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(March 17, 2003)
Lee Bailey's EUR/Electronic Urban Report
March 17, 2003 (Monday)
The EUR is factual online infotainment on today's hottest
celebrities, events and issues in urban/black entertainment
and culture.
We're back with the very exciting Hollywood Black Film
Festival Trivia Game! Read on to find out today's question.
You could be the winner of passes to the opening night
celebration. Read on!
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In This Issue:
* NAOMI JUDD TO VIEWERS: MY BAD
* WHO’S AFRAID OF BIG, BAD SERENA?
* LATIFAH BRINGS IN EVEN MO' MONEY
* ATL GIVES FESTIVAL THE BOOT
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WIN A TRIP TO THE 2003 ESSENCE AWARDS
Vote and Win! Cast your vote for the person you think should
receive "The Essence Entertainer of the Year Award" and you
and a guest could win a night with the stars at the 2003
Essence Awards in Hollywood California. Click here:
http://www.essence.com/essence/awards/home_2003.htm
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KIMBERLA LAWSON ROBY: A Taste Of Reality
by RadioScope/ EUR Reporter LaRita Shelby
Kimberla Lawson Roby is back with book number five!
With the success of "A Thin Line," "Behind Closed Doors,"
"Here and Now" and "Casting The First Stone," it would be
easy for Mrs. Lawson Roby to rest on her laurels but not so.
The literary diva has just released her latest novel "A Taste
of Reality." It's a contemporary tale of a superwoman named
Anise.
Roby outlines the profile of her near perfect
protagonist.
"Her first taste of reality is when she reflects on the fact
that she's done all the right things. She's graduated from
college with honors, received a Masters Degree, received
superior performance reviews from her manager and she's
still being passed over for promotions at work. Her reality
is that after doing everything the correct way, the color
of her skin is still more or less causing her issues
in the work place."
Kimberla's writing career officially began in 1997 but the
release of Casting The First Stone proved to be the turning
point. Ms. Lawson Roby is now a Blackboard Best selling
author with an impressive fan base. "A Taste of Reality" is
in keeping with the Kimberla Lawson Roby flair. The main
character Anise is strong, beautiful and accomplished but
she's facing a multiplicity of major challenges all at once.
"She's dealing with a failing marriage and the irony here
is that her husband is someone who has separated himself
from his own race. He is African American and pretty much
doesn't want to be. He wishes that he was white and believes
that it is time to move on and find someone other than Anise
… we know what that means."
Anise's heart is torn into pieces when she learns that
her husband's social tastes have changed; especially given
the fact that he has issues with being black. Kimberla has
also struck a nerve with her literary fans by so bravely
approaching this sad but true scenario.
"In listening to readers' response to the story line, the
main question that they are asking me is, 'Do you think this
will ever change ... this color line, this fair skin/dark skin
controversy?' My answer is unfortunately, I don't think
so. Not in our lifetime. We definitely have racism within
our own race."
Is the strong black woman a miracle or a myth and does
Kimberla Lawson Roby protect, promote or reflect this robust
idea of black female survival?
"I certainly look at myself and I definitely like to take from
my own experiences and include it in every story that I write.
Sometimes it's a big portion of the book, sometimes it's just
a small part of it. But at the same time, looking at a woman
who would attempt to do it all. I think that so many of us
attempt to do that and at some point you almost have to
draw a line and start looking at what your priorities are,"
replies Kimberla.
As usual Kimberla Lawson Roby wraps a web of intrigue
in "A Taste of Reality." Kimberla hopes to see her work on
the big or small screen in the near future but there are no
such concrete deals at the moment.
In the mean time, fans will have to imagine if Vivica,
Angela or Halle would make a better Anise as they flip
through "A Taste of Reality" by Kimberla Lawson Roby.
This one is a real page-turner with a shocking ending.
Chalk another one up for the very fabulous Kimberla
Lawson Roby.
For MORE visit: www.kimroby.com
ABSOLUT SOULFUL SUNDAY
Radio is live every Sunday in Chicago WCFJ AM1470
1:30pm-4:30pm, New York on WSNR AM 620 from 9pm-12AM
and starting March 16th, Los Angeles joins on KRLA 590AM
6pm-9pm. You can log on anytime and listen online at:
www.clubbintv.com. Hosted by DJ FINK and Shelly Shel,
it is "MUSIC FOR YOUR SOUL."
WIN A TRIP TO THE 2003 ESSENCE AWARDS
Vote and Win! Cast your vote for the person you think should
receive "The Essence Entertainer of the Year Award" and you
and a guest could win a night with the stars at the 2003
Essence Awards in Hollywood California. Click here:
http://www.essence.com/essence/awards/home_2003.htm
EUR gives you something to really talk about.
