Black Voices Blogs

Down Low in Hip-Hop

Felicia Pride — 2008-05-13T10:30:00+00:00

By Felicia Pride

"It was important for me to continue my double life. One for my career and the other for myself--the real me. Only I didn't know who the real me was. I was so accustomed to living in multiple worlds I often confused myself. As a down low man, I had to make sure people saw me as a heterosexual man; they had to see me with women...Nothing about me could be associated with the gay lifestyle."

So writes Terrance Dean in his new "tell-some" memoir Hiding in Hip Hop: On the Down Low in the Entertainment Industry--from Music to Hollywood (Atria, May 2008). Dean worked in the entertainment industry for more than ten years and spent most of that time struggling with his sexuality. He was a down low brother who felt like he couldn't be himself: a gay man.

In Hiding in Hip Hop, Dean writes of tight-knit communities of down low men in both Hollywood and the music industry. He writes of thugged out rappers with girlfriends and wives who sneak around to sleep with other men. He writes of down low ministers and in-the-closet R&B singers. He writes of down-low "jump off" parties. He paints a world where sex, lying, and cheating are the norm. He writes of a world where fear, pain, shame, and a lack of self-love are the dominant emotions. He paints a world where masculinity is narrowly-defined, heterosexuality is the only option, and down low men spew hatred toward homosexuals because they hate themselves.
Dean doesn't name names. Regarding his decision to semi-protect the identities of those he writes about, he says, "I have no desire to ruin anyone's dreams or careers. That's not why I'm writing this book. What I'm truly hoping for is the start of a real conversation about why, in this very contemporary day and age, we as black people are still made to feel that we cannot be comfortable in our skin? This is a particularly valid question because there is a sizable community of gay and lesbian White business leaders in Hollywood and they are not ostracized from the industry. In fact, they are considered major dealmakers and power players. Also why is bisexuality and homosexuality still a 'dirty little secret' in the black community?"

Dean raises an important question regarding acceptance of homosexuality in the black community. And in Hiding in Hip Hop, he provides some context for his life by discussing his tumultuous upbringing. His mother was a drug-addicted prostitute who died from AIDS. Two of his brothers contracted the virus and eventually died from AIDS. As a teenager, he was molested by a older male friend of the family. By his senior year in high school, Dean was attracted to men, but felt guilty for his feelings. He would carry that guilt and shame through a large part of his adulthood.

Hiding in Hip Hop could have been a poignant memoir, but when Dean starts to explore some of the deeper aspects of his life, he cuts the discussion short to return to another sexual escapade. For example, when he contemplates that he may have a sexual addiction (which could possibly explain why sex makes up like 85 percent of the book), that thought is quickly dropped to usher in more sex. Then more sex. Did I say more sex?

Sex sells right? If that's the case, Hiding in Hip Hop will be a bestseller.

But let's hope that Dean, who founded Men's Empowerment Inc, an organization dedicated to empowering men of color, is able to spark real dialogue about acceptance and sexuality and that his story isn't overshadowed by booty call discussions and down low guessing games.

Oh that reminds me, for those who really just want to know which celebrities are living double lives, Hiding in Hip Hop provides tons of blind items. Have fun:

Jazz, "a nice looking brother, had women swooning when his character as a hard-working, married man graced the television screen. His hit show marked a milestone because of its accurate portrayal of African-American family life. The world doesn't want to know that their favorite actor likes sleeping with other men."

Lucas, "a megastar. No matter what film project he was attached to it was bound to be a box office smash," and Kareem, "a leading sitcom actor, is married to an actress." The film crew took bets on "how often Lucas's 'boyfriend' Kareem would show up and how long he would stay. It was like clockwork; Kareem arrived each day at the same time and went straight to the trailer for hours on end. Our circle was talking about the down low circle Lucas and Kareem were in. But it was a hard nut to crack; they were superstars."

Gus, a singer, attractive with "clear skin, dark eyes, bushy eyebrows, and short, wavy hair did not give way for a thug image. He was just too pretty." "One morning, I turned on my television and I wasn't prepared for what I saw on BET- my boy, Gus, parade in his video with a host of celebrity cameos mean mugging for the camera- I just wondered how he would keep his secret of sleeping with men a secret."

Lola, an R&B singer and songwriter, who was "a staple on the New York scene,partying with big name celebrities" and whose style was "hard-edged rap with a little rock and R&B." "She would often say to us, 'I'm going to be the first lesbian R&B singer...As much as Lola wanted to be a trailblazer and open doors for other gay artists, she was still part of the machine. Lola had to do what the label told her to do."

Photo credit: Michael Scott Jones

Felicia Pride is an author, speaker and welcomed voice of her generation. She's the founder of The BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to using the power of words to uplift individuals and their communities. Felicia facilitates writing, publishing, and other creative workshops, curates events, and develops community initiatives. Shes a featured speaker at schools, universities, and events around the country, and has written for an array of publications. Her most recent book is The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs. Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com.

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Don't Blame it on Rio: Black Men & Sex Abroad

Felicia Pride — 2008-05-09T09:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

There's a phenomenon sweeping the African American community: Black men traveling to places like Brazil and the Dominican Republic for sex. A new book Don't Blame It on Rio: The Real Deal Behind Why Men Go to Brazil for Sex (Grand Central Publishing, April 2008) by Jewel Woods and Karen Hunter attempts to get to the heart of this issue and show that it's bigger than "getting some." More than Words spoke with Woods who also founded the Renaissance Male Project, a nonprofit advocacy and accountability organization for men and boys. Check out this eye-opening, eyebrow-raising interview with Woods about sex, love, and the widening divide between African American men and women. And when you're finished, click here to read an excerpt of Don't Blame It on Rio.

