A Salute to Antonia Novello

I told you I would do a blog about the first Female Surgeon General in the Dr. Joyce Elders Salute blog. I came across the information by accident when researching Dr. Elders. Why is she virtually unsung? Who knows?

Antonia Novello was the 14^th Surgeon General of the United States of America. Born in 1944 in Puerto Rico, she held a clinical appointment in pediatrics at Georgetown University Hospital in 1976. In 1979, Novello joined the Public Health Service and received a commission in the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC). She became project officer at the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism and Digestive Diseases of the National Institutes of Health. In 1982 she received MPH degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. Novello made major contributions to the drafting and enactment of the Organ Transplantation Procurement Act of 1984 while assigned to the United States Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources, working with the staff of committee chairman Orrin Hatch. She also served as Coordinator for AIDS Research for NICHD from September 1987. This role caught the attention of the White House.

Novello was appointed Surgeon General by President George H. W. Bush, beginning her tenure on March 9, 1990. She was the First woman and the First Hispanic to hold the position. As Surgeon General, her focus was on the health of women, children and minorities, as well as on underage drinking, smoking, and AIDS prevention. She often criticized the tobacco industry for appealing to the youth market through the use of cartoon characters like Joe Camel. Like most Surgeon General she was not without controversy. Abortion Right advocates were outraged by her support of a policy prohibiting family planning program workers who received federal financing from discussing abortion with their patients. Novello’s tenure end with the election of President Bill Clinton. He praise her work with the adjectives "vigor and talent".

After her position as Surgeon General, Novello became United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Special Representative for Health and Nutrition from 1993 to 1996. In 1996 she became Visiting Professor of Health Policy and Management at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health. In 1999, Novello was appointed as the Commissioner of Health for the State of New York. She served until 2006. Since 2008, Novello has been vice president of Women and Children Health and Policy Affairs at Disney Children’s Hospital at Florida Hospital in Orlando, Florida.

So this is a Salute to Antonia Novella, the First woman to become Surgeon General. She opened the door for two ladies to follow her and more to become in future. Hats off to you Dr. Novello.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Oh Let’s Talk Reverse Racism

I saw a funny status of an FBF let’s call that person on the blog, “AlVee” and I had to agree.

“I'm giggling and wondering if Nick Cannon is doing reverse racism, is black face called forward racism and is same race racism called neutral racism? Lol.... smh”

Still Love that one AlVee!!!

If you are a FBF or follow me on Twitter you already know my stance. Reverse Racism is No Racism and since there is Racism, Reverse Racism does not exist. I felt this blog need to so that maybe, Maybe Pop Culture won’t embrace this ignorant mess and have all you hardcore fan of what is popular saying it.

If a person of one race says or does something offensive to a person of another race because they are they are that race is Racism. It doesn’t matter what race of the offender. It is Racist!!! I know my reader are smart but maybe they passed it to someone who still don’t get it. White person says something offensive to Non-White person because they are Non-White person is Racism. Non-White person says something offensive to White person because they are White is Racism. Non-White person says something offensive to Another Non-White person because they are Another Non-White person is Racism. Get it, Got it Good!!!

Now I do break Racism down into two groups. I call the groups Intentional Racism

 and Unintentional Racism.

Both are wrong but both exist. Intentional Racism is being purposefully malicious and hurtful to another race. It’s taught and inherent. It can be fixed but only if the perpetrator wants to be helped. It’s what people think of when the word comes up. Now Unintentional Racism is a little trickier. It is caused most times by lack of knowledge. Now once taught better unintentional racism will be erased by stopping that behavior or becoming intentional.  I mean wants you know better… I watch a few web videos on how better ourselves on not being Unintentional Racist. Here are some of them (Sorry to those of Hispanic & Middle Eastern decent. As soon as I see one I will update you. And if you know of some put them in the comment section below)

Try This Instead

Ask an Asian Guy

Ask a Black Guy

Ask a Jewish Guy

Ask a White Guy

Okay I know you want to know my opinion about the Blackface/Whiteface issue (and if you didn’t I’m telling you anyway) It’s Racist. Wikipedia does a great job defining them Here and Here. Too dress up as another race to perpetuate a myth or stereotype is racist.

