Joyce E. Davis's Blog, page 5

What Angie Told Me About Idris....

Who wouldn't want to be the object of Idris Elba's affection? Angie Stone spilled the goods to me about her tight relationship with Idris in the current issue of Jet Magazine (the one with boxer-turned-thespian Mike Tyson on the cover).







"We are so close," said Angie about Idris, who was more than memorable as the delivery man in her video for " I Wanna Thank Ya." But their relationship is not what you think, ladies.Check out my interview with her and, even better, the new music from her latest soul-filled funky album, Rich Girl, which is exactly how she described it when I caught up with her in Atlanta at the video shoot for her single "Do What You Gotta Do."  She looked so lovely and was extremely down to earth.







I love a classy lady. And I enjoyed this interview. I can't wait to share with you who I interviewed last night for Jet. Keep reading Enjoyceinglife. I keep it popping here!

Gabby Does It Big as the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team Takes the Gold!

I am so amped about this win by the superfantastically fabulous Gabby Douglas and her talented teammates on the U.S. Women's Gymnastics Team. In another life, I'd certainly be a gymnast! 









From the New York Times: United States Women Take Gold in Team Gymnastics All-Around Competition


"The United States women have decisively won their first women’s team gold since 1996, ultimately cruising to victory with a five-point cushion over the second-place Russians.
The team of Gabby Douglas, Kyla Ross, Jordyn Wieber, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman avoided major errors throughout, becoming the only the second American team to win gold in the Games."









"With gold in sight, Gabby Douglas gave the United States a strong opening in the floor with a 15.066.  The crowd, clapping along to the music, has engaged with a team besides the British for practically the first time all week."









"Americans did not flinch on the most daunting event, the balance beam. Kyla Ross led off with a 15.133, and Gabby Douglas did her one (tenth) better with a 15.233. Beam is traditionally Douglas’ weakest event, so passing through with a score that strong will be a major relief."









"The last American to perform [on the uneven bars], Gabby Douglas, was best of all, employing the soaring releases and clean catches that earned her the “Flying Squirrel” nickname."









"The American vault specialist McKayla Maroney delivered as promised, scoring a massive 16.233. Her teammates Wieber and Douglas turned in strong scores as well, identical marks of 15.933. These high scores on the most points-heavy apparatus should all but guarantee the Americans first place after the first rotation."









All photos credited to the New York Times. Be inspired by all of their Olympics photos. 








Keep Enjoyceinglife - just like the beautiful, talented and gold medal-winning Gabby Douglas!

Letting Loose to Hot Lunch Jam

I can't wait until my daughter is old enough to see Fame (1980). It's on Ovation right now. I heard the tsk tsk tsk beginnings of the riotous "Hot Lunch Jam" and had a straight personal party in front of my TV - dancing like tomorrow wasn't coming.




Nobody ever tells you that at some point in your life - unless you're one of those octogenarian athletes - you won't be able to move like you did in your youth. But I certainly tried. I may have to pop an Advil or two. But it was worth it.




If this song doesn't make you get up and move something, honestly, I think something is very wrong with you.






The whole Academy Award-winning soundtrack was fantastic and front and in heavy rotation when I was a kid, sandwiched between Whitney Houston's first album and Donna Summer's On The Radio on the shelf under my record player. The breakdown in "Never Alone," spoke to my church choir singing. Our entire seventh grade sang "Out Here On My Own" at our promotion ceremony - a bit somber, but memorable.







The film left an indelible imprint on my life. I'd been taking dance for at least five years before I saw it. From age 4 until my early teens, I took ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and more. I traveled with dance companies all the way to New York's Alvin Ailey studios. I even had a stint as a mime while selling ice cream at a Carvel cart during one summer at Six Flags. Imagine me. As a mime. Thank goodness there was no Facebook or YouTube back then.



More thanks to God and my parents that my childhood was filled with creative exposure - dancing, singing in the school chorus, and my mother continuously taking me to see movies like Fame, productions like the one woman show Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, and musicals like The Wiz with Stephanie Mills and Your Arms Too Short to Box With God with Jennifer Holliday.




Fame is a classic. Even at 10 years old, I knew I was destined to live in New York City after being captivated by the scene where the performing arts school recesses to the streets and hundreds of dancers literally stop traffic devouring taxicabs with grand jetes and pirouettes to the movie's title track. And the celebratory ending "I Sing the Body Electric" was just euphoria.









The whole Fame movement was glorious. Every time I see the film or hear a song from the soundtrack, I fall in love with creativity again. Stay connected to the things that inspire you. They help in Enjoyceinglife!

Wordsmiths: Get Ready to Salivate

When I saw the post on Twitter about this image from Ragan.com, I nearly twisted my fingers up clicking the link. If this magazine idea from the wonderfully witty Grammar Girl ever materialized into the real thing, I'd curl up with it every month like a long lost lover. Please, please, please, please, oh literary gods, oh divine word beings, bring this mag to life. I'm having a prayer session. Right now. Join me, wordsmiths. For the love of correct grammar, send your prayers up!

Flashback: My BET Awards Interviews Revive My Contribution to Their AIDS Awareness Campaign

The first book to which I ever really contributed was One Hand in My Pocket, a 2001 anthology of inspirational short stories by several of my co-workers at BET about people living positively with HIV/AIDS. The book was a part of BET's Rap-It-Up campaign that paired celebrities with activists and health professionals to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. This topic, seminal to my short story "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions," was a difficult subject for me to tackle - especially as my first published fiction work. Despite the horrible title I chose, my story turned out well and I felt that I was contributing to the understanding of this pervasive illness that was wreaking havoc on many communities, especially those of color.








But there were others who had been on the front lines of the awareness campaign about HIV/AIDS since 1998. One of the most committed was Denise Stokes, the lead spokesperson for Rap-It-Up who'd been infected with HIV at age 13. When I interviewed Stokes for the 2012 BET Awards Viewers Guide (page 34), her passion for raising awareness about HIV/AIDS was moving:









"During one Rap-It-Up forum, a young student stood up in front of her entire school and acknowledged that her mother was living with HIV," said Stokes, who transformed a life of homelessness, and emotional, physical and substance abuse into such activism that she became one of the youngest members of President Clinton's HIV/AIDS advisory council. "She said she was encouraged by my story and the Rap-It-Up message and you could just feel the sincerity in her heart and the relief just to say it. The students embraced her with so much love and understanding and we, the panel members, sat there in tears, so happy for her."









Former CNN anchor TJ Holmes told me that a lot of his focus will be about what it means to be a young Black man in America as she steps into his new multi-platform role at BET. Thanks to the BET Awards Viewers Guide (page 38), I also had the opportunity to sit down with the host of "Don't Sleep!, " a late night show debuting on BET in the fall. 









"Unfortunately people have preconceived notions about young black men," said Holmes, who speaks Kikongo, the tribal language of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his wife was born. "We have absolutely failed in the media to drive this message home. We are losing an entire generation."









I learned a great deal from the interviews I did in preparation for the BET Awards. The glitz and the glam will definitely be on front street Sunday, July 1, when the high profile hit the stage - led by Samuel Jackson, one of the baaaaadest brothers on screen. While I'll certainly be checking out the red carpet, I'll also be reflecting on how refreshing it was to connect with these individuals who showcase how celebrity can play an important role in raising awareness about issues that affect us all. 




Keep on Enjoyceinglife!

VIDEO: When I Asked Roland Martin Three Questions About Social Media....

Roland S. Martin is a fearless, off-the-cuff commentator. He's always adding in a few Roland-isms to his political analysis and social commentary on CNN, the "Tom Joyner Morning Show," and his own vehicle, "Washington Watch" on TV One. The syndicated columnist is also quite the social media enthusiast, often using humor in his posts on Twitter and Facebook.






My Spelman College co-worker Terrilyn Simmons and I put Roland Martin on the spot. Of course he rose to the occasion, clowning me for using an iPad and not a "real" camera to capture his thoughts on social media. 


