Here’s a look at African American individuals and issues making headlines throughout the country.
California
Los Angeles-based life coach, Nekisha-Michelle Bakre, is on a mission to heal “Black love,” create joy, and make dreams come true, helping women of color attract and keep their ideal mate through her new blog www.nolovedrama.com. Nekisha-Michelle, “Life Redesign Queen,” is a happiness and love expert. As seen on KTLA 5 Morning News and Black Enterprise magazine, Bakre says the answer to healthy long-lasting relationships is embodying the secret to attracting your ideal soul mate, becoming bilingual in your love talk and consistently raising your love IQ. Using her own experiences, the death of her first love, multiple abusive relationships, journey of celibacy and a happy divorce, Bakre uses her life as a platform to help those seeking love. After completing her own soul work, she is now dedicated to intimately helping women of color avoid the pitfalls and unnecessary drama that can be associated with love and relationship.
District of Columbia
First lady Michelle Obama will kick off a two-day nationwide tour, this week celebrating the third anniversary of Let’s Move!, her initiative to ensure that all children grow up healthy and reach their full potential. The tour will showcase progress and announce new ways the country is coming together around the health of children. Mrs. Obama will also travel to New York City to talk about the third anniversary of Let’s Move! on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Good Morning America and The Dr. Oz Show.
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When author and artist Andre Williams looked at photos of the moon, he was startled to see the outline of African images. “I had to look at it several times before I was convinced myself,” said Williams. “As I looked closer, I realized I could see the outline of the continent of Africa, the body image of an African man, and several animal’s images as well.” Williams showed the moon photos, with the images outlined, to Smithsonian museums officials, who were surprised as well. Williams has written a book, “The Untold History of Africa and Africans on the Planet Earth and the Planet Moon,” which describes his findings. He has also posted his images, with sketches overlaying the landscape of the lunar surface, online. In addition, he has created a video on YouTube that unveils a superhero for children to lift their spirits and morale, based on his discoveries. “It’s something that parents can show their children to highlight the importance of their origins, and, for adults, it is another indication that there are still mysteries in the universe.”
Georgia
Calvin Mackie, motivational speaker, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and engineer, was honored with the 2013 Bennie Award in Achievement during “A Candle in the Dark” gala, as part of the annual Founder’s Week celebration at Morehouse College. After high school, Mackie was accepted to Morehouse College under the condition that he undertake remedial classes first. Surpassing everyone’s wildest expectations, he went on to graduate magna cum laude and as a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society. The event displayed the talents of Morehouse students, showcased the college’s tradition of building leaders, and celebrated nationally acclaimed African Americans who are pioneers within their industries. Mackie was one of three alumni who received Bennie Awards, which are named after Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, Morehouse’s president from 1940 to 1967.
Nevada
Terry L. Raimey and Justin Raimey are set to launch their 2013 spring/summer book titles and product line for their youth entertainment company, Black Streak Entertainment. The spring 2013 season will mark the first time the brothers will debut and exhibit their teen books and products at the spring ASD Las Vegas trade show and Book Expo America since Black Streak’s official company launch in 2011. Products within this line include art prints, button packs, vinyl stickers, key chains, embroidered patches, magnets, bookmarks, T-shirts and female tops, silicone rubber wristbands, and cellphone charms. In order to keep customers engaged throughout the season, the products will be added to the company’s catalog for customer purchase over the span of the spring and summer seasons rather than being released in a single collection.
Maryland
Savvier Health, LLC, has announce the first African American health app for Android and iPhone. Total Health for African American Christians takes a mind, body, and spirit approach to healing some of the most devastating health conditions plaguing African Americans today. Common medical conditions, and their toll on the Black community, are the key focus of this app. Topics are presented in a concise, easy-to-understand format, and include a list of risk factors–many of which can be modified–an action plan to stay well, and helpful links so users can gain more in-depth knowledge. Since complete health also requires spiritual and emotional wellbeing there are also sections to enlighten and motivate users to live less stressful, more spirit-filled lives.
New York
Thanks to a partnership with Symphony Space, Harlem School of the Arts is once again a home-base platform for such persons as Pulitzer Prize-nominated Eisa Davis to take the stage in an intimate workshop setting, performing excerpts from her latest musical theater piece. “Flowers Are Sleeping” is a rare insight into the actor-writer-singer’s artistic process; a culmination of years of script development as well as more recent rehearsals in the Harlem School of the Arts’ studios and its ongoing Family Enrichment series. The world premiere will take place April 25-27, 2013, as part of the Harlem Resonance Festival. Harlem School of the Arts Family Enrichment series features free workshops, lectures and performances that allow rare or behind-the-scenes glimpses into artistry within any of the five arts disciplines they house: music, dance, theatre, visual arts and musical theatre.
International
The much-awaited swimsuit issue of Sports Illustrated magazine has become public relations nightmare with its display of bikini-clad White models prancing alongside Africans carrying spears or Chinese paddling rafts in cone shaped hats. A panorama of the “seven continents” was promised in this year’s issue, but what readers actually got was an odd juxtaposition of scantily-clad women vamping it up next to some local inhabitants of the various continents as if they were “exotic props,” according to some critics. Columbia University professor Mark Lamont Hill observed: “For me the African picture was probably the most offensive because it played on some of the most old and stereotypical images. It showed the African as primitive almost uncivilized.” The magazine issued a statement: “We apologize if anyone was hurt by our representation of their culture.”
