Black Celebrity Men

UPDATE: According to journalist Roland Martin's twitter page, E. Lynn Harris (born Everette Lynn Harris) collapsed and died of a heart attack this morning in his hotel room in Los Angeles. Martin says two days ago, Harris fainted but insisted he was fine; thereby refusing to go see a doctor. However, Harris' publicist Laura Gilmore confirmed to the Associated Press that Harris' death occurred on Thursday night at a hotel in Beverly Hills. Gilmore says a cause of death had not yet been determined. A coroners' official in Los Angeles said only that a man matching Harris' name and date of birth had died Thursday night at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Whatever the case, condolences to his family. He will be sorely missed.

July 2009 is becoming infamous for taking away some of entertainment's most recognized celebrities and icons including one of my all time favorite authors, E. Lynn Harris (I own and have read each and every single one of his books and memoir since 1994). According to Arktimes.com, Harris has died at the age of 54 while on a book tour on the West Coast to promote his latest novel, Basketball Jones, which tells the story about a gay lover of an NBA star. Earlier this morning, word began to spread that he'd "suffered a serious health setback" a couple of days ago. His personal assistant confirmed an unspecified health event, but said she was awaiting word from a hotel where Harris was staying on a book tour before providing further information. However, over an hour ago, Arkansas Sports reported Harris' death but didn't say how the author died.

After the release of Basketball Jones, Harris made history by becoming the first and most successful black author of all time to have 10 consecutive novels make it onto the New York Times Best Seller's list. They have also appeared on the bestseller lists of the Wall Street Journal, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. With more than four million books in print, he originated as a self-published author -- setting the blueprint for independent authors getting picked up by major book publishers.

Harris' 13th book, Mama Dearest, which marks the return of vixen Yancey Harrington Braxton, is tentatively set to be released on Oct. 13, 2009.

Born in Michigan, Harris, an openly gay author, grew up in Little Rock. He attended the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, where he was the school's first black cheerleader. He continued to be a diehard Razorback fan. He has taught adjunct courses in the English department, most recently last fall. Harris was close to the UA Athletic Department and had worked as coach and sponsor of the cheerleaders.

I thought Alex Cortez payback scheme on Terrell Carter was only going to be a one time thing but he has proven me wrong. Dude is out for blood. He recently changed his Twitter profile picture from the one in my earlier post to the one that's posted here.

Anyone who wasn't moved or didn't shed a tear or just didn't feel some type of way during Usher's rendition of Michael's song, Gone Too Soon (a song I have tried to avoid listening to for obvious reasons), needs to check their pulse. I had to use a wash rag because I didn't have enough Kleenex to wipe my tears away during that performance. Dude had me bawling especially when he walked down and placed his hand on Michael's coffin. Then to hear him choke up the way he did just tugged at my heart because I was feeling the same way. He loved and admired Michael so much. Usher looked up to and respected Michael the way Michael looked up to and respected James Brown. I once heard Usher say that Michael was one of the main reasons why he became a philanthropist. And these days it seems like Usher--like Michael--spends most of his time giving back to the community and other charities than singing and performing. That's a good look.

Usher, everyone felt your pain today, but we all know the pain you felt was a hundred times harder than what we felt because of your close relationship with Michael. But just so you know, you are not alone. Bless your heart.

How beautiful was Michael's memorial?! It couldn't have been better. It was classy, well-planned and memorable. The organizers even when as far as including Michael in his own memorial by using taped recordings. Hearing his voice really made it feel like he was there in spirit. I also loved how the audience was so respectful of the Jackson family during the tribute. And what a tribute it was! I honestly didn't want it to end. I laughed a little and thanks to Usher, Jennifer, Marlon and Michael's daughter Paris, I cried a lot. At times I found myself clapping along with the audience...especially after Rev. Al Sharpton's speech. I thought he was going to start preaching when he began talking about Michael. He said, “Every time he got knocked down, he got back up.” I believe that was in reference to how the media treated and negatively portrayed Michael during his life and even after his death. I smiled when Rev. Sharpton told Michael's kids, “There wasn’t nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with!” That comment is pretty much self-explanatory.

I knew the service would be emotional for me. But when the Andrae Crouch Gospel Choir started singing Soon and Very Soon and I saw Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, Marlon and Randy wheel their brother's gold casket to the front of the stage, I ain't even gonna lie: I lost it. However, as wonderful as the memorial was, I don't see myself watching it again, even though it will remain on my DVR. Watching the show wore me out! Did yall know that you can become physically tired if you cry long and hard enough? The bittersweet tears I shed were in the same class at the tears I cried when my mama whoop my ass back in the day. True story.

CLICK ON PICS TO SEE ITS FULL IMAGE.

Father, son, brother, child prodigy, godfather, godson, friend, singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, producer, actor, motivational speaker, humanitarian, philanthropist, business man, music video originator, record-breaking artist, ultimate entertainer/performer, legend, icon, king of pop, rock, soul and r&b.

MICHAEL JACKSON: THE GREATEST ENTERTAINER WHO EVER LIVED.

I don't even know where to start. I am still shell-shocked and in disbelief. If you know me then you know how much his death has affected me. I truly feel like I have lost a member of my own family. It's so hard to believe that he is gone. So hard. Needless to say, my heart goes out to the Jackson family during this time. Speaking of time. As I type this the Jackson clan have left their compound in chauffeur-driven black Rolls Royces, Range Rovers, Bentleys and limousine buses en route to attend Michael's private funeral at the Forest Lawn Mortuary. About 100 people--mostly family members...yall know there are a lot of Jacksons!--will be in attendance. After the private service, the family will be escorted by the California Highway Patrol to the star-studded public memorial at the Staples Center. Contrary to many reports, Michael's body will be either flown in by helicopter (if there is an issue of safety) or escorted by the LAPD Swat Team to the Staples Center. This is history in the making, yall. I'm pretty sure that never again will there be such a huge send-off for such a well-loved celebrity of any kind. Michael is the epitome and the ultimate definition of an icon so he deserves to have such a colossal homegoing service.

Last weekend, when I watched Michael's interview with that sheisty so-called journalist Martin Bashir back in 2003. In one segment of the interview Michael and Bashir were at a store in Las Vegas. When they came stopped in front of an Egyptian coffin, Bashir asked Michael would he ever want to be buried in something like that. Michael said, 'No, I would never want to be buried. I want to live forever.' Just thinking about that brings tears to my eyes because 6 years later, here we are saying good-bye to him. But I digress.

Today Michael's life will be celebrated and memorialized in song, dance and words of remembrance before his body is laid to rest. Don Lemon of CNN said the family will treat Michael's memorial as a funeral for his fans which is why they made the decision to include Michael's body at the arena. For some fans, this is the closest they will get to Michael. Celebrities schedule to perform include: Usher, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Hudson, the Andrae Crouch Choir, John Mayer and Stevie Wonder. Lionel Richie will sing 'We Are the World'...the song that made history when it went on to sell over 45 million singles. Proceeds from the sales supported famine in Africa. And Michael's brother Jermaine will reportedly sing 'Smile', one of Michael's favorite songs written by Charlie Chaplin. No word on if there will be a public viewing. I hope not because Lord knows I wouldn't be able to take it. No sir. Let me remember him in my own way. Where Michael's final resting place will be will remain a close-guarded secret.


Don't judge me yall, but when I cry it ain't silent tears. It's audible sobs. I can't help but wonder why his death has hit me so hard. I don't think I've had a decent night's sleep since he passed. And when I am able to get to sleep, I end up having dreams about him. I think it's because I tend to watch him on youtube or get caught up looking at pictures of him before I go to sleep. He's the last thing on my mind before my head hits the pillow. I know when God made Michael, He also knew the day and time He'd take Michael away from us. But it still hurts so bad. The last thing I wanted was for Mike to not have so much negative controversy surrounding his death. Folks harp on the negative and just blatantly ignore all the good things he's done for people. He gave so selflessly. I don't think the word 'stingy' and 'selfish' was ever in his vocabulary. Over time, Michael reached into his pocket and donated over $350 million to various charities. He donated over $25 million to the United Negro College Fund alone. And even in death he is still giving back to his favorite charities.

This will be my last post until later this evening when I will post pictures from the memorial. Today is all about Michael for me. He will have my undivided attention. I plan to celebrate his life, shed some bittersweet tears, rejoice in the legacy he has so selflessly given to us and dance my ass off to my favorite MJ songs!

Real talk.

And check this out: here is a copy of a portion of Michael's will. He signed it on 7-7-02, seven years to the day he will be memorialized and buried. Isn't this something?

And here is Michael's body encased in a gold coffin being carried out of The Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn Cemetery en route to the Staples Center for his public memorial.

Since Chris Brown was robbed (depending on who you ask like my silly baby sister) of his chance to pay tribute to his role model and my late husband, Michael Jackson at the B.E.T. Awards, he decided to put on an impromptu performance at Diddy and Ashton Kutcher's 4th of July White Party which was held to help raise awareness for malaria (that's a good look) in Beverly Hills on Saturday when the deejay played Michael's Thriller. As you can see in the youtube clip, once the song started playing and the guests got pumped up, Chris decided this was his chance to put on a performance. When folks started hyping him up, he got more into it. The party was being broadcast live on Ustream so that people who weren't fortunate enough to receive an invite could watch their favorite celebrities mix and mingle from the comfort of their own home.

