Ebony back issues from May 2008:
There's nothing like a mother: a message from the President & CEO.(PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE)(Editorial)
May 01, 2008; ... We're all familiar with the proverb: "A woman's work is never done." And that's especially true when it comes to being a mother. Throughout time, no one has done so much for so many with such grace. She is selfless. She is patient. She is resilient. She is strong and compassionate, loving ...
Janet Jackson.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Over the years I have watched Janet Jackson's career as she transitioned from the charming young actress on television's Good Times to a shy teen singer trying to find her groove to the trendsetting international superstar that she is today. ...
Atlanta to Africa.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... Your article "From Atlanta to Africa," which highlighted the visit to Ghana, West Africa, by a group of eighth graders from KIPPS WAYS Academy in Atlanta, was motivating. It was inspirational just to read about their visit to their roots and also how they literally walked in the footsteps ...
China and Africa.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... Thank you very much for featuring Chinese involvement in Africa in your January 2008 issue. Your article correctly details the recent intensification of economic, political, diplomatic and security overtures by China's government across the African continent, and alludes to consequences ...
Going to church.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... This letter is in response to Haki Madhubuti ("Do You Have To Go To Church To Be A Good Christian?" March 2008), who appears to have an ax to grind because of his own dealings with the church. The reason people stop going to church is because their desire to build a relationship with God ...
Weeping for her sons.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... I felt like weeping after reading the article "Weeping For Her Sons." My heart ached for Isaura Mendes after learning that two of her sons were murdered and three of her nephews were killed. It's enough to make one's heart stop--literally. What a horrible tragedy. I wonder if ...
Light-skinned advantage.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... I write concerning the article "Do Light-Skinned Black People Have An Advantage?" (Elizabeth Atkins-Adrienne Samuels, February 2008). For me, it's difficult to grasp that people are still overplaying skin color as if they are speaking about clothing or shoes, or some other inanimate ...
Who's Lovin' Who?(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... As an African-American, unmarried woman, I really enjoyed reading the February 2008 issue "Who's Lovin' Who?" But, as a believer in Christ, it is sad to see so many famous couples treating marriage like a treaty between two countries rather than a three-cord union between man, woman and ...
Athletes as role models.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... "Two Sides" (December 2007) had powerful and candid views by Charles Barkley and Jackie Joyner-Kersee on whether or not professional athletes/entertainers should be role models. Jackie seems reluctant to accept that status by calling it "fortunate and unfortunate." However, she understands ...
Michael Jackson.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... I'm a big fan of Michael Jackson's. I have been since I was a kid. I just want to express my sincerest gratitude to EBONY for the December 2007 Michael Jackson interview and photo spectacular! It's such a relief to read an interview with him that for once quotes him accurately, ...
Taste of Ebony.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... Just wanted to thank you for the article "The Taste of Ebony" (January 2008). It was nice to finally see African-American chefs being recognized! I am an avid watcher of the Food Network cooking shows. I had begun to think there were no prominent ...
Oprah and Denzel.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor)
May 01, 2008; ... Bravo! Your article "The Producers" (January 2008) profiles dynamic duo Oprah Winfrey and Denzel Washington, who teamed to produce a larger than life film The Great Debaters, which depicts what the Black Experience was in the Deep South during the 1930s. The film's inception brilliantly ...
Correction.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Correction notice)
May 01, 2008 ... In the feature "Essentials: Lashing Out" (March 2008), we misidentified the ...
Making the cover.(BEHIND THE SCENES)(Vanessa Williams)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] It takes a lot of creativity and coordination to pull off a cover shoot. Multiply that times five when you have to corral a family of people who aren't currently living in the same place at the same time. Leave it to Vanessa Williams to pull it off with ...
Ebony on the scene.(Brief article)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] 1. At the 50th Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, jazz artist Herbie Hancock celebrates his awards for Best Album of the Year and Best Contemporary Jazz Album. 2. Actress Ruby Dee cradles her Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding ...
A spotlight on individuals who are moving onward & upward.(SPEAKING OF PEOPLE)
May 01, 2008; ... GWENDOLYN BUTLER [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gwendolyn Butler is used to the being the "first" and the "only." One of those rare Black women who can be called a financial guru, Butler recently became the president and chief operating officer of Capri Capital ...
