Roland Martin talks movies, Jordan Davis at NAACP Image Awards

TV One host Roland Martin is quite happy with his switch from CNN to TV One.  “I spent five years at CNN and always ‘did me.’ I didn’t change who I was. I spoke truth to power. [With] my morning show on TV One I  talk about what I want to talk about and who I want to focus on,” said the veteran journalist. TV One aired the NAACP Image Awards and Martin was glad to be a part of making that happen. “I was a part of the pitch meeting to get the Image Awards on TV One. It’s great to see it on TV One for the next five years,” he said. With the same enthusiasm expressed by his peers, Martin discussed what the awards show meant to him. “It’s great to see the collection of talent. The amazing work that so many African Americans do, we’re looking forward to,” he said. While 12 Years a Slave was one of the winners of the night, Martin pointed out some independent films that may have been overshadowed by the blockbuster. “I would say that my favorite movie would have to be The Butler. It came out earlier in the season. Obviously I enjoyed 12 Years a Slave, but there were several independent films that were overlooked: Winnie Mandela, Blue Caprice, The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete. There was a lot of great work.” It wasn’t all glitz and Hollywood. With the recent verdict in the Jordan Davis case, Martin weighed in. “It’s abundantly clear that there are a lot of folks that feel that the life of a young black man is of no value. Then you have a lot of black men who also feel the same. I feel that Michael Dunn should be retried. I do believe the family should have closure, and I do believe justice should be served.”