Lena Horne, G.O.A.T.

The greatest African-American actress, singer and entertainer of all time has left us.
Lena Horne died at the hospital. She was 92.
The Brooklyn native started as a dancer at age 16, immediately attracting the eye of talent promoters. It wouldn't take long for Hollywood to catch up.
In the infancy of television, Horne was a black woman that had never been seen in Hollywood before: She had a clause put into her contract that forbid her to act in movies as a maid. No, Horne wanted roles that weren't symbolically subservient or demeaning to African-Americans. She got them.
Why? Because she was tenacious in her demands and -- let's be honest -- drop-dead gorgeous.
During WWII, Horne's star really took off. She landed her first film role in 1942, which led to her ground-breaking performance in "Stormy Weather."
Since those days almost half a century ago, the black actress has stood on Horne's shoulders as more roles and entertainment avenues have opened up.
During the civil rights era, Horne was a leading force in entertainment, championing the leading black actresses of the day.
It's become a cliche' now, but in this case, Lena Horne was truly the Greatest. Of. All. Time.


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'Tia & Marco'

When a pregnant border patrol agent discovers an illegal immigrant child hiding in her home, she is forced to question her loyalty to a system of exclusion. Directed by Annie J. Howell, "Tia & Marco" is part of the series of Futurestates films, where 11 directors envision the future.




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Regina King: Hardest working woman in showbiz?

Movie star Regina King is among a small cadre of African-American actresses we've literally seen grow up before our eyes (Janet Jackson and Cookie being among the others) on television.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, it would be easy for King to be "Hollywood," in all senses, but the 39-year-old actress is as cool as a fan.
Any movie of note within the last 15 years, it's a good chance that King has been in it, from "Friday" to "Boyz In the Hood" to "Mighty Joe Young," to "Jerry Maguire", okay, breathe, 3 ..2..1, then "How Stella Got her Groove Back" to "Enemy of the State" to "This Christmas" to "Ray", and the exhaustive list goes on.

King has been married and divorced, mostly recently being linked to actor Brian White. But the latest news is that she is now dating former "Cosby kid" Malcolm Jamal Warner.
Somehow, Theo seems right for her, doesn't he?
And that doesn't even taken into account her extensive career on TV, starting from "227" up to last year's "Southland."
Say what you want about the quality of roles and screentime but one thing is apparent: Sistergirl is most definitely one of the hardest working girls in show business.


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Plight of the Blactress: Shallow roles, low pay

They are underworked. Underpaid. Underappreciated, and when they are working, it is more derogatory roles no self-respecting thespian would dare agree to portray.
But yet there they are, the black actresses of Hollywood, the few, the proud, the Moreens, the Saquishas, the ghetto chicks in the 'hood. Why do they get all the terrible roles?
If you look at the box office this month, or this year, you'll see a handful of decent films, but the majority will be garbage. And the number of deep, textured African-American characters in these movies?: Nada.
Zero. Zelch.
Tyler Perry is producing movies as fast as he can, but we need more Spikes, more John Singletons. Somebody help!