Page B8-The Chronicle, Thursday, December 6, 1984
Ask Volondq
o
She's over 50, jobless
and very frustrated
By YOLONDA GAYLES
Syndicated Columnist
Dear Yolonda: I've noticed many letters from people who write
in to describe the horrors of unemployment. As sad as their stories
are, I've noticed that at least the writers have their youth on their
side - I'm in the same situation (I'm unemployed), but with one additional
problem: I'm 53.
I got laid off from my former job four years ago, and I haven't
been able to find a thing since. After applying for every job in the
immediate area but getting no further than the job interview, I
know that my age is harming me (I do have a skill. I'm a secretarytypist).
I've tried telling employers that I'm in good health and can
< handle most jobs, but that doesn't seem to help. *
I've never been on aid in my
life, but the way things are
going it seems as though I have
no choice. I've used up most
of my job benefits, so welfare
may be the only thing left. I'm
too old to find a job and too
young for Social Security
benefits. So, you see, I have a
r#?n1 ^mnlnvmpnt nrnhlpm
Laverne
Yolonda Gayles Laver"e: ? To
with, you can't allow yourself
to believe that your employment problem is insurmountable. You
have no choice but to be optimistic yet diligent in your job hunt.
Perhaps you've forgotten that you do have some job-related attributes
that would be valuable to any potential employer - attributes
such as maturity, experience, etc. Don't forget to bring
these traits up during interviews.
Also, there are employment agencies that cater exclusively to
nlrlpr ioh-c^lf^rc Frtr Avamnla 4AUU"
j~ ~ m. vi vAiuiipiv, vypvi auuii auic V*U1K> Willi pCOpie
who are 55-plus, as does "Over 50." (The names change in different
regions.) The pity is that more senior blacks don't utilize ,
these organizations.
Finding a job at any age is no picnic, so your only true defense is
to align yourself with organizations whose job is to help you help
yourself.*. .. ]; . , ',. .HSfim . .
She Feels Used
Dear Yolonda: I'm 42 and divorced after 25 years of marriage.
(Yes, I got married at 17.) My ex-husband used to tell me that I
would never get along with another man. Now I see what he meant.
I
TTPWWlwyTffWB HHPVEBB B
. v Tv^rC^
BK & " , ? ~ :- - t^H^H
The maiden issue of MBM with Gregory Hines on the cover: Filling
a void in the magazine world.
Cover profile Hines: *1
Gregory Hines, a Broadway veteran, tap-dancer extraordinaire
and co-star of th^ fnrthrnmino film MTh? PAttAn rinK "
? ?' ? AAAAAAf A >?V WViWll V/ tUU| uvvo
the cover of the premiere issue of MBM Magazine, a new publication
for "modern black men."
Hines graces the brand-new magazine's inside pages as well ? in
a revealing portrait t^at covers the width and breadth of Hines'
career and Hines the man.
"1 have high hopes for this film," Hines told author Timothy
Hawkins about "Cotton Club," a history of the legendary Harlem
nightclub of the 1920s and 30s (directed by The Godfather's' Francis
Ford Coppola).
"I think audiences are going to feel so great seeing this. Finally,
black people are seen on the screen expressing a range of emotions
and specialness you haven't seen before."
Hines' role in the film as a dancer and numbers runner was
Weekend
The Arts, Leisure, Music, Columns
jf(m
. **MBHHBH|H|HHHH^ _ ^HL
^?i*^n?^S/5'55Sw' ^",,lv**, ^M*,~*" ._jHHk. ~3HE.. --^liJI^
Black Gold
The rock group Talking Heads , whose film "Stop Making
Sense" was released in October, has drawn heavily on black
influences in its music, including Bernie Worrell of
Parliament-Funkadelic fame as part of its performing group
Following my divorce, I dated a man, but after a few months, he
broke the relationship off, because, he said, he was going back to
another girlfriend and he wanted to give that relationship a fair
chance. After that, 1 dated a man who lives in my apartment
building. He wanted to continue to play the field, so that didn't
work either. I've also dated two or three other men, but things went
sour with them, too.
I'm not old-fashioned, but it's been very difficult for me to adjust
to changing men str quickly. 1 only knew one man all of my
life, and suddenly 1 seem^tpJiavc a new man in my life every few
months. I feel used by all of these men, and I don't want to keep '
going through it. What should I do?
\ Margaret
T.
