More stories on Columns:

Steven Ivory: What You Won’t Do For Love

*I heard it for the umpteenth time just now.  And every time I hear it feels like the first time. Bobby Caldwell’s 1978 classic, “What You Won’t Do For Love” (which the singer wrote with Alfas Kitten) is, for me, like great Mexican food.  No matter how many times I have it, if I’m hungry,  [...]

The Bridge: The End of Tears

*Tony had seen Gina in a few of his classes, but like most sisters, he had not seen any signs that she noticed him.  When a mutual friend, Yvette said that he should ask her to the junior prom, he was almost certain that she would say no. But she said yes. And to both [...]

The Journal of Steffanie Rivers: The State of American Education for Children of Color

*I was sitting in a hospital waiting room last week when a young woman asked for my help filling out paperwork so she could receive treatment. She said she had a severe ear and headache, but didn’t know how to spell “ear” or “headache.” So I wrote it down for her and she thanked me. [...]

The Socialist’s Journal: The Trouble With Sincerity

*Sincerity is dangerous. It is a character trait that has a good reputation because it means someone truly believes what they’re saying or doing. We equate being sincere with being genuine, honest, earnest, straightforward, frank, and open. But sincerity’s twin sibling is stubbornness, which is synonymous with being obstinate, inflexible, willful, and intractable. To be [...]

Audrey’s Society Whirl: Universal Motown Hosts Private Listening Party for R&B Singer KEM

*Universal Motown Records hosted a private celebration party for their resident smooth and savvy soul master KEM on the release of his new album, Intimacy, on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at Chelsea’s famous watering spot, Tillman’s, on West 26th Street. KEM returned to the Billboard 200 chart with his album, Intimacy, which dropped on Tuesday, [...]

Astrologically Speaking: Sign by Sign Forecast for the Week of September 7 to September 13, 2010

*ARIESService to others is in the big picture, not slavery, but a sincere attempt to see the view from over your fence. By the time the 8th rolls through, you will have a clearer picture of how the public views you, a day when lovely Venus allows your sensual self to “rise.” From that day [...]

People of Note: Lehman Center for the Performing Arts celebrates 30 years

*The Thirtieth Anniversary of Lehman Center for the Performing Arts promises to be an interesting season.  The venue located at 250 Bedford Park Boulevard West in the Bronx, NY, will open its 30th Anniversary 2010-2011 season with the popular cross over artist Victor Manuelle, (known as “El Sonero de la Juventud” to his fans), on [...]

Joseph C. Phillips: Is America Only for White People?

*Is America only for white people?  The question stuck in my mind following yet another e-mail exchange with a friend of mine, regarding my conservatism.  For this particular gentleman, being black in America is at odds with conservatism. As he put it:“…Particularly as African-Americans, I feel we are in no real position to idealize the [...]

Between the Lines: Beck’s ‘Restoring Honor’ Rally

*The conservative right continued its deafening drum beat to a return to yesterday with a rally this past weekend on the 47 anniversary of the most celebrated march date of the 20th Century Civil Rights movement. Called the “Restoring America’s Honor” rally, it was led by conservative talk show host, Glenn Beck, and featured him [...]

Veronica’s View: Young, Black, Gifted and Gone

*It was an ordinary day when he committed an unordinary act. Corey ended his life. While many people were just waking up to get ready for church, a South Los Angeles couple was awakened by a call that their fourth child had taken his own life.They were leveled by the news. The sound emitted from [...]

Audrey’s Society Whirl: A Galaxy of Democratic Elite Celebrate Charlie Rangel’s big 8-0 at Plaza Hotel

*Over 800 spirited Charlie Angels anteed up from $200 to $2,500 to attend Congressman Charles B. Rangel’s 80th birthday fundraiser in the Grand Ballroom of the ritzy Plaza Hotel on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 featuring stellar performances by Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson. Many distinguished members of the New York Congressional Delegation joined top notch [...]

The Pulse of Entertainment: Incognito Goes ‘Transatlantic’ with new Shanachie Entertainment Release Celebrating 31 years

*“I put the funk,” said Bluey, founder and leader of the UK group Incognito that gave us Maysa and other industry singing sensations. The funk that Bluey talks about is found in his newest Incognito CD project titled “Transatlantic R.P.M.” recorded in celebration of 31 years in the business for the popular assembly of musicians [...]

Robertson Treatment Syndicated Column (RTSC): Remember the Name, Ms. Ava DuVernay

*It is my privilege to introduce you to a director who I believe is on course to becoming a major creative force in Hollywood. Her name is Ava DuVernay, a talented writer/director responsible for the new BET Original Documentary “My Mic Sounds Nice,” and “The Essence Music Festival” special that is currently airing on TV [...]

Steven Ivory: The Unforgivable Molestation of the (High) Five

* “…And I said, ‘I don’t have one, but from the looks of things here, you sure the hell do!’”   With that gleeful windup, the portly, graying, blonde 40-something chiropractor raised his hands in front of  his grinning,  round, expectant  face, his palms opened  toward me in the position people assume when they’re being [...]

Turner’s Two Cents: Glenn Beck’s Phony Regret

*So, now Glenn Beck wants us to believe that he’s sorry for calling President Obama a racist.  Sounds like another attempted con job as Beck tries to dupe the nation by cloaking his divisive message behind a toned down image.   Beck has repeatedly rationalized his ridiculous assertion that that Mr. Obama “has a deep-seated [...]

The Journal of Steffanie Rivers: For Colored Girls Who Consider HIV To Be a Gay Man’s Disease

*She lives down the street from a clinic that offers free HIV tests. So she stopped in last week to get her blood drawn and thirty minutes later she had her results. Judging from the pre-test questionaire it was likely the results would be negative: No intravenous drug use, no intimate involvement with multiple partners [...]

Audrey’s Society Whirl: Revlon Chairman Ron Perelman hosts ‘The Apollo In The Hamptons’

*The magic of The Creeks can be compared to Disneyland sans rides and cartoon characters.  The 57 acres, replete with 12 guest houses and 2,000 feet of Georgica Pond front and a congenial but “no nonsense” security staff easily identifiable in polo shirts that say “The Creeks,” reminds me of a wonderful place filled with [...]

The Socialist’s Journal: How Reality TV Insults Us

*One day I asked my dad why he only watched sports on television. His paraphrased response: “I don’t know what is going to happen. In every other program I can tell what will happen in the end.” And for the most part he was right. When I was growing up we knew the guy would [...]

Astrologically Speaking: Sign by Sign Forecast for the Week of August 31 to September 6, 2010

*ARIESFree-wheeling communications kick off the forecast, highlighting your versatility, flexibility etc. Your full-bore approach is tempered by a willingness to sublimate your ego for the greatest good. Solidify your wishes by the 1st, when you see the heights you climb by being patient. Friction at home on the 3rd and 4th conflicts with how others [...]

To The Left: The Wrongs of the Right

*Dear Readers,As you know all too well, there is a mighty furor over a proposed Islamic community center five blocks from the site of the former World Trade Center. Right-wing “patriots” have taken to condemn the building of the community center so near “Ground Zero” as a slap against the thousands that died in the [...]