“The news is out. This job is killing me,” he said on the air. “What I need to recuperate for my body to get stronger … these are the hours I need to be sleeping. … I’ve been going hard.”

He said he spent several days in the hospital last week. “I actually had two blood clots in my lungs … and because of the blood clots … the right side of my heart was enlarged.”

Speaking on his radio show, he said: “I have been in the hospital since Friday, and actually, it’s quite serious. My antibodies [in] my immune system were attacking my organs and it made my body even weaker.”

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Pictured: Actor/comedian Nick Cannon attends a benefit for the United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Foundation at Carnegie Hall on February 7, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images)

The study has left social media sites abuzz with discussion.

“Why do people give inter-racial dating so much lip service?” wrote Tosin Lajuwomi on Twitter. “You like who you like – black, white, blue, orange.” Others were more reserved about what the report reflects.

“I look forward to the day when stories about “inter-racial” marriages are no longer newsworthy,” wrote James Burns on the micro-blogging site. “We have far to go.”

About 15% of new marriages in the United States in 2010 were between spouses of different races or ethnicities, more than doubling the 1980 level of 6.7%, according to the study. Looking at all married couples in 2010, regardless of when they married, so-called “intermarriages” reached an all-time high of 8.4% in 2010, compared to 3.2% in 1980, the study said.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

As the ladies gear up for the launch of their WE tv series, which highlights the non-stop pace of sisters Erica and Tina Campbell, they joyously anticipate giving their fans a sneak peek into the day-to-day aspects of their lives. The series rolls out as Mary Mary continues to perform, tour and record new music while running busy lives on the home front. Erica and husband, producer/songwriter Warryn Campbell, balance raising three children including a newborn baby. Meanwhile Tina and husband, Ricky Minor Band drummer Teddy Campbell, balance raising a blended family of four while Teddy plays nightly on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In addition to their spouses and children, the ladies are part of a big extended family as two of nine siblings, and each individual family member has a larger-than-life personality. Through it all, the sisters remain devoted parents, loving spouses, and multi-Grammy winning superstars.

Mary Mary’s new album, set for release in May 2012 will feature two new songs including the just released single, “Go Get It.” The album will include classic Mary Mary songs that have been remixed and remastered featuring some of the duo’s greatest hits. The highly anticipated album will be sure to please old and new fans alike.

Mary Mary has been on an incredible run in the past year including securing the prestigious ASCAP Golden Note Award, a BET Award, Soul Train Award, Two Stellar Awards, double Grammy Award nominations as well as a nomination for a NAACP Image Award for Best Gospel Album. The year also saw partnerships with The American Red Cross and Pillsbury.  Perhaps the biggest news of all is Erica and husband Warryn Campbell’s delivery of their new baby girl in late January.

Mary Mary will premiere on WE tv Thursday, March 29th at 10pm ET/PT, in a special time slot, then continues each week at 9pm ET/PT with ten, hour-long episodes. The duo looks forward to sharing a glimpse of their lives with their fans.

Baisden made the contribution before keynoting the Mentoring Brothers in Action summit in Atlanta, hosted by Big Brothers Big Sisters and its fraternity partners — Alpha Phi Alpha, Kappa Alpha Psi and Omega Psi Phi.  The summit brought fraternity leaders and mentoring and youth services professionals together with community and education experts to identify the most effective ways to recruit African American male mentors.  Children ready and waiting for mentors with Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies are disproportionately African American boys.  But only about 15 percent of the organization’s male mentors are African American.

Big Brothers Big Sisters presented Baisden with the “Mentoring Brothers in Action Michael Baisden Inspiration Award.”  The award will become an annual honor given to an individual who demonstrates the kind of consistent generosity and dedication to the Mentoring Brothers in Action mission, as exemplified by Baisden.   

