Legalized Marital Rape?!

As reported by the Boston Globe

NEW FAMILY LAW signed by Afghan President Hamid Karzai puts the legal stamp of approval on the marital rape of Shi'ite women. The law, which requires women to accede to their husband's sexual demands and forces women to meet the subjective standard of "legitimate purpose" for leaving the house, is a huge setback for Afghanistan.

The law creates a separate legal standard for the Shi'ite minority, which has different family law than the Sunni population. Although the Afghan constitution explicitly creates gender equality, Karzai is eager to appease the Shi'ite minority before the country's August elections.

The international outcry, including President Obama calling the law "abhorrent," has prompted Karzai to agree to a review of the law. That is not enough. Western governments that support Afghanistan should use their influence to push for repeal. By signing away Shi'ite women's rights under political pressure from local fundamentalists, Karzai raises real questions on how dependable he is as an ally against Taliban-style extremists.

Ensuring a democratic state in Afghanistan requires both tackling security and improving the welfare of Afghan citizens. The United States has little to show for its billions in aid. Significant efforts have been made to construct schools for girls, and though there are those who destroy the schools, kill their teachers, and pour acid on students, women keep returning. In Kabul, more girls are enrolled in school than at any point in the last decade. Yet whatever progress has been made is fragile. Many of the women's rights eliminated by this law are already denied by practice in rural areas. At least before, the law was on their side.

The hundreds of female protesters who marched in Kabul last week have shown great courage. The Karzai government must not put a political price on their rights.

Is the involvement of the U.S. warranted, or should we stay out of Afghanistan's business and show respect for cultural "diversity?"

Discuss.

Chocolate Fix of the Week: Maxwell

So ladies, I've been thinking that maybe we need a little testosterone around here from time to time, so I've decided to savor a chocolate fix of the week to satisfy my sweet tooth;) I had someone else in mind to kick this this off with, but I came across Maxwell's new song today and HAD to shout him out. I've loved him forever! From Urban Hang Suite to his MTV Unplugged album, he's had me hooked on his incredible voice and understated sexiness. Check the "Pretty Wings" snippet out and tell me if you love it as much as I do.

His new album Black Summers' Night releases in July!







. . .Because everyone loves chocolate

Get 'Em Girls' New Cookbook!

Last August I had the opportunity to interview Shakara Bridgers, Jeneice Isley, and Joan A. Davis, the fabulous trio that comprises the Get 'Em Girls, about their debut cookbook The Get 'Em Girls' Guide to the Power of Cuisine. And now they're back with their sophomore cookbook called The Get 'Em Girls' Guide to the Perfect Get-Together.

"Birthday, family reunion, picnic, baby shower, dinner party, holiday feast, or just poker night–whatever the occasion–The Get ‘Em Girls’ Guide to the Perfect Get-Together has you covered from tips on organizing to setting the mood for a party and more than 140 easy and delicious recipes."-Getemgirls.com

I tried their Feta and Spinach Stuffed Chicken recipe (not sure if it's actually in the first or forthcoming book) last week and it was amazing! So, you know I'm looking forward to this book coming out.

It will be available for purchase May 2009!

Happy cooking and eating!

Under Construction

I know, I know. Things have kind of slowed down around here. Besides the slight topic drought I'm experiencing, I'm just swamped with end-of-semester projects and such, which hasn't left me with much time to do some good brainstorming. Don't worry. I'll be back. I always come back, don't I? The payoff to all this madness is that I'm graduating two weeks from Saturday!

Oh,well I'll leave you with a little teaser until next time. AMBERmag.com, my lovely employer, is sponsoring a fabulous local salon event that I'm more than excited about helping to make a success this Sunday. Recap and pics soon to come. Hang tight!

