In this episode of Your Black Gossip with Lady Drama, Lady Drama talks about the legacy of the great Michael Jackson. She also talks about the latest with Usher and Tameka, as well as the craziness of Kim Kardashian doing an R&B CD.
Read more love tips in our African American Love Blog
1. He’s extra helpful.
If your guy shows a sudden interest in doing dishes or picking out sheets at Bed, Bath & Beyond, he may be trying to prove he’s husband material. "Before he pops the question, he’ll subconsciously seek out ways to show off his domestic side," says Tamsen Fadal, co-author of Why Hasn’t He Proposed? "He wants to make sure you see him as a partner who pulls his weight."
2. He talks himself up.
Even though you have a career of your own and can take care of yourself, most men still want to be on solid financial footing (good job, decent salary, clear credit) before getting engaged. "It’s instinctual for men to want to provide for their partner," says Les Parrott, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Crazy Good Sex. "So they’ll frequently point out their ability to do so in the weeks leading up to an engagement." That means he may brag a little about an accomplishment at work or casually hint that he’s receiving a larger than usual bonus.
3. He acts like you just started dating.
Think back to the past few weeks. Has your guy been unusually attentive? Maybe he’s brought you just-because flowers or taken you out on elaborate dates. "He’s pulling out all the stops to make sure that when the time comes, you say yes," explains Fadal. Yeah, it’s a tad sneaky, but he’s also making those gestures because he’s genuinely excited about the possibility of marrying you. "Planning a proposal reignites that new love buzz for a lot of men," says Parrott.
by Genma Holmes
Watching movies and barbecuing is how my family spends most Sunday afternoons. This past Sunday, I broke a cardinal rule and watched the BET Awards for the first time. My kids convinced me that it would be great since it was billed as a tribute to Michael Jackson and his humanitarian endeavors. However, the show that was promoted was not the show I watched. The BET Awards was a chaotic three hour black-a-thon fiasco.
Rather than letting Fox News sound bites define Jeremiah Wright for you, take a look at his bio.
Life, Love and Legacy
Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.
The Rev. Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. is a man of faith, a homiletic genius, a theological scholar and a pastor’s pastor. He is a family man who enjoys spending quality time with his wife, children, grandchildren, extended family and friends.
Steeped in Family Tradition and Educational Achievements
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Wright is a son of the parsonage and hails from a family steeped in educational achievements. A third generation family member to matriculate at Virginia Union University, Dr. Wright followed in the footsteps of his maternal grandfather, Dr. Hamilton Martin Henderson who graduated from Virginia Union with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the late 1800s and finished seminary at Virginia Union in 1902. His father, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Sr., also graduated from Virginia Union with two undergraduate degrees and from the seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in 1938. The senior Wright also received a Master of Sacred Theology degree (S.T.M.) from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia.
Dr. Wright’s mother, Dr. Mary Henderson Wright, also graduated from Virginia Union and earned her first master’s degree before age 19 from the University of Chicago. She also earned a second master’s degree and her doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania.
Foundational Strengths
With four earned degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from Howard University, a Master of Divinity from the University of Chicago Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from the United Theological Seminary, Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. grew up in a home where reading books was a daily way of life. Wright read a wide range of sources from the Greek philosophers and Shakespeare to African American authors such as Carter G. Woodson (the Father of African American History) to Sterling Brown (one of the Harlem Renaissance artists), as well as one of Dr. Wright’s college professors.
Since Alpha Phi Alpha was founded in 1906 the nine major black fraternities (Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi, Phi Beta Sigma, Iota Phi Theta, Omega Psi Phi) and sororities (Alpha Kappa Alpha, Delta Sigma Theta. Zeta Phi Beta, Sigma Gamma Rho) have been trailblazers, at the forefront of the fight against racism and at the forefront of the fight for African American empowerment. But over 100 years after their founding, are these organizations still doing the work that they set out to do?
To the extent that individuals have criticized these organizations from without they’ve attacked their membership practices–more specifically the practice of hazing. Almost all of the "Divine Nine" have had to deal with not only hazing allegations, but hazing related deaths over the past few decades.
But more recently members have severely criticized their organizations for their financial practices.
Most recently a case filed by a member is wending its way through the Nebraska courts alleging that the executive board of Alpha Kappa Alpha gave its International President an illegal stipend in the amount of $250,000, in violation of its Constitution and Bylaws, and without consulting the membership.
The case has not been decided, and the sorority is countersuing the plaintiff. However, this is not the first time in recent years that allegations of financial impropriety have been made against one of the "Divine Nine".
In a 5-to-4 decision, made along ideological lines, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the white firefighters in their racial discrimination case. This is a direct reversal of Supreme Court nominee Judge Sonia Sotomayor’s previous decision and is sure to be an extended topic of discussion during her upcoming confirmation hearings.
I’ve always been wary of the way the city of New Haven handled the results of its now infamous firefighter promotion test. It never made sense to me. When test results came back, and no black firefighters had scores high enough for immediate promotion, New Haven decided to throw out the results of the test on the grounds that the test itself may have been discriminatory and that the black firefighters might sue the city for discrimination. New Haven was not being altruistic in its concerns about "racial fairness."
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I chuckle as I write this, because I’ve wondered the same thing about me “Is my sex drive too damn high?" Any who this story isn’t directly about me today.
Last week I got together for food and Patron shots with a very good girlfriend of mine, I just love her she’s highly successful very pretty. We got to talking about men and relationships pretty recklessly due to the patron shots and a little pinch of fed up ness! This is when she tells me “Nicole I need it everyday, at least 3times a day!" Shut up!! You too I scream!! I thought something was wrong with me??!! Lmao. She explained that most men tell her that, they have never had this much sex in their life! Accuse her of being a Nympho! I was loving every minute of this hot steamy conversation of her sex demands i.e. You better give it to me in the morning too, what you think this is buddy??!!
Selfish me was happy to know that I have a fellow sista in the struggle, and cheered her on exclaiming that There Ain’t Nothing Wrong with that shooooot, he needs to get with the program!
4 shots and a few fresh texts later as we "nymphs" tried to arrange our late night trysts, we asked each other again, is something wrong with the frequency and intensity in which we want to be satisfied ??
My answer is Hell No! Why shouldn’t women be comfortable with expressing their sexuality, their desires, and fantasies! Men please don’t’ feel threatened by your woman’s sex drive being higher than yours; there is nothing wrong or abnormal about her! Yup we want it in the morning, the afternoon, and if we could bounce out of work during lunch to get a quickie at spot random location we would! Its a beautiful thing when you and your mate speak the same sex language, because there is nothing weaker in my opinion than a man that tells you "No baby not tonight"!
