Pam Grier will return to television early next year…and will be playing a bad guy.
Well, a bad girl.
Again!
The CW announced that the 60 year-old 1970s Blaxploitation film icon is joining the cast of the hit drama series ‘Smallville,’ which is based on the DC Comics Superman series.
The savvy casting choice is the first for the ‘Jackie Brown’ actress since Showtime’s ‘The L Word’ ended last year.
Grier will play a villainess named Agent Amanda Waller, who brought on the destruction of Smallville in one of part of the Superman mythology.
In the storyline, the character escaped the infamous Chicago Cabrini-Green housing projects with her surviving family after her family was murdered. She became a congressional aid and then a member of the elite semi-secret government agency, the Suicide Squad, where she earned the nickname ‘The Wall.’ Later, Agent Waller served as Secretary of Meta-human Affairs under President Lex Luthor.
According to TV Guide, Grier will make her debut in January and she will appear in multiple episodes throughout the season.
Odetta Holmes “The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement” was a singer, actress, guitarist, songwriter and activist. December 31 1930 – December 2 2008.
Ray Tamarra , Getty
Bernie Mac Comedian, Actor Oct. 5, 1957 – Aug. 9, 2008.
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Isaac Hayes Singer, songwriter, record producer, composer and actor. August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008
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Miriam Makeba, “Mama Africa” South African folk singer and anti-apartheid activist. March 4, 1932 – November 10, 2008.
Reuters
Jennifer Hudson’s 57-year-old mother, Darnell Donerson, brother, Jason, and 7-year-old nephew, Julian King, were killed in 2008.
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Shakir Stewart The Island Def Jam executive who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z’s departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. He was 34 years old.
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George Carlin Stand-up comedian, actor and author. May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008
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Madelyn Dunham Barack Obama’s grandmother October 26, 1922 – Nov 3, 2008.
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Levi Stubbs Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like “Reach Out I’ll Be There” and “Baby I Need Your Loving” died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.
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Dee Dee Warwick Oct. 18: The soul songstress died after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.
A bad season for the Chicago Bears just got worse. The NFL said Friday that quarterback Jay Cutler had been fined $20,000 for abusive conduct toward a game official during a 41-21 home loss to the Arizona Cardinals last Sunday. Cutler drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty with 6:24 left in the third quarter after an incomplete pass to tight end Greg Olsen on a fourth-down play with the Bears…
This morning I had the great pleasure of having a conversation with my respected colleagues, Tom Joyner and Roland S. Martin. I have always loved the Tom Joyner Morning Show. My respect for Tom came when I found out that he once commuted daily between Chicago and Dallas in order to host shows in both cities. I appreciate anyone willing to sacrifice to reach their goals. Roland Martin has an equally compelling story about how he was forced into bankruptcy in order to become successful.
The truth is that there are a whole bunch of people who want success, but they usually want it for free. These brothers understand that you usually have to pay a high price to get what you want.
We were discussing the case of Heather Ellis. Heather Ellis is a 24-year old college student now facing 15-years in prison after being accused of cutting line at a Walmart. We are planning a rally for Heather in Kennett, MO on November 16, with thousands coming from around the nation in order to save her life. Tom Joyner, Roland Martin, and Michael Baisden are just a few of the names of brothers and sisters around the nation willing to step up to tell Heather’s story to the public.
After the show was done, I called my assistant and confidant Shauntay, in order to talk about the events planned for the day. Shauntay is a stern reminder to me that you are only as good as the people who work for you, and she is the greatest assistant on Earth. During our conversation, Shauntay asked me, “Did you notice how they seemed to get nervous and rush you off at the end?”
I said, “Yeah, I noticed that. But I don’t blame them, I might have done the same thing.”
Why was I rushed off at the end of the segment? It all has to do with Walmart being one of the key corporate sponsors for the Tom Joyner Morning Show. During the interview, I first mentioned that it was reported as far away as Memphis that Walmart employees were being asked not to discuss the Heather Ellis incident. Tom started to deflect the conversation away from the merchant.
“Well, that could have happened in any store, right?” said Tom.
I then went on to explain that, while it could have happened in any store, there was no getting away from the fact that it happened in Walmart: A Walmart employee was the one who chose not to serve Heather after accusing her of cutting line, the family reports that nearly every Walmart employee involved in the incident has been transferred to another store, and there are Walmart employees on the affidavits filed after the incident took place. There is no way to disconnect Walmart from this incident.
Unlike our supporters in Detroit, who are ready to boycott Walmart and stage a complete “black out” of the store, I have not asked for such a thing. Instead, I’ve only requested that Walmart use its influence to help Heather during her trial. I honestly believe that one sincere phone call from the right executive can make this situation go away. A daughter of a pastor, in college, with no criminal record is hardly the kind of thug that should be rotting away in the penitentiary. Anyone can understand that.
This discussion of The Tom Joyner Morning Show is not a negative reflection on the righteousness of Tom Joyner or his choice of having Walmart as a corporate sponsor (if it were Wells Fargo, then we might have an issue). The incident is reflective of how the power of media is driven by corporate sponsorship. Given that corporate sponsors controlled by the descendants of the historical oppressors of black people are financing most African-American media, the ability to pursue true and meaningful activism is sometimes muted. In other words, nobody disrespects their daddy, especially if their daddy is the one putting food on the table. The life of one black woman is not, to some, worth the loss of millions of dollars in corporate money (I do not agree with this assessment). One of the limitations of capitalism is that it forces us to put a dollar value on human life. I personally think human life has infinite value, and that is why I am fighting for Heather.
When I went to The University of Kentucky with Antoine Walker during the 1990s, we all knew he was going to be a star. He was headed for great things and would represent his family well. No one would have guessed that he would one day become the poster child for what NOT to do when you earn $110 million dollars.
Antoine is busted, or as my friends would say, “broker than the 10 commandments.” He was recently arrested for not paying $800,000 in gambling debts he owed to a Vegas casino, and that’s when the financial roaches started coming out of the closet.
In the midst of Antoine’s situation, we can all learn lessons. I thought I’d lay out a few for us to consider:
1) Watch who you allow to handle your dough. It might sound good to say that you have an accountant, but the truth is that you are always vulnerable when someone is doing things with your money that you do not understand. Additionally, allowing friends and relatives to have access to your financial accounts is a very bad idea. While I have major issues with Bill Cosby, I was always impressed by the fact that he takes care of his own money. Also, one of the sad realities of NBA athletes is that most of them were not properly educated during college, given wimpy little majors that didn’t interfere with their athletics schedules, so some of them are unprepared to protect the wealth they work so hard to earn. Get an education- you’re going to need it.
2) Don’t judge Antoine Walker harshly, this can happen to anyone. Going broke or going to jail is not just something that happens to bad or irresponsible people. The same is true for a gambling addiction. While we are tempted to attack Antoine Walker for his situation, the truth of the matter is that gambling problems impact hundreds of thousands of people every year: Campuses are being overrun by TV poker challenges and other seemingly harmless, yet financially devastating temptations. If you don’t yet have a gambling problem, be careful not to start one. That’s an easy way to go broke.
3) Stay away from the vices: Drugs, gambling or other costly addictions have led to the financial downfall of many people. In addition to gambling, other vices such as drugs or alcohol can accelerate your path to the poor house. What’s worse is that the temptation to engage in these activities is greater when you have more money to burn. NBA and NFL stars are still quite young, and the idea of giving a 22-year old $10 million dollars a year is a scary thing. Even I would have made terrible mistakes if I’d received that much money so early in life. If you are in a relationship with someone who regularly engages in any of these bad habits, you might want to reconsider that relationship. It can cause you a great deal of trouble later on down the road.
