EIRIC™

Interracial couples with children needed for interview

2011-08-10T01:06:00.000-04:00

Hi all!

We were contacted by a writer who is looking to interview interracial couples with children for a piece in a magazine. You should be willing to have your names used and photos taken. If you're interested, please email (admin@everythingiric.com) asap (hopefully no later than this Thursday, 8/11) and we'll make the introductions.

Thanks,

EIRIC™

Happy 4th of July, and happy 125th birthday to Lady Liberty!

2011-07-04T22:26:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

Happy 4th of July, and happy 125th birthday to Lady Liberty!

For your enjoyment, Brad Paisley's Welcome To The Future.

When I was ten years old
I remember thinking how cool it would be
When we were going on an eight-hour drive
If I could just watch TV
And I'd have given anything
To have my own Pac-Man game at home
I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade
Now I've got it on my phone

Chorus:
Hey, glory, glory, hallelujah
Welcome to the future

My grandpa was in World War 2
He fought against the Japanese
He wrote a hundred letters to my grandma
Mailed them from his base in the Philippines
I wish they could see this now
The world they saved has changed you know
'Cause I was on a video chat this morning
With a company in Tokyo

Chorus:
Hey, everyday's a revolution
Welcome to the future

Hey, look around it's all so clear
Hey, wherever we were going, well we're here
Hey, so many things I never thought I'd see
Happening right in front of me

I had a friend in school
Running back on the football team
They burned a cross in his front yard
For asking out the homecoming queen
I thought about him today
And everybody who'd seen what he'd seen
From a woman on a bus
To a man with a dream

Chorus:
Hey, wake up Martin Luther
Welcome to the future
Hey, glory, glory, hallelujah
Welcome to the future

[Thanks to Branden & Ashley Kittle, Alexandre Silva for lyrics]

[Thanks to Mike Mc Donald, Dan Kelly, Rue for corrections]

The only thing real about you is your green eyes, my bro-tha.

2011-06-30T18:41:00.000-04:00

Show: A Different World

Episode: Ms. Understanding (1991)

Super duper senior Shazza Zulu (Gary Dourdan) tries to call out Kim Reese (Charnele Brown) for dating white Matthew.

Start scene at 6:52

Shazza Zulu: If we as Hillman men don't treat our women right, they'll go to somebody white. Kim Reese did.

Kim Reese: You pseudo intellectual, with a pseudo African name, spouting pseudo philosophy about a whole lot of nothing. In fact, the ONLY thing that's real about you is your green eyes, my bro-tha.

Interracial Duet: On My Own by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald

2011-06-26T23:37:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm pretty sure my friend Ky and I are the only two black people in America who are not watching the BET awards tonight. Ky simply hates BET for its past (?) crimes of not uplifting the black race when it was in such an amazing position to do so. My reason is a bit more shallow: I just don't like award shows. Never have. However, I do like following people's commentaries on Twitter and Facebook. Go figure.

I was super excited when I saw posted that Ms. Patti LaBelle would be performing. Not going to lie, I first fell in love with her as Chipmunk's (Dwayne Wayne) mother on A Different World, and then learned what an amazing singer she is. Don't judge me! I was born in the 80s. I wasn't old enough to understand or appreciate her music way back when.

Anyway, I fell in love with this song of hers back when J.J. Kennedy hosted "New York's Favorite Love Songs" segment (8 p.m.-midnight weeknights) on 106.7 Lite FM.

For your enjoyment, the interracial duet of Ms. Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonald singing On My Own.

Album : Winner In You
Year : 1986
On My Own
by Patti LaBelle and Michael McDonard
(Bacharach, Sager)

So many times,
Said it was forever,
Said our love would always be true,
Soimething in my heart always knew,
I'd be lying here beside you,
On my own
On my own
On my own

So many promises never should be spoken
Now I know what loving you cost
Now we're up to talking divorce
And we weren't even married
On my own
Once again now
One more time
By myself

No one said it was easy
But it once was so easy
Well I believed in love
Now here I stand
I wonder why

I'm on my own
Why did it end this way
On my own
This wasn't how it was supposed to be
OIn my own
I wish that we could do it all again

So many times
I know I should have told you
Losing you it cut like a knife
You walked out and there went my life
I don't want to live without you
On my own
On my own
On my own
Chorus Repeat

This wasn't how it was supposed to end
I wish that we could do it all again
I never dreamed I'd spend one night alone
On my own, I've got to find where I belong again
I've got to learn how to be strong again
I never dreamed I'd spend one night alone
By myself by myself
I've got to find out what was mine again
My heart is saying that it's my time again
And I have faith that I will shine again
I have faith in me
On my own
On my own
On my own

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding

2011-06-23T22:39:00.000-04:00

I watched TLC’s My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding tonight (6/4) and wished I hadn’t. I would have preferred to keep what little (see: nothing) I know about the Gypsy culture unspoiled. While I can’t take this one show as the final stamp on all things Gypsy, I do wish I had had an opportunity to learn about this lifestyle in another manner. ‘Why am I so disheartened by this show?’ you ask. Um… can you pipe down and let me tell my story at my own pace, please? Thank you. Now where was I? *Scratching head and tapping finger on bottom lip* Oh, of course. This introduction to the Gypsy culture left me feeling as if they are a people who oppress women by keeping them tied to the traditional, archaic role of servants. Their belief seems to be that a woman’s genetic makeup is that of serving men.

“Gypsy wives are obliged to follow their husbands” so says the show. The women are subservient and do not have an identity independent of their husbands. They exist to be at their men’s beck and call – cooking, cleaning and raising the children. What nearly did me in was hearing one of the women (a young woman) talk about how in their world there is no such thing as ambition for education and career. The only thing young women aspire to is to be a wife.

For those who know me, this pretty much shakes my reality to the core. In my mind, education is inextricably tied to providing children (especially girls) with a healthy sense of self that will help them become productive members of society. I come from a Haitian household where my mother (though modern in certain ways) held very traditional beliefs about what it means to be female. She, like the Gypsies, shared the thought that a woman’s greatest accomplishment is that of wife and mother. Growing up, I was so against everything she stood for that I outright refused to learn how to cook and did not want to do any housework so I wouldn’t turn out like her. A bit extreme now when I think of it, but it seemed perfectly sensible at the time. It was this suffocating notion of what it means to be female that for years conditioned me to steer clear of marriage and motherhood. Although I did manage to work through the marriage aspect, I’m still battling the potential motherhood bit.

Anyway, back to the Gypsies. The one story that struck a chord with me was of the 22-year-old who was giving up her independence (working outside the home, her own car, money, home, etc…) to get married even though she clearly did not seem like she wanted to. As a spinster (yep, that is what you are as a 22-year-old unmarried Gypsy), she seemed motivated more by removing the stigma than an actual desire to be married. She, with good reason, was not looking forward to conforming to her new role as her husband’s property (in his I’m-joking-but-not-really words: “I own you now.”).

