This was very fun! I'm glad I was able to do this and give thanks to those who have been a major key in my radio career. Check out my 10 Questions interview with All Access
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Beautiful Skin
I'm not sure how many times I want to throw up when I see women of color (any race) who hate their skin. It's no secret that skin bleaching is on the rise, it's always been an issue in the darker skin community. We have years, decades, probably even from the beginning of time have been taught that dark is bad. From all the villains wearing a mask to whispers of nightfall bringing terror, to shaming darker skinned people and the list goes on.
As for me, I love my skin despite being told on many occasions that I shouldn't. I love the lotion I wear, I love not having to get skin cancer just to get a few shades darker, I love the hate that it brings. There is a fear of the dark because something strong typically happens and can overtake you or a situation. I understand, and I am proud of what I was born with.
Logging on today, I see Lil Kim's latest Instagram picture (CLICK HERE) she has been one emcee that I loved when growing up. Her unapologetic nature, sexiness, sass and rhymes to match. Now she is one of many celebrities I don't wish to follow or keep up with. For some reason, I feel as if she hates her skin. Why is she getting lighter and blonder with each picture? I have so many questions, but instead of asking them; I would rather make sure I accept my skin as beautiful. I pray that as I grow up, I don't let the industry or European standards of beauty get to me. If I am blessed with children one day, I pray I have a little girl and that she loves her skin and everything that she is.
I hear younger children hate on each other; I have grown friends who hashtag "team light skin" and "team dark skin" thinking that it's cute and funny when in reality it creates an even bigger divide between us as people. It's sickening; it sucks, but that's our reality. As for me personally, I cannot find shame in my skin, despite being told that I should. I've been told "wow you are pretty for a black girl you must be mixed", I've been told that I think I'm better than the other black girls because I'm "lighter" (this is from the African-American community), I've been told that I'm very talented, but they want someone who looks different for this radio or TV job (when I go back and check, they hire a Caucasian woman with bleach blonde hair ad no talent). Am I upset? No, instead I am grateful and thank God for who I am and how he made me. I thank God for the strength I have in order to keep going in this crazy, superficial world I live in, and work in.I thank God for the trails because I hate things that are easy, things that come easy tend to be gone just as fast.
Okay, I believe i'm done with my rant. I just want you to know that your skin is beautiful no matter the shade.
<3 Ebony
As for me, I love my skin despite being told on many occasions that I shouldn't. I love the lotion I wear, I love not having to get skin cancer just to get a few shades darker, I love the hate that it brings. There is a fear of the dark because something strong typically happens and can overtake you or a situation. I understand, and I am proud of what I was born with.
Logging on today, I see Lil Kim's latest Instagram picture (CLICK HERE) she has been one emcee that I loved when growing up. Her unapologetic nature, sexiness, sass and rhymes to match. Now she is one of many celebrities I don't wish to follow or keep up with. For some reason, I feel as if she hates her skin. Why is she getting lighter and blonder with each picture? I have so many questions, but instead of asking them; I would rather make sure I accept my skin as beautiful. I pray that as I grow up, I don't let the industry or European standards of beauty get to me. If I am blessed with children one day, I pray I have a little girl and that she loves her skin and everything that she is.
I hear younger children hate on each other; I have grown friends who hashtag "team light skin" and "team dark skin" thinking that it's cute and funny when in reality it creates an even bigger divide between us as people. It's sickening; it sucks, but that's our reality. As for me personally, I cannot find shame in my skin, despite being told that I should. I've been told "wow you are pretty for a black girl you must be mixed", I've been told that I think I'm better than the other black girls because I'm "lighter" (this is from the African-American community), I've been told that I'm very talented, but they want someone who looks different for this radio or TV job (when I go back and check, they hire a Caucasian woman with bleach blonde hair ad no talent). Am I upset? No, instead I am grateful and thank God for who I am and how he made me. I thank God for the strength I have in order to keep going in this crazy, superficial world I live in, and work in.I thank God for the trails because I hate things that are easy, things that come easy tend to be gone just as fast.
