An upscale pizzeria in Harlem has a kid-free dining policy and some parents are highly upset. John Kandel, owner of Bad Horse Pizza, cancelled a reservation for 12 when he realized it would be largely comprised of children. ”They basically said that they don’t want a lot of kids or parties in their restaurant,” says disgruntled customer April Patrick-Rabiu. “When I asked them how many was too many they wouldn’t be specific, but just said that their customers didn’t like it, kids are noisy and bothersome and that it was a definite ‘no.’”

However, Kandel contends that he is not completely anti-children. He told the Gothamist, ”Having a group with kids at 5 p.m. is fine, I just can’t have it during adult meal time.” Plus, diners seeking out the quiet, candlelit tables, and cloth napkin service aren’t thrilled by the potential antics of a big group of rowdy youngsters. “I felt it was affecting my business,” Kandel said. “I can’t lose customers who spend $30 to $40.”

[Images: Shutterstock, Shutterstock]

I believe that it should be a restaurateur’s right and prerogative to have an age requirement for his/her establishment. Whenever one opens a restaurant, they conceptualize the ambiance and overall vibe of the place. If that doesn’t include children, then so be it. There are plenty of restaurants that happily serve families and accommodate children. Sometimes, you just want to go out and have a kid-free experience. Having worked in fine dining where they did allow children, I can tell you it can be a nightmare for diners and staff alike. The noise level, the random spills, the running around, the frequent shuffling of chairs to allow for bathroom trips and lap time — all of these things take away from a pleasurable experience. I cannot tell you how many times I had parties ask to be moved away from kids. However, if a restaurant does have a no-children policy, then it needs to be clearly stated in some way.

Unfortunately, those policies are in fact against the city’s human rights laws. People could file a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights. At the end of the day, it is up to parents to practice discretion when selecting where to dine with their children. There are certain places that they know are not kid-friendly. Respect the restaurant and your fellow patrons by not bringing the kids to those places.

Ludacris has recently found himself embroiled in an intense child-custody battle with the woman he cheated on Eudoxie with. I’m pretty sure it surprises NO ONE that this woman is trying to take Luda to the cleaners with the ridiculous amount of money she’s requesting her pay per month. Of course we all know Luda has money, but the fact that she’s demanding $15,000 per month is beyond excessive – yet I feel absolutely ZERO sympathy for him.

Y’all may think I should be siding with him because we are both men, but the truth is, I’m sick and tired of dudes complaining about the very well-known consequences of unprotected sex. There’s a great way Luda could have avoided this mess – it’s called using a condom.

And please spare me the bullshit broken condom lie, because that is the worst pregnancy excuse I’ve ever heard (which, as a man with eight godchildren, I hear too frequently). I understand that condoms are NOT fool-proof, but if you want me to believe that condoms are tearing easier than WNBA players ACL’s, you must really think we’re all idiots. Look, anyone who has had sex before has been there. You’re locked in a moment of intense foreplay, you’re craving some deep, addictive sex and, in that moment of passion, you forego reaching for the condom and – tip happens. Whether you’ve actually done that or just desired it in your mind but never went through with it, we ALL know that’s what leads to condomless-sex and everything that comes along with it, from infections to children.

But if there’s something I would like to see occur in the minds of more men, it’s the concept that they can’t AFFORD to engage in unprotected sex. Besides the fact that it’s far too risky from a health standpoint (HIV/AIDS related illness is now the leading cause of death among Black women ages 25-34), unprotected sex can result in a child that his ass is not financially endowed enough to take care of, regardless of his tax bracket. Don’t cry tears for irresponsible dudes like Ludacris because they are locked in child support cases – get mad that they still think it’s hot in the streets to smash women with absolutely zero protection.

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.

An Atlanta man has been convicted of homicide by vessel in the death of Tameka Raymond’s son and Usher’s stepson Kile Glover.

Jeffrey Simon Hubbard, a 40-year-old family friend, was operating the personal watercraft that struck 11-year-old Kile and a 15-year-old female friend, while they were floating on an inner tube in Georgia’s Lake Lanier in July 2012. Kile suffered a serious head injury that left him brain dead and on life support. He died a week later at Children’s Healthcare at Egleston in Atlanta. The female friend suffered from serious but non-life threatening injuries.

A jury found Hubbard guilty on five counts including homicide by vessel in the first degree, serious injury by vessel, reckless operation of a vessel, unlawful operation of a personal watercraft, and a boat traffic violation. Hubbard’s attorney argued that what happened was a tragic accident instead of a reckless act. A sentencing hearing is set for March 5.

