In raising a family, I try to keep a recurring theme going in my household. While I try not to bash people (not out loud anyway, LOL!), there's always a public push to "do better". Let's face it, there is plenty of room for growth in our culture and less high-profile leadership to set the standard for our younger generations. That said, I was inspired to create this article on some of my observations and some of the messages I can be heard repeating, sometimes at the top of my lungs. I can't say that I'm not guilty of breaking a few of my own rules from time to time but I try to stay on task a lot more than I stray. Hope you enjoy the new rules. :) BLACK BUSINESSES HAVE TO DO BETTER I’

"We are every woman, conquering daily challenges.." KaPricia Miller has the power. She is a testament of strength and a great role model. She has shown women in her proximity how to take back their power and identity from the media, their peers and society’s mind state. It’s an impressive effort that is well received and is growing daily. KaPricia is the founder of ThiChics, LLC. The ThiChics organization does a lot of work toward empowering full-figured women through fashion, public speaking and encouraging a general refusal to play the background in society. “We produce fashion shows, a full-figured calendar each year, and provide overall support for women, full-figured or not. We also

A conversation with the Grammy and ASCAP award winner You may not know the name Brian Warfield. You may not even know of the producers, Fisticuffs. But you’ve probably driven to, cried to, chilled to or even made love to music that Brian was a part of. Brian is one half of the production team, Fisticuffs. They are the producers behind hits from some major artists making noise in the industry like Jhene Aiko, I’ve got a bunch of the standard interview questions for you. To start off B, where you from? I was born and raised in L.A. The way that Fisticuffs merges melodies with the music’s structure, I take it you guys are actual musicians and not just Fruity Loops users, LOL. What instrum

While doing research for the next Health & Fitness article I would write, I ran across a great piece by Daniel J. DeNoon on the WebMD website. This is not really new information but there is a whole generation that needs to know about the health pitfalls discussed here. I thought it would be a worthwhile message to share... -V. Ray Several deadly diseases strike black Americans harder and more often than they do white Americans. Fighting back means genetic research. It means changing the system for testing new drugs. It means improving health education. It means overcoming disparities in health care. It means investments targeted to the health of black Americans. And the evidence so

ASHBURN — Keven Stonewall likes to say "innovation doesn't have an age," which makes sense considering the 19-year-old could be on his way to curing colon cancer. Working at a Rush University lab while still in high school, the Ashburn native revealed a critical age-related drawback in an experimental vaccine aimed at preventing colon cancer in mice. A vaccine that could work on seniors is now being developed. Keven Stonewall is devoted to curing cancer, and he's making a significant difference: Stonewall "should be heralded for helping to develop more effective colon cancer treatments that will impact the elderly, the population that is most susceptible to colon cancer," said Carl Ruby, the

"We descend from Kings and Queens" isn't just a line for self-empowerment. It's a fact. View some of the Black royalty from generations past.

"The event is widely described as the only successful coup d'etat in American history" A politically motivated attack by whites against the city’s leading African American citizens, the Wilmington Race Riot of 1898 documents the lengths to which Southern White Democrats went to regain political domination of the South after Reconstruction. The violence began on Thursday, November 10th in the predominantly African American city of Wilmington, North Carolina, at that time the state’s largest metropolis. Statewide election returns had recently signaled a shift in power with Democrats taking over the North Carolina State Legislature. The city of Wilmington, however, remained in Republican han

Turn on the TV right now. Put the TV on mute and take a few moments to soak in any Black images you see. The girls prefer to obtain a white image (contoured faces, long, blond weave) and display disrespectful and promiscuous behavior. The boys are simply athletes (pawns on a chess board) or disrespectful entertainers. Society tells our children that they are (ONLY) descendants of slaves (a pronoun that incorrectly labels their entire life’s existence). This mindset tells them no matter what they do; they are doing better than their ancestors (drug dealing and pimping included). Therefore these are the images that our children emulate. But wait… Our kids are “educated”. They focus on school a

"We are every woman, conquering daily challenges..." You might call Atlanta's Sandra Velasquez a renaissance woman. She has so many facets to her talent that it’s hard to keep up. And she’s good at all of them. It’s one thing to just dabble and have cursory knowledge in a few vocations, but Sandra is the real deal. This native of Trinidad and Tobago is a playwright, model, singer, minister, fashion designer, fashion consultant and the founder of Hope Transitional Housing. She is also a mother and a woman of God. Sandra has always had a creative spirit and loves the fact that she can express her art in a variety of mediums. From design to fashion show production to stage plays. “I’ve a

I’m happy to say that Gwen Fontenet is a friend of the family. She has a southern charm about her that you just know makes her a great teacher. The good thing about Gwen as a teacher that impresses me is that she was in college with a clear career goal as a Physical Therapy major. After completing her general studies portion of school, Gwen started teaching as a substitute and simply fell in love with teaching. She changed her career focus, earned her teaching credentials and the rest is history. Now that sounds to me like someone who should be in front of a classroom. Gwen studied at Nicholls State in Louisiana and completed her education at Southern. She married her college sweetheart

This month I thought it would be good to give back to the authors that have blessed us and made time in their schedules to help move my vision along. Please support the upcoming projects from these very talented writers. Love. What a joke, huh? Sometimes that may be how you feel. It is certainly how Brittney has felt at points in her life. Dear Brittney chronicles the journey of a twenty something single woman who has struggled to deeply, sincerely, and passionately love the one who first loved her, God. This book is not just about Brittney, but rather there is that piece of Brittney in every woman who is yet waiting on her promise from God. Get lost in this thought-provoking, bold, and hea