Source: WENN

As has become the tradition among disgruntled citizens seeking change, no matter how big or small, a petition has been created to stop Oprah Winfrey’s Network, OWN, from broadcasting Tyler Perry’s new shows.

This past week, OWN saw the debut of two of the director’s new series, “The Haves And The Have Nots” and “Love Thy Neighbor,” and both delivered impressive ratings for the network which is just now on the mend. On Tuesday night, “The Haves and The Have Nots” brought in 1.77 million views during its first episode, with the second episode, which aired directly after, brought in 1.8 million to become the highest rated show to ever debut on OWN. Similarly, “Love Thy Neighbor,” the Madea-esque series that aired for the first time Wednesday evening, brought in numbers just as high, with 1.65 million views for episode 1 and 1.8 for episode 2.

Someone who we can be sure wasn’t about of that debut viewership is the originator of this change.org petition urging OWN to drop these new series, Eva Vega. Vega wrote:

For decades Oprah Winfrey has used her television show to educate, empower, and uplift people of all races to be better versions of themselves. OWN has committed to be an extension of this work.

Where it is clear that neither Oprah or Tyler Perry are not experts on race and racism, they have also refused to utilize feedback from the conscious Black community and scholars on racism regarding the damage that Tyler Perry and his brand of entertainment perpetuate against the Black community.

Stop supporting racist stereotypes on OWN and remove Tyler Perry programming!

Then, in a letter specifically to Oprah Winfrey, Vega defends her stance even further, saying:

So far only 89 people have signed the petition, which I doubt will make much of a difference to OWN. There’s no way Oprah and the execs who have been waiting for a return on their investment in the network since its start in 2011 will let this cash cow go. Need we remind you of the numbers? Besides, despite the fact that Tyler Perry’s productions are simple — both in concept and execution — I disagree with the idea that he’s hurting anyone. More often than not, beneath the cheesy lines and over dramatizations there is usually a lesson to learn.

We’ll be following this trail to see just how much headway this petition makes. What do you think about it? Will you sign?

Source: Instagram

It was only a matter of time before a petition like this was created and, truthfully, I’m surprised it took this long, but Girls Like Me Project, Inc. is finally taking a strong stand against Chicago teen rapper Chief Keef.

The 18-year-old is no stranger to controversy, having been as much on the radar of rap fans as the police since Kanye took his local song “Don’t Like” and made it a global hit. Not long after he became a recognized name, there was concern that he may have ordered the death of another Chicago teen, Lil Jojo, due to some things he said on Twitter, and now the rap newcomer’s words have him in hot water yet again — the Rick Ross kind. Chief Keef just dropped a new single, “You” which has listeners up in arms due to this threatening lyric:

“You aint gonna let me f**k and I feel you, but you gone suck my d**k or I’ll kill you.”

Immediately Girls Like Me Project sprung into action and drafted a petition calling on Chicago Public School officials to ban this young man’s songs from all school functions, writing.

As an artist on a national label, Interscope Records, Chief Keef and his label mates have the ability to mass-produce messages that glorify rape and murder of girls. His platforms allows him access to influence minds and psyches of impressionable  students in CPS. While it may be a challenge to stop radio stations from promoting this message, school officials have the authority to exercise their moral obligation which calls for the boycott of music that promotes rape or any kind of gender violence. Many DJ’s claim students aggressively demand Chief Keef be played, however, you can set the boundaries to the type of music your students are exposed to.

Therefore, we are asking CPS to take a stand and limit the exposure your students have to this destructive music. In a city where violence disproportionately halts the potential of our young people, we cannot afford this type of influence in our schools. If no where else in this city, our girls deserve to feel safe from sexual violence and misogyny in their school communities.

We are pleading with you to ban DJ’s from playing this music during your assemblies, dances, proms, sports activities, or any variation of school functions.

Honestly, that’s the least school officials could and should do and I’d like to see radio stations, like 103.7 The Beat which recently banned Lil Wayne and Rick Ross, follow suit. It’s been apparent to me since day one that Chief Keef is a guy who has zero concern for his own life, not to mention that of those around him and that’s just not an approach to living that impressionable teen boys need to be encouraged to follow — let alone the blatant threat this poses to young girls.

So far, the petition only has a little more than 100 supporters. Here’s hoping more people get behind this act and incite real change behind the DJ booth.

Tonight Bravo will air its new series, “Married to Medicine,” much to the disappointment of some Howard University medical students. Last month, the group created a petition calling for the network to ban airing of the new reality show which follows several black doctors and doctor’s wives in Atlanta. But considering the show is still slated to air this evening, so far the effort hasn’t worked.

In light of that news, we caught up with the ladies of the new show before the series premiere to get their thoughts on the backlash they’ve been receiving before one episode has even aired and the stars didn’t hesitate to speak their minds on what these petitioners should be doing with their time instead of attacking them. Check out the interview here and tell us what you think. Will you check out the show tonight?

Source: Shutterstock

As some one who has never had the pleasure of breasts small enough to fit inside of a Victora’s Secret bra, I’ve never had a chance to bask in all the unmentionable goodness that apparently goes on behind those pink walls. So, in essence, I have  a “meh” attitude when it comes to the lingerie retailer and it’s offerings because (a) they’re not for me, and (b) there are plenty of other places I can spend my dollars on a good underwire brassiere with some lift.

It appears breast cancer survivors and their supporters don’t quite feel the same, though, as a new petition has recently been created on change.org demanding that Victoria Secret start to manufacture bras for women who have undergone a mastectomy. Inspired by her mother Debbie Barrett, who has been cancer-free for 21 years,  Allana Maiden, of Richmond, VA,  started the petition, writing:

“Many women who undergo mastectomy surgery because of breast cancer suffer from body image issues. It doesn’t help that they don’t have the option of buying the pretty bras they wore before their battle with cancer, and specialty stores can be hard to find, forcing them to order bras online that they have to send back because they don’t fit properly.

“There are so many women out there, like my mom, who have survived breast cancer but are left feeling altered and uncomfortable because of undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. I think they deserve to feel beautiful and Victoria’s Secret is the perfect company to help make that happen with a line of “Survivor” mastectomy bras. “

In a press release, Maiden added:

“Victoria’s Secret is supposed to make women feel beautiful, yet the women that deserve that feeling the most get left out. Every woman knows someone that has been impacted by breast cancer, and women are passionate about this cause. What better way to give back to women than to help cancer survivors feel good about themselves?”

It seems quite a few people — 118,000 to be exact — agree with Maiden. That’s the number of supporters who have signed the petition thus far. Though Maiden’s language in the actual letter sent to Victoria Secret is less stern than that on the change.org petition, I wonder if the underlying tone of this effort is a bit…off.

Many a battle has been brought before Victoria Secret in the past. As I alluded to in the beginning of my post, the bra retailer is not exactly the be-all, end-all of bra-wear. Their bras don’t go beyond a D-cup, leaving out I don’t know how many women in the tig ‘ol bitty committee demographic. And there has also been a strong push to get the company to expand their notion of neutral so that other minorities can actually wear flesh tone bras rather than what ends up being beige on most darker hued ladies. Mastectomy bras may be a much nobler cause than these but I think Victoria Secret has made it clear who their (narrow) demographic is and instead of giving them business after strongly urging them to cater to you, I say it’s better to create your own survivor line and give business to those whose bottom line isn’t just dollars.

What do you think about this petition?

Source: WENN

Yesterday, we reported that after weeks of petitioning efforts and much deliberation, Oxygen decided to put an axe to Shawty Lo’s one-hour reality special entitled All My Babies’ Mamas. Many were overjoyed to hear this news, simply because the show was felt to be disgraceful to Black families. But Shawty Lo’s reps are saying don’t celebrate too quickly because this isn’t the last you’ll see of him or his babies’ mamas. Publicist Kali Bowyer told RumorFix that after receiving 123,000 emails from people wanting to save the show, they will be fighting against Oxygen’s decision to cancel the show by launching their own petition entitled Oxygen Network: Put Shawty Lo and Baby Mamas back on the air. As you’ve probably guessed, the petition is seeking to appeal to the public’s emotional side, and somewhat implies that by participating in the cancellation of this show, you are literally hindering this man’s ability to take care of his children. It also went on to question why petitioners against the show would “reject” a father who is there for his kids. They even pulled the race card. A portion of the petition reads:

“It’s a sad day in America, when people attempt to reject a father that steps up to the plate, a father who is actively supporting his children & their mothers , not just monetarily but emotionally as well.

