WOW: Schadenfreude

Schadenfreude - OBG's Word of the Week (WOW) is - simply put - pleasure derived from the misfortune of others (yikes!). This German noun comes from "Schaden" (adversity, harm) and "Freude"(joy) and like all German nouns, it is typically capitalized, although it is often used in the English language without capitalization.

Have you ever giggled at someone who tripped and fell down while running across the street? (Ouch.) That's schadenfreude. Did you ever laugh at a reality show contestant that embarassed herself by pretending to be rich and popular only to find out on national television that she's broke and not particularly well liked? (Oh dear.) Again, that's schadenfreude. And if you're a Project Runway fan that gets a secret thrill hearing Heidi announce "You're out" to a losing clothing designer, well, you know, that's schadenfreude too.

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Brown Girl in Nepal

Nepal is a landlocked country in South Asia bordered by China and India, which of course, provides for interesting cultural influences. It is the world's youngest republic and Kathmandu is the capital city. The main language is Nepali. Fun Food Fact: A typical Nepalese meal is dal-bhat-tarkari. Dal is a spicy lentil soup, served over bhat (boiled rice), served with tarkari (curried vegetables) together with achar (pickles) or chutni (spicy condiment made from fresh ingredients).

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It's Foto Friday!

"I was at a John Mayer concert in December and rocked this shirt -- got lots of compliments and told ladies where to find it. Be blessed and keep doing what you do!! Love ya." - Stephanie

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The One Brown Girl Challenge

Dream big.

Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become.

- James Allen

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The Brown Girl World: Deepa's Story

Deepa's Story: Romeo and Juliet (Indian Style)

I never expected to marry an Indian American, regardless of the fact that I am Indian myself. Born and raised in Michigan (yes I do that thing where I put up my right hand and show you where I live on the "glove"), we really didn't grow up with an extended Indian community. In college, my parents called me the United Nations of daters. They jokingly lobbied for me to give India a chance, but they were extremely supportive of my choices in boyfriends, trusting, I hope, that they had raised me to look for values they would consider "Indian" if not necessarily an Indian person.

As I get older I realize that values I considered "Indian" as a child I simply consider pro-social and beneficial as an adult. Mores such as respecting your elders, believing in the sacredness of marriage, understanding that family comes first. I also grow more and more in awe of my parents who bucked tradition and entered into a "love marriage," despite the fact that each of their siblings went the "arranged marriage" route.

Read more here.

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl

Whether or not you're a fan of beauty pageants, there is no disputing the sea of Brown Girl beauties representing every corner of the world at the Miss Universe pageant. Miss Dominican Republic, Ada Aimée De la Cruz, the 1st runner up in the 2009 Miss Universe pageant held on August 23, 2009, is one such beauty.

According to her bio, Ada was born in Villa Mella and raised in Villa Altagacia and lives with her mother, grandparents, her younger brother and little cousin. In the Dominican press, she is fondly referred to as the Dominican Cinderella because her grandmother was a maid and her family grew up poor. Fluent in both English and Spanish, this 6' Brown Girl beauty is definitely a winner...

JUNE 8, 2010 UPDATE:  Ada has traded pageants for politics at age 23 and will serve as deputy mayor of the municipality where she was born after being elected in the May 16, 2010 legislative elections.  Click here for details.

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WOW: Brownie

I bet you thought a Brownie - OBG's Word of the Week (WOW) - was just a bar of moist and chewy chocolate goodness that tastes great with a cup of tea or a big glass of milk, right? Or a group of darling 2nd and 3rd grade toothless Girl Scouts in delightful little uniforms. Well, you might be surprised to learn that a Brownie is also a legendary kind of elf popular in folklore around Scotland and England too. "Customarily brownies are said to inhabit houses and aid in tasks around the house. However, they don't like to be seen and will only work at night, traditionally in exchange for small gifts or food. They take quite a delight in porridge and honey. They usually abandon the house if their gifts are called payments, or if the owners of the house misuse them. Brownies make their homes in an unused part of the house." Who knew? In fact, the Clevelands Browns used a brownie elf (pictured above right) as their official mascot from 1946 until it was phased out in the mid-1960s.

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Costume Malfunction?

