The production featured a literal who’s who of great American actors, including a now legendary cast of African Americans such as Louis Gossett Jr., John Amos, Ben Vereen, Cicely Tyson and Leslie Uggams, not to mention the unforgettable debut of Burton as Kunte Kinte, captured in Gambia and sold into the American slave trade in 1765 at the age of 15. With a score composed by Quincy Jones and Gerald Fried, Roots captured America’s undivided attention in a way few television shows have done before or since, garnering 36 Emmy Award nominations (winning nine), as well as Golden Globe and Peabody Awards. The finale of the Roots miniseries remains the third highest-rated U.S. television program ever. A sequel, Roots: The Next Generations, was broadcast in 1979, and a second sequel, Roots: The Gift, was produced as a Christmas movie which starred Burton and Gossett.

Fittingly, in honor of Martin Luther King Day, Oprah Winfrey will host a reunion of the cast members who played some of the most unforgettable roles in the Roots miniseries on the Oprah Winfrey Network, Monday, January 16, at 8pm EST. While the miniseries’ place in American television history is firmly established, the story of Kunte Kinte and his descendants had a far deeper and lasting significance for me, helping to determine my outlook on life, choices and values as an African American.

I was 16 years old when my mother informed me and my three younger siblings (ages 15, 13 and 9), that for the first time in our lives, not only would we be allowed to stay up past our bed time for the week (including school nights!), but that we were required to. As a young, divorced single mother struggling on public assistance to help make a dollar out of 15 cents while raising us on her own, she’d long established her word as law, to be violated at risk of our lives. (You know the type: “I brought you into this world, and I’ll… “) Mommy said we had to watch Roots. Over the ensuing eight nights, I would be mesmerized by what I saw on our television screen.

The author, at 16, a year older than Levar Burton's Kunte Kinte (Image: Courtesy of Subject)

First of all, I don’t recall ever seeing more black people on television at one time (excluding news coverage of events such as civil rights marches and racial unrest after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.) before the eight nights that Roots aired. At that point, the main way to see black people on television was by watching sitcoms such as Good Times and Sanford and Son. I still remember it being a big deal when a black person (nearly always an entertainer or athlete) was set to appear on a TV show; my mother would call all of her black friends and neighbors, who would call all of their black friends and neighbors, to ensure that the entire black community tuned in. (Back in those days, black guests performed on late night talk shows, but were almost never invited to the couch to be interviewed by the host.) Seeing all of the great actors and actresses we loved, admired and crushed on was an astonishing source of pride to black people. It’s worth noting that many of the black cast of the Roots miniseries, including Academy Award winner Gossett (Best Supporting Actor, An Officer and A Gentleman) and Academy Award nominee Tyson (Best Actress, Sounder), have gone on to establish themselves among some of the world’s greatest actors.

But the real impact of the Roots miniseries is that it sparked a hunger in me to discover who I really was as a Black American. Before Roots, I thought the African American story began at slavery. Period. In fact, my total knowledge of what it meant to be Black prior to watching Roots consisted of the following: My ancestors were slaves. President Lincoln set us free. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., with an assist from Rosa Parks, convinced white people of good will to end racial discrimination (at least against “responsible Negroes”). Dr. King was good. Malcolm X–the absolute furthest thing from a responsible Negro–was bad–very bad. And I could grow up to be anything that I wanted to be, even President of the United States of America. Except I could always tell that the people saying this to me, whether black or white, didn’t really believe it themselves. (Interestingly, my mother, who has never expressed anything but unshakeable, matter-of-fact faith in my abilities, never told me I could be the President or anything else she didn’t truly believe herself.)

