My Rememberance of Michael Jackson

As the world mourns the passing of Michael Jackson, I take the time to reflect on what impact his legacy and music had on my life.

Michael Jackson personified, for me, what music and entertainment is and should be. My first recollection of music is that of my mother playing songs like ABC, Stop, the Love You Save, and my favorite J5 song, Goody Girl. I would sit for hours listening to those songs over and over again trying to memorize the harmonies and duplicate the melodies.

Then when I was seven Thriller came out. That's when I started to notice how cute Michael was, and it was that year that I swore that I was going to be Mrs. Michael Jackson when I grew up. I remember drawing a mustache on Brooke Shields because she had the nerve to be in my man's poster which hung by my bed close enough for me to kiss every night.

From that point on, I began to gravitate to Michael Jackson's music. I loved the way he sang his songs with so much feeling, emotion and melody. That's always been what did for me musically; music and harmony. Everything about most of his songs was memorable to me because of the way he sang it, the arrangement of the lyrics, the add libs, everything. That's when I decided that I wanted to be a singer and began trying to write my own songs.

Human Nature, Lady of My Life, This Place Hotel and Can You Feel It for some reason were all songs that caught my ear, and Man in the Mirror always made me a little emotional right at the part when the choir begins to sing. Not to mention the countless other songs that I spent hours memorizing and mimicking, but never could seem to get quite right. Ah...the memories.

I smile when I think of the backdrop that Michael Jackson's music has contributed to my life and my aspirations to write because I wanted my songs to sound like his. I often dreamed of him one day singing a song that I'd write just for him. Then I think of his life and how troubled he must have been.

To live your life in the public eye is a burden that Michael Jackson was forced to bare from a very young age, and I truly believe that he dealt with it the best that he could. For all his quirks and perceived eccentricities, he was always true to himself. He did not pretend to be anyone but who he was.

Even though his passing was an unexpected shock to the world, we must all realize that death is the one thing that is promised to all. Beneath the surface of the superstar, Michael Jackson was a troubled man who was beautifully human. I can only hope and pray that he was at peace with God and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior before he passed so that his soul can have rest with Him in paradise.

And for all that he created that contributed to my life and the lives of those around me, I thank him.

Rest in peace, Mr. Jackson. You will never be forgotten.

A Note to Single Mothers on Father's Day

 This is an encouraging note for the single mothers out there on Father's Day. I know that it must be hard to be a single parent and God knows that I would never pretend to know what you go through on the daily trying to do it all alone, because I know how difficult it is to do it with 2 parents in the household. But in the case of the single mother who has a baby daddy who actually takes the time to spend time with, care for, and be a father to their children...please don't play vindictive games with the kids.

Don't use the child to "whip" the father for past wrongs, punish him for not being with you, finding someone new, get more money or get back at him for being happy without you. It's not right. Your child should not have to be deprived of a father because your feelings are hurt, because guess what? You are not only hurting that man, you are destroying your child. Children need their fathers! Little girls develop much of their self-esteem and perception of themselves through their relationship with their father. Little boys pattern who they aspire to be after their fathers; and don't get it twisted...a woman can not teach a boy to be a man. Try as she might, she will fall short somewhere.

It breaks my heart to see how many men close to me suffer in these types of situations when it is so unnecessary. If you have a child with someone, you have to learn to put your differences aside for the sake of your children. They didn't ask to be here so don't make their lives miserable because you feel that you have a point to get across. You may not think that they notice, but trust me they do.

 Ladies, I know the load is often heavy so don't make yours harder than it has to be; if your baby's daddy wants to be a father--then let him. Men cry too and they love their kids just like we mother's do. With all the dead-beat loser dads populating the Earth, real dads need to be celebrated...not broken down and discouraged.

So keep that in mind this Father's Day season and give that guy a call and let him know that all his good efforts have not been in vain. Heck...there's still time to wish him a Happy Father's Day and really mean it.

www.black-smithenterprises.com

Did I Make a Mistake

Ok, so here we are just a few days away from the historical swearing in of the first African American president of the United States. And I, like millions of other voters, got up early and went to the polls to make sure that I did my part to cast my vote for Barack Obama, not because he is black but because I felt that he was the best man for the job.

But now as I watch each day unfold with a new announcement as to who will fill the various spots for this or that for the inauguration, I have to wonder...did I make the wrong choice?

