A Beautiful Scupltor and Printmaker

 Born in 1915 in the nation's capital, Elizabeth Catlett was an astounding sculptor, and print maker. She studied design and printmaking at Howard University and changed to study sculpting when there was no sculpture division at Howard. She pushed boundaries becoming the first African American to get her Master of Fine Arts in sculpture at the University of Iowa. She mostly created pieces that depicted what she saw, images of her people, specifically black women . Her piece, Mother and Child, sculpted in limestone won first prize at the American Negro Exposition in 1940. She is the mother of America's Next Top Model Cycle 4 winner Naima. She studied wood carving in Mexico and used her art along with other artists to promote social change there. She received numerous awards and many of the outdoor sculptures she created are are displayed in Mexico; in Jackson, Mississippi; New Orleans, LA; and, Washington, D.C.

My Monday Perspective

When I hear my favorite song "Unthinkable" by my girl Alicia Keys I always think of my relationship with God and my readiness to accept his infinite love wholeheartedly. I'm ready to remain completely vulnerable to him.

 The words easily apply whenever I hear these specific part of the lyrics. "You give me a feeling that I never felt before And I deserve it, I know I deserve it "

Anyway just my take on the song.



Unthinkable lyrics

A Damn Good Father

As Fathers Day comes around again for another year I reflect on the true meaning behind the fundamentals of a man strong enough to be called a father. The birthdays, holidays, screw ups, life changing events, hobbies, failures, accomplishments, and a million other events too many to list here are at the heart of what makes a great father. Either he is or he isn’t. I know there are many sistas out there who long the relationship of a father and daughter. This gives me a sense of appreciation and gratefulness to a higher place for the blessings of having my father in my life. This man has not only ‘been there’ but has been an active participant in my growth as a child to a young lady into a woman.

They say it’s the little things that matter most in your life. I predict that is true. My most fondest birthday was last year when my father handed me a stack of books and sent me on my way after a perfect cup of his morning coffee with amaretto or hazelnut cream and a forehead kiss. Those weren’t any ordinary books. These books were full of culture, life lessons, and would give me a further sense of self. There was even a book included to teach me how to buy a car. (Ironically I would greatly need this book soon enough little did I realize)This all was of course after another one of his famous lectures about life, people, culture, and plain old common sense. These lectures are the best around and no professor could touch my father.

One of the many things my father has always instilled in me was to enjoy whatever it was I chose to do in my life and to be the best at it. He also stressed the importance of one’s knowledge of their culture. In times of adversity I recall past experiences and testimonies from my ancestors and other great minority leaders whose experienced suffering, opposition, and even death at the hands of working to better peoples lives. He has given me one of the greatest possessions I own, my creativity. My father, very artistic with a keen eye for design, art, and photography himself has helped shape the very things that are at the core of my life’s purpose.

For all the Fathers in the world who encourage their daughters to be at their best and utilize their talents for the success of others, may they be appreciated and glorified for the selfless  work they continue to do within us as growing women.

Original article 

Hearted Sex In The City but missing Sistas In The City...

Ok the chick flick Sex In The City was phenomenal. The onset of the film with "Empire State Of Mind" -Jay Z and Alicia Keys blaring through the speakers in the intro was genius and gave you a 'it's on can't wait to see this' sort of feeling right from the get go. But as the movie ended two hours later I couldn't help thinking, dang, why can't we have a Sista movie grace the screen. I mean Living Single and Girlfriends meets the ladies from Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married. I know Terry McMillan has the sequel to Waiting to Exhale coming in the Fall, but what about a sexy, savvy, summer flick starring four black women doing their thang! I mean the sitcoms are cool but I want to see more of us on the big screen together. Could get a kick out of seeing my favorites Angela Bassett (she could play the cougar type), Jada Pinkett Smith (the cultured, no nonsense having sista), Jennifer Hudson (the love struck sweetheart), and Taraji P. Henson (the single mom, finshing school, goal oriented sista). Just a random thought.

images from http://www.celebritywonder.com/

Go Janet! Chop It Off and Start Fresh.

Check out the new fierceness from Ms. Jackson. This pic was dropped on worldbuzznow.com and I am absolutely loving the new look. It's not just the look but also what cutting off all your hair represents. It represents a new beginning. I for one have did what us natural sistas call the 'BC' last night before heading off to work, and I must say I am loving it 100 per. Now I didn't go as short since my kinky roots were already a few inches out anyway but if I would have this would've been the #1 pick.

Bet you didn't know this...

A lot of folks don’t know that the very dress Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy (then Jacqueline Bouvier) wore on her wedding day when she wed John F. Kennedy was a dress designed by African American designer Ann Cole Lowe (Anne Lowe). This wedding gown was the most publicized dress in American history. Anne was born in Clayton Alabama and was a great granddaughter of a plantation owner and slave. She was a young 14 years of age when she married and attended fashion design school in New York in the early 1900s. She was a businesswoman owning a beauty salon in Tampa, Florida and her fashion boutique Ann Lowe Originals on Madison Avenue in New York City. She designed for several elite New Yorkers in the 1950s and worked at Saks Fifth avenue where she was featured in one of their advertisements. Another highlight of her career was when she designed a gown actress Olivia de Havilland wore to the Academy Awards. Ironically the name on the inside tag of the dress was Sonia Rosenberg. Towards the end of her career she suffered from glaucoma but continued to design for Madeline Couture.

Check out the book “Threads of time: the Fabric of History" by Rosemary E.  which gives profiles of African American Designers from 1850 to 1950.

Check out this article for more scoop on Anne Lowe.

Was I really surprised?

Last week I experienced for the first time a child admitting to me that she was uncomfortable spending time with me because of my skin color. Her exact words were, "I don't want to play with you and be your friend because you have brown skin, I don't like brown skin, I'm scared of brown skin". It cut me but not because of her words, mostly because I felt sorry for her as a young child not having an opportunity to embrace different cultures and learning hate at such an early age. What a sad world she must live in I thought. I could never take on an opportunity where I would feel like I am forcing a child to like me and get to know me. I love children and always want them to be comfortable with me. As I reflect on the experience I draw on my spirituality to pray for that family instead of develop anger, since anger never solves problems anyway. I couldn't help but think, was I surprised that this occurred? Not really.

Also this week check out Anderson Cooper's program on on a study given about black and white children and their biases toward lighter skin color.

CNN