Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.7.2, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site. # MyBrownBaby Where Black Moms Matter ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](http://mybrownbaby.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website. ## Posts - [Meet Miles Ezeilo, The Voice of A New Generation](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/meet-miles-ezeilo-the-voice-of-a-new-generation/) - We introduce the brilliant voice of Miles Ezeilo, a talented 15-year-old who has a lot on his mind at a time when the lives of black boys are so easily discarded. - [Everybody Loves the Sunshine: Finding Joy in Blackness](http://mybrownbaby.com/2020/01/everybody-loves-the-sunshine-finding-joy-in-blackness/) - "Speakeasy with Denene" closes its first season with password, SUNSHINE, paying homage to my hero, my dad, and literary giant Nic Stone and Angie Thomas. - [Happy Book Birthday, "Just Like a Mama," the newest addition to Denene Millner Books](http://mybrownbaby.com/2020/01/happy-book-birthday-just-like-a-mama-the-newest-addition-to-denene-millner-books/) - "Just Like a Mama" is on bookshelves today, and author Alice Faye Duncan is using her story to celebrate a long-held tradition in which adoptive, foster care and "fictive kin" share a love and bond with children whom they care for when those babies’ parents cannot. - [Freedom, Speakeasy with Denene: Killer Mike Wants Us to Get Free](http://mybrownbaby.com/2020/01/killer-mike/) - Killer Mike, rapper, business owner, proud southern Black man, talks guns, land and lifting our voices on Speakeasy with Denene. - [Speakeasy with Denene's Favorite Things of 2019](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/12/speakeasy-with-denenes-favorite-things-of-2019/) - To celebrate the success of "Speakeasy with Denene" and the end of the year, I’ve made a list of my favorite things that relate to the passwords of past episodes, plus one debuting at the top of the year. - [FLOWER, Speakeasy with Denene: When Blackness Blooms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/12/flower/) - This week's "Speakeasy with Denene" password is FLOWER. I talk about raising daughters, chat with two artists whose work blooms; and check in with Lion Babe. - [Christmas Cocktails: #TalkEarly About Responsible Holiday Drinking](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/12/holiday-drinking/) - Staring at the bottom of a cocktail glass isn't the best way to de-stress for the holidays—or the best example for kids. Here, healthy ways to survive the holidays, in partnership with responsibility.org. - [BLACK, Speakeasy with Denene: Being Black Is An Extreme Sport](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/12/black-speakeasy/) - I founded SPEAKEASY WITH DENENE to give my people a nod that says, “I see you.” That's why this week's password is so fitting: BLACK. - [Beauty, Speakeasy With Denene: Black and Pretty On the Inside & Out](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/11/beauty-speakeasy-with-denene-black-and-pretty-on-the-inside-out/) - I've spent a lifetime learning to look in the mirror and love what I see, no matter what anyone else thinks about it. So it's only fitting that the word "beauty" be the password for the latest episode of #SPEAKEASYWITHDENENE. - [Fly, Speakeasy with Denene: How Black People Take Flight](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/11/fly-speakeasy-with-denene-how-black-people-take-flight/) - "Fly" has a bunch of meanings, and we're exploring them in a new episode of #SpeakeasyWithDenene, featuring Tarriona "Tank" Ball of Tank and the Bangas. - [Love, Speakeasy With Denene: Listen to the First Episode of My New Podcast!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/10/love-speakeasy/) - On the first episode of my new podcast, Speakeasy with Denene, we talk about love—dating, love in the midst of injustice, and Avery Sunshine's love songs. - ["Acting White": Talk Early About Racialized Bullying & True Friendship](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/10/acting-white/) - We have to #TalkEarly to our kids about the foolishness of "acting white" accusations. Here's how I did it. - [Speakeasy with Denene: I Have a New Podcast. Listen To It!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/10/speakeasy-with-denene/) - Introducing SPEAKEASY WITH DENENE, my new podcast that uses art, culture, entertainment and my gift of gab to explore the beauty and humanity of blackness. - [Getting to Trust: #TalkEarly About Listening, Not Fixing](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/09/getting-to-trust-talkearly-about-listening-not-fixing/) - Tips on how to find moments when we can listen to rather than fix our kids' problems. - [Good Journey, Toni Morrison](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/08/good-journey-toni-morrison/) - Toni Morrison introduced me to myself— - [What About Your Friends? #TalkEarly About Squad Building](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/06/what-about-your-friends-talkearly-about-squad-building/) - The day I left my marriage, my friends showed up and showed out for me. I'll never forget it. I wish the same love for my daughters. - [Run Tell That: The Importance of Reporting Cancer Symptoms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/05/run-tell-that-the-importance-of-reporting-cancer-symptoms/) - My Uncle Red was a beautiful man. And he fought cancer hard. Here's how he was a warrior. - [How to Talk to Black Women About Sex, Plus: Why You Should Take PrEP](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/05/black-women-prep/) - It's high time the medical industry stopped treating black women like we're diseased sexpots and got real about the benefits of PRep - [Boss Things: #TalkEarly About How to Be a Leader](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/04/boss-things-talkearly-about-how-to-be-a-leader/) - Being a leader is not positional—it's personal. Here, ways to teach your child how to be a boss, in her own way. - [The MyBrownBaby Parenting Playlist: This is How I Neo-Soul Parent My Teens](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/03/the-mybrownbaby-parenting-playlist-this-is-how-i-neo-soul-parent-my-teens/) - My “parenting playlist” of advice would be set to some D’Angelo-styled melodies over a dope Dilla beat, with these Parenting in 100 Words bites of how-to’s on raising fierce girls. - [Cancer Distress after Diagnosis Is Real. Here’s How to Get Your Mind Right.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/02/cancer-distress-after-diagnosis-is-real-heres-how-to-get-your-mind-right/) - Cancer distress is the blues wrapped in illness. Here's how to - [Happy New Year and a Promise to #TalkEarly To Kids About Alcohol](http://mybrownbaby.com/2019/01/talkearly-to-our-children-about-alcohol/) - Forget about "Dry January." Here's why you should #TalkEarly–and often, for the entire year—to your kids about alcohol. - [Not One Type: Here's How To Get Real—and Smart—About Breast Cancer Diagnoses](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/10/not-one-type/) - Recognizing that breast cancer is not one type empowers women to have productive convos about how to deal with the disease. Let's discuss. - [How I Beat Prediabetes. Because Getting Type 2 Diabetes is a Strong No For Me, Dog](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/10/prediabetes/) - It was the scariest health diagnosis I'd ever faced. But being prediabetic wasn't a guarantee I'd get diabetes—especially after I followed these specific steps. Plus: take this survey to help gather info on diabetes—and for a chance to win $100. - [Aretha Franklin Tribute: The Queen Of Soul Will Be Honored, But Not Just Anybody Is Invited To The Mic.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/08/aretha-franklin-tribute/) - Be clear: if you're singing at the forthcoming Aretha Franklin tribute, you better know what you're doing before you step to that mic. - [Disrupt Aging: At age 50, I'm About to Steam—Stand Back](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/08/disrupt-aging/) - My mother never got to dream big as a Black woman in her era. But at almost age 50, I'm doing enough dreaming for the both of us as I disrupt aging. - [Get What is Light?, a Rare Board Book for Black Babies, On Your Bookshelf Today!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/06/what-is-light/) - Happy Book birthday to the latest Denene Millner Books creation: Markette Sheppard's "What is Light?" a beautiful—and rare—board book featuring brown kids! - [Reward Volunteers: the Joy I've Found Helping Teens Write](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/03/volunteer/) - I joined the Grady Writing Center to keep an eye on my girls. But then the teens I was helping truly opened my heart to what it truly means to volunteer. - [My Obsession: Addie Addye and Women Artists of Color](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/03/women-artists/) - Want to make a difference for women artists of color, traditionally marginalized in the art world? Support Addye Addie Studios and its mission right here. - [Safaree And Social Media Engagement Show Us We Can All Get Along](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/safaree/) - Black women of varying age, social status, single, married, with and without kids, committed to deep discussion, without debate. Thanks Safaree! - [Guns in the Classroom: On Protests, Arming Teachers, and What Schools Really Need](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/arming-teachers/) - We all know the consequences of arming teachers—particularly how it would affect black students and the racist structures that harm them at every turn. - [Black Panther & the Dora Milaje: How Fiction Helped A Nigerian American Embrace Her Reality](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/dora-milaje/) - Caught between two worlds—Nigeria and America—made navigating childhood hard for this writer. But Black Panther's Dora Milaje made the blend feel right. - [My Birth Mother, My Hero](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/birth-mother/) - We give a lot of praise to the parents who adopt children—and rightfully so. But we should also throw flowers at the feet of the birth mothers, too. - [Black Sustenance: Paying Homage To Historic Struggle Food](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/black-soul-food/) - Black soul food is chit'lins. Corn bread. Fried chicken. And those other magical dishes groomed from nothing. They are delicacies. Recognize. - [Tyler the Creator: Black Mom Observations from the 4th Row of the "Flower Boy" Concert](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/tyler-the-creator/) - I love Tyler the Creator. I'm not a fan of what I experienced at his concert. Clearly, I'm too old for this. - [Disrupt Aging: Here's To Owning—and Valuing—Growing Older.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/14550/) - Instead of speaking about your age as a negative, own it! - [Black History Month is in the Building](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/02/black-history/) - A comprehensive list of great places to visit with children as we celebrate Black History Month with the babies. - [{On the Parenting Post} You Don't Want None Of This.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/03/how-tween-girls-fight-off-bullies/) - If you see me walking down the aisle at the local Target and my 34 C’s are sticking out just a little bit extra today, know that it’s because my Mari has done me proud. My 11-year-old, a reserved, kinda shy sixth grader who tends to mumble a little too much for her outspoken mother’s - [Black Folks Go Ape Sh!t Over Racist H&M Monkey Ad](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/01/racist-hm-monkey-ad/) - Really, H&M? A Black child in a monkey hoodie? For real? - [Reclaim Your Time: Quick Tips for Managing Time and Stress in the New Year](http://mybrownbaby.com/2018/01/tips-for-managing-time-and-stress-in-the-new-year/) - Managing time and stress in the New Year becomes a little easier with these quick, simple tips for reclaiming your time. - [Word To Muva: Bon Voyage B!tches To These Things From 2017](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/12/word-muva-bon-voyage-btches-things-2017/) - Our columnist Ida Harris breaks down all the 2017 foolery that needs not find its way to 2018. Ever. - [Teacher Knowledge vs. Mommy Knowledge: A Child Chooses](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/12/educating-black-children/) - When it comes to educating Black children, moms are the first teachers. But this is what happens when school teachers get involved. - [Black Books Matter: Children's Books Celebrating Black Boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/12/books-for-black-boys_crown-an-ode-to-the-fresh-cut/) - We're so proud "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut," made this incredible list of books for Black boys, and are thrilled to announce a special FB Live reading by "Crown" cover model, young Solomon Barnes! - [[Word To Muva] You're Missing Out By Not Going Bald... Downtown](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/12/brazilian-wax-black-women/) - Gird your loins—literally—and get with the program: this mom says it's time to let go of the old school Michael Jackson and get with the Tyrese... down there. - ["Justifiable" Stop & Search Before Tyler Perry: One Man's Harrowing Story Of Racial Profiling](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/justifiable-stop-search-before-tyler-perry-one-mans-harrowing-story-of-racial-profiling/) - Editor’s Note: After a lengthy investigation, Atlanta police announced last week that officers who stopped and interrogated entertainment mogul Tyler Perry in February were "justified" because the filmmaker's white Porsche matched the description of a a stolen vehicle—a decision that sparked outrage among black and Latino citizens who know all-too-well that "justifiable" stops and searches - [Ice Cream Promises: A Son Yearns For True Love From & Connection With His Father](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/11/effects-of-absentee-fathers-on-boys/) - Editor’s Note: Moved by last week’s post about Jay-Z’s decision to delay becoming a father until he was ready to deal with his father’s absenteeism, my longtime friend, artist Rod Perez, shared this piece he wrote to his own absentee father, with whom he’s since re-connected. I’m honored to share it here on MyBrownBaby. By - [Let The Church Say Amen: Plies Is A National Treasure](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/11/plies/) - Have you seen Plies on Instagram? His Negro sermons will change ya life. This is why he must be protected—at all costs. - [Explaining Thanksgiving To Brown Babies: The Truth Doesn’t Have To Hurt](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/11/thanksgiving/) - By K. J. EDWARDS Here we go again—it's Thanksgiving. Time to break out the macaroni & cheese, collard greens, cranberry sauce, sweet potato pie and turkey—all the holiday foodstuff we Americans are used to. I had long forgotten the narrative of Thanksgiving Day’s origins, until my kindergartener’s take-home folder, filled with coloring sheets of pilgrims, - [Is Natural Potty Training The New Throwback?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/11/natural-potty-training/) - Natural potty training is not for the faint of heart—or, in this writer's mind, the kitchen sink. - [My Biracial Son Needs to See Himself as Black and Proud](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/10/biracial/) - This mom of a biracial son knows the world will view him as African American. She wants him to see himself as a young black man too. - [Happy Book Birthday, 'Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut'!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/10/crown-2/) - "Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut" is on bookshelves today, and author Derrick Barnes is sharing why the story celebrates this truth: Black boys matter. - [A Tale Of Two Divas: Why There Can Only Be One](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/10/diva-cup-review/) - She tried the diva cup for the culture. And other reasons. To disastrous results. An hilarious review. - [Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut is Getting RAVE REVIEWS!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/10/crown/) - CROWN: An Ode to the Fresh Cut, does a fine job celebrating the what rarely gets an airing in children’s picture books: #blackboyjoy. - [Neonatal Negligence & The Evil That Naval Nurses Do](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/09/neonatal-negligence-evil-naval-nurses/) - The racist Naval nurses who abused Black newborns just hours after they were born deserve a punishment they can taste. - [The Gift of Black Children's Books: a $1,000 Donation for Denene Millner Books](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/09/black-childrens-book/) - Spending $17.99 on a black children's book is worth the expense. One anonymous donor agreed, and donated $1,000 to put Denene Millner Books into children's hands. - [NFL Boycott: Why We Won’t be Yelling “Touchdown” on Sundays](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/08/nfl-boycott/) - This Black mom's 11-year-old son is embracing the NFL boycott, taking a stand for Colin Kaepernick, who took a knee for him. - [Dearest, 'Detroit' the Movie Ain't For Us: Dodging Black Trauma](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/08/detroit-and-black-children/) - Here's what we don't need our kids to see: Detroit, a movie that fetishizes the brutalization of Black boys , sans context or care for the pain it causes. - [Happy Book Birthday "There's a Dragon in My Closet," Plus, Goodnight, MyBrownBaby!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/08/theres-a-dragon-in-my-closet/) - "There's a Dragon in My Closet," the new Denene Millner Books offering by Dorothea Taylor and illustrated by Charly Palmer, is in stores today. - [Train Up A Child: Talking and Teaching Black Children Sexual Responsibility](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/07/black-children-sexual-responsibility/) - If a lawsuit accusing Usher of infecting a partner with herpes should do anything, it's to convince us parents to have real talks with our kids about sex. - [The Jay-Z 4:44: Can Black Men and Women Finally Have an Honest Talk?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/07/jay-z-new-album-444-and-relationship-talk/) - The new Jay-Z "4:44" album has us deep-diving into some serious discussions—and hard truths—about how men and women view relationships and why it's so hard for us to make them work. - [Daddy's Girl, Still: He Never Came Home](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/06/kirsten-west-savali-he-never-came-home/) - Prolific politics and race writer Kirsten West Savali turns her pen toward an introspective, emotional look at life with her father—and without him. - [A Seat at the Table: MyBrownBaby Has a New TV Show](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/06/seat-table-mybrownbaby-new-tv-show/) - Y'all! I have a new TV show, A Seat at the Table, debuting this Sunday, June 18th. Join me in a Twitter chat tonight to hear more about this revolutionary, unapologetic celebration of Black womanhood. - [He Never Came Home: I Was the Different One](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/06/he-never-came-home-4/) - Celebrating the release of "He Never Came Home," essays from daughters on life without their dads, with a piece by Nisa Rashid, asha bandele's baby. - [You Did It Your Way: He Never Came Home](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/06/he-never-came-home-3/) - A daughter whose father died when she was a teen recounts the loving lessons she learned from him—an excerpt from the upcoming book, "He Never Came Home." - [Here and There: He Never Came Home](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/06/he-never-came-home-2/) - A daughter remembers all the ways her father said he would show up, but didn't. A powerful essay from the upcoming book, "He Never Came Home." - [All Is Forgiven: He Never Came Home](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/06/he-never-came-home/) - A daughter remembers all the ways her father failed to show up for her—and forgives him for it, in this excerpt from "He Never Came Home." - [Blackface In White Spaces: Black Folks Are Gonna Check You, Boo](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/05/blackface/) - An Instagram makeup artist thinks dressing up a white model in Blackface is cool. It is not. - [The Maiden Flight: MyBrownBaby First Girlpie Mari Graduates High School Today!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/05/mari-graduates/) - Mari graduates today from high school, with honors. We are over the moon proud of her. - [Mari, the First Girlpie of MyBrownBaby, is Going to Yale!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/05/mari/) - Mari, the Girlpie you've watched grow up into a confident, brilliant, beautiful young woman right here on MyBrownBaby, is headed to the Ivy League! - ["Good Night MyBrownBaby": Denene Millner's "Early Sunday Morning"](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/04/early-sunday-morning/) - Check out the video reading of Denene Millner's "Early Sunday Morning," plus get ready for tonight's "Good Night MyBrownBaby," featuring "Meet Clarabelle Blue." - [Early Sunday Morning Is Out Tomorrow—Celebrate With Me!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/04/14123/) - Early Sunday Morning, my new children's picture book on Denene Millner Books, drops on Tuesday. Help me celebrate: buy the book and tell two friends! - [What ‘Black-ish’ Got Right About Pregnancy Discrimination](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/04/pregnancy-discrimination-blackish/) - ABC's sitcom “Black-ish” was on point for its nuanced take on pregnancy discrimination in the workplace. - ["Good Night MyBrownBaby": Lane Fredrickson's 'Monster Trouble' (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/books-good-night-mybrownbaby-2/) - Announcing the winners of our seventh 'Good Night MyBrownBaby' giveaway, plus video of me reading our new favorite, "Monster Trouble." - ["Good Night MyBrown Baby": Debbie Allen's "Dancing In the Wings" (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/good-night-mybrownbaby-2/) - Announcing the winners of our sixth Good Night MyBrownBaby giveaway, plus video of me reading a family favorite, Debbie Allen's "Dancing In the Wings." - [#BROWNGIRLSWRITE: Meet 8-Year-Old Nia Mya Reese, Best Selling Author](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/nia-mya-reese/) - Nia Mya Reese is eight years old big sister with a story to tell. And that story, about how to deal with annoying little brothers, is now a bestselling picture book. - [The Stories We Tell: 'The Reunion,' A New Short Film, Makes Its Writer Embrace Fear](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/reunion/) - As she works on her new short film, "The Reunion," this writer works through hear fear of failure and embraces the art form. - [Kiarre Harris: Homeschooling Arrest Shows Blackness and Bureaucracy Don't Mix](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/kiarre-harris-homeschooling-arrest/) - Kiarre Harris chose to homeschool her children, and lost custody of her babies for her troubles—and her blackness. - [Making Magic: How We Launched Denene Millner Books](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/denene-millner-books/) - It's the little imprint that could. Here, everything you wanted to know about the birth of Agate Publishing's Denene Millner Books. - ['My Brown Baby,' My New Black Parenting Book, Is In Stores Today!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/14049/) - It's pub day for My Brown Baby: On the Joys and Challenges of Raising African American Children, my new parenting book. Let's celebrate! - [What's Beef To Black Girls? The Reality of a Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj Rap Battle](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/03/remy-ma-and-nicki-minaj-rap-battle/) - The rap battle between Remy Ma and Nicki Minaj is funny—until we consider that real Black girls die real deaths over such things. - [How To Support Authors: 10 Ways You Can Make Denene Millner Books A Success](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/how-to-support-authors/) - Denene Millner Books is my baby, and it can't survive without your support. - [Serena Williams In a Thong Is GLORIOUS and Empowering For This Black Woman](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/serena-williams-in-a-thong/) - Serena Williams in a thong is not a strike against feminism. It's a celebration of the very body society long deemed too big and brown to be beautiful. - ["Good Night MyBrownBaby": Jacqueline Woodson's “We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past” (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/good-night-mybrownbaby/) - Announcing the winners of our fifth Good Night MyBrownBaby giveaway, plus video of me reading a family favorite, Jacqueline Woodson's "We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past." - [Single Mom Tax Refund: 9 Ways To Make Your Money Work For You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/single-moms-tax-refund/) - Single moms and tax refunds can be a match made in heaven—if you know how to work it. Here are nine ways to put your refund to work. - [Our Unsung Mothers Of Modern Gynecology: How White History Shades Black Pain](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/our-unsung-mothers-of-modern-gynecology-how-white-history-shades-black-history/) - Anarcha, Betsey, and Lucy, Black women, shed blood at the hands of a sadistic doctor who used their bodies for medical experimentation. They are the martyrs—the mothers of modern gynecology. Say their names. - [No, I Wasn’t Angry Or Mean. I Was Just a Black Girl In School](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/black-girls/) - Black girls face the double-whammy of race and gender stereotypes in the classroom, and stereotypes and biases are actively pushing them out of class. - [This Was The First Time I Realized I Was Black](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/the-first-time-i-realized-i-was-black/) - The first time I realized I was Black was when my Girl Scout Troup leader's daughter called me a nigger and chased me off her street. I was 12. - [I Don’t Want To Have A Black Son](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/black-son-2/) - This Black mom is gripped by fear that having a Black son will someday lead her into picking out a suit for his casket rather than his prom. - ['My Brown Baby' & Booklist: My New Black Parenting Book Got a Dope Review!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/black-parenting-book/) - My new Black parenting book, "My Brown Baby: On the Joys and Challenges of Raising African American Children," is about to drop. Get into it! - [10 Things You Must Know When Dating as a Single Mom](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/dating-as-a-single-mom/) - Dating as a single mom is no joke—it's hard out here. But The Winning Single Mom has some solid tips for how to win at finding love. - [Jill Scott's New Mahogany Greeting Cards Line Is Helping Me Love On My Friends](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/mahogany-greeting-cards/) - Mahogany greeting cards teamed up with Jill Scott to create a new line of dope cards that reminds me of the beauty of my friendships. - [Good Night MyBrownBaby: bell hooks' "Homemade Love" (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/books-good-night-mybrownbaby/) - Ever wondered where I got the name "Girlpie" for my daughters Mari and Lila? Look no further than the book I read in the last installment of "Good Night, MyBrownBaby," a longtime favorite around these parts: "Homemade Love," by bell hooks. It features super smoochie, chocolatey illustrations of a little girl named "Girlpie," as imagined - [When it Comes to Colorism, a Little Bit of Crew Love Goes a Long Way](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/colorism-and-black-girls-on-instagram/) - This is what happens when a dark-skinned girl, weighed down by the effects of colorism, hears uplifting words from friends who tell her she's beautiful. - [Kam Franklin: Paving Her Own Yellow Brick Road Out Of Emerald City](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/kam-franklin/) - Kam Franklin, the soul-belting lead of the Gulf Coast Soul band, The Suffers, celebrates her Black Girl Magic—and doing things her way. - [Trump Election: How To Talk To Your Kids About This Mess](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/trump-election/) - Oh, be clear: like many of you, the day after the Trump election, I woke up not quite sure what to say to the girlpies. I mean, how do you explain to your babies why, exactly, the country elected this man to the highest office in the land? Thank goodness for MyBrownBaby Managing Editor Jasmine - [3 Lessons Donald Trump Can Help You Teach Your Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/lessons-donald-trump-teaches-kids/) - One mom gives the new president some credit for teaching children some good lessons on how to be. - [Beyonce is Pregnant Again, With Twins! Some MyBrownBaby Advice For Dealing With the Second Kid(s)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/beyonce-is-pregnant-again/) - Congratulations are in order! Beyonce is pregnant again, this time with twins. We have some solid advice for dealing with baby No. 2 (and 3!). - [Facebook Suicide: When a Black Child's Tragedy Finds Its Way On To Social Media](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/02/facebook-suicide-nakia-venant/) - If the Facebook suicide of Nakia Venant teaches us parents we need to be more vigilant about the mental health of Black children—and take measures to help. - [{CoffeeBreak} My Son And the Knife: When Mental Illness Turns a Boy Into a Man](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/02/mental-illness-and-teenagers/) - By Michelle Bond My son was a week old the morning his father threatened me with a butcher knife because I tried to wake him up to go to work. While our relationship was an abusive one, up until this point it was always at the venom of his words or fists. I remember holding - [The Skin I'm In: This Afro Latina Defines Who She Is](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/afro-latina-children/) - This Afro Latina mom talks race, ethnicity, nationality and how she defines her identity as a Black Dominican woman with a chocolate baby. - [Dear Parents With Belts: STOP Beating Your Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/parents-with-belts/) - When parents with belts discipline children, this is how it shows up in the classroom. This teacher vows to make it better for the next generation. - [Good Night MyBrownBaby: Faith Ringgold's "Tar Beach" (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/books-good-night-mybrownbaby-tar-beach/) - Announcing the winners of our third Good Night MyBrownBaby giveaway, plus video me reading an all-time favorite, Faith Ringgold's "Tar Beach." - [President Obama Told Sasha and Malia We Gone Be Alright, But We're Not](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/sasha-and-malia/) - President Obama told Sasha and Malia the country will be ok with the new leader and an all-Republican Congress. Maybe for The Obamas. But not for us. - [How I Got A Black Boy To Read, Plus: 10 Great Books For Black Boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/got-black-boy-read-plus-10-great-books-black-boys/) - Books for Black boys seem few and far between, but here's what happened when I managed to get one into the hands of a reluctant reader. - [Good Night MyBrownBaby: "Peeny Butter Fudge" (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/books-good-night-mybrownbaby-peeny-butter-fudge-toni-slade-morrison/) - Announcing the winners of our second Good Night MyBrownBaby giveaway, plus video of our "Peeny Butter Fudge," reading with Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts. - [Video of NC Officer Body Slamming a Female Student Should Make You RAGE](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/13805/) - An officer body slamming a female student should make us angry. So should administrators that let police officers patrol our children's schools. - [Janet Jackson and Her New Baby: Nevermind Her Age—Congrats, Girl!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2017/01/janet-jackson/) - Janet Jackson had a baby. Can we stop harping on her age and wish our girl and her new pleasure principle the best of luck? - [Bones, Baggage, Black Girl Curves and Mama Bears](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/11/new-on-parenting-post-bones-baggage/) - Okay, yeah—I’m sensitive about weight and body issues, particularly when it comes to my girls. I lay blame squarely at the feet of my childhood best friend’s mom. I’ll call her Evilene. Because Evilene was evil. Particularly when she stopped everything she was doing to look at my adolescent body with all its curve and - [Good Night MyBrownBaby: Precious and the Boo Hag (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/12/books-good-night-mybrownbaby-precious-boo-hag-video/) - Announcing the winners of our first Good Night MyBrownBaby giveaway, plus video of our "Precious and the Boo Hag," reading. - [Introducing 'Good Night MyBrownBaby': Fav Stories Read On FB Live](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/12/books-goodnight-mybrownbaby/) - MyBrownBaby's getting your bedtime routine together! Introducing 'Goodnight, MyBrownBaby,' our new Facebook Live author readings for your babies. - [We The People: Peep the Black Girl Magic In this Powerful Teen Girls Poem](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/12/books-black-girl-magic/) - When four Black teen girls get together to write a slam poem about race, transracial adoption, single parent families and skin color, it's Black Girl Magic. - [Body Acceptance: A History Of The Woman Before You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/12/body-acceptance/) - A mom takes a journey to her body's past, paving the way for body acceptance—and loving herself from head to toe, unconditionally. - [Feminist Fathers: A Dad Makes The Case For Why Fathers Should Be Feminists](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/feminist-fathers/) - When his baby girl was born, this father checked his privilege and embraced this simple concept: feminist fathers make the world safer for their daughters. - [Watch Amazon Prime's "The Snowy Day," With Laurence Fishburne, Angela Bassett and Regina King](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/books-snowy-day/) - Peter, the hero of our favorite Black children's book, "The Snowy Day," gets his own Christmas story in a new animated feature on Amazon Prime. - [Musical Healing: The MyBrownBaby Blackety-Black Spotify Playlist](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/black-lives-matter-spotify-playlist/) - It's quite simple, really: music heals. And right about now, we need some healing. When I'm in that kind of space, when self-care is paramount for me to make my next move, take my next step, my next breath, I turn to the artists who use their art to uplift, to motivate, to shout out, - [When The Challenges Are Stacked: Raising My Black Daughter With Special Needs](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/books-black-children-with-special-needs/) - There is joy in parenting black children with special needs. But what happens when you have to educate her and everyone else about the double social stigma? - [A Declaration For Children: Our Vow To Uplift Through Books](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/books-black-children-love/) - With paintbrushes and pens in hand, we children's book authors and illustrators vow to use our work to seek equality, justice, and peace for children. - [The MyBrownBaby YOU Want: Take Our Survey](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/survey/) - After eight years of bringing you posts that matter to Black moms, MyBrownBaby is stepping into a new chapter. Take this quick survey to help us retool. - [It Matters: Vote in Tuesday's 2016 Presidential Election](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/matters-vote-tomorrows-2016-presidential-election/) - This is our house—our America. And when our house is chaotic and disorganized and dirty, we clean it. Because it is ours. We own it. Vote. It still matters. - [This NFL Wife IG'd the Cutest Pregnancy Pic Ever—and Got Bullied For It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/10/christian-pregnancy-pic/) - By MARTAVIA WYNN Last month, I uploaded this pregnancy pic of my growing family. My intentions were to announce to my relatives and friends that we were expecting a new baby in March 2017. It was a successful announcement, but to my surprise, it went viral and was shared hundreds of thousands of times across multiple - [My Black Son Could've Been Shot By Police In My House](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/11/black-son/) - When her Black son forgets the secret word needed to turn off the burglar alarm, this mom imagines the very worst: police showing up to her doorstep. - [Birds, Bees and Truelove: a Father's YA novel Tackles Sex and Abstinence](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/10/truelove/) - A respected children's book author opens up an honest conversation about sex by letting his son read his young adult novel, "The Making of Dr. Truelove." - [Voting While Black: How To Make #BlackLivesMatter At the Polls](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/10/voting-while-black/) - Voting While Black is using digital guides to help voters cast ballots against prosecutors they say are patently anti #BlackLivesMatter. - [Disney Dreamers Academy: Have Your 13-19 YO Apply TODAY](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/10/disney-dreamers-academy/) - If you have a child (or know a child) that is between the ages of 13 and 19 years old, you should consider having them apply to the 10th Anniversary Installment of the Disney Dreamers Academy. - [Black To School: How To Prepare Gifted Brown Babies for Success](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/09/gifted-black-students/) - Protecting your young, gifted and Black child in schools full of teachers and students who do not look like them is possible. Here, three great ways to get it done. - [Kids and Police Violence: 10 Things Schools Can Do Today for Black Students](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/09/kids-and-police-violence/) - From the the foul responses to Colin Kaepernick’s silent protest to recent killings of unarmed Black people, black children's trauma is real. Here's how schools can help. - [Unschooling: Pretoria Girls High Protest Is Exhibit A For Why Our Kids Should Learn Differently](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/09/pretoria-girls-high/) - There's a connection between how uncomfortable adults are with children who are confident and the backlash the girls at Pretoria Girls High School faced for refusing to chemically-straighten their hair. Unschooler Akilah Richards breaks it down. - [Following Colin Kaepernick's Lead: Should Student Athletes Kneel?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/09/colin-kaepernick-student-athletes/) - This mom fully supports Colin Kaepernick's anti-anthem stance. But having her children follow suit during games on their new teams isn't so easy. - [I'm Judging You: Luvvie Ajayi's Do Better Manual Is All the Things](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/09/im-judging-you/) - Luvvie Ajayi's "I'm Judging You" is in bookstores. Happy Publication Day, Booski! - [Professional Black Girl: A New Docuseries Celebrates Us](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/09/professional-black-girl/) - Sing all praises to the brilliant Dr. Yaba Blay, creator of the docuseries "Professional Black Girl," celebrating Black womanhood, and smashing racist and “respectable” expectations of how we should "behave." - [Black Breastfeeding Week: Celebrating the Joy Of Black Moms Who Breastfeed](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/08/black-breastfeeding-week/) - Breastfeeding was the most amazing feeling EVER—like love personified. This week's annual Black Breastfeeding Week aims to celebrate that joy. - [When Diversity in the Classroom is Done Wrong](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/08/diversity-in-the-classroom/) - An educator breaks down how diversity in the classroom only counts when the school administration knows visitors are watching. - [In Defense Of Public School: It Is What We Parents Make It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/08/public-school/) - Are there crappy public schools? Of course. But not all of them are broken. Public schools are what we parents make them. And I’m glad we opened our eyes. - [Introducing Jasmine Banks, MyBrownBaby's New Managing Editor](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/08/introducing-jasmine-banks-mybrownbabys-new-managing-editor/) - Jasmine Banks, veteran blogger and writer, will steer the day-to-day operations of MyBrownBaby.com. - [Check Out My 'Birthing While Black' Story On The Birth Hour Podcast](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/07/black-birth-stories/) - The Birth Hour opened its podcast to MyBrownBaby, where I chronicled the night my first baby was born and the gritty aftermath. - [Live Unlimited: The MDA Summer Camp Is the Best Week Of the Year](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/07/live-unlimited-the-mda-summer-camp-is-the-best-week-of-the-year/) - MyBrownBaby spent a day with The MDA Summer Camp in Georgia and learned how kids with neuromuscular illnesses live without limits. - [Malcolm D. Lee on Barbershop, Chicago and His Love For Playing With Our Emotions](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/04/malcolm-d-lee-on-barbershop-chicago-and-his-love-for-playing-with-our-emotions/) - Malcolm D. Lee loves him some Black folks. In his latest movie, Barbershop: the Next Cut, it shows. - [Black & Proud: How I Teach My Children to Love Their African-American Heritage](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/black-proud-how-i-teach-my-children-to-love-their-african-american-heritage/) - It’s a ritual I began the first day my girlpie, Mari, started kindergarten. I’d fluff her super cutie outfit, adjust the fancy barrettes in her hair, take her little moon pie face into my hands, kiss those beautiful cinnamon brown cheeks, and pump her up all the way from the garage to the front steps - [The Most Important Advocate: What Parents Should Take Away From the Atlanta Test Cheating Scandal](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/07/the-parents-role-in-the-atlanta-public-school-test-cheating-scandal/) - The words stung—the action as devastating as a Mike Tyson roundhouse. The guidance counselor, charged with gathering up official transcripts and recommendations for the scholarship application I was submitting, insisted that because she didn’t think my grades and SAT scores were good enough to win, she couldn’t be bothered with photocopies and praises. That I - [Paying Homage To The OB-GYN Who Escorted Me Into Motherhood, Plus: Happy Mother's Day!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/05/the-best-african-american-ob-gyn-for-black-moms/) - Celebrating the real MVP: the ob-gyn who helped me give birth. - [Introducing My New Black Children's Book Imprint, Denene Millner Books!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2016/02/introducing-my-new-black-childrens-book-imprint-denene-millner-books/) - Denene Millner Books is a new imprint for black children's books that will explore the beauty and humanity of African American kids. - [Sign No. 2080 That My Kids Are Getting Too Old For Their Own Good](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/06/sign-no-2080-that-my-kids-are-getting/) - So it's summer vacation time, and the kids are lazing around, pulling hours-long viewing sessions of Sponge Bob and iCarly, inhaling all the snacks in one sitting, and following me around the house like I'm Chris Rock, just waiting for me to entertain them. In years past, I've used this opportunity to enlist help on - [Jada Pinkett-Smith On Willow Smith's Hair, Beauty And Her Daughter's Right To Own Her Own Body](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/jada-pinkett-smith-on-willow-smiths-hair-beauty-and-her-daughters-right-to-own-her-own-body/) - Jada Pinkett-Smith gives sound advice on raising confident Black girls—and we're here for it. - [The Attack Against Black Girl Beauty](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/05/the-attack-against-black-girl-beauty/) - A mother tells her daughters they are the epitome of black girl beauty because the world conspires to tell them otherwise. - [MyBrownBedroom Conversations: The Dress That Gets My Man Hot](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/03/mybrownbedroom-conversations-dress-that/) - This dress is sexy and hits all the right notes—but that's not why the hubs loves it. - [PURE GOLD: How To Make Love Last](http://mybrownbaby.com/2008/10/pure-gold/) - My in-laws, Helen and Walter Chiles, recently celebrated their 50th anniversary, and the good folks at The Root saw fit to honor their fete by posting a blog I originally penned for MyBrownBaby. But this is much more than a random act of hookupage; the post, The Truth About Black Love, is a celebration of - [When It Comes to Our Daughters' Panties, Forgive Us for Not Trusting Victoria's Secret](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/when-it-comes-to-our-daughters-panties-forgive-us-for-not-trusting-victorias-secret/) - By NICK CHILES After word seeped out that Victoria's Secret was targeting its PINK underwear line to young teenagers and even tweens, pushing panties with suggestive phrases like "call me" and "wild," the ire of offended parents rained down on the company in a hailstorm of weary outrage. It feels like we find ourselves in the - [Who Turned Valentine’s Day Into an Elementary School Candy Bonanza?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/02/who-turned-valentines-day-into-an-elementary-school-candy-bonanza/) - Who authorized it so that our kids are lugging home a bag full of candy and a whole bunch of fairly meaningless, generic cards on Valentine's Day? - [Finding True Love On Valentine's Day](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/02/finding-true-love-on-valentines-day/) - A Black father shows his daughters what true love is by celebrating them on Valentine's Day. - [For Your Pregnancy Checklist: Genetic Carrier Screening](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/12/for-your-pregnancy-checklist-genetic-carrier-screening/) - I didn't have the option when I started my family. But if you're thinking about pregnancy or in the throes of it, Horizon genetic carrier screening should be on your checklist. - [Mater Mea: Denene Millner of MyBrownBaby Shares the Joy of Black Motherhood On The Most Gorgeous Site!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/11/mater-mea-denene-millner-of-mybrownbaby-shares-the-joy-of-black-motherhood-on-the-most-gorgeous-site/) - The Black parenting site, mater mea, celebrates Denene Millner, celebrity memoirist and founder of MyBrownBaby, in its latest issue. - [A MyBrownBaby Weekend: Jem and the Holograms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/10/a-mybrownbaby-weekend-jem-and-the-holograms/) - Who can argue with Jem and the Holograms, a movie that encourages tween and teen girls to take off the mask and be their authentic selves? - [Racist Selfie Mocking Black Child Makes Me Remember Why I Never Hired White Sitters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/10/racist-selfie-mocking-black-child-makes-me-remember-why-i-never-hired-white-sitters/) - In the latest edition of "Saying Stupid Shit On Facebook Will Get You Dragged by Black Twitter, Fired From Your Job and Lead To a Life Of Ruin," a white guy who posted a picture of his co-worker's 3-year-old Black son, inspiring a thread of racist slavery jokes about the toddler, is now out of a job - [Fit: One Woman's Journey Getting Her Body Ready For a Baby Of Her Own](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/09/fit-one-womans-journey-getting-her-body-ready-for-a-baby-of-her-own/) - Dreams of motherhood seem elusive for this woman, who is getting her body—and mind—ready for a baby she's having a time trying to conceive. - [An Unlimited Supply of Eggs? Exciting Breakthrough for Couples Battling with Infertility](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/02/an-unlimited-supply-of-eggs-exciting-breakthrough-for-couples-battling-with-infertility/) - By NICK CHILES A new scientific breakthrough could be wonderful news for future couples going through the trials of infertility: scientists have discovered that human ovaries contain stem cells that they may be able to use to produce an “unlimited” supply of eggs. While the scientific community has always believed that women produced a limited - [A Day With HIV: A Black Mom Shares Her Story Of Diagnosis and Survival](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/09/a-day-with-hiv-a-black-mom-shares-her-story-of-diagnosis-and-survival/) - In honor of A Day With HIV, Masonia Traylor, a Black mom of two, talks diagnosis, survival and concrete ways to strike down barriers for HIV-infected moms. - [Saying No To Your Child: It's a GOOD Thing—and They'll Thank You For It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/09/saying-no-to-your-child-its-a-good-thing-and-theyll-thank-you-for-it/) - When did saying no to your child become a bad thing? Writer Lori Tharps asks the questions and gives the perfect answer: just say no. - [Curse of the Tiger Other: How Amy Chua Fueled Stereotypes And Set Back Asian Moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/03/how-tiger-mom-amy-chua-set-back-asian-moms/) - By J. Lisa Oyama She's a nut job ... and, she's a genius, because she is making a lot more money off of this book than she is from being a law professor! That's how a friend of mine summed up her take on Amy Chua's Wall Street Journal article, Why Chinese Mothers are Superior, - [Black Ink Crew: The Touching Moment Sky Reveals She Gave Up Her Sons For Adoption At 14](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/09/black-ink-crew-the-touching-moment-sky-reveals-she-gave-up-her-sons-for-adoption-at-14/) - Sky, the most transparent member of Black Ink Crew, came clean about giving up her children for adoption—and we couldn't love her more for her candor. - [Raising Dion: A Comic Book Imagines A Black Single Mom Parenting Her Superhero Son](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/09/raising-dion-a-comic-book-imagines-a-black-single-mom-parenting-her-superhero-son/) - Raising Dion is a delicious new superhero comic book series with an unlikely here: a Black single mom whose only superpower is love for her superhero son. - [The Best Man Holiday Girl's Night Out Chocolate Party Is In FULL Effect! Get Some!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/the-best-man-holiday-girls-night-out-chocolate-party-is-in-full-effect-get-some/) - My besties and I are celebrating the opening weekend of 'The Best Man Holiday' with a The Best Man Holiday Hot Chocolate Party Girls Night Out. Adult elixirs are involved. And lots of chocolate. And Morris Chestnut. Hallelu! - [Michael Robinson's Diabetes Jail Death Over Child Support Was Cruel](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/michael-robinsons-diabetes-jail-death-over-child-support-was-cruel/) - Michael Robinson got arrested for failing to pay child support and died after being denied life-saving insulin. It's time to advocate for prisoner's rights. - [Black Breastfeeding Week: #LiftEveryBaby To Support Black Moms, Our Children & the Best First Food](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/black-breastfeeding-week-lifteverybaby-to-support-black-moms-our-children-the-best-first-food/) - Everything you need to know about Black Breastfeeding Week 2015 and why supporting Black breastfeeding mothers is a critical need that can't wait. - [I Can Fly Like a Bird In the Sky: Help Blogust Give a Shot@Life To a Child In Need](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/i-can-fly-like-a-bird-in-the-sky-help-blogust-give-a-shotlife-to-a-child-in-need/) - I mean... I... can fly like a bird in the sky. That quote is the last line of my favorite poem, "Ego Tripping," from the pen of one of the dopest poets who ever lived: Nikki Giovanni. I can't remember who introduced it to me. I just know that I need it in my - [#BlogHer15: Experts Among Us: Denene Millner's Voices of the Year Reading (Video)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/blogher15-experts-among-us-denene-millners-voices-of-the-year-reading-video/) - Watch MyBrownBaby's Denene Millner read her winning post about Jahi McBath and a Black mother's love in this BlogHer2015 Voices of the Year video. - [Black Breastfeeding Week 2015: 'Lift Every Baby' In Support Of Black Families and the Best First Food](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/black-breastfeeding-week-2015-lift-every-baby-in-support-of-black-families-and-the-best-first-food/) - Celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week 2015 with a call to 'Lift Every Baby' in art, public gatherings and a few awesome Twitter parties. - [No Fear: Walking Into New Year 2013 With Confidence And No Doubt](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/no-fear-walking-into-new-year-2013-with-confidence-and-no-doubt/) - My mother believed with all her might that whatever one was doing at the stroke of midnight on the first day of the New Year, you’d be doing for the next 364 days later. For some reason, I believed her, too. Still do. And so you could always rest assured that when the ball dropped - [Confronting My Fear: Lessons from Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/confronting-my-fear-lessons-from-ta-nehisi-coatess-between-the-world-and-me/) - Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me made this mother consider just how much she limits her own children's freedom—and why doing so is wrong. - [As Ferguson Prepares For the Anniversary of Mike Brown's Shooting, a Touching Video Highlights Langston Hughes "Kids Who Die."](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/as-ferguson-prepares-for-the-anniversary-of-mike-browns-shooting-a-touching-video-highlights-langston-hughes-kids-who-die/) - The anniversary of Mike Brown's shooting inspired this reflection on the deaths of children killed at the hands of police and racists, set to the words of Langston Hughes' prophetic anti-lynching poem, "Kids Who Die." - ['Teaching Center': Key & Peele Video Imagines What Would Happen If We Feted Teachers Like Star Athletes](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/teaching-center-key-peele-video-imagines-what-would-happen-if-we-feted-teachers-like-star-athletes/) - In this hilarious Key & Peele video, Boyd Maxwell and Perry Schmidt report on the latest developments in the exciting world of pro teaching. - [Homeschooling Black Children: This Is How (and Why!) This Mom Does It. Plus: a Book Giveaway!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/homeschooling-black-children-this-is-how-and-why-this-mom-does-it-plus-a-book-giveaway/) - Homeschooling Black children took a whole 'nother meaning after this white mom of brown children saw Black history ignored in her children's school. - [Black and Ugly: Afro Latino Colorism On the Pre-School Playground Forced This Conversation](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/black-and-ugly-afro-latino-colorism-on-the-pre-school-playground-forced-this-conversation/) - Afro latino colorism reared its ugly head on a preschool playground, but this little girl leaned on her mom's lessons on self-love to make it through. - [Ask MyBrownBaby: When Should Boys and Girls Stop Sharing a Room?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/ask-mybrownbaby-when-should-boys-and-girls-stop-sharing-a-room/) - The neighbor is upset that her three-year-old daughter shared a bedroom with slightly older boys. Does she have a right to be mad? - [Blood at the Root: Sandra Bland, A Broken System and Teaching Brown Babies How to Live Free](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/08/blood-at-the-root-sandra-bland-a-broken-system-and-teaching-brown-babies-how-to-live-free/) - Our Faith & Motherhood columnist talks Sandra Bland and wrestling with not knowing how to teach her brown baby how to live free. - [Dear Walmart, Where's Black Barbie?