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(Above) Top model contestant Nicole channeling her Japanese/Malagasy identity
On America's Next Top Model a few days ago, host Tyra Banks transformed each contestant into some combination of two nationalities in a "Don't Worry, Be Hapa" model challenge. You can bet there was some controversy surrounding Banks' choice to darken the models' skin with make-up as some people find the change of skin color insulting (calling it "Blackface") while others find the challenge an intriguing and interesting celebration of culture. What's your take?
Lighten up a little.
There is no way around it: We all get angry from time to time. But in order to avoid unnecessary stress (and all of the stuff that comes with it), it's not a bad idea to step away and take a deep breath and then carefully examine a situation that angers you before you (over?)react. Sometimes, just sometimes, our reactions can be based on our own sensitivities about a subject/situation and we find out later that what we thought was awful/insensitive/crazy/hurtful isn't necessarily a personal attack. Lighten up a little. And then later if you find the anger is justified, take a proactive approach as opposed to a hysterical approach. It'll certainly help keep your blood pressure down.
"I will admit: I’ve avoided the sun so I wouldn’t get darker. I’ve gone swimming at night instead of during the day to avoid tan lines. It’s completely and utterly ridiculous. I should enjoy the sun’s warm rays and get some exercise! But where do these thoughts come from? We weren’t born with the innate ability to distinguish between skin colors and assign meanings to them. But for some women, the fair skin battle draws them into deeper depths than just avoiding sunshine during the day." Read more here.
Victoria Kawekiu I Lunalilo Kalaninuiahilapalapa Ka‘iulani Cleghorn
Princess Ka'iulani
Crown Princess of Hawaii
Victoria Kaʻiulani, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i on October 16, 1875. She was the daughter of the talented musician and composer, Princess Miriam Likelike (Miriam Kapili Kekauluohi Likelike) and it is through her mother that Kaʻiulani is descended from High Chief Kepoʻokalani, the first cousin of Kamehameha the Great on his mother Kekuʻiapowa II's side. (Her mother was also sister of Queen Liliuokalani.) Her father, Archibald Scott Cleghorn, was a Scottish born businessman and later, Governor of Oahu and was also known as Hawaii’s Father of Parks, as he was planner of several Hawaii parks.
Princess Kaʻiulani became known throughout the world for her intelligence, beauty and determination and after the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893, she spearheaded a campaign to restore the Kingdom. In New York, she made many speeches and public appearances denouncing the overthrow of her government. In Washington, D.C she spoke before the United States Congress and pleaded with U.S. Presidents Benjamin Harrison and later Grover Cleveland, but her negotiations could not prevent eventual annexation. Her life story grew to legendary proportions after her untimely death on March 6, 1899 at the age of 23.The Sheraton Princess Kaiulani in Waikiki Beach offers a historical tour focusing on the history of its namesake, Princess Victoria Ka’iulani, and the history of the hotel’s location in Waikiki, the former Ainahau Estate where young Ka’iulani once lived.
(Above) Proud Hawaiian Brown Girl
OBG's WOW (Word of the Week) is also its POW (Place of the Week):
Kona
In the Hawaiian language, kona means leeward or dry side of the island, as opposed to ko‘olau which means windward or the wet side of the island. Likewise, Kona is the name of a moku (or district) on the Big Island of Hawaii in the State of Hawaii. In the current system of administration of Hawaii County, the moku of Kona is divided into North Kona District (Kona ‘Akau) and South Kona District (Kona Hema). The term "Kona" is also sometimes used to refer to its largest town, Kailua-Kona. Other towns in Kona include Kealakekua, Keauhou, Holualoa, Hōnaunau and Honalo. Kona is also considered one the premium specialty coffees in the world. The volcanic slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa in the Kona district provide an ideal microclimate for growing coffee. [Source: Wikipedia]
This smokin' photo is of Terri,
One Brown Girl that rocks (and reads).
Ooooo. Don't you just love a Brown Girl that rocks?!?!?
The Dove Self-Esteem Fund (DSEF) was created in 2006 to educate and inspire girls to a wider definition of beauty and help them with a stronger sense of self esteem. DSEF is committed to helping girls build positive self-esteem and a healthy body image, with a goal of reaching 5 million girls globally by 2010.
Jess Weiner, an author, self-esteem expert and speaker, and DSEF's global ambassador, says: "My passion and mission in life is to create a nation of confident women and girls. Quite an ambition, I know! But I believe it’s possible."
HOW BROWN GIRLS EVERYWHERE
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE:
- In a 30 second video, share what your daughter feels makes her beautiful or what she learned from a self esteem program and then upload your daughter’s 30 second video to the Dove Self Esteem Fund Facebook page by 11/20/09. Post a comment right here on the OneBrownGirl.com® blog telling OBG and Dove that you uploaded your video...and you will receive a free OBG tote and OBG empowerment tee!
- Your Dove purchase also helps build self esteem! Enter your Dove UPC on Facebook and select a charity. Dove will donate $1 to inspiring self-esteem programs at a charity partner of your choice. Select either: (1) Girl Scouts, (2) Boys and Girls Clubs of America or (3) Girls Inc.
And Thank You Beautiful Brown Girls
(and the people who love them!)
for Making a Difference!
(and the people who love them!)
for Making a Difference!
