I LOVE HER!!

RIHANNA
I admit, she is my girl crush... but can you blame me, she is gorgeous, talented, and the girl has style!! (not to mention she has a great haircut... hehe)

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: ERNIE DAVIS

Ernie Davis aka The Elmira Express was a 2 time All American and the first Black Heisman Trophy winner. He played football at Syracuse University, where he led the Orangemen to a National Championship in 1959. He was the first round draft pick in the 1962 draft, going to the Redskins, but was almost immediately traded to the Cleveland Browns. Tragically, he was never able to play a professional game because he was diagnosed with Luekemia, and died at the young age of 23, less than a year after being drafted. Although he never played a game with them, the Browns retired his #45 jersey. I just watched The Express, which is the story of his life, and I really recommend you rent it to. It is an inspirational yet tragic story about Ernie Davis.

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: ZORA NEALE HURSTON

"I belong to no race nor time. I am the eternal feminine with its string of beads"

Zora Neale Hurston is the author of my favorite book of all time,

Their Eyes Were Watching God

If you have not read it, I suggest you go out and get it right now. I do not know much about her life, accept she was a part of the Harlem Renaissance era, and she is an amazing writer. Although, I don't know much about her history, she was the first writer to make me love reading, and so for that alone, I must give her some shine. I think I will go research her and her other writings now!!

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: FREDRICK DOUGLASS

"I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."

Fredrick Douglass has such an impressive life story. He was born a slave, and while enslaved, he learned to read and write, and even began teaching secret classes so other slaves could read and write. He escaped from slavery at the age of 20, and moved north. He got involved as an abolitionist, and became an anti-slavery lecturer. Later in life he wrote his autobiography Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, it became an instant success and was a best-seller. Within 3 years, his autobiography was translated and sold throughout Europe, and remember, this was in the 1800’s, and slavery was still legal, so for a former slave to accomplish all of this, is pretty amazing. He published 2 other autobiographies and was the editor of an abolitionist newspaper, and eventually created the Fredrick Douglass Paper. His speeches and writings played a big part in the abolishment of slavery, and opened many people’s eyes to how brutal and inhumane slavery was. For more info, go to...

http://www.winningthevote.org/FDouglass.html

GETTING TO KNOW BLACK HISTORY: HUEY P. NEWTON

"The first lesson a revolutionary must learn is that he is a doomed man. Unless he understands this, he does not grasp the essential meaning of his life." - Huey P. Newton

Huey P. Newton is the co-founder of the Black Panther Party. He believed that through armed self-defense, the Black community could fight oppresion. He studied law at Oakland City College and the San Fransisco Law School. He learned that everyone has the right to bear unconcealed arms. So this is how the Black Panthers rolled, they were organized and disciplined, they openly and legally carried guns. They protected their community from the abuse of the Oakland PD. The Black Panthers eventually got a false rep for being dangerous and violent, when in reality, they were only trying to get equal justice and resources for their people. Newton was also responsible for starting many community programs. One of those being the Free Breakfast for School Children Program, where the Black Panthers cooked and served breakfast for poor, inner-city kids. This became so popular, the Black Panthers opened kitchens all across the country and ended up feeding over 10,000 kids everyday. That was just one of the over 35 Survival Programs that the Black Panthers and Huey P. Newton provided for Black communities across the country. For more information you can google his name of course or you can check out

http://www.blackpanther.org/legacynew.htm

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In honor of Black History Month, for each day of the month, I am going to post about important African American figures in History. I am going to try to think out of the box and write about people who aren't always given credit for their importance in history. I am not going to write an entire biography, I am only going to write things that I find particularly important. I hope that you will research and learn more about each person :)

FRIDAY FLOWS

I could probably do a Bob Marley song every friday, because he has so much amazing work. But I will try to give other artists some shine as well. However, today, I was feeling a little "DAM THE MAN" so I had to put this song up... It is so meaningful and I think it is especially deep considering the times we are in.

REDEMTION SONG

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;

Sold I to the merchant ships,

Minutes after they took I

From the bottomless pit.

But my hand was made strong

By the 'and of the Almighty.

We forward in this generation

Triumphantly.

Won't you help to sing

These songs of freedom?

-'Cause all I ever have:

Redemption songs;Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;

None but ourselves can free our minds.

Have no fear for atomic energy,'

Cause none of them can stop the time.

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look?

Ooh!Some say it's just a part of it:

We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing

These songs of freedom?

-'Cause all I ever have:

Redemption songs;

Redemption songs;

Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;

None but ourselves can free our mind.

Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,

'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.

How long shall they kill our prophets,

While we stand aside and look?

Yes, some say it's just a part of it:

We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing

Dese songs of freedom?

-'Cause all I ever had:

Redemption songs

-All I ever had:

These songs of freedom,Songs of freedom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjzY0lXlrj0

By the way, this is probably my favorite song of all time.

