Daily News Feed 8.01.08

Italian Vogue ‘Black’ Issue a Global Hit
n the world of fashion magazines, a black model on the cover of the publication is is a rare occurrence. The justification for this disparity is often that issues with black cover models don’t sell. This month, however, the so-called “black” issue of Italian Vogue has proven that theory to be at least somewhat flawed. As reported by UK news source The Guardian, in the past four weeks, the issue has caused such a phenomenal demand at news-stands in Britain and the United States that Condé Nast, the publisher, has rushed to reprint and distribute 40,000 more copies. Conceived by editor-in-chief Franca Sozzani, and shot by Steven Meisel from a roster of 18 new, established and former stars, the July ‘black issue’ sold out in Britain on arrival. Borders bookstores in the country have reported that demand was up 654% from the previous issue. “It has been unprecedented, a sensation, although that wasn’t the aim,” said Jonathan Newhouse, chairman of Condé Nast International. Here in the States, the issue is shrink-wrapped and stickered with the words “First Reprint. The Most Wanted Issue Ever.” (Continue Reading…)

UN vote OKs Darfur peacekeeping, but US abstains
The U.N. Security Council approved another year of peacekeeping in Sudan’s bloodied Darfur region Thursday night, but the U.S. abstained from a vote that reflected sharp divisions over genocide charges against the Sudanese president. The United States, despite support for the struggling peacekeeping mission, did not vote because of its opposition to any delay in efforts to prosecute Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir. The resolution that was approved 14-0 carried language that noted an African Union request to freeze the International Criminal Court’s prosecution of al-Bashir. Though the measure does not stop the prosecution, U.S. Deputy Ambassador Alejandro Wolff said that the language “would send the wrong signal” to al-Bashir and “undermine efforts to bring him and others to justice.” (Continue Reading…)

Film : The Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival
The Martha’s Vineyard African-American Film Festival, now in its sixth year, was launched in 2002 by Run and Shoot Filmworks (RSF), the husband-and-wife team Stephanie Tavares-Rance and Floyd Rance III. Their company statement explains: “We wanted to create a haven where filmmakers of color could convene, share ideas, and showcase their works in a beautiful setting.” The two producers are veterans in the entertainment industry. Ms. Tavares-Rance spent 10 years working in music on award winning projects such as those with Frank Sinatra (Duets I, II), Prince, Jon Secada, Gloria Estefan, and others, before going on to work in films. Likewise, Mr. Floyd worked with filmmaker Spike Lee, photographed and directed projects for HBO projects and NBC Sports, among other credits. (Continue Reading…)

Woman with KKK Links Reps School for Blacks
A school in Florida that aims to lift underprivileged African American and Hispanic children out of poverty has as its spokesperson a woman with ties to white supremacists. Chloe Black, the ex-wife of former Ku Klux Klan head David Duke, is now married to Don Black, the creator of the white-power hate site Stormfront, reports FoxNews.com. She is also a spokesperson for Glades, a charter school for the children of African-American and migrant workers in Pahokee, a rural town in Palm Beach County. (Continue Reading…)