Not Built Like a "Black Girl"

Since I can remember image was everything in my life. Until recently however, I've come to terms that I was not meant to be built the way black girls are supposed to be build according to the psyche of black men, but am content in the slim figure that I've so been blessed with. 

Growing up I can recall how during my sixth grade year, every girl acquired their hips and were full figured "women" except myself; if anything I had two watermelons for breast, which I was more than uncomfortable with, especially among the gawking eyes of nasty  pedophiles---or excuse me older men. Needless to say I mastered the skill of dressing like a tomboy during those years. My uniform culottes were about 2 sizes two big to cover up the fact that my hips had not yet come in and I wore shirts that covered up my abnormal sized breasts. This was the case for as long as I can recall, hoping and praying that my hips would come in and I would one day be a full figured thick black girl, you know the chic with the Coco-Cola Bottled figure. However at age 24, as I continue to evolve into womanhood (an on-going process), my hips have failed to come in according to the definition of what it means to be shaped like a black girl and men may never the learn such etiquette such as it is not polite to glare at a woman's "pronounced" features. I've not only come to terms with my body but even more importantly, I am comfortable and accepting of my image, so much so if  I catch the opposite sex glaring I'll boldly ask may I help them and school them on the etiquette of being a polite man. 

The point in me writing my little spiel is to question when will the black girl's body not be so heavily focused on? Its ridiculous that little girls can not simple be little girls without falling prey to the asinine idea that they must fulfill this bodily image of a coco-cola bottle shaped Kim Kardashian or Buffie the Body! When will she simply get to BE without always being conscious of her body? Granted the illusions of body image is an issue that does not discriminate, when will little girls and in some instances grown women be allowed the simple pleasure to just BE...comfortable and uninhibited without the extreme consciousness of their body make up?
PDELaSoul

Willie Lynch's Reality

PDELaSoul
“….we will use the same basic principle that we use in breaking a horse, combined with some more sustaining factors. What we do with horses is that we break them from one form of life to another; that is, we reduce them from their natural state in nature. Whereas nature provides them with the natural capacity to take care of their offspring, we break that natural string of independence from them and thereby create a dependency status, so that we may be able to get from them useful production for our business and pleasure.”

-Willie Lynch Letter

Irregardless of whether or not we choose to believe that Willie Lynch’s 1712 “The Making of a Slave” is true or not, the state of black people around the world may very well be due to the concepts of “The Making of a Slave”. If I may say so myself, if this letter is in fact a documented part of history; Lynch’s strategic plan to the break down of the black man/race has been carried out successfully. I hate to be critical of the very race that I myself belong to however if being overly critical and conscious does not save us from this path that we have mindlessly embarked on, I’m not sure what will.

In recent conversations and discourse among friends and I concerning the almost dead end path we as a race seem to be on, I’ve come to realize and accept it as truth that the primary factor that has us as a people on this downward spiraling path is that of the media’s propaganda. Almost everyday there is a new study or finding about black people that the news feels the need to air. Majority of the time this so called information is in reality half truth and misinformation that is literally malnourishment to our being. The Willie Lynch concept is very well prevalent throughout our media today and only infiltrating our minds, keeping us bound through mental slavery.

In an article/blog in Clutch Magazine Online  concerning educated brothers opting out of relationships, a friend, in response to the article stated that “…when you buy into such [media] propaganda (black men aint sh--, black women cant get a man, they all date white women, etc) you contribute to the break down of the black family and the dehumanizing of black men…”. Reading her comments did not quite click with me until I read another blog on the depiction of black women’s body on Coco and Creme Online Magazine  (also by the founder/creator of Clutch Online Magazine) which allowed me to reflect on the abovementioned friends quote which resonated with me and were no longer mere words. The more I hear the propaganda that the media spews to the public the more I begin to realize that it’s all a means to keep us down. The more that the media’s half truths flood and infiltrate or minds the more likely we are to become accepting of them and inevitably become manifestations of what the media claims us to be. The media is literally programming a race of people and what is even more sad is that we’re blinded to this very truth.

Now my whole spiel is not to solely place blame on the media, but is more so a call for us to become more conscious and aware as to what we allow to permeate or minds and thus our whole being. If only we were to become more accountable for our actions and the state of our race, maybe just maybe we may have a chance at back tracking and return from the dead end path that we seem to be on. The solution to saving ourselves as a people right now is to become conscious, aware, and accountable for our actions.

WyClef Jean. The Next President of Haiti???

