Unfortunately, fangirl behavior can cloud reality when this space becomes how all of life is coped with. For some when life gets hard watch your favorite K-drama…when depressed turn on BTS. I can definitely understand why one would do it; I admit if my morning is rough BTS is a happy encouraging go too. They have been a wonderful addition to my current playlists. However, some of us tend to overlook issues regarding race and racial appropriation when they happen. Furthermore, in this new found love of Korean men…we end up trashing Black men without cause. We can love the culture and its entertainment while still being honest about the state of the world and keeping our identity.

While I love cultures, I tend to stay away from artists that commit the appropriation crimes. If there is an issue whereby there is true ignorance, and that artist does the work to be better humans and that is reflected in their medium of art…I can forgive. However, the blatant appropriation with no regard to the feelings of the people that support your work is unacceptable. We need to be fair in this. If the behavior is in appropriate and disrespectful when we are dealing with White people…then it is the same for People of Color all over the world. If we are not fair across the board, we are sending a message that it is okay for some to not value our culture…this will never be okay as it further chips at respect. I for one am not a Black Pink fan for this very reason…I can’t abide the constant appropriation issue with what looks like no intention to fix the disrespectful behavior. Even if it’s your favorite artist and you choose to continue listening, it is important to be honest about the problematic situation. It’s known that even amongst our artists there are those that choose to separate the music from the individual. However, some of them can admit the individual is toxic and a terrible person. The same situation applies to other groups if you choose to keep listening.

It is important to understand yes there are those that are racist within the groups of whose culture you love. If you go visit those cultures, you may have encounters that remind you of this trust. No, it is not everyone…but again this is about being honest. We cannot equate all the people of a particular group to just what we see in the art of a few. This must also be considered when looking at men. Every Korean man is not the actor you love in the K-dramas. The idea that other groups of men are automatically better than Black men as a whole is a dangerous false narrative to feed yourself. There is good and bad in every group yes but remember this when you scold Black Men for this position regarding other groups of women. If you like what you like there is no need to drag Black men into that. Black men know our plight better than others because they too live it…this is still the truth.

Enjoy engaging in other cultures and meeting the people. Enjoy the art forms if they make you happy. I absolutely love music from all over the world, and it is the same with film & TV for me. However, I am not so far off into any fan girl behavior that I forget who I am, and the truth of the world I live in. These two things can exist in the same safe and both of them be true.

Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James

May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.

Granted, my thoughts on diss situations in Hip-Hop and what we’re willing to fuss about is a discussion for another piece. I realized a lot of sistahs are outraged that that Drake decided he’d come for these black women; to be fair there are also many black men that are speaking out, as the are outraged as well. I can’t lie; sistahs my first thought really was, are we surprised?

Let me give my disclaimer, Drake is not one of my favorite artists. I have a handful of songs that I like by him, but I’ve never been able to say there is a Drake album that I just love in totality. My issue with him as an artist has always been what at times appeared to be his misrepresentation of himself. He appears at times to be this hard rapper, but that’s not what we’re dealing with. Granted, I grew up in an era of Hip-Hop where the passive aggressive approach to dissing just wasn’t the way.

Drake is very passive aggressive and its weak to me. He rarely will say a name, and in responding to the diss on Twitter Megan Thee Stallion would make mention of this. Drake as been crying about women for a very long time everyone, and now he’s gone from crying to throwing a fit. It’s not cool, it’s disrespectful, and downright vexing.

I always figured it was only a matter of time before Drake stopped crying about the woman that hurt him, and start taking diss shots. Now, one could say Drake is defending his friend…interesting. However, even if that is the situation there is a criminal case that is currenting active. Why is he speaking on this matter? I’m fair and believe no one should be shooting people…so did he ask his friend why a gun was pulled in the first place? I mean friends should hold friends accountable right? You get where I’m going with that. If you think this water isn’t murky enough, why is he in Serena William’s business? Why is he concerned about what Ice Spice is going? There is so much that one could unpack…if they cared to spend the energy, and clearly, I’m one of those that do not.

