Thank You Essence! - Look Mama! (Updated w/ Blog Reactions)
Monday, November 19, 2007 at 7:24AM The Blogmother Y'all know I criticize Essence on the regular. In fact I had just written THIS POST ("The Concubine Conspiracy")telling people to cancel their subscriptions like the day before they called:
The Concubine Conspiracy can find no greater friend than Essence Magazine. Because we're less than, we ought not to be so outrageous as to wait for an offer of marriage before popping out three kids by the same man. Oh no, we ought to rent out our wombs as part of the "concubine conspiracy" (copyright WAOD September 10,2007. Yeah, I'm claiming it!)so that Essence magazine can put us on the cover of an issue called "No Ordinary Love" waxing poetic about why you still with a man that will impregnate you repeatedly, but won't make you his wife. ( Yeah, went. there. again.) While he is running all over the place sowing his wild oats apparently impregnating other women too.
When the "ordinary love" goes *poof* as if the fiction ever existed in the first place, Essence turns around and gives you more free space to advertise the virtues of renting out your womb. As if you are victorious for having to pack up your kids AGAIN and flee your home in a clandestine operation the likes of which the CIA could not pull off with such precision. You get an entire article when y'all part ways for the 1003th time telling us all about yo baby daddy impregnating yet another girl down in Atlanta. Who cares? Really Essence WHO CARES?
I thought they were calling to chew me out so when she said they wanted to put me on some list, I was like, "You have read the blog haven't y'all. I criticize y'all on the regular. " She said it didn't matter. I said she needed to make sure folks knew I criticize the magazine first. I didn't want to tell Mama I was going to be on the list and then have them say "Never mind"
My crusade to defund THAT SHOW was what apparently drew their attention to WAOD, but one good by product of the aftermath of THAT SHOW is that Essence did a special report on Megan Williams and Dunbar Village and the lack of public outrage. It begins on page 210 of the November 2007 issue.
I had a blast. Everybody from Essence was so nice to me. I even got to wear fake eye lashes for the first time. I only wear makeup to court, so the makeup artist and I had a blast. Wassup Tina! Special shout out to Randal, the photographer. That red sweater is my part of my hobo outfit ( black tank top, leggins, and the red sweater) that I use to run errands. I actually brought a suit, but when I changed into my navy suit he was like "what happened to the red?" I was like " You want me to wear hobo outfit" Good times. Good times! Anyway, here is the press release from Essence.
NEW YORK, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- ESSENCE magazine reflects back on 2007 and recognizes 25 distinguished African-Americans who have made a difference. From triumphs on the playing field to victories in the court of public opinion, from groundbreaking moments in politics and entertainment to the hard-fought battles of everyday heroes, ESSENCE salutes those that gave everybody much to talk about in 2007. Senator Barack Obama received the most votes in an online poll on essence.com, earning recognition as the "Readers' Choice" for the year's most influential African-American.
"Some of the most poignant moments in African-American history took place in 2007, from the unified stance that was taken in support of the JENA Six and the Rutgers University Women's Basketball team to the triumphant victory made by Barry Bonds," says Angela Burt-Murray, editor-in-chief, ESSENCE. "Making their voices heard on essence.com, the overwhelmingly positive response from our 8 million readers for Senator Obama as African-American of the Year is noteworthy, as African-American women are predicted to be the tipping point for the Black vote in the 2008 election."
"I am deeply honored to be named ESSENCE Magazine's "Readers' Choice: African-American of the Year," says Senator Barack Obama. "Michelle and I have long admired ESSENCE for its invaluable role in celebrating the rich talents, beauty and spirit of African American women. It means a great deal to me to have the support of my fellow ESSENCE readers."
Although the list honors renowned ministers like Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Al Sharpton and Bishop T.D. Jakes, and famous entertainers like Beyonce Knowles and Don Cheadle, unsung heroes are included as well, such as Majora Carter, founder of Sustainable South Bronx, a community organization dedicated to environmental rejuvenation. Newark mayor Cory A. Booker is also featured for his accomplishments, including a decline in city shootings, which are down 28 percent under his leadership.
The melange of influencers, ranging from actors and advocates to moguls and students, were compiled in a compelling feature of rarely seen before photos and biographical profiles.