More than Words: The idea for Don't Blame it on Rio stemmed from the question, "Are black women necessary?" What factors contributed to this point in time when such a question even exists?

Jewel Woods: To be specific, the question "Are black women necessary?" was the direct result of what many men were asking or raising explicitly. In a broader sense, the question is rooted in the social facts that we are all aware of regarding the decline in marriage, the high rates of divorce and separation, the disproportionate rates of inter-racial marriage, and so on. However, most discussions about black men, marriage and relationships focus on poor and working poor men and their inability to be providers or the "strain" of not being able to assume traditional roles within the family. Very few discussion look at the group of black men with stable jobs or the group commonly referred to as the Love Jones Cohort that are increasingly single and living alone to examine what their issues are with building and sustaining long term relationships.

So taking a more expansive view, the question "Are black women necessary?" seeks to address the question: If men are not thinking of black women as partners, spouses, or as being in long term relationships, then what are they thinking of black women as? More importantly, what attitudes, belief systems, and values will replace the historical roles women played in men's lives?

MTW: For those who aren't aware of the phenomenon that your book addresses, can you provide a quick overview?

JW: In a very real sense, the book is about how Brazil has become the new "North" representing "freedom and liberation" in the minds and imaginations of many black men. In particular, the book is about why some of the most coveted and accomplished men in the African American community are increasingly taking physical, and often emotional, and psychological trips away from America and from black women. In the book, middle class and profession black men talk candidly about what they feel like they are denied in America by whites and from women, and how important their experiences and their interactions with women from other cultures becomes in their lives. The book looks at various aspects of black men's lives to see how black men and women got to this point and what the implications are for our community. In general, the book examines the complexity and contradictions of black men by exploring the burgeoning phenomenon of sex tourism in Brazil and other locations.

MTW: How is this phenomenon affecting the African American community?

JW: Professionals that work with families will say that in many instances, the involvement of a third party can help decrease anxiety between two parties by spreading that tension through a third relationship. That's why a therapist or a clinician can be helpful to dissipate some of the tension and anxiety that emerges among couples. The problem with Brazil as the third party in the relationship between black men and women, is that as a country, and/or as the other women, Brazil is casting a shadow that is so large in the minds and imaginations of black men that it is unleashing emotional forces that don't allow men to see what their true issues are. So while Brazil may allow black men to let off steam about what they feel about America and black women, it also freezes those issues in place by not requiring that they deal with issues. As a result, black men and women appear to be caught in this emotional, cultural, sexual triangle with Brazil serving as the backdrop.

In the short run, what appears to happen after men take these trips, is that they come back with new perspectives on relationships, on sex and sexuality, on America, on other black men, and certainly on black women. In the long run we don't know yet how the black community will be affected by the experiences men have overseas. In fact, it may be quite a while before we can fully assess the depth and impact of this phenomenon. Overall, I believe this phenomenon is affecting men by providing a safety valve for them to hide issues that they have in their relationships with black women in America. For women, these experiences overseas create a powerful alternative to the very idea of black women and their role in long term relationships in men's lives. There has never been a time when black women were considered a-sexual or frigid and it not be attributed to their age. Similarly, there has never been a time when a group of women who were "neither black nor white" could capture the image of beauty so completely the way that Brazilian women have. Black men do not have to feel guilty by choosing white women. The old adage "Once you go black you never go back" has been replaced with a new adage of "Once you go to Brazil you will have to come back again."

MTW: What are the most significant reasons why black men are traveling to places like Brazil for sex?

From the Preface of Don't Blame it on Rio:
At a minimum, black men make trips overseas for physical reasons that include sex. However, many have experienced a level of physical and sexual intimacy, a sort of sexual healing, that they see as lacking in many of their current relationships with black women. They also make these trips for cultural reasons. They describe a deep embrace and recognition to a people, a time and a land that they do not get here in the United States and do not see in black women. Most importantly, these men increasingly travel overseas because of a profound sense of identity that they find and create on these trips. So what they ultimately end up paying for is access to an elite male experience, and intercourse with a set of beliefs and ideas about black manhood that they think are denied to them by black women in America. The problem is that during these journeys, sometimes consciously but also unconsciously, black men are led further away from black women--not just physically, but also emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually.

JW: In their attempt to understand and sometimes justify their actions, these men also begin to develop some of the most sophisticated, demeaning, and denigrating ideas about black women in the process. The result, many African American men do not see black women in the roles that they did during the times when a commitment to the black family was less volitional. In the end, their conclusion is that black women are no longer necessary.

So the title of the book is very misleading in a way. It is difficult to talk about sex tourism and not mention sex, but the book is much more about sexuality than it is about sex. Consequently, it would be a huge mistake for anybody--especially black women--to assume that men travel overseas just to get their "freak on." Some men may even argue that it's all about sex, but it's not correct. In fact, the belief or attitude that black men travel thousands of miles for what they could easily get here in the U.S. is precisely the contradiction that the book seeks to explore.

So despite the title of the book, I would caution anyone to think that men are guided solely or mainly by their little head, rather than their big head. If nothing else, this book explores two prevalent myths in today's culture about black men: 1) black men don't think, and 2) black men don't talk. On the contrary, most of these men highlighted in this book are deeply reflective, opinionated and articulate about their experiences and beliefs about America and black women. This is one of the main reasons why they are so important, because they create some of the most sophisticated explanations and justifications for their experiences. So to conclude that this is all about sex is to conflate why black men feel conflicted in America and in their relationships with black women in the first place, and to ignore the reasons why men continue to go back year after year, sometimes re-locating there.

