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he sixth and final season of the STARZ hit television show, Power, is set to premiere on Aug. 25. The season will be long as hell at 15 episodes, but considering the extremely high entertainment value, I’m willing to be all in and park my ass on the couch every Sunday night to pray on somebody else’s downfall. It really is the kind of must-see television that allows you to hate-watch, gleefully revel in somebody’s death and be amazed that a show where literally everybody should be dead has managed to make it to the sixth season.

Which brings me to one itsy bitsy, minor qualm I have with the news about the final season, dubbed “The Final Betrayal.” According to this here press release has, it would appear (according to my readings) that everybody will not die. As in some folks might live. This confuses me.

To wit:

“Season 6 brings us to the end of what we know is just the first chapter of the ’Power’ story. However, as one chapter comes to an end, another will begin,” said Carmi Zlotnik, President of Programming for Starz. “Courtney Kemp and 50 Cent have created a world rich with complex and dynamic characters and there are a number of stories we plan to tell as we continue to explore and expand the ‘Power’ universe.”

“We will follow some of your beloved ‘Power’ characters beyond the scope of the initial series,” said Courtney A. Kemp, “Power” Executive Producer. “But we will play with your expectations of which characters, where, and the master timeline of it all, creating a ‘Power’ universe as unpredictable as the original.”

For one, my nigga, what’s this “chapter” nonsense? Ain’t no chapters if everybody catches the fade they so aggressively deserve. But noooo, now Power is the hood version of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice, a not quite finished series.

For twosies, who the fuck is a “beloved” character on Power? Seriously, I’ll wait on that answer. According to my quite scientific polling of niggas who watch Power, we all hate everybody. Spoiler alert, even if Angela is alive, wasn’t an’ soul upset that she got shot by Tommy. In fact, I’m fairly certain niggas celebrated. I know I did. Shit, the only death on the WHOLE-ASS SHOW that I felt kind of like “that sucks” about was Raina. If Tariq caught a hot one at the end of season 5, it’s entirely possible there could have been real live parades through New York City. With floats and everything.

The whole time, youngin’, MOST of us are literally waiting for Ghost to die. The Ghost and Angela story needs some death for that ass. Especially Angela, who is clearly filming season 6 because I follow her on Instagram and she’s sharing info so her contract is clearly not up. Like, I will be mad when I see her for the first time, even if it’s in Ghost’s dreams, which wouldn’t even be a thing if he were dead. But ya know, seasons and shit. Tommy? Cancel Christmas on his ass. Tasha got to go too. Keisha should already be dead. Kill the DA’s office too, blow the whole shit up.

Seriously, who likes anybody on this show outside of wanting them to die? It is LITERALLY what I watch for, the death of main characters. So how exactly will this show continue into different chapters? Even if I have no idea who the beloved characters would be, even if I had one, who has a storyline worth continuing? The only one with a survivable skill would be Ghost since he’s an actual businessman when he’s not a murderous psychopath. Perhaps if Tommy opened up a contract-killing office or something, but let’s be real, Tommy SHOULDN’T BE ALIVE RIGHT NOW.

But this is the beauty of television, isn’t it. I will be excitedly waiting for season 6 to start, fighting the air when I see Angela and Tariq and doing my weekly wish ritual hoping for the death of Ghost in a most splendid fashion. Well played Power.

But if you don’t kill everybody, THAT will be the real final betrayal. You owe us!

Source: https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/

Because of my FOMO and my desire to both understand the bazillion Game of Thrones-related memes and references people can’t help but make, I decided to dive into the show. Plus, my entire ass Mondays are shot on social media and in the news curation service I use; a solid 10 articles immediately surface about the previous night’s episode and several headlines have spoilers. I am amused by how upset folks have been at episodes as this eighth and final season comes to a close. GoT is a cultural phenomenon like a mug.

At this point, I’m nearly at the end of season 3; so I figured what better time to share some thoughts about where I am with the show than now? Plus, it’s hard as hell to binge this show because I have little children and the sheer amount of sex and violence means I have a much, much smaller window of time to watch. At this rate, it’s going to be a while before I get to the end of the road. So let’s just do it now. Allons-y. Oh yeah, much like winter, spoilers are coming. That’s a GoT joke. If you don’t watch and/or are getting into the series, spoilers are definitely coming, though.

1. Because of the ease with which I’ve taken up this show this time around (I tried many years ago and couldn’t get into it), I have no idea what held me up before. Perhaps because of the show’s elevated status and the excitement for this final season, I’ve approached it with a different heart and soul; but I will concede that I’m rather enjoying the show. The amount of drinking games you can play (number of breasts you’ll see, heads cut off, etc) is astonishing. Granted, I was never a person who was insistently not watching, but I wasn’t compelled to join the fray either.

2. At the same time, I’m not entirely sure why folks think this show is soooo great. I like fantasy and shit and understandably, I’m not even halfway through the show, but I keep waiting for the “holy shit, GOAT!” moment. The dragons make me excited, though.

3. I know I’m supposed to hate him, but holy fucking crab cakes, Batman, do I viscerally hate Joffrey. Like, whew chilay! I want buddy roasted. Permanently. By a dragon.

4. There are a significant number of insufferable characters on this show. Jaime Lannister is one of the most insufferable. Clearly, I’m not the only one who felt that way as homie’s fortunes suuuuck and now Uno isn’t just a card game. Luckily, he doesn’t have to attempt to make it clap too often.

5. There are a lot of damn characters on this show. Whiteness is everywhere. I cannot remember the name of tons of folks and then here comes some new person who I think is important but maybe not and I legit cannot tell and they might could be killed in the next episode after changing the whole show for like 10 minutes anyway. Just saying, there are a lot of damn characters on this show.

6. This show is very intriguing in its framing. For most of the time I’m watching, the television show seems very middle ages, ya know? Hard livin’, with nothing but fighting, fuckin’ and well, a game of thrones. But then, there’s this whole other actually fantastical show that exists within it where there are dragons, dragon mothers and the Dothraki and fuckin’ Qarth and multiple people who disappear and magical houses and shit. I’m sure the whole thing will come together eventually in later seasons I’ve yet to reach, but right now, it almost feels like Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes To Jail, which if you’ve seen it, was like two entirely non-related, different movies running parallel for 85 minutes of the 90-minute movie.

7. Again, I know it’s early, but I really hope the direwolves mean something substantial by the end of the show. It’s like they matter but they don’t. I just like the wolves and the dragons.

8. Right now, Tyrion is my favorite character but I also really like Daenarys because she’s a dragon mother and she’s out for blood and shit. I’m guessing considering this show’s trajectory, either both will die or I will hate them both by the time the show is over.

