Melvin Van Peebles, an actor, playwright, filmmaker, novelist, and composer, died at 89 in his home in Manhattan with his family by his side, reports confirm.&nbsp;

 
The Criterion Collection, a box set of Van Peebles' essential films next week, informed his fans and the media on behalf of his family. Peebles breathed his last on September 21.

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We are saddened to announce the passing of a giant of American cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, who died last night, at home with family, at the age of 89. In an unparalleled career, Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape. He will be deeply missed. <a href="https://t.co/HpciXXVoYo">pic.twitter.com/HpciXXVoYo</a>
— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Criterion/status/1440784276866301959?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
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The independent artiste left his mark on art and culture with his writing, direction, among others talented works, but his most successful stint to this date remains his 1971 film 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song'.&nbsp;

 
In the 70s, this film became one of the highest-grossing indie movies of all time and even started a dialogue around blaxploitation. The political statement that Peebles had made through this movie remains relevant even to this day.&nbsp;

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"Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free. True liberation did not mean imitating the colonizer's mentality. It meant appreciating the power, beauty, and interconnectivity of all people," his son Mario Van Peebles, actor and director himself, reportedly said in a statement.&nbsp;

 
Van Peebles launched his artistic career as a writer, publishing his first book 'The Big Heart' &nbsp;in 1957. From writing, he had then moved on to filmmaking.&nbsp;

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Van Peebles then traveled to Europe, eventually settling in France. He made his short film 'Les Cinq Cent Balles' (500 Francs) there and worked as an investigative journalist for France Observateur, which then led him to become a columnist for the humor magazine Hara-kiri.

 
In 1965, Melvin Van Peebles became the editor-in-chief of the French edition of Mad magazine.&nbsp;

 
In total, Van Peebles published four novels, a number of short stories, and wrote the play 'La Fête à Harlem', which was later released as a novel.&nbsp;

 
Van Peebles debuted his first feature film, 'The Story of a Three-Day Pass', based on a novel by the same name. 
The film won award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and got the attention of Hollywood producers, that opened his door to his studio debut with 1970-released 'Watermelon Man'.&nbsp;

Melvin Van Peebles, an actor, playwright, filmmaker, novelist, and composer, died at 89 in his home in Manhattan with his family by his side, reports confirm. The Criterion Collection, a box set of Van Peebles' essential films next week, informed his fans and the media on behalf of his family.

Melvin Van Peebles, an actor, playwright, filmmaker, novelist, and composer, died at 89 in his home in Manhattan with his family by his side, reports confirm. The Criterion Collection, a box set of Van Peebles' essential films next week, informed his fans and the media on behalf of his family. Peebles breathed his last on September 21. We are saddened to announce the passing of a giant of American cinema, Melvin Van Peebles, who died last night, at home with family, at the age of 89. In an unparalleled career, Van Peebles made an indelible mark on the international cultural landscape. He will be deeply missed. pic.twitter.com/HpciXXVoYo — Criterion Collection (@Criterion) September 22, 2021 × Also read: Billie Eilish, BTS, Elton John in concert for climate action, vaccines The independent artiste left his mark on art and culture with his writing, direction, among others talented works, but his most successful stint to this date remains his 1971 film 'Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song'. In the 70s, this film became one of the highest-grossing indie movies of all time and even started a dialogue around blaxploitation. The political statement that Peebles had made through this movie remains relevant even to this day. Also read: Prosecution details R. Kelly sex crime 'universe' in closing arguments "Dad knew that Black images matter. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what was a movie worth? We want to be the success we see, thus we need to see ourselves being free. True liberation did not mean imitating the colonizer's mentality. It meant appreciating the power, beauty, and interconnectivity of all people," his son Mario Van Peebles, actor and director himself, reportedly said in a statement. Van Peebles launched his artistic career as a writer, publishing his first book 'The Big Heart' in 1957. From writing, he had then moved on to filmmaking. Also read: 'Historic night' as Somalia screens first film in 30 years Van Peebles then traveled to Europe, eventually settling in France. He made his short film 'Les Cinq Cent Balles' (500 Francs) there and worked as an investigative journalist for France Observateur, which then led him to become a columnist for the humor magazine Hara-kiri. In 1965, Melvin Van Peebles became the editor-in-chief of the French edition of Mad magazine. In total, Van Peebles published four novels, a number of short stories, and wrote the play 'La Fête à Harlem', which was later released as a novel. Van Peebles debuted his first feature film, 'The Story of a Three-Day Pass', based on a novel by the same name. The film won award at the San Francisco International Film Festival, and got the attention of Hollywood producers, that opened his door to his studio debut with 1970-released 'Watermelon Man'.

