RANKIN AND MOORE CENTER FOR CHANGE
For the ride that wants to be seen, VISIT Sammy’s Auto Clean
Hours of Operation 9am-6pm
Monday-Saturday HAND WASH/DETAIL PACKAGES AVAILABLE Weekly Specials Monday-Ladies Day $3.00 off Platinum Wash Tuesday-Senior Citizen Day (55 and Older) $3.00 Platinum Wash Thursday-Saturday
“Choice” Vehicle Weekend Specials
Friday-College Day $3.00 Platinum Wash Ask about our Holiday Gift Certificates on Sale Now! 3541 Cleveland Avenue,Columbus, OH 4322 Phone: 614-263-2728 • Fax: 614-263-9505
Services Include: Mentoring Programs Step Up Tutoring Project Community Education Job Placement Program Spiritual Counseling Services Community Referral Services Ask about our Young Women of Virtue and Boys of Today, Men of Tomorrow Programs dedicated to young women 8-21 years of age and young men ages 10-18. These groups focus on leadership and character building, social etiquette, test taking skills, and job readiness. Participants will also participate in community outreach and community service projects.
Phone: 614-825-0469 Web: www.rankinandmoorecenter.com Rankin and Moore Center for Change 5937 Karl Road Columbus, Ohio 43229
Holiday Shoppers Issue
Page 6: Page 10: Page 11: Page 18: Page 20: Page 22:
Important Policies That Made an Impact on African Americans Diversity in Technology Trendsetters Speak Hair Care by African Americans for African Americans Black Women-The MisUnderstood Consumer The Temptations Take The Stage
Happy Holiday Urban Trendsetters…..Tis the season to re-distribute OUR wealth!
TEAM UTS
Publisher/CEO Sharon S. Gordon Urban Trendsetters, LLC
Contributing Writers Delois R. Wright Les Brown A. Christina Dunlap Mykayla Bryant Tamara Fournier
Distribution
W. Cobre’ Gordon
From The Publisher
Photography Ron Cash
Production/Graphics Sharktooth IMD, LLC Ron Cash
Promotions Margo L. Wade Tracy Taylor
Sales Inside Sales Assistants Jessica Goliday Keshia Peterson Jennifer Mulligan
Columbus
Brenda Spencer Denis Liggins Erica Cooper Leonette Robinson
Dayton/Cincinnati Tamiko Troutman Juanita Michelle Sanae Camela Douglas
Office Manager Annie Prysock
Throughout this year Urban Trendsetters has made a conscious effort to provide information to encourage and promote unity, spirituality, health and wellness as well as raise the consciousness of our reader base in regards to issues that directly or in-directly affect us. In addition we have always put major effort on economic empowerment. As we close out this year with last insertion of the 2010 UTS editorial year, we are excited to provide you with the 2010 Holiday Shopper’s guide. We want to encourage you to make a pledge to spend at least 50% or more of your holiday shopping budges with Black owned businesses. We want to ask you to be mindful and conscious of the economic success for the Black businesses. As we look forward to 2011, it is my desire that we become more involved in our own economic development not just personally but as a community. To end this year with a bang and to give you suggestions on how you can support “urbannomics” I have listed 10 ways in which you can support local black businesses throughout the holidays and beyond.
Shop Black Holiday Ideas 1: Perfume/Bath and Body Gift Sets-I am sure many of you have a friend that sells Avon, Mary Kay, Soul Purpose or a Direct Sell Product that offers makeup, fragrances and special holiday gift specials. Find their card or go to the company website and look up their information online and give them a call or just order from their individual website. Most companies offer their consultants their own business site. Visit www.sharongordons.soulpurpose.net 2: Restaurants-Go to your favorite local black-owned restaurant and ask them if they offer gift certificates for the holiday. Check out The Linden Café ad on page 4. 3: Beauty Services-Who is your gift recipient’s hair stylist or barber? Contact them and purchase a gift certificate for services. 4: Books/Music-Support the Arts of an African American Musician or Author. Go to Mocha Readers (Dayton) www.mochareaders. com or a local African American book store such as The Book Suite on Long Street in Columbus Ohio. 5: Catering Services- Again gift certificates for private dinners for two or have someone bake your favorite cake or sweet treat. Check out the Black Orchid Catering Ad on page 17. 6: Jewelry and Fashion-There are many local fashion and jewelry designers that offer many one of kind designs. 7: Cleaning Services-I don’t know anyone who would not appreciate maid services for a day. There are many black owned cleaning services, carpet cleaning services and other domestic services available. 8: Carwash and Auto Detail Cleaning locations. This is a great gift idea for cleaning off the winter woes of your car. Check out Sammy’s Ad on page 3 9: Health and Wellness-Support one the locally owned African American fitness centers. Purchase a Home Fitness DVD from Urban Trendsetters at www.beachbodycoach.com/sharongordon Donna Richardson has a fabulous fitness DVD-Body Gospel or visit Key Body Fitness / Snap Fitness Center with Demetrius Stanley / BOSS Fitness all located in Columbus. 10: If your gift recipient is a business owner, purchase advertisement for them for their business with an Urban Trendsetters gift certificate. Visit www.urbantrendsetters.com today for new 2011 Advertising Rates. Happy Shopping and Happy Holidays,
Sharon S. Gordon sharon@urbantrendsetters.com
Copyright Urban Trendsetters News Magazine is published and distibuted monthly by Urban Trendsetters Media and Communications, LLC. Our offices are located at 2572 Oakstone DriveColumbus, OH 43213. Publisher reserves the right to edit, reject or cancel any advertisement or editorial at any time. Publisher will not be responsible for checking accuracy of items submitted for publication or for more than one wrong insertion of advertising copy. All contents of this publication are copy written 2010 by Urban Trendsetters Media and Communications.
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
November2010
5
Community News The Ohio Commission on African-American Males Calling for Task Force to Solve Low African-American Male Graduation Rates in Ohio The Ohio Commission on AfricanAmerican Males (OCAAM) is calling for a statewide task force made up of Presidents of landgrant colleges and universities, Ohio
Superintendent of Public Education and the Superintendents of Ohio City Schools. This task force will be formed within the next 45 days with the mission of solving this problem within the next five to six years. OCAAM is calling for this task force because we believe it is the only solution to the issue of low black male graduation rates in the state of Ohio and we believe these are the proper people to bring to the table to solve the problem. A recent report by the Schott Foundation indicates that the African-American Male statewide graduation rate has dropped by 8% since the school year
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2005/2006. The Schott Foundation report further indicated that less than 50% of black males were graduating from high school in the state of Ohio. Samuel Gresham, Executive Director of the Ohio Commission on African-American Males states, “I am not astounded about the content of the report. We have known for years that this condition existed and we have tried with token efforts to solve this problem, never putting the proper people or resources to the table to approach this problem from a comprehensive perspective.” Further, Gresham states, “If we do not solve this problem today we are only compounding the cost of resolution tomorrow. The African-
American community can no longer afford the loss of this large a segment of its population and neither can the State of Ohio” OCAAM further supports its call for this task force by evidence of a recent report titled “Justice Reinvestment in Ohio” (Justice Center the Council of State governments) that indicates Ohio prisons are 33% above capacity and that prison population is projected to increase by 6% to accommodate it. This growth will cost the state of Ohio and additional $829 million. “Good planning and strategic approaches in our public educational system will all but eliminate this cost,” says Mr. Gresham. “It’s simply a question on how we want to treat our people and spend our money.”
Community News
Free Statewide “Medicare Check-up Days” Columbus, Ohio – The Ohio Department of Insurance’s Ohio Senior Health Insurance Information Program (OSHIIP) is traveling the state through the end of the year to help eligible Ohioans, family members and caregivers understand the different Medicare coverage options and available financial assistance, and to provide help with plan selection. OSHIIP is conducting free and unbiased “Medicare Check-up Days” in each of Ohio’s 88 counties to complement Medicare’s annual “coordinated election” period, which starts November 15 and ends December 31. Medicare coverage selected during this open enrollment period will begin January 1, 2011. “This is the time for Medicare beneficiaries to evaluate their current coverage and make the determination
if they need to shop around to assure the drugs they need are covered and the plan premium fits their budget,” said Mary Jo Hudson, Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance. “Our representatives will also explain how the $250 Part D rebate process works and about other health care reform initiatives that have strengthened Medicare by adding benefits and improving access to quality care. I strongly encourage people to attend one of the Medicare Check-up Days in their area or call our OSHIIP hotline at 1-800-686-1578 with any questions about Medicare coverage.” During the coordinated election period, people on Medicare can select one of several coverage options: 1) Original Medicare for their health coverage needs paired with a standalone Part D prescription drug plan
and or a Medicare Supplement plan; 2) a Medicare Advantage Plan, which provides comprehensive health benefits including drug coverage; 3) or determine if their existing coverage will meet their health insurance needs for the upcoming year. At each Check-Up Day event, OSHIIP representatives will discuss upcoming changes to the Medicare program, Medicare healthcare, prescription drug options and can answer any questions. OSHIIP can also help beneficiaries enroll in their Medicare coverage of choice starting November 15. Attendees are encouraged to bring a list of their prescriptions drugs, dosages and preferred pharmacy, as well as any information on pension, VA or other medical care benefits they are receiving. The Department also urges people with Medicare to watch for predatory sales practices unfortunately used by some insurance agents. They include removing someone from Original Medicare without their knowledge,
enrolling a beneficiary in a plan they can’t afford, and falsely telling a person with Medicare that their doctor or hospital accepts their plan. The Department’s Take Action: Protect Yourself from Fraud program educates consumers about fraudulent insurance practices. Ohioans can visit www.takeaction.ohio.gov for more information and a consumer guide. Ohioans can call the Department’s fraud hotline, 1-800-686-1527, to report fraud or agent misconduct. For a complete listing of available Part D and Medicare Advantage plans, visit www.medicare.gov. Those with Medicare questions and those who need enrollment assistance (starting November 15) and/or information about financial assistance programs can call OSHIIP at 1-800686-1578 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., or Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-6334227), 24 hours-a-day, seven days-aweek.
