Outfit of the Week: Party Like a Rockstar on New Year's Eve!!

Here are a few looks to ring in the new year! Hit your New Year's Eve parties with one of these!
Dare to be Different by Sweet As Candee

Soft and Sweet by Sweet As Candee

On The Edge by Sweet As Candee

Victoria by Sweet As Candee

Peace and Love Man by Sweet As Candee

New Study: Black girls are getting shorter!

In an age when the adult populations of most industrialized nations have grown significantly taller, the average height of black women in the United States has been receding, beginning with those born in the late 1960s. The difference in stature between white women and black women has now stretched to three-quarters of an inch and appears to be increasing, according to newly released data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, conducted by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The main culprit appears to be diet.

The average height of a black woman born in the 1980s is just under 5 feet 4 inches; her mother, born in the 1960s, is more than half an inch taller. Even her grandmother, born in the 1940s, is a bit taller. The average white woman born in the 1980s is about half an inch taller than her mother.

“The only reasonable explanation we can come up with is diet and the obesity epidemic among (middle- and low-income) black women.”

Over the last three decades, the prevalence of obesity among white Americans has tripled, while among blacks it has increased fivefold. Almost 80 percent of black females are overweight or obese, compared with 62 percent of the total female population, according to the CDC.

New Show: Daddy's Girls

MTV Shows

Best known as Rev. Run's daughters and big sisters to JoJo, Diggy, Russy and baby Miley, Vanessa and Angela Simmons have literally grown up on MTV. Across five seasons of Run's House, we've watched these young women begin to make their own place in the world, but always under the watchful eye and with the guiding hand of their father. After all, they are Daddy's Girls.

But now it's time for them to stretch their wings and take on life on their own terms. Daddy's Girls follows Vanessa and Angela as they officially leave the comforts of the family home in New Jersey to run their own business and live full-time in Los Angeles. Will they be able to keep in mind the invaluable moral lessons their father has instilled in them as they navigate the fast lane?

Vanessa and Angela won't be alone as they establish a home together in Los Angeles and set up West Coast operations for their Pastry shoe line. Daddy's Girls will also feature their cousin Jessica and their friend Alycia. A trusted friend, Jessica is a responsible individual whose role will be to keep Vanessa and Angela grounded in spite of their hip-hop royalty lifestyle. Alycia, meanwhile, is an eccentric and beautiful aspiring singer who lives on a meager budget, yet is always striving to keep up with the Simmons sisters.

In Los Angeles, they'll strive to make Pastry a success that's worthy of the Simmons family name. At the same time, they'll grow their friendships with Jessica and Aliceia while dating and following their dreams and desires, and making life decisions on their own.

New Movie: Madea Goes to Jail Trailer

Directed, written, and starring Perry himself as Madea, the film also features Derek Luke, Keshia Knight Pulliam, David Mann, Tamala Mann, Ronreaco Lee, Ion Overman, Vanessa Ferlito, Viola Davis, Sophia Vergara, Robin Coleman, and Bobbi Baker.

At long last, Madea returns to the big screen in "Tyler Perry's Madea Goes to Jail." This time America's favorite irreverent, pistol-packin' grandmomma is raising hell behind bars and lobbying for her freedom...Hallelujer!

OMG! Teen survives four months without a heart!

A South Carolina teenager said she felt like a "fake person" living for 118 days without a heart beating in her chest in-between heart transplants.

D'Zhana Simmons, 14, was recently released from a Miami hospital after being kept alive on a custom-built artificial blood-pumping device.

"It was like I was a fake person, like I didn't really exist. I was just here," she said, referring to the time without a heart.

D'Zhana had dilated cardiomyopathy, which caused her original heart to become enlarged and too weak to pump blood sufficiently. When her first transplanted heart also did not work properly in July, surgeons replaced it with two heart pumps until she recovered her strength.

Normally when an artificial heart is used as a bridge, the patient's own heart is left in the body, doctors said.

"This, we believe, is the first pediatric patient who has received such a device in this configuration without the heart, and possibly one of the youngest that has … been bridged to transplantation without her native heart," said Dr. Marco Ricci, the hospital's director of pediatric cardiac surgery.

It was a "big deal" for a child to be left without a heart for so long, said Dr. Peter Wearden, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

"For (more than) 100 days, there was no heart in this girl's body? That is pretty amazing," said Wearden, who works with the kind of pumps used on the teen.

Her prognosis is good, Ricci said, but there is 50 per cent chance that she will need another heart transplant before she turns 30. For now, D'Zhana said she is glad she can now walk without the machine. She is looking forward to celebrating her 15th birthday on Saturday riding a boat off Miami's coast, and is grateful she will be able to see her five siblings and friends again soon at her home in Clinton, S.C.

D'Zhana, You are definitely in our hearts and prayers!!!!

MEMO: Saggy Pants are not cute!

Tell your man to put on a belt!!!

Morehouse College recently began to take on saggy pants, cursing looking to promote ‘Renaissance man’

“Obama Won; Now Pull Up Your Pants” was the headline on a post-election column by Justin M. LaGrande, lifestyle editor of The Gramblinite, the newspaper of the historically black Grambling State University in Louisiana. “Obama isn’t sagging his pants,” LaGrande wrote.

Obama himself said in an MTV interview shortly before the election that he opposes laws and ordinances — such as one proposed by an Atlanta city councilman last year — that would control dress.

I personally agree with it....it's about time boys (as well as some men--scary!) take their appearance seriously! I think it's ridiculous how unaware they are of how appearance affects their life. In addition, if we as young ladies stop thinking it's so cute, maybe boys will stop walking down the street falling over their pants! It is sooooo note cute! Get some swagger and stop looking like a goon! Think more Kanye and Common...less Plies (yuk!)...think about it!

Told ya!

A recent study details the power of negative racial stereotypes. In a long-term survey of 12,686 people, changes in social circumstances such as falling below the poverty line or being sent to jail made people more likely to be perceived by interviewers as black and less likely to be seen as white. Altogether, the perceived race of 20% of the people in the study changed at least once over a 19-year period, according to the study published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Read the rest of the study here.

Is Michelle Obama the best black female role model since Claire Huxtable?

Michelle Obama: What's not to love? She's smart, accomplished, funny, a great mother and a snazzy dresser. But as Newsweek's Allison Samuels points out, compared to other black women in the media, there's something different about Michelle Obama. For instance: Why don't we see Michelle snappin' her neck and waggin' her finger when she's "keepin' it real"? Why don't we see Michelle shake her booty and drop it like it's hot when she dances? Why haven't we heard any sassy one-liners or seen any displays of an easily-provoked temper?

Also, why haven't we seen Michelle raise her voice above an "appropriate" decibel level? Michelle Obama doesn't seem to be anything like the image of black women that we see on TV and in films. Who is the real Michelle Obama? Get ready for it:

Michelle Obama is totally normal. A normal, well-educated wife of a politician and mother of two.

Like the fictional Huxtables before them, the Obamas serve as an example to both blacks and non-blacks through their upper-middle-class regular-ness.

And even though Michelle will probably never gain acceptance from some of her critics, Samuels still sees her life in the spotlight as a way for Americans to see a "regular African-American woman" in action, showing "what we think and what we face on a regular basis."

Chloe Mortaud crowned first Miss Black France

The new Miss France says she wants to advertise French ethnic diversity on the world stage.

Chloe Mortaud says her mother is a Mississippi-born African-American and her father’s heritage is ethnic French “as far back as we could trace the family tree.”

She told The Associated Press on Sunday that she wants to “incarnate … today’s French diversity” at international beauty pageants. She says she wants to explain to people that “fear of the other is unfounded.”

She says she and her brother were the only children of mixed ethnic background in a village where they grew up in the French Pyrenees.

Mortaud, a 19-year-old student in international business in Toulouse, won the Miss France pageant Saturday night.

Trina loves the kids!

Trina announced yesterday the re-introduction of her Diamond Doll Foundation which was previously established in 2006. Trina created the organization as a method to speak to young women across the country about relevant issues they face in the community such as teen pregnancy, runaways and self-esteem. Thru the Diamond Doll Foundation, Trina will participate in the 1st Annual “Jingle Bell Toy Drive” to benefit the children of Jackson Hospital in Miami on December 14th.

Trina will be on hand to collect toys while posing for photos and giving autographs at The Chop Shop, a popular barbershop within the Miami community. There will be free haircuts given as well as surprise appearances from special invited guests. All attendees must bring a new, unwrapped toy to participate in the festivities. The following week, Trina will present the toys collected at the drive to the children of Jackson Hospital to help boost their spirits.

“It’s important for entertainers to utilize our influence to get involved and build awareness for community programs such as the Jingle Bell Toy Drive ,” said Trina. “I am putting a renewed focus and energy into the Diamond Doll Foundation this coming year as we look to help the less fortunate and provide motivation for young people to improve their lives.”

As part of Trina’s commitment to building the impact of the Diamond Doll Foundation, Trina aims to make appearances during her tour stops to speak with young women about important issues that affect the urban community such as teen pregnancy, runaways, relationships and overall self-esteem/empowerment.

