Child star Darius McCrary who played Eddie Winslow on the famed sit-com "Family Matters" is accused of beating up his ex-wife video vixen Karrine ("Superhead") Steffans with a belt in front of her 12-year-old son.
Steffans has filed legal papers against McCrary alleging that he choked and shoved her into a car in November where a large crowd witnessed the attack outside of an L.A. hotel. Steffans also claims that the 34-year-old "Young and the Restless" star choked her from behind, then beat her with a belt last February and her 12-year-old son witnessed the entire episode.
On the flip side, McCrary has denied all of the alleged accusations of physical abuse and publicly stated that his ex is in dire need of psychological help.
The McCrary and Steffans relationship dynamic has been a turbulent one from the start. The couple married in April 2009, then McCrary decided to dissolve the union just 10 months later by sending his wife divorce papers along with a bouquet of flowers. There have been countless accusations of cheating. The blatantly mismatched couple's relationship has also been fraught with restraining orders which resulted from allegations of violent acts.
Two years ago, Steffans, 32, accused McCrary of running her over with his car; the actor allegedly backed over her foot, then sped off. A year earlier, Steffans also called police claiming that McCrary choked her until she passed out. McCrary, in a 2008 court document, stated that Steffans slapped him in the face so hard on a Los Angeles street, she hit a bystander.
The New York Times best-selling author who got her fame, fortune and nickname "Superhead" from her sexual exploits with famed rappers like Jay-Z and celebs like Bill Maher, blasted McCrary publicly for seriously assaulting her on numerous occasions by speaking out on TV and radio shows, in print and online videos.
Steffans, who earlier this year inked a lucrative venture with the porn giant company Larry Flynt Publications and the Hustler Hollywood retail chain that will carry her line of books online and in stores throughout the U.S., is trying to get her current restraining order against McCrary extended into a permanent one.
29-Nov-10 - Facebook Pastor Cedric Miller resigned from his post, after it became public that he had a three-way sexual relationship with his male assistant in wife. Now, it's being reported that he will return to his job.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
When it comes to clothes, Rachel Roy knows her stuff. She's built a successful fashion empire from the ground up and sets new trends every where she goes. The style star recently stepped out on the red carpet at the 'Blue Valentine' premiere after-party in a style combination you don't see very often. Rachel mixed a typically casual gray sweatshirt with a structured, ladylike pencil skirt and an over-sized gray clutch. The result? An effortlessly cool look, with a hint of sophistication.
To recreate Rachel's casual chic look, look for a sweatshirt that's fun and comfortable, without a lot of bulk. Pair the sweatshirt with a feminine pencil skirt and add great accessories like a pointy heels, a classic watch, or a great gray bag.
Get Rachel Roy's look for less with these affordable options:
Shot down by police outside a strip mall for no reason, his body burned up in a car in an obvious attempt to destroy evidence in the confused days after Hurricane Katrina wrecked New Orleans, Glover's case became a symbol of what happens when police officers lose control.
Three officers were convicted yesterday in connection to Glover's death and two were acquitted of charges in the cover-up.
Officer David Warren, accused of shooting an unarmed Glover in the back, was found guilty of manslaughter. Officer Gregory McRae was convicted of burning Glover's body in an attempt to cover-up the shooting. Police Lt. Travis McCabe was convicted of writing a false report on the shooting and lying to federal investigators.
While Glover's family members are understandably upset that the manslaughter conviction wasn't a murder conviction and that two officers were able to escape charges, they should be gratified that Glover's death wasn't swept under the rug.
The misconduct by the officers kept the truth hidden from the public for nearly four years. Luckily federal prosecutors stepped in to conduct an open investigation into the charges.
The Glover case is one of nine civil rights violation cases facing the New Orleans Police Department, which has labored under the reputation of being among the most corrupt and brutal big city police units in the nation.
Ten more officers are facing charges in the Danziger Bridge police shooting that killed two unarmed people and occurred two days after Glover's shooting.
There will be a number of New Orleans police officers sitting behind bars when this very ugly chapter of murderous policing is closed.
But I hope some investigators force these officers to talk about why they lost control. Everyone knows the aftermath of Katrina was a confused and dangerous time for all people in the city. The stress was unimaginable.
But far too many New Orleans police officers lost their minds in the chaos. We need to find out why so it doesn't happen again.
29-Nov-10 - Facebook Pastor Cedric Miller resigned from his post, after it became public that he had a three-way sexual relationship with his male assistant in wife. Now, it's being reported that he will return to his job.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
Mark Wahlberg's portrayal of former boxer Mickey Ward packs a riveting, powerful punch in David O. Russell's film, 'The Fighter;' but it's the performances by the rest of the cast, including scene stealer Christian Bale that make the film a winner.
Along with Melissa Leo and Amy Adams, this fact based drama has a shot to be among the ten films nominated for Best Film comes Oscar time.
Set in the early days of his career in Lowell, Mass., Mickey Ward always wanted to be like his older brother Dickey Eklund (played brilliantly by Bale). Dickey was the local who boxed first and got his one title shot against Sugar Ray Leonard. Although he lost the bout nearly 15 years ago, he would recall the time he knocked Leonard down. It's what made him the legend in the neighborhood, before he succumbed to being a drug addict and then going in and out of jail.
With his mom Alice (played by Leo) acting as his manager and Dickey has his trainer, Mickey hasn't had the best of fights. At the age of 31, Mickey knows his time in the ring is running out unless he can prove he can win.
His luck turns when he meets local bartender Charlene (played by Adams), who, much to the chagrin of Mickey's seven sisters and mom, gives him the confidence to walk away from the family and work with people who can him get to the right spot in the boxing world. The only obstacle Mickey sees is walking away from his biggest fan and hero, Dickey.
Wahlberg's been trying to get this project off the ground for years, and with patience and through numerous casting changes, he put together a film that's intensely poignant with well rounded characters.
With as many films to his credit, including 'American Psycho,' and 'The Dark Knight,' Bale has never been this good. This is the one film where you want him on screen all the time. Along with 'The Machinist,' it's one of his best performances ever. The same goes for Melissa Leo. Her Oscar nomination for 'Frozen River' a few years ago was no fluke. Amy Adams matched up just as well as the girl-next-door who doesn't take talk from anyone.
Overall, 'The Fighter' is a gritty film filled with lively and believable characters that make it a first rate entertainment.
Many people lauded the election of Barack Obama as the sign that America was finally post-racial. We had arrived at the completion of Dr. King's dream of a colorblind society where a black man could gawk at a white women's boobs without fear of discrimination at his local strip club.
A sign excluding black people from a future [strip club] is enraging some people in a small town. Now, the Wisconsin man who put it up is speaking out.It's a sign generations of people may have never seen. Yet a Clark County business man says it's his right to discriminate.
Federal and State law says if the business is open to the public, prohibiting people based on race is illegal. If the man's proposed gentlemen's club was going to be a private club, then an African American historian says he could discriminate. Legalities aside, his is a sign that many say is appalling.
"If I've got a problem with you it's going to be on the front of my store," says Mark Prior.Prior posted his 'No Negros Allowed' sign after he says he had some problems with black people in the past and needed to make a policy against them.
"I'm going to stick to my guns because I think I have the right as a business owner to reject service to anyone. It's not all the black people there are just a few bad ones," Prior says of his problems in the past.Prior wants to open a gentlemen's club in a building next to the Abbotsford city hall and library. He says he moved his sign inside after someone with the city asked him to remove it.
People in Abbotsford say it's a sign they don't welcome in their town. But, Prior says it's his right as an American and as a business owner to decide who's welcome; a right he says he'll take all the way to court if he has to."That's the policy. I'm going to stick to my guns," Prior says. ...
He also said it's not just black people he's going to ban from his future establishment. He says he has a problem with certain white people as well, but he couldn't just put a lengthy list of names on his building so he felt 'No Negros Allowed' was the best policy.
Never mind the fact that Prior's sign ("No Negro's Allowed") is grammatically incorrect to comically epic proportions. Never mind the fact that businesses which discriminate against patrons on the basis of color are in direct violation of the Civil Rights Act Of 1964. Never mind how silly it is for Prior to state that he's not racist because he doesn't want unruly whites at his club either, but didn't have enough poster board to write a sign prohibiting them from entry specifically by name. Nope, never mind any of that.You know what really jumped out at me about this sad story?
Who in the heck thinks it's a good idea to build a strip club next to the public library?!? That's just bad for business. Stay classy, Wisconsin.
