CLARAFIED BUTTER

When I was young, my Mama claimed I was a social butterfly. She told me all the time that I was open to make friends with anyone, being an only child for most of my formative years, I understood the need for friendships. But sometime around high school I got socially awkward. Blame it on the teen years, knowing more about the world and the veil that I once embraced, slowly being ripped from my eyes. Any of those reasons make sense, the teen years are tough. But now in my thirties I find that I've become even more awkward! If it weren't for my kids I doubt I would have too many other social interactions. I like keeping to myself and being in small informal groups of people I trust and can be myself around. Now because my kids are in school and making friends I have to engage with parents and teachers and staff. It's tough but I do what I must. That sounds harsh but I feel like I'm being warm and genuine, always genuine, maybe that's not what my vibe is giving off t...

This has been a remarkable time in the entertainment industry, specifically in films and television. With more platforms being offered than ever before, means more opportunities to tell stories from a variety of perspectives. I am hopeful that the momentum will be ongoing, which will help folks from all demographics feel honored instead of ignored. I can only imagine what positive effects it will have on our children and the generations to come, but what was unexpected was the effect it's having on me. Being a child in the eighties and nineties was great, I look back on it with fondness. Though there wasn't much diversity. On television there were mostly white ensembles with one or two people of color. I credit shows like Family Matters, Cosby Show, Sister, Sister and  Living Single for being the reflection of Blackness that I needed. Little did I know that I could feel represented even more with a specific television character. Tasha "Tastee" Jefferson on the sho...

When I was a kid my Mama handled the topic of colorism quite nonchalantly. She didn't really discuss it. There were terms I just wasn't allowed to use i.e "light-skin" or "dark-skin". It made for more abstract descriptions of Black folk but it also forced me to go deeper and look beyond the obvious. I know that sounds difficult in this day and age where race and color are everywhere in society. But like most things I'm realizing too late, my Mama was ahead of her time. She must've known it was going to come up at some point in my formative years and instead decided to shut it down! This is the kind of intuitiveness I miss. She always seemed to follow her instincts and in every conversation we ever had, she implored me to do the same. But why the avoidance? We live in America where at one point paper bags were actually used to divide people of color, a piece of history her own sorority wishes to forget. We live in a country where seemingly, th...

So Much So In Black Panther during battle, the Queen Mother shouted to T’Challa, “Show them who you are!” He then recited his lineage and it gave him an inner strength that propelled him from the inside-out so much so that he was able to conquer his opponent and become who he was destined to be.  That’s power, there’s power in your name. So much so that when you typically hear your whole name shouted from your parent’s lips, you know it means business. You know something is about to go down! Spiritually speaking, whenever I find myself in potentially life-threatening situations the first and only name I call upon is Jesus and there's so much so good when that happens. When you reach a goal, you want to hear your whole name as you walk across that stage to receive your diploma, certificate, degree etc. so much so you want it to be associated with that accomplishment. Your name and your lineage is important. Never take for granted your title and the power it ca...

This is how I'm feeling right about now. It's been a long summer with these kids! On the first day, August 23rd both will be in school and I will be hugging a few teachers!  I actually enjoy being with my kids, it's just the amplified, daily grind that is summer, that has me extra ready for school to begin. It's the nonstop monotony of hearing their complaints and whines and fights and demands, that can make me go crazy! I am sure I will look back over the summer and remember the times we had together and all the activities we participated in with a sense of pride and a glow of accomplishment but not today. Today, I am in the thick of it, counting down the days until they will be in their school with fantastic teachers who have been trained to prepare them for the next level. Amen for teachers. I appreciate you. When the school year ended, I gave each one of my kids' teachers a token of appreciation. It was simply a note to say thanks for all they did in h...