The Mocha Doll

Black Men Mentoring Disadvantaged Black Youth

2008-11-22T10:39:00.000-08:00

By Veronica of "Euroweb

"Meet the men of Brother II Brother, an extraordinary group of African American men dedicated to changing the lives of disadvantaged, male youth.

Perhaps a better title for this piece would be “Black Men in Action” because their deeds transcended their words during their recent 2nd Annual Youth Empowerment Symposium held on the campus of the University of Southern California (USC).

The organization was founded by Stinson Brown, LAPD Officer and Drill Instructor; and Pernell Clark, a pharmaceutical sales representative. Their mission is to mentor male youth from the ages of 13-21 on a variety of subjects including education, financial literacy, self-respect, and the meaning of manhood, to mention a few. This year’s symposium attracted about 50 youth who were recruited from various middle and high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

The alarming number of homicides involving African American youth on the streets of Los Angeles and the staggering increase in their incarceration rates are the two main factors that inspired Brown and Clark to start what they refer to as “BIIB.” Their goal is to intervene in the lives of young males particularly the behaviors that put them at risk of becoming involved in the juvenile justice system, and in helping them make positive choices that could lead to a better life.

“I was tired of holding the heads of young African American males in my hands as they took their last breath,” said Brown, 22-year LAPD veteran, about witnessing first hand the lives of young men extinguished from gang related violence. “I wanted to do more than talk about what was happening, I wanted to do something to help to save our youth.”

“Having positive mentors in my life as a young man was a critical part of my development and later success,” said Clark, a Yale graduate who grew up in South Central. “Joining Officer Brown in creating Brother II Brother was not only a way to provide a positive image to male youth in our community, but it was a way to show them positive alternatives.”

Brown and Clark knew they were not alone in their desire to help male youth. They had many friends and colleges who were equally concerned about what was happening to our young men. When they put out a call for core members to help carry out their mission and objectives, many men and even few women answered the call.

But when they put out the call for men to help mentor young men at the 2nd Annual Youth Empowerment Symposium, the response was overwhelming – over 80 men from various professional occupations and entrepreneurial endeavors responded, including KNBC-4 morning news anchor Chris Schauble who served as the Master of Ceremonies for the day. Others included Lance Triggs, Executive Vice President of Operation Hope who weighed in and addressed the youth about financial literacy. Dr. Brian Nichols, licensed clinical psychologist signed on and dared symposium participants be great; and Dr. Leslie Klien enlisted and gave a presentation about reproductive health.

The mentor-to-student ratio for the day long event was 2-to-1. For many of these young men it was better than winning the lottery for the latest video game release. It was the first time in their lives that they had an opportunity to talk one-on-one with men who took an interest in their lives and their futures. And symposium participants didn’t hold back in asking their mentors a myriad of questions during their personal breakout sessions which mentors said were inquisitive, lively and poignant exchanges.

“I understand the importance of having goals after talking with my mentor,” said 17-year-old Washington High School Student Delante Robinson who attended the symposium. “I was inspired by my mentor and now I have goals I know I can achieve.”

“At the end of the day, that’s what it is all about, reaching the next generation, giving them hope, helping them see the vision for their lives and giving them the tools to make their dreams come true,” said Brown. “We are our brother’s keeper, and Brother II Brother is without a doubt our young brother’s keeper.” For more information about Brother II Brother, visit"Brothertobrotherla.org."

TACO BELL COUNTERSUES 50 CENT:Fast food chain calls rapper's lawsuit attempt to 'burnish gangsta persona.'

2008-11-22T10:10:00.000-08:00

"*Taco Bell is speaking out against a federal trademark infringement lawsuit brought against them by rapper 50 Cent over a failed promo campaign.

In a countersuit against the rapper, lawyers for the fast-food chain are calling his federal lawsuit, filed in Manhattan, another attempt to "burnish his gangsta rapper persona by distorting beyond all recognition a bona fide, good faith offer."

The suit claims that 50 has used his "colorful" past to cultivate an image of "belligerence and arrogance," and says he has a "well-publicized track record for making threats, starting feuds and filing lawsuits," while also painting himself as a charitable person who gives back to his community.

The case is rooted in a fake letter sent out by Taco Bell Corp. asking 50 Cent to change his name for one day to 79 Cent, 89 Cent or 99 Cent to help publicize its value menu. In return, the company offered to donate $10,000 to the charity of his choice. Fifty immediately sued the restaurant chain for the improper use of his name.

Taco Bell's suit claims that the "humorous but sincere" open letter it sent to 50 had an obvious "jovial spirit," but with a serious underlying offer. "The challenge — asking Jackson to temporarily change his name ... for charity — was a soft ridicule and good-natured lampoon of the rapper's moniker, 50 Cent, and his public image as a gangsta rapper."

As a defense, the suit notes that the letter from Taco Bell's president was not used in ads, that 50's name was never used in an ad campaign and that "celebrity challenges are notable and newsworthy and reported in the media."