Dear Margaret: I don't like the word "used." I can more readily
Magazines ~
MBM aims to please bl
Special To The Chronicle
It's been said that there's a magazine for nearly everyone, but
until now there's been none for a long-neglected group of readers:
upwardly mobile, professional black men. MBM, the new
magazine for modern black men, changed all that on Nov. 27,
when the premiere issue hit the newsstands.
Each issue, say MBM's editors, will feature the latest news in
"There is a quantity of black magazines for women,
businesses, families, entrepreneurs and political en
thusiasts, but none for the fashion- and lifestyleoriented
black men who make up a large percentage of
several white-oriented male publications' readership."
.ladii/ans, r*l*i/.ant anH tii^y ^ fjnanfft .
careers, in-depth profiles of celebrities and regular coverage of
health, grooming, sports, entertainment and the arts - all the areas
of interest to the contemporary black man and his lifestyle.
4'There is a quantity of black magazines for women, businesses,
families, entrepreneurs and political enthusiasts," says George C.
Pryce, MBM's editor and publisher, 44but none for the fashionr
want to be a regular p
originally written for Richard Pryor, but when the famous comedian
wasn't available, Hines stepped in ? fresh from his stunning
successes on Broadway, including "Eubie" and "Sophisticated
Ladies."
He earned Tony nominations for both performances.
"There I was, after working for 32 years - and i hit," says Hines
of "Ladies." "There was a mad rush of attention that comes when
people discover you .... It's easy when you become popular in this
business to become distanced from people. I want to be a regular
person ~ not a fool."
Reflecting on his carter ? which began when he was four years
old ? Hines says, "I can't remember not dancing." He credits his
mother for molding his career and offering the encouragement
both he and his brother, Maurice, needed to stick to dancing.
f
*c"Vi j? - *r" -^ ^
<
g|H
as well as Alex (Brothers Johnson) Weir. The avant-rockers
also have Incorporated African rhythms Into their music.
Talking Heads' first hit? Al Green's "Take Me To The River."
I _ _ - -
accept the idea that many men today are "searching."
How can you keep from getting in the way of so many "searchers?"
The key is to try to sort through all that before becoming
I11VU1VCU.
She Wanted Divorce -- And Got It
Dear Yolonda: 1 was divorced a year ago after six years of marriage.
My husband hadrm*wish;|o,MKi )tfip(marriage, even thoulh
he told me that he had lost sexual interest in me. He was interested
in continuing our relationship, but only on a brother-sister level. 1
didn't want things to go like that.
1 asked for a divorce because his shunning me made me feel hurt
Please see page B16
*
ack male professionals
and lifestyle-oriented black men who make up a large percentage of
several white-oriented male publications' readership."
"MBM's audience is self-aware, well-educated and working in a
skilled trade, business or professional occupation," Pryce said.
The nationally distributed magazine will be published bi-monthly
through September 1985, when it will commence monthly publication.
The first issue's initial circulation is ino nnn mrm umU
? - yww 111 UlOU
be available throughout Canada.
Profiled in the first issue, and featured on its cover, is actordancer
Gregory Hines (see accompanying story) who is currently
starring in the upcoming Francis Ford Coppola film "The Cotton
Club." Timothy Hawkins' in-depth profile tracks Hines' career
over a span of 30 years, from Harlem to hippiedom to stardom.
Also featured in the premiere issue is a profile of concert pianist
Andre Watts, a look at life on the set of "The Cotton Club"
through the eyes of seven of its actresses, a profile of Motown's Billy
Da*k> the "-PticC-Of-RodcO Driw" (an irrpvprrnf r.f
* 1,1 -few Angclis),?ftfflftfV Top 10 college basketball-teams~tmd a
preview of new fashions.
"There are over four million black men between the ages of 25
and,54," says Pryce, "and they comprise the most diversified
group of black men this country has ever known. MBM speaks to
their needs and tastes - at last."
wtrki- rt
Vf 01//I ? fl(/l M JUl/l
The Hincs Brothers achieved national attention from television^*
appearances in the early 60s with the act they formed with the help
of their father and a singer he found named Johnny Brown, who
later became famous on TVs "Laugh-In" show.
Hines, Hines & Brown evolved into Hines, Hines & Dad, when
Brown left to join Sammy Davis Jr. in "Golden Boy" on Broadwav.
After "Cotton Club," audiences will see Hines in a co-starring
role with ballet great Mikhail Baryshnikov in a new Taylor
Hackford film, "White Nights," currently in production.
"I just want to continue to do^good work," says Hines. "I want
to be a good father, a good husband and a good friend. I'm lucky
that I have a family, friends and terrific people I work for and with
to help me with that."
i