Hattie McDaniel, born June 10, 1895, is best known for being the first African American to snatch an Oscar in 1940, for her  supporting role as Mammy in Gone With the Wind. Yet, all of the film’s black actors, including McDaniel, were barred from attending the film’s premiere in 1939.
McDaniel started professionally singing, dancing and […]

This past weekend, iconic drag star Noel Leon once again stopped traffic at Palace Bar’s famous Sunday brunch, on Ocean Drive in Miami. Unfortunately, this is one of the last high-kicking street performances at the legendary LGBT bar/restaurant…since the space has been sold, and is closing its doors on July 4th weekend. Palace Bar has been the […]

Cornel West, born June 2, 1953, is a prominent and provocative democratic intellectual, and political activist. He is a Professor of Philosophy and Christian Practice at Union Theological Seminary and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University. He has also taught at Yale, Harvard, and the University of Paris. Probably best known for his books, including Democracy Matters, his […]

Activist and ex-wife of Malcolm X, Betty Shabazz, aka Betty X, aka Betty Dean Sanders was possibly born on May 28th, 1934…apparently, her birth records were lost, but this seems to be the most likely date. She met the Muslim minister and human rights activist Malcolm X at the National of Islam temple in Harlem, started […]

Pamela Suzette Grier, aka Pam Grier, born May 26, 1949, is an actress, best known as the QUEEN of 1970s  blaxploitation films, beginning with her starring role in the 1973 film Coffy. She is considered to be the first African-American female to headline an action film,  a position previously held only by men. After the success of […]

NYC-based singer/songwriter Shea Diamond is sending a powerful message of hope in her new video for song Seen It. In collaboration with It Gets Better Project– the worldwide movement inspiring changes and support for LGBT youth who are bullied, Diamond waxes on the women who enlivened her, including Nina Simone and Patti Labelle, her incarceration, and […]