In other 50 Cent news, the artist began production on his new film "Dead Man Running" on Wednesday (Nov. 19) in London.

As previously reported, the film follows an ex-con trying to go straight who is given 24 hours to raise $150,000 to pay off a ruthless loan shark, played by 50, or become a "dead man running."

Also starring in the film are Brenda Blethyn ("Secrets And Lies") Tamer Hassan ("Layer Cake"), Danny Dyer ("The Business"), and Monet Mazur ("Stoned").

50 Cent's next album, "Before I Self Destruct," was recently pushed back from Dec. 16to an unspecified date early next year."

From Eurweb

"God, Please Don't Make My Son Dark": A Mothers Pain

2008-11-18T00:01:00.000-08:00

As a child, Tangela says she was teased and tormented by other African-Americans because of her dark complexion. Then, when she was 19 years old, Tangela found out she was pregnant with her first child.While most expectant mothers just hope for a healthy child,Tangela prayed for something more.

“I would just say to God, ‘Please don’t make my son dark. Please don’t make my child dark,’” she says. “I didn’t want him to experience what I experienced…being called names, being talked about.”

When Tangela’s son, Najee, was born with dark skin, she says her heart ached for his future. “I saw people looking at him as if something was wrong with him,” she says. “That’s the pain that I really felt, more so than my own darkness.”

When Najee was 5 years old, children started teasing him about his complexion. In kindergarten, he says a female classmate, who was also African-American, made a hurtful remark that he remembers to this day. “The negative comment was, ‘Oh, you’re so black,” he says.

As Najee grew older, the insults continued. “I’ve been called names like darkie, dark chocolate, blackie,” he says. “Most of my negative comments do come from other blacks, and it’s extremely painful.”

Najee says he tries to hide his deep-seated insecurities from his friends and family by pretending to be happy. But deep down, a lifetime of low self-esteem is starting to take a toll on him. “Sometimes I have felt that I didn’t even want to be on this earth,” he says. “Sometimes I wish that God didn’t make me this way.”

His mother says her biggest regret is not understanding how much pain Najee has been feeling over the years. Tangela says she tried asking Najee if anyone teased him, but he never wanted to discuss it.

“I tried to give him books and encouragement and let him know he was beautiful. He had beautiful teeth,” she says. “It almost didn’t matter how much I told him because I didn’t know what was going on.”

From Oprah.com

As you all know, I feel that this complex needs to be broken in the black community. It is a vicious cycle that is hurting our children both emotionally and mentally. To help stop self-black hatred, tell a black child of any hue that they are beautiful. This goes a long way.I remember the times that people have given me compliments on my skin.They stood out because of their rarity. I got used to hearing some of the things that Najee was told and unfortunately see dark skinned people and children teased a lot.

Tell a child that their skin is gorgeous. It could be as fair as snow, or as dark as dusk, help instill self-esteem, and stop self-black hate from the root.

Help undo what is being done by society.

When the Person Doesn't Respond on Myspace....

2008-11-16T00:14:00.000-08:00

Often times, people are encouraged to send messages to those that they are infatuated with. With Social Networking sites like Myspace, Meebo, and Facebook, it's hard to resist.

Once the initial phase of initiation (Friend request,friend accept) is over, and you can breath again, you tell yourself not to "rush things"...Don't send a message, see if they maybe give you a picture comment with your new and improved sleezy default picture. If that doesn't work, you might send him one, of course after posting an array of "Comment my new pics" bulletins, or something equally as tacky. Or a message. And this is when things go horribly awry.

This is the worst mistake you can make in a case like this. Do not do it.
I've just done it and I feel queezy because he hasn't responded in 5 minutes....Shall we go through the excuses:

He's just busy...Talking to his girlfriend...The man has a right to do that...
He's still logged on eh?Well. Myspace is funny like that sometimes.He could have been logged off minutes ago.Barely escaping my grasp.
You are stupid for sending his rageddy ass a message...Didn't you learn the first time?

That aside, you are stupid if you send him a message, because, trust me, men
know when you are on their friend's list. Especially when you post annoyingly sleezy bulletins all the time. You're too available.Get a damned life. Jesus...
What was I thinking ya'll? What was I thinking?!
It was that last article that messed me up. I refuse to look at my sent mail section. I'm not on any anti-depressants right now so I shouldn't...
It certainly didn't hurt that the message was entitled "How the hell..."
I figured that you can't go wrong with honesty, and I was honestly wondering how he knew that I was going to throw that orange at him....So maybe he's still a little angry about that. Yikes...Forgiveness...Even if, even if you never did even think about me...At all.

When a Guy, is Toying with You....

2008-11-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

Some people say that you know when a guy is playing with your heart. They are born with that innate ability to just tell when someone is faking Cupid's touch. Quite frankly, some of us are not, and one of those "some of us'" is among you.That's right, your fellow Blog Queen (hardly, I know), has been tricked too. Not just once, but quite a few times.

