Shine On!

I had an amazing Sunday with the beautiful ladies of "Salon de Shine." This is our last Salon of the year and Michaela changed the spot from her Bk loft to Georgia. Owned by entrepreneur and fly girls Jodie Patterson and her sister-in-law Kierra. This is the chicest, most warm and friendly boutique ever. This place offers products and services so its an all in one stop and shop kinda thing. They have everything from satin pillow cases, clutches, shampoos and conditioners. They even have some interesting pieces of jewelry. But there is one product that they have that is definitely irresistible. That is the self made lotion called Gold. That is exactly what it felt like as I tested it on my hands. Of course, I was initially hesitant. But I witnessed customer after customer come in and head straight to the table that had the Gold on it. The last confirmation that reassured me that Gold is a fantastic product was a middle aged man coming into the shop and requesting the product for his wife. I quickly put a jar on hold at the counter and continued to check out the rest of the boutique. Our Get 'em Girl Shakara Bridges also returned with her infamous red velvet cupcakes that we just can't get enough of. So we sipped, nibbled and talked. After we talked about our beauty with Jodie and Kierra we topped the evening off with a serenade from Gordon Chambers (songwriter of many well known tunes such as Brownstone's "If you Love me.") Before I left, I was sure to get my Gold. I was all smiles. And just as Ray Charles sang "Other arms reach out to me/other eyes smile tenderly/still in peaceful dreams I see/The road leads back to you/Oh Georgia, Georgia/No peace, no peace I find/Just an old, sweet song/Keeps Georgia on my mind" I hymned on my train ride all the wayyyyyyy home.

Can't wait to see my FlY SiStaS in '09...

Black is the new Black~MAD

Michaela could not have said it any better. I had a salon with Michaela Angela Davis at her loft yesterday with a few other urbanistas. We had a discussion about the politics of style with June Ambrose.

It is my hope that 2009 will definitely not be a colorless year for the fashion industry and other forms of entertainment. Designers and such will shift from the standard images of beauty to something that Black women can relate to. Thus far, the fashion worlds idea of beauty is to be stick skinny, blond hair, blue eyed, porcelain white skin. An ethnic girl cannot relate to these standards. It will be interesting to see if more ads and runways include varied skin tones, full lips, and other beautiful characteristics of Black women now that our First Lady is Black.

June Ambrose stated, "Like the bold, beautiful, and fearless Michelle Obama we are all first ladies!"I agree.

The wonderful thing about a Black woman is that she comes in all skin tones/complexions, shapes and sizes, and has unique features that no one else can BUY. Black women are fly. We have been hot stuff from day one and we are the ones who create fashion. When we had nothing else we had our hair, our style, and our bodies. We might not have had any money but "I might be broke, but I'm not going to go around looking broke" is the motto. Black women is style, flare, and pizazz. No one can ever take that away from us. We embrace it and so should the designers.

My Black is....

E-Effective

B-Bold

O-Official

N-Noble

Y- forever Youthful

What is your Black?

THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING

A friend of mine says " What are you so happy about? What are the smiles for?" I replied "Obama won. A change has come and it's time for reinvention!" For him, this was not such a great reason to smile although he voted for Obama. He just sees him as another Black man. He does not see this so called CHANGE.

In response to his comment, I say that yes there is one change that we see so far, and that is witnessing a Black man being elected as President of America. However, this does not take away from what America has done to Black people as a whole. Yes Blacks have been held back from earned wealth and education, but let's move forward.

Not forget but forward.

Let's prove that we are entitled to what has been denied to us time and time again. Of course, it doesn't take just a Black President to make things happen. Communities make things happen. Unifying with one another makes people take us seriously. Mr. President Obama is just the skin of the apple. The flesh and the core are his young and gifted followers/believers that will transform this country into a place where Blacks can feel like they belong 100%.

OVERWHELMING EXPERIENCE!

