Feeling a Little Guilty

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” is what my boss said when I let it slip that I watch “The Real Housewives of Atlanta”.” “I can’t believe you watch that,” said my Asian co-worker. Say what now?

Though I would not consider myself a fan of the “Real Housewives” franchise, the Atlanta cast is my favorite and honestly, it’s one of the very few shows I watch consistently. So why did I feel a twinge of shame at admitting my fondness for the show? Probably because it makes us look bad. I mean no one of the show is truly a ‘house wife” and they do perpetuate stereotypes of black women being vulgar and raunchy (ex. “I know a stripper who could give his own self head.”), gold diggers (ex. Sheree) catty and loud (ex. Nene), oh and let’s not forget Ms. Cynthia and her frontin and going broke for a wedding. Not to mention all of them had kids out of wedlock and only two earn a steady income. Well damn, is it that bad?

Yep, but they are so darn entertaining. Am I part of the problem? Am I a hypocrite of some sort because I would never conduct myself the way those women do or put myself in the situations they put on display for the world to see? Maybe?

Its get worse, I saw most of this season of “Basketball Wives.” Eeek, they are the worst. They really make the housewives look like Southern belles. So here’s my issue, as a black woman who is appalled by the negative images of black women in the media and our status within our own race, why in the HELL am I watching this coonery?

Give and Get is Here!

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from March 17-20 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to a non-profit."

Renauld White via The Fashion Bomb Daily

“They offered me a contract because they thought that I would fail. Eventually I proved myself.” White went on to not only cover GQ, but also score major campaigns with Black Tie cologne, Vitalis, and Arrows Shirts. He was the first black man to work the runways for Bill Blass, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Ralph Lauren. He also enjoyed success in Europe, where he walked for Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Charles de Castelbajac, Cerutti, Valentino, Armani, and Versace.


Go to The Fashion Bomb Daily for the full piece.

Phenomenal Woman

PHENOMENAL WOMAN by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.
I say, It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips. I
'm a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say, It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing of my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch My inner mystery.
When I try to show them,
They say they still can't see.
I say It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say, It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
The palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, That's me.

This Day in Black History « Clutch Magazine

This Day in Black History « Clutch Magazine

In honor of Black History Month, we seek to share with you some momentous occurrences for African-Americans in decades past and years remembered.

On this day, February 14th, in black history:

In 1817, Frederick Douglass was born. He was a well-known writer, statesman, and orator. After he escaped slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement and was recognized widely for his anti-slavery writings. His first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave was published in 1845 and described his life as a slave and his struggles to be free. He became a major speaker for the cause of abolition and was a strong believer in equality for all people.

In 1867, Morehouse College, a prestigious private all-male historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia, was founded as Augusta Institute just two years after the Civil War. The school was founded by William Jefferson White, a Baptist minister from Atlanta with the original consensus to educate African-American men on points of theology and education. The school moved to Atlanta in 1879 and was called the Atlanta Baptist Seminary, due to its instrumental support and influence by its leaders and religious organizations in the state. In 1929, the college joined Spelman College and Clark College in a city consortium called the Atlanta University Center. Morehouse is currently one of two black colleges in the nation to produce Rhode Scholars and is the alma mater for recognized leaders such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Spike Lee, Samuel L. Jackson, and Edwin Moses.

In 1946, Gregory Hines was born in New York City. Hines was a recognized actor, singer, and dancer. He became a leading star on Broadway and earned several Tony nominations for his appearances in Eubie! and Sophisticated Ladies. He co-hosted the ceremony in 1995 and 2002.