Happy Hump day...Chad ocho cinco hmmmm

Weight by Darryl "Lil D" Reed

Darryl Reed aka "Lil D" from Oakland , Ca ...who is now serving a 30 year prison term in the federal pen, has written a book . Its called weight and is truly a remarkable story about Oaklands most memorable hustler to this day. check out his story , his book can be ordered online at concretejunglebooks.com

Pam Grier...

Make sure you get her new book ....support the real "Foxy Brown"

fyi....Maggie L .Walker

Maggie Lena Walker (July 15, 1864-December 15, 1934) was an American teacher, businesswoman, and first African American woman bank president. She was the first woman to charter a bank in the United States,[1]. As a leader, she achieved successes with the vision to make tangible improvements in the way of life for African Americans and women. Disabled by paralysis and limited to a wheelchair later in life, Walker also became an example for people with disabilities.
Walker's restored and furnished home in the historic Jackson Ward neighborhood of Richmond, Virginia has been designated a National Historic Site, operated by the National Park Service.

As of today ....

Unconditionally..... xoxo, Lav

Jill Scott speaks ....Interracial dating

You know the moment when you realize that fine, accomplished brother is with a White woman? Let’s call it “the wince.”
My new friend is handsome, African-American, intelligent and seemingly wealthy. He is an athlete, loves his momma, and is happily married to a White woman. I admit when I saw his wedding ring, I privately hoped. But something in me just knew he didn’t marry a sister. Although my guess hit the mark, when my friend told me his wife was indeed Caucasian, I felt my spirit…wince. I didn’t immediately understand it. My face read happy for you. My body showed no reaction to my inner pinch, but the sting was there, quiet like a mosquito under a summer dress.
Was I jealous? Did the reality of his relationship somehow diminish his soul’s credibility? The answer is not simple. One could easily dispel the wince as racist or separatist, but that’s not how I was brought up. I was reared in a Jehovah’s Witness household. I was taught that every man should be judged by his deeds and not his color, and I firmly stand where my grandmother left me. African people worldwide are known to be welcoming and open-minded. We share our culture sometimes to our own peril and most of us love the very notion of love. My position is that for women of color, this very common “wince” has solely to do with the African story in America.
When our people were enslaved, “Massa” placed his Caucasian woman on a pedestal. She was spoiled, revered and angelic, while the Black slave woman was overworked, beaten, raped and farmed out like cattle to be mated. She was nothing and neither was our Black man. As slavery died for the greater good of America, and the movement for equality sputtered to life, the White woman was on the cover of every American magazine. She was the dazzling jewel on every movie screen, the glory of every commercial and television show. She was unequivocally the standard of beauty for this country, firmly unattainable to anyone not of her race. We daughters of the dust were seen as ugly, nappy mammies, good for day work and unwanted children, while our men were thought to be thieving, sex-hungry animals with limited brain capacity.
We reflect on this awful past and recall that if a Black man even looked at a White woman, he would have been lynched, beaten, jailed or shot to death. In the midst of this, Black women and Black men struggled together, mourned together, starved together, braved the hoses and vicious police dogs and died untimely on southern back roads together. These harsh truths lead to what we really feel when we see a seemingly together brother with a Caucasian woman and their children. That feeling is betrayed. While we exert efforts to raise our sons and daughters to appreciate themselves and respect others, most of us end up doing this important work alone, with no fathers or like representatives, limited financial support (often court-enforced) and, on top of everything else, an empty bed. It’s frustrating and it hurts!
Our minds do understand that people of all races find genuine love in many places. We dig that the world is full of amazing options. But underneath, there is a bite, no matter the ointment, that has yet to stop burning. Some may find these thoughts to be hurtful. That is not my intent. I’m just sayin’.
Dayyumm… Jill just took this thang to another level!!!

happy hump day Bitches !!!!!

Malcom X killer gets parole ...

The man who killed El Hajj Malik El Shabazz a.k.a. Malcolm X in cold blood, is set to be released from jail.
Thomas Hagan is the only man to admit to assassinating the leader and was found guilty of murder for his shooting death on February 21, 1965 on the stage of the Audubon Ballroom.
The convicted killer was granted parole on March 3rd and is now scheduled to be released on April 28th.
Before being granted parole, he was allowed to spend 12 hours a week in a work release program and allowed to spend time at home with his wife and kids.
X was speaking to a crowd of his followers when he was gunned down by Hagan, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson.
Hagan was shot in the leg by one of X's bodyguards and almost beaten to death by the crowd.

*Thomas Hagan most recent photo (jeans & jacket)

Good News

A day doesn’t go by when without news about young black men being killed or locked up. But here’s some good news out of Chicago: the entire senior class of Chicago’s Urban Prep Academy for Young Men has been accepted to college. You won’t hear about these intelligent young brothas in the mainstream press because it’s not a negative story about black men.
It’s great to see kids like the students of Urban Prep Academy achieving their goals.

