It's Foto Friday! And Variety is the Spice of Life!

Mother and Grandmother, Arlene Washington, is terribly proud of her Beautiful Brown Family and OBG is tickled [Brown] to present her family right here on the OBG blog!

"These are my Brown Girls and their children. What beautiful people. I love them all and am so happy [that] they also have [a] wide variet[y] of friends and acquaintances. We have had huge varieties [of cultures in our family] which makes for...well rounded people. [I]f it keeps up, the world could actually become a more loving and tolerant place! Love your site and am sharing with the children and grands! Thank you, Arlene."

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The One Brown Girl Challenge

The One Brown Girl Challenge: Cook with a spice you've never used before!

Have you been eyeballing a recipe that calls for spices like saffron, cumin, coriander or tumeric? Have you seen unusual spices at the market but weren't sure how to use them? Go outside of your comfort zone by performing a quick Web search for a recipe using a spice you aren't accustomed to and surprise your friends and/or family with a tasty treat from another culture!

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Mixing It Up in the Canary Islands

Mermaids of the Canary Islands

The Brown Girl mermaids in this lovely painting reflect a true cultural crossroads of all of the interesecting cultures that populate The Canary Islands. The Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago, consist of 7 islands in the Atlantic Ocean located just off the NW coast of mainland Africa 100 km west of the disputed border between Morocco and the Western Sahara. With a Canarian population of a little over 2 million (of which over 1.5 million are Canarian-born and close to 200,000 of which are from the Spanish mainland), the cultural mix includes foreign residents that are Portuguese, Italian, Flemish, German, British, Colombian, Venezuelan, Cuban, Argentinian, African and Moroccan. How about that for mixing it up? ;-)

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The Brown Girl World: An Anonymous Brown Girl's Story

A Pakistani Brown Girl's Story: An Immigrant Remembers

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I suppose we cannot blame our friends for associating Pakistan with endless angry mustached mobs and the pervading image of a tortured Daniel Pearl. When one thinks of Pakistan, one thinks of burning effigies, corrupt army officials and of nukes. A truly informed outsider might even venture to say something about the cricket team or about the female face of Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto [1953 - 2007; pictured above]. But behind the oblong shadow cast by the media's coverage of a rotting political situation is a nation teeming with undiscovered potential. After all, how does one explain the fragrance of the orange blossoms that line the roads between Lahore and Islamabad? Trees clutch wearily to the weighty burden of their citrus offspring, hesitant to let go, stooping against a backdrop of aurous sarson fields. Read more here.

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Black in Australia

The Australian Journal of Media & Culture states that there is great diversity between different Indigenous communities and societies in Australia, each with its own unique mixture of cultures, customs and languages. In present day Australia these groups are further divided into local communities.

The two Australian Aboriginal models picture below are referred to as "Black" in Austrialia and grew up being teased and taunted because of the color of their skin. Apparently, there are only a few Black working models in Australia and racism against the indigenous of Australia continues to be an ongoing issue.

The group of Aboriginal women further below in this post are also referred to as Black and also face the same challenges in terms of racism.

What a shame. These beautifully Brown indigeneous women boast a unique and fascinating history. Brown is beautiful no matter what part of the world you're from.

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl...

10 Questions with... Branice McKenzie!

Branice McKenzie is a singer and songwriter whose four-octave range has been hailed around the world. She has worked with such luminaries as Harry Belafonte, Gregory Hines, Roberta Flack, Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba, to name a few. Most recently, Branice co-hosted Oprah & Friends Celebrate Susan L. Taylor and was a guest performing artist at the 43rd Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington. D.C. "I have not only enjoyed her talent, I have been inspired by it." - Harry Belafonte

(1) What are your cultural origins? I am of African descent; a descendant of slaves in this country. (2) Name 5 beautiful things about your culture. Rhythm, music, orature, connection to the Earth, un-ending creativity. (3) What is your favorite food outside of your own culture? Indian (4) Who is the most famous Brown Girl you have ever met? Miriam Makeba (5) Can you dance? Can I dance? What-tah! Like a fool!!!!! (6) What do you like the most about your appearance? My smile, my lips and my hourglass figure... (7) Where is the most awe-inspiring place you have visited in the world? Victoria Falls, Zimabawe. (8) Which 3 living Brown Girls would you like to have tea with? Lena Horne, Ann Moody, Ruth Simmons. (9) What is your favorite chocolate indiscretion? Godiva Key Lime Truffle. (10) Currently, what is your favorite quote? "When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid." Audre Lorde

