Have a Seat

When I think about it, all great Civil Rights movements started with someone sitting down. Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin sat for the Montgomery bus boycott. It lasted 381 days but it was the spark for a national movement. Lunch counter sit ins were used in the 1960s with college students sitting silently at lunch counters all over the South.  

Hmm, now that I think about, mainstream America didn't like that one too much either. 

And now we have Colin Kaepernick who chose to sit down during the national anthem to bring awareness to issues of social injustices and racism. But wait a minute Kap..you can't mess with our football! A march in Baltimore or a rally in Baton Rouge, no one minded. But messing with football, which mainstream America loves right after Jesus and apple pie is downright unacceptable. 

If only the tenaciousness with which you defend this song you denounced institutionalized racism, police brutality (of some cops, not all), and the list goes on. 

Kap isn't speaking disrespectfully about his country or veterans. In essence, he TOO wants to make America great, except without the walls and name calling. It's possible to believe that America is the greatest country in the world yet still challenge it because you want to see it do better. If you got an F on your report card, would your mom accept that as your best? My mom wouldn't. 

So, to everyone up in arms about Kap calling attention to issues you still refuse to recognize...go have a seat somewhere. Oh, and don't mind me, I'm sitting too. ✊🏾

30 something

Whoever said they started to feel more confident and comfortable in their 30s is a damn lie. I've been "in my 30s" for a little over 2 years now & I don't know a damn thing. 

In your 20s, it's still socially acceptable to make mistakes & really not know what you're doing in this thing called life. Not good at saving money? It's cool, you'll figure it out when you're 30. You have a job but not a career? No problem, that's what 30 is for, settling into your career. Not married? It's fine, God sends husbands on 30th birthdays. 

What no one tells you about your 30s is that when you don't have the answers (just as you didn't have the answers in your 20s) you'll feel waaay worse. Should I accept this job? Maybe it's time to buy a house? Should I have a baby or get a puppy? (Either way you gotta potty train it.) Ah hell, just pour another margarita, I'll think about this tomorrow. 

So here I am...in my 30s (32 to be exact). Admitting that the only thing I know for sure is that I still don't know what I'm doing with my life and trash day is on Monday. But really, should I get a dog?

Graduation Folly

Dear Parents,

I know I'm going to ruffle a few feathers with this post and that's ok.  If you are easily offended, you should probably stop reading now and just wait 3 more months for the next blog post.  As we are entering into graduation season, please....

I beg of you....

Stop calling your child ADVANCING to another grade a GRADUATION.

I know, you're very proud of lil Ti Ti for completing 8th grade and moving on up to high school. And you prayed night after night that lil Ray Ray would pass all her final exams to get into Kindergarten.  But unless your child is graduating from 12th grade or 16th grade....It's not a graduation and I don't care.

The problem is, our society likes to celebrate moving up from 3rd grade to 4th grade like it's a huge accomplishment. And it's not.  It's like passing out trophies of participation to kids; it's a nice gesture but it makes the championship trophy meaningless.

We should be pushing all of our kids to graduate from high school and going on to higher education.  THAT is a real accomplishment.  No seriously, have you seen what standardized tests look like these days? Half of us wouldn't have made it out of high school.

Parents, I didn't mean to kill your vibe.  I'm happy you're so happy.  Just keep up that enthusiasm & zealousness as your kids grow older.  Trust me, they'll need it.

Shawty, I do mind.

Have I told y'all how much I dislike the music on the radio? Well one of my least favorite songs on the radio right now is "Shawty, I don't mind" by Usher. In this song he says, and I quote, "Shawty I don't mind if you dance on a pole, that don't make you a ho." His stripper 'girlfriend' has gotten an entire song written about her and how hard-working she is...taking off her clothes and dancing naked for strangers.

Buuuuuuut, who's going to make a song about me? I want somebody to drop 16 bars about me attaining two masters degrees, managing 30 staff.  Hell, rap about my vitae or my mutual funds.  If the only thing this generation of young black girls sees are strippers and Basketball Wives glorified, what do you think they will aspire to?

So, while you trap queens have Franklins raining on your body I'm going to continue to be the best Educator I can be.

This is me, watching my stock rise

So, who got bars??

MIXtapED Emotions

Remember back in the day when you liked someone. I mean reaaaally liked someone. You'd sit on the phone all night just listening to them breathe. You'd wear their T-shirts or jacket (ladies) just cuz it smelled like him.

And you'd make them a mixtape.

Making a mixtape was an intimate profession of your puppy love. You had to figure out the songs that perfectly described your relationship or your feelings. Then you had to put in work. Wait for the songs to come on the radio, and record them one by one; you were meticulously crafting your love story for your crush.  After you painstakingly decided the 8 to 12 songs that perfectly described your love (and fit on the cassette), you delivered the mixtape and hoped that your crush would feel all your feels as they listened. 

Maybe it's time to go back to that simpler day and age. Can you imagine compiling a list of songs you know your Instagram crush likes? (Wait, that's creepy, don't do that.)  How about getting a mixtape from your new boo or from your husband on Valentine's Day?  From now until forever, you would always have a copy of the soundtrack to your love.

What song would be on your mixtape?

Card Tricks

We've all been distracted. 

War. 

Terrorism. 

Racism.

Ebola. 

Karreuche. 

While we've been distracted with all of these grave and dire issues, Hallmark has steadily raised the prices on greeting cards. No longer can you go to CVS and get a lovely $1 card to express how you truly feel about your family and friends set to a rhyme. Now, cards range from $4.59 to $4037. I recently went to a wedding and after spending all of my money on a lovely card, I gave the new bride and groom a check for $9.41. In my note I wrote "Sorry I couldn't give more, but wasn't that card beautiful?" 

Well Hallmark, I'm on to you. 

I'll be watching you. 

Every step you take, every prose you make, Div is watching you.

Gimme More

Hey guys!!

I know...it's been a long time but I wanted to share my big news. Guess what? I moved! That's right this New York City gal no longer lives in New York City. And you won't believe where I moved. Baltimore Maryland!! Or, for The Wire fans, Bodymore, Murderland. (I kid I kid.) So far, I've really enjoyed the city. I mean, I haven't gotten shot yet so really what's there to complain about??

When I told my friends I was moving, a lot of them asked me why would I leave New York for Baltimore. Hell, even when I got to Baltimore people were asking me why would I leave New York for Baltimore. But, I was ready for something different.

I wanted to advance in my career.
Contrary to popular belief, I don't go out that much (besides the occasional happy hour).
And I am ready to settle down with my invisible boyfriend.

So, that's my big news! Believe it or not, I miss you guys. So I hope to give you a lil more from Baltimore.