Sherri Shepherd: the View's newest star hits her stride.(CENTER STAGE)(Interview)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sherri Shepherd is suddenly famous. As the newest face on the morning talkfest The View, even the comedian herself has found it hard to believe how sudden throe can hit you. For instance, the soon-to-be-divorced Shepherd still rides the subway ...
5 questions for ... Stephen Salters.(Interview)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] As the spotlight illuminates Stephen Salters on stage, the robust sounds of the powerful baritone both transfix and transform the audience. if you do not hold tickets that place you near the front row, you may have to squint a bit to discover that the ...
Tripping into the future: Nicole Mitchell haunts with Xenogenesis.(SOUNDING OFF)(Xenogenesis Suite: A Tribute to Octavia Butler)(Interview)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Flutist Nicole Mitchell's latest work is an eclectic musical collective poised to take the untrained ear by storm by simultaneously hypnotizing and haunting its listeners. Quite the departure from her more traditional jazz flute, Mitchell's new release ...
CeCe Winans.(ALSO NOTED)(Thy Kingdom Come)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What drives CeCe Winans is her faith and dedication to delivering music that will take listeners closer to God. That is reflected on her new recording, Thy Kingdom Come (Pure Springs Gospel). With the voice of an angel and poignant, fervent lyrics, CeCe ...
Hot tix: spring concert checklist.(ALSO NOTED)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Hip-hop icons Jay-Z & Mary J. Blige team up with the 'Heart of the City' tour. Legendary bluesman, B.B. King is ...
Dianne Reeves.(SOUNDING OFF)(When You Know)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Take a relaxing, soothing musical journey with premiere jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves as she delivers her interpretations of new standards on When You Know (Blue Note). She kicks off the set with an engaging, jazzy interpretation of The Temptations' "Just My ...
Gnarls Barkley.(SOUNDING OFF)(The Odd Couple)(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] With The Odd Couple (Downtown/Atlantic), Gnarls Barkley is back with an exciting follow-up to its Grammy Award-winning St. Elsewhere. The talented team (artist/producer Danger Mouse and vocalist Cee-Lo Green) again delivers a set of explosive songs that ...
Lending a child a helping hand: being a mentor can change a youngster's life.(FOR BROTHERS ONLY)
May 01, 2008; ... PHOENIX SUNS ALL-STAR AND FOUNDER of the EACH 1, TEACH 1 FOUNDATION AT THE AMARE STOUDEMIRE READING & LEARNING CENTER Growing up in poverty on the streets, I had a small chance to make it. My mom was thuggin', my older brother was thuggin' and my dad died when I was 12. I was ...
Recession-proofing your life.(MONEY TALKS)
May 01, 2008; ... Concerned about layoffs at your job or in your industry? Worried about how long you'll continue to earn a paycheck? Have you already received a pink slip? Job cuts jumped dramatically at the beginning of 2008. And it takes three months on average to find a new job, though in some sectors, ...
May: what's happening where?(TRAVEL GUIDE)(Calendar)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ATLANTA * Sweet Auburn SpringFest 2008. One of the largest family reunions and street festivals. Auburn Avenue. May 9-11. sweetauburn.com * 31st Atlanta Jazz Festival. Features top entertainers, an artist market and children's ...
Love yourself first: an Olympian's pursuit of healthy self-esteem.(SISTERSPEAK)
May 01, 2008; ... As a gymnast with an Olympic gold medal to hang around my neck, three Olympic Games in my repertoire and my team's picture on the front of a Wheaties box, I had it all. Or so it seemed to the outside world. But the gymnast that people around the world saw on TV back in 1996--a ...
Surviving seasonal allergies.(HOUSE CALL)(Disease/Disorder overview)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Some simple steps can minimize the misery The sneezing, the itchy and watery eyes, the runny nose and the general discomfort are all indications that the allergy season is in full force. Doctors say now that we've gone from winter to spring, allergy ...
What happens in Brazil ... stays in Brazil.(BOOKSHELF)(Interview)
May 01, 2008 ... As the book jacket blurb says, "[Brazil] is a not-so-new, not-so-secret destination for a growing number of American black men looking for the kind of sex and freedom they say they cannot find with black women." In DON'T BLAME IT ON RIO: THE REAL DEAL BEHIND WHY MEN GO TO BRAZIL FOR SEX ...
