My mother, Debra Brown, ascended into heaven on January, 8th 2023. When I was a young warthog (Pumbaa’s voice), my mother used to call me Simba. She always told me the story about how she called me Simba by mistake in public one day and an older lady overheard her. The lady looked at my mom and smiled with endearment. My mother felt as if this woman understood exactly why… Read More »The Circle of Life: Grieving Advice
My best friend and I used to laugh at the phrase “new year, new me.” I think it was more so because some people make it seem as if the one minute between 11:59 pm on December 31st and 12:00 am on January 1st will miraculously make a difference in their life. For some, it does but, for most people, it only lasts a few hours, days, weeks, or maybe… Read More »New Year, New Me: Setbacks & Action
It is next to impossible to meet someone new with limited social events and constant efforts to take proper social distancing precautions. Thus everyone is flocking to online dating as a means to meet their soulmate or at least find a date. Even celebrities are resorting to online dating for romance. I was watching the Wendy Williams show the other day and she mentioned using online dating since her recent… Read More »Find You a Boo During COVID: Online Dating Tips
This year was a bad year for most. There were many deaths, hospitalizations, jobs lost and more. I bet last year this time no one would have even imagined what was coming up. If you are reading this praise God you have made it through this year. I’m sure it wasn’t easy and it came with lots of turmoil, but you are here. We are here to see another day… Read More »Uncertainty: Tips on Moving Past 2020
I love looking around and seeing my people making strides to be better and do better for themselves, their families and communities. This is why I love to share resources and information that I know will be of assistance to others. A little over a year ago I was able to purchase a home through a Fair & Affordable Homeownership program with the financial assistance of a First Time Homebuyer… Read More »Girl, You Can Buy Your First Home Too
The other day I walked into work with my keys in my hand and a co-worker bust out laughing and asked “Are you an undercover janitor with all of those keys?” I chuckled, not because I thought the joke was funny, but for the mere fact that things have different meanings to people. While he connected my ring of endless keys to a janitor, I connected it to the accomplishment… Read More »My Keys: From Homeless to homeowner In Less Than Two Years
In times like these where stress is high, the future is unknown and we still have to deal with everyday problems, it’s important for us to keep positive mental health. I don’t know about you, but I definitely get anxious every now and then. I start to stress, panic or worry. When I talk to others I see they are experiencing the same emotions. This pandemic is really taking a… Read More »A Black Girl’s Guide: 5 Tips to Manage Stress During COVID-19
A few days ago as I stood on the line to get into my local Shoprite supermarket, a lady in front of me sparked conversation. We had just witnessed this younger guy being rude to an elderly lady at the beginning of the line. He was trying to push his way into the supermarket first. The lady in front of me said “I guess it’s just survival of the fittest.… Read More »It’s Levels to the Shit: COVID-19 in the Black Community
I was super curious to know my ethnicity results ever since I shipped off my DNA kit to Ancestry. The company informs you that it will take up to six weeks to obtain your results, which in my case was accurate. It actually came a few days earlier than I expected. One feature that I liked about Ancestry DNA was the text notifications. They send you multiple text messages throughout… Read More »African Bloodline: My Ancestry Results
Identity formation is a crucial part of building your self-esteem. It is easier to understand your identity when you are a part of a larger group and you are able to discover your role and/or connection to that group. That connection gives you a sense of belonging and pride, which in turns help build your identity and self-esteem; this is why it is necessary for us to understand our heritage… Read More »I am African: Identity Formation
Are you single? Getting older by the minute? Wondering why you haven’t met that special man? I just entered my thirties and I look around at all of the single ladies, including myself, who are looking for the secret to finding that special man; the man that will love them despite their flaws; the man who sees their potential and supports them 100% of the way; the man who surprises… Read More »All My Single Ladies: 2 Things You Can Do to Get a Man
This past weekend I curled up on my couch and watched Ava DuVernay’s newest production “When They See Us.” As I watched, it pained me to know what I was seeing wasn’t fiction. It was a real life encounter of five boys who were wrongfully convicted of brutally beating and raping a white woman in central park. Racist ideologies and stereotypes are often used as grounds to lockup or even… Read More »How They See Them: Black Men in America
Mental illness in the black community is real. By no means am I a therapist or psychologist but over the years I’ve meet people who I really believe have mental health issues. They are high functioning so, they appear mentally stable at first glance but as you get to know them better you start to see things that are off. To them it’s normal but from the outside looking in… Read More »Don’t Call Me Crazy: Mental Health in the Black Community
I entered college knowing I wanted to study accounting. During my first semester I was recruited to join the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) campus chapter. Before joining I did research on the organization’s history, mission, vision and logo. Their logo was stood out to me because it had a yellow background with an image of one black hand pulling up another black hand. The wording on the logo… Read More »Lifting as we Climb: The Nipsey Way
Looking back on the last few years I realized I allowed other people to predict my mood and happiness. I would wake up in the morning with a smile on my face and one negative call from my daughter’s father and poof my whole day was ruined. One rude comment from a client and my blood was boiling. If things didn’t turn out the way I planned I felt defeated.… Read More »Meditation: The POWER Tool
Next Sunday is my daughter, Zanai’s 6th birthday. Every year I let her take a birthday photo shoot based on the theme of her party. This year I chose to take her to Disney world for her birthday, so her pictures are a Disney theme. As I started to plan her photo shoot, I asked her which Disney princess she wanted to be. After thinking for a while she said… Read More »I Want To Be a Princess Too: Representation in Children’s Entertainment
Photography by Alisha Camille Artistry by Shellsink I am big on pictures and capturing every magical moment of my life. Those moments turn into memories that take you back in time to the feeling you had that very moment the camera clicked. Those happy thoughts, that just put a smile on your face. Not only do you get drawn back to those feelings, but the picture itself speaks a million… Read More »Introduction: Beautiful Black Queen
I am sure most of us know or have heard of Ayesha Curry. She is a Canadian-American actress, celebrity cook, author, entrepreneur and the wife of basketball star Steph Curry. I know many times I’ve seen cute pictures of them and their kids floating around social media and thought to myself “what a cute family.” They are fairly young and have been married for about eight years. Last month in… Read More »The Curry’s: Building a Family Foundation
R Kelly’s recent indictment and his interview with Gayle King comes about one month after the release of Lifetime’s docuseries called “Surviving R Kelly.” The testimonies on the series touched my heart. I remember turning on my television to watch part one. Well into that episode my jaw was on the floor, tears were in my eyes, anger in my soul and my heart shredded with every word that the… Read More »“Surviving R Kelly” – Women & Sexual Abuse in the Black Community
Recently there have been several talks about sexual assaults against children and teens. We are seeing it happen in places we expect our children to be safe like school, church and even in our own home. I turn on the news and I see stories about a pastor having sex with his little girl, boyfriends going to jail for sexually abusing their girlfriend’s daughter and priests in the Catholic Church… Read More »Protect Our Children: Child Abuse