TM TM
Spring 2010 Features
LIVE. 18 Haiti:
A Long Road From The Brink It’s going to take money, manpower and a continuous commitment to help Haiti recover, renew and replenish.
WORK.
PLAY.
42 Meet The New
34 Cool Off Cabin
Game-Changers Innovative, ambitious and independent. Game-changing Gen X fresh faces movin’ and shakin’ and making their mark in ways all their own.
Fever This Spring Put the brakes on your hectic schedule and take a well-deserved “mental health break” in Sin City, The City of Light or the beautiful Caribbean.
On The Cover Anthony Maddox, Peter Griffith and Kennard Gibbs of MadVision Entertainment: Putting new soul into the old Soul Train franchise. Photo by Sumner Dilworth.
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SPRING 2010 • WHAT’S INSIDE
CONTENTS I’m Just Sayin’
Urban Living
11 News, Views & A Little Nonsense
36 Brand You! 38 Smelling, Feeling Like A Million Bucks 40 The Dawn Of The E-Reader
Use Your Influence 12 We Count! The Black Agenda Is The American Agenda 14 100 Years Of The National Urban League 16 Young Professionals Making A Difference
Entertainment & Influence 48 Wesley Snipes & Antoine Fuqua: The Message Behind The Madness 52 Real Talk With Tatyana Ali 54 That’s A Wrap
Total Wellness 20 Prevention Matters In AIDS Fight 22 Staying Fit In A Recession
The Last Word 56 Keep Public Officials On Notice
Business Center 24 Build Your Brand In The Internet Age 26 Why Complete The Census?
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Urban Influencers 28 Young And Professional In The Community, Football Field and Office
Special Feature 30 Perspectives On Obama On The Move
30 40 38
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On Point
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On Purpose
Living ON PURPOSE with Tamara M. Brown
F
inally, spring is in the air and a new season has come for Urban Influence, too! Beyond the magazine, we're committed to building a brand that reflects the changing needs, style and interests of the influencers we reach.
@Tbrown_UrbanIn
And that starts with me! My new column in each edition of the magazine will not only share what you can expect in the magazine, but also reflect the life lessons I’m learning along the way, as your fellow influencer. This first column of 2010 is dedicated to my Mom who is in the fight of her life against cancer. Her journey this past year has been absolutely exhausting for her and yet her spirit is resilient beyond what I can even understand. And at every stage, God shows up and keeps reminding us of his healing and comforting power. I can truly see God in her. As we continue on this journey, the love and support and outreach has been phenomenal; causing me to experience and think of life, family and friends, and even my business differently. I’ve renamed my column “ON PURPOSE.” Of all the lessons I’ve learned this past year, the most impactful for me is to face every single day with real purpose and intention.
What’s New at Urban Influence? More Influence … More Ways! Web - Mag - Events & More To Come! Visit our new site today Urbaninfluencemag.com
& sign up for our weekly E-Mag where you can take a behind-the-scenes tour of our new office in Chicago's trendy West Loop neighborhood!
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Even as I travel and meet new and interesting people, as I always have, now I am all the more committed to making these interactions meaningful. How many of us have been to an event, met great contacts, exchanged cards, promised to connect, and didn’t? How many of us have come up with a new idea, even jotted it down and kept moving it from one to-do list to another? Well, when you live ON PURPOSE, you follow up on new opportunities, cross tasks off the to-do list because you’re getting things done, and making every day count! Now, I am not about to become a self-proclaimed expert or trainer or coach in personal or professional development! I just want to use this vehicle to share with you what I am learning, because I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who can benefit. And on a personal note: Thank you Mom for being the single greatest woman I have ever met. Your energy, wisdom and fight inspire me every day and has added new meaning and purpose to my life. All the best,
Spring 2010
Contributors
TM
Vol-VII / No-I Carl McGowan Freelance Writer
President & Publisher
Tamara M. Brown
“This article started with me visiting the black man’s think tank, aka, the barbershop. Patiently waiting, I heard someone's ‘On to the Next One’ Jay-Z ringtone, and by the time I hit the chair, I couldn't stop thinking about who the ‘next ones’ might be as it pertains to influence. I walked out with a fresh cut and a rough draft.”
Executive Editor
Derrick K. Baker Art Director
James Mason Bartlett Contributing Editor & Co-Founder
Michele M. Moore Assistant Editor
Lenora E. Houseworth Marketing & Sales Consultant
Michele M. Moore Contributing Editor and Media & Marketing Strategist “We must demand more accountability from governors and mayors as well as our president. 2010 is about jobs. We must tell government leaders at every level who’ve not allowed monies to hit the streets that they could become jobless, too.”
Fantasy Buckman Project Manager, Marketing & Sponsorships
Marylyn F. Rodgers Contributing Writers
Marvet Britto Contessa Gibson Kandace Harris Yvette R. Kelly-Fields Zuhirah Khaldun Carl McGowan Dr. Randal Pinkett Dionne Ross Graphics Interns
Dr. Randal Pinkett Co-Founder, Chairman & CEO, BCT Partners “Personal branding is the process of marketing all of the things that make you unique. Particularly in the Internet Age where countless marketing channels are easily accessible, personal branding is no longer a ‘nice to have.’ It is a ‘must have.’ Now, more than ever, you must see yourself as the CEO of Me, Inc.”
Philipp Batta Dena Williams General Counsel
John S. Kendall, Esq. Reg. Patent & Trademark Attorney Assistant to the Publisher/ Office Manager
Belinda Wright Advertising
Dionne Ross Fitness Coach, Writer & TV Personality “As you shrink your spending during these tough economic times, don't minimize your health care regimen. You can better deal with the mounting stresses if you continue with a consistent exercise and nutrition program. I’ve put together some tips to keep your fitness on track while you work to get your finances in order.”
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Urban Influence Magazine® is published by Urban Influence Media Group 118 N. Peoria St., 3rd Fl. Chicago, Ill. 60607 P: (312) 243-4446 F: (312) 243-4449 info@urbaninfluencemag.com
$12 U.S. Annual Subscription Send LETTERS to address above or visit us online at: Urbaninfluencemag.com
©Urban Influence Urban Influence Magazine® is an official publication of the National Urban League
Urban Influence Tracks News, Views & A Little Nonsense
“T-Swizzy,” Really? Taylor Swift goes by the name “T-Swizzy” and made a rap video called “Thug Story” with T-Pain, who rhymed with his trademark Auto-Tune sound. Swift wrote the lyrics, including: “I’m so gangsta, you can find me baking cookies at night. You out clubbin’, but I just made Caramel Delight.”
“Mr. Beyonce”?
A New Celebrity Marriage Trend? Pee Pee or Vodka? And What Are You Drinking? Vodka tycoon M.J. Silver took exception to Sean “Diddy” Combs telling the guests at a New York party that “if you're not drinking Ciroc vodka, then you're drinking pee pee.” Ok. Silver held a press conference to recruit folks against Diddy, demanded an apology and put liters of Ciroc in a toilet bowl to deliver to make a point. Who said liquor doesn’t impair your judgment?
Who
ELSE
Pass The Hand Santizer, Please! Cameras captured President Bush immediately wiping his hands on President Clinton after Bush shook the hands of enthusiastic Haitians who obviously were thrilled to see the two former chief executives. “Hey, Bill, do you think the black rubs off?”
Killed Michael Jackson?
Jermaine Jackson told a radio station in Australia he believes Michael Jackson’s death is still not clear, saying Michael was “not with us way before he arrived to the airport ... I mean way before he arrived to the hospital.” Jermaine says he thinks Dr. Conrad Murray “didn't act alone” and “it's all going to come out.”
