Performers Rehearse For Kwanzaa Festival

Members of the Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn perform during a press preview of the “Kwanzaa 2004: We Are Family” festival at the American Museum of Natural History December 22, 2004 in New York City. The festival will take place December 26 and will include traditional African dance, spoken word, drumming and live musical performances.

Kwanzaa is a unique African American celebration with focus on the traditional African values of family, community responsibility, commerce, and self-improvement.

(Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Fat Joe Donates 20 Hip-e Computers To His Grammar School

Recording artist Fat Joe (aka Joseph Cartagena) and students pose in the multimedia room in P.S. 146 in the Bronx after donating 20 Hip-e computers December 21, 2004 in New York City. The multimedia room was also renamed after Joe’s late sister Lisa Cartagena who passed away during childbirth.

Fat Joe rose to fame from a string of recent hits which includes the Hip Hop anthem of the year – “Lean Back”. Fat Joe can also be seen in Def Jam Fight For New York, a video game in which he stars (virtually) with a host of other heavy hip hop recording artists.

(Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images)

Kwame Jackson Is Still On The Scene

Kwame Jackson from “The Apprentice 1″ takes part in a Trader Monthly photo shoot with models in front of Trinity Church December 20, 2004 in New York City.

Kwame was a runner up on Donald Trump’s hit show “The Apprentice”. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and MBA from Harvard. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, a professional and social fraternal organization for high acheiving African American men.

On The Web: http://www.kwamejackson.com

(Photo by Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images)

Nelly and Jermaine Dupri Give Kids A Happier Christmas

Rapper Cornell “Nelly” Haynes Jr. (L) and producer Jermaine Dupri of So So Def, give away toys to underpriviledged children at a community center December 16, 2004 in Atlanta, Georgia. Nelly and Dupri collectively purchase approximately $10,000 worth of Christmas toys for donation. Other sponsors donated additional toys and pizza for more than 1,200 needy children.

Nelly is currently set to appear in the upcoming movie ‘The Longest Yard’ starring Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, and Burt Reynolds.

Jermaine Dupri was recently tapped by legend Quincy Jones to create an updated version of “We Are The World”. Dupri expects to coordinate the effort on the same night as the Grammy Awards.

(Photo by Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images)

Eva Is America’s Next Top Model

America’s Next Top Model winner Eva Pigford arrives at the Finale Party for UPN’s “America’s Next Top Model” on December 15, 2004 at The Ivar in Hollywood, California.

Eva was rewarded with a $100,000 contract with CoverGirl, a spread in Elle magazine and a contract with Ford Models.

Her win makes her the first ethnic model to win the popular reality show contest.

(Photo by Matthew Simmons/Getty Images)

Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center Announces Actor Daryl ‘Chill’ Mitchell to Be Spokesperson

The Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (PRC) announced that actor Daryl “Chill” Mitchell has agreed to serve as a spokesperson for the Center and its recently-launched Minority Communities Outreach Campaign.

“As a paraplegic, I have first-hand knowledge of the challenges faced daily by people living with paralysis,” said Chill. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned since my accident, it’s that you need to use every resource available to you, to continue with your life. I particularly want to encourage African-Americans and those living in minority communities to improve their quality of life by using the PRC’s services.”

“Chill was close to Christopher, and is still a good friend of Dana, and the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation,” said Joe Canose, Director of the PRC. “As a spokesperson for the PRC, his lively personality and indomitable spirit will surely be an inspiration to the millions of Americans living with paralysis.”

Chill first came to the public’s attention as a member of the rap group Groove B. Chill. In 1990, the rappers were cast in the feature film “House Party”, which led to the start of Chill’s acting career. Some of his films include “Galaxy Quest”, “Lucky Numbers”, “Black Knight”, and Disney’s “The Country Bears.” On television, Chill has appeared on “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air” and “Law & Order”, and has been a series regular on “The John Larroquette Show” and “Veronica’s Closet.”

