Tag Archives: African-American

Sister, you looking real good…

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My friend Ticia is a beautiful Black woman.

Inside and out.

She is a single mom, raising a young man and, despite the pressures of balancing work and everyday life demands, Ticia holds it down.

Like so many others, she makes sacrifices in order to give her son, Justin, a good life.

A product of a single parent upbringing myself, I stand in awe of the strength, resilience and sheer determination of Black women who, despite the odds, manage to raise strong, productive Black men.

We were talking recently and she told me a story that will undoubtedly be familiar to many.

The sight of a single Black woman in a barber shop is not a new phenomenon.

What “she” often times has to endure is another story.

Last week Ticia took her son to get a haircut.

“You want your son to have a nice line and look good.”

Instead of focusing on the task of cutting Justin’s hair, the barber focused on Ticia. Literally.

“Sister, you looking really good sitting there all fine and s%#t.”

“My, my my…You not from around here are you?!”

“You remind me of that honey in the new Steve Harvey joint, but you finer.”

Finer?
Really?

The end result is that Justin ended up with a jacked-up haircut.

Frustrated, Ticia had to find another barber shop and have the damage repaired.

Now, before I go any further, I have to say that this is not an attack on my brothers who cut hair for a living.

I have no beef with anyone’s hustle, but there are always a few who can’t help but forget to exercise decorum and professionalism.

After all, it is a business.

A good business model dictates that if one does a good job providing a service, the customer will be satisfied, the customer will pay and reward the business with repeat visits and patronage.

Like driving a car or any other activity involving machinery, one has to keep their eyes and attention focused on the activity at hand.

It is not cool to try and rap to a mother in front of her child. Ever.

If she politely rebuffs you, that is not an attempt to “play hard to get.”

Truth be told, she is probably just not that into you.

Besides, she didn’t come to the barber shop with her child in search of a man.

We can never forget that we are all role models for our youth and this a responsibility that cannot be taken lightly…

“Careful the things you say Children will listen Careful the things you do Children will see and learn Children may not obey, but children will listen Children will look to you for which way to turn To learn what to be Careful before you say “Listen to me” Children will listen”

– Stephen Sondheim

Shattering Stereotypes – Black Women Define Themselves

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My mom sent me an article today that appeared in the Washington Post, “Survey Paints Portrait of Black Women in America.”

The article is part of a series.

The basis of this article, as well as subsequent articles in the series, is from a survey conducted by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation.

It included interviews with over eight hundred Black women.

“…(it) represents the most extensive exploration of the lives and views of African American women in decades.”

The findings shatter stereotypes and misconceptions.

Furthermore, the interviewees add dimension, substance and provide a more accurate assessment of “Who” the Black Woman in America is today…and what is truly important and motivating to her.

Check it out.

DIVA ON A DIME – Wealth isn’t characterized by Income and Spending Alone

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Last February, I posted a blog, “Meet Miss Recessionista.”

It spoke to how women are “holding it down” – surviving the economic crunch, shifting priorities and doing the same (and in some cases, more) with less.

One year later, surviving in a tough economic climate is still prevalent among all consumers, but especially African-Americans.

While unemployment declined to 8.5%, African-American unemployment rose to 15.8%.

Taking nothing away from my brothers, it is fact that sisters are more actively involved and engaged in the shopping process.

To that point, there is an article, “Living Large On Less,” in the February issue of ESSENCE Magazine.

The cover “tease” boasts DIVA ON A DIME – How You Can Do More With Less.

Part of an on-going series, the article examines

“…how women are spending and saving in these uncertain times. Three ESSENCE readers – a teacher, an accountant and an entrepreneur – give up the goods on how to afford the the things you love.”

Check it out.

The Promise of Prosperity

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For as far back as I can recall, black-eyed peas and collard greens have been an essential part of every New Year’s celebration.

Some eat them on New Year’s Eve.

Others, New Year’s Day.

I do both.

And I know that I am not alone.

It is a tradition.

A southern tradition with tentacles that reach every corner.

Eating collards and black-eyed peas on the first day of the year invites a prosperous year ahead.

The “greens” represent dollar bills.

The swelling of the cooking peas symbolizes prosperity.

In full disclosure, I will honor the tradition welcoming 2012.

I will take shortcuts…with the help of Goya and Wegman’s, but I will honor the tradition.

Happy New Year.

I wish you good health, the love and support of family, good friends, dollar bills and prosperity.

The History of the African-American Funeral Director and the Fight for Civil Rights and Racial Intregration

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“To Serve the Living: Funeral Directors & the African American Way of Death” is not merely a book about the history of death.

It is much more.

It is a history of African-American entrepreneurship.

At its core, “To Serve the Living” is about African-American funeral directors.

They were pioneering entrepreneurs in a largely segregated trade, economically independent and not beholden to the local white power structure.

More importantly, their financial freedom gave them the ability to support the struggle for civil rights and to serve the living as well as bury the dead.

“These entrepreneurs had both the financial resources and the prestige as leaders of their respetive communities to stand at the forefront of the formative campaigns for civil rights…”

The financial and political clout of African-American funeral directors provided them with a stature that could coalesce the community on points of relevance ranging from voter registration to community empowerment. This is a testament to their resilience, fortitude and pioneering spirit in times when such qualities in African-Americans were challenged and often times resulted in bodily harm or death.

In a September 2011 C-Span interview, the book’s author Dr. Suzanne E. Smith points out the impact, viability and prominence of the African-American funeral director, from antebellum slavery to today

“…[P]rimarily, barber shops, beauty shops and funeral homes have remained largely segregated…[F]or the most part there is a loyalty in the African-American community to the African-American funeral director.”

Click here for the C-Span interview