We All Have "Good Hair"!

I saw this picture on an Instagram profile, and absolutely loved it! How many times have we heard people explain that they have "good hair because..." often following that with a list of every cultural mix possible - white, Indian, Spanish, Asian, etc. We've heard that all many many times before as these are often the womyn who are ascribed with having the "good hair" that we are taught to covet. These womyn do have gorgeous hair but it's always refreshing to see black hair being celebrated for all it's kinkiness as well.

The little girl's hair in the picture isn't long and flowing but coiled into two big afro puffs. And, she is saying I'm beautiful and my hair is beautiful. In the black community and in society, being mixed is celebrated. I've heard many people (of all colours) say that they want to have a mixed baby so that their child can have nice hair and eyes. But what about the little girl who is just black? And, why should it even be phrased or internalized as "just black"?

This is why we must continue to celebrate our natural, permed, afro'd, dreadloc'd and whatever other kind of hair you choose to have. And show our little girls that being "just black" is beautiful.

Skin Lightening – an ongoing and international issue that just won’t go away

I can’t believe that it is the year 2012 and we are STILL talking about skin lightening. I always think that we have come so far and are living in a world where people have come to realize that no skin colour is better than any other. And then, I come across a story like this – it seems that in Senegal they are selling low-grade skin lighteners that are banned in other countries, without a worry about the many dangers and side effects.

Although this article is about Senegal, skin lightening is an issue all over the world including the Middle East, Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

It is sad that people have such low self-esteem and devalue their own looks so much that they are willing not only to spend time and money to change their skin colour but that they are even willing to endure pain – whether it is risking chemical burns while bleaching their skin or sunburns while tanning it. And unfortunately, the problem is not an individual issue but a symptom of our societal issues around race and beauty.

Perhaps the most disheartening thing of all is that the article ends with a sentence that only serves to reinforce the racially prejudiced thinking that causes people to try and lighten their skin. The article quotes a dermatologist, the expert opinion in the piece, as saying "When women who use these creams stop, they look horrible. They actually start looking more black, all the side effects manifest at the same time, which they just can't accept."

It seems even in 2012 (and even in an article discussing the dangers of skin lightening) black is still interchangeable with horrible.

Check out the story here and let me know what you think in the comments.

Michelle Obama's 2012 DNC Speech

What a speech made by Michelle Obama last night .

There were so many quotable moments throughout her entire speech.  For a woman who wanted to stay away from the political limelight, she sure is making her presence known over the last 4 years and especially last night at the convention.  She painted President Obama in a light that we (the public) never see.  She made mention of their early years, where they had nothing but love and a dream.   She talked about her husband pulling his favorite table out of the trash and wearing shoes that are a size too small when they didn't have much.  These stories makes him seem more 'real' (whether you think he fits the title of president is besides the point.)

Let's face it, no matter who is elected, they have huge shoes to fill and years upon years of misguided choices to repair, but there is something about our current first family that is electric.

She said something in her speech that really stood out to me:

"Today, after so many struggles and triumphs and moments that have tested my husband in ways I never could have imagined, I have seen firsthand that being president doesn't change who you are – it reveals who you are." 

It's so true.  Being in the spotlight only exaggerates whatever you have inside of you.  Your character is on display for all to see under a microscope.  And President Obama has been thoroughly tested.  It's never easy being the first to do something.  And as the first Black President he had a lot weighing on his shoulders. But I think he stayed true to who he was and is.

I don't know if he'll get re-elected for another term.  But I think he needs to be, because there is no way anyone could have made the amount of change people expected of him in that short period of time.

I would love to hear your thoughts about her speech and what you think it means to the presidential election.
Please refrain from attacking any presidential candidate on a personal level.  But instead lets talk about the issues at hand and start a meaningful dialogue.


In case you missed it, here's a video clip of her speech.

Also, Ebony.com has transcribed her speech and you can read it here:

 Michelle Obama's Speech Transcribed

Black Girl In Suburbia: Do You Fit In?

"Too Black to be White and to White to be Black:" a sentiment often felt by those of us that are not living the stereotypical 'Black' lifestyle.  


There is a new documentary that is being released this fall by Melissa Lowery called 'Black Girl In Suburbia" that explores what is means to be Black in a suburban community.  In a way you never fit in. The Black community looks down on you as if you have crossed the line and started acting like White people (whatever that means), and White community looks at you as if you are coming to destroy their precious neighbourhood with your loud rap music, teenage pregnancies and incessant violence.   It's like we are forever stuck trying to prove ourselves to somebody: be it our own people or the rest of society. 


But my question is: What is 'being Black' anyway?  Is Black the colour of my skin?  My identity?  My culture?  Is is my 'bling bling'? All of the above?  Do I lose my 'Blackness card' if I decided to create a better life for myself?