Chill was injured in a motorcycle accident in November 2001, which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Soon after rehabilitation, Chill went back to work and was seen as a regular on the NBC series “Ed.”

The Minority Communities Outreach Campaign is a new public awareness initiative of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center (PRC), a program of the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation, formed through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This campaign aims to increase awareness of, and access to, the PRC and its services among the Hispanic, African-American, Asian-American/Pacific Islander and Native American communities in the United States, and to promote informed health care decisions and active and independent living among these minority groups, thus positively impacting their quality of life. The PRC provides information services to people and their families nationwide who are living with paralysis. For more information on the PRC, please visit
http://www.paralysis.org.

BellSouth is One of ‘America’s Top Corporations for Multicultural Business Opportunities’

BellSouth Corporation (NYSE: BLS) has been selected one of “America’s Top Organizations for Multicultural Business Opportunities 2004.” This is the third straight year that BellSouth has made the list.

BellSouth is ranked 6th, making it the highest-ranking telecommunications company on the list. Also known as the Div 50, this fifth annual listing produced by DiversityBusiness.com, ranks top corporations for promoting business opportunities for woman- and minority owned firms. In 2002, BellSouth debuted at #29 and last year, moved up to #10.

“We are extremely proud to again receive this recognition,” said Tim Houghton, BellSouth vice president and chief procurement executive. DiversityBusiness.com solicited over 350,000 minority and woman entrepreneurs for this poll. The voting business owners based their decisions on such factors as the volume, consistency, and quality of business opportunities granted to women and minority-owned companies.

“It makes us especially proud to know that we received this honor as a result of a voting process by business owners,” Houghton added.

The development of minority-, woman-, and disabled veteran owned business enterprises (MWDVBE) is a major piece of BellSouth’s overall inclusion and diversity strategy. The corporation’s supplier diversity program was initiated in 1984 to ensure that it included small, minority and woman owned businesses in the procurement process. Between 2000 and 2003, BellSouth spent over $2 billion with MWDVBE suppliers, who saw their “market share” of the company’s procurement budget increase by 82%.

“BellSouth believes that fostering MWDVBE suppliers helps build prosperous communities, which in turn, helps build a stronger BellSouth,” said BellSouth Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer Valencia Adams.

BellSouth and the other winning companies will be honored at a special awards ceremony at DiversityBusiness.com’s 5th Annual Multicultural Business Conference, taking place March 30 – April 1, 2005 at the Foxwoods Resort in Mashantucket, Connecticut.

BellSouth has received numerous awards this year in the area of supplier diversity including Corporation of the Year in Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi; Executive of the Year in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi; and the Crystal award in Georgia. These were all honors awarded by affiliate councils of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). Deberah Stone, corporate supplier diversity manager, was honored as national MBE Coordinator of the Year by the NMSDC. BellSouth also received the Corporation of the Year and Advocate of the Year awards from the Georgia Women’s Business Council.

For more information on supplier diversity at BellSouth,
visit http://www.bellsouth.com/suppliers.

Hip Hop Slang Among Latest Additions to The Oxford English Dictionary

When the members of the Philological Society of London began the project they called A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles in 1857, they appealed to the English-speaking public for help in identifying the earliest usage of new words. Today that book is known as the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary, and Oxford lexicographers continue to cite new usage from a variety of sources-including rap songs by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs, McDonald’s commercials, and Rolling Stone. On December 9, 2004 a new sense of the noun “Benjamin” became one of more than 2,000 new and revised entries that were added to the online edition of The Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.OED.com). The new entry, which features illustrative quotations from The New Yorker and GQ Magazine as well as the song One More Chance, written by Sean Combs and performed by The Notorious
B.I.G.:

Benjamin, n.(4)
U.S. slang.

A one-hundred-dollar bill. Also more generally (in pl.): large sums of money.

