From an Old Woman to a Young Woman

Tuesday, November 24, 2009


Whilst prying through other writers' blog, I picked up on this post called From an Old Woman to a Young Woman. Making its first appearance on craigslist, (who knew that craigslist could also be a place of providing ingenuous yet sardonic tips), this list of wisdom definitely hit home. Last night, I received a phone call from a young woman/friend who's in her last year of college, reporting about the lack of respect young college women have for themselves. It agonizes me to hear about women who stays in toxic relationships because they believe it's the best that they can do.

If a basketball or football player or a popular good looking dude, is willing to f*ck me, then that must mean I'm special.

They're afraid to be alone, in solitude, with themselves, and rather be disrespected in order to prove to themselves that someone is willing to be with them, even if they're just merely pussy.

It's totally a SMH (shaking my head) moment, but I can sympathize.

I can only make reference to my Haitian culture, but I sympathize because a lot of young women grow up with parents or guardians who are afraid to talk about sex. They'll say "Stay away from that guy, he's a vagabon!" without explaining who or what is a vagabon and how to determine if one belongs to that division. Haitian women have this way of being the victim and not realizing that a dude will treat you poorly if you let them do so (been there, done that, erased it from my DNA). If women were willing to speak up, demand respect, show that they love themselves, and told meat shoppers to keep it moving, Ooo Wii, it would be a different game.

Every young women (especially college women) should N.B. this list because so many of them are lost and suffering silently...

P.S. Vagabon means womanizer, dog, playa, meat shopper, you get my drift


From an Old Woman to a Young Woman

1. You are not a victim. No matter what happens to you, don’t take the pussy route and blame the world for your misfortune. If you were sexually assaulted, verbally abused, etc and lived to tell about it; take your pain and help those who need it. Writing emo poetry isn’t going to solve anything.

2. Invest in your education first, your looks second. Anyone can pay a plastic surgeon to look hot, but not everyone can read a book and do simple math.

3. No matter what you call it, having a ‘man to take you shopping’ is glorified prostitution. He wants you for your body, you want him for his wallet. Cut the crap and call it what it is.

4. Do not seek confidence in other people. Magazines, celebrities and most pop influences are there to make you feel like you’re nothing. Don’t buy into it. Those celebrities need your money to look fabulous. Invest in yourself, not hype.

5. Stop fueling gossip mongers [Perez Hilton, TMZ.]. They have nothing to talk about and if you follow them for long, neither will you.

6. Be modest; why have all your goods unwrapped and leave nothing for the imagination?


7. Know the difference between fucking and love. There is a major difference and if you don’t know it, pick up a book or ask someone who does.

8. Do not have children just because you’re lonely or insecure. Your child will end up hating you for it and you won’t get the emotional blanket you hoped you’d get.

9. Get a job. Seriously. Just because you’re a woman doesn’t mean that you are excused from work. Find a trade, get a job. If you are a house wife, be a good one. If you are a career woman, put your heart into what you do.

10. A respectable companion is rarely at a ‘bar’ or da club’. These places are meat markets and will only set you up for a douchebag or a wimp. If you go, refer to rule 7.

11. Learn to cook. Cooking is a dying skill that needs not be. You’d be surprise how much weight you lose and how you can get a decent companion if you know more than picking up a phone and calling for dinner.

12. Get off your phone. If it’s not your best friend, your job or your family, your cackling is not important and the rest of the world does not want to hear it. Listen more. Talk less.

13. Stop putting so much of your money into things [purses, shoes, make up] and start putting it into a savings account, a 401k or an IRA. Those shoes are not going to vest when you turn 65.

14. Stop using men to get you stuff. Have some self respect and buy your own drinks, meals and entertainment. A date will respect you more if you show them you are not helpless.

15. Perfume and baby powder does not make up for good hygiene. Shower, do your laundry, clean your place. Body odor is not excusable for either genders.


16. Buy clothes that fit. Be tasteful with your clothing be you big or small.

17. Don’t eat for comfort, vomit to make yourself beautiful, and starve yourself to feel loved. Exercise, be sensible with your food choices, don’t deprive yourself but never eat too much. The quickest way to a size 30, and to the grave, is past your teeth.

