Ebony articles from May 2008

Ebony archives from May 2008

There's nothing like a mother: a message from the President & CEO.(PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE)(Editorial)
May 1, 2008... We're all familiar with the proverb: "A woman's work is never done." And that's especially true when it comes to being a mother. Throughout time, no one has done so much for so many with such grace. She is selfless. She is patient. She is...

Janet Jackson.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Over the years I have watched Janet Jackson's career as she transitioned from the charming young actress on television's Good Times to a shy teen singer trying to find her groove to the trendsetting international...

Atlanta to Africa.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Your article "From Atlanta to Africa," which highlighted the visit to Ghana, West Africa, by a group of eighth graders from KIPPS WAYS Academy in Atlanta, was motivating. It was inspirational just to read about their visit to their roots and...

China and Africa.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Thank you very much for featuring Chinese involvement in Africa in your January 2008 issue. Your article correctly details the recent intensification of economic, political, diplomatic and security overtures by China's government across the...

Going to church.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... This letter is in response to Haki Madhubuti ("Do You Have To Go To Church To Be A Good Christian?" March 2008), who appears to have an ax to grind because of his own dealings with the church. The reason people stop going to church is because...

Weeping for her sons.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I felt like weeping after reading the article "Weeping For Her Sons." My heart ached for Isaura Mendes after learning that two of her sons were murdered and three of her nephews were killed. It's enough to make one's heart stop--literally. What...

Light-skinned advantage.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I write concerning the article "Do Light-Skinned Black People Have An Advantage?" (Elizabeth Atkins-Adrienne Samuels, February 2008). For me, it's difficult to grasp that people are still overplaying skin color as if they are speaking about...

Who's Lovin' Who?(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... As an African-American, unmarried woman, I really enjoyed reading the February 2008 issue "Who's Lovin' Who?" But, as a believer in Christ, it is sad to see so many famous couples treating marriage like a treaty between two countries rather...

Athletes as role models.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... "Two Sides" (December 2007) had powerful and candid views by Charles Barkley and Jackie Joyner-Kersee on whether or not professional athletes/entertainers should be role models. Jackie seems reluctant to accept that status by calling it...

Michael Jackson.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... I'm a big fan of Michael Jackson's. I have been since I was a kid. I just want to express my sincerest gratitude to EBONY for the December 2007 Michael Jackson interview and photo spectacular! It's such a relief to read an interview with...

Taste of Ebony.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Just wanted to thank you for the article "The Taste of Ebony" (January 2008). It was nice to finally see African-American chefs being recognized! I am an avid watcher of the Food Network cooking shows. I had begun to think there were no...

Oprah and Denzel.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2008... Bravo! Your article "The Producers" (January 2008) profiles dynamic duo Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington, who teamed to produce a larger than life film The Great Debaters, which depicts what the Black Experience was in the Deep South during...

Correction.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2008... In the feature "Essentials: Lashing Out" (March 2008), we misidentified the #7 mascara. It should have been listed as CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara ($8).

Making the cover.(BEHIND THE SCENES)(Vanessa Williams)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It takes a lot of creativity and coordination to pull off a cover shoot. Multiply that times five when you have to corral a family of people who aren't currently living in the same place at the same time. Leave it...

Ebony on the scene.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 1. At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, jazz artist Herbie Hancock celebrates his awards for Best Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Jazz Album. 2. Actress Ruby Dee cradles her Screen Actors...

A spotlight on individuals who are moving onward & upward.(SPEAKING OF PEOPLE)
May 1, 2008... GWENDOLYN BUTLER [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gwendolyn Butler is used to the being the "first" and the "only." One of those rare Black women who can be called a financial guru, Butler recently became the president and chief operating...

Sherri Shepherd: the View's newest star hits her stride.(CENTER STAGE)(Interview)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sherri Shepherd is suddenly famous. As the newest face on the morning talkfest The View, even the comedian herself has found it hard to believe how sudden throe can hit you. For instance, the soon-to-be-divorced...

5 questions for ... Stephen Salters.(Interview)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the spotlight illuminates Stephen Salters on stage, the robust sounds of the powerful baritone both transfix and transform the audience. if you do not hold tickets that place you near the front row, you may have...

Tripping into the future: Nicole Mitchell haunts with Xenogenesis.(SOUNDING OFF)(Xenogenesis Suite: A Tribute to Octavia Butler)(Interview)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Flutist Nicole Mitchell's latest work is an eclectic musical collective poised to take the untrained ear by storm by simultaneously hypnotizing and haunting its listeners. Quite the departure from her more...

CeCe Winans.(ALSO NOTED)(Thy Kingdom Come)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What drives CeCe Winans is her faith and dedication to delivering music that will take listeners closer to God. That is reflected on her new recording, Thy Kingdom Come (Pure Springs Gospel). With the voice of an...

