on the black hand side

Grambling Wins Bayou Classic, Tuskegee Winning Streak Broken

Grambling State University won the Bayou Classic by beating Southern University 29-14 in New Orleans. The game was a far closer match than the scores tell. Now The Grambling team will meet Jackson State in Birmingham on December 13 for the SWAC Championship.

Meanwhile, keep in mind that the Alabama State football team totally shocked top-ratedTuskegee University by handing them their first loss in 26 games. On Thanksgiving Day, The ASU Golden Hornets defeated the TSU Golden Tigers 17-13.

      

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

Vote for this blog for Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Blog About Stuff in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.

Holiday Wishes from the First Family-Elect

Here is a video of holiday wishes from the Obamas. I received it weeks ago but could not bring myself to post it BEFORE we celebrated Thanksgiving. Since our next president is so wired and tech savvy, it's likely we should expect more of these messages in the future.

Am I Not Human?: Too Much to Eat for Thanksgiving

I am grateful…blessed…appreciative of all the favor bestowed upon me and my family through the years. I am thankful that both of my parents are alive and still together. I have an awesome circle of friends both offline and online; I'm even grateful for my brother and I hope he never reads that. When all is said and done, no matter how hard I try, my family has too much food leftover after Thanksgiving dinner.

There was a time when I could eat enough to put any guy to shame but now I just really don't feel like it. No matter how much I try to put it out of my consciousness, my thoughts drift back to those less fortunate: my tortured brothers in sisters Darfur; missing, murdered and malnourished children in Haiti, still displaced citizens from the Gulf Coast, and the homeless in any town anywhere in the world.

The world has been energized by the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the next president of the United States of America. It is my wish that he also make it a priority to help stop the poverty, genocide, rape and torture that many have to deal with on a daily basis all over the world. The more we talk about the horrific conditions many live in, the more we expose the horror and can do something about it. it's time for us to do something meaningful and sustaining.

These monthly blog posts are a way to send a message from a united front of concerned citizens around the world. Feel free to join us each month in this message of hope, love and respect until we can affect the change needed by our brothers and sisters in Darfur and around the world. Are they not human?

Peace and Blessings to All and Happy Day of Thanksgiving.

 

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

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Check Out Common's Blog

OK, if you've been reading this blog, you know that I'm a big time Common fan. Well he's finally taken the walk on the wild side and ventured into the world of blogging. Check out his new digs on the internet and let him know what you think.

Make sure you check out the side and his new album available for 99 cents.

h/t = 8thlight

thinkcommon.com

Fashion’s New “It” Girl: Ataui Deng

   

Meet Ataui Deng. You've seen her in several fashion magazines and ads. You've probably thought she looks a lot like Alek Wek. Well, it's reported that she's the niece of Alek Wek although I find it strange that I've not found a photo on the internet with the two of them together.

Be that as it may, this young woman from the Sudan has taken the fashion industry by storm. Her long legs and luxurious dark skin photograph well in the creations of some of the fashion industry's top designers. Deng continues the legacy of beautiful African supermodels started by trailblazing Somalian beauty, Iman.

 

 

 

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

Vote for this blog for Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Blog About Stuff in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.

   

 

 

The Jonestown Tragedy

On November 18, 1978, 909 people either committed suicide or were massacred at the Jonestown settlement in Guyana. Many of the dead were black; 303 were children. In search of a world of equality and freedom for all people, these folks actually found a living hell on Earth.

Among the murdered were California congressional representative Leo Ryan and a news crew who were visiting the site after accusations of mistreatment there. Many of the Jonestown residents were from California. A few folks survived the mass suicide orders of the Rev. Jim Jones head of The People's Temple.    

The 30^th anniversary of the mass suicide at Jonestown, Guyana is commemorated in a riveting documentary on CNN narrated by Soledad O'Brien. It's one thing to have seen the television movie of Jonestown back in 1980 and quite another emotion in viewing the actual raw footage of Jonestown and the many people who would later be found dead. O'Brien also interviews several survivors of Jonestown.

That entire incident seems so unreal but Jim Jones showed just how a people's mind can be controlled. It was that horrible incident from which the term "drinking the Kool-aid" originated.

 

     

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

Vote for this blog for Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Blog About Stuff in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.

   

 

 

Beyonce & Jay-Z Top Forbes Celebrity Couples List

Bringing in an astounding $162M, it seems that Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Carter AKA Jay-Z and Beyonce'are the richest celebrity couple. Obviously, excellent entrepreneurs, the revenue streams for this power couple include movies, record deals, fashions, fragrances and endorsements.

Second on the list is Willada, BKA Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith. They came in at $85M followed by David and Victoria Beckham ($58M), Tim McGraw and Faith Hill ($35M), and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie ($34M).

 

       

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

Vote for this blog for Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Blog About Stuff in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.

     

   

Beyonce AKA Sasha Fierce Meets Single Man in this Must-See Video Mash up

Without a doubt, Beyonce Knowles AKA Mrs. Jay-Z AKA Sasha Fierce, is one of the hardest working entertainers around. Her new tune 'Single Ladies' is replete with catchy lyrics with some awesome choreography. Check out this video mash up with a guy who is amazingly in synch with Beyonce and her back-up dancers.

Beyonce and Justin Timberlake did a hilarious parody on Saturday Night Live. Unfortunately, a good copy cannot be found on the internet. It's not even posted on the SNL website.

     

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

Vote for this blog for Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Blog About Stuff in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.

   

 

 

Wanda Sykes: ‘Out’ and Pissed Off

Comedian Wanda Sykes recently shocked a few folks by publicly announcing her October 25^th marriage to her wife. All of that occurred as Sykes attended a protest rally in La Vegas. She's not exactly been in the closet, she just never discussed her sexual orientation. Because of the passage of Proposition 8, in California, banning same-sex marriage, Sykes and others have been protesting in an attempt to gain equal rights for homosexuals.

Sykes says she's proud to be gay. How many other closeted celebs will make that walk out of the closet and in to the light?

With blacks and Hispanics overwhelmingly supporting Proposition 8, it will be interesting to see if Sykes' career will be negatively impacted. Personally, I think she's a brilliant comedian; a little too vulgar sometimes but brilliant nonetheless. Ellen Degeneres seemed to get better as a comedian and entertainer after she came out; maybe Wanda Sykes will also. Meanwhile, prepare for Sykes to be in our faces because black and gay is not something we tend to be comfortable with as a people.

     

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

Vote for this blog for Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Blog About Stuff in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.

   

 

 

Katt Williams Hospitalized for Psychiatric Evaluation

It seems that comedian and actor Katt Williams is in desperate need of some time to chillax. Williams has demonstrated extremely erratic behavior of late. He's missed bookings and was arrested for possession of a firearm. After more than 18 months touring and 300 performances a body can only take so much you know.

Williams had returned to Sumter, South Carolina to visit family when he attempted to rent a hotel room while demonstrating suspicious behavior. He walked into the lobby of a hotel wearing a bathrobe and a towel on his head. After obvious confused behavior and inability to locate his identification, Williams left the hotel.

Police determined that no crime had been committed and Williams was not a threat. He later visited the office of attorney Garryl Deas and spoke of his rights being violated.

Williams' family had him hospitalized for evaluation. Too many other talented folks seem to have travelled this path before. Dave Chappelle, Martin Lawrence and Richard Pryor all experienced similar episodes of erratic behavior. Prayerfully rest and relaxation are all that Williams needs to recover.

 

 

© 2008, on the black hand side, www.blackhandside.net

Vote for this blog for Best Pop Culture Blog and Best Blog About Stuff in the 2009 Bloggers Choice Awards.