Being Black is Being Beautiful

R Kelly Not Guilty

2008-06-13T22:13:00.000-07:00

As an educated African American, I try not to let someone's "blackness" excuse them for committing illegal acts. I do this with the mindset and understanding that this may be all they know, dependent on their environment, socially perceived as normal behavior, and that we should not judge others unless we walked in their shoes...

That being said, I like R Kelly...I think he's wonderfully talented, and seems like a smooth, easy going individual. When the "sex tapes" first came out, even without seeing it, I said it wasn't him, and "he didn't do it!" Then I saw the tapes...I was at the hair salon getting my locks done, and someone brought in the tapes. The whole salon stopped and just stared at the television. And, in my heart, I really think it was R Kelly. BUT, I just didn't want to admit it! I didnt want another black male getting incarcerated, especially when he was SO TALENTED! Im guilty...I'll admit, if that was a caucasian actor, I would have been yelling for his persecution...

So, the secret is out! I excuse the behavior of black people a little too much sometime. I always have to put it in perspective,"what would I feel about this is the person was white?" Would I be so forgiving??

When I do that assessment, I will admit, I can make a more fair assessment. Im only human, and I know if our laws were a little less stringent and jurors didnt make the decision he would be in incarcerated...

but, Im still glad he didn't go to jail...He's dropping another album next month...terrible, huh?

Time to Make the Switch from Hillary To Obama

2008-06-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Man, this was the hardest decision we've ever made: Who to vote for presidential nominee for the democratic party? I had to admit, I chose Hillary at first. I said, and I said it LOUD: What, I chose Hillary Clinton over Barack, What?! For me, I recently made the same vote locally in Las Vegas (a long time experienced black male politician vs. a new white female lawyer who wanted to make a change on Martin Luther King Blvd), and I voted for him because he's been in the trenches! He'sbeen there. And I did the same thing in this race: Hillary because I'm comfortable...AND, I'm so into being proud of being black, and when I see people that hide it and not say it out loud, it makes me REAL NERVOUS :-)

Anyways, I voted in the caucus (Jan. 19th), and I EVEN voted at the state convention as a delegate...BUT...I just donated my first $10, which I'm sure will be a series of $10 in the next 21 Tuesdays until our November.

Hillary, YOU GOTTA GO! Her female supporters: Its Dead, Done, and seriously, its so EASY to like and encourage Obama. Its so EASY for me to give him money and watch his historic speeches...I mean, out of John "I'm So Old" McCain and Obama, man, you have to be a straight up hatin' RACISTS not to want him in office. He's not perfect, but he's the best we have and will have in a LONG time!

Its easy for me to give my allegiance to him, and I am glad I supported Hillary at first, but I'm more than happy to move toward the future!
Change is a coming, and I'm jumping on the bandwagon! Go OBAMA! :-)

Our Books Are Better :-)

2008-05-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I, Lisa Phillips from Las Vegas Nevada....I sell black books. I sell them online and in person...I sell them in places where the majority of customers are black, but I also sell them where the majority of customers are white. And, you know what, I can BARELY get a white person to look at the selection of books by black authors...Why not?!

Its amazing to me, as someone who has read white novels and literature my whole life, and someone who has gotten more involved in black authors in the last 5 years, that the bias is soo strong! The amazing part really is, is that, our books are better!

There's no denying that African Americans are pretty much on top of the food chain when it comes to music and sports, but I'm telling you: We're the best in literature...And, unlike the first two, you'll have the threaten a white American to read one of our books, as if it won't be up to snuff or something...or sub-par. As a critic that enjoys both genres, its shocking to me how the literary field only goes in one direction for mainstream america. Blacks read both black authors and white authors, and whites only read white authors...

The main point is, in their...refusal, they are actually disregarding some of the best literary agents, and sellers out there...Proof you say?? Well, lets just go: Walter Mosley, L.A. Banks, Jawanza Kunjufu, Wahida Clark, Bernice McFadden, and ZANE (regardless if you think romance novels are in or not, she IS a bestseller). Those are just a few, and I offer more than 300 titles which is only the tip of the iceberg at http://www.books4blackwomen.com/. So, you tell me, whats the DEAL?!?!