tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22967572723227097322024-03-20T03:19:31.800-07:00The Explanation StationThe Explanation Station is a subsidiary of <a href="http://www.theexplanationstation.com">TheExplanationStation.com</a>Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-52468062371243604352012-12-27T17:20:00.001-08:002012-12-27T17:20:22.318-08:00Unhappy?<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Let’s assume for a second you exist in this country
with the same inalienable rights as the rest of us. If you’re reading this, I
assume you’re not a 5-year old child scavenging for food in Bangladesh. I
assume you have access to clean running water, medicine, and internets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Fulfilled all those criteria? Awesome. Unhappy?
Brace yourself – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">IT’S PROBABLY YOU.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Lately, I’m noticing a trend whereby many of us
(myself included) bemoan a life of unhappiness while simultaneously making
little to no effort to change it. Ironically, the people in the best positions
to change their own lives seem to complain the most about the unwillingness of,
or lack of enthusiasm in other people to change it for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Who died and made the rest of us responsible for
your inner glow? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Now let’s be clear, I definitely recognize
depression as a clinical illness. But many of us aren’t clinically depressed.
We’re just in a shitty situation that we’d rather not be in - and instead of
just accepting the choice we’ve made when we choose to stay, or making the
alternative choice to leave, we’d rather bitch, cry, and moan about how someone
else could’ve fluffed the pillows nicer on the bed we chose to lie in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I haven’t live very long, but this one thing I know
– happiness can’t be found. Kind of like Dorothy looking for home in the Wizard
of Oz. Home is within. Happiness is within.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes, you just gotta stop trying to be happy
and just be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And sometimes, YOU have to decide to change your
unhappy situation for YOURSELF.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happiness sprouts the moment you decide you ain’t
taking it no more and walk out of that life-sucking relationship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happiness blooms the second you arrive at your wits
end and vow to quit that dead-end stress-filled job.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happiness blossoms when you make a decision to
accept the choices in life you’ve made, count your blessings, and LIVE ON.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And when happiness is seeded into our lives, we must
also accept that is our responsibility to cultivate and nourish it. Some of us
have got to stop scurrying around like life is one big ass sale and we’re mad
at the saleslady because the two-for-one tank tops are sold out. Some of us
need to just start realizing that we haven’t made a sufficient effort to keep
our own selves happy. *looks in the mirror*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">So, here’s to owning our emotions! *sips honey Jack*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And here’s to not waiting for 2013 to do so! *takes
another swig*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Happy Kwanzaa! And Happy New Year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-16690155644397834942012-12-27T17:10:00.001-08:002012-12-27T17:38:51.858-08:00Blonde Hair, Don't CareWARNING: RANT COMING<br />
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If I catch one more skillet-fried, black-as-me, chocolate black woman tryna pull off silky blonde hair, imma snatch her by her wig and slam her face against a beauty salon window.<br />
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Violence? Yes, VIOLENCE. EARLY. Look ma, that look ain’t for you. IT’S NOT FOR YOU!!! Trust me, you look ridiculous with those goldie-locks. I can assure you no one’s fooled into thinking that’s your natural hair color. What’s more, it just doesn’t look good. Leave blonde to the Mary J. Blige’s and T-Boz’s of the world. It was never meant for the Naomi Campbell’s and India.Aire’s.<br />
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Don’t believe me? I can prove it to you. Watch this.<br />
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This is Naomi Campbell.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrjqOAhfZgFviW1BmqdAMwtvTDoW_tZcJ_Na1TYTIhVfXWbhlQd4lmJLiQO3FDwL-fzYVsAKNyuPNJ61D1BGEA0eZy6Jrh302nwoMQAthrluvr7YAkRoh2r2Qi0WBJPubeZ3Cxba7p9g/s1600/Naomi_Campbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqrjqOAhfZgFviW1BmqdAMwtvTDoW_tZcJ_Na1TYTIhVfXWbhlQd4lmJLiQO3FDwL-fzYVsAKNyuPNJ61D1BGEA0eZy6Jrh302nwoMQAthrluvr7YAkRoh2r2Qi0WBJPubeZ3Cxba7p9g/s320/Naomi_Campbell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This is Naomi Campbell on blonde.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gnLP7Kq5f8RO3Hqdza-YIPTt4t_fo7M6Mo9jTFJGuA1XMlp9a62CEuy826sAnI7q3ylOhqe9wmvU05pgBi4pMjDS6PfokpFeCBDW6igRWHwvs0Y7iAXp4tyyMhEfhbDGg1_iqxVEWmk/s1600/naomi+campbell+blonde+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gnLP7Kq5f8RO3Hqdza-YIPTt4t_fo7M6Mo9jTFJGuA1XMlp9a62CEuy826sAnI7q3ylOhqe9wmvU05pgBi4pMjDS6PfokpFeCBDW6igRWHwvs0Y7iAXp4tyyMhEfhbDGg1_iqxVEWmk/s1600/naomi+campbell+blonde+2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Any questions?<br />
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But, for serious. Bright hair distracts from a dark-skinned woman’s main attraction: her skin.One undeniably awesome feature of blue-black skin is glow. No blemishes. All that melanin blocking out the UV rays makes for softer, supple, strokable, wrinkle-free skin that stands the test of time. You’re obliterating your natural radiance with that mop of straw you’ve slapped up there. And why? That’s like putting vanilla icing on a chocolate cake. I mean… it can be done, and of course it’ll do in a crunch. But if given a choice, who’d wanna ruin the chocolate experience with pasty white goo? I mean… If you’re gonna have some chocolate cake, have some chocolate icing on it for the love of Jehovah.<br />
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*sigh* Ok. This blog’s gone too far. Rant complete. <br />
<br />
I don’t know why it especially turds my soup to see dark-skinned girls making bone-head beauty moves. Maybe I should blog more about it - somebody’s gotta tell these girls about the perils of tangerine gloss over purple lips. Perhaps a little more delicately next time? I dunno…*shrug*<br />
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Ahl holla.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-37356609739722097902011-10-04T09:52:00.000-07:002011-10-04T10:22:56.529-07:00Thanks, You.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUvS1FPdpTwDao6hjmUyB-6TOTKxWoBmfMHv68oyOPAi29O5uFiZz0BZQR7x1k29WwQg7gU4Qt3JVsegoq_TgYn37u_2-WnsrcUryBhlUtBelR0klEdjdD22wRfwyJuR6n4HeKMewpiY/s1600/8906194-illustration-of-a-man-helping-an-old-lady-cross-the-street.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 123px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitUvS1FPdpTwDao6hjmUyB-6TOTKxWoBmfMHv68oyOPAi29O5uFiZz0BZQR7x1k29WwQg7gU4Qt3JVsegoq_TgYn37u_2-WnsrcUryBhlUtBelR0klEdjdD22wRfwyJuR6n4HeKMewpiY/s400/8906194-illustration-of-a-man-helping-an-old-lady-cross-the-street.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5659681636325464530" /></a><br />Blind. Crippled. Deaf. 105 years old. Who’d really be there for you?<br /><br />For me, that list is short. That list is short for most people. Especially those of us who don’t have children. Sadly, that list is still short for many of us that do.<br /><br />What causes a person to voluntarily tend to someone else in there time of need? I’ve seen a woman invest all her lifelong love into a child and be ignored by that very same child in her time of need, only to be rescued by another she’s ignored all her life. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">It’s all about the values instilled in us. </span><br /><br />Prayerfully, there is something inculcated in each individual that directs tending to the elderly, the sick, and the disabled. It is each of us, knowing right from wrong, that decides to care for those in need among us. Ironically, in most circumstances, there is no amount of pain, love, neglect, or worship on the part of the one in need that will change that. It’s just who we are. Many have cared for someone they barely know in sickness or old age. Some have even come to the rescue of their own abusers in times of need.<br /><br />My mother told me a story about my nephew today. Not even ten years old, he volunteers to take out the trash. Undoubtedly, he’s learned this from his parents. It occurred to me, without a doubt, this child will be there for his grandmother. In his mind this is simply how things are done, and I’m certain he will carry that with him into adulthood. Selfishly, I also realize this child will be there for me as well. No matter what. His parents have instilled in him this subtle thing of right and wrong that will guide how he treats people for the rest of his life.<br /><br />In some selfish way, when we care for others and teach our children to do the same, we are really tending to ourselves. Raising a generation of children who’ll refuse to turn their backs on those in need. We’re leading by example. It’s something not only to be proud of, but to be grateful for. Grateful that this example will propagate through generations, thus serving us all.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Thank you to those who selflessly sacrifice for the well-being of others. It’s not said enough that you make the world a better place for us ALL. </span>Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-82412531399913933712010-11-21T09:32:00.000-08:002010-11-21T09:47:27.543-08:00patter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNLEHiezcP2WwAT8t0_-3gRVR5CAcOqc3fCe40Bg_3SViZCUMf3rUzYZClp_muG3xR_C-syfTfUXuJo7zwxr0tg05gcIH7pHcMiZDVyzpDFz9Si_KIk81ucNQ1lObBWNFDkzsTMCYp-4/s1600/patter+edited.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 291px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiNLEHiezcP2WwAT8t0_-3gRVR5CAcOqc3fCe40Bg_3SViZCUMf3rUzYZClp_muG3xR_C-syfTfUXuJo7zwxr0tg05gcIH7pHcMiZDVyzpDFz9Si_KIk81ucNQ1lObBWNFDkzsTMCYp-4/s400/patter+edited.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542060381206702226" /></a><br /><br /><br />i remember<br />the precise patter<br />of his heart racing<br />beneath my ear<br /><br />him?<br />I could do without<br />but his patter?<br />his patter, I missChoqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-50951414167711517592010-11-12T04:08:00.000-08:002010-11-13T02:20:04.745-08:00Can beautiful just let smart live?!My bestie recently earned her doctorate in neuroscience. She’s gorgeous (no exaggeration). A few months ago, we were complaining about our abysmal dating experiences when I think I made her cry:<br /><br />Her: “I’m real hopeful about the future.”