As a result of the summit, Mentoring Brothers in Action leaders will implement a 2012 strategic plan that includes, but is not limited to:

• A national template for fraternity-led barbershop recruiting drives
• A mentoring pilot program that matches fraternity member mentors with boys who are ready to be matched, simultaneously enrolling them in fraternity college prep enrichment group activities
• Establishing a national African American male mentor affinity model with local chapters linked to Big Brothers Big Sisters local agencies
• Establishing culturally relevant mentor recruitment opportunities that appeal to younger male prospective volunteers
• Produce a PSA challenging African American men to invest in Big Brothers Big Sisters as a volunteer or donor
• Hold Mentoring Brothers in Action partners accountable for engaging men in the partnership website — www.MentoringBrothers.org — with creative outreach, such as multi-topic webcasts that attract African American community-minded men

The summit came on the heels of the announcement of the Big Brothers Big Sisters 2011 Youth Outcomes Survey Report, which shows statistically significant improvements for youth throughout the first year of enrollment.  The improvements are in three outcome areas – educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors and socio-emotional competency.

The Manhattan Institute report, released two days before the start of Black History month, points to federal housing policies, changes in public perception and demographic shifts since the 1960s that have helped integrate the nation.

Still, the study adds, America’s social and income disparities continue.

“We thought about racial inequality and thought that neighborhoods had something to do with it,” said economist Jacob Vigdor of Duke University, who co-wrote the study with Edward Glaeser of Harvard University at the New York-based conservative think tank.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

So many famous persons check into rehab that the struggle to overcome addiction has become a staple of prime-time television entertainment, with reality shows such as “Intervention” and “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.” Despite the public’s fascination with celebrities, the need for rehab spans all economic and social lines.

“The face of addiction is the person in the office right next to you. People tend to think ‘this will not happen to us,’” says Carol McDaid, a patient advocate and government relations specialist based in Washington, D.C. “Seventy percent of the people with addiction are working people.”

FULL ARTICLE HERE

In a Grammy ceremony tinged with sadness and mourning for Whitney Houston, Jennifer Hudson delivered an elegant and simple tribute to the late singer, performing “I Will Always Love You” before a silent but appreciative crowd.

Hudson’s performance came after a montage of departed musicians, ending with Houston. She stood in silhouette below an image of Houston and ended the song with the ad-lib, “Whitney, we love you.” Looking emotional, she exited quickly after the song was over.

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

While Nicki Minaj failed to win a Grammy for “Best New Artist” on Sunday night, the burgeoning rap star did succeed in being one of the most discussed singers following the telecast, but not for the most career-boosting of reasons.

Minaji sent the blogosphere into overdrive early in the evening when she arrived on the red carpet supposedly channeling her “Roman Zolanski” alter ego. That required a custom-made Atelier Versace outfit consisting of a blood-red, nun-inspired satin robe. Her “date” was an older man dressed to resemble the pope.

The rapper then debuted a new song from her forthcoming album “Roman Reloaded,” taking religious symbolism to a whole new level of weirdness. Her “performance” consisted of an onstage exorcism, seemingly on herself, complete with levitations, fire, lighting and gibberish. As a white-hooded, goth-like church choir sang a chilling rendition of “Come All Ye Faithful,” Minaj strapped herself to a leather table and was lifted into the air as flames burned beneath.

The mood backstage was a mixture of confusion, embarrassment and offense as the performance dragged on, going deeper and deeper in mocking Catholic faith. In a pre-taped skit which was broadcast before her live showdown, Minaj sang “I Feel Pretty,” while putting on lipstick to set the stage for the insanity, and the same priest-figure was brought into her room to find out what was wrong with the “sick child.”

(Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

At the Grammy Special Merit Awards Diana Ross was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award for her role in music. The 67-year-old former leader of The Supremes was joined on stage by her five children and one grandchild, whom she named as her real achievements in life during her acceptance speech.

“I’m very happy, very excited. I look forward to the future — and going into the studio to make new music,” she said in an interview about her award.

(Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images)

Coroner’s officials say they will not release any information on an autopsy performed Sunday at the request of police detectives investigating the singer’s death. Houston was found in the bathtub of her room, but Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter declined to say anything more about the room’s condition or any evidence investigators recovered.

There were no indications of foul play and no obvious signs of trauma on Houston’s body, but officials were not ruling out any causes of death until they have toxicology results, which will likely take weeks to obtain. Beverly Hills Police Lt. Mark Rosen said that his agency may release more details Monday about Houston’s death, but it will depend on whether detectives feel comfortable releasing any information.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Pictured: Singer Whitney Houston attends the 2011 Pre-GRAMMY Gala and Salute To Industry Icons Honoring David Geffen at Beverly Hilton on February 12, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.  (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images For The Recording Academy)

The 41-year-old Queen of Hip-Hop Soul sang several of her most famous songs including “No More Drama” and “Family Affair” at the Avalon nightclub on Thursday night to support the (RED) campaign that raises money to fight AIDS and HIV. She has supported the charity for years.

The singer, who has more than a half-dozen multiplatinum albums, gave a few emotional speeches where she talked about the importance of giving back. Mary J Blige said: “I’m delighted to be supporting (Belvedere) RED in their fight against HIV & AIDS in Africa. It is one of the most devastating issues faced by millions in Africa and if we can raise awareness with this event and encourage people to buy (PRODUCT) RED, we’ll be one step closer to an HIV / AIDS free generation in 2015.”
(Photo by Mark Davis/Getty Images For (Belvedere) RED)

Brown’s probation officer issued a glowing report, saying the 22-year-old musician “has made great strides” to improve his life. The “Beautiful People” singer has also passed all required drug tests and completed half of the six months’ worth of roadside cleanup, graffiti removal and other manual labor.

Judge Lomeli denied Brown’s attorney’s request.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Kelly Rowland attended the 3rd annual Essence Black Women in Music event Wednesday night (Feb. in Hollywood and was honored for her achievements in the music industry alongside record label veteran Sylvia Rhone.

(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

The commentator has been suspended indefinitely for tweets he sent during Sunday’s Super Bowl that were criticized as anti-gay, according to a statement released Wednesday. One tweet said, “If a dude at your Super Bowl party is hyped about David Beckham’s H&M underwear ad, smack the ish out of him!”

“Roland Martin’s tweets were regrettable and offensive,” CNN’s statement reportedly said. “Language that demeans is inconsistent with the values and culture of our organization, and is not tolerated. We have been giving careful consideration to this matter, and Roland will not be appearing on our air for the time being.”

FULL ARTICLE HERE

One supervisor was even photographed in 2006 asleep on a flight, carrying a loaded pistol, the air marshals said.

In interviews to be broadcast tonight on “World News with Diane Sawyer” and “Nightline,” the air marshals describe a culture of incompetence, bigotry and sexism on the part of senior managers at some offices that has endured for the last decade and raises questions about the professionalism and performance of the force entrusted with preventing acts of in-flight terrorism.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

“Harriet Tubman was an incredible woman whose accomplishments and contributions played a pivotal role in the history of the United States, cementing her status as a true American icon,” said Dan Rogoski, General Manager of The Presidents Gallery by Madame Tussauds.  “We are honored to have Harriet Tubman’s descendants with us today for the unveiling and induction of her wax figure into our expanding Presidents Gallery — an interactive journey through America’s history.”

Harriet Tubman (born Araminta Ross, calling herself Harriet later in life) was an African-American abolitionist, humanitarian and spy for the Union during the U.S. Civil War.  After escaping from slavery, into which she was born, she reportedly freed more than 300 slaves via the elaborate network of safe houses known as the Underground Railroad.  Tubman was born in Dorchester County, M.D., an area from which many of the descendants and family members attending the event currently reside, including Charles E.T. Ross and Valery Ross, who live in Cambridge, M.D.

