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Anovelista.com Has Moved!

2007-02-11T22:30:00.001-05:00

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I Like You Amy Sedaris and Your Cupcakes Aren't Bad Either

2007-02-04T16:36:00.000-05:00

So, for some reason, I saw a lot of Amy Sedaris last week. My newlywed blog pal Natalie interviewed Amy for the CRAFT blog (her day job) and, while looking for something else, I happened to catch several clips of her on You Tube visiting David Letterman and Conan O'Brien (Conan, you need a steak and a vitamin!)The next thing you know, I'm on my way to the Apple Store in SoHo to look for new

Top 10 Reasons Why I Haven't Blogged in Ages

2007-01-30T21:28:00.000-05:00

Well, actually, I don't really have any legitimate excuses. I just liked that title!I will admit that I have been playing favorites with my babies and I'm posting out of guilt essentially. I can't believe it's been so long!Anyway...* I put Barack Obama's picture up because, stereotypes and opinion polls be damned, as long as he's in the race, I'm down for him.* Do you prefer Hillary to Obama?

(Not So) Smooth Operator

2007-01-16T04:21:00.000-05:00

I'm talking about me - not Sade!Generally, I don't "double-post," but I feel that I have been so neglectful of Anovelista that I'm cheating a little by using the post I did on Sade at 55 Secret Street. I want to post here more but I just haven't been able to get it together for some reason. I guess I've been in a beauty/fashion type of mood when it comes to blogging. I was going to add my

Happy Birthday Dr. King!

2007-01-13T19:08:00.000-05:00

I have paid tribute to Dr. King here before and I've also got a tribute to Coretta Scott King at 55 Secret Street.Enjoy!

Wesley Autry: NYC Subway Hero

2007-01-08T22:01:00.000-05:00

I love this guy!If you haven't heard about this unbelievably brave and selfless man, his appearance on Letterman will explain it all. It's about 10 minutes long and worth every minute because this man is more than just hilarious (And affectionate! The brother is big on hugs...) he's a real hero. Be sure to watch for the CBS news animation at the end that illustrated his bravery.

Merry New Year!

2007-01-04T02:14:00.000-05:00

I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist! If you don't get the Merry New Year reference, it'll dawn on you eventually. I hope you had a great holiday season and are ready for a phenomenal 2007 - I know I am!Like many people, I went to see Dreamgirls over the holidays and, overall, I liked it very much. For those who have not seen the movie be warned - there are several spoilers below. I was not

The Godfather of Soul

2006-12-28T00:00:00.000-05:00

I only got seventh-grade education, but I have a doctorate in funk, and I like to put that to good use. Hair is the first thing. And teeth the second. Hair and teeth. A man got those two things he's got it all. I taught them everything they know, but not everything I know.I've outdone anyone you can name - Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Strauss. Irving Berlin, he wrote 1,001 tunes. I wrote 5,500.

A Star Is Born

2006-12-15T03:25:00.000-05:00

And I Am Telling You,” for all the defiance of its lyric and the triumphal swell of its orchestration, is thus an anthem of impotence, a proud woman’s protest in the face of humiliation and defeat. Like it or not, Effie is going. She has no choice in the matter. But it’s not often you go to the movies and see a big-boned, sexually assertive, self-confident black woman — not played for laughs or

¿Dónde está Anovelista?

2006-12-08T00:49:00.000-05:00

No, that's not me folks - but I'm working on it!Anyway, sorry I've been M.I.A. yet again. Finals and finances people - that's all I'm gonna say! Finals and finances!Moving on...I found the cute couple above, Kalsheila and Malcolm (from Rahway, NJ!!) on the website of former CNN newscaster Daryn Kagan. Check out the video Daryn produced about Kalsheila and Malcolm going to New Orleans for

Singing in the Comeback Choir

2006-11-28T02:14:00.000-05:00

I'm just stunned and so sad to hear that Bebe Moore Campbell has died. I do recall that she was ill, but I was just hoping for a speedy recovery - and more books. I am so glad that I got to meet her - ever so briefly - and have her sign a book for me.My thoughts and prayers go out to her entire family and her friends.NPR: Remembering Bebe Moore Campbell, November 28, 2006.Los Angeles Times

Harlem Toile de Jouy

2006-11-26T18:07:00.000-05:00

I just wrote about Harlem Toile de Jouy over at 55 Secret Street, but I love it so much, I thought I'd spread the word here at Anovelista as well.You may have seen Sheila Bridges in Essence, the Washington Post, or on her TV show Sheila Bridges: Designer Living. She is an amazing interior designer that gained recognition when she decorated Bill Clinton's office in Harlem. Her own home in Harlem

Barack Just Called To Say He's Sorry For Messing Up a Brother's Game

2006-11-22T02:15:00.000-05:00

So, Nicklaus Lovelady, a reporter for a Georgia newspaper called the Henry Daily Herald wrote this piece - surely tongue and cheek - on why he didn't like Barack Obama:Obama owes me an apology I don’t care, I’m not changing my mind on this one.Nope.I don’t like Sen. Barack Obama.He might make a good president some day, but he won’t get my vote. At

Kelly vs. Clay and Rosie: Team Kelly!

