Now, almost 53 years after founding the iconic label in his hometown of Detroit, Mich., Gordy will be honored at this year’s Songwriters Hall of Fame gala on June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.  He will be presented with the Pioneer Award, established last year to honor people who have “been a major influence on generations of songwriters.”

While I’m sure there are a few old schoolers who have a not-so-nice opinion on Berry Gordy and his movements back in the day, his impact on music is undeniable and is felt every time artists of today sample one of his classic hits.

Congrats, Mr. Gordy!

The post Motown Legend Berry Gordy To Be Honored By Songwriters Hall Of Fame appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

But if these ladies learned anything from their mommas, who happen to be members of AKA, it’s that Alpha Kappa Alpha takes its legacy very seriously and as such have clapped back against their lawsuit saying that despite the young women’s belief that it was their “birthright” to become AKA members when they wished, the sorority’s “Legacy Clause” does not guarantee membership:

“The Plaintiffs, two undergraduate women at Howard University and their mothers, bring this action because the undergraduate Plaintiffs were not selected to be initiated into AKA at this time, despite their belief that it was their “birth right” to become AKA members when they wished as Legacy Candidates because their mothers were active members in the sorority.

Despite the Plaintiffs’ disappointment and complaints, AKA did not violate the “Legacy Clause” in its Constitution and Bylaws, because that is not a guarantee of membership to a particular chapter, but simply provides for a priority process. More importantly, AKA had no ability to include these young women in the 2013 intake process of its Howard Chapter, because the strict application of membership caps imposed on AKA’s Howard University Chapter, in combination with AKA’s own intake regulations, made their admittance at this time impossible. AKA had no authority to lift or waive these caps.”

The fact that AKA had to even address this issue in the first place is just insane, but in a world where people feel entitled to every and anything and fail to see the importance of hard work and humility, I’m not surprised.
What are your thoughts on the lawsuit and AKA’s response?

Related News:
Why You Can’t Sue Yourself Into a Sorority

The post AKA Tells Howard Plaintiffs “Membership Is Not Your Birthright” appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Check out some footage from David and Tre’Darrius’ special day below!

Congrats to the happy couple!

The post Love is Love: David Harris And Tre’Darrius Anderson May Be The Country’s Youngest African-American Gay Couple To Marry appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Of course there are plenty of mommy blogs out there but Mater Mea takes up the notch on online compositions about motherhood.

The site describes itself as “a celebration of the multifaceted lives of mothers of color, born from a simple idea: that mothers come from all different walks of life. In collaboration with these inspirational women, mater mea uses images and text to illustrate how they juggle womanhood, motherhood and their careers — and how all three worlds have influenced their unique sense of style.”

The site features authentic stories from across New York City — everywhere from Westchester County, Brooklyn, Harlem to the Bronx — in the most beautiful states of motherhood: at home with their children.

Mater Mea is stylized very much like a literary magazine, adding an intimate and effortless sense of cool to a pot of bubbling stories told by voices that often go untold.

The post We Love Mater Mea appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

If that sounds like you, then trust that you’re not alone, Clutch Magazine’s own Britni Danielle has been there.  As a teacher in the California school system she dreamed of one day being able to quit her job and follow her passion for writing full time, but struggled with how to make her dream happen.  The journey wasn’t easy, but after taking a leap of faith Britni is now living the life she was always meant to writing for publications like Clutch and Jet Magazine full-time.  Britni was able to break out of her box and step into her dream and now, in her first e-book Break Out of Your Box she’s giving you the steps so that you can do it too!

At just 30-pages this free e-book is a clear, concise guide that will help you start on the path to completely transforming your life into what you want it to be.  Break Out of Your Box will show you how to get clear about your vision, network with others who will support your dream, give yourself concrete deadlines, set measurable goals to achieve your dream,  overcome the need to be perfect and even provide you with resources to get you started on your journey.

If you’re feeling that now is the time for you to get “brave enough to live your most awesome, awe-inspiring life,” then head over to BritniDanielle.com/break-out-of-your-box and download, for free, this inspiring, insightful and motivational book that will set you on the path to living the life you deserve  today!

Clutchettes are you ready to Break Out of Your Box?