By my Senior year in high school, you would think that I had it all figured out. And by that I mean, just leave all of the boys at my high school alone. Ya see, I have this reputation, that I'm never going to be able get rid of in high school. It's for being...Stupid. Not stupid per se' like dumby. But stupid when it comes to being able to tell if someone is making fun of you.

And who can blame me?! I mean, seriously, how am I supposed to know that when a guy says, "Shake it Mama", in front of a large crowd, he's not being serious, he's MAKING FUN OF ME *gasps*...It's not flirting, it's screwing you over!

What can I say, common sense just ain't that common anymore.

So about a year ago, when a guy started making "comments", I ignored them. Armed with the knowledge that he was just effing around with me, doing so was effortless, and even felt good. It did not hurt that I thought he was the most unattractive human being I had ever seen. The first few days of class, I didn't even acknowledge him,only the females around him who spoke of parties, and *scoffs* getting "crunked'. He was the designated drunk at all of these massive get-togethers which featured scantily clad teenage girls who would all but remain celibate. I chipped in once and asked to join, in deep sarcasm of course, and they looked at me like I was demented. In a way, they had every right to.I was not and, I am still not, the gal' who attends such unsavory events. I of course have never attended such an affair and did not go to that one...nor was I ever actually invited.

Back to the wolf(coughs)though. When I first, really and truly laid eyes on him, I was taken aback by what I considered,then,to be his grotesque ugliness. Pale skin, a nose that seemed too big for his face, a chin that looked like he could defecate out of, and eyes that were just there' so to speak...

To other girls though, he was all that and a bag of chips. Tall, blond, green eyed ladykiller. He's the one yo mama' warned you bout.

It started with a "Girl you lookin' good today". I was flattered, but I did not let the words echo, as I knew that he was probably making fun of me. I did not find myself to be anything special looking, and still really don't. But more importantly, I knew that the kids at school considered me daft,homely looking, and certainly unfathomable as a love interest. To add to my disbelief of his remarks, was my then friend Shane. Another popular boy,who's thought of as the most handsome, and very "in the loop".When I asked him, in real anger, about this boy's intentions, he said that he was "just high" and "messing with me". This was very believable, but there was a pinch of doubt within me that made me wonder. That "pinch" is called stupidity and it lies within the innocent and unworldy. Those who's heart breaks so many times, left only to believe that once upon a time can make it's mark in their own world and the heart is ragged again,perpetually,and continually from a disease that eats at all of us, just at different paces and at different times.

Loneliness.Inevitable, and Authentic.

It's the hope and the dream that never pauses; it's the hope and the dream that can get you in trouble.

I figured that the absence of my response would make him stop. No eye contact, nothin'. Then finally, I said "Go away(insert name)?"...I called him by the wrong name, and it stunned him. Why should I not know his name? Mr. Basketball, Football,and Baseball team. Mr. Popular. The truth is that I called him by my then-crushes name...I really, really did. He turned around "What?" and gave me kind-of this weird grin. A look of surprise and uncertainty. I don't remember if I responded, but he upped his "game" immediately after this occurrence. He would now have to tease me more often...And he did. I continued to not give his cat calls any attention because I knew of the emptiness behind them...

But then he got to me. He started looking at me in class more. I could feel him watch me walk. I was scared to staple papers because it meant being near him. Then, on April Fool's Day, the asshole decided to make a joke, "Girl, you looking sexy in that trench coat". I knew all-too-well what kind of joke he was making, as it was the second one of it's kind that day. I didn't pout, just took it for what it was: a false compliment. He still did the staring though, and the comments, they never did stop. He would stare for a long time, say "Hi" or "What's up, Girl?" and I'd sometimes smile out of pity, most of the time though, I would keep walking.

An example of a lengthy exchange is this: During a rally against drunken driving, his posse and him decided to watch from were I was...He saw me and walked over, he said "Hey Girl" or something along those lines. I looked at him and strolled away behind a little blond girl that I knew. His friends said "She's over you man" and then they or him said "But I'm/he's/you not over her"...

Such toying around is not appreciated.

Over the summer, I got...Bored and made the mistake of my lifetime: Gave him a picture comment...Then, *cringes*...I sent him a message.

The picture comment read: "Haha. We all know that's apple juice" and it was in reference to a photograph he had posted of him drinking beer.

Then I sent a message that said "I have a question for you." then he responded...My question was how is your summer going and he quoted me "dandy like candy"...I responded, but there wasn't much I really could say so that was it.

Forgot about him completely.

Enter Senior year, he's there...Same BS as last year. Except for worse. The man seems so sincere. Just have to keep things in perspective.Yeah the perspective that he's a big fat liar trying to eff with me. I think he actually thinks that he is getting somewhere now because I flip him off. If he says something like "Girl you looking good today" and tell him to "shut up" or "go away"...

It's bad because...by now...I...I've....Got a crush.By now I find him attractive and wonder why he hates me so. What's so wrong with me that he has to be so damned mean. It hurts, I won't lie. What I once believe to be grotesque ugliness is now strikingly, and I must admit, stunning attractiveness. The same thing I believed to be childish immaturity is now youth, vitality, and a particular kind of absolute calm, that I...like...and enjoy.

