the classic {viola davis}

i am so very proud of viola davis.

When I tell my daughter stories at night, inevitably, a few things happen. Number one, I use my imagination, I always start with life and then I build from there. And then the other thing that happens is she always says “Mommy… Can you put me in the story?” So, I’d like to thank Paul Lee, Shonda Rhimes, Betsy Beers, Bill D’Elia and Peter Nowalk, for thinking that a sexualized, messy, mysterious woman could be a 49 year old dark-skinned African American woman who looks like me. 

"Thank you to all the people who love me exactly how God made me."

—Viola Davis,SAG Awards 2015.

“I think that beauty is subjective. I’ve heard that statement [less classically beautiful] my entire life. Being a dark-skinned black woman, you heard it from the womb. And ‘classically not beautiful’ is a fancy term for saying ugly. And denouncing you. And erasing you. Now…it worked when I was younger. It no longer works for me now. It’s about teaching a culture how to treat you. Because at the end of the day, you define you.”

herstory lesson {ava duvernay}

chinua achebe said, "Until the lions have their own historians, the history of the hunt will always glorify the hunter." 

that said, we have to be responsible for creating, shaping and sharing our own stories. and that is why we are grateful to ava duvernay. ava appears to be committed to giving honesty, integrity and compassion (humanity) to black lives in her films. perhaps you may know her from work the beautiful film 'middle of nowhere' or maybe you've seen her directorial debut for shonda rhimes' scandal. hopefully, you won't miss her current project 'selma' which covers the marches in the south during the civil rights movement. we congratulate ms. duvernay for being the first african-american/black woman director to be nominated for a golden globe. ava is doing the work, the work that gives us dignity and humanity in the present and will help to shape our future.

joy to the world {joy reid}

mrs. joy-ann reid is a fave on the msnbc cable network. after her countless appearances on numerous shows, it's no wonder everyone kept asking when she would get her own. the folks at msnbc are no dummies and they kindly obliged.  and what exactly made this lovely lady so irresistible?  well, there's her kind smile, her sharp as a knife intelligence and her black girl beauty for starters.
joy, the brooklyn girl with guyanese and congolese roots, is a graduate of harvard university.  she was a host and producer for the morning show, "Wake Up, South Florida" and writer of a column in 'The Miami Herald.'  later, reid left florida to become the managing editor of thegrio.com, an online news source geared toward blacks and african-americans. she also became a welcomed guest and political commentator with several shows on msnbc as well as other networks. joy was a breath of fresh air in a room full of debilitating smoke when she covered the george zimmerman trial.  now, after much anticipation, joy is the host of her own show, the reid report. honestly, we couldn't be happier. 

master chef {adaiah}

do you watch 'master chef junior?'  well, i must admit, i'm addicted to the show.  youngsters from ages 8-12 compete in various cooking competitions until one is crowned the winner.  don't let the age of the contestants fool you.  these kiddies are cooking at professional capacity.  one top chef was adaiah.  this girl can seriously throw down in the kitchen.  her meals were not only delicious but pretty as well.  adaiah made it to the top ten against thousands of others and placed third in the competition.  because of her talent, skill and discipline,  we felt the need to shine the spotlight on ms. adaiah and congratulate her on her accomplishments.  looking forward to eating at one of her restaurants in the near future.  

every woman {whitney houston}

if you were around in the eighties, you probably can't forget whitney's infectious, groundbreaking pop hits even if you tried.  hit after hit after hit.  the nineties were no different. when i was in seventh grade "i'm your baby tonight' was major.  later on in high school (the latter part of the nineties), mrs. houston reigned supreme with the movie "the bodyguard" and it's phenomenal soundtrack.  "i have nothing" gave me and my teenage angst life.  whitney maintained her spot on the throne with the 'waiting to exhale' movie and soundtrack contributions.  by the time i was in college, she hit us hard with the 'my love is your love' album.  at that point, i recall working in a claire's accessory boutique in a mall.  the radio station was always glued to KTU and KTU was devoted to whitney.  it's not right, but it's ok, heartbreak hotel, my love is your love.  once again, hit after heavenly hit.  whitney was always a golden girl.  (check her grammy stats)i chose to include a picture of her wedding day with purpose. she loved bobby brown. he was her choice and, it appears it was something special and passionate. nothing for us to pass judgement on.