Julianne Hough dressing up as a black character on the show “Orange is the New Black” was wrong once colored herself darker. She could have stopped at the outfit & hair and people would have known who she was. Had she not taken it too far she would have been fine. Nick Cannon as "Connor Smallnut" is wrong also.

Good Marketing, ok whatever, it’s still racist. The name and the stereotypical hashtags of #GoodCredit #DogKissing #BeerPong #FarmersMarkets #FistPumping #CreamCheeseEating #RacialDraft made it racist. And you can tell him I said it (like he give a care). Now everyone like to pull out their memory Robert Downey Jr. in “Tropic Thunder” and Eddie Murphy in “Coming to America” for argument to say these actors are not racist. The arguments are hogwash to me.

Robert Downey Jr. character was a white man thinking it was okay for white people to play black folks in movies in ridiculous makeup. If anything the role was making fun of those who think that behavior is kosher. Eddie Murphy was perpetuating what stereotype? That’s what I thought. He was just playing an old white man. How was he being offensive? Uh Huh! Uh Huh!

Before you argue…Think!!!

So I hope you take away 1) Revere Racism Does Not Exist!!! 2) Let’s All Stop Racism. It exist because of us.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

The Word "Blerd"…Approved by Me

I knew that I was a nerdy and awkward somewhere around middle school. I was never going to be cool by Pop Culture's standards for being Christian, Black, Female, Living in the inner city, and whatever I was and now am.  So, I slowly came to grips with that. I had to because trying to be cool was making me stupid & depressed, just ask OutSpoken_Diva in the 5th grade (I call her Milk (I won’t do a blog on that name. Too painful to do. If you know it, You know it) and we all know I hate being stupid. And of course I knew I was black all my life. So, I am a Black Nerd. Last year I saw the term “Blerd” show up. I didn’t accept it at first. Even though I personally know many, I didn’t want to. Now I have embrace it as another description of being me.

I am a Black person that does not think that everything (just some things) needs a representative of every culture in it. Like why is there a Black KKK. What is the purpose?  Matter of fact there many things that is one sided culturally, especially television shows. There are many shows that I watch that I am okay black people are not main characters. I love “The Big Bang Theory” but I don’t think and black person is needed on that show. Number 1, I can put names to all of the characters, including myself and they all are black. Number 2, all the show heads will do is mess up and put a pop cultural black nerd representative version of Steve Urkel or Carlton Banks and screw the storyline up.  So when I first saw the word “Blerd”, I didn’t want to call myself that. I first saw it on Twitter and tweeted my feeling for the word. Pretty much saying “Do Black folks have “Black” up everything”. Well I only saw the word because I started engaging with other Black people who were awkward and nerd on social media. I was watching “Black Nerd Comedy” & “Lamarr Wilson” on YouTube. They keep me in stitches. Then I found a blog called “Black Girl Nerds” and that lead to more black nerds discussing a variety of everything. Then it hit me “Blerd” is not “blacking up” anything. Black Nerds just made a term to identify that there “people of color” that are nerds.

Just like everything, Pop Culture (yes I am very hard on pop culture, so what) has being a nerd is limited in its meaning also. Just like it has limited the meaning or Christian, Black, Female, well Everything. So it is safe to say being Black and Nerdy is limited even more. I just said the “representatives” are probably Steve Urkel & Carlton Banks (yeah I know a couple of those guys too) and that is probably the only image mainstream has put out for a long time. Most people don’t recognize Aisha Tyler or Donald Faison as Black Nerds. Blerd do. Blerds know their own. (Yes I am laughing after that last statement) I am glad Nerds of Color came up with the term “Blerd” before Pop Culture gets its mitts on it and bastardize it. So yes, I am OutSpoken_Diva and I am a Blerd. My story is not Pop Culture’s story for me. I define my own “Blerdness”.