The first time I appeared on "The Wendy Williams Experience," I was admittedly a wee bit concerned. I didn’t know as much as I should have about Wendy, but I did know that she was ferocious. I was being invited on her show to talk about Oprah Winfrey, Bill Cosby, 50 Cent and Ice Cube. There was a beef between hip hop and the Oprah crowd, and Wendy seemed to feel that I could be a good referee.
I didn’t mind standing in the middle of this conversation, because I have respect for both sides of the fence. Hip hop is one of the most powerful creative art forms in the history of the world, but it also possesses tremendous problems, primarily due to the impact of selective commercialization within the context of socially irresponsible corporate models. Oprah, on the other hand, is one of the most amazing and prolific public figures I’ve ever seen. But she is also not without her issues as it pertains to dealing with black men. I respect all sides, but I am not afraid to critique all sides when necessary.
In my first appearance on Wendy’s show, I met her incredibly efficient producer,Nicole Spence. I was sad to see Wendy and Nicole fall out, because I honestly feel that they needed each other. But I digress. Before the show, Nicole told me, point blank: "The interview is going to last for at least 20 minutes. It will only be longer if Wendy likes you."
Okey-dokey then. Either we would hit it off nicely or she would put the hook around my neck like the Apollo Theatre. Wendy is not polite enough to care if she hurts your feelings, so I knew she would only keep talking to me if I could give her good commentary. In front of 11 million listeners, we were going to be feeling each other out. The pressure was on, but I respond well to pressure and confront all challenges head on. In fact, I almost always win.
by Dr Boyce Watkins
My beautiful daughter Carmen just helped her school win its first state championship. She is the shortest person on team, the quickest and the scrappiest – both a lady and a monster when she has to be. As I sat in the stands cheering like a lunatic, I noticed that there weren’t enough parents cheering along with me. The stadium was half empty, and most of the people cheering in the stands were women and children. I wondered how these young women felt, knowing that while their stands were only partially full, the boy’s game (which they lost) had been sold out.
I couldn’t quite figure out why we don’t support women’s sport the way we should: The fundamentals of the WNBA are better than the men, and the women are incredibly talented and competitive. But after some long reflection on the disparity of support, I gave myself the answer to my own question.
When planning our trip to New York City. I said to Carmen, "How would you like to see a Knicks game?" Her eyes brightened like Times Square and she shook her head up and down so hard I thought she was going to break her neck in the process. I then realized my mistake: While it was quite natural for me to think about inviting my daughter to a Knicks game, I didn’t think for one second to invite her to see the New York Liberty, the women’s team in the city.
President Barack Obama has written to the family of Michael Jackson rather than making a public statement, his senior adviser said Sunday.
Appearing on the NBC program "Meet the Press," Obama adviser David Axelrod said Obama believes Jackson was "an important and magnificent performer" who made an undeniable impact on music and entertainment.
Asked why Obama had yet to speak publicly about Jackson’s sudden death last week at age 50, Axelrod said: "The president has written the family and has shared his feelings with the family."
"He felt that was the appropriate way to go," Axelrod said.
Posted by BallerGirl on Your Black Celebrities, at 11:02 AM 0 comments
I guess crime doesn’t pay. Bernard Madoff, the billionaire who bilked investors out of billions of dollars the largest Ponzi Scheme in American history was just sentenced to 150 years in prison.
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LONDON (Reuters) — Oil rose to $70 a barrel on Monday after Nigeria’s main militant group said it attacked a Royal Dutch Shell oil platform, outweighing a fairly bearish report from the International Energy Agency (IEA).
The Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) said its fighters struck the Shell Forcados platform in the Delta state.
There was no immediate independent confirmation but Shell said it shut in some oil production at its western operations in the Delta while it investigated reports of attacks.
U.S. crude for August delivery rose to a high of $70.06 per barrel, up 90 cents, before slipping back slightly to $69.75.
"The Nigerian supply disruptions brought in some buying," said Christopher Bellew, broker at Bache Commodities in London.
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2:10 PM on 06/26/2009
Michael Jackson is dead at 50 from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest simply means that the heart has stopped pumping, which results in cessation of blood flow and oxygen to the organs and tissues. The body cannot be sustained without this,…
8:39 AM on 06/26/2009
The new anti-smoking bill marks a monumental achievement in the fight against tobacco companies in the United States. It is geared towards protecting family and children and empowers the FDA to regulate the tobacco companies more stringently. The bill aims…
7:47 AM on 06/16/2009
2009 marks a very extraordinary and exciting time in the United States of America. For the time in history we are under the leadership of an African American president. His background is not one of a privileged and wealthy individual…
Michael Jackson is not dead. No, he’s not on a deserted island chilling with Tupac and Elvis (who some believe faked their deaths), but he is certainly alive in corporate and social spirit, impacting millions of people.
Michael will make 1000 times more money in death than most people make when they are alive. But similar to when he was alive, massive amounts of cash will have to be generated in order to counter the enormous debt that Michael created while he was doing his thing.
Reports have stated Michael Jackson’s debt to be as high as half a billion dollars, enough to make some major corporations blush. What’s worse is that this debt was not created via a series of sound financial investments: it was conceived by building personal amusement parks, buying rare monkey statues, and rocking his way from one expensive store to the other.
Michael’s spending became his addiction. Financial needs could have been what led to him agreeing to do 50 concerts in London this year (a tour he was preparing for just before his death), when he may have not been able to handle one. It was starting to get sad watching Michael perform, similar to watching Muhammad Ali after he’d spent 10 years dealing with Don King. While the 50-year old Michael Jackson may have given a great performance, it would probably be something less than what we’ve come to expect.
AP – In this June 15, 2009 photo, film director Spike Lee responds during an interview in New York about his …
NEW YORK – Twenty years later, the trash can is still crashing through America’s window.
At the climax of Spike Lee’s 1989 drama "Do The Right Thing," the eternal battle between love and hate teeters on a razor’s edge. The young black man Radio Raheem has been choked to death by white police after a fight with a Brooklyn pizzeria owner. A seething crowd gathers in front of the shop.
Lee’s character, Mookie, a black pizza deliveryman, stands between the crowd and the shop. He’s shoulder-to-shoulder with Sal, the shop’s Italian owner. They exchange looks of confusion, betrayal and regret.
The crowd stares at Mookie. He’s on the wrong side. Mookie moves over to his brothers, rubs his face, wrestling with the weight of the moment. Then he decides.
