TalulaZoeApple

What Exactly Is Ugly?

I hate ugly. It may be evident from previous posts that I take offense to people being referred to as ugly.

It makes me wonder, what exactly is ugly?

I remember watching The Color Purple as a child and one of the infamous quotes came from the character Shug Avery when she wickedly sneers at Celie, "You sho' is UUGGLLYYYY!!!!" Many would agree that Shug spoke those words out of anger and jealousy but many also would agree with her assertion. I remember as a child thinking what makes Celie ugly?

Years after I would hear regular folks and comediens call Whoopi Goldberg (who played Celie) ugly. Today while watching The View, I heard Whoopi refer to herself as cute. It made me think of an old article about her. In that interview Whoopi said something to the effect that she did not consider herself a great beauty but she sees herself as cute.

Then there is Michelle Obama who I think is beautiful but a lot of people don't. That is fine but what bothers me is their willingness to volunteer their really harsh opinions of her. Let's assume that she was universally accepted as ugly. What exactly does that mean? She doesn't have a right to be successful, fabulous, the First Lady? What is your point exactly?

If I, as a child, would have called someone ugly, my mother would have stopped me in my tracks. She then would have asked, Did you make that person? That person is a child of God, who are you to call God's child ugly?

She would then equate ugly with behavior. We were told that behaving poorly was "acting ugly."

To me there is something physically beautiful about each and every person. The things that makes someone ugly to me are attitude, behavior and motives. These three are ugly characteristics that can make the prettiest person in the world and old, hag in my eyes.

I would encourage everyone to try to find the beauty in others instead of critiquing one another to death.

In case you don't, what is ugly to you?

I Need Your Input. . .

. . .once again.

If you are a regular reader of TalulaZoeApple, you will have noticed a decline in posts. Part of it was due to overwhelming schoolwork. The other part is my new project. I am starting a new blog and I need your help.

Don't worry, TZA will always be up and running and my true love. I am starting a more niche blog and I would like to ask you for you ideas on this question:

"What do black girls like?"

That's it. No other parameters. To be clear by girls I mean adult women but in the spirit of fun I use the word girls. The answers can be from serious to quirky. It does not matter if you are white, black, Latino or other. It does not matter if you are a mature woman or barely out of college. It does not even matter if you are a guy who just really knows women.

I want to hear from you. Thanks.

How Hard Is It to Find A Man? Really.

According to this guest on Tyra Banks, it is. I really felt sorry for her when I saw this:

You really don't need to watch more than the intro.

 

The black woman cries that no man of any race wants her.

Tyra's response: I think you are finding the wrong guys.

My response: Genius! **insert sarcasm here**

I felt both sorrow and disgust at the woman's emotional outburst. Why did she assume that her inability to get a man was due soley to her race? She seems a bit of an emotional wreck and she is a bit chubby. Perhaps those, among other, characteristics make her self-conscious around guys. IDK.

It's difficult to see educated women depressed about the inability to find a man. I mean there are 5 billion plus people on this planet. All you need is one. Get out of your comfort zone.

I see so many women compromise and settle for Craig and 'nem while never venturing outside of their hood, church, social circle. I also have seen women who want model looks, super wealthy men when they are a little plain Jane themselves with a lot of debt.

I recall specifically a girl, who shall remain nameless, fretting over whether she should date a guy who was not wealthy. Keep in mind, neither was she although she made more than he did by maybe 15-20k a year. This guy had a great job with growth potential and a side hustle that could payoff in a few years. The guy she wanted? The one with money? Yeah, he was already married and had been selling her this dream for years that he would leave his wife, yada, yada, yada.

Well, I told her she was a doggone fool if she let that get in the way of having her OWN man who actually loved her enough to marry her. In the end she chose the right guy.

So what to make of this crying woman? Does she have a legitimate beef or is she misguided in her pursuit of love?

Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks.

Kim Kardashian - Before and After

To paraphrase Jamie Foxx, blame it on the Ph-Ph-Ph-Ph-Photoshop!

 

I actually don't think the Photoshop was overdone here. Especially compared to some other pop stars who shall remain nameless.

I still wonder why Kim K is famous. It is also curious to me how a sex tape can kill one person's career and launch another's.

Any-who, there is buzz over this shot because the photo on the left was accidentally uploaded to complex.com. I think it is healthy to see the true images of these stars who are presented as perfect. Little girls need to know that these ideals that they aspire to are not the truth.

Check out of few more.

  SOURCE

Making her skinnier seems totally unnecessary to me.

   

Again, making her skinnier seems totally unnecessary.

 

Ciara and Justin Cause Controversy

If you follow contemporary RnB, you know that there has been a continual downward spiral in content and quality. Artists of caliber have been pushed to the background while mediocre talent with hyper-sexualized images have moved to the forefront; Rihanna, Beyonce, and of course Ciara.

They are not alone of course and I actually like some of their songs. I applaud their success. I do think these artists overdo it in the sex sells department.

I do not however agree with the author of a post over at SoulBounce. 

Someone please explain why Justin Timberlakecontinually gets a pass to fetishize and exploit the image of Black women. Right now. Because after watching him aggressively pulling on a chain wrapped around Ciara's neck only to later use her bending body as a leaning post in her new video for "Love Sex Magic," it's getting ludicrously difficult to understand.

