How did I miss this! Thelma Golden, the impressario curator of Studio Museum of Harlem led a presentation at TED on the Intersectionality of Race & Sexuality In [...]
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Now, I don’t know Mary J. Blige nor am I endorsing the singer for sainthood, but I have noted that when she publicly declared a moratorium on displaying her inner demons in public and followed that up with the song, “No More Drama” she meant it. Clearly the woman has done some inner work at sorting out her chaotic childhood and cleaned up her behavior because there was a time when she had a reputation for being problematic. While she has always been a very popular recording artist she clearly wasn’t always a happy person. I won’t recap her background but suffice it to say it includes much of the non-beneficial behavior that we’ve discussed at this and the BWE forums. What I’ve found very interesting and increasingly more encouraging is how she’s branched out musically, working with a wider variety of artists like Elton John and U2, how she went on a specific fitness and styling regime which had a noticeable impact on her appearance and softened her image and her specific advocacy work on behalf of women and girls. Continue reading Some Of These Singers Need To Take Their Cue From Mary J. Blige A blogger who failed to plan for future contingencies falsely claimed I “stole” a domain name she wanted (that I don’t own) and in what I can only describe as a fool’s quest decided to try to publicly shame me by whining about it on a social networking site (and at her blog I assume). I don’t respond favorably to such manipulations but realized this is a teachable moment for the larger issue of the continued elevation of black women. I usually don’t read her blog or converse with her so I was more than a little perplexed why she presumed to determine that I took something from her. She wanted to own a specific domain name based on a blog post she’d written from what I’ve gathered. I also converse with another person who uses an online moniker that could be considered a variation of the phrase she’s claimed as her sole idea so where does it end? The domain name I did buy is also a variation of the phrase but you know how it is when facts get in the way of common sense and decorum. Winning an argument becomes more important than being humble enough to learn a lesson. I didn’t pay the fee to make it a private purchase because I frankly had no idea someone would go off on a public rant nearly eight months after the fact claiming something was taken from them as if it happened yesterday. Doesn’t it suck when you realize you’ve been left behind after the fact? Yet the blame lies squarely with you and no one else. From what I’ve gathered all of the variations of the domain name she wants have been purchased but those sales were made private (for an additional fee) so she can’t rage against them. Continue reading You Snooze You Lose I just looked at the video of the interview I did during BlogHer 2010 with Yahoo! Ok, so the perfectionist in me wishes I had a wardrobe stylist but I liked what I said. At least the stargazer lily in my hair looked and smelled great. Thanks to author Carleen Brice for suggesting I wear it! [...] — The most important choice you can make is what you choose to make important. There may be some dissent to this conversation but there also needs to be some serious discusson about the direction the current generations of black women will take their lives and the legacy for the future. If we evaluate the status of the collective since the 1960’s we will find growth for a group of individuals but a stunning collapse for an increasing majority. Avoiding the present set of circumstances and misplacing blame does not serve the interest of black people (in particular African-Americans) who should be firmly established by now and continually moving forward. Being reactionary to certain open opposition does not address the foundational cracks from within and is not the core problem. Fighting white hegemony will not ever elevate the status of blacks in this country when they are wholly divided. Black women who continue to follow the old models are less likely to thrive at the levels other women whose communities are supportive. Or as blog host Halima of Black Women’s Interracial Relationship Circle stated in her post, “What Would Self Do” :
So I’ve missed my blog-a-versary by a month but better late than never! Two years and counting running this online forum has gone by in a blink. The past year has been at times challenging, enlightening and invigorating both personally and professionally. Your continued support is appreciated. It’s that time of the year for SXSW panel ideas to be submitted for a popular vote by the August 27th deadline. It eventually goes before a committee before being selected but I still think it beneficial to participate. This year’s submission is titled, “What Steve Jobs Can Teach Us About Engagement” I’m back from my mini-break. Sometimes we all need a break and I realized that when I couldn’t bring myself to do more than comment at a few blogs and extend myself past 140 characters using Twitter. I also have some personal needs to address and was exhausted (in a good way) after attending BlogHer ‘10. More on that to follow. I have been behind the scenes making new online friends, increasing my networking, checking out the initiatives of women making empowering choices and conducting research. Which brings me to these networks: Continue reading My New Favorite Networks: Brazen Careerist & Empire Avenue And they know it. Which is why they’re scrambling to put the wheels back on the truck. This is the same NAACP that was co-founded co-opted and run by whites until the late 1970’s. Malcolm X said it best when he urged black ownership and sovereignty during his The Ballot or the Bullet speech – as excerpted here:
Now, I’m not saying this necessarily applies to this adminstration but one has to ask why President Obama RUNS from black people to pacify false accusations from some white people about the mere potential for addressing our needs specifically. Just as black women have specific gender needs under a larger feminist agenda we deserve to be heard. The NAACP may be called the National Association for Colored People, “colored” being the term used to describe BLACK people specifically, but now it in practice stands for many things, none of which has anything to do with those of us with a vagina. The NAACP does NOT stand for uplifting and protecting black women. |
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