When I first heard Jamie Foxx would be playing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a biopic directed by Oliver Stone, I was extremely excited to see what they would come up with. Both men are such incredibly talented artists that there was a great chance for them to create a masterpiece that would transcend time. Yet when I heard Stone decided to drop out of the project because of his creative differences with King’s estate, I was initially upset, but after further consideration, I’m actually glad Stone has pulled out of the project.

Sad news. My MLK project involvement has ended. I did an extensive rewrite of the script, but the producers won’t go with it.

— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014

The script dealt w/ issues of adultery, conflicts within the movement, and King’s spiritual transformation into a higher, more radical being

— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014

The creative differences that caused the rift between Stone and MLK’s estate were largely due in part to Stone’s massive rewrite of the script to include issues of adultery and King’s “spiritual transformation.” Truth be told, MLK’s alleged acts of adultery have been one of the more obscure aspects of his life story and it may have been interesting to see how Stone wrote that into a script. I agree with his vision of wanting to humanize King and not present him as a flawless deity free of inner-conflict, which truly does a disservice to King’s intrinsic humanity. But the reason I’m happy Stone dropped out of this project is because he was going to tell a story about this man’s life that doesn’t NEED to be told, like the one that opposes the bastardization of MLK. I’d rather see the story that opposes the bastardization of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the big screen.

I’m told the estate & the ‘respectable’ black community that guard King’s reputation won’t approve it. They suffocate the man & the truth.

— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014

I wish you could see the film I would’ve made. I fear if ‘they’ ever make it, it’ll be just another commemoration of the March on Washington

— Oliver Stone (@TheOliverStone) January 17, 2014

What’s this bastardization I speak of?

Yesterday morning, I woke up to see the hashtag #PetaMeals trending, as a result of an insensitive and ignorant tweet from the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that alluded to MLK being nothing more than a social justice action figure who advocated for the equal rights of everyone, including animals:

“If we are 2 honor Dr. King today, we must continue 2 seek justice for EVERYONE who is disadvantaged” #NeverBeSilent http://t.co/2C6630zzyQ

— PETA (@peta) January 20, 2014

I believe the people behind PETA’s social media truly are obtuse because they have no clue about what King was really fighting for — either because they don’t know what conditions were like for Blacks in America a mere 60 years ago, or they don’t want to accept what the reality was. And PETA is no different than the average man or woman who believes that MLK is a cuddly and friendly figure of non-violent protest and racial harmony. Now, he definitely believed in social unity, but let’s get something clear right now, King’s importance as a man can best be summarized in this sentence I recently read in an essay: He ended the terror of living as a Black person, especially in the south.

To act as if King was simply challenging employment prejudice, lack of voting rights, and Black-only water fountains is to pleasantly whitewash the terror of what being Black in America truly was — and some may argue, still is today, just in other forms like the prison industrial complex. While Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott may have made King a popular figure, it was helping Black people overcome being publicly assaulted, maimed, tortured, lynched, and killed that sprung King into action. While Parks got dragged off that bus on December 1, 1955, it was just three months earlier that racists kidnapped Emmett Till from his home and crushed his skull after hours of torture, for allegedly flirting with a white woman.

It’s cute to believe that MLK was fighting to make white children and Black children eventually see each other as equals without noticing the melanin (or lack thereof) in each other’s skin. But, once again, that is bastardizing who King is and what he was really up against. We’re not talking about racial profiling — we’re talking about LYNCHING. We’re not talking about your résumé being thrown in the trash because of your “Black-sounding” first name or your zip code — we’re talking about Blacks being thrown in jail for crimes they didn’t commit as a result of trials that were nothing more than a travesty of justice. This is the MLK that we need to see a movie about. This is the story that needs to be in a Martin Luther King, Jr. biopic.

Until modern America decides to fully recognize the abject TERROR that African Americans faced at the hands of white people just 50 to 60 years ago, save your stories about King’s alleged affairs. How the hell can you accurately deviate from the standard depiction of Martin Luther King, Jr. when the standard depiction is a bastardization of who he really was?

LAB

Lincoln Anthony Blades blogs daily on his site ThisIsYourConscience.com, he’s an author of the book “You’re Not A Victim, You’re A Volunteer” and a weekly contributor for UPTOWN Magazine. He can be reached via Twitter @lincolnablades and on Facebook at This Is Your Conscience.