9. I must say, the way folks have been seemingly unhappy with the final season has me less than interested in continuing to trudge this out. While I’m enjoying it, it is becoming a bit of a labor of love because I can’t truly binge it. I will keep on pushing but I really hope the series finale makes up for it all because I’d hate to know how crappy it will become and fight my way through it all anyway only to feel how everybody else feels right now.

10. In case it isn’t clear, I’m here for the dragons. Because of social media I know she loses at least one (and maybe another) and that makes me sad. If I had three dragon children I’d be so upset if I lost any of them.

Source: https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/

I recently took a trip down to Atlanta for my niece’s high school graduation. Despite the amount of Red Bull I consume (does anybody else think the only reason flavored Red Bull exists is to mix with vodka?), I do not have wings. So I had to fly. There are times when I fly that I’ll spring for an upgrade to either first class if it’s not too, too expensive or just to move up in boarding so I can ensure my bag makes it into overhead cabin space. This time, however, I took whatever the airline gave me, and boy did Delta show its ass.

For one, Delta has done away with boarding zone numbers in favor of a more word-dependent system but in proving that the airline doesn’t keep up with social media or black people, the last zone to board is now called “Basic.” And really, calling it a zone is unfair; this is the point in boarding when the folks at the counter just say “anybody else waiting around who thinks they’re getting on this flight, you can board now.” On my flight to Atlanta, Delta didn’t even say that as apparently the “Basic” zone only included myself and another person, so they actually called our names over the loudspeaker like we had gotten lost in the airport or something. Do better Delta.

Well, buying a “Basic” ticket pretty much put me into a seat towards the back of the plane. And you know what that means. It means I got to sit with the folks who could afford a plane ticket, but also think that they should be able to afford a more expensive plane ticket or an upgrade, so their behavior comports to that fantasy as opposed to the reality of sitting in seat 39B. This creates an unintentionally funny social experiment of annoying people. You know the type—the kind who sit in standstill traffic and honk their horn because if the cars around them would JUST MOVE they’d be able to go about their day just fine. People are dumb. And all of those people are on airplanes, naturally. Here are five of the most ridiculous of them.

1. The person in the last row who somehow decides that as soon as the plane stops they should grab their shit and try to run down the aisle to get as close to the front as possible.

If this is you, stop it. You’re not getting more than two rows ahead and you’re fucking up the feng shui and flow of deboarding traffic. Because if you’re going to do THAT, then you’re definitely going to try to squeeze past others while they grab their bags and not say excuse me, as you fuck up everybody else’s deboarding process.

2. The person who is in row 21 but had to put their bag in the overhead above row 27 but thinks that the whole-ass plane should wait for them to get their bag before row 22 up and gets off the plane.

I saw this yesterday. A woman literally stood in the aisle asking people six rows back to get her bag out of the overhead compartment and pass it down as opposed to waiting like she ended up HAVING to do. Just stop it.

3. The people in the window seats in any rows behind say 10 in coach, who are trying to stretch out and inch closer to the aisle that’s being blocked by, well the people closest to the aisle.

Stop touching me.

4. The folks who try to get out into the aisle for no good reason because they can’t go nowhere and obstruct the people trying to get their bags out because it’s their turn to actually get off the plane.

I realize this whole ridiculous list includes the built-in notion that there is order to getting off a plane. Some of you don’t believe this. Some of you believe you if you can beat the system, then you should beat the system. In very rare instances the system is beatable on a packed plane. But mostly, you are just like the rest of us who ain’t first-class mofos who will need to patiently and chillfully wait to get the fuck up off the plane. Eckspecially if your ass is in the “economy coach” class rows above 30. It’s gon’ be a minute, buddy. Let the folks get their bags, my G.

5. The people in middle or window seats who ask you to get their roller bags from the overhead compartment and pass it to them taking up valuable real estate as they open it up and check to make sure all the shit that was in there when they put it in the overhead space is still there EVEN though literally nobody could have stuck them for their paper without them knowing.

I hate you people. Just perish. Panama says just perish.

Bonus

On my flight to Atlanta, I was in row 35 and had the aisle seat. I was sitting next to two chaps with an affinity for flying planes who spent THE FIRST HOUR of an hour-and-a-half flight talking about famous plane crashes. Bruuuuuuuuh.

Source: https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/

“You’re so different. You’re so articulate. Why do you talk like a white girl? You’re the whitest black girl I know.”

Comments like these beg the question: What makes you black? Is it merely the color of one’s skin? Is it a state of mind? Knowing the lyrics to Cardi B’s songs?

It took me a while to embrace that my blackness was not the stereotype others believed.

In some ways, I am different. I was lucky to be raised in a household where I received all that I needed, with some of what I wanted. My parents encouraged me to spread my wings and move from my native New York to Miami for a job as a prosecutor. Being a black prosecutor was isolating, but I found others like me midway through my career.

I lived in a weird juxtaposition—I was a black female attorney, holding down a teaching job on the side, which allowed me some luxuries in life like a nicer car and the ability to travel. I never took it for granted; but in certain circles, I got pushback.

The message? That I “don’t know the struggle.”

Every black person’s struggle takes a different path but has the same theme. In my legal career, the struggle is respect, being heard, and having the ability to make meaningful change to uplift communities of color. The bias looks the same—while some people of color may be hesitant to embrace you because you’re perceived as “bougie,” certain white folks marvel that you can afford a luxury purse or a high-end foreign car without being tied to illegal activity. I was once at an event when a judge joked to me whether or not my Michael Kors purse was a result of dropping cases as a prosecutor.

No lie.

In doing community work, I often had to work harder to gain the credibility of my fellow people of color because I just seemed “so different.” One day, I was picking up a friend who lived in a poorer area of the city. She sent a young niece to let me know she was running late. I told her no problem. The niece went back to my friend and said, “why does she talk like that?”

“Like what, Sweetie?”

“Like a white girl”

I never was great at the code switch—I just was always me. Besides, I had no code to switch from. The result was working doubly hard in every environment.

Finally, I just stopped.

I always bristle when someone says “well s/he’s black, but you know, not really” or “s/he is the whitest black person I know.” Often this is said by a white person, possibly thinking it’s some sort of compliment, along the same lines of “you’re just so articulate.”

Really? How is that? Because the person doesn’t fit some sort of stereotype? Speak in a certain way? Throw the black power fist in the air for your entertainment?

To me, it’s not just about knowing pop culture or the latest urban wear designer. It’s knowing your history and being authentic to your roots. I’m an African-American woman, born of two immigrant Caribbean parents. If you really want to get down to it—Afro-Caribbean-American. I wear my hair in dreadlocks as a nod to the natural beauty of my own hair texture, not what Hollywood or someone else says is beauty. I can recite every Public Enemy song, but not so much for hip-hop past the year 2000 (I feel the message has been lost—with a few exceptions). I serve my community and humanity at large to the best of my ability. I fight injustice where I can. I see my dark complexion in the mirror and feel proud, strong and beautiful. Being African American presents challenges because of the ignorance of some, but I was given the tools at birth to be a warrior for positive change.

