Thurgood Marshall Front Row Invasion

Check The FUTURE Media Squad with more behind the scenes clips, interviews, and celebs at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund Front Row Fashion Show and Black Tie Dinner. Enjoy! Comment!

Is Blackface Racist, Bad Taste or Art?

BLACKFACE
By: Jackie Jones, BlackAmericaWeb.com

Pundits are asking whether some folks may be taking this post-racial thing a little too far.

A year after Vogue Italia published an edition featuring all-black models to draw attention to the lack of opportunity for black women on high-fashion runways, the French edition of Vogue put a model in blackface.

An episode of “America’s Next Top Model” took the contestants to a sugar cane field in Hawaii and, after a short explanation of immigrants coming to work in the fields, race mixing and the resulting mixed-raced children, the models were assigned mixed heritages and colorized with makeup to create the images and ethnicities that Banks admitted may not necessarily have been culturally accurate, but were a fashion “interpretation” of what their blends could look like.

An Asian, for example, was dressed as half-Botswanan and half Polynesian. You get the picture.



Last month, Harry Connick Jr. nearly walked off the set of an Australian TV show he was guest-judging when a group parodying the Jackson Five came onstage in blackface. Two months ago, a lead character in the hit, 1960s-set drama "Mad Men" performed a song in blackface.


Is it racist, bad taste or a bit of artistic license? Gazelle Emami, writing on The Huffington Post, said Banks went from over the top to offensive with the lastest stunt. “Call it what you want, but that's basically a euphemism for putting them in blackface,” Emami wrote. But others disagreed.“I don't see this as blackface,” cultural critic Michaela Angela Davis told BlackAmericaWeb.com in an e-mail. “Perhaps a little lacking in substance, like why didn't each model have to research the cultures or at the very least have a ‘mood board’ of images of the cultures they are interpreting, which most seasoned photographers and editors do? But, alas, this is reality TV and a new photographer, though not new in fashion.”

Davis, in an opinion piece for Essence.com, said the real post-racial news is in the power that First Lady Michelle Obama exhibits as a fashion icon and how it turns the table on how black women can now be viewed.“Much of white mainstream identity has benefited from and counted on black women being portrayed as sick, poor, ignorant, abused and sexually deviant or just a loud, hot ghetto mess. Our pitiful position secured, and in some ways created, their position on the pedestal. What now? Is it really time for the white standard of beauty to step off?”

To read the entire story go to: Blackface

Dwight's Guilty Pleasure: And the Winner's Were

FlavaMen Magazine changed the way that award shows usually honor individuals, by transforming the popular night club of 708 into Atlanta’s very own Radio City Music Hall. This event was held during Atlanta’s black pride and to a sold out crowd and hosted by America’s Next Top Model contestant and celebrity BET host, Toccara. Guest hosts included iconic Otis Mack, and drag performer Ms. Ruff n' Stuff with a special musical appearance by gay hip hop artist Anye Elite. Award presenters included Dwight Allen O’Neal of Christopher Street TV, and Ray Cunningham of BET’s College Hill. FlavaMen Magazine announced its inaugural slate of Blatino Awards nominees back in July, recognizing ethnic clubs and promoters, adult stars and studios, films and websites by and for men of color. The voting took place online over the summer, open to the public, and the winners were announced at a special ceremony in Atlanta last weekend. Toccara said “This is the one of the best events I have been to, and the vibe in this room is hot.” Also saying “I didn’t know what a Top was until tonight!” (Then making a rhythmic motion of a guy penetrating another guy). “I had a great time and I can’t wait till next year, it’s only going to get better.” About the Blatino AwardsThe Blatino Awards is the first annual awards ceremony produced by FlavaMen Magazine. The awards were created to recognize ethnic clubs, porn stars and websites; for and by men of color. During the summer months, members of the general public nominated those they deemed worthy recipients of the award. The complete list of nominees and the percentage of votes they received along with pictures of the event are online at http://www.BlatinoAwards.com

The 2009 FlavaMen Blatino Awards Winners are:

Best Acting Bottom

Mr. Saukei

Best Acting Top

Dream

Best Acting Versatile

Jovonnie

Best Director

Rock from Rockafellaz Entertainment

Best Black DVD

"Raw Rods 2" (Rockafellaz Entertainment)

Best Latin DVD

"Alejandro the Conqueror" (Latino Fan Club)

Best Studio

Flava Works

Most Notable Porn Star

Castro (a.k.a. Supreme)

The web nominees are as follows:

Best Black Website

DawgPoundUSA.com

Best Blog

Rockafellaz/Rocks Blog

Best Latin Website

PapiThugz.com

Best New Website

RawRods.com

The nominees for clubs and club promoters are as follows:

Best Black Club

Traxx, Atlanta

Best Club Promoter

WassupNATL, Atlanta

Best Latin Club

Splash Bar, New York

The Winner Is?

FLAVAMEN MAGAZINE ANNOUNCES BLATINO AWARDS HOST & GUEST HOSTS

Recognizes best in black and Latin gay adult entertainment media for 2009.

ATLANTA, GA (September 3, 2009)
FlavaMen Magazine proudly announces its host and co-hosts for the inaugural 2009 Blatino Awards. The Blatino Awards will take place during Atlanta Black Pride on Saturday September 5, 2009 at 9pm to midnight at Club 708 located at 708 Spring Street in Atlanta, GA.

In July, FlavaMen Magazine announced its inaugural slate of Blatino Awards nominees; recognizing ethnic clubs and promoters, adult stars and studios, films and websites by and for men of color.

Hosting the event will be America’s Next Top Model contestant and celebrity BET host, Toccara. Guest hosts include iconic Otis Mack, and drag performer Ms. Ruff n' Stuff with a special musical appearance by gay hip hop artist Anye Elite. Award presenters include Dwight Allen O’Neal of Christopher Street TV & The Future, and Ray Cunningham of BET’s College Hill & Ray's Bleu Juice.

About Toccara
Born in Dayton, Ohio, the vivacious and voluptuous Toccara is an American fashion model and television personality whose down-to-earth glamour has earned her many fans. While a contestant on the third season of the smash-hit UPN series America’s Next Top Model, Toccara was named "Cover Girl of the Week" five times. Currently, Toccara can be seen each night hosting BET’s Take the Cake, a new live interactive game show, and as a correspondent for BET’s popular entertainment news show, The Black Carpet. For more information about Toccara visit http://www.thefabuloustoccara.com

About the Blatino Awards
The Blatino Awards is the first annual awards ceremony produced by FlavaMen Magazine. The awards was created to recognize ethnic clubs, porn stars and websites; for and by men of color. During the summer months, members of the general public nominated those they deemed worthy recipients of the award.

WATM - GLAAD Rooftop Party