Okay, I believe i'm done with my rant. I just want you to know that your skin is beautiful no matter the shade.
<3 Ebony
Friday, April 22, 2016
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Prince the King
As I wrapped up my Prince tribute with "Lets Go Crazy" I can't help but feel overwhelmed with the mass amounts of texts, tweets and direct messages from people saying they loved and appreciated the Prince tribute. I also am not surprised to see the younger generation ask questions of "who is this?" "this is awesome, can you play more of him?"
Music, good music is indestructible. It lives for plenty of generations and makes anyone feel good. It doesn't matter if it's rock, rap, soul, funk, pop, country the list goes on. Prince, I love him to pieces. I would always joke with my auntie that he's my husband and not hers, I would constantly sing him at work and drive my former coworker Latoya crazy. I also said I wanted to hire him for my wedding just for him to say "Dearly beloved."
One thing I hope people get from his passing is the understanding of real music. The knowledge of the art, word play, love, and pain that creates masterpiece after masterpiece. If you have a great product, stand out a little, have a great sound, it's inevitable that your music and you will live on forever. Look at David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and now Prince (of course the list is way longer than this)
I want artists who are trying to break it in the industry, those who don't truly have their own voice and those just looking around to listen to him. See why Prince is timeless, be daring, take risks, stand out, dress how you feel, wear eyeliner if you want whatever you do be genuine, because being genuine has a sense of longevity and is ultimately timeless and lives past death. I hope that some type of recreation can come from this, it won't be the same as the original, and honestly, I don't want it to be. What I do want, is for that love, daring nature, danger, honesty, heartbreak, the need to breathe and release creative gold and all the other emotions we get from music to come back to life.
My favorite line "I'm not your lover, I"m not your friend. I am something that you'll never comprehend" - Prince "I Would Die for You."
RIP to my favorite artist of all time Prince Roger Nelson 1958-2016
Music, good music is indestructible. It lives for plenty of generations and makes anyone feel good. It doesn't matter if it's rock, rap, soul, funk, pop, country the list goes on. Prince, I love him to pieces. I would always joke with my auntie that he's my husband and not hers, I would constantly sing him at work and drive my former coworker Latoya crazy. I also said I wanted to hire him for my wedding just for him to say "Dearly beloved."
One thing I hope people get from his passing is the understanding of real music. The knowledge of the art, word play, love, and pain that creates masterpiece after masterpiece. If you have a great product, stand out a little, have a great sound, it's inevitable that your music and you will live on forever. Look at David Bowie, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, and now Prince (of course the list is way longer than this)
I want artists who are trying to break it in the industry, those who don't truly have their own voice and those just looking around to listen to him. See why Prince is timeless, be daring, take risks, stand out, dress how you feel, wear eyeliner if you want whatever you do be genuine, because being genuine has a sense of longevity and is ultimately timeless and lives past death. I hope that some type of recreation can come from this, it won't be the same as the original, and honestly, I don't want it to be. What I do want, is for that love, daring nature, danger, honesty, heartbreak, the need to breathe and release creative gold and all the other emotions we get from music to come back to life.
My favorite line "I'm not your lover, I"m not your friend. I am something that you'll never comprehend" - Prince "I Would Die for You."
RIP to my favorite artist of all time Prince Roger Nelson 1958-2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
UPDATE :)
UPDATE on where I'm at with my writing and books:
1st novel "A Crooked Smile" still available and selling strong
I'm revamping and launching my 2nd novel, "I Hate Social Networking" in July 2016!!
I just ordered my 3rd book for proof reading "The Single Chronicles Part 1" (Will be a three part mini series, about 60-100 pages a book, super fun)
AND I have a novel that is completely finished, I can't share details on this one just yet because it's in heavy pitching mode, but it will be released by mid 2017
Lots more to come with my writing adventures, thank you all for the support, encouraging words, criticisms, and love!
<3 Ebony
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