Not too long ago, a comment Roland made on Twitter landed him a month-long suspension from CNN. But it didn't seem to turn him off to the digital world. As he says, he's a "keep it moving" type of guy. After Roland moderated a great social media panel at the Spelman College Leadership and Women of Color Conference, he shared his perspective in this video about mixing personal and professional brands online.







  





During the conference, it was so fantastic to catch up with media guru James Andrews and to finally meet Digital Sisterhood's Ananda Leeke, who also shared great tips on the social media panel. 








The next day we toasted Ananda as she was honored for her digital prowess with a key to Digital Sisterhood at the fun and frenetic Digitini Social Happy Hour, produced the ladies of Everywhere. Check out the photo gallery. 









I was nearly overstimulated posting comments and photos to Twitter and Facebook and dining on tasty Digitinis and yummy OMG Cup & Cakes, all while connecting with numerous social media folks I'd followed but never met. Shout out to Execumama, BrothaTech, SojournerRuth, JackieHWrites, HeyHeyLBJ and LisaCWrites. Great time!



Keep Enjoyceinglife!

Celebrating Black Fathers - Including Mine! - on AtlantaBlackStar.com

When I was asked to participate in AtlantaBlackStar.com 's weeklong celebration of Black fathers, it was a no brainer for me to accept.

     I was moved by the sheer wonderfulness of AtlantaBlackStar engaging seven extremely talented Black women to write about Black fathers around seven subjects. From former Essence magazine editor-in-chief Diane Weathers to the baddest writer I know, MyBrownBaby's Denene Millner, these women explore Black fathers who are committed to leading, building, providing, caring, protecting, working and loving their families and their communities. 

     A few tears were shed as I reflected on the sacrifices my father made for our family and community. But they were tears of joy as my fingers typed about the commitment of many Black fathers to their families - a reality that rarely makes it into public dialogues about Black parenting.





     Visiting AtlantaBlackStar today, I saw that my piece was featured on homepage and nearly shed more tears because my dad is so awesome. Until you get out here in the world, it's hard to appreciate what your parents have done for you. And being a parent myself now, I'm often humbled when I look back on my childhood and realize just how involved my father was in my upbringing, when there were so many other things he could have been doing. But he is and has always been "well intentioned, sincere, respectful and responsible," as I share in my piece: Black Fathers: Building and Sacrificing to Lift Their Families . 

     So please join me and AtlantaBlackStar during this wonderful week of celebrating Black fathers. And keep Enjoyceinglife! 

Donna Summer & Idris Elba: Taking the Bitter with the Sweet in Jet Magazine

I arrived home yesterday evening to find my tribute to the incomparable Donna Summer in the new issue of Jet Magazine - the one with the incredibly attractive Idris Elba on the cover. As always I gobbled up the whole issue immediately: Relived writing my Donna piece (her On the Radio album was one of the first I ever had), salivated over the honesty of Idris (he's getting finer with age), and enjoyed the surprise of seeing my former coworker (Ericka Pittman, VP Brand Strategy, Sean "Diddy" Combs' The Blue Flame Agency) as one of the Jet Set 10 Under 40: Young Gifted & Black.







I'm not really a girly girl, but I'm moved pretty regularly by some of the touching wedding stories in the revamped Love section. Jet is looking great, thanks to the leadership of my talented friend Mitzi Miller, who is celebrating one year as the editor of the 61-year-old pub. Keep doing your thing, Mitzi. Your hard work is paying off - lovely!








Below are a couple of YouTube videos I posted on Facebook as I was writing my tribute to the queen of disco:






Such a clear strong voice...R.I.P. Donna...






 


When I was a kid I loved this song, but used to cry every time I played it because I thought it was about a real woman distraught that she'd left the cake she'd made in the rain. And it was melting. And she'd never have that recipe. Again. Now ain't that sad?!? Don't listen unless you've got 17 minutes - it's the fab long version....Missing Donna...











This is some pretty brilliant production in "Dim All the Lights" to go from country-westernish to pop dance and even a surprising dip into funky electronica. And it all works quite nicely...



