Check out this week’s edition of UPTOWN Girls – Olive drops a baby bomb and Sofie explains what trouble is brewing in her marriage.

Be sure to check back every Wednesday at 3pm EST for the latest episode!

There are a few facts about Don Cornelius that we’re sure of: He was a pioneering force in black entertainment, he wore statement-making suits on Soul Train and he rocked a ‘fro like nobody’s business. In memory of the late Cornelius, the man who brought music into our living rooms every Saturday afternoon, let’s take a look at him through the years.

theGrio.com has released its annual list of the 100 most influential, successful and inspiring individuals of 2012. The group consists of celebrities, athletes, entertainers, politicians and more known for their outstanding work in the Black community. But the list also features the names of people we don’t always hear about but are equally making history in their own way.

The list is comprised of 100 remarkable people in the fields of business, health, education, science & the environment, media, pop culture, arts & culture, service & activism, politics and sports. They were selected by their potential to make changes not only to small groups of people, but to America as a whole and were only considered if their body of work was yet to be completed. The selection team at theGrio worked diligently and tirelessly to narrow the list to 100, making no repeats from previous years.

Some honorees from this year’s 100 include:

• TJ Holmes, former CNN anchor heading to BET to report the stories that directly affect the Black community.
• Mara Brock Akil, writer of several successful shows including Girlfriends, The Game, The Jamie Foxx Show, etc.
• Laniyah Bailey, a seven-year-old writer of books on obesity and bullying.
• Doyal Beneby, president and CEO of CPS Energy in San Antonio, TX.
• Cam Newton, NFL star and rookie quarterback for the Carolina Panthers.

These are just five of amazing individuals who have made theGrio’s 100 and that will be highlighted all February in honor of Black History month. Take the time to read and learn about ALL of their invaluable efforts that have made an impact on our community.

In today’s link round-up: Viola Davis lands two new roles for 2012, the First Lady shows her strength and much more!

The Root
Black People Don’t Kill Themselves, Right?
A much-needed dialogue.

The YBF
Willow Smith Shaves Her Head
Willow won’t be whipping her hair any longer.

ESSENCE.com
Viola Davis Lands Two Films For 2012
Viola keeps the ball rolling!

The Grio
Michelle Obama Shows Off Push-Up Skills On ‘Ellen’
Michelle Obama vs. Ellen DeGeneres: who can knock out more push-ups?

The Frisky
Rolling Stone Mouth-Shaped Urinals Called Sexist
These unique urinals have people up in arms.

EURweb
Don Cheadle’s ‘House of Lies’ Gets Another Season
Showtime orders up another season of the hit comedy.

Another week, another day and another round of outrageous celebrity phrases! This week, the celebrity sound bites making headlines include everything from a gangsta rapper’s prediction for the next presidency to a basketball wife’s public brawl with her former BFF to an icon reportedly beating down his own child. Guess which television father is cursing out black folk again and which Oscar-nominated actress is happiest when she is eating. Plus, an exclusive quote from Atlanta’s most famous Southern belle. And I quote…

By Temisha Palmer

Coming up with cool and inventive gift ideas for Valentine’s Day can cause some serious anxiety, especially when you want to refrain from cliché gifts—roses, heart-shaped chocolates or a teddy bear saying I love you—that scream last-minute shopping. Not only are those gifts boring, they’re also a waste of money. This Valentine’s Day, start early, think a little outside the box, inject some character and give your valentine something useful … And something you know they will love and enjoy!

Courtesy of CNN Money

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — American employers substantially stepped up their hiring in January, bringing the unemployment rate down for the fifth month in a row.

Employers added 243,000 jobs in January, the Labor Department reported Friday, marking a pick-up in hiring from December, when the economy added 203,000 jobs.

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate fell to 8.3%. That is the lowest since February 2009.

Hiring was much stronger than expected, and once it was apparent the job gains were broad based across several sectors, economists and investors called it a “nice surprise,” “fantastic,” and even “a touchdown!” Stocks climbed at the market open.

Economists surveyed by CNNMoney had forecast 130,000 jobs added in the month, and that the unemployment rate likely ticked up to 8.6%.

“To show the economy adding this kind of jobs number in a January is amazing,” said Kathy Kane, senior vice president of talent management at Adecco Group North America. “As we talk to clients, they’re very optimistic about continuing to hold jobs throughout the year but also to increase jobs.”

Continue at CNN Money!