I made myself get past the fact that Barack supports abortion (which I am adamantly against), and I explained away the fact that he essentially deserted the man who pastored him for more than 20 years because the media started giving him a hard time. But now that reports have revealed that he will allow Eugene Robinson, an openly gay pastor,to deliver the invocation at the inauguration kickoff event in effort to present balance for the gay community I really find myself wondering if I lined up behind the wrong person.

As a Christian, this really convicts my heart because the bible blatantly says that homosexuality is wrong. There is no sugar coating it, that's what it says. And while it is not for me to judge anyone's lifestyle choice, I can not endorse it. And to see a man who claims to be a pastor, a man of God chosen to lead God's people to Christ stand in a pulpit and openly proclaim that he is gay and be proud of it is a mockery of the calling he is supposed to be answering. And then for the man who is going to be my president, my leader, to endorse something that he knows is wrong (because Barack does claim to be a Christian) just to pacify a group of people leads me to wonder what other issues will he compromise on just to keep people from being mad at him.

Barack's whole campaign was based on change and I brought into that. But while I believe that he has the potential to be a great catalyst to getting our country back on the right track, the fact still remains that we need a strong leader. Someone who is not afraid to do what's right no matter what people say. This country was built on the principals set forth in the bible, and to throw those out because of convenience is like ushering in a platform for complete chaos and loss of morality.

It was the bible that tells us that it is wrong to steal, kill and lie. And if someone were to propose that a known liar or serial killer proudly stand up speak on behalf of the president America would be up and arms. For those are not badges to be worn with honor. So if we accept open homosexuality in the pulpit, then what's next? The man in the pulpit is supposed to be helping to deliver those who suffer from that affliction.

I don't know. This is just something that has been on my mind very heavily. Tell me what you think, because I'd really like to know.


www.black-smithenterprises.com

A Year in Reflection and Looking Ahead

Well, 2008 is officially over and I have welcomed 2009 with open arms. It still amazes me at how fast time goes by after you reach adulthood. 2008 was a whirlwind year filled with a lot of accomplishments (I finished my third book and completed my first feature film), a year of growing pains and learning experiences.

I have learned that God is always in control no matter how much the urge to worry persists; I have learned to really appreciate my family for who they are in spite of my perception of who I think they should be; I have been blessed with the job of a lifetime as the editor of a publication that I love; I've gained some life long friends and said good-bye to some bad influences; and I have learned that no matter how hard things get, you have to always keep pushing forward. Your problems do not define who you are, they help shape you into the person that you are destined to be.

So in 2009, I pray that God will continue to prosper my family in spirit and in health. I pray that he will strengthen my marriage and watch over my children. I pray the He will give me the wisdom and courage to do those things that I know that I should.

In 2009, I will not waste time on things that do not matter and I will work hard to be the woman that God made me to be.

I pray for all of you reading this that your lives will be enriched with love and happiness, but most of all that you find yourself in Christ if you haven't already. If you have haven't, all you have to do is ask Him.

Jesus is everything, and with each day that passes I realize that more and more. The growth is not easy, but as I stated earlier...you have to keep pushing on because nothing worth having ever is. As this world grows darker, my desire to allow his light to shine in my life grows stronger. And for that I am thankful.

One on One with Brandy

By Janaya Black

After a four-year hiatus, singer Brandy Norwood has resurfaced with a hot new single, Right Here (Departed), and is looking forward to the release of her highly anticipated new album, Human, on Dec. 9.
During a brief visit to Detroit to take part in the Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Michigan FrontPage had a chance to catch up with Brandy to find out what she’s been up to.
FrontPage: From the time that you dropped your first album to this point, what has the journey been like for you in the entertainment industry?

Brandy: The journey in the entertainment industry has been exciting! Of course it has its ups and downs but music is my life and in order to get my music out there I have to go through the music business. I have learned so many great lessons being an artist and I have met so many wonderful people to help me reach goals.

FP: On your last album your song Should I Go? Eluded to the idea that you were undecided about whether or not you wanted to continue your music career, so what made you decide to do another album?

Brandy: The reason why I am back with a new album is because I realized that it is my responsibility to make good music. It is the way I give back to the world. God gave me a gift and if I don’t use it by sharing it, then it’s all in vain.

FP: The song Departed is HOT! Who wrote it and what was the inspiration behind it?

Brandy: It was written by the "writing camp" and Darkchild. They were inspired by some of my life experiences. I connected to the song the first time I heard it. Everybody needs somebody and to know that you have people there that you can depend on or call on is a blessing.

