(Akiit.com) CHICAGO (AP) Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson said Thursday he’s backing Democrat Barack Obama in his presidential bid, giving his support to a new generation of black politicians. “He has my vote,” the Rev. Jackson told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

Jackson sought the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988, winning 13 primaries and caucuses in 1988. His son, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. of Illinois, has already endorsed Obama. Jackson represents a different era of black politician, battle-tested by the civil rights struggles of the 1960s with Martin Luther King Jr.

Obama, 45, is biracial _ his white mother was from Kansas, his father Kenyan _ and educated at Ivy League universities. 

In his best-selling memoir, “Dreams From My Father,” Obama said he couldn’t even get in the door at national civil rights groups when he was younger. He wrote letters to them after graduating from Columbia University but said none responded.

In a statement responding to Jackson’s support, Obama said, “This campaign has been about giving hope since Day One and I am proud to have the support of my friend Jesse Jackson. It is because people like Jesse ran that I have this opportunity to run for president today.”

Jackson could help Obama to secure the support of black voters, a critical bloc in the Democratic primaries.

Jackson has a long history with one of Obama’s chief rivals, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and her husband former President Clinton. He counseled the two when the president’s affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky became public.

But Jackson said his history with the Clintons doesn’t complicate his decision to back his home state senator, calling Obama Illinois’ “favorite son.”

“It’s not awkward at all,” he said, adding, “I don’t owe a debt to any of them.”

Jackson said he will support the winner of the Democratic nomination, whether it’s Obama or not, and he is talking to other candidates because of his agenda that includes the war on poverty and voter protection.

Although Jackson failed in his bids for the White House in 1984 and 1988, he said that helped make it easier for not only blacks, but women and other minorities to run for president and function at the highest levels of government.

“We broke down barriers,” Jackson said.

Jackson said Obama has not asked him to campaign for him and he is not in Obama’s inner circle of advisers and fundraisers.

“I just have an appreciation of him,” Jackson said.
 

By DEANNA BELLANDI

      (Akiit.com) Comedian-writer George Wallace, whose career rocketed when he became a writer for “The Redd Foxx Show,” has now become a very popular staple of the Las Vegas Strip.

      Wallace is one of the many entertainers that is making Sin City one of the premiere entertainment destinations, selling out shows nightly.

      The Vegas show, aptly called the “George Wallace Show” plays at the Flamingo Hotel and is often a place to showcase other hot comedians, as well as singers including Chris Rock, Jennifer Holiday, and Jerry Seinfeld.

      However, while his ‘Vegas gig is only a bit of what the comic is known for – he’s been a part of radio’s Tom Joyner Morning Show and Isaac Hayes on WRKS, not to mention numerous film cameos – this weekend’s show is expected to be extraordinary.

This Saturday night, Wallace welcomes Sly Stone to the stage.

      Yes, Sly Stone.

      “He’s one of my favorite performers,” Wallace said of the elusive legend. “So if he’s gonna come back, he might as well start with me. I’m going to do that with a lot of entertainers who haven’t worked in a while and some new people. There’s not a real showcase anymore, so before they go out on tour their going to start with me. Sly is going on a world tour, starting with me and then they go over to Europe. They agreed to do it and that’s why we’re doing it.”

      Wallace is well aware of the psychedelic funkster’s sporadic reputation, but he told EUR’s Lee Bailey that he’s not worried or concerned.      “We’re expecting him to be here. Somebody had to take a chance, so it’s me. I imagine if somebody was going to come back, they’d start off on the right foot. The credibility issue was 25 years ago,” he discounted.

      Wallace admitted that he wasn’t particularly a close friend of the artist, but that he simply thought it would be great to have Sly & Co. back on stage.

      “I just decided to call him and I made a deal with him and he decided to do it,” he said modestly and explained that the appearance will be a concert though it’s encompassed in his headline.

      “It’s just my show; part of the ‘George Wallace Show.’ It is a concert, but it’s still the ‘George Wallace Show.’”

      Sly and his entourage/band of 12 are scheduled to hit the stage tomorrow night (Saturday) at the Flamingo Hotel where Wallace has been headlining for four years. Currently, he’s working the same space that singer Toni Braxton does her show, too. Though unlike Braxton, Wallace produces, directs and markets – basically does it all to put on the gig.

      “I’m a bonafide headliner in Las Vegas,” he added. “I’ve been here for four years. Prince is doing it, Celine Dion, Elton John – it’s just a new way to do it. That’s why Las Vegas is the hottest place in the world right now.”

      As for this weekend, one of the hottest spots on the strip will certainly be the Flamingo with Sly Stone appearing.
      “People are excited. We’re looking forward to have a good time, and we’re expecting to have a lot of fun. People are flying in from all over,” Wallace said.

      For tickets for the show, call 707-733-3333. Showtime starts at 10:00 pm, this Saturday night in the Flamingo Showroom. George can always be seen in what’s been called “The Best 10p.m. Show on the Las Vegas Strip” every night at the Flamingo.

      For more on George Wallace, check out his website at www.georgewallace.net.
 

(Akiit.com) Talk show mogul Oprah Winfrey hasn’t received much love from the Hip-Hop community lately.

Minor incidents with Hip-Hop stars such as Ludacris and Ice Cube has the billionaire deemed a Hip-Hop hater by many, but hopefully an appearance by a Hip-Hop legend on Winfrey’s show will silence critics.

Joseph “Reverend Run” Simmons from the legendary Hip-Hop group Run DMC made a special appearance on The Oprah Show to discuss the upcoming season of his reality show Run’s House.

Not a stranger to Hip-Hop or problems facing the Hip-Hop community, Reverend Run shared his opinion on Winfrey’s situation.

“I don’t know if it’s Hip-Hop that she has a big problem with,” Reverend Run told Akiit.com. “I think that she has a problem with some of the images that might not fit the people that watch her show. She does things that are close to what she thinks her audience will like.”

The episode is scheduled to air Monday, Apr. 2 and will feature Reverend Run and his family discussing the upcoming show, their battle with losing their newborn, and even his daughters’ upcoming sneaker line called “Pastries.”

Reverend Run and family’s appearance on The Oprah Show was actually suggested by Winfrey’s well-know best friend Gayle King.

“Well, Gayle King is a friend, and she kept telling Oprah, ‘Man, there’s this show with Reverend Run, and he writes these words of wisdom’, and she was talking to her for awhile about it until she finally said, ‘Okay, let’s have him on the show’,” Reverend Run told Akiit.com.

Run’s House , now in its third season, will depict new experiences and obstacles faced by the Simmons family such as Vanessa and Angela’s move to New York City, the death of their child, and the continuation of the eldest son JoJo’s rap career.

By Alexis Jeffries and Danielle Harling

(Akiit.com) Former “The Parkers” star Mo’Nique went to prison to do a comedy show — and says she found the experience more profoundly affecting than she could have imagined.

“Don’t misunderstand me. Most people who are in prison, should be. But, some who are there are not bad people. They just got caught in a bad situation,” notes the performer, who visited The Ohio Reformatory for Women to do her show — and to film “I Coulda Been Your Cellmate,” which is being released on DVD Tuesday (4/3). She says she was touched to see inmates who had babies in prison, and others who went through a Mother’s Day during production “with no visitors — none.”

“When you hear their stories, it allows you to quit being judgmental,” adds Mo’Nique, who has a beloved aunt who did time. “You can see that through it all, they could smile. It was incredible.

“One young lady was in for 145 years. We were able to laugh at that. I said, ‘When they told you 145 years, did you say, ‘Huh?!’ Did you say, ‘Wait a minute’? If the judge said that to me, it would be my last day,” declares Mo’Nique. The woman, who had been convicted on multiple counts of murder, “told me, ‘Please don’t have any pity for me. I am supposed to be here, but if talking to you, I can help change it for one other person, I’ll do it.’”

“As much as I thought I was going in there to do something for those women, they did so much for me,” says the comedian.

Mo’Nique has a full agenda. Her VH1 “Charm School” reality show is due to premiere April 15. (It revolves around etiquette training for 13 former “Flavor of Love” contestants.) And, she has another “Mo’Nique’s F.A.T. Chance” zaftig ladies’ pageant coming up later this spring. But, she makes clear her trip to do a comedy show in prison won’t be her last. “I will definitely do more.”

A Readers’ Delight in Urban Fiction Rental Service

Amityville, NY (Akiit.com) - One year ago, Urban Club Books, Inc. of Amityville, NY opened as a small community bookstore featuring books of all genres by African American authors. Today, Urban Club Books, Inc. launches the first urban literature “Lending Library Club.” The “Lending Library” is the first urban literature rental club offering the best of urban literature paperbacks delivered free. It’s like having your own personal urban literature library.

The explosion of urban fiction, street-lit, chick-lit, and Christian fiction is far out-pacing most reader’s capacity. Dozens of urban fiction books are published each week from self-published authors to the more well-known African-American authors who are now with the larger publishing houses. Readers can’t keep up with the growing number of titles and are running out of storage room. “The Lending Library” offers a solution - rental of the best of urban paperback literature and comes with free shipping, to and from your home. The “Lending Library” boasts thousands of urban titles; classics and new best sellers.

Donna Carpenter, owner and entrepreneur, a passionate reader of all genres by African-American authors, created “The Lending Library” to satisfy the urban reader’s appetite. After watching customer’s reactions to all the new titles week after week, “The Lending Library” presented a great opportunity for the urban reader as well as its authors.

Urban Club Books, Inc. primary goal is to continue to be innovative in the literary world and make “The Lending Library” Club the premier rental service for the urban reader.

If you would like more information, please visit www.urbanclubbooks.com and Join the Urban Club Books, Inc. “Lending Library” for the best of urban paperback fiction rental or call 516-972-7568, email contactus@urbanclubbooks.com