4) Show your love, but put a cap on it: Antoine Walker has shown himself to be a generous man, giving to children and taking care of relatives. The problem is that it’s difficult for anyone to be a one-man welfare machine. I only call it welfare when someone is asking for something for nothing. I find that it is more productive to ask for something before you give something away; put the relative to work on productive activities that will help save you money. It will make both of you feel better in the end. Also, budget your charity to ensure that you don’t go overboard in your giving. Typically, those who are asking you for money today won’t be anywhere around when you are having financial problems.
5) Watch how hard you bling: While “blinging” and “balling” might be incredibly tempting, you should limit the number of status symbols you acquire in order to show your wealth. Antoine Walker has always loved to “do it big,” renting limos for every occasion and not wearing the same suit twice during the playoffs. While he gets a lot of points in style, the truth is that such financial extravagance is not only financially draining, it also makes you a big target. Years ago, when Antoine was robbed of several thousand dollars during a trip to Chicago (and again later at his home in Miami), we can probably assume that the robbers knew they were coming after a wealthy victim.
I am not here to attack Antoine Walker. Instead, my goal is to make his challenges into a true teachable moment. The old model of the black athlete getting rich, staying uneducated, balling out of control and going broke has absolutely got to change. We must aim for something better.
When I went to The University of Kentucky with Antoine Walker during the 1990s, we all knew he was going to be a star. He was headed for great things and would represent his family well. No one would have guessed that he would one day become the poster child for what NOT to do when you earn $110 million dollars.
Antoine is busted, or as my friends would say, “broker than the 10 commandments.” He was recently arrested for not paying $800,000 in gambling debts he owed to a Vegas casino, and that’s when the financial roaches started coming out of the closet.
In the midst of Antoine’s situation, we can all learn lessons. I thought I’d lay out a few for us to consider:
1) Watch who you allow to handle your dough. It might sound good to say that you have an accountant, but the truth is that you are always vulnerable when someone is doing things with your money that you do not understand. Additionally, allowing friends and relatives to have access to your financial accounts is a very bad idea. While I have major issues with Bill Cosby, I was always impressed by the fact that he takes care of his own money. Also, one of the sad realities of NBA athletes is that most of them were not properly educated during college, given wimpy little majors that didn’t interfere with their athletics schedules, so some of them are unprepared to protect the wealth they work so hard to earn. Get an education- you’re going to need it.
2) Don’t judge Antoine Walker harshly, this can happen to anyone. Going broke or going to jail is not just something that happens to bad or irresponsible people. The same is true for a gambling addiction. While we are tempted to attack Antoine Walker for his situation, the truth of the matter is that gambling problems impact hundreds of thousands of people every year: Campuses are being overrun by TV poker challenges and other seemingly harmless, yet financially devastating temptations. If you don’t yet have a gambling problem, be careful not to start one. That’s an easy way to go broke.
3) Stay away from the vices: Drugs, gambling or other costly addictions have led to the financial downfall of many people. In addition to gambling, other vices such as drugs or alcohol can accelerate your path to the poor house. What’s worse is that the temptation to engage in these activities is greater when you have more money to burn. NBA and NFL stars are still quite young, and the idea of giving a 22-year old $10 million dollars a year is a scary thing. Even I would have made terrible mistakes if I’d received that much money so early in life. If you are in a relationship with someone who regularly engages in any of these bad habits, you might want to reconsider that relationship. It can cause you a great deal of trouble later on down the road.
4) Show your love, but put a cap on it: Antoine Walker has shown himself to be a generous man, giving to children and taking care of relatives. The problem is that it’s difficult for anyone to be a one-man welfare machine. I only call it welfare when someone is asking for something for nothing. I find that it is more productive to ask for something before you give something away; put the relative to work on productive activities that will help save you money. It will make both of you feel better in the end. Also, budget your charity to ensure that you don’t go overboard in your giving. Typically, those who are asking you for money today won’t be anywhere around when you are having financial problems.
5) Watch how hard you bling: While “blinging” and “balling” might be incredibly tempting, you should limit the number of status symbols you acquire in order to show your wealth. Antoine Walker has always loved to “do it big,” renting limos for every occasion and not wearing the same suit twice during the playoffs. While he gets a lot of points in style, the truth is that such financial extravagance is not only financially draining, it also makes you a big target. Years ago, when Antoine was robbed of several thousand dollars during a trip to Chicago (and again later at his home in Miami), we can probably assume that the robbers knew they were coming after a wealthy victim.
I am not here to attack Antoine Walker. Instead, my goal is to make his challenges into a true teachable moment. The old model of the black athlete getting rich, staying uneducated, balling out of control and going broke has absolutely got to change. We must aim for something better.
LeBron James celebrated with the Yankees and toyed with the Knicks. No wonder he's bummed about the NBA schedule: only one Garden party this season. James scored 33 points in his lone visit to New York, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-91 victory over the Knicks on Friday night. One night after managing just 42 second-half points in an ugly home loss to Chicago, the Cavaliers rang up 40…
For a split second, LeBron James appeared to be on his way to bailing out the Cleveland Cavaliers once more. Luol Deng and Joakim Noah put a stop to that. Chicago's forwards double teamed James and denied the superstar on a drive in the final seconds as the Chicago Bulls ended Cleveland's three-game winning streak with an 86-85 win Thursday night, the Cavaliers' second home loss already…
“I want a girl and then maybe another one,” she continued. “You know, one baby at a time.”
According to TV Guide.com, Hudson is set to perform some of her favorite Christmas songs on an ABC special holiday special.” In it, she returns home to Chicago to visit with family members, friends and some of her childhood influences.
And, though she has bounced back from last year’s tragic loss of her mother, brothJennifer Hudsoner and nephew, the 27 year-old and her fiancé, ‘I Love New York 2’ contestant, David Otunga have yet to decide what city to call home.
“That is where all the family is,” Hudson said of the Windy City. “I feel like he should be surrounded by family. That’s where the biggest support system is and if we live somewhere else, then we will have to bring the family wherever we are.”
‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll Be Home for Christmas” is slated to air on ABC in Dec.
Derrick Rose was so antsy and "geeked up" to get back on the court he had to blast the music on his way to the arena. Once he arrived, he certainly seemed in tune. Or at least close. Rose scored 13 points and had seven assists to lead the balanced Chicago Bulls to an impressive 92-85 season-opening victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night.
As previously reported by BV Newswire, the 2009 Soul Train Awards is scheduled to tape at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center on Nov. 3. In addition to Academy Award nominated actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard hosting this year’s annual event, some of today’s most prominent music stars are scheduled to perform.
Network producers decided to assemble an all-star lineup including Toni Braxton, Trey Songz, Erykah Badu, Robin Thicke, Fantasia, Ryan Leslie, Chrisette Michelle, Raheem DeVaughn, Karyn White, Boyz II Men, Ledisi, Chico Debarge, Angie Stone, Brian McKnight, Ginuwine, Melanie Fiona, and Johnny Gill among others.
The two-hour ceremony will also honor the late, great Michael Jackson, who holds the record for most Soul Train awards won, with the special Entertainer of the Year Award.
As for this year’s nominations, pop superstar Beyonce alongside Keri Hilson, and Maxwell lead the pack with four nominations each.
In addition, this year’s show will honor the illustrious careers and musical influences of Chaka Khan, Charlie Wilson, L.A. Reid and Kenny “Baby Face” Edmonds.
Officially titled, ‘Centric Presents: 2009 Soul Train Awards Show,’ the event will premiere simultaneously on the new BET spin-off channel Centric and BET on Nov. 29 at 9 pm ET. Centric went live on air Sept. 28 via digital cable and satellite cable carriers.