The boy had game y'all. Or I'm just stupid.

I'm glad I never really let him in. Or let him officially know that he was in danger of getting close to me....

I was texting outside of class walking towards the computer lab at school. He is walking with me but I do not realize this for a very long time. In fact,I am texting a friend telling him that I'm "through" with something that never began. Suddenly, I see that he's walking with me, and, as a reflex grabbed his arm. I was scared. He looked down at my hand, then me and smiled. I said "OhMyGosh...You should not do that"..."You scared me". Then he asked me "So who are you texting?". I said "My friend M#$%^*" and he said "Well tell him I said hi" and I said "I will"...Then we were just walking. Then I said "I'm taller than you".He laughed at this, and said "well, you're wearing heels, and not even with them on." Then I said "Yes I am" and he didn't say anything. Then I said "How tall are you?"...He's 6 foot 2. I tell him that he's "just a little bit taller"...It's an ongoing joke for a few weeks that I call him "short stuff"...This is after a lot of stuff...After I threw a carrot at him when he told me that he "liked my $h!t" and it hit him the crotch. After he didn't help me with my books as some sort of punishment for hurting his pride that day. But not before our last little verbal exchange.

"Hey, what's up Ariel, girl, what's happening?"...Ignored. Then after 2 minutes, I threw my orange at him....He was turned with his back to the orange, but, caught it...

This is when I got my boyfriend. A gay guy I met in the office approximately 2 days before him...He's come to say hi. Tells me that I make him want to go "bi" and before I know it, the gay guy is helping me make this dude jealous.Holding hands, talking to the cheerleaders...Stroking. The works. We'd apparently been going out for 2 weeks. It was not the second time we met.haha. Life is good now.

Meanwhile,the guy who captured me...he's doing this to other girls, except for he actually means it and likes them. He's a flirt, a wolf, a womanizer, the male your mother warned you about. That skirt-chasing rake has himself a wonderful blond girlfriend now...

Can't help but wonder if the interest was ever genuine, if he ever had good intentions for me, if he ever will...If this was all a game for him. If it weren't for my reputation...Would he?

Most of all though, I wonder why in the world it even matters to me.

Public Masterbation Strikes Again...In CHILDREN'S LIBRARY!

2008-10-27T20:54:00.000-07:00

This is an atrocity. People no longer have the decency to take things home when they become aroused.In fact, they are using the library's computers to provoke those feelings and then acting on them in a very public way.Tax dollars are being spent on maintenance for this government facilities and the fact that the library is allowing if not welcoming and supporting this kind of behavior and abuse is absolutely appalling.

The over 18 seems to be only superficial, as it is clearly a news story and investigation...

You can skip to the ending scene were reporter Carl Monday is ATTACKED by the father of a library card-holder who decided to "shake hands with the sheriff downstairs". After that, Carl is literally bum-rushed into his vehicle were he makes smug remarks in the safety of his news van:

Jacking Off In Public Library - For more funny videos, click here
Tax dollars at work here folks

Not only that but the 1st time caught, you are given a warning.Just come back in, maybe next time we will catch you before the children do.

A shining example of lassitude and someone being way to comfortable with their job.The conduct exhibited (more like UNinhibited and obviously UNbothered) is inexcusable and I personally feel that he should not be allowed back in, nor should any other "patron" (I doubt that man pays taxes, as he lives at home) who shows that they can not control themselves in a manner suitable for the public eye.

At least Carl Monday is filling his position as not only a reporter, but a true investigator.

Thank you Carl.

Darker Skinned Glamour Girls

2008-10-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

Darker Skinned Glamour Girls

by Racialicious Special Correspondent Latoya Peterson

Paging through an older issue of Pride Magazine, I noticed something that initially stood out to me as strange.

Hmm, I thought to myself, they have a lot of dark skinned women in this magazine. Wonder why?

Then I wondered to myself why I thought it would be strange to have dark skinned women in a magazine that caters to black women. That should have been a no-brainer. So why was I surprised?

It wasn’t until I got home and paged through a few other magazines when it hit me - I thought it was strange because I normally don’t see many women featured in fashion magazines that are darker than myself.

Gabrielle Union and Kelly Rowland tend to illustrate darker complexioned women in mainstream magazines and black based magazines may feature a darker skinned model or two, but representation is seriously lacking.

Later on that evening, I was prepping a large batch of magazines for recycling. After thumbing through about 30 issues of various magazines, I made the following notes:

*One fashion spread featuring a darker skinned woman in the 2006 Vibe Vixen.

*An Azzure ad from that same 2006 era, also featuring darker skinned, plus sized woman

*Last month’s Essence included one profile of a darker skinned business woman, and a couple of advertisements containing a darker skinned woman.

*Self Magazine had a stock photo in January featuring a darker skinned model with a loose natural style.

