sun & sangria, see you later: summer '10, thanks for the memories.

summer 2010 has finally come to an end, and i can't believe how fast it flew by!

as i begin to embark on my final year of college, there are so many thoughts and emotions running through my mind that i don't even know where do begin. i've experienced so many changes this summer as well as growth that i feel that i am ready to tackle senior year with confidence. from traveling half way across the world, to interning and dealing with things here on the home and cutting all of my hair off, this summer has definitely been a great one. there a number of lessons that i plan on taking back with me that i hope will further my growth and maturity.

reality tv killed the cable network : oxygen network

as i was sitting watching part two of my favorite trilogy next friday a week ago, i couldn't help but watch it with a more keen eye than i have before. it wasn't because of the editing (or the lack thereof) for television broadcast, but it was rather the network that the movie was being played on.

USA Network? nope, guess again. BET? nice try, but no. it was the Oxygen Network...you know, the one that's always daring us to "live out loud"? well, i didn't fancy the fact that the oxygen network just plum forgot to bleep out the n-word as well as the b-word. if my memory serves me correctly, i thought that this was a network that was ORIGINALLY dedicated to women and empowering their lives? what happened to that idea?

now all i see on this rachet network is cat-fighting, name calling and degrading women rather than encouraging them to be a stronger entity. now, don't get me wrong, i think that dance your @$$ off can sometimes be entertaining, re-runs of america's next top model are aight and snapped just proves that you better not mess with an estranged housewife; but showing a movie like next friday and a show like bad girls club (which i think is the epitome of trashy, materialistic, rachet and hood-rat like behavior) isn't helping the female race one bit.

as these thoughts began to run through my mind, i decided to do a little bit of research. turns out that the oxygen network is owned by NBC-Universal which states on their corporate home page that:

"NBC Universal is committed to attracting and retaining the best and most diverse talent. Doing so provides a secure, powerful and competitive advantage in the media and entertainment industry."

so you mean to tell me, mr. jeff zucker, that NBC-Universal has to broadcast television shows and movies that explicitly call women out of their names and use a degrading term such as the n-word in order to retain an audience that loves watching hood-rats fight   a"diverse" audience? give me a frickin' break.

what struck me even more as a surprise (but it was just a slip of memory) that the vp of diversity at NBC Universal is an african-american woman...AND a former newhouse student! (she didn't graduate, so i don't consider her an alum). and i'm not saying that you have to stand up for your race at all times - i'm well aware that NBC-Universal is a global conglomerate that must maintain a reputation, ratings and meet a certain bottom line at the end of each fiscal quarter. i'm just saying that a large company like NBC-Universal should be mindful that the quality of some of its television shows are really (unfortunately) trying to imitate real life...or is it the other way around?

i'm not criticizing all reality television (believe me, i like to watch my share of e! every now and them) but the only point i want to make is to take time to really think about the "reality" television that you watch from time to time. the only way that we can make changes in our society is if we challenge them. and as always, this is strictly how i feel and my own opinion. what do you think?

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.

my RE : "white women on a pedestal"

Yes, that is the title of an article i read on the popular blogsite, The Fresh Xpress last night, and I must say that upon first read, i did think that the article was good coming from the viewpoint at which the author spoke. But, that doesn't necessarily mean i agree with it.

I went back to read White Women on a Pedestal, and after reading it, there were a few points where the author was on, and a bit off (the comments are FAR more interesting, so scroll down after you read the article!). To sum it up, the author talks about how she thinks white women (in the eyes of some black men) are put on a pedestal. She uses the VH1 "reality" television shows Ochocinco: The Ultimate Catch & The T.O. Show as prime examples. She also compares Kim Kardashian to Karrine Stephans to prove her point (honestly, this is kind of where i got lost, and i don't agree with the author's points here).

now before i even begin, let me just say that first, everyone is entitled to their opinion. and no, i don't think the sista is bitter, she's just clearly articulating her observation, boom. secondly, i do not watch either of these shows because I think that a.) the concept of the dating show is tired, and b.) the concept of athletes, singers, actors whom ever looking for love via this "nationwide" search is played out too. it never turns out to be what they want in the end and they just end up making themselves look foolish when the reunion show rolls around. but then again, it's all for ratings. thirdly, it isn't just white women that some black men could be infatuated with: it could be latinas, asian women, women of middle eastern decent--you name it. i think this is where the author went wrong too by simple singling-out white women because she makes it seem like "they're the ones always trying snatching up the good black men" (watch the movies obsessed, diary of a mad black woman, or our family wedding and maybe get an idea of that concept.)

