Category: Popular Culture

Boston, You’re My Home

Etsy-Boston-Heart-PrintWhen people ask me where I’m from, I proudly let them know my home is Boston. Sure, I live, work, and love in New York, but Boston? That’s my home. Born and raised.

As a Boston Baby, there were several things I looked forward to every year: (1) summer in the city, (2) Red Sox opening day and (3) Marathon Monday. Falling on Patriots’ Day, the Boston Marathon is the oldest annual marathon in the country, as well as one of the largest. It’s a huge draw for tourists, and for runners across the globe aspiring to set a new goal. For Bostonians, Marathon Monday is the most beautiful day. It’s more than just a day off from work or school, and more than just a marathon. Hundreds of thousands set aside any differences to come together, cheer on family and friends, and to celebrate life.

This year, on Monday, April 15, 2013, 2 bombs struck the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Reports say 3 are dead (including an 8 year old boy) and over 110 are injured (ranging from age 2 and up). 4 hours into the race, bombs went off along Boylston Street in places I called home. One across from an old neighborhood haunt called the Lenox Hotel where my girlfriends and I used to spend all of our hours enjoying martinis and gabbing through the night. Another across from the Boston Public Library, a place where I used to escape to during lunch breaks from my Prudential Center job. More importantly, these 2 bombs went off in the middle of crowds rooting for the home team.

There are many who will never be able to walk again, run again, or smile the same way again. And for that I am heartbroken. Dismayed. Speechless. Disgusted. There’s no one yet to blame and there is only fear to embrace. The 26th mile was to be dedicated to the kids who died in the Newtown tragedies, and within the 26th mile, a death toll rose.

I am blessed. My family is okay. My mother did not go to her downtown Boston job today and my father’s commute doesn’t involve the city at all. My aunt is well, my grandmother and uncle are too. My cousin is safely tucked away in college.

I am also hopeful. I’ve heard reports that marathon runners who crossed the finish line kept running to hospitals to donate their blood. I watched the YouTube videos that showed instead of running away, many ran into the smoke to help. I’ve read blog posts of spectators giving runners their coats, money to get home, and cell phones to call home with no request of the items to be returned. There are Facebook groups and Google Docs filled with people offering the warmth of their home and the comfort of a roof for those without.

So, behind the cloak of this senseless tragedy, there is a glimmer of light. Bostonians: we’re strong, we’re scrappy, and we’re the underdogs. We’ll be okay.

Darkness to Light(photo credits: 1, 2)

 

ON LIFE: The 2013 Inauguration of President Barack Obama

January 21, 2013 marked the 2nd inauguration of President Barack Obama. This year, Obama was sworn in on a day that is history in and of itself, Martin Luther King Day.  Only once before has an inauguration fallen on MLK Day: 1997, the day President Bill Clinton repeated that oath for his second term in office, which, oddly, is very fitting in my opinion.

But this time, we are celebrating a black man, pledging himself to America for a second time, standing in the same place where MLK spoke to millions about equality and peace. The journey is certainly not complete, but I am sure the King family is reeling at our progress as a nation.

Barack Obama 2013 presidential inauguration speech

I spent the long weekend enjoying a quick trip home to celebrate the birthdays of my father and grandmother. One of my favorite moments was sitting around the dining room table with my auntie, mom and grandmother, where we just discussed life for 7 hours. Within that time, we concluded that we have respectively lived through 5 (me), 9 (Auntie), 11 (Mom), and 15 (Nan) Presidents of the United States of America.

Within those decades of change, my Nan proudly declared the current president her favorite. I once asked her if she thought she’d see a black man in the Oval Office; “not ever” was her quick reply. Not ever.

So, like Obama pausing to take the moment in, I’m relishing in the scene: an impossibility that is now a reality, a first family that looks like mine, an emphasis on family, and a focus on equality for all that took far too long to be a focal point for all of us. We’ve come so far.

Images via The Guardian and abcnews.

Untitled: The Story of How I Marched For Trayvon Martin

If I knew where to begin, then this post wouldn’t be called “Untitled: The Story of How I Marched For Trayvon Martin”.

