So my new favorite Sunday show, The United States of Tara comes to a close this weekend. In a nutshell (pardon the pun) Toni Collette deftly dances between her central character, named Tara, and that woman’s other personalities, or ‘alters’: T, a petulant, hypersexed teenager; Alice, a prudish but alluring homemaker cut from Donna Reed’s cloth; Buck, her male alter who...
BET News Brief: Author Thembisa Mshaka Talks About Her New Book from anthony morris on Vimeo....
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At the end of last month, during a cold snap here in NYC, my neighbor’s burst pipe and flood my basement. I lost so much of my Hip Hop and music archive: many vintage copies of The Source, my massive Death Row plaque celebrating multi-platinum sales by Dre, Pac, Tha Dogg Pound and Murder Was The Case, and samples of...
It's Oscar Night for the 81st time. We've got a bonafide takeover by people of color; they just happen to be from India. Slumdog Millionaire. Shout out to Loveleen Tandan, the Indian female co-director who could not be nominated due to Oscar rules that mandate one nominee for director (which, after tonight, may need to change). 'Nuff said. This year, women of color dominate the Best...
After giving it some thought before I hit the keyboard, I blogged about this incident a few days ago with a call for discernment and compassion. Chris Brown has released a statement about the events that occurred on Grammy Night. “Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired. I am seeking the counseling of my pastor,...
Creatives need each other. For inspiration, for affirmation, for that unique connection and understanding only fellow creatives can provide. It explains in part why we collaborate, why we make moves together as communicators. [caption id="attachment_162" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Mshaka and Jal: Learning from each other as we teach with our words."][/caption] I am drawing fresh, potent inspiration from a man of deep conviction...
A few qualifiers to start: I do not condone domestic violence, no matter who starts it. I love and have had the privilege of working with Chris Brown. I love and am a friend of Tina Davis, who manages Chris Brown. [caption id="attachment_134" align="aligncenter" width="120" caption="Tina Davis, Founder - TDC"][/caption] I love Rihanna. My heart aches for what she must be feeling. The incident is still...
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Read as the Put Your Dreams First author speaks on the icon's work ethic and relationship to the media in Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's examination of the megastar and her alter-ego, Sasha Fierce: http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-17/music/on-the-method-behind-beyonc-eacute-s-multiple-personality-madness/. Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business features three key the architects of Beyonce's brand: Columbia Records Media SVP Yvette Noel-Schure; VP of Marketing Quincy Jackson; and Beyonce's...
BOTH LISA CORTES AND MO'NIQUE ARE FEATURED IN PUT YOUR DREAMS FIRST! CONGRATULATIONS, LISA CORTES AND MO'NIQUE! What an inspiration you both are! These ladies swept the Sundance Film Festival as Executive Producer and outstanding actor respectively in PUSH. The film adaptation of Sapphire's searing novel captured The Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Prize in addition to the Special Jury Prize for...
Hear their lively exchange about Obama, the Black electorate, fatherhood and Put Your Dreams First on PoliticsRemixed.com here: ' >PoliticsRemixed.com with Sai Browne After you listen, feed back. What do you think Obama's most lasting impact will be on communities of color? Comment and let me know!...
Just got off the phone with Dominique DiPrima, Luis, and the conscious people of Los Angeles (indeed the world with www.kjlhradio.com). We had a powerful discussion about the Oscar Grant III case. I appreciate being able to come on and speak the truth about the mobilization that has taken root in Oakland and spread across the country. Special shout to Davey...
I was a bit put off by his sketch about Kwanzaa today. He actually got a Jewish composer to sing some bootleg Broadway cheese because he couldn't find a decent Kwanzaa song. Like Black folks couldn't be counted on to sing about their own holiday! Then I realized: It's not entirely his fault; these songs are tough to find. So I'm...
by Thembisa S. Mshaka Congratulations to our new First Family, the Obamas, and to all of America. YES WE DID!!! Talk about hope?! America was not ready to elect John McCain, a member of the Savings and Loan scandal’s Keating Five, a volatile 72 year-old cancer survivor, whose campaign staff was riddled with the lobbyists who represent the interests of and took...
By Thembisa S. Mshaka You may know my byline as a journalist for the original Honey, essence.com, and as editors for GAVIN, BLAZE, and TheHotness.com. If not, hopefully you will get to know me as the author of Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business--a comprehensive guide to entertainment careers from women's points of view. As a journalist-turned-author who was reluctant to blog, I had...
