Reblogged from A Gemini Dream:

It has been one year since the shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, who was walking home when vigilante and citizen George Zimmerman gunned him down. His justification for shooting the teenager was the stand your ground law which allows a citizen to take matters into their own hands. After countless investigations, we realized there were facts overlooked and an enemy from the past came out to plague us again..Racism. The racial tension among certain minority and majority groups remains one of ills we have to do deal with in America. Look around in your environment in some shape or form it still exists. Instead of the Jim Crow laws  and outwardly expressions of hate, racism exists behind policies and hidden agendas set by the masses. For someone to say, ” Racism does not exist”, is a complete and total liar. If it does not exist, there would have not been a “peaceful protest” at Old Miss after President Obama re-election. What is the underlying issue for all racism is ignorance of other cultural groups. The media play an intricate part of reinforcing the stereotypes about the different cultural groups. We see examples everyday from the news, television, movies and music. The stereotype of the “Angry Black Man” is still portrayed to this day as did in the movie Birth of a Nation. Some media figures are taking the concept of freedom of speech and using to express their own vain ideas. From the infamous nappy headed hoes comment to now calling the nine-year old actress Quvenzhané Wallis a cunt, these examples are inhumane and definitely lack class in the journalism profession. Where are ethics in journalism nowadays? Is it there or just certain people killed it? After the 2012 election, the ugly head of racism was stronger than ever. My timeline on Facebook and twitter was loaded with comments that were completely racist. My generation witness racism like never before. Also, several states requested to be separated from the union. It bothers me why people cannot accept cultural differences and diversities? These are the factors that makes this country unique. It is foundation that keeps America strong.  Does the concept of change scare some people? The fact of knowing old idealistic ways may soon become abolished and people figure out things for themselves. Citizens will seek the truth and expose the ugly and nasty lies taught to them.  Do some groups still want to have control and not share their power?  As a Fox News representative *coughs Bill O’Reilly* stated, “Whites are becoming the new minority.” When I was told, the America was first belonged to  Native Americans. It was minorites from all walks of life who helped build the country today. (Please correct me if I am wrong.) Discrimination does not exist among black and white people but it is wide-spread among other groups.Even, the LGBT community have fight for their right live and marry (I said it) who they please. It irritates me when people justify their bias practices through laws and religion. When, these tools are used to keep separation among the people for centuries. Currently, my city, Memphis, you can see extreme examples of polarization among citizens. It is almost mind-blowing experience going into certain neighborhoods and being viewed at like ugly monkey in a zoo. After 35 years since the death of Martin Luther King Jr., the city of Memphis is still plagued by the curse of immense division among the races. Yet, the city decides to bring the most racist group, KKK, to hold this so called ”peaceful protest” . Where is the logic in that concept? The city has bigger issues to work on than to be distracted by this clownish sideshow. As a society, we need to stop fighting with each other and work together to rebuild the nation. Our republic is slowly declining each day and we need to ensure every one has the right to live freely as they please. No matter what background, class, race or sexuality.  In the end, no matter what people say or do one thing holds true:

I AM HUMAN, I AM A WOMAN, I AM CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY AND I AM AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN!

I am entitled to Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Related Links:

http://wreg.com/2013/02/26/christian-groups-concerns-eased-despite-kkk-rally-approval/

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscars-2013-the-onion-issues-apology-to-quvenzhane-wallis-20130225,0,5054940.story

http://abcnews.go.com/US/trayvon-martins-parents-hold-hoodie-vigil-anniversary-death/story?id=18597254

Rest In Peace Mindy McCready and Don Cornelius

I am sharing my personal story about my battle with depression. There are a lot of people going through depression. According to NAMI, about 1 and 10 americans suffered from some form of depression. The sad part is about more than half don’t recieve the proper care they need. Here is my story I hope it will help someone else. If you would like to share your story please email me at TiffanyReneeBlogs@gmail.com. For information about depression please visit NAMI.ORG.  Love you

Rest In Peace Mindy McCready and Don Cornelius.