"Hate!" screams Mookie as he hurls the metal can through the pizzeria’s plate glass window. The dam bursts. The mob destroys the shop in a frenzy that was both inevitable and completely avoidable.
Much has changed since "Do The Right Thing" announced Lee’s special gifts to the world. The police choke hold that killed Radio Raheem — a fictionalization of the real death of Michael Stewart in New York City — has long been outlawed. Life on the ravaged Brooklyn block where Lee filmed the movie has improved. Ronald Reagan has given way to Barack Obama.
But for every measure of undeniable progress, "Do The Right Thing" also points to the divides that remain.
New Edition did an amazing tribute to The Jackson 5 at the BET Awards. This was telling and accurate, since they were the second coming of the Jackson 5 when they were released in the 1980s. The only question is: How did they put it together on such short notice? Click here to watch.
The star-studded BET Awards got under way without "the greatest star in the world," Joe Jackson, father of the late Michael Jackson, said on Sunday night.
Joe Jackson, father of Michael Jackson, was in attendance in Los Angeles for the BET Awards on Sunday.
"I wish the world had recognized him when he were living," Joe Jackson told CNN’s Don Lemon outside the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
"Right now he’s bigger than ever. But I wish he was here to see all this, to hear all this," Joe Jackson said.
When asked about circumstances surrounding his son’s death, he said, "I have a lot of concerns but I can’t get into that. … I don’t like what happened."
At the show, host Jamie Foxx came out in a red, leather "Billie Jean" jacket and capped his opening monologue with a crowd-pleasing but wobbly moonwalk.
Before the show, instead of asking celebrities what designer they wore, pre-awards show hosts Terrence J. and Rocsi asked about favorite Michael Jackson moments or songs.
" ‘Beat it’ and ‘Billie Jean,’ " recording artist Amerie gleefully said into the microphone, before rattling off several other hits.
My name is Martina Correia and I am on Death Row in Georgia.
No I have not murdered anybody, never even been on trial. I am on death row because that is where my brother lives.
Death Row has been for me and my family a living nightmare. As the eldest of five children I have always been responsible for protecting my siblings, and I keep wondering what I could have done to go back in time or change past history.
My father died of pure depression and grief, my mother prays and prays and prays and cries and cries and cries. Late night phone calls terrify us, prison visits elate us, and death is always upon us. They say we are on the side of the murderer; we have been treated at times like criminals.
We temporarily lost our place of worship, we lost friends, we lost jobs but we never lost faith or the unconditional love of Troy, my brother.
We became the invisible victims, the tormented, the shamed; we became the enemy of the state.
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Schools are not using enough discretion under Michigan’s zero-tolerance expulsion law and are disproportionately kicking out black students who ultimately end up behind bars, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union.
The study by the ACLU of Michigan was released Wednesday. It identifies a school-to-prison pipeline it says has been created by suspension policies, cultural stereotypes, referrals to law enforcement for school fights and factors such as not requiring expelled students to get an alternative education.
Michigan’s 1995 zero-tolerance law requires an expulsion for possessing any "dangerous weapon," and the ACLU says it is broader than required by federal law. The ACLU wants state law to be eased so only firearms possession is subject to mandatory expulsion.
The ACLU’s report says students were disciplined for bringing a toy gun, novelty lighter and eyebrow archer to school.
8:33 AM on 06/25/2009
In America, there are essentially two types of power: Political power and economic power. African Americans, relatively speaking, have always had very little of both. What’s worse is that we tend to squander the little bit of power we have by giving it away to any sweet-talking candidate who makes us feel good. Obama has been that candidate, not because he is a "sell-out" or a "swindler"; but because he is a politician.
Obama’s apparent lack of desire to create targeted policies for African Americans is driven by the fact that we "gave it up" without critically analyzing or challenging his commitment to our issues. No other candidate could have gotten away with this. Our commitment to political style over substance is similar to materialistic distractions toward "blinging, balling, flossing and shining" which lead many of us into bankruptcy. I say this as a supporter of Obama, but also as a man who’d like to see him do more.
I watched President Obama give one of the most uncomfortable press conferences he’s ever had to deliver to the American people. The honeymoon is slowly ending, and "the chosen one" is now being forced to answer to angry Americans looking to stab their pitchforks into whatever politician they can find. President Obama has been spared this anger, in large part because he has presented himself as the man who can guide the country out of this crisis.
I still believe he can but the kryptonite is taking effect. President Obama’s unemployment forecasts have gone from "nothing above 8%" to "surely above 10%". African Americans are even more concerned about the pinch, as our unemployment rates are expected to rise as high as 20% by the end of the year. The black family is additionally threatened by tangential issues such as mass incarceration, which serve to further undermine our social infrastructure during these difficult economic times.
Techn9ne usually outshines all of the national artists who headline his concerts. In fact, the word is that they are afraid to perform with him. Click here to watch his video.
Click the image below to listen to President Obama’s address and conversation on healthcare reform. The President wants to make healthcare reform a top priority over the next several years.
In the past several weeks, there have been numerous incidents involving the police and Black people, that have resulted in serious injury and death on both sides. This includes several recent incidents in Oakland, California; in Seattle, a 15-year old girl brutally beaten for being mouthy and kicking a shoe; an off-duty Black New York police officer being gunned down by a white officer; and other incidents in places around the country.
These are some of the most recent and extreme examples of a problem that, in one form or another, spans the length of U.S. history. The reality is that police forces, in varying forms, have been traditionally used as a tool to preserve and promote white supremacy, and to keep Blacks (particularly those in impoverished communities) "in their place". The idea of "protecting and serving" as it relates to policing, had as its root and initial goal the same objective as most other laws and statutes enacted in this country: To protect the interests of property-owning white males. There are few areas in the United States(if any) where the police in some form or fashion have not actively participated in violating the rights of Black people, utilizing any methods deemed necessary, including murder. Although some things have changed, it is naive (to say the least) to think that the legacy upon which the idea of policing was built in this country(white supremacy and Black oppression) has been erased from its method of operation.
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Al Sharpton said it best: "Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color. Way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama, Michael did with music what they later did in sports, in politics and in television."
If there is such a thing as ‘post-racial’, Jackson was probably the first and most visible international post-racial figure that this country has ever produced. He made history uniting not only Americans, but the world through his music, much in the same way Obama has done with his campaign.
It’s surprising therefore, that a day after the news of Michael Jackson’s death and with the nation deep in mourning, President Obama has not personally acknowledged a man who helped paved the way for his election.
Although the president released a brief statement through his press secretary Robert Gibbs on Friday afternoon, much was left unsaid. He was characteristically cautious, aiming to strike a political balance when he called Michael Jackson a "spectacular performer" whose life was "sad and tragic."