“For most of the last century, African-American vernacular has been the driving force in American slang,” explains Jesse Sheidlower, Principal North American Editor of the Oxford English Dictionary. “We put in words that have currency. If the word is slang, it doesn’t matter. If that word is being used, our responsibility is to put it in.” This is reflected in the new entries for such informal or slang terms as crack ho, hoochie, fanfic, po’ boy, beat down, hairy eyeball, and Joe Schmo.

Users of The Oxford English Dictionary Online may rest assured that it is free from spyware (“software that enables information to be gathered covertly about a person’s computer activities, passwords”), although that definition has been added in this latest quarterly update.

A complete list of the new words and their definitions is available online at http://www.oed.com/help/updates/latest-additions.html

Hey Hey Hey – Fat Albert Premieres

Cast members of “Fat Albert” (L-R) Aaron Frazier, Kyla Pratt, Alphonso McAuley, Shedrack Anderson, Kenan Thompson, Keith Robinson, Dania Ramirez, and Jermaine Williams arrived at the Philadelphia Premiere of Fat Albert at the Liacouras Center of Temple University on December 12, 2004 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Premiering on CBS in 1972, the Emmy nominated “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids” aired for 12 consecutive years, earning its place as one of the longest-running Saturday morning programs in television history. The series chronicled a group of young friends growing up in a Philadelphia neighborhood. In “Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids,” real-life situations were adapted into impactful educational cartoons which humorously explored a wide array of adolescent issues, from family problems to drug addiction. The series first aired in September 1972 and signed off in August 1984.

A dvd and collectors set is also being released to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the landmark characters’ first television broadcast.

Click Here To See More Pics From The Premiere

(Photo by William Thomas Cain/Getty Images)

Alicia Keys And Other Celebrities Turn Out To “Keep A Child Alive”

Lenny Kravitz, Anthony Hamilton, Carina Pasan, Alicia Keys, Babyface, President and CEO of Keep A Child Alive Leigh Blake-Sebastian, Common, Creative Director, Diffa Anneliese Estrada and Mos Def pose backstage at “The Pusher’s Ball” to benefit the “Keep A Child Alive” charity at The Angel Orensanz Foundation Center for the Arts December 1, 2004 in New York City.

The Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts was established in 1992 by a group of artists who were inspired by the work of sculptor Angel Orensanz.

In a short period of time it has affirmed itself as a strong anchor of the visual and performing arts in New York. (Source: Official Website)

(Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)
On The Net: http://www.orensanz.org

Kimora Lee Simmons Launches ‘Diamond Diva’ Jewelry Collection

Model Kimora Lee Simmons launches Simmons Jewelry Co. Baby Phat “Diamond Diva” Collection at Bloomingdale’s December 2, 2004 in New York City.

(Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)

Hip Hop and R&B Artists Dominate Billboard Awards

Stevie Wonder Honored… Musician Stevie Wonder poses backstage with his Century Award at the 2004 Billboard Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on December 8, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mary J. Blige, Diana Ross and Destiny’s Child performed some of Wonder’s greatest hits. Producer Quincy Jones was on hand to present the award personally to Wonder. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Our Weekly: New African American Publication to Launch in Southern California

OUR WEEKLY, LLC OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. Our Weekly, a new weekly newspaper dedicated to the African American communities of Los Angeles will hit the streets in January 2005. The new paper, headed by Natalie Cole and David Miller, is located in South Los Angeles. Our Weekly is a free publication with a circulation of 50,000. The distribution strategy is a two prong approach which includes both a home and retail distribution network. OW will distribute door to door in Ladera, Baldwin Hills, Windsor Hills, View Park, Leimert Park, LaFayette Park Square, North Inglewood, Mid-City and surrounding communities. The paper will also distribute through convenience stores, grocery stores, and various retail & service outlets throughout the community.

