Is America Really Celebrating the Chocolate?

Posted in Fashion and Beauty, Politics, Race and Culture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 25, 2008 by Noli

NEWSWEEK DEC. 1 COVER

In a recent Newsweek cover article by Allison Samuels, she said the following about Michelle Obama:

“As my brunch friends and I continued talking about Michelle, our conversation wandered into one area we seldom discuss, even among our families and closest confidantes. Michelle is not only African-American, but brown. Real brown. In an era when beauty is often defined on television, in magazines and in movies as fair or white skin, long straight hair and keen features, Michelle looks nothing like the supermodels who rule the catwalks or the porcelain-faced actresses who hawk must-have cosmetics. Yet now she’s going to grace the March cover of Vogue magazine–the ultimate affirmation of beauty.

 Who and what is beautiful has long been a source of pain, anger and frustration in the African-American community. In too many cases, beauty for black women (and even black men) has meant fair skin, “good hair” and dainty facial features. Over the years, African-American icons like Lena Horne, Dorothy Dandridge, Halle Berry and Beyoncé–while beautiful and talented–haven’t exactly represented the diversity of complexions and features of most black women in this country.

 That limited scope has had a profound effect on the self-esteem of many African-American women, including me. “When I see Michelle Obama on the cover of magazines and on TV shows, I think, Wow, look at her and her brown skin,” said Charisse Hollands, a 30-year-old mail carrier from Inglewood, Calif., with flawless ebony skin. “And I don’t mean any disrespect to my sisters who aren’t dark brown, but gee, it’s nice to see a brown girl get some attention and be called beautiful by the world. That just doesn’t happen a lot, and our little girls need to see that–my little girl needs to see it.”

Michelle Obama is truly a representation of all of us.  She’s downhome and regular…she’s educated and sophisticated.  She’s a mother and a wife, a lawyer and an orator.  She’s just as comfortable in a suit as she is in some sweats.  She’s beautiful, she’s brown, and she has a booty (can I get an amen?)  I only have one thing to say…BLACK IS BACK!!!!! [Michael Shaw - Huffington Post]

1 Comment »

Black Superwomen More Likely to Have Pre-Term Births

Posted in Community, Health and Wellness with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 25, 2008 by Noli

pregnant20woman

Black women are twice as likely to have babies before the 37th week of their pregnancy…though 38-42 weeks is the norm.  Since we are more likely to give birth early, we are more likely to also have problems with our preganancy or our babies are more likely to have problems.  Supposedly 12% of Black women have a gene defect that causes a decrease in collagen…and collagen is the protein that strengthens the sac that the fetus grows in.  This decrease in collagen increases the chance of pre-term births.  Black women should eat healthy, exercise, take vitamins, stop smoking, and lose weight if they want to decrease their changes of pre-term births. [WJZ-TV 13 Baltimore]

Leave A Comment »

Black Superwoman Mentioned in Obama’s Acceptance Speech

Posted in Civil Rights, Community, Politics, Race and Culture with tags , , , , , , on November 7, 2008 by Noli

annnixoncooper

During President Elect Obama’s acceptance speech, he mentioned a 106 year old Black Superwoman named Ann Nixon Cooper of Atlanta:

“This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations, but one that’s on my mind tonight is about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She’s a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing…Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.  She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn’t vote for two reasons…because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.  And tonight, I think about all that she’s seen throughout her century in America…the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can’t, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.”

In the interview on CNN about Ms. Cooper voting early in Atlanta, she said that she didn’t have time to die because she needed to see a Black President.  This victory is for Ms. Cooper and for everyone else that struggled and sacrificed so that Black people and Women could vote and have a voice. [CNN]

1 Comment »

Mr. President and the First Lady!!

Posted in Politics, Race and Culture with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on November 7, 2008 by Noli
The First Family!

The First Family!

Not sure why it took me so long to write this…but I think it was because I have been SPEECHLESS ever since Tuesday.  Barack Obama is the President Elect of the United States of America, Michelle Obama is the First Lady, and they along with their daughters will be moving into the White House as the First Family!  Never did I think I would see such a thing..Black folks in the White House (that aren’t cleaning)?!

Aside from being elated that Barack and family happen to be Black…this is SO much bigger than race.  The country…which consisted of all races and classes of people…elected Barack.  He was not elected because he was Black, but rather because he is extraordinary.  He has moved us unlike anyone else has ever moved us, and brought us together in a way that has been unheard of. 

