There are some actresses (i.e,. Halle Berry, Thandie Newton, Kerry Washington) who get all of the glory, and there are some that don’t get nearly as much recognition. Phenomenal acting abilities have gone with a lack of praise while mediocre performances by non-black women are seen as unparalleled (even when they’re just okay…). You can Google lists of top black actresses, and find that while those women are great at what they do, a great deal of them haven’t even had a leading role in years (if at all). Maybe they’ve decided to take a break from acting, or maybe they are just struggling to grab those big roles, but it’s about time that Hollywood is reminded that there are strong black actresses in Hollywood, and these women need to have their faces back in somebody’s movie sooner than later.

Source: WENN

Earlier this week, popular fashion commentator and Creative Ambassador for Barneys New York,  Simon Doonan penned a rather interesting article for Slate.com, where he recounted the extensive research that he’d done on actress Pam Grier in preparation for an upcoming interview with the 63-year-old beauty. In the article titled, “Pam Grier’s Afro: Let’s Bring It Back,” Doonan goes on to praise the actress for the big, fluffy tresses she rocked back in the day. While Simon’s admiration of the ‘fro seems harmless, there’s something rather ironic about him urging people to “bring back the afro,” meanwhile the ‘fro never really went anywhere, not to mention the natural hair revolution that has been sweeping the nation for years now.

“The afro had it all: It was natural, symbolic, regal, unisex, and glamorous. Liberated from the costly and time-consuming burden of trying to make their hair resemble that of white folk, black chicks—and dudes—had found the perfect marriage of style and practicality. And yet … styles change, and fashion evolves, and the afro has—with the exception of occasional retro-hipster sighting on Broadway below Eighth Street—become as rare as a dodo,” Doonan wrote.

His commentary left many people with raised eyebrows, asking themselves, “Where the hell has this guy been?”

“It is impossible to imagine Beyoncé or Kerry Washington or Michelle Obama rocking a Pam Grier afro today (though Beyoncé paid a retro-camp tribute to the style in the 2002 Austin Powers movie). The alternatives—$2,000 weaves, time-consuming blowouts, and scalp-searing chemical processing—seem infinitely less desirable, and yet, African-Americans have largely turned their backs on the freaky ’fro. But what does this honky know?”

“Thanks to the current unpopularity of the afro, afro picks can be purchased at rock-bottom prices [...]The revolution is coming, and it will be YouTubed. So get your pick now and start practicing,” Doonan goes on to say.

I know what you’re probably thinking and others share your sentiments. Jezebel’s Dodai Stewart quickly pointed out that Doonan resides in New York City where there is a large population of people embracing their natural locs.

“Doonan lives in New York, where a veritable ton of people are embracing natural hair, be it a TWA (teeny weeny afro) or a larger, fluffy ‘fro. From Harlem to Clinton Hill and Fort Greene and beyond, natural hair is all over this town,” Stewart notes.

Gene Demby of NPR also took to his Twitter page to comment on Doonan major “DUH” moment.

The Root’s Akoto Ofori-Atta also had a few words for Dooan and his commentary.

So far, Simon has yet to respond to the interesting reactions that his “bring back the afro” campaign stirred up.

Thoughts?

 Today, we have Beyoncé and Idris, but before they were heating up Google images, there was Eartha Kitt and Billy Dee Williams. With movie star good looks and the magic to make grown men and women cry, these 15 stars gave us nothing but sex appeal and our parents and grandparents loved it! Here are some of the best black sex symbols of yesteryear!

Source: Promotional Photos/Google Images

Billy Dee Williams

“Oh Billy Dee” is what all of our grandmothers said whenever the mere shadow of this actor came on a screen. Billy Dee was so hot that Diana Ross couldn’t  stop acting with him, appearing with him in Lady Sings the Blues and Mahogany.  Billy even made the hood-classic drink Colt 45 hot. Who else can do that?

WENN.com

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.

Black women aren’t always given the opportunity to portray strong or positive female leading characters on-screen, particularly because Hollywood is dominated by men…white men. Somehow, however, the following women have struck gold in films and television shows that would have them act as outstanding characters, showcasing strength and character in multiple capacities, depicting black women who are struggling with death, romance, violence, revenge, scandal, betrayal or simply trying to survive–all in a gracious and entertaining way.