Courtesy of Madame Noire

If you’re in your 50’s and he’s in his 70’s, no big deal. And lucky him by the way. You’ve both basically done all the personal growth you’re going to do. You’ve both gotten your wilder years out of the way, and you’ve both lived full lives with satisfying careers and plenty of travel (hopefully). But, when you’re younger, every year, even every half year, changes come, meaning different concerns, different priorities and overall different mentalities. You want someone whose knowledge and experience will complement—even supplement—your own. And it’s a very particular aged man who can do that. To be a cougar or try your hand with an older man? If you miss the mark, you’ll be dealing with these issues:

Too young to know

To bring you soup when you’re sick. To be your date to your parent’s anniversary party. To pick you up. To call and ask how your day was. It takes a certain amount of maturity to know how to effortlessly incorporate someone else into your life—and that includes incorporating their needs. A young guy might be a lot of fun and you might relate on a lot of levels, but some just might not know how to be a partner.

Continue reading at Madame Noire

Social media can be an amazing tool to stay connected with friends and family. From a branding point of view, it allows you to increase your followers, gain more exposure and create brand expanding opportunities by keeping in touch with the masses with one key stroke. Unfortunately, it can also be a breeding ground for opportunists, weirdos and the worst of them all, stalkers. This is all quite easy with one specific tool called FourSquare.

Justin Combs, son of Sean “Diddy” Combs, is the last person who needs a scholarship for college, but it’s just one of the perks of being an all-star football player.

Related: 8 Celebrity Kids To Watch This Football Season

The 18-year-old cornerback signed his letter of intent to the University of California, Los Angeles with his proud poppa by his side. Justin accepted the offer Tuesday that grants him a full Division 1 scholarship totaling $54,000 a year.

The Daily Mail reports Justin turned down offers from Wyoming, Virginia and Illinois.

The new 5’9″, 175-pound Bruin told reporters he got chills signing the papers and that he is ready to put in the hard work to win.

“It’s going to be surreal at first but then at the end of the day you’ve got to go to work and you’ve got to get what’s yours and show why you’ve been working hard,” he said to the Daily New Rochelle. “So I’m ready for that. I can’t wait.”

Diddy released a statement earlier this week detailing how proud he was of his son’s accomplishments. He told ESPN LA:

“This is everything a father could want for his son, for him to excel at what he loves to do and is truly passionate about. Justin is a shining example of what hard work, determination and a strong mentality can achieve. I am honored to call him my son and am happy that he is fulfilling his dream.”

Courtesy of Huffington Post/Black Voices

I am writing this response to a YouTube video circulating widely on the internet in in which Eddie Long, the troubled pastor of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta GA is apparently crowned king with the ritual use of a Jewish Torah scroll. (The reader may know him for the recent scandal in which he was accused by five young men of sexual misconduct. After initially denying the allegations, he went into settlement talks with them.) A number of specious claims are made during the ritual which I would like to refute.

The unidentified man who, (in the YouTube video to which I had access he is identified subsequently as Ralph Messer), represents himself as a Jew. He may well be some sort of Messianic Jew, a person who claims Jewish heritage and recognizes Jesus as the Son of God, but who is not part of one of the major Jewish movements: Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform, Renewal. He does not, however, represent recognizable Jewish thought or practice in his (mis-) representations of the Torah and other Jewish sancta — or for that matter, New Testament and Christian biblical interpretation and theology.

1. The claim that Holocaust Torahs cannot be insured “because there are no more” is patently false. They are regularly insured as are other one of a kind objects d’art, i.e. the works of Picasso.
2. The Torah cover is not a “foreskin.” Hyper-masculine, hyper-sexualization of the Torah reduces the holy Torah to a problematic phallic symbol — God’s? or Long’s? — and categorizes the most destructive behaviors associated with New Birth ministries in recent years. Grammatically and symbolically, the Torah is feminine in Hebrew and is personified as “She,” as in “She is a Tree of Life,” in Prov. 3:18.

Continue reading at Huffington Post/Black Voices

Ever doubt Don Cornelius’ impact on our culture? Think again.

Nearly 100 dancers took to Times Square Saturday to show off their smoothest dance moves in honor of the late Soul Train creator.

People from all walks of life– donning afro wigs and bell bottoms– joined the flash mob showing that his legacy is very much alive. Check it out!

By David A. Thomas, PH.D.

The bold statistical reality is that the economic recession that started in 2008 has disproportionately affected African-Americans. A recent study by the Executive Leadership Council, an association composed of African-Americans in senior executive positions, revealed that many of its members have been dislocated in the recession. Moreover, finding a new position has proven more difficult than many expected, given the expressed desire of companies to have diversity at the top of their organizations. I have been asked at workshops and speeches if there is anything African- Americans can do to manage their vulnerability in this tight economy. I usually offer six suggestions.

CNN contributor Roland Martin is known for his outspoken commentary on air, but it’s his off-the-air thoughts that are landing him in hot water.

