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It’s Been A Long Time, I Shouldn’tve Left You…Without a Dope Issue to Read Through

10/15/2012
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Yup, that’s a legal pad. Respect the technique.

So, remember that magazine I told you about? The second issue that’s supposed to be coming out soon? Yeah, that one. Well, since it’s been a minute, I thought I’d share a few new developments ~

  • I finally found a home for all those extra issues I was trying to give away (yay!) I sent about 100 or so magazines to the NYC ACS Youth Detention Office (major shout out to them btw). Believe it or not I still have a lot more (I was very enthusiastic about publishing my first issue and it actually costs less to  publish more, so there you have that). One step at a time.
  • Also, I got the first article into the designer and am expecting the final layout any day now (can’t hardly wait)! Now, this issue isn’t going to be as long as the first one, but there is going to be an online component to each print article. I say all that to say, I don’t want to give up too much about the first article, but a little teasing never hurt anyone, right?

Hint: It’s “contagious,” blends passion and practicality and the creator very much wants you to catch it. Ok. that’s probably not such a good hint (especially if you’ve never heard of it before) but our Striver’s Row piece this issue (the business/entrepreneurship section) features Erica Purnell, the creator of Pink Eye, a custom graphics and design business that specializes in shoes and athletic wear.  If you have any questions you’d like to ask Erica, please let me know so that I can be sure to include them.

  • I’ve also finished working on my editor’s letter and I think it’s pretty good. My first time writing one, I had so much to say that I didn’t know where to start…so I ended up all over the place. Since then, I’ve been studying other letters written by editors I admire and I think I did a much better job at focusing and tightening mine up.

So, although I thought I’d be much further along by now, I’m still plugging along. It’s difficult when you have to wait for pieces (interviews/photos/information) from other people who are working on their own schedule. Since we’re a start-up it’s hard to be more demanding, but I think the final product will be worth it, we have some really good stuff here.

~Until then~

Introducing P. Star- Harlem’s Own Rhyme Star & Pop Princess

04/11/2011
Harlem, music, pop culture, Uncategorized
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Meet P. Star.

P. Star. Photo courtesy of Hunc Records.

You may have heard her called the “Young Feminist Phenomenon,” (from her rap label) or “The Young Harlem Phenomenon” (from her movie poster). If not, you should get to know her. She’s young (16), she raps (since she was 9!), she sings, she acts (currently starring as Jessica on “The Electric Company”), she dances, and she definitely reps for the young ladies. Her life seems really sweet, but it hasn’t always been this way.

P.Star (real name Priscilla) grew up poor, in a single-parent household after her HIV-positive mom left when she was only three. Her dad raised P. Star and her older sister as best he could, but when he couldn’t find work, they struggled —food stamps, homeless shelters, all that. When P. Star was nine, she decided she wanted to rap and has been grinding ever since to make it happen. I went to see a movie about her life, called “P. Star Rising,” where she really lets everyone see how she lives- the good (recording, touring, performing) and the bad (fights with her father, trying to find her mother, really struggling to make it). I wanted to get to know more about her, so I reached out and met up with her at one of her recording sessions last year.

In the studio with P. Star.

Here’s what I know- she’s very friendly in person, tiny, and matter-of-fact. She’s not ashamed or embarrassed about her struggles (in fact, she hopes that other teens going through similar things will know that she can relate) and she’s not in any rush to grow up. She’s happy just being a teenager and living out her life.
How do you balance work and school?
I am home-schooled and have been since about the sixth grade. When I started doing the hip-hop thing I was in fourth or fifth grade and it got very difficult for me at school because I was going out to clubs at night and I was tired during the day. I didn’t want to fail because my dad would kill me. And a lot of people were getting to know me because of MTV’s Made, and people bothered me at school. So I was just like maybe we should do this home schooling thing, this tutoring thing, so I can have time of my own as well.
What’s your personal life like?
My career is like my personal life because honestly, I have a great time with what I do. But of course I have a personal life — going out to the movies, hanging out with friends, talking, chatting, all those kinds of things. My dad lets me have my personal time but there’s always time for work.
You’re already on a TV show. What’s the “Electric Company” about?
“The Electric Company” is a TV show on PBS. I’m one of the main characters and I got into that when I was 13. We did a pilot, they picked up the show, they liked who I was, and they wanted to keep me a part of the cast. The whole show is just absolutely amazing. The Electric Company was an old show back in the 1970s. [When] we brought it back, [it became this] whole new modern, urban world, and it brings these kids out to music, dance, and learning, which is
what’s so great about it.
What’s next for you?

