Just what our world needs, another social media option to consume our event moment as we record our every thought. Oh well, I’m on the bandwagon now and always looking for interestng people to connect with on Twitter. Additionally, I’m trying to slowly make my way through people that I exchange tweets with most often to check out their own websites and blogs. This morning, I was looking at Blackhippychick‘s weblog (http://blackhippychick.wordpress.com/) and found some interesting reads. One of them was a listing of black people on Twitter.
She provides additional information about frequency of tweets for a lot of them which is helpful because we all get all geeked up to see a celeb on twitter only to find out they rarely use Twitter. Check it out! You find someone you know on the list, too!
…that was a pleasant surprise,
Check out the link and show her blog some love (I just put her on the blogroll).
I just read this post from Threshold of Your Own Mind‘s blog called: For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. It’s a beautiful story of literature meets reality about the impact of Ntozake Shange’s book by the same name as the title post. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but the blog author, who is a teacher, shares a beautiful story. I think it touched a nerve because I recently wrote about 10 year old Aquan Lewis who hung himself (although that has been debated) at his school’s bathroom stall. I am forever saluting teachers for doing what they do. They are not only responsible for educating our young people, but they also become mentors, counselors, and sometimes parents.
I have to tell you that Threshold of Your Own Mind is quickly becoming one of my favorite blogs. It’s on my blogroll, and I think many of you will find it a great read. It’s written by an African American English teacher (actually the runner up of the Love Your Curlz contest I ran in February) and I am drawn to her style of using various pieces of literature and giving them relevance today.
I was going to write about this myself but I just read a post about it over at The Field Negro blog, and I will point you there instead. He has a law background and brought up some really good pointers that I never even thought of if I was pulled over. Black people have forever been pulled over for senseless things by the police, and I agree with The Field Negro that Ryan is lucky he didn’t end up shot.
Unfortunately, I don’t feel hopeful about the police officer really feeling the consequences of his actions. I believe he’s been suspended pending an investigation, but this all too often leads with the police officer back on the beat with a little slap on the wrist. I hope I’m proven wrong this time.
Check out the post. Don’t let the title throw you off (it actually made me laugh).
I received an email about Black Hair Salons website (http://www.blackhair-salons.com/), and I wanted to take a moment to share more about it. The site is for UK readers that may be looking for stylists or work as a stylist.
SIDE NOTE: I’ve been trying to compile a listing of Black Hairstylists and Barbers, so let me take this moment to remind you to stop by my page and add a comment with your recommendation. I want my list to only be comprised of referrals or salons that contact me directly. The more referrals regarding black stylists, the better. Fellas, that means you, too!
Here’s info from Black Hair Salons “About Me” page:
Salons Online is a Job Advertising Website for Black and European Hairdressing Salons and Hair Stylists who offer African Caribbean, Natural (untreated African hair type) and European hair type hairdressing services in their businesses.
Launched in July 2007, Salons Online sought to fill a gap in the market offering a unrivaled job advertising recruitment platform and service for small and medium salon businesses and award winning black hair salons.
Complimenting the most popular recruitment methods and technology used in the African Caribbean hair industry along with providing a data source which includes the most popular qualifications held by hair care professionals, Salons Online facilitates staff recruitment at black hair salons.
Here’s a link to their listing for Black Hair Salons in the UK.
I have to thank my twitter friend @teferri for this lead like a week ago. I’m finally carving out some time to put up a post about it. I’m also wondering what your reaction is to this report as well as my own findings that reveal some inaccuracies and misleading journalism from those CNN folks.
Watch below.
Good ole Don Lemon. Sometimes, I’m with him, and sometimes I shake my head and wonder about his comments on stories relating to African Americans. I don’t know where I stand with this one, but I found Don’s conversation with John Hope Bryant to be on an interesting topic. Don is reporting on a Pew’s Economic Mobility Project poll where African Americans scored highest (65%) above the Latino (51%) and white (34%) communities regarding their optimism about their children’s future.
So who is John Hope Bryant and Operation HOPE?
Don Lemon seeks the expertise of John Hope Bryant of Operation HOPE (http://www.operationhope.org/smdev/) to interpret findings from a study that came from Pew’s Economic Mobility Project. John Hope Bryant, who according to his bio on Operation HOPE “is a philanthropic entrepreneur and businessman, in the business of empowerment.” He’s also the CEO and Thought Leader for the organization. “Operation HOPE’s mission is to eradicate poverty in our lifetime through the ‘Silver Rights Movement’.” The accompanying You Tube clip about Operation HOPE further describes it as “the nation’s first non-profit social investment banking organization.” (About Us page- http://www.operationhope.org/smdev/clst4.php?id=162).
