California
Rapper Pitbull bailed on a famous Egyptian singer’s music video after the singer spent hundreds of thousands to produce it-and the singer is blaming Akon, according to a new lawsuit. Singer Tamer Hosny filed the suit against Akon claiming he paid the Senegalese crooner $300,000 for both him and Pitbull to sing on Tamer’s new song “Arabian Knight,” reports TMZ. Pitbull was a no show, according to the lawsuit. Tamer claims Akon promised to deliver Pitbull for the shoot, so it’s his fault and he’s on the hook. Suprisingly, Pitbull was not sued.
“Glee” star Amber Riley and her sister Ashley have launched a virtual plus-sized clothing boutique. The siblings have set up a website called Rileyland Fashions to sell one-off pieces that flatter curvy figures after realizing fans were interested in Amber’s style. “My sister and I are clothes fanatics and since so many of my curvier fans always express that they like my clothes I thought why not clean out my closet and fill up all of yours,” Amber posted on her Facebook page. “The clothes are affordable and most are never worn! There will be an official website coming soon with more than one of [a] kind clothing and more sizes for you plus size cuties!”
District of Columbia
The General Motors Foundation will become a founding donor of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture through a $1 million grant. Currently under construction on a five-acre site adjacent to the Washington Monument, the museum will open in 2015. The GM Foundation’s donation will support the design and installation of the Museum’s permanent exhibitions. The GM Foundation joins other prominent donors, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation, American Express and more. With this pledge, GM and the GM Foundation’s support of the Smithsonian totals more than $11 million since 1998.
Florida
The 10th annual Tavares African American Heritage Festival will kick off with a free performance by the Center for Contemporary Dance at 7 p.m. Jan. 31 at Liberty Christian Preparatory School, 2451 Dora Ave., Tavares. The center’s Moore Dance Project will present “Reflections – the Soul of Motown Meets the Spirit of Contemporary Dance.” The African American professional ensemble will dance to songs made famous by Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. The free performance also will feature The Community Choir at 6 p.m. Festivities continue at 10 a.m. Feb. 1 with a parade down Main Street. Opening ceremonies will follow at 11 a.m. in Wooton Park, 100 E. Ruby St. The free family-oriented event will run until 4 p.m. featuring Gospel choirs, praise dancers, arts and crafts, exhibits, health screenings, food vendors and more.
Georgia
For the first time, Port Wentworth has an African American municipal court judge. Judge Derek White is one of two judges in the city. He said he knew he wanted a legal career after he had a brief brush with the law as a teenager. He said he became aware how much power a lawyer or judge could have in helping a young person get his life on the right track. Judge White credits Port Wentworth for being a fair and open place to work and live. He says he takes the teachings of Dr. King to heart, and that they guide him while he works.
Sam and Candea Aarons, an interracial couple from Atlanta was upset after they recently discovered an offensive racial slur written on their valet ticket after picking up their car. They couple reportedly valet parked their car, and had dinner on New Year’s Day at Spondivits restaurant in East Point. After retrieving their vehicle and preparing to go home, they couldn’t help but notice a tag that was still attached to their set of keys. It read “jungle fever”. Initially the restaurant only offered a coupon for a free dinner to remedy the incident, but eventually released a statement saying that the employee had been fired, and that they “do not tolerate racism of any kind whatsoever.”
Virginia
In commemoration of Black History Month PBS announced new shows and online content celebrating the African American experience past, present and future. From a profile of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alice Walker, to a documentary about the secret spy agency created to maintain segregation in 1950’s Mississippi, Black History Month on PBS will provide programs that educate, inform and inspire viewers to learn more about the rich culture of our nation. The lineup begins on Feb. 3 with
“American Promise,” a powerful coming-of-age documentary that follows the journey of two young African American males from kindergarten through high school graduation as they attend a prestigious Manhattan private school. Confronting challenges from typical childhood growing pains to cultural identification within a predominantly White environment, the young men and their parents push toward success and discover their own individuality in the process. Also airing in February are two programs that celebrate the contributions of artists such as Bobby McFerrin and Terence Blanchard in “Jazz and the Philharmonic,” and Bill T. Jones and Brian Stokes Mitchell in “Becoming An Artist.”
National
To commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) released a new national billboard awareness campaign headlined “AIDS is a Civil Rights Issue.” As African American and Latino communities continue to be disproportionately impacted by HIV/AIDS compared with their respective percentages of the overall population, AHF’s billboards are intended to serve as a reminder of this and suggest that access to HIV prevention and care and treatment for HIV/AIDS should be a universal human right. Currently African Americans account for 44 percent of all people with HIV/AIDS in the United States, yet only account for 12 percent of the population. Latinos account for 21 percent of all new HIV infections nationwide, yet only represent 16 percent of the U.S. population.
Actor, comedian turned media mogul and philanthropist-Steve Harvey- takes on another exciting role by joining the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Program. His strong commitment to mentoring is a great complement to the movement that uncaps a world of possibilities for the next generation. Marking year three, the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward program will offer once-in-a-lifetime apprenticeship experiences to African American youth looking to pave the way for their futures. Under the umbrella of the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation, Harvey will offer two apprenticeship experiences focused on the areas of philanthropy/community and media/entertainment. Youth will work with Harvey and his team on his radio shows, with his entertainment company and the Steve and Marjorie Harvey Foundation’s mentoring camps which promote educational enrichment, one-on-one mentoring and global service initiatives. Now through March 15, parents, relatives, friends and mentors may nominate an aspiring young person for the Coca-Cola Pay It Forward program by visiting www.coke.com/payitforward.
Compiled By Juliana Norwood.