Read of the Month: The Next Best Thing

A lighthearted and comedic novel, The Next Best Thing (Kensington, $14.00) teaches a lesson in expecting the unexpected. As one of St. Louis's most sought after event planners, Tori Carter specializes in Plan B, but when her fiancee Roland leaves her for another woman on their would be wedding day, she finds herself at a loss for what to do next in Deidre Berry's debut novel. Tori reluctantly dips her toes back into the dating pool only to be met with disappointment and disaster including some laugh out loud incidents involving a bipolar date and a furious unsuspecting wife. Things begin to look up for Tori when she tosses her DSWYE (Don't Shit Where You Eat) rule to the wind and gets involved with her widower neighbor, Nelson. But Tori is left to wonder if the relationship will have longevity if she will always have to "compete with a ghost." Berry takes the reader through a woman's journey, with the help of her well-meaning yet meddling friends, to find Mr. Right, this time with no checklist in hand. With richly drawn, colorful characters, The Next Best Thing illustrates the power of familial bonds and great friends despite the uncertainty of starting over.

The Next Best Thing is now available in bookstores!

Sista with Substance: Marcia A. Cole

I don't know why I hadn't thought to highlight her sooner because she's such an extraordinary woman, but now I have to take the time to honor the founder and editorial director of AMBERmag.com, THE online destination for multicultural, fashion and beauty- savvy women. By the way, she's also my boss who has graciously given me the opportunity to learn about the magazine writing business and has guided me every step of the way! In this edition of Sista with Substance, I have attached an interview by Nicole Brown with Marcia that was published by Mahoganybutterly.com on their Black Women of the Web channel. Read on and discover the talent, style, and business prowess that comprise the one and only Marcia A. Cole.

Oh yeah, check out my shout out!



AMBERmag.com is fabulous site for women of color who are into in all things beauty. From cosmetics, hair, skincare, fashion and style – if it’s even remotely related to looking good and maintaining our beauty, AMBERmag has it covered.

Some of my favorites on AMBERmag include their “Look of the Week” feature that teaches us how to recreate runway-ready looks at home; their photo-rich fashion highlights; and their expert advice from renowned cosmetic experts of color, including supermodel and beauty mogul, Iman.

I had the pleasure of connecting with Ambermag’s Founder and Editorial Director, Marcia Cole to learn more about the woman behind this chic online destination for black women...

Tell us about your site - what’s it about? When did you launch?
Our site focuses on beauty, fashion and some entertainment. Our primary focus, however, is beauty for African American and Latinas. We officially launched in January of 2007.

What made you decide to start it?
I had a similar site/online magazine back in 1998 called Inside Salon online. There was an internet boom, then a bust and while we started to gain traction right before the bubble popped, the seemingly collapse of the industry made it hard to sustain itself, so I closed it down after three years.

Who would you say is your typical reader?
She’s a working woman and college student, anywhere between the ages of 18 and 39. She loves to find out beauty information, trends and style recommendations.

3 words that best describe your site?
Stylish, modern and high-end.

How do you feel your site has evolved since you first started it?
Well, we’re still evolving and hope to continue to evolve. We did a lot of things from an SEO-perspective that allowed our content to be found more easily. We are about to upgrade with some great tools specific to our content, as well as build out our pages for easier functionality and navigation.

What other things do you do for a living and/or hobby?
When I first started, I was consulting for an interactive agency; then I worked for Latina.com and Realsimple.com managing their content. I create content 24/7. And AMBERmag.com really fills up my days and nights from a content and business perspective.

What would you say are the most rewarding aspects of the work you do online?
Whether it’s testing new products or finding new talent, the hook has always been seeing great imagery combined with great reporting. For me what’s always been the reward of being an editor or a writer is seeing the vision for a story come to fruition.

What are the most frustrating aspects?
Research and when there are unknown technical issues for no apparent reason than Mercury being retrograde.

What is the inspiration behind your content?
The name of our main channel is Adore Your Beauty. The inspiration behind that is we want women of color to adore their beauty—from the inside and out. That means loving ourselves enough to take care of ourselves—from exercising and doing our bodies right to great hair and makeup. We understand how empowering it is when one believes they look great. And how even more empowering when we honestly believe we are great. The other part of our inspiration is about showing the diversity of our beautification customs from the Caribbean, and Latin countries, whenever we can, show how we have influenced trends.