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November2010
7
The 4 Most Important Policies That Impacted African Americans in The Last 50 Years By Danielle Kwateng/De’Juan Galloway
Although many believe the country has not changed much in the past fifty years, there have been several laws that counter those arguments. From affirmative action policies to voting rights ordinances to drug laws, these 11 policies have changed and impacted the African-American community for better or for worse enacted the ban on ethnic studies in public schools that “promote the over-
American studies focused on history and literature and include information about the influence of a particular ethnic group. Horne claims that certain classes teach that whites oppressed other ethnicities in history, encouraging students to resent a particular race.
IMPACT 3
Voting Rights Act
ing Rights Act allotted millions of African-Americans to vote without obstructions at the time and still today.
IMPACT 4
Executive Order 10925
Signed by JFK in 1961, Executive Order 10925 was one of the first
IMPACT 1
Arizona Senate Bill 1070
The highly debated law allows for law enforcement to racially profile persons that appear to be an immigrant and demand on spot for verification of their citizenship. U.S. federal law requires certain aliens to register with the U.S. government and to have registration documents in their possession at all times. The Arizona Act additionally makes it a state misdemeanor crime for an alien to be in Arizona without carrying the required documents and cracks down on those sheltering, hiring, and transporting illegal aliens. Date Enacted: April 2010 Political Proponents: Gov. Jan Bewer, Senator Russell Pearce, John McCain, and Sarah Palin Effect on African-Americans: The law, which aims to identify, prosecute and deport illegal immigrants is feared to be the first of many legal steps to discriminate against those of non-Caucasian races.
IMPACT 2
Arizona House Bill 2281
Just six weeks after signing the controversial immigration laws, Arizona
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November2010
throw of the U.S. government, promote resentment of a particular race or class of people, are designed primarily for students of a particular ethnic group or advocate ethnic solidarity instead of the treatment of pupils as individuals.” According to Politico, “Brewer signed the bill Tuesday that targets Chicano studies programs currently being taught in Tucson schools. Proponents of the bill argue that the classes are designed only for students of a particular race and promote ethnic solidarity over community integration.” In addition, teachers who don’t meet new fluency standards have the option of taking classes to improve their English or will be fired if they don’t met the state standards. Date Enacted: May 2010 Proponents: Gov. Jan Brewer and state school chief Tom Horne Effect on African-Americans: The Tucson School District program offers specialized courses in African-American, Mexican-American and Native-
After non-violent marches, bloody protests and decades of discrimination, the Voting Rights Act was enacted in 1965. Pushed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the law granted African-Americans the right to vote void discriminatory voting practices. In 2006 when it was up for extension several Republican lawmakers acted to amend, delay or defeat renewal of the Act for various reasons. Nonetheless, it was reauthorized for 25 more years by Pres. George W. Bush, a year before its expiration date. Date Enacted: August 1965 (extended July 2006) Proponents: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Lyndon B. Johnson, John F. Kennedy, Rep. John Lewis, Pres. George W. Bush, Sen. Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi. Effect on African-Americans: One of the most prominent laws, breaking Jim Crow policies in the U.S. the Vot-
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
laws that required government contractors to take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed and treated equally during employment, without regard to their race, creed, color, or national origin. In 1967, President Johnson extended the order to include women. Later the law became a proponent for the creation of the Equal Opportunity Commission that enforces laws against workplace discrimination. Date Enacted: March 1961 Proponent: John F. Kennedy Effect on African-Americans: This law allowed for all minorities to get an equal opportunity for job prospects. Before the order, qualified blacks were barred from working at certain establishments without legitimate reasoning.
Doing Business In Africa Investment Profile of the Month: Angola Angola is among countries with the highest growth potential in Africa. It produces 800,000 barrels of oil daily and has estimated reserves of 10 billion barrels. It also has diamonds, 3 million hectares of arable land, many valuable minerals, and one of Africa’s largest water reserves, which gives it massive potential for producing electric energy and fishing. Now, following the advent of peace, the government wants to resume development in order to rebuild and restore Angola to former its position in the business world. Inflation has been kept in check in recent years, and there is a confirmed downturn. The government is carrying out a program to privatize stateowned companies and opening up the oil business to international firms.
Oil
The major product and source of foreign currency earnings. A modern industry, using up-todate technology, offering a high degree of profitability.
Global News
Agriculture Thanks to its extensive river system and varied environment, Angola has enormous potential for the production of tropical and subtropical crops. Diamonds Angola is a source of top quality gemstones, and the Lundas region is one of the most important diamond-producing areas in the world. Minerals It is estimated that the subsoil contains 35 of the 45 most important minerals in the world trade.
Fishing With an extensive coastline, rich in shellfish and a variety of highly-prized fish species, Angola’s fishing industry is in the process of being re-established and offers great potential.
Energy Angola has great hydro electrical potential thanks to its network of large fast-flowing rivers. Coffee Certain regions of Angola have ideal climatic conditions for the production of high quality coffee. Timber As yet unexploited forests covers 43% of Angolan territory, with particular valuable species in Cabinda. The extensive river system facilitates transport. Hotel and Tourist Industry Hundreds of hotels to be restored or constructed. Beach, River and mountain Tourism offering all types of fishing: hunting reserves and natural parks. Construction and Public Works A whole country to be rebuilt.
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
November2010
9
Champions of Diversity
Diversity in Tech: Be the Change You Want to See by Navarrow Wright
The Internet has spawned companies like Google and Facebook. Companies that have not only changed how we find and share information, but have impacted the economy with job creation and monetization opportunities for companies of all sizes on their platforms. The Internet has been a life-changing bed of opportunity for thousands of small companies and individuals. However within all this opportunity, there is a problem that doesn’t seem to be improving and isn’t being discussed — the lack of diversity in the startup technology space. It’s not a hidden issue. Reports from CB Insights reveal that less than 1% of startup founders are African American. Minorities are consuming media at an astounding rate, but they are not involved in the product creation process. The excuse that minorities just take longer to adapt to technology was one of the justifications given when the term “digital divide” was coined by Larry Irving. In an effort to show we’ve made some progress, it’s been upgraded to “digtal lag.” Other reports such as the Pew study show that less that 50% of African Americans and slightly over 50% of Hispanics have adopted broadband Internet at home. This means that minority youth are not growing up with the Internet in their home or developing the comfort and confidence with the technology necessary to make
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technology an attainable career choice. They also don’t have access to all of the free online learning tools available. I believe there are things that all sides can do to help that can benefit everyone — from VCs and angel investors, startups both large and small, even the government. As a community we need to ask ourselves, “What have I done to better position myself?” I do it and I’m not always happy with the answer. You want to be involved in the tech entrepreneurial space. Why not go to work at a startup to gain the experience and the relationships you can use when you launch your own? You’re aware of the skills these companies are looking for. What have you done to increase your skills in these areas? Ultimately, we can either sit back and the let the gap widen or we can make a move to cross it. We have a value proposition problem in our youth today. They
are not looking at the tech world as a viable career path. If we’re going to institute change, we have to change our own thinking about getting involved in tech. Many of you who read this blog are entrepreneurs and want to learn how to grow your business, raise capital and get your product built. You are looking in every direction except one: yourself. Many startups stall because they can’t find that technical c0-founder. If you want to start a company and can’t find one then maybe you should become one. If there are two of you looking build a business then one of you bite the bullet and handle the tech side of things. Lastly, if you are in the industry, there are a bunch of people in NY and the Valley who have ideas and possible investors but need a tech founder. There are ways to gain entry into the industry if we are willing to do the work.
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
We owe it not only to ourselves but the world. So many great ideas never see the light of day because we don’t push hard enough to execute them. There are kids out there looking for someone to show them a different way. We have the opportunity to do that. We can blame the current startup ecosystem for not making it easy for us. We can blame the government for not making sure they focus on the technology issues that truly affect us. We could do that, but I’m suggesting something different. Let’s achieve success in spite of the obstacles. All it takes is for us to make the decision to learn as much as possible and then do what we do best, break barriers. In the worlds of P. Diddy and B.I.G. “We can’t change the world unless we change ourselves.” I’m ready to start. Are you with me?
Trendsetters Speak
Black opponents of pot legalization are lost in the weeds
jobs and income for workers and growers, and it’s been that way for decades.
It was a surreal scene at the Sacramento press conference called by Bishop Ron Allen and a host of other black ministers and faith leaders last July. They blasted the California NAACP for very publicly and vigorously calling for passage of Proposition 19. The initiative would legalize marijuana possession, cultivation and sale for personal use for those 21 and older.