I’m in a place where I believe that the work I do daily reflects my authenticity. The work of fighting for racial equality is too important to get caught up in how I look or sound to others.

This is me.

My daughter is now 10 years old. This means in eight years she’ll be off to Spelman College in Atlanta to become the best she can be at the best HBCU in the country. I remember announcing on this here website that her mother was pregnant. Oh, how time flies. While my daughter can go wherever she wants—and I will be fine with whatever she decides to do with her life as long as it’s what she wants to do—if you ask her right now, she’ll tell you Spelman. Look at gawd.

This means I need to make her HBCU-ready. Or at least make sure she ain’t like waaaaaay too many folks I know who went to HBCUs who weren’t up on various parts of the game. It was quite illuminating. One thing that I learned at Morehouse College is that even though it’s a black school, so many of our experiences were vastly different. I know we are not a monolith but you’d think some things translated across the African-American diaspora. Well, since I’ve found that to be untrue, I will ensure that my children are prepared to not be outsiders to any of the more standard facets of black culture so that there will be no blackness shaming up in nobody’s dorm as niggas break out the decks of cards. Here are seven black-ass things I will make sure my chirrens are up on.

1. How to play Spades

My kids will not be the ones who don’t know how to count books or even understand how the game is played. They will know how to play Joker-Joker-Deuce-Deuce, know proper Card Slap Etiquette and how to score. Basically, one weekend a month, my home will be a Spades camp. Feel free to send your kids if you don’t know how to play. I will accept cash or money orders and I’m not going back and forth with you niggas about it. Also, Uno.

2. How to do the Electric Slide

At no point will they be outsiders at weddings, funerals, cookouts, family reunions or random warm, sunny days on the yard. Where there are two or more gathered in the name of blackness, a line dance is threatening to break out.

3. The significance of Frankie Beverly & Maze’s “Before I Let Go”

Black staple. Call it the Urban Swingline. See what I did there? My chirrens will know how to bust out the Electric Slide to this song AND KNOW this means its time to go at the club, or it’s time to really enjoy yourself at the cookout. But most importantly, they will know the best time to unleash the song. Dracarys! Do you see what I did there?

4. Cameo’s “Candy” for the same reason as “Before I Let Go”

And because Beyoncé really does care about the people, she put them both together in one song so everybody can win at the same damn time. By the time my kids are in college, presumably at HBCUs, I believe Bey’s version will be the pre-eminent version.

5. At least the whole first verse to “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”

I know maybe one person who knows the entire second and third verses of this song. Most of us just hum. But anybody making you sing past the first verse is a masochist anyway, so as long as they have the first verse down we Gucci and I’ve done my job.

6. The black classic movies

Brown Sugar, Coming to America, The Color Purple, Love Jones, Love & Basketball, The Best Man, Boomerang, Boyz N The Hood ... I could keep going. There will be watch sessions of them all. Multiple times. Won’t be nobody talking about, “YOU HAVEN’T SEEN LOVE JONES!” to my kids. No siree, Bob.

7. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

This will happen. Because it must happen. Because it will always be one of the most important books ever. They will also read Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God and pretty much as many of the books on my black shelves as possible.

I know there are as many different ways to be black as there are black people on the planet. But my kids won’t be deficient in any of the aforementioned ways dammit.

Source: https://verysmartbrothas.theroot.com/

As wealthy New York families drove east to the Hamptons over the holiday weekend, the Shinnecock Indian Nation protested their presence via billboard, The New York Times reported.

Standing six-stories high, the billboards sit on the main highway that all drivers heading to the Hamptons must use. While the signs reportedly show ads for watches and reminders to drive safely, among other things, the Shinnecock tribal seal sits atop the billboards, 60 feet in the air. The message is simple: the Hamptons actually belong to the Shinnecock Indian Nation.

The jurisdiction doesn’t allow billboards, and state officials reportedly pushed back with legal action against the Shinnecocks. The Times reports that a state judge issued a temporary restraining order to halt construction on the two electronic signs. But the tribe, which is native to the land now called Long Island—including the ground on which the billboards sit—is standing its ground.

“We don’t recognize their authority on our sovereign lands,” Bryan Polite, the tribe’s chairperson, told The Times. The tribe expanded on that point in a statement posted to Facebook today (May 28). From that statement:

The state’s lawsuit against Shinnecock officials is a thinly veiled attack on the Shinnecock Nation and our right of self-determination. Throughout our history, our lands and economic future have been taken from us by the state and the surrounding community. Our goal is simply to generate revenue to provide for our people. The state has a long history of bulldozing Indian lands and Indian people to get what it wants. We will fight against the most recent effort to attack our tribal sovereignty.

The Shinnecock Nation sees the start of summer as the perfect time to protest, and the highway as the best venue to get the word out. It also sees the billboards as a way to create much-needed revenue for the tribe.

“We’re taking advantage of the opportunity because of the fact that billboards are not allowed in the Hamptons. On our land, we feel we had a captive audience with the highway traffic,” Lance Gumbs, vice chair for the Shinnecock Indian Nation, told Newsday.

As of now, Newsday reports that the tribe has no plans to remove the billboards.

Iconic author Toni Morrison has earned a lifetime’s worth of awards and honors for her contributions to literature, and today (May 22) she is the recipient of the American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Gold Medal for Fiction. The Gold Medal—the organization’s highest honor for excellence in the arts—is awarded to artists who have achieved eminence via their entire body of work.

Morrison’s eminence cannot be overstated. At age 88, the author has penned 11 novels that confront race and culture head-on, including 1987’s “Beloved,” which won both the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. In a thesis that argued for the best literature ever produced, The New York Times praised the book, writing that in “less than 20 years after its publication, [“Beloved” has] become a staple of the college literary curriculum, which is to say a classic.”

In addition, Morrison, who is also the Robert F. Goheen Professor in the Humanities, Emerita, at Princeton University, has also been awarded with the National Book Critics Circle Award, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Nobel Prize in Literature, among many other distinguished honors.

In honor of the storyteller, who is also an Academy member, the Academy wrote that, “Toni Morrison has, over the years, shaken us out of the ruts of our ordinary perspective. She has allowed us to walk through various shades of the national experience, always incisively, provocatively, generously.”

Source: https://www.colorlines.com/

GLAAD’s newest diversity report shows a drop for LGBTQ+ characters of color and improvement with regard to trans characters.

GLAAD’s newest diversity report shows that Hollywood still has a long way to go when it comes to representation for LGBTQ+ people of color.