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/dear-walmart-wheres-black-barbie/) - When a Black mom can't find a Black Barbie in her local superstore, she's forced to have conversations with her toddler she's not ready to and doesn't want to have. So she's penned a letter getting Walmart together. - [How to Talk to White Children About Race: Here's How To Avoid Raising Another Rachel Dolezal](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/how-to-talk-to-white-children-about-race/) - Want to avoid raising a delusional kid who thinks being Black is "cool"? Consider these tips for how to talk to white children about race. - [The Importance of Happy Birthdays: Celebrations Aren't Just For Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/mahogany-birthday-greeting-cards/) - Everybody deserves recognition on their birthday, but I didn't realize how important this is until my daddy turned 75 and made this stunning revelation. - [An Open Letter to Sleep (From an Exhausted Parent)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/sleepless-nights-with-newborn/) - A new dad to twins realizes that he may never have the relationship with sleep that he used to have. At least he has a sense of humor about it. - [Father Daughter Beat Box Battle: Watch Her Take Him Out (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/father-daughter-beat-box-battle-watch-her-take-him-out-video/) - Baby girl has the skills to take out her daddy, but this proud papa is anything but a sore loser when he peeps his daughter's game. Press. Play. Now. - [The Attack On Black Single Mothers: Outrunning Stereotypes, Carrying the Burden](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/the-attack-on-black-single-mothers-outrunning-stereotypes-carrying-the-burden/) - Black mothers are forced to expend energy trying to outrun the idea that they are bad mothers who birth and then neglect bad kids with uninvolved, bad daddies. And that's a sin and a shame. - [Ta-Nehisi Coates new book 'Between the World and Me' and Other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/ta-nehisi-coates-new-book-between-the-world-and-me-and-other-mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - This week's MyBrownBaby fresh links include an excerpt of Ta-Nehisi Coates' new book, Between the World and Me, plus a new tribute album to Nina Simone. - [Bless Your Heart: Turning 40 as the Mother of a Pre-Schooler](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/bless-your-heart-turning-40-as-the-mother-of-a-pre-schooler/) - Turning 40 has put a lot of perspective in this mom's journey—and made her appreciate it all the more. - [A Great Moisturizer For Black Skin: AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Sheer Hydration Lotion](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/a-great-moisturizer-for-black-skin-aveeno-daily-moisturizing-sheer-hydration-lotion/) - I tried out AVEENO® Daily Moisturizing Sheer Hydration Lotion—and I dug it. Here's why. - [Show This To Your Daughters: The Five Mentors Every Teen Girl Should Have](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/show-this-to-your-daughters-the-five-mentors-every-teen-girl-should-have/) - The five mentors every girl should have—an excerpt from Famous! How to Be the Star of Your Show: A Teen Girl’s Guide to Embracing Her Fabulous Self, by Taiia Smart Young. - [Forgiving My Father: How My Son's Unconditional Love Convinced Me To Embrace My Dad](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/forgiving-my-father-how-my-sons-unconditional-love-convinced-me-to-embrace-my-dad/) - Forgiving my father was a tricky proposition—until my baby boy embraced his grandfather with open arms, pure love and zero judgement. - [My Fourth of July Was No Celebration: Reflecting On What It Means To Be Black and Seek True Freedom](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/fourth-of-july-and-black-people/) - With the tragic Charleston murders still heavy on our hearts, celebrating the Fourth of July was particularly dicey for African Americans who are feeling like freedom is fast disappearing for Black folk. - [Indulging My Daughters' Passions: How Summer Activities are Helping Our Girls Touch Their Dreams](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/07/summer-slide/) - When it comes to avoiding summer slide, indulging your kids' passions goes a long way to helping them continue to learn and get them closer to their dreams. - [The Bomb Father's Day Gift Guide](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/the-bomb-fathers-day-gift-guide/) - This Mother's Day Gift Guide is full of treasures guaranteed to make the mom in your life happy. - [If You Do It Right, You Can Do It All](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/if-you-do-it-right-you-can-do-it-all/) - You can do it all—in style!—in the All New Honda HR-V Crossover. - [A Black Teen Father in Pursuit: a Father's Day Appeal For Mentors To Help Young Dads](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/a-black-teen-father-in-pursuit-a-fathers-day-appeal-for-mentors-to-help-young-dads/) - A father who had his first child at age 15 shares his experience as a teen father and the importance of mentoring. - [No Elsas (or Rachels) Here: One Mother Prays that She Can Teach Her Daughter to “Identify” as Her Own Beautiful Self](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/black-girl-beauty/) - Black girl beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and on the tongues of those who love our Black girls and should be telling them they're beautiful. - [Black to the Bone: What Rachel Dolezal Will NEVER Understand About Race, Blackness and This Here Brown Skin](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/black-to-the-bone-what-rachel-dolezal-will-never-understand-about-race-blackness-and-this-here-brown-skin/) - Rachel Dolezal can say she's Black all she wants to. But she'll never BE Black. Ever. - [Harm & Neglect: a Black Lives Matter Public Service Announcement (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/harm-neglect-a-black-lives-matter-public-service-announcement-video/) - Black lives matter. Activist Torri Stuckey makes it plain in this spoken word PSA. - [Great Summer Books For Black Girls: Best. List. Ever.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/great-summer-books-for-black-girls-best-list-ever/) - Looking for great summer books for Black girls? Look no further—we've got you covered! - [200 Words on Totally Lila's Totally Big Feet, featuring Linge Shoes Ballet Flats](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/200-words-on-totally-lilas-totally-big-feet-featuring-linge-shoes-ballet-flats/) - In the case of Totally Lila's feet, size does matter. - [Video of the Texas Cop Attacking Black Children Offers 5 Valuable Lessons For What Kids Should Do In Such Volatile Situations](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/video-of-the-texas-cop-attacking-black-children-offers-5-valuable-lessons-for-what-kids-should-do-in-such-volatile-situations/) - The chilling video of the Texas cop attacking Black children like some kind of over-caffeinated Meth fiend puts fear into my heart for my Black children—but also provides textbook training for what they should do if ever faced with a similar situation. - [The Truth About Black Fathers: Celebrating the Man Who Raised Me on Father's Day](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/the-truth-about-black-fathers-celebrating-the-man-who-raised-me-on-fathers-day/) - I need only to look at the unequivocal love of my father to know, for sure, that good Black fathers are not a fairytale. - [A Special Mother’s Day Tribute To The Women Who Helped Raise Me & The BFFs Who Show My Girlpies How To Be](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/mahogany-greeting-cards-for-mothers-day/) - On this Mother's Day, I not only celebrate my mother, but her friends and my friends, too—the women who helped me become the woman I am and who are helping my daughters be their best selves. - [Black Family Faces Jail Time For Cheering At Graduation, Plus Other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/black-family-faces-jail-time-for-cheering-at-graduation-plus-other-mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - A Black family is charged with the latest new crime for African Americans: cheering at graduation, plus links to stories about the benefits of delayed umbilical chord clamping and voices of mothers around the world. - [Legend of the Mantamaji: Diverse Graphic Novels For Summer Reading Come to Life On Video](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/legend-of-the-mantamaji-diverse-graphic-novels-for-summer-reading-come-to-life-on-video/) - Diverse graphic novels are the gateway to life-long reading—and Eric Dean Seaton's "Legend of the Mantamaji" series is opening doors for Black children. - [Love, Black Boys: A Conversation About Growing Up Black In America (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/love-black-boys-a-conversation-about-growing-up-black-in-america-video/) - In this short documentary, young Black boys and men explain the particular challenges they face growing up Black in America. - [9 Ways to Teach Kids About Love Without Saying a Word](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/06/9-ways-to-teach-kids-about-love-without-saying-a-word/) - Kids learn more about how to give and receive love from what we do than from anything we could ever teach them with words. - [Riley Curry and Blackgirl Freedom, Plus Other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/riley-curry-and-blackgirl-freedom-plus-other-mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - A fresh perspective on Riley Curry and her freedom, plus a Black mom deals with the perils of raising biracial children and the foolery of a lawyer who offers a herd of cows and sheep for Malia Obama's hand in marriage. - [Being Called the N-Word For the First Time: These Black Folk Remember](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/being-called-the-n-word-for-the-first-time-these-black-folk-remember/) - Being called the N-word for the first time is a traumatic experience one never forgets. - [Fighting Words: On the N Word & My Children's Response To It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/04/teaching-children-about-race/) - I told you this would happen—said it was as certain as wet rain, as sure as the yellow in the sun. A white child called a black boy very near and dear to our family a nigger*. The “who did it” and the “whom it got done to” and the specifics on how it all - [Downtime For Busy Moms: For Mothers Who Had Red Velvet Cake & Soda For Breakfast When the Duties Got Too Much](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/downtime-for-busy-moms-for-mothers-who-had-red-velvet-cake-soda-for-breakfast-when-the-duties-got-too-much/) - Sometimes stepping away from the craziness of motherhood is as necessary as... air. - [Ask MyBrownBaby: Help, My Toddler Is a Menace! How Do I Get Him To Behave?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/how-to-get-toddlers-to-behave/) - It's an age-old question: how to get toddlers to behave? It is possible. First, you have to accept that you're raising a toddler. - [The Princess of North Sudan: Like, For Real, Is Disney Serious About Turning a White Girl Into African Royalty?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/the-princess-of-north-sudan-like-for-real-is-disney-serious-about-turning-a-white-girl-into-african-royalty/) - The Princess of North Sudan is probably the dumbest idea for a Disney movie. Like, ever. - [It's A Whole New World: Disney's First African American Princess Takes A Bow](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/02/its-whole-new-world/) - I remember dying a thousand deaths the day my Mari came home and announced she wanted to be Snow White for Halloween. I mean, I understood that the kid wasn't trying to make any grand political statement about her caramel skin and natural hair or anything. She was three. It was all about getting dressed - [Disney's First African American Princess Is Frame-Ready!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/05/disneys-first-african-american-princess/) - I wrote back in February about how it's going to be a whole new world at Disney with the debut of Princes Tiana, Disney's first black princess. First in the year-long roll-out for the holiday 2009 movie were toys and costumes featuring the chocolate face of Princess Tiana. And now, the official The Princess and - [A MyBrownBaby Weekend: We're Going To See Disney's The Princess and the Frog. Plus: A Princess Tiana Goody Giveaway!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/12/mybrownbaby-weekend-were-going-to-see/) - We've got our tickets four primo seats at our local movie theater, where Nick, Mari, Lila, and I will sit and watch history unfold as Disney's first African American princess struts across the big screen and right into our hearts. Can you stand it?! Of course, it's so very important that we as mothers get - [Wordful Wednesday: The MyBrownBaby Princess and the Frog Photo Diary](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/12/wordful-wednesday-mybrownbaby-princess/) - I have to tell you, I was ALL giggles this weekend when Nick, the girls and I went to see the new animated film, The Princess and the Frog not only because I was excited to take the babies to see Disney's first African American princess, but because the theater in our teeny weeny little - [Hearing God's Voice Lets Us Know That the Kids (and We) Are Alright](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/hearing-gods-voice-lets-us-know-that-the-kids-and-we-are-alright/) - During a commune with nature, this mom heard God's voice in the tweets of the birds—and learned a valuable lesson along the way. - [Black Children and Suicide: More Of Our Babies Are Taking Their Lives and Nobody Knows Why. We Have Some Ideas.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/black-children-and-suicide-more-of-our-babies-are-taking-their-lives-and-nobody-knows-why-we-have-some-ideas/) - Researchers are grasping at straws to try to explain the massive increase in Black children committing suicide. We have some pretty solid explanations. - [Road Tripping With Kids: Leading an Adventurous Life with 3 Children, in 3 Cities, in 3 Years](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/road-tripping-with-kids-leading-an-adventurous-life-with-3-children-in-3-cities-in-3-years/) - By DOMINIQUE CLAYTON I’ve always been a busy body. Restless, imaginative, outgoing and fearless. I left home at 17 to go to college across the country and never looked back. My wanderlust has taken me to several places in the globe including Africa, Brazil, and Europe. In that journey I managed to pick up a - [What To Expect When Girls Hit Puberty: You. Will. Deal. [Digging In the MBB Crates]](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/what-to-expect-when-girls-hit-puberty-you-will-deal/) - You kinda know what to expect when girls hit puberty, but it's hard to prepare yourself for this one true thing: you'll be as emotional as they are. - [Mind Blown: Check Out This 11-Year-Old Jazz Prodigy On the Keys (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/mind-blown-check-out-this-11-year-old-jazz-prodigy-on-the-keys-video/) - 11-year-old jazz prodigy Joey Alexander got me looking at the girlpies like, "Yo, you not trying to win right now. Look what Joey's over there doing." - [With 1.5 million Black Men Missing, Black Families Suffer](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/with-1-5-million-black-men-missing-black-families-suffer/) - A recent report that there are 1.5 million Black men missing from the Black community leaves Black families anxious for change. - [We Wear the Crown: Celebrating Beautiful Black Women From A To Z](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/celebrating-black-womanhood/) - Celebrating Black womanhood and all of its beautiful manifestations. - [Daddy's Girl: 4 Ways Fathers Can Raise Stronger Girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/daddys-girl-4-ways-fathers-can-raise-stronger-girls/) - A chance comment in the toy store got this father thinking about how our culture shames women and how he wants his daddy's girls to grow up. - [Silence the Growl: Donate to the MyBrownBaby Campaign to Help the United Way Feed Kids During Summer Break](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/silence-the-growl-donate-to-the-mybrownbaby-campaign-to-help-the-united-way-feed-kids-during-summer-break/) - Help MyBrownBaby and The United Way of Greater Atlanta Silence the Growl by raising money for meals to feed children during summer break. - [Five Mother's Day Breakfast Recipes That'll Make You a Hero This Sunday](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/five-mothers-day-breakfast-recipes-thatll-make-you-a-hero-this-sunday/) - Great Mother's Day breakfast recipes that are simple to make and sure to help the peopel who love us put a smile on our faces first thing on Mother's Day. - [The Beauty—and Crazy—Of Being a New Mom: An #MBIBMoms Twitter Chat with MyBrownBaby](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/the-beauty-and-crazy-of-being-a-new-mom-an-mbibmoms-twitter-chat-with-mybrownbaby/) - Join us as we talk about the joys, fears and beauty of new motherhood! - [The Bomb MyBrownBaby Mother's Day Gift Guide](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/the-bomb-mybrownbaby-mothers-day-gift-guide/) - This Mother's Day Gift Guide is full of treasures guaranteed to make the mom in your life Pharrell happy. - [Child, Please: How Mama'’s Old-School Lessons Helped Me Check Myself Before I Wrecked Myself (Excerpt)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/child-please-how-mama’s-old-school-lessons-helped-me-check-myself-before-i-wrecked-myself-excerpt/) - Black girls already have the challenge of overcoming the baggage that comes with having booties and boobies. But what's a mom to do when her daughter is born with straight hair? - [This Picture of Hero Mom Toya Graham, Her Son and Anderson Cooper Is Worth 1,000 Words](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/this-picture-of-hero-mom-toya-graham-her-son-and-anderson-cooper-is-worth-1000-words/) - Hero mom Toya Graham and her son, Michael Singleton, are pawns. This picture makes that very clear. - [In Honor Of the Black Mothers Of Slain Sons: Art for Justice](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/05/in-honor-of-the-black-mothers-of-slain-sons-art-for-justice/) - In honor of the mothers who cry out for their sons. - [Where's Tyra Banks When You Need Her?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/06/wheres-tyra-banks-when-you-need-her/) - So just the other day, I read THIS STORY about how model scouts in Brazil continue to search for and export to the runways tall, thin girls with straight hair, white skin and light eyes who hail from a tiny little sliver of a predominantly German/Russian village in this South American country the apparent standard - [To the Jerk Who Called Me a Black Racist: Don't Come For Me Unless I Send For You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/to-the-jerk-who-called-me-a-black-racist-dont-come-for-me-unless-i-send-for-you/) - MyBrownBaby is a Blackety Black website written from a Blackety Black perspective by a Blackety Black writer. You will deal. - [About the Baltimore Protest and Freddie Gray: What I'm Telling My Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/about-the-baltimore-protest-and-freddie-gray-what-im-telling-my-kids/) - Our children are witnessing history—a revolution. Here's how we're opening our girls' eyes to what's really going on. - [Talking Free Range Parenting On NPR: Apparently I'm a Crap Mom For Not Letting My Kids Run Amok](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/talking-free-range-parenting-on-npr-apparently-im-a-crap-mom-for-not-letting-my-kids-run-amok/) - No, I don't think it's cool to let kids roam in the park unsupervised for hours at a time. You can hate me now. - [Something Old, Something New: The Color of Love](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/10/something-old-something-new-color-of/) - Yup, I used to be one of them—the black woman who would throw dead fish eyes and hella shade in the direction of African American men who dared high-step with white women draped on their arms. It didn't matter who they were or that I didn't know them from Adam or that they might have - [When It Comes To Female Superheroes, What's So Super About Minimizing Black Girls?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/when-it-comes-to-female-superheroes-whats-so-super-about-minimizing-black-girls/) - It's great to celebrate female superheroes, but what happens when they minimize Black girls? - [The Implications of Sherri Shepherd Being Forced To Be a Mother To a Child She Doesn't Want, Plus Other Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/the-implications-of-sherri-shepherd-being-forced-to-be-a-mother-to-a-child-she-doesnt-want-plus-other-fresh-links/) - A judge ruled that Sherri Shepherd must be the mother of a child born via surrogacy after her split with her husband, plus links on how standardized testing hurts Black children and a hilarious new Instagram page that features food kids refuse to eat for the most ridiculous reasons. - [The Greatest Gift A Parent Could Give To a Child: In God (and Mommy/Daddy) She Trusts](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/the-greatest-gift-a-parent-could-give-to-a-child-in-god-and-mommydaddy-she-trusts/) - How one dad's mission to put a little sweetness in his child's hand inspired a mom to give her daughter the gift of trust. - [MyBrownBaby Goes Camping and Survives Two Days (and Nights!) In The Woods](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/06/mybrownbaby-goes-campingand-survives/) - Yup I did it. Two days and two nights, deep in the woods of North Georgia. And despite my initial protestations (and the tolerance of threats from my resident Go Green enthusiast/sister-in-law Angelou and much pleading from Mari and Lila), I have to say it wasn't half bad. And maybe just maybe I'm willing to - [Sibling Fighting: It's like Mayweather v Pacquiao. Except They're (Slightly) Smaller and More Brutal.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/sibling-fighting/) - Sibling fighting is inevitable. But you can teach your kids how to work it out. - [Five Lessons Learned From the First Year of Mommyhood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/lessons-for-first-time-mothers/) - Lessons for first time mothers are hard won, but this mom's experience sheds some light on what to expect. - [Our Teen Crush Amandla Stenberg on Cultural Appropriation: “What Would America Be Like If We Loved Black People As Much As We Loved Black Culture?”](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/our-teen-crush-amandla-stenberg-on-cultural-appropriation-what-would-america-be-like-if-we-loved-black-people-as-much-as-we-loved-black-culture/) - What's got us smiling from ear to ear and high-fiving Black girl magic today? This video of 16-year-old "Hunger Games" actress Amandla Stenberg breaking down cultural appropriation and the importance of respect for Black aesthetic. - [Hunger Game Fans' Racist Tweets: The Devaluation Of Black Children On Screen & In Real Life](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/03/hunger-game-fans-racist-tweets-the-devaluation-of-black-children-on-screen-in-real-life/) - With the vicious smear campaign launched against Trayvon Martin, the savage beating death of an Iraqi-American mother of five, killed in her own home by someone who left a note labeling her a “terrorist” and demanding she “go home,” and repeated assaults by anonymous cowards leaving hateful, obscenity-laced comments on MyBrownBaby posts, I really wasn’t - [Unschooling Black Children Without The Restrictions of School, Plus Other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/unschooling-black-children-without-the-restrictions-of-school-plus-other-mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - Unschooling Black children is about liberation. This mom shows us how she does it, plus notes on the food stamp challenge, the color of autism advocacy, the trials of transracial adoptees and real talk for an 8-year-old who hears about rape on TV. - [Bring Your Own Cup Day at 7-Eleven Feels Like Home for an Army Wife](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/bring-your-own-cup-day-at-7-eleven-feels-like-home-for-an-army-wife/) - People brought buckets to get their favorite slurpee during Bring Your Own Cup Day at 7-Eleven, but the special event meant much more than a sweet treat for this fan. - [The Teen Who Begged to Be Adopted Has a Forever Family](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/the-teen-who-begged-to-be-adopted-him-has-a-forever-family/) - Celebrate! The teen who begged to be adopted has a new family—the social worker who's handled his case for a decade. - [Why I Buy Black Children's Books by Black Authors and Why You Should Too](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/why-i-buy-black-childrens-books-by-black-authors-and-why-you-should-too/) - Integrating children's bookshelves since 2001. - [The Cookie SNL Skit Spoofing Sesame Street Is Pure Hilarity (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/the-cookie-snl-skit-spoofing-sesame-street-is-pure-hilarity-video/) - We knew there'd be a Cookie SNL Skit when Taraji P. Henson hosted this past weekend, but man, whoever thought up letting the matriarch of 'Empire' loose on 'Sesame Street' stole the show. - [The Totally Legit MyBrownBaby 7/11 Fan Video: Getting Our Beyonce On!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/the-totally-legit-mybrownbaby-711-fan-video-getting-our-beyonce-on/) - We had too much fun making the MyBrownBaby 7/11 fan video. Press play! - [Hey Black Child! Watch This 3-Year-Old Slay A Recitation Of Countee Cullen's Poem For Brown Babies (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/hey-black-child-watch-this-3-year-old-slay-a-recitation-of-countee-cullens-poem-for-brown-babies-video/) - Hey Black Child, Countee Cullen's beautiful poem celebrating and encouraging Black children, sounds downright melodic when this toddler recites it. Be inspired. - [Toddler Talk: What You Say vs. What Your Toddler Hears](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/toddler-talk-what-you-say-vs-what-your-toddler-hears/) - Toddler talk is a complex language that dictates that what we say is pretty much exactly the opposite of what our babies hear. - [To the Lady Who Called My Toddler a 'Thug.'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/stereotyping-black-boys/) - Stereotyping Black boys, even toddlers, comes a tad too easy for some, as discovered by this white mom of a Black son. - [Totally Lila and the Awesome Haiku: Celebrating My Baby's Poetry](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/totally-lila-and-the-awesome-haiku-celebrating-my-babys-poetry/) - Turns out my baby, Totally Lila, is pretty gangsta with the haiku—so gangsta that she's being honored by a celebrated children's book author and poet. - [Kelly Rowland On Motherhood, Baby Weight and the Anxiety of Raising a Black Son (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/kelly-rowland-on-motherhood-baby-weight-and-the-anxiety-of-raising-a-black-son-video/) - Welcoming Kelly Rowland to the MyBrownBaby circle as she shares her motherhood journey. - [“Mommy, why can't I fly?” How to Not Let Real Limitations Stop our Babies From Dreaming](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/encouraging-children-to-dream/) - Hopped up on "Tinkerbell" flicks, this mom's toddler thinks she can fly—until she realizes she can't. What this mother says to help her understand will melt your heart. - [Black Boy Childhood: When Birthdays—And Race—Steal Innocence](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/04/black-boy-childhood-when-birthdays-and-race-steal-innocense/) - Black boy childhood flies by all-too-quickly when race steals the innocence of children of color—and this mother is worried about it. - [Arrested For a Hug? Upping Autism Awareness, Toning Down Overreaction To Autism](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/arrested-for-a-hug-upping-autism-awareness-toning-down-overreaction-to-autism/) - When an autistic teenager is arrested for giving another child a hug, this mom of a son with autism makes a plea for more empathetic disability awareness. - [MyBrownBaby Mom: Holly Robinson Peete](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/04/mybrownbaby-mom-holly-robinson-peete/) - CONGRATULATIONS Arlice Nichole and Hil'Lesha you're the winners of autographed copies of "My Brother Charlie," by Holly Robinson-Peete and Ryan Peete! The hair, the smarts, the cute boys, the secret undercover stuff all of these things made actress, author, and philanthropist Holly Robinson Peete the envy of the girls and the ruler of men when - [Parenting Through White Privilege: Mom Attacks Meddling Stranger Who Offers To "Help" Her With Her Crying Toddler (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/parenting-through-white-privilege-mom-attacks-meddling-stranger-who-offers-to-help-her-with-her-crying-toddler-video/) - White privilege gives this woman the mettle to meddle in a young mom's parenting choices. The young mom isn't having it. - [What's Wrong With Letting Little Girls Play In Makeup?—and other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/whats-wrong-with-letting-little-girls-play-in-makeup-and-other-mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - A beauty blogger questions why people get mad when little girls play in makeup, a white girl finds out she's really Black, a little Black boy interviews his dad and other MBBFresh links. - [Young, Gifted & Black: My Promise To Support My Children In School and Beyond](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/young-gifted-black-my-promise-to-support-my-children-in-school-and-beyond/) - My daughters are young, gifted & Black because they do their part in the classroom. But as their mom, I have to play my part, too. - [Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez Show Why Representation Matters In 'Home'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/rihanna-jennifer-lopez-show-why-representation-matters-in-home/) - 'Home," the new movie featuring the voices of Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez, shows our children, quite literally, in technicolor—and we're here for it! - [Book to Film: How ‘The Vow’ Became ‘With This Ring’](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/book-film-vow-became-ring/) - The book to film road for the novel, "The Vow," was paved with a decade's worth of obstacles before it became the Lifetime movie, "With This Ring." - [After Earth with Will Smith and Jaden Smith: A Pick-Me-Up Before We Head To the Movies Tonight](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/after-earth-with-will-smith-and-jaden-smith-a-pick-me-up-before-we-head-to-the-movies-tonight/) - Okay, so can I just tell you that if Will Smith and his adorbs son, Jaden Smith, ever decide to do a concert together, the whole arena would be filled with mother/daughter sets, with me and my girlpie, Mari, all up in the front row? Please believe: I love me some Will Smith—always have. And - [Ava DuVernay's Selma Movie Is a Must-See](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/ava-duvernays-selma-movie-must-see/) - Ava DuVernay's 'Selma.' which hits movie theaters today, is magical. And a must-see. - [Cops In Schools: This Video Montage Shows the Heartbreaking Truth Of How Black Children Are Harmed When Law Enforcement is in Charge of School Discipline](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/cops-in-schools-discipline-black-children/) - You know what's a complete disaster when it comes to Black children? Cops in schools, the chauffeurs to the school-to-prison pipeline. - [Mo'Ne Davis Forgives Her Twitter Troll. Sweet, But That Wouldn't Be My Daughter.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/mone-davis-forgives-her-twitter-troll-sweet-but-that-wouldnt-be-my-daughter/) - Mo'Ne Davis forgives the dude who called her a "slut." But that's not the message I want my daughters to embrace. - [8 Ways Raising a Toddler Is Like a Hostage Negotiation with a Highly Unstable Person](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/8-ways-raising-a-toddler-is-like-a-hostage-negotiation-with-a-highly-unstable-person/) - Raising a toddler means accepting that they’re pissed off even when you give them exactly what they want. - [Oh, Happy Day! Celebrate International Happy Day By Being Kind To Others](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/oh-happy-day-celebrate-international-happy-day-by-being-kind-to-others/) - Celebrating International Happy Day with adorable #MBBFresh pics that are sure to coax a smile to your face. - [Diaper Bags and Church Shoes: In Praise of MyBrownBaby’s Own, Tracey Michael Lewis-Giggetts](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/diaper-bags-and-church-shoes-in-praise-of-mybrownbabys-own-tracey-michael-lewis-giggetts/) - "Diaper Bags and Church Shoes" is the book that helps steady your walk in faith and motherhood. - [When Is It Okay To Let Girls Wear Makeup?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/when-is-it-okay-to-let-girls-wear-makeup/) - In the MyBrownBaby household, one need not even ask until high school—and even then is questionable. - [Ashy Knees and Dry Hair: When Mixed Children Grooming Raises Eyebrows Abroad](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/mixed-children-grooming-abroad/) - Mixed children grooming becomes all the more precarious in foreign countries where racial stigmas aren't as obvious as here in America. - [Black Dolls: Watch This Artist Transform Hyper-sexualized Dolls Into Age-Appropriate Toys Perfect For Our Little Girls (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/black-dolls-for-african-american-girls/) - Black dolls still seem to be few and far between, and those out there can be much too sexy for girl. Tree Change Dolls aims to fix that. - [Fall Off the Bone Oven Ribs With A Dry Rub](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/fall-off-the-bone-oven-ribs-with-a-dry-rub/) - Oven ribs. This is how you turn up with pork ribs when the grill is down. - [That SAE Video, Racist College Culture & Black Student Survival At University](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/that-sae-video-racist-college-culture-black-student-survival-at-university/) - Let's stop pretending that what we saw on the SAE video happened in a vacuum. American college campuses are a hotbed for racism. Let's start there. - [Beautifully Brown: a Love Letter to Melanie Yvette, Champion Of Black Girl Beauty](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/beautifully-brown-a-love-letter-to-melanie-yvette-champion-of-black-girl-beauty/) - A MyBrownBaby salute to Melanie Yvette, creator of the hot, new beauty blog Beautifully Brown, lover of dark skin and celebrant of pretty things. - [Fresh Links: Ebony.com's New Beauty Column For Brown Girls, Plus New Janelle Monet & An MBB Honor](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/fresh-links-ebony-coms-new-beauty-column-for-brown-girls-plus-new-janelle-monet-an-mbb-honor/) - Watch out there now: My super adorable, fly as pie, dopalicious cousin Melanie Yvette Martin, a beauty maven who has a delicious sense of style and an addiction to pretty little things for pretty brown girls, has a new beauty column over at Ebony.com! But in typical Millner/Martin family fashion, Melanie's new digs ain't your - [Best Comeback EVER: Check Out What This 4-Year-Old Says When a Fellow Student Calls Her Ugly (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/best-comeback-ever-check-out-what-this-4-year-old-says-when-a-fellow-student-calls-her-ugly-video/) - [Little Dolls: Tenderly Tending to Every Strand of Brown Girl Hair, With a Smile](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/07/little-dolls-tenderly-tending-to-every/) - It's extremely important to tell little Black girls that their natural hair is beautiful. This is why. - [Treat Yourself](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/treat-yourself-with-honda-cr-v/) - Finding "me time" can get easier—treat yourself to some tender loving care in Honda's CR-V. - [The Rise of Black Home Schoolers, Plus, Love & Color and Other Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/the-rise-of-black-home-schoolers-plus-love-color-and-other-links/) - Black home schoolers, turned off by the American school system that mistreats African American students, are increasing in number. Plus, check out this touching video that celebrates true love in a most unexpected way, and other fresh links. - [When the Devil is Busy, Don’t Get Mad…Get Foolish.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/when-the-devil-is-busy-dont-get-madget-foolish/) - The devil is busy, especially when you're chasing your joy. But remember: God's got something better. Always. - [Black Students In All White Schools: These Kids' Experience Will Break Your Heart (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/black-students-in-all-white-schools-these-kids-experience-will-break-your-heart-video/) - Black students in all white schools are going through it. The students at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School break it down—and break our hearts. - [Nurturing A Child's Passion: Why I Stopped Caring About the Stuff My Kid Does Well](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/nurturing-a-childs-passion-why-i-stopped-caring-about-the-stuff-my-kid-does-well/) - As tempting as it is to push our kids into things they're good at, nurturing a child's passion is much more important to helping them excel. - [A Word About My Friend Mitzi Miller & Choosing Happy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/03/a-word-about-my-friend-mitzi-miller-choosing-happy/) - Choosing happy requires one to be fearless. It's a tough combo to pull off. But Mitzi Miller has done it, leaving some cues for us moms and our kids. - [That Beyonce Exercise Routine, Black Women & White Feminism, Sagging Pants and Food Stamps](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/beyonce-exercise-routine-black-women-white-feminism-sagging-pants-food-stamps/) - In this week's MyBrownBaby link favs, the Beyonce exercise routine video makes its rounds, Patricia Arquette gets checked and sagging pants get dissected. - [Juicy Pics of Brown Babies Here: MyBrownBaby_Fresh Is On Instagram!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/juicy-pics-brown-babies-mybrownbaby_fresh-instagram/) - Pics of brown babies have long been in short supply. But here at MyBrownBaby, we're celebrating that beauty with a new Instagram page—MyBrownBaby_Fresh. - [Zendaya's Hair: Her Locs Are Beautiful. Who Needs Giuliana Rancic to Say That When WE Can?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/zendayas-hair-locs-beautiful-needs-giuliana-rancic-say-can/) - It's fine to hold Giuliana Rancic accountable for attacking Zendaya's hair. But really, we can—and should—reject the white gaze and pour our passion into celebrating our own. - [It Takes a Village: Tips On Winter Pregnancy, Delivery and the Big Comeback](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/takes-village-tips-winter-pregnancy-delivery-big-comeback/) - Mama Glow's Lathan Thomas shares intel on how moms can get—and keep!—their pre/post baby bodies together during these brutal winter months. - [You Get A Pass: Do People In Multiracial Families Have A License To Be Racist?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/get-pass-people-multiracial-families-license-racist/) - As a White dad with a Biracial son, Alex Barnett wants to know, “How can you have an open and honest conversation about race if people can’t get beyond their own racism?” - [MyBrownBaby Fresh: Amber Rose vs. The Kardashians, Princess Culture & Pretty Black Skin](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/mybrownbaby-fresh-amber-rose-vs-kardashians-princess-culture-pretty-black-skin/) - In this week's fresh links, Amber Rose vs. The Kardashians gets filtered through the lens of class and race, plus, a mom laments princess culture's effects on young girls and boys, and a Black photographer celebrates dark skin. - [Delightful Ways To Say Thank You Are In Short Supply](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/delightful-ways-say-thank-short-supply/) - One would think a person who had her purse returned to her would have a thousand ways to say thank you to the finder. But "thank yous" are in short supply. - [Um, Those North West Black Outfits Are A Bit Grown, Aren't They?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/um-north-west-black-outfits-bit-grown-arent/) - No matter Kanye's "vision" with those North West black outfits, are we really okay with dressing up babies in grown clothes and colors? - [12 Multicultural Kid's Book Apps Every Parent Should Know](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/12-multicultural-kids-book-apps-every-parent-know/) - Multicultural kid's book apps provide a great way to teach little ones about empathy, compassion, and diversity. Check out our picks! - [MyBrownBaby On the Meredith Vieira Show: Talking Kinky Sex, Single Ladies & Selfies](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/mybrownbaby-meredith-vieira-show-talking-kinky-sex-single-ladies-selfies/) - There's something about the Meredith Vieira Show that brings out the best in me—even when we're talking about whips, hot sex, the single life and selfies! - [MyBrownBaby & 'Today' Talk 'The Slap': Is It Okay To Discipline Children Who Aren't Yours?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/mybrownbaby-today-talk-slap-okay-discipline-children-arent/) - Would you discipline children who aren't yours? That's what the Today show wanted to know in a parents panel based on "The Slap." - [She's The Boss: A Dad Gets Punked By His 4-Year-Old](http://mybrownbaby.com/2008/09/shes-boss-dad-remembers-being-punked-by/) - By NICK CHILES As black men, we spend a significant part of our early days making testosterone-infused snap judgments about how we think we'd fare in physical encounters with other brothers. "I think I could take him." "Look at that little guy over there—I know I could take him." "Whoa, that's a big dude. But - [The Sun Won’t Wait for You: Lessons In Being Present](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/sun-wont-wait-lessons-present/) - Missing the beauty of the sunrise gave this mother a lesson in being present—one we could all use. - [The Kendrick Lamar i Single Deserved Both Grammy Awards—And Our Praise (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/kendrick-lamar-single-deserved-grammy-awards-praise-video/) - The Kendrick Lamar i single encourages with its "I love myself" proclamation. Which is why we should collectively love on the California rapper. - [Top Five Funniest 'Blackish' Moments](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/funniest-blackish-scenes/) - As the midseason premiere of ABC's hit show 'Blackish' debuts, we count down our favorite Blackish scenes. - ['Fatherless' Is Not An Insult—Stop Giving This Nasty Put-Down Air](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/fatherless-not-insult-stop-giving-nasty-put-air/) - Calling someone "fatherless" with the intent to insult them is ridiculously hurtful—and low. - [The Talk: What Black Fathers Tell Their Sons About The Police (Video)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/the-talk-what-black-fathers-tell-their-sons-about-the-police-video/) - Video by NBCBlk - [MyBrownBaby Fresh Links: Reality TV & Our Girls, Serena Williams, 'Black or White' and The 'N' Word](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/mybrownbaby-fresh-links-reality-tv-girls-serena-williams-black-white-n-word/) - Stories I found interesting this week, including the effect of Reality TV on our daughters, plus reviews of 'Black or White' and the novel, 'Disgruntled.' - [Living Up To the Millner Name, In Honor Of My Daddy, Who Inspires](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/living-millner-name-honor-daddy-inspires/) - When it comes to the "Millner" name, I've used my by-line to celebrate my father and his insistence that I excell—by any means necessary. - [Celebrating Black History Month All Day, Every Day](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/02/celebrating-black-history-month-all-day/) - Black History Month is a celebration of American history, and deserves to be discussed every day, not just in February. - [Black Children and 'White People Sports': Tossing Out Racist Stereotypes So the Kids Can Play](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/black-children-white-people-sports-tossing-racist-stereotypes-kids-can-play/) - Breaking down why one mom's desire to have her child play "white people sports" is problematic. As hell. - [MyBrownBaby On The Meredith Vieira Show: Bullying, Co-Sleeping & Alcohol Around Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/mybrownbaby-meredith-vieira-show-bullying-co-sleeping-alcohol-around-kids/) - The Meredith Vieira Show invited MyBrownBaby to its mom panel to talk about some sticky situations. As usual, I didn't bother holding my tongue. - [Turns Out It Might Be Okay To Eat Fish While Pregnant](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/turns-might-okay-eat-fish-pregnant/) - Because my doc told me it wasn't cool to eat fish while pregnant, I survived on popcorn, ice and pregnancy pills. Turns out fish might have been A-ok. - [D'Angelo on Saturday Night Live: a Celebration of Artistry and the Importance of Black Lives (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/dangelo-saturday-night-live-celebration-artistry-importance-black-lives-video/) - Watch D'Angelo on "Saturday Night Live." He'll make you believe in music again. - [Black Children and STEM Education: The Science of Becoming a Groundbreaker](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/02/black-children-stem-education-science-becoming-groundbreaker/) - When it comes to Black children and STEM education, Dr. Edith Davis is the perfect role model. - [Meditation On Jahi McMath, Brain Death, Compassion and a Black Mother's Love](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/meditation-on-jahi-mcmath-brain-death-compassion-and-a-black-mothers-love/) - Jahi McGrath's mother deserves the space to recover from the shock of her daughter's condition—and our grace. - [Whitney Houston Will: Bobbi Kristina Brown Is Sole Heir To Her Mom's Fortune](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/03/whitney-houston-will-bobbi-kristina-brown-is-sole-heir-to-her-moms-fortune/) - Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of pop icon Whitney Houston and R&B bad boy Bobby Brown, is the sole heir to her mother’s estate. In her will, filed in Atlanta on Wednesday, Houston gives the “entire interest in all my household furniture… clothing, personal effects, jewelry, and automobiles, and all insurance policies thereon… to any children - [MyBrownBaby Redux: I'll Always Love My Mama](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/05/mothers-day-tribute-to-mothers-whove-died/) - By DENENE MILLNER I'm not sure what made me think about her today. I was in the grocery store, smelling the over-priced strawberries when my mother suddenly popped into my mind. It happens like that, you know I'll be doing something absolutely mundane, and there she'll be, standing in the bathroom mirror of my childhood - [Let's Talk About Sex, Baby!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/10/lets-talk-about-sex-baby/) - My talk with my mom about menstruation went something like this: Me: “Mommy? We learned about periods in health class today. The teacher said we should get this kit. It comes with books and pads and stuff.” My mom: “Okay.” Uh, huh. That was the end of the conversation. She ordered the kit for - [MyBrownBaby Fresh Links: Marshawn Lynch, Magical Childhoods & the 'Friendship Nine'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/mybrownbaby-fresh-links-marshawn-lynch-magical-childhoods-friendship-nine/) - MyBrownBaby Fresh Links = interesting stuff I found on the internet this week, including stories about Marshawn Lynch, the 'Friendship Nine,' and little Aiyana Jones. - [Hip Hop Heart: J. Cole Will Let Single Mothers Live at 2014 Forest Hills Drive](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/j-cole-lets-single-mother-stay-at-2014-forest-hill-drive/) - Sensitive to the dilemma single moms face when it comes to housing their families, J. Cole plans to donate his childhood home to mothers in need. - [Crazy Eyes Uzo Aduba: If You Can Say 'Tchaikovsky,' You Can Pronounce My Name (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/crazy-eyes-uzo-aduba-can-say-tchaikovsky-can-pronounce-name-video/) - Crazy Eyes Uzo Aduba has a darn good reason why you should be able to pronounce her name. - [Cellist Kandis Davis: Inspiring Brown Babies To Take A Different Look At the Arts](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/cellist-kandis-davis-inspiring-brown-babies-take-different-look-arts/) - Celebrating Kandis Davis, a professional cellist who stands out for being different and showing Black children a new way to... be. - ['Firebird': Ballerina Misty Copeland's Children's Book Leaps For Brown Girls (GIVEAWAY)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/ballerina-misty-copeland-childrens-book-firebird/) - Ballerina Misty Copeland talks Black Girl Magic with her new children's picture book, "Firebird." - [Full Circle: The Connection Between 'With This Ring' and Ernie Banks](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/full-circle-connection-ring-ernie-banks/) - When the "With This Ring" premiere trended on Twitter this weekend, the road God planned for me long ago became abundantly clear. - [Hope. Or When History Stops Repeating Itself.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/hope-history-stops-repeating/) - If hope fueled the courage of our forebears in Selma, surely it can fuel the courage we need to fix Ferguson and make the world a better place for our kids. - [Jill Scott On Falling In Love With ‘With This Ring': “There’s Something So Pure About It”](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/jill-scott-falling-love-ring-theres-something-pure/) - Jill Scott, who in the new Lifetime movie "With This Ring" plays Viviane, the character I created in "The Vow," just, like, gets it. - [Dove's 'Love Your Curls' Film Perfect For Black Girls With Natural Hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/doves-love-curls-film-perfect-black-girls-natural-hair/) - Love Your Curls, Dove's new film encouraging natural hair love, is the perfect self-esteem boost for Black girls. - ['With This Ring' Eye Candy Stephen Bishop On The Vow & Why He Loves Regina Hall](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/stephen-bishop-on-with-this-ring/) - "Being Mary Jane's" Stephen Bishop is absolutely dreamy in the new Lifetime movie, "With This Ring." - ['With This Ring' Director Nzingha Stewart On Finding True Love & Her Top-Secret Project](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/nzinga-stewart-with-this-ring/) - Director Nzingha Stewart reveals the truest lesson in "With This Ring": Black women don't need to wait on men, careers to be happy. - [#WithThisRing Watch Party: A Planner For You & Your Girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/withthisring-watch-party/) - We've got the desserts, signature cocktails, social media handles and 44 for your #WithThisRing Watch Party. Who's partying with us for the "With This Ring" premiere? - ["With This Ring": Yo! My Book Is A New Lifetime Movie!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/ring-yo-book-new-lifetime-movie/) - The debut of "With This Ring," the new Lifetime movie based on "The Vow," the novel I co-authored with Angela Burt-Murray and Mitzi Miller, has me feeling some kind of way. Pass the tissues. - [Beyond MLK Day: Teaching Kids Why Martin Matters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/beyond-mlk-day-teaching-kids-why-martin-matters/) - How to make Martin Luther King, Jr.'s life and his work meaningful for children today — and forever. - [The Family Dinner Project: Honoring MLK With Great Food & Dialogue](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/family-dinner-project-honoring-mlk-great-food-dialogue/) - What better way to encourage culture awareness and understanding than over a great plate of food? Here's one way we'll celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his MLK Day. - [The Beyonce 7/11 Video That'll Make You Hand a Cell Phone To Your Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/beyonce-711-video-thatll-make-hand-cell-phone-kids/) - This pitch-perfect, teen-friendly version of the Beyonce 7/11 video will make you giggle—and hand a cell phone to your kids. - [Beauty In the Bad: the Hard Knock Life Of a Child Raised In the City](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/hard-knock-life-children-raised-in-the-city/) - A beautifully told tale of the hard life one teen faced in Newark after the death of her beloved grandfather—and the hopelessness she feels for the city in which she was raised. - [A Word About That Malia Obama Selfie](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/word-malia-obama-selfie/) - When it comes to that Malia Obama selfie, America needs to get itself some chill. - [Exclusive: Sneak Peek at "With This Ring's" Jill Scott and Jason George (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/with-this-ring-movie/) - You know I got the goods: here's an exclusive MyBrownBaby sneak peek at a scene in Lifetime's new original movie, "With This Ring," featuring Jill Scott and Jason W. George as the couple I created in "The Vow." - [Kick the Blues in 2015: Laughter Is the Best Medicine](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/laughter-is-the-best-medicine/) - After sadness and anger muddied 2014, 2015 is the perfect time to recognize that laughter is the best medicine. - [Little Black Girls, Natural Hair & Words That Hurt: When Colorism Strikes Our Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/little-black-girls-natural-hair-words-that-hurt-when-colorism-strikes-our-kids/) - When grown women launch an online attack against a 3-year-old's skin and natural hair, a grandmother ponders how to combat colorism. - [GOTTA LOVE THOSE GOP FAMILY VALUES: Bristol Palin's Pregnancy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2008/09/by-denene-millner/) - Bristol Palin's teen pregnancy—and the GOP's urge that we respect her privacy—is quite the double standard when it comes to pregnant Black teen stereotypes. - [Kanye West’s Only One: Connecting Our Children With Grandparents Who’ve Passed](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/kanye-west-only-one-lyrics/) - The new Kanye West 'Only One' song tore me to pieces—and reminded me to show off memories of my mother to my girls. - [Watch This: 'With This Ring' Trailer, Starring Regina Hall, Jill Scott (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/with-this-ring-trailer/) - Check out the trailer for "With This Ring," the new Lifetime movie based on, "The Vow," the novel MyBrownBaby's own Denene Millner co-authored with Angela Burt-Murray and Mitzi Miller. - [What I'm Not Carrying Into 2015 (and You, Mom, Shouldn't Either)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/raising-a-fearless-child/) - A mother considers what raising a fearless child means when her daughter takes on one of her phobias. - [The Evolution of MyBrownBaby: Let's Do This, 2015](http://mybrownbaby.com/2015/01/evolution-mybrownbaby-lets-2015/) - "Part of being a revolutionary is creating a vision that is more humane. That is more fun, too. That is more loving. It's really working to create something beautiful." "I think that in order to struggle you have to be creative. In my life, creativity has been something that has sustained me; it awoke my - [When It Comes to Annie in Target, It's a Hard-Knock Life (For Black Girls)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/comes-annie-target-hard-knock-life-black-girls/) - The display of a white Annie in Target makes a mom of Black girls ponder her child's invisibility in retail stores and pop culture. - [3 Black Family Travel Destinations Perfect For Winter Break (#RIFamily)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/3-black-family-travel-destinations-perfect-winter-break/) - A comprehensive list of great places to be and great things to do on a black family trip. - [The MyBrownBaby Year In Review: Top Blog Posts](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/mybrownbabys-best-blog-posts-of-2014/) - Though some people were quite vocal about their hate for Facebook's "Year In Review" app, I appreciated it for reminding me to look back at 2014 and be both grateful for the blessings and mindful of the mistakes, plus focus on how to be more purposeful in 2015. For sure, there were plenty of highs - [The MyBrownBaby Christmas V-Card Where We Break It All the Way Down (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/mybrownbaby-christmas-v-card-break-way/) - Merry MyBrownBaby Christmas, from our family to yours—crunk style. - [Yes, Mari and Lila—There Is A Santa Claus](http://mybrownbaby.com/2008/12/yes-mari-and-lilathere-is-santa-claus/) - This is how it's gonna go down in the Millner/Chiles household from now on and forever more: Any kid who comes to my house talking about "There is no Santa Claus" will not be invited back until June, when nobody's thinking about Christmas. Nothing personal. I just don't need your kid ruining it for my - [The Problem With Black Pete: the Dutch Christmas Tradition Is Fueled By Racist Antics](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/problem-black-pete-racist-christmas-tradition-care/) - The obsession with Black Pete in the Netherlands is offensive—and it's time Blacks here in America raise our voices to help put an end to the tradition. - [After Trayvon, A White Woman Grapples with White Privilege and White Silence](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/after-trayvon-a-white-woman-grapples-with-white-privilege-and-white-silence/) - White privilege wasn't easy for this woman to see, until she considered the death of Trayvon Martin. - [Natural, Not Nappy: Surviving Back-handed Compliments On My Kinky, Curly Mane](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/natural-not-nappy-surviving-back-handed-compliments-on-my-kinky-curly-mane/) - The thing of it is, I’ve had natural hair for about 12 years now—years before Shea Moisture and Miss Jessie's found a home on Target’s shelves, long before YouTube birthed a nation of natural hair stars, eons before Solange became the patron saint of afros and anyone thought kinks cute, fashionable and manageable. I remember - ['The Ghanaian Goldilocks': A Colorful Take On a Classic Tale (REVIEW)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/ghanaian-goldilocks-colorful-take-classic-tale-review/) - Check out this deliciously original take on Goldilocks, with a Black boy from Ghana as its precocious star. - [Love & Renewal: What My Daddy Taught Me After Mom Passed Away](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/black-father-widower/) - I expected my father to need a lot of hand-holding at our first holiday dinner after mom died. Boy, was I wrong. - [Father/Daughter Dance Battle To Tribe Called Quest's 'Electric Relaxation' (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/fatherdaughter-dance-battle-tribe-called-quests-electric-relaxation-video/) - Could this dance battle between a little girl and her daddy be any cuter? Press play. - [Black Girls With Dark Skin Face Harsher School Discipline](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/black-girls-and-school-discipline/) - When it comes to Black girls and school discipline, dark-skinned girls are facing harsher penalties than all other races. - [From Datcher Dreams to His Americus: Holiday Reading for the Winter, Torched and Charred](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/michael-datcher-americus/) - The Michael Datcher Americus novel is a study in Black and white. - [From Rage to Rest and Back Again: The Importance of Self-Care In the Face Of Injustice](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/importance-of-self-care/) - It's great to fight for justice. But running on empty can not be the default way of functioning. - [Hair Braiding Shop Of Horror: A Lesson In Etiquette For My Tween](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/teaching-tweens-manners/) - Teaching tweens manners becomes the lesson of the day during a hair braiding session that goes totally wrong. - [Brown Girls Publishing: New Black Books Penned By Kids, For Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/brown-girls-books/) - Introducing four new authors—children who penned Black books for Black children. Yes! - [The Residence Inn Kiawah Island: Our #RIFamily Getaway](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/residence-inn-kiawah/) - Our family getaway to The Residence Inn Kiawah was everything we needed to get back what matters. - [The Theory Of Justice: One Black Man's Frightening Encounter With a Cop & His Power](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/black-men-and-police-stops/) - One man's harrowing experience being stopped by a cop just outside his apartment—and the imbalance of power in the exchange. - [The Blueprint: Black Parents Can "Do Better" Too](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/blueprint-black-parents-can-better/) - An argument for Black parents to turn our backs on white power structures and depend on and support each other—for our children's sake. - [What Will I Tell My Son? Parenting In the Age of Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/eric-garner-grand-jury-decision/) - As the Eric Garner grand jury decision winds its way through the news, one mom contemplates what her fear means for her biracial son. - [Tim Wise on Black Pain: Most White Americans are 'Completely Oblivious'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/black-pain-white-americans/) - Tim Wise boldly goes takes it there: when it comes to race, he writes, most whites are completely oblivious to what it means to be Black in America. - [Melissa Harris-Perry's Letter of Sympathy For Mike Brown's Mother (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/sympathy-for-mike-browns-mother/) - Sympathy for Mike Brown's mother is necessary and right. Melissa Harris-Perry states the case. - [Thirteen, Black & Afraid to End Up Like Ferguson](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/12/black-teen-boys-react-to-ferguson/) - Black teen boys react to Ferguson, wondering what the grand jury decision says about their place in America. - [Finding Hope and Humanity In Ferguson On Thanksgiving Day](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/ferguson-on-thanksgiving-day/) - While contemplating Ferguson on Thanksgiving Day, our Faith & Motherhood columnist is grateful for that sliver of hope she still has for humanity. - [Bringing Up Boogie: Black Boys Shouldn't Shoot](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/08/bringing-up-boogie-black-boys-shouldnt/) - By BASSEY IKPI From the second my sonogram revealed I was having a boy, I vowed not to dress him like the lame little boys in sailor suits and rompers way past the age where sailor suits and rompers are acceptable. And then I went home and made it clear to all family and friends that - [12-Year-Old Shot By Police: No Safe Place For Black Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/12-year-old-shot-police-safe-place-black-children/) - Tamir Rice, the 12-year-old shot by police, was a child who had the right to be just that... A CHILD. - [There's Hope: How to Transform the Lives of Black Boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/educating-black-boys/) - David Banks, author of a new book about educating and inspiring Black boys, says they can find success—with our help. - [Black Girls Fighting: Is Reality TV Inciting Our Daughters To Violence?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/black-girls-fighting/) - Black girls fighting on reality TV has our daughters thinking they need to use their fists to problem solve—and they're hurting because of it. - [The Joys of Being An African American Mom: An #MBIBMoms Twitter Chat with MyBrownBaby](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/african-american-mom-joys/) - Not everything about being an African American mom is about race. Sometimes, the little things confound and bring great joy. - [K. Michelle & Plastic Surgery: She Can Keep Her Message For Young Girls To Herself](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/k-michelle-plastic-surgery-butt-booty-ass/) - The reality show star's plastic surgery advice to be "happy" with artificial body changes is the last message I want for my daughters. - [Train Up a Child In the Way He Should Go: Teaching & Learning In Motherhood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/train-up-a-child-in-the-way-he-should-go/) - Learning how to train up a child in the way he should go is learned on the job. You learn as you go. You go as you learn. Sometimes you get it wrong. - [An Open Letter to my Fellow White, Liberal Parents: DO BETTER](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/white-liberal-racism/) - The white mom of a Black daughter chronicles white liberal racism, and implores white parents to be mindful of their biases. - [Kiawah Island Residence Inn: Plotting Our Affordable Family Vacation](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/affordable-family-vacation/) - It's time for a getaway! Plotting an affordable family vacation at Kiawah Island's Andell Inn, a Residence Inn by Marriott hotel. - [Parenting While Unemployed: Learning To Conquer Doubt and Be Inspired](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/11/unemployed-parents/) - One mom chronicles the serious challenges she faces while searching for a job, among them, finding the strength to parent through unemployment. - [Cider Apple Pie with Apple Cider Drizzle (RECIPE)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/cider-apple-pie-recipe/) - This Cider Apple Pie recipe is a new staple dessert Girlpie whips up for company—or when I beg. #AintTooProud - [The MyBrownBaby/Random House/Fodors "Road Trip Survival Kit" Giveaway ($300 Value!)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/08/the-mybrownbabyrandom-housefodors-road-trip-survival-kit-giveaway-300-value/) - My parents didn’t take my brother and I on a lot of vacations when we were little—money was short, vacation time was hard to come by, they didn’t like plane rides and driving long distances wasn’t exactly on their list of favorite things to do. I think I can count on one hand how many - [Wordful Wednesday: Summer in Paris With MyBrownBaby](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/08/traveling-paris-with-kids/) - I shared earlier this week the sheer awesomeness that was the MyBrownBaby summer vacation to Paris with the girlpies, Mari and Lila, and our son, Mazi. Simply put, we had a blast. And when I wasn't leaving my Nikon D-50 laying around creperies and subway station seats across Paris (thank goodness Mazi was more mindful - [Traveling In Color: Finding Diversity and Opening Minds on a Paris Vacation with Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/07/traveling-in-color-finding-diversity/) - I remember going on only one vacation when I was a kid to my aunt's house in South Carolina. Shortly before we left, I caught the chicken pox from my brother and broke out on the airplane, and then spent two weeks laying around on the couch at my auntie's tiny house, cramped to the - [MyBrownBaby On the Road: Living It Up In Hilton Head, Savannah, and Charleston](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/07/mybrownbaby-on-road-living-it-up-in/) - My family couldn't really afford vacations when my brother and I were growing up, but when I got a job and some vacation days, I made a point of doing something special with my free time. When I was living in the New York area, I was partial to Martha's Vineyard and Sag Harbor, for - [Suffer the Little Children: the Effect of Domestic Violence On Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/effects-of-domestic-violence-on-children/) - It's not just battered moms who get hurt: the effects of domestic violence on children are real—and long lasting. - [Getting My Daughter Her First Bra: Girl Lux Is Pitch Perfect](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/getting-my-daughter-her-first-bra/) - My baby isn't a baby anymore. Buying my daughter her first bra made that crystal clear. This new tween bra made the trek easier—for sure. - [We Wish The White Mom With Black Sperm Said This](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/white-mom-black-sperm-donor/) - What the white mom who accidentally got Black sperm should have said. - [Mo'Ne Davis Throws Like a Girl In New Spike Lee Documentary (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/mone-davis-throws-like-girl-new-spike-lee-documentary-video/) - Mo'Ne Davis throws like a girl with a 70-mile-per-hour pitch that captures American hearts in Chevy ad. - [What Blazing Your Own Trail Feels Like and Other Revelations from a Sometimes Okay Writer/Wife/Mother ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/blazing-your-own-trail/) - When it comes to motherhood and work, blazing your own trail is possible—and necessary. - [The Truth About Age 46: On My Birthday, So Happy Being Me](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/age-46/) - Celebrating my birthday at age 46: it just gets better with time. - [New Study Says Labor Pains Don't Hurt As Much As We Remember. Moms Everywhere Want To Shank Them In the Gut.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/do-labor-pains-hurt/) - Do labor pains hurt? A new study says it's not as bad as moms think. We think the researchers should go into hiding now. - [#VestOrVote: the Dream Defenders Bulletproof Vest Campaign Is Chilling](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/dream-defenders-bulletproof-vest-video/) - The Black activist group aims to inspire Black voters with this incredibly chilling ad. - [How To Talk To Kids About Sex: Great Resources from Planned Parenthood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/talk-to-kids-about-sex/) - October marks Let’s Talk Month, aimed at getting families to talk to kids about sex. Here, ways to go beyond “the talk” and say what matters—and sticks. - [Black Teen Mom Wins $225K After Losing Custody Of Newborn](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/black-teen-moms-wins-225k-after-losing-newborn-custody/) - Just seven days after giving birth, a teen mom had her daughter taken away during a dispute with her mom. Here's why we should all care. - [‘Justice While Black’: A Must-Have Book for Black Families in These Scary Times](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/justice-while-black-book/) - The new book 'Justice While Black' gives Black families step-by-step instructions on how to navigate—and survive—the criminal justice system. - [Halle Berry's "One Drop" Dilemma: This Mom Says She Won't Make Her Biracial Baby Choose](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/02/the-halle-berry-one-drop-rule-dilemma/) - Halle Berry thinks Biracial children need to choose whether they're Black or white. This mom thinks otherwise. - [Christopher Columbus Day Protest: No, We Don't Celebrate Murderers Who Got Lost](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/christopher-columbus-day-protest-no-we-dont-celebrate-murderers-who-got-lost-around-these-parts/) - Celebrate? Nope. The Christopher Columbus protest is real in our house. Here's a video to show why you shouldn't celebrate him, either. - [Tina Fey's Prayer For Her Daughters Makes Me Want To Fall On My Knees](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/tina-feys-prayer-for-her-daughters-makes-me-want-to-fall-on-my-knees/) - Tina Fey's hysterical prayer for her daughters is my prayer, too. And let the church say, "Amen." - [Detangling, Washing & Conditioning Black Girl Hair: This Is How We Do It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/detangling-washing-conditioning-black-girl-hair-this-is-how-we-do-it/) - Detangling, washing and conditioning Black girl hair is what we do in my house. Here's the routine that best works for us. - [Green Gobble-'Em-Up Goblin Cupcakes](http://mybrownbaby.com/2008/10/green-gobble-em-up-goblin-cupcakes/) - There's no trick to making these ghoulishly cute Goblin Cupcake Halloween treats. A box of cake mix, a little green food coloring, a few chocolate googly eyes, black decorator icing, and some red tines from a plastic fork and you've got a pretty thugly cupcake creature. Vanessa Bush, the extraordinary writer and food enthusiast behind - [A Biracial Mom Asks: What Do I Do When Black Relatives Pressure Me To Spank?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/biracial-parents-and-discipline/) - What's a white mom to do when her biracial toddler starts acting up in front of the Black side of the family that believes in spanking? - ['Blackish': Teaching Black Children To Embrace ALL Of Us](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/blackish-teaching-black-children-to-embrace-all-of-us/) - 'Blackish,' the new ABC sitcom starring Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross, has the potential to tell some honest truths. - [Lupita Nyong'o's Sesame Street Turn Helped My Daughter Discover Her Brown Skin](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/lupita-nyongo-on-sesame-street/) - When Lupita Nyong'o tells Elmo she loves her brown skin, a little girl and her mother learn something special about themselves. - [The Working Mom’s Survival Kit: 15 Ways to Make Life More Manageable](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/the-working-moms-survival-kit-15-ways-to-make-life-more-manageable/) - Be clear: I CAN NOT do it all. But this has a few tricks up her sleeve to make what I can do a little easier. - [Italian Meatball Recipe with Home Made Red Wine Tomato Sauce ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/italian-meatball-recipe-home-made-red-wine-tomato-sauce/) - An easy meatball recipe and red wine sauce that'll have you licking your fingers, sopping your bread and elevating your kitchen game. - [Erykah Badu's Kids On Vine: A Superstar's Sweet Mom Moments](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/erykah-badus-kids-vine-mom/) - Erykah Badu's Vine videos give a delicious view into her mom heart. - [White Mom Who Sued Sperm Bank Over Black Baby Needs To Get A Grip](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/white-mom-sues-sperm-bank-black-baby/) - The white mom suing over giving birth to a Black baby is rooted in fear—and horrible for the child. - [Born to Wash Cars: The Journey to Uncovering You and Your Child’s Purpose](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/10/finding-your-childs-life-purpose/) - Giving your child the gift of discovering what she was "born" to do. - [WANTED: A Wife](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/09/wanted-wife/) - Forty-one-year-old woman with husband and three kids seeks consort/right-hand lady/stand-in to cut a sistah some slack/work out some things around the house when she just can't take it anymore Must be in love with children even when they cry, whine, ignore parental orders and slap box literally every five seconds for no other reason - [A Better Way: One Mother Wrestles With All This “New Fangled” Discipline](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/disciplining-african-american-children/) - This mom is learning that if she wants to change her daughter's character, not just her behavior, spanking may not be the best option for disciplining. - [Adrian Peterson, Charles Barkley & Switches: It's Time To Let Go of Plantation Discipline](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/adrian-peterson-child-abuse-switch/) - Adrian Peterson and Charles Barkley think switches are good parenting tools. I've got a few betters ones. - [Natural Hair Wars: Coaxing the Generational Shift Toward Afros, Locs & Braids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/natural-hair-wars-coaxing-the-generational-shift-toward-afros-locs-braids/) - Finally, my daughters and I can walk into my father's house happy to be me. finally, he's happy with our natural hair, too. - [For Trayvon Martin & Michael Brown: A Black Teen Girl On Why Their Lives Mattered](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/for-trayvon-martin-michael-brown-a-black-teen-girl-on-why-their-lives-mattered/) - As we grapple with the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Mike Brown, a 15-year-old girl wonders when she will be free of the fear and worry born from hate. - [Dear Vogue, et. al.: Can We Get Off My Booty Please? ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/beyonce-phat-booty-and-body-image/) - On a macro level, Vogue's choice to objectify women like some sweaty construction worker on a busy city street at lunch hour is disgusting. On a personal level, it’s a trigger. - [#WhyIStayed: Teaching Our Daughters & Sons How To Love, Sans Violence](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/black-children-and-domestic-violence/) - #WhyIStayed taught a valuable lesson about domestic violence. Now, it's time to teach our children how to recognize true love that doesn't hurt. - [Stand Your Ground, Domestic Violence and Black Ballerinas: Melissa Harris-Perry Talks Black Women](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/05/stand-your-ground-domestic-violence-and-black-ballerinas-melissa-harris-perry-talks-black-women/) - Have I told you lately how much I super heart Melissa Harris-Perry? Her self-titled show on MSNBC gives me life—not just because the Tulane professor is absolutely brilliant, but because she is one of the rare TV political analysts who actually talks masterfully—and gives a doggone—about issues affecting women in general and women of color - [I Made A Baby With the Devil: A Black Moms Story of Parenting and Domestic Abuse](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/08/black-women-and-domestic-violence-during-pregnancy/) - By MICHELLE BOND Many years ago, I met a man who seemed normal, but was actually the devil. Well, not literally the devil. He was more like the guy the devil would turn to when he needed to be amused or inspired. This escaped me when we met and I fell in love with him. - [Painting With Light: Bunch Washington & the Importance of Black Art To Our Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/painting-with-light-bunch-washington-the-importance-of-black-art-to-our-children/) - Celebrating the work of artist McCleary "Bunch" Washington at Franklin & Marshall College. - [For Brown Babies Who Love Superheroes: Diversity in Comics & Film](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/black-superheroes-and-children/) - What's a Black mom to do when her baby wants to be a superhero? - [All Day Sucka: When Buying Pets For Your Kid Goes All the Way Wrong](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/06/buying-pets-for-kids/) - This is what happens when you cave and let your kid take home a pet. They die. - [Black Students and Summer Slide: How Our Children's Back-To-School Progress Slows Every Year](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/black-students-and-summer-slide-how-our-childrens-back-to-school-progress-slows-every-year/) - Are the lazy days of summer killing the academic progress of Black children? No doubt. - [This Is Why You Should Never Spank Your Daughter](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/black-girls-and-discipline/) - Be aware: hitting girls raises a chemical in their bodies that puts them at sexual risk, studies show. - [It Could Have Been Me: When Stupidity Means Death and Other Fears of a Mother](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/black-children-and-mike-brown/) - Everyone—Black children included—has the right to make bad choices and mistakes as a teen, and live to tell the tale. - [Seven Days Of Grateful: Life Is Better Than You Think](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/09/seven-days-of-grateful-life-is-better-than-you-think/) - My friend challenged me to say what I'm grateful for for seven days. It was easier than this cynic thought. - [Not In My Shoes: Why I Want My Daughter To Walk Her Own Life Journey](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/not-in-my-shoes-why-i-want-my-daughter-to-walk-her-own-life-journey/) - When her daughters plays dress-up in her shoes, this mom warns herself to let her girl walk her own life journey. - [School Dress Codes Unfairly Target Black Girls & I'm Tired Of It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/school-dress-codes-and-black-girls/) - School dress codes are the bane of a school girl's existence—especially if you're a Black girl with curves. - [Nipples and Ninny: My Breastfeeding Journey as a Black Mom](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/breastfeeding-and-black-moms/) - In honor of Black Breastfeeding Week 2014, MyBrownBaby shares her popular post on her breastfeeding journey. - [Black Breastfeeding Week 2014: Celebrating Black Families and the Best First Food](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/black-breastfeeding-week-2014-celebrating-black-families-and-the-best-first-food/) - Celebrate Black Breastfeeding Week 2014, August 25 - August 31. - [Five Fun Ideas For Summer Learning: It's Not Too Late!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/five-fun-ideas-for-summer-learning-its-not-too-late/) - It's almost back-to-school time, but it's not too late to get in some last-minute summer learning. Great tips here! - [A Heart Cracked Wide Open by Ferguson: My Problem With (What Some Call) Forgiveness](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/mike-brown-ferguson-church-response/) - Forgive, yes. But compassion should drive us all to pray for, speak out on behalf of, AND seek justice for those who are regularly treated poorly by anyone. It's what Jesus would do. - [Tori Amos' 'Promise': the MyBrownBaby & Totally Lila Edition (Video)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/tori-amos-promise-the-mybrownbaby-totally-lila-edition-video/) - Totally Lila and MyBrownBaby team up to film their own version of Tori Amos new song, "Promise," a love song for mothers and daughters. - [Watering the Flower: How I Help My Daughter Embrace Her Beauty](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/black-girls-beauty-and-self-esteem-2/) - My daughter is blossoming into a beautiful young woman. She just doesn’t know it yet. So I tell her so. - [Mike Brown, Ferguson & the Words That Strike To the Heart Of the Matter](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/mike-brown-ferguson-the-words-that-strike-to-the-heart-of-the-matter/) - There have been some powerful words written in the name of Mike Brown. Words that you should take the time to read. - ['With This Ring' and Other Things MyBrownBaby's Been Up To](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/08/with-this-ring-and-other-things-mybrownbabys-been-up-to/) - Summer came and the kids had camp and I had a writing project and then big things we’d been plotting for years came at warp speed and my hands got mad full and I had to let go of some things—namely, daily posts here at MyBrownBaby. Which was, in the beginning, a little weird, - [I Need To Be #Winning Like Charlie Sheen: An Agent Intervention](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/03/winning-like-charlie-sheen-an-agent-intervention-for-bloggers-who-need-to-be-paid-for-their-work/) - She loves me. I know she does. But my agent hasn't a problem embarrassing the crap out of me, especially when it comes to the cash money, dollar bills, y'all. Be clear: Victoria Sanders doesn't play. Let me explain: A few weekends back, Victoria made a rare trek to Georgia to support and attend A - [Disney Trippin' With Toddlers: Lessons In Patience](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/07/disney-trippin-with-toddlers-lessons-in-patience/) - A toddler tantrum of the worst order reminds this mom that she, too, needs to embrace rest. - [Started From the Bottom and Now I’m Here?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/07/started-from-the-bottom-and-now-im-here/) - Being the best in the room is great—until you realize you can't grow. - [Street Preachin': The Loudest Sermon You'll Never Hear](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/07/street-preachin-the-loudest-sermon-youll-never-hear/) - Can a "good" Christian love Tupac, protest the SCOTUS Hobby Lobby decision AND love Jesus and say that out loud? - [Celebrating Marcus: Random Acts of Kindness To Honor An Angel](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/07/celebrating-marcus-random-acts-of-kindness-to-honor-an-angel/) - On July 11th, celebrate Marcus Solomon Jones by conducting a random act of kindness. - [Teaching Kids Authenticity & the Wonderful Risk in Telling the Truth](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/07/teaching-kids-authenticity-the-wonderful-risk-in-telling-the-truth/) - This mom is trying to teach her daughter that being her authentic self can save her a lifetime of heartache. - [To Share or Not To Share: This Opinionated Writer is Sick of Your Opinions](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/to-share-or-not-to-share-this-opinionated-writer-is-sick-of-your-opinions/) - Do we somehow feel entitled to share our every opinion, valid or otherwise, about everything to every daggone person—just because we can? - [Missing Michael Jackson](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/06/missing-michael-jackson/) - I didn't expect my reaction—didn't see the tears coming. But come, they did, when my girl Mitzi called the house and urged me to turn on CNN. Rumor had it that Michael Jackson was dead and the news organization was chronicling the growing crowd gathering outside the hospital where his body allegedly lay—where his - [While the Rest of the World Supports Families and Children, the U.S. is a Global Embarrassment](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/while-the-rest-of-the-world-supports-families-and-children-the-u-s-is-a-global-embarrassment/) - As the only industrialized nation on the globe that doesn’t mandate paid leave for mothers of newborns, the U.S. is a global embarrassment. - [Menstrual Marketing At Its Finest: The Period-Obsessed Tween Gets Got](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/menstrual-marketing-at-its-finest-the-period-obsessed-tween-gets-got/) - Here's what happens when you lie to your mom about getting your period. - [{Let's Talk About Sex} Tweens, Sex & the Essence Article That Scared the Crap Out Of Me](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/10/lets-talk-about-sex-tweens-sex-the-essence-article-that-scared-the-crap-out-of-me/) - A few weeks ago, I dropped my Mari off for her first day of middle school and watched her trot up the long walkway to the junior high building, and then I promptly pulled my car around the corner and cried like a baby with a nasty head cold. An ugly, snotty cry. I mean, - [Who's In Charge Here: Taming Your Toddler By Ceding More Control](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/whos-in-charge-here-taming-your-toddler-by-ceding-more-control/) - Kids need to respect their parents authority, but toddlers who feel more confident in small decisions are less likely to act out and make bigger mistakes. - [25 Things You Don't Know About MyBrownBaby's Denene Millner—aka My Mom](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/25-things-you-dont-know-about-mybrownbabys-denene-millner-aka-my-mom/) - You thought you knew Denene Millner? You have no idea. See what you find out when her daughter turns the blogging spotlight on her. - [This Is Why I Keep Writing About Race and Racism](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/this-is-why-i-keep-writing-about-race-and-racism/) - Maybe what I have failed to put a finer point on is that good-intentioned liberals do not understand what racism means. - [Blue Ivy's Natural Hair & the Right Of Black Girls To Be... Free](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/blue-ivys-natural-hair-the-right-of-black-girls-to-be-free/) - Maybe Blue Ivy's mama isn't being lazy, but deliberate. Maybe Blue gets to be what Bey can't: FREE. - [Daddy's Hands](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/06/daddys-hands/) - His hands tell the story—those thick fingers and wrinkles and scars, and especially the calluses, speak to me. Remind. Of just how remarkable my Daddy is—just how huge is his heart. Daddy's always used those hands for the helping and the healing all the same; they are, and always have been, an intricate part of - [A Special MyBrownBaby Love Letter To Black Fathers Getting It Right](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/06/celebrating-black-fathers-who-get-it-right/) - I totally heart me some President Barack Obama, I promise you this. But he ticked me off to the highest of ticktivity a few years ago when he took to the pulpit in a Black church on Father’s Day to excoriate African American dads for falling down on their job as parents, saying that all-too-many - [Positive Discipline: How To Stop Your Kid From Hitting](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/positive-discipline-how-to-stop-your-kid-from-hitting/) - Dear Mother Wit, My 2-year-old has been hitting me, her big sister, the kids out on the playground, pretty much everybody she comes in contact with. I popped her hand a few times and told her “No! Stop that, bad girl!” but she keeps on doing it. How do I get this little girl to - [The Freedom to Reject Normal: Teaching Children—and Ourselves—To Color Outside the Lines](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/the-freedom-to-reject-normal-teaching-children-and-ourselves-to-color-outside-the-lines/) - What happens when you tear down emotional walls, and decide to be 100 percent you—warts, flaws and all? - [Finding Joy After A Stillbirth: mater mea's Takiema Bunche-Smith On Parenting Through the Pain](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/finding-joy-after-a-stillbirth-mater-meas-takiema-bunche-smith-on-parenting-through-the-pain/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of Takiema Bunche-Smith, educator. - [Breastfeeding At Graduation Pic Is Some Kinda Wonderful—And Exactly What Black Folk Need To See](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/breastfeeding-at-graduation-pic-is-some-kinda-wonderful-and-exactly-what-black-folk-need-to-see/) - Apparently, the earth is going to stop spinning on its rotational axis because this graduate posted a picture of herself breastfeeding at graduation. - [Jockey Skimmies® Make My Big Booty Challenges Go Far Away—Plus, a #SkimmiesPromo Giveaway!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/jockey-skimmies-make-my-big-booty-challenges-go-far-away-plus-a-skimmiespromo-giveaway/) - Carrying "alla this" is no easy feat. Especially when undergarments refuse to play nice. Enter: Jockey Skimmies! - [On Race & Double Standards: Will Change Ever Come?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/on-race-double-standards-will-change-ever-come/) - When racial double standards play themselves out on this mom's doorstep, she wonders if her daughter will ever see equal justice. - [WHEN WE BLACK PEOPLE SAY RACISM IS REAL, PLEASE BELIEVE US](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/when-we-black-people-say-racism-is-real-please-believe-us/) - It's not merely that racism is still rampant in America -- it's that your reaction to it matters. - [What Black Educators Are Saying About the Effects of Race On Our Sons](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/what-black-educators-are-saying-about-the-effects-of-race-on-our-sons/) - Does a white teacher's inability and unwillingness to deal with their own racial biases lead to stressful interactions with black boys? Educators say yes—and then some. - [I Refuse to Remain in the Lower Case: the Argument For Capitalizing the "B" In 'Black People'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/i-refuse-to-remain-in-the-lower-case-the-argument-for-capitalizing-the-b-in-black-people/) - W.E.B. Du Bois fought this very same fight almost 100 years ago, arguing that capitalization is an act of recognition and respect. - [Teen Tennis Star Taylor Townsend Is Beautiful Just the Way She is, Even If She Doesn't Fit Into a Pop Cultural Lens](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/06/teen-tennis-star-taylor-townsend-is-beautiful-just-the-way-she-is-even-if-she-doesnt-fit-into-a-pop-cultural-lens/) - Pro tennis player Taylor Townsend is never going to be white girl skinny. And the media needs to get on board with that. - [Because Of Maya Angelou, I Can Be](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/because-of-maya-angelou-i-can-be/) - I imagined her as my mother, my grandmother, and my great grandmother -- an ancestor supreme. - [MyBrownBaby Respect: Maya Angelou](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/01/mybrownbaby-respect-maya-angelou/) - There is, I hope, a thesis in my work: we may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated. That sounds goody-two-shoes, I know, but I believe that a diamond is the result of extreme pressure and time. Less time is crystal. Less than that is coal. Less than that is fossilized leaves. Less - [Maya Angelou's Note To Her 15-Year-Old Self (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/03/maya-angelous-note-to-her-15-year-old-self-video/) - Gail King recently debuted a new segment on CBS This Morning called, "Note To Self," a series that invites celebrities to write personal letters to their younger selves and share them with the audience. Celebrated poet, author and activist Maya Angelou kicked off the series with a stunning letter to her 15-year-old self, imploring her - [Lessons on Being Present, From God’s Greatest Gift to Me ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/lessons-on-being-present-from-gods-greatest-gift-to-me/) - Forget going about life on auto-pilot: watch your three-year-old to figure out how to live in the moment. - ["You Can Always Try Again" and Other Rude Things People Said When I Told Them I Was Having Another Daughter](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/you-can-always-try-again-and-other-rude-things-people-said-when-i-told-them-i-was-having-another-daughter/) - Oh man, you have no idea how disappointed we are to have a completely healthy baby girl. Girls are so useless. - [A Young Black Girl Chosen To Be the Subject of a Book, All Grown Up](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/a-young-black-girl-chosen-to-be-the-subject-of-a-book-all-grown-up/) - Her story is important. It is hers, and she owned it proudly. - [Husbands, Wives, Toddlers and Lanes: Remembering That Some Stuff Is Just Not That Deep](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/disagreements-between-husbands-and-wives/) - Simple disagreements don't need to evolve into toddler tantrum-level fits. At least not every time. - [Race Factor 101: Raising Kids in a World of Donald Sterlings](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/race-factor-101-raising-kids-in-a-world-of-donald-sterlings/) - Every issue is a teachable moment, especially when it comes to teaching kids about selective outrage. - [What Surprises Me Most About Motherhood: mater mea's Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo Tells It Like It Is](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/what-surprises-me-most-about-motherhood-mater-meas-nana-eyeson-akiwowo-tells-it-like-it-is/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of Nana Eyeson-Akiwowo, founder of African Health Now. - [We #StandWithChirlane: Telling the Truth About Balancing Work & Motherhood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/we-standwithchirlane-telling-the-truth-about-balancing-work-motherhood/) - Hello, NY Post? The '50s called—they want their stereotypical mom tropes back. - [60 Years After Brown Decision, US Schools More Segregated Than Ever](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/60-years-after-brown-decision-us-schools-more-segregated-than-ever/) - Many of the advances in desegregating schools made after the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education ruling have stopped—or been reversed. - [Moms With HIV: Slaying the Stigma With the #StopHIVTogether Campaign](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/moms-with-hiv-slaying-the-stigma-with-the-stophivtogether-campaign/) - These women—these heroes—are sharing their stories to help put a human face on the challenges and triumphs they've faced and enjoyed respectively as they've battled the virus. - [#TBT: Willow Smith, The Hair Whip, and Coloring Outside the Lines](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/tbt-willow-smith-the-hair-whip-and-coloring-outside-the-lines/) - What if your parents had just encouraged you to pursue your passion—no matter what everyone else had to say about it, no matter how outside of the “norm” it was? - [4 Ways To Get A #GladeMomGetaway At Home, Plus, Join MBB For a Twitter Party With Over $500 In Prizes! ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/4-ways-to-get-a-glademomgetaway-at-home-plus-join-mbb-for-a-twitter-party-with-over-500-in-prizes/) - How do you relax in a home filled with kids, life and drama? Try these four things. - [In Defense Of Willow Smith and Fast Tail Girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/in-defense-of-willow-smith-and-fast-tail-girls/) - What kind of message do we send black girls when we make them responsible for the impure thoughts of adults? - ["Who's Your Real Mother?" And Other Things To Never Say To An Adoptee](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/how-to-talk-to-adopted-kids/) - "I bet your real mother was beautiful," is among some of the many statements and questions that drive adoptees batty. - [Filling My Home With Brown Dolls, By Any Means Necessary](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/black-dolls-with-natural-hair/) - This mom will go to any lengths to create a home in which her daughter's brown skin and puffy hair is celebrated. - [Hundreds of African Girls Were Kidnapped: Why It Took the U.S. Media 3 Weeks To Notice](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/hundreds-of-african-girls-were-kidnapped-why-it-took-the-u-s-media-3-weeks-to-notice/) - Nobody said anything until black Americans led the charge on social media to #BringBackOurGirls. - [#BringBackOurGirls: My Heartbreak Over Stolen Daughters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/bringbackourgirls-my-heartbreak-over-stolen-daughters/) - I pray for each of our Nigerian daughters by name and hold them in my heart. We all should. Say their names when you do. - [The Value Of Brown Girls: Care About #BringBackOurGirls Because it's the Right Thing To Do](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/the-value-of-brown-girls-care-about-bringbackourgirls-because-its-the-right-thing-to-do/) - How do we become more compassionate toward everyone regardless of familiarity, locale or race? - [Mother Wit: Help Your Child Get Better Grades, Without Punishing Him](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/mother-wit-help-your-child-get-better-grades-without-punishing-him/) - Bringing home a "D" on the report card used to earn this mom a whooping. But she wants Mother Wit to help her get her son's grades up—without hitting him. - [Forget About Facebook and Focus On The Real "Apple" of Our Eyes](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/forget-about-facebook-and-focus-on-the-real-apple-of-our-eyes/) - Does your obsession with social media keep you from being truly present with your children? This mom asks the tough question. - [My Black Is Beautiful—Now Can We See It In Children's Books?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/05/my-black-is-beautiful-now-can-we-see-it-in-childrens-books/) - How can we help inspire young girls to believe they're beautiful and can achieve anything? Start by creating books that say its possible. - [Tales From the Postpartum Darkside: This New Mom's OCD Kicked In After Birth](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/tales-from-the-postpartum-darkside-this-new-moms-ocd-kicked-in-after-birth/) - First family road trip up the coast: this mom made her husband spend 20 minutes brainstorming a plan for saving all of their lives should their car careen off a cliff. - [Raising Black Children Who Live Intentionally: mater mea's Rachel Rodgers Shares Her Wisdom](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/raising-black-children-who-live-intentionally-mater-meas-rachel-rodgers-shares-her-wisdom/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of lawyer and mom of two, Rachel Rodgers. - [My Black is Beautiful: What Happens When You Say Yes?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/my-black-is-beautiful-what-happens-when-you-say-yes/) - It's so easy for us busy moms to say, "no," when good opportunities come along. But what happens when we say, "yes"? - [Black Boys and Self-Esteem: How To Silence Your Son's Inner Critic](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/black-boys-and-self-esteem-how-to-silence-your-sons-inner-critic/) - How can we help our sons develop powerful self-esteem? By helping them confront their inner critics—that nagging voice that points out their failures, inadequacies, and shortcomings. - [Atlanta Strip Clubs, Sex Trafficking & Our Girls: Jada's New Documentary](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/atlanta-strip-clubs-sex-trafficking-our-girls-jadas-new-documentary/) - Hat tip to Jada Pinkett Smith and my nephew, Miles, for making the connection between pop culture, strip clubs, sex trafficking and young Black girl behavior. - [Black Children and Role Models: Remember, Somebody’s Watching Me (Us)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/black-children-and-role-models-remember-somebodys-watching-me-us/) - Sometimes it's the subtle things that children notice and internalize that make a difference in their life's journey. - [Not Everyone Can Breastfeed: A Tale Of Pregnancy, Depression & Formula Feeding](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/antenatal-depression-and-breastfeeding/) - We are always told that formula is fine but “breast is best.” But this mom's story is just one example of why it doesn’t work for every family. - [This'll Make Tiger Mom's Head Explode: A Radical Way To Parent Black Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/unschooling-homeschooling-black-children/) - Our jobs as parents is to help our children practice excellence within their own unique life design. Here's a radical way one mom puts this to the test as she unschools her daughters. - [The New Mutants: Black Excellence In the New Class of Black Global Super-Achievers](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/black-excellence-and-african-american-children/) - By PATRICK A. HOWELL “There is a new class of black super-achievers graduating for the first time.” Mark Penn, "Micro-Trends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow’s Big Changes" * * * “It’s time to redefine Black Power… Black excellence, opulence, decadence Tuxes next to the president, I’m present” Jay Z / Kanye West, "Murder to Excellence" - [A Word About The Writer's Life: Honoring Erica Kennedy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/06/a-word-about-the-writers-life-honoring-erica-kennedy/) - In my old life, before blogging, before kids, before authoring New York Times bestsellers, before my advice columns at Parenting and my freelance writer's life, I toiled in the mostly lily-white, mostly-male newsrooms of the Daily News in New York, first as a political reporter and later, as an entertainment writer. God, I was so - [When the Rainbow Isn't Enough: For Karyn Washington](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/black-women-suicide-and-mental-illness/) - African Americans need to tout that it’s okay to seek professional intervention if you are so broken, so emotionally in pain, that your everyday song is filled with thoughts about not living. - [A Personal Resurrection: How I Got Over Myself When It Came to Easter](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/a-personal-resurrection-how-i-got-over-myself-when-it-came-to-easter/) - It was easy for this Christian mom to criticize churchgoers who show up only on Easter. Then this happened. - [The Obamas On Easter Sunday: Sasha and Malia Remind Me How Far I've Fallen As A Mother](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/04/the-obamas-on-easter-sunday-sasha-and-malia-remind-me-how-far-ive-fallen-as-a-mother/) - Looking at pictures of President Obama walking with his beautiful family to Easter service at St. John's Church got me all nostalgic about the big to-do my mother used to make when it came to the pomp and circumstance of dress up on Resurrection Sunday. Sasha and Malia look absolutely delicious in their dresses and - [A Black Beauty Maven Wonders If She's Hitched To an Industry That Goes Against Her Motherly Teachings](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/a-black-beauty-maven-wonders-if-shes-hitched-to-an-industry-that-goes-against-her-motherly-teachings/) - Sometimes the beauty world contradicts what self-described "Beauty Gladiator" Jodi Patterson preaches at home. - [Powerless Black Mothers: Protecting Our Sons From Stereotypes, Danger Feels Impossible](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/powerless-black-mothers-protecting-our-sons-from-stereotypes-danger-feels-impossible/) - This mom is raising three Black sons who love loud music and hoodies. And she's scared to death she won't be able to protect them from the tyranny of stereotypes. - [Nurturing Culture and Pride In Black Children: mater mea's Agatha Achindu Leads the Way](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/nurturing-culture-and-pride-in-black-children-mater-meas-agatha-achindu-leads-the-way/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of Agatha Achindu, founder and CEO of organic baby food line, Yummy Spoonfuls. - [MBB Calls Bullsh*t on Report Suggesting Parent Involvement Doesn't Improve Child Performance](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/mbb-calls-bullsht-on-report-suggesting-parent-involvement-doesnt-improve-child-performance/) - A NY Times piece by two researchers suggesting parental involvement doesn't affect student performance defies logic and common sense. - [The End of MyBrownBaby: Why I Kept Grinding, Plus the #McCafeGrind Winner Is...](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/the-end-of-mybrownbaby-why-i-kept-grinding-plus-the-mccafegrind-winner-is/) - Real talk: I almost shut down MyBrownBaby. Here's why I kept going. - [This Is How I Rise and Grind: Plus, An Awesome $175 #McCafeGrind Giveaway ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/this-is-how-i-rise-and-grind-plus-an-awesome-175-mccafegrind-giveaway/) - Win $175 worth of stellar office products to help you rise and grind, courtesy of McDonald's Free McCafe Coffee Week. - [8 Ways New Fatherhood Is Just Like Pledging a Fraternity](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/8-ways-new-fatherhood-is-just-like-pledging-a-fraternity/) - A dad shares his funny take on life as a new dad—it’s a kind of hell week, but with a surprisingly happy ending. - [MyBrownBaby Family Fun: Learning to Double Dutch With Double Dutch Aerobics!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/mybrownbaby-family-fun-learning-to-double-dutch-with-double-dutch-aerobics/) - I was the only Black girl on the planet who didn't know how to Double Dutch. Until a world Double Dutch champion taught me—in less than a minute! - [What Educational Excellence Looks Like](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/black-children-and-education/) - She's no "Tiger Mom." But our Faith & Motherhood columnist knows a thing or two about how to coax excellence out of our babies. - [Black Art, History On Glorious Display In Atlanta with the Kinsey Collection](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/kinsey-collection-black-art-tour/) - The must-see Kinsey Collection is at the Atlanta History Center through July 13, 2014. - [Seriously, Can We Stop Calling Cops On Little Black Kids Already?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/seriously-can-we-stop-calling-cops-on-little-black-kids-already/) - Omari Grant, 11, had a cop's gun shoved in his face for doing what kids do—which is what happens when adults refuse to acknowledge the humanity of Black children. - [5 Things This Mom Totally Judges Fellow Moms About](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/5-things-this-mom-totally-judges-fellow-moms-about/) - Modern moms seem to be on a kick to bring their child-rearing techniques back to the Dark Ages, and this technology-obsessed, processed-food-loving mom can’t deal with the sanctimoniousness. - [A White Adoptive Mother Married to a Woman Wants You to Know: 'Our Son Is Black, He's Our Son, End of Story'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/a-white-adoptive-mother-married-to-a-woman-wants-you-to-know-our-son-is-black-hes-our-son-end-of-story/) - A white woman with a white wife and a black baby boy recounts the puzzling, infuriating reactions she gets to her family from the rest of the world—and shares her wishes for her son. - [Nothing Even Matters: A Poetic Prophecy for My Little Girl](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/nothing-even-matters-a-poetic-prophecy-for-my-little-girl/) - In celebration of National Poetry Month, a poem celebrating brown mommies and baby girls. - [Wynton Marsalis & the Virtuoso, Marcus Roberts: Inspiration For Your Babies ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/wynton-marsalis-the-virtuoso-marcus-roberts-inspiration-for-your-babies/) - A Wednesday treat: - [How Becoming a Mom Changes You: mater mea's Staceyann Chin](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/how-becoming-a-mom-changes-you-mater-meas-staceyann-chin/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of mater mea mom Staceyann Chin, a spoken word poet, performance artist and activist. - [My Biggest Competition Is THIS Woman. Who's Yours? ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/04/my-biggest-competition-is-this-woman-whos-yours/) - This woman represents the standard by which I measure my happiness, efforts and achievements—alternately scaring and inspiring me. - [Brilliant but Lazy: Helping Your Underachieving Son to Succeed](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/brilliant-but-lazy-helping-your-underachieving-son-to-succeed/) - How do you motivate your underachiever when you know he has the potential to succeed in school and life? - [Rise and Grind With FREE McCafé® Coffee at McDonald’s®, Through April 13](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/rise-and-grind-with-free-mccafe-coffee-at-mcdonalds-through-april-13/) - Who wants free coffee? We do. We love FREE coffee. - [Hey Adoptive Parents: Don't Give Your Kids Back](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/giving-adopted-child-back/) - Adoption is many things, but here's what it's not: giving back your children. - [Will vs. Wisdom: What Toddler's Terrible Twos Tells Us About Ourselves](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/will-vs-wisdom-what-toddlers-terrible-twos-tells-us-about-ourselves/) - This mom secretly loves (and recognizes!) her toddler's fearlessness. But she hopes her daughter learns to trust those who love her when they warn of the dangers ahead. - [mater mea's Jamyla Bennu of Oyin Handmade On Parenting Outside Her Expectations](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/mater-meas-jamyla-bennu-of-oyin-handmade-on-parenting-outside-her-expectations/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of Oyin Handmade's co-founder Jamyla Bennu. - ['The Soul Man' Is All the Way Live Tonight at #TheSoulMan Twitter Party with @MyBrownBaby and @BlackAndMarried](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/thesoulman-twitter-party-season-3-premiere/) - Okay, so wait: y'all know I have a wholly unnatural obsession with Cedrick the Entertainer, right? I mean, I'm not stalkerish or anything like that, but that man cracks me all the way up whenever he opens his fool mouth. I live for his stand up: yes, I watch Kings of Comedy whenever it's on - [Mother Wit: Get Some ‘Act Right’ From Your Child at the Grocery Store](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/grocery-store-tantrums/) - When a mom's preschooler has a tantrum at the grocery store check out line, Mother Wit schools her on how to get her child to behave, without hitting. - [My Absentee Father Tried To Friend Me On Facebook](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/my-absentee-father-tried-to-friend-me-on-facebook/) - This writer first learned of her dad's birthday when he sent her a request on Facebook. - [Kale, Sausage and Potato Soup Recipe](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/kale-sausage-and-potato-soup-recipe/) - This sausage, kale and potato soup is a quick and easy dinnertime meal packed with nutrients and flavor. - [200 Words On Racism, Black Families and Our Inalienable Right To Just... Be](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/200-words-on-racism-black-families-and-our-inalienable-right-to-just-be/) - Clearly, the good folk of the trendy and family-friendly areas of Atlanta like their homes fried, dyed and gentrified. Blacks need not apply. - [The Fragile Fierceness of Faith—and What it Means to Write About It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/the-fragile-fierceness-of-faith-and-what-it-means-to-write-about-it/) - Just the mere mention of faith sends internet trolls into a frenzy. But this mom's got some strong words of her own for those who have a problem with her beliefs. - [Coaxing an Independent Spirit In My Black Son: mater mea's Makeda Thomas](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/coaxing-an-independent-spirit-in-my-black-son-mater-meas-makeda-thomas/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of choreographer Makeda Thomas. - [Psst… White People: Paul Ryan Doesn't Care About You Either](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/psst-white-people-paul-ryan-doesnt-care-about-you-either/) - If you think Paul Ryan's foolish comments about poverty and lazy inner city folk is simply about Black men, think again. - [Totally Lila and the Totally Awesome Exercise Work Out For Tweens](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/totally-lila-and-the-totally-awesome-exercise-work-out-for-tweens/) - Totally Lila is back with a new video showing off how she stays fit for soccer. - [Easing Mommy Guilt: 20 Quick Ways To Connect With Your Baby When Time Is Short](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/easing-mommy-guilt-20-quick-ways-to-connect-with-your-baby-when-time-is-short/) - Even to this day, more than a decade later, I remember what it felt like—that gnawing, desperately unsettled, perpetually unsatisfied, I’m-totally-failing-my-baby feeling I had when I was juggling a full-time job, a burgeoning book career, a young marriage and new motherhood, all at the same time. I was a features editor at Honey—a demanding job - [The Kid I Never Was: Encouraging My Girls To Love Sports, Bugs & the Great Outdoors](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/the-kid-i-never-was-encouraging-my-girls-to-love-sports-bugs-the-great-outdoors/) - Typical kid adventures were not a part of this mom's childhood. But with two active girls, I'm learning to let go. - [For White Mothers Who Don't Know How To Style Their Black Children's Natural Hair: I Feel You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/for-white-mothers-who-dont-know-how-to-style-their-black-childrens-natura-hair-i-feel-you/) - This mom says she'll never look at that brown child with the white mom and make assumptions again. - [‘Promises Kept’ Offers a Gold Mine of Tips on Raising a Successful Black Child](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/promises-kept-offers-a-gold-mine-of-tips-on-raising-a-successful-black-child/) - If you have any interest in understanding how to raise brilliant and successful African-American children, particularly boys, you have to grab a copy of “Promises Kept: Raising Black Boys to Succeed in School and in Life.” - [Sheryl Sandberg's #BanBossy Campaign Is Disappointing. And Dumb.