10 Tips for African-American College Students

Most black college students attend "majority campuses"—schools with whites as a majority of the student body (and faculty and staff). The dropout or transfer rates for black students at some of these campuses can be as high as 60 percent. Charles Robinson, professor of history and director of the African American Studies program at the University of Arkansas, contributes some tips for success for African-American students attending historically white institutions:

1. Identify resources. Find out about your college's resources for academic performance, such as enhanced learning centers and writing centers. See, too, what possibilities are offered for social networking in the African-American programming units, the multicultural center, and Greek life.

2. Immerse yourself in the campus culture. Attend football and basketball games, talent shows, debate clubs, and language groups.

3. Attend class regularly. African-Americans often have to deal with cultural stereotypes. Especially prevalent is the notion that blacks are not serious students. Help to debunk myths about lack of purpose among students of color by attending all the classes. Going to visit a professor during office hours will also demonstrate your focus on academic matters.

4. Find a black faculty mentor. Finding a black faculty mentor can help you deal with problems you might encounter on campus, such as what to do when class discussion (or even a professor) demonstrates insensitivity. A black faculty mentor can also help you understand the purpose and the workings of the university in a broader way and advise you on diversity options such as the African-American studies program, Greek life, and various multicultural student-centered groups.

5. Find a sympathetic black upperclassperson . A more advanced student can talk to you—on a student level—and help you determine what courses are more culturally sensitive, which professors seem more appreciative of diversity, and which sections of required courses (for example, American history) might be more focused on the African-American experience.

6. Find a "cohort." Your peers can become your brother's and sister's keeper. You can develop a sense of camaraderie with peers by taking courses together, doing homework together, forming a discussion group, and even getting together for out-of-class activities. This will not only help you develop better study habits but will provide a sense of security that will stand you in good stead, especially in your required courses.

7. ...but also go outside of the "community." Become more culturally literate and comfortable among various groups of people. For example, if you grew up in a neighborhood that was homogenous, build relationships outside your group—especially at "majority" campuses. And broaden your social networks, too. You'll feel more at ease, and you'll be able to take ownership of your campus—you'll feel it's yours and you belong.

8. Establish and maintain a spiritual network. Worship in ways familiar to you—just as you did back home.

9. Become involved with the African-American studies or Africana program. In these programs, you will not only learn the history of African-American and African diaspora culture, you also will come to understand why the university you attend is the way that it is—why, for example, there's such a disparity in the racial distribution of the students. Understanding this will help you put your college life into some perspective.

10. Locate the black businesses in the town. A visit to the black hairdresser or to clubs with black music will help you feel comfortable in your surroundings at college.

Bonus Tip. Build a community. Do research about black organizations at other campuses, then create the ones that your campus lacks. For example, if your college doesn't have a black student organization, create one by petitioning for student funds. A chapter of SAAB (Student African American Brotherhood) could be created fairly easily at most campuses. Also good would be intramural teams and a black students' newsletter—if your college doesn't have these already. Coalesce into a community; be proactive.

www.usatoday.com

Boyfriend pressure makes black teen girls more likely to want pregnancy

Black teen girls who think their boyfriends want a baby are 12 times more likely to wish they were pregnant compared with similar teens who expressed no desire to become pregnant, according to new research. Girls in the study who wanted to become pregnant were almost four times as likely to have a partner who was at least five years older than themselves. They were also twice as likely to report feelings of low self-esteem and low family support, and twice as likely to feel that their partner would disapprove of using condoms. For the study, the researchers surveyed and interviewed 462 sexually active black teen girls between 14 and 18 years old living in low-income Birmingham neighborhoods. Forty percent of the participants had a previous pregnancy, but girls who wanted to become pregnant were less likely to report a past pregnancy.

Studies suggest that these girls may experience a power imbalance in their sexual relationships, since their boyfriend's age and perceived reluctance to use condoms have such a significant effect on the girls' pregnancy wishes. This may mean that adolescent boys would be a good target for early pregnancy prevention programs, according to the researchers. Although factors like self-esteem were not as strongly associated with pregnancy desires, "other studies suggest that early parenthood is perceived by some adolescents as an opportunity to heal childhood wounds, receive support from family members or obtain emotional closeness not found at home," say the researchers.

The First Family

Just another beautiful picture.

Kenya maternities greet Obama and Michelle

Little Obamas and Michelles were coming to the world in maternities all over Kenya -- one woman managing both at the same time with a pair of twins -- as the party mood continued Wednesday in the nation where the US president-elect's father was born.
In the New Nyanza provincial general hospital in Kisumu, the capital of the region which is home to Barack Obama's ancestral village, Pauline Adhiambo gave birth to twins she named Obama and Michelle.