“The racial diversity of LGBTQ characters saw a drop this year, with 42 percent of LGBTQ characters being people of color, compared to 57 percent in 2017,” says the 2019 GLAAD Studio Responsibility Index(SRI), released on Thursday (May 23). “There were no transgender or nonbinary characters counted in mainstream releases [in 2017].”

The annual index tracks the diversity, quality and quantity of LGBTQ+ characters in films released by seven major studios; for 2018, the organization researched films from 20th Century Fox, Lionsgate, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Universal Pictures, The Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros.

“Of the 45 characters counted, 26 were White (58 percent), 10 were Black/African American (22 percent), six were Asian/Pacific Islander (13 percent) and three were Latinx (7 percent).”

While the 15 percent drop in LGBTQ+ characters of color is alarming, the report did find that LGBTQ+ representation increased 5 percent overall from the year before, and for the first time since GLAADstarted mapping these trends in 2013, an equal number of films featured gay and lesbian characters.

Other findings in the report show that if Hollywood wants to keep the LGBTQ+ community interested, “the studios must create stories that are reflective of the world LGBTQ people and our friends and family know and make those films accessible in wide release.” From the report:

GLAAD and The Harris Poll’s Accelerating Acceptance report shows that 20 percent of Americans aged 18 to 34 and 12 percent aged 35-51 identify as LGBTQ. Twelve percent of Americans 18-34 identify as transgender or gender nonconforming. A majority of these demographics would also call themselves allies—63 percent of Americans 18-34 and 53 percent of Americans 35-51.

Of the 110 films GLAAD counted from the major studios in 2018, 20 (18.2 percent) contained characters identified as LGBTQ.

There were zero transgender-inclusive films from the major studios in 2018, a finding consistent with the previous year.

Read the full report here.

Source:https://www.colorlines.com/

*Its “Married To Medicine” meets “Housewives of Atlanta!”

“Love & Marriage: Huntsville” follows three successful African American couples who come together to revitalize Huntsville, Alabama through their joint real estate venture – The Comeback Group.

OWN TV will kick off the new year by adding the new show to its popular Saturday night lineup premiering January 12th at 10 p.m. ET following the season six return of “Iyanla: Fix My Life.”

The partners are longtime friends and avid socialites with strong personalities and strong points of view. They all have different relationship history: one is dealing with an old-fashioned husband, another has been engaged for seven years and the third is dealing with the successes of business and a cheating scandal.

The unscripted series will feature Melody and Martell Holt, Marsau and LaTisha Scott and soon-to-be-married duo, Maurice Scott and Kimmi Grant.

Click here for a first look at the official “Love & Marriage: Huntsville” trailer.

The triads’ goals are to put Huntsville back on the map while trying to navigate through the realities of love and marriage – and attempting to focus on making their huge undertaking a success. There will be plenty of laughs, tears and even a wedding, as the group tries to balance their careers, families and social lives and attempt to transform both the city and their relationships to achieve their ultimate dreams.

The eight-episode series is produced by Kingdom Reign Entertainment for ITV America with Carlos King, Gil Lopez and Andrew Hoagland serving as executive producers.

About Oprah Winfrey Network:
OWN is the first and only network named for, and inspired by, a single iconic leader. Oprah Winfrey’s heart and creative instincts inform the brand and the magnetism of the channel. OWN is a leading destination for premium scripted and unscripted programming from today’s most innovative storytellers. OWN connects with its audience wherever they are, inspiring conversation among a global community of like-minded viewers on social media and beyond. Launched on January 1, 2011, OWN is a joint venture between Harpo, Inc. and Discovery, Inc. The venture also includes the award-winning digital platform Oprah.com.

Access OWN anytime, anywhere on WatchOWN.tv or across mobile devices and connected TVs.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/lit-show-alert-love-marriage-huntsville-watch/

*Dr. Steve Perry’s new syndicated talk show has been picked up for a limited run by Fox TV stations and will launch at the top of the year! 

Perry is a respected educator and advocate, best known for creating educational opportunities for children. His new daytime talker “Breakthrough With Dr. Steve Perry” will air for two weeks, beginning Jan. 7, 2019, at various times in eight markets, including WNYW in New York, KTTV in Los Angeles, KTXH in Houston, WAGA in Atlanta, KUTP in Phoenix, WJBK in Detroit, WOFL in Orlando and WJZY in Charlotte.

“I am proud to announce my daytime show on @FOXTV,  “Breakthrough with @DrStevePerry” starts on 1/7/19,” Perry wrote on Twitter. “In this honest nonjudgmental space you’ll see ppl pushed past comfort to their Breakthroughs. Just like we do in our schools, we’re gonna go THERE to uncover what matters.”

OTHER NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED: Black Owned AFRO and CLEO TV Will Launch on Comcast’s Xfinity TV in January 2019

“We are excited to bring Dr. Perry’s unique voice and inspiring perspective to daytime,” Angelica McDaniel, EVP, Syndicated Program Development for CTD, said. “He has been committed to improving the lives of American families for decades, and we are thrilled to be taking the work he does in his office every day and moving it to television so that millions more people can benefit from his wisdom and advice.”

Added Frank Cicha, SVP of Programming for Fox TV Stations, “We think Breakthrough has potential. And being able to present it in January, when there isn’t much going on in syndication, makes it that much more compelling. Our goal is to deliver fresh programming year-round, so we’re glad to be working with CBS on this.”

As noted by Deadline, “Perry, a best-selling author, was the focus of CNN’s Black in America series, Education Contributor for CNN and MSNBC, an Essence Magazine columnist, and host of the docudrama for TVOne Save My Son.”

“Everybody needs a breakthrough! I am humbled and excited to take people through theirs,” Perry said. “What makes TV matter is when it adds value to our lives. There’s nothing more valuable than learning how to arrive at a breakthrough, and I look forward to sharing that experience with viewers.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/dr-steve-perry-announces-new-talk-show-gets-fox-stations-test-run/

UPDATE …

In a statement to TMZ, Nelly says: “The truth will come out, and I will be vindicated. These types of false allegations undermine real claims of sexual abuse/harassment by real victims.”

He’s also defending his GF, Shantel, saying she’s been through enough. “I am a father to a beautiful strong woman. I was raised by a strong single woman. I love them all very much. I own my actions and take responsibility for my conduct with Monique Greene. We had CONSENSUAL sex after meeting in a club. Period. And for that I had to deal with the repercussions of my poor choice. I am repairing the trust that I broke with Shantel, I have apologized to my family and friends for the embarrassment I have caused them. And, I am committed to be a better man.”

Nelly adds, “I do NOT plan on walking away quietly. I have to speak up for my family and for the real victims strong enough to come forward and face people that have actually assaulted them.”

KIM PORTER (DIDDY’S EX-GIRLFRIEND) DEAD AT 47 – UPDATE: SOURCE SAYS SHE WAS SICK FOR WEEKS

Earlier, we reported …

*Damn, damn, damn. If you believe these new accusations, St. Louis rapper Nelly has let his little head get him in serious trouble … again.

