Black Communities

Across Black America
May 10 2012

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
The National Reality TV Awards, launched in the United Kingdom to celebrate the best in the world of reality TV entertainment, recently announced its official launch in the USA. The show will make history as the first ever European-born awards show to launch in the USA, and will be webcast live and also televised for syndicated broadcast to TV partners in more than 22 countries after its launch on August 30. All nominations are submitted by the public by voting for their favorite shows, celebrities or participants. Reportedly, there were more than 550,000 public submissions and 1.5 million votes received in the UK last year. The U.S. awards ceremony promises to be even bigger. More than 475,000 submissions have already been received for the U.S. version of the National Reality TV Awards. The deadline for submissions is May 15, and the official nominees will be announced at a press conference on May 24 in Los Angeles.

District of Columbia
Actress Vivica A. Fox and Demetria McKinney, star of Tyler Perry’s House of Payne, will host the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation’s 15th annual Spirit of Democracy Awards Gala. Presented to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a consistent commitment to social justice and creating balance in the democratic process, the gala will be held Thursday, May 17, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill. Michael Baisden, nationally syndicated radio personality, author, and philanthropist is among the honorees. “This year we are proud to be [the theme] ‘Celebrating Our Brothers.’ The leadership of these men in their respective fields helps to empower underserved communities across the country” said the coalition. “These strong, positive men also set an example of excellence in achievement for young brothers across the country.”

Georgia
Bob Johnson, founder and chairman of the RLJ Companies and Tracey E. Edmonds, president and COO of Our Stories Films, recently announced plans to produce a new film inspired by the hit reality show “Basketball Wives.” The film will be loosely based on the lives of star and fan favorite Shaunie O’Neal and her friends, and will follow the life of a young woman and her boyfriend as the couple deals with relocation following his NBA draft and the tests and trials that come with being together in professional sports. “We’re proud that we’ve been successful in demonstrating the talent and creativity among our African American actors, writers, and directors,” said Edmonds. “Going much further than the series, the film will have the ability to dig deeper into the personal challenges that couples face while living in the world of professional sports. It promises to be rich and unpredictable in story and will feature empowered characters that will be relatable to a broad audience.”

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

More>>>
Across Black America
Nov 23 2011

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
Regina King, star of TNT’s critically acclaimed drama series “Southland,” will serve as social media ambassador for the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards airing on Jan. 29. Through posts on Twitter and Facebook, King will serve as the online face for the awards, giving viewers access to behind-the-scenes moments during the weeks building up to the show, as well as from the red carpet. King’s duties as the SAG Awards social media ambassador will kick off when she announces this year’s nominations on Dec. 14. During the six weeks leading up to the award ceremony, King will continue to tweet and post about the awards, including updates on presenters and fashion. She will also post updates during rehearsals and provide her thoughts and insights from the red carpet on the night of the event. In “Southland,” which returns for its fourth season on Jan. 17, King plays Lydia Adams, an LAPD detective who often finds herself becoming emotionally invested in the cases she handles.

Florida
Tracy Wilson Mourning, Doug E. Fresh and Frederica Wilson are just three of a stellar team joining the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce (M-DCC) for its annual signature gala. Set for Dec. 3, at the Hyatt Regency Miami, the annual event continues to attract business, political and civic leaders from across the region for a night of fun and entertainment. The event will be hosted this year by Mourning, founder of Honey Shine Mentoring Program, and Eric Knowles, senior director of government affairs for the Miami Dolphins. More than 600 are expected to attend the gala, celebrating the 2011 theme “Unmasking Business Success” aimed at unlocking the economic potential waiting to break out of every business. The event promises to pop, with Hip-Hop icon Fresh providing the night’s entertainment.

Georgia
Comedian Steve Harvey recently held a mentoring weekend designed to provide positive lessons and role models to Metro Atlanta-area young people, many whom were at risk of never realizing successful, productive futures. Once again, Harvey invited Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson to bring his innovative, unique use of the game of chess to teach lessons that can make a difference in young lives. Hudson participated in Harvey’s last mentoring events in New York, Dallas and Los Angeles. The event was designed to introduce the principles of manhood and dream-building to 100 young men from Atlanta. Since its inception in 2009, more than 450 teenage boys from single female-headed households have participated in the program.

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.
 

More>>>
Doctor would like to immunize Black L.A. to the flu
Rebecca Rona-Tuttle  |   OW Contributor
Nov 17 2011

Oliver Brooks explains why it’s important

It’s the middle of flu season, and Oliver Brooks, M.D., struggles to convince adults—especially African American adults—to get their flu shots and to immunize their children.

When given the choice, most people would choose good health over poor health, the doctor believes. But despite this, many African Americans avoid flu immunizations and put themselves at risk.

More>>>
The diabetes epidemic
Julianne Malveaux  |   OW Contributing Columnist
Nov 17 2011

November is diabetes awareness month

November is diabetes awareness month, and World Diabetes Day is held on Nov. 14 each year.

The day aims to increase awareness about diabetes and its complications, and focuses on the need for more resources to fight the causes of diabetes and help fund research about improved treatment options, or even cures.

The International Diabetes Federation predicts that by 2030 there will be as many as 552 million diabetics in the world. Presently, nearly 8.3 percent of all Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes.

More>>>
The gospel according to Tupac
James B. Golden, MPA
Oct 13 2011

A prophet of the streets

 My kids don’t believe that Tupac Shakur wasn’t always a thug.

They’ve been blindsided by his immortalization on T-shirts, documentaries, handbags and compilations. They see a one-sided Tupac, which mass commercialism has fed them over the past 15 years, but for many of us, we know there was a multifaceted genius beneath the tattoos and head rags.

In many ways, I grew up a child of Tupac.

More>>>

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”

More>>>

This Week in LA

More>>>

Contact Us    |   Advertise with Us    |   About Us    |   Submit News    |   Sign Up for Updates

Distribution Map   |   Editorial Calendar    |    Request  Media Kit   |   Terms of Service  |   Privacy Policy

 

Powered by Drupal and Drupal Theme created with Artisteer.