View photos of Jada and Will »
BEAUTY
31 Holiday It List 15 must-have items
36 Evening Class Singer Michelle Williams defies expectations and defines smoky sophistication
38 Strands Hair that’s ready for any occasion
46 Editors’ Picks Our beauty team shares ideas for cheerful giving
48 Best Sellers ATL’s top choices for lush lashes and shiny tresses
FASHION
51 Looks We Love Dark metallic=elegant
56 Perfect Fit A short take on sparkling dresses
58 Holiday Fashion Festive party accents
64 Her Style Inside a wine connoisseur’s closet
66 It’s a Wrap Fab gifts for $150 or less
FEATURES
136 The Story of Us Will and Jada, Black Hollywood’s power couple, discuss their 11 years together and how they’ll face the future Moderated by Regina R. Robertson
149 The Essence 25 Most Influential of 2008 Meet African-Americans who aimed high and had the greatest impact this year
158 Flashing Lights A Legend and a supermodel break the dawn in style
166 The Chosen One Can Ben Jealous, the new young president of the NAACP, revive the civil rights institution? By Michael A. Fletcher
170 Young, Beautiful and (HIV) Positive Marvelyn Brown is fighting for your life as well as her own As told to Michelle Burford
172 Black Women & HIV We investigate why this health crisis is hitting us so hard
CULTURE
73 Master Class In his latest feature film, Jamie Foxx hits skid row
74 Flashback 2008 We reflect on this year’s moments of brightness, sadness and shame
78 The Arts A groundbreaking Broadway hit comes to Baltimore; a forgotten sculptor gets recognition; a classic gets an urban twist
82 Books The legacy of a fallen soldier; a talk with Toni Morrison; coffee-table books that make great gifts; Best Sellers and more tents
OUR NEWS 123 The Top Ten News Stories of 2008
124 Gazette The first Black female POW and her life postwar; Blacks at the polls
HEALTHY LIVING
178 One Hot Holiday Party Eat, drink and be merry without worrying about pounds
186 Yoga and You Discover which yoga practice works best for your lifestyle
192 Fit & Fab After a working mother found the time to exercise, she found a new (smaller) waistline
194 Take 5 Beat those cold and flu bugs
IN EVERY ISSUE
16 Between Us
18 Contributors
22 Your Letters
24 Spotlight
196 Where to Buy
202 Horoscope
204 Get Lifted The T.D. Jakes
Year-end Message
64 True vintage
58 Seeing (holiday) red
WORK & WEALTH
91 Ten Smart Shopping Rules to Save Money Holiday spending that doesn’t break
the piggybank
96 Money Makeover A single mom finds ways to stop living paycheck to paycheck
98 Tanisha’s Tips Staying moneywise during the season of giving
100 Working Smart Get back in the career game after being laid off
102 Getaways Are the Best Gifts Yes, an out-of-town winter vacation for your entire family is within reach
BLACK MEN, SEX & INTIMACY
109 What Men Think His biggest bedroom fears exposed
114 On His Mind Living with a degenerative illness, a young father gains perspective
116 On Her Mind Why the single life suits her just fine at 29
118 Your Sex Life Dr. Hilda Hutcherson answers your questions about private
matters
120 Relationship Rescue When extra weight gets in the way of loving
nts
OUR NEWS
123 The Top Ten News Stories of 2008
124 Gazette The first Black female POW and her life postwar; Blacks at the polls
HEALTHY LIVING
178 One Hot Holiday Party Eat, drink and be merry without worrying about pounds
186 Yoga and You Discover which yoga practice works best for your lifestyle
192 Fit & Fab After a working mother found the time to exercise, she found a new (smaller) waistline
194 Take 5 Beat those cold and flu bugs
IN EVERY ISSUE
16 Between Us
18 Contributors
22 Your Letters
24 Spotlight
196 Where to Buy
202 Horoscope
204 Get Lifted The T.D. Jakes
Year-end Message