whitney was a part of several successful soundtracks, we know. we now know she was a part of THE most important soundtrack of all, the soundtrack of our lives. she's gone now. it's not right; it's NOT okay. i just hope she realized how much of a blessing she was to so many of us.

diva of dynasty {diahann carroll}

diahann carroll has done plenty during her six decade long acting/singing career.  so, for time and space sake, lets  just stick to the biggest and most memorable achievements.  diahann was the first black woman to receive a tony award for her performance in 'no strings' back in 1962.  she also received an academy award nomination for best actress in 'claudine.'  in 1968, diahann would again make history by portraying the title role of 'julia'on the small screen. this would be the first time a black woman had her own show and didn't play a stereotypical or demeaning role.  diahann would continue that legacy in 1984 by portraying the glamorous diva, dominique deveraux (blake carrington's half sister) on the nighttime soap dynasty.  and who could forget her role as marion gilbert (whitley's snobby mom) playing foil to patti labelle's character on the hit show 'a different world.'  diahann, although now in her late seventies, has shown very little sign of slowing down. quite recently, she has had roles on 'grey's anatomy' and the USA hit show 'white collar.'  she even penned a very successful autobiography.  black girl bravado applauds mrs. diahann carroll for paving the way for all the black girl thespians who now walk a less bumpy path.

broadway bandit {audra mcdonald}

audra mcdonald runs the streets of broadway.  she is a true 'master of her craft.'  besides her numerous stints on television that include the television adaptation of 'a raisin in the sun' and a starring role on shonda rhimes' 'private practice,' i was lucky enough to catch her live in 'porgy and bess' and was blown away by her remarkable performance.  just last sunday, mcdonald received her sixth Tony making her not only the queen of the night but the queen of the Tonys as no one (man or woman) has received this honor before.  this latest award was for her role as the legend billie holiday.  upon receiving this great accolade, audra didn't forget to pay homage to the giants who came before her.

  
I want to thank all the shoulders of the strong and brave and courageous women that I am standing on. I'm standing on Lena Horne, I'm standing on Maya Angelou, Diane Carroll, Ruby Dee, and most of all Billie Holiday. You deserved so much more than you were given when you were on this planet. This is for you Billie! Thank you so much! "

we appreciate a sister who appreciates her fellow sisters.  congrats, audra!!!!

triple threat {keke palmer}

keke palmer, 20, has already proven to be the perfect trifecta.  she's a great singer, movie/television actress and philanthropist.  it was very clear at a young age that keke was destined for the entertainment business.  after landing a role in the hit movie "Barbershop 2: Back In Business" with the likes of Ice Cube, Queen Latifah and Cedric the Entertainer, the young talent and her family moved to cali to pursue her passions.  keke soon landed the title role in 'akeelah and the bee' opposite heavyweights laurence fishbourne and angela bassett.  this was a rare role as it celebrated a spelling bee rather than the usual sports competition.  she also scored the title role in the nickelodeon sitcom, 'true jackson, vp' where palmer plays a fifteen year old who is vice president of a fashion company while still dealing with your average adolescent dilemmas.  
as for her music career, keke was signed to interscope records in 2010.  she has put out music on few different soundtracks.  keke has also released mixtapes to satisfy her hungry fans.  
helping others in need is a big part of palmer's persona.  she has worked with the boys and girls club, ycwa and the saving our daughters organizations attacking the crucial issue of bullying among other things. most recently, this gifted young lady brilliantly played rozonda 'chili' thomas from the important music trio, tlc.  it is reported that keke will be the host of her own talk show, a position perfect for her vivacious personality.  this bet show would make her the youngest talk show host ever.  keke is clearly doing big things and we hope her success continues.