That’s all I got out of 30 magazines? Unfortunately, the current crop isn’t much better. I also noticed some interesting trends.

To be represented, it appears that darker skinned women have to fit into a certain mold.

Mold 1 - Striking and Exotic

Ajuma:

Alek Wek:

Or Mold 2 - Used for color contrast:

However, the women featured in the Pride Magazine broke these molds with a quickness.

Recording artist Mica Paris was featured with her hair loose (pictured below) and also in another photo with a white catsuit and large afro.

Model Rachael Williams was featured as the face of African Pride. This was the back cover ad:

Her MySpace Page also includes pictures from photo shoots, like this one:

Or this one:

After taking in these pictures, I reflected on the lack of comparable images in American glossies. This is not to say that models like Ajuma and Alek are not beautiful. It just seems like fashion has a specific look that is acceptable for dark skinned women. It is almost as if the woman is not dark with close cropped hair and a bone-thin physique, she simply does not exist. Seeing women like Rachael Williams and Mica Paris gracing the pages of a fashion magazine were a welcome change for hair and size diversity.

March arrived a couple weeks ago, and I quickly ran to the newsstand to pick up the newest copy of Pride. I skimmed through the pages eagerly, only to notice something was missing. Throughout the magazine, the models were mid-brown to fair. So were the subjects for the articles.

The darker-skinned glamour girls were gone again.

I came across This wonderful article from Racialicious

Daughter of Obama Bucks Creator responds with ignorance...

2008-10-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

How suprising. I'd like to applaud the reporter who did her job very well.Totally deserving of respect and a giant THANK YOU this end of the black community and other minorities alike. White people should also be thankful because she debunked stereotypes that all whites are racist and or agreed with the Obama bucks...Not that any well-bred person would believe that crock of nonsense either.

Now being married to a Mexican means that you can't be racist?! There is racism in every race.The ignorance is BLINDING me. Unbelievable.

I love how they zoomed in on the McCain Palin sign on the lawn.

Once again cheers to this reporter, she did a brilliant and fantastic job of bringing insight to the idiocy of the Obama bucks.

I Have Yet To See...

2008-10-17T19:54:00.001-07:00

I would like to say that I have yet to see this kind of thing sent out from the Democratic Party and I applaud them in this. It takes a lot of strength and intergrity not to resort to a pity party as an actual campaign.

That's a bottle of Jack Daniels and Mac n' Cheese along with a few packs of cigs for Joe back home...Not to mention the 6 pack seated comfortably under the 3 children she's er, babysitting.

On a more fair note I'd like to state that the people saying rude things about any of the candidates really need to be backed up. It's horrible and tasteless. Palin, McCain, Obama,Biden...Folks just need to quit.

Inland GOP mailing depicts Obama's face on food stamp

2008-10-16T22:20:00.000-07:00

By MICHELLE DeARMONDThe Press-Enterprise

The latest newsletter by an Inland Republican women's group depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken, prompting outrage in political circles.
The October newsletter by the Chaffey Community Republican Women, Federated says if Obama is elected his image will appear on food stamps -- instead of dollar bills like other presidents. The statement is followed by an illustration of "Obama Bucks" -- a phony $10 bill featuring Obama's face on a donkey's body, labeled "United States Food Stamps."
The GOP newsletter, which was sent to about 200 members and associates of the group by e-mail and regular mail last week, is drawing harsh criticism from members of the political group, elected leaders, party officials and others as racist.

An Inland Republican women’s group sent out a newsletter showing this fake $10 “food stamp” with Barack Obama’s face on it.
The group's president, Diane Fedele, said she plans to send an apology letter to her members and to apologize at the club's meeting next week. She said she simply wanted to deride a comment Obama made over the summer about how as an African-American he "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."
"It was strictly an attempt to point out the outrageousness of his statement. I really don't want to go into it any further," Fedele said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "I absolutely apologize to anyone who was offended. That clearly wasn't my attempt."
Fedele said she got the illustration in a number of chain e-mails and decided to reprint it for her members in the Trumpeter newsletter because she was offended that Obama would draw attention to his own race. She declined to say who sent her the e-mails with the illustration.
She said she doesn't think in racist terms, pointing out she once supported Republican Alan Keyes, an African-American who previously ran for president.
"I didn't see it the way that it's being taken. I never connected," she said. "It was just food to me. It didn't mean anything else."
She said she also wasn't trying to make a statement linking Obama and food stamps, although her introductory text to the illustration connects the two: "Obama talks about all those presidents that got their names on bills. If elected, what bill would he be on????? Food Stamps, what else!"
Club Member Cries
Sheila Raines, an African-American member of the club, was the first person to complain to Fedele about the newsletter. Raines, of San Bernardino, said she has worked hard to try to convince other minorities to join the Republican Party and now she feels betrayed.
"This is what keeps African-Americans from joining the Republican Party," she said. "I'm really hurt. I cried for 45 minutes."
The Obama campaign declined to comment. It's the campaign's policy to not address such attacks, said Gabriel Sanchez, a California spokesman for the campaign.
The newsletter prompted a rebuke from another African-American member of the organization, which is well recognized in the community for its philanthropy and efforts to register and turn out voters in the Rancho Cucamonga and Upland areas.
Acquanetta Warren, a Fontana councilwoman and member of the women's group, said the item is rude and requires a public apology.
"When I opened that up and saw it, I said, 'Why did they do this? It doesn't even reflect our principles and values,' " said Warren, who served as a Republican delegate to the national convention in September and is a regional vice chairwoman for the California Republican Party. "I know a lot of the ladies in that club and they're fantastic. They're volunteers. They really care -- some of them go to my church."
Warren forwarded an electronic version of the newsletter to the California Republican Party headquarters, where officials also were outraged Wednesday and denounced the illustration.
Hector Barajas, the party's press secretary, said the party chairman likely will have a conversation with Fedele, and Barajas will attend the statewide California Federation of Republican Women conference this weekend in Los Angeles to handle any news media there to cover the controversy....