So What’s Your Point? According to a CNN poll, 52 percent say President Obama should not be re-elected. CNN later clarified that Presidents Clinton and Bush had even higher ratings in the same poll after their first years in office.
It’s been widely reported that Beyonce & Jay-Z might take on both of their surnames to keep Beyonce's parental line from dying out. Beyonce Knowles-Carter & Shawn Knowles-Carter it is! And when you are the highest earning couple in Hollywood ($122 million in 2009), who’s going to comment? (BTW: Beyonce is not pregnant.)
College Then Money Or Money Then College? Rev. Run told his straight A college student/ daughter Angela: “… go take your butt down to the sneaker office and go get that paper. That's your college. We'll get back to (school). Pastries (Angela’s business) is doing millions.” Obviously college isn’t for everybody. Check out more influential facts, updates and news at Urban Influence’s hot new website:
Urbaninfluencemag.com Spring 2010
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Use Your Influence
WE ✘ • COUNT!
: a m a b O l l e T s r e d a Le
Literally on the eve of the close vote in Congress that re-shaped the nation’s health care system, an estimated 5,000 people descended on Chicago State University as an impressive panel of AfricanAmerican leaders candidly addressed whether President Obama should dedicate more focus to address the economic and social ills that disproportionately wrack the black community. Organized by radio and TV host Tavis Smiley, the widely publicized and spirited “We Count!” symposium in the president’s hometown attracted a who’s who of scholars, religious leaders, elected officials, policymakers and community activists – and national attention.
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Photos by Thomas Blue
The following scholars and leaders lent their voices and opinions to the spirited “We Count!” symposium organized by radio and TV host Tavis Smiley:
Tom Burrell author of “Brainwashed” and advertising expert
Raven Curling president, Chicago State University Student Government Association
Michael Eric Dyson author and professor, Georgetown University
Michael Fauntroy assistant professor, George Mason University
Minister Louis Farrakhan Angela Glover Blackwell founder and CEO of PolicyLink
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Dr. Julianne Malveaux president of Bennett College
Dorothy Tillman former Chicago alderman
Ronald Walters professor and historian, University of Maryland
Dr. Cornel West author and professor, Princeton University
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Use Your Influence
g n i t a r b e l Ce Years 100 I AM EMPOWERED While the centennial celebration is a time to reflect on the rich history of the National Urban League, it is also a time to look forward as the transformative movement continues to serve the emerging and future needs of urban America.
This year the National Urban League celebrates 100 years at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement. Since its inception in 1910, the National Urban League has been committed to empowering communities and changing lives. With programs focused
The National Urban League celebrates its centennial by launching the I AM EMPOWERED campaign, instilling a message of hope and individual empowerment to make a lasting difference. Focused on four aspirational goals for America – education, employment, housing and health care – I AM EMPOWERED is galvanizing millions of people to take a pledge to commit to help achieve the goals by 2025! Individuals, communities, corporations and government agencies are being encouraged to improve the state of America and pledge to commit to their time and talent to the following EMPOWERMENT GOALS:
on eliminating the equality gap for all people, the National Urban League delivers social services and programs to over two million people annually through a network
Education Every American child is ready for college, work and life.
Jobs
of over 100 affiliates.
Every American has access to jobs with a living wage and good benefits.
Housing Every American lives in safe, decent, affordable and energy-efficient housing on fair terms.
Health Care Every American has access to quality and affordable health care solutions.
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This campaign reminds everyone of the power of the individual to become a force for change by encouraging collective action to bring change to entire communities and urban areas. The “Divine Nine,” the nine historically black Greek letter organizations that make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council, have partnered with the National Urban League, along with the National Council of La Raza and other civic and community organizations to spread this message of empowerment and achieve these goals by 2025. Become a part of the excitement and celebrate a legacy of service as the National Urban League prepares for the next 100 years of progress! Visit IAMEMPOWERED.com and
! Sign the Pledge Today IAMEMPOWERED.COM Mobilizing The Nation! By signing the pledge you will become a part of the I AM EMPOWERED community through the National Urban League’s new Social Mobilization Platform (SMP) at IAMEMPOWERED.com. You can work toward the Empowerment Goals right from your computer or mobile phone as the website and mobile application provide information on programs and services in your community (anything from GED programs to financing for entrepreneurs). You can also get info on ways to get involved or volunteer, all while connecting to friends, colleagues and others who have taken the pledge!
Community organizations have traditionally been static, reactive entities. The National Urban League begins its next 100 years of service with this first-of-its-kind social networking platform for civic engagement. The use of this technology and social networking allows the I AM EMPOWERED campaign to truly live, expanding the audience, the services delivered and the ways to get involved. This groundbreaking platform is the central nervous system of the I AM EMPOWERED campaign and a playground and meeting place for civically engaged people across the country who have taken the pledge committing to building a better future and empowering the nation! The largest interactive empowerment community, IAMEMPOWERED.COM provides information and tools for people to volunteer, find health care solutions, information on schools and housing counseling. You will also be able to find a job with online searches and step-by-step instructions to post an online video resume. The Social Mobilization Platform will also feature a mobile application compatible with the iPhone, Blackberry and Android.
S TA RT N O W ! Take the “I AM EMPOWERED” pledge at
IAMEMPOWERED.COM and join the growing number of people across the country committed to building a better future and empowering the nation!
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Use Your Influence
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Call To Action
Help Haiti
I T I HA Rise From The Ruins
FACTS, ADVICE & THE WAY FORWARD
“You will not be forsaken. You will not be forgotten.”
President Barack Obama, in pledging U.S. aid to Haiti
Individual and international support – financial, in-kind and spiritual – means impoverished Haiti stands a chance of regaining its footing and planning for a brighter future. That’s why President Obama’s tangible and resonant commitment to a new Haiti, coupled with a commitment like that demonstrated by entertainer and humanitarian Wyclef Jean, must be the order of today – and tomorrow.
Jean, a Haitian native, formed his organization Yele Haiti in 2005 with his own money and is leading the charge to aid his homeland in what he says is a “calling from God.” Prior to the earthquake, Yele Haiti fed 50,000 people a month and offered programs, mostly for young people, to raise confidence and offer hope. Visit Yele.org to make a much-needed contribution or text YELE to 501501 to donate $5 via your cell phone.
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Facts About Haiti
• Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with 80 percent of the population living under the poverty line and 54 percent in abject poverty. • In 1804, Haiti became the first black republic to declare independence. • Haiti has no regular military forces. The regular Haitian Armed Forces – Army, Navy and Air Force – has been demobilized but still exist on paper until they are constitutionally abolished. • Most Haitians live on less than $2 a day. • More than two-thirds of the labor force does not have formal jobs. • Haiti is one of only two independent nations in the Americas (along with Canada) that designate French as an official language. • Haiti means “mountainous country”; the name is derived from the language of the Taino Indians who inhabited the island before European colonization. • More than one million native-born Haitians live overseas; an additional 50,000 leave the country every year, predominantly for the United States, Canada and France.
Spring 2010
Photos courtesy of American Red Cross
You Can Help – But Beware of Scams The best way you can help the recovery in Haiti is by making a cash donation. If you use the Internet to contribute to the charity of your choice, beware of scams. According to SC Magazine, within an hour of the earthquake, there was a 1,578 percent increase in Internet traffic related to Haiti and a 5,407 percent increase in bandwidth usage for Haiti URLs. Scammers use compromised e-mail addresses, programs that harvest passwords, and infected Facebook applications to access online accounts, send deceptive e-mails and otherwise trick users into donating to fake charities. Give to known, reputable websites.