Anyhoo, I heard that Chris Brown wanted desperately to honor Michael at the B.E.T. Awards. In a recent interview, Jamie Foxx said Chris didn't perform that night for safety reasons. Whether he was joking or not, I don't know. Rumors ran rampant through the blogosphere as to why he was shut out. And although Chris hasn't commented on the reports, a source close to his camp told MTV News that he was never confirmed to be a part of the show and the rumors regarding Brown and BET were untrue; a spokesperson for BET corroborated that information, adding that “the rumors are false.”

Real talk: Chris, sweetie, I'm honored that you looked up to Michael so much and considered him as your role model, but there will never be another King of Pop; and yes, I know you already know this. You have the dancing abilities, yes indeed, and no one can take that away from you; but in my opinion that's where it ends. With the tattoos, dwindling record sales, sagging pants, history of physical abuse and disrespect towards others, you look more like a protege of Joe 'I'mma beat yo ass, boy!' Jackson...not Michael Jackson. Call me bias but these were my thoughts even before Michael passed away. But you get an 'A+' for effort though and I'm sure he would have appreciated it. Bless your heart.

After the jump, read the statement Chris issued upon hearing about Michael's death.

”Michael Jackson is the reason why I do music and why I am an entertainer. I am devastated by this great loss, and I will continue to be humbled and inspired by his legacy. My prayers are with his family. Michael will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. He’s the greatest … the best ever. No one will ever be better.”

Please say it ain't so. Do you know how many women hearts broke (or will break) at the sight of these pictures? That's of course, if this is indeed you. The alleged pic of Terrell Carter, who has starred in several of Tyler Perry's stage plays and movies was anonymously posted on the infamous Lipstick Alley message boards. Word around the web is that Alex Cortez, the light dude (in the pic with Terrell) allegedly and initially posted these pics on a gay website as well as his Twitter page to seek revenge against Terrell. Messy, scorned or bitter much, Lexi? Click HERE to read Alex's Twitter page screencap.

And obviously I'm tardy to the party because these pics of Terrell at what appears to be a gay pride beach party in Brazil were posted on Flickr over a year and a half ago!

We adore you T.C., on BlackCelerbityMen.blogspot.com. So just in case you want to explain what this is all about, deny it, or confirm it, please hit me up via email. I'll be more than happy (matter of fact, I'd risk busting my ass) to post a quick retraction in an effort to clear your name because personally, I desperately want to believe the person in these pics is just a carbon copy of you...even down to the tattoos. Lord knows I've dealt with enough heartache in the past week and a half. First my Michael, and now this? July 2009 is not being kind to me at all. I'm also hearing Christian Keyes, another actor/model who has starred in Tyler's plays, allegedly bats for the other team.

Yall, gon' send me to an early grave. And my mama will NOT be happy about that!
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UPDATE:

According to cbsnews.com, the PR firm Sachs & Associates announced that within the first hour-and-a-half of allowing fans to sign up for the drawing, the Web site received 500,000,000 hits, averaging 120,000 per second. Duplicate registrations are not allowed, so those seeking a chance are being asked to log on only once. Meanwhile, an additional server has been added to accommodate the volume of traffic.

Ain't that something?!! Even in death, Michael continues to break more records; sending legions of fans, stans and haters in a complete frenzy.

If you plan on attending Michael Jackson's public memorial on next Tuesday, there are a couple of important things you need to know. A press conference was held today where Los Angeles city and law officials carved out the details of how folks can receive free tickets to the memorial. First and foremost: If you don't have a ticket, you ain't getting in. You will be turned away from the Staples Center by the LAPD. Below are more key points from the press conference.

• 17,500 tickets are available; 11,000 will be issued for the Staples Center where you can attend the memorial as it broadcast live. 6,500 tickets are available for the Nokia Center (across the street from the Staples Center), where you can watch the live telecast of the memorial.
• Tickets are only available to U.S. citizens.
• You can register for free tickets (at least two) today at Staples.com; the deadline is tomorrow at 6 p.m. They're treating it like a web lottery. You register and then there's a random drawing. If you're selected you'll be contacted on Sunday by email with directions.
• You must provide a valid ID in order to attend the memorial at either location. I believe they'll also give you some type of code or wristband.
• For the public's safety, there will be no big screens/speakers outside of Staples Center. So if you want to experience the celebration of Michael's life, either register for a ticket or watch it from the comfort of your own home. There will be no outsiders/bystanders outside the Staples Center besides law enforcement officials.
• A live feed will be provided by every network free of charge.
• There will not be a funeral procession before or after the service.
• Officials refused to answer questions on if there would be a public viewing of Michael's body at the memorial. According to newsweek.com, Michael's mother Katherine and sister Janet are allegedly opposed to having a public viewing because Michael's body isn't in shape to be viewed by the public.
• No details about the order of service (i.e. who's performing, which celebrities are expected to be in attendance, etc.) were announced.
• A private funeral for the Jackson family (and invite guests) will be held before the public memorial. Plans are underway to have more memorials across the United States.
• Still no word on where his final resting place will be.
  