Huffman raised the ante in the NAACP’s bold move to back pot legalization. She branded it a civil rights issue. That’s not a stretch. Incarcerating thousands of pot users, mostly black and Latino, maintains and reinforces the racially discriminatory character of the drug laws and its enforcement. This strikes directly to the heart of civil rights and equal protection, or lack thereof, under the law. This is a legitimate concern of civil rights organizations and does not betray the mandate of the NAACP which is as it always has been to fight against racial discrimination in any form.
The surreal part of the press conference was that Allen denounced the California NAACP and then in practically the next breath announced that he was a member of the NAACP. In NAACP member Allen’s eyes, the NAACP and especially its California branch president Alice Huffman, who’s been the vocal point person in support of the pot initiative, had badly betrayed the organization’s mandate, “good name” and membership. But had it? Allen didn’t really say why it was the wrong thing to do to back the initiative other than that supporting legalization discredited the organization. Most opponents of 19 trot out the standard argument that it will encourage wider drug use, pose a safety hazard to drivers and in the workplace, and would directly clash with federal law. Attorney General Eric Holder has already said that passing Proposition 19 will have no affect on federal enforcement. That the feds will still vigorously enforce the anti-marijuana drug laws. But Huffman and the NAACP have made a compelling case for scrapping the antimarijuana laws. The strongest of all is that enforcing the marijuana laws as all other drug laws hits hardest at African-Americans. The California Drug Policy Alliance examined marijuana possession arrest figures in 25 California cites between 2006 and 2008 and found that blacks are arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned for marijuana possession in far disproportionate numbers to whites. Studies of arrests in other states almost certainly would show similar racial disparities. The irony is that law enforcement groups which nearly unanimously oppose Proposition 19 do not dispute the racially disproportionate
By Earl Ofari Hutchinson
There’s one more compelling point that drove Huffman and the California NAACP to aggressively lobby for Prop 19’s passage. Enforcement is an enormous drain on tax dollars and resources. Arresting and prosecuting thousands of recreational marijuana users takes time and costs money, time and money that could be used more effectively battling the drug and gang cartels and kingpins. They should be the exclusive focus of law enforcement’s time, energy, and resources. But that’s a far tougher nut to crack.
arrest figures. They say it’s simply a matter of better “police professionalism” to insure fairness in drug law enforcement. That’s little comfort to the thousands of African-Americans jailed for use of pot when legions of white businesspersons, athletes, entertainment figures, and even some politicians (including an expresident) have openly admitted and in some cases boasted about their use of pot not only for recreational purposes but also for cultivation and sale. As for how much actual medical damage to individuals and to public safety, the use of pot is, the medical jury is way out on that one. There is little conclusive evidence to show that marijuana use is any more of a health risk than alcohol and tobacco
use, and much evidence that it’s less of a health risk. The death toll from chronic smoking and alcoholism numbers in the thousands. Yet these drugs and they are drugs are house hold staples, are regulated, taxed, and provide thousands of
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
It’s just easier and simpler to cuff a petty non-white offender, pad the arrest stats, and sell the public on the notion that law enforcement is doing its job and society is protected by cracking down on drug use and users. This is a farce, and the NAACP was right to say so. Polls show that the Proposition after getting initial strong support has lost ground, with the likelihood that it will lose. That’s fine of course with Bishop Allen, and the conservative black ministers who oppose the NAACP on legalization. They will likely continue to hound the NAACP to dump Huffman. Whether or not Prop 19 passes, the disgraceful reality is that blacks suffer from discriminatory drug law enforcement. That’s the smoking truth.
November2010
11
Young &Trendy Let’s Move With First Lady Michelle Obama, Focuses on the First Lady’s Effort to End Childhood Obesity
-- The one-hour special includes TV One’s two-time NAACP Image Award-winner Roland Martin’s White House interview with the First Lady, plus interviews with the U.S. Surgeon General and features on community members and organizations that are engaged in the fight – First Lady Michelle Obama talks with TV One’s Roland Martin about her initiative to end childhood obesity Friday at 10 PM ET on TV One in “Let’s Move with First Lady Michelle Obama” Silver Spring, MD (BlackNews.com) -- First Lady Michelle Obama brings her personal effort to fight childhood obesity to TV One Friday, Oct. 29 at 10 PM ET with the premiere of the TV One original special, Let’s Move with First Lady Michelle Obama.
In a candid and enlightening interview with TV One’s Washington Watch host Roland Martin that takes place on the White House grounds and by her handplanted vegetable garden, First Lady Michelle Obama discusses the components of her signature initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation and the issues and challenges involved. The First Lady tells Martin about the genesis of her awareness of the issue, which began with her own family’s lifestyle, and advice and a cautionary word from her own children’s pediatrician. “I thought that, if I don’t realize that my habits and our cultural transitions are affecting our children, then where is everybody else on this issue?” Mrs. Obama says. “And having conversations across the country, [I was] finding that more families are struggling with this issue, not realizing the impact that it’s having, particularly on the African American community -- one in three kids in this country is overweight or obese, but in our community, 40 percent of our
kids are overweight or obese.” The First Lady stresses the importance of attacking the problem on multiple fronts – at home, at school and in the community. “The truth is, is that the crisis that we’re facing around childhood obesity hits everything,” she says. It’s about education, what our kids are learning about nutrition in the schools, the quality of the food in the schools. It’s about our neighborhood development. How are neighborhoods designed? Are our kids -- do they have access to safe places to play? Are we structuring communities in a way that facilitate healthy living? Are there accessible and affordable healthy foods in our communities? And it’s about economic opportunity as well because if folks can’t afford to put food on the table, then they’re eating what they can.” The program also features an interview with the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Regina Benjamin. Additionally, Martin will take viewers to River Terrace Elementary School in Washington, DC, a school which the First Lady has visited and which is working hard to encourage student physical activity and healthy eating habits. Viewers will also meet Will Allen, an urban farmer in Milwaukee who teaches inner city residents to garden and grow healthy
food in the city; visit a store that is helping to erase the “food desert” in Philadelphia, and learn about organizations that are engaged in the fight against childhood obesity. “All our folks didn’t fight this hard for us to get to this point to find that the biggest threat to our children today could be their own health,” the First Lady says. “...This is a real issue.” “We’ve got so much more work to do on all the other hard issues that we’ve got to be healthy. We’ve got to be ready to work, and this generation has to be prepared physically and mentally for that challenge. And this is in our power. This is something we can control. There are barriers for sure, but in terms of what we put into our bodies and how we move, that’s on us -- if we have the information and the support.” The special repeats at 1 AM ET. Martin, host and managing editor of TV One’s Washington Watch with Roland Martin and also a CNN contributor and Tom Joyner Morning Show analyst, has won NAACP Image Awards for TV One interviews conducted with President Barack Obama, then a senator and Presidential candidate in 2007, and First Lady Michelle Obama, on the eve of the Democratic convention in 2008.
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November2010
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
Education
Are HBCU’s Still Relevant I am a proud graduate of a Historically Black University. As a haphazard high school senior in the Philadelphia Public School system, I can tell you that the colleges and universities weren’t banging down my door to recruit me. Nor did I think that college was an option for me. Yet with the guidance of my father and my school counselor, who helped me to devise a great college application, I somehow made it to the hollow halls of Virginia Union University. Because of my inability to write complete structure sentence – a problem that I admittedly still have today – and disgraceful grammar, a four-year journalism program turned into five years (I was in remedial classes in my first year to undo what had been done by my public school experience). Many summers, I took courses both at VUU and at the community college just to keep up with my fellow classmates. Despite being on a first name basis with the University’s vice-president of Financial Affairs, who worked out agreements with me every semester on how I would cover the gap in federal financial aid funding, I still hung in there. And in 2000, my mother and father were in the stands, smiling proudly, as I walked across the stage to accept my hard-earned degree. For my mother it was especially emotional considering that I would be the first person on her immediate side of the clan, whom would graduate college. Two years later, my mother became the second, receiving not only her bachelor’s
degree but her master’s in social work in an accredited degree program through Lincoln University, another historically Black university. A story like mines recounts a familiar theme in the fabric of a typical HBCU student. We weren’t all middle-class. We didn’t have the same educational opportunities in secondary schools and in some cases, were seen as academic throwaways. Yet given the opportunity, many of us excelled and continued the legacy of what it means to be a HBCU graduate. However, ever since
President Obama signed into executive order the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which allocated $20.5 million for repair, renovation, construction and acquisition of HBCU educational facilities and $279 million in new loans in 2011 to HBCUs, some in the mainstream have been tripping over themselves to denounce, if not trash the importance of HBCUs. Like Jason L. Riley, who in the Wall Street Journal (of all places) took to suggesting that HBCUs are academically inferior and would be better off if turned into community colleges or for-profit online schools such as the University of Phoenix. And then there is Richard Vedder, an Ohio University professor, who recently wrote that HBCUs were “the embarrassment of the nation,” and said that in a country,
which prides itself on equality of opportunity and has a black president, elected largely with the white vote, there really is no need for a historically black college or university to exist. It never ceases to amaze me the gall of some of these critics, who feel the need to question the relevance of HBCUs while not examining why a student may choose a HBCU over other institutions. While HBCUs represent only 4 percent of all 4-year institutions, these institutions have managed to produce 21 percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded to African-Americans. Moreover, the top eight colleges producing AfricanAmericans, who went on to get PhDs. in science and engineering over the previous decade were historically black colleges and universities. That’s not to say that many HBCUs do not have their own struggles, particularly in the area of improving graduation rates. Last year, the Associated Press analyzed government data on the 83 federally designated four-year HBCUs and found that just 37 percent of their black students finished a degree within six years. When compared to the graduation nationally, the average six-year graduation rate for all students is 57 percent and the graduation rate for black students is somewhere between 20 to 40 percent. It should also be noted that HBCUs also educate a hugely disproportionate share of low-income students and have managed to do so with half of the endowment of larger universities. When
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
compared to other colleges defined by the government as “low-income serving,” HBCU graduation rates are just a few points lower. Numbers aside, what makes HBCUs still relevant for many black students is its ability to provide an unrivaled social and cultural environment to accompany its academic experience. Despite -and in lieu of – Riley and Vedder’s assertions, we don’t live in the post-racial America. And regardless of the prestige often accompanied with many HWCUs (that is historically white colleges and universities), they often do not provide the support, both academically and culturally to its Black students. So while you may have a degree with a lot of clout in the elitist circles, it often meant learning from a bias curriculum, which intentionally left you out, and graduating with no real sense of who you are or where you came from. Yet all the rebuttals in the world will not halt the not-so-subtle racial undertones of these “critiques” of HBCUs – with the exception of Ralph Jones Jr., a 16 year old academic prodigy, who has chosen the historically Black Florida A&M University to fulfill his higher education aspirations. By choosing FAMU over the likes of Harvard, Yale and Cornell, Jones has declared to the likes of Riley, Vedder and the rest of the critics that an HBCU is better choice for him than anything that a HWCU has to offer.