7:02 AM on 06/27/2009
A music legend. An icon. A controversial figure. Media outlets around the world have widely reported on Jackson’s travels in and out of countries, his suffering and recovering from various rumored illnesses, even informing the public about his visits to bookstores and antique shops. But there is one topic the mainstream…
President of National Action Network
7:51 AM on 06/27/2009
It was the mid-1970s. The nation was fresh off the heels of the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War was…
Deputy Editor
4:47 PM on 06/26/2009
Al Sharpton said it best: "Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of color. Way before Tiger Woods, way before…
Head of Cardiology at the Harlem Hospital Center
2:10 PM on 06/26/2009
Michael Jackson is dead at 50 from cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest simply means that the heart has stopped pumping, which…
Author of ‘Kiss The Sky’ and journalist
9:47 AM on 06/26/2009
(AP Photo/Rusty Kennedy, File) Just months after our President proved that you can be born black in America and achieve…
Political Analyst & Writer
9:45 AM on 06/26/2009
How ironic. Between the economy and the weather — seemingly endless rain that has robbed us of half our summer…
Business commentator
9:44 AM on 06/26/2009
Debt. Everyone has some these days. From our own federal government (the current federal deficit is a whopping $11.3 Trillion)…
Sister of Troy Davis and anti-death penalty activist
8:54 AM on 06/25/2009
My name is Martina Correia and I am on Death Row in Georgia. No I have not murdered anybody, never…
Author and Finance Professor at Syracuse University
8:33 AM on 06/25/2009
In America, there are essentially two types of power: Political power and economic power. African Americans, relatively speaking, have always…
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NAACP President & CEO
8:18 AM on 06/24/2009
In Georgia, a man named Troy Davis sits on Death Row despite unassailable evidence pointing to his innocence. It is…
9:50 AM on 06/27/2009
Schools are not using enough discretion under Michigan’s zero-tolerance expulsion law and are disproportionately kicking out black students who ultimately end up behind bars, according to a report from the American Civil Liberties Union.
7:29 AM on 06/27/2009
The Filipino inmates who shot to global fame with a Youtube video recreating the "Thriller" dance swayed and stomped again Saturday in a behind-bars tribute to their idol, Michael Jackson. After being told of Jackson’s death Thursday in Los Angeles, the 1,500 inmates…
5:58 PM on 06/26/2009
Five members of the Jena Six pleaded no contest Friday to misdemeanor simple battery and won’t serve jail time, ending a case that thrust a small Louisiana town into the national spotlight and sparked a massive civil rights demonstration…
2:45 PM on 06/26/2009
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An emergency caller from Michael Jackson’s home says he wasn’t breathing or responding to efforts to revive him. The Los Angeles Fire Department released the emergency call Friday. The caller reported that Jackson was on a…
By theGrio
12:44 PM on 06/26/2009
Michael Jackson’s music is flying off store shelves. Gloria Washington loaded up on Jackson’s hits at Best Buy hours after his death. "I’m devastated. I’m totally devastated. I’m a true Michael Jackson fan," said Washington. "I was there at his…
By theGrio
11:44 AM on 06/26/2009
Residents of Gary, Indiana are mourning the loss of their most famous native son. Hundreds gathered outside of Michael Jackson’s boyhood home as news of his passing spread through the town where his musical career began. Jackson died in Los…
9:51 AM on 06/26/2009
Michael Jackson, the "King of Pop" who once moonwalked above the music world, died Thursday as he prepared for a comeback bid to vanquish nightmare years of sexual scandal and financial calamity. He was 50. Jackson died at UCLA Medical Center after being stricken at his rented home in Holmby Hills…
By theGrio
9:24 AM on 06/26/2009
Hakeem is a student at P.S. 36 in Brooklyn. He hopes to one day become a doctor, but in the meantime he’s happy to be a hero to a super-hero. "Hakeem saves Superman by pushing the kryptonite into the crevice…
By theGrio
8:49 AM on 06/26/2009
All over the country people are remembering, and celebrating the life of music icon Michael Jackson. In Los Angeles mourners gathered all over the city as news spread about the pop star’s sudden death. In Jackson’s hometown of Gary, Indiana is was a mix of grief and celebration…
By theGrio
10:00 PM on 06/25/2009
Michael Jackson’s family has issued their first statement on the passing of the entertainment legend. Jackson’s older brother Jermaine spoke briefly to reporters at UCLA Medical Center on Thursday, just hours after Michael’s passing. "This is hard," he said tearfully…
CEBU, Philippines (AP) — The Filipino inmates who shot to global fame with a Youtube video recreating the "Thriller" dance swayed and stomped again Saturday in a behind-bars tribute to their idol, Michael Jackson.
After being told of Jackson’s death Thursday in Los Angeles, the 1,500 inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center hit the exercise yard, practicing for nine hours Friday night — and into the wee hours of Saturday morning — for the show.
They took breaks only to eat or when it rained, said professional choreographer Gwendolyn Lador, hired by the prison to teach the inmates the dance.
"I felt sad because we lost our idol," said inmate Wenjiel Resane, who plays the role of Jackson’s girlfriend in the video.
Crisanto Nieri, 38, was feeling a little extra stress. He danced Jackson’s part in "Thriller."
"Even as a kid, he was already my idol," said Nieri, who is serving seven years on drug charges. "I am happy that our video became famous, but I feel some pressure to perform well."
For years different people have always grumbled about the lack of activism and social change involvement of professional athletes. Specifically our most successful athletes like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Tiger Woods. In a recent interview with HBO’s Real Sports, former NFL great Jim Brown went in on the lack of activism for social change from both Tiger and Jordan in recent years.
"There are one or two individuals in this country that are black that have been put in front of us as an example," Brown told Real Sports host Bryant Gumbel. "But they’re basically under a system that says, ‘Hey, they’re not gonna do a certain thing.’ Yes, that
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Jeffrey Jordan is Michael Jordan’s son. That little proposition, as it relates to basketball, can not be an easy one for any offspring to undertake.
It’s not just that your dad was a great NBA basketball player. Your dad was the single greatest basketball player who ever lived. Your entire life, you’re not just a classmate to your friends. You’re the son of their hero. Imagine that! For all of the sundry benefits of being Jordan’s son — the money, the basketball shoes, the unimaginably awesome toys you’d get as a kid — the specter of anticipation, of "hey, that’s Michael Jordan’s son out there" would haunt you for as long as you played basketball.
