The National President Of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. has issued a national membership intake moratorium following a hazing incident at Fort Valley State University in Fort Valley, GA which left a man hospitalized.
In an e-mail to the brotherhood, General President Herman "Skip" Mason, Jr. stated that the prior intake process was created under the assumption that brothers involved in the intake process would conduct themselves honorably and with care. However, this was not the case on November 29, 2009 when 21 year old Bryson Trumaine Amey is alleged to have engaged in some form of hazing that left potential line brother 19 year old Brian Tukes hospitalized with acute renal failure. Bryson Trumaine Amey was charged with felony aggravated battery by Fort Valley Police following the incident. In the incident report, the suspect and/or suspects used hands, fists or other body parts to physically assault Brian Tukes at the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity house on campus. The report also states that the hazing occured September 10 to December 1, 2009. Brian Tuke's mother, Mrs. Phyllis Tukes found out about the hazing and told university officials of her son's allegations of hazing. The University then contacted Fort Valley Police who are investigating.
General President Mason stated that the hazing incident cast a negative connotation on the otherwise positive reputation of the fraternity. He also stated bluntly in the e-mail "Our organization should not, and will not, await the occurence of a catastrophic loss before it acts to rein in those who engage in risky behavior...I believe Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. must not conduct a new cycle of membership intake until it can correct and eliminate the problem of some brothers violating our strict rules against hazing...this means that ALL MEMBERSHIP INTAKE ACTIVITIES SHALL BE AND ARE HEREBY SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE" He continued "any member, chapter or officer found in violation of this membership-intake suspension order will be disciplined up to and including expulsion from the fraternity." General President Mason also stated that Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. must ensure the safe and orderly membership intake process of the fraternity and encouraged all to abide by the moratorium. General President Mason also stated that he will be meeting with the Board Of Directors to discuss the hazing incident, policies and procedures regarding the incident and other pressing issues. He also admonished that every brother be committed to follow the rules and policies that govern the organization.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
KFC In Hot Water Over Racist Austrailian TV Ad
KFC is in hot water after an allegedly racist ad that ran in Australia. In the ad, a white man is surrounded at a Cricket match by a group of rowdy black people. The actor then holds up a bucket of chicken, which calms the crowd down. The ad obviously does not sit well with African Americans, who consider it to be stereotypical to offer black people chicken as if the meat can control us like a pack of wild animals. I still remember fuming over the ads that had MC Hammer dancing for chicken in the early 1990s.
But perhaps this situation is more complex than that. Rather than judging the ad itself, which KFC promptly removed from the air, lets try to find our teachable moments in all of this.
First of all, we know that Australia has a horrible history of racism. However, this racism is not necessarily reflected in the same symbolic stereotypes that we notice here in the United States. Australian KFC executives could very likely have thought the ad to be relatively benign for legitimate reasons. Australians do not show their racism in the same way as Americans, but the racism does exist.
Second, KFC was correct to move the ad, since it's not good business to be unnecessarily controversial. The mere fact that the ad was offensive to people around the world should have been, and was enough, for KFC to remove it from Australian television.
Third, this ad reflects the need to have true diversity in corporate America. These mistakes occur all the time, and in some cases, they can be far more devastating than the Australian KFC incident. For example, when Costco created black dolls called "Lil Monkey," the nation was in an uproar and the company lost dearly. Even if the company wasn't trying to be offensive, the end result dictated that they were offending millions of people. That is the kind of corporate decision-making that you want to avoid, and having true diversity of background and thought can help avoid such disasters.
But perhaps this situation is more complex than that. Rather than judging the ad itself, which KFC promptly removed from the air, lets try to find our teachable moments in all of this.
First of all, we know that Australia has a horrible history of racism. However, this racism is not necessarily reflected in the same symbolic stereotypes that we notice here in the United States. Australian KFC executives could very likely have thought the ad to be relatively benign for legitimate reasons. Australians do not show their racism in the same way as Americans, but the racism does exist.
Second, KFC was correct to move the ad, since it's not good business to be unnecessarily controversial. The mere fact that the ad was offensive to people around the world should have been, and was enough, for KFC to remove it from Australian television.
