Preparing for a New Year

Over the course of the last several weeks I have been working on my plans for a more productive 2010 as it relates to writing, and my other creative outlets of knitting and papercrafting. My knitting has suffered the most over recent months because I have spent so much time doing other things and I just haven't picked up the needles, but that will soon change.
It amazes me at times to see folks seriously multi-task and keep their sanity. That's my goal for the new year. With these goals in mind I have also been reassessing the role of this blog in my future plans. I would really like for it to be a central part of my growth and to serve as an avenue for me to practice the craft of writing. So for the followers of this little corner of my world - change is coming.
One area of change I'm sure will be the addition of a section of posts on natural hair and my journey. I have already written a couple of posts on this matter and anticipate I will complete many more in the months ahead.
You might ask why, especially since I have found several blogs and websites specifically geared to natural hair. Well the why is that while most all of these sites were started as a response to someone's journey - they are all similar yet different because each person's journey is unique. I hope to add a little humor on this subject because I'm tickled everytime I find myself reading and seeking out more information on hair of all things. While I've never wanted my hair not to look well coifed and styled, I have never been a "hair" person. Going to a salon once a week, or even every other week was a stretch for me.
I'll delve more into that soon, but as an example of how "hair obsessed" I have become - I spent the better part of today checking out sites in an effort to learn more about how to manage, maintain and style my hair.
Some of the sites I have found that have become instant favs are listed here. Click on the name and check out the sites - you will be amazed at all of the interesting information you can find. Newly Natural, Curly Nikki, and Black Girl With Long Hair are three that I will highlight soon.
That catches you up on where I plan to take this space in the future and I hope you will hang out with me from time to time. Working hard behind the scenes to get it together so if there are no posts in the next couple of days - enjoy the festivities over the next couple of days and be safe as you welcome in 2010!

Resurgence of the Call & Post - thanks to Ohio State Senator Nina Turner

For the first time in a very long time, Cleveland's oldest Black newspaper, The Call & Post has stirred up some controversy and has some level of significance thanks to its portrayal of Ohio State Senator Nina Turner as Aunt Jemima in an editorial cartoon. The cartoon and editorial chastise Turner for having the gall to stand against the masses and back last November's ballot Issue 6, which will reform Cuyahoga County government.

The cartoon struck a nerve with a number of Clevelanders including United Pastors in Mission, a group representing a large number of Cleveland's Black ministers. The ministers who were opponents of Issue 6 have called for an apology from The Call & Post.

Before I continue with my views on this subject I must state that I spent the formative years of my career at The Call and Post. I have a fondness for the newspaper, but I have felt since long before I left the paper that the leaders of the publication were not intune with the community they serve. This disconnect with the community has caused the newspaper to suffer with subscriptions, advertising and most importantly readership. The Call & Post, is struggling to survive, as are many print publications and this could be the opportunity they were looking for to reignite interest in what they have to say.

Unfortunately, this resurgence comes in the middle of an issue that pits one group of the Black community against another, a sad commentary on this community.

As a journalist I was not appalled as many in the community have stated they are because first and foremost you have to put the caricature into context - it is an editorial cartoon. It is not meant to be supportive, it is meant to be an exaggeration and to do just what it has done - ignite dialouge and discussion. I also believe that we in the Black community at times become overly sensitive about these issues. I read a comment connecting this depiction to the Don Imus controversy with the women's basketball team from Rutgers and in my opinion that is like apples and oranges - two different families.

Political commentator Bill Patmon put the controversy into context during an appearance on WKYC-TV 3's evening news Tuesday as he cited editorial cartoons that had appeared in the daily Plain Dealer that offered negative portrayals of former Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and former Councilwoman Fannie Lewis. Both of these women are now deceased, but I'm sure both would be proud of Turner's ability to take a stand against the establishment - although they too would probably have been on the opposite side of this issue.

At the crux of this issue however is the generational divide that exists in Cleveland politics and leadership. This cartoon has brought to the forefront the fact that there is a wide gulf between the young and the old guard in Cleveland, and someone needs to work to bridge that gap.

While The Call & Post has indicated it will not offer an apology, it should join forces with The United Pastors In Mission and attempt to begin building the bridge that will heal wounds and prepare the Black community for the future.

This could be a win-win situation for both the newspaper and the community. If young people feel they have a seat at the table and their opinions matter they will be more engaged in the community and that is something this community desperately needs.

A Review: What Doesn't Kill You

What Doesn't Kill You: A Novel by Virginia DeBerry



In their latest novel /What Doesn't Kill You Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant have offered a new style and new voice - first person.
This timely novel is told from the experience of the novel's main character Tee Hodges who has found that she must reinvent herself just as she reaches her prime.