“We are ecstatic and overjoyed to see Aunt Harriet being celebrated and receiving recognition for her contributions to humanity, which is long overdue,” said Charles Ross.

The additional family members who attended the event include: Bernice Ross Carney, Betty Ross and Peggy Ross (great-great niece’s and also Valery’s sisters); Judy Ross, Patricia Ross Hawkins, Elizabeth Ross Stanley and Ernest D. Ross (great-great-great nieces and nephew); and Jackie Ross Henry (great-great-great-great niece).

Children from Washington D.C.’s Harriet Tubman Elementary School were also on-hand to witness the unveiling of the figure of the historic woman for whom their school is named.

Madame Tussauds studio artists in London worked tirelessly to create this entirely new wax figure of Harriet Tubman.  The figure-making process is incredibly intricate taking anywhere from three to six months from start to finish.  For example, artists insert each strand of hair individually; creating just the head of the wax figure can take up to five weeks alone.  Materials such as red silk are used to create the veins on the eyeballs and it can take technicians almost four days to make a set of teeth.  In order to make the figures as lifelike as possible, Madame Tussauds artists study hundreds of photographs and when available, hours of video footage.  Of course in some cases, the artists do not have the luxury of photographs or videos (as with the Tubman figure) and need to rely on historical accounts, even paintings.

The towering Ndiaye hails from Senegal, where he was discovered by scouts in 2010. Even though he is two inches taller than even the largest NBA players, Ndiaye plays for a small, private school in California – the Huntington Beach Brethren Christian School.

“Right now his game is basically catch, turn, drop-step, dunk,” says coach Jon Bahnsen. “But this kid’s going to play professionally someday. The minute Mamadou enrolled I became a much better basketball coach.”

At his young age, Ndiaye is still developing. But even with his raw skillset, he averages 22.9 points and 13.2 rebounds a game. At his height, the 17-year-old is basically impossible to defend.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

North Star, the first title, published in November 2011, will be followed by South Beach, Wild West, and Big East. This February, the North Star iPod Touch contest will promote the great artists on the North Star Soundtrack and Apple’s all-new iTune U app, which gives educators and students everything they need on their iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch to teach and take courses. Romance readers should visit www.angelinembishop.com for more contest details.

Inspired by the volunteers of a local community center and her ten year work experience at Rutgers University, Angeline created North Star leads Caresse Aldana and Graham Sheridan.  She desires to transport romance readers from their stressful lives with sensual love stories that feature captivating characters with strong family values.

Deborah Gilbert of SMP says: “We’re delighted with the success of North Star and proud to announce this new series as Angeline prepares for her first visit to Romance Slam Jam conference in Little Rock, Arkansas this spring. She’s a fantastic storyteller and we are very excited to continue our relationship with her.”

“I didn’t think I was going to make it through that one,” said the 42-year-old musician and entrepreneur, sounding emotional. “That was tough.”

Jay-Z is only the second hip-hop act to perform at Carnegie Hall. Wyclef Jean did so in 2001 with Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton and Whitney Houston.

Jay-Z, born Shawn Corey Carter and reared in the projects of Brooklyn, was joined by fellow New Yorkers Alicia Keys and Nas. He was backed by an orchestra of 30-plus, led by conductor Jeri Lynn Johnson, and a band that included Questlove of The Roots and neo-soul singer Bilal. It was one of two shows for charity planned this week. The other takes place tonight.

Though some tickets were sold to the public, most were offered in a private sale, going from $500 to $2,500. Proceeds benefit the United Way of New York City and the Shawn Carter Scholarship Foundation, which helps low-income students cover college costs. Students from Jay-Z’s foundation also attended the show.

FULL ARTICLE HERE

Pictured: Jay-Z attends the after party following his concert at Carnegie Hall to benefit The United Way Of New York City and the Shawn Carter Foundation at the 40 / 40 Club on February 6, 2012 in New York City.  (Photo by Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images)