So having Kunte Kinte and millions like him presented to me as evidence that the story of my ancestry and identity began long before American slavery was a powerful, even shocking, revelation to me. I immediately saw myself differently when I looked into the mirror each day. And it wasn’t just me; when I went to my high school classes each day, I could immediately tell which of my white high school classmates and teachers had also been watching Roots by the way they looked at me. It was as if they were thinking: “Now, Alfred knows. And now, I know. And he knows that I know.” I don’t recall any negativity coming out of it. (My hometown of Long Branch, N.J., had only one high school, so my public school education was very much integrated, though racial conflict was not uncommon.) But everything was unmistakably, irreversibly different. Roots provided the first opportunity for me and my black friends to take cultural pride in who we were, and for some of my white friends to have a deeper appreciation for who I was and how I felt as a black person, even if they couldn’t personally understand or identify with it. I learned that being honest about America’s painful racial history did not have to divide people against each other; in at least a few cases, it helped to increase the respect and deepen the friendships of my white peers.

The bottom line: Roots breathed credibility into the idea that I could, indeed, do and be anything I wanted to. The belief that I was inferior to absolutely no one, white or otherwise, in the eyes of God was seared into my soul by one pivotal scene, where the adult Kunte Kinte (played by Amos) raises his infant daughter Kizzy to the star-spangled heavens and loudly declares: “Behold, the only thing greater than yourself!”

Eighteen months after the Roots miniseries aired, I went away from my hometown for the first time in my life when I started college at Rutgers University, a couple of hours away in New Brunswick, N.J. The appetite for understanding and appreciating black culture and history sparked by Roots became ravenous after my discovery of the great Paul Robeson (widely considered to be Rutgers greatest alumni ever) during my freshman year. I ended up becoming a leader in the Black student movement at Rutgers and the editor-in-chief of the Black Voice/Carta Boricua, a university-wide publication of Black and Latino students. And so began my calling to a career in media as a means of championing the truth, power, beauty and potential of who we are and can choose to be as African Americans. I fell in love with the power of story telling to open eyes and change lives. And to think I owe it all to Roots. Our Roots.

If you want a suggestion from me of how you should spend the Martin Luther King Holiday, or what you should do during Black History Month, how about buying the Roots miniseries on DVD and insisting that the children in your family, church and community sit down to watch and discuss it with you. Even if they have to stay up late on a school night.

Happy 35th Anniversary to Roots. And thank you to each and every person who played a role in bringing the story of Kunte Kinte to life.

Miss Robbie with son (and business partner) Tim

Ms. Robbie Montgomery, star of the Oprah Winfrey Network’s hit reality show Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s, may come across like your sweet little grandmother over the telephone—with talks of family recipes and beloved grandkids—but don’t mess with her in real life.

If you’ve ever seen the 71-year-old in action (and chances are you have since the cable show ranks number two in it’s time slot among African-American women ages 25-54) you know that the feisty businesswoman will cuss you out in a minute, which, ironically, only adds to her charm.

BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Miss Robbie, owner and manager of the twin St. Louis-based soul food restaurants Sweetie Pies, on her day off. The former Ikette (she sang backup for Ike and Tina Turner in the 1960s) was buzzing happily about all the plans in the works for her famous franchise, including a third location, which includes a banquet hall, culinary school, bar and performance arts space. The fact that OWN recently tacked on 10 more episodes to the show’s inaugural season— which shows Ms. Robbie fussing lovingly at her son and co-manager Tim Norman and other kinfolk behind the scenes as they serve up fried chicken, collard greens and heaping servings of drama to their hungry clients—is just icing on the proverbial cake.

“We had no idea the show was going to do as well as it did,” claims Montgomery, whose family began shooting the new installments just after Thanksgiving. “Now that we’ve been extended there is so much more for our fans to see,” she says excitedly. “Construction has started on the new restaurant, we’ve got the baby coming home, we’ve got Tim and Jenae’s wedding, we’ve got our grand opening– it’s going to be a wonderful continuation of our journey.”

Although things are all biscuits and gravy now, Montgomery will admit that the prospect of being the first and only Black family to have a show on the network kept her up at night.

“I didn’t want to be part of a flop,” she admits about the case of nerves she had to overcome prior to the series’ debut in October. “I admire Oprah so much and OWN is a brand-new network so it was a huge opportunity. I’m really amazed at how it all turned out.”