2006-11-22T01:35:00.000-05:00

So, apparently Rosie O'Donnell has accused Kelly Ripa of being a homophobe because of her reaction to Clay Aiken putting his hands over her mouth as they were interviewing Emmitt Smith and Cheryl Burke. Clay was guest hosting for Regis Philbin.Kelly gives Regis her take on Clay, his "hostility" and his "cold, clammy hands." Rosie says that if Clay were straight, Kelly wouldn't have had a

I Wish I Would...

2006-11-18T00:30:00.001-05:00

Stand out in the driving rain for PlayStation 3. I'm just sayin'...I snapped these pics on my way home from class Thursday night at two different stores. Tower Records on 14th street in Union Square and Best Buy at 23rd street and 6th avenue. The 23rd street picture on the bottom is dark because the people were sitting in rows with large sheets of plastic draped over them!I'm trying to think

A Memorial Fit For A King

2006-11-14T02:08:00.000-05:00

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial will open in 2008 just steps from where Dr. King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. Below are pictures from the groundbreaking ceremony for the memorial.

Let Freedom Ring

2006-11-12T15:29:00.000-05:00

In a post about my friend's documentary on the 19th century black congressman Robert Smalls last April, I mentioned the new crop of black politicians making historic runs in the 2006 elections. Of that group, Michael Steele of Maryland and Ken Blackwell of Ohio both lost and, I'm sad to say, so did "Essence Do-Right Man" Harold Ford, Jr. of Tennessee. Deval Patrick, of Massachusetts by way of the

The Birthday Girl Does Carnegie Hall

2006-10-25T02:20:00.000-04:00

Yep, that's me. I'm 37 today - but the cashier at Whole Foods guessed 25 so I'm a happy girl! Gosh, I guess I should post some pictures of myself, huh? NOT!I have no idea what I'm doing today, but I'll figure out something. I did have a little pre-birthday fun yesterday at Carnegie Hall. My friend Donna (aka Zuri's mom) invited me to a concert at Carnegie Hall by the Sphinx Chamber

Oops! I Did It Again...

2006-10-20T03:54:00.000-04:00

So, it's been a while. Again.I just knew I would blog about this, that or the other but I guess not. I was really busy with that job - a temp job that was allegedly going to be permanent, but it wasn't meant to be. To make a long story short, I'm much better off.I have two writing classes and usually writing classes help my professional writing, but not this time. It all feels like a chore.

The School of Grit and Iron

2006-10-09T01:55:00.000-04:00

As I'm sure you've heard, Tamara Dobson died last week - too young - at age 59. Prior to becoming the iconic Cleopatra Jones onscreen she had a solid career as a model, appearing in Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Essence and in ad campaigns for Chanel, Revlon and Fabrege Tigress. In my novel (that's on the backburner until I finish the book on my aunt) the title character is an actress from the

Please Excuse My Absence...

2006-10-05T02:15:00.000-04:00

...but I got a job y'all!And I'm also back in school (BA Creative Writing, New York University 2007 so help me God!) so my schedule has changed dramatically in the last few weeks and I'm still adjusting. But hey, I love eating and paid bills - and mama's gotta keep the brows, nails and hair tight (did I just refer to myself as "mama?") Okay, you can see I'm exhausted right? I've got to go to

And It Goes A Little Something Like This

2006-09-19T05:00:00.000-04:00

So, after my first math class in a million years on Saturday morning, I took a walk through SoHo. My goal was to find this boutique on Greene Street that carried Alek Wek's handbags, but I never found it. I did find my way into my usual favorite (window!) shopping spots like La Perla and Louis Vuitton though.As I walked further down Greene Street, I had to make my way through a crowd in front

Birthdays, Books and Blogging Buds

2006-09-11T06:15:00.000-04:00

As we mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, I am thankful that I have two happy reasons to celebrate today. My aunt, Margaret Tynes, the subject of the book I am writing (that is currently kicking my behind) is 87 years old today! And my stepmother, whom my sister and I affectionately refer to as Miss Marsha, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of her 32nd birthday! HAPPY

The Take Home Chef

2006-08-30T20:28:00.000-04:00

Every now and then, I get waylaid by a reality television marathon. I purposely don't watch them first-run because for the most part, I'd rather watch TV that doesn't pretend it's not scripted. However sometimes I will be home cleaning or putzing around and I'll get sucked in (hello Real Housewives of Orange County.)One "reality" show I will watch first-run is produced by my blog bud Ms. Ahmad

Obama and Oprah Africa Update

2006-08-26T20:02:00.000-04:00

That's Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama getting tested for HIV-AIDS inside a mobile clinic in Kisumu, Kenya. He told the cheering crowd who gathered to watch, "If a Senator from the United States and his wife can get tested, then everyone in this crowd, in this town and in this province can get tested." And yes, not surprisingly, both tested negative.Earlier, the senator met with Kenyan

Girl, Put Your Records On (Live!)

