parents built in Ghana. She’s passionate about children in foster care. And upon learning that there’s a large population of Sudanese people in Memphis, she plans to find a way to connect with them as well.

“The world should be our home,” she said. “We should be invited everywhere.”

Atkinson (“Della”) is quite the spark plug and has apparently been so from way back. During our conversation about southern ladies, gentility and polite society, she spoke about how she left her sorority in college because they wouldn’t accept her Jewish friend. She also left her church after the pastor said her friend wouldn’t be allowed in heaven because of her ethnicity.

And, of course, there’s Smits, who is a longtime spokesperson for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He is also a famously outspoken activist and advocate in the LatinX community.

According to Janollari, one of the producers, they wanted a backdrop that was different, not the same skyline and streets of New York, Chicago, LA; and not even Nashville. In fact, they were very insistent about using Memphis, with the hope of investing their time and talent and eventually giving it the allure and luster of some of its peer cities. I know we receive that. And we receive them.

Another common thread is that most of them knew little about Memphis and had never been here. They came with a blank slate that they have already filled with love for our city. Memphians have embraced them wholly, as we tend to do.

There is so much to unpack and more to come. Suffice it to say for now that the cast is a lovely bunch. They gel well and move as a family, which, in addition to their own personal connections to the show, turns up on the screen. Stay tuned for funny things I learned and more about the show itself.

“Bluff City Law” will air on Mondays at 9 p.m. CT on NBC, beginning Sept. 23.

This article originally appeared in the New Tri-State Defender

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

Published

5 days ago

May 30, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

Stacy M. Brown

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Hoover’s Commutation Divides Chicago as State Sentence Remains

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial.

Published

6 days ago

May 29, 2025

Stacy M. Brown

By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

The federal sentence for Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover has been commuted, but he remains incarcerated under a 200-year state sentence in Illinois. The decision by Donald Trump to reduce Hoover’s federal time has reignited longstanding debates over his legacy and whether rehabilitation or continued punishment is warranted. The commutation drew immediate public attention after music executive Jay Prince and artist Chance the Rapper publicly praised Trump’s decision. “I’m glad that Larry Hoover is home,” said Chance the Rapper. “He was a political prisoner set up by the federal government. He created Chicago Votes, mobilized our people, and was targeted for that.”

But Hoover, the founder of the Gangster Disciples, is not home—not yet. Now in federal custody at the Florence Supermax in Colorado, Hoover was convicted of murder and running a criminal enterprise. Although some supporters describe him as a political prisoner, the legal and public safety concerns associated with his name remain substantial. “There is a divide in the Black community here,” said Chicago journalist Jason Palmer during an appearance on the Let It Be Known morning program. “Some view Hoover as someone who brought structure and leadership. Others remember the violence that came with his organization.” Palmer explained that while Hoover’s gang originally formed for protection, it grew into a criminal network responsible for extensive harm in Chicago. He also noted that Hoover continued to run his organization from state prison using coded messages passed through visitors, prompting his transfer to federal custody.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is widely considered a potential 2028 presidential contender, has not issued a statement. Palmer suggested that silence is strategic. “Releasing Hoover would create enormous political consequences,” Palmer said. “The governor’s in a difficult spot—he either resists pressure from supporters or risks national backlash if he acts.” According to Palmer, Hoover’s federal commutation does not make him a free man. “The federal sentence may be commuted, but he still has a 200-year state sentence,” he said. “And Illinois officials have already made it clear they don’t want to house him in state facilities again. They prefer he remains in federal custody, just somewhere outside of Colorado.”

Palmer also raised concerns about what Hoover’s case could signal for others. “When R. Kelly was convicted federally, state prosecutors in Illinois and Minnesota dropped their charges. If a president can commute federal sentences based on public pressure or celebrity support, others like R. Kelly or Sean Combs could be next,” Palmer said. “Meanwhile, there are thousands of incarcerated people without fame or access to public platforms who will never get that consideration.” “There are people who are not here today because of the violence connected to these organizations,” Palmer said. “That has to be part of this conversation.”

Stacy M. Brown

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WATCH: Five Years After George Floyd: Full Panel Discussion | Tracey’s Keepin’ It Real | Live Podcast Event

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Published

1 week ago

May 28, 2025

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https://youtube.com/watch?v=OsNLWTz6jU0&feature=oembed

May 25, 2020. The world stopped and watched as a life was taken.

But what has happened since?

Join us as we return to the city where it happened and speak with a voice from the heart of the community – Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO/Publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

She shares reflections, insights, and the story of a community forever changed. What has a year truly meant, and where do we go from here?

This is more than just a date; it’s a moment in history. See what one leader in the Black press has to say about it.

Recorded live at UROC in Minneapolis, this powerful discussion features:

Panelists: