BlacKosity Magazine

Bigs United, an affinity volunteer group within Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC (BBBS), is a passionate group of African American mentors and other dedicated volunteers who have launched an aggressive grassroots campaign to recruit additional African American volunteers to mentor youth so they can look forward to brighter futures. Their goal is to inspire more adults (particularly African American men) to become mentors to children in need and empower African American children through one-on-one mentoring relationships.

Founded by Big Brother Danny Madden, Bigs United is a valuable resource with a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience regarding the power of mentoring.

Bigs United supports efforts to uplift communities through mentoring by focusing on NYC neighborhoods with large African American populations, holding events at iconic Harlem churches, restaurants, and barber shops, as well as historic African American venues. These include the Harlem Jazz Museum, The Apollo Theatre, and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Please join them for a happy hour/fundraiser supporting BIGS UNITED during “Second Mondays” in January at B. Smith’s!

Monday, January 11, 2010 (January is National Mentoring Month!)
5pm – 9pm

B. Smith’s
320 West 46th Street
(between 8th and 9th Avenues)
New York, NY 10036
(212) 315-1100
http://www.bsmith.com/

Directions – Take the A, C, or E train to 42nd Street. B. Smith’s is near 8th Avenue on the south side of 46th Street.

No cover! Selected beers, wines and specialty drinks at reduced prices. Raffle to benefit BIGS UNITED with 100% of proceeds going to the organization. Raffle items include various gift cards, gift certificates to Harlemade and Harlem Lanes, various pop, R&B, neo-soul and jazz CD packages and much more!

The second Monday of every month, marketing and PR specialist Kathryn Leary coordinates, guest bartends and hosts Second Mondays – a happy hour/fundraiser in which 20% of revenue generated is donated to a non-profit organization. (Great idea!)

For more information about Bigs United, visit http://www.bigsnyc.org/v-bunited.php and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/BigsUnited.

After 29 years of marriage, Beyonce and Solange’s parents Tina and Mathew Knowles are getting a divorce and now the former couple has released an official statement confirming the news:

“The decision to end our marriage is an amicable one. We remain friends, parents, and business partners. If anyone is expecting an ugly messy fight, they will be sadly disappointed. We ask for your respect of our privacy as we handle this matter.”

Tina apparently filed for divorce from Mathew shortly after word got out that he had an illegitimate child on the way. According to official divorce court records, Papa Knowles was served on November 16th. In addition, the pair had been legally separated as of January 2009. What will be most interesting about this all is how they will split their fortune, which (for the most part) can be accredited to the success of their oldest daughter Beyonce.

Meanwhile, a friend of the family says that the divorce has been “unraveling for some time” and had nothing to do with Mathew’s affair, which turned public in October 2009 after reports hit the Internet that he had gotten a women (who is not Tina) pregnant.

“It’s a rough time for the family — especially over the holidays,” the source tells Us. “The kids are sad, but it’s been unraveling for some time.” And while infidelity reports have circulated, the pal clarifies that the divorce “really wasn’t about affairs.” Instead, Tina, 55, and Mathew, 58, simply “drifted apart” and led “busy, separate lives.” (Mathew manages his daughters’ music careers, while Tina heads up the House of Dereon fashion line with Beyonce.) “They will try to make it cordial. They put their kids first, and will still be around each other

NBA Hall of Famer Earvin “Magic” Johnson is still dishing out assists, even if he’s not in command of the Los Angeles Lakers’ “Showtime” offense.

Johnson, whose Magic Brand has a presence in more than 80 U.S. cities, is trying to get more jobs in urban areas where he says African-Americans need work most.

In a conversation with theGrio, Johnson called the African-American unemployment rate “devastating.”

“We have to now have a plan of action to put African-Americans back to work,” Johnson said. “You can have a general plan which we need because [President Barack Obama] has to turn this whole recession and the economy around. But then you can have an initiative where it’s just geared towards black males and females…”

The 12-time All-Star said targeted partnerships between prominent organizations such as the National Urban League and NAACP and the federal government could be a start.

Johnson’s most recent partnership with food giant Sodexo has helped provide both jobs and food services for many African-Americans across the country.

Movie producer and actor Tyler Perry says he is taking his sharp-tongued character “Madea” back on tour.

Perry posted a message on his Web site Saturday that said he had taken some time off in the past few months “so I could spend my mother’s final days at her side.” His mother, Willie Maxine Perry, died Dec. 8 at age 64.

Perry says he will begin touring with his new play, “Madea’s Big Happy Family.” Tyler will once again use a wig and padded suit to portray Madea, the central character of many of his films, including “Tyler Perry’s Madea Goes to Jail.”

The actor says he is eager to have Madea on stage for the first time in five years. The first leg of the tour begins Jan. 4 in El Paso, Texas, then goes on to Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle and Portland, Oregon.

 ”America’s Best Dance Crew” judge Shane Sparks is being detained by LA authorities facing charges for child molestation and statutory rape. Sparks is facing nine counts of molestation for allegedly sleeping with a minor that was ten years younger than him. Check out the exact story,

“The alleged incidents began occurring in 1994 and continued for several years. According to the criminal complaint Shane allegedly committed the crimes of lewd acts upon a child — all felonies. There is only one alleged victim.
The lewd acts include oral copulation and other acts “with the intent of arousing, appealing to, and gratifying the lust, passions, and sexual desires of the defendant, who was at least 10 years older than [the victim].”

Sparks is being held on $590,000 bail and you better believe if convicted his dance instructing days are over. According to the LA DA’s office,

The victim was allegedly 14/15 yrs old at the time of the crime in 1994. I think the confusion was because Shane has claimed to be younger than he is. He was actually born in 1969, so he’s 40 years old now.

This is sick and I knew there was something I disliked about him. If it’s true I hope justice prevails.

It’s being reported in the media that the wife of comedian Charlie Murphy has died. Tisha Taylor Murphy is reported to have lost a long battle with cancer. 

The following statement was released by Charlie Murphy’s publicist:

“Tisha Taylor Murphy, wife of comedian and actor Charlie Murphy, passed away peacefully on Sunday, with family at her side after facing the challenges of cancer for the past two years. The Murphy family appreciates all the support they have received from friends and fans and requests privacy during this very difficult time.”

Charlie Murphy is the brother of fellow comedian Eddie Murphy and is best known for his roles on ‘Chappelle’s Show’ and the movie ‘CB-4.’ I’ve loved Charlie Murphy for years, as much as his brother, and I share my sadness for him and his family.

Reports are that Murphy’s wife passed away from breast cancer. Breast cancer is a serious health risk for many women, especially African Americans. According to the American Cancer Society, a woman has a one in eight chance of developingbreast cancer and a one in 35 chance of dying from it. For American women, instances of breast cancer are higher than any other form of cancer, other than lung cancer. For black women, it is the most prevalent form of cancer (Sistersnetworkinc.org).

There is hope. There are roughly 2.5 million breast cancer survivors in America, and incidents of the illness are dropping due to early detection and screening.

You can fight against breast cancer by getting a mammogram every one to two years if you are over the age of 40. Ask your doctor if you should get screened even sooner, since the cancer can occur before then. Also, early diagnosis and treatment are critical, since black women are more likely than white women to die from breast cancer once it’s been detected. This is largely due to detection occurring at later stages in the process.