Womanism Is Not My Problem!
Womanism usually refers to outrageous, audacious, courageous, or willful behavior. (A womanist) is committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender. ~Alice Wallker
Going through my blog I just realized that lately I’ve been largely writing in response to the shenanigans and ignorance that plays out on the Web and in the media. I’ve been playing defense and anyone who knows me, knows Read more...
Single, Black, Female & Fabulous!
Last night on ABC’s Nightline Steve Harvey and Vicky Mabrey moderated the panel, “Why Can’t A Successful Black Woman Find A Man?” The panel featured Sherri Shepard, Jacque Reid, Hill Harper and Jimi Izrael. This show was riddled with problems from the jump.
Let me begin by saying I’m single, happy and successful. I never wanted to be married in my 20’s and in my early 30’s I was ballin hard and loved the type Read more...
Meshell Ndegeocello @Joe’s Pub
I keeps me some Meshell Ndegeocello music on play at my house. The way she uses religious metaphor and political commentary and weaves it into this radical, seductive swirl of melody, bass and lyric always blows my skirt up and wig back. I really like her music and I like her. Like so many Virgos she’s laid back, outspoken and she wears her heart on her sleeve. Last Friday I went to see Meshell, personally Read more...
Rape Ain’t Spectacular
I need to know when rape became so acceptable to the point of trending? No, maybe not when, buy probably why? First, writer/ BET correspondent Toure posted on Twitter some rather confusing comments about how he believed some female slaves were ok with massa raping them because it would sometimes lead to freedom:
“Of course most were raped, …but most were sharp enough to trade that good-good for status and liberation.”
How liberated did Sally Read more...
Janelle Monae @Highline Ballroom
On Thursday night I was shown some extraordinary birthday love and treated to dinner and a VIP-pass to see Janelle Monae’s show at the Highline Ballroom. This was only my second time seeing the Wondaland phenom, and so I was revved up especially since I had already heard most of her upcoming album– The ArchAndroid, which I think is blazing like a Drew Barrymore double-crosser in Fire Starter. If Erykah is the ultimate Read more...
Keeping Up With The Joneses
I don’t know about you but I think I’ve had enough of the Black affluent reality shows– Baldwin Hills, Harlem Heights, Real Housewives Of Atlanta. Seriously how many times do I need to see a sister buy a Gucci bag and some $800 Louboutins to understand (and celebrate) that Black folks are making loot too. I know it’s not just the Bronfmans anymore, but it’s the Johnsons and the Winfreys too. Got it. I Read more...
Erykah Badu’s “Window Seat” Video
Late Saturday night while waiting for Erykah Badu, who’s known as @fatbellybella on Twitter, to hit the stage at Good Units, I began tweeting and looking for updates. There were a flurry of messages about her new video for “Window Seat.” Vulnerable. Intimate. Provocative. Butt-naked were tweeted and retweeted. I gotta admit the butt-naked part threw me off. Was the video a mile-high romp with her baby daddy, Jaye Electronica, all while sitting Read more...
Nina Simone Tribute @Harlem Stage
Tonight at Harlem Stage, the Black Rock Coalition Orchestra presents one of their most captivating incarnations– their all-female tribute to the inimitable Nina Simone. I saw this tribute at the Schomburg and like The High Priestess of Soul herself, it was brazenly exhilarating. It was unmitigated Blackness! The 18-piece ensemble, which also performed in France is directed by Tamar-kali and features Imani Uzuri, Joi, Lisala Beatty, Latasha Natasha Nevada Diggs, Angela Johnson, Toli Nameless, Read more...
GROOVES: Esthero’s “Black Mermaid”
I met Esthero 10 years ago. We were both at a professional crossroads. Do we go left, right or do we stay? Unsure, I stayed. Esthero or Lil Dukes Up as she is affectionately known was a brave bird even back then and took a leap, giving the finger all the while flying through the air. From that moment on I wanted to be just like her.
It was late summer 2000 and the best Read more...
Gabby, Mo’Nique & Oscar
Sunday before last many of us watched as Mo’Nique took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. With a white gardenia in her hair and rocking a blue dress by Tadashi Shoji, Mo’s look was in tribute to Hattie McDaniel. Personally I was just watching to check the gowns and the entertainment. I could care less about the actual award because when it comes to Black films they usually don’t see the same beauty, Read more...