Hip Hop Meets Politics: Rhymefest Still Aiming for Role as Alderman in Chicago's 20th Ward

In what is turning out to be an landmark year for politics in the Midwest,  Grammy-award winning rapper Che "Rhymefest" Smith is running for a seat on Chicago's City Council as Alderman of the 20th Ward.

Smith has pledged to give up a portion of his aldermanic salary for loans to bring business to the poverty-stricken area, as well as cleaning up the empty lots and neighborhood. Smith says "Let's start a 20th Ward renaissance," and that he's going to enlist the help of fellow Chicagoans Kanye West and Common to open businesses.

The homegrown Chicagoan who already has the gained ear of Chicago's youth via his music, has also garnered the support of the powerful Chicago Teachers' Union and even the brilliant Dr. Cornel West.
 

Nigeria Labour Congress Protests Union Bank of Nigeria's Anti-Labour Practices,While Shareholders File Suit Against the Executive Management

Many Employees of the  Union Bank of Nigeria are fed up with what they say are oppressive, anti-labour practices that treats them like slaves. The National Labour Congress (NLC) acted on this disenchantment by picketing and literally shutting down several branches of Union Bank of Nigeria.

Simultaneously,  Union Bank's shareholders are taking action  by filing a lawsuit against the Managing Director of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc,  Mrs Funke Osibodu. The shareholders allege that Mrs. Osibodu and her colleagues are engaged in corruption, using the bank's funding for their personal benefit to the shareholders and bank's detriment.

Unfortunately, the customers who have money in the Union Bank of Nigeria are unable to access their much needed money and caught in the middle of what could be an important turning point in workers' rights in Nigeria.

MANY customers of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, who thronged the branches of the bank on Wednesday to  transact business, were helpless as the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) continued its picketing of the branches of the bank across the country.

The NLC took over all the branches and offices of Union Bank in Abuja on Wednesday, sealed them off, switched off their sources of power and chased out the few staff who were on duty.

As early as 8.00 a.m., officials of the NLC led their members in what the congress described as a final showdown and complete closure of the bank and instantly commenced the picketing from the bank’s headquarters in Area 3, Abuja.

Movers & Shakers: Desiree Rogers Discusses Her New Role at Johnson Publishing

Unless you live under a rock, you probably know of Chicago power-broker, socialite  and personal friend of the Obamas, Desiree Rogers.  Before she filled the role as White House Social Secretary, Rogers was already a very accomplished woman with a more-than-impressive resume.  Now she can add her new role as  CEO of Johnson Publishing Co. to the list. 

Fabrice Armand & NYC Young Professionals Host "Haiti Cherie" Soiree to Benefit Haiti's Grace International

Fabrice Armand & Keenyah Hill

  Prince Kunle Omilana and Princess Keisha Omilana

Angellika Morton

D'Isabella Lee, Fabrice Armand, Kwame Jackson, Calcie Cooper

Although it’s been over a year since Haiti endured a devastating earthquake, do-gooders like the NYC Young Professionals and philanthropist Fabrice Armand continue to raise awareness and offer Haitians much needed support by presenting the “Haiti Cherie: Pride, Love, Commitment” benefit in support of Grace International, Inc and the tent camp of Grace Village.

An impressive collection of guests ranging from African royalty to socialites, philanthropists, media personalities and high-powered executives gathered at the soiree celebrating not only the Haitian people’s resilience, but also to celebrate organizer, philanthropist and native son of Haiti Fabrice Armand’s birthday. 

NBC's DeMarco Morgan was the Master of Ceremonies and notable guests at the soiree included: Nigerian Prince Kunle Omilana and Princess Keisha Omilana; Keenyah Hill, America’s Next Top Model; Musician, Tiga Jean Baptiste; Plus Size Model, Angellika Morton;  Publicist and Socialite, BJ Coleman and Stylist, Alexa Winner, Apprentice contestant & Krimson by Kwame Founder, Kwame Jackson, to name a few.

South Sudan Overwhelmingly Votes for Secession from North, Gains Independence

Year 2011 seems to be starting off as a "year of change" for Africans.The war-torn and oil dependent country of Sudan will undergo significant changes this year amid the results of a landslide vote from South Sudan to secede from the north.  Southern Sudan is jubilant over the outcome of gaining its independence after enduring genocide, oppression and slavery under the regime of wanted war-crimes criminal President Omar Al-Bashir and the Khartoum government. Salva Kiir the President of Government of Southern Sudan urged the Sudanese people to be patient until their independence becomes official on July 9th.

"This is our day for freedom. We are ready to celebrate all night long," Santino Machar, a student, was quoted by the AFP news agency as saying.

Dr. Daniel Hale Williams: The Father of Heart Surgery

Watch this video excerpt about the history of  Dr. Daniel Hale Williams



Dr. Daniel Hale Williams is the Official Father of Open Heart / Cardiac Surgery

What you should know...

• On January 23, 1891 Daniel Hale Williams helped establish the interracial hospital, Provident Hospital and Training School Association; where he trained black nurses and employed doctors of all races.
• Dr. Daniel Hale Williams is the first person to perform an open-heart surgery.
• Dr. Williams was also the first surgeon to open the chest cavity successfully without the patient dying of infection
• On July 9, 1893, Dr. Williams successfully performed open heart surgery on a young Black man named James Cornish, who was injured in a bar fight and stabbed in the chest with a knife.
• 51 days later  James Cornish walked out of Dr. Williams' Provident Hospital fully recovered and went on to live another 50 years.
• He was known for his professionalism and insistence on upstanding sanitation and operating procedures
• In 1902, he performed another breakthrough operation, successfully suturing a patient's spleen
• Williams' Provident Hospital had an 87% success rate in its first year of operation.