Kile is one of two children between Raymond, 43, and Ryan Glover, her first husband. Glover is the president of Bounce TV, an African-American television network, and previously served as an executive for Turner Broadcasting.

Raymond and Usher were briefly married for two years. They have two boys, Naviyd and Usher Raymond V, who survived a pool accident last summer.

In memory of Kile, Raymond started Kile’s World Foundation to increase water safety through implementing laws, policies, and education. In his honor, the 5K Run/Walk Spring Festival on March 29 in Atlanta will raise money for the foundation.

“I know when I’ll be running, I will be thinking of him. I’m thinking about him every day, but he was my running buddy … He kept me going,” Raymond said.

The event will be broadcast on the first season of VH1’s “Atlanta Exes,” the reality show in which Raymond joins celebrity exes Torrei Hart (Kevin Hart’s Ex); Monyetta Shaw (Ne-Yo’s Ex); Christina Johnson (CeeLo Green’s Ex) and Sheree Buchanan (former Atlanta Falcon Ray Buchanan’s Ex).

Atlanta rapper Ludacris blames Paul Walker‘s death for his failure to pay child support, and told a court judge on Wednesday he was unable to pay $15,000 a month in support because Fast And The Furious 7 was postponed after the actor’s sudden passing.

Ludacris, whose real name is Chris Bridges, made headlines earlier this year when news broke out about his newborn child. The mother of Cai Bridges, now two months old, was not Eudoxie, Ludacris’s long-time girlfriend, but a woman named Tamika Fuller.

Bridges and Fuller faced a judge on Wednesday over overdue child support payments. Fuller requested $15,000 a month for support, while Bridges blamed financial woes as to why he is unable to pay that amount. According to court documents, Ludacris admitted only earning $55K in 2013. (Let’s assume his attendance at the NBA All-Star Weekend and stay in New Orleans last weekend were comped.) He requested monthly child support payments of $1,800. The judge ordered the “Waterfall” rapper to pay $7,000 for now until records are further investigated.

RELATED: Ludacris: If You Can’t Afford Child Support, You Can’t Afford Unprotected Sex

The untimely death of Walker halted all production of Fast 7, including the actors’ paychecks. Tyrese Gibson, fellow Fast co-star, made a similar financial hardship claim when it came to visitation and child support for his young daughter. He restated he had to take gigs in Dubai, instead of spending time with his daughter in order to pay the support.

Mega church pastor, film/television producer, and author T.D. Jakes has filed a lawsuit against one of his former congregants for stalking him and attempting to break into his home.

Karleisha Tarver, 31, has a history of stalking Jakes. A short-term restraining order was put in place earlier this year, but a court hearing judge last Friday extended the order as a result of Tarver’s recent actions. On January 9, 14, and 17, she attempted to break into Jakes’ Fort Worth home. When security attempted to stop her, Tarver allegedly accelerated her car, trying to run over a security guard. Other guards came to his aid, and the police were called. A hearing scheduled for next week will decide if the restraining order will be court mandated and made permanent.

An arrest warrant for criminal trespassing for Tarver was released, and she was arrested on January 26. She’s currently being held on bond for $1,000 in a Dallas County Jail.

But this incident isn’t Tarver’s first attempt at getting at Jakes. In 2012, she allegedly interrupted a Bible study at Jake’s The Potter House church, screaming at the top of her lungs for no apparent reason. Tarver was arrested and charged with criminal trespassing, serving 15 days in jail. Court documents state Tarver was admitted to a mental health facility in 2012.

Several months after filing for bankruptcy, Detroit has a plan to pull out of bankruptcy, while restructuring its $18 million debt.

State-appointed Emergency Financial Manager Kevyn Orr’s early plan of adjustment draft calls for pension cuts for city retirees while maintaining the city’s vibrant city-owned art, and cleaning up or demolishing aging neighborhoods, the Associated Press reports. Orr estimates that the city debt is at least $18 billion with about $12 billion in unsecured debt, meaning there is no revenue stream to cover the debt.

Orr plans to pay creditors 20 percent of their claims, and police and fire retirees would receive at least 90 percent. General city retirees are set to receive at least 70 percent.

The plan offers a promise of millions of dollars in a fund that includes donations from 10 private foundations, donors from the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), and a $350 million pledge from Michigan Governor Rick Synder to help the city’s pension plans. This fund, estimated at $820 million, would prevent the sale of multimillion-dollar city-owned arts pieces housed at the DIA.

