Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie wins US National Critics Book Prize

Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has won the US National Critics Book Prize for her novel Americanah. The writer’s work tells the story of a Nigerian woman who moves to the US to pursue a college education.

In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, the author said her book drew on her own experiences as an African living in the US, particularly with African Americans.

“I don’t know race in the way an African American knows race… Sometimes it takes an outsider to see something about your own reality that you don’t,” she said.

Synopsis of Americanah:

A story of love and race centered around a young man and woman from Nigeria who face difficult choices and challenges in the countries they come to call home.

As teenagers in a Lagos secondary school, Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love. Their Nigeria is under military dictatorship, and people are leaving the country if they can. Ifemelu—beautiful, self-assured—departs for America to study. She suffers defeats and triumphs, finds and loses relationships and friendships, all the while feeling the weight of something she never thought of back home: race. Obinze—the quiet, thoughtful son of a professor—had hoped to join her, but post-9/11 America will not let him in, and he plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London.

Years later, Obinze is a wealthy man in a newly democratic Nigeria, while Ifemelu has achieved success as a writer of an eye-opening blog about race in America. But when Ifemelu returns to Nigeria, and she and Obinze reignite their shared passion—for their homeland and for each other—they will face the toughest decisions of their lives.

Fearless, gripping, at once darkly funny and tender, spanning three continents and numerous lives, Americanah is a richly told story set in today’s globalized world: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s most powerful and astonishing novel yet.

Hip-Hop Pioneers Plan a Museum for the Bronx

Before hip-hop became a musical genre, it was a form of expression — and an escape — for its early creators in the Bronx.

Now some of those elders of the genre want to underscore its Bronx roots by opening a hip-hop museum inside the Kingsbridge Armory, a long-empty fortress that is being redeveloped into a national ice sports center. The museum — to be called the Universal Hip Hop Museum — would utilize interactive technology to provide a comprehensive look at hip-hop, including its historical and cultural roots and the contributions of break dancers and disc jockeys, according to museum organizers.

“Many people have a misconception of what hip-hop is,” said Afrika Bambaataa, who is often called the godfather of hip-hop and will serve as the museum’s chairman. “When they say hip-hop, they only say it’s the rapper, and there’s a whole culture and movement behind it.”

The plan for the museum was announced by a group of hip-hop artists and their supporters at a news conference in front of City Hall on Wednesday after a City Council ceremony inside to honor the achievements of Mr. Bambaataa and other early hip-hop pioneers, including Grandmaster Melle Mel, Grandmaster Caz and Grand Wizard Theodore. The new museum, which is still being developed, is the latest in a line of efforts to honor hip-hop that date back to at least the mid-1990s.

Read more here: Hip-Hop Pioneers Plan a Museum for the Bronx

Chris Brown arrested on probation violation

[ SOURCE ] Singer Chris Brown was arrested Friday afternoon by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies after he allegedly violated probation related to his 2009 conviction for assaulting his then-girlfriend Rihanna.

The singer was booked into jail in downtown Los Angeles, where he is being held without bail.

The warrant was issued for a probation violation related to his 2009 conviction in the assault on Rihanna, authorities said.

Brown was "cooperative" when deputies arrested him in Malibu about 2 p.m. Friday, according to a statement released by the sheriff's department.

Two sheriff's officials who had been briefed on the arrest told The Times that a judge asked the rehab facility to notify authorities if Brown showed up.

The facility called authorities Friday when Brown arrived and advised them the singer was supposed to be arrested. After confirming the warrant with the Probation Department, sheriff's deputies arrested the singer.

Sheilah Coley confirmed as Newark's first female police director

[ SOURCE] Sheilah Coley, who has been the city's acting police director since the retirement last month of Samuel DeMaio was officially confirmed as director by the city council today in 6-0 vote. She is the first woman to hold that post.

"It's just logical to make (Coley) director in this transitional period," said South Ward Councilman Ras Baraka, a mayoral contender. Baraka has said if he is elected he will conduct a nationwide search for a new director. A new mayor takes office July 1.

East Ward Councilman Augusto Amador said he has faith in Coley's leadership.

"I believe that she's the best candidate for the job right now," Amador said after the vote. "I'm in total support of her."

Coley, 51, graduated from the police academy in 1989 and spent her first years with the department patrolling Newark's East Ward. She rose through the ranks from detective to sergeant, eventually becoming the lieutenant in charge of the sex crimes unit in 2001.

She became a captain in 2005 and in 2008 took command of the 5th Precinct, which includes much of the South Ward.

Could the next Star Wars feature a black lead?

A story on Variety.com reports on rumors about three actors who at this time appear to be in the running for the lead role in the next Star Wars film. One of those rumored to be in the running is Attack the Block star John Boyega. While Star Wars has had African Americans in supporting roles ( See Billy Dee Williams and his perm, Samuel Jackson, and that guy that played Captain Panaka. Sorry black women you are ass out in the Star Wars Universe .) This would be a first for the franchise if it comes to pass. Let's keep our fingers crossed.