During Sunday’s Super Bowl, Martin posted a steady stream of tweets in reference to the football game and its equally anticipated commercials. But it was an H&M advertisement featuring soccer star David Beckham that caught his eye.

He went on to note that “no real bruhs” would take the trip to H&M to buy Beckham’s underwear.

Many of Martin’s followers criticized his remarks for being out of line, but gay rights group GLAAD had the biggest disapproval of all, urging CNN to fire him.

“Advocates of gay bashing have no place at @CNN,” stated a tweet from GLAAD’s official account. They also pointed out an earlier tweet from Martin saying, “”Who the hell was that New England Patriot they just showed in a head to toe pink suit? Oh, he needs a visit from #teamwhipdatass,”

The group has since started a petition to have Martin released from CNN and has asked the network to hold their contributors accountable for their language.

Martin insists his tweet had no homophobic undertones. Instead, it was a hit on soccer. He tweeted Monday morning:

“Fam, let me address the issue that some in the LGBT community have raised regarding some of my Super Bowl tweets yesterday. I made several cracks about soccer as I do all the time. I was not referring to sexuality directly or indirectly regarding the David Beckham ad, and I’m sorry folks took it otherwise. It was meant to be a deliberately over the top and sarcastic crack about soccer; I do not advocate violence of any kind against anyone gay, or not. As anyone who follows me on Twitter knows, anytime soccer comes up during football season it’s another chance for me to take a playful shot at soccer, nothing more.”

CNN has yet to comment on the matter.

Do you know what pain is?

Pain is when you put your trust in somebody and see a future with them, but they don’t see a future with you. Pain is a phone call or conversation in which the person you profess to love confesses that they made love or are in love with somebody else. Pain is finding out about infidelity through a text message, phone call or series of saved conversations. Pain is something that takes time, introspection and support to move past. I’m no stranger to heartbreak. I know pain. You probably do too. If you don’t, then consider yourself lucky … for now. You’ll experience it one day.

I got a question from a friend about my thoughts on a man telling a woman that he’s been hurt in the past. And more importantly, how she should respond? I could make some huge sweeping generalizations and call it a day, but let me add some personal context for you.

Oscar nominee Viola Davis has come a long way from her humble beginnings in Central Falls, R.I., where she admits she never had shoes without holes in them or even a phone to call friends.

Related: Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer Win SAG Awards + Red Carpet Arrivals [PHOTOS]

But fast forward a few decades and a famed role in 2011′s “The Help,” and we find Davis flawlessly sporting the high-end fashions of Jason Wu, Thierry Mugler, Giuseppe Zanotti and more for L.A Times Magazine.

In a recent interview, she discusses the struggle of getting into the business as a Black woman and becoming a producer to provide more opportunities for Black actors.

On the “not so” big break…
That really is our plight, especially as women of color. You can have all the training in the world, come from a respectable background and yet never get that big opportunity that breaks you out—never. You can be in the business for 23 years, which I have been, and suddenly something happens that wakes people up. For me, that was being in a movie with Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It makes people realize you’re there. Otherwise you’re that black girl who had a guest or costar role in a TV show here or there.”

On producing…
“I am doing this out of necessity. If I am not the instrument of change, I can meander through this business and be the black woman who always has two or three scenes but with fabulous actors around me.”

Check out Viola’s full interview here and her stunning pictures after the jump!

I recently had a dream that struck a strong cord with me. During my dream state, I was told that I had accomplished all  the steps to successful manifestation except discipline. This is the year that I master discipline.

Now I don’t know about you, but discipline is a loaded word for me. My palms start to sweat and I look for the nearest exit. But something recently shifted for me. After I had that dream, I felt excited, rather than fearful about the concept of discipline. I have countless dreams and goals that I intend to accomplish before I leave this earth, and without discipline they simply will not happen.

I have accomplished certain levels of discipline in various stages and areas of my life, but mastery in discipline … I’m afraid not. The universe is conspiring for us to succeed, so fear not. This is the Lunar Year of the Dragon. Staunch discipline is an attribute of this mythical creature. Call upon the dragon within you for the discipline to achieve your goals.

In honor of invoking our inner discipline here are our Well-Life Maintenance Goals for February:

Spiritual: Listen to the small voice inside of yourself that you can hear in times of peace and serenity. The voice of love and light. Connect with that part of you, and ask your higher self if it has any advice for you. Write down the response.

Mental: Create some homework for yourself… Yes I said the dreaded word HOMEWORK (kind of like Discipline, right). Attempt to surpass your old judgments and embrace the fact that if you work to move forward, the work will push you forward.

Emotional: I think this is another one of those “love yourself” months. Love yourself enough to know how good the discipline can be for your mind, body and spirit.

