03 December 2010

Morehouse Appropriate Attire Policy.



The recent controversy at Morehouse College regarding the implementation of their dress code policy has sparked a long overdue conversation amongst the young African American community regarding sexuality and race.

In the times of legislation such as Proposition 8 and shows like Glee and Modern Family, one would think that the ever present stigma attached to homosexuality would be extinct, however, little strains of homophobia can still be found if you look hard enough.

“I’m as open-minded as they come, but gay people have to realize that there is a certain level of repugnance [that] America, especially black America, has built up towards the idea of homosexuality. As harsh as it may sound, it’s not something that can be cured overnight or even over the span of a few years,” says 21 year old student and musician, Justin Williford of Memphis, TN.

Over the past year, Morehouse college has received major scrutiny over their “appropriate attire policy”. The dress code states that students, referred to as “Renaissance Men”, are not allowed to wear caps, du-rag’s, sunglasses, or sagging pants on the schools campus or at college sponsored events. The most eye-raising part of this code, however, is the rule regarding women’s clothing: no wearing of dresses, tops, tunics, purses, or pumps.

“We are talking about five students who are living a gay lifestyle that is leading them to dress in a way we do not expect in Morehouse Men.”, says Dr. William Bynum, Jr., Vice President for Student Services as gathered by CNN.com.

The four or five students he is referring to have been dubbed “The Plastics” (taken from the movie Mean Girls) by some of their heterosexual peers.

Following the implementation of the dress code policy, Morehouse College received a substantial amount of backlash and even had several homosexual students, some wearers of women’s clothing, transfer to other universities. Many of whom said that they felt singled out by the dress code policy.

“…even at this early of an age, it is very noticeable that some of the boys in my class are becoming more feminine than their male peers. While I see nothing wrong with this it just goes to show that some things are innate. These are babies, this isn’t something they’ve learned. It’s who they are and as a society, we should not make them feel ashamed for this,” explains 35 year old 4th grade teacher Lakata Jackson.

Before articles had been published and news hit the air waves, Morehouse president, Professor Robert Franklin, wrote a letter to college alumni in he expressed his distaste. Alumni and students alike have banded together, enraged that the prestigious university is now being reduced something other than.

“I’m all for homosexual equality, but if you eventually want to transition into a woman why even enroll at Morehouse?”, says 20 year old education major and Nashville native Jasmine Anderson. She is not alone in feeling this way.

Though we may sympathize with the four or five individuals this policy seems to target, we must take in to account things from another perspective.

As a male who eventually plans to take the journey into womanhood, why apply to an all male college at all? Also, as a privately funded institution, Morehouse College reserves the right to implement whatever rules and regulations they see fit.

“I think the dress code is ridiculous and offensive. I don’t see much difference in this situation and the hundreds of individuals who were tormented and beaten for sitting at lunch counters and using water fountains all because of the color of they’re skin. It’s a sad time when people are punished for things that they can’t control,” states Chaz Pirtle, 20 year old Mass Communications major of Nashville, TN.

No matter how you feel about the Morehouse dress code policy one thing is for certain, in this time of newly accepted self awareness, institutions like Morehouse and hundreds of others across the country are going to have to learn how to effectively deal with this new issue of human sexuality.

28 March 2010

Oh yeah... !

Brandon Hines retweeted me!
I know alot of people may not know the name, but this guy is one of the few that I can see reviving R&B.
He's only had one official album and it was ridiculous.
He just recently dropped a mixtape which was hot as well.
When I logged into twitter and saw his RT I was shamefully excited, SMH.

Another One Bites the Dust!















HA! You ever know a secret ages before anyone else, then once the masses find out you secretly laugh at them for being so late? Thats how I feel about Kelis. Kelis has BEEN dope. She's been doing the whole "weird" thing WAY before it was popular to do so. I don't know how many of you remember the 'I Hate You So Much' video, but the chick had a huge curly afro with several colors in it. Before Solange, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, and everyones beloved Lady Gaga, there was Kelis. I really hope she gets the right management this time around because she is indeed underrated.