18. If they say the I love you, ask them to earn your heart through good deeds, genuine kindness and respect.

19. Romance is not dead; but if you’re not willing to give it, don’t expect it in return.

20. Stop being a bitch to other women and other people. If you are not happy, go get therapy. No one deserves to be berated because you don’t have the guts to berate yourself.

21. Do something new every day. Pole dance to learn about your sensuality, paint to express your creativity, write a blog to express your soul. Evolve and never stop learning.

22. Look in the mirror everyday and smile at what you see.

23. Stay safe. Learn to defend yourself against one or multiple attackers. Jackals do not attack if they see a big stick. If all else fails, run. There is no shame in running if it keeps you safe.

24. Love yourself. Always. When you love yourself to the fullest, the world will open with opportunities

Dying hair with indigo & henna

Wednesday, November 18, 2009



So I've been wanting to dye my hair midnight blue for 5 years now. I want my hair to appear jet black but glints of blue showing in the sunlight. I never tried dying my hair before because I was always afraid of hair breakage. I stalk loc wearers on youtube and hear a lot of people talking about Henna. The curious bee that I am, googled it and OMG, this stuff is prefect! Henna makes your hair red but if you mix it with indigo, it makes in black. So in short, I'm dying my hair with henna and indigo in order to get that blue black effect.


Check the website below for more information about Henna and Indigo.


http://www.mehandi.com/hair/indigohair.html

TaTa for now!

4 months loc update

Monday, November 16, 2009
Four months and lots of progress







Wowzer!



P.S. I am no longer a product junkie. I only use Aloe Vera gel for re-twist, Tea Tree shampoo to remove pass build up from that Jamaican Creme Wax I used (yea I still have build up from that stuff), and Africa's Best Herbal Oil in my water spritz bottle.

c'est tout

Imagine a Woman

Thursday, November 12, 2009


Imagine a Woman I

Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is a woman.
A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories.
Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.

Imagine a woman who trusts and respects herself.
A woman who listens to her needs and desires.
Who meets them with tenderness and grace.
Imagine a woman who acknowledges the past's influence on the present.
A woman who has walked through her past.
Who has healed into the present.

Imagine a woman who authors her own life.
A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf.
Who refuses to surrender except to her truest self and wisest voice.

Imagine a woman who names her own gods.
A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness.
Who designs a personal spirituality to inform her daily life.

Imagine a woman in love with her own body.
A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is.
Who celebrates its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.

Imagine a woman who honors the body of the Goddess in her changing body.
A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom.
Who refuses to use her life-energy disguising the changes in her body and life.

Imagine a woman who values the women in her life.
A woman who sits in circles of women.
Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.

Imagine yourself as this woman.





Imagine a Woman II

Imagine a woman who is interested in her own life.
A woman who embraces her life as teacher, healer, and challenge.
Who is grateful for the ordinary moments of beauty and grace.

Imagine a woman who participates in her own life.
A woman who meets each challenge with creativity.
Who takes action on her own behalf with clarity and strength.

Imagine a woman who has crafted a fully-formed solitude.
A woman who is available to herself.
Who chooses friends and lovers with the capacity to respect her solitude.

Imagine a woman who acknowledges the full range of human emotion.
A woman who expresses her feelings clearly and directly.
Who allows them to pass through her as naturally as the breath.

Imagine a woman who tells the truth.
A woman who trusts her experience of the world and expresses it.
Who refuses to defer to the thoughts, perceptions, and responses of others.

Imagine a woman who follows her creative impulses.
A woman who produces original creations.
Who refuses to color inside someone else lines.

Imagine a woman who has relinquished the desire for intellectual safety and approval.
A woman who makes a powerful statement with every action she takes.
Who asserts to herself the right to reorder the world.

Imagine a woman who has grown in knowledge and love of herself.
A woman who has vowed faithfulness to her own life.
Who remains loyal to herself. Regardless.

Imagine yourself as this woman.