I don’t want to get too far off track, but I would like to add that I would have been intuitively more interested in hearing from the source of the study rather than a Thought Leader who may or may not have read the report. However, John’s perspective was witty and he made a few points that held some value.
So what is Pew’s Economic Mobility Project?
Here’s an excerpt from their Project Overview page. For full overview click HERE.
For the first time, data related to economic mobility in the United States will be consolidated and presented in terms the American public and policymakers can understand, debate and discuss. How do my children’s opportunities for economic advancement compare to mine, to those of my parents? Is mobility thriving in other countries while waning here in the U.S.? How much economic mobility is there for people in poverty? To what extent is mobility affected by inherited wealth? How is mobility impacted by gender, race, and level of education?
My commentary…
Unlike the CNN segment leads you to believe, the actual study was about American optimism in general and one of the reported results did a breakdown by ethnicity (black, white, latino/hispanic). Pay close attention here because my 2:30am eyes may not be as sharp as I think they are. However, what I’m reading from the actual report the posted slide data on CNN’s report seems to be incorrect. See for yourself:
African Americans are the most optimistic group about their and their children’s opportunities for economic mobility. Eighty-five percent believe their economic circumstances will be better in 10 years than they are now, compared to 71 percent of whites and 77 percent of Hispanics. When asked whether their children would have an easier or harder time moving up the income ladder, whites are the most pessimistic, with 54 percent saying it will be harder to move up the income ladder, compared to 34 percent of African Americans and 41 percent of Hispanics.
Naturally, I’m a little confused on the actual data reported by CNN. I welcome a comment from Don Lemon or anyone of the right authority at CNN to help clarify my findings with your report. Just a quick google search from my end. …and if you’re hiring sharp journalists, give me a shout throug my CONTACT page (http://affrodite.net/?page_id=506).
Data details aside…
Are African Americans more resilient in times of economic uncertainty than other races?
Are African Americans more optimistic about the economic future for their children? If so, why?
What are your thoughts about our economic future?
Nerd alert…
For you data nuts like myself who’s academic background or natural tendencies require understanding the methods used for the study before even allowing yourself to engage in this conversation, then here’s another excerpt about how the study was conducted. It’s from the same page that I quoted earlier with the results.
Research Specifications:
This research reports on 10 focus groups conducted between January 6 – 15, 2009 in Baltimore, Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Diego among a racially diverse set of panelists. In addition, Pew’s Economic Mobility Project commissioned a national survey of 2,119 adults. This survey included oversamples of African Americans (517 total cases unweighted), Hispanics (520 total cases unweighted) and people under 40 (497 total cases unweighted). Given the growing phenomenon of young people without land-line telephones, all interviews in the under-40 oversample were conducted on cell phones. This survey was conducted between January 27 and February 8, 2009 and lasted approximately 22 minutes. The overall margin of error for this survey is +/- 3.4 at a 95 percent confidence interval.
I was over reading the blog Life of a Ladybug and saw a post about NaturallyCurly.com hosting a Man Week a few weeks back. It was a refreshing reminder that some of our hottest, sexiest men have naps, too!
Don’t miss Lifetime’s Nora Roberts Movie Collection featuring 4 world premiere movies starting this Saturday, March 21st at 9pm/8c with “Northern Lights” starring Leann Rimes and Eddie Cibrian!!!
Former Baltimore policeman Nate Burns was hoping to start a new life by accepting the job of chief of police in the town of Lunacy, Alaska. He escapes to the small, remote town in an effort to forget the traumatic death of his partner, for which he holds himself partially responsible. But the moment he meets Meg Galligan, an independent and feisty bush pilot with her own demons, he finds himself falling for her. The town is rocked when the body of Meg’s father, a man who Meg believed had abandoned her and her mother Charlene 16 years ago, turns up in a mountain cave. Nate finds himself in the middle of a high-profile murder investigation and quickly learns the killer is someone in the community. Nate must use his big-city survival instincts to solve the mystery that threatens his new life and new love.
UPDATE 3/21/09:Here’s a link that “jax” from the comments below provided. I do think it’s a good read as you formulate your position surround Obama’s joke about his bowling game and the Special Olympics.
Barack Obama spent time with Jay Leno last night. Below is the full interview.
“Obama on Leno: What are risks? rewards?”
Was this a smart move for Obama?
How do you feel Obama handled the discussion of AIG?
What do you think was Obama’s shining moment on Leno last night?