http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_buck16.3d67d4a.html

Model Diversity, In The Words of Alex Alvarez

2008-04-10T14:02:00.000-07:00

Quoted from Racialicious.com originally from Guanabee

"My name is Alex Alvarez. And I hate women’s magazines. Don’t get me wrong: I like fashion and I’ve worked at several magazines over the past couple of years. I can talk about Courrèges and Two Girls, One Cup in the same breath. But so many women’s magazines, both “fashion” mags like Glamour and Vogue and “sexy” mags like Cosmo and Horse & Hound do women so much more harm than good. Women’s magazines have long been accused of creating a standard of beauty that will forever be just out of the grasp of most women - prompting them, of course, to wait until next month’s issue for more advice on how to be perfect. (Hint! Transplant your face with this other face.) Selling women this promise not only keeps magazines on newsstands and subscriptions in the mail, it also helps appease the real driving force behind all magazines — advertisers and Satan. And what women end up purchasing is cosmetic “whiteness.” You know you’ve made it, baby, when you wake up looking like you faceplanted on Plymouth Rock. In this feature, I’ll take a look at women from four, over-simplified ethnic or racial backgrounds and see just how, exactly, magazines are fucking them all up. Then, after a few dozen sex quizzes and several minutes of trying to figure out how you can both “Love Your Body!” and orient yourself on the latest “Plastic Surgery Tips Every Woman Should Know!” without wanting to gag yourself on an exclamation point, I’ll give the magazine industry a few tips on how to talk to women. "

Latina

Brief Overview: Latinas are portrayed as being sultry and seductive. They can get away with playing the “bad girl,” possibly because they are allowed - and even encouraged - to have more overtly sexual bodies, with an emphasis on curves, dark eyes and bright, plump, shiny, slick, wet lips shown in loving close-ups, usually while the face to which they’re attached is growling or purring or doing something else that’s totally fierce. They also give better head. Oh. There goes my attempt at subtlety.
The ideal: Jennifer Lopez
Hair: Often enough, Latinas have “big hair” with lots of volume, possibly as a middle ground among the various hair textures found among Latinas of different races. Skin: Latinas are often depicted as having an olive complexion, with lighter or darker generally ignored or unmentioned by mainstream media.
Ass: Big, round. Makes a “ka-ching ka-ching” sound when bouncing in time to a song about cars and beach houses.
Breasts: While Latinas are generally depicted with large backsides, breast size is allowed to vary. As long as they’re big.
How magazines f!@#$% up: “Latina” is not a race. It’s a diverse group made of many racial, ethnic and religious groups. Some who don’t even look like J-Lo. Additionally, women can’t have it both ways. While Latinas have been “en vogue” for a period of time, certain celebrated icons of “Latina beauty,” such as Jennifer Lopez and Salma Hayek, have whittled down their once-celebrated curvy figures as the years have gone by. Wait until Jennifer loses all that baby weight. She’ll look so much better without Marc.
Black

Brief Overview: While black women can come in a variety of shapes and complexions, those who are most often represented in mainstream American magazines are often, for lack of a better, equally descriptive phrase, “white-washed” in appearance. Features that are seen of characterized of black people, like curlier hair textures, wider noses and fuller lips, are often downplayed in American magazines, conforming to a white standard of beauty.
The ideal: Halle Berry
Hair: There was quite a controversy surrounding a Glamour magazine article that portrayed “ethnic” hairstyles, such as afros and cornrows, as being inappropriate for the workplace. This works to politicize the black body, hair included, and also upholds the standard that in order to be neutral, apolitical and inoffensive in the public sphere, one must become as white as possible. As such, many black women in magazines have relaxed hair, extensions and weaves.
Skin: Lighter-skinned black women are more often represented in magazines than those who are darker complected.
Ass: While black women are “allowed” to be more overtly sexual than those who are white, many “high fashion” black models are quite thin and thus their backsides are smaller and the object of less focus than black women represented in other areas of mainstream entertainment. Like in any rap video that airs after midnight in between commercials for “Girls Gone Wild: Preschool Edition.” Breasts: The more high fashion the magazine, the less busty the models. After all, even your eyeballs’ll look fat in a Hervé Léger bandaid dress.
How magazines f!@#$% up: While Halle Berry is a stunningly attractive woman, she happens to have a white mother. And while Latinas are allowed to “fiery” and “seductive,” the magazine and fashion industry seem confused about how, exactly, to portray black women, choosing instead to whitewash them and choose only light-skinned women with whittled-down figures, or very dark “exotic beauties” that are treated more like sculptural objects than flesh and blood women.
Asian

