Essay: For Colored GIrls

***The full title of this post is For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Getting Their Hair Wet When The Water Just Looks Too Good**

Picture it. A little girl with fresh, shiny cornrows with the requisite beads dangling off the ends, tip toes towards the sand box. She glances at the sand then glances at her mother sitting nearby. You can see the wheels turning. Just when she thinks she is safe, "girl you better not get any sand in your hair!"

Picture it. A stifling summer day. A pool filled to capacity. Girl after woman after girl after woman playing gently in the water (only going in up to their belly button). Hair piled on top of their head, giving the evil eye to any deviant who decides to play splash wars in the pool.

Did you picture it? If you have skin color that could be found in the gingersnap, coffee or butterscotch aisle of the grocery store then you don't have to picture it. You lived it. You know that summer is filled with lots of don't regarding hair and the maintenance of the oft times unruly beast with a mind of its own. Last week as I was out and about with my children, on three separate occasions I witnessed summer holding little brown girls hostage. I remember growing up with the admonition that above all else, don't get your hair wet. It always made me feel like my hair was a gremlin. (didn't they get the same warning?) Even now as an adult with dredlocks if my hair gets wet without my blessing, I always hear my mother in the background saying "girl I'm not doing your hair if you get wet." In a way it is interesting to have this tie that binds all of us together. We all have funny hair stories. But I did feel sad for the little girl that just wanted to play in the sand with the rest of the kids. Ah, little sista. Hang in there. Summer don't last always. Winter will be here before you know it. But then, you will have to figure out how to keep your head warm without your hair getting fuzzy. Until next time.

I Heart Blogging

I love blogging!!!! I never knew I could find love like this. Especially being a Mom which is so low on the food chain (in the worlds eyes) it is nice to have a voice. Welcome to my new friends. Thank you so much. Spread the word, my blog rocks!!! It does rock right??? (I'm not desperate for approval or anything.)

A couple of days ago I accidentally stumbled upon The Huffington Post Complete Guide to Blogging. If you are a blogger in need of some guidance, I highly recommend it. The book has lots of info about building a following, finding your voice as well as the history of blogs. It is a great blogging bible. (I can't believe I just said blogging bible, I hate when people say something is the whatever bible. it's annoying.)

So, what else am I reading? I am reading a book by Markus Zusak. Pop quiz. Who is Markus Zusak? I will give you a minute to think. Okay, got it? I knew you would remember he is the brilliant author of The Book Thief. Oh Markus Zusak, how I wish I could marry you and have your brilliant word babies!!! (sorry hubby) I am the Messenger is different type of book than The Book Thief but very engaging as well. The main character is the kind of slacker kid who inadvertently becomes the hero in a bank robbery and then somehow ends up the chosen one for a series of mysterious tasks. I will give a complete review when I am finished with the book. Thanks so much everyone for supporting me and signing up as followers and then actually reading what I have to say. You like me, you really like me!!! Until next time.

Book Review: The Help

I love reading first novels. There is just something encouraging about remembering that everyone no matter how successful had a "first time". Kathryn Stockett has written a wonderful first novel in The Help. The Help is about the relationship between domestics and their white families in the 1960's. Okay, go back to history class for a second. The sixties equals segregation, Vietnam, man on the moon, assassinations so many tumultuous events. Ms. Stockett has done a wonderful job of chronicling those historical events by placing her characters in the midst of them. It was so interesting in reading about this time period. Although the book is fiction, you know that the information and the emotion of the characters rings true. The contrast of white families loving their hired help, letting them care for their children and cook their food, but not let them use the same bathroom because they think they carry some kind of rare "colored" diseases is so absurd you want to laugh but in your heart you know that those are events that truly happened. Ms. Stockett does a great job of bringing her characters to life. From fiery Minny who although a colored gal in the South still has enough bite and spirit in her to keep her going. This same characteristci unfortunately also gets her in trouble. There is also Ms. Hilly who seems to be the quintessential white Southern housewife. I was deeply involved in all of their lives the minute I picked up the book. It was thought provoking, funny and also sad. I applaud Ms. Stockett for her bravery in attempting to cover such a vast subject and also being the voice for her African American characters. It was definitely a risk, but just like Mr. Goodman (Hold Love Strong) , she did her research and it paid off.

Just a bit of housekeeping before I go. I am desperately tring to gain more followers. I don't want to pretend for even a second that I am so important that everyone should be reading my blog, but all my writer friends really stress the importance of having a strong following. If you are reading this blog and are not signed on as a follower please do!!! If you have any friends you think would enjoy my blog, please pass it along. I truly appreciate your support. Until next time.

Inspiration and Encouragement

I have a confession to make. Are you ready? Hang tight, here it is. I love, love, love the new Miley Cyrus song. I know, I'm not a tween or teen and haven't been for a long time but The Climb is so encouraging and empowering. Of course one must give credit where it is due and the song was written by J. Alexander and J. Mabe. The song has meant so much to me that I went online to look for the lyrics, printed them and have them hanging in my writing nook. For those of you that may not know what the heck I am talking about here's the chorus.

Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

Does it give you chills? This song plays through my head when my work has been attacked and wounded by yet another red pen. It encourages me when self doubt kicks in and tells me who am I to think I can be a writer. And lately it has just really kept me going in my day to day life.
We all need encouragement in whatever form it comes. I am so thankful to have started writing. I have only been working seriously for about a year but it has changed me. Even though I want desperately to see my name on a book, I hope that with my hard work and effort my dream will come true. No matter how long it takes(please oh please don't take forever)I find solace in my climb.Hope you guys find your own piece of encouragement. Until next time, keep climbing!!!!

