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.

Egypt's Modern Day Revolution is Demanding Change

Keep a watchful eye on the ongoing protests, a  Modern Day Revolution in Egypt. Protesters have taken to the streets to protest the rule of President Muburak, whom they consider a dictator.

There comes a time when people simply become fed up with being mistreated, abused, taken for granted and/or disrespected. At some point, one has to stand up for his or her self and DEMAND change; whether it's from a mate, family member or the government.

Americans can actually learn something from these Egyptian civilians. Modern-day American's are hoping and asking for change, instead of DEMANDING change (I'll touch on this in a later post) like the Egyptians and Tunisians are.


I hope people of other African nations on the Great Continent and beyond who are under dictatorships and/or oppression rise up and demand change and fair treatment.

We can all dream... Can't we?



GIFSoup


Stay Aware by watching the Al Jazeera live stream of the current events:click here

or here on LiveStation for live streams from other various foriegn media channels.

We're Back!

Hello Everyone!! Society Noir is happy to say that it become active again. It has been two years since our last post, which was about President Barack Obama's Inauguration.

For a while, I had been going back and forth on whether I should continue publishing Society Noir, as well as the purpose it can & should serve. Not to be a "Debbie Downer,"but as I observed the African diaspora these past two years (especially here in America) it has become painfully clear that mainstream media just refuses to proportionately and objectively cover Black America, the black diaspora and Africa.

So, we're back in action. Look forward to Society Noir still covering charitable causes, the upscale lifestyle, events, black socialites,and business profiles. But also look forward to more serious discussions about our global society, politics and resolutions to the ills in our diaspora.



Happy New Year!

Barack Obama Officially Becomes President of the USA

The Most Powerful Man in the World is a Black Man

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

(Please View for Inauguration stream)

The sweetest day in history is upon us people. Barack Obama is the first African-American to become President of the United States of America. President Obama, his beautiful wife, First Lady Michele and children Malia and Sasha will hold a special place in the hearts of blacks around the world, I believe, until the day we die. What this means to us is indescribable. Many of our relatives and friends within the last century have endured unspeakable acts and dedicated as well as, sacrificed their lives to bring about this moment in time. Children from around the world, whether their American, Iraqi, Rwandan, Haitian or Tibetan realize that they are worthy of happiness and respect, that they are capable of greatness. Self-esteem and morale is bubbling over.

I feel like the angels are singing today. My ancestors, our African ancestors are smiling.

Movers & Shakers Gather in the Hamptons to Support Evidence, A Dance Company

Ronald K. Brown (artistic director) and Reginald Canal of HSBC (and Evidence Board Member).


Bernard Hampton Jackson III, Esq. Judge Bernard Jackson II and Nia Gandy of HYT ME



Nadja Bellen-White, VP/Dir, Marketing for Publicis Modem and friends.


Author/Producer Crystal McCrary Anthony, Reginald Van Lee (Chair of Evidence and Partner at Booz Allen Hamilton) and guests




(Photos: Margot Jordan)

The Brooklyn-based Evidence, A Dance Company held their 5th annual summer fundraiser "On Our Toes" in the Hamptons last week at Nova's Ark Sculputure Park. The annual benefit was held to support community outreach activities and educational programs for performing arts enthusiasts of all ages. Highly regarded choreographer and Artistic Director Ronald K. Brown founded Evidence in 1985 and the company tours across the U.S. and abroad 25 – 30 weeks a year.

Numerous prominent philanthropists, celebrities and senior executives of the African-American community were all smiles and looked summer chic as they supported the worthy cause. "On Our Toes" was initiated by Evidence Board Chair, Reginald Van Lee of Booz Allen Hamilton and Susan Taylor, former editorial director of Essence Magazine. This summer's Honorary Chair was writer, producer and activist Crystal McCrary Anthony and TV personality René Syler was the mistress of ceremonies.

Evidence patrons contributed $500 each and enjoyed a cocktail reception, dance performance and a "Dancing with the Dancers" after-party. "On Our Toes" notable sponsors included: HSBC Premier, 10 Cane Rum, Pfizer, Verizon, Bloomberg, Sony OLED, Banyan Tree Mayakoba Residencies, Booz Allen Hamilton, Continental Airlines, Emily and Ashley, Hamptons.com, Dr. N. V. Perricone, The Ark Project, Tiffany & Co. and UPTOWN magazine.

If you missed out on this fabulous charitable event, not to worry, Evidence will be hosting its other major fundraiser: Winter Gala in Manhattan on February 3, 2009 at the Millennium Broadway Hotel.
Special thanks to Andrea Hoffman!!
View my post from Winter Gala 2008