ThatGirl’s World

Wild Nights- Wild Nights

Were I with thee

Wild Nights should be 

Our luxury!

Futile-the winds-

To a heart in port-

Done with the compass-

Done with the chart!

Rowing in Eden-

Ah, the sea!

Might I moor-Tonight-

In thee!

Emily Dickinson

My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.

Psalms 57: 4

April 4^th marks the 40^th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Illinois Senator Barack Obama is leading the Democratic Primary and may very well clinch his party’s nomination.  This would be an historic victory and tremendous achievement.  Moreover, his popularity and broad appeal represent great strides for African-Americans and America as a whole.  Although Senator Obama has not officially won his party’s nomination and the general election is more than half a year away, his achievements thus far are immensely significant for several reasons. 

Primarily, as American history goes, this is a tremendous leap forward in a short period given the small changes in first 350 years.  Senator Obama’s appeal represents a major attitude shift in the more than our decades since the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965; legislation which represented the full realization of African-American citizenship.  Technically, the 14^th amendment, ratified in 1866, by law extended full citizenship to the newly freed slaves.  Southern states completely ignored that fact, with the silent complacency of Congress.  Even in 1917, as President Woodrow Wilson, set on coming to our European allies’ defense during WWI, asked Congress for a declaration of war so that the world “be made world safe for democracy” America itself had failed dearly as a democracy.  It took nearly a century to enforce rights granted by the constitution.  Thus this, within such a short period is truly remarkable.

Moreover, black American men have never had a such a broad appeal in mainstream American society.  African-American men have been the victims of America’s cruelest hatred.  One of the great American atrocities is the senseless lynching of countless innocent black men in a land whose pledge of allegiance, in true American ironic fashion, declares that we are “One nation under G-d indivisible with liberty and justice for all.”  My sweet dearly departed father, may the Lord keep him forever, faced this hatred in rural South Carolina as a young boy.  Today it is still very difficult for many of them to even hail a cab in New York City; a simple task many others never give a second thought.   In many major cities such as Detroit, black men have a unemployment rate as high as 50%.  Black men still have an incredibly high incarceration rate; nearly a quarter of the black male population has been or currently is a defendant in the criminal justice system, they are often scapegoats in very public crimes (Anyone remember Susan Smith?) and even more tragically the victims of police brutality.  

Finally, his name is Barack (Swahili for blessed) Obama.  One of the dehumanizing aspects of the African American experience is the loss of culture.  That is no where more apparent than in the names wear.  Sure in the 1960’s, people like Malcolm X, disassociated themselves from Eurocentric surnames, but still today the overwhelming majority of us continue to carry the names of our ancestors’ Anglo-Saxon slaveholders.  I am proud to be a Baker (or on the maternal sides: McArthur, McCormick, Sowells or Dibgy), no matter the origins; however it would be a sweet turn of history if the first black president did have a name from Africa.

For most of the four centuries of African presence in America, we have, as the Psalm above suggests, been amongst lions and the US continues to be a very a racially divided society and that more than likely will not change any time soon but perhaps November 2008 may be the definitive response to The Staples’ Singers long unanswered question When Will We Be Paid?

Selah, G-d has not forgotten us.

LipstickJungle

Okay so I have an immense loyalty to Candace Bushnell and her gang of high fashion gal pals from the days of yore on HBO’s Sex and the City.  I, like so many twenty somethings, felt a sense of loss when they aired the final episode of SATC.  Network television tried its best to fill the void with racy shows like Desperate Housewives.  However, after one season, these suburban vixens came off as vapid and bland compared to the spirited and dynamic Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda.  Moreover, Desperate Housewives were, well, just that.  Samantha’s weekly escapades with a plethora of men (many of whom were either devastatingly gorgeous and/or immensely wealthy) and Carrie’s sharp wardrobe and closets of Manolos cast a dark shadow over the semi monogamous marriages and sunny sweater sets of Wisteria Lane.  This is not say Housewives is not good or even entertaining, it’s just that in this post SATC era, I and so many others yearned for a show that offered SATC, but one step further.  We sought life after Charlotte began to care for her much desired baby and after Miranda and Steve settled into their Brooklyn nest.  And now there is a program whose characters slip comfortably into Carrie’s well worn Manolos and walk ever so proudly in them.

