Ebony articles from August 2008

Ebony archives from August 2008

Making the cover(s): the definition of cool: a special collector's edition.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Easy to spot, impossible to duplicate, Black cool has been pursued but never captured. Imitated but never really quite understood. Until now. Over the past three months and nearly a dozen meetings and...

Campaign '08: fantasy cabinet.(POLITICS AND PERSPECTIVES)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Agree or disagree with our pundits on the best picks for an Obama cabinet and follow the most compelling online political analysis. The debate will continue throughout the campaign.

Ebony behind-the-scenes.(BLOGS, VIDEOS, PHOTOS)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Watch exclusive footage from our EBONY cover shoots and get the who, what, where and when of everything that goes into making a magazine cover come together. Our behind-the-scenes library features videos of Serena...

Podcast 3rd Coast Audio Festival.(MUSIC)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We've teamed up with Chicago Public Radio to present the best audio work produced worldwide for the award-winning Third Coast radio program. Listen to extraordinary and unforgettable stories selected exclusively for...

Humor Dreadman.(INTERACTIVE GUIDE)(David Fennoy's Chillin' With Dreadman)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] David Fennoy delivers his unique brand of humor on the world around us through his twice-weekly comic strip, "Chillin' With Dreadman." From Cindy McCain to Barbara Waiters, Mariah Carey to Akon, Dreadman calls 'em...

New voices and culture.(WHAT'S ONLINE IN AUGUST)(Critical Evaluation and Ask Neycha)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Critical Evaluation. Now that The Wire has wrapped its HBO run, analyst DeAngelo Starnes turns his attention to the water cooler issues and cultural developments we love to weigh-in on most. Stay on top of what's...

A 'cool' collection & sexy singles: a message from the president & CEO Linda Johnson Rice.(PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE)
August 1, 2008... If you were to ask 10 people what they consider to be the essential elements that make a man cool, you would probably get 10 different, wide-ranging answers. For some, it can be his persona. For some, it can be his unmistakable aura and style....

Serena Williams.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Serena Williams, what a great last name. I watch Serena's matches all the time and love her eye-catching outfits and, of course, her tennis skills. She has achieved greatness and is loved by fans around the world....

Popping The Other Question.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I want to thank you all for writing the article, "Popping The Other Question" (July 2008). I meet so many women who try to avoid the topic of HIV/AIDS, as well as other diseases by joking about how it has been too long. When I speak to them...

Chris Brown.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Just wanted to drop a note that the June 2008 music issue with Chris Brown on the cover is amazing. Congrats on such a great issue! Rhett Usry New York, N.Y. I just received my copy of the June 2008 EBONY in my mailbox. I...

Slaughter of the Innocents.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Regarding the article, "Slaughter of the Innocents (June 2008), I was touched and saddened. My family was recently touched by gun violence. My brother, Marcus Kelly, who was killed on October 31, 2007, was gunned down. When I received the phone...

At Home With Deion Sanders.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Sister Shirley Henderson's article, "At Home With Deion Sanders: Big Home Advantage" (June 2008), landed on my spirit with spiked sneakers. To coin a cliche from back in the day, "from jump street," Sister Shirley's words, "his family, his...

For Brothers Only.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I have just read the "For Brothers Only" column, "Lyrically Speaking: Beats & Rhymes Beyond The Stigmas" (June 2008), and I am so elated! It's so good to see such a well-written, moving column that is so fitting for our youth. I became a...

Power 150: The Most Influential Black Americans.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Two thumbs down to you EBONY, for not mentioning Michael Jordan in the "Power 150: The Most Influential Black Americans" (May 2008). What an insult! Mary Ann Jeffries Maywood, Ill.

Two Sides.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... The "Two Sides" article, "Do Men Really Fall For Those Weaves?" (May 2008), focuses on a pressing concern for African-Americans--the hair beauty standard. Sinbad and David E. Early write vividly and candidly about natural and European...

Home Is Where The Art Is.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I really loved the article, "Home Is Where The Art Is" (May 2008), featuring Shirley and Bernard Kinsey. After studying abroad in London, England, as an undergraduate in the '90s and traveling to Paris, Spain, Ireland and recently to Italy in...

Ebony Bookshelf.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I am a Black woman who loves Brazil. I love my acai from my favorite juice bar in Copacabana. I enjoy the view from Sugarloaf Mountain. And yes, I enjoy Brazilian men. To add a female voice to your "Bookshelf" (May 2008), "Don't Blame It...

