Daily News Feed 11.17.08

GM Names 1st Black Female Design Director
Crystal L. Windham (35) has been appointed Directorof General Motors North American Passenger Car Design as of November 1, 2008. Inher new position, Windham will head the interior design for the following architectures in GM North America: Global Midsize Car, Global Compact Car, and Global Small Car. Crystal, a lead designer on the 2008 award winning Chevy Malibu “Car of the Year”, began her career at GM North America Design in 1994 and has held assignments across brand studios, including an International Assignment atAdam-Opel from 1997-1998. “A mentor guided me towards automotive design. Without guidance and support from family and co-workers, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I truly love my job- it’s creative, expressive – but it is not easy. Enjoying what you do, however, makes it all worthwhile. I hope other young women will look to what I have done and be inspired to consider automotive design,” she said. (Continue Reading…)

Katt Williams Taken to Hospital for Psychiatric Evaluation
In a bizarre case coming out of Sumter, a motel worker says world-renowned comedian Katt Williams tried to check into a motel wearing a bathrobe. The clerk, Marion Donning, thought something was wrong and called police. Donning said she had no idea who he was. “And when I asked for his ID, he stared to look in his pockets and couldn’t find his ID,” Donning said. In the video, you can see Williams trying to check in to the Mt. Vernon Inn at around 8:30am on Friday. (Continue Reading…)

UK: Black Women Earning More than White Counterparts
The average earnings of black women in Britain are now higher than their white counterparts, according to government statistics. In a landmark social development that suggests the erosion of a long-standing racial barrier, the figures show “black Caribbean” women earned on average £462 a week – 6% more than white women – in the three months to October this year. That is a reversal of the previous year’s figures, when white women earned more than 7% above their black counterparts. The figures show that black women’s earnings overtook those of white women in the first three months of 2008 and the pay gap has increased gradually since then. (Continue Reading…)