On Wednesday, March 21st, I found myself running out of my office and to Union Square, the scene of a rally for the murdered boy, Trayvon Martin.

For some history, Trayvon was shot by George Zimmerman, 28, who appointed himself as “neighborhood watch” in Sanford, Fl. He saw Trayvon exit a store, where be purchased Skittles, and deemed the 17 year old “suspicious” (author’s note: suspicious = black) and took to following him down the street. The release of the (difficult to hear) 911 calls show Zimmerman calling Trayvon a “fucking coon” and one from a neighbor communicates the sounds of Trayvon screaming for his life before a the ringing out of a gunshot. From reports, it’s clear the police hardly did their job, not following usual protocol for a crime of this nature. Zimmerman was only taken in for questioning and released. He has been freely living for almost a month since he killed a child on February 26th, 2012.

When I heard there was a rally for the spirit of Trayvon, for justice and for peace, I had to join. I was that kid in college taking over the student center and performing pieces from For Colored Girls at open mics. And I admit I was briefly jaded (but my Father set me straight after telling me that “no, #OccupyWallStreet is not a waste of your tax dollars, don’t be so shortsighted.”

I met the protest in Union Square alone. I missed Trayvon’s parents, and Rev. Al Sharpton, but the action was no where near done when I arrived at 8. Initially, I thought it was over: it was quiet as I approached from Broadway but the moment I hit the park, the peaceful rage was apparent. Women, men, children, White, Black, Hispanic, students, professionals, crackheads (yup), the elite: everyone was coming together for an uprising against injustice. We were all out chanting the same words:

“We are… Trayvon Martin”
“No justice! No peace! No racist ass police!”

I suppose I was just there to observe, maybe follow, definitely support. For fodder for the blog… But I found myself shouting “Get up! Get down! Revolutionize this town!” while making eye contact with Bill, the man I named an old political rebel from the 70′s. Or so I gathered from his Che Guevera hoodie and jade rings. Yelling “Zimmerman! You liar! We will set your ass on fire!” with Jenny, an NYU student who’s been protesting since the #Occupy movements began. And cheering with the crowd when a cabbies honked approval at our mission. I was in deep.

It ended for many in the middle of the Brooklyn Bridge, where the police blocked in a massive crowd with police busses on either end. For me, it ended on the Manhattan side with a slew of young fighters.

“Why did we go downtown?” I asked, wondering why we weren’t on our way to midtown.

“We were on the way to the UN,” one kid explained. He wore 5 buttons on his baseball cap, all with a fist for justice.

“But the UN is closed. What’s the point of protesting to an empty building?” another said.

“Either way, it always ends in handcuffs if you’re blocking traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge” Jenny sighed through cigarette smoke.

“But at least they saw us,” said baseball cap. “They saw us,” and then with mention of another march not too far off, the three of them ran to join it, shouting about how no one should get arrested tonight, not after such a peaceful march. #MillionHoodieMarch

In memory of Trayvon Martin.

An Open Letter to Viola Davis

Prompted by a late Saturday night conversation with a great group of weirdos friends, I had to write a little letter to my new girlfriend, Viola Davis.

Dear Ms. Davis,

I started this letter “Dear Ms. Davis” to be polite because that’s how I was raised. If this were in church, I’d have called you “Aunt Viola” because that’s what we do at Myrtle. But to be very honest, I’d like to stick to Viola because in my head we’re on a first name basis as I have loved you since Eat, Pray, Love, since Doubt, and since Medea Goes to Jail, Law & Order, Nights in Rodanthe, and Antowne Fisher.

I’ve watched you flourish on screen but also in real life, marrying what seems to be a stunning example of a man in actor Julius Tennon. And then adopting a child, a blessing I have been honored with (as an adopted daughter into a perfectly imperfect family) and am a huge advocate for.

I have seen you go through the motions of hair and honey, you wear a wig well, but you also wear your natural self even better. I was thrilled at the prospect of a chocolate skinned woman accepting an Oscar as her whole and complete natural self. Please don’t ever stop that.

And while you didn’t win, I believe being nominated in a category with Meryl and Glen is an overwhelming indication of the league you are in. I hope you are incredibly proud.