FP: At this point in your career do you see yourself doing more albums after this, or do you plan to do more movie projects or a combination of both?

Brandy: I definitely plan to do more albums in the future and expand my acting career as well.

FP: How do you balance motherhood with everything that you have going on?

Brandy: I love being a mother and I always make sure that I get quality time with my girl because I am gone a lot now that I am working. I have a lot of help. My mom and my cousin help me with her when I am gone. I make sure she is loved and happy all the time as if I was right there. I also speak to her everyday if I am working on the road. My daughter understands very well that everything that I am doing is for her and that makes it a lot easier.

FP: Do you have any other projects in the works? Movies, TV, etc...

Brandy: I am developing television projects right now! Acting comes very natural for me and I look forward to playing a character that people can grow and love!

For more information about Brandy, visit www.foreverbrandy.com. To read more stories by Janaya Black visit www.black-smithenterprises.com.

For more new content, entertainment and lifestyle, check out this week's FrontPage digital edition at www.frontpageconnect.com!

Up Close and Personal with Will Smith

I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Will Smith about his new movie 7 Pounds and how he handles life as a mega super star! Ladies, not only was he one of the most down to earth people I've ever met, but he was FINE! lol. But I digress...the focus of this piece is the interview and it went a little something like this:

Up Close and Personal with Will Smith
By Janaya Black
Managing Editor

Will Smith has been coined the world’s biggest star on the planet, and with the magnitude of his impressive resume one could hardly argue that sentiment.
Will Smith, once known as one-half of the hip hop duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, has come a long way from the fresh-faced, happy-go-lucky rapper who just happened to land his own television show (The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air) to becoming one of the highest paid and most beloved leading men in Hollywood.
In celebration of the release of his newest movie 7 Pounds that opens in theaters on Dec 19, the FrontPage had the opportunity to sit down with Smith to discuss his role as Ben Thomas, one of the most challenging of his career, and his life as a super star.

FrontPage: You’ve been referred to a lot in the past year as the biggest movie star on the planet Earth, how does the view look from there?

Will Smith: Wow! (laughing) It’s uh…I read…I wish I could remember! My wife always remembers where she read stuff and it sounds so cool when you can say the author and stuff. [But], I read somebody said that he was a mountain climber and he set in his mind that I want to climb Everest, I’m gonna do it, I’m gonna do it. And he climbed to the top and realized he couldn’t breathe, right? And the only thought he had was ‘how the hell can I get down off of here as fast as I can?’ And it’s like this weird thing that kicks in your mind, like be careful what you wish for. You know, you go and you fight to get there and there’s this discomfort that sets in and it’s really the last probably year and a half has been kind of scary and a little bit frustrating for me. And I had an epiphany working on 7 Pounds, and I realized that part of that feeling was that I was looking at my life, and I was looking at myself, and my future too much around these movies. And after 7 Pounds, I just had this huge epiphany of how much more I want to do and the idea of living in service to humanity vs. living in service to the commerce of my movies. That explosion just totally washed away that sort of scary, uncomfortable feeling. It’s like however people look at me, as a movie star or not, I want to be remembered as a man who cared about people and dedicated his life to making the world better. So with that I went from thinking of myself in this high place to like ‘Damn, I got so much to do’ or ‘I need to get to work’ and that’s so much better a place for me emotionally.

FP: What attracted to you to this movie?

WS: I was attracted to 7 Pounds not because there was a fantastic one-liner that I could sell around the world very easily. I was attracted to 7 Pounds because there were ideas, there were emotions that were part of this character that I was hiding myself from, so I took 7 Pound as a self exploration. Jada said something to me a few months ago; she said its funny how much I was rejecting this character. She [was] like, ‘you know that you are Ben.’ I was like ‘What?’ She was like, ‘The reason you’re so nice and the reason you fight so hard to be up-tone is because you’re at war with that guy inside of you.’ Then I was like ‘Damn, deep lady!’ And that’s when I realized, it’s like projects I was choosing and everything had to be ok in the end or it emotionally hurt me. So now my sensibilities are becoming slight less delicate and I’m able to venture out a little bit more into the world of emotional and artistic ambiguity in a way that strikes me as more authentic, but it’s terrifying for me.

Just like as a child growing up, I needed to know, and my grandmother made sure that I knew God is going to make everything ok. So however scared you get of how bad life is, just know there’s somebody in a high place that’s on your side. So to play a character who doesn’t necessarily believe that, to feel like he has to fix it , that God made a mistake and it’s his responsibility to fix it, and how to carry that emotional weight is a terrifying space for me emotionally and artistically.

