Nat King Cole, Fay Jackson, and Louis Armstrong

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 15th

• 1793: Austin Steward was born a slave in Prince William County, but would escape to Canada in 1815. He created a successful business in Rochester, New York in 1817, and became an administrator and biographer of his life.
• 1795: Rebecca Cox Jackson was born to a free family. She would go on to become an elder in the Shaker religion and found a Shaker community in Philadelphia.
• 1804: The New Jersey Legislature passed “An Act for the Gradual Abolition of Slavery,” becoming the last northern state to outlaw slavery.
• 1820: Abolitionist and women’s rights advocate Susan B. Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts.
• 1848: Boston required 5-year-old Sarah Roberts to enroll in an all-Black school. Her father, Benjamin Roberts, filed the first school integration lawsuit, Roberts v. City of Boston, on her behalf.
• 1851: Black abolitionists broke into a Boston courtroom and rescued fugitive slave Shadrach Minkins, who was affected by the Nat Turner rebellion and became the first runaway detained under the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law.
• 1901: Bluesman Kokomo Arnold was born in Lovejoy, Georgia. He regarded his career as a musician second to his work as a bootlegger.
• 1902: Journalist and publicist Fay Jackson was born in Dallas. She founded Flash, the first Black news magazine on the West Coast, and became the first black Hollywood correspondent with the Associated Negro Press in the 1930s.
• 1942: Businesswoman and entrepreneur Caroline R. Jones was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
• 1961: American and African nationalists protested the slaying of Congo Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba by disrupting U.N. sessions.
• 1964: “Hello Dolly” became Louis Armstrong‘s only number one record.
• 1965: Nat King Cole died from lung cancer in Santa Monica, California at the age of 45.
• 1968: Henry Lewis became the first Black conductor to lead a symphony orchestra in the United States.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 14th

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 16th

• 1826: Martin Freeman was born in Rutland, Vermont. In 1854, he would become professor at Allegheny Institute near Pittsburgh, with mathematics and science as his specialty. In 1856, he was appointed president of the school, making him the first Black man to hold the position of president at a college in America.
• 1852: William Sander Scarborough was born in Macon, Georgia. After he was emancipated, he studied at Atlanta University and Oberlin College, where he earned a master’s degree. He taught in the Jim Crow south, but moved on to teach Latin and Greek at Wilbeforce University, where he was appointed president in 1908. Pres. Warren G. Harding appointed him to a post in the Department of Agriculture.
• 1857: Frederick Douglass was elected president of Freedmen Bank and Trust.
• 1889: Lawyer and educator Hazel Mountain Walker was born.
• 1904: Actor James Baskett was born. He was a prolific actor and voice actor, and was the first live actor hired by Walt Disney. He earned an honorary Academy Award in 1948 for his Uncle Remus role, which many regard as extremely offensive and stereotypical to this day.
• 1923: Bessie Smith made her first recording, “Down Hearted Blues,” which sold 800,000 copies for Columbia Records.
• 1944: The “Golden Thirteen” made history as the first Black Naval officers in America. Twelve of the men were commissioned as ensigns, while the thirteenth was promoted to warrant officer. However, they weren’t afforded the respect white officers received in the Navy and were given menial assignments. Only one continued with the Navy after World War II.
• 1951: The New York City Council banned racial discrimination in city housing developments by passing a bill.
• 1957: LeVar Burton was born in Landstuhl, Germany.
• 1961: The DuSable Museum of African American History opened in Chicago. It was named for Haitian settler Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. In 1779, he established the trading post and settlement that would become Chicago.
• 1970: Joe Frazier knocked out Jimmy Ellis during the second round of their bout, becoming the world heavyweight champion.
• 1972: Hoops legend Wilt Chamberlain became the first player to score 30,000 as a Los Angeles Laker, during his 13th year in the NBA.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 15th

By Isoul H. Harris

Before and after the civil rights era, how many companies can we count were at the forefront of the movement to incorporate African Americans, not just as soldiers or consumers, but as creators, trendsetters, and working contributors to the economy?

Herb Douglas, Fab 5 Freddy, Nas, and countless others create the fabric that is Hennessy as we know it today … and it is no coincidence. For over a century, Hennessy has boldly and deliberately embraced what was initially considered an untouchable segment of the American population. It’s a vibrant brand with a very loyal following. Few know the full story of Hennessy Cognac’s history, craftsmanship, and family legacy — or how the brand has become so embedded in today’s lexicon of pop culture.

This year, the story of Olympic Medalist, Jesse Owens’s mentee, and former Hennessy employee, Herb Douglas, truly sticks out. Here are a few reasons why:

• Carrying out the spirit of Hennessy’s “Never Stop. Never Settle.” mantra, Douglas competed in track and field before many sports were open to African Americans.
• Douglas won the Bronze Medal in the long jump while representing the U.S. in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London.
• After his athletic career, he became a salesman in the beverage industry.
• In 1968, Douglas became one of the first African-American VPs in corporate America after Hennessy promoted him to vice president.
• Today, at 94, Douglas is the oldest living African-American Olympian.
• On April 27th, Douglas will continue to champion African-American luminaries by presenting special awards to Serena Williams and Muhammad Ali at the Jesse Owens International Trophy Gala in New York City.

Details of Douglas’s amazing career, along with those of the many other African Americans who’ve contributed to Hennessy’s mainstay in pop culture, are also featured in Rizzoli’s latest coffee table book: Hennessy: A Toast to the World’s Preeminent Spirit written by Glenn O’Brien. How has Hennessy evolved over time, touching everyone from African-American and hip hop communities to some of the world’s most prominent artists and artisans? From 1960s ad executives, literally the real life Mad Men, to the most cutting edge creatives of today, Hennessy Cognac has a deep and enduring place in American culture, which is something the book explores in-depth.

A great way to celebrate Black History Month, Hennessy is available wherever fine books are sold.

Terrence Howard‘s latest film role, Drag Hammerman in Ghost of New Orleans, will cause chills to run up your spine, and that’s intentional.

Drag is the lead suspect in the mysterious death of cellist Corey Little (Lake Bell). However, disgraced detective Ben Chaney (Josh Lucas) soon realizes that this is no ordinary murder-mystery. First, Drag is fully-immersed in the occult scene of New Orleans. Second, Corey is “haunting” Chaney in the hopes of helping him solve her murder.

Djay in Hustle & Flow

Through Djay, Howard proved pimps can have heart and an Oscar-winning rap flow. Plus, this film was the first time we witnessed the magical on-screen chemistry between Howard and Taraji P. Henson.

