Rest In Peace, Benjamin Hooks

January 31, 1925 - April 15, 2010


Benjamin Hooks - a leader in Civil Rights.

Executive Director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from 1977 to 1992.

Madam C.J. Walker Luncheon - Friday, April 9th, 2010

For Immediate Release from CDA:

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women Inc., Oakland Bay Area Chapter, will host its 12th Annual Madam C.J. Walker Business and Community Recognition Awards Luncheon, on Friday, April 9th, 2010 at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, located at 55 Fourth Street. The event will begin with a VIP Reception, Exhibits and Book Signing at 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon and awards program at 12 noon.

The annual awards luncheon, in honor of the first African American female self-made millionaire and business leader, Madam C.J. Walker, is designed to celebrate the rich tradition of hard work and entrepreneurial spirit that is deeply rooted in the African-American culture. In the tradition of Madam C.J. Walker, we will honor four outstanding women from our community:

CORPORATE AWARD WINNER: Shari Slate, Chief Diversity Officer, Sun Microsystems

ADVOCACY AWARD WINNER: Debbra Lindo,CEO/Chief Academic Officer, and College Track

PIONEER AWARD WINNER: Judge Trina Thompson Trina Thompson, Alameda County Superior Court Judge



ENTREPRENEUR AWARD WINNER: Celebrity Chef Nikki Shaw host of “Today’s Flavor, KBLX 102.9 and Owner Flavor Catering & Fine Cuisine Chef

Malaak Compton –Rock is the Founder and Director, The Angelrock Project

Bay Area Award Winning News Anchor, Barbara Rodgers will serve as this year’s Mistress of Ceremonies.

A’Lelia Bundles the Great Great Grand Daughter of Madam C.J. Walker will join us again and host a book signing.


For more information about luncheon highlights, please contact
CDA at (510) 653-4085 or by e-mail, cdagroup@aol.com

www.onehundredblackwomen.com

Sweet Unity Farms Coffee - Exceptional Coffee Brought To You By Exceptional People

There's an old saying that "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

So, what would you expect from the son of legend? Great works and great deeds.

David Robinson doesn't disappoint. Son of baseball legend Jackie Robinson, founded Sweet Unity Farms Coffee in Tanzania, Africa.

David Robinson created Sweet Unity Farms, a collective of African farmers, working to produce some of the world's best coffee.

To learn more about "Sweet Unity Coffee" and the great things they're doing, visit:

http://www.upcountryinternational.net/

"Friends of Faith" Present Dr. Condoleezza Rice - An Event to Benefit Underserved Women with Breast Cancer

"An Evening with the Honorable Condoleezza Rice"

Presented by Friends of Faith, Inc.

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco
Monday, March 29, 2010
6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

For more information, contact:
Friends of Faith, Inc. 510-834-4142

www.faithfancher.org

TICKETS: $250 VIP (includes reception and Photo Op with Professor Rice)

$100 and $50 General Admission

For VIP tickets, call (510) 834-4142 for more information. VIP tickets will be held at the door.
All other tickets are available through:
City Box Office
(415) 392-4400
www.cityboxoffice.com
Visa or Mastercard only

"My Times In Black And White" by Gerald M. Boyd

"My Times In Black and White - Race And Power At The New York Times"


So many books. . .so little time. This is the latest book I'm reading. I'm always reading five or six books at once.

For those who don't know, Gerald M. Boyd, was a journalist who became the first African American metropolitan editor and managing editor at The New York Times.

Under his leadership, the New York Times would earn Pulitzer Prizes, but as fate would have it, all did not end well.

Mr. Boyd "resigned" in 2003, after the fallout of the Jayson Blair (another African American "journalist," and I use that term loosely) plagiarism scandal. Unfortunately, Gerald Boyd got caught up in the corporate version of "driving while black."

The book's introduction, written by Gerald Boyd, is a story all its own.

This is a "must-read," especially for those of us (and aren't we all guilty at some point or another) who think that success is defined in large part by career.

Mr. Boyd died in 2003, at age 56, from complications due to lung cancer.


For me, this is one that is hard to read - hard to put down.

http://mytimesinblackandwhite.com/wp/

"Princess Noire - The Tumultuous Reign of Nina Simone"

by Nadine Cohodas

From the author of Dinah Washington's biography, "Queen," comes the story of Eunice Waymon - better known as Nina Simone.

"The gifts that would turn Eunice Waymon into Nina Simone (February 21, 1933–April 21, 2003) were apparent by the time she was three, though the passions, the mood swings, and the ferocious intensity that marked her adult life were buried for years under hter talent. She was born on February 21, 1933, the sixth of eight children, in Tryon, North Carolina, . . ."

A must-have for the African American home library.

http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780375424014

I Get By With A Little Help from My Friends

Do you ever think that sometimes you just can't get through another day of the workplace. . .er. . ."drama," to put it nicely?

I was having one of those days and then randomly my ipod landed upon Twinkie Clark's powerful rendition of "Endow Me."

This is a selection from her CD recorded in Charlotte, North Carolina, entitled "Twinkie Clark and Friends."

What a powerful, gifted singer.

I think I'm going to get through the afternoon.

Peace and Blessings.

http://www.amazon.com/Twinkie-Clark-Friends-Live-Charlotte/dp/B00006FDH8

Elbernita "Twinkie" Clark is a two-time Grammy Award winning American gospel singer, composer, musician, and evangelist. She is a member of The Clark Sisters, an influential gospel vocal ensemble active since the late 60's.