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Every year there are plenty of odes to some of the world’s most prominent people. This past year it was Abraham Lincoln. It was Alfred Hitchcock. It was Margaret Thatcher. But who should be next to have their life story told on the silver screen? Madame Noire makes its picks for 15 legends who deserve some cinematic recognition.

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With a new album on the way in November, a partnership with Reebok and a new snazzy haircut, Alicia Keys is back and in full effect. As she zips around the world campaigning for President Obama, showcasing the Reebok shoe line she helped to design, performing and taking baby Egypt Dean around with her, she found just enough time to sit down and chat with the good folks at Ebony in New York. She talked about politics, being a mother, and the love of her life, Swizz Beatz. Here are a few highlights:

When talking about finding an extra kick in her step and just being happy, Keys had to give props to her husband for helping her walk taller, a man she calls her soul mate:

“Finding my soul-mate, finding the love of my life has been a freeing experience because of the way we identify [with] each other and understand each other. It’s so rare that you feel like you can be your whole self [with someone]. I can be my whole self, he can be his whole self. I don’t have to be half of myself, he doesn’t have to be half of himself. We can just be ourselves and so that alone [is a different feeling].  He’s actually taught me so much… He has that kind of a carefree easy-going spirit that has definitely taught me to be a little bit a little more [easy-going], which is great.

Props also go to her son, Egypt. She says that watching him grow and learn has made her see things in a new light and be more appreciative of the small stuff:

“And then having a baby, it’s like ‘Oh my gosh!’ It makes every — the smallest thing amazing.  Like the first time he’s discovering how to say the word ‘light.’ Like ‘light’ is the most exciting thing. (She imitates Egypt) And it’s kind of true! The light is amazing. Like, ‘Look! You turn it off and then you turn it on and it’s beautiful!’ But for (adults) things become so routine, so mundane and for him he’s discovering things for the first time so it makes me see things in a new place. So, I think all of those things together has brought me to a place that’s like just a fresh, new start. And I really like this new start.”

On top of that, Keys also touched on the longstanding rumors that she would play Lena Horne in a biopic. As biopics are all the rage to talk about in Hollywood but not come to fruition, you can’t get too excited about the idea because it might not happen. However, Alicia says to do so would be a huge honor:

“To be Lena Horne would be a great honor for me — like huge — so I really do hope that pans out.” But, she admits, “Movies are tricky. They’re tough and they take a long time to sort out and put together.”

Be sure to click over to Ebony.com to see the rest of the interview, where Alicia Keys discusses her thoughts on President Obama and why he’s the candidate best for womens’ interests.

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The National Museum of African American history, which is scheduled to open in 2015, is currently in the process of curating an exhibit that will highlight the strides of African American women. But they’re doing so in a very unique way, through fashion. They’ll show how black women have fought to achieve their dreams by featuring the clothes they were while fighting. For instance the exhibit includes a dress Lena Horne wore in one of her many films, pictured above and below. The dress was donated by her daughter.

Check out the video below to see which other pieces of clothing will make it into the exhibit:

Black Fashion A Focus at New African American Museum For Women’s History Month: MyFoxDC.com

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Sixty six years ago, publisher John H. Johnson, launched the Ebony Magazine, a monthly lifestyle publication that focused on issues and stars of particular importance to the black community. Everyone from “Hollywood to Harlem” as the magazine toted. The aim of the magazine was to portray a generally positive, uplifting message about accomplishments in the black community. Check out how the magazine has evolved over the past six decades.

November, 1945 You may find it hard to believe but the first issue of Ebony Magazine didn’t have a smiling star splashed across the cover. Instead the magazine sought to draw attention to the issue of race relations by featuring seven boys, six of them white on the cover of the November issue. This first issue, in 1945 sold out with 25,000 copies. The magazine would reach its peak circulation in 1997 at 2 million.

I know what you’re thinking. It’s April. And you know what that means.
It’s jazz appreciation month ya’ll! Okay, so maybe that’s not what you had in mind, but if you weren’t aware of this out of nowhere novelty holiday, it’s not too late to celebrate the smoothest virtuosos and jazz singers of now and then. But that’s the thing. When you talk about jazz, first thing that comes out of people’s mouths is Miles, Coltrane, Louis, and Thelonius. The men. But if you’re looking to expand your iTunes playlist, represent for the ladies and finish up Jazz Appreciation Month to the backdrop of a dope soundtrack, then here’s a list of some of the best female jazz singers who expressed our joy, pain and strife best, before we even felt it.

Pearl Bailey in Carmen Jones, 1954.

The golden age of Hollywood wasn’t so golden for black folks, nor was much else in the country at the time. When we think of early films, we often think of black actors and actresses that were relegated to degrading roles such as the Mammy or the tap dancing butler. However, even back then there were black filmmakers and actors that were making quality, complex work that spoke to our struggles and played to black audiences and some White audiences. Here are some black film pioneers that you should know about.

What’s beautiful to you? Do you think your idea of beauty will change in a year or so? How about 20? Well a recent survey conducted by Allure Magazine showed the collectively beauty standards have changed. The survey found that today, biracial women are considered the most attractive; whereas 20 years ago, there was a preference for blonde hair and blue eyes. Today there’s a preference for darker skin and dark hair.

A writer at the Grio thinks this is a step in the right direction, but the findings can be a little deceiving.

Now it goes without saying that white people dominated the more than 2,000 men and women surveyed. So, more correctly, the study reflects the beauty ideals of white people and not Americans of all races. But the findings, while encouraging, can also be misleading.

What are black people’s standards of beauty? Do we prefer lighter skin too?

Check out the rest of the article.

(AP) – An auction of 200 items that once filled the home of jazz singer and actress Lena Horne sold Wednesday for $316,000, more than double the highest pre-sale estimate.  The late star’s belongings from her Manhattan apartment were auctioned at Doyle New York. They epitomized her sophisticated taste: French-style furnishing, elegant costumes, jewelry and fine art. A sequined cardigan evening coat sold for $1,125, while a small Louis Vuitton trunk with stickers inscribed Lena Horne Hayton was sold for $20,000—far above its pre-sales estimate of $500 to $700. And a soft leather vanity case inscribed LH that was estimated at $200 to $400 sold for $6,250.

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