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08-07-08 EUR ALL ON ONE PAGE
*He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but R&B artist Joe felt something wasn't quite right with his situation at Jive Records. So after 11 years on the label and six albums, the singer decided earlier this year to bounce and give the independent route a try.
It wasn't until after he left the label that Joe says he found out what was behind his perceived stalled progress. He says his own label mate, R. Kelly, put pressure on Jive execs and radio stations to fall back on promoting his records when the singles appeared to be getting too much attention.
"R. Kelly was very instrumental in making a lot of decisions when it came to my records being played on the radio," Joe told EUR's Lee Bailey Tuesday. "He would make a call to the radio station or to the label and say, 'Hey, this Joe record is too hot right now. Yall need to pull that back.' And they would oblige."
Joe says there were a lot of shady things that went down at Jive and he's happy to finally be able to vent his frustrations freely, now that he's off the label. "It's incredible that now I get the opportunity to, I don't know, maybe pay [R. Kelly] back in some sort of side bar kind of thing."
The 35-year-old Columbus, GA native said R-ruh did not succeed in sabotaging his career, which includes seven Grammy Award nominations, three gold albums and two platinum discs.
"I'm still very relevant in the game. But yeah, he did try to make some decisions when it came down to my records being on fire, and climbing up the charts and on the radio stations," Joe said of Kelly. "He felt like they should pull back because he felt he was more important. And with their loyalty to him, they obliged."
Joe says he didn't find out about all of this until after he left Jive six months ago. His exit, instead, had to do with his belief that it was "just time to do my own thing."
The artist is releasing his upcoming album, "New Man," via Kedar Entertainment Group, headed by his manager and former Motown president Kedar Massenburg, with Joe and Chico Debarge as full partners. Distribution will be handled by Universal Music Group's Fontana Distribution.
MORGAN FREEMAN AND WIFE FILE FOR DIVORCE: Publicist says split was planned before his accident in another woman's car.
*Morgan Freeman and his wife of 24 years, Myrna Colley-Lee, have filed for divorce, according to the actor's longtime business partner.
Bill Luckett, who co-owns a restaurant and blues club in Clarksdale, Miss. with Freeman, says the split was in the works way before Freeman's Sunday night car crash with female passenger Demaris Meyer, 48.
A tabloid reported that Freeman, 71, and his wife have been separated since December 2007. The National Enquirer claims Colley-Lee consulted a divorce attorney after hearing that Freeman cheated on her with "a close family friend."
“Myrna was terribly upset when she heard Morgan had become intimate with a woman who had been her friend,” a source told the National Enquirer.
Yesterday, Luckett told USA Today that he and the actor have been friends with Demaris "for some time."
Freeman was driving her Nissan Maxima when he lost control of the vehicle and it flipped over several times before landing in a ditch near his home in Tallahatchie County, Miss.
Bill Rogers, a retired police officer who was the first to arrive at the scene, said Freeman managed to relay that he and Meyer were headed to his home in Charleston, a small town some 90 miles south of Memphis.
"He said that they were friends and she had offered him a ride home and she didn't really know the way and so he was going to drive the vehicle," Rogers told the Associated Press Tuesday. "They said they were coming from Clarksdale."
Freeman and Luckett's Ground Zero Blues Club and Madadi restaurant are in Clarksdale. Norris, the manager of Ground Zero, said Wednesday that Freeman had not been there the night of the accident. No one at Madadi was available for comment, according to the AP.
Freeman suffered a broken arm, broken elbow and minor shoulder injuries during the crash. He had surgery Monday on his left arm and hand, but his recovery is expected to take months. Luckett says Freeman will have to wear a neck brace for six to eight months, and his arm will take several months to heal.
Luckett also said earlier reports of Freeman having a severed nerve in his arm were not true. "Nothing was severed. A nerve can be bruised or stretched. It was injured but not severed," he said.
Freeman could be released in the next few days from the Elvis Presley Memorial Trauma Center at the Regional Medical Center in Memphis.
FISHBURNE IN TALKS TO REPLACE PETERSEN ON 'CSI': Actor 'heavily courted' to join No. 1 show on television.
*Ever since William Petersen announced he would be leaving CBS' popular drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" by the middle of the upcoming season, talk of who would fill his shoes began immediately.
The trades reported yesterday that Laurence Fishburne is a definite front-runner. According to the Hollywood Reporter, the veteran actor is being "heavily courted" to play the role of a new character, described as a doctor/scientist outsider to the CSI unit who has the same genetic profile as a serial killer but hasn't previously acted on any homicidal impulses.
Fishburne's name has been mentioned as one of the "CSI" producers' top choices for the role, along with John Malkovich and Kurt Russell.
GWEN IFILL AMONG MODERATORS FOR DEBATES: PBS veteran announced yesterday as one of four chosen by Commission.
