Introducing "Cyrus Webb Presents..."

Since 1999, artist/author/columnist, radio and television show host Cyrus A. Webb has been hosting events that have kept people talking. You are now invited to join him for a special series of discussions geared towards sparking conversation and addressing hot button issues. "Cyrus Webb Presents..." will have something for everyone, but more importantly, it will allow the public to be involved. Using an interactive chat room and taking calls, the entire program will let you be heard.

Below is a listing of topics discussed and events centered around them:

* (MISSION ACCOMPLISHED) Thurs. July 16, 2009: "Hip Hop Under Obama: Change We Can Believe In?",Part One with Taj Longino of Hype Magazine

* (MISSION ACCOMPLISHED) Sun. July 26, 2009: "A Tribute To E. Lynn Harris"

* Mon. Aug. 10, 2009 - "Faith & Literature" / Bestselling authors Evie Rhodes, Kenneth Worth and Don Greco discuss the role that their faith plays in the books they write.

* Thurs. Aug. 20, 2009 - "RACIAL PRIDE: A Thin Line Between Love & Hate"

* Thurs. Aug. 27, 2009 -"HOW SPORTS LOVERS BALL WITH BOOKS" Featuring guest authors Kurtis Scaletta, Sherry Hill and more!

* Thurs. Sept. 3, 2009 - "Discussion of the book 'Unsigned Hype'" with special guest author Booker T. Mattison

* Sun. Sept. 6, 2009 --- "SEPARATE BUT EQUAL: African American Authors in Today's Bookstores, Part 1" with authors Gloria Mallette, Bernice McFadden and Margaret Johnson Hodge

* Sun. Sept. 13, 2009 --- "SEPARATE BUT EQUAL: African American Authors In Today's Bookstores, Part 2" featuring authors Carleen Brice, Evie Rhodes, Roy Glenn and Tony Lindsay

* Thurs. Sept. 17, 2009 - "Raising Good Kids and Saving The World" with special guest author Nesta Aharoni

* Tues. January 19, 2010 --- "America Under Obama: One Year Later" --- featuring guests Anzour Jallouqa (founder of Global Outreach and host of IGMG Radio), H. Michael Harvey (political commentator and author of Paper Puzzle), Sasha Abramsky (journalist and author of Inside Obama's Brain), Billy Hallowell (political commentator and host of RENEW TV), Matt Harrison (author of The American Evolution) and Ricky Spann (author of Man-Up).

* Sunday, February 21, 2010 --- "Black History and Me" Featuring guests Justina Wheelock (WHERE LOYALTIES LIE), Dr. Neal Hall (NIGGER FOR LIFE) and W. James Richardson (THE ECLIPSE BLUES).

* Tues. Feb. 23, 2010 --- "HIP HOP UNDER OBAMA: One Year Later" featuring guests Jameelah Wilkerson (Hype Magazine and Hype Radio), author Pretty Tony (Playa Step Your Game Up), author Jela (How To Deal With White People), recording artist Chamber, Konata J of Hip Hop Gives Back and author D. D. Turner (Chronicles of a Hip Hop Legend).

* Thurs. Feb. 25, 2010 --- "To Self Publish Or Not To Self Publish" with guests Gary Kaschak and Justina Wheelock

* Sun. March 21, 2010 --- "Cyrus Webb Presents The Herschel Dixon Story"

* Tues. April 27, 2010 --- Cyrus Webb Presents... "THE RHONDA TEAGUE STORY: Invisible No More"

* Thurs. April 29, 2010 --- Cyrus Webb Presents "The Patricia Singleton Story"

* Thurs. Jan. 20, 2011 -- "America Under Obama: Two Years Later" with authors Sasha Abramsky and Harold Michael Harvey, http://tobtr.com/s/1458303

* Sun. May 22, 2011 --- "Through My Eyes Only: The Marilyn Dixon Story" http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2011/05/22/marilyn-dixon-and-singer-dorothy-kersh-on-conversations-live 

*  Sun. May 29, 2011 --- "A Look At Interracial Relationships" featuring author Skip Masters and family counselors Jessica Stebbins and R. Joyce Morley http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2011/05/29/cyrus-webb-presents-a-look-at-interracial-relationships 

*  Tues. May 31, 2011 --- "You Are Not Alone" with abuse survivors Patricia Singleton, Brad Rickerby and Darlene Ouimet,  www.tinyurl.com/youarenotaloneanymore

* On Saturday, October 15, 2011 Cyrus Webb hosted "Should Love Ever Hurt? A Look At Abuse" Listen here.