Personally, I (as usual) blame the Tea Party. When then-Senate candidate Rand Paul stated his disdain for the federal government forcing the Civil Rights Act on states, I knew we as a country were headed down a steep slope towards utter stupidity. The fact that few in the GOP admonished Paul for such a statement was glaring. The fact that Kentuckians just sent Paul to the U.S. Senate for the next 6 years, by a wide margin over his competitor, is even more glaring.
Amber Rose: This buxom model, best known for being Kanye's girlfriend, has a posterior that has the plastic-surgery rumor mill turning. But there's no evidence that Ms. Rose's bottom has been surgically enhanced.
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Celebrity Butt Implants
Jennifer Lopez: She's not the first woman with a big booty, and she certainly won't be the last. But this Boricua is arguably responsible for starting the big-butt trend that still has the celebrity world in a frenzy 10 years later.
Nicki Minaj: When some old photos surfaced of this rapper looking a lot less, uh, healthy, from the back, rumors started to swirl that she had indeed achieved her unbelievable behind through unnatural means.
Heidi Montag: The controversial reality star recently got buttocks implants as part of a marathon round of surgeries that completely transformed her body and face.
Beyonce: Her curvaceous body, which she shows off in form-fitting dresses and leotards, has been the inspiration for many a visit to the plastic surgeon's office. But are her assets authentic? Ms. Knowles says she's never gone under the knife.
CoCo: Rapper Ice-T's better half has copped to getting breast implants, but she says her booty is all her own. Various celebrity plastic surgery websites ( NSFW link!) tell a different story. You be the judge!
Kim Kardashian: This television personality is accused frequently of surgically enhancing her curvaceous frame, but she says her behind is just good genes!
Countess Vaughn: 'Moesha's former right-hand woman has admitted to having a butt-enhancement procedure because she felt insecure about having a flat butt and large breasts.
Amber Rose: This buxom model, best known for being Kanye's girlfriend, has a posterior that has the plastic-surgery rumor mill turning. But there's no evidence that Ms. Rose's bottom has been surgically enhanced.
I'm willing to bet Mr. Prior stole a page from this playbook, all in the name of advancing his narrow minded agenda of, well, personally I have no idea what his agenda is. In a town this small (population: 1,956), I can't imagine that its 0.15% African American population is causing so much ruckus that he felt the need to systematically disenfranchise brothers from makin' it rain on them pros. Even if this were legal, it would probably just be a stupid business move either way.
It's time for people to learn that in America, in addition to freedoms we have laws in place to prevent African Americans from discrimination in the business arena -- as workers or as customers. "Freedom" does not mean "freedom to discriminate."
Then again, maybe Prior just wanted to make a statement. And thanks to the aforementioned Civil Rights Act, the Federal Government will make a statement of its own that I'm sure Prior won't like.
It has been reported that Geoffrey Canada, head of the Harlem Children's Zone, was the first choice to become Chancellor of the New York City Public Schools. Canada is well-respected for championing the cause of educating children from urban communities who've had their futures continuously sabotaged by public school systems across America.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg reportedly reached out to Canada before choosing Cathleen Black, a woman with 40-years of experience in fields that don't involve education. Bloomberg has been under fire for his decision, given that many were hoping that a minority with meaningful educational experience would be the one to lead a school district dominated by a black and brown presence.
Mayor Bloomberg has made things more difficult for himself by keeping the selection process secret. He hasn't disclosed the candidates who were considered, nor laid out clear criteria on which he based his decision. This has led to an uproar from some in the community who feel that their children were sold out in the process. James Mtume, an activist and radio show host, feels that the appointment of Black was about money. According to Mtume, "Black was appointed primarily because she is from the business community and can facilitate the contracts that allow the education system to be the new corporate cash cow."
Mtume is also not convinced that Canada was seriously considered for the position in the first place. "The news about Canada didn't come out until there was a community uproar about there not being a black or brown person considered for the job," he said. "You don't make the announcement four weeks later, after the heat is on, you tell people these things up front."
Geoffrey Canada would have had a great deal to offer as the head of New York City Schools. He holds a Masters Degree from Harvard University and takes an approach to education that involves mentorship from birth all the way through the day the child enters college. In my book, "Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about College," I advocate for a similar approach, given that the entire village must work overtime in order for us to see the tremendous value that education provides in the lives of our children.
Canada is now 58-years-old, far from being at the end of his life's work. While he would have been a solid choice for Chancellor, he would have surely been criticized himself for being such a strong advocate of charter schools. Additionally, he loves to fire bad teachers, which doesn't sit well with unions who sometimes seem more concerned about protecting their jobs than protecting the lives of our youth. So, in other words, Canada would be a less-than-ideal candidate for the same reasons as Dr. Boyce Watkins (no, you'll never see me nominated as the head of any school district; I don't work hard to keep political friends, and I have an intense inability to tolerate B.S. for long periods of time. Life is too short for that).
One thing that's clear about the state of our public schools in New York City and across the country is that it's going to take tough, bold, no-nonsense leadership to make things right. With escalating drop-out rates for black and brown children, we must literally go to war with systems and individuals that are seeking to destroy the lives of our youth. While it might seem dramatic to tear down systems that undermine our kids' ability to be educated, one only needs to realize what's at stake: A child who remains uneducated is far more likely to spend their life in jails and prison, to be unemployed, or even be a victim of homicide (the leading cause of death for young black men, who are consistently at the bottom of nearly every measure of educational success). Given that the direct impact of missing education can be death, we must be willing to put everything on the line in order to save lives. There's no excuse for accepting the status quo.
David Bahati, a religious leader and parliament member in Uganda, doesn't like gays.
In fact, he has proposed a bill in Uganda that seeks to jail people for life or even execute them if they are found to be gay.
Bahati's bigotry is cloaked by his "passion for children," which he revealed during an interview on 'The Rachel Maddow Show' this week.
In measured, conversational tones that belie his hateful message, Bahati, said that homosexuality may be a human right in many parts of the world but not considered in Uganda.
He said that gays recruit children into the lifestyle and added that 95 percent of the Ugandan population opposes the gay lifestyle.
Perhaps the most explosive charge raised by Bahati is that foreigners were coming to Uganda to recruit children into homosexuality.
When Maddow asked Bahati for evidence, he only said he had "facts" to prove his assertion and that $15 million was being spent in a campaign to fight his bill and for gay child recruitment but provided no proof.
It was a bit sad to watch Bahati duck and dodge the questions offered by Maddow with his vague non-response responses and the all-purpose reply of "we want to protect the children of Uganda."
I might give Bahati a more fair hearing if he could prove one shred of evidence that gays were actually recruiting children. If that were the case, maybe even his heavy-handed measures would be justified.
It seems that people like Bahati should have a lot of other issues to worry about in Uganda other than limiting gay rights.
In the absence of any evidence of massive gay child recruitment plots, whatever two consenting adults do in their bedroom is their business.
29-Nov-10 - Facebook Pastor Cedric Miller resigned from his post, after it became public that he had a three-way sexual relationship with his male assistant in wife. Now, it's being reported that he will return to his job.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
A beloved New York City schoolteacher suffered a miscarriage Wednesday after she was hit in the stomach while trying to break up a fight between two students. Lissedia Batista, a Spanish teacher at Exploration Academy in the Claremont section of the Bronx was in the throes of her fifth-period lesson when a student entered her class five minutes late. When the pupil demanded that another student give up his seat and the student refused, a fist fight ensued.
When the battle escalated, Batista, who was four months pregnant, immediately tried to get between the 15-year-olds to try and stop the conflict. Somehow, the 27-year-old educator got elbowed in the stomach, and she fell to the floor crying.
Batista was immediately transported to a nearby hospital where she miscarried her unborn child.
The students at the center of the fight were suspended.
Students at the school are hurt and angered over what happened to a teacher they loved and often referred to as their "counselor." O'Neil Jones, 16, a junior at the school, said, "All the students love her and our wishes go out to her. This is a supernice woman we're talking about." Fellow student Amaury Lopez adds, "I can't believe it. I can't believe she lost her child over a fight over a chair."
New York City's DeputyMayor Dennis Walcott released a statement saying: "This is a very sad incident, and my heart goes out to Mrs. Batista and her family. I reached out to the principal and Mrs. Batista to express my sincere condolences."
Michael Mulgrew, president of the United Federation of Teachers, said the union would bring up Batista's case and other violent episodes this week with education officials on Friday. "Students, parents and teachers deserve to go to school in a safe learning environment every day," Mulgrew said.
Meanwhile, Batista has decided not to bring up any charges against the two boys in question for fear that they would wind up in the city's criminal justice system.
