Friday, January 31, 2025
Culture

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The “Black Trend”

Has anyone noticed a new “trend” walking among us? It seems as if we are starting to see styles/trends that we are now having to defend; styles we have been rocking for years, and all of a sudden they went from being “ghetto “ to “urban-chic“.

Really????

For years, Europeans have mimicked black women( that’s also goes with the understanding that yes, we have done the same i.e. “weave”; but that’s another blog). But anyway, these days it seems that our physical features and hairstyles have become more than just a “fad”, but a new way of life for many European celebs.

From Kylie Jenner’s lip challenge; in which young girls were putting their lips in shot glasses in order to make them plump. This weird craze caused many of them to damage their face and lips during the experiment. Since then, in order to make the process safer, lip “plumpers” have been created. Remember, many of these people are after the same lips that they make fun of all of the time. Anybody remember the Jim Crow caricatures where black lips were drawn huge and pink? , Yeah this would be similar behavior, but in reverse .Crazy right?

kylie

Hey but they want to be like us right? So I say we drop them off in the hood or we switch places for a couple of months and give them the same treatment they give us on a daily basis. A taste of their own medicine might change their minds and their lives.

All of this is nothing new because people have been mimicking African Americans for years; even post slavery. I mean where do you think they got all of their ideas from? Egyptians, Native Americans ( i.e. US) because without people of color, America would have never learned how to build, grow, create, or do pretty much anything without blacks and other people of color leading the way.

Now many have accused black women, who wear weaves or straighten their hair, of trying to “be white”. Though, black women have never suffered from any medical injuries from their beauty practices, other than bleaching our hair and skin, which has proven to be damaging. I encourage all Black women to love themselves enough to stop doing these things while trying to please society. When in fact, society wants to be like YOU!

that they would rather succeed at looking like else but have us damage our melanin and hair only to say they created all of our looks.

BYE! Because every black girl has been rocking bantu knots since she could talk, cornrows included so please save us the lies on that. We also have been wearing twists outs we were just putting knockers on them and barrets and bows on the end of them at first.

bantu-knots

Oh and OUR hair locs naturally without adding products on it so to the white people claiming you “loc’d “ your hair no , what you did was put products on it and refrained from washing it again in your life so now its stuck together. So again save us the lies please.

It’s sad we live in a world where people want to be like us but at the same time turn us against each other , the problem is its working for the most part. One day we will turn it around , I still hope so.

-A.C.T.

Instagram : @insomni_act

Twitter: @igothatACTrite

Blog: actspeaks.wordpress.com

Blog: actspicous.tumblr.com

Aqueilla C. Terry, commonly known to many of her followers as “A.C.T” ; is a talented artists of this generation. Born and raised in Richmond, VA is truly a gem of her time. She has been writing for over 10 years as a young child to know a young woman in a world were “words” are her weapon of choice to achieve success. Often considered to be Erykah Badu’s daughter for her way with words, style, presence, music selections and overall persona. A.C.T. is definitely going to take over the world with wide range of creativity. Her ambition is driven by her will to succeed in reaching her goals, but by doing so by remaining herself along the journey. A.C.T. redefines the young black woman by sticking to her beliefs and who she is inside.

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The Gentlemen’s Club has officially gone viral! This is not your normal gentlemen’s club; this club consists of a group of fourth and fifth graders from Thomas E. Kerns Elementary school in Greenville, S.C. Not only are these young men focused on getting good grades, they are also getting schooled on what to wear, how to wear it, and how to use proper etiquette when dining.

CBS National News traveled all the way to Greenville, SC to feature this group of amazing young men and their Gentlemen’s Club.

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The way the program works is the boys all get together every other Friday. These meetings consist of them learning important aspects of everyday life that will affect them, their families, and their communities. These gentlemen learn a wide array of great things that range from keeping their neighborhoods clean and watering plants to etiquette and planning for their future endeavors.

These 48 elementary school students are learning the art of being a gentlemen. The Principal at Thomas E. Kerns, Mark Adams, explained the importance of the program that he started last year, “I think the Gentlemen’s Club impacts these young boys with a sense of belonging. We look at it as preparation for academics. Preparation for behavior, preparation for citizenship, because it’s our responsibility to prepare them for the next level”, said Adams.

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Most of the member of the Gentleman’s Club live in low-income neighborhoods of Greenville, SC and qualify for the city’s Free Lunch or reduce priced programs. Twice every year these gentlemen get treated to one of their most favorite activities. They get together to enjoy gourmet, three-course meals for the group. One student said, “I think I’ve started to get in love with it,” and another boy was quoted saying, “This is so god. I think I’ve seen Jesus.”

In interviews with CBS news the boys discussed how the program has given them the confidence to go after their dreams, such has one young man’s goal in becoming a lawyer. Another young man told the news reporter that he, “used to be a bad kid,” but after joining the Gentlemen’s Club, he feels better about himself and has been getting better grades.

gent5

At their annual gourmet dinner celebration, Principal Adams congratulated the young gentlemen for their hard work and achievements, “Academic achievement in my opinion is mostly about hard work and commitment and I am proud of your accomplishments,” said Adams.

Your principal is proud of you, and the community is rooting for all of these young, distinguished, gentlemen.

