Rest in Power to the Fabulous Legend: Lena Horne

Last night legendary actress, jazz singer, and civil rights activist, Lena Horne passed away at age 92.

Horne was a beautiful woman who broke many barriers for our race. She was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1917 and by the age of 16 years old could be found singing in nightclubs such as the Cotton Club during the Harlem Renaissance.

Horne was a phenomenal actress, but during the 1930's and 1940's she was blacklisted in Hollywood because she was black. Of course, being a Fabulous Brown Girl, she did not let that stop her. She has appeared in many films and won many Grammy awards for her remarkable voice. She even was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award Grammy in 1989.

Horne was also a civil rights activist. She worked very hard along side Dr. Martin Luther King and with the NAACP.

Horne will always be remembered and loved by many generations. Its saddens us that in less than a month we have lost two wonderful and captivating African American women. One being Dr. Dorothy Height and the other Mrs. Lena Horne.

Both of these women were the epitome of class, elegance and grace. If we have just an ounce of their traits, we most certainly will be content.

REST IN PEACE AND POWER MS LENA HORNE! Your legacy will live on in us!!

Fabulous Brown Girls at the Costume Institute Gala

Janet Jackson

Last night many Fabulous Brown Girls showed up in the designer's best at the MET Costume Institute Gala.

Take a look at some of the fashions our famous FBG's were photographed in!

Cassie

Mama Oprah with Oscar de la Renta

Mary J. Blige in a gorgeous peach gown

Supermodel Iman

Keri Washington

Zoe Saldana in a beautiful Calvin Klein gown

Rest in Peace to the National Treasure: Dorothy Height

As many already know, last night the beautiful and righteous, Dr. Dorothy Height passed away of natural causes. She was a champion for Civil rights and Gender equality

Ms. Height was born in Richmond, VA in 1912. After being denied entrance into Barnard College in 1929, she attended NYU and earned a master's degree in educational psychology in 1932.

While in her 20s, Ms. Height became a social worker and civil rights activist. She joined the National Council of Negro Women and found her passion in the cause for equality for all, especially for women and African Americans. During the 1960s, the height of the civil rights movement, she started Wednesday Mississippi, that brought black and white women together to encourage discussion and understand of the racial plight and convince other women to do the same.

Ms. Height has so many other accomplishes under her belt such as leading the sorority of Delta Sigma Theta by serving as their 10th national president, as well as being an avid attendee of the National Black Family Reunion in Washington, DC.

She passed away in Howard University Hospital at the age of 98.

Fabulous Brown Girl is thankful to Dorothy Height for doing what we all aspire to do. She was always graceful but always aggressive about what she believed was right. May her soul rest in peace.

THE GAME is BACK!!

If anyone knows this FABULOUS BROWN GIRL, then you know I love love love the television show 'THE GAME"! And I know many of you all love it too! In May 2009, the CW took the show off of its lineup because "it no longer fit in" ... Yea,yea yea.. we are not dumb, we know EXACTLY what that meant! So many loyal fans petitioned long and hard to bring it back because we felt like it was the ONLY decent black show on the air. Fans wanted to bring it back on a network that appreciates it target audience.. so naturally the top contender was BET.

Finally after a year long battle of negotiations, BET Network finally announced that are bringing the beloved show back with original episodes appearing during the final quarter of 2010! Here is the official press release distributed by BET.

Now me and BET have a love/hate relationship.. and even though this network wasn't my first choice for bringing my fav show back on the scene (HBO or Showtime would have been perfect in my opinion). But I am proud that they are finally listening to what their viewers want to see.. Hopefully they [BET] don't mess it up! If they do, I am officially going to be done with them because they are already hanging on by a thread..

Countdown to the new THE GAME episodes start..... NOW! Make sure you continue to look out for updates

Make Sure You Are "Keeping Up With the Joneses"

As a Houston chick, I must admit that I "jones" for all great and positive things that come out of my hometown. One of those things is Jones Magazine.

Jones Magazine, founded by the FABULOUS Tracy Ferguson, is headquartered in Houston, Texas and is the first of its kind to be the "IT" guide of the biggest city in the state.

Jones Magazine is a lifestyle magazine and brand that focuses on upscale African Americans detailing the very best fashion, hair, makeup, and parties Houston has to offer.

Keeping Up with the Joneses will focus on Tracy being a single mother of two comical teenagers all while launching her other "baby" Jones Magazine.

The show premieres tonight, April 8th on Centric at 8 pm EST, which is under the BET umbrella.

Fabulous Brown Girls, we know you will be watching with us, so let us know what you think!

And special shoutout to our friend and FAB BROWN GIRL Ashley Minor, who will be featured in the show working for Tracy Ferguson and doing big things!

Make sure you follow @jonesmag and @ashley_minor to "keep up with the joneses" in every way possible!

Fabulous Brown Oscar Winners

Last night was absolutely amazing for African Americans and the Oscars. Not only did PRECIOUS take the Academy by storm, but so did successful comedienne, Mo'Nique. She along with a host of other uber talented African Americans took home Oscars' last night and to them we say Congrats!!!!!

Check them out below!

Mo'nique for Best Supporting Actress in PRECIOUS

Anthony Mackie for Best Movie, HURT LOCKER

Geoffrey Fletcher for Best Adapted Screenplay with PRECIOUS

Roger Ross Williams for Producing and Directing short film, Music by Prudence.

And of course we can not forget to thank the woman who broke down the barriers for there to be a black assortment of Oscar winners today.

Hattie McDaniels was the first African American to win an Oscar in 1939. She won Best Supporting Actress for her role in Gone With the Wind.

It has been confirmed that Mo'Nique will be telling her story and it will be directed by none other than Lee Daniels.


Here is Mo'Niques flawless acceptance speech! You can definitely tell she had "this speech" prepared! Yes for claiming your Oscar!! We love it!

Essence's Black Hollywood Luncheon

Let's be honest. There is something about black women coming together in beautiful and harmonious pretenses that is so inspiring and humbling. Last week, Essence Magazine, a publication and brand that I totally respect hosted the Black Women Hollywood Luncheon in LA that honored several women in the entertainment industry who have contributed to the positive imagery of black women over all.

Now you know, here at Fabulous Brown Girl, that is are overall mission and passion and whenever we see this idea being carried out and positive role models acknowledge for their inspiration we can't help but to capture it in a post.


The Luncheon Honorees were:

• Gabby Sidibe (Best Breakthrough Performance)
  
• Zoe Saldana (Star to Watch Award)
  
• Queen Latifah (Power Award)
  
• Mary J Blige (Songtress of the Year)
  
• Cicely Tyson (Legend Award)
  

Here are a few pictures of some Fabulous Brown Girls who attended the function! They are by far too lovely for words, but we did what we could. Check it out!

An all time FAVORITE, the beautiful, Nia Long

The Queen, MJB.. she never half steps and I love it!!

Tennis Great, Serena Williams, Common, and Vivica A. Fox

Hometown chick, LaToya Luckett, looks popped in the coral dress!

Tichina Arnold looking ravishing in her early spring white cocktail dress

Uber talented singer/songwriter Keri Hilson

Taraji P. Henson and Vivica A. Fox

Keke Palmer, little sister in my head :)

Tatiana Ali

Jada Pinkett Smith

Tia and Tamera Mowry

Precious break out star and Honoree, Gabby Sidibe

Avatar actress and Honoree, Zoe Saldana

If you want to check out over a 100 photos of the ESSENCE event CLICK HERE