Visit these organizations that are assisting in relief efforts: • American Red Cross – Redcross.org (text Haiti to 90999 to make a $10 donation) • CARE – Care.org • Catholic Relief Services – Crs.org • Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund – ClintonBushHaitiFund.org or text “QUAKE” to 20222 to charge a $10 donation that will be added to your cell phone bill. • Direct Relief International – Directrelief.org • Healing Hands for Haiti International – Healinghandsforhaiti.org • Institute of the Black World – Ibw21.org • International Medical Corps – Imcworldwide.org • International Relief Teams – Irteams.org
Use Your Influence, Make Your Donation President Obama signed legislation that allows taxpayers to receive the tax benefit from monetary donations (not goods or services) made to the Haiti effort in this tax season, rather than having to wait until they file their 2010 tax returns. Cash donations to charities for the Haitian relief made after January 11 and before March 1 may be treated as if the contribution was made by December 31, 2009.
• Medical Teams International – Medicalteams.org • Save the Children – Savethechildren.org • The Salvation Army – Salvationarmyusa.org (text Haiti to 52000 to donate $10) • UNICEF – UNICEF.org • World Concern – Worldconcern.org • World Vision – Worldvision.org If you’re looking for loved ones and family members in Haiti, call the U.S. State Department at (888) 407-4747. UI
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Total Wellness
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Total Wellness
Recede
Don't Let Fitness During The Recession
The start of a new year is the best time By Dionne Ross to develop habits best stimulus plan is getting up, getting active and tackthat will lead to you The ling both physical and financial challenges head on. It’s importo remember that the way we look and feel greatly influliving your best life. tant ences other aspects of our lives. When we are full of energy a positive self image, we are more likely to be more proHowever, moving with ductive at work and home. forward with health That said, here are some tips for you to remain motivated and fitness in a failing and encouraged. economy can prove Tip #1 to be challenging. Take charge of your health like you take charge of your finances When you’re faced with economic setbacks, you can survive by making adjustments. You make changes in your spending habits, work load and overall lifestyle to preserve and supplement your income. If we approached our health with the same vigor and determination, we would make exercise part of our daily lives, eat healthier and live more active lifestyles.
Business owner tip: Create a written exercise plan just as you’ve created a business plan. By having a written blueprint, you make your objectives clear and concise to stay on track.
Tip #2 Make small changes and set realistic goals Although we tell ourselves we will begin our vigorous workout regimen with early mornings and carb-free meals, these habits rarely stick. Rather, begin making small changes to your everyday life and gain small victories. These little victories will give you confidence to achieve greater ones, ultimately leading you to conquer your dreams.
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Begin with these small changes: commit to spending four times per week doing something physical and fun for at least 30 minutes. Cut out sodas, candy and all unnecessary calories. Park further and take stairs.
Business owner tip: When putting in long hours at work, schedule routine stretch breaks at least once every two hours. Take five minutes or less to practice deep breathing, and stretching the legs and upper body.
Tip #3
Healthy Finger Food for the Office Spicy Chicken Zucchini Wraps Serving size: 4 servings Preparation time: 30 min.
Think outside the box There is an infinite number of ways to get healthier – and you don’t have to break the bank doing it. All it takes is a little creativity and effort. Here are a few cost-efficient fit tips: • join an intramural sports league • utilize fitness centers in your community (apartment complex gyms, YMCA, sports clubs) • get a workout partner instead of a personal trainer to hold you accountable
Business owner tip: Replace your office chair with a stability ball to force you to use your core stabilizing muscles while sitting at a desk for long periods. The benefits to a healthy body far outweigh the costs. With the extra energy, you’ll be better equipped to tackle your job responsibilities. Make a committed effort to weave exercise and fitness into your working routine this year, and watch it help you as you climb back on top of your finances. UI
Ingredients 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (1 ¼ -1 ½ lbs.) 2 small zucchini, thinly sliced 2 sweet banana peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces 2 shallots, thinly sliced 1 ½ cups halved grape or cherry tomatoes 4 whole grain tortillas 4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon freshly ground pepper ½ teaspoon garlic powder ½ teaspoon onion powder
Preparation • Preheat indoor grill • Coat chicken breast with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder
Dionne Ross is a fitness coach, writer and TV personality. Her new fitness video, “Cardio Drum,” is available at Dionneross.com..
• Place chicken on grill and cook for 10-15 minutes on both sides or until fully cooked • Coat zucchini with oil and spices and place on grill for 5-7 minutes • Fold chicken, zucchini and tomatoes and banana peppers into tortillas into wraps
Nutrition (Per serving) 330 calories 9 g fat 27 g carbohydrates 30 g protein 7 g fiber Dionne Ross Photo by Dale Rempert Spring 2010
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Business Center
Personal branding is the process of marketing all of the things that make you unique. Particularly in the Internet age where countless marketing channels are easily accessible, personal branding is no longer a “nice to have.” It is a By Dr. Randal Pinkett
“must have.” Now, more than ever, you must see yourself as the CEO of Me, Inc.
Personal Branding In The Internet Age Personal branding helps distinguish your occupation from your reputation in the eyes of others. For example, when you have effectively marketed your personal brand, you are no longer identified as the “manager of human resources” within your corporation (your occupation). Instead, you are recognized as “an excellent human resources professional who achieves results” throughout your industry (your reputation). Public awareness of your unique skills and abilities can transcend your place of employment through personal branding. And, fortunately, information technology and social media have made it significantly easier to market your personal brand online by leveraging the power of the Internet.
In its most basic form, a digital personal branding strategy is comprised of four simple steps: Step #1: Define Your Personal Brand First and foremost, you must answer core questions such as, “How do I want to be perceived by others?” and “What are the attributes or characteristics I want others to associate with me?” For example, you may define your brand along the lines of the various roles you play (e.g., entrepreneur, publicist, performing artist, doctor, etc.), or the gifts and
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Public awareness of your unique skills and abilities can transcend your place of employment through personal branding.
talents you possess (e.g., public speaking, writing, community organizing, graphic design, etc.), or the qualities that distinguish you from others (e.g., hardworking, funny, highachieving, down-to-earth, loyal, etc.). The rule of thumb here is to identify the three to five things you want to reinforce with your target audience.
Step #2: Identify Your Target Audience Next, you must identify your target audience – the groups of people toward whom your personal branding efforts will be aimed or to whom your personal brand might appeal. Your target audience could include family, friends, classmates, co-workers, industry peers, fellow members of organizations or associations, and beyond. Much like the target audience for a product or service is often the result of extensive market research, you should think hard about the groups with whom you want to build your name and credibility. For example, if you are a doctor, you may want to target other medical professionals, which could ultimately lead to additional career opportunities. Similarly, if you are an entrepreneur, you will want to target both existing and prospective customers. This could ultimately lead to business opportunities.
Step #3: Craft Your Message Now you are ready to craft your message – the information you will communicate to your target audience that reinforces your personal brand. This should not only include biographical or career-related information, but also information concerning your accomplishments, activities, travels, thoughts and more. For example, if you own and operate your own engineering firm, then your message may include news of major developments at your firm (e.g., contracts awarded, expansion plans, etc.) or updates related to events that you are planning to attend (e.g., conferences, networking receptions, etc.). Your message will be most effective when it is designed with your target audience in mind.