Source: CBS News

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

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This Detroit Chess Team is showing the world their greatness! The University Prep Science and Math Elementary and Middle School Chess Teams won numerous first place awards at the U.S. Chess Supernationals IV Tournament held in Nashville, Tennessee. The team, comprised of elementary and middle school students, took home titles in the K6 Under 1400 and the K8 Under 750 sections.

detroitchess

In addition to the team awards Cameron Rector, a sixth-grader who won all seven of the games in his category, won the individual title in the K8 Under 750 section; this makes Cameron the top national chess player in this category, defeating over 370 other players. Seventh grader Sa’Nya Burton, also competed in this category and tied for 3rd in K8 under 750 section in national championship.

credit K. Shabu
credit K. Shabu

The CEO of University Prep Schools had this to say about his students:

“We are extremely proud of our UPSM elementary and middle school chess teams for winning this year’s national championships, and honored to have the nation’s top chess player as a student at our schools. These amazing students are a shining example of what is possible with hard work and a passion for the game of chess.”

The school’s chess coach has done an outstanding job working with these students. Kevin Fite, chess coach at UPSM Middle School, confessed that over twenty of his top chess players from last year were no longer with the team because they had graduated. Meaning, these 2017 champions had much to prove – and they did! Coach Fite explains, “

“Our players proved that with hard-work, dedication and setting goals you can achieve anything you set out to do. To have a group of Detroit kids bring back two national chess championships and the top player in the United States is a feat showing their Motor-City grit.”

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

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The internet has been a catalyst for revealing information that people would normally not have access too. Many women are learning that their birth control, pads, and tampons may be more harmful than they are good. Just like food, many of us can turn a blind eye when putting substances into or on our bodies. The same goes for BC; many women have been using birth control since they were pre-teens to combat heavy menstrual cycles and of course using tampons and pads because they are marketed as the only options for women. The internet is quickly changing that.

Many women are opting out of BC, and even mainstream feminine care products. Black women especially are taking an extreme interest in holistic health. It was revealed that besides the side effects BC, can be very dangerous. BC throws off women’s natural hormones because it is filled with synthetic hormones which have left some women sterile after years of use, uterine cysts and many other ailments that are raising eyebrows are becoming common amongst numerous women using BC. According to Truth_Society , BC is highly dangerous and can cause long term damage to women’s bodies. Some of the worst long term effects can range anywhere from cervical cancer, all the way down to gall bladder disease and heart attack. Women are becoming more aware of their bodies, how they feel and how they react to things they consume. Many millennials even have taken it back to old school days and track their menstrual cycles by the moon.

This holistic health movement is becoming very big among Black women and millennials. There are women who are paving the way by being gurus on this subject. One woman in particular who is known on all social media platforms as Nerissa Nefeteri promotes not only natural methods for BC, but also menstrual cups and natural pads for women to wear during their time of the month instead of traditional options. Tampons are not recommended because they stop blood flow. The idea is to not stop your body from doing what is natural to it but develop new ways to protect yourself while having intercourse and during your cycle. Her following is huge and growing as women everywhere are switching methods they have always known to better their health and way of living. Whether you decided to stay on BC or not is completely up to you, but it’s always good to be well informed.

Brittney is a mother, writer, and budding entrepreneurs. She is passionate about spreading wellness and mental health awareness in the African-American community as it pertains to women and girls. She adores hot beverages and meaningful quotes. In her free time, you can catch her over at the TheLovelylessons.com where she gives helpful advice to Millennials in the current job crisis.

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In a plea deal with federal prosecutors, the case that many of us here in Charleston, SC, around the low country, and around the world have been watching for months; Michael Slager did something we’ve rarely seen in these cases. On Tuesday, May 2nd, Slager plead guilty to violating the civil rights of Walter Scott causing his death after a routine traffic stop in April 2015.

Walter Scott became one of many unarmed black men in the United States who have been gunned down by police, and this trial, like so many others brings added anger and animosity to a small city, and a country already on the brink of patience that is slowly being depleted.

In a strange turn of events, Michael Slager entered a guilty plea during the federal trial. This decision caused many folks to celebrate; believing that this was finally the confession everyone has been waiting on for over a year. However, the plea made others extremely suspicious, because this leaves many wondering what sort of punishment (if any) would the officer get for a sole, civil rights violation?

While we wait to see how the judge will handle the penalty phase of this two-year saga, here are 10 important things to know about the upcoming sentencing for Michael Slager:

  1. Michael Slager plead guilty to a single charge of violating the civil rights of Walter Scott by shooting him without justification. Specifically, “willfully depriving Scott of the right to be free from the unreasonable and excessive force used by police” – he DID NOT plead guilty to murdering Walter Scott

  2. As of May 2, 2017, murder charges against Michael Slager have been dropped; also, some fed/state charges have been dropped, including lying to investigators AND using a firearm in a violent crime – all were a part of his plea deal

  3. The state cannot reissue murder charges against Slager

  4. The plea specifically states: “The defendant used deadly force even though it was objectively unreasonable under the circumstances”

  5. The charge of violating Scott’s civil rights carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, and no minimum penalty – meaning Slager could get life OR time served

  6. The plea does not specify how much, if any, time will be served

  7. A U.S. District Judge will decide the punishment for Slager at a hearing scheduled on a later on this week

  8. The Slager plea is not a reason to celebrate. This plea sets a precedent for the public to pay attention to the current administration, including Jeff Sessions who already has a controversial past. The public should also continue to review their local elected officials and many of the people tied to this trial

  9. There will be a demonstration May 23rd to object to the plea deal for Michael Slagerblf

  10. Never Forget Feidin Santana. Without Santana risking it all to not only film the murder of Scott, but to overcome language barriers, and to return to SC to testify – We may have never even gotten to the point of a plea

Syllabus Magazine, the Carolina’s source for Music, Culture and Fashion

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