<br />Me: “I’m not. You think shit gets better after grad school? I don’t. Negroes are already intimidated by brains… da f*ck you think gon’ happen when they hear you’re a Ph.D.? There’s no hope for either of us. It’s over. We’re gonna be spinsters.”<br /><br />I speak harshly at times. Ok…most times… so I apologized. I can’t even say I really believe that - I was just having a moment. But beneath my point lies one nagging assumption:<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;"> Women can’t be too smart. If you are, no one will like you.<br /></span><br /><br />I just cringed typing that. Even looks bad written there. Mostly because I don’t want to accept that I’ve accepted that. But I have.<br /><br />Enter Kanye West and his <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="www.kanyewest.com">Runaway</a></span> movie. He serves up Selita Ebanks as a feathered-out Phoenix – complete with 12 ft. wing span and 24-karat talons.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif16lYaEme7iV3hP1hb8E507Ih6Tjwu1MGLZVc79LqOg7IHQQZeEsDBeyueFAWjfOb-Bkr75E_cyUZRcaZ-wbVYvRmjNIk3T1tF1RZKXPagL6qkYEKtmVvtQSZK1B_sGOarkrIuSfCJ5g/s1600/selita+and+kanye.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif16lYaEme7iV3hP1hb8E507Ih6Tjwu1MGLZVc79LqOg7IHQQZeEsDBeyueFAWjfOb-Bkr75E_cyUZRcaZ-wbVYvRmjNIk3T1tF1RZKXPagL6qkYEKtmVvtQSZK1B_sGOarkrIuSfCJ5g/s400/selita+and+kanye.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538635017104609282" /></a><br /><br />I truly enjoyed the flick and CAN’T WAIT for Kanye’s album. <span style="font-style:italic;">Runaway</span> left me with three thoughts:<br /><br /> 1) Damn! Selita Ebanks has some nice tetas! Are those things real?!?<br /> 2) “Your girlfriend is really beautiful… do you know she’s a bird?” – voted most memorable line. I’m still snickering at the double entendre, even if it wasn’t intended.<br /> 3) <span style="font-weight:bold;">Society’s conceptualization of ultimate beauty in women is usually coupled with romanticization of naiveté. <br /></span><br /><br />I get it. Men fantasize about exposing women to new things and being eternally jocked because of it. Wide-eyed gratitude generally comes easier from dogs and toddlers – and stupid people. Accordingly, men cherish (subconsciously or not) ignorance in women. Oh, you can be smart… just don’t be too smart - meaning smarter than the cute boy you’re talking to.<br /><br />I know there are men who find smart women to be the sexiest thing on the planet, but I’m willing to bet they’re in the minority. Also, I’ve found that a man’s fascination with a woman’s intelligence usually wears off quickly – right around the time when she’s right and he’s wrong. Suddenly, smart isn’t sexy anymore. Nope, then you’re just a bitch.<br /><br />I dunno...maybe it’s just me. Perhaps some day I’ll learn to walk these fine lines between <span style="font-style:italic;">intelligent</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">bitch</span> - between <span style="font-style:italic;">assertive</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">dike</span> - between <span style="font-style:italic;">opinionated</span> and <span style="font-style:italic;">shrew</span>. Or maybe some day beautiful will go her own way, and just let smart be.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-42327882557441202152010-10-15T11:59:00.001-07:002010-10-15T12:10:16.365-07:00Black "Dating" ProposalsOf course I couldn't just let "Black Marriage Negotiations" slide!!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars"value="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/5fe9bf66-d872-11df-ac03-003048d69c21_38_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/5fe9bf66-d872-11df-ac03-003048d69c21_38_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7366195&searchbar=false&autostart=false"/><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/5fe9bf66-d872-11df-ac03-003048d69c21_38_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/5fe9bf66-d872-11df-ac03-003048d69c21_38_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7366195&searchbar=false&autostart=false"></embed></object><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf" width="1" height="1" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object>Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-54503158155597216512010-08-02T12:27:00.000-07:002010-08-02T14:27:32.476-07:00Who Cares About Black Male Privilege Anyway?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWZIM3x3301mDHPPc5VNjwPOjaLJAjp7jMJld_RDoMNW84YvOIi-d39u7YQXcnhLjGW6dvTgHq9_Kvpjg2cbkntSGZn8vIYf7bv0YKm_AKqMebcjkttPenOiUF4AXO81qfrsAu7SmRbE/s1600/good_girl_talks_naughty.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWZIM3x3301mDHPPc5VNjwPOjaLJAjp7jMJld_RDoMNW84YvOIi-d39u7YQXcnhLjGW6dvTgHq9_Kvpjg2cbkntSGZn8vIYf7bv0YKm_AKqMebcjkttPenOiUF4AXO81qfrsAu7SmRbE/s400/good_girl_talks_naughty.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500898459489388098" /></a><br />In a recent post, <a href="http://tkoed.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/the-question-of-black-male-privilege/">@TKOEd</a> expressed concern regarding the terminology “Black Male Privilege.” Reasonable criticism from reasonable individuals always makes me pause to think. That’s when it hit me:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Why are Black women defining their grievances vis-à-vis Black men anyway?</span><br /><br />On some multi-tiered dream-within-a-dream “Inception” type isht, the concept is about as patriarchal as it gets. <br /><br />We must ask ourselves, what is the purpose of the Black Male Privilege debate? Is it not to articulate grievances of Black women in hopes that those injustices be eradicated?<br /><br />If this is true, then <span style="font-weight:bold;">we ought to express grievances of Black women in a narrative centered on Black women</span>. We need not relegate Black women’s plight to a position beneath the thumb of Black men. Furthermore, there are enough communication difficulties between Black men and women in America today. I concede tossing up the word “privilege” if it means our intergender debates proceed productively.<br /><br />If our purpose is to abolish injustices specific to Black women, we must begin our conversation on agreeable grounds (that’s Persuasion 101). The history of the Black man in America makes it extraordinarily difficult for him to swallow the idea of being an oppressor. Correspondingly, the Black Male Privilege debate has become divisive, and inevitably distracts us into a counterproductive and phallocentric discourse. <br /><br />When we discuss the issues of Black women, let us discuss the issues of Black women, not the privileges of Black men. In that way, we keep the debate appropriately focused instead of derailing it into a conversation that ultimately buries our gripes (which is <span style="font-style:italic;">exactly the opposite</span> of what we desired in the first place).Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-75150250821691000272010-06-08T20:49:00.000-07:002010-06-08T21:26:44.631-07:00Barriers to medical advancements and the silly people that perpetuate them.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGmNv6JyKUgtbq5W5WTos1psscqo9Vwc0-KKomt64y0cVCXdkIq56om8wjEHK4qsCuDYnxHwf2yRcbcc612lhhrSB-zJWqWl9l9HqbOqq5iW10adJtFlJMcsg5-vQh-9ei9O5_ZqeCF8/s1600/Tasha+with+pipetteman.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGmNv6JyKUgtbq5W5WTos1psscqo9Vwc0-KKomt64y0cVCXdkIq56om8wjEHK4qsCuDYnxHwf2yRcbcc612lhhrSB-zJWqWl9l9HqbOqq5iW10adJtFlJMcsg5-vQh-9ei9O5_ZqeCF8/s400/Tasha+with+pipetteman.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480617193079122594" /></a> I read an article on CNN today that really cramped my crotch: <a href="http://bit.ly/9FFQ9p"><span style="font-weight:bold;">Many studies great news for mice, not so much for humans</span> </a><br /><br />Besides the fact that it’s misleading and poorly researched, the commentary fails to disclose one very important aspect limiting the translation of bench-top biomedical research to clinical practice – profitability.<br /><br />Here’s the skinny: <span style="font-weight:bold;">sometimes, academic scientists can cure diseases in lab mice. Often, that’s where the story ends.</span> Basic biomedical research infrequently becomes real-world application. There are significant reasons for this beyond those discussed in the CNN article, and they are multifold:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUNeHen2KOzb4ZREap4VR-RFujffityB7VthBNYiAdp4f9UdvOEcPDPlYKWLvbnB3WIVlfP-UamGF1TyxvrWuNy8FuGr0SaDtiwIKmCF_SGRj_PUi0wu0rlQpZ_lbdhyTQINx54FFdA4/s1600/dko_mice.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 100px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiUNeHen2KOzb4ZREap4VR-RFujffityB7VthBNYiAdp4f9UdvOEcPDPlYKWLvbnB3WIVlfP-UamGF1TyxvrWuNy8FuGr0SaDtiwIKmCF_SGRj_PUi0wu0rlQpZ_lbdhyTQINx54FFdA4/s400/dko_mice.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480617461402234034" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">First, academicians aren’t particularly interested in profiting monetarily from discovery.</span> Sounds silly, right? Unfortunately, it’s generally true. Most academics aren’t beholden to academia because they want to be rich. I’m not claiming that everyone conducting biomedical research at a university is altruistic, but if money were a pressing issue, they’d probably work in industry where they could make truckloads of it. Furthermore, it’s somewhat frowned upon in the scientific community to be all about da benjamins. I guess because researchers are supposed to be in it for the greater good, or fanatical about the integrity of our work, or something like that. Whatever the reasons, academics seldom turn their biomedical research discoveries into tangible, patentable, and marketable products (read: medicines). <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Second, industry doesn’t care what academics do.</span> Admittedly, I’m exaggerating. Yet, ask any employee of a pharmaceutical company’s research and development team about this, and you’ll find the truth isn’t too far fetched. Industry is about profit. Drug companies have one major goal: make money. If they intend to develop a drug and market it, they require near certainty that the drug will sell. Unfortunately, diseases and/or novel therapeutic modalities that interest academics because they’re rare or understudied, usually carry the least potential profit for pharmaceutical companies – because they’re rare and understudied. Furthermore, communication between academia and industry is abysmal, preventing even those ideas which might be of mutual benefit from propagating in fertile soil. Many researchers are working on closing these gaps; still, the sharing of intellectual property between academia and industry can best be described as “throwing it over the fence.” As a result, few if any academic biomedical research discoveries are subsequently translated by industry into tangible, patentable, and marketable pharmaceuticals.