Throwback Sunday

It’s been a couple weeks since I’ve posted one. Here you go…

This weeks Throwback Sunday brings you Babyface with:

 “Everytime I close my eyes.”

I dedicate to this to hubby…muaah!

Have a wonderful week everyone!

African Fashion

Runway Africa: Celebrating African Fashion

Be sure to buy your tickets to Runway Africa’s annual event this weekend. Celebrating African Fashion, this event is sure to be the talk of the D.C. come Monday. You can’t buy tickets at the door so get them ASAP. Ticket options include: $85.00 VIP Tickets (includes invitation to the red carpet reception, reserved upfront seats, VIP access to the After Party and invitation Harriet’s Alter Ego Trunk Show – Sunday, September 16 receive 20% off on fall collection and a free gift if you spend $150.00 or more – ticket holders must present RA VIP ticket in order to receive savings, VIP gift bag, and mini magazine). $60.00 Guaranteed Seating Tickets (complimentary access to the after party (not within the VIP area), guest gift bag, and mini magazine). $40.00 General Admission Tickets (includes admission to the event. Standing room only! ). For more info visit Runway Africa

When: Saturday September 15th, 2007
Time: 6pm for VIP ticket holders; 8pm for Fashion Show
Where: The Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road, N.W. Washington D.C. 20007
Contact: info@runwayafrica.com

Miss Teen USA

What is She Talking About? Miss Teen South Carolina Question: Recent polls have shown a fifth of Americans can’t locate the United States on a world map.  Why do you think this is? Miss Teen South Carolina: “I personally believe the U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some, uh…people out there in our nation don’t have maps, and, uh, I believe that our education like such as South Africa and, uh, the Iraq everywhere like, such as and…I believe that they should, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., err, uh, should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future for our… Miss Teen USA did get a chance to redeem herself on Tuesday night…This is what she said: “I would love to re-answer that question,” Upton said. “Well personally, my friends and I, we know exactly where the United States is on our map. I don’t know anyone else who doesn’t. And if the statistics are correct, I believe there should be more emphasis on geography.” I’ve also posted video for you guys check it out: I honestly feel sorry for this girl…I mean she could have atleast asked the question again, to get a couple more seconds to regroup and execute more clever answer. What are your thoughts?

Throwback Sunday

Just for laughs this week…

Year: 1996

Artist: Skee Lo

Song: I wish

Racism or Art?

American Apparel trumpets blackface fashion spread in i-D magazine

by Carmen Van Kerckhove

American Apparel is really proud of this editorial credit in the latest issue of i-D magazine. So proud that they’ve featured it on their web site. Blackface is so chic nowadays!

More on the term “blackface” below:

Blackface is a style of theatrical makeup that originated in the United States, used to affect the countenance of an iconic, racist American archetype—that of the darky or coon. Blackface also refers to a genre of musical and comedic theatrical presentation in which blackface makeup is worn. White blackface performers in the past used burnt cork and later greasepaint or shoe polish to blacken their skin and exaggerate their lips, often wearing woolly wigs, gloves, tailcoats, or ragged clothes to complete the transformation. Later, black artists also performed in blackface.

Blackface was an important performance tradition in the American theater for over 100 years and was also popular overseas. Stereotypes embodied in the stock characters of blackface minstrelsy played a significant role in cementing and proliferating racist images, attitudes and perceptions worldwide. In some quarters, the caricatures that were the legacy of blackface persist to the present day and are a cause of ongoing controversy.

By the mid-20th century, changing attitudes about race and racism effectively ended the prominence of blackface performance in the U.S. and elsewhere. However, it remains in relatively limited use as a theatrical device, mostly outside the U.S.^[1], and is more commonly used today as edgy social commentary or satire. Perhaps the most enduring effect of blackface is the precedent it established in the introduction of African American culture to an international audience, albeit through a distorted lens. Blackface minstrelsy’s groundbreaking appropriation, exploitation, and assimilation of African-American culture—as well as the inter-ethnic artistic collaborations that stemmed from it—were but a prologue to the lucrative packaging, marketing, and dissemination of African-American cultural expression and its myriad derivative forms in today’s world popular culture.

What are your thoughts on this?

Update:Scarlett Johansson

 

Being this leading lady has to be one of my favorite actresses. I had to give everyone an update on her busy schedule. Check it out! 

If you’re a movie producer hoping to get Scarlett Johansson to star in your new picture over the next year or so, you’re sadly out of luck. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the star of upcoming comedy “The Nanny Diaries” has committed to her next three projects — a rare occurrence that is becoming more common as fears grow of a strike-forced work stoppage next year. And for the busy Johansson, this trio doesn’t even include the untitled Woody Allen picture she just finished shooting in Spain.

First on Johansson’s upcoming slate is the star-studded ensemble comedy “He’s Just Not That Into You.” The New Line flick will find Johansson playing a Pilates instructor and aspiring singer who hopes the married man she’s having an affair with will leave his wife for her (insert predictable ending here). Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Justin Long and Drew Barrymore round out the cast. Second on the 22-year-old’s agenda will be Frank Miller’s first solo feature directing effort, an adaptation of the classic comic book, “Will Eisner’s the Spirit.” Johansson already dived into film noir in last year’s “The Black Dahlia,” but this time around she’ll get to play bad girl Silken Floss, an intelligent beauty with dangerous curves who assists evil mastermind the Octopus (Samuel L. Jackson). Under-the-radar Gabriel Macht (“The Good Shepherd“) will play the iconic 1940s hero who will try to stop the deadly duo. Production on the heavily stylized flick is set to begin in October.

After a short break, Johansson will travel further back in time to portray the title character in John Curran’s Brit indie “Mary Queen of Scots.” Usually positioned in history as the imprisoned challenger to Queen Elizabeth I’s throne (see the upcoming “Elizabeth: The Golden Age“), this picture promises to focus on Mary’s romantic relationship with the Earl of Brothwell and her rivalry with her half-brother James (both parts are uncast at the moment). Johansson will return to England for “Scots” in March, her home away from home the past couple of years after shooting “Match Point” and this winter’s period drama “The Other Boleyn Girl” there.

Black is Back Ebony Issue

The September issue of Ebony is dedicating 50-plus pages to everything beautiful in fashion by celebrating the influence of African Americans in fashion. Tyra Banks, Iman, Kimora Lee Simmons & Alek Wek are seen on the cover and share their success stories and challenges of being women of color in the fashion industry. The issue which was released yesterday forgot one important detail if you ask me:

Naomi.

Throwback Sunday

This weeks Throwback Sunday brings you: Classic MC

Song: Someday…one of my all-time favorites …enjoy!

Rudy Giuliani’s Daughter Comes Out for Obama

 

Ewen MacAskill

The leading Republican for next year’s presidential contest, Rudy Giuliani, is having to contend with the embarrassment of discovering his teenage daughter signed up as a supporter of Barack Obama, one of the Democratic frontrunners.

Mr Giuliani, whose family relationships are fraught after a messy divorce, is well ahead of his Republican rivals in spite of reports about his personal life.

His children have already signalled they do not intend to campaign for him. But the Slate political website discovered that his daughter, Caroline, 17, had gone further and signed up to social networking group Facebook’s “Barack Obama (1 Million Strong for Barack)” site.

She also described herself as a liberal on the Facebook page.

A spokeswoman for her said her Facebook listing was an expression of interest in “certain principles” rather than for an individual in the campaign, and the comments have been removed from the site.

It comes only days after Mr Giuliani’s wife, Judith, faced criticism in Vanity Fair which portrayed her as interfering in the campaign and drawing up a list of aides she wanted fired. It was also claimed she demanded a separate seat on the campaign plane for her Louis Vuitton handbag.

An interview she gave to the New York Times at the weekend did little to help, drawing attention to her part in the break-up of Mr Giuliani’s previous marriage.

Mr Obama, asked about Caroline Giuliani’s support, said: “That’s very nice. We think it’s wonderful that we are attracting support from young people all across the country. I can’t wait to meet her.”

A poll published yesterday put Mr Giuliani well ahead of the Republican field on 33%, with Fred Thompson at 21%, John McCain on 16% and Mitt Romney on 8%. The USA Today/Gallup poll, which interviewed 1,012 adults across the US, also gave Hillary Clinton a clear lead over her Democratic rivals with 48%. Mr Obama was on 26% and John Edwards on 12%.

The poll figures suggest Mr Giuliani’s pro-abortion stance is not hurting him as much as expected.

There’s Something About Vanity Fair

 

 

By now, I’m sure you have had the chance to see or pick up a copy of the July, Vanity Fair Issue; which displays 20 star packed covers on the magazine stands from Barack Obama to Jay Z, George Clooney, Iman, and even President Bush. The magazine photos were done by renowned celebrity photographer: Annie Liebovitz.

In the issue which singer and activist Bono is featured as guest editor he states the one thing that stars have in common is:

“They are all passionate about Africa.”

“That’s what this issue of Vanity Fair is all about,” Bono says.

“It’s about trying to bring some sex appeal to the idea of wanting to change the world.”

Supermodel Iman, as always, seems willing to help in the sex appeal department by sliding out of her dress on one of the infamous covers.

I love the fact that the issue was, in fact, is still selling like hot-cakes; and although the intent is good and showcases a sort of celebration of Africa. I do have a bit that baffles and worries me.

 I don’t understand why a magazine issue is covering “Africa” when most of these celebrities and some activists on the cover are well, American?

Why not mix it up a bit by having Alicia keys looking up to Wangari Maathai, or President Bush and Nelson Mandela standing side by side? I would have loved to see more indigenous Africans on the cover. One or two celebrities would have been enough; it now looks as though they are just eager to get another photo-op.

One thing this magazine cover is accomplishing, yet again, is that it is showcasing Africa as if it were just a cause.

Why do people treat Africa as if it were one country, with one language, and one religion, ‘one’? They forget that this continent has 54 countries, that within these countries lies many more regions and states. They forget that this land has over 800 million people who speak thousands of languages. Who, believe or not have their own artists, celebrities, political leaders, musicians, and activists; which I’m sure people such as I would have loved to read about.

So, to be honest I won’t be the one in line shelling out cash for a copy of this issue. If I can’t read about what people from this great continent have to say. Then why call it the “AFRICA” issue?