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Good Black News

Ways To Find Your Polling Place Before November 6

By goodblacknews on October 24, 2012
If voters haven’t received their Voter Information Ballots by now, they should consider calling their local election offices before the Nov. 6 election to ensure that they have accurate information.  Another source of information is a website maintained by the League of Women Voters Education Fund called Vote 411. It enables voters to enter the address where they are registered and get information on polling places.  In addition, boards of election offices in most states maintain websites where voters can get information on how to find polling places.  Every vote counts – make sure yours is among them!

Aretha Franklin To Sing National Anthem At World Series In Detroit

By goodblacknews on October 24, 2012

According to reports, the legendary singing icon and Detroit native Aretha Franklin will sing the National Anthem at Game 5 on Monday, Oct. 29, at Detroit’s Comerica Park.

The Tigers will face the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, which begins today (tonight), Wednesday, Oct. 24. 

Franklin will sing the national anthem before the start of Game 5 of the 2012 World Series Monday night (Fox, 8:07 p.m. ET), as the Detroit Tigers host the San Francisco Giants at Comerica Park.

Last year, the Queen of Soul opened Game 3 of the American League Championship Series with a soaring rendition of the song as the Tigers hosted the Texas Rangers. The home team won that game 5-2.

Also singing the anthem before games in this series are American Idol winner Phillip Phillips before Wednesday’s Game 1 in San Francisco and gospel star Marvin Winans before Saturday’s Game 3 in Detroit.

HBO And Oprah Developing Drama On Wealthy Black College President

By goodblacknews on October 24, 2012

HBO and Oprah Winfrey are teaming up to produce an original drama series that will center on “a wealthy academic who has become the first black president of a prestigious liberal arts college. He and his family are thrust into national headlines, forcing them to present an idyllic public façade, all while engaging in agonizing personal battles and struggling with dark obsessions,” says THR.  The series will be penned by playwright Thomas Bradshaw, who will also co-executive produce with Winfrey and Harpo Studios’ Kate Forte.  This is part of a long-term deal Harpo has with HBO to develop miniseries, films, documentaries and scripted series for the network.

article by Tambay A. Obenson via blogs.indiewire.com

GBN Quote Of The Day

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2012

“One of the guiding philosophies of music is to find your own voice.”

— Thelonious Monk, jazz pianist, “‘Round Midnight” composer, known as the “Founding Father of Modern Jazz”

R.I.P. Native American Activist And Actor Russell Means

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2012

Russell Means Died Last Of The MohicansActivist and actor Russell Means died of cancer Monday at his home in Porcupine, South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. He was 72. A prominent member of the American Indian movement, he was instrumental in Marlon Brando having a Native American accept Brando’s Best Actor Oscar at the 1973 Academy Awards as a way of highlighting the plight of American Indians. Means also appeared in several films: He debuted as an actor in Michael Mann’s 1992 film The Last Of The Mohicans with Daniel Day-Lewis, and his big-screen credits include Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers and the voice of the Powhatan in Disney’s 1995 animated Pocahontas as well as the 1998 sequel. Means also appeared on TV in show such as HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm and CBS’ Nash Bridges.

article via deadline.com

Chicago’s Black Businesses Get a Bigger Slice of City Contracts

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2012
The Chicago skyline seen from a helicopter.  More black businesses have been given city contracts this year. (AP Photo Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Chicago businesses owned by African Americans got $193 million, or 21 percent, of the contracts awarded by the city for the first eight months of this year. This is an increase from the mere eight percent ($96 million) they got for the same period last year.

“Although the black contracting surge sounds too good to be true, [Chief Procurement Officer Jamie] Rhee said it’s a product of the mayor’s decision to reform the scandal-scarred minority business program, return certification and compliance to the Department of Procurement Services and ‘really get out there and aggressively talk to people’ about upcoming opportunities,” reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

Judge Wilhelmina Wright Newest Minnesota Supreme Court Justice

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2012

History was made this past Tuesday (Oct. 16) when Judge Wilhelmina Wright was sworn in as the first African-American woman to serve on the state’s Supreme Court.  Wright joins Justice Alan Page as the only two African-American Minnesota Supreme Court justices. Page was elected to the Court in 1992 by the votes of the state. Wright was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to fill the vacancy created with the stepping down of Justice Helen Meyer.

Collector Russell L. Goings Prepares To Disperse Rarely-Seen Romare Bearden Trove

By goodblacknews on October 23, 2012

At first glance the modest living room with parquet floor and track lighting resembles any space with an indifferent housekeeper: papers abound, stacks of paintings lean against walls, an indistinct jumble of items swallows a small table. But then Russell L. Goings starts pulling out what he calls his “stuff,” and his home improbably transforms into a personal art gallery, one brimming with his extensive collection of work by Romare Bearden, the 20th-century artist best known for his soulful collages of African-American life. Bearden also happened to be Mr. Goings’s longtime close friend.

Homeless South Carolina Man Wins $200,000 Lottery

By goodblacknews on October 22, 2012

homeless south carolina man wins lottery

A homeless South Carolina man (pictured) is $200,000 richer after spending $10 on a lottery ticket in Greenville, Fox affiliate KEYC-TV reports.  The South Carolina Education Lottery confirmed the win. The winner declined to be identified. He bought the winning ticket at a Simon’s Liquors last week and jumped for joy after realizing that he had the winning numbers.

The man plans on purchasing a home with his winnings. “To see a person, you know he gets $200,000 he doesn’t have a penny in his pocket but $20,” said Simon Sfeir, owner of Simons Liquors, who sold the winning ticket, according to the Associated Press. Sfeir gets $2,000 of the winnings for selling the ticket.

article by Terrell Jermaine Starr via newsone.com

Born On This Day in 1917: Jazz Legend Dizzy Gillespie

By goodblacknews on October 21, 2012

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1s5CWbYyao&w=420&h=315]

Ninety-five years ago today, jazz trumpet innovator and bebop pioneer John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina.  Gillespie, who famously lead his own orchestra as well as recorded with Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, is best known for his compositions “Salt Peanuts,” “Woody N’ You” and “A Night In Tunisia,” as well as popularizing Afro-Cuban jazz in the United States. Learn more about his life and music by clicking here and watch his “Manteca” above.

article by Lori Lakin Hutcherson