It was all I could do not to snatch her from the television screen and lock her in the basement (crap! I don’t own a basement. Note to self: Find a friend with a basement) until she came to her senses. Like my mother, her mother’s sense of pride came from seeing her daughter become a wife.

If it feels like I’m bashing marriage and devaluing housewives, I’m not. This is simply a view of someone who doesn’t “get” the picture on the other side of the lens. It’s the same way that I think my mother felt (and still feels on some level) about me. Based on her emotional and mental makeup, it was simply unfathomable that any female (especially her daughter) would reject marriage and motherhood. I imagine that it would be the same for me if I had a daughter whose sole purpose in life was to get married, be a mother and keep a home. It would go against everything that’s wired in me.

This topic is one that has generated and continue to generate endless debates. Although I stand strongly on one side of the fence, I am always open to conversations that broaden my mind about the other side. Would love to hear your thoughts either way.

P.S. I don’t at all believe that to be a housewife raising children means forfeiting your education, or that you cater to your husband’s desires at his whim. The Gypsy lifestyle is the more extreme case. I understand that.

P.P.S. (ridiculous. Why isn’t it just P.S. 2, or even just P.S.?) I’m tempted to watch this show again to look at those dresses (bride, bridesmaids and guests) and scratch my head at why they would wear such hideous things, and wear them with such pride. No one on that show would escape the makeover mirrors of Clinton and Stacy.

21 Jump Street

2011-06-10T01:17:00.000-04:00

This post was motivated by @hollyrpeete's new profile pic on Twitter. Although the show ran from 1987 - 1991, it wasn't until the last two years - at the ages of 9 and 10 - that I got acquainted with it. Through the magic of videotape (oy, I'm old.) I was able to catch everything I missed. My little behind was too cool for school thinking that I was Holly Robinson's Officer Judy. As if!

Anyway, if you don't already know, 21 Jump Street centered around an undercover police unit composed of young looking officers specializing in youth crime. Holly Robinson (Peete not yet added) was part of a multicultural cast that included Johnny Depp, Dustin Nguyen and Peter DeLuise. A multicultural cast that will not transition to the 2012 remake. Last I heard, the only actor of color cast thus far for the remake is Ice Cube in the role of Captain Dickson. The equivalent of Ms. Peete's character will be played by a very blonde Brie Larson. Although I don't have anything against Ms. Larson (I'm not even familiar with her work), it's insulting that the role did not go to one of the many, many, MANY talented black actresses in Hollywood today. Hello Raven Symone, or many of the other suggestions made by Black Voices Online this past February.

Honestly, I think I'll stick to the DVD and pass on the remake.

For your viewing and listening pleasure, I present to you the theme song. My favorite part is that last '21111 Jump Street!' bit.

Some Days I Am My Hair

2011-06-05T03:53:00.000-04:00

I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am not your expectations no no
I am not my hair
I am not this skin
I am a soul that lives within

Some days I am indeed my hair. Sorry India.

When it comes to hair, sometimes it’s a pain in the donkey being a black woman. There. I've said it. Crucify me.

As a pre-teen I begged and pleaded with my mother to allow me to relax my hair – she caved, and what a mistake that was. My hair is naturally fine (I was not blessed with the coarse, thick long hair that is my sister’s trademark) so the relaxer did more damage than good. It wasn’t until college I decided to break the cycle by going back to my hair’s virgin state —something I learned that you can never actually do. Duh! Once that virginity is gone, it’s gone.

I was hoping to at least get my hair as close to its original makeup as possible. I spent the next few years natural, but mainly rocking micro braids or curly weaves. It was that way until April 2009 when I waved the white flag because I could not find a natural style to uphold the vision I had for my wedding. With a heavy heart, I allowed my maid of honor to relax my hair a few nights prior to the wedding.

Fast forward to a little over two years later and I am free of the creamy crack because I chose not to ‘touch up’ at the six week mark. I wanted to once again find my way back to my roots. To say that my hair is better off without the relaxer is not something I can pronounce with 100% confidence. This is most likely because I know very little about maintaining my hair in its natural state (or any other state, really) and it pays the consequence for my ignorance.

I recently spent a number of days removing braids from my hair and worrying about how to style it now that I wanted to take a braid/weave-break. A worry made worse by the fact that my hair is short, very fine and easily breakable. I had an anxiety attack over my fear that I would look Celie-Color-Purple-You-Sho’-Is-Ugly with my hair in its natural state. No chemicals. No hot combs. No extensions. Nope. Not a thing. Just me. As I am. With the change in my hair, the focus would now be on my face. How would I distract from the flesh moles that are my enemies? How was I to hide (or at least divert attention away from) the chickenpox mark taking prime real estate on the bridge of my nose since the age of seven? How would I keep people from noticing that my eyebrows are so thin at the end that it looks like someone shaved them off halfway? All my physical insecurities would take center stage now that I had to rely on my own beauty.

Despite the nauseating thoughts, I made the decision to move forward with this change. My household budget was demanding it. I no longer wanted to contribute to the $507 billion (Yep. Scratch out the m in million, replace it with a b and add a ridiculous amount of zeroes.) African Americans (hello women!) spent in 2009 on hair care and personal grooming items. This is at least according to an annual report published by Target Market News. I was stunned silent when I heard that number. How can that be when the Census reports that we make up only 12 or so percent of the American population? For the sake of all things sensible, I had to take fewer rides on this crazy bus.
I headed to the hair salon (knowing this would now become a special occasion trip) with a boulder heavy on my heart. Was I doing the right thing? Seriously? On most days I am a love-myself-unconditionally type of chick. Where was that girl today? Not even replaying India’s Video in my head could give me the confidence I needed. By the time I reached the salon, I had chickened out of my resolve to be a more spending-conscious black woman. At that point I just wanted to be one of the perfectly coiffed girls that sat next to me on the subway and walked alongside me from the train to the salon. I just wanted to fit in.

In an effort to fool myself into thinking I was saving money, I decided on the least expensive weave style available – $325. Add to this the cost of the hair, a deep conditioner and tip; I was looking at dropping $500 in one sitting. This literally made me sick. My stomach did not settle down until I told the stylist I had changed my mind. I just wanted to wash, deep condition, and cut and style MY hair. $500 - $145 = $355 that I almost wasted because of some false sense of beauty that I let dominate my mind.

The woman who walked out of that salon more closely resembled me on most days – one who understands and embraces the true meaning of 1 Samuel 16:7 – The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.
It was with that thought that I put my headphones in, searched for I Am Not My Hair on Slacker radio, gave myself a mental high five that it came up right away and walked down the streets of Brooklyn as if someone had thrown rose petals down for me to step on. While I was indeed my hair for most of the previous week, today I was choosing not to be.

Please share your thoughts on those days when you are your hair. How did you deal with it?


WEDDING HAIR. Relaxer. Weave.


NATURAL HAIR. No Relaxer. No Weave.

NATURAL HAIR UP CLOSE. No Relaxer. No Weave.

HawthoRNe Interracial Wedding

2011-06-02T12:59:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

If you don't know it by now, I'm a huge fan of the relationship between “HawthoRNe” Jada Pinkett Smith’s Christina Hawthorne and Michael Vartan's Dr. Tom Wakefield.

Last season ended two interracial love triangles:

Tom - Christina - Nick (Detective Nick Renata, played by Marc Anthony)

Christina - Tom - Erin (Actress Abigail Spencer)

Now that Christina and Tom are expecting a baby we hope to retire these triangles for good. Let's focus on this new family being built. Although, we have to admit that Nick and Christina were adorable together.

Thanks @DryerBuzz for the sneak peek of the wedding.

Walking in Memphis

2011-06-02T11:03:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

I love folk rock singer-song writer music. I can't properly verbalize why I connect with this music on such a heartfelt level, but I do.

A fun tidbit that I recently learned is that Marc Cohn who sings one of my favorite, Walking in Memphis, is part of an intercultural couple. He is married to ABC News Correspondent Elizabeth Vargas. Vargas is Puerto Rican and Irish-American. They have two sons: Zachary Raphael, who was born on January 31, 2003, and Samuel Wyatt, who was born on August 16, 2006.

For your enjoyment, I present Walking in Memphis.

Source:
Youtube
Wikipedia

Runaway Slave Announcement

2011-05-31T22:01:00.000-04:00

Source: Hair Story Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America

by Ayana D. Byrd & Lori L. Tharps

Dark Girls: A documentary

2011-05-26T18:50:00.002-04:00

Dear Readers,

Oooh goodness it's getting hot here in NYC. I'm looking forward to the summer, but not that beating noon-day sun. I remember once upon a time I used to avoid the sun like the plague. Not necessarily because I was afraid of aging prematurely (yet another thing I would have worried about had I known to worry about it), but because I feared getting any darker than I already was. Those of you who've been reading this blog know that I've posted once or twice on that topic. Take a look if you haven't already:

Twitter #teenagememories: praying for a bigger butt and lighter skin
and
Black IS Beautiful. Psychology Today article, where's the science?

Today,@swirlmag shared a preview for an upcoming documentary entitled Dark Girls. Powerful words from sistas who've shared a common pain. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this documentary. I hope they also balance it with some of the experiences of our light skin sistas as it relates to this topic of light vs. dark in the black community.

Yours,

E

Multiracial and Multicultural Weddings...Commence Drooling

2011-05-24T20:09:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

It's no surprise to anyone who knows me that I little black heart weddings. I don't necessarily like to attend them, nor am I a huge proponent of marriage - yes, I know I'm married. No, I'm more of a side-line viewer. I like to watch various TV shows and visit websites that capture all aspects of the wedding experience: the couple's story, the dress, the food, the decor...you name it. I'm especially excited when it's an interracial or intercultural couple because the diversity provides an added component.

One of my favorite sites to drool over is Wedding Nouveau. Below are some highlights of some of those I like the most. Trust me, it was a difficult decision.

You can check out Wedding Nouveau to view more.

Yours,

E

Indian and Finnish

Black and Jewish


Nigerian and Chinese/Vietnamese

Egyptian American

West-Indian Canadian and Canadian

Bengali American and Scottish

Korean American

Vietnamese and Taiwanese

Marriage by Proxy by Sasha Combs

2011-05-24T01:43:00.000-04:00

Marriage by Proxy by Sasha Combs

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I'm sure the author is a lovely, lovely person. However, I'm quite upset that she would try to pass this off as a book. The story sticks in my head because it is so poorly written. I'm all for suspension of disbelief in order to accept a storyline as plausible, but not when I can't get past all the technical errors. Where was the editor?

View all my reviews

Virginia Hasn't Always Been for Lovers by Phyl Newbeck

2011-05-23T23:42:00.000-04:00

Virginia Hasn't Always Been for Lovers: Interracial Marriage Bans and the Case of Richard and Mildred Loving by Phyl Newbeck

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Phyl Newbeck is an enabler of geeks like me who love stats, facts and research about EVERYTHING Interracial and Intercultural. My copy of this book is marked, highlighted, dog-eared...whatever you can think of to indicate that it's been constantly referenced and read multiple times.

View all my reviews

Thank you for being an [interracial] friend...

2011-05-23T23:23:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

Sorry I've been slacking on the blog posts...work has been keeping me pretty busy. As a way to unwind, I've been watching nonstop reruns of the Golden Girls. I little black heart this show and all the ladies - especially Sophia, who I most identify with.

I have yet to meet the person (age, race, ethnicity, whatever) who has watched this show and not enjoyed it. If you are that person, please don't spoil it for me by admitting it.

For your enjoyment, I present: "The Golden Girls" Mixed Blessings (1988)

The episode where Dorothy's son Michael is engaged to a black woman who is twice his age.

Sophia Petrillo: [Sophia walks in and sees Lorraine and her family, of African American decent] What is this a revival of Raisins in the Sun?
Michael Zbornak: Grandma, this is my fiancé, Lorraine, and this is her mother and her two aunts.
Sophia Petrillo: Wait-wait-wait-wait... This is your fiancé?
Michael Zbornak: Yep, that's right.
Sophia Petrillo: You couldn't find someone your own age?
Greta: What is that supposed to mean?
Sophia Petrillo: No offense, but it looks as though you're daughter's been around the block more times then a good humour man!
Greta: [Turns to her sister] Hold my purse - those are fighting words!
Rose Nylund: Stop it all of you! What difference does it make that Lorraine's a little long in the tooth and Michael's a skinny white boy? Can't you see they love each other? We should be celebrating not arguing whether or not it's right. Now what do you say we all join hands and sing a chorus of 'Abraham, Martin and John?'
Greta: Is she for real?
Dorothy Petrillo-Zbornak: Yep - frightening isn't it?

Source:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0589782/quotes

www.youtube.com

www.google.com

Multicultural Men Take A Stand To Prevent Violence Against Women

2011-05-21T01:25:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm not even going to pretend that this video doesn't put a GIANT smile on my face. I stumbled upon it just a little while ago on a RT of a post from @iluvblackwomen and have watched it multiple times since.

More than the fact that it's great to have men of all cultures talking about what makes their partners beautiful, I appreciate the purpose of the video to have men uplift women as a stand against domestic violence.

I continue to be a proponent of organizations that empower boys and men to advocate against all types of violence toward women. One such organization is Men Stopping Violence (MSV) whose mission for the past 30 years has been working to create a community-centered response to domestic violence that will discourage men from using violence or abuse in their intimate relationships.

Part of our mission here at EIRIC™ (in our shop Made in The World™) is to make a profit to make a difference. According to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), in 2007, there were 248,300 victims of rape, attempted rape, or sexual assault. (These figures do not include victims 12 years old or younger.). It is our belief that an effective means of combating this statistic is to train and empower boys and young men to be agents of social change against sexual violence. The goal is that if it's done early on we'll end up with fewer cases such as that of former IMF leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn who stands accused of sexually assaulting the West African maid at his NYC hotel. We want to raise men who will shape the minds of younger boys (be it sons, nephews, cousins, students, etc...) to respect women.