This time, a woman is suing him for an alleged sexual assault after one of his shows in England. The unidentified woman (she filed the claim as a Jane Doe), asserts Nelly masturbated in front of her multiple times after a December 2017 concert in Essex. By the way, according to TMZ, Nelly was under criminal investigation in February after the woman came forward with the allegations.

In docs, obtained by TMZ, she says they met during a meet-and-greet and he whispered in her ear to stay behind. She did, but that’s when she claims he dropped his pants and started masturbating while saying, “You want this d**k don’t you.”

JILL SCOTT: SINGER EXPLAINS WHY SHE SIMULATES SEX ACTS DURING CONCERT [LISTEN]

Doe claims she rebuffed him several times but Nelly would not back off, and told her he wanted to ejaculate on her. She says she told him something to effect of … “You may have more quid in your bank than I do. But this doesn’t make you any more special. Pull your trousers back up and f*** off.”

The woman claims Nelly got aggressive and clenched his fist — and when she asked if he was going to hit her, he allegedly said … “No I’m just frustrated. I’m not used to not getting my way, just do it.” She claims he forced his penis into her mouth, and that’s when she jumped back and was able to flee the room.

The woman is also suing Nelly’s GF, Shantel Jackson, for calling her a liar on Twitter.

Lastly, if you recall, Nelly and another woman, Monique Greene, reached a mutual settlement after he was accused of raping her on his tour bus in October 2017.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/nelly-facing-new-legal-issue-from-uk-woman-suing-him-for-sexual-assault-graphic-details/

*Former first lady Michelle Obama served up a candid interview with “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts ahead of the Tuesday release of her highly anticipated memoir “Becoming,” and she shared the vital advice she’d give her pre-White House self if she could travel back in time. 

“You know the hard parts were the things that I expected,” Michelle Obama told Roberts in the exclusive interview.

“That it was gonna be hard, you know? Being the first black anything is gonna be hard.”

“So much of this country lives in isolation and we just don’t know each other. … There were people who didn’t know what a black woman was and sounded like. And, so I knew that was gonna be a challenge, that I’d have to earn my grace — and I experienced that on the campaign trail,” she said.

Obama and Roberts’ conversation covered a range of topics including Michelle’s miscarriage, going through IVF, Donald Trump Obama’s candidacy for president.

Watch the clip below.

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She also explained that when she saw her husband on the cover of Time magazine in October 2006 with the headline, “Why Barack Obama could be the next president,” she couldn’t bring herself to read it. 

“I think I did what a lot of black folks were doing,” she told Roberts. “We were afraid to hope because it’s hard to believe that the country that oppressed you could one day be led by you, you know?”

Michelle shared that while she totally supported Barack’s run for the presidency, she didn’t think he’d win. 

“I mean, my grandparents, you know, lived through segregation,” she continued. “My grandfather, his grandfather was a slave, you know? So this, these memories were real. And they didn’t think the country was ready. And, and so my attitude was a reflection of that skepticism.”

On the campaign trail, she was insulted and her patriotism was questioned.

“I write about those, you know, those nasty times where people, you know, called me Barack’s ‘baby mama,’ you know? Accused me of not loving my country. … Told me I was angry,” she said. And, I was, like, ‘This isn’t me. Wait, wait, people. This isn’t who I am.'”

As reported by abcnews.go.com, Obama admitted to Roberts that the criticism she endured during her husband’s campaign hurt.

“I don’t think we do each other a service by pretending like hurtful things don’t hurt,” she told Roberts.

“And, that’s what I’ve come to. … I need to own that hurt. I need to talk about it. I need to put it out there for myself so that I can heal from it. But at the time, oh gosh, you know? I wasn’t gonna allow myself to feel victimized from it because there was no time to hurt in that role.”

As we previously reported, Michelle Obama heavily criticized Donald Trump in her much-anticipated memoir, “Becoming,” and says he jeopardized her family’s safety by propagating the false ‘birther’ conspiracy theory.

“The whole [birther] thing was crazy and mean-spirited, of course, its underlying bigotry and xenophobia hardly concealed. But it was also dangerous, deliberately meant to stir up the wingnuts and kooks,” she writes. “What if someone with an unstable mind loaded a gun and drove to Washington? What if that person went looking for our girls? Donald Trump, with his loud and reckless innuendos, was putting my family’s safety at risk. And for this I’d never forgive him.”

Trump responded Friday to Obama’s comments by pointing the finger at his predecessor.

“She got paid a lot of money to write a book and they always expect a little controversy,” Trump told reporters. “I’ll give you a little controversy back, I’ll never forgive [President Barack Obama] for what he did to our U.S. military. It was depleted, and I had to fix it.”

“What he did to our military made this country very unsafe for you and you and you,” he added.

Roberts’ candid conversation with Obama aired during a primetime ABC News special, “Becoming Michelle: A First Lady’s Journey with Robin Roberts,” on Sunday ( Nov. 11).  

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/michelle-obama-on-whether-she-thought-barack-could-win-the-white-house-watch/

*On an upcoming episode of “Rickey Smiley For Real,” the comedian hangs with singer/talk show host Syleena Johnson and reality TV star/talk show host Quad Webb-Lunceford of “Sister Circle Live.”

When the two ladies visit Rickey Smiley at his “Dish Nation” offices to tape a segment for their daytime talker, he charms them with his hilarious antics and his infamous “Roll Tide.”

Get a glimpse of the conversation via the clip above.

“Rickey Smiley For Real” airs Tuesdays at 8/7c on TV One.

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In related news, we previously reported that Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) announced it has selected  TV One’s Cleo TV and Afrotainment’s Afro to be broadly distributed on Comcast Cable systems beginning in January 2019.

“We’re at a pivotal moment in history where women are making a huge impact in our society and culture, especially women of color,” said Michelle Rice, TV One’s General Manager.  “CLEO TV will offer a diverse mix of lifestyle and entertainment content through the unique lens of Millennial and young Gen-X women of color, an audience segment that is currently underserved.  CLEO TV will leverage the comprehensive media platform of our parent company Urban One, Inc. which includes digital, television and radio divisions that will each play an integral role in bringing this new network to the marketplace.  We are grateful to Comcast for the tremendous opportunity to elevate new voices in our industry.”

About Afrotainment

Afrotainment, a Florida-based company edits, operates and distributes eight networks from its state-of-the-art film and television studios in Orlando and Queens, New York. Afrotainment channels are available in the US and Canada via cable, satellite, fiber-optic and OTT platforms. Visit www.afrotainment.us for more information.