*Once the presidential candidates get around to choosing their running mates, the two will have their one and only debate before Gwen Ifill of PBS.
The veteran journalist and correspondent on PBS's "The NewsHour," was announced Wednesday as one of four journalists selected by the Commission on Presidential Debates to handle the four debates before election day in November.
Ifill's vice presidential showdown will take place Oct. 2 in St. Louis. Her "NewsHour" anchor, Jim Lehrer, will moderate the first presidential debate in Oxford, Miss., on Sept. 26.
Tom Brokaw, moderator of NBC's "Meet the Press," will handle the second presidential debate in Nashville, Tenn., followed by Bob Schieffer, host of CBS' "Face the Nation," who will handle the third and final presidential debate in Hempstead, N.Y.
Each 90-minute debate will have a single moderator.
WHOOPI'S XANADU GIG BOOSTS BOX OFFICE: Ticket sales jump by $75,000 after addition of 'View' co-host.
*Just call Whoopi Goldberg "The Fixer." After bringing some much-needed stability to ABC's "The View," the veteran actress has helped to boost ticket sales of Broadway's Xanadu ever since joining the cast on July 29.
According to Variety, the musical's box office jumped by more than $75,000 to $316,205, and drew audiences that reached 87% of capacity. That's the highest jump of the season, and good news for a musical that has never quite caught fire despite strong reviews and Tony nominations.
Goldberg's six-week turn as evil sister Calliope ends on September 7. Her Broadway resume includes a Drama Desk and Theatre World Award for her 1985 Broadway solo show Whoopi Goldberg. She has also starred on Broadway in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, and another solo show Whoopi.
LIL JON GETS CRUNK WITH NEW RECORD DEAL: TVT pact absorbed by The Orchard; producer restructures deal.
*After its acquisition of TVT Records, digital musical and entertainment company, The Orchard, has entered into a new comprehensive pact with former TVT artist Lil Jon.
As part of the deal, The Orchard will digitally reissue Lil Jon’s back catalogue (which it now owns through the TVT acquisition), including "Put Yo Hood Up," "Kings of Crunk" and 2004’s "Crunk Juice."
Lil Jon will provide new content under the arrangement, and is expected to lend his expertise to Orchard’s Brand Entertainment group, working with brands and agencies to develop innovative new lifestyle-oriented marketing and promotion programs. In addition, Lil Jon and The Orchard will collaborate on selecting A&R and production support to Orchard artists and labels.
As a part of the accord, Lil Jon has withdrawn his multi-million-dollar objection to the TVT sale proceedings, and agreed to TVT’s transfer of his artist recording agreement to The Orchard. The Orchard has in turn, released Jon from all future obligations under his previous TVT contract and agreed that Lil Jon owns all rights in the master recordings for his forthcoming album “Crunk Rock.”
MAYA ANGELOU HONORED FOR LEADERSHIP: Author/poet to receive 2008 Marian Anderson Award.
*Author Maya Angelou and TV producer Norman Lear have been chosen to receive the 2008 Marian Anderson Award, which honors artists whose leadership benefits humankind.
The pair will receive their awards, as well as an accompanying $100,000 honorarium, during a ceremony to be held Nov. 17 in Philadelphia at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, reports the Associated Press.
Angelou, 80, has written more than a dozen best sellers including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," as well as three Grammy-winning spoken-word albums, poetry, plays and children's books. She also has written for television and film, serving on the board of the American Film Institute and as a member of the Director's Guild.
Lear, 76, was creator, producer and writer for such television classics as "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son," "The Jeffersons" and "Maude."
In its 10th year, the annual Marian Anderson Award is named for the famed contralto and Philadelphia native, who died in 1993 at age 96. Previous recipients include Harry Belafonte, Gregory Peck, Elizabeth Taylor, Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier and Richard Gere.
MOREHOUSE AND PRAIRIE VIEW TO BATTLE IN L.A.: Nick Cannon, Stax Records part of effort to plug HBCUs through Angel City Classic
*The Farmers Insurance Group Angel City Classic, a football showdown between Morehouse and Prairie View A&M, will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at 2 p.m. inside of the famed Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Nick Cannon and Stax Records will also be on hand during the event, which includes such activities as a tailgate party, Battle of the Bands and concert. Organizers are hoping the day will encourage minority youth to finish high school.
Cannon will plug his "Stop Hating" campaign, which aims "to erase all negativity in the minds and hearts of our communities. To stop the hating of ourselves, other races, classes and cultures," said Cannon.
The 3rd annual Classic will feature a championship Pop Warner football match-up, a tailgate party co-sponsored by Coors, vendor booths, a $5,000 King and Queen Scholarship Competition, the McDonald's "Battle of The Bands" halftime show, and the 5th Quarter concert featuring Isaac Hayes, courtesy of Stax Records.
