TUNE IN NOW :)

YES! It's that time again :) Me, DJ Sassy Yassy and DJ Tobey Tobez are going LIVE from 7-8pm! If you dont have a radio...that's ok, tune in on your comp with this link: http://org.elon.edu/wsoe/ Bringing you some old old school jams, smooth jazz, and R&B.

My First Avid Project: Le Sweet Escape With Le Mistress

For my Digital Media Convergence class, we are learning to edit videos with Avid. Bye bye FinalCut Pro! Our project was to scan a photograph from a famous classic photographer in high resolution, crop the photo from different angles and make a movie/story line using that one photo. BE NICE! lol This is my first time using Avid.

WATCH AND ENJOY! I will get better...so if you need a video edited, hit up your girl!

If you'd like to view the video on Youtube, comment, or check out my other videos, click the Youtube link in the bottom right hand corner of the vid. 

Only Black or White: No Grey Areas! Race is a Social Construct

Now what I'm about to share with you is an extremely sensitive topic, but as a journalist at heart and one who looks for truth in everything, I do not feel it necessary to hide my evolving and ever blossoming understanding of life as we live in it today. The first half is history based, what I am referring to are my own personal conclusions on a rather big silent race issue, which will come later. Now in my Intro to Human Services Class we are reading from a book called "The Meaning of Difference." Essentially this whole book is about how and why humans have created, separated and categorized people into different classes...race, gender, socioeconomic class, etc., what the so-called [socially-constructed] meanings are of these classes, why these are significant and how these meanings shape our lives' potential. Follow me on this. I am not citing what I am saying but there are sources to back this theory up and if you are the slightest bit of a historian you know this to be true. Now, in the Bible and in Ancient times the term "race" was never used! People belonged to certain ethnic groups, where each had a special/certain culture and language and lived in a particular place. People were known by either who their fathers (ancestors) were and/or where they originated from. Remember old names that would have a first name and be followed by ...of a country. For example : "Joshua of Syria" or "Joshua de Syria." In the Bible and other ancient texts, it is often that you find extensive lists of descendent names before the scripture or text ever mentions the actual person of  the story's focus. "Race" was not formulated until colonization when Europeans conquested Native American lands and divided people into the categories of Mongoloids, Negroids  and  Caucasoids. Race was associated with certain biological/physical features which allowed people to categorize a certain look with certain negative characteristics and therefore assume a position of superiority. This construct was only perpetuated by slavery and later segregation even after World War II. Though up to that point America was preaching "Oh Democracy, justice and freedom for all," in the new suburbias (Levitt Town) being built it was ruled that if blacks were to live on these properties their presence would make the value of the houses go down and pollute the people. CRAZY! Then with these laws come the segregation and division of living communities and read-lining the poorest, blacks communities as 'hazardous.' Now it makes sense that even today, though schools are supposedly or by law, desegregated, our schools and communities are still yet so segregated with the exception of a few phenomenal cities, which even if diversified, most likely lack access to the best education and services there are. I highly suggest watching the documentary "Race an Illusion." It did not help that public policies and court rulings continuously perpetuated these so-called racial differences. It will blow your mind!

Now here's my revelation on the issue of black and white [marriage], as society likes to paint it. I ask that you please be respectful that this is only the opinion of one, though I think my evolution of thought symbolizes a breakthrough and positive progress. "I think a lot of black women's anger when seeing a black man with a white woman comes from all of the pain that we endured that the White Americans put us through...as was shown in the documentary and lived by our grandparents. Honestly, I used to think this way. Not because I wanted to but that's what I grew up seeing and hearing, especially on tv. I have been exposed lots more now to this dynamic (black man/white woman) and I'm proud to say that over time my heart has changed and I am no longer mad or jealous when I see this, but even moreso I have a heart for their children as they may have identity struggles growing up (as our reading "What is Race? What is Ethnicity?" mentioned). They may potentially struggle as they do not wholely fit into the racial constructs/boundaries society created, which did and does not leave much room for those of mixed-decent, and I don't just mean blacks and whites. Not to say "I feel bad for them," but I am now mindful and aware of these things. Black women like to think that our black men want white women because it's a power thing...a move up in society...and this may very well have even the slightest bit of truth to it, (just as people of a lower status may marry one of higher economic status to elevate their living status and opportunities) but who am I to say that LOVE has a color or race? Love is also an abstract ideal. Who am I to say that they're not truly in love? Now the problem comes in when these black men marry a white women and turn around and cast negative judgements on black women and say things like "they're too ignorant....they're too ghetto, they don't know how to love and obey their men." TOTALLY FALSE! AAANNNDDD that makes them no better in mindset than the angry black women. I have seen many many black women (especially Christian women) be sweet, beautiful, loving, obeying and supportive wives to their black husbands and gladly willing to fill their husband's physical desires as well and physical and emotional needs...as I plan to do for mine. First lady Michelle Obama is a prime example. And for some reason...America would like to believe that the president's and his wife's loving relationship is an illusion. WE ARE COMPLETELY BRAINWASHED! Race and political party is everything. As a poll participant I've had several whites say to me over the phone..."I USED to be a faithful Democrat until Obama got in there!" Now what in the world is THAT supposed to mean? "Are you saying to me sir that you refuse to be a Democrat because a Black man who is a Democrat is now in office?" If not, it certainly sounds like it. Have we seriously boiled down to this? Seriously? Everything is only either white or black...no grey areas. Life's not that simple and our brains shouldn't be either!"

Oh How Different the Presidential Debates Would be If the Moderator Were a Black Female!

Excuse me? May I finish the question first? lol

Black Girls Rock Show Was Great!

Hey there! First and foremost I want to thank you all for voting for me to be one of this year's Making a Difference (MAD) Girls on behalf of Black Girls Rock Incorporated and Black Entertainment Television! Because of your votes, love, and support ScholarCHIPS is continually growing in popularity...now it's one thing for it to gain popularity, but please pray that along with that more people are touched to donate so that the young people who really need the help can go to college! Education is the golden key to the obtaining the American Dream!
 The weekend before last was my trip to New York to the Black Girls Rock show taping...it was absolutely amazing! Now there is no possible way for me to write to you ALL THAT HAPPENED...so therefore I put it in a Youtube video so when you have time, please check out the video below...but what I will say is that I met Idris Elba! He is a famous and oh so handsome Black British award-winning actor and DJ. The show will air on tv Sunday, November 4th, 2012 at 8pm on BET...so be on the lookout for that. I also just did a video on "If The Presidential Debates Moderator was a Black Female"...just some slight humour of what was in my head. I will post that also.
Don't forget to catch me on the radio (DJ Sassy Yazzy) Saturday nights from 7-8 on WSOE 98.3 Elon, Burlington. http://org.elon.edu/wsoe/

October 5th Marks ONE YEAR of YBB Blog!

Hello beautiful and handsome ladies and gents!

I hope you are enjoying this Fall season...but man, I must say, today in North Carolina, it felt like WINTER! So cold. BBBbbbrrrrr

October 5th, marked one whole year of "Young, Black and Beautiful...In College" Blog. My oh my how time flies. Last year was interesting, but sophomore year, even moreso...a lot more exciting things happening, yet new challenges as well. I always find it unbelievable when people try to hold you down and they go above and beyond, out of their way, and set aside actual time to do something to hurt you. I realize though, that unfortunately everyone does not have the best intentions and everyone does not have a heart of love and forgiveness. I made the promise to myself at a young age, that no matter how terrible 'the world' was to me and the 'adult world' that I would NEVER let the world make me sour, bitter, and/or mean or take away my joy. And people on campus keep asking me how I stay so positive. I did not realize that positivity of mind always, was so rare. lol In everything I do and everyone I spend my time with, none of it is negative. 'Negative' is like death to me, I cut it off immediately.

However, what I've also found as a truth for myself is that yet in my lowest moments, is where my best strength comes from...my best writing, my best poetry, my best revelations! I also realize that no matter what I want to make a reality, it will not happen if it's not God timing for me. This is hard to accept, yet there are also some amazing things happening that I did not ask for and never even thought about.

Though it was attempted to 'censor' my story/voice on campus, I turned around and five people (and counting) have asked to capture my story in their school papers and projects! The president of the university tweeted to support me! ScholarCHIPS now has new board members, an official race, and an advisory board. This is all nothing but God's favor...I can't even deny that. Not bragging, but testifying to His grace.

Evenmoreso, I will be able to go on a full paid trip to New York with my grandmother...a plane, a limo, everything! I have watched her sacrifice and struggle for years, not being able to take a trip outside of DC, and now look at the turn of events we've prayed for FOR YEARS! I count it all joy, the little things and the even bigger! I hope this woman knows how much I love her and appreciate her. This is the beginning of the many ways I will say 'Thank You!'

After this evaluation of my life thus far, and particularly over the last year, I've grown to know more of what life is all about and how choices to deal with situations can make for a turn of events. Based on your choice, a negative situation can turn positive. It's all in your hands. Though I am imperfect, I try to give God my all and others my all. In addition, I am expecting the blessings He's promised to me. I will keep speaking truth, love and inspiration, as long as I breath and as long as you all let me :)

My last prayer is that the event taking place this Saturday (I will not spill the beans til after) will not just stop there. I pray that THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE, will not stop at just that. I pray to meet new people who I will know and will positively impact my life for the rest of my life....new opportunities! This is only the beginning. For those of you who are not big on religion or Christianity  I must say that this is one of those times I CANNOT DENY the source of my strength. My faith is honestly 98% of who I am. If I leave that out, I am not being truthful and I leave out almost all of myself. I challenge you to reflect over the past year of your life and commit to things you want to do differently next time, or positive things you want to continue doing. I miss getting feedback, but I understand that in silence is often when we hear the loudest!

LOVE ALWAYS YAZ XOXOXO

"Here is my heart, my mind. Lord here's my life. My Everything. Take it. It's yours, oh Lord." Mali music