The Starting Lineup consists of: Thandie Newton (Orange), Kimberly Elise (Silver), Phylicia Rashad (Peach), Anika Noni Rose (Yellow), Kerry Washington (Blue), Loretta Devine (Green), Janet Jackson (Red), Tessa Thompson (Purple), and Whoopi Goldberg (White).

Rose, who starred in Disney’s 2009 animated hit The Princess & The Frog, has high hopes for the movie, which is adapted from playwright Ntozake Shange’s 1974 Broadway classic For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow is Enuf.

“I want this film to awaken people to the power of Black actresses,” says Rose. “I want people to know there are things that Black women go through that aren’t slavery or hip-hop. I want people to know Black women as Americans.”

You saw the behind the scenes footage, now check out R&B singer Monica as she covers the first issue of Essence Magazine’s Hot Hair Edition.

Essence Magazine may be done in Melyssa Ford’s book, but the embattled mag still has a friend in songbird Monica.

The singer was recently choose to cover the first issue of the mag’s new sister publication Essence Hair. Check out the behind the scenes footage of the shoot as Monica talks about getting the cover, her signature short haircut, and more.

Add former video vixen Melyssa Ford to the growing list of Black women growing disenfranchised with Essence Magazine. Once the newsstand’s staple of feminity for women of color, Essence has taken a beating in the court of public opinion in recent months following its decision to hire a White editor to head up the magazine’s fledging Fashion Department.

But for Melyssa, Essence downfall isn’t just a matter of Black/White. The buxom Canadian breaks things down — from her perspective — in a new blog with VIBE: “Right now ‘Essence’ has on the cover, three of the most gorgeous black men ever created on the face of this f—ing Earth. They have Blair Underwood who has always done it for me, Boris Kodjoe whose definition in the dictionary is fine, and then they got Lance Gross-chocolaty loveliness. And you know what they f—ing have the nerve to have as the f—king title of the cover story? “How to Keep Black Men Happy and Faithful.” And faithful! How dare you?! It makes me f—ing sick. [It's like saying] ‘Women take note: How to keep your black men healthy and keep from straying from you ’cause it’s your fault.’ And black women wrote this to their f—ing counterparts.”

Mel’s also pissed the volatile catwalker Naomi Campbell earned a place on Essence’s cover when her ample assets have been getting her snub by editors for years.

“Who was on the cover last month? They were toasting to women above the age of 40, and how beautiful they look, but Naomi’s on the cover? Okay, yes. Granted, Miss Naomi walks a catwalk, and she’s still killing 16-year-old and 20-year-old girls. Yes, but she has serious anger management issues and an overwhelming sense of entitlement, and she is engaged in fucking illegal activity that’s directly related to the blood diamond industry in Africa. And you’re putting her on a pedestal? Is that what you’re doing? But you won’t cover somebody like me because I based the earlier part of my career on my sexuality? My moral compass hasn’t been shifted off too much. My values are pretty good considering the causes that I believe in and places I’ve volunteered my time and given my money to, but you don’t feel the need to ever cover any single part of my career. You don’t even acknowledge that I even fucking exist. But this is what you cover and this is the things you say? I think it’s hypocrisy.”

To read Ford’s full Essence rant, visit VIBE.com…

Essence Magazine –a staple of elegance for Black women since the 1970s — has sparked outrage in the world of African-American publishing and among readers of the lifestyle monthly after selecting a White woman to head up the mag’s Fashion/Style Department.

This September, Ellianna Placas will step into her new role as Essence’s new Fashion Director. The girl certainly knows her stuff: Placas has a lengthy history in style and impressive resume that includes working for O: The Oprah Magazine, Us Weekly, and contributing/styling for many television shows. All that means little to many readers and supporters of the publication, who would prefer to see a woman of color (You know, the magazine’s target audience…) appointed to such a prestigious position.

Writer Michaela Angela Davis has been particularly vocal about her disappointment with the mag’s new hire:

“It is with a heavy heavy heart I have learned that Essence magazine has engaged a white fashion director, this hurts, literally, spiritually. If there were balance in the industry; if we didn’t have a history of being ignored and disrespected; if more mainstream fashion media included people of color before the ONE magazine dedicated to black women ‘diversified’, it would feel different.”