the thespian {kerry washington}

it's not very often on television that we see a beautiful, smart black woman in charge (especially one that doesn't fit into an obvious stereotype).  it is even more rare to find one who is the LEAD in a dramatic series on a primetime network.  enter.....kerry washington as 'scandal's' olivia pope.  every thursday, kerry captivates over nine million scandal fans (known as gladiators) and keeps them at the edge of their seats for the entire hour.  but long before that, kerry was doing great things.  her acting career began as far back as 2000 in the film 'our song.'  and who could forget her role as the good wife in the ray charles biopic, and the protective little sister in 'save the last dance' and as the unlucky newlywed being stalked by an angry samuel l. jackson in lakeview terrace.  kerry also played some more political roles like the black panther affiliate in 'night catches us' and of course as broomhilda, django's lady in distress, in 'django unchained.'  
kerry is a george washington university alumnus where she graduated with a double major in anthropology and sociology.  just recently, she gave a moving speech there while receiving an honorary doctorate.  kerry is a member of v day, an organization that brings awareness to violence against girls. washington is also very involved in politics, doing all she could to get president obama elected in 2008 and 2012.  this included giving another great speech at the dnc convention.  and now we can also add wife and mother to the list of prestigious roles kerry has taken on.  it appears this go-getter has it all...and she has certainly earned it.

the bubbly one {gabourey sidibe}

 gabourey sidibe is beyond amazing.  there's her academy award nominated performance as the title role in the movie 'precious.'  that was her acting debut, by the way.  she's doing great things in the huge hit, 'american horror story' and other movie roles.  but what i find so utterly fantastic about her is how she is able to hold her head up and keep her bubbly disposition despite all of hollywood and the world taking out their insecurities on her.  no appearance is without hurtful ridicule and critique and no compliments occur without a swift back hand.  honestly, gabby's speech alone is worthy of all the praise here at black girl bravado.  

Gabourey Sidibe’s speech (via Vulture):

I’m so excited to be here. Really, really excited. Okay, I’ll get to it. Hi. One of the first things people usually ask me is, “Gabourey, how are you so confident?” I hate that. I always wonder if that’s the first thing they ask Rihanna when they meet her. “RiRi! How are you so confident?” Nope. No. No. But me? They ask me with that same incredulous disbelief every single time. “You seem so confident! How is that?”

When I was ten years, in the fifth grade, my teacher, Miss Lowe had announced that my class would be having a holiday party right before the Christmas break. She asked if we all could all bring snacks or soda or juice to the class party. She also said we had the option of cooking something, if we like. I was so excited. I immediately decided that I would make gingerbread cookies, and that everyone would love them. I told my mom my plan, and I asked her for money to go buy the ingredients. She thought I should just buy store-bought cookies, but I told her, “Those cookies didn’t have enough love in them!” I had to make the cookies. So I bought the mix, and I bought cookie cutters in the shape of Christmas trees and bells, and I made a practice batch of cookies that went horribly wrong. Good thing they were a practice batch. They were awful. And then the night before the party, I made another batch of cookies. And they were also awful, but they looked a lot better. I carefully put the cookies in a Ziplock bag, so I could take them to school the next day. When I got to school that morning, I could not wait until that party. And I was so proud of those cookies, and all the effort I put into making them, I started to think that maybe I wouldn’t just be the first woman black President — maybe I would also be a celebrity chef! I mean, why limit myself?

The party was set to take place during the last hour of school, and I waited excitedly for it all day long. Finally, it was party time. My teacher asked what everyone brought, and I proudly announced that I had baked cookies for the class. I think I felt prouder knowing that everyone else just bought stuff. I was the only one who made anything, because clearly, I’m a little more clever than anyone else. So as the party starts up, I walk around the class, proudly offering cookies to everyone. No one took a cookie. No one. No one except Nicholas, who was the first person I offered one to. But after a few of our other classmates set him straight, he actually caught up with me as I walked around the class, and gave the cookie back. I walked around the class trying to hand out cookies to my class, until I ended up back at my desk with the same amount of cookies that I started with. I sat at my desk alone, eating those gross gingerbread cookies that took hours to make, all by myself. I put chocolate chips in them, that’s why they were gross. I wasn’t surprised. I just forgot for a moment that my entire class hated me. I had zero friends from the fourth grade to the sixth grade. Who the hell was I baking cookies for? I really got so excited to bake that I had forgotten that everyone hated my guts. Why didn’t they like me? I was fat, yes. I had darker skin and weird hair, yes. But the truth is, this isn’t a story about bulling, or color, or weight. They hated me because… I was an asshole!

