Celebrities Jared Cotter, Patti LaBelle, Sherri Shepherd, and Jay Sean feed the homeless in Harlem.



    Every year I'm always looking for something to actually give me the true feeling of Christmas. The Christmas of 2010 involves lots of commercialism. It annoys me so much I really don't need to celebrate Christmas and could just sit back, relax, and stay home with no gifts involved. Last year when I went to Chicago, I was given the opportunity to buy, cook, and serve an excellent christmas dinner for a bunch of people at a homeless shelter. It was one of the most fufilling experiences that I have ever had in my life. It gave it more meaning, and there I found the true meaning of Christmas. As of right now I am still looking for some ways to give back this christmas, but I had to shoutout the celebrities who have recently accomplished the deed I have not.

    On December 15th, at a West Harlem Community Food Bank with other celebrity's like American Idol Alum/Former Fuse Host Jared Cotter, Singer Jay Sean, Actress and Singer Patti LaBelle, and ABC's "The View" Host Sherri Shepherd the celebrities dished out delicious hot meals on that cold day. I definitely love them right now for taking the steps that I haven't done yet! Even though I wasn't there to view them doing the courteous deed other blogs said they served food, and even took time to give hugs! In my opinion of the celebrities that came down.....I feel they couldn't have selected a better bunch. Knowing Jared Cotter he has the personality to make people happy. Patti LaBelle everyone already knows is like a mother like figure. Jay Sean definitely knows the right words to say as he is an excellent songwriter, and Sherri Shepherd (who i've met through a previous interview with harlemtalkradio.com) just can keep you laughing for hours, and the Christmas time is definitely a time for a jolly chuckle!

My interview with actress Phylicia Rashad for "For Colored Girl Who Have Considered Suicide when the Rainbow is Enuf".

       

      Meeting actress and singer Phylicia Rashad was like being an adopted child meeting his biological mom for the first time. Phylicia is considered to be everyone's mom being one of the first most popular african american mothers on television. Watching her everyday on "The Cosby Show" made you want to live in her brownstone in Brooklyn Heights, with the funny dad, and loving but rambuncous siblings (the perfect family enviorment). Everyone knows Ms. Rashad for her pivitol role as Mrs.Huxtable on "The Cosby Show", but on the day of this interview it wasn't about that.
       This interview was about her new remarkable role in the book to film movie "For Colored girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf". The film is based based off of poetry from Award Winning writer Ntozake Shange's original book. The film is about nine women going through tramatic and difficult situations that a great amount of african american women (not all, but some have gone through). For example, some situations like rape, abortion, crime, and heartbreak. Phylicia plays the role of "Gilda", the nosy neighbor who deep down has love for everyone in the building, but also has a secret past that reciprocates "Tangie's" present played by Thandie Newton.

         Even though the film has an all star african american cast (Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Loretta Devine, Kimberly Elise, Thandie Newton, Phylicia Rashad, Anika Noni Rose, Tessa Thompson, Kerry Washington, Whoopi Goldberg, and Macy Gray) the poetry not only hits home for african americans, but also touches all different races in some form of another. The film was definitely a risktaker for actor, director, playwright, screenwriter, producer, and author Tyler Perry who said when given this project turned it down a couple of times. Watching the film from my eyes, Tyler Perry did a wonderful job making a very entertaining film while still keeping the poetry intact and not dumbing it down for the audience. For some who have not read Shange's poetry you get a emotional and educational ride in this film, while still keeping it's entertainment value. If you are the type of person who is looking for a film where "Madea" and her gun make an appearance then this is not that type of film. Tyler makes an A-Plus transition which we don't see a great amount as he loves to add comedic value to so many of his films.

         When meeting Ms.Rashad I was a little bit nervous, but anxious as anyone would probably be meeting their "Metaphorical" biological mom for the first time. Nervous because she has done so much for the african american community when it comes to breaking stereotypes, the roles she chooses to play, and her community activism. I was anxious because like Wendy Williams always says "She's a friend in my Head", and Ms. Rashad was everything and more. She made it her duty to make me feel comfortable. We sat side by side on a lovely couch at the London hotel (NYC), and we had an excellent conversation as if we were good friends catching up on all of the good times.
       
         We talked about how she came up in the industry, advice on how to get in, talked more in detail about certain parts of the film, her role, working with such a wonderful powerful cast, and more. If you are interested in listening more in detail then definitely check out www.HarlemTalkRadio.com or you can go to the link below to get the in depth interview.

Link to Interview:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/harlemtalkradio/2010/11/15/630pm-the-world-of-black-theater--phylicia-rashad