27 March 2010

The Hard Truth.

The hard truth is that chances are, your relationship isn’t going to last through your teen years. Even if it seems like it will.We all want to believe in miraculous love, and yes, it exists, and you may find it when you’re young, but chances are something will happen to separate you two. The love will remain, the hope will remain, but a situation will arise that overwhelms the ability to be together with unbreakable obstacles. Let go, if its meant for you two to be together, one of you could go to the moon and back and you’d still end up on the same path as each other in due time.

#thatisall

24 March 2010

Thoughts of A Confused College Student.


















What to do, what to do.
In the midst of late night studying, tests and quizzes every week, and a ridiculous amount of homework, I managed to produce a thought un-related to school.
"What am I doing?"
In all honesty, I HATE SCHOOL.
I've never liked waking up early and sitting in a desk all freaking day only to return back to my place of solitude with 5 books and 10 assignments due the next day.
I am aware, however, that school is a vital tool in getting me where I want to be in life.
I've been heavily debating taking a semester off.
Most of my peers advise me not to while some are all for it.
My head is just not here and it's very plain to see on those day I wake up for class and immediately roll back over because "I don't feel like going."
I'd rather take break than stay here and fuck up what I've worked on for 2 years.
I really want to take a break, work, save up some money and return next spring when I have my stuff together.
I wanna focus on ME and do things I've always wanted to do without the hinderance of school looming over me.
I wanna take up photography and learn how to play the guitar, but my school schedule has no room for such amenities.
There's only one thing holding me back:
Once I leave, I may not want to come back.

18 March 2010

Untitled.

You ever get to a point in a relationship where its super unhealthy?
Where the constant high's and low's take such a toll on you that one phone call can completely change your whole mood?
Where you realize that as much as you may care about him/her you just cant continue the bullshit?
Well thats the kind of relationship I've been in for 19 years.
As of last night, all communication with my father has been cut off.

& surprisingly Im ok with that.

In my Dreams...

If I had the funds, I imagine that my house would look something like Nigo's.







17 March 2010

Hometown Hero: Skewby

Whoever said hard work doesn't pay off hasn't met this guy.

I love my city and I wear it on my heart proudly, but musically it's never stimulated me. Growing up listening to the sounds of Al Capone, 3 6 Mafia, and Gangsta Boo on my radio made me a little skeptical of the substance of Memphis rappers. (Not to say that I don't like them because I do, they just doesn't hold a very high caliber of lyricism.) However, the homie Skewby has definitely proved me and everyone else that thought Memphis didn't harbor lyricists wrong! Thanks to the wonderful people at Sneak Peek - Memphis, I was introduced to a young man that had punch lines and metaphors for days as well as the swag to go with it. Skewby dropped his mixtape "Proving You Wrong Since 1988" in September of 2009 and his popularity has been steadily climbing ever since. He even got the opportunity to open for Lil Wayne on his Farewell tour when it came to Memphis!

Yesterday, through Twitter, he found out that he had been featured in The Source Magazine under "Unsigned Hype". What an accomplishment! Im extremely happy and proud to see someone from Memphis being honored for something positive and not ridiculed for being on The First 48. This is a great accomplishment and I just wanna send out a BIG congrats to Skewby.

Download the mixtape here: http://skewby.bandcamp.com/

16 March 2010

05 March 2010

Music Friday!


Most people most new music on Monday, but I've always been a little different so...
Anyway, there are three artists that have been getting alot of recognition on the blogs and in the music arena and these artists are Drake, Trey Songz, and Fabolous.