Good luck in being able to register for tickets and having your name drawn!

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Were you as pissed off as I was while watching B.E.T.'s (or as I refer to them: Barely Entertainment Television) crap of a tribute to Michael Jackson? With their messy-ass, tacky-ass selves! Yeah, I said it! At first I wasn't going to post anything about it, but now the more I think about it, the madder I get. Is that how you salute a worldwide legend and icon? Somebody done told them wrong. From Bobby Brown's nasty tongue-licking gesture during New Edition's opening performance (which would have been perfect had he stayed his bama ass at home) to Ciara's awful rendition of Michael's Heal the World (she should never be allowed to touch a mic when it comes to singing ballads. No ma'am!) to three or four performances by Jamie Foxx (when he wasn't promoting his upcoming tour) and Neyo to having to have to sit through and watch Trey Songz (Ginuwine would have been the better choice) annihilate the Ojays medley with Tyrese and Johnny Gill to seeing Joe Jackson sitting out in the audience snapping his fingers and nodding his head as if his geriatric ass didn't have anything better to do to the obvious absences of Usher and Chris Brown who were both slated to perform a tribute to Michael to....well you get my drift. Overall, that awards ceremony was not only God-awful, it also didn't commemorate Michael's memory and legacy the way it deserved. All the profanity. I caught at least one 'f*ck' and about two 'sh!ts.' Just disrespectful, especially when folks knew the show was live and a tribute to Michael Jackson. I mean really, yall! Nearly four hours of complete and total madness is what it was.

The best part of the show was when Janet made a surprise appearance to speak on behalf of the Jackson family regarding Michael's untimely death. My niece Jana called it earlier that day. She said she knew Janet would be there to talk about her big brother. Me and my sister gave her the side-eye and were like, 'Yeah, right. Okay, little girl. There's no way Janet will be able to talk about Michael.' Did I mention that the show was nearly four and a half hours of madness? I bet dollars to donuts the MTV Awards, American Music Awards and the Grammy Awards will blow B.E.T.'s (another name I have for them is Black Embarrassment Television,but I digress) tribute out of the water and then some.

Anyhoo, what I'm about to tell you all may piss you off even more. It was because of Don Cornelius babbling on and on about the O'Jays (no offense to them, of course) and several other screw-ups during the live taping of the show that caused B.E.T. (I also refer to them as Bootleg Entertainment Television) to NIX the actual five and a half minute video tribute they prepared for the show after Michael's death. It would have fit in perfectly after Janet's speech. But 'sources' claim they ran out of time and didn't have any room on the rundown to place the video montage. What they should have nixed was that incoherent, unintelligible and inappropriate performance by Lil Wayne featuring his underage daughter and her lil underage friends. I swear the higher a monkey climbs, the more his ass shows. Real talk.

I'm finished with my rant. Well....no I'm not. Well, yes I am because if I keep going, this post will be much longer than it already is. LOL! So, below, check out B.E.T.'s (Bama-fied Entertainless Television) tribute to Michael that never saw the light of day. And if you're an avid fan just like me, have a hanky nearby. I couldn't even watch the entire video.

Rest in peace, Michael. We love you, but God loves you more. Words can't explain how terribly missed you are.
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"I'm glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer. I still have all his stuff on my iPod....I think that Michael Jackson will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers. His brilliance as a performer also was paired with a tragic and in many ways, sad personal life."

--President Barack Obama on Michael Jackson's death and legacy

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What you see above are images of Michael Jackson at his last full dress rehearsal, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, as he prepared for his 'This Is It' tour which was scheduled to kick-off in just a few weeks. Today CNN provided exclusive video footage from that rehearsal. Unfortunately what no one knew is that just a few short hours after Michael wrapped that rehearsal, he would later be found dead in his home at the age of 50. Over 100 hours of rehearsal footage has been captured on tape and according to some reports, there are plans to release it on DVD. Let's cross our fingers. Check out a clip below.

Watching the video emoted bittersweet feelings for me. Michael looked like his regular self; although several media reports claimed he was too frail to rehearse even after being given a clean bill of health back in March. It didn't look that way to me. All I see when I look at this video is a man who was determined to give his fans what they wanted. A chance to see him live in concert performing his past hits for one last time. He even took it a step further by reverting back to his hairstyle from his Smooth Criminal days. Bless his heart! LOL!

He will be thoroughly missed.

In related news, the Staples Center will also be the site of Jackson's memorial service, which is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. at the 20,000-seat Los Angeles coliseum, according to a person briefed by a family representative. Still no word on where Michael's final resting place will be.