Black Is Beautiful!!! And Brown, Red, Yellow, White, Etc...Whether growing up in the 80's, like myself, or before. The images of what BEAUTY is has been a rather divisive issue to deal with. Imagine the mental anguish of being told that Beauty applied only to Elizabeth Taylor, Farrah Fawcett, Pamela Anderson only??? For the Black, Latino or Asian child, where does that leave my Mother, Sister, Aunt, etc? Why aren't they beautiful too??? Now don't get me wrong, each of these women were fine; but for the youth of color, there's a deeper meaning and impact here. Self-Worth. Pride in One's Self & Identity. Back in the day, and unfortunately still now, women of color frantically permed/still perm their hair and did/do all they could/can to emulate the looks of another. How does one teach his/her daughter to love herself, and be herself, if society tell her that she is not beautiful or worthy of praise. . But alas, there were a few that broke through the barriers. Here and there, there were those who we did see sprinkled in among the commonly seen images on television and in print. Here is my salute to SOME of those that made us smile. Comments & Feedback Encouraged...
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D.C. Drama Magazine is a very informative and relevant online periodical that I had the pleasure of discovering about 3 years ago. They host articles pertaining to The African American Experience, Sobriety & Diet, Independent Cinema, Books, Go Go Music, Issues affecting the Capital City, and much more. They also host an "Earth School" for women and a "Plant the Seed" column for at-risk youth that offers them advice and techniques in dealing with educational, social and financial issues. This independent magazine has a lot to offer for minimal cost. Subscribe today! Below is a video that DC Drama Magazine Editor & Chief put together for the Wandering Eyes Blog. You can access their YouTube page by clicking here: DC Drama Magazine YouTube Page. This post is a couple days over due as I've been swept up in my own state of Constant Elevation. So what does that mean exactly? Its the state of lifting ones self up, moving forward, always bettering yourself. Never ending personal growth. So how does one get there? Simple. P.E.A.C.E - Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation
Ask yourself, What am I doing daily to better myself? To better my family? Friends? Community? Do you even stop to reflect and think about this? Most don't, its the American way to accept complacency. People don't like change, its scary. Very new concept for myself, this constant elevation. But you just have to let go of fear and Do Something!
Take real physical action, walk the walk, Literally. Better your health. Eat clean, get physically moving. You have one Temple and its health directly correlates to your mental and spiritual well being. Next, Self Education. Pick up a book. Or instead of those fingers logging in online to read gossip, self educate, type some issues your interested in on that search bar. Watch a documentary instead of that reality show. Not happy with your financial situation? Career? Start researching on what you can do to change that. Then take steps, any steps to lead you where you want to be.
Relationship, family issues? Reassess who you surround yourself with. What do they bring to your life? And what do you add to theirs? Be real with yourself, good or bad what are you all bringing to the table and how do you treat each other. There will be people you may need to cut. And there definitely will be people that deserve more importance, respect and love in your life. Recognize that. Next, Expand your circles. Move out of your comfort zone. Give people a chance you normally would never think about. Listen. Really hear others stories. Be inspired.
It's amazing how the world changes around you, reacts to you, when you see possibility in everything. Let your adversity become opportunity! Know your elevation does Not stop! There's always more to learn, achieve and share. Be enlightened and remember your attitude is contagious. P.E.A.C.E Much Luv, Chels NFL Hall of Famer David "Deacon" Jones passed away sometime Monday Night. Deacon Jones is universally credited as the creator of the term "sack," as a way of describing the way in which tackled and punished the quarterback. Deacon is even more well-known for the now outlawed "head slap;" and was one of a handful of 60's-70's NFL stars whose on-field & off-field contributions elevated the NFL from a novelty genre to the POWERHOUSE League that it is today. If there were a Mount Rushmore, for the NFL, few would debate his place on that list. Undoubtedly one of the great players in NFL History, Deacon joins spent his first 10 years with the Los Angeles Rams franchise. Joined with Merlin Olsen, Rosey Grier, and Lamer Lundy, the "FEARSOME FOURSOME" would wreak havoc upon competitors for years. The left side rush attack of Deacon Jones, and fellow Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, was almost unstoppable-and the entire unit will always fall into the top tier of any list of All-Time Great Defensive Lines. While Quarterback Sacks were not tracked as a statistic, until 1982, unofficial stats say that Deacon Jones sacked the quarterback more than 173 times in his career. Unofficially he is credited with 26 sacks in the 1967 season, which exceeds any player before or after him. It has been said that Deacon was most proud of his "patented" Head Slap move, in which he would smack the ear-hole portion of the opposing player's helmet and knock the player's equilibrium off. The end result, of course, is that he now would freely run past the would-be defender to destroy the defenseless offensive player. The move would be banned by the NFL after the 1977 season. Originally attending what is now South Carolina State University, David "Deacon" Jones was 14th Round Draft Pick out of Mississippi Valley State. Deacon would be the first Defensive Lineman to record 100 solo tackles. Deacon was selected to eight Pro Bowls & earned five 1st Team NFL All Pro Honors. Along with other players such as Jim Brown, Merlin Olsen, O.J. Simpson, Bubba Smith, Rosey Grier, and others; Deacon Jones would transcend the game of Football by moving into several memorable acting roles & social awareness endeavors. This would not only increase the profile of an already Larger than Life figure; but would also elevate the profile of the NFL-over other sports leagues. Deacon Jones retired from football after the 1974 season, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1980. He died of natural causes, at his home in Southern California.
Playing in any sports league for 19 years is a phenomenal feat, in and of itself. But to play at a High Level, and to actively be in the hunt for a championship, for each of those years is even more of a rare occurrence. But Jason Kidd has been every bit the DEFINITION of this rare breed. Moving from the University of California, to being the 2nd Overall Pick in the 1994 NBA Draft (Dallas Mavericks), to the Phoenix Suns, to the New Jersey Nets, back to the Dallas Mavericks, and finally finishing up with the New York Knicks, has dazzled and amazed along the way. Statistically Kidd's best years came with the Phoenix Suns, but Jason reached legendary status in leading the New Jersey Nets to back to back NBA Finals in 2002 & 2003. J. Kidd would finally get that elusive NBA Championship Ring, with the Dallas Mavericks, in 2011. Jason Kidd was a 10 Time NBA all Star and six time All NBA Selection. Kidd averaged 12.6 points, 8.7 assists, and 6.3 rebounds per game over his career. Kidd ranks second in Assists & Steals (All-Time-behind John Stockton); and was named Co-Rookie of the Year in 1994. Ironically, he shared the ROY Honor with Grant Hill, who announced his retirement just two days earlier. J. Kidd's 107 triple-doubles ranks only behind Earvin "Magic" Johnson & Oscar Robertson All-Time. Salute. |
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