A kindergarten school teacher was arrested Jan. 15, 2014 for removing a female student’s shirt as punishment.

The suspect, Thomas Washburn, 54, was allegedly upset and shouting during class which sparked the incident at Adams Elementary School in Mesa, Ariz. The 6-year-old female student was reportedly frightened and used her shirt to cover her face. After Washburn asked the student, who’s name has not been released, to uncover her face, he removed the shirt himself after she refused, leaving her naked from the waist up. After 10 minutes, Washburn returned the girl’s clothing. A classroom aide was present during the incident.

The victim’s mother describes her daughter as “developmentally delayed” as a result of being born prematurely.

Upon dismissal at the end of the school day, Washburn informed the girl’s mother of the incident. Unsurprisingly, she was furious and reported the incident to the principal, who called police. The teacher was arrested on 25 counts of indecent exposure, one count for each student in the room, and one count of child abuse.

“He deserves what he got,” said Allison Burkhead, whose child was in Washburn’s class, to a local news reporter of KTVK. “No little kid should have to go through that.” Burkhead also commented that Washburn has always seemed “a little off.”

The investigation is ongoing as Washburn is on paid administrative leave.

A McDonald’s employee has been arrested for allegedly peddling smack instead of Big Macs.

After an early release from prison for intent to deliver heroin, Theodore L. Upshaw was busted last week for selling heroin on the job.

Upshaw, 28, was hired at a Murrysville, PA McDonald’s after a three-year sentence for drug possession. After selling 20 stamp bags of heroin to a police informant, Upshaw was swiftly arrested in the parking lot of his job. Although the last transaction took place in the parking lot during his work break, Upshaw sold heroin to the police informant inside the fast food chain on various occasions.

Upon arrest, still dressed in his McDonald’s uniform, Upshaw was charged with possession of heroin, possession with intent to deliver, and delivery of heroin. Since he is on parole for the previous conviction, a detainer has been entered for alleged violations of his terms of supervision. Upshaw is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.

The human remains pulled from New York’s East River have been positively identified as Avonte Oquendo, the autistic teen who went missing from his public school in October, according to authorities.

DNA tests confirmed that the body parts that washed ashore last week belonged to Oquendo, but a spokesperson for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner said a cause and manner of death haven’t been determined.

Oquendo was captured on video surveillance leaving his Long Island City school on Oct. 4, 2013, and his disappearance spurred an intense investigation and nationwide news coverage. Early in the investigation, bloodhounds tracked Oquendo’s scent to the edge of the East River, but lost it. The NYPD searched the river multiple times, but didn’t discover any trace of the 14 year old, who police say had a fear of water.

The family’s lawyer, David Perecman, said the large Fruit of the Loom underwear the boy was wearing could be an indication of foul play, as the underwear weren’t Oquendo’s size or brand. However, other clothing found on the body parts, a striped shirt, black Air Jordans, and black jeans, do match what Oquendo was wearing the day he disappeared.

The family has filed a lawsuit against the school and New York for losing track of the special needs teen.

Source

The money troubles continue for Beyonce’s father, Matthew Knowles. After the star cut ties with Knowles in 2011 to manage her own career, Knowles has had a slew of financial challenges. On the heels of alleged past due child support lawsuit from  former mistress Alexsandra Wright, Knowles went to court for delinquent payments for love child Nixon, 6. It turned out the late payments were due to a clerical error, and have since been paid.

Now, an accounting firm previously hired to manage his finances is suing Knowles for $64,587.14, according to the lawsuit. The un-named firm works with A-list actors and athletes.

In May 2013, Matthew was hit with a lien by the IRS. The government claimed Bey’s former manager owed $485,575 from 2010  and $728,004 from 2011 totaling $1,213,580.

Papa Knowles has not released an official statement about the latest lawsuit.

Nick Cannon is the epitome of a business hustler in Hollywood, so it’s no surprise he is slated to be among the “28 Men of Change” featured next month on BET and Centric. Many know him as a mega-host, with multiple gigs including NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” and MTV’s “Wild ‘N Out.” But, Nick’s résumé contains many other titles, too — film star, comedian, musician, writer, director, executive producer, and philanthropist. On the “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” his NCredible Entertainment has been a feature of many skits. But make no joke about it, the entertainment and management company handles a myriad of TV and film projects with major networks, along with successful music and product divisions. The chairman of TeenNick and philanthropist of his own Nicholas Scott Cannon Foundation keeps himself booked solid, while also making time to be a father to twins Monroe and Moroccan and a husband to Ms. Mariah Carey.

Although Nick appears to have a schedule that is all over the place, his sense of style is one thing that’s not. When spotted on the red carpet, he doesn’t shy away from mixing in vibrant garments. If you want to add a hint of personality to your look, take a few style cues from this week’s Star Style, Nick Cannon.

Incorporate a timeless overcoat with modern details into your closet.

Soften up your look with a velvet or suede blazer.

Broaden your wardrobe with rich brocades, which can add a touch of nobility to any look.

Whether going for a baggy pair of jeans or a straight leg, make certain that the jeans reach your waist. Thankfully, Nick keeps it classy.

Incorporate another level of bling, just by adding tasteful luxurious accessories. Diamonds are the only way you can shine.

An all-white suit can offer a multitude of outfits during the warmer months. From a casual-nautical jaunt to a weekend dinner and back to the office on Monday, a white suit can be mixed with other separates to convey a range of moods.

Tying in blazers and jackets with unexpected patterns shows that you have personality and an unconventional approach to style.

A hot sweatshirt with straight leg jeans and graphic sneakers makes for the perfect grown-up outfit for chillin’ on the weekends.

A satin blazer gives a dashing edge to a basic shirt and pants look. The sheen of the jacket instantly dresses up the monochromatic basics.

Consider buying at least one lightweight, casual jacket that can transitional from season to season. Look for one made of a quality material, ensuring that it will be a long-lasting essential in your closet.

If you are unsure about the difference between a formal tuxedo and an informal one, pay close attention to this slide and the next one. As pictured above on Nick, it is appropriate to wear a neck tie for a more traditional look.

For an informal, non-traditional tux look, one must still take a dapper approach. While it is acceptable to forgo the tie, other haberdashery items, such as pocket squares, cuff links, and tasteful jewelry should be added to the ensemble.

Just two weeks after his run-in with a heckling teen in Beverly Hills, Kanye West‘s reps have reached a settlement with the accuser.

According to the New York Daily News, sources say that initially, the teenaged boy, who was allegedly assaulted by West after calling Kim Kardashian a “n***er lover” along with other insults, wanted to file charges against the rapper. But now, after having had a change of heart, the teen no longer wishes to pursue a high-profile, public trial and approached West’s legal representatives, offering to end the case if he is paid off somewhere in the range of several hundred thousand dollars.

“He cancelled a meeting with [Beverly Hills Police],” the source said, referring to the teen. “He initiated something with Kanye’s reps, an overture for money.”

Kim, 33, claims that her life was threatened by the teen, in front of a camera crew who was taping the entire debacle, when she told the boy to stop using racial epithets towards paparazzi, and he quickly turned on her, hurling insults that infuriated Kanye.  According to Daily Mail, although the youngster has “no apparent injuries,” he claims West punched him up to 30 times.

[Image: INF Photo]

An Arizona State University fraternity has been suspended for throwing a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in which guests dressed in racist costumes, sporting jerseys while flashing gang signs and drinking from watermelons.

The party, coined by the Arizona State chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon as the “MLK Black Party,” took place on Sunday, according to civil right leader Rev. Jarrett Maupin. Maupin, himself, learned of the party from an African-American student who attended and is now calling for ASU to act towards expelling the students involved.

Maupin says, “I don’t think this was a sense of ignorance, I think it was purposeful and intentionally hurtful and they put into play, quote ‘MLK Black Party’ and not in a way to honor King.”

This incident comes less than a month after the TKE’s reinstatement at ASU, following a fight with a rival fraternity that left one student injured. In an email to Daily Mail’s MailOnline Tuesday, Alex Baker, a spokesperson for TKE, said that the organization is aware of the alleged MLK party. ASU spokeswoman Sharon Keeler issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, telling MailOnline that ASU had no idea the party was being thrown and that the event “was held off campus.” She continued, writing: “ASU has suspended chapter operations, can and will take additional action against the individuals involved.”

