Light-skinned Girl party, WTF??!!

I am so shamed that this mess went down in Detroit, but even so I still have to call 'em out! I NEVER EVER would have thought a black person would do some mess like this!

Amid furor, DJ cancels party for 'light-skinned' blacks

'I made a mistake,' local party promoter says after Internet backlash.

Oralandar Brand-Williams / The Detroit News

DETROIT -- A local DJ and party promoter retreated Thursday from a plan to sponsor a bash that would let "light-skinned" black women into a downtown club for free.

But the "Light Skin Libra Birthday Bash" at Club APT on Woodward Avenue turned out to be a bashing -- of promoter Ulysses "DJ Lish" Barnes after word of the unusual party spread on the Internet.

"I made a mistake," Barnes said. "I didn't think there would be a backlash."

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Barnes, who said he's been a party promoter for six years, canceled the event.

He said he has gotten angry calls and e-mails from around the country about the party.

"I didn't mean to offend anyone," he said. "I had planned a party for other shades (of black women). We were going to take a shade of color each week. Next week was going to be a party for 'Sexy Chocolate' and the week after that 'Sexy Caramel.' "..... read the entire article here>>

My thoughts

I find it hard to believe that this promoter didn't realize that this concept wouldn't fly. However if it is true, it only shows what a critical state much of our community is in. His willingness to green-light this concept shows a true lack of understanding about the legacy of the color complex in this country. I am reminded of Kanye West's comments about the racially mixed women in the music videos:
"If it wasn't for race mixing there'd be no video girls. Me and most of our friends like mutts a lot. Yeah, in the hood they call 'em mutts". If anyone thought this was no longer an issue, welcome to reality.

Moreover, to play the devil's advocate, if for some strange reason, he still wanted to do this, if he had any sense of consciousness, it would seem that common sense would dictate that you not start with the "light-skinned" girls first. This shows an even deeper disregard for the emotional scars that our melanin-rich sisters carry as they are constantly bombarded with images that say they are not beautiful!


I hope that this young man has learned from this situation and that as a community we can see that it is imperative to educate our youth about our history and culture so that we do not show ourselves to be this ignorant and thoughtless in our endeavors.

To be clear I am 100% in disagreement to this party as a concept considering the history of intra-racial prejudice in our community and suggested that he start with dark-skinned women to simply switch up the all to common deference to less-african looking members of our community, and to give an example of how it would have been taking the sensitive nature of this subject into account.

Where do you weigh in on this issue?

What's Next

It has to be more than talking about "it." I feel like people weren't hearing Russell Simmons who talked about the root of the problem. While I am not a fan of the gangsta rap and ghetto foolishness I understand that the music is just a symptom of a bigger problem. To some extent its economic, but it is also psychological, emotional and spiritual.

I have said that my people here suffer from chronic low self-esteem. We don't love ourselves so as a result we treat one another like dirt. We call each other niggers, bitches, hoes and all other sorts of things. No I'm not surprised Don Imus said it, but no it doesn't make it right.

In these discussions we jump from slavery to rap music and there is a whole lot in between. Slavery and segregation planted the seeds of negativity and self-hate, but this issue has grown into a full-grown weed. Forcing rappers and musicians to change their lyrics and firing people like don imus is like cutting of the top of the weed. We all know it will just come back again and again unless you get the root.

So how do we collectively address poor self-image, low self-esteem, lack of integrity, hopelessness, desperation, and depression? It's caused by environment. I grew up in Detroit, MI and I can tell you first hand what an impoverished depressed environment can do to a people.

I feel like some people point the finger at people like Oprah and say look she came from a poor environment and now she's a mogul, but we all know she is the exception and not the rule. There are some people who are born superstars. They are visionaries and are able to overcome any adversity put in their path, but most people are not. However, if given a positive environment and a fair chance these people would become productive members of society.

My mom was like Oprah. She didn't come from a privileged home, but she was a striver nonetheless. She wanted more for herself and raised me to be the same way. She exposed my sister and I to a variety of things and taught us that we could be ANYTHING we wanted if we simply worked hard. She taught us to believe in ourselves by showing us she had confidence in us and accepting nothing less than our best.

I am a product of my environment and while I am not an Oprah I am a superstar in my own right. I own my own business, finished college, and shining example of a strong beautiful positive black woman, so tell me why and I seen as the exception and not the rule? Why are people shocked to find out I have a college degree and no children at 31? Why was it the same at 21?

