Papa Pope talks "Scandal," the N-word and his Dislike of Reality TV

A few days prior to Thanksgiving 2013, I had the pleasure of sitting down with accomplished film, TV and theater actor Joe Morton on my show, Uptown Studio.

Many of you still remember him as "Byron," the handsome groom Whitley Gilbert left at the altar on "A Different World," or you recall him from "Brother From Another Planet."

I was totally geeked to sit down with a man who takes his craft so seriously --and is shows. He's a master at what he does: effortlessly and naturally reciting month-long monologues about being THE hell and the high water; commanding attention as the (former) head of B613 on "Scandal," and portraying the no-nonsense and tough-love father to Olivia Pope.

In addition to our talk on "Scandal," he shares his disdain for reality TV, his take on the use of the N-word, and his passion for cooking.

Check it out, comment, and share with friends. #JoeMorton
http://uptownmagazine.com/2013/12/uptown-studio-scandals-joe-morton-talks-joining-hit-show-reality-tv-the-n-word-video/

Homegoing Services for Bro. James Novak

Well, America, we've lost a kindred spirit; a noted journalist, and devoted husband of White House Chief of Staff Cyrus Beene. Brother James Novak went to be with the Lord after (sexy!) Jake shamelessly took his life on March 20, 2014.

I need you to know that 1) James Novak is a fictional character; and 2) Black Social media has gotten OUT OF CONTROL with their posthumous tributes to him!

See below:

First, we have the Home going program in honor of Brother James.

 

And we have a RIP James t-shirt, for sale at your local Family Dollar store or any Bodega in Bed Stuy, Brooklyn.

 

 

We have a choir rehearsal announcement for the First Baptist AME Zion Pentecostal Holiness Church of the Lamb of God That was Slain for our sins:

 

 

ANNNNNND last, but not least, a DETAILED funeral program for Brotha James.

Now, in my mind, this would be the ideal lineup to give Brotha James a proper homegoing:

• VP Sally Langston opens in prayer
• Bro. Don Lemon gives remarks as a fellow journalist and supporter of the LGBT community
• Pastor Shirley Caeser and Drake do a duet called "Hold on: We're going home to glory"
• Aretha Franklin wears her famous presidential inauguration hat (made out of Kermit), and sings "Just a closer walk with Thee"
• Rev. Al Sharpton gives the eulogy
• The First Baptist AME Zion Pentecostal Holiness Church of the Lamb of God That was Slain for our sins offers two selections
• A love offering is taken up for baby Ella (that adopted black baby who ain't got but ONE daddy now), and a scholarship is set up for her through the United Negro College Fund
• Benediction by Metta World Peace

 

Shonda Rhimes is a true creative genius who has her millions of viewers wrapped up in the story lines of "Scandal" characters. Although fictional, we "Gladiators" have somehow come to know and care about the lives of James, Cy, Papa Pope, Liv, Jake (sexy self) and Harrison (sexy self). We also half-way care whether Huck will ever bathe; whether Quinn finally quits her double life; whether Mellie will get her groove back; and don't nobody care about Abby.

 

NOW, if only America would focus as much on the education equality gap as we did on #WhoShotJames, #MamaPope'sWig or on the Mega Millions, THEN we'd have some Change we can Believe in.

 

Then End.

And Amen.

 

 

 

Lupita: Changing the Definition of Beauty in Hollywood & beyond

Elegance.

Grace.

Poise.

Natural Beauty. 

Lupita Nyong'o encompasses these qualities and so many more. And she NOW also possesses her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress!! Yayy!! I literally stood up in my apartment and clapped out loud at the TV, so I KNOW my neighbors are mad!

On the big screen, Lupita gave life to a piece of our past that was so difficult, we'd almost rather forget it. She portrayed the role of Patsey, a resilient and hard-working slave who suffered physical, emotional, and sexual torment at the hands of her twisted master. She did this role justice. She brought dignity and life to so many nameless, faceless slaves in the history of American culture who also suffered unfathomable hardships. 

Off the screen, Lupita has been giving life to a new standard of beauty in Hollywood and in Black America. She has beautifully rocked her natural 'fro, baring her well-defined arms, and shown the world her dazzling smile that compliments her rich, smooth chocolate skin. She's slayed every red carpet with her flawless style, bold colors and charming silhouettes. And I believe she has redefined the meaning of "beauty in Hollywood."