Shawty Lo, is in fact a father figure that most young black men today coming from a similar past lifestyle and environment, should mimic in his parental role. With 11 children, which are all clothed, fed, housed and loved in everyway that a parent should love, protect and provide for their child. As well as being a supportive and active partner in the co-parenting of his children with their mothers.

A man is supposed to take care of his children, and the mother (s), weather it be singular or plural.

So here’s the question, would you rather see 11 children struggle with mothers on welfare? Or watch a man support his children? Does it come down to the race card?

Other networks that currently showcase polygamy, promiscuity, and alcoholism, are on the air, with multiple mothers and magnitudes of children. So what’s the difference? Because Shawty Lo is black and a rapper? Yes, I said it he’s black, ( just in case you didn’t already know ).”

What do you make of Shawty Lo’s counter-petition?

Jazmine Denise is a news writer for Madame Noire. Follow her on Twitter @jazminedenise.

Source: WENN

Just last week we told you guys about controversial rapper Shawty Lo aka Carlos Walker’s coming forward to explain how he managed to father 11 children. Many of you were completely outraged when he somewhat insinuated that the conceiving of so many children wasn’t his fault. “I didn’t ask for it, it just happened,” he expressed to MTV News last week. Well, it seems that the Atlanta rapper may not have learned his lesson yet, as word on the the street is that he could be expecting another child.

Underground rapper Jai Jai and ex-girlfriend of Shawty Lo shocked many when she posted a photo of her protruding baby bump to her Instagram page. Although she has not identified who the father of her child is and Carlos has yet to confirm or deny fathering her child, a source informed The YBF that the All My Babies’ Mamas star is indeed the father. Now of course, so far this is all he say, she say. But, you’ve got to admit that this would be a fairly large bomb to drop during the one-hour special. Jai Jai has not been listed as a cast member of the show, but you never know.

According to Sandra Rose, Shawty Lo and Jai Jai dated for over six years. She is even reported to have gotten into a club brawl with one of his babies’ mothers a few years back.

I’m sure All My Babies’ Mamas protestors are somewhere having a fit right now. One would think that a man who has fathered 11 children would know the importance of contraceptives by now.

Check out a picture of Jai Jai and her baby bump below. What do you make of all of this? 

Source: Instagram

Jazmine Denise is a news writer for Madame Noire. Follow her on Twitter @jazminedenise

Source: WENN

There has been much controversy surrounding 36-year-old rapper and producer Shawty Lo ever since word got out that he would be starring in a one-time reality special on the Oxygen network alongside his eleven children and the ten women who mother them entitled, All My Babies’ Mamas. Talk of the show even ignited a petition, which threatened to boycott the network and any companies that advertised during the show because of the negative manner in which it portrays Black women. Shawty Lo recently sat down with MTV News to explain his family’s situation and to clear up any assumptions that the public may have made about him and the number of children that he has.

One of the first things that he addressed was his rough upbringing and how he pretty much raised himself after his mother died from cancer. He shared that he eventually wound living a life of crime as a drug dealer, which is where his children’s mothers entered the picture.

“When the money came, a lot of women came. I wasn’t trying to have babies, but once you know, I was talking to these women and once you feel like this girl was your girlfriend, the rubber probably came off. And a lot of them felt that because at twenty-one I saw my first million in the streets and they knew I was the most popular dude in the streets because I was getting so much money, and they would be like they wasn’t having an abortion. They used to take the money and run with it so they could have a baby by the most popular guy in the streets. So that’s how I had all them kids.”

He went on to express that none of his children were conceived while he was a rapper:

“Ain’t none of my kids came while I was a rapper. All my kids came when I was that dude in the streets.”

The Atlanta native also dispelled any rumors that may imply he doesn’t take care of his children.

“I take care of all my kids. You know, I just have problems out of one that feels because she has two kids out of me, I’m supposed to do more for her kids. She don’t want to work, she just wants me to straight take care of them. But you know, it’s all love. I handle it.”