We have to love on our youth and help them transcend their environment. We have to help them believe in themselves and help them find the strength to dream of being more than a street hustle or baby mama. Every affluent black family should adopt at least one black orphan and every black person should be a mentor.

We, the sophisticated, educated, privileged, and affluent, are failing our community everyday by not living amongst ourselves or at a minimum spending time among the less fortunate. Its not about clothing drives or food baskets around the holiday season, its about driving your BMW into the "hood" and letting these boys know that they can have a tight whip without selling drugs, being a professional athlete, or being a rapper. It's letting little girls know that they can be executives, business owners, teachers, doctors, massage therapists and more than a welfare queen. It's letting them see examples of black families with husbands, wives, and children at every income level.

It struck me a couple of years ago that my childhood was unique in that I grew up in a two parent home, was a product of planned parent-hood and saw a loving relationship modeled for me. I am so unique that most men and women think my criteria for being in a relationship and having children is weird. The guys who want to date me think I am "high maintenance" because I require you to treat me like a queen. I don't know anything else b/c that is what I saw everyday in my home growing up. My father loved my mother and even though she passed away over ten years ago, he still tears up at the mention of her name.

No we can't fix the broken homes, but we can open our arms to these children and let them see that there is another way. It's a shame that many black children think black folks don't get married or have good credit. So many people say to me, "you don't plan to have kids, it just happens." We have to show them that you make life happen instead of it happening to you.

In summary, those of us who are able to participate in town hall meetings and have great esoteric discussions need to stop philosophizing and start doing. For all these single professional women sad about never having found a man, gotten married, and having a family should become mothers, aunties, and big sisters to all these youth out here without parents or fools for parents. These teenage moms need the guidance of older women to help them be good parents. We need retired teachers to come together and create after school programs to help these kids with homework and supplement the joke that is the public school system.

Let's stop talking and start doing. Oprah we need some schools here in Detroit b/c the Detroit Public School system is dropping the ball big time. Bill Cosby, but your money where your mouth is and let's start some parenting and life skills programs for the youth. To all my executives, senior managers, factory workers, and skilled-tradesmen let's start volunteering, mentoring, and participating. Spend less time shopping for shoes and going to the club and more time giving back to your community. Let's praise them and raise our youth and watch how our community begins to flourish.

So What About Oprah?

Ms. O did a town hall today on the fall out of the Imus issue today and although its been overshadowed by the foolishness at Virginia Tech I would love to get some feedback. I know a lot of people think she is out of touch and doubted whether or not she would use her show as a platform for this topic. So now that she has what else is there to say?

Oprah gets a lot of hate from some members of the black community b/c she super successful, single and childless. Sound ridiculous I know, but sadly its true. I have had men actually say that they hate her b/c they see her as a competitor b/c she hasn't had any children! I admire Ms. O b/c she embodies excellence, style, grace, and benevolence. Despite what some say, I have yet to hear anything about her to truly make me question my respect for her. Sure she is a tough lady, and I doubt she lets anyone get away with anything, but what else do you expect. If she did anything less she wouldn't be a billionaire!!

I continue to appreciate her for doing what she does and if anyone ever questioned her "blackness" can we please just leave it alone. EVERYONE in the black community she look to her as an inspiration and example of what you can achieve no matter where you come from!

GOOD NEWS BAD NEWS

GOOD NEWS: Its been rescinded as of Jan 18th
BAD NEWS: It ever existed in the first place

read the original article

OMG I can't believe this. How on earth in 2006 can black people really claim that braids and locks are "unprofessional" and or faddish. I would agree that all hair should be maintained neatly, but to say natural styles are "unprofessional" WTF??!!!

This thing with the Baltimore Police force takes it to another level.

Black people we can't continue to sell out our community and culture like this. Braids, cornrolls and locks are not FADs they have been part of our community for decades. True some people let their hair get a little fuzzy, but hell I've seen bad weaves, jacked up fades, and all other kinds of mess. Am I crazy or can anyone see how retarded this policy is?

Its funny I read this today b/c as I was dropping off a file to the printer I walked by an old job of mine. Tom's Oyster Bar in Downtown Detroit. Years ago I was hired there to bartend. I was wearing braids at the time, zillions to be exact and decided to take them out. As is my custom, I refuse to take time off work or spend hours and hours taking down my hair so I put on a gelee/headwrap throughout the process. Mind you I had worn this head wrap plenty of times to the job, but normally it was black. I also wear it wrapped such that there is a knot at the nape of my neck similar to a "bun." This is my version of what to do on a bad hair day b/c my natural hair will not be kept in a regular ponytail.

Anyhow this particular day I wore a white wrap and all hell broke loose. I went into the back office calmly explained that 1) I was not wearing a Hat and 2) I in was in the midst of taking out my braids and could not simply remove the wrap as my hair would be unsightly. I even went as far as to take it off and show my mgrs the state of my hair. (They were of course shocked and confused by this b/c they thought the braids were my "real" hair, roflmbao)

I then explained the amount of time it would take to finish removing the braids and requested the next day off so I could finish the job. They refused. I offered to only wear the black wrap seeing as I had worn it many times b/f without causing a stir and they also refused. I was told there was a "no hat' policy and while I pointed out agian that I was not wearing a "hat" I was told to go home and come back the next day without the wrap and with "presentable" hair.

"They" the white mgrs went as far as to bring in the black mgr "a man" and asked him if it was true that it would take me over 8 hours to remove the braids. He looked at me, looked at them and said "No."

I was soooooo angry and when I asked him about it he said he didn't want to get himself in trouble and therefore sold me out (TOM!!!). Needless to say I did not get the braids out in time to report to work the next day and seeing as I will not go out in public looking like some sort of retard I called in and explained. I was told not to report back to work and that my services would no longer be required.

Blatant case of cultural insensitivity and a sell-out brotha, but more than that shows how jacked up the world continues to be. I hope the concious people of Baltimore continue to protest this ridiculous policy.

POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!

----------------- Bulletin Message -----------------
From: SOULFLOWER- DOWNLOADS FINALLY AVAILABLE!!!!
Date: Jan 31, 2007 4:08 AM


I just got this info tonight and had confirmed it with some of my folks in the political community, so I posted the info I was given. It was very hard for me to believe that an entire city would be forced to comply with this general order which states that you can no longer wear cornrows,braids,twists or dreadlocks in Baltimore. It made no sense to me. With further investigation I found that this order was not intended for the general public but rather for The Baltimore police force and from what I've been told, other city workers. It may not be as outrageous, but these laws and restraints have been known to start small and grow. This is still very much UNACCEPTABLE. The petition is closed but there are still city representatives that need to be addressed. Below I've posted two articles I've found. One from a Baltimore news station and another building on how they took an officer with dreadlocks off the street and put him behind a desk.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/10470167/detail.html

http://www.thewbalchannel.com/news/10470167/detail.html

Kwanzaa is a made up holiday

"Kwanzaa is a made up holiday"

I hear it a lot, and its funny to me because all holidays are made up. Really think about it, someone decided to celebrate Easter, Christmas, Hannahka and everything else.
So just b/c the Black or African American culture evolved hundreds of years after other religions, or cultural groups, we are not allowed to makeup our own traditions?

Hmm instead of trying to find fault with a group of displaced, opressed, and generally mis-treated working to create a sense of unity, shared-traditions and cultural pride, why not support it?

Sometimes, the worst ones are the faith-based people who just can't seem to understand that all holidays are not about God. Look at Valentine's. I don't see any ministers trying to disuade people from buying chocolates flowers and gifts. Is just that this is a specific holiday created for black people that makes it so bad to them?

In my cursory study of various cultures, religous groups and cohesive communities, there is always at least a few shared traditions that serve to bring the group together. As black people share a variety of religions from Christianity to Islam to Buddism, we can't rely on religion to unify us.

Yes we need to be unified b/c although we may not act as a single group, when the world looks at us, they see us as one. Most of the time they don't distinguish you as a black christian, black muslim, black atheist, or black jew (yes they exist) they see you as black. We are treated as a group, yet do not function as one.

Kwanzaa may not be the perfect holiday (whatever that means) but I challenge you to find a real problem with it. It simply promotes community values that if we truly worked to embody would propell Black people foward leading to emplowerment and mass success!

I don't celebrate Kwanzaa according to the strict 7-day, plan but you can do something simple like getting your family and friends together at least one night throughout the week to acknowledge the positive aspects of the celebration.

FYI: The Nguzu Saba (Seven Principles of Kwanzaa) are:
more info @ The Official Kwanzaa Web Site>>

	Umoja (Unity) To strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation and race.
	Kujichagulia (Self-Determination) To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves.
	Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) To build and maintain our community together and make our brother's and sister's problems our problems and to solve them together.
	Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops and other businesses and to profit from them together.
	Nia (Purpose) To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
	Kuumba (Creativity) To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
	Imani (Faith) To believe with all our heart in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders and the righteousness and victory of our struggle

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