About CLEO TV 

Launching in January 2019, CLEO TV is a lifestyle and entertainment network targeting Millennial and Gen X women of color.  Derived from the name Cleopatra, one of the most powerful, trendsetting, rule-breaking and iconic women in history, CLEO TV will offer quality content that defies negative and cultural stereotypes of today’s modern women.  The network promises a unique and diverse offering of short-form and long-form content including travel, home design, cooking, talk shows, movies, docu-series, sitcoms and much more.  CLEO TV is solely owned by Urban One, Inc., formerly known as Radio One, Inc. [NASDAQ: UONE and UONEK, www.urban1.com], the largest African-American owned multi-media company primarily targeting Black and urban audiences.

Source:https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/rickey-smiley-keeps-sister-circle-hosts-rolling-with-laughter-watch/

*Mo’Nique left a sour taste in the mouths of many when she stood up for herself against streaming platform Netflix, accusing the company of racial and gender bias. She even called out radio personality Charlamagne tha God for giving her “Donkey of the Day” for defending fellow comedian Roseanne Barr, after she was slammed for a racist tweet.

As reported by thejasminebrand.com, Mo revisits these controversies in a new interview and explains why she thinks Charlamagne puts poison on airwaves and why she doesn’t regret putting Oprah Winfrey, Tyler Perry, and Lee Daniels on blast. 

See the excerpts below (via theJasminebrand).

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Does she regret what she said about Winfrey, Perry, and Daniels:

Never. Lemme tell you something, I said one thing on stage a couple years ago at the Apollo about (“Precious” producer) Oprah Winfrey, (“Precious” director”) Lee Daniels and (“Precious” producer) Tyler Perry, and people say, ‘Do you regret saying that?’ And then I pause and I say, ‘Hell no, I don’t regret it.’ I meant every word I said.

Adding,

That movie cost $10 million to make and it made $63 million. I was paid $50,000. And because black actresses are so underpaid, Lee Daniels thought that was a lot of money. I’m going to quote him, in my dressing room, as we were between scenes: ‘I got you paid on this one.’ And I said, ‘Lee, I say this with all humility, but that’s not money. Baby, I make that in one hour standing up on the stage doing comedy.’ In their minds, I’m a fat black woman and I should be honored that they were even calling on me. But if I’m in Cannes for even one day and I’m making you money but I’m not making me money, I cannot do that.

Why she did it:

The biggest risk is me saying nothing and the woman in the mirror looking back at me saying, ‘You’re such a coward.’ That’s the risk. When that woman looks back at me in the mirror, I want her to say, ‘You damn right. You damn right. Keep going.’

Her feelings towards Charlamange tha God:

Because I know that every morning he turns that button on, he’s poisoning my community. It makes me sick to my stomach. So I wasn’t trying to be funny or offensive — I’m going to call you by your name because we’re having a real conversation right now. We’re not in pretend — and that name is pretend. We’ve got to talk for real right now. And when he calls me Donkey of the Day because I was asking for equality, are you crazy? When you hear a man say that, I had to talk to him — with love also, because I love that brother. But it’s disheartening to know that he sits behind that microphone and millions of people listen to the poison that he puts in our community. So I’m gonna keep on speaking about the inequality in Hollywood. I have to.

The Oscar-winning actress alludes to her late-night BET talk show being called as a result of her being blackballed:

I will say ‘The Mo’Nique Show’ was the highest rated show in that time slot in the history of BET and it doubled the ratings for the network. Now, I can’t make that make sense. Can you? We got picked up for a third season and then that was called back. Think about the timing of all of this and I’m going to let you put this all together. I can’t assume nothing. But I’m just telling you, think about the timing. How do you let go of a show that’s doubled the numbers for your network — with no explanation?

Source:https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/monique-has-no-regrets-about-putting-oprah-lee-daniels-tyler-perry-on-blast/

*They don’t call this little heffa “Bad Bhabie” for nothin’. Her real name is Danielle Bregoli and she straight went at Iggy Azalea by throwing a clear liquid (water?) at her inside Cardi B’s Fashion Nova launch event at Boulevard 3 in Hollywood Wednesday night.

TMZ was there and reports that it was pure bedlam in the aftermath of the attack: Iggy’s crew started talking smack at Bhabie while her security held her (Bhabie) back. They couldn’t stop her from running her mouth, though. But then again, you’re talking about a wild-ass 15-year-old rapper attacking a 28-year-old rapper who’s also known to be crazy at times.

Anyway, so what made Bhabie to go at Azalea in the first place? The beef apparently started because Iggy talked stuff on social media, saying who would even go to one of Bhabie’s shows? Well, Miss Danielle fired back that Iggy should so she could remember what a sold-out show looks like (Ouch. Good, Bad Bhabie).

Outside the venue, Danielle was still stoked and she insisted “ain’t nobody worried about that f**kin’ hoe!!”

As for Iggy Azalea, she was all cool and calm … totally unfazed unfazed by the situation, she said she hopes it wasn’t alcohol Bhabie threw because “she’s a little kid.”

MORE NEWS: NELLY FACING NEW LEGAL ISSUE FROM UK WOMAN SUING HIM FOR SEXUAL ASSAULT (GRAPHIC DETAILS)

Imagine me scrambling around on the floor in a dirty night club trying to hit a teenage girl.
Girl. NO.
I’m grown and will simply have you REMOVED and continue enjoying myself.
 #YouNotSpecial
Anything else from her mouth is ignored –
it’s too preschool for me.

— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) November 15, 2018

Anyway I’ll let y’all know about the 2.7 million dollar distribution deal i came back to LA to sign later this week. I have big girl things to do –
Gotta go!

— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) November 15, 2018

Now y’all saw the video I’m sure you understand why I spent the rest of the night laughing and unbothered by that foolishness.

— IGGY AZALEA (@IGGYAZALEA) November 15, 2018

She also addressed the altercation in an Instagram Story:

“I’m driving home, so I have to look at the road, but I’ve got a long drive so I want to say this while I can before I forget. I get that this little girl has made a name for herself acting a damn fool on television and online, but I’m a grown-up. I’m not about to waste my energy on that shit or be fighting a kid in a club. Come on. I came to get a check. I left with a check. You left with your bags stuffed over there and you look silly. I’m not going to be scrambling around on the floor for a 15-year-old girl on the internet. I have to laugh. I don’t know. I just think people want clout really bad. Mama, good luck with your career. You’re young. You’re going to look back on this and you’re going to really feel dumb. I just think that shit’s lame as hell, but maybe it’s ’cause I’m a grown-up.”

Bhad Bhabie also took to her Instagram Story to get her 2 cents in:

“Bye broke bich. Bye hoe. Glad u left wit a bag cuz u certainly ain’t making no money from music anymore. It’s simple. Don’t talk all sorts of shit on the internet n come up to me like u my friend. Some of these hoes like u fake n 2 faced as fuckk vbut I’m NOT that bich.”