Vanessa Williams.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... I truly enjoyed reading the article, "Claiming Her All: Vanessa Williams Reveals Her Unexpected Journey On Her Pursuit Of Happiness" (May 2008). She is a very classy and down-to-earth lady. Her strength is truly a blessing. I applaud how she...

Indian Blood.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... The history of Native American-Black relations is a complex one with an extensive history. This article, "What Does Indian Blood Look Like?" (April 2008), is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many instances of tragedy and pain, as well as...

Sisterspeak.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
August 1, 2008... Upon reading Patti Austin's story "Cherish The Role of Caregiver" (April 2008), I felt a kinship with her. My mom passed last month and, yes, I miss her so, but I'm happy I was there with her all the way. Thank you, Patti! Gloria...

Correction.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Correction notice)
August 1, 2008... In the article, "It's All About Losing The Weight" (July 2008), Stephanie Washington's weight classification was incorrectly described. Based on her height and weight, the body mass index (BMI) classifies her as "overweight."

History in living color.(EBONY ON THE SCENE)(Barack Obama, Eugene Bowser and Alicia Keys)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... 1. In St. Paul, Minn., at the Xcel Energy Center, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and his wife Michelle celebrate after his historic campaign culminated with his clinching the Democratic presidential nomination. On the final day of the...

International affairs.(EBONY ON THE SCENE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. In Khartoum, Sudan, Sudanese participate in a state-orchestrated rally in the capital. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has accused a Darfur rebel leader of receiving money from Israel to topple Sudan's Islamic...

Dwele finds his groove.(CENTER STAGE)
August 1, 2008... It was an uncharacteristically, uncool moment for soulful crooner Dwele. He was driving in his hometown when the career-affirming phone call came from his manager. "Man," he says, his voice dripping with that mid-tempo bass that makes...

5 questions for ... Regina Belle.(Interview)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jazz and R&B diva Regina Belle is making her gospel debut with Love Forever Shines. She is no stranger to the music world with hits like "Show Me the Way," "Baby Come to Me" and "Make it Like it Was," and her duet...

A spotlight on individuals moving onward & upward.(SPEAKING OF PEOPLE)(Heather Joy Thompson and Arlene Ackerman )
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HEATHER JOY THOMPSON Yes, there IS life after Diddy. Just ask Heather Joy Thompson, the 31-year-old law school graduate who last year landed the enviable position of personal assistant to rap businessman...

Pro stock drag racer: Tom Hammonds, 40.(Cool JOB)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Many people start a second career late in life, but few go from the NBA to drag racing. Hammonds, who once played for the Charlotte Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves, is now one of the nation's leading pro stock...

Keeping integrity in Hollywood: personal moral standards are not compromised by the types of roles actors portray.(SISTERSPEAK)
August 1, 2008... There is a notion that Hollywood is some foreign land, a far away place where the rules are different. Why should keeping your integrity in Hollywood be any different from keeping your integrity in Missouri City, Texas, or Paris, France? Isn't...

A winning formula for life ... 'learn, earn, return': sportscaster, philanthropist and former National Football League star.(FOR BROTHERS ONLY)
August 1, 2008... I'm fortunate enough to have experienced rife at an accelerated pace because I'm already retired (as a running back in the National Football League). So I've come up with a bit of advice that can add purpose to daily living. There are...

Piercing truths: what you need to know before making the big decision about body art.(HOUSE CALL)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cool. Chic. Cutting edge. Trendy. They are all words that have been used to describe the art of body piercing, which has become so popular in the past few years that practically no body part is exempt--lips, tongue,...

No-nonsense dating can lead you to your soul mate.(EBONY ADVISOR)
August 1, 2008... At the close of a seminar I presented, an attractive 30-something woman stepped up to greet me. She flashed a huge smile--and a mega-carat diamond ring--and proceeded to tell me her incredible story. It seems that a few years earlier Tonya...

Moving on: life after foreclosure.(MONEY TALKS)
August 1, 2008... Faced with the dilemma of fighting to keep their homes or walking away gracefully with as much dignity and financial stability as possible, many homeowners are choosing the latter. Declining home values and exotic mortgage programs that...

Estelle excels in her U.S. debut: British artist joins American music landscape.(SOUNDING OFF)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The modern-day British invasion continues with Estelle, who brings her light-hearted vocals and reggae-soul beats to the American music scene. Born Estelle Swaray, the 28-year-old singer/songwriter/producer/rapper...

Esperanza Spalding.(SOUNDING OFF)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Listening to acoustic bass player and jazz vocalist Esperanza Spalding, one might assume she's a seasoned musician. In fact, Spalding is 23 years old and plays bass while singing simultaneously in English, Spanish...