Because of this movie, we’re still traveling and doing a lot of promotion and premieres. We also have the soundtrack for the movie, P. Star Rising, which is pretty exciting. We also have this new type of sound that P. Star has that not a lot of [established] fans are familiar with. I’m excited to get [both] the album and that sound out and have kids come along with me and just to make a bigger fan base.

 

Track Master.

What’s it like being to young and being able to do something you love already?

It’s a blessing. God has blessed me with a talent and a great gift, and with opportunities. A lot of doors have opened and I actually got to take that opportunity and do what I wanted to do. So I really have to say that I’m blessed, it’s amazing and I don’t take anything for granted.

Any advice for other teens?

Honestly, I have to say that dreams are kind of like wishes. Dreams are whatever you want them to be. and as long as you’re dedicated to it, as long as you know what you want, don’t give up. Don’t give up. Whatever anybody says to you, that you’re wack or corny or whatever, don’t believe that. Everyone has their own creativity and thats what’s so important nowadays. Do what you have to do. Don’t stop.

 

Doing her thing.

Oh, and yes, she writes her own rhymes.

You can find P. Star just about everywhere. Myspace. Facebook. iTunes. T.V. YouTube. To hear some of her music, check out her video for “Daddy’s Little Girl.”

Teen Dating Violence: Recognize the Signs

11/07/2009
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The following information was provided by Day One, an organization working to end dating abuse in New York. I am reprinting the information here, verbatim, for your information.

Step Two : Recognize the Warning Signs of an Abusive Relationship

You have the right to a safe and healthy relationship- a relationship free from violence and fear. Know the warning signs of an abusive relationship.

Your Partner:

  • Is extremely jealous or insecure
  • Constantly puts you down
  • Is possessive or treats you like property
  • Tells you what to do
  • Has an explosive temper
  • Makes false accusations
  • Isolates you from family and friends
  • Blames you for his/her problems

You:

  • Apologize for your partner’s behavior and make excuses for it
  • Worry about upsetting your partner or getting him/her angry
  • Stop doing things that were important to you because you want to make your partner happy
  • Cancel plans with your friends at the last minute more often
  • Try to hide injuries and bruises

Healthy Relationship Quiz

  1. Does your partner accuse you of flirting or cheating even though you’re not? Does he/she constantly check up on you or always make you check in? Does your partner tell you how to dress or get upset when you wear certain clothes?
  2. Does your partner try to control what you do and how you spend your time? Does he/she try to keep you from seeing or talking to people you are care about?
  3. Does your partner have big mood swings where one minute he/she is angry and yelling at you, and the next minute he/she is sweet and apologetic and says he/she can’t live without you? Do you often feel like you’re “walking on eggshells?”
  4. Does your partner put you down or criticize you? Does he/she make you feel like you can’t do anything right or that no one else would want you?
  5. Does your partner yell, grab, shove, punch, slap, hold you down, throw things or hurt you in any other way?
  6. Does your partner threaten to hurt you or somebody you care about (like him/herself, your family, your friends or your pets)?
  7. Does your partner force or pressure you into having sex or going further than you want to?

If you answered yes to some of these questions, your relationship may not be as healthy as you deserve. Day One can help! Call Day One at 800.214.4150 to have a confidential conversation with a lawyer.

Help G.E.M.S. End Child Sexual Exploitation

10/23/2009
Child Sexual Exploitation, Issues, Local, Magazines, Making a Difference, Uncategorized
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In the previous post, we talked a little bit about Child Sexual Exploitation, around the U.S. and right here in NYC. Here is some additional information on the NY-based organization Girls Educational and Mentoring Services (GEMS) and what YOU can do to learn more an get involved.