Fashion personality Najwa Moses echoed Michaela’s disappointment, telling Clutch Magazine: “How could such a prestigious title who is deeply rooted in its target audience let someone who is not even apart of the African Diaspora detonate our image? How can a White woman dictate and decide what style and beauty is for the Black woman?”

Essence Editor-in-Chief Angela Burt-Murray, who hired Placas, has responded to the stir with a statement issued Wednesday:

“We were conducting a search for a new director when she was hired to run the department on a freelance basis. I got to see firsthand her creativity, her vision, the positive reader response to her work, and her enthusiasm and respect for the audience and our brand. As such, I thought she’d make an excellent addition to our team. And I still do. This decision in no way diminishes my commitment to black women, our issues, our fights. I am listening and I do take the concerns to heart,” she writes.

“But interestingly enough, the things I think should most upset people and inspire boycotts and Facebook protests, often seem to go relatively unnoticed…When we run story after story on how HIV is the leading cause of death for black women age 18-34? Zilch. The things that really are the end of our world apparently aren’t,” Burt-Murray says.

“While the response to these important stories may not always be as strong as we would like or lead to immediate change, Essence remains committed to telling these stories. Forty years ago Essence was founded to empower, celebrate, and inspire black women to climb higher, go further and break down barriers. Our commitment to black women remains unchanged….”

Essence sparked a similar controversy about race last winter. A sector of readers were incensed when editors selected NFL ace Reggie Bush as cover model of the mag’s “Black Love” issue, particularly since the New Orleans Saints star has been in a series of high-profile romances with non-Black women.

Janet Jackson is the cover star of Essence Magazine’s August issue!

“Miss Jackson If You’re Nasty” is set to headline the Essence Music Festival on July 2.

In honor of its 40th anniversary, Essence Magazine will publish excerpts from Terry McMillan’s Getting to Happy, the long-awaited sequel to her best-selling 1992 novel Waiting to Exhale.

The excerpts will appear in the next four issues of Essence, beginning with the June edition, on newsstands now.

Uh-Oh: Is Essence Magazine on the verge of collapse?

Word on the Interwebs claims the “Black Woman’s Guide to Life” for nearly 40 years is in danger of folding. Publishing industry insiders tell Gawker.com that Essence issued a substantial number of pink slips since last November; long-time beauty director Mikki Taylor is retiring; beauty editor Pamela Edwards Christiani recently left for PEOPLE; and the entire Fashion Team was let go on Thursday.

Do you think last year’s Reggie Bush interracial relationship cover controversy pushed them over the edge?

Bush has been in a high-profile relationship with reputed HOcialite Kim Kardashian since 2007 — and that’s the main source of consternation for those protesting the Essence’s February cover. Some can’t help but wonder why editors chose to put a Black Man who is rumored to shun Black women as potential mates on the cover of mag that targets them.

Thoughts?

Michelle Obama and her mother, Marian Robinson, speak out about life at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in the May 2009 issue of Essence Magazine, arriving on newsstands April 10.

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Mrs. Michelle Obama on what being First Lady means to her:
“It’s an honor and a privilege when you walk into the White House-at least I automatically felt a level of obligation. This is a big responsibility, a wonderful platform and I just want to make sure I take every advantage to serve as a role model, to provide good messages, to be a supportive mate to the President and to make sure that my girls are solid.”

Mrs. Marian Robinson on seeing her daughter step into this historic role:
“Well, to me, it’s overwhelming. I never doubted that she could do this. She is doing it with such grace and dignity. So I am just proud. I just hope she does what she wants to do. [Chuckles] Because the things that she wants to do are very important. They mean a lot to her.”

Mrs. Michelle Obama on finding balance:
“Unlike most women, I have a lot of resources: I have my mother living with me. The White House has a staff of people who are there to make my life easy. I don’t have a full-time job, although I work very hard in the role of First Lady. But I have a lot of resources. So I have been able to achieve the balance because I have the support I need.”