Elvis Presley is known as “the King of Rock and Roll.” His music made him one of the most prolific cultural icons of the 20th century. His unique musical style was deeply influenced by his Southern roots. Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi and later moved to Memphis, Tennessee with his family where he began his music career in 1954. Some of Presley’s early experiences with black music and culture…
While many people simply know Hattie McDaniel as the first African American to win an Oscar in 1940 for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind, there is much more to her story than just that. She was born June 10, 1885 in Wichita, Kansas. She was the 13th child of a family of entertainers. Her father was a minister who played the banjo, and her mother was…
Lauryn Hill is a singer, songwriter, actor and producer. She was born May 25, 1975 in a middle class suburb in South Orange, New Jersey. She began singing and acting at an early age. In 1988, she performed for Amateur Night on It’s Showtime at the Apollo. She was initially booed but eventually won over the crowd. When she was a freshman in high school, Pras Michel approached her…
Reported by April Taylor Eric Monte’s story is one of betrayal, hope, and, with your help, redemption. Monte is a living legend for his role in creating the first successful show with a black cast since “Amos and Andy.” Prior to the shows he helped create in the 1970s, blacks were mainly portrayed as being uneducated and were usually cast in roles as servants, sidekicks, or clowns. Monte’s characters were…
Reported by Krystle Crossman High school graduation is supposed to be a time of joy and happiness. Graduates are preparing to take on college and/or the workforce, as their parents proudly watches them receive their diploma. Generally speaking, tears of happiness can be seen all around. But for one Maryland high school, the behavior of some of the adults at the ceremony was so bad that the students were shaking their…
Reported by Krystle Crossman Alexis Carter had an idea for a Hollywood-themed prom that she would be attending at her high school. She found an outfit that depicted her love for her idol Rihanna and knew it would turn some heads at the dance. What she didn’t foresee is the bullying she’d face for her outfit. What is even worse, she didn’t think that she would be mocked by the person that she…
By April Taylor The Washington Post is reporting that first lady Michelle Obama toured Howard University along with television host and rapper Bow Wow and 37 students from Chicago public high schools. The school system refers to the college visit that students take annually as, “Escape to the Mecca,” which is supposed to be a play on the fact that Howard University’s nickname, “the Mecca.” On an interesting note, Obama…
This is an excerpt of the popular lecture series, “The 8 Principles of Black Male Empowerment,” by Dr Boyce Watkins. Dr Watkins is a leading advocate for African Americans and speaks truth with the kind of raw form that is rare among public scholars today. Though he struggled in high school, Dr. Watkins was the only African American in the world to earn a PhD in Finance during the…
Reported by Marie S. Actor Anthony Mackie has his career going uphill. After playing the role of a U.S. bomb disposal team in Iraq in the Oscar-winning drama titled “The Hurt Locker,” he now plays the role of Sam or Samuel Wilson“Falcon” in the movie Marvel film titled “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” which topped the box office last weekend, grossing $96.2 million and making it April’s biggest release so…
By: Stephanie Allen-Gobert Jamie Foxx, born Eric Marlon was left in the care of his mother’s foster parents, Esther Marie (Nelson), a domestic worker and nursery operator, and Mark Talley, a yard worker, when he was seven months old. Foxx has struggled much of his life trying to understand why his birth parents did not make contact with him as he grew up and were not a part of his…
Jamie Foxx Jamie Foxx is a well-established actor, stand-up comedian, singer-songwriter, musician, and talk radio host. He has won many awards for his work such as Grammys, Academy awards, and Golden Globes awards. However, these are facts that you may already know about Mr. Foxx; here are 8 things you may not have known about him! “Jamie Foxx” is only a stage name! He was born Eric Marlon Bishop on…
By Lechette Walker The White House had a “Women of Soul Concert” that was hosted by Michelle Obama on Thursday. The concert that was in honor of the history of great “foremothers” in music is the reason for this entertaining celebration. Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, MelissaEtheridge, Tessanne Chin, Janelle Monae. Jill Scott and Ariana Grane is the streaming line of talent that will inspire the stage with this momentous engagement. …
By Andrew Scot Bolsinger The wife of former Secretary of State Colin Powell was honored by the Lincoln Center Education for her work as an advocate for education on Tuesday. Alma Powell led the America’s Promise Alliance, an education advocate that works with more than 350 organizations. The APA guides and coordinates efforts to help young people connect with vital resources that improve their chance of educational success. Powell also…
April Taylor According to a recent ESPN article, twins Chayla and Kayla Cheadle are each sports starts in their own right at their high school, No. 16 Rock Bridge in Columbia, MO where they both have played volleyball and helped lead their team to a basketball state title. The two have both signed athletics scholarships to play at the Univeristy of Kansas. Kayla received a volleyball scholarship to play at…
This past Saturday night during a big house party, which was advertised on Twitter, turned violent. Two teenagers were kιlled and almost two dozen people were injured in Northwest Harris Counties. According to the police the massive shooting incident took place before 11 p.m. at the birthday party of 18 year-old Mariah Boulden. The gun shots sounded in Cypress Texas at 7300 block of Enchanted Creek Drive. Sheriff Adrian Garcia…