It appears those days are over for Jordan’s eldest offspring. Jeffrey Jordan, a walk-on-turned-scholarship-athlete at Illinois, has apparently decided to hang up his balling kicks for good:
"I loved playing for the Fighting Illini and appreciate the support I was given by my teammates, coaches and the great fans here," Jordan said. "But I have come to the point where I’m ready to focus on life after basketball. I will concentrate on earning my degree from the University of Illinois and the opportunities that await upon graduating."
www.yourblackworld.com
LOS ANGELES – Michael Jackson apparently suffered a heart attack, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Friday. Police sought to talk to the doctor who was with the pop icon during his last minutes and pumped his chest in a vain attempt to save his life.
As grief for the King of Pop poured out around the world, from the icons of music to heartbroken fans, an autopsy showed no sign of trauma to Jackson, whose death came just weeks before he was to launch an epic comeback bid in a series of 50 concerts in London.
The person, who was not authorized to speak publicly and requested anonymity, said Jackson had suffered a heart attack. Jackson’s brother Jermaine had said the pop singer apparently went into cardiac arrest — which often but not always happens because of a heart attack.
Authorities said they wanted to speak with the doctor, identified by theLos Angeles Times as cardiologist Conrad Murray, and said they had towed his car from Jackson’s rented mansion because it could contain medication or other evidence. Police stressed that the doctor was not a criminal suspect.
Craig Harvey, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner, said there were no signs of foul play. He said Jackson was taking some unspecified prescription medication but gave few other details.
America has fallen for the Obamas. The history, the high glamour, the PDAs on the White House lawn. It’s a universal picture of love. But for many successful black women, with college degrees, ambitious careers and five-year plans, that enchantment has become something of an obsession.
Those of us hoping to find suitable mates in a dating landscape that is, statistically speaking, pretty grave, are absolutely giddy about the very existence of the first family and especially about the possibility that we could find our own Barack.
We’d give up three hair appointments in a row, our designer puppies and that annual tropical vacation with our best grad-school friends to meet a man like him. Brilliant. Confident. Best smile ever. So into his wife. On the cover of April’s issue of Washingtonian magazine, he appears shirtless to illustrate the publication’s No. 2 reason to love D.C. (“Our new neighbor is hot!”) But if we’d first encountered him the way Michelle did, as a regular guy, under the glow of office lights instead of the spotlight, would he have made our lists at all?
In footage that plays when the networks mention how our cool, young, black president shot hoops with his staff and friends on Election Day, Obama is close to gawky in a simple gray T-shirt tucked in just a bit too tightly. Between plays, you notice tapered pants pulled up a little too high. A slightly skinny build. In those few frames, he’s not the hottest guy on the court, let alone in the country. When he appeared as a presidential candidate on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, my initial swoon as he stepped on stage was short-lived. He playfully hip-bumped the host in an overly bouncy dance routine that embarrassed me into looking away. Suddenly, I was watching my boss get down at the company Christmas party or a friend’s dad grooving to Earth, Wind and Fire at her wedding. Not bad. Endearing, even. But “swagga” did not spring to mind. Sure, Obama is a dad and a boss to many . . . but I get the impression he’s been dancing like that his whole life.
Hurricane Chris was asked to perform “Halle Berry” before the Louisiana State Legislature? Now that’s some ghetto ass shit. Now, Louisiana has officially become the most ridiculous state in the country. You don’t give commendations to doctors, lawyers, professors or activists, but you give them to rappers who make silly songs. Wow. You can see the performance by clicking here.
I was the guest host of a radio show yesterday. The show started at 3 pm (back when we all thought Michael Jackson would be going back on tour soon), and the producer asked me what kind of music I wanted to use for my intros and outtros. I said "Throw on some old Michael Jackson. The pre-nose job Michael Jackson." He did.
I then spent the next 2 hours reflecting on the air about Michael Jackson’s talent, as well as his peculiar personality. That’s when I got "the news."
While I was certainly shocked at the irony of a man dying right after I’d spent 2 hours talking about him on the radio, I wasn’t surprised. Michael Jackson had that kind of effect on music and our world. In spite of the fact that he’d turned into something we couldn’t quite understand, we always loved him.
Michael is going to live forever. The life and existence of such an impactful human being can’t be captured in his physical manifestation. Most of us never knew Mike the man, but he was always present in our lives. He was nothing like Elvis, he was not the Beatles. He was too interesting for that. He is one of a kind, even beyond the fact that he sold 750 million records.
Here are 5 reasons Michael Jackson is going to live forever:
By MIKE STOBBE
AP Medical Writer
ATLANTA (AP) – A new Internet data map offers a first-of-its-kind, county-level look at HIV cases in the U.S. and finds the infection rates tend to be highest in the South.
The highest numbers of HIV cases are in population centers like New York and California. However, many of the areas with the highest rates of HIV _ that is, the highest proportion of people with the AIDS-causing virus _ are in the South, according to the data map, which has information for more than 90 percent of the nation’s counties and Washington, D.C.
HIV infection rates are higher in African-American communities, and high minority populations in the South help explain the finding. While that’s not surprising, the high rates seen throughout states like Georgia and South Carolina were, said Gary Puckrein, president of the National Minority Quality Forum, the nonprofit research organization that put the map together.
Of 48 counties with the highest prevalence rates for HIV that had not yet progressed to AIDS, 25 were in Georgia, according to the map. Those were counties in which more than 0.7 percent of the population was infected with HIV.
One day after Michael Jackson’s sudden death, speculation was already turning to what killed the 50-year-old "King of Pop" just weeks before a long-awaited series of comeback concerts.
A family attorney said on Friday he had been concerned that Jackson’s use of prescription drugs for dancing-related injuries would eventually prove fatal and that the entertainer’s inner circle had ignored his warnings.
Authorities scheduled an autopsy for Friday. But they cautioned it could take weeks to determine a cause of death, which will likely have to wait for the return of toxicology tests. Those tests will determine if Jackson had any drugs, alcohol or prescription medications in his system.
I have a friend who broke both of his legs climbing a dangerous mountain in Southeast Asia. This friend has nearly died 8 times, been chased by bears, and has had food poisoning too many times to count. After his latest injury, we presumed that he would understand that taking such risk simply doesn’t pay. But he rebuffed our intervention, stating that the risk is what makes his life worth living. My friend seems to believe that pursuing and living the dream might be worth enduring the occasional nightmare.
The current financial crisis is certainly the worst of economic nightmares. Job losses have been enormous and the stock market has shrunk faster than Lindsay Lohan’s dress size. A report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics last week reported that in May jobless rates were higher in all 50 states and in the District of Columbiathan they were a year ago.
