If you’re a fan of neo-soul queens Erykah Badu and Lauryn Hill, you’ll love Wayna, an Ethiopia-born singer nominated for a Grammy award (Best Urban/Alternative Performance) for “Lovin’ U (Music)” from her sophomore record “Higher Ground” (available at Amazon.com).
Wayna’s name (short for Waynab) means “the wine of God or communion,” and her music’s positive vibe will bring soul seekers together.  The singer’s path to Sunday’s 51st Grammy Awards ceremony, however, had an unlikely detour.  After graduating from the University of Maryland at College Park, where she studied English and speech communications, Wayna landed a plumb job as a writer in …read more

 
It’s still surreal to me that Barack Obama is America’s first African-American president, and by his side stands the first African-American First Lady.  I remember the first time I saw Michelle Obama.  I was pleasantly surprised that she was stylish, smart, and brown-skinned.  
Growing up,  I sometimes felt less attractive because of my dark skin tone.  And when guys gave me compliments, they were often the backhanded variety like, “You’re pretty for a dark-skinned girl.”  So Michelle’s stature as First Lady is a particular source of pride for me and many African-American women.
On a grander scale, President Obama’s inauguration is a …read more