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Journey Black Christian leaders lend varied perspectives of faith and community
Different perspectives of faith in black churches, as highlighted by Christian religious leaders in an ongoing television series, reveal the widespread influence of Christianity on the personal and communal lives of African Americans. CNN, through their series “The Black Pulpit,” featured five distinguished church leaders who said that Christianity is a large part of African-American tradition, by citing the role it played in the areas of courage, fortitude, education, finances and freedom. Courage, fortitude despite odds
Dr. C. Vanessa White, a Catholic lay leader, heads a program that grooms African-American Catholics for lay church ministry. According to White, the church is a source of courage amid great odds, CNN said. White said, “What has helped black Catholics survive in the midst of almost insurmountable odds is a spirituality that bridges both our African-American experience and our Catholic faith,” according to CNN. Another CNN documentary, “Almighty Debt,” featured Rev. DeForest “Buster” Soaries Jr., senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in New Jersey, who said faith has given AfricanAmericans the fortitude to succeed. Soaries told CNN, “What is irrefutable is that without a deep and authentic faith and a passion for the institutional development of that faith, AfricanAmericans could have never sustained the fortitude necessary to survive and succeed in the American experience.”
The CNN documentary noted that beyond slavery, African Americans have been through history denied loans, prevented from purchasing real estate in some locations and undergone other forms of discrimination, according to the Daily News. CNN’s Soledad O’Brien said, “The black church is different. It’s always offered something different to its churchgoers. It’s always offered leadership, it’s offered jobs, food and clothing. I think people go to church expecting a message that looks toward – not just spiritually – bettering themselves,” the Daily News reported. Benefits all, regardless of race The church also played a leading role in furthering the education of African Americans, with ripple effects that benefited all Americans regardless of race, Michael Lomax, CEO of the United Negro College Fund told CNN. CNN quoted Lomax saying, “I vividly remember being introduced to the historic role churches played in black education.
… The churches’ investment in black education paid dividends, not only to the students, but also for America.” Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter’s House in Dallas said one should be both spiritual and practical. A bestselling author, entrepreneur, philanthropist and senior pastor of the 30,000-member church, Jakes said, “I’ve always had one foot in both the practical and the spiritual worlds. Prayer is good, but you also have to be able to manage your checkbook.” Rev. Jesse Jackson noted the church’s leadership role in issues of rights and freedom among the African-American community, telling CNN, “My faith tradition has always been inextricably bound with the tradition of the civil rights movement. The blood, sweat and tears of ‘the movement’ have run through my life; they touched and entangled me with an indelible spirit of never giving up, always trying to serve.”
www.yoursisterfriends.com 14
November2010
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
STRESSED FOR THE
HOLIDAYS? The holidays are approaching and along with the parties, the buying of gifts, visiting relatives comes the stress that these things can bring. We all are thankful for less stress even when it is not the holidays. So what can we do about stress to help us get through the holidays and our lives so that we thrive? The first thing in dealing with stress is knowing what it is and how it can affect us, emotionally, physically and socially. What is stress and what are some of the most common causes of stress? What is Stress? Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger. But this can also be a bad thing, if their stress is in response to something emotional and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength. One thing to remember about stress is that stress is viewed differently by different people. So what is stressful to you may not be stressful to another person. Knowing that goes a long way in helping us understand why a minor incident to us may be a big deal to some one else. We can learn both a lot about how to deal with our stress and others if we keep this in mind. Many times we perceive some thing to be a bad thing, but we may in reality if we look at things more closely we may be over stating how bad it is. Many different things can cause stress, from physical danger to emotional. Identifying what may be causing you stress is often the first step in learning how to better deal with your stress. Some of the most common sources of stress are: Survival Stress - When you are
afraid that someone or something may physically hurt you, your body naturally responds with a burst of energy so that you will be better able to survive the dangerous situation or escape it all together. This is survival stress. Internal Stress - Have you ever caught yourself worrying about things you can do nothing about or worrying for no reason at all? This is internal stress and it is one of the most important kinds of stress to understand and manage. Internal stress is when people make themselves stressed. This often happens when we worry about things we can’t control or put ourselves in situations we know will cause us stress. Some people become addicted to the kind of hurried, tense, lifestyle that results from being under stress. They even look for stressful situations and feel stress about things that aren’t stressful. Environmental Stress - This is a response to things around you that cause stress, such as noise, crowding, and pressure from work or family. Identifying these environmental stresses and learning to avoid them or deal with them will help lower your stress level. Fatigue and Overwork - This kind of stress builds up over a long time and can take a hard toll on your body. It can be caused by working too much or too hard at your job, school, or home. It can also be caused by not knowing how to manage your time well or how to take time out for rest and relaxation. This can be one of the hardest kind of stress to avoid because many people feel this is out of their control. Some of the signs of stress are irritability or short temper, agitation or feeling overwhelmed and memory problems, aches and pains rapid heartbeats, insomnia, and using procrastinating and neglecting behaviors. It is very important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of stress because it
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November2010
15
Fit & Trendy Excellence in Healthcare banquet & the Cheryl boyce excellence in healthcare awards
Save the Date! November 9, 2010 6:00 pm Cheryl Boyce The Community Property Development Corporation, an affiliate of St. Paul A.M.E. Church, will present the Third Annual Excellence in Healthcare Banquet featuring the Cheryl Boyce Excellence in Healthcare Awards. This event will be held on November 9, 2010 from 6pm-8pm at the Gateway Health and Wellness Center, 112 Jefferson Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43215. The keynote Speaker will be Dr. Robert S.D. Higgins, M.D. and new Director, Comprehensive Transplant Center and Chief, Division of Cardiac Surgery, at The Ohio State University Medical Center. He will speak on “The Metabolic Syndrome – How OBESITY, DIABETES and CARDIOVASCULAR problems Plague the Black Community.” The Cheryl Boyce Excellence in Healthcare Awards, (named after Cheryl Boyce, Executive Director of the Ohio Commission on Minority Health,) recognizes those individuals within our community who demonstrate outstanding commitment and advocacy for minority health. The 2010 recipients are: Mr. Tim Anderson – Education, Dr.
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Dr. Robert S.D. Higgins, M.D. Willie C. Glover – Mental Health, Dr. Charles Noble Jr. – Internal Medicine, Ms. Wanda Dillard – Public Health, Ms. Karen Morrison – Advocacy, Dr. William Washington – Family Medicine, and The Sylvia Walker Community Service Award will be presented to the Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority (Roberta Glover). Dr. Wilburn Weddington and Dr. Wilbur Blount (posthumously) will receive the Pioneer Awards. • Tickets are $50.00 each and Students/Seniors $30.00 each Corporate sponsorships and group tickets are still available. • For ticket information please contact the Gateway Health and Wellness Center at (614) 223-0250 or nbretz@ thegatewaycenter.info • The Excellence in Healthcare Banquet & Awards is scheduled for Tuesday November 9, 2010 at the beautiful Gateway Health and Wellness Center. Located at 112 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus, OH 43215.