Throughout his career, I feel Drake was simply given too many passive aggressive passes. Now he’s finally gone too far. For me, too far was long ago. All I ask is that we don’t be surprised by one of the kings of the passive aggressive whining. If you think I’m being to hard on him…just go back listen to those albums with your current state of outrage. Though it’s on the list of few songs I like by Drake, my introduction to him was “Brand New”. Truth be told he hasn’t changed much. His disrespect of these black women is upsetting, but sistahs unfortunately he hasn’t surprised me yet.

Staff Writer; Adonicka Michele

As we speak there is a Noise Ordinance battle waging in New Orleans. That might be very difficult to understand, but it’s what happens when gentrification tries to take home. It’s what happens when too many people move to a place, they visited for a fix but didn’t realize the fix wasn’t seasonal…it’s life. Food will always be available all over this city, as will the unique drinks. New Orleans isn’t a city you come to for bland food, and it’s not a place you move to for “peace and quiet”. In our city its “peace and music”. Brass bands can break out playing at any time. Kids might be practicing their instruments outside.

As schools prepare for parade seasons the neighborhoods get a free show as the marching bands practice through the neighborhoods around the schools. This is our city. Music flows nonstop.  This isn’t something that you will only see for Mardi Grass, Jazz Fest, Essence, and the Bayou Classic. This is our culture, and way of life. It is understandable that there are people that require quiet for peace and relaxation. They like their festival seasons and don’t expect all the fuss on a regular basis. I respect the feeling, and there is a simple fix.

You might be thinking that a stronger enforced Noise Ordinance is the simple fit. No, don’t move to New Orleans is the simple fix. Leaving New Orleans is another available option. The problem is this, the culture should not have to change because someone decided they are more important. There are quieter places in the metropolitan area…move there. There comes a point whereby we must stop asking Black people to adjust their culture and spirit for the comfort of others. It is not fair, and we do not receive the same accommodations when we move to areas dominated by other cultures.

New Orleans is not the city you moved from with a bit of extra fun. It is its own space with a unique culture and Spirit…if it changed in this aspect, it would no longer be New Orleans and that is simply unacceptable. I hope the current Mayor and administration understand the citizens will fight for the Spirit of our City. Just as they had no business trying to put City Hall in Congo Square…they have no business trying to silence the Spirit of our city. Yes, that’s what music, food, dance, language and so much more it…its culture, it’s the Spirit of New Orleans. This culture has been held together by us since the beginning…even when no one wanted to credit our people. Its pretty obvious that the Spirits of our Ancestors are in the ground of this city. The horns, percussion, second lines, and local live music are a part of our way of life. We don’t need an ordinance…we need to be respected.

Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James

May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.

Your music career is more likely to take off in the right direction when you concentrate on a few areas in particular. If you try to take on too much or spread yourself too thin, you risk becoming worn out and losing motivation to go after your dreams. Get excited about the possibilities and opportunities that are out there for you when you put your mind to it.

1. Understand Your Goals

You can elevate your music career by outlining and understanding your goals and what you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Make sure they’re lofty but also realistic and reasonable at the same time. It’s an excellent way to ensure what you’re doing each day is having a positive impact on your journey to becoming a well-known musician. Write them down and be specific about how you’re going to achieve them so you don’t easily veer off track and get distracted.

2. Get the Right Equipment & Practice

You must have the right equipment when you’re an up and coming musician. While it’ll be an investment on your part, it’s the only way to get better and show others you’re serious. You’re going to need it to have for practicing and taking to rehearsals. For example, if you play the keyboard piano, Buy beats, or figure out if you want a hard or soft keyboard case so you can protect your equipment and make sure it stays in prime condition. You’ll want to set up a small studio in your home if possible where you can retreat to for concentrating on getting better at your skill.