I know this song and dance all too well.  I have faced my share of said criticisms.  For example, I love to gather some of my close friends and family together to share a cup of high tea.  It is one of my favorite things to do. Of course I have friends that support me, but I've also had to deal with my share of "She tink she white now!" and "Oh she so bougie".  Sometimes I laugh it off as a joke, but why should I have to do that?  Why can't I enjoy the opportunities and resources that are available to ALL OF US!


I think that sometimes we limit ourselves to an imaginary box filled with limitations that we put on ourselves. 


So I would like to propose a challenge to all of you!  This month (and every month) find something that 'Black people don't do' ie: swimming, skating, sailing, golf etc and DO IT.  Don't let our beautiful rich skin colour be a hindrance on what we chose to experience in this lifetime. 

I am excited to hear your thoughts on this topic.  Discussion is the first step to change

Black Girl In Suburbia Trailer

Black and Single

I was just thinking to myself "I wonder what happened to the Awkward Black Girl series?" and then I stumbled upon this on Madam Noire's site.  There is a new comedic web series that has recently hit youtube.com and I think it's worth checking out.

It's called Black and Single -- an Atlanta based web series that follows men and womyn as they try to make sense of the dating scene...something we can all relate to.

The actual premise is: 

“Black & Single is a web-series that follows the lives of Oni and Jesse. Two young, single and black professionals that work in the same office building and are seemingly perfect for each other. There is one problem. They never meet. They intersect each others lives at hilarious and various moments while searching for love when true love passes them by every day unwittingly. Will they ever meet? Only time will tell.”

The series only has 2 episodes out so far, but they seem to be posting bi-weekly and who knows where it will go.

If you need a good laugh, click on the video (there is a little language in the video, just to let you know).

Let me know your thoughts...did you like it?  Will you keep up with it?

'They Die By Dawn' - A Black Cowboy Opera

Jeymes Samuel of The Bullitts has done it again....the same mastermind that brought us the video with Rosario Dawson and the 'homeless' man (watch the video here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSsYwd5REEI) is making a Black Cowboy Opera called 'They Die By Dawn.'

This cast is insane! It includes Idris Elba, Jesse Williams, Michael K. Williams, Isaiah Washington, Bokeem Woodbine, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Denzel Whitaker, Roger Guenveur Smith, Rosario Dawson, Kelly Hu, Shanola Hampton, Erykah Badu, and more...

I am a little concerned about having that many stars in one piece of work (especially since it's a short and not a feature film) but who knows it just might be the key to success for this piece.

The plot is pretty basic and typical of a western, BUT I'm sure that Jeymes and his team will find a way to make it explosive.

The Plot:
"Four outlaws with a bounty on each head, set a date for a shootout in Langston, Oklahoma. The last man takes the collective bounty. Violence and mayhem ensue."


Check out some of the stills from the movie....

I hope we get word of this in North America as Jeymes is based in the UK.  I can't wait to see this....

And as a bonus, the indiewire.com site has some other great tidbits about Black Cinema.  So if you're a film fan you might want to check out the rest of the site.

Would you watch this movie?

Read More: http://blogs.indiewire.com/shadowandact/first-looks-at-all-star-cast-of-black-cowboy-opera-they-die-by-dawn#

The First Black Bachelor is announced

Well it's official...the Bachelor has (finally) cast it's first Black Bachelor.  After 10 years and 16 seasons the creators of the ABC show have finally decided to have a Black man in the lead role on the show.  Actually if you count the Bachelorette (upon which a Black woman has never been the lead, it's 23 seasons of this show.)

It's hard to believe that it's been 16 seasons of the Bachelor without a single Black bachelor, and honestly barely any Black people on the show period!  What a disgrace.  And what gets me a little upset is the statement made by the show's host Chris Harrison,

"Lamar Hurd campaigned for the role. In the end, his charm, wit and persistence won us over. We look forward to another amazing season of love and surprises."

I'm glad that Hurd held his ground and was able to 'win them over' by why the hell did he have to do that in the first place?

I think it's fair to assume that the lawsuit they have pending has a little something to do with their decision.

Two men filed a federal lawsuit in Nashville last Wednesday against the show claiming that they were given different treatment and little consideration compared to their white counterparts in search of the leading role on the show.

It's a shame that in this day and age we are still being stereotyped and pushed in a corner.  I can't think of a positive reality show that allows us to shine (other than The Apprentice....help me out ladies and gents....leave some in the comments because I'm drawing a blank), I can only think of the Housewives series, Basketball Wives, Flavor Flavs show which are NOT shining examples of our people on TV.

But back to the post at hand, now that there's a Black Bachelor...how many of you would be interested in applying?

Maybe one day we'll see a LGBT Bachelor or Bachelorette.....one day!