Below is a complete list of nominees and categories. BEST NEW ARTIST
o. Drake o. Jazmine Sullivan o. Keri Hilson o. Ryan Leslie o. Solange BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE
o. Beyonce o. Chrisette Michele o. Jennifer Hudson o. Ledisi o. Whitney Houston BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE
o. Charlie Wilson o. Maxwell o. Musiq Soulchild o. Raphael Saadiq o. Robin Thicke
SONG OF THE YEAR
o. “God in Me” – Mary Mary o. “Pretty Wings” – Maxwell o. “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)” – Beyonce o. “Spotlight” – Jennifer Hudson o. “Turnin Me On” – Keri Hilson/ ft Lil Wayne
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
o. Beyonce – I am… Sasha Fierce (Platinum) Sony Music o. Jamie Foxx – Intuition (Platinum) J Records o. Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak (Platinum) Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam o. Maxwell – Blacksummer’s Night (Gold) Sony Music o. Ne-Yo – Year of the Gentleman
RECORD OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER AWARD)
o. Beyonce – “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)” o. Drake – “Best I ever had” o. Jamie Foxx Ft/T-Pain – “Blame it” o. Keri Hilson – “Knock You Down” o. Maxwell – “Pretty Wings”
BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
o. Movado o. Sean Paul o. Serani o. Taurus Riley o. Ziggy Marley
CENTRIC AWARD – SOUL APPROVED/UNDERGROUND
o. Corneille o. Eric Roberson o. Laura Izibor o. Maysa o. The Knux BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP
o. BeBe and CeCe Winans – “Close To You” o. Fred Hammond f/John P Kee – “They That Wait” o. Marvin Sapp – “Praise Him in Advance” o. Mary Mary – “God In Me” o. Smokie Norful – “Justified”
BEST COLLABORATION
o. Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo – “Knock you Down” o. Keyshia Cole featuring Monica – “Trust” o. Mario featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett – “Break up” o. Mary Mary featuring Kierra (KiKi) Sheard – “God In Me” o. Trey Songz featuring Drake – “Successful” ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
10/7/09: Mariah Carey Mariah Carey‘s new album ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ debuted in #3 position on the Billboard Top 200 Album chart, selling only 167, 912 copies in its first week of release. Surprisingly, 67-year-old Barbra Streisand bagged the top spot — selling 180,415 copies of her latest covers collection, ‘Love is the Answer.’ Also keeping Carey away from being numero uno; rock band Paramore, which opened at #2 with their new album ‘Brand New Eyes,’ with sales of 175,112.
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10/5/09: Meshell Ndegeocello This week, Meshell Ndegeocelloreleases her latest album, ‘Devil’s Halo,’ and officially kicks off a promotional tour at New York City hot-spot, Highline Balroom. The three week club tour will have the rock & soul wunderkind performing in major cities across the country — including Chicago, Los Angeles and Minneapolis — before her final show Oct. 28 in Bellingham, Washington. All tour dates will include Meshell’s full band, featuring guitarist Chris Bruce, bassist Mark Kelley, keyboardist Keefus Ciancia and drummer Deantoni Parks.
Mark Seliger for Downtown Music
10/2/09: Mary J, Stevie Wonder, Jennifer Hudson: Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder, and Jennifer Hudson are among the artists featured on Rod Stewart‘s forthcoming project titled ‘Soulbook.’ The J Records release captures the Grammy Award-winning Rock and Roll Hall of Famer covering a collection of classic soul favorites, including the Stylistics timeless classic ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New.’ “This is the album I’ve waited my whole lifetime to record,” Stewart stated. ‘Soulbook’ hits stores and digital retailers Oct. 27.
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10/2/09: 50 Cent/T.I.: To capitalize off of its recent batch of ‘Behind the Music’ segments, VH1 has finally decided to take an introspective look at the careers of 50 Cent and T.I. The two multi-platinum rappers will be showcased in the network’s long running series in the coming weeks, which will cover their rise to fame. From T.I. describing the pros and cons of being a hip-hop superstar to Fifty detailing his success as an international mogul. ‘Behind the Music: T.I.’ premieres Oct. 8 at 10 pm/et, while ‘Behind the Music: 50 Cent’ airs Oct. 13 at 8 pm/et.
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10/2/09: Bootsy Collins, Teena Marie: Beginning Nov. 1, TV One returns with all new episodes of their critically-acclaimed original biography series, ‘Unsung.’ The Gary Anthony Williams-narrated show, which examines and celebrates talented artists who are under-appreciated, will showcase Teena Marie, Bootsy Collins, Roger Troutman & Zapp, and Klymaxx in its third installment. ‘Unsung: Teena Marie’ premieres Nov. 1 at 8 pm/et followed by an encore at 11 pm/et.
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10/2/09: Akon: International superstar Akon is showing support for breast cancer awareness month this weekend with his headlining performance at the Think Pink Rocks concert on Oct. 3. Hosted by BET’s Terrence and Rocsi, the star-studded charity benefit will also include performances by Canadian R&B songstress Melanie Fiona, Shontelle, and pop reggae trio American Yard. According to an event spokesperson, all proceeds will go to breast cancer charities and research.
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10/2/09: Pretty Ricky: Following a controversial viral video clip from one of its most known members earlier this year, R&B group Pretty Ricky will finally release their third album, aptly titled ‘Pretty Ricky.’ The chart-topping group, which features Spectacular, Diamond Blue, Slick’Em, and their newest buddy/addition Lingerie, feels their Nov. 17 release is too good to explain. “The songs are too sensual to describe in words,” says Diamond. “You have to hear it to fully grasp the erotic experience of the records.” The group’s new lead single, ‘Tipsy In This Club,’ received a mixed response over the summer when Spectacular debuted the track via his eye-brow raising YouTube clip.
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9/28/09: Tupac Shakur/Martin Luther King Jr. Late rap legend Tupac Shakur may be deceased, but he’s still in great company. His mother Afeni Shakur has donated a collection of his writing to the Robert W. Woodruff Library at Atlanta University Center. The library also houses The Martin Luther King Jr. Collection. More than 150 of his personal items, ranging from rough drafts of lyrics and poems to a photocopy of his contract with Suge Knight and Death Row Records were given. The records are expected to be available for research in the fall of 2010.
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9/28/09: Ruben Studdard Former ‘American Idol’ winner Ruben Studdard is heating up the airwaves with his latest single, ‘Don’t Make ‘Em Like U No More.’ The single, which is described as a “sleek and soulful R&B ode to everyone’s special someone,” is featured on the Grammy Award-nominated crooner’s current album, ‘Love Is.’ In addition, Studdard will join Philip Bailey (of Earth, Wind & Fire) and Deborah Cox, among others, on Oct. 21 for the “David Foster and Friends Tour.” The trek kicks off in Chicago and concludes on Nov. 8 in Vancouver.
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9/28/09: Angie Stone R&B diva Angie Stone is ready to hit fans with some surprising stuff! On Nov. 24, the brown-skin soul sister will release her second project, titled ‘Unexpected,’ on legendary label Stax Records. According to Stone, the album’s title is a reflection of the direction that she took in recording the opus. “This album is something that no one would have anticipated coming from me,” she said. “My father always encouraged me and everyone else he knew to reach out and make a leap of faith, and that’s exactly what I’ve done.” ‘Unexpected’ features the lead single ‘I Ain’t Hearin’ U’ and the poignant ballad ‘Think Sometimes.’
Cedric Benson believes the Chicago Bears did all they could to prevent him from signing with another team. Released in June 2008 after two alcohol-related arrests, Benson will come face to face with his former team when the Cincinnati Bengals host the Bears on Sunday. Although he insisted he's not out for revenge and won't try to send a message, Benson clearly has some bad feelings for the…
The Chicago Bears and quarterback Jay Cutler have agreed on a two-year contract extension that runs through the 2013 season. A person familiar with the negotiations said the deal includes approximately $20 million guaranteed and roughly $30 million in new money. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because the terms were not released.
Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love has been scheduled for surgery on his broken left hand. Love will have the operation in New York on Tuesday to fix a fracture in the fourth metacarpal bone in his shooting hand. The second-year player suffered the injury on a rebound last Friday in a preseason game at Chicago.
The winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded underachieving defensive end Gaines Adams to the Chicago Bears for a second-round pick in the 2010 draft. The deal Friday night came four days before the NFL trade deadline. Adams was the fourth overall pick in the 2007 draft out of Clemson and had 13 1/2 sacks in two-plus seasons with the Bucs, failing to play up to expectations that he'd help revive a…
I’ve met Method Man only one time, and I’ve never met Wesley Snipes or Nicolas Cage. In spite of his mixed public image, Method Man actually comes across as an intelligent, attentive and down-to-earth human being. At the time I met him, I’d only been on national TV a couple of times, but he talked to me as if he’d known me his entire life. He even recited the lyrics to Ice Cube songs that I brought up and told me stories about Tupac. I was quite impressed.
The closest I’ve ever come to Nicolas Cage is when his movie came out about the 911 attacks and they forgot to include the black guy’s character. It was incredibly tacky, but effectively, there was an African American named Jason Thomas who played a huge role in 911 – large enough for them to include his character in the film. But somehow, in all their exhaustive research for this multi-million dollar blockbuster movie, they simply forgot that his character was black. Instead, he was cast as a white man. How the producers could have overlooked something so obvious was beyond me. In fact, I find it hard to believe that this was an accidental oversight.
I don’t have much to say about Wesley Snipes, except for the fact that he should watch what he says about black women. Oh yeah. He needs to also pay attention to his tax bill.
Where Nicolas Cage, Wesley Snipes and Method Man cross paths in my psyche is on the touchy issue of tax evasion. I listened to Method Man (in this interview) take full responsibility for the fact that he was arrested for owing $33,000 in back taxes. He even jokes about it, which is better than I’d be able to do.
Nicolas Cage owes far too much money to joke about anything. In various media reports, Cage owes over $6 million dollars to the IRS. Now, I have no idea why Method Man is in handcuffs, Wesley got a prison sentence and Nicolas Cage just has to put his castle and mansion on the auction block (yes, the dude really owns a castle – that’s what my friends might call “Intergallactic ballin” – I came up with term that myself). I am also unsure how a man who’s made so much money could be so far behind on his taxes. At the same time, tax problems are human, and there are tons of Americans in all income brackets who have tax trouble every year.
As you know, I enjoy finding true teachable moments in everyday life. Given that an IRS audit increases your chances of getting you into tax trouble, I thought I’d bring the classroom to the web and share a few facts with you about taxes, audits and finance.
Here are 4 things that can increase your likelihood of being audited by the IRS:
1) Having an income that is greater than $50,000 per year – When you make the cheese, you become a big fish and worth the time to audit. The IRS doesn’t have time to go after little wallets.
2) You are self-employed – Statistics show that self-employed people tend to do the most wiggling and fudging on their taxes, so having your own business flags you as an audit risk.
3) Making a mistake on prior tax returns – if you’ve made mistakes in the past, you are likely to make another one…at least more likely than everyone else. This will flag your return for a possible audit.
4) An excessive number of tax write-offs – if the dollar value of your deductions exceeds a certain percentage of your income, then the IRS may come after you. Make sure that any write-offs you have are well documented and legal. You don’t want to cheat on your taxes or get too greedy when filing.
Remember that tax problems can happen to anyone, so if you are subjected to an audit, don’t panic. Go buy a book on dealing with audits, “fess up,” pay your fine and go on with your life. You’re not in the same boat as Method Man.
If you want to hear this right out of my mouth, feel free to click on the video below. I’m going to hang out in Chicago:
The rapper Shyne, who was convicted of a club shooting in 1999, was reportedly released from a New York correctional facility Oct. 6 and then transferred into custody by immigration officials. Though the former Bad Boy Records star has a green card, news reports hint that he may be deported to his native Belize because of the felony conviction. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokesman Mike Gilhooly would only tell media outlets that Shyne was in custody for being in violation of U.S. immigration law.
Born Jamal Barrow, Shyne was on the verge of superstardom when he was arrested in 1999 for a shooting at the Club New York nightclub. His mentor and record label chief Diddy, and then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, was also charged but acquitted at trial.
While in prison, Shyne (now 30) changed his name to Moses Leviy in recognition of his Jewish mother. His father, Dean Oliver Barrow, is currently the prime minister of Belize.
Attorney Oscar Michelen, told the ‘New York Daily News’ his client “is anxious to get released and is looking forward to seeing his family and being able to be free to do what he wants to do.”
ShyneDespite what seems to be a smear campaign from a few mainstream gossip columns, Mo’Nique and her new late night talk show is a hit. Numbers do not lie. The comedienne -who is making headlines for not promoting the new Tyler Perry/Oprah Winfrey-produced film ‘Precious’ – has made history for BET with ‘The Mo’Nique Show,’ which netted 1.5 million viewers for its debut Oct. 5.
The premiere episode featured appearances from Steve Harvey, R&B artist Monica, Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin as well as a performance by R&B recording artist Jeremih. A rep for BET said the show ranked as the network’s highest-rated show for the season and was the number two entertainment program on cable during its time slot. “The inaugural episode also outperformed the competition, coming in as the number one entertainment talk show on cable overall and the number one talk show among adults 18-49 (850,000),” said BET spokeswoman Tricia Newell. The show, a loud and colorful spectacle, tapes from Atlanta’s Turner Studios and airs on BET at 11 p.m. weeknights.
*****
Jennifer Hudson is getting back to work. As the Academy Award and Grammy Award winner celebrates the recent birth of her baby, she’s also getting into the holiday spirit. The TV special ‘Jennifer Hudson: I’ll be Home for Christmas’ has been announced to air on ABC in December. According to reports, the show will feature the singer-actress reliving her childhood holidays with musical performances filmed at various locations around her hometown of Chicago. The chosen venues will be specific to her youth; they include her church and the music academy she attended. Hudson’s record label has no plans to release a holiday album to coincide with the TV special.
*****
Anna Deavere Smith is something like a phenomenon. Her new show ‘Let Me Down Easy’ opened Oct. 7 at New York City’s tightly packed Second Stage Theater and a flurry of notable well wishers – including Gayle King, opera diva Jessye Norman, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Lynn Nottage, actresses Dawn Lewis and Judith Light – came out to celebrate.
For the Tony Award nominee’s latest one-woman, multi-character show, Smith explores the power of the body, the price of health, and the resilience of the spirit. The Anthony Foglia-directed tour-de-force where the McArthur Genius Grant winning wunderkind transforms herself into a dramatic range of characters, all of whom she’s interviewed and impersonates masterfully for the 95-minute play. But this is far from satire; ‘Let Me Down Easy’ is a thought provoking marvel about mortality channeled through journalistic accounts from a wide variety of sources, including fashion icon Lauren Hutton, super-athlete Lance Armstrong, playwright Eve Ensler, former boxing champ Michael Bent, late movie critic Joel Siegel and former Texas Governor Ann Richards.
*****
Controversial reggae artist Buju Banton’s concert at the Voodoo Lounge in San Jose, California on Oct. 13 has been canceled. “After reviewing Buju Banton’s lyrics, I was appalled by their sheer hatred and encouragement of violence towards the gay, lesbian and transgender community,” stated David Powell, co-owner of Voodoo Lounge. “There is no place for these types of incendiary remarks at Voodoo Lounge or in San Jose.” Banton – who recorded the song ‘Boom, Bye Bye,’ in 1988, which incited the torture and murder of gay men – has been the subject of protest for his concert bookings.
A website has been erected to boycott any promoter doing business with him. An open letter to his manager Tracii Mcgregor, a former editor at the Source magazine, has been published there also, calling her to task for saying that Banton was “only 15 years old when he recorded that song.” Powell maintained that the club’s ownership team “did not know the content of Banton’s lyrics. If we had known, we would not have scheduled this performance.”
