Lauryn Hill, Interlude #5, Unplugged

artismyhustle:

Diego Rivera Nude with Calla Lilies

cooperlane:

Launch of Designers Corner Maureen Saturne repurposed apparel on the lane www.cooperlanevintage.com!! Check it out!!

I love this piece we have and it’s 30% off today! www.cooperlanevintage.com

(via queennubian)

<3

kneehighsandlove:

Workkkkkk, flow. #KRT (Taken with instagram)

cooperlane:

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30% off all items in the store except for Designers Corner !

www.cooperlanevintage.gmail.com

Posted by my father on Facebook. This is why I am who I am.

What does it mean that we have black history month? What would it mean if Black History Month were no more? Would black history itself disappear or would it pave the way for a fervent new mission to ensure the inclusion of black history in education and society in all months?

 On Thursday February 16, at Kumble Theatre for Performing Arts at LIU, The YWCA of Brooklyn and LIU Brooklyn will present the Brooklyn premiere of the film “More Than a Month”, a film by Shukree Tilghman that addresses these poignant questions. The free screening is being held in association with WNET and ITVS and will also feature a discussion with the filmmaker.

<3

techherlogic:

Popular opinion would suggest…

the expanse of my nose is too broad, my eyes too wide, and my lips too full.

I’ve somewhat dealt with physical insecurities along the lines of these notions most my life.

An example?

I prefer to not take my photo head-on because I think my nose is unflatteringly flat.

There’s Mambu’s opinion…

He thinks my nose is BOMB. Of course I feel undeniably beautiful when he looks at me, nose issues and all, I even enjoy the occasional affectionate kiss he places on it (tmi? Lol)

There’s Mambu’s photographs of me…

It’s tough to put in words how my view of self has changed. When I look at the photos I feel perfect. I feel gorgeous. I feel like me. I even heart my nose ya’ll! To say what is culturally represented as a standard of beauty doesn’t affect your view of self would make you of a marginal group in America.  As black woman, our representation is significantly insignificant in that tiny ass box; and too often, we see women of color revered in their likeness to whites. What I’m trying to say is, as lost or vaguely represented as we are in mass media there are people who appreciate our beauty. People who believe “your you” is worth taking the time to capture and marvel at, just as much as another’s. I often tag along with Mambu to shoots or random city errands where we meet many of his beautiful faces. Every woman immediately reveals a confidence of self as their beauty exudes and oozes everywhere in the magnificence of his photographs.

That’s what I’m fond of most in Mambu’s work. How effortlessly he reveals what often is ignored by popular opinion. How enigmatic the combination of a confident black woman is paired with an artist who appreciates and takes pride in their beauty.

I’ve been asked if I ever get jealous. Ahhh sometimes, (I’ve grown lol) but I support him to the fullest. All in all I feel lucky to have a man who appreciates every inch of me, and reminds me with nose kisses and the occasional “let me take your photo” amongst other things.

I guess this is an open thank-you to Mambu,

I Love you,

Your biggest fan

:)

Last night I attended a screening of Nelson George’s documentary Brooklyn Boheme. I thoroughly enjoyed the documentary but as I listened to audience members comment, question, and speak about the change that gentrification and corporations have brought to Ft.Green I felt a widespread sentiment of love lost. As if Barclays Arena and structures similar in ideology had robbed the area of what made it special during the 80s and 90s. Disappointment seemed to engulf the atmosphere as people expressed concern that this neighborhood was not spawning the crop of young African American dreamers and doers that it once did. 

 “I found myself in NY”, those are the words that opened my graduate school admissions essay. I further them with, Brooklyn found me, nursed me and provided me a surrogate home amidst this city that gobbles up and destroys so many hopefuls. I remember the first time I visited Ft.Green/ Clinton Hill in 2009. I told myself I was going to move there, because for once in my life this military brat that developed into an adult with gypsy tendencies that terrorized my parents , felt at home. During the screening I found myself smiling as things and places familiar to me appeared on the screen. Brooklyn Moon has become my lunchtime favorite not because Erykah Badu, Mos Def,and Saul Williams hung out there, but because of their $5 lunch special (I love theSalmon burger and Apple Salad option). The closest I had been to Nelson before tonight was reading his book”Hip Hop America”. The closest I had been to Spike before tonight was coincidentally walking up on his car on a downtown Brooklyn side street right outside of my job, where I was reduced to a girlish wave and a sound escaped me that I dare not recreate. Yet I felt them and where they were coming from in the film, I shared similar oilla moments.

I want to expand upon Mr. Nelson mentioning Bed-Stuy as a strong contender to carry on the Brooklyn Black Renaissance torch and I can say confidently that I believe this is so. I am surrounded by prolific, creative, game changing individuals on a regular basis. The type of individuals that after you spend a few hours with them, it leaves you feeling like your undergraduate and graduate educations combined, in addition to your prominent non-profit job just aren’t cutting it. My generation includes photographers like Kweisi Abinsetts, musicians like Jesse Boykins III, film directors like Terrance Nance, jewelry designers like Nyne Lyves, writers like Demetria Lucas, activist like Ngozi Odita — a really impressive crop of young people whose bodies of work are sure to stand time, let alone garner them notoriety that graces introductions of Mr. George and Mr. Lee. It’s still alive, that spirit still dwells down Fulton street, in and out of brownstones, and carries seeds that blossom in the hearts of those visiting or consider Bed-Stuy, Clinton Hill, or Ft. Green home.

It’s a pet peeve of mine when people claim something isn’t there, when the truth is they are just ignorant to its existence. for example, that whole hip hop is dead argument, when there’s artist like Kendrick Lamar, Stalley, Bryant Dope, ASAP Rocky and creating and continuously adding to our beloved art form. Different? Yes. Dead? No. This is not directed at Mr. George, but more so the older women in the audience who boastfully acted as if the 80’s were the end all be all of Brooklyn Black excellence. Let us not forget that time and death have a way of immortalizing people. It is rare that people praise artist for what they are and do during their prime, it is often past the prime that we recognize the genius they were. Sure maybe this Brooklyn Black Awakening isn’t as noticeable or in your face as a theirs was. And was theirs? But never the less,  it is here and just as promising. I promise.

MyVana (@talkfame) killing in in white :)

instantelation:

#TAZARNOLD

My natural hair journey began in the Fall of 2009. My relationships with relaxers wasn’t a bad one. I wasn’t traumatized. In all honesty, my mother didn’t allow me to relax until about 9th grade and it wasn’t important to me up until that point. My 9th grade attitude shift occurred when I went from attending all white schools to schools with a large black population. Let me say this, Black kids are cruel. I knew nothing about light skin/ darkskin or good hair/bad hair until I was surrounded by more brown classmates. I was picked on for having puffy hair and wanted straight hair like the rest of the black girls. Because my mom’s insistence on not perming my hair until that point, I never experienced breakage. My hair actually flourished and at its longest point, was bra length.

Moving to NYC greatly influenced my decision. My relaxed hair was always f’ing relaxed. Just….. straight. Sure I could get a straw set, spiral set, or weave to shake things up a bit, but for the most part cutting, curling, weaving, or braiding were my only versatility options. Gone was the era of fingerwaves and updo’s. hello boring ass hair.

In NYC I saw so many beautiful natural women with versatility. Buns, afros twist outs, thickness. So in Fall 2009 I started to transition. In March 2010, tired of two textures, I decided to literally face myself and cut it all off. I’ve never experienced anything like it. To have basically no hair head and still feel beautiful is an experience that transforms you for life. I wore a brush cut the duration of the summer and loved it. It was freeing, I could wet my hair without fear. I honestly miss my brush cut days and the simplicity.

Here I am approximately 18 months into my natural journey and it is just that, a journey. Some days I think back to when my hair was as simple as unwrapping it and going. But I wouldn’t trade this for the world. I love seeing my hair in its natural state and having options. I choose not to straighten my hair with heat, but I choose to weave occasionally. I like the ability to change, and I use it as protective styling so that I can give my hair a rest. I don’t hide under weaves, you can see me on any given day wearing my hair, as God intended for it to look.

I wrote this post because there are so many people hung up on naturals and that they have to do this or that. Next month I will be getting  a surgical procedure that will alter my body for the rest of my life (its not a rhinoplasty nor anything to resemble other etnicities). The first thing everyone said was, “How you gonna do that and be natural?”

Simple.

At the end of the day , Yes, I’m natural and quite frankly, I can do whatever the hell I want.

Heart Smiling

afro-art-chick:

“I think the importance of doing activist work is precisely because it allows you to give back and to consider yourself not as a single individual who may have achieved whatever but to be a part of an ongoing historical movement.”

“It’s true that it’s within the realm of cultural politics that young people tend to work through political issues, which I think is good, although it’s not going to solve the problems.”

“The work of the political activist inevitably involves a certain tension between the requirement that position be taken on current issues as they arise and the desire that one’s contributions will somehow survive the ravages of time.”

“To understand how any society functions you must understand the relationship between the men and the women.”

“Radical simply means “grasping things at the root.”

“What I think is different today is the lack of political connection between the black middle class and the increasing numbers of black people who are more impoverished than ever before.”

“Human beings cannot be willed and molded into nonexistence.”

“Revolution is a serious thing, the most serious thing about a revolutionary’s life. When one commits oneself to the struggle, it must be for a lifetime.”

Happy 68th Birthday to political activist and scholar Angela Davis (b. January 26, 1944)