Black Girls Rock #whitegirlsrock Vent

Whenever I hear white people give the "if I started a white group" theory I often question: Do you want to start a white group? If so, what would be the purpose? If not, why pose the hypothetical? Is someone stopping you from starting a white group? Truth is, in my experiance, since high school, there have always been a select minority of white people who had black friends, so they naturally attened our Black Student Union meetings, FAITHFULLY every week. No one stood at the door and said BLACKS ONLY. But maybe that is the imporession some people get when they see a group that is based on race/ethnicity. In high school, a group of white kids made the same typical claim, "if we starded a white club, everyone would call us racisit" They started their club, and no one bat an eye. Their club didn't last long because the point they were trying to prove fell short of evidence. In college we had a multi cultural club, and white students joined in and felt they wanted to start a European American club to explore their Eurpoean heritage as well as American white provaledge amonst themselvs. No one protested and no one called them racisit. This is my experiance, and I think about this every time I hear someone ask, "why have a single race group?" Same reason you have a moms group, or a mens group, or a breastfeeding group, or singles group, or a babywearing group, or an autism group, or a deaf group, or a braille club, because people who share the same experiance can relate to one another and offer support in a way that outsideres cannot.

Kendrick Lamar Promotes Tandum Breastfeeding

Demonstrators 'disrupt' STL symphony singing a 'Requiem for Mike Brown'

Kerry Washington Vs. Raven Symone´

What do you think?  Kerry Washinton's view on race is, race should project your trajectory but it is a part of who you are.  Raven Symone feels her American identidy superceeds her race.  Who's perspective do you identify with?

Does Breastmilk Cure Cancer?

According to International Business Times, researchers are currently testing a new drug that is formulated after breatmilk.  The goal of the drug is to kill cancer.  Interesting, who new breastmilk was so magical!  Read more about the study here.

What are your thoughts on this new breastmilk drug?

Why Was Blue Ivy Allowed to Watch the VMA's?

So Imma just say what I am thinking: Blue Ivy is too young to be watching her mothers performance!

I love watching the VMA's but I know my children need to be in the bed or in another room at least. The performances are so sexual these days, and it is not something children should be watching.

I just don't understand why someone would want their child watching a burlesque type performace anyway.  Is there nothing we wont protect our children from?

Olivia Wilde Does ALS Breastmilk Bucket Challenge

This week many celebrities have been trying to put a spin on the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Olivia Wilde switched it up, by saying that she couldn't find water, so instead she was using breastmilk that she pumped that day.  See video:

Olivia later tweeted that the milk was not actually breastmilk.

Oh wait some of you thought that was really breast milk? Oh dear. Uh thank you? But my boobs aren't that generous. Haha.
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) August 24, 2014

Many however did not think her joke was funny. Many breatfeeding mothers and advocates too offense to her "joke."

.@oliviawilde Happy 2 give u ways u can REALLY show ur support to us bf moms. Ur stunt was a slap in face 2 those of us who work hard 2 bf.
— Kim Simon (@mamabythebay) August 24, 2014

Some say that she is being insensitive to mothers who struggled to breasfeed.  But I ask, is that her problem?  Although I understand why some mothers may feel upset or offended by watching a mother waste breastmilk even in a joking manneer, I have to ask, is it right to be offended by it.  Does Olivia Wilde have to think about every mother who struggled to breastfeed and didn't make enough milk before trying to make a breastfeeding joke?  If her purpose was to get people talking about breastfeeding, well it worked.  And so what if she did pump a bucket full of breastmilk and want to dump it on her head?  It is her body, her milk, isn't it her right to do whatever she wants with it?  As long as her baby is fed and healthy, she can do whatever she wants with her excess milk.  It should not make any mother feel insecure or sad because they didn't have enough milk or because they struggled.


What are your thoughts?  Should mothers with lots of milk not joke or brag about milk so that stuggling breastfeeing mothers wont get offended?  What say you?

Beyonce Is Starring at LeBron

How to Get Away With Murder - First Look

Looks like Shonda has another hit on her hands!  Can't wait to see this!

Solange & Jay-Z Memes

RIP Ms. Terry

We lost a soldier. Although I did not know her personally, I benfited from her work.Send a prayer up for Ms. Terry, her family and the members of the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition.

Post by Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition.

 A lot of the photos, I have used on this blog, including the one below, came from a photo project from the Indiana Black Breastfeeding Coalition.

Idris Elba a Dad and Breastfeeding Advocate

Isn't it beautiful when fathers support a breastfeeding mother and baby?

That's my Boy.....! pic.twitter.com/lzBKIPyjNa
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) May 10, 2014

I am not a fan of the "Drunk in Love" reference, but fathers, especially Black fathers are constatly being labeled as non-supportes of breastfeeding. Therefore I salute and thank Idris Elba for making a public statement that he supports a baby drinking mommies milk!

Jada Pinkett Smith -- There's NOTHING Sexual About Willow/Moises Photo

I know we were all wating for a response from Mama Smith!  LOL  Here it is:









Still looking forward to another facebook essay, however this will do for now.

Julie Chen and her Plastic Surgery To Look 'Less Chinese'

I'm just saying, I'm really tired of people, women in particular acting like they didn't sell themselves out. Just admit it!  Yes, it hurt for someone to tell you the way you naturally look will not get you success in America.  So you went to the doctor and changed your face.  