1 picture = 1,000 words

Remember... Grow...

Celebrate Black History Always ....

Are you worth it ??

Years Ago , someone told me "when i finally realized what i was worth" i would love myself enough to let go of a "bad" relationship!! i finally realized who i was and my worth, and have kept it pushing..I was just recently able to return to favor and tell someone else the same exact words that still ring in my ear to this day...realizing your worth , loving yourself enough to let go a man who clearly gives a shit about you.. Why we stay ?? a number of reasons , i could go on forever with why we stay, the reason is what can make us finally leave. We know that in our hearts that we deserve better, but we continue to hold on anyway. Maybe we are afraid that we can’t do better. Maybe we are so in love that we just can’t see things for what they are. Or maybe we don’t love ourselves enough to realize that we don’t have to allow anyone to chip away at our soul or allow anyone to hurt us to the core.
I have experienced both ends of the spectrum when it comes to love. I know what if feels like to truly love a man and the love is not reciprocated. I know what it feels like to truly love a man and the man truly loves me back. Ladies, realize your worth and keep it pushing if you know you are in a dead end relationship, Sometimes we have to break our own hearts , to do better ..

Celebrate Black History Month 24/7....

1,000 words....... 1 photo.....

For the rest of the month , we'll do "a picture is worth a thousand words" in honor of Black History !!

Miss America 2010 "Caressa Cameron"

Congratulations to Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron, who was just crowned Miss America 2010.

Caressa Cameron is a 22 year old Journalist student at Virginia Commonwealth university.

Cameron, the first black Miss America since Ericka Dunlap in 2005, says she wants to get a master's degree and eventually become a news anchor.

Love Jones....1/31/10

Watched Love Jones tonight, 1 of my favorite movies... here's 1 of my favorite quotes from the movie ....enjoy , if you havent watched it , please do ....

Nina Mosley: You always want what you want when you want it. Why is everything so urgent with you?Darius Lovehall: Let me tell you somethin'. This here, right now, at this very moment, is all that matters to me. I love you. That's urgent like a motherfucker.

www.daniellestevens.com

Danielle Stevens has designed this special engraved necklace to help raise money for the victims of Haiti. 80% of all sales from the Help For Haiti Necklace will be donated to the Red Cross Haiti Relief Operation. Necklace is available for $40 through her website only

Happy Hump day

On some "real ish" , i gotta a thing for athletes , ball players, boxers, etc..... enjoy Happy hump day family

R.I.P Tedyy Pendergrass

Teddy Pendergrass, the R&B singer, has died. He was 59 years old. Pendergrass underwent colon cancer surgery eight months ago, and reportedly had a difficult recovery.
I grew up listening to Mr. Pendergrass, My mom would have Teddy in her car, I remember her playing Teddy while cleaning house on saturdays, and i even remember she had a Teddy Pendergrass Tshirt from a concert she attended. So i am truly "old school" and have a true love for old school music, especially when he was with Harold Melvin and the bluenotes ... Teddy Pendergrass has got me through alot of difficult & "wonderful" times. Mr Pendergrass you and your music will be missed , but will forever live on in my heart thank you for sharing & giving us a part of you. R.I.P -Lav

whats the difference ???

This years census for 2010 is going to be what i think a big deal, i just read question #9 will read what race are you? for "my" people we will have a choice to choose Black, African American or Negro ... So now how do you choose ? I understand there are different types of Asians Chinese, Japanese, etc..but what really is the point to have 3 choices for Blacks , Black is Black right ??Or is it really a difference , help me out ?? "..Some one said on twitter we haven't used Negro for the past few decades,so why now ?? census officials disagree, saying they found some older African Americans identify themselves that way and they're trying to be inclusive. In a statement, they said: "Results from the census in 2000 showed that a number of respondents provided a write-in response of 'negro' when answering the question on race." In fact, Congress approved the form more than a year ago.

"Is the word negro offensive to you? That depends on who you ask, shouldn't African American on the form be sufficient? or, why not put "Colored" there as well ? I am so happy we are past that one.. Now i gotta figure out what i am ,I wish the man would have just let us stay African, when we came to America.... is there really a difference

Growing up i always remember my Mom saying if you "lie" u will cheat , and no matter what "u aint got to lie to nobody"...that was the one thing that she hated the most...Growing up my Mothers child i loathe a liar just as much as she does, and it seems those are the only fools who cross my path. I can see through a lie , i normally take a lie for what it is and keep moving.. Its day 4 of 2010, and i am convinced to tell the truth even if it kills me and if i cant i will not say anything at all , i will still tell white lies for eg to bill collectors , dmv (my weight) lol....this guy I've known for a little over a month has lied , lied and lied i don't have proof of the lie but sometimes u just know....so i thank you "liar boy" , people work on your honesty its so important and builds so much character and integrity more folks will respect & trust you .... - Lav