Can you guys believe that I bought ANOTHER copy of Harry Potter (book # 7)?
It’s a special limited edition book. Its full color and have more drawings inserted in the back. I have planned on not opening this book. I want to save it. It will be a collector’s piece for when I open my own library.
I have also decided to start a book section. Like my own book club. I want to review the newest books that I read and love. My book club will be cooler than Oprah’s. Yes, I said it.
About two weeks ago I asked you guys for suggestions and they poured in. Thanks. I have a stack of books next to my nightstand. And I plan to stay up many hours of the night to complete them.
On my list of books to review:
- Time Taught Me to Fly by Russell Nichols (FAMU Graduate and my friend, so pick that one up at Amazon when you get a chance).
- Lessons From the Fall by D.L. Carpenter (another FAMU alumnae, very special lady. I had the privilege spending an entire summer with her and she is going to do more great things in the future. Very inspiring. Pick that one up too.)
… One of my main goals is to support other HBCU grads, students or anyone Black who is trying to do something positive. Whether you are a video game designer (Ivan) or trying to peddle your new perfume. I usually buy two copies of these books and things. One to keep and one to give as a gift. By the way I am ordering Black Sheep by Black Ivory Toldson, (Thanks for the look Enitra)
Back to the book list:
-The Art of Seduction by Robert Greene
-What Your Mama Never Told You (True Stories About Sex and Love), edited by Tara Roberts
- And the Walls Came Tumbling Down by Ralph David Abernathy
I will be posting reviews soon. Check back.
~b.
…I believe that I am going to change the entire world one day.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
No Hyphen
I was reading an e-mail from my cousin. It was about something funny. I can't remember because the thing that stood out to me was my cousin's name. She signed her name: Treva Mitchell.
And I just thought that was sooo AWESOME!
Plain and simple, this is a note for Black women.
I loved the way she wrote her name. Treva just got married a little over a year ago. I thought it was a great look the way she wrote her name. She did not write in her maiden name: Treva Green Mitchell or (the way I see a lot of Black women write) Treva Green-Mitchell.
Black women have this bad habit of using a hyphen in their new last name. That's not right, if you ask me. I told her Mitchell is a nice ring. I think Black women should drop their maiden name and acknowledge whoever they marry as the Head. We know Treva is independent. If we as Black women continue to do that we will continue to slow the progress of OUR Black males in this European society. Because little boys look at that and grow up thinking, well I will never get her to accept me for all that I am if she continues to bathe in this society's mentality of "Independence." But at the same time I understand that you gotta survive, and that's a way to do it. Its also wrong.
Now, while she was engaged she battled with the decision to use a hyphen or not. And she was also wise enough to know that she was going into a marriage to become ONE. If you are using the hyphen, you are probably planning on getting a divorce and not letting the marriage grow from the start, she said.
So, I asked.
"At your wedding, who gave you away," I said.
"My father," she responded.
OK!!! "Great your father gave you away, so it’s OK to drop the name because you are now apart of a new family."
Treva's family loves her. She will always be her mom and dad's child. At the same time, her father gave his blessings to start a new family.
At the end of the conversation we laughed a little just at the thought that great minds think a like.
Then she said, "If the guy was a ballplayer, who made millions of dollars Black women would be quick to drop their name and take his."
Probably.
just a thought,
~b.
And I just thought that was sooo AWESOME!
Plain and simple, this is a note for Black women.
I loved the way she wrote her name. Treva just got married a little over a year ago. I thought it was a great look the way she wrote her name. She did not write in her maiden name: Treva Green Mitchell or (the way I see a lot of Black women write) Treva Green-Mitchell.
Black women have this bad habit of using a hyphen in their new last name. That's not right, if you ask me. I told her Mitchell is a nice ring. I think Black women should drop their maiden name and acknowledge whoever they marry as the Head. We know Treva is independent. If we as Black women continue to do that we will continue to slow the progress of OUR Black males in this European society. Because little boys look at that and grow up thinking, well I will never get her to accept me for all that I am if she continues to bathe in this society's mentality of "Independence." But at the same time I understand that you gotta survive, and that's a way to do it. Its also wrong.
Now, while she was engaged she battled with the decision to use a hyphen or not. And she was also wise enough to know that she was going into a marriage to become ONE. If you are using the hyphen, you are probably planning on getting a divorce and not letting the marriage grow from the start, she said.
So, I asked.
"At your wedding, who gave you away," I said.
"My father," she responded.
OK!!! "Great your father gave you away, so it’s OK to drop the name because you are now apart of a new family."
Treva's family loves her. She will always be her mom and dad's child. At the same time, her father gave his blessings to start a new family.
At the end of the conversation we laughed a little just at the thought that great minds think a like.
Then she said, "If the guy was a ballplayer, who made millions of dollars Black women would be quick to drop their name and take his."
Probably.
just a thought,
~b.
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
New Respect
Shaq has always been respected. He towers well over 7 feet and weighs more than 325 pounds. Whether off the basketball court or on the court, a guy of his size just commands respect. Everyone who runs across him, probably just part ways to give him room. He wears custom made clothes. I would hate to share a plane seat with him. I would feel like the entire time my side is lopsided or something.
It has always been easy to respect the physical aspect of a guy. But I really like what Shaq has done lately. He has his own show, Shaq’s Big Challenge. And it focuses on helping pre-teens lose weight.
Personally I think the program is Awesome! America has so many choices of food. Children have access to more food that’s unhealthy for them than in the past. Add in video games and television and it’s a path for self-destruction. We have all heard older people say “it was better back then.” Sure, they are right. They had exercise. Now, there were fattening foods, but they had exercise.
Times have changed. And which is why I think Shaq is great. He has had his own battles with weight on and off the court. Then the NBA provides him with experts to keep him healthy. So, Instead of him saying, “Oh, it was better back then,” or just “get out an exercise.” This guy took his own personal trainer and chef and hand picked the kids who he felt needed the most help then he helped them. He showed them. He worked out with them. He encouraged them. This mega SuperStar took his off-season and spent time with kids who really needed it. The kids looked so much better. They gained confidence.
I used to just think Shaq was just this talented basketball player who joked around a lot. Now, I have an entire new respect for him. I respected him, but it’s different. No. 32 has great personality. He’s not entirely perfect, but he took what he knew and made it work to make others feel better.
As a world class winner should. I guess that’s what this life is for. Now I’m motivated.
by example,
~b.
It has always been easy to respect the physical aspect of a guy. But I really like what Shaq has done lately. He has his own show, Shaq’s Big Challenge. And it focuses on helping pre-teens lose weight.
Personally I think the program is Awesome! America has so many choices of food. Children have access to more food that’s unhealthy for them than in the past. Add in video games and television and it’s a path for self-destruction. We have all heard older people say “it was better back then.” Sure, they are right. They had exercise. Now, there were fattening foods, but they had exercise.
Times have changed. And which is why I think Shaq is great. He has had his own battles with weight on and off the court. Then the NBA provides him with experts to keep him healthy. So, Instead of him saying, “Oh, it was better back then,” or just “get out an exercise.” This guy took his own personal trainer and chef and hand picked the kids who he felt needed the most help then he helped them. He showed them. He worked out with them. He encouraged them. This mega SuperStar took his off-season and spent time with kids who really needed it. The kids looked so much better. They gained confidence.
I used to just think Shaq was just this talented basketball player who joked around a lot. Now, I have an entire new respect for him. I respected him, but it’s different. No. 32 has great personality. He’s not entirely perfect, but he took what he knew and made it work to make others feel better.
As a world class winner should. I guess that’s what this life is for. Now I’m motivated.
by example,
~b.
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