by David Germain
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Iron Man reigns as the standard-bearer of Hollywood superheroes with a $175.3 million domestic opening weekend for his latest sequel and an overseas haul of a half-billion dollars in less than two weeks.

You only wanted a job.
You needed a little spending money, a way to put food on the table, something to do that meant something or made a difference. So you applied for positions that sounded good and paid well, or seemed interesting and came with opportunity.
Humans, it’s believed, are wired for work. We need to contribute somehow, in some meaningful way. But as you’ll see in the new book “Double Victory” by Cheryl Mullenbach, some jobs don’t come without a double battle.
Shortly after the U.S. entered World War II in 1941, a desperate call went out for workers because America’s men were going to war. White women were encouraged to do the jobs their men had left behind. Black women wanted to do their part, too. They saw a chance to help win the war and to make better money: many of them were getting $2 a week as domestics, while factory jobs might pay 20 times that.
Time and time again, however, they were turned away—even though President Franklin Roosevelt had signed Executive Order 8802, which encouraged “full participation in the national defense program by all citizens… regardless of race…”
Emboldened, Black women kept trying for jobs and, eventually, there was such a strong need for workers that some were finally hired (although still segregated). At first, the jobs were menial or purposely difficult in the hopes that the women would quit. But they didn’t, which encouraged other Black women to bust barriers wide open.
When the government finally allowed Black men into the Armed Forces, Black women leaped to join, too, and were accepted into the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corp in 1942. They still faced segregation but were finally allowed to “do their part” at home and overseas. Yet, despite what they sacrificed in service to their country just as their White countrymen did, when the war ended, there was just more discrimination.
No doubt about it, “Double Victory” is an eye-opener, especially for the generations born post-WWII.
Through interviews, newspaper accounts, books, documents, and diaries, author Cheryl Mullenbach tells the story of a courageous group of women who were determined to serve their country, even when it seemed that no one wanted them to. It’s shocking to see how Black women endured more severe discrimination than did their male counterparts, and I was surprised at the almost-ridiculous lengths to which segregation went to keep Black women as second-class citizens. I almost wanted to cheer as I read each individual story that Mullenbach includes here; these were women who were tough as nails and as tenacious as pitbulls in Army-issued “exercise dresses.”  Seriously, how cool is that?
While this seems to be a book for teen readers, I think adults will get just as much out of every word here. If you’re looking for a book with an until-now-quiet story, “Double Victory” will do the job.

GWENDOLYN BAINES

(NNPA)—Dear Gwendolyn:
Four months ago I went to our family reunion.  Everyone who attended was concerned about my brother’s children. This is the problem: My brother has not attended a family reunion in six years. He has stayed away because at his last attendance the family members voiced their opinion about his children’s health. His children look like elephants and bears.  We were told they have not lost weight but have gained more weight—if that is possible. At his last visit he was told his children look like animals—not humans.
Gwendolyn, that was nothing to become upset to the point of staying away from family gatherings. What do you think?—Elizabeth
Dear Elizabeth:
Your brother made a good decision. Families should act like family if they want to be loved by family. Let me tell you this: To alert him about his children could have and should have been done in a better manner.  What’s wrong in saying, “My brother’s children are obese.” They are humans and not animals. No parent takes to negative comments about their children.
If your brother stays away from the next reunion, write to him and apologize for the cruelness that was said. Suggest they seek professional help in going to a facility that has a doctor, nutrition assistance, and up-to-date gym equipment. If family is really concerned, take up money at the reunion to pay for these services.
Elizabeth, life can take a change. Often pretty little boys and girls end up doing nothing positive with their life. They resort to being criminals. Sometimes those little elephants and bears become college presidents, bank presidents or—president of a country. Weight control is needed for good health and not a focus for good looks. Think about it.  There are many people with a sexy body and an ugly face.
(Write to Gwendolyn L. Baines at: P.O. Box 10066, Raleigh, N.C. 27605-0066 or email her at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .)

Singer Chris Brown turns 24 on May 5. (Photo: John Shearer John Shearer/Invision, AP)

The Associated Press

May 5: Actress Pat Carroll is 86. Actor Michael Murphy is 75. Actor Lance Henriksen ("Millennium," ''Aliens") is 73. Comedian-actor Michael Palin (Monty Python) is 70. Actor Roger Rees ("Boston Common") is 69. Actor John Rhys-Davies is 69. Former MTV News correspondent Kurt Loder is 68. Drummer Bill Ward of Black Sabbath is 65. Singer Ian McCulloch of Echo and the Bunnymen is 54. Newsman Brian Williams is 54. Actress Tina Yothers is 40. Singer Raheem DeVaughn is 38. Singer Craig David is 32. Actress Danielle Fishel is 32. Singer Adele is 25. Singer Chris Brown is 24.

