BTV247, Inc., the leading digital media company focused exclusively on Black culture, today announced the launch of www.blacktv247.com, the single largest internet destination exclusively focused on Black-inspired programming.

OWN: THE OPRAH WINFREY NETWORK has acquired the rights to FAMILY AFFAIR, an independent feature length documentary film written and produced by Chico David Colvard. FAMILY AFFAIR, an intensely personal documentary that examines Mr. Colvard’s compelling family history, garnered great attention at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival where it had its world premiere.

In 2009, Payless ShoeSource and the National Urban League forged a partnership to raise funds for the Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund provides scholarships in $2500 increments to African American students attending college/universities nationwide. Now, in its second year, through the month of February 2010, Payless customers may visit their 800 stores as well as go online (www.payless.com/store) to purchase an inspirational “I Believe” necklace for the nominal cost of $4. I have partnered with Payless ShoeSource to offer a promotion in the spirit of Black History Month and their ongoing commitment to support higher education for minorities. Below are the guidelines to win a FREE “I Believe” necklace.

I’ve been reading Tyler Perry’s journal entries (he calls them”Email Messages from Tyler”) on his website www.tylerperry.com/_Messages, particularly the ones since Maxine’s passing, and it seems like hitting the stage was just what he needed to get back into life. “Madea’s Big Happy Family” kicked off on January 4, 2010 in El Paso, TX and concludes May 9, 2010 in Detroit, MI.

Glaucoma is something that I’ve witnessed within my own family, and is my personal reminder to get regular eye exams. It’s also the leading cause of blindness among African Americans and also common amongst Latin Americans. One of the most frightening aspects is that often there are no warning signs making it imperative that everyone get regular eye exam to prevent blindness. January is Glaucoma Awareness Month, and while the month is nearly over, this information is beneficial year round.

Allstate joined President Barack Obamas call for a national day of service on Jan. 19, designating the 2009 Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday as Allstate Beyond February Give Back Day…Thousands of volunteers across the country answered Allstate’s call to service. Here are a few photos and highlights from Allstate Give Back Day 2010…

You won’t want to miss this opportunity! Learn from one of the nations top natural hair care specialists Aziza Yasmine. Master one and two strand twists, kinky twists, loc maintainence, nubian knots and much more! Learn to market your skills, identify healthy products for your clients and increase your income with retail sales. Seminar is offered monthly to any individual licensed or unlicensed ages 12 and up.

This February, in celebration of Black History Month, Payless ShoeSource will help support African American and other minority youth with the second annual Payless Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship program. For this program, Payless will be selling a limited-edition I Believe necklaces for only $4 that are available in more than 800 stores nationwide and Payless.com® while supplies last. Payless donates 100 percent of the net profits of the necklace to the Inspiring Possibilities Scholarship program, which was established with the National Urban League (NUL), last year.

The Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF), America’s largest and most prestigious Black film and arts festival, has announced CCH Pounder as its 2010 Celebrity Host.

In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed MLK Day into law making it recognized as a Federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday…Two years ago, the insurance company Allstate developed their own program called Allstate Give Back Day on MLK Day in an effort to do their part to realize Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision and demonstrate their own commitment to serving the communities in which they live. Additionally, Allstate Give Back Day annually selects Give Back Day Heroes who generously serve and positively impact their communities through year round volunteerism.

Hour-long primetime special edition of Washington Watch with Roland Martin explores the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as well as current issues important to African Americans, including jobs and unemployment, education, race in America, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

Philly native Teddy Pendergrass has died at the tender age 59. The specific circumstances leading to Teddy’s death have not yet been reported, but he had been in the hospital for the past several months after undergoing colon cancer surgery. Teddy’s son, Teddy Pendergrass II, reported that the recovery since his father’s surgery had not been going very well. In 1982, Teddy was in a car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down. While he maintained a career on some level, his signature voice that we loved in the 70s an 80s was not quite the same.

NEW YORK—The following is a statement by Wyclef Jean on yesterday’s magnitude 7.0 earthquake outside Port-au-Prince, Haiti: “Haiti yesterday faced a natural disaster of unprecedented proportion, an earthquake unlike anything the country has ever experienced. The magnitude 7.0 earthquake – and several very strong aftershocks – struck only 10 miles from Port-au-Prince.

Here’s the latest from the Black AIDS Institute on the Trump AIDS campaign. In support of the campaign there is a bid whist tournament. Visit http://www.trumpaids.org/ for a listing of all of the cities that are participating and for more information…The Martin Luther King Jr. weekend kick-off event in Atlanta, GA includes a Bid Whist Qualifying Tournament and Health Fair in partnership with local Atlanta organizations Sister Love and AID Atlanta.

Grammy Award winning singer/actress Jill Scott preps two movies, a cartoon series, a new bra for her Ashley Stewart intimate apparel line, new album “The Light Of The Sun” as well as main stage inclusion in the upcoming Lilith Fair tour. Scott was recently seen as lead role in HBO’s critically acclaimed “The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” directed by the late Oscar winning director Anthony Minghella. Jill and the show have garnered rave reviews and nominations from the Golden Globes, IPA Satellite Awards to the American Film Institute (AFI). Scott most recently nominated for NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Actress alongside 2 others the series earned including Outstanding Drama Series and Supporting Actress in Drama Series. This gears the triple threat artist for a huge 2010 year.