At least eight other boys were named Barack or Obama -- or both -- in this hospital alone while maternities in the capital Nairobi and across the entire country reported new namesakes for the future occupants of the White House.

"I consulted my husband and we agreed the name Barack Obama would be ideal for our baby boy because the whole town and the entire world was very enthusiastic about Barack Obama, and we believe he is a great man," said Josephine Anyango Anyango.

It's official! Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States!

By 11 p.m. on November 4th, the world screamed, hugged, danced and jumped up and down when Barack Obama was declared the winner. It was happening all over the world. Pictured above is the celebration in Harlem.

The Day is Finally Here: President-Elect Barack Obama: The Nation's First African American President

You can vote however you like...

Students of the Ron Clark Academy perform a political song supporting both presidential candidates.

Outfit of the Week: Date Night!

We at Shenique luv to keep it chic...When your out with the boys, you don't have to look like one of them!

They say...

They say Beyonce ripped off the concept and dance moves for her 'Single Ladies' video from Gwen Verdon's Mexican Breakfast. I personally don't care but the first video is soooo funny to watch! Anyway, you be the judge:

Simmons sisters get spin off

Lookout for Angela and Vanessa Simmons on their new spin off from "Runs House" on MTV as the go bi-coastal to L.A. to expand their Pastry shoe and apparel line. Said to be titled "Daddy's Girls" the girls are looking to take their brand to a more "grown up" level. I'm looking forward to tuning in. I love watching them on "Run's House" and I'm interested in seeing them take the Pastry line to a new level. They're great together!

The First Black Woman to Run for President

Shirley Chisholm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress, sought the Democratic nomination in 1972 as the first black woman to run for president.

When the congresswoman from New York launched her spirited campaign, she took on the political establishment. Chisholm said she ran for the office, despite the hopeless odds, to challenge the status quo.

In her announcement speech, Chisholm said: "I am not the candidate of black America, although I am black and proud. I am not the candidate of the women's movement of this country, although I am a woman and I am equally proud of that. I am the candidate of the people, and my presence before you now symbolizes a new era in American political history."

New Music: Beyonce's If I were a boy

Outfit of the Week: Homecoming Time!

Dress-Moschino, www.net-a-porter.com
Shoes-Christian Louboutin, www.viecouture.com
Gold Knot Clutch, www.my-wardrobe.com
Purple Panther Print Bangle, www.my-wardrobe.com
Gold Eternity Snake Bangle, www.my-ardrobe.com
Moonstone ring, www.net-a-porter.com
Chloe Poppy cuff, www.net-a-porter.com

Have a great hump-day!!

Old School: Sparkle

Sparkle was a movie released in 1976 that was inspired by the singing group, The Supremes. Sparkle is a period film set in Harlem, New York during the late 1950s and early 1960s which follows the rough lives and careers of singer Sparkle Williams and her family and friends. Most definitely low-budget and reminiscent of the blaxploitation films of the era, Sparkle had one of the best soundtracks of all time (before "soundtracks" for movies were even popular!). The group EnVogue took like three of their best-selling singles from this movie! If you ever come across the movie, it might remind you of Dreamgirls.

Rumors had been circulating that Whitney Houston's BrownHouse Productions had planned a modernized remake of Sparkle and Aaliyah was signed to star as Sparkle, but died in August 2001 before production began. Although the film was put on hold following the singer's death, Ashanti was later attached to star as Sparkle in a remake. In 2003, Warner Bros. announced plans to go forward with the production with Raven-Symoné in the lead. But, with the release of a film version of Dreamgirls in 2006, development on Sparkle was shut down. I absolutely love this movie!

Website Alert: Black Girls Rock!

BLACK GIRLS ROCK! INC. is a 501c3 nonprofit, youth empowerment mentoring organiza- tion establishedas a reaction to the often seen negative images consistently imprinted upon Black women expressly in mass media. BLACK GIRLS ROCK! INC.’s mission is to encour- age positive life-changing activity and critical thinking through the arts for “at risk” teenage women of color to help foster their dreams of a better tomorrow without comprising their integrity and self-worth today. What a great organization!

Black Girls Rock Website

Outfit of the Week: Say Sayonara to Summer!

Summer is almost over...take advantage!

patent monokini, www.wetseal.com;
bracelets, www.funkyaccessories.com
Lancome Juicy Tubes gloss, www.neimanmarcus.com
Patent T-Strap sandals, www.caymanpink.com
Raffia Hat, www.tropicalitems.com
Oliver Goldsmith sunglasses, www.mycatwalk.com.au

Lincoln Heights aims high

Lincoln Heights is the best!!! The third season of the ABC Family Channel's "Lincoln Heights," is one powerful night of TV, but viewers have come to expect that from the series about an African American cop and his family who move back into the old neighborhood and rehabilitate a former crack house.