That is very noble of Batista. However, fighting in school should never be tolerated, and children who are brutally disruptive are perpetrators of such violence. Children must be taught the consequences of violent acts, and more severe penalties should be enacted by school officials. Schools should be respected as sanctuaries where civilization is mastered.
29-Nov-10 - Facebook Pastor Cedric Miller resigned from his post, after it became public that he had a three-way sexual relationship with his male assistant in wife. Now, it's being reported that he will return to his job.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
This coming weekend Christina Milian, Ashley Benson and Chad Michael Murray star in ABC Family's new holiday movie 'Christmas Cupid,' premiering during ABC Family's annual 25 Days of Christmas on Sunday, Dec. 12, at 8 p.m. ET/PT.
Milian ('Love Don't Cost a Thing,' 'Bring It On: Fight to the Finish') stars as Sloane Spencer, a high powered Hollywood publicist who finds herself haunted by the ghost of her recently departed infamous client Caitlin (played by Benson, 'Pretty Little Liars').
With just days before Christmas, Caitlin takes Sloane on a journey to meet the ghosts of her ex-boyfriends from the past, present and future to try and guide her to true love in a modern-day take on the Charles Dickens' holiday classic story A Christmas Carol.
It's Milian's second Christmas film she's done for Disney following 2007's 'Snowglobe,' and her first film since she gave birth to her daughter Violet Madison Nash (with ex-husband, R&B singer The-Dream) in February.
BlackVoices.com caught up with the Jersey City, N.J., native as she spoke about playing a female Scrooge, working with Benson and getting ready for the holidays with her daughter.
You're doing a film that's similar to 'A Christmas Carol.' How would you describe your character in this film?
Christina Milian: I would describe my character, she's like a Scrooge. A high-powered Hollywood PR girl who's only concern is her job and moving up in the world, and everything is about press, promos, everything. Her job is everything, and she forgets about love and all the great things in life that do exist and I think she almost thinks that love exists within even her job and in the top of men that she dates now, whatever he does and then to help further her career. So she's not in the best mood. She's kind of a cold spirit.
You're in the media business and have had a publicist. Have you seen a publicist behave this way before?
Milian: Oh, yeah, definitely. When I saw who my character was I definitely based her off a real human being. There's a real person out there that I've seen and I've worked with before and they're only concern is their job. It goes to the point where you think you have a friendship with them and they're like, "Oh, yeah, I want you to," and everything is about the job. "I want you to show up to this event and show up to that." You think you're building a friendship because you're hanging out with them but then the next thing a camera pops up.
Your character Sloane is a workaholic. Are you like that in real life?
CM: I'm a workaholic, but I have a balance. I love to work. I really do love to work, but now I'm just in a good space in my life. I now I have to find the balance even with my daughter. I mean with her I actually bring her to work with me, and spend a lot of hours with her, but I definitely a split down the middle, focused attention when it comes to real life and my job.
Your character is visited by several people from her past. Have you ever been visited by people from your past and then alter your life based on a discussion about the way that things could have been?
CM: I'm sure that I've come across something like that at one point or another, whether it be like an ex-boyfriend or something, I think, in the past, but not recently and no recent future. That hasn't happened to me, but in the past maybe I had a boyfriend from high school, like my first real boyfriend that I liked and then a couple of years later I'm like, "He's in the Army. I'm acting and doing all this stuff," and it's almost like your imagination is like, "What could've happened if we would've been together?" Of course it wasn't meant to be, but I always thought that he would be around for some reason when I was younger. But I don't know, you never know. I'm single now. If I run into him now you never know what would happen.
What was it like working with Ashley Benson, especially since the both of you have done a film from the 'Bring it On' franchise?
CM: I know, isn't that funny? She's a sweetheart in the first place. She and I have the same personality, but she's funnier. It's really cool working with her because I think we're both pretty and if you're one 'Bring It On,' it means you have to have sarcasm. You have to be able to have fun and of course dance. That wasn't involved in this movie, but as far as the sarcasm and fun of it I think that we were able to bring that along again with our own characters and then in real life she and I are like besties. We had a really good time when we were shooting on the set. She and I were always having fun and we became like our own little duo. We would just do silly things on the set to pass the day because we had really long hours. So we'd get really kooky.
And working with Chad (Michael Murray of 'One Tree Hill)?
CM: Chad is a sweetheart. He's really cool as well; really handsome and really nice. He has a lot of knowledge. He's been around for a couple of years and he's just really cool and focused. He's definitely focused.
What are your holiday plans?
CM: I don't know. Lately we were talking about staying at home for the holidays, but I've been getting a lot of phone calls to come out to different places for the holidays. So I might be doing a tour of the United States during the holidays this year, this whole December. My daughter's quite a little travel. She's been on twelve flights already. So she's used to it.
Your daughter's first birthday is coming up in a few months. Are you planning something spectacular?
CM: Oh, yeah, it's always something new all the time with her now. It's like reliving my life all over again and it's just really exciting to look through the eyes of this baby.
What's your favorite version of 'A Christmas Carol?'
CM: I really like the one with Jim Carrey. That one is my favorite one right now. I went and saw that one in 3-D which is pretty exciting and I just think it's a fantastic film. To see all that animation and how they do that is just crazy. I think he did an incredible job playing all those characters.
We're going into Christmas. You need to watch a Christmas movie everyday if you can, but I think it has the perfect amount for any woman or girls of love, of the classic stories of Christmas, 'A Christmas Carol'. Who doesn't want to see that story all over again? And it's just fun. I definitely think that everyone should sit down and watch it. If they love Christmas movies that feel like snow globes they'll definitely like 'Christmas Cupid.'
How fun is it to do a film for Disney?
CM: I tend to do stuff with them every couple of years because I started with Disney when I was younger. When I was sixteen, seventeen, eighteen I used to be on the Disney channel and then throughout the years. I sang the 'Kim Possible' song for their cartoon series 'Kim Possible'. So I've always managed to somehow get a grip and ride that young audience that's always riding with you. So it seems like my fan base is always evolving and constantly growing and getting younger and older. So it's cool once again to get back with Disney again. Now especially with my daughter it makes such a difference to me because she's going to be watching this stuff. It'll be fun when she grows up and she's watching her mom in movies and hopefully she'll be my little fan because I'm her little fan.
Now that you are a mom, do you think about the projects you do, from the songs that you sing and the movies that you make?
CM: Oh, yeah, for sure. It's definitely a good reflection of the type of work that I do. Even the photo-shoots and things like that. Sometimes I would even just do a regular photo-shoot and all of a sudden I'm in a bikini and I'm like, "Okay, I'm a mom." But there's a way to be tasteful and sexy and to do it in a nice way and I do feel very confident. I don't think there's anything wrong with a women after having a child feeling sexy and exuding that sexuality, but there's a certain taste and a certain way that you go about it that's just a little different than before when I was a single girl, no baby and was able to just make wild decisions.
What's happening with your fourth album?
CM: I cannot wait, let's put it that way. I cannot wait. Next year I definitely feel is the year for me in regards to my music and to everything. I think everything is finally going to come together all at once next year. I feel the album will finally be released next year through Interscope Records and I'm just really excited. It's going to be sexy. It's going to be fun. It's going to be everything, that I'm confident, smart, young, beautiful, crazy, wild, out there party girl that you can have on one album. It's going to be true to my life. Of course I'm going to have a very honest record and it's going to be true to my life about some of the things that I've done and have gone through and everything, but without getting too detailed and tacky about it.
Do you have a title?
CM: No, not yet. I have a couple of ideas, but I can't put my finger on it yet.
Do you have anything else in the works?
CM: Yes. I have an eye wear line. It's called Christina Milian eye wear. We're still coming out with my sunglasses. So it's Sunwear By C. Milian. By spring 2011 I'll be releasing my sunglasses as well as I'm actually working on a clothing line which is really exciting. It'll be a juniors line. And I'm developing a TV show for myself right now. So, we'll see, by next fall if you see a TV show with my face on it.
Chanita Foster, wife of NFL vet tackle George Foster, has shown Sunday after Sunday that she doesn't take any mess. Her reality show, 'Football Wives,' airing every weekend on VH1, reminds us that there's not stopping her from stating how she feels.
Aside from her tough exterior and strong opinions, Chanita has proven she has a big heart and has continuously touched lives through her charity efforts. Black Voices recently caught up with the reality star to discuss her show, dating athletes and what it's really like to be a football wife.
How did you meet your husband?
