We're in week two of our countdown of stories that shaped the images of black women in popular culture. We've chosen a dozen stories (the good, the bad and the ridiculous) that captured our attention in 2009. Here's the story that made our hot list today:
#5: RHOA Rules (aka "Sheree Whitfield Foreclosure and Funny Business" originally published June 17, 2009) Read the full story

The fourth episode started out very sweet. You got it, it was Ed and Lisa working out together . Ed was his usual lovey dovey supportive self, Lisa was mulling over an invite from her mom to come and visit the fam in LA..Mom even asked for NeNe to come. Why does Mom really need to meet NeNe? Of course the set up is that LIsa’s perfect world is about to be rocked because her brother wants her to go to LA and visit their oldest brother’s grave. If this is going to be Lisa’s biggest problem on the show, she wins hands down as the smartest housewife for keeping most her business off air. Read the full story

I know this recap is on the late show, but I was having a bit of an existential crisis. Simply put, is it just me or are you starting to question your devotion to the Atlanta dolls? Honestly, NeNe and ‘em are starting to look like they are manipulated by the producers and most troubling as I have mentioned earlier, is the high school behavior…..all of the time. The show is becoming so contrived, I had to step away for a few days to ask myself, “what kind of fresh hell are you watching”??? Read the full story

Thursday was quite a day. First, Sherri Shepard unveiled her new bathing suit bod. I gave her props for losing the inches and the 10 pounds and having the nerve to show it on television. Frankly, I respect that kind of confidence. I was basking in the glow of sistas standing tall, as I hunkered down for my housewives. Read the full story

Hey Girls,

I am back in front of the television set with my favorite reality show “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”. I am sitting in front of the set with my pint of Ben & Jerry’s Chunky Monkey and I am ready for the Georgia Peaches, NeNe, Sheree, Kim, Lisa and the newest member Kandi to bring the heat. Read the full story

NeNe Leakes of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” was not only on “The Wendy Williams Show” yesterday in what can only be described as an exercise in TMI (which even looked like it was too much for Wendy at some points), she also found time to meet up with SpongeBob Squarepants. The cartoon character had his wax figure unveiled at Madame Tussard’s yesterday.

So, word on the street is the Atlanta housewife we love to hate, Sheree, has decided that it would be a good idea to show her clothing line–or lack thereof–at New York Fashion Week next month. (Feel free to take a moment to pick your jaw up off the floor!) Read the full story

During the first season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta  on Bravo, folks kept asking me when I was going to write about them. I tried to when i Tivo’d the first episode. But truthfully, I couldn’t get past the opening credits. I know for those of you who tuned in it was like an addictive train wreck. You just couldn’t look away. For me, especially in this economy, it was a symbol of the faux “ghetto fabulous” “bling” society that some black folks aspire to. Well it turns out that all that glitters…. Read the full story