Azealia Banks Goes After Erykah Badu & We’re Like, She Needs A Time Out

The Phoenix:

When you are young, you tend to be brash. Sometimes you forget that you are not invincible. In this case, I feel that Ms. Banks is doing more harm to her fledgling career by alienating a known entity than any of her previous twitter antics. She has not learned some valuable lessons and as long as she continues to play the game this way she will only achieve infamy instead of the fame she seems to crave.
While this may seem like just another celebrity post this is actually another way of looking at workplace dynamics; your attitude expressed can hinder achievement if your team leader does not believe that you have appropriate interpersonal communication skills. If you make your coworkers uncomfortable with unfounded negative claims they will not trust you to work on projects with them. So understand that taking personal shots could get you fired quicker than time management issues. In all things be judicious in the way you speak to others.

Originally posted on HelloBeautiful:

Once again Azealia Banks is on a Twitter tyrant and this time she’s set her sights on Erykah Badu of all people. A few days ago, a fan of Ms. Badu’s asked if she ever listened to Azealia’s music, to which Erykah replied:

Tried “@pradahungry: Does @fatbellybella listen to azealia banks? Always wanted to know”

— ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) February 12, 2015

Seems innocent enough right? Well Azealia didn’t take it that way and got all up in her feelings and decided to launch an attack on Twitter against the singer and replied:

@fatbellybella@pradahungry lol, what's the shade?

— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) February 14, 2015

How’s Erykah shading though? She didn’t diss Azealia’s music, Erykah just said she attempted to listen to it. Anyways, that just wasn’t enough for the Broke With Expensive Taste rapper who followed up with:

@fatbellybella ….. Jealousy.

— AZEALIA BANKS (@AZEALIABANKS) February 14, 2015

So…

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Howard Morgan: Black Chicago Cop Shot 28 Times By White Officers Still Fighting For Justice

The Phoenix:

Even being a fellow law enforcement official does not protect Black Lives.

Originally posted on News One:

Lawyer Benjamin Crump depicts Howard Morgan’s (pictured) case as the height of calumny, or the slander of an innocent man. Illinois Cook County Public Defender Lester Finkle says the case represents the epitome of racial bias in America, and Rosalind Morgan, Howard’s wife, is calling for the courts to right a wrong committed against her husband, the Black former Chicago police officer who was shot 28 times by four White officers on the way home from work. And to add insult to injury, Howard ended up being the one convicted of attempting to murder them.

RELATED:Help! Chicago Wife Fights To Free Husband Who Was Shot By Police 28 Times

Last month, the Illinois State Appellate Court upheld Morgan’s conviction on four counts of attempted first-degree murder of the police officers. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison, although he was shot 21 times in the back…

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SSDD

‪#‎MikeBrown‬, ‪#‎Ferguson‬, & ‪#‎EricGarner‬ has shown that even your own family won’t get it, if they aren’t Black too.
I’ve seen #MikeBrown and the protestors depicted as criminals. I say even if he robbed a store (and that is still in doubt as the cashier of the convenience store initially denied that) that was not a death penalty crime. But we will never know because Darren Wilson stopped his life before we could find out.
While some protestors may have committed criminal acts most have not, yet they are all considered criminals. Even Dr. King knew that riots were the reaction of the powerless and voiceless.
The decision not to indict Darren Wilson is suspect based on the asst. DA’s “mistake” in giving the grand jurors a copy of a statute describing the justifiable use of force that had been ruled unconstitutional in 1985 by the U.S. Supreme Court. And to compound that, she never completely clarified that before they began deliberations.
Everybody wants to focus on the criminality of the residents but no one wants to focus on the conditions that led to the situation.
Then we have #EricGarner. His death was ruled a homicide by the coroner. His death was videotaped. The officer was using a chokehold; a technique that was outlawed by NYPD. But once again, no indictment.
Folks are sick and tired of being sick and tired. We are tired that our lives mean absolutely nothing. We are tired of being told that we are playing the race card; hell I don’t even play spades. We are tired of our friends saying “yes, that was a terrible thing that happened but it happens to women, disabled, gays, etc. too”. I am tired of spending my day praying that my sons and daughter make it home whole. So if you don’t get it now, you never will. Just hope that folks are more understanding if it happens to you.

The Two Races in America

The Two Races in America

Growing up I was told that I would need to work twice as hard to get half as far. I needed to learn to live in two societies: the mainstream and my home community. I had to learn two ways of speaking, thinking and acting so that I could achieve my goals. I was subtly shown that my home community was considered less than by those in the mainstream. Folks were astonished with my elocution, intelligence and interests because they were unaware that my “kind” was just like their “kind”.

In the 90’s, my “kind” was told that the playing field was level so we no longer needed the hard fought protections of certain laws. We began to be accused of reverse racism. We lost so much of the ground that our ancestors fought for.

In the new millennium, we were told we should be colorblind; that we lived in a post racial society. We were told that we were playing a hand of cards from an era that no longer existed. I knew better though because I had been in this race a long time. I knew that as long as me and mine were considered hyphenated Americans instead of just Americans that all the rest was smoke and mirrors. For too long others have determined that the narratives of their fellow citizens were only the fairy tales of race baiters. For far too long others have tried to prove to us that skin color had no effect on perceptions. Now as 2014 turns into 2015, the blinders are being forced off by the actions of the military organizations masquerading as civil servants that protect and serve. I, for one, am glad.

I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I’m tired of trying to adjust the rules for my sons so that they can make it home alive. I’m tired of denying my daughters full confidence in their feminity so that they aren’t viewed as typical wanton belly warmers. I am tired of over thinking what I put on to run to the grocery. I’m tired of my husband being passed over for promotions even though he has more credentials than those directly above him on the corporate ladder. I’m tired of being turned into the suspect when I report crime to the police. I’m tired… I’m also mad as hell that some of the people I love more than oxygen just can’t seem to understand. I’m mad that I have to question the motives of my Mexican and White relatives because they don’t get it either. I’m mad that my children will eventually have to navigate this course.

Hopefully by the time I meet my grandkids, their race will be easier.

Charlo Greene, Alaska television reporter and pot activist, investigated

The Phoenix:

I thought there were laws in place to keep folks from being forced to self incriminate.

Originally posted on theGrio:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – A campaign-finance investigation is moving forward against an Alaska television reporter who quit her job on-air and vowed to work toward legalizing marijuana.

The Alaska Public Offices Commission wants to know whether Charlo Greene used crowdsourcing funds to advocate for a ballot initiative to legalize recreational pot use. Greene challenged the commission’s request for documents.

The commission on Wednesday rejected her objection to a subpoena, the Alaska Dispatch News (http://ow.ly/EZQhr) reported. That gives the agency the authority to continue the investigation to determine whether money that was spent would trigger reporting requirements.

Greene, whose legal name is Charlene Egbe, said the order should be worrisome to those who take a stand on any issue. “If you publish your personal stance on any issue, then this government agency believes they have the authority to ask for emails, bank-account information, all of your records,” she said. “That’s scary.”

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Breathe…

Breathe…

Normally/how this thing works/ smoothly/ no fits, rattles or/ jerks/ but as you turn/ to walk/ away/ my breath/ catches/ caught/ in my lungs/ unsteady/ as old rotten/ ladder rungs/ no air/ I laughed/ when Jordan said it/ now/ I stand instead of it/ in spite of it/ no air/ as I think of/ all of the should’ves/ I am holding/ it all together/ now/ somehow/ with my breath/ knowing/ I must remember/ or face death/ but I just breathed/ you in/ how can I/ let you go/ I must/ or you can’t return/ so that I can/ believe/ and remember/ to Breathe.

