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Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3091
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 02:40 pm: | 
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These Ebony covers are simply smashing. In case you have not seen them, eight of the mag's 25 listed men are pictured in separate covers: Jay-Z, Obama, Denzel, Prince, Ali, Samuel L, Marvin and Billie Dee.
Which cover do you like the best? Who do you think should not have been on the list? Who'd they leave out?
Who'd top your list of "Coolest Sisters"? (Relatedly and more broadly: Why is cool not often considered as an adjective to describe women? Beautiful, sexy--but not often cool...) |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3092
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 02:50 pm: |
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Nice page where you cn vote for coolest brothers by decade and launch a photo gallery of the men on the list: http://www.ebonyjet.com/coolmen/# |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 375
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 03:01 pm: |
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I loved Obama's cover. Hmm...maybe that's why ol' Messy Jesse was hatin', lol. He isn't Officially Cool.
Don Cheadle is tres cool in my book, and I wondered if they would include him. (They did!)
Coolest Sisters...I don't think women are often described (marketed) this way because "cool" doesn't sexualize or objectify. "Cool" speaks to a certain confidence and power, and confident, powerful women don't sell--sex objects sell.
Coolest Sisters (in no particular order):
1. Nikki Giovanni
2. Angela Davis
3. Condoleezza Rice
4. Michelle Obama
5. Queen Latifah
6. MC Lyte
7. Sanaa Lathan
8. Erykah Badu
9. The Williams Sisters
10. Angela Bassett
11. Phylicia Rashad
12. Pam Grier
13. Ruby Dee |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3338
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 03:15 pm: |
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All those brothers listed are super cool. No doubt about it. Even though it's not a scientifically measurable contest, but one of personal opinion (and popularity), one who was the recognized international quintessential symbol of hip and cool -was Miles Davis. No one even came close. Not an opinion but one of historical fact.
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Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12578
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 03:18 pm: |
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Who said, Ebony was dead meat? This magazine has really re-vamped itself and become more in touch with the times. - possibly because after John Johnson died, his daughter Linda took over.
I never thought Muhummad Ali was cool. He was frenetic and loud mouthed and infantile. Now he's calm, - if not cool, - out of necessity.
Obama resonates with coolness. That's why I never had any problem with claiming him as black.
JayZ is mysterious. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12579
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 03:19 pm: |
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MIles was cool, yes. Prince was obstinate. |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3339
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 03:21 pm: |
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Ferociouskitty, I love your list of "cool sista's" (although being cool, as Ms. Yvettep noted, is generally never applied to females). Maybe being inarguable Nubian Queens would be applicable...???? |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3093
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 03:41 pm: |
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Hey, Ntfs, Miles is on the Ebony list! (Just not one of the eight collectors' covers.) I agree--He was coolness personified.
FK, for me none of the other cover photos came close to saying "cool" and capturing the coolness of its subject as that Obama one: him in those sharp shades, perfect crisp suit, getting out of a car... Oh. My. Goodness. BTW, I knew you'd light on the Cheadle choice ;-)
I absolutely love your list of cool women, FK. Yeah, there is a certain swagger to coolness. It is probably not consonant with traditional feminine qualities, thus maybe women do not generally become renown for displaying it.
Cynique, hey I am the first to admit having my mind changed about Ebony. (I think we had a conversation recently on here where we talked about this.) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12580
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 04:15 pm: |
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Erykah Badu is not "cool" to me. Venus Williams is cool, yes, but not Serena; too vulnerable.
I think Toni Morrison is cool. She and her icy eyes look as though they could kill a person with a look.
When it comes to women, to me coolness is not about swagger, it's about exuding a tranquility that conveys the idea that I am secure in my skin. |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3094
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 04:30 pm: |
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it's about exuding a tranquility that conveys the idea that I am secure in my skin
Cynique, I think you hit upon what may be a key difference in "coolness" in men and women. I think this tranquility you spoke if is key--especially for women. A security, and authenticity. I do think that what goes along with this is lack of fear or hesitation about demonstrating this in public. In men maybe this comes across as "swagger." What would be the corresponding word for this quality in women?
I think some might say that word is something like "b****itude." But I have never been of the opinion that being a "b****" (and loudly proclaiming oneself that word) equals "cool." I dunno. There's more that I could say on that but I am finding it hard to put into words right now so I'll hafta think about that more.
But as I think about it, Ms. Badu does not seem too cool to me. There seems to be something a little too...loose and vague about how she presents herself--that whole mystical earth mother thang that to me just seems too self-conscious to be cool. I'd say the same about Alicia Keys. (Well, I mean not the earth mother thing but the inauthenticity of her.) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12581
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 04:44 pm: |
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I agree. Especially with the last paragraph in regard to Erykah and Alicia. Queen Latifah definitely makes the cut, however. IMO. |
Mochascafe
Regular Poster
Username: Mochascafe
Post Number: 56
Registered: 08-2007
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 25, 2008 - 05:39 pm: |
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Hey Cynique, what actually happened to Ebony is that Harriet Cole took over as Creative Director. The change is so spectacular they are giving Essence a true run for their money. I think its great.
Although I have to say, when I first saw the Obama cover I thought "Oh no, just as he is trying to appeal to middle class white Americans...." I personally think the cover is hot but will the people he is trying to win over get it?