Jim Brown, Dr. Mary Frances Berry, Huey P. Newton

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 17th

• 1874: Writer and musician Maud Cuney-Hare was born.
• 1891: Inventor Albert Richardson patented the butter churn.
• 1918: Rep. Charles A. Hayes was born in Cairo, Illinois. He served in the House of Representatives for nearly 10 years.
• 1936: Football player, actor, and civil rights advocate Jim Brown was born in St. Simons, Georgia.
• 1938: Lawyer, administrator, activist, and author Mary Frances Berry was born. Dr. Berry would go on to become chancellor of the University of Colorado at Boulder, where she also taught history and law. She has received 28 honorary doctoral degrees and many awards for her public service and scholarly activities.
• 1941: Wellington Webb, the first Black mayor of Denver, was born.
• 1942: Black Panther Party co-founder Huey P. Newton was born. Although he was illiterate when he graduated high school, Newton taught himself to read before attending Merritt College in Oakland and the San Francisco School of Law, where he met Bobby Seale.
• 1949: Dennis Green, a college and professional football coach, was born. In 1981, he was only the second Black head coach in Division I-A history.
• 1963: Michael Jordan was born in New York City.
• 1967: Ronald DeVoe of New Edition and Bell Biv DeVoe was born in Boston.
• 1973: The Navy frigate USS Jesse L. Brown was commissioned. The ship was named for Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first Black naval aviator killed in combat over Korea.
• 1982: Jazz pianist Thelonious Monk passed away in Englewood, New Jersey.
• 1997: Virginia House of Delegates retired the state song, which glorified slavery. A lyric was “carry me back to old Virginia.”

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 18th

• 1688: Germantown, Pennsylvania Quakers denounced slavery and the slave trade in what became known as the Germantown Protest. It was the first formal protest organized by a group of whites in English America.
• 1869: Concert pianist, author, and educator Harriett Gibbs Marshall was born.
• 1885: Samuel Clemens published The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn under the pseudonym Mark Twain. The controversial novel presented a satirical look at racism, religion, and other social attitudes of the time.
• 1894: Architect Paul Williams was born. He would become known as the architect of the stars in Beverly Hills.
• 1896: H. Grenon patented the razor-stropping device.
• 1903: In Dahomey opened at the New York Theater. It was the first full-length musical written, produced, and performed by Blacks at a major Broadway theater.
• 1909: Scientific pioneer Warren Elliot Henry was born in Evergreen, Alabama on a peanut farm where George Washington Carver lived.
• 1931: Writer Toni Morrison was born in Lorain, Ohio as Chloe Anthony Wofford.
• 1934: Poet, essayist, and feminist Audre Lorde was born in Harlem.
• 1950: Bebe Moore Campbell was born as Elizabeth Bebe Moore Campbell Gordon in Philadelphia.
• 1952: Maurice Lucas was born in Philadelphia. As a professional basketball player and coach, he was known as The Enforcer.
• 1959: Ray Charles recorded “What’d I Say” at Atlantic Records.
• 1973: Harlem Renaissance artist Palmer Hayden passed away in Manhattan.
• 2006: Speed skater Shani Davis became the first Black Olympian to win an individual Gold Medal in Winter Olympic history.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 17th

Chef Roblé Ali is a simple kind of guy with a discerning palate. Given the choice, he prefers street food to Michelin-rated cuisine. He’d rather cook with your grandma than step into the kitchen of a top chef. And best believe he washes down nearly every meal with an ice-cold Coca-Cola Classic.

Ali is such a fan of Coke that he can remember the first time he drank one as child. He thanks his grandfather for introducing him to the fizzy sweet refreshment, and spurring his interest in cuisine. Grandad, Ali says, could burn too.

There’s no doubt the chef who thinks of himself more as a caterer is inspired a great deal by street food and has aptly named his Brooklyn restaurant Streets. The tagline for the eatery is: “Your passport to culinary adventure.” The menu truly encompasses the meals Ali has enjoyed on his international travels and the cooking techniques he’s learned from street vendors and the grandmothers and aunts of friends.

I spoke with Ali about his love of Coca-Cola and memorabilia collection, why partnering with the brand was a no-brainer, how street food became acceptable and popular, the other factors that influence his cuisine, and which culinary trends he sees on the horizon.

UPTOWN: Tell us a little about your heritage and how that influences your cuisine.
Roblé Ali: OK, well, I’ve got a few different kinds of Black in me. My father, he’s from East Africa. He’s from Somalia. We’re on the “no-fly list” right now which kind of sucks, but whatever.

U: How do you feel about that?
RA: Um, I can see where people are coming from when they want to do this, but I think it’s pointless and it doesn’t really get to the root of the problem. I’ll say that. If I was President, I wouldn’t have done that. I would go to the root of the problem. It’s just disrupting things. It’s breaking up families. It’s angering people. People are losing jobs. It’s not going to make us safer. It makes people mentally safer who aren’t looking at the real root problem of things. And, you know, that happens with a lot of stuff. Anyway, enough with politics. I told myself I wouldn’t talk about politics.

U: I had to ask, though.
RA: Yeah, for sure.

So my mom is African-American. She’s from Philly. I grew up between Brooklyn, New York and Houston, Texas. I spent a lot of years down there. So I got East African roots that give me an inspiration for my food. I have the South, which you have your soul food, you have cajun creole. The barbecue culture in Texas is huge. I love barbecuing! My favorite way to cook anything is over flames. I want to open a restaurant one day where there’s no gas; I want to cook everything over wood. And then there’s my travels. Over the last five years, I’ve been traveling a lot. My jobs have been taking me all over the place. Whenever I go somewhere for a job — if it’s a far enough place — I try to stay a good amount of time. I don’t want to go all the way to Jamaica or I was just off the coast of Zimbabwe in Zanzibar, and I stayed an extra week just so I can meet the people, eat the food, and learn the culture, and bring it back home.

U: Was there anything specific from Zanzibar that you know you’re going to incorporate into your cuisine, or anything you brought back figuratively and physically?
RA: Absolutely, but the thing is this … this is the thing I found out out there that wouldn’t be entertaining to anyone but me: They have a great culture of grilling on the street. There’s this wood that they use, and it’ll cost me a fortune to have that wood here just so I can just burn it up. It’s burning money. There’s nothing that’s a practical use thing that I got from there food-wise, but the culture, the people, I mean that’s something I’ll value for the rest of my life. I want to re-visit there maybe when I get married and have kids and stuff. That would be a nice place to bring a family.

U: Tell us about the cuisine at your restaurant Streets, and why you chose Brooklyn for your first restaurant. Conventional thinking would be, “Oh, I have to open in Manhattan first.”
RA: Well, Streets is a culmination of my travels and experiences that I can practically and actually do in Brooklyn. There are somethings that we’re going to do even better. Speaking of wood, I learned so much in Jamaica, just the whole jerk culture, jerk chicken, jerk pork. There’s a guy making jerk duck. He made it whole; he didn’t even take the innards out. Everything was still in it. Incredible! There’s a farm-to-table restaurant up in Blue Mountains … It’s called Eat Cafe or something like that. It sounds corny but it’s beautiful. Everything they cook there, they grow there — all the veggies, all the animals. So I took the jerk pork that I had there, and that’s on the menu at Streets.