So that’s my story. I’ll admit I’m embarrassed it took me a few months to accept the term. But it is here for me to accept and I can’t be embarrassed about that. Still don’t want a Black Bachelor. They gave us a couple. Yes they did!!! The first one was name Flava Flav. And yes that makes Black Bachelorette, New York. LMBO Oh wait before I go, here are Some of the Blerd Blogs & Vlogs I read & watch

http://www.blackgirlnerds.com/

http://blerdmediagroup.com/

http://geeksoulbrother.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BlerdChat

http://www.youtube.com/user/wilsontech1

http://www.youtube.com/user/BlackNerdComedy

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNerdElement

 Hope you enjoy.

 

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Nailed It!!!

Yes, I have been slacking on the beauty blogs. I’ve done Eye Shadow Allergy. Answered Eye shadow questions Here. And when I speak you’ve seen what might be on my mouth with a Lip Product Blog. Well, the person whose question started these blogs nicely reminded me that I have not finished. I still need to do nail care and face care blogs. This is maybe a tad helpful for me right now. For Lent, I gave up buying makeup. Last year I acquired many makeup products. I couldn’t go to Northpark Mall without a stop in Sephora. My coupon stash was full of makeup coupons. My makeup kits have quite a few new shades of everything. I knew I had a problem when this January I got a notice that Maybelline had lip gloss on sale on Amazon for $1.99 and with free shipping. I bought two. Did I need any of it? NO!!! So until after Easter, I will not buy myself any makeup. My mother needs a new Vitamin E stick so I’ll get her one, soon.

My nails are like my eyes & lips. My fingers like my eyes see color sometimes. Like my lips, my toes see color a lot.

From March until October I polish my toes. I live in Texas so during those months I am mostly in a toeless shoe of some sort in public. Also, I have talked about enough people with chipped polish on their toes and finger not for mine to be chipped up too. My man will never do the “Boomerang” to check on me and frown. Either they are polished or not.
These are my feet after getting my tattoo, six years ago. I told you, I’m never slipping. If they are chipped in public I have on closed-toe shoes.

Okay, you probably noticed I said I polish my nails. I do. My fingernails grow longish so I don’t wear artificial nails.

The last time I wore them was for a wedding I was in, in 2004, so roughly 10 years. I only get a professional manicure for maintenance twice a year. I do my own feet. If I can paint my own fingers I can paint my toes. Plus that’s a few dollars I keep in my pocket.

My Finger Nails are usually clear. I only like Red, Pink, or Coral on my fingers. I paint them in other colors and don’t recognize my hands. Plus Red Nails Match Everything!!! You can Never go Wrong with a Red Nail!!!

Now my feet have seen every color but black, green, and yellow. Like my lips, I don’t like those colors on them. In 2012 I found Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips and fell in love with them. I’m going to try “Out of Line" for Easter. They are like nail stickers but its real nail polish. Since I can coat my nails with solid colors on my own, I only buy the kind with designs. My Favorites are “I Love Love” and ”Sweet Tart-an”

(in which those cuss words discontinued my faves but I did find the new shade “Love Letter” for "I Love Love" & stocked up on Sweet Tart-an too help me from writing them a scathing email) They are so pretty.

But like many stories my life, Sally Hansen would keep my Epic nail fail “I Love Lacey”. It was pretty in the box but on my feet, grossness (my feet look weird). I think I disliked it so much I got up at 3 am on a Saturday morning and took it off and painted them red.

Okay My Tips for Nail Color Care

Wear Clear Polish - Using clear polish gives your nails a smooth, shiny finish and even if it does start chipping, no one will be able to tell. A good choice would be a nail hardening polish, which if applied daily will harden your natural nail.

Wash it Off - I don't paint my nails the neatest. Especially with my non-dominant (right) hand. When I get polish on my skin, I wait until all my nail and mistakes are dry and wash my hands and feet. Sometimes I wait to polish my nails two hours before my bath. It comes off the skin and your color is smudge-free.

Either Wear the Polish or Don't - If it is chipped, Take It Off!!! While you're sitting there watching TV you can take the polish off. Chipped polish is uncalled for.

