Let Go of the Respectability Politics

Can Black people dead respectability politics now? It’s been tried before and guess what? It still won’t make us acceptable to white society. There is a recent story of Kevin Kelley, owner of True Kitchen, scolding Black women for twerking in his establishment. This has sparked a debate about what is respectful and disrespectful behavior...

Celebrity Culture Needs to Die Part 1: Celebrities Are Not Community Leaders!

"Show me in the white community where a comedian is a white leader. Show me in the white community where a singer is a white leader. Or a dancer. Or a trumpet player is a white leader. These aren't leaders! These are puppets and clowns that have been set-up over the Black community by the...

AAVE Is Not Stan Language (A Rant)

Once again, Black culture is being appropriated. What's new? There was a recent debate on social media about African American Vernacular English (AAVE). For a couple of years, people have been trying to rename AAVE as "Stan Language." Brittany Tomlinson, AKA "Kombucha girl", recently shared an uninformed, Tik Tok video on AAVE. She believes that...

Black Women: The Influencers of Social Media

Black women have a big influence on social media. Our influence ranges from Vine to Instagram. Viral stars are "inspired" by Black women. The IG baddie look is inspired by Black women. Let's start off with a more recent phenomenon, "Hot Girl Summer." You couldn't go anywhere in summer 2019 without somebody using that term....

Summer Walker and Social Anxiety

I’ve been disappointed but not surprised by the reaction Black people have had towards Summer Walker. Y’all were just screaming that Black people need to open up about mental health and here you are degrading a Black woman for opening up about her mental health. The reasons for it? Many people are unsympathetic to celebrities,don’t...

The Case of the “N-Word”

A recent video of notoriously, anti-Black actress, Gina Rodriguez using the n-word has sparked another debate: Who can and who can't use the n-word? So, of course, everyone has been showing their asses this week. I wanted to weigh on this touchy subject and I have A LOT to say. When Black Americans put boundaries...

This Female Rap Renaissance is Important

We are witnessing an important moment in music and Black American culture: The Black female rap renaissance. For decades, there could only be few Black female rappers around at a time. Most of them didn’t get the recognition they deserved and were held back by the misogyny in hip hop. Seeing all of these talented...

Twerking is a Cultural Dance

Twerking is a cultural dance. Why is it often seen as demeaning? Cultures within the African diaspora have similar dances that involve pelvic gyrations. Although twerking and whining are not the same, twerking most likely was influenced by our African ancestry. Why is whining seen as a legit cultural dance while twerking is not?As influential as...

Celebrating Black Women’s History Month: Black Fashion Icons

    Everyday is a celebration of Black women for me. But, since April is Black Women's History Month: I'll be posting many blog posts celebrating Black women. This week's post celebrates Black fashion icons.   Lil Kim- “The first rap bitch to rock Chanel,” sums it up. One of the first female rappers to...

Black Men: Stop Enabling Culture Vultures

(Disclaimer: This isn’t an attack on Black men. I’m calling out the ignorant Black men who allow this. If it doesn’t apply, let it fly. If you don’t like what I’m saying, then call these men out.) Non-Black women have been able to use their “exotic” appeal as their way into Black culture for awhile...