Emmy Nominated Television Producer and Author of “Get on TV!”, Jacquie Jordan, offers a half day
TV HOST TRAINING INTENSIVE
* Understand the Anatomy of a Show/Segment
* Learn what makes a ‘good’ TV Host
* Find out what it takes to get a TV hosting job
* Work on Performance Technique
* Receive Professional Feedback
* Practice on Camera
* Leave with your performance tape
Saturday, April 4th 1p – 4pm
TVGuestpert.com Studios
2938 Nebraska Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90404
Course Fee: $350.00
Friends of Sheryl Lee Ralph Fee: $250.00
Audit Fee (no participation, no tape): $50.00
Contact assistant@tvguestpert.com
Class is limited. Register NOW!
Find On-Camera work as a TV show host!
‘We’re in a State of Emergency’
Sheryl Lee Ralph: ‘We’re in a State of Emergency’
As told to Kenya N. Byrd
We asked HIV/AIDS awareness activist Sheryl Lee Ralph to weigh in on the comments made by Pope Benedict XVI on preventing the spread of AIDS in Africa, and here’s what she had to say:
Read the Pope’s comments on Aids in Africa >>
Pope Benedict needs to get real. Does he really think that encouraging our people in Africa to have protected sex with the use of condoms promotes risky sexual behavior and infidelity? Yes, he’s the Pope but he sounds more like a pope-itician to me if he believes that my people in Africa don’t need to use condoms. Clearly, he’s stuck in a time warp of ancient thinking when churchfolk were encouraged from a position of power not to use condoms so that more babies were born into that particular faith. He’s living in a much different world and he’s not in touch with the people and what’s going on in this world as we know it. This is the same man who also wants to believe that the killing of the Jews didn’t happen in World War II, so what do you expect him to say? This is the same man whose religion has forgiven some atrocities that most of us think, How do you forgive something like that and call yourself a man of God? If he were to look into some of the men that work within his religion, we know for a fact that a few of them need to use condoms. Some people can only hear their side of the story and I say to them: “When you can clean up your own backyard, then you can help someone else with theirs.”
If I could have a sit-down with the Pope, it would give me tremendous hope and I’d thank him for his kind invitation to engage in a serious dialogue. I’ve been to Africa and listened to women who know their husbands are infected with HIV/AIDS yet continue to have unprotected sex with them simply because “he’s my husband.” So it’s not about discarding people’s religious beliefs or being judgmental about Catholicism, but our people in Africa absolutely need to wear condoms. Whenever an institution should be choosing to speak up about a grave issue such as HIV/AIDS in Africa, they shut up. What I’ve learned is that just like one condom doesn’t fit all, one message does not fit all. We must all learn to be culturally, spiritually and humanly sensitive to everyone’s needs. We know what can happen when things are cloaked in silence; it makes bad things grow and that’s why HIV/AIDS has taken root in our communities and society, because we don’t say enough, because we don’t want to be the bearer of bad news, because they shoot the messenger, and that is just so sad.
‘Black People, We Need a Movement’
ORIGINALLY POSTED: MARCH 18, 2009 on ESSENCE.com
Sheryl Lee Ralph: ‘Black People, We Need a Movement’
As told to Kenya N. Byrd
Activist and actress Sheryl Lee Ralph speaks out on Washington D.C.’s alarming HIV/AIDS rates and exlplains why Black America “needs a movement.”
A new report states that at least 3 percent of Washington, D.C.’s residents are infected with the HIV or AIDS, making it one of the nation’s highest rates. But seriously, how long ago did we start hearing that report? Two or three years ago? Back then they warned that the rate of infection in D.C. was rivaling sub-Saharan Africa. Why are they ringing the alarm now? Because people are realizing how bad it is. But I’m going to look at the bright side of this and believe that, because we have an incredible President and First Lady, then we need to do something about this. Here’s a President who went and got tested for HIV/AIDS in Kenya with his wife, which inspired me and my husband, Senator Vincent Hughes, to get tested together and encourage other loving couples to do the same.
I’ve been saying this for a long time and I’m going to keep on saying it because I love my people: It’s time we take drastic measures, we need a movement. Again, whenever there is silence, poverty, a lack of education, classism, it becomes fertile ground for this disease to take root in our communities and rival rates of sub-Saharan Africa. It’s got to get better because we are in a state of emergency. I would like to see a dedicated program devoted to age-appropriate messages that address young and old people. It makes me think America hates its young people so much that they wouldn’t even take the time to talk to them about saving their own lives.
Most of the D.C. residents who are infected are over 40. Some might find that surprising but I don’t because Viagra changed everything for a lot of folks. These old men who come from a generation that never liked or believed in using condoms are jumping around chanting, “Viva Viagra,” because when they sneak and get that Saturday night special and come home and sleep with their Big Mama, it’s a huge problem. Now, our daughters, sisters, wives, mothers are being infected, and once Big Mama is infected, well then the children begin suffering and we have this epidemic on our home soil.
I met D.C.’s mayor, Adrian Fenty, and I said, “I’d love to have a discussion with you about how I can help find new ways to tackle our HIV/AIDS problem,” and I swear it was as if he didn’t hear me. Maybe it wasn’t the right place or time, but I strongly believe that Black men and women need to sing in one accord and begin creating duets together so we can get some news songs in the key of life and that has to start today.
Life is very Precious…
Natasha Richardson was a wonderful person and gfted actress. I am sure you join me in offering prayer to her family.
Altovise Davis widow of Sammy Davis dies at 65 of a stroke
Altovise Davis widow of Sammy Davis Jr.
LOS ANGELES – Altovise Joanne Gore Davis, a dancer and actress and the widow of Sammy Davis Jr., has died. She was 65. Davis died Saturday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after suffering a stroke, said Amy Malone, a publicist for her family. Davis worked her way to the Broadway stage where she met the legendary entertainer when they performed together in the musical “Golden Boy” in 1967. She became his third wife when they wed in 1970 (Davis was previously married to dancer Loray White and Swedish actress Mai Britt). They adopted a son and remained together until Davis died of throat cancer in 1990 at the age of 64. After his death she was left to sort through his multimillion IRS tax debt and oversee his troubled estate. Last year, she sued two former business partners in federal court, claiming they tricked her into signing away the rights to the estate. The suit is pending.
Davis is survived by her son Manny.
A private memorial service was being planned.
March 10th is Nat’l Women & Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day! Pass it on
Dear Sisters and Friends,
Tuesday, March 10th is National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. HIV/AIDS infection rates among women and girls (especially of color) continue to rise at a rate that is unacceptable, while prevention efforts, education and funding continues to dwindle.
Sisters, I hope that you will take time on Tuesday to talk to your daughters, mothers, aunties, grandmothers, nieces, colleagues, clients, students and the men in your life about HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of testing in an effort to help raise awareness about the extent and urgency of the HIV epidemic among women and girls across America. I hope that you will take the time to lift up and empower your sisters through loving conversation on March 10th!
I founded The Diva Foundation, a national non-profit 501(3) charitable organization in 1990 as a memorial to the many friends I had lost to HIV/AIDS and my concern for the threat HIV/AIDS posed for women and children. The organization focuses on HIV/AIDS awareness, testing, and the lowering of the HIV infection rate especially as it pertains to women and young people. If you or your organization would like to support The DIVA Foundation, Divinely Inspired Victoriously Anointed about the business of Driving Infectious Viruses Away please visit divassimplysinging.com or email, slrwebsite@gmail.com. We need your help!
Yours in the struggle,
Sheryl Lee
FOX REJECTS PSA
” I am concerned that FOX chose to reject my PG rated HIV/AIDS PSA especially their decision not to air it during “Family Guy” a series known for it’s raunchy and often racy content. I am even more concerned that it has become ok to promote and make family fun out of irresponsible sex in our entertainment but when we try to address a health issue like HIV/AIDS (which is a direct result of such behavior) and talk honestly and openly about sex we choose not to take positive action. “Family Guy” has the perfect demographic that could be helped by AIDS awareness considering the show dialogue below.
- “I’ll bet you can’t get a boner”, which was replied to by “That’s not very nice, Brian”, to which “Brian replied, “Neither is your mother’s ass.”
- In another episode, Mr. Herbert, a “pedophile” babysitter …responds (to Chris, the older son on the series), “Don’t you mouth off to me or I’m going to smack you right in your penis.”
In comparison, the script of my rejected HIV prevention commercial reads, “Hello, this is Sheryl Lee Ralph. Let’s talk. Let’s talk about …HIV. We have 56,000 new HIV infections every year in our country. Half of these are among African-Americans. That is too many. We don’t like to talk about unsafe sex, but we can’t afford not to. Sisters tell him to MAN UP. Use a condom and get tested together. Visit getfreecondoms.org to find out more.”
When you look at it all, something is very wrong.
Is FOX afraid of the word condom? They need to get informed and check the series back story and they would know that ‘Family Guy’ has used the word “condom” in script dialogue. In the episode, “Emission Impossible”, (Season 3, Episode #11) it is revealed that Chris was born as an accident, due to a broken condom. . If the word condom is good enough for the show , why isn’t it good enough for a direct ,fact filled ,health PSA?
I have been traveling across this country for the past 4 years with my one woman show “Sometimes I Cry” talking about the rising rate of HIV infections in America and after almost 30 years into this disease I am shocked as to what people know or don’t want to know about HIV/AIDS. People want to believe that it is happening to someone other than themselves and that is why it is silently happening to their children all across America.”
World AIDS Day – Fox 61 – Hartford, CT
Sheryl Lee Ralph stops by Fox 61 to encourage awareness, testing, and prevention in observance of World AIDS Day…
more about “World AIDS Day – Fox 61 – Hartford, CT“, posted with vodpod
God Bless America
It has been one week since the historic election of President elect Barack Obama and I am still feeling so very happy! Like many of my friends, every now and then I just burst out laughing, feeling so good about what we have achieved as a people and a country by electing Barack Obama to the presidency. Just think about it, America, the nation that enshrined slavery in its Constitution has moved beyond the limitations of racism. What a feeling! Truly one of the most amazing, emotional days I have ever experienced.
As happy as I’m feeling I can only imagine how Barack felt four years ago to election day, when he was elected to the US Senate representing Illinois, a state that has a history of it’s own battles with rasicm.The joy he felt then overcoming those obstacles, I’m sure, couldn’t compare to what he must have felt that beautiful night in Denver when he accepted the Democratic nomination on the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, where 
Dr. King said and I love this part,
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
How happy Dr. King would have been to see his dream come true in a campaign for the history books where Senator Barack Obama, child of the dream would become the first black or more correctly, based upon his mother
from Kansas and his father from Kenya, African American candidate to become the 44th President of the United States of America. How happy Obama must have felt in honour of all the ancestors who went before him in this valiant pursuit of truth and justice for all!
One week ago, Barack Obama became the leader of the free world! A seminal moment for America and all Americans. Oh happy day!
One week ago, Barack Obama became the leader of the free world! A seminal moment for America and all Americans. Oh happy day!
God Bless America
lyrics by Irving Berlin
God bless America,
Land that I love,
Stand beside her and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above;
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans white with foam,
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
God bless America,
My home, sweet home.
Election Night, November 4, 2008 – Sheryl Lee Ralph leads crowd in singing “God Bless America”
