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Good Black News

Cicely Tyson and Vanessa Williams Return to Broadway in 'The Trip To Bountiful'

By goodblacknews on April 28, 2013

trip-to-bountifulAfter three weeks of previews, the Broadway production of Horton Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful starring Emmy winner Cicely Tyson, Academy Award winner Cuba Gooding Jr., Emmy Award nominee Vanessa Williams and Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad, opened on Tuesday at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre to several rave reviews (see below). Directed by Michael Wilson and produced by Nelle Nugent, the 14-week limited engagement will end on June 30, so if you’re interested, get your tickets by clicking here.
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article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

Xosha Roquemore Joins ‘Mindy Project’ As New Regular

By goodblacknews on April 28, 2013

Actress Xosha Roquemore has been added to the cast of Fox’s The Mindy Project as a new regular next season after doing a three-episode arc on the comedy’s current freshman season. Roquemore recently landed a major recurring role on TV Land’s new Kirstie Alley comedy series after guest starring in the pilot, but in light of the Mindy Project opportunity, the cable network let the actress out and will recast her role. Roquemore also co-stars in G.B.F., which is premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival.
article by Nellie Andreeva via deadline.com

Michelle Obama's White House Correspondents' Dinner 2013 Dress (PHOTO)

By goodblacknews on April 28, 2013
michelle obama white house correspondents dinner
Michelle Obama and Conan O’Brien at White Houst Correspondents Dinner, April 27, 2013

At the 2013 White House Correspondents’ Dinner on Saturday night, First Lady Michelle Obama glowed in a glittering black cap-sleeve gown by Monique Lhuillier. The designer tweeted, “I am honored @MichelleObama is wearing me to the White House correspondence dinner tonight !! She looks amazing!!! xx Monique”.

Fashion journalist Laurie Brookins added, via Twitter, that the dress was “a black beaded/draped chiffon goddess gown with high neckline in Chantilly lace.”

article via huffingtonpost.com

DC Activist Anita Bonds Wins First-Ever Election At Age 68

By goodblacknews on April 28, 2013

Anita BondsAnita Bonds a local Democratic activist for more than 30 years emerged from a crowded field to win a special election for the coveted At Large seat on the Washington D.C. Council.  Bonds got 32 percent of the vote winning in predominantly African- American wards 4,5,7 and 8.  Patrick Mara, a Republican was endorsed by the Washington Post, but lost badly, trailing second place finisher Elissa Silverman 28 to 23 percent.

Bonds at 68 says senior citizens, the poor and working poor will be her highest priority.  Bond says her strong showing in those communities is because  blacks are long standing DC residents and the ones most concerned about being able to afford the escalating costs of remaining in the District. 

article via wusa9.com

Oldest Known African-American Baseball Footage Found

By goodblacknews on April 27, 2013

[brightcove vid=2328322850001&exp3=1684488549001&surl=http://c.brightcove.com/services&pubid=35121359001&pk=AQ~~,AAAACC1laJk~,tMO2d6O4mickzCfG8Kpt2wQCZRxpuzpo&lbu=http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=2328322850001&w=480&h=270]
Film dated from 1919 shows employees of the Pebble Hill Plantation in Thomasville, Georgia, playing in a league against other teams. Archivists are still researching this 26 seconds of found footage, but it might just be the oldest footage of African-Americans playing baseball in the U.S.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

Los Angeles Mayor Holds Transportation Contractors Accountable for Hiring Blacks

By goodblacknews on April 27, 2013

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa

The Metro Transportation Authority (MTA) in Los Angeles pledged significant African American participation during the construction phase of the Metro Crenshaw/LAX Transit Corridor and also signed a project labor agreement to ensure that Blacks received adequate employment representation.  But contractors have drastically underperformed in the hiring of African Americans in the first phase of the Crenshaw Advanced Utilities Relocation PLA for Targeted Worker Attainment.
According to MTA internal documents obtained by the Los Angeles Sentinel, which revealed the number of individual hires, Blacks ranked lower than any other demographic group.  After Mayor Antonio Villraigosa required the promoting of African American hiring during the construction phase, the number of Blacks hired in the month of February nearly doubled the percentage of the previous two months to 5.81 percent  for February and escalated again in March to report its greatest gains yet reaching almost 8 percent.
“Finally, I think we are moving in the right direction because more African Americans are now included in the work force,” said Mayor Villraigosa. “However, I am not satisfied and will not be until I see that African Americans who live in this community are employed and reflected in the bottom line.  “I believe that it is only appropriate that residents of this community be active participants and work on this rail system being built. I want to see the number of people hired that represents the population of the community. They deserve it and I demand it. My legacy as mayor of the City of Los Angeles rides on it.”
article by Kenneth Miller, Los Angeles Sentinel via postnewsgroup.com

Kevin Frazier to Host New CBS Game Show "Money Pump"

By goodblacknews on April 27, 2013

CBS, Money Pump, Kevin Frazier
Kevin Frazier

CBS has greenlighted Money Pump, a game show pilot based on an Israeli format. Hosted by omg! Insider’s Kevin Frazier, Money Pump is described as a high-pressure game in which contestants compete against an enormous money pump for a million dollars. ITV Studios America and Israeli company Reshet TV are producing, with Andrew Golder executive producing. The original series was created by Gili Golan, Adi Golan and Harel Joseffson for Tanin Prods & TV and Reshet TV. Israeli formats already are increasingly popular in the States, with such shows as Showtime’s Homeland. Unscripted Israeli shows have started to follow, withWho’s Still Standing going to series on NBC.
article by Nellie Andreeva via deadline.com

Jay-Z Adds WNBA's Skylar Diggins To Roc Nation Sports

By goodblacknews on April 27, 2013

skylar

Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports announced Thursday that Skylar Diggins, the third overall pick in the 2013 WNBA Draft, is the newest professional athlete to sign with the burgeoning sports agency.  “It’s the ROC in here!” Diggins tweeted after the news broke on Jay’s Life+Times site.“ShockNation meets RocNation.”

The former University of Notre Dame standout was recently selected by the Tulsa Shock in Connecticut last week. The 22-year old Associated Press First-Team All-American point guard will join New York Yankee Robinson Cano at Jay’s new company, which is a joint venture with the fabled Creative Artists Agency, boasting clients such as New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony and Buster Posey, who recently inked a $167 million deal with the San Francisco Giants.

The Blueprint III MC recently divested his minority ownership stake in the Brooklyn Nets in order to be eligible to pursue NBA athletes. With the NBA Draft coming up in June, look for more breakout basketball stars to be throwing up the Roc in the coming months.

article by Maurice Bobb via rapfix.mtv.com

Walter Mosley and Countee Cullen to Be Inducted Into the NY State Writers Hall of Fame

By goodblacknews on April 27, 2013

Countee Cullen
Countee Cullen

Walter Mosley
Walter Mosley

On June 4, the New York State Writers Hall of Fame will induct eight outstanding authors – Walter Mosley, Countee Cullen, Maurice Sendak, Alice McDermott, Miguel Pinero, James Fenimore Cooper, Calvin Trillin and  Marilyn Hacker.   Mosley is best known for his Easy Rawlins novels Devil in a Blue Dress and Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned, while Cullen came to prominence as a poet during the Harlem Renaissance, publishing classics such as Color and Copper Sun.
Each honoree is inducted personally with a few words by a friend or representative, and the 2013 ceremony will be held at New York’s Princeton Club.
article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson

Good Black News Updates Look and Gains Lesa Lakin as New Lifestyle Editor

By goodblacknews on April 27, 2013

Welcome to GBN New Lifestyle and Fashion Editor, Lesa Lakin
GBN’s New Lifestyle and Fashion Editor, Lesa Lakin

Followers who visit our main web page instead of just our feeds may have already noticed that in the past few days, Good Black News has updated and refreshed its look for 2013.  For those who haven’t, this is our official announcement not only of our new look, but also the new talent we’ve brought aboard to help bring you more and varied Good Black News.  Lesa Lakin has been a contributor to GBN on and off throughout the years, but has only recently had the time to help build and organize our new Lifestyle Section, consisting of Fashion, Food, Travel, Health, Fitness, Home, Hair and Beauty-related news.  In the short time she’s been working behind the scenes, Lesa has already helped triple our number of Pinterest followers, which inspired us to broaden our definition of Good Black News to include items on the topics above on a regular basis.
If you want to learn more about Lesa, check out her bio on our About the Editors page, and if you like our new Lifestyle Section, please let us know!  Onward and Upward, together.
Lori Lakin Hutcherson, Founder and Editor-In-Chief, Good Black News