Finally, I believe that it is less painful to believe that men travel thousands of miles for sex, than it is to consider that these physical trip overseas actually reflect something more substantial, like the possibility of a more emotional, psychological, and spiritual trip away from black women. However, this is exactly why these men's stories in the book should not be easily dismissed or discarded.

MTW: What do black men feel like they're not getting from black women at home?

JW: The dilemma is that part of what men feel like they are not getting from black women is also connected with what they feel like they are not getting from America as well.

Based on some of the things that men discuss in the book, many men feel like they are not getting a chance to be seen as individuals by black women. Either because of the past histories that black women had with other men that was the source of their pain or frustration, or because of the fact that because these men are now a part of a class that has supposedly "made it," they feel like they are idealized or objectified.

Men also seem to feel like they are not getting the type of physical and emotional care that they think they need and deserve. For a class of black men that work at some of the highest levels of America there is a feeling that they want peace in their household. I point out in the chapter "She Acts Like A Man" that men may confuse peace with submission, but there is a sense that black men want their homes to be different than their work environment. In other areas, black men seem to want black women to be physically smaller, they want black women to be more exploratory in their sexuality and a host of other things.

MTW: Do black male insecurities play a factor in the equation?

Answer: I think it is mistake to think of men's behaviors in dichotomous terms of "weak" or "strong." Meaning, some people will believe that a "strong" man will not participate in these types of experiences or attitudes and behaviors that are discussed in the book. What I try to emphasize to people is that by almost every standard these are "good" men who are high achievers, self-actualized, not followers. They are handsome and not handsome, athletic, non-athletic, sexual and not sexual. In other words, they run the gamut of men. So it is neither easy nor accurate to categorize these men as being deficient in some particular way. In fact, what makes this phenomenon so dynamic is that you get such a wide variety of men that participate in these experiences abroad.

In general, these men-like many others I have worked with-have fears about not being seen both for who they are as individuals as stated earlier, they have fears about getting older, they fear being judged by women, and they profoundly fear not being able to perform in situations either sexually, socially, or professional. In addition, they fear not being connected with other men, they fear stepping outside of a circle of heterosexuality that might make them appear to be "less than men" which often leads to a compulsive heterosexuality. However, it is also true that men fear and are hurt by a lack of connections with their children so they entertain thoughts of taking their sons to Brazil. Men fear and are hurt by believing that working hard as a black man in America rarely pays off they way that it seemingly does for white males. They are also angered and shamed by the idea of black poor men exerting more influence over their culture and community than they do. Finally, they fear the "feminization" of professional categories by both black and white women.

The point I would simply make here is that there is no easy way to identify which individual man is at risk for participating in this phenomenon. He can be a brother, a cousin, a co-worker, or a spouse. He can be fat, ugly, handsome, funny, or quiet. Any man that has been in a bad relationship or marriage is at risk for going. Any man that feels like he has been denied something based on his race or because of women is at risk of going. Any man that knows of any man like the ones just mentioned is at risk of going, and certainly any man that has friends that have gone or a friend of a friend that has gone, is at risk for going to Brazil and other places. In a sense, any man that has the insecurity, privilege, and burden of being born black is at risk of going.

MTW: Did you find that the black men you interviewed who traveled for sex had health concerns especially with the global rate of HIV/AIDS?

JW: This is just one example, but I remember talking to a group of men that went just after a outbreak was reported in the Brazilian/Rio porn industry, where reportedly one of the popular black male porn stars was either infected or was infecting Brazilian women in the adult entertainment industry. What I remember most was how well researched they were, but no, they did not appear to be concerned before they went, nor did they have much to say about it when they returned.

I should mention though, that in the beginning of this work I was very intentional about staying away from discussing this phenomenon in the context of STD's and HIV/AIDS for two reasons. First, I was very aware of the whole discourse on the "down low" and I wanted to avoid contributing to a "panic" among black women. Second, I was more interested in re-defining what was mean by "risky" sexual behavior. Studying this phenomena, I was more interested in discussing the type of "risky" sexual behavior that could lead to addictions, flights of imagination and flights from opportunities and responsibilities, broken marriages and the lack of development of long term relationships. In the chapter "The Biggest Secret In Black America: The Down Low on The Other Down Low," I suggest that black women were equally concerned-if not more-about whether the men in their lives will treat them with dignity and respect, whether the men in their lives are interested in listening to them, not just whether they were engaged in the "risky" sex of going behind their back and sleeping with other men.

In hindsight, perhaps I did not pay enough attention to this aspect of the phenomena, considering the sheer amount of sex that many men have on these trips. It could very well be that men are bringing back more than memories to their families and interactions with women. Minimizing this aspect of women's lives could be a example of my own privilege.

Read Part II of the Interview!