I am usually claustrophobic when it comes to a large crowd and a small space. However, I was not going to miss last night's victory in Harlem. The celebration in Harlem is the biggest celebration in a public space that I have been to in a long time. Young and old, Black, White, Asian, and Hispanic were out in the masses. There was tons of hugging, dancing, screaming, shouting, and of course tears of joy streaming down the faces of many. No one could hold back their emotions. Sam Cooke was right when he said that a "change was gonna come." And my God it did. They shouted "Yes we CAN!" Then it was quickly changed to "Yes we DID."

I am beyond ecstatic that Barack Obama is the first Black president of the United States. It is so amazing that Barack did not run for President as a "Black man." He ran for president as a Colorless husband and father who had a dream of making an impact on his country. Throughout this year long campaign, Obama played like a true champion. He was composed and respectful of the Republican party. Although the Republican party used various tactics to try to sabotage him, Barack chose to remain on the "high road" by refusing to retaliate.

It is relieving to have someone like Barack in this position. To see someone that the majority friends, family, and I can relate to is more than a dream come true. I feel honored to have this privilege. It is exuberant to know that there is someone different from the monolithic images that we see of Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson (Don't get me wrong I support these leaders, but we are progressing and so should our goals and tactics). I call on all Black and non Black Americans to give Obama the support that he will need during his entire term. We cannot stop here. We must reinvent ourselves. The change starts with each individual person, then it extends and trickles down to other people. There should be no more excuses for not doing anything to better yourself and your spirits. You can achieve anything you want!

After last night's victory, I regained a new and deeper respect for a Black man and the Black family unit. I respect my Black brothers, but at times when I see the the reinforcement of the negative images of a Black man being an abset father, felon, drug dealer, "ghetto" and many other expletives, I begin to internalize these thoughts. In turn, I believe them because its all that you see. But as of yesterday, I believe that Barack's victory will dispel all of these negative stereotypes and uplift the Black man. I am hoping that all Black men can gain a sense of trust in their government. I also hope that they will have the confidence that is needed to know that they are Kings and they hold the key to their success.

A Black man is a powerful being and second to God he is the leader of the family. When I see Obama, Michelle and their two lovely daughters it gives me hope that I too can have a solid family structure that is unbreakable. Coming from a broken family with only my mother as the leader 100% of the time, I lost faith that I would ever be able to have a wonderful husband and children. Broken family units definitely outweigh the "perfect" ones in my world. The closest tight knit family that most lower to middles class families from my neighborhood seen were the Huxtables. They certainly were not tangible.

When I would see shows based on weddings. I would always hear women, mainly white, say that they "always dreamed of marrying the man of their dreams and being a princess since they were younger." For me, this was not a thought. Recently I begin to think of these things. The concept of living the American dream with the beautiful family and the house with the white picket fence was certainly not an item on my check list. Not because I did not want it, but because I did not think it could be possible. However, it is possible. Now that Barack is President it is time for those degrading images we see of Black families to change to something positive so that Black girls and boys can dream of finding happiness within themselves and their family.

Of course, nothing happens over night. Progression takes time. Barack has a lot of mess to clean up in that White House. However, we will do it together. We have to continue to be excited and willing to make a change.

Let's not just talk about it, let's be about it!

OBAMA WAFFLES?!

This is ludicrous!

The products were on display at the Values Voters Summit that was hosted by a conservative Christian group.

I don't care whose side you are on, but this is taking it too far. it is outlandish and OBVIOUSLY bigotry.

What do you think of this? Do you think that there should be some consequences for this?

SENT FROM HEAVEN

That morning I was sitting in Sr. Margaret's class when I heard the news. Everyone gasped in shock, and begin to cry. We were all concerned about our loved ones and our own well being. My principle soon made the risky decision to allow us to go home. No one knew where to go or who to call. It was like the world had ended. No cell phone, no computer, no way of communicating with people you definitely knew were going to help out.

As I was leaving the school, I figured that I would try to take my normal route home. Of course, the trains were shut down. I couldn't think straight. There were so many people.

Chaos. Smokey Air. Tense. Gloomy. Sullen. Surreal.