3. Network & Secure A Mentor

Another opportunity for elevating your music career is to build your network and put yourself out there. You never know what might happen, you could have the chance to meet with music publishing companies. Get to know people in the industry and who can help you get your foot in the door and get your name in front of the right individuals. Also, secure a mentor in the music industry that can work with you to improve your skills and prepare for the studio, tell you about which role models to study and see live, and guide you in making wise decisions about your career. It’ll be helpful to have someone who you can bounce ideas off of and trust when you’re feeling lost or unsure of how to proceed.

4. Build A Portfolio

It’s worth your time to build a portfolio of your work that you can show to music industry leaders and talent scouts. You not only want to offer them a chance to see you play or sing live but also to send them recordings and videos of your musical talents. Have them readily available for sharing in case someone asks for them on a whim. It’s a wise idea to set up your social media pages and profiles as well so people can easily search and find you and examples of your music and work online.

Staff Writer; Latasha Brown

I did not have many friends as a child, and black girls as friends were even less. So, Jill and Erykah helped me through my childhood. I have always wanted to see them live since I watched Dave Chapelle’s Block Party movie. Now, I can see them. For FREE?!  I was completely here for this event.

I watched on Instagram for three hours as these ladies expressed love and adoration for each other while playing songs from their lengthy repertoire.  Jill even continued playing a song when Erykah was cut off due to technical issues. For once, I felt like a live stream was worth my time.  It has been a while since I have watched something on social media that made me feel…warm and fuzzy.

Watching these two incredibly talented ladies stand in their own lights and shine with each other made me realize that it does happen.  It is possible for us to get along.  By us, I mean black women.  We can actually support each other and independently be successful.  We can actually tolerate each other for more than 3 minutes in front of a camera and not fight breaks out.  We can actually have people from all races, nationalities,  socioeconomic status, and sexualities be on one accord with something.  In the words of Whitney Houston in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, “It’s possible!” I am incredibly joyful that it is.

Beautiful black women…take heed to this heavenly experience on earth. Jill Scott and Erykah Badu proved to over 700,000 viewers that love and positivity are more powerful than division and slander. We do not have to compete when we can all create seats at the table.  Hell, we can build the table and seats at the table.  Yes, we have to fight twice as hard to get what we want. Why can’t we all fight together? Why can’t we all win together?

Every season of Love & Hip Hop, regardless of the city,  will lead you to believe that African American women who have some type of money are wig-wearing, backstabbing, brawling human beings. I’m happy to report that only some of us are like that especially when “Knuck If You Buck” comes on at a party. The rest of us work,  wrap our hair every night, and send texts of affirmation to our friends before going to sleep.  We love each other despite our faults. On May 9, 2020, Erykah Badu and Jill Scott made an incredible statement.  They taught the world that black women are not just our anger. We are our voices. We are our beauty. We are our children.  We are each other.  Society, social media, and entertainment will brainwash you into believing we are better separated.  No, we are not.  We can be ourselves, and we can do it with each other.  So, right on Jilly from Philly & Ms. Badu. Right on.

Staff Writer; J. W. Bella

May also follow this talented sister online over at; JWB Writes.

Fortunately, I am not the only one retreating to the world of notes and melodies in a time of crisis. DJ battles on Instagram Live.  Erykah Badu concerts.  Spotify playlists created by cities.  All music.  While we may not be able to depend on government, society, or media, the one place we can go to find sanity in the midst of chaos is to notes formulated by patterns and beats into melodic tones and rhythm. What makes this art form crucial to our current situation?  I took the time ask people for their reasons.

For some, it is a constant form of connection to others:  “It’s my constant refuge….Plus my garage DJ set on Facebook was cathartic. The virtual contact and sharing did my spirit good.”  Attorney Carlos Prudhomme expressed. Music is something that has the ability to connect people in a way that is not hinder by a virus or pandemic.  We all find joy in knowing there is a song that we love, and others love too.

Music is also a way for some of us to stay stable in turbulent times: “I have to say music has played a notable role during this time. From gospel music waking me to wide of variety of songs that help through service. Heck, I even made a playlist that describes my shift.” Culinary Artist Brandon Anthony explained. We take time to cultivate playlist and albums that help us make it through the good, the bad, and the ugly. Business manager, Jeremy Neal, shared similar sentiments: “…For me, music is the equivalent of aromatherapy. Allows me to mellow out and helps me think through things as this pandemic continues…”  We may not be able to see professional therapists physically, but we are finding a way to mentally stay at peace.

Work has been easier at home when there is music to glide people from hour to hour of sitting stationary to stay safe. “I listen to music all the time. It was my therapy to get through the work day.” Insurance Adjuster Ebonee Coutee explained.  Sometimes, we are not going to work with the best attitude, and music allows us a chance to calm the storm before dealing with others.  Britainee Johnson, a Pharmacy Assistant, and deals with families every day during this pandemic, and music has helped a lot:  Music helps me regardless. I listen to music every day at work. How I am feeling determines the music I play, but it definitely helps me get through the day.”

It does not matter the style, the lyrics, or the rhythm.  Music for us is music that is timeless. It is soothing.  It is a place of sanity in the midst of media frenzies, toilet paper wipe outs, and stupidity running rampant. It is our peace.

Staff Writer; J. W. Bella

May also follow this talented sister online over at; JWB Writes.

India has a song called “Back to the Middle”. In the song, each story Arie tells has the person remember who they are and remember their worth.  They have to come back to the middle to remember who they are.

So where is the middle?  Answer: Your Core Values.

These words or statements remind you of what makes you who you are.  These statements help you to remember your personality. It helps you to remember your light. It helps you to remember you.  How does one come up with these values in the midst of a world that wants you to take advice from life coaches, social media therapists, and various religions? Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine the answers.

Question 1:  What do your actions say about you?

Yeah…Yeah…Yeah… “Actions speak louder than words.”  That is true in some cases. In other cases, actions create the words we are.  Examine your actions with friends, family, and at work.  Then think: what does this say about me?  Do you like confronting people or do you speak more behind their back?  Do you solve other people’s issues like you solve your own?  Once you start to determine answers, turn them into statements that express who you are.

Question 2:  How do I look at family and affection?

Do not let this society turn you into a pessimist about love and affection. YOU NEED IT!  You need to know where you get it from and why.  It really does drive how you accept compliments,  positivity, and so many other things.  Asking this question will give you a statement of comfort when everything is on fire and you desire to blow everything up.

Question 3:  What do I believe about me?

This will be the most difficult question to answer. You are going to want to lie in order to feel better, but this is not one of those times to feel better. It is a time to be honest with yourself and admit the good, the bad, and the yucky.  The real answers that you admit from this question will be core values that will sustain you when you or others question who you truly are.  Instead of you hauling off and choking someone, you will remember that may not be who you really are.

If you are wondering why you do not have these, it is not your fault.  Recent generations have not had very clear core values established for various reasons.  It has been kind of difficult to lay out values when you are constantly being judged or criticized for what you believe.  That does not mean you can not start today with coming back to your middle. Come back to your core values.

Staff Writer; J. W. Bella

May also follow this talented sister online over at; JWB Writes.

There was usually a grandparent keeping watch not only over their own grandchildren, but also casting a steely eyed look out over all the children from the local neighbourhood. They didn’t miss a thing, and kids expected a punishment if they stepped out of line. 

Opportunities and finances were limited and children very much had to find ways to amuse themselves. This meant they were creative, they made things, which in turn would keep them occupied for hours.  There was no instant, quick fix solution to idleness, boredom or lack of things to do. But kids were still happy, and as everyone was more or less in the same boat, nobody felt disadvantaged.