any way, back to the topic of the article. the author goes on to say that white women have their choice of black men, and how some black men deliberately date outside of their race. furthermore, she discusses her own viewpoints on how she thinks that some black men suffer from identity issues/insecurity/self-hatred. i think she went a little bit far there, but who knows, there may be some men out there who do. but what the author basically wants readers to know is that white women (in her opinion) are put on this pedestal that black women are not.

now, as an african-american 20-something female growing up in today's society, i don't see anything wrong with dating outside of your race--DO YOU HOMIE! at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if you're black or white (word to MJ). we live in a society in which now it is normal to see interracial couples, and while some people don't agree with it, i think personally that love doesn't have a shape, size, or color. if you find someone that makes you feel special and happy, then eff what everyone else thinks. but at the same time, if you choose not to date or be attracted to a certain type of person, don't downplay or diss them just for the hell of it. keep that isht to yourself, patna.

i remember growing up and being some what taunted because some of my first celebrity crushes (i.e, justin timberlake) and real crushes where on white boys and looking back on it, i still don't see why it was such a big deal. no i didn't exude any self-hatred or have an identity issue, i just liked the person for who they were, period. now that i am older and a little bit wiser, i have considered the fact that the love is not about the color of some\one's skin, but it is what lives on the inside. i have nothing but love for black men and i still believe first and foremost that black love is the most beautiful because that is what i have literally witnessed first hand. love is a beautiful think, period. but the contrary, i don't see myself dating only black men--that seems a bit narrow minded living in the world we live in today. you never know what you may learn about yourself or the world around you by simply sticking to what you know. 

i think if we are going to continue to pursue the idea of a "post-racial society", we first have to take a look at ourselves and understand our interactions among one another before we bring a new generation of free-thinkers into the world. i want to raise my children to accept people for who they are and what the stand for, looking past any racial barriers. i feel like we're just beating a dead horse with a stick by constantly talking about this topic over and over again. because conversely, the same concept could be looked at from the viewpoint of a black man as to why his black sistas are dating outside of their race...but i guess no one ever thought about it that way, huh?

comments, criticisms and critiques as always, are welcomed.

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.

"the rest is still unwritten" - the hills finale

tonight marks the final episode of the california-based show the hills. i've been watching this show since its humble laguna beach spin off beginnings in 2004, and i must say that it has been interesting watching the lives of these upper middle class caucasian kids from beverly hills. successfully, i can time the intro song "unwritten" by natasha beddingfield & the "go to commercial" song "don't funk with my heart", but as this show comes to an end, i do have to pose a question or two as why this show has been so captivating over the last six years of my life. time to walk down memory lane...

so as i stated before, i've been keeping up with these characters (because that's what they are) for the last six seasons. but how come they have been so interesting to keep up with? well for starters, the hills has been my version of all my children or the young and the restless, but what's even more intriguing is that MTV has successfully made living in california as a young 20-something so dramatic and desirable. the hot parties, shoppping, the he-said she-said drama, lunch/dinner dates between the castmates, luxurious vacations...i could go on and on. but it just further goes to show how superficial our society can be.

question #1: how come the cast of the hills never had any friends of different cultures and backgrounds? as i've grown up watching this show, i started to really dissect how exactly MTV has purposely placed these young people in certain situations in order to make this "reality" television show. but you mean to tell me that there is NO possible way that out of all of the cast members, not nan-one had a black, latino, or asian friend? i find that extremely hard to believe, seeing as california-- particularly los angeles--is a very diverse city. i mean, there was baldwin hills from MTV's sister station BET, which could be compared to this show. but how come it didn't last as long? hey, that could totally be the white privilege speaking very HIGH volumes. #imjustsayin


question #2: did any of the other cast members besides lauren, audrina and heidi have jobs? i mean, working at epic records, teen vogue, people's revolution and sbe bolthouse all seem like really cool jobs, and it was enjoyable seeing the girls in a different setting besides their huge victorian houses or in the club. but as the show continued, it seemed like focus turned away from showing that the young women of the hills had respectable careers to the drama filled weekend evenings and family feuds. but of course, the more conflict the better the ratings and of course, there is only so much you can show in a 22 minute episode.