It been years since "Nipplegate" after which he distanced himself from Janet Jackson, cowardly allowing her to endure the overly harsh criticism alone. The outcry against his actions from those of us in the indignant minority was quickly overshadowed by an increase in album sales, multiple music awards and an increase in his Pop stardom miming Black music and culture. Instead of subjecting his next project with trepidation--let alone dismissal--nearly every "urban" club, radio station and music channel on the planet had the masses bumping to a song with a hook that's about shackles, whipping and slavery. SOURCE

Personally, I think the author's real issue is with Justin Timberlake's whiteness. I think attributing to him the attributes of a slave master is wrong, displaced, and absolves women of culpability in these actions. He's a pop star for goodness sake.

Besides he's safe. It is easy to yell, "bad, bad white man!" than to hold the fire to a music industry that has taught the world how to correctly objectify women.

Here is the video that started it all. You may leave your opinions in the comments section. Thanks.

I do like the song, though.

Aretha's Hat - The Gift That Keeps On Giving

Aretha celebrated her 67th birthday in Detroit Sunday:

DETROIT -- The Queen of Soul can throw a party, and she clearly gets a kick over the worldwide attention over her famous gray felt Inaugural Hat.

To celebrate her 67 years on the planet, Franklin threw a party for 200 friends at Seldom Blues Saturday and the centerpiece was a cake that was a replica of her stylish gray-bowed chapeau, made out of yellow cake with buttercream frosting and fresh raspberries.

Guests dined on chef Jerry Nottage's famed gumbo, as well as on meat loaf prepared from one of Franklin's own recipes. . .

. . .The "Inaugural Hat" cake was made by cake designer to the stars, Sylvia Weinstock of New York. Weinstock also made tiny replicas of the hat cake, wrapped in a six-inch gift box that each partygoer received as a gift from Franklin. SOURCE

 

Photo: Rhymes With Snitch

Did I Leave Your Mind While I Was Gone?

I took a break from blogging for a minute but it is raining today and nothing gets me in the writing mood like rain.

I actually used my little spare time to read a book for leisure. Nothing heavy, just a book entitled A Girl Named Disaster that I bought at a book fair for $0.50.

The story is of a girl Nhamo, whose name means disaster, who is to be forced to marry an old man who beats his wives according to rumor. Her dying grandmother gives her all the money she has managed to save and sends her from her village to find Zimbabwe and her long lost father. The story is about her harrowing journey to find a new home.

This story is a bit of historical fiction based on the real history of the Shona people of Mozambique/North Zimbabwe. Although fictional, I was enormously inspired by this tale.

Anyway, if you get a chance check it out. I will be updating throughout the day. I have a couple of drafts of entries saved. I just have to put the finishing touches on them.

Also, does anyone know of any good soul food restaurants in the DFW area. I tried one called Michelle's.

NOT.THE. BUSINESS.

Keri Hilson - Knock You Down - Kanye and Ne Yo

I like this.

The Last Dragon - The Sequel?

I saw The Last Dragon the other night and could not believe how much I still enjoyed it. What's not to love? The high energy soundtrack, the two stars both known by one name only, Taimax and Vanity. Then there iss Shonuff, the BEST villain ever. He came with his own entourage and curly perm. 

Imagine my surprise when I read that a remake was in the works by producer RZA from the Wutang Clan. RZA apparently wants Barbadian singer Rihanna to play Laura Charles. Hmmmm, interesting?

If RZA had his way, he'd have Rihanna — for his new film. The Wu-Tang Clan kingpin is co-producing a remake of the 1980s fan favorite "The Last Dragon" with Samuel L. Jackson and told MTV News yesterday he'd like the sexy Barbadian songstress to take on the role of video show host/singer Laura Charles.

Popular back-in-the-day vamp Vanity originated the role in the 1985 flick, while Taimak tackled the lead character and her romantic interest, Bruce Leroy (a.k.a. Leroy Green).

SOURCE

I think Rihanna is a good choice, even after the Chris Brown drama. She is a pop princess and very beautiful, very Vanity-esque.

Vanity is now a minister of the gospel. Go figure.

The real question is who can capture the wide-eyed innocence and drop dead gorgeousness of Taimak a.k.a. Bruce Leroy.

Taimax is still pretty young, 45, and still in amazing shape. He could reprise the role or maybe play the master who teaches Bruce Leroy II to find his glow.

IDK but take a look at him now:

Ahhhhh!!!! . . . and Other Stuff

Ahhhhhhh!

I have found a big, fat grey hair front and center of my head. It is just sticking out defiantly, like yeah what are you gonna do about it. Now, this is not my first grey hair. I have spotted them even in my early twenties, but it is just something about this one being so prominent that sticks in my craw.

Ughhhh!!!!

Anywho, I talked to my godmother today. She is such a powerful woman of God and always has a good word for me. I miss people like that. Not enough of that type anymore. That's why I can't get with these new age mega churches. The quality of Christians is . . .different.

I am sorry about the lack of posts. I am nearing the project phase of my classes and it seriously zaps my creative energy.

I am on Twitter search Talulazoeapple. I will update Twitter during my vacation.

Hey did I mention I am going on vacation? Yeaahhh!!!!!! Cozumel, Mexico in a few weeks.

If you would like to drop some blog ideas or rants in the comments section feel free. I love hearing from you guys.