Organizer John T. Fleming, CEO of Black Educational Events, said a major network has expressed "very strong interest" in televising the game.
"In the Los Angeles Unified School District alone, there is a 40% dropout rate among African Americans and over 30% for Latinos. We are here to spotlight the importance of education for our youth," according to Fleming. "This is about more than just a football game. It's about a generation that needs to see for themselves what Historically Black Colleges and Universities truly have to offer."
ANIMAL PLANET PREPS FOR 'MICHAEL VICK CASE': One-hour special to offer comprehensive look at QB's dog fighting ordeal.
*In the kickoff to a brand new series "Animal Witness," Animal Planet presents "The Michael Vick Case," a one-hour special that tells the full story of Vick's federal dogfighting drama.
Premiering Sunday, Aug. 24, at 10 p.m., the investigative report offers an in-depth look at the NFL quarterback, the law enforcement officers who broke the case and the dogs who were traumatized in the dog fighting scenario.
The underworld of dog fighting is spotlighted, as well as the rehabilitation of Vick's dogs under the care of some very dedicated dog lovers. Viewers will also witness rare underground dog fighting videos and see interviews with two of Vick's boyhood mentors.
"Animal Witness: The Michael Vick Case" also aims to "challenge the misconceptions about pit bulls and shows viewers that vicious, fighting dogs can be transformed into lovable family pets."
"It's imperative to bring viewers compelling TV that exposes a horrific issue like the Michael Vick case and highlights the aftermath of its investigation," says Marjorie Kaplan, general manager of Animal Planet Media. "Bringing to the forefront the entire case with firsthand accounts and rarely seen footage, Animal Planet hopes that this eye-opener has a strong impact on our audience and on dogs' lives."
ATLANTA REALITY SPECIAL HIGHLIGHTS MONICA: Singer shows the drama of trying to record and market a new single.
*Tonight at 8, Atlanta's local Peachtree TV channel presents an encore airing of R&B singer Monica's hour-long reality special, "The Single: Monica."
Cameras follow the 27-year-old mother of two as she works with record producer-songwriter Bryan-Michael Cox and J Records A&R executives Larry Jackson and Jaha Johnson, on "Still Standing," an upcoming single off her new album.
The special will track the process of creating a hit song from conception to recording to release, while also providing a peek at Monica’s home life raising 3-year-old Rodney III and six-month-old Romelo.
"I think what people will like the most about it, is you can tell nothing was censored or uncut," Monica says. "I mean, I'm walking around the house in a scarf because we'd been cooking and cleaning and getting the kids ready all day — and that's how folk really look."
"That's the most special part to me, the parts with my kids," she continues. "I've grown up quite a bit. I've learned to talk it out and work it out ... The part that's weird for me though, is seeing the emotional side of me, and maybe the way that Rodney [Hill] and I interact with each other. It's different with the cameras being there, and seeing that on television."
Peachtree TV, owned by Atlanta-based Turner Broadcasting System, took over the local broadcaster position held by WTBS, on October 1, 2007.
PIMP C TO BE HONORED AT OZONE AWARDS: Late rapper to get musical salute from Bun B., David Banner, Big Boi and others.
*The upcoming Ozone Awards, a ceremony that honors the year's best in hip hop, will take moment to salute late rapper Pimp C with an all-star musical tribute organized by his UGK partner Bun B.
Allhiphop.com is reporting that the performance will include Big Boi, David Banner and 8Ball & MJG, as well as Webbie and Boosie, who were discovered by and recorded for Pimp C’s label.
In December, Pimp C was found dead in his Hollywood hotel room due to a combination of sleep apnea and an accidental overdose of Promethazine and Codeine, a.k.a. "syrup."
The Third Annual Ozone Awards is scheduled take place Monday (Aug. 11) in Houston at the George R Brown Convention Center. Awards will be presented in more than 25 categories --- including Best Rap Album, Breakthrough Artist, Best Rap Group, Best Video, DJ of The Year and the "Pimp C Award (Trillest Artist).”
T-Pain, Rick Ross, The Game, Plies, DJ Khaled and Trick Daddy are also scheduled to perform.
NO DEPOSITION FOR J.LO: Woman suing Diddy over 1999 nightclub shooting drops entertainer from the case.
*Jennifer Lopez no longer has to appear at a deposition involving a woman who is suing Sean "Diddy" Combs for being shot in the face during the infamous 1999 nightclub shootout.
TMZ.com is reporting that Lopez was supposed to be deposed Wednesday in Natania Reuben's $120 million suit against the rap mogul, who was dating J.Lo at the time of the shooting and was with her inside of the club when shots rang out. Diddy was acquitted of any wrongdoing.
