HAPPY BIRTHDAY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd, 2012
Dennis Edwards, member of Contours and Temptations, 69
Alisa Reyes, actress (The Bold And The Beautiful, Spyder Games), 31
Daddy Yankee (Ramon Ayala), reggaeton star, 35
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4th, 2012
Cam'ron (Cameron Giles), rapper, 36
James Dunn, member of the Stylistics, 62
Christopher Jones, actor (You Got Served, O), 30
Florence LaRue, member of The 5th Dimension, 68
Lawrence Taylor, NFL Hall Of Famer, 53
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5th, 2012
Hank Aaron, baseball Hall Of Famer, 78
Bobby Brown, singer and former member of New Edition, 43
Tim Meadows, actor (Saturday Night Live, Ladies Man), 51
MARY J. BLIGE SAYS HER MARRIAGE IS NOT ON THE ROCKS
Mary J. Blige appeared on The Wendy Williams Show yesterday morning (February 2nd) -- and discussed rumors about her marriage, motherhood and past drug abuse. The singer denied that she and her hubby Kendu Isaacs are not having marriage problems. She told Wendy, "My marriage is not on the rocks, but I would be a liar and my fans would have me if I said, 'Oh we're perfect and everything is great'. We have situations just like everyone else. We're not out in public trying to kill each other . . . but it's real . . . and we love each other. That's it."
She also revealed whether or not she plans to be a mother. She said, "When it's time, when it happens, it's in my future, but I'm not planning item. I don't wanna do it because it's the trend."
Mary -- a former drug and alcohol abuser, also revealed whether or not she still struggles with sobriety. She said, "Not at all. I don't need alcohol to et me out of depression or a bad moment. But I do have occasional drinks with my friends. Years ago, I traded coke for alcohol and I had to really cut it down for five years."
ARETHA FRANKLIN IMMORTALIZED IN WAX FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
According to Starpulse.com, Aretha Franklin is to be immortalized in wax to mark the start of Black History month. The Queen of Soul's wax double will be unveiled at Madam Tussauds museum in NYC next week.
OCTAVIA SPENCER SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ABOUT HER WEIGHT
Oscar nominated actress Octavia Spencer took to her Facebook page to discuss recent reports about her weight. The actress said that she was misrepresented in several articles that quoted her as unhealthy -- and that she is not worred about her weight. She also said that she only wants to lose 20 pounds max -- and is only doing so for her health. She explained, "Right now, in this salacious age of the internet coupled with the 'beauty and fashion' industries respectively only promoting a 'certain' kind of pretty, we've seen a dramatic increase in bullying, eating disorders and body dysmorphia among male and female teens.This is no joking matter." She added that she refuses to conform to an unrealistic model of beauty. She then ended her message with this, "Be happy in your own skin. If you are unhealthy start by making small changes to become healthier. You are unique, beautiful, and worthy."
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT: SOJOURNER TRUTH AND ANDREW BO YOUNG III
For black history month, we will take time to honor those who have paved the way for us -- and those who are making black history now. Today (February 3rd), we honor Sojourner Truth and Andrew Bo Young III.
Sojourner Truth was an African-American abolitionist and women's right activist. She was born Isabella Baumfree into slavery in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York, but escaped with her infant daughter in 1826. After going to court to recover her son -- who had been sold illegally into slavery in the South, she became the first black woman to win such a case against a white man.
In 1829, she went to New York City with her two youngest children to preach and work against injustice. She supported herself by selling portraits and copies of her book, The Narrative of Soujourner Truth. Over the next few years, she continued to be a voice for human rights, traveling around the east coast and midwest. Sojourner -- who was once illiterate, became a powerful figure in several national social movements -- speaking up against slavery, women's rights, prison reform, the termination of capital punishment and more.
Her most famous speech was on racial inequalities, entitled Ain't I a Woman?, and was delivered in 1851 at the Ohio Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. During the Civil War, Truth helped recruit black troops for the Union Army; after the war, Truth tried unsuccessfully to secure land grants from the federal government for former slaves. She died in 1883
ANDREW BO YOUNG III
Andrew Bo Young III is making black history by changing the way we give back. Andrew, 38, is the CEO of Givelocally.net -- a website that helps everyday Americans get their basic needs met. The site pre-screens and posts the needs of Americans on the site and gives users a chance to search by the type of need, family, state and donate money to help. The site was created in 2010.
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