CrazySexyCool: TLC Movie

Last night the world gathered around. Little boys and girls everywhere grabbed their popcorn and settled in front of the TV for a VH1 Original Movie premiere. LOL ok that was pretty dramatic but I’m telling you last night was a nostalgic trip down memory lane and if you’re a twitter junkie it was like reliving our childhood with thousands of our besties. Yea twitter gets deep and we all come together for moments like this… If you’re still reading like o_O. I’m sorry. I’m sorry because you missed the CrazySexyCool TLC Movie last night and it was amazing. YEP. Amazing. Say otherwise and you’re a hater. *shrugs*

Leading up to the premiere the streets were talking. As the streets tend to do, all I heard was negativity. People thought it was going to be a bust. That the cast was poorly chosen. That VH1 couldn’t handle the story. Um no. Wrong. Drew Sidora (T-Boz) was great! She channeled T-Boz cool like no other. Such a gorgeous and talented lady. I loved her. I’ll admit, when I first heard that Drew Sidora was starring as T-Boz I was like…wait…the girl from The Game? Wait she’s a real person? *side eye* But she really killed it. Two snaps Drew boo! Keke Palmer (Chilli) was gorgeous! She has grown into such a beautiful woman. I’ve loved Keke for years now so I’m probably biased but I think she did good as well. *Note: I said good. It wasn’t awesome but she delivered a solid performance and held her own. Go girl!  But the REAL star of the show…THE REAL STAR was Lil Mama. Chillllllleee if I wasn’t watching Left Eye on TV the devil is a lie! She brought out Lisa Lopes for real for real I mean to a T. On point. Lil hunny was serving the entire movie. From start. To finish. Oh the shade that was being thrown around before the movie debuted. Nobody and I mean nobody thought she’d be able to pull it off! Welp. Whether you liked the movie or not, there is no denying she delivered. Point blank period. Okay *clears throat* now that my Lil Mama as Left Eye stanning is complete…

The movie itself was well written. It played like the perfect 90’s timeline. We watched TLC go from kids with dreams to superstars. I learned Left Eye was originally from my hometown (S/O to Philly!), that Chilli wasn’t the original C, and that Pebbles…was the devil himself. Oh Pebbles. Twitter snatched Pebbles edges last night and dragged her ALL NIGHT LONG. I don’t know if she’ll ever show up again. We watched as this woman stole so much money from these girls. I’m talking millions! Platinum selling superstars and she bought them Toyota’s. A whole mess. There were real moments. Chilli’s first pregnancy and her downright foolishness when it came to baby daddy Dallas Austin. We took a closer look into T-Boz sickness and her strength to defeat all odds against her. We watched the evolution of TLC last night on Vh1 and I loved it!

If you didn’t catch the movie it’s definitely worth watching and we all now how VH1 is…you’ll be able to catch it again. If you did watch, what did you think? Loved it? Hated it? Take it or leave it? Let me know!

Peace, Love, & Blessings

~

**Stay Connected! Follow me on Twitter @thisbrownqueen & Instagram @tyshia_shante**

Hair Love | Beyonce New Look

Yasssss Bey! So if you didn’t know, Beyonce debuted her new hairstyle on Instagram with a series of candid photos. This elegant yet edgy short blond cut is something I honestly never expected from B and I am love, love. LOVING everything about it. I hope it’s here to stay! At least for awhile… Yasss Bey chic and stylish as ever!

Do you love this as much as I do?!

Peace & Love

~

Tyshia Shante
Founder and Editor of This Brown Queen

**Stay Connected! Follow me on Twitter @thisbrownqueen & Instagram @tyshia_shante**

A Tribute | Ebony Magazine September Issue

I am loving this. All of this.

Ebony Magazine pays tribute to Trayvon Martin with it’s September issue by releasing four breathtaking covers featuring African American fathers and sons. Along with Tracy Martin and Jahvaris Fulton (Trayvon’s father and brother), celebrity fathers Boris Kudjoe, Dwayne Wade, and Spike Lee are also featured with their sons.