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/sheryl-sandbergs-banbossy-campaign-is-disappointing-and-dumb/) - When black girls are undereducated, bullied, stereotyped and left behind, it's hard to take Sheryl Sandberg's trite #BanBossy campaign seriously. - [I'm a Young, Childless Black Woman and I'm Afraid To Have a Black Son](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/racism-and-raising-black-boys/) - Ultimately all human life is fragile, but the deaths of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis show us that the lives of black boys can be disproportionately ephemeral. - [Why This White Mom Loves MyBrownBaby](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/why-this-white-mom-loves-mybrownbaby/) - A white mother of brown children explains why she find solace, strength and home in MyBrownBaby.com. - [A White Mom Wonders Whether Her Brown Babies Will Be Black Enough](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/08/a-white-mom-wonders-whether-her-brown-babies-will-be-black-enough/) - By RACHEL GARLINGHOUSE A few months ago, I found myself in a state of panic. I am the proud mother of two baby girls, both of whom came into our family through domestic, transracial, open adoption. My husband and I are white, our daughters are black. I get an A in many areas of transracial - [Why White People Adopt Black Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/08/transracial-families-why-white-people-adopt-black-children/) - By RACHEL GARLINGHOUSE African Americans have every reason to be suspicious of white people adopting black babies. From slavery to unethical medical experimentation to Jim Crow laws and more, history demonstrates that white people haven't always been very kind to people of color, to say the least. As an English teacher, I read many books, - [Not All Sugar Is Sweet: 10 Great Tips For Staving Off Diabetes In Black Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/09/not-all-sugar-is-sweet-10-great-tips-for-staving-off-diabetes-in-african-american-children/) - By Rachel Garlinghouse I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes at age 24, and I often say that on that day, my whole family got diabetes. As I learned to test my blood sugar, work an insulin pump a device that is attached to my body provides me with insulin 24/7 count carbohydrate grams in - [{Ask the Adoptive Mom} Five Practical Ways Parents Can Prepare For Transracial Adoption](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/11/ask-the-adoptive-mom-five-practical-ways-parents-can-prepare-for-transracial-adoption/) - November is National Adoption Month and to advocate for and celebrate a family for every child, MyBrownBaby contributor Rachel Garlinghouse, adoptive mom of two brown babies, will be answering adoption questions. Have a question about adoption? Email Rachel at whitebrownsugar [at] hotmail [dot] com. By RACHEL GARLINGHOUSE Q: What can adoptive parents do to prepare - [{Ask the Adoptive Mom} 8 Ways To Afford Adopting A Child](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/11/ask-the-adoptive-mom-8-ways-to-afford-adopting-a-child/) - November is National Adoption Month and to advocate for and celebrate a family for every child, MyBrownBaby contributor Rachel Garlinghouse, adoptive mom of two brown babies, will be answering adoption questions. Have a question about adoption? Email Rachel at whitebrownsugar [at] hotmail [dot] com. By RACHEL GARLINGHOUSE If you're thinking about private adoption, be clear: it's - [Transracial Adoption: A White Mom's Complex Journey Parenting Black Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/transracial-adoption-a-white-moms-complex-journey-parenting-black-children/) - In the continual walk into the bizarre, bittersweet, and complex journey of transracial adoption and parenting... and in learning who I am and what I can become, I’ve evolved into someone so much more than the person the world says I should be. - [Picking Role Models That Count: Parents Have Way More Juice Than Hollywood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/picking-role-models-that-count-parents-have-way-more-juice-than-hollywood/) - Forget waiting for Hollywood to funnel heroes to our kids. This dad has a few role models just perfect for Black children. - ['ANNIE' Official Trailer, Starring Jamie Foxx and Quevenzhane Wallis](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/annie-official-trailer-starring-jamie-foxx-and-quevenzhane-wallis/) - If the trailer is any indication, the new and "colorful" 'Annie,' starring Quvenzhané Wallis and Jamie Foxx is going to be adorbs. - [Lean In and Have It All—Finding Work/Life Balance, YOUR Way](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/lean-in-and-have-it-all-finding-worklife-balance-your-way/) - Being a good mom and wife and leading a purpose-driven life is important to moms. Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts explains how she balances the three. - [Balance is for Yoga and Flamingos: Rethinking Work/Life Balance For Busy Moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/02/balance-is-for-yoga-and-flamingos-rethinking-worklife-balance-for-busy-moms/) - By Akilah S. Richards Far be it for me to dictate what a grown woman should believe—particularly as it relates to how she chooses to live her life. Indeed, we able-bodied adult women share both the right and the capacity to choose what works best for us and ours, lifestyle choices withstanding. I believe in - [Harmony: The Sustainable Alternative To Work/Life Balance](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/03/harmony-the-sustainable-alternative-to-worklife-balance/) - By Akilah S. Richards In "Balance Is For Yoga & Flamingoes," part one of this two-part series on our struggles with work-life balance, I discussed how being well-rounded in work and in life is a constant contributor to women’s feelings of not-enoughness and muted self-expression. The theories are pulled from my Life Design Kit for - [Born Behind Bars: How Separation, Foster Care and Adoption Shaped My Life](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/born-behind-bars-how-separation-foster-care-and-adoption-shaped-my-life/) - An adoptee born in prison remembers the trauma of being taken from her birth mother, and counts the emotional toll it took on her life. - [Dreams For My Black Son: mater mea's Christal Brown](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/dreams-for-my-black-son-mater-meas-christal-brown/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of choreographer, dancer and teacher Christal Brown. - [My Seven-Year-Old Daughter Tried to “Catfish” Me](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/my-seven-year-old-daughter-tried-to-catfish-me/) - This dad is pretty sure that the love letter sent home by one of his daughter’s substitute teachers was not actually written by a grown up. - [Having Boys Can Take Months Off A Mother's Life, Study Claims](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/having-boys-can-take-months-off-a-mothers-life-study-claims/) - So, it turns out that when you fall to your knees and cry out to sweet baby Jesus to be a fence before your little rambunctious, bad butt little boys kill you dead, you may be on to something: new research shows that having sons can shave an average of eight and a half months - [Black Beauty: Lupita Nyong'o's Message For Our Daughters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/03/lupita-nyongo-on-beauty-and-dark-skin/) - Lupita Nyong'o's Essence speech on learning to love her dark skin reminds this mother to appreciate the actress's impact on mainstream pop culture. - [A Black Father Talks His Son Through a Kevin Hart Joke and the Fine Art of Stereotyping](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/a-black-father-talks-his-son-through-a-kevin-hart-joke-and-the-fine-art-of-stereotyping/) - A Kevin Hart joke that plays on stereotypes inspires a "King" to school his "prince" on the importance of image. - [Mothers Like Me: Wrestling with 'Love My Enemies,' Especially Those Who Kill Our Babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/trayvon-martin-jordan-davis-and-forgiveness/) - When it comes to forgiving the killers of Trayvon Martin and Jordan Davis, a Christian mom wrestles with her faith's mandate to "love my enemies." - [Check Out My Melody: How Beyonce Transforms My Mundane Mom Life](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/check-out-my-melody-how-beyonce-transforms-my-mundane-mom-life/) - In the crazy moments between my jobs as the maid/chauffeur/laundress/insert chore here, Stevie, Erykah, Ledisi and Beyonce are my salvation. - [Mater Mea Majesty: Veronica Valentine](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/showing-the-beauty-of-black-moms/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of Veronica Valentine, buyer for heritage jeweler, CIRCA. - [Blessed to be Covered: Why ACA Enrollment Is Imperative For Uninsured Black Moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/obamacare-for-pregnant-black-moms/) - A pregnant Black mom urges us to take the first and most important step in raising the next generation of happy and healthy brown babies: get covered under the Affordable Care Act. - [My 13-Year-Old Wants To Shave His Afro Because His White Peers Won't Stop Touching It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/stop-touching-my-natural-hair/) - He’s tried telling kids, "Hey, you know, I'm not a petting zoo.” Nothing deters them from trying. - [On the MyBrownBaby Bookshelf: Out Of My Mind](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/02/out-of-my-mind-book-review/) - By Mari Chiles Out Of My Mind, by Sharon Draper (Atheneum Books) Out Of My Mind is a book about a disabled girl, Melody, who can't walk or talk. Most people don't think that kids like her understand anything or can learn, but Melody knows she can. And she finally gets to show it. In - [A Message to White Friends Who Don't Like What I Write About Race](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/a-message-to-white-friends-who-dont-like-what-i-write-about-race/) - A writer says she can’t undo an experience that left an indelible mark on her racial psyche. - [Mother Wit: 'Whoop That Bully Or I'll Whoop You'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/mother-wit-whoop-that-bully-or-ill-whoop-you/) - When a mom threatens to beat her son for refusing to fight his bully, Mother Wit schools her on how to help her son deal with his tormentor without using his hands. - [In the Gray: Teaching my Daughter How to Use Faith AND Wisdom in Relationships](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/in-the-gray-teaching-my-daughter-how-to-use-faith-and-wisdom-in-relationships/) - We all live in the murky, gray area that exists between our core values and the wisdom needed to deal with reality. How do we teach our children to discern the difference if we're confused about it, too? - [Mater Mea Majesty: Alicia Hall Moran](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/mater-mea-majesty-alicia-hall-moran/) - Showing the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children with a celebration of Alicia Hall Moran, mezzo-soprano and star of the national tour of 'The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.' - [Totally Lila and the Totally Awesome Nail Art, Featuring Big Sis Mari](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/totally-lila-and-the-totally-awesome-nail-art-featuring-big-sis-mari/) - When Totally Lila teams up with guest star/big sister Mari to show off a few nail art how-to's, hilarity ensues. - [#DangerousBlackKids Shows the Cuteness—and Humanity—Of Our Babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/dangerousblackkids-shows-the-cuteness-and-humanity-of-our-babies/) - In the wake of the Michael Dunn verdict, #DangerousBlackKids is a deliciously brilliant way to show the humanity of African American children. - [Tossing Student Lunches Over No Pay Is Cruel—and Dumb As Hell](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/tossing-student-lunches-over-no-pay-is-cruel-and-dumb-as-hell/) - Students already face a gang of divisions and prejudices in school. Now we're adding who can afford lunch to that list? - [We Need Positive Fathers on Reality TV. Are You Listening, “Love & Hip Hop?”](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/we-need-positive-fathers-on-reality-tv-are-you-listening-love-hip-hop/) - A Black father's ideas on how to better showcase Black fatherhood on Reality TV - [Jordan Davis' Life Mattered. All Of Our Children's Lives Matter.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/jordan-davis-life-mattered-all-of-our-childrens-lives-matter/) - God bless Ron Davis and Lucia McBath, the parents of Jordan Davis. No one should have to celebrate their child's 19th birthday mourning the injustice of a legal system that empowers white sociopaths to lynch our children. - [Finding True Love On Valentine's Day {Digging In the MBB Crates}](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/02/finding-true-love-on-valentines-day-digging-in-the-mbb-crates/) - This is the way it seemed to always work: A few weeks before Valentine's Day, whatever loser I was dating at the time would break up with the kid. For just the most random of reasons. I feel like we need to slow down and be friends. You're a great girl I'm just not ready - [Alvin Ailey on Valentine's Day: Showing My Daughters True Love](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/alvin-ailey-on-valentines-day-showing-my-daughters-true-love/) - Love of art, culture and beautiful brown bodies stretching and leaping across the stage: what better way to celebrate Valentine's Day with the girlpies? - ['Totally Lila' and the Totally Awesome Beauty Tips for Tweens](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/totally-lila-and-the-totally-awesome-beauty-tips-for-tweens/) - In this week's episode of "Totally Lila," Lila gives the how-to's on tween beauty, with a focus on moisturized lips. - [The Showdown: Bedtime Battles With Her Toddler Taught This Mom To Rest, Too](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/the-showdown-bedtime-battles-with-my-toddler-taught-this-mom-to-rest-too/) - This mom is praying for her restless toddler to recognize the value of sleep/rest and to be obedient to both her parents and her own body. She prays, too, that she gets the lesson also. - [Mater Mea Majesty: Karen Tappin Hall](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/mater-mea-majesty-karen-tappin-hall/) - MyBrownBaby is teaming up with the gloriously gorgeous site, mater mea, to do what we both do best: show the beauty, complexity, strength and awesome of Black moms and our children. - [Chicken, Shrimp & Andouille Gumbo Recipe with the Easiest Roux Ever](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/gumbo-recipe-with-easy-roux/) - I won't claim my gumbo is better than that cooked up by somebody's New Orleans grandma. But I'll tell you this: my gumbo recipe slays. - [What Beautiful Black Moms Look Like: mater mea shows our glory](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/what-beautiful-black-moms-look-like-mater-mea-shows-our-glory/) - mater mea celebrates motherhood through beautiful imagery, but the website needs our help to continue showing the beauty of us. - [Diahann Carroll: "Brown Skin Is Beautiful Now Put Some Make-up On It!"](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/02/diahann-carroll-brown-skin-is-beautifulnow-put-some/) - By DENENE MILLNER My mother was incredibly beautiful—had this fiery red hair and high cheekbones and the smoothest, most flawless skin you ever did see. With her hair just so, she looked so much like Whitney Houston that her co-workers on the line at Estee Lauder regularly used to ask her to bust a tune. - [Fathering Female Athletes, and the NY Times Article that Nearly Made My Head Explode](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/fathering-female-athletes-and-the-ny-times-article-that-nearly-made-my-head-explode/) - As the father of two skilled female athletes, I was thoroughly disgusted reading a New York Times story profiling the insanity that's taken over the world of youth girls soccer. - [Awkward Sex Talk: Bedsider.org's Awesome New Birth Control Info Site](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/awkward-sex-talk-bedsider-orgs-awesome-new-birth-control-info-site/) - Bedsider.org's new "Awkward Grandma" serves up humor as it helps give the 411 on birth control. - [DISCIPLINING A STRANGER'S CHILD: YES, I'M THAT PERSON](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/disciplining-a-strangers-child-yes-im-that-person/) - Kids aren’t going to be traumatized by a stranger politely telling them not to do something that could potentially harm them, or is just a social norm. - [Eye Candy: Vintage Black Celebrity Family Pictures](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/eye-candy-vintage-black-celebrity-family-pictures/) - Vintage pictures of some of our favorite Black celebrities and their children. - [As Trial Commences Over Jordan Davis' Murder, Hope Mixes with Dread](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/as-trial-commences-over-jordan-davis-murder-hope-mixes-with-realism/) - I pray that a Florida jury finds justice for Jordan, but I know too much about American jurisprudence and its disregard for black bodies to be hopeful. - [Not Like Oprah: Teaching Kids To Shine On Their Own Terms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/not-like-oprah-teaching-kids-to-shine-on-their-own-terms/) - It's natural to want our children to follow the steps of successful people. But what we should truly want is a kid who beats her own drum. - [Happy Birthday Trayvon Martin: We Remember and Celebrate You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/happy-birthday-trayvon-martin-we-remember-and-celebrate-you/) - Happy Birthday, Trayvon Martin. We will NEVER forget you. - ['Totally Lila' and the Totally Snowy Day: When Snow Strikes Tweens](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/02/totally-lila-and-the-totally-snowy-day-when-snow-strikes-tweens/) - In the latest episode of "Totally Lila," Little Girlpie shows how tweens "enjoy" a snow day. - [Lung Leavin' Day: How I Shattered My Fears and Embraced Life](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/surviving-cancer-and-fear/) - To celebrate surviving cancer, this mom smashes her fear in fire—literally—ever year. - [Start With the Heart: How To Teach Children To Do the Right Thing](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/raising-obedient-children/) - This mom wants her child to do the right thing because it's in her heart to do so—not because she's afraid of doing wrong. - [Fear Of a Black Booty: on Beyonce's Grammy Performance & How To Watch TV With Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/fear-of-a-black-booty-on-beyonces-grammy-performance-how-to-watch-tv-with-kids/) - To those who called Beyonce a whore for her Grammy Awards 2014 performance: suck it. - [Introducing 'Totally Lila': A New YouTube Show For Tweens](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/introducing-totally-lila-a-new-youtube-show-for-tweens/) - I challenged my 11-year-old to use her own brain to entertain herself. She created her own show. - [The Souls of Black Folk: Tasting the Duality of African American Life During a Fancy Dinner With Our Girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/the-souls-of-black-folk-tasting-the-duality-of-african-american-life-during-a-fancy-dinner-with-our-girls/) - When we took our daughters to one of the Top 5 restaurants in Atlanta, we got a sociological experience that gave our daughters a window into the rest of their lives. - [Baby Teeth Jewelry Is Actually, Like, A Thing. So You Know.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/baby-teeth-jewelry-is-actually-like-a-thing-so-you-know/) - Apparently, moms across the land are so obsessed over preserving memories of their babies that they're having their kids' baby teeth dipped in gold and silver and attached to chains. - [I'm A Black Single Mom and Black People Stereotype Me Like Crazy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/black-on-black-racism/) - This single Black mom is always subject to stereotypes, but it never ceases to amaze her that the majority of ridicule comes from others in her race. - [Childless and Okay With It For Now: When Babysitting Wears You Out](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/childless-and-okay-with-it-for-now-when-babysitting-wears-you-out/) - She's knows she wants a family of her own, but she wonders what happens when you can’t give them back at the end of day? - [The Hell? Philadelphia Teen Has Testicle Ruptured During Cop Pat-down. ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/the-hell-philadelphia-teen-has-testicle-ruptured-during-cop-pat-down/) - The story of Darrin Manning, the Philly teen whose testicle was ruptured by a cop, makes me want to holler and throw up both my hands. And some ‘bows. - [The Sneaky Child is the Best Child](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/the-sneaky-child-is-the-best-child/) - Parenting a sneaky toddler can be tricky. But this mom prefers her kid be the sneaky one anyway. - [Eff Madonna, Sarah Palin & the Naked Black Woman Chair.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/eff-madonna-sarah-palin-the-naked-black-woman-chair/) - Is it me, or have white folk (not all, but enough to notice) gone mad? - [Shaped By God: Encouraging Faith—As Opposed to Religion—in My Child](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/shaped-by-god-encouraging-faith-as-opposed-to-religion-in-my-child/) - A mother ponders teaching her daughter about faith—teachings that involve more than the transfer of Bible facts and "Because Jesus said so." - ["Mom, Why Is Everyone Here White?" What My Son Knows About Race That I Never Did](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/transracial-adoption-and-race/) - Even Rebecca Carroll's 8-year-old son knows there's something wrong when they visit her virtually all-white hometown. - [The Problem with Parenting From Your Own Pain](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/the-problem-with-parenting-from-your-own-pain/) - Fear is an awful foundation for parenting because the only fruit it can bear is more fear. Soon enough, we must surrender the fate of our children to God. - [LeBron James' Love Letter To Single Moms On The Shriver Report ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/lebron-james-love-letter-to-single-moms-on-the-shriver-report/) - LeBron James' sweet letter to his single mom—his champion—will make you want to call your mama and say, "thank you." - [Just Say "NO" To the Stereotyping of African American Parents and Other Moms and Dads Of Color](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/10/black-children-and-stereotypes/) - Like, what kid doesn’t dig the park? Mari loved the slide, you know? And the monkey bars. And especially when I pushed her on the swing. Her plea was stickier and sweeter and more delicious than a cherry pop: Higher, mommy! Higher! I want to kiss the sky… I delighted in watching my baby jump and - [Blue Ivy's Hair: Seriously, Folk—Leave Beyonce and Jay-Z's Child All the Way Alone Already](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/blue-ivys-hair-seriously-folk-leave-beyonce-and-jay-zs-child-all-the-way-alone-already/) - Four MyBrownBaby words about Blue Ivy's hair: Leave. That. Baby. Alone. I say this because after more than a year of everyone begging to see Beyonce and Jay-Z's daughter's face, they finally give us a full-on look at her smoochy cheeks and those big ol' doe eyes and the most kissable, juicy baby lips, like, - [Beyonce Is People's World's Most Beautiful Woman 2012—and She Says Blue Ivy Made It So](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/04/beyonce-is-peoples-worlds-most-beautiful-woman-2012-and-she-says-blue-ivy-made-it-so/) - That new mommy glow is working for Beyonce: the 30-year-old super star, who welcomed her first child, daughter Blue Ivy, with husband Jay-Z, was named People magazine's World's Most Beautiful Woman, and she's crediting becoming a mother to her newfound title. "I feel more beautiful than I've ever felt because I've given birth," Beyonce tells - [Beyonce’s Second Pregnancy: Advice For Dealing With Baby No. 2, From A Mom Who’s Been There](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/beyonces-second-pregnancy-advice-for-dealing-with-baby-no-2-from-a-mom-whos-been-there/) - Before I hip Beyonce to the second baby game, I need my second baby, my little Lila, to know this one true thing: she was wanted, made from love and the product of lots of plotting and planning and prayer—truly a gift from God. That said: Bey, girl, get ready. First babies are sweet and - [Amazing Black Children: Kid President, Asean Johnson and Y.N. Rich Kids Make Us PROUD!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/amazing-black-children-kid-president-asean-johnson-and-y-n-rich-kids-make-us-proud/) - Over the past few weeks, I've seen some extraordinary African American children floating through my webosphere—intelligent, passionate, humorous, talented brown babies who, even at their tender ages, are lifting their voices to make their marks on the world. I couldn't resist sharing their awesome here on MyBrownBaby, where we love to celebrate amazing kids. Here, - [My Serena Williams Essence Cover Story: Talking Tennis, Curves & Loving Yourself Completely](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/my-serena-williams-essence-cover-story-talking-tennis-curves-loving-yourself-completely/) - I'm used to having butterflies when I interview celebrities, especially those I adore. But I had the flight of the Monarchs rumbling in my stomach when it came time to meet up with Serena Williams, the No. 1 female tennis player in the world, who is more than a tad notorious for not being a - [MyBrownBaby Beauty: Stunning Photographs Of African American Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/mybrownbaby-beauty-stunning-photographs-of-african-american-children/) - Photographs of pretty babies make my heart flutter—those juicy cheeks, those sweet lips, those lovely eyes. It's as if the lens captured the very essence of the angels. Thing is, finding those delicious pictures of African American babies is hard. Too hard. I can remember having hours-long sessions in the photo departments of publications where - [On Interracial Relationships & That Cheerios Commercial: the Color Of Love Is Complex](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/on-interracial-relationships-that-cheerios-commercial-the-color-of-love-is-complex/) - Many families I associate with are still reeling from the fountain of negative responses from that innocuous Cheerios commercial. Many of them continue to be “shocked” that in the 21st century, people still had venom to spare for the idea of interracial families. I don’t have the space or time to get into why the very notion - [Return Of the Gentleman: What Black Boys Could Stand To Learn From Their Elders—For Our Girls' Sake](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/return-of-the-gentleman-what-black-boys-could-stand-to-learn-from-their-elders-for-our-girls-sake/) - I mean, I get it: he is my father and so Daddy is going to be an absolute gentleman to his little girl—make me feel special and protected and respected and loved, in that order, at all times. It is what he does. What’s he’s always done. And it never, ever gets old. Still, as - [Whip Appeal: A Dad Makes the Argument For Owning His Sexy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/whip-appeal-a-dad-makes-the-argument-for-owning-his-sexy/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR It was a flyer that that got me thinking. That simple, gaudy, overly Photoshopped flyer stuck under my windshield wiper: “Grown N’ Sexy Party. 21 and Over Only,” followed by a list of rappers and DJs I never knew existed. The woman pictured on that little rectangle was contorted in an inhuman - [The Skin She's In: A Black Dad Ponders Colorism's Effect On His Light-Skinned Daughter](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/the-skin-shes-in-a-black-dad-ponders-colorisms-effect-on-his-light-skinned-daughter/) - By JAMAL FREDERICK I love my daughter in ways I could never imagine and she’s long crossed the threshold of innocent infancy. She's at that cute stage, that small stumbling stage, that stage where I think she’ll always be a baby and every year she turns two. I see her growing, developing her personality, getting - [The Kinsey Collection: Exploring Our Inspired History Through Art and the Words of Talib Kweli](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/the-kinsey-collection-exploring-our-inspired-history-through-art-and-the-words-of-talib-kweli/) - Family is… everything—the very essence of human connection. As necessary, certainly, as air. Water. Freedom. Imagine, then, the absence of these things—the powerlessness that came with the shackles of American slavery. Babies sold off like chattel. Wives there one day, gone the next. Families broken by whim. The stories—all-too-real, all-too-common—break hearts. But my God, when - [In Trayvon Martin's Name: Words, Art and Music Inspired By the Death of the Son We All Call Our Own](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/blogging-trayvon-martin-words-art-and-music-inspired-by-the-death-the-son-we-all-call-our-own/) - Some of the finest of art is painted with the broad colors of our pain: Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit," would not have existed if not for white America's terroristic practice of lynching Blacks, and Richard Wright's "Native Son," was written as a meditation on the social conditions imposed on African Americans—certainly, the effects of America's - [This Is My Beautiful, Smart Nephew Miles. He Will Change the World. And #HeIsNotASuspect](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/this-is-my-beautiful-smart-nephew-miles-he-will-change-the-world-and-heisnotasuspect/) - Editor's Note: In response to the George Zimmerman verdict and the flood of responses from its readers, ESSENCE magazine is launching #HeIsNotASuspect, a powerful social media campaign and movement aimed at stopping racial profiling of African-American males. The goal is to counter stereotypes of our children and to declare to the world that young Black - [Natural Hair: A Teen Struggles To Rock Her Locs Proudly, Courageously](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/natural-hair-a-teen-struggles-to-rock-her-locs-proudly-courageously/) - I went #teamnatural 13 years ago with a very specific intention: to show and prove to my daughter, Mari, that she should be proud of her hair exactly how it grows out of her head. And for more than 14 years, I've lovingly tended to every curl, kink and tendril on her scalp, speaking power - [EBONY's 'We Are Trayvon Martin' Covers: Spike, D Wade, Boris Kodjoe Pay Tribute](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/ebonys-we-are-trayvon-martin-covers-spike-d-wade-boris-kodjoe-pay-tribute/) - Today, we give EBONY magazine a MyBrownBaby salute for tapping Spike Lee, Boris Kodjoe, Dwyane Wade and their sons, all dressed in hoodies, to illustrate the September 2013 issue, devoted to Trayvon Martin and the watershed moment we shared as a community after the “non-guilty” verdict in the George Zimmerman trial. Every bit as beautiful - [Raising 14-Year-Olds Ain't For Punks: Learning How To Let My Baby Spread Her Wings & Fly](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/raising-14-year-olds-aint-for-punks-learning-how-to-let-my-baby-spread-her-wings-fly/) - She started high school last week—left this house in a ball of nerves and excitement and fear and delight, curious about this new, independent path she was about to walk, sans her mother’s hand to squeeze during the scary parts. I offered to make her an omelet. She wasn’t hungry. I plotted to drive her - ['Say Yes' : Ava DuVernay's Delicious New Short Film For Fashion Fair (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/say-yes-ava-duvernays-delicious-new-short-film-for-fashion-fair-video/) - Why, why, WHY is Ava DuVernay so doggone dope? After blowing us away earlier this year with The Door, a breathtaking short film she created to showcase the designs of fashion house Miu Miu, the Sundance Award-winning director of Middle of Nowhere is at it again with Say Yes, a bubbling brown sugar jewel of a - [For Fairytale Believers: Aiyana Jones, 7-Year-Old Killed In Detroit Police Raid, Deserves Justice (Petition)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/for-fairytale-believers-aiyana-jones-7-year-old-killed-in-detroit-police-raid-deserves-justice-petition/) - By ASHA FRENCH Post-Zimmerman verdict parenting has many Black parents feeling like Sethe (a character from Toni Morrison’s Beloved); we realize that the world is not fit for the children we love and we don’t know what to do about it. All I know to do is connect, so I nod at the woman who walks into - [White Mom, Black Daughter, Natural Hair: When Beautiful Means "Different."](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/white-mom-black-daughter-natural-hair-when-beautiful-means-different/) - By Stacey Conner "Who does her hair?" she asks me gruffly. I look up from the table where I am trying to manage my four young children and squint into the glare of the insanely fluorescent lighting of a local burger restaurant. I rarely take the kids out to eat alone, but day after day - [Jaden Smith's Anti-Education Twitter Rant: 'School Brainwashes The Youth,' Everyone Should Drop Out](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/jaden-smiths-anti-education-twitter-rant-school-brainwashes-the-youth-everyone-should-drop-out/) - Deep, deep sigh: Jaden Smith launched himself right into a storm of criticism earlier this week for a series of tweets in which he suggested that dropping out of school makes people more intelligent. Seriously. I know, I know. But before you roast the boy or advocate Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith shut down his - [MyBrownBaby Stands Against Ignorance: Return 'Invisible Man' to Schools in North Carolina!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/mybrownbaby-stands-against-ignorance-return-invisible-man-to-schools-in-north-carolina/) - Perhaps by now you've heard that the school board in Randolph County, North Carolina, voted last week to ban Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" from the county's schools, after a parent wrote a letter objecting to the book's presence on her son's junior-year reading list. This 61-year-old American classic, Ellison's eloquent, aching account of the black - [Brown Skin Beauty: Makeup Artist Muse Gives MyBrownBaby A (Much-Needed) Beauty and Makeup Overhaul](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/brown-skin-beauty-makeup-artist-muse-gives-mybrownbaby-a-much-needed-beauty-and-makeup-overhaul/) - I was about 14 when I started boosting my mom’s make-up. Nothing over-the-top—a little eyeliner, some mascara, I think. The occasional lipstick. It made me feel grown. I’d sneak it on after she left for work, and scrub it off my face before she came home from work. I’d like to think she was none-the-wiser - ['I Am Beautiful the Way I Am': NYC Girls Project Encourages Self-Esteem For Tweens](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/i-am-beautiful-the-way-i-am-nyc-girls-project-encourages-self-esteem-for-tweens/) - Here’s the thing: I’m no fan of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. His crusade against cigarettes, super-sized sodas and fatty oils in restaurant food notwithstanding, I can’t stand that he insists on using his government-sanctioned racial profiling program, Stop and Frisk, to terrorize black and brown boys, and I’m definitely not here for the - ['Scandal' Gladiators! Kerry Washington Graces November 2013 ESSENCE Cover, Penned By Moi](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/scandal-gladiators-kerry-washington-graces-november-2013-essence-cover-penned-by-moi/) - I mean, ESSENCE's Entertainment Director Cori Murray barely got the words out of her mouth before I hit her with the overly enthusiastic, breathless, "Yes, I'm a Gladiator! Yes, I'd love to write a cover story on Kerry Washington!" What journalist worth her salt, after all, wouldn't want to profile Hollywood's "It" girl—the woman who, - [Chris Brown 'Lost His Virginity' at 8 and Thinks It's Something To Brag About. Except It's Not.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/chris-brown-lost-his-virginity-at-8-and-thinks-its-something-to-brag-about-except-its-not/) - Right, so, this explains a lot: Chris Brown says he lost his virginity at age 8, to a girl who was 14 or 15 years old, and apparently, he owes his grown man sexual prowess to his exposure to sex and porn as a third grader. Seriously. In an interview with the Guardian, the 24-year-old - [This Is 45—And Other Happy Birthday Musings](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/this-is-45-and-other-happy-birthday-musings/) - I've never felt stronger, wiser, more confident, beautiful, sexy or smarter than on this day. - [The Adorable Preschool Tap Dancer Who Will Totally Be Beyonce When She Grows Up (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/the-adorable-preschool-tap-dancer-who-will-totally-be-beyonce-when-she-grows-up-video/) - Oh. My. God. This pint-sized, preschool tap dancing goddess gave me absolutely LIFE this morning. - [{Faith & Motherhood} I Am Enough: Hearing Baby Girl's Laughter Reminds a Mom To Find Her Joy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/faith-motherhood-i-am-enough-hearing-baby-girls-laughter-reminds-a-mom-to-find-her-joy/) - Her giggle is infectious. No, for real. If you heard my daughter laughing, I’m confident you would burst into a snicker of your own. Even on a bad day, you’d surely feel the tingle of a smile gripping the insides of your jaws, forcing you into, at the very least, a grin. Her joy is - [Black Fathers Doing It Right: Let's Hail Tray Chaney and Doyin Richards](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/black-fathers-doing-it-right-lets-hail-tray-chaney-and-doyin-richards/) - Shining a spotlight on actor/rapper Tray Chaney's new video, "Dedicated Fathers" and fighting the negative stereotypes of black dads - [Ryan Coogler, Ava DuVernay, Julie Dash Talk Black Cinema on Twitter Today](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/ryan-coogler-ava-duvernay-julie-dash-talk-black-cinema-on-twitter-today/) - If you love melanin rich movies, you want to be on Twitter today for the AFFRM “Rebel-a-thon,” a celebration of Black cinema with Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler, Julie Dash and more. - [The Scariest Pro-Breastfeeding Video For Black Moms, Like, Ever](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/04/the-scariest-pro-breastfeeding-video-for-black-moms-like-ever/) - I mean, I'm trying really hard to focus on what's important about this video. You score with me every time if you're encouraging mothers to feed their newborns naturally through breastfeeding and if that message acknowledges the unique challenges African American mothers face when deciding whether to give their babies the breast or a bottle, - [Becoming Mommy: Losing My Old Self, Embracing the New Me Is A Delicate Dance](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/05/becoming-mommy-losing-my-old-self-embracing-the-new-me-is-a-delicate-dance/) - Since my daughter, MaKayla, was born eight months ago, I've been two-faced. Not in the colloquial sense of the word; as in pretending to be and feel one way but acting another. Although I don't know if I'm too far off from that. No, I mean two-faced as in there are two mes; two selves. - [A Mother's Worst Fear: Learning How To Embrace It—And Then Let It Go](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/a-mothers-worst-fear-learning-how-to-embrace-it-and-then-let-it-go/) - It was an ordinary day. Except that it wasn't. My daughter and I were making our usual trek into downtown Philadelphia and to her daycare facility. Me: Singing her favorite jams like "The Wheels On the Bus" and "The Itsy-Bitsy Spider" at the top of my lungs. Her: Getting her baby girl giggle on before - [The Pretty Red Door: A Mother Finds God's Beauty Through the Eyes Of Her Child](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/the-pretty-red-door-a-mother-finds-gods-beauty-through-the-eyes-of-her-child/) - So when you buy a house that’s 85 years old, it’s inevitable that you will spend a good portion of the first few years fixing, replacing, or renovating stuff. The joy in it being that you can retain the charm of the past yet make the place your own via updates. Hubby and I are - [Faith and Motherhood: What Does Homeless "Look" Like? A Mom Gives Herself A Reality Check](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/faith-and-motherhood-what-does-homeless-look-like-a-mom-gives-herself-a-reality-check/) - By TRACEY MICHAE'L LEWIS-GIGGETTS Sometimes you just have to check yourself. I know I do. And when I don't, sometimes God does the checking. For instance, I can easily find myself making snap judgments about people without any consideration of them and certainly without the compassion I profess to have. This very thing happened to - [{Faith & Motherhood} A Letter To My Daughter: Lessons On Stepping Out On Faith](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/faith-and-motherhood-a-letter-to-my-daughter-lessons-on-stepping-out-on-faith/) - Somewhere inside every mom is this desire to share her heart with her children. Not just the basics on life and living but the real scoop without filter. This is especially true with a girl-child because we often want to spare our young girls the negative experiences we may have had or the bad choices - [{Faith & Motherhood} Water-Walking Into Motherhood After Miscarriages and Others' Doubt](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/faith-motherhood-water-walking-into-motherhood-after-miscarriages-and-others-doubt/) - "Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear." — Matthew 14:25-26 A year or so into our marriage, my hubby and I were ready to start a family. Having - [{Faith & Motherhood} Ten Life Lessons For My Baby Girl](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/faith-motherhood-ten-life-lessons-for-my-baby-girl/) - After months of worrying whether my baby girl would "stick" or not (because of previous miscarriages) and finally settling into what ended up being a very uncomplicated pregnancy (despite the hedging of my doctors), I sat down a few weeks before she was born and wrote down the top ten things I wanted her to - [{Faith & Motherhood} Finding—and Modeling—Contentment, For My Daughter's Sake](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/faith-motherhood-finding-and-modeling-contentment-for-my-daughters-sake/) - Who do I need to pay to get this child completely potty-trained? Between crockpot meal prep, editing deadlines, teaching, freelance writing and blah, blah, and blah, when will I ever have more than five minutes to myself? Why oh why does financial stability continue to play its cruel game of peek-a-boo? One minute it’s - [{Faith & Motherhood} Grace for the Ignorant: The Jesus I Want My Daughter to Know](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/faith-motherhood-grace-for-the-ignorant-the-jesus-i-want-my-daughter-to-know/) - I love Jesus. I do. And I want to teach my daughter to love Jesus, too. I want her to meet this awesome Power that has literally changed my life. I want her to know that her being an intellectual, a critical thinker, is not, in any way, at war with her being a woman - [{Faith & Motherhood} When Your Reflection Talks Back](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/faith-motherhood-when-your-reflection-talks-back/) - For most of us, our children are our second chance. And I don't mean in a Joe Jackson, Kris Jenner kind of way either. We don't, or at least shouldn't, give birth to children in order to somehow fulfill dreams we have not been able to accomplish on our own for whatever reason. Their purpose - [{Faith & Motherhood} The Joy in Tears: A Mother Learns the Benefit Of A Good Cry](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/faith-motherhood-the-joy-in-tears-a-mother-learns-the-benefit-of-a-good-cry/) - There was a time when I would have viewed my tears, not as a way to cleanse my soul or to release the heaviness of heartache and pain, but as a sign of weakness. As if being weak (as in vulnerable) is a bad thing. It isn’t. - [Zero Years a Slave: Setting my Child Free from Generational Bondages](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/zero-years-a-slave-setting-my-child-free-from-generational-bondages/) - Watching "Twelve Years A Slave" made Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts think long and hard about her own mental/emotional bondage, and ways she can avoid passing along her baggage to her daughter. - [The Broken Purple Crayon: Teaching Kids that 'Broken' Is Still 'Useful'—In Play and Real Life](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/the-broken-purple-crayon-teaching-kids-that-broken-is-still-useful-in-play-and-real-life/) - Let’s teach our children that even broken pieces—of crayons and lives—are still useful. Let’s share with them that there’s always hope. In fact, hope is most alive when we can’t see it. - [What Matters Most On Thanksgiving Day and Every Day](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/what-matters-most-on-thanksgiving-day-and-every-day/) - A MyBrownBaby Thanksgiving treat! - [The Lord Will Make a Way: When Tragedy Reminds Us To Be Faithful and Trust God [For R' Mani]](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/the-lord-will-make-a-way-when-tragedy-reminds-us-to-be-faithful-and-trust-god-for-r-mani/) - The brutal death of a child and her pregnant mother reminds a mother to embrace the instincts God gives us—because He never steers us wrong. - [{Faith & Motherhood} Teaching Children To Pray—Purposefully and From the Heart](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/faith-motherhood-teaching-children-to-pray-purposefully-and-from-the-heart/) - Lord knows I smile big and cheesy when I hear my daughter say her grace or put her hands together for prayer before we go night-night. But I think it’s just as important that when someone at school hurts her feelings, she knows she can go inside herself and pray about that too. - [{Faith & Motherhood} Developing My Child's 'Character': The Greatest Ghostwriting Gig Ever](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/faith-motherhood-developing-my-childs-character-the-greatest-ghostwriting-gig-ever/) - I'm helping to write the first few chapters of my daughter’s life, so that I don't miss the opportunity to inject lessons that she'd never come up with on her own. - [{Faith & Motherhood} The Solution to Selfishness: Parenthood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/faith-motherhood-the-solution-to-selfishness-parenthood/) - Want to control—or even eliminate—selfishness? I have the perfect solution! Have a baby! - [Man Who Slapped Black Baby On Airplane Gets 8 Months In Prison For His Foolishness](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/man-who-slapped-black-baby-on-airplane-gets-8-months-in-prison-for-his-foolishness/) - Joe Rickey Hundley, the Idaho man who slapped a crying toddler and demanded the child's mother "shut that nigger baby up" has been sentenced to eight months in federal prison. - [Building Beauty-full Daughters: Teaching Girls of Color to Love Their Entire Selves](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/black-girls-beauty-and-self-esteem/) - When people tell her 4-year-old daughter she's "pretty," this mom feels the urge to flesh out the compliment to assure her baby she's much more than a pretty face. - [Pope Francis Is Cool With Public Breastfeeding—And You Should Be, Too](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/pope-francis-is-cool-with-public-breastfeeding-and-you-should-be-too/) - News that Pope Francis is encouraging mothers to breastfeed their babies in public just might make me stop in my nearest Catholic church for a service or two. - [The Tiger Mom Effect: When Immigrant Parents Think Their Childrearing Is Better Than Blacks'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/01/tiger-moms-immigrants-and-black-mothers/) - I don’t know—maybe her balls were just hanging low that day. How else to explain how easily it rolled off her tongue? “You’re not like all the other black men. You go to work and pay your bills. You’re not lazy like the rest of them.” That was the pearl that Ms. Pearl, our former - [For Working Mothers Who've Considered Nannies But Realize Their Babies Are Totally Awesome](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/for-working-mothers-whove-considered-nannies-but-realize-their-babies-are-totally-awesome/) - So can we have some real talk? Good. When my daughter was born, I struggled long and hard about what we’d do when I went back to work. Before getting pregnant, I was adamant about staying home with her until she was two years old and talking. In other words, until she could say, “Mommy, - [Because of Stereotypes, Black Boys Adjust Better Socially Than Black Girls in Suburban Schools](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/because-of-stereotypes-black-boys-adjust-better-socially-than-black-girls-in-suburban-schools/) - Black boys in the suburbs appear to have a much easier time assimilating and being accepted because the stereotypes about African-American male children help them in social situations, while the stereotypes for black girls harm them. - [Halloween Obese Letters For Trick or Treaters? Talk About Killjoy. Plus, I Prefer Gummy Bears.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/halloween-obese-letters-for-trick-or-treaters-talk-about-killjoy-plus-i-prefer-gummy-bears/) - Calling a kid fat just might do more harm mentally for that kid than any handful of mini-Snickers bars could do. Not to mention, it could convince a mom to march over to your house and smash a couple of... pumpkins. You just don't play with peoples' kids like that. - [Tasteless, Racist Trayvon Martin Costumes: What Better Not Show Up On My Stoop This Halloween](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/tasteless-racist-trayvon-martin-costumes-what-better-not-show-up-on-my-stoop-this-halloween/) - Kids, freaks, racists and fools love them some Halloween, but this photo of two ignoramuses in Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman costumes, replete with blackface, a bloody sweatshirt, a gun and giggles, made me see stars, stripes, thunderclouds and lightening. - [The N Word: How Do You Talk To Your Child About This Hateful Slur? {Open Thread}](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/the-n-word-how-do-you-talk-to-your-child-about-this-hateful-slur-open-thread/) - My girls have permission to put the paws on whoever dares to call them the "N" word. How are you counseling your kids to respond to it? - [With Food Stamp Cuts Looming, Remembering The Government Cheese](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/with-food-stamp-cuts-looming-remembering-the-government-cheese/) - As families prepare for cutbacks to the federal food stamp program, remember that people are hurting, and just as easily as we make it, it could be taken away—leaving us to hurt too. - [A Word on Mortality: Take the Time to Record the Important Moments ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/take-the-time-to-record-the-important-moments-in-our-lives/) - We always think there will be more time...but sometimes we need to just stop and take the time to record the important moments. - [Federal Prosecutor Reopens Kendrick Johnson Gym Mat Death Investigation; Video Of Gym Released](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/federal-prosecutor-reopens-kendrick-johnson-gym-mat-death-investigation-video-of-gym-released/) - A federal prosecutor is reopening the investigation into the death of Kendrick Johnson, the teenager found dead inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in his high school gym—an announcement that came just one day after a judge ordered local police to release video of the gym where KJ died. - [To Avoid Stigma, Biracial Teen Changes Her Name from Keisha to Kylie](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/to-avoid-stigma-biracial-teen-changes-her-name-from-keisha-to-kylie/) - To avoid stigma, a biracial teen changed her name from Keisha to Kylie—should she be applauded or snatched up by the Drop Squad? - [Black Girls Rock: Kerry Washington Was Brilliant On SNL—Plus, Welcome To the MyBrownBaby Crew!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/black-girls-rock-kerry-washington-was-brilliant-on-snl-plus-welcome-to-the-mybrownbaby-crew/) - Welcoming mom-to-be Kerry Washington to the MyBrownBaby crew as we celebrate her hilarious star turn on 'Saturday Night Live.' - ['Clear the Airwaves Project' Wants Violent, Explicit, Misogynistic Music Off Chicago Radio](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/clear-the-airwaves-project-wants-violent-explicit-misogynistic-music-off-chicago-radio/) - A new group out of Chicago is going after radio stations and their advertisers for filling the airwaves with misogynistic, violent, sexually-explicit music. - [MyBrownBaby Fresh: Man Sues Wife For Having 'Ugly' Kids, Unarmed Renisha McBride Killed After Seeking Help](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/mybrownbaby-fresh-man-sues-wife-for-having-ugly-kids-unarmed-renisha-mcbride-killed-after-seeking-help/) - This man sued his wife for having ugly babies—and won. This, and four other stories that caught our attention this week, including Jamilah Lemeiux moving piece on the shooting death of #RenishaMcBride. - [The Honest Company Honestly Makes Me Want To Clean Stuff (Plus, a $500 Giveaway!)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/the-honest-company-honestly-makes-me-want-to-clean-stuff-plus-a-500-giveaway/) - The Honest Company asked me to pick out $35 worth of items from The Honest Company website to try out at my place. I'm obsessed. Here's why. Plus, enter to win $500 in product from the company that Jessica Alba built. - [Couple Arrested For Abandoning Adopted Son: What Would You Do If Your Child Pulled a Knife On You?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/couple-arrested-for-abandoning-adopted-son-what-would-you-do-if-your-child-pulled-a-knife-on-you/) - An Ohio couple faces six months in prison and a $1,000 fine for leaving their adopted son with child welfare officials. - [Millionaire Miracle in Tangelo Park: Hotelier Harris Rosen Gives Free Daycare, College Tuition To Black Neighborhood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/millionaire-miracle-in-tangelo-park-hotelier-harris-rosen-gives-free-daycare-college-tuition-to-black-neighborhood/) - The story of millionaire hotelier Harris Rosen’s generosity toward the children of a mostly Black, poverty-stricken community in Orlando, totally made my MyBrownBaby day today. - [Forget Princess Toys: The Video That'll Make Girls Want To Build Some Stuff](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/great-science-toys-for-girls/) - This video right here? This video right here? EH! VER! REE! THANG! I mean, what could be better than three little girls mean-mugging pink tea sets and frilly dolls, giving a collective “forget y’all” to stupid gender stereotypes, and showing off their big girl brains with the sickest Rube Goldberg machine ever—set to a Beastie Boys - [The Most Genius Baby Shower Gift Idea Ever Was... [MyBrownBaby Open Thread]](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/the-most-genius-baby-shower-gift-idea-ever-was-mybrownbaby-open-thread/) - What was the best baby shower gift you got when you were pregnant with your babies? And what's your go-to baby shower gift idea? - [A Thanksgiving Parade Play date: Mommy, Daughter and Mary J. Blige](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/a-thanksgiving-parade-play-date-mommy-daughter-and-mary-j-blige/) - Mary J. Blige's self-professed biggest fan remembers the day she blew a kiss to the Black girl icon of soul—and the singer blew a kiss right back. - [Picking the Brown Doll: Why Images Matter](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/picking-the-brown-doll-why-images-matter/) - A mother is reaffirmed in her commitment to stay vigilant about images she exposes her daughter to after a class project reveals her baby girl is listening. - [Harris-Perry: Marissa Alexander's New Trial Gives Florida a Chance to Correct a Grave Wrong](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/harris-perry-marissa-alexanders-new-trial-gives-florida-a-chance-to-correct-a-grave-wrong/) - Marissa Alexander's new trial gives the state of Florida an opportunity to correct a grave injustice, as Melissa Harris-Perry eloquently points out - [Using 'The Help' to Teach Students about the Civil Rights Movement is Ridiculous](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/using-the-help-to-teach-students-about-the-civil-rights-movement-is-ridiculous/) - As Slate reports that schools are using 'The Help' to teach students about the Civil Rights Movement, we shake our heads at the ludicrousness of it all. - [Mandela: World Community Reacts to Death of 'Closest Thing We Have to Proof of God'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/mandela-world-community-reacts-to-death-of-closest-thing-we-have-to-proof-of-god/) - Nelson Mandela just may be the most exceptional individual any of us will ever witness in our lifetimes. - [Pharrell Williams' New 24-Hour 'Happy' Video: Turning Blah Mondays Into Ah(!) Days (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/pharrell-williams-new-24-hour-happy-video-turning-blah-mondays-into-ah-days-video/) - Pharrell Williams' new 24-hour 'Happy' video makes us giddy. Press play and get you some. - [Kandi Burruss & Mama Joyce Make Me Grateful My Mom and Dad Practiced Hands-off Parenting](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/kandi-burruss-mama-joyce-make-me-grateful-my-mom-and-dad-practiced-hands-off-parenting/) - Watching Mama Joyce tear through daughter Kandi Burruss's relationships on Real Housewives of Atlanta is painful—and makes me vow not to do my daughters that way. - [Black Teen Pregnancy Rates Drop By 51 Percent—Thanks To Responsible Teens ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/black-teen-pregnancy-rates-drop-by-51-percent-thanks-to-responsible-teens/) - Health advocates say the massive drop in Black teen pregnancy rates is due to more teens taking control of their reproductive responsibilities. - [Gisele Bundchen's Breastfeeding Photo: Leave This Working Mom Alone Already!