This year the internet will be used to distribute the tickets for the Easter festivities at the White House on April 13th. Some tickets are going to be reserved for the military families, local children and whatever special group they choose.
Do you think it’s okay to have Easter at the White House?
This is the hairstylist responsible for the hair designs of the First Lady.
His name is Johnny Wright. I don’t know if he’s related to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. But does it matter? 
Washington Post Staff Writer Thursday, March 26, 2009
Wright hasn’t entirely left Hollywood behind. He has signed a development deal to create a show with L.A.-based 44 Blue Productions, which has produced such modest reality shows as the Style network’s “Split Ends” and MSNBC’s “Lockup.”
“People tell me everything — they reveal their true secrets to me,” Wright says. “It takes a lot of trust to have that kind of connection and I value that. I will not compromise the trust my clients put in me.”
* * *
Wright says doing hair is in his blood. He has two uncles who are hairdressers.
At age 3 he started scratching and oiling his grandmother Minnie Brown’s scalp.
“She did hair until she was 91,” Wright says of Brown. “She’s where I got the desire to do hair.”
By middle school, he was styling family and friends on the back porch of his parents’ house on Edbrooke Avenue on Chicago’s South Side.
“I washed hair in my mom’s kitchen sink,” he says. After a while, the family grew tired of all the hair in the sink, so his parents, Vernita and Edward, built a salon in the basement for the youngest of their four sons. Wright shampooed in the utility sink; his workstation was an old desk his father had fashioned with a mirror.
Business was swift, but in high school, he wanted to take it to another level. That’s when he decided to use a classmate, DeKeila Farrell, for his first marketing campaign. “She was the most popular girl in school, so I did her hair for free,” Wright says, laughing.
He showed off his best work on her: fancy French rolls and finger waves. Then the cash flowed as other girls crowded into his shop after school to get the same look. “People would ask: ‘Oooh, girl! Who did your hair?’ ” says DeKeila Farrell-Gill, 32, who lives near Chicago.
It is not lost on her that she was Wright’s first star client. She always expected that his confidence and work ethic would propel him to great things.
“He was very good back then, and its obvious that he still is,” she says. “The first lady has good hands in her hair.”
Michelle Obama at the Anacostia High School in Washington,DC on Thursday , encourages the students to press forward to college.
This is a short article by Rachel L. Swarns
Michelle Obama left the glittering splendor of the White House on Thursday to visit one of the poorest neighborhoods in the capital to push, prod and inspire struggling high school students.
Her visit to a public school was the start of a star-studded career day organized by Mrs. Obama, who said she had long dreamed of gathering an “amazing group of women” to talk to young people.
On Thursday, the first lady and 21 other women — including the singers Sheryl Crow and Alicia Keys; the former astronaut Mae C. Jemison; Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody of the Army, the first female four-star general; the actor Alfre Woodard and the makeup maven Bobbi Brown — scattered to public and private schools across the region in honor of Women’s History Month.
At Anacostia High School, Mrs. Obama gave hugs, slapped knees and sat down in a semicircle with 13 students, who were all juniors and seniors. And when one girl asked, “How did you get where you are now?” the first lady told her story.
“There’s no magic to being here,” Mrs. Obama said. “What I want you to know is that my parents were working-class people.”
Mrs. Obama told the students that she attended public schools because her parents could not afford private schools. She said she took pride in getting good grades, even though that was not always popular in her neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago.
“I wanted to be the person who had the right answer and I didn’t care whether it was cool,” Mrs. Obama said. “I remember there were kids around my neighborhood who would say, ‘Ooo, you talk like a white girl.’ I heard that growing up my whole life. I was like, ‘I don’t even know what that means.’ But you know what? I’m still getting my A’s.”
The students piped up with a flurry of comments and questions.
One girl told Mrs. Obama that her husband was cute. (The first lady concurred.) Another asked about making the transition from high school to college. (It is not difficult if you prepare yourself now, the first lady advised.)
“You do your own makeup everyday?” asked another. (Not on special occasions like this one, the first lady said.) “You put your own clothes on?” (Yes, Mrs. Obama said with a smile.)