It’s unfortunate that ASU, which Keeler claims has one of the most diverse campuses in the nation, could stand to have their public image tainted by immature and racist students seeking a few giggles on Instagram!

[Images: Instagram/Daily Mail]

No one likes to talk about money. No one. Let me tell you what people like to talk about: How much they paid for their purse or car. How much their new Jordans or Gucci sunglasses cost. How much money they spent on the gift they just bought, or dinner, or shots at the club. We can’t forget about how people love to show off their money too. How many Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram pics have you seen of someone holding a gigantic stack of money? I won’t even get into how many “Outfit of the Day” pics there are. Oh, and how many Louboutin, sneaker, and diamond watch photos do we view on Instagram every damn day? Here’s the thing, no one likes to talk about money, and here is what I mean with this statement: Where are all the 401k Facebook updates? How about the tweets about paying off a credit card, student loan, or car debt? I’ve never seen anyone post about their retirement savings account or what they’re doing to raise their credit score. This is what I am talking about when it comes to money, and the difference between the examples I have given, can make or break your relationship.

Does money matter in a relationship? YES. If a man asks you out on a date, do you expect him to pay? If you ask a man out, is it not fair for him to expect you to pay? Money comes into play in the very beginning stages of your relationship. One of the first questions asked by us of a new love interest is: What do you do for a living? Issues over money are the leading cause of divorce. Money is an essential and must be discussed. So, how do we get to a point in which we can openly discuss our financials with our partner? By talking! Seriously, communication. That’s it. Do it, do it now … Well, wait until you finish reading this essay, then do it.

[Image: Shutterstock]

We all have debt in some form or another. Whether it be a student loan, mortgage, credit card bills, or car note, we all have bills we have to pay. When we are dating we tend to avoid discussing our bills and our salary. Instead, we focus on wearing our best outfits, impressing one another with fabulous dinners and outings, and nurturing our budding romance. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But it’s when we decide to be monogamous, live together, or enter into the union of marriage that the subject of money should come to the forefront, like how much debt we owe; how much we save monthly; do we even have savings; our spending habits; our parents’ spending habits; if we have a retirement plan; what we invest our money in; are our closets full of Gucci, Prada, etc.; and if there’s anything saved for a rainy day. All of these issues and more need to be discussed and you should feel comfortable in asking, because when you don’t, all of these issues will eventually come to the surface, bubble over, and in most cases dissolve your relationship or marriage.

I am very independent and take care of myself. Do I make the amount of money I’d like to make? Well of course not … not yet anyway. Am I paying off a student loan? Yes. Do I have a job that affords me a 401k? Yes. Is my income spent on going to the bar, buying shoes and purses, and taking vacations? My money is spent on paying off the small amount of debt I have, sometimes I buy clothes, and sometimes I travel. Luckily I’m in my 30s now and am able to save (while I work three jobs) and know how to manage my money. My parents did not spend frivolously and have done well for themselves. I made some financial mistakes in my 20s by signing up for two credit cards on campus, but they funded two vacations and Christmas gifts that year I had no money to buy anyone anything, and I paid them off.

[Image: Shutterstock]

This is what I will have to tell the future great love of my life if I expect us to make it. I will also be asking him all of the above topic questions. Why? If we live together or get married then all of his financial responsibilities will become a part of my life. What if he/she owes $200K in debt and never tells you (because you don’t discuss finances) and you get married? their debt AUTOMATICALLY becomes yours. Scary right? Take the plunge and talk to your partner about money. Making a list of questions you would like to ask beforehand is beneficial. And if you do not want to discuss your debt then resolve to separate everything financially — meaning you keep your accounts, bills, and responsibilities separate, and write out an agreement about who pays what bills, and stick to it. Separation of money works for many couples, but either way you will have to discuss this at some point, so … do it now.