First lets start off with Drake. This is the most popular nigga to never drop an album ever. After his mixtape, So Far Gone, recieved ridiculous amounts of praise and even led him to the Grammy's, many people were afraid that he wouldn't be able to live up to the hype and produce a substantial LP. Well last night he released his first single "Over" via his blog and so far there are mix reviews. Alot of people say its wack, some love it. Personally, i like it. Its not what i hoped for, but I'll take it. Me being an avid Drake fan hoped for something that wasn't "Wayne inspired". I have all three official Drake mixtapes and it seemed that with 'So Far Gone' he was finally developing and honing his OWN sound, so to see him sounding like Lil Wayne is disappointing for me. I have nothing against Lil Wayne by the way, I actually love him, but he has is own sound and I wish Drake would find his. Now with all of that being said, the single is good. I dont know how much success it will get commercially, but its good. Can't wait for the album!

Now on to Trey Songz. If yall didn't know, this is the man that I will marry. Seriously. Like Drake, I've been a Trey fan since his 'I Gotta Make It' days. I feel like a proud mother in a way. I always knew this guy had the potential and talent to be one of the greats, all he needed was the right people backing him and the opportunity, so now to see him getting all this recognition is like a breath of fresh air. Finally everybody else sees what I see. Today, Mr. "Let Me Hold That Beat" released his version of Verse Simmons' song "Buy You A Round" titled "Machine". LOVE it. nothing more to say about that. "Married to the melody, sleeping with the drum kit!" Crazy.

Lastly there's Fabolous. I've always been a Fabolous fan, but I never really listened to an entire album until 'Loso's Way'. On this new mixtape, "There's No Competition" he kills it. His punch lines and metaphors had me scrunching my face in awe and shock. Niggas (including me) have been sleeping on Fab's skills, well you can no longer deny that the guy is a force to be reckoned with.

& THAT concludes Music friday!

04 March 2010

Oh no, not the illuminati!


#Randomthoughts.

Who made the list...?

[freshmen-10-cover-full.jpeg]

So XXL has released their highly anticipated Freshmen 10 cover.
Honestly, I dont know who half of these niggas are. I recognize Wiz Khalifa, Nipsey, and my favorite J.Cole. In my opinion, J. Cole is at the head of the pack. If you haven't heard his 2nd mixtape "The Warm Up", I have no idea what you are doing with your life. It's 13 tracks of pure talent. The man has a way of telling a story like no other in the game. His flow is ridiculous!

24 February 2010

I'm a keep-to-myself kinda gal. I'd much rather observe than participate. So as I sit back and wait on this "Campus Love Jones" thing to start I ponder...what is popularity? Is it being the best dressed? Most talented? Best looking? And by who's standard is it based upon? My blackberry won't permit me to go any further, so I'll finish this when I get to a computer......the show is starting anyway.

22 February 2010

Hip-Hop's GaGa...?

People have a lot of shit to say about Nicki Minaj, but I LOVE her. Now Im not one of those crazed fans that walks around calling themselves "Barbie", but the chick can really rap and she's original. I promise she's gonna be the hip-hop version of Lady Gaga. She's slowly but surely getting more wild with her costumes and facial expression. Check her out in the new video for "My Chick Bad" with Ludacris


P.S. (EVE is in the video as well, but if you blink you might miss her. Where has she been?! )

16 February 2010

She smiles
& they smile right back.
Never knowing her inner turmoil.
Never knowing she cries every night.

Womanly Advice.

FINE
This is the word we use at the end of any argument in which we feel we are right, but need to shut you up. NEVER use ‘Fine’ to describe how a woman looks. This will cause you to have one of those arguments.

FIVE MINUTES
This is half an hour. It is equivalent to the five minutes that your football game is going to last before you take out the trash, so I feel that it’s an even trade.

NOTHING
This means something and you should be on your toes. “Nothing” is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards. “Nothing” usually signifies an argument that will last “Five Minutes” and end with the word “Fine”.

GO AHEAD (with raised eyebrows)
This is a dare. One that will result in a woman getting upset over “Nothing” and will end with the word “Fine”.

