What Would Thembi Do? » The Black Archives

Remembering Michael

Thembi Ford — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 13:39:59 +0000

A year ago today I hadn't thought much about what happens when you die, or even what could happen when millions of people who feel a connection to a man like Michael Jackson suddenly lose him.

Prince: Diamonds and Pearls

Thembi Ford — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:43:59 +0000

Today is Prince’s birthday, and in spite of all the years of musical enjoyment he’s provided I’m kind of mad at him right now. The first fit of anger is toward the fact that he’s fifty-two years old and looks…

A Tribute to David Mills

Thembi Ford — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 05:30:43 +0000

{Editors Note: David Mills was a journalist, television writer, and blogger who died suddenly on March 30. He was part of the WWTD family, very brilliant, and only 48. The loss is tragic and my condolences go out to his family and loved ones. I admired David too much to not add to the wonderful eulogies from close friends and colleagues, and I hope that you either join me in remembrance or learn a little bit about a great talent that we

Alphonso Ribero and Chaka Khan on Celebrity Duets

Thembi Ford — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:54:23 +0000

A few days ago Dj Stylus shared this video on Facebook and I haven't been able to shake it since. He quipped, "I'm surprised that I saw this before Thembi, aka the mistress of all things obscure and Negronian." Yeah thanks, but courtesy of this video I've developed a mild phobia related to brown leather and fringes. I'd never seen Fox's Celebrity Duets let alone this performance, but there is so much squatting and doing-the-most-ness on the part of Alphonso Ribero that Chaka Khan's trademark extraness is almost a mere distraction. Just watch

Black History Month Pop Culture Challenge Week 2: Answers

Thembi Ford — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:46:05 +0000

I know I've been slipping with timely posts of the quiz, but I keep realizing that I have to make them harder. Yes, you read that right. Here are this week's standings...

Black History Month On The Web: “The Grio’s 100″

Thembi Ford — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:20:59 +0000

“The Grio’s 100″ is a comprehensive list of black influencers from ten fields: sports, education, business, science and the environment, media, service an activism, politics, health, pop culture, and the arts. The list is driven by the need to highlight…

Black History Month Pop Culture Challenge Week 1: Answers

Thembi Ford — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:42:41 +0000

Let's just say that the first round of scores were great, and that with enough luck and brainpower anyone can still take the lead or certainly place. I'm going to have to make these questions harder!

Nelson Mandela and Pop Culture

Thembi Ford — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:12:52 +0000

It's hard to believe that twenty years have passed since Nelson Mandela was freed and the African National Congress decriminalized as an organization, but February 11, 1990 began a new era of multicultural democracy in South Africa. I saw Nelson Mandela speak a few years ago and as inspirational as his talk was I couldn't stop reminding myself that this man had endured twenty-seven years of imprisonment for challenging the unjust racist system of apartheid - while the world watched.

Kid & Play On The Mo’Nique Show … A Comeback?

Thembi Ford — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:37:52 +0000

Whenever I see Christopher “Kid” Reid on VH-1 or in a random commercial I ask “where is Play?” Play is the one I had a crush on, the one who was *really* cute, and, frankly, more than 50%…

Black History Month Pop Culture Challenge Week 1!

Thembi Ford — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:30:08 +0000

I almost didn’t bring back the Black History Month Pop Culture Challenge this year. To be honest, I’ve been hit with a wave of winter malaise that’s kept me from being as enviably sharp as my usual quick-witted pop culture…