nappyku

would like to know you
wonder if you think of me
wish i could say hi

New Year's Hairsolution!

*singing "Golden" by Jill Scott

What be my New Year's Resolution? Well, that's one a little private.

Some of y'all know what's on that one. haha.

But my New Year's Hairsolution is as follows my beautiful nappy afrobelles!

1. Keep it styled, fresh to def, moisturized and well loved

2. Try the products that fellow nappyfolk recommend

3. Be natural product friendly-the environment is a beautiful thing

4. Don't be afraid to rock the natural kink when the twists come down

5. Wash it regularly-even when its twisted or braided (I've got this one bad)

6. Stay far far far away from the creamy crack. It will tempt you. It will call you out. Be strong sista.

7. Rock at least one hair color that is not any variation of 1B or 2. Venture into the light browns, deep reds and blondes if it works for me.

8. Don't be afraid to express myself through my different hairstyles. Must look into other types of hairstyles: Senegalese, Kinky, Yarn, Fake Locs, Braids, Tree Braids, Afros, Flat Twists, Two-Strand, Twist-Outs, Bantu Knots, Cornrows. I want to try them ALL.

9. Wear it long. Wear it short. Wear it medium. 2010 is about re-invention.

10. Network with Afrobelles and Afrogents around the world in order to stay fresh on the Natural Hair Tip. If you wanna be my friend, consider it done! I've got nothing but love.

Strangers? Nah, I only see potential friends.

*he just sexy*

OH yes, Happy New Year everybody. 2009 was a terrible year for me. I didn't like it.

But the decade was the biz!

Here's my decade in summary:

1. Birth of my siblings.

2. Divorce of my parents

3. Move from my childhood state

4. First of many serious relationships

5. HS Graduation/College

6. The Big Chop

7. Coming out process

8. Held political office

9. Debuted my acting skills (offish)

10. Sold an artpiece for $700

If you're listening 2009, I did NOT like you. But there are some lumps of coal that can become jewels. I have a few. So Happy New Year to my #1 baby! And to my family! And to my friends! And to my nappyfolk! Be safe. Be easy. Stay thuggin'. Keep lovin'. Keep it 100%

Adios to my former creamy crack addicted self. Oh man, it's hard. Cuz man, I was sexayyyy.

peace. love. nappy.

The flake stops being a flake!

So sorry I've been super flakey! I had an awful semester filled with 10 levels of drama and sickness ;__;

Thanks for the award LITK! We really appreciate it :)

10 honest things about me? Begin...NOW!

1) In a past life I was a drag queen. My love of big hair, big make up, fake eyelashes, big shoes and glitter proves it.
2) I love and spend too much time on youtube
3) I love hats and earrings--the bigger and more ridiculous the better
4) I'm freakishly empathetic. My friends joke I know what they're feeling before the feel it. It's a blessing and a curse.
5) I have seen Center Stage over 10 times.
6) My nickname (Meev) comes from a Japanese rockstar. He's one of my hair STYLE idols. Why? He WORKED a rainbow, Mohawk mullet. WORKED IT.
7) I can taste the difference between Coke and Pepsi.
8) I'm a secret agent. My mission? Code named  Operation Beautiful
9) I've never seen Titanic or The Notebook. And I want to keep it that way.
10) I love science! It's so weird! And so pretty! Seriously, have you ever seen a brainbow? Or the Crab Nebula?

Have a safe and Happy New Year!

Nappyscrap? Oh Shnap.

You know what Z? I think I love you girrrl! And tell Miss Fizz, I'm working on the podcast thang for her! Thanks for the nomination, LITK! Hopefully Alice'll get her BUTT over herrre and write somfin' up for y'allz. Also, do I get to make my Oscar speech now, cuz I'm just honored to have been nominated for anythang related to a blog. Anythang.

Okay. Here's my simple meme. My Ten Honest Things. Get ready.