The deposition has taken months and months to schedule, according to the Web site, and sources claim J.Lo has "nothing to contribute" to the case, which would explain why she has been removed from Reuben's case.
"We're also told that there's no new date in sight -- meaning Lopez may have dodged the bullet for good," TMZ reported.
AMERICAN BLACK FILM FESTIVAL OPENS TONIGHT: Berry, Bassett, Lathan and Haysbert among celebrity attendees
*The 12th annual American Black Film Festival (ABFF), presented by Allstate, opens tonight in Los Angeles with a special screening of the classic film, "Carmen Jones," to be introduced by Oscar winner Halle Berry.
“The theme of this year’s festival is Exploring Black Romance and Sexuality in American Cinema, so we thought it would be interesting to take a look back and examine the first film in contemporary cinema to showcase a modern-day love story featuring a sexy African-American duo,” said Jeff Friday, founder/CEO of Film Life, Inc., and the ABFF.
This year’s festival will feature screenings, workshops, symposiums and panel discussions during the festival’s four days. Participants will also have the opportunity to attend ABFF Signature Events such as: Off The Record: A Conversation with Young Hollywood, sponsored by Target; ABFF Remembers…Waiting to Exhale, sponsored by Blockbuster; Can We Get Some Love?--Exploring Black Romance & Sexuality in American Cinema; and the HBO Short Film Competition which is celebrating its 11th year at the Festival.
Celebrities confirmed to participate this year include: Evan Ross, Lauren London, Tatiana Ali, Columbus Short, Anthony Mackie; Holly Robinson Peete and Nate Parker (Off The Record); Mos Def, Rockmond Dunbar, Idris Elba, Michael Ealy, John Singleton and Sanaa Lathan (Lincoln Presents: Off the Red Carpet); Malik Yoba, Tina Andrews and Salli Richardson (Black Romance panel); and Angela Bassett, Lela Rochon and Loretta Devine (ABFF Remembers).
Richard T. Jones and Paula Patton will present awards at the ABFF Awards Presentation where Niecy Nash will host. Dennis Haysbert serves as the President of the 2008 Grand Jury and Anthony Mackie is the 2008 ABFF Ambassador.
Festival Passes $500, WGA West Writers Workshop Passes $200, Opening Night Cocktail Reception & Film Screening $75, Movie Tickets $12, Allstate and Nielsen Symposiums $30, Signature Events (HBO Short Film Competition, Black Sexuality and Young Hollywood panels) $30, Closing Night Gala (Awards Presentation and Film Screening) $150. To purchase passes or tickets visit www.abff.com or www.ticketweb.com.
ITTY BITTY BITS: Obama's Oprah bounce; Scarlett turns red; Bengals player plugs artist; husband of Nancy Wilson dies.
*Two University of Maryland economists claim that Oprah Winfrey's influence in the presidential election delivered one million voters to her favorite candidate, Barack Obama. According to the New York Post, Craig Garthwaite and Tim Moore "developed complex numerical formulas to calibrate the might of Oprah's star power, based on book sales, TV ratings, voter turnout and other factors, to determine that she put 1,015,519 votes in the Obama column."
*Scarlett Johansson says she was embarrassed by the media coverage of her so-called "e-mail relationship" with Barack Obama. In June, the actress told Politico.com that she and the presidential candidate had been trading e-mails, but Obama later told reporters that she doesn't have his personal e-mail address, and that his assistant forwarded one message from Johansson to which he replied. "I was merely trying to express my delight at Obama's commitment to his campaign in every aspect and his interest and his support (in) his surrogates and his staff and his fellows, and how wonderful and refreshing that is. And it was manipulated into such an unfortunate media frenzy of kind of a nonstory," the 23-year-old film star told the Associated Press.
*Cincinnati Bengals four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Willie Anderson is launching his music and film company Think Big Entertainment with an album by 19-year-old rapper, G-Fiive, out of Anderson's hometown of Mobile, Al. "While football is my first love, music and film are a close second," Anderson states. Material from G-Fiive's debut CD can be heard at www.myspace.com/younggonline; while his performances can be seen on YouTube (plug in "gmusicgroup").
*The husband of jazz great Nancy Wilson has died. The Rev. Wiley M.
Burton, honorary chairman for the local American Cancer Society Relay For Life in April, died Friday after a battle with cancer. He underwent chemotherapy treatment earlier this year after his right kidney was removed. Burton and Wilson married in 1974 and lived in Pioneertown, Calif. for 30 years. Burton was a Presbyterian Church minister and published award-winning essays and the book, “Divided We Stand.” His funeral is scheduled for Friday.
EUR FILM REVIEW: Stealing America Vote by Vote Post-Democracy Documentary Questions the Sanctity of the Ballot Box in U.S. Elections
Film Review by Kam Williams
*Up until about ten years ago or so, public opinion pollsters were capable of accurately forecasting the results of political elections in America.