*****
So is ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star Kim Zolciak really engaged to Big Poppa? Only God knows for sure. On last week’s episode of the televised guilty pleasure, the bleached-blond urban socialite showed off the new rocks that she got, and boasted of her engagement to her mysterious millionaire paramour (who has been identified as Lee Najjar). Hmmmm. Her TV show co-star Sheree Whitfield, who recently underwent a downsizing divorce from former football player Bob Whitfiled, wondered aloud (and on camera) about the validity of the engagement since the man is still married.
A Bravo network spokeswoman couldn’t be reached for comment about the possible nuptials. But until that stone is uncovered, folks can see really how large the ‘Tardy for the Party’ singer is living — the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper got an exclusive look at her luxurious digs.
The Detroit Tigers' once-cozy cushion in the AL Central is long gone. If things do not go Detroit's way on the final scheduled day, its season will be over. The Tigers dropped into a first-place tie with Minnesota, looking listless Saturday night in a 5-1 loss to Freddy Garcia and the Chicago White Sox.
Civil rights Jesse Jackson and Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan are attending the funeral of a Chicago teen beaten to death on his way home from school.
Farrakhan on Saturday called 16-year-old Derrion Albert “a special young man.” Jackson said “children deserve safe passage to school.”
Jake Peavy delivered the kind of performance the Detroit Tigers desperately need. Peavy delayed Detroit's chance to move closer to the AL Central title, pitching the Chicago White Sox past the slumping Tigers 8-0 Friday night. Detroit's lead was cut to one game by Minnesota, which beat Kansas City 10-7.
Matt Hasselbeck granted one little guy his wish Friday. He couldn't grant all other Seahawks fans theirs. Hasselbeck missed a third consecutive practice day because of a broken rib, so the Seahawks expect backup Seneca Wallace to start at quarterback for the three-time Pro Bowl passer on Sunday against Chicago.
She may have been a no-show at the Toronto International Festival earlier this week, but Mo’Nique partied it up with the likes of Vogue Editor-at-Large Andre Leon Talley at the Sugar Bar last night. The incredibly shrinking funnywoman dined on buttery shrimp, sidestepped to the live music (with a bodyguard standing shielding her = insane to observe), cut up on the microphone and welcomed the black media with open arms at an exclusive soiree celebrating her upcoming BET late-night talk show, which premieres Oct. 5.
Aside from the new show, which we hear may draw comparisons to Arsenio Hall’s groundbreaking 1990s chat fest, the former star of ‘The Parkers’ is looking forward to a busy season. Her performance in the Oprah Winfrey/Tyler Perry-produced drama ‘Precious: Based on the Novel Push’ has garnered early Oscar buzz. It has also brought a tinge of scandal, too. This week, a source told Roger Friedman of the Hollywood Reporter that the 41-year-old actress asked for $100,000 at one point to show up to the festival with the rest of the cast. Of course, a rep for Lionsgate (the studio will release the film on Nov. 6) downplayed that tidbit with talk of “scheduling conflicts.” Hmmm. Winfrey, Perry and the diva Mariah Carey all showed up. And no one could possibly be busier than those three. They were all in New York City last night, too, but were nowhere near the Sugar Bar. When probed about the movie’s shining star, the film’s director told a room full of Toronto Festival journalists, “She’s at home eating some potato chips with her kids.” Ummmmm. Okay.
Last night, however, Mo’Nique seemed to be in her own mode at the Ashford & Simpson-owned hot spot. She wasn’t talking about Toronto drama. Actually, come to think of it, she didn’t say much at all in the watering hole’s tight quarters. The ‘Original Queen of Comedy’ did commend ‘Precious’ filmmakers for believing in her, along with BET honchos Debra Lee, Stephen Hill and Loretha Jones.
Spike Lee Besides Woody Allen, no other filmmaker has had more films on the big screen in the last 20 years than Lee. From ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ to ‘Jungle Fever’ to the critically acclaimed and Oscar-nominated ‘Do The Right Thing,’ Lee’s production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. In 2008, the Atlanta native released his latest film, ‘Miracle at St. Anna,’ a story about blacks fighting in WWII that stars Derek Luke and Michael Ealy.
Oscar Micheaux As the pioneer of Black filmmakers, this Metropolis, Illinois, native revolutionized the film industry when he formed his own movie production company and, in 1919, became the first Black to make a film. He wrote, directed and produced the silent motion picture ‘The Homesteader’ and then introduced the film world to Paul Robeson in ‘Body and Soul.’ In 1986, the Directors Guild of America honored Micheaux with a Golden Jubilee Special Award, and today the Oscar Micheaux Award is presented each year by the Producers Guild.
Robert Townsend Primarily known as a comedian, this Chicago native established himself when he wrote, directed, produced and starred in the comedy ‘Hollywood Shuffle,’ his 1987 film about struggling black actors. He also created and produced the CableACE award-winning ‘Robert Townsend and His Partners in Crime’ for HBO. His best film to date is the 1991 musical ‘The Five Heartbeats.’ Townsend recently directed the documentary ‘Why We Laugh,’ a story on black comedians and their impact in America.
Bill Duke Known for his imposing 6-foot-6-inch figure and action films such as 1987’s ‘Predator,’ the Poughkeepsie, New York, native began directing feature-length films in the 1990s with the crime dramas ‘A Rage in Harlem,’ ‘Deep Cover’ and ‘Hoodlum.’ In 2007, Duke directed ‘Cover,’ which starred Vivica A. Fox, and most recently ‘Not Easily Broken,’ which is based on a T.D Jakes novel and stars Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson.
Ossie Davis As a pioneer in the film business and a legend in the Black community, Davis was an actor, director, poet, playwright, writer and social activist whose career spanned nearly 50 years. Davis directed numerous films during the blaxploitation era, including 1970’s ‘Cotton Comes to Harlem’ and 1973’s ‘Gordon’s War.’ Along with wife Ruby Dee, the Georgia native starred in many movies, including several of director Spike Lee’s films such as ‘Do The Right Thing,’ ‘Jungle Fever’ and ‘She Hate Me.’
Melvin Van Peebles This Chicago actor, director, screenwriter, playwright, novelist and composer is most famously known for his contribution to the blaxploitation era with the independently financed and critically acclaimed film ‘Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song.’ The 1971 film was written, produced, scored, directed by and starred Van Peebles and tells the story of a deprived Black man on his escape from the white authority. The father of actor/ director Mario, in 2008, Melvin completed the film ‘Confessionsofa Ex-Doofus-ItchyFooted Mutha,’ which played at various film festivals.
Julie Dash In 1991, this Queens, New York, native’s film ‘Daughters of the Dust,’ which tells the story of three generations of Gullah women at the turn of the 20th century, was the first full-length film with general theatrical release in the United States by an Black woman. In 2004, the film was included in the National Film Registry.
F. Gary Gray Having directed more than 30 music videos for artists such as Ice Cube, Queen Latifah, TLC, Dr. Dre and Mary J. Blige, and winning several awards for his work, the New York native moved into the film world with the cult favorite ‘Friday,’ starring Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. He then followed that film with another fan favorite, ‘Set It Off,’ with Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Jada Pinkett Smith, before moving on to big budgeted films such as ‘The Negotiator,’ ‘The Italian Job’ and ‘Be Cool.’ His next feature is slated to be ‘Marvin: The Life Story of Marvin Gaye.’
Forest Whitaker An Academy Award winner for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 2006 film ‘The Last King of Scotland’, the Longview, Texas, native has directed many films, including the fan favorite 1995’s ‘Waiting to Exhale,’ based on the Terry McMillan novel of the same name. Other directorial films from Whitaker include ‘Hope Floats’ and ‘First Daughter.’