In fact, I know you are and I love you for your honesty. A new friend sent me this video of you on Tavis Smiley, speaking some real truths:

Watch Actresses Viola Davis & Octavia Spencer on PBS. See more from Tavis Smiley.

So, I love you for honestly declaring that you’re doing your best – as far as Hollywood will let you go. And while some are hard on you for playing a maid, please know that others are thanking you and Octavia for blazing the trail. You give us beauty within your craft of acting, but you also give us hope that one day a black woman will be accepting an Oscar for playing a “white” role. That kind of hope is invaluable.

So, Viola – just know I support you, girl, and your every fucking move. And I apologize for the cursing but I wanted to be clear that my support is impassioned.

 XOVOYOLO (kidding)

With so much love,
Maiah Alyse Johnson

Let them eat CAKE?

On February 20th, a number of ground breaking things happened: it was
President’s Day (I still had to work), Bethenney Getting Married? premiered, Basketball Wives started their new season, Rihanna turned 24 and she and Chris Brown released remix songs with each other featured.

I personally think this is a big deal, given the history of Rihanna and CB. Ouch. In case you forgot, in 2009, Chris Brown and Rihanna were in a relationship that ended in a horrendous beating. Photos were released of her injuries and Brown was momentarily shunned. It’s hard for people to forget, at this year’s GRAMMY Awards, Brown lip-synched a performance to virtual silence. In my section, there were no applause at all (womp) because I don’t think all of America is ready to forgive his blatant disconcern for being a role model to young men.

What’s worse, following his performance, women all over the internet started tweeting about how Chris Brown could beat them any day. Really? Is it real life?

I suppose in the end it’s a personal preference. It’s not easy for me to forgive and forget, especially when the pain in those photos was so palpable. That said, I will listen to She Ain’t You on repeat because that’s my song (oops).

However, I think it says something pretty powerful that Rihanna released the remix to Birthday CAKE on her birthday featuring the collaboration with Chris Brown. As a musician, that’s a hell of a way to show someone is forgiven.

Shortly followed by Brown’s remix to Turn Up the Music (which is a yawn of a song in my opinion).

Regardless of the circumstances, I personally find it in poor taste for these songs to have been released (especially when the original Birthday Cake trumps the remix). With the number of young and impressionable fans that follow Rihanna and Brown, I think they should be creating responsible characters. Instead, it seems they are lessening the severity of the situation (where, just to be clear, the man she is collaborating with made her look like this). Now, if it’s all for press, then they’ve done a hell of a job in making headlines.

What do you think? Is it okay for Rihanna & Chris Brown to reunite through music? What would you do in this situation? 

xo,
Maiah

I Grew Up On Whitney

I danced to her first album at the age of 2. I watched my VHS of The Bodyguard so much with my mother that the tape is warped. I have choreographed dances to songs from the soundtrack, the best being to I Will Always Love You, I’m Every Woman, Run to You, & Queen of the Night, because those songs are just brilliant. When she released My Love is Your Love, I had gone through my first heartbreak, and as a result, played Heartbreak Hotel on repeat. Whitney influenced my life immensely and I know I’m not the only one.

Having spent the beginning of the new year planning a number of events surrounding the biggest week in music, I was eager and excited for a potential glance at this incredible musician. The week culminated in the news that (1) I would be attending the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards on Sunday night, and that (2) my music icon, Whitney Houston passed away in a hotel room in the Beverly Hilton. The Clive Davis Gala, which was scheduled for that same evening in the same hotel, was briefly cancelled, and then back on, serving as a chance to gather music greats in a space to celebrate her life.

The next day, I entered the STAPLES Center, I expecting a feeling of mourning to emanate from the arena. Instead, I was greeted with a prayer from LL Cool J and a celebration of music. A gorgeous tribute by Jennifer Hudson was tasteful and not flashy. The focus was on a beautiful voice and raw talent – just like Whitney.

May she rest in peace.

