Check out this week’s book review featuring an author who is a Norfolk VA native! Please share these vids with your family and friends so the village can be aware of all the fantastic, culturally-inclusive literature that is written for our youth. Let’s fill up our children’s school and home libraries with these books while we support Black authors and Black owned bookstores at the same time!
This one was recorded weeks ago but I’m just now posting it. I took a break because of all the things that have being going on that required attention but LITERACY is and always will be important to me so I’m back. I hope you enjoy this review. There are plenty more to come. Please share with your friends and purchase these books for the children in your life.
CCIA believes whole-heartedly that it takes a village to raise a child and we are proud to present what the village helped us to accomplish. Last year we raised over $1,300.00 in February and this year we raised over $2,000.00. We took the money that our most gracious donors sent us and purchased books written specifically for Black youth and distributed them to two local elementary schools. This year each school received almost 100 books! CCIA works hard to help promote literacy and positive self-esteem in our youth. We believe that providing them with books with characters who look like themselves and storylines that are relatable is an excellent way to do so.
We would like to give a tremendous THANK YOU to all of our donors. Check out our video below to see how it went.
This is an article I wrote that was published four years ago. It is very painful to see that each year its words continue to be validated. Sometimes when we write time makes our words lose their relevance. However, each time I revisit this article the message still resonates. There are just always new names that could be added to the list of Black men lost to racially motivated violence and violence at the hand of another Black man. The death of young Trayvon Martin has caused much of the sleeping nation to wake up and take a hard look at how this country views the presence of Black males in this society. Since I wrote this article in 2008 the question still remains the same:
STATE OF EMERGENCY: Does America Value Black Life?
I recall being overcome with emotions as I would pass cotton fields in Alabama as I drove to school. I recall thinking of how many of my ancestors toiled that same blood stained land hundreds of years ago and how many of them hung from those very same trees I passed. It almost brought me to tears as I thought of the strange fruit Billie Holiday sang of. I’d get angry sometimes when I thought about how I may be the only one thinking this. Then I would shake it off and prepare myself for the tasks ahead of me.
I recall being completely overwhelmed with emotion in August 2005 when the levees
broke in New Orleans and I saw images of helpless, forgotten Black people in pure survival mode. I saw Black people who were thrust into a position to fend for themselves as if they were animals stranded in the wild. I saw the elderly, children, men and pregnant women. I saw people. I saw them crying. I saw them trying to make it. I saw families separated. I saw them grieving for the loss of loved ones. I saw them hurting. I saw them persevering. I saw it and I wept. I saw it and I was mad as hell. I heard the media call them refugees. I wanted to fight someone. I wanted to curse people out. I went and volunteered at a shelter in Atlanta. That wasn’t enough. My brothers and sisters were hurting. The media and the government had to be reprimanded before they even recognized them as people. Damnit Black people are people. Poor people are people. In 2008 why the hell do we still have to affirm that we are people too? We are human beings!
This past weekend on March 24th, Virginia stood up for justice as we held our rally to show solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin and all families seeking justice for the unjust loss of a loved one. The rally was organized by Clever Communities In Action, Universal Zulu Nation Chapter 30 and Occupy the Hood Hampton Roads. Not even the rain kept people from showing up to support the cause.
There was a plethera of community organizations that came out in the rain to protest injustice and stand in solidarity. Several of them spoke and the recurring theme was that we must be sure to let the emotions we feel as a result of Trayvon’s murder be the fuel to keep us engaged in strenthening and empowering our own communties. I know that rallies are being held throughout the country but on a personal level, I know we organized this rally in one week. We want people to know that movements are usually born as a result of one person or a group of people being fed up and then deciding to take action. Many people came up to me and said the information and energy from the rally has inspired them to get involved. That is indeed a beautiful thing and a testament that a gathering of people for the same cause can have an impact on peoples’ lives. We can all take ACTION as individuals and collectively. There are numerous organizations that could use help with creating the changes we wish to see around us. VA stood up and I hope we will continue to take a stand and I hope you will too!
<iframe width=”420″ height=”315″ src=”http://www.youtube.com/embed/XQfpeEo3emM” frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>
By now almost everyone is aware of the Trayvon Martin case. It has garnered the attention of the nation as well as attention abroad and the attention is well-deserved. Virginia stands in solidarity with the family of Trayvon Martin and all families who have had dealt with similar situations.
It has been 20 days and counting and VA is unsettled by the turn of events. Therefore, we will be holding a rally to show our support and dispense important information this Saturday, March 24, 2012 at Lafayette Park(next to the zoo) from 4pm-6pm. Zimmerman still has not been arrested and we want justice. If you are in or near Norfolk VA come out and let your thoughts be heard. If not, start a rally in your area. The power resides within the people!!
This past Saturday was my birthday. Yes, I did enjoy turning 21!! Thank you. But of course everyone always asks “What did you do for you birthday?” Well I spent the day going around the city collecting donations for this year’s Black History Month Youth Book Drive. I collected $400.
If you are familiar with this project then you know I will be purchasing books written specifically for African-American youth with the funds that are donated. Last Wednesday I did an African-American Read-In with the children I work with. I was delighted to see how much they enjoyed reading the books. Many of them shared with me that they don’t have those types of books at their schools or at home.