In the season opener, Eddie and Jenn Sutton (Russell Hornsby and Nikki Micheaux) are getting away from it all at the beach while their kids are staying with friends. But, as Jenn reminds Eddie, when is the last time the kids hung around to do homework on a Sunday morning? Younger daughter Lizzie (Rhyon Brown) is playing basketball, son Tay (Mishon Ratliff) is looking to reformed thug Ruben (Darrin Dewitt Henson) for help with his music, and elder daughter Cassie (Erica Hubbard) and her boyfriend, Charles (Robert Adamson), sneak back into the Sutton house for a little cuddle time.

When a gang breaks into the house, the idyllic Sunday morning is thrown into chaos. Cassie and Charles find their lives in danger as they try to hide from the gang, which is led by a young woman who'd grown up in the house and is hoping to find her grandmother's "legacy," a key to understanding how her life could have gone so wrong. It all leads to an emotional wallop of a conclusion.

Read more here:

The New New: Girls Get the Anime Look with Extra-Wide Contact Lenses

Anyone who's seen Japanese comics, cartoon videos or anime art is instantly struck by the common look of the girls - big eyes that, by making the rest of the face look small, add the cuteness and sex appeal prized by many Japanese men. Since no amount of cosmetic surgery will make actual human eyes larger, some girls are trying another way to up their cute quotient: extra-wide contact lenses!

These are no ordinary contacts - they're not only tinted, but tinted prominently in the extra-wide outer ring. The result is the appearance of a bigger, wider iris.To quote the sales copy, "Wanna get big, watery shiny eyes without any surgery? CRAVE AND ENVY NO MORE!"

The extra-wide contact lenses are made by a variety of companies and cost in the $30-$50 per pair range. It seems they're not just cosmetic - send in your prescription and the lenses will be made to order.

It's not just white girls

Of the 10 million women and 1 million men who do cope with anorexia and bulimia in this country, it is true that the majority of those documented are white. But in some cases, minorities have been excluded from samples because of this assumption—and experts say the "white girl" stereotype discourages men and minorities from coming forward. One study, by Wesleyan psychologist Ruth Striegel-Moore, found that black girls who do suffer from eating disorders are less likely to seek treatment. "I know stories of African-American women who've gone in to see a physician, with all the symptoms of an eating disorder, and the doctor says, 'That's a white girl's disease'," says Cynthia Bulik, an eating-disorder specialist at the University of North Carolina. "That persisting stigma can make people uncomfortable."

Anorexia was formalized as a diagnosis in the late 19th century, though it didn't become a household word until the 1970s, when feminists protested the rise of Twiggy as the body ideal. Media attention peaked in the '90s, with Naomi Wolf's "The Beauty Myth," but has waned in recent years, perhaps overshadowed by obesity. But the number diagnosed continues to increase. In a 2003 review of the literature, researchers found that since 1930, the rate of anorexic women ages 15 to 19 has gone up incrementally each decade. And between 1988 and 1993, bulimia in 10- to 39-year-olds tripled. Some blame skinny models and magazines that tout an often unattainable esthetic. But for the majority of sufferers, the problem has historically been far more complicated, regardless of anorexia's popularity as a political cause.

Ode to Fashion: Fresh Prince Wifey

"Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air (Theme Song)"

Now, this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I liked to take a minute
Just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air

In west Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground was where I spent most of my days
Chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool
And all shootin some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys
Who were up to no good
Startin making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
She said 'You're movin' with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air'

I whistled for a cab and when it came near
The license plate said fresh and it had dice in the mirror
If anything I can say this cab is rare
But I thought 'Now forget it' - 'Yo homes to Bel Air'

I pulled up to the house about 7 or 8
And I yelled to the cabbie 'Yo homes smell ya later'
I looked at my kingdom
I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel Air!

Serena wins 3rd US Title Open!

Serena Williams is pictured with her trophy after winning her finals match to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia at the US Open tennis tournament on Sunday in New York City. This is Serena’s 3rd US Open Title and ninth Grand Slam title. She's unstoppable!

Back to school blues? Make this year great!

Time Management Tips For High School Students

It's 10 P.M.—Do You Know Where Your Homework Is?

Does it seem like there's never enough time in the day to get everything done? Feel like you're always running late? Here are some tips for taking control of your time and organizing your life.

