Why was Coca Cola Such a Big Deal to Ma?

This Sunday I spent time with my Sorors and guests enjoying an evening of The Arts! viewing playwright August Wilson’s film adaptation of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. 

Have you seen it? A question was posed in my blog title...comment your answers.

I’ve seen it twice. The Thespian that I am has seen scenes and monologues from the play more times than I can count but it took 2020 for me to sit and watch from top to bottom the play that chronicles the 20th century African-American experience set in the Chi Town 20’s dealing with issues of race, religion, and the oh so common black exploitation of artistry and originality.

I don’t want to give anything away...check it out! 

And in an effort to not only, explore the arts by highlighting the eras of Harlem Renaissance and Black Arts Movement, my great Sorority also encouraged invited viewers to purchase a meal from a Black-owned business to indulge. 

The food tasted better than it looks 😊 Oxtails, rice and gravy, greens, candied yams and cornbread.

Mocktail: Cranberry juice, (sans orange juice) sprite, over ice splash of cherry juice 

Founders’ Day January 15, 2021

 What an unprecedented time to be alive...and well! 

My Sorors of Alpha Kappa Alpha and I will be celebrating 113 years of supreme service to all mankind! A vision started in 1908 by our Founder, Ethel Hedgemen Lyle on the campus of Howard University! 

To my Sorors, 

This is an opportunity to have another FIRST in history as we embark on innovative ways to celebrate sisterhood and service! Virtual and socially distant events are our platform and it will be a fantastic opportunity to connect in ways we never have before! Embrace change and let’s enjoy our 113 year celebration! We have a sorority sister duly elected to be in the White House and we shall represent thoroughly! 

To the world, 

I, nor we, will apologize for the heightened level of excitement, enthusiasm, or ear piercing Skee Wee’s, neither will we excuse the massive amounts of the color combination pink and green you will experience tomorrow! January 15, 2021! 

We. Are. History. 

We. Are. Alpha. Kappa. Alpha. Sorority. Incorporated. 

We. Are. (K)oming.

Signed, 

Onyx Pearl 

Fall 2003 Zeta Gamma 

Me vs Them Saturday Funny

Wear Your Masks 

Scum of the Earth

Photos courtesy of CNN

It’s the silence from those on my social media timelines that had SO much to post back in the summer months for me. Where is the people that attempted to attack my blog posts! We need to hear all of your ideas and condemnation for crime and punishment now against “protesters” 

Where are you?

What do you have to say today?

Wow. Just wow. 

If those were peaceful Black Americans they would have been shot in the back like rabid dogs. You don’t have to tell me I’m wrong LIVE video footage and the blood stained streets across this nation agrees with me! 

This is a disgraceful representation on our democracy and our Amendments. This is what Terroristic speaking Trump America looks like! He told those proud boys to stand down and stand by and here.they.are! Standing up! Such despicable thugs! We’re finally, after all this time, seeing the sons of bitches Trump tried to liken Kapernick to. In fact, use any word to describe them that was blazingly tossed around this past summer and throughout Trump’s entire administration! Please do.

Nothing. Not. One. Thing about the way these morons are acting is in the name of patriotism or peace! They are in fact, the scum of the earth! Yes, I said it. Stand by it. 

Courtesy of Getty images

I-40 Challenge

Interstate 40...it’s truly a play on words and themes. I started the “journey” to 40 likening it to travel back when I wrote 40 days to 40. I am 40. I dash 40. I-40. It is an interstate but literally it’s an In. Her. State. In her state of 40. 

With that break down I decided to also offer up a ‘In her state’ to 40 challenge. Of course (eye roll here) you don’t have to be 39 or 40 to participate. It’s simply another play on words and theme. It’s not solely for women either. Remember, although my book, based off this blog was titled, “Single Girl Gems” that title was just a perspective. The book, much like this blog is a conversation piece based off of a woman’s perspective on life and the way she lives it. 

So!

It’s actually only a 20 day challenge, but you repeat it, or start from the top on the 21st day until you complete 40 full days of the challenge. That is, of course, unless I decide to switch it up and add 40 different things to our challenge. I’m up to it (today) but I don’t want to be overzealous. So. We’ll see. My Christian faith alludes to 40 (days and nights) as a great and significant number. 40 signifies a long period of time...not to get too deep, because consequently that Word just came to me as I wrote the blog, so it wasn’t premeditated. But clearly it is by God’s grand design (smile) 

I digress...

Each day for twenty days I will introduce a self love challenge. Something you do independently and free of distraction, if possible. For some of us (and by some of us, I mean, myself) we will be completing parts if not all of the challenges late at night or early morning as we can fit it in to the schedule of our busy children. 

No! 

There is no prize other than sanity and self reflection for yourself. Feel free to take pics and post with the hashtag #I40challenge #SoKhrystian #AccessGranted if you are so moved. Other than that enjoy and take some time to acknowledge yourself in a significant way!

Day 1 

Write 10 things you love about yourself. If you’re more of a visual person you could write the items in different colors, various fonts or styles, OR include pictures as examples of what you love about yourself! Be creative. Make it about YOU! This is your self reflection. I’m presenting the blueprint and you make it unique to who you are!