"She's Pretty For A Dark Skinned Girl..."

Hey Guys!
Well, here I go again. In my attempt to learn a little bit more about Tameka Raymond, I decided to Google her and came across this wonderfully written article. The Title: "She's Pretty For A Dark-Skinned Girl..." I was immediately drawn to this title because I too have a darker complexion and I have heard that too many times, luckily, not targeted towards me. Either way, I have felt it. I have to agree with everything she has said. It is sad to bear witness to this idea that the closest thing to white is the closest thing to beautiful in the eyes of society. It has permeated and destroyed our community and it is always wonderful to hear someone speak about it. So I have posted the link to this article she has written for The Huffington Post last August. It is a must read. Enjoy.

The Spark with Amanda Diva

Ok, as I mentioned in the last post, I watch The Spark with Amanda Diva on AOL Black Voices [online]. Well, I just watched another episode and it has me intrigued yet again. I just HAD to blog about it. I'm not going to say much because the video speaks for itself, but I think this woman always speaks truth on so many levels and I am finding it necessary to constantly post her episodes up. I didn't know about the woman who got punched by the cop... ok scratch that, I didn't know much about the woman who got punched by the cop, so this was something new I learned today. Anywho... I think we all should watch this episode. I may add my two cents in her comment box, but idk, because I want to learn more on the issue. But anyways: Here's the episode.

Watch more AOL Black Voices videos on AOL Video

I LOVE IT!

So I watch this online show called The Spark with Amanda Diva and on one of the episodes she interviewed Tameka Raymond [aka Usher's ex-wife]. Well after the show I became slightly obsessed with her [trust me, it's a healthy obsession]. It just made me want to know more about her. She has started this organization called the Lost Ones Foundation. It focuses on basically empowering young girls and women. I became obsessed because her organization's goals are the same as those for the foundation I soon [well within the net 4 years] hope to start. I was soo excited to hear her speak about the same things that I believe as well. It was refreshing. I was impressed. So, I sought to learn more about her organization and luckily found her website & her twitter. So I'm following her. lol Here's the link to her website: http://lostonesfoundation.org/. I think its goals are AWESOME. I think that my org. will be a little more than this, but I still believe that this foundation is SOOO important. I have now gained some respect for her [not that she needs it].

My Cause

 So, I recently went on dosomething.org and while visiting the site I felt encouraged to start a blog particularly related to issues affecting and involving at-risk youth and families. Growing up I always knew that I wanted to work with children, but it was not until I became a high school student that I realized how, in particular, I wanted to work with them. I became a psyc major with the objective of being a counselor in the school system. Not a guidance counselor, but more of a school psychologist. After being in college a few years, that changed and I am now working on being a social worker, well I will when I go to graduate school next year. This means that now, I will be dedicating my career towards assisting others reach their full potential. It is what makes me happy. Being black and from a lower income area has given me the opportunity to understand certain needs of my communities and I have found that it is necessary for us to help each other.

In essence this blog will be some of my own thoughts, but it will also include videos, articles, and books that dig a little into this topic. I'm currently reading Martin Luther King Jr.'s book Where Do We Go From Here Chaos or Community? I'm over half way through and think the thoughts that have developed from what I have read so far will be my first few blogs. Until I post those, I just wanted to write this first. Hope you enjoy...