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“Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS) is the only organization in New York State specifically designed to serve girls and young women who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking. GEMS was founded in 1999 by Rachel Lloyd, a young woman who had been sexually exploited as a teenager. GEMS has helped hundreds of young women and girls, ages 12-21, who have experienced commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking to exit the commercial sex industry and to develop to their full potential. GEMS provides young women with empathetic, consistent support and viable opportunities for positive change.”  Source

Know the Facts

  • 2,200 children are estimated to be victimized by commercial sexual exploitation each year in New York City alone (OCFS Prevalence Study 2007).
  • 325,ooo are estimated to be at risk for commercial sexual exploitation annually in the United States (Estes and Wiener, 2001).
  • A 2001 University of Pennsylvania study states “Child commercial sexual exploitation is the most hidden form of child abuse in the Unites States and North America today” (Estes and Wiener, 2001).
  • The majority of victimized youth have run away from home, or were running away from a foster care home, juvenile detention center or group home (Estes and Wiener, 2001).
  • 70-90% of commercially sexually exploited children have a history of child sexual abuse (Murphy, 1993).
  • 1.6 million children run away from home each year in the United States (NISMART). Source

Watch the Film (Trailer)

And read the survivor stories.

What Can You do TODAY Help End the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children?

  • When you see examples of pimp culture glorified in the media, music or movies, acknowledge this kind of societal acceptance adds to the program by not buying those products, albums or movie tickets.
  • Change your language around the issue and encourage those around you to do the same. Instead of saying “teen or child prostitute,” recognize them as legitimate victims by calling them “commercially sexually exploited children and youth.”
  • Join the FB page.

Adults:

  • Be active in the lives of young people you know. Attention, interest, support and love at home will keep children from running away to find it.
  • Volunteer your time to GEMS or other youth-centers programs in your community.
  • Donate to GEMS and support them.

Source

Who Can You Contact For Help?

GEMS (here in New York City): 212-926-8089

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC): 1-800-THE-LOST/ 1-800-843-5678

National Runaway Switchboard: 1-800-RUNAWAY/ 1-800-786-2929

National Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888

Rape, Abuse, Incest National Network (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE/ 1-800-656- 4673

To find organizations that offer help in your state (if not NYC), GEMS offers many additional resources here.


(New) NYC Youth Poet Laureate Zora Howard

10/23/2009
Uncategorized, Writing
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Hey girls! Did you know that New York City has a Youth Poet Laureate? Well, it does and so do you! A month or so ago, I got an email from a group called Urban Word NYC about a competition for the first ever Youth Poet Laureate of New York City; young people were being encouraged to apply and compete for the position.  I immediately got excited. NYC was recognizing the importance of artistic achievement and contribution to this “city of dreams,” especially among the youth is incredible.

A week or so ago, I got another email announcing that 16-year-old Zora Howard had been named Youth Poet Laureate after competing in a Voter Slam at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. According to the press release, 75 young people submitted applications and 12 made it to the finals; Zora was selected as the winner among them.

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Go to NBC NY to hear the poem she recited that won her the award.

So you might be asking yourself, what exactly is a poet laureate and what do they do? Both are good questions.  Well, according to wikipedia (that all-knowing, quick information site), a poet laureate is “a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for State occasions and other government events.” Most states have poets laureate- the New York State Poet Laureate is Jean Valentine; some of her poems can be heard  here.  And there is even a poet laureate of the United States; her name is Kay Ryan. It’s quite an honor to be named poet laureate and I’m glad to see poetry getting some respect on the national stage. Do you all remember when poet Elizabeth Alexander read her poem “Praise Song for the Day” at President Obama’s Inauguration back in January ? She was only the fourth poet ever to do so. We’re making progress.

So, congrats to Zora, who’s a student over at LaGuardia High School of Music, Art and the Performing Arts. What will she be doing as Poet Laureate? Well, according to the press release, “Zora Howard will travel our great city over the next year encouraging and engaging younger New Yorkers to be civically involved members of our democratic process.” How dope is that?