-Patricia Lynn Reilly

What a Woman Must Do




WHAT A WOMAN MUST DO

Until you walk, run, fight a mile in her shoes
Don't you dare stand in front of me and tell me
What a woman must do
Until you have walked, run, fought a mile in her shoes
Don't you dare stand in front of me and tell me

What a woman must do
What a woman must do

She must
Swing from chandeliers for undeserving spouses and paramours
Who deny her suffrage by day, but crave and praise her womanly wiles by
night
Good enough to fuck but, not good enough to vote
She must
Go from the beauty of Africa, to the horrors of massa
Go from titties dangling bare and shameless
To being branded, licentious, temptress, embarrassed
Go from land of yams and heat hot
To land of cash crops and sellers block
Go… from God names, to no name, to his names
Go… from God names, to no name, to his names
Now Black
Now inhuman
Freedom stolen, family stolen, now beholden… but still golden
Field hollerin'… and Ain't I A Woman
Ain't I A Woman

I can see her, me
Washing dishes, clothes, and children
Making love, money, dinner, and beds
Always the first one off a sinking ship
But last in the line to receive respect

What
What a
What a woman
What a woman must
What a woman must do
What a woman must do
What a woman must do
Must do
Must do, must do, must do, must do, must do…

She must
Wipe away tears and reclaim strength
After rape, abortion, lover's betrayal, child's birth, child's death,
husband's abuse
Tricking to buy baby shoes
She must
Be called a muse
Which is just a synonym for use
Put upon pedestals
Dainty and protected
And because of that disrespected
Victorianized
Made a paradox of famous anonymity
Left to go insane with too much femininity
Staring at yellow wallpaper

Her heart
Open
Her legs
Open
Warm and welcoming
Waiting… for phone calls that never come
Waiting… for words of appreciation that never come
Waiting… for equal pay that never comes
Waiting

Waiting, waiting, waiting
Waiting, waiting, waiting

Waiting for love
Waiting for acknowledgment not judgment
Waiting

And when seeking or achieving any kind of power
Reduced to labels like…

Concubine. Cunt. Bitch. Whore. Stunt. Witch. Dyke
Concubine. Cunt. Bitch. Whore. Stunt. Witch. Dyke

What
What a
What a woman
What
What a
What a woman must
What a woman must
What a woman must do
What a woman must do

She must
Never settle for less based upon her womaness
Embrace the pronoun and power of SHE
Know if nothing else that her uniqueness is blessed
And a necessary component in the union between universe and people
Equal to man
At times above human understanding
She don't have to lay down for nothing or nobody
Her body in and out a wonder
The wonder of SHE

The wonder of SHE

Love

Thursday, November 5, 2009



I've been thinking about love lately. Not the love between a man and a woman or any of the other arrangements with those two words, but a love between a mother and child. I'm not sure what triggered this sudden urge to procreate, but for some reason I feel ready to have a child. I'm not even thinking about falling in love with my fairy tale beau and walking down the aisle, I strictly want to have a child. No need to be alarm. I'm still living in my right mind and I'm not expecting nor planning on having a baby anytime soon, but I feel ready for one. Obviously I'm not financially prepared, but emotionally I am. Now, I'm no Freud or Mr. Carl Jung, but I think this sudden urge is an affirmation that I'm ready to experience being in love.

I'm 23 years old and can't say I've been in a relationship, let alone in love. I shared my companionship, experienced the why am I heartbroken when it was never even official pain, cried in solitude, and left bizarre relationships feeling empty, misunderstood, with a whole lot of unsolved issues. I don't know why, but when it comes to liaison with men, I either wear my "call me ice queen" mask, or my "let me show you I'm the wifey type" facade. I was soooo bad at playing these different characters that I thought would make a man accept or love me. What I never knew was that it wasn't because I was unsuitable for a man to love me, but it was because I wasn't giving MYSELF the love that I internally sketched. I'm assuming that a lot of this internal tumult has to do with my father who took an absentee for 23 years and my mother who emotionally check out for as long as I can remember. Thus, I never recognized love in my inchoate stages of life. The only time I feel parental love, is by the intangible yet sensible force of mother God. Clearly I have abandonment issues, but little by little, this feeling is faintly lingering behind like shadows.

