Oprah calls on Howard grads to live their dreams
WASHINGTON — Oprah Winfrey, whose show has remained the top-rated TV talk show for 20 consecutive seasons, says her success comes from maintaining her principles and serving others.
“My integrity is not for sale, and neither is yours,” Winfrey said during Howard University’s May 12 graduation ceremonies, recalling times when she was under pressure to change course or avoid topics to boost ratings or appease advertisers. “Do not be a slave to any form of selling out.” Full story
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Production of ‘Lion King’ returns home to South Africa
Michelle Faul
NJOHANNESBURG, South Africa — With an explosion of drumbeats, “The Lion King” has returned to its cultural roots, and its story of assassination, coup and famine, the destruction of a nation and hopes for its rebirth is finding a special resonance in Africa.
This first production with an all-South African cast, some new costumes, choreography and songs promises to make as big an impression on the continent’s performing arts scene as the theatrical adaptation of Disney’s animated film did when it opened on Broadway 10 years ago. Full story
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‘The Hip Hop Project’ gives hope to at-risk youth
Chris “Kazi” Rolle was born in the Bahamas, but his early life was anything but a day at the beach.
The young man was abandoned soon after birth by his mother, who had decided to start over on her own and set out for America. Understandably, Kazi grew up with a hole in his soul, and headed for New York City at the age of 14 to track her down.
But their reunion was to be short-lived. At the tender age of 15, the unwanted Kazi was kicked out of his mother’s house, forced to fend for himself and survive by his wits on the hard streets of the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn. He temporarily joined a gang and turned to a life of crime before he finally met with some good fortune in the form of a program called Art Start. Full story
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Ex-Imus producer calls Sharpton ‘race-baiter’ on TV
NEW YORK — In a televised debate, the former producer for fired radio host Don Imus called black civil rights leader the Rev. Al Sharpton a race-baiter who was looking for attention when he led a campaign to fire Imus. Sharpton said Imus and his producer got what they deserved for making a racist, sexist remark on the air.
Bernard McGuirk and Sharpton appeared together for a combative debate last Friday on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes” show. McGuirk was fired last month for his part in an exchange on the “Imus in the Morning” program in which Imus called the members of the Rutgers University women’s basketball team “nappy-headed hos.”
“Nappy” is a derogatory reference to the hair of some black people and “ho” is slang for “whore.” Full story
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