Cassia Jones blogs weekly on her site akwardgirlinthecity.blogspot.com and is a weekly contributor to UPTOWNMagazine.com. She can be found via Twitter @AwkwardGirlLA

[Image: Shutterstock]

From true hip-hop princess (thanks to dad Rev. Run and Uncle Russell) to reality star (who can forget her from MTV’s Cosby-esque Run’s House or the spin-off Daddy’s Girls with big sister and bestie Vanessa?) and television host (yes, she held her own on the BET flagship 106 & Park) to full-fledged business woman (her fashion line Angela by Angela Simmons is much buzzed about, plus she runs an online boutique), Angela Simmons has evolved—and written her own playbook in the process.

“The most fun part about my life is that no day is the same for me,” she says. “My career allows for surprises.”

And here, on the iconic Brooklyn Bridge, she shows off her other talent: modeling.

Photography by James Anthony;

Dress by Titania Inglis

Top by Escada;
Pants by Nicole Miller;
Shoes byTom Ford

Dress by Akris;
Shoes by Christian Louboutin;
Ring by Ana Claudia Design

Jacket by Nicole Miller;
Bra by American Apparel;
Shorts by Stella & Jamie;
Boots by Saint Laurent Paris

Jacket by Moschino;
Top by American Apparel;
Skirt by Milly;
Boots by Herve Leger

Creative Director: Bianca Carosio; Wardrobe Stylist: Douglas Hickman; Makeup: Angel Cherry; Hair: Ro Morgan

Thousands of students are grieving after a shooting at Purdue University Tuesday, Jan. 21, left teacher’s assistant Andrew Boldt dead.

The campus went into lock-down after the incident, as police searched for the alleged shooter, 23-year-old Cody Cousins.

It is believed Cousins had a specific target, as the shooting was an isolated incident with no other victims.  Cousins, who is also a teacher’s assistant at the university, is now in custody at the Tippecanoe County Jail on a preliminary charge of murder. He was arrested without resistance, and police raided his home near Purdue’s campus around 4 p.m. Tuesday.

The relationship between Cousins and Boldt remains uncertain. According to the U.K.’s Daily Mail, Police Chief John Cox said there had been “little to no cooperation with the individual we took into custody.”

The shooting took place in a basement classroom of the electrical engineering building, and police confirmed that there were no other suspects. Student Nick Wieland was in a neighboring classroom when he heard gunfire. “I heard a couple [shots] and then I heard a man scream … [I was] just very scared. That’s what I felt the entire time,” said Wieland.

A vigil will be held Tuesday evening for Boldt, a native of Wisconsin, on Purdue’s campus.

By Jason Alexander

One Love Even though Roshal, an attorney, and Zwade, a physician, attended Emory University together, the two never crossed paths. It wasn’t until Zwade’s best friend (and future best man) introduced the two, on a hunch they’d be a great match, that they would ultimately meet. The instantaneous friendship developed naturally into a deeper connection. Three years later, Zwade surprised Roshal with a romantic proposal—complete with a butler, champagne and two of his friends playing Bach’s “Air on G” on the cello and violin. Making the moment that much sweeter, Roshal’s mom flew in for the occasion.

Roshal, a native of Jamaica, and Zwade, born in Guyana, South America, saw their wedding as the perfect opportunity to celebrate their heritage and love for all things tropical. “We wanted it to be elegant, beautiful, timeless and yet distinctively Caribbean,” Roshal says. With palm trees and the ocean as their backdrop, the couple chose white as the predominant color, with pops of blues and greens to keep the feeling light and airy. Tents with chandeliers added to the aura of casual elegance. After becoming husband and wife, the newlyweds honeymooned in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.

Photos: Nadia D. Photography | Gown: Jenny Packham | Suit: Hugo Boss | Venue: Half Moon Resort | Wedding Coordinator: Mother of the Bride | Cake: Selena Wong | Flowers: Every Blooming Thing | Invitations: Fontastic | Entertainment: IWAD | Officiant: The Very Rev. Canon The Hon. Hartley Perrin | Montego Bay, Jamaica | 12.8.12

Toni Braxton has inked a deal with Harper Collins imprint It Books to release her memoir Unbreak My Heart that will hit bookshelves on May 20, 2014.

Braxton has been vocal about her health, family and career during her starring role on the WEtv reality series The Braxton Family Values. Now the superstar plans to put everything including some interesting life choices between the pages of Unbreak My Heart. The memoir will give a honest and deeply inspirational look into the never-before-told story of the star behind 60 million album sales.