1. Make a "To Do" List Every Day.
Put things that are most important at the top and do them first. If it's easier, use a planner to track all of your tasks. And don't forget to reward yourself for your accomplishments.

2. Use Spare Minutes Wisely.
Get some reading done on the bus ride home from school, for example, and you'll kill two birds with one stone.

3. It's Okay to Say "No."
If your boss asks you to work on a Thursday night and you have a final exam the next morning, realize that it's okay to say no. Keep your short- and long-term priorities in mind.

4. Find the Right Time.
You'll work more efficiently if you figure out when you do your best work. For example, if your brain handles math better in the afternoon, don't wait to do it until late at night.

5. Review Your Notes Every Day.
You'll reinforce what you've learned, so you need less time to study. You'll also be ready if your teacher calls on you or gives a pop quiz.

6. Get a Good Night's Sleep.
Running on empty makes the day seem longer and your tasks seem more difficult.

7. Communicate Your Schedule to Others.
If phone calls are proving to be a distraction, tell your friends that you take social calls from 7-8 p.m. It may sound silly, but it helps.

8. Become a Taskmaster.
Figure out how much free time you have each week. Give yourself a time budget and plan your activities accordingly.

9. Don't Waste Time Agonizing.
Have you ever wasted an entire evening by worrying about something that you're supposed to be doing? Was it worth it? Instead of agonizing and procrastinating, just do it.

10. Keep Things in Perspective.
Setting goals that are unrealistic sets you up for failure. While it's good to set high goals for yourself, be sure not to overdo it. Set goals that are difficult yet reachable.

Consider these tips, but personalize your habits so that they suit you. If you set priorities that fit your lifestyle, you'll have a better chance of achieving your goals.


from www.collegeboard.com

Sanaa Lathan and Nia Long lend voices to new animated series!

The Cleveland Show is the working title of an upcoming American animated series, a spin-off of the hit show Family Guy. It will be an animated series focusing on the character of Cleveland Brown and his family as Cleveland moves from Rhode Island to Virginia. His newly introduced family includes his new wife, Donna (to be voiced by Sanaa Lathan, her 16-year-old daughter, Roberta (to be voiced by Nia Long and her 5-year-old son, Rilo. Cleveland Jr. also is in the family, but is much fatter and older than his appearances on Family Guy Cleveland's neighbors also include a family of talking anthropomorphic bears, a redneck couple (with the husband Lester to be voiced by Kevin Michael Richardson and an English family, with the husband to be voiced by Seth MacFarlane, the show's creator. I'm looking forward to seeing how it goes!

Photo courtesy of www.cocoalounge.com

New Movie: The Secret Lives of Bees Trailer

Check out the new movie featuring Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson.

Set in South Carolina in 1964, the film is the moving tale of Lily Owens a 14 year-old girl who is haunted by the memory of her late mother. To escape her lonely life and troubled relationship with her father, Lily flees with Rosaleen, her caregiver and only friend, to a South Carolina town that holds the secret to her mother’s past. Taken in by the intelligent and independent Boatwright sisters, Lily finds solace in their mesmerizing world of beekeeping and more. It is based on the bestselling novel by Sue Monk Kidd. It will hit theaters on October 17th.

Random: Gorgeous dress alert!!!!

I know this is so random but this is the most gorgeous dress I've ever seen!!!

Old School: Moesha

"Mo to the...E to the..."
I know everybody remembers the theme some from this show. I think Moesha was a great show that focused on the life of an upper middle class, African-American family through the eyes of a typical girl. The show dealt with "real teen social issues", such as teen pregnancy, drug use, race relations, premarital sex, the death of a parent, and day-to-day issues faced by teenagers at home and in school.

Outfit of the Week: What to wear to a White Party!

So, it's Labor Day and I guess everyone wants to wear their white before it's just considered tacky (they say wearing white after Labor Day is a big no-no!) so everyone has decided to throw White Parties this weekend. I'm not that into wearing white so I decided to post the Outfit of the Week for everyone who is in the same boat!

Do school uniforms make better students?

School uniforms continue to strut their way down the hallways of America's public schools.

Nearly 14 percent of public schools required uniforms in 2005–06, according to the latest figures from the National Center for Education Statistics. That's up from about 12 percent in 1999–2000 and a paltry 3 percent in 1996–97, when President Clinton championed uniforms as a way to keep schools orderly and disciplined.

The Midwest system has seen positive results in just one year, school leaders say.

Expulsion rates have gone down, though that could be due to a number of factors, not just uniforms, says Mary Louise Bewley, community relations director. Mostly, the changes have been in perception.