Ebony invites you to grab a copy of this “groundbreaking” issue where:

you will be informed by the in-depth coverage on the trial and the aftermath, and, most importantly, you will be inspired by the hope for the future that resonates with each page

Read more at EBONY http://www.ebony.com/news-views/justice-for-trayvon-ebony-takes-a-stand-405#ixzz2bJkqJjRp

As a mother of three brown boys I am hoping this is just the beginning of a new dialogue. I will definitely be getting a copy. Probably more than one! What about you?

Peace, Love, & Blessings

~

Tyshia Shante
Founder & Editor of This Brown Queen

**Stay Connected! Follow me on Twitter @thisbrownqueen & Instagram @tyshia_shante**

One Step Forward. One Step Back

This week has been one of the busiest weeks in American politics that I can remember. The Supreme Court has obviously been on some type of rampant power trip and it’s been striking down rulings left and right. I’m sure we’ve all heard the gist of what’s been going on, but let’s think about and analyze what this really means for us as a nation.

First, on Tuesday, America took what I would like to describe as: a thousand million steps back into history regarding civil rights. This came about when the Supreme Court decided in a 5 – 4 decision to strike down a part of the Voting Rights Act. In layman’s terms, the VRA is the act that was enacted in 1965 to protect people from discriminatory voting practices. This act was essentially made to ban states from incorporating practices that would hinder or prevent minorities from voting. Well Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that, that thinking was outdated and basically we no longer need those protections. Not striking down the entire act, the Supreme Court has only taken away the map that describes in essence who is allowed to do what, where, and how. Leaving states to make their own decisions. President Barack Obama stated that he is “disappointed” in the Supreme Court decision. What does this mean for us? Well envision a time before 1965 in states like Alabama when black lawyers, teachers, and doctors had to wait in line for hours to take what were called “literacy” tests to determine if they were eligible to vote. Only to be told they were illiterate and therefore could not…let that marinate.

Then on Wednesday, as we were still dissecting and analyzing what just happened a day earlier the Supreme Court (in an effort to take our minds off of…nevermind) struck down yet another historic and controversial act. This time for the better. The Supreme Court ruled in another 5 – 4 decision that the Defense of Marriage Act was unconstitutional. A victory that the LBGT community as well as us folk who just believe that Love is Love have been waiting for. This is NOT to be confused with the legality of gay marriage. So what does this mean for us? Well for the 12 states that recognize same sex unions, these couples will now be protected and eligible to receive some federal benefits that heterosexual couples enjoy.

A victory and a set back…at the same damn time.

What do ya’ll think of these two rulings? For? Against? Indifferent? Let me know!

Peace, Love, & Blessings

~

Tyshia Shante
Founder & Editor of This Brown Queen

**Stay Connected! Follow me on Twitter @thisbrownqueen & Instagram @tyshia_shante**

Why I Didn’t Watch Dark Girls

In case you didn’t know, Sunday night on OWN a documentary aired called “Dark Girls”. Here’s the brief overview of the film:

Dark Girls is a fascinating and controversial documentary film that goes underneath the surface to explore the prejudices that dark-skinned women face throughout the world. It explores the roots of classism, racism and the lack of self-esteem within a segment of cultures that span from America to the most remote corners of the globe. Women share their personal stories, touching on deeply ingrained beliefs and attitudes of society, while allowing generations to heal as they learn to love themselves for who they are.

While many of my Twitter timeline was gearing up ready to live tweet this documentary, all excited and anxious to see this controversial film I was filing my nails unenthused, uninterested and quite frankly not here for it. So no, I didn’t watch Dark Girls.  I didn’t stay on Twitter anxiously live tweeting. I skipped the entire thing altogether. I’ll tell you why…

As a dark skinned African American woman I know all about the “dark” struggle. I know about it in the most socially conscious to the most superficial ways of society. I know about it growing up the only dark skin sister in my family. I know about it when I can’t find foundation in my complexion. I know about it when I get backhanded compliments such as “You’re gorgeous…for a dark skin girl”. I know all about it. I get it. I live it. It’s my life. What I don’t get is this “documentary”. I don’t get its need to be made. I don’t get its significance. I don’t think it was necessary.