* On Thurday, October 27, 2011 and Friday, October 28, 2011 Cyrus Webb featured individuals who he believes are changing the way we look at fashion. Latifa & Moriamo, Liz Fields, Jeannine Benoit, Carolina Mejia, Niiamar, Linda Gail, Myrda Monasterial & Eloisa Serrano & Jessica McMahon were all part of what was called "Gifted By Design". Listen to the shows here: Gifted By Design, Part 1 Gifted By Design, Part 2.

* Saturday, December 3, 2011 --- Cyrus Webb Presents the film The Hammer (Read the review here)

* Tuesday, December 6, 2011 --- Cyrus Webb Presents "A Look At Abortion, Part 1" with Reiko Brown, author of PRODUCT OF MY ENVIRONMENT.

* Saturday, December 10, 2011 --- Cyrus Webb Presents "A Conversations Holiday Special" featuring music from recording artists Estee, Abraham McDonald, Fiya and Ju-Taun. Listen here.

* Friday, December 16, 2011 --- Cyrus Webb Presents "A Look At Abortion, Part 2" with Sheryl Sorrentino, author of LATER WITH MYSELF.

After one of Webb's thought-provoking discussions was featured by USA Today Newspaper there has been national attention on each topic he discusses. Join the conversation...

Have a story you want to share? For more information contact Cyrus A. Webb at cawebb4@juno.com or 601.896.5616.

(Review) THE HAMMER's Message Of Enduring In Spite of Challenges Hits Home

by Cyrus Webb

***** (5 out of 5 stars)
TapOut Films/ Fifth Year Productions
A Film Harvest Production


On Saturday, December 3, 2011 I was allowed the opportunity to have the new movie THE HAMMER shown in Central Mississippi to an audience at the Pearl Public Library in Pearl, MS. I have to admit that before being introduced to the project I had never heard of Matt Hamill or his story, but after reading about him and watching the film, I can't say he is a person I will find easy to forget.

Written and produced by Joseph McKelheer and Eben Kostbar and directed by Oren Kaplan, THE HAMMER (rated PG-13) takes you not only into the extraordinary accomplishments of Matt Hamill but the challenges that made them possible as well. We see from the very beginning when it is discovered that he is deaf that his grandfather was not going to allow him to be anything but the best person that he could be. Instead of allowing Matt to go someone that he might more easily fit it, his family pushed him to learn that which he did not know and become a part of the world that some might have wanted to shut him out it.

It wasn't always an easy adjustment. We see in the film that Matt (played by Russell Harvard) could be stubborn and throw a fit when he got frustrated or things didn't go his way. One of the first things we see his grandfather really instill in him was this: "If you're not gonna believe in yourself, I'm not going to." That was really all it took.

The lessons that I took away from THE HAMMER are many, and I think that people of all walks of life could appreciate them as well. When it comes to focusing on the objective at hand, I think we can all learn a little something from Matt. Before competition we see him go off to himself,sit down and close his eyes. This, in effect, shuts the world out and allows him to focus. When asked by Kristi, the woman who would become his wife, how he was able to beat so many people, he answered by saying: 'I just block everything out.' That is what it takes when we are going to be targeting our own objectives. We have to go into our quiet place and be able to shut out the rest of the world so we can focus on the objective at hand. What a priceless lesson!

Another great one came from his grandfather, and it was when Matt felt down in the dumps and like nothing was going his way. "Why do you think you have a right to feel sorry for yourself," his grandfather asked him. For us there are times when we want to throw a pity party for ourselves because something didn't happen the way we thought it should. If we can only remember what Matt was told and how he had to rise above it, we can find a way to do it in our own lives as well.

Wonderfully produced and directed, this is the kind of film that will remind us of the importance of enduring in spite of challenges and give us motivation to tackle the mountains in our own lives.

Find out more about the film and the real-life counterparts at www.thehammerfilm.com