Thursday, February 25, 2010
Something that irritated me....
So after work I decided to unwind by going to Books-A-Million. I absolutely love magazines so I went directly to the back of the store where the magazines are kept. So, I'm looking for the black magazines, maybe Essence, Ebony, Black Enterprise, just to get me started before I looked at some fashion mags, but I couldn't find them. During my search, I start to get irritated thinking maybe they don't carry them anymore. I get even more irritated at the thought that they wouldn't carry them anymore. Something tells me to bend my back and look (sounds like something my mom would say when I was younger and I couldn't find something) well lo and behold, there are ALL the black magazines at the very bottom self, in a little bitty section, not to mention we still have a few days left of black history month! Are you serious? Way down at the bottom, out of visibility. We already have very few black publications, but man that just really irritated me! I started to ask for a manager to inquire about it but I got disgusted and left the store.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Carol's Daughter Hair Elixir Update
My hair is still soft and shiny but I must confess that I mix the oil with 100% raw shea butter. Shea butter makes my hair very soft too. So far no complaints about the Hair Elixir.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Black History Lesson: Freedom Riders
Civil rights activists called “freedom riders” rode on interstate buses around the segregated South on “freedom rides” to test results of the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Boynton v. Virginia from 1960. In that case, the Court sided with Boynton and mandated all interstate facilities were allowed to be used by any citizen regardless of their ethnicity.
The first freedom ride left Washington D.C. on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. But riders were arrested for trespassing, unlawful assembly and violating state and local Jim Crow laws. Most of the subsequent rides were sponsored by the Congress of Racial Equality as well as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The freedom rides followed on the heels of dramatic "sit-ins" and boycotts against segregated restaurants and the like, which were conducted by students and youth throughout the South.
During their journey, the original group of 13 freedom riders grew to almost 450. The freedom rides established great credibility between Blacks and Whites throughout the country, as people of all colors became motivated to engage in direct action for civil rights. Perhaps most significantly, freedom riders impressed Blacks living in rural areas throughout the South who later formed the backbone of the Civil Rights Movement. This credibility inspired many subsequent civil rights campaigns such as voter registration, freedom schools and the Black Power Movement.
Notable freedom riders of 1961 included: Diane Nash, James L. Farmer, William Mahoney, John Lewis, Jim Zwerg, James Peck, George Bundy Smith, Frederick Leonard and William Sloane Coffin, among others, totaling 436. About 75 percent were male, and that same percentage was under the age of 30; this was evenly divided between Black and White.
The first freedom ride left Washington D.C. on May 4, 1961, and was scheduled to arrive in New Orleans on May 17. But riders were arrested for trespassing, unlawful assembly and violating state and local Jim Crow laws. Most of the subsequent rides were sponsored by the Congress of Racial Equality as well as the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. The freedom rides followed on the heels of dramatic "sit-ins" and boycotts against segregated restaurants and the like, which were conducted by students and youth throughout the South.
During their journey, the original group of 13 freedom riders grew to almost 450. The freedom rides established great credibility between Blacks and Whites throughout the country, as people of all colors became motivated to engage in direct action for civil rights. Perhaps most significantly, freedom riders impressed Blacks living in rural areas throughout the South who later formed the backbone of the Civil Rights Movement. This credibility inspired many subsequent civil rights campaigns such as voter registration, freedom schools and the Black Power Movement.