Hopefully with your support we can raise the funds to make this a reality.

Yours,

E

Sister, Sister Star Tamera Mowry Weds Fox Correspondent Adam Housley

2011-05-19T18:07:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to the happy couple!

Happy couple after tying the know. Love those petals.

Pregnant twin sis Tia shedding tears of joy

The many shades of beauty

More pics at People.com

Happy Haitian Flag Day!

2011-05-18T04:23:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

Today I celebrate the flag day of my country of birth as I sit here in the country I was raised.

To share this celebration with you, this post captures a brief history of the flag.

Hope it enlightens you.

Yours,

Brief History of the Flag:

The first Haitian flag was created on May 18, 1803

Catherine Flon, a seamstress in Archahaie (a town outside of Port-au-Prince), stitched together the first version of the flag

Flag Day is a nationally recognized holiday in Haiti

Army General Jean-Jacques Dessalines made the first rough draft of a flag by grabbing France's red, white and blue, ripping the white stripe to pieces and joining the blue and red together.

This makeshift flag symbolized the union of the mulattoes and the blacks against the colonialist, pro-slavery France.

The arms are composed of a palm tree surmounted by the Phrygian cap of liberty and ornamented with trophies with a banner across the bottom saying "L'Union Fait La Force" (through Unity there is Strength).

In 1805, after Dessalines proclaimed himself emperor, the Haitian flag colors were changed to black and red bands placed vertically, respectively.

After his death in 1806, the country was divided into two republics for 14 years. Henri Christophe and the northern part of the country retained Dessalines' flag.

The southern and western parts of the country, led by Alexandre Petion, went back to the 1804 blue and red flag. This time a square patch was added to the middle that included the country arms and the L'Union Fait La Force motto.

The flag was in use until 1964 when Papa Doc Duvalier modified Dessalines' version by adding the arms of the Republic.

After the fall of the Duvalier regime in 1986, the people took back the flag. They changed it to two-equal sized horizontal bands, a blue on one top and a red one underneath. The coat of arms of the Republic remained in the center.

This is the version of the flag that is in use today.


Catherine Flon


The version of the flag that is in use today.

Arab American Crowned Miss USA!

2011-05-18T03:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Ridiculously gorgeous Rima Fakih, Miss Michigan, was crowned on Sunday, May 16th as Miss USA 2010. Ms. Fakih, a Lebanese American, is the first woman of Arab descent to hold both the Ms. Michigan and Ms. USA titles. Congratulations Ms. Fakih! We can't think of a more beautiful face to represent the U.S.

Source:
http://tv.yahoo.com/the-2010-miss-usa-pageant/show/46500/news/tv-news.en.ap.org/tv-news.en.ap.org-20100517-us_miss_usa

http://www.arabdetroit.com/news.php?id=960

Have you seen Arranged?

2011-05-18T03:53:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Rochel is an Orthodox Jew, and Nasira a Muslim of Syrian origin. They are both young teachers at a public school in Brooklyn...each going through the process of arranged marriages through their respective religions and traditional customs. How do they handle it?

To learn more: http://www.everythingiric.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=1836&Itemid=2
Source:
http://arrangedthemovie.com/

Crappy weather got you down? Need a laugh? Meet Subtle Sexuality!!!

2011-05-18T03:47:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Ms. Kelly Kapoor and Ms. Erin Hannon - the delicious interracial diva group known as Subtle Sexuality who can do it all: sing, dance, act and wear shiny gold spandex. You can catch them on NBC's The Office or visit their website below. Grab a hair brush, lock your doors and sing along with their hit Male Prima Donna.

Source:
http://www.subtlesexuality.com/main.shtml
www.hulu.com

R.I.P. Ms. Lena Horne (1917 - 2010) - A Class Act!

2011-05-18T03:39:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
In the 1940s Ms. Horne was one of the first black performers hired to sing with a major white band, the first to play the Copacabana nightclub and among a handful with a Hollywood contract. To her fans (and some of ours), one of the most memorable moment is her 1973 performance with Kermit the Frog on Sesame Street. Ms. Horne, who dealt with a very color-conscious world during her career, was appropriately tapped to help Kermit come to the conclusion that 'green is just right for him and just what he wants to be.' For your viewing pleasure, please see below for "It's Not Easy Bein' Green."

Source:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_obit_horne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPvZR6DTbq8

Have you met the I am ... Indigenous project?

2011-05-18T03:32:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
The project seeks to change perceptions forged by stereotypes by showcasing those who inspire us to be better human beings.

Click below to read the profiles of Juliette Blackhawk, an Ojibwe language teacher; and Nick Sherman, a talented gracious musician.

Source:
http://iamindigenous.blogspot.com/

Have you met actress and author Victoria Rowell?

2011-05-18T03:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Ms. Rowell (known to a lot of us Soap Opera fans as Drucilla Winters from the Young and the Restless) is an advocate for foster care children. The daughter of a white mother and black father, Ms. Rowell grew up in Maine and was a child in the foster care system for 18 years. If you haven't already, learn more about the foster care system and what you can do to help. The following link will take you to Ms. Rowell's foundation - The Rowell Foster Children's Positive Plan (RFCPP).

-L to R: Jasper (V's son with Jazz great Wynton Marsalis); Radcliffe's daughter, Victoria, Radcliffe Bailey (V's new and 2nd husband); Radcliffe's son; Maya Fahey (V's biological child from her first marriage)

Source:
http://www.rowellfosterchildren.org/
http://www.everythingiric.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=1824&Itemid=2 http://www.blackcelebkids.com/2009/07/15/victoria-rowells-wedding-a-family-affair/

Who are you to judge our crush on the pillowy host of Bizarre Foods?

2011-05-18T03:17:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
If you haven't met Andrew Zimmern, it's past time that you did. Follow this NYC Jewish foodie on his cultural adventures around the world. The video below explores his time in Cambodia. Weak stomachs need not apply.

The Visitors by Samina Akbari

2011-05-18T03:07:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Nisa keeps her [white] boyfriend a secret from her [Thai] family. As mice invade their apartment, she is forced to face what she’s really hiding from.

Source:
http://www.thevisitorsfilm.com/
http://sundance.bside.com/2010/films/thevisitors_sundance2010

Have you met country music star Darius Rucker?

2011-05-18T02:58:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Darius is the former frontman of the mainstream pop/rock band Hootie & the Blowfish, who made their mark in the mid-'90s. He is now a solo artist who recently had his first country album – Learn To Live – debut at #1 on the Billboard charts.

The 'It Won't Be Like This for Long' video (seen below) features his adorable biracial (Black AND White) children – Cary, Dani and Jack – who inspired the song. His lovely wife Beth is featured below.

Amazing Hybrid Animals

2011-05-18T02:49:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Ligers, tigons and grolar bears, oh my! The most interesting form of cross-and-inter-anything that we can think of.

Some Girls. My Life in a Harem.

2011-05-18T02:42:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Introducing Jillian Lauren, author of the Some Girls memoir about her time spent in Brunei as a Harem girl.

