Shaking My Head With My Mouth Open...

Any thoughts?

Be advised that on the day you go to the polls to vote, you cannot wear any Obama or McCain Presidential paraphernalia. It is considered "campaigning", and is not allowed within 100 feet of the polls.

Most people are unaware that campaigning is against the law, and you will be turned away. Because most of us will probably not go back home to change clothes, and therefore forefeit our vote, please remember to leave your Presidential nominee's supportive buttons, hats, shirts, etc., at home the day you vote.

Let's be honest sistas. We know that our people will be really excited about voting for Obama, and will show up wearing the above mentioned to show their support. Unfortunately, most of them are unaware of the fact that this is grounds to be turned away from the polls. In fact, I was not even aware of it myself (although I don't own any presidential support paraphernalia anyway).

This is sort of a continuation of a recent blog posted here entitled "To Those Chocolate Ones." I would suggest you read that piece before continuing, unless you have already done so.

I was home with the flu today, and decided to watch a little tv...just in time to catch the Tyra Banks show. There were 6 African American women on the panel, and they all bleach their skin so they can be lighter. Many voiced that they did so because they feel that being light can help you get ahead in life. All had been teased by kids in school, and each witnessed how light skinned girls in their classes were always picked first over the dark skinned girls. Still for others, they bleach because of all the attention they see lighter women get from men.

GOVERNOR CHARLIE CRIST HAS PASSED THIS INTO LAW TODAY.

The law invalidates voter registration in the state's automated database if a person's driver's license number or the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number do not match numbers in other databases. Read the full article at the link below.

http://floridacapitalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080919/CAPITO...
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Update your info ASAP also call the Supervisor of Elections in your county to verify that the info in there database is up to date and accurate. For a complete listing of Supervisor of Elections in your county click on link below.

http://election.dos.state.fl.us/pdf/webappform.pdf
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I woke up this morning craving a heavy breakfast: a bowl of grits with lots of butter, garlic and salt, salmon croquettes, hash browns and wheat toast or maybe a stack of pancakes with maple syrup and turkey bacon…I was able to fight off my taste buds and settle for my normal, health conscious bowl of steel cut, whole grain oats with almond milk but the cravings followed me through the day. Why am I so voracious ? It wasn't until i took a closer look at the calendar that i realized that today is the 18th day in my 21-28 day erratic menstrual cycle. This poses a bit of a problem because the Akan festival that, I’ve been excited to attend, falls on day 21.

I try to be fair, I taped or Tivo'ed the whole democratic convention. I really enjoyed it. I promised to be fair and at least watch McCain speak and his vice president.
Where did they get this chick from?? She comes out making all kinds of false statements. She is not the smartest cookie, but she got ball. But come on doesn't that comment about hockey-moms and pitbulls sound like a bad joke said in the company of all men at a bar.

I am a soccer mom, and I don't like being called a dog.
Then Mr. Guel comes on to say Obama doesn't have experience. Ok don't get it twisted . I am a hard cold New Yorker and he did nothing for NY.He made 42nd street a bigger tourist event. De-cultured Harlem and took a lot of credit for what others did.

And old man McCain, talking about fight, fight,fight he must be referring that to fight the minds of the youth . Where was the substance. Gas Prices, Health, economy.I know they think we all stupid but come on.

Ok I think I have rambled enough.

To answer my question, I guess we have to get our thing in action. Call every one we know and make sure we come out in force and vote. Look car pool and save the gas,

So, I've been avoiding this conversation with my husband because, quite frankly, it makes me angry. He supported Hillary as the nominee and has been adamantly against Obama (still not clear why) since he secured the nomination. The other day, he offered the vague explanation that Obama is not "black enough" for him. He went on to say that "black enough" means that Obama's upbringing does not relate to the typical (meaning accepted or expected) African-American experience, yada yada yada. Now, my husband is a very smart man, but this is probably the dumbest thing I have ever heard him say (and I have heard him say a lot of dumb stuff over the years). First, there is no typical African American upbringing, there is only stereotypical. Actually, my husband has more in common with Obama than he realizes so I was stunned to silence when he came with such an argument.

I am working on some really great projects dealing with black women and girls. More information on these projects can be found at http://superhussy.com and http://aieshaturman.com.

The projects deal with race, class, gender and sexuality issues and in the hopes of gathering as much data as possible, I have crafted this very simple survey. All information is confidential -- I ask for no names or other identifying information, and the survey will take less than 10 minutes of your time.

The survey can be found @ http://superhussy.com/super-hussy-survey/. And while you are there, sign up for the newsletter and poke around a bit.

*Note: this survey is for women of color only. Please feel free to forward it on to anyone you think would be interested.

Thanks a million, in advance, to everyone who participates.

For twenty years, Pin Points Theatre has presented its edu-tainment to audiences in Canada, Guam, Korea, Japan, Germany, Singapore and throughout the United States. The same plays we produce in major theaters are just as professionally presented in schools or recreation centers. Please consider bringing us to your city:

SPEAKERS:
JIM LUCAS in WHAT WOULD MARTIN DO? Renowned motivationalist Jim Lucas reflects on current issues as audiences throw questions his way. He responds as Dr. King - with all of King's wit, history, and personal experiences.
DR. TONYA MATTHEWS: Fans know JaHipster (Dr. Matthews) as a popular hip-hop spoken-word artist, but few know her as a doctor of Bio-Medical Engineering. Her lecture/performance is the ultimate edu-tainment, providing audiences with poetic & musical entertainment as well as leading them through the mysteries self-development, doctorates ("it's easier than you think"), higher education, writers workshops and successful careers in entertainment. In line with Pin Points Theatre's mandate, Dr. Matthews's presentations are both enlightening and fun for any audience.
THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS

ACTUALLY I'M NOT SURE WHAT CATEGORY THIS FALLS UNDER, BUT IF YOUR AS OBSESSED WITH KNOWLEDGE OF SELF AS I AM THE YOU MUST CHECK OUT AFRICAN ANCESTRY.COM

BASICALLY WHAT THEY DO IS SWAB YOUR MOUTH (THEY SEND YOU THIS SWAB IN THE MAIL) AND YOU SEND IT BACK AND LIKE 2-3 WEEKS LATER BOOM

YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR ORIGINALY FROM, I THINK THIS IS WONDERFUL!!

IT COSTS ABOUT 349.00 I THINK FOR ONE TEST, THEY CAN DO YOUR PATERNAL OR YOUR MATERNAL OR BOTH BUT THEN ITS DOUBLE THE COST.

ITS A LITTLE PRICEY FOR DOLLA' POOR FOLK BUT WORTH IT I'M SURE I'M SAVIN' UP RIGHT NOW!!!

PEACE AND BLESSINGS GODDESSES!!

HALEEMAH-ESTRELLA

Where's our justice as women?

Are we justified by simply being women? Are we justified when we're born from our mother's who a woman?

Are we justified because we are needed to recreate and keep human beings on this earth?

With this male driven world it seems so evident that our justification has been put to the back burner. Where's our time to get justice for being raped,abused,and used?

Where's our justice as single mothers from "baby-daddies" who abandoned them and her five children? Or did we forget that justice matters because we're to busy having to feed the mouths and clothe the backs our her fatherless babies?Maybe we forgot when the courts insist that we dumb-down the abuse and hell we went through because he has legal "rights" to visitation of the children.

Where's our justice as women hoping that she will have enough food to feed her children that day? Is it the promise that she can go to college and earn a degree to be financial free that brings hope of justice?

I figured out the quickest way to get a response is to start a blog so here goes:

Ok, as a black woman, I have been known to jerk my neck from side to side and wave a finger or two in an argument (just ask my husband, who used to, affectionately, call me The Hulk). And there is a long standing complaint/stereotype/joke in the community about "bwwas" (black women with attitudes). But, ladies, are we so bad that we have become a caricature?

A friend sent me this article about child prostitution
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080702/ap_on_re_us/child_prostitution .

As Sting and the Police sang way back in the day, these girls clearly feel like the inhabit lonely islands and their lives send out a clear s.o.s. to the world. All youth deserve protection and guidance. Indeed, young women bear within them a temple of life. So here is my green stone to put on the altar, a resource list I put together for a friend who is the mother of four girls and that I think can be of help to others. Those of you with womanchildren or who work with rites of passage groups please feel free to put to good use.

A couple of these titles on sexuality and womanhood are geared toward adult women, but can be made accessible to youth. Perhaps organize a book club or if using with your own child/ren set aside a few times a week when you have a read aloud of the books. It would give an opportunity to provide sidebars and commentary and give the girls a chance to ask questions.

Who Am I without Him? Short Stories about Girls and the Boys in Their Lives (Sharon Flake)

Today will mark the official beginning of my online correspondence courses on Raising Children in Orisha, Afrikan Spirituality and Gynocentricity...

Those who have ordered a course will receive their first lessons via email today...

For those who did not order a course...each online lesson is $10 and there are up to 8 lessons per course

Each lesson may be purchased individually by clicking the link below and then clicking on the order an online course button to the right of my blog

http://yeyeyeyeo.blogspot.com

Also here are short descriptions of each course for those who are interested...

