i came across this post a guy did last night on another blog where he stated,

now i’m not new to this phenomenon, but can i ask WTF is up with this #teamlightskinned #teamdarkskinned? don’t blacks deal with enough prejudice and racism in the world? now you’re gonna make a sub-category of racism in our own culture?!

So, it is Black History Month and while we celebrate the achievements and great things that have happened for black people let’s not overlook some things that are holding us back. The month of February is a great time of remembrance and celebration. Even though we should be proud 24/7, 365 of who we are and where we come from, it is also a time of learning. As a people, we need to learn to better protect ourselves when it comes to our reproductive health. Embrace and enjoy the celebration of black during the month of February but also know that HIV is greatly affecting our community and if we continue to ignore it we will no longer be able to enjoy the month of Black History or any month. Monday, February 7^th is National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness and Information day. Falls right into Black History Month really nicely, doesn’t it?

Seriously, go out on Monday the 7^th, get the information and get tested. I’ll even help with the information part by providing these links:

http://www.blackaidsday.org
http://www.blackaidsday.org/blacks_hiv.html

Please do click them and check out the site. And Monday morning find a site to get tested at.

Hello everyone!! I was looking around different blog sites and some are taking the time to acknowledge that today is in fact World AIDS Day. The site I look at most often though, had a nice post that came from HIV positive, international activist, Hydeia Broadbent...

How do we as blacks or minorities overcome this issue that is HIV? Is it possible? Being in school and taking an Epidemiology class I’ve learned that you have to look at the problems on the macro and micro level. I think this video does a good job of that, the big problem is HIV but what people aren’t seeing is what it takes for people to get to the point of not protecting themselves. I don’t want to say too much, I think the video is able to stand alone.

Part 1:

It's Halloween so I’m sure a lot of young girls/women will be dressing up as their beloved Nicki Minaj. I think this piece I came across showed up at the right time. I’ve been browsing a couple blog sites and kept coming across this one particular piece that has a lot of people talking. A young woman by the name of Jasmine Mans, did an original spoken word piece entitled “Nicki Minaj” at an event at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. Miss Jasmine Mans has undeniable talent but from some of the comments I’ve been seeing, I feel like her message is going completely over some people’s heads and bringing all of Ms Minaj’s little Barbies bad sides out.

I enjoy spoken word but I even had to listen more than once to fully get what this young lady was saying. I personally don’t think this young woman was completely trying to “go in” or diss Nicki Minaj, but rather shed a little light on what kind of effect the industry or money in general has on people. I feel like she’s addressing the change Nicki Minaj went through from when she was trying to get her foot in the door, to now. I also don’t feel like what was said, applies to just Nicki Minaj, it could go hand in hand for female rappers like Lil Kim, Foxy Brown or Trina (just saying because these are the three names that are also being associated with Nicki Minaj’s “sex selling image”), it’s just that Nicki Minaj is the only one relevant and appealing right now.

And while I will say she is relevant and doing the most, is she really the female emcee young women should look up to? Because we don’t know Nicki Minaj the person; all we know is this character she’s portraying, which is a Barbie that at one point in time didn’t cater to little girls of color. There was a time when white Barbie’s would just be dipped in black paint and when that paint chipped all that was left was again, a white Barbie that doesn’t even represent Nicki Minaj’s (fake or real) curvaceous figure. There’s nothing wrong with being sexy but is Nicki really that different from the video vixens that get such negative attention? Is Nicki Minaj really doing what she’s doing for women or is she hindering us even more? [Kanye Shrug] thoughts anyone?

thoughts anyone?

Just read Cree's post and just viewed the video below, on BET's 106 & Park Top Ten Countdown. Find this very fitting and again I ask...what's going on?