The secret to “Sweetie Pie’s” success, says the entrepreneur, is that unlike on many other ‘reality’ shows, her crew isn’t afraid to roll up it’s sleeves.

We’re just an ordinary family that everybody can relate to,” she says. “Plus we actually work in our business, which we do, of course, even when the cameras aren’t rolling.”

When the film crew isn’t around Montgomery and Tim busy themselves with building their brand.

“My son says he’s going to turn me into the Black Paula Deen,” laughs Montgomery of a rival network food star, referring to plans for cookbooks, a line of pots and pans and other items. “I feel like I’ve reinvented myself. The sky’s the limit.”

(Image: Official White House Photo)

Obama Calls Final End to Iraq War

In a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, President Barack Obama announced the end of the nine-year war in Iraq.

The head of state warned Iraq’s neighbors that the United States would remain a major player in the region – even after all troops are brought home.

“Our strong presence in the Middle East endures,” Obama said. “And the United States will never waver in the defense of our allies, our partners and our interests.”

Al-Maliki’s trip to Washington came as the last American troops were preparing to leave Iraq ahead of the Dec. 31 deadline. Just 6,000 U.S. forces remain – that’s down from the 170,000 present at the war’s peak in 2007.

Read more at NPR…

Celebrities Protest Lowe’s Ad Pullout From TLC’s ‘All-American Muslim’

Celebrities and bloggers, among others took to the Internet to show their disdain for Lowe’s decision to pull their ads from TLC’s new show, All-American Muslim.

The Florida Family Association, a conservative group, organized an email campaign to get the home improvement store and other advertisers to pull their ads from the show calling it “propaganda that riskily hides the Islamic agenda’s clear and present danger to American liberties and traditional values.”

Russell Simmons, the chairman for the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding, wrote in one tweet, “U endorse hate. U may be held accountable we will promote a boycott if they don’t reinstate campaign and apologise #allamericanmuslim.”

In response to actions from the Florida Family Association and Lowe’s, Moveon.org is circulating a petition to “fight back against bigotry and fear-mongering by publicly repudiating calls to stop advertising during TLC’s ‘All-American Muslim’.”

As of Monday morning, the petition had 7,700 signatures.

Read more at ABC News…

OWN Network to Shift Demographic Focus

Despite Oprah’s iconic brand name and heavy marketing strategy, OWN network ratings aren’t living up to expectations, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Executives at the network are thinking about tweaking their target demographic and catering to African American audiences. President of the network Erik Logan assures that OWN will not be exclusive, but instead more inclusive.

The OWN original docuseries, Welcome to Sweetie Pies, has been a network standout and is popular among African Americans.

Read more at The Washington Post…

(Image: Thinkstock)

• Unstable Economy Linked to Increase in Children Receiving Free School Meals

Data from the Department of Agriculture reveals millions of American schoolchildren are now receiving free or low-cost meals. The increase in meals program participants is a growing effect of former middle class parents losing jobs or homes during the economic crisis.

The number of students who currently qualify for and receive subsidized lunches rose to 21 million last school year from 18 million in 2006-7, a 17% increase, according to an analysis by the New York Times. Eleven states had four-year increases of 25 % or more.

“These are very large increases and a direct reflection of the hardships American families are facing,” said Benjamin Senauer, a University of Minnesota economist who studies the meals program. He said the surge had happened so quickly “that people like myself who do research are struggling to keep up with it.”

Read more at the New York Times…

• First Class Graduates from Oprah’s School in South Africa

Oprah Winfrey told her students that if you teach a girl, you teach a nation.

As the South African school year nears its end, the first class of students is preparing to graduate from Oprah Winfrey’s all-girls school in Henley On-Kip, South Africa.

The last five years have paid off. All 72 members of the graduating class have been accepted to universities in South Africa or the United States, while more than a dozen have received full scholarships.