I was scared, in tears, and hoping that my family was okay. At that moment, I felt lost and confused, but I wasn't the only one feeling this way. Other New Yorkers were fearful. But of course as New Yorkers, we unified, and gave helping hands to one another even if the solutions we came up with weren't successful.

With the help of a few good Samaritans I successful made it home a little sore from trying to maneuver with my backpack. But thankfully unharmed. I am appreciative of the ordinary people who extended a helping hand. This is a day that will never be forgotten.

Similar (but no where near the same magnitude) to this, there seems to be someone who is willing to go beyond expectations when I'm in need because last evening I got lost. Yes, I who pride myself on being a native New Yorker, got lost. The stores, the buses and trains, and none of the people were familiar. I asked for directions, but no one knew and if they did I became more confused.
At that moment, there was one thing left for me to do. Call my lifeline (who we will call BP). First I thought, "This is outrageous who would come all the way over here to get me?" Fortunately, BP came to pick me up expeditiously. It seemed like the car pulled up to me 5 seconds after we hung up.

This isn't the first time that I have got out of a jam with the help of BP. When I need to vent, when I need some food, or something as simple as a laugh BP comes right on time.
It's a great feeling to know that someone will be there for you no matter the circumstance.
Sometimes I complain that I don't have this or that. But God gave me something that's more important than all, and that's an angel who I can use as my lifeline for all of life's curve balls.

Can you do the same?

CARDIO BLAST!

Yesterday evening I had the privilege to take the most fantastic Cardio Body Toning class. The class was full of estrogen. There were no men in site besides the instructor Mack. There were about 50 women of all ages and races that filled up the room.

At first, I thought this is going to be easy and boring. Mack instructed us to do the usual which is to get a mat and grab some weights. Then I knew for sure that it was going to be the typical exercise class that the instructor begrudgingly gets through with mediocre workouts that a baby can do.

After everyone settled in, Mack turned the CD player on and Diana Ross belted out "I'm Coming Out." At that moment, Mack transformed into a drill sergeant, and we each felt the pain. It was a pain like no other. It was pleasurable and definitely wanted.

What made it enjoyable was hearing the tunes that were being played. He played tunes like Cheryl Lynn's "Got to be Real," Madonna's "Like A Virgin," Sheila E's "Glamorous Life," and many more that we all sung while lunging and squatting.

While doing a chest press, I looked in the mirror to peek to see what the other women in class were doing. Seeing the smiles and the unity made me feel empowered. I know that it is "weird" to think of this while suffering from excruciating pain, but I felt good to be a woman.
I was doing something for me for a change. Getting in tune with my mind, body, and soul and pushing it to the next level.

What was the last thing that you done that made your feel awesome? Is there any hobby/activity that you do daily that makes you feel like you're "sitting on top of the world?"

WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT ALASKA, AND SHE DOESN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HER HOUSEHOLD

John McCain's VP pick, Sarah Palin, has some skeletons in her closet that has been leaked. Her 17 year old daughter Bristol is 5 months pregnant. Of course, McCain's campaign would love to sweep this on under the rug. According to McCain's spokesperson, Schmidt "Life happens."

We live in a modern society and yes it is not anything "new" for a teenager to get pregnant and have a baby out of wedlock. But your ordinary teenagers mother is not a candidate to be the Vice President of the USA.

Every Repulican seems to be in an uproar about the media airing out Palin's teen daughter. However, republicans are naturally twisting the story in another direction by saying, "at least she didn't get an abortion." So that makes it right?

Let's think about who we want to help run our country. Since Sarah Palin is supposedly such a responsible, pro life, PTA, family oriented mom, then where was she when her daughter was underage drinking and getting knocked up by some jockey that considers himself a "f---in" redneck (according to his myspace page)?

THE WEAK CAN NEVER FORGIVE -Gandhi

Happy Labor Day!

Okay so I am back from a holiday weekend. Of course there was lots of food and friends and family involved in this short but fun weekend. I also had a little bit of free time to think about a topic that I seem to battle with very often.

