I think the New York Times style section is reading my mind.

First they do a story on curly hair, now this week, a story about black rock music lovers. I’ve been mulling a post on black women in rock since last October, but never got around to writing it. Now here we are, months later and the Times has revealed a new term for these outsiders to the rock scene — “blipsters.”

The Modern Age had a fitting take on the new word, and I agree. Stop trying to make “blipsters” happen!

Either way, the article captures a growing phenomenon right now — black artists making inroads into what has become an almost monolithically white genre. Through the article, I learned about AfroPunk, a 2003 documentary made by James Spooner that has evolved into an internet movement.

Spooner’s upcoming film White Lies Black Sheep takes a fictionalized look at a black kid trying to fit into a scene that isn’t tailor-made to fit him.

The trailer for AfroPunk really makes me want to see the documentary, and learn more about that particular feeling of otherness. I mean, if people are out there saying Barack Obama “isn’t black enough,” what kind of response do these kids get from their own people?

I knew one black girl who was into a totally different scene at college — from the black lipstick, ornate outfits, and out-there jewelry she wore, I’d guess she was more goth than punk. And of course, people made fun of her for being different, and other black people said she was “trying to be white.” Who says she was trying to be anything but true to herself??

Growing up in Trinidad, I listened to everything from calypso and reggae, to rap and rock. I was big into grunge, and I still listen to Pearl Jam and Nirvana to this day. Hell, tomorrow night I’m going to a Red Hot Chili Peppers concert, and I’m super excited (Gnarls Barkley is opening)!

Although black people tend to identify with hip hop, the number of rappers today who sample classic rock beats, drop Kurt Cobain references into their songs, and get down in random rock videos proves that the rap/rock crossover didn’t stop in the days of Run-DMC.

And now, TV On the Radio, Bloc Party, and Gym Class Heroes have been getting increased airplay on MTV and rock radio, joining other famous contemporary black rock artists like Lenny Kravitz, Living Color, and Fishbone.

But I gotta ask — what about the ladies? Black chicks rock, too!

Black chicks have been rocking since the days of Johnny Cash’s favorite singer, Sister Rosetta Tharpe (don’t believe me? Just watch her lay down some bad-ass gospel guitar). Tina Turner has always had a rock edge, and more contemporary artists like Skin from Skunk Anansie blazed a trail in the Nineties.

Res (love Golden Boys) and Fefe Dobson have carried the torch and won MTV time in more recent years. Although, it must be noted that both of those artists seem to have been dropped by their labels. Which is a real shame. Despite the lack of mainstream attention, black women are out there leading bands, writing their own songs, and making inroads all over the genre.

Miami’s Erica Sommer belts out crunk-rock as the lead singer of Raging Geisha, then tones it down singer-songwriter style with her heartfelt solo project. Chicago’s Suffrajet plays Joan Jett influenced riff-rock, and Blakk Plastick sings southern Rock and soul fueled funk.

Tamar-Kali is the hardcore goddess of the New York scene, and Honeychild Coleman is producing Eighties-esque dub electronica. As Mercinarias deliver the Brazilian new wave, and Imani Coppola is doing some out-there, experimental, bass-heavy pop punk ish.

Even if rock music isn’t your thing, these fierce sistas deserve your attention and applause for deviating from the norm and carving their own niche. For more black rockers, check out the Black Rock Coalition and cool MySpace groups like Negroclash, and Black Rock Femmes.

And if you’re black and you love rock music, ignore the haters who try to say that you don’t fit in or aren’t black enough. Our diversity makes us beautiful. Stay strong, hold your head up high, and rock on!

The trend of ridiculously insulting college parties continues at Clemson University in South Carolina.

You know, there has to be a point when you’re applying black makeup from head to toe when you realize — damn, this is almost as racist as it gets. But that didn’t stop this idiot from leaving the frat house.
I’m with Tara Henley on this one, I hope the university officials send these privileged fools to do charity work in the hood.I don’t know what has to be done, but this has got to stop.

Honey and vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and extra virgin olive oil.

