Kelly Rowland...

...is a mahogany berry. She has had her career ups and downs, but she has continually spoken out against the colorism that is prevalent in the entertainment industry. She has said that magazines have refused to put her on their covers because women that are her shade simply do not sell magazines. They have said that buyers do not find her relatable. Because darker skinned women do not buy magazines, right?

Of course, we all know that this is the same lame excuse that they have used for DECADES to keep the beauty standard the same. If we want to see women who look like us then we have to demand it. We have to demand to see it in film, television, and magazines. How? There are many avenues. But we have to decide on an action plan and ACT!

What I find interesting is that Kelly has reportedly found major success in the UK, while she still struggles to find popularity in the U.S. Some say that it is because her music is lack luster. While this may be true, there are many "artists" out there who create bad music AND their music still sells millions. Clearly, Kelly's struggles have more to them than just bad music. It has to do with a lack of management and also, I feel, a lack of other pop stars that look like her. If you think about it, where are all of the brown skinned pop stars? If you try to do pop you are put into a corner and expected to do "black music." But if you do, this music will only make you seem average because you are black and have done what is expected. It is a catch 22.

However, if you are white and do average black music, then you are considered edgy. Is Fergie truly edgy or is she just white. I think she has a good voice, but there is very little that is interesting about her. If she was black, I think she would still be just another face in the crowd.

All of our Black female superstars, I mean the ones that are leading the pack, are a lighter complexion. Sure, the U.K. will accept anything as music and love it. But the U.K. also doesn't have the colorist issues that the U.S. has. Hopefully, with the new management Kelly has she will be able to make her mark in the U.S. And become a classy representation of dark skinned women. Think of it like this, our daughters need someone to look up to. Someone they consider attractive, someone who looks like them.

Kelly Rowland...con't

What I Think Men Like

First I would like to ask for forgiveness, I still struggle with the formatting of this blog so bear with me please. In my last post I wrote that four men had asked me out during that week. This was certainly more than had been calling in the previous weeks. I would say that before I had been averaging about one man every two weeks. What made the difference?

That particular week I was wearing a skirt and high heels. It was amazing! It almost didn't even matter how my hair looked, or that I was wearing no makeup. The men came calling! And even though only four guys asked me out, I notice that I was receiving attention from all types of men, not just Black men either. I think it is because most women do not wear dresses or skirts as much as they used to. I think that men secretly, and not so secretly, long for the days when a man was a man and a woman was a woman.

Of course, we ladies know that those days are long gone and that we will continue to enjoy the equalities we have. We Black women also know that our history has always been to work outside the home, so most never had any of those at home privileges that other women enjoyed.

My point is that wearing a skirt reminds a man that you are a woman. It is one of the few things that is strictly a woman's domain, unless of course he is Scottish or a cross-dresser…the same thing goes for heels.

I think the key is in looking lady-like and almost a bit understated, like sexy without meaning to be. That seems to get men every time because then they feel like it is something that they (only) are picking up on. It helps if you look happy (read light-hearted) and innocent.

I don't know what it is about men, but they always seem to go for the innocent look. We have all had trials and tribulations, but we do not have to wear them on our face! So, try it! Look happy, open, and satisfied with your life! Grab some sexy but classy heels, an elegant skirt, some stockings, and get out there! I'm sure it will make a difference than if you were just wearing jeans.

Oh, and it is hard to look sexy if you are in pain. So, go for the sexiest but classiest heels that you can find that also happen to be COMFORTABLE.

If you can not find comfy heels, then bring flats, wear them at your desk or around your office, then if you are at a place where a large amount of people are sure to see you, wear your heels.