1. I can cornroll. In fact, I have my own side hustle called Lolita's Hair Salon at my college.

2. I am the hugest fan of Law and Order: SVU. Can watch it all day.

3. I am actually from Inglewood. I reside in Oregon. I school in California, again. Couldn't stay away from that good ol' smog, lead water, and plastic b$(#!%$*  :D

4. I want to become just a little bit famous. Just a little bit.

5. I'm bi, too. bahahahaha. More power to the love. Haters, don't say nuffin'.

6. I am working on a book, better blog entries, a podcast, and a damn short film. I'm ambitious.

7. I want to wear my hair in a 'fro everyday. Except that, my shit is real. And my naps don't do that cool play nice and look pretty trick that everybody else's naps learned in Nap Obedience School.

8. I love to hate while secretly like Beyonce's music. Some songs just hit it. Other days, she really needs to quit it. Both she and her 100% $200,000 Indian hair that flows from a fountain that never seems to stop. She needs to make a large donation to Locks of Love and help them out. Those women need that hair. 

9. I procrastinate on things that I should do because I'm afraid that I am really not good at anything except wasting time. Wasting time is a talent that I have fully mastered.

10. I cry at the end of "What Dreams May Come" every single damn time. Without fail.

i, the ♥masterguru Luna, hereby nominate Tiera over @ Peace, Love, and Nappiness.

Show her blog some love y'all.

"get up out my deaf ear...."

Because you all know that I post irregularly. But here's one from my household to yours.

It is called "The Whisper Song (check yo breaf remix)." It was a freestyle, one take. That would explain all the awkwardness. Happy Holidays everyone! By the way, yes, I'm actually partially deaf :)

♥

Luna

all i wanna do...

...is a *boom boom* and take yo' money...




I watched Slumdog Millionaire again and found myself with tears in my eyes after seeing it for the second time. Something about this movie touches me deeply. Perhaps it was the seemingly rare love that existed between Jamal and Latika that made me cry. His persistence, unwillingness to give up, determination to to be with the one he loves, naivete, loyalty and honesty. Perhaps it was the gritty reality of living in the slums of India that reminded me of a worse version of ghetto life in the United States. There's a common struggle all over the world: poverty. We all do what we have to do in order to survive. I thought about watching this movie the night before Christmas, so as to keep myself from falling into the materialistic trap of wanting more on Christmas day. Did it work? Kind of. I didn't watch the movie to say, "oh look how bad they've got it." I watched it to say, "Damn, life is real. I remember when..." And I did remember those really rough, rough times our family has had. I remember those days when we were very hungry or when we shared presents or when we didn't even have a place to stay. Struggle is definitely universal. But what doesn't kill you makes you a beast in the streets. 


This song was the hood anthem for like the entire year. Didn't necessarily celebrate anything, just pointed to the deep desire to do anything to make it. Do anything to feed yourself and your family. Even at the cost of breaking the law. Now, you all know that I'm a law abiding citizen. Riiight? But the chorus seems to be saying, "All I wanna do is *live* and I'll do anything to achieve that.


Boss soundtrack for 2010. I'm working on my master Mix CD. If you have any songs that mean something to you, what are they? What is your motto for the new year?

gettin' into business and other thangs...

So it seems that I forgot to wish all of my followers and fellow bloggers "Happy Holidays" and a "Merry Christmahanakwanzakah". I hope this time is being used for family gathering, spreading of love, self-reflection, fun, and happiness. Oh and of course, premium NAPPINESS.

My open letter to Santa:

Dear Santa, 

I'm trying really really hard to believe in you. But this is getting to be really difficult for me.

I mean with you being a fat, happy, jolly white man bringing gifts and presents to little chil'ren

around the world during a recession so tough that I can't even afford to make sense. That's kind of tough for me to swallow Santa. Oh, and the fact that you decided to eat up all my damn cookies last year when I put them out for Stella, that was cold business too. I mean, I'm not like little Riley. Callin' you a b!#ch a*$ n*&^% and all of that. I'm trying to be civil, Santa. Where's the love, Santa? The happiness, Santa? Are you going to bring me good grades for this semester, Santa? A piece of mind? A better comb, Santa? I mean, one christmas I asked for siblings and I got those. I asked for a telescope,  I got it. I asked for love, I got it. Albeit, the love you brought me was dead a** complicated. I asked for a better comb, Santa, you gave me harder naps. Guess your elves didn't relay that message over to you. I asked to be cuter, you gave me a few more pounds and a lemon cream pie sitting in my refrigerator. I asked for money, you gave me gold coins. Gold coins, Santa? What the hell can I do with gold coins, Santa? Those bitches were made from CHOCOLATE. 

