The First Black Movie Star: Nina Mae McKinney

It’s been a while since I gave a black history tidbit, so I figured since my post on Donyale Luna, the first black supermodel, was so popular, I would follow up with the first black movie star, Nina Mae McKinney.

Before Dorothy Dandridge or Lena Horne, there was Nina Mae McKinney. During her day, she was a sought after actress with popularity that compared to Josephine Baker in both the US and Europe, making her the first black international star in movies at a time when there were no leading roles for black actresses.

During the height of her career, she was called “The Black Garbo” after actress Greta Garbo, one of the most popular actresses at that time. Nina’s most noted movie was Hallelujah! in 1929, which was one of the first all black films by a major movie studio, when she was only 17.

Known for her big, bright eyes and charismatic, full of life personality, she became the first black movie star, sex symbol, and recognized beautiful black actress by not only the black community, but also by Hollywood.

Unfortunately she is not recognized in the same regard as Lena Horne and Dorothy Dandridge, but if I had it my way, I think there should be a movie made for her life….and for some reason think that Zoe Kravitz would be a good match to star as Nina.

For more on Nina, click here or check out this myspace page dedicated to her.

A Faded Up Terrence Howard Covers Giant Magazine

I know a lot of women find Terrence Howard dreamy, but I can’t get past the Cab Calloway influenced press that he wears like The Cotton Club is still the 40/40 Club of today.

Every time I see him, I want to start saying “Heidi Heidi Heidi Ho”.  I wonder if that is a lace front fade, or if they took a  picture of Bobby Valentino and morphed in Terrance with some type of photoshop/CGI effects.

New Outkast: “Royal Flush” featuring Raekwon

I love it…classic Outkast so you know you can’t go wrong. The song will supposedly be featured on Big Boi’s new cd Sir Luscious Left Foot. I’m one of those people that listened to The Love Below more than Speakerboxxx…….and after hearing this song was reminded why Andre 3000 murdered any song he was been featured on for the last year or so. I so hope Mr. Ringtone Souljah Boy listened to his lyrics.

I Quit

I really don’t know what to say about this one.  This is about as sick as going into the bathroom as a kid to see my Grandma’s dentures in a cup behind the toilet or her can of snuff(I know I’m not the only one with a snuff chewing Grandma!).

Frozen Smiles Dentures

The Boy in The Bubble in all of us can now stay dry in a Nubrella.   I think I am officially allowed to hit anyone wearing this I see on the street with an umbrella at least twice.

How are you supposed to go through crowds or revolving doors with this thing?

Now strippers everywhere can rejoice and carry their cell phone /iPOD/flask  in a garter.  Has it really gotten to the point that we need to have our cell phones at arms reach while giving our boos strip teases?  And if life gets so bad that you need to hide a flask under your dress, I’m thinking 12 steps may help a little more than a garter, but this is coming from the girl that poured out a little liqour after hearing the founder of Popeys died this week. (On a side note, I wonder if that thing would fit a biscuit and leg…that would make me buy it.)

I’m going to leave the logical explaination for  tennis ball panties up to you because this is just beyond me. 

Britney Sprears could have used these during her 2007 MTV Award’s performance though…if I were her, I would have broke out some balls and started juggling to take attention away from the fact that she forgot the choreography for her performance.

They should hand out baptism in a bottle after attendes leave Souljah Boy performances.  I want to hug the little 12 year old boy that threw a rock at Souljah Boy’s tour bus this week.  How he beat me to it is beyond me.

Nothing says crazy, neurotic psyco better than a set of ex knives. 

Reason 4,132 why leggings need to make a retirement. Made Me Crotch Leggings are just wrong.  I really tried to think (ok not really) of a way they can be worn. The only thing I could think of is tied to a twig to hold my belongings while hitchhiking.

Hillary Clinton’s campain plays up the race card……..Nooooooooo!

Yay or Nay: Light Jeans

Premium denim lines are currently offering a variety of light jeans, but I’m not sure if I’m sold yet. I personally love darker washes because they bring more to my look and make it easy to go from a day to night look.

With lighter jeans, I just feel like it’s easy to go from a day to 1993 look. If I had of known light jeans were going to be making a come back, I would have held onto my USED or ESPRIT jeans a little longer. May as well go all the way and throw on a SWATCH watch and a Hilary Banks chained purse while I’m at it.

Here are a few light washes that I didn’t think were too bad…or too 90’s at least.

18th Amendment $212

Anlo Jeans $240

Dittos Jeans $165

Seven Jeans $ 169

Speaking of the 90’s, I can’t mention the 90s without mentioning MTV’s House of Style. I still remember the episode where Naomi Campbell showed how she washed off her make-up. I couldn’t find that one, but did find one with Jean Paul Gaultier and Linda Evangelista.

It’s that time for a Spring Coat

The first day of Spring was this past Thursday, March 20th…although it doesn’t feel like it here in Chicago. Depending on where your at, it’s that time to break out a Spring coat.  

In two weeks (I’m beyond excited about this) I will be so excited to get out of a winter coat when I move to LA that I will only wear a scarf..no really, like only a scarf and flip flops and that’s it. 

Here are some cute Spring coats and scarves I found(for those days when I decide to get into flasher mode and throw on a cute trench). 

Love Quotes Scarf $85

Twelve8Twelve Scarf $95

 Plume Organic Scarf $28

Echo Knotted Fringe Wrap $58

Cozy Fringed Scarf $20

Coin Fringe Square Scarf $38

Soia & Kyo Trench Coat $285

Silvery Twill Capelet  $298

Satin Trench Coat $34

Military Style Jacket from Topshop

Frilly Belted Coat Topshop

Muriel Button Coat $298

Lantern Sleeve Trench Arden B $118

Banana Republic $228

Michael Kors Belted Trench $148

Lightweight Belted Cotton Mac $86

Ruffle Edge Cropped Jacket $60

I loved this Gryphon Petti-Coat coat….up until I saw it was  $1035!

Video of the Week: Troop “Spread My Wings”

This song is only fitting since I am counting down for my big move to Los Angeles in 2 weeks.   Chi City will always be home but in a few weeks I’ll officially be West Coasting…”Yae Yae”.  Enjoy Troop.

Wanted: Sexy Man in Flannel Shirt

Usher is looking very daper in his flannel shirt while out shopping with the wifey (who is always with a hot bag).  Flannel shirts on men has to be one of my favorite looks right now.  Of course seeing Usher look so good in his flannel left me no choice but to find one for the boo.

Stapleford Buffalo Plaid Flannel $44

The Pervert Top $45

Loomstate Flannel Shirt $164

 

Cheap Monday Shirt $60

The Jason Button Down Shirt $ 75

Ralph Lauren Classic-Fit Linen Madras $145

Crooks and Castle Lumber Jack Hoodie $120

My favorite jeans for men right now are WESC jeans for $187

And for the feet, put him in the hottest sneakers right now(in my opinion), the Y-3 Metallic Honja High Sneaker for $250.

Jennifer Lopez and twins on the cover of People Magazine

I never get the whole excitement of seeing celebrity babies, they all look the same when they are only a few weeks old right? Show me her kids when they are old enough to have a MTV Sweet 16 party and demand a new Bentley that plays My Love Don’t Cost A Thing when it honks.

With Jennifer Lopez already spoiling her twins with a nursery filled with elephant ivory, solid gold and diamonds, I think in one year we will see the first ever MTV Sweet One Year Old party where they are given their own Ferrari’s and silk lined diapers. Is it safe to say they are not drinking Cambodian breast milk?

(Source)

Original Sample for that @ss

It’s been a while since I posted an original sample. I’ve been told the last two were too easy, so here is one a little harder to guess. Can you tell me the names of the Usher and Black Moon songs that sampled this beat from Ronnie Laws “Tidal Wave“?

For the Spring try T-Strap Heels

I’m slowly making my way back into heels since my foot surgery, ok not really…but if I was unable to wear heels to an event and forced to wear sneakers with a gd Dancing With The Stars dress like D Woods from Danity Kane, I would just stay at home.

When I do get my footsies in heels this Spring, I will be rocking a pair of T-Strap Heels. Of course my caviar taste left me lusting after a few higher end pairs of t-strap heels, but for those with a crutons budget I was able to find some at a more reasonable price lol.

Yves Saint Laurent Tribute T-Strap Sandal $ 760

Guiseppe Zanotti T-Strap Sandal $520

Stella McCartney Lucite Heel Sandals $1195

Louis Vuitton Feerique T-Strap Sandal $855

Although I have a thing against Steve Madden shoes, these Pascha T-Strap heels are pretty cute and only $71

Nanette Lepore Racy T-Strap Sandals $360

BCBG $114

Report $189

Max Studio Xaria $119

Miss Sixty $ 193

Report Signature $ 154

You better work!

The fashionista’s over at My Fashion Life found this video of fashion show choreographer Mac Folkes teaching the correct way for a model to walk the runway.

Personally, I prefer the ever popular “insert your college here/HBCU” fashion show spin, shown below in it’s wonderful glory. Can you just imagine models during Mercedes Benz fashion week spinning their way down the runway? Now I see why I will never be allowed to be a fashion show choreographer.

And then of course, I have to post a walk-off a la Zoolander. Now snap for the kids!

New Video: Lupe Fiasco featuring Nikki Jean “Hip Hop Saved My Life”

Since I’m from Chicago, it’s required of me to not only know the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln but also the lyrics to any given song by R Kelly, Common, Kanye, Twista, Crucial Conflict, and Lupe and the like. (I would pay good money to see questions like “What Chicago artists made the song “Make That @ss Roll Like A 24 added to some state test lol).

All jokes aside, I love Lupe…. despite the whole Tribe Called Quests comments, he is still one of my favorites. This song is one of my favorites from his cd The Cool, which unfortunately didn’t do as well as I wish it would have.

Then again, when you have Mr. Low Low Low Low Low Low Flo-Rida topping the charts, topping charts has less credibility than Foxy Brown accurately saying she overheard someone plotting a robbery.

And although this is super old, I had to post Nikki Jean hearing herself on Lupe’s cd for the first time. It gets to my sentimental side and made me tear up, which is shocking because the last time I cried was when they stopped making this chicken sandwich at Wendy’s I used to love. Sigh…memories.

The Boondocks “Hunger Strike” Full Episode!

Click here to see the full episode of the Boondocks banned “Hunger Strike” episode where Huey takes a stand against BET and goes on a hunger strike. I am so glad Aaron McGruder made this episode, you already know how I feel about BET. All I have to say is…..”What’s CNN?”