Miss Universe Leila Lopes shows Beauty Comes in All Colors



Photo by International Times

Shout out to Miss Universe 2011 Leila Lopes, who is a dark-skin stunner from the African nation of Angola! Lopes was simply gorgeous and has  the smarts to go with it! She was crowned Monday night in Brazil. "Thank God. I'm very satisfied with the way God created me and I wouldn't change a thing," Lopes responded to her interview question of what she would change of her physical characteristics. "I consider myself a woman endowed with inner beauty. I have acquired many wonderful principles from my family and I intend to follow these for the rest of my life."

What's on Your Minds Wednesdays

You've heard my thoughts...now it's time to share yours! What's on Your Minds Wednesday is a chance for you to do just that--let me know what's on your minds!

Division Perpetuated in 'Jumping the Broom'

Hello readers, and happy Monday! I am really angry today about a movie I rented on DVD over the weekend. I simply loved the movie and really enjoyed it, but was upset about one scene in it.

The movie was "Jumping the Broom." In the scene in question, an African American man hit on an African American woman. The woman was a stunning, dark-skinned sister, and during his rap he states, "I usually don't date dark-skinned women, but I am willing to make an exception." Wait a minute! What?!? Then to boot, at the end of the movie, a white woman asks him to dance and he looked to the heaven's and says, "Thank you." What in the world is going on here? If no one else recognizes that we have a serious problem in the African American community, I don't know what to do! We will never progress as a people if we continue to have the mentality that light is better. How can we have any argument with White America, if we don't love ourselves? I know this was just a movie, but we all know this happens in real life on a daily basis. For the writers to even feel comfortable putting the line in the movie speaks volumes. This is especially true because the star of the movie was a super light-skinned African American woman.

What are your thoughts?

What's on Your Minds Wednesdays

It's your turn to speak your mind! Whether you have been personally affected by the division in the black community, know someone who has or have experienced similar prejudice as a member of another minority group, I want to hear your story.

Oh, What a Difference a Few Shades Makes?

Happy Monday, readers! Do any of your friends ever give the impression that they are better if their skin is lighter? I grew up with several girls that I definitely wouldn't call friends, but simply associates. These associates thought their stuff didn't stink because they had lighter skin. Even though a few of them had features that were, in my opinion, not very becoming, they still thought they were the cat's meow. Even worse, they tried to make me feel like I was less-than because of my darker skin, and often spoke ill of other dark-skinned girls when I was around.
Do you continue to associate with the likes of people like this even though they dis' us chocolate sistas, because you feel better being around them? Is so, share your story! Let me know how you have experienced this kind of hatered within the black community.

Football is back! I am so happy because I love me some football. I actually wish my summer away waiting for those Sunday afternoon games during the crisp fall and winter months. Since I love the game, I took the time to watch NFL Wives this past season. It was disturbing to see how the females interacted with one another, still not able to uplift one another to the full extent that African American females should be doing. It seems there is always a back-stabber in every group, willing to sell completely out in order to get ahead. It is sad, but very true that white women, though they may talk about each other, when the chips are down, they won't go against each other.

Is there a back stabber in your group? Are you willing to let go of a particular clique in order to spread your wings? Or are you stuck thinking you have no way out and you have to suffer through in order to remain likable by the other girls in the clique? Life is too short. Remember, you can do bad all by your lonesome, so cut 'em loose!

What's on Your Minds Wednesdays

Now it's your turn to share! I want to hear what's on your minds!