Madame Noire | Black Women's Lifestyle Guide | Black Hair | Black Love

Source: celebritywonder.ugo.com

OWN will not go down without a fight—if at all. Arianna Huffington and her team have come to Oprah’s aid with a new joint venture for the launch of Oprah Winfrey’s very own section on The Huffington Post. The collaboration between the Post and the Oprah Winfrey Network will launch in August, and according to a press release:

“The special section on the website will feature content created and curated by writers and producers from OWN and Oprah.com specifically for The Huffington Post. Additionally, the section will call upon The Huffington Post’s vast network of bloggers and community to have a conversation around Oprah.com content….

“The Huffington Post Oprah section will contain a mix of articles, blogs and interactive content that will connect with the audience on an emotional and spiritual level. The site will provide practical advice and resources encouraging people to discover their best selves and to lead happy, fulfilling lives by taking steps to attain their goals. Topics covered will include personal growth, spirituality and aspects of physical and mental health.”

This may have been something Oprah should have done from the beginning, although the talk show legend has always been able to stand on her own until now. The Huffington Post has been widely successful, with stats as of February showing that the site receives 36.2 million unique monthly visitors. Oprah could definitely use that type of exposure but whether reading about the media mogul and her network of experts will translate to more viewers of her television channel is a toss-up. The OWN folks are going to have to get creative.

Do you think this Huffington Post section will give Oprah and OWN the boost they need?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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Source: photographytips.com.au

When our favorite books are turned into movies it can either be really great or terribly awful. Though the film adaptation of The Color Purple was a bit different from the book, as expected, the movie was still a masterpiece. The film was well cast with big names who were trying new things and people who had yet to step onto our radar. But it all came together to create an iconic film. So timeless that we bet you still can’t help but to watch it when it comes on tv. Though the story is full of pain, many of us have been able to find humor in some of the film’s darkest moments. Like, What’s Love Got to Do With It, lines from The Color Purple have become a part of the culture. (I’m sure many of you will quote the more popular ones in the comments section.) You know the plot, you know the lines but did you know these behind the scenes secrets? Read on to find out.

Source: http://www.businessinsider.com

Who is going to play Shug Avery?

You would not believe the number of names that came up when it came to this role. Initially, it seemed like the directors were going for a professional singer. Phyllis Hymen was the first choice for the role. While some sources say she declined it, others say she lost it. (The story was included in her biography.) Patti Labelle auditioned for the role but didn’t make the cut. Sheryl Lee Ralph also tested for the role. After Phyllis Hymen was out of the running Spielberg himself tried to get Chaka Khan but she later admitted that she was too scared to take on the role. She wasn’t the only one who wasn’t interested. Diana Ross, Lola Falana and Tina Turner all turned down the role of Shug Avery. Who knows how these divas would have come across on screen but we’re glad that the role eventually went to Margaret Avery. She nailed it.

Source: Inrumor.com

There’s another tell-all in the works about the Obamas, and though this isn’t the first time an author tried to blow the lid on the couple’s model image and their dealings in the White House,  The Amateur, by former New York Times Magazine editor Edward Klein, appears to air a little dirty laundry about some unsuspecting characters.

The New York Post just published two excepts from the upcoming book. The first delves into President Obama’s relationship with controversial preacher Jeremiah Wright, but the more interesting of the two is one about Michelle Obama and her desire to make sure Barack remains faithful during his presidency. The book says:

“Michelle makes it clear to her inner circle, and this certainly includes Valerie [Jarrett], that she wants women around Barack watched and wants info about who he has an eye for and gets touchy with,” this person continued. ‘The thing is, she knows, like everybody, about JFK’s shenanigans, and she thinks, hey, JFK was young and good looking like my guy.”

It’s not just temptresses that Michelle is worried about either. She supposedly has a particular beef with Oprah and doesn’t think Barack needs to align himself with the media mogul so much. Michelle was quoted as telling her staff:

“Oprah only wants to cash in, using the White House as a backdrop for her show to perk up her ratings. Oprah, with her yo-yo dieting and huge girth, is a terrible role model. Kids will look at Oprah, who’s rich and famous and huge, and figure it’s OK to be fat.”