"There's almost less fear of our children, because they don't look like hoods," Bewley says. Leaders in Georgia's Clayton County -- another area where about three-quarters of kids are from economically disadvantaged homes -- are going for a similar makeover. This fall for the first time, students in kindergarten to sixth grade districtwide will be required to wear uniforms. Within four years, every student will be in uniform, Assistant Superintendent Cethus Jackson says.

Outfit of the Week: DNC Style

What to wear in Denver...

Obama offers campaign gear from top fashion designers

Forget buttons and bumper stickers.

Barack Obama's team is taking campaign merchandising to a whole new level - with the help of a few handpicked supporters from the New York fashion world. Some of the country's biggest style stars, including Isaac Mizrahi, Derek Lam, Tracy Reese, Diane von Furstenberg and Russell Simmons, clamored to create signature items. From T-shirts to tote bags, the items will be available on the campaign's Web site next month. Simmons, who will appear at the Democratic convention in Denver on Monday, crafted a tee that says, "America deserves better."

"The shirt that I designed was just simple," he says. "It's very clear - the meaning is obvious. Sen. Obama, in my opinion, represents better." The collaboration is an unprecedented political show of support from New York's high-profile fashion industry. Designers were given permission to use Obama's image and logo - and volunteered for the project.

New Movie: The Secret Lives of Bees

Check out this new movie starring Queen Latifah, Alicia Keys and Jennifer Hudson.

Outfit of the Week: Back to School Swag...

Sweater, www.lillypulitzer.com
green flats, www.couture.zappos.com
denim skirt, www.abercrombie.com
Juicy Couture Charm Bracelet, www.bagborroworsteal.com
Louis Vuitton Montsouris MM Bag, www.bagborroworsteal.com
Juicy Couture "Back to School" Journal, www.show.nordstrom.com
Aviator sunglasses, www.gogglesandglasses.com

Altanta radio host Rashan Ali starts nonprofit for girls in sports

Hot 107.9 morning host Rashan Ali got a full scholarship at Florida A&M in swimming, a fairly uncommon sport for African American women. So she has created a nonprofit called Sporty Girls where she nurtures minority girls in sports such as soccer, tennis, golf and her sport swimming. On Saturday, she held a charity swim meet to raise funds for her group.

“I really want to encourage girls to try sports they may not think could help them later,” Ali said after the meet, which was held at the natatorium at Washington Park not far from Morehouse College. Still dripping from water, she had just finished winning her own 50-yard freestyle.

She just held a camp for 18 girls, ages 9 to 14. She’d love to raise enough cash one day to build her own sports academy instead of renting or borrowing space. “I like to think big,” she said.

Click here for story.

New Study: African-American Girls Who Use Marijuana Engage In Riskier Sex, Have Higher STD Rate

African-American girls who use marijuana are more likely to engage in risky sexual acts and contract a sexually transmitted disease, a new study finds. The study, by Emory University public health researchers, is being presented at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. It analyzed the marijuana use and self-reported sexual behavior of 439 sexually active black females between the ages of 15 and 21.

Researchers found that black girls who used marijuana had significantly higher rates of incident STDs than non-marijuana users (32 percent compared to 23 percent). Marijuana users also had more sex partners, riskier sex partners, including a partner just released from jail, and more recent episodes of engaging in vaginal sex while their partner was under the influence.
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It's 08.08.08! That means the Beijing Olympics begin today!

Check out the slide shows from the opening ceremony here. I think that is the most exciting part for me. I also like the Track and Field and Gymnastics competitions...

Top Model gets ready for Cycle 11!

Has it been that many? Get ready for more cat fights and diva behavior!

New Trailer: The Longshots

The Longshots follows the true story of Jasmine Plummer (Keke Palmer) who, at the age of eleven, became the first female to play in Pop Warner football tournament in its 56-year history.

The movie is due for release July 25th and also stars Jill Marie Jones, Tasha Smith, and David Banner.

NYC Adds Double Dutch Rope Jumping as School Sport

The popular urban street pastime called double dutch, in which competitors jump between two ropes twirled eggbeater-style, is getting more recognition, becoming an officially sanctioned sport in New York City high schools. School officials say adding double dutch to the calendar should get hundreds of students participating in an enjoyable aerobic activity.

"We're always thinking, what do we need to do to get more kids playing?" said Eric Goldstein, chief executive of the Public School Athletic League.

Double dutch will be a spring sport this coming school year after basketball season is over and there is space in the gyms. According to the National Double Dutch League, Dutch settlers brought the game to New York in colonial times - hence the name.

I think double dutch is a lost art. I think little girls everywhere need to get out their jump ropes and get to it!

Tia and Tamera talk abstinence

Vogue issue featuring all black models sells out globally!

