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Naomi Sims, The First Black Super Model Defined The Meaning That "Black Is Beautiful!"

When I was a kid growing up in Harlem, everyone knew who

Naomi Sims was. She was what many young Black girls wanted

to be like and what many Black women wanted to look like. But few

really knew the obstacles she had to face to rise to the top of the

modeling world. Keep in mind that Black people have always set

fashion trends that are imitated globally. According to Target

Marketing News, Black Americans in 2008 spent over

$40 billion on fashion.

 

 

Sims, 61, who died of cancer on Saturday, was the first African-American fashion model on the of cover many fashion magazines in the 1960s. She is credited with opening the door for other black models and many in the fashion world consider her the first black supermodel.

It didn't come easy. She didn't know her father, grew up poor and ostracized in Pittsburgh, including time in foster homes. After attending the Fashion Institute of Technology on scholarship, she was rejected numerous times by modeling agencies who thought she was too dark.

Sims persisted and reached out directly to fashion photographers, which is how she landed her first magazine cover. Her achievement was the natural culmination of the Civil Rights era that sought inclusion and representation for people of color in all areas of public life.

After she left the catwalk, Sims went on to write and build a cosmetic and wig business geared toward the specific needs of black women. In recent years she lived in Newark.

What Sims accomplished is no small thing. For better or worse, women of all ages receive subtle and not-so-subtle messages about beauty and self-worth in the pages of fashion magazines. Naomi Sims' persistence gave us all a better reflection of what beauty is all about.

Barack Obama: Giving All Children Tough Love When It May Be Absent At Home.

For those parents who decided to keep their children from hearing

President Obama’s words of encouragement because they didn’t want them to be brainwashed by a community organizer, it is their loss and that of their children.

Is something else going on here, for these parents to have what appears to be unwarranted anger and hatred toward the President of the United States?

Many of these children will grow up, and look back at this and  many other irrational situations revolving around their parents toward this president and finally understand what this was really all about or maybe they will choose to be as blind as their parents and raise their kids with like blinders. Now we see how ignorance is passed from one generation to the next. But as the President says, despite your circumstances there is no excuse for not tyring to be better. What do you think?

Obama Racist? Tim Wise Sheds Light On Many of Those Whites Who Are Extreme Obama Critics (Haters)

The vile words “nigger Obama” are typed across the internet at least

150,000 times a month and “Obama Racist” 350,000 times a month.

The FBI reports that President Obama gets over 400 death threats a

day. Far more than any other president before him.

  

 

If you have any doubts of this racism, below is the  Google keyword

search tool. Multiply your results by at least a factor of 5 to see

how many times a phrase is typed in across the net.

https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal

 

(click the back arrow to come back to this site)

 

 

Despite the denials of the leaders of the Republican party,

and the right wing talk show hosts that say Obama’s harshest

critics are not racists, most would disavow Jesus if and when

they acknowledge the truth.

I too lived in Boston in 1978 where I saw first hand one afternoon, a mob of angry white parents who were vehemently against busing, attempt to turn over a bus full of black children in an effort to stop the integration of  shools. Should skin color determine the value of a life? What do you think?

Why Did God Let This Happen To Haiti?

“My teenager asked me “How could God let this devastating

earthquake happen to people who have nothing?”

 

 
I had to pause and think before I answered.

 

God knows that in his tremendous creation called earth, along with all its many beautiful creatures, his most magnificent creation is called 'MAN'.  When these kinds of tragedies happen because of nature, God is watching to see if we are using the greatest gift he has given no other creature, and that is our capacity as human beings to exercise free will to reason and then to choose to help. In the case of every tragedy, he wants to see who is able and willing to help his fellow man, knowing that "There But For The Grace Of God Go I."

 

God wants you to do what you can...CNN/IMPACT

 

Whenever there is a tragedy the devil in the name of people like Pat Robertson always seem to distort the truth in the name of "Their God."

Let me interpret what Pat Robinson is saying.

If Haitian slaves had not revolted against the French, in 1804 to found their own country then my God, who looks like me, would not still be punishing them with rampant poverty and now this devastating earth quake.

