News
"Lupita Nyong'o joins the recently announced cast of Star Wars: Episode VII.
from Afropunk
Any Star Wars nerds in the house? Have you heard that Lupita Nyong'o has been added to the cast of the upcoming movie? The news has been announced officially
Jermaine Dupri, Ne-Yo Special Honorees At ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards
from Billboard
"Jermaine Dupri and Ne-Yo will receive ASCAP’s Founders Award and Golden Note Award, respectively, at the performing rights organization’s 27th annual Rhythm & Soul Music Awards."
Study: Black Success Stories Make People Less Sympathetic to Racism
from Clutch Mag Online
"Recently, University of California, Berkeley professor Clayton Critcher teamed up with University of Chicago professor Jane Risen to see how people view America’s current racial climate. What they found was quite interesting."
Oprah Remembers ‘Mother-Sister’ Maya Angelou; Obama Salutes ‘Phenomenal Woman’
from Atlanta Blackstar
"President Obama and media powerhouse Oprah Winfrey separately released poignant tributes to Maya Angelou, the award-winning author, poet and activist, who died at her Winston-Salem home Wednesday at age 86."
Slumping Chemical Relaxer Sales Confirm Natural Hair is Here to Stay
from Atlanta Blackstar
"Slumping sales of hair relaxers among African-American women tell the story: More women are opting to forgo chemicals and go natural. But it’s the anecdotal evidence that conveys the real message."
Viola Davis Receives Honorary Doctorate Degree From Juilliard
from Atlanta Blackstar
"Academy Award nominated actress Viola Davis was among the eight remarkable artists and philanthropists who were handed their degrees in person on Friday morning, when The Juilliard School conferred honorary doctorates during its 109th Commencement Ceremony at the Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City."
Yes She Can: Teen Raised In D.C. Homeless Shelter Earns Full Scholarship To Georgetown
from Clutch Mag Online
"For the last two years, Rashema Melson, her mother and two siblings have been living in a D.C homeless shelter. But that hasn’t stopped Rashema when achieving her educational goals. The Anacostia High School senior has a 4.0 GPA and just earned a scholarship to Georgetown University."
Legendary author Maya Angelou dies at age 86
from CNN
"A literary voice revered globally for her poetic command and her commitment to civil rights has fallen silent.
Maya Angelou died at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Wednesday."
NPR Cancels 'Tell Me More,' Its Only Show Geared Toward Black Listeners
from Clutch Mag Online
"Michel Martin’s critically acclaimed show, Tell Me More, will be coming to an end this August due to NPR’s budget deficit. The program, which is the network’s only show that targets Black listeners, has been on their air for seven years."
Fifty Shades of Skyler Grey: Meet the 13-Year-Old Fresh Prince of Street Art
from The Wrap
"Skyler Grey is your average 13 year-old, except for the impressive fact that his unique street art hangs in galleries across the globe rather than under a magnet on his family's refrigerator.
Grey's work has been showcased at Graffik Gallery in London and Trace Gallery in Switzerland, and now the Baldwin Hills native is preparing to unveil his first solo show Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. at the Lab Art Gallery, which draws huge crowds despite being located on the corner of La Brea Ave. and 2nd St. rather than tony Melrose Ave."
Community Rallies to Help Young Atlantan Struck By Malaria
from Atlanta Blackstar
"It is any travelers’ worst nightmare — getting sick in a foreign country with no way home, little money and no insurance. That is why friends and family members of Atlanta-based yoga instructor Ayodele Murphy are scrambling to get her moved from a Mexican hospital back home for treatment."
Yes She Can: Brooklyn Eighth-Grader Publishes Two Novels On Her Own
from Clutch Mag Online
"When 13-year-old Angela Content told her mother she was going to write a novel, her mom didn’t take it too seriously. When the teen told her mom she was going to publish the book, her mom brushed it aside as just a dream. But when Angela told her the book was being reviewed by Amazon’s publishing service CreateSpace, Marie Content realized her daughter was serious."
Emory hires first African-American woman to lead top business school
from Fortune
"A female, African-American Ph.D. will become Emory's Goizueta Business School next dean -- a first in school history and a first among top business school programs.
Erika Hayes James, a former senior associate dean for executive education at the Darden Graduate School of Business Administration at the University of Virginia, will assume her new role at Emory on July 15"
Soundtrack to Your Summer: 6 Albums to Watch Out For
from Colorlines
"Summer’s almost here, which means you can put away those winter clothes and break out the speakers. Whether you’re getting ready to kick it on your stoop or want to get amped up for a trip to the beach, here are a few artists of color with new projects coming out that could be the soundtrack to your summer."
Eight Things You Should Know About Net Neutrality
from Time
"As the Open Internet debate intensifies, here's a guide to the FCC, net neutrality, and what's at stake for the future of the Internet."
Nas to Release New Music Through His Independent Label
from Atlanta Blackstar
"Nas, who turned hip-hop on its ear 20 years ago with his groundbreaking debut album “Illmatic,” is going independent. The venerated rapper, 40, is launching Mass Appeal Records, an independent record label, which, in addition to shepherding a new generation of hip-hop hopefuls, will also provide an outlet for new Nas music when his contract with Def Jam expires later this year."
Larry Wilmore to Replace Stephen Colbert With His Own Show Called ‘The Minority Report’
from Clutch Mag
"Larry Wilmore – comedian, television writer, and “senior black correspondent” on Jon Stewart’s Daily Show – will replace Stephen Colbert’s time slot with his own show called The Minority Report with Larry Wilmore."
Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre to take 'senior roles' at Apple
from The Telegraph
"Beats co-founders Jimmy Iovine and Dr Dre will reportedly join Apple's executive board following Apple's rumoured acquisition of the company.
Last week it emerged that Apple was in talks with headphone maker Beats Electronics over a $3.2 billion (£1.9bn) takeover that would rank as the iPhone giant’s largest ever acquisition."
Questlove’s Live Music Show ‘SoundClash’ to Air on VH1, Palladia
from Variety
"The Roots co-founder and drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson will exec produce the new VH1 and Palladia music performance series “SoundClash,” set to premiere on both cablers this summer."
Must See: Photographer Reimagines ‘Icons of the Bible’ As People of Color
from Clutch Mag
"For over two millennia artists have been depicting biblical characters in sculptures, paintings, and on film. While many of the images we’ve seen have shown God, and especially Jesus, as blonde-haired and blue-eyed, this image could not be further from the truth."