TalulaZoeApple

The Myth of the Angry Black Woman - Image is Everything

I ran across this video over at Women of High Standard. In the clip First Lady Michelle Obama briefly addresses the "angry black woman," image that opponents  have tried to portray her as.

Any image of FLOTUS Michelle Obama that I see, she is always poised and professional. What has she done that could be described as "angry."

I think images are powerful and one reason I had to stop watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta.

 

 

Why is it in the age of Michelle Obama, the country has seemed to rally around the RHOA breakout start, Nene Leakes?

I think it is unfair to point out Leakes as a representative of all black women but, again, images are powerful.

Nene Leakes' character on the show is the  angry black woman stereotype and to a smaller degree so is Sheree Whitfield's on air persona. I say "on air persona" and "character" because reality tv is not, in fact, real. Who in real life has producers prompting drama and cameras filming their every move?

RHOA's Deshawn Snow Has Lost More Than A Cheating Husband

Deshawn Snow was on Season 1 of the Real Housewives of Atlanta AND she was my favorite. She also lent credibility to the show seeing that she was actually married at the time.

Snow was not on any subsequent seasons. My opinion - she did not have enough drama.

Snow appeared to be happily married, mother, church-goer and philanthropist. She did more than drink wine, cuss and fight. Too positive a depiction of a sista for Bravo or too boring for reality TV?

Who knows. She has since lost a cheating husband and a few pounds, too. Take a looksee:

 

US Magazine

I Love the Ultimate Merger 2

I wrote a post once posing the question, "Why do black women go on the bachelor?" By episode two they are dunzo!

I had a hope, no a DREAM: A reality show where the brown girl was the object of so many wonderful men's desires. Like, seriously, where they do that at? lol

TV One!

The bachelorette is Toccara of America's Next Top Model fame. The men . . .OMGeebus!

But first a recap of the best of the drama:

1. A crazy dude meditates on ice, goes off and gets sent home.

2. A "pretty" boy gets scared, won't drive, goes home. Notice the quotes around pretty. Um, yeah.

3. A real pretty boy gets the first kiss with Toccara while being serenaded by Brian Mcknight. BRIAN!!!!! *swoons*

 4. A MFA fighter gets too cocky, stays.

5. The "Tom Cruise" of the bunch drinks too much but is so funny he gets to stay.

6. And there is Frank. Ahhh, FRANK. lol My fav by far.

 So, have you been watching? If not, you are missing A LOT!!!

 

Frank

Kinda tee'd I could not find a video to post or better pics. Anywho watch and see for yourself. lol

*updated*

 

 

Raphael Matos (What Chilli Wants) Needs More Articles Written About Him

You cannot appear on reality TV (What Chilli Wants) and not have articles (non-racing related) written about you, especially, when you are the future husband of my friend, TB.

Okay, cute dimples? lol

Raphael Matos was cut by Chilli from Season 2 of this crazy, unrealistic dating show, What Chilli Wants. Really, Chilli if you are going to cut a freaking Brazilian race car driver who looks like this,

 

you are nuts!

Clearly, Chilli wants a season 3 and to keep spending Floyd "Ike Turner" Mayweather's money. Click the hyperlink to find out more about that. *Hint* It is baby momma related. SMH

Back to Matos.

He is from Bela Horizonte, Brazil and is an IndyCar Series driver and. . .he has dimples. . . .and. . .speaks with an accent. . .and . . .

What else is there to say? lol

Comments?

 

Which Girlfriends Character Are You?

You all know that I heart the cancelled TV show, Girlfriends. I have several seasons on DVD. I think it is the superior of the Mara Brock Akil penned shows. The Game, the more popular of Akil's shows, never captured me in the same way Girlfriends did.

I felt the writing for Girlfriends evolved over the lifetime of the show. The characters were developed in depth and became more layered. The Game, lacks this depth of characterization. The cast members are so one dimensional. It's like watching the same episode over and over again each time I happen to catch the show on TV.

Alas, Girlfriends was cancelled back in 2008 and all I have now are memories. . .and this little quiz.

Joan: Perpetually, lonely and ever searching for her enchanted love. Joan is the quintessential over 30 single, professional, beautiful black woman. She is quirky and a little bit crazy.

Maya: You can take the girl out of the hood but not the hood out of the girl. You  notice I did not call her ghetto. Maya's character was never portrayed as ignorant. She was always trying to better herself. Plus she was married. Lord knows the show needed at least one happily married sista to give hope to all of the rest of the desperately lonely cast.

Lynn: Sexually unihibited as well as work-phobic, Lynn is the unsuccessful friend. She is also free-spirited and open to new things. This is the quality I liked most about her character.

Toni: I ain't saying she a gold-digger but you know the rest. I secretly liked Toni. In the words of Joan, "You are the bitch I have always wanted to be." Everyone needs a bitch in their life.

I can honestly say, I am a mix of all of these characters. I am from the westside of Chicago (Maya), I have my MBA  and I am so picky about men (Joan), I am perpetually seeking employment and consider myself open to new experiences (Lynn) , and I want to get in touch with my inner bitch (Toni). lol

Which Girlfriends character are you?

R.I.P. Alaina Reed Hall

Best known for her stint as Rose on 227 from 1985-1990, I remember Alaina Reed Hall as Olivia on Sesame Street - the Sesame Street I loved in my youth before Elmo. ELMO!!!!!!!!!

It is sad to hear of her passing, she was only 63.

During her life she accomplished many acting feats. She began her career on Broadway starring in Hair and Chicago. She landed the role as Olivia on Sesame Street in 1976. Throughout the years, she had a few guest spots including ER and Ally McBeal. She also did many commercials.

