The 83rd Academy Awards Were Horrible, Thank God For Black Women Who Brought Their Fashion "A" Game

"It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it"
~ Lena Horne

Other than Oscar winner Melissa Leo's F-bomb during her acceptance speech for winning Best-Supporting Actress for her role in the film "The Fighter", this year's Academy Awards was a uninspiring snooze fest.

With a dearth of diversity that was accurately predicted months ago, these African American performers and journalists pictured below at least provided us something to smile about.

Access Hollywood's Shaun Robinson

Good Morning America's Robin Roberts

Oscar and Grammy Award winning actress/singer Jennifer Hudson

First Woman of Color To Win For Best Actress Halle Berry

Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, Robin Roberts and Shaun Robinson gave the 2011 Oscars some much needed color! These women, along with Oprah Winfrey (whose new OWN network is struggling), represented African Americans well.

The touching tribute the Academy did for the legendary Lena Horne, however, gave some redemption to what was otherwise a dreadful telecast that many believe was the worst ceremony ever!

Happy 91st Birthday Lena Horne

Even in her nineties, the legendary Lena Horne has a quality of timelessness about her. Elegant and wise, she personifies both the glamour of Hollywood and the reality of a lifetime spent battling racial and social injustice. Pushed by an ambitious mother into the chorus line of the Cotton Club when she was sixteen, and maneuvered into a film career by the N.A.A.C.P., she was the first African American signed to a long-term studio contract. In her rise beyond Hollywood's racial stereotypes of maids, butlers, and African natives, she achieved true stardom on the silver screen, and became a catalyst for change even beyond the glittery fringes of studio life.

For more, visit PBS American Masters.

Dame Lena Horne Has Deemed Alicia Keys Worthy: Let's Get This Movie Going!

Oprah Winfrey confirms Alicia Keys is set to play Lena Horne in an upcoming biopic about the legendary entertainer's life. Soulbounce: "If done right, this Lena Horne role could do for Alicia Keys what playing Dorothy Dandridge did for Halle Berry." Time will tell, family!

Check out Lady Lena back in the day:

BEFORE HALLE, IT WAS JAYNE KENNEDY, BUT LENA HORNE WAS THE ORIGINAL

Lena Horne celebrated turning 90 on June 30.

Happy Birthday to a true legend!

Who would you pick to play her in a movie?

We're going with Alicia Keys:

Here she is at last week's Live Earth 2007