Jillian is the wife of Weezer member Scott Shriner. She and Scott adopted Tariku, the most happy little boy (check him out on the drums) we’ve ever seen, from Ethiopia.

Source:
http://www.jillianlauren.com/blog/?tag=tariku-shriner

To purchase her book: www.amazon.com/gp/product/0452296315?ie=UTF8&tag=evinanin-20

Halle Berry and Gabriel Aubry - End of the Road

2011-05-18T02:36:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
Gabriel Aubrey has confirmed that he and actress Halle Berry have split after four years, and daughter Nahla, together.

For more details: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36887536/ns/today-entertainment/#ixzz0mjnIBaLz

Native American Images on Film

2011-05-18T02:31:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:
The films and introductions will explore a different topic each night, including the evolution of Native American depictions by director John Ford (May 4), non-Indians in Indian roles (May 6), Indians as enemies (May 11), white men living among Indians (May 13), Indians as “noble savages” (May 18), Native Americans facing racism (May 20), Native American actors and filmmakers (May 25) and images from outside Hollywood (May 27).

Source:
TCM

Sandra Bullock’s Secret Adoption

2011-05-18T02:26:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

I'm moving over some old (as far back as 2009) posts from the main EIRIC™ site to here. Reason: I'm going with a different direction for the front page. Please feel free to take a look and provide your feedback.

Yours,

E

Post:

Dear CIA, take note. Sandra Bullock managed to adopt a baby boy without ever appearing on the paparazzi’s radar. If she can do that, surely you can find Bin Laden. Anyway, congratulations Ms. Bullock and have fun being mom to 3 ½ month old cutie pie Louis Bardo. Louis is now joining the ranks of the estimated 28% of adopted children who differ in race or Hispanic origin from their adoptive parents.

Source:
http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/censr-6.pdf
People Magazine

Aaron Landry Explains Arizona’s Immigration Law with Crayons

2011-05-18T02:19:00.000-04:00

Source:
Aaron's Hotlinks on Tumblelog

NY Times Mixed America's Family Trees

2011-05-17T12:12:00.001-04:00

Happy Tuesday Readers!

It's still a cold, dreary, rainy day in NYC. Hopefully it clears up soon. I miss spring.

While on my random morning research run, I was excited to discover this interactive feature on the New York Time's site titled Mixed America's Family Trees.

The description for the site reads:

The United States is in the midst of a demographic shift. Driven by immigration and intermarriage, multiracial and multiethnic Americans — usually grouped together as “mixed-race” — are one of the country’s fastest growing demographic groups. Examine the mixed-race family trees submitted by readers and listen to them describe their families, then submit your own.

I especially love the trees with the audio files attached. Take a look and listen to actor Lou Diamond Phillips Family Tree.

This is probably the extra motivation I needed to go back to tracing my ancestral line. I took up this task in college but quickly gave up as I kept running into brick wall after brick wall. Multiple natural disasters and coups in Haiti do not make for expert record keeping.

I'll keep you posted on this journey. If you end up posting your tree on the site, please let me know. I'd love to feature it.

Yours,

E

Source:
NY Times
Google

Black IS Beautiful. Psychology Today article, where's the science?

2011-05-16T18:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

You've pretty much been living under a rock today if you haven't already heard about the Psychology Today article Why Are Black Women Rated Less Physically Attractive Than Other Women, But Black Men Are Rated Better.

The article by Dr. Satoshi Kanazawa has since been taken down. The move of a coward, if you ask me. Either you stand by it, or you don’t. And if you don’t because you felt that you were wrong – APOLOGIZE.

Dr. Kanazawa is apparently known for controversial, racist bull in science clothing. Why Psychology Today and, apparently, the London School of Economics, would want to associate themselves with him is quite puzzling.

I’m not offended by the study, per se. My issue is more on the fact that he’s touting these results as fact when his methodology doesn’t lend itself to being factual. At least what little was included in the article – which was actually nothing. While I did sleep through most of Psych Stats, I do recall the importance of sample size, effect-size and random sampling on statistically significant results. All things that were not made clear in the article.

Adults can read the study and come to their own conclusions about the truth of it. However, that’s not the case for younger girls. What he’s saying is NOT anything new to black women. However, labeling it as scientific truth simply makes it even more difficult for parents to continue encouraging their little girls to see the beauty in themselves that this country tends to ignore – see any magazine rack for confirmation.

There’s a deep seeded issue about the attractiveness of typical African features – darker skin, wide nose, short hair, etc...- that has plagued the black community for years. From reading lots of actual scientific research, anecdotal reports, and my ownexperience, I say that a good percentage of the girls who fall in this category have dealt with – and possibly continue to deal with – self-esteem issues because of this topic.

There’s been a real push in the African American community to ensure that all shades and features of black are celebrated. However, it’s a tough battle to win (especially for people raising young girls) when so many messages say otherwise. It also makes it difficult that some of our own people share the same view as Dr. Kanazawa. I can think of many instances growing up when I heard the statement "you'd be so much prettier if you weren't so dark," or "stop staying out in the sun so much. Do you want to get even darker?"

This issue is one that will continue to exist until we force it out. The next time someone makes a comment (innocent or not) like "she's pretty for a dark skin sista," it might be worth having an open dialogue (don't attack!) about the sentiments behind those words.

As for those of you who are raising young black children (especially girls and especially adopted black children in non-black families), I can't stress enough the importance of celebrating their full beauty - everything from intelligence to physical features. The more you do, the better your child will be armed to fight the words of the Dr. Kanazawas of the world.

Yours,

One Life To Live's High Schoolers Destiny and Matthew Have Sex.

2011-05-11T16:36:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

Boo! As much as I wanted the writers at One Life to Live to bring Destiny and Matthew together, I cannot agree with this rush to have them have sex.

This is wrong on so many levels:

They're still in high school. And before you call me a prude, I'm sure that high school kids are having sex all the time. However, how crazy would it be to show a storyline with two kids (D&M would be perfect since they've generally been more mature than most kids their age) who actually consider that sex is a big deal and are not necessarily ready to take that step? They did so with Danielle (Todd and Tea's daughter who is biracial Latina and White) and her boyfriend Nate. Why not with Destiny and Matthew?!?!? How is it that the black - the dark skin one at that - girl is the one to be gung-ho for premarital sex? Not saying it IS a racial thing. Just pointing out that it's curious.

The actors (who are both quite adorable) look like the kids that they are. I was uncomfortable watching Matthew take Destiny's hand and lead her to the bedroom. It just felt wrong. Like a really screwed up version of children playing grownups. Think Cruel Intentions. The movie with Ryan Phillipe. Side note: talk about a waste of precious time that I will NEVER get back.

Matthew needs to prove himself to Destiny and let her know that she's not just the comfortable shoe he turns to when things are going wrong in his life. She's been an amazing and loyal friend to him even though he has not returned the favor. I'd like to see her respect herself enough to stand up to him and let him know that she's not going to accept being a second class citizen in his life.