First, I’m tired of it. I’m tired of black people feeling like we constantly have to display and divulge our own twisted notions and insecurities. Yup, there’s colorism in our race. Ok. Instead of focusing on THAT can we instead focus on more important things that affect us as a race?  Like the fact that my city is closing over 23 (predominantly black) public schools, but yet building a prison that is costing millions.  THAT is something to talk about. Not this age old issue that only WE have a problem with. Because I hate to say it like this Queens but…to everyone else…we’re all Black. *GASP* What? Yes I said it. We’re all black.

Secondly, I’m tired of dark skinned women having the woe is me card forced on to them. I complain as much as the next woman about the lack of foundation options or the ignorant notion that light is right. But make no mistake I don’t need anyone to feel bad for me. I don’t feel bad for me. I’m not insecure. I don’t need any person, of any color, telling me to love the skin I’m in. The whole idea of the documentary came across to me as a sympathy ploy. “Oh look at the poor dark girl. Someone let her know she cute too.” *side eye* We don’t need sympathy. Empowerment yes, sympathy no.

Lastly, I am just simply over it. And I think this documentary was overkill. Enough said.

So now that my rant is over 😉 did any of you watch Dark Girls? Why or why not? What are your thoughts? Let me know!

Peace, Love, & Blessings

~

This Brown Queen

My Top 5 Favorite Celebrity Fathers

Keeping in line with celebrating Fathers this week, I thought I’d share with you my top 5 favorite celebrity fathers! Enjoy!

Who doesn’t love Will Smith? Maybe I’m biased because he’s from my hometown. Or maybe it’s because I just took my boys to see After Earth. Or maybe it’s his loving relationship with his kids. Either way, ya’ll know how I feel about my Smiths so of course Will was gonna make my list. And that Jaden is too cute!

Two words. Brad Pitt. I love big families so seeing a father strolling down the street with all his kids in tow is my kinda guy. And it takes a special kind of person to adopt children so he gets cool points for that. That and being lucky enough to be with Angelina (i.love.her). I just think it’s something so refreshing about their family and I love seeing him interact with his kids!

T.I. Ya’ll seen the show right? T.I.’s way of parenting is hilarious to me. I love all his kids and his family reminds me a bit of my own. Again, I love big families and I’ve been on my fair share of road trips, at least 3 children in the backseat, to see Daddy perform so I can relate! I think T.I has a genuinely good relationship with them all and I love watching them interact.

David Beckham. Besides the fact that he’s just so nice to look at *side eye*, he’s another father with a larger family. I especially love his bonding with his boys. Love me some boys…clearly I have 3…so seeing David out with his boys gets me every time! And he’s another one that lucked up in the wife department. Victoria!

Barack Obama. I mean. Seriously. Did you think I was going to have a top 5 celebrity father post and not include POTUS? There isn’t enough room on this post to go in on how much I love the first family. Just know, I do. And I’m proud that our brown children have such a positive example of family, success, and fatherhood.

So there they are! Who am I missing? Who are your favorite celebrity dads?

Peace, Love, & Blessings

~

This Brown Queen

Amber Rose Post Preggo Beauty!

Now Queens, I thought I had the magic bounce back but this woman has me beat! Simply gorgeous! I think I need to join a gym…like yesterday!

Amber Rose tweeted this picture of herself on Twitter (@DaRealAmberRose) 3 weeks after giving birth to her first son. Now I don’t know if she has on Spanx, Victoria’s Secret, or she just naturally gifted like that but she looks great!

So Queens, what advice, tips, or tricks do you have to get rid of that baby weight and get that post preggo body looking great?

~

This Brown Queen