If you really want to know about the true history of Haiti and the external and internal forces that saught to punish this country and it's people for having the audacity of wanting to be a free Black nation, please take the time to listen to the video below so you can begin to understand the true historical facts of Haiti and its proud people.

1.Toussaint Louverture And The Haitian Revolution

Haitian Revolution was the only successful slave revolt in history. It established Haiti as the first republic ruled by blacks. At the time of the revolution, Haiti was known as Saint-Domingue and was a colony of France. Through the revolution, people of African ancestry freed themselves from French colonization and from slavery.

Although hundreds of rebellions occurred during the slave era, only the revolt on Saint-Domingue, beginning in 1791, was successful. Haiti was the first republic in modern history led by people of African descent. It went directly from being a French colony to governing itself. The pattern established under colonial rule had powerful and long-lasting effects, though, having established a model of minority rule over the illiterate poor using violence and threats.

Colonialism and slavery were outlived by the racial prejudice that they had contributed to; the new post-rebellion racial elite (reffered to as mulattoes) had African ancestry, but many were also of European ancestry as descendants of white planters. Some had received educations, served in the military, and accumulated land and wealth. Lighter-skinned than most Haitians, who were descendants mostly of former enslaved Africans, these mulattoes dominated politics and economics.

Recession ‘devastating’ to African-Americans Over 45

The recession has had a "devastating impact" on African-Americans age 45 and up, according to a new survey by AARP.

The survey, which is part of AARP's continued look at how African-Americans age 45 and older are faring in this economy, found that over the last year:

•33 percent of African-Americans age 45 and older said they've had problems paying rent or mortgage.

•44 percent had problems paying for essential items, such as food and utilities.

•18 percent lost a job, nearly twice the rate of the general population.

•23 percent lost their employer-sponsored health care.

•34 percent stopped putting money into a 401(k), IRA or other retirement account.

•26 percent withdrew funds from their retirement nest eggs early to pay for living expenses, including mortgage or rent, health care, education expenses and for other reasons.

•31 percent have cut back on their medications.

•28 percent have carried a higher balance on their credit cards during the past 12 months.

African-Americans, like many others hurt by the tough times, have taken steps to lessen the economic sting, the survey noted.

Half of those surveyed postponed plans to travel, and two-thirds cut entertainment expenses. Even in the tough job market, 12 percent of those age 65 and up returned to the work force from retirement.

McClatchy/Tribune news

 

Urban League: African Americans Faring Worse than Whites

The National Urban League says, despite the hope generated by the election of the first black U.S. president, African Americans are faring worse in an economy in which the gap between the "American dream" and reality is widening. The Urban League says it will be pushing to ensure blacks benefit from the jobs and money Congress and President Obama made available in the economic stimulus plan.

(For smoother viewing push the start button, then once the picture shows,  hit stop allowing the red line to immediately fill to the far right. Then hit start again.)

Tavis Smiley Questions Minister Louis Farrakhan On President Barack Obama

I have to be honest . I was one of those critics of Tavis Smiley’s determination to hold his recent Black Agenda event focusing in on the challenging issues facing Black America. But sometimes God has a way of speaking through people to get his message out.

There was a great deal of factual and compelling information presented at this event that needs to be shared and not through the lens of the media, especially the words of Minister Louis Farrakhan.

"We have come up with agendas, but we keep looking to the wrong people to fulfill our agenda. When are we going to stop begging white people to do for us what we have the power to do for ourselves."

For smoother viewing push the start button, then push stop allowing the red line to fill into the far right. Then hit start again.

For smoother viewing push the start button, then push stop allowing the red line to fill into the far right. Then hit start again.

For smoother viewing push the start button, then push stop allowing the red line to fill into the far right. Then hit start again.

Since I was not at this event, I don't know if there was a suggested action plan. But I think Black people can take 3 immediate steps toward self empowerment.

Step One:

Immediately take control of our children, letting them know that we love them but as a parent we will accept no less than their best. Know where they need help academically and seek out what ever resouces there are to bring them up to grade level in math, reading and writing. Make it required reading for the family to begin learning about Black History and the true lineage of Jesus Christ. This will greatly improve your child's self image against the constant barage of negative media images.