I know the writers are trying to tell as many stories as they can before One Life to Live's cancellation, but they need to respect and remember their loyal viewers. We know the characters and are invested in them. Please don't insult us by giving us stories that are completely out of character for them. This is NOT the way for them to live the one life that they have.

Yours,

E (aka an upset fan)

Source:
Google
Youtube
ABC

Twitter #teenagememories: praying for a bigger butt and lighter skin

2011-05-11T00:58:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

#teenagememories is one of the topics trending on Twitter tonight. When I went to participate, most of my #teenagememories centered around my beauty, or what I perceived as a lack thereof.

As a teenager I was a tall, lanky *no curves to save my life. Think Popeye's Olive Oil. :)* dark-skinned girl who always had her head buried in a book. I was not exactly the standard of beauty for teenage boys. What was the most hurtful was being rejected by black boys. There was nothing special about me in their eyes. I wasn't fair, did not have light eyes and my hair wasn't especially long. I was just black. Nothing "exotic" to speak of. Even more horrifying, I was unfortunate enough to be a "homely" dark girl without the proverbial "ghetto booty." If you're homely and black, the least you can do is have "junk in your trunk."

Those awkward teenage years were exacerbated by:

a) the lack of beauty role models with my skin tone, body type and hair texture;

and

b) the bully who made it his business to torture me.

My bully was an overweight and tar-baby-dark guy who girls completely ignored. As author Richard Sennet points out in Respect in a world of inequality, “The condition of "not being seen" had produced a desire to avenge." Truer words were never spoken as it related to this situation. To make matters worse, this bully saw in me his most hated feature. Every day he was forced to confront the thing about himself that caused him the most grief (his skin color).

As a teen, I did not have the knowledge of self to know that his issues with me ran deeper than he cared to realize. I was only the face of his problems and therefore an easy target to confront. His real issues stemmed from generations of black self-hate that was encouraged during times of slavery when the darker slaves were relegated to picking cotton and working in the fields while the lighter ones (those who more closely resembled their European masters - usually as a result of interracial rape) were able to remain as house slaves and have the opportunity to be educated.

Since I did not have that wisdom, my years were spent trying to get me to a standard of beauty that would be valued. Day in and day out I prayed and begged God to give me the type of butt that black boys would appreciate. While I had the butt aspect covered with God, I used Ambi (and some of you probably know it well) religiously and with the urgency of a death row inmate eating his last meal. As for the hair, I had that covered with a combination of hot combs, relaxers, and braids. Whatever style would make me seem more attractive.

It wasn't until years later (hello Black Studies classes in college!) that I had the strength to confront my color demons and work through the self-hate. While I was fortunate enough to have that opportunity, I've often wondered whether my bully had the same chance. I hope it's true, but who knows. You can't combat issues that you never actually acknowledge. As the say in AA (or so TV tells me), the first step is admitting you have a problem.

Of the issues that I am dealing with today, I'm happy to report that my outside beauty is no longer one of them - mostly. While I do have those rare moments when my thoughts are transferred back to those teenage years, it never lasts for long. For those moments, I surround myself with uplifting scriptures, poems and songs.

Yours,

Some of my faves are noted below:

1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”

Psalm 139:14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Phenomenal Woman

By Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.

I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms,

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I walk into a room

Just as cool as you please,

And to a man,

The fellows stand or

Fall down on their knees.

Then they swarm around me,

A hive of honey bees.

I say,

It’s the fire in my eyes,

And the flash of my teeth,

The swing in my waist,

And the joy in my feet.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Men themselves have wondered

What they see in me.

They try so much

But they can’t touch

My inner mystery.

When I try to show them,

They say they still can’t see.

I say,

It’s in the arch of my back,

The sun of my smile,

The ride of my breasts,

The grace of my style.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Now you understand

Just why my head’s not bowed.

I don’t shout or jump about

Or have to talk real loud.

When you see me passing,

It ought to make you proud.

I say,

It’s in the click of my heels,

The bend of my hair,

the palm of my hand,

The need for my care.

’Cause I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

Can you tell we love India Arie???

Source:

Google

Youtube

Happy Mother's Day to Moms of all Cultures Raising Children of all Colors!

2011-05-08T08:58:00.000-04:00

Happy Mother's Day Readers!

No Monsters™ is part of our series titled "Proof™". It's our answer to the questions: "Is this your child?" and "Is that your mom?" Sometimes you just have to answer the questions for them.

As far as we can tell (thanks Google!), the following countries also celebrate mother's day on the second Sunday in May (May 8th this year).

Worldwide Celebration Dates on May 8, 2011

The following countries celebrate Mother's Day on May 8:

Anguilla
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Bangladesh
Belgium
Belize
Bermuda
Bonaire
Brazil
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Cuba
Croatia

Curaçao
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Estonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Honduras
Hong Kong
Iceland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Latvia
Malta
Malaysia

Netherlands
New Zealand
Peru
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
Suriname
Switzerland
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zimbabwe

We here at EIRIC™ and Made in The World™ are wishing a happy day to those moms around the world who are celebrating today, moms of all cultures raising children of all colors, old time moms, new moms, moms with one, moms with multiple, moms by choice, moms by default, moms who work outside the home, moms who work inside the home, moms who cook, moms who order takeout, those who can spell mom, those who've ever seen a movie with a mom in it, those who like Boys II Men's Mam, Moms Mabley, Mama Mia, Mama Say Mama Sa Mamakusa...and any other moms not captured in this greeting.

People are going to stare and have questions. Why not let your baby answer it? This is a fun multicultural gift for the mommy in your life with a biracial baby.

No Monsters™ is part of our series titled "Proof™". It's our answer to the questions: "Is this your child?" and "Is that your mom?". Sometimes you just have to answer the questions for them.

Source:
EIRIC™
Made in The World™
Google
http://www.mothersdaycentral.com/when/

You shot Derek Jeter...he's a biracial angel.

2011-05-06T22:40:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

This clip from the movie The Other Guys makes us crack up every single time.

Enjoy!

E

Because you shot Derek Jeter...he's a biracial angel. You should have shot A-Rod.

Breaking News: Multiracial Goldfish NOT as tasty as single race Goldfish

2011-05-06T16:52:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

We're kinda disappointed that the rainbow coalition Goldfish crackers do not taste as good as the stick-to-our-own-kind yellow ones.

Sadly, we notice and care about these things.

Yours,

E

PBS Documentary Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Freedom Riders - An Anti-Segregation Movement

2011-05-04T17:06:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

What inspires ordinary people to stand up for justice? This is the question that the PBS documentary Freedom Riders (airing on May 16, 2011) seeks to answer.

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders - an interracial group of young men and women who joined together to fight (peacefully) against the Jim Crow laws and segregation - we'd like to say thank you.

Thank you for making our marriage and organizations like ours (EVERYTHING Interracial and Intercultural™ - EIRIC™ and Made in The World™) possible.

God willing, we'll be recapping the documentary after viewing it on PBS on May 16, 2011 at 9pm Eastern.

Thanks,

E

Our "Thirsty" greeting card.

