March 14, 2010 will commemorate my 20th year as a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. As the cliché goes, I can remember “crossing over” it as if it were yesterday. Like some people that pledge a Greek Letter Organization, and unlike others, I had no idea of what fraternity life on a Black College campus meant. Technically, I didn’t know anything about fraternities and sororities on any level.
I guess in an odd way, my first “real” introduction to fraternities was through the viewing of Spike Lee’s part satire, part musical, part drama, School Daze. I can remember leaving the theater in 1988 after seeing the movie my senior year of high school with one prevailing thought: “I will never pledge anything!!” For those who have never seen the movie there are a lot of sub-plots, but one of the main components of the story centers on the G-Phi-G pledgee known as Half-Pint. Half-Pint (played by Lee) had to follow the bizarre orders of the “big brothers” to pledge the fraternity, which would then open the proverbial “college golden gates” where cool points, hot women and status reside.
I’m a Jersey kid born and raised, but my family is from a small town in North Carolina called Stokes.
It always felt good turning down my grandparents road where cell phones barely worked, and the conversation were better than any show on TV. Well some years ago i was riding with my grandma and we passed through Robersonville, NC. Growing up I would see the signs for this town and thought how cool it was that my last name was in a town. Until that day i really never thought much about it. That is until my grandma pointed at this big old white house and said “that’s the old Roberson house.”
Right then and there it hit me. This was the grounds where my ancestors were slaves. And a chance for me to collect as much information about my limited family history. Read the rest of this entry »
If you are ever in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia between the hours of 6p-10p and you happen to turn your radio on to 93.9wkys, you will hear my voice. I go by the name of “YOUR ROYAL HYPENESS ANGIE ANGE,” but you can just call me Ange.
I am a true radio girl! All my life I have listened to the radio and the jocks, wanting to be like them. At 25 it still amazes me that I have already worked at all the stations I grew up listening to and have worked with all the jocks I grew up adoring; Donnie Simpson, Russ Parr, Olivia Foxx, Tigger, Steph Lova, P-Stew, just to name a few! For me, radio history dates back to a time, when jocks were the star and the music they loved, we loved. Now that I have become a jock myself, I find that my higher ups want the focus to be solely on the music. Music is the star! That’s what one of my bosses always tells me, and although I agree with him to a certain extent, I personally feel that my listeners are the star and I am merely a reflection of them. So if I can make my listeners the star on my show, then I in turn will also be a star and so will the music I play! But I digress… Read the rest of this entry »
If situations dictate actions, what are the consequences of inactivity? This question is more relevant today than it has ever been for the Black community. Here’s another pertinent question, are we a dead people?
How can a people be dead you may ask? If by dead we mean “unresponsive”, no longer “significant”, “stagnant”, “without resonance”, “inactive” or “no longer productive”, can the Black community then be considered dead? Some examples may prove instructive.
The power to define is one of the hallmarks of an independent people. It speaks directly to the issue of control. As a community what or who controls our everyday thoughts and ideas? Are we programmed by the packaged stories and images from the corporate controlled media, which in turn renders us “no longer productive” of our own thoughts? Read the rest of this entry »
When you think of music in 2009 what comes to mind? Is it Lady Gaga’s poker face (and crazy get ups) or do you think of the liberation Beyonce gives to all the single ladies. No matter what you think, these artists come to mind.
Beyonce: What is not hot about her?
She has made being single something to celebrate, no matter how bad you want a man. Her album I AM…Sasha Fierce introduced fans to the other side of the popstar, by the looks of it America is lovin’ Sasha Fierce!!! Not to mention, her worldwide tour got audiences out of their seats for hours straight.
Lady Gaga: Gaga Gaga, oh la la!!! 2009 was the year of Gaga.
With her hit album THE FAME and increased fan base, Lady Gaga sure has a lot to dance about at the closing of this year. Although her outfits are a little bizzare, she has talent, and America would agree with me. Her latest album THE FAME MONSTER , released in late November, was just as impressive as the last. Keep bringin in 2010 Gaga.
Drake: Now for a boy that was previously Craig on Degrassi, he’s not half bad.
Let me stop lying, Drake is on point!!! From the beats to the lyrics Drake kept the radio stations blazin’ with his rhymes. He was able to get a hit song on the radio without the help of a label… that’s pretty impressive if i say so myself. America ate up his mix tape So Far Gone, and his album that he released later in the year.Since he has signed onto Lil’ Wayne’s label, Young Money,Drake can only go up from there.
Taylor Swift aka T-Swift: Taylor Swift is the perfect story of the country girl making it big.
Her lyrics really remind girls about the crush they had in high school, and the perfect love stories they would create in their minds about the “perfect boy”. With a number 1 album and countless awards under her belt (best female country artist, artist of the year, etc…) no one can hold her back. Not even Kanye West.
You’ve heard my picks for the best artists of 2009…hit me up to let me know yours.
This has been the topic of discussion in just about every family or social gathering since it came out. So… What was YOUR take on Precious?
Good to show the “reality” of hard urban living, or more depressing fodder?
Watch both segments and let us know what you think.
Are T.P.’s characters coonery and the way to easy money selling you out? Or are they simply the necessary bait to get folks to watch? How are YOU spending?
[Spotted on Roundup Russy's Blog]
Barack Obama’s staff is not very happy about this poster that promotes nutrition-policy reform going up all over the Washington, D.C. area. White House representatives have already contacted the President of the non-profit association behind the pictures Neal Barnard, but so far they have refused to take the posters down.
They’re BAAAAAAAACK!! Johnny and Angie Jones turned the mics on again to bring you another entertaining radio show.. This one entitled “It’s Cheaper to Keep Her” inspired by the recent news on the Nas and Kelis breakup and financial judgment. Check out this show.. and post your comments below.. LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!!
Show after the jump Read the rest of this entry »
The road between “our first date” and “that’s my girlfriend” is commonly a long arduous journey. The person we meet in the beginning is often the elected representitive of our date’s true personality. Over time, the phony washes away and we discover the inner thoughts and behaviors of this possible mate. Here are 5 common fears men have while in the process of dating. – akaTito Read the rest of this entry »
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