Now things are radically different. We have Social Media to thank for our boys and girls locking themselves away for hours at a time in their rooms. Instead of interacting face to face with their peer group they are communicating through technology.  Those same hours that generations before had filled with high spirits, creativity, adventures, and making memories, are now just spent alone in a room, being ‘sociable’ in an entirely different way. Is this really progress, or a backward step? A question that nobody really can answer.

But if our kids are going to kick back in their rooms, what can we do to encourage them to try something a little different, to not follow the crowd and spend hours on Social Media, but instead, to be creative, to learn, and to be a little different in a good way. 

Kids need inspiration from people they look up to. They need to find their ‘thing’ and find ways to make that thing into something they can aspire to being good at. 

Music

Music isn’t just about playing an instrument or singing in a choir. Yes it’s true, inspirational singers often started their musical journey at church in the gospel choir, but equally, nowadays, young people are being inspired by more contemporary musicians, who started out making sounds in their bedrooms and are now household names across America. 

Turning their bedroom into a full blown studio can be a costly exercise, but if you want to lay down some beats you can do no better than to incorporate an alesis vmini 25-key portable keyboard controller  into their room set up.  

Art

Many young people have a creative side to their art, and this is something that can be done in the peace and quiet of their own rooms. Encourage your sons and daughters in their attempts. Art can be anything from cartoon’s to caricatures, landscapes to portraits. There is so much inspiration out there. 

Whenever your children show the slightest interest in something, be positive, nurture their interest.  True, it may come to nothing, but you never know! 

Staff Writer; Shelia Love

But what happens when she opens her mouth to speak?  Will they actually listen?

If we are basing the answers to these questions off of stats,  they would inform us that listening will probably not happen. Catherine Griffin’s article, “Why Women Talk More Than Men: Language Protein Uncovered”, reveals that women “talk almost three times as much as men. In fact, an average woman notches up to 20000 words in a day, which is 13000 more than the average man.”  I hope Jodeci’s beautiful woman is not a motormouth.

There can be a resourceful amount of reasons why more words come out of the mouths of women than men.  But it is difficult to know if hearing is happening or listening is happening. There is a difference beyond what Webster might say in their dictionary. So is it possible to hear someone and not listen? Absolutely. It is part of a sick problem that is cursing men and women of color.  How do we cure this disease of talking at each other so we can build a strong foundation for future relationships?

I listened to an interview with Zozibini Tunzi, Miss Universe 2019, where she discussed her platform of Gender-based violence. When asked what is the best way to combat this issue,  she suggested that it starts with a conversation between men and women.  Wow. Shocking. It is shocking for a woman to suggest conversations that involve men and women. It is shocking, and yet it is a great starting point for communication. The first step to mending the listening bridge between men and women starts with letting go of historical stereotypes and communicating openly about difficult topics.   Society since birth has been pushing us to “stick with our own”:  girls play with girls. Boys play with boys. IF you are a girl with boys, you are presumed to be a tomboy.  If you a boy who plays with girls, you are presumed to be gay.  These completely wrong and archaic ways of thinking make it so difficult for men and women to build a strong platonic relationship. This means it is even harder to build conversations that are real and genuine and not just about sex.  Once we make an effort to discuss sensitive topics with both males and females in attendance,  we move to the most difficult part of the process: listening.