Look out for that and keeping writing! Hopefully, we can get an interview with Zora and find out a little bit more about her. Here’s a video of her performing the poem “Bi-racial Hair” at the 2006 Urban Word NYC Annual Teen Poetry Slam, back in ’06.

Also, you should really check out Urban Word NYC, they offer a lot of free writing workshops, classes and performances in the city. It’s a great way to work on your writing, connect with other teen writers and get your name out there.

Brick City: Jayda is My Homegirl

09/24/2009
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Anybody tuning in to “Brick City?” If not, you should be. If so then you know that lots of drama ensued on Tuesday night. Jayda got out of lock-up, got into a heated argument with her boyfriend over his faithfulness of lackthere of, kicked him out, and threatened to terminate her pregnancy. Yeah. So they made up (I could do an entire post on her friend, fellow Blood member Jiwe’s comment about cheating basically being a part of being a man, but I shan’t. Unless I can find the clip online) and moved into a new apartment.

In the latest episode, Jayda met with some advisors about starting a non-profit (and getting paid, as one advisor told her, for the work that she does in the community). She met with some of the girls who she wanted to be part of the “founding group,” of her nonprofit Nine (9) Strong Women. Here’s a video of that session-

Sounds amazing right? Well, I think so. She also had a sleepover for some of the girls that she mentors where they ate, danced, joked around and talked about what was going on in their lives. Jayda gave them some real advice about being careful of the people they let into their lives and choose to associate with and warned them of not being too trusting, saying to one girl in particular, “You want to know why I look at you? Because you have a beautiful heart and you are gullible as hell. You will believe anything. And that is the worst type of person to be in 2008 living in Newark, New Jersey.”

Let me tell you, that’s good advice at any age. Later, when Jayda leaves the room, the girls talk about how loved and cared for she makes them feel. One girl said (something like), “Jayda, that’s my homegirl, you know? I can talk to her about anything.” And then went on to say that she could call Jayda, at any time, to talk about anything, and that she knew Jayda would answer and be there for her. The girls seemed so amazed that Jayda could care so much about them and be willing to do so much for them, from the beginning, without even knowing them well. I loved that part.

Jayda is to those girls what I want this magazine to be to you- a homegirl- someone who gets you because they see part of themselves in you. Someone who cares for you and loves you dearly, without having any obligation to do so. Someone who wants to see you do your best and is willing to help you in any way that they can- including showing tough love. And being able to relate to someone in the way, having someone “get” it and “get” you,  like real homegirls can, is a beautiful thing. Don’t you agree?

National News (09/09/09-09/20/09)

09/21/2009
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Patrick Swayze Died, 09/14/09, Associated Press (AP), Everywhere

Patrick Swayze…how can one describe him? At once so masculine yet, oh, so tender. Yeah. Him. Well, the trained dancer, 80s teen heartthrob (does anyone still say that anymore?),  husband, and movie star lost his two-year battle pancreatic with cancer last week. R.I.P. (Re-watch Dirty Dancing and Ghost…it’s SO worth it) “No one puts  baby in the corner”….Indeed I’m sure a couple of tributes are planned…google it. Go to youtube for THE video, too.

Kanye Acted a Fool at the VMAs, 09/13/09, MTV (Everywhere)

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If you don’t know this by now…we have some other things to discuss…In brief, Kanye interrupted Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the VMAs, she got sad, Beyonce saved the day, he got roasted by basically everyone, apologized on his blog, she went on TV, he apologized again (to her), she accepted. The end.

Serena Williams Goes Off at the US Open and Loses , 09/13/09, NYT

Serena Williams, our tennis-pro homegirl, was competing in the semi-finals at the US Open when she went off on a line judge for what she thought was a bad call. She was penalized a point for her behavior and lost the match. She got fined $10,000 (oh, yes) and apologized.  Everyone was talking about it…and still might be.

