Joint Center Says New Approach Required to Reduce Black Infant Mortality
September 29, 2007
Think-Tank’s Commission Details Recommendations to Curtail Infant Deaths The higher infant mortality rate among African Americans is “a new civil rights issue” and requires a revised set of approaches and remedies, according to a commission sponsored by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. In a report released , the Courage to Love: Infant Mortality Commission, which was established by the Joint Center’s Health Policy Institute (HPI), noted that conventional remedies have failed to reduce infant deaths that are disproportionately affecting black families. It pointed to data showing that African Americans suffer infant deaths at more than double the rate of the white population in the U.S — with 13.5 deaths per 1,000 births for blacks and 5.7 deaths per 1,000 births for whites. The Commission, which is comprised of medical professionals and academics, said that to address what it called an “infant mortality crisis” in the African American community, more emphasis must be placed on the socioeconomic surroundings of black women, as well as expectant mothers’ relationships with their babies, their babies’ fathers and the communities where they live. “The Commission determined that we need a new direction if we are going to better understand and address the infant mortality crisis in the black community,” said Ralph Everett, President and CEO of the Joint Center. “These recommendations reflect the need to address social determinants of health. African American women must be viewed as members of families, communities and larger social, economic and environmental systems that affect their psychological and physical health.” In one of its key recommendations, the Commission called for an education campaign to increase the rate of breastfeeding by African American women. The Commission, chaired by Ronald David, M.D., M.Div., and Barbara Nelson, Ph.D., in collaboration with the UCLA School of Public Affairs, determined there is a link between the high infant mortality rate among African Americans and the fact that black women have the lowest rate of breastfeeding among ethnic groups. It concluded that breastfeeding should be actively encouraged in the black community through targeted education, training, awareness and support. “For many years, the operating theory in the health community has been that the high incidence of infant deaths among African Americans is attributed to higher teen pregnancy rates, single motherhood, lower education levels, poverty and, most recently, genetic causes,” said Dr. David. “However, we found that infant mortality for blacks remained high even when all these factors were controlled.” In addition, David noted that the genetic theory is weakened by research showing better birth outcomes among foreign-born black women. The Commission also examined relationships between infant mortality and maternal nutrition, as well as infant mortality and resilience. Further, the commission analyzed the historical framework of policies and practices currently in place to reduce infant mortality, while looking at infant mortality in a global context. The Commission concluded that research, policy, and practice must change direction to achieve measurable change and eradicate the infant mortality disparity.
Spike Lee finds his Italian-language cast for “Miracle at St. Anna”
September 28, 2007
SYNOPSIS: A group of black U.S. soldiers who get involved in a Tuscan village’s effort to find the traitor in their midst.
Lee’s interest in directing "Miracle at St. Anna" can be contributed to the follwoing quote from a Variety artilce, “If you look at the history of Hollywood, the black soldiers who fought World War II are totally invisible… This is the paradox: black people who were fighting for democracy but at the same time were second class citizens at home.”
“Feel the Noise” on October 5th
September 28, 2007
SYNOPSIS: After a run-in with local thugs, aspiring Harlem rapper, Rob (OMARION) flees to a place and father he never knew, and finds his salvation in Reggaetón, a spicy blend of hip-hop, reggae and Latin beats.
Samuel L. Jackson find himself at “Lakeview Terrace”
September 28, 2007
RELEASE DATE: 2008
SYNOPSIS: A young interracial couple move into their dream home and are increasingly harassed by their next-door neighbor, a tightly wound black LAPD officer (JACKSON). When the couple decides to fight back the feud turns deadly.
WHY DID I GET MARRIED Trailer
September 27, 2007
Check It Out … Looking Interesting:
Pop music star Janet Jackson is coming back to acting. She has signed on for Tyler Perry’s next film, an adaptation of his stage play Why Did I Get Married?
This is Jackson’s first big-screen role since 2000′s Nutty Professor II: The Klumps and only the third big-screen credit of her career. (Poetic Justice from 1993 was her first feature film.) In the ’70s and ’80s, Janet (Ms. Jackson if you’re nasty) had roles on TV’s Good Times and then Diff’rent Strokes.
Resident Evil: Extinction tops Box Office in Opening Weekend
September 27, 2007
Synopsis: Years after the Raccoon City disaster, Alice (MILLA JOVOVICH) is on her own; aware that she has become a liability and could endanger those around her, she is struggling to survive and bring down the Umbrella Corporation led by the sinister Albert Wesker (JASON O’MARA) and head researcher Dr. Isaacs (IAN GLEN). Meanwhile, traveling through the Nevada Desert and the ruins of Las Vegas, Carlos Olivera (ODED FEHR), L.J. (MIKE EPPS), and new survivors K-Mart (SPENCER LOCKE), Claire Redfield(ALI LARTER), and Nurse Betty (ASHANTI) must fight to survive extinction against hordes of zombies, killer crows and the most terrifying creatures created as a result of the deadly T-Virus that has killed millions.