Yep. I was a bossy, bossy asshole. See, remember when I said that I thought I was more clever than everyone else? Well, I did! And I told them that — every single day! Those kids couldn’t get a word in edgewise, without me cutting them off to remind them that I was smarter, funnier, and all around wittier than them. I was always sarcastic — I called it my birth defect. And let’s face it, kids don’t get sarcasm. They don’t appreciate it. They never knew what I was talking about. And when they would say, “Wait… huh?” I would say, “My God, Alicia, read a book!” I know. I spoke differently than them, I just did. I sounded more like a Valley Girl than a Brooklyn girl. My classmates always asked me if I was adopted by white people. I’d say, “No. Both my parents went to college.” I know that was rude, but I’m still really proud of that. To be fair, in my neighborhood, not everyone’s parents had the opportunity to go to college. Most of my classmates’ parents were teens when they had them. My parents had me at age 30. My father was born in Senegal. His father was the mayor of the capital city, Dakar, and my dad often took my brother and I back home with him to visit Africa, while most of my classmates had never stepped out of the Lower East Side. My mother was a teacher in high school, that’s why I went there, but my mom also had a voice, so when I was nine, she quit her teaching job to go sing in the subway. She actually made more money as a singer for tips than she made as a teacher! I know! And she was quickly becoming the underground version of Whitney Houston. She was the strongest, smartest, and most talented person I had ever known. Even today, I don’t want to grow up to be anyone as much as I want to grow up to be her. I know!

The point is, I was a snob. I thought I was better than the kids in my class, and I let them know it. That’s why they didn’t like me. I think the reason I thought so highly of myself all the time was because no one else ever did. I figured out I was smart because my mother would yell at my older brother. She’d say, “Your little sister is going to pass you in school. You’re going to get left behind and she’s going to graduate before you.” But she never said to me, “You are smart.” What she did say was, “You are too fat.” I got the message that I wasn’t pretty, and I probably wasn’t normal, but I was smart! Why wouldn’t they just say that? “You’re smart.” It’s actually not that hard. My dad would yell at my brother, “Gabourey does her homework by herself! Why can’t you?” But he never said to me, “Good job.” What he did say was, “You need to lose weight so I can be proud of you.” I know. So I got made fun of at school, I got made fun of at home too, my older brother hated me, my dad just didn’t understand me, and my mom, who had been a fat girl at my age herself, understood me perfectly … but she berated me because she was so afraid of what she knew was to come for me. So I never felt safe when I was at home. And my response was always to eat more, because nothing says, “You hurt my feelings. Fuck you!” like eating a delicious cookie. Cookies never hurt me.

“Gabourey, how are you so confident?” It’s not easy. It’s hard to get dressed up for award shows and red carpets when I know I will be made fun of because of my weight. There’s always a big chance if I wear purple, I will be compared to Barney. If I wear white, a frozen turkey. And if I wear red, that picture of Kool-Aid that says, “Oh, yeah!” Twitter will blow up with nasty comments about how the recent earthquake was caused by me running to a hot dog cart or something.  And “Diet or Die?”[She gives the finger to that]  This is what I deal with every time I put on a dress. This is what I deal with every time someone takes a picture of me. Sometimes when I’m being interviewed by a fashion reporter, I can see it in her eyes, “How is she getting away with this? Why is she so confident? How does she deal with that body? Oh my God, I’m going to catch fat!”