I thought Barack handled himself well. He has a gift for breaking down complex issues in laymen’s terms which helps the viewing audience at large understand what’s going on in this economic climate. He was witty at the right moments. Above all, I’m still impressed by Obama’s ability to remain grounded even after he’s taken the office. I know people are jumping on the Special Olympics comment that Obama made in reference to his bowling ability. I genuinely don’t think he meant that maliciously, although in hindsight, he may realize it was a poor choice of words.
I saw GoGirl on the talk show The Doctors last week and have been meaning to post information about it here. After some horror stories using those portable toilets of my own, I just might throw one in my suitcase, glove compartment, purse, and/or soccer bag as a just in case.
We women are not graced with a man part “down there” that we can just flip out anywhere. As the GoGirl representative and Dr. Tara Fields during The Doctors episode described, we women have to squat, whether it’s over a toilet seat or out in the woods. There’s an art to it or your likely to be wearing some of your pee. <– I know that’s gross, but ladies, let’s be real, especially on those nights when you’ve had too much to drink. Navigating the toilet situation can get pretty precarious.
How does it work?
It’s basically a funnel. If you want to get technical, they refer to it as a female urination device (FUD). The funneling action helps you aim away from your body.
Read more about it on the official website- http://www.go-girl.com/index.asp. They retail for about $5 which is a good price point to me that will likely get those of us who are curious to give it a try. I’m not sure what stores are carrying them (if they are), but you can purchase them online from their website.
For you Twitter folks, yes, even GoGirl is on Twitter- @Go_Girls (http://twitter.com/Go_Girls). They are also on other social networking sites. Check their webpage for more details.
Do you own a GoGirl?
Comment with your testimonial
Would you buy a GoGirl now that you’ve read about it?
New York, New York (www.queerblackcinema.org) – Queer Black Cinema will host the 4th Annual Fades of Black Womyn Film Showcase. The showcase is the exclusive destination in New York that honor Black Lesbians & Bisexual pioneer filmmakers from all over the world exhibiting their film, exposing their stories. This year Queer Black Cinema will honor Black Hall of Fame Trinidadian British filmmaker, Campbell X . The carnival style showcase full of dance, film and music will take place Thursday, March 26 from 7 – 10 PM at The Brecht Forum 451 West Street between Bank and Bethune Avenue. Ticket are available online at www.queerblackcinema.org/tickets.htm or RSVP on Queer Black Cinema Facebook group.
Campbell X is a pioneer filmmaker, curator and artist who work have been seen all over the world including various film festivals like MIX Experimental Queer Film Festival, one of the longest running LGBT film festival in New York of over 25 years; Frameline, the longest running LGBT film festival in the world, London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival and various other film festivals.
She constantly pushes boundaries in visual aesthetics and content in moving image. She started out in making films for UK television and titles include Ragga Gyal D’Bout! about female fans of Ragga Music, the award-winning BD Women about Black lesbian stories and Viva Tabatha about the French porn actress Tabatha Cash.
Campbell also collaborates with other filmmakers and has been the camera person for Jules Nurrish’s Bend It, Lisa Gornick’s Do I love you? and Tick Tock Lullaby as well as Paloma Etienne’s Notebooks and Unladylike Thoughts. (BlackmanVision Film Production)
Other Campbell film works includes, Paradise and most recently, Fem just to name a few. You can view trailers of her work and learn more about Campbell at http://www.blackmanvision.com.
This year, Queer Black Cinema includes a Carnival theme and incorporates an award ceremony, multi-media dance tribute; films from Campbell collection, a reception and Q&A with Campbell X live from London, UK via Skype. Audience members will have an opportunity to show off their dance moves and win prizes in the Wheel of Dance contest made up of flags from various Caribbean Islands. Wherever the flag lands, audience members will have a change to do a dance that represents that island. “For a year I’ve waited to present new and older films from Campbell X collection. The time is finally here and I am very excited,” exclaims Angel L. Brown, QBC Executive Director. Reggae Artist DJ Debbie one of the hottest DJ’s in New York will not only host the event but performs her hit singles “Fayah” and “Get on down and party.”
The showcase will take place Thursday, March 26, 2009 (7 – 10 PM) at The Brecht Forum 451 West Street between Bank and Bethune Avenue. Tickets are available online for $10 (more at the door) at www.queerblackcinema.org/tickets.htm or RSVP on Queer Black Cinema Facebook group.