Raising Children In Orisha

So I'm posting something that was given to me some 4-5 years ago. Please share and perhaps we can add more books and music must have to pass on to our sistas and brothers... I've kept this list for as long as I remember and promise to pass this on to any and everyone. Peace n' Blessings
LotusDawtah...

That's what he told me. And because my mind was so warped to never really trust a man off the back "just so" I never got to tell him "thank you"...

Sharing the wealth, Iron sharpen iron.

Peace,
Achieng

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"Market for Niggaz"

"Slave trade"

"My Prison/Life"

I'm a very deep thinker and while I'm thinking I sometimes consider sharing it in a blog. A lot of the time I am very hesitant if it's a controversial issue. Other times I will not even dare to write specific topics knowing that it's not suitable for the public eye to see.

This blog is in the category of being hesitant if it was written in the wrong place! For example, I was first going to write this blog on MySpace but knew right away that it would not be the best idea.I have decided to write here on YMIB because we are all cultural,black women and we are meant to mold,shape and lead the perspectives in our community.Women were highly revered in our ancient culture for our wisdom and influence.

So one thing I believe we as women would be auspicious at healing in our community are the deep wounds of racism. Women have qualities of being healers on many levels - cultural,spiritual,political,familial,etc . We have the power to heal the injustices of racism.Black women can also encourage family and friends not to be racist.After all, in order for us to want racism to end don't we have to start with ourselves?

To yall my people who can embrace this rhetorical vent without crucifying me for being rebellious. I began to type while noticing my reflection in Victoria Secret being toppled by page afta page of White and Asian women while the sista was obviously being made a fool of.

My mother always told me when your black you have to fight five times harder, but when your black and a woman your fight becomes 10 fold. Isnt that slavery?

How can a people who have known their grandfathers to be slaves, teach their children to be human?

We, being they, being us. are sent to the schools of our historical oppressors mind to get the best knowledge of our existence.

When I visited the article on Henna I was inspired to submit a blog I had in my heart for sometime. I hope that it serves as an inspiration for a world of greater beauty and more present feminine divinity for any who reads it.

Ive done enough research to find that in many cultures outside of the west women learn how to cultivate and nurture their beauty from a very young age. As a result teens years are not an experience of awkward struggle to define self that unfortunately follows some of us in the west into adulthood. Instead an observation that Ive made is that these cultured women posses that raw vanity that can be found in the innocence of daddys baby girl getting her picture taken, only their celebration has become refined with the time that age brings. One culture in particular does a great job of refining the experience of beautification well into old age, India. With such practices as the feautured henna, extensive, body adornment of jewlery, communal baths and spas that can last for weeks at a time and hair care that breeds results envied around the world, India knows the art of being a Goddess and I think the rest of us should take a minute to follow their lead.

Forbidden Jewelry !?

Okay ladies ,the last blog I posted a question “What do you think about non traditional piercing?”, or something to that effect. Some replied it’s your body ,some said it’s cultural however they personally wouldn’t get them and some love piercings and adorning the body. I am considering, in fact I have decided to get a tongue piercing, my reason , I just like they way it decorates the tongue. I find it beautiful when talking to someone you see a bejeweled tongue peeking at you now and then.
The reason for asking was to see if the views were based on society likes and dislikes or personality likes and dislikes. In my country some people I’ve asked say only “a certain type of person” wears non traditional jewelery, others think it’s really “cool” . My conclusion, the views were based on personality likes and dislikes.

Hi ymib sisters,hope everything is good with you all. I am taking a sort of poll on what is thought about piercings of any kind.After I get responses I'm going to share why I put the question out there.
Do you think it's as simple as decorating the body?
Do you think it represents a particular culture ?
Or are you totally disgusted by piercings other than earlobes?

Hotep,
I am moving into a new space ( well for me very soon) and I would like some tips on how to rid the space of negative energy. I spoke with some of the neighbors and they told me about some of the past residents of the particular house. Some where not the best situations nevertheless, I get nice vibes from the space! This is very important to me. Does anyone also know some Kemetic cleansing rituals to recommend? I do know some native rituals ( using sage, clockwise, ringing of a bell). To all the MOTHERS Happy Mother's DAY! You all are the mothers of CIVILIZATION! I Hope to me a Mother soon!

Dua'

Welcome to Carriacou, W.I. Often people confuse the name with Curacao, however they are two different places. This the place where my father's people call home and, where I am often reminded by family members, my home is as well. I had the opportunity to visit Carriacou in October for the 2nd time in 29 years. The first time I was only 2. I went to participate in the Feast (fete) that was being held for my uncle that died two years prior.