Brief Overview: Asian women hold a curious place in the beauty stratum. Often, what is perceived as their “natural” physical traits are encouraged and often emulated by White women trying to achieve a certain standard of beauty. The idea of a natural physical ideal is a harmful one, because those who do not possess such traits are ignored or considered somehow inferior, physically. The Asian ideal, as perceived by American fashion magazines and elsewhere, revolves around the idea that one must be petite, slim, fair and delicate. Doll-like would be the best way to describe this ideal, both in terms of physical appearance and attitude.
The ideal: Ziyi Zhang
Hair: Straight. What was interesting to me, actually, was that a former Korean roommate of mine had all these magazines that featured girls with curly hair all dyed a sort of reddish color. Seriously, every. Single. Girl. In her magazines had the exact same hairstyle. She also had one magazine dedicated to Japanese girls who wanted to emulate the style of American Black women -this included wearing afros. Also interesting? Girls in Japanese and Korean magazines are generally much, much thinner than in American ones. Skin: Clear, light. Although there are many, many ethnic groups prevalent throughout Asia, only porcelain-skinned girls find representation in American fashion mags.
Ass: N/A
Breasts: N/A
How magazines f!@#$% up: Some Asian girls are chubby. Really! Some are muscular, some are tall, some are dark, some are doughy, and some are boney and awkward.

White

Brief Overview: The gold standard of white beauty is a woman who is thought of as being the least “ethnic” and most “neutral” as possible. Fair skin, fair hair and thin, often lacking in curves that would be considered vulgar or distasteful (or exotic?) the stereotype of corn-fed Midwestern girls or sun-kissed, muscular athletic girls are eschewed for fair, tall, boney girls - often with what is described as a “boyish” figure, one without the tell-tale markers of womanhood - hips, ass. Personality.
The ideal: Gwyneth Paltrow
Hair: Hairstyle changes with the season but barring avant-garde styling, styles are usually pretty tame, alternating from loose ringlets to super-straight, shiny, sleek hairstyles. Comes in a variety of haircolors, again, depending on the season.
Skin: Pale or tan, depending on the season and the style of the photoshoot. Like to mix colonialism and cultural oppression with your couture? Bring a healthy glow!
Ass: N/A
Breasts: Depends. In magazines focused on middle to upper-middle class women, breasts are often normal to large. In high-fashion magazines, however, fuller bustlines are used to indicate “plus-size” or “seductive” women like Eva Mendes, not necessarily elegant or stylish ones.
How magazines f!@#$% up: There’s been a long tradition of a “fight for white,” meaning that various ethnic groups over the years have had to struggle for the chance to be seen as normal and neutral. Irish-Americans, for example, who are today almost synonymous with the concept of what it means to be white (fevered dancing without the use of hips or shoulders, the consumption of potatoes), were very much “the other” for a very, very long time in America. Jewish and Italian Americans were also not always considered white folks here in the old U.S. of A. This isn’t mentioned to encourage anyone to wait whiteness out, it’s meant to highlight the fact that whiteness is a culturally manufactured concept and is only given meaning by a certain segment of society in a certain slice of history.

Sigh. What can you do? Well, for one, you can stop reading fashion magazines. No, ok, calm your ass down. (Ooh! See what I did there?) And remove your stiletto from my cornea. You can still celebrate fashion and enjoy girlyness without conforming to patriarchal and Anglo-centric standards of beauty. There are some magazines out there that will let you know you’re fine, and even beautiful, exactly as you are without telling you to lose five pounds in three days to fit into a bathing suit you can’t afford. Dig around. Put effort into being a consumer, and be discerning in your taste. Women make up the majority of the U.S. population; it’s not far-fetched to say we drive a lot of the economy. So why do we give up all our power to the beauty and fashion industries, only to be rewarded with the idea that we’re still not good enough? These standards and fads only have meaning if you elect to give it to them.

This is from Alex Alvarez of Guanabee.com and I feel that it was a much needed article. Thanks for giving us the 411 Alex.

Movie Prices...

2008-04-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

I'd like to take a moment to vent about how much I was charged to go see Horton Hears a Who out of all things. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was a good movie. I'd tolerate it being on in the living room on Saturday night. But a $7.50 matinee for a 5 year old? She is UNDER 4 FEET! (I think)

I was stunned...It's ridiculous. And you wonder why people are bootlegging. Now I'm not for breaking the law and all that but if I saw a guy on the corner selling it for the ticket price for my 5 year old sister give or take a few bucks and ah well the economy ain't doing so good right now baby...Try explaining that to my sisters...