He also took time out to address the heavy criticism that he has been recieving lately for having so many children.

“There’s a lot of fathers that don’t take care of their one. I deal with eleven [...] You can hate all you want to. I didn’t ask for it, it just happened. Now that it happened, I’m supposed to turn my back against it? If I wasn’t taking care of my kids, then y’all would really dog me out. I’m taking care of my kids. I provide for my family.”

Check out footage of his full interview on the next page. Does Shawty Lo have a point? Although having so many children may not be the most desirable situation, is the fact that he provides for them all really what should matter most?

Source: WENN

Last week folks were protesting against Oxygen and Shawty Lo’s babies’ mamas, this week they’re protesting against the church ladies. I guess it’s good that the reality television petitioners don’t discriminate. A new petition has surfaced on Change.org, which is being spearheaded by a woman by the name of Ann Cooke against TLC’s latest reality project, The Sisterhood, which follows the lives of five pastor’s wives that live in the Atlanta area. According to the petition, the show provides a poor depiction of what it means to be a pastor’s wife and is offensive to the Body of Christ. The petition reads:

 ”The Sisterhood is being portrayed as a Christian reality show, featuring Preacher’s/Pastor’s wives from Atlanta, GA. The previews and highlights of the upcoming show is pure garbage and does not portray the reality of being a Christian or the reality of being a Preacher’s or Pastor’s wife. The airing of this show is not only offensive to the Body of Christ, but it is also degrading to Women of Color (specifically). This show mocks everything that we, as believers, stand for. It is disgusting, disgraceful, inappropriate and an inaccurate display of what we strive to accomplish as Christians. The airing of this show only adds more fuel to the ever-present distasteful stereotype that we, as Christians, fight daily to erase. We must stand together and put an end to TLC’s clear derogatory distortion of the Body of Christ and Women of God (specifically, Preacher’s and Pastor’s wives)! Please spread the word.”

One of the wives from the show, Christina Murray has recently come out against the high levels of criticism the show has received.

“We hated the religious, dogmatic type of church and people who were very judgemental because that’s how they felt they had to be. So when we began this journey we definitely wanted to be real and authentic not only with ourselves but also with our ministry and our congregation,” Murray told CP. “I believe in my faith wholeheartedly and I want to be able to live up to what God expects me to live up to. I want to be the person God is calling me to be,” she expressed to the Christian Post.

Tara, another wife featured on the show, recently expressed some quite varying sentiments and even confessed that she understood some of the backlash the show was receiving.

“I was heartbroken and saddened and had hoped that our show was different than the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and that there was a true sisterhood developing.”

“I absolutely believe the backlash is warranted after seeing the first episode. However you cannot make a final judgment about the show until you have seen the series in its entirety. There are other women in the black church that gossip, argue and bicker. But as first a lady you are held to a higher standard because you are taking on such a prestigious title,” she told The Grio.

What do you think? Should Christians be offended by this show or are people just overreacting?

Jazmine Denise is a news writer for Madame Noire. Follow her on Twitter @jazminedenise

Source: Madame Noire

Last week, we told you about the Oxygen Network’s latest reality show project entitled, All My Babies’ Mamas, which is a one-time, hour long special that will highlight the life of Atlanta rapper, Shawty Lo as he juggles eleven children and ten baby mamas. Many were outraged that Oxygen would even produce a show such as this one, considering the fact that the network claims their mission is to “release the energy of women to do great things.” And now, a woman by the name of Sabrina Lamb has taken her disapproval for the show a step further as she recently launched a petition via Change.org where she urges the network to do away with the show that “stereotypes and demeans Black children, mothers and dads”.

In the petition Lamb suggests that the network is seeking to profit from the degradation of Black women and threatens to boycott all companies that choose to advertise during the show.

“By pushing these degrading images, your company seeks to profit from the humiliation of girls and women and the blatant stereotyping of African Americans. We think Oxygen and the show’s creators and producers have gone too far and if this show is aired, we will, without hesitation, boycott any and all companies that advertise during this minstrel show,” the petition reads.

