Serena and Venus Williams :Doubles Match

Serena and Venus also won the Wimbledon Doubles match by defeating Lisa Raymond of the U.S. and Samantha Stosur of Australia.

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Black women rally to Michelle

"Not just black women, but all women should be standing up. The same voices that were so upset about Hillary Clinton and writing about gender bias ought to be standing up now," she said. Bennett students view Mrs. Obama as a role model, "a phenomenal black woman," Ms. Malveaux said.
E. Faye Williams, national chairwoman of the National Congress of Black Women, is among the commentators speaking out. In her weekly syndicated column, she asks, "Since when did the right wing become frightened of black women?"
"They've always entrusted black women to cook their food and to run their households. Some even considered black women to be their confidantes. So, how did they become afraid of us in the person of Michelle Obama?" Ms. Williams said. "Lay off Michelle Obama." source

Essence Festival 2008 in New Orleans

Fourteen years ago, ESSENCE, the lifestyle magazine for Black women, launched a one-time celebration to commemorate our 25th anniversary—the Essence Music Festival. Since then, the annual megashow has been hailed as one of the country’s “Top 10 Leading Brand Events,” by Advertising Age and become a cultural staple in New Orleans. The event has come to mean even more to Essence and the resilient people of the city in the post-Hurricane Katrina years. source

Africa takes centre stage as G8 kicks off summit

The Group of Eight rich nations will seek to convince a skeptical Africa on Monday that it is living up to promises to double aid to the world's poorest continent.

Underlining the importance of the issue, the G8 has invited seven African leaders to join the opening day of its annual summit, taking place at a plush hotel on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido.

Climate change, record oil prices and a deteriorating global economy add up to a crowded agenda for the three-day meeting, but U.S. President George W. Bush said he particularly wanted to hold fellow leaders to account for their African aid pledges. source

Venus downs Serena to win Wimbledon

Venus Williams survived a fierce onslaught from Serena Williams to win her fifth Wimbledon singles title on Saturday, finally subduing her younger sister 7-5 6-4.

Venus fought back from a break down in both sets to trump her sister in high-quality contest on a windswept Centre Court.

A scooped backhand wide from Serena handed Venus victory following an absorbing battle lasting one hour and 51 minutes.

In her moment of triumph, a beaming Venus quickly ran to the net to offer her sibling a consolation embrace. source

Venus & Serena's 2008 ESPN Photo Shoot & Interview

August Issue of Ebony Magazine: The 25 Coolest Brothers of All Time

Happy family as Serena and Venus set up Wimbledon title clash

Venus and Serena Williams, who boast six Wimbledon titles between them, will clash for the third time in an All England Club final on Saturday.

Venus, the four-time winner and defending champion, booked her place with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) win over Russian fifth seed Elena Dementieva to reach her seventh singles final.

Serena, the younger of the two sisters, then ended wildcard Zheng Jie's hopes of becoming the first Chinese player to reach a Grand Slam final with a battling 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) win.

The 26-year-old Serena will be looking to complete a hat-trick of Wimbledon wins over her sister having come out on top in the 2002 and 2003 finals. source

Prince Hall Masonry founded in 1775

It was a significant event in Freemasonry on March 6, 1775, when Prince Hall and fourteen other men were initiated into Freemasonry through Warrant No. 459, which is still in our possession. John Batt, who was of the 38th Foot Regiment of the British Army, having enlisted in 1759 and learning of the American cause, re-enlisted in its army. The enlistees were Prince Hall, Cyrus Johnston, Bueston Slinger, Prince Rees, John Canton, Peter Freeman, Benjamin Tiler, Duff Ruform, Thomas Santerson, Prince Rayden, Cato Speain, Boston Smith, Peter Best, Forten Horward, and Richard Titley. The writer has this record. A permit was issued for these freemasons to meet as African Lodge No. 1, and they became the first Black freemasons in the United States. Prince Hall enlisted and served as a soldier in the 2nd and 6th Regiments of Massachusetts. In this connection, George W. Williams, historian, wrote in 1884, "that he saw hard service we know by the record of the two regiments he served in, always distinguished for steadiness and valor. Prince Hall was not only a good soldier, he was a statesman."