Physical: Months ago, an Abundance Coach told me that abundance is directly related to your sexual energy. Soon after that, I read a section in “Think and Grow Rich” that said the very same thing. So our physical homework for this month is to grow your sexual energy. Be safe and have fun!

Welcome to Uplift at UPTOWN. If you are just joining us this week, my name is Anita Kopacz. I am an author and spiritual adviser with a passion to see people thrive! Collective energy possesses a divine power that can remove stubborn obstacles and open locked doors. My intention is to join our UPTOWN family in spirit and forge our return to healthy living. With the Well-Life Maintenance Program, together we will take small steps in four areas of our lives to improve our quality of living. The four areas include Spiritual, Mental, Emotional, and Physical. You can find more in my new book,Finding Your Way: Alphabetical Keys to the Divine. 

Courtesy of Hello Beautiful

When I was approached with the opportunity to interview actor, Brian White (Stomp The Yard, Fighting), I said, “sure.” He is starring along-side Michelle Williams in a new DVD entitled, “What My Husband Doesn’t Know.”

“Interesting title”, I thought.

It is about a woman who isn’t getting the attention she desires and needs from her husband who is a wealthy man invested more in his finances than his wife. Long story short, White’s sexy exterior is summoned to fix a leak in Williams’ home, but the leak turns out to be a metaphor for her broken marriage which he fixes with his pipe laying skills [wink,wink].

Given the fact that Brian’s co-star is a black woman and he is a black man with a black mother, I find the conversation we had was slightly accurate yet odd. White has had trouble with his words before (See here), but after our discussion on maintaining a healthy relationship and the essentials to a successful marriage, things went left and I concluded that he has something – maybe not “hate” – but something… a gripe perhaps, not only with black women, but the black race.

What is your insight on the Spike Lee vs. Tyler Perry beef? Why do you think people hate Tyler Perry so much?

Because Tyler holds a mirror up to people. Stereotypes are not stereotypes today. The most popular character [in, Why Did I Get Married?], and it’s not the one that Tyler picked as the most popular, is Tasha! You have Janet Jackson and Jill Scott; my point is Jill Scott and Janet are huge music stars with huge fan bases, Tasha became the most popular because her character is portrayed the most like “Love & Hip Hop” the most like, “Desperate Housewives of Atlanta,” [we think he means "Housewives Of Atlanta] you might as well switch it around and pop in Nene [Leaks]. [Tasha Smith] is brilliant, she’s nothing like the character, she’s just portraying what she sees in society, magnified.[sic]

Continue reading at Hello Beautiful

Bishop Eddie Long seems to have come to his senses after last week’s controversial “crowning” ceremony at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Related: Eddie Long Is Not A ‘King’

Churchgoers took video of Long being crowned “king” by Rabbi Ralph Messer while being hoisted and paraded around stage.

Many rabbis and believers shunned the act for being disrespectful to the religion and downright strange.

“The ceremony was not my suggestion, nor was it my intent, to participate in any ritual that is offensive in any manner to the Jewish community, or any group,” Long said Saturday. ”Furthermore, I sincerely denounce any action that depicts me as a King, for I am merely just a servant of the Lord.”

Long addressed the apology to Bill Nigut, the southeast regional director of the Anti-Defamation League which is a group that fights anti-Semitism. Nigut was initially disappointed in the fake ritual and the improper use of the Torah scroll, but has since forgiven Long’s actions.

“I thought it was a very heartfelt, sincere, humble apology,” Nigut told CNN. “I was very gratified by Bishop Long apparently recognizing what our concern was.”

Courtesy of HuffPost BlackVoices

The labels used to describe Americans of African descent mark the movement of a people from the slave house to the White House. Today, many are resisting this progression by holding on to a name from the past: “black.”

For this group – some descended from U.S. slaves, some immigrants with a separate history – “African-American” is not the sign of progress hailed when the term was popularized in the late 1980s. Instead, it’s a misleading connection to a distant culture.

The debate has waxed and waned since African-American went mainstream, and gained new significance after the son of a black Kenyan and a white American moved into the White House. President Barack Obama’s identity has been contested from all sides, renewing questions that have followed millions of darker Americans:

What are you? Where are you from? And how do you fit into this country?

“I prefer to be called black,” said Shawn Smith, an accountant from Houston. “How I really feel is, I’m American.”

“I don’t like African-American. It denotes something else to me than who I am,” said Smith, whose parents are from Mississippi and North Carolina. “I can’t recall any of them telling me anything about Africa. They told me a whole lot about where they grew up in Macomb County and Shelby, N.C.”

Gibre George, an entrepreneur from Miami, started a Facebook page called “Don’t Call Me African-American” on a whim. It now has about 300 “likes.”

Continue at BlackVoices!