Its a MoVeMeNt baby!

Jamie Foxx won an award at the MTV Movie Awards Sunday night, but he wasn’t a winner amongst the critics who scolded his tee-shirt on Twitter.  Jamie Foxx wore a tee-shirt that read KNOW JUSTICE KNOW PEACE with pictures of Trayvon Martin and the small children who were victims of the school shooting in Sandy Hook.  At first glance, I think it serves as an awareness tactic when famous celebrities wear clothing that present issues that sometimes go unnoticed until it is brought to their attention by someone in the lime-light.  Of course Trayvon Martin wasn’t a victim of a school shooting, but nevertheless he was still a victim.  Obviously, not everyone believes that this is the case.

In response to Jamie Foxx’s tee-shirt many people went to TWITTER to bash not only Jamie Foxx for wearing the shirt with Trayvon Martin and the Sandy Hook victims, but going as far as to hurl racial slurs while doing ridiculing the tee-shirt.

I understand that as humans there will always be disagreement because we are mostly independent thinkers, but to respond like this is disheartening. Responses like this beg the question of whether or not there will ever be a total acceptance of difference.  What that means is that while there are more differences among us as humans than similarity, something perhaps innate pushes us to react toward one another with such utter disrespect.  Fortunately, this type of down right hateful gibberish is not common among all in society, but it is the few that hide beneath the shield of cyberspace and social media while shooting such insults from their mouths.

I dare anyone to try to convince me that racism doesn’t exist anymore…just check your TWITTER feed.  Catch ya’ on the FLIPSIDE!

SEE THE ORIGINAL POSTING OF THESE TWEETS RIGHT HERE >> http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/48020892347/jamie-foxx-attended-the-mtv-movie-awards-on-sunday <<

Coco-Flo By Nicole Jackson

Do you like to dance?  Do you like to workout?  Do you like to have fun?  Then you will love Coco-Flo By Nicole Jackson! Nicole Jackson, who is most often referred to as CoCo has taken her passion of dancing and dedication to fitness to the next level.  CoCo, who is now a licensed ZUMBA instructor, has always had a passion for dancing and has found a way to direct that passion in an effort to help others in their quest to live a healthier life.

Nicole Jackson

CoCo admits that instructing ZUMBA was not really something she had even thought about.  Somehow, perhaps divine intervention, CoCo woke up one day and decided that it was indeed something that she would set out to do.  With her tenacious attitude, she researched what she needed to do to make this idea a reality.  Soon afterward she was scheduling an appointment to get licensed now she is ready to bring the fun and benefits of ZUMBA to you!

Classes are beginning Feb. 5th at 9am at the TNT FITNESS STUDIO (4907 Schafer, Dearborn, MI 48217). For more information on scheduling and rates, you can contact CoCo by email at CoCoFloZumba@yahoo.com or call 313.459.1747!  Don’t forget to “LIKE” the Coco-Flo By Nicole Jackson Facebook Page to keep up with CoCo and her Zumba classes!

With MLK Day among us and the second term of our President beginning on the same day, it gives us a lot to reflect on.  Not only are these two great men despite their color, but they are great men because of it as well. The black community has fallen short in several categories and I think this failure can be attributed to our failure to be men, fathers and husbands in our community.  The tree is only as strong as its roots and unfortunately ours have been severed by opression not only from others but from ourselves.

There are so many single parent homes in the black community that the two parent home has somewhat become peculiar.  With that said, there are many young boys who are raised in a single parent home where mom is the head of the household.  While there are plenty of strong black women who are more than capable of raising their own children and yours too at the same time, it is hard for them to truly emplore what it is to be a man.  Well, let me retract. What I mean is they know exactly what it takes to be a man or what a man should be, however they struggle with the way in which to mold an adolecent boy into that man. And hence we have a problem.

Sadly to say it is a vicious cycle.  When you have a father, in or outside the home, who had never had a man in his life to learn things about manhood, how hard do you think its going to be for him to successfully raise a young man?  The nature of this cycle is simplistic but complicated at the same time. In its simplest form, a man never learns how to be a man so he has no idea how to teach his son how to be one either.  The complicated side of it is that once the cycle is recognized – what can you do about it?

The first thing we have to do is get our community back.  If a man is lacking the experience to raise his son, then others in the community need to assist in an effort to make that young boy into the man that he needs to be in order to keep our community thriving into his generation.  The second thing we need to do as men is realize that it is not a sign of weakness to ask for that assistance.  The more we beat ourselves down with denial that we don’t need help from anyone, the more our community, culture and race will suffer.

The woman is the seed that flowers our existence, but the weight is indeed on the man’s shoulders to keep that flower growing and free from weeds and pesticides that threaten their existence.  Did you catch that?  What I mean is it is on our shoulders to keep our community together and get it going in the right direction. So of course the lack of experience and the the fear of asking for assistance can be a very restrictive shackle and chain, but it should never be an excuse to stop trying to break the captivity and pull our community up from the abyss that we are being swallowed alive by.

As we honor Martin Luther King Jr. and our President Barack Obama, please remember that although they are men of great strength, they too have had moments of weakness, but they never gave up despite the chains and shackles that threatened to keep them captive. Don’t let our chains keep us locked in a community that produces men who have no idea what it is to be a man….break the cycle.  Catch ya’ on the FLIPSIDE.

Its a strange thing that happens suddenly.  I have even heard once or twice that it usually shows up when you stop searching for it.  Sometimes its right beneath your nose.  Other times its somewhere that you had never thought of looking before. Love.  One of the few four letter words that can go either way.  Often a lot of explicit language include four letter words and love falls into that category.  It can be beautiful, but it can also be painful.