Michelle Obama hosted 110 high-school junior and senior girls from eleven Washington-area schools for dinner and music in the East Room. Sheryl Crow and Alicia Keys performed. Scattered throughout the crowd were women who all marked “firsts” in their professions: Dominique Dawes, the first African-American to win an individual Olympic medal in rhythmic gymnastics, Gen. Ann Dunwoody, the first female four-star general, Dr. Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman to travel to space, Susan Rice, the first African-American woman to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations…oh “and then there’s me, the first lady,” Obama said as she finished ticking off the guest list. Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, the “first kids,” shared one of the circular tables cloaked in ecru tablecloths with Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, and two of their friends, Isabelle and Jessica. Obama advisor and friend Valerie Jarrett, who heads the recently-formed White House Council on Women and Girls, also attended. Obama assembled the group in honor of Women’s History Month. She told the group of girls to use the night for networking and to “poke and prod” the successful women in the room “to figure out how they got where they are.”
I think Michelle Obama should become more of a heroic person in real live, before she has a comic book. But so what, it’s only a comic book!
This cover looks nothing like Mrs. Obama. But it is a good drawing.
Racial identity politics comes back to bite Michelle Obama.
NYMag reported last week:
The Black Artists Association is upset with our new First Lady for not wearing clothes by African-American designers. BAA Cofounder Amnau Eele, who was a runway model for Yves Saint Laurent, Giorgio Armani, and Bill Blass, told WWD, “It’s fine and good if you want to be all ‘Kumbaya’ and ‘We Are the World’ by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?” Eele plans to make a formal appeal to Michelle’s office. WWD adds:
Asked if perhaps the First Lady isn’t looking at the world colorlessly, Eele said, “It’s one thing to look at the world without color but she had seven slots to wear designer clothes. Why wasn’t she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment.”
What would Michelle Obama’s thesis say?
And what would Jay-Z and Jeezy say?
First Lady Michelle Obama has her picture taken handing out meals at Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington today. (Photo by Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP)
by Mark Silva
First Lady Michelle Obama stopped in at Miriam’s Kitchen, a soup line for the homeless just seven blocks from the White House.
Tucked in the basement of Western Presbyterian Church in Foggy Bottom, and recognized for its work with the homeless for 26 years, the kitchen serves breakfast for 200 to 250 a day – mainly men, according to Sara Gibson, director of development. The privately funded kitchen has the help of more than 1,200 volunteers.
The homeless here are called “guests” – “because it’s all about dignity,” Gibson says. On average, the guests have been homeless for nearly five years.
Today, Obama became the first first lady to volunteer here, Gibson says, though Karen Hughes, a senior aide to former President George W. Bush, had pitched in at the kitchen. The first lady made it clear that she hopes to set an example for other volunteers.
“We’re really just thrilled that our new neighbors took notice of what we’re doing,” said Gibson.
A White House-wide food drive yielded several cases of fresh fruit, delivered the night before, enough to offer fruit at almost two weeks of meals, according to executive director Scott Schenkelberg,
The first lady ladled Mushroom Risotto cooked in chicken stock from a steam table in the kitchen, the men and women lining appearing “genuinely delighted by her presence,” pool reporter Paul West of the Tribune Washington Bureau tells us.
“We are facing tough times in this country,” Obama said, and it is important to help those who have no place to live. Miriam’s Kitchen “is an example of what we can do, as a country and as a community, to help folks when they’re down… We’re all going to need one another in these times. We’re going to need to keep lifting each other up, in prayer and in hope.
“We’re going to continue to be a part of Miriam’s Kitchen, and other facilities just like this across the country, and we urge everyone listening . . . to think about ways they can become involved, too,” the first lady said.
A wheelchair-bound Pierre D. Carter, 61, suggested that homelessness “is getting worse, and there’s more people coming in here every day. Carter, wearing a well-worn Obama cap which he said he had owned for some time, clasped the first lady’s hand: “God bless you,” he told her. “I guarantee you four more years.”
(With thanks to Paul West of the Tribune Washington Bureau
IThe Wrongful Conviction of Jamie and Gladys Scott
Raise the People’s awareness to this tragic miscarriage of justice, support Sister Jamie and Gladys Scott, by writing them and supporting them financially
Purpose Of Action: To agitate to a level where these Sisters receive a new trial and are released unconditionally.
In the State of Mississippi (USA) – On December 24, 1993, Scott County Sheriff’s Department arrested two sisters, Jamie
Paul Byrne catches up with Angela Bassett, the acclaimed actor whose talents include giving the kiss of life to TV’s ER as Dr Cate Banfield.