Oprah supposedly went through the roof when she heard about Michelle’s remarks but:

“As far as Michelle was concerned, Oprah’s billions and her elite lifestyle disqualified her as an adviser to Barack, who had no truck with wealthy people, except as a source of campaign contributions, and was a redistributionist at heart.”

The book also tries to paint the first lady as a jealous woman who’s less concerned about Oprah’s fame and more worried about her potentially having some ulterior motives.

“Michelle is furious that her husband makes late-night calls to Oprah, seeking ideas on how to improve his sinking popularity,” the source told me. “Michelle thinks he should turn to her, not Oprah, for that kind of advice. What’s more, Michelle suspects that at one point Oprah secretly encouraged Hillary to consider a run against Barack in the 2012 Democratic primaries.

The source added that “Barack just laughs at the idea and so does Oprah. But Michelle still believes Oprah has been getting too close to Hillary, whom Michelle calls ‘a snake.’ ”

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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stylebistro.com

Hey loves!  If you celebrate it, I’m sure you all are enjoying your Mother’s Day with friends and family! The celebs got into quite a few things over the course of the last week and these are just a couple you might have missed. They never cease to leave us hanging for idle chitchat!

Read the rest of this entry »

Source: Oprah.com

It’s no secret Oprah’s OWN network has not been off to a good start since it launched in January 2011, and though most businesses are expected to take three to five years to become profitable, Oprah’s investors are losing a lot more money than they bargained for with her Discovery channel.

According to a new report from Businessweek, OWN may have lost as much as $330 million since its inception in 2008 through Dec. 31, based on Discovery’s annual 10-K filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. And what’s worse is even if OWN makes money in 2013, as its been predicted to:

“it has saddled Discovery with such high costs that analysts say the company may eventually be forced to write off some of its current $420 million investment.”

Accounting and tax consultant Robert Willens says the network isn’t quite at that point yet, but they’ll likely be there soon, while David Bank, a media analyst at RBC Capital Markets, said that OWN is the most “successful failure in television today.” According to Businessweek:

“Discovery has poured at least $585 million into OWN. It contributed the Discovery Health Channel (OWN took its slots on cable systems), which it valued at $273 million, as its equity stake and loans and interest of $312 million, according to the SEC filing. (OWN’s borrowings from Discovery have tripled since the venture was formed.) The lower $420 million investment value Discovery noted in its yearend filing suggests its share of the OWN loss is $165 million and growing.”

This year, Discovery expects OWN’s operating losses to exceed the balance of equity contributions recorded by the network. Some estimates put that number at $143 million but OWN execs say that’s inaccurate.

Advertisers are being patient with the network whose programs are now averaging between 326,000 and 393,000 viewers thanks to new segments like “Oprah’s Next Chapter,” but experts warn that they won’t wait forever. The bottom line, as Businessweek points out, is that the network is hemorrhaging—quickly.

Do you think OWN is salvageable?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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thehairstylistblog.com

Just in case you didn’t get the memo, I’m here to tell you all that you can have whatever your pretty little heart’s desire. That’s right ANYTHING – your dream man, career, home, or whatever personal goal you may have. The sky is the limit and it’s filled with endless opportunities for you to sieze.  That’s the real secret but what most of us fail to learn and forget is the strategy. You can’t get what you want without a game plan. Yes, some things come with a little luck but for the most part you need to put in some work.

Here are a few things to remember so you can get all you want out of life:

Ask for it – I don’t know how many times I’ve seen women fail at this first and most important piece of the puzzle.  In order for someone to know what you want  you have to tell them, if not they will give you what they want you to have. This factor is especially key in relationships. If you communicate your wants and needs clearly and upfront,  you will save yourself and your partner  a lot of unnecessary stress and headaches.

Check your emotions, issues and insecurities at the door – I’m calling this one out loud and clear  because as women we often allow our hearts to rule when we should be allowing the good sense god gave us to direct our actions. When it comes to getting what you want you must never allow your emotions to take control of you. Yes there will be days when you don’t feel like being bothered, your attitude stinks and you can really care less about anybody but no one should ever know that.  And if you have some deep rooted issues and insecurities about yourself work on them before you start trying to cover them up with your “wants”.

Write it down – Put it on paper! What you want is not real until you see it for real. If you don’t write in a journal start doing it. This is where your dreams turn into realities.