Ah, Brazil. I’ve been to Brazil more than any other foreign country, except for maybe Canada … And one of the great things I’ve had there is kind of a seafood stew, similar to, like, a seafood gumbo or like a California-style Cioppino. They call it Mariscada, and don’t quote me on this, but I believe it translates to catch of the day in Portuguese.

U: So there can be any seafood in there?
RA: Yeah, it’s whatever seafood that was brought in. It could be some clams, some mussels, some fish. You know, they chop it up with some coconut milk, some palm oils, some pepper, some onions, and it’s an amazing thing. That’s been on the menu since day one. Right now, my favorite thing I’ve had there is called — you got me talking about food so I’m going to talk too much — Moqueca. It’s in-cred-ible! You can make it with anything. I’ve had it with crab, chicken, shrimp, lobster, you name it. And it’s the same thing; a lot of their dishes start out with peppers and onion, and their go-to oil is palm oil. They use it for everything. It’s everywhere. And coconut milk. There’s no coconut milk in cans there. I learned this from a grandmother. Like she cracked open a coconut and had me shave it out, and then she blended it up. I learned how to make coconut milk there; it was awesome.

So my point is, these are things that I’ve learned from places that I’ve gone, and I’ve learned on the streets just from observation, and more than anything, I’ve learned by cooking with grandmothers. Grandmothers are the best cooks on the face of the Earth. Wherever I go, if I know somebody local there who’s one of my friends, I’m like, “Hey, you have a grandma or an auntie or somebody that can cook? I would love to come and cook with them.” And they always invite me. They’ll be like, “Hey, he’s this big chef in the U.S.” And I always get a chance to cook.

U: Do you prefer to observe the local people eating their cuisine, than say going to a five-star restaurant?
RA: Forget about that, I can do that stuff anytime. If I’m going to go to a five-star restaurant, I’m in New York. I get those opportunities all the time. I just did a job and I got to eat at Todd English’s restaurant with Todd English. You know, those things happen for me. It’s free, but the richest, most delicious foods are on the street and there in people’s homes, in my opinion.

U: You grew up in Brooklyn, right?
RA: I was born in Poughkeepsie, but my New York experience has been about 30 percent Poughkeepsie, 60 percent New York City — Brooklyn. You asked me why I didn’t open in Manhattan. First and foremost, I’m a caterer. I started my catering company in 2010/2011, and then I started to make a name for myself as a chef … I had people knocking my door down to open a restaurant in Manhattan, but I felt it was my duty as a Brooklynite to open my first restaurant in Brooklyn. There was no way I was opening in Manhattan first. No. Way. And you know what? I’d rather just be in Brooklyn. I love Brooklyn. I’m about to open a new restaurant here in a few months. I don’t want to go to Manhattan everyday. I go to Manhattan when I have to go to Manhattan, or if I’m going to like a nightclub or something like that. I go to Manhattan for business, and now that we have an Apple store in Brooklyn, there are less reasons to go to Manhattan.

U: I remember back in the day, taking my life in my hands if I ate a street dog or a shish kebab — even though I did anyway. Now all of that has changed. Why do you think street food is so popular now?
RA: Well, there’s always trends in food, you know, and I think the powers that be, you know, the TV networks, the magazines, and PR companies, they’re like, “Hey, what’s the next thing? We have to think something up. We need to sort of find something cool that we haven’t thought about.” Well it’s been in front of you the whole time — street food. Somebody somewhere and I think it started a movement. I wasn’t following any trends. I can only think of one other street food restaurant that had ever opened in the whole of New York City, all five boroughs, before mine. And that restaurant opened like 10 years ago. Now you have Vandal. Bourdain is doing this enormous street food … I hear this is what it’s going to be … but he’s doing this big thing on the Westside, like a street food market. That’s hot, but you know, two years ago or three years ago when I was working on this, street food wasn’t hot then. Also, I would give a lot of credit to Los Angeles and the city of Austin for giving freedom to mobile restaurants and food trucks. The food trucks are what started people thinking about eating outside of a restaurant.

U: And making foods that are easy to handle while walking or not sitting at a table?
RA: Yeah, you go down to South X Southwest, which is coming up in March, in-cred-ible street food! Incredible! There’s a truck that’s dedicated just to the Detroit-style pan pizza. You get that, get a Coke — and I’m not saying that because I’m on the phone with Coke. I drink Coke with pretty much everything that’s not breakfast. Like all the time. But a slice of that deep-dish pizza and you wash it down with a Coke, fuhgeddaboutit. I’ve had a better cheesesteak at South X Southwest than I’ve ever had in Philadelphia. My mom’s from Philadelphia. I know Philadelphia, and I know a good cheesesteak.

[Images: Coca-Cola]

U: Speaking of Coca-Cola, what are the details of your partnership? Why was it a good fit for you?
RA: It’s a good fit for me because I’m a genuine fan of Coca-Cola. I always have been my whole life. I just like Coke. I grew up drinking it. I think the first one I ever had was with my grandpa in Poughkeepsie, sitting with him listening to the Yankees game on the radio. He would listen to all the Yankee games and I’d sit out there with him, eat snacks, and have a Coke. He was old school; he’d be eating pickled pigs feet — I never got into that. But yeah, a pig’s foot, that’s kind of crazy. But yeah, we’d chill out outside and he was like the coolest guy ever. And he was also a chef, by the way, which I know that influenced my career and my love of food.

I collect Coca-Cola things. I have bottles from all over the world. Today at 10 o’clock a.m., my boy came back from Uruguay. He was on his way to work and he stopped by my house, and he brought me a Coke bottle from Uruguay to add to my collection. Today!

U: How many different countries do you think you have?
RA: Uh, let me look. Let me go check right now because I have them all laid out because I’m moving stuff around. I have … Dubai, United Arab Emirates. I have Egypt. I have Mexico, which is pretty easy but I actually got it in Mexico. I have Japan.

U: You didn’t get the Mexican Coke bottle in Manhattan?
RA: Yeah, I got a Mexican Coke in Mexico. OK, here’s the Uruguay one I got today. I have … What are you? Oh, I have one from the Brazil Olympics in Brazil, and it’s a golden bottle — Coke Zero. What are you? Oh, this is a Brazilian one. I think I have a couple of those. I have another Brazilian one, but this one is a can and it has my last name on it because I didn’t have one with my first name on it. But they had one that had “Ali” on it … I have France, Jamaica, and of course, I have Zanzibar. I think I have more somewhere else, but that’s just what was in this little case.

U: That’s quite a bit of a collection though.
RA: I have more; I just don’t know where they are right now because I’m unpacking.