The post Sister to Support: Clutch Writer Britni Danielle Helps You “Break Out of Your Box” appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Graduation rate trends matter because dropouts without a high school or college diploma face an increasingly tough job market and while the progressing high school graduation rates show promise, they’re not enough to push students all the way through the finish line at the end of college. In fact, even though more students may be graduating high school, fewer than half of those in the class of 2012 were “college ready,” according to the College Board last fall. On the good side the gains in graduation rates have been driven largely by minority students in large, Southern states: Between 2006 and 2010, African-American students saw a 6.9 percent increase in graduation rates, and Hispanic students had a 10.4 percent increase. Which is in sharp contrast to 2002 findings where half of African-American high school students were attending schools “where graduation was not the norm,” now, that number is down to 25 percent.

According to John Bridgeland, an author on the report:

“Previously we’ve been able to focus on school districts making double-digit gains but we always have to pivot and say the pace of progress is too slow. Now, we have hopeful news. We’re cautiously optimistic. The pace of progress really rocketed forward right at a time when high school reform efforts were strongly under way.”

This report definitely shows promise, but with so many other factors in play when it comes to our children getting, or not getting, an education, 2020 seems like a long time to wait for us to get them on the right track.

Thoughts?

The post School Daze: High School Graduation Rate In U.S. On Pace To Reach 90 Percent By 2020 appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

For one week over the summer Jubril will fly one person between the ages of 16-24 to meet up with him in whatever random foreign country he’s luxuriating in that day.  No passport?  No worries!  Jubril will be covering all expenses from your passport and flight to lodging and more.  While there, Jubril and a few of his business savvy buddies will school you on how they were able to create their dream jobs and on how you can do the same.  All you have to do to be considered for this once in a lifetime opportunity is watch the video below and email Jubril all the reasons why this opportunity would change your life.

Good luck and see some world! 

The post Entreprenuer Jubril Agoro Is Taking You Across The Globe…For Free appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Set to air in the spring, the show will provide viewers with a glimpse into the lives of seven well-known and ambitious media personalities.  So who has signed their soul away to the devil for our entertainment this go ‘round?  The Gossip Game’s cast will include Kim Osorio, Editor-in-Chief of The Source; Angela Yee, co-host of Power 105.1′s The Breakfast Club, K.Foxx, co-host of Hot 97′s The Cipha Sounds & Rosenburg Show with K.Foxx;  Sharon Carpenter of Global Grind; Vibe columnist, JasFly; Ms. Drama, host of Ms Drama TV blog and Vivian Billings of Hip Hop Gossip Site.

The show is aiming to give viewers an inside glimpse of the competitive landscape of the media industry and since many members of the cast are rivals, we’re sure there will be more than enough drama to go around.  So for all of you out there who have been dying to know how your favorite gossip bloggers really get down, this is the show for you.

The Gossip Game is scheduled to hit airwaves Monday, April 1st at 9:00 pm EST.

Are you ready?

The post Are You Ready For “The Gossip Game?” appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

My “amazing, funny, built like an athlete, every woman’s dream” date showed up overweight, on the sizzurp, driving dirty and dressed in his Top Flight Security of the World uniform, and those aren’t even the highlights. Not even 45 minutes into the date he used a silent moment to ask the blind date question of all blind date questions: “Sooooo, can I lick your butt?” I’m sorry what?!  Hotmess.com wouldn’t even begin to describe it.   Of course, I did what I should’ve done 45 minutes before and that was high tail it out of there.  Since this was my first date understandably I was a bit shaken and put off from ever doing it again, but after a few jokes with friends, a good tongue lashing for the matchmaker and some wine to calm my nerves, I think I would be willing (somewhat) to try again…with some dressed in all black like the Omen type girlfriend back up of course.

I know all blind dates aren’t like this one, but situations like this are exactly why I prefer to find love the old fashioned ‘just bumped into each other in Shake Shack’  kind of way.  I know love won’t find me sitting around the house, but I’m not sure if it’s going to find me on a blind date either.  Let’s hope the next date goes a bit better.

What’s the worst date you’ve ever been on?  Are you open to blind dating?

The post Dating Nightmares: What’s The Worst Date You’ve Been On? appeared first on Clutch Magazine.

Today would’ve been the singer’s 80th birthday and even though she is no longer physically with us, her musical presence is still felt today by artists like Meshell Ndegeocello who is honoring Nina Simone with a cover of her song “Black Is the Colour (Of My True Love’s Hair).” Such a fitting tribute for a woman who sought to change the world through song.

Happy Birthday Nina Simone!

The post Happy Birthday Nina Simone! appeared first on Clutch Magazine.