They say that bootlegging is the reason that the movie prices have gone up so high...But if they could bring em' back down low, I'd have money to go.

I talked to the guy at the ticket booth...He seemed annoyed with me...I said, "No way, she's only 5 years old." he was like, "well"...He already had my card there was no need to give me the, "she's not well" look. I was paying there was no reason for me to be treated like I was out of touch' so to speak.

And another thing, once you get in there, they are stingy! I asked for a cup of ice (yes I did bring my own food) and he said that I would have to pay...Pay for a cup of ice. Can you believe that people? Pay for some damn ice. Finally he gave me one of those baby water cups...For free... :)

The last time I went to the movies, I had to change my tone with the cashier because he said that there were no free refills when the other cashier gave me a bigger cup to get my refill...The sign behind him said, "Free Refill On Ariel's Size Cup"...Or something like that...I got my refill that day...

Anyways the kids had a nice time, and I admit that once we got through checking, I did too. So yeah....Good day...7.50. Can you believe that?

'Institutionalized Laziness': Orange County Sheriff's Deputy Watched TV While Prisoner Was Beat to Death

2008-04-10T12:20:00.000-07:00

SANTA ANA, Calif. —

Results of a grand jury investigation released Monday show that an Orange County sheriff's deputy watched TV and sent text messages while jail inmates beat a fellow prisoner to death.
The findings were compiled in a report released by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas, who told reporters the jail probe found "institutionalized laziness." He has said, however, that the grand jury could not find criminal negligence among jail staff.
"As the district attorney of Orange County and as a citizen and a taxpayer, I absolutely can't tell you how distressed I am at some of the evidence we uncovered," Rackauckas said.
"The main goal of the deputies described in this case was to do the least amount of work possible while collecting their paychecks," he said.
According to the report, a jail guard facing the area where inmate John Derek Chamberlain was killed watched the TV show "Cops" and sent 22 personal text messages during the hour-long beating on Oct. 5, 2006.
Nine inmates have been charged with the 41-year-old's murder. No deputies were charged, but several high-ranking officials left the sheriff's department this year after the jail investigation concluded.

The report also found that deputies did not check on the area where Chamberlain lay dead for at least five hours after the assault, even though one inmate frantically jumped on a table and waved his arms in front of the deputies' guard station.
"This report establishes that the murder of John Chamberlain need not have happened. It may have been prevented if existing policies and procedures had been followed and enforced," Rackauckas wrote.
The report was another blow to a department that has seen its leader at the time, former Sheriff Michael Carona, abruptly retire this year to defend himself against federal corruption charges.
The report said jail personnel regularly failed to patrol the jail, sleeping, watching TV and playing video games at their guard stations and using inmates known as "shot callers" to maintain order.
One grand jury witness, a deputy, testified that deputies on the night shift regularly slept on mattresses on the floor of the guard station with the lights off and blankets draped over the station's windows.
Deputies also routinely ignored inmates' requests for medical attention because they involved complex paperwork. They also used a code called "10-12" to warn other deputies when supervisors were walking the jail floor and lied in shift logs.

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From Fox News and the Associated Press

Laziness...It's a killer. We see it everyday. I think that it's time someone stood up and did something about it. I mean seriously. If someone lost their job, people would look at that and stop and think, "Hmm. Maybe I shouldn't be lazy?" I know I sure would.

I honestly think that the gaurds should go to jail. I mean a cool 3 or 5 years...

You've got to think, wouldn't he have heard something? This person was beaten to death. There must have been some noise...And he ignored it.

Jail time for the gaurd. Jail time for the gaurd. Jail time for the gaurd.

Prisoners are people too.

70% of African-American Women Are Single...

2008-04-08T10:33:00.001-07:00

Something tells me that this statistic is false. It just doesn't seem right. If it is right, what's wrong with being single, however, it's not.

That means that 7 out of 10 African-American women that you talk to will be single...Were did this statistic come from...Well, it came from no other than talk show giant Oprah...It must be right.
I'd like to know how this was done. It's not like they went door to door and asked...Right? Maybe an internet poll?

Well, people used the internet to voice their opinions on why the situation is what it is. They said that it was because black men were "leaving" for non-black women. They said it was because African-American women weren't "feminine" enough. That black men couldn’t handle a “strong black woman” that African-American women have bad attitudes and are materialistic. Oh and that the black men are gay...

People pointed the finger at the opposite sex, and people used excuses for dating outside their race…

I don’t agree with most of the reasoning given for the statistic…I may not know why it is that 70% of African-American women are single, but I know why they’re not.

So tell me, why do you think 70% of African-American women are single?

This Blog...

2008-04-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

I hope this blog is interesting. I hope that people read it. I hope that it helps me figure out what I want to do with my life...

Well.There. There is all the hope and I will look back on this post and see if the goals were achieved.