Open Letter to Debra Lee

Dear Debra Lee,

I see you have a thing for open letters, well I do to.
Recently Teresa Wiltz wrote an article about BET in the Washington Post profiling of your head of “Entertainment” Reggie Hudlin’s demise from cutting edge skewering of BET founder with Aaron McGruder ( Creator of the Boondocks): to Hudlin’s current position at your network.

Apparently Teresa’s honest criticism of the network got your thong and booty shorts in a knot, (what? You don’t wear those? But the videos you air show that all of colored women were those!) because you felt the need to take time from your busy job of exploiting black people, to write a letter to the Washington Post defending your exploitation of Black people.

Jesus Take the Wheel-Fighting off Discouragement During Discouraging Times

Happy Belated Mother’s Day to all the Sugar Mama’s reading this blog! I failed to post this yesterday because I was spending the day with my own Mommy and Grandmother (who asked me not to ‘write on that computer’ as part of her gift)

So this blog was intended to be a “one stop shop”; a voice for those of us who normally do not get a lot of media coverage on issues we care about, or are used to hearing about the news that effects us months later. Now as I constantly seek to carry out the goals of this blog, I spend a lot of time scouring the news, small town news, local news, entertainment news, big major news sources, etc. A lot of the time it’s not all good. There’s only so much you can read about the economy falling apart, the election, police shootings, beating, abuse, discrimination, rape, and all out ignorance before you really start to feel the weight.

Coversation starter- how do you transcend race? PLEASE COMMENT!

I read this piece on one of my favorite websites TheRoot.com, and it got me thinking “what does it mean to ‘transcend race’?” and who defines what it means to ‘transcend?”

USF Africana and Women’s Studies Protest at Graduation!!!

I’ve previously posted about the decisions to cut Africana and Women’s studies at my Alma Mater. Well I just have to post this news story featuring my fellow BULLS! Standing up in silent protest during the Spring 2008 graduation.

Please Watch this HERE!

Things that Disturb my Spirit

I’ve been a little “inconegro” the past few days and in a serious rut. I apologize for the lack of posts.

I felt like sharing some things that disturbed my spirit this week. You may laugh or hang your head in shame, but it is what it is.

Start a Revolution- Save Africana, Latin and Women’s Studies at our Colleges!!!!

With our nation’s economy in shambles, everyone is looking for ways to cut back on spending and budget cuts are the name of the game. Unfortunately thanks to poor government spending (i.e. - a crazy war with no end in sight) the country’s universities are really feeling the pinch. In their haste to cut costs (and preserve the lofty salaries of some school presidents) some schools have placed Africana (African, African American. Black, Diaspora etc.), Latin American and Women studies Programs on the chopping block. Claiming that the programs have so few majors that it’s not worth the costs.
Students in these programs are up in arms (particularly at my Alma Mater the University of South Florida), writing letters, signing petitions and leading rallies to preserve the departments that they hold dear.

B****A**ness Alert- 50 Cent

Two quarters is mad at Alicia Keys for her comment in Blender Magazine. Curtis had this to say about Alicia Keys and her thoughts on gansta rap.

What did you think of Alicia Keys’ comments regarding gangsta rap in Blender?
50 cent: I don’t like Alicia Keys no more.
She clarified the comments, though.
50 cent: If she thinks what they consider [to be] gangsta music is [made] to bring black people down then I think my sh*t falls into that category. I don’t like people who don’t like me. I don’t like her then because that’s what provides the life for me. I think if you ask Ice Cube the same shit, he’ll tell you, “F*ck Alicia Keys” for even saying that. Because the success he’s had as an actor and a businessman, there was no opportunity for that sh*t without N.W.A. But I don’t think that [her] classical sh*t is cool. I don’t give a f*ck if you can classically play the piano. I haven’t been classically trained, because my upbringing, nobody put me in front of a piano at that time. If they did, I would know how to do it as well as she does. I could learn how to play the piano if I was passionate about it right now. That’s obviously my perspective evaluating what she does, and I could f*ck*ng care less about the sh*t. So she don’t like the music that embodies the harsh realities because they’re not her realities. She hasn’t been subjected to the same things.
Source

the Sludge Factor

actual “sludge”
The NAACP is leading the charge (for a change) against the governments’ funding of sewage waste being strewn on the yards of poor, inner-city Baltimore families. This was apparently a research experiment to see if the filtered crap (literally) protects people from lead poisoning. The problem is that the families didn’t know what it was. They were told that it was safe and promised food coupons and new fresh lawns. All of this took place in the late 1990’s. ( yeah super late to be hearing about it now)

MC Cosby??? Bill Cosby makes Hip Hop CD

Stop! Collaborate and Listen, Cosby’s back with a Brand new mission

Bill Cosby is releasing a rap album, filled with positive lyrics and whatnot called “Cosby Narratives Vol. 1: State of Emergency.” He’s not actually rapping but he’s enlisted the help of some unnamed MC’s to carry out the CD’s anti-profane message.
Bill Cosby’s very public disdain for all things hip hop is what makes this an “ironic” situation but he’s trying to reach a new audience (probably the lower economic blacks that he talked about in 2004)

The Trouble with black hair…

First off let me begin this post by saying that I am an avid weave wearer (love myself and I love the ability to change my hair frequently) but I am also an advocate for natural hair. Basically I’m a fan of whatever hairstyle that a black woman wants to wear (exceptions would be Crayola colored weave, and those half permed/ half nappy chicks, girl cut that mess off and start again).
I say that to say this. I previously had NO I idea of the Monopoly that is taking place in the black hair supply industry. Currently Black women make up 10% of the population, 80% of hair product customers and about 5% of the Beauty supply industry owners. That means that we’re being shut out of an industry that essentially caters to out vanity by people of other cultures.