Meet Luis Gossett Jr.
Honorary Chair and Chief Elder of Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival
Lou Gossett Jr. is one of the most respected and beloved actors on stage, screen and television and is also an accomplished writer, producer and director. Off-screen he is a social activist, educator and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. Gossett was the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettable performance as drill Sergeant Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." Among his other awards are an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for his portrayal of Fiddler in the groundbreaking ABC series "Roots," a Golden Globe for Best Performance
by an Actor in a Supporting Role for "The Josephine Baker Story" and a Golden Globe for "An Officer and a Gentleman." He has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, one Academy Award, five Images Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards and in 1992 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Gossett has also received numerous other honors throughout his illustrious career. His film debut was in the 1961 classic movie "A Raisin in the Sun" with Sidney Poitier. Other film credits include "The Deep," "Blue Chips," "Daddy's Little Girls," Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too?," "Firewalker," "Jaws-3D," "Enemy Mine" and "Iron Eagle" 1-4, among many others. Television credits include "Extant," "Madam Secretary," "Boardwalk Empire," "Family Guy" and "ER," among dozens of others. Gossett is the author of the bestselling autobiography "An Actor and a Gentleman," in which he chronicles the challenges and triumphs of his 50+ year career. Gossett is recognized as much for his humanitarian efforts as he is for his accomplishments as an actor. In 2006, Gossett founded The Eracism Foundation which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating racism. The foundation provides young adults with tools to live a racially diverse and culturally inclusive life. Programs focus on fostering cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education and anti-violence initiatives. Gossett was born in Brooklyn and made his stage debut when he was 17 in "Take a Giant Step," which was selected as one of the 10 best Broadway shows of 1953 by The New York Times. He has two adult sons and resides in Malibu, California.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: The Honig Company
Lou Gosset Jr. Is the inspiration and the spirit behind Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival founded and implemented in June of 2012. Juneteenth Atlanta is a member of NJOF and is accredited for working within the organization in making Juneteenth a national holiday. Among Lou Gossett Jr's many other accomplishments Lou's vision is to continue building Juneteenth into one of the most celebrated holidays in the world through adding a film component to the festival and parade and through bringing his network along for the journey, like only he can do. Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival is so excited to have Louis Gossett as a partner in our shared vision and as our Chief Elder of inspiration and operations.
Honorary Chair and Chief Elder of Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival
Lou Gossett Jr. is one of the most respected and beloved actors on stage, screen and television and is also an accomplished writer, producer and director. Off-screen he is a social activist, educator and author dedicated to enriching the lives of others. Gossett was the first African-American to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his unforgettable performance as drill Sergeant Emil Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman." Among his other awards are an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor for his portrayal of Fiddler in the groundbreaking ABC series "Roots," a Golden Globe for Best Performance
by an Actor in a Supporting Role for "The Josephine Baker Story" and a Golden Globe for "An Officer and a Gentleman." He has been nominated for seven Primetime Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, one Academy Award, five Images Awards, two Daytime Emmy Awards and in 1992 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Gossett has also received numerous other honors throughout his illustrious career. His film debut was in the 1961 classic movie "A Raisin in the Sun" with Sidney Poitier. Other film credits include "The Deep," "Blue Chips," "Daddy's Little Girls," Tyler Perry's "Why Did I Get Married Too?," "Firewalker," "Jaws-3D," "Enemy Mine" and "Iron Eagle" 1-4, among many others. Television credits include "Extant," "Madam Secretary," "Boardwalk Empire," "Family Guy" and "ER," among dozens of others. Gossett is the author of the bestselling autobiography "An Actor and a Gentleman," in which he chronicles the challenges and triumphs of his 50+ year career. Gossett is recognized as much for his humanitarian efforts as he is for his accomplishments as an actor. In 2006, Gossett founded The Eracism Foundation which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating racism. The foundation provides young adults with tools to live a racially diverse and culturally inclusive life. Programs focus on fostering cultural diversity, historical enrichment, education and anti-violence initiatives. Gossett was born in Brooklyn and made his stage debut when he was 17 in "Take a Giant Step," which was selected as one of the 10 best Broadway shows of 1953 by The New York Times. He has two adult sons and resides in Malibu, California.
- IMDb Mini Biography By: The Honig Company
Lou Gosset Jr. Is the inspiration and the spirit behind Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival founded and implemented in June of 2012. Juneteenth Atlanta is a member of NJOF and is accredited for working within the organization in making Juneteenth a national holiday. Among Lou Gossett Jr's many other accomplishments Lou's vision is to continue building Juneteenth into one of the most celebrated holidays in the world through adding a film component to the festival and parade and through bringing his network along for the journey, like only he can do. Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival is so excited to have Louis Gossett as a partner in our shared vision and as our Chief Elder of inspiration and operations.