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Furthermore, WE LET THIS HAPPEN.</span> That’s right, you and me – the market. We dictate what sells based on what we buy. And for some reason, we’re more concerned about erections than we are about prostate cancer. We the people aren’t protecting ourselves from the inherent dangers of free markets in medicine. We’re content to let the market regulate itself. As a result, acne has a better shot at being cured than melanoma. There are ways out of this. The government could offer incentives to pharmaceutical companies to develop treatments for rare but fatal diseases. We could develop programs that foster discourse between academia and industry. We could invest more into therapeutic development via The National Institutes of Health…<br /><br />The point is, <span style="font-weight:bold;">the greatest barrier to medical advancement isn’t lack of technology - it’s misdirected motive.</span> If we can engineer diseases in mice, trust me when I tell you that we can cure those diseases in humans. Yet, as long as we allow the healthcare market to regulate itself and let profit be the primary motive for medical advancement, we’ll get drugs that induce 4-hour erections and treat restless leg syndrome instead of cures for breast cancer and Alzheimer’s.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-40879662860810211472010-01-12T13:09:00.000-08:002010-01-12T13:19:44.711-08:00Yes, the whole world causes cancer. Sorry.I read about cancer and conduct research towards a cure nearly everyday of my life. Little disheartens me more than the constant barrage of attacks (usually instigated by companies trying to make a profit) aimed at products which have served us valiantly for decades, now accused of being carcinogens (cancer-causing agents).<br /><br />Look folks, the truth is EVERYTHING causes cancer. I can design an experiment that demonstrates any entity you can think of induces cancer in cells growing on plastic. Even water. The fact is, environmental stressors promote tumorigenesis. Yet, cancer itself is a set a complex genetic diseases – none of which can be attributed to a solitary cause. A series of unfortunate genetic events generally precedes the unchecked cell division that typically initiates tumor development. Thankfully, your body is pretty good at protecting itself from singular perturbations; nevertheless, accumulating events can overwhelm the body’s defenses, thereby causing the petrifying disease. To my dismay, people tend to focus on avoiding particular disease-causing agents, instead of taking a more beneficial holistic approach to health.<br /><br />So does this mean microwaves and cell phones don’t cause cancer? If I’m perfectly honest, I have to give you an answer you probably don’t want to hear – I don’t know. In fact, the jury is still out in the cancer research community on many environmental agents purported to be cancer causing. But the axiom of consequence has previously been stated - EVERYTHING causes cancer. Hence, the best advice anyone can give you when it comes to lowering your risk for tumor development is simple: “all things in moderation.”<br /><br />I know you didn’t want to hear that. You wanted me to provide a list of things you could consume or avoid to lower your cancer risks. How’s this for a list: eat right, exercise, keep away from bad things, take in more good things, place limits on everything. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help to reduce your risks for cancer, and ALL diseases. It really is just that simple folks… and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist (or should I say a cancer biologist) to figure it out.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-70523042202985062502009-12-31T09:33:00.000-08:002010-06-08T21:19:03.934-07:00Black women are not broken, SO STOP TRYING TO FIX US!!I get so frustrated with relationship/dating advice that places blame squarely on black women’s behavior when it comes to being single. Sure, there is always room for self-reflection, and of course there are MANY things we as women can change, but we must recognize the PRIMARY issue is not us. If we don't understand that there is a mathematical discrepancy that exists, we'll continue to try to fix something that's not even broken (which, of course, only makes the situation worse).<br /><br />I'm actually hurt when I read things like: "the reason 70% of black women are single is because they’re (insert insult here)" - statements like this clearly don't acknowledge the larger problem that must be addressed. As one self-proclaimed relationship/dating advice expert submitted to me: <br /><br />“Men look for three main things: great personality, respectability, and emotional availability. Many black women lack those three things which plays a huge role in why they’re single.”<br /><br />Advice based on this perception is incredibly dangerous and injurious to black women. We often internalize this advice (when truly there's nothing wrong with us), and resultantly become too accommodating and emotionally available. Too many black women can speak of short “relationships” which have left them as struggling single moms, heartbroken due to infidelity, or with an STD. Too many black women are left wondering why they tolerated an undeserving man’s tomfoolery from Jump Street. <br /><br />Look, the reality is, black women can self-reflect until kingdom come, it still won't make enough educated black men pop up to wife us all. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">If you keep trying to fix your screen while the true problem lies within your VCR, you’re going to f*ck around and destroy your television – which was working just fine to begin with! <br /></span><br />When it comes to black women marrying equally accomplished black men, the numbers just aren’t there. Just accept it and start broadening your horizons. If you read any dating advice geared towards black women that doesn’t ostensibly acknowledge this idea, <span style="font-weight:bold;">dismiss that b*llsh*t as tomfoolery before it obliterates you from the inside out.<br /></span><br />The main problem is we, as black women, haven't figured out how to navigate the system. We haven't figured out how to build a black man up to our level without insulting his masculinity. We haven't figured out how to love those who love us first, even if that person is not the same race as us. We haven't figured how to become patient as opposed to excessively tolerant…<br /><br />I certainly don’t have all the answers - I’m still learning how to iron out those dilemmas for myself. I just pray we start searching for solutions in the right storehouses, and stop damaging self-esteem by convincing ourselves that there’s something dreadfully wrong with us, when in actuality, we’re just fine…for the most part ;-)Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-58209762278567319062009-12-01T20:01:00.000-08:002010-08-03T04:58:21.964-07:00Cablinisian Privilege<span style="font-weight:bold;">Tiger Woods has the thickest veil of impenetrable presumed innocence that I've ever seen on a man who would have been a slave in 1864. </span><br /><br />I don’t care what he calls himself, cablanasian, cablinisian – whatever the hell the term is he uses to distance himself from black – Tiger Woods would’ve been pickin’ cotton or in the kitchen snappin’ peas with the rest of us common negroes 150 years ago. Yet somehow he’s arrived at a level of success that permits him to tell police to go to hell - AND THEY LISTEN. That’s right folks, as of today, Dec. 1, 2009, Tiger Woods has not offered any details to authorities regarding the crash that occurred while driving on his property at 2:30 a.m. last week (<a href="http://bit.ly/81Y3i9">ref</a>). He has, however, released a miniscule amount of information to fans via his website saying he has “cuts and bruises and was ‘pretty sore’.” <br /><br />Fast forward to this evening when another of Tiger’s affairs is elucidated (<a href="http://bit.ly/6NSeD0">ref</a>). Laughably, a response is posted on <a href="http://www.rollingout.com/">RollingOut.com</a> titled <a href="http://bit.ly/7g9SQK">Another Wood’s Mistress Surfaces? Why Are Women Trying to Destroy Tiger’s Marriage</a>. Of course, the obvious question is: Why is Tiger Woods trying to destroy his own marriage? But more intriguingly, I’m completely befuddled by the propensity of the general public to presume innocence when it comes to Tiger Woods. Michael Jordan doesn’t even get that kind of red-carpet treatment. <br /><br />Picture Michael Jordan dismissing authorities, telling the po po to come back later because he’s trying to sleep, and refusing to divulge the details of a crash that resulted in thousands of dollars in property damage and a potential vehicular homicide. Picture Michael Jordan walking away from it all with a $164 fine. No days. MJ’s ass woulda been up the river - old age, bald head, and all. The headlines would read: “Michael Jordan detained for further questioning in connection with mysterious crash” - and you know it. So why the discrepancy? <span style="font-weight:bold;">Could it be we’re THAT color-struck?</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcsbnX_D67Yt9Hu27czQBT3xsbcJAYPvGMsv-3Pu81GHJtTr1qjASmnffFdGng4V6bUKKEZstZSHADkNAEv7nNjascwa_hnQXoIlAkHKvmRmTwEql_FCkMdXmCnSo_SXhbHoZMDZ48GE/s1600-h/Tiger+and+MJ.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNcsbnX_D67Yt9Hu27czQBT3xsbcJAYPvGMsv-3Pu81GHJtTr1qjASmnffFdGng4V6bUKKEZstZSHADkNAEv7nNjascwa_hnQXoIlAkHKvmRmTwEql_FCkMdXmCnSo_SXhbHoZMDZ48GE/s400/Tiger+and+MJ.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410486024706321906" /></a>Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-10810133732408004912009-10-08T19:48:00.000-07:002010-06-08T21:18:45.809-07:00Talkin' 'Bout Good And Bad Hair...See If I CareIf you think hair relaxers and weaves will ultimately result in the demise of Black America, you're wrong - and overly dramatic. I would not deny that the majority of African-Americans who permed their hair with lye in the '60s did so out of desire to assimilate. But honey, this is 2009, not 1964.<br /><br />Today, Black women partake in a buffet of hair options and are celebrated for exercising variety in coifing. A quick assessment of today’s high schools demonstrates relaxers do no more damage to a Black girl's identity than Nickelodeon. Our teenage girls (who frequently have authority over their hair choices) manifest a spectrum of styles. They revel in everything from 2 inch twists to waist-length weaves, and zealously delight in planning their future uncanny hair ventures. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3RelBm1UVy20l1lJRlvBRohWv7Vx5Q7C0S2VDBAxbGRy-6wzjJdjiSCEGvAsGQ5teepbAS0NMn3NWCqemHZSPVzalrNJs_ssBymTo-OxDFouNxyYeAgSrizyKALjKlKFaBeKz-TR1KI/s1600-h/high+school+girls+cropped.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3RelBm1UVy20l1lJRlvBRohWv7Vx5Q7C0S2VDBAxbGRy-6wzjJdjiSCEGvAsGQ5teepbAS0NMn3NWCqemHZSPVzalrNJs_ssBymTo-OxDFouNxyYeAgSrizyKALjKlKFaBeKz-TR1KI/s400/high+school+girls+cropped.