Essence hires white fashion director, people sound off [Clutch Magazine]

Talking about Color – Follows Canadian/Jamaican model Renee Thompson  [Au Courant Daily]

Wyclef to be Haiti’s next president [Miami New Times]

Target Opens Story in Harlem [Get Whit it]

Dancehall a musical Staple in Japan [Jamaica Gleaner]

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(O’neil Edwards pictured to the extreme left)

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Kymani Marley pens a book, but with books come controversy. [Jamaica Gleaner]

Designer to watch: Gwen Beloti [FRSH Pulp]

Erykah Badu’s Pshycedelic Artwork [Fly Girls]

Did Kelis really split like a Dancehall Queen? [All That's Fab]

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Reggae’s Civil War [Village Voice]

Indian Designer to Watch: Nipa Doshi [Fly Girl]

Rachel Roy & Estelle jewelry collaboration [Rachel Roy]

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Felicia Persuad (chairwoman of CaribID 2010, a New York-based campaign to get a category on the census form for Caribbean-Americans or West Indian) recently wrote an editorial piece about Caribbeans be accounted for on the U.S. 2010 Census. For years most Caribbean-Americans of Non-Hispanic decent have been lumped into the “Black” category and thus have never been truly accounted for.

“We are completely undercounted because there isn’t an accurate way of self-identifying for people from the Caribbean,” said Felicia Persaud, chairwoman of CaribID 2010, a New York-based campaign to get a category on the census form for Caribbean-Americans or West Indians.

About 2.4 percent of the U.S. population — more than 6.8 million people — identified on the 2000 Census as belonging to two or more races. A little less than 1 percent of the population — more than 1.8 million people — wrote in their West Indian ancestry.

And about 874,000 people — or 0.3 percent of the population — ticked boxes for Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders that year. If those islanders could get their own categories on the form, Caribbean-American leaders say, why not their communities? (Read Entire Article)

If we are not accounted for, how can we get the resources we need? There is strength in our numbers, just look at the number Caribbean-American owned businesses based in the U.S., yet there are no official statistics of Caribbean-Americans.  Many leaders of the community are urging everyone to complete the census. Persuad and others are urging people to complete the census, but also check the “other” box and define your ethnic background.

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Sewn from the Soul…An Amazing Editorial Piece

[Street Etiquette]

Another Reggae Documentary [Guardian UK]

Black Voices won’t let Melanie Fiona be great [Black Voices]

Launch of Vogue Black & Vogue Curvy [Vogue Black]

Tweeple get ready for more ads on Twitter [Fashion Techie]

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About Richard Jeanty:

Captivating the mind with spellbinding, provocative and ingenious storytelling, author/publisher Richard Jeanty is a master craftsman–and tireless crusader–in the burgeoning arena of “urban literature,” as well as in life. Founder and President of his own RJ Publications, Jeanty turns words into vivid images, painting well-formed characters that compel the reader to become involved in their sagas.

The prolific New York City-based contemporary wordsmith and visionary founded his publishing company to both publish his own works and to provide an invaluable conduit for talented writers of color to have their works published. He provides encouragement and support to his fellow writers, assisting them with stretching their creative souls and making their own indelible mark on the literary landscape. Says Jeanty, “I want to give each author or artist the exposure they deserve.”

Social activist as much as he is a literary crusader, Jeanty’s mission is to foster change in people and society as a whole. That is always his motivation in all his undertakings.

Jeanty’s current passion is helping his Haitian people by any means neccessary. He has recruited some of his counterparts in African American fiction to aid in raising funds to send 10 french/creole speaking nurses to Haiti to aid in medical care.  On February 13, 2010 he is along with more than 10 other notable authors will host Authors for Haiti, a book signing fundraiser being held in Brooklyn.

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Soap operas started out on radio in the 1950’s (history of soap operas), but soaps have since been weened off the airwaves — until recently. “Like Us” is a brand new, radio only soap drama being aired on college campuses.

Like Us” is a 60-90 second episodic radio drama based on the lives of the students of the fictional HBCU, Atlanta University.  “Like Us” is the first coming of age radio drama with an all African American cast to focus on issues facing college students and members of the urban community; such as abusive relationships, eating disorders, finances, isolation, peer pressure, substance abuse and much more.

The show’s unique vision is the brain child of Shirley Vernae Williams. While everyone wants to be seen, Shirley wants us to be heard in a way we’ve never heard ourselves before. Bringing the drama to radio in a pure verbal/aural form is difficult, yet refreshing. It’s not a new concept, but a revamped one for young African-Americans to relate to. Bound to keep you tuned in to hear what happens next.

Listen to a sneak peak of the audio trailer.

Check out more info on the characters and get info on how you can tune in visit Like Us.

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