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/gisele-bundchens-breastfeeding-photo-leave-this-working-mom-alone-already/) - Yes, Gisele Bundchen Instagrammed a shot of herself getting glam while breastfeeding her daughter. And she deserves our applause, not ridicule. - [R. Kelly's New Album 'Black Panties': Um, Why? Just Why? I Got Questions (Open Thread)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/r-kellys-new-album-black-panties-um-why-just-why-i-got-questions-open-thread/) - What—haven't you heard? R. Kelly has a new album out. Apparently it's all the rage. Some of us don't quite understand why. - [Natural Hair Love For Brown Girls: An Open Letter For Our Babies & Their Tresses](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/natural-hair-love-for-brown-girls-an-open-letter-for-our-babies-their-tresses/) - The war against Black girls wearing natural hair inspires one mom to tell our babies to be steadfast in loving themselves. - [Jesus vs. Santa Claus: Why Parents on Both Sides of the Issue Need to Get Over Themselves](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/jesus-vs-santa-claus-why-parents-on-both-sides-of-the-issue-need-to-get-over-themselves/) - Is it possible to have a child believe in Santa Claus and still teach them about the birth of a Savior, the true meaning of Christmas? - [Megyn Kelly, Black Santa and Other Colored Things That'll Make Her Fox Head Explode](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/megyn-kelly-black-santa-and-other-colored-things-thatll-make-her-fox-head-explode/) - If Fox's Megyn Kelly is offended by the idea of a Black Santa, her head would explode if she knew all the ways Blackness rears its beautiful head in our household. - [The Best R&B and Soul Christmas Music Playlist Ever](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/the-best-rb-and-soul-christmas-music-playlist-ever/) - If you’re a true Christmas music connoisseur, you’ll love this R&B, Soul, Gospel and Jazz Christmas music list I whipped up just for MyBrownBaby! - [Merry MyBrownBaby Christmas 2013—Scrooge Style! (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/12/merry-mybrownbaby-christmas-2013-scrooge-style-video/) - Have an Un-Scroogy Merry MyBrownBaby Christmas, from our family to yours! - [Forget 2014 New Year Resolutions: Try this REVOLUTION For Moms & Dads](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/forget-2014-new-year-resolutions-try-this-revolution-for-moms-dads/) - Forget about the resolutions. Focusing on the process, rather than the goal, will have you winning every time. - [New Year's Resolutions: More of This in 2014, Please](http://mybrownbaby.com/2014/01/new-years-resolutions-more-of-this-in-2014-please/) - I don't have any big resolutions—no vows to lose weight or eat better or sock away extra money or take any fancy trips. But I do have a few things I want. These are they. - [Dear 2012: The Ace Hood MyBrownBaby "Hustle Hard" Anthem Is In Full Effect](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/01/dear-2012-the-ace-hood-mybrownbaby-hustle-hard-anthem-is-in-full-effect/) - Dear 2012, Here’s the thing, New Year: 2011 kinda kicked my ass. Like, seriously. I mean, of course, there are plenty of people who can claim life beatings worse than mine; the streets were full of folk occupying in the name of the 99 percent who, despite their best efforts, couldn’t/can’t seem to catch a - [If I Hear R. Kelly On My Radio One Mo' 'Gin...](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/12/if-i-hear-r-kelly-on-my-radio-one-mo/) - Correct me if I'm wong, but wasn't R. Kelly dragged to trial on charges he peed on and had sex with a 13-year-old? On tape? And wasn't he the one who convinced R&B beauty Aaliyah to marry him at the tender age of 17 when he'd long been a grown man? And haven't rumors of - [Angry Mom Launches Positive Natural Hair Project](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/angry-mom-launches-positive-natural-hair-project/) - By AYA de LEON I do not have time for racism this week. I’m a working mom, with a high maintenance marriage, I’m writing a novel, recovering from a car accident, trying to make positive changes around diet and exercise, and preparing for my daughter’s fourth birthday. My time is limited. Precious. But racism has - [Get A Degree, Go Straight To Jail: A Mom Learns A Tough Lesson After Shoplifting](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/get-a-degree-go-straight-to-jail-a-mom-learns-a-tough-lesson-after-shoplifting/) - By SHARISSE TRACEY SMITH Right after graduating from college I went to jail for shoplifting. I charged the four storage bins in my shopping cart but left two packs of boys undershirts tucked underneath the last bin on purpose. Adrenaline convinced me that my plan and excuse of it being an “honest mistake” would work - [Summer Madness: Dangerous Stuff I'm Going To Let My Girls Do During Vacation](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/05/great-ways-to-encourage-black-children-to-be-fearless/) - I admit it: I'm a punk overly cautious, protective to a fault. Particularly when it comes to my babies. I mean, I want Mari and Lila to be fearless to use their voice, speak their minds and follow their hearts, no matter if it leads them down a path less traveled. The path to success - [After Teen Arrested for Science Experiment, Florida Officials Dismiss Charges](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/after-teen-arrested-for-science-experiment-florida-officials-dismiss-charges/) - By NICK CHILES Apparently there are some grownups in Polk County, Florida, who have some sense. We just got word that Kiera Wilmot, the 16-year-old who was arrested and dragged from the school in handcuffs for creating an early morning explosion on school grounds when she mixed toilet bowl cleaner and aluminum foil to see - [Another Outrage: Cops in New Mexico Attack Family, Shoot at Car Filled with Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/another-outrage-cops-in-new-mexico-attack-family-shoot-at-car-filled-with-children/) - Watching New Mexico officers attack Oriana Ferrell and her family and shoot at her car, we must ask why the lives and bodies of African Americans are still devalued in this country. - [If You Suck At Reading Others' Emotions, Your Life Will Suck](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/if-you-suck-at-reading-others-emotions-your-life-will-suck/) - Are you an Empathy Bad Ass? Can you immediately read the moods of others, which is an extremely important skill to have—and one many of our children are lacking. Take the Empathy Test and see where you rank. - [Renisha McBride's Death Ruled a Homicide, So Why Hasn't Her Killer Been Arrested?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/renisha-mcbrides-death-ruled-a-homicide-so-why-hasnt-her-killer-been-arrested/) - It took six weeks for Florida authorities to arrest George Zimmerman after he killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. Let's hope the Michigan authorities can move faster than that in arresting the killer of Renisha McBride. - [George Zimmerman's Trial: Finally, Justice For Trayvon Martin—Thanks To Many](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/george-zimmermans-trial-finally-justice-for-trayvon-martin-thanks-to-many/) - Just over a year ago, I stumbled across a press conference announcement by a couple that was trying to draw attention to both the shooting death of their son, Trayvon Martin, and the refusal by investigators to so much as arrest, let alone charge and bring to trial, neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman, the man who’d - [As Violence Explodes in PG-13 Movies, Parents Have to Say No to Hollywood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/11/as-violence-explodes-in-pg-13-movies-parents-have-to-say-no-to-hollywood/) - If we care at all about our children and about the fate of our society, we need to take a stand against the violence Hollywood is peddling to us. The easiest way to take a stand? Let our dollars do the talking. - [What’s In a Baby Name? For Some of Them, No Interview](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/05/whats-in-a-baby-name-for-some-of-them-no-interview/) - By NICK CHILES The Social Security Administration released the list of top baby names for 2011 and as I perused the list, I thought about the oft-repeated line among black parents when it comes to baby naming: make sure your kid gets the interview. In other words, if you give your child a name that’s - [Baby Names In the 1940 Census: Turns Out My Grandparents Were Trendy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/04/baby-names-in-the-1940-census-turns-out-my-grandparents-were-trendy/) - Records from the 1940 Census are being released online today by the U.S. National Archives after 72 years of confidentiality expires—which means details of the lives of more than 21 million people living in the U.S. and Puerto Rico will be available to anyone who wants to take a peek into families and trends transformed - [The Latest On Shawty Lo's "All My Babies Mamas," Plus MBB Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/the-latest-on-shawty-los-all-my-babies-mamas-plus-mbb-fresh-links/) - Some 35,000 petition signatures and a week's worth of negative press later, Oxygen is vowing to move forward with their plans to air the stupidly stereotypical, epically embarrassing one-hour special, All My Babies' Mamas, featuring rapper Shawty Lo and his stable of 11 children and their 10 mothers. The network that was originally founded to - [Turned Up & Tapped Out: Why I'm Giving Up On Black Radio That Plays Rap Music](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/turned-up-tapped-out-why-im-giving-up-on-black-radio-that-plays-rap-music/) - I officially give up on Black radio stations that play Hip Hop. Seriously. I’m over the disrespect. Finished with the blatant disregard for the audience. Totally through with their insistence on force-feeding curse-filled, misogynistic, lyrical porn through the airwaves and expecting this self-respecting, intelligent, passionate African American mother to take it to the head, sans - [Why Did DC Police Gun Down Unarmed Miriam Carey, Suffering from Postpartum Depression?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/why-did-dc-police-gun-down-unarmed-miriam-carey-suffering-from-postpartum-depression/) - Miriam Carey, 34, was not armed and apparently was suffering from postpartum depression when she sent Washington, DC, police on a car chase yesterday afternoon that resulted in Carey dying in a hail of police bullets. We will never know why the 34-year-old tried to use her black Infiniti as a battering ram and attempt - [Bet On Black Dads: Support This Anthology Celebrating Black Fatherhood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/bet-on-black-dads-support-this-anthology-celebrating-black-fatherhood/) - I am the daughter of a proud Black man. I am a wife to a man who is a helluva Black father to our daughters. I am the niece and the cousin and the friend of an incredible group of Black men who love on their brown babies hard. Unapologetically. With the might of angels. - [Are You a 'Stone' In Your Community? Rev. Sharpton, Co-Author of 'The Rejected Stone,' Wants to Meet You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/are-you-a-stone-in-your-community-rev-sharpton-co-author-of-the-rejected-stone-wants-to-meet-you/) - In my humble opinion, there's only thing better than reading about Rev. Al Sharpton's incredible stories in our new book, "The Rejected Stone: Al Sharpton and the Path to American Leadership," chronicling his years of friendship with such legendary characters as Michael Jackson, Muhammad Ali and James Brown. That one better thing? Hearing these stories out - [Kid President's #SOCKTOBER Fundraiser For the Homeless Is Inspiring & Makes Me Want To Hug Him](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/kid-presidents-socktober-fundraiser-for-the-homeless-is-inspiring-makes-me-want-to-hug-him/) - Kid President is using his latest video to encourage folks to take a break from uploading selfies, playing Candy Crush and Twitter-stalking Miley Cyrus to collect socks and cash for the needy. - [Buying Breast Milk Online From Strangers Can Be Dangerous For Your Baby. Duh. ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/buying-breast-milk-online-from-strangers-can-be-dangerous-for-your-baby-duh/) - From the "Well Duh!" files: a new study found that a whopping 70 percent of breast milk sold to moms on a public milk-sharing forum was contaminated with all kinds of yuck that could put babies in serious danger. - [Would You Buy Someone Elses Breast Milk And Feed It To Your Baby? Um, Not Me.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/06/is-it-safe-to-buy-and-sell-someone-elses-breast-milk-online/) - By KIA MORGAN SMITH Lord knows I understand the desperation some moms have to get breast milk to their babies when they can't produce it themselves. I was in that boat with my youngest child, Jo-Jo, who, after a series of appointments with our pediatrician and several specialists, was revealed to have a severe problem - [Go Denene! It's My Birthday!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/10/celebrating-birthdays-by-reflecting-on-life/) - Today, I celebrate another birthday—a milestone that, after all these years, never, ever seems to get stale. I still go to sleep the night before my big day, excited about the cake and the champagne and the presents and the juicy hugs and kisses my husband and babies give liberally. I still wake up giddy, - ['American Promise' Offers a Rare, Inspiring Look at the Challenge of Raising Black Boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/american-promise-offers-a-rare-inspiring-look-at-the-challenge-of-raising-black-boys/) - When married couple Joe Brewster and Michelle Stephenson decided to turn a video camera on their kindergarten son to chronicle his journey through New York's prestigious Dalton School, it didn't take them long to realize they had something on their hands rarely seen in American media and popular culture: a real-world depiction of middle-class African - [Are Black Moms Meaner Than Most? {MyBrownBaby Open Thread}](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/are-black-moms-meaner-than-most-mybrownbaby-open-thread/) - We know Black moms love our babies and that we care for their every need just like any other mom. But my God, the cursing, the beating, the emotional abuse that we see all-too-many Black moms unleashing on their children in the street, at the mall, on public transportation, in school, out in public, hurts us to my core. - [On Adrian Peterson's Son, Abusive Boyfriends and Due Dilligence—For the Sake Of Your Child](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/on-adrian-petersons-son-abusive-boyfriends-and-due-dilligence-for-the-sake-of-your-child/) - A simple check of her new boyfriend's records could have revealed his violent past against women and their children. But hindsight in the beating death of Adrian Peterson's son is 20/20—and it's full of lessons for all of us mothers. - [Happy 5th Anniversary, MyBrownBaby! Celebrate With A FREE Copy Of 'The Best of MyBrownBaby!'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/happy-5th-anniversary-mybrownbaby-celebrate-with-a-free-copy-of-the-best-of-mybrownbaby/) - Cue the confetti! Toss up the glitter! Turn my music up high! Today, we're celebrating MyBrownBaby's fifth anniversary—five years of delicious, insightful, smart, funny, irreverent musings on the intersection of parenting and race. *insert image of Denene wopping it out* (Wait, dang: am I showing my age with the Wop? Whatevs. Cue some vintage LL - ['Captain Phillips': Tom Hanks, Barkhad Abdi Portray What Happens When the Haves Meet the Have-Nots ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/captain-phillips-tom-hanks-barkhad-abdi-portray-what-happens-when-the-haves-meet-the-have-nots/) - I'm not going to lie: in my mind, I'd been pacing back and forth in front of the new flick, Captain Philips, trying to decide whether to support one of my favorite actors (Tom Hanks) or skip the movie in anticipation of yet another narrative painting Africans as wild, reckless murderers who prey on Americans. - [Kendrick Johnson Gym Mat Death Shocker: Body Stuffed With Newspaper](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/kendrick-johnson-gym-mat-death-shocker-body-stuffed-with-newspaper/) - You read the headline correctly. Just when we thought the ridiculously inadequate, travesty of an investigation into the horrific death of Kendrick Johnson, the Georgia high school football player found stuffed in a gym mat, couldn't get any worse, it does: a second autopsy revealed his body and skull had been stuffed with newspaper before - [Celebrating 55 Years Of Black Marriage—And a Few Rules To Ensure More Anniversaries](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/celebrating-55-years-of-black-marriage-and-a-few-rules-to-ensure-more-anniversaries/) - My in-laws recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary—an amazing, beautiful gift to themselves and to those of us who love them and who see their relationship as a beacon of light for black and married couples trying to figure out how to stay happy and in love and together. Though their official anniversary was September - [Raise a Glass to My 12th Book, Rev. Al Sharpton's Thrilling Story: "The Rejected Stone" ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/raise-a-glass-to-my-12th-book-rev-al-sharptons-thrilling-story-the-rejected-stone/) - Today, I hit the dozens. With the publication of "The Rejected Stone: Al Sharpton and the Path to American Leadership," the book I wrote with Rev. Al Sharpton, I am witnessing my 12th book hit the shelves (and the e-commerce websites). It is a humbling and somewhat scary experience to have one of your babies - [A Black Boy's Haircut Inspires Natural Hair Hate—And Encourages A Mom To Pen An Uplifting Book](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/a-black-boys-first-haircut-inspires-natural-hair-hate-and-encourages-a-mom-to-pen-an-uplifting-book/) - By AMA KARIKARI No, I was not hallucinating at the time God gave me the story. I was a heart-broken mother struggling to teach her children and all children to love themselves and the skin and hair that they are in. Let me tell you what happened. I had gone with my dad to take - [When Kids Date Too Early, It Can Lead to Bad Behaviors](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/10/when-kids-date-too-early-it-can-lead-to-bad-behaviors/) - When should your kid start dating? If they start as early as 11 or 12, they are more likely to engage in unwanted behaviors during their teen years than students who start dating later, according to a new study to be published in the December issue of the Journal of Adolescence. The group that researchers classified - [Durham, NC Father Who Lost Custody Of Son Threatens Suicide, Gets Shot By Cops](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/durham-nc-father-who-lost-custody-of-son-threatens-suicide-gets-shot-by-cops/) - The reason behind why Derek Walker may have pulled a gun on himself and police is as shocking and heartbreaking as his death after he was shot by cops in downtown Durham, North Carolina: the 26-year-old father, worn out from a years-long custody battle with the mother of his son, simply couldn’t fight anymore. Walker - [George Zimmerman's Wife Calls 911, Claims He Punched Her Dad and Pulled A Gun On Them](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/george-zimmermans-wife-calls-911-claims-he-punched-her-dad-and-pulled-a-gun-on-them/) - Be clear: we all saw this coming. George Zimmerman was taken into police custody Monday after his wife, Shellie Zimmerman, called 911 to report that the man who got away with killing Trayvon Martin had punched her father in the nose and was threatening them with a gun. Zimmerman was detained for a short time - [Shopping While Black: the Beigewashing of Tiffany Woodkins](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/shopping-while-black-the-beigewashing-of-tiffany-woodkins/) - By AYA de LEON So let me begin by saying there are an infinite number of shades of people of African heritage and they are all equally beautiful. My own family spans the entire spectrum and it’s all good. Having said that, can a sista please get a chocolate brown doll up in here? My daughter will - [More Moms Cutting Maternity Leave Short Because, Well, We Need To Get the Dollar Bills, Y'all.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/more-moms-cutting-maternity-leave-short-because-well-we-need-to-get-the-dollar-bills-yall/) - On this much, I am very clear: when I had my first baby more than 14 years ago, I was blessed to be working at a time when the economy was strong, a good job with benefits could be had, and a decent maternity leave was still possible. Between a year's worth of vacay and - [Act Like A Slave: Hartford Parents File Complaint After Students Forced To Re-Enact Slavery On Field Trip](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/act-like-a-slave-hartford-parents-file-complaint-after-students-forced-to-re-enact-slavery-on-field-trip/) - Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Hartford, Conn., parents were shocked to discover that their 12-year-old daughter and her classmates were called the N-word, threatened and chased through the woods during a slavery re-enactment exercise, prompting the couple to file a complaint against the school district with the state Human - [The Social Worker Will See You Now: A Postpartum Experience This Black Mom Will Never Forget](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/the-social-worker-will-see-you-now-a-postpartum-experience-this-black-mom-will-never-forget/) - By TARA PRINGLE JEFFERSON The nurse flitted around the room, flipping through her chart and checking my vitals. "Do you mind if your...boyfriend," the nurse settled on the word, "steps out of the room for a moment?" My fiancé nodded quietly. He kissed my forehead and went to pace up and down the hallway. The - ['The Watsons Go To Birmingham': A Civil Rights Audio Book Giveaway](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/the-watsons-go-to-birmingham-a-civil-rights-audio-book-giveaway/) - To celebrate Friday night's debut of the film adaptation of the award-winning novel, "The Watsons Go To Birmingham," MyBrownBaby is teaming up with the Random House Audio to hook up one lucky reader with a bundle of audio books for their family library, including the Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King award-winning book by Christopher - [Mean Mugging Babies: How Disengaging With Your Child Leads To Emotional Harm](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/mean-mugging-babies-how-disengaging-with-your-child-leads-to-emotional-harm/) - By DR. STACEY PATTON Want to stress out an infant? Have a mother look at her baby with a “still face,” no expression, interaction or words. Before long, the child will do everything he knows to engage and connect with his parent. If the parent doesn’t respond, the baby can experience acute stress and anxiety. - [Jonathan Ferrell: Ex-Florida A&M Player Shot 10 Times By North Carolina Cop After Seeking Help](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/jonathan-ferrell-ex-florida-am-player-shot-10-times-by-north-carolina-cop-after-seeking-help/) - In yet another case highlighting the precarious existence of African-American men, 24-year-old Jonathan Ferrell, a former football player at Florida A&M described by family as kind and loving, was gunned down by Charlotte, N.C., police when he approached officers for help after his car hit a tree. The incident was prompted by a woman who - [Locs of Love: Black Women Uplift Girl Barred From Tulsa School For Wearing Natural Hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/locs-of-love-black-women-uplift-girl-barred-from-tulsa-school-for-wearing-natural-hair/) - It was a simple call. Drexel University Professor Dr. Yaba Blay, an outspoken advocate who uses her platform to break down the binds of colorism and to help uplift the self-esteem of dark-skinned Black folk, saw that awful story about little Tiana Parker being sent home from her Tulsa charter school for wearing locs and - [Sheryl Underwood Calls Afro Hair 'Nasty,' Wonders Why Mothers Save Baby's First Clippings](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/sheryl-underwood-calls-afro-hair-nasty-wonders-why-mothers-save-babys-first-clippings/) - Snapping on "The Talk" co-host Sheryl Underwood's Dollar Store doll baby wigs or her remarkably uncanny resemblance to Arsenio Hall's drag queen character in that club scene in Coming To America is too easy—like shooting fish in a barrel.* So I won't go there and be mean. But I will, without hesitation, say that it - [My #KinseyUntold Story: Chronicling My Dad’s Incredible Journey Through Jazz History](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/my-kinseyuntold-story-chronicling-my-dads-incredible-journey-through-jazz-history/) - As long as I’ve been old enough to have an interest in American history, I’ve always thought it strange how the history of my people, African-American history, seemed resigned to a special category, off in a little corner. As if when you talk about the Founding Fathers, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant, the mention of - [10 Great Ways To Get Your Child Reading Now](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/10-great-ways-to-get-your-child-reading-now/) - By DuEWA FRAZIER Literacy statistics for African American youth across the country are grim. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, 53 percent of African American 4th grade students scored below the “Basic” level on the NAEP reading test and 44 percent of African American 8th grade students scored below the “Basic” level. Students - [Tulsa School Sends Girl Home Because Her Natural Hair Is "Faddish" and "Unpresentable"](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/tulsa-school-sends-girl-home-because-her-natural-hair-is-faddish-and-unpresentable/) - I swear to Sweet Baby Jesus in the Manger, after that whole Sheryl Underwood "afros are nasty" debacle earlier this week, the absolute last thing I thought I'd be writing today was another post about some grown ass Black people tearing down African American children who wear their hair in its natural state, but damn - [Viola Davis Wows On ESSENCE With Natural Hair, Vows Not To Traumatize Her Daughter About Her Hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/viola-davis-wows-on-essence-with-natural-hair-vows-not-to-traumatize-her-daughter-about-her-hair/) - After running through a gauntlet of hateful attacks against black girl beauty and natural hair these past couple of days, I'm so happy to end the week on a positive note with this gorgeous, super refreshing ESSENCE cover featuring Viola Davis looking absolutely stunning and chocolatey and delicious. Just as beautiful as the cover, though, - ['The Watsons Go To Birmingham': Sneak Peek At the Novel Adaptation Premiering On The Hallmark Channel (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/the-watsons-go-to-birmingham-sneak-peek-at-the-novel-adaptation-premiering-on-the-hallmark-channel-video/) - Yes—get hype people! In just one week, one of our favorite books, Christopher Paul Curtis’ Newberry Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor Award-winning book The Watsons Go To Birmingham, comes to life on the Hallmark Channel. Starring Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog), David Alan Grier, LaTanya Richardson and Wood Harris (The Wire), - [Burning Qur'ans, Zealots, and A Lesson On Tolerance: The Best Way to Honor the Victims of September 11th](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/09/burning-qurans-zealots-and-lesson-on/) - I will tell them the story… about the day we fought with Mari for the remote control and insisted the grown-ups in the room watch the traffic update on the local news instead of another episode of Barney, only to watch in horror as the TV played over and over again a clip of a - [Remembering Our America On 9/11 {Digging In the MBB Crates}](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/remembering-our-america-on-911-digging-in-the-mbb-crates/) - Bells will toll and sirens will sound and tears will make their way down the faces of those whose family members were on the planes and in the buildings and on the streets on that grim, fateful, unforgettable day... The dead will be remembered and the heroes will be honored and presidents and mayors and - [Talk To Me: Unborn Babies Can Hear Their Moms, Learn and Remember As Well As Newborns](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/talk-to-me-unborn-babies-can-hear-their-moms-learn-and-remember-as-well-as-newborns/) - So it turns out that all that book reading, rapping and grown woman conversation I had with my pregnant belly while Mari and Lila were percolating made it easier for my daughters to understand the words coming out of my mouth when they were wee-bits. New research in Helsinki’s Proceedings Of the National Academy of - [Nipples and Ninny: This African-American Mom's Breastfeeding Journey](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/nipples-and-ninny-this-african-american-moms-breastfeeding-journey/) - It was a no-brainer for me: All the books said I should breastfeed my baby because it was best for her that she would be stronger, faster, smarter, better for it. And so I rushed out and bought myself a fancy Medella breast pump and stocked up on breast milk storage bags and got all - [[Dr. Ivor Is In] Digital Media Check-ups & The New Thing I'm Prescribing to My Patients This Year](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/dr-ivor-is-in-digital-media-check-ups-the-new-thing-im-prescribing-to-my-patients-this-year/) - It's back to school time in our house so we are clearing out the summer-learning cobwebs and trying to get back into our school-time routine. At work, it means a lot of parents coming in to get that overdue school health form completed. Lately, a few things about those visits are different. When I come - [My #KinseyUntold Story: A Black Couple Adopts A Baby, Building Their Family and Defying the Odds](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/09/my-kinseyuntold-story-a-black-couple-adopts-a-baby-building-their-family-and-defying-the-odds/) - I hear often whenever the subject of adoption comes up that white people adopt Black children because African American couples will not, and sure, there is some truth to that statement: though Black children make up 15 percent of the U.S. population, they account for almost 30 percent of kids in foster care, and the - [The Freshest, Jamminest Breastfeeding How-To Video, Like, Ever!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/the-freshest-jamminest-breastfeeding-how-to-video-like-ever/) - Hands down, the best informational breastfeeding video, like, ever—not just because it cribs the beat from Teach Me How To Dougie, or even because it's chock full of pitch-perfect information for new moms on the how-to's and benefits of breastfeeding. iHeart this bad boy because it features a grip of African American mothers giving their - [Black Breastfeeding Week 2013: How Breastfeeding Made Me a Better Pediatrician](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/black-breastfeeding-week-2013-how-breastfeeding-made-me-a-better-pediatrician/) - I breastfed my daughter and son for 19 and 24 months, respectively. Yes, they had teeth. They were talking and walking. In the end, it was one of the best gifts I could have given to my children. I loved the bonding experience of breastfeeding my kids, but it didn't start out that way. As - [Cuz He's Black: When African American Boys Ready Themselves For a War We Can't Prepare Them For](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/cuz-hes-black-when-african-american-boys-ready-themselves-for-a-war-we-cant-prepare-them-for/) - Really, I have no words to add to what poet Javon Johnson says in this, his poem, "Cuz He's Black." All the emotion, all the passion, all the fear that Javon's conjures up in this, his award-winning performance in the 2013 National Poetry Slam, left my mind totally blown. Please, press play. And after you - [An 'EPIC' MyBrownBaby Giveaway: Enter to Win One of Five Blu-Ray DVDs Of the Summer Hit](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/an-epic-mybrownbaby-giveaway-enter-to-win-one-of-five-blu-ray-dvds-of-the-summer-hit/) - MyBrownBaby is making today an “epic” Friday with an awesome giveaway: five lucky readers will win a Deluxe Edition Blu-ray DVD of the animated adventure EPIC, the huge summer hit featuring the voices of Beyonce, Pitbull, Colin Farrell and rocker Steven Tyler. In the flick, a teenager (Amanda Seyfried) is recruited by a nature spirit, - [The March On Washington: Sybrina Fulton, The Head Nod and the Thumbs Up—A Translation](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/the-march-on-washington-sybrina-fulton-the-head-bob-and-the-thumbs-up-a-translation/) - When I go for a run in Washington, DC, I take for granted the history that I pass as I plod out my mileage. I see beautiful views of the Potomac River, the Watergate building, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument and the Martin Luther King Memorial on a regular basis. Most of the time - [Black Moms & Breastfeeding: Why We Should Care About World Breastfeeding Week](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/black-moms-breastfeeding-why-we-should-care-about-world-breastfeeding-week/) - By KIMBERLY SEALS ALLERS As World Breastfeeding Week comes to an end, I’m wondering how many African Americans even knew it came and went. As national headlines celebrate breastfeeding and new campaigns build movement, black women and babies continue to be left behind. This is discouraging because one of the most important things we can - [A Mother’s Love: A Love Letter To The Woman Who Gave Me Away {Diggin In the MBB Crates}](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/a-mothers-love-a-love-letter-to-the-woman-who-gave-me-away-diggin-in-the-mbb-crates/) - Editor's Note: This will be the 10th Mother's Day I'll have without her, and though I'm sure it will nowhere near as painful as the first, Sunday won't be easy. A decade doesn't change that I still wish I could hear her voice again, or see her smile, or wrap my arms around her waist - [#BlackLivesMatter Tweetchat: Celebrating Black Breastfeeding Week 2013 and Black Parenting](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/blacklivesmatter-tweetchat-celebrating-black-breastfeeding-week-2013-and-black-parenting/) - Tonight, it's going down. Black Breastfeeding Week 2013 continues its inaugural celebration with the #BlackLivesMatter Tweetchat, featuring an all-star line-up of African American bloggers/thinkers/breastfeeding advocates/lovers of Black folk discussing breastfeeding, Black parenting and why Black lives matter. Created and sponsored by author, journalist and breastfeeding advocate Kimberly Seals Allers' Black Breastfeeding 360, Kiddada Green, founder of - ['The Summer of Our Legitimate Discontent': MyBrownBaby Celebrates 50th Anniversary of March On Washington](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/the-summer-of-our-legitimate-discontent-mybrownbaby-celebrates-50th-anniversary-of-march-on-washington/) - "It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment and to underestimate the determination of the Negro. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope - [The Baby Who Never Was: Black Women and Miscarriage](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/11/black-women-and-miscarriage/) - The cramping started in the car—sharp pains that felt like the spasms I get when my period is imminent. By the time I got back to our apartment and settled in from an afternoon of pedicures and massages at a spa party with my girlfriends, my groin felt like it was being shanked by 20 - [When Two Old Blog Friends Meet For the Very First Time: Introducing My Buddy Angie Arthur](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/04/meeting-online-friends-for-the-first-time/) - Here's the thing: When I started blogging back in 2008, I thought I'd just write a couple of posts every now and again, maybe email a link or two to my friends exercise my writing chops without the restraint of editors and word length or fear that expressing my opinion would hurt my reputation as - [Come Chat with "Mean Girls" Author Rosalind Wiseman (and MyBrownBaby!) on FaceBook Today!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/06/come-chat-with-mean-girls-author-rosalind-wiseman-and-mybrownbaby-on-facebook-today/) - By now, you all know that I'm a brand ambassador for Unilever's Don't Fret the Sweat campaign, an incredible partnership in which I write and talk about instilling confidence in kids as they go through the "sweat-inducing" moments that come with puberty. You know attitude adjustments. Maturity. Body changes. The funkadelic pits of a thousand - [With Nighttime Potty Training, There's No Room For Bragging. None.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/06/getting-a-handle-on-bedwetting-and-nighttime-potty-training/) - I don't remember who told me to try it—maybe my friend, Jenny, or my girl, Betsy. Our kids were all the same age, running in the same playgroup circles, with mamas who wanted their babies out of diapers, and so we put our heads together and pulled out every pediatrician-approved suggestion/parenting book idea/old wives' trick - [Big Kids & GoodNites: A $250 Giveaway Of Independent Kid Gear](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/07/a-giveaway-of-great-products-to-help-make-kids-independent/) - Thank you all for participating in this giveaway. Congratulations to Daphne of Mushy Mama, whose number, 31, was chosen via Random.org! It sneaks up on you. One day, your babies depend on you for everything they need you to change their diapers, fix their bottles (or hold them while they breastfeed), bathe and clothe them, - [Curtis Stone Whips Up A Healthy One-Pot Meal For MyBrownBaby and Vicks Nature Fusion](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/01/curtis-stone-whips-up-a-healthy-one-pot-meal-for-mybrownbaby-and-vicks-nature-fusion/) - When Nick and I moved to Georgia from New Jersey almost seven years ago, we did so because we were looking for real connections with our children—wanted to be the kind of parents to them that we simply couldn’t while we were working full-time jobs in one state, living in another, and writing books, literally, - [Potty Master: Getting Down to the Bizness of Doing His Bizness Where his Bizness Should be!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/07/training-boys-to-poop-in-the-potty/) - {Editor's Note: I know we've been talking a lot about potty training here on MyBrownBaby, particularly since I partnered with GoodNites® to talk about my experiences getting my girls to stop wetting the bed. Promise, I don't want to overwhelm you with the doing of the do, but this piece, by MyBrownBaby contributor Kia Morgan - [Back To School: It's Millner. Mrs. Chiles If You're Nasty (Or My Kid's Teacher)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/back-to-school-its-millner-mrs-chiles-if-youre-nasty-or-my-kids-teacher/) - You should know that I really like my maiden name. Millner is an original—a cut above the standards Miller and Milner, with its extra L and the surprising N. I also happen to think Millner, the name my daddy gave me, cuts a really commanding presence next to the unusual but equally well-liked Denene, the - ['Stand Your Ground' Ad: Trayvon Martin Shooting, 911 Call, Re-Enacted In Anti-Gun Law Appeal](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/stand-your-ground-psa-trayvon-martin-shooting-chilling-911-call-re-enacted-in-anti-gun-law-appeal/) - A gun reform advocacy group is taking aim at Stand Your Ground laws nationwide by pushing a chilling ad reenacting the last moments of Trayvon Martin’s life. The PSA, created by the nonprofit group The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, also uses actual audio from the 911 calls George Zimmerman and a witness made the - [Black Breastfeeding Week 2013: Celebrating Black Mothers, Babies and the Best First Food](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/black-breastfeeding-week-2013-celebrating-black-mothers-babies-and-the-best-first-food/) - Black lives matter. Black mothers and our babies matter. Black breastfeeding—this definitely matters. That’s why MyBrownBaby is proud to support Black Breastfeeding Week, the inaugural celebration of black life and those who sustain it with the healthiest, most natural sustenance one could give a baby: breast milk. Black Breastfeeding Week, celebrated August 26, 2013 to - [Hero School Clerk In Atlanta School Shooting Scare: Applauding Antoinette Tuff](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/hero-school-clerk-in-atlanta-school-shooting-scare-applauding-antoinette-tuff/) - Let us all take a minute to applaud the breath-taking heroism of Antoinette Tuff. In case you haven't heard, Tuff is the bookkeeper at an elementary school in Decatur, Georgia, named the Ronald McNair Discovery Learning Academy. Tuff—whose name is wonderfully appropriate—used her charm, sweetness and incredibly quick thinking to tame a crazed 20-year-old gunman - [Birthing While Black: This African American Mom's Experience Was Anything But VIP](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/01/birthing-while-black-this-african-american-moms-experience-was-anything-but-vip/) - There are a ton of things I’ll never forget about the first time I gave birth—showing up with a Donny Hathaway CD in one hand, a beautiful pink and white-striped “going home” dress and a white blanket handpicked special for my Mari in the other; being scared to death of the epidural needle but grateful - [UPDATE: Dying Black Teen Denied Life-Saving Heart Transplant Because Of Grades Now Is On Transplant List](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/dying-black-teen-denied-life-saving-heart-transplant-because-of-grades-brushes-with-the-law/) - UPDATE: Anthony Stokes, the dying 15-year-old denied a chance to get a new heart because of his grades and juvenile record, has been put on the heart transplant list by an Atlanta hospital. Details are at the end of this post. A 15-year-old boy in desperate need of a heart transplant is being denied a - [ENOUGH. [Don't Let Aiyana Jones Die In Vain]](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/05/enough/) - Her name was Aiyana Jones and she was only 7 years old.The dimples in her chocolate cheeks and that hand on her hip tell a story. Maybe she was a little joker, all giggles and big on fun--inquisitive, energetic, and a bit of a smarty pants, with a tip of nutty thrown in for good - [Mad About Trayvon: Finding the Right Words To Explain Anger Over 'Not Guilty' Verdict To Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/mad-about-trayvon-finding-the-right-words-to-explain-anger-over-not-guilty-verdict-to-kids/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR I think I scared my daughter. Hell, I think I terrified her. When I heard the Zimmerman verdict, I lost it. I yelled the “F” word, then obliterated two of the milk crates my daughter uses to store toys. The strength of my reaction frightened me. I was hit with a rush of - [Why White Parents Should Teach Their Children About Race](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/06/why-white-parents-should-teach-their-children-about-race/) - Really, it wasn’t planned, this cornucopia of color and races and backgrounds and experiences. It was just Mari’s birthday party, a tiny affair that involved five beautiful 12-year-old girls with big personalities, lots of shared interests in Lemonade Mouth and Glee and an affinity for gourmet strawberry cupcakes and painting each others toes and fingers. Peeping around - [Watermelon, The "N" Word and the Hearts of (Wo)Men](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/10/protecting-my-babies-from-n-word-and/) - It was fun, I guess. We did all kinds of art projects together and cool stuff like learning how to sew and make sun tea and somewhere in there, there was the obligatory “how to tie a knot” exercise. I remember going to a dude ranch and riding an ornery horse and eating some kind - [Nipples and Ninny: An African-American Mom's Breastfeeding Journey](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/10/black-mothers-and-breastfeeding/) - It was a no-brainer for me: All the books said I should breastfeed my baby because it was best for her that she would be stronger, faster, smarter, better for it. And so I rushed out and bought myself a fancy Medella breast pump and stocked up on breast milk storage bags and got all - [Summertime, and the Living Isn't So Easy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/06/summertime-and-the-living-isnt-so-easy/) - By NICK CHILESOne of these days I need to ask my parents if they felt the same way about the summertime as I do. I remember long hot days of fun stretching out before me in an endless string. Something tells me they have a different recollection. I say this because we are in June, - [They'll Wear The Armor: Guarding My Babies From The "N" Word](http://mybrownbaby.com/2009/05/theyll-wear-armor-guarding-my-babies/) - I know their day is coming. It is as certain as wet rain, as sure as the yellow in the sun. They are, after all, African American girls in America. Home of the free. Land of the brave. Where a black man is the president, but Confederate flags still snap in the Fall winds. It’s - [Eight Great Ways To Keep Kids Safe Online This Summer](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/eight-great-ways-to-keep-kids-safe-online-this-summer/) - It's summertime and when my kids aren't at the pool, tossing the ball around in the park or buried in a book, they're becoming one with their gadgets—texting, posting on Instagram, drooling over the MyBrownBaby Pinterest pages, playing one of the dozens of games they have on their iPods/iPad/iPhone, Skyping with friends. Summer just ain't - [Great News: Gabrielle Union's 'Being Mary Jane' Was Cable TV's Top Show](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/great-news-gabrielle-unions-being-mary-jane-was-cable-tvs-top-show/) - Kerry Washington notwithstanding, African American images on television tend to suffer from too much trifling and not enough authenticity—which is ironic considering the overwhelming number of reality shows featuring African Americans currently being thrown in our face. So we were thrilled to witness the dead-on writing and performances in Mara Brock Akil and Salim Akil's - [Surviving Miscarriage: Mourning the Baby That Never Was](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/surviving-miscarriage-mourning-the-baby-that-never-was/) - The cramping started in the car—sharp pains that felt like the spasms I get when my period is imminent. By the time I got back to our apartment and settled in from an afternoon of pedicures and massages at a spa party with my girlfriends, my groin felt like it was being shanked by 20 - [Celebrating Black Marriage: How To Fix the Problems and Get Back To Sweet Love](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/celebrating-black-marriage-how-to-fix-the-problems-and-get-back-to-sweet-love/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR By the time you read this, my wife and I will have celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. One of my good friends (who’s with his second wife) believes that Black marriages should be measured in dog years. He even sent me a text: happy 77th anniversary, son! That one elicited a pained - [The George Zimmerman Verdict Is Deeply Inhumane. This Is Why We Need To Keep Fighting.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/the-george-zimmerman-verdict-is-deeply-inhumane-this-is-why-we-need-to-keep-fighting/) - Who prays for our sons? When their bodies are bloodied, broken and frozen in the footnotes of this, our complicated history, who falls to their knees, head bowed, hands outstretched through storm and cloud and toward the warmth of the sun, and prays for the boys, the fathers, the uncles and nephews and friends? Our - [What If Trayvon Had Come Back Home? We Must Teach Our Children How to Cope With Racism](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/what-if-trayvon-had-come-back-home-we-must-teach-our-children-how-to-cope-with-racism/) - By HOWARD STEVENSON Let’s say your black son comes home one night, scared, out of breath from running. He tells you that some guy with a gun chased him and shot at him, and his girlfriend heard the whole thing on the phone. He stammers that all he was doing was going to the store - [The Kinsey Collection: Jordin Sparks Introduces Black Girls to the Fierce Courage of Phillis Wheatley](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/the-kinsey-collection-jordin-sparks-introduces-black-girls-to-the-fierce-courage-of-phillis-wheatley/) - By NICK CHILES As the father of two talented young black girls, I know that sometimes the most important thing I can do to spark their ambition is to simply tell them that they are capable. I can see something click in their brains: if Dad thinks I can do it, that means that I - ['Fruitvale Station' Review: Film About Oscar Grant's Death Captures the Horrors of Arbitrary Violence](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/fruitvale-station-review-film-about-oscar-grants-death-captures-the-horrors-of-arbitrary-violence/) - By SHANNON BARBOUR For as long as I could remember, I’ve been a fan of horror films. From Stephen King’s Carrie, to Paranormal Activity, to the upcoming, The Conjuring, I’m intrigued by the sense of foreboding and sudden adrenaline rush from the fear of the unknown. If you’re a scary movie buff, you know that - [When Motherhood Isn't Natural: The Phenomenon Of Being Childless By Choice](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/when-motherhood-isnt-natural-the-phenomenon-of-being-childless-by-choice/) - By EVETTE DIONNE Motherhood requires immense sacrifice from women. We are morally obligated to allow our children to feed from us and sometimes, sicken our bodies for nine months. Once our children arrive in the world, we cease all functional living to nourish and coo over them for six to nine weeks or more. For - [Defending Black Women's Honor: Where Are the Brothers Who Will Sing A Black Girl's Song?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/defending-black-womens-honor-where-are-the-brothers-who-will-sing-a-black-girls-song/) - That incredibly insensitive, freakishly foolish Harriet Tubman "sex tape" parody that showed up on Russell Simmons' new YouTube channel, Def Jam Digital, with a "this is the best thing ever!" message from the hip hop impresario, had the internet in an uproar yesterday, inspiring a chorus of "aw hell nawl" blog posts from some of - [A Black Single Mom Lets Go Of the Fear And the Statistics](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/02/black-single-mom-fears/) - By Alicia Harper I never thought of myself as a fearful person. I'm more the person who believes in the beauty of believing that anything is possible. I've always felt wholeheartedly that if I just focused on my goals and the necessary steps to get there, I would be unstoppable. And this has worked for - [Welcome To the All-New MyBrownBaby: Flyer & Fresher Than Your Average](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/welcome-to-the-all-new-mybrownbaby-flyer-fresher-than-your-average/) - Yaaaas, babies—I’mma be fresh as hell if the feds watchin’! Welcome to the flyer, doper, all new MyBrownBaby.com, the parenting website dedicated to those who are loving, raising and concerned about the wellbeing of brown babies. We’ve got more action! More excitement! More everything—POW! Just a few months ago, New York Times Motherlode editor and - [Have A Little Talk With God: Searching For Religion In Motherhood](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/have-a-little-talk-with-god-searching-for-religion-in-motherhood/) - It’s the pageantry of it all that I remember most. Weeks before Easter, my mother would hit Macy’s, searching through the sale rack for the perfect dress and hat and white gloves and slip and patent leather purse and shoes for me—blue, soft green, maybe pink if the fabric wasn’t too loud. And on that - [Affirmative Action & the Supreme Court: Why Diversity Matters To Me and My Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/affirmative-action-the-supreme-court-why-diversity-matters-to-me-and-my-kids/) - I am an Affirmative Action baby. Long Island Newsday paid my college tuition, in part, because of the color of my skin. It was my chocolate hue, too, that opened wide the door for my first job out of college, as a reporter for The Associated Press. I tell you these things because the Supreme - [A Tenn. Judge Goes Too Far, Rules Parents Must Change Child's Name from 'Messiah' to 'Martin' ](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/a-tenn-judge-goes-too-far-rules-parents-must-change-childs-name-from-messiah-to-martin/) - Talk about your judicial overreach—a judge in Tennessee actually changed a 7-month-old baby's name from Messiah to Martin, claiming that the religious-inspired name was earned by one person and "that one person is Jesus Christ." Never mind that Messiah was No. 4 among the fastest-rising baby names in 2012, according to the Social Security Administration—no doubt - [In Our Ever-Present Cloud of Doom, Let's Be Thankful We Have Air We Can Breathe](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/in-our-ever-present-cloud-of-doom-lets-be-thankful-we-have-air-we-can-breathe/) - By NICK CHILES Every once in a while as a parent, you stumble across stories or tidbits of information that help you to gain some perspective on your life and your relative blessings. This seems to be more and more necessary with this high-wire act that has become middle-class life in America, where all of - [Teen Charged For School Science Project Gone Bad: Where's the Justice In Zero-Tolerance?