Book Review: Hold Love Strong

I tip my hat to Matthew Aaron Goodman. I wasn't sure when I started reading Hold Love Strong if I could appreciate a person of the non-color persuasion writing a book about a family in the hood, but he has written a beautiful and moving book. It is reminiscent of Raisin in the Sun. NOt to say that it is a modern day version, but that is just the image (for whatever reason) that kept popping in my head. They are both about families struggling to survive poverty and limited opportunities. Raisin in the Sun which takes place in the 60's 70's (somebody google it for me) deals with white people oppressing African Americans and Hold Love Strong touches on the theme of we can sometimes oppress each other within our own culture.

Just as a sample, I wish I could type out the whole page, but here is a section I found so beautiful and heartbreaking that if it doesn't make you read the book or at least think about peoples lives a little differently then I feel sad for you. Scene: two main characters in a jail cell.

"So I was in a cage of mirrors, confronted by the possibilities of what my life seemed destined to be. And there were no doctors or lawyers. No bookish teachers or wild-haired scientist. There were no Wall Street professionals, physics professors, politicians, or philanthropist. But we all knew it was just Ever Park men in that cell, hardworking resourceful men who before they committed a single crime were confronted by limited opportunity;men who adapted to it, men who refused to give in to it;men who had heard about limited opportunity so quit before they were forced to confront it;men who began being men at nine, ten , eleven years old, when emotions most govern us; and men who use substances as if they were magic carpets, hot air balloons that rose over walls and aided their escape."

So beautiful, it makes me want to weep. That passage and the experience it describes reminds me of that old tale of two bugs in a jar. They keep jumping up and trying to escape but constantly hit their heads on the lid. Then one day someone takes the lid off but they don't notice because they have given up, they have been defeated. It breaks my heart because it is a cycle that gets continued so many times. These are people that look like me. But for the grace of God go I.

Kudos to Mr.Goodman, he did his research, he dove head first into a culture different than his on and created a beautiful tribute to those who are trapped in the open jar. Until next time.

Hello Again

I am feeling better since last week. Sorry for the random hysterical blog. Sometimes life just be's that way. After a uninspiring weekend, I decided it was time to get my butt (and a very cute one if I do say so myself) in gear. I got super organized for the week which always helps me feel more successful and in control. I also tried to carve out a little more quiet time for myself. Not surprising that since I felt better I wrote better. I have written two stories this week. One is in rhyme and the other is a soft kind of end of the day story. I really like them both. Obviously they need a lot of work, but the skeleton is definitely there. It is nice to have new projects to focus on. I am especially having fun with the rhyming one. I don't know how people wrote rhymes without the Internet. I log on to this word rhymer site and type in the word I want to rhyme and it gives me a whole list of options. Way cool!!!!!!!!!!! How did we survive without the Internet?

I have been reading some random things lately but I am reading an interesting book called Hold Love Strong by Matthew Aaron Goodman. I am only a few chapters in but it is about a family in the projects going through trials and tribulations. I am very torn about this book because it is about a black family and it is written by a white author. Okay, nothing wrong with that but he has his characters using the N-word and every time I read that it takes me out of the book and remembering that this was written by a white man. Unfortunately, in regards to his characters use of the word it is completely in context (I hate when anyone uses the word, black white. pink, purple whatever). Mr. Goodman is a good writer and I am enjoying the story. So far, everything is going along fine, the family is doing there thing but you know the blow is coming. Anywho, that is about all I have. What is on every ones summer reading list?? I have a huge list of books that I want to read. If you want to, feel free to share what's on your bedside table. (books that is, we don't want to know about anything else) Until next time.

It's My Blog, I'll Cry If I Want To

I am feeling really stressed and discouraged and just don't know what to do with myself. I am having a hard time writing because I feel like everything that I put on paper is crap. Being a wife is hard, being a mommy is hard, and I just feel like crying (actually I am crying but that is okay). I have been crying all morning. My very good friend has my children for a couple of hours so I can pull myself together. I wish I could spend that time writing but I have chores to do. Sorry this is a very random blog posting not at all on topic, but you guys are my peeps and I needed to be heard.

I have read two books since Push. Neither one has been very exciting so of course I will not mention them. I have read a book that everyone should read if they have children. Protecting the Gift by Gavin De Becker is a very informative book about keeping children safe and teaching them to honor and listen to their instincts. It has probably added to my anxiety level as I think more and more on the fact that my precious child will be entering kindergarten in a year. I am not ready. I miss those baby days. It is such a sweet time and it goes by so fast. I am an emotional wreck lately. Excuse my ramblings, let me go offline and get myself together. If you want to send some good vibes my way please do!!! Until next time.

My slow going writing process

Good Morning all. I took last week off from working on any manuscripts because I needed a break. I have sent my picture book manuscript Color Me Cori to an editing company called F1rst Pages. I met the owner at the African American Children's Book Writers conference and she was very helpful. I should get it back in a few weeks and we will have a phone conversation about what I need to do to make it perfect. I am glad it is in someone else's hands for a bit. I think I was getting a little burned out on that story. It is hard when you keep working on the same manuscript for awhile. You realize that your eyes start to glaze over whenever you look at it. Especially if you have fixed the big glaring mistakes and are just looking at the little things. Now I am working on my manuscript Handy Dandy Mandy (also picture book). I am trying to breath some life into it. It is amazing how much time you can spend on a manuscript that is not even 2,000 words. Anywho, I hear a baby crying so I guess that is my cue. Hope you like the picture I added to my profile. My hubby took the pic for me and posted it. Hubby's are good to have around every once in awhile!!! Until next time.