Third, this ad reflects the need to have true diversity in corporate America. These mistakes occur all the time, and in some cases, they can be far more devastating than the Australian KFC incident. For example, when Costco created black dolls called "Lil Monkey," the nation was in an uproar and the company lost dearly. Even if the company wasn't trying to be offensive, the end result dictated that they were offending millions of people. That is the kind of corporate decision-making that you want to avoid, and having true diversity of background and thought can help avoid such disasters.
Gilbert Arenas Suspended Indefinitely By NBA Commish Amid Gun Flap; Full Expulsion Could Result
NEW YORK (AP)—Some of his teammates laughed when Gilbert Arenas(notes) pointed his index fingers at them, as if they were guns.
David Stern didn’t.
Stern hasn’t found any of Arenas’ behavior funny lately, so on Wednesday he handed down a punishment he wasn’t expected to deliver until much later.
Arenas was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NBA commissioner, who determined the Washington Wizards guard was “not currently fit to take the court.”
A day after Arenas made the gesture with his fingers toward his teammates who encircled him before a game in Philadelphia, Stern warned the former All-Star that his conduct will “ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse.”
Arenas is under investigation by federal and local authorities after admittedly bringing guns to the Wizards’ locker room. Stern said he intended to wait for that to be completed before taking action, and directed the Wizards to do the same.
He changed his mind a day after the Philadelphia game, when Arenas said he feared Stern more than the authorities because the commissioner was “mean.”
“Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game,” Stern said in a statement. “Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA.”
Though Arenas first apologized Monday for his poor judgment and promised “to do better in the future,” he also joked on Twitter about the incident and the media firestorm it created.
That was the wrong tact for Stern, whose league has taken another public relations hit.
“The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us,” Stern said.
With each game he misses, Arenas will lose about $147,200 of the $16.2 million he will earn in the second season of a six-year, $111 million contract. The punishment came on his 28th birthday.
“I feel very badly that my actions have caused the NBA to suspend me, but I understand why the league took this action,” Arenas said in a statement through his attorney. “I put the NBA in a negative light and let down my teammates and our fans. I am very sorry for doing that.”
Arenas added that he had called Stern to apologize.
“While I never intended any harm or disrespect to the NBA or anyone else, my gun possession at the Verizon Center and my attempts at humor showed terrible judgment,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my conduct.”
Arenas said he brought four guns to the Verizon Center because he wanted them out of his house after his daughter was born. But two officials within the league who have been briefed on the investigation have told The Associated Press that the incident stemmed from a dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated discussion in the locker room with teammate Javaris Crittenton(notes). The New York Post reported that the two teammates drew weapons on each other.
Arenas said in a statement Monday that he took unloaded guns from his locker in a “misguided effort to play a joke” on a teammate.
“Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong,” Arenas said. “I should not have brought the guns to DC in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns—even if unloaded.”
Stern said members of the Wizards organization are still being interviewed by authorities.
“Some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident,” Stern said.
The story could get worse. The Washington Post, citing two firsthand accounts of the confrontation, reported on its Web site that Crittenton brandished his own gun and loaded a clip of ammunition into it. Arenas spoke to the district attorney about Crittenton’s loaded gun, a person with knowledge of Arenas’ testimony told the Post.
Crittenton told the Post in a series of text messages that the account was “false.”
“I have done nothing wrong. Let the investigation process take its course and you will see that,” Crittenton told the Post. “My name is dying in this situation.”
Arenas has been suspended once before because of a gun-related matter. He sat out Washington’s season opener in 2004 because he failed to maintain proper registration of a handgun while living in California in 2003 and playing for the Golden State Warriors.
The Wizards supported Stern’s decision in a statement attributed to president Ernie Grunfeld and the Pollin family, which owns the team. The late Abe Pollin changed the team’s name from the Bullets because of the violent connotation.
“Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert’s recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable,” the statement said. “Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert’s behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable.”
Union executive director Billy Hunter said the players association will wait until the investigation is complete before taking any action.
Since the firearms language was strengthened in the 2005 collective bargaining agreement, NBA players are subject to discipline if they bring guns to the arena or practice facility, or even an offsite promotional appearance. That gave Stern the option of taking action now instead of waiting until the completion of the criminal case, as he usually does.
Arenas’ suspension deprives the Wizards of their top scorer and on-court leader. After Arenas left the team in Cleveland, the Wizards fell to 11-22, last in the Southeast Division, with a 121-98 loss to the Cavaliers.
David Stern didn’t.
Stern hasn’t found any of Arenas’ behavior funny lately, so on Wednesday he handed down a punishment he wasn’t expected to deliver until much later.
Arenas was suspended indefinitely without pay by the NBA commissioner, who determined the Washington Wizards guard was “not currently fit to take the court.”
A day after Arenas made the gesture with his fingers toward his teammates who encircled him before a game in Philadelphia, Stern warned the former All-Star that his conduct will “ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse.”
Arenas is under investigation by federal and local authorities after admittedly bringing guns to the Wizards’ locker room. Stern said he intended to wait for that to be completed before taking action, and directed the Wizards to do the same.
He changed his mind a day after the Philadelphia game, when Arenas said he feared Stern more than the authorities because the commissioner was “mean.”
“Although it is clear that the actions of Mr. Arenas will ultimately result in a substantial suspension, and perhaps worse, his ongoing conduct has led me to conclude that he is not currently fit to take the court in an NBA game,” Stern said in a statement. “Accordingly, I am suspending Mr. Arenas indefinitely, without pay, effective immediately pending the completion of the investigation by the NBA.”
Though Arenas first apologized Monday for his poor judgment and promised “to do better in the future,” he also joked on Twitter about the incident and the media firestorm it created.
That was the wrong tact for Stern, whose league has taken another public relations hit.
“The possession of firearms by an NBA player in an NBA arena is a matter of the utmost concern to us,” Stern said.
With each game he misses, Arenas will lose about $147,200 of the $16.2 million he will earn in the second season of a six-year, $111 million contract. The punishment came on his 28th birthday.
“I feel very badly that my actions have caused the NBA to suspend me, but I understand why the league took this action,” Arenas said in a statement through his attorney. “I put the NBA in a negative light and let down my teammates and our fans. I am very sorry for doing that.”
Arenas added that he had called Stern to apologize.
“While I never intended any harm or disrespect to the NBA or anyone else, my gun possession at the Verizon Center and my attempts at humor showed terrible judgment,” he said. “I take full responsibility for my conduct.”
Arenas said he brought four guns to the Verizon Center because he wanted them out of his house after his daughter was born. But two officials within the league who have been briefed on the investigation have told The Associated Press that the incident stemmed from a dispute over card-playing gambling debts and a heated discussion in the locker room with teammate Javaris Crittenton(notes). The New York Post reported that the two teammates drew weapons on each other.
Arenas said in a statement Monday that he took unloaded guns from his locker in a “misguided effort to play a joke” on a teammate.
“Joke or not, I now recognize that what I did was a mistake and was wrong,” Arenas said. “I should not have brought the guns to DC in the first place, and I now realize that there’s no such thing as joking around when it comes to guns—even if unloaded.”
Stern said members of the Wizards organization are still being interviewed by authorities.
“Some are scheduled for appearance before the grand jury and the investigation is proceeding with the intensity that one would expect for such a serious incident,” Stern said.
The story could get worse. The Washington Post, citing two firsthand accounts of the confrontation, reported on its Web site that Crittenton brandished his own gun and loaded a clip of ammunition into it. Arenas spoke to the district attorney about Crittenton’s loaded gun, a person with knowledge of Arenas’ testimony told the Post.
Crittenton told the Post in a series of text messages that the account was “false.”
“I have done nothing wrong. Let the investigation process take its course and you will see that,” Crittenton told the Post. “My name is dying in this situation.”
Arenas has been suspended once before because of a gun-related matter. He sat out Washington’s season opener in 2004 because he failed to maintain proper registration of a handgun while living in California in 2003 and playing for the Golden State Warriors.
The Wizards supported Stern’s decision in a statement attributed to president Ernie Grunfeld and the Pollin family, which owns the team. The late Abe Pollin changed the team’s name from the Bullets because of the violent connotation.
“Strictly legal issues aside, Gilbert’s recent behavior and statements, including his actions and statements last night in Philadelphia, are unacceptable,” the statement said. “Some of our other players appeared to find Gilbert’s behavior in Philadelphia amusing. This is also unacceptable.”
Union executive director Billy Hunter said the players association will wait until the investigation is complete before taking any action.
Since the firearms language was strengthened in the 2005 collective bargaining agreement, NBA players are subject to discipline if they bring guns to the arena or practice facility, or even an offsite promotional appearance. That gave Stern the option of taking action now instead of waiting until the completion of the criminal case, as he usually does.
Arenas’ suspension deprives the Wizards of their top scorer and on-court leader. After Arenas left the team in Cleveland, the Wizards fell to 11-22, last in the Southeast Division, with a 121-98 loss to the Cavaliers.
Tavis Smiley Ends 'State Of The Black Union' After 10 Years
After 10 years, Tavis Smiley is ending his annual State of the Black Union conference, which spawned best-selling books and his critical stance toward Barack Obama.
The activist and PBS host said Wednesday that he needs time to focus on other projects, such as his four prime-time specials this year and his book company, which recently announced plans to publish the musician R. Kelly’s memoir.
Smiley also said that, unlike a decade ago, black issues now are being addressed by numerous other media outlets, commentators and bloggers. The State of the Black Union “doesn’t have the premium that it used to have — and that’s a good thing,” Smiley told The Associated Press.
Smiley, who hosts a nightly half-hour talk show on PBS, said he was inspired to start the conference because black issues were rarely addressed in the president’s State of the Union speech or the national media.
The conference, which took place each February, was broadcast on C-SPAN and averaged 7,000 to 10,000 participants each year as it traveled to various cities. It drew almost 20,000 people in Jamestown, Va., in 2007, when it marked the 400th anniversary of the first arrival of African slaves in North America.
Smiley said money was not a factor in ending the series — which cost “well over seven figures” each year and was free to the public — because Exxon Mobil and Nationwide Insurance had committed to major sponsorship deals in 2010.
Wells Fargo was a major sponsor last year, which led to some criticism of Smiley after the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People filed a lawsuit accusing Wells Fargo of pushing blacks into high-interest mortgage loans while whites with the same qualifications got lower rates. Smiley said he ended his deal with Wells Fargo as soon as the lawsuit was filed.
Wells Fargo & Co. has denied race played any role in how it did business.
Over the years, the State of the Black Union conference became a major event, drawing a wide range of influential speakers such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louis Farrakhan, Johnnie Cochran, Nikki Giovanni, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Magic Johnson.
The 2005 conference generated the idea for the book “Covenant with Black America,” about issues facing the black community. One of Smiley’s fondest State of the Black Union memories is holding the book aloft at the 2006 event and watching thousands of people in the audience do the same — “just the fact that we did what we said we were going to do.”
The book became a No. 1 New York Times best-seller. Smiley published two more books in the series, which focused on putting the “Covenant” into action and then on holding politicians accountable.
That led to Smiley’s critical stance toward Obama because of the presidential candidate’s insistence that the best way to help blacks was improving the entire economy, rather than specific policies targeting black problems.
Obama said he was too busy campaigning to attend the 2008 State of the Black Union event. Clinton was the only presidential candidate there.
Smiley endured much criticism as a result of his position on Obama, but the new president spoke to Smiley’s gathering by satellite from the White House in February 2009.
That was Smiley’s other favorite memory.
“That the president of the United States felt compelled to join us live to acknowledge the power of this symposium over 10 years, and what it had accomplished, raising the kind of issues that helped him get elected — that was significant,” Smiley said.
The activist and PBS host said Wednesday that he needs time to focus on other projects, such as his four prime-time specials this year and his book company, which recently announced plans to publish the musician R. Kelly’s memoir.
Smiley also said that, unlike a decade ago, black issues now are being addressed by numerous other media outlets, commentators and bloggers. The State of the Black Union “doesn’t have the premium that it used to have — and that’s a good thing,” Smiley told The Associated Press.
Smiley, who hosts a nightly half-hour talk show on PBS, said he was inspired to start the conference because black issues were rarely addressed in the president’s State of the Union speech or the national media.
The conference, which took place each February, was broadcast on C-SPAN and averaged 7,000 to 10,000 participants each year as it traveled to various cities. It drew almost 20,000 people in Jamestown, Va., in 2007, when it marked the 400th anniversary of the first arrival of African slaves in North America.
Smiley said money was not a factor in ending the series — which cost “well over seven figures” each year and was free to the public — because Exxon Mobil and Nationwide Insurance had committed to major sponsorship deals in 2010.
Wells Fargo was a major sponsor last year, which led to some criticism of Smiley after the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People filed a lawsuit accusing Wells Fargo of pushing blacks into high-interest mortgage loans while whites with the same qualifications got lower rates. Smiley said he ended his deal with Wells Fargo as soon as the lawsuit was filed.
Wells Fargo & Co. has denied race played any role in how it did business.
Over the years, the State of the Black Union conference became a major event, drawing a wide range of influential speakers such as Hillary Rodham Clinton, Louis Farrakhan, Johnnie Cochran, Nikki Giovanni, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and Magic Johnson.
The 2005 conference generated the idea for the book “Covenant with Black America,” about issues facing the black community. One of Smiley’s fondest State of the Black Union memories is holding the book aloft at the 2006 event and watching thousands of people in the audience do the same — “just the fact that we did what we said we were going to do.”
The book became a No. 1 New York Times best-seller. Smiley published two more books in the series, which focused on putting the “Covenant” into action and then on holding politicians accountable.
That led to Smiley’s critical stance toward Obama because of the presidential candidate’s insistence that the best way to help blacks was improving the entire economy, rather than specific policies targeting black problems.
Obama said he was too busy campaigning to attend the 2008 State of the Black Union event. Clinton was the only presidential candidate there.
Smiley endured much criticism as a result of his position on Obama, but the new president spoke to Smiley’s gathering by satellite from the White House in February 2009.
That was Smiley’s other favorite memory.
“That the president of the United States felt compelled to join us live to acknowledge the power of this symposium over 10 years, and what it had accomplished, raising the kind of issues that helped him get elected — that was significant,” Smiley said.
'Negro' Race Choice on 2010 Census Stirs Outrage
A fiery blast from the past is conjuring controversy in the new millennium. The word "negro" is now featured on an official U.S. document and now many are questioning if the Census Bureau is being insensitive.
It's a word that many African Americans associate with segregation, so imagine how shocked many were to see it on the 2010 U.S. census form.
"The fact that it's 2010 and they're still putting 'negro,' I am a little offended," said Dawud Ingram.
Question #9 on the this year's census asks about your race. One of the boxes you can choose is "black," "African American," or "negro," all placed next to the same box. Ingram said it's not a word he uses to identify neither himself nor anybody else.
"African Americans haven't been going by the term 'negro' for decades now. It's really confusing," he said.
But census officials disagree, saying they found some older African Americans identify themselves that way and they're trying to be inclusive. In a statement, they said: "Results from the census in 2000 showed that a number of respondents provided a write-in response of 'negro' when answering the question on race."
In fact, Congress approved the form more than a year ago. Jabbar Ali can't believe it.
"I thought it was something we left behind a long time ago – the word 'negro,'" said Ali.
Chanou Wilshire said the census form doesn't give her an option since it's got "African American," "black," and "negro" next to the same box.
"It's highly offensive," .
But not everyone is offended.
"How you define yourself I guess is subjective. But for me, that on a form doesn't offend me at all," said Tiffany Campbell.
Others don't understand why the question of race has to come up on any form.
"I'm an American. What's wrong with just being an American?" asked Derri Gowns.
Census bureau officials said they're preparing for the 2020 form, asking folks now in a questionnaire whether the word 'negro' should be removed.
It's a word that many African Americans associate with segregation, so imagine how shocked many were to see it on the 2010 U.S. census form.
"The fact that it's 2010 and they're still putting 'negro,' I am a little offended," said Dawud Ingram.
Question #9 on the this year's census asks about your race. One of the boxes you can choose is "black," "African American," or "negro," all placed next to the same box. Ingram said it's not a word he uses to identify neither himself nor anybody else.
"African Americans haven't been going by the term 'negro' for decades now. It's really confusing," he said.
But census officials disagree, saying they found some older African Americans identify themselves that way and they're trying to be inclusive. In a statement, they said: "Results from the census in 2000 showed that a number of respondents provided a write-in response of 'negro' when answering the question on race."
In fact, Congress approved the form more than a year ago. Jabbar Ali can't believe it.
"I thought it was something we left behind a long time ago – the word 'negro,'" said Ali.
Chanou Wilshire said the census form doesn't give her an option since it's got "African American," "black," and "negro" next to the same box.