Step Two:

Buy Black when ever and where ever you can. All other minority groups understand the need to support their own. It creates jobs and spures the growth of more business within their own communtiies. Identify any Black owned hair care or food products you can buy. Do not spend money with any business where you see no Black employees.

Step Three:

Demand that our churches (congregation) be accountable. The church community should offer help to all members of the congregation who are in immediate need. The church should be open daily to our children and families. Start holding banquets in our own churhes, using Black caterers instead of giving our hard earned dollars to major hotels.

If you have any further suggestions please feel free to add them.

9/11 Unknow Black Heros

As I watch today's memorial ceremonies, I am reminded of the coverage of the heros of 911  in the days and months following this tragedy and again today where I see very little mention of the non white heros. One of those heros is flight 93 Co-captain Leroy Homer Jr.

Homer Jr. at the age of 36 died along with 40 crew members and passengers of Flight 93. They courageously took control of their destiny and stopped the hijackers from using the plane to crash into another American building. A permanent memorial of the crash site is due to begin September 11, 2011. On the day he died, LeRoy left behind his wife Melodie who he married in 1998 and a baby girl.

Air Force Pilot

LeRoy Homer, Jr. served on active duty at the 18^th Military Airlift Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey. He was within driving distance of where he grew up. During the Gulf War he flew C-141B Starlifters transport planes to the Middle East from European bases. He left active duty as a Captain and joined the Air Force Reserves reaching the rank of Major. In 1995 Homer joined United as a flight engineer and then a first office on Boeing 757’s.

 The First Officer

Little known history fact: LeRoy Wilton Homer, Jr. United Airlines (First Officer) Pilot of ill fated flight 93. LeRoy Homer Jr. survived the Persian Gulf War. He was a 1987 graduate of the US Air Force Academy. He and a brother were the only males out of nine children. The family lived on Long Island in New York. A male bonding event for LeRoy and his father were trips to McArthur Airport Ronkonkoma, NY to watch the planes take off and land. The airport is named for General Douglas MacArthur and is also known locally as Islip Airport. Those trips may have fostered LeRoy Homer’s love of flying. Around age 16, Homer obtained his first pilot’s license. He obtained his private pilot's certificate in 1983.

 Co-captain Leroy Homer Jr. An American Hero

Why the Pepsi Ad Shown During the Superbowl is Racist Toward Black Women

Author: BJ222

You know why the pepsi superbowl 2011 commercial isn't funny? It's not funny when black women are so degraded and devalued on a world wide scale that we have one of the lowest life expectancies for women in the U.S. It's not funny when we are the second most likely group to be raped and experience domestic violence (more likely than ww). It's not funny when we are more likely to be ignored and receive no media attention when we go missing. It's not funny when we are the group most likely to be evicted in the US. It's not funny when little black girls grow up watching these negative images and believe that they are so ugly and unwanted to the point that they don't even want to play with dolls that look like them...



It's not funny when we make up the largest portion of the female prisoner population, DESPITE the fact that we are no more likely to commit crimes than white women. It's not funny when we are raped in jail and mistreated and no one EVER hears about it. It's not funny when we are more likely to receive LONGER SENTENCES for committing the same CRIMES as white women. It's not funny when we are the group that is most likely to be single mothers. It's not funny when we're the least married group in the United States. It's not funny when a good number of our sisters in africa, the caribbean and the US are forced to live in ABJECT POVERTY, mostly due to unfair and racist policies against black women. It's not fair when we are not given opportunities to achieve in the workplace because we're seen as untrustworthy and violent. It's just not funny at all...



There are TOO MANY NEGATIVE STEREOTYPES ABOUT BLACK WOMEN ALL AROUND THE WORLD for this one to go unnoticed. We are in too poor of a situation to continue to allow the media to pump the minds of people throughout the world with this stereotype, which portrays black women as loud, abrasive, aggressive and violent. This "violent sapphire" stereotype is so counter to the condition that most black women live that it is absurd. Most black women do not fit this stereotype at all. Perhaps, if more black women did fit this stereotype, then we wouldn't be mistreated the way we are. Perhaps if we really were so loud, aggressive, violent and abrasive, we wouldn't be raped, abused, evicted and rejected at the rates that we are. Maybe, if more black women actually fit this stereotype, then we wouldn't be refused decent housing and jobs if we all had this so-called "attitude" that the media portrays...but clearly we do not fit this stereotype because black women are among the MOST MISTREATED AND DEGRADED WOMEN ON THE PLANET!