“Scandal”: Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington stars in ABC’s Scandal as crisis manager, Olivia Pope. Pope’s character is loosely based on the real life crisis manager, Judy Smith. Washington portrays Pope as a headstrong, heavy-hearted woman who personally bears each burden that presents itself in her life. Pope leads a team of attorneys who are tasked with the goal of solving issues for politicians, celebrities and athletes. Scandal doesn’t elude Pope’s personal life, after all, she was carrying on an affair with the president of the United States–making the show all the more interesting.

Movies can be etched into our minds for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we are captivated by memorable performances. Others have great soundtracks that have us singing the songs long after the movie has ended. For some, we are magically transported to far flung exotic locales or back in time through stunning imagery and imaginative wardrobe and set design…

And sometimes, it’s the hair.

Here is a list of the top 10 movies that stick in our minds because the sistas knew how to rock their hair. An ode to our “Hair”oines…

www.entertainmentwallpaper.com

10. Deliver Us From Eva (2003)

Who could forget Gabrielle Union as mega sourpuss Evangeline “Eva” Dandrige and her silky-maned sisters in this 2003 twist on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”? Some of the movie even takes place in sister Bethany’s hair salon, but the sisters themselves are the “mane” act in this movie.

Photo: Brown Sista

Some say ‘black don’t crack’; and while this may or may not be true, it’s certainly evident that there is an abundance of black women who have managed to age beautifully and gracefully. These women, most of them without plastic surgery, have managed to sustain their youthful beauty. And besides the physical, they possess a glow that appears to shine from the inside and out.

These women are subtly fierce and demonstrate poise and grace. From the start of their careers as young girls to now seasoned women, these ladies, just like wine, seem to get better with time.

Source: BlackVoices.com

From BlackVoices.com

Pam Grier, the famous blaxploitation films’ femme fatale, turned 63 this Saturday, May 26.

From ”Foxy Brown” to “Jackie Brown” and playing a Hot jazz singer on “The L Word,” Pam has extended her amazing career for over 40 years. Most recently the star has authored a memoir recounting her life in and out of the spotlight.

But to us she will always be Foxy, the butt-kicking beauty with the most amazing afro around! And although Pam’s mane and Hot wardrobe have been tamed, she’s still serves up plenty of pretty.

Check out the evolution of her style over at Black Voices.com. 

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Miamivice.wikia.com

Remember when Aretha Franklin said she wanted Halle Berry to play her in a biopic? Well now another well-known star is looking for Ms. Berry to bring her story to life, but this time the idea is a little more realistic.

Pam Grier’s best-selling autobiography, “Foxy: My Life In Three Acts,” has been optioned for a big screen debut by Imprint Entertainment and Ms. Grier has reportedly said she’d like to see Halle Berry play her on screen if the project gets the go-ahead. Pam Grier’s blaxploitation character Foxy Brown has been an undying sex symbol for men of all races since the ’70s so it makes sense to tell the story of the woman behind the character on film. According to Shadow and Act, TV producer/screenwriter Eunetta Boone  has been hired to adapt the book into a screenplay, and Michael Becker of Imprint Entertainment says:

“’Foxy’ succeeds at a stark impression of Grier’s courage and inner strength without the use of rose-colored glasses. Imprint Entertainment looks forward to bringing this triumphant story to life.”

I can see Halle Berry doing the part justice—if she would even agree to play the role—but somehow I foresee Beyonce’s name getting thrown into the mix before all is said and done considering that stint as Foxy Cleopatra in the Austin Powers movie “Goldmember.”

Do you think Halle is a good choice to play Pam Grier or do you have another actress in mind for the part?

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

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From StyleBlazer.com

StyleBlazer.com

It’s been a long uphill climb for women and an especially burdensome one for black women.  The beaten that we’ve often taken blazing our own trails has left our self-esteem and self-images quite battered and bruised.  Which is why we have celebrated,  and continue to celebrate, those famous black female figures that we do so fiercely.  They taught their generations, and all those that followed, that black was, and always will be, beautiful.

So in honor of National Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating eight great black women in movies, music, modeling, and social movements,  who taught us to love ourselves through their own strength, beauty, and undeniably fabulous styles.

For the full story, visit StyleBlazer.com.

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• Shequoiya, Cordozar And Other Amusing Middle Names Of Black CelebsII
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