FP: How has this movie impacted you?

WS: I’ve been exploring the idea of trauma and the relationship between trauma and continuing life. Like with I am Legend, in to Hancock, and now with 7 Pounds I’m starting the character on trauma. And then I was asking the question, ‘What’s the difference between someone who falls into depression and someone like Nelson Mandella, or Muhammad Ali, or Ghandi or Mother Theresa that just keeps going in the face of the ultimate weight of humanity and life?’ And the thing that I discovered on 7 Pounds is its purpose. When you wake up and you’ve dedicated your life to something beyond yourself all is bearable. It just to exploded in my mind with this movie and with this character, and if there’s been a movie in my career that I’d say changed my life, it’s 7 Pounds.

FP: Rosario (Dawson) said that you were kind of shy about the love scenes and maybe put them off a little bit. Was that the case?

WS: Yes. See for me, my grandmother was really firm about how men are supposed to treat women. So, it’s like for me, my worst nightmare is for an actress to come on my set and feel like I’m taking this as an opportunity to get a little quickie feel or some legal cheating going on. I just need, specifically women, to be comfortable around me. I just don’t want to feel like I’m that dude.

FP: How does Jada feel about that?

WS: Jada said, ‘Listen, I know you’re uncomfortable but you better not embarrass me!’ (laughing) She was like, ‘When you do that love scene, you better show them what you’re working with!’

FP: Did she come to the set?

WS: No, she didn’t come to the set. I asked her to come to the set and she was like ‘are you stupid?’

FP: There are numerous reports about how grounded you are and how easy you are to work with. How do you manage to stay so humble in the midst of all your success?

WS: I think because I’m scared. I’m so grateful to be in the position that I’m in, to have been blessed with the things that I’ve been blessed with. I was with Redman the other day in Chicago and he came up and we’re sitting down and he said, ‘Man, listen; now I’ve got this relationship that I’m trying to make work and I’m telling you- if you and Jada don’t work, I’m done!’ And I was like wow! And he meant it. He was like the only reason he’s going to try is because of what he saw with Jada and I and he’s believing that there maybe a possibility so he’s going to give it a shot. So it’s like I just don’t want to break that. I don’t want to damage other people’s lives in that way so it really keeps me humble and grounded because I don’t totally feel like I’ve got it. It’s like I might mess something up and that sort of keeps me in a place where I’m really focused and paying attention. I just don’t want to step wrongly.

To read more by Janaya Black visit www.black-smithenterprises.com or check out the Michigan FrontPage Digital edition by visiting www.frontpageconnect.com.

P.S. If you haven't done so already, check out my books! They make great Christmas gifts!

Detroit, be proactive

In the midst of what seems to be one of the most trying times in our state’s economic history, it does not behoove us to sit back and mourn the loss of better days. The time has come for us to take the bull by the horns and get life as we know it back on track.
It can be done; it is just a matter of focus and determination. Applying simple rules of logic to your everyday lifestyle can improve your standards more than you ever thought possible.
For example: yes, we are in an automotive crisis and, yes, gas prices are going down, but car-pooling continues to be a very practical and cost-effective way to save money. Cooking at home, while more inconvenient for some, is still a sure-fire way to save a few extra bucks. And stop throwing out those leftovers! Find creative ways to use your leftovers to create new and exciting meals for your family – stews, soups and casseroles are just a few examples.
Take the clothes that you don’t wear anymore or that your children have grown out of and sell them through consignment shops or boutiques. And don’t be too proud to shop there as well.
The holidays are quickly approaching and if things are a little tight in your household come up with some creative gift-giving ideas for this year. Photos, videos and food gifts are always welcome by friends and family members, and not to mention easier on your wallet.
If you are facing the harsh reality of a possible layoff, begin thinking of creative ways to generate other streams of income for your household. Assess your skills and figure out how to make them work for you. If you can sew, do side jobs making or altering clothing for family and friends at discount prices. Personal shop for your busy acquaintances or go through those over-stuffed closets to find things that you don’t need, then pay a visit to your local pawn shop.
Just because the present may look a little bleak that does not mean that all hope is lost. Things are a little tough right now but they will get better. Struggle makes us stronger and much more appreciative of the good times. And it also teaches us how to better prepare ourselves for the next time hard times hit.
Don’t be discouraged. You can make it, you will make it. We will survive and things will get better. It may not happen overnight but a change will come. Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.