Meet our Board of Directors
Brad Lewis Chair Meet Brad Lewis: A true renaissance man, Brad Lewis is a creative writer, music producer, filmmaker, and serial entrepreneur. With over 20 years in the entertainment industry, Brad has acquired extensive knowledge in the creative process from managing Grammy Award winning artists to developing educational products for children. Brad’s passion for inspiring others has been the driving force for his personal mission “to empower individuals and communities through the arts and financial literacy.” These themes are adequately addressed in independent films which he co-wrote and co-produced. With such a diverse skill set, and new projects on the horizon, Brad still finds time to homeschool his 3 year old son and is a major asset for the continued development of Juneteenth Atlanta. |
Candy Tate Vice Chair Meet Dr. Rachanice Candy Tate: Candy is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University’s History Department where her dissertation was titled "'Our Art Itself was Our Activism': Atlanta Neighborhood Arts Center, 1975-1990.". Her research interests include cultural politics in Atlanta, black photographers, Ancient Nubia and Kemet (Egypt). A native of Atlanta, she finished her undergraduate work at Emory University in Art History. Her Masters degrees are from Georgia State University in Public Administration (Non Profit Management) and from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Art History. Her master's thesis there was on a Harlem Renaissance painting by Lois Mailou Jones, titled The Ascent of Ethiopia (1932). Candy is currently the Assistant Director of the Emory College Center for Creativity & Arts and owns a fine arts consulting business. Her service in the community include chairing the Education Advisory Committee of Hammonds House Galleries, serving as Historian for the Atlanta Branch of ASALH and chair of their Veterans Oral History Project, as Secretary for the Georgia Chapter of the American Research Center in Egypt (ARCE), Treasurer of the Visual Arts Ministry at Ben Hill United Methodist Church, and as Vice-President of Programs for the Buckhead/Cascade City Chapter of The Links, Inc. She is a proud Silver Star member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Alpha Omega Chapter. |
Sidney A. Robbins Esq. President Meet Sidney A. Robbins, Esq. Sidney A. Robbins, Esq., is a solo practitioner in Atlanta, GA. His law firm specializes in Intellectual Property law, Entertainment and Media areas, Sports Representation, Juvenile Law, and General Practice. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia. He is a member of several legal organizations, including the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the Gate City Bar Association and the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association. As a transactional attorney, Mr. Robbins’s practice includes the drafting and negotiating of contracts, including various music agreements for gold and platinum albums, artists, and producers; major television agreements and film agreements; agreements for film directors, film composers, actors, and screenwriters; and agreements for book authors. Mr. Robbins was formerly the General Counsel for the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and a licensed contract advisor with the National Football League. He has served as the Co-Director of the Harvard Law School Recording Artist Project and interned with So So Def Records in Atlanta prior to attending law school. His writing focus and personal interests include topics pertaining to public policy, juvenile justice, and education; the intersection of entertainment & sports and the law; and civil, economic, and social rights. Mr. Robbins earned an undergraduate degree from Morehouse College (Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 2000) and his law degree from Harvard Law School (2003). |
Jibril Waajid TREASURER Meet Jibril Waajid: Jibril is a natural hair care specialist and educator who has shared his passion for natural hair for over 25 years and is one of the first male pioneers of the natural hair industry. Having a passion for natural hair he has used that platform to share the importance and significance of embracing natural hair with women, men, and children of African descent. Understanding the value of culture and how our hair throughout time has shaped the world and who we are, must continue. Being apart of Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival has given Jibril Waajid a platform to continue to share the importance of knowing oneself through culture and knowing our story is the foundation in creating true collective, productive and economic growth in our communities. |
Bob Johnson Board Member Meet Bob Johnson: Bob has been bringing cultural events to the Atlanta Metro for three decades. He founded and developed the World Natural Hair, Health & Beauty Show (the first natural hair convention that asked women to remove themselves and their young children from relaxer products) and helped to put natural hair on the map as a professional business and an industry. Bob started the Juneteenth Atlanta non-profit organization in 2012. His goal is to offer a Juneteenth celebration in Atlanta Georgia that can accommodate the Southeastern United States and represent Juneteenth as a world event. Bob, along with his team, is on track in pursuing his vision of building the Juneteenth Atlanta Black History Parade into one of the largest and most significant parades anywhere. He is always on the lookout for those who can share the vision and want to get involved.. |