Category: Pop Culture

Ye who?

Posted on by Ashley Rae

 

 

Sometimes I distract myself from reading or watching videos of hate crimes against African American people. I do it because it can be overwhelming. The feeling you get in your stomach or the slight anxiety that you feel are symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You got the same feeling when you saw Omarosa backing Donald Trump, didn’t you? You couldn’t believe your eyes and ears. I got the same feeling when I heard Kanye West show complete disregard and disrespect to his people on television with his comments. Not to mention his twitter feed.  For the record Donald Glover accomplished what Kanye thought he was accomplishing in Glover’s video “This is America.”

For those of you that tried to act like you were on some higher level of understanding because you thought you knew what Kanye meant... Nice try but still an epic fail!

One who is a genius does not proclaim he is in a genius.

Thanks for visiting LetsTalkRaeStyle.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the cookie crumbles

Posted on by Ashley Rae

You ever feel like you have the weight of he world on your shoulders because of everything you’re dealing with all at once? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: CHANGE is the only thing that’s CONSTANT in this life. Do you ever wonder why so many changes have to happen all at once? We let go of toxic relationships or people that no longer serve us, all while changing careers and accepting the shifting roles within our family dynamics. Some people are getting married, mastering parenthood, and battling illness simultaneously. Then, in the midst of it all, we try to recreate some kind of normalcy in effort to relax ourselves and our brains. But, the fact remains that your world will no longer be the same. Continue reading “When the cookie crumbles” →

B.A.M.N.

Posted on by Ashley Rae

I’m exasperated with the fact that I am forced to write about another unarmed Black person being gunned down by the police. What’s most disturbing to me is that so many people still don’t understand why we are upset. We continue to protest in an attempt to get national attention and recognition, yet the protests end with no resolution and little to no change with police brutality against Black people. America just continues on with business as usual. That’s exactly what America is: A business.
Continue reading “B.A.M.N.” →

Chill on Bruno!

Posted on by Ashley Rae

A LITTLE INFO ABOUT BRUNO
I’m guessing that Bruno Mars’ multiple awards wins last month is what ignited the flame of the culture vulture (appropriation of Black culture) conversation. So, let’s talk about it. Bruno’s ethnicity is Puerto Rican. A couple of months ago he had an interview where he seemed to be livid because he was being accused of denying and/or hiding his roots. In the interview, Bruno stated “My Daddy is a Puerto Rican pimp!” He also went into grave details about growing up listening to the greats in “Black music,” and that all music can be traced back to Africa.

LET ME TAKE YOU TO SCHOOL
What is culture? Culture is the behaviors, beliefs and characteristics of a particular social, ethnic, or age group. Cultural appropriation is KIM KARDASIAN! (Just kidding, but not really). Cultural appropriation (cultural misappropriation) is the adoption STEALING the elements of a minority culture by members of the dominant culture.” Now, let me give you a little history on Puerto Rico. Free Africans (Moors) came over to Puerto Rico with the Spaniards (Colonizers). When the Spaniards began to colonize Puerto Rico, they wanted more free labor so they began to participate in the Atlantic slave trade. Therefore Taínos (the indigenous people of Puert Rico) were combined with the African slaves.

INTERNET SURFING
I ran across a video of a popular YouTuber named Seren Sensi Aishitemasu. She is a well spoken Pro Black intellectual. But, I must admit I was disgusted to hear her comments about Bruno Mars. To say that Bruno plays up the fact that he’s racially ambiguous in an effort to continue to appropriate Black culture/music is (1) Insensitive and (2) It’s not true! To be mad at  Bruno Mars for selling records based on the way he looks is the same thing as disliking Black people because they were born Black.

If Bruno grew up listening to “Black music,” doesn’t that make it part of his culture? Seren also said he uses his racial ambiguity to jump from different music genres, such as Rock & Roll, Pop, R&B, and Hip Hop! NEWSFLASH! ALL genres of music are Black genres of music!
One thing that I do agree with from Seren is that “White people prefer Black music from non Black artist.” That’s true, but it’s always been that way! We know the colonizers love everything we have as long as we aren’t the ones providing the good (s). It sounds like the anger and outrage should be directed towards the consumer, and not towards Bruno.