Notable freedom riders of 1961 included: Diane Nash, James L. Farmer, William Mahoney, John Lewis, Jim Zwerg, James Peck, George Bundy Smith, Frederick Leonard and William Sloane Coffin, among others, totaling 436. About 75 percent were male, and that same percentage was under the age of 30; this was evenly divided between Black and White.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Black History Lesson: Bloody Sunday
A little history to ponder....courtesy of www.blackhistory.com
"Bloody Sunday" occurred on March 7, 1965, when 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by state and local police with Billy clubs and tear gas so the march was cancelled. The route taken by the marchers is memorialized as the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. On March 7, 1965, 525 to 600 civil rights marchers headed east out of Selma on U.S. Highway 80. Discrimination and intimidation had prevented Selma's Black population, roughly half of the city, from registering to vote three weeks earlier. On February 18, 1965, a trooper, Corporal James Bonard Fowler, shot Jimmie Lee Jackson as Jackson tried to protect his mother and grandfather in a café that they fled to while being attacked by troopers during a civil rights demonstration. Jackson died of an infection at Selma's Good Samaritan Hospital eight days later. The marchers hoped to bring notice to the violations of their rights by marching to the state capitol of Montgomery, Ala.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for a march from Selma to Montgomery to ask then-Governor, George Wallace, to protect Black registrants. Wallace denounced the march as a threat to public safety and declared he would take all measures necessary to prevent it. In their first march, led by John Lewis and the Reverend Hosea Williams, they made it only as far as the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which was just six blocks away. State troopers and sheriffs from the county police department, some of who were mounted on horseback, awaited the protestors. In the presence of the news media, the police attacked the peaceful demonstrators with Billy clubs, tear gas and bull whips, and drove them back into Selma.
Brutal images of the attack were televised, and this presented people with horrifying visions of peaceful marchers left bloodied and severely injured thereby rousing support for the U.S. civil rights movement. Amelia Boynton Robinson was nearly beaten and gassed to death — her photo appeared on the front page of newspapers and news magazines around the world. Seventeen marchers were hospitalized, leading people to the name that day, "Bloody Sunday." Rosa Parks also marched with them that day.
Immediately after "Bloody Sunday," King, as leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, began organizing a second march to be held on Tuesday, March 9,1965, calling for people across the country to join him. Hundreds of people, shocked by what they had seen on TV, responded to his call. About 2,500 people marched from Selma to Montgomery for the second time.
To prevent another violent outbreak or opposition from law enforcement, the marchers attempted to gain a court order that would prohibit the police from interfering. Instead of issuing the court order, Federal District Court Judge Frank Minis Johnson issued a restraining order, preventing the march from taking place until he could hold additional hearings later in the week. Rather than abiding by the court order, the SCLC decided to hold a partial, "ceremonial" march, since hundreds of marchers had gathered for the event. The group did not want to alienate one of the few southern judges who gave them the court order and who was often sympathetic to their cause.
Finally, a third march was organized and the protest was successful in demonstrating the problems with discrimination, segregation and racism.
"Bloody Sunday" occurred on March 7, 1965, when 600 civil rights marchers were attacked by state and local police with Billy clubs and tear gas so the march was cancelled. The route taken by the marchers is memorialized as the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. On March 7, 1965, 525 to 600 civil rights marchers headed east out of Selma on U.S. Highway 80. Discrimination and intimidation had prevented Selma's Black population, roughly half of the city, from registering to vote three weeks earlier. On February 18, 1965, a trooper, Corporal James Bonard Fowler, shot Jimmie Lee Jackson as Jackson tried to protect his mother and grandfather in a café that they fled to while being attacked by troopers during a civil rights demonstration. Jackson died of an infection at Selma's Good Samaritan Hospital eight days later. The marchers hoped to bring notice to the violations of their rights by marching to the state capitol of Montgomery, Ala.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. called for a march from Selma to Montgomery to ask then-Governor, George Wallace, to protect Black registrants. Wallace denounced the march as a threat to public safety and declared he would take all measures necessary to prevent it. In their first march, led by John Lewis and the Reverend Hosea Williams, they made it only as far as the Edmund Pettus Bridge, which was just six blocks away. State troopers and sheriffs from the county police department, some of who were mounted on horseback, awaited the protestors. In the presence of the news media, the police attacked the peaceful demonstrators with Billy clubs, tear gas and bull whips, and drove them back into Selma.
Brutal images of the attack were televised, and this presented people with horrifying visions of peaceful marchers left bloodied and severely injured thereby rousing support for the U.S. civil rights movement. Amelia Boynton Robinson was nearly beaten and gassed to death — her photo appeared on the front page of newspapers and news magazines around the world. Seventeen marchers were hospitalized, leading people to the name that day, "Bloody Sunday." Rosa Parks also marched with them that day.
Immediately after "Bloody Sunday," King, as leader of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, began organizing a second march to be held on Tuesday, March 9,1965, calling for people across the country to join him. Hundreds of people, shocked by what they had seen on TV, responded to his call. About 2,500 people marched from Selma to Montgomery for the second time.
