Posted on Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Luvvie Ajayi of Awesomely Luvvie & More Tech Experts Appear on Exhale Tonight!!!

Hello World,

Since I started blogging in 2008, I’ve become somewhat of a techie as I’ve tried to learn new tech tools to make this blog the best it can be! If you’re a blogger like me or are just interested in learning more about technology, tonight’s episode of “exhale” is for you!

Tonight’s episode, which airs at 9 p.m. EST on ASPiRE, features conversations with Luvvie Ajayi, social media guru, and the voice behind the entertainment and humor blog, Awesomely Luvvie (@Luvvie); Dr. Randal Pinkett, author, speaker, founder and CEO of BCT Partners and former winner of The Apprentice (@randalpinkett); Kimberly Bryant, engineer and founder of Black Girls Code (@6Gems); and Andre Meadows (AKA “Black Nerd”), actor, comedian, writer and creator of the You Tube Channel Black Nerd Comedy (@BlackNerd)!

I was able to see an advance screening of the show, and I learned some new information that I was not aware of before. During the interview with Luvvie, she reveals that her real name is not Luvvie! It is a Yoruba name, but you have to watch the episode to find out what it is plus I can’t spell it 🙂 Here a few more tidbits from her interview. There are approximately 173 million blogs out there! Yikes! Blogs get the highest traffic on Mondays. According to Nielsen, African American women are the most active group on Twitter. Also, 74 percent of consumers rely on social media to influence their purchasing decisions. Very powerful information!

During Dr. Randal Pinkett’s interview, he shared that he got into technology when his parents bought him a computer instead of games as a child and challenged him to come up with his own games on the computer. He learned how to write code as a child and create computer games because of that challenge! Obviously, that is a gift from God because I would have just picked up Monopoly or Uno and called it a day…He also shared that he started his first company while he was in college. He is the author of “Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness.”

According to Kimberly Bryant, less than one percent of tech startups are founded by African Americans. Also, three percent of the computing workforce are black women. Obviously, Black Girls Code, which is geared toward teaching technology skills to black girls from 7-17, is needed! Since she started the organization in 2011, seven chapters have been created in the United States and one has been created in Johannesburg, South Africa!

Okay, so you have to watch the entire episode to learn about everything else that was shared!

Follow exhale’s hosts at:

·Angela Burt-Murray on Twitter @AngelaCocoaFab, and on her websites cocoafab.com and cocoafab-tv.

·Erin Jackson on Twitter @EJthecomic, and on her website erinjackson.net.

·Issa Rae on Twitter @IssaRae, and on her website awkwardblackgirl.com.

·Rene Syler on Twitter @goodenufmother, and on her website goodenoughmother.com.

· Malinda Williams on Twitter @MalinsWorld, and on her website malindawilliams.com.

Any thoughts?

Posted on Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell Appears On Exhale’s First Show of the Season Tonight!!!

Hello World,

ASPiRE, the network that provides a different reality for African-American viewers, announces the season three premiere of its hit weekly talk series, “exhale” (@exhaleTV). Hosted by five dynamic, diverse and successful African-American women, “exhale’s” new eight-episode season will bring viewers honest, candid and entertaining discussion on a wide range of topics affecting African-American women. Season three will premiere on TONIGHT at 9:00 p.m. EDT only on ASPiRE.

“exhale” is co-hosted by journalist and media maven Angela Burt-Murray; comedian Erin Jackson; director, writer and actress Issa Rae; blogger, author and TV anchor Rene Syler; and actress Malinda Williams. “The ladies of ‘exhale’ are back!,” said ASPiRE General Manager Paul Butler. “Our viewers are going to love the way ‘exhale’ delivers the perfect blend of real talk on important topics, along with real laughs and emotion.”

In the all-new episodes a wide range of topics affecting African-American women – including friendships, stereotypes, domestic conflict, secrets and entrepreneurs – will be examined. Each episode will feature intriguing range of special guests, from celebrities and authors to religious leaders and other experts. ASPiRE and the hosts further connect, engage and continue dynamic, nimble dialogue with the audience through social media. For more information, please go to www.aspire.tv/exhale, Twitter on @ExhaleTV, and Facebook at facebook.com/ExhaleTV.

The first four weekly episodes include:

FRIENDSHIPS – Season Premiere – Airs Wednesday, May 6, 9 p.m. EDT

Whether you’re besties, frienemies or a work spouse, all friendships can become quite complicated! The ladies of “exhale,” along with guests, discuss the importance of friendships between siblings and spouses, reveal the secret to maintaining long-lasting friendships, and answer the age old question – can men and women really be just friends?

GUESTS:

· Erica Campbell, Gospel Singer and Reality TV Star (@ImEricaCampbell)

· Johnny Gill, R&B Singer and Songwriter (@RealJohnnyGill)

· Hasani Pettiford, Speaker, Author and Relationship Expert (@hasanipettiford)

· Eve Marie Ford, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

STEREOTYPES – Airs Wednesday, May 13, 9 p.m. EDT

From colorism, to reality TV, to racial profiling, the ladies of “exhale” and guests tackle the controversial topic of stereotypes. Together, they’ll breakdown the misconceptions, half-truths, and the consequences of “judging a book by its cover.”

GUESTS:

· Justin Simien, Writer and Director of the film Dear White People (@JSim07)

· Bill Duke, Actor, Writer, Producer and Director of the documentaries Dark Girls and Light Girls (@RealBillDuke)

· Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, Author, Co-Founder and CEO of the Women In Entertainment Empowerment Network and former Obama Administration Staffer (@valeisha)

· Marlo Hampton, Former “Real Housewives of Atlanta” Co-Star, Stylist and Charity Organizer (@iheartMarlo)

· Dr. Lisa Williams, Educator, Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur and the Creator of the “Positively Perfect” Doll Line (@PositivePerfect)

SECRETS – Airs Wednesday, May 20, 9 p.m. EDT

In this episode, the ladies of “exhale” and guests are going to reveal the truth about Secrets. From family secrets to infidelity to gossip, are there some secrets that should be left unsaid? And how can keeping secrets actually affect your physical and mental health?

GUESTS:

· Judge Mablean Ephraim, Attorney, Author, Speaker and Host of “Justice With Judge Mablean” (@JudgeMablean)

· Lacey Schwartz, CEO and President of the Non-Profit, Truth Aid, and Producer/Director/Filmmaker of the Documentary Little White Lie (@laceyschwartz)

· Deya Smith, Producer for the “Tom Joyner Morning Show,” Author and Life Coach

· Denise Boutte, Actress (@DeniseBoutte)

· Dr. Dion Short Metzger, Adult Psychiatrist (@dionmetzgermd)

ENTREPRENEURS – Airs Wednesday, May 27, 9 p.m. EDT

From startups, to franchises, to everything in between, owning your own business is part of the American Dream. But do we actually have what it takes to make it? In this episode, the ladies of “exhale” get valuable insight on the risks and rewards of becoming an entrepreneur, as they learn the secrets to success from their experienced and successful guests.

GUESTS:

· Pat Neely, Restaurateur, TV Personality, Author and Celebrity Chef (@PatNeelyBBQKing)

· Melinda Emerson, Small Business Expert, Author, Speaker and Founder & President of the Quintessence Group (@SmallBizLady)

· Frank Rice, Former NFL Player and Franchisee (@Iamfreshfrank)

· Kiya Tomlin, Designer and Founder of Uptown Sweats (@KiyaTomlin)

Follow our hosts at:

· http://exhale.aspire.tv/

· Angela Burt-Murray on Twitter @AngelaCocoaFab, and on her websites cocoafab.com and cocoafab-tv.

· Erin Jackson on Twitter @EJthecomic, and on her website erinjackson.net.

· Issa Rae on Twitter @IssaRae, and on her website awkwardblackgirl.com.

· Rene Syler on Twitter @goodenufmother, and on her website goodenoughmother.com.

· Malinda Williams on Twitter @MalinsWorld, and on her website malindawilliams.com.

Any thoughts?

Posted on Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Where Was Issa Rae When I Was an ‘Awkward Black Girl?’ Check Out Her New Book!!!

