February 2011
34 posts
“I want people to understand that my goal to improve the self-love of young...”
– Lauryn Hill (via blackfashion)
January 2011
29 posts
“Everyone who isn’t black wants the culture without the color, and black people...”
– supremediscretion (via fuckyeahblackpower)
“Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds”
– Bob Marley, “Redemption Song”
Originally in a speech given by Marcus Garvey in Nova Scotia (via newwavefeminism)
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“I love being Black. I love being called Black. I love being an American.
I...”
– Smokey Robinson - A Black American (Def Poetry Jam)
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“I remember Marvin Gaye used to sing to me. He had me feeling like...”
– Tupac Shakur
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You're a What -Sexual?
Why is human sexuality so complicated? I mean seriously. Most people are well aware of the 3 main sexual identities/orientations: heterosexual (straight), homosexual (gay) and bisexual (both). You’d think that those 3 covered everyone but no, there are more. Asexuals are those who have no attraction or sexual interest in either gender and Pansexuals are attracted to all genders, including...
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“I want to be with someone that ten years from now makes my heart jump when I...”
– Leyla - (I Can’t Even Think Straight)
“When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all...”
– Patanjali (via bodymindandsoul)
"...and that’s essentially what feminism is all... →
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Sacrifices of a Queen to be a King
This weekend the nation celebrates the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. And as I hear commercials on the radio announcing events at the African-American museum to pay tribute to the slain martyr, I can’t help but think about all the things his wife, Coretta, gave up to be “Mrs. King”. Last year I snagged a first edition “My Life With Martin Luther King, Jr” by Coretta Scott King at a...
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“You’d think after God created dogs She’d know creating men was...”
– Maxine Shaw on Living Single
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Syl Johnson - Is It Because I’m...
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I Believe in Self-Betterment 150%
Me: Know what I hate more than ignorant black people? Ignorant black people who think the World owes them something...The sense of false entitlement some of these people have is ridiculous, as my mom says "that welfare mentality" smdh
Jasen: What do you think about people of any race who say their present difficulties are a result of historic, systemic inequalities and racist policies? Do you think such claims are relevant today? What about policies originally enacted to try to compensate for past wrongs, such as affirmative action?
Me: I believe that there are two forms of people, those who regardless of their current state/environment will work to better themselves and their families financially, socially, etc. Then there are those who will use their current state as an excuse not to work, or actively seek work or an education. Many of us (in terms of minorities) were born with a negative script for our lives already written, simply because of the environment we were born into: single parent, alcoholic or drug addict parent(s), in the ghetto/hood, or on public assistance. But the script can be rewritten, my problem is when people let their current state define who they are and settle for a life of public assistance without trying to better themselves. I always heard (and believe) that ‘you can’t help someone until they want to help themselves’. I have 0 respect for anyone who sits around their house all day doing nothing productive waiting for the money to be made available on their EBT card. Now for those who have jobs but maybe because of their educational status, can’t obtain a better one that pays enough to support their entire family and needs some help, there is nothing wrong with that. They are doing the best they can with what they have but continually striving to get more (out of themselves, not the government) and pushing their kids towards being successful, productive citizens. The same goes for those who become ill or, due to the current economy, gotten laid off. We all need help at some point for many reasons. But I know people who have NEVER worked a day in their lives. They dropped out of school, had a kid, got on public assistance, then continued having more kids. And their kids grew up and did the same thing, had kids and got on public assistance. That is beyond ridiculous. We all make dumb choices, if we didn’t we wouldn’t be human but to create generations of financial dependence on the government is just sad. Racist policies do still exist in workplaces to marginalize employees of colors and/or women (see the Coca Cola HQ discrimination lawsuit: black employees were making substantially less than their white counter-parts and were segregated to certain departments, among several other complaints). But even in racial/gender/age discrimination, those people actually have jobs. It used to be ‘The Man’s’ fault for all inequalities against minorities, the reason why some never tried to succeed but now ‘The Man’ is multiracial, a minority himself and people still haven’t attempted.
While at one time I believe it was necessary, I don’t agree with Affirmative Action. I believe we should be judged on the content of our character and not the color of our skin. For instance, all the Ivy Leagues (I believe, I know for sure Harvard and Princeton) offer free tuition to any accepted student who’s total household income is less than $50,000, regardless of race. Students have to earn their way into the college just like everyone else then the award is based on economic factors. But for a school to accept a less-qualified or ill-prepared student simply because of their color is bad for both parties because that student will most likely fail classes and/or dropout/dismissal which will affect the college’s retention numbers, etc. The student added diversity but they weren’t prepared for the level of course work and the result was failure. But then there is the problem that the majority of poor-performing schools are in the inner city with a student body composed predominately of minorities. So it’s basically, there’s a lot of work that needs to be done.
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“The words we use really do matter. There’s this vast echo chamber, and they go...”
– Fmr. President Bill Clinton
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What's Your Equation?...
I’ve been attending a Christian church for 21 years, not as consistently recently as in the past but you get the picture, I know the church fairly well. I always viewed living righteous as the sum of an equation. And each person requires a specific equation to get the correct answer but everyone’s equation is different from the next person’s. My equation may be A2 + B2 = C2 but the next person’s...
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Religion - Relationship = #FAIL
Let me begin by establishing that I am a follower of Jesus Christ and believe in the Trinity. Before you discredit the rest of my post, I do not live my life blaming every misstep or disappoint on the devil/enemy. I think we give the devil far too much credit for his ability to ruin lives and destroy relationships. Recently, I asked myself: “Do I believe what I believe because I really ...
A Uncultured Pearl TV →
Because a blog just isn’t enough…
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The Basics:
My name is Lauren. I’m old enough to know that politics is the longest running, largest game in the history of the world. Grew up in the Baptist church, went COGIC, now I’m just trying to re-establish a relationship minus religion. I love my natural hair, napps and all. I believe that there is a song for every emotion and situation in life, I live off of music. Lastly, I’m the...
