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The NBC network is gearing up for some exciting new shows, and they are bringing the hunks. Blair Underwood will play the President Of The United States in the suspense filled drama The Event, which airs on Monday nights beginning September 20th. Check out Underwood on the new issue of Jet Magazine. Boris Kodjoe will be starring with Gugu Mbatha-Raw as husband and wife in the action drama Undercovers, which will air on Wednesday nights beginning September 22nd.
Values – by Lennis
Dictionary defines values as, “A principle standard or
quality regarded as worthwhile or desirable”
Our values are right because we say they are
Yet we keep changing near and far
Can we keep our word about values
We are constantly changing our arrival, and survival
We do this as individuals and societies
Changing is a product of evolution
Turn around and will become an ultrasound society
Yes these values are perfect
You should remain firm
If this is what you truly believe
This interprets who and what we are
Nothings stays the same, nor can
anything remain unchanged.
Jazz singer Abbey Lincoln, whose career spanned six decades and included acting, composing and participation in the U.S. civil rights movement, died of unknown causes on Saturday at age 80. Her death was first reportrd by the New York Times.
She was one of many singers influenced by Billie Holiday. She had a very long and productive career and continued to perform until the time of her death. She often could be found at the Blue Note in New York City.[1]
With Ivan Dixon, she co-starred in Nothing But a Man (1964), an independent film written and directed by Michael Roemer. She also co-starred with Sidney Poitier and Beau Bridges in 1968?s For Love of Ivy[2], and received a 1969 Golden Globe nomination for her appearance in the film.
Abbey Lincoln also appeared in the 1956 film The Girl Can’t Help It, for which she famously wore a dress worn by Marilyn Monroe in Gentleman Prefer Blondes and interpreted the theme song, working with Benny Carter.[2]
She sang on the 60?s landmark jazz civil rights recording, We Insist! – Freedom Now Suite (1960) by jazz musician Max Roach and was married to him from 1962 to 1970.[3] Especially since this album, Abbey Lincoln was connected to the political fight against racism in the United States.
She worked with other jazz musicians like Sonny Rollins, Eric Dolphy, Coleman Hawkins, Jackie McLean, Clark Terry, Stanley Turrentine, Wynton Kelly, Cedar Walton, Joe Lovano, Pat Metheny, Ron Carter, Miles Davis and made albums with Stan Getz, Mal Waldron and Archie Shepp.
In 1990 she played the role of young Bleek Gilliams’ mother in the Spike Lee movie Mo’ Better Blues[4] who was very insistent that Bleek, played as an adult by Denzel Washington, come inside their house and practice his trumpet instead of playing outside with his friends.
In 2003, she received the National Endowment for the Arts NEA Jazz Masters Award.
Dating Expert Claims Black Churches Keep African American Women Single and Lonely
Dating Expert Claims Black Churches Keep African American Women Single and Lonely
*Dating expert, advice columnist and author Deborrah Cooper blasts traditional Black churches and charges that they are the root cause for the high numbers of single Black women in the U.S.
With all the media coverage (CNN, Nightline, NY Times, ABC) of the “plight” of the single black woman, and the blaming of Black women for being single, this author felt it past time to examine other reasons which could be important contributors to this sad statistic:
Black women have an inordinate amount of faith in both Black men and Black churches. My position is that such blind and unwavering faith in either is misplaced.
It is my belief that the Black church, structured around traditional gender roles which makes women submissive to and inferior to men, greatly limits females.
Single Black women sitting in church every Sunday are being subtly brainwashed, soothed and placated into waiting without demand for what they want to magically come to them. Who is doing this to Black women? The male standing at the front of the Church in the role of spiritual leader, that’s who!
This is the true reason that there are so many single, never married Black women in the United States – Black churches. Black women should abandon Black churches and focus more on themselves, their needs and those of their children than those of Black men or a religion which Black men use to castigate and control an entire race of women.
Single Black Females in Church
Black females have long been considered the backbone of the Black community and the cornerstone of their families and churches. But what is the real price Black women have paid to wear this crown of fool’s gold?
An examination of any congregation of the average Black church shows that single Black females fill the pews. Results of a recent study “African Americans and Religion” by the PEW Research Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life found that “African Americans are markedly more religious on a variety of measures than the U.S. population as a whole.”
Almost 90% of Black Americans express “absolutely certain belief in God” compared to just over 70% of the total U.S. population. Two other important statistics gleaned from this survey: (1) 80% of Black Americans report that religion is “very important” in their lives as compared to 57% of the general U.S. population; and (2) 55% of Black Americans report that they “interpret scripture literally” as compared to 32% of the general U.S. population.
The PEW study also reported that “Men are significantly more likely than women to claim no religious affiliation. Nearly one-in-five men say they have no formal religious affiliation, compared with roughly 13% of women.”
The survey shows a distinct correlation between religion and social attitudes amongst African Americans. “African Americans who are more religiously observant (as defined by frequency of worship service attendance and the importance of religion in their lives), are more likely to oppose abortion and homosexuality, and more likely to report higher levels of conservative ideology.”
What Do The PEW Study Results Mean For Single Black Women?
They mean that:
· Following the tenets of organized religion is not going to get you anywhere because men are generally not religious.
· Going to church is not getting you the husband you seek.
· Going to church is not making you more attractive and interesting to men.
· Going to church is not where you are going to find eligible bachelors to date.
· Going to church is not going to teach you to be fiscally responsible, investment savvy, or empower you to achieve greatness as a woman.
· Going to church is not going to broaden your horizons, make you more tolerant and accepting of all God’s children, nor is it going to encourage you to be free of the chains of patriarchy and oppression of your feminine energy.
Going to church makes you a sheep, blindly following the mandates of a small group of men you have placed in your life in a position of power. Going to church makes you malleable and predictable, and narrows your thinking and thus limits your options.
Going to church for single Black women is a waste of time.
There ARE Single Men in Church, However…
Read the rest of this article at SurvivingDating.com.
Whitney Houston is not pregnant! But, she is gaining a lot of weight. Houston is still on her European tour, and fans continue to be disappointed with her weak vocals and singing out of tune. Sources say Houston is eating out of frustration and packing on the pounds. She also continues to wear tight clothing which accentuates her weight gain. She really looks like some one on the medication prednisone.
Are the rumors true? Is Beyonce pregnant? If so, she’s due in April. This would her first baby with hubby Rapper Jay-Z. Beyonce is also set to unveil her second fragrance, Heat Rush, next February. Baby fever is definitely in the air! Last week, Alicia Keys gave birth to a baby boy with hubby Swizz Beatz. Their son’s name is Egypt Daoud Dean.