Rio & Exotic Locales

Rio de Janerio offers beaches and much, much more. If you get tired of the beach, you can take a tour of one of the following fabulous sites. Start planning your winter getaway now! Photo: Kelly Carter

Refreshing coconut water can be purchased on the beaches of Rio for around $2. Photo: Kelly Carter

The beautiful people flock to Ipanema and Leblon beaches with trendy Posto 9 on Ipanema drawing the hippest and sexiest sun worshippers. Photo: Kelly Carter

The neighborhood of Leblon has turned into one of Rio's most happening neighborhoods because of its beaches, restaurants, bars and hotels. Photo: Kelly Carter

Go to Helisight.com to book your helicopter tour over Rio. Catch a birds-eye view of the beaches, including Copacabana, the city and its monuments. Photo: Kelly Carter

Sugar Loaf Mountain is just one of many sites one can see from Corcovado (Hunchback) Mountain, which offers an incredible panoramic view from 2,329-feet above the city of Rio. Photo: Kelly Carter

Standing 124-feet high and perched atop Corcovado Mountain, the 1,145-ton Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer), inaugurated in 1931, is one of Rio's most recognizable landmarks and a must-visit tourist attraction. It is reachable by elevator or walking 220 steps. Tours such as Jeep Tour stop here. Photo: Kelly Carter

Palacio Guanabara (Guanabara Palace), built in 1853, is the former home of Princess Isabel, who freed the slaves in 1888. The Governor of Rio's offices occupy the building now. Photo: Kelly Carter

The bucolic and slightly bohemian neighborhood of Santa Teresa sits above Rio and features picturesque cobblestone streets, colorful restaurants and old, traditional houses occupied by artists and their workshops. Photo: Kelly Carter

Grilled meat is king in Rio and throughout all of Brazil. Gaucho chefs continually bring beef, pork, lamb and chicken also on skewers to diners then slice it tableside at the all-you-can-eat churrascarias like Porcao (pictured here), which has several locations in Brazil and two in the United States. Photo: Kelly Carter

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Prince Dropping Book

Felicia Pride — 2008-05-06T12:05:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

I don't think I've been this excited about a forthcoming book from a celebrity in awhile.

Prince, Mr. Purple Rain himself, will be dropping a book slated for Fall 2008, called 21 Nights.

Described as a "photographic essay collection," that will offer a "rare glimpse into the life, lyrics, and mystique" of Prince, the book stems from the 21-night show the iconic artist performed at the O2 Arena in London in 2007.

21 Nights will include poetry, song lyrics, pictures from the performance, and an exclusive CD entitled, Indigo Nights. The book, which is a first for the artist, will be published by Atria, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

This book will definitely grace my coffee table.

But honestly, I wish he was coming out with an autobiography. Could you imagine the glitz, glamor, and drama?

Hot Shots Black Celebrity Gallery

Hot Shots Black Celebrity Gallery
LONDON - MARCH 01: Alicia Keys performs at the UK launch party for Black Entertainment Television (BET), a free-to-air digital satellite channel available via Sky 209, at Cafe de Paris on March 1, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Rosie Greenway/GettyImages)
Hot Shots Black Celebrity Gallery
NEW YORK - MARCH 2: Actress Nia Long attends the 9th Annual Family Day hosted by the TJ Martell Foundation at Roseland Ballroom March 2, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images)
Hot Shots Black Celebrity Gallery
Singer Janet Jackson poses at her Virgin Megastore In Store appearance on February 28, 2008 in Hollywood, California.

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James Brown Book Examines Musician's Life

Felicia Pride — 2008-05-05T12:45:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

This past weekend, on May 3rd, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown would have turned 75. The celebrated musician passed away in 2006, but his legacy continues to live on.

A new book, The James Brown Reader: 50 Years of Writing about the Godfather of Soul (Plume, May 2008) edited by groundbreaking writer Nelson George and famed music insider Alan Leeds, explores the amazing rollercoaster career of the hardest working man in show business.Brown was not only one of the most celebrated black musicians, but also, he was one of the most-written about.

The James Brown Reader is a wide-ranging collection of newspaper and magazine articles from a stellar cast of more than forty journalists who attempt to capture the larger-than-life essence of the man and the music. The book features stories and images rarely or never-before seen and explores Brown's influence, his professional and personal triumphs, and his work as a musical fusionist.

The James Brown Reader is an ambitious text that celebrates an icon with an immeasurable impact on music. R&B. Soul. Funk. Disco. Hip Hop. Will there ever be another musician like James Brown?

Felicia Pride is an author, speaker and welcomed voice of her generation. She's the founder of The BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to using the power of words to uplift individuals and their communities. Felicia facilitates writing, publishing, and other creative workshops, curates events, and develops community initiatives. Shes a featured speaker at schools, universities, and events around the country, and has written for an array of publications . Her most recent book is The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs. Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com.

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Bell, Baldwin, and Blackness

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-28T11:20:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

I've told this story before on MTW. But I had a friend, a professional black man in his 30s, who had no idea who James Baldwin was. I was hella shocked and even more disheartened. Shouldn't every black person, shoot every person, know the genius of Baldwin?

Not only did Baldwin write such classic books as Go Tell it on the Mountain, The Fire Next Time, and Notes of a Native Son, he was also a public intellectual and activist who could expertly articulate the complexity of being black in America. He knew Malcolm X. He marched with Martin Luther King. He wrote about civil rights. He embraced the writer and artist's role in society: to speak truth.

Award-winning journalist, Herb Boyd recently chronicled the literary icon's life in Baldwin's Harlem, which also explores the writer's complex relationship with the cultural capital.

Penial Joseph, who penned the book's foreword, wrote, "Perhaps more than any other writer before or since, James Baldwin distilled the anger, pain, and passion of black life in America and beyond. As an essayist, playwright, and novelist Baldwin forever transformed public commentary and political inquiry on issues of race, violence, and democracy."

After hearing the verdict in the Sean Bell case, I felt myself turning to disillusionment. And then I found myself wondering, if Baldwin were still alive, what he would say?

So I cracked the book open and was immediately engaged in the chapter entitled "The Harlem Six" which discusses Baldwin's freedom fighting campaign for a case that mirrors both the Sean Bell verdict and the Jena Six. And it makes me wonder, that 40 years later when we're still seeing similar injustices, how would Baldwin react?