2006-08-24T05:15:00.000-04:00

Here's a great New York story for you.The day before yesterday, I was walking up Sixth Avenue in the Rockefeller Center area on my way to the bank. Even though I was on my way to the bank, my mind was on hair and as I walked, I found myself noticing different hair styles - especially natural hairstyles since I'm natural (Again. For now.) As I approach the corner of 53rd street, I see a mass

Obama and Oprah in Africa

2006-08-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

Our only black U.S. senator Barack Obama arrived in South Africa on Saturday to begin a two-week, six-nation trip. This will be his first time in Africa in fourteen years - and his first trip as a U.S. senator. He will be writing dispatches from the trip on his site and after South Africa, he will visit Rwanda, Congo, Djibouti, Chad and (of course) Kenya, where his father was born and

Age Is Truly Just A Number

2006-08-18T03:25:00.000-04:00

Quick question. How old do you think this woman is?A.) 40B.) 56C.) 86D.) 63The correct answer is C. Yes, you read right C - as in this woman is an 86 year old great-grandmother and champion bodybuilder! *taping her picture to my treadmill*Her name is Mojorie Newlin and I remember seeing her on Oprah a few years ago when she was 79. By the way, she didn't even start exercising until she was

Hollywood Has Spoken: Africa Is Hot!

2006-08-15T03:47:00.000-04:00

And I'm not just talking about the weather. Apparently Hollywood - and not just Angelina Jolie - has decided that Africa is hot. Even Madonna has "cast an iced-blue eye" toward the continent. It's officially legit!As for the Gwyneth Paltrow ad above, I understand that it was for a good cause and everything, but seriously, did they really think it would not be mocked?

Omigod! Halle's 40!

2006-08-14T04:05:00.000-04:00

So, in honor of Halle Berry's 40th birthday today, I'm going to tell the Halle Berry story that I tell everybody. Halle was the very first person that I ever interviewed. Nothing big - it was a beauty pageant magazine, my personal Ishtar if you will, but the pageant connection was how I got her in the first place. As a teen, I competed in a pageant called Miss New Jersey Teen All-American.

Hey DJ, Play A REAL Singer For Me!

2006-08-10T23:24:00.000-04:00

I'm sorry, but I miss real singers.I'm not going to name names 'cause I ain't one to talk about people 'cause it ain't right - but what happened?Bona fide singers can't get any airplay - or press - unless they're in their drawers? New singers can't get signed unless they have a blonde weave or a belly ring? What the hell??Did Phyllis Hyman see this coming? I used to think that she was just

The Gay Husband Checklist

2006-08-03T12:25:00.000-04:00

So, I found this article in the New York Times about the struggles of gay/bi-sexual men who are married to women. Now while I understand societal pressures and bias, I think it's pretty selfish for a man - or a woman for that matter - to drag another person into their madness. I'm sorry -in fact, no I'm not sorry - that I want to be more than just a "best friend" or "perfect co-parent" when I

Damn, I'm A Hungry Girl!

2006-08-02T00:58:00.000-04:00

No, seriously I'm starving here...I've been trying to eat correctly while getting my black sweat on and I'm going a little crazy. Just a little bit...Sometimes it's easy to forget that there is a price to pay when you actually start doing what you're supposed to do to get the results you want. Oprah's trainer Bob Greene said on her show that when you get a little hungry late in the evening,

Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine

2006-07-30T17:56:00.000-04:00

You'll have to excuse my sporadic posting, but I really haven't had anything to say! It's hot - everybody knows that and that's about it for me. I just wanted to look at something on my site besides those dang balloons!So, see you tomorrow (or maybe Tuesday...)

It's My (Blog) Birthday!

2006-07-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

Anovelista.com was born on July 26, 2005 in a Manhattan office (that shall not be named) where I was working as a temp. My first official post was about the debut of Good Times on TV Land - a great excuse to google "Sweet Daddy Williams" and even wonder aloud about the whereabouts of Marsha "I'd Like To Climb Magic Johnson" Warfield. Clues anyone?I've done my share of free PR/shouting from

PSA: Do NOT Touch A Black Woman's Hair EVER!

2006-07-19T16:34:00.000-04:00

In the words of my same-name-blog-bud Nichelle, "Black people are not chia pets!" I am stunned that this is still happening in 2006! Barbara Walters pulling and tugging on Brandy's weave and Tanika Ray's hair gave me flashbacks of a certain blonde grand dame pulling on my braids at a cocktail party at Le Cirque several years ago. No freaking clue! I'm sorry, but age doesn't give you a

Essence Magazine's "Do Right Men"

2006-07-15T16:30:00.000-04:00

A brief disclaimer: I've got a few pals over at Essence, so Essence is alright with me.That said, some of the reaction I've been reading online about their "Do Right Man" feature has been very interesting. I was pretty stunned at the utter disbelief of some black women, who commented right away that they didn't believe a word any of the men said - especially the famous ones. Some of the stinging