Step #4: Distribute Your Message Communications channels are the mediums used to distribute and deliver your message (Step #3) to your target audience (Step #2) in a way that reinforces your personal brand (Step #1). While information technology and social media tools have made a growing number of communica-
tions channels readily available at your fingertips, the following are the five basic tools that must be a part of your personal branding digital toolkit: 1. Personal Website/Blog – A website and/or blog can provide a one-stop shop for your personal brand by communicating who you are, what you do, and how you think about various topics to the public. You can also provide links from your website/blog to all your other personal pages described below. 2. Social Networking Websites – Social networking websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Plaxo are great for relationship building, networking and communicating your personal brand to both friends and acquaintances. 3. Photo and Video Sharing Websites – A picture is worth a thousand words and a video is worth a million. By posting pictures to photo sharing websites such as Flickr, Picasa and Shutterfly, or a video resume, video blogs and video clips to video sharing websites such as YouTube, you can add another dimension to your personal branding by presenting you and your personality “in living color.” 4. Microblogging Websites – Twitter is an absolute must for posting news, updates, opinions, quotes and links to content in “real-time” while also building a loyal following. 5. Electronic Newsletter – e-Newsletters are effective for developing and distributing content centered around specific themes or topics that are of interest to you and your target audience. Of course, it is important that I practice what I preach. To experience my personal brand as an entrepreneur, speaker and author, visit: Randalpinkett.com. UI Dr. Randal Pinkett is an entrepreneur, speaker, author and co-founder, chairman and CEO of BCT Partners, a multimillion dollar management, technology and policy consulting firm based in Newark, N.J.
Spring 2010
Get more tips on how to build your personal brand at Urbaninfluencemag.com.
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Business Center
Many African Americans are openly wondering if they should fill out the form.
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Urban Influencers
Helping Girls' Dreams Take Flight
Terri Vaughn Actress & Founder, Take Wings Foundation San Francisco She charmed audiences in Tyler Perry's “Daddy's Girls” and currently in “Meet The Browns.” There is no forgetting the unpredictable but lovable Lovita Alize Jenkins-Robinson from the hit sitcom “The Steve Harvey Show.” These days, in addition to challenging industry mores through her documentary “Angels Can't Help But Laugh,” which dissects the struggles of being a black woman in entertainment, Vaughn uplifts and mentors young women in her native San Francisco through the Take Wings Foundation. She knows the girls’ story well: “Along with being a teenage girl in a drug and gang- infested community, the normal teenage concerns of friends, grades, college and boys were the least of my worries. Getting telephone calls throughout the nights just to be informed of who had just been shot became the norm,” the actress has said. “I know that the girls we serve are often overlooked in our society and I know that I have been chosen to be a voice and a face for them. It is my God-given mission to expose these girls to more of what the world has to offer, other than the community they see every day.” UI
n a Urbluencers Inf
To view pa st Urb and nomin an Influencers or someon ate yourself ee Urban Infl lse to be an uencer, vis it
Urbaninflu encemag.c om.
Courtesy of The Stephanie Starks Hope Foundation Celebrity Read Aloud Tour. Photo by Patrick McKenzie Photography.
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From Track & Field To The Football Field
Natalie Randolph Varsity Football Coach, Coolidge High School Washington, D.C. “While I'm proud to be part of what this all means,” Randolph said during a press conference in which she was named the nation’s only female coach of a varsity high school football team, “being female has nothing to do with it. I love football. I love football. I love teaching, I love these kids. My being female has nothing to do with my support and respect for my players on the field and in the classroom.” The 29-year-old biology and environmental sciences teacher is already a favorite among students, who loudly cheered during the press conference with Washington, D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty. The Washington native has always been outstanding in sports; she was the star of the University of Virginia track team and played for six seasons as a wide receiver for the D.C. Divas of the National Women's Football Association, where she helped the team win
the championship in 2006. “I'm going to be me. That's what I do in the classroom,” said Randolph. “When I get observed, the observers say, ‘I didn't expect you to be able to handle this class,’ but I do what I have to do to get it done.” UI Photo by Vikrum Aiyer
Eagle Eye Protects Clients' Digital and Physical Assets
John Griffin Jr. CEO & Founder, AGB Investigative Services Chicago Through the largest minority-owned risk mitigation and physical security company in the Midwest, Griffin is bringing the idea of protecting and serving into the digital age. “The United States Department of Homeland Security has estimated that we are going to need 30,000 individuals trained immediately to confront this nation's cyber risk,” said Griffin. “At present we only have about 5 percent of that number. The new security professional must have a working knowledge of protecting clients’ data as well as their physical assets.” To bridge the gap, Griffin, who has worked closely with Department of Defense, Secret Service, FBI, Department of Homeland Security and state and local law enforcement agencies, recruits students from the City Colleges of Chicago for his training program. Upon completion, they are eligible for a job at AGB. Of his Always Giving Back Foundation, which awards scholarships to elementary and high school students, Griffin said he believes “this is our life mission.” UI Photo by Tarji Smedley
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His
FirstYear Of History Perspectives On Obama On The Move
Official White House photos taken by Pete Souza
Special Feature
With the passage of health care reform, President Obama officially has upset the apple cart. Health Reform Hysteria Proves America Isn't “Post-Racial”
D
uring the summer of 2008 the New York Times published an article entitled "Is Obama the End of Black Politics?" The premise of the article was that as the Democratic Party was poised to deliver its nomination for the nation's highest office to an African American, this somehow signaled the end of traditional black politics. As Obama won primary after primary, NPR Senior News Analyst Daniel Schorr saw these victories as an indication that America had moved into a "post-racial era." He defined it as an "era where civil rights veterans of the past century are consigned to history and Americans begin to make race-free judgments on who should lead them."
In the process, he has garnered fierce friends and ferocious foes in the form of Democrats, Republicans, Independents and Tea Partiers. “No Drama Obama” has dramatically pushed the reset button on the medical and economic landscapes by leading controversial health care reform through an incredibly ugly national debate.
All too often writers, journalists, reporters and analysts demonstrate their ignorance of African-American people and the African-American experience by trying to assign simplistic answers to very complex problems, events and circumstances. They also fail to connect the dots and discuss racism in its current context, making it more difficult to move beyond it. By running from race, too many Americans remain mired in the middle of it.
Meanwhile, unemployment has skyrocketed, propelling African Americans into a divisive debate about how much attention the President should devote to the ills that disproportionately afflict the black community. In brief, history is being written and re-written. In that spirit, Urban Influence extends the Obama After Year One conversation with the following perceptive perspectives.
By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III
On March 20, as Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) was leaving the Cannon office building, he encountered members of the Tea Party protesting the healthcare reform bill. Some of them called him a n_ _ _ _ _. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) was also called a n_ _ _ _ _ and was spit on. Rep. Barney Frank (DMass.) was called a f _ _ _ _ _. Both Lewis and Cleaver have chosen to not make an issue of this and to not press charges For as much as I admire the work and sacrifices of these three men, I take issue with their decision to "not want to make a big deal about it" Those bigoted, prejudiced and ignorant protesters were doing more than assaulting and insulting three individuals. They were attacking every African American and homosexual in America. Today, too many of the opponents of the Obama administration's plans for health care insurance reform are using code language, distortions, violence and partisan politics to control the debate and much of their ire is racially motivated. According to Rep. Pete King (R-NY), President Obama is
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Special Feature
There are still too man y people in America tha to allow him to govterrenfuse as the president....
(Continued from page 31)
“probably the most threatened president ever.” Most of these threats are not because of healthcare reform, the stimulus bill or the problems with Israel. There are still too many people in America that refuse to allow him to govern as the president; they will oppose him at every turn because he's an African American who is the president. Dr. Wilmer J. Leon III is producer/host of a nationally broadcast call-in talk radio program and a lecturer in the department of Political Science at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Visit Wilmerleon.com or e-mail: wjl3us@yahoo.com.
The President Is Just A Man
A
By Mark Mellman
ll Americans can remain proud of electing a president whose father was a Kenyan immigrant — a feat none of our sharpest critics in the world could have accomplished. In reflecting on the president’s initial year, however, I keep returning to two texts. The first is Gov. Mario Cuomo’s famous distinction between the poetry of campaigning and the prose of governing. The president has handled this transition well, though a few of his supporters have found it more jarring. Campaigning, like poetry, is about evocative symbolism, while governing is about nitty-gritty details that can never be as rich or as resonant as the symbols that permeate campaigns. Poetry, like campaigns, is about creating peak emotions, but peak emotions cannot be sustained indefinitely. Anyone who expected government to look and feel like the campaign failed to heed Cuomo’s insight. My second text comes from “Jesus Christ Superstar,” in which Yvonne Elliman sings about Jesus: “He’s a man, he’s just a man.… ” While President Obama never displayed the messianic pretensions Republicans ascribed to him, some of the president’s fans seemed to manifest this GOP critique. No president can magically end deep-seated partisan divisions or halt rancor that has been building over decades. Moreover, President Obama is subject to fundamental realities that affect other officeholders. Most important among those realities is the economy, which affects every president and which has rarely been worse.Notwithstanding the president’s own exceptional talents, and those of his team, a simple graph reveals that Obama got exactly the vote one would have expected given the state of the economy in 2008. Barack Obama is a special and extraordinary talented president, but he is just a man — buffeted by the same political forces that have afflicted his predecessors and will bedevil his successors.
ident is u think the pres Tell us how yo om. influencemag.c doing at Urban
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Mellman is president of The Mellman Group and has worked for Democratic candidates and causes since 1982. Visit mellmangroup.com or e-mail info@mellmangroup.com.
Spring 2010
Urban Living
You’re watching your budget but rising temperatures are heating up cabin fever, making it time to get out of town for a mental health break. Whether you want to stay in the States or venture across the seas, consider these ideal destinations to spring into fun and leisure this season.
Spring Into Las Vegas Where did 36.3 million people (including 4.5 million convention delegates) travel last year to stay for 3.6 nights in 148,000 plus hotel rooms? It’s Las Vegas, baby! Get married. Enjoy a multimillion dollar, gaudy show. Overdose on shopping. Gamble. Drink. And gamble. But go. Here’s where to find all you need to know: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸
Lvcva.com Soulofamerica.com Vegas.com Visitlasvegas.com
Photos courtesy of Las Vegas News Bureau
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Photos courtesy of Usvitourism.vi
o Travel
Here And There Paris
U.S. Virgin Islands Easily accessible in the blue waters of the Caribbean, just southeast of Miami, the weather year-round in the beauteous U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas) is an ideal 88 degrees. Enjoy St. Croix's Danish influence; St. John’s national park offerings; and the beautiful harbors and world-class shopping in St. Thomas. Before you go, go to: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸
Travelocity.com Tripadvisor.com Usvi.net Usvitourism.vi
Parisians say the City of Light has more landmarks than anywhere in the world. The not-to-be-missed French capital is home to grand vistas, hospitable cafés, naughty nightclub revues, the Eiffel Tower and only a few rude people who won’t speak English. If Paris is the place, first check out these valuable resources: ✸ ✸ ✸ ✸
Lonelyplanet.com/france/paris Paris.org Parisinfo.com Parisfrance.ca
Photos courtesy of Paris Tourist Office
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Urban Living
Recalibrating and Redefining Your Brand In this economy sadly many folks have lost their jobs; many are trying to figure out what they should do while others are trying to look within and dig out brands, ideation, passions and aspirations that have been buried within. Now is the time to invest in yourself rather than spend the next 20 years of your life working for yet another brand that may not weather the next economic storm.
Marvet Britto Brand Strategist & President/CEO of The Britto Agency, New York
Now,
if you cannot afford to completely step out on faith, as you can’t send that to the bill collector each month, you can think of startups to nurture and grow in your spare time. When you see the seeds you have planted start to bear fruit, then you’ll know it’s time to devote more time to that flourishing “brand-that-could!” I believe self-investment will always yield an enormous return! Your brand is the fabric of which you are at your core, and since you can never escape the brand that lives within, make it work for you! Let me share an example of a brand that was cultivated from the creator’s pedigree and applied to a new successful career path.
D N A BR YOU!
Copyright Gregory Routt. All rights reserved.
Get more HOT PICKS that will help you LIVE. WORK. PLAY. at Urbaninfluencemag.com.
ON THIS ROCK
was born out of the spirit of Janet Hill Talbert re-shifting and repositioning her brand equity that was built in other mediums. She now leverages that equity in a winning enterprise. Hill Talbert is a former vice president and executive editor of Doubleday Books and owner of Harlem Moon, an imprint she launched in 2002. She made an indelible mark in the literary world and beyond as one of the youngest and most successful AfricanAmerican women in publishing, which she departed to pursue her passion as a jewelry maker. She touched the lives of authors J. California Cooper, the late E. Lynn Harris, Connie Briscoe, Bertice Berry, Grandmaster Flash, The Estate of Zora Neale Hurston, Dorothy West, Eddie Levert and the late Gerald Levert, Lyah LeFlore and journalist George Alexander, to name a few. In 2008, after 22 years at Doubleday, Hill Talbert turned her passion for words, The Word and jewelry into On This Rock (onthisrocknyc.com), a line of Christian and inspirational jewelry designed to encourage, delight and comfort the soul with an even more powerful message to the world. The collection centers around cuffs covered in scripture that provide marvelous moments of meditation, and also supplies the boost one needs to handle that next task or get over that next hurdle. Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin and Whoopi Goldberg, among others, own pieces of On This Rock jewelry.
On This Rock Jewelry line inspires me in ways that only a piece of jewelry embossed with my favorite bible scripture can. When I wear a piece, I am reminded of my strength and empowered by the wisdom that anchors my soul. It's like my armor; a shield that serves as a constant reminder of who and what ultimately strengthens me. Any one of these pieces also makes for the most perfect gift that will become the most treasured item you could give. My favorite item is the necklace with the numbers 153, which represents the number of fish caught by the Disciples in John 21:11; the only time in the Bible the fish they caught were numbered. I share the necklace with all my loved ones as reminders of what we can do if we stay centered in Christ. Over my many years as a brand strategist, I have worked with and been intimately exposed to many jewelry lines that have gone on to reach mammoth success, including those by Lorraine Swartz, Chris Aire, Jacob the Jeweler and Mimi So. I know exactly how colossal On This Rock is poised to become. In addition to the quality of the collection itself, it also shows the resilience of someone who was fearless in making the leap from one profession to a journey that was tugging at her heartstrings. You CAN rebrand yourself! UI
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Urban Living
Smelling, Feeling Like A Million Bucks True connoisseurs of high fashion understand it’s not enough to simply dress the part. It’s also how you smell that dictates the definition of an impeccable look to be remembered. You can easily build a collection of fragrances as extensive and eclectic as your personal style.