I don't know exactly when this transformation started, but gradually I'm accepting all the craziness and F-ed up biznis and finding more humor and less dramas in my life. And it's not the hysterical repressed self defense mechanism approach, it's the, I love me and ready to share who I truly am with others, armor. I can honestly say that self-love is the dope-est feeling ever. I'm to a point where if someone tried to insult and denigrate me, I would laugh and say "may peace be with you" and pray for them. Yet withal these proclamations, I'm very aware that I'm not quite ready to enter a relationship. Although I got rid of the biggest load of crap I believed about myself, I still have some wiping and dusting to do. My celestial soul that was always hiding behind eclipses is ready to gleam. I'm ready to share my past, pain, and fear to a man and let him see the painting of my soul. I'm ready to hold a child in my arms and make them feel loved, cherished, and respected.

I'm not sure how to end this oh so personal composition, but what I can say it that I'm truly and strongly happy with who I am.

Gang Rape in Cali

Thursday, October 29, 2009






I am highly disturbed by this recent unfortunate situation in Richmond, California. A 15 years old girl was raped by God knows how many folks, right outside her school for more than 2 hours. The most disgusting part is that 20 something people stood there and watched
......
........
...........

I repeat, over 20 mothaF-ing people stood there and watched!!!


I don't get it. How do you watch someone getting rape EN VIVO and not call for help? What is going in this world? News like this makes me want to quit life. What happened to humanity?

3 months hair update

Monday, October 26, 2009
Three months already! Wowzer. My hair is growing rather fast. After a long time battling with the damages that my childhood friend "creamy crack" did, my hair had a hard time growing. So I'm very astound by the growth.















Ok so I'm a product junkie and love to try things for myself before I say "nah this ain't good." I did the inevitable and twisted my hair with creme wax [shock face]. I still don't know what motivated me to do so. I must say though, that it made my hair feel stiff and greasy and it gets slimy when I wet my hair GROSS. With that said. I'm going to put myself through a sort of detox and donate my long time friend who did nothing but cause build up Blue Magic, Black Gel who brings forth many dandruff, Itch Reliever oil that doesn't work for me, slimy Creme Wax, dry up your scalp they call me organic but I lied Organic Twist and Lock, to another product junkie who doesn't mind. I know it's a horrible thing to do but it's either that or I throw them away...Any hoo, I'm sticking to Aloe Gel, Shea Butter and Honey. Aloe Gel and Honey is the truth!!!

Stunning!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009


Black Hair Is...

Poem of the Day

BLACK HAIR IS


Bold and beautiful

Locs

A
rranged like a royal

Crown upon the head of a Queen or

King of the African Ancients



Head of locs proudly displayed

Accentuating our golden brown skin

Intertwining our identity with our heritage

Realizing who we are as we walk



In our Regal gait

Secretly smiling as we walk by



By Jacqueline Gabourel
Flowetry by JayDen

GRE: dum dum dum

Monday, October 19, 2009




My Saturday morning was spent sitting in a chilly room with 15 other nervous people, taking a practice GRE test. I was drowning in a pool of anxiety. We all left in frustration and questioned if we did well. One girl sighed the whole time because she felt that she still wasn't ready for the real test. I even overheard some saying that they're going to invest in a tutor. Mother goodness knows I can't afford a Princeton Review tutor to help me Crack The GRE...

How important are GRE scores and why do people let these stupid test fuck with our emotions?

I am horrible when it comes to tests. I have some mild form of ADD and cannot sit still for 4 hours filling in bubbles. After the test I started questioning myself, "How did I pass College and received a B.A. degree?". I haven't seen my scores yet, but I'm certain that I scored low. I sat there the whole time asking myself "What kind of fuckery is this? Who created these words? Grackle Dapple! I have to analyze an essay about Grackle Dapple!!!" I know it was just a practice test, but I've been studying since June and I still feel unprepared. I plan on taking the real test in Dec, but I'm starting to worry a little bit. I have a good GPA, great letter of recommendations, almost completed my personal essay, so why is it that the GRE is stressing me out?


