News: Winter Solstice 2K7

[NinjaPoodle]

Glamour editor: Afros are unprofessional

http://www.africanpath.com/p_blogEnt...ogEntryID=2184

August 27, 2007 10:05 AM


Posted by Kym Platt


A Glamour magazine beauty editor told a women's luncheon of a Wall Street law firm, Cleary Gottlieb, that Black female attorneys should avoid wearing "political" hairstyles like dreadlocks or Afros, because these hairstyles are seen as unattractive and unprofessional.


To make a long story short, the Black lawyers in the audience and many in the blogosphere have voiced objection and outrage at the beauty editor's comments; with some folks calling for a boycott of Glamour and others stating that fashionably conservative law firms are few and far between and more and more law firms are embracing a wider concept of diversity.

What I don't fully grasp is why a beauty editor is commenting on naturally occurring hairstyles in the Black community. Afros and dreadlocks are not necessarily political statements but they are hairstyles achieved by many people of African descent (with the right texture of hair) simply by keeping their hair the way "god" intended it to be. If I cut my hair it grows into an Afro, even with out picking it out, and then if it grows longer and I don't brush or comb it, it will grow into dreadlocks, a very natural process.



"Whether you let your hair go natural or straighten is a very touchy subject," says one black female partner at a New York firm.

It seems as though the Glamour editor is saying that professional Black women should chemically straighten their hair. This has been a controversial topic since Madame CJ WalkerMadame CJ Walker invented the relaxer.

I believe Black women should not straighten their hair, but I also support Black women (and men) having the freedom to express themselves stylistically in any way they choose. I can explain, ad nauseam, why Black people altering their hair to look more white, more professional, more beautiful(?!), is not only problematic but reflective of internalized racism and self-hatred, but at the end of the day, Black folks should be allowed to do whatever we want… wear blue contact lenses, straighten our hair, bleach our skins, etc. I just don't want to participate in this kind of white-fashion play, and I definitely don't think white beauty aesthetics should be forced upon us.

Personally, I just don't think a Black woman with straightened hair is hot. I prefer Black women with locks, and Afros, and braids (of real hair), to processed coifs. And, I also prefer to wear my hair naturally. I haven't relaxed my hair since my (white!) mom forced me to for my 12th grade yearbook picture in 1991.

Anyway, who is the Glamour beauty editor that thinks Black women wearing "political" hairstyles are unprofessional? Gawker believes it's this Jewish woman by the name of Suze Yalof Schwartz. It seems as though Ms. Schwartz has some sort of personal obsession (fetish?) with Black women's hairstyles. Gawker has stated that Ms. Schwartz is their new nemesis, and now she's also mine.



By the way, Ms. Schwartz, I have two Jewish female friends (not lawyers) who chemically relax their "Jew 'fros" maybe you do too? This might explain why you would advocate such blatant displays of self-hatred.


Be Love,
Egyirba

[RedefinedDiva]

Originally Posted by NinjaPoodle

Glamour editor: Afros are unprofessional

http://www.africanpath.com/p_blogEnt...ogEntryID=2184

OMG!!! And here I am, going to a job fair tomorrow, Afro puff in all!! Although my hair is very well kept and I know how to look professional, is this the "real" thought process? I went to a job fair last year and there were several black female attorneys rocking natural hair. Be it that they already have their jobs and I'm trying to get in the door, I'm nervous that people view my hair negatively.... This article is distressing....

[Ideal08]

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs....S01/709050368/

I'm BEYOND angry about this. BEYOND angry. A black woman left her kids in the closet with food, drink, and entertainment while she went to work; THEY ARE ALIVE, and she faces 15 years in prison. This chick "forgets" her child, the kid DIES (a horrible death), and doesn't even get charged. BS. All day long it's BS. You can call it race, you can call it class, I call it BS. She forgot. Ok. How do you work in a SCHOOL and forget about a CHILD? I can't go 8 hours without thinking about my manfriend and he's GROWN. So how you forget about your child? Do people seriously drop their kids off at daycare and then don't think about them until it's time to pick them up? Stopping to get donuts threw you off your routine? So you never stopped to get gas? You've just never stopped in the morning? But you stopped to get donuts and then forget you had just put a kid in the car BEFORE you stopped to get the donuts. It's BS.

If it's not, I need for ONE GreekChat mother to tell me about the time she just forgot all about her child.

And when did forgetting stuff get you off the hook? If I get stopped for speeding, can I say I forgot I what the speed limit was? Can I walk out of a store without paying and say I was so overwhelmed with work I just forgot to pay? Can someone just leave their kid at home and say they forgot to take the child to daycare? When did "I forgot" become a valid EXCUSE?

[MzJ25]

Originally Posted by Ideal08

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs....S01/709050368/
If it's not, I need for ONE GreekChat mother to tell me about the time she just forgot all about her child.

And when did forgetting stuff get you off the hook?

I have been hearing about people forgetting their kids in the car a lot lately. I have a two year old son and there has never been a day that I forgot to drop him off with the sitter. There has not even been a day that I don't call my sitter and make sure he's doing okay. I personally don't see how it's possible. My mom and I tried to come up with several scenarios that would cause her to forget and we didn't come up with anything that was reasonable. In the case of this woman they let her off the hook because they said the child was not really neglected, she just simply forgot. I think this is BS. It doesn't matter if your child is neglected or not, you still left him in a hot car for 8 or 9 hrs with the windows rolled up and for that you need to pay. When your life becomes so busy and hectic that accidents like this happen,i t's time to sit down and re-evaluate your priorities.

[Ideal08]

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...6f7013&rss=703

Now, this chick was in JAIL with NO BOND for the death of a DOG. But chickie won't get CHARGED for forgetting her child. OK.

UPDATE:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...WS01/309060010

[jitterbug13]

^^^
I heard about this story on Today this morning. It reminds me of a story that AP did a few weeks about how they charged parents who leave their kids in cars. A few days later, the incident in Charleston happened (the mom who left the two kids imn the car and then later washed and dressed their bodies).

And where's Chico?

I asked that question last week. TMZ has found him.

http://www.tmz.com/2007/09/06/another-debarge-busted/

[MzJ25]

So I am listening to the news this morning and they are talking about the woman who left her child in the car. They said that co-workers had warned her before that she needed to stop leaving her son in the car. I was in absolute disbelief....This was not the first time? Apparantly she has done this before but someone always saw him in the car and was able to get him out in time. She needs to go to jail.

[Infamous12]

Originally Posted by Ideal08

http://www.wcpo.com/news/local/story...6f7013&rss=703

Now, this chick was in JAIL with NO BOND for the death of a DOG. But chickie won't get CHARGED for forgetting her child. OK.

UPDATE:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...WS01/309060010

To update the lady-who-got-off-for-leaving-her-child story:

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.d...386/1056/COL02

It's happened before.

[darling1]

currently my hair is natural and just to save the potential drama, i slap some gel in it and pull it back. i too am nervous about people's viewpoints in the workplace. but while im looking for the job, i rather be as conservative as possible and then pull out the big fro after i get the gig.

its sad that hair is still an issue for some folks,.

Originally Posted by RedefinedDiva

OMG!!! And here I am, going to a job fair tomorrow, Afro puff in all!! Although my hair is very well kept and I know how to look professional, is this the "real" thought process? I went to a job fair last year and there were several black female attorneys rocking natural hair. Be it that they already have their jobs and I'm trying to get in the door, I'm nervous that people view my hair negatively.... This article is distressing....

[lovelyivy84]

Originally Posted by darling1

currently my hair is natural and just to save the potential drama, i slap some gel in it and pull it back. i too am nervous about people's viewpoints in the workplace. but while im looking for the job, i rather be as conservative as possible and then pull out the big fro after i get the gig.

its sad that hair is still an issue for some folks,.

I think it depends on where you live, honestly. I work for a very conservative consulting firm and no one has any problem with my locs. But this is in NYC, the fashion and diversity Mecca, not someplace small and ULTRA-conservative to begin with. We're all democrats I interviewed here with them. It's all about CONFIDENCE and appropriate styling- I didn't come in with my locs all wild- I pulled them back for the first few days (then never again) and have decided that coloring them is probably a non-starter.

[Confucius]

Patty Jackson's 411 for the week of September 3rd

After five years, the fairytale has turned into a nightmare. The marriage of Shaquille O’Neal and his lovely wife Shaunie is over. Shaq has filed for divorce from his popular wife. Sources say money and cheating are at the root of the problem and all fingers point to Shaunie. According to friends of Shaq, he filed for divorce because he felt he could no longer trust his wife. Was Shaunie hiding money from Shaq? What was up with Shaunie and her young personal trainer? The O’Neals have four children ages 7, 5, 4 and 1.

Prophetess Juanita Bynum has broken her silence. She has survived a divorce, a nervous breakdown and life on welfare. Now she is ready to be an advocate for anti-violence. In a recent appearance on the TBN Christian Network, Bynum showed no bitterness, and she did not speak out against her husband. A couple of weeks ago, Bynum was beat up by her 40-year old husband Bishop Thomas Weeks. He attacked his wife in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel. He beat, stomped and choked the popular televangelist. Weeks said the Devil made him do it, and he faces up to 27 years in jail. After news came out about the Bynum attack, reports surfaced about a church worker who was attacked by Bishop Weeks eight months ago. Is Weeks a serial abuser? The National Black Church Initiative is recommending that Weeks be suspended for three years because he has hurt the cause of Christ. They feel they cannot tolerate this kind of behavior. They are asking that church members not support him or recognize him as an ordained minister. Bynum has forgiven her husband, and she says she will continue her ministry. Bynum says she is not a Damsel in Distress, and her life has been changed forever.

Halle Berry is going to be a mommy! It’s official. The 41-year old Oscar winner is three months pregnant. This will be the first child for Berry and her longtime love, Model Gabriel Aubry.

Bobby Brown wants some respect! Brown has asked a judge to throw out his divorce decree from Whitney Houston. Bobby feels he was tricked into the divorce and his signature was forged on the pre-nup agreement. He also wants physical and legal custody of their 14-year old daughter Bobbi Christina. The Brown-Houston marriage officially ended after 15 years this past spring. Bobby says he thought they were working things out, but then he was tricked into the divorce. Bobby says he didn’t have his day in court. The next court date is October 22nd. Reps for Whitney Houston claim this all about money because Bobby is broke. If Bobby doesn’t get his way or some respect, look for him to write a tell all book.

Whatever happened to El Debarge? The popular lead singer of the group Debarge is 46-years old and the father of ten kids. He also has a problem staying out of jail. Debarge was arrested last week on a domestic violence warrant that was later tossed out, but he still had to stay in jail. The judge cited past incidents with Debarge, including arrests for drugs, vandalism and driving with a suspended license. In 1986, he was arrested when a college student claimed he assaulted her. In 1996, he was tossed in the slammer when he failed to pay child support. The Debarge family has a history of trouble with the law. Brothers Chico, Robert (deceased) and Thomas all have cocaine convictions.

The R Kelly child pornography trial has been delayed! Again! Now it won’t get underway until the spring of 2008! This trial has gone on forever. Kelly faces up to 15 years in prison if he is convicted of the 14 counts of child pornography he is facing. Kelly is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a young teenage girl. The girl is now 23, and she says if she has to take the stand, she is going to say that’s not her on the tape. The trial was delayed this time because the lead prosecutor in the case just had a baby. The trial has suffered many setbacks, including the judge falling off a ladder and Kelly coming down with Appendicitis.

Percussionist Sheila E will be on a judge on the new Fox show The Next Great American Band. Unsigned and undiscovered groups will compete for a record deal. The show debuts October 19th on Fox.

A controversial book about the life of Singer Phyllis Hyman is out in bookstores. Strength of A Woman details the singer’s life. Hyman committed suicide in 1995. The book discusses her troubles and her amazing singing career. The drug abuse, her diagnoses as being Bi-Polar and the turbulent relationships with men and women, nothing is held back. Hyman is best known for the hits Meet Me On the Moon, The Answer Is You and You Know How To Love Me.

With two wedding ceremonies behind him, Usher is ready to embrace fatherhood. Usher married Tameka Foster for a second time in an elaborate Atlanta ceremony last weekend. Now they are preparing for the birth of their first child. This will be her fourth. Usher says if she is having a boy, he will name him Usher, Jr.

Saturday Night Live Star Keenan Thompson wants to do more skits on the popular show, and he is vowing to lose weight. Thompson rose to fame on the Nickelodeon show Keenan and Kel. He has also starred in the movies Good Burger and Fat Albert. Thompson says he wants to lose enough weight to portray Presidential Candidate Barack Obama in some comedy sketches.

Actress Nicole Ari Parker-Kodjoe is ready to get back to work after having two babies with hubby Boris Kodjoe. Nicole says motherhood is fun, but she wants to go back to work. She has two movies coming out next year. She’s doing a movie The Better Man with Martin Lawrence, and she’s teaming up with Eddie Murphy in the comedy Nowhereland.

Jill Scott’s new album, The Real Thing, arrives in stores on the 25th. Check out my personal page on our website WDASFM.COM Go to Patty’s page and check out her new video My Love and movie trailers from her new Tyler Perry movie Why Did I Get Married. Plus, I’ve got the trailer for the new Denzel Washington- Russell Crowe movie American Gangster.

Actress Tatyana Ali is best known for her role as “Ashley” on the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Now the popular sitcom star is ready to take on the soaps. Ali is set to join the cast of the Young and The Restless as a love interest to “Devin.”

Oscar Winner Jennifer Hudson has been looking fabulous. She’s hard at work on a new album due out in November. Check her out as the new spokesperson for Avon’s Imari Seduction. She looks stunning.

The VH1 network is catching heat because of their negative portrayal of Black Women. The VH1 network has made a ton of money off of popular shows that show black women in a negative light (Flavor of Love, I Love New York and Charm School, to name a few). Insiders at the network claim a proposal for a new show featuring black women was turned down because no one wanted to see a show featuring professional black women. The show in question would feature black women searching for love outside of their race.

American Idol Judge Randy Jackson is producing Boyz II Men’s next project. Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville is a collection of classic Motown songs including Track of My Tears, Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing, Just My Imagination and an accapella version of Stevie Wonder’s classic Ribbon in The Sky. The album is due out November 13th.


Singer-Songwriter Smokey Robinson will be the latest honoree at the UNCF’s next telethon. The television fundraiser for the United Negro College Fund begun in 1979, and has been long supported by the Motown Legend. The telethon will air early in 2008.

Frankie and the Lady T, together? Yes! Frankie Beverly & Maze and Teena Marie are returning to the area Sunday, October 7th in Atlantic City at the Boardwalk Hall. Tickets go on sale September 10th at all Ticketmaster locations.

WHAT’S THE UNDERGROUND BUZZ?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

Now that she has turned her back on her longtime boyfriend this Celebrity by association is feeling lost. She listened to her friends who told her leave that no good man…You’re Giving Him All These Kids And He Won’t Marry You…Leave Girl! Well, she left, and he could care less. He plans to support her financially for the rest of her life, but he is glad to be free of her.

A backlash is slowly brewing over an R&B Singer. She loves making headlines and leaking false stories to the media. Her latest stunt left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. She leaked a story about having a deadly disease then took her time retracting the story because she was enjoying all the media attention.

[jitterbug13]

D@mn Shaunie! You had Big Shaq Daddy to take care of you for the rest of your life and you still couldn't keep it at home?

Phyliss Hyman book: Will look up on Amazon and then ask my co-worker to order it.

If Usher has a boy, it will not be Usher Jr. It will actually be Usher IV or Usher V.

"Ashley" on Y&R: Isn't she a little too old to be with the teen set? It would look like she's getting with Little Richie.

JHud and Avon: Love the dress, HATE THE PICTURE.

UB #1: Kim. It may not be now, but she'll be back with Diddy.

I have no idea on #2.

[MeezDiscreet]

#2 is Toni Braxton

[ladylike]

Originally Posted by jitterbug13

D@mn Shaunie! You had Big Shaq Daddy to take care of you for the rest of your life and you still couldn't keep it at home?

Would that make the two of them since Shaq didn't keep it at home?

[BlessedOne04]

Kim Porter knows where her gravy train is and now that she had made a complete fool of her self in public and probably private maybe she will raise her kids and stop trying to make headlines all the time!