The costume selection of Miss Peru in the upcoming Miss Universe pagaent has the presidents of both Peru and Bolivia in a tizzy. Apparently, the "Devil's Dance" is a traditional dance in both Peru and Bolivia, and Bolivia "has accused the Miss Peru organisers of unfairly appropriating Bolivian cultural heritage." It's terribly interesting how customs and traditions mix and cross-over into neighboring countries; and it is equally interesting how that cross-over can turn into political upheaval. For the full story, click here and here.

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It Don't Matter if You're Black or White...

"See, It's Not About Races / Just Places / Faces / Where Your Blood / Comes From / Is Where Your Space Is / I've Seen The Bright / Get Duller / I'm Not Going To Spend My Life Being A Color .... It Don't Matter if You're Black or White..."

Lyrics courtesy of Michael Jackson

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It's Foto Friday!

You can tell by that gleam in her eye that OBG Advocate Tina Ortega of Las Vegas, Nevada is one Gutsy Brown Girl.

"I am LOVIN the work you do! Thank you beautiful brown girl!" - Tina

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The One Brown Girl Challenge

The One Brown Girl Challenge: Gather and give.

Do you have an old coat in your closet that doesn't fit or that you might not have worn in a few years? Or an old comfortable blanket that has been tucked away on the back of a shelf? Don't bother waiting for Spring cleaning or even the upcoming holiday season to roll around to be benevolent. Instead, gather up a few things and ship them off to your favorite charity today. Show some Brown Girl love and help keep someone warm. Gather and give. ;-)

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The Brown Girl World: Shannon's Story

Shannon's Story: Life on the Rez.

I live on a reservation, a First Nation community. You know, "The Rez." The reserve lands are 6,500 acres and the community that I live in is on a small fraction of that. The original reserve lands, however, were 17,000 acres, which is more than half of the current reserve. (What a difference!!) We hunt and fish on the land and there is a beautiful place called Indian Point where our two rivers meet. Although it was over ten years ago, I have fished on the rivers with my husband and caught some nice salmon. But fish are not as plentiful as when he fished as a child. In fact, a lot of things are different and not as plentiful now. Read more here.

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Harlem in Montmartre - PBS' Great Performances - 8/26/09

With 2008-09 marking its 36th season on PBS, Great Performances brings the best in the performing arts from across America and around the world to US television audiences with Harlem in Montmartre on Wednesday, August 26, 2009. (Check your local listing for the time.)

Harlem in Montmartre tells the story of the jazz age in Paris between the first and second World Wars, exploring an often neglected era in African-American cultural history. After peace was signed at Versailles, many black Americans remained in Europe rather than return to the brutal segregation and racism of America. Over the next two decades, they created an expatriate community of musicians, entertainers and entrepreneurs, primarily congregating in Paris’s hilly Montmartre neighborhood. Some achieved enduring fame, while others have faded into history. Inspired by the book by William A. Shack and utilizing rare archival material from both France and America, this documentary features footage of such key figures as James Reese Europe, Josephine Baker, Sidney Bechet, Bricktop, Eugene Bullard, Django Reinhardt and many more.

Get an email reminder about the show by clicking here.

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl...

Bollywood's most famous female actress and a former Miss World (1994), Indian Brown Girl Aishwarya Rai has been cited as one of the most beautiful women in the world. Married to Indian actor Abhishek Bachchan since 2007, Aish made her movie debut in 1997, but came to the attention of Bollywood in 1999 in the movie Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam for which she won the Filmfare Best Actress Award. She has acted in over forty movies in Hindi, English, Tamil and Bengali. In June 2009, she was declared the Female Star of The Decade at the tenth International Indian Film Academy Awards held in Macau. She has been immortalized in wax in London's Madame Tussaud's wax museum, is a global brand ambassador for L'Oreal, and was the first Bollywood personality to appear on Oprah's "Women Across the Globe" segment. She is another accomplished Brown Girl representing The Brown Girl World. Hooray for Bollywood!

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WOW: Environment

Whether the word is used by you, an ecologist or an activist, OBG's WOW (Word of the Week) is the noun environment, which is synonomous with surroundings. For example: (a) The environment at the office has been more relaxed since Jaimie left. (b) Although the mountains are lovely, I truly prefer living in a beach environment. (c) He grew up in an environment of crime and grinding poverty. (d) I have a duty to do all that I can to help save the environment.

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It's Foto Friday!