I met my husband putting together a Steve Madden tournament; he was one of the invited athletes. We shared jokes about him being from Denver and eventually he asked me, 'Do you want to date me or work for me?' I was focused on work so I said work for him, but he asked me to go on one date, and the rest is history.
So you worked in the industry?
Yes, in sports management.
Had you dated many athletes before your husband?
I have dated athletes in my past. I dated an athlete all through high school and college, and he went on to make it to the pros. The reality is, I was in a profession surrounded by athletes, and although that was the world I was in, I was never moved by the same things females who date athletes are moved by.
So does it bother you when women ask you how to snag a football player?
Yes, that question gets on my nerves because women say it prematurely without knowing what goes along with it. I'm usually left thinking 'Oh girl you sound like a groupie.' How do you make a decision about who you want to love based on a job?
What do you consider a groupie?
A woman who wants a man based solely on his job. There are women who are doctors and lawyers, and are still groupies. Women try and lie and say it's a preference, but what are the thoughts and choices factored in to have that 'preference?' It makes sense for a woman who is some type of athlete to have that preference, maybe because they are looking for someone who can relate to their own athletic lifestyle. But women who never dribbled a ball in their life and want to date someone just because they are an athlete, that's a groupie.
What made you do this reality show?
I've noticed people are mad at the the people they married. The reason for me doing this show is to show black love. We don't have the Huxtables anymore, and they only show reruns of 'Run's House.' Where's the black family? I have a positive black family; two people in a house that both have jobs and love their children and love each other.
What do you think is the major difference between being a football wife versus a basketball wife?
The payout. Money difference is huge, you can't even put us in the same category. If someone is driving a Bentley in the NFL they are 1 of 4 percent; NBA players have 100 percent guaranteed money. In the NFL, the payout is more incentive based.
What about all the cheating we hear comes with dating an athlete?
A basketball wife has more opportunities to get cheated on than a football wife. The NBA has 84 games a year, that's 42 opportunities [for a basketball player] to do what they want in another city. The NFL has a total of 16 games, and eight of them you leave on Saturday, play, and come back on Sunday. Basketball players can have a game, and then too much time and opportunity to be promiscuous, especially in cities like LA, Miami, and Atlanta where they arrive a week and a half before they have to play.
Personally, how do you handle it?
People think I go to away games to check on my husband, but I go to away games to get away from all those kids and dogs, and enjoy room service. He lands to go to team meetings that can last for up to four hours. By the time meetings are over at 6 or 7 p.m. -- they have curfew at 11 p.m. So you have between 8 to 11 p.m. to be jumpoff dealing with a football player, because at 11 p.m. you can't even get on the floor, wives included. I could be pregnant with a baby hanging out of me and I couldn't get into my husband's room.
What's the hardest thing about being married to football player?
All the injuries. It's such a brutal sport. My husband is hurting right now losing his memory. Lineman get dementia at 45-years-old -- some of the players don't even remember their kids at 50. I've been to more NFL funerals than people I know. I don't care about the money, who does and doesn't like me or the fame, looking at it from the health aspect, it's rough.
What's the best thing about being married to football player?
I married my best friend. Some people think you're not supposed to be good friends with your mate, but I don't agree with that. When you marry someone, you're supposed to marry your best friend, that's what makes your marriage last. You want to be able to grow old with somebody that you can talk to, relate to, and are able to have fun with. Isn't that a best friend?
Is being a wife of an athlete over glamorized?
On the show, people don't want to talk about the things that are real. I may be the girl that can walk into a boardroom and negotiate million dollar deals, but I'm from Detroit. I want to relate to real people, and show where I'm from, [that] you can come from anything and be successful. I love my husband. I wouldn't trade my husband, my kids, or my life for anyone's 50,000 square foot house, their last name, and all the misery that comes with it for nothing in the world. I promise you.
Shirea L. Carroll is a journalist who has written for Essence, VIBE, Washington Post's TheRoot.com, XXL's Juicy, and AOL. Reporting on everything from music and entertainment to celebrity and love, she has interviewed some of today's biggest celebrity names. Find the NJ native on her blog Invite Only, or follow her on Twitter @InviteOnly to find out "who is and isn't invited."
Consumer groups say that 70% of all credit reports have mistakes. Such mistakes can cost you money when you're applying for a loan, and may even prevent you from renting an apartment or getting a job. That's why it's up to you to monitor your credit regularly and make sure everything being reported about you is accurate.
Also, because your FICO credit score is based on the information in your credit report, you want those credit files to be absolutely correct.
So how do you get started? Begin by obtaining your three credit reports -- from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You can get them free of charge at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you haven't peeked at your credit score lately, read this article on how to get your FICO credit score free too.
Once you have your credit reports, you'll see that all of them contain basic information that can be categorized into five primary sections:
1. Personal Information
2. Summary of Accounts
3. Public Records
4. Inquiries
5. Consumer Statements
Summary of Your Credit Accounts: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
The meat of your credit report will be a detailed listing of the opened and closed accounts that creditors have reported about you. In this section, you can find the following types of accounts (again, including current accounts or those you've had in the past):
Say "Bye-Bye" to Your Grace Period
No grace period means that you'll start accruing interest the moment you charge something and that can cost you a bundle of "extra" interest. Most credit card issuers have already reduced their grace period from 25 days to 20 days. Many others have eliminated the grace period altogether. Now they are coming up with more and more reasons to take away your grace period. Miss a payment? Stop carrying a balance? Bye-bye grace period!
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BlackVoices.com
Dirty Credit Card Tricks
Say "Bye-Bye" to Your Grace Period
No grace period means that you'll start accruing interest the moment you charge something and that can cost you a bundle of "extra" interest. Most credit card issuers have already reduced their grace period from 25 days to 20 days. Many others have eliminated the grace period altogether. Now they are coming up with more and more reasons to take away your grace period. Miss a payment? Stop carrying a balance? Bye-bye grace period!
Punishing You for Being Smart
These fees are the lowest of the low because they penalize you for being a responsible credit card user. Some of the biggest offenders include charging you a fee for:
+ Closing your account
+ Failing to use a card for a period of time (such as six months or a year)
+ Not carrying a balance
+ Every transaction each and every time that you use your card
If your card charges you any of these fees, it's time to look for a new card!
Lowering Your Minimum Payment
Another way some cards try to jack up their profits and lure you deeper into debt is by lowering the minimum payment due on your balance. It used to be cards required a minimum monthly payment of about 4% of your balance, but many now require as little at 2%. Don't fall for it! Going from a $40 payment to a $25 payment on a $2,500 balance means it will take you an extra 19 months to pay off your balance!
Inviting You to Skip a Payment
Broke this month? In their infinite generosity (ha!), some cards will "invite" you to skip a payment. This "helpful" offer, which sounds great at first blush, often comes after the holidays when your balance is big and your wallet is stretched. DON'T DO IT! Skipping that payment can lead to a host of trouble from a higher interest rate to possibly having to make extra payments in the future. Are you starting to notice a pattern?! You should be skeptical whenever your credit card company does something "nice" for you without you asking for it!
Tricky Timing
We all know that our payment is due on a certain date or it's late, right? But a new twist being thrown into the mix is having your payment due by a certain time on the due date. If your payment is due at noon, and gets processed at 12:01, you get socked with a late fee AND likely a higher interest rate. Gimme a break! Carefully check your statement so you avoid this trap.
Each account will be identified by an account name - meaning, the creditor you owe - and an account number. The first few digits or the last few digits of your account numbers are frequently omitted, to guard your privacy. (Some credit reports even scramble account numbers.) So don't worry about the account numbers too much at this phase, unless the account number, or the account itself, is totally unrecognizable to you.
What To Look For First In Your Summary of Accounts: Your Payment Status
For now, the most important information in this section of your credit reports are the "Status" references to whether you've paid your debts on time, or whether you've been late - and if so, how late. So this is where you should start as you delve into your account summaries.
Your payment history is shown on your credit reports as your "Account Status," "Current Status," "Pay Status" or just simply "Status."
Open accounts with no delinquencies will have these types of "Status" comments: "Pays as Agreed," "Never Late," or "Current." Closed accounts with a positive credit history will be noted as "Paid As Agreed," or "Pays As Agrees."
Negative information will most commonly be stated as 30, 60, 90 or 120-day late payments. Other negative comments include: "Collections," "Settled," or references such as "Paid, Was 60 Days Late."
If an account has been "charged off" or written off by a creditor as uncollectable, that fact will be noted too, typically along with the dollar amount charged off. In short, any notation in your credit file that indicates that you did not pay your debts exactly as originally agreed will be viewed negatively by credit-scoring firms, and potential lenders.
