"Scandal" Star Kerry Washington on Oprah's Next Chapter

On Sunday night, Oprah Winfrey visited the set of my FAVORITE show right now Scandal and interviewed it's star Kerry Washington, as well as it's creator Shonda Rhimes and the inspiration behind the character of Olivia Pope, real-life "fixer" Judy Smith.

Washington is the first African-American woman to star in a primetime scripted TV drama on a major network in over 30 years.

Let me just say that this show is LIFE to me: not only does it have intense plot lines from week to week but it has some of the most complex characters that I've ever seen. Olivia Pope is able to fix everyone else's problems but that is complicated by her steamy love affair with President Fitzgerald Grant. Their INTENSE chemistry and the overwhelming complications that arise (he's the President, and married with children) make for AWESOME TV. It's hard to root for the mistress in any situation but I really do think that Liv and Fitz have a GREAT love, no matter how complicated.

I was happy to hear that Washington was not met with absolute jealousy and hate when she was given the part over other black actresses and she gives some great insight:

Sometimes we buy into this myth of competition that comes from the myth of a lack: that if  I succeed, someone else can't. 

Shonda Rhimes talked about being a successful TV mogul as well as a single mother to 2 young girls. Scandal is her third hit show in a row for ABC, after Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. She said that she had to take her flagship show back from her fans because they were starting to dictate how they wanted the show to go through social media instead of her as the creator. Judy Smith also talked about her experience as a White House press secretary and becoming a fixer.

Here is a clip where Washington talked about her groundbreaking role as Olivia Pope:

Ms. Washington Goes to Washington

For the first time in almost four decades, an African-American actress has landed the lead role on a primetime television series. Oprah travels to the set of this show, ABC's hit drama Scandal, to talk with the show's star, Kerry Washington. Watch as Kerry reveals why she had no idea her character, Olivia Pope, would be so momentous.

~Elle Shanice~ APPROVED ✔: 10 Things I Want To Say To A Black Woman

When I first heard this poem by Joshua Bennett, it moved me in a way that I have NEVER experienced before. Maybe it is because I have never been in love or that I have always wanted to hear something like this being said to me.

This is not me being insecure and hearing exactly what I wanted to hear. It is the hopeless romantic in me that looks forward to having someone in my life that feels this strongly about me, but the overall message is just as strong to me.

I love being a black woman and it is VERY refreshing to hear a black man feel this way about us, especially in today's black culture. A lot of the things that he loves about black women were things that I didn't think most guys noticed. Maybe that is my limited experience with men, but I LOVED when he said that the way to a man's heart was through the "heaven in your hello". I LOVED how he said that "light dances off your teeth" or talked about the beauty of a black woman, from her determination to her skin.

My favorite part is #7:

You are like the SUNRISE in a nation at war: you remind people that there is ALWAYS something worth waking up to.

That statement is the essence of how I want my future husband and the father of my children to feel about me. I want him say something like this and above ALL else, I want him to mean it. 

THANK YOU Joshua Bennett...you help me remember that there is something worth WAITING for.

Obama Won the Nobel Peace Prize...GET OVER IT!!!!!

On October 9th, the Nobel committee chose President Barack Obama to be the recipient of the 2009 Nobel Peace prize. He said that

he was suprised and humbled by the award and even that he didn't feel convinced that he deserved it.

Almost immediately, the Obama "haters" questioned why he won & said that he should be focusing on more important things like healthcare and the War in Iraq, other than than winning a prize. Some people even asked why he won a "Peace" prize when his country is at war.

Even though that is true, it still should not take away from this acheivement that has been bestowed upon our President. I do not like how he felt that he had to play down his own personal acheivement & make it seem that he didn't deserve to be in the company of former winners.

He should be able to enjoy his moment because even though he is the President of the United States, he won this award as an individual and has the right to his accomplishment. Also, the fact that he is being pressured to give the prize money to charity is stupid. Of course it is his choice on how to spend the money, but just like the award is his, the money is his too.

The committee said that he was awarded the prize for his "extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples". One of the 1st things that Obama did as President was attempt to heal foreign relations with the US and strengthen his foreign policy. He met with Japan's Prime Minister in February, and in July met with Palistinian president Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Isreal.



Of course the Obama "haters" think that it is wrong to meet with foreign leaders in the attempt to make things better. I guess they would much rather go to war and see American men & women die so that they can say that they are better...smh :-(

People Forgot That Serena Was From Compton

I am a BIG Serena Williams fan & I think that she is a successful black woman who is a positive role model for young women...

That being said, I thought that it was HILARIOUS that Serena went OFF on the line judge @ the US Open after a blatantly wrong call that cost her the match and potentially the championship. People forgot that she is from Compton, California, a city that has a reputation of being one of the most dangerous cities in the United States. Don't let the Nike endorsement fool you...LOL :-)

I admit that she was wrong for blowing up, but I don't really blame her for it because she was in an intense moment of the match where she was trying to come back and win. I think that it was just a display of RAW & intense emotion.

It is also a BIG misconception about what was said by Serena. She did not curse @ all, even though it was bleeped by the broadcasters. She might have threatened her, but I highly doubt that she would carry out any threats in the middle of a match on national TV. I just think that the lady got scared when she saw 5'9"& 150 lbs. of solid angry black woman coming @ her...LOL.

This is nothing new in the world of tennis. John McEnroe used to curse & yell @ line judges and officials all of the time. Even the men's #1 player, Roger Federer, was cursing in the finals match @ the same tournament, but did not get disqualified for it. I don't want to make everything a race or gender issue, but sometimes things like this are so BLATANTLY out of order. SMH :-(

Black In America 2: Everyday Black Experiences????

First off, I would like to say that as a Black American and an aspiring journalist, I think that it is great that CNN is telling the stories of African Americans in this day and age. However, I do feel like some of the stories are an eye-opening experience for some, but an everyday reality for many others.

I did not watch the series in its entirety, but I did see enough to say that I know many people in the situations that were highlighted, such as race in politics, business, & entertainment. But I ask myself the reason why these particular people are given the opportunity to share their stories & others are not??? I know many other black people who are in every field that have equally inspiring stories of struggle and perseverance when it comes to race. My father has over 20 years in the hospitality business, but was laid off from his job @ a hotel and is struggling right now because of the economy.

One example of this is the piece on Tyler Perry. I am a fan of his and I appreciate what he is doing for black people in the entertainment industry. I also appreciate the fact that he has a story, as in being homeless & making his dream happen based on hard work and determination, but I feel that there are other filmmakers and such who have an equally compelling story, if not more. What about John Singleton, Spike Lee, Rick Famuyiwa or others who are black and go through the same thing he went through to get where they are??? Is it because Perry is always on Oprah or because he has a show on TBS, which is owned by Time Warner, who also owns CNN???

I understand what CNN was trying to do with the series, and with the Gates situatiuon looming, it is nice to see the point of view of black people in today's society. However, I feel that some people see that example of hard-working blacks and think, "Hey, I do that too!!! What is the big deal???

Both Parties To Blame in Gates Arrest

The Henry Louis Gates arrest is a deafening reminder that racism STILL exists in our country. Even though we have reached the political "promised land" and have a black president, our country is still victim of racism and the problem will not go away easily.

The fact that someone of his professional stature (with a Ph. D.) can be the victim of racial profiling makes me believe that my father is not crazy after all & that people are still bound to their racial beliefs and views. Even if Gates was acting in a irate manner, he obviously thought that he was in a racially-charged situation. We don't know his prior experiences with police or something that would make him sensitive to it and become combative. You can't completely believe the police report either, because the officer could have said whatevr he needed to in order to make the case against him.

When I first heard about this situation, I have to admit that I came to the same conclusion as many people did:
"Why is this educated black man being arrested for trying to get into his own house?"

I immediately took his side because, frankly, when I heard that he was arrested by a white police officer for trying to get into his own home, I thought it was racial profiling.

I thought of a Dave Chappelle joke that I had heard:
"I didn't even call the police. I wanted to, but i couldn't. My crib was too nice. Not that it's too nice, but it's too nice for me. Soon as I open the door, they'd be like 'He's still here! Open and shut case, Johnson. Apparently this black guy broke in and hung up pictures of his family everywhere. Never seen anything like it.'" That was meant as a joke, but it hold a different meaning today.

I do not believe that Sgt. James Crowley is racist, even though you can teach against racial profiling and still have your own views, I do think that he is guilty of following the "unwritten rule" of police in racially-charged cases: GUILTY until proven innocent.

The person to blame may not be Gates or Sgt. Crowley, but the insensitive person who called the police about a break in without knowing that it was indeed a break in. I understand that the people in the neighborhood may not have been used to someone leaving their keys and trying other ways to get into their house, but immediately thinking that it was a break in because of race brings some fault as well.

Honestly, I do not like the fact that President Obama is being ridiculed for saying that the police acted "stupidly". People sometimes forget that he is a BLACK man and will have his own reservations and experiences when it comes to the police. They asked him the quesiton and he answered it...that's all.