OBG Advocate Temecka Sandifer from The Windy City (Chicago) Illinois pointing out (with pride) that she's one Brainy Brown Girl. "Rocking my new shirt.... Thanks so much!!! I will continue spreading the word."

Go, Temecka!

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The Brown Girl World: Brijeet's Story

Brijeet's Story: The Search for a ‘Suitable’ Self. A few months before my wedding, I attended a former classmate's nuptials. Coincidentally, her traditional Punjabi Sikh wedding was being held in the same temple and reception hall where my interracial one would be held. I am Punjabi Sikh and I was about to marry a white man.

At the reception, my friend, who's beautiful and petite, wore a delicately embroidered red lehnga, a long formal outfit. The outfit transformed her into the quintessential Indian bride, who looked as though she had just stepped out of a Bollywood film. My own mother looked at her longingly and said to me, "I think we need to get you another reception outfit." I wanted to reply, "I think you need to get another daughter." But I bit my tongue.

Later, during the reception, I overheard two women comment on how fat they thought I was and how no one would ever marry me. When I nonchalantly flashed my diamond engagement ring, it shut them up. Read more here.

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl

Donyale Luna, née Peggy Anne Freeman, was the first Black supermodel to appear on the cover of British Vogue in 1966. In 1965, a sketch of her image appeared on the cover of Harper's Bazaar and in 1967, she inspired a line of fiberglass mannequins created in her image. A tragic woman with a racial identity crisis and a yen for LSD, this 6'1" beauty appeared in several films produced by Andy Warhol. (January 1, 1945 - May 17, 1979)

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WOW: Enchant

The WOW (Word of the Week) - enchant - means to fascinate, attract, captivate and enrapture. Likewise, enchant also means to bewitch and subject to magical influence (think the enchanted forest). Therefore, it makes sense that enchant has its roots in the Latin word incantāre (think incantation) which means to put a spell on.

So, when you are introduced to someone new this week, instead of saying "Nice to meet you," try it the French way and respond with Enchanté. Of course, if you aren't enchanted with the person, just say hi and keep it moving. ;-)

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It's Foto Friday! And a History Making Brown Girl is in the House!

Yesterday, history was made.

The Honorable Judge Sonia Sotomayor was confirmed as the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice by a vote of 68 -31. U.S. President Barack Obama had this to say about this history-making event: “With this historic vote, the Senate has affirmed that Judge Sotomayor has the intellect, the temperament, the history, the integrity and the independence of mind to ably serve on our nation’s highest court.” Sotomayor, a Puerto Rican Brown Girl from the Bronx, will take office on August 8, 2009.

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The One Brown Girl Challenge

The One Brown Girl Challenge: Take in a foreign film.

Whether you go to the cinema or stay at home with a DVD or satellite television, consider viewing a foreign film (with subtitles, of course).

And whether that foreign film was shot in 1959 (as was the Brazilian/Portugese "Black Orpheus" above) or in 2006 (see Tsoti), watching a foreign film is a cool and artsy way to check out cultural nuances and get entertained at the same time. When was the last time you saw a foreign film?

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Somalian Brown Girls

Somalia is a country located in the Horn of Africa. The Horn of Africa is a peninsula that juts for hundreds of kilometers into the Arabian Sea, is the easternmost projection of the African continent, and has a population of approximately 90 million of which 10 million are in Somalia. Referred to in medieval times as Bilad al Barbar ("Land of the Berbers"), the Horn of Africa not only includes Somalia, but the countries of Eritrea, Djibouti and Ethiopia as well.

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The Brown Girl World: A Snarky Brown Girl's Story

A Snarky Brown Girl's Story: When Dance Becomes Personal

I [can't] help but be a little down when I realize that studying abroad this term means that I’ll be missing all the multicultural events at my university back in the US. Granted my university isn’t renowned for it’s ethnic or even socio-economic range, [but] it’s always exciting to see young people make the extra effort to share everything they know about their culture and heritage with others. However, I’m a bit saddened by the approach taken by some clubs at my university back home. Although I’m a member of the Hawaii and Guam clubs, I’m puzzled by the ways in which the club promotes the big cultural events. We have a Hawaii Club that puts on the annual luau while Guam Club waits around to hijack the decorations to put on Guam Night. I surely appreciate the efforts to share the cultural richness, and this is in no way an attempt to knock on what people work so hard to put on, but I’ve had a hard time wrapping my head around certain ideas regarding these particular cultural events on my campus.