I SAID WHAT I SAID
It seems like people aren’t recognizing that the Fat Joe’s and J. Lo’s of the industry grew up in the same neighborhood as the Slick Rick’s and Remy Ma’s. We have similar plights and connected history! You can’t appropriate a culture that you’re already a part of, and you certainly shouldn’t punish a person for their genetics. There are tons of celebrities that appropriate Black culture, but Bruno just isn’t one of them.

Drew Barrymore

Posted on by Ashley Rae

 

Random Rant: I wasn’t suppose to post this blog until December 1st, but I just heard that SZA was nominated for 5 Grammys! I’m so excited for her that I just could not wait! It makes my heart happy that someone could articulate so many different stages of growth that has affected so many people. Rant over. Continue reading “Drew Barrymore” →

Raphael Wright: For the Culture.

Posted on by Ashley Rae
28 year old Raphael Wright is making major play moves and noise in the city of Detroit. If you haven’t heard of him, let me give you some insight. Raphael Wright is a Detroit Native who was born, raised, and still resides in Detroit today. He’s the CEO and Co-Founder of Urban Plug L3C. He also has his own company called Plug’d media, which is a hip hop media outlet that distributes and publishes books, music, art, film, apparel, and interactive media.
Wright decided to launch a go fund me project to purchase and open a Black owned and operated Grocery store on the Eastside of Detroit a little under a year ago. His goal is to rebuild the Black economy, and as he stated, in order to do so we (Black people) must invest in our needs. “Every community needs a grocery store and to see most of our communities in Detroit without a viable grocery store is driving my passion.”

Continue reading “Raphael Wright: For the Culture.” →

Problematic statements made by Black people

Posted on by Ashley Rae

 

 

 

I can’t even begin to tell you how disgusted I am with some of the things that my people say about each other that makes no sense. Apparently it makes sense to them, but in all actuality they are usually extremely problematic or they are the views and opinions taken on by our oppressors. I’ve been carping about this very topic for at least the last 2 weeks. Every time I get ready to sit-down and create this blog, I see another statement made that’s extremely problematic. For example: A woman with a Black son was upset that some young teenage boys through something wet at her car while she was driving. She literally stated “I bet they have the type of parents that scream about police brutality and argue with teachers about what type of child they have.” I guess it’s okay for police to beat and or kill the teenage boys since they did something stupid that teenagers often do, right? PROBLEMATIC!

Below are 11 of the top problematic statements that Black people make about Black people.

1. “If Black Lives Mattered we wouldn’t have Black on Black crime!”

NEWS FLASH!! Black on Black crime is a term of propaganda created by the media in the 60’s! The fact of the matter is people of all ethnicities kill people that look like them! That is a FACT! Black Lives matter was created because when Black people are killed by the police or whomever is feeling trigger happy that is not Black gets a pass for killing a Black person. The killing is somehow justified and justice is never served. This has been going on for centuries! Also, if you think Black people like the crime or take crime lightly that happens within our own communities it’s obvious that you have never been to a stop the violence rally or protest! Which, means you are not active or really paying attention to what’s happening in your community!

BOTTOMLINE: STOP SAYING THAT STUPID SHIT!

2. If the NFL players aren’t protesting why should I?

You should be protesting because you should have the common sense to realize that the NFL is making a powerful statement about how they feel about Black people as a whole. If you didn’t know what that powerful statement was let me tell you. The NFL’s statement was “we don’t care about your hard times in America due to you being a Black man. Just make our money BOY!” Not standing or kneeling is not disrespecting the flag, the country, or those who have served in the armed forces. They are just using those things to prevent you from speaking about the real issue which is the historically poor, unfair, unjust, inhumane, treatment of Black people in this country! THAT’S THE REASON PLAYERS ARE KNEELING OR SITTING DURING THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!

BOTTOMLINE: THINK! Maybe you could figure somethings out and stop letting a sport you don’t get paid to watch or play run your life!

3. “I want a mixed baby.”

Do I even have to explain this? You wanting a “mixed” baby is just stating you don’t like the features of Black babies. You don’t like yourself and how you look. You think that having a close Caucasian gene makes your baby better or special! It doesn’t If you want a mixed baby get a Poodle mixed with a Yorkshire, because animals are mixed not people!

