Gingersnap

Up close view of Susan's Boyfriend Loves Her Afro It's quite an over dramatic notion- the way women obsess about beauty- whether it's makeup, body image, and age. It has gotten to the point of shallow ridiculousness due to media ploy. Yet hair roots are another story entirely nowadays, especially African Americans fighting a raging battle between staying naturally beautiful or getting the sleek, kink stripping perm. Keep in mind, men never have to obsess with image as much as women do. They're allowed to keep their hair in any way, in any style while women resort to spending tons on weaves, relaxers, perms, and extensions to appear "attractive" and in turn, cruelly punishing natural sisters for not following suit. Based on true accounts of a turbulent upbringing (was given the ugly nickname "Carpet" in school), the tragedy of African American women despising free style wearers and going as far as publicly criticizing and embarrassing them...

It was such an honor to be cordially invited to attend the 19th Annual Reaching For Ethnic Awareness and Cultural Heritage Across Dayton (REACH) Conference at Sinclair Community College on Friday February 24, 2012 and to see friends- Willis "Bing" Davis, Betty Bolton, Leesa Haapapuro, James Pate, Kevin Harris, and others in one room while simultaneously meeting new people! A collaboration between Sinclair Community College, Ebonia Gallery, and the Dayton Visual Arts Center (DVAC), REACH is a day long event promoting "learning in the arts and humanities by creating an atmosphere that will build respect, knowledge, appreciation, and understanding for the area's culturally diverse populations." From 8AM to 4PM, this post entails eight hours of rich, implanted seeds that'll likely bear fruit to share..... Beautiful display right? After a lovely continental breakfast to fuel the body, REACH's proceedings got started by co-coordinators Tess ...

The second part of the ongoing REACH artist series at Sinclair Community College, James Pate's "Attack" charcoal drawing series is an exploration of the tempestuous beauty, alluring grace, and ferocious power in the African American female body. Opposing oppression and weakness, she is bold, brazen, and bare, her nude, voluptuous body a towering strength in every kinetically activated composition. A stunning companion to Linda Stein's "Fluidity of Gender: Sculpture" exhibit, Pate's sensuously captivating world of sleek, crisp lines and elegantly etched value structures showcase a woman clad not in clothing, but the fiery cloak of awareness in every fiber of her skin, telling the viewer that she needs no hero, no rescuer of the detrimental reality and terrifying peril. On the verge of being attacked and pursued by targeting minute airplanes, she pays the metaphorically crafted danger no mind, averting her gaze away, seeming disinterested, nonchalant, or ...

Dear Lips, People say that I am supposed to like you, But at times, I cannot make do. Your bow tipped shape is not so nice, The only thing you are good for is to entice. Too fat, too big, and too full, Are you not breaking a golden rule? I hate how men often stare, It is hard pretending to be unaware. No I am not in denial. Their comments are shocking, gross, and vile, See you are the dastardly villains in my world, Contents that of which the stomach hurled. Short in height, no I do not wish to be taller, I want you both to be a little bit smaller. Sad and ashamed, Face Dear Face, What is the meaning of this disgrace? For surely I do not take up so much space. Eyes are big, almond, and brown, Wide, broad nose takes the middle crown. I am a striking part above the chin, Certainly a situation that is beyond a win! You should love me. And let this be! Of a woman who is so beautiful and chaste, Men do appreciate such fine, quality taste. Do not feel this impending doubt. And take the fooli...