Black Radio Pioneer, Hal Jackson, Dies In New York City
 Radio pioneer Harold "Hal" Jackson, a staple of New York radio, has died. He was in his late 90s. Jackson died Wednesday in a hospital, said Deon Levingston, vice president and general manager at WBLS, a station owned by Inner City Broadcasting, which Jackson co-founded. Paul Heine, senior editor at Inside Radio, a trade publication, said Jackson "was the godfather of black radio." He had been on the air as recently as a couple of weeks ago, hosting a Sunday show on WBLS. [Read More]
NAACP Supports Gay Marriage; Chief Says "Marriage Equality Is A Civil Right"
 NAACP President Benjamin Jealous says that he hopes the group's resolution supporting same-sex marriage will encourage blacks to support marriage equality as a civil right if the question is put to voters on the ballot in Maryland or other states. Based in Baltimore, Maryland, the civil rights group's resolution was significant, as only 39 percent of blacks favor gay marriage, compared with 47 percent of white Americans, according to a Pew poll conducted in April. [Read More]
Remembering Donna Summer: The Queen of Disco (1948 - 2012)
 Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as "Last Dance," ''Love to Love You Baby" and "Bad Girl" became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, has died. She was 63. Her family released a statement, saying Summer died Thursday morning and that they "are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy." Summer came to prominence just as disco was burgeoning, and came to define the era with a string of No. 1 hits and her beauty queen looks. [Read More]
Census: Minorities Surpass Whites in U.S. Births For First Time
 For the first time, racial and ethnic minorities make up more than half the children born in the U.S., capping decades of heady immigration growth that is now slowing. New 2011 census estimates highlight sweeping changes in the nation’s racial makeup and the prolonged impact of a weak economy, which is now resulting in fewer Hispanics entering the U.S. The report comes as the Supreme Court prepares to rule on the legality of Arizona’s strict immigration law, with many states weighing similar get-tough measures. [Read More]
Chuck Brown, Godfather of Go-Go Music, Dies at 75
 Chuck Brown, who styled a unique brand of funk music as a singer, guitarist and songwriter known as the “godfather of go-go,” has died after suffering from pneumonia. He was 75. He was best known for his hits "I Need Some Money," "Ashley's Roachclip" and "Bustin' Loose," which was sampled prominently on Nelly's 2002 hit "Hot in Herre." Brown's song "L.O.V.E." was nominated for a Grammy in the best R&B performance by a duo or group category in 2011. [Read More]
President Obama Announces Support of Gay Marriage
 President Barack Obama said Vice President Joe Biden got "a little bit over his skis" in publicly embracing gay marriage, forcing Obama to speed up his own plans to announce his historic support for the right of same-sex couples to marry. Obama, who was ready Thursday to dive into the embrace of Hollywood's wealthy elite at a gala fund-raising event, made his historical endorsement on the eve of a sold-out fundraiser Thursday evening at the Los Angeles home of movie star George Clooney. [Read More] |
