News-Record.com

The North Carolina Piedmont Triad's top go-to source for News
A service of the News & Record, Greensboro, North Carolina

Home

The Editor's Log

« Norman Mailer, RIP | Main | High school students as free agents »

Frank Lucas and Greensboro

Google the headline and, after you get links to a hip-hop artist, you get links to posts about the hit movie American Gangster, which stars Denzel Washington as the Harlem drug kingpin. The movie refers several times to his hometown as Greensboro.

Why would the scriptwriter falsify this factual detail?

Lucas was born in La Grange, N.C., and lived in Knoxville, Tenn., Lexington, Ky., and Wilson, N.C. before he was out of his teens. He says so himself in an interview with New York magazine. No evidence of a Greensboro connection that I can find. (If you liked the movie, you'll like the New York article.)

Still, it's unfortunate that Greensboro is mentioned so prominently in the movie. Because there are so many people who believe that the entertainment they see on television and at the movies is factually accurate, the last thing Greensboro needs to be known for is the birthplace of an American Gangster.

(Allen referred to the birthplace earlier, but I just saw the movie last night and needed to add my two cents.)

Comments (2)

To report abuse of the comment feature on this site, please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page.

dee said:

I'm watching this right now and I'm in Gso now as soon as I seen Greensboro I googled it even though there might not be no evidence they might have said gso maybe its a near big city I don't know I just moved up from va but I will say this its was a wonder shout out to Greensboro

L said:

TO LET EVERYONE KNOW YES IT TRUE. FRANK FAMILY IS HERE IN GREENSBORO AND MOST OF THEM LIVE IN HIGH POINT ALSO. FRANK LIVES IN OXFORD,NC TRYING TO LIVE THE REST OF HIS LIFE PEACEFUL. THAT THE REAL DEAL!!!!!!!!!!

Post a comment

Users who post comments to this blog tacitly agree to observe the News & Record Online Service Terms of Use and Content Submission Agreement. Comments which do not adhere to the terms of this agreement may be removed and the submitter may be banned from further participation. Please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page to report abuse of this feature.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Search

Channels
Font Size
Tools
Question, Comment or Suggestion? Please contact us.

News & Record and NRinteractive

200 E. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 (336) 373-7000 (800) 553-6880
1813 N. Main Street, High Point, NC 27262 (336) 883-4422
203 E. Harris Place, Eden, NC 27288 (336) 627-1781
4213 S. Church Street, Burlington, NC 27215 (336) 449-7064

Copyright (C) 2008 News & Record and Landmark Communications, Inc.