I'm realizing how much people like myself uses these standardize testing as a means to test our intellectual capacity or educational quality. Intelligence has many facets. You could be very knowledge in a subject just by experience alone. I really believe that these tests are pointless and people should just relax. It's horrible that we all grow up fearing and stressing over someone's ideas of adequacy. This just taught me to just relax and know that my being cannot be measured and to be confident enough to know that GRE scores won't block me from getting into Grad School.

Soundtrack 2 my life

Friday, October 9, 2009
Classic album


Mmm, oOh



The 42 Laws of Maat


1. I honor virtue
2. I benefit without conflict
3. I am non-violent
4. I respect the property of others
5. I affirm that all life is sacred
6. I give offerings that are genuine and generous
7. I live in truth
8. I regard all altars as sacred
9. I speak the truth
10. I consume only my fair share
11. I speak words of good intent
12. I relate with understanding
13. I honor animals as sacred
14. I can be trusted
15. I care for the earth
16. I keep my own council
17. I speak positively of others
18. I remain in balance with my emotions
19. I am trustful in my relationships
20. I hold purity in high esteem
21. I spread joy
22. I do the best I can
23. I communicate with compassion
24. I listen to opposing opinions
25. I create harmony
26. I invoke laughter
27. I am open to love in various forms
28. I am forgiving
29. I am kind
30. I act respectfully of others
31. I am non-judgmental
32. I follow my inner guidance
33. I speak without disturbing others
34. I do good
35. I give blessings
36. I keep the waters pure
37. I speak with optimism
38. I praise divinity
39. I am humble
40. I achieve with integrity
41. I advance through my own abilities
42. I embrace the all


It is said that the Ten Commandment plagiarized the 42 Laws of Maat. When I was studying abroad in Costa Rica, I read the Mayan's creation story Popol Vuh, and was in awe. It's a replicated version of the Genesis. So funny how so many stories in the bible has striking parallels between the Egyptian and Meso-American literature. Also why is it that the Mayans and Egyptian and other scriptures are called myths and the bible is referred to ashistory?

Let it marinate for a sec...

New Amerykah

Thursday, October 8, 2009


So while sitting at work bored out of damn my mind, I turned to my Erykah Badu playlist to get through the day. Ms. Badu is my favorite artist because of her abstract nature, originality, and ancient language that she adds in some of her tracks, but today I paid close attention to her album New Amerykah, Pt. 1 and heard her message especially in Twinkle. The unknown language the man was chanting spoke to my DNA. I have no idea what was being said, but it was like being in an enlightened trance.
WAKE UP
I looked at the album cover and noticed the different symbols in her Afro. I don't know why I never paid close attention to the album cover! Black fists, Ankh, the all seeing eye in front of the White House, hypodermic needles, burger, satellites, cell phone, mutated chains flowers, televisions, toilet bowl, handcuffs, the tree of life, peace sign, bible, dollar sign, embryos (one with a bar code) etc...I don't want to interpret what I think Badu is saying, but whatever it is, it is very powerful, dope, unique, creative, genius...If more people listening to masterpieces like this, rather than fu*k bi*ches, get money, apple juice and cookies, tap that, superman that hoe... I wonder how different we would understand each other...

Twinkle

They don't know their language
They don't know their god
They take what their given
Even when it feels odd
They say their grandfathers and grandmothers worked hard for nothing
'Cause we still in this ghetto
So they end up in prisons…

Gifted~[N.A.S.A.] FT. Kanye West, Santigold, Lykke Li

Friday, October 2, 2009
I love this song! Kanye West, Santigold on the side track??? WHAT!!!




End of your world~J*Davey

Thursday, October 1, 2009




End of Your World (Mama's Back) from KPL TV on Vimeo.

'Good Hair" spewl



Ok, so I know everyone heard by now of the documentary that Chris Rock sent forth. If you haven't, well here's some clips of his enlightening journey



Ok so what is he trying to prove or change? What is he trying to accomplish by putting this video out there? What is he trying to shed light on? Are some of the questions I had after viewing this pre-screening clip. So I watched the Oprah show hoping to answer some of these questions and Chris Rock still failed me.

Here's some more clips



I love Oprah's pride in having long straight hair and Chris Rock's bewilderment. Like seriously [blink blink]?




