Category Archives: Culture

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Retrospect: My Top 10 Posts of 2017…

Hello World,

To me, it feels like Jan. 1, 2017 was just yesterday! But sometimes, you can’t trust your feelings because a brand New Year begins tomorrow!!! While it is important to usher in the new, it’s equally important to reflect on the old. How do you know what is new if you haven’t defined what is old! Anywho, to that end, before 2017 is history, let me share the top 10 blog posts that brought you to my humble blog 🙂 !

By and large, what brought you here was my Greenleaf recaps! I mean truly my recaps brought in the most page views in the Top 10 category, but to vary the types of post that will appear in this blog post, I’m allowing my Greenleaf recaps to take the top 4 categories and then after that, I will post the remaining six blog posts that captured your attention after the Greenleaf recaps. Capiche?

1. Greenleaf Recap Season 2 Episode 1: A House Divided…

Excerpt: Mac shows up at the same time as the police to gloat in front of the Greenleaf family who are stunned silent except for Gigi aka Grace. Grace follows her uncle as he is about to leave following the police’s announcement that Bishop needs a lawyer and cannot leave town. When she confronts him about his revelation as he is the one who revealed the Bishop’s sin to the police, he replies that he was “forced to pull less holy strings” since Bishop wouldn’t spring him from jail. He then tells her he has more hot secrets where that came from, secrets so hot that he can “walk away with nothing on his back but hot wind.” Yes, hunty…if he’s going down as a sexual offender, he’s burning down the Greenleafs with him!

2. Greenleaf Mid-Season Finale Recap, Season 2 Episode 8: And the Sparks Fly Upward…

Excerpt: Mac the monster calls Grace and tells her, “You should have left it alone, Gigi.” Grace leaves the restaurant and rushes over to Mac’s house. She believes her uncle has done something to =Sophia to retaliate against her although she doesn’t quite know what her uncle is talking about. He calls his niece a female dog and their limbs entangle as they fight. They fall to the floor and Mac lands on top of his niece. With his sweaty, contorted face close to hers, he grabs her throat and squeezes. For the second time, I wonder if the heroine is about to die. But just before the life is squeezed from her, she finds a piece of the broken liquor bottle and sinks the shard into his neck! As the blood gushes from his wound, she screams, “Tell me where she is!” Mac got what was coming to him, but if he is dead, what will happen to Grace?! See why God says, vengeance is mine…

3. Greenleaf Recap Season 2 Episode 6: The Royal Family…

Excerpt: Jacob does some cornering of his own when he confronts Basie about a Bass Reeves who contributes large sums of money to Triumph’s bottom line according to Triumph’s books. He wonders about the identity of the mysterious donor as he is unable to locate a contact for this man, who may be able to contribute to legal fees to fight Calvary. Instead of answering Jacob outright, Basie asks his protégé to watch him play with a deck of cards. He explains how he learned how to play cards on Beale Street before he challenges Jacob to play with him. Basie wins the game with a “royal family.” (I don’t play card games except for Uno and Speed so let me know if this terminology is wrong.) Jacob correctly guesses that Pastor Basie is Bass Reeves. Apparently, Pastor Basie supports his church Triumph with his gambling earnings! I want to be shocked, but I would bet there are plenty of pastors, unfortunately, who support their churches with unscrupulous undertakings…

4. Greenleaf Recap Season 2 Episode 2: Strange Bedfellows…

Excerpt: So Jacob goes door to door handing out bags and mugs with Triumph’s logo on them. One woman calls Jacob out! She says, “Does Bishop know you’re here recruiting?” Then she tells him, “I don’t care if that mug came wrapped in the cloth they wrapped my Lord in when he died. I’m with Calvary!” Let the church say, “Ouch!” LOL…Funniest line of the episode!

5. Tasha Cobbs Is Married Now! (PICS + VIDEO)

Excerpt:  There are very few things I love more than a good wedding! Although I’m not a personal friend of vocal powerhouse and Grammy Award winner Tasha Cobbs who is known for her stirring songs such as “Put a Praise on It” and my favorite “Jesus Saves,” I shared in her wedding bliss via her Facebook and Instagram pages and other social media pages of family and friends. Tasha, who hails from Jesup, Georgia (also the hometown of one of my Delta line sisters) married Franklinton, North Carolina native Kenneth Leonard, Jr., who is the musical director for his now wife, Anthony Hamilton and Tamia Hill.

6. Remembering Annabelle Pomeroy: An Open Letter to First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Pastor Frank Pomeroy & Sherri Pomeroy…

Excerpt: Now, as the last days of my parents’ ministry at Central Christian Church are being counted down (My father retires at the end of December.), I realize that my small church heritage is the biggest gift he could have ever given me. No material possession could ever match the spiritual riches invested me through the love of this small church. That is why at the head of this blog, I am pictured in the sanctuary of this small church. Everything I’ve become and hope to become can be traced back to what I learned there.  It is my foundation and my springboard. From what I’ve read about Annabelle, she felt the same way.

7. Aspiring Actor Sean Buffington Offers ‘Christian Boyfriend’ Services for Single & Saved Sisters for Thanksgiving!

Excerpt: If the thought of going through that interrogation yet again is enough to make you stay at home for Thanksgiving, check out Sean Buffington’s Instagram ad! It’s not too late to book a boo — provided that he is not already booked up! Chile, he is even willing to quote scripture and speak in tongues!!! And his rates are low! LOL Check it out below!

8. Remembering the Life of My Friend & Soror Sherry “Elle” Richardson… 

Excerpt:  Although I am a committed Christian, I cannot pretend that I have an inkling as to why God chose to call my friend away from this earthly realm. Since her homegoing, as I’ve walked throughout my house or driven somewhere, found myself saying, “Imagine Sherry is no longer here?” As I’ve gotten older, I’ve experienced the passing of friends, family members and church family, but it doesn’t make it easier or predictable. These experiences only emphasize that life is truly a transitory state. We should savor all that this life, though temporal, has to offer, but most importantly, we have to be saved or become a Christian to go to Heaven, which lasts for eternity. So that’s all I have except to say I will miss and love her forever. And I thank God I knew her…Rest well Sherry…Save a seat for me in eternity…

9. TV One’s New Show ‘The Manns’ Featuring David & Tamela Premieres Tonight at 8! (VIDEO)

Excerpt: I’ve got your first look at TV One’s “The Manns!” TV One presents the premiere episode of “The Manns,” a reality docu-series on the hilarious relationship between David and Tamela Mann and their family, TONIGHT ( Tuesday, April 4) at 8 p.m. ET.

10. Why the ‘Good Morning America’ Headline About Meghan Markle and ‘Hope’ for Black Women Wasn’t Offensive To Me…

Excerpt: But this isn’t the first time that black women have been all up in a tizzy and ready to rush ABC News! In fact, the last time I remember this type of backlash was December of 2009. Remember this article from ABC News: “Single, Black, Female — and Plenty of Company?” From the article, you already know what’s up and the worse part about the article was that black women in Atlanta, specifically, were the focus. At the time, I was a single, black female in Atlanta and so weary from looking for love that I really couldn’t collect my thoughts on what I thought was an attack until January.

So that’s it shawty…Kiss 2017 Good-Bye!!! Another year is on the horizon…

Any thoughts?

 

 

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Of Omarosa’s Alleged Firing, Black Women Voting for Alabama’s Doug Jones & More…

Hello World,

Last week was a memorable week for black women in America! And let me breakdown how…Although most of us don’t live in Alabama, I’m reasonably sure that many of us not living in the state were nevertheless tuning into election coverage of the senate race of Doug Jones versus Roy Moore like we had real estate in 205. For weeks leading up to this critical election, we’ve heard story after story revealed regarding Moore’s alleged proclivity for teenage girls when he was a fully grown man working as an assistant district attorney against the backdrop of other high-powered men and sexual harassment claims.

I’ve been especially puzzled by people’s willingness to overlook these stories in favor of Moore’s supposed Christian/political values aside from cruising girls at a local mall (from which he was later banned allegedly) and elsewhere. Juxatapose that with Doug Jones, who instead of allegedly cruising high school-aged girls, honored the legacy of four little black girls who were killed in Birmingham’s 16th Street Baptist Church in 1953 after Ku Klux Klan members planted bombs there. When Jones served as the U.S. Attorney in Alabama, he prosecuted two of the klan members responsible for the church bombing which is remarkable since Jones skipped law school classes to watch the trial against the first klan member prosecuted for this crime in 1977. While many across the country hoped that Doug Jones would win, it seemed highly unlikely since a Democrat has not been elected a senator in that state for quarter of a century! But some black girl magic was sprinkled from heaven it seems since 98 percent of black women who voted in Alabama cast their ballot for Doug Jones. Black women showed up and showed out for Doug Jones and are a huge reason why he was elected. Poetic justice playing out! And I hope somehow in Heaven, Addie Mae Collins, Carol Denise McNair, Carole Robertson and Cynthia Wesley are smiling from on high as they look below!

Below is Lisa McNair, sister Denise McNair, talking about this historic win with CNN’s Don Lemon…

Even as this historic win unfolded, however, what we didn’t know until the next day that Omarosa, another black woman, was making history herself. The world learned the day after the election that Omarosa may have been the first black woman to be allegedly booted out of the White House. Ha! Something to note in Black History Month two months from now. Originally known as a villain on “The Apprentice” through which she met President Trump when he was simply a reality television star and businessman, Trump installed her as director of African–American outreach for his presidential campaign in 2016 although many African Americans don’t seem to like her. And when he was elected, she became Trump’s director of communications for the Office of Public Liaison. Although she is a minister of the gospel and should be an advocate to bowing down to Jesus, Omarosa has said that people should bow down to President Trump.