About QUEER BLACK CINEMA®
_________________________________________
QUEER BLACK CINEMA® (QBC) is New York’s first and Only Black LGBTQ monthly micro-cinema series and annual international music and film festival mission is dedicated to showcasing independent narrative and documentary works by and about U.S. and international progressive Black LGBTQ filmmakers. We are a socially conscious organization that uses films to create dialogue to address homophobia, alarming health issues and many other “taboo” issues relating to the Black LGBTQ experiences. We provide an online resource to Black LGBTQ theme films and their makers as well as support LGBTQ youth of color emerging producers. In-addition, we screen and promote all people of color artist trailers and original music. QBC film series takes place once a month at the LGBT Community Center and other locations throughout the New York Metropolitan area. All are welcome to attend regardless of their sexual orientation, race or gender. We aim to entertain, enlighten and educate through our niche programming. Queer Black Cinema is fiscally sponsored by MIX NYC Experimental Queer Film Festival, a 501 C3 Not-For-Profit Organization.
Last week is the first time I’ve attending any kind of poetry open mic in years. Granted, I’ve been blessed and/or spoiled (depending on how you look at it) to have experienced open mic poetry slams in NYC . It was fantastic to be there during the era when Stacyanne Chin would flow through and do her set. At the same time, it was enough to leave me intimidated about my poetry skills despite the extremely supportive crowds.
I have to say that I enjoyed myself at the Writing Wrongs Open Mic Poetry night. It was one of the few times since moving to Columbus that I felt in my element. I often describe myself as a mid-Atlantic transplant to the midwest, and making the adjustment from big cities and diversity to not so much has been challenging to say the least. You just have to work harder. So, I try to make a point of writing posts when I run into spots like this so that others in my shoes may benefit.
The night I attended started out with a general open mic poetry segment where people signed up to share original or written poetry of any genre (I could see myself doing that sometime). The second half was dedicated to a haiku poetry competition. I’ve never seen people compete with haiku, but I can say it was extremely entertaining. So much can be said in so few words which left me and the rest of the onlookers laughing hysterically at times. I did not stay until the end of the competition, so I can’t update you on who won (you can probably check out their Yahoo group for more info).
Also, Urban Spirit Coffee House is a really neat spot. Check out their website: http://www.urban-spirit.com/. Nice artsy vibe and free wifi. I need to spend some time over there during the day just to enjoy the coffee shop. The open mic occurs upstairs in the loft area (which would make a neat spot to host a little soiree by the way).
Here are the details for the open mic
Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam
Tuesday nights 8-11pm
Urban Spirit Coffee House
893 E. Long Street
Columbus, OH 43203
Yes, they do have a running competition to become part of their poetry slam team that competes nationally.
Until our streets are safe…
Until families can understand each other…
Until drugs and violence disappear…
Until no young person needs to run away or feel afraid…
There must be Safe Place.
Safe Placeis a national youth outreach program that educates thousands of young people every year about the dangers of running away or trying to resolve difficult, threatening situations on their own. This easily replicated community initiative involves the whole community to provide safe havens and resources for youth in crisis.
Safe Place creates a network of “Safe Place locations” – youth friendly businesses, schools, fire stations, libraries, YMCAs and other appropriate public buildings that display the distinctive yellow and black Safe Place sign. In many communities the local transit system takes part, designating buses as mobile Safe Place sites.
These Safe Place sites extend the doors of the youth emergency shelter or youth service agency throughout the community. Youth are easily able to access immediate help wherever they are.
Most Safe Place agencies reach out to youth between the ages of 12 to 17 years old. Some agencies serve younger youth.
I don’t often get story leads from my youngest sister, but I have to credit her and her involvement with Safe Place (in Gwinnett County, Georgia) for learning about National Safe Place Week. For example, in Gwinnett County, you can go to any QT gas station in a crisis and get help. QT personnel are trained on how to respond to a young person in need of Safe Place services.
If you are a young person in need of help or ever know someone who needs to get out of their living situation right away, please read this and find out what services are available in your area. If there aren’t any Safe Place sites, then maybe you can take the lead in trying to bring the Safe Place program to your community. (click the link below)
States in yellow below have Safe Place programs. Just because your state has a Safe Place program does not automatically mean that there is one in your town. Please visit http://nationalsafeplace.org/aboutus/about-where.php for more details
For more info…
The information here was extracted from the National Safe Place website
I received an email yesterday from Lama Rangdrol regarding various events that I will post here, but if you are unfamiliar with Rangdrol’s work, as I was, I thought I would include some additional information as well.
I am not Buddhist, but welcome comments from the Buddhist community about Lama Rangdrol and his work.
Lama Rangdrol is the only African-American teacher of Buddhism recognized by the First Conference of Tibetan Buddhist Centers in North and South America, convened by the Office of Tibet and attended by the Dalai Lama. He was honored as a special invited guest to the Dalai Lama‘s teachings on “World Peace Through Inner Peace” in Miami, Florida.