"It's highly offensive," .
But not everyone is offended.
"How you define yourself I guess is subjective. But for me, that on a form doesn't offend me at all," said Tiffany Campbell.
Others don't understand why the question of race has to come up on any form.
"I'm an American. What's wrong with just being an American?" asked Derri Gowns.
Census bureau officials said they're preparing for the 2020 form, asking folks now in a questionnaire whether the word 'negro' should be removed.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
In Memoriam: Eunice Walker Johnson (1916-2010)
Eunice Walker Johnson, Fashion and Business Icon and Widow of late Johnson Publishing Company founder John H. Johnson has died. She was 93. Mrs. Johnson and her husband the late John H. Johnson founded Johnson Publishing Company with $ 500 and a vision to create a publishing company geared toward African-American culture and lifestyle. Over 60 years later, Johnson Publishing Company and its subsidiaries is the #1 privately black owned and operated business in the world. and Mrs. Johnson served as Secretary-Treasurer of Johnson Publishing Company which is the home of Ebony and Jet and held several other positions in the company as well. It was Mrs. Johnson's work as the founder of Ebony Fashion Fair of which she served as director and producer, that garnered her the most notoriety. Mrs. Johnson created Ebony Fashion Fair to expose African-Americans to the world of high fashion couture. Mrs. Johnson becamed the major purchaser of high fashion couture used in the Ebony Fashion Fair because design houses would not loan the clothing so she bought the clothing herself. Fashion legends such as Yves St. Laurent, Bill Blass and Nina Ricci had their fashions showcased at the Ebony Fashion Fair. African- American designers such as Tracy Reese and Kevan Hall also had their fashions showcased at the Ebony Fashion Fair. The world's largest and longest running traveling fashion show has been a staple within black communities and has been sponsored by sororities and corporate sponsors. The Ebony Fashion Fair has donated tens of millions of dollars for charities and non-profit organizations and was a proud supporter of the United Negro College Fund, the Urban League and the NAACP. The Ebony Fashion Fair thrilled audiences in the United States and branched out to the United Kingdom and the Carribean.
The success of the Ebony Fashion Fair lead to the creation of Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Fashion Fair Cosmetics exposed the untapped market of makeup and skincare products for women of color. Mrs. Johnson and her husband were met with great resistance when urging cosmetics companies to create a line of cosmetics geared toward women of color. Taking matters into their own hands, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson went to a private lab that developed formulas based on what models touring in Ebony Fashion Fair gave them. The first Fashion Fair products were sold at Marshall Fields in Chicago and the response was overwhelming. To this day Fashion Fair Cosmetics is the world's #1 line of makeup and skincare for women of color. Fashion Fair Cosmetics can be purchased in Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Neiman-Marcus and other fine retail stores.
Mrs. Johnson leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Linda Johnson-Rice (Chairman/CEO of Johnson Publishing Company), her Son-In-Law Mel Farr, granddaughter Alexa Christina Rice and a host of other family members and friends. She will be missed.
The success of the Ebony Fashion Fair lead to the creation of Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Fashion Fair Cosmetics exposed the untapped market of makeup and skincare products for women of color. Mrs. Johnson and her husband were met with great resistance when urging cosmetics companies to create a line of cosmetics geared toward women of color. Taking matters into their own hands, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson went to a private lab that developed formulas based on what models touring in Ebony Fashion Fair gave them. The first Fashion Fair products were sold at Marshall Fields in Chicago and the response was overwhelming. To this day Fashion Fair Cosmetics is the world's #1 line of makeup and skincare for women of color. Fashion Fair Cosmetics can be purchased in Macy's, Bloomingdale's, Neiman-Marcus and other fine retail stores.
Mrs. Johnson leaves to cherish her memory her daughter Linda Johnson-Rice (Chairman/CEO of Johnson Publishing Company), her Son-In-Law Mel Farr, granddaughter Alexa Christina Rice and a host of other family members and friends. She will be missed.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Happy New Year!!! from The Society Hill
Hello All...