Stay focused – Distractions are not hard to find and they usually come in the form of unimportant and unnecessary matters. Try not to get caught up in things, people or situations that remove you from the task at hand. Keep your eyes on the prize at all times.

Never say never – Never say what you won’t do. Stay open minded while staying true to you.

Ignore NO’s – Never accept no as an answer. NO simply stands for next opportunity, therefore  don’t allow a little opposition to get in your way.

Don’t ask for permission – As women we often look for validation from others to confirm our own hopes and dreams. Stop it! Don’t wait for anyone to allow  you to make things happen in your life. Pat your own back and make it happen!

Want to talk to me Woman to Woman or have a topic you would like addressed? Email me at rhooks@madamenoire.com or follow me on twitter @rashanahooks

Source: Jezebel.com

Oprah recently mustered up a little bit of her angel network magic while dining at the fancy Scarpetta restaurant in Beverly Hills. The media mogul was reportedly out enjoying  a five-course meal on the restaurant’s patio with four OWN execs when a man came up to her and asked, “Oprah can you help a homeless guy get a bowl of soup, please?”

Without hesitation, Oprah responded “Please, can we get him some money, get him a meal.” The man introduced him self as Eddie and after Oprah said “God bless you, Eddie” one of the OWN execs blessed him with an unknown amount of cash (it was a wad). Scarpetta’s staff also brought the man a feast to partake of.

Some of us might do this on a daily basis but most people are quick to ignore the homeless people they come in contact with. It’s good to see Oprah isn’t one of them. Moral of the story? Ask and ye shall receive.

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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topicpls.com

The fellas love luscious lips! And ladies love luring lashes! Lashes are one trend which originally served in an effort to add dramatic flair to Hollywood actresses, but have now managed to make their way the lids of teens, moms and working women who just want a little extra something. Lash application is a perfect way to save time in the morning routine and look phenomenal for every photo op, but with so many options, who has time to figure out what to choose? Not worries, we’ve got you covered for 10 things everyone should know about the fabulous falsies.

getreligion.org

A few years ago, Beyonce told a magazine that churchgoers’ reactions to her celebrity status keep her from attending church. “I think God understands if I miss Sunday service,” she said.

Well, Beyonce may not be one of them, but according to the National Council of Churches, 147.3 million people—or just under half of the American population—attend church.

Personally, I’m a church girl and have been for most of my life. I’m always at church. I volunteer at my church, worked at my church, went to high school at my church, attended a Bible college at my church and even met my husband at my church. However, as I’m reading more of the Bible, aggressively pursuing my career goals, paying closer attention to my financial status, navigating life as a newlywed and generally just re-evaluating several areas of my life, I’ve begun to wonder if incessant church attendance is necessary…or even productive?

I believe that church attendance is vital for education, edification, and fellowship with other believers. Week after week, God moves in churches across America to bring salvation, healing and deliverance. There are people in other countries who risk their lives to have an organized church service.

However, many churches like mine have three or more services a week and expect their members to attend every one. I’m not convinced any successful person spends this much time at church.

chron.com

How could they? There are only so many hours in a week and if we have jobs and families then where does excessive church attendance fit in? It doesn’t. Something has to suffer and because too many erroneously and un-Biblically equate church with Christianity, we find ourselves forsaking all to…attend church.

That’s not what God intended.

When people in the Bible asked Jesus what they must do to be saved, he didn’t answer, “Spend every waking moment at church,” so why, two-thousand years later, has the Way, the Truth, and the Life been watered down to church attendance?

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life recently reported that “roughly 60 percent of Black women say they attend religious services at least once a week. No group of men or women from any other racial or ethnic background exhibits comparably high levels of religious observance.”

We also know that, statistically, Black women lag behind others in the areas of health and wealth. Are our peers are climbing the ladder of success as we sit in our local sanctuaries? How can we even begin to fulfill the Great Commission and be the “light of the world” if we hide our light under the church pews?  Living in Christian bubbles is wholly ineffective. The expectation that Christians cloister in church every chance we get has largely left us out of the ranks of highly successful people. Is there a way to find a balance between spending time at church and still getting substantial things accomplished in life? I believe so.