The star will reveal how she handled her son Diezel Braxton’s autism diagnosis at age three and explain she fears that “her son’s condition might be karmic retribution for earlier life choices, some of which will shock fans,” says Harper Collins. Braxton will explain how she handled her own health scares, including heart disease and Lupus. The superstar has been active in promoting awareness for all illnesses.

Related: Encore: Babyface and Toni Braxton Talk Love Marriage & Divorce 

The six-time Grammy award winner is doing well for someone who contemplated retiring from music until being rekindled by her mentor Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. The two will release their first debut album Love, Marriage and Divorce on February 4, 2014. Hurt You, their first single, brought them back to the top of the charts.

Next up the duet team will join the production of After Midnight, a musical tribute to Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club. Their two week stint begins March 18.

Despite being kind of a big deal for the past seven years, the money men now recognize that Black twitter exists and plans to capitalize on its users. Twitter, now a public company, needs ways to generate ad revenue and is rubbing its wings together with plans to make uber-coin off its racially diverse user base by selling ads that are directly targeted and influenced by their interests.

Targeted advertising is nothing new for the social media giant, who announced they would include promoted “tweets” (advertisements) in April 2010. But until the addition of marketing veteran Nuria Santamaria in November 2013, Black twitter’s existence went unnoticed by the company.

Twitter has long been known for its popularity among blacks. The Pew Research Center reports that blacks, Hispanic and Asian-American users account for 41 percent of Twitter’s 54 million users compared to Facebook’s 34 percent.

From finding out when Justine Sacco’s plane would land to bringing George Zimmerman, Trayvon Martin’s killer to the forefront of America’s consciousness, #Blacktwitter has brought many issues to light.

Companies such as Allstate “major in Twitter” advertisements among black users, says Georgina Flores, director of multicultural marketing at Allstate Corp. Flores notes that Allstate created a dedicated Twitter handle and Twitter-centric website, part of its effort to reach black consumers.

Blacks flock to Twitter because it is used primarily on phones, and smartphones are the primary Internet device used by many blacks, says Meredith Clark, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who is studying “Black Twitter.” “Some young blacks use Twitter in place of text messages, encouraging their friends to join the service as well,” she says.

Could that mean all those lyrical tweets “I been drankin’ watermelon” from Beyoncé could suddenly appear in the form of advertised tweets about the superstar icon? Yep.

Santamaria tells the Wall Street Journal that advertisers want to know more about racial and ethnic minorities on Twitter, from basic numbers to the languages in which they tweet. Her first order of business will be to target Hispanics. She recently met with ad agencies to reveal a coming report that Hispanics tweet more often than other users and often about technology.

In a bizarre case of paternity suits, Eddie Murphy is going after comedian Brando Murphy, who has gone to lengths to claims he is related to the famous comedian.

Eddie Murphy’s lawyer Marty Singer has filed documents to warn comedian Brando Murphy that using Eddie’s legacy as his claim to fame could cost him millions. In several documents, TMZ reports, that the unknown Brando has legally changed his last name to Murphy, joined the “Sons of Comedy” tour with Richard Pryor’s son Mason Pryor and he frequently shows up at Eddie’s hang out the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf screaming “My father won’t talk to me!” Jokes that clearly aren’t impressing Eddie.

Brando, who calls himself “THE NEXT MAN UP,” denies the allegations and has called Eddie’s accusations “vile, base, contemptible, miserable, wretched and loathsome.”  His Facebook and Twitter bios don’t contain any references to the comedian. He plans to file a suit of his own against Eddie for defamation.

Eddie Murphy is no stranger to paternity suits. Former Spice Girl Mel B detailed on her reality show Mel B: It’s A Scary World how Murphy denied his daughter Angel Isis Murphy Brown and ordered a DNA test before claiming her. Murphy has a total of eight kids.

“Orange Is the New Black” star Vicky Jeudy stops by UPTOWN studio to talk about her character, Janae Watson, on the breakout hit, her work on and off camera and offer some advice to aspiring actors.

The former beauty pageant contestant-turned actress also shows us the beauty of being a curly girl and shares insight on rising above toxic relationships.

76-year-old comedy legend Bill Cosby – who taught a generation how to parent children lovingly while laying down the law – has inked a deal to develop and star in a half-hour family comedy produced by Tom Werner. The two are no strangers to collaborating, as Werner’s production company was behind ’80s hit, The Cosby Show. In the new series, Cosby is set to play a respected patriarch of a multi-generational family, telling Yahoo TV in November that he was eager to develop another family comedy that “would [satisfy] the people who have come to me in public places and said, ‘Can’t you put something on that I can watch?’” Cosby and Werner are reportedly currently seeking writers for the NBC project, according to People. Along with the new live-action series, Cosby is also working on an update for his animated series Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids.

Two Harvard Business School professors have alleged that Airbnb, an online home exchange marketplace, makes it easier for people to practice racial discrimination when selecting homes.

Benjamin Edelman and Michael Luca wrote a report entitled, “Digital Discrimination: The Case of Airbnb.com,” in which they argue that Airbnb’s website features unnecessarily prominent profile photos of the hosts thereby making people readily aware of the host’s race. They contend that this makes people less likely to rent homes from Black hosts, resulting in Black hosts being forced to rent out their homes for an average of 12 percent less money.

Their findings are based on data from Black New York City landlords in 2012.

Airbnb, of course, denies that they have in any way encouraged discrimination on their site.

“The data in this report is nearly two years old and is only from one of the more than 35,000 cities where Airbnb hosts welcome guests into their homes. Additionally, the authors made a number of subjective or inaccurate determinations when compiling their findings.” For example, Edelamn and Luca weren’t able to get reads on the number of bookings each property receives each year, a figure that could totally skew the data.

Edelman responded to that sentiment in an interview, saying simply: “The important thing is we have the same information available to us as potential guests.”

Edelman and Luca suggest that the site either diminishes the prominence of the profile photos or gets rid of them altogether. “Particularly when a guest will be renting an entire property, the guest’s interaction with the host will be quite limited, and we see no real need for Airbnb to highlight the host’s picture.”

I have to agree with the authors of the study here. Regardless of the numbers, the profile pictures have the potential to cause issues and they’re not even necessary. Yes, people can just use inanimate objects, landscapes, etc. instead of images of their faces to avoid the issue, but why should they have to?

Police are looking for leads in a murderous beating that took place after reports say that 23-year-old student, Kim Pham triggered the deadly attack by unintentionally photobombing a group of strangers.

Pham, who died after being beaten outside of a California nightclub, was removed from life support Tuesday and pronounced dead at 12:36 pm, after being declared brain dead from the incident, which took place in Santa Ana Saturday morning, Jan. 18.

It was a friend of Pham’s, who made the revelation that Pham was outside The Crosby club when she may have accidentally wandered in front of a camera as a group took a photo, according to Dailymail.  Pham’s family kept her on life support until they could donate her organs – as per her status as an organ donor. Pham’s stepsister, Lisa, spoke lovingly of her, saying, “She would go out of her way to help others and never expect anything back from them.”

One suspect has been arrested and was arraigned Wednesday. Vanesa Tapia Zavala was charged with one felony count of murder for her role and at her arraignment Wednesday, bail was set at $1 million.

Police are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrests of the other suspects wanted in connection to the incident.  The other two males and two females wanted in the case are described as “Hispanic, between 20 and 25 years of age,” Santa Ana Police Corporal Anthony Bertagna told KABC.  Anyone with any information is urged to call the Santa Ana Police Department at (714) 245-839 or OC Crime Stoppers at (855) TIP-OCCS.

A little more than a decade ago it would be uncommon to walk into a place of business and be attended by an employee with locs, multiple facial piercings, or visible tattoos on their face, neck, or arms. The professional appearance of an establishment’s brand included the visual make-up of their employees.

Being well-groomed and as presentable as possible was a goal for all employees, and their appearance was often tied to the demographic the company catered to. Employees with “radical styles,” or styles that weren’t professionally acceptable, were often looked over as a result of their lack of conformity to the prescribed norm.

