"I wouldn't be a good friend if I didn't say this...The reality is we're lazy." A weekend girl chat turned into a therapy and truth-telling session. The "we" was our group of friend who talked until we were blue in the face about aspirations outside of our careers. For me, the action was either fluctuating or stalled altogether. As a writer, I'm often deciding what ideas ... Read More
EBONY and Why Black Media Must Have Staying Power
EBONY is still here, y’all. And I’m glad. Not because my byline has been inked on their pages or because Johnson Publishing Company signs a few checks that come way. I’m thankful because that magazine matters. Before I was a writer, I was a reader. For forever, I’ve been consumed by magazines geared towards African Americans, cherishing them for as long as we’ve had ... Read More
Shorts: Removing the Mask
“Babe, are you almost ready? We’re gonna mess around and be late.” “Yeah, give me five minutes,” I hollered from the bathroom. “You said that 15 minutes ago.” “You know beauty like this takes time. Better to be late than ugly!” I could tell he was walking down the hall into the great room. His voice got more faint with every step. “Girl, you know your pretty ass ... Read More
When It Really Happens
Note: This post is best read with Kanye’s “I Wonder” playing in the background “I’ve been waitin’ on this my whole life/These dreams be wakin’ me up at night” On Friday, I wrote the words I’d been dreaming of writing since I was a young girl. I told the world (or my little piece of it) that my writing is featured in the September issue of ESSENCE Magazine. “Selfie ... Read More
The Most Beautiful Girl in the World
Note: Just before I published this, TIME Magazine released its cover naming Beyonce’ as “Most Influential,” and the same discussion is being had. Go figure. Yesterday, golden girl, Lupita Nyong’o was named PEOPLE’s “Most Beautiful Person” for 2014, which has been curating the list for 20+ years. I don’t really keep up with these lists (actually the only one that stands out ... Read More