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Boston Globe
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Danielle Deadwyler on the profound family bonds of ‘40 Acres'
Deadwyler, who was raised in Atlanta, studied history and African-American Studies at Spelman college, then got a masters in American Studies from Columbia University and another in creative writing from Ashland University. After getting her start on stage in Atlanta, Deadwyler, 43, has shown she can handle a gun and a fight scene onscreen in movies including 'The Devil to Pay' and 'The Harder They Fall' and 'Carry-On,' while also honing her acting chops in episodes of 'Atlanta,' 'Watchmen,' and ' Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Danielle Deadwyler in "40 Acres." Courtesy of Magnolia Pictures Advertisement But Hailey in '40 Acres' also feels, in a weird way, like a descendant of Deadwyler's two most acclaimed roles, as Emmett Till's mother Mamie in ' Advertisement 'They all think about how to shield, protect, and nurture their families, although they all go about it in different ways,' Deadwyler said in a recent video interview. 'But they all also understand the impact of history and legacy on their present situations.' Q. What drew you to this role and story? A. It was the family's connection to the land and the desire — the hardcore, passionate, urgent desire — to stay together, to stay connected by any means. And by any means, I mean, by any means. Hailey knows the government never gave a damn about Black people and that things happen to folks who look like her, historically. … So at this juncture, she is assuredly just saying to hell with anybody who crosses their fence. You will get the blade. At the time I read the script, I'd been thinking about family connectivity, recalling my maternal grandparents and what they had carved out for my mom and her siblings and the long history and the memories of being on their land and wanting to explore that in a story. Q. How much does each of these roles not just inform the next role you take on, but stay with you and affect who you are in real life? A. They do have connectivity, but every experience is unto itself. And Danielle is learning from them all, for sure, but hopefully they are learning from me, perhaps. It's a crossing of knowledge — the text is teaching me them, and I am having a fusion of sorts with the roles. But Danielle is always trying to come back to herself. Advertisement Q. Are there ways in which you relate to Hailey? Are you good with a knife? A. Oh, hell yeah. How did you know, Stuart? [ She laughs, but in a way that makes you believe she really may be good with a knife. ] No, I have an intensity like her and Berniece and Mamie. Or I had an intensity. I think I'm coming to a place now where I need a little bit more balancing. I guess that's what they've all taught me. They beat me up enough in this movie that I had to chill out. I had the understanding of the need to teach, to protect, and to defend doggedly, but over the last couple of years I've learned that it's actually true that things work a little better with honey. We learn that as we get older. In Hailey's world, there are violent, nihilist folks coming to kill [her] children on [her] land, so she needs to be vigilant with her son. As a parent I'm actually a little lenient — you can't rule with an iron fist — but I send things for awareness, things to have a conversation about. Like a lot of Black parents, I want to help my son understand the severe nature of the world outside. We've witnessed an onslaught of violence against Black children, Black teens, Black young adults, Black people in general. Q. You've had roles in action movies like 'The Harder They Fall.' What were the physical demands of this role like, and how did you prepare? Advertisement A. To be honest, 'Till' was more exhausting than any other role. Emotionally, but there's a physicality to it, too. As a dancer, I have an understanding through movement, and everything I get the privilege to do is imbued with the physical. With Mamie in 'Till,' there was a regalness, a rigidity, a discipline that had to happen for her, and that's a challenge. When does one slouch down into some release? Hailey was military and there's rigor, and she's erect, too, but we see her drink when she's alone, and there's the scene where she's smoking a little cannabis. She's got vices, because the world is difficult, so we get to see that physicality in her, too. The fight scenes are exhausting, but we had a team that was just lovely, including the stunt team, and so we just rolled with the punches. It's a dance — this is choreography. Q. In movies, you're usually so intense, and it feels like you can kill with a glare, but in person you're funny and fun to talk to. Do you want to show that side of yourself onscreen? A. I started in comedy and have done it on stage numerous times. And I am consciously trying to balance my life and my art, yes, I am. … You should keep your eyes open for the remainder of the year — there will be some fun stuff. I'm trying to do a wide span of things, a deep exploration of what it means to be in the world. And it ain't all drama. Interview was edited for length and clarity. Advertisement
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Distinguished Almunus: Ashland's own Keisha Bahr making waves in marine science