Nowadays, however, walking into a business and being enamored by an employee’s unique body art is slowly becoming common. This shift in perception is mainly because of the growing popularity in mainstream culture. Pop icons like rapper Lil Wayne, whose music many of the today’s young workforce grew up listening to, maintained his loc’d style and still shamelessly flaunts his growing number of facial tattoos and piercings. Anyone who remembers when Lil Wayne rose to stardom in the early 2000s can also recall the growing popularity of his style, which included locs and facial tattoos. Although we all know that he did not start the trend, after his debut and the commercialization of his style it was common to see artists and entertainers, like D.L. Hughley or Lalah Hathaway, shamelessly showing off their locs.

[Image: Jaguar PS/Shuttershock]

Locs have long been a symbol of Black pride and unity and a repudiation of Eurocentric images of beauty among peoples of African descent. The variety of people who wear them also became more visible through social media giving the public a fresh look at how “kempt” locs could be. Recent acceptance has also opened up employment options for the loc’d — as long as they keep their hair “maintained.”

Monique Grissette-Banks, an human resources manager at LexisNexis with a Master’s Degree and a PhD candidate, mentions that the quality of the work that people can deliver matters more than how they look, much less how they wear their hair. She herself has experienced little negativity in regards to her hair in the corporate culture in which she works.

Tattoos and piercings are also becoming more accepted in the workplace for similar reasons. One in 10 Americans have tattoos and one-third of them are ages 25 to 30. In previous years it was doubtful that anyone with nontraditional piercings or indiscreet tattoos would hold a professional position, but recently entire companies have begun to accept this form of expression. The Ford Motor Company, for example, allows all of their employees, including senior executives, to have tattoos and piercings, as long as they don’t infringe upon safety measures of the company.

It’s common for employees to have visible tattoos and nontraditional piercings in industries such as food service, retail, and jobs where employees aren’t regularly seen by the public, and among entrepreneurs. According to the Wall Street Journal, corporate America is becoming more tolerant of tattoos and piercing, but will always favor their employees discretely concealing them. Vincent Weiner, a tattoo artist in Los Angeles, counts federal judges as clients. Many tattoo owners conceal their skin art at work with clothing or even makeup, and it suits their employers just fine.

Just because perception is changing for some doesn’t mean that it is changing for all. A study by Careerbuilders shows that 37 percent of managers would be hesitant to promote an employee with nontraditional piercings, and 31 percent for visible tattoos. Even today, images of corporate and working class citizens in mainstream media are often clean-cut men and women with no visible tattoos and traditional piercings in their ears. Even the four branches of the military are implementing changes in their policy towards bearers of tattoos. The Army’s new policy, met with negative feedback from current service members, now bans tattoos below the knees or the elbows for new recruits. For service members tattoos have often been a way of commemorating their years of service and loved ones lost.

With general images of America changing through pop culture it is not surprising that retailers like H&M and Barnes & Nobles welcome applicants with unique body art with open arms, or that Apple features nueroscientist and California Institute of Technology professor Christof Koch with his Macintosh Apple logo tattoo on their corporate website.

[Image: Shuttershock]

Another factor to consider is that the individuals doing the hiring process also have their own body art, and are less inclined to turn someone else away because of visible body piercings or tattoos. Many managers and employers are accepting of this personal expression, as long as it doesn’t cause offense to their client base.

Tattoos and piercings were once emblems of sailors, pirates, and other perceived social deviants. Body art were symbols of subcultures that did not necessarily have to prove anything to the status quo. The people created niches through the ever growing body art industry and artist culture, which proves their reluctance to adhere to standards of conformity.

The future of the acceptance of these once deemed radical forms of self expression will also be affected as Generation Xers and Yers make their way into the workforce. The youth are less inclined to adhere to traditional systems, preferring to relish in the positions that allow self-expression. They are more accepting of differences, rather than marginalizing those who are visually different with the possibility of losing a quality employee. “With the rise in graduate unemployment, more and more graduates are reassessing their career options and looking for more entrepreneurial career paths,” says Rajeeb Dey, CEO of Enternships, a company that provides young adults with work experience in start-ups.

This means that young people are the ones creating the jobs that could potentially blossom into the Goldman Sachs, Apple, and T-Mobiles of tomorrow and will set the precedent that the working world will eventually adhere to.

[Image: Forbes]