Newspaper Page Text
FOC
Jean Ross, hostess of "Focus on Women"
By Kimberly Griffie
Spectacular, exciting, informative,
diverse! These words describe the
incredible new radio broadcasting
program, "Focus on Women."
"Focus on Women" is an
"inspirational program that gives
messages to Black women," said Mr.
Anderson, the owner of the company.
He also states that the messages
the program sends are practical and
necessary for the Black "Super
Woman" of the nineties.
"Focus on Women" was produced
for the sole purpose of uplifting Black
Women with messages that address
male-female relationships, beauty,
entrepreneurship, home maintenance
and positive living. Exclusive
interviews with female celebrities and
leaders of the African-American race
are conducted accent the variety of
topics which help women with their
complex lives.
The program also addresses men
by giving them a new perspective of
Black women in the nineties.
Jean Ross, the hostess of the show,
brings a part of herself into the
program, "I try to present many ideas
to all listeners. My goal is to make
sure there is a positive image of
women and that women take the time
out to learn helpful tips about
themselves - from car repairs to
medical issues to entertainment."
Vanessa Von, Media Manager of
Anderson Company, who produces the
show, has this to say about the
fantastic show: "Our programs are
special to women because they are
sensitive to the needs of women."
"Focus on Women” is a reality
because it was developed out of the
response to the needed issues in our
communities. The program is aired in
Atlanta City, Buffalo, Dallas, Kansas,
Minneapolis and other cities as well.
Unfortunately it is not aired in Atlanta.
In an interview, Tony Brown,
assistant manager for producing
syndications, stated: "We understand
that there are a lot of needed programs,
but there is limited space due to
inventory costs. We would like to air
all programs, apologetically we can
not."
If you are interested in the show,
please write your favorite radio
stations. Since "Focus on Women”
definitely makes a tremendous impact
on us we should take a stand and
demand that some of the radio waves
are transmitting the splendor of
African-American women.
Hines Stalks
Android During The
Long Eve of Destruction
By Allegra Lawrence
Orion Pictures has just released
their 1991 Product Preview, and it is
exciting to note that an African-
American is leading this year’s movies.
Gregory Hines is starring in "Eve of
Destruction", which opened on January
18 in Atlanta.
Hines plays Jim McQuade, a
military marksman. The plot explores
man versus machine as counter
insurgency expert McQuade comes up
against a state-of-the art android, which
is in the image of her creator, Dr. Eve
Simmons. Renee Soutendijk, a Dutch
actress, makes her American film debut
Jim McQuade (Gregory Hines) with Dr. Eve Simmons (Renee Soutendijk)
"Eve" Ills Reviewed
as Dr. Simmons.
This is a high-tech thriller with an
added twist of psychology. The robot
is a product of her creator’s childhood
trauma and repressed sexuality, and
seeks to avenge Dr. Simmons’s past.
The android meets every threat with
total destruction. McQuade must
defeat the human-like machine, as well
as overcome the machine-like Dr.
Simmons.
Hines enjoyed playing McQuade,
commenting, "Unlike the loose, likable
guys I usually play, this character is
much more straight-laced and mission-
oriented".
Gregory Hines’s show business
career started at the tender age of
three, when he tap danced with his
older brother, Maurice. At the age of
five, Gregory and his brothers went
professional, and their group, "The
Hines* Kids," performed in nightclubs
across the country. They spent a
wealth of time at New York’s Apollo
Theatre, where they were advised by
such legends as Honi Coles and Teddy
Hale.
Hines won his first Tony Award
for the Broadway hit musical, "Eubie",
and was nominated for a second Tony
for "Cornin’ Uptown" and
"Sophisticated ladies".
He made his conversion from a
dancer and singer to a actor in Mel
Brooks’ "History of the World-Part I."
His credits include "Deal of the
Century," "The Muppets Take
Manhattan," "The Cotton Club," "White
Nights," "Running Scared," "Off
Limits," and of course, the acclaimed
musical drama, "Tap."
Two Spelman students viewed
"Eve of Destruction" and have shared
their comments about the picture:
"Eve of Destruction" was a film
that seared at the heart of feminism.
The protagonist in the film, "Eve Ill’s"
ruthlessly destructive nature alluded to
the biblical Eve’s seemingly innocent
yet destructive nature. In contrast to
the biblical Eve it was scandalous to
see the "Eve of Destruction" depicted
as a white woman.
The only major male character in
the film, McQuade (Gregory Hines)
was basically powerless. He seemed
to be a token, and was unable to kill
"Eve III". It was her creator, Eve
Simmons, who possessed the power to
influence "Eve III” and who eventually
annihilated her.
Due to her sex, "Eve III" was not
accorded the same ruthless status as,
for example, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s
"Terminator" villain. "Eve III" was
unable to be. a truly cold killing
machine because of society’s close-
minded view of women. Whoever
heard of a cold killing machine being
concerned with profanity, sexuality, and
the joys of motherhood?
This movie conveys two subliminal
messages. The first is that Hollywood
and the public are terrified of a women
being in total dominance; men would
lose their physical, sexual, and mental
mastery over women. The second is
that the biblical Eve of Creation and
the "Eve of Destruction" are both white
women.
- Stacy A. Boyer and
Deborah X. Fleming