Over the weekend, TV actress Samaria Graham delivered some sad news that actress Alaina Reed Hall passed away. Mrs. Hall played Ms. Graham's TV mother on the hit television series "Blossom." Mrs. Reed --a stage, film and television actress-- was well known for her roles on "Sesame Street" (as Gordon's little sister, the photographer), and her recurring roles on "227" and "Cleghorne." Mrs. Hall was 66

Eartha Kitt, Dancer, Vocalist, Performer & Activist - December 25, 2008 Odetta, Folk and Blues Singer, and Activist - December 2, 2008 Miriam Makeba, Singer, Actress & Activist - November 10, 2008 Ave Montague, Director of the SF Black Film Festival - January 23, 2009 Marpessa Dawn, Actress and Performer - August 25, 2008 Tamara Dobson, Actress - October 5, 2006 Beah Richards, Actress - September 16, 2000

I don't know how I missed this obituary, especially considering that BLACK ORPHEUS is one of my all time favorite films! The beautiful, and exquisite Marpessa Dawn passed away of a heart attack last August (August 25, 2008) in her home, in Paris, France. A magnificent, multilingual actress, Ms. Dawn played the lead role of Eurydice in Marcel Camus' film, BLACK ORPHEUS. Unusual for its time because

[caption id="attachment_243" align="aligncenter" width="246" caption=""Just because you are different does not mean that you have to be rejected." --Eartha Kitt"][/caption] The incredible Eartha Kitt passed away due to colon cancer on December 25, 2008, in New York City. Ms. Kitt was an "acquired taste" for many who couldn't reconcile her personal roots with the persona she carefully developed. She feigned an indescribable accent that many in the