VH1 has announced that a second season of their hit reality
show, "T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle” has been greenlit. Rapper T.I.
and singer Tiny give audiences a peek into the ups and downs of their celebrity lifestyle
after T.I served jail time and tries to focus his attention in a more positive
way. In the first season fans watched as they balanced relationships, careers
and family values, making this show “a certified hit averaging 3.5 million
total viewers on Monday nights.” The show is popular with African
Americans and young adults ages 18-49. The second season of "T.I. &
Tiny: The Family Hustle" is slated to return fall 2012.
As parents, we try to shelter our children from racism. Yet no matter how hard we try the insidiousness of hatred seeps into
our lives on too many fronts. The
newspapers, history books and the Internet are filled with stories that reach
even the youngest child. Even when we try to hide certain facts from them, they
hear us talking sometimes angrily and other times sadly about our experiences growing
up Black in America. Then there are events like the death of Trayvon Martin that make us realize that racism is not part of our past because today our country is still riddled with fear and
hatred. We are
reminded once again of how difficult it is to protect our children. So it is
important that we speak out, march and protest, and let our children know that
we do not have to tolerate hatred and violence. Getting justice for Trayvon is
just the beginning. Next we need to come together as a community to find new ways to protect and educate our young people. We must always let
them know that they are loved and cherished. So the battle continues…
I was not interested in the hoopla concerning the size of
Beyonce and Jay-Z’s nursery for little Blue Ivy and
the Bjorn leopard print baby carrier was nice but when I heard that she breastfeed Blue Ivy in public I was impressed. Advocates have been trying to reach young
African American women with the benefits of breastfeeding their babies.
Benefits are both for mother and child yet the message has gone unheeded. The
percentage of Black mothers breastfeeding is still below other ethnic groups. Hopefully, Beyonce has created a buzz that will reach and convince young mothers that breastfeeding is good.
Recently, American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed their position that
mothers should exclusively breastfeed for six months, and that nursing should
be considered a public heath issue rather than a lifestyle choice. Why is breastfeeding
important in the African American community? Breast milk is custom made for
little human babies and moms that breastfeed heal and get in shape faster. Breast milk is also cheaper and more
portable than formula. On top of
that breastfeeding is very important in bonding and building a relationship
with the newborn. Now Beyonce has sent a message that breastfeeding is
fashionable. I know Blue Ivy appreciates her Mom's decision.
Do you know a high school junior who is looking forward to college but needs funding? Nordstrom is excited to award $10,000 scholarships to 80 outstanding high school students and help them achieve their dreams of going to college. The Nordstrom Scholarship recognizes students across the country for their exceptional scholastic achievement and community involvement. Visit their site and find out the qualifications at http://shop.nordstrom.com/c/nordstrom-cares-scholarship. Applications must be sent in before May 1, 2012.
Not many people are aware of the story behind Elmo but now Kevin Clash, the creator of Elmo and Sesame Street’s Senior Puppet Coordinator and Muppet Captain is being featured in a new movie, Being Elmo, A Puppeteer’s Journey. Kevin from an early age knew what he wanted to do and followed his dream. His story is an inspiration for everyone, young and old. I missed seeing this movie when it first opened but now it is being shown through the country in a limited engagement. So I hope to catch it this time. I love hearing the story of people like Kevin who enjoy their work and have also made such an impact on our lives. Now we can find out why children love Elmo so much from the man who created him. Catch his story at a theater near you, visit Being Elmo.
History is the foundation of our culture. It can make us proud or shameful. It can strengthen us and challenge our perspective. Most important history gives us a road map of where we come from and provides important lessons to learn.
Celebrating African American history Month has been an important part of bringing our story to light. After centuries of struggle through slavery, abolition, emancipation, and civil rights, the story of African Americans has just begun to be told. Even while this story begins to unfold, there are people and organizations like the Tea Party who are trying to rewrite history and create their own version of the slavery experience. See the Huffington Post article.
Will truth prevail? The truth will prevail if we pass on the stories and history of African America to our children. The truth will prevail if we support the writers, educators, filmmakers and entrepreneurs who are working to bring our history to light.
CNN has a wonderful story about a project by Lauranett Lee, curator of African American History at the Virginia Historical Society who is working to archive the untold story of slaves in Virginia. Now families can use this information to learn more about their history and trace their genealogy.
February reminds us how dynamic and interesting African American History is. We celebrate our stories and share the lessons with a new generation. Yet we know this is just the beginning of a long but fascinating journey.