Other highlights of the plan include leasing the city’s Water and Sewerage Department facilities to a regional authority that could bring in $47 million annually under a lease deal. In addition, the plan contains a disclosure statement that outlines a 10 year reinvestment strategy of $1.5 billion that will knock down abandoned properties and technology upgrades. Since the closing of many auto factories, Detroit is littered with old buildings that could be revitalized for homes and businesses.

Orr maintains that the plan “provides the best path forward for all parties to resolve their respective issues and for Detroit to become once again a city in which people want to invest, live and work.” The plan is set to be submitted to the U.S. bankruptcy court, which gave the city a March 1 deadline. Negotiations are ongoing with numerous appeals to be expected.

[Image: Shutterstock]

First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on ”The Tonight Show” on Thursday and participated in a funny sketch with host Jimmy Fallon and Will Ferrell.

The sketch featured Fallon and Ferrell as hilariously exaggerated preteen girls who say “Ew!” to everything. Obama was trying to promote exercise and healthy eating with the “girls.” She shared that dancing was a form of exercise and introduced them to kale chips.

FLOTUS’s “Ew!” exclamations are about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen her do and it made me love her that much more. Plus, there are some pretty funny exchanges between Fallon and Ferrell. Check out the video below!

Courtesy of YourTango

I remember hearing my great aunt talking to my cousin, who at the time had 2 kids under the age of 18, with her first baby being born when she was at the age of 15. My aunt in her wisdom tried not to chastise her because she didn’t want her to be embarrassed but wanted her to learn a lesson from having this child at such a young age. My cousin had dropped out of high school to have the baby but reassured us that she would go back to school to get her GED, get a job and marry the father of her child. My aunt simply looked at her, attempted to smile, but the look on her face revealed how little she had faith in my cousin’s convictions. And interestingly enough, not more than several months later, my cousin showed up pregnant again, with her first born baby in a stroller, no “baby daddy” by her side, and a broken heart.

Now, as a young African American girl growing up in Baltimore, I have seen it all. I have become immune to what other communities consider shocking. I’ve seen young girls as young as 10 years old have children of their own. Entire families become addicted to crack cocaine. Mothers going out of the house to work “the streets” to sell their bodies. Fathers either leave the home altogether or simply die at the hands of a dope dealer. And children being left to their own vices to find love they couldn’t find at home.

Generally, children suffer the most from sexual promiscuity. They can be brought into the world by what I consider to be young, careless parents who spend one night of passion just to escape their own harsh realities only to discover a lifetime of paying for those mistakes they’ve made with a child they cannot afford to nurture or care for in a “hell” which the parents helped to create. No one wins this game. The child grows up confused about what it means to have a family in a world which counts them out before the age of 21.

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For all of you Outkast fans out there who thought that their upcoming 20th anniversary tour meant that the duo was getting back together for an album, I have some bad news…

Big Boi confirmed to Revolt TV that the tour is just that.

“No, no, no. We’re just doing the tour only, just for the fans,” Big Boi said when asked by Revolt TV if there was an album in the works. ”That’s all it is, just the tour … It’s just the Outkast 20th year anniversary, just a way for us to celebrate with our fans,” the rapper continued. “But there’s no album in the works, no.”

Big Boi and Andre 3000 haven’t made an album together as Outkast since 2006′s Idlewild. Many fans had taken their upcoming tour as a positive omen that an album was forthcoming. Despite both of them repeatedly denying that they were breaking up or have any issues, it’s hard to believe given their apparent lack of interest in working together musically.

Still, something’s better than nothing. This summer tour should be bananas. They’re doing their first performance together in 1o years at the Coachella Valley Arts & Music Festival in April.

Nicki Minaj‘s former wig designer is suing for $30 million.

Terrance Davidson claims Nicki stole his wig designs and licensed them as her own without cutting him any checks. He’s filed a lawsuit against the “Starships” singer in Atlanta, claiming Nicki cheated him out of millions. He’s responsible for her most talked about hair spectacles, including the half blonde, half white wig; the high pink bun wig; and the faux fox fur wig. Davidson claims Nicki and management talked him out of a multimillion dollar reality show deal, citing it would destroy their partnership.

The wig guru began working with the New York artist in January 2010. In 2011, plans were made between the two to sell original wigs and star in a reality show. Come 2012, Nicki soared to fame, touring with Britney Spears and releasing top-charting pop hits. Davidson found himself without a wig line or a reality show deal. In 2013, he parted ways with Nicki due to creative differences.

Nicki currently sells wigs on her own website.