Hope you're Enjoyceinglife!

At Age 81, Artist Faith Ringgold Says She Has Many More Stories To Tell

I was thoroughly moved by hearing Faith Ringgold discuss about her path to becoming an artist at Spelman College Museum of Fine Art yesterday. 




She was crafty - majoring in education and minoring in art in the 1950s at the City College of New York when women weren't allowed to get liberal arts degrees from CCNY. 




She was witty - acknowledging her mindset around keeping a job when she was married to her first husband, a musician. 




She was clever - writing her story in her art when she couldn't get her autobiography published. She knew her art would be photographed, and so her story would be told "without anyone's permission," she said pointedly. 




And with plans to release a slew of new art through an online gallery, she is still prolific and committed to telling important stories through her work.




Opportunities to get up close and personal with such incredible creatives and intellectuals are some of the primary reasons I enjoy working at Spelman College. Below are the tweets I sent out on Twitter during the event. Follow me on Twitter if you like at Enjoyceinglife. I'd love to connect with in that space. I hope that you are Enjoyceinglife! 








My Twitter Posts about Faith Ringgold's Visit to Spelman College, March 22, 2012



@FaithRinggold @SpelmanCollege discussing how her great grandfather went 2 college & she came from a family of teachers



@FaithRinggold said she became art teacher bc she had 2 major n edu & minor n art @CCNY-didn't allow wmn librl arts degrees @SpelmanCollege 



It's a lifetime thing being an #artist. The only one who can really stand in your way is you. - 
@FaithRinggold  @SpelmanCollege 



@FaithRinggold is 81 years old and says there is no reason for her to stop working. 
@SpelmanCollege   #artist



It was going to Africa that made me realize how important it is to be free. I was in the majority everywhere.-
@FaithRinggold  @SpelmanCollege



One of the biggest problems that African American people have is lacking the freedom to tell their story-
@FaithRinggold  @SpelmanCollege  #art



It was going to Africa that made me realize how important it is to be free. I was in the majority everywhere.-
@FaithRinggold  @SpelmanCollege



When 
@FaithRinggold  couldnt get her autobio published, she started writing on her art-she knew her work would b photographed @SpelmanCollege 



"As the pictures would be taken of my art, my story would be told without anyone's permission." - 
@FaithRinggold  @SpelmanCollege  #art



@FaithRinggold says she has an enormous amount of work that she plans to put in an online museum. YEA! 
@SpelmanCollege  #art



My 1st husband was a musician. When you're married to a musician you don't quit anything. You may quit him.-@FaithRinggold  @SpelmanCollege

VIDEO: Tough Love Parenting - Shaming in a Viral Media World?

Check out this video where a mother makes her daughter wear an "I'm a Thief" t-shirt after she gets caught shop-lifting.











So The Grio
is asking if this punishment fits the crime. And would we do the same
thing. I'm not sure for several reasons.


In this day of social media,
this 7th grader is not just being taught a lesson in her neighborhood or
even her city. She's being "shamed"
worldwide. Anyone could have taken a photo of this girl in her "punishment" gear and put it on any number of social media sites. And we all know how cruel kids can be in middle and high school - and how merciless teasing can shape a personality and scar a young person for life.



Even more concerning to me is that this was an NBC news video gone viral. There are more than
1,350 likes of this Grio post. Millions of people will know about this
young girl's mistake. I wonder if the mother thought of the possible
long lasting effects of this level of coverage when she granted the
interview and allowed her child's full name and face to be shown.
Her name and likeness will forever be able to be Googled about
stealing by any potential recruiter for schools or employment opportunities. 



I'm for tough
love, but I'd probably choose something more along the lines of long-term
exposure to where a life of crime leads you: tours of a juvenile
incarceration facility, volunteering stints at group homes of children
of imprisoned parents, and definitely lots of reading, researching and writing about the real price of crime. And long hard conversations
with anyone that has ever loved or shown interest in her. 



But this is just my perspective. What do y'all think?