Jezebel recently analyzed the September issues of 10 fashion magazines in search of black models who scored their own fashion editorials. Aside from Kelly Moreira, who graced eight pages in Teen Vogue; Chanel Iman, who appeared on eight pages in Allure; Georgie Badiel, who was featured on 10 pages of Elle; and Lyndsey Scott, who made the pages of W, most magazines, including Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Glamour, Lucky and Cosmopolitan, neglected to feature a black model carrying an editorial by herself:

Why was it important for black models to go it alone? “A fashion magazine uses its glossy fashion editorial pages to announce what is beautiful, fashionable, and ‘now,’” says Jezebel. “When only white models are utilized in the highly desirable September feature fashion shoots, the message being sent is that to be beautiful, fashionable and ‘now,’ you can’t be black.”

The story doesn’t count celebrities (like Halle Berry on Vogue’s September cover), maintains Jezebel’s editors, because most of them, although black, have very light skin and straight hair. Their appearance underscores the beauty of mainstream white features, and therefore is not a true reflection of diversity. It’s unclear why Jezebel chose not to count editorials that included models of all colors, like Vogue’s “We are the World” editorial, featuring Joan Smalls and Jourdan Dunn, or Sessilee Lopez’s shoot in Glamour with Tommy Hilfiger.

When talks first began about increased diversity in fashion, advocates were decrying the complete exclusion of minorities in fashion magazines and on runways. Now, even though magazines are making steps in the right direction (the September issue of Vogue is very diverse–down to advertisements featuring Joan Smalls and Namik Minter), outlets continue to cast a very critical eye. Is it really important for magazines to feature black models on their own or is it okay to feature a diverse cast of colors and racial backgrounds?

*****sound off***** What would YOU like to see in the pages of fashion magazines and on the catwalks of the world? Do you think diversity in fashion is important, or is it an irrelevant focus? We want to know what you think!

This year this empowering event is being held at world famous The Apollo Theater on May 7th featuring celebrity entertainment.

Check out www.powertoendstroke.org for more information.

Check out her 1st NPBN video covering the weekly event Hard N Da Paint held in East Los Angeles at Self Help Graphics:

Do you go Hard N Da Paint? I was at their opening day celebration and it was a fun day! Graf artists, food, emcees, poets, singers, dancers, painters and graphic designers were all in attendance doing their thing and supporting each other. This is a great event for the youth to come together in an awesome space and express themselves.

Thank you Talissa for this video and please show some support!

What can we do to help Haiti? We can keep demanding accountability for funds raised, items donated and the companies and banks who led the country into economic turmoil in the first place. We can keep the people who have been affected and the people dedicating their time, energy and lives to help in our hearts.

Images of Haiti after the Earthquake (from Google):

Haiti - Google

Haiti - Google

Luis Rodriguez and his work have been covered by the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, New York Times and countless others. Sojourners Magazine stated, “Rodriguez’s proven commitment to healing and justice for his community gives his writing authenticity and thus authority.”

I am sharing some of his project’s progress below - a post from his blog:

A Gathering of Peacemakers

Posted By Luis J. Rodriguez on January 15, 2010

This past weekend I was honored to be part of an important gathering of peacemakers at the Barrios Unidos headquarters in Santa Cruz, CA. The aim and purpose was to create the first real Barrio Peace Plan that would include families, youth, elders, adults, organizations, activists, but also those involved in the violence–gangs and the gente in prisons. This is unprecedented and necessary. We are in a time of change, of prophecy, of real peace. It’s about healing, alignment, consciousness, cooperation, and the liberating force of our own creative minds and spirits.

Already through the efforts of Nane Alejandrez and the Barrios Unidos organizations, connections have been made in the prisons with key leaders who also want to see peace in our time for our barrios. I’ve been making similar connections on my end with my ties in the pintas. During the weekend, more than 100 leaders and activists–including such notables as Dolores Huerta, Jose “Dr. Loco” Cuellar,” Jerry Tello, Henry Dominguez, Amanda Perez, Albino Garcia, among others, hashed out the essential ideas and points that should be included in the plan.

An elders council was created, most of whom signed a pledge to continue this work until its completion. Wonderful ideas, words, sentiments, and challenges were brought up at this gathering. We still have a long process of meeting, connecting, outreach, evaluating, and more before we’ll have this plan. This was a good and strong beginning.

I’ll keep everyone informed on this development. As many of you know, barrio violence is the worse of any in the country. In California, rival barrio gangs and prison gang associations have been responsible for thousands of deaths over the past three decades–and for many even longer, being that barrio gangs are the oldest continuous street gangs in the country. It’s also true that with suppression, gang injunctions, three-strikes-and-you’re-out laws, deportations, and such, California gangs have now spread throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Central America, and even parts of South America and Europe.

The concept that the street and prison warriors will also help bring peace is an old one, with many pitfalls and dangers, but one that can be the most capable of bringing lasting and comprehensive peace.