By Marcus Scott

“Ultimatums don’t work well with me,” says resident diva Coko. “I just want them to have my back, ‘cause this really means a lot to me.”

Oh, Coko. Never change, and by that I mean, it almost feels like it’s impossible for the high-octane, soul belting spinto-soprano to do otherwise. Last week, after finally dropping her guard and letting Taj and Leelee in on her plans to record yet another solo gospel effort, Coko put up it up again when the ladies protested against her dreams of releasing another album. It’s understandable, based on the fact that they are supposedly working on their come back after being away nearly 15 years. Back in their hometown of New York, Leelee and Taj left to blow off steam, while Coko ran to her sanctuary: a recording studio to wrap-up the stunning gospel number, “At Your Feet.”

It only made sense that Coko would arrange a summit with Taj and Leelee to address the issue head on, by letting them hear the song that she’s been sneaking off to record on the low. The results: “I really want to freaking hate this song, but I can’t,” Leelee explained. “Coko can piss you the hell off, and she starts singing a little melody and you’re like, ‘You bitch.’” Leelee’s right; the song is maybe even “slow clap” good, and the girls give her their support as long as it doesn’t affect the group and their growth.

At Sony, they meet with Bob Frank, CEO of Red River who informed them that an attorney called to discuss the fact that SWV weren’t released from their last contract despite a clear breach of contract, like not promoting their music.(Although, the trio’s previous album I Missed Us earned a Grammy nod, it slid way below the radar). So, they called up Marcus “DL” Siskind of Mass Appeal Entertainment to ask if they could cut ties and move on to the corporate giant Sony. The threesome signed their first record deal when they hit it big with RCA in ’91, and had various resources at hand. Later, under Mass Appeal , the group was left to their own devices — and without a team to properly promote their projects. Though the label dropped the ball in a big way, the label is still making them fulfill their album obligations or face litigation; something that all of them are opposed to.

When they walk into MBK Entertainment to notify new manager Jeff Robinson they are required to record one final album with their old label. Jeff agrees to stay with them, he is understandably dismayed that the ladies didn’t consult with him prior.

After the trio finished sound check on the Greek stage, it’s clear Coko took it the hardest, when she pulled Cory aside to tell him she doesn’t want to record another album with Marcus and Mass Appeal, and may focus on her gospel career anyway. With typical savoire faire, Sisters With Voices crushed their show, where they headlined alongside Dru Hill and Tony Toni Toné. But peace couldn’t be still even after a great night, and Coko broke the news to everyone that she will not be recording if Mass Appeal Entertainment will be at the helm, leaving the girls in a tough spot: Get sued for not complying or record another album with their blasé label. Not the perfect ending the ladies imagined for the culmination of their tour at the Greek Theater in LA and leaves one to ask: Could SWV be  over?

For all of the blood, sweat and tears these three remarkable women have gone through, it still seems as if the ghost of their pasts are keeping them apart, and that spirit’s name is ‘ego.’ Whether it’s Taj refusing to uproot her family from their Nashville, TN home because of her career with SWV, even at the loss of a promising career path for her husband; whether it’s Leelee’s refusal to tone it down in hopes of landing the right fella; or whether it’s always been about Coko and her ambitions to be the truly legendary singer she deserves to be seen as… these ladies have spent all of the season ego-tripping. Provided there’s a next season of SWV: Reunited, will there be a lesson in humility? And most importantly, will they finally heal the wounds of the past? Time will only tell, but I’m getting a little “weak in the knees” thinking about it.

By Derrick Hemphill | Photo credit:  Steven Schreiber

In her new book, Life in Motion: An Unlikely Ballerina (Touchstone, $25), Misty Copeland opens up about her rise from poverty to becoming the first African American female soloist in two decades with the American Ballet Theatre.

At 13 your ballet teacher and your mother signed a “life-story contract.” Was it apparent you were a prodigy?

From the moment that my teacher took me into her studio on full scholarship, she knew I had a career ahead of me. It was just a matter of whether or not I was going to last. There are so many kids at age 16 or 17 that decide that they don’t want it anymore. Everyone knew from the moment I stepped on to the stage this was going to be a special ride.

Does it bother you that there is an apparent lack of support for mainstream ballet from African Americans?

It’s about exposing the African American community and educating. I don’t think it’s because we don’t want to support. I think that it is what ballet has always represented. I want to educate our students through an initiative I helped launch, Project Pile, which aims at boosting diversity within ballet and opening doors for every type of student.

What compelled you to write your memoir at this point in your life?