Melvin Van Peebles, iconic Black actor-director-writer, dies at the age of 89

#BlackOutTuesday became the top trending hashtag on Twitter on Tuesday as thousands of businesses and individuals, including TV channels and celebrities, posted black screen shots to signal support for racial justice in the wake of protests over the police killing of George Floyd in the US entering a second week.

The death last week of Floyd, an unarmed black man, as a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt onto his neck has&nbsp;unleashed a wave of outrage in cities around the United States about the unfair treatment of black Americans.

The Blackout Tuesday movement was prompted by two US record industry executives to pressure the music business to improve the presence of black people in its corporate ranks, noting that the industry had "profited predominantly from black art." Rap and R&amp;B overtook rock in 2017 to become the biggest music genre in the United States.

The movement was quickly embraced by record labels, celebrities including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and basketball player LeBron James, and American citizens.

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we ain’t buying shit!!! and we ain’t selling shit neither!! gang gang! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BLACKOUTTUESDAY?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BLACKOUTTUESDAY</a> AF!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/FentyOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FentyOfficial</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/fentybeauty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fentybeauty</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/SavageXFenty?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SavageXFenty</a> 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿 <a href="https://t.co/XNC44Tegj5">pic.twitter.com/XNC44Tegj5</a>
— Rihanna (@rihanna) <a href="https://twitter.com/rihanna/status/1267700301064138754?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Several companies paused normal work and directed their efforts to support the work of Black Lives Matter and other social justice groups.

Streaming service Spotify highlighted the music of black artists, Sirius XM Radio said it would silence its music channels for three minutes, and Apple Music DJ Zane Lowe tweeted that he wouldn't host his radio show but would be "listening, learning and looking for solutions to fight racial inequality."

Video-sharing platform TikTok donated $4 million to non-profits that help the black community while eBay in the United States said it would donate all fees collected on Tuesday from items sold in its music categories to a charity that supports equality.

ViacomCBS said it would be "on pause" on Tuesday, a day after CBS News, MTV and Comedy Central went dark for 8 minutes and 46 seconds - the length of time Floyd's neck was pinned to the ground by the knee of a police officer.

The movement also gave rise to dissenters. Black Lives Matter complained that news of its planned protests had been drowned out, while film executive Franklin Leonard said he would not be taking part.

"A 'show' of solidarity is NOT solidarity," Leonard tweeted. "And posting a black tile on your Instagram feed for a day definitely isn’t."

#BlackOutTuesday became the top trending hashtag on Twitter on Tuesday as thousands of businesses and individuals, including TV channels and celebrities, posted black screen shots to signal support for racial justice in the wake of protests over the police killing of George Floyd in the US entering a second week.

#BlackOutTuesday became the top trending hashtag on Twitter on Tuesday as thousands of businesses and individuals, including TV channels and celebrities, posted black screen shots to signal support for racial justice in the wake of protests over the police killing of George Floyd in the US entering a second week. The death last week of Floyd, an unarmed black man, as a white police officer in Minneapolis knelt onto his neck has unleashed a wave of outrage in cities around the United States about the unfair treatment of black Americans. The Blackout Tuesday movement was prompted by two US record industry executives to pressure the music business to improve the presence of black people in its corporate ranks, noting that the industry had "profited predominantly from black art." Rap and R&B overtook rock in 2017 to become the biggest music genre in the United States. The movement was quickly embraced by record labels, celebrities including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and basketball player LeBron James, and American citizens. we ain’t buying shit!!! and we ain’t selling shit neither!! gang gang! #BLACKOUTTUESDAY AF!!! @FentyOfficial @fentybeauty @SavageXFenty 💪🏿💪🏿💪🏿 pic.twitter.com/XNC44Tegj5 — Rihanna (@rihanna) June 2, 2020 × Several companies paused normal work and directed their efforts to support the work of Black Lives Matter and other social justice groups. Streaming service Spotify highlighted the music of black artists, Sirius XM Radio said it would silence its music channels for three minutes, and Apple Music DJ Zane Lowe tweeted that he wouldn't host his radio show but would be "listening, learning and looking for solutions to fight racial inequality." Video-sharing platform TikTok donated $4 million to non-profits that help the black community while eBay in the United States said it would donate all fees collected on Tuesday from items sold in its music categories to a charity that supports equality. ViacomCBS said it would be "on pause" on Tuesday, a day after CBS News, MTV and Comedy Central went dark for 8 minutes and 46 seconds - the length of time Floyd's neck was pinned to the ground by the knee of a police officer. The movement also gave rise to dissenters. Black Lives Matter complained that news of its planned protests had been drowned out, while film executive Franklin Leonard said he would not be taking part. "A 'show' of solidarity is NOT solidarity," Leonard tweeted. "And posting a black tile on your Instagram feed for a day definitely isn’t."

