Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell Appears On Exhale’s First Show of the Season Tonight!!!

Hello World,

ASPiRE, the network that provides a different reality for African-American viewers, announces the season three premiere of its hit weekly talk series, “exhale” (@exhaleTV). Hosted by five dynamic, diverse and successful African-American women, “exhale’s” new eight-episode season will bring viewers honest, candid and entertaining discussion on a wide range of topics affecting African-American women. Season three will premiere on TONIGHT at 9:00 p.m. EDT only on ASPiRE.

“exhale” is co-hosted by journalist and media maven Angela Burt-Murray; comedian Erin Jackson; director, writer and actress Issa Rae; blogger, author and TV anchor Rene Syler; and actress Malinda Williams. “The ladies of ‘exhale’ are back!,” said ASPiRE General Manager Paul Butler. “Our viewers are going to love the way ‘exhale’ delivers the perfect blend of real talk on important topics, along with real laughs and emotion.”

In the all-new episodes a wide range of topics affecting African-American women – including friendships, stereotypes, domestic conflict, secrets and entrepreneurs – will be examined. Each episode will feature intriguing range of special guests, from celebrities and authors to religious leaders and other experts. ASPiRE and the hosts further connect, engage and continue dynamic, nimble dialogue with the audience through social media. For more information, please go to www.aspire.tv/exhale, Twitter on @ExhaleTV, and Facebook at facebook.com/ExhaleTV.

The first four weekly episodes include:

FRIENDSHIPS – Season Premiere – Airs Wednesday, May 6, 9 p.m. EDT

Whether you’re besties, frienemies or a work spouse, all friendships can become quite complicated! The ladies of “exhale,” along with guests, discuss the importance of friendships between siblings and spouses, reveal the secret to maintaining long-lasting friendships, and answer the age old question – can men and women really be just friends?

GUESTS:

· Erica Campbell, Gospel Singer and Reality TV Star (@ImEricaCampbell)

· Johnny Gill, R&B Singer and Songwriter (@RealJohnnyGill)

· Hasani Pettiford, Speaker, Author and Relationship Expert (@hasanipettiford)

· Eve Marie Ford, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

STEREOTYPES – Airs Wednesday, May 13, 9 p.m. EDT

From colorism, to reality TV, to racial profiling, the ladies of “exhale” and guests tackle the controversial topic of stereotypes. Together, they’ll breakdown the misconceptions, half-truths, and the consequences of “judging a book by its cover.”

GUESTS:

· Justin Simien, Writer and Director of the film Dear White People (@JSim07)

· Bill Duke, Actor, Writer, Producer and Director of the documentaries Dark Girls and Light Girls (@RealBillDuke)

· Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Author, Co-Founder and CEO of the Women In Entertainment Empowerment Network and former Obama Administration Staffer (@valeisha)

· Marlo Hampton, Former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Co-Star, Stylist and Charity Organizer (@iheartMarlo)

· Dr. Lisa Williams, Educator, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur and the Creator of the “Positively Perfect” Doll Line (@PositivePerfect)

SECRETS – Airs Wednesday, May 20, 9 p.m. EDT

In this episode, the ladies of “exhale” and guests are going to reveal the truth about Secrets. From family secrets to infidelity to gossip, are there some secrets that should be left unsaid? And how can keeping secrets actually affect your physical and mental health?

GUESTS:

· Judge Mablean Ephraim, Attorney, Author, Speaker and Host of “Justice With Judge Mablean” (@JudgeMablean)

· Lacey Schwartz, CEO and President of the Non-Profit, Truth Aid, and Producer/Director/Filmmaker of the Documentary Little White Lie (@laceyschwartz)

· Deya Smith, Producer for the “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” Author and Life Coach

· Denise Boutte, Actress (@DeniseBoutte)

· Dr. Dion Short Metzger, Adult Psychiatrist (@dionmetzgermd)

ENTREPRENEURS – Airs Wednesday, May 27, 9 p.m. EDT

From startups, to franchises, to everything in between, owning your own business is part of the American Dream. But do we actually have what it takes to make it? In this episode, the ladies of “exhale” get valuable insight on the risks and rewards of becoming an entrepreneur, as they learn the secrets to success from their experienced and successful guests.

GUESTS:

· Pat Neely, Restaurateur, TV Personality, Author and Celebrity Chef (@PatNeelyBBQKing)

· Melinda Emerson, Small Business Expert, Author, Speaker and Founder & President of the Quintessence Group (@SmallBizLady)

· Frank Rice, Former NFL Player and Franchisee (@Iamfreshfrank)

· Kiya Tomlin, Designer and Founder of Uptown Sweats (@KiyaTomlin)

Follow our hosts at:

· http://exhale.aspire.tv/

· Angela Burt-Murray on Twitter @AngelaCocoaFab, and on her websites cocoafab.com and cocoafab-tv.

· Erin Jackson on Twitter @EJthecomic, and on her website erinjackson.net.

· Issa Rae on Twitter @IssaRae, and on her website awkwardblackgirl.com.

· Rene Syler on Twitter @goodenufmother, and on her website goodenoughmother.com.

· Malinda Williams on Twitter @MalinsWorld, and on her website malindawilliams.com.

Any thoughts?

Posted on Sunday, May 3, 2015

‪#‎IAmBaltimore‬ : Black, White, Blue… And Gray

Hello World,

I must admit I’ve grown weary of trying to comprehend the incomprehensible : the deaths of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Tamir Rice, Walter Scott and more…So when I first heard about the death of Freddie Gray, I simply didn’t want to allow it to penetrate my consciousness….It had/has become too much…

And then Monday, April 27, in Baltimore happened…riots that resulted in a senior center, that Southern Baptist Church had raised money for eight years to build, being destroyed by fire…a CVS was looted…Then, came the emergence of the “hero mom,” President Obama’s speech referring to the rioters as “thugs,” declarations by Rev. Al Sharpton and Pastor Jamal Bryant and finally Baltimore City State’s Attorney Marilyn Mosby’s Friday, May 1 announcement that six Baltimore police officers involved in Freddie Gray’s arrest would be prosecuted for his death…

But beyond all of the news stories and angry commentaries, I wanted a perspective of someone simply living in the city…someone that I knew…that opportunity came when my friend Leslie J. Sherrod, who lives in Baltimore, wanted to tell her own story using the hastag ‪#‎IAmBaltimore‬…I asked her to share her story here on my blog and she thankfully obliged…Below is her story…

My father grew up on a little street named Ruxton Avenue. It’s in West Baltimore, off of North Avenue and behind Mondawmin Mall, the area at the very epicenter where Baltimore exploded in reaction to the death of Freddie Gray. My father has been quiet this week. When I asked him his thoughts about the past few days, sorrow filled his voice as he reflected on what the whole nation witnessed on Monday. “It’s hard to watch your old neighborhood be destroyed,” he said. That’s all he said. He’s turned off the TV and has watched little coverage since then.

Someone I know shared with me a story about her brother. “He was killed by the cops several years ago,” she says, “and nothing was ever done about it.” She and her family members witnessed the entire incident, him dying before their eyes as his throat was crushed. She pulls up the Internet, shows me a short paragraph of the event that made it into the Baltimore Sun back then. The article blames him for his own death. He choked on something, it reads; no mention of authorities involved. This woman, his sister, shrugs as she speaks to me. Her eyes glaze over with tears and then she turns back to her workstation to continue with her day.

A former supervisor tells me that she is surprised by the violent anger. Though a social worker in Baltimore City for many decades, she admits to being unaware of the rage, disillusionment, and angst simmering just under the surface of so many affected by poverty, addictions, limited job opportunities, failing schools and ongoing personal and public trauma. Not of the urban community, but working in it, she just didn’t know and could not imagine the depth – and repercussions – of such desperation, despite her years of experience.

Stories, memories, questions, observations.

Though we do not yet know how the current events in Baltimore will conclude, we will all make personal assessments based on our individual interactions, conversations, and through the lenses which we see our lives and others. The tragedy of Freddie Gray blew off the lid of a Pandora ’s Box of social ills we have as a society tried to ignore. What we have learned this week is that those ills do not just fade away if not addressed. We’ve been forced to air out our thoughts and weigh our opinions on every topic from racism, parental discipline, authority figures, politics, media representation, and more. The media has especially played a large role in shaping the national discourse, repeatedly highlighting the several blocks or so where the most damage was done, yet ignoring the 99% of Baltimore’s citizens who’ve engaged in peaceful protests, assisted with clean-up efforts, prayed together, and begun the work of healing.

I will not pretend to explore the deep social, emotional, institutional, and spiritual factors that contributed to the events of my city this week. I will, however, challenge everyone to consider their own lens.

Before Christ took up his cross, he pulled together those closest to him to have dinner one last time. Everyone at the table had a role, a perspective: the doubter, the denier, the betrayer, the confused. Everyone at Christ’s table had a lens through which they viewed the history they were living, and everyone had a purpose that somehow contributed to the greater goal of redemption.

America, this is a redeeming moment in our history. Whether black or white; whether wearing blue uniforms or orange jumpsuits; whether a resident, an activist, a victim, a rioter, a journalist, or a bystander, we all bring perspective to the table and it is at the table of our communities and cities where we must collectively commune and dine. Like a family dinner gone awry, we often sit across from each other in our respective seats in society and blame and scream and break dishes and storm out.

This week I’ve heard the roars of helicopters, the blares of sirens, and the chants of protesters. However, I’ve also heard about gang members tying their colors together and meeting with church leaders; about reporters being challenged by concerned citizens off camera regarding the often negative spin of news segments; about people pooling their money together to rebuild destroyed homes and businesses; about students and drivers organizing to provide assistance to seniors who depended on a neighborhood pharmacy that was burned down.

We are at a moment right now to hear each other, to sit down and talk. Let’s go beyond Black and White and Blue. Let’s not be afraid to address the difficult Gray areas of justice and redemption.

Everyone’s story deserves to be heard.

Let’s listen and learn.

Leslie J. Sherrod is a social worker in Baltimore where she lives with her husband and three children. She is also the author of six novels, most of which are set in her hometown, all of which address social concerns with intrigue and inspiration. Visit her website, LeslieJSherrod.com for more information about her work and her mission.

Any thoughts?

Posted on Friday, May 1, 2015

Erica’s Got the Big Head : Mary Mary Season 4, Episode 9 Recap…

Hello World,

So y’all this show was mostly about Erica and her 1,2,3,4 Dove Award nominations…and that is where is this episode of Mary Mary’s reality show begins…As Erica is cleaning up the backyard of her L.A. home, she gets a call from Warryn whom she addresses as “Husband.” After she answers the call, he asks if she is sitting down. Once she tells him that she has sat down, he gives her the good news that she has been nominated for 1,2,3,4 Dove Awards!!!…The reason why I’m writing 1,2,3,4 instead of four is because Erica makes a point of making sure it is known throughout the entire episode that she has been nominated for four separate categories…In other words, don’t get it twisted and think she has only been nominated for one or two or even three, it’s four…Okay, so back to what had happened…She screams and says, “This is so huge for my solo career.”

SIDEBAR: Even though I’ve been writing about this solo career saga for a few weeks now, I still don’t completely get why it’s so important for Erica and by default Tina to pursue solo careers…Even when they perform together, they still have the opportunity to shine separately so what is that much different when you’re performing as a solo artist except for being on the stage alone? I’m not a singer so maybe I cannot understand…

Okay, so back to what had happened again…Erica and Warryn congratulate one another for being a good team. “What had God has put together, let no man put asunder,” Warryn concludes. Amen.

Tina & Teddy

While Warryn & Erica are congratulating themselves on getting Erica’s solo career off to a strong start, Tina is still coming up with song ideas and discusses them with her husband Teddy…Just before she starts to explain what she is thinking, Teddy lets out a huge burp…What is it about men that make them think that loud body noises are okay? But I digress…After getting on Teddy about his loud burping, she tells him her idea to have the Atkins sisters sing background…Does she really think Erica will allow her to pull a Beyoncé and Destiny’s Child move? Teddy doesn’t think so and reminds her about her sister’s very busy schedule. He says Tina needs to be “realistic.” “Forget realistic, she’s going to have to find some time,” Tina declares.

Goo Goo

Mary Mary’s stylist and sister Goo Goo also known as Goo has opened up a showroom for her clothing and Erica, who has been nominated for 1,2,3,4 Dove Awards, stops by to check it all out and try on some clothing for the Dove Awards to be held in Nashville. Erica tries on a fitted red dress that doesn’t hide a single curve. Goo says that her clothing choices for Erica in Mary Mary are different than her clothing choices for Erica the solo artist. “As a solo artist, [she] is really wild.” Ironically, while Goo is helping Erica get her solo artist gear together, she gets a call from Donald Lawrence to help style another gospel sister duo – Tobbi & Tommi. They will be having a photo shoot in Nashville, and as Goo will be in Nashville with Erica, the scheduling works out perfectly…a little too perfectly, but even “reality” television programming has to have some type of planning involved…

Nashville

Sound Check

Erica has arrived in Nashville and is hype because she will be performing her song “Help” with Lecrae at the Dove Awards…Sidebar: About a year ago, I was on a Delta flight from Dallas to Atlanta with Lecrae and his family. Although I had met him before at a movie premiere, I decided to talk to him since it was everyday life, and I was curious about how he would act. He was very nice so it was all good. Obviously, he travels a lot because all of the flight attendants seemed to know him and were joking around with him…So back to the recap. However, although she is performing, Erica is not allowed to go through the whole song in the sound check and feels disrespected as a result. But she is happy to find out that although Tina is not performing nor nominated for 1,2, 3 or 4 Dove Awards, she also shows up in Nashville anyway. “If she’s not singing, she’s not coming,” Erica says about her sister’s normal behavior. But then Tina explains that she is there because she has been asked to present one of the awards for which Erica is nominated. Erica takes that as a sign from God that she is going to win that award, but Tina puts in a pin in Erica’s ballooning head. “You sure are extra these days!” Tina says…

Sidebar: When it comes to “signs” and “wonders,” I have discovered that God sometimes uses them to give me a preview about what He is going to do, but sometimes what I think are “signs and wonders” don’t mean anything after all…Because He is God, I will never be able to figure Him out…Just thought I would share that revelation in my life :).

So later at a luncheon, Erica mentions the sound check again and how she felt disrespected to some people there…Even Warryn thinks she is doing too much…”We don’t need an Aretha Franklin,” he says…(Please Ms. Franklin, don’t come for me…)

Mitch

So Mitch is in another episode…As I’m watching this unfold, I feel like I have to suspend my disbelief again….No matter how it is presented, it’s hard to believe that Mitch would be allowed to be involved with Mary Mary, Erica and Tina in any capacity after what happened last season but since he is on the show, I have to report it so here it goes…Mitch is also in Nashville and meets with Donald Lawrence, who is the one that introduced him to Mary Mary in the first place according to this episode. Donald tells Mitch that Goo is styling Tobbi & Tommi at a photo shoot at this very moment per his request…Mitch, who has no confidence in Goo’s styling skills, offers to stop by and see what’s going on…in other words, start some mess…

Pre-Dove Awards

It’s an hour before the pre-show and Goo has not arrived with Erica’s hair, makeup nor clothes. Erica is obviously in her feelings and feeling herself as she says about her sister Goo. “I will fire you like I fired Mitch.”

Speaking of Mitch

Mitch has arrived at the photo shoot, and Goo says, “It smells like something is old and dead in here.” Mitch checks out Goo’s style choices and criticizes her for dressing one of the women in horizontal lines as neither of them are petite women…And I have to agree…Horizontal lines aren’t flattering for every size and shape. No shade. Just truth. He says one piece that Goo chose looks like curtains. He finally calls Donald Lawrence, declaring a “fashion emergency.” I wouldn’t take it that far but hey drama must be created…Ultimately, Donald doesn’t buy into Mitch’s hysterics and the photo shoot proceeds as planned…

Goo, Erica, Mitch & Tina

Now that the “fashion emergency” is over, Goo is free to do what she originally came to Nashville to do: style Erica…Erica puts on the red dress and a wig that reminds me of Marilyn Monroe’s signature platinum bouffant bob. Very glamorous. And since Mitch has ceased meddling for the moment, he is also free. He ends up running into Erica before the awards show and apologizes for what happened at the wedding. He even says, “I hope you have a great night.” But Erica is not buying his “fake apologies” and says “when a person shows you who they are, believe them.” That is the gospel truth today, now and forever…In fact, Goo and Erica finally decide to tell Tina about Mitch’s shenanigans at her wedding and say that her new forgiving demeanor is going to cause her to be taken advantage of by Mitch. But Tina ain’t no dummy. “Don’t take my transformation for naiveté.”

Erica’s 1,2, 3, 4, Dove Awards Nominations

After all of that, the time has finally arrived to find out if Erica will win the awards for which she was nominated. One award goes by without Erica winning, and then another and even the one that Tina is presents is not awarded to Erica…Finally, Erica says, “C’mon Jesus, can I just have one?” The Lord answers Erica’s prayer and she wins the Dove Award for Traditional Gospel Song of the Year for her song “A Little More Jesus.”

And you know what Erica says after her sister wins the award? “I couldn’t be happier for her, but what about these background vocals?” She’s wrong for that, but it’s a perfect statement to set up the drama for next week’s episode – THE SEASON FINALE…

Any thoughts?