That topic happens to be Forgiveness.

When and why should you forgive and how do you move on from hurt?

It's not that I don't have the strength to forgive someone when they hurt me, it's just that I don't know when to forgive. I don't want anyone to confuse me pardoning them of their wrong doing as me being weak. I also find it difficult because I don't want someone to continuously hurt me because he/she knows that I will turn the other cheek.

Someone very dear to me always says, "Aren't you a Christian?"

And my response is, "Yes."

"So you shouldn't have a problem with forgiving anyone!"

This is true, but I have to protect myself as well. To me, any man who lets someone pain them time after time is a fool.

However according to the Word, "God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another" John 1:5-7

I want to live in God's likeness as much as I possibly can. Although it isn't easy, I know that for every person who have hurt me in the past I have forgiven, or shall forgive because I know that once I get rid of the evil then I can live freely.

CHANGE IS FANTASTIC!

I think we can...

I think we can...

I KNOW WE CAN!

NO WAY, NO HOW, NO MCCAIN!

Neon orange suit: $200 and up.

Shiny, bright, red lipstick: $20 and up.

Electrifying speech: priceless.

Hillary Clinton hit the "nail on the head" with her energetic and hopeful speech.

"No way, no how, no McCain."

Hillary's tactic was to turn her supporters into advocates of Barack by reiterating that McCain is not going to be any different from Bush. She jokingly says "It's fitting that the two men will be in the Twin Cities in Minnesota because these days, they're awfully hard to tell apart."

She told Americans to look at the current state the country is in due to the Bush administration. She conveyed that we need to vote for the Democratic party because that is who cares about women, the health system, and uplifting the middle class.

Hillary further displayed her loyalty to the Obama's by throwing out the comment that Michelle Obama is a great wife.

Whether you support Barack Obama or not, you can't deny that his wife and he are unshakable. Those two together are a force that can't be reckoned.

Like the Obama's, the Clinton's are solid as well (although Bill strayed away). Although Hillary is no longer in the race, hopefully there will be room for her to work in the White House with Barack and Biden somewhere in the future.

Even though Hillary did a good job, she still fell short by failing to promote Obama's vices more. Instead of noting why she ran for president, she should have given Barack Obama more praise.

HOW'S THAT FOR A BABY MAMA?!


Michelle Obama's speech yesterday evening was fantastic. She was confident and she spoke very well. One thing she did that was most profound is connect with her audience at home and in person. She conveyed to all of America that the Obama's are human just like the rest of us.

Michelle showed that she is a down to earth, a strong, and an eager Black woman who stands for something. Contrary to what others say about Michelle not having pride in America, she dispelled that nasty tactic that was created to try to knock the Obama's out of the election. She spoke of a DREAM. The dream to be better, to strive for more, and to make progress.

Don't we all dream (regardless of color)?

Throughout this entire election, Michelle never "shot" back any negative energy to address FOX's headline: STOP PICKING ON OBAMA'S BABY MAMA! (The definition of a baby mama is a woman who has a child out of wedlock and is not associated with the father of the kid. THIS WOMAN IS MARRIED WITH TWO CHILDREN-BY THE SAME MAN MAY I ADD) FOX defends that Michelle called Barack her "Baby Daddy," which gives them the right to consider her as such.

I say when did self humour open the door for others to discriminate?

Instead of attacking the network, Michelle continued to stand with her husband and children and fight for change(How many "real" baby mama's would have stayed composed?!). Allowing their two children to come onto the stage after Michelle gave her speech last evening was incredible. It shows that they are solid.

So if all baby mama's are beautiful, well-spoken, educated, and supportive, I say SHOUT OUT TO ALL OF THE BABY MAMA'S!

KNOWING WHEN TO SAY NO

I'm back!

I have been mourning the death of my uncle Bob. Although he will never be forgotten, I know that time will soothe the pain. His death proved to me that loved ones are the most important.