By many standards, on the American Hollywood scene, we're used to seeing--and lauding--actresses with fair skin and long, flowing hair. Even in the Black American celebrity world, women like Beyonce and Halle Berry are deemed among the most beautiful women of our time. And rightfully so, as both women are truly naturally beautiful. Halle has effortlessly rocked her natural cropped hair 'do and Bey is simply stunning even without makeup on. But there are times--and plenty of them--when the Queen Bey is barely wearing any clothes and consistently rocks long extensions or a blonde hair weave. This is the type of  beauty standard that many young girls aspire to. (To each his own).

I'm thankful for Lupita for changing the game in that she boldly embraces her femininity in a way that is classy, modest and tasteful. She has rocked variations of her short afro --from a fade, to a low-top box to a modern-day take on afro puffs. It's disheartening--yet, not totally surprising--that she says she was bullied as a child because of her dark skin. But I'm glad that today, she is holding her pretty head high, proudly embracing her rich skin and fearlessly walking into new opportunities created for her due to her immense talents. She isn't the first Black actress to embrace all of her natural beauty, but she is at this point, the most visible. Viola Davis also bared her pretty brown arms and natural curly hair at the major awards shows last year, but this year, she opted for an old Hollywood glam wig at the Oscars. (still a stunning woman, nonetheless). 

Lupita Nyong'o has raised the bar for Hollywood and beyond. Rock on, girl! Rock on!

Michelle and Me

Waayyy back in '99 and way back in the dirt parking lot of Lexington High school, my friends and I would blast Destiny's Child from our hand-me-down cars (mine was an electric-blue Chevy Lumina!) before track practice or marching band practice started. And in college, my roommate Denae and best friend Keija would re-enact (and lip sing to) D.C. songs and make our own music videos, including "Nasty Girl" and "Confessions."And when new member Michelle Williams entered the group, I always felt as though we were kindred spirits and she's someone I'd be able to hang with and relate to in real life.

And that was absolutely the case.

I got the chance to interview the lovely Michelle on Nov. 22, 2013 at the Renaissance Hotel 57 in New York City for my new show, Uptown Studio. Everything I envisioned Michelle would be, she was: meek, humble, down to earth, funny, a sweet and silly spirit (like me!), and a joyful heart that glows from the inside out.

As a toddler, Michelle still was not talking, and doctors through she would be mute. #BUTGOD! As we know now, she's a multi Grammy-award winning artist who was a part of THE most successful girl group of all time. We got to chat about her new album, "If We had Your Eyes," which was released in February. We chatted about Bey's baby girl Blue Ivy, her favorite spots to eat and relax in her hometown of Chicago, overcoming shyness and stuttering, and of course, our mutual favorite TV show, "Scandal" on ABC!

I was super flattered and ecstatic that when I tweeted the link to our interview, she tweeted back:
"We had fun that day!!!"

I wish Michelle continued success in her endeavors, as she is truly a light that shines.
Check out our interview here: http://uptownmagazine.com/2014/02/uptown-studio-michelle-williams/ 

The Scandalous return of "Scandal!"

Ok, so stating the obvious here, I'm 3 days LATE in posting about ABC's hit show "Scandal." But hey --what's 3 days when loyal viewers waited MONTHS for it to come back on air?!

A few random musings of Orakale:

• Kerry Washington is wearing pregnancy well, as you can see the fullness and glow in her face. (insert glowing smiley face)
• The show's stylist is still covering her baby bump with FAB Burberry coats!
• Huck still needs a bath and baptism
• Abby stuck with wearing eyeliner and loose barrel curls and it works for her.
• Harrison is still sexy, but we STILL don't know his back story. (What's taking so long to tell it Shonda? Don't keep a sista waiting any longer!)
• Cyrus better calm the heck down before he gives himself another heart attack!
• Quinn is just so far out of control, I don't even know what to say do or think. First she was screwin' Charlie; now she's supposedly B-613 (but I'm sure Jake, with his sexy self, doesn't know this); then Huck pulled out her teeth (at which point, she was somehow "in the mood" to be with Charlie, smh); she attempted to poison and kill Papa Pope, but it didn't work; and now she's kidnapped a child and forced his mama to lie about how Sally Langston's bisexual husband died! TOO MUCH! She's a traitor who's in love with a killer!
• WHO appointed James as the White House press secretary? We all know he can't even hold water, let alone confidential information
• Olivia loses her mind and gets all kinds of "weak in the knees" AS SOON as Fitz lays a kiss on her. I'ma bout sick of it, really....
• Fitz's poor secretary is just as confused as all heck: "Close the door!' "LEAVE IT OPEN!" "I  said close it!" "Open the door" Then adulterous kissing ensues and I'm over it again...
• I see Mellie might be onto a scandalous affair of her own, if Fitz's running mate tries to make a move on his old flame! #GetItMellie! (ok wait...that's still adultery) #VitaminD

And my last random observation:

If Cyrus is busy covering up Sally's murder and trying to get Fitz re-elected;
And James is busy trying to get Cyrus exposed and (aka, practically writing his own death sentence):

WHO IS AT HOME TAKING CARE OF THAT BLACK BABY?!?

Spike Lee ain't said nothin' but the truth, the whole truth, so help him God

Mr. "Do The Right Thing," Spike Lee, has caught flack for his comments on gentrification in New York's boroughs, particularly Harlem and Brooklyn. (Even though, ironically, he no longer lives in Brooklyn, but in a very nice section of Manhattan).

http://www.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/bestoftv/2014/02/27/ac-intv-cooper-spike-lee-on-gentrification-rant.cnn.html

And truth be told, I think he was only telling the truth.

Gentrification is defined as the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces poorer residents.

Harlem, once known for the renaissance of Black poets, jazz musicians, writers, and artists, has seen all-Black and all-Hispanic housing complexes torn down, only to be rebuilt with high-rise and high-priced condominiums, mostly inhibited by affluent white residents. Fort Green, Clinton Hill, and Bed-Stuy Brooklyn, also epicenters of Black visual and performing arts and Black-owned businesses, are now inhibited by "hipsters."

Thing is --I actually agree with Spike. Although I'm not a native New Yorker, I have been here for 5 years, and have lived in Brooklyn for 3.5 of those years. I love Brooklyn for it's diversity, its unique culture within each neighborhood, and for the fact that it is different from all the other boroughs. Although I can't attest to changes that have taken place from gentrification since the 1990s, as I did not live here then, close friends and neighbors can speak to --and agree with--Spike's comments. And I have witnessed the changing landscape of Harlem over the past five years, as my church is in that community.

A cable network released a reality TV show last year about Bed-Stuy, which is the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. What struck me and my friends as odd is that all of the cast members were White, when Bed-Stuy is--and for the past 80 or so years has been--predominately Black. I understand not all paintings are done with a broad stroke, but this stroke was painted entirely too narrow. I'm all for Americans having the freedom to choose where they want to live, but it becomes a bit uncomfortable when it comes at the expense of life-long residents of a community who ultimately become out-priced out of their homes.

Gentrification is here. It's happening. It's been happening, and isn't likely to slow down in the near future. I'd like to hope that even with gentrification, there remains a respect and value of the cultures and qualities that made each neighborhood unique.

Being Mary Jane..or at least Being able to Relate to her

On tonight's "Being Mary Jane" finale, Mary Jane was partly blamed by the public--and by fellow Black journalists--for the suicide of Terrence Mitchell (portrayed by Ludacris). On a recent episode of her news show, she interviewed Mitchell's ex-girlfriend, who said she had tape recordings of Mitchell admitting to lying about information he shared with news media in years prior. Knowing he was lying, he declined to be interviewed by Mary Jane, and must have subsequently received immense negative backlash and ultimately took his own life. Cameras flashed in Mary Jane's face, a lawsuit was pending--all blaming the journalist for causing the death of a man who chose to take his own life.

To a degree, I can relate to this situation: having the public make you feel like your work caused negative outcomes in other people's lives. As a news reporter in Spartanburg, S.C., I once covered a story about a coach who was charged with inappropriate sexual conduct with a student. When the story ran, I got several calls sharing negative feedback on us running the story, including a call from a Black man who said, "You have ruined the life of a black man!" Yet, in my view, that black man ruined his OWN life, rep and career because of what he did; not because of what I reported. 

Often times, as in Mary Jane's case, being one of the reporters of color in a newsroom means that there's an unspoken expectation within your community to be the voice; be the beacon; shed light on the positive. But truth be told, there's good, bad and ugly within each of our communities, and I felt it my duty to report--unbiased --on situations as they arose, regardless of the subject's race. 

To my fellow friends in journalism, report facts, report truth, and keep your head up knowing your work is needed, valued and important--regardless of what the public has to say.

Eat for LIFE!

I spent an exciting day on the set in Harlem with Chef Kenny Minor for his new show "Eat For Life with Chef Kenny!" I've never been a terribly unhealthy eater, but I also never gave myself a limit with portions nor any kind of limit with sweets! At my age now, my lack of portion control and love of sweets is finally catching up with me. I have got to gain control of managing my hectic schedule with managing more quick and healthy meals. Chef Kenny showed me how! 

He made a lima and white bean salad, with multi-grain vinaigrette (various mustard seeds, 'cause this girl had NO clue where the actual multi grains came from. lol) ; a wheat crust pizza with avacado sauce, topped with red cabbage, fennel and chorizo; and a BANGIN' smoothie made with a Vitamix blender! It was the perfect, refreshing mix of kale, ice, vanilla soy milk, cinnamon, ginger, mangoes and a green apple. GREEN PERFECTION IN A GLASS! It blended so smoothly, and the Vitamix automatically shut itself off after blending, and it apparently cleans itself too!

Anywho, it was a great day in Harlem, all in the name of healthy cooking and eating!

January 1954-2014: The Dream Continues

January 1954. 
My parents would be born this year into the segregated south, into a society that pitted whites against blacks.

January 1972. 
My parents were seniors in high school, and although Brown v. Board passed the year they were born, this would be the first year that South Carolina would integrate public schools.

January 1983.
Dr. Martin Luther King day was signed into law as a federal holiday by President Reagan.  
I was born a year before this.

January 2000.
All 50 states recognized MLK Day for the first time.
Now, as I would come to learn, although all states recognized this as a holiday, not all employers did.
While a newspaper journalist, we were given the option to chose MLK Day or Memorial Day as the holiday we wanted off. I never hesitated to chose to take a day off to honor the life of Dr. King and participate in a service project or community event.

January 20, 2014.
UNCF held its 24th annual MLK Awards Breakfast in Queens, hosted by our faithful team of alumni. More than 600 attendees came out to the event, which was a fundraiser for UNCF. The dynamic keynote address was delivered by my pastor, Rev. Michael A. Walrond, of First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem. Three points that Rev. Walrond shared that stuck with me that we should all have:

1. Passion for the possible
2. Commitment to Creativity
3. Hunger for Healing

We must believe that all things are possible and put our fears aside to achieve them. We must also humble ourselves to help others in need --whether they hunger for food, for physical healing or for peace of mind. Can you really imagine the pressure Dr. King must have felt to be the voice for so many black Americans, fighting to gain equality, while knowing everyday that adversaries wanted to kill him?! But yet he persisted because he believed his dream was possible. He found creative --and non-violent--ways to oppose resistance. He hungered to heal those in need and that hunger is what has brought us together today.

In my 31 years, and from the 60 year perspective of my parents, I've seen how American society has changed --for the better (and some, for the worse) from my parents generation until now. There are many things that I believe Dr. King would be proud of - advancements in educational access, more minorities in elected positions, including President Obama. But there are so many parts of our culture that he would probably shake his head  at (and I won't begin to name them all).

I just hope that we can learn from his strength and his works and be doers of good works; and not just hearers.

-OrAKAle 

1908 made it great!

The legacy of the pearl began on the campus of South Carolina State College. It was 1973 in Orangeburg, S.C. A skinny girl with a pretty smile and afro puffs from Anderson, SC pledged her prettiness to Alpha Kappa Alpha. That  woman, my beautiful mother Rose Stevens, then paved the way for her younger sister, my Aunt Sandra Baker to pledge AKA! Meanwhile across campus, my father was sportin' some gold boots and a big-behind 'fro pledging Omega and he would be #18 on his line in 1973. Thirty years later, I joined the Mu Xi Chapter of #AlphaKappaAlpha at Winthrop University, where I was #18, OrAKAle, because we all know I'm a wise prophetess. ;-)

Got on my 20 pearls. Pink nails. Pink & Green scarf, singing "HAPPY BIRTHDAY AKA!" Wishing an exquisite Founder's Day to alllllll my lovely sorors of#AlphaKappaAlpha! #Skeewee! 

Introducing my long overdue Blog: The Random Musings of OrAKAle

HELLLLLOOO WORLD!

Well I am LONG overdue (like, 50-11 years overdue) in finally creating a blog, but here goes!

To tell you briefly about myself: 

• My gub'ment is Ashlei Stevens
• native of South Carolina
• Moved to NYC with no job and lots of dreams in 2009
• my former boss was caught "hiking the Appalachian trail" the week I left my job for New York
• 2 brothers; I'm the middle child and only girl
• 2 loving parents who met at a Historically Black College (yayy!) and have been married 37 years and counting
• lover all of things chocolate, media and Brooklyn
• saved by grace, and designed to be of service
• talk show host
• education advocate
• believer in the beautiful (<--whatever that means)

In this blog, I'll share my take on interesting news stories, meaningless celeb gossip and random musings of my daily life as OrAKAle --the name given to me while pledging the Mu Xi Chapter of Allllllllpha Kappa Allllllpha Sorority, Inc. at Winthrop University in the Fall of 2003. 

The name Oracle means:  a person giving wise or authoritative decisions or opinions.

Yep. That's pretty much right.

LOL!

So, come along, enjoy the blog, and get a good laugh, or some insight (or more laughs) from my blog.

Peace,

OrAKAle