‘American Gangster’ slays early film critics
September 27, 2007
Early reviews are out for the pic, which opens Nov. 2, and they’re very positive. Check out the trailer:
SYNOPSIS: In 1970s America, a detective works to bring down the drug empire of Frank Lucas (DENZEL WASHINGTON), a heroin kingpin from Manhattan, who is smuggling the drug into the country in the coffins of soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.
We’re in store for “The Perfect Holiday”
September 27, 2007
Foxx takes on Terrorists in The Kingdom
September 27, 2007
Foxx stars as whip-smart FBI Special Agent Ronald Fleury, who has just received the assignment of his career: assemble an elite team (played by Jennifer Garner, Oscar winner Chris Cooper and Jason Bateman) to hunt down and capture the terrorist mastermind responsible for a deadly attack on Americans working in Saudi Arabia.
Halle plagued by racist threats
September 26, 2007
The Oscar-winning beauty – who recently announced she was expecting her first child with boyfriend Gabriel Aubry – has been forced to hire security guards after allegedly receiving several disturbing letters from an anonymous writer. One note warned she and her child would be “cut into hundreds of pieces”.
Ludacris at “Halo 3″ Launch
September 26, 2007
Hip-hop artist Ludacris, center, is on hand to celebrate the launch of “Halo 3″ for Xbox 360 with the game’s hero, Master Chief, and Darnell Jefferson, right, one of the first recipients to receive the game at midnight tonight in New York. Microsoft Game Studio’s “Halo 3,” the most anticipated video game in history, pre-sold more than 1.7 million copies before officially going on sale on Sept. 25. (PRNewsFoto/MICROSOFT)
VH1 Rock Doc ‘DMC: My Adoption Journey’ Takes Home an Emmy
September 26, 2007
An Encore Presentation of ‘DMC: My Adoption Journey’ Will Air On VH1, Saturday, September 29 at 10PM
The critically acclaimed VH1 Rock Docs franchise picked up its first Emmy win last night as “DMC: My Adoption Journey” was awarded a News & Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming. The other nominees in VH1′s category were “I’m Mike Wallace: A 60 Minutes Tribute” (CBS); “Favela Rising” (Cinemax) and “Lomax The Songhunter” (PBS).
The 28th Annual News & Documentary Emmy(R) Awards were presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences last night at a black-tie ceremony at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in New York City. One thousand media industry executives, journalists, and producers attended the event which honors outstanding achievement in television journalism by individuals and programs, distributed via broadcast, cable and broadband.
“DMC: My Adoption Journey” premiered in February 2006 as the first documentary in the VH1 Rock Docs franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are high-end feature-length documentaries that each reveal an untold story in the history of rock and hip-hop music, combining never-before-seen footage with a unique and unconventional narrative approach. The documentaries tell some of the most unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles, and musical perspectives. Since its launch, the VH1 Rock Docs brand has produced and aired such films as “Heavy: The Story of Metal,” “The Drug Years,” “Last Days of Left Eye,” “Bling’d: Blood, Diamonds and Hip Hop,” “The U.S. vs. John Lennon,” “Monterey 40,” “NY77: The Coolest Year In Hell” and the upcoming “Amazing Journey: The Story of The Who” among others.
Six years ago at the age of 35, hip-hop pioneer and co-founder of the multi-platinum legendary group Run-D.M.C., Darryl “DMC” McDaniels made a startling discovery: he was adopted. Suddenly everything he thought he knew about himself changed. This revelation occurred after the death of Jam Master Jay and while DMC was going through a deep depression. He began to question his purpose and place in life. DMC invited VH1 on his journey to track down this other family he never knew was out there. “DMC: MY ADOPTION JOURNEY” documented that search.
As DMC embarked on this courageous quest for his birth mother he had little information to go on. Given only what might be his biological mother’s name DMC sought help in many places. The four month search created a roller coaster of emotions as DMC was faced with daily disappointments mixed with hope. All the while, his adoptive family struggled to understand his need to search for his roots. The end result provided closure for DMC and an important piece of clarity on life that he was looking for.
Philadelphia’s former Rep. Gray backs Clinton
September 26, 2007
Jay-Z Bids for New Rocawear Arena
September 26, 2007
Betty Crocker Remixes Old Standards and New Traditions
September 26, 2007