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West Africa's Next Top Model

You don't necessarily need to be a Tyra Banks fan to recognize the enormous success of the "Next Top Model" international franchise phenom-enon. In addition to Top Model franchises in countries like Brazil, Mexico, Thailand, Nigeria, Ghana, and the Phillipines, to name a few, it looks like Top Model's next stop is West Africa. Hosted by top Nigerian model Oluchi Onweagba, this international version of America's Next Top Model is well worth waiting for, dontchathink?

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Cuba Rocks!

If you are an American citizen living in the United States, then you know that travel / spending U.S. dollars in Cuba is restricted by the U.S. Government. How unfortunate considering the richness of Cuban culture. OBG is looking forward to the day when all bans are lifted. How about you?

Note dated 2/27/11:  Cuba is on my list of places to go and I'm aiming for January 2012.  Have you been to Cuba?

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WOW: Boudoir

The Word of the Week (WOW) is boudoir; pronounced "bood-wahr". A boudoir is a lady's private bedroom, sitting room or dressing room. In Caribbean English, a boudoir is the front room of the house where women entertain family and friends. In recent years, the boudoir has come to represent a style of furnishing for the bedroom that is traditionally described as ornate or busy and tends to focus on Renaissance and French inspired bedroom styles. Likewise, in the photographer's studio, it has become very fashionable to create a set of sensual images for ladies of all ages, shapes, and sizes in the "boudoir style," which lends itself to partially clothed female images in lingerie. Interestingly, the word is derived from the French verb "bouder" which mean "to pout." Hmmmm. Do women retire to their bedrooms to pout?

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Where Are You From?

Have you ever asked the question: "Where are you from?" only to get a blank stare or a sarcastic response? Is a Brown Girl with Malaysian parents that has lived in the U.S. for her entire life from America or from Malaysia? Is an American-born Brown Girl with South African parents living in France from France? Is "Where are you from?" the real question? Or were you simply curious about the person's cultural background?

There's no harm in asking people about themselves if done with genuine kindness, respect and curiosity. Consider asking a person "Where is your accent from?" or "What is your cultural background?" so as not to come across as offensive, insensitive or inappropriate. Who knows? You might end up having a terribly interesting conversation. ;-)

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It's Foto Friday! And the Children go Bling!

Rachel is a 9 year old Brown Girl that simply cannot live without The (crystal) Bling on her brown.girls.rock. tee and OBG doesn't think she should have to! Although her Limited Edition tee (which was in the Latin GRAMMY® Awards Gift Bag) is a little big for Rachel at the moment, she doesn't seem to care as evidenced by her lovely smile. Besides, she'll grow into it. =)

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Quick to Judge?

Sophie, a Jamaican woman living in the U.S., became a little irritated recently while filling out a questionnaire that asked her to identify her ethnicity by checking a box. "There are no choices that relate to me on this form," she said. "I am not African-American. I am West Indian." Sophie quickly placed a check mark next to the "Other" box and wrote: Caribbean American in the space provided. "That's who I am," she said.

We are all guilty of making judgments about people from time to time, aren't we? Have you ever looked at a person and made what you thought was the correct determination about what that person's ethnicity or cultural background might be? PBS has an interesting exercise that gives people a chance to try [their] hand at "sorting" individuals to see if it matches how people think of themselves. Click here to give PBS' sorting test a try. The results might be a little surprising.

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Malaitan Brown Girl

Can you guess where this delightfully blonde Brown Girl is from? According to National Geographic, the Lau girl seen here is from Malaita, the largest of the Solomon Islands. A new genetic study has found that Melanesians such as the Solomon Islanders are remarkably diverse because of thousands of years of relative isolation. The study also found that the ancestors of modern-day Polynesians and Micronesians were most likely East Asians who island-hopped quickly through Melanesia.

