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In Living Color (Originally posted on 9/7/2010)

What's going on everybody? I decided to try something new, and see how it flows. My little brother "vlogs", and my sister has something in the works, so I figure it's my time to sample the sauce. This is my first blog, and I will title it, "Confessions of a Big Dreamer". Jacked Karinne Steffans there a little bit, but she made her paper already.

Yesterday was Labor Day, the most ironic of days because we do NO work, and I continued to contemplate a very serious discussion I had with my mother, sister, and her two college friends. So, today's topic of discussion: The prominent black man, and his desires for women outside his race. Now, personal disclaimer: I love the sisters, but I wouldn't disrespect an interracial couple. Your decision is your decision. The true issue here is the great impact that interracial dating leaves on young African-American women. Fellas, If you ever want to see disdain, disgust, or any other word beginning with "d", bring your Caucasian woman around a group of single black women. To a certain extent, their response is justified. According to a recent Yale study, 42% of Black women are unmarried, as opposed to 23% for whites. Couple that with the large disparity between black women and black men, and you can begin to understand the frustration of the single black woman as she watches black men, already outnumbered, diversify their "portfolio" by dating outside their race.

What are the reasons why brothers look elsewhere? I grew up in the suburbs, the mecca of interracial dating. It's like the Taj Mahal of Interracial Dating. Anyway, I've heard some crazy reasons. "Black girls are too ghetto," "I only see them as friends," "They're too loud." It can be scary the things that our young brothers say. Their foolish theories are empowered by society's perception of beauty:  Blonde hair, blue eyed, and thin as a rail. The perception is so preposterous, WHITE women have a hard time meeting the criteria. Nonetheless, this image is what is preached to men, black and white, as the mainstream perception of beautiful, even today. Finally, our biggest heroes...smh athletes and entertainers...are the biggest promoters of such. Chad Ochocinco is one of my brother Malcolm's favorite players, as he shares the same birthday as Malcolm and electrifies us with his great play and post-score tomfoolery. But as he searches for love, Ochocinco, who is so dark my late uncle would call him "Country Dark", selects a female outside his race, never mind that he all his children are fathered by black women. Do you, 85, but understand the message that you portray to our youth. We can teach our young black men to rap, play sports, even thug, but we can't teach them to properly love the women who gave us life? YOU TRIPPIN'.

So how do we address this? Amazingly, not all of the burden falls on the brothers. 1.) Ladies, do not be discouraged by the trends perpetuated on television. There are very qualified, ambitious, respectful black men on the market, looking for the right woman to grow and develop with. If you fall off the horse, get your booty back on and ride! 2.) Fellas, do not be had, don't be took, HOODWINKED, BAMBOOZLED...sorry, I was watching "Malcolm X"...understand what true beauty is...beauty is not what you see on tv and magazines. Beauty is the look in a woman's eye who supports you before it's fashionable. Beauty is the ability to nurture not only you, but your seed. Beauty is taking $100 worth of clothes and making it look like Fashion Week. Beauty is inner strength. Some qualities are exclusive, man. 3.) Ladies, when you do get your man, recognize his value and don't undermine it. You should not be blamed for prior relationships, and neither should he. Don't push the good ones away because of what the bad ones did.

Well back to dreamworld...Last night I dreamed I was Bow Wow in Lottery Ticket when Teairra Mari jumped on him. Lord have mercy...


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