But with the country’s increasing reliance on unverifiable electronic balloting and the employment of shady shenanigans, the outcomes of the contests have become more and more unpredictable.
According to the exit polls, George Bush actually should have lost each of the last two presidential elections.
For instance, in 2004, they had him trailing in 10 of 12 critical swing states, yet by evening’s end he had somehow miraculously prevailed in
7 of them.
So, is the voting process tainted or sacrosanct? That is the question addressed from every conceivable angle by Stealing America Vote by Vote, a chilling expose’ which paints a disgraceful picture of the nation as a land where power-hungry manipulators will do whatever it takes to ensure that their candidates prevail.
Directed by Dorothy Fadiman and narrated by Peter Coyote, the film doesn’t just focus on problems with computerized voting, but with a host of other tactics employed to subvert the desire of the electorate. Thus, we hear the anecdotal testimony of black folks and college students forced to wait on line in Ohio for as long as 12 hours in order to cast their ballots, while the average wait for whites in suburbia was about 18 minutes.
It is ironic that African-Americans ostensibly comprise the segment of society most frequently victimized by various vote suppression schemes, given their long, hard-fought civil rights struggle for enfranchisement. However the movie sheds light on a popular Republican trick employed in the last election involved sending registered letters to the homes of over a hundred thousand black soldiers serving overseas in order to have their names removed from the voting lists when they were unable to sign the return
receipt.
The film also furnishes evidence that equipment malfunctions have occurred in 42 states, with problems ranging from vote switching to frozen electronic screens to touch screens going blank to machine shortages to computer breakdowns to inaccurate tallies. This leaves one wondering, if the technology is so unreliable, why not revert to the old system?
The answer might lie in testimony offered by a Princeton professor who deftly demonstrates how easy it is to hack into a Diebold Voting Machine in less than a minute, if you come equipped with a pre-programmed memory card designed to install malicious software. Big Brother might very well prefer not leaving a paper trail.
Remember, the Supreme Court is still leaning to the right, which might mean the only chance Obama has of a fair shot at the White House is if United Nations monitors the polling places in the Battleground States.
America revisited as a post-democratic Banana Republic.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 90 minutes
Studi Direct Cinema Limited
To see a trailer of Stealing America Vote by Vote, visit: http://www.stealingamericathemovie.org/
EUR FILM REVIEW: disFIGURED
DVD Drama Explores Both Obesity and Anorexia
DVD Review by Kam Williams
*Lydia (Deidra Edwards) is a queen-sized sales clerk who lives and works in Venice Beach, a trendy section of L.A. where it’s fashionable for women to be thin.
Unable to measure up to that unreasonable, hourglass ideal despite dieting, she joins a fat acceptance support group dedicated to fighting prejudice against the obese.
In meetings, the members share their fears and frustrations about everything from dating to being teased to weight-loss surgery, while encouraging each other to love themselves just the way they are.
Darcy (Staci Lawrence), on the other hand, is an emaciated anorexic with a body dysmorphic disorder who thinks of herself as too fat.
So, when she shows up saying she wants to join the group, people don’t know what to make of her. After they take a vote and decide to reject her application, only Lydia offers a shoulder to cry on.
Although physically polar opposites, chubby and skinny still manage to bond because they are both lonely and have many issues in common revolving around hunger, fear, fashion and femininity. And their unlikely friendship is the focus of disFIGURED, a female empowerment flick filled with painfully-dramatic moments offset by periodic comic asides.
This slice of life adventure paints a picture so realistic you often wince while wondering whether the talented cast was acting or just encouraged to be themselves in a series of improvised scenarios. Regardless, director Glenn Gers deserves raves for his refreshingly-honest exploration of such a sensitive subject.
A novel buddy vehicle contrasting the unique perspectives of two segments of society ordinarily either marginalized in movies or treated almost as if they didn’t exist at all.
Excellent (4 stars)
Unrated
Running time: 96 minutes
Studi Cinema Libre Studio
DVD Extras: Director’s commentary track, trailers, extended interviews and deleted scenes.
To see a trailer of disFIGURED, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4MVXkCKbyA
JOSEPH C. PHILLIPS: More old fashioned marriage: Keeping it Together
*Fourteen years of marriage! Even when I really take the time to study it, I have no clear answer as to how we made it this far. I have asked my wife and frankly, I don’t care for the way she laughs before answering me. After all is said and done, she is no clearer on how or why we are approaching our ivory anniversary than I am.
How odd that I seem preoccupied with discovering the source of our longevity. Perhaps I should stop asking questions and thank my maker; the less I know the better. However, I can’t help but wonder. We hear so often about the divorce rate and marriages. The streets of Los Angeles are littered with marriages that went stale at about the same time as the wedding cake. All of us know couples that did not make it this far. We are friendly with couples that may not make it much further.