What I would say, is my mom moved my brother and I to my aunt’s house. Her name is Dorothy Pitman Hughes, she is a feminist, an activist, and a lifelong friend of Gloria Steinem. Every day, I had to get up and go to school where everyone made fun of me, and I had to go home to where everyone made fun of me. Every day was hard to get going, no matter which direction I went. And on my way out of the house, I found strength. In the morning on the way out to the world, I passed by a portrait of my aunt and Gloria together. Side by side they stood, one with long beautiful hair and one with the most beautiful, round, Afro hair I had ever seen, both with their fists held high in the air. Powerful. Confident. And every day as I would leave the house… I would give that photo a fist right back. And I’d march off into battle. [She starts crying] I didn’t know that I was being inspired then. On my way home, I’d walk back up those stairs, I’d give that photo the fist again, and continue my march back in for more battle. [She pulls a tissue from her cleavage and dabs her eyes] That’s what boobs are for! I didn’t know I was being inspired then, but I was. If they could feel like that, maybe I could! I just wanted to look that cool. But it made me feel that strong.

So, okay, we’re back in fifth grade, and I just had been rejected by 28 kids in a row. And I was sitting alone at my desk, with an empty Ziplock bag, crumbs in my lap, and I was at this great party that I had waited for all week. I waited all week for this party that I wasn’t invited to. And for some reason I got up, I sat on my desk, and I partied my ass off. I laughed loudly when something funny happened. And when Miss Lowe put on music, I was one of the first ones to get up and dance. I joined the limbo, and ate chips, and drank soda, and I enjoyed myself, even though no one wanted me there. You know why? I told you — I was an asshole! I wanted that party! And what I want trumps what 28 people want me to do, especially when what they want me to do is leave. I had a great time. I did. And if I somehow ruined my classmates’ good time, then that’s on them. “How are you so confident?” “I’m an asshole!” Okay? It’s my good time, and my good life, despite what you think of me. I live my life, because I dare. I dare to show up when everyone else might hide their faces and hide their bodies in shame. I show up because I’m an asshole, and I want to have a good time. And my mother and my father love me. They wanted the best life for me, and they didn’t know how to verbalize it. And I get it. I really do. They were better parents to me than they had themselves. I’m grateful to them, and to my fifth grade class, because if they hadn’t made me cry, I wouldn’t be able to cry on cue now. [Dabs tears] If I hadn’t been told I was garbage, I wouldn’t have learned how to show people I’m talented. And if everyone had always laughed at my jokes, I wouldn’t have figured out how to be so funny. If they hadn’t told me I was ugly, I never would have searched for my beauty. And if they hadn’t tried to break me down, I wouldn’t know that I’m unbreakable.[Dabs tears] So when you ask me how I’m so confident, I know what you’re really asking me: how could someone like me be confident? Go ask Rihanna, asshole!

gabby sidibe is just the cutest, most adorable thing i've seen in hollywood in a while.  and i'm happy she knows how great she is.  

purr-fectly poised {eartha kitt}

never have i seen someone so unabashedly herself as was the divine ms. eartha kitt.  as far i'm concerned, eartha embodied the 'carefree black girl status' before it was ever a thing.  she spoke her mind even when it was unpopular.  an example of that were here honest and blunt 'anti-war' sentiments expressed to the first lady when asked for two cents at a white house event.  it is rumored the frank statement caused lady bird johnson to cry and caused the decline of eartha's career (?).  eartha kitt stood up for and got very involved in causes she believed in such as helping inner city youth, same sex marriage and other civil rights for the lgbt community, racial equality and achieving a peaceful existence in the u.s.  
as for her career, well, there are far too many to think about naming.  however, i think it's safe to say eartha kitt conquered every arena from television, to broadway to movies and music from the 1940s up until a few months before her death in 2008.  a few notables from her countless notables include the role of catwoman in the batman television series, her classic hit "santa baby," that christmas wouldn't be the same without, voicing the role of yzma in "the emperor's new groove" and it's sequels and of course nailing the role of lady eloise in the popular eddie murphy film, "boomerang."  eartha kitt is one of few to be nominated for a tony, grammy and emmy award multiple times.
eartha kitt has written three autobiographies and i can't wait to get my paws on them.  we all could learn from the diva who has lived nine lives.  

the voice {cree summer}

cree summer flies under the radar but like jim jones, she sure does fly high.  
perhaps you've seen her face.  she was an integral part of the classic sitcom "a different world," a show about a historically black college that convinced us all to apply to hbcu's asap.  she portrayed the bohemian black dippy hippie, freddie brooks, a character who fought passionately for the many causes she believed in.  if you're not familiar with her face, i KNOW you know her famous voice.  she used her unique pipes to provide for many of our beloved cartoon (and video game) characters since 1983.  there are just too many on cree's resume to name, so i'll just share a few of my favorites she brought to life: 

