Nigel Roberts
Comedian. Television host. Movie Star. Top-rated syndicated Radio Personality. Father of 6. For over 20 years. Rickey Smiley is one of the most beloved performers in American media, earning a reputation for delivering boundless laughter on-air, on-stage, and on-screen. Every morning, millions of Americans in nearly 60 cities listen to Rickey Smiley and his 6 outrageous cast members on “The Rickey Smiley Morning Show.” His interviews with major celebrities, social political awareness and trademark prank phone calls have made Smiley one of the most listened to radio personalities in history. Rickey Smiley’s down home southern humor, opting to use insight rather than vulgarity to get laughs, is at the core of his success. His audiences are treated to such original characters as “Mrs. Bernice Jenkins”, “Lil’ Darrl,” “Joe Willie” and “Beauford.” Smiley is known for his clean comedic style and his reputation to sell out venues across the country. To movie audiences, Smiley is best known for “All About The Benjamins” and “Friday After Next”. He’s recorded 8 best selling CDs including iTunes #1 Best Selling Comedy Album, “Rickey Smiley- Prank Calls Number 6”. On television he”s hosted BET’s “Open Casket Sharp” and “Comic View”, appeared on “Showtime At The Apollo,” “Uptown Comedy Club”, HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam”and “Snaps”. Smiley graduated from Alabama State University, became KBFB’s (Dallas) morning show personality in 2004, and soon moved his show to WHTA Atlanta. When not performing, Smiley is the ultimate devoted father, single-handedly raising 6 kids, the subject of a soon to be released parenting book. QUOTE: “Success is when preparation meets opportunity”
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Stories are surfacing about the Prince that only a few close friends knew. In one that’s getting attention, the organization #YesWeCode is paying tribute to the music legend for his quiet generosity:
“#YesWeCode would like to honor Prince and thank him for his inspired vision for #YesWeCode. Prince’s commitment to ensuring young people of color have a voice in the tech sector continues to impact the lives of future visionaries creating the tech of tomorrow.”
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The mission of #YesWeCode is to connect 100,000 urban youth to technology jobs. Prince’s friend and lawyer Van Jones spoke on HNL’s Dr. Drew Show about the musician’s passion for uplifting African-American young people, while shunning the spotlight:
The L.A. Times recently reported Jones’ recollection of this conversation with Prince in 2014, which led to the launch of #YesWeCode:
“After the Trayvon Martin verdict, I was talking to Prince and he said, ‘You know, every time people see a young Black man wearing a hoodie, they think, he’s a thug. But if they see a young white guy wearing a hoodie they think, oh, that might be Mark Zuckerberg. That might be a dot-com billionaire.’”
Jones blamed racism, but Prince responded that the Black community has failed to create tech entrepreneurs like the Facebook CEO.
SOURCE: #Yes We Code, L.A. Times | PHOTO CREDIT: Getty | VIDEO SOURCE: Twitter
SEE ALSO:
Black Girls CODE Empowers Young Women Of Color To Fall In Love With Technology
Obama Launches Computer Science Initiative At Oakland High School
Prince Helped Launch Tech Initiative For Urban Youth
was originally published on
newsone.com