The Black community has had a double dose of economic drama, as our unemployment rate is nearly double that of White Americans, standing at 14.9% according to the latest figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Black urban centers such as Detroit have been hit especially hard.
www.yourblackpresident.blogspot.com
The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired Phoenix Suns centerShaquille O’Neal(notes), multiple sources involved in the talks told Yahoo! Sports on Wednesday night.
Cleveland will send Ben Wallace(notes), Sasha Pavlovic(notes), a second-round pick in the 2010 draft and cash to the Suns for O’Neal.
Cleveland and Phoenix were both juggling multiple trade possibilities with other teams, with the Cavs involved with as many as six trade scenarios.
Yet the disappointing Eastern Conference finals loss to the Orlando Magic left Cavs GM Danny Ferry with incredible pressure to accumulate talent around James in the final season prior to his 2010 free agency. James has blessed the O’Neal trade, especially because it should give his overmatched frontline a chance to compete with Dwight Howard in the playoffs. Ferry and Phoenix GM Steve Kerr are close friends and had talked off and on about a Shaq deal since the February trade deadline.
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Michael Jackson has died at age 50 after being rushed to UCLA Medical Center, NBC News has confirmed.
Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Steve Ruda told the L.A. Times that Jackson was not breathing when paramedics arrived at his home and CPR was performed.
TMZ.com reported that he may have suffered cardiac arrest.
TMZ is reporting that Michael Jackson was rushed to the hospital with a heart attack. We wish the king of pop a quick recovery.
Although I realize that we live in the internet-age, which means even the simplest of criticisms can be blown out of proportion, I am disappointed to see how some Black people are unable to intelligently respond to constructive criticism, even when it is not directed at them.
The person who is the latest target of the "He’s just a hater" orchestra is none other than renowned filmmaker Spike Lee. In a recent interview that he did with Ed Gordon, Spike dared to criticize some of Tyler Perry’s work(specifically Meet the Browns and House of Pain) and made references to the shows as "coonery" and "buffoonery" and compared them to Amos n’ Andy.
For the record, let me say that I agree with a lot of what Spike Lee said. Although I liked a couple of the Madea plays that I saw years back(even though I generally have issue with Black men parading around in dresses, even for comedy-but that’s another topic), these two shows don’t do anything for me. That’s just me, and I do realize that comedy is subjective; what’s funny to one person is not funny to another. However, any person familiar with the historical ‘coonery’ and ‘buffoonery’ that Spike Lee was referring to(reference Bamboozled if you haven’t seen it) would be hard pressed to argue his point that some of Tyler Perry’s characters do harken back to that era. If "Mr. Brown" isn’t the prototypical coon-type character, then what is? This is not to single Tyler Perry out, because there are other examples, and some of them aren’t actors(Flavor Flav).
www.yourblackgossip.blogspot.com
I came to the latest release of "The Transformers" looking for what I saw in the first film: Jaw-dropping special effects and a story just interesting enough to hold you over until the next explosion. I didn’t go to the film looking for racism or embarrassing minstrel shows. My "racial bias glasses" are designed to weed out harmless, inadvertent racism, which comes with living in a society that spent 400 years thinking that black people were less than human. But when racism is thrown in my face repeatedly in the form of ridiculous and disgusting stereotypes, that’s when I start to get mad.
Michael Bay is one of my favorite directors, next to the Hughes Brothers (where are they by the way?). He’s damn good at what he does. But on this occasion, Bay simply missed his creative target and I’m not the only one who’s noticing.
Meet Skids and Mudflap, two Transformers who may as well have been called Lil Wayne and Random Black Male idiot. One of them actually has a gold grill, and neither of them can read. They are bungling buffoons and cowards with barely an ounce of intelligence. One of them rides around as an Ice cream truck with the words "suck my popsicle" on the side, yelling "get your ice cream bitches" to those who might want to buy from his dirty little truck. They also remind you in every other sentence that you are a "punk ass bitch" and that they want to "bust a cap in your ass."
That clunking engine noise you’re hearing may be the sound of ‘Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen’ rolling along on broken-down racial and ethnic stereotypes.
Movie critics and columnists from the Associated Pressto the New York Times are raising concerns about two newly added Autobots, described as "jive talking,""minstrelsy," illiterate and action avoiding. And of these bickering twins, Skids (Tom Kenny) and Mudflap (Reno Wilson), one even reportedly sports a gold grill, I mean tooth. Oh, you get the picture.
The only robots with any discernible personality traits, aside from bravery or antagonism, are the Autobot twins, Mudflap and Skids. These are shockingly crass and unfortunate black stereotypes, jive-talking fools who can’t read and bumble their way from one mishap to the next. They are Jar Jar Binks in car form.
Source: ‘Transformers’ Shape-Shifts Into Noise, Nonsense, AP
Many of us have read about the traumatic beating of a woman in broad daylight in an Oakland beauty salon. The woman chose not to testify, in part because she feared retaliation from her attackers. The protection of witnesses is a serious issue and solutions are necessary. Elliot Milner, an attorney, had this to say:
“This is a complicated issue, and there is no easy solution. Most police departments only provide protection in the most extreme cases, and this is usually a very rare occurrence. I am a proponent of self-help. I’m not speaking about vigilante justice, simply saying that if people in urban(and any other) communities want to make sure that their neighbors who speak out against those who commit crimes are not harmed, then it is necessary for people in the community to take the initiative to let it be known that they will not tolerate harm being done to innocent citizens who simply seek to have those doing wrong held accountable.
I completely understand that is easier said than done. However, community intervention is a must. The police(in Oakland or any other city/town) are not going to protect you. Even if they have the desire to, most police departments do not have the funding or personnel to accomplish that. In several cities, groups of men in urban communities have taken to policing the streets of their neighborhoods. It is imperative that people in the community show that they are not afraid and will not be imprisoned in their own homes, as is the case in some neighborhoods. Also, participating in dialogue with individuals who may be "in the street" or committing crimes is a must. The more you isolate a person or group of people, the more likely they are to react negatively to you.”
The president has been getting lots of kudos for a lightning-fast, Mr. Miyagi-worthy swipe he employed to slay a pesky house fly that was buzzing him in mid-interview during a taping with CNBC that aired Wednesday.
"He stopped the interview to track and kill the fly," said talk show host Conan O’Brien.
"That’s some pretty impressive hand-eye coordination right there," Jimmy Fallon gushed. "Makes Obama look like a bad ass."
But now People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, calling it an "execution," wants the commander-in-chief to show a little more compassion to even "the least sympathetic animals."