In the Night of Heat, A Review

In the Night of the Heat: A Tennyson Hardwick Story by Blair Underwood



Sexy underemployed actor and former gigolo turned part time super sleuth Tennyson Hardwick finds himself in the middle of another murder mystery as he tries to get his acting career and personal life on the right track. That's the backdrop for the second installment of the Tennyson Hardwick series In the Night of Heat.
The Hardwick series are the brainchild of actor Blair Underwood and noted authors Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes. They present a picture of Hollywood's upper middle class African American community and the privileges and dangers that sometimes come with thier lifestyle.
In this installment, former football superstar TD Jackson, the number one suspect in the murder of his ex-wife and her fiancee, has been cleared of the criminal charges but his worries are far from over. There is the civil charges for wrongful death and the death threats that lead him to Tennyson for help. Ten, as the handsome super sleuth is better known, declines to take on the case and the action begins.
As with any good mystery/suspense there are other stories taking place in Ten's life. He's trying to work through his new family dynamic complete with his father, a retired LAPD police captain; his new "daughter" Chela; and his relationship with new love April.
The action moves pretty quickly after the first couple of chapters as new characters and events change the course of Ten's life.
Much like a "Law & Order" episode the storyline, though altered by creative license, seemed ripped straight from the headlines and not to cheesy.
One downfall I encountered was the lack of copyediting. There were a number of typos - basically repeated phrases that caused the reader to reread sections, particularly the further you got into the book.
The series is being written for the screen, but I just don't see Blair Underwood as Ten; yet all in all I would rate this a good read when you're looking to be taken away from your life and want to live vicariously through Tennyson Hardwick.

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Stand the Storm, A Review

River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke



Breena Clarke has presented a very good re-enactment of a time in history that has mostly been presented only in a negative and less than favorable light. She does not over simplify, or negate the hardships of slavery, but presents that time in history in a framework of hope. In Stand the Storm, Clarke takes invites the reader to take the journey to freedom with the Coats family. I was especially pleased to see that the Coats' were skilled in the field of textiles. Take a journey of hope with Clarke and the Coats' by reading Stand the Storm.

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A Natural Woman - A Review

A Natural Woman by Lori Johnson



A Natural Woman is the story of Aleisha Eaton a successful college professor who could be your next door neighbor, best friend or sister. Lori Johnson's sophomore effort is a must read if you're looking for a good solid story, complete with conflict, suspense and of course a solid love story. It is much more than a love story, it's really a life story and confronts some of the many issues that African American professionals face regularly, from classism to abuse.Johnson does a wonderful job with POV, and the dialouge moves you through the story with great ease. It's familiar and as is a trait of Johnson's it is lyrical and familiar.I highly recommend A Natural Woman.

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The Pursuit of Hair Happiness

Today I have spent a number of hours on the internet lurking on sites, playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook and reading about natural hair. The latter leaves me a little befuddled and confused, because you see I'm not really a hair person. What does that mean, well I like for my hair to look nice, but I am not into primping and constantly checking out how my hair looks.
A good hair day to me is one where I wake up, style my hair and that's the end of it until the end of the day. I don't want to have to keep combing, fixing or worrying about how my hair looks. I have found that this is really next to impossible.
Last August I found myself fed up with my hair. It was just limp, I had worn the same basic style forever and I just didn't know what to do with it. Ultimately, I longed to pull my hair into a ponytail and just go about my day. That however was not possible because it was only about ear length, and short styles weren't my cup of tea because it called for too much maintenance.
I had dabbled for a couple of summers with wearing it natural, but this year the ends just seemed so straight and would not curl, which I really didn't understand because I had not relaxed my hair in about two years.
My mom was attempting to loc her hair again, and I went to the salon with her and talked to one of the stylist who suggested I make an appointment for a haircut and go from there. So, a few days later I came back and cut my hair and started my journey. After that initial cut I could see a difference in the way my hair looked, the ends were no longer straight, but I'm not sure I was totally satisfied with the look. I kept my hair in its natural state for about one month and then had it styled for a wedding. Boy was my husband happy to see the transformation, and so devastated to see me go back to the curly natural state the day after.
Today, fourteen months after the fact I'm still getting used to my hair, but I'm also finding that there is no such thing as "no maintenance" hair. That is a bummer for me, because as I have stated I don't like fussing over hair.
So today I came across the blog Newly Natural, and all of a sudden a light came on. Here, KCurly writes about her journey to natural and she offers tips on products, styles and maintenance. I have read a number of blogs, but I think this is the first time I really had an "Aha" moment. Although I don't like to really play with my hair, in order for me to find satisfaction and achieve my goals I must. I also have to really get to know my hair, which I believe I have done in the last year, but I still have to spend more quality time with my hair and really understand all of the different changes that take place - primarily with the use of different products.
As much as I don't want to be a slave to my hair, I can see that I have a lot of learn and it's still a work in progress.
I'll keep you posted.