U: What are some of the details of the partnership?
RA: Well, it’s a budding partnership. We just started working together. My whole career I’ve been like, “Man, I can’t wait until one day when Coke calls me so I can work with them.” We just started a few months ago; we’re just getting into it. We did some work over the last couple of days shooting some film. I’m not sure how it’s going to be used, but I know it’s going to be good because I saw it. Hopefully, we do it all. I’m not exactly sure, but I have a great feeling this is going to be a good, long relationship. I’m going to keep drinking Coke. It makes a lot of sense for us to work together. I mean, what goes better with Coke than food? Coke, food, makes sense. They just balance each other out well.

U: It sounds like a brand ambassadorship that we’ll get to know a little ways in the future.
RA: I would just put it as I’m a guy that likes Coke that got to work with Coke. i’m just happy to here.

I’ve got offers to do all kinds of stuff that I didn’t believe in. I’ve had fast food companies put enormous checks in front of my face, but I don’t eat a lot of fast food. It isn’t me, so I don’t sign on to do anything that I don’t believe in, don’t actually like, or don’t actually consume. I consume copious amounts of Coca-Cola. There’s always Coke in my fridge. That’s my little thing. I drink Coke and I drink water. And a little bit of beer every now and then.

U: Switching back to food. I know you don’t follow trends, but is there anything on the horizon that you think is going to be the next big thing?
RA: There are two things that I see coming up. I think South America is going to really pop in America. South American cuisine. Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay … Oh, I have a Costa Rican Coke too … I would look out for that, and then I would look out for some Pan-Caribbean stuff, outside of the normal stuff we get. When people think Caribbean food, they think Jamaica and that’s it. There’s so much more go on there. Haiti. St. Croix, I had some amazing food there. The chef, his name is Digby [Stridiron] … He has a restaurant [Balter] down there, fuhgeddaboutit. It blew me away, blew me away.

U: What was a favorite dish, if you can remember?
RA: It was a steak and it had some kind of like root vegetable that I had never had. It was similar to malanga, like a potato meets a banana. Or like a potato meets a plantain. He had that pureed up and some local greens. It was simple. It was like steak and potatoes, but it wasn’t potatoes; it was this other root vegetable. It was awesome! And it was still sizzling when it came out. The steak had like bubbles popping off it. It was awesome! Had that with a Coke too. I sure did.

U: Now, are you a Coke Classic person or do you drink any of the other iterations?
RA: Once I like something, I stick with it. I’m a very kind of a loyal person to things I like. I’ve tried all the different Cokes. I just like Coca-Cola Classic. That’s just what I do. I tried the new one they have too. It’s called Coke Life. I think what they’re doing is mixing in stevia, so it’s cane sugar and stevia. The stevia brings the calorie count down. So you can go 50/50 and have an equal or near equal amount of sweetness, and you’re cutting your calorie count in half. So I tried that one and it’s good. It’s actually really good … I’m endorsing it. And I have a very sensitive palate, very sensitive taste buds, like extremely. I could do a blind taste test, and you could put 30 colas in front of me, and I can pick Coca-Cola out, easily. I would drink it. But I’m a Coca-Cola Classic guy.

[Image: Coca-Cola]

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 19th

• 1871: Social reformer Lugenia Burns Hope was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
• 1902: Dancer and entertainer John Bubbles, who would become known as “the father of rhythm tap,” was born in Louisville, Kentucky.
• 1919: The first Pan-African Congress convened at the Grand Hotel in Paris. W.E.B. DuBois, who helped organize the Congress, was elected secretary, and Blaise Diagne of Senegal was elected president.
• 1940: Singer-songwriter William “Smokey” Robinson, Jr. was born in Detroit.
• 1942: The Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black flying unit in the American armed forces, were initiated into the U.S. Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force.
• 1983: Soldier and West Point graduate Emily Perez was born in Heidelberg, West Germany. By age 23, she had earned the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal, Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, the Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge. Perez was killed during combat operations in Kifl, near Najaf, Iraq on September 12, 2006.
• 1992: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates John Singleton for Best Director and Best Screenplay for his first film, Boyz N the Hood. He was the first Black director to be nominated for the Academy Award.
• 1996: Concert singer and founder of the Harlem School of the Arts Gloria Maynor died in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
• 1999: Pres. Bill Clinton pardoned Second Lieutenant Henry Ossian Flipper, who was the first Black graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. Flipper was court-martialed for embezzlement of commissary funds and for “conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman” in 1881. His pardon came 59 years after his death and 118 years after he was dismissed.
• 2002: Vonetta Flowers became the first Black American to win a Gold Medal during the Winter Olympics. She and partner Jill Brakken won the inaugural women’s two-person bobsled event.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 18th

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 20th

• 1867: Ida Gray Nelson Rollins was born in Clarksville, Tennessee. She would become the first Black woman to practice dentistry in Chicago.
• 1891: Baseball great John Donaldson was born in Glasgow, Missouri. He spent his entire career playing in the Negro Baseball League, because racial segregation prevented him from joining Major League Baseball.
• 1895: Abolitionist, lecturer, and educator Frederick Douglass died of a heart attack or stroke in Washington, D.C. Thousands attended his funeral at Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. He was buried in Rochester, New York, where he had lived for 25 years.
• 1898: Mr. Boogie Woogie, James Yancey, was born in Chicago. He was a pianist, composer, and lyricist.
• 1900: J.F. Bickering patented an airship invention.
• 1901: Frank Duncan was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He would become a baseball player and coach in the Negro Baseball League.
• 1908: Opera singer Ruby Elzy was born in Pontotoc, Mississippi. She performed for stage, film, and radio.
• 1927: Actor, film director, author, and diplomat Sidney Poitier was born in Miami to Bahamian parents. He was the first Black person to win an Academy Award for Best Actor.
• 1928: Pianist and singer Bettye Miller was born in Clinton, Missouri.
• 1929: Wallace Thurman‘s play Harlem debuted on Broadway.
• 1931: Army Lt. Gen. Emmett Paige, Jr. was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He would serve as an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications and Intelligence from 1993 to 1997.
• 1937: Jazz singer Nancy Wilson was born in Chillicothe, Ohio.
• 1962: Comic book writer James McDuffie was born in Detroit.
• 1963: Basketball player Charles Wade Barkley was born in Leeds, Alabama.
• 1968: State troopers employed tear gas to break up demonstrations at Alcorn A&M College, which was renamed Alcorn State University in 1974.
• 1992: The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominates John Singleton for Best Director and Best Screenplay for his first film, Boyz N the Hood. He was the first Black director to be nominated for the Academy Award.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today in Black History: Feb. 19th

By Chinwe Ugoezi

GBK Productions, the lifestyle gift lounge and events company, hosted its annual Grammy Awards gifting suite at the McLaren Auto Gallery of Beverly Hills, on Feb. 11th.

UPTOWN was on-hand at the event that did not disappoint. DJ Tegan was spinning jams, while celebrities and press discovered exciting gifts. The room was filled with prized memorabilia, including a signed guitar from Prince and original artwork by Michael Jackson.

Celebs weren’t the only ones receiving gifts. GBK partnered with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to treat four children to the rock star treatment.

A few of the celebrities in attendance included DJ and producer Diplo, singer and TV personality Kandi Burruss, rapper Jake Miller, singer Ally Brooke of Fifth Harmony, dancer and actor Casper Smart, and actress Marsai Martin from ABC’s Black-ish.

We discovered a lot of lifestyle goodies, and among our favorites were portable speaker company SoundBot, which specializes in 3D Bluetooth wireless premium speakers that deliver high-definition sound quality. We were also smitten with handmade hat company American Hat Makers, which crafts leather hats; and Credit Accelerator, which provides credit repair services; Crystamas Inc., which designs beautiful Christmas ornaments. As serious glamour girls, we also fell in love with Minki Lashes, purveyors of high-quality mink eyelashes.

RELATED: GBK Grammy Awards Gifting Lounge

[Images: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images for GBK]

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 21st

• 1804: Middlebury College granted Calvinist minister and abolitionist Lemuel Haynes an honorary master of arts, the first advanced degree bestowed on a Black American. Haynes was also the first Black person to minister to a white congregation, Hemlock Church in Torrington, Connecticut and then West Parish in Rutland, Connecticut.
• 1862: Ship Captain Nathaniel Gordon was hanged for slave trading. He attempted suicide by drinking strychnine, but was revived and later hanged.
• 1895: The North Carolina Legislature, which was dominated by Black Republicans and white Populists, adjourned to honor the death of Frederick Douglass on Feb. 20, 1895.
• 1905: Biologist, educator, and activist Samuel Milton Nabrit was born in Augusta, Georgia.
• 1909: Dr. Helen Octavia Dickens was born in Dayton, Ohio. She was a physician, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, and an associate dean of medicine.
• 1917: Influential jazz pianist, arranger, and composer Tadd Dameron was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
• 1933: The legendary vocalist Nina Simone was born in Tryon, North Carolina as Eunice Kathleen Waymon. She was a pianist, singer, arranger, and composer who performed at Carnegie Hall, Newport Jazz Festival, Town Hall, and internationally. After four Black girls were killed in a church bombing in Birmingham in 1963, Simone wrote “Mississippi Goddam.” She’s also known for songs “I Love You, Porgy,” “Little Girl Blue,” and “To be Young, Gifted and Black,” and “Sinnerman.”
• 1936: Politician and educator Barbara Jordan was born in Houston. She was the first Black woman to be elected to the House of Representatives.
• 1940: U.S. Rep. John Lewis was born in Troy, Alabama to a family of sharecroppers. He organized sit-in demonstrations at segregated lunch counters in Nashville, as a student at Fisk University; marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama; and has been on the front line of the fight for human rights, civil rights, and progressive thinking for more than 40 years.
• 1961: Consummate inventor Otis Boykin patented the electric resistor which was used in computers, radios, television sets, and a variety of electronic devices.
• 1965: Malcolm X, aka El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, was assassinated at age 39 during a rally for his organization in the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights, New York.
• 1987: Black people in Tampa rebelled when a white police officer killed a Black man who was in custody.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 20th

It’s been 100 years since Madam C.J. Walker, America’s first female self-made millionaire, built her Italianate mansion in Irvington, New York, in the same tony neighborhood as the Rockefellers and Astors. Although the expansive home, dubbed Villa Lewaro, is a National Historic Landmark, it’s in jeopardy because the current owners are ready to move.

Harold and Helena Doley bought the magnificent mansion in 1993 and restored it as stewards for the landmark. They upgraded Villa Lewaro’s mechanical, electrical, heating, and plumbing systems. They were also able to reconstruct the terracotta roof with materials from the original manufacturers. In addition, the Doleys restored the paintings decorating the walls of the dining and music rooms. However, they’re now ready to downsize, which places Madam C.J. Walker’s mansion in jeopardy.

Preservationists are worried that new owners or an external agency could significantly alter or demolish the mansion, because landmark status doesn’t provide any oversight or review to prevent alterations to the building, reports the New York Post.

“It’s one of the most important women’s history sites — and African-American history sites — in the country,” said Brent Leggs, a senior field officer at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, to the Post. “It’s absolutely crucial to find the next steward who can carry on its legacy.”

Madam C.J. Walker’s legacy continues to this day, as does that of the home she lived in for a year before passing away. Sundial Brands recently launched a new line of de-frizzing hair products based on the millionairess. In addition, Octavia Spencer has signed on to produce and star in a TV series about Madam C.J. Walker, based on the biography written by her great-great granddaughter A’Lelia Bundles.

Hopefully, this renewed interest in Madam C.J. Walker will translate into protection for her mansion.

[Images: Zandy Mangold via New York Post]

Judy Smith & Isiah Thomas

More than 500 guests attended AT&T‘s Black History Month event, Humanity of Connection, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture. The event was hosted by Homeland star Hill Harper and MC Lyte, who also graced the turntables. In addition to honoring Judy Smith, the inspiration behind Scandal‘s Olivia Pope, and NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, the event also featured a short film from Keith Clinkscales, and remarks from Rev. Al Sharpton and Instagram poet and model Cleo Wade. The event featured a cocktail reception featuring Thomas’ Cheurlin champagne, a macaroni and cheese bar, and a doughnut station.

Spotted at the event: Top executives from AT&T including: Bob Quinn, Claudia Jones, David Huntley and Tanya Lombard; ESSENCE‘s president Michelle Ebanks, Rep. Joe Kennedy, Lynda Johnson Robb, Jesse Jackson, Minyon Moore, and Mignon Clyburn.

The event featured the first screening of a series of films from Clinkscales, highlighting some of the most inspiring and trailblazing African-American pioneers of technology and innovation.

The celebration saluted the following leaders in business, media, and STEM with the Humanity of Connection awards:

Judy Smith – Author, Crisis and Reputation Expert
Isiah Thomas – NBA Hall of Famer, NBATV Analyst, Chairman & CEO of ISIAH International
Lewis Latimer Foundation – Inventor and draftsman for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone

[Images: Tony Powell]

Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins

I’m sure, by now, most of you have seen the ad dubbed “Hero’s Journey,” featuring Melissa McCarthy for Kia‘s new hybrid crossover, in which the comedic actress attempts to save the planet while using the vehicles key eco-friendly attributes. Whether you find the commercial amusing or not, the underlying theme is that Kia has introduced another green machine to the marketplace for individuals looking to reduce their carbon footprint. With an introductory price of $22,890, fuel economy of 52 city MPG, and a 595-mile range the 2017 Kia Niro FE may just be my new hybrid hero!

For the national press introduction of the Niro, Kia welcomed Fit Fathers to the second most populous city in Texas for a few days of test driving, colonial culture experiences, and a bit of sunshine. San Antonio was ideal for driving, as it presented both open and flat roads, highways, and a mix of switchbacks to help us truly understand the dynamics of the small crossover. Texas is also the third largest hybrid market in the U.S., so of course the Niro felt right at home.