The Skull Cage Key.(HOT PICK)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Skull Cage Key (Agate Bolden, May 2008, $15) is former New York Times staff writer Michel Marriott's debut novel. Set in mid-21st Century Harlem, it is a futuristic thriller about how the lives of a young professional on the run for the murder of his ...
Think Outside The Cell: An Entrepreneur's Guide for the Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated.(ON THE RADAR)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Think Outside The Cell: An Entrepreneur's Guide for the Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated (Resilience Multimedia, March 2008, $14.95) by Joseph Robinson is a step-by step guide to help inmates and parolees plot a course for successful re-entry into ...
Crossing The Pilgrim Journey: Challenges & Solutions.(ON THE RADAR)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crossing The Pilgrim Journey: Challenges & Solutions (Outskirts Press, August 2007 $13.95), Trudy Coiley writes a ...
Expert advice on relationships: Dr. Joyce answers your questions on marriage and dating & romance.(EBONY ADVISOR)
May 01, 2008; ... Q: I am a wife, mother, student and I am employed full-time. I have been married going on six years and I recently found out that my husband had an affair. I found out when mail arrived for my husband from a prosecuting attorney--a woman was suing my husband for child support for two kids ....
Essentials at every age: you can look your absolute best from decade to decade.(Buyers guide)
May 01, 2008; ... When choosing skin care products, your age matters. Skin changes over time so the products that worked wonders when you were in your 20s may not be as effective as you get older. However, age is not the only reason to update your skin care essentials. Beauty brands are constantly ...
Claiming her all: Vanessa Williams reveals her unexpected journey on her pursuit of happiness.(Interview)(Cover story)
May 01, 2008; ... Hearing her walk up the winding staircase at her Chappaqua, N.Y., home wasn't what caught our attention. The two energetic young people who preceded her wore a certain nonchalance that comes from being comfortable around people they don't really know. What stopped our collective ...
Marquee mamas: being a star at work and home requires beauty, grace, love and sacrifice.
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yes, they live crazy-busy lives, like most mothers. They work long hours on jobs that regularly require them to travel and leave their children behind. At home they spend "quality time" with their kids, taking them to movies, dinners, play dates, school ...
afraid to hope: many African Americans are excited about Barack Obama's historic run for the presidency. But they are also afraid to become too emotionally invested in something that still seems too good to be true.
May 01, 2008; ... It has been a long time since Kenneth Gary got excited about politics. In fact, the last time was when he helped provide security in Boston for the Rev. Jesse Jackson's campaign events in 1984. Nearly three decades later, Gary, a 55-year-old computer systems engineer who now ...
The new Black power: the next generation of influential leaders takes its place at the top.(EBONY POWER 150)(List)
May 01, 2008; ... EDITOR'S NOTE: For the 45th year in a row, EBONY presents its annual list of "The Most Influential Black Americans." Since 1963. the sect on has been one of our most talked-about features, highlighting talented individuals whose influence not only shapes Black America, but ...
Organization leaders.(THE EBONY POWER 150)(List)
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dwayne Ashley President, Thurgood Marshall College Fund [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jacqueline Moore Bowtes National President Jack & Jill of America, Inc. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hall Davis IV President, National ...
Do men really fall: no, don't let the brothers make you wear that fake hair.(TWO SIDES)(Viewpoint essay)
May 01, 2008; ... From our infatuation with and addiction to long hair in the '60s to our love of weaves today, Black people have been struggling with the notion of "good hair" versus "bad hair" since the "Man" shipped us here to this country. Now I am not just going to jump on the Sisters for ...
For those weaves? Yes, wear that weave, girl. You've earned it.(TWO SIDES)
May 01, 2008; ... All Black men of a certain age--with sisters and daughters--share a singular set of unforgettable memories tinged in terror and gratefulness. Some of the recollections come from childhood, others from when we were young fathers. But none of us can ever forget ... watching, hearing and ...
Ebony Pre-Oscar Celebration.