Turn that frown upside down...and smile.
There is no disputing the truth: Life can be a challenge. And because of life's challenges, you might find yourself walking around with a scowl on your face totally unaware. And while a plastered on cheshire cat grin might get you a stint in the looney bin, a person with a pleasant look on her face is far more approachable, uplifting and contagious than a sourpuss. Even when you smile into the telephone, the tone of your voice changes dramatically. Life really isn't so bad when you consider the alternative. Go ahead, smile at someone and make their day...and yours. It feels sooo goooood. =)
Straight from Latina.com: "María de la Soledad Teresa O'Brien never felt limited by her multi-cultural background. With an Afro-Cuban mom and an Irish dad, O'Brien didn't struggle with her identity. Instead, she put it to good use. As one of the faces of CNN, O'Brien has already shared with us her perspective on being Black in America, and now she's tackling what it means to be Latino in this country." Read more here.
(Above) Nubian Brown Girl of Egypt
OBG's POW (Place of the Week) is Kemet, one of the ancient names for the country of Egypt, the first great civilization in Africa. Kemet (km.t), or "black land", refers to the fertile black soils of the Nile flood plains, which is distinct from the deshret (dšṛt), or "red land" of the desert. Kemet is realized as kīmi and kīmə in the Coptic (final) stage of the Egyptian language, a northern Afro-Asiatic language spoken in Egypt until at least the seventeenth century. Egyptian began to be written using the Greek alphabet in the first century and Kemet appeared in early Greek as Χημία (Khēmía). More than two millennia ago, when the Ptolemaic Greeks came to rule Egypt, they extensively adopted and interpreted Egyptian spiritual, material, political, aesthetic, and intellectual systems.
Beginning in ancient times, Kemet/Egypt was a genuine crossroads of peoples and cultures, and its peoples were multiethnic and multiracial, as depicted in dynastic drawings of their rulers. They came from as far way as Asia Minor and Nubia, in the upper Nile Valley. As a prosperous, advanced society with an enviable commercial and strategic location, Egypt attracted many conquerors who would come with their booty and advance technology. Egypt anyone? [Sources: Wikipedia & http://dickinsg.intrasun.tcnj.edu/]
Diwali, an Indian tradition, begins October 17 and goes on for five days. The first day is called Dhanteras; the second day is called Choti Diwali / Narak Chaturdasi; the third day is Lakshmi Puja; the fourth day is Padwa & Govardhan Puja; and the fifth and final day is Bhai Duj / Bhaiya Duj / Bhai Dooj.
Diwali is celebrated with a festival of lights and with great enthusiasm by Indians all over the world. Small clay lamps with oil and a wick are lit in rows all over the house in a lovely display of lights. To learn more about this beautiful Indian tradition, please visit DiwaliFestival.org and ILoveIndia.com. Happy Diwali!
If you, your church, your sorority, your club or your organization might be interested in sponsoring a worthy 11-14 year old girl on an adventure of a lifetime, kindly visit OBG Adventure Camps for details. Help change a life. Your donation is 100% tax deductible.
Carnaval gained popularity in Brazil during the 1830s when the rising middle class imported the practice of masquerade parties from Paris. The festival eventually melded African and native Indian characteristics to create a Carnaval of distinct flavor.
French cabaret dancers from the Moulin Rouge pose during a photo call in Rio de Janeiro February 20, 2009. The dancers were in Rio de Janeiro to participate in the carnival festivities by the top samba groups. (REUTERS/Sergio Moraes) 
Go ahead Brown Girls and strike that pose!
Pay it Forward.An old concept, all too often forgotten, can be summed up in a letter to Benjamin Webb dated April 22, 1784 from Benjamin Franklin: "I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you [...] meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity. I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets with a Knave that will stop its Progress. This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money."
Araceli's Story: A Good Man is Hard to Find
¡Nena, ven aquí!” my father said in his best Puerto Rican jíbaro accent calling me into the kitchen. He had not ordered me to clean but tested my cooking skills. When my mother and I are in the kitchen, chopping onions usually turns into a shouting match. My father however has the utmost patience to instruct his eldest clumsy-novice-only-good-at-making-Ramen-soup-daughter (that’s me) in the kitchen.
“Okay, so you’re gonna make the arroz con gandules,” said my father. “I’ll let you know when you mess up," he added as I reached for the vegetable oil. Read more here.
It looks like women in rural India are putting up a stink about not having access to toilet facilities when considering [arranged] marriage. "...[M]any young women are refusing to marry unless the suitor furnishes their future home with a bathroom, freeing them from the inconvenience and embarrassment of using community toilets or squatting in fields." Amen to that. Read more here.
Tiana, the protagonist of Disney's upcoming 2009 film The Princess and the Frog, is the first African-American princess in the Disney Princess franchise. A young waitress and talented chef who dreams of owning her own restaurant like her father, Tiana is a "diamond in the rough" who will have to learn some lessons before she reaches true princess status. She is a motivated, determined, and independent young woman that wants to do things her way, without help from anyone. Anika Noni Rose, the voice of Tiana says: "She’s a strong woman who doesn’t need anyone to do things for her...She wants to do things for herself." She ultimately learns that balance is important in life; to be happy, she needs both love and a career. [Source: Wikipedia]
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