Which is why this weekend (although I was tired) I made the effort to hang out with my sister and niece and nephew at a BBQ where there were lots of young toddlers.

At the BBQ, the birthday boy was very persistent and he wanted everything to go his way (even if he had to use physical force). His guardians were trying to chastise him, however it did not work.

This brings me to the question of when is it okay to say no to your children?

Is it okay for a parent to spoil a child?

Personally, I feel like a child should be spoiled. Unfortunately, there can be a positive and negative result of a child being spoiled. On one hand, it may cause the kid to do well and behave properly knowing that there will be a "reward." On the other hand, the kid may turn into a person who NEVER likes no for an answer.

What do you think?

WHAT DOES FAMILY MEAN TO YOU?

My Uncle Bobby is dead!

He took his last breath on Friday, August 1, 2008. Unfortunately, I was the first person in the hospital to arrive right after he gave up his fight with cancer, pneumonia, and other ailments. As I entered into the ICU, I was appalled to hear that he passed. It was so shocking that I went into the room and said, "HEY UNCLE BOB!," in that playful, girlish voice that I had when I was a kid (Although, I am an adult I still felt like a little girl around Uncle Bob because he treated each and everyone of his nieces/nephews so special). He laid there unresponsive and all went awry.

The tears begin to flow and the memories came with them.

"Thanks Uncle Bob for teaching me how to ride my bike."

"Thanks Uncle Bob for being such a genuine and caring individual."

"Thanks Uncle Bob telling me to not cry because everything would be alright."

After all of this I had to stay and wait for my Aunt to arrive and hear the news about her husband of more than thirty years. I waited in the room, and when she arrive with other family all I could do was curl up in the corner of the room with my back turned because it was all too much to bear.

He left her. He promised that he wouldn't! He promised that everything would be okay.

No one could predict that it wouldn't because he was a man of his word. He was a kind, loving, easy going person. He had a passion for music and art. He would put his life on the line for golf. It was the only woman that could come between his wife and he. He will truly be missed by hundreds, if not thousands of people. He was respected and influential to the the brothas/sistas in the "hood" as well as the suburbs.

I say all of this to prove that family is sacred. Family must be cherished every chance that you get.

Although life gets in the way sometimes, take a few seconds out of your day to tell at least one loved one that you appreciate them.

You never know, today may be the last day and you never got that chance to say "I love you!"

SUCCESS a.k.a IT SUCS, TOO MUCH STRESS

Success is hard to define. Is it wealth, working at your dream job, or neither of the above?

Success is about time, patience, and longevity!

I hunger for something that I cannot grasp...hopefully, I will notice it when I receive it!

POLITICS @ WORK

No one wants to play the dirty little game. Some people just ignore it. While others have no idea that it exist. But there is a small group who does know how to play it.

And they definitely play it very well.

It's all about who has IT? Who wants IT? and Who uses IT fairly?

IT is POWER.

Anyone can have it. They just need to know how to manipulate the system to achieve it.

From experience, the Boss at most corporate jobs use the power of fear to force people to work well. An example of this can be seen in The Devils Wears Prada. Miranda Priestly, a prestigious magazine editor, uses her power to impose upon her young assistant. Miranda would yell to make her assistant move faster. As a result, her assistant began to internalize this and automatically feel subordinate in all of their interactions. In the end, the game was flipped on Miranda and she ended up suffering the most because her assistant learned how to play.

This is truly art imitating life at its best!

However, not all people in the position of power use it to harm others. Some people can use their power to help build a strong team and work environment.

Neither one is correct, but a combination of both can be great. There a times when one needs to be firm and taken seriously. Then there are time when one needs to be warm and friendly. Knowing when to be charismatic or ill tempered is key to holding onto your power.

COULD YOU PLEASE BE MORE SPECIFIC?

She put the DVD into the DVD player, put her headset on, and pressed play. Not knowing what she was about to see, she seemed excited. At times, it appeared as if she was very interested in what she was watching. As one scene went to another, her expression would go from blank to puzzled. Although faint, there was a smile when she saw the scene about Eternal Life. The entire package was at least fifteen minutes, but she did not dare to look away for a second. One would assume that if a person is not interested in something they are looking at they would not continue to watch. Afterwards, she turned and uttered the words:

"You sound too ethnic."