The Community Property Development Corporation presents The 3rd Annual Excellence in Healthcare Banquet & Cheryl Boyce Excellence in Healthcare Awards Featuring Keynote Speaker Dr. Robert S.D. Higgins, M.D., MSHA New Medical Research Chair, Director, Comprehensive Transplant Center Chief, Division of Cardiac Surgery The Ohio State University Medical Center
Topic: The Metabolic Syndrome – How OBESITY, DIABETES and CARDIOVASCULAR problems plague the Black community. Gateway Health and Wellness Center 112 Jefferson Avenue, Columbus Ohio 43215
Tickets: $50. Students and Seniors: $30. Corporate sponsorships and group tickets available (614) 223-0253 or email nbretz@thegatewaycenter.info
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
Trendy Palette
Tailgating Goes Gourmet
-Many of today’s most avid tailgaters are upping their grilling game this season. In fact, according to the 2010 Weber Tailgating Study, an impressive 50 percent of all tailgate cooks consider themselves to be either gourmet grillers (22 percent) or between a gourmet and a basic griller (28 percent). In addition, gourmet grillers are more likely to host a tailgate party (46 percent) than others surveyed. “Just because you are in a parking lot doesn’t mean you can’t prepare a four-star meal,” says Jamie Purviance, a 2010 James Beard Award Nominee and New York Times best-selling cookbook author of “Weber’s Way to Grill.” “Start with foods that are portable and crowd pleasing yet can be taken to a gourmet level by using fresh ingredients and homemade sauces—which are great because they can be made in advance.” Go gourmet at your next tailgate party with this recipe. Argentine Beef Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce Serves: 4 to 6 Prep time: 20 minutes WAY TO GRILL: direct high heat (450° to 550° F) GRILLING TIME: 6 to 8 minutes SPECIAL EQUIPMENT: bamboo skewers, soaked in water for at least 30 minutes Sauce 1 cup fresh Italian parsley, leaves and tender stems ½ cup fresh basil leaves ¼ cup finely chopped white onion, rinsed ¼ cup finely chopped carrot 1 medium garlic clove ½ teaspoon kosher salt 6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 tablespoons rice vinegar Rub 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
½ teaspoon paprika ½ teaspoon ground coriander ½ teaspoon ground cumin ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 pounds top sirloin, 1 to 1¼ inches thick, cut into 1-inch cubes Extra-virgin olive oil 18 large cherry tomatoes 1. In a food processor or blender, finely chop the parsley, basil, onion, carrot, garlic and salt. With the machine running, add the oil and vinegar in a steady stream, using just enough oil to create a fairly thick sauce. 2. In a small bowl, mix the dry rub ingredients. 3. Place the meat cubes in a large bowl. Lightly coat the meat with oil and then season with the rub, stirring to coat the meat evenly. Allow the meat to stand at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes before grilling. Prepare the grill for direct cooking over high heat. 4. Thread the meat and tomatoes alternately onto skewers. Brush the cooking grates clean. Grill the skewers over direct high heat, with the lid closed as much as possible, until cooked to your desired doneness, 6 to 8 minutes for medium-rare, turning occasionally. Serve warm with the sauce on the side or drizzled over the top. Cooking Tip: Way to Cube Top Sirloin When making kebabs, the goal is to create cubes the same size and thickness so they all cook at the same
rate. 1. To begin, choose an even piece of sirloin at least 1 inch thick. 2. Cut the sirloin down the middle and side to side to make 1-inch cubes. 3. With so many flat sides, it will be simple to lightly char and flavor the surface of the meat. 4. Some cubes will end up smaller than others; separate small cubes and put them on the same skewer(s) and grill them for a shorter time. For a free copy of Weber’s newest downloadable booklet with tailgating tips and gourmet recipes, go to www.weber.com/grillout/Downloads.aspx. Argentine Beef Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce can make you a tailgating MVP.
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
November2010
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Business
6 African-American Entrepreneurs In
The Black Hair Care Business It’s no secret: the black hair care industry is big business. Very big business. According to marketing research company Mintel, sales of black hair care products in 2008 exceeded $165 million. Although a third of those sales went to corporate conglomerates like L’Oreal and Alberto Culver, who own many ethnic product lines from SoftSheen Carson to Mizani, there are still many independent AfricanAmerican players in the hair product game. From old businesses like S-Curl manufacturer Luster Inc. to new product lines like Kimble Hair Care Systems, black entrepreneurs are thriving. Here, we included a list of 10 independently, black owned businesses that continue to fuel the ever-evolving market for black hair care products.
has wracked up many accolades for their savvy entrepreneurship and hair treatments. The sisters have also opened up a salon in New York city to cater to their curly haired fans.
Kimberly Kimble – Kimble
Hair Care Systems
Where style and healthy hair maintenance collide you will find Kimble Hair Care Systems. The company is led by founder celebrity stylist Kimberly Kimble, a third generation hair dresser turned entrepreneur. While her high performing hair solutions can be bought individually, she offers haircare “systems” of complimentary treatments to get hair to its absolute best. The Los Angeles based stylist Miko and Titi Branch – Miss made a name for herself in the Jessie’s Original Hollywood scene as the personal hair Behind Miss Jessie’s hair products are stylist for Beyonce and also works founders Miko and Titi Branch. The with other celebrities like Mary J. sisters launched their company out of Blige and Kerry Washington. With a Brooklyn brownstone and it’s been star backing for her line of “yummy” uphill ever since. Their unique blends smelling products that incorporate of puddings and cremes are primarily avocado, peppermint oils and ginger, targeted to those gals looking to Kimble will be sure to be on the scene enhance their curls and waves. These for a very long time. type of products were barely present on the market. The sisters realized this DeShawn Bullard – market opportunity by drawing from NouriTress their challenges with their own hair Like so many stylists, Atlanta-based and from their experiences with “hair cosmetologist DeShawn Bullard saw recipes” learned from their paternal the types of issues experienced by grandmother, Miss Jessie. The duo stressed out tresses like breakage and
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by R. Asmerom and De’Juan Galloway
thinning. It’s not only the years of chemicals, coloring, weaves and glue that affects hair growth; it’s bad eating habits, fast food, poor circulation and many times, it’s illness,” she once stated. Bullard launched her company by introducing the NouriTress Perfect Hair Vitamin pack in 1998. Today, Nouritress continues to offer different vitamin supplements for men and women as well as a line of vitaminenriched products including shampoo, conditioner, and styling products. The Tuskegee University grad worked as a computer programmer for 7 years before she stepped out and pursued her passion for hair care. Now that’s true entrepreneurship. Jane Carter – Jane Carter Solutions Like many of the listed product brands, Jane Carter Solutions was created in 2006 out of frustration for
the lack of market presence for certain hair products. Jane Carter channeled her frustration into creating a line of wholly natural haircare treatments. Thinking outside of the box, Carter uses ingredients such as essential oils from rosemary, grapefruit and ylang ylang to treat a variety of hair conditions. Her organically created and transforming formulas are available nationwide and through Jane Carter’s Solutions virtual store. Buying into the solutions is a very wide consumer base and those responsible for style behind the glossy pages of publications. The line is a beauty editor’s favorite, as it
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has appeared in Essence, Ebony and Paper magazines. Carter’s products positions the hair mogul as one of the first African-American, eco-friendly entrepreneurs in beauty.
Taliah Waajid – Black Earth Products
Taliah Waajid is passionate about natural hair. Having opened up her first hair braiding and natural hair salon in Harlem in 1988, she eventually moved to Atlanta and founded her company Braids, Weaves & Things in 1991 from which spawned Black Earth Products. The natural line of products include products made specifically for children. Besides Black Earth Products, Waajid also has a salon and is an active educator of natural hair care, offering seminars and workshops. Her products are offered in select Target and CVS stores.
Kim Etheredge and Wendi Levy – Mixed Chicks
It may seem that the Mixed Chicks brand jumped onto the scene overnight but founders Kim Etheredge and Wendi Levy have been hashing out their grand scheme to target the curly locks and frizzy manes of ethnic chicks for a few years now. The biracial duo (both of black and white heritage) invested $10,000 to initially develop the shampoo and -Continued on page 22
Travel trends Africa United reveals the other side of a continent A new movie starring five young unknowns is tipped to match the success of Slumdog Millionaire Tracy McVeigh and Vanessa Thorpe
Africa United: left to right, Foreman George (Yves Desenge), Beatrice Kayenzi (Sanu Joanita Kintu), Fabrice Kabera (Roger Nsengiyumva), Celeste (Sherrie Silver), Dudu Kayenzi (Eriya Ndayambaje). Photograph: Nick Wall/Africa United Among the recent flurry of mainstream films set in Africa there has been an inescapable common thread.
