“The moment I realized I was going to be a single mother, I had to reflect and reorganize my thoughts. I decided to trust that God had a plan for me, and move forward one day at a time,” Ciara said in the May issue of ESSENCE.
“The one thing I’ve been telling my daughters is that I don’t want them to choose a name. I don’t want them to think, ‘Oh I should go to these top schools.’ We live in a country where there are thousands of amazing universities. So, the question is: What’s going to work for you? When it was time for me to apply to colleges there were some counselors who said, ‘Maybe, with Princeton, you’re reaching a little high and I thought, ‘You really don’t think I can do it?’ But here’s what I did: I decided to ignore the doubters. I plunged ahead and I got in. I went on to Harvard Law School and every step of the way I used those doubting voices as motivation,” on advising her high school aged daughters on seeking a higher education.
“I want people to remember why they fell in love with my music. I’m in the baby stages, but I’m the studio. You’ll definitely hear from me this year,” Barbershop 3: The Next Cut actress Eve said of her impending return to music.
“I released my first record when I was 17, and this June marks thirty years in the business for me. I really just want to say that I’m humbled and I just want all of you to know that I’m dedicated to being a light in this world…. I’m dedicated, until I die, to light and to love. Thank you all,” actor said of his MTV Movie Generation Award win.
“I wanted to be thin. I wasted so much energy, energy and time wanting my thighs to be thin, for my arms not to flap. I had the success and the money, but I was still wanting something different than I had. Jesus did not want me to workout,” said media mogul Oprah Winfrey on her struggles with weight.
“Black Lives Matter, at the core of it, is really about authorities killing citizens, and a lot of people get that blurred with Black-on-Black crime. Black-on-Black crimes happens just like White-on-White crime happens just like Mexican-on-Mexican crime happens. Anybody in a community usually commits crimes against other people in their community,” said the Barbershop 3: The Next Cut and recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee.
“For a long time i was hesitant about sharing our story. I didn’t want to be another well-known person saying, ‘Look what happened to me and my family.’ But then I said, screw that. I can save a life. We never fully reconnected. I think she thought some part of me still judged her. I’ve been engaged a couple of times – thank God no one was abusive. My friends call me the runaway bride,” said the Today co-host on the affect of her sister’s death on her view on love.
“I think when it comes, it will be right. I’m definitely not turning my nose up to the opportunity. I think it’s a stage and I think as a comedian it’s something that you want to say you did in your career. So when I do, trust me I will make my presence felt. And I think once again, the timing will be right. I’m not in a rush, I’m not going anywhere. We know eventually it’s going to happen. I’m just being patient about it, that’s all,” said comedian Kevin Hart on his aspriations of one day hosting the Academy Awards.
“[Underground] is American history and I just get to be a vessel. his is what I love to do, to tell these stories. I mean to have John Legend say something beautiful about you is a huge gift because I have so much respect for him. He is an amazing man aside from his music. The way he feels about politics and social justice is amazing,” told ESSENCE about her role in the hit John Legend produced drama series.
“I understand the issue of race. And color is a sensitive issue. But at the same time, it is a movie. And it is an actor. And everyone is doing their best to find the truth in that,” said the Nina Simone biopic filmmakers.
“Baby, it’s okay to be scared, but it’s more important to be who you are! You don’t have a choice really! That’s not a decision to be made! You are who you are, and as had as it may seem, the best shit ever is freedom and peace within yourself!” Rihanna told a fan.
“Growing up I had a bunch of great, strong, black female icons to look up to. I just thought ‘I want to sing like Aretha, I want to sing like Anita, I want to sing like Chaka.’ I want to say what they’re saying — they’re strong, you know? I want to be that for the girls of this generation,” the singer said to Teen Vogue.