WHO HAS BETTER HAIR: PANTENE VS SUPERBOWL

Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals
Pantene Pro-V model

Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Pantene Pro-V model

YOU DECIDE

I LOVE THIS LADY: PINK

She has been making hits since she came out with the pink hair. She is very talented, she always speaks her mind, and she is beautiful. Her new song "sober" is amazing, and here is a link where you can watch her singing it live at the AMA's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ9wg8XdRHo

LUPE... HE'S A GOOD GUY

See, now this is what I like to see, rapper Lupe Fiasco is being honored for being a positive influence. The USA Network has a new awards show that honors people who are "positively influencing American culture" with their "opinions, style, and view on the world".

Well Congrats Lupe, he has definately broken the mold of what people expect a rapper to be.

Here is a video you can watch about him

http://www.usanetwork.com/characterapproved/honorees/fiasco/video.html

FRIDAY FLOWS

Ok everyone, so I've decided that Friday Flows is going to be a regular thing, where I post lyrics and links to music I think everyone should hear. So for the first round, I decided to go with some songs from the beautiful, and always inspiring Erykah Badu. If you are not familiar with her, well I suggest you get familiar, because she is quite a force. This first song is for all the ladies, and I'm talking about ALL the ladies, young and old. It is a great song to listen to when you're starting off your day.

Cleva

This is how I look without makeup

And with no bra my ninny's sag down low

My hair ain't never hung down to my shoulders

And it might not grow, shit, Ya' never know

But I'm clever when I bust a rhyme

I'm cleva always on ya' mind

She's cleva and I really wanna grow

But why come you're the last to know?

I got a little pot in my belly

So now a days my figure ain't so fly

My dress ain't cost nothin' but seven dollars

But I made it fly

And I'll tell ya why

But I'm clever when I bust a rhyme

I'm cleva always on ya' mind

She's cleva and I really wanna grow

But why come I'm the last to know?

Alright, alright, alright

Alright, alright, alright

Alright, alright, alright

Alright, alright, alright yeah

Alright with me

Said that I'm alright with me

Said that I'm alright with meS

aid that I'm alright with me

Said that I'm alright with me

Said that I'm alright with me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uUlcqPqolU

And now onto song #2. Also by Miss Badu, this one is another one for the women that I love. I hope you all listen to this, feel a little cocky and get some attitude!

Booty

Your booty might be bigga

But I still can pull your nigga

But I don't want him

Ya got sugar on your pita

But ya nigga thinks I'm sweeter

But I don't want him

Ya know the whole encyclopedia

But ya nigga thinks I'm deeper

But I don't want him

Got a whole lot a junk off in ya trunk

But ya nigga think I'm live and I keep him crunk

I don't want him

Hey, hey, hey

I don't want him cause of what he doin to you

And you don't need him

Cause he ain't ready

See I don't want him

If he ain't made no arrangement with you

I hope you would've done the same thing for me too

Your kisses might be wetter

But your nigga likes mine better

But I don't want him

Ya got the beans and rice and the hot ho cakes

But ya nigga still over here in my plate

I don't want him

Ya got a PHD, Magna Cum Laude

But ya nigga love me with a GED

I don't want him

You the one with all the money

And he knows my money's funny

But I don't want him

Hey, hey, hey

I don't want him

Cause of what he doin to you

And you don't need him

Cause the boy ain't ready

Got ya pad all decked out fa sho

But ya niggas at my door, though

I don't want him

Well you can do the butterfly and the tootsie roll

But ya nigga straight sprung off the way I stroll

I don't want him

Ya know the whole 120 + degree

But you can't keep ya guy up off his knees

I don't want him

Got a 9-5 and a 6-10

But ya nigga told me not to work again

I don't want him

Hey, hey, hey

I don't want him

Cause of what he doin to you

And you don't need him

Cause he ain't ready

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1-dWqqy1A8

ENJOY!!

MAKING CHANGES

President Obama has ordered that Guantanamo Bay be closed within one year. It is good to see that he is following through on promises. In case you don't know, the military prison at Guantanamo is where our government has kept foreign nationals without charging them of any crimes. These people have no rights, and have been held and tortured for years without any trial or review.

Hopefully this will help to repair the US's image abroad.

SOMEONE YOU SHOULD GET TO KNOW

Tim Wise is a man who writes about different racial issues. I find his work quite enlightening and I suggest you check him out. You can find some of his writing at http://www.redroom.com/blog/tim-wise

Only you can free your mind ;)

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING

*sigh* I think I will dream about these boots tonight

MOMMA NEEDS NEW SHOES

.... and these would surely do the job

BAG LADY

I love this beautiful bag by Rebecca Minkoff

IT'S A CELEBRATION BITCHES!!

How can you not love this guy?? Today is the most historic day in most of our lives. I am so happy to be a part of it. I hope President Obama will help our country become more united, and bring us the change that we need so bad. His speech today was great, my favorite part was....

"And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more"

I also thought it was very classy for Obama to thank George Bush for his service, and it was hilarious how there were only about 7 people clapping for him. LOL.

I am so proud that we have elected this intelligent, humble, black man as our new leader.