We all know that household products such as these can be added to store-bought products (or used to whip up entirely new items), for a quick and relatively easy beauty boost. For some, it’s a home experiment. For Anita Grant, self-described mixtress and creator of her own highly successful UK product line, mixing ingredients is a way of life that has empowered her beyond her wildest dreams.

Look at a typical ingredient label for your favorite shampoo, conditioner, or styling product, and it reads like a foreign language. Anita decided to rebel against all of that by educating herself.

Take a look at Anita’s new blog, Ingredient Junkie, (older recipes can be found here) or read any of her exhaustive comments on this very site and the breadth of her knowledge becomes instantly apparent. But she started out just like you or me.

It all began back in 2005, after her hands were blistered by a “safe synthetics” hair lotion that contained propylene glycol, a popular chemical used in beauty products. Having that traumatic experience with a store-bought product made Anita realize the position that big-bucks beauty companies essentially hold their customers in — a position of blissful ignorance.

The self-described “techie geek” doesn’t believe that you need a background in chemistry to figure this stuff out.

“My background in IT has taught me to question everything in detail. When it comes to selecting and purchasing pure & wholesome ingredients to use in my mixing bowl I apply the same approach. I don’t have a degree in chemistry but I do work very closely with my chemist, ask questions and do loads of research – anyone that experienced the type of reaction that I had would definitely want to get down to the minute details of every ingredient before applying it to their skin & hair. Our skin and hair have the most remarkable ability to absorb and react to whatever is topically applied to it. When anything touches our body, partially or completely, it can alter its state as well as our emotions. Approximately 60% of products used on our skin & hair are absorbed and deposited into the body and with that being the case I want to make sure that what I put on my body is as healthy as what I put in my body. So I make it my business to find out absolutely everything I can about the ingredients I use,” Anita explains.

She began as a newly transitioning afrobella reading everything she could about natural hair products, deciphering ingredient labels. “By reading the ingredient labels of various off the shelf commercial hair & skin care products [I gained] a better understanding of what the ingredients were and what they were doing (and not doing) for me… Each and every ingredient has a job to do. It’s all good and well saying “Oh that smells lovely!” but when the scent fades it’s still got to keep on working. It was a bit difficult at first to decipher all the Latin (INCI) nomenclature of the ingredients and separate the “bozwellox” from true benefits but I got there in the end, thanks to my trusty Milady’s “Cosmetic Dictionary”. I took it everywhere with me!”

Soon, Anita began wandering the organic foods aisles. “I began to loiter around the Oils sections at my grocers, purchasing all the vegetable, fruit and nut oils I could afford. I moved onto the baking section in search of humectants like honey and exfoliants like bicarbonate of soda, brown sugar, sea salts, and softeners like organic cocoa powder. Then off to the dried herbs section…”

Her search led her to Nappturality.com, the ultimate resource for any afrobella. “I found a group of ladies who also shared the same views about synthetic chemicals. I lurked around the “Homemade” forum, asking questions, sharing recipes and swapping some of my homemade hair care goodies with members. Quite a number of them asked if I would ever consider selling my Goodies and here I am.”

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I’ve been letting the Ask Afrobellas stack up to a frightening level, and now it’s reckoning time.

This question came from a real life friend o’ mine, WLRN jazz DJ and sagacious sistren Tracy Fields. Lovers of straight-ahead jazz and women with soothing, melodic speaking voices can give her a listen on Weekend Jazz, every Saturday night from 8 pm to midnight.

Tracy sent me this question months ago, and I’m only just getting around to answering it. I know. I’m a great friend. Better late than never!

“I’ve been thinking about updating my look. It is something for me even to think about having A Look; it’s always been like, if I’m warm enough, I’m properly dressed. I find myself suddenly interested in appearing a bit polished and pulled-together at the various venues of my split-personality work life. How would you advise a Grown Woman, who FYI has no intention of cutting her locks, to proceed?”

For the record, Tracy has some of the longest, loveliest dreadlocks I have ever seen. She is a natural beauty with twinkling eyes and a ready smile. So my advice is, accentuate those gorgeous features with a little make up!

I think an initial foray into the amazing world of make up should set a newbie back no more than $25. Yes, bellas — it can be done.

