Stuff Black Girls Like

#16 Birthdays

Black girls like birthdays.

I love celebrations. When I worked as a manager, everyone on my team got a cake and card for their birthday. Now, I work for a really stuffy office where that type of camaraderie is nonexistence. To give you an example, I had to pull teeth to get our department to put in $5 to purchase a cake for our manager. Three of the people on staff have yet to give me their $5. LOL. Later, my manager confided in me that she had NEVER had a birthday celebration at work. Never in like 20 years.

WOW!

Today is my birthday and also, my twin in my head, Michelle Obama.

I celebrated early with a full day of events. Yesterday, I went to lunch and saw Denzel's new movie, "The Book of Eli." Last night, I went to Brooklyn's Jazz Cafe to see http://www.zacharmon.com/. It was fun.

I wonder what Michelle Obama did on her special day?

#15 Christmas

Black girls love Christmas.

Christmas is so multi-faceted that it encompasses many great things black girls like. It is a time of family and friends. It is a time of giving and receiving. It is a time to reflect on the birth of Christ. Yes, Christmas is all of these things. It is also a time of reflection on how you have lived in the previous 11 months without all of the pressure of New Year's Resolutions.

I am never one for resolutions or hollow proclamations - it's fine in 2009, things are great in 2008, etc. What exactly rhymes with ten anyway? lol

At least at Christmas, you can just feel love. If you are near family or abroad - just feel love. It travels through the atmosphere and reaches your heart. If you are estranged from someone, reach out to them. No rehash of past wrongdoings, just give love. Love melted the Grinch's heart. I am sure it can melt yours.

After all, the Christmas story tells us that God came down unto man as the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger. I am told that God IS love.

I send love to all of my readers on the Christmas Day. Don't worry, you can re-gift it. LOL

#14 Real Friends

Black girls like friendship.

It is the hallmark of sororities, bible studies, and girls' nights out everywhere. Friendship is the major them in my most favorite chick flicks - Waiting To Exhale and The Color Purple.

"You and me, us never part, Ma-kee-dah-dah."

I digress. LOL

Facebook is an amazing tool. It allows people who have grown estranged to reconnect. My very best friend from 8th grade found me a few weeks ago. It is amazing that after so many years people still remember the bond of friendship, even as children.

Life is full of flakes; frosted, snow, and, yes, people. True friendship is hard to come by. So when you find it, do not cast it away lightly over an ill said word or deed. Remember the totality of the connection.

"A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

#13 Passion

Black girls love passion. Passion as defined as any powerful or compelling emotion.

What are you passionate about? What is it that causes you to get out of bed in the morning?

I love a man that is passionate about something. Be it music, career, education, or making a difference, have some passion about it.

I think Michelle Obama took a look at a scrawny, broke, nerd trying to make his way into politics and said, "This man has PASSION!!!" We all know how that story unfolded.

Soooooo, what is your passion?

#12 MAXWELL

Large afro or shaven and shorn women love MAXWELL.

I went to the Maxwell concert last night and my, oh my, it was HOT.

He was joined by Chrisette Michelle and Common. They were really good but Maxwell shut it down.

He doesn't dance like Usher, he is not ripped like LL but what he has is soo much more appealing.

A man than can express himself is the most attractive creature on earth. The music, the lyrics, his voice all one potent combination. Maxwell being the alchemist that has found the secret to creating gold.

#11 Winning Stuff

Black girls love winning stuff. . .or maybe it's just me.

I won a cactus today. We had an Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at my job. The door prizes were tiny cacti plants. I was sooo geeked. LOL

In 2003, I won free tickets to Tavis Smiley Presents' Success Soul. Speakers included Iyanla Vanzant, Magic Johnson, Suzie Orman, and then Senator, now President Barack Obama. I feel so blessed, in retrospect, having heard him speak before he became famous.

The best prize I won was back in undergrad. I attended an African Fair. It was also a raffle. I bought two $1 tickets. I won this book entitled, I Hear A Symphony. It's a collection of short stories, poems, and essays all about love.

It is, by far, the best thing I have ever won.

What is the best thing you have ever won?

#10 Love Songs

Black girls like love songs.

How can you tell a truly great love song? Read the lyrics. If just reading the lyrics still makes you happy and sad simultaneously, it's great. The voice of a great vocalist is just the icing on the cake.

1. Try A Little Tenderness by Otis Redding
2. One Last Cry by Brian McKnight and I Remember You by Brian McKnight
3. Fistful of Tears by Maxwell
4. Whenever, Wherever, Whatever by Maxwell
5. I Love Me Some Him by Toni Braxton
6. Fallen by Alicia Keys
7. Her Heart by Anthony Hamilton
8. By Your Side by Sade
9. Loving You by Minnie Ripperton
10. Make Me Whole by Amel Larrieux

What are your top ten love songs?

#9 Tyler Perry Movies

Please no riots but I love Tyler Perry movies.

Not because they are critically acclaimed but just because I do. I mean where in the world are you gonna see Cicely Tyson in a movie.(And not be a maid).

Word on the street is that Perry is producing Ntozake Shange's For Colored Girls Who Have Committed Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enough.

The black establishment is livid. . . well at least on Twitter. LOL

I love Tyler Perry movies because he showcases black talent as STARS not the best friend, not the maid, not the sassy sidekick or magic negro.

Like all things black girls like, I will support it.

#8 Arguing

Why do black girls love to argue? I can write positive blog posts all day but put up a disagreement and I'll get 100 comments.

It can be about who is the best singer, actor, actress, hair stylist, preacher, dresser, looking. It does not matter.

Is it that our stress levels are so high with work, family, the economy that we can't wait to snap our necks and tell somebody what is really on our minds?

On Wendy Williams first week before her syndication, she made news not for her awesome groundbreaking content but for a low down dirty war of words with Omarosa.

God forbid we are cast on a reality show. The black girls always end up getting camera time for "going off" on someone. I know I am being stereotypical but is there truth to this? Is it that hard for black girls to just turn the other cheek?

I don't know, I'm just the messenger.

#7 Marriage

I was watching an Oprah clip, in which she stated 70% of black women are single. That is an alarming statistic. There are a variety of reason as to why we are not but that is not what this post is about.

Black girls love marriage. It is something desired but we hold out looking for Mr. Right and not Mr. Right Now.

Why do we love President Obama so much? Well a big, part of it is Michelle Obama. Why do we love Denzel so much? Apart from the obvious, he is married to Pauletta. The same for Will and Jada. They are good examples of black on black love. And black girls love love.

Let us not neglect, interracial love that is strong and positive - Paula Patton and Robin Thicke; Alfre Woodard and Roderick Spencer; and Robert DeNiro and Grace Hightower.

Not all hookups are famous couples. I attended a wedding two weeks ago. The bride and I are the around the same age, and she found love with a black man. Marriages still happen because love is written in the stars and not in a pie chart.

To all the black girls in that 70 percent, keep your head up and your heart open.