This is the first time I’ve [addressed] my upbringing and personal experiences outside of ballet. It’s important for people to see me as a real person, to know the place that I came from and the person I’ve grown into. It’s also important for young kids to see what’s possible, because I wasn’t born with a silver spoon in my mouth. It’s really just me giving my everything through the determination and the fight in me. I have far from accomplished what I want to do. I want to show young kids that there are dreams to be reached, despite a difficult background. I can be the motivation for dreaming.

Have you thought about what your life would be without dance?

Everything that I’ve experienced has been because of dance, the people that I’ve met through ballet and the structure that it’s provided. I express to parents that even if your child doesn’t want to go on to be a professional, ballet gives so much to take forward in their lives. They’ll have the discipline, experience in music and knowhow to use their body and brain. I cannot imagine where I would be without it.

What was it like touring with Prince on his Welcome 2 America tour?

He’s so silly, and he likes to play practical jokes like a little kid. When he’s onstage, he’s serious, super-professional and disciplined. But he’s pretty silly!

All of your outside projects have involved dance, is that true of your future ventures?

They still do, very much. I’m so lucky to have the opportunities that have come my way; but I make sure that whatever I’m doing that it’s related to ballet. This is what I do, what I stand for. I’m not quite comfortable venturing out into something outside of that. I was born to do this. I have these gifts, and I’m going to take them as far as I can.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) doesn’t want you to see him as a hopeful for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.  Nor is he really all that interested in being a “hero” for demanding an apology from deranged attention-seeker and has-been Ted Nugent.

Paul wants you to see him as your next president.

Which means his seemingly abrupt tweet calling for a white flag from Nugent wasn’t really all that abrupt.  It was pure calculation and the continued evolution of Paul’s attempt to rebrand the family name and realign the Republican Party.  Nugent’s recent description of President Obama as a “subhuman mongrel” may have run orgasmic shivers up the spines of squirrely, white supremacists circle jerking on weekend hunting trips.  But, Paul correctly wagered that it would be about as far as Nugent could go with it.

Just two weeks ago, Ted assumed he was riding high, sitting only a row of Congressional knuckleheads away from President Obama during the State of the Union.  But, yesterday Nugent found himself publicly pimp-slapped into submission by Paul and forced to apologize.  Stunned, sandblasted and shamed by an unprecedented public lashing from a respected Republican politician, Nugent had little choice but to scurry back into a cave.  Paul successfully and quite skillfully navigated a minefield of racially-charged conservative animus unscathed, with Nugent among his first victims on an ambitious mission to civilize the GOP.

While fun to watch, giving Nugent the back of the hand doesn’t necessarily make Paul a hero.  Nugent was simply a beautifully-timed gift from the political gods the junior Kentucky Senator could not refuse.  Paul is still in the Top 5 of hypothetical GOP nomination candidates in a crowded field of nearly a dozen hopefuls; the latest RealClearPolitics average finds him in 5^th place with 11.2 percent.  With his arch nemesis Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) tied up in scandal, Paul was looking for just the right controversy to inch his way up the Republican nomination ladder.

Paul’s move also chipped away at the myth of an invincible and uncontrollable tea party rage element within the Republican Party that can’t be defied.  Instead, Paul instantly neutralized one of the more radical anti-establishment “nativist” elements by simply calling their bluff when other Republican politicians have punked out.

Plus, the Kentucky senator – like Christie – may believe that the tea party won’t be that much of a factor in the 2016 primary since it might break itself off into a separate operation.  While candidates like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) are interested in being a tea party nominee (thereby presenting an opportunity to bypass the GOP party elite), Paul isn’t interested.  Instead, he’s thinking new century Ronald Reaganite able to form a wobbly winning coalition of ideologically clashing voters who can’t stand one another, but can agree on being angry and disenchanted enough with Washington to vote for someone like him.

A wily Paul figures the decentralized Nugent nut wing of the Republican Party won’t be that much of a threat once he’s pulled together a coalition of libertarians, independents and center-right conservatives.  It’s not like Nugent was all that influential in the first place, so one has to scratch their dome in confusion at the spectacle of deferential Republican politicians who were always quick to give Ted a pass for, well … being Ted.  The YouGov Opigram shows Nugent’s negative ratings nearly double that of his positives, with his Positivity Index way under 50 percent.  And with his Fan Profile skewing very white, old, male and Republican, Paul decided that Nugent wouldn’t be of much use in a couple of years.