Four days after the ball has dropped and the champaigne has flowed and the crowds have dispersed, The Society Hill wishes you and yours a wonderful and prosperous 2010. The Society Hill will continue to do what we have done from the very beginning; cover the news from a critically independent, globally, socially conscious perspective without malice and without compromise. This blog is for you and geared towards you and we encourage you to tell your friends to follow along with us. Leave your comments, questions and feedback and let us know how to serve you better. Join us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/thesocietyhill and follow us on Twitter @societyhill.
2009 was a busy news year and 2010 promises to be even busier. Here's what we're working on at The Society Hill:
We start the year off on a somber note as we remember and pay tribute to the life and legacy of Johnson Publishing Company co-founder and Ebony Fashion Fair founder and director Mrs. Eunice Walker Johnson (1916-2010) who passed away at age 93. Mrs. Johnson stood side by side with her husband late Johnson Publishing Company and Ebony Magazine founder Mr.John H. Johnson (who passed in 2005)and was also the Secretary-Treasurer of JPC. With a keen eye for fashion and a desire to see more African-Americans represented in fashion, Mrs. Johnson created Ebony Fashion Fair over 60 years ago with support of her husband. She also saw the need for a line of beauty products geared toward African-American skin tone and texture and created Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Paving the way for African-American supermodels like Iman and Tyra Banks, to date Ebony Fashion Fair is the largest traveling fashion show in the world 60+ years running. The influence of Mrs. Johnson is great and powerful and she will be missed. She leaves to cherish her legacy Johnson Publising Company, Ebony Fashion Fair as well as her daughter JPC President/CEO Linda Johnson Rice (Farr), son in law Mel Farr and granddaughter Alexa Rice.
Our condolences to all.
We will also have the 1 year assessment of President Barack Obama. It was on January 20, 2009 that the first African-American President of our lifetime was inaugurated as President of the United States Of America before the eyes of this nation and the world. We are keeping real, we are keeping it honest and we are doing it without compromise. We want your thoughts on how the President is doing and where he needs to improve moving forward with his presidency. We also want your thoughts about the First Lady. We will share those thoughts as well.
Well as you can see, it's gearing up to be a busy year. Thank you so much for following us and we appreciate you.
Peace & Blessings To All...
Four days after the ball has dropped and the champaigne has flowed and the crowds have dispersed, The Society Hill wishes you and yours a wonderful and prosperous 2010. The Society Hill will continue to do what we have done from the very beginning; cover the news from a critically independent, globally, socially conscious perspective without malice and without compromise. This blog is for you and geared towards you and we encourage you to tell your friends to follow along with us. Leave your comments, questions and feedback and let us know how to serve you better. Join us on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/thesocietyhill and follow us on Twitter @societyhill.
2009 was a busy news year and 2010 promises to be even busier. Here's what we're working on at The Society Hill:
We start the year off on a somber note as we remember and pay tribute to the life and legacy of Johnson Publishing Company co-founder and Ebony Fashion Fair founder and director Mrs. Eunice Walker Johnson (1916-2010) who passed away at age 93. Mrs. Johnson stood side by side with her husband late Johnson Publishing Company and Ebony Magazine founder Mr.John H. Johnson (who passed in 2005)and was also the Secretary-Treasurer of JPC. With a keen eye for fashion and a desire to see more African-Americans represented in fashion, Mrs. Johnson created Ebony Fashion Fair over 60 years ago with support of her husband. She also saw the need for a line of beauty products geared toward African-American skin tone and texture and created Fashion Fair Cosmetics. Paving the way for African-American supermodels like Iman and Tyra Banks, to date Ebony Fashion Fair is the largest traveling fashion show in the world 60+ years running. The influence of Mrs. Johnson is great and powerful and she will be missed. She leaves to cherish her legacy Johnson Publising Company, Ebony Fashion Fair as well as her daughter JPC President/CEO Linda Johnson Rice (Farr), son in law Mel Farr and granddaughter Alexa Rice.
Our condolences to all.
We will also have the 1 year assessment of President Barack Obama. It was on January 20, 2009 that the first African-American President of our lifetime was inaugurated as President of the United States Of America before the eyes of this nation and the world. We are keeping real, we are keeping it honest and we are doing it without compromise. We want your thoughts on how the President is doing and where he needs to improve moving forward with his presidency. We also want your thoughts about the First Lady. We will share those thoughts as well.
Well as you can see, it's gearing up to be a busy year. Thank you so much for following us and we appreciate you.
Peace & Blessings To All...
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