"Chicken and Waffles" for MLK Day - Was it Wrong?

Okay, so now some people have their knickers in a twist because the catering/cafeteria staff at the University of California at Irvine decided to serve "Chicken and Waffles" in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

I don't know about you but I like chicken and waffles. I think we are just becoming overly sensitive about everything. Seems you can't win for losing. Okay, so maybe that could be considered playing into a stereotype but it's not like they served watermelon and wore "mammy" outfits. Would Jewish people be outraged if they served latkes for Hannukkah?

Is this really something to get upset about or do we need to pick our battles more thoughtfully. On the one hand, we as a people, want to be recognized for our contributions, but on the other hand, somebody thinks they have a cute "theme" for a holiday and suddenly they're a racist.

I say, "pass the syrup."

Let the Church Say. . .Shut Your Mouth!!

"Hezekiah T. Cleaveland is the handsome pastor of New Testament Cathedral in Los Angeles. His beautiful wife, Reverend Samantha Cleaveland, is the power behind Hezekiah and his megachurch, running their national television ministry with a firm hand. The problem is that she's tired of living in her husband's shadow.

When Hezekiah meets an unlikely lover and falls in love, he must grapple with the conflict between his religious beliefs and his actions. An unscrupulous reporter learns of the relationship, and sees it as an opportunity: it will either establsh him as an investigative reporter, or make him a rich man through blackmail."*

This stuff is juicier than the Black Sepia magazines my grandmother used to read!

"Come Sunday Morning" by Terry E. Hill (on sale now)

*From book jacket

www.urbanbooks.net

The "You Go, Girl" Award today goes to Toni Beckham of PRetCetera

"The Atlanta Post" Names Toni Beckham Among Nation’s Top African American Public Relations Agents

www.pretcetera.com

"The Heart Specialist" - Opens Today

If you haven't heard anything about this movie, it's because it's not being promoted like the big budget Hollywood blockbuster films. However, my reliable sources tell me it's great. I plan to check it out this weekend.

Cast: Wood Harris, Zoe Saldana, Brian J. White, Mýa, Scott Paulin, David S. Lee, Kenneth Choi, Marla Gibbs, Jenifer Lewis, Method Man, Leon, Jasmine Guy, Terrence J, Ed Asner


www.theheartspecialist

Celebrate MLK Day with Free Admission on Saturday, January 15 at MOAD

The Museum of African Diaspora invites you to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday. MOAD is offering free admission on Saturday, January 15, 2011 (only) from Noon until 4:00 p.m. For more information on this Family Day, please visit the MOAD website:

www.moadsf.org

Museum of African Diaspora
685 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-358-7200

Karen Hunter's "First One Publishing" Launches Today!

Since the emergence of the ebook, publishers have been scrambling to find their way along this winding, digital speedway. People have shifted their reading habits from terrestrial books, and the market has been driven by devices—The Kindle, The Nook, The iPad—not driven by content.

That’s about to change!

From the clay tablets to papyrus, from Guggenheim to Random House the one thing that hasn’t changed is that a book is still a book—produced from the mind, the spirit and the soul of a person. With that philosophy, First One Publishing will focus on digital books. But more than that, it will focus on the people who produce those books.

It’s time for the producers of books to reclaim their power.


First One Publishing is the first major publisher to put the ebook first. Our focus is on all things digital—from the ebook, to the trailer, from the audiobook to the songtrack (music to accompany our books).

We are also the first publisher to truly put the focus on the author.

“In this world, people relate to people,” said First One president Karen Hunter. “Our publishing house will focus on people who tell great stories, and people who are great stories.”

First One Publishing will launch with a contest, a search for the next great story teller. We will do a worldwide viral search that will culminate in a digital publishing deal and a global marketing campaign for the winner.

Each month, First One will educate, entertain and enlighten with new releases and new titles added to our free ebook library. There will also be book, T-shirt, ereader and tablet giveaways as well as special announcements of new partnerships and initiatives.

Welcome to the future of publishing…*

(*From the First One Publishing website)

Murder or Suicide? Are We Our Brother's Keeper

Dr. Conrad Murray went on trial in Los Angeles yesterday where he stands accused of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson.

Prosecutors have scheduled 30 witnesses to testify at the preliminary hearing before Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor. You all know the story. "Dr. Feelgood" was hired to help Michael prepare for his comeback tour. Dr. Murray is accused of gross negligence when he administered propofol, which the doctor alleges Jackson demanded to get to sleep.

Now, we all gotta do what the boss tells us to do, but come on, what ethical doctor does what Dr. Murray clearly did which was to set up a virtual hospital room inside Jackson's rented home. And surely the good doctor didn't think he was being paid $150,000 a month simply to prepare protein shakes.

On the other hand, Michael Jackson was a grown man. How much responsibility did Michael have for his own death?

Well, in my opinion, Michael Jackson, was one of the most gifted, if not the most gifted entertainer we will ever know. Obviously, he had a lot of layers of sadness beneath the many disguises but I happen to believe that addiction is a disease. Disease is treated by doctors. Dr. Conrad Murray is a murderer. Plain and simple.

What do you think?