BOTTOMLINE: You’re IGNORANT! LOVE YOURSELF IDIOT!

4. I can’t stand being around Black people.

You are Black and your statement is ignorant. What makes you think any other ethnicity wants to be around you?

BOTTOMLINE: SHUTUP and get some class!

5. Speaking negatively about a movement that Black people have started to create awareness about social injustice.

Either you are going to support the movement or not! No one needs your criticism when a larger motive or goal is the objective! You being negative in an attempt to disassociate yourself isn’t necessary. You could just be quiet.

BOTTOMLINE: SUPPORT THE CAUSE OR SHUTUP!

6. Stop telling Black people where they went wrong after being beaten and/or handcuffed for no reason by the police.

If you haven’t realized that it doesn’t matter what you do or say if an officer decides to kick your A$$ that’s exactly what’s going to happen. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing or what you say!

BOTTOMLINE: HELP STOP THE ACCEPTANCE OF POLICE BRUTALITY!

7. “She’s pretty to be dark-skin.”

Are you serious? She’s pretty period! Complexion doesn’t matter.

BOTTOMLINE: GET OFF THE PLANTATION FO MASSA COME BACK!

8. “She got good hair.”

There is no such thing as GOOD HAIR! There are different types of textures of hair. For example kinky, wavy, curly, straight, thick, and or soft.

BOTTOMLINE: LOVE THE HAIR THAT YOU HAVE. I DON’T KNOW A SINGLE WOMAN THAT LIKES HER HAIR, NO MATTER THE TEXTURE!

9. “Nah he’s not Black Black he’s from Trindad.”

Slaves were dropped off in the Caribbean, Jamaica, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Haiti,Buenos Aires, Ecuador, Cuba, and Puerto Rico! There are more places but this was just to name a few. The slaves in North America were the leftover slaves!

BOTTOMLINE: We have the same African Ancestry! We have been separated by land and culture, which CREATES THE ILLUSION THAT WE ARE DIFFERENT PEOPLE BUT WE ARE NOT!

 

10. Any time a black celebrity (ie R. Kelly and Bill Cosby) get caught in their bullshit, you all say it’s just because they’re black,

They are disgusting humans getting caught up in their devilsih ways! Just because you like what they represent doesn’t mean that’s who they are! Then you compare them to White celebrities that have been accused of the same thing! NEWS FLASH THEY AREN’T WHITE!

BOTTOMLINE: Stop blaming the victim and focus on the pattern of the CRIMINAL! If they are so innocent leave your daughters and nieces with them.

11. Stating since there are problems within the Black community we have no reason or right to complain about how other groups of people treat us.

This is the most disappointing statement I’ve seen! No other group of people have the history that we have as far as coming to this country, and being separated by complexion! Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and dignity regardless of what the next person has done!

BOTTOMLINE: If you want to shuck and jive and be disrespectful to impress or fit in with another Ethnic group, go by yourself! The rest of us aren’t going with you! BE THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD!

 

Thank you for visiting LetsTalkRaeStyle.com

A small contribution

Posted on by Ashley Rae

I am disappointed in the amount of people that are on my timeline watching any NFL game. I was asked why do I want people to boycott the NFL, but not have the NFL players boycott the NFL. I never said that I didn’t want the players to boycott! In fact, I wish they would! However, they are under a contract and many of the players are young. Sometimes we don’t understand the underlying meanings of actions or lack of actions in pressing circumstances. Continue reading “A small contribution” →

Enough

Posted on by Ashley Rae

 

If you watched BET’s hit series “Being Mary Jane,” last night you watched an intense yet serious moment in Black TV history for Black women. Mary Jane I must admit is very relatable yet extreme at the same time. However when Aaliyah and Mary Jane sat at the office table to prep Mary Jane for her potential interview regarding Lee’s Show (Lee is MJ’s ex boyfriend) the conversation got heated. It was actually more like a monologue, because Aaliyah sat quietly.