Upon arrival to the epic Hotel Emma, where I would lay my head for the next three days, I automatically gravitated towards the custom, adventure-focused Niro on display with a set of hybrid bikes fixed to the roof rails.

As a vegan it only makes sense to treat my body like my hybrid. I ran inside the hotel, changed clothes, and came back out for a five-mile run down the famed River Walk. Next I stopped in Green Vegetarian Cuisine, which was just a stone’s throw away from the hotel, to refuel with plant foods. If I’m going to drive clean, I’m also going eat clean, which means more greens please. I was also pleased to learn that Kia planted a grove of trees in my name in the Blanco River Tree Recovery area, in central Texas, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service.

Kia calls the Niro a smarter kind of crossover, and with 23 years in America the brand has already sold over 6.6 million vehicles, with approximately 647,000 coming in 2017. The Korean automaker also launched four vehicles in 2016, while receiving a number of awards and accolades, including Consumer Reports’ 10 Top Picks and JD Powers’ #1 ranking in IQS with an 83 PP100 score. Moving ahead Kia will debut a variety of more unique rides by 2020, including the sexy Stinger and an updated Rio. Kia will also increase its average fuel economy by 25 percent by 2020. The opening of a new multi-billion dollar plant in Georgia will coincide with the product progression. This means that Kia will help stabilize the economy with more jobs.

With the Niro representing the first Kia to be engineered from the ground up as a hybrid it offers a great deal of efficiency and power. The dedicated hybrid platform is solid and accelerates well. I was even surprised with its maneuverability on roads, especially in Sports mode. And of course for active lifestyles, the wide liftgate opening and configurable, folding seats allow passengers the ability to travel with sporting and adventure gear. All five trims — FE, LX, EX, Touring Launch, and Touring — are instilled with Kia’s direct injected 1.6-liter GDI 4-cylinder engine with 104-horsepower and 40 percent thermal efficiency. The electric motor adds another 43-horsepower but keep in mind the total system output is only 139-horsepower (not 147 horsepower) and 195 lb.-ft. of torque since the units do not run at maximum capacity simultaneously. The Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery is packaged under the rear seat to keep from invading the rear utility room and flat load floor. A 6-speed Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) pairs with the hybrid to offer flowing power transitions.

From the outside, the Niro resembles a tall wagon in a bubbly shape. I typically like my wagons a bit sinister, but since it’s a hybrid I will give the Niro a pass. Kia did affix a tailgate spoiler, tough-looking body cladding, roof rails, and an aggressive front fascia. I drove the Touring model which came with snazzy rims tucked in Michelin 225/45 R18 tires. And of course you can add more by upgrading to the various option packages with a small sunroof, HIDs, LEDs, etc. My favorite is the $2,300 Touring Launch Edition with Unique Hyper Gray 18” alloys, Unique Metallic color grille insert, Unique Black colored roof rails, 8” LCD touchscreen navigation display, Harmon Kardon Premium audio system with eight speakers, an external amplifier and subwoofer, UVO eServices Infotainment System with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, 10-way Power driver’s seat with lumbar control, and charcoal-colored cloth and leather seat trim. Naturally, advanced driver systems help turn the hybrid into a smart car with the upgraded Smart Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, Forward Collision Warning System, or Autonomous Emergency Braking.

Inside, the Niro’s cabin is reminiscent of typical Kia interiors with a clean, well-placed instrument panel, large touchscreen, logical control placements, and a thick, multi-function steering wheel. The electric blue cross-stitching outlining the vents, steering wheel, and shifter instilled a feeling of serenity. Its seats were a bit stiff and the passenger seat had manual adjustments. But I stayed busy with the infotainment when my drive partner had the wheel. The Harman audio system with Clarify technology to help expand compressed music to its natural state was pretty amazing, and the third iteration of Kia’s subscription free UVO (your voice) does most of the thinking for you. From its subscription-free services like Diagnostics, Geo Fencing, Curfew Limit, and Parking Minder to its suite of apps such as Spotify, UVO is pretty cool.

Well done Kia!

The surviving members of Postmaster Frazier B. Baker’s family and a self-portrait by Horace Pippin

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 22nd

• 1841: Painter, lithographer, and cartographer Grafton Tyler Brown was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He was the first Black artist to depict the Pacific Northwest and California.
• 1881: James R. Europe was born in Mobile, Alabama. As a bandleader, arranger, and composer, he helped usher in the transition from ragtime to jazz. Europe was a leading figure in the New York City music scene in the 1910s.
• 1888: Horace Pippin was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He taught himself to paint, and the injustice of slavery and segregation were prominent themes in his folk paintings.
• 1898: A lynch mob in Lake City, South Carolina attacked the post office, which doubled as the home of Postmaster Frazier B. Baker and his family, in the early morning. The mob shot and killed Baker and his 2-year-old daughter Julia. They injured Baker’s wife Lavinia, daughters Rosa and Cora, and son Lincoln. Daughters Sarah and Millie were not hit by the gunfire being shot at the family’s only escape route.
• 1911: Poet Frances Ellen Watkins Harper died in Philadelphia. She was the most famous female poet and Black poet of her day. She wrote more than a dozen books and advocated for equal rights for women and Blacks through her public speaking engagements. She was also a worker on the Underground Railroad and co-founded the National Association of Colored Women in 1896.
• 1932: TV reporter and interviewer Gil Noble was born in Harlem. He produced and hosted Like It Is, which aired weekly on New York City’s WABC-TV.
• 1938: Ishmael Scott Reed was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is a poet, novelist, essayist, songwriter, playwright, editor, and publisher, known for writing satire that challenges American political culture, and highlights political and cultural oppression.
• 1950: Basketball legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving was born in East Meadow, New York. He helped popularize a modern style of basketball that emphasized leaping and playing above the rim.
• 1989: DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince were the first to be awarded a Grammy for rap, for their hit single “Parents Just Don’t Understand.”
• 1990: Milli Vanilli won Best New Artist Grammy for their fraudulent dance act. The Grammy was eventually taken back. And yes, this writer was one of millions who bought their album, but, hey, I was only 9.
• 2008: Civil rights activist Johnnie Carr died in Montgomery, Alabama from a stroke. She played a key role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott and was president of the Montgomery Improvement Association from 1967 to 2008.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 21st

The 89th Academy Awards will air this Sunday, Feb. 26th, on ABC at 7 p.m. EST. For the first time ever, the Academy has nominated six Black actors and actresses for Hollywood’s highest honor.

As you host your viewing party and root for Ruth Negga; Denzel Washington; Mahershala Ali; Naomie Harris; Viola Davis; Octavia Spencer; Moonlight; Fences; and Hidden Figures, these are the Oscar-winning cocktails you’ll want to serve and sip.

Courvoisier Sidecar
Ingredients:

• 2 parts Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
• ½ part fresh lemon juice
• ½ part simple syrup
• 3 dashes Peychauds Bitters

Preparation: Shake all ingredients in shaker, and strain into a martini or coupe glass.