Before entering the dharma stream, Lama Rangdrol worked as a licensed psychiatric technician for thirty years and Drama Therapist in departments of psychiatry including UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital, USC University Hospital, and numerous acute psychiatric hospitals and outpatient clinics serving severely mentally ill, developmentally disabled, and homeless populations.
His academic studies also include the University of Redlands School of Music (B.A.), graduate work in Ethnic Theater at Sacramento State University, and certificates of study from the National Shakespeare Company (New York), and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (London).
(source: rainbowdharma.com)
He founded RainbowDharma in Oakland to serve the needs of people regardless of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, or religious belief. (source: sbmg.org)
Rangdrol currently resides in Hawaii.
There is a wealth of information on RainbowDharma to read through. It’s worth a site visit:
I recently posted press releases from the Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF.org). Rangdrol’s 40 minute documentary entitled Festival Canceled Due To Heavy Rain, released in 2008, was one of the featured films. It recently was earned the Aloha Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking at the Honolulu Film Festival held March 6-8, 2009. See the brief synopsis below:
Buddhist Teacher, Lama Rangdrol travels on pilgrimage to the Angkor monuments in Cambodia. He finds the ultimate connection between Buddhism and the African presence in early Asia inscribed throughout the 60 square miles of ancient ruins.
(source: YouTube- trailer description)
Check out the trailer for this film:
Earlier today, I ran into commentary on one of his blogs about Chris Brown and Rihanna. Since this has been a hot topic in the press, I thought you might want to check it out as well.
National:Lama Rangdrol, one of America’s few African American Buddhist
teachers, comments on meditation and stress reduction for the March issue of
ESSENCE, one of America’s premiere magazines for women. (pg. 110)
West Coast:The Hawaii International Film Festival presents Lama with the
Accolade Award for Excellence in Filmmaking, Honolulu.
East Coast: The film will be featured at the inaugural AWAKEN! International
Spiritual Film Festival, New Jersey. The audience will be led in a meditation
following the film. http://www.rainbowdharma.com/FilmProjects.htm
International: Lama plans to visit India later this year. Anyone interested in
sharing the journey should email us at: rainbowdharma@aol.com
Film Screening of the Award Winning DocumentaryLife and Debtby Stephanie Black and follow up discussion on Wednesday, March 11th, 2009
Life and Debt is a feature-length documentary which addresses the impact of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank and current globalization policies on a developing country such as Jamaica.
(source: Life and Debt website)
Title:The Global Financial Crisis from Our Perspective
Time:Wednesday, March 11th, 2009 at 7:00pm
Place: The Ohio State University Black Cultural Center Room 145 153 West 12th Street, Columbus Ohio
More information: aaprpohiochapter@yahoo.com or (614) 657-6586
This really applies to everyone, but I’m putting it in the context of natural hair care since that’s what I write about for a segment of this blog.
I have been following @HHBS on twitter (Healthy Hair Beauty Supply) and decided to check out some of her blog posts. This one struck me because I, as the article states, have always been told by my hairstylist that clipping your ends promotes hair growth.
It made sense to me, but then I started thinking about damage from split ends and such which leads to hair breakage. I suspect that we’ve always been encouraged to clip our end to keep the hair healthy and give it the best chance to grow both longer and healthy. Now, I do believe you probably don’t need it cut it every 6 weeks or whatever your stylist recommends, especially if you maintain your hair natural. Also, I do think she is correct in the blog post that we should focus on conditioning our hair and avoiding heat to prevent breakage thus promote growth.
50% of your donation (less Pay Pal fees) will go to Emerge Global charity (http://emergeglobal.org/). The other 50% funds the sweat equity I put into my work for your enjoyment. My hope is that one day I will be able to donate 100% to charity.
We women are not graced with a man part “down there” that we can just flip out anywhere. As the GoGirl representative and Dr. Tara Fields during The Doctors episode described, we women have to squat, whether it’s over a toilet seat or out in the woods. There’s an art to it or your likely to be wearing some of your pee. <– I know that’s gross, but ladies, let’s be real, especially on those nights when you’ve had too much to drink. Navigating the toilet situation can get pretty precarious.
Last week is the first time I’ve attending any kind of poetry open mic in years. Granted, I’ve been blessed and/or spoiled (depending on how you look at it) to have experienced open mic poetry slams in NYC . It was fantastic to be there during the era when Stacyanne Chin would flow through and do her set. At the same time, it was enough to leave me intimidated about my poetry skills despite the extremely supportive crowds.
Until our streets are safe…
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