YES!  You gave into 'the man' and PLEASE do not take consolation from Ms. Underwood!  And, Sharon Osborne ought to be ashamed of herself for saying it was the 'right thing to do' UGH that made me sick.  Sarah your comment was too cliché.  

Instead of talking about the racism in her old supervisor's comments, the racism in the idea that Asian eyes look disinterested, they console Julie for changing her appearance, they make her feel like looking more European was the RIGHT move.  Why can't we own up to our own self hate and insecurities and just say, maybe that was a bad decision, I wish I didn't have to do that to get ahead.  Or, yea I want to be white and famous, and I will do any and everything I have to do to get there, I have no conscious. 

Chen says, "Nobody is more proud of my culture than I am", mm hmm, that is why I had surgery to change the way I look.  Get out of here!

Oh yea, before I get off my rant, why is she only talking about her eyes?  It is clear there was more work done than just the eyes!

Coconut Oil Giveaway!

I am in LOVE with coconut oil.  I use it to cook with when baking and it is a great butter replacement when making pancakes!  I also love that I can use it on my both of daughter's hair!  It is gentle enough for an infant and even moisturizes my toddlers hair as well.  There are so many uses, did I mention it can be used as a nipple cream alternative for sore nipples due to breastfeeding?  Oh yes, and how about for pumping as well?  I have used Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil and have been very pleased!  I love that it is organic and has such a wonderful smell.  It's a good size as well so it last a long time.  Check out the details below and enter to win!

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Sheryl Underwood Apologizes...My Point of View

I have been debating about writing about this, but I do want to explore this topic and get it off my chest. Just for the record, I have never been a fan of Sheryl Underwood even before her "don't save afro hair, but save white hair" comments.  I really do not like her brand of comedy.  It reminds me of Steve Harvey, and I almost laughed when I found out that it was the Steve Harvey Morning show that she used to voice her apology.

In any event, when I heard of Sheryl Underwood's comments, I was not really as outraged by her comments as I was by Sara Gilbert's laughter, and the rest of the table's laughter as well.  I guess I just expect Underwood to say some ignorant mess and in a way I feel sorry for her.  I really think she has some self esteem issues at hand.

Nevertheless, I used to respect Sara Gilbert and the opinions she shared on The Talk.  I remember on one episode they were discussing extended breastfeeding and everyone was saying how gross it was, she was one of the only ones who stood up for mothers who breastfeed beyond a year.  I was disappointed that Sara didn't say anything in response to Underwood. She could have said something very short and simple, like "hair is hair" and kept it pushing.  Or she could have challenged Underwood and asked her why she felt it was ok to save white hair but not black hair?  But no, she said nothing, and then laughed in agreement with Underwood.  Truth be told that angered me more. I have white friends and white people who have married into my family and I expect them to stand up to ignorance just as I would anyone else.  But that is where the whole hash tag #solidarityisforwhitewomen came from.

If we are to move forward we have to be united against ignorance no matter who it comes from.  So many people are saying that Aisha Tyler should have spoken up because she is black, and I agree she could have said something.  But the comment was made to Sara and I hold her responsible for her laughter and her lack of support for black natural hair.  That is how I feel.  Is it too much to expect from white people to not laugh at self hating black folk?  Naw I don't think so.  Sheryl was wrong for her comments and so was Sara, she shouldn't have laughed. Just saying.

Sara Gilbert

Sheryl Underwood

Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

This summer we participated in Barnes & Noble Summer Reading program and received the following free books:

This was our first time reading from the Pete the Cat series, and I was surprised my daughter was able to read it from beginning to end with no help.  The story is nice, it emphasizes "trying" as opposed to winning.

I love the National Geographic Kids books.  My little one loves these book as well, we read them together and she loves learning about animals with these books.

This book was a little challenging, so I helped her with this one.  Lots of big vocabulary words, as well as a smaller text size than most beginner level readers.

My little one loves watching PBS so it was great that this book was a freebie as well.  I absolutely LOVE that it is bilingual.  She read the English while I read the Spanish.

We haven't read this one yet, but I picked it up anyway as one day she will be reading chapter books with less pictures.  Not sure about the topic though, we haven't discussed death, even animal death, but hey it was free.

This is a chapter book with lots of black and white illustrations, we are reading this one chapter at a time.  So far its a cool little story.

The summer is over and it was nice to get these free books.  My little girl is only 3 years old and is reading on a 1st grade level, so you know I am buy books left and right.  This program helped me save some money for the summer.

Sex and Breastfeeding

This weekend I was discussing nursing with friends and sex came up in the discussion.  I found it odd that some women have to stop nursing because their partner has an issue with it, as it relates to the bedroom.  So glad that has never been an issue for me.  After the discussion I got online and came across two breastfeeding headlines that are on totally opposite sides of the fence.  First, a dad writes an article venting about how seeing his wife nurse their 5 year old son turns him off sexually.  (See article here)

On the other hand, another father says that latching on and nursing during sex has cured his erection problems.  (See video here)

What are you thoughts?  Have you ever had this discussion with friends?  Has breastfeeding ever been an issue positive or negative in the bedroom?

Teach Me How to Dougie Cover/Parody

Had to post this, saw it several times in my facebook newsfeed, shot to every effort to promote breastfeeding!

More Breastfeeding Hip Hop!

So I ran into another breastfeeding Hip Hop anthem :-) Tell me what you think, cool or corny?  I am always happy to see educational material permeated in music whether its US history, Algebra or health related.  But I always wonder, would you bump this in your car?