Octaviaj’s Weblog

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Strength Or a Weakness? December 26, 2007

Filed under: December — octaviaj @ 3:51 pm
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Hey all,

Being a Black Woman, is it a strength or a weakness? This was the question we asked ourselves. With all of the ill crimes that warrant a response of “No, it is a dreadful thing to be a black woman”, I would have to disagree. Find out more listen to our year end  show on 12/27/07.

Oh, by the way…. a note on the content of this show:

1st. -Countdown to things that happen to Black Women in ‘07: We are sticking to our #1….it is a big surprise.

2nd. -The business segment, Networking: The second most important element to the success of your business besides you.  From your relationships with your vendors, your clients/potential clients, civic organizations, and non-triditional internet based network groups. Don’t be the reason your business stops.  Don’t have time to go out into the community. Try this. Your business is about serving real people so try some real people networks like:

Myspace
FaceBook
ymib.com  <—-(Jaha found this one, it is my new fav) 

Also mentioned: Love of Hair…

 

These are my confessions… December 20, 2007

Filed under: December — octaviaj @ 10:33 pm

This show was fun. We got a chance to use our call in fourm for the first time. We had a blast! You all have to listen to the show to find out more.

If anyone is interested in knowing about the Gadsden Green public housing situation here it goes: http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A37267 

Read a comment from one of the posters “hog_island replied

 As an MUSC employee, that area west of Rt 17 would be better utilized as privately-owned, tax generating, student and employee housing for medical residents, as well as CofC students and faculty. Right now it’s a blight which we avoid for the obvious reasons, and we refer to the highway as the “moat” to keep out the riff raff.
   
   There must be a more suitable location for this population up the peninsula or in North Chuck.
   Alot of us used to be social liberals but we’ve had it with having to constantly be confronted by these creeps” 

Question???? How are you going to move a whole popluation of people?

 

It’s Been A Week December 20, 2007

Filed under: December — octaviaj @ 10:14 pm

Hey all,

It’s been a couple of weeks since I last blogged. Lots have gone on since last we spoke, it’s just been very busy. It’s near the end of the year, and I think it is time to make some resolutions. I will commit to blogging every morning. Why wait for December 31st. I will start now.

Jackson

 

Eventful 1! December 9, 2007

Filed under: December — octaviaj @ 5:34 pm
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Eventful! 1 Arts  (count down blogging, see #3 for details)
South Carolina has a number of resident artists that do an excellent job at capturing life on a canvas. Since Pratt Institute, I’ve always been attracted to the arts community. The following may be a little too introspective for most, but I for one, appreciate the thought process that goes into the creation of a canvas piece. Whither it is scenery or based on a people, animals, or objects my home is littered with pieces that are special to me.

He goes by Bro. Nezhar. His passion is revealing the story of the Gullah Moors. What makes this exhibit unique is that it defies common knowledge. Not so common knowledge is that all enslaved persons did not come from western Africa; they also came from other parts of the African continent -like Northern Africa. The Gullah Moors story is of an intelligent/sophisticate group of people who triumph through a not so great time in history.

I have had the opportunity to witness Nezhar’s artistic development. His use of light to highlight areas of the human form is my favorite aspect of his work. To me, It makes his pieces memorable.

Unfortunately, he doesn’t have a website yet. He told me that he was going to exhibit some of his pieces at a local shopping mall. If you are at the Northwoods mall, in North Charleston S.C. look for Mystic Fragrance, ask Black (the owner) about it. It is worth it.

It is from numberless diverse acts of courage and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
-Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-68), US.. Attorney General

 

Eventful! 2 December 9, 2007

Filed under: December — octaviaj @ 3:37 pm
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Eventful! part 2Body wraps, and sensuous smells. Oh my!

No man is an island. To balance self healing and self determination we need help. We keep ourselves so busy with external concerns…the children…my career… the boss…my significant other! What about taking care of your self? Forget about giving your children a time out; How often do you take a time out? How nice would a massage be? Or how about some aromatherapy? We wondered what was the hype behind going to a spa visiting, so we spoke with Melody from Natural Image Salon and Day Spa. Really, she is passionate about what she does and it was apparent in our conversation. Find what a spa has to offer, check out our show “Living Your Best Life.”

 Are you living your best life?

 

Eventful! 3 December 1, 2007

Filed under: December — octaviaj @ 2:57 pm
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Eventful! A word that describes this past week. Cyberspace is all well and good, however -I know it can’t replace reality. I will do this in three parts. I was reintroduced to a music artist that I admired from a far; I, ironically bumped into a canvas artist friend that entranced me with his work; and I got a chance to talk to some passionate women. (Part 3)  

Jah Cure:
Music has always been and always will be a true reflection of the peoples strife. From the days of “Wade underwater children” to “Dear Momma” By Tupac, good musicians (like writers) convey universal pains, solutions, as well as joy through this time tested art form. I know that sounds dramatic, but can you tell that I am such a music connoisseur (more on that at a later time). Ok, Jah Cure: is a Jamaican music artist who, it appears, was wrongfully convicted of rape (what an association to my group rape blog). While in prison he recorded music that touch the hearts of the people outside of his cell walls. Subsequently, he was freed in ‘07.  I can come to believe that the trumped up charges wasn’t hard to believe by his convector because of his appearance. Rastafarian’s, in general, have always had a hard time. The ones I know, and know of are very passionate (Big Ups to Artist JahSun).  It seems to be their spirituality that drives their passion about life and living.

The misconception came primarily because of public fear and opinion. I read once it was because of the dread association. Like the term ”Indian Giver”, Dread was a representation of the accuser not the accused. ’Dread’ was the fear of the people down the mountain, not the people who locked their hair.  heck my grandmother, Liberian Baptist, is really, really, afraid of Dread locked people. Get this, she lives in Brooklyn NY and has been there since the mid 70’s, OK -but every other person is a dread! Yes, she has done lots of running. One of my oldest friend (Hey T!) has an uncle who’s locks were down to his knee caps. Every time uncle Tony would come around my grandmother would not come out of the apartment. Which was odd, because of our association with our neighbors was close (Jamaicans and Liberians i will ll take you there later.).  I don’t want locks but I like the look, so when she sees me with my natural hair twisted, she hardly has anything nice to say -and that is hard because I am her favorite. 

I am running on, so I will end by saying this: Dasterly people will always be dasterly people, history should teach us that. Appearances can be deceiving. People are the some of their parts. Nevertheless, his music is awesome. Like Bob Marley, His music is the reflection of his mentors incorporated with some self actualization -That is saying alot. Who says young folks can’t do anything? 

The following are some links about Jah Cure, (Ya’ll Wiki is even on it!)

Wikipedia
Jah Works
MOG

Jamican Observer

-A person is the sum of all parts.