This story leaves us with two questions:

1. How did a 15-year-juvenile old get into the club in the first place?
2. If the two had actually fought, who would you have picked? The kid or the adult?

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/white-girl-rapper-drama-bad-bhabie-attacks-iggy-azalea-with-drink-and-mouth-watch/

*On Thursday, Nov. 15, The Real welcomes back guest co-host White House Correspondent, Washington Bureau Chief of American Urban Radio Networks and CNN Political Analyst April Ryan.

Today, the ladies discuss the difference between commitment and complacency in a job and if should children’s school photos be retouched. Also, co-host Jeannie Mai describes her father’s selflessness when she attempts to give him presents.

Then actress, comedian, and now author Kym Whitley stops by to talk about her book, The Delusion of Cinderella, running into former students from her teaching days, and the travel hacks that she swears by.

And New York City week continues as The Real gives away a bundle of cash to a lucky viewer in Hotline Bling!

Kym Whitley’s Travel Hacks

April Ryan: So, Kym. You travel a lot for work and the holidays are coming up… So, do you have any great travel hacks for us, you know?

Kym Whitley: Oh…

Jeannie Mai: Yea.

April: Uh oh!

Kym: Y’all know me. This one knows me.

April: Look at her smile. And she’s rocking the smile.

Kym: Okay, ‘cuz you know some of the airlines, you don’t have assigned seats.

Adrienne Houghton: Yea.

Kym: So, when I get on there, I want to sit by myself.  So, I get on there, I put on my neck pillow on my head, I start coughing (makes coughing sound).

April: You make yourself look crazy.

Kym: Oh, yea. I do bird calls. (makes bird calling noises)

Adrienne: Yea, I’m not sitting next to you.

Loni Love: Keep on walking by.

Kym: When I tell you, people call, they walk on by. I cough on my hand and be like ‘how you doing?’

Adrienne: Oh my gosh!

Kym: And then for some, I make myself real wide. I’ll be like this. (stretches out her arms)

April: And I believe her! I believe you!

Website: thereal.com

Twitter: @TheRealDaytime

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealdaytime

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/therealdaytime

Instagram: http://instagram.com/therealdaytime

Photo  credit: Robert Voets/Warner Bros. Television

About The Real

Led by bold, diverse and outspoken Emmy Award-winning hosts, Adrienne Houghton, Loni Love, Jeannie Mai and Tamera Mowry-Housley all frankly say what women are actually thinking. THE REAL is a live daily, one-hour NAACP Image Award-winning and Emmy-nominated talk show on Fox Television Stations and in national syndication (check local listings), with a rebroadcast on cable network Bounce. The hosts’ unique perspectives are brought to life through candid conversations about their personal lives, current events, beauty, fashion and relationships (nothing is off limits). Unlike other talk shows, THE REAL hosts are admittedly a “work in progress,” and fearlessly invite viewers to reflect on their own lives and opinions. Fresh points of view, youthful energy and passion have made THE REAL a platform for multicultural women. Produced by Telepictures Productions and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, The Real is led by Executive Producer, Rachel Miskowiec (Good Morning America, Katie, The Tyra Banks Show, Judge Hatchett, The Ricki Lake Show) and shot in Los Angeles, California.

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/the-real-welcomes-back-kym-whitley-and-new-york-week-continues-with-guest-co-host-april-ryan/

*Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is presenting Ballet Folklorico de Mexico de Amalia Hernandez on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at 4:00 pm.

Mexico’s most prestigious folkloric dance company presents a colorful evening of traditional dance and music with sophisticated costumes and powerful and accomplished dancers. Ballet Folklórico de México de Amalia Hernández is the number one promoter of Mexican dance throughout the world. The Dance Troupe takes a journey into the diverse Mexican cultures – past and present!

In 1952, dancer and choreographer Amalia Hernandez founded the BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO, having embarked at a very early age on a never-ending quest to rescue the dancing traditions of Mexico. This vital search became a basic need to express not only in Mexico, but includes the rest of the world. Her goal was to share the beauty of the Universe in motion through Mexican dances from the pre-Colombian era, the Hispanic Viceroy period, and the popular period of the Revolutionary years.

In 1954, Amalia began to garner recognition as a highly respected cultural representative of Mexico. In her earliest ballets, the audience saw modern dances and dances that travel back in time bringing back to life the lords of heaven and earth,, the jaguars, the gods born of human flesh; and thirty different cultures that blossomed in centuries past. All of these elements together gave Amalia Hernández the inspiration to create the Ballet Folklórico de México. A weekly program on Mexican television sponsored by the government aired the Ballet’s initial performances. Merely a few years into their formation, the company achieved a degree of international success that has been maintained for over fifty years.

Amalia Hernández and the Ballet Folklórico de México have since created over forty ballets for upwards of seventy dancers. The music, technical rigor, elaborate costuming and Amalia’s choreography have helped the Ballet and its followers disseminate the zest for rich Mexican tradition and folklore throughout the world. Since 1959, the company has been permanently housed at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City. The institution has two main artistic companies called The First Company and the Resident Company, both whom alternate tours and performances in Mexico and abroad. The company has currently given over 5,000 performances and both Amalia Hernández and the Ballet Folklórico de México have been distinguished with more than 300 awards recognizing their artistic merits.

Lehman Center is under renovation so concert goers will find the lobbies have been upgraded for ADA compliance with new ramps and carpeting. The interior of the theater has new seating, carpeted aisles, and finished flooring as well. The $15.4 million dollar refurbishment of the Center is expected to be completed by mid-2019 and will include 5,400 square feet of enlarged space with a new main entrance and a redesigned box office, plus new administration offices and restroom facilities on the first and mezzanine floors, and an elevator. The Center seats 2,278 people in the concert hall and is the largest of its kind in the borough. Funding for the project is being provided by the Office of the Governor, the New York State Legislature, the Bronx delegation of the New York City Council, and the Office of the Bronx Borough President. Additional funding is being raised with a seat naming initiative, which allows community members to make a personal connection with one of New York City’s most important not-for-profit entertainment venues.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts is on the campus of Lehman College/CUNY located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West, Bronx, NY 10468. Tickets for BALLET FOLKLÓRICO DE MÉXICO featured on Sunday, November 18th, 2018 at 4:00 pm are $45, $40, $25 | Children 12 & under pay $10 for any seat. Call the Lehman Center Box Office for tickets at 718-960-8833 or via online access at http://www.LehmanCenter.org.

Deardra Shuler has experience in theatre, music, concert promotion, television and publishing. She was affiliated with the Negro Ensemble Company and is a former manager of the children’s theatre,”TADA.” She has produced and promoted concerts in Madison Square Garden, Carnegie Hall, and Radio City Music Hall.
Ms. Shuler is the former Editor and Managing Editor of three New York City minority newspapers. Presently, she is the Entertainment Editor of The Black Star News. As a freelance writer she writes for several New York City newspapers; including the Examiner, Amsterdam News and Eurweb.

