World
Bushmen launch appeal over right to water
Survival International - The Bushmen of Botswana have lodged an appeal against a High Court decision that denied them access to water on their ancestral lands.
In July, Justice Walia dismissed the Bushmen's application for permission to use a well on their lands inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, expressing sympathy for the government's position that 'having chosen to settle at an uncomfortably distant location, [the Bushmen] have brought upon themselves any discomfort they may endure.' -more-
National
LDF Statement Commemorating 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
NEW YORK, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund:
"Today, we honor the memory of those whose lives were lost during and after Hurricane Katrina, and stand steadfastly beside those who continue their struggle to reclaim and revitalize their communities. Though a half decade has passed, there is much more to do to support restoration and renewal in the Gulf, even as the region faces new challenges," said John Payton, LDF President and Director-Counsel. -more-
California
Greenlining Warns Fed of New
Wave of Foreclosures
SAN FRANCISCO – Greenlining Institute Executive Director Orson Aguilar today urged the Federal Reserve to take immediate action to help the public and private sectors brace for a possible new wave of foreclosures. Aguilar spoke at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco's public hearing on the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). -more-
Editorial
Restoring Honor to Our Pocketbook
By Millard Hampton
Today we live in times where we need to pay attention to the way our money is spent. Dr. Martin Luther King brought people together by convincing us to treat one another with love, friendship and humanity. In speaking so, Dr. King's vision created many enemies of change which has culminated in his assignation and an event sponsored by Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Tea Party, Fox News and the Koch Brothers. -more-
Entertainment
Takers
Film Review by Kam Williams
The "One Last Big Heist" is a theme of the crime caper genre which has proven to be quite popular over the years. Takers employs that tried and true formula in entertaining fashion, recycling vaguely familiar scenes from the likes of The Italian Job, Ocean's 11, True Romance, District B-13 and, perhaps most obviously, Heat. -more-
The Good Guy
DVD Review by Kam Williams
Tommy Fielding (Scott Porter) is a Wall Street whiz raking in big bucks at Morgan Brothers, a fictional investment bank with a name ostensibly inspired by a transparent contraction of Morgan Stanley and Lehman Brothers. Located in lower Manhattan, the company is an ethnically-diverse boys club where greed is good and misogyny reigns around the water cooler chatter. Setting the tone is Cash (Andrew McCarthy), a philandering, profit-oriented woman-hating he-man with a moniker about as subtle as the firm's. -more-
Wonderful World
DVD Review by Kam Williams
Terminally-grouchy Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a miserable loser having a midlife crisis. The divorced, unemployed stoner mostly fritters away his time getting high in his Shreveport, Laousiana apartment. He can't even pull himself together for his emotionally-estranged, 11 year-old daughter (Jodie Ferland) when he has custody of her during visitation every other weekend. -more-
Ava Duvernay
Ava DuVernayThe "My Mic Sounds Nice" Interview with Kam Williams
Ava DuVernay has worked in the world of film as a marketer and publicist for more than 14 years, forming DVA Media + Marketing in 1999. Her award-winning firm has provided strategy and execution for more than 80 film and television campaigns for acclaimed directors such as Steven Spielberg, Clint Eastwood, Michael Mann, Robert Rodriguez, Bill Condon, Raoul Peck, Gurinder Chadha and Reggie & Gina Bythewood. -more-
Book Review
Say It Loud!
Great Speeches on Civil Rights and African-American Identity
Book Review by Kam Williams
This is the second anthology of great speeches by African-Americans meant for the eye and ear. Our first book/CD project, Say It Plain, chronicled an array of black leaders across the 20th Century exhorting the nation to make good on its promise of democracy. -more-
America I AM A Journal
By Kam Williams
'Would America have been America without her Negro people?' The question posed by W.E.B. Du Bois serves as the underlying theme for America I AM… It spurs us to consider how the original gifts of African culture were uniquely manifested in America, and helped to lay the foundation for the creation of this country. -more-
California
CALIFORNIA ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT LAUNCHES SPANISH-LANGUAGE FACEBOOK AD CAMPAIGN AGAINST MEG WHITMAN
LOS ANGELES – The Democratic Governors Association’s (DGA) California Accountability Project Independent Expenditure Committee today announced it has launched a new micro-targeting advertising initiative designed to utilize Facebook to connect Spanish-speaking California voters with the facts on Meg Whitman’s record on Latinos and cynical effort to save her candidacy through fear mongering and immigrant bashing. -more-
Education
The U.S. Economy 101
By Millard Hampton III
The current economic crisis in the United States and the World for that matter is not as complicated as you are told by economic experts. These experts, yes men I call them, prostitute themselves for a quick buck. They develop and speak economics according to the orders of their upper class masters in the pursuit of material wealth while remaining intellectually and morally poor, parasitic like the ameba.