GO AHEAD (normal eyebrows)
This means “I give up” or “do what you want because I don’t care”. You will get a raised eyebrow “Go Ahead” in just a few minutes, followed by “Nothing” and “Fine” and she will talk to you in about “Five Minutes” when she cools off.

LOUD SIGH
This is not actually a word, but is still often a verbal statement very misunderstood by men. A “Loud Sigh” means she thinks you are an idiot at that moment and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over “Nothing”.

SOFT SIGH
Again, not a word, but a verbal statement. “Soft Sighs” are one of the few things that some men actually understand. She is content. Your best bet is to not move or breathe and she will stay content.

OH
This word followed by any statement is trouble.
Example; “Oh, let me get that”. Or, “Oh, I talked to him about what you were doing last night”. If she says “Oh” before a statement, run, do not walk, to the nearest exit. She will tell you that she is “Fine” when she is done tossing your clothes out the window, but do not expect her to talk to you for at least 2 days. “Oh” as the lead-in to a sentence usually signifies that you are caught in a lie. Do not try to lie more to get out of it, or you will get raised eyebrows and a “Go ahead,” followed by acts so unspeakable that I can’t bring myself to write about them.

THAT’S OKAY
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can say to a man. “That’s Okay” means that she wants to think long and hard before visiting on you major retribution and tribulations for what ever it is that you have done. “That’s Okay” is often used with the word “Fine” and used in conjunction with a raised eyebrow “Go Ahead”. At some point in the near future when she has plotted and planned, you are going to be in some mighty big trouble.

PLEASE DO
This is not a statement, it is an offer. A woman is giving you the chance to come up with whatever excuse or reason you have for doing whatever it is that you have done. You have a fair chance to tell the truth, so be careful and you shouldn’t get a “That’s Okay”.

THANKS
A woman is thanking you. Do not faint, just say you’re welcome.

THANKS A LOT
This is much different than “Thanks”. A woman will say, “Thanks A Lot” when she is really ticked off at you. It signifies that you have hurt her in some callous way, and will be followed by the “Loud Sigh”. Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the “Loud Sigh”, as she will only tell you “Nothing”.

Stolen from Efe.
(http://loveememoree.blogspot.com)

Crack.

Happy belated V-Day!

15 February 2010

Not the Griffeys...!

Its 2:41am, Im browsing one of my favorite sneaker blogs (http://femalesneakerfiends.blogspot.com/) and what do I see?


These wonderful pair of Griffey's staring at me!
Normally Im not a big fan of Griffey's but these take the cake. They are a must have for my closet. They're supposed to be released on the 20th and you better believe I'm calling my favorite sneaker store to see if they will have them in stock.

"You're like Jordans on Saturday, I gotta have you and I cannot wait..."

11 February 2010

Race and Entertainment.



SMH. Where do I begin? John Mayer, MY John Mayer, the John Mayer who sings me to sleep every night made some very disturbing comments about his penis, black people, and his ex Jessica Simpson. Most people who read the interview (link at the bottom) was so fixated on him using the N-word that they completely disregarded the other ignorant shit he said. I wasn't so much upset at his usage of the N-word because lets be honest, had that been Kanye, Jay-Z, or Lil Wayne that said it, it wouldnt have been an issue. Do I think its an acceptable word for him to use? No, but thats at the bottom of his stupid pile.


Question: "Do black women throw themselves at you?"

Answer: I don’t think I open myself to it. My dick is sort of like a white supremacist. I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock. I’m going to start dating separately from my dick.

MY problem with his interview is the David Duke comment and the fact that he refers to his penis as a "white supremacist". Like WTH. Really though? So basically what you're saying is forget the fact that I have millions of BLACK FEMALE fans that LOVE and BUY my music, I still wouldnt be with them. Some shit is better left unsaid. Even if thats how he felt/feels we couldve went without that information.

I also find it strange how easily people forgave him. It was like as soon as he released a statement/apology via Twitter, people instantly gave him a pass. Now lets rewind to about 5 months ago... remember the whole Kanye West and Taylor Swift fiasco? I do. Kanye West has apologized plenty of times, but to no avail. People refuse to let it go. Simply put, he's been "blackballed". He hasn't been invited to any award shows this season nor has he been nominated. I find this to be bullshit. Kanye West's 808's and Heartbreaks album was one of the best rap albums out last year and for the Grammy's to snub him for something that happened 5 months ago is ridiculous. The media slayed Kanye West, but John Mayer's comments went relatively unnoticed.

So this all has me thinking about how race and entertainment coincide. Alot of people have forgiven John Mayer saying that thats just how he is. He's a natural born asshole so that what they expect. Well, so is Kanye. We all know that Kanye is extremely outspoken with ass-hole tendencies so why forgive one and not the other. Is it because one is black and the other is white?

09 February 2010

#FreeWeezy

Lil Wayne has made it to the trending topics on Twitter.
All of his Young Money counterparts have been furiously tweeting "#freeweezy" and I have only one question...
How can you free someone that's already free?
Lil Wayne was supposed to go prison today to start his one year sentence, BUT his sentencing was postponed. Why, you ask? A dentist appointment! Yep, that's right.
Turns out Wayne's grill is going under the knife on February 12 so the judge won't throw him in jail until the surgery is complete.
His sentence is postponed until March 2nd and according to the judge there will be no fooling around, he will go to prison.
#wheretheydothatat?


07 February 2010

My Favorite Month.

And no it has nothing to do with Valentine's Day.
Hell I haven't had a real Valentine since high school =/
ITS BLACK HISTORY MONTH!


02 February 2010

Loose Juice.

There's this party that thrown every year called the Loose Juice party.
Loose Juice is basically any flavor Hawaiian Punch and some form of liquor...
Of course its a college party so it gets you "loose" pretty fast.

21 January 2010

This Way or That?

I've been doing alot of comtemplating lately about transferring schools.
I think I want to go back home and go to the Univ. of Memphis.It just makes more since. I need to start saving up for a new car which means I need a job and I have NO form of transportation here. Plus, Im sick and tired of asking people to take me places. "Can you take me to the bank" "Can you take me to the grocery store?" Ugh! I hate that shit. I've never been the type to ask people to do things for me, so this is really killing me. Then niggas want to have attitudes and thats something I just dont have time for. At first I really didnt wanna go back home, but its looking more and more like a possibility. I think I would be a lot more happier anyway...


15 January 2010

Sick!!

Graffiti. Madrid style.

13 January 2010

Help Haiti.

"Haiti has moved to center of the world's thoughts and the world's compassion" - British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
On tuesday afternoon, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook Haiti and left its inhabitants crumbling at its feet. No one could really imagine the extent of the damage until the next morning when horrifying images and videos started to circulate. The death toll remains unknown and to be quite honest I dont think I want to know. One of my fellow Twittians wrote, "#pleaseexplainwhy we finna help Haiti when we could BARELY HELP NEW ORLEANS ?!?!?!? HONESTLY!?!". Now while he does present a valid point, my first reaction was "What the hell is wrong with him?" Ignorance is at an all time high man. Two wrongs dont make a right. I bet if you were to ask anyone affected by Katrina if they would want Haitians to suffer simply because they did, they would answer NO. The thing that frustrates me the most is that Im almost postive this person has done nothing to help Katrina victims. No donations, no community service, nothing! People always complain, but never do anything to help execute the change.
I watched this video http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhd4jO2LN3U8fO98Fz and my mouth was hung open in shock at some parts.
I know Wyclef is helping his fellow Haitians by collecting money through Yele.com You can also use your cell phone to text “Yele” to 501501, which will automatically donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund (it will be charged to your cell phone bill). I chose this option and I hope you all will too.