Ear Candy: new releases.(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COMMON, INVINCIBLE SUMMER, Geffen [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BISHOP PAUL S. MORTON PRESENTS PASTOR DEBRA B. MORTON My Better Half Light Records [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CHANTE MOORE Love The...

Maiysha.(ALSO NOTED)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maiysha's debut CD This Much is True (Esonia Records) contains songs about how women live and love. For instance, the newcomer finds herself over the moon while happily in love and grooving to soulful beats on...

Little Jackie.(ALSO NOTED)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's been a decade since Imani Coppola had a mainstream hit. Back in 1997, it was Legend of a Cowgirl. Now she's back as one-half of Little Jackie, which is a blend of Coppola's lyrics and programmer Adam Pallin's...

Harlem Week 2008: here's to Harlem! Annual summer celebration focuses on Black health.(TRAVEL GUIDE)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... They say it's not how you begin but how you end that matters. Nowhere does that adage apply more than in Harlem, Black America's national neighborhood. The annual Harlem Week celebration began modestly but has burgeoned into an international...

August: what's happening where?(TRAVEL GUIDE)(Calendar)
August 1, 2008... CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. * National Primitive Baptist Convention USA 101st annual convention. Chattanooga Marriott at the Convention Center. Aug. 16-22. www.natlprimbaptconv.org CHICAGO * Bud Billiken Parade. One of the oldest...

Toni Morrison: a writer's reflection.(BOOKSHELF)(What Moves at the Margin: Selected Nonfiction, Mixing It Up: Taking on the Media Bullies and Other Reflections and Stand the Storm)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... I WHAT MOVES AT THE MARGIN: SELECTED NONFICTION (University Press of Mississippi, $30) by Toni Morrison, edited and with an introduction by Carolyn C. Denard, sheds new light on the career and life of acclaimed author Toni Morrison. Anyone who...

A Darker Shade of Brown.(TOP SHELF)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... A DARKER SHADE OF BROWN (Beckham Publications, $14.95) by Ernest Jones is set the day after the Supreme Court renders its historic 1954 decision, Brown v. Board of Education. Against that dramatic backdrop, the novel follows a group of...

Black Greek-Letter Organizations in the 21st Century: Our Fight Has Just Begun.(TOP SHELF)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... BLACK GREEK-LETTER ORGANIZATIONS IN THE 21ST CENTURY: OUR FIGHT HAS JUST BEGUN (The University Press of Kentucky, $39.95), edited by Gregory S. Parks with a foreword by Julianne Malveaux and an afterword by Marc H. Morial, is a scholarly...

What's on your nightstand?(TOP SHELF)(Journey to Justice by Johnnie L. Cochran Jr.)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... JOURNEY TO JUSTICE by Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. I was so very impressed with it, especially having to do with his early beginnings, the way his family raised him and the values and standards that they set for him. One of the things that...

Amy Hodgepodge: All Mixed Up!(KIDS' CORNER)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... AMY HODGEPODGE: ALL MIXED UP! (Penguin Young Readers Group, $4.99) by comedic entertainer Kim Wayans and her writer-husband, Kevin Knotts, is a book series the pair is writing about mixed-race children and the everyday challenges they...

March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World.(KIDS' CORNER)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... MARCH ON! THE DAY MY BROTHER MARTIN CHANGED THE WORLD (Scholastic Press, $17.99) by Christine King Farris and illustrated by London Ladd, tells the story of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech, and it is a powerful tribute to the...

The Beautiful Struggle.(HOT PICK)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE BEAUTIFUL STRUGGLE (Spiegel & Grau, $22.95) by Ta-Nehisi Coates is the poetic memoir of a father and son and their divergent and unconventional paths to wholeness. It's the traditional push-pull of parenting with...

Change in the Weather: Life After Stroke.(HOT PICK)(Brief article)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In CHANGE IN THE WEATHER: LIFE AFTER STROKE (Gotham Books, $26) by Mark McEwen, with Daniel Paisner, the well-known news personality eloquently recounts the fight of his life following a massive stroke. The...

The face of fall.(BEAUTY & STYLE ESSENTIALS)(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... Beauty trends are often born on the runway. For the fierce and fashionable, the most important accessory for ready-to-wear designs and couture collections are the complementing colors on eyes, lips and cheeks that complete the look. Makeup...

Blushes with greatness.(BEAUTY & STYLE ESSENTIALS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Flawless skin is always the desired goal. So to downplay eclectic color on eyes, warm the skin with blush that softens and enhances the complexion. The goal is to give skin a healthy, fresh-faced look without making your cheeks the main...

