I Write. You Should Read.: Brown-Skin Lady

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Brown-Skin Lady

February is Black History Month. To celebrate, I've put together a tribute to Black women who rock - or have rocked - this world of ours. The Nguzo Saba admonish us to "define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves" (kujichagulia) and to "do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it" (kuumba). This post celebrates the self-determination (kujichagulia) and creativity (kuumba), as well as the beauty, of the women featured. This is far from a comprehensive list of Black women who rock; these are just some of my personal faves. I had alot of fun putting this together....I hope you enjoy it!

Betty Davis

Skin (formerly of Skunk Anansie)

More Skin here.

Teneia Sanders

More Teneia here.

Elida Zulu (of Dirty Fuzz)

More Elida/Dirty Fuzz here.

Tamar-kali

More Tamar here.

Felony Melony (of The Objex)

More Felony Melony/The Objex here.

Shingai Shoniwa (of The Noisettes)

More Shingai/The Noisettes here.

Eden Rox

More Eden here.

Me'Shell Ndegeocello

More Me'Shell here.

Last, but definitely not least, I'd like to spotlight DJ Beverly Bond. Her vision for a brighter future for young women of color prompted her to found Black Girls Rock, Inc., a mentoring organization aimed at breaking down the walls that mainstream media has built to keep young women of color trapped in cycles of low self-esteem, hypersexuality and exploitation. Black Girls Rock, Inc. accomplishes this goal by presenting girls with creative outlets through which to channel their talents, accountability and inspiration through positive female role models, and motivation to do more, be more and have more by introducing them to college options. WANLS salutes DJ Beverly Bond!