We have all been inspired, and Americans are excited about the idea of change and hope for the future of America.  It’s a little extra special for Black Americans because now we really feel his mantra, “Yes We Can” after such a monumental achievement that has shown us that what we thought was impossible is possible.  That’s why our people were doing the electric slide on Tuesday night in front of the White House and on 125th Street in Harlem…and I’m sure in many other cities in the country.  Black folks ALWAYS break out the electric slide at any celebration…it’s just HOW WE DO!

Leave A Comment »

Lewis Hamilton wins F1 World Driving Championship

Posted in Community, Race and Culture with tags , , , , , on November 2, 2008 by Noli

Lewis Hamilton, on the right with Pharrell, just won the World Driving Championship in Brazil.  He’s the first Black driver in the Grand Prix to win the championship!  How fitting that this took place a couple of days before Obama brings it home as the first Black President! [Huffington Post]

Leave A Comment »

DL Hughley on Obama and Black Women

Posted in Community, Entertainment, Politics, Race and Culture with tags , , , , on October 23, 2008 by Noli

I was listening to the Tom Joyner Morning Show this morning and DL Hughley was on promoting his new show on CNN that will come on Saturdays at 10pm ET starting October 25th.  He’ll have guests on to discuss politics, entertainment and sports…you know, what Black folks want to talk about.  What was interesting was that he made a comment about Black women and Obama that had me thinking.  He said, and of course this is paraphrased: 

Black women hate to see a brotha with a White woman, and Black women LOVE Obama…so it’s ironic that without a brotha being with a White woman there would be no Obama. 

He said this in the context of discussing how if Obama wins the presidency, bigger than White America dealing with a Black president will be Black America dealing with a Black president.  He said that there are a lot of things that we will have to evaluate about ourselves…one major thing being that the Black man that made it where no Black man had ever been had been raised essentially outside of this country by White people.  I think the notion is fascinating …that it would take a Black man that is mixed and has excelled to be accepted by White America, and even more fascinating that maybe only a Black man that was raised outside of normal Black culture and without the normal burdens of a Black American could have the positivity and courage to reach for something so seemingly unattainable.  Makes you think, huh?

3 Comments »

Beyonce’s New Album Cover?!

Posted in Entertainment, Music with tags , , on October 21, 2008 by Noli

Supposedly this is the cover of Beyonce’s new album, which will be a 2 cd set entitled “I Am Beyonce, I am Sasha Fierce.”  She looks GREAT!!! [brownsista.com]

1 Comment »

Obama and McCain - What If The Tables Were Turned??

Posted in Uncategorized on October 20, 2008 by Noli

So what exactly would be going on with the election if Michelle and Barack had the same background as the McCain’s?  If Barack had gone to the Naval Academy but finished at the bottom of his class, would America think he was fit to be President of the United States?  If Michelle had had an addiction to prescription drugs and stole drugs from a non profit that she worked with, would America think she was fit to be the first lady?  Some things never change…Black folks need to be TWICE as good to get their just do…and then stuff is still questionable.

Leave A Comment »

The Four Mistakes Black Superwomen Make?!

Posted in Love and Relationships, Spirituality with tags , , , , , , on October 19, 2008 by Noli

Pastor Patrick Shaffer from Chicago’s City of Faith Christian Church is featured in the October/November 2008 issue of Being Single Magazine.  He’s a bit of an anomaly because he doesn’t preach abstinence only…he says that his congregation includes a lot of single women and that’s just not realistic with the amount of HIV/AIDs issues in the Black community.  Finally someone that is acknowleding what’s REALLY going on out here!  Regarding relationships, he says that there are four mistakes that most Black women make:

1.  We think that getting a man is the answer to all of our problems.

2.  We give up too much too soon (from sex…to money…to the key to our heart).

3.  We get involved with men that are not equally yoked and try to change them. (I’ve done this numerous times!)

4.  We have low self esteem and don’t see our own value, which leads to poor choices and relationship issues.

AMEN.  This brother knows what’s up.  I think that these are all things we have heard before, but hearing them coming from a pastor (and a young one at that) feels a little different.  I’d like to spend a Sunday morning at his church!  Check out Pastor Patrick’s blog at www.pastorpatrickonline.wordpress.com.  [blacknews.com]

Leave A Comment »

Beyonce Talks About Marriage to Jay Z for the First Time!

Posted in Entertainment, Fashion and Beauty, Love and Relationships, Music with tags , , , on October 19, 2008 by Noli

Beyonce is featured in the November 2008 issue of Essence that just hit newstands.  For the first time, she supposedly talks about her marriage to Jay Z and how real their relationship is.  I’m trying to figure out why she took so long to talk about it…we all knew they got married a while ago!  Definitely pick up Essence this month so you can get the scoop!

1 Comment »

Next Entries »