NEO Fresco
Ingredients:

• 1 ½ parts FACUNDO NEO Rum
• ½ part Chareau Aloe liqueur
• ¼ part St. George Raspberry Liqueur
• ¼ part simple syrup
• ½ part lime juice
• makrut lime leaf for garnish

Preparation: Shake all ingredients, and strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with a makrut lime leaf.

BACARDÍ 8 Años Old Fashioned
Ingredients:

• 2 parts BACARDÍ 8 Años Rum
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 splash water
• ½ tsp sugar
• 1 orange peel
• ice cubes

Preparation: In an Old Fashioned glass, combine the sugar, water, and Angostura Bitters with a bar spoon. Add half the BACARDÍ 8 Años along with 2-3 large ice cubes, stirring repeatedly. Pour in the second half of the rum and 2-3 more ice cubes, continuing to stir. Cut a piece of orange peel (about 5cm long); express the orange peel over the drink, releasing the citrus oils. Drop the peel into the drink to finish.

Life in Paris Punch — created by Joel Frasers
Ingredients:

• 750 ml BANKS 5 Island Rum
• 750 ml Extra Brut Champagne
• 375 ml ruby red grapefruit juice
• 275 ml chilled mineral water
• ½ part Absinthe
• Lemon Oleo-Saccharum
• lime wheel
• star anise pods
• large ice block

Preparation: Combine everything but the Champagne in a bowl and stir in the oleo-saccharum until it dissolves. Chill before service. When ready to serve, fill a punchbowl with one large ice block, add Champagne, star anise pods, grapefruit, and lime wheels, edible flowers. Garnish with lime wheel and a star anise pod.

Award Winning Orchard
Ingredients:

• 2 oz Angry Orchard Crisp Apple
• 1 oz St. Germain
• 2 oz Champagne

Preparation: Build in a champagne flute and garnish with a lemon twist.

Truly Sparkling Starlet
Ingredients:

• 6 oz. Truly Spiked & Sparkling Colima Lime
• 1/2 oz. Triple sec
• 1/2 oz. pomegranate juice
• 1 oz. vodka

Preparation: Combine vodka, triple sec, and pomegranate juice over ice in a Collins glass. Top with Truly Spiked & Sparkling Colima Lime. Garnish with lime slice.

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 23rd

• 1868: Sociologist W.E.B. DuBois was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. He was also a historian, civil rights activist, author, editor, and Pan-Africanist, who died in Accra, Ghana. He is known for his book The Soul of Black Folks, which chronicled the heritage of Black Americans, and for co-founding the NAACP and its official magazine, The Crisis.
• 1895: AME minister and educator William H. Heard was named United States Ambassador to Liberia.
• 1915: Reconstruction Era Congressman Robert Smalls died in Beaufort, South Carolina. Although he was born enslaved, he became a ship’s pilot, sea captain, and politician during and after the Civil War.
• 1925: Attorney and politician Louis Stokes was born in Cleveland. He was the first Black congressman elected in the state of Ohio and served 15 terms in the House of Representatives.
• 1927: Surfing legend Nicolás Rolando Gabaldón was born in Los Angeles. Experts of the sport credit him with being the first documented surfer of African and Latino descent at a time when the majority of California’s beaches were segregated.
• 1929: Baseball player Elston Gene Howard was born in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1963, he became the first Black player to be named the American League MVP. He was the first Black player to sign with the New York Yankees, signing a $70,000 contract in 1965 that made him the highest-paid player in baseball history at the time.
• 1937: Writer and children’s advocate Claude Brown was born in Harlem, New York.
• 1942: Poet, educator, and author Haki R. Madhubuti was born in Little Rock, Arkansas as Donald Luther Lee. He was also a publisher and operator of a bookstore that catered to themes of the Black experience. He also won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry.
• 1965: Constance Baker Motley was elected Manhattan Borough President, becoming the first woman to hold that position and the first Black woman to hold such a high elected position in a major American city. She was also the first Black woman to sit in the New York State Senate, and the first Black woman to serve as a federal judge after being appointed by Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.
• 1979: Frank E. Peterson is named brigadier general, becoming the first Black general in the U.S. Marine Corps.
• 1982: The National Black Deaf Advocates was founded to “promote the leadership development, economic and educational opportunities, social equality, and to safeguard the general health and welfare of Black deaf and hard of hearing people.”
• 1995: Melvin Franklin of The Temptations passed away in Los Angeles, following a brain seizure.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 22nd

Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins

It’s always a special moment when presented with the opportunity to test drive a BMW sport sedan, while exploring the beautiful coast of California for days at a time. Recently this exact scenario happened, allowing me to journey from Silicon Valley to north of San Pablo Bay in Napa Valley behind the wheel of an Alpine White 2017 BMW 540i Sedan with the M Sport Package. Its 3-liter TwinPower Turbo inline 6-cylinder engine was both efficient and robust, and vehicle handling was impeccable, especially if you opt for the $3,200 Dynamic Handling Package. But the main storyline here is the implementation of an array of digital, autonomous, and connected technology systems, such as Remote Control Parking which permits the operator to park the Bimmer (Notice: Beamer is actually incorrect) using the key fob while standing outside the vehicle. Amazing!

“The new BMW 5 Series will make a mature, confidently stylish and dynamic impression at every opportunity,”says Karim Habib, head of design BMW Automobiles. “The formal and precise design combines presence, aesthetic appeal, and functionality in equal measure. The Swage line turns up as it heads rearwards, moving from shadow to light and sweeping up the Hofmeister kink in its path rather than continuing into the rear.”

Habib is correct. For example, the design stewardship of the latest generation 7 Series found its way into the all-new 7th generation 5 Series which continues to set the bar in the sport sedan category with remarkably distinguished traits. The “new 5” is longer, wider, and taller than its predecessor and is also lighter due to BMW’s implementation of high-strength steel, magnesium, and aluminum. The latest iDrive 6.0 features a touchscreen, touchpad controller, seven programmable memory buttons, and live tiles; a new chassis and re-tuned power steering enhances driving dynamics; and Integral Active Steering ($1,150) improves the xDrive models. Moreover, the optional $190 Gesture Control (also from the 7) monitors hand movements for various tasks, such as accepting or rejecting a call or adjusting audio volume. However, the multi-colored Head-up Display (part of the $1,800 Driving Assistance Package) is 75 percent larger and displays an array of content which can become pretty annoying after a while. The totally reinvigorated interior also features an 8.8” Dynamic Digital Instrument Cluster, wireless charging, and a WiFi hotspot that can connect up to 10 devices.

