Unified Soul Blog

Barbara Jordan Health Scholars

The Barbara Jordan Health Policy Scholars Program brings talented college seniors and recent graduates to Washington, D.C., where they are placed in congressional offices and learn about health policy issues, with a focus on issues affecting racial and ethnic minorities and underserved communities. Through the nine-week program (May 19-July 26, 2008), Scholars gain knowledge about federal legislative procedure and health policy issues, while further developing their critical thinking and leadership skills. Deadline to apply is December 14, 2007. Please visit their website for more details and for the application: http://www.kff.org/minorityhealth/bjscholars/index.cfm.

Gates Millennium Scholars

The scholarship is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and is open to anyone who meets Pell Grant criteria, has a 3.3-4.0 GPA, is a citizen, permanent or legal resident, is enrolling in an accredited college for the first time and has demonstrated leadership abilities through community service or other activities. Please visit their website for the application: www.gmsp.org. The deadline is December 31, 2007 for hard copy and January 11, 2008 for online submissions.

Friday, Nov. 30 - Saturday, Dec. 1 Madison Square Gardens (NY)

Unified Soul will have a booth at The Black Expo on Saturday w/Special Sales

FRIDAY NOV. 30 :

The Howard University Alumni Club of NYC presents
BISON ON BROADWAY HAPPY HOUR & SHOWCASE (All Alumni Acts)
Tracey Lee Esq. & a list of other Howard Alum performances
If interested in performing please send an MP3 to OHPsalms1@aol.com.
Location: TBA
Time: 6:30pm to 10:30pm

SATURDAY DEC. 1:
BIG APPLE CLASSIC GAMEDAY & ALL DAY BLACK EXPO

2:00pm - Doors Open at Madison Square Garden
2:00pm - 4:00pm Big Apple Classic Black College Fair & Alumni Recruitment
4:00pm - Stepshow Competition
5:00pm - Drumline Competition
6:00pm - Pre-Game Ceremonies
6:30pm - Game 1…Virginia Union University vs. Bowie State University
8:30pm - Game 2…Hampton University vs. HOWARD UNIVERSITY (Go Bison!)
Ticket prices $60 Court Level, $35 Upper Level

The Official Big Apple Classic Alumni After Party
Hosted by the Howard University Alumni Club of New York City,
the North Atlantic Region of the National Hampton Alumni Association
and the New York Virginia Union Alumni

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION AND ADVANCE TICKETS

FOR MY D.C. PEOPLE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO DRIVE:

Act now to purchase premium seat tickets and roundtrip bus transportation for only $110.00 per person. The motor coach bus departs from the HU parking lot (across from the HU Bookstore on Georgia Ave., NW) at 9 AM and it departs from Madison Square Garden at midnight.

Don’t miss this opportunity. Seats are limited. Enjoy NYC before the games or enjoy the step show competition, drum line competition, black college expo, and more. You do not want to miss the half-time show.

For ticket information, contact:
HUBISONLOVE@aol.com
(202) 726-6799

Thanks Nikki C for emailing this to me. This is old news to some, but there are a good number of us that hadn’t heard about this. Check out the story below from the Detroit News.

Amid furor, DJ cancels party for ‘light-skinned’ blacks

‘I made a mistake,’ local party promoter says after Internet backlash.

Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

DETROIT – A local DJ and party promoter retreated Thursday from a plan to sponsor a bash that would let “light-skinned” black women into a downtown club for free.

But the “Light Skin Libra Birthday Bash” at Club APT on Woodward Avenue turned out to be a bashing — of promoter Ulysses “DJ Lish” Barnes after word of the unusual party spread on the Internet.

“I made a mistake,” Barnes said. “I didn’t think there would be a backlash.”

Barnes, who said he’s been a party promoter for six years, canceled the event.

He said he has gotten angry calls and e-mails from around the country about the party.

“I didn’t mean to offend anyone,” he said. “I had planned a party for other shades (of black women). We were going to take a shade of color each week. Next week was going to be a party for ‘Sexy Chocolate’ and the week after that ‘Sexy Caramel.’?”

Barnes is African-American and describes himself as “dark skinned.” The issue of skin color is an often painful and emotional among African-Americans. The history of slavery and the resulting legacy of intra-racial segregation have sometimes pitted darker-skinned and lighter-skinned blacks against one another.

Check out the rest of the story here

Did you hear about this!?
I didn’t think it was real, A light Skin Party!?
Check out this story from The Afro American newspaper

A question of color rears it’s ugly head again

By Zenitha Prince
Washington Bureau Chief

Tar babies and high yellow.
“good” hair vs. “bad” hair.

The subject reared its ugly head most visibly recently when Detroit DJ Ulysses Barnes decided to promote his “Light Skin Libra Birthday Bash,” by offering free admission to light-skinned Black women.

The author of a recent study on the effects of complexion on economic status said his research found that light-skinned Blacks are considered for jobs over equally qualified dark-skinned Blacks.

“The most shocking finding of this study was that dark-skinned Black males with an MBA and managerial experience was deemed to be less qualified than a light skinned male with a bachelor’s degree,” said Matthew Harrison, the study’s author and a University of Georgia doctoral student.

“The study showed that the economic gap between light skinned and darker skinned Blacks is similar to the gap between Whites and Blacks.”

Herring said he is doubtful that the social phenomenon would ever cease to exist.

Cheriss May, a Washington graphic artist and Howard University professor, agreed.

“Since we ourselves perpetuate self-hate it continues to exist,” she said.

May, who co-founded the clothing line, Hue Love and later ventured out on her own to form the Unified Soul: Love Who I Am line of clothing, said she started her brand to counter colorism and its effects with positive expressions of self-love and acceptance.

“Until we start believing that we are beautiful in all our different shades, sizes and hair textures we will be revisiting this issue 10 years from now.”

Click to read the rest of the story

Love Who you are!
Cheriss
lovewhoiam.com