Could be a non issue and just my Scorpio paranoia working over time again  |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7233
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 10:28 am: |
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I must be feeling good. I'm just going to let you have your fun this time instead of unleashing a scathing, flaming denunciation that sends you all screaming to the backchannels. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12584
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 10:43 am: |
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Another pathetic testimony to how much importance you mistakenly think people place on your opinions, crissy. Who gives a s h i t as to whether or not you're holding your tongue. Bring it on or go start your own thread about some dull subject that you find interesting. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12585
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 10:44 am: |
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And, BTW, a cool brother you are not, you self- important prig. |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7234
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 11:52 am: |
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And, BTW, a cool brother you are not, you self- important prig.
(Nope. I ain't NEVER been cool. I remember Stokeley Carmichael or somebody said that.
Made me feel good) |
Chrishayden
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 7235
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 11:53 am: |
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Bring it on or go start your own thread about some dull subject that you find interesting.
(That would be a waste of all our time and the opportunities afforded us by Troy Johnson, our gracious digitalhost in his Cybersalon.
I do have an amusing ancecdote about the Cynique family's trip to the country, should you wish) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12589
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 12:15 pm: |
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Even though you were the one doing the driving, you'll be hard-pressed to tell this anecdote accurately. Truth is not your strong suit.  |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3095
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 26, 2008 - 09:19 pm: |
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Christopher! Get outta here with that mess! This thread is on the topic of cool brothers and sisters. You can take your grinch-self to another thread! |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 376
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 01:27 am: |
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Okay, I'll concede re: Ms. Badu.
And I'll replace her with Jill Scott. ;-) |
Ntfs_encryption
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Ntfs_encryption
Post Number: 3346
Registered: 10-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 05:36 am: |
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"Okay, I'll concede re: Ms. Badu.
And I'll replace her with Jill Scott."
Good choice...... |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3101
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 12:07 pm: |
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Good girl, FK! |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3102
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 12:10 pm: |
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Back to the coolest brothers list: What do you all think of Snoop Dogg being on the list? Personally I find all that pimp-chic stuff a bunch of crap: highly theatrical and not at all authentic or in any way "cool." Now, 'Pac I can see, but not Snoop. Now, had they replaced Mr. Dogg with LL...I mean, the man does have "Cool" in his name! LOL
(Shut up, Troy, with all your rumormongering!) |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12596
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 12:25 pm: |
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To me, being cool is about being unflappable. Snoop surely has a don't give a damn attitude. LL Cool J is a like a big friendly dog, up in your face grinning, eager to get your approval of his opinion that he is cool.  |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 377
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 02:51 pm: |
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I don't think Snoop is cool. He's just perpetually stoned, lol.
As much as I love me some LL, "cool" does come to mind when I think of him. "Sex god", and "dream babydaddy"...yes, but "cool"? Not so much.
Like Prince...there's just a different vibe there, that doesn't exactly scream "cool" to me. Cool guys have a quieter sexuality maybe? Like the low roar on a luxury car's engine. You know it's running and can take you places, but it's not all loud and obvious about it.
Okay, that's enough metaphors for today. |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 380
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 03:19 pm: |
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Oh, Terence Howard should have been on that list. He's a weirdo--insisting that his dates use babywipes--but tell me he wasn't the epitome of cool in "The Best Man." |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12599
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 06:26 pm: |
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Aw naw, now, FK. Playing a role that calls for the character to act cool doesn't count. You have be cool naturally. Terrence Howard is always boo-hooing about his broken marriage and his unstable childhood as a mixed kid. Not cool.
Somebody else who is not cool is Will Smith. He's a big goofy dork. Lawrence Fishburn, however, is rather cool. |
Yvettep
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 3103
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 06:29 pm: |
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Alright, alright. You all have hurt me to my core, but I guess I will concede defeat about James.
Re: Terence Howard: **shudder**
Girl, I have told you how I just have an aversion to that man. I cannot look at him and not get that old- drunk-guy-trying-to-talk-to-you-at-the-club vibe. SOmething about his eyes: can't he open them any wider? |
Ferociouskitty
Veteran Poster
Username: Ferociouskitty
Post Number: 383
Registered: 02-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 27, 2008 - 07:04 pm: |
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Okay, Yvette and Cynique...I'm tossing Terence Howard under the bus. I never heard him boo-hooing before, but I'll take your word for it. ;-) |
Doberman23
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Doberman23
Post Number: 1237
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 - 11:09 pm: |
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hello u beautiful black mutha fuggers!!! i've been so busy i hadn't had a chance to post. but i shall chime in on this ... puffy has a cool persona and so does the rock, but i would have to say when it comes to cool i would have to say my man dave chapelle has them all beat, mainly because when i think of cool, i think of someone that i could hang out with and have a good time. |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 12608
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 12:58 pm: |
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Come on, Dobes. There has to be some guidelines for coolness. Not just the fact that they'd be somebody fun to hang out with. You could hang out with a animated disruptive over-the-top guy and have fun with him.
Coolness is actually self-explanatory. Not someone who is hot or cold, just a guy who is laid-back and justifiably confident. IMO. |
Sassyscribe
Newbie Poster
Username: Sassyscribe
Post Number: 9
Registered: 01-2008
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - 04:38 pm: |
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I have the Obama and the Ali cover...I just want the Prince cover and I will be happy! |
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