I believe both clubs would see more success in their stated constitutions if they merged into one club. Read more here.

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40 Lashes

Sudan is a country in northeastern Africa and is the largest country in both Africa and in the Arab World with an approximate population of 37 million. The world's longest river, the Nile, bisects the country from south to north. Sudan has 597 tribes that speak over 400 different languages and dialects, but there are two distinct major cultures — Arabs (people of mixed Arab and Nubian descent) and non-Arabized Black Africans — consisting of hundreds of ethnic and tribal divisions and language groups. As of 2009, Sudan is ranked as the third most politically unstable country in the world with one reason being the wide spread violation of human rights. A Sudanese journalist facing 40 lashes for wearing "indecent" trousers vowed on the eve of her judgment that she is ready to be whipped 40,000 times in her bid to change the country's harsh laws. Read more here.

Is it fair to expect other countries to adapt to Western practices? Is this a case of a violation of human rights or should the journalist be expected to take her punishment for breaking Sudanese law?

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Spotlight on One Brown Girl...

10 Questions with...Josefa Salinas! This resourceful Latina is moving mountains for the community and herself! Josefa is a graduate of the HOPE Leadership Institute, winner of the 2007 National Latina Business Woman of the Year in Broadcasting (LA Chapter), and recent winner of the 2009 California State Legislature Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment. A radio personality, journalist, author, mother, sister, friend. What are your cultural origins? Mexican, Creole & Czech. Name 5 beautiful things about your culture. The Mexican culture is so rich and diverse. We have the pyramids, the floating gardens in Mexico City, the Mayans, a language that when spoken sounds like song, a history that dates back centuries.... We come in so many colors, shapes and sizes.. from the bluest of eyes to the deepest coal... Despite countless attempts to invade our shores, we remain strong, steadfast, and deeply rooted in who we are. What is your favorite food outside of your own culture? Italian Who is the most famous Brown Girl you have ever met? Hmmm...that would be difficult. I have met so many celebrities of Latino descent; to pick the most famous person ever? It would have to be my abuelita... the most amazing woman ever. What language would you like to speak? I would like to speak French. What do you like the most about your appearance? The fact that no one seems to know what I am. I get asked that question weekly. Where is the most awe-inspiring place you have visited in the world? That is a three way tie. Rome, Cairo, Mexico City. Which 3 living Brown Girls would you like to have tea with? Judge Sotomayor, Gloria Estefan, Josefina Lopez. What is your favorite chocolate indiscretion? Now that is just too hard. A favorite? Just one? Impossible. LOL. Currently, what is your favorite quote? "Perhaps this is the price exacted for having actually lived in the fairytale kingdom. The sobering realization that in the Emerald City there may be no real wizards after all."

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WOW: Chic

OBG's Word of the Week (WOW) is chic (pronounced "sheek"), a word of French origin that has been adopted in English since at least the 1870s to mean style and elegance. Chic is both a noun and an adjective, i.e., Kai's dress is chic as well as What a chic boutique! or Paris clothes have such chic.

Early references in English dictionaries classified chic as slang. The comparative and superlative forms of chic are chicer and chicest, which make them wholly English words since the French equivalents would be plus chic and la plus chic. Interesting how words from one language can turn into words used by another language and take on their own characteristics.

What and/or whom do you find chic?

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It's Bath Time!

16x20 Giclée Print on Canvas / Available at OneBrownGirl.com®

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The Genographic Project

The Genographic Project seeks to chart new knowledge about the migratory history of the human species and answer age-old questions surrounding the genetic diversity of humanity. The project is a not-for-profit, five-year, global research partnership of National Geographic and IBM launched in 2005, which uses genetics as a tool to address anthropological questions on a global scale. Read more here.

The Human Family Tree, Next Airing August 30, 6pm

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Today is National Minority Donor Awareness Day. Minorities, including African-Americans, Asians, Hispanics, American-Indians, Pacific Islanders and people of multiracial decent, make up 20+ percent of the U.S. population but account for more than half the 102,000 candidates on the National Transplant Waiting List. Consider becoming a donor today.

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Rites of Passage: Apache Style

Whether it is a Débutante ball, a Bat Mitzvah, a Quinceañera or a Sweet 16, every culture has its own unique rites of passage traditions. This is one such rite of passage for a 13 year old Native Brown Girl: Apache Style.

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