#BlackOutTuesday sweeps social media as George Floyd protests in US escalate

The stars of Black Panther&nbsp;dressed in their finest African-inspired royal attire and spoke about the importance of representing a black superhero story on screen at the premiere of the new film from Walt Disney Co`s Marvel Entertainment. 
 
Chadwick Boseman, who plays T`Challa, the titular hero and king of fictional African nation Wakanda, led his co-stars including Lupita Nyong`o, Daniel Kaluuya, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira and Angela Bassett, on the purple carpet on Monday. 
 
&quot;Something like Marvel has a way of really affecting popular culture, and to have that popular culture informed with things that are of African origin and people knowing they are of African origin ... is powerful,&quot; Nyong`o, who plays warrior Nakia, told Reuters.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Hopefully it changes the general idea of what being an African is. Too often times we see Africa as a place that is wanting and here it`s a place that you want to go,&quot; she said. 
 
The Oscar-winning actress matched the purple carpet in an amethyst-hued Versace gown with gold-detailed shoulders and belt. Gurira wore a bright pink Viktor &amp; Rolf dress with a dramatic shoulder ruffle, and Bassett opted for a golden yellow Naeem Khan fringe jumpsuit.&nbsp; 
 
The men also served up colorful looks. Boseman rocked a gilded print Emporio Armani suit, actor Donald Glover opted for a tangerine Dolce &amp; Gabbana suit, and the film`s director, Ryan Coogler, added a printed scarf to his black Ikire Jones suit, a Philadelphia label that draws from West African influences.&nbsp; 
 
Black Panther,&nbsp;out in theaters on Feb. 16, earned rave early reactions from attendees at the premiere, including Guardians of the Galaxy&nbsp;director James Gunn, who praised the film as an &quot;extraordinary work.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
&quot;It`s just filled with so much talent, so much beauty, the aesthetic of it is so pleasing and so black and Afro-centric and African and modern and worldly and futuristic. You know, it`s got a lot of swag. This movie is on fire,&quot; said Bassett, who plays T`Challa`s mother.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The stars of Black Panther dressed in their finest African-inspired royal attire and spoke about the importance of representing a black superhero story on screen at the premiere of the new film

The stars of Black Panther dressed in their finest African-inspired royal attire and spoke about the importance of representing a black superhero story on screen at the premiere of the new film from Walt Disney Co`s Marvel Entertainment. Chadwick Boseman, who plays T`Challa, the titular hero and king of fictional African nation Wakanda, led his co-stars including Lupita Nyong`o, Daniel Kaluuya, Michael B. Jordan, Danai Gurira and Angela Bassett, on the purple carpet on Monday. "Something like Marvel has a way of really affecting popular culture, and to have that popular culture informed with things that are of African origin and people knowing they are of African origin ... is powerful," Nyong`o, who plays warrior Nakia, told Reuters. "Hopefully it changes the general idea of what being an African is. Too often times we see Africa as a place that is wanting and here it`s a place that you want to go," she said. The Oscar-winning actress matched the purple carpet in an amethyst-hued Versace gown with gold-detailed shoulders and belt. Gurira wore a bright pink Viktor & Rolf dress with a dramatic shoulder ruffle, and Bassett opted for a golden yellow Naeem Khan fringe jumpsuit. The men also served up colorful looks. Boseman rocked a gilded print Emporio Armani suit, actor Donald Glover opted for a tangerine Dolce & Gabbana suit, and the film`s director, Ryan Coogler, added a printed scarf to his black Ikire Jones suit, a Philadelphia label that draws from West African influences. Black Panther, out in theaters on Feb. 16, earned rave early reactions from attendees at the premiere, including Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, who praised the film as an "extraordinary work." "It`s just filled with so much talent, so much beauty, the aesthetic of it is so pleasing and so black and Afro-centric and African and modern and worldly and futuristic. You know, it`s got a lot of swag. This movie is on fire," said Bassett, who plays T`Challa`s mother.

'Black Panther' stars on the importance of African culture in a Marvel film

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Melvin Van Peebles, iconic Black actor-director-writer, dies at the age of 89

#BlackOutTuesday sweeps social media as George Floyd protests in US escalate

'Black Panther' stars on the importance of African culture in a Marvel film