The Dollar Balances Shown On Your Credit Reports
Other key data to examine pertains to the dollar amounts shown on each of your credit accounts. For each account, you should see summaries of the following:
-Credit Limit/Original Amount: This number should reflect the amount of credit you were granted when the account was first opened.
-High Balance: This figure should show the highest amount of credit you've ever used for each account.
-Balance or Recent Balance: This dollar amount will indicate the last balance owed on this account, as reported by your credit grantor. Frequently, this information can be a month or so old. It depends on when you made your last payment, when your creditor reported an up-to-date balance to the credit bureaus, and when your credit report was actually pulled.
-Recent Payment: This figure shows the most recent dollar amount that you paid on the account, as reported by a creditor.
-Monthly Payment: For mortgage debt or installment loans, this number should show your normally scheduled payment amount. For revolving debt (i.e. credit cards), it will indicate your minimum payment due.
6 Credit Report Mistakes You Should Dispute With Your Creditors
Now that you've evaluated these sections of your credit reports, you're ready to dispute mistakes.
When you see erroneous payment or status information in your credit file, you should take up that dispute with your creditor, before contacting the credit bureaus. By going to the creditor first, and not the credit bureau, you reduce the risk of the information being temporarily deleted, and then later re-inserted into your credit files.
Examples of the types of erroneous information you should dispute with a creditor include:
-Wrongfully reported late payments: Maybe a creditor reported you as being 30 days past due, but you weren't. Or perhaps the severity of your delinquency has been over-stated, as would be the case if you were 60 days late paying a bill, but a creditor reported your 90 days late.
-Collection accounts: If an account in collections contains inaccurate information, contact the creditor to clear up the matter. They may have added additional fees, interest charges or penalties, which caused the outstanding balance to grow enormously. Or perhaps you didn't even realize you had an account in collections, due to diverted mail or an address change. Whatever the circumstance, if there is a reason for you to dispute collection-account information, you'll be best served starting with the creditor.
-Inaccurately noted account status: Contact any creditors that have mistakenly reported your account status to the credit bureaus. Your account status includes whether your account is open or closed, current or past due, charged off or not, and so on.
-Account ownership mistakes: Are there accounts on your credit report showing up as joint obligations, but they're really just debts of your spouse or someone else? Or what about an account in which you're listed as an "authorized user" but you're actually a co-signer and joint user on the account? In each of these cases, you should contact the creditor and ask them to amend or update the account ownership information shown on your credit report.
-Negative, erroneous information about your account status: Any negative payment information or comments about your account that are erroneous should be deleted from your credit reports. For instance, if your credit report shows "Account Closed By Credit Grantor," but in reality, you closed the account, ask the creditor to change it to "Account Closed By Consumer." This won't impact your credit scores, but you want the information to be reported accurately nevertheless. Another example: if a creditor has reported inaccurate information about your past credit usage, which would be shown in the "high balance" field of your credit report, request that this information be properly reported as well.
-Inaccurate "balance" information: Since your creditors report your balances to the credit bureaus every month, it's not uncommon to find that there is some lag time between the time that you pay your bills, and the time that your creditors get around to notifying TransUnion, Experian and Equifax about those payments. So don't be concerned if your "balance" shows $2,200 but you know you made a payment two weeks ago of $200 and your correct balance is really $2,000. What you should watch out for however, are major discrepancies in your reported balances. For instance, if your balance was reported as $2,200, but it was really $220, then that is something you should contact a creditor about, asking them to correct their records and your credit reports.
For all of the errors mentioned above, and especially for disputes about payments (i.e. how much you paid, the account status, whether or not a payment was late and so on), always start out by going directly to your creditor and requesting that they delete outdated information or update negative, inaccurate information contained in your credit report.
If a creditor doesn't respond favorably, you'll need to get more aggressive in your efforts, elevating your requests to supervisors, drafting formal letters and supplying creditors with any documentation you have that supports your claims.
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, an award-winning financial news journalist and former Wall Street Journal reporter for CNBC, has been featured in the Washington Post, USA Today, and the New York Times, as well as magazines ranging from Essence and Redbook to Black Enterprise and Smart Money. Check out her New York Times best seller 'Zero Debt: The Ultimate Guide to Financial Freedom.'
University of Illinois professor Deborah McGregor has shed light on an important piece of American history. McGregor has noted that Dr. James Marion Sims, considered the father of modern gynecology, developed many of his techniques by operating on slaves, many of whom were not given anesthesia.
McGregor, author of 'From Midwives to Medicine: The Birth of American Gynecology,' said "There is no doubt that he carried out experiments on women, and that he was only able to do so because they were slaves."
Part of the controversy regarding Sims centers around a statue placed near Fifth Avenue and 103rd Street in New York City. The statue is located next to the New York Academy of Medicine, in a neighborhood that is majority black and Puerto Rican. EastHarlemPreservation.org put a poll on its Website that asks: "Should the NYC Parks Department remove the statue of Dr. Marion Sims from its East Harlem location considering his experiments on female and infant slaves?"
Out of 650 people who responded, 62 percent voted that the statue should be removed, while 16 percent of respondents claim that it shouldn't be. The rest said they would need more information.
New York City Council member Charles Barron petitioned to have the statue removed, but was not successful. The failure of the petition hasn't killed the effort. All the while, the New York City Parks and Recreation Department says that there have been no requests to remove the statue.
Among other things, Sims was known for having invented the speculum, which allows doctors to see inside the vagina. He also claimed to have been the first doctor to treat club foot and crossed eyes. One focal point of his work was the treatment of vesico-vaginal fistula, a condition caused by prolonged labor, leading to an embarrassing odor and serious pain for the patient affected. Women with this condition were forced to stay away from other people and were even sent away from their families.
Sims operated on 10 slave women from 1845 to 1849. Anesthesia became available in 1846, and there were at least three slaves who were not given anything to dull the pain. According to a New York Times article in 1894, the "first operation was on a female slave and was unsuccessful. He operated again and again on the same subject [Anarcha], and finally, in his 30th trial, he was successful."
After the procedure was perfected using slave women, Sims then began to operate on white women. The white women were given anesthesia. McGregor says that Sims also operated on slave infants.
One of the defenders of Sims' efforts is Dr. L. Lewis Wall of Washington University in St. Louis. Wall has argued that Sims' work was "not necessarily racist."
"Acceptance [of anesthesia among doctors at the time] was not universal, and there was considerable opposition to its introduction from many different quarters, for many different reasons. ...The evidence suggests that Sims' original patients were willing participants in his surgical attempts to cure their affliction -- a condition for which no other viable therapy existed at that time."
While I can sympathize with Wall's efforts to defend Sims, I simply cannot agree. The mere notion that he perfected his techniques by experimenting on slave women clearly implies that for Sims, slaves were subhuman lab rats on which he could pursue his scientific work. He is no different from Nazi doctors who performed horrifying experiments on Jews during the Holocaust. Conducting this kind of work on white women would never have been allowed, so being black was the key in allowing for this form of subjugation. So, yes, Dr. Sims' decision to experiment on black women was certainly racist and was also part of the foundation of distrust between the medical profession and the African American community.
One suggestion was that instead of a maintaining a monument honoring Dr. Sims, another statue should be constructed to memorialize the women on whom the experiments were done. Such a move would show appreciation for the medical advances made by both Sims and the women who were forced to endure this serious pain in the name of science. Sims might have been a great scientist, but for women and people of color, he is certainly no hero. Experimenting on our people as if he were Dr. Frankenstein is disrespectful to our humanity.
What do you get when have the biggest male (Johnny Depp) and female star (Angelina Jolie) in one film, backed by an Oscar winning producer, Oscar winning screenwriters, and an Oscar winner costume designer?
One would assume the making of a hit, but 'The Tourist' is the complete opposite. It's a yarn and a total waste of talent.
With a supporting cast that includes Paul Bettany, Rufus Sewell, Timothy Dalton, and Steven Berkoff, the real winners out of this colossal mess is the cinematographer John Seale, who beautifully shot Paris and Venice, and costume designer Colleen Atwood, who dressed Jolie and Depp with gorgeous outfits from head to toe.
Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who was the 2006 Foreign Film Oscar winner for 'The Lives of Others,' Jolie stars Elise Clifton-Ward, a puzzling Brit who goes about her business in Paris knowing that she's being tailed by both Interpol agents, Scotland Yard, and others. Seems they are after her lover, the elusive criminal Alexander Pearce, and when he supposedly sends her letter informing her of where to possibly meet him, the cat and mouse game begins.
