Bernadette Giacomazzo - In Living Color: A Cultural History

Bernadette Giacomazzo is an editor, journalist, author, photographer, and publicist with more than twenty years of experience in the entertainment arm of the industry. Her work has been featured in People, Teen Vogue, Us Weekly, the Los Angeles Times, the New York Post, and more. She is also CEO and founder of G-Force Marketing & Publicity, which has been featured in the Hollywood Reporter, and she has secured film, television, and radio placements for blue-chip clientele throughout the world. In addition to her contributions to the Cultural History series, Giacomazzo is the author of the critically acclaimed fiction series The Uprising Series and works in various roles behind the scenes in Hollywood. A native of Queens, New York, she lives in Atlantic Beach, New York, and works in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Visit her online at www.bernadettegiacomazzo.com.

The act of writing a book is a solitary act, to be sure, but I am by no means without a system of support and love that leaves me humbled and grateful. This space, then, is dedicated to these people.

First, and foremost, I need to thank the Universefor lack of a better way of putting the energy that binds us alland my two greatest teachers, the Reverend Dr. Lady Auset (and her husband, Lord Ra) and Sorceress Cagliastro of the Iron Ring. It is because of these forces that I am strongstronger, in fact, than I ever could believeand for this, I am grateful.

Next, I need to thank the five greatest human beings on Earth: my nephews Tony, JuJu, Nijah Bear, and my baby King Bing Stinkie, and my niece Jahni Girl. Titzie loves you!

To the rest of my family: my mom Anna, my sister Marissa, my brother-in-law Cut, my aunt Lydia and my uncle Alfredo, and my cousins Paula (and Dave, Adrianna, and Leo) and Marina (and Jason and Aniyah), Joanne, Anthony Jr. and Philip, Roberta and Dario, Patrizia and Stefano, and all the members of my extended family scattered throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, and Sicily. (There are far too many of us to name you individuallyI think Im personally related to approximately one in every ten Italians walking this Earth, and one in every four Sicilians walking this Earth, without exaggeration.) Quite the motley crew we are... and I love you all for it.

To my Rottweiler, Angelaaka Big Ang, aka Fat Fat, aka Fatty McFattertonfor snoring at my feet as I wrote this book late into the night. (As if you can read this thing.) Thanks for saving my life, and my moms life, literally and figuratively. Sometimes, angels come in human formand sometimes, they come in the form of fat Rottweilers who eat too much Italian food. Im grateful youre the latter. Thanks, Big Ang. Special thanks, too, to Hounds Town Doggie Day Care in Island Park, New York, for keeping her amused five days out of the week while I toiled away at this book.

To my friends in real life: Douglas Friday, Robyn Smith-Kaiser (and Larry Kaiser, and Maverick, and of course, CharStar the Little Rock Star), Marabelle Blue, Jenny Devil Doll Gonzalez (and Eric Blitz), Philip Richards (and Jeanne Panini Pinnieri-Richards), Ray Monell, Cymande Russell (and Akira), Sesh Foluke-Henderson (and his new, lovely familyI cant believe one of my bes-ties is a papa!), Taalib Ghetto Philosopher Wheeler (and Goddess Queen Nefertari), Dr. JonPaul Higgins (and Jonathan Ray), Shaun Lally, Gerard HipHopGamer Williams (and RedInfamy), Walter Lucky Church Simons (and Vivian Veng), Jasmine ODay (and Jessica ODay), Patricia Kuneff, Chrissy Melchiore, and all the people whose names Im forgetting right now (but who I will gladly remember when the book comes out and do a follow-up post on my website or something). I love you guys, and thats not something I say lightly.

To Christen Karniski and Deni Remsberg of Rowman & Littlefield, for seeing this vision and believing in my ability to deliver above and beyond all expectations. I cannot wait to do this all again in a few months with The Golden Girlsand, hopefully, beyond.

To Bettinna, and BettyMedia, for the beautiful cover art. I wept when I first saw it, and I weep anew seeing it in action.

To Antoine DeBrill, for the amazing author photoand for not making me look like Hillary Clinton in my pics. (Special shout-out to Hillary Clinton, though, and no disrespect intended.)

To Martie Bowser of Role Model Publicity, the greatest publicist a girl could ask for.

To all the people I work and have worked with, who I love and respect and appreciate forever, and whose continued support means the world: Richard Willis Jr., REYN, and Bryan Ransom. The Metropolitan Opera. Teen Vogue. Vogue Italia. VH1. XXL Magazine. The Source Magazine. LatinTRENDS Magazine. Go! NYC Magazine. Interactive One. Vibe. Blasting News. The Inquisitr. Contrast Magazine. Kool G Rap. G-Unit. Curtis 50 Cent Jackson (so much love and respect for this man!). Lloyd Banks. Tony Yayo. Kidd Kidd. Mike Styles. The G-Unit Riders. Michael Maddaloni. Chris Lanston. Nassau Community College. Hofstra University. Dr. Kenneth Lampl. WLIR-FM. WBAB-FM. Malibu Sue. Rob Rush. Andre Ferro. Jon Daniels. Keith Fingers Steele. Joe Rock. Vinnie The Chainsaw Graziano. Amanda Elsheikh. Scott Church. Michael Donati. Sarah Squeaky. Alan Davis. Renee Graziano. Karen Gravano. Big Ang Raiola (God rest your beautiful soulyou truly were one of a kind). Good Times Magazine. Long Island Entertainment Magazine (RIP). Inside Connection (RIP). Splash News. PR Photos. FlashCity (RIP). WENN. SIPA. Ariel Publicity. John Gilbert Young. Anita Gordy (RIP to the beautiful Ryan). Sam Felipe. The list goes on, and Im sure Im forgetting people along the way, but again, you are loved and respected and appreciated. Thanks for believing in the talents of a nerdy Sicilian girl with too many books, too many records, too many smartassed remarks, and too many crazy dreamsand for making all of them come true, and even giving me dreams I never thought I could have and making them come true. Yall are awesome, and I sincerely hope the Universe blesses you and provides for you for all the days of your life.

To the outlets I currently call home: All Thats Interesting (John and Jaclyn, thank you for giving me the opportunity to expand my knowledge and write about things above and beyond the music and entertainment industriesand thanks for approving the story about the origins of Anansi, which put me in touch with Stewart Kyasimire, and the restas they sayis history). AfroTech, and all the Blavity propertiesyou are, indeed, my fam away from my fam.

Micah Davis, thank you for being the best deputy editor an old lady could ask foryou deserve the world, and I cannot thank you enough for being who you are and giving me the opportunities you have given me. Shanique Yates, Samantha Dorisca, Ngozi Nwanji, and Michelai Grahamyou four ladies inspire me in ways I cannot possibly put into words. Im looking forward to watching each one of you kick ass and take names, now and in the future, and making all your dreams come true.

Njera PerkinsI love seeing you shine in your new editorial role at POP-SUGAR. You impress me daily, and I hope you keep kicking ass.

Brittni Williams and Katana Dumontyou two ladies are the future. Its an honor to serve as your lead, and I hope you surpass me in ways I cannot imagine right now.

Amaya Woodley, Diorlena Caruthers, Trey Mangum, Sidnee Douyon, Orchid Richardson, Morgan DeBaun, and everyone else who had the faith in me to give me even one assignmentthank you, beyond thanks, for believing in me and my talent, and I hope I make you proud.

And finally, but certainly no less important, thank you beyond thanks to Stephanie Ogbogu, for bringing me on board in the first place and introducing me to one of the best places Ive ever had the pleasure of working at in my life. This book has a sensitivity, a realness, and a humanity about it because you all are in my life. And a great deal of creditmore than can be put into wordsgoes to you, Steph, for making that possible.