Susan Rice reacting to applause after receiving praise from President Obama for a job well done. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

While the GOP is working hard to keep Susan Rice, currently the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, from becoming the next Secretary of State, other groups are working even harder to get her approved.

A diverse group of African-American women leaders joined together today to show their support for Rice.  The group teamed up with the Black Women’s Roundtable (BWR), an intergenerational civic engagement network of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, to launch a campaign to “express their unequivocal support of United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice and to encourage Senate and congressional leaders to treat the esteemed public servant with respect,” announced a press release.

“It is important that women from all walks of life come together to push back when we see someone being treated unfairly not because of her work, but due to politics. Ambassador Rice has had a stellar career and has served this country with great dignity. We can not sit back and allow those who long for the days when white male privilege persisted in America to ruin the Ambassador´s reputation,” Melanie L. Campbell, president of the National Coalition and convener of BWR, tells us via email. “It’s a new day and Black, White, Caribbean, Asian and Latino women have come together to say, not on our watch! We are demanding that Ambassador Rice be given the proper respect appropriate for any other Cabinet-level member of a sitting Administration.”

The group of high-profile women signed an open letter to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Among those who signed are: Ingrid Saunders Jones, chair,  National Council of Negro Women; former Essence editor Susan L. Taylor, CEO and founder, National CARES Mentoring Movement; actress Vivica A. Fox, president, Foxy Brown Productions; and Dr. Natalia A. Francisco, founder and executive director, Women of Worth & Worship, LLC.

According to the press release, the letter sent to Senate intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein  (D-CA)  and committee ranking member Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) said that Ambassador Rice “has excelled throughout her career both in the public and private sector. Her commitment to international peace and the equality of all people should be heralded, not summarily dismissed for political gain and expedience.”

The letter even addressed the Benghazi incident as it pointed out, “While some members of the Senate have pushed back on their rush to judgment in the press regarding Ambassador Rice’s prepared remarks on the attack in Benghazi, we feel that the public integrity and reputation of this brilliant woman, who serves our country with great dignity, has been unfairly and unnecessarily attacked.”

Rice also got a major show of support from the incoming Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) chair Rep. Marcia Fudge, who at a recent press conference vigorously defended Rice’s qualification and accused the GOP of being both racist and sexist. She stated, “women and minorities tend to be the target of Republican attacks when they lose to Democrats,” reports The Loop 21.

In addition to the letter there is an online petition in support of Ambassador Rice.  The twitter hashtag is #SupportAmbassadorRice.

What do you think of the Susan Rice backlash?

Source: WENN

It’s Black Girls Rock! time again. We know we rock all the time, but we get to show the world just how much we do on November 4 when the annual BET special airs on television. Taping for the show will take place next Saturday, October 13, in the Bronx and Tracee Ellis Ross and Regina King are returning as hosts again to honor the following ladies with these awards:

Dionne Warwick: Living Legend honor

Alicia Keys: Rock Star award

Kerry Washington: Star Power award

Essence founder Susan L. Taylor and Somali activist Dr. Hawa Abdi will also be honored. Shout out to DJ Beverly Bond for choosing another amazing group of black women to recognize!

More on Madame Noire!

• Starlets, Unsung: 7 Stories Of Lesser Known Black Women
• There’s Just Something About R. Kelly: Can We Hate The Sin, And Not The Sinner?
• Fear And Other Things: 14 Unhealthy Reasons To Stay In A Relationship
• Forget Bandz! 7 Things That Will REALLY Make Her Dance”
• We Love You Essence, But We’re Going To Need You To Get Some New Cover Subjects
• Catty! Nicki Minaj Cusses Mariah Carey Out On American Idol Set
• Caught Up In College: A Cuffing Season Tale

NAMIC, the national association for multi-ethnicity in communication, celebrated a milestone this year as it held its 25th annual conference in New York city in October. The organization, which works to promote diversity in the media and communications industry, selected Susan L. Taylor to deliver a keynote address and we must say they couldn’t have chosen a better or more inspiring figure.  The Editor Emerita of Essence Magazine and author of the works  ”In The Spirit” and “Lessons in Living” reflected on her own enamored career to communicate lessons about innovation and confidence. Madame Noire stopped in to NAMIC to speak with participants and to hear Taylor’s inspiring speech. Check it out below. If you’d like to get involved with NAMIC, please visit their website to learn more about mentoring resources.

More on Madame Noire

• Ron Artest’s Daughter Sings About her Battle With Cancer
• ‘On My Own’ – A Story of Black Broken Homes
• Football Coach Charged After Watching His Players Jump Teen
• Tips on Finding Your Surrogate Family
• Mom Doesn’t ALWAYS Know Best: 9 Things That Aren’t Always True
• Women We Love: 12 Female Celebrities Over 40 Who Have Aged Beautifully

Success can rarely be attributed purely to luck and hard work. Most of the great success stories can be linked to a string of helping hands. Mentors are invaluable in careers and in life. They offer guidance, support, and often can open a door or two. Almost ten years ago, the White House inaugurated National Mentoring Month to help spearhead a movement of recruiting mentors. Within the black community, the need seems to be great, but so are some of the names that have answered this call to action. The Atlanta Post looks at a few African-American celebrities that have really come through.

Denzel Washington

Denzel Washington made a name for himself in Hollywood as a two-time Academy Award winner. But before he found success, he was a familiar face at the Boys and Girls Club in Mt. Vernon, NY.  Headed in the wrong direction, his childhood mentor  helped redirect his path. Today, he still credits the organization with preparing him for his successful journey.  He is the national spokesperson for the mentoring organization that continues to help millions of young people dream big.

“Wonder Woman Files” is a weekly career column on Madame Noire. Stay tuned for more topics, comment or write us at editors@madamenoire.com if you have suggestions!

Perseverance is a natural human instinct. Even faced with the worst challenges, our human drives do not let up easily. As such, society is inundated with positive mantras that help us trudge forward.  For example, from the time we are little, we learn about “The Little Engine That Could,” spending our pre-school days repeating ‘I know I can; I think I can.’

Yet, perseverance isn’t always a good idea.

Read the rest of this entry »