I recently came across a bit of research that may shed some light on at least one road to marriage success.
Bradford Wilcox, a sociology professor at the University of Virginia, analyzed three national studies and concluded that couples who attended regular Christian church services were “35% less likely to divorce than those couples who did not.” Not only do couples stay together longer, it also appears as if they are engaged in happier and healthier marriages. In addition, men attending regular church services are more active in the lives of their children than are men who are not. Wilcox does not comment on those Jewish couples or Muslim couples that attend regular services. I suspect, however, that the results may be similar.
Ultimately, marriage must be more than a mere social contract, more than a vehicle for the purpose of coupling and more than a simple expression of the natural affection that a man and woman may feel for each other. Lust is an intoxicating asset, but will never be enough to carry a couple through the tough times. The couples I know that have long lasting marriages are committed to an idea of the marriage union as representing an institution greater than the sum of its parts. For these couples, to marry is to dedicate one’s life to a higher calling. Similar viewpoints are far more likely to be held by people of strong religious faith.
Of course, to paraphrase a popular saying, stuff happens. Two grown people living together, bringing with them all of their childhood baggage and disparate personalities attempting to merge two lives into one is difficult. And this before outside influences like money problems, sickness or unemployment. My marriage has certainly been no exception.
My wife and I have been around the corner and back again. Our marriage has at times resembled something from a Wes Craven film; call it “Nightmare on Elm Street.” Happily, both my wife and I can point to the exact moment the rough road of our marriage began to smooth out; we began attending church services every Sunday. Soon afterwards, we both gave our lives to Christ. That was the turning point.
Our marriage is by no means perfect. I am certain my wife will confess that I continue to occasionally get on her last nerve. We are, however, more in love than ever and most importantly more committed than ever; 14 years in and eagerly looking forward to the next 14.
Like most couples, we married with hopes that it would be forever. Like other newlyweds, we began to build a family weaving our hopes and dreams together into an epic narrative. No doubt this is why most of the divorced couples I have known – my parents included -- suffered mightily during their break-up. Dreams and hopes do not die easily. When it seems that in spite of our best efforts we will fall short, we despair.
Faith is not a panacea. A 35% lower rate of divorce does not mean no chance of divorce. It does, however, suggest there is truth in the old adage that in navigating the trials that are inevitable with marriage; “the family that prays together stays together.”
Joseph C. Phillips is the author of “He Talk Like A White Boy” available wherever books are sold.
The ROBERTSON TREATMENT: (America’s Premiere Urban Lifestyle Column) Volume 11, Edition 9 - ON THE “DL” IN HOLLYWOOD – The Terrance Dean interview
*We live in a world obsessed with celebrity-- where everyone wants to know who is doing what to whom, when, where and how. From the tabloids, the internet and 24-hour television, the most intimate details of celebrity life is on front street and has become everyone’s business. Well not every detail… With his bestselling book, Hiding In Hip Hop – On The Down Low in the Entertainment Industry from Music to Hollywood, celebrity insider and veteran entertainment industry journalist Terrance Dean lifts the lid off of Black Hollywood’s highly secretly “DL” community. Part memoir and part expose’, the red-hot page-turner peels away at the identities and reckless lifestyles of some of entertainment’s biggest stars. Ebony/Jet.com recently spoke with Dean to get the scoop about this hidden community.
Why did you write this book?
I wrote this book to expose the truth about how the entertainment industry goes to great lengths to keep the lives of gay celebrities a secret, even if an artist has the desire to disclose their sexual identity. Many same gender loving men and women of color who are a part of the entertainment industry feel as if they have no voice within a culture that demonizes and dehumanizes them. This book is a testimony of my life and the journey of coming to terms with my sexuality and the power of living into my truth.
Can you offer any clues as to the identity of any well-known stars on the DL?
As I mentioned in my book there is a high-profile rapper/actress, who has been nominated for several awards, including an Oscar, who also has dated a few WNBA players, and a R&B songstress from the early 90’s. Another is an extremely popular male R&B singer who has written for Rhianna, Beyonce, and other great R&B singers, who has broken the mold of superstardom with his popular ballads and signature sound. He’s been seen with beautiful women, but they are cover girls and provide the perfect cover-up for his hidden secret.
Have you ever encountered any well-known star in a compromising situation?
Yes, I have. In a couple of instances I have encountered well-known celebrities in compromising situations. One music producer who has produced several of today’s hottest rappers and singers, who has been featured in numerous Hip Hop magazines and television specials was at a down low sex party. I recognized him at the party and introduced myself. He was very cordial. After a few drinks, the men at the party moved to the bedrooms. I saw the music producer engaged in sex with several men in the middle of an orgy. I’ve been intimate with many A-list actors, rappers, and singers. They are on television, the radio, and have a significant presence in the entertainment industry.