Accordingly, how should America react?

Felicia Pride is an author, speaker and welcomed voice of her generation. She's the founder of The BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to using the power of words to uplift individuals and their communities. Felicia facilitates writing, publishing, and other creative workshops, curates events, and develops community initiatives. Shes a featured speaker at schools, universities, and events around the country, and has written for an array of publications . Her most recent book is The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs. Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com.

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Mos Def's Ex Wife Pens Tell-All

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-23T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

It can suck to be a celebrity. Especially when folks decide to write a tell-all about your life and put your business on the streets.

MC and actor, Mos Def, could attest to this. His ex-wife, Alana Wyatt, 29, self-published a tell-all called Breaking the Code of Silence, which is supposed to describe her whirlwind marriage to the artist, who she married last year.Here's a description of the book posted on Xlibris.com:

Breaking the Code of Silence chronicles the intense relationship and whirlwind marriage between a young woman and one of Hip-Hop's most beloved artists. An honest and open memoir, Wyatt tells her story of how her turbulent childhood, difficult teenage years and sometimes not-so-wise decisions aided in her development to become a devoted mother and a strong, independent woman. Controversial and straightforward Breaking the Code of Silence holds no punches as Wyatt reveals how her glamorous lifestyle -envied by many wasn't always so fabulous. Part biography, part cautionary tale, Wyatt tells her story to educate and inspire others to be independent and remain true to themselves.

Interested? Click here to read an excerpt.

I'm all for cautionary tales that may help others avoid mistakes, but what's up with all the tell-alls? First Karrine Steffans' Confessions of a Video Vixen then Carmen Bryant's It's No Secret. Who's next?

Mos Def Pictures

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Snoop Dogg Loves the Kids

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-22T15:02:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

When I was a teenager and Snoop Dogg's debut album Doggystyle dropped, I would have never ever thought that the rapper would ever add children's books to his repertoire.

Granted, that was a long time ago, but Snoop Dogg is still Snoop Dogg.

Yes his reality show Father Hood details his parenting and family life and the Long Beach native also started a youth football league.

But still, launching a children's book series seems like a stretch for Mr. Sexual Eruption.

Called Where's The Cheese, the series centers around a character named Lil' Mouse and is supposed to help children navigate the diversity of challenges faced in urban environments. The books will be illustrated by Snoop's cousin, Joe Cool, and it's been reported that the rapper's eight-year-old daughter Cori may narrate the Where's the Cheese animation series that's in development. (source)

First children's books. What's next?

Snoop Dogg Pictures

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Rapper Snoop Dogg (R) with Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland seen backstage during the 2008 CMT Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. *EXCLUSIVE*.2008 CMT Music Awards - Backstage and Audience.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com..To license this image (15726295), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Rapper Snoop Dogg and TV personality Paula Abdul seen backstage during the 2008 CMT Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. *EXCLUSIVE*.2008 CMT Music Awards - Backstage and Audience.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (51755460), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Rapper Snoop Dogg seen backstage during the 2008 CMT Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. *EXCLUSIVE*.2008 CMT Music Awards - Backstage and Audience.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (51755436), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

Musician Jason Aldean and rapper Snoop Dogg pose in the press room during the 2008 CMT Music Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee..2008 CMT Music Awards - Press Room.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Stephen Lovekin/WireImage.com..To license this image (15727449), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Rapper Snoop Dogg and singer LeAnn Rimes seen backstage during the 2008 CMT Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. *EXCLUSIVE*.2008 CMT Music Awards - Backstage and Audience.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (15727318), contact WireImage.com

WireImage.com

EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Musician Trace Adkins and rapper Snoop Dogg seen backstage during the 2008 CMT Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. *EXCLUSIVE*.2008 CMT Music Awards - Backstage and Audience.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Rick Diamond/WireImage.com..To license this image (15727311), contact WireImage.com

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EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE.. * EXCLUSIVE * .Kristian Bush and Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland with Snoop Dogg seen backstage during the 2008 CMT Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee. *EXCLUSIVE*.2008 CMT Music Awards - Backstage and Audience.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage.com..To license this image (15727203), contact WireImage.com

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Rapper Snoop Dogg poses in the press room during the 2008 CMT Music Awards at Curb Event Center at Belmont University on April 14, 2008 in Nashville, Tennessee..2008 CMT Music Awards - Press Room.Curb Event Center at Belmont University.Nashville, TN United States.April 14, 2008.Photo by Stephen Lovekin/WireImage.com..To license this image (15727063), contact WireImage.com

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The New Face of Gangs

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-17T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

While spending time in prison, former gang member Dashuan "Jiwe" Morris, wrote a letter to publicist, activist and author of Black Pain, Terrie M. Williams. They began corresponding back and forth and she eventually brought his writing to her publisher, Scribner, who published his memoir seven months later.

The finished product, War of the Bloods in My Veins: A Street Soldier's March Toward Redemption, is a raw narrative about Morris's life as a member of the Bloods street gang, which he joined at a very young age. He writes, "In the darkness of the streets, my childhood is murdered....I am reborn--a gangster."

The book is not an easy read. Morris, who was involved in his first drive-by at age 11, doesn't hold back in telling his story, including those parts which make your heart cringe.Beyond his harsh story, the book tries to offer renewed insight into gangs like:

Depression is the root of the gang problem. With young people thrust into adult roles prematurely, they become overwhelmed by responsibility. Thus, they often crave the comfort of a tight-knit, family-like structure.