So I ask that you please help me to get these books to more schools and organizations that serve our youth. While there are many African-American children who excel in reading and academics it cannot be ignored that too many of our children are left behind. Too many of them do not enjoy reading and are not even at grade level. Research, personal observation and discussions with teachers show that these books help spark the interest to read in our children. I want to provide teachers with books that will help make the reading journey less of a chore and more of an adventure.
Reading is essential for every school subject. It is essential to function and advance in society. Please help me make a dent in in the literacy deficiences and donate. Please inform your sorors, frat, professional affiliates and church family of this worthy cause. $400 is a good start but it is mid February and we have quite a way to go to reach our goal.
The day job and a staff of one sometimes prohibit me from being cutting edge. However, I still want to talk about last week’s news. A few days ago I saw that young Willow Smith is all over the internet again. This time it is because she cut her hair low. I don’t think this is her first shaved cut but this time she did it all over. Well to my dismay I saw some comments that really annoyed me. People called Willow and her parents crazy. Why would anyone do that to their child is what many commenters wanted to know. People were insulting Willow and Jada’s intelligence. I really couldn’t believe there was such a backlash over a low hair-cut.
Here’s my take on Willow’s new look. I like it! I love the fact that her parents allow her to 
be an individual and express herself creatively. I love that at such a young age she is confident enough to know she is beautiful with her natural hair texture and that her beauty is not defined by her hair’s length. Since people are criticizing Jada because her daughter cut off her hair, I find it odd that there isn’t a mass uproar against all the parents who ritualistically put calcium hydroxide better known as a kiddie perm in their young daughter’s hair. Short hair grows back and it doesn’t burn or damage the hair. Calcium hydroxide can burn and dry out hair. But hey, that’s just my logic…
Anyway, I think Willow is still as cute as ever and her new cut has actually inspired me to use a word that has been relegated to my “words I strongly mock and loathe” list. #stopHATING…
What do you think of Willow’s new cut?
February happens to be my favorite month for several reasons. First of all it is my birth 
month. I am a proud Aquarius and although I am not big on astrology it seems that I do possess many of the Aquarian traits. February 11th is the exact date and I look forward to sharing my birthday reflections with everyone when the day rolls around.
My very close second reason(actually it’s a tie)for loving this month is because it is Black History Month. It is beyond fitting for me to have been born during the time that is nationally recognized for celebrating, acknowledging and learning about African-American culture and all that we have contributed. I am a firm believer and practitioner of Black History year round and I hope you are too.
Finally, my third and newest reason for loving this month is the Clever Communities In Action Black History Month Youth Book Drive! Please click the “Community Site” button and check out our blog for details on this project that is near and dear to my heart.
So now that this month is here what are some of the things you plan to do to celebrate it? Do you get your children or any youth you encounter involved? Do you believe your city holds enough events to celebrate Black History? I know I ask a lot of questions but I want to hear your thoughts about Black History Month. Please do share.
First off I have to admit that I am not a regular movie goer. However, after seeing the previews I decided that I would go out and support this flick on opening weekend if for no other reason than to pay my respects to the ever worthy Tuskegee Airmen. Doing my part to make sure that this movie about such a distinguished segment of American history did not flop was my duty as a Platinum Black Card carrying woman. When we arrived at the theater Saturday night it was packed. Black and white people filled the lobby and the seats. I was surprised to see such a mixed crowd but it was a pleasant surprise. This story should be celebrated by all. So my friends and I took our seats at the front of the crowded theater and from there the pleasantries began to wane.
The movie was bland to say the least. The story of the Tuskegee Airmen is one of depth. It is a story of bravery. It is a story of skill and adversity. It’s a story of highly qualified aerial geniuses who displayed undeniable patriotism in the midst of blatant racism as well as some who simply wanted the chance to fly and all the heightened emotions that go along with such a paradoxical situation. It’s the ultimate under-dog victory story. Yet somehow Red Tails missed the mark on effectively conveying these sentiments. The characters lacked depth. The story-line was predictable and underdeveloped. About mid-movie I literally told my friend what I thought was going to happen with two of the characters and—I was right.
Last week it was reinforced to me that possibly right after food, water and my family, the next thing on my list of needs is indeed YOU, the Black Man. It is dire at this point. It has surpassed a want and it has become eminent that I have YOU. But guess what? I’m not selfish. I’m traditional and futuristic at the same time so I am beyond willing to share YOU. In the immortal words of Snoop Dogg and Korupt, “It aint no fun if my homies can’t have none.” Besides, what you have to offer is much more than what I can use alone. Yet, here lies the problem. I understand the urgency of my need for YOU but so many of YOU do not understand your tremendous importance in this equation. See I’m trying to solve for x here and there is no way I can get the correct answer without YOU, the Black Man. Try as I may, but it will not add up without YOU.
See, last week quite a few things happened that made me realize that I have to make YOU realize why I need YOU so badly. I run a youth program at my job and my babies are from low-income neighborhoods. I have them a few times during the week and I notice they are lacking in many areas. They lack nowhere in potential. However, many of them do not receive enough time and attention to help cultivate their potential and bring it to fruition. After doing activities with them about setting goals I had to reprimand one of them for speaking negatively about her friends. A few minutes later I found this same little pumpkin sitting off to the side crying. When I asked her what was wrong she got up and hugged me and through teary eyes she told me that she has a problem. She said she gets angry and says bad things and she doesn’t know how to control herself. I asked this little third-grader what she believed it was that made her so angry. She told me she was mad because her father left her and it makes her act out. Now I realized