Brian J White's New Show - Men of A Certain Age

I have been seriously struggling with finding interesting writing topics for TZA - then it came to me/like an epiphany.

Brian J White sent me a shout out on TWITTER. Why am I, like,  so excited? LOL.

This past weekend I worked as a production assistant for a music video and now this. Can my life get any better? LOL.

Anywho.

Mr. White is starring in a new TV series, Men of A Certain Age, which premieres next Monday, December 7th on TNT at 9 (Central). The show also stars Ray Ramono and Andre Braugher.

I. WILL. BE. WATCHING.

Loved Brian in Mr. 3000 - his character was kinda mean. He played a bad guy in Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself. I am really curious to see his character's persona in Men of A Certain Age.

You know guys, Brian White reminds me of a guy I used to date in college. He was really cute but really down to earth and nice. It is a bit ironic that this guy competed in martial arts tournaments and Brian White starred in Fighting. EERY!!!!!

 BUT- (you know there had to be a BUT in there somewhere!) - I was in love with an idiot.

POURQUOI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??????????????????????????

That, of course is, another post for another day.

P.S. If you are NOT following me on Twitter, you are MISSING A LOT!!!!

http://twitter.com/Talulazoeapple

So, will you watch?

Is RHOA Sheree Whitfield Suffering From Depression?

I always search for the logic in everything? I was a ban in the side of my math teachers in grammar school. I did not want to know just how to find the answer but what was the logic behind the equation. What can I tell you, I went to public school.

Anyhoo, back to the point og the post. I love watching the Real Housewives of Atlanta. These chicas are OTT. . .and I love it.

However, I was really disappointed in their appearance of Ellen. The ladies took what could have been a transformational moment and made complete butts of themselves. . .at least Kim and Sheree did.

A little background, Kim and Sheree had a really public fight in which Sheree tugged on Kim's wig. I guess this was Kim's way of getting back at her by telling the world she bounces checks on Ellen.

And Sheree flips the heck out! LOL

I should not laugh but if something is not true, why argue?

I could not help thinking that all of that yelling and cursing Sheree does is a symptom of her very public and humiliating divorce. I mean your famous husband stops paying your mortgage and you get evicted. You are accused of bouncing checks, your clothing line is tanking. I think I would be a tad bit angry too.

So depression, is that logical reason for such raucous behavior.

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency - A Review

The HBO series, The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, is a formidable show based on the ten-book series by British author Alexander McCall Smith. The show stars Jill Scott (singer, actress) as Mma Precious Ramotswe, the pioneering lady detective who seeks to restore order and dignity to those suffering from unsolved mysteries. Anika Noni Rose (of Dream Girls fame) plays her insightful, slightly neurotic secretary, Mme Grace Makutsi.

Aside from the technical aspects of the show, The No.1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a well-written drama that showcases a country in Africa in such honest splendor. The show interweaves themes of tradition and modernity, of poverty and enterprise, of the AIDS tragedy and the beautiful character of the people of Botswana.

I must say that from start to finish of each episode I have seen, I have been impressed. The opening graphics are beautiful. The songs, the music, the panorama of the countryside are so intriguing in their simplicity and earnestness.

Today I canceled my STARZ and all the added channels that never offered anything of substance so that I could afford HBO solely to watch The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. Wow, that's a long title to keep typing.

Anywhooo.

Jill Scott is a pleasure to watch. We all know Jill can SANG but this sista can act as well. Her accent and demeanor are so natural. As a Motswana (singular for Batswana, the citizens of Botswana), her character Mme Ramotswe represents a "woman of traditional build". Instead of her weight being an issue of insecurity, it is an endearing quality that gets her plenty of attention from Batswana men.

The N1LDA (I shortened it this time) is a definite must see. I had the opportunity to view an episode at yesterday's BBQ, at which I ate too much. You see, I, too, am a "woman of tradition build". LOL

I have never seen an African country displayed in a movie as a place to live, as opposed to a place to pity or a place to save. On The N1LDA you see real people living real lives with all of its mysteries to solve - in the beautiful country of Botswana.

This is what the author, Alexander McCall Smith, has to say about Botswana:

HBO:The late Anthony Minghella, who directed the pilot, called 'No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency' a quiet poem of Botswana. He discovered a great love for the country and its people. Could you tell us what made Botswana so attractive to you?

 

ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH: People often say, when you visit Botswana that you are likely to be impressed by the spirituality of the place. Not in a religious sense, but just a sense of human spirituality, and spiritual possibilities. And, you can't help but be bowled over by the magnificence of the country, by the sense of being in this great natural theater of light and wonderful expanses of countryside and intense natural beauty. It's very moving. It's overwhelming. I fell in love with it. SOURCE

 

 

And I have fallen in love with The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

The Collage

1. Did any of you see Star Jones on Oprah? Has Star truly been humbled? IDK but she deserves a break. Celebrities have done far worse and have been forgiven.

Listen to her former co-hosts being catty and pretty mean:

2. I am in the midst of two final project, one due Monday the other Tuesday, hence the sparse postings. I will update a few before going on vacay.

3. Do black girls and red lipstick mix? I was over at Lyfe Symplified and she had a wonderful blog post about how wearing red lipstick affected her day.

I have had one experience with red lipstick. My cousin and I were on our way to church. My lips were chapped but the only thing I had in my purse was a red lipstick sample from the Avon my sister was selling. So I used it.

Apparently, my Jezebel makeup was so distracting a few of the older women had to tell me about it after church. Seriously.

I know I am cute but dang. Can red liptsick really cause riots? LOL

I don't know but I may have to try it out again just to see if I still got it.