Next Chapter | Cissy Houston (FULL EPISODE) by Ashley_Miller_3

Last night, I was on high anticipation for the new season of Rupaul’s Drag Race. Since, I am a megafan of series, I was excited to see what the new queens had to offer. Before watching the new season, I decided to get on Instagram to look at some pictures. One of my followers mentioned about the Cissy Houston‘s interview with Oprah. I immediately had to reschedule my monday night television show lineup. This would be the first time since Cissy spoke publicly about her daughter’s death. As you know, the talent singer Whitney Houston died on February 11, 2012 in California. Life After Whitney Cissy Houston is interviewed by the fabulous Oprah Winfrey on her OWN network. I have to give Oprah her props, she has proved OWN network can achieve high ratings.  Last week, she had Lance Armstrong to speak about his fall from grace as as result the interview was deemed as the most anticipated interview of the year. So, Oprah I ain’t mad at you. *fist bump*  I knew in my mind  this would be a very intensive interview. I have heard and witnessed on their reality show “Houstons: On Our Own”, Miss. Cissy doesn’t hold back any punches. She is straight old-school. ROUND ONE: FIGHT!!!!!!

The interview opens up with Cissy talking about the grieving process she experienced during the announcement of her daughter’s death. She said painfully with tears flowing down her face, “I was a wreck.”They would share a tender moment together and Whitney promised Cissy she would come see her after the Grammy Party thrown by her mentor Clive Davis.  We are shy away from a year  when  Whitney Houston left this earthly place only to return to her heavenly home. I can really tell  Cissy is taking it pretty hard. Her and Whitney were like the best of friends and shared a beautiful mother-daughter relationship. There are clips of her and Cissy singing together and pictures of them smiling. Whitney really adored her mother as well as Cissy adored Whitney. There were some things I noticed during the interview that came as a surprise to me.

1. Whitney’s relationship with former assistant Robin Crawford

There were rumors circulating about Whitney Houston and assistant/friend Robin Crawford having an intimate relationship. As her ex-husband Bobby Brown, admitted they were deeply involved before they got married. It is one of reasons why Whitney married Bobby  to divert the attention from the alleged lesbian lifestyle. Cissy spoke candidly about Robin describing her as “rude” and “disrespectful”. She admit that they were close but nothing too serious. In fact, Robin was the first person to tell Cissy about Whitney’s drug use.  In true Oprah style, she hit Cissy with the big gun question, ” Would you accept your daughter being gay?” Since, we know Cissy is Baptist and has a strong Christian deposition, I knew how she would respond with a resounding no. In fact, Miss. Cissy said, “ she would not allow it.” There are some critics who said Whitney was in love with Robin and the fact they had to separate is one of the reasons why she began entering into the drug scene.  Who knows what went behind close doors in Whitney’s life all we know is whatever happened then did not discredit her amazing talent.

2. Her relationship with Bobbi Kristina.

If you watched the reality show, Houstons: On Our Own which I think was a complete mess then you would see first hand how Bobbi Kristina treated her grandmother. First, Bobbi Kristina was  mad about Cissy writing a tell all book about her daughter, which it debuts today. As Bobbi Kristina said, she disapproves of her grandmother exposing the family secrets. Cissy describes her relationship with her granddaughter as iffy *hopefully I spelled it right*. They really haven’t spoken to each since the announcement of the book. Cissy once again with a strong deposition and would not tolerate some of the things Bobbi Kristina is doing. Cissy has an underlying fear to see her granddaughter go down the same path as her mother. Personally, It really boils my blood how Bobbi Kristina treats her grandmother. It is totally disrespectful and uncalled for. Cissy is the only person she has left besides her father. I know if Whitney was here to see this, she slap the piss out of her. I think Bobbi Kristina really to spend as much time with her grandmother before it’s too late. As I saw in Cissy’s eyes, she really do loves her granddaughter. As for granddaughter, she spend time and soak up as much wisdom as possible maybe it will open her eyes to current surroundings with you know who *side eye*

3. Bobby Brown is what Cissy don’t like!!!!!

Of course in any interview regarding Whitney, Bobby Brown has to be thrown into the mix. Miss.Cissy did not hold back her tongue on Mr.Brown. When asked by Oprah, “Does she like Bobby Brown?” She replied, “No.” I think she really wanted to say was “Hell to the no.”  Cissy told Oprah she did not want her daughter to marry him. We all knew about Cissy’s feelings towards Bobby Brown. On the brighter side, she is willing to speak with him. I wonder how that conversation will go.  I guess why Cissy did not like him because she foreseen he would bring out the worst in her. You have to admit Whitney Houston with Bobby Brown gave her some street credit. When the pop star burst into music scene crossing over dramatically, a lot of African-Americans did not accept her because she was not “black enough.” In fact, Cissy mentioned she was booed at Soul Train Music awards by her peers and Whitney cried backstage. Although, their relationship was the butt of everybody’s jokes, I think deep down inside past the drugs and craziness they loved each other. It does not change the fact Cissy was throwing major shade at Bobby.