question #3 : if it really weren't for this television show, would we really give a damn about these kids from california? i mean, come on--most of them *cough brody jenner & spencer pratt* have received their claim to fame from their rich and famous parents (brody's dad is gold medal olympian bruce jenner, who is also the kardashians step dad). and then you have people like stacie the bartender, justin-bobby and charlie who were just kind of thrown into the mix because they interacted with the other cast members. it looks like their 15 minutes of fame turned into a whole hour...


alright, that's all i have. has anyone else thought of these questions or others as you've kept up with this show over the last few years, if you have kept up with it? while i'm happy that the show is finally coming to an end, it has been fun keeping up with this group of kids. i tell you, MTV has a way of keeping my attention, and i can only wonder what they think of next.

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.

"who you callin' a b*tch?!"

unity, queen latifah (1993)

i had to step back into time and shed light on this truth because nowadays i think that we get so caught up in the "hip-hop" scene that some of us *and that is a small percentage of us* forget that the degrading content in music from artists such as lil wayne, drake, snoop dogg, j.cole and many more isn't healthy for our community. sure the money, riches and poppin' bottles of that "ace of spades" sounds like these rappers are living the life, but do you really think that they feel good about talkin' all that talk?
 
i thought about this topic after listening to music made by a classmate of mine. i will not say who or what the name of the song is, but i will say that i was not too comfortable with him referring to women as b*tches and being "strictly about his paper." number one, i'm not knocking you for producing the art of music, but my friend: we live in the year 2010--it's time that we move away from calling women out of their name just for the sake of spitting a flow. it's so common now days to hear the word "b*tch" or "h*" in a rap song that we've become immune to the fact that these words are not only poison to the youth that are soaking it up like sponges, but also detrimental to ourselves. within the hip-hop community, women of color already deal with being hypersexualized and undervalued thanks to the many music videos and songs that specifically depict women as such, but hearing the words from those songs on a daily basis isn't quite appealing either.

dictionary.com defines the word "b*tch" in three-fold: 1. a female dog; 2. slang:  a malicious, unpleasant, selfish person, esp. a woman. 3.   a complaint.

first of all, what's up with the, "especially a woman" part?  never have i ever been cool with anyone, male or female, calling me the b-word. i also think that the term is completely inadequate as a term of endearment and while i may slip up sometimes and refer to females that i do not know the term, i have to become more conscious about the negativity and the ugliness behind the word. that goes the same of the n-word too.

in order to make ourselves better, we've got to do better y'all. like tupac said in "changes",  

"let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live & let's change the way we treat each other...the old way wasn't working so it's on us to do what we gotta do, to survive."

there are so many more words in the english language that we can use in order to explain the way we are thinking our thoughts. it's time to start thinking OUTSIDE of this whole idea of "fitting in" and "going with the norm".  i will say, hip-hop has made strides since it began back in the Boogie Down Bronx years ago, but there is still a long way to go. the ultimate goal of hip-hop and the culture wasn't to tear one another down, but to uplift each other and provide unity, peace and prosperity.


so i say this again, "who you callin' a b*tch?!"

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.

examining racism in the fashion- (documentary attached)

 "i need a black model, but she has to be a white girl dipped in chocolate..."

 



from music to movies, the industries that are driven by millions of consumers around the world seem to have one thing in common: there aren't that many african-americans that promote the products that these industries endorse. after watching this documentary about twenty-four year old model renee thompson, i just thought that this is something i should discuss.

everyday, i see thousands of advertisements about products that push being thinner or lighter or blemish free. as an african american female in america, this can very overwhelming. i'm not the thinnest person in the world, but these advertisements just make me want to try even hard to pursue this unrealistic representation of beauty. in my opinion, instead of promoting universal beauty, health and acceptance, the fashion industry and many industries like it are constantly drilling into young females heads that in order to be perfect, you must be a size 00.

renee thompson is a gorgeous girl and fierce model, but she's constantly rejected by major labels like gucci and prada because simply put "black models don't push products" - which i find extremely ironic since the hip-hop music that a percentage of blacks do listen to are usually talking about these labels (but that's another topic for another post).  there are so many different representations of beauty but until those are exposed and shown to the world, we really can't diverge from seeing a pale porcelain-skinned models on the cover of magazines and on billboards everywhere.

i want to start a dialogue about this topic - why do you think black models are scorned by the fashion industry for having full lips and curvy hips? will it ever change?

