Posted by DENNIS S. MITCHELL On 2013-03-13 01:48:21 There is Beauty in Being Brown!
Posted by 4 COUNTRIES, 4 WOMEN, 4 REASONS TO CELEBRATE | http://50shadesofblack.com On 2013-03-08 19:03:42 [...] Guedo You may recall my post I Guess Someone Asking to Touch Your Hair Doesn’t Always Have to be a Bad Thing about my experiences of hospitality and love in Los Brasiles Nicaragua. The school that I [...]
Posted by Stringer Bell Will Fix It! On 2013-03-02 22:25:21 [...] I always forget that Idris Alba is British because I was so used to his American accent in The Wire. See the Tanqueray commercials and hear the British accent here. [...]
Posted by In the “ironies” column | Stop the Cuts at Emory On 2013-02-23 18:31:13 [...] An essay from 2010 by then-Candler graduate student Carlton Mackey, reflecting on sitting for a photograph with President Wagner. The photographer, Dawoud Bey, had been invited to Emory by the visual arts department and the now-”concluded” Transforming Community Project. Emory has archived Bey’s “Emory Project” online. [...]
Posted by Madelinq On 2013-02-20 02:12:09 Thank you for being the change we need to see.
Posted by Jan Hurd On 2013-02-07 10:09:55 I was fortunate to spend a week at Harvesters compound in Yei and tour the hospital where this baby was born and cared for. It truly was a miracle that the hospital had just received the equipment, like an incubator, that was needed. God is so good!
Posted by Jennifer Collins On 2013-02-04 02:21:11 As an educator, LGBTQ activist who is also LGTBQ identified, I see a great disparity across the spectrum of LGBTQ and out People of Color. Intersectionality is so diverse and crucially important to everyone. Standing up for oneself as both a person of color and LGBTQ is just as vital for inclusivity. We must recognize and honor our individuality as we simultaneously honor all shades of black.
Posted by Ida M. Jackson On 2013-02-02 00:22:25 This put a smile on my face. Children are unhibited and speak their minds. We have all thought about our school days and wished there were more pictures. As you get older it is hard for your children to believe you were once a child and they would get a kick out of looking at pictures.
Fantastic idea!
Posted by Kristen On 2013-01-13 20:44:12 "What is healthy sexual expression? Who gets to decide? How does race or skin tone play a part in the decision? Are certain sexual preferences, practices, or expressions more taboo in one ethnic community over another? Does skin tone play a role in one’s sexual preference or desire? What are some of the sexual myths that are associated with various groups? In what ways are groups exploited, heralded, discriminated against, marginalized, normalized based on gender, sexual orientation, skin tone? What does love have to do with it…any of it…and can it challenge us to rethink all else?"
I love this series of questions because it speaks to an issue I addressed when responding to Keturah's response on my post yesterday: "Should sexuality even be expressed in the first place; and if so, how?"
Admittedly I didn't think too much else about it after my comment yesterday; however, when I woke up this morning, the question danced around in my mind again. What IS healthy sexual expression? And is it something that should be reserved for the individual in his/her day to day walk as opposed to being plastered all over the world's media outlets?
I personally consider myself to be both a sexy AND sexual person; but this is an aspect of myself that I prefer to keep TO myself and the person with whom I am currently sharing this part of myself with. I also have a private Facebook and Tumblr page where I write under an alias; I speak on things related to my personal desires, fantasies; questions, concerns, outbursts of sexual freedom...all, ironically, through an outlet that keeps my identity private. And why do I do this? Am I ashamed of expressing my sexuality to the masses? Or is it truly something that I feel should kept...a secret?
Oh, but could you imagine if all were so repressed? The expression of sexuality IS necessary, on the flip side, because we all draw from the overt displays of others. It is through others' willingness to showcase their sexuality that my own is enhanced; however I am more drawn to expressions of art...not all out sexual flamboyance.
Coochie gyrations and booty popping on music videos; this new twerk team craze sweeping the Youtube nation...these aren't things that appeal to ME. Erotic art, expressed through tasteful photography and sensual dance, for example, DOES appeal to me. When I saw Beyonce in this red dress a month after she had Blue, I was like, "Girl, you better work!" (http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/otrc/2010/photos/120208_otrc_jay_z_carnegie_hall_beyonce.jpg) When I saw her half naked on the cover of GQ, I was like, "Girl, you need to stop."
So to me, it's all a matter of personal preference and what appeals to you; what speaks to your own sexuality. Does skin color etc. have anything to do with it? According to mainstream media, it does. The lighter the better, let their rule book tell it...and it's just ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as those who prescribe their own measures of "what is sexy" by what the entertainment industry has brainwashed the world to believe. Do you think GQ or any other magazine for that matter would publish someone who looked like this queen on their cover? (http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz6r8tuNFO1qgd49po1_500.jpg)
I thinks not.
But let me stop here and allow for others to engage as their are so many directions this topic can go in. Let's discuss!! Kristen Alyce
Posted by Nafisa Rawji On 2013-01-08 19:57:24 Growing up I never fit into a category. I was the Non-African African, born in a country I didn't remember, but I knew I was different than the other "black" kids in class. What's worse was the stinging feeling when they'd twist their face funny and say, "You're not Indian?" But I was, I am. Half-Indian, half-African. I didn't feel like a whole person.
Site Comments
Posted by DENNIS S. MITCHELL
On 2013-03-13 01:48:21
There is Beauty in Being Brown!
Posted by 4 COUNTRIES, 4 WOMEN, 4 REASONS TO CELEBRATE | http://50shadesofblack.com
On 2013-03-08 19:03:42
[...] Guedo You may recall my post I Guess Someone Asking to Touch Your Hair Doesn’t Always Have to be a Bad Thing about my experiences of hospitality and love in Los Brasiles Nicaragua. The school that I [...]
Posted by Stringer Bell Will Fix It!
On 2013-03-02 22:25:21
[...] I always forget that Idris Alba is British because I was so used to his American accent in The Wire. See the Tanqueray commercials and hear the British accent here. [...]
Posted by In the “ironies” column | Stop the Cuts at Emory
On 2013-02-23 18:31:13
[...] An essay from 2010 by then-Candler graduate student Carlton Mackey, reflecting on sitting for a photograph with President Wagner. The photographer, Dawoud Bey, had been invited to Emory by the visual arts department and the now-”concluded” Transforming Community Project. Emory has archived Bey’s “Emory Project” online. [...]
Posted by Madelinq
On 2013-02-20 02:12:09
Thank you for being the change we need to see.
Posted by Jan Hurd
On 2013-02-07 10:09:55
I was fortunate to spend a week at Harvesters compound in Yei and tour the hospital where this baby was born and cared for. It truly was a miracle that the hospital had just received the equipment, like an incubator, that was needed. God is so good!
Posted by Jennifer Collins
On 2013-02-04 02:21:11
As an educator, LGBTQ activist who is also LGTBQ identified, I see a great disparity across the spectrum of LGBTQ and out People of Color. Intersectionality is so diverse and crucially important to everyone. Standing up for oneself as both a person of color and LGBTQ is just as vital for inclusivity. We must recognize and honor our individuality as we simultaneously honor all shades of black.
Posted by Ida M. Jackson
On 2013-02-02 00:22:25
This put a smile on my face. Children are unhibited and speak their minds. We have all thought about our school days and wished there were more pictures. As you get older it is hard for your children to believe you were once a child and they would get a kick out of looking at pictures. Fantastic idea!
Posted by Kristen
On 2013-01-13 20:44:12
"What is healthy sexual expression? Who gets to decide? How does race or skin tone play a part in the decision? Are certain sexual preferences, practices, or expressions more taboo in one ethnic community over another? Does skin tone play a role in one’s sexual preference or desire? What are some of the sexual myths that are associated with various groups? In what ways are groups exploited, heralded, discriminated against, marginalized, normalized based on gender, sexual orientation, skin tone? What does love have to do with it…any of it…and can it challenge us to rethink all else?" I love this series of questions because it speaks to an issue I addressed when responding to Keturah's response on my post yesterday: "Should sexuality even be expressed in the first place; and if so, how?" Admittedly I didn't think too much else about it after my comment yesterday; however, when I woke up this morning, the question danced around in my mind again. What IS healthy sexual expression? And is it something that should be reserved for the individual in his/her day to day walk as opposed to being plastered all over the world's media outlets? I personally consider myself to be both a sexy AND sexual person; but this is an aspect of myself that I prefer to keep TO myself and the person with whom I am currently sharing this part of myself with. I also have a private Facebook and Tumblr page where I write under an alias; I speak on things related to my personal desires, fantasies; questions, concerns, outbursts of sexual freedom...all, ironically, through an outlet that keeps my identity private. And why do I do this? Am I ashamed of expressing my sexuality to the masses? Or is it truly something that I feel should kept...a secret? Oh, but could you imagine if all were so repressed? The expression of sexuality IS necessary, on the flip side, because we all draw from the overt displays of others. It is through others' willingness to showcase their sexuality that my own is enhanced; however I am more drawn to expressions of art...not all out sexual flamboyance. Coochie gyrations and booty popping on music videos; this new twerk team craze sweeping the Youtube nation...these aren't things that appeal to ME. Erotic art, expressed through tasteful photography and sensual dance, for example, DOES appeal to me. When I saw Beyonce in this red dress a month after she had Blue, I was like, "Girl, you better work!" (http://cdn.abclocal.go.com/images/otrc/2010/photos/120208_otrc_jay_z_carnegie_hall_beyonce.jpg) When I saw her half naked on the cover of GQ, I was like, "Girl, you need to stop." So to me, it's all a matter of personal preference and what appeals to you; what speaks to your own sexuality. Does skin color etc. have anything to do with it? According to mainstream media, it does. The lighter the better, let their rule book tell it...and it's just ridiculous. Just as ridiculous as those who prescribe their own measures of "what is sexy" by what the entertainment industry has brainwashed the world to believe. Do you think GQ or any other magazine for that matter would publish someone who looked like this queen on their cover? (http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lz6r8tuNFO1qgd49po1_500.jpg) I thinks not. But let me stop here and allow for others to engage as their are so many directions this topic can go in. Let's discuss!! Kristen Alyce
Posted by Nafisa Rawji
On 2013-01-08 19:57:24
Growing up I never fit into a category. I was the Non-African African, born in a country I didn't remember, but I knew I was different than the other "black" kids in class. What's worse was the stinging feeling when they'd twist their face funny and say, "You're not Indian?" But I was, I am. Half-Indian, half-African. I didn't feel like a whole person.