Santa, I asked you for peace in the middle east. I'm not even going to say what you did then. You know what you did. That was cold business, Santa. And why he had to be Nigerian, though? Now, black people gon' get hella scruffed up in airports. Thanks, Santa. For nothing.

Santa, I asked for the end of BET. Santa, I asked for black people to chill out. Santa, I asked for black people to get their s#it together and for white people to figure their s#it out.

Santa, I asked for my hair to be combable. 

Not for it to be so thin that I can't do nothing with it BUT comb it.

Santa, I asked for blue eyes. Not pink eye.

Santa, I asked for more nappykus. Nappykus, santa. Not nappy hoes. 

Santa, I asked you to give me better blog entries and more followers. 

You failed me Santa. I'm not like those other bloggers. I really don't have s#it important to say.

Santa, I hope you can hear me talking to you. I hoped to see you in person so that we could have a sit down but your elves said that you were unavailable. Not cool, Santa. I was hoping that you would be a man about it. But it seems that you can't get that punk up out you. 

I'm hoping that you at least help me with my New Year's Resolution list. Cuz that is going to be mad tough

to write. 

Santa, I will marry you if you decide to let me go to Brazil and Jordan. I will get on bended knee. I will wipe Rudolph's a** if you say that I should. Anything Santa.

I still love you, Santa. You a b$#h a** sometimes. But I still love you. Like I loved *#($*@$. Just don't bring me another one of those for a spouse, Santa. That was a bad move.

♥

Luna

What to write about:

I remember saying that I wanted to write a blog post about homophobia and blackness. That might still happen.

I remember saying that I would do more reviews and tutorials for all y'all hair folk. I'ma work on it, I swearrr.

I remember saying *briefly* that I would do more opinion pieces. I have to actually keep up with the rest of the world, pay attention in my theory classes, and think critically first before I can write opinion pieces that make sense. Look to my baby tfpractice.blogspot.com for that deep critical intellectual ish.

Cross our fingers that Luna can complete these research projects in time to get graded for this semester! I really want to be writing to y'all from Brazil in 6 months. Tell me to do it, y'all!

It's all love. I love you all.

nappyku: nappy dugout

like a spiderweb
caught you here in my love trap
comb free and shake loose

scalp be itchin'

Hey ya'll. Luna on the scene.

It's Winter Time and you know my scalp is dryyyy! I'm not sure what your normal routine is but I know for certain that I must warn you to moisturize. MOIST-UR-IZE. Just do it, like Nike. My scalp is killing me. I'm walking hitting my head like I'm beating for coins out of a slot machine. Here's what I've decided to do: Use some grease. I try to keep my sennie twists well moisturized so that my hair can grow freely and beautifully underneath. I try not to use so much product because residue just looks gross when it builds up, right? So, I don't use as much product. I hate to say it, but Dr. Miracle's Braid Relief works wonders. Except that I smell my like my grandma's clinic when I wear it. I used to use Carol's Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey, which has an interesting smell, but CD works on my wallet tough, and I need not remind you all that I'm a) broke b) a college student and c) poor.

While looking online for hair products, why did I run into something called a "natural relaxer?" It "opens your wave pattern" and "loosens your curls" slowly but surely. It doesn't burn your naps straight. The video is of this lady with this uber fly fro and then next thing you know, her hair slowly becomes not uber fly but aight. I mean her hair looks natural because it has some semblance of her original texture, but at the end she's rocking a cute roller set but I'm like "What happened to the afro?"

Sometimes the 'fro ain't for everybody: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/5013609

Back to the hair grease, I've decided to go old school and use some good ol' African Pride until I can find something better.

