souljahsistah

I am from the Big Apple. I am a writer, Dancer, Activist, and soon-to-be-wife. I LOVE music that teaches the masses and motivates them to become better people. I also value and respect artists out there who keep our culture pure through the performing arts.We have allowed Black culture to be hijacked by folks who don't care about us on any level. African dance classes are being raided and capitalized on, Hip Hop music has become Hip-POP, and everyone is wearing a hairstyle that belongs to us but is now commercialized (the wearing of locs) without understanding the spiritual significance of it.To my fellow dancers out there: Regardless of the genre of dance you specialize in, always remember that all of it started with African Dance. Stop allowing African Dance to be exploited and cashed in by people who want nothing more than to hijack us again. It is all we have to connect us with the motherland. It is sacred so treasure it!To my independent artists out there whether it be hip hop or soul: I love all of you to death! As long as you continue to dispense quality polished music for the masses, I have no problem supporting you or your artists. If you decide to stop making quality music and exploit our people, my money stays in my pocket. I believe in what you're doing so please don't betray my trust in you.To my Natural Hair salons and my barber shops: Stop sharing your secrets with folks who don't look like you nor care about you. Our hairstyles tell our story. Don't tell our stories to folks who are looking to make a profit off our culture. Keep it in the family. This page is an N-word and a B-word free zone. I can't emphasize that enough. As far as the N-word, I'm not one and neither are you! It's time to stop using it towards one another. As far as the B-word, I am a Queen and I will NOT accept that word being used on this site either.It's time for Black-on-Black love and consciousness to come back "in style". We are all we got. Support artists that display those two important elements like PARIS, KAM, dead prez, Immortal Technique, T-KASH, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Leela James and others who teach the truth in their lyrics.Lastly, please support dance companies like Camille A. Brown and Dancers, Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, Seewe West African Dance Company, Tina Thompson Dance Theatre and many others who keep our culture sacred and alive through dance.I must pay homage to our living legends in dance like Baba Chuck Davis, Carmen DeLavallade, Frances Rhymes, and Arthur Mitchell for continuing their great work. In that same breath, I must say Modupue to Alvin Ailey, LaRocque Bey, Gloria Jackson, Bernice Johnson, Katherine Dunham, and Babatunde Olatunji and too many others who have go on to become ancestors for paving the way for saving countless lives with the craft of dance.
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