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The Men of the Tenth Inc.
August 2012
“There Were Black Actresses Before Halle Berry” Nina Mae McKinney was the
Thus, she emerged as the first
that of both woman and girl,
first Black female motion picture
recognized Black actress of the
struggling between impulse and
star. She was born Nannie
silver screen. The energetic
self-discipline with an
Mayme McKinney in 1913 in
leading lady was an overnight
uncontrolled raunchiness. Metro
Lancaster, South Carolina. Her
sensation. As the tempting
Goldwyn Mayer signed her to a
family moved to New York and,
vamp, a role purportedly written
then unprecedented five-year
when she was only seventeen,
for Blackbirds’ star, Ethel
contact.
she appeared on Broadway in
Waters, she became the motion
the Lew Leslie musical review,
picture industry’s first Black love
Blackbirds of 1928. Kind Vidor,
goddess.
a motion picture producer, saw a performance and offered her the principal role of “Chick” in his motion picture, Hallelujah.
Although it was said that she was “one of the most beautiful women of her time,” and that
Nina Mae received rave reviews
she was “one of the greatest
for her performance. She
discoveries of the age,” her
became the epitome of exotic
success was short lived. MGM
sex object. Her creation was
failed to develop properties for
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The Men of the Tenth Inc.
her talents and her option
performer. Nina Mae was the
was dropped. There were
first of many Black actresses, of
too few roles for Black
leading lady talent, whose
female actresses, and she
career would lead to a dead-
was able only to get parts in
end.
minor films and occasional short subjects or in the limited-released race pictures of Oscar Micheaux.
Her last significant screen role was that of the knife-wielding
We Need A Mental Revolution
antagonist in the 1947 film Pinky, which starred Ethel
Today, many Americans are in
She left the United States to
Waters. Although Nina Mae
need of a mental revolution. They
tour the cabarets of Europe
McKinney’s career did not soar,
need a mental revolution because
where she was often billed
her initial portrayal of the sultry
there are to many Americans
as the “Black Garbo.” She
“Chick” become the standard for
conditioned to believe that any
san in nightclubs in Paris,
enticing leading ladies in the
behavior is acceptable as long as it
Budapest, London and
motion picture industry. She
makes money. There are to many
Dublin. In England she
died in 1967.
Americans that are willing to do
appeared with Paul
any to be on TV, become rappers,
Robeson in the classic film,
murders, pornstars, and teen
Sanders Of The River. Still,
mothers just to have 15 minutes of
her great potential as a film
fame. Because people are so
star was never fully realized.
willing to confirm to acts of
Hollywood had not yet found
ignorance, there is a strong need
a place for the Black
for a mental revolution. Mental revolution means to use your mind to lead change and triumph in
Hip-Hop Quote of The Month “Now what the hell is you lookin' for? /Can't a young man get money anymore? /Let my pants sag down to the floor /Really do it matter as long as I score?”
something that works in a positive manner to uplift people. If Americans stop and think of innovative ways to make a positive change on society; the result would be like moving mountains off of the backs of American
MA$E from Looking at Me
progression. Moreover, it will create change in the world and leave a legacy that will survive many generations.
The Men of the Tenth Inc.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask For Help In chapter 2 of Walter Isaacson’s new book Steve Jobs, the author discusses a story of how Steve Jobs looked up CEO and Founder of Hewlett Packard, Bill Hewlett in the phonebook and asked for help to acquire parts to make a frequency counter. After reaching Mr. Hewlett, Steve Jobs did not only get the parts, he also gained employment at the Hewlett Packard factory. This experience provided Steve with the opportunity to learn how to create products from engineers which is a prime reason that Apple products are superior. Besides acquiring work experience and knowledge, Steve’s awareness to ask for help resulted in a positive effect on his career. To often people are afraid to ask for help but Steve’s determination and willingness to ask for help was one of reasons why he was one of the richest men on earth. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
The Men of the Tenth Inc. 750 Faile Ave. Suite 2E Bronx, New York 10474
August 2012