The best place to start is with eyeliner. I remember when I first started wearing it, I was so intimidated. Having seen a Bruce Lee film in which he pulls some dude’s eyes out with his fingers at a young and impressionable age, I have a complete eye-touching phobia. Eyeliner seems daunting at first, but trust me – when you master it, you won’t want to leave home without it on!

Draw a straight, smooth line along the bottom of your eye, from the inside corner to the outside edge. You don’t want to apply liner inside your eye, as this can cause eye infections, and also can create goopy, gross, black eye gunk in the corner of your eye. In my opinion, it generally helps to look up while applying eyeliner. I’m at the point where I just let my eye roll completely back, Forest Whitaker style, to apply my liner. To each his own, and you will find your own application comfort zone with practice.
A good eye liner for newbies is the Physician’s Formula Eye Definer. Why? Because it’s hypoallergenic, and won’t bother those with sensitive eyes. Plus, there’s no sharpening required and it costs $5.50!

The idea of an eyebrow wax might freak out a makeup novice, but it’s really not so bad. I am a complete waxing wuss, and I have wept and bled like Steve Carrell in the 40 Year Old Virgin on the waxing bed before. But with my eyebrows, I have no fear.

Go to the nail salon at the mall, it costs $8 – $10 ($13 with tip), close your eyes and zip-zip-zip, it’s done before you have time to freak out. Trust me.

Neatly shaped brows make a huge difference to your whole face, and waxing can be a quick way to discovering an elegant eyebrow for those who have never plucked or shaped before. An eyebrow brush is always a handy tool, and at the very least you can shape up your brows by tweezing long, curly, or errant hairs. Just don’t get pluck happy – we have all seen what can result from that.

To complete the fabulous and super-easy eye look, swipe on some mascara. My current fave is Maybelline Full N Soft, which is gentle, wonderfully subtle, and gives my lashes great definition.

Cosmetics beginners, say it with me — E.L.F is your best friend. I was extremely skeptical when I realized that all of this company’s products cost a dollar. I assumed the quality would be poor.

Then I tried their Brightening Eye Liner in Gilded, and I became a believer! I also dig their Moisture Care Lip Color, which squooshes out of a soft sponge applicator. It gives a faint tinge of color, and a lot of shine.

If you’re looking for more pigment but not an overt, heavy lipstick look, try the Super Glossy Lip Shine.

It’s smooth, it moisturizes your lips without leaving them sticky, the color is subtle but noticeable, it has SPF-15, and like I said, it costs a buck! You really can’t go wrong.

Once you’ve mastered the basics, the more daunting worlds of concealer, blush, and bronzer seem much less so.

For those who remain apprehensive, there’s no need to feel ill-at-ease in a store like Sephora — you might wind up spending $50, but the assistants there are truly eager to help you find the perfect products in the right shade for you.

Playing up your eyes and lips are an easy beginning step for the make up wary, and it’ll get you those “hey, are you… wearing makeup?” comments you can expect from nosy (but well-meaning) co-workers.

Hope that helps!

Inspired by a recent post by Beauty Addict, I spent some time browsing PostSecret recently. It’s one of my favorite sites — favorite ideas, really. Just that anyone with something deeply buried can share it with the world. I came across this one.

That’s how I felt, too.

Growing up in the Caribbean — where more or less everyone is a shade of brown, and where my people identify themselves as “Trini” rather than Afro or Indo anything first — it’s easy to really believe in a true, happy melting pot. As I got older, the blinders fell away.

The racism in Trinidad exists, although nothing shocks me quite like American-in-your-face prejudice.

But still, even as a 27 (almost 28) year old woman living in a part of America where again, more or less everyone is a shade of brown (whether or not they want to acknowledge it), I sometimes let myself still believe that racism isn’t as rampant as I suspect it is. That we really have come a long way since the Civil Rights movement, and equality isn’t a distant light at the end of a dark tunnel, it’s practically here.

Then I’ll read something like this, which I saw on The Drudge Report yesterday: MLK Party Causes Uproar on Texas Campus.

Students at Tarleton State University hosted a party in which white students dressed up in the most stereotypically black costumes. The photos on The Smoking Gun tell the whole story. Revelers came “wearing gang apparel and Afro wigs, carrying malt liquor, handguns, and fried chicken, and even one woman dressed as Aunt Jemima.”

I am not a violent person… but seeing this girl pose with her 40 in hand, wearing her costume made me want to smack the smile off her face.

I saw this douchebag in his “I Love Chicken” teeshirt, and it made me so angry.

I was upset when I had first seen the Ms. Peachez video for Fry That Chicken, that my own people would produce these kind of embarrassing images. But the message I got from the Texas college MLK party cuts so much deeper down than that, I mean, even that “black people do it so why can’t I?” defense (that I noticed came up a lot during the Michael Richards incident) can’t excuse this kind of stupidity.

There is no excuse for picking out an old-school mammy Aunt Jemima costume, given the history of that particular advertising icon.

Still, one of the students tried to explain the rationale for the event: He “noted that the party was started a few years earlier “because one of best friends is black or African American, whichever you deem politically correct, to be his day not to dishonor him.” He added, “So I do apologize if you felt any disrespect because none was intended.“” Then he took the photos down from his Facebook page, and “stated that the party was not meant to be “racist or discriminating.”"

Oh, well that certainly cleared everything up. That ol’ “some of my best friends are black” card sure comes in handy. Funny how there apparently aren’t any black people at the party, though.

Sometimes it feels like race relations are progressing, and there are honest attempts to heal old wounds. I was pleased to see that 71-year-old Klansman get arrested for his crimes forty years ago. But these party photos are the images of regression, and they are other clear indications that something is still rotten with race relations here.

They’re trying to roll back the hands of time in Fulton County, Georgia — the white part of the suburbs are pushing for secession from the impoverished black neighborhoods. So much for the illusion of integration there.

This goes back to my MLK Day post, how much longer do we have to dream?

I’m not sure how many of you know the expression I used as the title here, we say it a lot in my family and my American husband had never heard it before. “If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”

Wishing and hoping and praying hasn’t gotten us far. I think the time for us to wish and dream is over. I believe that it’s up to us to make positive changes, to dispel this kind of ignorance. But — and I want to hear from black and white readers, here — honestly, what can we do to make things better?

I’m trying to figure out a balance between social issues and beauty reviews, bellas. I’ve been in a contemplative mood these days, so now I’ll lighten it up with some beauty stuff.

Back to my regularly scheduled post, which is long overdue!

I did part one of Moisturize Your Situation (hair edition) back in December, and I started writing these product reviews at least three different times. Every time, I come crashing to a halt. Why? Because I’m tackling something a bit new and there’s so much to say!

“Winter” in Miami has been particularly disappointing this year. I’m probably running the risk of pissing some of you ladies off right now… but December and January are the only months of the year that I get to wear a long sleeve shirt or a sweater here, and it’s been strictly in the Seventies all month. But I watch the news enough to see that extreme cold is gripping the rest of the country, which makes for some beauty issues that are foreign to me.

Confession – I didn’t really KNOW what ashy was until I went to visit my in-laws in Chicago for Christmas. I mean, I’ve had ashy knees, kind of dry skin… but that December it was like I had rubbed my face and body with grey chalk. All of a sudden my formerly supple skin looked aged, my hair was parched and frizzy, and my lips took a turn towards Tyrone Biggums.

NOT cute.

I realized that the heavy moisturizers that I was never really been able to enjoy in the hot climes I reside in are damn near essential in colder environments.

Bellas on a budget might want to do what my coworker recently did, and slather on some good old fashioned Ponds under your makeup. Ponds will moisturize the heck out of your skin, and I love it as a night cream. But if you wear it out during the day, like the C&C Music Factory, it’s gonna make you sweat, baby!

My new favorite supermoisturizing day-to-night cream is the curiously named Complex C Cream Creme. This teeny jar will set you back $55, but if you’re concerned about aging and want a fantastic, emoillient product that will leave your skin feeling nourished and looking refreshed, this could be the one.

Just because I have oily skin and I live in a virtual sweatbox doesn’t mean that I don’t need moisturizers, though — we all do! If you wear makeup (especially powder and foundation), you need a good moisturizer to protect your skin, otherwise all of that gunk is going to clog your pores and lead to breakouts.

Start your face off with a good base of moisturizer, and your powder is less likely to settle into your pores and fine lines, as well. Currently I’m using Skin MD, a shielding lotion. It’s great for hand and body use, but personally I am using it as a face moisturizer. ‘Cause I’m brave like that.

The science behind Skin MD is intriguing, and from a quick read it would almost make you think that this product would make your face or hands greasy with surface layers of humectants and all that. Not the case!

This stuff is light to the touch, absorbs effortlessly, and just makes my skin feel soft and look dewy. The ingredients include aloe vera, vitamin E, comfrey, and chamomile, so it’s gentle enough for those with more sensitive skin as well, and it’s recommended for the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis.

Even though I normally sweat profusely in the sun, this particular product hasn’t made my makeup melt off in the Miami heat. My only concern is the lack of SPF, I generally prefer a face moisturizer to have at least SPF 15. I hope that Skin MD will release a sunscreen, but currently, I’m still using it as a great day-to-day moisturizer for my face and hands. Two thumbs up for Skin MD!

Two of my favorite office friends are simulataneously pregnant, and they’ve made me realize that pregnancy brings unique beauty dilemmas as well! Both of them complained of having drier skin, especially their hands. When I recieved some adorable product samples from Warm Spirit and My Earthly Basics, I had to pass them along to my office bellas.

Nadine liked the My Earthly Basics Skin Repair Cream. “It’s got a nice lemongrass scent. Texture is a bit waxy/greasy, so I think it’s best for extremely dry patches. I like using it on the backs of my hands, because even after I wash them, my skin is still soft,” she says.

Karen more or less agreed, although she tried a less waxy formula: “My Earthly Basics Passion Fruit Body Butter is sweet smelling and not too greasy, but very moisturizing. It won’t fade away quickly and soothes dry, itchy skin.”

Both of these bellas also tried some teeny tiny Warm Spirit cream samples I got, with adorable names like Kindness Cream and Special Attention cream. Karen liked the Special Attention. “It’s very thick but is definitely best if you are in need of concentrated moisture. It is a bit greasy and will not come off easily which is great for very irritated skin but don’t use it for light duty touch ups. The Mango Body Butter smells great and is also very thick. At first it will have you looking shiny but it absorbs well and then leaves skin very soft,” she added.

The Warm Spirit creams put Nadine’s nose into overdrive. She was picking up on scents I never could have pinpointed! “Something about the scent of the Warm Spirit Kindness Cream reminds me of horses — not horse manure, but the way their hair/skin smells, kind of grassy. It goes on smoothly and absorbs nicely, not greasy or sticky. I really like the way the Vetiver Body Butter smells — very warm, kinda vanilla-like. I could eat it. It goes on greasy at first but absorbs nicely. It looks a little like Vaseline, which kind of turned me off at first, but once I smelled it and rubbed it in, it became my favorite of the bunch!”

Faces and hands aren’t the only areas of your body that crave moisturizer. Baby Magic has been my daily moisturizer of choice for a long time.

The familiar pink bottle with the adorable lamb just brings back childhood memories. Plus, the scent is light and heavenly and it really makes my skin feel soothed and hydrated.

(Note to mamas and bellas who love to baby their skin – Baby Magic now has a Banana Boat Sunscreen with SPF 50! And a Baby Botanicals line. Gotta check that out).

But recently, I was going out in a skirt that showed off my gams to fabulous advantage, and I reached for the tub of Maryam’s Soap Nook Whipped Shea Monoi Body Butter.

I leave the tub on my night stand for back-massage purposes. This stuff is so rich, so moisturizing, so highly fragranced, it’s almost over the top. The scent I have, Coconut and Cream, is rich to the point where if it were a dessert, I would only want to take a teeny bite. (I bet the Tahitian Petals and Vanille de Madagascar would be absolute heaven!)

But this cream could be what cold weather bellas need – super rich, thick butter that slathers on to your skin, and leaves it looking shiny at first before moisturizing to the core. Seriously, just a dab is enough to preserve your sexy all day long!

Do you have a favorite lotion I haven’t tried? I’m always looking for more products. Talk to me, cold weather bellas — what’s your favorite save-your-skin cream?