thatblackgirlblogging

That Black Girl Blogging On the Move

Hi Everyone,
I have some great news. That Black Girl Blogging is growing and moving to a new space. Starting next week, you can find my posts on thatblackgirlsite.com. My blog name hasn't changed but the environment has, I am joined there by five contributors who are blogging about everything from relationships to hair care—all with us in mind. I am just as excited about myblackgirlsite.com, the social network I've created that will allow you to share your thoughts and ideas.I am extending my personal invitation to you to become a member. This is just the start of that black girl revolution.
Corynne

Fantasia, You Worry Me Girl...

There was a time when I watched American Idol like every other crazed fan. But I gave up that addiction a few seasons back, right after Carrie Underwood won. That's when I realized that I was never going to see another black girl (or man) take the prize. I missed Fantasia's return last night but I did catch it on You Tube. Y'all it scared me a little bit. The hair, the makeup, the nails and the performance were off the chain (and I'm not sure in a good way).

Fantasia is being true to herself I guess but my problem is that I couldn't even understand the lyrics she was singing. And I won't comment on the dancing either. But my concern is that she doesn't have adequate guidance or management. It looks to me like she's making these less than flattering choices herself. (Like disappointing countless fans with her series of no-shows during her run in The Color Purple.) And those are precisely the reasons her star will not ascend as high as it should.

There is a marked difference in style and demeanor between the Fantasia who won Idol a few years back and the one we see today. How can we help this sister get on the right track? She's certainly got a beautiful voice but she just doesn't seem to have it together. Here's what I am talking about: Let's go to the videotape.

">Fantasia on Idol in 2008

">Fantasia sings Baby Mama...

">Fantasia in the finals singing "I Believe"

The Reluctant Members of The Black Girl's Club

Today I was at an event at my niece's school and of the 75 people gathered, there was only one other sister in the yard. We sat a row apart for two hours, she didn't even acknowledge that I was there. No eye contact, no nod and definitely no 'how are you?' Of course, everyone around her spoke while she sat silent. I find this both annoying and sad when these things happen (and they don't happen very often). Three things go through my mind: either they don't think they're black, they don't want to be seen talking to another sister or they're mad because they want to be the 'only one.'

Now I know that there is no 'official' black girl's club but I think a lot of us have gotten to the point that we are happy to see someone who looks like us in successful circles or unlikely places. One of my friends lived in Italy for years and would become elated every time she saw a black American that she'd stop to talk to them. Once, while traveling in Finland for about 10 days a brother yelled out across the plaza "Hey, I know you're (black) American!" But the connections don't always happen with strangers, they can also occur in your working life as well. When I first started out working in the beauty department of Elle, the only other black woman in the room was usually Mikki Taylor from Essence. Never mind that overzealous junior publicists automatically assumed I was Mikki when I appeared at the door. It was obvious she had been the only one for a long time. Yet she offered sage advice when we spoke and that knowing glance from across the room. A few years later, when there were a few more of us at those events we'd happily grab a table and sit together. Maybe that's why it is so hard for me to understand these silent sisters. They just don't know what they're missing out on when they stand alone.
">Whitney Houston Exhale

Rihanna's Cute But Can She Really Sing?

Rihanna is Elle's cover girl for June and it is the second time the magazine has featured her in a year. Back in the day, when I worked at the magazine, they always believed that putting a black woman on the cover would mean death at the newsstand. That thinking hasn't really gone away but maybe being an "It" girl helps—even for a black girl. And Rihanna's definitely an "It" girl.

The Bajan beauty popped on the scene 3 years ago but caught fire last year with that little ditty (as my grandmother used to say) "Umbrella." It is still a catchy song but is it a career maker? Will folks be playing it 20 years from now? And if I went to see her in concert would she be singing to a track while dazzling me with dance moves? I saw Amerie once and she was dancing so hard that she actually forgot to sing at times. I also caught a bit of Ciara's act at The Essence Music Festival last year and the only thing I remember about her performance was her dancing. But I digress...