Blood Diamond, The Last King of Scotland, Shooting Dogs and The Constant Gardener: all well-received, all acclaimed, and all with white protagonists heroically engaging with a dangerous and savage continent. That pattern may be about to change. Later this month five young, unknown Africans will walk up the red carpet in London’s Leicester Square to the British premiere of a film which discards the usual Hollywood stereotypes. Africa United, dubbed “the rookies’ project” by its makers, features a cast of children aged 11 to 15 who had never acted before; a writer producing his first script and a director making her first feature film. It has already been compared favourably to Slumdog Millionaire, and indeed,
is being distributed by Pathe, the company behind Danny Boyle’s Oscar winner. The former Sudanese child soldier turned rap star Emmanuel Jal, who plays a villain, is the only name audiences may recognise, and for him it was an acting first. Africa United is a road movie about five children who travel 3,000 miles to reach the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Their backgrounds are as diverse as the continent – Fabrice, a middle-class football protégé; Dudu, a Rwandan Aids orphan with a true sense of determination; Beatrice, his God-loving and gentle little sister; Celeste, a proud teenage sex worker; and Foreman George, a traumatised former child soldier from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The early screenings have seen rapturous acclaim for the performances, and at the Toronto Film Festival last month it won a standing ovation. “That was an insane moment and a big relief,” said director Debs Gardner-Paterson. But it was the timing of Africa United, coming after the huge success of the 2010 World Cup, amid signs of growth and peace across many of the continent’s nations, that made it so important, said Gardner-Paterson. “There’s a whole side to Africa that is just not being seen. It’s such a trick to pull off, but what we hoped was to make a family film that doesn’t avoid that side of things. Show kids here that there are kids like you in other situations who are incredible human beings. There are so many good stories and so many great people, entrepreneurial, clever, joyful. There is so much ingenuity and creativity, it’s outrageous. “My cousin, who is 14, read the script and said ‘You’ve got it wrong, this kid has a mobile phone, you don’t get that in Africa’, and I was like, yes you do, and that’s the point. There’s a whole side of Africa that you just don’t see.” Her mother was raised in Rwanda and Gardner-Paterson was determined
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
to shoot in the country, along with scenes filmed in South Africa and Burundi. Africa United became a British-Rwandan co-production. “The scenery is off the chart, amazing, and I felt it was morally wrong to just settle for filming the whole thing in South Africa because it was easier,” she said. The impetus for Africa United came from Eric Kabera, a Rwandan raised in a refugee camp in Congo, who has made himself a driving force in developing east African film. For him, too, the timing for such an uplifting film was right. “I go to film festivals and people say, ‘Here comes the genocide guy,’ because my work has focused so much on that period, but now it is time to show different stories from Africa. There is more here than civil war. Let’s not brush over the issues but let’s not ignore the hope. This film is a transit point for people to start looking differently, through the eyes of children, at Africa. The football is just a metaphor, but I hope it will unleash many more stories from the continent.” But not all stories about Africa are found in Africa. One of the most remarkable twists the production of the film took was the search for the boy who would play Fabrice. The role required remarkable footballing skills along with the acting. And with just five weeks to go before shooting began, the original choice pulled out. Enter the African migrant. Producer Mark Blaney was in Norwich for Christmas when his mother-in-law handed him a newspaper cutting. A local boy whose mother had fled the 1994 genocide in Rwanda was trying out for Norwich City. “It was a complete fluke. Luckily there weren’t too many Rwandan surnames in the Norwich phone book,” said Roger Nsengiyumva, 16. His mother Illuminée had been a bride for only two days when violence -Continued on page 22 - -
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The Black Female: Missunderstood Super Consumer By Steven Barboza 20
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lack females are a commanding force in the U.S. economy. Yet for all their economic prowess, their needs and preferences remain a mystery in boardrooms and brand strategy sessions. For lack of knowing what moves these super-consumers, many marketers resort to a one-message-fits-all-consumers approach that’s often unsuitable for black females. “Most advertisers just don’t get us,” said Sarah Lattimer, president and CEO of Lattimer Communications, an advertising agency specializing in the African American female market. “They don’t understand us. They don’t know how to sell to us, how to talk to us. They don’t know what makes us make the decisions to purchase or not to purchase their products.” The vast majority of African-American consumer spending is done by females. Some marketers say 85 cents of every $1 spent by blacks last year was spent at the influence of black females. Others estimate black female buying power at upwards of $565 billion last year alone. Either way, the buying habits of this group of consumers could well decide the fortunes of many of the world’s largest corporations. And yet, many companies, unsure of how to target the market, are stumbling in their efforts to reach black women. In effect, a large number of the nation’s 22 million black females are ineffectively served – and corporations are leaving untold billions of dollars in potential profits on the table. “I’ll never forget it: one black woman told me that no matter how much Pantene she uses, she will never be able to fling her hair around like the [white] women in those TV commercials,” said Lattimer, relaying the frustration of a participant in a national study of black female consumers. Lattimer added, “There are certain industries that do a terrible job – automotive, financial services, health care, travel. I don’t think they think [black females] have money or that we’re traveling.” The Lattimer Communciations study found that 86% of black females believe advertisers need to do a better job understanding and marketing to them. The buying power of the nation’s 40 million African-Americans, some 13% of the U.S. population, was $910 billion last year, according to the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Their economic muscle is mightier than the gross domestic product of Russia or India. Despite feeling slighted by marketers, African-
American females – who comprise 55% of the black population, compared to 52% females in the overall U.S. population – are much more influential than the general f e m a l e population in consumer
transactions. In fact, black females make the lion’s share of buying decisions among AfricanAmericans. “Black women make 85% of the brand purchasing decisions of black consumers,” said Miriam Muléy, CEO of the 85% Niche, a marketing consulting firm that focuses on women and women of color as key consumers. The general population of females make 62% of brand-buying decisions, according to other researchers. Muléy cited RL Polk and Yankelovich studies pointing out that black women account for 58% of all new cars and trucks purchased by African Americans, compared to 44% of women in the general population; that black women spend $57 billion on food items per year, and that black females spend 30% more than the general market on personal/beauty products. Facial skin-care products have grown to an estimated $20 billion category worldwide. A Yankelovich study conducted for a women’s marketing conference found that 59% of women
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
feel misunderstood by food marketers, 66% by health care providers, 74% by automotive marketers, and 84% by investment marketers. Being misunderstood only leads to being underserved. It’s tough for women to find jeans that hug their curves properly, or for women to get financial advice without feeling
patronized, researchers note. This is especially sad, considering U.S. females spend $5 trillion a year. As a global economic force, women move world markets. They spend $20 trillion a year, and represent the world’s largest market opportunity, one that is more than twice the size of China and India combined, according to Michael J. Silverstein, senior partner in the Boston Consulting Group’s Chicago office and co-author of “Women Want More,” a book about the female economy. Women buy the vast bulk of goods,” Silverstein said. “They totally dominate the purchases of food, clothing, housing, vacations, cars. They are smart shoppers who think carefully about every dollar they spend. They are looking for goods and services that deliver technical, functional and emotional benefits.” He added: “I would say women in general are not served well in many segments. A few drug companies target black women, but it is largely a
missed market. “The financial services companies are run by men and serve men best. They do not have sales forces that concentrate energy on women. There are no cars designed with the ergonomics of women in mind, or with places for pocketbooks.” Cosmetics companies, however, have discovered the black female market. Lattimer singled out Cover Girl as for its effective targeting of black women. “They’re doing just a great job utilizing Queen Latifah to promote Cover Girl products. African-American women get it – and they like it.” She added: “The health care industry needs to do a better job of educating women on what it is that they need to do to remain healthy, because in many instances, African-Americans think of their bodies differently than white women do. Curves are a sign of beauty in the black community. We may be a little heavier but we don’t necessarily think of that as being unhealthy. And how do we begin to educate mothers so that they understand the importance of health care and become role models for their families?” Part of the reason why women are not targeted with tailored messages may well be because only 3% of creative directors at ad agencies are women, according to Stephanie Holland, executive creative director of Holland + Holland Advertising. Lattimer added that there are also few female strategists, brand planners, and media people employed by agencies, and that agencies and advertisers “don’t go the extra step or hire the people who know the [female] segment. A lot of general market agencies think that their general market work will work in the African-American community, and very often it does not,” she said. Marketing to African-Americans is an industry in itself. Many independent black market research, advertising and communications firms – among them the Hunter-Miller Group, based in Chicago, and Lattimer Communications, located in Atlanta – are trying to school major corporations on how to reach black consumers. Extensive research has been done on marketing to women, but with the possible exception of the cosmetics industry, marketing to black women is a nascent field, in part because African-American women are misunderstood. “Black women are definitely among the more undervalued consumer groups,” said Pepper Miller, president of the Hunter-Miller Group, a market research and consulting firm. “Marketers tend to want to lump all women together and in doing so they are misunderstanding the value and the cultural differences that black women can bring to the marketplace, and the opportunities for their brands to connect with them in a more relevant way.” Miller said that marketers’ single-message-for-all
syndrome simply boils down to a failure to perceive black women in a cultural context. “Culture is important, and when many marketers have this one-message-that-reaches-all-people strategy, they miss a major opportunity to connect with people in a deeply rooted fashion,” Miller said. “I think that’s what’s happening with black women in terms of being underserved.” To reach black women, companies must be able to beyond negative stereotypes of black women. Lattimer said she undertook her black female consumer study “because I wanted to show there are lots of Michelle Obamas in the African-American community.” The study, “A Profile of Today’s Black Woman,” was not your typical demographic survey, she said. It resulted in six profiles of black female consumers: the Achiever (consisting of 23% of black women), who is characterized as a confident, capable caretaker; the Cynic (21%), described as the skeptical, complacent internalizer; the Traditionalist (20%), who is spiritual, frugal, respectful; the Tag-a-long (15%), who is insecure, risk-averse and a follower; the Self-Sufficient (14%), who is independent, wired, and loves to shop; and the Fledgling (7%), a young black woman just starting out, baggage-free and job-focused. Black female buying power only begins with dollar statistics. Influence is crucial. Some 45% of black women are heads of households. “More African American women are single, and if they are not making the buying decision, they’re influencing it,” said Lattimer. Black women are also making gains in establishing businesses. Black women started business at three to five times the rate of all other new businesses between 2006 and 2009. In 2008, there were 1.9 million firms owned by women of color – blacks, Asians, or Hispanics, according to the Center for Women’s Business Research. They employed 1.2 million workers and brought in $165 billion. At top of the “black she-conomy” are female billionaires – including Oprah Winfrey, considered among the nation’s most powerful and influential women. Her product endorsements are a veritable ladder to industry success. The much-sought-after “Oprah Effect” has been known to increase sales exponentially – and she endorses the products or services of many women-owned firms.
Urban Trendsetters | More Than A Magazine. It’s A Lifestyle
November2010
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Arts & Entertainment
THE TEMPTATIONS BRING THEIR VELVET SOUND AND SMOOTH STEPS TO THE OHIO THEATRE
(L to R) Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon, Otis Williams (front), Bruce Williamson (back)****Photo: Courtesy of Star Direction, Inc.***
The Temptations, one of the most iconic bands in the history of American music, have become an institution noted for their precise choreography and blend of R&B vocal sensibilities. Founding and original member Otis Williams has continued to keep The Temptations’ sound alive and at the top of the charts for more than 40 years. As members of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and listed as one of the top 50 bands of all time in Rolling Stone Magazine, The Temptations have earned four Grammy Awards, 18 #1 Billboard singles, 23 top ten singles, and 10 top ten albums. With amazing songs and a 15-piece band, their live stage show is an experience that continues to “wow” audiences around the world. CAPA presents The Temptations at the Ohio Theatre ( 39 E. State St. ) on Sunday, November 14, at 7 pm. Tickets are $20-$50 at the Ohio Theatre Ticket Office ( 39 E. State St. ), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 469-0939 or (800) 745-3000. The Ohio Theatre Ticket Office will open two hours prior to the performance. Students between the ages of 13-19 may purchase $5 High Five tickets
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while available. This Spectrum Series performance is made possible through the generous support of Univar and series sponsors David and Mo Meuse. The history of The Temptations is the history of contemporary American pop. An essential component of the original Motown machine, that amazing engine invented by Berry Gordy, The Temptations began their musical life in Detroit in the early ‘60s. The classic lineup was Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks, and David Ruffin. It wasn’t until 1964, however, that Smokey Robinson’s “The Way You Do the Things You Do” turned the group into stars. An avalanche of hits followed, many of which attained immortality—“My Girl,” “It’s Growing,” “Since I Lost My Baby,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep,” “I Wish It Would Rain.” Beyond the fabulous singing, The Temptations became known for flawless and smooth-stepping presentations. The “Temptations Walk” became a staple of American style—flair, flash, and class. When the ‘60s and ‘70s turned political, The Temptations got serious, changing their tone, dress, and music.
Producer Norman Whitfield led the way. His hits, many featuring Dennis Edwards who had replaced David Ruffin, burned with intensity— “Runaway Child,” “Cloud Nine,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” and “Psychedelic Shack.” Richard Street and Ali-Ollie Woodson joined the group and added their luster to The Temptations’ growing fame. No matter the change in personnel, The Temptations remained true to their tradition, surviving disco and techno. “Great singing,” said Otis Williams, “will always prevail.” In the ‘80s, The Temptations prevailed with smashes like the Otis Williamspenned “Treat Her Like a Lady.” In 1983, they appeared on “Motown 25,” and an NBC mini-series that chronicled the group’s history was a two-night, prime time ratings triumph and Emmy Award-winner. A series of acclaimed records followed. Phoenix Rising (1998) was a platinum-plus megahit featuring “Stay,” the Narada Michael Waldenproduced song that topped the charts. Ear Resistible (2000) nailed a Grammy and a legion of new fans. For Lovers Only (2002), a collection of love standards, was termed an instant classic by critics and remains among the most cherished of all Temptations’ recordings. Reflections (2005), a collection of Temptations’ covers of some of Motown’s greatest songs, earned a Grammy. Today, the stellar Temptations’ lineup consists of Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon, and Bruce Williamson. “The more we change,” says veteran Ron Tyson, “the more we stay true to ourselves. We’re about singing straight-up soul. It’s a style that will live on forever.” “The Temps have always been known for great lead singers,” says Otis Williams. “Today, we have three of
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the greatest leads in the proud history of the group.” The soaring voice of Ron Tyson is perhaps the best high tenor in the business. Terry Weeks grew up in Alabama and spent eight years in the Air Force before his makeshift audition for Otis Williams on a Hollywood street corner. His smooth textures and tones express an extraordinary full range of feelings. Newest member Bruce Williamson started singing in a church choir at the ripe age of five years old and hasn’t stopped since. He has sung in everything from commercials to musicals to the top showrooms in Las Vegas . “Our challenge,” says Otis Williams, “is to live in the present while respecting the past. Our past is filled with riches only a fool would discard. At the same time, we thrive on competition. As a Motowner, I grew up in the most competitive musical atmosphere imaginable. But we also understand that for a group with history, no matter how glorious that history might be, reinvention is the name of the game. When I tell people we are God’s group, I don’t mean it arrogantly. It’s just that we have been tested time and again and keep coming back. We have suffered the death of so many legendary singers...Paul Williams, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Melvin Franklin. Others, like Dennis Edwards, Richard Street , Ali-Ollie Woodson, and Theo Peoples, have left. And yet our unity is tighter, our sound brighter, and our popularity greater. Someone has watched over this group. Someone has protected our integrity. Someone has said, ’just go on singing and it’ll get better.’” www.temptationssing.com
Cover 2Cover
Anthology ‘Say It Loud’ shoots to spark debate on present Black struggle
Say It Loud!
Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African-American Identity Edited by Catherine Ellis and Stephen Drury Smith The New Press Hardcover, $35.00 300 pages, with an MP3 CD ISBN: 978-1-59558-113-6
“This is the second anthology of great speeches by African-Americans meant for the eye and ear. Our first book/CD project, Say It Plain, chronicled an array of black leaders across the 20th Century exhorting the nation to make good on its promise of democracy. This collection opens in the middle years of the modern Civil Rights Movement. It captures speeches by an eclectic mix of African-American orators arguing about how best to pursue freedom and equality in a nation still deeply marked by racial inequalities. Say It Loud is titled after the classic 1969 James Brown anthem ‘Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud.’ This anthology is meant to illuminate the evolution of ideas and debates pulsing through the black freedom struggle from the 1960s to the present and the way these arguments are suffused with basic questions about what it means to be black in America.” – Excerpted from the Preface (pg. ix) Five years ago, Catherine Ellis and
Stephen Drury Smith published an anthology comprised of many of the greatest civil rights speeches delivered by African-American leaders in the 20th Century, including classic orations by Dr. Martin Luther King, Stokely Carmichael, Thurgood Marshall, Minister Louis Farrakhan, Julian Bond and Fannie Lou Hamer, to name a few. Now, the authors are publishing book number two, but the question becomes, what do you do for an encore when you’ve already used up a lot of the best stuff? Well, it looks like maybe you look over to the right, politically, and add to the mix addresses by some relatively-conservative black folks to feature next to the usual suspects such as Dr. King, Malcolm X, Roy Wilkins, Bobby Seale and Angela Davis. What does it mean when alongside these firebrands we find the words of Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice and Ward Connerly, who built his career by appealing not to fellow African-Americans but to right-wing white zealots? The text delivers an almost whiplash effect when you go from Malcolm’s
urgent call for the right to vote or violent revolution in “The Ballot or the Bullet” to Connerly’s Uncle Tomlike, if heartfelt, answer to the inquiry “Why is this black man leading the effort to eliminate affirmative action?” The opus appropriately closes with Barack Obama’s campaign-saving speech from March of 2008 when the then presidential hopeful claimed he could no more disown Reverend Wright than his racist grandmother. How historic could that be if he proceeded to throw his minister of under the bus a couple of weeks later? It’s like Dr. King changing his mind about his March on Washington summation about judging people not by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. A bonus is that the book arrives with a CD containing excerpts of each of the speeches except one (Ossie Davis’ eulogy for Malcolm X). Overall, an alternately worthy and bizarre sequel suggesting we’ve actually arrived at a post- racial utopia where black liberal and conservative luminaries deserve equal time.
Obama-Penned Children’s Book Due in November *President Obama will release a children’s book, titled “Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to My Daughters,” on Nov. 16. Publishers Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Random House Children’s Books, announced today that the book honors 13 Americans, including artist Georgia O’Keeffe, baseball giant Jackie Robinson and George Washington. The title will sell for $17.99 with the proceeds going to a scholarship fund for the children of fallen and disabled US troops. The book was promised as part of a three-book deal Obama inked in December 2004, when he was a senator-elect from Illinois, reports the AP. In other Obama news, his live “Back to School” speech is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. today and will be carried on cable news channels.
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November2010
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Sport Trends
UFC fighters refuse black-on-black match By Mike McCray
Jon Jones (left) and Rashad Evans (right) (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)/(AP Photo/Eric Jamison) But another pair of UFC fighters, Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, who are teammates at the American Kickboxing Academy, have also came out and said they won’t fight each other for the UFC welterweight title, if the scenario arises. Finch went so far to say, he’d move up in weight classes if it meant he and Koscheck didn’t have to fight.
UFC, historically, hasn’t been kind to fighter’s refusal to give to people what they yearn for. UFC president, Dana White, had typically strong comment on the subject appearing earlier this month on the Jim Rome Show. “The bottom line, and the way it’s been in the UFC, is that it’s a camp thing. You’ll find a couple of camps that are saying, ‘Oh, no. This guy is my friend. I’m not fighting him.’ What? This isn’t personal. This isn’t, ‘Oh, I hate him. I’m going to fight him.’ You train, and you work hard to be the best mixed martial artist you can be, and you’re going to compete against other mixed martial artists to prove you’re the best,” said White. That’s a great point. He added fuel to the
2011 Automotive Hotlist.The departed...
For better or for worst, these American brands have left the building If there’s one constant in this world, it’s this: We live in a world of constant flux. In the automotive world, however, we’ve all grown accustomed to seeing the same group of manufacturers introduce new models each year. You know the names. But for the 2011 model year—thanks largely to the huge economic downturn that began in late 2008—four well-known American nameplates have gone the way of the Edsel, so to speak. Of these four, the Hummer brand was the most short-lived. The original Hummer H1 (or Hum-Vee) was a celebrity of the Persian Gulf War. In 2002 came a smaller and (slightly) more manageable version, the Hummer H2. Exactly what made suburbanites decide they needed a four-wheeled facsimile of a machinegun toting, troop-hauling war machine parked in their driveway is best left to
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future generations to explain. Perhaps the supersized and fuel-guzzling excess of the Hummer brand will someday look as quaint as towering tailfins from the late1950s? Or perhaps not. Pontiac and Mercury always maintained a far more balanced product portfolio during their much longer life-spans. First introduced in 1926 as a model in GM’s Oakland lineup, Pontiac was established as its own make in 1929, to prop up sales at its parent division. Pontiac immediately outsold and eventually far outlived Oakland, which faded away in 1931. Pontiac’s historical highlights include the 1964 Pontiac GTO (the car that defined the muscle-car era) and the Firebird sports coupe. Mercury was introduced in 1939, not to boost another brand’s sales, but to fill the price gap that had emerged between Ford
fire though by taking the age-old approach of outright questioning their manhood. “What I think, is when one guy says, ‘oh he’s my friend I won’t fight him,’ that means I train with this guy and this guy’s probably going to kick my ass. That’s what I get out of that. I’m not confident enough to fight this guy.” Is this sentiment enough to make Evans or Jones question their own toughness and kick the other’s behind? Their feelings towards one another would suggest not. There are still fights in the way of this potential stalemate. Jones has to beat undefeated prospect Ryan Bader in his Feb. 5 fight and Evans would have to defeat Maurico Rua when they fight after Rua recovers from knee surgery. I highly doubt either Evans or Jones would take a dive to kill any possibility of having to fight one another but Jones’ admiration for Evans is unique in a sport where most people obsess with being #1. His long-term outlook is something you and its upscale sibling, Lincoln. Cars like the 1949 Mercury Coupe driven by James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause all but guarantees the brand immortality – even if the nameplate itself has finally driven into the sunset. Years of badge engineering eventually dissolved Mercury’s identity, squeezing the brand out of the Ford Motor Company family tree. Perhaps the biggest surprise – at least in terms of positive automotive karma – is the loss of Saturn. Created by GM to take the fight to imports, Saturn was marketed as “a different kind of car company,” thanks to a lineup of fuelsipping small cars and no-haggle pricing policy. If only the cars lived up to the feel good dealership experience. A lack of development and new models left Saturn spinning out of orbit. A list ditch effort to market vehicles built by GM’s Germanbased Opel division as Saturns proved too little too late.
don’t hear a lot of in any form of athletics. In the same Las Vegas Review-Journal interview, Jones said, “Fighting Rashad is the last thing I’d ever want to do...to me, being able to call Rashad when we’re 40 years old and say, ‘Let’s go fishing,’ or something like that, that’s more important than the paycheck we would get today. I train with the guy. We’ve had conversations about personal things.” How do you tell a man to fight his brother? Better yet, how do you make a man fight his brother to fill your lust for controlled and skillfully executed violence? I have a feeling we’ll find out over the coming year just how crafty the UFC is at using their fighters egos against them in getting what they want and inevitably, Jones and Evans will have to knuckle up or walk away. Whatever the outcome, this type of camaraderie among African-American athletes in a sport where they’re glaringly the minority, is refreshing. 1. Pontiac In theory, it was GM’s performance brand. We’ll miss cars like the G8, GTO and Solstice GXP; we wish we could erase the Aztek from our memory (as did Pontiac, no doubt). 2. Mercury Founded in 1939 by Henry Ford’s son, Edsel, Mercury most recently served as an example of poor badge engineering. 3. Saturn Originally known for its plastic-bodied cars and “no-haggle” dealer model; severely held back by a lack of new and unique product. 4. Hummer Thrust into pop culture by a muscle-bound Austrian-born actor/governor, these offroad-biased trucks proved far too bulky and inefficient for the times.
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– Continued -Continued from page15
Here are some tips to help deal with holiday stress and stress in general: 1. Get plenty of rest - 8 hours 2. Get some physical activity whether that is walking, playing wii, whatever is enjoyable and a positive outlet for stress.
2. Don’t try to do too much. Pace yourself. You don’t have to try to please everyone and attend every event, visit every relative. 3. Watch over eating and foods high in sugar as this can increase levels of cortisol, the stress hormone and make
stress worse. 4. Take time out of your busy schedule to relax, whether that is reading, going for a walk, watching a good movie. 5. If you feel over whelmed ask for help, talk to a friend, family member, church member.
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called me in to talk about it, there was a desire to do a film about Africa that wasn’t about a catastrophe or a safari. I had been travelling with my family for a year and living in places affected by Aids and I don’t think I could have written this film without doing that. I wrote about the journey first in the book More Than Eyes Can See.” The novelist, better known for the award-winning The Testimony of Taliesin Jones, wrote the screenplay just over a year ago, and admits that football is not what the film is really about. Football in a way is just ‘the McGuffin’,” he said. “We had come up with a pitch line which was strong: five kids walk 3,000 miles to get to the opening of the World Cup.” Dudu, the orphan with the briefcase and a line in malapropisms, was the first character to take shape. In the film he is played by Ugandan Eriya Ndayambaje, now aged 14. “I thought it was very African to have a story within a story, but some of the producers were worried it might handbrake the drama,” said Brook. “I am very glad we kept it. All the children acting punched above their weight. It was a huge gamble and so all credit to Pathe for gambling on it. “It is a rookie film really. We are all rookies, as this is my first screenplay and the director’s first film. This,
we think, was the first film shot in Burundi.” He said that Slumdog Millionaire, with its similar theme of the underdog triumphing over adversity, was the reason they took Africa United to Pathe. “Slumdog was a very slick film and Danny Boyle is a brilliant director,” said Brook, “but this is more engaging, I think, because we have got five very strong characters. It all comes down to creating characters you care about.” Like Slumdog, the makers of Africa United have been very conscious of the issues of working in a developing country and insist all of the children, none of who come from destitute or slum backgrounds, have been carefully looked after. Pathe is donating 25% of the film’s net profit to Comic Relief. So Africa United stands to change not just the mindsets of British audiences and the fortunes of its talented cast, but will also put back into the places from where the story sprang. As Dudu says in the film: “Impossible is nothing.” Africa United goes on general release on 22 October. The Commitments A 1991 film adaption of the novel by Roddy Doyle, directed by Alan Parker, about a group of jobless Dublin youngsters who form a soul band. The cast were mostly unknowns with no acting
experience. La Boum (The Party) by Claude Pinoteau, 1980, a joyful and charming film, perfectly captured the essence of teenage life in France in the 1980s. The movie’s phenomenal success launched the career of its then unknown lead, Sophie Marceau. Stand by Me A 1986 American film based on a Stephen King short story, The Body. Four misfit boys go looking for the missing body of a local teenager in Oregon. It was the 15-year-old River Phoenix’s first bigscreen outing, making the late actor a star. Breaking Away A small-town teen obsessed with the Italian cycling team and his three working-class friends are the central characters in US family classic, set in an Indiana college town. Made in 1979, it still gets regularly voted one of America’s favourite “feelgood” movies, and launched the careers of young unknowns Dennis Quaid and PJ Soles. Slumdog Millionaire The 2008 British film (right) follows the lives of three Indian children and conveyed both the energy and laughter of the Mumbai slums and their grimness. The film was a huge worldwide hit.
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Halle Berry to propel sales. With distribution in both coasts, Mixed Chicks sales topped $3.5 million in 2009 .
can also be caused by other psychological and medical problems. If you’re experiencing any of the warning signs of stress, it’s important to see a professional for a full evaluation erupted. Within a month, her Tutsi husband John had been murdered by the same Hutu neighbours who had toasted the couple’s future. By 1996, she had found her way to Norwich with her baby son. Within weeks of Blaney finding him, Roger was on a flight back to his homeland and struggling to learn an African accent and work out how to act. “It was scary, but once I got into the swing of it I loved it and it’s definitely what I want to do,” said Roger, who has already gone on to complete another acting role in a BBC drama. “In Africa United I was playing who I might have been if I’d stayed in Rwanda, although my character Fabrice is really quite well off, but I do think about who I might have been without the education I’ve been able to get in England.” Fabrice is spotted by a football scout looking for young players to represent Africa at the World Cup ceremony in Johannesburg and told to turn up at an audition in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. A wrong bus leads to the epic journey. In line with storytelling traditions, the character Dudu’s thoughts are shown in animation, something which was in the original screenplay, said writer Rhidian Brook. “When the producers conditioner and have relied on celebrity buzz from the likes of
Drs. Tiffani Bailey Lash and Tashni Ann-Dubroy – Tea and
Honey Blends A very new product line to the hair scene is Tea and Honey Blends, which was launched by two chemists in December 2009. The founders realized that there was still a need
for care and their
more African-American hair products to address dry scalp hair breakage. They utilized scientific background to create
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a specialized surfactant, which is a group of organic compounds fortified to offer the best results. “When we thought about all of the shampoos that were on the market, they were using surfactants that were really outdated so we came up with a secret surfactant blend that allows excellent cleansing properties,” Dubroy told the Atlanta Post. With such a recent launch, the founders are hopeful that they’ll be able to mimic the success of so many
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