On another note, I keep getting requests from women of different shades to have their hair talked about on my blog. Although the title refers to a specific state of black hair, should I allow women of other backgrounds with curly hair be featured? Is exclusivity the policy or is it about appropriation of spaces?

oy, the politics of hair.

tie me up?

Check it. There was a girl who had bowtie hair. She was fresh. She appeared in the wack video, "Tie Me Down" by irritable New Boyz.

New Boyz ft. Ray J - Tie Me Down - Official Video

New Boyz | MySpace Music Videos




Here's how to do it (for my beautifully loc'd sistas)

some soul for yo' mornin

nappyku

i change my hairstyle

like i change my clothes in the morn

wish i could change me

sista spotlight: Miss Jakeeda Wright

Your Name/Pseudonym? Keedah Wright

Location: Atlantic City, NJ

Fun Fact: I write a fashion blog http://diaryofastyleaddic.typepad.com

1) How long have you been natural?

almost 4 years

2) Why did you choose to go natural?

Just decided one day that I didnt want to put chemicals in my hair anymore. My relaxed hair was long and healthy but it started to feel fake to me. I hated that people felt that HAD to have relaxers and didnt see them as a choice, but a necessity.

3) Who hairspires you?
To be honest walking down the street and seeing everyday women rocking natural hair inspires me. You know when you give each other that approving look. Especially girls in middle or high school cause you know they are under a lot of pressure to relax. I feel like I need to stay natural to be a role model for them and show them how versatile natural hair can be.

4) What is the general perception that you feel other people have about you now that your hair is natural?
When I first went natural it wasnt as popular as it is now and people would automatically classify me as neo soul or bohemian. Im actually the opposite being a glam girl. Now I feel it makes me edgier and people see me as someone that doesnt run with the mainstream crowd.

5) What is your favorite hairstyle?

I love twist outs cause I can make them last a ridiculous amount of time by switching them up a little bit. My fave is to pin it up on one side with 2 or 3 twists. I recently flat ironed and did a bantu knot out and am really feeling that too.

6) What are your favorite products? Where can we get them?

Right now Im loving Qhemet Biologics products. 100% natural shea butter and castor oil are my best friends this winter for sealing in moisture and making my hair cotton candy soft. I also like Loreal Hydragloss shampoo and conditioner which you can find at any drugstore.

7) Something that you'd like to see NappyLuna write about?

Hmmm thats a hard one cause you're doing a fabulous job! I love reading about new and unique hairstyles so I guess more tutorials.

Thank you Miss Keedah for being the first sistareader to be spotlighted at Nappy Like Yo' Pappy! You are truly amazing and very beautiful! I'll be sure to visit your website!

♥ Luna

Visit Miss Keedah's websites at:
http://diaryofastyleaddict.typepad.com
http://www.twitter.com/specialk327

To be featured, send me an email at mizzluna08@yahoo.com!

Transraciality?

Is it the new frontier?

Transgender identities: I get it. Breaking gender barriers that exist and are clearly perpetuated by society.

Transracial identities? This skit is hilarious. And it is to be deconstructed soon. Trust.

Here's one very important question (to make this clear, it is quoted from the Youtube comment section):

Does Ashaka's white privilege to take on blackness parallel the male privilege to take on women's identity?

Here's what the actor had to say about his video:

This [skit] is about a character searching for identity, and subsequently performing her idea of what black is based on television and media portrayals of black women.

Is Ashaka ignorant? Yes. Ashaka has a lot of learning to do. But bear in mind that she believes her transracial identity is every bit as real as her transgender identity.

My goal was to depict a person who is haphazardly appropriating identities in an attempt to find herself.


My question to you is: What do you think? Could transraciality be accepted? Is it already present in our communities? Was this video a comment on something noticeable in our society or was it just a hilarious skit that had no base in anything? Engage....

w

The Princess and The Frog: to hell with reviews, this movie was the bizness!

So what's the word on the new Disney movie, "The Princess and the Frog?" GO SEE IT!

