The Princess and the Frog Rakes in $25 Million

Black women and girls can be princesses, queens and empresses and the American public proved this weekend they would pay to see a Disney family movie that depicts such a character.
Princess Tiana and her story about the frog prince topped this past weekend's box office receipts at $25 million.
I personally liked the look of the movie as I accompanied a group of 3 & 4 year olds on a field trip to see this Disney civil rights milestone. I waited 51 years to see an animated black princess. The storyline is kinda 'dark' with voodoo as the cause of many of the mishaps and occurances. Overall, I gave it a B+ and kudos for the effort. Princess Tiana is beautiful.

Bengals' Chris Henry Dead at 26

Cinncinnati Bengals wide receiver, Chris Henry died in Charlotte, North Carolina on December 17, 2009 from injuries he sustained from a fall from the bed of the pick-up truck driven by his fiance', Loleini Tonga. The couple were engaged to be married in March 2010 and were the parents of three children.

Charlie Murphy's Wife, Tisha Dies

Condolences go out to the family of comedian and actor Charlie Murphy whose wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy lost her 2-year battle with cancer on December 13, 2009 in New Jersey. The couple were married for 12 years and have two children, Eva and Xavier.

Funnyman D'Lai Returns from Iraq Comedy Tour

Comedian D'Lai has just returned from an unforgettable 10-day experience of entertaining U.S. troops in Iraq and wants to talk about it.
"Man, they loved us (the troops), and they do so much for us while over there. They were just so happy to see us."
Also on the tour was comic David Raibon and actress Elise Perry (Everybody Hates Chris). The group entertained troops on five military bases in Iraq and one base in Kuwait.
"I've got so many stories to tell, we take so many of our simple freedoms for granted."
D'Lai most recently appeared as a grand finalist on season four of Bill Bellamy's "Who's got Jokes" airing on TV-One.

Televangelist Oral Roberts Passes

God is merciful and good. Televangelist Oral Roberts died on Tuesday, December 15, 2009 from complications related to pneumonia and a fall he sustained in his home last weekend. He was 91 years old. When I first read that he'd passed this morning on Facebook, I started thinking about my personal memories of having met him.

I had the privilege and honor of meeting he and his wife in person in 2005, while on a speaking tour in Southern California along with Princess Zulu. We were introduced by a mutual friend, Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Orange County, CA.
Rev. Roberts honored us by saying he'd come to church that day to hear Princess Zulu speak and share her incredible story. He had a marvelous sense of humor and we took a picture with him.

I also recall visiting his namesake university in Tulsa, Okla., the first Pentecostal university in the world, ironically built by a man who never finished college. As I was driving down the road at nightime in Tulsa, I remember how frightened I was when I approached Oral Roberts University campus and the 60 foot bronze statue of praying hands lit up by a series of flood lights. I wasn't sure what they were at first, but I drove back during the daytime and was so awestruck by the structure's grandeur and the peaceful way I felt walking on the campus.

Rest in peace, Oral Roberts. You led a full life and touched many lives in the Name of Jesus.

Comedienne Mo'Nique receives Supporting Actress Honors

Who woulda thunk it?
Comedienne Mo'Nique has garnered several highly prestigious honors associated with her performance in the movie "Precious."

She has been named best supporting actress of 2009 by: The Boston Society of Film Critics; The African-American Film Critics; and the Los Angeles Film Critics which all made their announcements this week.
The late night talk show host has also been nominated for a Golden Globe Award--Best Supporting Actress.

Pundits are predicting that Mo'Nique will be an unstoppable force in the Oscars.

I guess the public really goes for over the top mothers ala "Mommie Dearest."
Congratulations Mo'Nique!

Other Golfers Stand to benefit from Tiger's Saga

Okay. I tried not to say anything, but I just can't help myself from jumping in on the media frenzy of the "Tiger Woods Saga of 2009", my title for this historical trivia on events in his personal life.
His bowing out of professional golf indefinitely to concentrate on family, finally gives a way for other marginally talented professional golfers to shine from under his shadow. Tiger Woods is already the greatest golfer ever to play the sport.
Since Tiger removed himself from the competition, the mediocrity of the other players can look like awesome talents. With Tiger Woods in the game, everyone--no matter what skill level, looked amateurish.
Society would have Tiger believe that he needs public forgiveness--he really doesn't, but it is politically incorrect not to display some sort of remorse for being publicly exposed for marital infidelity. He has asked for privacy--he won't get it because his story is hot right now and sells ads in all media outlets.
There have been many men to be publicly humiliated by the press for bad choices...somehow very few have remained in the news indefinitely. Tiger won't either. Stop hating, you haters!