Put Your Dreams First Tag

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There will never be a flawless politician. Politicians gonna politic, pander and polarize. It's what they do. I'm not here to tell you how to vote, so save that for another comment thread. Disclosure: I am a Democrat, but I have supported independent candidates before. I even voted for Sanders in the NY primary. I understand the sting of having your candidate lose. But I also understand what's at stake as we stare directly at the *very* real prospect of a Trump presidency. So I am laying out my 15 point case for the Democratic nominee. Yes. Benghazi. I know. All...

My blogs about films usually come long after release because I like to talk about what happens in movies—and I want to give readers ample time to see the film before I go in. So if you have yet to see this film, bookmark this post until you see it. Because everyone should see it. I fully understand excusing oneself from this film if you are African American. Why pay to watch a piece of your people’s genocide unfold? My answer is easy: if our ancestors could live it, you can spend two hours watching it. In fact, it’s the...

[caption id="attachment_1961" align="alignnone" width="225"] Mara talking about what it takes to be a creative warrior.[/caption] Earlier this month, I attended the New York screening of Being Mary Jane, the latest project from accomplished show creator, screenwriter and producer Mara Brock Akil. You may know her name from the credits of the shows she created: Girlfriends, now a cult classic and a history-making show that ran for 8 seasons; and The Game, another history-making series that garnered 7.7 million viewers on its premiere night when it was reborn on BET—the most viewers for a sitcom premiere in cable history. She also wrote...

I attended the New York premiere of Think Like A Man (Screen Gems) earlier this month. I've been processing the film on many levels: as a woman in a committed relationship (I just celebrated 15 years of marriage to this comedian named Tmor on April 13); as a filmmaker and creative producer of color (yes--the 'of color' part matters), and as a consumer who loves a great moviegoing experience. I'm not one to rave about films; I have my jaded insider moments just like most entertainment industry insiders. Because I know what's possible from a creative standpoint, my expectations are high--and because...

Willow Smith has been in the game for a minute. She's appeared in a couple films and is now taking the music world by storm. Willow has captured the imagination of music listeners of all ages with her certified smash hit "Whip My Hair". The video debuts this week on BET during 106 & Park. Check it out here: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymKLymvwD2U&ob=av2e] No shots Rih Rih, but a nine year-old has managed to steal your thunder without baring so much as a midriff. As tweeted by poet Bassey Ikpi (my edits on the f -bomb): @BasseyworldLive: Somewhere Rhianna is poking the f*** out of a 9...

[caption id="attachment_610" align="aligncenter" width="130" caption="Thembisa speaks to Thisis50.com "][/caption] Thembisa talks to Thisis50.com about her new book in stores now....

Natasha Eubanks Founder, TheYBF.com Sister Swan Name one professional thing you do that you make look easy despite its difficulty. I would say running the entire site. Most people think it is very easy. However, because I am the only person who writes on my site, I have to be the eyes, ears, and writer. I also handle some technology issues as well. In the tradition of the Ugly Duckling who emerges victorious—and gorgeous, who do you wish could see you now that you’ve reached this place in your life?  Despite the success people see, I am still striving to accomplish so much! I don’t feel...

Michelle Obama’s presence is a welcome, seismic shift from the stereotypical image of women of color as accessories to their own exploitation in media. In her non-celebrity post as the Most Influential Woman of the Free World, Mrs. Obama is covered by media daily around the globe, giving her the power to unravel the thread of negative perception about Black women in a way that even the mighty Oprah could not.  Dealing a major blow to the video ho, Mrs. Obama is the only First Lady to make Maxim’s 100 Hottest Women In The World, holding her own at #93 with starlets...

THEDA SANDIFORD Serving the Cyber Generation [caption id="attachment_461" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Theda Sandiford"][/caption] Sister Swan 1. What are you working on right now? I'm working on setting up Jeremih, Lyfe Jennings, New Boyz, Lil Boosie, Reflection Eternal, Shawty Lo, Ginuwine, and Nicki Minaj. Along with Method Man & Redman, Camron, Mike Jones, Paul Wall. I'm also working on a series of mixed media self-portraits focusing on health, wellness, dreams and multiracial themes. 2. What book(s) are you reading? The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb and The Reagan Diaries. I love non-fiction. 3. Share something you do for work that’s harder than it looks. Online press is really...

[caption id="attachment_61" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Breakfast of champions of rap"][/caption] Pulling out some of my photos from the '90s, from a time I am so blessed to have lived and worked in; a decade that gave us hip-hop's golden era. I found the photos of BIG in this note, and reconnected to a time when hip-hop had purpose; had a sense of humor; had much more respect for its women (and indeed a chorus of female voices to boot); had a hunger for innovation that eclipsed its need for shine. Hip-hop's commitment to being dope is what turned the spotlight on her...

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 lives at the intersection of trailer trash biker and delusional Vietnam vet. And then: there’s Gimme, the feral child, an alter that screeches, cowers, destroys and even pees on sleeping relatives in the middle of the night. The show has led me...

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 and endless generosity: War Child author, emcee philanthropist and filmmaker Emmanuel Jal. I had the pleasure of being introduced to him by Nefertiti Strong and Richard Pelzer of MEGA Dream, who both told me he wanted to learn more about...