☮ and ♥, 

-*csc.

public displays of affection: the madrid edition

 [aww, how cute.]

***

so i'm going on my fourth week here in madrid and one thing that i constantly notice every time that i'm out and about it the heavy displays of public affection. and i'm not just talking about holding hands or cuddling while walking down the boulevard, i mean intense make out sessions right in the middle of sol or on the metro. and it's not that i'm staring, you just can't help but notice it when you're walking down the street. now personally, i've never been the biggest fan of p.d.a., but after learning why there is such a huge desire to show love here in madrid, i think it's awfully cute and romantic.

according to my tour guide when i first got here, madrid was under the very strict dictatorship of francisco franco from 1939 to 1975.  

***

el ley de vagos y maleantes (the vagrancy act) of 1954, franco outlawed homosexuality, pedophilia and prostitution, making them criminal offenses. so that meant no caking, no boo-loving, no nothing for Spainards. this also meant that women in madrid had to play the "traditional" role of housewife/mom/caretaker and really didn't have any rights to testify in court, be university professors or even have their own bank accounts. once franco died in 1975, it was like the citizens of madrid and in surrounding cities were liberated and so ecstatic to break away from the many restrictions they had under franco's dictatorship, thus explaining the culture of today.

***

it just goes to show that we shouldn't be afraid to show love to one another and that something as simply as walking down the street with your boyfriend/girlfriend shouldn't be taken for granted. now, i know that in the united states, whenever we may see a couple showing massive p.d.a., we always encourage to "get them a room", but here in madrid, they really don't care and would probably feel some type of way if you told them that. being over here in spain has allowed me to be more open-minded and observant. in the united states, we can sometimes be so one-sided about things, but once you step outside of the country, you definitely see things a lot differently. so to my american folk, don't be afraid to show a little love every now and then.

"sometimes it's better when it's publicly..." ;-)

☮ and  ♥, 

-*csc. 

Our Time Has Come...What are you going to do?

 I know it has been a LONG time coming since my last post, but it's all been in good reason...

I've been completely swamped for the last couple of weeks with rehearsals, school projects and work, but it has all taught me in the process. I had the pleasure of attending a lecture last Thursday night given my Jeff Johnson (aka "Cousin" Jeff) that was sponsored by the National Association of Black Journalists here at Syracuse University and his words were beyond inspiring and eye-opening. I really that many more people would have attended to hear the knowledge that he dropped that evening.

I've come to the conclusion that yes, I do tend to have a short attention for somethings, I'm not afraid to say it. ;-) but when it comes to wanting to change the world, there are sooo many things that I want to do in order to make that happen and I have no idea on earth where to start. So I want to pose the question, "what is your purpose?" While that is a broad question, and many of us have the slightest idea what it may be, just take a second to think about the possibility of knowing. Even if you don't believe in any higher power, you must know that there has to be some divine right in the universe that has created a specific path and destination for each of us.

Are you doing what it takes to live out/find your purpose, or are you simply waiting for something to come along and smack you across the head and tell you, "Hey! I'm your purpose in life, come follow me!"

If it were only that easy...but being in college these last three years, I've learned that sometimes things come much more difficult than others. We have to be willing to educate ourselves in order to make us better. Jeff talked about how his friend Paston Jamal Bryant (shout-out to the AMEC, whaddup! lol) had advised him to read one book a week, just create discipline and to expand his mind. I want to take on that challenge of reading a new book every other week (I've got to work to get like Cousin Jeff y'all).

But I want to challenge you all to do something that will make you better than you were yesterday. Life is full of endless possibilities, what are you going to do to take advantage of them?


For more information about Jeff Johnson, check out his website here Jeff's Nation and follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/jeffsnation

-*csc.