Out of Africa

As Black History Month comes to an end, it's only fitting that Oprah Winfrey and Forest Whitaker are the latest celebrities to put Africa on the map of the American consciousness.
When people see or hear about "the dark continent," it's usually in association with corruption, famine, or genocide. While those conditions do plague most -- if not all -- of its 53 countries, good news is also emerging from the region. The daytime talk show host opened a school for girls in South Africa, while the actor received an Academy Award -- the highest honor in the United States film industry -- for his performance as former Uganda dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland.
These two events may not seem to have much in common, but they embody the complexity that makes Black history so fascinating to learn. Its people continue to make positive contributions to society, whether it's in politics (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first elected female president of Liberia in 2005) or science (Neil deGrasse Tyson is host of Nova ScienceNow as well as director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York).
In spite of these achievements, Blacks are too often depicted in the media as caricatured stereotypes -- usually heartless criminals and loud-mouthed tramps. Education is the best tool to combat ignorance, and Black History Month is a good starting point to accomplish this goal. After all, Black history isn't just a month-long event -- it's a never-ending journey.

Little Girl Lost

Is a haircut just a haircut? Not when it comes to Britney Spears.
The singer has turned eccentric behavior into an art form by shaving her head and getting some tattoos during Presidents' Day weekend. Given her ill-advised antics over the past few years, it would be too easy to say she's heading for a nervous breakdown. Instead, she needs to realize that before a new look can lead to a new outlook on life, she must look within to find happiness. (Full disclosure: I'm not a psychiatrist, and I've never met nor spoken with her.)
Most people dream of being famous, but they're not necessarily prepared to deal with the lack of privacy that serves as a trade-off. Like Spears, I've made my share of bad decisions, whether it comes to fashion trends or dating men. Fortunately, I've never had my mistakes put under a microscope for the world to see. (Thank God!) Life in a fishbowl is anything but glamorous, and one's ability to handle the pressure lies in having a solid emotional and mental well-being.
According to Forbes, Spears' estimated fortune is $100 million. Assuming she doesn't end up penniless, she can take care of herself, her two infant sons, and other loved ones -- ex-husband Kevin Federline notwithstanding -- for life. But she seems so overwhelmed by the thought of being a mother, divorcee, and has-been before the age of 25 until all the zeroes in her bank account can't buy the peace of mind she's struggling to find.
If Spears is going to get her act together, she can't do it for her fans, her handlers, or even her children. The motivation for such action has to come from within.