Blog

  • Self Esteem vs. Instagram

    “This culture of hair crushes, girl crushes, hair twins, etc… may be causing more damage than good. I often think about the women, the ever increasing amount of women, who create entire accounts strictly dedicated to highlighting others’ good hair days – but behind the good intention does that woman love her own beauty?” – Shannon T Boodram

    Shannon T Boodram, author, TV host, and photographer, posted an insightful article that I think really spoke to the dynamics of beauty in an insta-world. The line between surrounding yourself with inspiration for what you want to look like and obsessively viewing photos to fuel your self-doubt can be very blurry. Shannon explains how important it is to be aware of this distinction and how easy it is to get glued to your Instagram feed. She also filmed a clip “How To Look Like Me TAG,” which I think is brilliant and funny. She recorded a reverse beauty tutorial to show what she looks like without any beauty products. Funnily enough, most of the comments for the article claimed that since she looks beautiful before and after, it does not count as a viable example of natural beauty. I beg to differ. Her video shows the following:

    -Confidence to show the public what she looks like without beauty products and admit she uses acne medication

    -Beauty is unique and shines with individuality. Make-up and extensions are only used to accentuate what you already have

    I think the fact that there is no drastic difference between the two images clearly illustrates her point about accepting your natural beauty. Do you agree? Referring back to her article, do you think the way we use Instagram is at fault? or is it something deeper? Let me know in the comments!

  • Stromae

    Stromae

    Stromae is a Belgian singer-songwriter fusing hip hop and electronic music while taking the European music scene by storm. Accompanied by up-beat gender-bending music, Stromae’s lyrics tackle and showcase the issues and controversies everyone experience, from unemployment to politics to stereotypes.  His second album continues this theme, with its single “Tous Les Memes” questioning the double standards of gender roles. The video for this song is a work of art on it’s own. I love the theatrical vibe and quirky choreography. I also included the video for his debut hit “Alors On Danse” because I still love that song.  Enjoy.

  • Make Your New Year Count

    NewYear2014

    Happy New Year! This is the time to reflect on what you are grateful for and celebrate what you are looking forward to. For me, 2013 was another meaningful year full of lessons that featured a number of celebrations and disappointments. I decided to translate these lessons into a check-resolution-list to make sure I do not repeat some experiences and create room for new adventures. These are the top 5 lessons and goals I have for this coming year. What are your plans for 2014? Let me know and comment below.

    1. Find, build, and maintain your purpose.

    The Value Inside

    During this past year I spent a lot of time defining my purpose. I believe the foundation behind everything you do must lead back to your purpose in life. It can keep you strong during the struggles when nothing seems to be working out and can reinforce your triumphs while keeping you humble. As an artist and a scholar, I am constantly mastering the art of balance. My purpose engulfs a variety of things, from making an impact on people’s lives to reaching my full potential to spreading love and knowledge. There is no manual that dictates what I should study or where I should live or who I should reach out to. However, letting go of fear and being open to inspiration and help can go a long way. For 2014 (and the rest of my life) I promise to stay true to my purpose and allow it to evolve in everything I do.

    2. Be happily selfish

    "I am Surrounded by Idiots." Rainbow

    As human beings, we collect a lot of connections. Some are considered friends while others are colleagues, but they all require time and effort to maintain contact. In 2013, I finally came to the realization that it is okay to consider myself as my top priority. Some of us tend to be overwhelmingly generous with our time and talents, hoping that eventually all of our effort will be reciprocated. If this habit overrides taking care of yourself, life can be very disappointing. Thus, being content with yourself can lead to clearly filtering out the “idiots” from those who could use a rainbow.

    3. Honestly measure your self-worth.

     

    This is a habit I am determined to change. Due to whatever experiences we have had, we tend to feel inadequate in what we want to pursue, when in reality we are over-qualified. This sentiment can be linked to measuring your self-worth, but the main thing we need to recognize is that we tend to be our worst enemy in blocking our dreams from coming true. It is not narcissistic to believe in yourself and embrace your greatness. It is not egotistical to allow your gifts to shine.

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    4. Indulge in creativity and innovation

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    Regardless of what industry you work in, you should always save room and time to indulge in a creative outlet. Even as an artist, I am guilty of putting my artsy side on a back burner in order to “get work done.” Have you ever noticed a certain feeling of emptiness when day-in and day-out you succumb to the same routine of get up…work…eat…sleep…get up? Occasionally you might squeeze in socializing, but that still does not exercise all of your senses. Creativity is a way to not only relieve yourself of pent up emotions, but is also a way to share inspiration. This can be done in a variety of ways, from painting to tinkering with a car to reading a new book. For 2014, I will continue to not place my talents in a compartment and make time to share my creativity in everything I do.

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    5. Do something remarkable

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    Finally, to make sure I make this new year count, I plan to achieve a “remarkable” goal every month this year. This includes independent projects that will be posted on this blog, maintaining my inner peace, completing my master’s program, among other things. Goals can be big or small, but if you are constantly working towards something that has short-term and long-term rewards, you can have a full and remarkable life.

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  • Jem

    Jem is a singer, songwriter, DJ, and producer from Wales. Her music blends electronica, pop rock, and new wave with laid back vocals. This song has a positive sentiment and reminds me so much of Dido. Enjoy.

  • Temi Dollface

    A singer-songwriter, composer, and performer from Nigeria, Temi Dollface is an upcoming sensation. Her sound is called “Drama Soul,” which combines influences from the past and the present with a futuristic vibe. I came across this video through AfriPOP magazine and fell in love with it. The fusion of afrobeat with 1950s decor and a hint of George Benson melody is really cool. She also has a witty sense of humor. Enjoy.

  • The One Sided Mirror: How Occidentalism Missed The Boat

    The One Sided Mirror: How Occidentalism Missed The Boat

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    To provide insight on why the West has enemies, Ian Buruma and Avishai Margalit’s “Occidentalism” portrays an enemy full of jealousy and envy who hates capitalism and imperialism. Unfortunately, “Occidentalism” was written from the Western perspective and fails to reflect on the roots of this resentment.

    Buruma and Margalit mention that contemporary Occidentalism is often focused on America and that “anti-Americanism is sometimes the result of specific American policies…which is normally used as shorthand for U.S. imperialism. [But] Whatever the U.S. government does or does not do is often beside the point.” Ironically, what the author ignores is the collateral damage of U.S. policies that have created emotional victims whose semi-distorted image of the West cuts their wounds deeper.

    “Occidentalism” feeds into the West’s perception of the “other” as Russell Jacoby explains in “The Terror from Within.” “We prefer to imagine threats as emanating from aliens and foreigners” due to “small variations” that “elicit more rage because they imperil identity.” “Occidentalism” hovers above this reality and does not portray the whole picture.

    They consider the “intellectual trap to avoid” as the “colonial guilt,” with the fact that “European and American histories are stained with blood, and Western imperialism did much damage.” The West is not required to apologize for the gallons of blood on their hands or to turn a blind eye when tragedies occur around the world. However, it is naïve to presume the only basis for this Occidentalist hatred is differences in values.

    Some Occidentalists are not ranting about the evils of capitalism or the perceived lack of heroism in the West. Instead, they want to know why a drone dropped a bomb in their backyard or why their village was wiped out with a weapon that was “made in U.S.A.” It is this emotional toll that is the basis of hatred that can lead to violence if their image of the West follows what “Occidentalism” defines. However, the notion that Occidentalists solely contemplate how to rid the world of barbarians is misleading. Most are reacting from the viewpoint of a victim from a recent incident or, unfortunately for the West, from a long list of tragedies and historical biases.