Men: The Grand Romantic Gesture is Dead

Dear Men,

I come bearing unfortunate news. The grand gesture is dead. You know the one I’m talking about – the grand romantic gesture: The one that gets you the girl, names you her knight in shining armor, and allows you to walk off into the sunset with your princess. Yeah, that one – it’s dead. And as a result, all gestures with intentions of leading to romance are failing… Womp. Here’s why:

Back in October 2011, Officer Chris Collins pulled over Evangelina Parades for speeding in Chicago. The woman was issued a $132 ticket and sent on her way. Collins, 27, then used the ticketing information he had on file to search her records, find her address, and ask her out. He left a note on the windshield of her car (which was parked outside her home) that read as follows:

“It’s Chris … that ugly bald Stickney cop who gave you that ticket. I know this may seem crazy and you’re probably right, but truth is I have not stopped thinking about you since. I don’t expect a girl as attractive as you to … even go for a guy like me, but I’m taking a shot anyways. But hey, I did cost you $132 — least I can do is buy you dinner.”

Let me just say that initially, when I heard this story I thought, how romantic! A prince who couldn’t stop thinking about a pedestrian! How Wills & Kate! Then, I started to write this post and the sentence “[he] used the ticketing information he had on file to search her records, find her address, and ask her out” gave me the creeps. I suppose despite giving his best effort at a grand and romantic gesture, this 27-year-old hopeful really just creeped out an entire nation of women. So much so that websites are polling the level of creepiness (how many times can I use the word “creep” in a paragraph?).

Needless to say, Parades is totally freaked out, so much so, that she has filed a lawsuit against the hopeless romantic law enforcement officer. The lawsuit states that the letter from Officer Collins has caused Parades to “suffer great fear and anxiety[...]” It goes on to note that the “Plaintiff could not believe that a police officer would use his access to her personal information to find her home and stalk her.” Now, I find the word stalk a bit harsh, but when you go leaving notes on people’s cars outside their homes, I guess stalk is the only thing that comes to mind.

This is an extreme case. However, it seems that women are becoming more and more jaded to romantic gestures. I go to the supermarket and even the slightest smile gets you a side eye from me. In fact, most of the people I’ve dated have come from a mutual friend or at least an acquaintance. I’ve only ended up in one long-term relationship that started from a meet-cute situation. So, is my side eye warranted  or is the movie-style meet-cute a thing of the past?

Xx, Maiah

In Honor of Black Girls Rock!: Five Black Girls Who Rock

In honor of this week’s airing of Black Girls Rock! Awards (which re-aired last night), I felt inspired to our together my own list of black girls who honestly rock. You see, I love this movement Beverly Bond, mainly because we once interacted on a personal level. I’d pitched her as a potential DJ for an upcoming event with a female client, who later decided she didn’t want to share the stage with another gorgeous woman. Despite this blatant insecurity, I had to break the news to Beverly. Her response was simple: “why can’t girls rock out together?” …I promptly fell in love with her.

I love this movement by Beverly and felt inspired to put together a list of my own women who rock.

Beverly Bond

What kind of list would this be if it didn’t begin with the founder of Black Girls Rock!?

Beverly, a New York based DJ, created the began the nonprofit organization in 2006. The goal? To create a safe space for black females (girls and women alike). The organization is committed to the development and betterment of black women across the world. Since it’s induction, it has been incredible to see BGR! taking flight through an awards show running two years strong among other outreach programs.

By creating a space for young black girls to find positive mainstream representation of themselves, Beverly has earned the title many times over as a black girl who rocks.



Kerry Washington

Look at her. The woman can honestly do no wrong. However, she’s listed in this post because Kerry and I shared a moment a few years ago at the Conde Nast Traveler Reader’s Choice Awards. I was there because it was my job to tell celebrities what to do (oh this life I lead…), she was there presenting an award.

She came up to me and said “sister honey, do you think I can slip away after my award? My body weary” with a wink. Actually, it was probably more along the lines of “can I go when I’m done? I’m tired” but knowing what kind of stunning, strong, and funny black woman she is, I’m going to stick with the latter. We shared a moment filled with laughter and a wink from me that said I won’t tell if you leave, and since then, I’ve been a Kerry Washington stan.

Gabourey Sidibe

I love me some Gabby Sidibe.

Like, love.

