A Tony Award winner, alumna, and star of Walt Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” will keynote Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Commencement Exercises during the 2 p.m. session at the Alfred Lawson, Jr. Multipurpose Center Teaching Gymnasium on May 1.Anika Noni Rose, a product of FAMU’s theatre department (BA), who go on to receive international acclaim for her professional accomplishments in the visual and performing arts. Rose earned an MFA in drama from the American Conservatory Theatre.
“We are immensely proud of Ms. Rose and all of her accomplishments in the visual and performing arts. She is a graduate who has tested unchartered waters and excelled.”,” said President James H. Ammons.
In 2004, Rose won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway show, “Caroline or Change.” Her other awards include the Theatre World Award and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Featured Actress. In 2006, she starred in “Dreamgirls” as Lorrell Robinson and portrayed Mma Grace Makutsi in HBO's Peabody Award Winning “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency”. Her role in Disney's latest animated feature “The Princess and the Frog,” is historic as she represents the first black-animated princess, Tiana. The movie recently received three Oscar Award nominations and a Golden Globe Award nomination for the best-animated feature.
In addition, Rose has earned multiple 2010 Image Award nominations including Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture for “The Princess and the Frog” and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for “The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama for “Dreamgirls.”
The colleges and schools scheduled to graduate during the afternoon session are: the College of Arts & Sciences, the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, the College of Law, the School of Architecture, the School of Journalism and Graphic Communication and Environmental Sciences.
Well done Ms. Anika. Welcome back Home.
ReplyDeleteFirst time since she graduated according to an interview she did with Tom Joyner after she dissed FAMU...whateva !!!!!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I should be glad she could squeeze us in this time...NOT
3:29 AM, I heard the same interview where Ms. Rose was asked proudly by tom when was the last time she was back at FAMU and she said that "when I left Tallahassee I did not look in the rear view mirror!" Hopefully from here forward she will at least act as though our beloved institution played some part in her development....
ReplyDeleteHer feelings are not isolated by no means. After some of the treatment that has been received by some students, that's their initial thought. Since we don't know how she processed her experienced on the Hill, we shouldn't attempt to judge here statements simply from our perspective of our alma mater. But life has a way of coming full-circle. It is good that she is coming home and maybe what she thought was in her rearview is really in her windshield.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this is her first time back and she certainly spoke of FAMU when she was at the Bayou Classic last season. Also, Tallahassee doesn't make it pleasant for the FAMU student. Especially one from a larger metropolitan and non-southern setting. Just read some of the comments in the Dixiecrat and you'll understand. Most everyone I knew in school felt the same way about leaving, not about FAMU. Believe it or not people also try to make you feel guilty for attending an HBCU these days. You can hear it in the conversations and in the eyes of seniors who are about to leave. You can also notice it with some alumni as well. I'm proud of Anika's accomplishments and her poise. Be a proud Rattler.
ReplyDeleteOT: We've gotta see the double standard we hold our institutions to. I've noticed the attitude some of us have when at a black run or owned establishment vs. the reverence for the same if not worse treatment or service a a non-relative/non-black establishment. Like the attitude of some student athlete's and their parents who court the "bigger/big-time/D-1" school from their sophomore year in high school, if not longer. Find out the deals fall through for whatever reason(coaches are gonna string you along, its to their advantage to have a few kids across the country who are comparable, etc.). Then get upset with FAMU for not processing them fast enough knowing they only contacted the school in June or July. So now, the acceptance, scholarship and, clearinghouse is supposed to happen before fall deadlines. I see it too often. Don't be afriad to help introduce people to FAMU early in their Middle and High school career. The perception is incorrect, I see more coming back home for PWI's nearly broken from the experience, even if they were put on a pedestal when they got to that "big time" school.
ReplyDeleteOT: We've gotta see the double standard we hold our institutions to. I've noticed the attitude some of us have when at a black run or owned establishment vs. the reverence for the same if not worse treatment or service a a non-relative/non-black establishment. Like the attitude of some student athlete's and their parents who court the "bigger/big-time/D-1" school from their sophomore year in high school, if not longer. Find out the deals fall through for whatever reason(coaches are gonna string you along, its to their advantage to have a few kids across the country who are comparable, etc.). Then get upset with FAMU for not processing them fast enough knowing they only contacted the school in June or July. So now, the acceptance, scholarship and, clearinghouse is supposed to happen before fall deadlines. I see it too often. Don't be afriad to help introduce people to FAMU early in their Middle and High school career. The perception is incorrect, I see more coming back home for PWI's nearly broken from the experience, even if they were put on a pedestal when they got to that "big time" school.