Gang culture is a war. It is a subculture of America which exists everywhere, under various guises, but always with the same objective. It is not, as often believed, an issue of religion, race, or class.
Like many gang members, Morris lived a double life; all-American jock by day, violent offender and drug dealer by night. This duality means that gang members are not, as once believed, easily identified by clothing, colors and signs. Rather, they are becoming part of the larger culture--no longer simply the product of dangerous, though contained, inner cities.

In the afterword, Terrie M. Williams writes, "I've never believed that people are born evil. And though I know it may be close to impossible for some of you to believe, the fact is that the majority of the young people who have taken those lives are remorseful. They are damaged beyond imagination, unable to feel joy--waiting their turn to die. To quote a soldier who recently returned from the war who said, 'The killings in Iraq were legal--but it doesn't make it right in your soul.' Death and violence, no matter if it's sanctioned by the government or desperate criminal street-gang activity, carry the same mental scars."

Morris's raw memoir is an attempt at healing some of those scars and helping others realize that gang life is mental illness.

Now that Morris has seen the light, he's on a mission to reform the concept of "gang culture" into one that protects and supports the community through positive measures.

But can gang culture be reformed?

Felicia Pride is an author, speaker and welcomed voice of her generation. She's the founder of The BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to using the power of words to uplift individuals and their communities. Felicia facilitates writing, publishing, and other creative workshops, curates events, and develops community initiatives. Shes a featured speaker at schools, universities, and events around the country, and has written for an array of publications . Her most recent book is The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs. Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com.

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Walter Mosley Releases New Book with Black Publisher

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-14T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

Once again, Walter Mosley ain't just talking the talk, he's walking it too. The man behind the highly successful Easy Rawlins series is publishing his latest effort, The Tempest Tales, a May Essence book pick, with Black-owned Black Classics Press.

Here's a quick description of The Tempest Tales, which definitely illustrates Mosley's unique imagination:

Tempest Landry, an everyman African American, is "accidentally" killed by a cop. Denied access to heaven because of what he considers a few minor transgressions, Tempest refuses to go to hell. Stymied, Saint Peter sends him back to Harlem, where a guiding angel tries to convince him to accept Saint Peter's judgment, and even the Devil himself tries to win over Tempest's soul. Through the street-smart Landry, Mosley poses the provocative question: Is sin for blacks the same as it is for whites? And who gets to decide?
This isn't the first time Mosley has worked with Black Classics Press, which is owned by Paul Coates. He teamed up with the house twice before for 1997's Gone Fishin' and 2003's What Next. Black Classics Press, a Baltimore-based publisher, was founded in 1978 and is devoted to publishing out-of-print, hard-to-find, yet significant works by and about people of African descent.

Coates likens Tempest Landry, the main character of Tempest Tales, to his "street smart friend who could use logic to get out of any jam." Coates continues, "He was the cousin who looked out for those who were down on their luck. And he was the everyday man who just wanted justice for those who were wronged. Walter certainly gave me a character with whom I could smile, ponder, and root for."

Perhaps another lovable character like Easy Rawlins?

Look for this new Mosley title in May.

Felicia Pride is an author, speaker and welcomed voice of her generation. She's the founder of The BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to using the power of words to uplift individuals and their communities. Felicia facilitates writing, publishing, and other creative workshops, curates events, and develops community initiatives. Shes a featured speaker at schools, universities, and events around the country, and has written for an array of publications . Her most recent book is The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs. Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com.

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Parental Advice From Chris Rock's Mom

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-10T11:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

Rose Rock is one of the newest celebrity moms to add author to her plate of accomplishments. She raised successful comedian Chris Rock, and her not-playing-around style is inspiration for actress Tichina Arnold's matriarch character on the award-winning television show Everybody Hates Chris.

But I bet you didn't know, Ms. Rock is mother to 10 children and 17 foster children. Yes that would be 27 children in total. She's also an educator, who for the last 17 years, taught and operated a preschool and day care center. She eventually founded Rock This 619, a nonprofit dedicated to youth empowerment.

Ms. Rock ain't playing on all levels.

And now she's putting her years of experience raising and caring for kids into the new book, Mama Rock's Rules: 10 Lessons for Raising a Houseful of Successful Children (co-written with Valerie Graham).

Mama Rock is offering straight-up-no-chaser advice about discipline, boundaries, and choices mixed with personal stories and anecdotes as well as memories from her own children who describe what it was like to grow up in the Rock household. Some of her ten rules include: "I Am Your Mama, Not Your Friend," and "Don't Lie Down with Anything You Don't Want to Live with Forever."

Mama Rock definitely represents that old-school, "don't mess with me or you won't get old" parenting that is sorely missing from today's child-rearing. She says, "To be a parent is and should be a calling. There is absolutely nothing as great, challenging, or rewarding as raising a child."

If all parents felt this way, the world would look very, very different.

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How to Duck A Suckah

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-08T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

Former pimp Big Boom is back. You might remember learning about him on More Than Words when I blogged about his relationship book, If You Want Closure in Your Relationship Start with Your Legs.

Well the self-proclaimed "Bodyguard to Women's Hearts" is once again offering uncensored advice in his new book How to Duck a Suckah: A Guide to Living a Drama-Free Life. He says, "Men are always looking for something to catch or shoot and if you aren't careful you will be his next target." Big Boom is now married, has found God, and is on a crusade to show women how to avoid "no good men" and stop being "sitting ducks."

According to Big Boom, recognizing a suckah is the first step in avoiding heartbreak. The Suckahs' Club includes:

The Preacher-Type Suckah
The Long-Distance Suckah
The Midnight Star Suckah
The No Satisfaction Suckah
The Down Low Suckah (The Worst Suckah of them all)

Know any of these characters?

How to Duck a Suckah (is it me or is the title hilarious?) also tackles subjects such as STDs, having sex too early, confusing sex with love, and signs of a cheater and abusive relationships. Because of Big Boom's newfound faith, he also tries to gear women toward who he believes is the right man--God.

Here are "Ten Fatal Mistakes That Women Make With Their Men" according to Big Boom. In the past, I've made a few of the "mistakes" on the list. What about you? And do you think Big Boom is on point with his advice or is he full of it?

1) Having Sex Too Early
"By having sex too early, you use the leverage and the understanding that you have to make him appreciate you better and to be genuinely concerned about you. To most men, you've already given the best part, because that is all they came for. Just remember that the beginning of love always starts off as a game."

2) Misunderstandings
"When you think he loves you, and he loves you not. All he wants to do is make love to you. He already knows that he didn't come to stay, and you will soon find out that you were just in the way."

3) Overtalking
"Why would you tell him everything about you, when you know nothing about him??? When it comes to men, it is better to listen and learn than to speak and teach."

4) Making the First Call
"If you make the first call, you show interest and make him change his approach to pursuing you, because it is easier now. The phone call has told him that already."

5) Introducing Him to Your Loved Ones Too Soon
"He could put on a show to make them adore him so they encourage you to keep him. Don't fall for the trick unless the dog likes him too!"

6) Telling Your Kids That He's Their Uncle
"Then letting them see their uncle walk out of the bedroom with you half naked. Will leave your kids saying, 'You are not my daddy.'"

7) Not Asking Enough Questions
"Get out the shovel and dig deep for the things that he doesn't want you to know. I beg you to collect as much information as you possibly can...get answers!"

8) Falling for Material Things
"All of us, at one time or another, have borrowed someone else's car; that could have been his day to borrow the car. Treat every day like it is April Fool's Day, until you find out the truth."

9) Letting Him Know Where You Live Too Soon
"When you discover you don't want to see him anymore, it is not as easy as you think to get rid of him, because he has too much information."

10) Taking the Relationship Further When You Know You Don't Want Him
"If dating isn't fun, the marriage surely won't be. If you know that you don't like him, tell him up front."

From How to Duck A Suckah: A Guide to Living a Drama-Free Life by Big Boom
Fireside Books/Simon & Schuster Trade Paperback Original; February 2008; $15.00; 1-4165-4653-7

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What Would Martin Say?

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-04T11:36:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride
If history was changed and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had not been assassinated on that Memphis hotel balcony forty years ago today, there's no question that he would be outspoken about many of the racial and social problems that continue to plague America.

Since Dr. King's assassination, America has changed. Or has it? We may see our first black or female president, but what does this say about the overall journey toward equality that Dr. King fought so hard for?

Two new books, April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King, Jr's Death and How It Changed America by prolific author Michael Eric Dyson and What Would Martin Say by confidante to Dr. King, Clarence B. Jones (coauthored by Joel Engel), aim to give insight into the thoughts and legacy of the prophetic leader as well as offer commentary on how far we've come in realizing his dream.
April 4, 1968 by Michael Eric Dyson, uses the assassination of Dr. King as a starting point to examine the fate of Black America over the four decades since Dr. King uttered the words, "I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight, that we as a people will get to the Promised Land."

In his introduction, Dyson writes, "Are we any closer to King's beloved community, or are we wandering in a vast racial wilderness from which there is no easy escape? If the signs of arrival into the land of milk and honey are strongest for the wealthiest among us, they are depressing and weak for the poorest. Our faltering quest for justice for the lowliest members of our community suggests the responsibility of the most gifted to forge a path on their behalf. This, after all, is how King spent his last days, fighting for the rights and increased wages of striking sanitation workers."

Consistently throughout the book, Dyson wonders: Since Dr. King is no longer with us, what does his death and subsequent legacy mean in the black community? Are we still moving in the right direction? Naturally, the answer is as complex as the question.

Clarence B. Jones, former attorney, close friend to Dr. King, and one of the drafters of the I Have A Dream speech, says that Dr. King, "may have done more to foster racial, social and political justice in the U.S. than any other event or person in the previous 400 years." In his new book, What Would Martin Say, Jones has crafted sophisticated answers to what Dr. King would say about such topics as today's black leadership, affirmative action, illegal immigration, anti-semitism, terrorism and the war in Iraq, and about who killed him.

About Black leadership, Jones writes, "Martin would not question the courage of today's black leaders, but he might very well wonder about their dedication to the cause that would be furthered, if not achieved, by an insistence that black people avoid the quicksand of victimization and instead pursue excellence regardless of barriers."

In the midst of Obama's popularity, Jones also writes, "Over the last forty years I've been asked one question more than any other: Who now reminds me most of Martin Luther King. The answer is no one. Martin Luther King was sui generis--one of a kind, unique. Who, after all, is like Michelangelo? Or Galileo, or Einstein, or Mozart, or Shakespeare?

There was only one Dr. Martin Luther King, but does that mean, because he's no longer with us, that his dream of true equality be forfeited?

Both books highlight, in different ways, the progresses and failures of Black America since 1968. On the 40th anniversary of Dr. King's death, it is clear that Black America needs to take a time-out, stop, think, reevaluate, and become honest about where we're going after fully realizing where we've been.