4. The identity is revealed who started Whitney on drugs.

Everybody suspected Bobby Brown started Whitney on drugs but all was revealed on this interview who started her  cocaine spree. Michael Houston, Whitney’s brother, admitted he started her on freebasing backing the 80s when she was really big. Michael and Whitney were close and he told Oprah she called him “Son”. As I look at Michael, you can tell he has a mountain guilt for introducing his little sister to cocaine. He made a bold opening statement to Oprah when she asked him how are you feeling. He replied, ” I am living but not alive.” Even though, he felt guilty even his own sister Whitney reassured him that the choices she made was hers not influence by him. I am glad he was strong enough to admit it and now everybody can stop blaming Bobby for everything. I see Michael has a lot of healing to do but first he has to drop the weight of him being the cause of his sister’s demise. The choice was for her to make and not guilt for him  to take.

5. Cissy gets on Oprah.

Like I said earlier, Cissy was not holding back any punches. She had a few choice words for Oprah. Cissy admitted to Oprah she did not like her interview with Patricia and Bobbi Kristina three months after Whitney’s death. The reason is Cissy felt it was too soon for her family to talk about passing of Whitney. She chastised Pat for claiming to be ” protector” and not actually protecting Bobbi Kristina. When Cissy laid it on Oprah, you can tell in Oprah’s eyes there was guilt for doing that interview. At the time of the interview, Oprah was pressured by outside executives to make her own network station relevant. Sometimes, you have to understand in the business of journalism, people are pressured by outside forces to do some things that are ethically wrong in order to obtain the dollar bill. I am sure Oprah learned her lesson because Cissy taught it.

“You and Me against the world.” Final Thoughts

Overall, I think the interview was really touching to me. Cissy really misses her daughter and all of us can feel her ailing pain of losing a loved one. I saw in Cissy’s demeanor she is fully prepared to be with her daughter again in the friendly skies. I am very interested in reading her book about Whitney. She wrote this book in order to help with the grieving process. She reassured us this book is about the Whitney she knew. I believe all of her fans would really appreciate this book she wrote as a loving tribute to her only daughter. Rest on Whitney… please rest on

Related Links

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/27/cissy-houston-oprah-whitney-houston-death_n_2563691.html

http://www.amazon.com/Remembering-Whitney-Cissy-Houston/dp/0062238396/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1359521824&sr=8-1&keywords=cissy+houston

The world we live in has come down to this. Mental Illness is a serious issue that cannot be ignored any longer.  Being a person who have been through depression, it is hard road but it feels like you can travel it alone. Please pay attention to signs before it’s too late.

Reblogged from Inside TV:

Let us put an end to pointless New Year Resolutions…Start a Campaign. What I mean by that is to make a progressive plan towards a specific purpose this 2013 year. When I say progressive, I mean you are constantly working on achieving your goal and not starting and stopping after three weeks. It’s your time… Be Bold and Become a movement!!!

Steps to start your campaign.

1. Create a simple plan. (Make plain and attainable to reach)
2. Write your goal down and make it visible. (Use a card, sticky note or sheet a paper and write your goal for 2013 and place it somewhere where you can see it each day.)
3. Do your research (Before embarking on a new project or relationship, make sure you do your homework and decide if  this is the best fit for you.)
4. Close the revolving door. ( People that like to pop in and out your life gotta go!!!! You can wave at them from the window. )
5. Have a Tiger mentality. Be Bold and Unafraid
6. Take small steps to achieve a bigger goal.
7. Surround yourself with innovate people. (Leeches and Snakes gotta go in 2013)
8. Free your mind from social media clutter. (Don’t “troll”to long on Facebook)
9. Stop It… Damn what they think!!! ( Don’t worry about other people just do you.)
10. Kill complacency
11. Keep Calm and enjoy life….

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