Sex Bracelets Banned, Again, 09/12/09, The New York Times (NYT)

Ok. So some school in Colorado had banned those colorful plastic “jelly” bracelets because they fear the  colors represent various sex acts the wearer has done or will do. But some think they are just fashion statements. Sex bracelets? Really? Um..where they (still) do that at? Wasn’t that like 3 years ago?

Senator Interrupts President Obama’s Speech, 09/10/09, NYT, video (AP)

So, President Obama was giving a speech a week or so ago, talking about, what else? healthcare. When all of a sudden, Rep. Joe Wilson (Republican from South Carolina) yells out, “You lie!” Yeah. So begins the brouhaha. Sen. Wilson got roasted by just about everybody and apologized for his lack of decorum.

Teen Tennis Player Wins Big, then Loses, 09/08/09, NYDN, NYT

Melanie Oudin, a 17-year-old Georgia girl, became a tennis fan fav when she (surprisingly) defeated known champs, like Maria Sharapova (yes, the one from the camera commercial with the dog) at the US Open. She was being lauded the next big (cute, young, spunky) thing in US tennis, all while wearing colorful tennis shoes that said, “believe.” Then she lost in the Grand Slam quarterfinal and the balloon deflated. But she’s young, the fans love her so, well keep an eye out.

Grandparent’s Day

09/13/2009
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So, today is Grandparent’s Day (who knew?) and guess who forgot to call her grandmother? Well, actually, both of her grandmothers? That would be me. And I feel terrible. But, since I’m guessing that neither of them knew it was Grandparent’s Day today, and since I’m not what you would call an absentee grandchild, I think I can get a pass on today.

I know how blessed I am to have both of my grandmothers around—alive, relatively healthy, in their right minds, and in my life. I do a fairly decent job of staying in touch- sending cards on Mother’s Day, birthdays, and other major holidays and even calling just because- but I could always do better; particularly because as I get older, so do they. And as much as I hate to think about it, I know they won’t be around forever. And having dealt with tragedy recently, I know how important it is to cherish the moments that I have with the people that I love. And I do. I just wish that I had taken the time to get to know them better when I was younger (and they were, too) and had so much more time to learn.

Now I could write an entire essay on the time I spent with my grandmothers, both what I did with them and what I wished I would have done differently. But what I really want, sometimes, is to have known them back when they were my age; or even before they became mothers and grandmothers; before they became the grandmothers that I knew growing up and that I know now. I see the photos from their funky, fly, fresh days and I wonder what they were like, then.

So I live vicariously through stories of yesteryear. One of my favorites is of my grandparents taking my cousins to the airport to pick up my aunt and uncle. My grandfather goes in to help with the bags and, as per usual, instantly attracts female attention. So he’s standing to the side, sniggling and giggling while the bags have been collected and everyone’s ready to leave. So my grandmother walks up to him and says, “Oh, so you’re gonna act like you don’t know me? You better come on before I turn this airport out,” and walks away without waiting for a response. And my grandfather? He doesn’t give one, he just brings it on out to the car.

Now, I love that story, not just because of how my grandmother checked that whole situation but because my grandmother checked that situation. You have to understand that in my grandparent’s house, what my grandfather said was how it was going to be. He was the disciplinarian, authoritarian, head of the household. And she was the quiet, dutiful, home-making wife and mother. So it’s easy  to see a certain (public) power dynamic, particularly between older married couples and judge them, without understand the layers it takes to make it work. So while my grandmother is a sweet, mother of the church, no cursing, no drinking, word-find fanatic who cooks the.best.food.ever, and holds our family down. I know that she is also the very perceptive, see and hear everything even if she doesn’t say anything, sassy, keep everyone in line boss. I wonder what adjectives I would’ve used to describe her back in the day…maybe some of the same ones I’d use to describe me.

I say all that to say that on today, or any other day, if you’re blessed to still have your grandparents alive, cherish that. Spend some time with them and get to know them, beyond how you already know them. (and let them get to know you) Who knows? They just might surprise you.

What’s your best memory of your grandparent(s)?

Making a mental note to call mine