May the 4th be with you the late Audrey Hepburn who would have celebrated her 82nd birthday today! Holly Golightly to Breakfast at Tiffany's.

2011-05-04T14:01:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

You only have to meet me for five minutes to learn of my love for the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's and its star the late Audrey Hepburn. I've lost count of how many times I've watched this movie since I first discovered it in my teens.

To celebrate, we're including some Getting to Know Audrey Facts and Breakfast at Tiffany's Random Facts and Favorite Quotes below.

Enjoy!

Getting to Know Audrey Facts
1. May 4, 1929 - January 20, 1993

2. Born in the Ixelles district of Brussels, Belgium

3. Ancestry: Dutch, Hungarian, French, Jewish, English, Scottish, Irish and Austrian

4. Three weeks after her birth, Audrey's heart stopped from a severe bout of whooping cough.

5. Perhaps as a tribute to his daughter's natural curiosity, her father nicknamed her "Monkey Puzzle."

6. Her father, whom she adored, walk out on the family when Audrey was six-years-old. She later recalled that it was, "the most traumatic event in my life," an event from which she admits she probably never recovered.

7. Audrey's nineteen-year-old brother Ian was picked up by the Germans and taken away. For the duration of WWII, Audrey and her mom had no idea if he was dead or alive. They would later learn that he spent the war working fourteen-hour days in a munitions factory in Berlin.

8. Surprisingly, Audrey was 5'10" in flats - not the most appreciated height for a ballerina, but she made it work. Power to the tall girls!

9. Had two miscarriages before finally giving birth to her first child Sean. She also had her final miscarriage after giving birth to her second and last child Luca.

10. Dedicated most of the latter part of her life to humanitarian work on behalf of UNICEF.

Breakfast at Tiffany's Random Facts
1. When BAT's opened in NYC, it broke all box office records.

2. Audrey received her fourth Academy Award Best Actress nomination (did not win) for the role of Holly Golightly.

3. BAT's was loosely based on the Truman Capote novella. Truman was not happy with the direction of the movie and the casting of Audrey. We've read the book and it's much darker. We much prefer the movie.

4. Although Truman Capote was vocal about his belief that Marilyn Monroe was the embodiment of Holly Golightly, in 1960 he wrote Audrey a letter expressing how pleased he was that she was cast and congratulating her on Sean's birth.

5. "Moon River," Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer's masterpiece, is the musical tour de force of the film.

6. Designer Hubert de Givenchy is the power house behind that unforgettable "little black dress."

7. Mickey Rooney's stereotypical and racist portrayal of Mr. Yunioshi, the Japanese neighbor, was sadly a stain on an otherwise amazing movie.

8. George Peppard, who played the leading man Paul Varjack (aka Fred), is probably best known for his role as John 'Hannibal' Smith from The A-Team.

9. Since 1837, Tiffany & Co. has been the world's premier jeweler and America's house of design.

10. BAT’s was filmed at various addresses in Manhattan. Holly Golightly’s apartment was 167 East 71^st Street.

Breakfast at Tiffany's Favorite Quotes

Holly Golightly: He's all right! Aren't you, cat? Poor cat! Poor slob! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven't got the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other. We just took up one day by the river. I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's.
Paul Varjak: Tiffany's? You mean the jewelry store.
Holly Golightly: That's right. I'm just CRAZY about Tiffany's!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holly Golightly: I'm like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holly Golightly: You know those days when you get the mean reds?
Paul Varjak: The mean reds, you mean like the blues?
Holly Golightly: No. The blues are because you're getting fat and maybe it's been raining too long, you're just sad that's all. The mean reds are horrible. Suddenly you're afraid and you don't know what you're afraid of. Do you ever get that feeling?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Holly Golightly: You could always tell what kind of a person a man thinks you are by the earrings he gives you. I must say, the mind reels.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Holly Golightly: You musn't give your heart to a wild thing. The more you do, the stronger they get, until they're strong enough to run into the woods or fly into a tree. And then to a higher tree and then to the sky.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Varjak: You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself.
[takes out the ring and throws it in Holly's lap]
Paul Varjak: Here. I've been carrying this thing around for months. I don't want it anymore.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Varjak: I love you.
Holly Golightly: So what.
Paul Varjak: So what? So plenty! I love you, you belong to me!
Holly Golightly: [tearfully] No. People don't belong to people.
Paul Varjak: Of course they do!
Holly Golightly: I'll never let ANYBODY put me in a cage.
Paul Varjak: I don't want to put you in a cage, I want to love you!

Source:
The Audrey Hepburn Treasures by Ellen Erwin and Jessica Z. Diamond
Google
Wikipedia

I am a Haitian who CANNOT cook.

2011-05-03T21:40:00.001-04:00

Dear Readers,

Before we even start, I'd like you to pinky promise that you will not share this post with my mama. She would take it as a personal offense that I'm sharing with the world wide web ("that place. you know, that Internet place" - as she refers to it) the fact that her Haitian daughter CANNOT cook. Somewhere all Haitian mamas stopped to wipe a single tear from their eyes.

Now that you've pinky promised (essentially a legally binding contract), we can talk. In an effort to free my meat-loving hubby from always being forced to eat fish and non-meat products, I decided to create a menu for the next two weeks that would incorporate more animal products. First up: beef stir-fry. In my mind (and in other people's reality) this dish is simple enough to make - especially with already pre-cut strips. Unfortunately, I have the reverse midas touch. Everything I touch turn to ash. This beef stir-fry dinner was not an exception. As you can see there are very few pieces left - had to throw out most of it.

My poor hubby mistakenly believed that the same culinary angel who blessed my grandma, mama and older sister had also touched me. NOT. He should have found himself a traditional Italian woman to marry. Too bad he didn't have a time machine to take him back to the old country.

Until next time,

E

Stir-Fry Dinner Epic Fail

Interracial Couple Celebrate Wedding With Smurf Cake Topper

2011-05-03T01:08:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

As noted by the 2000 US census: approximately 120,638,000 US citizens are either married or cohabiting ("cohabiting" means unmarried but living together). Of this 120,638,000 US citizens involved in serious romantic relationships, approximately 6,906,000 are in cross-race relationships.

Two years ago when the hubby and I said #Ido, we increased this general statistic and the specific numbers for Caucasian male/African-American female cross-race married couples in the U.S. In 2000, this pairing ranked 6th in the top 12 mixed-race married couple pairings. The table noted below specifies the rest.

*Ranking*	*Husband's Race*	*Wife's Race*	*Approximate Number*
1	Caucasian-American	Latina	824,000
2	Latino	Caucasian-American	723,000
3	Caucasian-American	Other Race	600,000
4	Other Race	Caucasian-American	348,000
5	African-American	Caucasian-American	227,000
6	Caucasian-American	African-American	80,000
7	African-American	Latina	72,000
8	Latino	Other Race	47,000
9	Latino	African-American	41,000
10	African-American	Other Race	35,000⁺
11	Other Race	Latina	35,000⁺
12	Other Race	African-American	11,000

We've been happily celebrating our anniversary by moving into a new place and wondering why the heck we have so much crap. Don't cry for us online friends because we're taking an anniversary/birthday (hubby's) weekend getaway in the next few weeks. ______________ here we come! When we figure out where we're going, we'll let you know.