It would be different if they showed more POSITIVE images of black women to COUNTER the negative images, but they do not. We are ALWAYS IGNORED IN THE MEDIA WHEN IT COMES TO POSITIVE THINGS, including when we go missing and the media doesn't even bother to report on our disspearance, no matter how wholesome and vulnerable we are. (see this article: http://thefreshxpress.com/2011/01/phylicia-barnes-is-missing-and-the-national-media-attention-is-missing-also/)

We almost NEVER see any images of ourselves in the media at all and when we finally do get a chance to appear in the media, as we authentically are (as black-black women) all we get is a nagging, abusive, overbearing, jealous and VIOLENT portrayal of a black woman who berates her husband and attacks another woman? That is the image that they chose to air at the superbowl...ONE OF THE MOST WATCHED EVENTS IN THE UNITED STATES and around the western world?? THAT WAS THE IMAGE THEY CHOSE TO SHOW TO THE WORLD! It's OUTRAGEOUS!

IT'S NOT FUNNY, WE'RE NOT PLAYING THE RACE-CARD AND THERE IS NOTHING POST-RACIAL ABOUT THAT COMMERCIAL OR THE WORLD WE LIVE IN. THE POST RACIAL WORLD IS STILL A RACIST WORLD!


Those stereotypes in that commercial impact the way people view us and treat us. When we are portrayed as violent, abrasive and OVERBEARING, it feeds into other areas of our lives. This is partly why we are more likely to be incarcerated for longer periods of time for committing the same crimes as other people because police offices and the judicial system already view black women as being inherently more troublesome, aggressive and violent than white women...hmmm...I wonder where they got those ideas from?

HOW DO THESES STEREOTYPES AFFECT THE WAY SOCIETY TREATS US?
The portrayal of black women as being aggressive and domineering makes news stations and other media outlets AVOID showing us on tv when we go missing, why? The reason is because people in general do not view black women as being vulnerable and in need of help. When we go missing people assume we can "hold our own," and above all people just aren't interested in hearing about a beautiful, wholesome black girl who goes missing because, according to stereotypes, WE DO NOT FIT SOCIETY'S IDEAL OF WHAT A WOMAN IS.

WE ARE NOT CONSIDERED AS VALUABLE AS WHITE WOMEN, THEREFORE PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT OUR PLIGHT OF MISTREATMENT AND THEY CERTAINLY DON'T CARE WHEN WE GO MISSING. NOW WHERE DID PEOPLE GET THE IDEA THAT ANY BLOND WHITE WOMAN WHO GOES MISSING IS MORE VALUABLE THAN A WHOLESOME, BEAUTIFUL BLACK WOMAN??? I'll tell you where they got it from STEREOTYPES, STEREOTYPES, STEREOTYPES! Stereotypes, which have PORTRAYED BLACK WOMEN AS VIOLENT SAPPHIRES, OVERSEXED JEZEBELS AND UNATTRACTIVE, ASEXUAL MAMMIES FOR CENTURIES. These stereotypes have been fed to the masses through BOOKS, LITERATURE, PLAYS, PERFORMANCES, MUSIC, MOVIES, COMMERCIALS, ARTIFACTS AND OTHER FORMS OF MEDIA FOR SO LONG THAT PEOPLE ARE BRAINWASHED TO VIEW BLACK WOMEN THIS WAY TO THE EXTREME THAT THEY ARE NOT EVEN FAZED BY THESE STEREOTYPES AT ALL.