TOO ETHNIC!

(composed) "What does that mean?"

"You know you sound too ethnic."

"What does sounding too ethnic mean?"

"You know. Right?"

"No, I don't." (stern, without facial expression)

"Well, have you always lived in the Bronx?"

"No. I was born in raised in Manhattan and I went to private schools in Manhattan."

"Oh, well you see those girls that you interviewed for the Puerto Rican parade. I mean (pause). You sound just like them! Very Ethnic!"

"I have never been told that I sound too ethnic. However, I have been told that I have a New York accent."

"Right. That's what I meant. You have a New York accent."

As a white woman, it is certainly insensitive and ignorant for her to make such a comment out loud.

Any American can be considered ethnic. Whether they are Hispanic, Black, or Asian (just to mention a few). Normally people are a product of their environment. If you live in a city where people act a certain way, then you will likely behave similar to those people. If you live in an environment where people speak a certain way, then you will most likely have the same dialect/accent.

Is it a problem with having an accent? What's so wrong about sounding like a New Yorker? Is it okay to compromise your identity to fit into a certain environment?

There are people who tend to change their speech depending on the crowd they are in. This is a serious identity crisis. Why not be yourself?!

HI HATER

Why is it that the only way in which people can connect is through hatred and gossip? Whenever someone does something positive to move forward and grow, that's when all of the negative people come out.

When a group of friends, family, or coworkers are being vindictive, there needs to be a bigger person. Someone needs to feel confident enough to say that it's not appropriate to judge other peoples situations. No one is perfect or even close to it!

On one hand, there are people who are willing to congratulate someone for doing well by showing mad love. Then there's also a ton of miserable losers to "negate" all of the love.

Question: Who does she/he think that she/he is?!

Answer: I'm fly! (Everyone is in their own right)

Your ability to brush off the bad will keep you happy, and motivate you to continue to prosper.

Everyone has the option to choose the type of umbrella to go under. The positive umbrella or the negative umbrella.

When someone puts out negative energy. Be sure to:

Wink,

Smile,

and Wave

BYE HATER!

TWEEN/TEEN IDOL

From the turnout of today's performance on Good Morning America, it's obvious that all young girls love the t.v. show "Hannah Montana." Then there's the "Best of Both Worlds" concert tour/3D movie. Both feature the celebrity Miley Cyrus.

"Hannah Montana" appeals to girls because it allows them to dream of living a secret life as a star, and be a normal teen (doing all of the activities that a kid would). "Hannah Montana" captures everything from fashion trends, education, family bonding, hanging out with friends, and more.

So why is it that Miley Cyrus, who plays Hannah, can't stay out of media headlines for provocative behavior?

Not only is the image from Vanity Fair on of Cyrus's latest scandals, but there are also other sexy images of the teen out there. In fact, most of the pictures that are discovered are taken by Miley herself in the shower with little clothing on. What happened to the wholesome image portrayed on t.v.?

Is this someone that children should admire, or are we expecting too much from a 15 year old girl?

50/50

Open the door, pay for the meals, buy the exquiste jewelry, impress the parents.

Are these things still expected of a man?

Many women would love for their man to spoil them, but there are some who feel very independent and doesn't mind taking care of any of the above.

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD

Thanks to Eddie eveything turned out in favor of a two year old boy who was left in a SUV for hours unattended.

They daily stress of life and all that it brings is enough to make a person go crazy. But what could possibly be on someone's mind that they would leave behind a young child for hours alone?

In fact, some parents knowingly leave behind their kid for appalling reasons like running into the store, going shopping, etc.

Paying for a sitter can be costly, but what about asking a family member, friend, or neighbor to keep after a child?

It sure beats taking the risk of him/her dying.