25 Most Influential List
-- Senator Barack Obama
-- Gina McCauley- Blogger, whataboutourdaughters.com [LOOK MAMA! THAT'S ME RIGHT BELOW BARACK OBAMA!]
-- Tyler Perry - Writer, Producer, Director
-- Majora Carter - Environmentalist, Founder, Executive Director,
Sustainable South Bronx
-- Victoria Lanier- Former Youth Director, NAACP, Northeast Region
-- Reverend Jesse L. Jackson - Civil Rights Activist, Minister
-- Reverend Al Sharpton - Civil Rights Activist and President, National
Action Network
-- The JENA Six
-- Beyonce Knowles - Singer, Songwriter, Actress
-- Oprah Winfrey - Media Mogul, School Founder
-- Timbaland - Music Producer, Recording Artist
-- Cory A. Booker - Mayor of Newark, New Jersey
-- Lovie Smith - Head Coach, NFC Champions, Chicago Bears
-- Tony Dungy - Head Coach, Super Bowl Champions, Indianapolis Colts
-- Deval Patrick - Governor, Massachusetts
-- Don Cheadle - Actor, Activist
-- Shonda Rhimes - Creator, Executive Producer, Grey's Anatomy and Private
Practice
-- Venus Williams - Tennis Champion
-- Charles Rangel - Chairman, House Committee on Ways and Means
-- Barry Bonds - "Home Run King" [they decided the list back in August or so]
-- Cynthia Tucker - Syndicated Columnist, Editorial Page Editor, Atlanta
Journal-Constitution
-- The Scarlet Knights - Rutgers University Women's Basketball Team, NCAA
Finalists
-- Kiri Davis - Filmmaker, Youth Activist
-- Bishop T.D. Jakes - Founder, Senior Pastor, The Potter's House of
Dallas
-- Steve Harvey - Radio Personality, Comedian, ActorAbout Essence Communications Inc.:
Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) is the leading media and communications company dedicated to African-American women. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, live events, and online, the Essence brand is "Where Black Women Come First". The company's flagship publication, ESSENCE magazine, is the preeminent lifestyle magazine for African-American women; generating brand extensions such as the Essence Music Festival, Women Who Are Shaping the World Leadership Summit, Window on Our Women (WOW I & II) and Smart Beauty I, II & III consumer insights, the Essence Book Club, Essence.com, and ventures in digital media (mobile, television and VOD) via Essence Studios. For 37 years, ESSENCE magazine, which has a readership of 7.8 million, has been the leading source of cutting-edge information relating to every area of African-American women's lives. Additional information about ECI and ESSENCE is available at essence.com.
Website: http://www.essence.com//
2007 was the coming out party for Black bloggers. In 2008 we're going to be on fire! Join in on the fun at the Blogging While Brown Conference in Atlanta, GA July 25-27, 2008. It is the first international conference for bloggers of color and the readers who love to read and comment on them. See you there. History is going to be made. Don't sit on the sidelines!
Blog Reactions
Welcome EurWeb Readers. EURWEB has always given me shine, back before any of the drama with THAT SHOW popped off. Thanks Mr. Bailey! My boy Mo' from the Mo' Kelly Report had me sweating for about 15 seconds when I was reading his reaction to the folks on Essence's list over at Eurweb -"Essence Magazine- Officially Irrelevant" I shared some of his thoughts, but I think it would be tacky for me to comment on the other folks on the same list that I am on. I would sound like
43 Comments | Share Article Essence
Reader Comments (43)
CONGRATS! Gina
Keep up the good work and inspiring others.
Congrats...and Very pretty picture of you too.
Wow, that sure was the shortest blog vacation on record. Your next appearance should be in the Guinness Book of World Records. LOL
I say you should seriously consider changing the location. ...To Israel!
LOLOL just kidding.
Any particular reason the Blogging in Brown Conference is being held in Atlanta in July? What's up with black folk going to hotter than hell places in the summer time? That's the very reason I've never been to the Essence Music Festival. I'll be damned if I'll pay money to sweat. The Deep South is uninhabitable pretty much from June to at least September. Besides, by next July Atlanta won't have any water anyway. Hmph!
We'll be indoors Roslyn. It is in Atlanta because that is where the folks who participated on the blog, bloggingwhilebrown.blogspot.com wanted it to be.
second, it is during the second weekend of the National Black Arts Festival.
Come on down. You can do a workshop called "Internet Ike Turners: How Black WOmen Online Can Fight Back When Attacked!"
Or "Blog-o-holics:When Readers Spend more time on the blog than the blog owner, how to just say no to the comments section!"
Come on Roslyn.
A double high five for blasting Essence before thanking them for featuring you in their article. Girl, you've got GUTS! Gina is officially my shero,y'all.
You made me go against my promise five years ago to never buy another Essence magazine. Now I'm buying not one, but two of their mags this year. Will wonders never cease.
Roslyn writes "Besides, by next July Atlanta won't have any water anyway. Hmph!"
LMAO. You know you are wrong for writing that.
Sidebar: Gov. Perdue prayed for rain. It should be coming any minute now.
Yeah Roslyn,
It won't be the same without you there! We'll crank up the air conditioning extra high for you.
A well earned congratulations, Gina.
And as soon as Essence "falls off the wagon," I know you'll be beating up on them again!
Hi Gina and Attorneymom,
I didn't see this tragic story in your blog. This just occurred in my neck of the woods...Pittsburgh PA.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07323/835131-52.stm
Tragically a 10 mos old african american baby girl was raped and died due to the trauma. She passed this Saturday 11/18/06. She was killed by her mother's boyfriend, a 30 yr old black man. This just crushed my spirits the entire weekend. I do hope you could do something with this article Gina and Attorneymom.
oops I just reread my comment. I meant 11/17/2007!
I literally just got sick to my stomach. How could he look into the eyes of this child and do that to her? I am done for the day. I can't wait until my baby comes home from school, I need to hug her.
I'm just asking,
I know what you mean. I have been broken hearted about this all weekend. You are so right hug your child closer than yesterday. I know I have.
Just really single mom's don't just leave your kids with your boyfriend.
I am a single mom to and have made mistakes. However learn from other women who have lost their children to their boyfriends. Go with you red flags, warning signs that God is throwing at you. A stop sign here, a yield sign.
Get help, get counseling if you are a suffering from low self worth. Find some funding to pay for day care.
There is so much help out there but please don't be so desperate for a man. Love yourself...and I mean really love yourself first. Then you won't...I mean you just will not be able to accept this foolishness from men.
"LMAO. You know you are wrong for writing that."
Hey, I'm in Alabama, I don't have any water either. We're literally in the same boat––in dry dock.
I'll probably be there, but I reserve the right to complain about the heat. I'm a stay at home mother, I don't put on real clothes in the summer time. If I go to this thing I'll actually have to get dressed. But damnit, I refuse to wear hose, and you can't make me!
Congratulations...
And to think that early on you wanted to fight this destiny...and quit.
Luckily some of us talked you down from that madness, lol. She was right on the edge of the cliff ya'll... talking about ending it all (the blog that is..."Blogocide"). I think Debra Lee almost drove her crazy.
I was trying to tell you Gina, resistance is futile. We have you now... :) Maybe we can call it... "devine recruitment".. And there is no draft dodging...you can't tell this recruiter "no". Although your futile attempts to fight it were amusing.
And I thought you were supposed to be on vacation like 2 days ago. :)
What Essence edition is this article in???? Is it out yet? I don't read the magazine... but i'll just sneak a read when I go to the grocery store.
And what picture???? I'd like to use that for the "Pride" section on my sidebar. Hmmm...
Congragulations Ms.Gina! This is a well deserved accolade for you. Like it or not you are now a celebrity. Ironic that it comes after you blasted the in your classic Concubine Conspiracy post. I agree with shecodes and I will be purchasing two copies of the magazine. One last thing Ms.Gina, you are simply breathtaking in that photo. I always thought of a powerful warrior princess posing at her weapon, the laptop as incredibly sexy. I think you have started a new, positive image and its a good one. I will try to call into the podcast this thursday. We do have a great deal to talk about.
Mr.Shadow signing off.
Hope I think we are going to have to just have a crimes thread where we report all the horrific crap that happens to Black women and children with little or no attention. Since focusing on Dunbar Village I get countless emails about the horrific events.
This kind of thing was happening in South Africa too. I remember reading abotu an epidemic.
Gina, you rock! I want to be like you when I become a grown up blogger.
Well deserved!
There's a special place in hell for the man who raped that baby girl. God, have mercy on his soul - but not too much, please.
P.S. to Gina: I borrowed my sister's copy. Congratulations! I'm thankful to God that I discovered your blog. Blessings on you forever.
I just read the article about the baby in Pittsburgh. Christ, what is the world coming to?
I have heard a lot of similar stories with newborns and infants in the Congo. My god-sister held a benefit concert to raise awareness and funding on this issue this summer.
There is so much to be done, and so few laborers. Why is this? If all of the lurkers on this blog alone dedicated a half hour of service a week concerning these matters, the entire world would change.
There is nothing so deadly as apathy...
Hope4future, I am too devastated to read the article. I hate to know that human beings are capable of such evil. I hate to say it. I am glad there is a hell.
I am trying to keep people’s spirit up this week. Some of my blog family members are dealing the death of loved ones, sickness and struggling to make ends meet. I regret posting the Kanye West’s break down video.
This story could send people into a further depression.
Please be patient with me as I pray whether to post this story.
You have already posted about the story. It is in the comments section. I get stories like this all the time. My email box has become a repository for every bad thing that happens to Black women and children all over the world and Attorneymom, it does take some getting used to. I am immune to a certain extent because of the onslaught. I think we are going to have a regular weekly post on all the crimes and atrocities committed on black women and their children in this country.
Congrats Gina! Where can I find the pic?
In the December issue of Essence page 9.
Essence ought to be criticised and keep it up. Just because they acknowledged you doesn't mean they co-op you. Of course it was wonderful to see you in the magazine. Black Bloggers are starting to see the light of day in the main stream. You just keep doing what you do fabulously!
Congrats Gina! I've http://electronicvillage.blogspot.com/2007/11/afrospear-blogger-named-one-of-25-most.html" REL="nofollow">shared this information with my blog readers as well.
peace, Villager
As I laid down for the evening the face of little Daniyah Jackson kept coming into my spirit. And then I got a little comfort knowing that on this particular issue, our black brothas in jail will not let us down. Baby Bro and the crew are going to tear his punk azz up in jail for raping and killing an infant. I'm sorry but I just had to get that out. I can sleep better now.
I worked in social services for 15 years, my mind is absolutely overflowing with the horrific violence directed towards black women, girls and yes, even babies. I didn't read the article because didn't need to. Once you've been to the hospital and seen a baby still in diapers dripping with gonorrhea, you never need to see anything ever again.
Congrats Mam!
Or "Blog-o-holics:When Readers Spend more time on the blog than the blog owner, how to just say no to the comments section!"
I'm supposed to be writing my thesis. This site has become an excuse for me not to. EVEN as I signed off on my own site so I'd just focus on my writing my thesis.
LOL.
Where there is a will not to write the thesis there is a way.
JJ I feel ya' I have some stuff that MUST be done to keep the lights on and I put it off. I was supposed to be finished with my first book MONTHS ago, but if you added up all the pages of content I have cranked out in my posts in those months I could have easily have written three of four books. I think I may have like 1500 pages, but only four chapters done in the book about defunding the war ob Black women.
hope4future, You are grieving and you need to do something. I knwo the feeling. One day I will tell you why I don't do abuse and neglect cases. It isn't that I don't care, but that I care too much.
This is what I suggest. A cold and unyeilding truth is that THIS child is gone. Can't bring her back. Mourn her. Yes. because she was a human being and deserves nothing less. You can't get your hands on the accused. He is in jail and wil probably be killed eventually. So where does that leave you?
It leaves you feeling helpless to do something because you can't kill the accused TWICE and you can't bring the baby back.
What you can do, however, it give to a child that is HERE. there is a child that is still here on earth breathing that quite frankly needs to know that somebody loves and cares about them. You don't ever have to meet them. I am almost certain your local community has an "orphanage" or "group home" with very young children. Hunt them down and ask them what they need and then adopt them. Every year, my office picks a local children's home and adopts the kids for Christmas.
This website is about empowerment. So go use your power to help some vulnerable children who are still here. If you want to take it further, consider going through that process to become an emergency foster parent for infants. Mind you, they will try to hook you into doing more, but there are actually programs where you can act as a foster parent for a few days in the event of a crisis with a child. No long term commitment ( BEWARE!) Inquire at your local CPS. Or look into becoming a GAL through CASA.
Part of what you are feeling and what is making you greive is that you are powerless to help this child. You aren't powerless. Satan is alive and well. Evil is alive and well. This case is not an aberration. Everyday infants ad toddlers are raped in THIS COUNTRY. Go out to one of the rural counties in your area. hang out in the country court for some arraignments. You'll have an ENTIRE FAMILY molesting each other. Generation after generation! Roslyn is right. There is a side of the world most people are clueless about. We'd like to think that pedophiles are rare or an aberration, the truth is every extended family has one or more. You just don't know who their victims are. Watch your children this Thanksgiving!
So Hope, what are you going to do with your grief? I say grieve. She deserves your sorrow. Her legacy can be your life and the lives of the children you help because you were touched by the unfortunate circumstances of her death.
Congratulations! I'm thankful to God that I discovered your blog. Blessings on you forever
My feelings exactly! And I am already reaping the rewards for knowing you, Gina! Thanks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
re: the monster. I am so hurt and angry about that, that I can't do /say much.
Miriam, I will mail you a copy of the Magazine, if you like. I don't want to "betray" Gina's trust again so I have to respect her wishes not to email the article to anyome.
I do not feel like receiving another cease and desist email and threats from Miss Gina. LOL. Did you hear the podcast???
Sidebar: I really even more distraught looking at that baby picture. I am so glad that there is jail justice.
oh sorry! AM I didn't hear the podcast -only the beginning part with Shane (BlkSeaGoat)talking to Gina. I want to listen to the rest today.
That's right you need to just go ahead and erase that email Attorneymom. So you aren't tempted and empty the desktop trash can too.
I'm just in tears. She's a beautiful little girl.
As soon as I started reading the article from the link provided, I had a sickening feeling that this was, ONCE AGAIN, a mother leaving the care of her young one in the hands of a boyfriend. Perhaps it was an article in my local newspaper about how child abuse is often linked to family type, i.e., "non-traditional" households such as live-ins. The article was certainly not judging or condoning cohabitating, but took an interesting look at the relationship between single mothers and their children and her boyfriend. When I was living in Baltimore, a young man was left home with his twin infant daughters, one of which would not stop crying, as infants will do from time to time. He suffocated her "accidentally" and put her in a trash bag and took her body out to the dumpster. I didn't have children then, but I remember feeling that I didn't want to because the world was getting so cruel with the Catholic church's pedophilia and so forth.
Now that I have children, I grieve even harder for mothers because I cannot wrap my mind around this level of abuse. My chosen profession has not helped me face it either; I think sometimes I have out of body experiences or something when I'm faced with difficult situations. It's the only way that I can explain how God enables me to keep doing this work. I don't know if I can hang on for 15 years, Roslyn. If I see another young Daniyah, I may have to walk away from the work for a while.
Well, thanks for letting me wallow in that polluted stream of consciousness. If anyone is interested in the article, go to www.inrich.com and search for "Child-abuse tied to family type" article title.
Blessings.
I agree with Mr. Molly's review of the people of the list.
I am glad someone feels the same way as I do about the Bynum article. In a nutshell, she and her husband are divorcing each other over money. Ray Charles can see that. We do not need a part 2 of this foolishness in the next issue of Essence. Susan Taylor, come back!!! Please.
Gina...you know I love you girl!
G'on and do the damn thing! We're in agreement about Essence but that shouldn't lessen or mitigate the praise due you.
I'm sure we'll be on the battlefield together in the very near future soldier.
I love my Black sistas and I love you.
Mokelly
The Mo'Kelly Report
The picture is beautiful! Congratulations again on this well deserved recognition. Keep up the good work!!
I read a Christian paper called The Christian Post. Believe it or not the Essence article made this paper. It posted yesterday afternoon. Of course the emphasis is on the preachers and political folk.
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071120/30161_Top_25_Most_Influential_African-Americans.htm
Saw the Essence article, good for you, and right after Mr. Obama too!
You have been very influential this year.
Hopefully more changes, all positive, will be heralded next year.