One famous actor/model with a beautiful body and face, who has been photographed in high-fashion pictorials, and has been the face of leading clothing designer’s campaigns, became my bed partner after an intimate evening.
Is there a profile for the kind of man/woman who is on the DL?
Unfortunately there is no profile for the kind of man/woman who is on the down low. They fit in perfectly into the heterosexual environment and no one would ever be able to pinpoint who they are. Being on the down low is being discreet, and un-clockable to the average person. Down low men and women do things in private and in secrecy, and they seek out others who are just at private about their lifestyle. However, I do tell men and women to be discerning of who they are dating. Do not become comfortable and complacent. Many are in relationships with down low men and women and assume they are in heterosexual monogamous relationships. Ask questions of your mate and their sexual behaviors – ask if your man has been with another man, or your woman has been with another woman. Check their e-mails, phones, and close associates who tend to come in and out of their life. There is nothing wrong with being inquisitive of your mate. You have a right to know and if you are not comfortable with the answers you receive, then do not be afraid to walk away from the relationship.
Are you afraid of retaliation?
No, I am not afraid of retaliation. I can’t be afraid of the truth, and if I tell my truth, then I can do anything. If I am fearful, then I would be doing an injustice and disservice to myself, my community, and what God has called me to do.
You mention in the book that you participated in the homophobic behavior to deflect attention away from yourself. Is this book your way of making amends?
Partly, the book is my making amends of my own homophobic behavior to deflect attention away from myself. Many of us - artists, executives, and others in the industry, who have not disclosed their sexuality, will use derogatory language, and abuse toward those who are open and out with their sexuality. I hope this book will bring light to the many men and women who are homophobic and how it prevents a serious dialogue within the black community about sex and sexuality.
Why does the African American community have such a hard time accepting homosexuality?
The African-American community has a hard time accepting homosexuality because of inaccurate information that surrounds the lives of same gender loving people. The images of gay and homosexuality people are often negatively portrayed and presented. Sex and sexuality are seen as taboos in the black community, so we are afraid to have a dialogue about those topics because we might be perceived as sexual deviants. So, we stand by and watch our friends and family members who are gay being ridiculed. Too many of us have stood silently by as the epidemic of HIV/AIDS kills our family members, the pregnancy rate among our teenagers continue to rise, and the irresponsibility of men who create several children with several different women is tolerated. Things are getting better – attitudes are improving, but we have a long way to go.
BEST BETS – Corporate Giving
I recently received an invitation to join more than 200 hopeful pilots on a “Dream Flight” to Houston, Texas, courtesy of Delta Airlines and the Organization of Black Airline Pilots. I must admit that before this trip I had only a scant point of reference to the organization and the work they do to foster a positive environment for African Americans interested in careers in aviation, but from what I witnessed they are passionate in their goal to increase the number of Blacks and other minorities to careers in the flying industry. Founded 32 years ago by Ben Thomas and 36 African American pilots, the organization has grown to include the participation and support of all the major carriers in U.S. aviation.
By most standards I travel a lot, which has resulted in my somewhat blasé regard for the experience, however, seated next to two pre-teen boys and watching their excitement as our plane took flight from Atlanta’s Hartsfield headed for Houston Hobby, reawakened my sense of wonderment and joy about the experience of being up there with the clouds and birds. Our flight though short, was expertly narrated by a skilled, and did I say Black pilot who provided a technical summary for how a metal tube could carry more than 200 people from Atlanta to Houston at an altitude of 35,000 feet. I’ve been literally around the world, but at certain times during the flight it felt like the first time. Amazing!
After our landing at Hobby we were spirited off for a tour at the NASA Space Center to learn about technology that will really send you on a high. At all times our group benefited from the expert “handling” from superlative narratives provided by members of OBAP, which now also included pilots from Houston-based Continental Airlines, UPS, the Air Force and U.S. Space Program, who made it their business to provide all present (but especially the youth), with the numerous opportunities available for careers in aviation.
I was definitely inspired after our day long trip to Houston; and for a moment as we hit the skies headed back to Atlanta I imagined myself at the helm of this big bird in the sky. Ha! Fortunately, more than my own fantasies, I could sense from my youthful companions that more than a few had got the bug to pursue careers that would provide them with the opportunity to take passengers to wonderful adventures in the sky.
For more information about OBAP visit www. Obap.org
Visit www.robertsontreatment.com
Copyright 2008
GLENN'S STRATEGIES FOR WELL-BEING: Got Chicken?
*Nothing like a good piece of fried chicken. Right?
But are you aware of what you’re really eating? Do you know how that chicken you’re eating is raised?