I don't know how many of you live in NYC but we have a problem here. The problem of police shooting our brothers down.There was a case of the police shooting a young man on his wedding day his name was Sean Bell. There was a trial and the police in this case were found not guilty. This has happen before with others but I don't understand how they are getting away with this. In most of the cases the police have unloaded their guns and reloaded and it is found that this is not a problem. Maybe I am a little slow or maybe even a little behind on the law but for 50 shots to let off on a person and the people who are with him is over the top. At the end of the trail only one officer said sorry to the family, One of the officer's was smiling like a life was not lost. There is a young women going on with out her soul mate and two baby girls with out a father there is nothing to smile about a life is lost. There is a mother and father with out there son.

Life is a new gift that we get to open everyday. Sometimes we enjoy what's in the box and sometimes we wish we had skipped the party all together. But, what we should relish is the fact that we have a new day at all.

Sean Bell, a young man who was shot 50 times by three New York police officers will never have a chance to open the box of life again.

But his story teaches us the power of living each day as if it were our last. Even, on his last day on earth, Bell was relishing life. He was partying with his friends while preparing to take the hand of his lovely fiance. The ignorant fears and callousness of three men would take away the dreams of his fiance, his children, and his family.

But I think there is a greater lesson about living in Bells passing, than about dying. Racism is an afterthought of fear. Racism in America has raised its ugly head in America far too many times. Racism in America, as in Nazi Germany, has not allowed America too reach it's full potential.

Ok Sisters I have another Political Question for ya!

With the slip in the poles for Obama, and the rising of Hillary, is it appropriate for Jeremiah Wright to continue to Talk and Talk about the connection to him and Obama, the Church, the American Dream Deferred for Blacks and other poor people?

My Opinion:

I think he is hurting Obama by continuing to speak on TV make public appearances and speeches on this topic and Obama. I'm all for his sermons and speeches they are right on point and setting America on Fire amongst all races and it's getting us to talk about the Issue of Race and Class in our society. But I truly think he is hurting Obamas chances. People are very wishy washy ( voters have changed their votes) and will hang you (not literally) just by association to another. I'm afraid they will and are going to do this to Obama.

So should Rev. Wright just sit this one out and wait till the race is over?

Sisters, I need to confer with you.

 Today I received some comments, on my video about Afrocentricity. I was telling a story about how a caucasian woman came up to me one day and asked, how could she do the same head wrap that I was wearing. Personally I don't feel like I need to tell her how, so I came up with a line and told the woman that her hair is straight it might slip off or she won't be able to do it the way I've done it. In the video I giggled while telling this story. Anyways, the commenter said I hurt her feelings. She then went on to say the following:

 takemetomexico that last remark you made about the white woman wanting to try to wrap her hair... because she wanted to be "culturally aware" .... ok, i can see how you would be a little taken if she just wanted to do it to make a fashion statement and didn't really understand the meaning behind your style. but what about a white woman with curly hair who also wanted to go natural, and move away from straighteners and all that.. is it wrong to take inspiration from african styles? that remark hurt my feelings

This political race thus far disgusts me. You have Clinton and Obama acting like WWE wrestlers rather than presidential candidates. Wait, it seems that one of the prerequisite of being a presidential candidate is to act like a WWE wrestler. Instead of focusing on the issues at hand and that are most important to the people as a whole, they've decided to trade insults and belittle one another as much as possible. Have we've forgotten what happened when Bush and Gore were up against one another?

Clearly the politicians which make up our antiquated, poorly structured and defective government have forgotten that they work for us the people not the other way around. But over the years this important point has been lost.

If Clinton and Obama don't get back on track they'll both look up and realize they've lost the race and the nation will be looking at McCain as the 44th president of the United States.

A customer walks into a well known store and takes a look at the variety of bed linen on offer. The customer asks the sales associate if he can get the king size sheet set in the linen he's selected. The sales associate tells him yes and goes on to explain that the company recently changed it's policy regarding the housing of it's bed linen. Meaning that customer may purchase the linen at the store but the linen is actually shipped out of the company's main warehouse (located in Chicago) directly to the customer for free and that the customer would receive it in two days time. The customer then states that, that wasn't good enough because he wanted to take the linen home that day.

I've noticed this type of behavior more and more whether I'm at the grocery store, post office or even the doctor's office. When did we get to the point where we demand instant gratification in just about every aspect of our lives? Why do we think that a company's policies don't apply to us and that we somehow deserve spacial treatment? Why can't we understand the basic economic law of supply and demand?

Hello Sisters,

This Morning or Afternoon I wanted to get a take on your responses to the Political Scene Today. Whats your response on the last debate, and the Penn State Primary?

Who are you supporting ? And why? If your candidate doesn't win the nomination will you vote for the other or Not Vote At All?