Be Nimble, Be Quick: The Only Tips You’ll Ever Need To Be A Creative Genius In 5 Minutes

The Phoenix:

I know you’ve heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”, it is true in any endeavor. Many times we forget to practice the things that lead us to new thought patterns. I would say it’s as simple, and hard, as reigniting your childhood wonder. When we were children our imaginations told us that anything was possible and we played towards the possibilities. If we succeeded then that was great. If we failed, then we tried other ways to succeed. For example, when we wanted sugary treats but our parents said no, we would think of ways to rephrase the question a thousand times. We pushed at our parents until they reached their breaking points or gave in. Now, as adults, at the first sign that things aren’t going as planned we will give up. We have allowed the box to trap us into linear thought lines. A can only lead to B in our worlds. Yet, for children and creative geniuses, where you start does not necessarily predict your endpoint. Embrace that flexibility and jumpstart your creative possibilities. The linked article has some great suggestions to do that. Just remember to not fear failure. Some of the greatest innovators failed repeatedly but never gave up. Who knows you could end up as the next Trump, Gates or Winfrey.

Originally posted on Black America Web:

What the heck does it mean to be a creative genius? Being a creative genius is the best quality that you could have in every aspect of your life, especially at work. The new measure of success is a leader’s ability to spark creativity, shift thinking around old issues and define new prospects for forward action.  A creative genius has an appetite for novelty, they’re innovative and most importantly, productive and yes, you can be one too!

Genius is not about scoring 1600 on the SATs, mastering fourteen languages at the impressive age of seven, finishing Mensa exercises in record time, having an extraordinarily high I.Q., or even about being smart. Being a creative genius is about having a visual mind, creating more than one solution to any given problem and they’re just…awesome. You want to be a creative genius, trust me. And honestly it’s not that hard.

We attended

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Ferguson’s Reach: A Shot Felt in South Africa

Originally posted on TIME:

I was in South Africa on August 9, when a young, unarmed black man was killed by a white police officer in Ferguson, MO. It didn’t take long before Michael Brown’s story was on all the news channels in South Africa. After that, in every media interview I did Ferguson came up. “How could this have happened?” all the journalists asked. When I laid out the pattern of this happening regularly to men of color in America at the hands of white police or other men with guns, they were stunned. “White cops couldn’t get away with that anymore in South Africa,” they said.

On my speaking tour I met a new generation of South African leaders who are not content to just re-tell the stories of winning political freedom. They are now laying out their own agenda and vocation—of turning political liberation into economic liberation and gender equality, goals…

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44 Healthy Foods For Less Than A $1

Originally posted on BlackDoctor:

After a recent shopping trip I overheard a woman saying she stays away from eating healthier because she is on a fixed income and healthy food is way to expensive. I was a little stunned, but I also could empathize with her confession. I have been there, in the grocery store deciding what healthy foods to buy without being broke until payday.

On the journey to your ideal weight, it is very important to eat foods that promote a healthier lifestyle but, how do you do that on a budget.  Eating healthy does not have to break the bank. You can eat deliciously nutritious foods for less than a $1 and below this list will show you how.

List of 44 Foods Under a $1: 

1. Black beans, $0.30 cents per ½ cup serving, about $1 per can These unassuming beans pack a ton of fiber and have a solid…

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Officer Charged With Raping 7 Black Women Gets Online Support

Originally posted on HelloBeautiful:

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Online supporters of people who have committed horrific crimes are starting to be problematic. The latest? According to MLive.com, the online supporters of Daniel Holtzclaw, the Oklahoma City police officer who was arrested last month and charged for sexually abusing seven Black women, has supporters who have raised over $7,000. So far, Twitter, Facebook and GoFundMe pages have surfaced, all supporting Officer Holtzclaw and calling for “justice” for the serial rapist. He is alleged to have committed several sex crimes while serving as an on-duty officer in an Oklahoma City neighborhood.

MUST READ: Students Create Roofie Alert Nail Polish

Charges expected to be filed later this week include first-degree rape, rape by instrumentation, three counts of forcible oral sodomy, two counts of sexual battery and two counts of indecent exposure. His alleged victims are seven Black women ranging in age from 34 to…

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