Literally, the new 5 Series Sedan, like a few other vehicles in this field — such as those from Audi and Mercedes-Benz — plays far bigger roles than just driving. These cars are your virtual assistants and are here to streamline the hectic responsibilities of life. It may be inundating for some but most will welcome the new-age capabilities. I love it and found the technologies to be very accommodating, especially the Luxury Seating Package ($1,600) which allowed me to tap into iDrive to set up a full body massage for the long drive to the Carneros Resort and Spa in Napa. And I’m not talking about an insincere rub here and there, the BMW 5 Series gets into your muscles like a deep tissue, hot stone massage!

Introduced to the U.S. in 1975, the 5 Series has graced us with true examples for sporty driving and mature amenities from stalwarts like the E12 and F10 to name a few. With approximately 1,241,000 units sold in the U.S., you can see why there is such a love affair with this German number. For the launch, BMW will bring us the 2017 530i Sedan ($51,200), 2017 530i xDrive Sedan ($53,500), 2017 540i Sedan ($56,450), and the 2017 540i xDrive Sedan ($58,750) in a total of 13 colors with 11 metallics which are $700 options. Owners can energize their vehicles with hues such as Mediterranean Blue Metallic and Atlas Cedar Metallic, or keep it sinister with a Carbon Black Metallic. My test vehicle’s MSRP was $56,450 but topped out at a whopping $81,910. Many items are included but BMW provides so many capabilities through packages and individual upgrades that it would be challenging just sticking with the basics. The aforementioned Dynamic Handling Package and the M Sport Package ($2,650) with the thick M Sport steering wheel, M Aerodynamic kit, lowered M Sport suspension, and 19″ M Double-Spoke Wheels are “must haves” for me. Although a full M car is spectacular, I don’t need it for everyday driving. But I do want my BMW to look like one!

Power came easy on the banked roads in route to Napa from the BMW Group Technology Office in Mountain View, CA where I learned a bit more about the research role of the German automaker. A BMW Connected App, Amazon partnership with Alexa, which can remotely lock your vehicle; Remote 3D View; Advanced Real Time Traffic Information from the 10.2” touchscreen; and voice command are just a few reasons why they are based in the Valley of adaptive technology. But I really discovered the power and intent of the 3-liter — inheriting 35 more horsepower for a total of 335-horsepower and 332 lb-ft of torque between 1,380 and 5,200 rpm — when I was rushing to SFO due to unexpected traffic which the vehicle alerted me to. Paired with the 8-speed Steptronic automatic transmission, I engaged Sport mode and shifted intensely with the steering paddles until I arrived safely and on time. Bob Marley kept me entertained from the stimulating $4,200 Bowers & Wilkins (B&W) 16-speaker and 1400-watt surround sound with diamond dome tweeter technology. Harman Kardon designs the system in collaboration with B&W engineers. The 530i receives BMW’s 2-liter 4-cylinder inline engine (turbocharged and direct injection) with 248-horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.

The sporty business sedan provides all the ingredients needed for a full-course drive. Yesterday it was a vision and today it’s a reality. Still, there are more 5 Series renditions to come, including the 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid and the feisty M550i xDrive Sedan. Stay tuned, folks!

[Images: BMW]

By Bageot Dia

The classic horror genre continues to make strides in the film industry. However, this time writer/director Jordan Peele employs a composition of thrilling, yet pensive enjoyment for his debut film GET OUT.

GET OUT depicts the beginning stages of an interracial relationship. With Chris (Daniel Kaluuya of Sicario fame) and his girlfriend Rose (Allison Williams) intending to diminish the awkwardness of their newfound relationship, they make their way to Rose’s family’s estate in order to break the news. However, instead of being met with (at most) tricky conversation, they’re tossed into the terror of a suburban hell-hole. The situation calls for Chris to investigate, and he discovers a series of terrible secrets, plagued with despondency.

Peele’s film surveys ethnic strain, complemented with the disparity of an uncommon correspondence, for a narrative drenched in hair-raising fright. This explains the popularity generated outside of the fast-approaching release date, Feb. 24, 2017.

GET OUT has spawned a myriad of pre-release events, working in tandem to promote the movie. For instance, an art feature, headed by Universal Pictures and inspired by the film, has come to fruition. The GET OUT art gallery features six original illustrations by artists Corey Barksdale, Frank Morrison, Sindisio Nyoni, Jermaine Rogers, Sharlene Artsy, and Taj Tenfold.

But that’s not all. GET OUT has also birthed the wrath of a new internet meme, perpetuating comedic fervor through the use of captions and ominous dark backgrounds; followed by a photo of your choice! If you wish to contribute further to the meme complex, you can get your fill here.

Peele’s directorial fame finds its roots in the inherently comical television series, Key and Peele. With the film boasting an array of strong voices, including: Sean McKittrick (Donnie Darko, Bad Words), Edward H. Hamm Jr. (Bad Words), Landry Jones (X-Men series), Stephen Root (No Country for Old Men), Milton “Lil Rel” Howery (The Carmichael Show), Betty Gabriel (The Purge: Election Year), Marcus Henderson (Pete’s Dragon) and Lakeith Stanfield (Straight Outta Compton, Atlanta). General consensus: You’re definitely in for an exciting time.

GET OUT has met critical acclaim from contemporary review sources, landing a rare 100 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes (as of February 22nd) and an 82/100 on Metacritic, solidifying the positive vibes.

GET OUT hits theaters on February 24th.

Keep clicking to see more of the GET OUT artwork …

By Corey Barksdale

By Sharlene Artsy

By Jermaine Rogers

By Frank Morrison

By Sindiso Nyoni

By Taj Tenfold

RELATED: Snoop Dogg Hosts ‘GET OUT’ Screening

As you know, this month we’re challenging ourselves to learn something new about our history every day of Black History Month, and we’re hoping to share our findings with you, the UPTOWN readers.

Today In Black History: Feb. 24th

• 1811: Daniel Alexander Payne, an AME bishop, was born in Charleston, South Carolina.
• 1864: Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first Black woman to earn a medical after graduating from the New England Female Medical College.
• 1873: Casiville Bullard was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was a stone mason and a carpenter who helped build the State Capitol in St. Paul, Minnesota. The home he built his family, The Casiville Bullard House, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1905: Rev. William Holmes Border, a civil rights activist, was born in Macon, Georgia.
• 1931: Civil rights activist Lillie Brown was born.
• 1937: Dr. Haile Debas was born in Asmara, Eritrea. He is an administrator at the University of California and a physician.
• 1940: Former world heavyweight boxer Jimmy Ellis was born in Louisville, Kentucky.
• 1974: The National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice was founded.
• 1983: Shockoe Bottom, the second largest slave trading center in the country, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1982: Pres. Ronald Reagan announced the Caribbean Basin Initiative, a new program that provided economic and military assistance to Caribbean nations in an effort to curb potential communist activity.
• 1999: Lauryn Hill won five Grammys including Best New Artist and Album of the Year for The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill.

Did we leave a notable person or event off this list? Well, each one teach one. Let us know in the comments.

RELATED: Today In Black History: Feb. 23rd