EUR Newsbits
TONI BRAXTON SAYS LATA TO ARISTA
R&B/Pop songbird to sign with Blackground.
*In what at first seems like a surprise development, Toni
Braxton has announced that she's kicking LA Reid's Arista
Records to the curb and signing with Blackground Records.
Upon looking closer though, we realize that Blackground
is owned by her manager Barry Hankerson
According to Billboard Bulletin, Blackground, distributed
by Universal, tentatively plans to release a new Braxton CD
on Sept. 16, preceded by the first single in June or July.
"Toni is one of the most distinctive and powerful voices
to come out in the last 25-30 years," said Hankerson, who
formerly managed R. Kelly. "This signing is an incredible
opportunity to literally continue the development process.
With most artists you look to put out one or two albums.
With Toni, you know she will have a career for decades
to come."
Braxton's last album on Arista, "More Than A Woman"
only sold 375,000 units. But she's had several multi-platinum
releases previously. Hmmm, maybe Arista made it easy
for her to leave, if you know what we mean. But, at press
time, Arista had no comment.
NAOMI JUDD TO VIEWERS: MY BAD
Star Search judge apoligizes for racist comments.
*Last week, CBS was flooded with phone calls from
people who were angry over comments that Naomi Judd
made while judging contestants on “Star Search.”
Judd called one black dancer a “funky monkey” and
said to other contestants that she liked tap dancing
“especially when whites do it.”
Judd recently explained what she meant by “funky
monkey.” See, Judd thought the contestant, Steven
Bass, was doing the Funky Monkey. Y’all know the
Funky Monkey Dance!
“In my opinion, the talented Steven Bass appeared
to be doing a hip-hop version of that dance,” Judd told
the Tennessean newspaper.
“It never crossed my mind that it could be taken
racially,” she said.
Judd apologized to all y’all who misunderstood.
“I am extremely distraught that comments I made on
the show have somehow been construed as to be hurtful.
My whole life’s message has always been to unite people.
I created the song ‘Love Can Build A Bridge’ for just
that reason. I offer my sincere apologies to anyone who
doesn’t know me and misunderstood my comments as
offensive or hurtful. I have the utmost respect for all of
the performers on Star Search, and take my role as a
judge seriously,” Judd said.
PREPARE TO SURRENDER ... AND WIN
"Surrender To Love," the long awaited debut CD from
Hidden Beach Recordings’ next sensation...Kindred The
Family Soul… in stores everywhere Tuesday, March 25.
But why wait…. visit www.hiddenbeach.com to preorder
your Kindred CD and enter to win a FREE TRIP for TWO
to ST. LUCIA…or a XM SKYFi Radio and year’s FREE
SERVICE...or a special edition, autographed Hidden
Beach CD Catalog collection …so surrender, and
enter TODAY.
Come hear Mathew Knowles, MC Lyte, Lee Bailey and
Brenda Russell speak at the Los Angeles Music World
Music "Uplifting Minds II" Conference, Sat., June 28 at
the Four-Point Sheraton-LAX and Sun., June 29, 2003
at the Baldwin Hill Crenshaw Mall from 1 - 5 p.m. both
days. Contact (410) 366-6031 or freeassoc3@aol.com
EURweb.com is a proud Media Sponsor!!!
LATIFAH BRINGS IN THE MONEY
Her flick with Steve Martin No. 1 again despite criticism.
*”Bringing Down the House,” a comedy starring Queen
Latifah and Steve Martin, was the number one box office
draw for the second week in a row. The movie brought in
$22.4 million over the weekend pushing it’s total gross
to $61.6 million in just ten days.
The movie continues to do well despite lackluster
reviews and charges of racism. An africana.com article
about the movie was titled “Coon and They Will Come”
while a reviewer on the Christian website crosswalk.com
called it “the most one dimensional racial stereotyping
this side of [the racist 1915 movie] ‘Birth of a Nation.’”
Latifah defended the comedy in a recent interview
with mtv.com. She tried to explain the film’s theme
which is—we guess—that racism is wack.
“We are all human beings. We all laugh, we cry,
we’re happy, we’re sad,” she said.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover. Racism is
ignorant. And it’s stupid. And it’s old. And it’s
played out. So beat it already with that, you know
what I mean? ‘Let’s all get along’—I’m so tired of
that damn sentence, but it’s true.”
ATL GIVES FESTIVAL THE BOOT
Decision was made in interest of public safety.
*On Thursday, the “Woodstock of Hip-Hop” was
cancelled by its organizers and Atlanta city officials.
The three day music festival was to begin April 11
and feature Nelly, Eminem and others. It was sponsored
by Russell Simmons’ Hip-Hop Summit Action Network.
“We made the decision in the interest of public
safety and in the spirit of cooperation with the city
of Atlanta, HHAN member Benjamin Chavis said.
City officials were concerned about Atlanta’s
ability to handle the increased traffic that the festival
would attract. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
reported that conflicting crowd estimates were
given by the event’s organizers.
“Atlanta maintains a reputation as the cradle of
hip-hop and we are proud of the young people who call
Atlanta home that have excelled in the industry,” Mayor
Shirley Franklin said.
“Atlanta is in the business of hospitality and we
welcome events that are well-managed and meet all
of the required criteria.”
IF YOU LOVE BLACK THEATER ...
If you love nonstop action packed excellent theatre
Attend the National Black Theatre Festival, 8/4 - 8/9
Winston Salem, NC. Marvtastic celebrities, plays
and parties! For more, go to: www.nbtf.org/
8/9
Time to play the Hollywood Black Film Festival Trivia Game
You know this one. What was the title of Oscar Micheaux's
first feature film released in 1918 based upon his novel??
Email your answer, name, address, occupation, city and
age to: info@thebigballoon.net. Good luck from the
Hollywood Black Film Festival!
D’ANGELO SETTLES LAWSUIT
His behavior at a gas station turned into a case.
*R&B singer D’Angelo settled a civil lawsuit that was
filed against him by a woman who claimed that the singer
cussed and spit on her (damn, D!) at a Virginia gas
station last November.
The altercation occurred after D’Angelo cut the woman
off with his SUV.
The amount of the settlement was not released to
the public. D’Angelo also paid a $500 fine for obstruction
of justice charges. He resisted arrest for the gas-station
incident and had to be pepper-sprayed.
VIVICA A. FOX TELLS ALL
That’s what you do when you talk to Sister 2 Sister magazine.
*Curious as to why actress Vivica A. Fox’s body is so
sculpted these days? Or whasup with Fox’s newfound
single life?
The answers to these important questions and more
are revealed in the April issue of Sister 2 Sister magazine.
The mag “goes Hollywood” in this issue with its cover
story on Fox as well as interviews with Russell Simmons’
wife Kimora Lee Simmons and comedian Chris Rock.
DO YOU JANGLEFISH?
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EARTHLINK, SPRINT AND ROYAL CARIBBEAN
LEAD MOBE
Earthlink leads sponsorship for MOBE conference, April 4-9
in Miami. Marketers turn Business and Technology Case
Studies into Profit.Share Opportunity; Build Relationships;
Accelerate! Register at http://www.mobe.com/gb/registernow.html.
More on Earthlink at http://www.earthlink.net/
WHO’S AFRAID OF BIG, BAD SERENA?
All the players on the women’s tour, that’s who.
*A New York Times article recently reported that
all the tennis players on the women’s tour, including
Venus Williams, are scared of No. 1 player Serena
Williams. They don’t think they can beat her.
They’re not even trying to beat her.
“You know, I’d like to say if I’m playing my best
that I’ll be winning everything,” Capriati told the Times.
“But, you know, I can’t say that nowadays.”
“The challenge of getting back to the top is going
to be made very difficult because there’s not only
Serena there’s Venus, as well,” Lindsay Davenport said.
“You know, there’s not much you can do.”
The article paints a picture of a tour where everyone
is moping and it predicted that if Serena beats her older
sister a couple more times, that Venus will “vanish into
her design business in a couple seasons.”
We don’t know about that, but the piece is right
about Serena’s domination of the game. The girl is good.
Real good.
“Similar to Tiger Woods,” the article states, “Serena
needs an opponent confident enough to challenge her
greatness, to be more like Serena than Serena herself.”
HILFIGER LEAVES THE STREETS FOR THE BEACH
Designer reinvents his fashion line image.
*When’s the last time you rocked Hilfiger? Exactly.
That’s why the company has attempted to reinvent
itself and has a new ad campaign that looks a lot
less urban than the Hilfiger ads of say 1999.
According to the New York Times, The Tommy
Hilfiger Corporation has announced that its distancing
itself from the urban clothing game now that its customers
have gone to urbanwear lines like Fubu, Ecko, Phat Farm
and Sean John. Hilfiger has lost a lot of customers
and money recently. It’s closing 37 of its 44 shops
in the US
“Tommy, Polo Jeans and Nautica are big losers,”
says Todd Slater, an analyst at Lazard, “but the
biggest loser is Tommy; he’s lost the most market
share. Ralph (Lauren) has not lost his core customer
the way Tommy has. As a company Tommy has
to reinvent itself.”
So check out Tommy’s new ads with the surfboards
and the kids on the beach because Mr. Hilfiger has
officially left the ‘hood.
Join UrbanCity.com!