This is where Frank Tupelo (played by Depp) enters the picture as Elise was instructed by Pearce to find a poor sap that looks like him and use to divert attention from the government officials. Frank happens to be a math teacher from Wisconsin and is enchanted when Elise comes on to him aboard a train heading to Venice. What's a guy to do when a striking beauty flirts with normal scruffy looking dude? It's not hard at all to go along for the ride.
Meanwhile, after given the illusion publicly that Frank is Pearce, Frank doesn't know what he's gotten himself into when men with guns are busting his hotel door and looking for him and Elise. They are searching for stolen money Pearce took. Only Elise holds the key to Frank's and Pearce's life, as she's in love with both men.
Not since screen legends Al Pacino and Robert De Niro starred in 2008's 'Righteous Kill,' had we had a film where today's biggest stars are pitted in a film that is in all essence terrible from get go.
Depp, who's been great in most of his films, from 'Benny and June,' to 'Finding Neverland,' and the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films, is just looks exhausted and barely speaks for most of the film. It's almost as if he were paid to be like the Greek God Adonis and get by on facial expression.
Meanwhile, Jolie, who did wonders with the action packed summer blockbuster 'Salt,' is fine form but isn't given a supporting partner to give the film a boost of energy and live up to its potential.
When the film is written by a couple of Oscar winners such as Christopher McQuarrie ('The Usual Suspects') and Julian Fellowes ('Gosford Park'), how did they let their pens run out of ink? Or did each develop a case of carpal tunnel syndrome?
The only thing worth noting is that the film is beautiful shot, but too bad 'The Tourist' is a just a lifeless, boring romantic mess.
Case Type: Endangered Date of Birth: October 13, 1972 Missing Date: June 27, 1996 Age Now: 38 Missing City: Alexandria Missing State: Virginia Gender: Female Race: Black Complexion: Medium Height: 5-5 Weight: 160 Hair Color: Black Hair Length: Medium Eye Color: Brown Wear Glasses or Contacts: No
Location Last Seen: Bell, a mother of three, was last seen about 1 p.m. June 27, 1996, leaving her grandmother's house on East Raymond Avenue in Alexandria with her estranged boyfriend, Michael Dickerson, the father of her youngest child. Circumstances of Disappearance: Relatives said they were perplexed by Bell's decision to leave with him. Dickerson was later charged with Bell's murder but her body has never been found.
Last Seen Wearing: Black and white plaid tank top, black spandex pants, black high heels shoes, diamond bracelet
Identifying Marks or Characteristics: Unknown tattoo on left breast, pierced ears.
29-Nov-10 - Facebook Pastor Cedric Miller resigned from his post, after it became public that he had a three-way sexual relationship with his male assistant in wife. Now, it's being reported that he will return to his job.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
President Barack Obama signed the bill that will provide compensation to thousands of black farmers who say they were discriminated against by the federal government when it came to loans and subsidies. About 30,000 black farmers are eligible for the settlement.
The $1.25 billion settlement will pay each farmer an average of $50,000 but an independent arbitrator has to hear each claim and decide the case on the merits. Farmers are also eligible for a total of up to $250,000 in damages if they can show that the discrimination cost them that much.
"When we've fallen short, it's been up to ordinary citizens to stand up to inequality and unfairness wherever they find it. That's how we've made progress. That's how we've moved forward. And that's why we are here today -- to sign a bill into law that closes a long and unfortunate chapter in our history," Obama said at the bill signing.
The signing represents the end of almost two decades of legal and political wrangling over the case.
"The president said: 'You are here, now how does it feel?' I told him it was bittersweet because I still think about the names and faces that died and who aren't here to see this day. I'm glad to see the president sign the bill and deeply saddened by those who died waiting for justice," John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association told Aol BlackVoices in an interview today.
Black farmers successfully sued the government for discrimination in 1999 in the Pigford v. Glickman case. The federal government paid out $980 million to more than 16,000 farmers who were denied the same loans and subsidies offered to white farmers. Many eligible farmers were left out of the settlement or were not given enough time to file a claim.
In 2007, then-Sen. Barack Obama introduced a bill to reopen the case, and the $1.25 billion settlement was agreed upon but never funded by the Senate, despite passing twice in the House. On the 10th time the bill came before the Senate, it passed in a unanimous consent vote.
The race was on to pass the bill during the current lame duck session of Congress before Republicans take control of the House in January. Republicans have offered staunch resistance to the bill, with Rep. Michelle Bachman saying the settlement was "rife with fraud" and Rep. Steve King from Iowa calling the settlement "slavery reparations."
Boyd has called those allegations a disgrace and said they provide the proof he needs to demonstrate how easy it was to discriminate against black farmers.
"This case had nothing to do with reparations, it's about discrimination," Boyd said.
Now comes the effort to reach out to black farmers to make sure they apply for the settlement. Many of the black farmers in the Deep South have limited education and are going to need assistance, Boyd said.
He said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has agreed to discuss helping to fund outreach efforts. Boyd said his group is also reaching out to congressional representatives of the areas where black farmers live for assistance.
"I'm glad to get out of this political process. Now I can work on making sure no one is left out," Boyd said.
The bill also settles claims from Native Americans that their land trust and water rights were mismanaged. The bill provides $3.4 billion to settle those claims.
Boyd has been critical of the Obama Administration in the past but said the President deserves credit for all he has done to help secure the funding.
"President Obama can say this was resolved on his watch. He made good on a campaign process. It behooves the administration to look at this as something that directly affects African Americans in the poorest counties in this country. Down in places like Mississippi these are poor communities and they need this money to help get their lives together."
Obama said this is the first step in the process of righting wrongs committed against several other ethnic groups.
"While I am pleased that this Act reflects important progress, much work remains to be done to address other claims of past discrimination made by women and Hispanic farmers against the Department of Agriculture as well as to address needs of tribal communities," Obama said.
29-Nov-10 - Facebook Pastor Cedric Miller resigned from his post, after it became public that he had a three-way sexual relationship with his male assistant in wife. Now, it's being reported that he will return to his job.
16-Nov-10 - Forty-five years after he was killed by an Alabama State Trooper, Jimmie Lee Jackson, whose death lead to the first civil rights march on Selma, he is finally getting a small measure of justice.
If given the choice between your dream job and the security of your day job in this economy, what would you do? NFL prospect Keith Fitzhugh was recently presented with this very complex scenario -- and you may be surprised with his selection:
Keith Fitzhugh chose operating trains over a shot at a Super Bowl.
The free-agent safety turned down an offer to join the New York Jets to remain a conductor with Norfolk Southern Railroad and stay on track financially while helping support his parents in Atlanta.
"I've got something now where I know every two weeks I'm getting a paycheck," Fitzhugh told The Associated Press in a telephone interview Tuesday night. "That's what helps out the most right now. I don't knock the Jets at all. I highly appreciate them."
Jets coach Rex Ryan said the team was looking to sign a safety after Jim Leonhard was lost for the season last week with a broken shin and James Ihedigbo suffered a leg injury in New York's 45-3 loss to New England on Monday night. New York has only two safeties - Eric Smith and Brodney Pool - listed on its roster.
The 24-year-old Fitzhugh, who had stints in camp with the Jets the past two years, was contacted by the team but declined New York's offer to return.
"You don't hear this too often and some people might think it's not a good idea," Fitzhugh said. "Some people might think it is. I don't know. I just have to look out for what's best for me and my family."
Fitzhugh's father, Keith Sr., is disabled and unable to work, while his mother, Meltonia, has been struggling to make ends meet.
Fitzhugh went undrafted after an outstanding career at Mississippi State and signed last year with the Jets as a free agent. He was later cut and signed to the practice squad before Baltimore signed him last December. He re-signed with the Jets in the offseason.
"I was released three times. That's a lot," he said. "I just don't want to give up what I have now and say that I'm there for a couple of weeks and then I'm released again. Then, what am I going to do? It's really tough. It's the nature of the business."
Fitzhugh, who keeps in touch with a few former Jets teammates, has been working for Norfolk Southern Railroad for three months.
Fitzhugh said he has been blessed to work with his two childhood passions: football and trains. He also keeps close watch on his former team, to see if he still recognizes the defensive schemes Ryan is running.