Living Single was an awesome TV show from the 1990s with six different characters: 4 women and 2 men.  These characters lived in a brownstone in the Brooklyn-area of New York as they attempted to work careers,  create romantic relationships, and not kill their roommates.  I was watching this show, and I noticed that the women and men on this show were willing to talk about almost anything in front of the opposite sex openly.  They also could express their opinion openly.  Yes, someone may not like what they said, but they still respected and trusted them as a person.  They allow the person to talk, and everyone else listened.  They did not just hear. They listened. The next step to fixing a lot of what is wrong with communication between men and women is listening.  It is not just being in the room and hearing what the person has said. It is hearing, understanding, processing, interpreting, and then responding.  This multi-step process appears to be very difficult, and it really is not. It is not if everyone learns to do it effectively.  Will it take time? Yes.  Will you sometimes not like what you are listening to?  Probably.  But it is dangerous to only hear what you want. It is dangerous to be one-sided in thought and action because it makes you naive. It makes you emotionally distraught when things do not go your way. It makes you close-minded, and if you do not think close-mindedness is dangerous, take a look at social media AND the US government. Allow yourselves to listen and not just hear. It can assist you with the next part of the bridge: empathy.

Hallmark and other card companies make Sympathy cards for when something catastrophic happens in the lives of others.  They never make Empathy cards. Why?  Empathy will never cost as much as sympathy because sympathy is emotion-driven. Empathy is not.  The last part of building effective communication between men and women is the ability to understand a person’s point of view, but not feel sorry for them. This is also known as empathy.  Listening effectively can not happen when you are super happy or extremely angry because your mind is more focused on emotion than understanding.  You are super happy about winning a new truck that you do not hear that your lady friend just got fired for her hairstyle.  You are so upset that the Cowboys lost that you did not hear that your friend was wrongfully pulled over by the police.  Emotions have to take a backseat when you are attempting to listen with the intention to build to something better.

Jodeci started with the best intentions in their song asking for a gorgeous woman to simply having a conversation to build to something greater.  I wonder what happens, however, after she comes and talks to him. Will he hear or will he listen?  Will he accept what she says even if he does not agree? Will he practice empathy?  Who knows.  If he does, he is one step closer to closing the gap between men and women that has plagued us for too long.

Staff Writer; J. W. Bella

May also follow this talented sister online over at; JWB Writes.

Too often the crime rate during events is attributed to natives when there are tourists that come to the city with the sole purpose of letting loose in every way imaginable. I understand we are a laid back people that know how to have a great time, but let’s be reasonable. For as much as I love celebrations in my city…some of my excitement is stripped when tourist crap on the place I call home in the name of a good time. Mind you it is also a very hypocrite action because if we were to return the favor there would be a fight.

I’m reminded of this recent Bayou Classic…many people came and had a great time. There was an electrifying step show, a parade, then one of the most intense Bayou Classic games many had seen in years. After the game, of course, people took the party to Bourbon Street. The problem is a shooting broke at around 3am, and headlines read as if the shorting was the result of the Bayou Classic which had ended several hours ago.  The shooting injured 10 people, and the discussion regarding New Orleans crime ran rampant. It was as if the people of the city can’t do anything with hurting or killing one another…this was the talk only to find out that the shooters were not from New Orleans, nor the Metropolitan area. The shooters opened fired after a wonderful family event while, until their identities were released, New Orleans were yet again ridiculed for violence. This is not to say natives don’t need to come together to make the city safer, but this can be said for many places in this country. we are not an anomaly when it comes to violence…but we are a place where people come and do their dirt.

If you want to come to our city and have a wonderful time by all means do so…we welcome you. However, we never welcome the lack of regard and decency you bring with you. Natives are not the people you see turning Bourbon and other streets into a toilet…literally. There is a limit to the freedom, so don’t be surprised when NOPD puts you in handcuffs for indecency.  Don’t make it seem like you are a target and the city just don’t love you.

We love our city, its culture, and our celebrations. I shouldn’t have to consider staying home because I don’t want to encounter the tourist that in the name of fun crap on my place I call home. If you are having some kind of feud it would be best to find a non-violent way to resolve such, and please do not bring it with you to New Orleans. As Mardi Gras approaches I’m still excited and looking forward to a great season. I just hope natives enjoy themselves without the violence, and tourist refrain from bring violence with them and forgetting how to use a restroom.

Staff Writer; Chelle’ St James

May also connect with this sister via Twitter; ChelleStJames.