Caught Up In The Rapture

2006-07-12T16:42:00.000-04:00

I just read the tragic story of Tiesha Sargeant and I wanted to share it to be sure that this cautionary tale made it outside of the New York area.Tiesha Sargeant was 26 years old on May 14 when she was murdered – a pillow shoved over her face, a single bullet to her head – in the apartment that she shared with her boyfriend Keve Huggins in Brooklyn. Keve told Tiesha that he designed t-shirts and

A Diva in the Family

2006-07-10T13:30:00.000-04:00

No, I didn't get lost in the Silent Sea! I've just been enjoying the summer a bit. In fact, I had the good fortune of being in Little Italy in the Village yesterday - right in the middle of World Cup fever (Viva Italia!)I have also been working on my book. I didn't want to say too much about the book before it's time, and I still don't, but I will tell you a little more about it because

On A Silent Sea

2006-06-28T03:01:00.000-04:00

So, loving yet another singer/songwriter. This time, it's KT Tunstall. Her big hit now is Black Horse and the Cherry Tree, but I'm digging Silent Sea. I was minding my business in my local Starbucks (I know, I know...) when I hear:I was happy in my harbourWhen you cut me looseFloating on an oceanAnd confusedWinds are whipping waves upLike sky scrapersAnd the harder they hit meThe less I seem to

A King's Treasure At Sotheby's

2006-06-26T00:01:00.000-04:00

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of viewing the extensive Martin Luther King Jr. Collection at Sotheby's in Manhattan. It was scheduled to be auctioned this Friday, but I was more than thrilled to see that the auction is now off and the collection will instead be housed at Morehouse College in Atlanta.Halle-lu-yer! Praise Him!The exhibition will continue until Thursday, June 29, so I'm going to

Do My Knees Look Fat?

2006-06-22T02:17:00.000-04:00

I know I said I would be working up a black sweat, but I've been slacking lately. I finally dragged myself onto my treadmill at 11:30 last night, which is technically only two and a half hours ago, because I was determined not to let the day end without me getting some kind of exercise. I've been over at 55 having fun, and working on my book (I'm going to tell you more about that soon - very

Some Things That Have Caught My Eye

2006-06-19T05:04:00.000-04:00

Perhaps he was inspired by the intrepid Karyn, but Dustin Diamond, the actor who played "Screech" on Saved by the Bell, is not taking the impending foreclosure on his house in Milwaukee laying down. Apparently being a stand-up comedian isn't paying the bills for him, so he's selling autographed t-shirts with his likeness in order to raise about $250,000 to stop the foreclosure. On the front

The Soundtrack Of My Life

2006-06-11T04:30:00.000-04:00

I was going to post this last week, but I think we all know by now that Blogger called out sick! (@#&%$!)Anyway...Ms. Supa Sister had an excellent post about the songs that formed the soundtrack to her life and I was inspired to write down some of the songs that I couldn't write in her comment section. With all of the Blogger drama, I feel like I've been writing this all week, but oh well. Here

Net Neutrality: Don't Sleep!

2006-06-09T05:07:00.000-04:00

Net neutrality means that you and I should get the same treatment from cable and phone companies for use of their broadband, high-speed Internet lines as big corporations.In the nutshell, television and cable companies led by AT&T, Comcast and Verizon want to charge a toll to use the Internet and create different tiers of online service. If you dont' have money for the "express lane" on the

Everybody Knows From The Coy Little Wink...

2006-06-05T00:01:00.000-04:00

I wrote beauty and fitness articles for years and I really miss it. So after thinking about it and thinking about it and thinking about it some more, I've finally decided to do something about it that didn't involve pitching editors and waiting 6 to 8 to 68 weeks for my freelance check.So today, I invite you to pay a visit to my brand new style blog at 55 Secret Street. I am not abandoning

Girl, Put Your Records On

2006-05-31T05:07:00.000-04:00

Pushed over the edge by Miss Ahmad's trip down memory lane, I went over to iTunes to download some vintage Prince only to get sidetracked by one of my new favorites, Corinne Bailey Rae. Her gorgeous acoustic version of her song Put Your Records On is their Free Download Single of the Week. I have the regular version on my MySpace page (yes I know, I'm "grown") but I like this acoustic version

Oh, The Places I'll Go

2006-05-30T01:17:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to get up outta here and go somewhere, anywhere for a nice vacation! I do have some getaway plans for the summer, but nothing too exotic: North Carolina for work, California for fun and Virginia for my family reunion.My dream trip would be to Fregate Island in the Seychelles, the star of the photos here. How about you? Any hot travel plans for this summer?

Five (Or So) Things I Like About... the Sangin' Diva!

2006-05-24T16:02:00.000-04:00

So, on this lovely, sunny Wednesday I have been doing some championship procrastinating! I wasn't even planning on blogging until I received an email from the WCBH aka the West Coast Bloggin' Hotties - my blog buds on the other coast with a great idea. Apparently Butta, blogger and editor extraordinaire, came across a meme called "Listing Magnificence: Five Things I Like About Myself" but WCBH

Obama in 2008?

2006-05-23T00:50:00.000-04:00

Is Barack Obama faking the funk when he says he doesn't want to run for president in 2008? Jason Zengerle, a writer for The Plank, the blog on The New Republic thinks so, thanks to this piece in the latest issue of New York on Al Gore.The New York article by John Heilenman piqued Zengerle's interest because of one seemingly innocent paragraph that mentioned how only Gore and Obama had the "

Adieu To A Legendary, Pioneering Diva

2006-05-22T12:40:00.000-04:00

Katherine Dunham June 22, 1909 - May 21, 2006"I was quite taken with her, because I'd never seen the African influence in dance with that kind of strength and artistic power. It impacted my soul. No one had reached those heights. She was the definitive black dance company. She moved among the highest intellectuals of black culture, all the writers and painters and literary folk." -- Harry

Halle Berry Goes Off On British DJ

2006-05-19T12:08:00.000-04:00

Chris Moyles is a big DJ in London who thinks that Halle Berry was "ratty" (British slang for grouchy) because she found an impersonation he did of a "big, fat, black guy" to be racist. You be the judge. Here is the exchange as reported by the AP:Hugh Jackman, Berry's "X-Men: The Last Stand" co-star, jokingly suggested that Moyles might take the role of his body double if he ever landed the

Omigod! Janet's 40!

2006-05-16T01:53:00.000-04:00

So, that means it was friggin' thirty-five years ago that I thought you were so "lucky" to have The Jacksons as your brothers?! Thirty years ago that you were on Good Times getting burned with that iron by Kim Fields' mom?! (She still freaks me out to this day!) It's been twenty-five years since I copied that key in your earring and followed your every (alleged) move in Right On! magazine?

Still Writing, Still Can't Pump Gas...

2006-05-09T17:26:00.000-04:00

I'm still plugging away on my project, so aside from stopping by a few of my favorite blogs and commenting, I won't be doing anything here until the end of the week - just in time to wish Miss Janet a happy 40th birthday! Funny how time flies when you're having fun, right? Her birthday is actually next Tuesday, May 16th, but who knows what I'll be doing then.My D.C. trip was great by the way. I

It's Crunch Time! (Or, Books Don't Write Themselves)

2006-05-04T00:14:00.000-04:00

I am doing a lot of work related to my book this week, so I won't be blogging until next Monday or Tuesday. I've put my novel aside to research and work on this book (amidst temping, unemployment, tenant-landlord court - you know, the starving writer thing) and now, I've finally got the proposal together and it's making the rounds. The pictures are a hint about my book, namely the subject.

Pump My Own Gas? Please - I'm From Jersey!

2006-05-01T00:50:00.000-04:00

So, being the proud New Jersey-born person that I am, I have no idea how to pump my own gas. Self-service gas stations are a foreign concept in New Jersey, so I've been having a good laugh at NJ governor Jon Corzine's proposal to implement self-service in New Jersey. Bite your tongue Governor! I'll bet one of your drivers pumps your gas!I mean, I have pumped gas before, just not often. Or

Rally To Save Darfur in Washington, D.C.

2006-04-30T19:33:00.000-04:00

I thought you might like to see some other people at the rally that weren't named George Clooney! The rebels have rejected the peace deal they were offered, so we've got to keep paying attention!Then again, maybe I will show good 'ole George. If he hadn't shown up, half of the media there probably wouldn't have either. Also in attendance: Chris Rock, Nobel Peace Prize winner and Holocaust

Akeelah and the Bee is #8 at the Box Office

2006-04-30T18:20:00.000-04:00

Oh well... Weekend Box Office Estimates (U.S.)Apr 28 - 30 weekend Title Dist. Weekend Gross CumulativeGross RlseWks # ofTheaters RV Sony Pictures Releasing $16,400,000 $16,400,000 1 3639 United 93 N/A

We Can Save Darfur Right From Our Living Rooms

2006-04-28T04:10:00.000-04:00

Or, at least we can start there.I don't deal with politics on my blog, but the situation in the Darfur region of Sudan is beyond politics and I think it's time for more regular folks like myself to make some noise about the first true genocide of the 21st century.I've been keeping my eye on it through the news and various blogs and web sites and lately, the issue finally seems to be gaining some

Oprah Loves Akeelah and the Bee

2006-04-25T17:12:00.000-04:00

No surprise there - I just hope that it translates to Akeelah taking the #1 spot at the box office this weekend! I will also be very interested to see what happens around awards season. Unlike some of the last truly quality black films that we've had (Lackawanna Blues, Something The Lord Made, Boycott, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge) Akeelah and the Bee is a theatrical release - not a cable

Strong Women Get The Insecurity Blues Too

2006-04-25T14:41:00.000-04:00

I've noticed that Halle Berry has once again been quoted on the insecurity she has about her looks. And of course, her comments have spread like fire throughout the blogosphere, complete with psychoanalysis and seering criticism. And as usual, the criticism came around to criticizing Halle for being "weak."So I thought it was really interesting that two black women that have reputations for

Working Up A Black Sweat Part Deux

2006-04-24T03:22:00.000-04:00

I've never been one to really follow a diet to the letter. I've always just flipped through a pile of diet books, found the magic bullet and then acted accordingly. Sometimes. Well, okay, hardly ever.I've done the infamous Cabbage Soup diet and lost nine-pounds in one week, only to gain back ten the next. I skimmed through The Zone and The South Beach Diet and any number of liquid diets,

Here We Go Again...

