Divas, Inc. by Donna Hill

Diva (n.): an extremely arrogant or temperamental woman.

Delicious Diva Tip #13: When in doubt, just do it anyway.

Tiffany Lane and Chantal Hollis are bonafide divas-in every sense of the word. They've also been Margaret Drew's best friends since they were children. Margaret has always been the plain Jane of the threesome, living vicariously through the exploits of her friends. But when Tiffany and Chantal head to Europe on an extended vacation, leaving Margaret to tend their apartments, Margaret decides to see how the other half lives. Co-opting their apartments, their boyfriends (current and past), their fabulous lifestyles and Tiffany's very savvy pooch, Virginia, Margaret finally feels like she has found the life she has always wanted and deserved. But her double living begins to catch up with her and Margaret might soon be homeless, manless, and friendless all in one swoop.

Cooking With Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics by Donna Brazile

Donna Brazile is a senior political strategist and former campaign manager for Gore-Lieberman 2000�the first African American to lead a major presidential campaign. She is currently chair of the Democratic National Committee�s Voting Rights Institute and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University.

Cooking with Grease is an intimate account of Donna's thirty years in politics. Her stories of the leaders and activists who have helped shape America's future are both inspiring and memorable. Donna's witty style and innovative political strategies have garnered her the respect and admiration of colleagues and adversaries alike -- she is as comfortable trading quips with J. C. Watts as she is with her Democratic colleagues. Her story is as warm and nourishing as a bowl of Brazile family gumbo.

Hot Potato: How Washington and New York Gave Birth to Black Basketball and Changed America's Game Forever by Bob Kuska
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0813922631/aalbccom-20

In a nation distinguished by a great black athletic heritage, there is perhaps no sport that has felt the impact of African American culture more than basketball. Most people assume that the rise of black basketball was a fortuitous accident of the inner-city playgrounds. In 'Hot Potato,' Bob Kuska shows that it was in fact a consciously organized movement with very specific goals.

When Edwin Henderson introduced the game to Washington, D.C., in 1907, he envisioned basketball not as an end in itself but as a public-health and civil-rights tool. Henderson believed that, by organizing black athletics, including basketball, it would be possible to send more outstanding black student athletes to excel at northern white colleges and debunk negative stereotypes of the race. He reasoned that in sports, unlike politics and business, the black race would get a fair chance to succeed. Henderson chose basketball as his marquee sport, and he soon found that the game was a big hit on Washington's segregated U Street. Almost simultaneously, black basketball was catching on quickly in New York, and the book establishes that these two cities served as the birthplace of the black game.

Wade Hudson is a co-founder of Just Us Books, one of the leading publishers of Black interest titles for young people.  He is also the author of several books.  This time Hudson has teamed up with his son illustrator, Stephen J. Hudson to produce a diverse collection of 36 poems penned by 11 of the most talented writers in our nation's history.  The poems are introduced by biographies that explore the scope and content of each poet's work, as well as his or her historical significance and impact on the literary world.  This book is an excellent introduction to the world of poetry for both the young and old.

Gotham Diaries: A Novel by: Tonya Lewis Lee, Crystal McCrary Anthony
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1401301193/aalbccom-20

An uproarious work of social satire by Tonya Lewis Lee and Crystal McCrary Anthony, who give us an exclusive peek into the world of super-rich, super-connected African Americans.

Lauren is trying to be an independent woman by starting her own documentary film company, but it's difficult when you're married to Ed Thomas, one of the wealthiest African-American businessmen in the country -- particularly when he seems to have a roving eye. Manny is an up-and-coming gay real estate agent who arrived in Manhattan from Alabama with only the clothes on his back. He's made his way to the top of his profession -- yet he still wants more and is intent on charming his way into riches to keep his gorgeous live-in boyfriend happy. Tandy is one of the powerful "ladies who lunch" until her husband's death reveals his shocking financial problems. Now, she's desperate to reinvent herself and must find a new source of money.

In this compelling first novel, authors Tonya Lewis Lee and Crystal McCrary Anthony give us a rare glimpse inside the fashionable and urbane world of New York's chic African-American society and its incumbent scandals, foibles, and skeletons.

Camilla's Roses - Reviewed by Thumper

McFadden's latest novel is Camilla's Roses, a story of a family of women. In my opinion McFadden can do no wrong. I have loved every single novel written by her. McFadden does not disappoint me with Camilla's Roses. I love Camilla's Roses! I literally could not put the book down. True fact, I started reading the novel one Sunday morning at 6: 00 AM and finished it at 8:49 AM that same morning. Looking back at McFadden�s literary output, Camilla's Roses will stand as one of the jewels of McFadden's career.
 

White Chicks (PG-13) - Reviewed by Michael Dequina

I try not to judge a film before seeing it, but the poster tagline "Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans are White Chicks" cannot help but instill a certain feeling�namely, that of dread. Alas, there's nothing in the actual film to sway such an opinion any degree in the opposite direction.

Keith Knight

"...born and raised in the Boston area. Weaned on a steady diet of Star Wars, hip-hop, racism and Warner Bros. cartoons, Knight drew comics instead of paying attention in grade school. After graduating from college with a useless degree in graphic design, Knight drove out to San Francisco in the early '90s and began taking drugs. It was here in the Bay Area where Knight developed his trademark poorly rendered, barely thought-out, last-minute cartooning style that has amused dozens for over a decade."

Darcel Turner

Darcel Turner is the author of Dana Dances on Paper, a slick, upbeat and heartfelt first novel. The main character Dana, is a young girl who struggles to deal with the hardship of growing up in the urban streets of the Bronx, New York during the beginning of the hip-hop era. Dana has dreams to become a professional dancer and show the world all the talent inside of her. Throughout the novel, Dana's dream will be delayed as the twists and turns of losing her mother to a fatal disease, leave Dana rethinking her life's path and entering into the prospect of being both a dancer and an introspective journalist. Through love, loss, inner renewal and hardship, Dana ultimately finds more than one way to "dance".

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