Lee Daniels Beginning his career in entertainment as a casting director and manager, the Philadelphia native worked on projects such as ‘Under the Cherry Moon’ and ‘Purple Rain,’ both of which starred Prince, before hitting the jackpot with his production of ‘Monster’s Ball’ in 2001. That film garnered Halle Berry a best actress Oscar, making her the first Black woman to do so. In 2006, Daniels made his directorial debut with ‘Shadowboxer,’ which starred Oscar winners Cuba Gooding, Jr., and Helen Mirren. Just recently, in January 2009, his latest directing gig, ‘Push,’ won three awards at the Sundance Film Festival, including best film.
Mo’Nique
*****
Everyone and their mother (and even the P.O.T.U.S.) seemed to have some sideways comment about Kanye West’s messy spectacle at the MTV Video Music Awards — as if he was videotaped urinating on underage girls; as if he was accused of sexual assault by a Colorado hotel employee; as if he lumped up his beautiful Cover Girl model girlfriend on the streets of Los Angeles … but I digress.
Joining in the fray is Angelo Ellerbee, an esteemed public relations veteran.
In an eyebrow-raising interview with Out magazine, the New Jersey native – who has worked with virtually everyone in black entertainment from, Dionne Warwick to DMX, spoke his piece about the highly publicized debacle: “This is a problem! You can talk about how it’s liquor, but liquor just makes you do what you want to do. It’s an excuse. His mother dying, the liquor — they’re all excuses. You need to go and get some help. You need to come to me for a week. That’s what you need to do!”
Another nugget from Ellerbee, who has garnered praise for media coaching and teaching celebrities proper etiquette: “It angers me to think that we’ve come so far and then our black president is shouted at and called a liar and nobody wants to do anything because no one wants to ruffle any feathers. You know what? I’ve got nothing but feathers to ruffle. I’m tired of this. When I worked with Mary J. Blige, people said it was the hardest thing to do and it would never happen. But life is not a cup of instant coffee. It’s brewed coffee. It’s brewed over time. Look where she’s at today!”
*****
Before Wanda Sykes starts hosting her late-night show on FOX this fall, audiences will get to see her on HBO. The Emmy Award-winning comedienne returns to the network for her second solo special, ‘Wanda Sykes: I’m a Be Me,’ debuting Oct. 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. Taped last month before a live audience at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., the special will feature the brazen funnywoman performing material featured in her national stand-up tour. She addresses such topics as having a new “cool” black president, coming out as a lesbian, the real Michelle Obama, being a new mom, getting her first bikini wax, health care town halls, pirates and working as an entertainer on a gay cruise. Named one of Entertainment Weekly’s “25 Funniest People in America,” the ‘New Adventures of Old Christine’ star recently hosted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
*****
Grammy-Award winning neo-soul powerhouse Jill Scott, Obie Award-winning actress Yvette Freeman and Emmy Award-winning producer Shonda Rimes have some irons in the fire. Scott has been cast as the lead in Lifetime Television’s telefilm ‘Sins of the Mother,’ about a grad student who returns home to face her abusive, alcoholic mother. Scott, who recently helmed the critically acclaimed HBO series ‘Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency’ (now on DVD), will play the mother. According to ‘Variety,’ production began this week, and a 2010 premiere is slated.
She played nurse Haleh for 15 years on the TV drama ‘ER,’ but Freeman is a master at theater. This week, the Obie Award-winning Delaware nativestars in McCarter Theatre Center‘s production of Emily Mann’s ‘Having Our Say,’ based on the memoir about civil rights pioneers Sadie and Bessie Delany. The multiple-award-winning play officially opened Sept. 17 and will continue at the Princeton University venue through Oct. 18.
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ creator Rimes will produce a Miramax Films project adapted from journalist Helena Andrews‘ upcoming memoir ‘Bitch is the New Black,’ a satirical look at the new generation of young, successful black women in Washington, D.C. Andrews, a culture columnist for TheRoot.com, has been tapped to pen the screenplay.
*****
Roxanne Shante, who was recently embroiled in a sordid scandal about whether Warner Bros. Records financed her alleged college education, sounded an alarm about a serious women’s health issue earlier this week. Via her Facebook page, the Queens, N.Y., native wrote: “Sisters, it is very important that you get mammograms. I am not going to put my personal business out here. But just know I am speaking from a place and situation that I don’t want to see any of you in. If anyone here is a breast cancer survivor I would love to hear from you. Life Begins at 40.”
When reached for comment, the former Cold Chillin’ Records rap diva (nee Lolita Gooden), who many consider the “First Lady of Rap,” did not respond. But today, she wrote: “Okay, let me explain. I wanted to share my situation because someone reading this needs to know they are not alone. Or they need to go and get a mammogram. We always put ourselves on the back burner for family, work, friends, etc. Put your health 1st today. As for me, I will be fine. God is good and has given me a guarantee. Plus, to worry is a sin, and I have committed enough of those so I don’t worry. Lol.” Her 40th birthday is Nov. 9.
Milton Bradley's season is finished. Perhaps his days with the Chicago Cubs are, too. The Cubs suspended their volatile outfielder for the rest of the season Sunday, one day after he criticized the team in a newspaper interview. Bradley was disciplined for conduct detrimental to the team. General manager Jim Hendry said he decided to send Bradley home after learning of the player's remarks in…
Even though he has pitched in the World Series before, Jose Contreras confessed he was nervous before his first start for the Colorado Rockies. He didn't look it once he took the mound. Acquired on Monday from the Chicago White Sox for minor league pitcher Brandon Hynick, Contreras pitched 6 2-3 solid innings to lead the Rockies to a 4-1 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After a busy and tumultuous past few months, young millionaire Rihanna may be using her money to settle down on her own. Housing rumor has it that the funky beauty has purchased a $10 million dollar home in Los Angeles. This is a strong move, after being a public victim of abuse. Read below for more notable events in finance, housing, the economy and more from an African American perspective.
♦ 5 Tips for Homebuyers as the Deadline Approaches for $8,000 Stimulus The $8,000 federal tax credit for certain qualified home buyers is scheduled to expire December 1, 2009. Don’t be fooled by this deadline. This does not mean you have three months left to find your new home and make an offer. The Money Coach
♦ Study Shows Psychological Impact of Unemployment A new Rutgers study reveals the impact of unemployment on the individual, including depression, anxiety, and strained relationships. BusinessWeek ♦ Using Cash Helps Consumers Escape Debt Buried in credit card debts? Experts across the board suggest adopting a cash-only lifestyle. The Grio
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
Rihanna dining at Giorgio Baldi in a black and white dress. Sept 2, 2009 X17online.com exclusive
Ice/X17online.com
♦ B in the Spotlight… Chike Ozah Meet a New Orleans Director – Designer – Entrepreneur putting his name on the map. The “B-Life”
♦ The Shrinking Plus-Size Apparel Market To no one’s surprise, apparel sales have been going down over the past year — but the plus-size market has been hit especially hard. The Budget Fashionista
♦ NYU Business School Gets its First Black Dean Peter Blair Henry, a Jamaica-born Rhodes Scholar, moves to NYU in January 2010 from Stanford, where he’s currently holding the post of Konosuke Matsushita Professor of Economics. He’ll be NYU’s first black business school dean. The Network Journal
♦ Five Safe Investments If you are looking for some really safe investments, you should consider one of these five options. Out of Debt Christian
♦ Low-Wage Workers Are Often Cheated, Study Says Low-wage workers are routinely denied proper overtime pay and are often paid less than the minimum wage, according to a new study based on a survey of workers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. The New York Times
Whether her divorce decree from Usher was signed off by the judge or not, Tameka Foster‘s near-two-year marriage to the international music superstar is still over.
That’s a fact!
Yet, the 40-something-year old single mother of five children (allegedly by three different men) says she was not given a fair shot in the way she was being “judged.”
The Oakland native (pictured above with beautiful dark-skinned actresses Keshia Knight Pulliam and Tasha Smith last year) spoke to Isoul Harris for Upscale magazine’s September/October edition.
That’s a fact!
In the Atlanta-based Bronner Bros.-owned magazine, she tells the esteemed former Rolling Out newspaper editor that she didn’t fit the image of the kind of woman people thought Usher should marry. Usher Raymond That’s a fact!
Oh, is that why it didn’t work? That’s a question asked by some. That’s a fact!
“I understand where all the negativity comes from,” she said. “Unfortunately I think that some black women are – subconsciously – not in love with the image they see in the mirror. Therefore in turn they do not love someone like me. I look too much like them.”
Hmmmm.
The only woman that I think Tameka Foster Glover Raymond looks like is one of my all time black spiritual leaders: Prophetess Juanita Bynum. That’s a fact!
What about you?
Like Foster, Bynum appeared on the cover of best-selling women’s magazine Essence.
That’s a fact!
A renowned best-selling author and televangelist, the 50-year-old Chicago native is also a regular motivational speaker during Essence Music Festival’s Empowerment Seminars in New Orleans, which is populated mostly by black women.
That’s a fact!
“People passed judgment without getting to know me,” Foster opined to Harris, then asked, “How can you get the entire concept of who I am from a blog?”
The September/October edition of ‘Upscale’ magazine — with actress Taraj P. Henson on the cover — is on some newsstands now.
That’s a fact!
Below, BV Newswire takes a look at other women who were/are spouses to famous men – who are not judged and have successful careers for their own talents. Check out these bold soul sisters who are off on their own…
Doing Their Own Thing While gold digging hoochie mamas vying to marry rich and successful men will never get old, there is a flip side to that: women with talent and skill and a drive to stand on their own. Blackvoices.com takes a quick look at the successful spouses of famous men.
While on a family vacation with Tom and Suri, Katie Holmes hit the beach near Rio de Janeiro in this blue one piece.
bauergriffinonline.com
Rihanna hits the stage at the NFL Pepsi Smash Super Bowl Concert in a pair of knee-high black boots. What do you think about the pop singer’s look?
Kevin C. Cox, Getty Images for NFL
Mischa Barton wore this Elie Saab couture mint green gown to the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d’Armenonville. Is Mischa’s look a hit or miss?
Eric Ryan, Getty Images
Heroes star Hayden Panettiere arrives at the NBC Universal Pre-Super Bowl event at Portofino in a black tuxedo jacket and dress with a plunging neckline. Is the Hollywood starlet hot or not?
Gerardo Mora, Getty Images
Diane Kruger wore Nina Ricci for the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d’Armenonville. Is her dress a mess or amazing?
Eric Ryan, Getty Images
Kim Kardashian opted for this floral strapless Tracey Reese dress for the 2009 Moves Magazine Super Bowl Party at The Venue Club. Let us know what you think about Kim’s look.
Tim Boyles, Getty Images
Burlesque beauty Dita Von Teese wore an ice blue Elie Saab (left) satin dress at the Fashion Dinner for Aids at the Pavillon d’Armenonville.
Dominique Charriau, WireImage
Spanish actress Penelope Cruz appeared at the the 2009 Goya Cinema Awards in Madrid in this black lace Chanel gown. Is it a win or a loss?
Carlos Alvarez, Getty Images
Amy Adams wore a Jasmine di Milo gold and silver sequin backless dress and Christian Louboutin heels to the 61st Annual Directors Guild of America Awards.
Frazer Harrison, Getty Images
Being thousands of miles away didn’t stop Meryl Streep from celebrating the inauguration. The actress wore this Catherine Malandrino flag dress to the Paris premiere of Doubt.
“It didn’t go down the way it was reported: [They said] I was airlifted, I was beat. Honey if I’m beat, that place would have been on fire. I am a South Side Chicago girl, ain’t nobody putting their hands on me, and getting away with it – at all.”
— Actress and former First Lady of Turks & Caicos Islands LisaRaye McCoy-Misick on the publicized altercation with her ex-husband Premier Michael Misick. (Jet)
Top 30 Sexiest Actresses of All Time: First off, we acknowledge that ‘sexiness’ is extremely subjective, but since when has that stopped anyone from offering their opinion? It certainly hasn’t kept us from taking note of the women who have served it up to us over and over again on the silver screen. That kind of consistency deserves recognition. That’s why Black Voices took time out to compile a list of the top 30 sexiest actresses of all time. Although many of the women on our list have excelled in various media throughout their careers, we decided to rank each actress based on their “sex appeal in feature films, roles and scenes.” Whether you agree or disagree with our rankings, we want to hear your opinion. Why not give us your own top 30 sexy actresses list? Please post your thoughts, comments and/or opinions in our community message board. Let the sexiness begin!
Getty Images / WireImage / Getty Images
30. Thandie Newton It’s fitting that British actress Thandie Newton got the lead slot in our countdown. After all, compiling a list like this is sort of a ‘Mission Impossible’ given the fact that sexiness is completely subjective. Still, Newton sizzles on screen when the role calls for it, whether playing the femme fatale opposite Tom Cruise or the violated wife of Terrence Howard in the 2005 drama ‘Crash.’ No matter what your taste, leaving Newton off our list would have been an injustice.
Ferdaus Shamim, WireImage.com
29. Tracy Camilla Johns Tracy Camilla Johns first came to our attention in Spike Lee‘s debut feature, ‘She’s Gotta Have It’. The mere fact that she hasn’t left our consciousness since then is a testament to her sex appeal. Oh yeah, we forgot to mention that she played a nymphomaniac dating three men at the same time. She followed that up with a scene-stealing striptease in 1991’s ‘New Jack City.’
Island Pictures, Everett Collection
28. Vivica A. Fox Vivica Fox managed to heat up the screen even when playing an ice queen a la Mr. Freeze’s lusty assistant in ‘Batman and Robin.’ We should’ve expected as much from a character named Miss B. Haven. It seems Ms. Fox is destined to live up to her real name, having played sexy roles in ‘Booty Call’ and ‘Two Can Play That Game.’
Getty Images
27. Robin Givens As if posing in a 1994 issue of Playboy Magazine wasn’t sexy enough! Robin Givens actually played a sex siren opposite Eddie Murphy in ‘Boomerang.’ Givens’ character Jacqueline ultimately seduces Murphy’s character Marcus Graham. Some say she played the same role in real life with her former husband, boxer Mike Tyson.
Time Life Pictures/Getty Images
26. Paula Patton We can see why fellow R&B crooner Robin Thicke decided to put a ring on the finger of this sultry actress (let alone write a song about her). Of course we’re sure that’s not the only reason, but it couldn’t have hurt. Paula Patton makes the list for roles in ‘Déjà vu’ and ‘Idlewild.’ Her leading men would be lost without the light she brings to the screen.
Jim Spellman, WireImage.com
25. Nichelle Nichols We couldn’t possibly leave the original intergalactic hottie off of this list! If Nichelle Nichols were the future of space travel, what self-respecting Trekkie wouldn’t want to get beamed up? We would mention that she was hot enough to entice Captain James T. Kirk into TV’s first on-screen interracial kiss, but that wouldn’t be saying nearly enough. In her prime Lieutenant Uhura was light years ahead of the competition.
Fotos International, Getty Images
24. Eartha Kitt Eartha Kitt epitomizes sexiness. Just her name evokes the signature purr she unleashed as Catwoman. The eyes, the hands, the voice, the legs — they all add to her allure — yet her sexiness is even greater than the sum of her parts. We’ll admit we haven’t seen most of her movies, but it doesn’t take much to be convinced. Besides, have you ever seen her performance of the song Santa Baby?
