Redefining The Meaning Of #LikeAGirl (Video)

by: April D. Byrd

The feminine hygiene products company Always recently created a "pantene-esque" type social awareness video to get down to the true essence of the phrase "Like A Girl". In May 2014 the brand conducted a study surveying 1,300 American women between the ages of 16 and 24 years old. The results were what we probably would have guessed already: The phrase was mostly considered demeaning, and not a lot of people had a positive association with it.

More than half of the girls surveyed in the study claimed to experience a drop in confidence at puberty. 89 percent agreed that words can be harmful (especially to girls) self-confidence. That's a rather high count. Maybe society has neglected the old "sticks and stones" adage, but the wrong words to a person with already low self-esteem can of course hurt like hell.  The truth of the matter is "Where there is no enemy within, the enemy outside cannot hurt you"...not verbally at least. This means when you know for sure who you truly are and all the light that you're created to be, you know that darkness is a non-factor because you in fact have power over it. So...it doesn't matter if the haters throw shade, they can't dim your shine.

Words are big and powerful issues, especially now in this age where everybody has a platform. We don't have to eliminate them or ban them like Sheryl Sandberg's ostracized " Ban Bossy" attempt, but we can turn them around for the better. The nature of doing anything "like a girl" a girl or woman should be emphasized in strength, because women are the very essence of it. Any media's degradation of women is a lie and a facade.

The great thing about the #LikeAGirl video is that it indeed took a turn for the better. When the actual "girls" where consulted on the issue, they gave their actions all they had. They didn't put forth light or lazy effort, but operated in true strength and substance. One little girl when asked "What does it mean to 'run like a girl?" she replied "It means run as fast as you can."

Check out the #LikeAGirl Video (below):

What do you think about the video? did you think it was funny at first as well? Share your thoughts in the comments below and follow up on the conversation with Trey Anthony on her Facebook fan page.

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April D. Byrd is a Writer, Social Media Producer, and the Creator of Breath Of Life Daily Online Journal and Praying Empress. You can connect with her on twitter @aprilinspired.

Gabby Douglas Gets Criticized For Her Hair?

Gabby Douglas.

I can't believe that instead of celebrating the fact that we have a wonderful role model who is inspiring millions of little Black Girls around the world some people have the audacity of criticizing her on her hair?

Let's not talk about the flawless routines that earned her Gold medals at the age of 16.

Let's not talk about how she worked through the blood, sweat and tears to reach a point of excellence.

Let's not talk about the sacrifices she's made, leaving home to live with a host family at the tender age of 14 just to train for a moment such as this!  She saw her her mother 4 times in 2 years.

Let's not talk about how she is the first American gymnast ever to win both the team and individual all-around gold at the same Olympics.

Let's not talk about how she has become the first African American woman to win the gold medal in the all-around gymnastics competition.

Let's not talk about how she has 90 million dollars in endorsement to date.  Setting her future up for incredible success (if managed properly of course)

Let's talk about her hair?

SERIOUSLY?!

Maybe her hairstyle isn't appropriate for twerking on the streets, but it's functional. It looks just like every other competitor out there, gelled back with clips in a ponytail.  Could you imagine her hair with a huge weave trying to see through it as she flies between the uneven bars? Or better yet, falling off as she leaps on the balance beam?

It just goes to show that you will never please everyone.

I saw a quote once that said: "You can be the biggest, juiciest, ripest peach in the entire world and there will still be someone who doesn't like peaches."

So go ahead Little Black Girl.  Whip your 90 million dollar hair, Gabby!  You deserve the successes you worked so hard for!

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?