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The Brown Girl World: Veronica's Story

Veronica's Story: The Secret Latina ------------------------

"She's a platanos-frying, malta Dukesa-drinking, salsa-dancing Mamacita - my dark-skinned Panamanian mother. She came to this country when she was 21, her sense of culture intact, her Spanish flawless. Even today, more than 20 years since she left her home country to become an American citizen, my mother still considers herself Panamanian and checks 'Hispanic' on census forms." Read more here.

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl...

10 Questions with...Tai Johnston

Tai Johnston is a performer rooted in dance, aerial acrobatics, and theatrical and film acting. Her passion and love for advancing the human race keeps her in school, where she is currently finishing her hypnotherapy education, and writing - everything from screenplays to children's stories. What are your cultural origins? European (German), "Black" (origin unknown). Name 5 beautiful things about your culture. Both sides of my culture encompass growth and strength. Uniqueness. Trailblazing roles in history. The ability to witness the other side of shame. Christmas and Kwanza. What is your favorite food outside of your own culture? Middle Eastern. Who is the most famous Brown Girl you have ever met? Maya Angelou Can you dance? Heavens Yes! What do you like the most about your appearance? That it is unique. Where is the most awe-inspiring place you have visited in the world? The Barrier Reef by Belize, Central America. Which 3 living Brown Girls would you like to have tea with? Michelle Obama, Jada P. Smith, Natasha Trethewey What is your favorite chocolate indiscretion? I don't have one. Currently, what is your favorite quote? "I try to teach my heart to want nothing it can't have." Alice Walker (b.1944)

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WOW: Paparazzi

While historians have differing views about the actual etymology of the word, “Paparazzi” – OBG’s WOW (Word of the Week) - is an Italian word known all over the world to describe pesky photographers. French tabloid Paris Match, Dutch tabloid Story Magazine, British tabloid The Sun, and US tabloid The National Enquirer are all known to use paparazzi to aggressively take candid photographs of celebrities. Could you peacefully live your life under the constant scrutiny of cameras?

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Princess Tiana

Disney will finally introduce Princess Tiana this December (2009), an African-American Brown Girl princess from New Orleans! Princess Jasmine, Disney's fictional Arabian princess, is the heroine of the 1992 Disney film, Aladdin, and Disney's first Brown Girl princess while [Brown Girl] Pocahontas was Disney's first American Princess (1995) as the daughter of a Native American chief. Mulan (1998), Disney's Chinese Princess, is the only Disney princess that is not a princess by royalty.

So with 8 official Disney Princesses and Princess Tiana and Rapunzel on the horizon, who will be next? A Lovely Latina Princess? An Amazing Asian Indian Princess? What about a mixed race Princess? What's your guess?

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Brown is Beautiful

In the spirit of Foto Fridays, here is a picture of two beautiful Brown Girls from the Dominican Republic in traditional (Taino) face paint. Brown is beautiful.

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It's Foto Friday! And a Mini Brown Girl is Rockin' OBG!

Blair is an absolutely adorable 7 year Brown Girl from New Orleans, Louisiana that says she is proud to rock her Blessed Brown Girl tee everywhere she goes! And OBG is proud to have her represent! Rock on, Blair!

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I Adore Sonia Sotomayor!

She is a brilliant confident Brown Girl Latina that is Making History in a way that is hard to measure. She is très très cool and ohsoveryright for the position. (Oh yeah, and in case anyone has forgotten, she was nominated by the President of the United States.)

OBG created a Limited Edition tee to honor Sonia Sotomayor and if enough are pre-sold, the tee will go to print! Even if the tee doesn't print, rest assured that OBG is behind this judicial dynamo 100% as she goes on this mind-boggling journey.

Do you adore Sonia Sotomayor?!?!?!

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Seeing Double

How many examples of a double standard can you think of? Dictionary.com defines double standard as "any code or set of principles containing different provisions for one group of people than for another." Dark and Lovely vs. Fair and Lovely. One Brown Girl or Asian Girl Power vs. One White Girl or even White Girl Power. Skin bleaching products vs. tanning products. The list is virtually endless.

Here is one OBG reader's point of view: "As a white male I could never get away with starting a business (not that I would) called One White Man - Celebrate being White. Doesn't that just sound crazy? It would automatically categorize me as being part of the KKK and I would certainly be called a racist. Don't you think?"

Is it fair to have one set of rules for one group and another set of rules for another group? Or is society trying to create balance where there is no balance?

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The Brown Girl World: Laura's Story

Laura's Story: Beauty Through The Eyes of an Asian Adoptee (stock photo)

"As a Korean-American woman, I’ve spent many years trying to debunk myths about Asian beauty. The seductress with the long black locks. The almond-shaped eyes. The perfectly petite body. Blah, blah, blah.

"But I’m also an adoptee, whose parents are white. So before I could become a myth buster I had to arrive at my own definition of beauty. It’s one that exists outside of the blond, blue-eyed model, as well as that of the exotically beautiful Asian woman.

"Right now, one of the most popular plastic surgeries for Asian women (and men) is getting their eyes 'done' to look more Western. For an Asian adoptee growing up in a predominately white environment that only makes it tougher to figure out one’s identity." Read more here.

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl...

10 Questions with... Yayoi Lena Winfrey!

Yayoi Lena Winfrey is a writer, filmmaker and visual artist residing on the Left Coast. In 2002, she self-published an anthology called "Brothers and Others" featuring 28 Black women writing about Black men. Yayoi's feature film, Watermelon Sushi, is currently in development.

1. What are your cultural origins? I was born in Tokyo to a Japanese national and an African American soldier. 2. Name 5 beautiful things about your culture. Japanese: (1) The way history is preserved through statues and original artifacts, and the taiga (drama) of samurai/shogun life on NHK television. (2) The sound of enka (a traditional style of song). (3) The way the language is so descriptive and complicated. (4) The way the elderly are highly revered. (5) The sense of community and competition as a group. American of African descent: (1) The Haitian Revolution and the Statue of the Unknown Slave. (2) RastaFarI, reggae and Maroons like Granny Nanny. (3) The Black Panther Party for Self-Defense and their Afros. (4) Brazilian Capoeira, Lucumi and Candomble and its Ifa roots. (5) The sense of community and competition as a group. (3) What is your favorite food outside of your own culture? Vietnamese vegan spring rolls served atop vegan pho. (4) Who is the most famous Brown Girl you have ever met? Halle Berry. (5) Can you dance? Can I dance?!? I taught Fayard Nicholas how to tapdance! I taught Michael Jackson how to Moonwalk! (6) What do you like the most about your appearance? I like that my hair often scares others. (7) Where is the most awe-inspiring place you have visited in the world? Everywhere I go, I find sacred spots from Ocho Rios, Jamaica to Waimea Falls, Oahu; from New Orleans to New York. I am awed by them all. (8) Which 3 living Brown Girls would you like to have tea with? My cuz, Oprah. My fave author, Toni Morrison. My fave activist, Winnie Mandela. (9) What is your favorite chocolate indiscretion? Chocolate men because I don't eat white sugar. (10) Currently, what is your favorite quote? "Walk down the middle and get shot down by both sides." Malcolm X

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Bleach Isn't Just for Laundry

If you have a moment, please take a peek at this 30 second Fair & Lovely ad. How does it make you feel? We are now in the 21st century, and skin bleaching is still common all over the world. In places like Jamaica, Africa, the Middle East, the Phillipines and India, women are continuing to lighten their skin because of the value they place on being fair and fair's perceived connection to being lovely. The young lady in the Fair & Lovely ad says the obstacle to obtaining her dream job was [the shade of] her skin. Is there any truth to the ad? Is the ad company just keeping it real or are they way off? Should the companies that make these products be held accountable for contributing to the poor self-esteem typical of many Brown Girls? Or are we on our own trying to solve this age-old issue? In the spirit of empowerment, what kind and thought-provoking advice would you give to a Brown Girl using skin bleaching products to lighten her lovely Brown skin? The Brown Girl that wrote the The Fair Skin Battle for Brown Girl Magazine seems to have first hand knowledge about the subject as well as an empowering point of view.

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WOW (Word of the Week): Bellísima!

Whether you say it in Spanish - bellísima! - or Italian - bellissima! - say it with gusto! Both are adjectives that mean very beautiful (!) or wonderful (!) when describing something (feminine) that takes your breath away. Use bellísima! or bellissima! to describe a beautiful Brown baby Girl fast asleep or beautiful Brown Girls at a wedding, a prom, a beauty pageant or a night on the town! Just for fun: See how many times you spot something or someone that takes your breath away this week and use your new word to show your appreciation. It could make someone feel absolutely beautiful...

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15 Year Old African-American Teen Girl Flies Solo Across the United States!

Kimberly Anyadike went on quite an adventure! From today's news: "A 15-year-old Los Angeles girl who navigated a single-engine Cessna through thunderstorms in Texas and took in breathtaking aerial views of Arizona's sunsets landed her plane to cheering crowds at Compton Woodley Airport on Saturday. She is believed to be the youngest African American female pilot to fly solo across the country. Kimberly Anyadike took off from Compton 13 days ago with an adult safety pilot and Levi Thornhill, an 87-year-old who served with the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II. They flew to Newport News, Va., making about a dozen stops along the way." Click here for more of this fabulous Brown Girl story and click here to see Kimberly in a television interview. Kimberly is the epitome of a Gutsy Brown Girl!

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl...

10 Questions with Aditi Mehta!

Aditi Mehta, a tax consultant by day and a magazine editor by night, lives in Houston, Texas. During her free time she pursues her passion: Brown Girl Magazine, an online publication dedicated to young South Asian women living in the US. Her hobbies consist of writing, jamming out to her favorite tunes, and spending time with her girlfriends.

10. What are your cultural origins? * Indian * 9. Name 5 beautiful things about your culture. * (1) The emphasis on family and sticking together through thick and thin.* (2) The colors! The beauty! I picture the gorgeous jewelry, bright clothing and towers of spices.* (3) The crazy music that will make you want to get up and move! * (4) Those cheesy Bollywood movies. I just can't resist. * (5) The amazing ability for any Indian person to immediately strike up a conversation with any other Indian anywhere in the world. * 8. What is your favorite food outside of your own culture? *Tex-Mex. No one does Tex-Mex better than Texas! * 7. Who is the most famous Brown Girl you have ever met? * I once saw a famous Bollywood actress, Kareena Kapoor, in the Bombay International Airport. * 6. Can you dance? * I'm not sure if I dance well but I absolutely love to! * 5. What do you like the most about your appearance? * My height. I [used to feel] too tall for an Indian girl (even though I'm really only 5'7"). * 4. Where is the most awe-inspiring place you have visited in the world? * Hands down, Berlin. While studying abroad, I fell in love with the city and its impressive history. The city...remains ever-changing and full of art and culture. There so much to see from museums, architecture, and even awesome places to party it up. *3. Which 3 living Brown Girls would you like to have tea with? * Sonal Shah * Michelle Obama * Magical Anjali * 2. What is your favorite chocolate indiscretion? * Fudgy brownies fresh out of the oven. * 1. Currently, what is your favorite quote? *Que sera, sera!*

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It's Foto Friday! Brown Girls Rockin' OBG

Say hello to Brown Girls Charvi, Sarika and Pavithra, Publicity Assistants with Brown Girl Magazine, an online publication that caters to Southeast Asian Brown Girls in the U.S.! They look cRaZy cute in their OneBrownGirl gear!

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RACE: Are We So Different?

The RACE Project is a project and exhibit brought to us all by the American Anthropological Association. The exhibit is currently at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia and moves on to Los Angeles beginning in late September. Click here for the tour schedule. I'm going; are you?

The quote below is from The RACE Project:

"We expect people to look different. And why not? Like a fingerprint, each person is unique. Every person represents a one-of-a-kind, combination of their parents’, grandparents’ and family’s ancestry. And every person experiences life somewhat differently than others.

"Differences… they’re a cause for joy and sorrow. We celebrate differences in personal identity, family background, country and language. At the same time, differences among people have been the basis for discrimination and oppression. Yet, are we so different? Current science tells us we share a common ancestry and the differences among people we see are natural variations, results of migration, marriage and adaptation to different environments. How does this fit with the idea of race?

"Looking through the eyes of history, science and lived experience, the RACE Project explains differences among people and reveals the reality – and unreality – of race. The story of race is complex and may challenge how we think about race and human variation, about the differences and similarities among people."

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