Archive for August, 2009
Happy Independence Day to My Trinis!
Even though I’m far away, Trinidad will always be my home. And on days like today I miss the simple pleasures. Like spending time with my family, going to visit my friends, eating good food like roti and doubles, shark and bake, pholourie, and pelau. I miss drinking Shandy and having the best rum available [...]
The New York Times on Black Hair
Bellas — slow down, take a moment. Drink it in. Our hair is having a moment. Tyra Banks is about to devote a whole show to her own Natural Hair Day. Chris Rock and Nelson George’s film Good Hair hits select cities October 9 (and opens nationally October 23). And just last week, the New [...]
Avon 3-in-1 Giveaway Winners!
What a great giveaway month August has been! Sarenzo Beads, Queen Ifrica, Avon… and I’ve got one more before the month is through. So if you aren’t among the lucky 10 listed below, don’t you worry – there’s one more in store for bloggerversary month! For now, here are the winners of the Avon 3-in-1 [...]
Fefe’s Back!
When Fefe Dobson burst on the scene back in 2003, rock-loving black girls around the world sat up and took notice. Here was a chick who refused to play by the record label rules. Edgy, cute, funky, and totally unique at the time. She was getting solid airplay on MTV for a minute there, but [...]
A Curly Conundrum
The words we use to describe our hair are so loaded with significance and so often lead to complex, thorny issues. I try to choose my words carefully, but even still, sometimes I get tripped up in what’s acceptable and what can be offensive. I personally don’t care for, and consequently don’t use “nappy.” But [...]
Call Her Dr. Roxanne
Talk about a sweet revenge! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsaepyi8MR0 I read the story of Roxanne Shante fighting the system and getting what she earned and deserved in the NY Daily News. Of course being an Eighties baby, I was familiar with Roxanne Shante. The hip hop pioneer was one of the first ladies to rock a mic, and [...]
Dear, Sweet Aaliyah – 8 Years Gone
I wrote the following words in 2007, for a post titled simply: I Miss You. “…I never knew Aaliyah, so I can only imagine the heartbreak that her family and friends felt. Feel. Aaliyah’s death hit me harder than Kurt Cobain’s did, and I was a huge grunge music head at that time. But all [...]
Get Your Body Scrub On
Sugar? Or salt? When it comes to body scrubs, there’s no debate. I generally prefer the former. If you have sensitive skin — or heaven forbid have a cut — a salt scrub can bring you to tears. Sugar makes you smell good, makes you practically edible to your significant other, and doesn’t sting at [...]
Avon Pro 3-in-1 Lip Wand Giveaway!
Everyone loves lip gloss, and lipstick’s been having quite the resurgence in this craptastic economy. But the real tip for making your lip look last? Layering. I’m so late to the lip pencil party, but now that I’m here I’m ALL about it. Lip crayons are great n’ all, but I’m finding that if I [...]
Music Festival Fashionable
I’ll admit it. I’m a hippie at heart. Not a “mother nature let’s go camping” hippie… but a “damn right I’d love to go to another music festival” hippie. I love live music, and I LOVE the vibe you get at big fests. So far I’ve done Langerado, Rock the Bells, and the photo you [...]
Afrobella Around The Web
I thought I told you that we don’t stop! Ya girl Afrobella has been grustlin’ grustlin’ grustlin’ (hat tip to Hajj Flemings) and this is a trend that won’t cease anytime soon. So I’m creating a new category, Afrobella Around the Web, where I’ll share my latest exploits in the world of freelancing, interviews, etcetera, [...]
Tyra Declares National Real Hair Day
Tyra Banks is beautiful. Tyra Banks is ambitious. When Tyra Banks gets on a topic, she gets down into it and involves herself in a way that few other models-turned-talkshow hosts do. So when I read that Tyra was declaring September 8 National Real Hair Day just in time for the new season of The [...]
Martha Washington = Rosario Dawson?
Little known fact about Afrobella – I grew up reading comic books. Avidly. It started with Archie (which for some insane reason was super popular in my primary school days), and when I was a bit older I graduated to REAL comics. And graphic novels. The kind of subject matter a twelve year old probably [...]
Big Girl Pants
Whenever I go anywhere, or even think of going anywhere, they’re the first item of clothing I envision. They go with fancy frilly tops and heels, or teeshirts and sneakers. For many (including myself), they’re practically a daily uniform. Of course I’m talking about jeans. I’d be lost without them. I don’t love a jean [...]
Remembering Old Marcus Garvey
122 years ago, a great man was born. Marcus Mosiah Garvey was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, Black Nationalist, Pan-Africanist, and orator of tremendous note. Garvey was a controversial leader who believed firmly in the power of unity in the black community. His quotes are so often used but — in my opinion — infrequently contemplated [...]