George Clooney is 52 (Photo: Chris, Pizzello, AP)

 May 6: Singer Bob Seger is 68. Singer Jimmie Dale Gilmore is 68. Actor Alan Dale ("Lost," ''Ugly Betty") is 66. Actor Ben Masters ("Passions") is 66. TV host Tom Bergeron is 58. Singer John Flansburgh of They Might Be Giants is 53. Actress Roma Downey is 53. Actor George Clooney is 52. Singer-bassist Tony Scalzo of Fastball is 49. Guitarist Mark Bryan of Hootie and the Blowfish is 46. Guitarist Chris Shiflett of Foo Fighters is 42. Actress Gabourey Sidibe is 30.

Jimmy Ruffin is 74 (Photo/ClassicMotown,com)

May 7: Singer Jimmy Ruffin is 74. Singer-songwriter Bill Danoff of Starland Vocal Band is 67. Singer Thelma Houston is 67. Drummer Bill Kreutzmann of the Grateful Dead is 67. Drummer Prairie Prince (The Tubes) is 63. Guitarist Phil Campbell of Motorhead is 52. Actress Traci Lords is 45. Singer Eagle-Eye Cherry is 42. Actor Breckin Meyer is 39.

Actress Melissa Gilbert is 49 

May 8: Comedian Don Rickles is 87. Singer Toni Tennille is 73. Country singer Jack Blanchard is 71. Singer Gary Glitter is 69. Drummer Chris Frantz of Talking Heads and of Tom Tom Club is 62. Singer Philip Bailey (solo and with Earth, Wind and Fire) is 62. Country musician Billy Burnette is 60. Drummer Alex Van Halen of Van Halen is 60. Actor Stephen Furst ("St. Elsewhere," ''Animal House") is 59. Actor David Keith is 59. Actress Melissa Gilbert is 49. Drummer Dave Rowntree of Blur is 49. Drummer Del Gray of Little Texas is 45. Singer Darren Hayes (Savage Garden) is 41. Singer Enrique Iglesias is 38. Actress Julia Whelan ("Once and Again") is 29.

Actress Rosario Dawson is 34 (AP Photo)

May 9: Guitarist Nokie Edwards of The Ventures is 78. Actor Albert Finney is 77. Actress-turned-politician Glenda Jackson is 77. Guitarist Sonny Curtis of Buddy Holly and The Crickets is 76. Producer-director James L. Brooks is 76. Singer Tommy Roe is 71. Singer-guitarist Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield, Poco) is 69. Singer Clint Holmes is 67. Actress Candice Bergen is 67. Singer Billy Joel is 64. Bassist Tom Petersson of Cheap Trick is 63. Actress Alley Mills ("The Wonder Years") is 62. Actor John Corbett is 52. Singer David Gahan of Depeche Mode is 51. Rapper Ghostface Killah of Wu-Tang Clan is 43. Guitarist Mike Myerson of Heartland is 42. Singer Tamia is 38. Trombonist Dan Regan of Reel Big Fish is 36. Singer Pierre Bouvier of Simple Plan is 34. Actress Rosario Dawson is 34. Musician Andrew W.K. is 34.

May 10: Singer Henry Fambrough of The Spinners is 75. Announcer Gary Owens is 74. Singer Donovan is 67. Singer Dave Mason is 67. Singer Bono of U2 is 53. Drummer Danny Carey of Tool is 52. Actor Darryl M. Bell ("A Different World") is 50. Model Linda Evangelista is 48. Rapper Young MC is 46. Actor Erik Palladino is 45. Singer Richard Patrick of Filter is 45. Actor Todd Lowe ("True Blood," ''Gilmore Girls") is 41. Actor Kenan Thompson ("Saturday Night Live," ''Kenan and Kel") is 35. Singer Jason Dalyrimple of Soul for Real is 33. Actress Lauren Potter ("Glee") is 23.

May 11: Comedian Mort Sahl is 86. Singer Eric Burdon (The Animals, War) is 72. Actress Shohreh Aghdashloo ("24") is 61. Actor Boyd Gaines is 60. Drummer Mark Herndon of Alabama is 58. Former MTV VJ Martha Quinn is 54. Country singer Tim Raybon of the Raybon Brothers is 50. Actor Tim Blake Nelson ("Lincoln," ''O Brother, Where Art Thou?") is 49. Bassist Keith West of Heartland is 45. Actor Nicky Katt ("Boston Public") is 43. Actor Coby Bell is 38. Celloist Perttu Kivilaakso of Apocalyptica is 35. Actor Jonathan Jackson is 31. Actor Cory Monteith is 31.