To prevent another violent outbreak or opposition from law enforcement, the marchers attempted to gain a court order that would prohibit the police from interfering. Instead of issuing the court order, Federal District Court Judge Frank Minis Johnson issued a restraining order, preventing the march from taking place until he could hold additional hearings later in the week. Rather than abiding by the court order, the SCLC decided to hold a partial, "ceremonial" march, since hundreds of marchers had gathered for the event. The group did not want to alienate one of the few southern judges who gave them the court order and who was often sympathetic to their cause.
Finally, a third march was organized and the protest was successful in demonstrating the problems with discrimination, segregation and racism.
First Black Ice Skating Duo competes
Vanessa James and Yannick Bonheur of France on Monday became the first black couple to compete in Olympic pairs skating, electrifying the crowd at the Pacific Coliseum with an acrobatic free skate program.
How cool!
Tyra Show: I'm 9 and I Hate My Face!..sad.
It's so sad what society has done to our minds and what we think the standard of beauty is. At 9 years old little girls are feeling ugly compared to the women they see on TV. What's even more unbelievable is that they want plastic surgery! I watched the full episode of Tyra's show today and was deeply saddened by these young girls response to how they feel about themselves...Then I thought back to when I was in first grade and how I would put a towel over my head and pretend that my hair was super straight and super long. Or when I had to play with white Barbie's because it was hard to find a black Barbie at the stores we went too. I always studied my full eyebrows, full lips and wide nose...I realize I am a victim of this standard too and it started when I was little! I watched a lot of TV. The Cosby Show and A Different World were the two main shows then that had all black casts. That was it. All the black women I knew were going with the trend of getting their hair relaxed, so it wouldn't look so nappy. It's sad how people can be so easily influenced.
The older I get, the more I thank God for the features he gave me. If He wanted me to have a slim nose then He would've given me one. It's that simple. It starts with me. I must encourage my nieces and other little black girls that I come in contact with that they are beautiful just as God made them.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
The older I get, the more I thank God for the features he gave me. If He wanted me to have a slim nose then He would've given me one. It's that simple. It starts with me. I must encourage my nieces and other little black girls that I come in contact with that they are beautiful just as God made them.
Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Dress Alike...
I have always wanted to try a "Get that look" feature based off of cute outfits I've seen on celebs. So here goes a try. It is Fashion Week in New York (oh how I wish I were there! One day...one day I will be there, as a featured designer). I liked the outfit pictured below that I saw Angela Simmons wearing. See below: First picture is of Angela Simmons in her outfit. The other pictures are of pieces one(or that I would use) could use to emulate her outfit. Each piece can be found at www.forever21.com
Monday, February 15, 2010
Carol's Daughter...
I have been longing to try something from Carol's Daughter (Lisa is the ladies name) product line...before I saw her on Oprah, I saw her ads in Essence magazine. Mary J. Blige and Jada Pinkett-Smith were endorsing this line of healthy hair and body products. Both ladies seem to have healthy hair. Plus I like to support black owned businesses. Fast forward to this past Friday. I had just washed my hair Thursday night and my thick hair absorbs everything so quick. Friday morning my ends were so crunchy! Very nerve-racking! Friday after work I was on the hunt to find something to quench my thirsty hair. I stumbled upon some Carol's Daughter products. I opted to buy the Hair Elixir, which is supposed to be Jada's favorite. I paid $16.95 for it. I think it's about $19 online via carolsdaughter.com. I immediately used it when I got home. I sectioned my hair and applied it to my strands focusing on my ends. It made my hair softer. The smell isn't harsh or strong. Smells pretty natural. I plan to use it at least 3 more times this week, to see if it will be a staple in my hair care routine or not....there will be updates! Peace.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Black History
I love Black History...not only in February, but all year long. My great-aunt and grandmother encouraged me to learn my history by sending me books, news articles, pamphlets, movies, etc. when I was younger. I used to get so upset when we would only talk about Dr. King and Rosa Parks during black history month at school. No offense to them but they are so many others that helped shape who we are, many that came before them...I haven't been showing my appreciation for my history on my blog so here I go with a few facts....