In Paul, we’re also finding quiet moves towards re-building the Republican “Big Tent” showcase they keep talking about but never quite accomplishing.  The electorate is clearly much more diverse than graying white dudes who wear camouflage trucker hats.  Paul figures he gains some brownie points with various voters by dropping a bomb on Nugent, perhaps looking as brave doing that as he did giving a speech in front of skeptical Black folks at Howard University last year.   Not like he’ll get a bunch of women, African Americans or Latinos voting for him – but, maybe he gets a few to offset the GOP’s complexion problem.

Openly dismissing Nugent also helps Paul further distance his brand from that of his cranky dad Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), the kooky Republican presidential candidate with a questionable racialized past of his own.  It just shows that Paul understands not all voters are Republican primary participants, and that he’s assuming he’ll be in a good position to win the nomination.  It’s quite a presumptuous gamble, but Paul is getting himself ready for the general election spotlight by re-fashioning his image as bold, practical and sensitive. Still, crazy remains baked into the Paul DNA, so it remains a mystery as to whether he can shake that.

CHARLES D. ELLISON is a veteran political strategist and Chief Political Correspondent for UPTOWN Magazine.  He’s also Washington Correspondent for the Philadelphia Tribune and a frequent contributor to TheRoot.com.  He can be reached via Twitter @charlesdellison.  

The body of a missing Marple Township woman in Delaware County has been found in a heavily ticketed car.

Nadia Malik, 22, body was found in the passenger seat, completely reclined, with a black duffel bag over her head. The car was found at a main train station, with four tickets on the windshield. The first ticket was issued on February 10, a day after the last day she was seen. Three days later, the car was towed behind the train station for blocking snow removal. After towing, the car was issued an additional three more tickets. How did this go un-noticed?

“If you look at the car, it’s tinted heavily on the back and side windows, and the windshield would have been covered with snow,” said Police Lt. John Walker. From outside the car, a person “couldn’t tell there was a body under the bag until you opened the car and grabbed the bag,” Walker assured.

Malik’s boyfriend and father of her two kids are being held for questioning. He was arrested on probation violation in Solon, Ohio. No charges has been filed.

Saturday night, a diverse group of celebrities filed into Pasadena’s Civic Auditorium, adorned in daring dresses, sleek suits and huge smiles, to participate in this year’s 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards.  Among the evening’s winners were Kevin Hart, Kerry Washington, Forrest Whitaker and Lupita Nyong’o. Click through to take a look at some of the victories that took place on the red carpet.

Brandy (“The Game“) looked ravishing in a lacy black gown and wavy updo.

“About Last Night” actor Michael Ealy opted for a black-on-black ensemble.

Sherri Shepherd of “The View” walked the carpet in an iridescent green number.

“Scandal” star Kerry Washington was radiant in a navy blue and coral dress.

Tatyana Ali (“The Young and The Restless“) flaunted her curves in a shimmering gown.

“Fruitvale Station” actor Michael B. Jordan wowed in a black bow tie and suit.

Lupita Nyong’o of “12 Years A Slave” arrived in a stunning deep orange dress.

“The Best Man Holiday” star Nia Long walked the carpet in a bold green gown.

Tika Sumpter (“The Haves and the Have Nots“) looked glamorous in a silk dress.

“Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom” actress Naomie Harris sparkled in a gold number.

“Luther” star Idris Elba sported a dapper pair of frames with his suit and bow tie.

Regina King (“SouthLAnd“) played with lines in a black cutout gown.

Joy Reid joins the MSNBC lineup with her own weekday show, “The Reid Report,” which is set to debut this afternoon 2 p.m. EST.

“We are going to be the table-setter for prime-time, we are coming out of the MSNBC straight-up news block, where you get your who, what, when, where, why, and we’re going to do a deep dive into policy and analysis, but we also want to have a little fun,” Reid said.

Reid made guest appearances and filled in for other show hosts before the network announced last fall that she would be added to the daytime lineup. The long-time blogger and managing editor of theGrio calls this her “dream job.” She’s unfazed by the pressure of carrying her own show and quickly shoots down rumors of competition between African-American female anchors like Melissa Harris-Perry. In fact, the journalist has nothing but respect for her other colleagues and wishes them well.

“I’m not doing a show based on the competition, I’m confident that if I do a great show, and I give people information, and I make it fun and interesting to watch, the ratings will take care of themselves,” she exclusively told Mediaite.

Asked if she was setting an example for America’s acceptance of darker-skinned women reporting the news, Reid replied, “Black women are so varied that any Black woman in the public eye has the opportunity to be a role model for some Black girl and I think that’s great for diversity.”

