Our Princess Has Come
Hi All!
I know it may feel like I’ve been MIA for a spell, but rest assured that I’ve been busily writing at some of my other camps online. Be sure to check out my latest review of Disney’s new film The Princess and the Frog, out in theaters this weekend. Here’s a sneak peek, but be sure to head over to UrbanFaith.com to read the full review:
Months before the film officially hit theaters, black women everywhere were already referring to Princess Tiana of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog like her last name was Obama. That’s how momentous the arrival of Disney’s first black princess felt to us. And while we could compare this landmark animated character to the decade’s other cultural trailblazer, I think Tiana is less President Barack Obama and more Will Smith. I imagine that somewhere in the land of happily ever after, she’s saying to Cinderella, tiara fully cocked to the side while sliding on a pair of black Ray Bans like Smith in Men in Black, “You know the difference between you and me? I make this look good.”
I’ll admit I went to The Princess and the Frog fist-clenched, fully prepared to hate it based on the speculative criticism of multiple writers over the past year leading up to the film’s release and my own angst about the cartoon. I’ve waited 26 years to see myself reflected onscreen by Disney, longing to break through the negative self-image the lack of a black princess has reinforced in my life. With only Oprah and a few others to latch onto as a high-profile black woman in America who is the star of the show, I’ve often thrown myself into playing the role of strong, supportive best friend or faithful employee rather than the leading lady in my own life. Black women are never leading ladies; that plotline isn’t available to us. We don’t get the prince or live happily ever after; we don’t get swept up in fairytales. At least that’s the implied message Hollywood traditionally has sent to us.
Donald Miller: ‘There’s No Social Commodity for Being Christian’
Back in April, Blue Like Jazz author Donald Miller posed one question to an audience of young adults gathered for Sojourner magazine’s Mobilization to End Poverty event in Washington, D.C.: If you took the elements of a good story and integrated them into your real life, what would that look like?
For months that question has plagued me, quietly challenging me to live a more compelling story in my own life. This past week, Miller released his highly-anticipated new book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years: What I Learned While Editing My Life, which is full of the lessons he’s learned about how to turn an unstructured and random life into a meaningful existence.
This summer, I had the chance to speak with Miller about the new book and asked him what trends he’s noticed in the Church.
COCOA CHANEL: What’s fashionable in faith? What are some of the trends you’ve noticed in the Christian church at large?
DONALD MILLER: I don’t think about church very much. I think because I talk to Christians, people ask me about church a lot. But I’ve never been a pastor. I’ve never been on staff at a church. That’s for much smarter people than me. So I haven’t spent a whole lot of time thinking about that.
Part of it is because I’m way up here in Portland, and we’re largely an unchurched community. And I notice when I leave Portland and I go to church somewhere how foreign it feels—its literally like you’re going into a different country. It always strikes me as weird. There’s no social commodity for being a Christian here. There’s no benefit. Where you can go to the south or the southeast and one of the things your employer may want to know is, “Do you attend church?” So here, if your employer found out you attended church, it would almost assuredly cost you something. And not that they would be against you, they would just think that you’re weird. And so for us, we’re a small community of people who cling to each other and cling to Christ and live it out in a very real way. There’s no gain.
*****
To read more of my interview with Donald Miller, head over to UrbanFaith.com. Be sure to leave a comment by October 19th to enter to win a FREE copy of A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.
Chynna Phillips Tells Mackenzie to ‘Get the Lord on Board’
On Wednesday’s episode of The Oprah Show, Mackenzie Phillips, daughter of The Mamas & The Papas front man John Phillips, unveiled a secret she’s kept hidden from the public for decades: she was involved in a consensual sexual relationship with her father for over 10 years. The actress, who made her film debut in “American Graffiti” at the age of 12, details this relationship and her battle to overcome drug addiction in her new book High on Arrival.
Steeped in the aftermath of Wednesday’s show, Mackenzie reappeared on the The Oprah Show via satellite from New York to discuss the public fallout from her allegations. Following the show, Mackenzie claims hundreds of friends have come forward on Facebook sharing their own stories of incest and applauding her for speaking her truth. Not everyone is happy, however, about the release of this private information. Michelle Phillips, stepmother to Mackenzie who is the last living original member of The Mamas & The Papas, adamantly denied the allegations to reporters and called Mackenzie mentally ill.
On Friday, Oprah sat down with Mackenzie’s sister Chynna Phillips, to see how she feels about the news and how her perspective is being shaped by her faith in God. Before a live studio audience, Chynna told Oprah,
Who among us has not done something that we are highly ashamed of in our lives? All of us have. So who’s going to cast the first stone? [...] In my faith, as a Christian, God has told me that I need to forgive,” she says. “I need to forgive and not return an eye for an eye. Am I happy that Mackenzie has put me in this position that now here I am having to discuss all these things? No, I’m not. But at the same time, I have to forgive. It’s a lifelong process. I’m not going to digest this information [overnight]. It’s 13 years later, and I still haven’t.
I think Mackenzie’s on a healing path as well. I wouldn’t say that we’re polar opposites. I mean, we have two different stories. But Mackenzie’s on a very healing path and I’m hoping she’ll take everything out of this book and really go out there and try help to people who have similar experiences. I’m a Christian. I am singing for Jesus now. I’m truckin’ for Jesus. And you know, if I had one piece of advice for my sister it would be, get the Lord on board, ’cause you’re gonna need it.
Later in the show, Oprah asked Mackenzie what she thought of Chynna’s advice to get God on her side. She responded saying, “Well, first of all, God is on all of our sides’–even dad’s. ‘Forgiveness is mine,’ saith the Lord. Isn’t that it?”
Chynna is currently a singer-songwriter serving as one half of the Christian music group Chynna & Vaughan. The duo just released the album One Reason on Tuesday. For more information, please visit the official site for Chynna & Vaughan.
One Reason by Chynna & Vaughan, in stores now
Bad Boy CFO Keeps the Faith
This Thursday, September 24th, Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City is hosting a special evening with Bad Boy Worldwide Entertainment Group CFO, Derek Ferguson. The Harvard Business School (HBS) graduate who holds down the bottom line for Diddy’s empire will be sharing what challenges he faces as he lives out his faith in the midst of the music industry.
In a past interview with the HBS alumni magazine Bulletin, Ferguson explained why he feels peace about working in the industry, despite the negativity he encounters:
“I don’t think we’re called to run away from controversial environments. We’re called to run to them and try to create change,” he says. Acting on that credo, Ferguson also leads a weekly Bible study for employees of Bad Boy. “I was never the type to wear my faith on my sleeve. It seemed inappropriate,” he recalls. “I had to overcome that barrier because I felt so called to take action.”
Tickets are available now at Redeemer.com for $20.
Whitney Houston’s ‘Come-Through’
Whitney Houston appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show this week, giving her first tell-all interview in seven years. Over the course of two episodes, the singer, whom Oprah describes simply as “the voice,” explained how she let God’s gift slip away and how she got it back.
“I had done it all [...] I wasn’t remembering the gift that God had given me. I had the money. I had the cars. I had the house. I had the husband. I had the kid. And none of it was really that fulfilling. There was time [when] I was happy, but I needed my joy back–that peace that passeth all understanding. I needed that moment when I was three years old–that church thing; that thing that my mother gave me that I was born into. And I had thought it had gone…”
When Oprah asked Houston who she loved, the singer responded, saying
“The LORD. I do. I am so humbled and so thankful for His grace and His goodness. And for never giving up on me.”
‘I Can Do Bad’ Is Just Fine With Pastor Marvin Winans
The results are in, and Tyler Perry has done it again. This past weekend I Can Do Bad All By Myself, the latest release from the Atlanta filmmaker, topped the box office, bringing in over $24 million. This is the second-highest grossing opening week for Perry, following his last hit film, Madea Goes to Jail.
Starring Oscar-nominated actress Taraji P. Henson, the film centers on Henson as April — a boozy nightclub singer forced to reevaluate her dead-end lifestyle when her delinquent niece and nephews show up at her doorstep. Henson’s stellar performance is accented by appearances from Adam Rodriguez, Gladys Knight, Mary J. Blige, and noteworthy newcomer Hope Olaide Wilson.
Also making his major motion picture debut is Pastor Marvin Winans, who captured Tyler Perry’s attention after the filmmaker listened to “Just Don’t Wanna Know” from Winans’ latest album, Alone But Not Alone. The pastor of the Perfecting Church in Detroit appears in the film as April’s minister to deliver a stirring musical performance and gospel message. (You can view a brief clip of Pastor Winans’s message here).
On the day of the film’s release, we spoke with Pastor Winans about his experience on the set of I Can Do Bad All By Myself, and why he’s not apologizing if the movie feels too preachy
A Prayer for Fashion Week
I can already hear the click-clacking of heels running through the tents at Bryant Park. It’s official — Fashion Week has arrived! September 10th marks the start of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York City. In the spirit of my namesake, the original Coco Chanel, it seems appropriate to offer a prayer for the coming week’s events. Join me, if you feel so inclined.
Dear Father,
We know you are truly a God of fashion. The Bible tells us you are the original designer. In Genesis 3, after the fall of man, out of your grace, you fashioned garments of skin for Adam and Eve to cover their nakedness. And as we move into Fashion Week here in New York City, we recall that act of grace and once again invite you to pour mercy upon your people.
Lord, please bless those in the fashion industry with unparalleled creativity this week. Let them be inspired by the artistic creations seen and unseen. Bless the designers who are lucky enough to show in Bryant Park as they present their vision before critics and peers. Bless the models who will act as canvases upon which a year’s worth of work and a lifetime of creativity will be displayed. Bless those behind the scenes as well: the buyers, dressers/stylists, seamstresses, pattern makers, makeup artists, hairdressers, interns, etcetera who labor anonymously. Please don’t forget the photographers and filmmakers who will capture the looks to share with the masses.
We thank you in advance for the gifts you have given already.
And all God’s people said,
Amen
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” – Coco Chanel
Quote Wall: Lauren Graham on Actors and Faith
Lauren Graham, star of The Answer Man, a new film about a self-help author and his personal battles with spirituality, recently sat down with Newsweek to share her thoughts on finding faith in Hollywood. Here’s what she had to say:
Newsweek: Do you think it’s possible to be spiritual and an actress in Hollywood?
Lauren Graham: Of course. I think it’s possible to be spiritual and an anything. There is no job that would take that away. I think, in fact, being an actor or any kind of an artist you’re thinking more about why people do what they do and kind of what it all means because it’s your job to relate to different life experiences.
To watch the video of Lauren talking about faith and the film, click here.
Pop & Circumstance
This week’s Pop & Circumstance is now live at UrbanFaith.com. Check out the latest on Vickie Winans new comedy show on BET, Steve Harvey’s Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man…the movie, American Idol after Paula Abdul, and megachurch leader Rick Warren’s new book.
Obama: God, Hit Me on My Blackberry
After wading through the obligatory questions about the Henry Louis Gates’ drama and additional commentary on Health Care reform, President Barack Obama shared an update on his faith in an interview with ABC News. Asked how the presidency is affecting his spiritual life, Obama confessed to Nightline’s Terry Moran that he no longer prays only before bed, as was his habit. “I pray all the time now,” the president laughed. “I’ve got a lot of stuff on my plate and I need guidance all the time.”
One way the president gets guidance from God is through his Blackberry. And while God doesn’t send Obama instant Blackberry messages (because let’s be honest, God probably uses an iPhone), the president’s Faith and Neighborhood Initiatives Director Joshua DuBois does provide daily spiritual direction right in the palm of the president’s hand.
“He has a devotional that he sends to me on my Blackberry each day.” President Obama explained. “That’s how I start my morning. You know, he’s got a passage, scripture, in some cases quotes from other faiths to reflect on.” It’s this type of communication that keeps the president’s faith nurtured and growing while he and the First Family continue their search for a place of worship.
“We haven’t selected a permanent church home in D.C. I mentioned earlier that with all the transitions for the girls, but also, still trying to figure out how to move this big apparatus called the presidency without being hugely disruptive to congregations. How do we time that, how do we think about that? That’s something we’re still sorting out.”
Meanwhile, the Obamas worship at Camp David when they have the chance. Obama praised the service offered at the small chapel, saying, “There’s a wonderful young pastor up there–chaplain–who does just wonderful work.”
Considering all of the resources at the disposal of the President of the United States, it’s fascinating and a bit sobering to see that he still feels a need to draw on a higher power for navigating the tough decisions of his life. Beyond that, it’s humbling to see that the leader of the Free World recognizes his place as an instrument or tool for God’s plans.
Obama summed up his work in vocational terms, saying, “This is something where you just hope that you are aligning your work with His purposes and that you’re attuned to the needs of the people you’re there to serve.”
Click below to watch the video of Terry Moran’s interview with President Barack Obama. His commentary on faith begins around 1:55.
Share this blog