Alright so that what my nails might look like as I sit and type to you guys. Actually, they are that  Revlon "African Tea Rose" (pink) color you see in the opening picture. So, let me go stretch. Any questions or comments leave them in the comments below.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Anita Hill Salute

Who in the early 90’s didn't know anything about Clarence Thomas and Anita Hill? Thurgood Marshall passed away, so there was a vacancy on the Supreme Court. George H. W. Bush, then president nominated a Clarence Thomas for the vacancy. Toward the end of the confirmation hearings, a FBI interview with Anita Hill was leaked. Hill, an attorney, had worked for Thomas at the Department of Education and had subsequently moved with Thomas to the EEOC. After the leak, Hill was called to testify at Thomas's confirmation hearings. She testified that Thomas had subjected her to comments of a sexual nature, which she felt constituted sexual harassment or at least "behavior that is unbefitting an individual who will be a member of the Court." Hill was the only person to testify at the Senate hearings that there had been unsolicited sexual advances. The final floor vote was: 41 Republicans and 11 Democrats voted to confirm while 46 Democrats and two Republicans voted to reject the nomination. Newspaper coverage of Thomas's private life was limited after he was confirmed. But more importantly the conversation and laws about sexual harassment have change. For me personally it introduced me into the worlds of Misogyny and The Battle of the Sexes.

I was a young girl in the salon one day when Anita Hill came up. It was the popular topic at the time. Okay, the salon I went to then was half salon and half barber shop. Ms. M and Ms. C were the stylist. Ms. M did my hair then. Ms. C also worked at the Post Office. Mr. L was the barber. Well, that day it was a few men in the barber area and the topic came up. Well Mr. W who was retired from the railroad, said “That Anita Hill ain’t doing nothing but the work for the white man, trying to keep the Black man down”.  Ms. C jumped up and said “Do what? So, you think she’s lying” He said “Yeah, She lying. Sexual Harassment that some White boy sh*t” Before I knew it, I was being rushed under the dryer for 20 minutes by Ms. M and she joined in. After that 20 minutes under the hair dryer, they were still “discussing” that topic. Ms. C was breaking down how men told dirty jokes all the time at the expense of their female colleagues. Sometimes when delivering mail how she had been cat called. Mr. W was steady saying that was different. Ms. M was steady asking how it was any different. Then she called him a hypocrite. She pointed at me and said, “You always telling little girls like her, not to let little boys talk to you anyway and paw at you on the street, but it’s okay for a grown man to do the same then to a grown woman”. I was sitting there thinking (with my nose in a magazine because back then children were seen not heard in adult conversations) “She’s right”. Mr. W was silent after that. But Ms. C. finally said “So it ain’t just White boy sh*t, Black men do some vulgar sh*t too. And that woman was right to tell what he did. Maybe they will give him the “right” clerk in the Supreme Court and he figure how to change his conversation”. And that was the end of discussion and I finished getting my hair done by Ms. M and Mr. L went back to cutting another man’s hair. Yeah I missed the middle, but I have a feeling I came in on the important parts.

I don’t know what it is about men that think they can say any old thing to women. Cat Calling, Dirty Jokes, and random inappropriate touching are some of the most vulgar things women must endure from men. Ms. M was right. Many older men like Mr. W would tell girls and young women not to let guys do those things. My grandfather constantly drilled us not to answer to some guy honking his horn at us and warned my male cousins not to honk their horns at women. That was rare. Most men didn’t tell the boys anything like that. Boys will be boys was the name of the game and the game is still being played. The same boys that whistle at and hit girls on the butt are same ones that tell filthy jokes and pass dirty emails to their female subordinates. These same men are shocked about being called into HR about sexual harassment. What do you mean they are wrong? They’ve been allowed to act like that for years. After all these sexual harassment laws were passed and a clear definition of sexual harassment was set I playfully thought about suing the boys that slapped me on the butt or touched my breast without being asked. I think that would have gave them the right message that me angrily cussing and punching them was not giving. Yeah, the thought or suing crossed my mind again. D-word court cost is what hinders me.