Check this out…
Chicken is a staple of the American diet. Between 1970 and 2000, per capita consumption nearly doubled -- from an average of 40 pounds per year to about 78 pounds a year, reports the National Chicken Council, a trade association of the nation's chicken producers. Total chicken consumption has almost tripled since 1960, with year-end estimates showing each American eating at least 82 pounds of chicken in 2004.
Chicken, like other animal products, contains hefty doses of cholesterol, fat, and animal protein. It leaves your body wanting for fiber, vitamin C, and complex carbohydrates. When heated, chicken produces dangerous heterocyclic amines (HCAs). HCAs, the same carcinogens found in tobacco smoke, are 15 times more concentrated in grilled chicken than beef. HCAs may be one of the reasons that meat-eaters have much higher colon cancer rates; about three hundred percent higher compared to vegetarians.
The fat, animal protein and carcinogens in cooked chicken creates risks for colon cancer. What's more, poultry, like all meat, lacks any fiber to help cleanse the digestive tract of excess hormones and cholesterol.
Moreover, you wouldn't dream of taking veterinary medicines, but in choosing chicken you're doing just that. Problems arise when animals treated with antibiotics become breeding grounds for bacteria that are resistant to those medicines. When humans or other animals get infected with these super bugs, the drugs or dosages that once fought infections may no longer work. Antibiotic overuse poses huge risks to our ability to combat disease in human and animal populations. Yet profit pressures continue to motivate beef and dairy farmers to cling to the old ways. Some farmers use antibiotics to fatten animals in the belief that it makes animals grow faster. Still others try to use antibiotics to protect cows and chickens against persistent diseases.
Antimicrobial agents have been used in agriculture, including livestock and poultry, since the early 1950s to treat infections and improve growth and feed efficiency. The actual amount of antimicrobial agents used in agriculture is unknown; however, a substantial portion given to food animals is for subtherapeutic use (in other words., use in the absence of disease) for to promote growth, a practice that is becoming increasingly controversial.
Factory farms simply cannot raise billions of animals per year without using drugs that allow the animals to survive cramped and unhealthy conditions that would otherwise kill them. Millions of pounds of antibiotics are fed to chickens, which metabolize only about 20 percent of the drugs fed to them: The remaining 80 percent ends up in their feces. The 3 trillion pounds of waste produced by factory-farmed animals every year is usually used to fertilize crops and subsequently ends up leaching into waterways—along with the drugs and bacteria that it contains.
An honest look at the nutritional value of chicken reveals that chicken meat is not low in fat, and "not even close." A 3.5-ounce piece of broiled lean steak is fifty-six percent fat as a percentage of calories, and chicken contains nearly the same at fifty-one percent. Compare that with the fat in a baked potato (one percent), steamed cauliflower (six percent) and baked beans (four percent) and any ideas that chicken is a health food go out the window. Fancy packages can't disguise the fact that chicken and all meats are muscles, and muscles are made of protein and fat. Also, the combination of fat, protein and carcinogens found in cooked chicken creates troubling risks for colon cancer. Today, virtually all of the 8 billion chickens slaughtered each year are exposed to antibiotics at some point in their lives. The major purpose of giving antibiotics to cows, sheep, and other livestock is to promote growth. Animals receiving antibiotics in their feed gain 4% to 5% more body weight than animals that do not receive antibiotics. The antibiotic-resistant bacteria that develop can easily be transmitted to humans through meat or through human contact with living animals
But despite the overall decrease in antibiotic use, there is no way for the consumer to know whether one of these companies' chickens has been treated with antibiotics.
The vast majority of the 7 billion or so chickens produced annually in the United States spend their entire lives indoors in climate-controlled poultry barns with concrete floors, artificial lights and forced-air ventilation. Those mass-produced birds -- the kind sold at most supermarkets -- are routinely fed sub-clinical doses of antibiotics to speed weight gain and increase feed efficiency.
“I’ll take a 3-piece, extra crispy, with a biscuit and mashed potatoes.”
Remember, I’m not a doctor. I just sound like one.
Take good care of your self and live the best like possible!
Glenn Ellis is a health columnist and talk-radio personality who lectures around the country on health issues particularly relevant to the African-American community.
For more good health information, visit: www.glennellis.com
VERONICA'S VIEW: The Light in Darkness
Veronica Hendrix
*Filmmaker Pamela Wilson has unearthed a treasure chest of talent in the most unlikely place – skid row. One of those treasures is musical prodigy Nathaniel Ayes who studied at Juilliard School. Nathaniel is now homeless and lives on skid row. He suffers from schizophrenia, yet plays his cello and violin on the streets of skid row eloquently. Nathaniel is featured extensively in her upcoming documentary, which is currently in post-production. Nathaniel is also the subject of a soon to be released feature film about his life by DreamWorks called the “Soloist,” starring Jamie Fox.
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