PDELaSoul

Possibly Haiti's next president, WyClef Jean

I will always remember WyClef Jean, the former Fugee member as the individual who made it cool to be Haitian during a time when I and many my peers had to fight to defend our culture during a time when it was frowned upon to be  Haitian and we were referred to as boats. However at the speculations that Clef was running for president I was a bit perturbed. While a great humanitarian, despite the rumors behind the management of his organization Yele Haiti's finances, I from the beginning reacted as if this had to be a joke. Albeit having a strong sense of compassion for his native homeland, Clef lacks the political background, skills, and experience needed to run a country, especially a nation who is desperate for help in their current state. Apart from any other critical factor needed to run a country, Clef simply does not have the experience. 

I agree that it is time for change and that Haiti is in need of a more progressive political party/presidents however, Clef is not that man; I can not reiterate that enough. While the youth in Haiti and abroad applause his decision to run for president in the November elections, they fail to look at it his decision from a critical stand point. I am in complete agreement with Sean Penn on the Larry King Show,;we as Haitians in Haiti and abroad have to be very critical of Clef's decision. Is his decision to run for president a concert one with the United States and the other powers that be in hopes of capitalizing on the native people's desperation? Also despite stating his 4 pillars in regards to Haiti's current circumstances, how does he plan on carrying out his proposed vision for Haiti without any skills in running a country? Clef's candidacy as president of Haiti is one that will only bring gains to the self seeking, opportunist powers that be; he is only a pawn  and a mere puppet in a bigger game and the youth that rally behind him are only blind to this factor in his candidacy.

If one were to actually study Haiti's history after its independence, it is more than obvious that the powers that be had a hand in Haiti, she never truly gained her independence. Though free, Haiti's commerce and her affairs were never truly hers; she was raped of everything that we she had and was disenfranchised; crippled and unable to stand on her two feet. Clef's candidacy as president only perpetuates this cycle of a disenfranchised and crippled Haiti.

Despite my commentary and being a member of the Haitian diaspora and not truly a Haitian citizen, the people of Haiti will make their decision and I pray that they awaken to and become more conscious of the future that looms ahead. And for the conscious members of the Haitian diaspora, this is not a time to sit idle and watch as these events in Haiti unravel, however this the time where we come together as a collective group and better ourselves ultimately leading to the edification of Haiti and her citizens.

 

Jezebels, Sapphires, and Mammys

So which one are you? You've got three to choose from: you can either be Sapphire the rude overbearing bitchy, loud and malicious black woman or you can be Jezebel an over sexualized promiscuous whore and last but not least you have the choice of being Mammy, a domesticated and nurturing "yes-a-mam" woman. Jezebel, Mammy and Sapphire once prominent caricatures since the time of slavery are now real life breathing characters within our society. Despite being an age old topic of discussion within the black community; if ever the discussion was needed along with a solution to the problem, now is the time.

After reading a blurb on  Coco and Creme's online magazine about the depiction of black women’s bodies and sharing the link on facebook, a friends response was that the article was a little too vague, which I had to agree with. I'd like to give the writer the benefit of the doubt (it is an age old issue) however with a topic such as this its not to be taken lightly and have the surface of it just touched. Thinking about the state of black women today it dawned on me that despite trying to disprove these stereotypes about us we have in fact brought into and now embody the abovementioned caricatures. For each of the three caricatures I can give many examples of black women who have in fact materialized into these caricatures.

Thank You Aaron McGruder

In light of all the propaganda relating to black women from being lazy, obese and prone to disease and allegedly the last to get married, I was more than thrilled to watch the latest episode of Aaron McGruder's "The Boondocks". Tending to step on toes and as some would say airing our dirty laundry while having his audience in an uproar at times, McGruder brought justice to the soiled reputation of black women in America. Disregarding Americas doctrines as it pertains to black women, McGruder spoke for the women who are tired of the ill fortuned promulgations through his depiction of Ebony Brown. McGruder brought life to what the media chooses not to barrage its audience members with, the exact opposite in fact- hard working, healthy, educated black women who play an active role in their community yet are not independent of good quality men. Thank You Aaron McGruder.

The End of Black History Month

When Carter G Woodson in 1926 implemented Negro Week it served as a means to teach and remind us that that the efforts and lives of many African Americans were far beyond just the all too frequent teachings to blacks only being slaves in history. Negro week was implemented to remind us that we come from great ancestral lineages and not simply a history of bondage. If these were Woodsons intention why is that the is that the African American diaspora in its current state? We are lagging behind in areas such as education with lowest illiteracy rate among other races yet surpassing other races with offensively high numbers of us behind prison bars or emaciated by the virus and the many other health disparities we suffer from. Does black history serve us any use today and how so? If black history served us any use as Woodson initially intended why is that with time the Afican American diaspora only seems to abysmally decline in its conditions?

The End of Black History Month?

With civil rights movement only occurring 50 years ago, when did we drop the ball and lost site of King's Dream...or have we attained his dream? Somewhere along the lines the torch failed to be passed onto to the generation after that of the civil rights era only leading to puppet civil rights leaders such as Al Sharpton and the likes.  When and how do we in the African American diaspora begin better ourselves as a people?

February Officially Dubbed HAITIAN HISTORY MONTH

Many people only know Haiti for the poverty that is often portrayed through the media. However many fail to realize that Haiti has a rich history and much of its poverty is due to foreign intervention on the island.  In light of the recent of events that  have taken place in Haiti and the interest of so many in the peninsula of Haiti, now is a great time to stimulate the minds of so many who are ignorant to Haiti’s rich history. In an effort to combat this ignorance to the islands history, next month, BLACK HISTORY MONTH,  I will dedicate my blog entries to the enlighten of those who are interested in the history of Haiti and how the island came to be in its current state. I find it contradictory that in school, when learning about Black history, often times there is little to no information on Haiti , especially since it is the first black republic of the world. The month of February on Black Girl with an Opinion, has officially been dubbed HAITIAN HISTORY MONTH.  

The REVOLUTION has officially begun…I leave you with these two quotes. Be Blessed.  

 

“History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”
-- Maya Angelou

 

“Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunters.”
-- African Proverb

Haiti Relief Effort: A Weekend of Service For Our Country Men

"L'Union Fait La Force" is the phrase that comes to mind when I think of this past weekend 01/22-1/24. 100 plus students in the  of  United Haitian Students of Florida all came together for one cause...Haiti. We all came together in a collective effort to help out with the Haiti relief efforts. We were involved in the packaging of clothing, perishable food items, and water at a local Miami warehouse. We also took part in a benefit concert where people of Haitian descent and other nationalities donated cases of water to send to the victims of the Earthquake in Port Au prince. Haitian musicians and bands ranging from T-Vice, Harmonik, Alan Cave and the likes all came together in a unified effort to help raise the funds necessary to provide Port Au Prince's victims with the provisions to continue life in the so called "tent city" of the capital. Despite the tears that the were shed from the disbelief that some of us were still in, there were also tears of hope that were shed for the people of Port Au Prince, hope that they may be holding onto,  hope that we will carry and hold onto forever in our hearts should they lose it.

Click for more pics of the weekend

More Pics 

HAITI ON MY MIND...

Instead of Georgia On My Mind, the tune that has been playing in my head for the past week is HAITI ON MY MIND...the tune  resonates so deep with my heart at times I find it hard to sleep...

DELaSoul

The Rebirth Of A Nation: The New Haiti

As we mourn the death of the many victims of Haiti's earthquake we also celebrate the lives that were spared at the hands of God. We not only celebrate the lives that were spared but we also celebrate the UNITY that has brought many Haitians and non-Haitians together in the relief efforts going on in Haiti. It is true that Haiti is "l'union fait la force" (strength through unity). I don't have to tell you how resilient of a people we are, there was proof  all over the news as they depicted the many natives of the island rescuing others trapped under the rubble before any relief arrived on the island or how they still had church the following Sunday despite not having a home to return to. Some may say that the city of Port Au Prince is broken, but they fail to realize that despite the current circumstances of Haiti's inhabitants, they're spirits are not broken, the spirits of their Haitian brothers and sisters in the United States are not broken but have been  reinforced with faith and hope. If ever there was a time to be proud of being Haitian, NOW is the time, NOW is the time that we reach out lending hands and take the initiative to help out in Haiti; if ever Haiti needed us, it is NOW. Yes, Port Au Prince Haiti is in a despairing state, however now isn't time that we sit and watch with broken heart what is going on in Haiti, NOW is the time we pick up the torch and light the way for so many of the victims that may be in a dark place at the moment, NOW is the time that we become PROACTIVE and start on our journey toward the REBIRTH OF A NATION: THE NEW HAITI.

I leave you with this quote,

"I submit to you if a man hasn't discovered something he will die for, he isn't fit to live."
-Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Speech in Detroit, June 23,1963

What are you willing to die for?

Be Blessed!

Earthquake in Haiti: "It Took the Earth to Move my People"

 "It took the Earth to move my people. And ever since my heart can't stop shaking."   