Reid gave her supporters, whom she affectionately calls “reiders,” a sneak peek of what to expect from the debut show through a video on the website for “The Reid Report.” Along with a mix of politics and current events like NFL prospect Michael Sams’ coming out story, Smokey Robinson will be on to discuss the 2014 BET Honors.

Tune in 2 p.m. EST to MSNBC for the debut of “The Reid Report.”

Last night Jason Collins walked onto the court wearing his Brooklyn Nets jersey to become the first openly gay athlete to play in one of the four major American professional sports.

The 7-foot center entered during the second quarter to a standing ovation in the stands to assist the Nets win 108-102 over the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center. Collins played for 11 minutes and finished strong with no points, two rebounds, one steal, and five fouls.

“It felt like, ‘I’ve done this thousands of times before,” said Collins after the win. “Once you’re out on the court, it’s about basketball. It’s what I’ve been doing for almost three decades,” he continued.

Collins recognizes the significance of making history, but says he is focusing on getting the job done on the court for the Nets. The 35-year-old player came out in Sports Illustrated in April 2012 and became the first openly gay basketball player. He, however, remained a free agent until he signed a 10-day deal with the Nets.

While the Nets realize the impact of their decision to sign Collins, they say it was purely a basketball decision. “We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract,” Nets general manager Billy King said.

Collins has played 12 NBA seasons. His first seven were with the then-New Jersey Nets and point guard Jason Kidd, who is now the coach of the Brooklyn Nets.

With a number of athletes now becoming open about their homosexuality, this has been an exciting month for Black history and sports. When asked if he feels a shift in attitude about gay players in professional sports, most recently with Michael Sams coming out, Collins replied that he hopes the spotlight remains on their game.

“What Michael said was it was about him being a football player and me being a basketball player, and going out there and trying to help our respective teams win,” Collins said.

by Sana Butler

It’s minutes before Tamron Hall steps onto the set of her MSNBC daytime show, NewsNation, and right now the host is on the hunt for printouts of the day’s top stories she’s been following since 9 a.m.: a gay Syrian blogger (which later was found to be an Internet hoax), the GOP primary debates, Los Angeles schools’ budget gap, and a D.C. serial rapist’s revived cold case. Her interviews are live. Her bulleted questions are ready. Hall is so well prepared that she even comfortably tweets five minutes before going on air about the upcoming Father’s Day segment: “Executive editor of People magazine on live, to discuss essay Pres. Obama wrote to fathers 2 p.m. ET.”

Then, a monkey wrench.

President Obama is speaking from North Carolina discussing jobs and the economy. The control room takes the feed live and as a result, Hall’s show will be delayed. She now has to listen to Obama for a few minutes and then cogently convey the details for the breaking-news segment.

“I’m running and gunning every day,” Hall offers with equal ease and seriousness.

NBC News President Steve Capus describes the Emmy-nominated anchor as one of the busiest people at MSNBC who “always has great enthusiasm and an energy that’s infectious.” For 10 years, Hall honed her skills at WFLD in Chicago. While there, she was handpicked by NBC execs after they saw the one-on-one interview with then Senator Obama she had landed shortly before he announced his national candidacy.

Hall was born in 1970 in Luling, Texas. Her father was a master sergeant in the Army and her mother was a teacher. After studying broadcast journalism at Temple University, Hall went on to eat spiders dipped in chocolate on a morning show at WFLD. In addition to her MSNBC program, she is a frequent substitute host for NBC’s venerable Today and Weekend Today.

Beyond work, Hall volunteers for Day One, a New York City–based nonprofit devoted to the issue of teen domestic violence. She joined the organization after her younger sister, Renate, was found dead in the pool of her home after what appeared to be a violent struggle.

[originally published September 2011]

Hall remains very close to her family, and it is her devotion to keeping them informed that keeps her connected to her larger audience. “She wants to get answers America wants to [know],” said friend Tiffany Adams while at the Lew Klein Media Awards, where Hall was honored.

Decidedly curious and engaging, Hall is interested in people and listens, which makes for provocative interviews. She doesn’t play “gotcha!” but relies more on common sense to ignite a conversation.

“What made you change your mind?” Hall asked former D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee on her decision to order an investigation into the school system’s standardized test scores after a USA Today report found irregularities. Hall’s approach resulted in an insightful discussion with a nondefensive Rhee.

Hall also skillfully checks tone in an interviewee’s response and observes body language. Little gets past her. Just ask today’s guest, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who, unwilling to answer the host’s questions on specific federal programs his party planned on cutting, responded, “Calm down,” while gesturing in a downward motion with both hands.

