In a letter addressed to parents and community members, a South Los Angeles elementary school principal apologized Thursday for “questionable decisions” about which prominent African Americans to highlight in a parade marking the culmination of Black History Month.

Lorraine Abner’s letter did not name the individuals. But her apology came after three teachers at Wadsworth Avenue Elementary School were suspended while the Los Angeles Unified School District investigates allegations that they had their first-, second- and fourth-grade students carry pictures of O.J. Simpson, Dennis Rodman and RuPaul at last Friday’s event.

“Unfortunately, questionable decisions were made in the selection of noteworthy African American role models,” the letter said. “As the principal, I offer my apology for these errors in judgment.”

Abner could not be reached for comment Thursday.

LAUSD spokeswoman Gayle Pollard-Terry said Simpson appeared on a school-approved list of Black History Month figures, which dates back to 1985. But she said the names of Rodman and RuPaul, among others, were added in pencil when teachers were selecting which prominent African Americans their classes would honor in the parade.

Read More … Principal apologizes for Black History Month celebration that included O.J. Simpson, Rodman, RuPaul

Another case of well-intentioned thinking has gone wrong yet again, with NBC being the latest culprit. The drama began yesterday when The Roots drummer Questlove posted a picture on Twitter of the NBC cafeteria’s “Black History Month” menu, which included white rice with black eyed peas and collard greens. But what everyone is really upset over is the fried chicken.

After the photo was posted, a racial brouhaha ensued all over Twitter with some calling for a protest of NBC. Of course, NBC immediately took down the menu - although it continued to serve the food - and sent an apology via Twitter.

It should be mentioned that the menu was put together by Leslie Calhoun, a black chef in the cafeteria, who told theGrio that she’s been seeking approval to have such a menu for years, and was told last year that she could create the menu every Thursday during February.

The NBC commissary is not the first establish to touch on this racial faux pas; just a couple of weeks ago the Denver public school system got into the some trouble for creating a similar lunch menu for its students in celebration of Dr. King’s birthday.

Apparently, many food establishments around the country have adapted fried chicken as the staple of their Black History Month celebrations. While many African-Americans with Southern roots enjoy fried chicken, going back to the days of slavery, the opposition to these menus are coming from the fact that there is still a racial stereotype that all black people eat fried chicken, as not all Southern blacks eat fried chicken. Nonetheless, based on longstanding historical and pop culture imagery, many of these stereotypes have sustained themselves.

The long history of chicken and blacks goes back to slavery, when slave owners gave their slaves left over meats that were deemed unsuitable for the master’s dinner table. At the turn of the last century, inventor Thomas Edison made silent films, showing white actors in blackface who steal chickens out of their coops and celebrate their spoils while dancing and eating watermelons. Those images and the many other films leading up to the civil rights movement have been permanently marked in our society, leading to the association that blacks who eat fried chicken are less than intelligent and not worthy of better foods.

Read More … Can fried chicken just be fried chicken?

R&B singer Pendergrass dead in Pa. at 59

Jan. 14, 2010, 9:08 AM EST

NEW YORK AP — R&B singer Teddy Pendergrass, who was one of the most electric and successful figures in music until a car crash 28 years ago left him in a wheelchair, has died of colon cancer. He was 59.

Pendergrass died Wednesday in suburban Philadelphia, where he had been hospitalized for months.

The singer’s son, Teddy Pendergrass II, said his father underwent colon cancer surgery eight months ago and had “a difficult recovery.”

Before the crash, Pendergrass established a new era of R&B with an explosive, raw voice that symbolized masculinity, passion and the joys and sorrow of romance in songs such as “Close the Door,” “It Don’t Hurt Now,” “Love T.K.O.” and other hits that have since become classics.

He was an international superstar and sex symbol. His career was at its apex — and still climbing.

Friend and longtime collaborator Kenny Gamble, of the renowned production duo Gamble & Huff, teamed with Pendergrass on his biggest hits and recalled how the singer was even working on a movie.

“He had about 10 platinum albums in a row, so he was a very, very successful recording artist and as a performing artist,” Gamble said Thursday. “He had a tremendous career ahead of him, and the accident sort of got in the way of many of

Read More R&B singer Pendergrass dead in Pa. at 59

By Ashton Lattimore | NewsOne

By now you’ve surely heard that Tiger Woods cheated on his (white) wife with a parade of other (white) women. A new mistress or two seems to pop up every day, so the golfer’s infidelity has ceased to be the surprising news.

No, what surprised us here at NewsOne is that apparently, Black people are very upset with Tiger for his behavior. At least that’s what the Associated Press says:

“When three white women were said to be romantically involved with Woods in addition to his blonde, Swedish wife, blogs, airwaves and barbershops started humming, and Woods’ already tenuous standing among many blacks took a beating.”

Is that so? Tell me more about what I think, Associated Press!

“Black women have long felt slighted by the tendency of famous black men to pair with white women, and many have a list of current transgressors at the ready.”

Interesting. But it looks like I, and the assortment of Black women I’ve discussed this with, didn’t get the memo telling us to be salty about Tiger and his numerous “transgressions.” I’ve been hard pressed to find a Black woman who’s even remotely upset about this. Here are 5 reasons why, among some Black women, Tiger’s tart parade is NOT striking a nerve:

5) Tiger was long gone.