Hot tix: spring concert checklist.(ALSO NOTED)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Hip-hop icons Jay-Z & Mary J. Blige team up with the 'Heart of the City' tour. Legendary bluesman, B.B. King is bringing his Iongtime love, Lucille, to a city near you. Kanye West leads the galaxy on his 'Glow In...

Dianne Reeves.(SOUNDING OFF)(When You Know)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Take a relaxing, soothing musical journey with premiere jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves as she delivers her interpretations of new standards on When You Know (Blue Note). She kicks off the set with an engaging, jazzy...

Gnarls Barkley.(SOUNDING OFF)(The Odd Couple)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With The Odd Couple (Downtown/Atlantic), Gnarls Barkley is back with an exciting follow-up to its Grammy Award-winning St. Elsewhere. The talented team (artist/producer Danger Mouse and vocalist Cee-Lo Green) again...

Lending a child a helping hand: being a mentor can change a youngster's life.(FOR BROTHERS ONLY)
May 1, 2008... PHOENIX SUNS ALL-STAR AND FOUNDER of the EACH 1, TEACH 1 FOUNDATION AT THE AMARE STOUDEMIRE READING & LEARNING CENTER Growing up in poverty on the streets, I had a small chance to make it. My mom was thuggin', my older brother was thuggin'...

Recession-proofing your life.(MONEY TALKS)
May 1, 2008... Concerned about layoffs at your job or in your industry? Worried about how long you'll continue to earn a paycheck? Have you already received a pink slip? Job cuts jumped dramatically at the beginning of 2008. And it takes three months on...

May: what's happening where?(TRAVEL GUIDE)(Calendar)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ATLANTA * Sweet Auburn SpringFest 2008. One of the largest family reunions and street festivals. Auburn Avenue. May 9-11. sweetauburn.com * 31st Atlanta Jazz Festival. Features top entertainers, an artist...

Love yourself first: an Olympian's pursuit of healthy self-esteem.(SISTERSPEAK)
May 1, 2008... As a gymnast with an Olympic gold medal to hang around my neck, three Olympic Games in my repertoire and my team's picture on the front of a Wheaties box, I had it all. Or so it seemed to the outside world. But the gymnast that people...

Surviving seasonal allergies.(HOUSE CALL)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some simple steps can minimize the misery The sneezing, the itchy and watery eyes, the runny nose and the general discomfort are all indications that the allergy season is in full force. Doctors say now that we've...

What happens in Brazil ... stays in Brazil.(BOOKSHELF)(Interview)
May 1, 2008... As the book jacket blurb says, "[Brazil] is a not-so-new, not-so-secret destination for a growing number of American black men looking for the kind of sex and freedom they say they cannot find with black women." In DON'T BLAME IT ON RIO: THE...

The Skull Cage Key.(HOT PICK)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Skull Cage Key (Agate Bolden, May 2008, $15) is former New York Times staff writer Michel Marriott's debut novel. Set in mid-21st Century Harlem, it is a futuristic thriller about how the lives of a young...

Think Outside The Cell: An Entrepreneur's Guide for the Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated.(ON THE RADAR)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Think Outside The Cell: An Entrepreneur's Guide for the Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated (Resilience Multimedia, March 2008, $14.95) by Joseph Robinson is a step-by step guide to help inmates and parolees plot...

Crossing The Pilgrim Journey: Challenges & Solutions.(ON THE RADAR)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crossing The Pilgrim Journey: Challenges & Solutions (Outskirts Press, August 2007 $13.95), Trudy Coiley writes a spiritual guidebook based on her personal experiences for people suffering from a lack of knowing how...

Expert advice on relationships: Dr. Joyce answers your questions on marriage and dating & romance.(EBONY ADVISOR)
May 1, 2008... Q: I am a wife, mother, student and I am employed full-time. I have been married going on six years and I recently found out that my husband had an affair. I found out when mail arrived for my husband from a prosecuting attorney--a woman was...

Essentials at every age: you can look your absolute best from decade to decade.(Buyers guide)
May 1, 2008... When choosing skin care products, your age matters. Skin changes over time so the products that worked wonders when you were in your 20s may not be as effective as you get older. However, age is not the only reason to update your skin care...

Claiming her all: Vanessa Williams reveals her unexpected journey on her pursuit of happiness.(Interview)(Cover story)
May 1, 2008... Hearing her walk up the winding staircase at her Chappaqua, N.Y., home wasn't what caught our attention. The two energetic young people who preceded her wore a certain nonchalance that comes from being comfortable around people they don't...

Marquee mamas: being a star at work and home requires beauty, grace, love and sacrifice.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yes, they live crazy-busy lives, like most mothers. They work long hours on jobs that regularly require them to travel and leave their children behind. At home they spend "quality time" with their kids, taking them...

afraid to hope: many African Americans are excited about Barack Obama's historic run for the presidency. But they are also afraid to become too emotionally invested in something that still seems too good to be true.
May 1, 2008... It has been a long time since Kenneth Gary got excited about politics. In fact, the last time was when he helped provide security in Boston for the Rev. Jesse Jackson's campaign events in 1984. Nearly three decades later, Gary, a...