Hall swiftly ended her pressing and laughed, still expressing her “tell it like it is” style until the end: “Chairman Steele, it was a great pleasure having you on despite the fact you told me to calm down like I was 5.”

If she does look for approval, it’s certainly not from a politico. “My mom will e-mail me after an interview and say, ‘I am happy you stuck in there,’” says Hall. But her social media–savvy mother doesn’t stop there. “She also tweets me about my hair and lipstick all the time!”
The Hall Closet

FASHION PLATE: “I am a high/low shopper,” says Hall. “I can [pair] a top from Barneys [with] a skirt from H&M, or a dress from Zara with a YSL belt.”

DESIGNER DETAIL: Her favorite labels include Geren Ford and Elizabeth and James, and she recently added the beige Christian Louboutin sky-high Alti pump to her already sizable shoe collection.

THE CUT: She goes to Vanessa at Louis Licari salon on New York’s Fifth Avenue once a week and maintains her tresses with a daily dose of Moroccanoil hair treatment.

ABOUT FACE: “I am a girly girl,” admits Hall, whose looks get as much coverage as her interviews. She does her own makeup, using brands like Bobbi Brown, as well as Kevyn Aucoin foundations, Chanel and MAC lip glosses, and Giorgio Armani mascara. “Because I have short hair, I joke that I come in to the building every day looking like a boy with no makeup.”

ON CONSTANTLY RECEIVING COMPLIMENTS: “I say, ‘Let me tell my mom and dad! I had nothing to do with it!’ ”

A lack of electricity continues to be a major problem in parts of Africa. According to the Washington Post, only 14 percent of people get any electricity at all in Tanzania, and across sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 590 million people lack access to power. This problem has had severe effects. Indoor air pollution from wood stoves kills 3.5 million people per year, more than AIDS and malaria combined. To remedy this issue, Senegalese-American hip hop artist Akon, in partnership with Give1Project and ADS Global Corporation SA, have initiated the “Akon Lighting Africa” tour, which aims to bring electricity to one million households in Africa by the end of 2014.

In a month, Akon plans to start this project with two to three villages that will become equipped with solar panels that allow people to have light and electricity.  The project will consist of the installation of solar equipment in households and promote their energy sufficiency, which also will allow millions of children to have access to electricity and improve their education through extended study hours. To promote this new initiative, the global superstar is wrapping up a nine-African-country tour (Senegal, Mali, Guinea Conakry, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville and Ivory Coast) in nine days to meet with global leaders about the project.

Within the framework of a public-private partnership, an alliance was signed between the private entities: Akon Corp, SOLEKTRA International, Azuri Technologies, NARI (Member of China Grid), CJI and BYD, the Non-Governmental Organization Give1Project, and the governments of different African nations to support the initiative.

Buckhead residents don’t want Justin Bieber as a neighbor and have protested against the pop star purchasing a $10.9 million mansion in the wealthy Atlanta neighborhood.

The pop star has been spotted around Atlanta partying with T.I and Diddy while recording a new album. Bieber or “Bizzle” is reportedly renting producer Dallas Austin‘s mansion, but is considering purchasing the Buckhead mansion as a second home.

Residents calling themselves The Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition created a Facebook page and has gained hundreds of supporters. They posted a statement saying: “Justin Bieber’s relocation to Atlanta can be nothing but bad for our children, as well as the community.”

A group of five stood outside the neighborhood at 6:30 a.m. today in protest. The group dressed in suit and ties and carried signs with slogans like, “Keep Buckhead Bieber Free!” They later revealed they were radio station interns and not part of the real Buckhead Neighborhood Coalition, and the protest was all a prank. But others aren’t taking Beiber’s potential home ownership lightly.

“It’s a well established neighborhood that we like to keep quiet, private, and safe,” one resident said.

“Quiet, private, safe” aren’t exactly what Bieber, 19, is known for. The pop star is racking up a number of criminal offenses along with numerous hits. Just last month, he was suspected of smoking weed on a personal jet and was arrested in Miami Beach on charges of driving under the influence. Beiber also allegedly attacked a limo driver. He has since refused a plea deal of community service, an alcohol abuse class, and random drug testing in the DUI case. As a result, Americans circulated and signed a petition calling for Bieber’s deportation, but so far it looks as if he’ll plant roots in Buckhead.

Bieber is taking it all in stride tweeting: “I’m still human. I will continue to meet hate with love.”