Makeup artist A.J. Crimson has worked with the likes of Fergie, Diddy, Estelle, Forest Whitaker and Hilary Duff (just to name a few), and for someone who hadn’t even planned on this career track, that isn’t half bad.

The book, winner of the Bellwether Prize for best fiction manuscript addressing issues of social justice, has received much acclaim for it's unique twist on the classic “coming of age” story, depicting the life of a young biracial girl who suffered a tragedy and then faced her own battle of self-identification.

Tony Gaskins wears a lot of hats—and if you want to change the minds of those in the world, you sort of have to.

Entertainment enthusiast Carma Dee is only 25, but she’s accomplished more than the average person her age. Born in Buffalo, N.Y. and raised in Camden, N.J., Dee is ready to stake her claim as a force to be reckoned with.

December 1 is World AIDS Day. Every year it is observed to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. According to the CDC, at the end of 2006, an estimated 1.1 million persons in the United States were living with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV/AIDS.

Jae Pettigrew has been writing poetry on and off for about 20 years and decided to share her private works with the world in her book, “Through Her Eyes,” a compilation of her poetry which tackles a variety of topics from love and hardship to spirituality and loss. Pettigrew, a 31-year-old Chicago native, tells GMO about her works and how she managed to overcome one of the biggest losses of her life.

Richcraft/Jive Records newly-signed quartet, Richgirl, is determined to make their musical mark on the ever-changing R&B/Pop scene. With a lineup of four diverse singers—Audra, Lyndriette, Seven and Brave—this creation of hitmaker Rich Harrison (Amerie, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige) has stepped to the forefront to fill the music industry’s girl-group void.

Since the 1996 release of his debut album, Ginuwine…The Bachelor, R&B singer Ginuwine has been crooning his way into the hearts of adoring fans and swooned ladies. He set the precedent for contemporary male R&B artists with his crisp dance moves, sexy lyrics and smooth voice, and now he’s back after a four-year break to remind fans of his musical prowess. With the successful release of his current album, A Man’s Thoughts, Ginuwine has stepped back into the arena ready to bring back what he feels the R&B scene has been missing.

Most recently known for portraying a homewrecking singer on The CW’s “The Game,” Drew Sidora wants people to get to know the real her. (“A lot of people didn’t know that [I was a real singer]; they thought I was just a character,” she explained to GlossMagazineOnline.)

In times like these, it is important to be armed with as much knowledge as your head can hold about your personal finances. As independent people of color, it is necessary that we take charge of educating ourselves when it comes to our money, credit situations and debt. Don’t know what your FICO score is? Not sure how to pay off your credit card debt? Want to start saving for retirement (because it’s never too early!)? Check out these books and set yourself up for financial success.