MILK IN MY COFFEE

Sista's have you ever been walking down the street and saw a brotha with a woman who is not a sista?

Did you think to yourself?

What does she have that I don't?

He's a sell out?

or

You didn't think about anything at all because you like a little milk in your coffee!

Is interracial dating acceptable in this unconventional society?

TASTELESS AND OFFENSIVE

The New Yorker unveiled this weeks offensive cover which portrays Michelle Obama with a rifle, and Barack wearing a turban. In the back, there is a picture of the American flag burning in the fireplace. If you look a bit closer you can see a picture of Bin Laden hanging on the wall.

This caricature is outlandish. The artist, Barry Blitt's, is equating Barack Obama with terrorism. He insinuates that Barack has close ties (maybe even a friendship) with Osama Bin Laden. He suggest that Obama be elected into the White House as President and turn against America.

In Blitt's defense, he claims that this is a satire and should not be taken seriously.

Although some people will not take it seriously, many uneducated voters will take the picture literally! They will look at it and automatically assume that Obama is a terrorist.

This will do nothing but harm Obama by lessening his votes.

This issue should have never hit the newsstands.

BEAUTY OR THE BEAST?

They say that you never know where or when you will find love. They even go as far to say that you can't help who you fall in love with.

In America, it's all about how you look. The beauties tend to get the best jobs, the best service, more money, the most attention, and the attractive spouse. On the other hand, the beast gets all of the scrapings.

Which do you prefer: To fall in love mentally or physically?

TIL DEATH DO YOU PART

Every media outlet from Entertainment Tonight to the New York Post headlines are about the Ritchie's, Rodriguez's, or Brinkley and Cook. Each of these marriages are based on its own vows and standards, and each individual choose their spouse for personal reasons. However, each of these marriages have one common factor: INFIDELITY!

Who came up with the vow: "Be faithful only to [him/her] so long as you both shall live?"

Didn't the person know that no one is perfect. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Sometimes the weaknesses outweighs the strengths and vice versa. But when is it okay to throw in the towel, and leave family, friends, and memories because of faults?

Obviously, no one wants to be betrayed! Wouldn't you agree?

THE HAND YOU'RE DEALT OR HOW YOU PLAY YOUR CARDS?

Being a Black man in America is a struggle. Black men are more likely to die before they reach the age twenty-one. They have more of a chance of being incarcerated. They are also less likely to receive an education past high school level. A lot of Blacks are born into poverty, drugs, and single parent households. Many people say that the direct cause of the problem is rascism.

But how is it that some Black men can escape being victimized while others fail to get rescued?

There are plenty of Black men who are successful and does not fit into the stereotypes. For some reason DO RIGHT BLACK MEN, WITH DO RIGHT ATTITUDES go unnoticed.

One must wonder who taught these brothers that in order to survive in America, they must be a Jack of all Trades!

UN-SEXY IN THE CITY

It's 2008 and women are at the peak of their game. A woman can be a CEO, run for president, and she can even bring home the "bacon" while her husband stays home. Let's face it women have become very outspoken and direct. They say what they think and do what they want. Women have "turned the tables" on their male counterpart to show that they too can be BOLD. Today, a female has the CHOICE to add zest to her life by experimenting with her career and her SEX LIFE. So how would a woman be perceived if she carried condoms?

A recent study done by the city Health Department says that thousands of New Yorkers with multiple sex partners does not wear a condom. Experts say that STD's can cause infertility and cervical cancer for women.

AIDS/HIV or STD's are not bias. They're out to get us all. If you let them!

FACT: YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYONE!

Ladies, if a man respects you then he will view you as a true woman for bringing along the condom. It shows that you have dignity and morals.

This is the new millennium and women are showing their inner freak and kinky side.

Ladies it's time to switch roles. If you're about to get it in with a guy, and suddenly he realizes that he doesn't have a condom and doesn't intend on running to the store because he has his hard on, wouldn't it be empowering to pull one out of your purse?

If you are going to do it, then do it RIGHT.

I ain't mad at cha.

Who am I to judge?