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/teen-charged-for-school-science-project-gone-bad-wheres-the-justice-in-zero-tolerance/) - This right here is why America’s public schools stay failing black children: A 16-year-old Florida student with a rep for being one of the smart, good girls in her classes was taken away from her high school in handcuffs and arrested and charged with a felony for conducting a science experiment that resulted in a - [In Tearful Speech, Michelle Obama Recognizes Her Own Life in Hadiya Pendleton's](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/in-tearful-speech-michelle-obama-recognizes-her-own-life-in-hadiya-pendletons/) - By NICK CHILES Sometimes it feels like the rest of us operate in a separate world than our lawmakers in Washington. I've been getting that feeling a lot lately watching the contortions they have been going through to prevent gun control legislation from even making it onto the floor of the Senate for a vote—never - [The Motherhood Diaries: A Humorous Look At Raising Kids In the New Millenium](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/the-motherhood-diaries-a-humorous-look-at-raising-kids-in-the-new-millenium/) - By ReSHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY Dear Diary, My mother came to visit this week. She fed my six-month-old collard greens and cornbread. She won’t listen to anything I tell her about additives, insecticides, and new studies. Her response every time I complain is, “I don’t need a damn book to tell me how to parent. I - [A MyBrownBaby Salute to Ebony Magazine for the Cover Story, 'Saving Our Sons'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/a-mybrownbaby-salute-to-ebony-magazine-for-the-cover-story-saving-our-sons/) - By NICK CHILES I have been writing about black males for most of the past two decades, but I've never been as excited about a journalistic endeavor as my cover story in the latest issue of Ebony magazine, entitled "Saving Our Sons." As an education reporter in New York City in the 1990s, the educational - [Fatherhood Fitness: How One Black Dad Took Control Of His Health—For His Daughter's Sake](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/fatherhood-fitness-how-one-black-dad-took-control-of-his-health-for-his-daughters-sake/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR The invincibility of youth is amazing, but it fades: the reality of my body’s limits now hit in my knees, the small of my back, my rotator cuff. All the soccer/martial arts/being a bouncer injuries that used to take me a mere week or two to spring back from? Recovery takes much longer - [As We Castigate Georgia's Segregated Prom, America Needs to Stop the Hypocrisy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/as-we-castigate-georgias-segregated-prom-america-needs-to-stop-the-hypocrisy/) - By NICK CHILES There were congratulations and smiles across the national media over the weekend as Wilcox County, Georgia, finally had its first-ever integrated prom. For those of you who haven't been following this story and thought perhaps the previous sentence contained a typo, let me quickly give you the particulars: For decades, the school - [As Our 10-Year-Old Cheers the End of State Tests, We Wish They Would Go Away](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/as-our-10-year-old-cheers-the-end-of-state-tests-we-wish-they-would-go-away/) - By NICK CHILES When our 10-year-old tumbled off the schoolbus today, the relief on her face tucked all up in that broad smile, it signaled the end of the five-day torture chamber that is our state's annual standardized test. Her feet hadn't even touched the ground good before she and her friends were plotting a - [A village answers ‘What does it mean to raise a Black child in the 21st century?’](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/a-village-answers-what-does-it-mean-to-raise-a-black-child-in-the-21st-century/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR I’ll get right down to it. I asked several people the following question: What does it mean to raise a Black child in the 21st century? And here are their answers. F. (36, female, nurse): “It’s about instilling values of integrity, pride, hard work. You have to show your kids that being Black - [Black Children and Education: Early Schooling, Family Support Is Key To Closing Gap, Says Steve Perry](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/black-children-and-education-early-schooling-family-support-is-key-to-closing-gap-says-steve-perry/) - By HEATHER HOPSON The Call “She’s in!” That’s what the director of a nationally recognized preschool told me over the telephone last week. Those two words triggered tears of joy—joy that my daughter will receive a top-notch education, and tears of pain—pain that my bank account will take a huge hit when I cut a - [Absentee Black Fathers: A Black Dad Says It's Time More Brothers Take Care Of Their Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/absentee-black-fathers-a-black-dad-says-its-time-more-brothers-take-care-of-their-children/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR When my daughter was born, I didn’t experience the love at first sight that so many parents talk about. In fact, I felt nothing. As I cut her cord, I descended into thinking that it was this absence of feeling that caused my father to leave me when I was less than a - [They Ask, But Should You Answer? Tackling the Tough Questions With Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/they-ask-but-should-you-answer-tackling-the-tough-questions-with-kids/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR “When di pickney dem growed.” This was my grandmother’s (rest her soul) response to being asked if children should be told about something heavy happening in the family. Translation: “When they get older.” She was a firm believer that you loved and cherished children, but they were in no way “lickle adults.” She set the tone in our - [Black Children and Disability: When Race and Stigma Collide, A Black Mom Goes Hard For Her Baby](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/black-children-and-disability-when-race-and-stigma-collide-a-black-mom-goes-hard-for-her-baby/) - By TARICE L.S. GRAY I entered parenthood fully embracing the idealism that can be associated with uncertainty. I believed my daughter would be different in the exceptional kind of way. Before she arrived in August of 2008, I researched bilingual schools (Mandarin and French), swim lessons taught by former Olympians and baby yoga. My role, as - [What We Need To Teach Black Children In the New Millenium](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/what-we-need-to-teach-black-children-in-the-new-millenium/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR I am blessed to have received a great education. Maybe it was a time in U.S. history when educating our nation’s children was a priority, but I don’t feel anything was lacking in what I was taught. I distinctly remember my education beginning in kindergarten—and not just in name only. I was able to use - [What You Do For Love: A Black Father Reflects On "Sacrifice" In Childrearing](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/what-you-do-for-love-a-black-father-reflects-on-sacrifice-in-childrearing/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR Many children have trigger-points. It may be a place, a situation or a person, but when they’re triggered, they go bananas. For example: don’t let anyone (aside from me and a few people in our circle) try and talk to my wife when our daughter’s around. It’s like she was raised in the - [On Eve of Trial, Zimmerman's Team Tries to Make Trayvon the Scary Black Teen](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/on-eve-of-trial-zimmermans-team-tries-to-make-trayvon-the-scary-black-teen/) - By NICK CHILES The lawyers for accused murderer George Zimmerman went so far in trying to impugn the character of slain teenager Trayvon Martin that they actually had to issue an apology over the weekend. Although Judge Debra Nelson has ruled that pictures, video and text messages from Martin’s cellphone are not admissible at trial, defense - [Black Girl Sexuality: An African American Dad Vows Never To Police His Daughter's Body](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/black-girl-sexuality-an-african-american-dad-vows-never-to-police-his-daughters-body/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR You would assume that the playground would be one of the few places where you could just be a father. No stress, just play, laughter, and a sense of community with other parents. But this is rarely the case. Maybe I missed the memo, but most playgrounds seemed to have been designated as - [A New Way To Celebrate Father's Day: Black Dads As Fatherhood Mentors](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/a-new-way-to-celebrate-fathers-day-black-dads-as-fatherhood-mentors/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR I am fairly certain that much of my family became Jehovah’s Witnesses because they didn’t want to celebrate holidays. Instead of just admitting that the adults couldn’t afford presents for us children, they told us the lack of birthday, Christmas, and other gifts were against God’s will. (It’s really a cold game - [With Baby Days Away, Kanye West Gets Gobbled by Gossip Monster](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/with-baby-days-away-kanye-west-gets-gobbled-by-gossip-monster/) - BY NICK CHILES The gossip monster that parades as the entertainment media has managed to achieve a distinction that I didn't think possible: they have managed to make me feel sorry for rapper Kanye West. Based on reporting by Star newspaper, we are to believe that Kanye has been cavorting with a 24-year-old Canadian model - [Trayvon Martin’s Parents are Still Co-Parenting—Through Death and Zimmerman's Trial](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/trayvon-martins-parents-are-still-co-parenting-through-death-and-zimmermans-trial/) - By DEESHA PHILYAW A friend recently sent me an MSNBC article about Trayvon Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, and the trial of George Zimmerman which began last week. As the co-founder of co-parenting101.org and the co-author of Co-Parenting 101: Helping Your Kids Thrive in Two Households After Divorce (both in collaboration with my - [Self Defense For Girls: A Black Father Teaches His Daughter How To Fight Back](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/self-defense-for-girls-a-black-father-teaches-his-daughter-how-to-fight-back/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR “How do you raise a child in safety in a world that is getting more violent by the day?” Some parents recently explored the question as their children played. Three mothers and a father were already engaged in (what seemed to me) an act of bullying hysteria when my daughter moved closer. - [Saving Our Sons: The Cliffnotes Version of My Ebony Series on Black Boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/saving-our-sons-the-cliffnotes-version-of-my-ebony-series-on-black-boys/) - By NICK CHILES When I decided to become a journalist about three decades ago as a junior at Yale, I envisioned myself stomping across the land, pointing my laptop (well, at the time I was actually using a typewriter) at our society's most entrenched and repressive institutions and slaying them on behalf of the most - [Jim Carrey Should be Applauded for Taking Stand Against Violence in His Own Movie, 'Kick-Ass 2'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/jim-carrey-should-be-applauded-for-taking-stand-against-violence-in-his-own-movie-kick-ass-2/) - By NICK CHILES We've certainly torn into Hollywood on numerous occasions for the utter hypocrisy and irresponsibility of their violent imagery, particularly as our society tries to grapple with the prevalence of mass shootings. So we thought it was only appropriate that we applaud funnyman Jim Carrey for taking a stand against the violence in - [Has the Tabloid World that Imprisoned Michael Jackson Taken Daughter Paris Hostage?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/has-the-tabloid-world-that-imprisoned-michael-jackson-taken-daughter-paris-hostage/) - By NICK CHILES As a parent, as a Michael Jackson fan, as a grownup, it's extremely painful to watch the continuing struggles of Paris Jackson, Michael's daughter. There was the news earlier this month that she tried to kill herself by slashing her wrist with a meat cleaver and swallowing a bunch of Motrin. This comes - [As Supreme Ct Issues Weak Ruling, the Affirmative Action Preoccupation with Race is Wrong](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/as-supreme-ct-issues-weak-ruling-the-affirmative-action-preoccupation-with-race-is-wrong/) - By NICK CHILES Considering the astounding variety of characteristics and accomplishments that applicants to America's most competitive colleges present to the admissions boards every year, it is disturbingly narrow-minded and off-base for our society to focus so much attention and angst on the color of an applicant's skin. The totality of a college applicant is - [In Attacking Trayvon's Friend Rachel Jeantel, Black Folks Are Taking It Too Far](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/in-attacking-trayvons-friend-rachel-jeantel-black-folks-are-taking-it-too-far/) - By NICK CHILES I had a Kennedy-Nixon 1960 debate moment as I monitored the George Zimmerman murder trial on Wednesday. After reading the published online reports on the testimony of Trayvon Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel, who was speaking on the phone to Trayvon just before Zimmerman killed him, I got the impression that the 19-year-old - [Horrifying Story: State Doctors in California Forced Hundreds of Female Inmates to be Sterilized](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/horrifying-story-state-doctors-in-california-forced-hundreds-of-female-inmates-to-be-sterilized/) - By NICK CHILES Doctors in California violated state rules by forcing at least 150 female inmates to be sterilized between 2006 and 2010, according to a fascinating story by the nonprofit Center for Investigative Reporting. While it wouldn't have been as shocking to read about force sterilizations in the early 1900's, when the government and - [In a Fog of Trayvon Rage and Sadness, Saying Goodbye to My Son](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/in-a-fog-of-trayvon-rage-and-sadness-saying-goodbye-to-my-son/) - By NICK CHILES As the pain of the George Zimmerman verdict settled in yesterday, the sting of the words “not guilty” slowly starting to recede, I said goodbye to my son. The timing was quite disconcerting. He is just a few weeks away from his 21st birthday, preparing for his last semesters of college, on - [Digging In the Crates: The Sun Will Make You Black](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/how-to-have-backyard-fun-with-kids/) - This is what I did for fun when I was a kid: I read. I cornrowed my doll’s hair. I read some more. I annoyed the crap out of my brother. And I waited anxiously for Fridays, when my Dad would let me ride shotgun while he drove around town, paying his bills. When we - [MyBrownBaby Giveaway: Win a Ticket To Blogalicious 2010 in South Beach!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/09/mybrownbaby-giveaway-win-ticket-to/) - EDITOR'S NOTE: This contest is now closed. Congratulations to Rose's Daughter AND Jewelry Rockstar, each who won full conference passes to Blogalicious 2010, courtesy of the ladies of Mama Law, who, because of the tremendous response, graciously granted TWO passes to MyBrownBaby. They were chosen by my personal Random.org Mari and Lila, who, when asked - [Here We Go Again: Tennessee's Orlando Shaw, With 22 Kids by 14 Women, May Get Reality Show](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/07/here-we-go-again-tennessees-orlando-shaw-with-22-kids-by-14-women-may-get-reality-show/) - By NICK CHILES First we got tortured by the travails of rapper Shawty Lo and his stable of baby mamas, now we stumble across this headline out of Tennessee: "Deadbeat Dad With 22 Kids By 14 Women May Get Reality TV Show" So says the headline on News One, about a man named Orlando Shaw, - [Oprah Winfrey & Forest Whitaker on the N-Word, Racism, Trayvon & Their New Movie, 'The Butler'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/oprah-winfrey-forest-whitaker-on-the-n-word-racism-trayvon-their-new-movie-the-butler/) - I was surrounded by a birthday party of 12 giggly teenagers at a showing of Jaden Smith’s After Earth when I first saw the trailer for The Butler, the new Lee Daniels movie about one black man’s years of service in the White House during the most tumultuous period in the nation’s civil rights history. - [Netflix Families: Driving To Papa's House Just Got That Much Easier](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/netflix-families-driving-to-papas-house-just-got-that-much-easier/) - This post was sponsored by Netflix. Netflix Families make summer easier. www.netflix.com/families Confession: when I drive to Virginia with my girls to visit my dad, I pile the girlpies in the backseat with all kinds of dead-wrong snacks and blankets and techie gadgets I hope will keep them occupied and satisfied for our five-and-a-half-hour drive - [Jimmy Fallon, Robin Thicke & The Roots Slay 'Blurred Lines' On Kid Instruments (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/08/jimmy-fallon-robin-thicke-the-roots-slay-blurred-lines-on-kid-instruments-video/) - I love Jimmy Fallon. I love Robin Thicke and his new song, "Blurred Lines" (and I got a thing for Pharrell and T.I. that I'm not ashamed to say out loud and often). I especially love The Roots. And good grief, when you put Jimmy, Robin and The Roots in a room with a kazoo, - [Teenager Killed in Florida by Neighborhood Watch Brings Terror To My Heart](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/03/teenager-killed-in-florida-by-neighborhood-watch-brings-terror-to-my-heart/) - By NICK CHILES An African-American family in Florida is still trying to figure out why their 17-year-old son was shot dead by the Neighborhood Watch captain in their gated subdivision last month, after he walked to a local convenience store for a pack of Skittles for his little brother. For some outrageous reason the Neighborhood - [Monster Juice & Stevie: The Bedtime Routine That Got Us To Dry Nights](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/07/great-bedtime-routines-for-bedwetters/) - I promise you, our nighttime routine with my Mari is the stuff of legend a nightly, sometimes hours-long ritual that was so fantasmic, so involved, so utterly tedious, that not even my kid, the one who created, spearheaded and demanded it all, believes it to be true. But it is. Oh, it is. When Mari - [Bill Duke's "Dark Girls": Black Women Discussing, Dissecting and Surviving Skin Color Bias](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/06/bill-dukes-dark-girls-black-women-discussing-dissecting-and-surviving-skin-color-bias/) - It was about a week ago that my friend Melanie of ModernMami posted this video, a preview of the upcoming documentary, Dark Girls, on the MyBrownBaby Facebook Fan Page with this message: This was tough to watch and almost made me cry, but I'm glad it's out there. I admit I let the video sit - [Pharrell Williams' New 'Despicable Me 2' Song, Happy Will Put A Smile On Your Face](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/despicable-me-2-soundtrack/) - It's Friday! What better way to kick off the weekend than with an adorably sunny, delicious tune aptly titled, "Happy," from the king of happy, Skateboard P., a.k.a., Pharrell Williams? This track is a feature on the soundtrack of the upcoming animated sequel, Despicable Me 2, starring funnyman Steve Carell as a super villain who - [Paula Deen Can Kiss My Grits. And Stick Her Butter Where the Sun Don't Shine.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/paula-deen-racist-jokes-lawsuit/) - I’ve been to The Lady and Sons, the renowned Savannah, GA., restaurant owned by America’s lard-loving Food Network star Paula Deen. Not gonna lie: we waited on line for an hour, easy, to eat there, and when we finally got in, we worked that buffet like a stripper does a pole on a hot summer - ['Soul Man' Season Two Twitter Party: Join @MyBrownBaby & @BlackAndMarried Tonight!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/soul-man-season-two-twitter-party-join-mybrownbaby-blackandmarried-tonight/) - I was a young entertainment reporter at the Daily News when I interviewed Cedric the Entertainer along with his comedic co-horts Bernie Mac, Steve Harvey and D. L. Hughley. They were taking a celebratory media lap for their uber-successful comedy tour, "The Kings of Comedy," and celebrating the release of their feature-length concert film of - [Kicking My Bad Habits: How I Got Fit. Plus: Join Me Today For a GoogleChat W/ MomsRising!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/kicking-my-bad-habits-how-i-got-fit-plus-join-me-today-for-a-googlechat-w-momsrising/) - I was tired all the time, my energy was crap, the scale was showing numbers I’d never seen before and my pants—well, they were starting to scream, “Now you know you’re just one more pasta bowl from having to buy an entire new wardrobe.” I was miserable. And then I saw a miracle: an African - [Angelina Jolie's Double Mastectomy Highlights the Inequity In Breast Cancer Treatment For Blacks, Poor](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/angelina-jolies-double-mastectomy-highlights-the-inequity-in-breast-cancer-treatment-for-blacks-poor/) - First, let me say this: I think that Angelina Jolie’s decision to have a preventative double mastectomy to address her exceptionally high risk of breast cancer and buy more time to be a mother to her children was brave. So, too, was her sharing that decision publicly, and using it to frame a much-needed discussion - [Child Safety Sign 360 Degrees: A Great Way To Slow Down Your Neighborhood Speed Demon](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/child-safety-sign-360-degrees-a-great-way-to-slow-down-your-neighborhood-speed-demon/) - Child Safety Sign 360 Degrees, a self-installable sign warning drivers from every direction to slow down and watch for children, sponsored this post. We spent a whole lot of time talking to Sweet Baby Jesus behind our neighbor Danny. I mean, nice kid. But he had about as much sense as a baby billy goat. - [President Obama's Morehouse Speech: Encouraging Class Of 2013 To Be Great Black Men, Fathers](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/president-obamas-morehouse-speech-encouraging-class-of-2013-to-be-great-black-men-fathers/) - I have to be honest: as much as I adore President Obama, I tend to watch his speeches in front of African Americans with baited breath, waiting for the moment when the beautiful words I expect him to use to uplift end up bashing us upside the head. Such was the case when I tuned - [{Dr. Ivor Is In} Teen Babysitting: Is Your Baby Ready To Watch Someone Else's Baby?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/06/dr-ivor-is-in-teen-babysitting-is-your-baby-ready-to-watch-someone-elses-baby/) - By DR. IVOR HORN For Christmas this year our 13-year-old daughter asked us to help her find babysitting jobs. I ask you, “What teenager ASKS for work?” This shouldn’t have come as a surprise to us. She started inquiring when she was 12 years old. We dodged the conversation by saying she had to take - [Blended Families: How Couples Can Face Down Baby Mama/Daddy Drama—Together](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/blended-families-how-couples-can-face-down-baby-mamadaddy-drama-together/) - By ERIC LEGETTE The statistics don’t lie: Over 50 percent of marriages end in divorce. Many of these unions produce children and once parents “go their separate ways,” many become involved in a new relationship. These, in turn, often contribute to additional failed relationships. Some produce children born out of wedlock, short-term relationships and various additional - [The First Memorial Day: Celebrating Fallen American Soldiers & the Freed Slaves Who Honored Them](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/the-first-memorial-day-celebrating-fallen-american-soldiers-the-freed-slaves-who-honored-them/) - Well yes, there will be barbecues galore and lots of beer passed about and some kick-ass sales at the mall and everyone will enjoy their long holiday weekend. That's what happens on Memorial Day. But on this day, in the din of mindless eating and drinking and shopping, perhaps we should take a moment—a solemn - [Black Women & Breast Cancer Research: Black Moms Needed For Important Health Studies](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/black-women-breast-cancer-research-black-moms-needed-for-important-health-studies/) - By TARA PRINGLE JEFFERSON Each year, 19,000 new cases of breast cancer occur among African American women. That’s 19,000 too many. According to the American Cancer Society, our five-year survival rate of breast cancer is 77%, compared to white women's rate of 90%. African American women are more likely to develop breast cancer at a - [MyBrownBaby On the Today Show: What Women Think About the Minds Of Men, Cheating](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/mybrownbaby-on-the-today-show-what-women-think-about-the-minds-of-men-cheating/) - I had a blast yesterday on the Today Show panel of moms, mixing it up with gynecologist Evelyn Minaya, former newscaster Carole Sullivan, chef and author Daisy Martinez and the adorable Natalie Morales as we broke down relationship issues from why men and women cheat on their spouses to what it takes for men to - [Picking Up the Pieces: A Mother's Journey With ADHD](http://mybrownbaby.com/2008/11/black-children-and-adhd/) - By VANESSA BUSH There is no fear quite like the fear of being judged. Especially when you're a mom. You worry about how others see you as a mother whether you measure up. To your parents' standards. Your kids'. Even, sometimes, your own. These fears became compounded for me when my son began to have - [Yet Another Sign of the Coming Apocalypse: Abercrombie Kid's Padded, Push-Up Bikini For 7-Year-Olds](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/03/yet-another-sign-of-the-coming-apocalypse-abercrombie-fitchs-padded-push-up-bikini-for-7-year-olds/) - Dear Abercrombie Kids, Padded, push-up bikinis for 7-year-olds? For real? I mean I've yet to see the second grader who has need to push up anything on her body, much less a flat-as-a-chalkboard chest stuffed into frilly attire designed for an afternoon swim down at the local pool. Still, you're a store that's proudly sewing - [Steubenville Coach Gets A Two-Year Contract Extension—and the Students Lose](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/steubenville-coach-gets-a-two-year-contract-extension-and-the-students-lose/) - Clearly, something ain't right in the community well out in Steubenville, Ohio. It is there where teen girls get drugged. And raped while unconscious. And dragged all around town like a side of beef for teen boys to gawk and laugh at while they train their cell phones on her defenseless, naked body—where high school - [Obama Family Tattoo: President Tells Sasha & Malia If They Get Inked, He and Michelle Will, Too](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/obama-family-tattoo-president-tells-sasha-malia-if-they-get-inked-he-and-michelle-will-too/) - My President and First Lady are so gangsta, particularly when it comes to Sasha and Malia and any ideas the First Daughters may have had about getting tattoos: apparently, the two have been informed that if they’re looking to get a little body ink, it’ll totally be a family affair, replete with matching tats for everybody - [Morehouse Students Charged With Raping Spelman Student: Melissa Harris-Perry Weighs In From Our Perspective](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/morehouse-students-charged-with-raping-spelman-student-melissa-harris-perry-weighs-in-from-our-perspective/) - I was so moved by Melissa Harris-Perry's discussion yesterday about rape culture on college campuses. Yes, I know: it's been a popular discussion of late, what with the convictions in the Steubenville, Ohio rape and sexual assault case and the rapey lyrics in Rick Ross' "U.O.E.N.O.," a song so perverse that it cost him a - [Eve's Colorblind Babies: When Celebrity Gets In the Way Of Remembering Why Race Matters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/eves-colorblind-babies-when-celebrity-gets-in-the-way-of-remembering-why-race-matters/) - Now I love Eve, the pitbull in a skirt-turned-“it” girl on the Hollywood scene, and her relationship with British entrepreneur and race car driver Maximillion Cooper is beautiful. But her thoughts about biracial babies and especially her childrearing philosophy has me cocking an eyebrow: Eve says she plans to raise her kids to be “colorblind.” - [Where Did Our Love Go? Anthony Hamilton's Wife Talks Motherhood & Marriage In New Book](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/where-did-our-love-go-anthony-hamiltons-wife-talks-motherhood-marriage-in-new-book/) - Editor's Note: Tarsha Hamilton is a woman who wears many hats. She is a singer/songwriter who has traveled the world sharing her gift. Married to R&B superstar Anthony Hamilton, Tarsha shares her experience as a wife and mother in the new anthology Where Did Our Love Go: Love and Relationships in the African American Community, - [Paying Homage To The OB-GYN Who Escorted Me Into Motherhood: Happy Mother’s Day!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/05/paying-homage-to-the-ob-gyn-who-escorted-me-into-motherhood-happy-mothers-day/) - I was a young reporter when I met her—flat stomach, full of energy, still eating popcorn and rainbow sherbert for dinner, still 120 lbs. soaking wet. Despite having awesome health insurance, I’d gone years without seeing a doctor of any kind. When you’re in your 20s, laying on a table with your legs up in - [Disgusting Behavior of Rutgers Coach Mike Rice Is a Violation of Parents' Trust](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/disgusting-behavior-of-rutgers-coach-mike-rice-is-a-violation-of-parents-trust/) - By NICK CHILES As a former athlete and the father of athletes who have played sports at every level up to NCAA Division 1, I have been around dozens of coaches in my lifetime. But never have I seen anything close to the behavior of just-fired Rutgers men's basketball coach Mike Rice. This guy was - [[FATHER/HOOD] Villages Don’t Raise Children Anymore](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/fatherhood-villages-dont-raise-children-anymore/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR Let’s go way back. On the 1996 De La Soul classic Stakes Is High, Posdnuos emceed “Neighborhoods are now ’hoods/’Cause nobody’s neighbors/Just animals/Surviving with that animal behavior,” and ignited a huge conversation. At the time, people who agreed and disagreed were evenly matched. Fast-forward 17 years, and many of us are having the same - [Father Who Beat Daughters With Cable Wire For Twerking Should Be Charged With Child Abuse](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/father-who-beat-daughters-with-cable-wire-for-twerking-should-be-charged-with-child-abuse/) - I am shaking, eyes filled with water, heart racing, alternately horrified, disgusted and absolutely pissed after watching the viral video of a father beating his daughters with cable wire for posting twerking videos on YouTube. My girl Demetria Lucas Tweeted me about it a few days back, but I took my time reading the stories - [Kudos to Magic Johnson for Modeling Fatherly Love in Supporting His Gay Son](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/kudos-to-magic-johnson-for-modeling-fatherly-love-in-supporting-his-gay-son/) - By NICK CHILES What a beautiful demonstration of loving and supportive fatherhood we got this week from the great Magic Johnson. On the occasion of his 20-year-old son Earvin Johnson III, also known as E.J., stepping out of the closet and announcing to the world that he's gay, Johnson exhibited a classic portrait of how a - [Spare the Rod: A Black Father Spanks His Daughter and Vows Never To Do It Again](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/spare-the-rod-a-black-father-spanks-his-daughter-and-vows-never-to-do-it-again/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR A couple of years ago, I was very deeply involved in putting together an anthology entitled Ass-Whooping’s Greatest Hits: Reflections on the Spankings We Received. As a new father, I felt it was important to explore this hot-button parental issue. I solicited 83 people to contribute, and out of that 83, every single Black - [Fresh Links: Breastfeeding Support For Black Moms, Plus Honest Toddler & New De La Soul Music](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/fresh-links-breastfeeding-support-for-black-moms-plus-honest-toddler-new-de-la-soul-music/) - Just a few months after the Centers For Disease Control reported a rise in both the numbers of African American mothers breastfeeding and the length in which we're forgoing formula for the breast, the Department of Health and Human Services is putting its muscle behind helping to improve those numbers even more by launching It's - [What Beating A Child With A Cord Looks Like (Newsflash: It Is NOT Good Parenting)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/what-beating-a-child-with-a-cord-looks-like-newsflash-it-is-not-good-parenting/) - By DR. STACEY PATTON The digital universe is full of viral videos of adults beating children. I view them warily, alert for triggers that catapult me back into the days of being viciously beaten by my adoptive mother, the wife of Pentecostal preacher with a penchant for sadistic violence in the name of “discipline.” This - [Gratitude: What I Learned About Motherhood and Life While On Public Assistance](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/gratitude-what-i-learned-about-motherhood-and-life-while-on-public-assistance/) - Before I became a single mom, I cut up all my credit cards except one. Thanks to God and the Queen (whose face is printed on the Cayman Islands dollars I earned overseas), I could afford to get out of debt and live on one of the world's most beautiful beaches. When I got the - [Strip Clubs & Dollar Bills: Explaining the Game—And Its Implications—To My Teen Daughter](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/strip-clubs-dollar-bills-explaining-the-game-and-its-implications-to-my-teen-daughter/) - I didn’t mean to black out on my 13-year-old this past weekend. It’s just that when we drove past Club Onyx, the infamous Atlanta strip club that, according to practically every rap song ever made in the history of rap songs, is the star attraction of big booty, p-popping guhls of the South, my darling - [[Father/Hood] Fairy Tales For Black Girls: Making Up Stories Of Our Own For Our Daughters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/fatherhood-fairy-tales-for-black-girls-making-up-stories-of-our-own-for-our-daughters/) - By SHAWN TAYLOR Now that my daughter remembers things with remarkable recall, is capable of critical thought, has a keen eye for the differences between people and the ability to provide and understand context, I have to admit: parenting feels like a kind of ridiculous warfare. It’s you (and everyone that loves you and your - [On the MyBrownBaby Stoop: ReShonda Tate Billingsley Spills On Her New Book, "The Motherhood Diaries"](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/on-the-mybrownbaby-stoop-reshonda-tate-billingsley-spills-on-her-new-book-the-motherhood-diaries/) - With gems like, Let the Church Say Amen and The Pastor's Wife among her 26 (!) books, national bestselling author ReShonda Tate Billingsley knows writing. But the mom of three also know motherhood—so much so that for years, she's shared charming anecdotes and personal stories of her children on social media, cracking up thousands followers along the - [To a 10-Year-Old, Boston Marathon Carnage is Just Another Day in the American News Cycle](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/to-a-10-year-old-boston-marathon-carnage-is-just-another-day-in-the-american-news-cycle/) - By NICK CHILES There is a numbing familiarity to these scenes now, when Americans unite for a moment to share their horror at another despicable act that stole away innocent lives. This time it was in Boston, at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. The last reports I saw said three dead and well - [Class Act: Remembering and Celebrating 42 and Negro League Baseball, For Our Babies' Sakes](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/class-act-remembering-and-celebrating-42-and-negro-league-baseball-for-our-babies-sakes/) - This past weekend, we took the girlpies to see 42, the feature film about Jackie Robinson, the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. The theater was far from full, but I was happy, I have to say, that those who were there were mostly parents and grandparents with children—kids who really needed - [{Dr. Ivor Is In} Birds, Bees, and Body Changes: Talking To Tweens & Teens About Puberty](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/dr-ivor-is-in-birds-bees-and-body-changes-talking-to-tween-teens-about-puberty/) - By DR. IVOR HORN The first time I was interviewed about this subject my oldest child, a girl, was 9 years old. She is 13 now and many of those hypotheticals are now reality. Her body has matured in ways that look more young woman than little girl and her conversations and interests have changed as well. - [Radio Station Bans Rick Ross, Lil Wayne Over Sexist Rape Lyrics: 'Bout Time!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/radio-station-bans-rick-ross-lil-wayne-over-sexist-rape-lyrics-bout-time/) - Round of applause for Michigan radio station 103.7 The Beat, which took a bold stand against irresponsible, misogynistic, foul, rape culture rap lyrics by banning two of Hip Hop’s biggest offenders from its airwaves: Lil’ Wayne and Rick Ross. Citing Lil’ Wayne’s lyrics in the remix of Future’s “Karate Chop,” in which the rapper equates - [Encouraging Literacy For Black Children: Take the 20-4-30 Reading Challenge For Your Child](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/encouraging-literacy-for-black-children-take-the-20-4-30-reading-challenge-for-your-child/) - One of the best baby shower presents I got for my first child was a lovely set of board books that included stories with characters that look like my girlpies, including The Snowy Day and Whistle For Willie, both by Ezra Jack Keats and More, More, More, Said the Baby, by Vera B. Williams. I treasure - [Bump the Princeton Mom Letter: What I Want MY Daughters To Know About Love at College](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/04/bump-the-princeton-mom-letter-what-i-want-my-daughters-to-know-about-love-at-college/) - Here’s what Susan Patton, a nice, Upper East Side Jewish mom who graduated Princeton Class ’77, wants my daughters to know: when they get to the Ivy Leagues, they better snag that M.R.S. degree while they’re getting that baccalaureate because if they’re not married by graduation, they’ll spend the rest of their lives with nothing - [Baby Shot In Stroller Deserves Justice—But the RIGHT Killer Must Be Punished](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/baby-shot-in-stroller-deserves-justice-but-the-right-killer-must-be-punished/) - First, let me say this about the animal(s) responsible for the death of Antonio Santiago, the 13-month-old baby shot in his stroller last week during a street mugging in Brunswick, Georgia. My heart aches for that beautiful child. I am absolutely repulsed by charges that two teenagers shot little Antonio in the face after his - [Steubenville, Ohio Rape Case Shows Teen Cruelty Unleashed by Social Media](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/steubenville-ohio-rape-case-shows-teen-cruelty-unleashed-by-social-media/) - By NICK CHILES Now that the verdict has been delivered in the Steubenville, Ohio, rape case, sending two football players to imprisonment in the juvenile justice system for a year or two, it's become increasingly clear that none of us, neither parents nor teenagers, have any handle on what kind of monstrous beast social media - [We Belong Together: Raising Our Voices In Support Of Immigrant Women and Mothers](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/we-belong-together-raising-our-voices-in-support-of-immigrant-women-and-mothers/) - MyBrownBaby is in Washington, D.C., today, proudly joining We Belong Together, a diverse group of women from across the United States who’ve come together to push for common sense immigration reform that addresses the needs of mothers. The campaign, gathered by the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, along - [How To Kill A Bug In 50 Screams Or Less (When Your Man Refuses To)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/how-to-kill-a-bug-in-50-screams-or-less-when-your-man-refuses-to/) - Okay—y’all know how I feel about bugs. I don’t do bugs. Like, ever. Forreal, forreal? I’ll burn down the house to keep from squishing one with a shoe or—ewa!—a tissue. And, despite their daddy’s best efforts, I’ve successfully passed on the Bug Punk gene to my daughters. Which pretty much explains how we ended up - [In NYC Stop-and-Frisk Trial, A Window Into Every Black Parent's Worst Nightmare](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/in-nyc-stop-and-frisk-trial-a-window-into-every-black-parents-worse-nightmare/) - By NICK CHILES Currently unfolding inside a Manhattan courtroom, couched in the language and apparatus of the U.S. legal system, is a rare window into black parenting in America. Technically it is a trial to determine the constitutionality of the New York Police Department's stop-and-frisk policy. Using that policy, the police in New York over - [White Man Accused Of Slapping Black Baby Says His Son Was Dying, Pleads Not Guilty](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/white-man-accused-of-slapping-black-baby-says-his-son-was-dying-pleads-not-guilty/) - Joe Rickey Hundley, the 60-year-old Idaho man accused of slapping a 19-month-old African American baby in his face and demanding the child's mother "shut that nigger baby up," during an airplane flight in February pleaded not guilty to federal assault charges earlier this week. While he admits to hurling the racial slur at Jessica Bennett, - [Melissa Harris-Perry To 16-Year-Old Steubenville Rape Victim: I Believe You (Video)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/melissa-harris-perry-to-16-year-old-steubenville-rape-victim-i-believe-you-video/) - It might be hard for you to not get teary behind “I Believe You,” MSNBC talk show host Melissa Harris-Perry’s heartfelt letter to the 16-year-old Steubenville rape victim who has been bullied, threatened and implicated in her own assault, sparking a national referendum on rape culture. Harris-Perry’s letter is every bit as revealing as it - [An Easy Chicken Corn Chowder Recipe That'll Make You All Warm and Fuzzy Inside](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/an-easy-chicken-corn-chowder-recipe-thatll-make-you-all-warm-and-fuzzy-inside/) - It’s still wicked cold here in Hotlanta (I know—nobody from Atlanta says “Hotlanta” anymore, but I’m from New York, so…) and when there’s a chill, our family wants nothing more than comfort—I’m talking fluffy slippers, warm blankets, heat turned up high and something warm on our plates. Thing is, that last part—the comfort food—isn’t necessarily - [A Year Later, Trayvon Martin Stays Lodged in the Psyche of Black Parents](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/a-year-later-trayvon-stays-lodged-in-the-psyche-of-black-parents/) - By NICK CHILES It’s been a year since Trayvon Martin pierced our consciousness. So many brutal, unforgettable stories have shocked our senses since last February. So many young people have been unforgivably taken from us. Jordan Davis. Aurora. Newtown. Hadiya Pendleton. It has been a year that may even bring about some changes in the - [The Onion's Quvenzhane Wallis C*nt 'Joke' Was Anything But Funny](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/the-onions-quvenzhane-wallis-cnt-joke-was-anything-but-funny/) - Last night’s Oscar Awards ceremony was huge for Quvenzhané Wallis, the 9-year-old Beasts Of the Southern Wild actress who, with her adorable sparkly, puffy navy blue Armani gown and sleek press-n-curl and fancy puppy purse walked the red carpet as the youngest actor ever to get an Academy Awards nomination. She didn’t win the statuette, - [Marissa Mayer & Yahoo's New 'Work At Home' Rules: The Mom CEO Show's She's Just One Of the Boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/marissa-mayer-yahoos-new-work-at-home-rules-the-mom-ceo-shows-shes-just-one-of-the-boys/) - So just a few days into her six-month anniversary as CEO of Yahoo, Marissa Mayer announced through a Human Resources memo that all the yahoos who telecommute need to cut that mess out by June and bring their behinds into the office to work. In a memo that surfaced this week on All Things D, - [For 10-Year-Old Lil Poopy, Smacking Grown Woman Ass Is Just Another Day at Work](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/for-10-year-old-lil-poopy-smacking-grown-woman-ass-is-just-another-day-at-work/) - By NICK CHILES As the saying goes, you don’t need a license to be a parent. Almost anybody can do it. But that doesn’t mean, however, that everybody should do it. This came to mind when I stepped into the furor surrounding the 10-year-old rapper, Lil Poopy, and the ridiculously inappropriate aura his father has created around - [Black Girls Have Quvenzhane's Back, Plus: Michelle Obama's Mom Dancing, Daddy's Money Sneaks & More](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/black-girls-have-quvenzhanes-back-plus-michelle-obamas-mom-dancing-daddys-money-sneaks-more/) - I promise you this: the backlash The Onion faced after calling Best Actress Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis the "c" word was swift and severe, but it was black voices—those of us women—that led the charge. I saw some really beautiful posts written in support of our favorite 9-year-old big screen star blazing the internet, including the - [Black Children and Black History: The Importance Of Teaching Our Kids the Complexity Of Us](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/black-children-and-black-history-the-importance-of-teaching-our-kids-the-complexity-of-us/) - I was in the car headed to the Atlanta OneMillionRising rally with Mari and three of her female classmates, singing Prince’s “Adore” loud and off-key, when girlpie commandeered the radio dial in search of—what else?—hip hop. “I can’t believe you turned off Prince,” I sniffed. “Since your little friends are in the car, I’ll give - [Michelle Obama Hits Her Dougie With MyBrownBaby In Her "Let's Move" Google+ Hangout (Video)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/michelle-obama-hits-her-dougie-with-mybrownbaby-in-her-lets-move-google-hangout-video/) - Michelle Obama celebrated the third anniversary of her landmark anti-child obesity program, “Let’s Move,” by participating in her first Google+ Hangout chat—and MyBrownBaby was right there with her, talking creative ways to get our kids moving, remembering childhood games like Double Dutch and Skellies, and even helping the First Lady Of the United States hit - [Sex After Birth: Majority Of New Moms Wait Longer Than Six Weeks. Duh.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/sex-after-birth-majority-of-new-moms-wait-longer-than-six-weeks-duh/) - Yet another “duh”-worthy study on women and pregnancy claims that a majority of new moms wait longer than the six-week doctor-ordered minimum to have sex after giving birth. Researchers who periodically surveyed 1,507 first-time mothers living in Melbourne, Australia, about their sexual activity within the first year of childbirth found that overall, 41 percent of - [NYC Teen Pregnancy Ads Try To Shame and Insult Teen Girls Into Not Having Babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/nyc-teen-pregnancy-ads-try-to-shame-and-insult-teen-girls-into-not-having-babies/) - Well yeah, this makes all the sense in the world: New York City’s Human Resources Administration is going all in with a new “straight talk” campaign that uses ads and text messages to stereotype, ridicule and ostracize teenagers into waiting to have babies—a tactic Mayor Bloomberg and other city officials think will totally stop teen - [Kelly Rowland: Beyonce's Mom Taught Me To Love My Dark "Chocolatey" Skin Color—Plus Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/kelly-rowland-beyonces-mom-taught-me-to-love-my-dark-chocolatey-skin-color-plus-fresh-links/) - Kelly Rowland is quite the toast of Hip Hop and R&B radio and even Tinsel Town, with her sultry voice and lyrics flooding airwaves and her bombshell body taking center stage as she worked as a celeb announcer in this year's high-profile Academy Awards red carpet. But as confident as Kelly is in her music - [Thick Lips, Brown Skin and Kinky Hair: A Black Girl's Journey To Loving the Skin She's In](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/thick-lips-brown-skin-and-kinky-hair-a-black-girls-journey-to-loving-the-skin-shes-in/) - By DARLENE ROBINSON MILLENDER My eight year-old daughter said something the other morning that made my heart skip a beat. We were in her room standing in front of the mirror while I brushed her hair into a ponytail. I’d just flat-ironed it the night before so the ponytail could be sleek. (She wants her - [Tina Fey Says Daughter Can't Be Quvenzhane Wallis: Wanting What's Best For Your Kid](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/tina-fey-says-daughter-cant-be-quvenzhane-wallis-wanting-whats-best-for-your-kid/) - Tina Fey’s 7-year-old daughter Alice “lost her mind” over Quvenzhané Wallis, the Beasts of the Southern Wild actress who, at age 9, became the youngest ever to be nominated for a Best Actress Oscar—but Alice’s mama, one of the most talented and respected comedic writers/actresses/producers in the game, is deading any desire by her daughter - [Louis Armstrong Had A Child: A Daughter Claims Her DNA—And, Finally, Her Legacy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/louis-armstrong-had-a-child-a-daughter-claims-her-dna-and-finally-her-legacy/) - By SHARON PRESTON-FOLTA Dear Dad, I thought that telling our story would bring me some peace. I laid that burden, too, on time—thought that the passing years and the life experiences and the wisdom gained would make me feel better about our relationship. About you and I. About what we were not. But it hasn’t. - [Kim Kardashian and Her Expanding Pregnant Belly: Um, She's SUPPOSED To Get Bigger. Geez.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/kim-kardashian-and-her-expanding-pregnant-belly-um-shes-supposed-to-get-bigger-geez/) - Trust: Never in a gazillion years did I ever think I’d be defending Kim Kardashian—she who came up on a bad sex tape with Brandy’s little brother, got filthy rich off her trysts with ballers, made a mockery of marriage with her nationally-televised nuptials that ended practically before the ink could dry on the certificate, - [A Black Marriage Week Treat From Tray Chaney, Plus Michelle Obama In Vogue and Justin T. On Fallon](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/03/a-black-marriage-week-treat-from-tray-chaney-plus-michelle-obama-in-vogue-and-justin-t-on-fallon/) - Sunday marks the kick-off day for the 10th Annual Black Marriage Week, a celebration sponsored by Marriage, Inc. of Kankakee County, along with Wedded Bliss Foundation, Inc., that joins supporters in hundreds of cities around the country to highlight the benefits of married life. To celebrate, actor, rapper and friend to MyBrownBaby Tray Chaney (The - [Ava Duvernay's 'The Door': A Miu Miu Short Film That Displays Black Women In All Our Beauty](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/ava-duvernays-the-door-a-miu-miu-short-film-that-displays-black-women-in-all-our-beauty/) - I make no claims to being a fashionista. I mean, I clean up nice and after years of fending off attacks against my black girl beauty, I’m comfortable enough with my style to get glam on my own terms. But I quit looking for myself on runways and in the pages of fashion magazines a - [Beyonce Calls Rumors She Used Surrogate with Blue Ivy 'Very Odd'](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/beyonce-calls-rumors-she-used-surrogate-with-blue-ivy-very-odd/) - Every woman struggles with fear and insecurity but, as Oprah Winfrey pointed out on the red carpet for Beyonce's new HBO film, we didn't really expect that to be the case with Beyonce. Notoriously private Beyonce has been in a sharing mood of late. Not only is she revealing intimate details about her life as - [A Valentine's Day Dance With A Purpose: Helping To End Violence Against Women](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/a-valentines-day-dance-with-a-purpose-helping-to-end-violence-against-women/) - Today, my daughter and I will dance. Not just because we’re happy. Or because we feel like doing some Soul Train-styled dance off featuring the musical stylings of Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and the elements we know as Earth, Wind & Fire. Or because it’s Valentine’s Day. My girlpie and I will dance in honor - [The Best Newborn Photo Ever: A 13-Year-Old Adoptee Gets the Baby Pictures He Never Had](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/the-best-newborn-photo-ever-a-13-year-old-adoptee-gets-the-baby-pictures-he-never-had/) - Baby pictures are hard to come by for adoptees, especially if they’ve spent years in the foster care system. Maybe the birth parents didn’t have the time, money or inclination to take a few, and surely, adoption agencies don’t have the resources to concern themselves with such things. I have only two baby pictures that - [Airplane Madness: Man Slaps Black Toddler, Tells Mom To "Shut That N****R" Baby Up" (UPDATE)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/update-on-man-who-slapped-black-baby-on-airplane/) - UPDATE: Joe Rickey Hundley, the 60-year-old man accused of slapping a black baby in his face during an airplane flight, surrendered to federal agents and appeared in federal court today. Details of his plea and bond release are at the end of this post. Let me be very damn clear: Homeland Security would have had - [Beyonce Gushing about Blue Ivy's Smarts Reminds a Dad of the Day He Met His Daughter's Genius](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/beyonce-gushing-about-blue-ivy-reminds-a-dad-of-the-day-he-met-his-daughters-genius/) - By NICK CHILES Hearing Beyonce gleefully tell Oprah about the brilliance of her baby girl Blue Ivy reminded me of the heady, joyous days of new parenthood, when everything your child does is an occasion for celebration and you are absolutely convinced that your baby is a genius. "She is hilarious and she is fire. - [Pregnant Texas Teen Sues Parents For Right To Have Baby. Isn't Reproductive Choice Grand?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/pregnant-texas-teen-sues-parents-for-right-to-have-baby-isnt-reproductive-choice-grand/) - My mother’s “birds and bees” talk began and ended with this simple directive: “Don’t bring no babies home because I’m not trying to take care of any.” She meant that. And I was real clear about it. I was to get a college degree. A career. Love. Marriage. And then babies. In that order. She - [Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa Birth New Baby Boy—Plus More MyBrownBaby Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/amber-rose-and-wiz-khalifa-birth-new-baby-boy-plus-more-mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - A hearty congratulations to Amber Rose and Wiz Khalifa, the proud parents of a new baby boy. Wiz announced the birth last night via Twitter: "Happy Birthday Sebastian "The Bash" Taylor Thomaz!!!" he tweeted. "Everyone welcome this perfect young man into the world." Of course, celebrities far and wide obliged the new papa, with congrats flowing in - [SPIKED HOT CHOCOLATE RECIPES!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/02/spiked-hot-chocolate-recipes/) - A few weeks ago I gave you all the ingredients you need for a "Good God Almighty" Spiked Hot Chocolate Party and MyBrownBaby mommies from far and wide said they were plotting and planning chocolate get-togethers of their own. Getting Morris Chestnut and Omar Epps to the party apparently isn't an issue (we all own - [Black Women and Heart Health: Know the Symptoms Of Attack and Be Smart About Your Heart](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/black-women-heart-health-and-heart-attack-symptoms/) - My mother had beautiful hands—lovely, long and fresh, just like her. She kept her fingernails dipped in maroons and dark browns—subtle, but still noticeable. Strong. As she got older, though, Mommy’s hands became gnarled with the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis, almost at the same time that a workplace accident took out a disc in her - [Black Moms and Breastfeeding: CDC Says Stats Are Rising, But We Need More Support](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/black-moms-and-breastfeeding-cdc-says-stats-are-rising-but-we-need-more-support/) - Oh baby! The numbers of African American mothers breastfeeding is on the rise and more black mothers are forgoing formula for the breast for longer periods—a push that is narrowing gaps in breastfeeding rates between black women and other ethnicities. A report released yesterday by the Centers for Disease Control says the proportion of black - [Beyonce Celebrates the Black Women Of the Superbowl—And Other MyBrownBaby Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/beyonce-celebrates-the-black-women-of-the-superbowl-and-other-mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - So Jennifer Borget, the blogger behind Baby Making Machine and an occasional contributor to MyBrownBaby, wrote a perfectly delightful post on BabyCenter earlier this week, explaining why she was absolutely pumped that black women, including Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Beyonce, ran the world on Superbowl Sunday, using their talent not only to entertain the - [Finally, Obama Going to Chicago to Talk About Guns and Our Dying Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/finally-obama-going-to-chicago-to-talk-about-guns-and-our-dying-children/) - By NICK CHILES After online petition drives, blogger pleas, demands from a range of leaders such as Jesse Jackson, and millions of water cooler and dinner table conversations, President Obama is finally going to Chicago to talk about guns. The White House announced that after his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Obama would - ['They Deserve A Vote': President Obama Makes a Powerful Case for Gun Control](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/they-deserve-a-vote-president-obama-makes-a-powerful-case-for-gun-control/) - By NICK CHILES "They deserve a vote." With those words, repeated over and over as he introduced victims of gun violence during his State of the Union, President Obama last night brought the full brunt of his grand rhetoric to make the case why the nation must take action right now to protect our children. - [Hadiya Pendleton: Two Charged With Murder In Chicago Teen Honor Student's Death](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/hadiya-pendleton-two-charged-with-murder-in-chicago-teen-honor-students-death/) - Chicago police may be getting closer to getting justice for Hadiya Pendleton: two alleged gang members have been charged with first-degree murder in the death of the 15-year-old honor student whose senseless killing compelled President Obama to add inner city gun violence to his national gun reform debate. Police allege Michael Ward, 18, and Kenneth - [John Mayer, the Biggest Loser](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/02/john-mayer-biggest-loser/) - It's not that John Mayer has a preference for white girls. Or even that the guitarist/singer said it out loud in a Playboy interview, no less, after a journalist asked him if his "hood pass" entices black women to toss the panties his way. It's HOW he said it that has me deleting all of - [Beyonce Reveals Pain of Her Miscarriage](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/beyonce-reveals-pain-of-her-miscarriage/) - Any woman who has ever been through a miscarriage knows how brutally painful it can be. It is literally the death of your child—a part of you gone forever, a child whose cheeks you will never get to kiss. In her upcoming documentary that airs on HBO (Feb. 16), Life Is But A Dream, Beyonce - [California Pre-School Sex Scandal: School Closing Its Doors After 4- and 5-Year-Olds Admit Oral Sex](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/california-pre-school-sex-scandal-school-closing-its-doors-after-4-and-5-year-olds-admit-oral-sex/) - A church-run pre-school in Carson, California is shutting down after parents found out kindergarteners were allegedly giving each other oral sex, and now families of the abused children are stepping forward to file a class-action lawsuit against the school, church, principal, teacher and an alleged child perpetrator. ABC News reports that at least two young - [Three-Year-Old Mistakes Pink Gun For Toy, Dies From Gunshot Wound To Head](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/three-year-old-mistakes-pink-gun-for-toy-dies-from-gunshot-wound-to-head/) - A Greenville, South Carolina, family is burying their 3-year-old son today, less than a week after he was killed when a neon pink gun he mistook for a toy discharged. Temorej Smith died Friday in a bedroom of his family’s apartment as he and his 7-year-old sister were playing with the pink handgun. The children’s - [Amber Rose & Wiz Khalifa's Unconventional Birth Plan: All-Natural, Water Birth For Their First Baby](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/amber-rose-wiz-khalifas-unconventional-birth-plan-all-natural-water-birth-for-their-first-baby/) - I tend not to pay celebrity pregnancies any kind of mind. I mean, the stories always seem to whip up all kinds of innuendo, insult and hysteria—Beyonce wasn’t really pregnant! Jessica Simpson was fatter than a Beverly Hills McMansion! Mariah Carey got her body back three months after birthing twins, and every other new mom - [ADHD Diagnoses In Black Children Increases By 70 Percent—Along With the Use Of Strong Meds](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/adhd-diagnoses-in-black-children-increases-by-70-percent-along-with-the-use-of-strong-meds/) - African American and Hispanic children have seen a jump in their diagnosis rates for Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder—a trend that comes as more psychiatrists are prescribing antipsychotic drugs some researchers argue haven't been proven to accurately treat ADHD. A recent study by Kaiser Permanente found that the overall rate of ADHD diagnoses for children - [Home Made Love: The Easiest, Tastiest Chicken Pot Pie Recipe Ever](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/02/home-made-love-the-easiest-tastiest-chicken-pot-pie-recipe-ever/) - By Mari Chiles and Lila Chiles It's been totally cold here in Georgia, which is weird because up until now, our winters have been kinda warm. When the weather is like this, Mommy is always doing things to keep us warm. Like, she makes us wear lots of layers. And gigantic coats with great big - [Would You Buy a Bulletproof Backpack for Your Child?