WEEKEND OF CELEBRITIES Valentines Weekend brought the stars to the 757... Paparazzi Approved was on hand to seize the moments. On Pont Entertainment brought out the south's most well-known DJ. DJ DRAMA headed to Guadalajara in Virginia Beach's Town Center and, much like his last appearance in the 757, brought out a large portion of the area.
The ultimate Valentine's Day affair took place friday the 10th at Element Lounge. Beautiful women dressed in red & white. A chocolate fountain with a side of strawberries to create your own treat. Models in the VIP. Exotic drinks flowing. And as if that wasnt enough... R&B sensation Bobby V attended the venue.
DON'T FORGET: FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH Black History Month is a month set aside to learn, honor, and celebrate the achievements of black men and women throughout history. Since its inception, Black History Month has always been celebrated in February.
The origins of Black History Month can be traced back to a man named Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950). Woodson, the son of former slaves, was an amazing man in his own right. Since his family was too poor to send him to school as a child, he taught himself the basics of a school education. At age 20, Woodson was finally able to attend high school, which he completed in just two years.
Woodson realized that most textbooks at the time ignored the history and achievements of blacks. Thus, in addition to the journal, he wanted to find a way to encourage interest and study of black history. In 1926, Woodson promoted the idea of a "Negro History Week," which was to be held during the second week of February. The idea caught on quickly and Negro History Week was soon celebrated around the United States. With a high demand for study materials, the ASNLH began to produce pictures, posters, and lesson plans to help teachers bring Negro History Week into schools. In 1937, the ASNLH also began producing the Negro History Bulletin, which focused on an annual theme for Negro History Week.
In 1976, the 50th anniversary of the beginning of Negro History Week and the bicentennial of the United States' independence, Black History Week was expanded to Black History Month. Ever since then, Black History Month has been celebrated in February around the country.
Woodson chose the second week of February to celebrate Negro History Week because that week included the birthdays of two important men: President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) and Frederick Douglass (February 14). When Negro History Week turned into Black History Month in 1976, the celebrations during the second week of February expanded to the entire month of February.
R.I.P. DON CORNELIUS; SOUL TRAIN CREATOR DEAD OF APPARENT SUICIDE Don Cornelius, creator of Soul Train, is dead from a reportedly self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 75.
As our news blog The Informer reported this morning, Cornelius was found in his Sherman Oaks home and taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center around 4 a.m. Investigators from LAPD have not officially ruled if the death was a suicide or homicide.
Cornelius was born in Chicago in 1936. He began his career as a journalist and was hired by Chicago's WCIU-TV as a news and sports reporter. At the same time, he was emceeing a traveling concert series featuring local acts he called "The Soul Train." The station soon became home to the program, and its first airing was August 17, 1970.
Soul Train, the longest, continuously running first-run syndicated program in television history, hosted everyone from Aretha Franklin to Run DMC, though Cornelius was famously skeptical of hip hop. In 1993, he ended his 22-year-run as host of the program but continued to run the business until he sold the show in 2008.
The past few years have seen Cornelius suffering from health problems and a bitter divorce, but he sounded optimistic in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2010, mentioning a Soul Train movie project.
To quote Cornelius himself, as always in parting, we wish you love, peace and soul.
Don Cornelius, creator of Soul Train, is dead from a reportedly self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was 75.
As our news blog The Informer reported this morning, Cornelius was found in his Sherman Oaks home and taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center around 4 a.m. Investigators from LAPD have not officially ruled if the death was a suicide or homicide.