I think it has to do with her Hollywood style Cinderella Story. Apparently, she wanted nothing to do with the acting world and was going to school for something completely unrelated (like science or math or something equally horrific). Anyway, point is, she attended a casting call for Precious on a whim and the rest is history.

Aside from the above, I find Gabby completely stunning from inside and out. Her laugh is infectious, her positive attitude is inspring. If she’s slated to be on any talk show, I’m DVRing it to hear who her latest celebrity crush is. She’s easily one of us (the normal ones), except even more adorable.

Corinne Bailey Rae

This summer I spent an extended amount of time in The Tents at Lincoln Center for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Every day without fail, I’d see a gorgeous woman with beautiful hair walk by the space I was producing. She had a new and fierce outfit each day, I was dying to figure out who she was. Then one day, when I died and found myself in Essence (heaven), I found her in a similar Street Style blog. It was Corrine Bailey Rae.

In general, I’ve enjoyed her music since she released her freshman album. Like everyone else, I was left speechless at the news her husband had passed away and she went into a mourning period. Since then, she has released a cover of Bob Marley’s Is This Love that truly is love and has rebranded herself as a fashion maven.

I find her a truly courageous woman to emerge this way after tragedy.

Tatyana Ali
At this year’s Black Girls Rock! Awards, Tatyana was awards the Young, Gifted, & Black Award.

She took the stage looking absolutely stunning, a very grown up Ashley Banks, who she played on the Fresh Prince of Bel Aire from the ages of 11 to 18.

In taking a hiatus from acting, Tatyana attended Harvard University to study Political Science and African American Studies. Through her work there, she’s become an activist, focusing a tremendous amount of attention on education issues that affect our youth. 

When accepting her award, she wrote a letter to her younger self, hoping it will help America’s black youth. She spoke wisely about faith, family, and love; word that women of all ages need to remember as we move forward in our lives.

What black girls are on your list?

[image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Reed Between the Lines

Not sure if I’ve been very clear about this in the past but, just in case I haven’t, I want to be very clear about it right now: I love me some Tracee Ellis Ross. As in, I will watch marathon after marathon of Girlfriends reruns on BET and Centric just to get my Joan/Tracee fix. The woman is a beautiful comedic genius – hard to come across in general, but especially in the black community.
So, with the buzz surrounding the new BET series, Reed Between The Lines, I was thrilled and excited for the return of my #girlcrush to the boob tube. Tracee plays Dr. Carla Reed, a psychologist with what seems to be a thriving practice and a super handsome hubby in NYU English professor, Dr. Alex Reed. Alex is played by Malcolm-Jamal Warner of Cosby Show Fame where he played heartthrob, Theo.
[via]
The show is pretty incredible for BET programming. It’s very exciting to watch BET resurface as a hub for black folks promoting several exciting shows (either re-signed or brand new). Most importantly, it’s exciting to see a show like Reed Between The Lines take primetime on Tuesday night.
I once wrote that Demetria Lucas’s book, A Belle In Brooklyn, was the perfect outlet for a bougie girl like me. I feel the same exact way about Reed Between The Lines. It’s a wonderfully positive representation of successful black people in a super happy marriage. That said, the show is a very realistic take on life with Carla, a former single mother of twins who is still dealing with her ex-files*. She shares an adorable 7-year-old with her main squeeze. The show chronicles the daily trials of two working professionals, raising children, and keeping their marriage fruitful.
The most exciting bit about the show is the fact that I feel like we’re receiving Cosby Show lessons for a 2011 audience. It’s not entirely coincidence that the Reeds home seems to carry echoes of the Cosby’s. Warner notes in an interview with BET: That was definitely the mold we were going for. When you look at the history of Black sitcoms throughout the course of television I think, for the most part, they kind of all fit around the same category. But when you look at The Cosby Show — that fits into a category all in itself. From the onset, we’ve been pretty clear that we’re trying to go for that other category.  

I’m excited to go on the journey with the Reed family. The first two episodes aired in a double header tonight, and they lived up to the hype. I can honestly say my Tuesday evening television line up now includes Reed Between The Lines for as long as it’s on the air.