Deardra freelances for Afrocentricnews in California. She is the former PR chairman for the FESPACO film festival in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Africa, and is presently program manager for BlakeRadio.com where she also hosts her own show “Topically Yours.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/people-of-note-ballet-folklorico-de-mexico-de-amalia-hernandez-on-the-lehman-center-stage/

*Motown friends and family came together last week in Tarzana (CA), to enjoy the 11th Annual “Friends of Fuller Gordy Strikefest,” one of the most anticipated bowling, concert, dining and philanthropic events of the season.

Entertainment celebrities, business leaders and Motown alumni showed up last Wednesday, November 7, to celebrate the legacy of Fuller Gordy, a Motown Vice-President and older brother of Motown Founder Berry Gordy, who was known throughout the entertainment industry as a caring humanitarian and mentor to many. A successful bowler, Fuller Gordy became the first black bowler, from Michigan, to be inducted into the Professional Bowlers’ Association.

“He was always a leader,” said Berry Gordy of Fuller during the evening. “So, if I had one word to describe tonight, it would be gratitude. His granddaughter (Karla) and daughter (Iris) have done such a wonderful job every year. It’s so much fun and everybody has a good time.”

Fuller’s daughter, Iris Gordy, a former Motown vice president and granddaughter, Karla Gordy Bristol, a TV and social media talk show host, founded “Friends of Fuller Gordy Strikefest,” which is the event of the year for an organization dedicated to honoring outstanding young individuals and organizations that inspire, educate and uplift. Their 2018 honoree is the Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant, founded by Lisa Ruffin, which spotlights girls ages 6-12.

One of the attendees was the 2018 Little Miss African American Scholarship Pageant winner Nasreen el Shabazz and her mom, Sheryl Lively, who was happy the pageant and Ruffin received recognition.

“She (Nasreen) had done it four times in a row before she finally won,” said Lively. “We encourage her to follow her dreams and never to give up. It was hard, because it took her four times. She just turned 12 and she was 8 when she started.”

“This kind of event, it teaches you never to give up,” Lively continued. “Life is hard and you’ll have challenges and stuff, but you still have to follow your dreams. This was hard and it was hard for me as a mother to see her hurt, but she gave it everything she could. But if you want something, you have to keep going for it and I’m really proud of her that she didn’t give up.”

Lively is also glad Ruffin and the pageant was getting recognition.

“Oh, my God! She is all for the kids”, said Lively. “She’s done this for 25 years and just when it seemed it was time to fold or give up, she keeps going, The young ladies she’s brought to her pageant, they come back with college degrees.”

“So, I’m just honored to be here with Motown and I’m so happy for Lisa, that she’s getting honored and acknowledged, because she’s so deserving of it.”

As for the 2018 Little Miss African American Pageant winner herself, Nasreen el Shabazz, she said the pageant teaches you to be confident, love you for yourself and to go after your dreams.

“I kept going even after falling short a few times because I just thought, ‘This wasn’t my year. It was another girl’s year, she said. “So if I kept trying, I felt it would eventually be my year – and I kept trying and it was!”

MORE NEWS: THE REAL WELCOMES BACK KYM WHITLEY AND NEW YORK WEEK CONTINUES WITH GUEST CO-HOST APRIL RYAN! – WATCH

As for Lisa Ruffin, she could hardly contain her emotion over her organization and her being honored at Strikefest.

“I’m totally overwhelmed. I’m extremely overwhelmed and so thankful,” said Ruffin. “I’m still shocked, actually, because I just did this from my heart and that’s how the organization has been operating for 25 years. So for people of this stature to acknowledge our work, it’s just shocking to me.”

“I want my girls to experience things it may have taken me 30 years to experience”, she said. “I want them to know if they have the confidence and the drive, they can do anything. If I see a girl  has an interest in science or math or dance classes, we try to make that happen. We start at a young age, 6-12, because we feel it’s important to teach them good habits early, rather than wait for them to develop bad habits and correct them. So we want them to get it right the first time – and it seems to be working!

READ THIS: JADA PINKETT SMITH’S MOM REVEALS WHY SHE DIDN’T LIKE HER DAUGHTER’S WHITE BOYFRIEND [WATCH]

Speaking of pageants, Miss Black California of 1971, Kathleen Bradley, was in attendance as well.

“Well, I know Iris and Karla and I went to the first one,” Bradley said. “It’s just a great opportunity for me to come and be able to help lend my celebrity, raise some money and have good times with friends and family for a very worthy cause.”

“It’s a pleasure to be able to honor Fuller Gordy – who was the most wonderful guy and when I was with the singing group The Love Machine in the Seventies, so it’s great to be back with the Motown family now.”

David Kershenbaum, a multi-platinum record producer whose clients included Tracy Chapman and Lauren Taines were also in attendance.

“I like what Iris and Karla are doing,” said Taines. “They’re raising money to fund various educational projects, so I help how I can and what I like is they are raising money for various educational concerns for the kids.”

“I met Karla a couple of months ago and she invited me and I thought it was such a worthwhile cause,” said Kershenbaum.”I love charities and I certainly love education for children.”

“I also grew up with Motown, so it’s particularly dear to my heart,” he added. “I was looking and thinking about how when Motown was at it’s peak, how wonderful the times were – how innocent and easier it was to create something special than it is today..That music was a soundtrack for many people who had a chance to listen.”

One of the bands that contributed to Motown’s heyday was Switch, who performed at Strikefest.

“We’re friends of Iris and Karla and we’ve known of the event for years,” said Greg Williams, one of the group’s founders. “We knew a lot about Fuller, so we understand the event. It’s an annual event in his honor to represent his philanthropy over the years.”

“We signed with Motown in 1978 and were there for five years and sold 8 million records. So we’re part of their history as well, ” said Williams. “This is our family. Our folks.”

Karla Gordy Bristol said she was happy the way the night went.

“The Fuller Gordy Strikefest, which I’ve been doing for 11 years, with my mother – well, this may have been the most exciting night,” said Gordy Bristol. “To see the happy faces throughout the room, and people coming up to me saying, ‘This is amazing!’ … and everybody being warm to each other – I really love that. That lets me know that we’re doing something great – and doing something that must continue.”

Gordy Bristol also feels the event reflects on her family’s legacy.

“It says a lot,” she said. “I think it shows people what the Gordy family is about – that they’re a loving family, a giving family, a caring family and that they’re down to Earth and enjoy people.”

Source: https://www.eurweb.com/2018/11/motowns-legacy-rolls-on-with-the-11th-annual-friends-of-fuller-gordy-strikefest/