Editor's note: The Ashland City Schools Foundation will host its 12th biennial Distinguished Alumni banquet Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Ashland University Convocation Center. Five inductees will be honored, bringing the total inducted since the first event in 2003 to 65. This week, the Ashland Times-Gazette is featuring information on one inductee online Monday-Friday. Dr. Keisha Bahr, a marine biologist from Ashland, discovered her passion for marine biology through the Tri-County Educational Service Center's marine biology course in her AP biology class. A transformative, weeklong field experience in the Florida Keys, where she first encountered the ocean, sparked her lifelong passion for marine science and coral reef conservation. After graduating in 2007, she moved to Florida and then Hawaii, becoming the first in her family to attend college. She earned a bachelor of science in marine biology in 2012 and a Ph.D. in zoology from the University of Hawaii in 2016. Bahr is a tenured associate professor of marine biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the chair for Coral Reef and Ocean Health at the Harte Research Institute. As a leading expert in coral reef responses to environmental change, her research bridges academia, government agencies and local communities to develop innovative tools for coral reef restoration, preservation and management. She has secured over $6 million in research funding to support coral reef conservation efforts. Bahr has traveled globally, witnessing pristine coral reefs and observing firsthand the devastating effects of climate change. These experiences strengthened her resolve to protect coral ecosystems. She led Operation Coral Rescue, relocating over 300 corals from Florida to Texas during a marine heatwave to preserve the critically endangered Staghorn coral. The initiative earned national recognition and established her as a leader in coral conservation. As a council member of the International Coral Reef Society, Bahr helps shape global research and conservation strategies and has represented the society at the United Nations, advocating for stronger protection of coral reefs. She also is a pioneer in citizen science, developing coral color cards used in Hawaii, Tahiti and the Caribbean to help local communities monitor coral health. Bahr's mentorship has earned her the 2023 Outstanding Doctoral Mentor Award and the 2024 College of Science Teaching Excellence Award. She has trained more than 500 students through immersive field courses in Hawaii, Belize and Fiji, shaping the next generation of marine scientists and conservation leaders. This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Keisha Bahr is Ashland City Schools Foundation Distinguished Alumus
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Students show off creative writing skills at regional tournament
Mar. 9—LIMA — About 145 middle school students from 27 schools in northwest Ohio competed in a regional tournament of Power of the Pen on Saturday at The Ohio State University's Lima campus. Power of the Pen is an Ohio-based, educational nonprofit that aims to positively impact middle schoolers by helping them find and develop their creative voices by writing stories based on prompts. Two district tournaments were previously held at Coldwater and Tiffin middle schools, and the top students regionally will advance to the state tournament on May 21 and 22 at Ashland University. The northwest region of the program includes schools in Allen, Auglaize, Defiance, Fulton, Hardin, Hancock, Henry, Lucas, Mercer, Ottawa, Paulding, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca, Shelby, Williams, Wood, Wyandot and Van Wert counties. Seventh graders had 40 minutes to write about each prompt, including: "Practice makes perfect. Show how," "Write a story about someone literally bumping into someone else" and "'Not trying is much worse than failing.' (Esther Pia Cordova) Build your story around this quote." Eighth graders had the same amount of time for three different prompts: "The meeting. Use this as a significant component in your story," "Center your story around a photo that's gone viral" and "'That's the thing about pain. It demands to be felt.' (John Green) Build your story around this quote." "I'm always blown away at the in-depth knowledge that these seventh and eighth graders have about World War III, about science, about technology. I mean they go so in-depth into the stories," said Karaline Grubaugh, Power of the Pen's northwest regional director. "It's just amazing to me that in 40 minutes, which is all they have to write for an unknown prompt, that they're able to come up with such unique stories and really take you to a whole other place. "I know how important writing is," she said. "I'm a former Power of the Pen kid (from St. Marys), so I know what this did for me in middle school and my confidence and the way it helped me even prepare for writing résumés, college entrance exams, even now, just learning how to professionally write in an email and a work environment. So the skills they're learning here today are far more than just ribbons, trophies, things like that. I'm an example; it can definitely lead you on to success." Perrysburg Junior High School near Toledo took home multiple awards, including the big trophy for best combined seventh and eighth grade teams. Jamie Avery, the eighth grade coach, and Jennifer Scharer, the seventh grade coach, agreed with Grubaugh about the positive impact events like this can have on participants now and in the future. "I think it just gives them an outlet, a way to express themselves, and writing goes into everything in life, really in all careers and every direction they take it," Avery said. "It's a confidence booster. I think when you come and you win as a team or place as a team, you start to realize, even though it's creative writing, I'm pretty good at this," Scharer said. POWER OF THE PEN REGIONAL WINNERS Seventh Grade Team —First Place: Edison Middle School —Second Place: Perrysburg Junior High School (Toledo) —Third Place: Ottawa Hills Junior High School (Toledo) Eighth Grade Team —First Place: Perrysburg Junior High School (Toledo) —Second Place: Houston Junior High School —Third Place: St. Marys Middle School Combined Seventh and Eighth Grade Teams —First Place: Perrysburg Junior High School (Toledo) —Second Place: Houston Junior High School —Third Place: Timberstone Junior High School (Sylvania) Featured Local Savings