I believe in this age where appearance is paramount and videos do so much to sell artists, Rihanna is hot because she is easy on the eyes. Fans want to look like her, dress like her who cares if she can really sing.
I do. And it makes me wonder whether an artist like say, Stephanie Mills, would have had a chance if she were released today. Stephanie's power was, and still is in her voice, but her looks were more average than knock-out. Then again, a good stylist can do wonders for even an average-looking sister. Real singers still get signed today, but they don't share the same kind of success as those elevated to style icon. Chrisette Michelle has promise but I have a feeling she is going to end playing the small venues instead of the arenas. And wouldn't it be a powerful thing if the words of India.Arie resonated just as much as Beyonce. I say, why can't they have it all too.
">Rihanna's Umbrella

">Stephanie Mills "Home"

Chrisette Michelle "If I Had My Way"

A Real Life Akeelah and The Bee ( With The Birds Thrown In Too)

There's good news about a black woman in The Washington Post. And she's not famous either. Ashley White will graduate from Howard University this weekend magna cum laude and it was no small feat. You see, White was a teenager mother and also homeless. That's nice, you might say, but so what? She was also the subject of a documentary called Spellbound when she was an ambitious middle school student competing in The Scripps National Spelling Bee back in 1999.

So what turns an ambitious young girl with a photographic memory into a sister with a baby fighting to keep a roof over her head at 18? I am not sure but White's detour is not so unusual when it comes to young black women. Many of them struggle with the desire to be smart or popular. And sometimes, even the smart girls get sidetracked when they are sheltered too much. They have more book smarts than street smarts. And often they may not be savvy enough to resist the "please, baby, baby, please..." pleas of a fine or sweet talking brother.

I'm not saying that's White story. Thinking about her makes me realize that we need to expand our thinking about who exactly is "at risk." Often we are looking at those struggling in school, having problems at home or those beyond a certain economic level. But the truth is that smart girls and good girls can be vulnerable too. So let's nurture all of our little sisters to greatness.

Retro Thinking in a Modern Age

One thing became clear to me during this brouhaha involving Senator Barack Obama and the Reverend Jeremiah Wright—there's some throwback thinking afoot. Remember when the thoughts, appearance and actions of a black man or woman stood as THE example for the entire black race? Well at least it seemed that way. Because in our parents and grandparents generations everyone thought it was a good thing to be "a credit to his or her race" or a "good race man or woman." Of course we also called ourselves Negro or colored too. We may no longer use those words but their history and meaning are buried in our bones. And the remnants of those attitudes pop up at the most interesting times, like during this election campaign. Now however, this retro thinking is creating some polarizing and pitiful results.

The Civil Rights Movement was a galvanizing moment for us, where we fought for respect and our rights. Leaders emerge who could speak for the masses but even then some of our folks were saying "he or she doesn't speak for me." But because we all needed and deserved so much there was still a fair amount of unity around the message as well as leaders who emerged at the forefront. Forty years later progress has come more easily for some of us than others and that has created a great divide in both ideology, attitudes and actions.

Somehow the unspoken truth is that we are still judging folks by whether they speak for us or not. By whether they're a credit or an embarrassment to our people. By whether they're black enough. That's nothing but retro thinking in a modern age. Sharpe James and Kwame Kilpatrick make some of us want to hide in shame. Others see them as cocky individuals who can't embarrass us as a people but they can embarrass themselves. Kwame is especially unbelievable. (While the woman involved with them will pay the ultimate price--jail time, shame, career ruin--but that's another story entirely.)

We are probably going to have to rethink the whole march thing too since a call for one doesn't automatically equal a collective rallying cry anymore. Let's face it, Al Sharpton doesn't speak for everyone either. Different leaders will have to be effective for different constituencies. And maybe, just maybe, somewhere down the line they will all work together toward a common goal that will benefit all black folks despite their beliefs. But first they'd have to check their egos at the door.