What kind of impact do you hope to have through your work online?
Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and it is a tool that can harness or harm a person’s self-esteem. Having a good, strong sense of self and is truly beautiful. I want us to build a robust audience, have women become more knowledgeable about their beauty choices. But more important, through our AMBERawareness program, it is my desire that we continue to connect women at our events, which allow them to celebrate being a girly-girl while helping our community.

Besides this site, is there any other work that you do online (eg, other sites, writing, etc)
AMBERmag.com will power a beauty blog on BET.com as a part of syndication. And I consult with companies seeking content strategies for the web. But the site and our newly formed ad network keep me pretty busy.

Are there other people that work on your site that you want to give a shout out to?
Absolutely, my business partner, Duane Felix, Derrick Moore our sales representative, Richard Pelzer of Mega Management, our freelancers and our interns, Lenina Mortimer, Sayde Tyson, Shari Myles—truly awesome folks!

There are many people who love your site. What sites are YOU a fan of?
Outside of the sites in our network, which were all hand-selected, I really enjoy Huffington Post, NYmag and Politico.

What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made and what did you learn from it?
I would say it was initially hiring sales people who came from magazines and not the web. The learning curve was costly.

What do you think has contributed the most to the success you’ve had so far?
My faith in God and that He will guide my steps. And in listening to that guidance, visitors have responded.

As a site owner myself, there are times that I second guess myself or question if the effort I put into it is worth it. Do you ever have moments like that, and if so how do you snap out of it and get back in focus!
Oh yes! I started to waiver when it took a moment for the revenue to start coming in. Our site is all original content, so it costs to produce it. So there are times when you start to wonder, what the hell!?? But then I meditate; get into a gospel song (cue Never Would Have Made It) and listen to that still calm voice inside. Then I get back in line doing what I know I love to do in an environment that has always made me be the best me possible.

Name something(s) that your site visitors would be surprised to know about the woman behind it all?
I don’t like the process of shopping (taking off clothes, putting it back on). Though I know I’m supposed to wrap my hair at night, I rarely do it; and I drive with two feet.

Marcia’s Favorite Things

Favorite Books:
Kaffir Boy, Memoirs of a Geisha Girl and A Return to Love

Favorite Movies:
Two Can Play That Game and The Devil Wears Prada

Favorite song, artist or album:
Hmm. I love so many different types of music, from Miriam Makeba to Teena Marie to Anthony Hamilton.

Favorite place(s) to be in the world
By the ocean on a beach on any island in the world.

Favorite place(s) to shop / favorite designers:
Online, net-a-porter, Vivre.com, Loehmann’s and Saks Fifth Avenue

Must-have beauty products:
Clinique lip glosses and mascara; CoverGirl’s Amazement Lipgloss; Bobbi Brown’s Nude lipsticks; Iman’s Second to None Cream to Powder Foundation; Lottabody wrapping lotion; Carol’s Daughter Tui Oil; Elasta Q.P. Glaze

Marcia’s Thoughts on Beauty, Radiance & Strength

What does “beauty" means to you? Power.

What things do you do to unwind/ take care of/nurture yourself?
Massage, sauna, run are top of the list.

What do you love most about my being a black woman?
Our strength, like our roots, run deep. I love the fact that we can live in parallel universes: a black world and a general market world. I love that we can flip it. I’m from Jamaica, so I have the privilege of being able to live in a Caribbean, Black American and general market world.

What brings you joy?
So many things, but it would be love. Doing what I love, being with people I love, sharing what I’ve learned throughout the years with young girls trying to break into the industry. Eating a great slice of cheesecake!

If you could give women one piece of advice that you knew would stick with them as they navigate their way through life, what would it be?
Jealousy is a waste of energy and is only a reflection of you believing that the universe doesn’t have enough—whether that’s love, men, jobs, money, cars, shoes, etc.—to give you in abundance. So don’t cultivate envy, be authentic and expect good things from your life. And when you project that…that’s what will project back to you.