Here is what was said by MJ: “His project is trafficking in the same tired tropes.” “Black women are crazy, Black women are promiscuous, Black women are angry.” “But, have Black men ever taken responsibility for driving us to that?” “We live in a society that treats us like we’re the bottom of the barrel when it comes to romance.”  “Couple that with constantly trying to prove ourselves as worthy enough, right?” ” Be confident baby girl, but not intimidating, be smart but not emasculating.”  “Never enough but too much, too damn much, all at the same damn time.” “Men are encouraged to objectify our bodies, but the minute we search for sexual satisfaction oh baby we are called WHORES!”

I am sure that some people probably took this as Mary Jane being angry, or bitter even though that is not the message nor intent. However, does Mary Jane make some valid points? Shouldn’t Mary Jane have the right to be angry when she, and other Black women are looked upon as a last resort? The bottom of the barrel and/or less beautiful? Has anyone taken the time to discuss why many Black women feel the way that they (we) do? Of course Black women discuss these things amongst each other, but does anyone else care to listen for understanding instead of  hearing us to respond and downplay our plight?

The truth of the matter is Black women are constantly walking on eggshells trying to be enough, and not too damn much!  Where is the balance in being smart, and then engaging in a conversation yet being perceived as emasculating because of what you know? How is being confident intimidating unless you’re in some form of competition? Everyone should be confident in themselves without being egotistical. Black women can barely take a sexy picture without negative backlash.  Men are encouraged to objectify the bodies of women. Yet women can’t seek to be satisfied sexually.

What’s the point of even having sex if you aren’t seeking physical satisfaction and pleasure? The entire ideology of Black women being promiscuous comes from slavery, and I’m exhausted with explaining that! If you didn’t know Black women did not enjoy being raped! Being raped for years does not equal promiscuity! If a Black woman does consider herself (is) to be promiscuous or sexually fluid that does not give anyone the right to disrespect her or judge her. Even if you feel like she may be disrespecting herself you still should respect her, because you don’t control the actions of others, you control yourself!

Did Mary Jane just express to the world what many of us have been thinking and feeling? If you were constantly jumping through hoops to fit a picture of what someone’s idea of you should be,  wouldn’t that make you crazy at some point?

Thanks for visiting LetsTalkRaeStyle.com

Insecure

Posted on by Ashley Rae
Today is August 17th, 2017 which is my Birthday (Earthday)… whatever name you want to call it! This year I decided upon a photo shoot. Not just any photo shoot, but a photo shoot and a blog to promote positive body image. I remember being displeased with my body at the age of nine. Some of my body parts seemed to be growing fast, which looked very awkward on a child. Adults would make negative comments about my body and we all know how cruel kids can be.
 
I always seemed to be bigger than everyone else including my friends. Even in high school, I considered myself to be the big girl with the pretty face. You see being “thick” wasn’t all that popular in my day. I mean don’t get me wrong, there has always been males, at that time, that made me feel good about my body- but the damage had already been done. If you don’t feel good about your body it doesn’t even matter what anyone else thinks.
 
The lead girls in music videos were always thin unless it was Buffy the Body and she was all butt back then! I don’t really recall seeing many positive images of bigger women on TV, if I saw any at all. My birthday photo shoot felt like a coming out moment for me. It’s me accepting my entire body flaws and all! Recently one of my Facebook friends asked if there were any girls out here with naturally perfect curves without any enhancements from surgery. If you didn’t know we are in the age of Brazilian butt jobs, liposuction, tummy tucks, and gastric bypass surgery. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of those procedures if that is what you need to feel beautiful.  As a person that has never had any type of surgery, those avenues just aren’t for me currently.
 
My body may not be perfect, but I love the way I look!  I definitely have curves, and I make an effort to workout 4-5 days a week. I don’t workout due to my weight; I workout because I want to obtain and maintain good health. This blog isn’t just about big or bigger girls. This blog is for every girl or woman who has ever been told that she’s too skinny or too tall. For every woman who has been told her breast or butt weren’t big enough, or that her stomach wasn’t flat enough. It’s for every person that has ever been compared to a model, actress, singer, or some random girl on Instagram that shows all her goods!
 
Embrace whatever body type that you may have. Look at your beautiful naked body in the mirror and speak positive life into yourself! You believe what you tell yourself, and as long as you speak positively to yourself you’ll never feel insecure.
 
Respect and love your body no matter its shape or size.
 
Photo credit JMT Printing & Design photo of Ashley Rae..