"A Raisin in the Sun"-A Bit of History

  On this day, Nov. 12, 1940, the Supreme Court ruled on a case that would inspire one of the seminal plays of the 20th Century, “A Raisin in the Sun.” The parents of Lorraine Hansberry, Carl and Nannie, a real estate broker and a schoolteacher, had left the Jim Crow South only to discover hostility in the North.   It was in 1937 that...

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"Doing Big Things": Madam C. J. Walker's Legacy

We trot her out in February, Black History month, then leave her life and legacy quietly sitting somewhere in the corners of our minds. Most African-Americans know that she was the first female self made millionaire in the United States and we enjoy the fact that she was Black. You probably know that she was recognized...

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Welcome “Endeavour”: A New "Inspector Morse" Spinoff

After years of reruns, "Inspector Morse" is one of the most popular PBS Masterpiece Mysteries. A new series, "Endeavour", introduces a young, 20 something Morse to his devoted fans. Endeavour deals with the conflicts of the past and carves out the well-known identity of the future "Inspector Morse", whom fans know and love. During the...

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Never Say Die: Dying With Dignity

    Most of the time, we focus on the values outlined in the Declaration of Independence-life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is the main stay of political discourse, raising its head most often when an election is close at hand. The greatest freedom may be to live, and die, according to one's own desires and beliefs. What...

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Show Me the Money: NBA Richest Players of All Time

"Show me the Money!" Cuba Gooding, Jr. will long be remembered for that line and his academy award winning performance in the movie Jerry McGuire. Much is made of the cash made in the entertainment world and in sports. I've taken a look at Rappers, Football players, and athletes in general. Why not concentrate on the cash cows of the...

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What I Expect from a Republican Controlled Senate

You hear it on all the news programs and on commentary from political pundits. It seems to be the conventional wisdom that Republicans, who won control of the House of Representative in the last mid-term elections, will take control of the Senate in the November 2014 midterm election. I agree that the fight for the Senate is real...

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Political Thrillers Matching Today's Headlines

If you’ve follow my reviews of Netflix offerings, you’ve met some diverse, but hopefully interesting characters, i.e. Doctor Martin Ellingham (Doc Martin) , Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Foyle  (Foyle’s War), and Aldrich Ames (The Assets). Now, let's delve into the world of political dramas. Each starts with a major diplomatic incident, followed by a web of tangled relationships and conflicting interest, and asks the question “who can you trust”...

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"The Assets": Circle of Treason Thriller

My romance with Netflix (new logo and all) continues to supply my need for new dramas that offer deliciously interesting characters caught in webs of mystery and intrigue. What kind of chum would I be if I didn’t share with my friends? Being loyal and true blue compels me to let you in on my recently discovered treasure trove of hidden...

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Trick or Treat: October Weight Management

 October is Family Health Month. It’s a great time to plan for healthier choices and set goals for what you want to achieve this month.  Get a new bag of tricks to ensure your success and figure out how to manage “Halloween”. Image your “future” self, the healthier, lighter, happier person you want to be and start today becoming that...

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On the Record: Meet Atty General Eric Holder Part 2

Eric Holder will announce today that he will step down from his position as law enforcer in chief. If you missed my post introducing Attorney General Eric Holder, you missed the short, sweet information on his life, career, and personal background. As promised, here's Eric Holder Part 2, which become a farewell to the nation's Top Cop...

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Secrets of Retirement: There’s More To It Than Meets the Eye

To most young people, retirement means relaxation every day, with mornings spent leisurely reading the paper over coffee, afternoons hitting the links or chilling on the beach, and evenings at pleasant dinners with your spouse and friends or watching your favorite programs. But for many retirees, it’s just the opposite. Out of 43 potentially...

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Poorer Than You Think: Money and Wealth in America

"Rich Americans", that's our global reputation. We share that world view and never seem to wonder how are we really doing.  When you look at money and wealth around the world, Americans are poorer than we think. One of the most useful calculations a person can make when it comes to their personal finances is to figure out their net worth....

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On the Record: Serena Williams, Queen of the Courts

On Sunday, Serena Williams won her 18th Grand Slam and proved once again that she is “Queen of the Courts”. The Women’s Tennis Association ranked her number one in women’s single’s tennis on 6 separate occasions. She recently won her 6th U. S. Open championship. She’s earned more than $50 million dollars in prize money, is worth an estimated...

