Remembering U Street/Black Broadway: Flashback to May 1940, the illustrious actress/singer, Pearl Bailey (portrayed by actress, Roz White) sits in her dressing room getting dolled-up for her performance at U Street’s historic Lincoln Theatre in Washington, D.C. Pearl shares her tale about the music, arts and culture, entertainment, and history during D.C.’s Black Broadway on U heydays despite the tough Jim Crow laws, this black gateway – – strived and thrived.
A BIT OF HISTORY: Ms. Bailey is credited with coining the phrase “Black Broadway” for D.C.’s historic black U Street community, where as a teenager she jumpstarted her singing and dancing career at local venues such as Republic Gardens, Howard Theatre and Jungle Inn.
Thursday, February 6, 2020, 6pm-8pm | #BlackHistoryMonth Panel: 100 Years of Whitelaw Hotel, celebrating the past, present & future of this historic DC venue | Location: Whitelaw Ballroom, 1839 13th Street, NW Washington, DC 20009 Click here for event info
By Shellée M. Haynesworth | Executive Producer/Creator, Black Broadway on U Project From crazy cool to virtuoso piano rolls,…
Celebrating 2018 Jazz Appreciation Month! #APeoplesGroove “Echoes of Jazz in Washington, D.C.” History Tour with the Black Broadway on…
Celebrating 2018 Black History Month! Black Broadway on U: In Small Spaces powered by Eaton Workshop immerses audiences into four…
Shellée M. Haynesworth is an award-winning multimedia maker, storyteller and culture keeper. Throughout her more than 20+-year career and through her multimedia firm, Indigo Creative Works, she has produced documentaries, multicultural and digital media projects for clients such as USAID, U.S. Department of Education, Smithsonian Institution, Gates Foundation, PBS, NBC, Black Entertainment Television, TV One, HBO/Time Warner, and King World Entertainment, among others.
As a storyteller, her focus has been to examine the African Diaspora and shed light on the “untold” human stories and “hidden” contributions of African American and Latino changemakers in history, social justice, arts, culture and humanities. Some of her documentary and broadcast credits include Latino Voices: Art & Culture (PBS/Smithsonian), The HistoryMakers: An Evening with Quincy Jones (PBS), Latino Music Greats (National TV Syndication), Women’s Land Rights: A Ripple Effect (USAID/Gates Foundation) and A Tribute to Madiba: Nelson Mandela Special (TV One/News One Now).
Currently, she is exploring new approaches to developing immersive (multi-platform) cinematic experiences, coding and pioneering the “next generation” for African-American themed content and projects at the intersection of technology, narrative, creative placement and cultural preservation. Her latest endeavor, “Black Broadway on U: A Transmedia Project” highlights the under-told story of her native Washington, D.C.’s greater, historic U Street Corridor during its heyday, aka the “Black Broadway” era, when this “secret city” served as a cultural and intellectual mecca of Black America. A multi-generational Washingtonian, Haynesworth is very passionate about preserving the black history and cultural legacy of this storied community, which is very near and dear to her and was once a very important crossroad for her family in the early 20th century. READ: National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Saving Places, “Who Tells Your Story: U Street’s African-American Legacy in D.C., CLICK HERE.
She is the recipient of several top industry awards and was nominated for a local Emmy Award in 2013 for “The Sound: A Chuck Brown Tribute.” She is an active member of the Producers Guild of America, Women in Film and Video (WIFV) and currently serves on WIFV’s Advisory Board in D.C. She is an University of Maryland at College Park alum, where she earned a B.S. in Broadcast Journalism.
Creative Consultant/Digital Media Strategist
A native of Washington D.C., Karen brings over 14 years of expertise in special events planning, project management, writing, and research to the Black Broadway on U team. Skilled in social media strategy and execution, her creative outlet has always been entertaining and the lively arts. She grew up learning the finer points of planning, producing and managing all sorts of affairs from small soirées to large fundraising galas. A proud Howard University alumna, she resides in the District, is an inveterate audiophile and history buff.
Vice President of Media Relations/Communications
Michelle Delino is a media strategist and communications specialist with a 25+ year career working in television and public relations in New York City and Washington, DC. A savvy publicist, producer, and talent/brand developer, Delino brings a high level of creativity and insight to multi-media projects. She works closely with clients to develop their brand identity from the inside out, assisting them in creating conscious content for TV, web, mobile and social media. Today, Delino combines her passion for PR and television programming, specializing in creating entertainment, lifestyle, health and wellness content which educates, enlightens and uplifts audiences worldwide.