A Baby Boomer Birthday: Another Day Older....

Back in 1955, Tennessee Ernie Ford sang a song that would go on to be a huge hit for him. It was called Sixteen Tons.

"....Another day older and deeper in debt
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go
I owe my soul to the company store..."

As I read the words to the song, I couldn't help thinking how some things just NEVER seem to change. If you're a baby boomer sharing a birthday with me today, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. If you're a baby boomer deeper in debt, welcome to the club---there's plenty of us out here!

According to an AARP Sponsored study:

* The rate of bankruptcy filings among those ages 65 and older has more than doubled since 1991.

* Americans age 55 or older have experienced the sharpest increase in bankruptcy filings.

* Americans age 34 or younger have experienced the greatest decrease in bankruptcy filings.

Black Actresses in Hollywood: Lethal Combination

I read an interesting post from actress Terri Vaughn last week, which prompted this post. She wrote about the struggles of black women in Hollywood. It's a conversation I had recently with actress Bern Nadette Stanis (better known as Thelma from Good Times).

Just like Bern Nadette said, Terri echoes the notion Hollywood executives don't have a clue about what Black America wants to see on the big screen. They think giving us Halle Berry or a look-a-like will make us happy. Why? Because she's what they consider an "acceptable black woman." She's light enough to appeal to white America--but the bottom line is she's still considered black.

It's tough being a black female actress in Hollywood---and the older you get, the worse it gets. Being a white, female baby boomer in Hollywood has its challenges also.

By the way, anybody seen Cicely Tyson or Sheryl Lee Ralph lately?

I invite you to read the entire Terry Vaughn interview.