Issa Rae and Me 🙂

Hello World,

On Monday, awkward black girls from around the A as well as people that appreciate Issa Rae’s special brand of quirky, self-deprecating and smart humor swarmed the Alliance Theatre to attend a book signing for debut author Issa Rae. Her recently released book The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, now a New York Times Best Seller, is a collection of heartfelt essays charting her love affair with the Internet and how she become a YouTube sensation with her comedy series Awkward Black Girl, her journey to loving her natural hair and weight, growing up with an African dad, connecting with other types of (not awkward) black people and more. Since she created her web series in 2011, she has secured more than 25 million views and over 200,000 subscribers on YouTube. And her astonishing success has led to other opportunities including being one of the co-hosts of ASPire’s popularly weekly talk series exhale which will have four new episodes in June. In addition, she developed a TV series with Shonda Rhimes for ABC and is currently developing a half-hour comedy for HBO.

“I ultimately want to be a super producer like a Shonda Rhimes meets Oprah meets Diddy meets Ellen,” Issa Rae said with a laugh after I asked what is her ultimate career goal.

So that ends my official journo recap of Issa Rae’s book signing…Up next, my personal connection with “Awkward Black Girl.”

Author and playwright Pearl Cleage interviewing Issa Rae….

I’m now at that age (41) where I’m still young enough to look up to people, but I’m just old enough to be inspired by people younger than me as well. It’s an awkward age, but I’m trying to embrace it a day at a time. While chatting with (interviewing) Issa Rae, watching her officially be interviewed by Pearl Cleage at the book signing and listening to her read from her book, I realized that knowing that someone like her would have gone a long way to encouraging the awkward black girl that I was…

So here is a picture of me when I was at my most awkward…that’s me in the pink sweater vest…so cool, lemme tell ya…I was one of three black people in my sixth grade class at Sandy Springs Middle School as you can see…That was awkward enough, but there is more…Although I was of one of three black people, I was the only one bussed to the school that was in a primarily white neighborhood from the south side of Fulton County as a part of the Minority to Majority Program. People assumed I came from the ghetto although I was in private school the year before…I remember one of the white boys in my class asked me if I could rap seeing I was from the hood and all…Did I look I could rap? Yeah, right…With my button-down shirt and clear school boy glasses…My best friends were Judy Blume books and chocolate bars…I think not…(Although Issa Rae can bus a rhyme) And this was around the time that my interest in boys was most painful (other than in my ’30s) because I liked black boys and there were very few of them at the school…And then I couldn’t figure out what to do with my hair…My hair was permed, but I didn’t know how to style it…And let’s just say my fashion sense was in transition…Did I mention I love/loved chocolate? (Yes, I did. See above…) So I was plump (not fat) on top of everything else that made me awkward…

So last night, all of this came back to me particularly as Issa Rae read from her book and later as I sped read through a few of her essays…(I will leisurely read and highlight over the weekend)…

Issa Rae read an excerpt of her first essay, A/S/L, of her book last night in which she described being drawn to the Internet at 11 years old and how her interest in boys burgeoned behind the safe or not-so-safe anonymity of a computer screen…(So glad the Internet wasn’t around when I was that age or I would have been in trooouble…)

Before my parents caught wind of frightening news reports of child predators, I spent my days and after-school evenings in chat rooms, learning to speed read, talking to kids my age who were also ahead of the curve. Or pedophiles, who were remarkably creative and persistent in their forbidden pursuit. Pedos actually had it made in the mid-nineties, before the media exposed them. Talk about the glory days.

My friends at school, other fifth graders, didn’t seem to relate when I mentioned “chat rooms” and “profiles” or when I sang along to the dial-up internet song I made up in my head. It seemed that, for a brief moment, only I was privy to this alternate American universe that lived online.By the time my family moved to Los Angeles to join my dad, a pediatrician, who had seized an opportunity to open his own family clinic there, my relationship with the computer had grown immensely, much to the dismay and irritation of my mother.“You’re always on the computer! Go do your homework.”“I already finished.”“Well then, go outside and play!”She just didn’t get it. Only recently, in my late twenties, did she come to realize that my excessive computer use is what led me to becoming the self-employed, almost-focused career woman I am today.

Just delicious, don’t you think?!!! And if you want to read more, you have to buy your own copy of The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl!!!

But before you go, check out more pics from this fun book signing….Shout out to my soror and photographer extraordinaire Tiffany Powell for the awesome pics!!!…Check out her blog www.powell-pics.com.