Longtime producer and director Arthur Marks, who helmed many episodes of the "Perry Mason" TV series and produced several hit blaxploitation films, died at age 92.
Marks passed away Nov. 13 at his home in Woodland Hills, California, his son Paul said Saturday.
"My brother and I learned everything about the film industry from my father," said Paul Marks, who is a TV producer. "He was a pillar of the industry. He taught us the morals of the industry and how to treat people."
Arthur Marks' grandparents and parents worked in the film business, and he grew up in it.
Marks was the director and producer of 80 episodes of "Perry Mason." He also directed episodes of the TV shows "I Spy," "Mannix" and "The Dukes of Hazzard."
He made several films aimed at black audiences in the 1970s. They include "Detroit 9000," which was re-released in theaters in 1998 by Quentin Tarantino, and two films starring actress Pam Grier: "Friday Foster" and "Bucktown."
"I believe when you put in the mix; a good script, a terrific cast, an experienced and perceptive director and a professional production what is the result? A film that audiences will enjoy and play eight weeks in a downtown theater in Chicago, Detroit or Kansas City," Marks said. "My intention was never to sell my films as a "black" film, rather a film that will damn well entertain for 120 minutes…with excitement, passion and a heart moving story."
In addition to his son Paul, Marks is survived by another son, Beau; two daughters, Kathleen and Elizabeth; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
Civil rights groups call on major corporations to stick with DEI programs
A broad group of civil rights organizations called on the CEOs and board members of major companies Thursday to maintain their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have come under attack online and in lawsuits.
An open letter signed by 19 organizations and directed at the leaders of Fortune 1000 companies said companies that abandon their DEI programs are shirking their fiduciary responsibility to employees, consumers and shareholders.
The civil rights groups included the NAACP, the National Organization for Women, the League of United Latin American Citizens, Asian Americans Advancing Justice and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
"Diversity, equity and inclusion programs, policies, and practices make business-sense and they're broadly popular among the public, consumers, and employees," their statement read. "But a small, well-funded, and extreme group of right-wing activists is attempting to pressure companies into abandoning their DEI programs."
Companies such as Ford, Lowes, John Deere, Molson Coors and Harley-Davidson recently announced they would pull back on their diversity, equity and inclusion policies after facing pressure from conservative activists who were emboldened by recent victories in the courtroom.
Many major corporations have been examining their diversity programs in the wake of a Supreme Court decision last year that declared race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions unconstitutional. Dozens of cases have been filed making similar arguments about employers. Critics of DEI programs say the initiatives provide benefits to people of one race or sexual orientation while excluding others.
In their letter, the civil rights organizations, which also included... Read More