DISQUS

Thanks for your comment. I decided to go natural when I was in college, after 9 years of having a relaxer. I don't know how long your hair is, but mine was a little past my shoulders and it grew out fine. The most important thing is to keep going to the hairdresser. I mostly straighten it to make it easier to comb and manage. But braids and locks are definitely not the only way to wear natural hair. I encourage you to give the natural look a try. And I agree with you about how narrow minded this white girl was. I try not to place any importance on what other people think (especially when it's founded on ignorance), but I know many professionals and lawyers feel pressure to look and dress a certain way because of their livelihood.

That's great that a group of sistas are doing something different with their drinking :). It's a creative initiative that I'll have to share with my friends. Thanks GB.

Very good points.

Poor Eddie Murphy....Scary Spice bothers me...plus I saw that she has a new boyfriend now and is very happy with her situation. I'm sure the extra income will make her even happier. I'm all about paying to support your kids, but not if it breaks the man. So get ready for more corny Eddie Murphy movies- because if he really will have 10 total mouths to feed, then he will take any work thrown at him...

I think you're right- politics and entertainment/media venues should not be overlapped. But I did catch the View (hey, I work from home) when the argument escalated and I was just happy to see Rosie hush up the little republican blond girl who, btw, is not a good representative for republicans anyway. Rosie is serious, the other chick was just belligerent which is why I think Rosie was just like, I'm done with it, there's just no talking to this person.

I also think that the show in general tries to be a news-type show for housewives or women who don't normally speak up on serious issues. It probably gets certain types of people talking about issues who wouldn't normally talk about it in their casual conversations.

I don't think being yourself is EVER wrong, which is actually another factor about hotghettomess.com since (despite our opinions) the people ridiculed on the site are just "being themselves." But as for Toccara, if that's just her personality (which I don't think it is, because like I said, I watched her on Top Model) then I'm just not a fan. But as for TV, I don't think being yourself is the goal- getting viewers to watch the show is the goal. If every host at BET just happens to be a true coon, then that's pretty convenient for BET.

Because Toccara is a corny train wreck of wanna be stardom. Liked her on Top Model, can't stand her on BET!

The Republicans are debating September 27th

Good stuff GB, very good stuff. I agree that most of us (me included) need to breathe and slow down before rushing into things. I think most of the mistakes we make on a daily basis are because we were not acting with caution.

Thanks for referencing OneUnited.com. I had no idea what it was but I checked out the site and it looks like a really progressive move in the black community. For those who don't know, One United is the first black internet bank. Check it out.

I'm thinking people just enjoy watching raunchy "dramas" like Flavor of Love/Charm School, Making the Band, and I Love New York, instead of positive comedy shows just trying to get an honest laugh.

Well I am of the opinion that when people hate on the product (for whatever reason) they are by the same action not giving credit where credit is due. I have seen other remarks and harsh criticisms of Perry because of his depiction of black people and the characters in his shows- this tells me that some people cannot separate the two and give a person credit for be successful while still critiquing their work.
It's happened to me before, and I think any artist has a hard time separating the efforts of their hard work from themselves. Especially when people dwell on the negative.

Also, when I think of hating, I don't think of how the critic truly feels about the other person. More times than not the hateful words are just a cover up for the critics own personal issues. What is more so my central point, is that everywhere in the media I see people talk negatively about something positive that someone else is doing. Whether it's Obama, Al Gore, or Tyler Perry, all these negative comments or reviews seem to be just opinions with egos. How about we try to give each other more pats on the back instead of carrying around so much hate.

It's in a Musiq Soulchild song....and I know people who used it when I was high school..

I'll throw the first shoe on behalf of Michelle...that chick is stalkerific

ETS- I think it's probably true that white southerners mispronounced "negro" thus giving us "nigger", but it definitely was used before in France in Spain. A brief stint of research in the area tells me that, no matter the origin, people all over the world are aware of the negative connotation of the word nigger and the UK is no exception. So the word means the same, but perhaps the reason it has less sting for Black people in the UK is because they are "over" letting it get to them and have no camaraderie as a race to call up television networks in outrage. Just my observant opinion, if David McQueen is out there maybe he can shed some more light.

Re: Big Brother Black vs. Bollywood. Nope, not gonna win that one. For some reason London is a lost cause when it comes to Black people standing up for each other as one united race. Trying to figure out why is hopeless. It's a shame though.

Great post! That's a wonderful summary of the things all YBPs can do to better themselves.

Yea for this post making the Black Report!

The site is great. You can make it very personable to the blogs you read by moving the boxes in what ever order your heart desires. You can even delete some of the blog feeds that you don't care for. All in all, it's a good one stop for blogs. Good job Fredric.

Boo to paying for downloaded music. Long live the free download....

That was deep GB. Thanks for sharing what you learned in "driving school." I think most of us who have had to sit for hours in a driving class can at least say that we'll always remember an important lesson that was taught. Whether it's as basic as the consequences of not wearing your seatbelt or as in depth as what you just touched on. Let's all be safe drivers. Life is too short to let road rage get the best of you.

Well, I don't know exactly the why part, but I do know that it's not just a black thing. When we were in London there were hella overweight people and the majority of the population are smokers. They don't seem to be too concerned about their health in that respect.

Hmmm, why....well, we seem to indulge ourselves in fast foods and convenience dinners. Not taking care of your health and what you eat is simply a lazy mentality. Still doesn't say why black people do this to themselves, but there has to be motivation to change.

I think it's all about the portions. Just because you have a huge meal in front of your face, does not mean you have to eat it all. If it's at home, don't waste the food, just make it leftovers. And if it's at a restaurant, ask for a doggie bag. And exercising is a must; calories in vs. calories out...

No matter what you do, if you're unhappy remember that your life isn't just gonna change. You have to want it to change and then do something about it. Writing in a journal can be beneficial even if it's just for the sake of recapping your day- remembering the little things that made you happy and sad. Therapy comes in many forms...

As far as climbing up the corporate ladder, definitely the opportunity as the only black woman in a smaller city would be the faster track. More chances to stand out, less distraction amongst other black women who may be friendly or catty towards you, and then there's the company itself that is probably looking to diversify. I think some of your interviewees in areas with few YBPs would agree.