 -Sgt. Lawrence Gonzalez, President of The United Haitian Students of Florida

In light of the recent events that have taken place on the small island of Haiti, my homeland and the birthplace of my relatives, I cannot help but feel guilty about the situation at hand. "It was a natural disaster, Pascale you had no way of preventing what occurred, it was out of you're control...it was out of our control" some may say. Despite these words they fail to provide me with any comfort. I am guilty as charged for allowing Haiti to be in the state that she is currently in. We as a people are guilty as charged. It should not have taken the Earth to move in order for us the children of Haiti to be called to action. For many years of my life I have told myself and others countless times that I want to work in Haiti and provide them with the health care that is desperately needed that so many turn a blind eye. For 10yrs now I've promised to dedicate my career goal goals in the public health arena to Haiti, but yet my cations have not been aligned with my goals. I know what the situation is like in Haiti I have witnessed it with my own two eyes during a family trip in 2000. So why is that I have I yet to move and do for my country, do for my people?

It doesn't take monetary means to help Haiti, it takes will power to help Haiti. will power that so many American born Haitian individuals are able to provide, will power that many native born Haitian inhabitants of the US are able to provide...so why is that we sit idle and watch our country perish before our eyes. For 200 years Haiti has endured much struggle and while we still have pride in her and our heritage we continue to let her struggle and continue to let her people...OUR people perish and die in vain. Toussaint L'Ouverture did not fight in 1804 for Haiti's independence so that she may live a life of poverty and struggle, I refuse to believe that our ancestors died in vain. And I refuse to believe that we as people who are of sound mind and able body will continue to watch a country and its inhabitants...OUR country and OUR people die without a cause. I refuse to sit idle and watch as these event come to past. Hence forth I PLEDGE my life, every fiber in my body to the cause...the cause that LIBERATES Haiti of its economic strife and life turmoil. I don't speak these word in vain but speak them with affirmation, believing that what took place in Haiti  is a wake up call to her children. Yes these things have to come to pass as the Bible says but it also say that good deeds are what we owe to each other. I hope that we as a people aren't called to act only for a moment and return to everyday lives as if nothing took place, but I hope that we as  people come together forever united  in the belief that Haiti will one day be a prosperous country once again. I refuse to believe that Haiti is so far gone that prosperity cannot be brought back to her name.

Please continue to keep Haiti in your prayers and if your are of sound mind and able body Haiti desperately needs your help irregardless of your race, culture, or creed. I have included a list of sites where relief efforts are being made possible in the an effort to alleviate Haiti of its current sufferings.

Be Blessed

Keep Haiti in Your Prayers

Its a horrible thing to have to come home and here that my country Haiti has been hit by a 7.0 magnitude Earthquake followed by a 5.9 and 5.5 aftershock, 10mi from the capital, Port-Au-Prince. As some may know Haiti has endured many natural disasters within the past 5yrs which she is still recovering from and to have a 7.0 Earthquake hit her while still in recovery is unimaginable, but sadly reality. I ask that you keep my home land in your prayers and also keep the lives that may also be in jeopardy in your prayers.In light of this issue, I must say that it really annoys me that the first adjective used to describe Haiti is usually synonymous to poor...as if that is what defines Haiti. Haiti is a beautiful country with a rich culture that everyone seems to forget about. I think that its time that United States seizes the use of the word poor or any word synonymous to the island. If anyone knows Haiti's history they also know that America has always had its hand in the affairs of Haiti, which also has a lot to do with  Haiti's current situation. However my purpose is not to point fingers as to who is to blame for Haiti crisis but is to say that something has got to give and it starts with each and everyone us. If you are Haitian, of Haitian descent or have love for the Haitian culture its time that we do our part as people and help Haiti rise from her current circumstances.

Stay tuned...

Haitian Pride

Mwen Ayitian, epi pa gen ayen mwen ta change de sa (I am Haitian and there is nothing that I would change). Growing up Haitian in the streets of Miami, these were not words that I could speak freely. Growing Haitian in America was torture since the days of mothers youth when she attended Edison Senior High School in the early 1980s. She literally had to fight her way through school in defense of her culture and heritage. There was even an incident during her high school days when a young student killed himself due to constantly being teased about his background. Thus said I had much of the same experience growing up. I never really wanted to embrace my culture because I didn't want to be labeled as the Haitian girl who did not know how to dress or the Haitian girl who ate cat or whose history was one of poverty and strife...I wanted to be labeled American.

Black Love Relationship Empowerment

Women tend to play themselves a lot when it comes to the dating/relationship game. Often times we tend to put up with foolishness that we should not have to put up with but ultimately settle for the constant drama that men throw our way. As women we are not shelters and are not obligated to allow stray dogs to lay and sleep in our homes when in all actuality they do not deserve it. Its becoming an issue that needs to be dealt with. Men are constantly being rewarded for their wrong doings which in essence only perpetuates the tolerance for their inadequacies. I have always been an advocate of black men doing better when it comes to relationships however its time that black women also step up to the plate. Maybe if we as women demand that that black men do better they too will be on the level we expect them to be on.