As reported by UK news source The Guardian, in the past four weeks, the July Issue of Italian Vogue has caused such a phenomenal demand at news-stands in Britain and the United States that Condé Nast, the publisher, has rushed to reprint and distribute 40,000 more copies.

Conceived by editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani, and shot by Steven Meisel from a roster of 18 new, established and former stars, the July 'black issue' sold out in Britain on arrival. Borders bookstores in the country have reported that demand was up 654% from the previous issue.

"It has been unprecedented, a sensation, although that wasn't the aim," said Jonathan Newhouse, chairman of Condé Nast International. Here in the States, the issue is shrink-wrapped and stickered with the words "First Reprint. The Most Wanted Issue Ever."

Disney's The Princess and the Frog

Disney released the teaser trailer for their 48th animated musical “The Princess and the Frog” this week. The film based off the classic fairy tale The Frog Princess, is set in New Orleans during the 1920s with Disney’s first Black princess Tiana. The movie is set to hit theaters on Christmas of 2009…

New Trailer: Tyler Perry's A Family That Preys

The Family That Preys movie trailer
Uploaded by some_trailers

The Family That Preys is an upcoming 2008 comedy-drama film written and directed by Tyler Perry, who also co-produced and co-stars. The film starring Alfre Woodard, Kathy Bates, Sanaa Lathan.

The film focuses on "two families from different sides of the tracks that become intimately involved in love and business". All I can say about this is that this is going to be SOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOD!!!! The release date is set for September!!!

Victoria's Secret Pink Adds HBCU's to their college apparel line

When Victoria’s Secret Pink rolled out its nationwide collegiate collection in June, featuring the names and logos of some 33 universities on sweats, hoodies, football tees, and totes, the promotion didn’t include any historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). This fall, the brand plans to include five HBCUs in the second phase of its collegiate collection.

Pink, a collection of loungewear geared toward young, college-aged women, first appeared in Victoria’s Secret stores in 2004. The first HBCU schools that will roll off the Pink line will be Howard University, Florida A&M University, Hampton University, North Carolina A&T University, and Southern University.

“Black consumers are loyal to those companies and brands that are loyal to them,” says McGhee Williams Osse, co-CEO of Burrell Communications. “African American consumers want to be recognized and respected by corporations where we spend money, and those corporations [must remember] that they are competing for our dollars.”

“From a trend standpoint, I would say [black schools are] a very viable audience for Victoria’s Secret,” Osse says. “It is the type of retail operation that young, socially active, fashion-involved, African American women would be attracted to."

African-American girls off to India for a lesson in life

by Liz Bowie
www.baltimoresun.com

A summer journey to India for three girls from an inner-city Baltimore school began simply, in an after-school club that devoted itself to helping other people.

Today, three of the members of the club will take the next step when they board a plane to India that will take them on a three-week international volunteer program. The girls, who have never been on a plane or out of the country before, will learn about the culture of India, help build a school in a rural town there and teach games to children.

Their high school history teacher, Cheree Davis, started them on the road when she formed the after-school club through an Oprah Winfrey organization called O Ambassadors. The world history teacher said she has always believed that students should volunteer their time in some way.

Once the club was going well last school year, she said, the members were offered the opportunity to apply to go on a trip to another country. The three friends, who will all begin their junior year this fall, said they spent hours filling out the application and writing an essay about why they wanted to go to India and what they believed they could get out of it. The deadline came as they studied for midterms and the High School Assessments. LaKeisha's computer at home crashed, and she stayed up all night completing the information. "It was overwhelming," Indigo said.

Once the three were accepted, they really had to get to work, Davis said. O Ambassadors provided scholarships, but the students still had to raise thousands of dollars for their trip.

They did everything they could think of to promote the cause. Their principal agreed to dress up as a woman if the student body raised $3,000. (They didn't quite make the challenge.) Another teacher sponsored Cookie Friday, when she would sell home-baked cookies to students. Davis said she also received a $4,000 donation from the Vanguard Justice Society, a nonprofit group of local African-American law enforcement officers. In the end, the school was able to raise more than $6,000, Davis said.

"It has taken a long time and a lot of patience," Indigo said.

The girls said they hope to gain leadership skills in India that they will use next year to persuade other students to become more involved in service projects. "I think this will be a huge impact [on me]," LaKeisha said. She said she wants students in her school to explore the world at least through her India experiences and to understand "there is more to life than West Baltimore."

Christin's mother said she wanted her daughter to travel abroad and had been looking at a summer program for a year from now. "I think it will teach the kids how lucky and blessed they are to be living in the United States," said Gwendyln Morris.