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On the Record: Meet Atty General Eric Holder Pt 1

Attorney General Eric Holder makes his way to Ferguson, Mo in the wake of civil unrest after the killing of Michael Brown. After briefing President Obama on the situation, Holder informed the President that he would visit the site himself. His visit is scheduled to begin on August 20th. I thought it might be interesting to learn a bit about...

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Erasing Your Debt: Do's amd Don'ts

Some folks are trying to keep it a secret that the economy is improving. Polls say Americans are uncertain about their financial future. The data shows that Americans are racking up more debt in spite of their so called "uncertainty". NerdWallet.com reports that our collective total debt is $11.74 trillion, up 5% from last year. the average...

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Winning the Challenge: Weight Loss Strategies

Several years ago, my family viewed a video from our annual Christmas Eve celebration. We were confronted with the fact that we all needed to lose weight. We started a family "Fit Club" and worked together to eat healthier, move more, and improve our health. In spite of the fact that we have collectively lost more than 240...

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On The Record: Meet Ronan Farrow

Ronan Farrow While flipping the channels searching for afternoon cooking shows, I lingered on MSNBC long enough to check out the show's host. He was young, blond, handsome, and well spoken. I hadn't noticed him before and it made me wonder who he was and how he got his own show. Before I could check him out, I saw an article in TV Week's...

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Clean That Fridge For Saftey's Sake

The refrigerator is often the center of the entire household, or at least in mine it is. It’s the first place we go toward when we get home from work or school, the last place we are at night before bed, and in between for every meal. But with all of the food, drinks, condiments, leftovers, spills, and smells, the refrigerator can often be the...

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FICO Score Changes Mean Higher Scores and Lower Interest Rates For Consumers

FICO credit-scoring system is being revised to reduce the negative effect of overdue medical bills and to quit penalizing consumers who pay off debts that had been assigned to collection agencies. The changes to the hugely influential FICO scoring system could make it easier for millions of Americans to get loans at lower rates and eventually...

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Dysfunctional Congress: Do Something About It

It's sad to hear opinions of most Americans about our "do nothing" Congress. Americans distrust and disdain Congress. Now that our legislative body is in recess for the coming weeks, we seriously doubt if they'll be missed. Recent polls tell the tale of just how most of the country sees the situation. A Gallup poll ranks the approval rating of...

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Keep it Quiet, but Our Economy Continues to Improve

  As quiet as it's kept, the U. S. economy continues to improve and unemployment ticks downward. Reports, posted for July, show six straight months of job growth with gains of over 200,000 jobs in each month. The average job gains over the past 6 months reached 244,000 in July, the best average in 8 years. Unemployment was...

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Soul Music Genius Bobby Womack-R.I.P.

You've probably enjoyed the distinct voice of recording artist Bobby Womack. After a dramatic life filled with highs and lows, both personal and professional, the R&B legend went to his final rest in his sleep on June 27, 1014 at the age of 70....

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New Orleans Ex-Mayor Heads to Jail

You might remember New Orleans mayor Ray Nagin's fight to save his city during the chaotic years after Hurricane Katrina. Now, he's headed to prison convicted of Katrina-related corruption....

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Marvel Changes the Comic Landscape

Many people don't like change, but change is inevitable. , Marvel's chief creative officer, Joe Quesada, conveyed important news on the Colbert Report. Get ready for major changes in the Marvel comics arena....

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Recruiting and Rebranding: The "New" Ku Klux Klan

The KKK is Recuriting and Rebranding.  They are calling for White America to "wake up...

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Love, Art, and Activism: RIP Ruby Dee

Artist and activist Ruby Dee departed this life on June 11, 2014 at the age of 91, leaving her three children to mourn her passing. But, these few word won't explain this power house and her contribution to the world at large....

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Gone But Not Forgotten: Memorable TV Series

Over the Fourth of July holiday, my family gathered to share a traditional summer food fest and to compete in our version of "Patriot Games". We pitted the men against the women in four rounds of heated competition which focused on television and movie trivia like "Who shot J. R.?".  The answers were on the tip of our tongues...

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Michelle Howard: Navy's First Female Four Star Admiral

When she graduated from Gateway High School in Aurora, CO in 1978, no one knew it was in the cards for Michelle Howard to become a rising star in the U. S. Navy. Michelle graduated from the Naval Academy in 1982 and completed her Masters in Military Arts and Sciences in 1998. Shortly thereafter, she went on to become the first African American...

