What better time to talk about Black history than now, in the middle of Black History Month? Did you know that it is not only president’s weekend in honor of Washington and Lincoln but also Frederick Douglass’ birthday?
The acknowledgement and celebration of Black history began in 1915, when scholar and historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the son of former slaves, founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. Now known as the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History, the organization produced the Journal of African-American History, which is a compilation of articles about the Black men and women whose achievements had previously been untold. In 1926, the association expanded its efforts to tell these stories and created “Negro History Week.” This week eventually became Black History Month as we know it today. This month should be our textbook in schools throughout the country.
True glamour, style and class were displayed by those who walked the red carpet at the 47th annual NAACP Image Awards. My fav had to be Jada Pinkett Smith, looking ever so lovely in a strapless, teal gown with a feathery full skirt. She was absolutely stunning standing next to her husband, Will Smith, in a matching dark green striped tuxedo.
Others looking glamorous were Gabrielle Union in a black gown with a tuille trumpet train, Lee Daniels in tux and shades, Nate Parker in black-on-black, Jussee Smollett in a teal tie just being his regular good-looking self and Sanaa Lathan looking demure in red.
And how many people know who father and son, O’Shea Jackson Sr. and O’Shea Jackson Jr. are, looking yum, yum? Well, I will tell you. They are rapper-actor Ice Cube and son—ice twice as nice. Director Nzingha Stewart said it all in a pink and yellow tribal-patterned ballroom gown. I think this year will be the last year ever for an all-white Oscars, but who cares when we look so beautiful doing our own thing?
Speaking of favs, my Super Bowl delights were Cam Newton and Bruno Mars. Obviously Carolina wasn’t ready for the Super Bowl, but what an opportunity to learn so early that your game has to amp up for the Super Bowl. I don’t have a problem with Cam walking off the post-game set. He said what he had to say, and when there was nothing left to say, he got up and left. You got a problem with that?
Mars is a class act, a number-one entertainer, and Beyonce needs to take a lesson. First of all, her thighs are too fat to be so exposed, and if there is one thing you can count on, it’s Beyonce doing something obscene. Even my daughter saw her twerking on national TV, and she had to turn her head away. How is that alright and Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction is not? At least Janet was tasteful. Beyonce is beautiful, can sing and can dance. She doesn’t always have to be so disgraceful. There, I said it!
Best commercial: Alec Baldwin telling Dan Marino that he hasn’t won a Super Bowl, and Dan Marino telling Alec Baldwin he hasn’t won an Oscar. When Baldwin asks Marino how can he say such a thing with 6 million people watching, Missy Eliot jumps in to exclaim, “Six million people watching!” and then immediately breaks into dance. Hilarious!
With all of the frigid weather, there hasn’t been much happening on the social scene. Well, at least not yet. People are going out to dinner, though. The packed house continues at the Red Rooster, where I still am not fond of the dinner menu, but lunch is good. My new hotspot is Babbalucci’s, 127th and Lenox Avenue. The happy hour is very happy because, although the drinks are still $10, they provide a help-yourself buffet of pasta, sauteed green vegetables and salad. You can definitely make a meal of it while waiting for your brick oven pizza to go. Next door, the Cove Lounge, with its seductive lighting, is definitely holding its own, and I wonder if Corner Social ever closes. Seems they are always jumping.
One noteworthy event that did take place was the the Society of Memorial Sloan Kettering Bi-Annual Dream Team Dinner, held at Michael’s restaurant on 55th Street. The Dream Team is a small volunteer group that seeks out anonymous donations to fulfill the dreams of adult patients at Memorial Sloan Kettering. To date, the Dream Team has completed more than 1,700 dreams since it was founded in 1988.
The Society of MSK differs from similar organizations in that wishes are granted in a few distinct ways. Whereas wishes of adult patients over the age of 18, a population often underserved in this type of work, are fulfilled, so are the wishes of the terminally ill. Not to be forgotten are the patients who have achieved positive milestones on their road to recovery, such as the completion of a round of treatment or receiving news that they are in remission. The Dream Team feels it is just as important to celebrate survivorship. The evening event raised more than $100,000.
The only notable I recognized was Elizabeth Peabody, daughter of the late society doyenne, philanthropist and fashionista Judith Peabody and Samuel Peabody. The Peabodys are of colonial heritage, meaning they can trace their roots back to the original English settlers and beyond. The family’s founding father, Joseph Peabody, made his fortune building ships and then setting off to Sumatra and the far East, where he traded as a merchant. He introduced pepper to the Americas and became one of the richest men in America during the late 1700s—and he didn’t own slaves. Another member of the Peabody dynasty helped to establish Hampton University. Just a little history.
Definitely doing their own thing are Maxwell, Babyface in concert and Prince with his latest hit, “1000 Ways.” If you’re still working on that playlist to rock through February, it won’t be complete until you hit them up. Add a little Whispers on top, and we’re talking sweet.
Also doing their thing are the Mitchells: As for me, I’m off to Lucaya, Grand Bahamas, for a much-needed rest. Charles and Julia are off to join their friends Bryce and Laila Gains, Tyler and Carter Wilson and Harmon and Kalib James, along with their respective dads, on the annual daddy and the kids ski vacation in Vermont, hosted by Kendall Flowers. It’s always a fun time for everyone, especially the mommies.
Until next week … kisses.