Tyler Perry Makes History – & Oprah Is There!

By Isoul H. Harris

Originally posted Sunday October 05, 2008 11:30 AM EDT
People.com

History was made Saturday night, when Tyler Perry became the first African-American ever to launch his own major TV and film studio.

But that wasn't the only reason Will Smith was tipping his hat to Perry at the gala Atlanta event in the old Delta Airlines headquarters that now serve as Perry's studio.

"I admire most that he can be that tall and wear a white suit," said Smith, 40, never to waste a punch line. "I usually have to avoid white. At this height, you don't tend to look sexy in white suits, but he pulled it off."

The same could be said when it came to Perry's impressive guest list, which brought out the top names from past and present Hollywood and other spheres of influence: Oprah Winfrey, Sidney Poitier, Ruby Dee, Cicely Tyson, Louis Gossett, Jr., Holly Robinson Peete, Tracey Edmonds, music mogul L.A. Reid, singer John Legend, America's Next Top Model winner Eva Pigford, not to mention baseball legends Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds – among others.

And Oprah Cried


"I spent 56 years making movies and this is the reward that I have that means the most to me," said Poitier, 81, the first African-American to win a Best Actor Oscar, for 1963's Lilies of the Field.

A New Orleans native with a troubled childhood, Perry, 39, credited all of his guests with inspiring his life. Of Winfrey, who attended the celebration with longtime beau Stedman Graham and best friend Gayle King, Perry said, "She owns her life. I am learning that. I never would have shown this to people a few years ago. I was embarrassed by the success."

As a large cast of attendants passed around champagne and tissues for the teary-eyed (who were many), Perry shared his rags-to-riches story over a large video screen that eventually gave way to a live singer and band delivering "The Impossible Dream," followed by a fireworks display. Mary J. Blige, Patti Labelle and Gladys Knight also treated guests to separate performances.

At one point, Perry unveiled a special surprise for veteran trailblazers Poitier, Dee and Tyson: each now has a soundstage named after him and her.

"Is this my wall?" joked Poitier – as Winfrey dissolved into tears.

Tide of Change
All joking aside, it was Will Smith who best summed up Perry's accomplishment and the tide of change taking place in America today.

"This is an American first, and the first in the universe," said the I Am Legend star. "There is something happening in America and in the world that's powerful. He is not letting anyone get in his way.

"Those are the wonderfully naïve, arrogant, humble, powerfully American concepts that make things powerful in this country. It's big."

Clay Aiken

Okay, first and foremost, I am not a Clay Aiken fan or Claymate as they are called. He has a nice voice and all, there has been comparisons to Barry. I think not...but that is not the purpose of my blog.

When I saw the cover and everything written about him coming out the closet. My first thought was, "uh, Clay tell us something we didn't know already."

He hasn't ever lied when asked about his sexuality, he just never answered the questions. It amazes me that the reporters do anything to find out the private lives of celebrities. If he is, so what? What does it have to do with the song he is singing, or the charity he is supporting? Not a thing!

His son (that he conceived invitro with his best friend and producer) will never want or need for anything. I am not speaking materialistically; the child will not need for anything emotionally either because he is loved and he was wanted. Think about so many children today that are killed by a parent, left in a duffle bag or trash bag in a dumpster. Prime example, that twit in Florida that is telling lie after lie about her daughter that has been missing since June.

His son has two parents that talked about his rearing before he even came into this world. He will be raised in NC away from the spotlight - which is a PLUS in itself.

I think there are more important things to worry about in this world today than who is straight and who is gay. Why don't we focus on finding a cure for some of the many deadly diseases out there. Why don't we try to find that little girl in Florida and put her mother in jail for obstruction and murder? Hell, why don't we find a way to lower the gas prices?

Anything besides judging people that want to just enjoy the things in life that make it complete. No one on this Earth has that power because when you go to pointing the finger at someone, take a look - there are four pointing right back at you.

THE LEGACY LIVES

Forty years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s death, his family welcomes his first grandchild

Story by Sandra Sobieraj Westfall for People Magazine
People Magazine dated 6/25/2008


Parents-to-be Arndrea and Martin Luther King III - the son of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - wanted a family name for their baby girl. They considered Coretta, after Martin’s late mother. She, to, had been a revered figue in he fight for equality. “We talked about it, but we didn’t want to put that heavy a mantle on her,” says Martin.

In the end, they settled on the name Yolanda for their daughter, after Martin’s older sister, who died of congestive heart failure and was laid to rest May 24, 2007 - a year and a day before her namesake was born.

Coretta devoted her life to civil rights, but she was also, as her son only learned after her death, a typical mother hoping to be called Grandma. Martin says she never nagged him about producing an heir, but going through her things after her death, he and Arndrea found a tiny white T-shirt printed with the message: “I am special because I’m made by God.” Coretta’s assistant told them she had tucked it away to someday give to a grandchild.” We know our parents were looking down on us when Yolanda was born, but to physically have them here…” Martin trails off. “That’s something I’ll never know.”

******

When I hear people say that they regret that their loved ones are not able to see their babies, I remember a statement that I heard a TV medium say. You do not have to worry because your loved ones held the baby before you did. I truly believe that Dr. King, Mrs. King and Yolanda all held that baby before she came into this world.

Congratulations to the King Family!