Disqus - Latest Comments for chenelleb

Re: Guest Post: Chris Rock and the "Good Hair" Phenomenon

chenelleb — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:28:56 -0000

I would rather see a brother (Chris Rock) benefit from some of the $ than many of the non-black distributors, but maybe that's just me.

Re: Guest Post: Chris Rock and the "Good Hair" Phenomenon

chenelleb — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:28:07 -0000

Jamillah I would say his data represents the majority...especially for those of us in major cities (unless you go to a Dominican salon and get a wash/blow/wrap for $20). I think he was trying to tell his daughters that straight hair does not determine good hair. And since he's a comedian it's going to come off funny or sarcastic or whatever else.

Re: Guest Post: Chris Rock and the "Good Hair" Phenomenon

chenelleb — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:20:02 -0000

Personally I think Chris Rock wanted to show how silly many of our sisters are in sucumbing to the stereotype that many of us heard and/or developed from that "slave mentality" that good hair meant straight, and not-nappy hair.

Good hair really is hair that is healthy, whether permed/chemically processed, colored, or natural. I personally rock a natural because I got tired of the $ I was spending to keep up with my Halle Berry cut, and as it got longer the amounts that salons charged to relax my long, thick hair.

I don't think he made it to make black womn look silly or anything but to tell them to be comfortable and be happy with the hair they were given....and possibly to address or answr the questions that many of our co-workers and colleagues have but are too scared to ask us.

Re: What Exactly Would A Person Have to Say To Be A Racist These Days?

chenelleb — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:30:27 -0000

The name of the restaurant is Georgia Peach Oyster Bar

Re: Whither the Black Activist? Part 1

chenelleb — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:46:47 -0000

Randall,

To address your comment. I know it has only been 9 months, but there are certain issues that I don't believe will be on his agenda for the remainder of the term (like race relations) because of all the Bush crap he is trying to clean up/repair.

I really do hope he gets a second term but I really question whether folks, disappointed with his moderate stance and that they didn't see change quick enough will give him a chance. I hope they do but most Americans are fickle and change with the tide.

Re: Whither the Black Activist? Part 1

chenelleb — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:53:40 -0000

I totally agree with all of the statements in the previous posts...however it is a shame that as a black president he hasn't done more (in my opinion) to address the inequalities between the "haves" and "have nots" and the state of black America.

Re: You're Killing Your Brain Cells, Son

chenelleb — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:31:36 -0000

Conway I totally agree on the plan you noted:

1. Reduce stress on teaching staff
2. Increase teaching salaries
3. Use the amount of time kids already spend in school wisely
4. Work with neighborhood police to ensure safety
5. Feed the students healthy meals
6. Revise and resubmit Federal Education plan

I always debate with a good number of my peers because my mom has been a teacher for 25 yrs in a special education school and now is a guidance counselor in that same school in NY and two of my closest girls are in the NY and DC public school systems working with special needs kids... my argument or frustration is how we are paying all these athletes, actors and actresses these millions of dollars but some of the most important people in our lives -- TEACHERS are barely getting paid even close to $50,000 in some states. I think they raised the starting salary for NY public teachers to $40k... really?

There are people out there who would be fabulous teachers but the pay is horrible. I do Adopt-A-Classroom for my girlfriend every year because she isn't even supplied with chalk so she can write on the board...she gets no supplies from her school, she either buys them herself for her 1st grade class or relies on donations through that program or other friends of ours... it's a shame that the Dept. of Ed and the government in general doesn't do more...our schools are in shabby conditions and over time that does wear or teachers and often makes them lose that lack of enthusiasm they once had for their job....not to mention the lack of concern from many parents.

But I must say that with the parental involvement it isn't always that a parent doesn't care, but sometimes because of time (they make work 2 jobs, or they may have a number of kids to care for) they don't spend as much time making sure homework is right or that a child understands the work. That's when I do push for the longer school days because that could provide more time for tutoring and homework assistance.

I know in NY high school students have to do community service, maybe helping with some tutoring for younger students a few days a week could count towards that during the extended day...just a recommendation to help find a solution.

And in regards to using time wisely, the No Child Left Behind Act really screwed that up where teachers weren't spending as much time as they might have on lesson plans because they were forced by the school administrators to make sure the kids learned enough of what was going to be on the exam that they all had to pass as part of this act...forget the fact that the kids didn't fully comprehend it, as long as you could "check" that you spent 30-60 minutes teaching the child about it, it was all good.

We just totally need to revamp our school system.

Re: Olympics Gives America the Shaft

chenelleb — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 00:11:01 -0000

I won't even comment on what you all have said about what Obama has/hasn't done...you all have addressed that already... still I'm disappointed about Rio getting this...I mean crime is bad enough in Chicago but it's even worse in Rio... there are tons of kidnappings, murders, pick-pocketing, etc... sure the scenery is great for men and women cause Brazilians are aesthetically pleasing individuals but really, over Madrid or Tokyo even...sorry wrong call.

Re: Being Black In America

chenelleb — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:41:43 -0000

Soledad is half Cuban and half Irish, but I think her mom is Afro-Cuban if I remember right.