Archive for the ‘Thursday's Pick’ Category
Tuesday’s Flick: Whitney Houston, 1993, I Have Nothing (Live)
August 11th, 2009 | Author: Noni
In light of Whitney Houston’s comeback, I’m posting a live performance from 1993, the height of her career. Awesome! Try not to compare Old Whitney to new Whitney, because it’s not even a fair comparison. Just be glad the diva is back!!
-NONI
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Thursday’s Pick: Anna Madgigine Jai Kinsley
August 6th, 2009 | Author: Noni
For women of African-descent, for women in general… this will be one of the most inspiring biographies you’ll ever read. The story of Anna Madgigine Jai Kingsley, written by Daniel Schafer, should have been transformed into a motion picture biopic years ago. Anna was a Wolof African princess, taken from the Senegambia in 1806 when she was 13 years of old. She was sold to Zephaniah Kingsley, a wealthy planter and slave owner from Florida but she never worked as a slave. He married her, provided for schooling, and she ruled over his estate with him. The biography indicates that she was a proud woman, who held onto her African culture (Madgigine and Jai are African surnames), language, and religion (Islam).
Let me tell you how tough she was. When hostile American laws threatened the safety of free Blacks, Zephaniah moved the family to Haiti. He died soon after and left Anna and their children his fortune. His sister contested his will and Anna returned to Florida, jeopardizing her freedom, and contested the family in court. The Florida court ruled in her favor, despite the hostile climate toward blacks. She settled in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville, where she died in 1870 at 77 years old.
This read reaffirms what a woman can do with heart and knowledge of self. For Black women, it will remind you of the legacy of queens from which you descend. A must read.
-NONI
Thursday’s Pick: BLACKsummers’night, Maxwell
July 30th, 2009 | Author: Noni
Introducing a new category, Thursday’s Pick, in which one of us will showcase an item or product that has caught our fancy. Now since me and the girls love neo-soul, it’s only fitting that our inaugural ‘Thursday’s Pick’ be Maxwell’s new album, BLACKsummers’night. I don’t know what it is about the neo-soul artists, D’Angelo, Lauryn, Sade… but it’s as if drop a work of genius and then pull away from the fame. Well let’s welcome brother Maxwell back from his 8 year hiatus, because he sounds great and is looking better than ever. (Love you Carter) It’s the first of a trilogy, and honestly, I’ve been hearing mixed reviews. It may be one of those albums that has grow on you, but I’d get it just to hear him croon “pretty wangs” on repeat. Gosh that song makes me want to make love.
-NONI