Cathy Williams was the first and only known female Buffalo Soldier. She was born into slavery and worked for the Union army during the Civil War. She posed as a man an enlisted as Williams Cathay in the 38th infantry in 1866. She was given medical discharge in 1868.
"Strange Fruit" the song about lynching in the south , which was made popular by Billie Holiday, was originally a poem written by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher from the Bronx.
Thomas J. Martin patented a fire extinguisher in 1872.
John Love invented the pencil sharpener in 1897.
Joseph Winters invented a fire escape ladder in 1878.
Cathy Williams was the first and only known female Buffalo Soldier. She was born into slavery and worked for the Union army during the Civil War. She posed as a man an enlisted as Williams Cathay in the 38th infantry in 1866. She was given medical discharge in 1868.
"Strange Fruit" the song about lynching in the south , which was made popular by Billie Holiday, was originally a poem written by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish schoolteacher from the Bronx.
Thomas J. Martin patented a fire extinguisher in 1872.
John Love invented the pencil sharpener in 1897.
Joseph Winters invented a fire escape ladder in 1878.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Ways to go from GF to Wife
So I saw this post, 10 Ways to go From Girlfriend to Wife on egyptsaidso.com. Unbeknownst to me I have done many of the things listed successfully, well maybe not so successfully since I have yet to be married, came very close to it though. Just thought the list was interesting, and insightful since it was written by a guy. Click the link and check it out.
New Year...
I know we are already in the 2nd month of the new year but since I was unable to post anything in January, I am posting my "resolutions" now...besides, it's never too late. In 2010 I plan to:
1.Draw closer to God...apart from Him I am nothing. I really want to discover all that he has in store for me.
2. Pour into the lives of others...it's not about me but it's about me using my testimony to help others, then they in turn can pay it forward and help someone else.
3. Tap more into my creative side...draw, design, etc.
4. Be myself...no more trying to fit the mold of society. So what if I like to wear my high heels and eccentric earrings everyday:)
5. Continue being an avid reader
6. write more...write about whatever comes to mind...it's my writing!
7. Encourage myself daily
8. travel, travel, travel
9. Take care of my temple....drink even more water, eat healthier and exercise even more than I did last year.
10. STEER CLEAR of drama!
1.Draw closer to God...apart from Him I am nothing. I really want to discover all that he has in store for me.
2. Pour into the lives of others...it's not about me but it's about me using my testimony to help others, then they in turn can pay it forward and help someone else.
3. Tap more into my creative side...draw, design, etc.
4. Be myself...no more trying to fit the mold of society. So what if I like to wear my high heels and eccentric earrings everyday:)
5. Continue being an avid reader
6. write more...write about whatever comes to mind...it's my writing!
7. Encourage myself daily
8. travel, travel, travel
9. Take care of my temple....drink even more water, eat healthier and exercise even more than I did last year.
10. STEER CLEAR of drama!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Bye, Bye Relaxer? We'll see...
So, I am totally contemplating growing out my relaxed hair and getting back to my natural state of hair, or as close as I can get to it. I'm just tired of my hair being overprocessed by chemicals and breaking off. I've been getting relaxers for the past 20 years, every 6 to 8 weeks. I am tired of the chemical burns in my scalp and not being able to scratch my head, the way my hair looks when relaxer time is approaching, the way my hair grows like crazy only to break off terribly at the ends, etc. The only reason my mom gave me a relaxer (when I was about 7) was because my hair is extremely thick, it was way longer then, and it was hard for her to manage. Rubber bands, combs of the teeth and barrettes would literally break because my hair is so thick. My hair was really long up until I left for college at 18. With all the relaxer treatments (can I really call them treatments?) it had received over the years in addition to me getting highlights it just said enough was enough. It's still really thick and I do my best to take care of it but I am ready for a change. I do thank God for my thick hair. So lately I've been gathering all the research I can about transitioning from relaxed to natural. We'll see how this goes...
My goal is to have natural, healthy hair like this:
(picture of singer Corrine Bailey Rae)
My goal is to have natural, healthy hair like this:
(picture of singer Corrine Bailey Rae)
I'm back!
I'm back and feeling it again, it as in blogging. I was so distracted by life that I neglected my blog, even if no one really knows about it, lol. It's for my writing pleasure anyway. So much to talk about...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)