Looking south along Fifth Avenue from 76th Street. 11:00 PM. Photo: JH.

February 8, 2010. A no-show-snow weekend in New York after the weatherman had us all believing we were going to be homebound because of a massive blizzard. Not a dot, not a jot of the white stuff came our way. Meanwhile, down in Washington, they had a heckuva storm and our ace reporter Carol Joynt in the Washington Social Diary got a good look at it for us on her digital, as well as a video (see Washington Social Diary [1]). Meanwhile, like the kid hoping for a no-school day, I was getting up every few minutes for hours, looking out the window for a sign from those grey grey skies over Manhattan. Uh-uh. Just gusts of cold air, frigid and brrrr. The Peninsula Hotel. Early Friday afternoon, news reports were flashing over TV and the web that a woman identified as “socialite Gigi Jordan” had murdered her 9-year-old autistic son in a suite in the Peninsula Hotel on 55th and Fifth. Media outlets were calling this reporter to find out whatever they could about this “socialite.” I had never heard of Ms. Jordan – which doesn’t necessarily mean she didn’t have a “presence” in social New York. I’m not quite sure how the media decided she was “social.” It could be her address, since to the media a fancy address often assumes “social,” and she lived at Number 1 Central Park West – the Trump Tower, a luxury condominium which serves as home to many prominent and wealthy New Yorkers. The business of who is and who is not a “socialite” is a splitting-hairs definition usually referring to people who are prominent on the party circuit, be that uptown, downtown and all around town. Ms. Jordan, according to the papers, was a well known pharmaceutical executive of Belgian origins but not well known on the party circuit. From the sound of it, Ms. Jordan was a successful businesswoman who gave up most of her life when her child was born with an autistic condition. Her situation had become desperate. Most of us cannot fathom the depth of her desperation. The word that can be applied to her and to her child is: tragedy.

Last Tuesday night HBO celebrated the premiere of another vital documentary, THE BLACK LIST: Part III, a film by photographer Timothy Greenfield-Sanders (best known for his straight-forward, large-format portraits), and journalist Elvis Mitchell, which airs tonight on HBO. The documentary features right-on filmed portraits of successful and influential African-Americans in all fields including Whoopi Goldberg, John Legend, model, Beverly Johnson, Reverend Al Sharpton, Actor Lee Daniels, Educator and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, Dr. Michael Lomax, and Faye Wattleton – whose many honors include serving as the first Black President of Planned Parenthood (Her Great-Grandmother, whom she knew, was a slave.)

Featured personages in The Black List.

The diversity of the accomplishments and achievements of the subjects as well as their fascinating individual journeys told in The Black List is awe inspiring and may well serve as inspiration to all young men and women everywhere. After the screening a dynamic discussion was held among Greenfield-Sanders, Mitchell, Dr. Loman and Ms. Wattleton. The historical importance of the strong Black Woman was emphasized. However the most curiously shocking insight was noted by both Lomax and Wattleton -- though it was deservedly laudable, desegregation was a double-edged sword for Southern people of color.

Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Elvis Mitchell.

Reverend Al Sharpton.

Unknown to those of us who grew up in a New York, belonging to the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) and CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) – arguing to go on Martin Luther King’s “Freedom Rides” – integration also broke up the traditional Black Community. As explained by Wattleton, in the old days an impoverished family lived side-by-side with the Doctor, Lawyer, Cotton Picker and the neighborhood schoolteacher. Integration, however also lead to the ghettoization of underserved people of color. In addition, in the traditional community, everyone looked out for the young. As Hillary Clinton noted so aptly “It takes a village” where post-facto youthful crime rose. And according to Loman, with the migrations to the North, the situation worsened for the less fortunate. Certainly much to ponder ... — Jill Lynne jilllynne.com [2]

Ingrid Summers, Rosalind Danner, Kim Pavvis, and Greg Pavvis.

Christy carpenter, Judith Czeluiviak, and Paley Center's Jennifer Juzaitis.

Ken Sunshine.

Elvis Mitchell, Faye Wattleton, and Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.

Actor Lee Daniels with Whoopi Goldberg photograph (featured in The Black List).

Jackie Sachez, Makeup Artist, The Black List, and Beauregard Houston-Montgomery.

HBO Producer, LaTanya Richardon, Elvis Mitchell, Reverend Al Sharpton, Pat Mitchell, and Lee Daniels.

Tatia L Williams-Carson and Mark Carson.

Grace Mirabella.

Lisa Silhanek, Rena Silverman, and Laura King.

Kathy Sloane and Tim McHenry, RMA.

Dr. Michael Lomax.

Meanwhile, last Wednesday night Marjorie Gubelmann and Ted Allen held a cocktail for designer David Beahm at his studio at 529 West 20 Street, celebrating the debut of his collection of online floral arrangements for Flora2000

Darcy Miller Nussbaum and Madge Miller

Millie Martini Bratten, David Beahm, and Sylvia Weinstock

Marjorie Gubelmann and David Beahm

Nick Yarmac, Lisa Belzberg, and Christina Matteucci

Bret Silver and Louise Tate Hood

Marjorie Gubelmann, Ted Allen, and Sibelle Mermelstein

Enter your email address below to subscribe to NYSD's newsletter. It's free!

Email:

Comments? Contact DPC here. [3]