When The Coons Come Marching In

This is going to be very hard to write without me sounding like I am about to stereotype, because I'm not, but within the black culture, there is a separation. Amongst that divide, there is one constant variable: Most of us can trace our ancestry back to the hood. That hood can either be the ones worn by the murderers of our father's fathers, or it could be the hood we called home. Regardless, its there, and we have to deal with it. The product of this environment, is the birth of the coon. The ignorant, fearless, brave beacon of hope. Our constant reminder that we have yet to overcome.

This Can't Be Life

I really wish the ignorant mentality would fall off a cliff. There are too many brothers and sisters that just don't care. Brothers don't take pride in the way they carry themselves. For the most part, they just gave up and are unwilling to be better men. The same goes for Sisters too. Way too many of our women have let themselves go and are not being the queens they are destined to be.

Each generation is granted their very own Stephin Fetchit. I wonder if we are the generation that has too many.  This is happening on more levels than just the hood. Even with politics, on one side you have President Barack Obama, and on the other side there is Herman Cain. We just have to do better as a people all across the board.

Get involved with programs in urban communities and your own. Help out these Teen Mothers and children living in broken homes. Little things like this go a long way.

I don't want to be in that number when the coons come marching in.

The Throne: 2011 Victoria Secret Fashion Show (Live)

GQ- Wear It Now

Photograph by Mei Tao


Suit, $1,470 and sweater-vest, $148, Gant by Michael Bastian. Shirt, $108 by Saturdays NYC. Tie, $125 by David Hart & Co. Shoes, $1,750 by Giorgio Armani. Socks, $30 (three-pack) by Lands' End. Scarf, $99 by Smart Turnout. Hat, $20 by Topman. Gloves, $100 by LaCrasia Gloves.

Operation:Dress Code

When I'm heading to school & work, I make the conscious effort to dress for success. I don't have much money, but it doesn't stop me from looking like a million bucks on some days. It's not about how much you spend on your clothes, its how you wear them. Today is one of those days. Check, man make the clothes, clothes never make the man. Went to the thrift store this past weekend with The Hauteness and scored.

Powder Blue Calvin Klein Sweater-$3, EXPRESS Design Studio Pant-$4

Banana Republic Striped Oxford-$3

Oscar De La Renta Tie-$1

Not bad for an $11 dollar outfit...

BLACK EVERYDAY

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"i wake up in my dreams."-Corey Wright

Supernatural vs The Weave & Perms

I said something on facebook last night relating to the fact that most women feel confident when they wear their hair with a weave in it, but most brothers translate weave into "I'm insecure".

I was told this was ignorant and offensive (like I care) but it got me to thinking:

"Are weaves really a neccesity?"

As black people, we always find a way to seperate ourselves. Its always some battle occuring within our race. It's either light-skin vs dark skin, dredlocks vs bald heads, natural hair vs synthetic... WAIT!

Synthetic hair and chemical products are actually something we have control over. I can understand the fued between complextions and skin tones because of The American Complex . I also can see why people choose a preferred hair style, but when it comes to knowingly wanting to put lye and polyester on your scalp and wearing it like an accessory, I just don't understand it.

(It's not for me to understand, but keep reading)

My daughter is 3-years old. At the rate things are going, she's probably going to question why her hair is different than the hair on the dolls she plays with. That's where I step in and will have to say to her, "Your hair is different because you are real baby, and these dolls, they aren't real. so they have fake hair." Would I be wrong in saying that? Nope, not at all. Will she understand that? Of course, my daughter's a genius. I can't change the mindset of every black woman in America, but I don't want to. I do however pray I have an impact on one, my daughter, and that's more than enough.

I'm not trying to bash black women or make them feel any less than the greatness they already possess, I'm just saying, be yourself. BE YOURSELF. Is that too much to ask? If you have a head full of wiry, nappy hair, rock it! If your hair is as thick as cotton, twist it up and get it in. There ain't nothing wrong with being black.  If you feel like you look ugly with the hair God gave you, and you want to put a perm in or sew some weave in, then do you. BY ALL MEANS! If you can feel beautiful with the extraordinary, beautiful, supernatural hair God betowed upon you, you probably can feel beautiful with yaki in your head.

But this isn't about me and what I like, nor is it about what women like. At the end of the day, its all about the kids. Are we really going to raise our kids to believe they have to be synthetic to look good? Are we going to raise your sons to think that a woman is only beautiful if she has light-skin and silky hair? Are our daughters going to feel insecure and ugly because their roots are nappy?

I can't get with that.

So when it all falls down, and we are still grudging with Nappy Hair vs Relaxed Hair/Weaves, the real question is:  "Do we love ourselves enough to be who we are?"


Peace

WE GOT THAT BELLE BUTTERS ON DECK!

There are certain things I don't discuss with my friends, mainly because certain topics never come up. In the midst of talking about the new Drake album, NBA lockout, the Pacman fight, and how the NFL season is going, no one is about to bust out and say, "Yo, what kinda lotion you use fam?" It just doesn't happen in my circle. Granted, that is an inquiry I have never conceived, but lucky me, I have a platform to  brag about what's keeping the chalk off my knuckles.

As a black man, there are certain things that I can not allow myself to succumb to. One main thing is the dreadful plague known as "Ashyness". Yep, I'm a man, but I do care about the condition of my skin, as should any other men. I enjoy looking good, smelling good, and above all, feeling good. Just as much as I pay attention to the food I put inside my body, I have to give the same to what I put on it.

I've been buying the products they have been whippin up at Belle Butters for some time now. Of course, like most brothas, I kept the jar of Palmer's Cocoa Butter on deck, but I have long surpassed the standardized methods and upgraded to some Grade A Shea Butter. They say black don't crack, and the Unyevu Butter will see to it that it doesn't.

(Plus, fellas, if you truly want to make your lady happy, buy her some of the Coconut Butter. TRUST ME!)

It's the winter time, and I can't be walking around looking like I got into an altercation with a bag of flour. If you haven't had the opportunity to check out this product ,don't wait, head over to bellebutters.com and throw it in the bag. Get this in your life, like now.

Peace

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