OUR ROOTS RUN DEEP
You'd think that NBC would lay low after all the bad press following the Conan O'Brien-Leno Leno late-night fiasco. But the network just can't get it together. The Roots drummer Questlove always Tweets things he finds funny. Yesterday, the 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon' backing band member decided to post a picture of the NBC cafeteria's "black history month menu," which featured fried chicken, black-eyed peas, collard greens with smoked turkey and jalapeno cornbread. Well, having a million-plus followers gets lots of attention. An NBC public relations executive took down the sign and even apologized for offending people. But the African American cook who made the menu put up a video, letting the world know that she doesn't see what the fuss is all about. So, it's anyone's guess if the Black History Month cafeteria specials will be back at NBC later this month. [New York Mag]
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BLAME IT ON THE ALCOHOL
Former City High front woman Claudette Ortiz is not feeling the allegations that she drove her ex-boyfriend and group mate, Robbie Pardio, to alcoholism. Pardio was featured on an episode of A&E's 'Intervention' and said it was Ortiz's marriage to their third group mate, Ryan Toby, that caused him to hit the bottle. Well, the Latina beauty was having none of that. Ortiz spoke to the She Is blog and said that Pardio has been a drunk since their first meeting in high school and that during their relationship, he cheated on her and threw hair brushes at her. Regardless of how he got on the bottle, let's hope that A&E gets that man some help and that he's ready to get sober. [She Is blog]
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AT ATTENTION!
Most people don't even know who Mehcad Books is. What better way to get people's attention than by taking off your clothes (see Rihanna). 'The Deep End' star -- who is actually a great actor on the rise -- is modeling his Calvin Klein underwear, and, boy, is his body banging. The 29-year-old stud, who recently starred in HBO's 'True Blood,' was shot by Mikael Jansson for the new ad campaign and will also appear in digital films for the line's Web site later this month. The other new CKX guys include Kellan Lutz, Japanese soccer pro Hidetoshi Nakata and Spanish tennis star Fernando Verdasco. [Just Jared]
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LOOKING FOR A NEW LOVE?
Her brother Ray J appears to have found love on his VH1 show, and now it seems as if Brandy has nailed herself a rapper. Or another one, depending on who you talk to. The former chart-topper Tweeted last month that she was "excited about a particular person in her life" and that she hoped her attention could be held. Then, she was spotted all over the country with rapper-of-the-moment FloRida. The two have been spotted partying at Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, at the Y100 concert in Fort Lauderdale and at the Universal Motown Republic Group Grammy Bash at the W Hotel in Los Angeles last week. Gal pal Kelly Rowland is said to have hooked the couple up. Best of luck to them. [Bossip]
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READY TO JAM
She may have gotten an Oscar nomination for her breakout role in 'Precious,' but trust that Mo'Nique won't be leaving her comedy roots anytime soon. The BET late-night talk show hostess is taking over more hosting duties, but this time it's for a Showtime special with NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal.
On Feb.12, in connection with NBA All-Star weekend, she will head to Dallas to film 'Shaquille O'Neal Presents: All-Star Comedy Jam.' The show will premier later this summer. [Eurweb]
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CLASS ACT
He just got charges dropped for assaulting a photographer at LAX, and already Kanye West is acting a fool.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper and his assistant were seated in business class instead of first class on a flight earlier this week, and West allegedly demanded that he be bumped up.
Well, after a lot of hooting and hollering, 'Ye got his wish. Come on, dude, business class really ain't that bad. [New York Post]
Comments: (12)
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By: ADMR on 2/05/2010 3:55PM
I Love SOUL FOOD.
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By: stare k on 2/07/2010 10:07PM
White people from the south & the ones live in the south ,They eat soul food ,eat corn-bread dressing too. You all don't know how to mix it . you add stuffing to it so it wont have a corn meal taste too it. Your dressing taste like gooy white bread mixed with water. You recently started eating yams , seet potatoes . SOUL FOOD IS SOOOOOO GOOOOD.I see u all in the gorcery story all the time with sweet potatoes , talking about how good they are .