Felicia Pride is an author, speaker and welcomed voice of her generation. She's the founder of The BackList (www.thebacklist.net), an organization dedicated to using the power of words to uplift individuals and their communities. Felicia facilitates writing, publishing, and other creative workshops, curates events, and develops community initiatives. Shes a featured speaker at schools, universities, and events around the country, and has written for an array of publications . Her most recent book is The Message: 100 Life Lessons from Hip-Hop's Greatest Songs. Visit her online at www.feliciapride.com.

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Akon: An Author?

Felicia Pride — 2008-04-01T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride, TheBackList.net

Singer Akon has signed a book deal with rapper C-Murder's book publishing company, TRU Publishing. Akon's book, Thug Politics, is reportedly slated for an April or May release. (source)

There's no further information about what the book is about, but I'm guessing it's about thugs and the lives they lead. Yawn.

The only thing that worries me when a cat like Akon releases a book is that it sends the message that anyone and his/her momma can write a book. While that may be true, here's the catch: everyone can't write a good book. Folks need to respect the craft. Let's hope Akon takes writing seriously. Writing books ain't just a side hustle.TRU Publishing's first release was entitled Grown and Gangsta by rapper Jacki-O. It's obvious that C-Murder is trying to capitalize on the success of street lit. But apparently, along with Akon and Jacki-O, TRU is also launching a campaign to promote teen literacy and its books. Lawd knows our country can use more literacy campaigns.

Quick question though: Is Thug Politics or Grown and Gangsta appropriate reading material for the kids? Hmm. I can't call it since I haven't read them.

C-Murder also became an author with the release of his novel, Death Around the Corner. About making the transition into books, he wrote on his website:

People always ask me what made me want to become an author. First of all I was behind bars facing a life sentence so I didn't know what the future held. But I knew one thing: I had to get on my grind. I had to get my hustle on. Plus I like to express myself and put my words out there. Since I couldn't do it in music, I said let me do it with a book. I had been doing a lot of studying and reading a lot of books. A lot of people don't know I was an honor student in school. I read about 500 books since I've been locked up. So I felt like it was time for me to get started, to become an author.

Honor student, huh? That should be the name of his next book. I would love to see some teens reading a book with that title.

Akon Making Moves

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IDA B. WELLS: SERIOUS SISTER

Felicia Pride — 2008-03-31T15:00:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride, TheBackList.net

I didn't learn about Ida B. Wells until I was in college, which I now know is not only sad, but also tragic. It's true that Wells, who risked her life to fight lynching, hasn't truly gotten her due in history textbooks. But her remarkable life has recently been captured in the 765-page biography, Ida: A Sword Among Lions by award-winning author Paula Giddings.

Toni Morrison has called the book "brilliant." Maya Angelou declared, "Paula Giddings has brought another great American out of the midst of history. We are saddened that we did not know Ida B. Wells earlier, but happy to know that she was born here and worked here to make our country a better place for all Americans."Wells' story is as fascinating as it is inspiring and shows how an individual can stand up and fight for a cause. She was born to slaves and rose to lead our nation's first campaign against lynching. Although eventually exiled from the South, she continued to fight across the country before settling in Chicago to become a journalist, suffragist and political candidate.

But that short description of her life doesn't give her work justice. So I suggest you pick up a copy of Ida: A Sword Among Lions. It's one of those books that everyone should own and take the time to read.

We no longer have an excuse not to know the triumphs and struggles of Ida B. Wells.

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BLACK PEOPLE: LET'S GET HEALED

Felicia Pride — 2008-03-13T12:20:00+00:00

Filed under: More Than Words

By Felicia Pride

We pride ourselves on being strong. Shoot, we survived slavery, Jim Crow, and a host of other institutions designed to eradicate us and break our spirits.

As a result, sometimes we forget that we're human. We forget that we're not invincible. We suffer. We succumb. We got issues and baggage.

Despite what we tell ourselves to get through the day, month, or year, many of us are silently suffering from an array of forces, one of which we don't like to discuss: mental illness.

Today, The Stay Strong Foundation, led by author and mental health advocate, Terrie M. Williams, unveiled a plan to launch a national campaign called "Healing Starts With Us." The campaign coincides with the recent release of her book Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We're Not Hurting, which Williams wrote after going public about her own battle with depression.

The "Healing Starts With Us" movement aims to provide a support network to encourage open dialogue about emotional distress within the African American community. The campaign, which was produced by Artis Connection, kicks off next Tuesday, March 18, from 6-8 pm with an event at The Malcolm X & Dr Betty Shabazz Memorial & Educational Center in New York, formerly known as the Audubon Ballroom.

The event will be hosted by Susan L. Taylor, founder of the National Cares Mentoring Movement, editor emeritus of ESSENCE, and author of All About Love, and Geoffrey Canada, educator and founder of the Harlem Children's Zone. A diverse group of members of the African American community including Ruby Dee, John Amos, Mo'Nique, Terry McMillan, HBO's The Wire co-stars Jamie Hector and Felicia "Snoop" Pearson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Madeline McCray will read excerpts from Black Pain to spark an open public discussion about depression. Denzel Washington will also pay special tribute to Malcolm X.

"This taboo topic," says Williams, "is linked to most street violence, drug/alcohol abuse, homelessness, domestic violence, child abuse as well as physical health problems such as obesity and heart disease. We're afraid to talk to a therapist-we're afraid to talk to each other and the silence is killing us. According to the World Health Organization Report on Mental Illness, by the year 2020, depression is projected to become the second largest killer in America behind heart disease. Ultimately this work helps us to recognize what depression looks, feels and sounds like and offers solutions."

Black people: It's time to get healed.

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