1. Essence Honors Tracee Ellis Ross During NY Fashion Week
The September issue of Essence was all about fashion, from features written by esteemed fashion journalist Robin Givahn, photographs by acclaimed fashion photographer Gilles Bensimon and cover girl, fashion diva 2.0, Tracee Ellis Ross (pictured above with Essence Editor-in Chief Constance White and “Reed Between The Lines” co-star Malcolm Jamal-Warner)  [more].

2. Nas Working on Memoir
Hip hop legend Nas will be the next rapper in line to release a memoir, reports Rolling Stone. The book, titled “It Ain’t Too Hard to Tell,” is being written in collaboration with veteran music journalist Toure who went on Twitter earlier today to share his excitement about the upcoming project [more].

3. Obama to Send Jobs Bill to Congress Monday
President Barack Obama called on Congress Monday to act immediately on his jobs plan. “This is a bill that will put people back to work all across the country,” he said during remarks in the Rose Garden at the White House [more].

4. America Has Become More Accepting of Interracial Marriages
A new Gallup report shows that 86% approve of Black-white unions, in comparison to only four percent in 1958 [more].

5. Nigeria Trading Reserve Dollars for Chinese Currency
The day may be near when Nigeria is done with dollars. Africa’s largest oil-producing nation announced recently that it is selling off 10 percent of the U.S. Dollars it keeps in reserve currency and replacing it with Chinese Yuan [more].

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TAGS: CHINA, Congress, Essence Magazine, Gilles Bensimon, interracial dating, Nas, New York Fashion Week, NIGERIA, President Barack Obama, Rolling Stone Magazine, Toure, Tracee Ellis Ross