They say if you make it past your second year of marriage, you're pretty much set. I was thisclose to getting excited until I realized:

(a) I don't know who the heck "they" are;

and

(b) that's just plain stupid. How do you account for all those folks who divorce after the two years?

Side note to royal couple Kate and Harry: don't fall for that stupid advice. Loved your royal wedding, by the way.

Wait---where the heck was I? I'm so easily distracted. Okay, back to why I started writing this entry in the first place. Oh yeah...our wedding.

A friend recently sent us some pictures (our friends tend to be #tardyfortheparty) from that day which motivated me to go through our albums - a combination of professional and that of friends - to see some of the ones that we'd like to share with you.

I tend to prefer the more "artistic" (as defined by my taste) shots so those are the ones that I'm sharing. If you'd also like to see some traditional posed shots, we'll post a few.

Enjoy!

Live, Laugh, Love was the theme of our wedding.

Although neither of us is Jewish, we fell in love with the Chuppah and it's meaning.

Love this picture - especially in black and white

Put a ring on it

I liked it enough to put that ring on it


One of my absolute favorite shots. Again, love the black and white.


Who says white men can't...


The hubby made our cake topper. So freaking awesome!


The cake was so yummy. We ate it for breakfast the next day since we had NOTHING to eat at the wedding.


One more because he really did do a great job.


See you!

After the party is the after-partying...

Source:
Self, friends and family
http://www.census.gov/population/socdemo/hh-fam/p20-537/2000/tabUC3.txt

The Interracial Royal Family of Monaco - Baron Christian Louis and Baroness Cécile de Massy

2011-04-29T12:54:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

As you continue to celebrate the Royal Wedding of Kate and William, we'll continue to bring you some fun royal interracial and intercultural connections.

Allow us to introduce you to two members of the royal line of Monaco.

Baroness Cécile de Massy, born in the Caribbean country of Guadeloupe, is the fourth wife of Christian Louis, Baron de Massy, the only nephew of the late Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Baron de Massy was born to HSH Princess Antoinette of Monaco (elder sister of Rainier III) and her lover at the time Alexandre-Athenase Noghes. Although born out of wedlock, his birth was later legitimized by the Catholic Church (1951, when he was 3-years-old) when his parents married. Doing so put him in line of succession to the Monegasque throne. Something we're sure his children, Brice and Antoine, are thankful for. If they don't want to go the royal router, they can always follow in the charitable footstep of their mother.
Baroness is the founder and current president of the organization Ladies Lunch Monte-Carlo whose goal is to benefit children and adolescents.

Although Monaco and Guadeloupe are pretty recognizable, we're still including a brief country profile courtesy of the BBC.

Monaco Country Profile:

Monaco is the second-smallest independent state in the world. It is a playground for tourists and a haven for the wealthy, the former drawn by its climate and the beauty of its setting and the latter by its advantageous tax regime.

Full name: Principality of Monaco
Population: 31,000 (UN, 2010)
Capital: Monaco
Area: 1.95 sq km (0.75 sq mile)
Major language: French
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 83 years (women)
Monetary unit: euro
Main exports: Pharmaceuticals, perfumes, clothing
GNI per capita: $203, 900 (World Bank, 2009)
Internet domain: .mc
International dialling code: +377

Guadeloupe Country Profile:

Known to its one-time Carib indian population as "karukera", or "island of beautiful waters", the French territory of Guadeloupe is a centre of Caribbean Creole culture.

Territory: Guadeloupe
Status: Overseas department of France
Population: 445,000 (via UN, 2006)
Capital: Basse-Terre
Area: 1,705 sq km (658 sq miles)
Major languages: French (official), Creole dialect
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 75 years (men); 82 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: euro
Main exports: Bananas, sugar, rum, vanilla
GNI per capita: US$14,088 (UN, 2003)
Internet domain: .gp
International dialling code: +590

Source:
http://inspiringsisters.blogspot.com/2010/11/princesses-come-in-all-colors.html
http://madmonaco.blogspot.com/2009/11/christian-louis-baron-de-massy.html
http://www.cityoutmonaco.com/monaco-community/articles/people-who-make-monaco-cecile-massy
http://join.crazyfruits.net/t654-baroness-cecile-de-massy-who-is-married-to-christian-louis
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainier_III,_Prince_of_Monaco
http://www.favstocks.com/black-royals-we-can-be-princes-princesses-too/2951488/
http://www.google.com/

The Interracial Royal Wedding. Prince Maximilian and Princess Angela of Liechtenstein

2011-04-29T09:27:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

Brace yourselves. There are royal weddings outside of England. Crazy! We know. Even more interesting to you and to us is the fact that one of those weddings was an interracial union. YEP! Someone fan us, please.

Please take a seat and learn more about this story.

Where else would a fashion designer of Afro-Panamanian descent and a European prince meet but in New York? Side note: oh how we love our city!

Anyway, once upon a time (see 1997) Angela Gisela Brown ans Prince Maximilian Nikolaus Maria of Liechtenstein met, dated (see ate a few meals, watched a few movies, maybe went to a bar or two), fell in love and decided to get married.

The wedding, which took place at Saint Vincent Ferrer Church in Manhattan on January, 29, 2000, was the entree of a splash of color into the European monarchy.

Ms. Brown, who was born on Februrary 3, 1958 in Bocas del Toro Panama, is the daughter of Mr. Javier Francisco Brown and Mrs. Silvia Maritza Brown. Prince Maximilian, who was born on May 16, 1969, is the second son of Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein and Marie, Princess of Liechtenstein.

The prince and princess are now the proud parents of this gorgeous little biracial boy who is no doubt also named Maximilian. Our German is a little rusty so we couldn't fully translate the caption on the picture.

For those of us (insert EIRIC™) who had ZERO clue where Liechtenstein was when we first heard about the love story in 2000, here is a brief profile of the country as reported by the BBC.

Liechtenstein Country Profile

The Principality of Liechtenstein is a tiny, landlocked country tucked away between Switzerland and Austria and with mountain slopes rising above the Rhine valley.

Full name: Principality of Liechtenstein
Population: 35,000 (UN, 2009)
Capital: Vaduz
Area: 160 sq km (61.8 sq miles)
Major language: German
Major religion: Christianity
Life expectancy: 75 years (men), 82 years (women)
Monetary unit: 1 Swiss franc = 100 centimes
Main exports: Machinery, dental products, foodstuffs, stamps
GNI per capita: $113, 210 (World Bank, 2008)
Internet domain: .li
International dialling code: +423

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Maximilian_of_Liechtenstein
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Angela_of_Liechtenstein
http://www.thumperscorner.com/discus/messages/2152/6405.html
http://marilynsroyalblog.blogspot.com/2008/08/whats-deal-with-princess-angela-of.html
http://www.fuerstenhaus.li/en/index.html
http://www.google.com/