Position: Quarterback Player's name: Levander "Bird" Williams Played by Mykelti Williamson Film: 'Wildcats' (1986) Actor's Scoreboard: Long before he starred opposite Tom Hanks in the Oscar-winning film 'Forrest Gump,' Williamson played a number of supporting roles in smaller films and TV series. Known as Mykel T. Williamson in the early '80s, the St. Louis native played a quarterback alongside Wesley Snipes and Goldie Hawn in the film 'Wildcats.'
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BlackVoices.com
Black Actors In Football Films
With the new NFL season now underway, we thought it was the perfect time to look at some of the actors who have donned a helmet and uniform for roles on the big screen. From Denzel Washington to Cuba Gooding Jr., Blackvoices.com has compiled a who's who of black actors who have appeared in football films.
Position: Running Back Player's name: Gale Sayers Played by Billy Dee Williams Film: 'Brian's Song' (2000) Actor's Scoreboard: Williams starred opposite Diana Ross in both 'Lady Sings the Blues' and 'Mahogany,' and is best known for his role as Lando Calrissian in the original 'Star Wars' trilogy, but he gained critical acclaim for his role as Chicago Bears running back and Pro Football Hall of Famer Gale Sayers in 'Brian's Song.' Sayers helped teammate Brian Piccolo through his struggle with cancer.
Position: Defensive Coordinator Player's name: Montezuma "Monty" Monroe Played by Jim Brown Film: 'Any Given Sunday' (1999) Actor's Scoreboard: Considered one of the greatest NFL players, Brown, who played only nines years as a running back for the Cleveland Browns before turning to acting, got a chance to get back on the field when he was featured as a coach in 'Any Given Sunday' with Al Pacino and Jamie Foxx.
Position: Quarterback Player's name: Levander "Bird" Williams Played by Mykelti Williamson Film: 'Wildcats' (1986) Actor's Scoreboard: Long before he starred opposite Tom Hanks in the Oscar-winning film 'Forrest Gump,' Williamson played a number of supporting roles in smaller films and TV series. Known as Mykel T. Williamson in the early '80s, the St. Louis native played a quarterback alongside Wesley Snipes and Goldie Hawn in the film 'Wildcats.'
Position: Defensive Lineman Player's name: Julius Campbell Played by Wood Harris Film: 'Remember the Titans' (2000) Actor's Scoreboard: Best known for his roles as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale in the HBO television drama 'The Wire' and Motaw in the 1994 motion picture 'Above the Rim,' Harris gained critical praise for his role as high school football player Julius Campbell in the film 'Remember the Titans.' The film also starred Denzel Washington, Donald Faison and Nicole Ari Parker.
Position: Defensive Lineman Player's name: Andre Krimm Played by Sinbad Film: 'Necessary Roughness' Actor's Scoreboard: Better known for his stand-up and his comedic role in the TV series 'A Different World,' Sinbad once played a college professor recruited for the defensive line in 'Necessary Roughness.'
Position: Defensive Lineman Player's name: Charles Jefferson Played by Forest Whitaker Film: 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' (1982) Actor's Scoreboard: Before moving into the director's chair -- and winning an Academy Award for his role as Idi Amin in 'The Last King of Scotland' -- Whitaker suited up to play opposite Sean Penn, Nicolas Cage and Anthony Edwards in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High.'
Position: Offensive Lineman Player's name: Michael Oher Played by Quinton Aaron Film: 'The Blind Side' (2009) Actor's Scoreboard: Based on the true story of NFL player Michael Oher, 'The Blind Side' featured Quinton Aaron in his film debut. The movie not only captured the hearts of audiences but also led to an Academy Award for co-star Sandra Bullock, who won an Oscar for best actress.
Position: Defensive Back Player's name: TJ Banks Played by Nicoye Banks Film: 'Invincible' Actor's Scoreboard: Based on the true story of Vince Papale, a former player for the Philadelphia Eagles, Banks played a defensive back alongside Mark Wahlberg in 'Invincible.' Earlier this year, he costarred with Matt Damon in 'Green Zone' and Wesley Snipes in 'Brooklyn's Finest.'
Position: Wide Receiver Player's name: Rod Tidwell Played by Cuba Gooding Jr. Film: 'Jerry Maguire' (1996) Actor's Scoreboard: With small roles to his credit after taking a leading role in John Singleton's 'Boyz n the Hood,' Gooding refined his acting career when he played the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver who told Tom Cruise's title character to "Show me the money!" His performance led to an Academy Award for best supporting actor.
I've seen Fitzhugh interviewed a few times on TV since this story initially broke. He is an intelligent guy with a character of quality who genuinely cares about his family. Because he is the sole breadwinner, he needs to make the safest financial decision and chose job security over chasing a dream. The railway company he works for is so impressed with Fitzhugh's dedication to family (and the resulting good PR this has bought them) that after hearing the details they granted him an indefinite leave of absence to go join the Jets and take his chances, but by then it was too late because the team had already hired someone else for the spot.
Still, the minimum NFL salary for first year players is $325,000. Prorated, Fitzhugh (assuming he stuck) would have made roughly $20,000 per game. The Jets currently have four regular season games remaining, and they seem like a shoo-in to make the playoffs. Players get 1/14th of their annual salary for playoff games, which would have meant another $23,200 for each week the Jets survive the post season. If he'd played well for the Jets, he could have likely parlayed this into a contract (with any team) next year. So, theoretically, Fitzhugh left a least $100,000 on the floor to remain a train conductor.
As much as I admire his dedication to family, I think this was an unwise financial decision. Fitzhugh himself says if he was given more time (the Jets only gave him 30 minutes to decide before moving on) and had known the railroad would give him a leave of absence, he definitely would have taken the NFL gig. Given the PR blitz he's currently on (he was on CNN, HLN and Fox News in one day alone), chances are he'll get another call sometime soon. Lets all hope so.
Thankfully for Fitzhugh, unlike most NFL players, he has a career to fall back on.
Good luck, Keith.
Question:
What would you have done? Chased the NFL dream, or kept your safe day job?
As part of her Australian adventure, for some reason Oprah Winfrey thought it was important for her lucky troupe of 300 viewers to visit the Dafel Dolls And Bear Shop in Melbourne. Who knows? Perhaps this store has a cultural legacy that makes it of critical importance to visit when one goes to Australia. But Ms. Winfrey was shocked and disturbed when her producers discovered that this store makes some of its money by promoting one of the most unflattering stereotypes of black women in history: the mammy. Yet, she visited the store anyway. Hip Hop Wired offers a summary of what occurred:
As previously reported, Winfrey and her audience on an eight-day Aussie adventure as part of her 'Favorite Things' segment give-away.
According to the Herald Sun, the talk show mogul and her 300 guests were scheduled to visit The Dafel Dolls And Bear Shop in Melbourne when her producers requested that the store's "Mamee" dolls be removed from the shelves.
The Mamee dolls show a dark skinned African-American woman with red lipstick, wearing a maid costume and a scarf around her head.
The store owner reportedly obliged and the dolls were removed.
Stedman Graham and Honoree Oprah Winfrey attend the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on December 5, 2010 in Washington, DC.
Paul Morigi, WireImage
AP
BlackVoices.com
33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors
The 2010 Kennedy Center honorees pose for their formal class photo following the formal Artist's Dinner at the United States Department of State in Washington, D.C. on December 4, 2010. Top row, from left to right: Michael M. Kaiser, President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Merle Haggard; Bill T. Jones; Sir Paul McCartney; and David M. Rubenstein, Chairman, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Bottom row, from left to right: United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton; Jerry Herman; Oprah Winfrey; and George Stevens, Jr., creator of "The Kennedy Center Honors".
US President Barack Obama (R) and First Lady Michelle Obama (L) stand for the US National Anthem during the Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC, December 5, 2010.
Bill T. Jones, one of the 2010 Kennedy Center honorees, left center, arrives with Bjorn Amelan, right center, and 3 unidentified women for the formal artist's dinner for the Kennedy Center Honors at the United States Department of State December 4, 2010 in Washington, D.C.
Stedman Graham and Honoree Oprah Winfrey attend the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on December 5, 2010 in Washington, DC.
Kennedy Center Honors recipient Bill T. Jones (L) and his partner Bjorn Amelan walk the red carpet at the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on December 5, 2010 in Washington, DC.
Jennifer Hudson arrives at the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on December 5, 2010 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/WireImage)
Chris Rock and his wife Malaak Rock arrive at the 33rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors at the Kennedy Center Hall of States on December 5, 2010 in Washington, DC.