Woods married Elin Nordegren in October of 2004. That’s a solid 5 years we’ve had to recognize and accept that the man would never be seen rocking an “I <3 Black Girls” t-shirt, and move on with our collective lives. Not to mention that even before the marriage, the man denied being black at all, instead dubbing himself “Cablinasian.” He hasn’t ever really been on Team Black Folks. As a result, the fact that all of Tiger’s mistresses are longhaired white women just doesn’t pack much emotional punch.
Read more »

from blackpoliticsontheweb.com

Amid all the headlines generated by Tiger Woods’ troubles — the puzzling car accident, the suggestions of marital turmoil and multiple mistresses — little attention has been given to the race of the women linked with the world’s greatest golfer.

Except in the black community.

When three white women were said to be romantically involved with Woods in addition to his blonde, Swedish wife, blogs, airwaves and barbershops started humming, and Woods’ already tenuous standing among many blacks took a beating.

On the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner radio show, Woods was the butt of jokes all week.

“Thankfully, Tiger, you didn’t marry a black woman. Because if a sister caught you running around with a bunch of white hoochie-mamas,” one parody suggests in song, she would have castrated him.

Read more »

Has a Prince Who’s Not Black
from BlackVoices

Oh, boy.

After years of flack from the African American community, in 2006, the Disney company saw fit to finally include an African American princess in its pantheon of animated royals – which in the past had representation from every other racial and ethnic group (Jasmine, Pocahontas, Snow White, Cinderella, Ariel, etc.)

In December of this year, the company is set to release ‘The Princess and the Frog,’ set in New Orleans and featuring Princess Tiana, voiced by actress Anika Noni Rose. Oprah Winfrey is voicing Eudora, Tiana’s mother.

Oddly enough, though, Princess Tiana is black; her prince is not. That’s right – even though there is a real-life black man in the highest office in the land with a black wife, Disney obviously doesn’t think a black man is worthy of the title of prince. I guess Sasha and Malia and all the other little black girls out there should just shut up and be thankful to have something! Little black boys will have to wait another 20 years.

Prince Naveen of Maldonia is voiced by a Brazilian actor, and his skin is … tan. His hair and features are decidedly non-black. This has left many in the community shaking their head in befuddlement and even rage.

It’s not like Disney isn’t used to the controversy. Over the years, it has offended blacks, Jews, women’s groups and some shade of everyone else. Appropriately, controversy has dogged the ‘The Princess’ since its inception. Originally, the black princess was named Maddy, a maid working for a white family set in 1920s New Orleans.

Both the name (which sounds eerily close to Mammy) and position made many take pause, so Maddy became Tiana, a more African American name. Even choosing New Orleans with its history of slavery and voodoo had some in an uproar. That toothless firefly that sounds like a slave (see video) isn’t likely to convert many fans either.

Some, including Rose, think it’s all good: “It’s great and wonderful, and bigger even is being the first American princess,” the Tony Award-winner told Black Voices. “They have chosen to give the world an American princess who looks like me. I really can’t think of anything else that would be more exciting,” she added.

I’m sure folks could come up with a couple.

from LA TIMES

Filmmaker Regina Kimbell is suing Chris Rock for at least $5 million and trying to block the release of his documentary “Good Hair,” which opens in Los Angeles Friday.

Regina Kimbell sued Rock and several film companies in federal court in Los Angeles this week, claiming Rock’s project is a copycat of her film, “My Nappy Roots.”

Kimbell said she screened her film “My Nappy Roots” for the comedian in 2007. The lawsuit says that her film traces the business and cultural history of black hair care and has otherwise been shown only at colleges and film festivals since its completion in 2006.

“Good Hair” will be released in certain cities on Friday and nationwide on Oct. 23.

from Highbridnation.com

One can’t help but feel for the print/ publishing industry. Over the last year the industry has epitomized the countries economic woes. We’ve seen the links of King Magazine fold and the catastrophic collapse of the historic Vibe Magazine and subsequent purchase.

But could Ebony, the nation’s oldest magazine devoted to African-American life be in trouble as well? The magazine founded by John H. Johnson and has published continuously since the Autumn of 1945. However it appears Johnson’s daughter and current chairman and CEO, Linda Johnson Rice of Johnson Publishing has decided to sell its flagship publication and is seeking a buyer or investor.

Rice has reportedly approached Time, Viacom, and private investors to solicit their interest in the possible sale. that include buyout firms. The aforementioned could be interested as an extension of their African-American brand roster with Time Inc. already owning Essence while Viacom, owns BET.

At this point the news is based on credible speculation and there is no indication of any negotiations or if JET, Johnson Publications other prized magazine would be included on the sale.

While such casualties are to be expected in a tough economic climate its quite sad to see peices of our history being chipped away at. African Americans don’t have a lot to hold onto physically in terms of American history. Much of our story has been told in terms of the leaders that have personified our path. Publications like Essence and Ebony have documented this rich history and stand as one of the few artifacts in which to hold on to.

Malcolm Cowens, who was “full of life and love,” stopped by a Richfield pawnshop and was shot and killed in a robbery. Now, a reward is offered to find the suspects.

By ABBY SIMONS and ROHAN PRESTON | Star Tribune

It wasn’t clear Tuesday why Malcolm Cowens stopped in at Avi’s Pawn and Jewelry on Monday evening. What is clear is that the genial, 33-year-old businessman’s stop put him in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Cowens was the only customer in the Richfield pawn shop around 6:15 p.m. when two men — one dressed as a security guard — entered and demanded money as they held guns on Cowens and the clerk behind the counter. Security cameras captured the movements of all four.

Suddenly, one of the robbers fired a single shot. Where he was aiming is unknown, but the bullet grazed the clerk and struck Cowens in the back. The robbers fled the bloody scene with a small amount of money.

Read more »

video by Baratunde Thurston | Jack and Jill Politics