#Blackgirlmagic - Women of Rubies

In Career Gems November 27, 2018 By Editor

MICHELLE OBAMA’S NEW BOOK SELLS 1.4 MILLION COPIES IN A WEEK

Former US first lady, Michelle Obama‘s memoir “Becoming” has recorded massive sales.

Crown Publishing told The Associated Press that Michelle’s memoir has sold more than 1.4 million copies in print and digital formats in the U.S. and Canada in the seven days since it was released Nov. 13.

Based on demand from retailers across all channels, the publisher has printed 3 million hardcover copies in North America. On its first day, the book sold more than 725,000 copies, making it one of the year’s biggest debuts, according to FOX News.

Crown also confirmed to the publication that “Becoming” is currently the No. 1 adult nonfiction title in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Holland, Spain, Denmark and Finland. In Germany, some 200,000 copies have been sold, prompting a second printing of 100,000 copies.

Credit: LIB

In Career Gems November 27, 2018 By Editor

20-YEAR-OLD KRISTINE BECOMES FIRST BLACK FEMALE PRESIDENT OF HARVARD’S 145-YEAR NEWSPAPER

In January 2019, a Liberal arts student from New York born to immigrant parents, will become the first black woman to lead Harvard University’s Crimson newspaper in its 145-year history.

Kristine Guillaume, who is studying literature, history and African-American studies, was elected this month with a promise to steer the traditional bastion of the establishment towards a more diverse, digital-first future.

She has previously served as a chair of a diversity and inclusivity committee, responsible for making The Harvard Crimson more diverse and welcoming to students from all backgrounds.

“If my being elected to the Crimson presidency as the first black woman affirms anyone’s sense of belonging at Harvard, then that will continue to affirm the work that I’m doing,” she told The New York Times.

The 20-year-old is the third black president and first black woman to helm the organization since it was founded in 1873.

Credit: punch.ng

In lifestyle November 22, 2018 By Editor

MICHELLE OBAMA COVERS THE LATEST ISSUE OF POWER 100 MAGAZINE

Former First Lady of US, Michelle Obama is the cover star of the Dec. 2018/Jan. 2019 Power 100 issue.

She is also a 2018 EBONY Power 100 Entertainment & Arts honoree.

In the interview, the former First Lady spoke about what makes Black women magical and she also spoke about her new memoir, Becoming.

According to EBONY,

In her book, Mrs. Obama discusses the liberating nature of her post-White House experience and how being a Black girl growing up on the South Side of Chicago helped her even when it may have caused some struggle. She shared her opinion on the weight of the Black-woman-as-savior trope with the publication.

“As for why the world sometimes looks to Black women—and I have to say that I wish the world turned to Black women more often than it does—I think it’s because we’ve got a perspective all our own,” the former first lady told EBONY. “If you’re growing up Black and female, you can’t help but really learn what’s going on down on the ground. You’re going to see a lot of the bottoms of people’s shoes coming down on you, so you learn to be nimble and resourceful.”

Mrs. Obama said the treatment of Black women leads them to be more grateful for what they have and be more optimistic about change. Living as an overlooked group compels Black women to be more sympathetic to the struggles of others.

“The trick is we need more people who are willing to listen to Black women, especially young Black women, to lift up our voices rather than shutting us out,” she added.

MICHELLE OBAMA’S MEMOIR ‘BECOMING’ BECOMES BARNES & NOBLE FASTEST SELLING BOOK OF 2018

Former US first lady, Michelle Obama’s memoir “Becoming” has become the fastest-selling book of 2018 at Barnes & Noble, surpassing the Trump administration tell-all “Fear: Trump in the White House” by veteran journalist Bob Woodward.

In addition, Barnes & Noble also announced that “Becoming” had the best first-week sales of any adult book since 2015’s “Go Set a Watchman,” the highly anticipated second novel from “To Kill A Mockingbird” author Harper Lee.

Publisher Penguin Random House also revealed that “Becoming” sold more than 725,000 copies on its first day of release last week, the highest single-day sales of any book by the publisher this year, according to CNBC.

In Editor's Choice November 21, 2018 By Editor

TIWA SAVAGE OPENS UP ABOUT HER BATTLE WITH LOW SELF ESTEEM

Tiwa Savage has bare it all about her battle with low self esteem

The Mavin queen also revealed that she only looks beautiful by the help of make-ups and push-up bras. Stating that sometimes she is intimidated by the glamour on social media.

“I get a lot of messages from young girls who are depressed with low self-esteem because they don’t feel pretty like the social media girls they see every day and my heart breaks because I feel like that too sometimes.

“We are all in this together, I’m not perfect, and not the prettiest, sexiest, richest but I’ll remain kind and seek after God’s heart because none of the others matters to Him.

“Ultimately God’s approval is all we need”, she said.

She added that contrary to public belief, she hardly sees herself as a pretty woman.

“Some people are born beautiful, flawless skin, long curly hair, fair skin but some of us grew up looking at the world’s definition of beauty and found ourselves not fitting into that standard but with the help of makeup, filters and push up bras we feel a little closer.