"Believe it or not, we’ve actually been contacted by multiple media outlets wanting to know PETA’s official response to the executive insect execution," a blog on the group’s website explained. "In a nutshell, our position is this: He isn’t the Buddha, he’s a human being, and human beings have a long way to go before they think before they act."
www.yourblackgossip.blogspot.com
According to sources Tina has decided to leave Matthew Knowles and his controlling antics! Read below:
Hi Soulgirl
My mother is a friend of Tina Knowles. They often go to the same nail/hair salon together and catch up whenever Tina is in town. Tina told my mother that her and Mathew have been separated for at least a year now and are living in different homes even though they have kept their main house.
Tina spends all her time running around after Beyonce and Solange and focusing on the clothing line which has kept her busy through the separation. You won’t see them getting divorced anytime soon and they also remain dedicated to supporting both of their daughters. Mathew’s narrowmindness and lies have seen Tina turn her back on him and his dealings. She will always love Mathew but she can no longer live in his controlling ways.
The validity of it all is kind of suspect but I do hope that Tina has moved on because she can do so much better! Speaking of moving on in other Knowles news Beyonce was spotted in NYC at the “Show Your Helping Hand” hunger relief initiative kickoff Monday! 
While the hair is questionable she still looks happy! From what I hear she also teared down the house at her New York Show where hubby Jay Z made a surprise appearance… Why aren’t we surprised lol 
www.yourblackcelebrities.blogspot.com
Institutions of higher education are supposed to be the place where the free market place of ideas takes hold. In fact, the basis for tenure has always been that academics should not be punished for speaking out. The theory is that such speaking out is protected even when university administration does not agree with the content of that speech. However, these same institutions are also political fiefdoms where tenure has been used and will continue to be used to punish those with whom the members of the promotion and tenure committee do not agree. In other words, academic freedom is only free when one agrees with those in power. All junior faculty understand very quickly that the definition of “scholarship” is a moving target and that if they wish tenure, they better move with the target. The hypocrisy of the promotion and tenure process (and I use the word process lightly) is that too many faculty are more about politics and less about scholarship. So, they play the game to get tenure and then when some of them get it, they punish the ideas of others they find unpopular by denying them tenure.
Progressive Black scholars find ourselves in a particular pickle. On the one hand, we want to advance ideas that look critically at the academy and simply not accept the status quo. On the other, if we are too progressive, then we will be Boyced. That is, we will be fired from predominately white institutions that will reduce our entire scholarly career to a warm bucket of spit. Of course I am not suggesting that all predominately white institutions will Boyce progressive Black scholars. I am suggesting that too many can and do.
www.yourblackpolitics.blogspot.com
President Obama signaled to gay rights activists Wednesday that he is listening to their desire for greater equality in "a more perfect union." But he did not give them even close to everything they want, bringing anger that has been growing against the president to the surface.
The president’s critics saw the incremental move to expand gay rights as little more than pandering to a reliably Democratic voting bloc, with the primary aim not of making policy fairer but of cutting short a fundraising boycott.
DISAPPOINTMENT: Jubilation muted on gay marriage anniversary
"We all have to acknowledge this is only one step," Obama said in his Oval Office, where he signed a memorandum extending some benefits, such as visitation or dependent care rights, to the same-sex partners of federal employees.
"When a president tells you he’s going to be different, you believe him," said John Aravosis, a Washington-based gay activist. "It’s not that he didn’t follow through on his promises, he stabbed us in the back."
Read more at
www.yourblackpolitics.blogspot.com
“Rihanna was told about the plea deal at 12noon and had no objection. Rihanna believes that this is a fair and just resolution of this case. She would like to thank from the bottom of her heart the district attorney’s office and LAPD that showed her only courtesy and compassion….Its inappropriate suffice it to say that now there is a stay away order in effect, I’m sure Chris will abide by that order.”
From the Baltimore Afro-American:
A well-known minister of a denomination that once supported slavery and is firmly against a woman’s right to an abortion said recently that he is praying for President Obama to die.
The Rev. Wiley Drake, a former second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention, told Fox News Radio earlier this month that he was practicing “imprecatory prayer” or seeking a divine curse that would cause the president to die.
“If he does not turn to God and does not turn his life around, I am asking God to enforce imprecatory prayers that are throughout the Scripture that would cause him death,” Drake said in an interview with Fox’s Alan Colmes, according to the Associated Press.
www.yourblacknews.blogspot.com
David Alan Grier does not slow down.
Since his early days on ‘In Living Color,’ the Yale School of Drama graduate has dabbled — successfully– in theater, television and film.
And although his most recent Comedy Central program, ‘Chocolate News,’ was short-lived, the 53-year-old funnyman is still bringing in laughs.
Read more at:
www.yourblackgossip.blogspot.com
WASHINGTON, June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A group of prominent civil rights organizations — including ACORN, Center for Responsible Lending, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, NAACP, National Association of Consumer Advocates, National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients), National Council of La Raza, National Fair Housing Alliance — joined together today to applaud the launch of the financial reform effort by Americans for Financial Reform. Americans for Financial Reform’s broad array of financial experts and advocates are joining together in an unprecedented campaign to reform our financial system and rebuild our economy. http://ourfinancialsecurity.org/
Statement by civil rights groups:
"We applaud the work of Americans for Financial Reform, and are proud to join the effort to restore economic security by ensuring that financial institutions are accountable for their actions and promising that all Americans, no matter their race, ethnicity, disability, sex, age, or other protected class, are treated fairly. For years, the civil rights community has denounced the discriminatory business practices of financial industry players that have forced underserved borrowers to pay more for financial services while receiving less value and assuming enormous risks. As we modernize the financial regulatory system, we must ensure that the current two-tiered financial system is replaced with a transparent financial system that allows all Americans to build wealth equitably and fairly. When implemented, the strong recommendations made by Americans for Financial Reform will begin this important transformation."
www.yourblackpolitics.blogspot.com
This summer, America’s Most Wanted is heading to a city near you.
And no, we’re not referring to Fox Television’s long-running series hosted by John Walsh. In this case, it’s the music industry’s most notable names of today includingLil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Soulja Boy, and Drake are coming together for the ‘America’s Most Wanted Music Festival’ kicking off in Scranton, PA on July 27.
www.yourblackgossip.blogspot.com
Seven people were killed in a rush-hour collision between two Metro trains in Washington on Monday, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty said Tuesday.
Firefighters climb atop the wreckage of two Metro subway trains that collided Monday in Washington.
There had been conflicting figures on the number of deaths.
