Here’s something I’d never thought would happen: I am writing about Barbra Streissand and Beyoncé in the same post. I still can’t believe I’m doing it… Anyway, last week The Los Angeles Times reported that Russell Crowe seems to be emerging as the front-runner to star opposite Bey in the fourth iteration of “A Star is Born”. The last one paired Streissand with Kris Kristofferson back in 1976.  If Crowe lands the part, he will have beat out a number of other A-listers including Sean Penn and Robert Downey, Jr.,  among others.  No matter who she’s paired with, this might be the high profile part that Beyoncé has been looking—the one that will firmly place her on solid ground as an actress and possibly win her an award. Read the full story

For many of us, charter schools represent an educational opportunity for our children to excel, but are we creating a new kind of segregation in the process? Yes, according to a study by The UCLA Civil Rights Project which says ‘de facto’ segregation is alive and well in the charter schools they studied in the 40 states (and Washington DC). Here are the stats according to the report: 3 out of 4 Black students who attend charter schools are ‘intensely segregated’ with students that are 90% minority. But they got my attention when they characterized the charter schools with white populations of 1% or less as ‘apartheid’ schools. Is it me, or do you think it’s just plain wrong? Come on now, do any of us really believe that Black parents choose a charter school precisely because of its racial makeup? Read the full story

When we think of Jill Scott, most of us probably think about the soulful tunes she belts out that make us want to cuddle up with someone special. But the love between Jill and her former record label has definitely been lost. The Hollywood Reporter brings word that Hidden Beach Records has filed suit against Scott for skipping out halfway through their six album deal and they are not happy. She essentially broke up with the label last October. Read the full story

This morning, The First Lady sat down with Matt Lauer of the “Today Show” to discuss life in the White House as well as her plan to fight childhood obesity. In this country 33% of children are overweight but let’s face it, those numbers get higher when it comes to our community. So although she’s not saying it, I suspect that Michelle Obama, can’t help but pay special attention to the needs and health issues of Black (as well as Hispanic) children. But in so doing will she make sisters feel badly about the way they’re raising their children? Clearly, that is not her intent. However, some of our (cooking) traditions and shortcuts do contribute to the problem (as well as video games and safety issues—many of our kids can’t play outside). So in order to combat the situation she may have to make many of us feel uncomfortable. And that may turn out to be a good thing because epidemics cannot be beaten if we remain silent. Read the full story

Well this time we can believe the hype about “Precious: Based On the Novel Push by Sapphire,” The movie has actually earned six, count ‘em six, Academy Award nominations. Not bad, not bad at all—especially for a movie many thought no one would see. It’s no surprise that Mo’Nique got a nod for her role as the immensely disturbing character, Mary Jones. She’s been racking up the statuettes for Best Supporting Actress in every award show leading up to the Oscars and it would be a shock if she didn’t win. (However, with the members of the Academy you never know.) But the fame isn’t going to her head as evidenced by her greeting to Matt Lauer and the “Today Show” hosts this morning in which she called him ‘baby’ or somesuch. However, she gets big points for saying, “I’m celebrating this moment with the world. I’m celebrating this moment with Hattie McDaniel.” (McDaniel was the first Black woman to take home the prize in 1939 and the only other two sisters to win have been Whoopi Goldberg in 1990 and Jennifer Hudson four years ago.) Read the full story

Let’s face it the Grammys aren’t always the most exciting award show. As the Granddaddy of music award shows, it is generally known for playing it safe and frankly I often have hard time getting through the entire telecast. But this year may be different (at least for a little while). Michael Jackson’s two eldest children, Prince Michael and Paris, are set to accept his Lifetime Achievement award. That will be good for stirring up some emotions (and probably a good share of tears). While in the performance category, USA Today reports that Mary J. Blige will team with Andrea Bocelli to sing “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.” This marks the 40th anniversary of the song sweeping the Grammys so producers wanted to add it to the show. . And it will be available in audio and video form on ITunes —to aid in the Haitian relief efforts. Read the full story

When you think of ‘chick lit’ or romantic comedies visions of women who more closely resemble Kate Hudson, Anne Hathaway, Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan are more likely to come to mind than someone who looks like you. Therein lies the beauty of a book like “Feminista” which has a woman of color named Sydney Zamora at its center. She’s a 33 year-old multiracial beauty with a bit of a self-destructive streak (that’s probably putting it mildly) and a nasty temper who decides it’s time to get married. So Kennedy takes us on a trip of her misadventures and her missteps. But her intent was not to mirror the packaged fairy tale romances we gobble up time and again but to subvert these well-worn themes and have some fun with them simultaneously. Perhaps planting the seed that women of color can be just as ‘adorable’ in their screwed up attempts to find love (crossing my fingers that the story will adapted for the silver screen). Read the full story

As we all know, “Precious” was one of last year’s surprise sensations at  the Sundance Film Festival and since then it has been unstoppable. Now, I am hoping that the positive buzz surrounding Tanya Hamilton, the lone Black female director showing her work at the Utah film festival, will net her some positive results as well—starting with a good distribution deal. Maybe Oprah and Tyler Perry should start looking for films to throw their collective weight behind every year. Anyway, Hamilton’s film, “Night Catches Us” takes places in Philly in the late 1970s and tells a different kind of Black story—the impact the Black Power movement (and its aftermath) has on a community. Read the full story

When it comes to adoption, Black girls have a better chance of being chosen than boys. But that’s if the couple adopting is white and will even consider an African-American child in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, not everyone wants a Black child, The New York Times reports that a study conducted by researchers at New York University and the California Institute of Technology says that the couples studied prefer Caucasian or Hispanic children (mostly because they wanted children who look like them). But what’s really both sad and interesting about this study is that African-American boys are only considered if price is an issue. In other words, some couples only consider adopting our boys if they get them at a bargain. No, really this is true, I’m not kidding. Read the full story

Earlier this week, I heard about a billboard in New York City’s Time Square supposedly put up by a spurned mistress, YaVaughnie Wilkins. The man in question is none other than Oracle President, Charles E. Phillips, an Obama advisor. Apparently she has money because there were three in NYC, one in Atlanta and one in San Francisco. Gangsta? Definitely. Calculating? Maybe. I do hope we’re not talking tell-all book here. Whatever her motivation the brother has finally admitted that he had an 8 1/2 year affair with Wilkins. This is some messy business. Read the full story