“What happens when you take all that off and you stare at yourself in the mirror, do you still think you are beautiful?

“You should because you are and when we meet our creator face to face it’s those with the kindest hearts that will stand as most beautiful.

“So while we work on the outside make sure we work on our hearts.”

In Career Gems November 20, 2018 By Editor

GRACE LADOJA HONORED BY THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND

On Instagram, she shares a picture of herself with the Prince of Wales who recently visited Nigeria.

Grace Ladoja has been working with the UK Grime icon, Skepta since 2014. In that time, she has overseen his transition from the popular face of grime to an iconic, heavily-personified figure with a strong following outside the UK.

Grace, who is the daughter of a former Oyo State governor, Rashidi Ladoja, has built a reputation as one of the main catalysts in the emergence of the UK grime scene on the international stage.

In addition, she is also seen as one of the UK’s most promising media executives, thanks to her work with artistes like FKA Twigs and popular brands like Supreme.

Credit: pulse.ng

In Career Gems November 16, 2018 By Editor

CHIMAMANDA ADICHIE FEATURES ON THE COVER OF TELEGRAPH MAGAZINE

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was featured on the cover of the October 27 issue of Telegraph Magazine, where she discussed Nigeria, misogyny, and the #MeToo movement.

Chimamanda talked about losing faith in Nigeria after her father was kidnapped in 2015, how she feels he was kidnapped because of her.

She said:

It was because of me. That incident affected my father – it robbed him of something; there’s a distrust that he didn’t have before. He comes from a generation with a certain kind of integrity. For a long time he didn’t understand things like bribery – it just perplexed him. My father had given his everything – he got his PhD in the US and he had job offers there in the 1960s, but he was keen to come back to Nigeria. It was post-independence, everyone was very enthusiastic and my father spent his life teaching. I felt that Nigeria had failed him – for a man of his age to be thrown into the boot of a car …That incident broke my heart and it’s the first time I started to seriously question Nigeria.

The cover story is up on the Telegraph website, and you can read it here.

Credit: Bella Naija

In lifestyle November 16, 2018 By Editor

JANELLE MONAE TO RECEIVE THE TRAILBLAZER AWARD AT BILLBOARD’S 13TH ANNUAL WOMEN IN MUSIC EVENT

Billboard’s 13th annual Women in Music event is set to hold on Dec. 6 in New York City and according to Billboard, Janelle Monáe is one of the people who will be honoured at the said event. Janelle Monáe will accept the trailblazer award.

The Trailblazer award is awarded to a female artist who acts as a music industry pioneer by using her platform to spotlight unheard voices and break ground for future generations of performers.

In the past decade, Monáe has worked to redefine how a black woman can be represented in popular culture. Her album Dirty Computer peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 album chart, and the record’s sci-fi-inflected accompanying film project of the same name shows she has no limit in exercising her creativity in new ways.

Credit: Bella Naija

In Career Gems November 15, 2018 By Editor

REBRANDING: DEBBIE RISE CHANGES NAME TO DEBORAH RISE

Big Brother Naija 2017 housemate Debie Rise has rebrand to Deborah Rise.

In a series of announcements on her Instagram page, the singer announced that she will now be known as Deborah Rise. She has also announced that her next project will be officially released on the 15th of November.

She says:

The 2nd Announcement!
With so much Joy and a heart full of thanksgiving,
I’ll like to announce that:
“The project that has taken me the whole year to work on will finally be out tomorrow with visuals.” Anticipate with Joy..
#DeborahRise
#StillNervous

In Career Gems November 12, 2018 By Editor

STEPHANIE LINUS LECTURES STUDENTS OF DILLARD UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS

Over the weekend, Stephanie Linus was invited to speak to the students at Dillard University

The filmmaker, human rights advocate and actress was invited to celebrate the school’s annual Ray Charles Week.

During her visit, she gave a lecture on “The Emergence of African Storytellers and Their New Narrative” and also screened her self-produced and directed movie ‘Dry’ which focuses on fistula and the practice of under-age marriage among young women.

The award-winning actress told the group of young college students at Dillard University in New Orleans:

You have the power to change the narrative of every wrong representation of who you think you are. There is so much you can achieve by telling a story. When I think of a story, I think of it as a connection between myself and my audience, an opportunity for me to take them on a journey that inspires them to learn about themselves and the world around them.

Speaking at the Ray Charles Week hosted by Dillard University Ray Charles Program, Dillard University Film and Dillard University African World Student Organization, the filmmaker encouraged the college students to tap into the power of the media and growth in technology to create a new narrative for themselves.

The media is such a powerful tool of influence that if used properly, can bring about a positive change in almost every sphere of life. It is time for you to look inside yourselves and see the gaps within your society, and find ways to fill these gaps with your narratives. I ask you here today, what is your story? What is that new narrative you desire when you think of black people and black history and what kind of impact do you want it to create?

She encouraged the students to be fearless about telling their stories, adding that by doing so, they could create a better representation of themselves and who they ought to be.

Credit: Bella Naija