2006-04-20T03:53:00.000-04:00

So, the Sangin Diva tagged me. Thanks girlfriend (not!)Hey, don't you have a plane to catch or something? Hahaha...Well, this time, I am supposed to write six quirky or unknown things about myself and then tag six more people. Clearly La Reina did not realize that I am tag-impaired so I will not tag six more people, but I will give it a go myself.1.) I have met Naomi Campbell twice and she was

America's Forgotten Founding Fathers

2006-04-18T17:35:00.000-04:00

Lately, there has been a litany of dreary headlines about black men. They've been falling behind in education... avoiding marriage...carrying around Academy Awards in paper bags... It's been a real mess.But have no fear! There is some good news. More Black men are gaining headway in politics in greater numbers -- and with a real shot to win -- than in any other time in American history. Barack

Isaac, Tar-jhay and Me: A Love Story

2006-04-17T03:28:00.000-04:00

Happy Monday! I won't be long-winded today. "Today" is the middle of the night again, but that's the way I do it. I mean, I was born at four in the morning - what do you expect? For some reason or another, I function very well in the wee hours of the morning. I'm guessing this will come in handy when I become a mother one day.Anyway...I just wanted to write a little about how much I heart

The Age Of Madness

2006-04-14T05:00:00.000-04:00

So, I was over at Crunk + Disorderly recently (or was it Concrete Loop?) just minding my own business when I was struck by a comment from one of the posters. To paraphrase:Toni Braxton is aging so well.Uh, come again? Since when is it a miracle that a 38-year-old black woman is "aging well?" I don't care what Hollywood people do or don't do, most thirtysomething, not to mention most

June Pointer Takes Her Final Bow

2006-04-13T09:45:00.000-04:00

June Pointer November 30, 1954 - April 11, 2006

The Stupid Girl Deprogrammer: A Primer

2006-04-11T11:06:00.000-04:00

The whole Stupid Girls controversy has given me an idea. It has become increasingly apparent to me that a lot of people are getting sick and tired of the sh*t on the radio and the video. Heck, Video Killed The Radio Star and the Bona fide Singer. Now, far be it from me to judge anyone, but I thought that since being a Stupid Girl is rapidly going out of style, a handy little primer would be

Is There A Musical Revolution Going On?

2006-04-10T02:49:00.000-04:00

Probably not. But it's a nice thought isn't it?Anyway, Happy Monday people! Sorry I've been away for a few days, but you know how it is - bidnezz needed to be handled.I ask the "musical revolution" question because Pink will be on Oprah today to talk about her new song "Stupid Girls," (What happened to the dreams of a girl president, she's dancing in the video next to 50 Cent, They travel in

Mark Your Calendars!

2006-04-05T16:39:00.000-04:00

I may not have time to read their books right now, but I will support them on tour! Three of the four authors I recommended yesterday will be coming to a city near you and me in the very near future. Veronica Chambers (who was kind enough to stop by and say hello yesterday) will be at the Borders in the Time Warner Center in NYC on April 20th at 7 pm. Since I visit this particular Borders every

My Top Ten List For A (Near) Perfect Mate

2006-04-05T02:58:00.000-04:00

So, I've been tagged by Miss A and I will oblige in the name of internet etiquette (Miss A: I know I said I'd do this in a "minute" but you know how it goes.)According to the rules, the tagged person must come up with 10 different things they need in a perfect mate. The tagged person must mention the gender of their target and then tag 8 more to join the game and leave a comment saying they've

If I Had Time, I Would Read These Books

2006-04-03T01:23:00.000-04:00

Wild Stars Seeking Midnight Suns by J. California CooperI probably won't be able to resist this for long because I love J. California Cooper's work, especially her stories. This is a collection about yet more women in search of satisfaction, usually in the wrong places. I haven't read J. California in a long time, so this will be a real treat for me. She was featured in Essence not long ago (

More Buzz on Akeelah and the Bee

2006-03-30T02:15:00.000-05:00

I've mentioned Akeelah and the Bee before (Starbucks will be promoting it!) but I didn't realize that it was a winner of the Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting, one of the top screenwriting prizes out there (it's administered by the Academy Award folks.) The only requirement is that an entrant can not have earned more than $5,000 as a screenwriter (not a problem for most of us!)Akeelah was

What Is Wrong With People?

2006-03-29T01:19:00.000-05:00

I liked Defamer's take on Pamela Anderson's protest against seal hunting in Canada:Once again, Anderson manages to bust stereotypes: Not only does she put the lie to the cliche of the boring Canadian, but she also proves that a large-breasted blonde is fully apable of understanding and signing the articulate and persuasive statements prepared by PETA on her behalf.(sigh�K) I love animals �V don't

Marriage Is "For White People"

2006-03-27T13:55:00.000-05:00

Or so everybody and their mama keeps telling us! This Washington Post article by Joy Jones has been making the rounds and I'm sure that I'm about the ten thousandth blogger to write about it but, oh well!Although I am trying to Keep Hope Alive for a brother, I will not allow my eggs to shrivel up waiting on that negro. I will have a husband, not a baby daddy! I mean, how sad is it that we had

(A Little) About Me

2006-03-27T12:22:00.000-05:00

I promise this will be my last list for a while! I stole this from a cute blog called Just My Cup of Tea (and she stole it from someone else of course.)1. First name? Nichelle2. Who were you named after? Nichelle Nichols of Star Trek fame3. Do you wish on stars? No, I pray to the Lord!4. Do you like your handwriting? Yes, when I'm not scribbling.5. When did you last

Working Up A Black Sweat

2006-03-24T02:05:00.000-05:00

Eye am not even going 2 go in 2 how much of a Prince fan eye am except 2 say that in high school eye wrote like this in my diary and managed 2 convince my strings teacher (eye played the viola) 2 incorporate The Beautiful Ones in 2 our recital. Oh, and my mother almost kicked my natural black behind when she heard Darlin' Nikki blasting from my bedroom. Eye feigned ignorance and lived 2 C the

Like A Star...

2006-03-20T00:13:00.000-05:00

So, after church yesterday I'm just chilling, having a little coffee, doing a little Sunday online reading with VH1 Soul playing in the background when I stop everything I'm doing... Just like a star across my sky, Just like an angel off the page, You have appeared to my life, Feel like I'll never be the same, Just like a song in my heart, Just like oil on my hands, Oh.. I do love you, Still i

The First Black Pop Star

2006-03-19T14:43:00.000-05:00

Thanks to exhaustive work by scholars at the Donald C. Davidson Library at the University of California, Santa Barbara, along with various collectors and independent record labels, a collection of more than 6,000 cylinders converted to downloadable MP3's, WAV files and streaming audio are now available online free of charge. I read about it this morning in the New York Times. The collection

You! Shake Your Junk...

2006-03-17T18:31:00.000-05:00

On that same [video] set, I had to wear a short, tight dress. I had some downtime, so I sat in one of the rooms where the food was set up. Soon one guy came in and then another. Within a few minutes, fifteen guys were surrounding me, and I was trapped. I felt like a specimen in a museum. I didn't want to get up because I knew if I did, they would start making a fuss over my ass. I kept thinking,

Where Have All The Black Girls Gone?

2006-03-17T15:49:00.000-05:00

Can somebody please make this brother a sandwich, pronto! (And pour him a tall glass of sweet lemonade while you're at it.) This is Mark H. Harris. He writes a column for PopMatters.com called Yelling at the Screen and he wrote this great article last December (don't know how I missed it) called Where Have All The Black Girls Gone? He has some great advice for black actresses to use for solving

Slavery In New York

2006-03-14T23:54:00.000-05:00

Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing the Slavery In New York exhibit at the New York Historical Society and I can't recommend it enough.New York, land of love, liberty and liberals was once the capital of American slavery for more than 200 years. During the colonial period, only Charleston, South Carolina had more slaves.The Dutch were the first to bring slaves to New York. In 1621, Holland

Gordon Parks, Rest In Peace

2006-03-08T09:59:00.000-05:00

"I was just born with a need to explore every tool shop of my mind, and with long searching and hard work. I became devoted to my restlessness."Gordon ParksNovember 30, 1912 - March 7, 2006

Oscar's Golden (Brown) Ladies

2006-03-07T22:08:00.000-05:00

So, the minute the Oscars were over, I dutifully scoured the internet for the best dresses from the red carpet and after parties. Along with the nominees, the usual suspects were out in force, and they looked great, especially Jennifer Lopez and Jessica Alba.And of course, as always, I'm looking over Jennifer's shoulder and Charlize's hair for a black star, any black star, just to see what the

Simon Doonan loves him some large black ladies

2006-03-02T00:56:00.000-05:00

Simon Doonan, the glamorous varmint that writes books and appears on VH1 when he's not on his day job as creative director at Barneys just loves him some large black ladies. His sudden outburst of admiration was inspired by the woman he describes as "My American Idol", Idol contestant Mandisa Hundley.What is it about large black ladies that makes them so compelling? Why do we, straight and gay

Um, What The Hell?