May 01, 2008; ... More than 800 celebrities, business leaders and Hollywood luminaries braved a damp Los Angeles evening to help EBONY magazine mark its 4th Pre-Oscar Celebration at the Boulevard 3 nightclub ill Hollywood. The event honored four legends in the film and entertainment ...
Home is where the art is: community-minded couple makes mission of giving back and sharing.
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The world of Shirley and Bernard Kinsey can be likened to layers--layers of culture and history and art. Layers of friends, acquaintances and contacts. Layers of endeavors that applaud and document the genius and history of Black people in America. Layers ...
Honeymoon hideaways: sweet retreats for the romantic at heart.(TRAVEL GUIDE)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After the "I Dos" have been done, most newlywed couples look forward to some much-needed R&R (that's retreat and romance) following hectic wedding planning. And their thoughts soon turn to beginning their new life as a couple in a romantic and ...
Are you really ready for that weekend road trip? It is a lonely and helpless feeling to be stuck on the side of the road, held hostage by an inoperable vehicle. You can avoid that scenario with some pre-trip maintenance.
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Warm weather is beginning and winter is becoming a distant memory. While many of us use this time to do a little cleaning around the house, it's also a good idea to perform routine summer maintenance to our car--especially before hitting the road on that ...
The Africa cup: billion-dollar soccer-fest is bigger than the Super Bowl.(Africa Cup of Nations)
May 01, 2008; ... One Continent. Millions of fans. Sixteen teams. One Africa Cup of Nations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We're talking football. Not that American pigskin stuff; but the other kind of football--aka soccer--the world's most popular sport. And when it comes to Africa and ...
The 9th Annual Super Bowl Gospel celebration.
May 01, 2008 ... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The 9th Annual Super Bowl Gospel Celebration was highlighted this year by the inaugural presentation of the NFL Players All-Star Choir. The singing group, which featured more than 30 of the league's stars, included such longtime event supporters as David ...
Strictly for laughs.(Cartoon)
May 01, 2008 ... "DEFINE "TORTURE." HAVING TO TESTIFY BEFORE THIS COMITTEE. ...
Guess who sells your weave? Koreans capitalize on Black beauty's big business.
May 01, 2008; ... Bags and bags yet more bags of the silky, stringy stuff line the walls or the beauty supply store. Beneath the bags of hair are bottles of shampoo and conditioner, sparkly cell phone chargers and rose-smelling lotions. All told, an estimated 2,000 different items line the shelves of this ...
Give flab the boot: intense fitness camps push body beyond its limits.(BODY TALK)(Metroplex Adventure Boot Camp)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's 5:20 a.m. in Dallas and the sky is about 40 shades of black. It's about 30 dcgrees--a cold snap, they say. Besides the whirl of traffic from the highway nearby and the stirring of two lone figures, all seems to be quiet in Katherine Rose Memorial ...
Moms on a mission: for 3 actresses, charity may begin at home, but it doesn't end there.(PARENTING)(Karyn Parsons, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jasmine Guy)
May 01, 2008; ... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Being a leading lady is one thing. However, being a mother is quite a different role. Just ask celebrity moms Karyn Parsons, Sheryl Lee Ralph and Jasmine Guy, who have all played divas during their careers. Motherhood for each actress seems to have sparked ...
Follow the yellow brick road.(FASHION FAIR)(Brief article)
May 01, 2008; ... Spring 2008 is being heralded with a flurry of fashions showcasing wonderful prints. While some of the most stunning prints are inspired by florals, others take their cue from color blocks and splotches or even abstract muses. One of the season's hottest color palettes is yellow, whether ...
Building the perfect sandwich: mouthwatering meals made easy in minutes.(DATE WITH A DISH)(Recipe)
May 01, 2008; ... Americans continue to have a love affair with sandwiches, not only for their taste, but also for the fact that they can be eaten on the go in this fast-paced society. Some can be elaborate, but they are easy to prepare and provide the versatility that allows them to be served at breakfast, ...
Memorable photo.(Brief article)
May 01, 2008 ... In Washington, D.C., thousands of demonstrators, who were part of the "Poor People's Campaign," gather to hear leaders outline plans to convince government officials to address the problems of the poor. Led by the Rev. Ralph David Abernathy, who succeeded Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as ...