Of course, I can think of many less noble ways to whittle away time than spending it at church. People spend an exorbitant amount of time watching Real[ly] [Not Anybody's] Wife of [Pick Your City], enjoying senseless “hobbies” or being engrossed in Facebook’s new Timeline feature. Personally, I’ve spent hours I’ll never get back on Twitter, Pinterest and Tumblr or catching up on shows via DVR.

I’m merely suggesting for that we shouldn’t be made to feel as though we are less than heaven-bound because we skip a Wednesday night service in order to go to work, get our house in order or even to spend time with friends and family.

I’m no Beyonce Knowles but, yes,I know God understands if I too, miss a Sunday service.

Follow me on Twitter: @AlissaInPink or check out my blog This Cannot Be My Life 

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Every week, there’s a new report on an instance of black people being excluded, overlooked, or discriminated in some shape or form. This week it was Acura and “The Bachelor,” a few weeks ago it was Vanity Fair and Kerry Washington, always its fashion magazines and runways and beauty campaigns. The thought that comes up most consistently after the outrage is why are we looking for white people’s approval, why are we seeking their validation, why don’t we spend time nurturing our own? And while I don’t agree that by pointing out these instances of discrimination we are seeking white people’s approval (I think it’s holding them accountable and demonstrating evidence to the contrary of their melting pot, post-racial society, we love diversity claims), I do think that more time would be better spent not seeking or needing to be a part of what white people have going on—and have obviously shown through their actions they want to keep to themselves. But I’m curious if we really know what that would mean or how to even achieve it.

When I think of a time when black people had their “own” on a large scale in entertainment, I think of the Robert Johnson 1980 BET days, even Don Cornelius’ Soul Train days come to mind. These men had a vision to give black people something they could be proud of on TV and they made it happen. But the reality is Bob Johnson had to get John C. Malone to invest $500,000 in the project to get it off the ground, and once the network became a raving success, it no longer remained a black-owned network because he sold it to Viacom for $3 billion in 2003, and ever since we’ve been left with the version of “black entertainment” we see now. When I thought about the wealthy rappers that were acknowledged by Forbes yesterday, I noticed a common thread. A lot of the men’s wealth came from selling companies and brands they’d built. Jay-Z sold Rocawear, 50 Cent sold his stake in Vitamin Water, and Dr. Dre gave up his majority ownership in Beats Electronics for a hefty price. It’s a common—and smart—business practice, but not one that allows us to have the ultimate say in the decisions that upset us, like who appears in which advertisements and how we’re portrayed on TV. That wealth also doesn’t trickle down into the community because we’re not selling these businesses off to other African Americans, they’re going to large corporations headed by white men mostly who could care less about our representation, and the money remains in the hands of the black 1%.

I even think about Oprah and the enormous opportunity to change the face of black programming if she would even just back a venture financially, aside from putting it on her network, but from what we’ve observed of her career that’s just not her thing. If we look at where the wealth is distributed in black America and the individuals who have the dollars to invest in independent black films or black clothing designers, the interest just isn’t there. That doesn’t make these figures bad people. They’re businessmen. White people aren’t thinking about sharing the wealth when they embark on a new venture, they’re building their individual pockets. It’s just that there’s so many more of them and so few of us, and so when we run out of the few select black people who could open doors to come through, we’re left with relying on white people to at least acknowledge we exist in some way and to represent us fairly in the media. That’s why we get so upset when they fail—often times on purpose—it really is our last resort in a lot of ways.

The idea of not having to look at programs and networks that weren’t created for us to begin with as the only source of quality programming is like the black community’s Nirvana but we don’t own much and when something isn’t yours, you don’t get much say in how it operates. There’s hope on the horizon with Diddy and Magic Johnson’s new cable channels that are in the works, but even those networks will be owned by Comcast. A few years ago, Quincy Jones announced plans to buy back Vibe, the magazine he started, I’m not sure if the web presence of the publication is evidence he kept his word or not. I hope that there are other black business minds out there with altruistic goals of putting black people on the map, and not just self, but I’m not too optimistic. I am completely behind the idea that we need to create our own and nurture it, my question is, how will we ever be able to do that without needing white people’s approval, at least from a financial backing standpoint, if we’re not even holding on to the things we’ve built or paving the way for others?

Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.

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