Unfortunately the real economic experts with integrity are unqualified for employment by the upper class, Wall Street firms and corrupt government officials. These economic experts are unqualified due to their honesty and morality toward fellow human beings. -more-
Beauty
ALOE FOR MOCHA SKIN CARE PRODUCTS FOR ETHNIC SKIN EXPANDS NATIONAL REACH WITH NEW DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP
New York City, N.Y.— July 26, 2010 – AloeForMocha skin care products, a nature-based premium skincare suite of products designed specifically for dark tones announced today their official partnership with Sherrell Dorsey, notable beauty writer and licensed skin therapist to distribute AloeforMocha™ throughout the North East territory. -more-
Business
Safeway Names Jonathan Mayes the Senior Vice President in Charge of Government Relations and Key Public-Facing Functions
Former Government Relations Group VP to also
Head Public Affairs, CSR Efforts and Giving
PLEASANTON, Calif. - August 2, 2010 — Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) today announced that it has appointed 16-year veteran Jonathan Mayes to Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Public Affairs, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy. -more-
IMG/BLP Signs Daytime Talk Show Host Wendy Williams
NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - August 24, 2010) - IMG/BLP, the joint venture partnership formed earlier this year by IMG Worldwide, Inc. (IMG) and Butch Lewis Productions, Inc. (BLP), to develop and operate a talent management company that primarily represents minority entertainers and celebrities in the areas of endorsements, licensing and programming has signed Daytime talk show host WENDY WILLIAMS as its first client. -more-
Health
SCHOOL AND LIBRARY BOOKS AIMED TO PREVENT CHILDHOOD OBESITY
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (August 4, 2010) – Mason Crest Publishers announces the Kids & Obesity series of educational books for children ages 6-11. Stunning childhood obesity statistics show that kids are the fastest growing segment of the obese population in the United States. This 10 book series, which will be available fall 2010, will provide teachers and other education professionals with ammunition in the fight against obesity in childhood. Each book presents a different facet of this issue including healthy eating choices and emotional and self-esteem issues. Topics are presented sympathetically and clearly for young readers, explaining the reasons, the risks, and ways to fight back against the obesity epidemic. -more-
Religion
ISRAEL HOUGHTON SET TO MAKE APPEARANCE ON THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO SEPT. 8 AS "LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE." RELEASES TODAY
Gospel Single "You Hold My World" Gains Momentum as "Others" Goes to A/C Radio
Los Angeles, CA (BlackNews.com) -- Multiple GRAMMY, Stellar and Dove Award winner, Soul Train Award winner and double RIAA certified Gold-selling artist Israel Houghton highlights the greatest Gospel commandment with Love God. Love People. releasing TODAY amidst acclaim on Integrity Music/Columbia Records. Featuring the musically masterful energy that has become synonymous with Israel Houghton recordings, the album also reveals special guest appearances by Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond and Take 6's Claude V. McKnight, III, Mark Kibble and Joey Kibble, as well as song co-writes with Meleasa Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Tommy Sims and Michael Gungor. -more-
NATION'S FIRST CHRISTIAN
WOMEN SEMINARY, ONLINE
Lewisville, TX (BlackNews.com) -- The nation's leading Christ-based organization challenges years of tradition and religious restriction with the nation's first Christian Women Seminary named thusly to recognize women's contributions to the Christian faith and further supports their preparation for church leadership--when they believe they are called to do so. The Association of Christ-based Clergy, Counselors, Educators and Educational Systems Senior Ministry Leader and leading-edge Christian educator Dr. Steven B. DavidSon admits the obvious. -more-