Bubbly & Bling

Back in the day, there was a major uprising in the black community, nay, the hip-hop community, when Tommy Hilfiger said he didn't want black people wearing his clothing. Now it seems (approx. 15 years later) another major industry is declaring the same sentiment. Jean-Claude Rouzaude, the former manager of Roederer Estates, the company that makes the popular celebrity champagne, Cristal, has told The Economist (summer edition) of the discomfort the publicity from hip-hop stars has given them. He even went as far as saying that he's sure Krug and Dom Perignon wouldn't mind taking the hip-hop industry's business from them.

Jay Z is now boycotting the label and refuses to sell Cristal in his New York Club, 40/40, and has replaced it with Krug and Dom. A wise move, in my opinion. I will no longer patronize that company's products, either, and I will tell everyone I know who drinks it to stop. Anyone whose goal it is to "sip Cris in da club" will also be informed of this travesty. For all the progress the media keeps claiming we've made in race relations, there is always someone or something out there to remind us that it's not. If anything, race relations are inflamed. Is this 2006 or 1906? And why should Roederer Estates care who is buying from them? Do they realize that the hip-hop industry makes up a major portion of their annual sales? If they don't realize the impact that hip-hop has on the world, and in marketing and commerce, they will be learning the hard way. Will I feel sorry for them? Hmmm...in the immortal words of Whitney Houston: "Hell to tha no!"

View the inflammatory article here: Bubbles and Bling

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday, mommy! You are the best, and I love you with all my heart. I know you'll be around for many more. You better be, or I'll have no travel partner, no shopping buddy, no nothing!!! You are simply the best. We've been through so mcuh together and because of that, we have forged a bond, a relationship, that is unique in and of itself. There's no other pair like us out there in this world. Nuff said.

It All Starts at Home

I am always inspired and motivated to achieve more when I hear success stories of people (especially minorities) who come from impoverished backgrounds. The following article is about one such family who didn't use their situation as a crutch or excuse to become delinquents or take on roles society would expect them to have. I just might go out and buy the book to show my appreciation for this family overcoming the struggle. None of us should have excuses not to excel in every and any way we can, no matter our positions in life. We must fight to get what we feel/think/know we deserve!

(*Grammatical errors in the following article are not my own. You know I'm a stickler for grammar, but I do not want to touch another person's work without his/her permission.)

"It All Starts At Home: 15 Reasons to Put Families First"

Fayetteville, NC - "“It All Starts at Home: 15 Reasons to Put Family First" (Revell/Baker Publishing) a classic family and parenting book by Larry C. Harris, M.D. written with best-selling author Cecil Murphey, is just what the doctor ordered.


A tribute to Harris'’ parents, with help from his siblings, "“It All Starts at Home" tells the inspirational story of Fred and Ruth Harris, uneducated African-American's who had ten children born in the south before the Civil Rights movement took hold. Remarkably, instead of the children becoming a product of their society, school dropouts to become lifelong welfare recipients, they all became well-educated and successful citizens with values and life principles that shaped their lives and made them productive members of society.

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Resting on the simple concept the family comes first, "“It All Starts at Home"” incorporates 15 lessons the Harris'’ taught their children. These lessons were common sense child-rearing attributes empowered with great wisdom, much love, and strong discipline influenced their children for a lifetime. Lessons included: honor your name; because mom and dad lived what they taught, we had no trouble following; each child is responsible for the next younger child; always be willing to give to those who are less fortunate than you are, any honest job is good, no matter what it is; and we'’re as good as anybody else, no one is inferior.

"”My parents may have been uneducated, but that didn'’t stop them,"” states Larry Harris, M.D. "“Dad earned his GED while he was in the army. He also received his bachelor'’s degree in business, but only after all of us had gone through college. Mom, who had quit school in the eleventh grade, went back and graduated from high school. Later she completed a college course in business machines at a community college . . . none of us have ever been on drugs or alcohol, been arrested, or involved in any kind of behavior to bring reproach on the family. Whatever we'’ve amounted to in this life it'’s because our family wisely and lovingly taught us the right way to go."

The testimonies the family endured of prejudices and racism through the Civil Rights movement, the endless sacrifices Fred and Ruth Harris made for their children, the life lessons forever earned is forthcoming in "“It All Starts at Home." It impacted this family and is sure to impact others for years to come.

Foreword by Dr. Ben Carson, author of "“Gifted Hands"” and college roommate of Dr. Larry Harris.

ISBN#: 0-8007-5908-7
Publisher: Revell/Baker Books
Price: $12.99, paper
Pages: 224

www.itallstartsathome.com

Hooray, Miami Heat!!!

Before the Miami Heat won the Championship against Dallas:



After the Miami Heat won the Finals:






It was pretty crazy in the streets and everyone was super excited to be a part of sports history. I had a ball just getting stuck in traffic and walking with the celebrants up and down the overcrowded streets. Yet, even though I was happy and eager to participate in any festivities, the aftermath was a little anti-climactic for me. I know, people are probably like, "Is she nuts? How could it be anything but bananas fun?!?" Let me explain: I'm from Chicago, home of the legendary Chicago Bulls. I took part in each of the six, yes six, championship victories. So, I'm somewhat spoiled. Those days were utter chaos; no one knew how to handle such mobs, the city wasn't prepared for such riots after a simple little sporting event. Chicago paved the way for basketball celebrations in the streets, and also taught every other major US city how to prepare in the event some other team might eventually win... (Those were the days!)

[Congrats D. Wade (he's a Chi-town native as well) for winning a ring and MVP. You deserve it for all the hard work and wicked shots you made throughout the season.]

Miami and South Beach are the places to be and party, but Chicago has basketball championship parties on lock!!!

Brain Patterns

Your Brain's Pattern

Structured and organized, you have a knack for thinking clearly. You are very logical - and you don't let your thoughts get polluted with emotions. And while your thoughts are pretty serious, they're anything from boring. It's minds like yours that have built the great cities of the world!

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

I Can't Hear You!!!!

Why is it that, when people know you are in a club or some other loud environment, they insist on callin you anyway? Isn't that one of the beautiful and splendid things about text messaging? But, of course, I forget about all that as well and actually pick up the call amid blaring music and thumping bass while right in the middle of my little shimmy, rather than forcing the person so desperately trying to contact me and join me in my world to text me his/her/their location. I will not be so forgetful next time. Thanks, Jen, for taking this candid of me screaming into my phone!

Nina

For those who appreciate jazz, You know that Nina Simone was a force and category all her own. For those who haven't heard her dynamic voice and compelling lyrics, I highy suggest you do a little audio research. I probably have at least one version of every song she ever released, along with live one-night-only performances. She is a sort of hero of mine and she deserves recognition from the newer generations. Never forget the pioneers, never forget those who came before us so that we might progress. Nina, you are loved, adored and respected. You are eternally among us and your voice breathes life still.

Check out Nina Simone in all her glory.





What a woman!

Derek

Loking into the archives of poetry I've written, my friend has written, and poetry we've shared from luminaries whose words touch us, I found this little gem from Derek Walcott, a poetry master.

The Fist

The fist clenched round my heart
loosens a little, and I gasp
brightness; but it tightens
again. When have I ever not loved
the pain of love? But this has moved

past love to mania. This has the strong
clench of the madman, this is
gripping the ledge of unreason, before
plunging howling in the abyss.

Hold hard then, heart. This way at least you live.

How did this make you feel?