Spring 2009 Ready to Wear Collections in Paris

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140 Years Ago, Black Sen. Made History

he Senate galleries were packed, filled with both black and white spectators, and a murmur filled the air as the nation's first black member of Congress, Sen. Hiram Revels, stood to deliver his first speech to the chamber. Nearly 140 years before Sen. Barack Obama's historic quest to become the nation's first black president, Revels captivated a nation in the midst of social upheaval following the Civil War. The date was March 16, 1870, less than five years after the 13th Amendment abolished slavery.

"I rise," Revels said, "with feelings which perhaps (have) never before entered into the experience of this body."

Revels, a 42-year-old Mississippi Republican, was a product of postwar Reconstruction, when Republicans — including white northerners known as "carpetbaggers" and black southerners — dominated state governments in the South. The Mississippi Legislature, in which Revels served, voted with the backing of its black members to send him to the U.S. Senate. (Senators weren't popularly elected until 1913.)

"It would in their judgment be a weakening blow against color line prejudice," Revels wrote in his brief autobiography.

Revels was born free in Fayetteville, N.C., and like Obama, was of mixed-race background. Revels' mother was white, of Scottish heritage, and his father was black with possibly some Croatan Indian lineage.

He spent much of his career as a minister, and was once imprisoned in Missouri for preaching the gospel to blacks. He wrote that his preaching was generally tolerated in slave states as long as he didn't encourage slaves to run away. During the Civil War, he helped organize black regiments for the Union Army.

In his first Senate speech, which The Washington Post later called "the sensation of the town," he quickly made a point of assuring whites that they had nothing to fear from blacks seeking payback for slavery. Continue reading

O.J. Simpson found guilty on all counts

Former gridiron great O.J. Simpson was found guilty Friday of all 12 counts in the armed robbery of two sports memorabilia dealers at a Las Vegas, Nevada, casino hotel last year.

Simpson, 61, and his co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, were charged with a dozen offenses stemming from the sports memorabilia heist. Stewart was found guilty of the same charges as Simpson.

Simpson sat quietly and showed little emotion at the defense table as courtroom clerk Sandra Jeter read the verdicts.

After the verdicts were read, deputies immediately handcuffed Simpson and led him out of the courtroom. continue reading

Political Air Force Ones

1. Barack Obama

2. Filiberto Ojeda Rios

Shoes created by Miguel Luciano a Puerto Rican artist.

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Obama tells Vibe readers 'I need you' in letter

Barack Obama has a message for the readers of Vibe: "I need you."
In a letter to be published in the November issue, the Democratic presidential candidate is given a page to address the readers of the urban music monthly magazine. In it, Obama urges them to register to vote, saying, "We are at a defining moment in our history."
"I am running for president to take this country in a new direction. But I can't do it alone. I need you," the letter reads. "Whether it's the first time, or the first time in a long time, I need you to register and vote on November 4."
Obama is featured on the cover of the magazine for the second time — the first was for the September 2007 issue. He also gets the endorsement of the magazine, the first presidential endorsement ever made by Vibe.
On the Net:
http://www.vibe.com

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Jay Z received U.N Leadership Award

Jay Z received the Global Leadership award for his work with water in Africa.

Click here to watch video clip of Jay Z presents "Water for Life"

Laila Ali & Curtis Conway & New Born Curtis Muhammad Conway Jr

Beautiful Family!!

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Celebrity Shoe Auction for Ovarian Cancer

Shoe designer Stuart Weitzman has teamed up with Jada Pinkett-Smith, Janet Jackson and others to bring awarness to Ovarian cancer. For more details read more over at Clutch Magonline.