Fenty said 76 people were taken to hospitals, including two who were in critical condition. Their conditions remained stable overnight, he said at a news conference. The condition of another critical patient was upgraded.
Two of the injured were emergency responders, said Washington Fire Chief Dennis Ruben.
Another news conference is scheduled for 5 p.m. ET, Fenty said. By that time, the trains will have been taken apart, and "hopefully, there won’t be any more" deaths discovered, he said. 
Watch what officials know about the crash »
Officials planned to begin notifying next-of-kin this morning, Fenty said, adding that offices already have been fielding calls from families seeking information.
Chris Brown has copped a plea deal to his felony assault case where he was charged with beating up on-again-off-again girlfriend Rihanna.
The ‘Forever’ singer pleaded guilty and will spend 180 days doing community labor in a Virginia domestic violence program. He will also serve five years probation and return to court every three months.
www.yourblackcelebrities.blogspot.com
A judge on Monday will consider whether former NBA star Jayson Williams should be sentenced for covering up a fatal shooting at his mansion in 2002, given Williams’ recent erratic behavior, including an assault arrest in North Carolina.
Williams, 41, was acquitted of aggravated manslaughter in 2004 but convicted on four counts of trying to cover up the shooting of a hired driver at his Hunterdon County mansion. The jury couldn’t reach a verdict on a reckless manslaughter count, and State Superior Court Judge Edward M. Coleman has delayed sentencing pending Williams’ retrial on that charge.
www.yourblackgossip.wordpress.com
"Milkshake" singer Kelis has filed new documents in a Los Angeles court, asking her estranged husband, Nas, to pay spousal support and child support for their baby on the way.
Kelis, who is expecting a baby boy on July 21, claims in her court filing obtained by Access Hollywood, that she has "run out of money" and that her rap star husband "is refusing to pay for most of my expenses."
In her declaration to the court, the singer revealed she spent the money she made as a singer-songwriter in part while she attended culinary school in 2008 and on her bills.
Kelis is asking Nas to foot the bill for a host of supplies related to the child she is carrying including $20,000 "towards the cost of purchasing strollers, cribs and other baby supplies" for the couple’s two residences – an apartment in Manhattan and a home in Los Angeles.
www.yourblackcelebrities.blogspot.com
South Africans received a horrifying measure of just how bad their country’s rape crisis is with the release this week of a study in which more than a quarter of men admitted to having raped, and 46% of those said that they had raped more than once.
The study, conducted by South Africa’s Medical Research Council, reveals a deeply rooted culture of violence against women, in which men rape in order to feel powerful, and do so with impunity, believing that their superiority entitles them to vent their frustrations on women and children. The men most likely to rape, the researchers found, were not the poorest, but those who had attained some level of education and income.
www.yourblackglobal.blogspot.com
From Lady Drama at YourBlackGossip.
Letoya shut down the rumors about her not being able to perform at the BET awards because of Matthew Knowles! Read the details:
In case you haven’t heard the beef, there’s rumors claiming Matthew Knowles is trying to get Letoya pulled out the BET Awards because Beyonce is set to perform. Shots fired!!! So during an interview with WPGC’s DJ Flexx, she was asked to address the rumors…
Dj Flexx: “Let’s just say that it’s true, how does it make you feel that Matthew would go so hard at you to get you off the show?”
LeToya: “It saddens me a little. Because our situation happened close to 10 years ago, and I think as we all know Bey is a very very very talented artist, and I think that we both have our own lanes and fanbase, and I don’t see why I would have to be one of the ones picked out of the entire crew of females that will be hitting the stage that night. I don’t know… I’m gonna try and word this right… I just don’t understand why I’m picked outta that group because there are so many other female artists performin’ that night and I think we all deserve to have a chance at that stage. Everybody works hard and we all have something different to offer, from Keyshia to Keri to Bey, everybody is different in their own ways so it saddens me if that’s true, and I hope that’s not the case but I’ll be there regardless”.
www.blackbloggers.wordpress.com
To paraphrase Caesar, as he stood over the gallant Marc Antony, I come not to bury our Fathers, but to praise them, on this "Father’s Day." Now, more than ever before, it is time to tell the truth about African American fathers.
I think of my own my father, who in my worst moments always made me feel as if I were the best thing that ever happened to him. He said it. I felt it.
I arrived in my parents’ lives when they were college coeds and, although little more than children themselves, they made the very adult sacrifice and decision to marry and have me as well as my two brothers who arrived less than two years later. Still a student our father waited tables, stood in the food line at our church—in short, he did all that he could to provide for his growing family. And he and Mother took us everywhere.
I can recall one morning, before my father stepped into the pulpit to preach, being beckoned from my seat to sit with him and, as he scribbled the final touches on his sermon, he leaned over and said, "I love you, Sandy Boogie." I smiled as he kissed me and waited for…well, something else. I could not wait to get back to my seat as I was mortified to be before the entire congregation. I looked at him and said, rather quizzically, "Daddy, is that all you wanted to tell me?" His reply, as he smiled was, "Baby, saying ‘I love you’ says an awful lot." I nearly cried, having felt ashamed of my own insensitivity, and he simply smiled, kissed me again and had the usher lead me back to my seat.
His expression, even in that most public of venues was no surprise—it was a given in my life. My experience, though, is not unique. It has been replicated countless times in the African American community. Yet, every day we are fed a laundry list of the shortcomings of African American men; rarely, however, do we tell the society, or each other, of their triumphs.
We are told from the loftiest perches and the lowliest assignations that they must "Step up!" and "take up their responsibilities as men." All the while these critics ignore the myriad ways in which they must and do swim upstream against the strongest of currents. Currents which threaten and, too often, do sweep them into the undertow of our society. By ignoring their reality we turn our backs on a history, which has treated them with contempt. They are incarcerated more frequently, fight longer odds and live shorter lives; and yet and still, they remain strong, willing to love, survive and thrive. And so, on this "Father’s Day", I’d like to expound upon their triumphs and contextualize their struggles. Any discussion which does neither, fails us all.
Beyonce commentary from Lady Drama at YourBl ackGossip.com.
Looks like Matthew is up to his snake tendencies again, this time he’s coming for BET who has Letoya performing at the BET awards as well. According to my sources Matthew isn’t feeling Letoya and Beyonce sharing a stage and has given BET an ultimatum! Read the juice for more info:
Word on the street is…Mathew Knowles is threatening to pull Beyonce from the lineup of performers if BET allows Letoya Luckett to perform at the awards in ANY capacity. Letoya’s management is fighting very hard to make her performance concrete, but who do you think the execs will side with..Letoya or Bey? The chick’s at a slight deficit here.
