Oprah Winfrey

Mar 10 2011

Established Maranatha Community Church

Celebration of life services for Billy G. Ingram, Ph.D., founder and pastor of Maranatha Community Church, will be held on March 19 at 10 a.m.

Ingram, 58, died on March 8 of a heart attack while sleeping. He was taken by paramedics to Kaiser Permanente on Cadillac in Los Angeles where he was declared dead.

Gregg Reese  |   OW Staff Writer
Feb 24 2011

A wonderful way to save the world

Video games have become entrenched within the fabric of society. Along the way, they have raised concerns among medical and other professionals, including the Centers for Disease Control, for possible detrimental side effects such as overly aggressive behavior and desensitizing habitual users to violence, while fostering a sedentary, “couch potato” existence that leads to obesity, sloth, health and other quality-of-life issues.

Gail Choice  |   OW Contributor
Jan 20 2011

Hollywood by Choice

This is shaping up to be a very good year for Blacks in Hollywood. I know I sound optimistic, that’s because I am.

TV One and BET are beginning to truly step up to the plate and present original programming (‘Love That Girl’ TV One) that not only hires Blacks in front of the camera, but behind it as well. These shows represent not only a new generation of producers, writers and directors, but capitalize on the experience, skills and passion that the brother and sisters from ‘back in the day’ learned under the gun.

Juliana D. Norwood  |   OW Staff Writer
Dec 16 2010

Concert proceeds will help children’s foundation

R & B sensation and “Oprah” Show Karaoke winner Abraham McDonald will continue the spirit of giving when he holds the last performance of his “Home for the Holidays” concert series.

The Luther Vandross-style crooner will perform his sultry yuletide single “Giving You My Heart,” which is now available on iTunes, his ballad “Miracle” and other hits at Busby’s Mile High Club on Dec. 28 in Los Angeles.

Terri Schichenmeyer  |   OW Contributor
Dec 9 2010

Jesse, Hannah and Carroll Foster; illustrated by Jean Christodoulou

At about this time every year, little ones begin to wonder about some very important things.

Have they, for instance, been a good kid–good enough for a visit from St. Nick? Will Santa be able to find their house? Does he prefer chocolate chip or sugar cookies with sprinkles, or is he more of a peanut-butter-cookie-kind-of-guy? And if their home doesn’t have a chimney, how in the world can he ever leave presents?

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”