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By: MigThor on 2/08/2010 7:28AM
Concerning the "Our Roots Run Deep" blog, this is what happens when you quickly jump to conclusions without getting the facts first. Our high school gymnasium is called The Big House and without digging for facts, I thought it was a racist act until the brotha who suggested the name got me straight. Sometimes we are too sensitive.
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By: sonny peterson on 2/08/2010 11:05AM
our heritage is soul food. well its one anyway.
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By: eldohill on 2/08/2010 11:14AM
The Food is only racist if we allow it to offend us in that manner, everyone eats fried Chicken and Blackeyed peas and the likes, who ever termed it as soul food, during slavery Black people ate what ever they could to survive we are a creative and resourceful people perefecting on whatever we ( in this case cook) and as always the white man took our creations and made a killing now we get offended and call it racist, lets worry about what is happening in the world today that affect Black people, there are a lot of issues.
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By: A on 2/08/2010 12:07PM
Isn't this what every soul food establishment sells? How can this be offensive when a black chef is the one who presented the menu? I bet if they had let us vote on what we wanted to have on a black history month menu it pretty much would have been the same thing. NBC doesn't have anything to apologize for and I believe we are being a little too sensitive on this issue. It might be different if a white executive said "it's black history month, let's serve fried chicken in the cafeteria."
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By: G. E. N. on 2/08/2010 2:53PM
I'm tired of 'Uppity Negroes" saying what is Black or African American life style.
Most of them didn't even grow up hungry and poor, or go to a Black Baptist Church, where the food served for sunday dinner was listed on the above menu.
If i remember correctly, it was those 'uppity Negroes that help kill off black industries and businesses by wanting to integrate with the EuroAmerican populace, thus closing the doors of thousands of AfricanAmerican farms, clothing and food processing plants, distribution and retail stores, as well as independant tailors, hat and shoe makers.
EuroAmericans only see the outter fringes of AfricanAmerica culture and thoise Negroes that want to emulate the Euro style of life critiicize any thing that would be non EuroAmerican.
I suppose those would be the Negroes who owned and sold slaves and sold out any uprising of AfricanAmerican enterprises to keep themselves in good with 'Massah'.
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By: VERSAINT on 2/08/2010 8:02PM
"Himalaya of Corpses"
This Himalaya of corpses sprang up
just in 35 seconds over the pearl of Caribbes,
where the tears and cries were in the air
all over the world, regarding Ispagnola which
always meant the land of hills.
Haiti used to represent the Caribbean memories,
built in the 16th century. As the first independent
colored nation, they brought help for freedom to
so many neighbours around the Central and North
coasts, where their blood and strategy have made
the difference;
Haiti used to be the pearl of Caribbes,
then it has suddenly turned into a Himalaya
of corpses, where the tears and cries have been
heard all over the world, as fast as Ispagnola
has fallen just in 35 seconds like the big-bang
of the 21st century, touching the hearts of even
those who used to speculate on the mother nature.
Is it a punishment or a correction? Either one, it might
be a message for the fellow observers or neighbours.
Thank you all for helping Haiti by heart & sincerity!!!
artnook.weebly.com
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By: jukejoint on 2/08/2010 8:02PM
There's nothing wrong with "uppity" African-Americans who want more out of life then the usual degeneracy that be going on in the inner city. The blacks that have made it out the ghetto shouldn't thump their nose at folks who didn't. On the other hand people in the inner city have a reputation for being ungrateful, full on envy, violent tendencies. Where's the love at in the community?
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By: d_nice on 2/09/2010 8:57AM
Both arguments on the Soul Food argument are credible. The issue is not that they chose to modify the menu. The issue is that African American "History" is richer than cornbread and collards - there were many other characteristics, icons and accomplishments that could have been highlighted. Can you imagine commemorating Italians by solely serving lasagna. It falls too short or what could have been done with maybe a billboard or display with an uplifting message.
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