I know Chris Rock is a comedian and all, but there's so many historical reasons why saying Oprah's natural hairstyle made her look like a slave, doesn't sit well for me.



Ok...



Well said Solange! I thought he was finally going to explain why people call relaxed hair "good hair", but he still missed it



I think it's natural that Chris Rock would have a comical spin on why Black women alter their hair, however he never investigates or tries to explain the why to his targeted audience. He asks women to define their definition of "good" which we all knew the majority would say "relaxed, straight" or some such. But he didn't ask why is relaxed, straight hair associated with the term good. He never asks why so many Black women are defining good hair as having European characteristics. It's such an obvious question, but he totally missed it. If he would have explored more on the historical and sociological aspects, then it would've been truly an informative documentary. Everything that he covered in his documentary (maybe except for the piece on Indian hair) is something that I think 99% of Black women already knew. So I can see why the white audience would be in awe since it finally solved their "the overnight hair growing" mystery, however what is his message to Black women who feel pretty only when their hair is straight, relaxed, clipped down, weaved up, wigged out, etc.

It's pretty simple, long straight hair is the beauty standard that has been set by white men and many of us have accepted this standard and haven't fully challenged this misconception. That's why I'm so proud of Black women who rocks their natural hair because it's a symbol of being in one with yourself and loving what's coming out of the roots.



"Don't remove the
Kinks from your hair!
Remove them from
Your brain!"

Marcus Mosiah Garvey




Locs update-2 months

Monday, September 28, 2009
2 months loc'ing. The thought of taking them out has crossed my mind, but I know these babies are here for a long time. Twist n locs is the best product I've used so far. However, for a stronger hold, I had to mix black gel with Organic Twist and loc.






You know I'm beginning to love the messy look.






My hair hates assimilation and conformity, but I have to train it to lay down so that I can keep my job and pay my bills...




The results




Getting in touch with my locs

Conquered by the F

Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I am indeed my worse nemesis. I never been able to trust myself and believe that my talent can take me far. I'm confident in every thing else, except for the gift the Creator gave me. I grew up in a very negative environment with a bunch of brainwashed complex women, and fear that I'm becoming that. I want to move out of Boston and venture out in Chicago or NYC to promote my art and figured that going back to school would help me network with the right folks. I'm currently applying to get my Masters in Journalism with the dream of working for a magazine, but now I'm afraid that I either won't get accepted, or I won't have the money to pay for school. I graduated a year ago and still can't find that right job. The job I currently do is insulting. I work for a government state job where I sit in front of a computer from 9-5 and believe that poking needles in my eyes would be more fulfilling. I don't dream of being rich, but I do want to be successful and be known as an artist/writer. I want to be able to inspire young women and sit back one day and say "Thank you God I'm on purpose and I made it". I prayed to find an opportunity that will expose me to some of the aspects of a publishing industry and recently got a volunteering position as an Editorial Mentor for Teen Voices Magazine based in Boston. Although I am excited about that, I'm still scared that this may not bring me far. And it doesn't help that I live with pesky people who ask me everyday, "Why don't you do nursing? We told you to do nursing. If you do nursing you would be bel tifi (beautiful girl) by now". Let's not even mention my co-workers who say "Well don't you think Law School would be more pragmatic since your degree is in Legal Studies? Sorry to say but you're setting yourself up for a tough life...don't you want to make money?" Sometimes I just want to...AHH! It's to a point where I put all my art tools away, put a pause on my Grad School applications and been living like a robot for a month thinking "what if they're right?". It's like I have a fire burning in the pit of my soul that's not strong enough to ignite.
Caring about what other people think of me and fear of being rejected is definitely my weakness. It's something I'm working on, but honestly I don't know how to trust myself and tell the prominent people in my life to F off and let me be. I don't know why it's so hard to trust myself. I prayed to find a mentor or art studio where I can have stronger and more refined pieces and God helped me find a local art studio that offers classes for $15 classes (which is relatively cheap). So it's like every time I pray for something that puts me on purpose, God gives it to me but I still let fear run my life.

Story of a black girl's pain.

This is my inspirational loc video

Monday, September 21, 2009


So envious of the thickness of her locs!