Necessity being the mother of invention, Our Weekly was born out of the need for a news source that directly addresses the topics and issues facing African Americans and their communities. “The evolution of Our Weekly is a classic example of discovering a need that has gone unfulfilled and developing a plan of action to fulfill that need,” said Natalie Cole, owner and CEO of the new venture. “The Los Angeles African American community has been tragically underserved in terms of news sources whose content meet our needs. Our Weekly will fill that void and address this powerful niche market head on.” After an initial local press release December 2nd, Our Weekly immediately began generating significant interest throughout the Los Angeles market. Cole has already started fielding calls for statements and interviews from Editor & Publisher, Los Angeles Business Journal and KCET, among others.

Dedicated to delivering accurate, relevant and trustworthy news stories from an ethnic and community perspective, Our Weekly will feature coverage at the local, state and national levels that is important to African Americans and the communities in which they live. Content will include news, lifestyle sections, health, wellness, art, entertainment, business, careers, education, real estate and a comprehensive classified section. The company will also be heavily involved in neighborhood and area events, working to be a force for empowering and improving the communities it serves.

Our Weekly’s newly assembled management team is composed of former senior managers from The Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, L.A. Daily News, The Los Angeles Wave and Recycler Classifieds. They bring over 65 years of combined publishing experience to the new organization, but most importantly, they all share a singular vision of uniting the Los Angeles African American communities by providing a resource designed specifically for them and committed to their needs.

Brands and products referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

On the Net: http://ourweekly.com

Russell Simmons Supports Nielsen’s Use of People Meters in Local TV Markets

Nielsen Media Research today announced that Russell Simmons, Chairman & CEO of Rush Communications, one of the largest African American owned media companies, is supporting the Local People Meters (LPMs) as a more accurate and reliable way to measure diverse television audiences.

“Innovating television ratings is a process that should be encouraged and supported, and we think the marketplace is in the best position to judge its value,” Mr. Simmons wrote in an open letter to Susan Whiting, President & CEO of Nielsen Media Research. “To the extent there are opportunities to further enhance the People Meter system, we believe the responsibility ultimately rests with Nielsen, its clients and the communities they serve.”

Mr. Simmons joins Kweisi Mfume, President and CEO of the NAACP; Rev. Jesse Jackson, President of Rainbow/Push Coalition; Johnathan Rodgers of TV One; Debra Lee of BET; and many other community and industry leaders in supporting the introduction of local people meters.

Simmons cited the importance of innovation and new technology to measure demographically complex TV viewers. “By continually improving its audience samples and expanding the number of households of color, Nielsen is working hard to make certain that all viewers are fairly represented in its television ratings,” he continued.

Mr. Simmons also pointed out what he sees as motivation for some opposition to LPMs, stating, “It is not surprising that one giant media conglomerate — News Corp’s Fox TV — is displeased with their ratings and wants the government to legislate ratings services to protect their competitive position.”

Ms. Whiting welcomed Russell Simmons’ endorsement of Local People Meters, saying, “It’s heartening to us that someone like Russell Simmons, founder of the largest African American owned media conglomerate, understands the need for the LPM system in today’s ever-changing media environment and that he stands on the right side of this issue.”

People Meters have been used in Nielsen’s national TV audience samples since 1987 and have been accredited on an ongoing basis by the Media Rating Council. Local People Meters were introduced into Boston in 2002 and are being introduced this year into New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Related Story: Minority Group Protests Nielsen Ratings

Muhammad Ali: “The Soul of a Butterfly”

Former heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali and his daughter, Hana Yasmeen Ali, make an appearance at Barnes and Noble to meet fans and to promote his new book, “The Soul of a Butterfly” on December 2, 2004 in New York City.

In the book, Ali reflects on topics ranging from moral courage to belief in God to respect for those who are different. The book is an inpsirational piece and the culmination of a lifetime of learning from, arguably, the most popular sports personality in our time. Written with the assistance of his daughter Hana, The Soul of a Butterfly is a compassionate and heartfelt book that will provide comfort for our troubled times.

Muhammad Ali, whose birth name is Cassius Marcellus Clay, was born on January 17th, 1942. He is a charter member of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

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