Partly, it’s to do with the fact that Angela Bassett clearly isn’t in this for the awards or the accolades. She is happier to spend her time off the stage and film set, looking after her two-year-old surrogate twins, Josiah and Bronwyn Golden, alongside her husband of 11 years, fellow actor Courtney B Vance.
Bassett would also rather attend church than any Hollywood shindig.
So, when Bassett does step before the cameras, she does so because she believes she can bring something to the role, rather than because the role can bring something to her.
Take her involvement with the final season of ER, in which Bassett plays Dr Cate Banfield. Real-life hubby Courtney just happens to play her on-screen hubby too.
“Which, for both of us, is a real treat,” smiles Bassett. “There’s something about getting up in the morning with your loved one, and heading off for a day’s work where they get to play your loved one under a different name. I guess it adds a little bit of role-play to our marriage.” She lets out a hearty laugh.
Not that she has turned her back on the big screen. This month, the acclaimed actress also steps out into the big bad world of Hollywood for the biopic Notorious, playing the saintly mother of renowned rapper, Biggie Smalls,aka Notorious BIG, or, as his mum, Voletta, knew him, Christopher George Latore Wallace.
The rapper was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in LA on March 9, 1997, when he was just 24 years old. It was the result of an East Coast-West Coast rap war that escalated when Smalls was believed by some to have played a part in the gunning down of his former friend and fellow rapper, Tupac Shakur.
Chuckle
Playing a real-life character is always a major challenge for an actor, especially when that real-life character is on the set with you. How was it for Bassett, having Voletta Wallace looking over her shoulder as she played Biggie’s mum on-screen?
“Hmm, yeah,” smiles Bassett, before breaking into a chuckle, “you don’t want to step on her toes. You want to get it right, but she’s a lovely lady, so, it was great having her around.”
As any true Dub will know, it’s hard to be a saint in the city, but even in the drug-riddled Brooklyn of the 1980s, Voletta Wallace just about managed it, despite being a single mum with a son clearly going off the rails. Given that Voletta is one of the producers of Notorious, it would seem like a little soft focus was applied here.
“Well, I can only go by what she told me,” says Bassett, “and she was just a young woman who came from Trelawny [Jamaica] and there, you don’t seek an education. It was rough and circumstances led them to Brooklyn. But you can’t show everything in a two-hour movie.”
Bassett is also, of course, an incredibly attractive woman, something that French filmmaker Arnaud Desplechin obviously recognises. His recent movie, the acclaimed A Christmas Tale, features a young woman being complimented on having “Angela Bassett’s ass”.
“Bassett’s an asset!” the actor practically squeals. “A friend of mine saw it. I haven’t been able to see the film myself, but I’m looking forward to it.”
Given that ER is about to come to an end, talk turns to how far TV has come in the last few years — to the point that it’s better than much of what’s going on in your local multiplex. Does it feel that way for Bassett?
“The way I’ve always looked at it, I just want to go where the work is. I appreciate now that we don’t have that idea that, ‘oh, it’s a step down, it’s a step back,’ or whatever, to do television. It’s just an opportunity to continue with your craft, because you can’t do it in a vacuum. I just got to make sure that my ass remains in good shape, no matter what the platform is . . .”
Angela Bassett was raised along with her sister by their single mother in the housing projects of Saint Petersburg, Florida. It was after watching James Earl Jones’ Broadway performance in Of Mice and Men that Angela decided she wanted a career in acting. After graduating from high school, Angela went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College, and a Masters of Fine Arts from Yale School of Drama.
Upon graduation, Angela Bassett moved to New York and it wasn’t long before she was landing roles in off-Broadway productions. But is was difficult to avoid the stereotypical roles afforded to African-American women in film. However, Angela worked her way through such typecasting and into mainstream stardom with such roles as Katherine Jackson in “The Jacksons: An American Dream”.
In 1990, John Singleton cast Bassett in his feature film debut Boyz N the Hood. A role in which she played a single mother trying to raise her troubled, teenaged son. Angela’s work received even more attention when she starred opposite Denzel Washington in Malcolm X, but it was her riveting portrayal of singing legend Tina Turner in What’s Love Got to Do With It? that cemented Angela’s growing reputation as a powerful and versatile actor, and won her an Oscar nomination in the Best Actress category.