The talk show queen turned media giant will be at the school for graduation ceremonies in January, school officials said

Read more at the Associated Press…

• Hip-Hop Shines at Victoria Secret Fashion Show

CBS’s broadcast of the annual “Victoria Secret Fashion Show” raked in record ratings with famed models like Chanel Iman and Adriana Lima ripping the runway, the latest lingerie, and big-name hip-hop performances.

With the exception of Maroon 5’s “Moves Like Jagger,” all of the show’s performances were by hip-hop artists Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Nicki Minaj.

West paid tribute to his late mother before his performance of “Stronger.”

Watch the performances at The Baltimore Sun…

Identity theft claims more than 10 million victims annually in the U.S. alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Even children are often subjected to identity theft, leading the FTC to recent warn parents about the increased risk of their kids being targeted during back-to-school season.

And just last week, authorities broke up the largest ever identity theft ring ever nabbed. Officials in the greater New York City area arrested more than 100 individuals and charged them with perpetrating at least $13 million in identity theft and credit card fraud on unsuspecting consumers.

Fortunately, there is a way to protect yourself and your family – in part, at least – from the financial sting of identity theft.

A handful of insurance companies nationwide offer identity theft coverage, including State Farm, Farmers, Allstate and Nationwide. The cost to buy this insurance ranges from about $25 to $100 a year and coverage usually goes up to around $25,000.

Since the average victim of identity theft spends about 200 hours and $1,000 cleaning up the mess brought on by this heinous crime, identity theft insurance reimburses you for a range of things like attorney’s fees, phone bills, and time lost from your job.

Also, some credit monitoring services also include identity theft insurance coverage.

How Big a Risk is ID Theft?

Buying any form of insurance is really all about the numbers. The same is true for life insurance, health insurance, car insurance, and yes, even identity theft insurance.

When you purchase insurance, you’re making a calculated decision. You’re betting, essentially, that a given peril (such as having a car accident or being victimized by identity theft) may in fact happen to you (although you’re hoping that it won’t).

The insurance company that sells you the insurance is making a bet too. They’re betting that the danger or peril in question won’t, in fact, happen to you (and they’re hoping it won’t also). At the very least, they’re hoping that a specific danger won’t happen to too many of their insured clients.

Despite the odds of something happening, insurance companies know that in any given year, for any type of insurance, they’re going to pay out a certain number of claims.

The two big questions really are: who will file a claim and how much of a payout will that person be seeking? When it comes to identity theft, it’s almost a crapshoot on that first question.

Identity Theft Can Strike Anyone – Even the Rich and Famous

Anyone can be struck by identity theft, from the anonymous “Average Joe” to well-known celebrities and very rich individuals. Some famous people who have been victims of identity theft include:

• Ben Bernanke, the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board
• Warren Buffett, the billionaire investor and head of Berkshire Hathaway
• Tommy Hilfiger, the clothing designer and fashion guru
• J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter book series
• Oprah Winfrey, the popular talk show host and media mogul
• Tiger Woods, the professional golf legend

The Odds Are You May Be Victimized Too

Clearly, identity theft is an equal opportunity hazard confronting us all. Concerning that second question, about how much in claims will be paid out, insurers have a bit more insight.

If the numbers on identity theft are to be believed, and current wisdom has it that about 10 million Americans succumb to identity theft each year, then that suggests the average person has a 3% chance of becoming an identity theft victim in any given year. So far, the “odds” work in the insurance company’s favor.

But when looking at those numbers over time, the numbers change exponentially. Those 3% odds grow dramatically each year, magnifying the likelihood of being struck by identity theft over a span of, say, 20 or 30 years.

In other words, the odds are actually fairly high that you will, at some point, be hit by identity theft. If and when it happens, that coverage could prove invaluable.

Getting Help in the Aftermath of Identity Theft

Hopefully, you’ll never be ensnared by the heinous crime of identity theft. If you are the victim of identity theft, however, act immediately.