I guess that’s why when White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly fired her, the infamous bad girl allegedly tried to break into the president’s private quarters to plead her case before her deity. Another black woman, one of my journalism heroes “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts, quietly shut her down when Omarosa attempted to refute earlier reports of her “resignation.” Although she is the consummate journalist, Roberts slipped in the pop culture reference “Bye Felicia” as she recapped Omarosa’s “quite a story” that she will be likely selling to the highest bidder…For those who don’t know, “Bye Felicia” is a term from the cult classic movie “Friday” in which actor Ice Cube’s character Craig dismissed an annoying female character with those two words…

So following this comment, Omarosa texted “Inside Edition,” stating that it was a “black woman’s civil war” in reference to Roberts’ slick snub. But I wonder if Omarosa, who seems more like a minister of Messy than a minister of the Gospel, knows that if no one is on your side, there is no war!

I don’t know what God is up to, but I find it rather curious that on the night that black women scored a huge victory for this country, the one woman who was supposed to representing black women in the White House was fired allegedly…

Any thoughts?

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Why the ‘Good Morning America’ Headline About Meghan Markle and ‘Hope’ for Black Women Wasn’t Offensive To Me…

It's Not the First Time That ABC News Offended Black Women Either...

Hello World,

ABC News’ (courtesy of “Good Morning America” )recent article originally entitled  “For Many Black Women, Meghan Markle’s Engagement Offers ‘Hope’” posted last week had black women all up in their feelings last week! In fact, the article has even caused the author Joi-Marie McKenzie to get hate mail, according to thegrio.com!

A few of the reactions to the controversial headline:

The backlash is so fierce that ABC News changed the headline to “After Meghan Markle’s Engagement, Some Are Celebrating” with an editor’s note:

The story headline has been updated. The original headline misrepresented the intention of the story, which was to report on the excitement among some black women about Meghan Markle’s joining the British royal family. 

But this isn’t the first time that black women have been all up in a tizzy and ready to rush ABC News! In fact, the last time I remember this type of backlash was December of 2009. Remember this article from ABC News: “Single, Black, Female — and Plenty of Company?” From the article, you already know what’s up and the worse part about the article was that black women in Atlanta, specifically, were the focus. At the time, I was a single, black female in Atlanta and so weary from looking for love that I really couldn’t collect my thoughts on what I thought was an attack until January.  Here is what I wrote on this blog:

I had composed what I thought was an eloquent, sociological diatribe of a post about the ABC “Nightline” piece that aired last month about black women, particularly those living in Atlanta, and their inability to find mates due to the shortage of black men…But since this is the Internet and in the interest of self-preservation, I thought better of it…

And now I don’t feel like sugar coating what I originally said…

So I simply want to know what y’all think…take a look at the video if you haven’t seen it already, and let me know…

‘Preciate your thoughts…i.am.out…

And here is the original video of the segment on which the article was based:

From this article came this dismal statistic:  “Forty-two percent of U.S. black women have never been married, double the number of white women who’ve never tied the knot.” In fact, this article and the statistics quoted in the article caused such a seismic shift that that the article was linked to in an article published just a few a months ago  “Black, Single, and Waiting: For 15 years, The Bachelor Franchise Has Made a Caricature of Blackness. Could This Season Finally Be different?” on slate.com.

While I was initially horrified that I and black women were written about like we truly are the “de mule uh de world” (a reference to how black women are viewed in one of my favorite books “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston), the report, article and subsequent debate Why Can’t a Successful Black Woman Find a Man?  held in Atlanta in April 2010 by ABC News in response to this article forced me to get real clear about what I wanted and needed in a husband and the fact that I wanted and needed a husband. And to be apologetic about it as well. It’s funny that two months after that report, I went on my very first date with my husband.

So when I saw all of this fervor online last week, it reminded me of how I once felt: victimized, a bit ashamed (if I am being completely honest) and unable to hide one of my deepest desires anymore. But those feelings led to one of the best decisions of my life. So the headline last week wasn’t the best, I’ll admit, but if you (and this is for single black women reading this post) find yourself ready to fight after reading the ABC News article, consider focusing inward instead of outward.

And if somewhere down deep the fact that Meghan Markle has found her Prince Charming (or he found her) has given you hope that your Prince Charming is somewhere out there, do what needs to be done (and only you can determine that) so that you are ready to meet him despite negative statistics. For me, it took kissing frogs, dating mentors, professional assistance, online dating, a slew of dating books, prayers and more, but my husband, perfect-for- me-with- all-of-his imperfections (I aine perfect either) Prince Charming, finally came along…

So no, to recap, ABC News (courtesy of Good Morning America) headline “For Many Black Women, Meghan Markle’s Engagement Offers ‘Hope’” wasn’t offensive…

Any thoughts?