LOS ANGELES (NNPA)—The NNPA, the Black Press of America, has announced that it will not hold its mid-winter conference in South Carolina scheduled for January 2010. The organization of more than 200 Black-owned newspapers is joining the NAACP economic boycott of the state that has been in effect since July 1999 when the South Carolina NAACP called for it as a protest of the Confederate flag—a symbol of racial hatred—atop the State House and inside the House and Senate chambers. The boycott, still in effect, calls on groups and individuals to avoid traveling to the state for business or pleasure and discourages residents from visiting South Carolina beaches or patronizing restaurants and motels. DANNY BAKEWELL SR.
(NNPA)—Four men who committed three hate crime assaults in response to President Barack Obama’s election victory have been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Carol B. Amon in federal court in Brooklyn, N.Y. Ralph Nicoletti, 19, was sentenced to 108 months in prison; Bryan Garaventa, 18, was sentenced to 60 months; Michael Contreras, 19, was sentenced to 55 months; and Brian Carranza, 21, was sentenced to 70 months. The sentencing was Sept. 11.
Week of September 17-23 September 17 1787—The United States Constitution is approved but it includes three clauses allowing for the continuation of slavery even though it was supposed to be a document of freedom. 1861—Hampton Institute (now a university) is founded. It has become one of the nation’s leading predominately Black educational institutions.
Drama, catfights, chaos and just plain foolishness are a few of the things you’ll see on this season’s episodes of “the Real Housewives of Atlanta.” But it is those things that are the perfect ingredients to a successful reality television show and keeps America coming back for more. The cast of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” Season two of the housewives welcomes back NeNe Leakes, Sheree Whitfield, Kim Zolciak, Lisa Wu Hartwell and newcomer Kandi Burruss. Like last season, which was the most watched show on the Bravo network, the women try juggling their family and business ventures all while trying to make it on the hot Atlanta social scene.
This season, the CW Network’s “America’s Next Top Model” is playing fast and loose with the rules of the fashion industry. Casting aside the tall contestants of seasons past, this year is all about the “petite” girls. SHORT MODELS— The 14 contestants in “America’s Next Top Model” with Tyra Banks. “In this cycle I opened the competition exclusively to girls 5-7 and under so that one of them could have the opportunity to be American’s next top model,” show host and creator Tyra Banks said. “When I announced my intention to change the standards of the modeling industry, tens of thousands of girls from all over the nation flocked to realize their modeling dreams.”
Racism is still alive in America, despite the abolition of slavery, the Civil Rights Movement and other significant changes in society, according to George Yancy, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy at Duquesne University. Yancy, an award-winning author and one of only a few African-American philosophy professors in the nation, tackles the topics of “Whiteness, Blackness and the difference between the two,” in his latest book, “Black Bodies, White Gazes: The Continuing Significant of Race.” GEORGE YANCY
Have you ever been wrong about someone? You thought you understood her integrity and morality but you were, unfortunately, quite wrong. You heard he was a jerk, a complete idiot, that he was sleazy but he turned out to be a pleasant, fun companion. And though your first impressions made you vow to listen to your mama when she said not to judge a book by its cover, the next person you met got the same snap judgments. Author Ian Halperin says his assumption of guilt in the Michael Jackson molestation trial made him want to know the truth. In the new book “Unmasked: The Final Years of Michael Jackson,” Halperin writes about what he learned.
This week I visited Questions Night Club in the Strip District, Fifth Avenue All Class Reunion at Highland Park, Tim’s Lounge in the Hill District, Dana’s residence in Stanton Heights and Cynthia’s residence in the Hill District. My first stop was at Tim’s Lounge in the Hill District where Satara was kickin’ it at the only place in the Hill District they consider to be called “Cheers.” This is the place where everyone knows your name. Willie Taylor of Day 26 gave the ladies quite a show at Questions Night Club in the Strip District.
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP)—In a pep talk that kept clear of politics, President Barack Obama on Tuesday challenged the nation’s students to take pride in their education—and stick with it even if they don’t like every class or must overcome tough circumstances at home. TALKING TO STUDENTS— Education Secretary Arne Duncan looks on as President Barack Obama talks to students at Wakefield High School in Arlington, Va., Sept. 8. “Every single one of you has something that you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer,” Obama told students at Wakefield High School in suburban Arlington, Va., and children watching his speech on television in schools across the country. “And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is.”
(NNPA)—After more than 50 years of vibrant colors, decorative runways and models of color ranging from stick thin to plus-size, the Ebony Fashion Fair show has called it quits, at least for now, a (Philadelphia Inquirer) article reported. Organizers of the Ebony Fashion Fair have canceled the annual fashion showcase this year due to the economic slowdown. Staged annually at venues across the country, it hopes to return in 2010.