So yeah, I salute Anita Hill and any woman not taking men’s vulgar crap from them anymore. It may have been on Capitol Hill, a courtroom, HR, a barber shop or a street corner. Women are not having it.  Men need to know that this is not allowed. Everywhere is not a porn film, strip club, bedroom, or the lewdness in their minds. Women should be Respected. Sad, we have to go to these kind of measures to demand it.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Ok Class! Today's Lesson, A Sex Tape!!!

Just last night Bestie Boo, LJ and I were talking last night about me being a prude. We agreed that I have "prudish moments". I call it "Clutch My Pearls Time". Then this morning I hear about a teacher accidentally showing her middle school students her sex tape. Here's the Article. Well it's "Clutch My Pearls Time".

All I could do was sigh. I totally believe it was an accident. I believe if she was trying to lure a child she would have done it in a small setting not the whole class. I maybe being naïve but I will accept her doing this on accident. My question is "Why does she have a sex tape"? Not because she is a teacher but because she is a human. Has anyone learned anything from the celebrities? Am I the only one that has learn "Sex Tapes Will Be Seen, No Matter What"? If she didn't have a sex tape, she would not have shown it to her students. No one at this point in history show still be making or own a sex tape. If you still have sex tape go get and smash it and all (yes All) the copies because it will be seen by eyes that it was not intended for. Those eyes may see it by accident like these students. Those eyes may see it because the person you made the tape with is braggingly showing people. I have seen a few sex tapes and that is how I saw them. One of the "stars" was showing it off to an audience and the other "star" didn't know. So go smash, burn, and destroy your sex tapes.

And before you ask, "No I have not destroyed my sex tape because i don't have one". I think they are stupid and don't need to know what I look like having intercourse. If you see me in one, Let Me Know!!! I Promise any and everybody, that that person will feel some kind of pain. Pain to the body, Pain to the finances, or Pain to their reputation. So let's pray I am not "starring" in any. I'm unclutching my pearls now. This prudish moment is over.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Help Me Understand: The Barbie Back Lash

.

I had a few Barbie dolls. I had a Happy Holidays one,

a Nigerian one,

and a Malibu one.

I even had the “Barbie-like” doll “Lookin’ Smart Maxie.

I had lots of dolls growing up. I was, no, I am very girly. So stereotypically, that included playing with dolls. Oh I loved playing church with my dolls, because that was the only way “playing church” was allow at our home.

Okay I said I’m “girly”, so maybe I’m not as “feminist” as others. Another thing I am confused about with the “feminist” agenda is its anti-Barbie stance. I get that girls need positive images to look up to. That is Very important. But Barbie is not positive because of the way she looks. These “suggested” Barbie-like dolls

are better because they supposedly looks like what average women look like. Wow, that is interesting.

I’ll say it. It’s a doll. Barbie is a doll. Barbie is a toy. Amazing how no one is upset with all these jobs she has had. Here is a partial list.

Aerobics instructor

Art teacher

Dance teacher

Elementary teacher

Special Education Teacher

Yoga Teacher

Gymnastics Coach

Football Coach

Dentist

Doctor

Nurse

Surgeon

Veterinarian

Ballerina

Fashion Model

The average woman is not doing all those jobs. She doesn’t have the time like Barbie has. The stress of all these jobs would kill the average woman. Well they all would kill me at least. Also do all these “suggested” dolls have Barbie’s career credentials? I bet they don’t.

Poor Barbie she gets all the blame. That cute little 6 year old Outspoken_Diva, above, used to sneak these two in church.

So do we blame the Strawberry Shortcake dolls for her church mischief? I do own many fruity fragrant body sprays. Interesting!

This Hugga Bunch doll, is she the cause for my Plus Size look? Her name was Tickles. She was sadly decapitated by my cousin, DD. I loved this doll. Might explain this hairstyle that I wear often. LoL

Oh all the negative images girls take in daily, a doll is one of the causes. Help me understand, why.

As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms