So, on a rainy Saturday, I made my way to a movie theatre in North Philadelphia to watch Precious with the target demographic. They loved it. I did not. I cringed. I cried. I cursed. But even more I was offended. Oh how I was offended. Let me count the ways.

Offense #1
Light, bright or just plain white.

Everyone that aids Precious in her journey to literacy and success is white, light, or ethnically ambiguous. Everyone who harms Precious is dark skin. So, people of African descent can’t do anything of merit without the help of a white person? Yes, light skin people are Black too but these Black actors (Paula Patton, Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz) all have a white parent. And let us not forget about the benevolent white principal who stands outside in the rain pleading with Precious to further her education and the compassionate white math teacher that travels from his comfortable home to do his part in the inner city. Even as Precious’ mom begins to better herself she also becomes lighter most likely through skin bleach. I take issue with a film that promises to uplift, demonizing people that look like me and praising the very people who created the society that we are meant to FAIL in. God bless the beautiful people who saw fit to love a fat, black illiterate like Precious. Nothing like some black pain and white sympathy to get Oscar buzz.

Offense #2
Mary, go round.

I’m a stickler for continuity and many of Mary’s actions seemed unwarranted. Who could see it coming? Her mother (Precious’ grandmother) seemed well adjusted, she was attractive in her younger days, and bordering on intelligent. Her responses (especially to Precious) to me seemed unprompted and existed only for shock value. I would have loved to have seen actual character development with Mary. Afterall, we see her everyday and everywhere- black, poor, single, female, mother, hopeless. In reality we do worse than hate Mary, we ignore her. So did Monique do Mary justice by making her an object of hatred and disgust? Or should we sympathize with the Mary(s) in our neighborhood? I’d go for the latter. However, the Oscar will go to…Monique, for her amazing performance as a woman with no redeeming qualities. I propose we add the “Mary” to the list of stereotypes in media. Mary: brutal, undersexed, infuriating Black mother.

Offense #3
Daydreaming, and I’m thinking of my light skin boyfriend

I love me some Lenny Kravitz but what was he doing in the film. Was he an effort to show that all Black men aren’t all lascivious rapists? Or was he a materialization of Precious’ dream guy? And why was he drunk at the party? Why was he in attendance at the party? Some many unanswered questions. Ladies, I need answers.

That’s my beef for now. Remember to watch with a critical eye and more importantly, remember just because Oprah backs it doesn’t mean it’s golden. Deuces!

Married to the Mob recently dropped their holiday 2009 collection featuring varsity jackets, sweaters and more. Check out the images below. For more of MTTB please visit www.marriedtothemobnyc.com.

An exploration of Folk music and the artists concealed within it.

Too often I have conversations with young people of color and somewhere into the dialogue we discuss musical tastes. I usually get a response along the lines of, “I like everything, but Country music!” It seems that has become the packaged response for young and urbane citizens of the Western world. Jazz, for instance, is a genre that receives a great deal of prestige, but few are able to define it, yet it still manages to be a symbol of class. However, in dismissing an entire category, we miss out on a wealth of unique sounds and potential interests.

The boldly constructive sounds of Country music, range as far back as the 19th century and as distant as the cool shores of Ireland. Modern day folk rock and country music all find their roots in folklore music that has origins on every continent. Prior to written language, scribes would tell extemporaneous or memorized stories in the form of song and even act has historians or early journalists, accounting for the events of the time period. That means country styles are the musical remnants of our ancestors and their traditions; so much history accompanies this often ignored art form.

Country music, which is a rich and diverse American style of music, is based in rural styles of instrumentation and intonation that contrast from the hullaballoo of big cities. Folk music is generally associated with White youths from such cities and suburbs seeking peaceful revolution. We see the greatest following of such music in the 1960s and1970s, primarily with American folk legends Bob Dylan, James Taylor, Cat Stevens, Carole King, and Harry Chapin. Their voices were that of reason in a very turbulent America; whether it was civil rights, war, domestic issues, or addiction, these pioneers fused country, rock, and blues to form an honest expression of man, his vices as well as his weaknesses.

Today, modern folk styles have clearly overlapped with pop, country, and soul genres. Irish artists, Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan as well as American country trio, Dixie Chicks have clearly invested Folk principles into their craft, while maintaining contemporary appeals. Nonetheless, artists like James Taylor and Bob Dylan remain exceedingly popular, crossing generational gaps with an ever-growing fan base.

Nowadays, popular country music glares with a pop sheen. Stars like Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, and cross genre star, Miley Cyrus dominate the capitalistic industry that promotes typical Hollywood glamour. Mass culture has used the sounds of such teen idols to create a unified sense of consumerism, through commercials and still ads.

But what about other artists who sang with the sinuous undertones of pain and the delicate kisses of joy? Within the unturned sides of sweet music is a tradition of exclusion and elitism. Grammy award winning singer/songwriter/musician, Tracy Chapman has been known by an underground market as a dreadlocked folk artist known for her graceful strumming, bluesy tones, and pertinent lyrics. Her songs feature romance, politics, grief and a multitude of other expressions that illustrate the human experience without words, just sounds. These sounds were harmonic chants, narrative baselines, and stories free from social demarcation. Despite the undeniable talent, musicianship and dedication, she is often relegated to the misconstrued and underrated alternative/other category. Even though she has been active for over 20 years, she has yet to fall among the ranks of other geniuses of her genre.

Though her artistic success and personal integrity have gone unrecognized, this Black female has persisted in her musical pursuits despite the definitions of femininity and Blackness. Her music is not restrained by racial or feminine themes, making her a more transcendent artist. However, has the industry defined Black artists as excessively sexual or overly bitter? Whatever the case maybe, it is apparent that artists of color have been ascribed to a sole function; thankfully this songstress has made it even clearer that she will perfect her craft in spite of the critics and the throng of skeptics that tell her otherwise.

Naturally, this statement has been promptly edit right on out of the episode and all that remains is this comment from one British bloke affiliated with the program named “Justin”:

“Joe’s made me feel really uncomfortable with his comments about Aids and the CIA. But I’m going to bite my tongue on this occasion and pretend it never happened.”

We’re curious as to what about Bugner’s comment made him so uncomfortable, and equally important – why? Aren’t people entitled to their opinions? Why the trepidation?

What say you Clutchettes & Gents? Did the British media do us all a disservice by not probing into the matter? If Bugner’s claim is straight up poppycock, is there any harm in exploring the off-kilter views of a punch drunk D-List celeb?

Firstly, what type of make up should you use? Your favorite make up may not be the best choice. Look for products that have the catch phrases “hypoallergenic”, “for sensitive eyes” or “for contact lens wearers”; that are fragrance-free and oil-free; and opt for pressed-powder products over loose powder. Second, examine the ingredients in make up before purchasing, and avoid any with preservatives such as phenyl mercuric nitrate. Thirdly, avoid any mascara that claims to build eye lash volume or length. These products often use silicone and fibers to achieve this affect, which can flake off into your eyes, causing discomfort and potentially introducing bacteria to your eyes. Fourth, avoid wearing liquid eye liners – as the liquid dries out during the day, small pieces can flake off into your eyes. Soft pencil eye liners are best. Finally, before getting started, check how long you have had your make up. Make up should be replaced every 6 months, and eye make, such as mascara and eye liner, replaced every 3 months.

Before applying make up, wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap, and then insert your contact lenses. Once this is done, you can begin. Start with your foundation. Apply sparingly to your forehead, cheeks and chin, being careful around the eye area, and gently spread it over those areas. Close your eyes before applying make up over this area, and again when brushing off any excess powder.

The best eye shadows to use for contact lens wearers are liquid, cream and gel products as these are less likely to get into the eyes or on the lenses; however pressed eye shadows can also be used with care. Close each eye before applying eye shadow. If using a powder shadow, gently brush off any excess powder before opening your eye. Apply mascara only to the outer half of your eye lashes, to avoid accidentally touching your eye or lenses. If possible, use disposable applicators for mascara that can be discarded after each use. Otherwise, make sure to regularly clean the applicator wand of the mascara, as bacteria can build up in the make up caught in the bristles. Never apply eye liner on the inner rim of the eye. This is a very easy way for bacteria to enter the eye, and the pencil may scratch or damage your contact lenses, potentially leading to an infection.

When removing your make up, wash your hands thoroughly and first remove your contact lenses, then proceed to removing your make up. Use an oil-free make up remover and avoid anything creamy. Use fiber-free pads, not cotton balls, to remove your make up.

If your eyes are red or irritated, you should not use make up, as bacteria can be transferred to applicators and re-infect your eyes later on. Never borrow anyone else’s eye make up, or share your eye make up, as this can pass bacteria between eyes. If you do get make up in your eye or on your contact lenses, immediately remove the lenses and rinse the debris off. If you have any concerns about wearing make up with your contact lenses, or you think you have an eye infection, you should contact your local eye doctor for advice.

Supermodel Chanel Iman is featured in H&M Magazine’s Winter 2009 issue featuring her “Favourite Things” from H&M. The editorial was shot by photographer Terry Richardson and styled by George Cortina. Is it us or is Chanel Iman getting crazy gigs lately?! Congrats Chanel! For more information please visit hm.com.

A girl’s got to read, this all Clutchettes know. So, to help navigate the ever-expanding world of books, Uptown Literati is here to provide a weekly reading list. We’re a fresh, book blog for cool girls and great reads (check us out on our site [uptownliterati.com] and we’ll be dishing on what you need to be reading now: classic tomes, sassy fiction, juicy tell-alls and every type of paperback in between. Happy reading!

Who: African-American novelist Colson Whitehead

What: Sag Harbor. The story of a black teen belonging to a community of upper class African-American professionals and his growth out of pre-pubescence and into self-awareness during summers spent at the gated community Sag Harbor. Using diction and cultural references that lends themselves to the era—the 1980s—Whitehead paints a colorful and humorous sketch of a black teen during the days when ice cream color shirts and jeans, high- top shoes and fades were new fashion statements and not a throwback. Whitehead’s protagonist Benji Cooper is an all-white-prep-school-attending-Lite FM listening-Fangoria magazine-loving teen during the fall and winter back in Manhattan. But during the summers at Sag Harbor his mannerisms morph into a dap-giving-Run-DMC-listening-slang-talking kid. It’s this dichotomy of self in different environments that Whitehead explores in his fourth book.

Why: Using humor in literature requires skill, especially when tackling the issue of race identity. Whitehead’s humor adds a new dimension to the discussion of what it means to “act white” or “act black” without diminishing the significance of the conversation. Through Benji, Whitehead questions what is stereotypical behavior and attitudes of a young black man? How does he fit into or evade the box of black identity? But Whitehead does not approach this question with resentment. Instead, he employs nostalgia to transport the reader back to when they, too, were a teen and how confusing, awkward, and memorable it was for a lot of people, despite your race.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Murder, rape charges pending in Shaniya Davis case
Murder and rape charges will be filed against a North Carolina man in the death of 5-year-old Shaniya Davis, police said Thursday. Mario Andrette McNeill had already been charged with kidnapping the Fayetteville, North Carolina, girl. She was reported missing last week, and her body was found Monday beside a road near Sanford, about 30 miles northwest of Fayetteville. Preliminary autopsy results indicate the child was asphyxiated, Fayetteville Police Chief Tom Bergamine told reporters Thursday, but testing is still being completed and a final report has not been issued. (Continue Reading…)

Ex-NBA star Jayson Williams taking deal in shooting
Retired NBA star Jayson Williams has agreed to a plea deal that would send him to prison for up to three years for accidentally shooting a driver at his New Jersey estate in 2002, a person with knowledge of the case told The Associated Press on Thursday. Williams, who retired in 2000 after playing nine seasons in the NBA for the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Nets, was to face a retrial in January on a reckless manslaughter count. (Continue Reading…)

Congressional Black Caucus stalls finance overhaul
Negro League baseball museum proposed for Baltimore
Oldest Black newspaper marks 125th year
Black astronauts conquering the final frontier
Conyers derides White House strategy on health care
Jay-Z’s ‘Empire’ rules US singles chart
Surveillance video released in the Heather Ellis trial
MillerCoors gives $1.3M to fund for Black colleges
FBI seeks answers in Civil Rights-era killings
South African runner Caster Semenya keeping medals