Michael Ochs, Getty Images
23. Vanity Even though she was a ‘Nasty Girl’ in Prince‘s off-shoot group Vanity 6, Vanity (born Denise Katrina Matthews) had everyone in awe over her the 1985 flick ‘The Last Dragon.’ Leroy Green wasn’t the only teenage boy in pursuit of Matthews’ character Laura Charles. Sho ’nuff! Whoever plays her role in the upcoming remake has some pretty sexy heels to fill. (That’s right, we said heels.)
Lynn Goldsmith, Corbis
22. Lauren London When people hear the letters “L.L.” they may automatically associate them with rapper-actor L.L. Cool J. Well, not this time! Hot 24-year-old vixen Lauren London comes in at number 22 for her role as “Erin ‘New New’ Garnett” in the 2006 film ‘ATL.’ She may not have many roles to her credit, but something tells us she’ll more than live up to any future billing.
Mark Teixeira homered and drove in four runs, Johnny Damon also went deep and the New York Yankees polished off a three-game sweep of the struggling Chicago White Sox with an 8-3 victory Sunday. Alfredo Aceves (9-1) provided stellar relief pitching after Joba Chamberlain's abbreviated outing, and the streaking Yankees won for the 20th time in 26 games.
I spoke about Chris Brown on CNN not too long ago, and I am sure I’ll be talking about him now. Given his shocking 5-year probationary smackdown by a judge, I am sure that Chris has been humbled beyond belief. Even I was surprised to see him get this kind of punishment. But the truth is that when we make personal decisions, there is a piper to be paid, and sometimes that piper wants more compensation than we wish to deliver.
But Chris Brown is far from finished, and I expect him to be back on top in no time. The Chris Brown brand is still worth hundreds of millions of dollars, since corporate America is very good at working around the emotional to secure the logical value of their financial assets. Here are some things to keep in mind as Chris tries to rebuild his damaged career.
If R. Kelly can make a comeback, anybody can. I confess that R. Kelly honestly sickens me. I hate to say it this way, but the idea of a man doing what he is alleged to have done to that little girl makes me as angry as you can ever possibly imagine (and yes, I do believe that was him in that video). What disturbs me even more is that the American public let the entire issue go as soon as Kelly released another hit song. This sends a horrible message to young black women, reflecting the fact that our culture does not value their well-being as much as we value a hit song about going to the club, getting drunk and having irresponsible sex at the end of the night. Sorry homeboy, but you can’t serenade your way into my good graces or that of any other conscientious African American. There are simply some lines entertainers cannot cross and being found “not guilty” is not the same as being found innocent.
In spite of the obvious critique one can thrust on R. Kelly, the oddest thing is that R. Kelly’s model of career recovery can serve as an instruction manual for Chris Brown. The first segment of that lesson came during R. Kelly’s first BET interview after the child pornography allegations were made. During the interview, I noticed that the singer kept repeating the phrase, “Just focus on my music.” He repeated the phrase several times, as if his business manager had coached him to do so. Upon processing things later, the translation here was simple: If you are focused on his music, you will forgive him for the fact that he’d been accused of doing nasty things to someone’s 13-year old daughter. Yes it’s sick. Yes, it bothers me. But yes, it’s the truth and it has worked quite well for R. Kelly and his business model (notice that it took him a while to release his latest album after the trial – the public typically cools off and forgets almost anything you’ve done if enough time passes).
Similar to the R. Kelly situation, I’ve noticed that many female music fans really don’t care that Chris Brown is a man who seems to believe that it’s O.K.to use a woman’s face as a punching bag. The report that he used the big ring on his finger to inflict even more damage to Rihanna reminds you of the late Ike Turner. I hope he takes his domestic violence counseling seriously, since he can’t go on living like this.
In the music industry, fans are quick to accept eccentric behavior from celebrities. The public took no issue with Michael Jackson’s problematic relationships with children and there are many other scenarios in which a hit record is enough to take value judgments off the radar screen. Personally, I find myself in constant shock at the kind of language Lil Wayne’s female fans allow him to use to consistently disrespect them. It almost seems that a polite Lil Wayne would not sell nearly as many records as the drunken, outlandish rapper who appears to have a serious drug problem.
Value systems aside and with the focus back on business, a black entertainer can rebuild his career after an arrest by doing the following things:
1) Just say that Jesus healed you. People always buy that one. It worked for R. Kelly. References to God, even when insincere and blatantly hypocritical, invoke deeply entrenched sensibilities within African Americans. Personally, I need proof that you’ve really changed, not just your statement that Jesus came to you in a dream.
2) Sincerely apologize. People always love a good apology.
3) Make a really hot song. If people are dancing to your music, they usually forget that you might want to punch out their daughter or think that she’s a garden tool. Unfortunate, but true.
4) Remember the truth: People really don’t care that much about the celeb’s personal life and are looking for an excuse to forgive him anyway. I recall speaking to someone who works for a major network, and I was in awe over how nonchalant she was about the R. Kelly situation. All she kept saying was, “Well, he ISSSS talented,” as if his talent forgives him for any sin committed in the present, past or future. I bumped into a radio exec at a major station in Chicago and listened to him essentially say the same thing when explaining why his station adjusted its policy against playing R. Kelly music shortly after the allegations. The fact is that people just don’t care.
Chris Brown’s brand will remain strong in the music industry. From a business standpoint, it is also ironic that being arrested may actually be a “coming out” party for him, reinventing him for the world as the tough, borderline thug that many women seem to love (remember when Lauren London said she had a crush on Ol Dog from Menace to Society – a man known for being the craziest gang banger in entertainment history?). These coming out parties are common, as you typically see young actresses do sexy magazine covers on their 18th birthday (i.e. when “Simply Raven” became “Sexy Raven” and when Rudy Huxtable played a prostitute in her latest film), or male entertainers trying to look mean and “tatted up” to break away from their good boy image (i.e. Lil Bow Wow….I mean, Bow Wow). It’s all about branding. The craziest thing about the Chris Brown situation is that being arrested for beating a woman could actually work to his advantage. So, our adoration for Chris Brown (actually, other people’s adoration, since I don’t respect any man who would do that to a woman) is a reflection of our society and a nasty look in the mirror for all of us. I should say, however, that I consider Chris Brown to be far different from R. Kelly: He is still a very young man who makes mistakes and could possibly become a decent adult with guidance and significant intervention – which spoiled celebrities seldom receive.
Don’t be surprised to see Chris hanging out with more rappers, where it’s actually a good thing to be arrested. He’s going to have a few more tattoos, a meaner “mug” on his next album and present a brand that embraces the hardcore image, yet not so hardcore that you won’t believe him when he sincerely apologizes and says that Jesus saved him. The new Chris Brown will be interesting.
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Everyone and their mother (and 
D.C., the special will feature the brazen funnywoman performing material featured in her national stand-up tour. She addresses such topics as having a new “cool” black president, coming out as a lesbian, the real Michelle Obama, being a new mom, getting her first bikini wax, health care town halls, pirates and working as an entertainer on a gay cruise. Named one of Entertainment Weekly’s “25 Funniest People in America,” the ‘New Adventures of Old Christine’ star recently hosted the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Grammy-Award winning neo-soul powerhouse Jill Scott, Obie Award-winning actress Yvette Freeman and Emmy Award-winning producer Shonda Rimes have some irons in the fire. Scott has been cast as the lead in Lifetime Television’s telefilm ‘Sins of the Mother,’ about a grad student who returns home to face her abusive, alcoholic mother. Scott, who recently helmed the critically acclaimed HBO series ‘Ladies No. 1 Detective Agency’ (now on DVD), will play the mother. According to ‘Variety,’ production began this week, and a 2010 premiere is slated.
going to put my personal business out here. But just know I am speaking from a place and situation that I don’t want to see any of you in. If anyone here is a breast cancer survivor I would love to hear from you. Life Begins at 40.” 