What makes us devote so much time and anguish into the persuit of it?  Is it some innate behavior that we are born with?  So many people have survived heartbreak and vow to never love again only to find themselves soon back on the bandwagon.  It is a peculiar feeling.  A feeling that can only be explained by individuals that have experienced it, but even then it makes no sense.

It’s not a perfect science, even though we generally refer to the connection as “chemistry.” Oddly enough it is nothing close to being as exact as science or even math for that matter.  I cling on to the fact that it is indeed worth the sweat.  Worth the tears. Worth the failures.  In the end, I believe that it almost consumes our whole identity.  The need to find love and also be loved.

The scary thing is that some folks never find it or lose it because they never knew what to do with it.  Catch ya’ on the FLIPSIDE!

LaRonn "Soul Deacon" Dolley

This past weekend I was able to witness a beautiful thing.  Sometimes its amazing how you can know someone for so long and never truly understand their passion for something.  Knowing all along that this person has talent, but never truly witnessing it.  I know it sounds like senseless babbling and to a certain extent, I suppose it probably is.  But this babbling was created when I saw a long time friend who has been a part of our family for so long that we refer to each other as cousins in his element, or as I like to say… “doin’ his thing.”

Saturday night I had the pleasure of seeing G-Note 7 in action.  If you’re not familiar with G-Note 7, then let me enlighten you.  This is a neo-soul group of instrument players and vocalists.  One of the vocalists is my cuz LaRonn “Soul Deacon” Dolley.  I was impressed by his spirit and performance.  The entire group is energetic and create a sound that may take you by surprise.  During the whole evening, I really could do nothing more than stare and clap in amazement at my friend, my cousin, my fam who has taken his passion and embraced it to a point where I wasn’t even sure if that was really him on the stage.  He did a wonderful job and it is clear that singing and entertaining is what he is destined to do.

I left the International Institute in downtown Detroit that night with a reassurance that passion and patience truly does pay off.  I recognize the passion in Soul Deacon’s voice and I know that he has been patiently waiting for his opportunity.  I suppose it is very true that God certainly has a plan and it is a beautiful thing when you recognize that plan and finally fall in line with your destiny.  Catch ya’ on the FLIPSIDE.

LIKE the GirlyGirl FB page and win a **FREE MAKEOVER**

Thank you to ALL of the nominations!!  The nominations are still piling in, but YOU STILL HAVE TIME!!! Do you or someone you know deserve a ****FREE MAKEOVER**** for the holidays?? All you have to do is LIKE the Girly Girl FB page and inbox us 3 reasons why you or someone you know deserves a ****FREE MAKEOVER**** this holiday season! Entries must be in by MONDAY DECEMBER 17th. HAPPY HOLIDAYS ~ GG

The Eastside Hawkeyes sent two of their elite players to compete among the best in the state and the country this past Saturday afternoon at the Pontiac Silverdome.  The afternoon drills consisted of the 40 yard dash, broad jump, 3 cone drill and 20 yard shuttle run to test a football players speed, quickness and explosion.

Adidas Showcase has produced a few current NFL stars, some current College standouts and tons of high school talent throughoutMichigan. Two future standouts were allowed to attend the football combine and represent the AYF Conference and the Eastside Hawkeyes Organization.  The players were Omar “I’ Too Kold” Twilley current Hawkeye A-team standout and Cordell “Juice” Tannyhill Jr current B-Team standout.

Omar is currently an 8^th grader in Trix Middle School; he came to showcase his talent as a young elite wide-receiver in the State of Michigan. The afternoon started off tough for the young wide-out; he was matched a few times in one-on-one drills with a top five defensive back in the state which caused him some trouble. But this young receiver showed that he has heart to compete and that the Eastside Hawkeyes have talent at the skilled positions.  Omar was given number 249 but decided, “Even though Adidas gave me a number I was going to make a name for myself this afternoon.” This young wide-out created a buzz running a blazing 4.43 in the 40 yard dash; which was one of the fastest times for an 8^th grader.  The future looks bright for this young receiver and the Eastside Hawkeyes A-Team; DB’s beware!!!!

OMAR TWILLY

Cordell is currently a 7^th grader with South Lake Middle School. Juice wanted people to know he brings the wood as a defensive player but he wanted Adidas and others to know he is ‘Nice’ with the football as well. South Lake will be in good hands once this youngster straps on a pair of pads and runs the ball for them in the future. Cordell was number 248 and competed this afternoon as a running back showing great instinct cutting drills, lateral speed, and explosion. During the one-on-one drills ‘Juice’ wowed spectators with his blitz read pick-up; catching an 11^th grader off guard with his power. Cordell showed that the Tannyhill DNA has tons of explosiveness; he jumped an astounding 7feet 7 inches in the board (FYI current NFL RB’s jump between 9-10 feet).

CORDELL TANNYHILL

All in all Cordell and Omar represented well for their first experience in a country wide competition with other elite players at their perspective positions. The future looks bright for the Eastside Hawkeyes Organization and the talent they produce; but College football will be blessed with two talented young men when they graduate in 2017 (Omar “I’ Too Kold” Twilley) and 2018 (Cordell “Juice” Tannyhill Jr).

Also Good Luck to the Hawkeyes D-Team who are currently competing inFloridafor an AYF Championship.

Relationships are tough to maintain.  Adding an outside element like cheating makes them even tougher.  So how do you bounce back and maintain the relationship after cheating?  Call in this Tuesday and comment on the HOT TOPIC ~ “How Do You Earn Your Mate’s Trust Back After Cheating?” DON’T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE CREW ON TWITTER @HoodHowardStern and @RealMonkMoney