Everybody in the Pool, Even the Black Kids

Black people can’t swim. Oh, wait — they can. And a new movie is out to debunk the myth and show you blacks can have a wicked jump shot and an awesome breaststroke too.

‘Pride,’ now out in theaters, stars Terrence Howard as Jim Ellis, a former competitive swimmer who, after being turned down for a teaching job at a white prep school, starts an African-American swim team in Nicetown — one of Philadelphia’s rough "hold on to your purse and wallet" neighborhoods.

REASONS

While I haven’t seen the movie yet, I’m sure like any other based on a true story, feel good movie about at-risk youth, the kids in ‘Pride’ learn to swim, battle racism, believe in themselves, and become champions.

Think of it as ‘Glory Road’ in the pool. (Hmmm ... ‘Glory Road in the Pool’ ... maybe that movie title was taken.)

Yes, Virginia, black people can swim, but here are a few reasons why this black female doesn’t:

1. The Hair: Every black woman (and probably ever black man who’s ever known a black woman) reading this just went: "You Know!" Water is a black woman’s kryptonite. Point blank. Growing up, my white friends would ask "Why are you carrying an umbrella? It’s bright and sunny today." True, but as a black woman, you can never be too prepared in the battle against air moisture. Rain clouds can appear any second, leaving you with a nappy mop of hair. So the mere fact swimming entails entering a body of water — makes it a no-no for me. Becky can easily put her wet hair up and roll. Black women need a blow dryer, a bucket of hair grease, flat iron, a few hours and a prayer.

2. Ashy Skin: A dip in the pool zaps all the moisture out of my skin and I look like I’ve been rolling in baby powder. Not ... cute.

3. Seriously, review reasons 1-2 again.

4. I always wonder ... who’s peeing in the pool? Is it that kid? What about that one over there avoiding eye contact? Perhaps it’s that one

With that being said, here’s why black people SHOULD swim:

1. According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, African-American children are more than twice as likely to drown than white children, due to a lack of involvement/access to swim lessons or water activities. So unless you want your kids to sink like a rock, it’s time to hit up that local swimming pool. Plus, swimming is one of the best ways to blast calories and get into tip-top shape. You can burn almost 400 calories/30 minutes doing the breaststroke. (Summer’s is just around the corner ...)

2. Blacks have already taken over sports we used to be underdogs — make that nonexistent — in, such as golf (i.e. "Tiger Woods ya’ll, it’s all good ya’ll") and tennis (i.e. Serena & Venus Williams). You could be the next Michael Jordan of swimming.

3. Isn’t reason #1 enough for you? If you like living and breathing, it should be.

(Cheryl Thompson)

Indian Film Legend, Asha Parekh, To Receive Lifetime Achievement at the Bollywood Awards

Indian Film-Makers and Artists Honored in Annual Awards Ceremony

NRIs will now have the opportunity to see one of their old-time favorite stars and now Bollywood living legend, Asha Parekh at the Bollywood Movie Awards, to be held at Nassau Coliseum in New York on May 26, 2007.

Asha Parekh holds the record for the most box-office hits amongst heroines. A glamorous persona, a serious actress and talented dancer - Asha will forever be etched in celluloid history. Her roles in memorable films such as Dil Deke Dekho, Ziddi, Teesri Manzil, Aaya Saawan Jhoom Ke, Aan Milo Sajna, Carvan, Baharon Ke Sapne and Kati Patang, Kaalia gave her an opportunity display her acting histrionics; in 1971 she won the coveted Filmfare Award for Best Actress for Kati Patang.

Asha was elected President of the Cine Artistes’ Association and later became the first female chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification. She is also involved in many cultural endeavors including her dance academy, Kara Bhavan, and the Asha Parekh Hospital in Mumbai.

Chairman and CEO of the Bollywood Group said, "We are delighted to have Ashaji confirmed as our Lifetime Achievement honoree. Over the years, I have learned that many NRIs yearn for the opportunity to see their childhood favorites once again in the flesh and blood. We are sure that Ashaji’s presence will be a fond memory for fans for years to come."

The celebrities slated to perform at this year’s magnum opus include Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal, Vivek Oberoi, Urmilla Matondkar, Soha Ali Khan, Neha Dhupia, Kan-gana Ranaut. Mona Singh ("Jassi Jaise Koi Nahi" and winner of "Jhalak Dikhlaja"), UK’s Raghav, Pakistan’s top actress and singer Shahida Mini, Caribbean Singer Ricki Ramdehal and Pakistan’s popular singer –Waris Beg.

Other stars confirmed to attend are Danny Glover, Phylicia Rashad of The Cosby Show, Anupam Kher, Kirron Kher, Upen Patel, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Director Raj Kumar Hirani, Dr. Sanjay Gupta of CNN, Anuj Saxena, star of KKusum and producer of TV serial Kulvaddhu and many others.

