---EBONY Redefines Black Power ---
In its first-ever "Celebration" issue(on stands Dec.1) EBONY drills far beneath the surface and offers a thorough examination of those who represent the cream of the crop of extraordinary leaders in an evolving Black America. By deliberately highlighting change agents who have consistently challenged the status quo and carved out new paths to opportunity, the impact of African-Americans is clear. "In celebrating the many facets and faces of power in the African-American community, we showcased a wide range of intriguing people who will undoubtedly surprise and engage our audience," said Chairman and CEO Linda Johnson Rice. "Our Power 150 list, featuring eight stunning covers, takes a close look at inspiring leaders who've made a remarkable difference on various levels." The new Power 150 list, was specifically created to usher in the New Year by saluting trailblazers who've made significant contributions to the Black community within fields ranging from business to science and technology to education and a host of other key disciplines.

John Payton

Geoffrey Canada

Wendy Williams & Chris Brown

Beyonce Knowles

Star Jones

Business World Index

---'Post-Racial' America?---
Recently, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund's (LDF) Political Participation Group, released "Post-Racial" America? Not Yet, a report detailing why the fight for voting rights continues one year after the historic election of President Barack Obama. "Amid the excitement of President Obama's election, 'post-racial' has become a powerful buzzword in our social and political lexicon, and some have asserted that America has completely overcome the racially discriminatory practices that have endured long past the work of the Civil Rights Movement," said John Payton, LDF President and Director-Counsel. With voting as its focus, this report confronts the myth that President Obama's election ushered America into a "post-racial" era by examining two recent developments in the area of race and politics. The report demonstrates how President Obama's victory provides important evidence of great progress, while also illustrating the ongoing salience of race in American democracy. Exit polls from the 2008 Presidential Election show that a record 95 percent of African Americans, 67 percent of Latinos, and 62 percent of Asian Americans voted for President Obama nationally, compared to only 43 percent of white voters -- the only racial group that did not cast a majority of votes for President Obama.

---Harlem Children's Zone, a winner---
Geoffrey Canada, founder of the Harlem Children's Zone, has been named the 2010 recipient of the Brock International Prize in Education. The award is given annually to recognize an individual for innovative and effective ideas in education resulting in a significant impact on the practice or understanding of the field of education. Since 1990, Canada has been president and chief executive officer for Harlem Children's Zone (HCZ) which the New York Times Magazine called, "One of the most ambitious social experiments of our time." Under his leadership, HCZ has committed to doing "whatever it takes" to build an infrastructure of support and structure around the children who live in this blighted area so they can benefit from a quality education. "The Brock Prize is one of the largest and most important prizes in education in the world," said Trent Gabert, Ph.D., chair of the Brock Prize executive committee and associate dean of the OU College of Liberal Studies. "Its recipients, like Geoffrey Canada, have made significant contributions to the field of education, and we are honored to recognize such outstanding achievements."

--Go to the UnityFirst.com:  SINGER CHRIS BROWN TALKS about Rihanna---On the November 13th edition of The Wendy Williams Show (syndicated, check your local listings) Wendy opened her studio doors to R&B recording artist Chris Brown where he discussed his feelings of remorse regarding his relationship with Rihanna, what he is focusing on first and foremost right now and exclusively premiered his new video “Crawl” from his forthcoming album “Graffiti.” Read all about the interview on UnityFirst.com....

--- Beyonce's  "Video Phone”---
Beyonce's new video for "Video Phone" will have its global premiere today, November 17, 2009 across 60 channels on MTV networks. The showing will reach 168 countries around the world, from South East Asia to Europe and on MTV and VH1 in the US. Starting at 12:01 AM/EST Tuesday, fans can log on to MTV.com, VH1.com and all MTV international websites for an early view of the spectacular clip, directed by Hype Williams. Then later in that day the video will premiere on MTV, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams, MTV Tr3s, VH1 and VH1 Soul in the US and on all MTV international channels. Lady Gaga teams up with Beyonce in the "Video Phone" video for a high-energy, visually stunning clip that marks the performers' first collaboration. The single for "Video Phone (Extended Remix)" with Lady Gaga is available on "I AM...SASHA FIERCE" Deluxe Edition, which will be released on Monday, November 23.

---Star Jones on Obesity in Black America---
African-Americans are killing themselves, slowly, and quietly, little by little, every day and the killer is not likely to grab headlines or to bloody the streets. The murderous weapon is food, and many African-Americans are, quite simply, eating themselves to death. African-Americans are more overweight and obese than any other racial group and at risk for developing heart disease, diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and certain types of cancer. On Sunday, November 15 BET News and Star Jones took viewers straight to one of the cities carrying the heaviest burden of this epidemic -- Jackson, Mississippi -- with a one-hour news special, HEART OF THE CITY: DYING TO EAT IN JACKSON. "I used to be scared to step out there on the issue of Obesity but I realized that I wasn't being fair because I have a public platform and I need to use it for good," said Star Jones, host of HEART OF THE CITY: DYING TO EAT IN JACKSON. "I am not the 'poster child' for a specific weight loss method but I am a true advocate for adopting a healthy lifestyle because with all humility, doing so has saved my life." Home to the U.S.'s largest population of African-Americans, the magnolia state annually weighs in as America's fattest state. The prevalence of obesity among African Americans in Mississippi is even greater than the national average for African-Americans, especially among Black women. And more alarming, increasing numbers of African-American children in the state are being diagnosed with obesity-related illnesses that in the past had been only found in adults.