• miranda from as told by ginger
• elmyra from tiny toon adventures
• susie carmichael from rugrats & all grown up!
• tessa and vanessa from pepper ann
• penny from inspector gadget

like i said,this is just a drop in the bucket for summer.  she is also a musical artist, even opening up for her friend, lenny kravitz.  

cree summer is ridiculously impressive.  no one can deny her success and longevity in this tough business.  

political pope {tara dowdell}

unlike sway, tara dowdell has the answers.  she knows how to win. dowdell is a political strategist (among other things) who knows her stuff.  
the first time that i recall seeing tara was on the mhp show which we already discussed here (mhp).  she was so spot on with what democrats needed to do get their message and agendas (ie. obamacare) out there to the voters.  tara was like a real life olivia pope (season 1).  i was instantly intrigued and wanted to know more about her. well, here's what i found out:  she has her own consulting and marketing firm whose aim is to assist worthy businesses and organizations prosper.  she has worked in government under the Port Authority of NY/NJ and in the NJ governor's office.  in fact, she was the youngest (at only 25) and the only black person to serve as the Director of Appointments in the Office of New Jersey Governor.  tara has even been a contestant on season three of Donald Trump's "The Apprentice."  she is also a frequent commentator on msnbc, fox news ect. where she is known for giving her insight and unique expertise on various topics.  it appears tara dowdell is most certainly 'winning.'

karma chameleon {nicki minaj}

nicki minaj IS, in fact, a positive role model.  at first {perhaps judgmental} glance, many might conclude the exact opposite.  however, i doubt i've seen a pop star who is more pro-equality, pro-girl power and pro-education as nicki.  fans of minaj, affectionately referred to as barbz, often bring their honor roll report cards to meet & greets and concerts for her encouraging words.  i've even witnessed a fully grown fan show off her masters degree.  where (else)they do dat at?
there is no denying the impact ms. minaj has had on the pop culture world.  the rapper has clearly dominated the charts, selling over five million albums globally.  with several endorsement deals on deck (including MAC, ADIDAS & O*P*I nail polish), it's easy to see why she has become a fixture on the Forbes Hip Hop Cash 'Kings' list (the only female rapper to achieve this feat so far).  
while she is often used as a punching bag, nicki minaj doesn't deserve half of the flack that she gets.  is she absolutely perfect and uplifting every single day? nah!!!  but show me the individual who is.

pint sized pioneer {quvenzhane wallis}

learn to pronounce (and spell) the name quvenzhane wallis.  it'll be worth it.  why?  because she is an actress who is excelling at this thing called show biz and all before her preteens.  quvenzhane absolutely nailed her role as hush puppy in the critically acclaimed indie film, "beast of the southern wild.'  her amazing performance garnered her many accolades and awards including the coveted oscar nomination.  quvenzhane is, in fact, the youngest to earn such a prestigious honor.  and speaking of oscars, lil miss wallis was a part of the "12 years a slave" ensemble that cleaned up at this year's academy awards.  what's next for the pint size pioneer, you ask?  just taking on the huge role of everybody's favorite orphan, annie in the much anticipated remake is all.  you see, quvenzhane is just a big ol' bundle of preciousness, talent and dedication wrapped up in the cutest, smallest package.  kudos to her.

witty one {jessica williams}

jessica williams may have a fairly common name but she herself is quite unique.  she has climbed her way up the improv/comedy ladder to land some coveted roles.  jessica is the first black female correspondent on the huge satirical news program, "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart."  she brings her brand of funny but more importantly, the truth when it comes to exposing ignorance.  "i love being a black woman and being able to say those things.  there's truth in comedy, and that resonates with people of all races..." (motherjones 12-2013)  jessica williams is also guest starring on the hit HBO show, "Girls," a program known for its blatant lack of diversity.  
ms. jessica williams is a clever, young star on the rise.  we all wait with bated breath to see what wonderful projects she'll take on next.