We also held three sweat lodge ceremonies (I took part in two, including one at 5:30 AM), indigenous drumming, chants & songs, and one evening we held a “barrio cafe” with oldies, cumbias, poetry, and even jokes. Jerry Tello and Jose “Dr. Loco” Cuellar rocked the place with piano and saxophone. Others brought in flutes and blues guitar. I threw in a few of my poems with accompaniment and we were really into la mode bohemia–Chicano style. I’ve pledged to continue this work where I’m at, but also across this state. Of course, we also agreed this needs to grow into other states, other countries, and of course, to other communities and races.

With elders, adults, mentors, youth, families, and lots of heart, intelligence, experience, and ganas, we are on the verge of the first major barrio peace effort in California—tied, of course, to forty years of actual local and statewide marches, gatherings, truces, summits, and urban peace work.

We also brought up the case of our friend Alex Sanchez, director of Homies Unidos, who’s being held in a federal facility awaiting bail hearings and possible trial on trumped up gang conspiracy charges. He’s been a longtime and genuine peace advocate. Whatever happens to Alex can happen to any of us. We are all Alex.

One day we must ask the question “Why are there 40 million poor people in America?” When you ask that question, you’re raising a question about the economic system, about a broader distribution of wealth. When you ask that question, you begin to question the capitalistic economy.

I’m simply saying that, more and more, we’ve got to begin to ask questions about the whole of society. We are called upon to help the discouraged beggars in life’s marketplace. But one day we must come to see that an edifice that produces beggars needs restructuring.

When you deal with this, you begin to ask the questions: Who owns the oil? You begin to ask the question: Who owns the iron ore? You begin to ask the question: Why do people have to pay water bills in a world that’s two thirds water?

Martin Luther King, Jr. / SCLC convention / summer 1967

(thank you to Rock A Mole productions for this quote)

Thank you to LaVinnia for sharing this beautiful video!

Here are some of the the facts about what is happening in Haiti:

-Earthquake Facts-
from http://earthquake.usgs.gov where scientific details and area maps can be found.

Magnitude:
7.0
Date-Time:
* Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 21:53:10 UTC
* Tuesday, January 12, 2010 at 04:53:10 PM at epicenter
* Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location:
18.457°N, 72.533°W
Depth:
13 km (8.1 miles) set by location program
Region:
HAITI REGION
Distances:
25 km (15 miles) WSW of PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
130 km (80 miles) E of Les Cayes, Haiti
150 km (95 miles) S of Cap-Haitien, Haiti
1125 km (700 miles) SE of Miami, Florida

Magnitud:
7.0
Fecha-Hora:
*martes, 12 de enero 2010 a las 21:53:10 (UTC) - Tiempo Universal Coordinado
*martes, 12 de enero 2010 a las 04:53:10 PM hora local al epicentro
*Hora del Terremoto en otras zonas de horario
Localización:
18.46N 72.53W
Profundidad:
13.0 kilómetros
Región:
REGION DE HAITI
Referencia:
25 km (15 miles) WSW of PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti
130 km (80 miles) E of Les Cayes, Haiti
150 km (95 miles) S of Cap-Haitien, Haiti
1125 km (700 miles) SE of Miami, Florida

From the American Red Cross:

A Message from First Lady Michelle Obama & The American Red Cross

If you’re trying to reach a U.S. citizen living or traveling in Haiti, you should contact the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services, at 1-888-407-4747.

US Companies have been pledging millions of dollars in aid to Haiti in the wake of the disaster. Some US citizens are skeptical of Aid efforts, wondering where the money goes and if efforts will have follow through, citing New Orleans after Katrina as a community still suffering and mostly forgotten. CNN & Reuters both released stories publishing the names of US companies donating money to Haiti. UNICEF urges companies and individuals to donate cash and water purification tablets during the first stages of the Aid process, to help build a strong foundation for distribution of aid later.

How has the disaster and the efforts to help affected you?

I personally like all kinds of comedy - I like funny impersonations, I enjoy comedic cover songs and I truly adore a well executed skit…but when I think about writing for a comic and writing “comedy” I begin to realize that making people chuckle is not always as easy as some comedians make it look in their stand up routines.

One place you can go to judge and be judged is So Phresh & So Clean, NPBN’s new weekly comedy show hosted by Chris Spencer. If you want to be a part of the show, or know anyone who you think would be great on The Comedy Union’s famous stage, simply upload a video onto NPBN.com (by registering to the Digital Media Academy). Make sure your clip is clean and under 2 minutes.

Right now, we have the comedy of Mr. David Isaac (maybe youve seen him at the Latino Laugh Festival or The Comedy Store) on the NPBN.com Entertainment Channel. Check him out and leave a comment letting us know - would you like to see the stylings of David Isaac on So Phresh & So Clean?

Come through So Phresh & So Clean taping live this week at

So Phresh & So Clean
The Comedy Union
5040 Pico Blvd LA, CA
$10 before 9pm
every Wednesday!
866-774-4720 for more information.

Ok you so-called comics, I have a challenge for you:
are you going to make me laugh?

Let’s see those audition videos, and then Ill take another picture with my new face. Hopefully, its a laughing face (or at LEAST a smile), since you call yourself a comic!

thank you my lovely and (hopefully) hilarious friends

-lady t

Here are a few screenshots from the night’s festivities: