• This is only because the Rock is apparently so high in demand. I, for one, had no idea. [People]
• All I have to say about this is that it’s not suitable for work. Or, really, anything at all. [C&D]
• Erykah Badu on Girlfriends? She doesn’t seem like the CW type. [RTNY]
• Beyonce says she can’t blame her infamous in-concert tumble on her long coat. I said it then, and I’ll say it again — all that fake hair messes up a girl’s center of gravity. [People]
• Police gave the Game back $40,000 they took during a sweep of his home earlier this year. He probably needs it. [SP]
A new study from UT Austin suggests that a common perception that it is harmful to teach children about historical racism in elementary school is wrong. The study found that white children who are taught about historical black figures who experienced racism are less likely to accept racial stereotypes.
To examine the consequences for white and African-American children of learning about historical racism, the researchers presented biographical lessons about 12 historical figures (six African Americans and six European Americans) to two groups of children ages 6-11.
For each group, some lessons provided information about racism, such as racially biased hiring practices and segregation, while others omitted this information. After the lessons, the children were interviewed about their racial attitudes and reactions, including guilt, defensiveness and anger.
Both white and black children who learned about racism were more likely to value racial fairness and to express greater satisfaction with the lesson. White children whose lessons included information on discrimination showed more defensiveness, had more racial guilt (if they were older than 7) and were less likely to accept stereotypical views about African Americans.
Who the hell thinks it’s wrong to teach kids about racism? They don’t need to see pictures of lynchings or watch Rosewood or do any of these stupid things, but they certainly need to know. Particularly when some of their parents are teaching them how to be racist at home.
I’m slowly starting to figure it out. Cassie is only glued to Diddy’s hip when his baby-mama-ex-girlfriend, who told Essence and the world she was done with him, isn’t around. But does Miss Porter ever take a glance at event photos? Because, while I’m sure Diddy’s 38th bday party in Miami was lots of fun, he’s been doing a lot of partying with Cassie in NYC. But I’m sure he and Kim are just remaining friends for the kids’ sake.
By the way, the theme of his party was “Diddy: The World Is Yours.” In his circle, it’s pretty much true. [People]
I want to like David Banner. I want to like David Banner because, on many levels, he seems like he cares. He’s got a business degree from Southern University, he gives away scholarships in his CDs, he does quite a bit of charity work. But as much as the 34-year-old strives to improve the black community at large, he’s also an apologist for all that is ignorant in the hip hop community. And that I just can’t like. A profile in the December issue of XXL highlights these “warring” sides of his personality. In my opinion, one of them is winning out.
“Peep game: Why wasn’t Congress trying to [ban] the word ‘nigger’ in the ’60s?” Banner grins in an ain’t-that-funny way. “Now that we’re making money out of it, and calling ourselves niggas, they don’t want us to use it… I’ll tell you, ‘hip-hop’ is the new word for ‘nigger.’ When people say, ‘They’re dressing hip-hop,’ they should just say they mean ‘niggers.’”
But what does it mean when you say it, David Banner?
TV Land and Entertainment Weekly named Oprah Winfrey third (third? Bill Cosby better be first or second) on their list of the 100 greatest television icons of all time. Her good friend Maya Angelou has a little bit to say about the honor, and doesn’t sugarcoat Ms. Winfrey’s material gains, which allow her to give more to others, in case you were wondering. The show airs tomorrow at 8pm on TV Land.
I’m generally not ready to feel Christmasy until after Thanksgiving, due to the fact that I like to take things one holiday at a time. But the big, commercial Christmas push comes so early these days that its sort of unavoidable.
Here’s Chris Brown’s take on a Christmas classic from the soundtrack of his new movie, This Christmas. He does a pretty good job, even with the silly, out-of-place choreography, but why would anyone really listen to C.B.’s version when Donny Hathaway’s is available? Or am I just being resistant to change?
The only artists with more #1 debuts than Jay-Z (and Elvis Presley) are the Beatles. So people can judge Jay for continuing to work when they feel like he should stick to the boardroom, and they can say his new music sucks, but the facts speak for themselves. Now that he’s tied this Elvis record with ten #1 albums, well, he’s probably never going to shut up. Or stay in the boardroom.
Chris Brown also debuted on the charts at #4, which I think is pretty low, along with Cassidy at #10. Check out the full chart after the jump.
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Both Will Smith and Shemar Moore made People’s “Sexiest Man Alive” issue, although Matt Damon got the top spot. Do the editors just go to the Ocean’s 11 IMDB page, close their eyes, and point around this time every year? Of course, it’s an automatic do-over if the finger lands on Don Cheadle.
Anyway, here’s the ridiculousness Shemar had to say about preserving his sexy.
The ex-model has come up with the perfect recipe for what it takes to feel sexy: “A fresh haircut is so important. I wear my hair so low. Freshly faded,” says Moore, 37, who stars on CBS’s Criminal Minds. “A nice tan in my back yard so I can get that bronze, brown-sugar glow, a vintage pair of jeans and white button down shirt with a couple of buttons open. A chrome chain. Pair of sneakers.”
Nothing about gay nude beaches? [ONTD]
Slow gossip day in NYC? Both the New York Post and the New York Daily News are reporting that Alicia Keys stayed in the car outside of her planned album release party instead of going in because:
Keys skipped the bash for her new CD, “As I Am,” Tuesday at Pacha because the place was “a mess,” said her manager, Jeanine McLean. “She was going to go through, have a drink and celebrate as a favor to the club. But when she got there, there was no security and the crowd was rough. She sat there waiting for them to get it together for an hour.”
or
Club promoters had rented out the nightclub Pacha in midtown to fete the beauty’s new album, “As I Am,” and had allegedly negotiated her appearance to the tune of $15,000. But missing money kept the singer circling the block for nearly an hour while the promoters hustled to find $4,000 to get Keys out of her car and into the club, says our source.
Take your pick. No wonder she told Entertainment Weekly she had trust issues.
