Black Celebrity Websites Rated part 4

The sites are rated based on the following criteria:

1. Presentation: color scheme, graphics, design
2. Photo gallery: many candid and press photos
3. Interviews: are there any present
4. Store: can products be purchased or should they not be selling
5. Community: message forum or guest book present
6. Usability: is it easy to read, and not cluttered
7. Videos/Music: easy access to videos
8. Speed: does the site take forever to load
9. Updated: is it updated routinely
10. Celebrity Involvement: do they leave notes or interact in the forums
11. Dead or Under Construction Links: links, which lead to nowhere
12. Contact Information: are they easy to contact
13. Technology: makes good use of technology

www.EllaFitzgerald.com 55
1. Presentation: 5 Color scheme appropriate simple, classy, and everything a visitor may be interested in is laid out on the homepage
2. Photo gallery: 2, Photos must be requested through Legends Archive. The site should have a handful of easy access shots
3. Interviews & News: 4 No interviews, but bio is excellents, there is a facts page, and a page of quotes by Ella
4. Store: 5 links to poster, books, DVDs, and more
5. Community: 2 links to tribute sites, which currently only links one site
6. Usability: 5
7. Videos/Music: 4, not necessary, would be a treat to hear her voice upon entering the site
8. Speed: 5
9. Updated: 4, News refers to projects releases “With the release of two new tribute albums and a documentary on PBS, the 2007 summer season is shaping up to be the summer of Ella.”
10. Celebrity Involvement: 5 Foundation is actively involved
11. Dead or Under Construction Links: 5 none found
12. Contact Information: 5, contact form present
13. Technology: 4

www.malcolm-jamalwarner.com 60
1. Presentation: 5 Main page is classy, sexy, and the black and white image of Malcolm on the blackground looks quite professional
2. Photo gallery: 5 After entering the site a slide show of photos appear and there is a well stocked photo gallery
3. Interviews & News: 5 updated with all media appearances and schedules listed
4. Store: 5 book and workout videos available
5. Community: 4 mailing list with a guest book which has been heavily hit with spam messages, not maintained
6. Usability: 5
7. Videos/Music: 5
8. Speed: 5
9. Updated: 3 Last entries from summer of 2007, and spam needs to be cleaned up in the guest book. Takes away from the quality of the site. The calendar only has past performance dates.
10. Celebrity Involvement: 4 This site is all about Malcolm and gives that feel.
11. Dead or Under Construction Links: 5 none located
12. Contact Information: 5 all contact info avail
13. Technology: 4

www.queenlatifah.com 56
1. Presentation: 5, Neat, well organized home page, and the purple color looks great. Immediately the user knows where to find things.
2. Photo gallery: 5 adequate, with slideshows
3. Interviews & News: 5, numerous interviews and much news
4. Store: 5 Her albums can be purchased
5. Community: 2 no community encouragement, not even a mailing list
6. Usability: 4 Clean uncluttered website
7. Videos/Music: 4 Video archive for appearances and movies, but none for music videos
8. Speed: 5
9. Updated: 4
10. Celebrity Involvement: 4 no personal notes, but her presence is all over the site and she has a Q & A “Ask the Queen” feature on her site where visitors can submit questions and she will answer them. This was last done in August 2007.
11. Dead or Under Construction Links: 5 none found
12. Contact Information: 4 “Ask the Queen” email address only found
13. Technology: 4 ample use of technology

www.cornelwest.com 57
1. Presentation: 5, Layout looks good and he has a message at the bottom of his image
2. Photo gallery: 4 Photos are awesome, the only annoyance is that slide show navigation bar at the bottom of the photo box. High quality images
3. Interviews & News: 5 video interviews with Tavis Smiley and video footage of the Black State of the Union. MP3 interviews
4. Store: 5, Easy access to links to Amazon.com to purchase his works, has an upcoming book
5. Community: 0 None present
6. Usability: 5 Clean uncluttered website
7. Videos/Music: 5 Can listen to his latest hip hop-spoken word album and interviews
8. Speed: 5
9. Updated: 5
10. Celebrity Involvement: 4
11. Dead or Under Construction Links: 5, None found
12. Contact Information: 5
13. Technology: 4

www.willsmith.com 49
1. Presentation: 3 Very high tech presentation, but disappointed with content, just seems like a library of all of his work
2. Photo gallery: 4, No photo gallery, but he is all over this site
3. Interviews & News: 4 Much news, interviews did not seem apparent
4. Store: 4 No store, but has discography of all of his work
5. Community: 5 forum available and active
6. Usability: 5
7. Videos/Music: 5 A music player on the main page with “Men in Black’s” Big Willie Style and other songs. Library of his film/music, just reminds of how much work Smith has done
8. Speed: 5
9. Updated: 4 “I am Legend” on the main page should be listed as “released” instead of “in theaters December 2007”
10. Celebrity Involvement: 3 There is so much of him on this site by way of photos, doesn’t seem like occasionally visits the messageboards.
11. Dead or Under Construction Links: 3 events section is under construction
12. Contact Information: 0 unable to find
13. Technology: 4, makes good use of technology available, but the usage of technology does not match the initial high tech impression.