Spinning Out of Control

In honor of Black History Month, I would like to bring awareness to issues in the Black community.  Today I'd like to shed light on healthy living and working out, especially for Black women.  Well, there is one workout that many Black women don't participate in. No, not yoga.  Spinning. You know why? Cuz the seats are made for women who are not as *clears throat* blessed.

Look, I've tried to do spinning with all this wagon I'm draggin, and it just don't work.  For the first 5 minutes you're fine but the more you get into the workout, the more the seat gets into your...well, you know.

So for Black History Month, I would like to start a petition to expand the size of the seats on spinning machines. I'm taking this one all the way to the White House, to Michelle Obama herself!  I know she feels my pain....

Sarah Baartman

Have you ever heard of Sarah Baartman? What about Jennifer Lopez? I know you've heard of Nicki Minaj.  What do all three of these ladies have in common...giant asses...ummm, rear ends.

You've probably not heard of Sarah Baartman because she lived in the 1800's.  Well, just like her modern day counterparts, she was lauded for her back side.  She was so celebrated that she was taken on a world wide traveling freak show.  She was so admired that after she passed away, her genitalia was studied by modern science.  She was so revered that people all over the world assumed all Black women were hyper-sexualized beasts.  I guess you can say she was a celebrity.


Fast forward to today.  Women are extolled for their bodies in music videos and strip clubs.  Television would have you believe that all Black women are hyper-sexualized with tons of babies.  And how do we respond?  With life-threatening ass shots and booty pops.  When did our butts become our most important attribute?  The problem is, once you become just an 'ass' YOU are no longer important.

For Black History Month, think of the implications of our adoration and celebration of the almighty ass.  After all, it was only a short time ago that Sarah Baartman was the world's biggest celebrity.

Everyone's a little bit Racist

I've recently been forced to confront the fact that I'm Black.  I know, this is news to you as well.  Lemme explain.  I've spent my whole life being a loving daughter/sister, a model student, best friend ever, and an exemplary teacher.  But to some folks, regardless of all of those magnificent attributes, I'm still ... just ... Black.

Don't get me wrong, I love being Black!  My people have such a rich history & have been through so much, it's amazing we're still standing.  However, there are some people who can't rejoice in our successes because to them we'll always be second-class citizens; not smart enough, not pretty enough, not deserving of anything.

No matter how far we think we've progressed as a country, there are still some people who only see race.  Let's take this month, as short as it is, to have open dialogues & confront these issues head on. Otherwise, like a pot of boiling water left unattended, our underlying issues will spill out onto the surface.  Trust me, I know first hand...

29 Days

This month, schools will hang pictures of Frederick Douglass, Soledad O'Brien will profile left-handed Black people named Tom, and children will finally learn the difference between George Washington and George Washington Carver.  That's right kids.......It's Black History Month!

That's right, yall tried to give us this short ass, coldest month of the year.  But guess what: thanks to global warming, it's gonna be 60 degrees today and thanks to Leap Year, we got 29 days this year.  HA!  Between Red Tails & Blue Ivy, Blacks are having the best year ever!