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Millennials: Making a Difference in the Status Quo

  This is my family. Loving them is no problem, but you may be in the same boat with me as I try to understand them.It's easy to see that there is a huge difference between those between 18-33 years old and their elders. As a bonafide member of the Baby Boomers, I'm amazed when I look back at all my generation faced, while standing in awe...

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Fannie Lou Hamer and the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP)

Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) was a political party formed in 1964 as an alternative to the dominantly white and conservative Democratic Party of Mississippi. After President Lyndon B. Johnson formed a coalition between liberal Democrats and liberal and moderate Republicans to address issues of concern to African Americans, conservative...

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"We had sneakers...they had guns": Freedom Summer-Fifty Years Ago

 In June 1964, the Mississippi Summer Project  was launched to attempt to register African Americans in Mississippi, which historically excluded most blacks from voting.  Southern states had effectively disfranchised most African Americans and many poor whites in the period from 1890 to 1910 by passing state constitutions, amendments...

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Can Partisan Politics and Political Polarization Affect Your Life? The Answer May Surprise You.

It’s no secret that “Republicans and Democrats are more divided along ideological lines – and partisan aversion is deeper and more extensive – than at any point in the last two decades.” A recent Pew Research Center survey of 10,000 adults nationwide finds that these divisions are greatest among those who are the most engaged and active in the...

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Finally, Justice for the "Central Park Five"

The $250 million lawsuit was filed more than a decade ago on behalf of five black and Hispanic defendants convicted in 1990 of raping and beating a white woman jogging in the park a year earlier.  Each served six to 13 years in prison. Their convictions were tossed in 2002 after evidence emerged linking someone else to the crime. New...

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Improve Your Finances: Take the First Steps

I often wonder why people know so much about some things and little to nothing about others. Some people know every word of the latest music hit by the mega stars or can tell you which designer handbags are in vogue. We take time to talk about what Rhianna wore on her latest red carpet stroll or what's happening on "Scandal". We weigh in on...

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Be A Crime Stopper: A Home Security Primer

Home security is important whether in a home or an apartment. The best efforts of law enforcement to reduce crime will be of no avail without citizens doing their part to protect themselves and one another. Believe it or not, most home burglaries are not committed by professionals who have planned for months to commit a specific crime. Rather,...

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Show Me The Money: Richest Black Actors

 In America being successful means being rich. Black celebrities have a way to go before they achieve parity with their white counterparts. However, Hollywood has its share of  black actors who are rich and famous. Some act, sing, or rap. Some go behind the screen , producing or directing films. Some even write books or...

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An American Icon Shifts: JET Magazine Final Print Issue

JET Magazine has been a staple among African-American readers for 63 years. Johnson Publishing announced last month that JET magazine will be ending all print publications and instead will shift to an all-digital format.  The magazine’s last print issue celebrates the publication’s most iconic covers since it was founded in...

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Whose Ring Is It Anyway?

I recently read an article in WSJ Law Blog which raised an interesting question. “When an engagement breaks up, who gets the ring?” If you watch many movies, you’ve seen the question resolved in a number of dramatic ways. The bride-to-be tosses the ring at her fiancé and runs dramatically from the room. Or, the ring is left on the table next...

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Movin' On Up: The Death of the "American Dream"

Every parent wants to believe that those who follow them, i.e. their children and grandchildren, will be more productive, more comfortable, more prosperous, and happier than they have been in their own lifetime. History has proven that this expectation is reasonable and achievable. However, for the first time ever, families have a pervasive...

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Who Pays for the First Lady's Fashions?

I'm so proud of the nation's first lady Michelle Obama. Her fashions are always one of the favorite subjects of the media. Her mix of "off the rack" items coupled with designer fashions keeps her appealing and helps her represent our country in an extraordinary manner. However, there's a single question that's always hiding in the background-...

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A Must Read: The Case for Reparations by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic

  Ta-Nehisi Coates I encourage you to read "The Case for Reparations", a powerful, must read article by Ta-Nehisi Coates, The Atlantic, dated May 21, 2014. The Atlantic’s cover alone should begin an interesting discussion: The Case for Reparations   Two hundred fifty years of slavery. Ninety years of Jim Crow. Sixty...

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