Alert the credit bureaus so they can put a notice in your credit files. Notify your local police department, so that you have a record of the contact the Federal Trade Commission (877-ID-THEFT or www.ftc.gov), and seek help from the Identity Theft Resource Center (858-693-7935 or www.idtheftresource.org) in San Diego.

“Ask The Money Coach” is a syndicated column written by personal finance expert Lynnette Khalfani-Cox, co-founder of the free financial advice blog, AskTheMoneyCoach.com. Follow Lynnette on Twitter at @themoneycoach.

Two-time Emmy winner Katreese Barnes

Katreese Barnes may not be a household name—yet—but her work speaks for itself. She started her musical journey as a classical pianist at the age of 10 in North Carolina. Mastering her craft has led to singing, touring and arranging for some of the world’s greatest musical acts ranging from Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Sting and Elton John to Roberta Flack, Stevie Wonder, The O’Jays and Diana Ross, among others.

In 2000 Barnes was hired as a house pianist for Saturday Night Live. Three years later she was promoted to the associate music director, before eventually landing the musical director title of the popular sketch comedy show. Eleven years later, Barnes, an accomplished songwriter, has two Emmy Awards to show for her effort—the first came in 2007 for the Justin Timberlake viral hit she co-wrote “D*ck in a Box” and the second came last month for Timberlake’s season finale monologue, “I’m Not Going to Sing Tonight.”

Going out on a high note, Barnes recently vacated her post at SNL to embark on new endeavors as the musical director for The Rosie Show, which premiere’s tonight (10/10) on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN Network. As the accomplished musician prepares to enter the next phase of career, BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Barnes to chat about her new position, the lessons learned at Saturday Night Live and beating breast cancer—twice.

How did it feel to win your second Emmy for Justin Timberlake’s “I’m Not Going to Sing Tonight?”

Katreese Barnes: The second time I was definitely shocked because I thought Lonely Island was going to win. I said to [SNL writer] John Mulaney on stage, “I can’t believe we beat them.” I didn’t prepare anything to say. I was up there looking kind of dumbfounded. Once that settled down it was awesome and thrilling.

Coincidentally, both of your Emmy’s involved songs performed by Justin Timberlake. What was it like songwriting for him?

Honestly, we have a synergy that he actually mentions. He gives me an idea of what he wants then I write it, and it usually works out. I remember the first time I wrote for him for the Kid’s Choice Awards. He didn’t listen to the final song until the night before. And I was like, “Boy, that’s a lot of trust there.”

How did you get into songwriting?

I wrote my first song at 10. It’s funny how you do things as a kid without knowing they will lead to a career. Through the years by collaborating with great writers it helped me hone my skills.

How did your childhood musical background lead into an actual career in the music business?

My father put a band together [called J.U.I.C.Y.] and he managed us. I think that’s what really started it off. If I hadn’t been playing in the bands while I was in high school I probably would have gone on to do the classical world full-time. It’s funny the way things happen; it’s almost murky. You meet one person one way and then you meet another person another way and there’s no real thread. I was touring and producing for various artists after coming to New York, but my big break in comedy came from winning the audition to be in the Saturday Night Live band. My music directorship there evolved over a 10-year span.

Why did you go the musical director path as opposed to becoming a solo artist?

All my solo record projects flopped. Every single one. Between management fighting and record companies folding, sometimes you know things just weren’t meant to be when things keep happening. I just ended up taking gigs to pay bills. When I ended up on Saturday Night Live I started off as a piano player. It wasn’t like I was thinking I’m going to be a comedy writer or a music director for the show. It just evolved that way.

What did you learn from SNL that you will always remember?

The lessons are so numerous I couldn’t even count them. It would probably [take] a lifetime counting. On that show you have to be on your feet and you have to deal with so many brilliant comedic talents and musical styles. I think mostly I learned to not be afraid. You have to take the fear out of everything or it won’t work.

Click here to continue reading on page 2…

Barnes working her magic on the set of The Rosie Show

You’re now working over at Oprah’s OWN network as the musical director of The Rosie Show. What’s a typical day like for you?

