Daily News Feed 7.6.2009/Vocab: verdant

En Vogue Marks 20 Years at Essence Fest
En Vogue marked their 20th anniversary as one of music’s most successful female groups with a reunion show that electrified the crowd at the Essence Music Festival. Sunday night’s performance featured all the group’s original members — Cindy Herron-Bragg, Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson and Maxine Jones — soaking up an enthusiastic audience that sang along and danced in the aisles. “It was amazing,” Herron-Bragg said of the audience reaction and participation. “I’m just glad we were able to connect with them.” “We’re just excited to be together again,” Robinson said. “It’s like we never missed a beat. It feels normal again.” Known for their hits “Free Your Mind,” “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) and “Don’t Let Go,” the group opened the final night of the festival. They performed a medley of tunes by female artists who inspired them, including Tina Turner, Anita Ward and Aretha Franklin. (Continue Reading…)

Does Race Play a Role in Coverage of Michelle Obama?
While Michelle Obama was meeting with doctors and patients at the Upper Cardozo Health Center, nearly two dozen journalists stood behind a white rope in a small room upstairs, most finally growing so tired during the hour-long wait that they sat on the floor. Finally the first lady emerged, read a short speech about releasing federal stimulus money for community health clinics — including $2.5 million for the Northwest Washington center — and greeted a handpicked audience with handshakes and hugs. Then she turned and left, and the press pool quietly filed out. Rachel Swarns of the New York Times and The Washington Post’s Robin Givhan were among those herded behind the rope Monday. They and the other main beat reporters — Newsweek’s Allison Samuels, Darlene Superville of the Associated Press and Politico’s Nia-Malika Henderson — have something in common: They are all African American women. (Continue Reading…)

Jackson Memorial Likely to Be a World Event
Will Michael Jackson stop the world? Thousands are expected to swamp Los Angeles, California, to mourn him Tuesday at the Staples Center, and the accompanying media crush will be enormous. The tribute to the King of Pop at Harlem’s Apollo Theater earlier this week drew coverage from all over the world, along with a public turnout in the thousands. Given the feverish interest in all things Jackson, the Los Angeles memorial could be one of the most-viewed events of all time. (Continue Reading…)

verdant\VUR-dnt\, adjective: