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“Black in America 2″ Features Cicely Tyson, John Legend

Tuesday, July 21st, 2009

johnlegend

How did John Legend get his singing name? What does Cicely Tyson think about the career choices she’s made? Get the answers to these questions and more on CNN’s “Black in America 2″ that’s scheduled to air June 22 and 23 at 8 P.M. (ET).

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If you miss the shows, or wanna get a preview of what Tyson and Legend will be talking about with host Soledad O’Brien, check out these Cicely Tyson and John Legend clips. голова болит секс

From health to education, CNN’s “Black in America 2″ investigates some of the most significant and challenging issues facing African-Americans. In the series, O’Brien talks to emerging leaders, innovative community programs and business ventures addressing the most persistent and pressing issues and disparities facing African-Americans.

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My Michael Jackson Mixtape

Sunday, July 19th, 2009

Cassette Tape flickr user 622 (cc: by-nc-nd)

Here’s an audio/video mixtape from some of the best MJ mixes I’ve heard recently. How many times can we say “RIP Michael?!”

SIDE A : The MJ Warm Up

Track 1. Come On Come On Come On/Lemme Show You What It’s All About: Love the five-part Minding Michael podcast series from Qool DJ Marv Aural Memoirs & da Buttamilk Archives. Featuring the MJ hits I had forgotten along with those beloved pop standards, this podcast is not to be missed. My favorites are Part One, “A Good Time,” for its melancholy, and Part Three, “Grab Your Belt Buckle/Music’s Taking Over” for the disco hits that make you move even when you’re sitting down. “Roughly 75 percent of these songs, I’ve never played in public,” Qool DJ Marv wrote about Minding Michael. “This is my translation of Michael as a fan and DJ, as a boy who grew up with stronger together black family vibes and Black is Beautiful all up in my head, and as a man who still embraces that exuberant idealism by perpetuating it and sustaining it through the magic of the music in the mix.” (Ranging from 47 mins. to over an hour long)

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Media Critic, “Heel” Thyself: Why Washpost/CNN’s Howard Kurtz Can’t Look at the Man in the Mirror

Sunday, July 5th, 2009

Michelle Obama

Uber-media critic Howard Kurtz has gotten it coming and going in the past month. First, CNN got lambasted for mis-covering the Iran election and protests. In an age where Twitter is fetishized, a hashtag (or searchable ID) called #CNNFail became all the rage.

This article on MediaBistro links to video of Kurtz’ own coverage of Twitter. Despite calls to mention #CNNFail in his Washington Post Column, Kurtz didn’t…so NYU professor and media critic Jay Rosen led a charge to make Kurtz accountable. As a media critic, mind you, Kurtz’ entire conceit is give-no-favor journalism.

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Beneath Low

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

Lil Wayne

New York-based writer, publicist, and activist April Silver says she continues to get feedback about a piece she wrote in response to this performance by Lil’ Wayne and Drake at the BET Awards 2009. Director Byron Hurt also responded, and wrote the following to BET’s Debra Lee on June 29:

“Sunday night’s BET Awards show was a disgrace. It’s sad and unfortunate that your network, owned by Viacom, continues to crank out mediocrity and perpetuate negative stereotypes of black men, women, and children. Although you likely received high ratings for the awards show, there is no honor in reinforcing the status quo’s opinion of black people. Your tribute to Michael Jackson and the overall show had its great moments, however, BET failed to deliver a solid, quality show. Rather than “raising the bar” and presenting African-Americans as a creative, proud, dignified people, BET lowered the bar for the entire world to see. The BET Awards drew a huge audience to watch a tribute to Michael Jackson, but left millions of viewers feeling disappointed, embarrassed, and reduced to classic stereotypes.

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Michael As Memory

Friday, July 3rd, 2009

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I recently released Kiss the Sky, a novel about a black rock musician. Then I did an event with an actual black rock musician who read my book and said that the part about Michael Jackson was so eerie. I had forgotten all about it. But I found it…written years ago… and yes, eerie.

Tell me what you think about MJ and your memories… I am getting creeped out watching all the old footage, especially the ones of Diana calling Michael “sexy” while they are are both wearing those dark spangly shirts…

I wish he’d been happy. I find it hard to believe he was.

Peace,
F

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