The Forever 21 Project: Never 21 from Never21 on Vimeo.
For more information on this project visit Never21.com
*There has yet to be any confirmation as to whether or not the Forever 21 brand supports this movement.
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The Forever 21 Project: Never 21 from Never21 on Vimeo.
A group of activists came together to stress the importance of Black lives and with the Forever 21 Project: Never 21 is a reminder of "all of the young black lives that have been lost to law enforcement officials and self proclaimed 'vigilantes'."
For more information on this project visit Never21.com *There has yet to be any confirmation as to whether or not the Forever 21 brand supports this movement.
WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola
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Lately I've been going through many different changes including taking a path for my own happiness. I've noticed that I've been saying NO way more and not feeling any guilt about it, and you know what, it feels really good! I'm not saying I was that person always saying yes, but if I felt I was going to miss out on something you better believe I've was making rearrangements to do whatever it was I probably didn't really care for. I'm finding that while, yes I'm missing out on certain things with certain people, I'm happier when I'm living for me, my happiness and from my heart. That may sound selfish, but I am at that stage in life where damnit, I'm young, I've done everything "a good child" was supposed to do, I've always thought about and put others first so it's my time to live.
In the midst of these changes, a fellow lady HustlHer (if you have no idea what I'm talking about check out the HustlHersLounge), posted this video and it spoke perfectly to me. I thought I'd share it with you all.
Melissa Opie is a life coach who experienced first-hand how a woman's insecurities can stop her from truly living. When she saw how much of the world thrives off of women's insecurities, she had to do something to change it. So she became a life coach.
She loves to work with smart, real, and quirky people. Her modus operandi consists of helping women slay self-sabotage, find their life's purpose, and inject more peace into their chaotic lives. She can be found on Instagram as @embodyyoursoul Get her free gift {A Course In Confidence} here: www.melissaopie.com
WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola
Amandla Stenberg, 16-year-old actress known as Rue in The Hunger Games, shed light on what “cultural appropriation” really means.
Some time ago she posted a video she filmed for her history class on Tumblr titled “Don’t Cash Crop My Cornrows: A Crash Discourse on Black Culture.” Stenberg is honest on her thoughts on race an discusses it using supporting evidence from pop culture and things that were currently (and still) happening in the world within black culture. Starting out Stenberg discusses black hair, its connection to black identity and culture, and therefore, rap and hip-hop. “So you can see why hair is such a big part of hip-hop and rap culture. These are styles of music which African American communities created in order to affirm our identities and our voices.” - Amandla Stenberg
She goes further in the theft of black culture by using examples of white musicians like who have adopted the music and style of hip-hop, even using black people as props, to gain attention. While certain individuals careers are highly influenced and uses black culture, they do not part take in the "black struggle."
“The line between cultural appropriation and cultural exchange is always going to be blurred."
She ended her video with the question “What would America be like if it loved black people as much as it loves black culture?”
Of course Stenberg’s video was taken out of context by certain media outlets. Billboard (and The Hollywood Reporter) alters the point of the video about Stenberg calling out individuals rather than the overarching principle of cultural appropriation. Again, shinning light on less important things and not answering the question or really adding to the conversation.
Although many believe Stenberg is pretty clear in this video and the presentation of the issue it’s straight forward, her words have misconstrued. Her usage of certain celebrities names and their use of black culture
were merely examples to support her argument, but now with the headline (on two different media sites) above have painted a totally different picture of Stenberg. In these articles she's deemed overly critical and wild. She responded via Twitter:
Kudos to you Amandla Stenberg. Start conversations, be heard, and get YOUR point across and let no one stop you!
WRITTEN BY: VIOLA CONSTANCE | @Voila_its_Viola
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AuthorLB and Vi, just two black girls from LA trying to navigate through life and offer positive news 2 black girls. Archives
May 2015
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