KIM KARDASHIAN by Kim Kardashian Eau de Parfum Spray, $35 - $65 Available exclusively at Sephora
HEAT by Beyonce Eau de Parfum Spray, $49 - $59 Available at Macy’s
FLOWERBOMB by Viktor & Rolf Eau de Parfum Spray, $50 - $150 Available at TheGlamourOutlet.com
KENZO POWER by Kenzo Eau de Toilette Spray, $55 - $70 Available at Fragrantica.com
GREY VETIVER by Tom Ford Eau de Parfum Spray, $85 Available at Bergdorf Goodman
GUCCI by Gucci Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray, $55 - $70 Available at Neiman Marcus
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Urban Living
OF THE E-READER CAN THE LATEST WAVE OF TECH TOYS SAVE THE PUBLISHING WORLD? By Lenora E. Houseworth
The future is officially at your fingertips.
Apple iPad
When God gave Moses the two tablets that would become the Ten Commandments, who knew, metaphorically speaking, he would be holding the inspiration for what techies are calling the next sonic boom to hit the digital world since the invention of the PC itself. Ladies and gentlemen, the e-reader is here in full force. These little multimedia gadgets promise to take you on a trip that enables you to download your favorite magazine in its entirety or surf the web, thereby changing the way you interface with technology – for good. Though they’ve been around for some time (20 years), only now are they being taken seriously, thanks in part to Amazon’s Kindle. Just image what whipping out one of these new-fangled devices could do for your image at a client meeting or what they could do for your employee morale. The possibilities appear to be endless. However, the jury is still out on if it will indeed live up to its claims of changing the world and the way we do business. One thing is for certain:
The future is now. 40
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Display size: Weight: Extras:
Cost: Available:
9.7” touch screen 24 oz. Full web browser, e-mail, video audio, office productivity software $500 - $830 Now
Samsung E6 Display size: Weight: Extras:
Cost: Available:
6” touch screen 24 oz. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology, audio player, calendar, textspeech capabilities $299 Now
Sony Reader Daily Edition Display size: Weight: Extras:
Cost: Available:
7.1“ touch screen 12.75 oz. Free access to eBooks and other digital content from your local public library; displays Word and PDF files $399 Now
Sony Reader Touch Display size: Weight: Extras:
Cost: Available:
6“ touch screen 10 oz. Take freehand notes and highlight sections of text you want to revisit later, just as you would in a real book; compatible with both PC and Mac $299 Now
Available in Black, Red and Silver.
Barnes and Noble Nook Display size: Weight: Extras:
Cost: Available:
6“ with 3.5" touch screen 12.1 oz. Travel mode, Wi-Fi, 3G wireless, built-in dictionary, audio player $259 Now
Back cover available in Grass and Gravel
Lenora E. Houseworth is assistant editor of Urban Influence. Spring 2010
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Esperanza Spalding Photo by Johann Sauty
Adrian Fenty
Cheryle Robinson Jackson
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Cover Story
Influencers Changing The Game By Carl McGowan Although President Barack Hussein Obama generated all the headlines last year by “painting the White House black,” a closer look at last year – and the past few years – reveals that there were many other fresh faces in both historic places and uncharted waters within the African-American community.
D
espite constant rumblings of inter-generational conflict, a young, emerging class of innovators and leaders has taken the reigns of some of black America’s most revered institutions. In a digital age, they have already paid their dues, and are rapidly ascending to positions of influence and authority. Collectively, all the pieces of the political and socioeconomic puzzle are in place for these individuals to not only make their mark as individuals and as a generation, but to leave their mark on history.
Politics And The Pulpit Most revolutions have their origins in religion or politics, and black America’s changing of the guard is no different. Two politicians prominently demonstrate this change. In Washington, D.C., for example, the name Marion Berry still is iconic when it comes to city politics. The seemingly mayor for life personified the notion of Black Power in the city. But in 2007, when Adrian Fenty became the city’s youngest mayor ever, he epitomized a generation dedicated to a completely new type of empowerment. Picking up the mantra that education is a civil right, Fenty is attempting to reform the district’s public school system, one of the worst in the country. Not only are other big cities watching, but he’s picked up the support of U.S. Education Secretary
Rev. Otis Moss III
Kenard Gibbs
Peter Griffith
Anthony Maddox
Zola Mashariki
Arne Duncan. As Fenty roots out resistance to change, it is increasingly evident that his youth may be an asset in what could be a long battle. Cheryle Robinson Jackson doesn’t avoid big shoes. In 2007, she left a high-level state government job to succeed longtime Chicago Urban League CEO James W. Compton, making history as the CUL’s first female leader. Three years later, she sought a more powerful perch: the U.S. Senate seat once occupied by Carol Moseley Braun and President Barack Obama. Although she didn’t win, Jackson won several major endorsements and appears poised for the political stage. In mid-March, she made another move, and joined the AAR Corp., a leading provider of products and services to the worldwide aerospace and defense industry, as vice president of Government Affairs and Corporate Development. Unlike days past where the pulpit would serve as a stepping stone to political careers, the pastors of modern churches
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wield as much influence as any politician, often living under a more intense spotlight. Therefore few clergy would be willing to replace one of the most popular and controversial pastors in the country, but that is exactly what Rev. Otis Moss III did when he was handpicked for Trinity United Church, one of Chicago’s largest and most revered, by its pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Moss, a 38-year-old Morehouse and Yale Divinity School graduate, has successfully navigated the challenge of attracting the hip-hop generation without alienating the civil rights generation, and not losing sight of spirituality or its roots in black liberation theology. That’s not to say that the new generation of religious leaders isn’t political, though. Joshua DuBois isn’t exactly a protest preacher, but he is vigilant. After receiving a form letter rejecting his application to join then-Sen. Barack Obama's U.S. Senate campaign, he drove from Boston to the candidate's Chicago office to pursue an interview, and was hired as an aide working on faith-based outreach. The 26-year-old
Spring 2010
Cover Story
now heads up the revamped Office of Faith-based Initiatives, which is tasked with steering federal funds to charitable organizations tied to churches and faith-based organizations. The last 26-year-old Boston University graduate and preacher’s son to take such on such a large faith-based movement led a bus boycott in Montgomery 55 years ago.
The New Civil Rights Movement At the intersection of politics and religion in the black community sits the civil rights establishment. It’s arguable that no civil rights organization is more a victim of its own success than the NAACP. The so-called “Children of the Dream” owe most of their opportunities to the NAACP’s legal victories but as fewer doors have to be kicked in, the organization has struggled to redefine itself, going through a string of secretaries and CEOs in short order. However, Ben Jealous, the youngest CEO in the organization’s history, aims to reinvigorate the organization, using new means to attract a new base while tackling old, persistent issues. The Rhodes Scholar and former executive director of the Rosenberg Foundation must lead a century-old organization into a decade where the “advancement” means something very different than it did during the organization’s heyday. Jealous’ communications background will have to serve him well. The revolution may not be televised, but if James Rucker has anything to do with it, it may start on the web. Rucker is co-founder (along with Van Jones) of Colorofchange.org, a web community started in 2005 and modeled after Moveon.org. Its sole purpose is “to strengthen black America's political voice.” With over a half million members, the organization has gained international acclaim for its role in the Jena 6 case and in getting corporations to pull their
sponsorship of the inflammatory Glenn Beck show. Look for Colorofchange.org and its 37-year-old leader to play a major part in the liberal policy agenda during the next few years. Conventional wisdom says that the Digital Divide is the next civil rights battle. But who will lead it? Few people outside the tech world had heard of Dr. Mark Dean, IBM’s first AfricanAmerican technology fellow and architect of the modern-day PC, but he came to symbolize opportunity for blacks in technology. Now the hot new face of behind-the-scenes technology may very well be that of 34-year-old Window Snyder. The former Microsoft security exec and chief technology officer for Internet browser Mozilla Firefox is somewhat of a rock star in the Internet security world. Since leaving Mozilla in late 2008, she has been working on a top secret startup that venture capitalists are anxiously awaiting.