It is very curious that Oprah did not cut a store like this from her travel itinerary. Usually when the black community confronts a business that parlays in negative images that hurt our members, we make every effort to bring the affront to light and plan to boycott the company. It's great that Oprah has the clout to get the dolls removed from the shelves of the Dafel Dolls And Bear Shop in Melbourne temporarily, but what about after the camera crews leave? She will be giving her viewers the wrong impression that this is a store that supports American values, which include not promoting overtly racist images. At the very least, if black people are inspired to visit Australia and that store because of her show, they will be in for quite a shock.
Australia is known as a place that is very racist against its own indigenous people. Thus, it's no shock that Australians are not culturally sensitive to blacks, leading to a major store that would stock "mamee dolls." What comes as a shock is Oprah promoting such a horrible store on her influential show. How could Oprah consent to big up a business that would sell mammy dolls as part of its regular inventory? There is no logical explanation for this. I am embarrassed for Oprah, her producers and the show. I wonder what other culturally insensitive things she will experience while on her Australia trip that she will seek to hide from American audiences.
Former R&B chart topper Keith Washington is defending his recent actions regarding the breach of privacy of someone he considers a close friend.
Yesterday, BlackVoices.com broke the news -- showing the actual video -- of the 'Kissing You' singer making public a private conversation with ailing Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, who has reportedly been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
While we stand corrected that Washington may or may not have aired the conversation on the radio station Kiss 105.9 FM, for which he recently started hosting the show 'Kisses After Dark,' the fact remains that the video of him -- in the studio talking on speakerphone with Franklin -- was serviced and promoted online.
As the news started to spread about Franklin's health, Washington was then interviewed by a local news outlet and commented on the music legend's condition.
Before our deadline yesterday, we reached out to Washington and radio station executives for comment to no avail.
Today, amid a firestorm of controversy on Websites, radio stations, social networking platforms and blogs, reps for Washington have responded.
Below, in its entirety, is a statement that was issued on Washington's behalf by way of executives at Interactive One, the digital-media arm of broadcast giant Radio One.
"Aretha Franklin has been a dear friend and colleague for over 20 years. We've toured together, prayed together and laughed together.
For the past six weeks, I have been hosting 'Kisses After Dark' on Kiss 105.9 in Detroit. In addition to being heard on the radio, a big part of the job is social networking and live video streaming. When I am not talking on the air I am working the phones with listeners and friends. The live video stream is on during my entire radio show.
On November 8 while on a break from the on-air broadcast, I called Aretha Franklin because it had just come to my attention she had to cancel her tour plans for the next six months due to health issues. Since Aretha's been sick, I've been heartsick.
Our conversation was captured on the live video stream, as are others, but I was not aware her end of the conversation was audible to the microphone.
At no time, was our conversation aired or broadcast on the radio -- like many blogs and even reputable news organizations have claimed.
It is regrettable that anybody would characterize this as unethical when she is a dear friend. All I can say is that I've been talking about Aretha to my fans for years and me sharing my feelings about her with my audience was nothing unusual for me. I love her and her family dearly.
I am troubled by how the video has been received -- not for myself, but for any pain it caused my friend.
I would never consciously do anything to hurt her or invade Aretha Franklin's privacy. Both Radio One and I regret any distress this has caused to Aretha Franklin, her family or the public."
After recording a string of jazz and blues projects for Columbia Records, Memphis born songstress Aretha Franklin landed at Atlantic Records in 1966. "They made me sit down on the piano and the hits came," she later said about her legacy there.
Aretha Franklin with 'Soul Train' creator Don Cornelius. Franklin was one of many entertainers who performed on the long-running show during its 1970s heyday.
Aretha Franklin rehearsing for Inaugural Eve program for newly elected US President Jimmy Carter and Vice President Walter Mondale at the Kennedy Center in 1977.
Aretha Franklin and Luciano Pavarotti are photographed at the 8th Annual Music Cares Gala in Honor of the famed opera singer. The event took place at New York City's posh Waldorf Astoria Hotel on February 23, 1998.
Aretha Franklin held royal court during the broadcast of 'VH1 Divas Live' at the Beacon Theatre in New York City on April 14, 1998. During the show's finale a stirring rendition of her classic song, 'Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel),' The Queen of Soul is joined by Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Carole King, Celine Dion and Shania Twain.
On September 29, 1999, President Bill Clinton, along with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, awarded Aretha Franklin with the 1999 National Medal of Arts and Humanities Award at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Studios have released the trailer to the comic book adaptation of 'Thor.'
Directed by Kenneth Branagh, the film stars Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Natalie Portman, Tom Hiddleston, Anthony Hopkins, Rene Russo, Stellan Skarsgard, Jaimie Alexander, Kat Dennings, Ray Stevenson, Josh Dallas, Tadanobu Asano, Idris Elba, Clark Gregg, and Colm Feore.
The epic adventure 'Thor' spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (played by Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (played by Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It's while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.
The film will be released on May 6, 2011 in 3D/2D theaters.
The days of MTV's 'Making the Band' are over. And who better than legendary music manager Johnny Wright, a man who has helmed the careers of New Kids on the Block, Janet Jackson, the Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, to flip the script?
In addition to guiding the careers of Justin Timberlake, Ciara, The Jonas Brothers and Aubrey O'Day, to name a few, Wright has entered a new entertainment venture with AOL's Cambio.com and AT&T for a new Web-series called 'On the Spot,' where aspiring musicians can submit video auditions to be a part of a new band Wright hopes will be the next Earth, Wind & Fire.
"Right now, it's so hard for new artists to get discovered and find a platform and for people to see the talent," Wright shared with BlackVoices.com.
"So, I hope that '[American] Idol' and 'X-Factor' and 'The Sing Off' stay around, but mine is a different kind [of competition] because when the 10 or 11 weeks are up on those shows, that's the end of the season, and my season never ends because with the artist or group, we'll be recording the record, going on tour and there's a constant process that will go on and on."
After narrowing down the competition to 20, the finalists will be put through a series of challenges, complete with guidance from vocal coaches and choreographers, thereby creating a group with artists committed to the craft and understanding that the road to superstardom takes hard work.
"There are a lot of reality TV stars now who are bigger than people who sold millions of records or actors who raked in millions of dollars at the box office. Take a look at the 'Jersey Shore' kids - not that they haven't done anything, but they just created a vehicle for their personalities and have become a phenomenon. Now they're endorsing products and making million of dollars a year from it," Wright said.
He insists on telling his clients to focus on building their musical legacies, and they're sticking by him.
"It's hard on me when you're cultivating a music artist and sometimes that process could take a year or two before it turns into anything profitable when a six-week TV show turns other people into multimillionaires. The first thing the artist turns to me and says is, 'Maybe I should do something more dramatic to get tabloid press because that's gonna make me a bigger star,'" Wright revealed.
He pointed out that Britney Spears and Timberlake as two small-town, Southern kids who would have never been discovered if they hadn't had the means to land auditions.
"I want to give an opportunity to people who don't have the means," he said. "They can do it on a cell phone or Webcam, and as long as you have access to a phone or computer, you can get involved, and I will take a look at you."
The 22 episodes of 'On the Spot' will kick off in January at onthespot.cambio.com, with the final band being revealed in early June.
With his mom Alice (played by Leo) acting as his manager and Dickey has his trainer, Mickey hasn't had the best of fights. At the age of 31, Mickey knows his time in the ring is running out unless he can prove he can win.
BlackVoices.com caught up with the Jersey City, N.J., native as she spoke about playing a female Scrooge, working with Benson and getting ready for the holidays with her daughter.
Shirea L. Carroll is a journalist who has written for Essence, VIBE, Washington Post's TheRoot.com, XXL's Juicy, and AOL. Reporting on everything from music and entertainment to celebrity and love, she has interviewed some of today's biggest celebrity names. Find the NJ native on her blog 
Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, 
Directed by Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, who was the 2006 Foreign Film Oscar winner for 'The Lives of Others,' Jolie stars Elise Clifton-Ward, a puzzling Brit who goes about her business in Paris knowing that she's being tailed by both Interpol agents, Scotland Yard, and others. Seems they are after her lover, the elusive criminal Alexander Pearce, and when he supposedly sends her letter informing her of where to possibly meet him, the cat and mouse game begins.
Frank happens to be a math teacher from Wisconsin and is enchanted when Elise comes on to him aboard a train heading to Venice. What's a guy to do when a striking beauty flirts with normal scruffy looking dude? It's not hard at all to go along for the ride.
President Barack Obama signed the bill that will provide compensation to thousands of black farmers who say they were discriminated against by the federal government when it came to loans and subsidies. About 30,000 black farmers are eligible for the settlement.