Lips.(BEAUTY & STYLE ESSENTIALS)(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... Summer calls for just a kiss of color on the lips, but for fall, turn up the volume with a lipstick or gloss that packs a punch. At Baby Phat, lips were accentuated with bold burgundy hues to cue the top color choice of the season. Another pro...

Time out.(BEAUTY & STYLE ESSENTIALS)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Every athlete needs a durable watch (even weekend warriors). However, it can often be difficult to find a practical watch that stays true to a man's style. Fear no more. Here lies a selection of the newest multifunctioning sports watches. These...

The genius of cool: the 25 coolest brothers of all time.(Cover story)
August 1, 2008... LEGEND HAS IT THAT a band of military scientists spent billions of dollars trying to decipher the riddle of Black cool in hopes of creating an army of supercool soldiers who could wage war while providing their own soundtrack. After two...

Fashion remix.(FASHION)(Buyers guide)
August 1, 2008... Help your child create a "best of fall" fashion mixtape by sampling all of the season's chart-toppers. Jump it off with some old-school style. Both big sister and little sister will appreciate '60s-era geometrics and cropped jackets from the...

Sexy and single in the city: Ebony's top singles are ready for love.(List)
August 1, 2008... EBONY PUT THE WORD OUT AND 400 OF YOU RESPONDED TO THE CALL for candidates for our 2008 singles feature. After an arduous process, we selected finalists and are pleased to introduce you to 19 single men and women who are ready and willing to...

Dear Mama: the nation and the world protested Genarlow Wilson's controversial prison sentence. But it was his mother who pulled him through the fight for his life.(Juannessa Bennett)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Go get that laundry out of the washer and put it in the dryer for me." "Ok, I'm about to do it in a minute." "You need to do that now so that it can be done." "Okay, I'm going." "You need to do...

Happy Birthday, Madiba: "rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief.".(Nelson Mandela)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Like the words to the old English counting game Tinker Tailor, Nelson Mandela, who turns 90 on July 18, is indeed a rich man. But his wealth is measured not just by his bank balance, but in the fullness of his...

Joyful noise: women running the business of gospel music.
August 1, 2008... FIFTEEN YEARS AGO, GOSPEL PIONEER Vicki Mack Lataillade knew it was time for her to start her own company when, at a business luncheon, a White gospel executive told her: "You really remind me of my maid, Sadie. She could really clean a good...

Are there still two Americas, separate and unequal? Yes, 40 years after the Kerner Report, a racial divide still exists.(TWO SIDES)
August 1, 2008... In February, a few days after Barack Obama won lopsided victories in Democratic Party presidential primaries in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, the San Francisco Chronicle gave the Illinois senator the ultimate American...

Are there still two Americas, separate and unequal? No, for Blacks, we've come a long, long way.(TWO SIDES)
August 1, 2008... A Black American, asleep for the last 40 years, suddenly awakens. What does he see? He sees a country where the gross domestic product of Black Americans measured separately would be the 16th-richest country in the world. Where nearly 80...

Party like a rock climber: children's celebrations include pirates, pixies and chefs for a day.(PARENTING)
August 1, 2008... When Stacey Montgomery's son Isaiah turned 8, she decided to throw him a rock-climbing party. The event, which was held at a local fitness club outside Chicago, offered party guests a challenge and some athletic fun as well. It gave...

Springing back from the workout blahs: 5 unconventional exercise tips to keep you motivated to get (and stay) in shape.(BODY TALK)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's so easy to find a reason not to go to the gym or work out at home. Usually, any excuse is good enough to derail your quest to stay in shape. But keeping that desire to exercise year-round many times means...

Fall fashion forecast trend watch.(FASHION FAIR)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] lovelace Embroidered lace dominates both slim-fitting pants and a matching handbag with black leather strap, both of which are designed by PRADA, which expertly takes the fabric to the accessory realm. wild...

Cook smart save money.(DATE WITH A DISH)
August 1, 2008... One of the largest monthly expenses for many families is groceries. So how do you plan healthy menus for your family without breaking the bank? It's a misconception that eating a healthy diet must be costly. With a little planning, some...

Strictly for laughs.(Cartoon)
August 1, 2008... "Why am I in trouble for my show and tell? They're my big brother's magazines." [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "Hey, honey, we don't have to worry about keeping up with the Joneses anymore. They're moving!" "Who gets the extra large...

Memorable photo.(Barcelona Olympics)(Brief article)(Photograph)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SUMMER 1992: In Barcelona, Spain, Michael Jordan (l.) and Magic Johnson, greeting each other during pre-game introductions, were members of the original basketball Dream Team, which won the gold medal at the 1992...