 Lipstick Jungle, from the creators of SATC, offers similar grittiness and an even better wardrobe.  Where Lipstick departs is in the lead characters’ focus in life.  Whereas, the women of SATC’s most overwhelming decision was often which man to date, the trendiest night spots or where to get the latest handbag, the women of Lipstick move through a complicated maze of career, family and personal obligations at a dizzying pace.  Confident and self assured they are not without insecurities; a recent episode skirt the issue of one character being disappointed with her husband’s role as the stay at home dad, while another enters an affair with a much younger man.  What Lipstick Jungle offers most is a peek into post marriage and family SATC lifestyle.  

It's that time again.  You lovers swap chocolates and flowers while the pros dole out tons of cash for nice restaurants, flowers and expensive gifts.  Here is something sweet for your pallet.

Images

Sweet music for you ears.

07 I've Fallen In Love With You

Joss Stone

and finally something for you comic loving pleasure.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!!!

Make '08 Great and let you best begin here!

IPOD

Okay, so I was in a music mode yesterday after Christmas dinner and all the excitement of the holiday winded down.  I went to my laptop and began to download some of my favorites and new hot singles. 

06 Hate That I Love You (feat. Ne-Yo

Right now I am jammin to Rihanna's "I hate How Much I love You"  featuring singer/songwriter Neyo.  Listen for a sample. Rihanna and Neyo do a wonderful job with a catchy beat.  This one is sure to be theme song of the season.

Next up is Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine" a single on the "growing Pains" CD, released this December.   This woman has got her business straight.  They do not call her the Queen of Hip Hop R&B for nothing!  This single puts you right in the mood for dancing and picks up any spirit.  Just Fine, an anthem that screams self love!  Go on proud Mary. 

Growing Pains

Two of my older favorites, though too young to be classics, are John Legend's "Stay With You" and Maroon 5's "Sunday Morning"  Having such exciting and soulful men tell a woman she is worth their every waking moment can send a girl to the moon.  These are certainly apart of my pick up playlist.

These songs are good because they express the often very complicated emotion of love.  There's Rihanna and Neyo's undying love for each other, Mary's declaration of self love,  John Legend's promise to be around forever and Maroon 5's love so silly, just spending a Sunday morning in bed with his love is good enough.

Picture3

I have not been on a bit but that is because my dear father fell into a coma last month and quietly passed on November 18th.  I loved my father and have so many stories of growing up with him.  He thought himself the ever jokester from time to time.  For example, he would send us to the store and when we asked if we could keep the change, he would respond by saying "Yes.  Until you get back."  I began to know him as a man when he was about the age I am now.  He had taken a job where he worked nights and I had just started afternoon kindergarten so he was assigned with taking me to school.  He gave me treats my mom said I could not have.  That time together, those short walks were the foundation of our relationship.  To the left is a picture of me with him when I was about seven years old.  Me holding him in a headlock, trying to get some daddy time and him, just calm and mild mannered soaking up my happiness.

Dad, good night.  Sleep well!  I love you!

Diane Keaton

Recently, I was in Macy's department store and happened upon the lingerie department and glanced at a robe made of sweater material.  Then I remembered Diane Keaton wore something similar in her role as the matriarch of the rambunctious group in The Family Stone.  But we first noticed this "It Girl" and icon of style some time ago in Annie Hall, her breakout role where she played the ditsy love interest of Woody Allen's nuerotic Alvy Singer.  Her style reamined timeless.  As the would be love interest of Jack Nicholson in Something's Got To Give (pictured above), I was taken abock at how I admired this lady's style eventhough she was old enough to be my own mother.  From the red carpet to the big screen, Diane sparkles.  This is the style icon I hope stays around for generations to come.

Diane Keaton 2

Annie Hall