Since it’s a new show the hours are pretty long because we are setting everything up. But right now it could go from rehearsing with Javier Colon to working on the opening musical number or game shows. I’m having to write a lot of the music because they just added a band recently. So we’re going to be playing in and out of commercial and they haven’t got a theme. A lot of music has to be written. But viewers can expect a lot of funky beats.

Have there been any hurdles you’ve faced as a woman or African-American in your field?

I definitely think there are hurdles as a woman, but it’s nothing I don’t think I can handle. The images for Black women have been so bad for the past 10 to 12 years in entertainment. No one is going to think when you walk in the door, “Oh, yes, she can write our concerto.” There have been moments where I definitely had to prove I can do the job. There have been elements of doubt I’ve experienced. Then I do the job and it’s erased. I definitely feel I’ve had to work harder—that’s a good thing. I like working. I like things being right.

While your career was progressing you also dealt with personal tragedy in the form of breast cancer. How were you able to deal with that not once but twice?

When I first got the news at the doctor’s office in 2000, because I was such a health nut, I had jelly legs. I couldn’t even walk home. I was in such shock that it could happen to me, somebody who was pretty much on top of her health. I was in shock for a couple months. I went into the mode of studying and researching. Sometimes I would spend up to four hours a day finding a way to beat it without the harshness of chemotherapy and radiation.

Ultimately, why did you opt out of chemotherapy and radiation?

I did alternative therapy. All I can say is that intuitively if I did it [chemotherapy] at that time in 2000, I would have not survived it. It was just an intuitive thing. Everybody has to be sure of their own personal decisions. In my head there was nothing else but not to do that. When it returned in 2002 I chose a different form of therapy.

How do you feel as a survivor, knowing you beat this thing twice?

I think breast cancer was a bigger challenge than being a musical director. But after I beat it I can definitely say there’s a part of me that says, “Everything is pretty much easy now. Survival definitely consists of taking care of yourself in ways I probably didn’t do when I was working hard. Like proper rest, diet, supplements… I even find in the past month starting at this show I’ve been neglecting a lot of my supplements. After the premiere I’m getting back on it. But it’s easy to forget that stuff when you’re working hard.

Do you have any tips for women and/or men of color who would like to follow in your footsteps?

I would definitely say if you’re a musician learn to read music, learn all different styles beyond just soul music, R&B and hip-hop. Learn anything you can from cacao to classical to rock. Just keep learning because you never know what gem is going pop up as a gig. For example, as a kid I used to play a lot of Scott Joplin. When I was on SNL there popped up this sketch where Maya Rudolph played Scott Joplin in the sketch. I would have never thought years later I’d be using those chops for that moment. You just never know.

Follow what you love, follow the music you love and learn as much as you can. Sometimes it’s not enjoyable to learn things even if it’s an hour to learn to read and notate and arrange. Whatever it is just do it. No one’s going to make apologies for you in the big league moments. They’re going to say, “Oh, no, she or he can’t do that.”

Tyler TV may be coming to a television set near you (Image: Getty)

Lionsgate May Launch ‘Tyler [Perry] TV’

As if Tyler Perry hasn’t already etched his name across Tinseltown, the multi-talented media mogul may soon follow in the footsteps of his dear friend Oprah Winfrey and launch his very own cable network, tentatively called Tyler TV.

Read more at HuffPost Black Voices…

Stocks End Sharply Lower Amid Fears About Europe

For yet another day, the stock market swung back and forth with ranges of hundreds of points.

After sweeping declines on Monday were followed by huge gains on Tuesday, stocks on Wall Street finished steeply lower on Wednesday as each of the three main indexes dropped more than 4 percent. Wednesday’s trading completely wiped out the gains of the previous day in the broader market as measured by the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Read more at the New York Times…

Police Force Beefs Up in London

In an effort to end the city’s worst rioting in a generation, London’s Metropolitan Police Service said Tuesday it would flood the streets with 10,000 more officers in addition to the 6,000 already on patrol.

Read more at USA Today…

Charles Gittens, First Black Secret Service Agent, Dies

Charles L. Gittens, who in 1956 became the first black Secret Service agent, has died. He was 82.

Read more at the Associated Press…

How Students Use Technology

It’s clear that today’s students rely heavily on electronic devices even when they’re not incorporated in the classroom. In one survey of college students, 38% said they couldn’t even go 10 minutes without switching on some sort of electronic device.

Read more at Mashable…

Christina Norman finds new home at HuffPost (Image: File)

• Christina Norman Lands HuffPost Black Voices Position

Christina Norman, the ousted CEO of OWN, has found a new home with the Huffington Post, and she’s already busy with overseeing the relaunch of two new women’s sites and the relaunch of Black Voices this week. Norman, whose official title has yet to be released (although “executive editor” has been floating around), is also overseeing video for the company.

Read more at The Atlanta Post…

• Debt Ceiling Bill Becomes Law

President Obama signed into law on Tuesday legislation raising the government’s debt ceiling and cutting trillions of dollars in spending, finally ending a fractious partisan battle just hours before the government’s borrowing authority was set to run out.

Read more at the New York Times…

• Rep Apologizes for Obama ‘Tar Baby’ Remark

GOP Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado has apologized to President Obama for using the controversial phrase “tar baby” in a talk-radio discussion of the president’s economic policies (specifically, “I don’t want to be associated with him. It’s like touching a tar baby and you get it, you’re stuck”).

Read more at The Root…

Artists Meek Mill and Rick Ross tout perks of being a boss with radio hit, "I'm a Boss." (Image: File)

I love me some Rick Ross … (Wait, before you close this window. It gets better. Trust me.)

Seriously. He’s one of my favorite hip-hop artists, with his cocky bravado, Santa Claus-like, tattooed belly, and larger-than-life persona.

Much of Rick Ross’ music centers around being a leader who makes his own lane, creates his own rules and practically answers to no one. There’s a level of confidence and power in his music that can’t be denied, one that often transfers to me when listen to it—questionable content aside. (Not to mention he’s a real-life boss as founder and CEO of Maybach Music Group.)

He, along with many popular music stars, have made what I call a “boss mentality” one coveted and adopted by young people all over the world. And as with any pop culture concept that takes on a life of its own, today’s “boss mentality,” especially among young people, has become the new overexposed green monster.

From 20-something divas boasting about cars, money and men, to young hustlers and businessmen trading stories of their latest conquests, the “boss mentality” has become one based on greed and pride, and built on unrealistic perceptions of what it takes to be a real boss. Even kids are buying into it, barely knowing their ABCs, but singing every word to Meek Mill’s latest hit (with Rick Ross), “I’m a Boss.”

GetaClue.org (as one of my favorite bossy divas, Tamar Braxton, would put it). A true boss practices due diligence to ensure their lives — in every aspect — will be as prosperous and purposeful as possible, all talk aside. They know that the material fruits of their labors are only a small part of the full picture.

Just look at the lives and works of today’s top, real-world bosses, from Tina Wells (Buzz Marketing Group) to Oprah to Magic Johnson to Dr. Farrah Gray (Gray Publishing) — all leaders who took the boss mentality and made their dreams reality with hard work and lucrative action. Even the bosses who aren’t so shy about their wealth — Sean “Diddy” Combs — have earned the bragging rights and can show and prove.

If you don’t have (or aren’t pursuing) the foundations for wealth building: estate plan, savings accounts, an investment portfolio, fair or good credit, and multiple streams of income, you’re not quite a boss.

If you have a closet full of luxury brands, but still cashing checks at the local check cashing spot because you don’t have a bank account, you’re not quite a boss.

Popping $300 bottles in clubs but haven’t paid Dr. Rent, Mr. Child Support or Ms. Student Loan …

Purchasing inexpensive things on credit that should be bought with cash …

Dodging bill collectors‘ calls or cleverly avoiding debts …

Living in the today without planning for a future that could sustain you and your family …

Lacking the means to invest tangible or intangible capital in your family or community …

NOT. A. BOSS.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the fruits of one’s labor, but I’ve witnessed too many people claiming to be bosses who have not one qualification to show for it.

I’m not a full boss yet, but I’d like to think I’m in training. I aspire to one day become self-sufficient in all aspects of my life, and pave the way for others to capture their own “bosshood.” I like to take pages from the books of my favorite leaders and mentors, while using my own boss mentality, skills and intelligence to pursue success and fulfill my purpose.

I would challenge anyone else to do the same. Leave the false perception of easy, materialistic bosshood for entertainment and actively take steps to capture the reality of your own greatness.

SHARE YOUR STORY: Comment below about your latest boss move and how it’s getting you that much closer to ultimate success.

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Say the name “Suze Orman” and you immediately know what you’re in for: tough, honest, plain talk about how to get your finances back in order—whether you’re reading one of her bestselling books, watching her on TV or listening to her on your drive-time radio hour. You also know what you’re NOT getting: you won’t get a fashion line, you won’t get her latest single, you won’t hear about how she’s taking acting lessons or going into rehab.

You’ll also get something that’s hard to come by these days: authenticity.

Says Orman’s literary agent, Amanda Urban, about her decision to hire an unknown how-to author when she didn’t represent how-to authors, let alone unknown authors, at the time,:“She had such an authentic voice, and that’s because she completely cares about what she is doing…”

Orman, whose story of going from struggling as a waitress on $400 a month to becoming the author of nearly a dozen bestselling books on personal finance is the stuff of legends, has helped millions of personal investors—most of them women—through her various television, radio and live events all over the country. The little girl who, because of a serious speech impediment, never thought she’d amount to anything, the former waitress who, after getting customers at her restaurant to invest thousands of dollars in her idea for opening her own eatery lost it all to an unethical financial broker, has succeeded in becoming what Investor’s Business Daily calls “one of the most popular self-help financial advisers in America.”

She is also one of the most popular personal brands on the market today. And she is not alone—many modern, successful women today are also very modern, successful personal brands. From Oprah Winfrey to Martha Stewart, from Condoleezza Rice to Nancy Pelosi, from Madonna to Beyonce, women as brands is nothing new.

There are, however, three critical lessons we take from Suze Orman’s playbook for branding success in the marketplace.

Brand Strategy #1: Compassion. I have always believed that people do not care what you know until they know that you care.  Make sure that people understand why you do what you do.  If your colleagues and clients can relate to you, they are more likely to trust you and want to stick with you.

Brand Strategy #2: Credibility. Never underestimate the power that increased education can have in reinventing your brand, especially if you are making a career change.  Education can come in many different formats, but it is important nonetheless.  Suze clearly worked diligently to develop her skill set and expertise.  Passion, while important, is not enough.  You must invest the proper resources in order to become an expert in your space.  If you want to earn more, learn more.

Brand Strategy #3: Consistency.  Understand exactly what it is of value that you bring to the marketplace.  The “it” that you bring forms the foundation of your brand equity.  From there, make sure you evaluate what you do, say, and offer through the filter of your brand objectives.  Suze Orman is very consistent with the nature of her brand message.  When you become more consistent in what you deliver and how you deliver it, you actually teach others what to think about you and the value of your personal brand.

To learn more strategies about how you can develop a compelling and profitable brand in the marketplace, please check out ME University: The Ultimate Business and Branding Bootcamp, sponsored by Black Enterprise.

In the interim, what other brand lessons can you glean from Suze Orman’s career and personal story?  I look forward to hearing from you.

Marshawn Evans is president of ME Unlimited L.L.C. and a weekly career advice columnist for BlackEnteprise.com. Connect with her online at Black Enterprise’s BE INSIDER, at www.marshawnevans.com, on Twitter at @marshawnevans and on Facebook at ME Unlimited by Marshawn Evans