ReplyDeleteWell she certainly rep us well during this years Bayou Classic broadcast on NBC. She said she wasn't that impressed, since she was from FAMU and seen the 100rd.
ReplyDeleteAt the Bayou Classic when asked about the halftime show, her words began with, "Well I'm a Rattler...", and she then continued by giving her shot-out to FAMU and the 100rd. That was a very proud moment.
ReplyDeleteMost of the students that I know from a "non southern setting" bring their bad habits from their "northern setting" and that doesn't go over very well in a civilized setting. Instead of spending all of your time talking about where you're from, you should spend more time trying to learn what you missed. If you don't own a brick (real estate) "where you're from", then you ain't sh!t no way and need to keep your mouth shut.
ReplyDeleteSome of you lazy irresponsible MFs are just looking for an excuse not to support FAMU. Just fess up and admit you ain't worth a damn.
ReplyDeleteYou don't get upset at these beauty supply stores that sell you makeup that doesn't make you look any better or boxer drawers that give you wedgies.
Hubba what 9:40 pm said.
ReplyDelete9:35 PM; ARE YOU SERIOUS? SERIOUSLY, CIVILIZED SETTING? LEARNED WHAT WE MISSED? ARE YOU SERIOUSLY MENTAL? SOUTH IS SO FAR BEHIND THE NORTH IT IS PATHETIC. OWNERSHIP OF REALESTATE? REALESTATE IN TALLY IS A J-O-K-E! INCOME MATCH COST OF LIVING? HELL, NO!!! YOU MUST LIVE ON THE SOUTHSIDE OF TALLY. IS THERE ANY BLACK UNITY AMONG OTHER BLACKS IN TALLY OR FAMU EXCEPT WHEN THERE IS A SPORTING EVENT? YOU ARE A SERIOUS HATER OF BLACKS THAT OBVIOUS DO NOT COME FROM THE BACK WOODS OF THE SOUTH, IMPREGNATE OF MORE THAN ONE ILLEGITIMATE BABIES BY DIFFERENT DADDIES, HIGH PERCENTAGE OF HIV/AIDS & STDS IN THE AREA (ITS BEEN DOCUMENTED). YOU ARE RIGHT "WE NORTHERNS" SHOULD KEEP OUR MOUTHS SHUT BECAUSE YOUR FEELINGS WILL DEFINITELY BE HURT. IGNORANT HATER. I DON'T BLAME BEAUTIFUL ANIKA ROSE -- I WOULD NOT CLAIM YOU & YOUR KIND EITHER. LOOK AT WHAT YOU EXPRESSED TOWARDS HER. JUST A H-A-T-E-R OF A PROPER SPEAKING, NON-WEAVE WEARING REAL INTELLIGENT BLACK WOMAN WITH CLASS. GO RATTLERS~ ANOTHER DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE "HOOD"! RATTLER NATION IS A REALTY SHOW...
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ReplyDeleteMost folks impression of FAMU is cause by FAMU. Example when you need to handle business at FAMU you can't get in touch with nobody and all you get is a voice mailbox that is always full and rarely get a call back. That what some folks call bad customer service. If you a alum that live in California and need to clear up some errors or whatever its not a option to come all the way back to Tallahassee to clear us something that might be simple and not their fault.
My point is FAMU has to stop making things hard for students and Alum to handle business and ask question they also need to own up to their own mistakes instead of giving folks the run around. You know "Treat other as you want them to treat you".
Don't get me wrong I have much luv for my school, but by no means do I owe FAMU anything. I paid for my education it wasn't given to me and I chose to come to FAMU from other options. So me giving back is from the goodness of my heart not cause of any debt to anybody or anything. So yes you have a right to bast alum that have some BS excuses, but as alum we need to get on FAMU about doing a better job of treating its alum and students better than what it is doing now......
2:36 Amen! Thank you for your intelligent insight... We love you Anika Rose -- You do your thang girl, success if life's best revenge!
ReplyDeleteI heard the same interview on Tom Joyner, and I have to say...she never said anything about a rearview mirror, or dissed FAM in any way. No need to make things up. She simply said that she had not been back since she graduated. Not everybody lives their lives to go to homecoming. Let me know how often you go back to school once you leave; particularly if you live in another part of the states, have a job that has taken you out of the country for months at a time, and have no ties other than the four years you were in school.
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