The Souls of Black Folks. My Black History Month.

This post has been on my mind for quite some time. Its no secret I'm black and as a black American I look forward to learning more about the accomplishments of those before me. Its also been on my mind that I am not as aware of the blood, sweat and tears that were shed before me as I should be.  While on my clinical rotations I have been more aware of my race then ever before in my life. I constantly feel the pressures and undercurrents of race around me. To channel my feelings I've decided to touch base with the thoughts and ideas of those before me.... Hence I'm reading The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois.  ** I must add in the last year I've been on this kick of reading the works of great men.. i.e. malcolm x, nelson mandela.. etc etc.  and then forming my own opinion and respect for them :-)

W.E.B. Du Bois (quick summary)

Du Bois was born on Feb 23, 1868 in Massachusetts and was raised by his mother. Du Bois was a natural scholar and went to Fisk University in Nashville. During that time Fisk was one of the leading Universities for black people. Its amazing to me to think in the south during that time in Nashville black people went from slaves to scholars. We don't mess around :-) Anywho.. He later went to study at Harvard and studied African American History. This amazes me too! Harvard had Afircan American History back then. wow. He was the first African American to receive a Ph.D from Harvard.  In 1909 Du Bois co-founded the NAACP. Du Bois also taught history at the then Atlanta University.  I could go forever...



WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SO FAR...

What has been most interesting to me so far as I read this collection of essays originally published in 1903 is how similar many of his thoughts are to those we as "black folks" continue to feel today. Its amazing to know a feeling in your gut.. to not know quite what it is.. and then to read it so eloquently explained by a scholar from a century ago.

Here are a few of my favorite passages from the first essay called "Of Our Spiritual Strivings" 
Full Text: http://www.bartleby.com/114/1.html

The exchange was merry, till one girl, a tall newcomer, refused my card,—refused it peremptorily, with a glance. Then it dawned upon me with a certain suddenness that I was different from the others; or like, mayhap, in heart and life and longing, but shut out from their world by a vast veil. I had thereafter no desire to tear down that veil, to creep through; I held all beyond it in common contempt, and lived above it in a region of blue sky and great wandering shadows. That sky was bluest when I could beat my mates at examination-time, or beat them at a foot-race, or even beat their stringy heads. Alas, with the years all this fine contempt began to fade; for the worlds I longed for, and all their dazzling opportunities, were theirs, not mine. But they should not keep these prizes, I said; some, all, I would wrest from them. Just how I would do it I could never decide: by reading law, by healing the sick, by telling the wonderful tales that swam in my head,—some way.


 The history of the American Negro is the history of this strife,—this longing to attain self-conscious manhood, to merge his double self into a better and truer self. In this merging he wishes neither of the older selves to be lost. He would not Africanize America, for America has too much to teach the world and Africa. He would not bleach his Negro soul in a flood of white Americanism, for he knows that Negro blood has a message for the world. He simply wishes to make it possible for a man to be both a Negro and an American, without being cursed and spit upon by his fellows, without having the doors of Opportunity closed roughly in his face.


I encourage anyone looking for a scholarly read... black, white, hispanic, etc etc to consider reading The Souls of Black Folks..   Especially those who want to take a glimps into the thoughts of a man that was a major force in the Civil Rights movement and a pioneer for the civil liberties that we now enjoy. Although I'm sure DuBois would say we still have a ways to go in social equality.


THE YEAR OF THE 25!!  Its about fun, growth, identity, and experiences..
Thanks to W.E.B. DuBois... I'm going to stand a little taller tomorrow because I better understand myself and the souls of black folks.


STAY FLY!!

Getting my Life Back :-)

Well Hello Friends!!

Its been too long. I am happy to say I finished my surgery clerkship on Friday!  wooop wooop! Now its time for me to enjoy life again and get myself back together. I WILL be blogging more often :-)

Oh How I've missed my blog!!! Whats to come.... Well of course I have to post about black history month "power to the people", also I want to learn how to paint :-), my personal yoga challenge starts this week, CIAA in the queen city is next weekend  "lets go!", I have four weeks until my trip to Europe, AND my big bday trip to NYC is in hard core planning stages....

SOOOO Guess what... If u havent tuned in.. in quite some time. Get ready! I'm refreshed, spiritually renewed thanks to some quality devotional time with God, and ready for the year of the 25 to pick back up..

Surgery I loved you... but you are like an x boy friend now.. fond memories... but near the end I was starting to lose it :-)

THE YEAR OF THE 25!!

BACK TO BEING FLY AND NOT BUSTED BRI BRI :-)

yogalicious??

Whats another thing great about being almost 25??   Health and Fitness. Looking back at college pictures it seems as though everyone had an extra 10 or more pounds then they do now. All my friends have shedded the dining hall pounds and I would say are really looking fabulous. The mid twenties! I tell ya.

Today I want to shine a little light on yoga. I'm not sure who has tried it.. But I like it. I am about to challenge myself for the upcoming spring to really get into yoga. I would say I'm going to do a yoga challenge. For the month of March I want to go to yoga 2-3 times a week and see how I feel at the end of the month. I'm sure it will be great. And i'll be looking and feeling yogalicious. Shout out to methyl who has  joined the yoga fun!  The ladies who do yoga have the best bodies. Strength, flexibility and lean.

My favorite spot. http://franklinstyoga.com/
Favorite Classes: Saturday at 9 and Wed at 4:15

this is warrior 2 i think

Dancers pose. My favorite

BEWARE: Yoga is tough. People often think its slow, just stretching, will be easy..  blah blah blah. Go to a real flow yoga class and you will WORK!! Try a beginner class first to understand the concepts and poses and then step it up to the real class. OH and all the classes at FTY are heated. So be ready to sweat.

Have I ever said how much I love a nice saturday morning. Clean, the radio and then yoga :-)  and of course my yoga challenge will begin after surgery ends :-)  till then... i'll do what i can. :-0

STAY FLY AND 25

Common - Come Close ft. Mary J. Blige

Happy Early Valentines Day :-)

This throw back jam has me all in the mood for Valentines Day. :-) You know every year when I was little my dad always had a card and a big hug for me on Valentines day sitting right next to my bed in the morning. I will always love Valentines day. I really think its a holiday for everyone....Single ready to mingle and the married with babies. On this valentines day tell those who are important that u love them. No reason for the blues.. and single ladies.. let me know if you're down for cold stone over the weekend :-)

Until then... JAM AWAY TO MY imaginary boyfriend and an example of swag.. COMMON.

STAY FLY. and almost 25!

http://www.essence.com/fashion_beauty/hot_topics_1/vogue_italia_debuts_all_black_spread.php

http://www.essence.com/fashion_beauty/hot_topics_1/vogue_italia_debuts_all_black_spread.php


Today I randomly came accross a new website. Vogue Black. I am curious to see what my friends think of this website. I have mixed feelings.. but still intrigued.

Recently Vogue Italia did a spread with all black models. Essence featured an article about it and featured a link to Vogue Black. I have never been a fan of vogue magazine which is probably because faces, shapes and shades like mine are few and far between. I have always read essence and in style. This new effort of vogue to reach out to black women is intriguing to me. Hopefully it will sustain itself.

Check it out.

http://www.vogue.it/en/vogue-black

I dream of a bun!!!!

Many girls dream of their wedding days and what it will be like. Guess what. I only have one hope... I want a beautiful bun with a flower in it. :-)

Seriously. I don't care who the guy is, how big the day is, what the dress looks like.. i just want my pretty eva longoria, beyonce looking bun on the side. This is the key point ... I want my natural hair to be long enough where I do not have to press it and can brush it into a bun.

THIS IS WHY I AM WORKING ON MY REGIMEN!!!  I also significantly trimmed my hair this weekend. With real hair scissors.


This past weekend I went to WHOLE FOODS which has a great hair care section. FYI. Here are some of the natural hair products I grabbed. They also have a return policy that is amazing. Try it. Unhappy. Return it and full money back. 

This shampoo is great for your scalp! Feels good and is refreshing. price $10

This lavender conditioner smells great and is what I use to comb my hair out.

I only use this shampoo every other month. Or if I feel like my hair has some product build up.

I purchased this conditioner as my deep conditioner. I sit under the dryer with this one. A FAVORITE.

Jojoba oil. I apply directly to my scalp.

Expensive. This bottle is atleast $30 dollars. I still use it.

My hair gets really tangled. I love what this shampoo does for my hair.

dating at 25 Update!!

Well apparently my dating posts are my most viewed. SOOO I decided to give an update.

At Atriza a few nights ago me and my internet dating partner and crime (We will call her dominique ) decided that the free website okcupid had run its course and we were ready to go big or go home.  Dominique wanted to join eharmony but I thought eharmony might as well be called.. Iwanttogetmarried.com. Which is NOT where I am in life. Clearly...  Luckily I had another friend at dinner that joined match.com. Which is what I wanted to join!! Well finally Dominque was down!

We have been on match.com for 2 weeks now. I must say my profile has been slow. No one interesting enough to respond to yet. AND! on my first day I was feeling bold and sent two messages and the guys did not respond! Can u believe that! lol. never again. HA. 

ALSO this week I went on my first date from online. Ladies.. it was a good time! Even if we never go out on a 2nd date I enjoyed the conversation and outing. I say there is nothing to lose. You can never have too many friends or random experiences.  BUT Unfortunately I was extremely extremely tired and come to find out I was coming down with a cold. So poor guy probably thinks I am an over worked.. tired soul. Which i probably am. LOL.    and did anybody know there is a krispy kreme on franklin street!


STILL FLY AND ALMOST 25