So far, the petition has received 3,108 signatures. We most certainly agree that broadcasting a reality show that focuses on a man and his dealings with his ten babies’ mothers is an all new low for the Oxygen network and reality television in general, but whether or not the petition will convince the network to cancel the show is a different story. Some online petitions have proven to be semi-successful in the past, for example the one that was taken up against VH1′s Basketball Wives for the violent acts that were frequently acted out by the women on the show that undeniably grabbed the network’s attention.

Do you believe that the petition against All My Babies’ Mamas will have an impact?

Jazmine Denise is a news writer for madamenoire.com. Follow her on Twitter @jazminedenise

Source: thisisrnb.com

This past weekend, Kelly Price posted on Facebook and tweeted about the poor customer service she and her husband experienced with United Airlines. Now, the singer/actress has started a petition on Change.org blasting what she called the “classist, racist practices hidden in corporate code”.

It started on Saturday night when Kelly Price says that a United Airlines agent in Houston named Stephanie asked her to go to the back of the coach passengers line. Kelly says she was in the line with the Premier and First class ticket holders and that Stephanie didn’t check her ticket first before sending her to the back of the “other line”. The singer alleges that Stephanie then helped the “nonblack man in a suit” instead of her. Kelly tweeted that the co-workers stood by while the agent yelled at her and when Stephanie realized her mistake (and that Kelly was indeed a Premier and First Class ticket holder), she didn’t apologize.

The Queens native kept it classy and filed a formal complaint with United Airlines, but she didn’t stop there.

She has started a Change.org petition titled “Demand United Airlines Treat ALL Passengers Fairly”. According to the website, she is petitioning: The President of the United States, The U.S. Senate, The U.S. House of Representatives, The Governor of CA, The CA State Senate, The CA State House and Jeff Smisek President United Airlines (United Airlines).

Her petition reads:

Profiling passengers is a common thing with air travel. The world has changed and traveling has not been the same since 9-11. The discomfort and sometimes annoying process of getting from here to there is a cross we all bear in this country to insure the safety of all Americans when we travel by airplane. Unfortunately, some use this as a bullying tool.

On Saturday June 23, 2012 I was bullied by Stephanie a United Airlines employee when she assumed I was not a first class passenger and refused me service at the Customer Service/Rebooking counter in Houston. Even once she realized she was wrong she still ignored me and refused to help me. Her co-workers also ignored me. When I asked to see her name on her badge she hid it and began to scream out loud that I was harrassing her in an attempt to have security come an remove me. I am not a terrorist. I am not a criminal. Had Stephanie (The United Airlines Employee) been successful in her attempt to have me removed I would have likely been arrested and certainly not allowed to travel that day.

As American citizens we are entitled to each have the same civil liberties and basic rights. I want United Airlines to have mandatory Cultural Diversity and Tolerance training for ALL employees of their company. I want United Airlines to implement better checks and balances that insure their employees CANNOT misuse their “authority” with customers and passengers. I want a United policy that demands the immediate termination of a United Airlines employee who discriminates or violates the civil and/or consumer rights of a customer/passenger in either of these manners. Classist, Racist practices hidden in corporate code cannot be tolerated. If we don’t speak out this will never change.

After talking about her ordeal, Kelly tweeted: I wish I knew 600,000 miles ago what I know now about @United. 600k that would be the # of miles I’ve flown on YOUR airline in the last 5yrs.

600-thousand miles is a lot and I’d be interested to know if she’s had a negative experience in the past. United Airlines is the world’s largest airline but last year, in a story titled America’s Meanest Airlines: 2011, US News and World Report ranked United as the “Worst Major Carrier”. The LA Times reports that the latest statistics from U.S. Transportation Department show United is the most complained-about airline in America by far.

Kelly says her complaint isn’t about money or fame, but about her civil rights being violated and that no one (celebrity or non) should have to put up with that.  More than 500 people have signed her petition so far. Given the track record of Change.org and the major movements it has sparked around the country, it’s likely this petition will reach the necessary eyes and ears in the corporate office, possibly sparking a change in the company…or at least getting Kelly Price a sincere apology.

What do you think about Kelly Price’s petition?

Alissa Henry is a freelance writer living in Columbus, OH. Follow her on Twitter @AlissaInPink

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