That is why some people don't see the pepsi ad as racist because they are so used to seeing black women portrayed in a demeaning manner that they don't even recognize it as racist, it's just normal to them. It's become second-nature for many many people to accept these stereotypes of black women. They have no idea to what extent they impact our lives everyday and they have no idea how this pepsi commercial is about SO MUCH MORE than a silly commercial, it's about SO MUCH MORE than playing the race card...it's about the DEVALUATION AND DEGRADATION OF THE BLACK WOMAN AND OUR IMAGE ON A WORLDWIDE SCALE. It's about people DENYING us the right to dignity and individuality. It's about people making a mockery of our humanity.
That is why this pepsi commercial and stereotypes matter...

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/culture-articles/why-the-pepsi-ad-shown-during-the-superbowl-is-racist-toward-black-women-4229579.html

About the Author

There's more where this came from. This article is written by a member at the discussion board at Lovin My Sistas

If you are interested in discussing the issues faced by black women, including our image in the media, beauty, relationships, racism, and more, please do visit the forum at Lovin My Sistas.

Also check the Squidoo page.

Black Women Are Ugly! Tell Psychology Today to apologize

Update:   Psychology Today Finally Apologizes , Reluctantly.

Next to the power of one man one vote, the internet I believe may be the most powerful tool for change the disenfranchised and special interest groups have ever seen. Individually you are ignored but collectively with the power of the internet you are a force to be reckoned with. This power was seen this past week when Psychology Today was force to apologize for calling Black Women ugly.

 

The backdrop details appear below this letter.

 

Dear Charles,

The efforts of you and more than 75,000 other ColorOfChange members paid off.¹ Psychology Today has now agreed to remove controversial author Satoshi Kanazawa, the author of a deeply offensive article regarding Black women, from its website, and they have implemented new policies to prevent inflammatory content in the future.

It wasn’t easy or a foregone conclusion. After staying silent for almost two weeks, Psychology Today on Friday issued an apology, but they refused to say how they would prevent such a situation from happening again. Then hundreds of ColorOfChange members started calling the magazine by phone, along with additional pressure on Facebook and Twitter demanding a clearer response — at which point Psychology Today came correct and did the right thing.

While there still remains the larger problem of Black women and girls having to face dehumanizing and damaging messages, this is an important victory. We've not only drawn a line with Psychology Today — we've sent a powerful message to other media outlets that serving as a platform for racist and dehumanizing content is unacceptable and will result in pushback and consequences.

At ColorOfChange, we will continue to hold media accountable, and we hope you will continue to be there with us. Remember, our work is powered by you, our members. If you can support our work financially, whatever the amount, please click the link below:

http://www.colorofchange.org/donate

Thanks and Peace,

-- Rashad, James, Gabriel, William, Dani, Matt, Natasha, and the rest of the ColorOfchange.org team
   June 2nd, 2011

Psychology Today recently published an article claiming it to be scientific fact that Black women are less beautiful than women of other races. The article was flawed from top to bottom -- it was actually opinion masquerading as science, written by someone with a track record of using pseudoscience to promote discredited racist and sexist ideas.

 

Psychology Today needs to apologize, explain how this happened and how they plan to make sure it won't happen again. Please join us in demanding that they do.

Since Monday, more than 50,000 ColorOfChange members have called on Psychology Today to address it's decision to run an article that uses false science to argue that Black women are “objectively” less attractive than women of other races.

Still, they've remained silent. Can you help us get to 70,000? It takes a second to add your voice to the call, demanding PT apologize and explain how this won't happen again. Once we get to 70,000, we'll deliver your petitions to Psychology Today's headquarters to increase the pressure.

Tell Psychology Today how you feel about the article they published

by clicking  here.

First Lady Michelle Obama's Message Touches The Heart And The Spirit Of Hope

There are striking parallels between the civil rights  movement and the fight against apartheid. First Lady Michelle Obama tells young people in South Africa that the future belong to those who are willing to stand up and fight for change. Her message to young South African's is that the rest of the world to waiting for you to come to the table of world trade as a full partner and to lead your great country to a better tomorrow.

American Jews talk of their undying love and support for Israel. Irish, Italian, and Asian Americans all proudly talk of the connections they have with their native countries. For African Americans, we must realize that we have more of an affinity with Africa than we realize. Listen carefully to the First Lady's universal message of hope for all people. "You  Are Your Brother's Keeper."