2006-03-01T23:28:00.000-05:00

Eyeless cloth hoods? Chains for a nose? Woven hair masks?Guy Trebay makes some sense of this mess in the New York Times:When a single designer chooses to efface his models, it's easy to slough off the stunt as creative license. But when a bunch of designers with no connection to one another are moved to eliminate the faces of the beautiful creatures they hire for the catwalk, it's clear something

Octavia Butler, Rest In Peace

2006-03-01T22:57:00.000-05:00

"I'm comfortably asocial — a hermit in the middle of a large city, a pessimist if I'm not careful, a feminist, a Black, a former Baptist, an oil-and-water combination of ambition, laziness, insecurity, certainty and drive."Octavia Butler, June 22, 1947 - February 25, 2006"In black speculative fiction, we are a tiny family and Octavia Butler was our matriarch. So we just lost our mother, our

From Prison to a Four-Book Deal

2006-02-14T08:03:00.000-05:00

I am not exactly a Street Lit fan, but I am very happy and excited for this brother, Dewitt Gilmore. Using the pen name Relentless Aaron, he has just signed a six-figure deal with St. Martin's Press.Like many subway riders in New York, I have observed Gilmore several times as he passed through the cars to sell his books.Aggressive "guerrilla" marketer he may be, but he was always very respectful

Thank You And Farewell Mrs. King

2006-01-31T18:10:00.000-05:00

"I am often identified as the widow of Martin Luther King Jr. Sometimes, I am also identified as a civil rights leader or a human rights activist. While these designations are factually correct, I would also like to be thought of as a complex, three-dimensional, flesh-and-blood human being with a rich storehouse of experiences, much like everyone else, yet unique in my own way … much like

Nichelles du Monde

2006-01-21T16:22:00.000-05:00

And to think... there was a time when I thought that I was the only little black girl in the whole wide world that was named after Nichelle Nichols from Star Trek.Ha!There's another blogging Nichelle, who's a lot better about blogging than I am. She also produces comedy shows and is a cupcake connoisseur -- a Nichelle after my own heart. There is the novelist Nichelle D. Tramble. I remember

The Buzz on Akeelah & The Bee

2006-01-13T20:01:00.000-05:00

In what is surely an act of God, Starbucks will be promoting the new Laurence Fishburne/Angela Bassett Film Akeelah and the Bee.According to the New York Daily News:The giant coffee chain has cooked up a deal with movie studio Lionsgate, the first of a larger effort to forge into the movie business. Starbucks has agreed to put up "millions of dollars" to promote "Akeelah," in its 5,500 stores

Ghetto Fiction: Don't Get Me Started...

2006-01-13T19:01:00.000-05:00

I wanted to comment right away on Nick Chiles' New York Times Op-Ed "Their Eyes Were Reading Smut" , but I was busy working on my own book, which I suppose will be lumped in with my skinfolks in the 'colored section' on bookshelves one day, regardless of genre.I never liked the way some bookstores separate all books by black authors into one section (Where is the Indian-American or South Asian

Please Stand Clear Of The Rolling Heads...

2005-12-23T17:14:00.000-05:00

The subways and buses are back -- let the face-saving begin!

Damn, Damn, Damn!

2005-12-20T08:55:00.000-05:00

7.5 million commuters held hostage by b.s. -- Merry Christmas!

The Best Man Won America

2005-12-16T18:35:00.000-05:00

Today is Brilliant Black Brother Day on Anovelista's blog, beginning with one Randal Pinkett, the clear winner (no losses, no excuses, 5 friggin' degrees) of last night's Apprentice finale.Amazing how the rules of the game suddenly changed just for him. Now, instead of working hard and earning your spot, you have to be "generous" and "share" the spoils of your hard work with the person that you

Baracking the World

2005-12-16T18:31:00.000-05:00

After watching him tour the Astrodome in Houston, I decided to finally take a sip of the Barack Obama kool-aid and read his memoir, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance.I am particularly averse to politicians, so I have resisted the hype about Senator Obama "Baracking the World" ever since the world fell in love with him after his 2004 Democratic National convention speech.That

So Brilliant, So Blue....

2005-12-16T18:20:00.000-05:00

Rest in peace Richard.

Thank You Miss Rosa, You Were The Spark

2005-10-25T11:20:00.000-04:00

Rosa Louise McCauley Parks: February 4, 1913-October 24, 2005.

Belaboring Beyoncé for Naught

2005-10-08T16:59:00.000-04:00

Gawker.com, the irreverent daily obsession of Manhattan media types, gets a little ridiculous in their sendup of Beyoncé's cover interview in the new Vanity Fair.To her credit, unlike some blabbermouth celebrities who claim to want privacy, Beyoncé is still private about her personal life. But she does explain how she has "grown up" and doesn't have a problem going from songs like “Independent

August Wilson: Farewell to a Theater Giant

2005-10-04T19:46:00.000-04:00

I have been so nuts with work that I haven't had a chance to do much blogging, but I had to pay my respects to the brilliant August Wilson, whom we lost too soon last weekend. I still can't believe that Seven Guitars is the only one of his plays I managed to see on Broadway, but I am so glad that I did see at least one. I have read all of his plays however and, unlike some works, they are truly