Here's the deali-o. little mizz Luna was given the opportunity to see the new movie at Disney Studios in Burbank, California. Now after watching a movie called, Mickey Mouse Monopoly," I was expecting to be all extra critical when viewing the movie, being mindful of every stereotype I could possibly pick out and expecting to be disappointed. The only thing I could say was that the other Disney princesses WERE their own fairytales, patented storylines that no one else could have ever come up with, whereas, Princess Tiana was just a clever remake of The Frog Prince story. This hurt me because I wanted Princess Tiana to be some princess of New Orleans with a completely new storyline, but perhaps Disney was just losing its steam? No, it made up for it. The movie is set in the 1920s in the musical city of New Orleans, Louisiana. I'll admit, there are some Louisiana stereotypes abound, but it's Disney. And wouldn't be Disney or human if there weren't any present about any one thing at all. And the cast, the cast is phenomenal.

THE CAST

Princess Tiana:

Anika Noni Rose, the woman can sang, y'all. Remember how she didn't get much shine in Dreamgirls? Well, now is her time! Tiana is a 19 year old waitress and aspiring chef who dreams of owning her own restaurant. Now, why a 19 year old magically ends up married to a prince is Disney's fault, but still, it could happen, right? I'm holdin' out, haha. Tiana isn't a maid working for a white boss, either. She's a WAITRESS. She has a job and she's getting PAID. She sacrifices spending time with her friends so that she can save up and buy a restaurant that she's always wanted. And when she had saved enough, she tried to buy her own restaurant in an old sugar mill. Except that racism stopped her in her tracks. She is a motivated, determined, and independent young woman and she wants to do things her way, without help from anyone. Okay, I was a bit tiffed that she spends 3/4 of the movie as a frog. But it was just a good movie. Why can't we just enjoy something for once? She's from a humble background. And she didn't asked to be taken up out of it EITHER.

Biggest lesson Tiana's character learned: You can wish upon a star, but you still have to put in work. And even when you put in work, you have to be willing to let others help you along the way.

Prince Naveen:

Bruno Campos. Prince Naveen is the sexiest Disney prince since Aladdin. He's 20 years old. He can sing. He can play an instrument. He loves jazz music. Disney recognizes the feminist majority; they made the PRINCE the golddigger, not the woman. He wants to marry a princess so his broke ass can have more money after being cut off from his family's inheritance as a punishment for his debauchery. But most Disney princes are asshats, no? Look at Beast! He locked Belle in a room to starve and keep herself company with inanimate objects. And he still didn't put a ring on it. He just transformed back to a man again. Look at Prince Charming! I swear he was hittin' Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Snow White. Basically folks, Prince Charming was a manwhore. But back to Naveen, he was also really gullible. He was persuaded to take a tour of Dr. Facilier's office, a man who was a voodoo practitioner, and thus is turned into a frog.

Charlotte La Bouff: Jennifer Cody, who is very talented and made Charlotte an irritating but yet a very likeable character. She is a typical Southern belle, diva, debutante. 18 years old and without direction. Desperate for a rich man to marry so that she continue living lavishly. Blond. Blue eyed. Big breasted. The End? No, sherealizes that her love for Tiana, as they grew up together, would overrule her selfish pleasures. Tiana looked like the poor best friend of this rich white girl, but there was no animosity anywhere in this movie. Tiana was fine where she was at. Charlotte made no effort to give concessions to Tiana. Except when Tiana screws up and falls into a mess and Charlotte lends her a dress which makes her feel and look like a princess (sets up the WHOLE storyline).

Eudora (Tiana's Mother): Miss Oprah Winfrey. This woman needs no introduction. She had her southern accent on thick and made a very charming addition to the voiceover cast. Her voice was sweet, full of wisdom, and made you smile. 1) You were smiling because she reminded you of somebody you knew. 2) You were smiling because it was Oprah. Admit it. Tiana's mother was a very talented seamstress, who sewed princess dresses for her biggest customer, Charlotte La Bouff.

James (Tiana's Father): Terrence Howard, who made Tiana's father come to life. Tiana's father was handsome and boy, did he have a handsome voice as well! His southern accent made you feel at home and accentuated his wisest statements. It was voice that you heard in your head when Tiana would be feeling down. It was a voice she heard too. His work wasn't specified but he could have been a railroad worker or something that would cause him to work triple shifts like factory work. He loved gumbo and taught Tiana to cook and together they would feed the whole block out of his single, treasured gumbo pot.

Doctor Facilier: Keith David, the man with the silky voice. This man's voice is coveted in Hollywood, giving him roles that are creepy, cruel, or hilarious. He's just that versatile! And here, he played Doctor Facilier, a voodoo witch practitioner, who owed a steep debt to his "friends on the other side". He is also a palm reader, which initially attracts Prince Naveen to his office. He tricks Naveen into being turned into a frog by asking him if the "green"- which Naveen thinks is money-is what he really wants. He's scary. He's a schemer. He does business with demons and his shadow has a mind of its own. This is actually scary in the movie to me. If I were 4, I'd be scared as hell.

He was inspired by Soul Train, Captain Hook, Jim Carrey, Usher, Michael Jackson and Cruella DeVil: How Doctor Facilier got his Start!

Eli "Big Daddy" La Bouff: John Goodman's hearty, big daddy sounding southern accent laded voice brings this character to life and more. He's an extremely wealthy and very friendly Southern sugar mill owner. He's also the father of Charlotte. His role is minimal: to bring a friendly and likeable face to white privilege and white wealth in the South.

Lawrence (Prince Naveen's peon/valet/bitch): Poor Lawrence, one would say. Voiced by Peter Bartlett, Lawrence is that mouse looking character (literally drawn that way to emphasize his low status) who can never catch a break. He has to carry around all the bags of Prince Naveen and watch as Naveen spends his money away and live recklessly. Does Lawrence ever get the cuddie? Nope, no panties headed his way ANYTIME soon. Does poor little Larry get to stop in the street and play instruments while spending mommy and daddy's money? Nope. He has to get physically stuck in an instrument and he gets no tips. So, of course, Facilier will highlight this to Lawrence to get him to extract revenge on Prince Naveen. And little Larry gets so carried away that he's willing to parade around as Naveen as the real Prince remains a frog for ever. Larry represents greeeeeed and revenge all in one package. And you even feel bad for him cuz' you just KNOW that life has been hard on this wee little man.

Mama Odie (Voodoo Queen): Probably one of my favorite characters. She just reminds me of my grammy. And her music is JUMPIN'. Voiced by Jenifer Lewis, a black woman who has been continuously slighted by Hollywood even though she's been in like 150 movies, Mama Odie is the very funny, very cute old voodoo Queen who lives on the bayou. She looks like Suga Mama from that one short lived black animated show "The Proud Family". Suga Mama had her poodle Puff, Mama Odie has her snake JuJu. She's 197 years old, but you wouldn't believe. Blind as a bat, she uses her snake as a cane and mixes her potions in a cracked up old bathtub. She lives in a boat which is in a tree way above the bayou. And this was one of the most visually stunning scenes in the entire movie. Her tree is all decked out in glass bottles of various colors, and the glass bottles are drawn in like traditional 2D style, they are computer animated, digital, almost 3D. And that goes for the whole movie. It was half traditional 2D drawing and the other half was computer animated. I thought it was an absolutely BEAUTIFUL design choice. And Mama Odie's soundtrack song is jumpin. Makes you think deep about what you really want out of life and what it is that you truly NEED.

Ray: Ray is not a junebug. He is a firefly and he is the cutest thing EVER. Voiced by Jim Cummings, the man who is the voice of Tigger, Winnie the Pooh, and Scar from The Lion King, Ray is a lovesick hopelessly romantic Cajun firefly from humble roots by the bayou, smitten with Evangeline, a big beautiful Evening star that he thinks is a firefly just like him. The ending of the movie makes you want to cry around this storyline, sorry, can't give you a spoiler on that. You'll just have to see it. But Ray has this thick, backcountry Cajun accent and he always has gas. He speaks real fast but he is one of the most likeable characters in the movie. He believes in deep love, reminds me of Sebastian in how he tries to get Tiana and Naveen together, and he is so good-natured. He loves his family and he often comes to the rescue of his larger friends. He may have erupted a little controversy because of how he's drawn but think of him as a hillbilly. A Cajun hillbilly is what they were going for, I think.

Louis: Michael-Leon Wooley lends his voice to Louis, a jazz loving, trumpet playing alligator who wants to be human so he can play with the BIG BOYS. He's got many phobias and is one of those lovable, "I'm not going to eat you" gators who you root for the entire movie. You really want Louis to play on a float during Mardi Gras because that's his dream, but Mama Odie refuses to change him into a human because she insists that all he has to do is "Dig a Little Deeper."

MY THOUGHTS

The plot was beautifully written for children; we must remember that these stories are not simply for our older, wiser, more critical enjoyment. Disney tried to highlight racism, while throwing in "pick yourself up by the bootstraps" and "you have to work hard to get the American dream" elements, which I found interesting. I mean the movie was set in the 1920s, so it is way before the Civil Rights Movement and other movements that we know about. And while I was taken aback at how Tiana had two jobs and her father had triple shifts and was called simply a "hard worker," I wondered if Disney would highlight why Tiana and her father had to work so hard to get ahead. Why weren't her father's dreams of owning his own restaurant feasible? Well, Disney snuck the answer in 5 seconds of brilliance at the welcoming ball for Prince Naveen. The Bonner Bros. deny Tiana a loan because of her "background." And Disney doesn't overlook white or class privilege; Charlotte gets princess dresses made for just for her and Naveen cannot cook because he's never had to cook for himself. Naveen is also racially ambiguous-good job Disney. He is a prince from Maldonia, some made up land, and is voiced by a Brazilian actor (Get 'em Tiana!!!). He could be Indian, Arab, Latino, Creole-the options are limitless. Did I mention that he was sexy? Yes, lawd, he is. I know we're mad because we think that Disney thinks that no one would see a Black Princess AND a Black Princess. And we think that Disney has a vendetta out for black men. But maybe Disney wants to promote blackness and interracial marriages? Remember Cinderella with Brandy? Was that not just all racially skewed? But we loved it anyway.

Mama Odie is refreshing in her song, "Dig a Little Deeper." "Money ain't got no soul, money ain't got no heart," is probably my favorite line in that whole song. She sings about finding and loving who you really are.

Now I must admit I was worried about the use of voodoo (but like everything there's a good and there's a bad and they showed both) and I was worried about the storyline. But after seeing the movie and watching it there were many great ideas that Disney put out in this movie. I was hoping that it wouldn't be too preachy, you know, to act as a redeemer movie for black folk. But instead, it just seemed like a movie that I'd be glad to let my little sister watch. Tiana was hustlin' to get her dream and even though she married a prince, she STILL bought her restaurant with her OWN money. Granted she had to have help to make them take it, but it was her money they were taking not Naveen's. And Naveen couldn't marry Tiana and still be a golddigger because she had no money, so he married her out of love. And his parents stopped cutting him off because he got some sense about him. As for Charlotte? She didn't find love right away, but she did catch the bouquet (a sheer sign of hope). Disney didn't necessarily acknowledge that pulling oneself up by the bootstraps requires everyone to at least have boots or equal access to shoestrings, but they tried to show that persistence and hardwork always pays off and that's universal.