For further details on the Bollywood Awards contact: Tel: 516-248-8777/E-Mail:Info@bollygroup.com/Web: www.bollywoodawards.com

About The Bollywood Group

The Bollywood Group is a South Asian entertainment company. The Group hosts three marquee events annually - the Bollywood Movie, Music and Fashion Awards — honoring the finest Indian actors, actresses, film-makers, technicians, musicians, designers and models.

The Bollywood Group has played host to hundreds of members of the Indian film industry, business tycoons, socialites, as well as mainstream American personalities such as Michael Jackson, Richard Gere, Sharon Stone, Michael Bolton, Tyra Banks, Harvey Weinstein, Diane Von Furstenberg, Nikki Hilton, to name a diverse few.

Contact Media Relations: Ranjini Cariappa 516-248-8777

Actress Berry Admits to Suicide Attempt

Break-up With Justice Sent Star Into Depression

Oscar-winning actress Halle Berry says in a magazine interview that she was so depressed after her 1997 breakup with ex-husband and baseball star David Justice that she tried to take her own life.

In a recent issue of Parade magazine, Berry says that since then and following a second divorce, she has learned to take control of her own life and now, at age 40, is considering motherhood.

"I was sitting in my car, and I knew the gas was coming when I had an image of my mother finding me," Berry says of the suicide attempt. "She sacrificed so much for her children, and to end my life would be an incredibly selfish thing to do.

"My sense of worth was so low. I had to reprogram myself to see the good in me. Because someone didn’t love me didn’t mean I was unlovable. I promised myself I would never be a coward again," Berry tells Parade.

Her roles have ranged from the beautiful secret agent Jinx in the James Bond movie "Die Another Day" to the down-on-her-luck waitress in 2001’s "Monster’s Ball," which won her the best actress Oscar.

She was married to Justice for nearly five years in the early 1990s before her star began to rise after portraying singer/actress Dorothy Dan-dridge in the 1999 television movie "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge."

Berry’s second marriage, to singer Eric Benet, lasted four years until 2005, when they divorced in a highly publicized breakup.

After Halle’s tough times at heartbreak hotel, Carrie Underwood offers up some good ole’ fashioned advice for the love-scorned

"We were in sex rehab after one year. I wish I had left then, but I was putting everyone’s needs before mine," she tells Parade. "If I hadn’t gone through the first breakup and made that promise to myself, this would have leveled me. I would have walked into moving traffic."

Berry credits therapy and counseling for helping her to take control of her life. Now she is dating male model Gabriel Aubry, who is 10 years younger than her.

"My sights are set on a different chapter in my life, which is motherhood. That’s the goal I clearly have set for myself."

Meanwhile, Berry who has an Emmy, a Golden Globe and an Oscar, now has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A teary-eyed Berry received the 2,333rd Walk of Fame star in a ceremony last week in front of the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles.

"I am so emotional ... as soon as I saw the crowds of people and friends here, I started to cry," the Cleveland, Ohio native said

"This beautiful woman is a triple threat - an old-fashioned bombshell and, like my mom would say, a good egg," said Tom Rothman, chairman and CEO of Fox Filmed Entertainment.

Berry, 40, co-stars with Bruce Willis in the film, "Perfect Stranger," which opened April 13.

(AOL Black Voices)

Beyonce Releases "B’Day" Video Album

Beyonce may be one of the hardest working women in show business. She cranked out eight videos in two weeks for her new DVD, "B’Day Anthology Video Album."

"I always wanted to do a video album," Beyonce said in a recent interview, noting that her fans "can watch it whenever they want and not have to go to YouTube."

The 25-year-old singer told AP Television News she was able to pull it off because everyone was well-rehearsed and prepared.

"I knew all the choreography be-fore I started filming the videos. I knew what every hairstyle was going to be before I did it. I knew what every look (was going to be); as far as the makeup and the wardrobe, we al-ready had the fittings," she said.

"B’Day Anthology Video Album," re-leased Tuesday, features songs from her Grammy-winning "B’Day" album. The DVD coincides with the release of a deluxe edition of the disc, with seven tracks in Spanish.

Beyonce , who rides a giant black cat in one glammed-up video for the song "Kitty Kat," said she got a kick out of reinventing her look.

"I didn’t want them to look the same," she said. "Some are in black and white. Some are Super8. Some are very bright, vivid colors. Some are, you know, they look a little retro."

"I wore my hair black in some. I wore ‘80s makeup in one of the videos. Sixties Mod makeup. It was so exciting ‘cause I love fashion, I love dressing up, so definitely it was like playing different characters."

She added: "I can’t believe I did it. But I had a lot of help and a lot of support."

Beyonce ‘s world tour, set to open last Tuesday in Tokyo, will run through September, Music World-Columbia Records announced. North American stops include New Orleans, Dallas, New York City, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.