I have to admit, Angela Bassett’s public image reflects First Lady integrity,class, style, smarts, and radiance.
The award winning actress is the epitome , of a poised strong woman.
Comments
Oh yeah, nothing says racial harmony like racial quotas. HEY! She had seven dresses at least ONE should be from each continent.
Who knows, maybe by the end of the first term, the NAACP will be calling the Obamas racist.
Sounds like somebody got their widdle heart broke. Better call a waaaahmbulance.
Now I remember what else I was going to say. . . it’s a good thing the Boston Celtics had a white guy on their team last year. Oh wait, they didn’t.
They got one now. . . some red headed goon that they let shoot 3 pointers for a couple of minutes a night. We can’t have an all white team, but all black teams are expected.
So, could NYMag get any shallower?
(Or am I the only one who doesn’t care about who MO wears?)
Why must it have been a black designer?
I knew it! Michelle (mamaBama) Obama is a Raaaaacist!
Just why Why wasn’t she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment.”???
She can only be proud of her country wearing Blue Eyed Devil Honkey clothes?
OREO!!!! Race Traitor!!! Down Right Mean Country!!!
Feel the LUV.
raaaaaaaacist!
Welcome to Post Racial America… until someone needs some leverage.
Identity politics in the wardrobe now? I can’t believe their forcing me to defend her.
So, it’s okay for you to wear white people clothes, but not someone else? Talk about hypocrisy!
I’m surprised the Kenyan’s aren’t in an uproar since she didn’t wear the native dress of her husband’s homeland… After all, he was born there and it would have reminded his illegal alien auntie of home.
And hopefully it won’t be long before people realize our new ‘ emperor has no clothes’.
Proving yet again that no trivial matter is small enough to avoid race mongering.
Michelle Obama has taste and does not wear “black” designers because their stuff sucks. Who wants to wear retro hip-hop dashikis? That’s one creative area of pop cilture where they can’t bullcrap and intimidate their way in. Even the Obamas won’t go for that.
Oh brother.
geeze they better not get a white puppy, there will be riots. get a life.
Won’t the ONE strike them dead with his withering eyes for DARING to question the ONE’s wife????
They should at least get lepracy.
And so it begins…
As Obama moves (slightly?) to the center in order to govern efficiently, all those on the extreme left will increase the pitch and volume of their collective whine.
They cannot comprehend that he represents all the people and not just their individual causes. There is an unrational belief that “I voted for him so he must address my needs”.
When you live on the extreme edges of the core beliefs, logic and common sense will not prevail.
“Sweet Michelle Obama” needs some fashion help–bigtime. The red and black “BLACK WIDOW” dress was appalling.
***
The inauguration dress was a little better. But this lady has a really large “caboose” (aka BOOTIE)–some skilled designer work could help.
***
The bitter attitude is something nobody can help. She looks a lot better when she smiles–and looks really scary when she frowns.
***
John Bibb
He who lives by identity politics dies by identity politics.
Would a Dashiki outfit do?
I DON’T CARE!!!!
I wonder if Aretha’s hat passed the racist test?
Really, is the left going to start this silly nonsense over what Michelle O wears? Isn’t she supposed to be a strong, intelligent, powerful African-American? Don’t the leftists know it is demeaning to talk about her wardrobe? After all, she isn’t Sarah Palin!
Do these people think they elected a race to run the country or a President? Apparently, they believe blacks should now be held above all others. Delusional! Frankly, I was just happy she dressed appropriately for the occasion (you know boring old western whitey style clothing). I worried she would wear some loud african outfit with one of those head wraps to show her racial pride. Sorry, but I have no idea what that style of clothing is called.
I’m not sure that I knew there was a rule book for dress-up.
Is the rule book different for Laura Bush or Cindy McCain?
What book did Pat Nixon use? Has it been updated?
Can I check it out from my local library?
Ha Rocketman! lol, Her and Hilldebeast are having a contest for worlds largest Hinder. Fatprah was disqualified for being a whiner.
So it’s ok to look at the world without color as long as you make sure somobody black has a place reserved for them.
I get it…
Of all the things in my life I have to be concerned about what MO wears and who’s clothes she wears doesn’t even rank on my list–anywhere at all. I am one of the I DO NOT CARE….