Speak Life Lu

I’m excited.

After finally obtaining a release date (March 8, 2011) for his third album entitled Lasers, Lupe Fiasco released a new single, The Show Goes On. The song samples Modest Mouse’s 2004 cross-over hit Float On.

Being a fan of both Lupe and Modest Mouse, the song’s an instant hit with me. I love the encouraging lyrics of both tunes; we need that in our lives.

“Have you ever had the feeling that you was being had …”  Tell ’em Lu!

And here’s the original Modest Mouse cut.

“That’s Too White”

Several months ago, I interviewed for a job. Even though the interview was for a mere entry-level position, I completed the necessary preparatory tasks in effort to make a good first impression. I got a new suit, heels, and hair.

Yes hair; the long straight hair that my sisters of Prince George’s County seem to love so much.

I have worn my natural hair for over 12 years now, sporting various styles from two-strand twists and cornrows, to locks and a kinky ‘fro. But I am no stranger to hiding my naturally kinky hair when looking for a job. It seems to be a prerequisite when seeking employment, or at least it is for me.

I did the same thing after finishing undergrad many years ago. At that time I got extensions or what is better known as a weave. This time around I opted for something different—a wig.  My mother practically insisted that I wear one.  And that I did. She even helped me pick the “right” style and paid for the trickery. She told me when she interviewed for a job fresh out of high school more than 40 years ago, she wore straight hair and then switched it up to the afro after she was hired. Of course that was the 1960s and one would think that society would have evolved and what not by now, but such is not the case. The term “good hair” is alive and well.

The night before my interview, I tried the wig on and showed it to my father. He responded, “That’s too white!” Um, well isn’t that the point?

I’ve been on the job now for more than five months, and I still rock the hairpiece. I’ve been told by friends and coworkers that I should lose the wig and wear my true hair (now in a kinky ‘fro style) for all my coworkers to see. They say it shouldn’t matter and that black folks are the ones with the hair issues.  The whites won’t care; they’ll think it’s cool.  Hmm … I’m not too sure about all that.

The bottom-line is, all the people in charge at my job are white. And the women in power are white with long stringy blond hair (both dyed and natural). Hell, I interviewed with four of them.

And all of the black women there, wear their hair straight/relaxed or with extensions. I’ve seen a couple with braids and twists, but they’re temporary employees unlike myself. The black women in permanent positions all sport straight hair, whether it’s permed or pressed. I refuse to be the sacrificial lamb.

My mom (a former human resources professional) has observed first-hand a black woman with natural hair unable to advance. Granted one can’t conclusively say her hair was the reason she did not receive a promotion, but all factors must be considered. According to my mother, her black female colleagues with a comparable knowledge base were able to move on up the food chain.

At this stage in my life, it’s about progression; and I’m not going to let my desire not to relax my hair potentially stand in the way of that. Perhaps in several months I’ll decide to risk it. But for right now, I’ll wig it to work.

Death to Modern-Day Mainstream Hip Hop

This is nothing new but I’m over it.

I just read the lyrics of Lil Wayne’s new release “Right Above It” featuring Drake.  I had first heard the song on the radio and liked it instantly because of the beat (of course), without giving the lyrics much thought (of course). The same thing happened with Wacka Flocka Flame’s “No Hands” featuring Wale and Roscoe Dash. I immediately liked the sound of the song, but after seriously listening to it and reading the lyrics online I was disgusted.

I’m over hip hop and R&B  artists (and men in general for that matter) referring to women as bitches. The word bitch is not a synonym for female –  attention Kanye West, Drake, Lil Wayne, Wale and the like. And I’m over the objectification of women; we’re merely sex objects in the minds of these young popular rappers.

Furthermore, I am over the glorification of the light-skinned black female with long hair.  In “Right Above It,” Wayne raps “Uh, how do he say what’s never said? Beautiful black woman, I bet that bitch look better red.”  You ignorant twit!  You will never get a dime from me (and you never have for that matter).

To my fellow females and human beings, we needn’t support this bullshit no matter how banging the beat sounds.

So I say death to modern-day mainstream hip hop and death to the radio stations that keep this misogynistic, backwards bullshit in rotation.

Here’s a Chris Rock clip addressing the issue. It’s funny but true.  Keep in mind, Mr. Rock isn’t beyond misogyny himself.

Tall Enough? How about Cute Enough?

Let me preface this post by saying that physical beauty/physical attraction should not be the overriding factor supporting a loving relationship. In addition, the celebrity examples are used for the sake of the post. I do recognize that we are merely outsiders looking in, unbeknownst to the true details of their situations.

Now that the disclaimer is out of the way. Let’s begin. It’s been awhile I know.

Cool short — Tall Enough (included below). Written and directed by Barry Jenkins who did Medicine for Melancholy. Thanks TByrd for putting me on.

I’m so glad it portrays a black woman in a loving interracial relationship. Broaden the horizon ladies please!

Also, it reminds me that I do miss New York dearly. And, the title brings to mind ideas of attraction, specifically physical beauty and the “balance” or lack thereof within a relationship. With the recent developments (let’s assume the gossip is true for the sake of the post) of proverbially unattractive male celebrities cheating on their proverbially attractive significant others (The Dream & Christina Milian and also Janet Jackson & Jermaine Dupri), I am reminded that women often opt for the less attractive seemingly nice guy. If you recall, Janet was taken by Jermaine Dupri’s acceptance of her weight gain, calling his love for her unconditional (something she had never experienced in a relationship until then). Unconditional, it was not.

I find it absolutely tragic when a less-than man cheats on a beautiful woman. You try to give a “nice” guy a chance only to have him leave you for the next. At least you can say Eric Benet was in fact attractive, he pulled his weight. Now please don’t think that I condone misbehavior/infidelity/disrespect when the source is fine, I just feel it’s doubly offensive when the source is not.

Now here’s the short.

postscript

Again, I would like to stress that mutual attraction is only one necessary component in a loving relationship. There a number of other factors one must consider, including  care, compassion, understanding, patience, loyalty, and so forth.

Diversity

Friday Funny

My mom sent me this in the mail (yes snail mail). How appropriate. And I thought it was worth posting for a chuckle. For more from the cartoonist Cory Thomas, click here.

Haiti: Disaster and Sovereignty

January 12, 2010 deserves to be a day that lives in recollection for all peoples in the Western Hemisphere. Haiti was struck with a horrible act of nature that will seemingly impact the lives of Haitians for generations to come. We can see the way the land has been changed as a result of the catastrophe, however what we have failed to explore is how the nation will appear as it re-emerges from the ruins. Before the nature of the news cycle confined  Haiti’s  tragedy to the shadowed corners of our memory and the eyes of the world were averted to the newest trauma-action locale, there were the beginnings of a discussion  of Haiti’s political future; a discussion that left me shocked and devastated. As I was listening to The Take Away, the popular morning news show on WNYC, a field reporter “on the ground” in Port-au-Prince reported a growing consensus among the devastated Haitian population, now proclaiming that the republic needs a president that is not Haitian. When asked if this was an appeal for statehood (presumably within the US) or even a Fujimori (former President of Peru) situation she replied neither. Later, there was discussion on NPR’s On Point; a field reporter stated that he had a conversation with a Haitian who was hoping that Haiti could move into a protectorate relationship with the United States akin to that of Puerto Rico. I’m so disappointed.

What France and the Western communities started so long ago by placing huge reparation taxes on Haiti’s liberation, granting near usurious loans (the US), and incessantly intervening in internal politics has come to its logical conclusion. Haiti appears to be broken.

With 18,000 foreign troops (US) in Haiti, to win hearts and minds, how long will the first black republic in the Western world remain an independent nation? As so many peoples and countries around the world so stridently clamor for their sovereignty, will Haiti surrender theirs?

I remain grateful that I have never experienced a natural disaster on the scale of the earthquake that has brought Haiti so low, and therefore can only imagine what fears and pressures are at work in the minds of Haitians. It is just my sincere hope that Haiti can find a way to rebuild not only the infrastructure that was so visibly obliterated on the fateful day of the earthquake, but also its spirit. I hope that Haiti can and will reclaim the confidence, strength and resolve that made it a beacon of hope to a world of African descended peoples clamoring for freedom.

“homage to my hips” by Lucille Clifton

these hips are big hips
they need space to
move around in.
they don’t fit into little
petty places. these hips
are free hips.
they don’t like to be held back.
these hips have never been enslaved,
they go where they want to go
they do what they want to do.
these hips are mighty hips.
these hips are magic hips.
i have known them
to put a spell on a man and
spin him like a top!

I had the pleasure of taking her class while she taught at St. Mary’s College of Maryland. May she rest in peace.

Corporations Are People Too

I have problems with the idea of corporate citizens but then it’s the same problem I have with super-rich citizens (they are seemingly above the law), although you can at least theoretically arrest those. Regardless of what has transpired in the highest court in the land, this comic from http://www.bigfatwhale.com offers a humorous perspective on a disappointing reality of modern life.

Our Fellow (Corporate) Citizens

Nicole Ari Parker: “Don’t Let the Light-Skin Fool Ya”

Image courtesy of http://www.whudat.com

Last week actress Nicole Ari Parker appeared as a guest on the The Wendy Williams Show. When answering Wendy’s question on how she responds to women who try to attract husband actor Boris Kodjoe, Nicole stated that the women who dare challenge their bonds of matrimony have lessened since she played the role of Teri Joseph on HBO’s Soul Food. Furthermore, she went on to say that she would not hesitate in defending the sanctity of their union. “Don’t let the light skin fool ya,” was Nicole’s retort much to the satisfaction of many members of the audience (unfortunately).

I had hoped the NYU grad from Baltimore had more sense than that—reifying the perceived and illegitimate connections between skin tone and behavior. For hundreds of years lighter skin has been associated with the refined, civilized, good-natured man or woman. However, Ms. Parker reminds us that the paper bag test is not a relic confined to our past.

For more information on colorism, check out Shades of Brown: The Law of Skin Color by Trina Jones.