Atlantic Slaves Honored

Ceremony that honors the millions of Africans who died crossing the Atlantic Ocean during the slave trade, also known as the Middle Passage.



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New Edition: If It Isn't Love

I just want to know...

Heaven: The Way I See It #230 (Starbucks Coffee Cup)

"Heaven is totally overrates. It seems boring. Clouds, listening to people play the harp. It should be somewhere you can't wait to go, like a luxury hotel. Maybe blue skies and soft music were enough to keep people in line in the 17th century, but Heaven has to step it up a bit. They're basically getting by because they only have to be better than Hell." -- Joel Stein, Columnist for the L.A. Times

Now, I believe in Heaven, but I'm also feeling this. I look forward to having eternal life more than I think about Heaven. Is that the same? All I know is that it (Heaven) does sound better than hell. However, in the mean time I'm also enjoying certain things on earth while I can :-)

If Hip-Hop Was 'The Wire' Then...

A must-read comparison of HBO's 'The Wire' and hip-hop.



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Left...Eric Roberson

Those that know me, know that I love Eric Roberson's music! It happened at my Alma mater, Fall 04'. My girl C.D. brought over some Cd's and we listened and drank. The soulful lyrics I heard made my heart and mind drift to past loves (Past Paradise), current flames (Deaf Ears), and future romances (Back to You). That was Presents: The Vault, Vol 1.5. When in Washington D.C. I went to two of his shows and a good friend of mine surprised me with The Appetizer. Instead of satisfying my hunger until the next album dropped, it instead made my hunger for more. Good thing I moved to NYC and was introduced to SOBs where Eric Roberson hosts their Sol Village showcase. Yay!

The intimate environment at this venue allowed me to enjoy the tunes of this independent artist in a totally new light. He not only worked the crowd by mingling with patrons, but we also shared a joking moment when he sat my table and chatted me up. Then, Left...

I purchased the album that night and listened to it on my disc man on the subway. The album took me back to experiencing the love of music (Music), the pleasures of a new relationship with a friend (Been in Love) and the pains of a break-up (Iluv2much), coping with that pain (Pen Just Cries Away), and then emerging from that experience with a greater understanding (Open Your Eyes). It also opened my eyes to the importance of my potential for growth as a young lady (Pretty Girl), in addition to hopes of a new, beautiful relationship (Too Soon). Couldn't Hear Her, Roberson's rendition of The Vault's Couldn't Hear Me, surrounds listeners with a juxtaposition of the original and a new perspective on the fate of a relationship in a symphony of life.

Natural Beauty

I love my hair! This new found love was not acquired until Fall of 2004, when I was finished transitioning from relaxed hair to natural hair. Once I cut the final remnants of relaxed hair I felt connected to the real me. Over the years, this love has grown as I have come to understand how unique my hair is and just how versatile it is. I love running my fingers close to my scalp and feeling the tiny curls that spring from it!

Last month I got my hair braided and I've been surprised at the new attention I receive from the opposite sex. My cousin once told me that males love the fantasy of long hair. She said, "It's 85% of what they look for." Now, as much as I honor the advice of someone older than me, I did have to consider her perspective, an entertainer. Lately, I've been pondering our conversation. Would I get the same recognition from these males if I wore my hair in an afro, twists, or locs? Some of my colleagues have even commented on the difference in appearance that I now have with my braids.

I sometimes find it difficult to believe in the true definition my individual beauty in a society that values the generic, euro centric type. It's even more difficult to do this when brothas feed into the latter. Now, I realize that my hair, relaxed, braided or natural, attracts certain type guy, but shouldn't my personality be the determining factor as opposed to my hair?

Reading about other people's lives...

My good friend of mine shared this forum topic with me: Reading about other people's lives makes me dislike my own.

I found the advice universal for enjoying your entire or different aspects of your life.

Enjoy!

The Kissing Game

The other day I was catching up with an old friend and some how we got on the topic of firsts kisses. You've met the cutie and you are now flirting with the thought of kissing those tempting lips. Is it too early? Do you ask? Or do you just go in for the kill? I explained, "Although it's a nice gesture, it kills the mood if you ask." I continued by explaining that sometimes people are so afraid of rejection that they inadvertently provide the opportunity to be rejected. Meaning, when you ask you give someone the opportunity to say yes or no along with a reason. If you just do it, you still run the risk of rejection but you still accomplished your goal. This is a lesson I learned about a year ago (Thank God!). This article provides more information on Creating Tension for a Great Kiss.

Enjoy!