Voices In Color

African-Americans Celebrate Kwanzaa And Its 7 Principles

The holiday observed mostly by African-Americans began yesterday and lasts to Jan. 1. Celebrations vary, which is part of the allure, but they often involve gift-giving, feasts, candlelighting and colorful decorations.

Kwanzaa celebrations focus on seven principles: unity, self-determination, responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity and faith.

It's unclear how many observe the holiday. Some Pan-African Web sites peg the number at 20 million, while an October survey by the National Retail Federation estimated about 4.7 million said they would participate.

Activist Maulana Karenga founded the holiday in 1966 as an alternative to Christmas and a way to honor African culture, according to Karenga's Web site. Kwanzaa's name comes from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza," meaning first fruit.

Read more: The Detroit News

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Today's Black Fact

On this day in 1908, Jack Johnson becomes the first black heavyweight boxing champion of the world.

Report: New Orleans Population Nears 300,00

Despite slow progress in rebuilding some neighborhoods, New Orleans' population is nearing 300,000, or about 65 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina size, according to a new report.

The report, compiled by urban planning consultancy GCR & Associates and based on utility hookups, estimates the population at 295,450 and predicts it will surpass the 300,000 mark soon. That will put it on par with cities like Tampa, Fla., and Pittsburgh and provide a "significant indication of New Orleans' sustained viability as a major city and as an anchor for a large metropolitan area," the report says.

Read more: The Associated Press

Jay-Z Stepping Down As Def Jam President

Universal Music Group said on Monday that rap artist and hip-hop mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter is stepping down as president of its Def Jam Records unit, effective by the end of the year.

Carter, 38, has been president of the rap label since 2005, and has signed acts including R&B singers Rihanna and Ne-Yo.

Universal said Carter, a top-selling rapper who performs as Jay-Z, will continue recording for its Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam label. But the company did not give a reason for his decision to quit the executive suite.

"Now it's time for me to take on new challenges," he said in a statement. "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy," he added.

Read more: Yahoo! News

Jazz Great Oscar Peterson Dies At 82

Oscar Peterson, whose early talent, speedy fingers and musical genius made him one of the world's best known jazz pianists, has died. He was 82.

Peterson died at his home in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga on Sunday, said Oliver Jones, a family friend and jazz musician. He said Peterson's wife and daughter were with him during his final moments. The cause of death was kidney failure, said Mississauga's mayor, Hazel McCallion.

Read more: Yahoo! News

Happy Holidays!

Today's Black Fact

this day in 1881, Tennessee started the segregation movement with the Jim Crow railroad car and was followed by Florida (1887), Mississippi (1888), Texas (1889), Louisiana (1890), Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas and Georgia (1891), South Carolina (1898), North Carolina (1899), Virginia (1900), Maryland (1904), Oklahoma (1907).

Racial Undercurrent Is Seen In Clinton Campaign

It has unfolded mostly under the radar. But an important development in the 2008 Democratic battle may be the building backlash among African Americans over comments from associates of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton that could be construed as jabs at Sen. Barack Obama's race.

These officials, including Clinton aides and prominent surrogates, have raised questions or dropped references about Obama's position on sentencing guidelines for crack vs. powder cocaine offenses; on his handgun control record; and on his admitted use of drugs as a youth. The context was always Obama's "electability." But the Illinois senator's campaign advisers said some African American leaders detect a pattern, and they believe it could erode Clinton's strong base of black support.

Read more: Washingtonpost.com

Rappers Rule Ringtones This Year

Rappers Shop Boyz, Mims, Hurricane Chris and other Hip-Hop acts dominated AT&T’s list of best-selling ringtones for the year 2007.

According to AT&T ringtone sales data, nine out of the Top 10 best-selling ringtones for 2007 were by Hip-Hop artists, while Nickleback represented the only entry from the ailing genre of rock music.

Read more: allhiphop.com