After the showing, they had all of the Disney princesses waiting for us and I melted into my 7 year old self again. I was pushing little 4 year olds out of the way to take a picture with Tiana. They also had lots of merchandise but I was broke and could only afford a Little Golden Book and a Tiana cupcake. Disney also made a Tiana doll that I'm sure will sell out this Christmas. Why? Because then little girls can stop buying so many Jasmine dolls. I know I bought Jasmine dolls because she was the closest Princess doll to my blackness that I could find. They also sold absolutely BEAUTIFUL Tiana dresses, and I saw a little white girl asking her mother to buy it for her, but the funniest moment was when a little black girl proudly walked up beside her and said, "She's my princess." Reminded of me when my little sister said she could finally be a Disney princess for Halloween and no one would tell her otherwise. I remember when I wanted to be Jasmine or even Belle for Halloween and I couldn't because I was too dark and people would say, "You can't be Jasmine" or "You can't be Belle" And I would say, "Why not?" And they would say, "Because you don't look like her." To which I replied, "Well, neither do you!" But I knew what they meant. It wasn't that I didn't favor them, it was that we didn't have the same skin color. Well, I hate to say it, but Tiana is an equal opportunity Halloween costume, because it's easier for white people to be black characters for Halloween instead of the other way around. Google Tia Dalma/Calypso and see how many white women donned blackface to be her character. I think it'll be interesting to see what this movie does for little black girls and their self esteem in 10 years. The Barbie is absolutely stunning. Her merchandise will sell out of the roof, I am sure.

The controversy that erupted over her name? That was stupid.

The fact that Naveen isn't black? Well, I can understand the issues there and perhaps I'll analyze and attack that later. But for now, damn it, who cares!

The storyline not being original? I can deal with it. The movie is beautiful.

Heteronormativity? That's going to take awhile to abolish.

The ideas of marriage? Well, Tiana wasn't defined by marriage and hadn't been looking for marriage or actively searching for love at all. So, don't come to me with that idea. She didn't need a prince. Her prince wanted her. Hell, she still would have made a way to get what she needed to get. Why? Because Tiana was a hustla'.

I can just say this: I am glad that she's here and damn it Disney, it's about TIME.

The Soundtrack is JUMPIN':

This is gonna be good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV04B6JDafQ

Gonna Take You There: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDeLmqK3D80

Dig A Little Deeper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry2HLKGwxuQ

Friends on the Other Side: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nsqy6U3g1LQ

If I were Human:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df90xfeunAg

when you want me baby....just call...

Meshell Ndegeocello.

A goddess. Her sounds soothe one's ears, lulling one to sleep, riding on the back of her carefully executed bass rhythms. This woman's music is like audio gold.

"Let me kiss your body, feel you with love. Let me feed your body, fill you with love. I can't sleep, when I ain't close to you I cry..."

Mmmm.

I've spent the bulk of my teenage years looking for music that had substance, that I could take and ingest like a pill, music made by black women that could shake loose my skin and awaken my soul. Some of Meshell's older music was gritty, too much to handle even...but I liked it. This woman who sang about the boyfriend that wasn't really yours or about diggin' you like that good ol' vinyl soul record. This woman who while singing about sex could actually make you journey deep within yourself and feel her, on some other level. When I first heard "Andromeda and the Milky Way," I was taken somewhere else. Closed my eyes and dreamed that I was born on a black star.

To put it simple, ladies and gentle(wo)men, I was entranced. She is an astounding musician.

Meshell Ndegeocello, born Michelle Lynn Johnson

Also known as Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur

Born: August 29, 1968-Berlin, Germany

Raised: Washington, D.C. (cut from the same cloth, I'd say)

Her name is pronounced Mee-shell N-deh-gay-o-chello. Ndegeocello means "free like a bird."

And a free spirit, she is. She is a self-identified bisexual, who has a son with Rebecca Walker, daughter of Alice Walker (yes, The Color Purple's Alice Walker).

What do I like most about her? She's not only a vocalist who popularized the spoken word over music thing but she's a BADASS on the bass guitar. Period, point blank.

What's my favorite album? That's a tough one. It's between Bitter (1999) or Comfort Woman (2003).

What's my favorite song? I can't say. But I'll just look at my most played Ndegeocello songs and the top two are Love Song #2 and Earth.

Where can you recognize her music in popular culture? Try every happ'nin black movie to come out within the past 10 years: How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Lost & Delirious, Love Jones, Love & Basketball, Talk To Me, The Best Man, Higher Learning and Down in the Delta.

My favorite collaboration she's made? "African Diamond" by Zap Mama, album Recreation. Zap Mama is the biz'ness, too! Yes, I will be profiling her soon!

Basically, get your asses up and listen to this woman's music. She's absolutely on fiyah. And I love her. And without her, lord knows college would be extra difficult!