Subscribe to UrbanCity.com Atlanta Newslette
http://www.urbancity.com and receive weekly updates
on the hottest Atlanta music, entertainment, clubs, and
nightlife! UrbanCity.com is also committed to hosting quality
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SUPREME COURT HALTS EXECUTION IN TEXAS
This racially charged case would have been the 300th execution in the state.
*On March 13, Delma Banks Jr. was scheduled for
execution by lethal injection, but ten minutes before “go,”
the US Supreme Court halted the execution.
The last minute reprieve for the Texas death row inmate
was given to determine issues including charges of
racial discrimination during the jury selection process.
Supporters of Banks, who is black, say that prosecutors
blocked blacks from the jury pool in violation of the constitution.
They also say that Banks had ineffective legal representation
during trial.
Banks was convicted by an all-white jury of shooting a
white teenager in 1980. His conviction was partly based
on the testimony of an ex-convict who said that Banks
admitted to the killing.
The Court said in its order that it was staying the
execution to determine whether it should hear Banks’
petition.
“I just thank the Lord,” Banks was quoted as saying
upon hearing the news. “Give Jesus all the credit.”
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EUR MOTIVATIONAL NOTE
*As a speaker/teacher/counselor I have seen broken
hearts and broken dreams. I have seen people survive their
darkest hours after losing loved ones from breast cancer,
drunk drivers, substance and domestic abuse. I have seen
small and big miracles in my life. As I drove the other day
through my old neighborhood of 20 years ago, it was an
awesome experience to see how far the Lord has brought
me. How soon we forget some the dilemnas we have been
delivered from. As I looked at the old neighborhood, the
schools my sons attended, my previous part time temp
jobs, the stores and the bus stop I used to sit on after
my car was repossessed and the house I cried myself
to sleep in after going to my Mother's funeral, I praised
God for the healing and blessing me with so many new
wonderful experiences and His grace. I can truly say that
it's no secret what God can do. -- Jewel Diamond Taylor,
Motivational Speaker and author visit the awesome
motivational web site - http://www.donotgiveup.net
e-mail - Jewel@donotgiveup.net
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CELEBRITY BIRTHDAYS
03-16: Flavor Flav (Public Enemy), 44
03-17: Sean Patrick Thomas, 33
03-18: "Wicked" Wilson Pickett, 62; Irene
Cara, 44 and Queen Latifah, 33
WEBSITE OF THE DAY
Daaayuuum, Queen of Comedy, Sommore has a really tight
site (www.sommore.com). And do check out her too hot body
painting.
Submit your favorite website to us along with a 15-20 word
(or less) description to: info@eurweb.com
BLACK HISTORY
*March 17, 1970: Jacob Lawrence was the first artist to
receive the Springarn Medal for “eminence among American
painters.” (source: www.BlackFacts.com).
Get Lee Bailey to Voice It!
NEED A VOICE TO CUT THROUGH THE CLUTTER ... AND GET
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tfn
EUR makes great conversation ... Send it to a Friend!
EURFEEDBACK (send mail to: EURfeedback@eurweb.com)
Because of the large volume of mail we receive, we CAN'T
personally answer all e-mail. But keep your eye on the EUR.
You never know when your comment or question will turn up.
ALL letters are subject to editing.
*Mark Davis, Los Angeles, CA:
"Bravo! to DeVone Holt (03-13-03 EUR) for the insightful
commentary. I hope it will spark a rational discussion of the
ways hip-hop culture differs from mainstream African-American
culture. Since all cultures are defined by their values, is Holt's
assessment of hip-hop cultural values accurate? Are hip-hop
cultural values consistently negative? Does hip-hop culture
promote the 'bling-bling lifestyle' rejected by the Last Poets
in their early 1970s observation that all we seemed to be
interested in is 'party and bullsh*t?'
The Last Poets may have been handwriting on the wall,
since the values of African-American youth today are arguably
much more negative than those of 30 years ago - before
'gangstaphilia' became entrenched in youth culture.
('Thanks' Ice Cube for starting this gangsta sh*t!)"
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]
*G. Real in Chicago:
“(For what it's worth and for those who have it twisted)
I know she doesn't look like it, but Naomi Judd is actually
the mother of Wynona Judd. She is also the mother
of actress Ashley Judd. The ‘hard to believe’ fact
is that Wynonna and Ashley are sisters.
In case you hadn't noticed, whenever there is a Black
or Hispanic model who doesn't have the figure of a stick of gum,
the white judges make a reference to her having ‘too much junk
in the trunk,’ or some other insulting reference to her being
‘thick.’ There are many standards of beauty and they
need to be aware of that.”
We always wanna know what's on your mind. Hit us back at: EURfeedback@eurweb.com
EARS Emerging Artist Reaching for Stardom
Talent Showcase & Music Conference 2003 events
educating on the business of music and showcasing
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TELL THE WORLD WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND!
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