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390428596921262690" /></a><br /><br />I don’t look at a 16 year-old girl who's had her hair permed, but now chooses plaits, kinky twists, or cornrows, and conclude that a relaxer taught her self-hate, or to hate her own ethnicity. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI2T3sffnwmFz6BNutidiw7WGnOkKEZJD5LI4QP1iUWFNsoLERHJFh1PwowqxGlDitqMzItO4d1yjC2_HaJJQaeL3ltZcPYZzPr64aWsHxxkOuMCG6NikQwlyW-HbyKmP0DxHVZ__euQ/s1600-h/black+girls.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnI2T3sffnwmFz6BNutidiw7WGnOkKEZJD5LI4QP1iUWFNsoLERHJFh1PwowqxGlDitqMzItO4d1yjC2_HaJJQaeL3ltZcPYZzPr64aWsHxxkOuMCG6NikQwlyW-HbyKmP0DxHVZ__euQ/s400/black+girls.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390429181895216514" /></a><br /><br />Nonetheless, the mother who chemically modifies her child's hair at age 4 teaches a potentially more damaging lesson, one that we fail to evaluate in favor of inconsequential discussions concerning aesthetics.<br /><br />Certainly, this mother realizes the damage she may cause. Still, she's willing to chemically modify her child's hair before it's sufficiently developed, without informed consent, simply to make it "more manageable". As she is willing to risk permanent destruction to her child’s crown for the benefit of not having to “deal with it", this mother inadvertently confirms, "it's ok to be lazy". Surely, there is a subconscious lesson being learned by the child here, but is that lesson primarily about aesthetics, worth, or work ethic? Arguably, the lesson includes elements of each, but which is most substantial? <br /><br />This begs a greater question: <strong>what are the priorities of the Black community in this great hair debate?</strong><br /><br />Let’s face it, <span style="font-weight:bold;">eventually, natural hair will be universally accepted</span>. The reason locs and twists are not readily tolerated in corporate America today is simple - there aren't enough Blacks there to make it acceptable. Ignorance will be abrogated the moment African-Americans possess a proportionate quantity of America's power. The ultimate focus of the Black community should be arriving at that point most expeditiously. <br /><br />But alas, we preferentially debate who's the “blackest”.<br /><br /><strong>Truthfully, natural hair makes you no more conscious than relaxed hair indicates self-hate</strong>. Both populations are contributing to a billion-dollar a year black hair care industry that profits Asian-Americans almost exclusively.<br /><br />Yet, this we don't discuss. Priorities, people!<br /><br />How do we build wealth in our communities? How do we impinge upon white America’s stronghold? Is assimilation a necessary component of Black America’s transition to acceptance? These are the questions that need debating – and answering.<br /><br />Honestly, hair is just hair. Individuals choose to style it in a variety of patterns, for a battery of reasons. Each time we pit naturals against relaxers, we lend credence to the notion that hair is the quintessential component of the Black woman's identity. What lesson are we teaching ourselves with this behavior? What are we proving to those who are watching us? That black people are as superficial and materialistic as they’re deemed? How ‘bout we take the steam off of that argument, and refocus our priorities on what really matters - progress. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">So when it comes to good and bad hair, this blogger just doesn't care.</span><br /><br />And now, for your viewing pleasure: Spike Lee's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtfEmTHeYNw">Good And Bad Hair</a>. Enjoy!Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-55484726168347875442009-09-24T18:07:00.000-07:002010-06-08T21:18:38.982-07:00You sir, are a racist!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyJT6twkYZwOYwk9agbJlGNnFelLk7tMReZSD9v0DresPSvb-sbVeLP60fOvzeEzzh9c1oO_8uM3dL4xLUUvD3XFrXsA1902kiQaBvqjvRgmsqAAieG-Qwr69wvBd_0_whuRMbEC3Tzg/s1600-h/I'm+not+racist.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLyJT6twkYZwOYwk9agbJlGNnFelLk7tMReZSD9v0DresPSvb-sbVeLP60fOvzeEzzh9c1oO_8uM3dL4xLUUvD3XFrXsA1902kiQaBvqjvRgmsqAAieG-Qwr69wvBd_0_whuRMbEC3Tzg/s200/I'm+not+racist.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385208725504667810" /></a><br /><br />Ignorant racists are the most dangerous kind. No, not belligerent racists, but those who are subtly racist and fail to recognize their own prejudice. How can we ever dispose of racism if we don’t first acknowledge it? Accordingly, I composed this list, specifically for the benefit of the ignorant majority. Note (*cough* white folks): If any of these apply to you, YOU ARE WAY MORE RACIST THAN A LITTLE BIT.<br /><br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Said “I’m not racist”</span>. Everyone is at least a little racist. Defending any of your actions with this statement is merely an indication of your ignorance. <br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Believed “white privilege” doesn’t exist</span>. Minorities are ~35% of the US population. Name 35 minority senators…GO!...What?! No dice? Ok, gimme 5 minority senators…Give up yet?<br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Worn an afro as a Halloween costume</span>. Frankly, I’m surprised by the frequency of this behavior.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-hHnq7u_kZPf1T84y8Yj7F0sjEuC5EBi50MjM6vfmGANuMulTL2LwCV2udFBWsZbz5Ts1eXGG0nJE9KFncOyI37smcAVhJT3bE8gF8S7MnkBg50Hw2KpzQrr6MJLo4REKasmHTW7BE/s1600-h/afro+wig.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwQ-hHnq7u_kZPf1T84y8Yj7F0sjEuC5EBi50MjM6vfmGANuMulTL2LwCV2udFBWsZbz5Ts1eXGG0nJE9KFncOyI37smcAVhJT3bE8gF8S7MnkBg50Hw2KpzQrr6MJLo4REKasmHTW7BE/s200/afro+wig.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5385208191509596818" /></a><br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Believed Mexicans aren’t minorities</span>. *sigh* Mexicans aren’t the majority. Not in the US. Not in the world.<br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Argued that Barack Obama was born in Kenya</span>. *sigh again*. I can’t. I just can’t with this one. <br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Said “I have 3 black friends”</span>. Why are we counting? Is there a limit?<br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Celebrated “post-racial” America.</span> Don’t make me fall out of my chair laughing.<br />• <span style="font-style:italic;">Given your car keys to black man in a Prada suit</span>. If the silk tie didn’t indicate that he wasn’t the valet, the Italian leather shoes damn sure should’ve given it away.<br /><br />Additionally, let me say I don’t buy into the notion that black people can’t be racist simply because as a people they lack power over the establishment. Fooey. There’s institutional racism, and there’s individual racism. Furthermore, there are gradations of racists. If you were raised in the United States of America, a nation founded on the premise that “all men were created equal” (except the skins and the coons – to hell with them), you almost certainly have at least one racist bone in your body. The question is, how racist are you? Realistically, if you don’t realize you’re at least a little racist, you’re probably A LOT.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-26908479077943847882009-09-16T08:56:00.000-07:002010-06-08T21:18:28.596-07:00Relax. ACORN is not a left-wing conspiracy. It's a hot ghetto mess.The controversy over ACORN has reignited with many on the right outraged following <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,549903,00.html">Fox News coverage</a> of a video posted on <a href="http://biggovernment.com/2009/09/14/acorn-video-prostitution-scandal-in-new-york-ny/">BigGovernment.com</a>. James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles are being heralded as heroes for conducting a “sting operation” which revealed ACORN personnel on hidden camera advising a “pimp” and a “prostitute” on a mortgage application.<br /><br /><center><object width="325" height="244"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mrpRGZq7Z-U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mrpRGZq7Z-U&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="325" height="244"></embed></object></CENTER><br />The ACORN staff members caught on tape were subsequently terminated. Sadly, they probably thought they were doing their jobs. Congratulations James and Hannah! You’ve discovered what many have known for years: ACORN is a hot ghetto mess. Are you surprised? I’m not. <br /><br />I could have told you ACORN is unorganized and completely unreliable after they provided “housing counseling” for me during the purchase of my first home. Following my brief interaction with the organization, I was willing to sum up their service with one word: Ghetto.<br /><br />So relax right-wing. ACORN is far from an undercover Obama-led conspiracy project. I can assure you, if Barack Obama had ANYTHING to do with ACORN, they’d be ten times more professional. Just ask the campaign headquarters that sprung up one block from my home a few short weeks before Election Day.<br /><br />Yet James O’Keefe and Hannah Giles have managed to point out one thing: the tremendous disparity between middle America and da ‘hood. Yes, white people, they sell cigarettes out of the package in the hood. And food stamps. And unreleased movies on DVD – 2 for $15. And we “play in the fire hydrant”. And ‘hood people occasionally patronize a host of other “illegal” ventures - it’s usually called a “hook up”. Holla if ya here me.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-43049909442691942432009-08-24T08:36:00.000-07:002010-06-08T21:17:34.933-07:00Pass The Mic!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ofhHN9pqD1ijg2N1hesRDwtXQLTt4iN99uQHqD1YwX0wxw3QbOPTexIJVi_Hg_vaLwRuFdShwyUa3oQE6d60q5xLTm20ch5csP0GYmRZ3HVjE8-Gl4sNy8usb3jyCne8mlLoouOOO6g/s1600-h/Pass+The+Mic.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ofhHN9pqD1ijg2N1hesRDwtXQLTt4iN99uQHqD1YwX0wxw3QbOPTexIJVi_Hg_vaLwRuFdShwyUa3oQE6d60q5xLTm20ch5csP0GYmRZ3HVjE8-Gl4sNy8usb3jyCne8mlLoouOOO6g/s200/Pass+The+Mic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373555199722148866" /></a><br />It’s wonderful that Americans are engaged in a sorely needed discussion about healthcare reform. Yet the voices of reputable professionals have been notably diminutive in this debate. The opinions of physicians, nurses, scientists, public health policy experts, etc., are infrequently solicited, perpetuating the ignorance of the masses to larger, potentially more deleterious issues.<br /><br />For instance, reasonable individuals identify inefficiencies in our current healthcare system as problematic; still we fail to have proper discussions about the nature of those deficiencies and how to correct them. It’s painfully evident to me as a scientist that there is a glaring inefficiency in the government’s return-on-investment for the $30.5 billion it spends annually on biomedical research. Much of that research is conducted in academia on rare diseases for which there is no available treatment. Often, these are the same diseases for which pharmaceutical companies have little to no financial incentive to investigate. As academicians are seldom concerned with profit, much of the $30.5 billion ends up in publication oblivion. In other words, huge potential for therapeutic discovery is lost between the academic’s thirst for knowledge, and industry’s requisite for profit. This isn’t an unfamiliar phenomenon to biomedical scientists. In fact, we often mock the gap between academia and industry by describing the collaborative effort to communicate ideas between the two as “throwing it over the fence”. This problem is far from beyond repair. Easily, the government could offer enticements that would promote collaboration between academia and industry, thereby encouraging the translation of a larger chunk of that $30.5 billion into tangible therapeutics.<br /><br />That’s plainly obvious to me, and I’m just a Ph.D. candidate. Imagine what a Nobel Prize winning biologist could add to this discussion.<br /><br />I don’t hesitate to place blame on healthcare professionals for allowing their voices to be muted. Yet, I also recognize that we as a people effectively silence the commentaries of those which are most desperately needed. We are magnetized to sensationalism, rather than verity. Resultantly, “Joe The Plumber” becomes a household name, while in the midst of a storm of controversy around healthcare reform, few can identify the current Surgeon General.<br /><br />If we want real solutions, we must engage those who have been most aptly trained to provide them. So the next time somebody wants to discuss Bill Maher and Sarah Palin’s position on some aspect of healthcare reform, you should ask them about Steve Galson and Regina Benjamin’s stance on the same issue...they’re the acting and prospective Surgeon General (I figured you might need to know who they are). <br /><br />Often, those with the loudest voices are the least worth listening to.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-7924637811280826782009-08-11T18:45:00.000-07:002010-06-08T21:19:19.959-07:00What’s Really Wack About “Basic Bitch”If you haven’t been privy to the latest phrase in feminine degradation, don’t worry, you will be. Comedian Lil’ Duval has popularized the slang term “basic bitch” as a colorful descriptor for what we’ve commonly referred to as a “hood-rat” – a female of pitiable stature who has failed to recognize or rise above her underprivileged upbringing (see video below). As the comedian Spank pointed out, it’s not the “bitch” part that’s troublesome (women are immune to that one), but it’s that word “basic” which really burns our bums.<br /><br />It didn’t bother me at first, because the phrase obviously doesn’t apply to me. But then I thought about the subliminal message that’s sent when we attach negative connotation to a term that literally implies simplicity and fundamentalism, and then use it to degrade women.<br /><br />Our society debases independence and assertiveness in women and celebrates mediocrity. We exalt women for their physical perfection, not their intelligence, ambition, eloquence, leadership, or even education (so what if perfection includes a few nip-tucks here, or augmentations there). We go so far as to tell independent women with standards that they’re “stuck-up bitches”. We even punish them with isolation and ridicule. <br /><br />Yet when a woman gives you exactly what you requested, you demean her by calling her a “basic bitch”.<br /><br />Silly me. I thought men appreciated qualities like natural beauty, politeness, and traditionalism in women. I thought being pleasant and easy to please was a feather in a woman’s cap.<br /><br />The fortunate thing about this term is that women will indubitably rebel against it. They’ll position themselves as such that they can only be described as something other than “basic” - which will unfortunately create more disparities between the sexes in the African-American community where the idiom originated.<br /><br />Men who throw this expression around really need to check themselves. Real talk fellas, if you degrade women for being simplistic or conventional, you’re probably going to transmogrify them into something you really don’t want to deal with – AGGRESSIVE BITCHES! Just like how y’all turned “suck my d*ck” into a derogatory phrase...and then wonder why black woman have an aversion to oral sex. Gag me with a spoon.<br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PUXt7N_TmdI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PUXt7N_TmdI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="420" height="255"></embed></object>Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-58620447439624625702009-08-11T10:08:00.000-07:002009-08-11T10:22:21.141-07:00Just sayin’…What if women as a whole demanded more from men as a whole? What if we refused to spread our legs for anything less than an educated brother, pulling down a comfortable salary, and demonstrating lucid potential for a successful future?<br /><br />Could you imagine what the world would be like?<br /><br />This is not an unexplored concept for me. As one of my best friends frequently points out, this strategy is doomed from the start. There will always be some hoe-rat that thinks she can make a man fall in love by breaking the rules, not realizing that the rules are actually orchestrated for her protection.<br /><br />I commented yesterday that “p*ssy is power”, and you know what was thrown back at me? “All women don’t have to use their p*ssies to get what they want.” *sigh* Clearly this individual has misconstrued the raison d'être for this phrase. The point is, the longer you keep your legs closed, the more you present a challenge (within reason, of course). When you present yourself as a challenge, a man will either rise to meet your expectations, or kick rocks. Ladies, don’t be deceived into thinking you can put something on him that’ll make him love you. Generally, male minds don’t work like that – ours do. I guess what I’m saying is, giving it up too soon is completely counterproductive. For everybody (you’re ruining it for everybody!! (insider) lol). Remember when it brought shame upon a woman, her father, and her family name to engage in sexual intercourse before marriage? Remember that thing called chivalry? Just sayin’…<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEpCS5cQ4So8OIp9HiXxBHWwuuhsdcb5wE2hD2Sm4nrfI72IJL3cSYSEz9hoIw99wYIWDv6UNTg0utTNlrceGk7uAQZz7V38ritzcuvs6MGru9gncp9XlriWW5axQ78C62bu6d62knmQ/s1600-h/nelson+mandela.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 298px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgEpCS5cQ4So8OIp9HiXxBHWwuuhsdcb5wE2hD2Sm4nrfI72IJL3cSYSEz9hoIw99wYIWDv6UNTg0utTNlrceGk7uAQZz7V38ritzcuvs6MGru9gncp9XlriWW5axQ78C62bu6d62knmQ/s320/nelson+mandela.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368757693127785858" /></a>Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-30469616540538977572009-07-21T21:28:00.000-07:002009-07-21T21:54:38.898-07:00Why am I not surprised?You’re probably aware that Pat Buchanan (senior advisor to Nixon, Ford, and Reagan, and former Republican presidential candidate) has been on a tirade this past week, hurling his racist views, and charging that Sonia Sotomayor is unqualified to be a Supreme Court Justice. He claims that she is merely an “affirmative action appointment” - never mind that she graduated summa cum laude from Princeton, attended Yale Law, or that she has more judicial experience than any nominee in the past 100 years. Nope. Not according to old Pat B. There’s no way that any of Sotomayor’s accomplishments were merited in accordance with anything other than her race.<br /><br />That bothered me, but not as much as the response - NADA. No, Not from liberals - they’ve launched the obligatory counter-attack. But the silence from the G.O.P. leadership, in my eyes, <strong>echoes their agreement</strong>.<br /><br />I googled the names of prominent republicans, curious if any of them denounced Pat B.’s comments with the realization that his statements are destructive to party progress. Not surprisingly, my searches didn’t turn up any hits. Not even when I cross checked Pat B.’s name with -- (drum roll please) -- Michael Steele. Was I really expecting something else? **sigh**<br /><br />Steele has become a symbol of all that’s wrong with the Republican Party. Seriously.<br /><br />1. <em>He sounds ridiculous</em>. Like most republican leaders of today, his rhetoric rarely makes sense. I hate to break it to you Mr. Steele, but minorities aren’t going to be drawn to the Republican Party by you saying “y’all come”. And you can keep your fried chicken and potato salad. Uncle Barack is barbequing on the white house lawn next week.<br /><br />2. <em>He looks ridiculous</em>. As John Stewart pointed out, very reminiscent of the Angry Customer from Sesame Street. Lemme think, what else looks ridiculous? How ‘bout that squirrel on Sarah Palin’s head? Or Mitt Romney’s forced smile? Mark Sanford’s alligator tears? Or hell, just plain old Rush Limbaugh...<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5361142858583516706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 122px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDIOsgXdx3dKcVrASd_3uEAAQko-l5_2cwXIsEcof7OFLW6Xkt92G9je2X1YRF_05BoBUOhv7msWmCkS4qRhQwbm-C-VePnQVJEb4YPu7B6_lUoKjIV6gfjiz0zUNRBJnLQXJNzdfsfc/s320/steele+and+angry+customer.JPG" border="0" /><br />3. <em>He IS ridiculous</em>. I would call him an “affirmative action appointment” - if I thought he was actually QUALIFIED. This man has no appeal with minorities, whatsoever. Consequently, he has no shot at attracting diverse populations of voters. If this is what Republicans think we want, they are sadly mistaken. They haven’t heard a word we’ve said in the past 50 years. We’re already hip to that game and not interested in being bamboozled. But hey, kudos on their ability to effectively swindle Michael Steele.<br /><br />I concede that Steele is only symbolic of the party’s issues; he himself is far from the problem. The G.O.P. has been flailing around desperately like a deep sea fish on dry land ever since George Bush endorsed John McCain’s presidential bid with a tap dance (no, really – the President was tap-dancing, literally). The longer the fish remains out of water, the more wildly it thrashes. Until, of course, it dies. One could only hope for as much.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-39788450777112339472009-06-21T11:27:00.000-07:002009-06-21T11:52:25.822-07:00The Miseducation of the AmericanLast Thurday, Barack Obama called the U.S. healthcare system “broken” and vowed not to tolerate “endless delays” in fixing it. I presume that’s what prompted TNT to air "John Q" last week, and Showtime to broadcast "Sicko" this morning. Realizing that my perception of this issue is influenced by my recent reading of Carter G. Woodson’s “The Miseducation of the Negro”, I find myself incensed that the U.S. citizen has allowed himself to be so readily bamboozled. <br /><br />“John Q” is a story about an average blue-collar worker who resorts to holding a hospital hostage in order to ensure that his dying son receives a $300,000 heart transplant, which his insurance company refuses to cover. Although it’s a fictional account, “John Q” points to glaring deficiencies in the U.S. healthcare system. Patient care is financially focused; an individual is treated in accordance with what he can afford. Furthermore, this system contributes to a culture of arrogance and apathy within the healthcare profession (sorry doctors and nurses, but it’s been my experience that veterinarians are often much more accommodating and sympathetic when it comes to clients that can’t pay - could be because euthanasia is one of our options :-p). At any rate, “John Q” makes a salient point - capitalism may be a fine social model, but perhaps it is not applicable to every aspect of a country’s existence. Surely in a nation as great as the U.S., land of the free, home of the brave, one would not be subjected to choosing between adequate healthcare and the next meal. <br /><br />Michael Moore brings this point home in his own unique way in “Sicko” . Upon sighting the free healthcare provided on U.S. soil to detainees at Gitmo, he rounds up a few rescue workers who suffer from an inability to afford proper treatment for their post-9/11 afflictions. Surprise surprise, the facilities at Guantanamo Bay deny these U.S. citizens, however they receive adequate diagnostics and medical care at a Cuban hospital – for free. One woman burst into tears when she finds the $120 medication she uses to treat her respiratory condition available in a Cuban pharmacy for around 5 cents. <br /><br />As Americans, we are misguided. We are so convicted in our belief that there is no way other than democracy and capitalism that we regard communism as a great evil. We label Fidel Castro and the Chinese government as "the devil" because they support Marxist principles. We’re taught this hate and to reverence capitalism more than we are taught the difference between communism and socialism. We are so miseducated as a people, that the average American fails to recognize the socialist elements at play in their own everyday life – SOCIAL security, the FREE library, PUBLIC schools, even the police and fire departments are completely financed by the government. <br /><br /><blockquote>"When you control a man's thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his 'proper place' and will stay in it. You do not need to send him to the back door. He will go without being told. In fact, if there is no back door, he will cut one for his special benefit. His education makes it necessary.” – Carter G. Woodson.</blockquote><br />I am appalled that many Americans are outraged by the idea of socialized medicine. It seems to me that those who believe capitalism is the best model for healthcare are simply posturing – capitalism is always good, socialism is always bad. This drone-like mindset contributes to the cause of the wealthiest five-percent, who seek to fatten their pockets without regard to the suffering endured by those beneath them. As a result of their miseducation, the very individuals who are oppressed by the system are not only appreciative of the current structure, but advocate perpetuance of it. Their education makes it necessary.<br /><br />Barack Obama is certain to face much opposition from conservatives when it comes to healthcare reform, so much so that I fear he will cower away from a true reformative agenda until he has secured a second term. I’m sure that there are appropriate counter-arguments to be made to the socialization of medicine, yet I pray that as a people we become informed to the point that our perspective doesn’t remain as simple and constrained as: America is great because of capitalism, therefore capitalism must be great for healthcare.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-51423254700099813102009-06-16T18:11:00.000-07:002009-06-16T19:59:56.528-07:00Dude, you got us all wrong – lemme tell you what women REALLY want.I’m not going to sit here and tell you women aren’t materialistic. I’m not even going to deny that we don’t lust after Barack simply because he’s a handsome commander-in-chief. I won’t even pretend like women generally don’t care about how much money a man makes. If I told you that, you would call me a liar, and vow to never read my soap-boxes (er eh…I mean blogs) again. And you’d be right. So I’ll start instead by straight-up admitting that even though I have my own isht, I too become giddy when a dude pulls up in an SLK to pick me for dinner at the Chart House!<br /><br />But looks, education, a career, and money are only a small slice of the what-women-want pie. Height, 24-inch biceps, money, and 25 doctorate degrees don’t replace our basic need to be adored and respected, or our desire to “feel like a woman”. Yet, so often we hear men go into this “woe is me…nice guys finish last” narrative. They seem to think that unless they drive a Mercedes, can bench press 250 lbs., hold an M.B.A., and work for a fortune 500 company, women won’t be interested in them. <br /><br />Negatroid. Sure, just like men, women have fantasies. But generally, we’re realistic when it comes to dating. I’ll let you guys in a little secret: <span style="font-weight:bold;">most of the time when women are sitting around complaining about the deficiencies of men, we’re complaining more about the things they should DO but won’t than we are about the things they could HAVE but don’t</span>.<br /><br />Here’s some more food for thought for the single men. So often I see you guys sell yourselves short when it comes to a lady you like. You walk by her a thousand times before you stop and ask her name. You don’t call because you’re concerned she won’t answer (so you send that b*llsh*t @ss “what’s up” text). You don’t want to spend money on dates because you “ain’t no sucka”. All these behaviors translate to women as either a huge ego, or a lack of confidence. If you regard me as a respectable young lady who deserves to be properly courted, why don’t you court me properly? Are you just trying to see what you can get away with? If that’s the case, don’t be mad when I treat you like a jump-off and turn over and go to sleep as soon as I get mine! Furthermore, ask yourself: would a confident man demonstrate fear of rejection? No! A confident man knows he’s a great catch and could care less if one particular woman is disinterested! I know - men love women who “play their part” and “let a man be a man” in relationships. Truth is, there are lots of women who actually WANT to play that part. However, you must realize that roles are defined from the moment of the first exchange between a man and a woman. If you don’t play your part and court a lady properly (AHEM…the traditional role of a man) in the dating phase of a relationship, don’t expect her to be a submissive Suzy-homemaker six months down the line.<br /><br />On to my boyfriends, fiancées, and husbands. First, let me throw out this caveat: I’m single, and have been for quite some time. But I can tell you this – NEVER has a female friend or relative called me to complain about the fact that their man’s car isn’t fly enough, that he can’t afford to take her out, or that he didn’t bring her an extravagant enough floral arrangement. The complaints usually go something like this: “he never takes me anywhere,” “he stayed out all night and didn’t even bother to call,” “he doesn’t appreciate me” - all intangibles. What does that tell you? If she’s with you, it’s probably because of YOU. Men seem to always want to believe that they have to buy a dozen roses, make dinner reservations at The Capital Grille, and drive an Aston Martin to keep a woman happy. Trust me - it ain’t about that (not sayin’ that we don’t like those things too!); it really is the thought that counts. Here’s a tip: save yourself the $32.50 on roses, and just make the frickin’ phone call. Pluck a tulip from the neighbor’s lawn. Bring home her favorite candy bar once in a while. And if you can’t afford that dinner at The Capital Grille, how about just going to Red Lobster (I don’t know anybody who would turn down some cheddar bay biscuits!). Finally, this whole “play ya part” thing applies to you too. Confident, respectable men make calculated decisions, and they’re prepared to deal with the fallout no matter the outcome. You can’t seriously expect your lady to let you be “the man of the house” and manage the finances if you’ve been known to blow your entire check on video games. <br /><br />That’s it – confidence, love, respect, adoration…you know, the intangibles. Please, fellas, stop running around talkin’ ‘bout how women don’t know how to treat a good man, how we only want to date thugs and gangstas, or how we have unrealistic expectations of men (we don’t really wanna date Barack! Barack is too damn busy! And married!). Next time you tune your lips up to make those assertions, ask yourself the following questions: have I successfully defined myself as “the man” in the relationship? Am I as confident as a thug or gangsta? Is the pressure I feel really due to my own silly preconceived notions of what I think a woman wants from me? If that pressure has anything to do with possessions, it’s probably more YOU than it is HER. Most women I know genuinely want to be loved, appreciated, respected, and courted. Usually, they would rather you make the “honey, I’ll be home late” phone call than show up the next day with a bouquet.<br /><br />There’s no big mystery to what women want. Be confident, and learn to put that ego aside. Trust me, that’ll carry you a long way as far as most women are concerned.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-41739070111980173732009-06-09T17:35:00.000-07:002009-06-16T19:43:57.398-07:00The Remark Heard 'Round the Facebook WorldThe Black Man’s Quote: “Maybe because black women aren’t raised to take care of their man as well as white women or Latina women...I wonder if white and Hispanic women expect to be treated as queens?? Or if they simply want to be great wives and mothers?”<br /><br />Yes. An actual quote, made on facebook, by a black man (who shall continue to remain nameless).<br /><br />My initial reactions: offended, hurt, and concerned. <br />My second thought: well, he just crossed over! (cue Lauryn Hill’s “Lost Ones” – LMAO!)<br /><br />Now, the author of this quote is a dear friend of mine – so put down the .22 ladies! Additionally, a few other black men quickly chimed in to express their emphatic agreement. Whoa nelly. Y’all might wanna pump ya brakes - you might be digging yourself a deeper grave here.<br /><br />Even though I disagree with you, I’m not going to lash out. Recognizing that I am the personification of the strong black woman, I am going to respond to this statement on behalf of my sisters just the way a strong black woman should: with the strength to re-educate the miseducated negroes, from an African-American perspective, but in the loving, caring, and nurturing way that a real WOMAN should. (Hey Boo Boo - how you like them apples?!)<br /><br /><strong>First I was offended.</strong><br />Not for myself, but on behalf of my Caucasian and Latina sisters. You’re implying that white and Latina women aspire to be nothing more than a wife and mother - that they don’t aspire to be educated, develop careers/professions, or advance themselves and their people. Not saying that there’s anything wrong with a woman who only wants a career, or only wants to be a wife/mother, but we all know that it takes a truly GREAT woman to do both. So are you saying that greatness is not something Caucasian/Latina women envision for themselves? And therefore don’t expect to be treated as such? I could go further, but imma let my white/Latina sisters handle the light work.<br /><br /><strong>Then I was hurt.</strong><br />Black man, you say I don’t know how to treat you, but what about me? Lauryn said it best - “Tell me who I have to be to get some reciprocity.” What’s taking care of my man? Am I supposed to cook and clean, massage his back, tell him he’s wonderful, be slow to accuse, hasten to love, look good 24-7, and submit to his will? I see a lot of black women doing that for their black man - to no avail. Their relationships end in infidelity and betrayal; they end up abused and broken-hearted, as struggling single mothers, or literally shedding tears in the rain. Inherent in this quote is one correct assumption: black women are slow to submit. However the neglected principle here is the painful reason behind this: so often black men perceive submission as weakness, or are simply incapable of dealing with it. When we let you have your way, you wanna stick your chest out and give us your ass to kiss. But then you wanna holla at us about how we won’t "let a man be a man". Why do I have to let you do anything? How about you just BE a man? A man is supposed to shelter a woman’s vulnerability, not take advantage of it. Sure, I could submit to your way, give it up whenever you want it, give you head everyday, let you control the remote, only cook your favorite meals...but if I do all that, are you still going to respect me? Hell, if I give it up to you tonight, are you even going to call me tomorrow? Or even respect me enough to return my call? And because I am less prepared to accept your b*llsh*t (or am more aware of it) than my Latina and Caucasian counterparts, this somehow makes me a less valuable woman?<br /><br /><strong>Finally, I was concerned.</strong><br />I say I am a queen and expect to be treated as such. You manage to find fault in that and respond with a back-handed comment that was designed to slap me down – lower my self-esteem, and let me know that I ain’t no better than any other woman walking through this world. Look, it’s not me I’m worried about - I’m still a queen. My concern is you. The fact of the matter is - if you can’t see the strength and greatness in me, then by definition, you don’t see it in you. I am your reflection. Do you know who I am? Maybe you need to read some Maya Angelou. Do you know who you are? Maybe you need to pick up some Marcus Garvey. We were kings and queens long before being brought to this place called America. You don’t wanna wife a queen? Look, if you’re not up to the task of treating a queen like a queen, that tells me one thing - you are not a king. Just as it is a woman’s role to respect, love, and submit to her man, it is a man’s role to do the same for his woman. Just as a queen upgrades a king, a king should do the same for his queen. I know, it’s hard out here. There are alot of masqueraders in this world - hoochie mamas pretending to be queens. But please, don’t give up on us black man. The real strong black women aren’t ready to give up on you.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-4579674314186569132009-05-31T13:22:00.000-07:002010-09-22T16:50:27.518-07:00Goodbye Luxe...it was fun-ish for one night.What is the problem with the night life in Philly? I don’t get it. This is a major city, nestled midway between New York and D.C., both of which have a healthy array of night-life options appropriate for their magnitude and population. Now I know Philly is no New York. Hell, Philly is not even D.C. But c’mon, the night life around here resembles that of a city with the magnitude of a dead duck. You know it’s a sad day when I’d rather be in BALTIMORE on a Friday night than stuck choosing between Guitar Hero and a movie and drink at The Bridge.<br /><br />So what’s the problem? I’ll tell you what the problem is – Luxe Lounge. No, not Luxe specifically, but the kind of practices they are engaging in which will indubitably ultimately result in their demise. I’ve seen it all before. I hate to tell you Luxe, but unless you change your ways, you are doomed to fail.<br /><br /><strong><br />First of all, you charge a $20 cover.</strong> I’ve been to Luxe – twice. Neither occasion was anything to write home about. The first time I left within 20 minutes of arriving. The second time I muddled through, but felt like a sardine in a can, started sweating the moment I walked in the door, and some random lesbian ended up grabbing my ass. Not cool – and definitely not worth $20 of my hard earned money. You see, what Luxe and so many of it’s predecessors failed to realize is that there is a solid core of young black professionals (YBPs stand up!!) present in the Philadelphia area. For the most part, WE ALL KNOW EACHOTHER. We don’t like to be huddled up like sardines in a can, we don’t like to pay $20 for admission (many of us are grad/professional students - HELLO!!), and we certainly don’t like random gays grabbing our booties when we walk by. Nevertheless, you need us. You need us because we bring the two things to your club that will ensure its longevity: style and civility. Trust me when I tell you that Palmers and Pinnacle have the ghetto club scene on lock. If I wanted to sweat my ass off, have dudes rub their hoo-hoos on my behind, and flirt with common thugs – I’d go there. And I wouldn’t have to pay $20 to get in. But Luxe, I’m not your problem. Your problem is that 99% of the YBP community feels the same way. How long do you think it’s going to be before the word spreads that what you’re offering is no different than Transit or Fuzion? Why would we YBPs wanna pay $20 for that, when we can go to Bamboo or Walnut Room for free?<br /><br /><strong>Second, your drinks are overpriced. </strong>Most of us YBPs have our own bars at home. We realize that we can buy a whole fifth of Jack for the $10 you’re charging for a Jack and coke. Smh. Nuff said.<br /><br /><strong><br />Third, you’re frisking me at the door. </strong>I respect what you’re are trying to do, but understand it’s sending the wrong signal. It’s telling me that you’re EXPECTING hoodlums to try to get into your club. I would hope that instead you’d be fixated on attracting the kind of civil and stylish crowd that would be a pure turn-off to hood rats. I’ve never been frisked at Walnut Room, Tragos, Bamboo...and yes, anything could happen at any of those places at anytime, but when you frisk it says to me that you’re trying to protect yourself from a liability – that you EXPECT trigger-happy, knife wielding fools to get stupid on your watch. I got news for you Luxe, frisking hoods doesn’t keep them under control. If you expect those kinds of fools to come through your door, than you must not be expecting me (and the rest of the YBPs). But alas, I accept that Luxe’ dubious location (next door to Pinnacle) may make frisking and purse-rifling a necessity. However, could you please hire some petite, friendly-faced, seemingly heterosexual, young women to frisk me? Why do I have to get frisked by some big-bodied, bald-headed, broad-shouldered, husky-voiced bitch? I feel even MORE violated by that than I would if some uninvited man felt up my legs and abdomen.<br /><br /><strong>Fourth, you’re playing Soulja boy and “Stanky Leg”.</strong> Really?? If you want style and civility to last in your establishment, YOU HAVE TO HIRE A DJ WITH A NOTED REPUTATION OF ATTRACTING SUCH. Remember when Tragos used to be hot every Saturday night? That had more to do with WHO was spinning and WHAT he was playing, than it did the establishment itself. Don’t believe me? Go to Tragos on a Saturday night now that THAT DJ has retired his post – tumbleweeds. Look Luxe, I’m pushing 30, I appreciate a little Marvin Gaye and Soul Sonic Force mixed in with my Jay-Z and Beyoncè. Judging by the elation evident in the YBP crowd when Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” comes on, they do too. If you want to attract us you gotta play what we wanna hear – and Soulja boy and “Stanky Leg” ain’t it. I suggest you hire a respectable DJ and put him on a regular rotation. How about your favorite DJ's favorite DJ – Brendan Bring ‘Em? Just a suggestion. At this point you’ll probably need to pay him boat-loads of money just to convince him to cooperate - since I’m sure by now he’s wise to the idea that you need him WAY more than he needs you.<br /><br /><strong>Last but not least, you have no respect for the ladies.</strong> You know what makes men come to the club? Women. You know what makes women come the club? Men. The trick to ensuring the longevity of a night spot is simple: get the women and the men will come…and once the men arrive, the women will stay. That’s why pretty girls don’t have to wait in line and pay reduced admissions at most reasonable establishments. Generally, the bouncers just let us right in without too much hassle. Hmph. I took a solo sojourn to our beloved Luxe Lounge last night. I didn’t leave until after the game was over, meaning I didn’t arrive at the door until around 12:45. The bouncer (who recognized me as a friend of a friend) was super-concerned about checking my ID (presumably because his manager was in the vicinity). Two seconds later, the manager emerges with a girl he’s threatening to put out simply because she didn’t put her shoes back on fast enough after he told her to. I observe this and immediately reach for my cell phone; I’m having reservations. Seeing as how my first two visits to Luxe were nothing more than blah, there’s a $20 cover, and a future stalker on the horizon (**insider: that dude from Walnut Room), I’m not so sure this Luxe thing is what I really wanna do tonight. I text my boy (a Philly YBP) who’s already inside – “is it worth it”. I’m waiting for his response, meanwhile I make my way to the hgusky bitch who’s supposed to frisk me and rifle through my purse before I'm permitted the pleasure of paying the $20 cover. I grudgingly open my purse to her. She looks me in the eye, points at my mouth, and then at the trash. “What?” I asked perplexed. She smirks - “Your gum has to go in the trash”. WHAT! That’s absurd. Nah son. CURVE!! I turn around and head out the door. Two seconds later I get a text from the homie who I’d asked if it was worth it. His response: “borderline”. Right. $20 for 1 hour and 15 minutes of “borderline” – and that’s BEFORE I buy a drink. Nah son, I’m cool. Like I said before - CURVE! What a waste of time and an outfit – and you know how much women HATE to waste an outfit. **Sigh** <br /><br />I hope you folks that did make it inside Luxe last night had a real blast – but I’m sure you didn’t. So like I said at the outset, goodbye Luxe – it was fun-ish for one night.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-71652879876429086852009-05-28T19:06:00.000-07:002009-05-30T05:41:55.793-07:00Lie to YouLadies and gentlemen, I think I finally have the dating game figured out. My new strategy is simple: lie. <br /><br />Yes, lie – because apparently honesty isn’t getting me anywhere. And I have considered the possibility that it’s all me, that I’m a poor communicator, that I’m not capable of saying exactly what I want, that I’m not pretty enough, that I need to lose weight, that I need to dress like a lady, that I need to stop cursing all the f*@#ing time. There is some truth in all of those things, but the reality is that’s only 20% of the problem. Now I get it. It’s not me – IT’S YOU. <br /><br />When I say you, I mean all of you baby boys. You know, the ones who we good women give credit for being men the moment we meet you, but we forget that you actually might be a 35-year-old little boy. We forget that you were raised in the same streets as the low-lives that we wouldn’t give the time of day. We forget that, as much as you talk about how much you want a “real woman,” yo dumb ass might not actually be capable of handling one. We good women give you undercover baby boys WAAAAYYY too much credit.<br /><br />Do you know the sad reason I still drive an ’06 G35 instead of stepping up to an ’09 M35 like I really want to? Baby boys. Baby boys who pretend like they want to be with a woman who’s capable of doing her own thang, but in reality, a woman with her own sh*t intimidates them. For the life of me, I can’t understand it, but somehow my ride being flyer than yours translates in your weak ass mind to you somehow being incapable of taking care of my needs. Somehow my swag undermines your manhood – in your weak ass mind. I know it; I watched your whole game switch-up the moment you realized how I was rolling. Something in you said, “she’s not to be played with.” Now that you’ve dropped back on your pursuit, am I not to assume that it’s because you’re intimidated and afraid of rejection? Hey numskull, peep this: the ’06 G35 doesn’t change the fact that I’m a woman with needs, that I like to be held at night, that I appreciate flowers, candy, and hand-written birthday cards. Just imagine, if cats are intimidated by a bruised-up G35, how would they act if I roll up in a brand new M? Presumably the same way they acted when the G was brand new - scared.<br /><br />Back to the undercover baby boy. He’s the one who brings his own to the table too, however, he’s not accustomed to meeting a woman who is as well. He goes on murmuring about being single, complaining that he can’t find a lady who is his match. Yet when he’s finally confronted with his reflection, he runs - just like the baby boy these streets raised you to be. Look, baby boy, I know what your problem is. You’re scared of rejection, you’re scared of losing control, you’re scared of falling in love. You’re so used to impressing simple women with simple sh*t - and you think you’ll have to do triple somersaults to impress me. You’re scared of doing gymnastics - probably because you don’t want to land on your ass. Can’t say I blame you. But why do you try to make me think I’m crazy? As if there is something wrong with me. Hmph, I ain’t neva scared (doesn’t that make me more of a man than you?).<br /><br />*Sigh* I could see how I would intimidate you, or undermine your manhood – in your simple ass mind - like I said before. So I’ll tell you what I’m going to do for you from now on...you know, to make it easier for you to feel like a man. So that you can go on believing that your presence alone is enough to impress me (even though truthfully, it really is - and I’ve told you that before, but now I see that I have to dumb myself down in order to make it less “too-good-to-be-true” for you). I’m gonna make myself an “easier catch” in your eyes, so I can stop looking like a whole heap of work to you, or like a “high-maintenance chick” as you’ve referred to me before (wow...I’ve been handling my own business for over a decade, but somehow I appear “high-maintenance” to you). I get it, you’re lazy, and not into gymnastics. Especially when there’s a “low-maintenance” broad who’d be happy to have you – and you don’t have to do back flips to get with her. So ok, here we are. Here are the new lies that I’m going to tell you. I hope they subconsciously boost your ego so that you feel comfortable enough to actually pursue me.<br /><br />1. This is actually my dad’s car.<br />2. This was my grandma’s house.<br />3. No, I’m not in a dual-doctorate degree program. <br />4. What am I doing at UPenn you ask? Oh, I only got in to Penn because my Aunt works there.<br />5. I bought this Gucci bag on 52nd St.<br />6. I really don’t understand modern politics, or the theory of relativity. In fact, I’m pretty stupid.<br />7. I don’t know how to change a tire, or install an air conditioner, or stain in polyurethane, or hell, even screw in a light bulb. In fact I’m totally helpless. Could you please help me put gas in my car? Err…I meant my dad’s car.<br />8. I’m not cool. I don’t even listen to hip-hop - that Cam’ron cd belongs to my bother-in-law.<br />9. I don’t watch sports at all. Who’s Donovan McNabb? And what’s a safety?<br />10. I have no culture. What is this cabernet sauvignon and white zinfandel you speak of? Are they rock bands?<br /><br />There. Am I now sufficiently enough of a non-challenge that you’re willing to put in the ounce of work in takes to get me? Right, that’s what I thought. Bitch ass n*gg*s. Smh.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-64166000110948241372009-05-17T20:16:00.000-07:002009-05-19T19:46:43.952-07:00Hey, McFly! Tell 'em why you really mad.The manufactured outraged we witnessed around Barack speaking at Notre Dame over this weekend has really managed to crawl up the back of my leg and get my panties all in a bunch. What is wrong with you people? And when I say you people, I do mean that offensively. This man is the president of the United States of America, the first African-American president of the U.S. no less. I considered it an honor that he stood on the corner a block away from my house when he was just Candidate Obama! I could only imagine the glee I would feel if he actually shook my hand and bestowed upon me my bachelors degree. <br /><br />But looka here protesters - you are so transparent. <br /><br />Some of you are legitimately outraged at the Church itself because of the overt hypocrisy the Catholic school displayed by choosing a well-known pro-life headliner for commencement. I get it. Take your protests to the Pope. I didn’t hear a peep from him during this whole mess. The fact of the matter is nearly 50% of Catholics don’t consider themselves pro-life (a polite way to say “I’m pro-choice”), and Obama garnered more than 50% of the Catholic vote in the last election. The Catholic Church has a fair amount of soul-searching to do when it comes to this issue. I completely agree with you - back-pedaling and duplicity are never characteristics you’d like to see from the holy-high. But here’s an idea: knock on your local cardinal’s door instead of making a spectacle of some poor kids’ moment in the spotlight. There’s really no need to have yourself LITERALLY carried off the campus in hand-cuffs (<a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2009/05/16/sot.notre.dame.arrests.cnn?iref=videosearch">ref</a>). What did that solve? Obama still spoke, he still got his honorary degree, and the Pope still hasn’t pontificated one peep. <br /><br />The rest of you aren’t outraged about the issue of abortion at all. You people - and I do mean that offensively - are even more disgustingly transparent in your preposterous manufacturing of outrage. Look, I know what’s really got your goat. The holiest of holy – NOTRE DAME – the Fighting Irish – the holy grail of academic institutions as far as some of those rednecks who wouldn’t hesitate to call me a n*gg*r in a heartbeat are concerned – saw its purity desecrated via the descent of (gasp) the first BLACK president!! I know - it was already a blow to the gut when a black man became “the man”. Now, just to add insult to injury, this coon’s gonna hand lil’ Sean McLaughlin and Erin O’Reilly their coveted diplomas! On top of that, they’re gonna just GIVE the n*gg*r another goddamn degree! As if he needs it! Especially considering all the hard-earned dollars you had to spend on lil’ Sean and Erin’s tuition because you and your wife of 20 years made too much money to qualify for financial aid!! What a slap in the face, RIGHT?! <br /><br />Yeah...I thought this was about your position on abortion, right? RIGHT!!!Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2296757272322709732.post-38930986744903356022009-05-17T08:27:00.000-07:002009-05-18T11:18:14.435-07:00Manscaping - my take.Dear Catrina,<br /><br />Is manscaping OK or too femme? Manscaping being a man keeping his Bush in order!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />She-she<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Hmm. The first time I encountered a partner who engaged in such activity, I must admit I was taken aback. He quickly noted my astonishment and scrambled for justification – “the hair gets caught in my underwear while I’m weight lifting, it’s just easier to shave it all off.” Good enough excuse for me – proceed! Hey, I’ve often said I’ve never known a dude not to hit it because there was a jungle down there, I guess the opposite is true for women *shrug*.<br /><br />Yet, my opinion of this guy definitely changed after that episode. I started noticing other slightly feminine things he did…shaving his chest, holding his pinky up while he drank from a glass, making noises while we – uh…too much for facebook :-p. Anywho, the accumulation of such actions caused me to be quite turned off, which in itself is a minor miracle – dude was 6’3, 215 lbs, beautiful smile, and the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome.<br /><br />Every man can be caught doing something every now and then that might come off as a bitch move (such as drinking a cream soda, or chewing Big Red – LMAO! INSIDER!), so I try not to measure fellas against my definition of masculinity. However, I truly do suggest that men tread carefully when deciding to shape up down there. Be forewarned: many women may interpret this as you caring too much about your appearance. Vanity is almost always a trait that women are repulsed by in men. We prefer that you are completely oblivious to your beauty, even if you’re an Adonis. See, we women pretend that we are frustrated by the minuscule effort men put in to their appearance everyday. The truth is we actually find it sexy, natural, and it sometimes even makes us feel like more of a woman. It can actually turn us on when you’re hairy, funky, and dirty (well, maybe not all three at the same time, but you get the picture). When you're clean, shaven, and soft as a baby’s behind, you remind us of ourselves – and if we were sexually attracted to ourselves, we’d be lesbians.Choqlatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14958314171195114113noreply@blogger.com5