The new Black power: the next generation of influential leaders takes its place at the top.(EBONY POWER 150)(List)
May 1, 2008... EDITOR'S NOTE: For the 45th year in a row, EBONY presents its annual list of "The Most Influential Black Americans." Since 1963. the sect on has been one of our most talked-about features, highlighting talented individuals whose influence...

Organization leaders.(THE EBONY POWER 150)(List)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dwayne Ashley President, Thurgood Marshall College Fund [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jacqueline Moore Bowtes National President Jack & Jill of America, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hall Davis IV President,...

Do men really fall: no, don't let the brothers make you wear that fake hair.(TWO SIDES)(Viewpoint essay)
May 1, 2008... From our infatuation with and addiction to long hair in the '60s to our love of weaves today, Black people have been struggling with the notion of "good hair" versus "bad hair" since the "Man" shipped us here to this country. Now I am not...

For those weaves? Yes, wear that weave, girl. You've earned it.(TWO SIDES)
May 1, 2008... All Black men of a certain age--with sisters and daughters--share a singular set of unforgettable memories tinged in terror and gratefulness. Some of the recollections come from childhood, others from when we were young fathers. But none of us...

Ebony Pre-Oscar Celebration.
May 1, 2008... More than 800 celebrities, business leaders and Hollywood luminaries braved a damp Los Angeles evening to help EBONY magazine mark its 4th Pre-Oscar Celebration at the Boulevard 3 nightclub ill Hollywood. The event honored four legends in...

Home is where the art is: community-minded couple makes mission of giving back and sharing.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The world of Shirley and Bernard Kinsey can be likened to layers--layers of culture and history and art. Layers of friends, acquaintances and contacts. Layers of endeavors that applaud and document the genius and...

Honeymoon hideaways: sweet retreats for the romantic at heart.(TRAVEL GUIDE)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After the "I Dos" have been done, most newlywed couples look forward to some much-needed R&R (that's retreat and romance) following hectic wedding planning. And their thoughts soon turn to beginning their new...

Are you really ready for that weekend road trip? It is a lonely and helpless feeling to be stuck on the side of the road, held hostage by an inoperable vehicle. You can avoid that scenario with some pre-trip maintenance.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Warm weather is beginning and winter is becoming a distant memory. While many of us use this time to do a little cleaning around the house, it's also a good idea to perform routine summer maintenance to our...

The Africa cup: billion-dollar soccer-fest is bigger than the Super Bowl.(Africa Cup of Nations)
May 1, 2008... One Continent. Millions of fans. Sixteen teams. One Africa Cup of Nations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We're talking football. Not that American pigskin stuff; but the other kind of football--aka soccer--the world's most popular sport. And...

The 9th Annual Super Bowl Gospel celebration.
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The 9th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration was highlighted this year by the inaugural presentation of the NFL Players All-Star Choir. The singing group, which featured more than 30 of the league's stars, included...

Strictly for laughs.(Cartoon)
May 1, 2008... "DEFINE "TORTURE." HAVING TO TESTIFY BEFORE THIS COMITTEE. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "Funny, you always feel better AFTER the school day is over."

Guess who sells your weave? Koreans capitalize on Black beauty's big business.
May 1, 2008... Bags and bags yet more bags of the silky, stringy stuff line the walls or the beauty supply store. Beneath the bags of hair are bottles of shampoo and conditioner, sparkly cell phone chargers and rose-smelling lotions. All told, an estimated...

Give flab the boot: intense fitness camps push body beyond its limits.(BODY TALK)(Metroplex Adventure Boot Camp)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's 5:20 a.m. in Dallas and the sky is about 40 shades of black. It's about 30 dcgrees--a cold snap, they say. Besides the whirl of traffic from the highway nearby and the stirring of two lone figures, all seems to...

Moms on a mission: for 3 actresses, charity may begin at home, but it doesn't end there.(PARENTING)(Karyn Parsons, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jasmine Guy)
May 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Being a leading lady is one thing. However, being a mother is quite a different role. Just ask celebrity moms Karyn Parsons, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jasmine Guy, who have all played divas during their careers....

Follow the yellow brick road.(FASHION FAIR)(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... Spring 2008 is being heralded with a flurry of fashions showcasing wonderful prints. While some of the most stunning prints are inspired by florals, others take their cue from color blocks and splotches or even abstract muses. One of the...

Building the perfect sandwich: mouthwatering meals made easy in minutes.(DATE WITH A DISH)(Recipe)
May 1, 2008... Americans continue to have a love affair with sandwiches, not only for their taste, but also for the fact that they can be eaten on the go in this fast-paced society. Some can be elaborate, but they are easy to prepare and provide the...

Memorable photo.(Brief article)
May 1, 2008... In Washington, D.C., thousands of demonstrators, who were part of the "Poor People's Campaign," gather to hear leaders outline plans to convince government officials to address the problems of the poor. Led by the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy,...