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/would-you-buy-a-bulletproof-backpack-for-your-child/) - By NICK CHILES Would you buy your kid a bulletproof backpack? Apparently a whole lot of parents are answering that question with a hearty "Yes!" Since the ugly Newtown massacre in December, companies that manufacture bulletproof backpacks are seeing a huge jump in sales. The vice president of one of the companies, Bullet Blocker, told - [Celebrating Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., The Prince Of Peace](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/celebrating-rev-martin-luther-king-jr-the-prince-of-peace/) - Today, as a nation, we celebrate what would have been Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 84th birthday, perhaps the most gratifying element of his legacy is that King Day is rapidly becoming a day across the nation when people commit themselves to the service of others. From schools to corporations to municipalities, Americans will be - [Roe v. Wade At 40: Pondering Reproductive Rights For Our Daughters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/roe-v-wade-at-40-pondering-reproductive-rights-for-our-daughters/) - I’d left the New York Times out on the table, with a story about the death of an abortion doctor right there on the front page. The kid had questions. “What,” she asked, “is an abortion, Mommy?” She was eight. I was obligated to answer. My definition was simple—to the point: “An abortion is an - [If Your Child Forgets EVERYTHING, Scientists May Have Good News for You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/if-your-child-forgets-everything-scientists-may-have-good-news-for-you/) - By NICK CHILES Is your kid the one who somehow comes home from school without his coat—when it's 20 degrees outside? Do you have to repeat yourself 10 times before your child remembers to clean her room every Saturday morning? Does he forget his lunchbox seemingly EVERY morning in the rush to get out of - [Michelle Obama's Hair: FLOTUS Bangs Are Sexy, Grown and Inspiring For Moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/michelle-obamas-hair-flotus-bangs-are-sexy-grown-and-inspiring-for-moms/) - Virginia Republicans are hijacking the state’s electoral vote system, Congress is prepping for another debt ceiling knock-down, drag-out, and, for the first time ever, the Pentagon is about to allow women to serve in the combat zone, but my God, let the TV, newspapers and internet tell it, and Michelle Obama’s new bangin’ bangs is - [Beasts Of the Southern Wild's Quvenzhane Wallis Covers Entertainment Weekly, Plus Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/beasts-of-the-southern-wilds-quvenzhane-wallis-covers-entertainment-weekly-plus-fresh-links/) - Beasts of the Southern Wild breakout star Quvenzhane Wallis, who, at nine, became the youngest ever to be nominated for a "Best Actress" Academy Award, brings that adorable smile and elementary school energy to the cover of Entertainment Weekly's Oscar issue—looking every bit as delicious as ever. Check out Clutch's 5 Reasons We Love Quvenzhane Wallis, as - [Lil Wayne's ‘No Worries’ Made Me Question Myself as a Dad To Black Daughters](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/lil-waynes-no-worries-made-me-question-myself-as-a-dad-to-black-daughters/) - By NICK CHILES It was Lil Wayne’s song “No Worries” that did it— sent me hurtling down yet another slippery slope on the rollercoaster ride that is parenting. A prominent part of the song is Wayne’s blushingly explicit tribute to abundant pubic hair. Every time it comes on the radio when my teenage daughter is - [Shocking Story in Israel: Ethiopian Women Given Contraceptive Shots Without Their Knowledge](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/shocking-story-in-israel-ethiopian-women-given-contraceptive-shots-without-their-knowledge/) - By NICK CHILES It's stunning to look around the globe—and in the U.S.—and see the things that governments and individuals are still getting away with in the treatment of women. We were shocked to see that the Israeli government is now acknowledging a government practice of injecting Ethiopian women immigrating to Israel with a long-acting - [Kid President: The Best, Most Inspirational Pep Talk EVER, From A Beautiful Black Boy](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/kid-president-the-best-most-inspirational-pep-talk-ever-from-a-beautiful-black-boy/) - Honest to goodness, if you watch nothing else today, you MUST press play on this video by Robbie Novak, a.k.a., Kid President, the 9-year-old, tux-wearing hype machine, who is using his awesome to encourage the world to be, well... awesome. In his three-and-a-half-minute pep talk, little Robbie quotes Robert Frost and Journey, struts and dances - [Latest Cop Outrage: Bronx Boy, 7, Handcuffed, Questioned by Police for 10 Hours](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/latest-cop-outrage-bronx-boy-7-handcuffed-questioned-by-police-for-10-hours/) - By NICK CHILES There's been a lot of discussion in recent days about posting armed police officers in every school in the country as a way of preventing the kind of shocking tragedy that befell Newtown, CT, last year. This idea was first proposed by the National Rifle Association and has since been taken up - [Learning How To Care For Black Baby Hair—Plus Two Awesome $185 CARA B Naturally Giveaways!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/02/learning-how-to-care-for-black-baby-hair-plus-two-awesome-185-cara-b-naturally-giveaways/) - So, like, is it weird that I was totally obsessed with my Mari’s hair before she was born? Seriously, I was—wanted to know if she’d come out bald or with a big ol’ afro that would stand at attention, if her African American baby hair would be straight and wispy or if it’d be thick - [Diaper Dabbler: The Best Way To Pick Diapers For Newborns, Babies and Toddlers](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/02/diaper-dabbler-the-best-way-to-pick-diapers-for-newborns-babies-and-toddlers/) - I promise you this: before she took her first breath, my baby, Mari, had a wardrobe that could make Tyra Banks, Tim Gunn and Anna Wintour totally take notes. There were Petit Bateau onesies, the sweetest Ralph Lauren sweaters, beautiful Janie & Jack party dresses and at least six pair of shoes, including an adorable - [Hadiya Pendleton: Chicago Gun Violence Takes Star Teen From Inauguration To the Mortuary](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/hadiya-pendleton-chicago-gun-violence-takes-star-teen-from-inauguration-to-the-mortuary/) - Her name was Hadiya Pendleton, and she was only 15 years old. The dimples in her cheeks, the sparkle in her eyes—each of these tell the story. She was an honor student, a volley ball player and a majorette, nice enough with her studies and her drill team routines that she got the chance to - [Having Trouble Getting Your Kids to Do Chores? There's an App for That](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/having-trouble-getting-your-kids-to-do-chores-theres-an-app-for-that/) - By NICK CHILES Have trouble getting your kids to do chores around the house? There's now an app for that. It's called the Chore Monster and it's an ingenious method of assigning points and rewards to the kiddies when they step up and do chores, adding some fun and some technology to something that is - [Baby Ear Piercing: Maybe It's Just a Cultural Thing—Or A Mom's Prerogative](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/baby-ear-piercing-maybe-its-just-a-cultural-thing-or-a-moms-prerogative/) - I have no earthly idea how old I was when I first got my ears pierced. What I do remember, though, is that I got them done in a hole-in-the-wall shop in a Long Island strip mall, and I was sitting on a long metal table, and my mother was holding me down while some - [Kudos to New York for Putting Safety above Politics with Gun Control Measures](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/kudos-to-new-york-for-putting-safety-above-politics-with-gun-control-measures/) - By NICK CHILES Though it may come as a surprise to much of the country, there are a whole lot of Republicans in New York state—so many that they actually control the state Senate. Which makes the new gun control laws passed by the state legislature and signed into law yesterday by New York Gov. - [Chris Rock’s Stalker Petitions To Get Shawty Lo & Mamas Back On Oxygen](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/chris-rocks-stalker-petitions-to-get-shawty-lo-mamas-back-on-oxygen/) - A day after a nearly 40,000-signature petition pressured the Oxygen network to pull the plug on a reality show chronicling Shawty Lo and the 10 mothers of his 11 children, a supporter is rallying with a petition of her own, arguing that “All My Babies’ Mamas” should air because it’ll show a “father figure” setting - [Willow Smith's Shaved Head: Why Does This Child's Short Haircuts Get Black Folk So Riled Up?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/02/willow-smiths-shaved-head-why-does-this-childs-short-haircuts-get-black-folk-so-riled-up/) - Willow Smith debuted a freshly shaven head last week—a new down-to-the-scalp hairdo that, of course, elicited all kinds of uproar across the internets, as the internets are wont to do when Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith’s daughter, she of “Whip My Hair” fame, is involved. Typically, black folk are alternately accusing The Smiths of - [Tray Chaney's 'LIVE—World AIDS Day Anthem' Is A Worthy Message (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/tray-chaneys-live-world-aids-day-anthem-is-a-worthy-message-video/) - We’ve made no secrets about our love for Tray Chaney, the actor who found fame as “Poot” in HBO’s edgy, award-winning series, The Wire, but now finds his calling as a groundbreaking rapper with a purpose. With his new album, Be Inspired, Chaney has tackled a myriad of social issues—fatherlessness, bullying, failing schools—with the hope - [Update: Oxygen Officially Cancels Shawty Lo's Show; "Amen" to Power of the People](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/as-oxygen-reportedly-cancels-shawty-los-show-amen-to-power-of-the-people/) - By NICK CHILES UPDATE: Oxygen officially announced it has cancelled Shawty Lo's "All My Babies' Mamas," a reality show that was to chronicle the relationship between the rapper and the 10 mothers of his 11 children. Oxygen's official statement is at the end of this post. Let's all say a big "Amen" to the power - [A 6-Year-Old Walking Alone to School? Is This Crazy—Or Is It Just Me?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/05/a-6-year-old-walking-along-to-school-is-this-crazy-or-is-it-just-me/) - By NICK CHILES There was a story that sprang to my attention a couple weeks ago and it's been bothering me so much that I had to write something about it. It involves a 6-year-old boy in the Bronx who was saved by the school janitor when the boy was approached by a crazy-looking man - [Shocking Study: Overweight Teens Frequently Bullied by Their Parents](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/shocking-study-overweight-teens-frequently-bullied-by-their-parents/) - By NICK CHILES One of the most difficult jobs for a parent to negotiate is dealing with an overweight child. It's hard to know what to do, what to say, whether to say anything, what to cook, what not to cook—the list of questions can be endless. A new study published in the journal Pediatrics - [The Best Of MyBrownBaby, 2012 Edition: Stories That Moved the MBB Crowd](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/the-best-of-mybrownbaby-2012-edition-stories-that-moved-the-mbb-crowd/) - From controversial shootings (Trayvon Martin), celebrity deaths (Whitney Houston) and celebrity kid growing pains (Willow Smith) to political triumphs (President Barack Obama and Obamacare) and the release of my 20th book (Sparkle), MyBrownBaby chronicled some incredible stories this year. Here, a run down of the headlines that had us talking. As Beyonce celebrated the birth - [If We Let Shawty Lo’s Show Get on the Air, We Will Have Failed Ourselves](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/if-we-let-shawty-los-show-get-on-the-air-we-will-have-failed-ourselves/) - By NICK CHILES Surely there has to be a line out there somewhere—a level of degradation, of downright sewer-level grossness, that is so low even a television network will not sink below it to make a couple of bucks. I would have thought that rapper Shawty Lo’s new show, “All My Babies’ Mamas,” was solidly - [Behind Jet Magazine's Jordan Davis Cover: A Courageous Stand For Justice](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/behind-jet-magazines-jordan-davis-cover-a-courageous-stand-for-justice/) - I have been a reporter for more years than not and I’ve covered my fair share of death, heartache and controversy. It comes rather easy to me. So it was a no-brainer, really, for me to accept the challenge from my ace, Jet magazine editor-in-chief Mitzi Miller, to pen her magazine’s cover story on Jordan - [Shawty Lo Must Go: An Open Letter To Oxygen Media CEO Jason Klarman](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/shawty-lo-must-go-an-open-letter-to-oxygen-media-ceo-jason-klarman/) - Editor's Note: MyBrownBaby Contributor Nick Chiles' post, "If We Let Shawty Lo’s Show Get on the Air, We Will Have Failed Ourselves," inspired an incredible amount of conversation about the stereotyping of black mothers and fathers on American TV. Today, we proudly feature an open letter to Oxygen Media CEO Jason Klarman, penned by Sabrina - [Study: Arming Your Children With Race Pride Will Boost Their School Performance](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/study-arming-your-children-with-race-pride-will-boost-their-school-performance/) - By NICK CHILES They are among the most difficult questions a black parent has to face: How far do you go in preparing your children for the incidents of discrimination they will likely face during their childhoods? If you talk too much and too early about racial discrimination to your black child, are you shattering - [Easy Bake Oven For Boys: A Black Dad Explains Why His Son Won't Be Getting One](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/easy-bake-oven-for-boys-a-black-dad-explains-why-his-son-wont-be-getting-one/) - By JAMAL FREDRICK Over the past year, I’ve had an intense internal struggle over the rise of a parenting philosophy that makes me have almost knee-jerk reactions—that makes me respond in ways contrary to how I perceive myself. Progressive, liberal, forward-thinking, open-minded, not bound by societal constructs of race, class, sex and gender roles—that is - ["Django" Provided Many Lessons for Our Daughter—but "Roots" Did Too](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/django-provided-many-lessons-for-our-daughters-but-roots-did-too/) - By NICK CHILES We agonized for a couple of days whether we would take our 13-year-old daughter with us to see Django Unchained. We flipped and flopped back and forth, weighing minuses and plusses: Tarantino violence vs. historical significance. Jamie Foxx brief frontal nudity scene vs. the beauty of the Jamie-Kerry Washington love story. The - [Crushing On Girl Crush: An Unconventional Conversation On Beauty (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/crushing-on-girl-crush-an-unconventional-conversation-on-beauty-video/) - It’s the New Year—raise your hand if, at the stroke of midnight, you joined Weight Watchers, hired a personal trainer, poured all through those long-bookmarked fitness blogs and swore to sweet baby Jesus, your man, your best girlfriend and your bathroom mirror that this time, you’re going to go hard losing weight/working out/taking better care - [FINALLY: Judge Rules NYC's Stop-and-Frisk Program Unconstitutional](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/finally-judge-rules-nycs-stop-and-frisk-program-unconstitutional/) - By NICK CHILES New York City’s controversial stop-and-frisk program was dealt a severe blow yesterday when a federal judge ruled that a portion of the program being used in the Bronx was an unconstitutional violation of the rights of city residents who are being stopped without probable cause. The decision should have a transforming effect - [Envying Malia and Sasha’s Dad—What I Would Give for a Secret Service Detail For My Girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/envying-malia-and-sashas-dad-what-i-would-give-for-a-secret-service-detail-for-my-girls/) - By NICK CHILES I admit that I got a little thrill when I read about the lengths the Obamas went to make sure there were no pictures sent out into the world showing their daughters in bathing suits. As the father of two daughters roughly the same age as Malia and Sasha, I can attest - [Oh Oscar! 'Beasts Of the Southern Wild' Actress Quvenzhane Wallis, 9, Nominated](http://mybrownbaby.com/2013/01/oh-oscar-beasts-of-the-southern-wild-actress-quvenzhane-wallis-9-nominated/) - Joy for brown babies everywhere: Quvenzhane Wallis, the 9-year-old actress who made her film debut as a fiercely brave 6-year-old in the critically-acclaimed film (and Oscar-nominated!) Beasts of the Southern Wild, was nominated for best actress in a motion picture in the 2013 Academy Awards! The Oscar nomination makes Quvenzhane, a first-time actress, the youngest - [Fatherhood: Tray Chaney Of "The Wire" Celebrates Dedicated Black Dads In His New Video](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/01/fatherhood-tray-chaney-of-the-wire-celebrates-dedicated-black-dads-in-his-new-video/) - I've made no bones about and no apologies for my unyielding support of black fathers who do the right thing by their children. Every second of the day, they need to be celebrated—for their commitment to their children, for setting the example, for being the exact opposite of the stereotypes perpetuated against them, even by - [Princess Boys: Should Boys Wear Dresses and Sparkly, Pretty Things To Kindergarten Class?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2011/01/princess-boys-should-boys-wear-dresses/) - This little boy who fancies hot pink dresses and remarkable ruffles and sparkly, pretty things—he makes me giggly and hopeful and wishful that the world could be as evolved as his mama and his daddy, who allow him the indulgence of prancing like a princess not just in the family playroom but out on - [Halle Berry Fight Proves One Thing: Celebs Can Be As Stupid as the Rest of Us](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/halle-berry-fight-proves-one-thing-celebs-can-be-as-stupid-as-the-rest-of-us/) - By NICK CHILES The Thanksgiving Day throwdown that occurred between the men in Halle Berry’s life proves one thing above all else: If given half a chance, celebrities can act as stupid as the rest of us. There was just something extremely run-of-the-mill and less than fabulous about these two pretty boys coming to blows - [Food Stamp Mayor Cory Booker Challenges Us To Consider the Plight Of the Poor](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/food-stamp-mayor-cory-booker-challenges-us-to-consider-the-plight-of-the-poor/) - Newark Mayor Cory Booker has lived in a tent in front of Newark, NJ's worst housing project in protest of the city government's negligence, saved a fellow citizen from a house fire, personally shoveled the driveway of a snowed-in Newark resident and even invited Hurricane Sandy victims to eat and sleep at the mayoral residence - [Chain-Swinging Dad Storms School, Demands To Know Who's Sexing His Baby Girl](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/chain-swinging-dad-storms-school-demands-to-know-whos-sexing-his-baby-girl/) - Sometimes, your kids need to know you’re a little crazy. I’m a firm believer of this, and I remind Mari and Lila often: “You know your mama’s crazy, right? You better go on ‘head and let your little friends know.” Apparently, I’m not the only parent who thinks this way, as evidenced by the New - [Method's New Holiday Collection 2012, Plus: A Method Pinterest Stocking Stuffer Contest](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/methods-new-holiday-collection-2012-plus-a-method-pinterest-stocking-stuffer-contest/) - Maybe it’s because I’ve been seeing Christmas trees and holiday ornaments in department and craft stores since before Halloween, or maybe it’s the wicked deadlines that have been totally distracting me from getting my “Happy Birthday, Jesus” decorating/shopping/spirit on, but I just hadn’t been feeling a lot like Christmas this year. Which is weird because, - [Racism From An 8th Grader's Perspective: A Generational Public Service Announcement](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/racism-from-an-8th-graders-perspective-a-generational-public-service-announcement/) - We tend way too much to think of eighth graders in stereotype—to dismiss them as incredibly self-centered little human beings. Spacey. Sullen. Hormonal. A little crazy. But if you can break through the wall—if you can truly connect with them in a meaningful way—you find, easily, that there's a whole lot going on in those - [The Curse Of the "Phat" Booty, Plus: Love & Slavery, the Central Park Five, Mariah Carey & More](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/the-curse-of-the-phat-booty-plus-love-slavery-the-central-park-five-mariah-carey-more/) - I spent a lifetime being ashamed of my bodacious butt and thick thighs, and a second lifetime being too afraid to flaunt it out of fear that showing off my curves would elicit the unwanted "Damn, you got a phat ass!" comments from random dudes that always seemed to follow me down streets, hallways and - [Yes, Santa Is Real—At Least For One More Season](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/yes-santa-is-real-at-least-for-one-more-season/) - I’m still kind of reeling from the day Mari asked for the truth about Santa Claus and I broke it down so it’ll forever be broke. I swear the girl cried for three days. Three. And another one, too, after she came back with more questions and I fessed up about the Easter Bunny and - [Shoplifting Mom Shot Dead In Walmart Parking Lot By Guard—In Front Of Two Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/shoplifting-mom-shot-dead-in-walmart-parking-lot-by-guard-in-front-of-two-children/) - Bringing the definition of “overkill” to a new level, an off-duty police officer moonlighting as a Walmart security guard shot to death a Houston mother of two he suspected was shoplifting. Shelly Frey was shopping at Walmart with her friends, Tiasa Andrews and Yolanda Craig, when Louis Campbell, a 26-year veteran deputy, accused the women - [Turning Our Daughters Into Tech Geeks, Thanks to Black Girls Code](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/turning-our-daughters-into-tech-geeks-thanks-to-black-girls-code/) - By NICK CHILES It was a glorious sight to behold: a room full of black girls, ranging in age from 10 to 17, learning how to write the code to create their own mobile apps—and excited as hell about all the tech wizardry that was being crammed into their young brains. That's the magic of - [Univ of Texas Prof Says Single Moms to Blame for Black Student Failure](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/univ-of-texas-prof-says-single-moms-to-blame-for-black-student-failure/) - By NICK CHILES Lord, I beg of you, please save black parents and the black community from the instant experts who pop up to explain black children or black culture when they have no idea what they're talking about. Today's exhibit A comes courtesy of University of Texas law school and one of its professors, - [Erykah Badu's Baby Girl Is Adorbs, Plus: the 12/12/12 Baby & Kiddie Race Talks](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/erykah-badus-baby-girl-is-adorbs-plus-the-121212-baby-kiddie-race-talks/) - I know. Fridays at MyBrownBaby are usually reserved for something a little deeper than pictures of celebrity babies. But it's late. I've been working all day and late into the night. And this is all I got: a pretty picture of Erykah Badu's pretty little baby, Mars, with a head full of little black girl - [If Newtown Shootings Showed Us Anything, It's That Guns Kill People and It's Time For Reform](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/if-newtown-shootings-showed-us-anything-its-that-guns-kill-people-and-its-time-for-reform/) - There were news trucks outside my daughter’s elementary school on Friday. I’m guessing they wanted some local reaction to the shooting massacre of 26 people—including 20 babies—at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in bucolic Newtown, Conn., which is all-at-once a world away physically from our southern, urban enclave in Atlanta, and socially right here in - [Study Confirms: Our Childhoods Were Easier Than Our Kids' Childhoods](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/life-for-american-families-and-children-in-steady-decline-over-past-decade/) - By NICK CHILES As families across America know all too well, the last decade has been brutal on our pocketbooks. But while much of the analysis has focused on the effects of the Great Recession, a new study by the Foundation for Child Development reveals that the rapid decline in the well-being of American families - [Louis Armstrong Had A Child: The Daughter Of A Jazz Icon Yearns For A Father's Love](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/louis-armstrong-had-a-child-the-daughter-of-a-jazz-icon-yearns-for-a-fathers-love/) - On the first day, in the first 15 minutes after I met Sharon Preston-Folta, we cried together. Her story, her testimony, simply moved me. Sharon, you see, is the secret daughter of dancer Lucille “Sweets” Preston and famed trumpeter Louis Armstrong, the innovator of one of America’s most innovative musical art forms—jazz. And for more - [Kid-Friendly Peanut Butter Reindeer Cookie and Snowman Cupcake Recipes](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/kid-friendly-peanut-butter-reindeer-cookie-and-snowman-cupcake-recipes/) - With just days to go before Christmas, my girls have been making the rounds to all kinds of parties at school and at the homes of their little friends, which basically means they've been some little baking fools around these parts as they bring goodies to the festivities. In the past week, Lila's made Peanut - [Coretta Scott King's Words On the Violence Of Poverty Still Ring True Today](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/coretta-scott-kings-words-on-the-violence-of-poverty-still-ring-true-today/) - Marinate on Corretta Scott King's words—words she bravely shared in a speech on Solidarity Day, the traditional "Juneteenth" celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation, just months after her husband, Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated. After he husband died, she took up the mantle on his Poor People's Campaign, and that speech, those very specific words, - [Merry MyBrownBaby Christmas—"Christmas Story" Style! (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/merry-mybrownbaby-christmas-christmas-story-style-video/) - There's three heads of hair to be done and cleaning to be done, too, and then there will be the cooking and the cleaning and the last-minute present buying and a little gift-wrapping, too. Somehow, all of this will need to be done before tomorrow, when our family and friends come over to our place - [From the Heart: Responsible Holiday Giving That'll Mean More To Others Than To You](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/from-the-heart-responsible-holiday-giving-thatll-mean-more-to-others-than-to-you/) - By SHAY STEWART-BOULEY Now that the winter holiday season is almost here, I feel it is my public duty as a career servant to the less than fortunate and head of a non-profit agency to share some valuable information with you. After all, it’s that time of the year when those of us with a - [Girl On Fire: Alicia Keys Tells Jet That Becoming A Mom Grew Her Up](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/girl-on-fire-alicia-keys-tells-jet-that-becoming-a-mom-grew-her-up/) - God—do you remember Alicia Keys when she first hit the scene, with the braids and the bubble jackets and the Tims and the old school Reebok sneakers, hiding all that body behind the piano, pouring her heart out over how she'd "fallen" for some boy? Fast forward to now and Alicia is a whole 'nother - [Exciting New Book Provides Answer to Question: Why Don’t More Black Boys Read?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/exciting-new-book-provides-answer-to-question-why-dont-more-black-boys-read/) - By NICK CHILES Why don’t more black boys like to read? That’s a question that has haunted black parents and educators for decades. Over the years, I have deduced at least one obvious answer: Because no one is publishing books with their interests in mind. I’m pleased to announce that I have partnered with a - [Disgusting Disrespect of Children in Meridian, Miss. Will Make You Want to Cry](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/disgusting-disrespect-of-children-in-meridian-miss-will-make-you-want-to-cry/) - By NICK CHILES We've written here before about the dangers children face when schools employ police officers as school safety guards, but the case of Meridian, Mississippi, is about the most outrageous and disheartening example of the inhuman and disrespectful treatment of black children by the criminal justice system that we've ever come across. Meridian - [Better Than Good Hair: Celebrating CurlyNikki.com's New Natural Hair Care Book—Plus, A Giveaway](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/12/better-than-good-hair-celebrating-curlynikki-coms-new-natural-hair-care-book-plus-a-giveaway/) - By NIKKI WALTON Founder of CurlyNikki.com So, I wrote a book, y’all…and it's (appropriately) titled, "Better Than Good Hair," ‘cause we’re not only rejecting the notion of ‘good hair,’ we’re showing women that their own hair is BOMB and better than good—it's the greatest. I’m assuming you have some questions, so I’m gonna hop on the - [Government Cheese](http://mybrownbaby.com/2010/01/using-food-stamps-and-ebt-cards-with-dignity/) - It's the cheese I remember - a congealed, yellowy-orange block in non-descript paper, with, I think, blue writing. You needed the might of Solomon to cut through it, it was so thick. All I could manage were chunks - never firm slices. No, the slices - they were for people who could afford the good - [Bug Tales: Little Pest Critters & I Will NEVER Get Along—Ever.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/bug-tales-little-pest-critters-i-will-never-get-along-ever/) - My God, I can’t stand bugs—never could. I mean, I grew up in Long Island, in a house with a grand, green, immaculately-maintained backyard, and I think I might have gone out there all of, like, three times. By force. There were spiders and mosquitoes and bees and stuff out there. Denene didn’t play that. - [Pregnant After Rape? It's God's Will, According to Indiana Senate Candidate](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/pregnant-after-rape-its-gods-will-according-to-indiana-senate-candidate/) - By NICK CHILES Indiana Senate candidate Richard Mourdock in a debate last night offered the women of America a vicious kick in the gut, suggesting that women who get pregnant from a rape should still be forced to deliver a baby because it’s “something that God intended to happen.” These guys clearly have no shame. - [Sofia the First: The Latina Disney Princess That Wasn’t and the Community That Played Along](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/sofia-the-first-the-latina-disney-princess-that-wasnt-and-the-community-that-played-along/) - By CAROL CAIN Well, it’s official. I mean, officially, official. Sofia The First is not a Latina Princess. Disney released a statement after days of listening to the applause and criticism from the Latino community in reaction to Entertainment Weekly executive producer Jaime Mitchell’s public statement that, in his opinion, this fictional cartoon character was, - [Hard Labor: Mom's Near-Death Pregnancy Convinces Dad To Be Pro-Choice + More Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/hard-labor-moms-near-death-pregnancy-convinces-dad-to-be-pro-choice-more-fresh-links/) - With Republican politicians proclaiming rape a "gift from God," and the continued nationwide assault on women's reproductive rights, the ever brilliant Ta-Nehisi Coates, senior editor and columnist at The Atlantic, was moved this week to dust off a post he wrote two years ago about his wife's near-death experience after carrying and delivering their son—an - [Stakes Is High: Talking To My Teen About Sex Just Got Real—And I Can't Be A Punk About It](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/stakes-is-high-talking-to-my-teen-about-sex-just-got-real-and-i-cant-be-a-punk-about-it/) - She is 13 now, and the curves are there and the hormones are kicking in and the boys are looking a little bit more grown and acting a little more mannish and the music and the movies and the TV shows and probably her little friends, too, s-p-e-l-l it ALL out—what to do, how to - [From Beach To Bottle: Method Tackles Ocean Plastic With New Soap. Plus, Take the Ocean Plastic Pledge](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/from-beach-to-bottle-method-tackles-ocean-plastic-with-new-soap-plus-take-the-ocean-plastic-pledge/) - With Hurricane Sandy terrorizing the East coast and a Nor’Easter piling onto the madness, the last few weeks have been devastating for all-too-many of my friends up North—friends who are still climbing out from under downed trees and power lines, who are still staring down 30-degree weather sans heat and electricity, who waited hours on - [President Barack Obama's Tearful Thank You To His Campaign Volunteers—And Us Who Supported Him](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/president-barack-obamas-tearful-thank-you-to-his-campaign-volunteers-and-us-who-supported-him/) - And after a whirlwind week in which we celebrated the re-election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, I think we're going to take a (small) break from politics here on MyBrownBaby so that we can breath, regroup, get ready for the holiday season and then get back to fighting the - [Breastfeeding Is Not Creepy—And Neither Is The Breastmilk Baby](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/breastfeeding-is-not-creepy-and-neither-is-the-breastmilk-baby/) - So, apparently the Earth is about to spin off its rotational axis and the sun is two seconds from stopping its shine now that the innanets got wind of The Breastmilk Baby, a doll that lets little girls simulate—gasp!—breastfeeding. How it works: your kid puts on a “magic top” with flowers on the chest, and - [Black Belt Uncle Beats Nephew To Death For Not Picking Out Clothes Fast Enough—And We Ask Why](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/black-belt-uncle-beats-nephew-to-death-for-not-picking-out-clothes-fast-enough-and-we-ask-why/) - By DR. STACEY PATTON First, there’s the headline: Paul Adams, Black Belt, Allegedly Beat 6-Year-Old Nephew To Death With Belt. Then a picture of an African-American man, vacant-eyed, with long dreadlocks, a mustache and goatee. An ordinary-looking man. Who was caring for his 6-year-old nephew. Who, after they took a martial arts class together, set a - [Does This Picture Of Me Breastfeeding Look Sexual? Facebook Might Think So—Feminist Breeder Doesn't.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/does-this-picture-of-me-breastfeeding-look-sexual-facebook-might-think-so-feminist-breeder-doesnt/) - A friend of mine, Gina at The Feminist Breeder, got booted off of Facebook recently for posting this HILARIOUS photo of her baby girl, with a caption explaining that the kid swiped bacon off her plate and was alternately nursing and dining on swine (in my Future voice) at the same damn time. When the - [Black Friday 2012 Deals: Top 10 Tips To Save Big—Plus, Foursquare Shows How To Beat the Crowds](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/black-friday-2012-deals-top-10-tips-to-save-big-plus-foursquare-shows-how-to-beat-the-crowds/) - By ANDREA WOROCH with Denene Millner Black Friday is just a few days away, with many big-name stores opening their doors on Thanksgiving Day. Whether you're braving the crowds for the first time or consider yourself a Black Friday shopping veteran, consider these 10 last-minute tasks to prep you for the biggest shopping day(s) of the year. And - [President Barack Obama's Victory Speech 2012—Video and Transcript](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/president-barack-obamas-victory-speech-2012-video-and-transcript/) - For those who couldn't keep your eyes open long enough to catch his words and those who simply want to relive the magic again, here is the full transcript text and video from President Barack Obama's victory acceptance speech following his re-election for a second term as the 44th president of the United States. Congratulations, - [Forward: President Barack Obama Elected To Second Term In Historic 2012 Presidential Race](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/forward-president-barack-obama-elected-to-second-term-in-historic-2012-presidential-race/) - No matter the Tea Party politicking. No matter the massive assault on the rights of women. No matter the hundreds of millions of dollars pumped, Manchurian Candidate-style, into Republican presidential candidate (now LOSER) Mitt Romney's coffers. No matter the foolish questions about the president's birthplace and the insults against his color and his woman and - [No Excuses: Vote In the 2012 Presidential Election Today. And Pick President Obama. Period.](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/no-excuses-vote-in-the-2012-presidential-election-today-and-pick-president-obama-period/) - Here's how I see what is predicted to be an epic day at the polls for the 2012 Presidential Election between President Barack Obama and his Republican rival, Mitt Romney: there will be long lines. Lots of shenanigans by organizations who've dedicated themselves to suppressing the last vestige of true American democracy—the ability to cast - [Chris Rock To White Voters: Obama Is A White President You Can Trust! (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/chris-rock-to-white-voters-obama-is-a-white-president-you-can-trust-video/) - What cracks me all the way up is the folk who proclaim loudly and proudly that African American voters are pulling the lever for Barack Obama because he's black. Never once do those same people bother to admit that there's probably quite a few white American voters who are picking Mitt Romney as their guy - [Election Day Excitement: In the Words of JET Magazine, Our President is LEGEND](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/election-day-excitement-in-the-words-of-jet-magazine-our-president-is-legend/) - By NICK CHILES I appreciate the effort this nation has made in recent years to encourage more citizens to vote by creating early voting. In my former home state of New Jersey, they're even allowing people displaced by Superstorm Sandy to vote by email and fax on Tuesday. That's truly democracy in action, and I - [How She Got Free: Helping Black Women Be Successful—Without Losing Ourselves](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/how-she-got-free-helping-black-women-be-successful-without-losing-ourselves/) - By AKILAH RICHARDS How is it that, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, our percentage of business ownership as black women in the U.S. is up 59 percent since 2002, yet we make up a mere 3 percent of the $1.2 billion dollars in sales from women-owned businesses? Unjust systems and long-standing, - [Nina Simone On Blackness, Plus: A Black Teen Chess Master, Single Mom Stereotypes & Other Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/11/nina-simone-on-blackness-plus-a-black-teen-chess-master-single-mom-stereotypes-other-links/) - Actually, I adore Zoe Saldana. I think she's beautiful. And a fine actress with heart and mettle and a kick-assness about her. I think I've seen a lot of her work simply because she was in the movies and as a consumer of pop culture, especially black pop culture, she's earned my respect. But this - [Gummy Bears, Now & Laters, Dubble Bubble, Oh My—And Happy Halloween!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/gummy-bears-now-laters-dubble-bubble-oh-my-and-happy-halloween/) - Now, y’all know I love me some gummy bears. And chocolate (the good kind). And Now & Laters. And Double Bubble bubble gum. All of that is in my Halloween basket—the one that’s SUPPOSED to be for the Trick or Treaters. Uh huh. Let’s hope at least SOME of it makes it into their bags. (tee hee!) - [Mercy, Mercy Me: Sandy, Mother Earth and Signs That We've Got To Do Better By Our Planet](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/mercy-mercy-me-sandy-mother-earth-and-signs-that-weve-got-to-do-better-by-our-planet/) - Right about now, I don't really care that Usher paid $12,000 for a puppy or that Toni Braxton thinks Oprah is mean or that Sherman Hemsley's body is still unburied three months after his death because his former manager and his roommate are fighting over his pitiful $50,000 estate. I'm in a New York state - [President Barack Obama—the Baby Whisperer (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/president-barack-obama-the-baby-whisperer-video/) - No, I'm not referring to President Barack Obama's silencing of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in Monday night's third and final presidential debate. I'm shouting out our president for his fine work in this video, taken at the Congressional Picnic on the South Lawn of the White House, as he and First Lady Michelle Obama - [Why I'm Voting For Barack Obama In the 2012 Presidential Election](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/why-im-voting-for-barack-obama-in-the-2012-presidential-election/) - Last night marked the last of the debates between President Barack Obama and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and with just two weeks to go before I head over to a local Atlanta church, my daughters in tow, to cast my vote in the 2012 presidential election, I could not be any more clear about - [There's Nothing Complicated About Fair Pay For Women, Mitt Romney—Plus, Other Fresh Links](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/theres-nothing-complicated-about-fair-pay-for-women-mitt-romney-plus-other-fresh-links/) - You know what? I'm not trying to let Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's "Binder Full Of Women" comments from the second 2012 presidential debate slide. Nope. I mean, Romney's notion that he was actually doing something when he allegedly had his staff pull together "binders full" of female candidates for positions in his cabinet when - [Wow. Taliban Protesting Negative Coverage After They Shoot 14-Yr-Old Pakistani Girl in Head](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/taliban-protesting-negative-coverage-after-they-shoot-14-yr-old-pakistani-girl-in-head/) - BY NICK CHILES I know Western journalists are supposed to avoid imposing our Western values on other cultures, but this has to be the most outrageous, unbelievable, mind-bending story I've heard in a long time, no matter what country you live in: the Taliban in Pakistan is so upset that they have been negatively portrayed - [Rosie Perez Checks Mitt Romney On the "I Wish I Were Latino" Comment. Hard. (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/rosie-perez-checks-mitt-romney-on-the-i-wish-i-were-latino-comment-hard-video/) - Sigh. I've adored Rosie Perez since the day she popped and locked it in Spike Lee's seminal film, Do the Right Thing. She is the quintessential New Yorker: loud, brash, smart, proud of her roots. And she won't hesitate to check a b*tch. Which is why, today, I love her even more. The award-winning Latina - [Getting Grown: My Babies Aren't Babies Anymore. [Word(ful) Wednesday]](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/getting-grown-my-babies-arent-babies-anymore-wordful-wednesday/) - It seems like this happened in just the blink of an eye. One day, they were giggly, cute little chubby-cheeked babies riding on my hip. The next, they're little women, giggly still, but so... grown up. The baby faces belong to big girls, now. The round baby bellies are flat, and everything else is filling - [President Obama Dares to Have Opinion about Nicki Minaj-Mariah Carey 'Idol' Feud](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/president-obama-dares-to-have-an-opinion-about-nicki-minaj-mariah-carey/) - Apparently President Obama—the father of teen and tween daughters—is not supposed to have an opinion about pop culture, even if it's one of the biggest African-American-related celebrity news stories of the year: the "American Idol" feud between Mariah Carey and Nicki Minaj. When Obama called in for a phone interview with a Miami radio station, - [Adoption and 'The Blood': Embracing the True Meaning Of Love, Family and the Ties That Bind](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/adoption-and-the-blood-embracing-the-true-meaning-of-love-family-and-the-ties-that-bind/) - I am adopted. It is not something that I choose to focus on or talk about much. Because for most of my life, it has meant nothing to me. Bettye and James Millner are my parents—they raised me, taught me, disciplined me, protected me. Love(d) me. This is all that has ever mattered. Still, one - [MyBrownBaby Hero of the Week: 14-Yr-Old Girl Shot by Taliban for Fighting for Girls' Education](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/mybrownbaby-hero-of-the-week-14-yr-old-girl-shot-by-taliban-for-fighting-for-girls-education/) - By NICK CHILES When the teenager in your house gets to complaining about having to wash the dishes, tell her the story of 14-year-old Malala Yousafzai. Yousafzai was shot in the neck by the Taliban in Pakistan earlier today when they attacked her school bus as it made its way back home from school. What - [Pink Your Sink With Method To Help Raise Breast Cancer Awareness & Research Cash](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/pink-your-sink-with-method-to-help-raise-breast-cancer-awareness-research-cash/) - I was almost 14 years old that hot, sticky summer when my mother found a lump on her breast. When she told me and my brother that she was going to have that lump carved from her body and tested for cancer, I thought that surely, she was going to be gone from here—that I - [Be Inspired: Tray Chaney Of "The Wire" Uses Hip Hop To Affect The Lives Of Black Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/be-inspired-tray-chaney-of-the-wire-uses-hip-hop-to-affect-the-lives-of-black-children/) - You know Tray Chaney as low-level drug dealer, “Poot,” from The Wire, the edgy, award-winning drama that brought profound realism to heights never before seen in a TV series. These days, though, Chaney is taking on a different kind of role—as a Hip Hop Pied Piper who uses meaningful lyrics and hot beats to inspire - [Healthy Choices At McDonald's: Great Ways To Eat Smart Fast Food With Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/healthy-choices-at-mcdonalds-great-ways-to-eat-smart-fast-food-with-children/) - There’s the softball and soccer practices, the flute, trumpet and violin lessons, the homework and all the other random extracurricular activities that totally suck the life out of our evenings—enough so that there are just some days when being The Best Mom takes a backseat to being The Good Enough Mom. And while The Best - ["Parenthood" and The "N" Word: Tackling "The Talk" On TV](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/parenthood-and-the-n-word-tackling-the-talk-on-tv/) - Season 4 of one of our favorite TV shows, Parenthood, is in full swing and the show isn't slacking on the tough situations: Only months after having a baby and sending her oldest child off to college, Kristine is battling breast cancer; a new character fresh from a tour in Afghanistan is being counseled by - [Ava DuVernay's 'Middle Of Nowhere': Five Fire Reasons To See This Movie This Weekend (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/ava-duvernays-middle-of-nowhere-five-fire-reasons-to-see-this-movie-this-weekend-video/) - Publicist-turned-filmmaker Ava DuVernay made history earlier this year when she became the first African American woman to win the Sundance Film Festival's Best Director award for her new movie, Middle Of Nowhere, an independent film that chronicles the journey of a prison wife who, after dropping out of med school to help her husband make - [Trayvon Martin's Family Launches 'Change For Trayvon' To Fight Stand Your Ground Laws](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/trayvon-martins-family-launches-change-for-trayvon-to-fight-stand-your-ground-laws/) - While wanna-be neighborhood watchman-turned-vigilante child murderer George Zimmerman and his lawyer are working hard to hem up his prosecution with weekly (winey) court filings and a lawsuit against NBC for "making him look like a racist," Trayvon Martin's parents are putting their time and money to good use with a new website they hope will - [To Raise Successful Black Kids, You Have to Teach Them Black English](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/to-raise-successful-black-kids-you-have-to-teach-them-black-english/) - By NICK CHILES If you stumble into my home on many a night, you might come across an unusual sight: me trying vainly to teach my daughters how to speak English wrong. Well, perhaps “wrong” is the wrong word. I’ve read and written enough about black English over the years to refrain from calling it - [NYPD Stop and Frisk Practice In Action: 16-Year-old Called A "F*cking Mutt," Threatened (VIDEO)](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/10/nypd-stop-and-frisk-practice-in-action-16-year-old-called-a-fcking-mutt-threatened-video/) - If you do nothing else today, press play and watch this video of a 16-year-old Harlem student named Alvin, who secretly recorded his own stop-and-frisk by three plainclothes NYPD officers who cursed, physically harassed and threatened to arrest this child for looking at them as he walked down a public sidewalk. In the shocking audio - [The Story Of Us: Celebrating 15 Years Of Black Love and Marriage](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/08/the-story-of-us-celebrating-15-years-of-black-love-and-marriage/) - I was 25 years old, young, fresh, breath still smelling like Similac, when I first saw him. It was my first day as a political reporter at the New York Daily News. He was in the parking lot at City Hall—shoulders squared, handsome, with that wide, beautiful smile. At first, we were colleagues. Then friends. - [Hot Cheetos and Takis: Anatomy Of An Addictive Kid Snack And The Viral Video Sensation](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/08/hot-cheetos-and-takis-anatomy-of-an-addictive-kid-snack-and-the-viral-video-sensation/) - Here’s what I know about Hot Cheetos and Takis: after one of Lila’s Mexican friends introduced the spicy rolled corn tortilla snacks to her and the class, Lila was feigning for them like Pookie did crack in The Carter, and by the end of Fall 2011, they had so thoroughly jacked up her uber-sensitive stomach - [Usher Won Custody Of His Sons, But Do the Babies Lose Without Their Mother In Their Lives?](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/08/usher-wins-child-custody-vs-tameka-raymond/) - It’s not that I’m anti-father. I have one. Married to one, too. I know firsthand the power a good black dad has in the life of children—how their presence and love and discipline and direction can change the course and work miracles for little human beings. I know, too, that though we are a society - [Me'Shell NdegeOchello's "To Be Young, Gifted and Black": Listen and LOVE](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/08/meshell-ndegeochellos-to-be-young-gifted-and-black-listen-and-love/) - I'm a Me'shell NdegeOcello stan from way back—I'm talking 1993, when she was snatching boyfriends and digging folk like an old soul record on her debut album, Plantation Lullabies. I've never stopped loving her, either: though I've seen her caress her base guitar only once in concert—at New York's SOB's, an experience that actually made - [On “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta,” K. Michelle and Her Stupid Obsession With Age](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/08/on-love-hip-hop-atlanta-k-michelle-and-her-stupid-obsession-with-age/) - Yes, I tuned into what the Rickey Smiley Show billed this morning as the “SuperBowl of Ratchetness,” last night’s reunion episode of “Love & Hip Hop Atlanta,” ready for the tomfoolery that is this cast of misfits, wanna-bes and deeply confused and troubled women who air out their dirty thongs for checks. I was all - [A Different Labor Day: Improving Maternity Health For Black Moms and Babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/a-different-labor-day-improving-maternity-health-for-black-moms-and-babies/) - Labor Day holds a very special place in my heart for a very specific reason: I grew up in a household with parents who were blue collar workers—who toiled hard and struggled mightily on the assembly lines of factories for decades so that they could provide a good life for my brother and me. We - [Register To Vote In the 2012 Obama vs. Romney Presidential Election Here!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/register-to-vote-in-the-2012-obama-vs-romney-presidential-election-here/) - I must admit: I didn’t pay much attention to politics as a kid. I mean, I knew Jimmy Carter was president in the 70s and that there was something going on in Iran and we could get gas only on “odd” days because the last number on my Dad’s Cadillac was a three or a - [Transcript & Video Of Michelle Obama's Speech At the 2012 Democratic National Congress](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/transcript-and-video-of-michelle-obamas-speech-at-the-2012-democratic-national-congress-its-incredible/) - Editor's note: First Lady Michelle Obama's speech at the Democratic National Congress last night was absolutely electrifying—a pitch perfect case for why Americans should re-elect President Barack Obama to a second term. She repped her man, her babies and this country lovely—made me think, well hell, why isn't she running for president? I'm going to - [Transcript Of President Obama’s Speech To the 2012 Democratic National Convention](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/transcript-of-president-obamas-speech-to-the-2012-democratic-national-convention/) - Editor's note: Tonight, in his remarks to the Democratic National Convention, President Obama showed up and all the way out—reminding us in only the way that he can, of why he needs to be there four more years. He was candid. He was intelligent. He was epic. He was vintage Obama. He asked the country - [Katie Couric's "Katie" Show Debuts Today—MyBrownBaby Has A Sneak Peek!](http://mybrownbaby.com/2012/09/katie-courics-katie-show-debuts-today-mybrownbaby-has-a-sneak-peek/) - Everybody and their mama has a new daytime talk show debuting today—Survivor’s Jeff Probst, Ricki Lake, Anderson Cooper with his totally revamped, Anderson Live, all hit the little screen today, following behind last week’s debut of Steve Harvey, the new talk show by the comedian of the same name. With such a crowded field, it's ## Pages - [Boom Pow!](http://mybrownbaby.com/denene-millner/) - I'm Denene Millner. Mom. Daughter. Author. Publisher. Giddy. A Yankee from New York with Southern Belle in my soul. I'm Hip Hop and home cooking 11-cheese mac and cheese (from scratch) and the best chocolate martini you ever had. I adore my babies and my funky/fly/fresh family. 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[We Gots To Do Better](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/we-gots-to-do-better/) - [Well damn.](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/well-damn/) - [what about or kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/what-about-or-kids/) - [What About Our Kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/what-about-our-kids/) - [Wordful Wednesday](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/wordful-wednesday/) - [Wordless Wednesday](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/wordless-wednesday/) - [Wow... just... wow.](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/wow-just-wow/) - [Yakini](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/yakini/) - [Yet Another Reason Angelou Rocks](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/yet-another-reason-angelou-rocks/) - [You Gotta Love Fam](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/you-gotta-love-fam/) - [Zuaquis Ross](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/zuaquis-ross/) - [Hot Sex On A Platter](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/hot-sex-on-a-platter/) - [MyBrownBaby Loves The Children](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/mybrownbaby-loves-the-children/) - [On the Parenting Post](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/on-the-parenting-post/) - [The Today Show](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/the-today-show/) - [Lorraine Robertson](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/lorrainerobertson/) - [Derrick Barnes](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/derrickbarnes/) - [Michelle Bond](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/michellebond/) - [Stacey Conner](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/staceyconner/) - [Kia Morgan Smith](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/kiamorgansmith/) - [NorthParan.com](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/northparan-com/) - [Dr. Ivor Is In](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/dr-ivor-is-in/) - [Ivor Horn](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/ivorhorn/) - [Health and Fitness](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/health-and-fitness/) - [Adoption](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/adoption-2/) - [MBB Photo Gallery](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/mbb-photo-gallery/) - [Sponsored](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/sponsored/) - [MyBrownBaby Videos](http://mybrownbaby.com/category/mybrownbaby-videos/) ## Tags - [thought](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/thought-2/) - [Jada Pinkett Smith](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jada-pinkett-smith/) - [whip my hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/whip-my-hair/) - [Will Smith](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/will-smith/) - [Willow Smith](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/willow-smith/) - [black fathers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-fathers/) - [black fathers and daughters](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-fathers-and-daughters/) - [celebrity dads and their kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/celebrity-dads-and-their-kids/) - [black parents](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-parents/) - [African American parenting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-parenting/) - [black celebrity parents](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-celebrity-parents/) - [black celebrity kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-celebrity-kids/) - [Willow Smith stripper pole](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/willow-smith-stripper-pole/) - [black children and self-esteem](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-self-esteem/) - [black children and beauty](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-beauty/) - [black children and beauty standards](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-beauty-standards/) - [T.I and Tiny's The Family Hustle](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/t-i-and-tinys-the-family-hustle/) - [T.I.](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/t-i/) - [Tiny](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tiny/) - [Major Harris](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/major-harris/) - [King Harris](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/king-harris/) - [Usher](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/usher/) - [Tameka Raymond](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tameka-raymond/) - [George Zimmerman](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/george-zimmerman/) - [Trayvon Martin](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/trayvon-martin/) - [method](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method/) - [product reviews](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/product-reviews/) - [nelson mandela](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nelson-mandela/) - [94th birthday](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/94th-birthday/) - [mandiba](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mandiba/) - [bill clinton](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/bill-clinton/) - [apartheid](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/apartheid/) - [south africa](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/south-africa/) - [democratic rule](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/democratic-rule/) - [baby names](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/baby-names/) - [Beyonce](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/beyonce/) - [Jay-Z](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jay-z/) - [Blue Ivy Cater](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/blue-ivy-cater/) - [African American baby names](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-baby-names/) - [black baby names](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-baby-names/) - [racial justice](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/racial-justice/) - [racial profiling](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/racial-profiling/) - [teens and drugs](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teens-and-drugs/) - [maternity leave](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/maternity-leave/) - [working mothers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/working-mothers/) - [African American mothers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-mothers/) - [black mothers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-mothers/) - [having it all](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/having-it-all/) - [work/life balance](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/worklife-balance/) - [black children's health](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-childrens-health/) - [michael jackson](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/michael-jackson/) - [janet jackson](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/janet-jackson/) - [coupons](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/coupons/) - [Voter ID laws](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/voter-id-laws/) - [books for black children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/books-for-black-children/) - [MyBrownBaby videos](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mybrownbaby-videos/) - [black parenting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-parenting/) - [entertaining kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/entertaining-kids/) - [Kile Glover](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/kile-glover/) - [celebrity parents](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/celebrity-parents/) - [Love & Hip Hop Atlanta](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/love-hip-hop-atlanta/) - [Keeping Up With the Kardashians](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/keeping-up-with-the-kardashians/) - [Kim Kardashian](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/kim-kardashian/) - [pop culture](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/pop-culture/) - [black celebrity culture](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-celebrity-culture/) - [Real Housewives of Atlanta](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/real-housewives-of-atlanta/) - [raising black children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/raising-black-children/) - [confident black girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/confident-black-girls/) - [black girl beauty](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-girl-beauty/) - [reality tv](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/reality-tv/) - [Dark Knight Rises](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/dark-knight-rises/) - [baby swallowed cocaine](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/baby-swallowed-cocaine/) - [34-year-old grandmother](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/34-year-old-grandmother/) - [22-year-old boyfriend](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/22-year-old-boyfriend/) - [palmetto georgia](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/palmetto-georgia/) - [sparkle](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sparkle/) - [whitney houston](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/whitney-houston/) - [jordin sparks](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jordin-sparks/) - [steve harvey](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/steve-harvey-2/) - [denene millner](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/denene-millner-2/) - [bookwriting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/bookwriting/) - [risky sexual behavior](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/risky-sexual-behavior/) - [black youth](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-youth/) - [teenagers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teenagers/) - [condom use](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/condom-use/) - [Olympics 2012](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/olympics-2012/) - [Olympics 2012 for kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/olympics-2012-for-kids/) - [black children and the Olympics](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-the-olympics/) - [black children and sports](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-sports/) - [black Olympians](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-olympians/) - [African American Olympians](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-olympians/) - [Katherine Jackson](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/katherine-jackson/) - [Jermaine Jackson](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jermaine-jackson/) - [Paris Jackson](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/paris-jackson/) - [Michael Jackson children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/michael-jackson-children/) - [Jackson Family](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jackson-family/) - [The Jacksons](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/the-jacksons/) - [black children and discipline](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-discipline/) - [child abuse](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/child-abuse/) - [9-year-old caught on tape abusing babies in Mississippi day care](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/9-year-old-caught-on-tape-abusing-babies-in-mississippi-day-care/) - [Mississippi day care abuse](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mississippi-day-care-abuse/) - [Vicksburg Mississippi daycare abuse](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/vicksburg-mississippi-daycare-abuse/) - [babies abused](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/babies-abused/) - [daycare](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/daycare/) - [babysitting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/babysitting/) - [black student performance](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-student-performance/) - [early childhood education](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/early-childhood-education/) - [special education referrals](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/special-education-referrals/) - [White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/white-house-initiative-on-educational-excellence-for-african-americans/) - [black women and maternity leave](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-women-and-maternity-leave/) - [black women and pregnancy](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-women-and-pregnancy/) - [African American mothers and pregnancy](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-mothers-and-pregnancy/) - [maternity leave for the working poor](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/maternity-leave-for-the-working-poor/) - [low birth weight](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/low-birth-weight/) - [black babies and low birth weight](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-babies-and-low-birth-weight/) - [Mayor Bloomberg formula order](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mayor-bloomberg-formula-order/) - [Latch On NYC](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/latch-on-nyc/) - [Nanny Bloomberg](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nanny-bloomberg/) - [New York City hospital breastfeeding polices](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/new-york-city-hospital-breastfeeding-polices/) - [hospital breastfeeding policy](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/hospital-breastfeeding-policy/) - [breastfeeding black moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/breastfeeding-black-moms/) - [breastfeeding African American moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/breastfeeding-african-american-moms/) - [Michelle Obama](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/michelle-obama/) - [First Lady Michelle Obama](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/first-lady-michelle-obama/) - [Let's Move!](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/lets-move/) - [black babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-babies/) - [African American breastfed babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-breastfed-babies/) - [African American children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-children/) - [Gabrielle Gabby Douglas](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gabrielle-gabby-douglas/) - [Gabby Douglas](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gabby-douglas/) - [Fab Five](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/fab-five/) - [2012 Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/2012-olympic-womens-gymnastics-team/) - [2012 Olympic Women's Gymnastics Team Gold](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/2012-olympic-womens-gymnastics-team-gold/) - [U.S. Gold Medals](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/u-s-gold-medals/) - [black women gymnasts](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-women-gymnasts/) - [black female gymnasts](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-female-gymnasts/) - [black women in sports](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-women-in-sports/) - [children and sports](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/children-and-sports/) - [marriage conflict](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/marriage-conflict/) - [relationship drama](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/relationship-drama/) - [narcissism](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/narcissism/) - [screaming spouse](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/screaming-spouse/) - [black parents and discipline](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-parents-and-discipline/) - [disciplining black children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/disciplining-black-children/) - [Stacey Patton](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/stacey-patton/) - [Wisconsin Sikh Temple shooting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/wisconsin-sikh-temple-shooting/) - [Sikh religion](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sikh-religion/) - [9/11](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/911/) - [September 11th](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/september-11th/) - [white racism in America](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/white-racism-in-america/) - [racism in America](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/racism-in-america/) - [terrorism in America](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/terrorism-in-america/) - [American terrorists](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/american-terrorists/) - [diabetes risk](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/diabetes-risk/) - [controlling diabetes](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/controlling-diabetes/) - [benefits of exercise and weight training](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/benefits-of-exercise-and-weight-training/) - [new study](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/new-study/) - [back-to-school](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/back-to-school/) - [summer vacation](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/summer-vacation/) - [black children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children/) - [raising African American children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/raising-african-american-children/) - [black kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-kids/) - [African American kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-kids/) - [black children swimming](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-swimming/) - [African American children in pool](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-children-in-pool/) - [kids and pools](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/kids-and-pools/) - [children and pools](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/children-and-pools/) - [goldendoodle dogs](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/goldendoodle-dogs/) - [teen pregnancy](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teen-pregnancy/) - [teen pregnancy rates](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teen-pregnancy-rates/) - [teen pregnancy education](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teen-pregnancy-education/) - [high school dropout](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/high-school-dropout/) - [high school dropout rates](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/high-school-dropout-rates/) - [Delhi Charter School](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/delhi-charter-school/) - [Louisiana school](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/louisiana-school/) - [mandatory pregnancy test](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mandatory-pregnancy-test/) - [mom straighten's 4-month-old's hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mom-straightens-4-month-olds-hair/) - [mom relaxes baby's hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mom-relaxes-babys-hair/) - [black children and hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-hair/) - [curly black girl hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/curly-black-girl-hair/) - [styling black baby hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/styling-black-baby-hair/) - [styling black girl hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/styling-black-girl-hair/) - [the best ways to care for black girl hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/the-best-ways-to-care-for-black-girl-hair/) - [Facebook baby's straightened hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/facebook-babys-straightened-hair/) - [MyBrownBaby Fresh links](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mybrownbaby-fresh-links/) - [Chris Rock](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/chris-rock/) - [mom friends](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mom-friends/) - [confident black children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/confident-black-children/) - [confident African American children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/confident-african-american-children/) - [African american children and self-esteem](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-children-and-self-esteem/) - [Tony Morrison](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tony-morrison/) - [Barbara Wright](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/barbara-wright/) - [Christopher Paul Curtis](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/christopher-paul-curtis/) - [Chris Raschka](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/chris-raschka/) - [Random House publishing](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/random-house-publishing/) - [book giveaway](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/book-giveaway/) - [MyBrownBaby contests](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mybrownbaby-contests/) - [MyBrownBaby giveaways](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mybrownbaby-giveaways/) - [great books](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/great-books/) - [great children's books](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/great-childrens-books/) - [great books for African American children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/great-books-for-african-american-children/) - [multicultural books](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/multicultural-books/) - [books for travel](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/books-for-travel/) - [great travel books](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/great-travel-books/) - [family vacation](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/family-vacation/) - [natural hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/natural-hair/) - [natural hairstyles for black children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/natural-hairstyles-for-black-children/) - [kinky black girl hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/kinky-black-girl-hair/) - [natural hairstyles for African American girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/natural-hairstyles-for-african-american-girls/) - [caring for black girl hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/caring-for-black-girl-hair/) - [caring for curly African American hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/caring-for-curly-african-american-hair/) - [natural hair styles for children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/natural-hair-styles-for-children/) - [caring for natural hair for babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/caring-for-natural-hair-for-babies/) - [caring for natural hair for African American babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/caring-for-natural-hair-for-african-american-babies/) - [touching natural hair](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/touching-natural-hair/) - [Disciplining children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/disciplining-children/) - [disciplining kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/disciplining-kids/) - [moms who yell](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/moms-who-yell/) - [moms who scream](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/moms-who-scream/) - [screaming black moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/screaming-black-moms/) - [screaming African American moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/screaming-african-american-moms/) - [yelling at kids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/yelling-at-kids/) - [yelling at children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/yelling-at-children/) - [why yelling is bad](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/why-yelling-is-bad/) - [Act Like a Lady Think Like A Man](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/act-like-a-lady-think-like-a-man/) - [Think Like A Man](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/think-like-a-man/) - [room moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/room-moms/) - [Halle Berry custody fight](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/halle-berry-custody-fight/) - [single black moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/single-black-moms/) - [African American single moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-single-moms/) - [Gabby Douglas father](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gabby-douglas-father/) - [cdc](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/cdc/) - [teenagers and sex](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teenagers-and-sex/) - [oral sex](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/oral-sex/) - [vaginal sex](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/vaginal-sex/) - [green products](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/green-products/) - [african american marriage](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-marriage/) - [black marriage](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-marriage/) - [relationship](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/relationship/) - [black people](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-people/) - [sleep](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sleep/) - [white women](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/white-women/) - [sleep routines](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sleep-routines/) - [stress and black people](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/stress-and-black-people/) - [black love](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-love/) - [Black relationships](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-relationships/) - [African American relationships](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-relationships/) - [wedding anniversary](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/wedding-anniversary/) - [black wedding](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-wedding/) - [African American wedding](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-wedding/) - [Hot Cheetos and Takis](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/hot-cheetos-and-takis/) - [Y.N.RichKids](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/y-n-richkids/) - [Beats and Rhymes program](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/beats-and-rhymes-program/) - [Minneapolis YWCA](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/minneapolis-ywca/) - [The best Summer song 2012](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/the-best-summer-song-2012/) - [Usher Raymond](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/usher-raymond/) - [Raymond v Raymond](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/raymond-v-raymond/) - [V.](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/v/) - [Naviyd Raymond](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/naviyd-raymond/) - [Usher and Tameka custody battle](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/usher-and-tameka-custody-battle/) - [celebrity co-parenting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/celebrity-co-parenting/) - [Georgia custody battle](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/georgia-custody-battle/) - [Usher Wins Custody](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/usher-wins-custody/) - [Tameka Raymond Loses Custody](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tameka-raymond-loses-custody/) - [African American fathers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-fathers/) - [marijuana use among teenagers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/marijuana-use-among-teenagers/) - [habitual marijuana users](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/habitual-marijuana-users/) - [lose 8 IQ points](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/lose-8-iq-points/) - [new zealand research](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/new-zealand-research/) - [K.Michelle](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/k-michelle/) - [Kimberly Pate](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/kimberly-pate/) - [Love & Hip Hop Atlanta Reunion](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/love-hip-hop-atlanta-reunion/) - [Celebrities Over Age 40](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/celebrities-over-age-40/) - [Black Celebrities Over Age 40](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-celebrities-over-age-40/) - [Me'Shell NdegeOcello](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/meshell-ndegeocello/) - [Nina Simone](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nina-simone/) - [Nina Simone album](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nina-simone-album/) - [Zoe Saldana as Nina Simone](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/zoe-saldana-as-nina-simone/) - [Nina Simone Film](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nina-simone-film/) - [Me'Shell NdegeOcello sings Nina Simone](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/meshell-ndegeocello-sings-nina-simone/) - [Me'Shell NdegeOcello Nina Simone tribute album](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/meshell-ndegeocello-nina-simone-tribute-album/) - [love jones](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/love-jones/) - [Love & Basketball](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/love-basketball/) - [MyBrownBaby music](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mybrownbaby-music/) - [Cleveland](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/cleveland/) - [Texas](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/texas/) - [gang rape of 11-year-old](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gang-rape-of-11-year-old/) - [gang rape of 11-year-old girl trial](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gang-rape-of-11-year-old-girl-trial/) - [Cleveland Texas gang rape trial](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/cleveland-texas-gang-rape-trial/) - [Eric McGowen](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/eric-mcgowen/) - [little girl loved](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/little-girl-loved/) - [MyBrownBaby.com](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mybrownbaby-com/) - 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[RNC Convention](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/rnc-convention/) - [Mitt Romney RNC Speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-rnc-speech/) - [Paul Ryan RNC Speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/paul-ryan-rnc-speech/) - [Ta-Nehisi Coates](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/ta-nehisi-coates/) - [Fear of a Black President](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/fear-of-a-black-president/) - [beauty for tweens](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/beauty-for-tweens/) - [Lupe Fiasco](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/lupe-fiasco/) - [Akiba Solomon](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/akiba-solomon/) - [Clint Eastwood RNC Speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/clint-eastwood-rnc-speech/) - [Clint Eastwood chair speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/clint-eastwood-chair-speech/) - [AfroPunk Festival](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/afropunk-festival/) - [Robin Roberts](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/robin-roberts/) - [obesity](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/obesity/) - [obese children and working moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/obese-children-and-working-moms/) - [black working mothers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-working-mothers/) - [black working moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-working-moms/) - [U.S. maternity deaths](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/u-s-maternity-deaths/) - [ImprovingBirth.org](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/improvingbirth-org/) - [black birth rates](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-birth-rates/) - [African American maternity deaths](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-maternity-deaths/) - [Labor Day maternity rally](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/labor-day-maternity-rally/) - [Erykah Badu Badoula](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/erykah-badu-badoula/) - [black infant immortality rates](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-infant-immortality-rates/) - [International Center for Traditional Childbearing](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/international-center-for-traditional-childbearing/) - [Inc](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/inc/) - [African American doulas](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-doulas/) - [African American midwives](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-midwives/) - [black midwife](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-midwife/) - [black doula](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-doula/) - [the business of birth](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/the-business-of-birth/) - [Ricki Lake](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/ricki-lake/) - [epidural](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/epidural/) - [African American babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-babies/) - [African American moms](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-moms/) - [voter registration](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/voter-registration/) - [President Obama](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-obama/) - [voter I.D. laws](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/voter-i-d-laws/) - [2012 Presidential Election](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/2012-presidential-election/) - [how to register to vote online](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/how-to-register-to-vote-online/) - [easy voter registration online](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/easy-voter-registration-online/) - [Mitt Romney](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney/) - [Michelle Obama DNC speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/michelle-obama-dnc-speech/) - [Transcript of Michelle Obama DNC speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/transcript-of-michelle-obama-dnc-speech/) - [Michelle Obama speech transcript](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/michelle-obama-speech-transcript/) - [Obama2012](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/obama2012/) - [Democratic National Congress 2012](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/democratic-national-congress-2012/) - [Barack Obama DNC](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/barack-obama-dnc/) - [Barack Obama](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/barack-obama/) - [President Barack Obama DNC speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-dnc-speech/) - [Transcript of President Obama DNC speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/transcript-of-president-obama-dnc-speech/) - [Barack Obama speech transcript](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/barack-obama-speech-transcript/) - [Sasha and Malia Obama](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sasha-and-malia-obama/) - [Katie Couric](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/katie-couric/) - [Katie talk show](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/katie-talk-show/) - [Katie Couric Daytime Show](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/katie-couric-daytime-show/) - [Katie Couric Talk Show](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/katie-couric-talk-show/) - [Daytime Television](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/daytime-television/) - [Women in Media](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/women-in-media/) - [Women Journalists](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/women-journalists/) - [Women Talk Show Hosts](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/women-talk-show-hosts/) - [feature](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/feature/) - [fatherhood](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/fatherhood/) - [health of fathers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/health-of-fathers/) - [lifestyle of fathers affects offspring](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/lifestyle-of-fathers-affects-offspring/) - [older fathers and autism](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/older-fathers-and-autism/) - [Diversity](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/diversity/) - [religious freedom](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/religious-freedom/) - [tolerance](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tolerance/) - [Muslims](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/muslims/) - [racism](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/racism/) - [11th anniversary of 9/11](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/11th-anniversary-of-911/) - [unemployment](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/unemployment/) - [recession](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/recession/) - [teaching kids about tolerance and freedom](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teaching-kids-about-tolerance-and-freedom/) - [shania gray](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/shania-gray/) - [franklin davis](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/franklin-davis/) - [teenager killed by rapist](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/teenager-killed-by-rapist/) - [killed to stop her from tesifying](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/killed-to-stop-her-from-tesifying/) - [carrollton texas teenager killed](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/carrollton-texas-teenager-killed/) - [Clifford Harris](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/clifford-harris/) - [rapper T.I.](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/rapper-t-i/) - [Tameeka Cottle](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tameeka-cottle/) - [T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle on Vh-1](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/t-i-tiny-the-family-hustle-on-vh-1/) - [kids in entertainment](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/kids-in-entertainment/) - [kids on TV](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/kids-on-tv/) - [black dads](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-dads/) - [sex and relationships](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sex-and-relationships/) - [sex and marriage](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sex-and-marriage/) - [how to get out of sex](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/how-to-get-out-of-sex/) - [how to say no to sex](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/how-to-say-no-to-sex/) - [love and marriage](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/love-and-marriage/) - [black sex](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-sex/) - [nike sneakers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nike-sneakers/) - [$270 basketball shoes](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/270-basketball-shoes/) - [lebron x sneakers](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/lebron-x-sneakers/) - [Black Girl Tights](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-girl-tights/) - [Black Girl In Leggings](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-girl-in-leggings/) - [Daja](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/daja/) - [Middle School Girl Kicked Out For Wearing Leggings](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/middle-school-girl-kicked-out-for-wearing-leggings/) - [Tights](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tights/) - [Tights As Pants](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tights-as-pants/) - [Black Girls and Body Image](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-girls-and-body-image/) - [Black Girls and Self-Esteem](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-girls-and-self-esteem/) - [Policing Black Girls Bodies](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/policing-black-girls-bodies/) - [What About Our Kids?](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/what-about-our-kids-2/) - [Method coupons](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-coupons/) - [Method spray fabric softener](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-spray-fabric-softener/) - [method fabric softener](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-fabric-softener/) - [method dryer softener](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-dryer-softener/) - [method with Orla Kiely](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-with-orla-kiely/) - [pattern maker Orla Kiely](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/pattern-maker-orla-kiely/) - [designer Orla Kiely and method](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/designer-orla-kiely-and-method/) - [pear ginger method dish soap](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/pear-ginger-method-dish-soap/) - [method dish soap](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-dish-soap/) - [method all-purpose cleaner](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-all-purpose-cleaner/) - [method clean happy](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-clean-happy/) - [method hand soap](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-hand-soap/) - [Method laundry detergent](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-laundry-detergent/) - [laundry detergent that squirts](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/laundry-detergent-that-squirts/) - [say no to the jug](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/say-no-to-the-jug/) - [Method home-care products](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-home-care-products/) - [Method Facebook Page](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-facebook-page/) - [Method Facebook contest](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-facebook-contest/) - [sexting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sexting/) - [text messaging](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/text-messaging/) - [dangers of sexting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/dangers-of-sexting/) - [boy scouts of america](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/boy-scouts-of-america/) - [sexual molestation](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/sexual-molestation/) - [cover up hundreds of molestation cases](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/cover-up-hundreds-of-molestation-cases/) - [justifiable stop and search](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/justifiable-stop-and-search/) - [Tyler Perry racial profiling](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tyler-perry-racial-profiling/) - [Tyler Perry car stop](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tyler-perry-car-stop/) - [Tyler Perry car search](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tyler-perry-car-search/) - [stop and frisk](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/stop-and-frisk/) - [NYC stop and frisk](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nyc-stop-and-frisk/) - [Rod Perez](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/rod-perez/) - [Roderick Perez](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/roderick-perez/) - [Atlanta Police Department](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/atlanta-police-department/) - [Mitt Romney secret videotape](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-secret-videotape/) - [Mitt Romney entitlements](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-entitlements/) - [Mitt Romney and 47 percent](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-and-47-percent/) - [Mitt Romney on the 47 percent](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-on-the-47-percent/) - [Mitt Romney on the poor](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-on-the-poor/) - [Mitt Romney speech about entitlements](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-speech-about-entitlements/) - [Mitt Romney fundraising speech about the poor](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-fundraising-speech-about-the-poor/) - [diabetes](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/diabetes/) - [children exercise](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/children-exercise/) - [physical education](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/physical-education/) - [children and exercise](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/children-and-exercise/) - [Carly Rae Jepsen Call Me Maybe with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/carly-rae-jepsen-call-me-maybe-with-jimmy-fallon-and-the-roots/) - [Jimmy Fallon Call Me Maybe](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jimmy-fallon-call-me-maybe/) - [The Roots Call Me Maybe](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/the-roots-call-me-maybe/) - [Jimmy Fallon and the Roots Call Me Maybe Video](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jimmy-fallon-and-the-roots-call-me-maybe-video/) - [Call Me Maybe Video](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/call-me-maybe-video/) - [Call Me Maybe The Roots cover](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/call-me-maybe-the-roots-cover/) - [Mom videos](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mom-videos/) - [Snoop Dogg smokes weed with son](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/snoop-dogg-smokes-weed-with-son/) - [Calvin Broadus and weed](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/calvin-broadus-and-weed/) - [Snoop Dogg and weed](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/snoop-dogg-and-weed/) - [Snoop and marijuana](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/snoop-and-marijuana/) - [Snoop son with weed](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/snoop-son-with-weed/) - [Snoop Dog son Corde](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/snoop-dog-son-corde/) - [Corde Broadus](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/corde-broadus/) - [Corde Broadus on Twitter](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/corde-broadus-on-twitter/) - [Corde Broadus on Instagram](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/corde-broadus-on-instagram/) - [Corde "Spanky" Broadus smoking weed](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/corde-spanky-broadus-smoking-weed/) - [we gots to do better](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/we-gots-to-do-better-2/) - [Wyclef Jean](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/wyclef-jean/) - [Lauryn Hill](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/lauryn-hill/) - [Wyclef affair with Lauryn Hill](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/wyclef-affair-with-lauryn-hill/) - [Wyclef Lauryn Hill Relationship](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/wyclef-lauryn-hill-relationship/) - [Robin Roberts cancer](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/robin-roberts-cancer/) - [Robin Roberts bone marrow transplant](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/robin-roberts-bone-marrow-transplant/) - [school segregation](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/school-segregation/) - [black students and school segregation](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-students-and-school-segregation/) - [black children and education](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-children-and-education/) - [bullying](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/bullying/) - [black parents and bullying](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-parents-and-bullying/) - [black mother beats up son's bully](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-mother-beats-up-sons-bully/) - [abortion](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/abortion/) - [pro-choice](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/pro-choice/) - [anti-abortion rights](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/anti-abortion-rights/) - [black women voters](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-women-voters/) - [black women and voter ID laws](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-women-and-voter-id-laws/) - [black women fight voter ID laws](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-women-fight-voter-id-laws/) - [Tamar Braxton](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/tamar-braxton/) - [Vince and Tamar](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/vince-and-tamar/) - [African American mothers and fear](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-mothers-and-fear/) - [What black moms most fear](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/what-black-moms-most-fear/) - [black mom fear](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-mom-fear/) - [children and car accidents](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/children-and-car-accidents/) - [overcoming fear](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/overcoming-fear/) - [how to overcome fear of losing a child](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/how-to-overcome-fear-of-losing-a-child/) - [losing a child](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/losing-a-child/) - [child lost](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/child-lost/) - [child death](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/child-death/) - [African American child deaths](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-child-deaths/) - [black child deaths](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-child-deaths/) - [trying to conceive](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/trying-to-conceive/) - [making babies](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/making-babies/) - [deciding to have another baby](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/deciding-to-have-another-baby/) - [trying for a third baby](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/trying-for-a-third-baby/) - [having another baby](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/having-another-baby/) - 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[Chris Rock says Barack Obama is white](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/chris-rock-says-barack-obama-is-white/) - [four more years](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/four-more-years/) - [presidential election](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/presidential-election/) - [early voting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/early-voting/) - [Presidential Election 2012](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/presidential-election-2012/) - [President Barack Obama vs. Mitt Romney](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-vs-mitt-romney/) - [Barack Obama For President 2012](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/barack-obama-for-president-2012/) - [Barack Obama Wins Presidential Election 2012](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/barack-obama-wins-presidential-election-2012/) - [President Barack Obama re-elected to White House](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-re-elected-to-white-house/) - [President Barack Obama wins election](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-wins-election/) - [President Barack Obama wins over Romney](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-wins-over-romney/) - [2012 Presidential Election is over](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/2012-presidential-election-is-over/) - [Mitt Romney loses election](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-loses-election/) - [Mitt Romney lost](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/mitt-romney-lost/) - [Barack Obama won](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/barack-obama-won/) - [President Barack Obama victory speech](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-victory-speech/) - [President Barack Obama victory speech video](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-victory-speech-video/) - [President Barack Obama victory speech transcript](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/president-barack-obama-victory-speech-transcript/) - [Method Ocean Plastic pledge](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-ocean-plastic-pledge/) - [Method Ocean Plastic soap bottle](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-ocean-plastic-soap-bottle/) - [Method Ocean Plastic beach clean-up](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-ocean-plastic-beach-clean-up/) - [Method beach clean up](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/method-beach-clean-up/) - 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[Newtown Connecticut massacre](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/newtown-connecticut-massacre/) - [Shawty lo](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/shawty-lo/) - [all my babies' mamas](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/all-my-babies-mamas/) - [oxygen media](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/oxygen-media/) - [nbc universal](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/nbc-universal/) - [cori abraham](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/cori-abraham/) - [Jordan Davis](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jordan-davis/) - [Jordan Davis shot over loud music](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jordan-davis-shot-over-loud-music/) - [Florida teen killed over loud music](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/florida-teen-killed-over-loud-music/) - [black teen killed over loud music](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/black-teen-killed-over-loud-music/) - [Jet magazine cover of Jordan Davis](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jet-magazine-cover-of-jordan-davis/) - [Jordan Davis on cover of Jet magazine](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jordan-davis-on-cover-of-jet-magazine/) - [Jet magazine and Jordan Davis](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jet-magazine-and-jordan-davis/) - [Emmett Till and Jordan Davis](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/emmett-till-and-jordan-davis/) - [Jason Klarman](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/jason-klarman/) - [african american students](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/african-american-students/) - [instilling racial pride in black children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/instilling-racial-pride-in-black-children/) - [Easy Bake Oven for boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/easy-bake-oven-for-boys/) - [Easy Bake Oven](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/easy-bake-oven/) - [gender neutral parenting](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gender-neutral-parenting/) - [raising boys like girls](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/raising-boys-like-girls/) - [princess boys](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/princess-boys/) - [gender neutral toys](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gender-neutral-toys/) - [children and homosexuality](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/children-and-homosexuality/) - [gay children](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/gay-children/) - [django unchained](http://mybrownbaby.com/tag/django-unchained/) - 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