Telling Our Own Stories Very few people can tell a story the way ZZ Packer tells a story. The Yale University and Iowa Writer’s Workshop graduate burst onto the literary scene in 2004 with “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere,” a book of short stories so highly acclaimed that she immediately drew comparisons to her literary ancestors, Zora Neale Hurston and Alice Walker. At the age of 37, she spends most of her time as a visiting professor of creative writing while she finishes her next work. Fans of great writing are left to just wait like a music lover awaiting their favorite new artist’s sophomore CD. (Continued on page 38)
James Rukcer
Window Synder
Cover Story
The battle over the black male and female image on film rages as intensely today as it ever has. But those in search of well-rounded images appear to be gaining ground. A rising star in entertainment is Fox Searchlight Pictures Vice President Zola Mashariki. Despite a Harvard law degree and a promising legal career, Mashariki decided to pursue her passion for film, taking a job as a production intern, and working her way up to vice president in five short years while working on films such as “Antwone Fisher,” “I Think I Love My Wife” and the better-than-expected “Notorious.” Watch out for two major projects from the 37-year-old in 2010. The performing arts still is an area where it is debatable whether there is truly anything new under the sun. Take “Soul Train” for example. “The hippest trip in America” recently got a little hipper. The venerable Soul Train franchise, led for 38 years by Don Cornelius, was sold in 2008 to MadVision Entertainment, which comprises a triad of entertainment industry veterans, each younger than the Soul Train franchise itself. The group, Kenard Gibbs, Peter Griffith and Anthony Maddox, intends to open the show’s archives to an older, reminiscent audience while creating a new version for a new generation. Audiences comparing the old and the new shows should make MadVision a household name. The future of black music appears to be somewhat retro as well. Such is the curious case of Esperanza Spalding, the Berkeley College of Music professor and hottest new face on the jazz music scene in decades. It’s one thing to be asked by Stevie Wonder to perform with him for the president of the United States. It’s another thing to have the President and First Lady ask you back for a repeat performance at his Nobel Prize acceptance reception. But that is exactly what happened last year to the 26-year-old wunderkind. With the bass playing skills of Charles Mingus, and the look and voice of Lena Horne, Spalding is the new “it” girl in jazz, having already produced two wildly popular CDs and a third anxiously awaited one on the way.
On To The Next Ones The new generation of influencers does not lack confidence. While they may never call themselves The Greatest Generation as their parents have, they have at least positioned themselves to write their own narratives, make their own policies, and control their own images. With those tools in hand, half the battle for their place in history is already won. If image is everything, Gina McCauley wants to make sure African-American women receive fair and equal treatment. She is the creator of What About Our Daughters (Whataboutourdaughters.com) a blog for, by and about black women, and Michelle Obama Watch (Michelleobamawatch.com), which follows the media's coverage of the First Lady. She has used her blog to bring attention to the topics like the verbal attack on the Rutgers women’s basketball team and the proposed cable TV show “Hot Ghetto Mess.” Not content to be a lone voice, she is also a co-founder of Blogging While Brown (Bloggingwhilebrown.com), the first international conference for bloggers of color. UI Carl McGowan is a contributing writer for Urban Influence.
And, of course, what would a generation be without a cultural archivist? The African-American story in the 20th century was chronicled and examined by the pens of DuBois, Baldwin and John Hope Franklin, and with many possible successors, William Jelani Cobb has distinguished himself as a worthy heir. The Spelman College history professor has dissected the hip-hop generation in books like “To The Break of Dawn” and his latest, “The Devil and Dave Chappelle.” Keenly aware that he occupies a place in the department made famous by the legendary Howard Zinn, Cobb is more likely to move forward as a front-line literary soldier than an arm chair intellect.
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Ben Jealous
Entertainment & Influence
Wesley Snipes & Antoine Fuqua
The Message Behind The
s s e n d Ma By Lenora E. Houseworth
The in-your-face film “Brooklyn’s Finest” challenges moviegoers to look beyond the recurring cinematic themes of profuse profanity, gratuitous sex and violence to understand a deeper, more profound statement about the black community and its longstanding, tumultuous relationship with law enforcement.
Music groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A. unapologetically created brash street anthems depicting the angst and collective resentment of cops heard blasting from boom boxes in every ‘hood. Then, of course, there are the countless news stories and ample firsthand accounts of police brutality, racial profiling and signs of neglect by the police, all of which is directed at the black community. Think of all the black men who have received the “What to do when they pull you over” speech as a young man. Continued on page 50
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Entertainment & Influence
Art has always had an interesting way of imitating life and has never been shy about depicting the deep-seeded distrust black people have felt about the police’s ability and willingness to equally protect and serve. Rarely, however, does art probe into the other side of the battlefield and into the psyche of police officers and their internal struggles and strife – until now. Until “Brooklyn’s Finest.” “I saw an opportunity to humanize the drama of police officers in way that normally is superficial when I read scripts about officers and you go don’t go deep enough,” explained “Brooklyn’s Finest” director Antoine Fuqua, who added the movie draws from biblical themes and the current turbulent state of the nation. “This (was) an opportunity to go pretty deep into the pressures of life, the choices they make.” On the surface, the movie follows three tortured cops on their journey on the crime-riddle, unforgiving streets of Brooklyn, then delves deeper into the emotional distress they endure daily while putting their lives on the line for the job. “Grow(ing) up in the ‘hood, experiencing the negative part of police officers, watching the news and seeing people being shot and executed in the subway stations and then becoming friends with some cops, undercover cops and realizing there are some really good people out there who actually really care about what they are doing,” said Fuqua, who also directed the blockbuster cop film, “Training Day,” that featured Denzel Washington’s Oscar-winning role for best actor. “So that kind of thing sort of helps you get excited about the possibility of exploring more angles on the subject. I saw a great opportunity to put together an ensemble cast of great actors that could help me do that.” The movie, starring an all-star cast of Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke, Richard Gere and Wesley Snipes, was met with mixed reviews from critics, but still managed to open with a
Snipes on being typecast: “I think with the success of some of the action films, people began to label me an action guy, action star or an action actor. But that is the power of action. That’s how it translates around the world and the impact that it has globally. It gets pushed to the forefront even though the quality may not be as great or it doesn’t embody the full scope of my work, the majority of my work, which is more dramatic performing, more dramatic acting.”
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Fuqua on being a director: “It’s not about me, which is why I am behind the camera…. I always remind myself it’s not about me ‘cause it’s not. I am not the guy whose face has to go on that screen and play that role. He’s going to get heat for something that doesn’t work. For me it’s a different journey as the painter.”
$13 million plus box office, making it the No. 2 movie in the country. “When you have veterans you get a chance to learn new tricks, little techniques they use to get through the day. Working on a short schedule like we had with (“Brooklyn’s Finest”) you got to be on your game. You don’t have the time to really map it out and … rethink it again so you have to basically come in there ready and have done your homework,” said Snipes who plays an ex-con named Caz. From a flamboyant drag queen in “To Wong Foo” to infamous drug lord Nino Brown, Snipes has nimbly crafted his way from budding, stand-out star to a theatrical, box-office chameleon with a long trail of unforgettable characters in his acting resume. For Snipes, challenging Hollywood with controversial character portrayals has been the key of his 20-year career, and fans are enjoying his big return to film. “Expanding internationally, expanding the brand and the appreciation of my contribution as an artist and my contribution as an African American around the world” is how he characterizes his career. “And now I have relationships globally. I can make films almost anywhere.” To the notion of filmmaking, Fuqua added, “We made this movie on a budget and yet it is going to be compared as if the playing field is even and it’s not…. You’re giving yourself room internationally to grow. You have to always challenge the industry (as) African Americans by putting quality work on the screen that transcends around the world. That is always challenging for us, especially when you are dealing with a subject matter that directly affects us or is about us in some way. The biggest challenge for me as director is to always remind (Hollywood), that as an artist we can do it all.” UI Watch the entire interview with Wesley Snipes and Antoine Fuqua at Urbaninfluencemag.com. Lenora E. Houseworth is assistant editor of Urban Influence.
Spring 2010
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Entertainment & Influence
i l A a n a y t a T h wit
rth . Housewo E ra o n e L By
and d a e h a Let’s go out of the way get this quickness: with the dead. s i s k n a Ashley B She is forever gone, affectionately stored deep in our hearts and minds and reserved for the comforts of late night television. Sure, we all fell in love with the then younger, wholesome actress Tatyana Ali and her knee-high socks as she deftly played the Banks character. We watched her come of age, discover boys, and get life advice (both good and bad) from older cousin Will during six seasons of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” But Ms. Ali has absolutely no time to regale you about her child star past; her plate is quite full with navigating a bright future.
After putting Hollywood on hold to graduate, with honors, from Harvard University, the New Yorkbred, Trinidadian beauty is reemerging and doing double duty, working in front of the camera and behind it with the creation of her own production company HazraH Entertainment that was co-created with her sister Anastasia.
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Being a yo ung country do black person in thi es s just one b n’t have one face o r ackgr We’re real ound or one look. ly free no w to cal ourselves what we wa l nt. The 31-year-old industry vet opened up to Urban Influence on a few other topics and got real, proving why she is all grown up, no longer Ashley Banks, and a force to be reckoned with.
On being young, gifted, black and American:
“We started our production company with the thinking of making avant-garde urban entertainment,” said Ali. “Budgets are different. There is a great plus in (that) fact, especially how we shopped ‘Buppies.’ We shot it on our own and then shopped it to networks. So we were really allowed creative freedom and autonomy to bring the characters to life.” Though the future for “Buppies,” Ali’s groundbreaking web series with BET.com, is uncertain, HazraH recently received the green light from TV One for a second season of “Love That Girl” that is scheduled to air this fall – a major victory, particularly in the troubled urban entertainment market.
“People of our generation are taking their identity into their own hands. Being a young black person in this country doesn’t have one face or just one background or one look. We’re really free now to call ourselves what we want. Seeing a representation of yourself, there is a sort of pride in that. We are so enthralled with glamour and the money and the fame and sort of all the capitalist notions of what being successful means. I think there are more important things to consider, like integrity, honesty and having a real mission in your life.”
How she maintains her sanity in the industry: “I would say that the key to surviving is to do you. I think along the way people – and they do this to anybody – say, ‘You need to be like this person or you need to be more sexy.’ That was something I got a lot. I think it is important to be yourself and evolve and work on your craft. I think you get off track when you start to make decisions based off of what other people need to see.”
Regrets on leaving Hollywood for Harvard:
Shot unconventionally in a recording studio over the course of just five days, season one of “Love That Girl” united Ali with comedian Martin Lawrence, who serves as executive producer of the show. Along with the show’s creator Bentley Kyle Evans, they appear to have found a working model for surviving an ever-changing media landscape. “Self determination is incredibly important in this climate. Anastasia and I started our production company with that belief. And thus far, we've had success in getting our projects out there. There are so few black shows on the air because many networks believe that their audiences won't relate to characters of color. I believe that that's simply untrue,” explained Ali. “Audiences want good stories regardless of the ethnicity of the characters.” Even with all that on her plate, Ali still has time to squeeze in recording an album and stretch her acting chops on the big screen by starring in the thriller “Hotel California” and the upcoming drama “Mother and Child” starring Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.
“When I first got back I thought, ‘Whoa, did I make the right decision? Am I going to get work?’ But looking back I wouldn’t have my production company if I didn’t go to school and if I didn’t have my production company, I would not have the opportunity to express myself.”
On the pressure to produce and star in a project: “There's a lot of pressure when you're the lead. I'm not only the lead but my production company, HazraH Entertainment, is also involved. It's a great responsibility but one I feel I'm ready for. I've worked with some incredible stars like Will (Smith) who have really shown me what leadership, team playing and hard work are all about.”
What a girl wants: “I want to stretch the boundaries of what even I think I can do. When I'm nervous about playing a role, that's the surest sign that I have to do it because it usually means I'll have to get out of my comfort zone to do it right.” UI Lenora E. Houseworth is assistant editor of Urban Influence.
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The
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Obama and Public Officials Shouldn’t Get A Pass By Michele M. Moore
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ot since 1932 has a new American president faced more problems than President Obama did in his first year in office. President Roosevelt had to tackle the Great Depression caused by Wall Street’s recklessness. Millions of Americans were experiencing the deepest level of unemployment in the 20th century. Hitler was beginning his reign of terror in Europe. Sound too familiar? A year ago, many of the GOP leaders who helped create the mess – a $1.5 trillion debt, an unregulated financial system and billions spent in Iraq – were the first to question President Obama’s performance. In year one, he only prevented an economic collapse; began to repair our world reputation; engaged China about global warming; passed a $787 billion stimulus bill; reduced troop size in Iraq; and refocused the war on terror where Osama Bin Linden actually lives.
Despite all this, we still need to be more vocal and demand more of President Obama. We can’t give him a pass, nor should we give a pass to any local or state official. Unemployment, foreclosures and bank bonuses are too high, while access to credit and home loans is too low. The Labor Department reported last month that the African-American unemployment rate was 16.2 percent and college-educated black men are nearly twice as likely to be unemployed as their white counterparts. However, only 28 percent of the billions of dollars allocated to “jumpstart the economy” has been awarded to date.
Not too bad, considering.
Bureaucracies in state and local governments are clogging spending as much as the Feds. For example, by October 2009, of the $157 million allocated to Philadelphia, the city had received only $13 million. Out of the $13 million the city received, it’s spent only $1 million!
In early 2009, we didn’t quite comprehend how really bad things were. You never appreciate electricity until the lights won’t turn on. And America never saw the lights go completely out. We don’t appreciate the electrician who prevented the darkness.
Our voices and votes got them elected. We must demand more accountability from governors and mayors as well as our president. 2010 is about jobs. We must tell government leaders at every level who’ve not allowed monies to hit the streets that they could become jobless, too. UI
Those who say, “Where’s my bailout?” don’t mention the $116 billion in stimulus funds that provided for tax cuts to individuals and small businesses, extension of unemployment benefits or the 65 percent cash reimbursement for COBRA health care. Recovery.org reports that 640,329 jobs were saved or created by the stimulus package. But if you didn’t lose a job and gain a benefit, it’s easier to believe “the stimulus isn’t working” story. It could be much darker for millions of Americans without it.
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Michele M. Moore is a media and marketing strategist for the private and public sectors. She resides in New York City.