Dear Racism, Please accept this letter as notice of my resignation from the position of 2nd class citizen. My last day of employment was yesterday. Unlike leaving other positions, this was an easy decision because I never asked for the job. I never agreed to be labeled, belittled, mistreated, abused, disrespected, disregarded as worthless…you get […]
Read MoreAll over the country, many Americans are enjoying an extra day off in honor of Labor Day. A national holiday that recognizes the contributions that working Americans have made to the prosperity and well-being of our country. However, unfortunately an overwhelming high percent of American employees do not feel like they are making a difference […]
Read MoreAs life unfolded, I let this blog – I am Black and Beautiful sit quiet and lose its voice. However, just like an itch that will not go away, I could not bury it in the graveyard of dead dreams. It called to my soul and the need to say what needs to be said […]
Read MoreLearning of Donna Summer’s death makes me think of my childhood because her songs were played regularly in my home. I remember being a little girl, sitting in the living room on the floor next to the stereo studying the picture of above album cover. Something about it intrigued me. I walked around the house […]
Read MoreKehinde Wiley exhibit Economy of Grace is on display at the Sean Kelly Gallery in New York until June 16, 2012. His subject matter is African-American women. In Wiley’s words, “The phrase ‘an economy of grace’ speaks directly to the ways in which we manufacture and value grace and honor, the people that we choose to bestow that honor […]
Read MoreI love looking at old photos of black women, they had such style and grace! […]
Read MorePoetry is a centuries old art form. Dr. Maya Angelou is a poetry icon (among her many other titles) who happens to be black and beautiful. Her list of contributions to the world is long and she is a shining light for African-Americans that follow in her footsteps. She wrote my all time favorite poem, Phenomenal Woman. […]
Read MoreThe Natural Hair Movement is live, televised on YouTube and gaining momentum. I recently had the wonderful opportunity to attend my first Natural Hair Meetup with some fellow Naturalistas at Shashamane Bar & Grill in Oakland, CA. I have long wanted to connect with other women who, like me have embarked on a journey of […]
Read MoreA dark-skinned woman with full lips has to wear the right shade of lipstick or she looks foolish. My brown skin (with reddish tones) and dark heart-shaped lips limit my range of wearable colors to rich berries, bronzes and chocolates. I can’t sport a true read, or all you will see is lips. Now don’t get […]
Read MoreSo much had occurred since posting Why Her? about my experiences with my friend who was fighting Stage IV breast cancer. All the hope I had when penning that essay was replaced with dooming fear and desperation two short months later. At that time, she was undergoing radiation for what we thought was a precaution […]
Read More
iamblackandbeautiful.com 