Gail Choice

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Feb 2 2012

Hollywood by Choice

Cymphonique might not be a household name right now, but give her time; she’s got the makings of a superstar.

Sixteen-year-old Cymphonique Miller is the daughter of businessman, music mogul and philanthropist Percy Miller and sister of Romeo Miller. But she didn’t use her connections to get the starring role on Nickelodeon’s new live-action comedy series “How to Rock.”

She decided not to tell the producers during her audition who she was related to, opting to trust in her own skills as a singer, dancer and actress.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Jan 26 2012

Hollywood by Choice

The 2012 Academy Award Nominations were announced Tuesday and as hoped for and expected, both Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer were nominated for the coveted award.

Here’s how it stands; in the category of Best Actress: Glenn Close, “Albert Nobbs”; Rooney Mara, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo”; Viola Davis, “The Help”; Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady”; and Michelle Williams, “My Week With Marilyn.”

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Jan 26 2012

Hollywood by Choice

“Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s” is a groundbreaking African American reality show that tells it like it is when it comes to running a soul food restaurant with family, friends and a host of characters that make up the Sweetie Pie staff.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Jan 19 2012

Hollywood by Choice

Yes, indeed we are at war—with Hollywood. It’s our call to arms. Make history at the box office on opening day and/or weekend for “Red Tails.” A major email campaign has been on the way since December, and honestly, any and everywhere Black folks are gathered, including church, they should be asked to go to the theaters to see and support it.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Jan 12 2012

Hollywood by Choice

There was so much going on in this film I don’t know where to start. Wait a minute! Yes I do…the singing was phenomenal. The film definitely lives up to the title— “Joyful Noise"—and it is a delight to the ears.

Across Black America

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

Alabama
Freeman A. Hrabowski, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, will address the annual African American Business Council luncheon on June 28. Hrabowski, who is chairman of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Commission on Education Excellence for African Americans, has a national reputation for his work studying the performance of minority students in math and science. Hrabowski, named one of the 10 best college presidents in the country by Time magazine, was a child leader in the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham in the 1960s.
 

Arkansas
The Liberty Counsel filed a motion and a brief in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas seeking to intervene on behalf of a Concepts of Life crisis pregnancy center to defend against a suit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and the Center for Reproductive Rights. The groups seek to impose a permanent injunction before the Human Heartbeat Protection Act goes into effect July 18. Liberty Counsel also filed a brief opposing the ACLU’s request for an injunction. The “Heartbeat” bill states that when a woman seeks an abortion at or after the 12th week, doctors must test for a fetal heartbeat before an abortion is performed and inform the pregnant mother that the child in her womb has a heartbeat. If a heartbeat is detected, a woman cannot have an abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, and if a mother’s life is in danger. “As we promised when the legislation was introduced, Liberty Counsel will defend this law without reservation for the people of Arkansas, born and pre-born,” said Matt Staver, founder and chairman of Liberty Counsel. “No right is more foundational than the right to life. Without life, all other rights are irrelevant,” concluded Staver.