I keep her hair braided, bought her a black barbie

Tasiya is about to turn 16 so I feel like Disney is a little late on the black princess debut for us.....

I was in the bike lane heading toward Flatbush on Bergen Street when I saw this, an illuminated bus stop ad for the new Disney movie, The Princess and the Frog. This is Disney's first black princess (really??). Did the powers that be no that this ad was going up in Brooklyn. In Brooklyn where 36% of the population is black and 19% is hispanic and another 4% is mixed race? Did they no how offended I would be, a Puerto-Rican mother with a 1/2 black daughter. Are they purposely being disrespectful? I am reminded daily of racism even more so since living in Brooklyn. I have been called a devil white bitch, funny cause i am not white, I have been accused of being in the wrong neighborhood by white cops, I have been harassed by a car full of black boys while riding my bike, I have been stared at by other woman when I am with my black fiancee..... I feel like my integrity as a light skinned minority has been called out over and over.....

What is funnier though is that I am from Fairfield county where I was looked at as a spic....

Where I was not questioned about my ethnicity, where everyone knew I was PR and I belonged right in the low income housing complex where I was born and lived for 30 years.

I feel like even though I am "accused" of being a white bitch her in Brooklyn the 32 years I spent in CT have given me the balance t know who I am and to stand up for what I believe is right. This ad is fucked up, It sets my daughter back another giant set of years. It instills in young black girls and boys the right to use the n word and refer to white people as the devil. It brings out hate and racism if even more ways. Disney owes an apology to me, you and our children.

And if you are lost the ad is minus said black princess!

My Philosophy...

This entry doesn't have too much to do with Bed Stuy, but it does represent what I think is one of the problems with my beloved Hip Hop.  I often find myself defending my love for Hip Hop, by telling people what I don't like about it.  I often have to say things like, "I don't like Hot 97" or "I used to listen to De La Soul when my friends would listen to (fill in any hip hop pop artist here)".

I'm checking out one of my daily sites, hiphopdx, and there are a few articles that got me thinking...again.  I read the article about Lupe Fiasco, and I'm happy to hear that a true lyricist is upset because he was left off of that bullshit list of MTV's "Hottest Rappers" of todays list.   I get what they are saying, but I don't like it.  I just don't understand how a Gucci Mane (no disrespect Combat Jack) can make any "greatest anything" on any hip hop list.  I really understand that if the "kids" like it, then Corporate America wants more of it.  However, this "old school" hip hop junkie, has a higher standard of greatness for an emcee.

So...what ultimately caused me to write this post is another article on hiphopdx.  Some knuckle heads that are down with Rick Ross, named Triple C's belittled KRS 1's legacy.  Please click this to read the article.  I am offended by the fact that these guys disrespect a legend in the game.  What kills me is that he never said anything about them directly, but they had to nerve to talk about him in a disrespecting way.  Blasphemous!!!

Anyways...I would like it if every Hip Hop record label made their artist listen to 25 albums that changed the game.  Before you could do any recording, you need to be able to quote and discuss each album on the list.  The 25 albums would, could, and should be debated.  These new cats should not be able to record a damn thing without knowing the music of OUR founding fathers.  They should be students of their craft.  

Good idea or what?

..you could see Bed-Stuy if you lookin in my draws...

What a wonderful weekend!

She told me to go home after work and get ready, because she wanted to take me out for dinner. Pretty unusual because it seems that "dinner plans" are usually made by me, but she got us invited to a newish spot.  She is a yelp fanatic.

We ended up at Sarah James Speakeasy and the food was delicious.  I loved the ambiance and the overall feel of the place.  I'm pretty sure that when it is all said and done, this place will be very successful.  She ate the pork chop (I don't dig on the swine) and we don't have it in our refrigerator.  I had the steak and everything was seasoned to perfection.  

Next up...Saturday.  Back up to Westchester so she could enjoy her Bridal Shower and I could meet up with some of my childhood friends.  

Sunday around noon, we went to Ms. Dahlia's Cafe.  The service was a bit slow, but that didn't bother me any because I wasn't in a rush.  She ordered the Cucumber Lemonade.  I have never tasted anything so amazingly refreshing in my life. 

I had a flat tire and my favorite bike shop wasn't open, so I ended up at Lit Fuse Cyclery.  I was definitely pleased with the service and even got a chance to speak with Damian.  It turns out that both of us being New Yorkers (him from Manhattan and me from Westchester) have knowledge of one person.  I'm sure if I stayed and talked longer that we could possibly know a few more people.  This bike shop makes a great back up shop for me.  After getting my flat fixed, I ended up at the Tiny Cup.  I sat outside and enjoyed my cup of coffee with a native Bed Stuy resident.  This place is truly a haven for the gentrifying population.  It was pretty amazing for me to witness what was going on here.  I spoke with this gentleman about the changes that the neighborhood is making and we both agree that the change is welcome for us.  The only problem is for me is that this place was not very diverse.  I was sitting in Bed Stuy and every patron beside myself and this guy were white hipsters.  Believe me, I do not have a problem with hipsters.  I have a bit of hipster in me, look at my bike.  This place to me resembles everything that is wrong with gentrification, a completely separate facility for the new comers.

JADAKISS,PAPOOSE,TALIB & HI TEK-WHERE IT ALL STARTED (NY)
by ZICARLOS