Sheila Johnson & Arrianna Huffington Form GlobalBlack

BET co-founder Sheila Johnson has teamed up with Arianna Huffington to launch Huffpost GlobalBlack -- a section of the Huffington Post geared toward an African-American audience. According to today's press release, the site, which is set to launch in March,

"will focus on current events and cultural trends from a black perspective from across the globe -- from politics and economics to music and sports -- and will feature content ranging from dynamic storytelling to investigative reporting."

(The Root, 1/20/2011)

FCC & Justice Approve Comcast Merger With NBC Universal

The Justice Department, along with the Federal Communications Commissionon, approved Comcast's $30 billion acquisition of NBC Universal on Tuesday.  The deal merges the nation's biggest cable and Internet service provider with NBC Universal's library of entertainment.

Most of the conditions for the merger apply for seven years. In addition, Comcast made several voluntary commitments to the FCC to ensure that the deal would be in the public interest. It will offer more children's programming and local news. It will also offer low-income households Internet service for $9.99 a month and stand-alone broadband Internet subscriptions for $49.99.

Comcast promised that it would not retaliate against broadcast networks or cable programmers for licensing their shows to competing firms such as Time Warner Cable or DirecTV. Comcast volunteered to treat all Internet content fairly - with similar speeds - even if the FCC's net neutrality rules are overturned by a court.

The FCC and Justice also demanded that Comcast relinquish its management stake in Hulu, the online joint venture NBC has with News Corp. and Walt Disney. But Comcast would be able to keep its financial stake in the Web site.

The FCC approved the deal on a vote of 4-to-1 (Michael J. Copps opposing).  (Wash Post, 1/18/2010)

Mutter Evans Organizes 31st Annual MLK, Jr. Day

Mutter Evans

Former WAAA radio station owner Mutter Evans initiated Martin Luther King, Jr. commemorations five years before the federal holiday was passed.  The 26th edition of the federal holiday honoring him included the 31st Annual Noon-Hour Commemoration in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It is one of the oldest Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial events in the United States. 

Ms Evans noted:

"Take the time to acknowledge the person who had been so instrumental, and the freedoms and the liberties which we have acquired," said Mutter Evans, who organized the event in 1979. It makes me feel good from the standpoint that people continue to acknowledge and appreciate the history.  It just seems like there is more division. Not everybody voted for him [Barack Obama], but those strives we thought we'd overcome, continue to rear their heads"

The event was originally held on King's birthday, but is now held at the Benton Convention Center on the federal holiday, which began in 1986. Winston-Salem native Clifton Graves spoke at this year's event. Graves, known nationally for his work in civil rights and education, spoke about everyone's power to help themselves and others.

(Fox 8, Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, 1/17/2010)

Shaunie O'Neal & Her Production Company: Amirah, Inc.

Shaunie O’Neal is a media mogul involved in television production, publishing, fashion and film. She executive produces the VH1 shows "Basketball Wives" and "Football Wives" for Shed Media.

Shaunie is a producer through her production company, Amirah, Inc.  She is also a cast member in "Basketball Wives." (Black Enterprise, 1/15/2010)

NAACP's 42nd-annual Image Awards

The NAACP's Image Awards honor diversity in the arts and will be presented March 4.

Tyler Perry earned 19 nominationsds Wednesday, including best director for "For Colored Girls" and best screenplay for "Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Too?" Those films will compete alongside "Just Wright," "The Book of Eli" and "The Kids Are All Right."

Perry's TBS series, "Tyler Perry's House of Payne," was nominated for best comedy series.

Janet Jackson ("Why Did I Get Married Too") is up for best actress, as are Halle Berry ("Frankie & Alice"), Kerry Washington ("Night Catches Us"), Queen Latifah ("Just Wright") and Zoe Saldana ("The Losers").

Jackson's "Married" co-star Jill Scott will compete in the best supporting actress category against "For Colored Girls" actresses Anika Noni Rose, Kimberly Elise, Phylicia Rashad and Whoopi Goldberg.

Denzel Washington ("The Book of Eli") is nominated for best actor, along with Anthony Mackie ("Night Catches Us"), Common ("Just Wright"), Jaden Smith ("The Karate Kid") and Morgan Freeman ("Red").

The supporting-actor nominees are Don Cheadle ("Brooklyn's Finest"), Idris Elba ("Takers"), Justin Timberlake ("The Social Network"), Michael Ealy ("For Colored Girls") and Samuel L. Jackson ("Mother and Child").

"House of Payne" is nominated for best comedy series against NBC's "30 Rock," Fox's "Glee," ABC's "Modern Family" and TBS's "Are We There Yet?"

The best drama series contenders are TNT's "HawthoRNe," NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," HBO's "Treme" and ABC's "Detroit 1-8-7" and "Grey's Anatomy."

Kanye West's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy," Smokey Robinson's "Now and Then," Usher's "Raymond vs. Raymond," Sade's "Soldier of Love" and John Legend and the Roots' "Wake Up!" are the best-album nominees. (AP, Wash Post, 1/13/2011)

Devon Isaacson - Certificate of Black Authenticity - 2011

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