Plan a Free Trip to Egypt with you kids!

Free Trip to Egypt for 1000 Students and 500 Adults Philadelphia, December 15, 2009Contact: Philip A Salahuddin 215-247-5121 The d'Zert Club and The African Genesis Institute are sponsoring a free, all expense paid, trip to Egypt, North Africa for 1000 students nationwide between the ages of 7 and 14 and 500 adult group leaders. These travelers will participate in the Annual Teen Summit 1000. The d'Zert Club is a Philadelphia-based, non-profit travel organization founded in 1997 by the husband and wife team of Ali and Helen Salahuddin. It specializes in coordinating national and international educational field trips for African Americans.

The African Genesis Institute is a proactive, 3 semester, educational and cultural program for African American youth between the ages of 7 and 14 focused on developing an understanding and awareness of the African experience in America. Over this 27-month period students are exposed to their rich and extraordinary ancient African history through bi-monthly classes, seminars and field trips. At the end of the program the studentsand group leaders sojourn to Egypt for the Teen Summit 1000 where they examine the land of their ancestors and share their culture and lifestyle with African youth. The trip to Egypt is sponsored by the d'Zert Club and is absolutely free to the students and adults serving as the graduation reward for those who complete the program.

All those interested in earning this free trip to the Motherland should call toll free 1-888-257-5991, email dzertclub@aol.com or visit www.africangenesis.org.

Finding my Natural way!

I just came back from my jobs Holiday luncheon. This is the time you seat around and watch all your co-workers make a pig out of themselves. I wasn’t looking forward to going at first; you know how that goes? I was very upset that:

1. The luncheon started at 11am.

2. We didn’t have alcoholic drinks available!

3. After the luncheon we had to go back to work!

Thank goodness I rode with two of my “Cool Ass” co-workers Efua and Tanisha, because I knew we would talk about our job and the crazy people we work with on the way to the luncheon. But to my great surprise our conversation turned into a positive and uplifting conversation about being a woman and what that means. We talked about natural herbs and how they can help a woman’s body etc… These are the type of conversations that most men would love to be privy to! I felt so much empowerment and sisterhood from our conversation! What most women don’t understand and realize is that this is a form of bonding and possible networking.

Today I learned that Tanisha stop using hair relaxers for the past two years and this has inspired her to learn more about black women’s natural hair and the techniques to having bone straight hair. The picture below is one of Tanisha's client’s daughter and her “NATURAL HAIR“! I wonderd who’s that little girl in the picture because she is so adorable! As black women we are very critical of our own hair and we are DOUBLE TIMES as critical of other women’s hair! You know this is true! I also learned from Tanisha that the transformation from premed hair to natural hair isn’t a very easy process to do in the beginning.

Once you make your mind up about really doing it, you have to understand a few simple things. Once your hair is pressed out you must keep up the maintenance and wrapping your hair at night is essential to making sure your hair stays straight. Many of the hair products you normally use are for processed hair, you wouldn’t use all the same products if you want to go natural. Believe it or not what you eat is also important to your hair and it‘s growth.

I didn’t want Tanisha to stop talking, I felt like I was learning for the first time how to manage my hair in a different and natural way. I asked Tanisha if I could do my very first personal article about natural hair and techniques featuring her? Not only did Tanisha agree but she also promised to have more before and after pictures of some of her clients. So be on the lookout for this article!

Of course I watched Chris Rock’s movie “Good Hair” and I found it to be very funny and real however there was one part in the movie that really pissed me off! Do you remember when Chris Rock was to talking to the scientist about the amount of acid that is used in each plastic bucket of a perm black women uses? The scientist asked Chris, “Why would black women do that” and Chris Rock said because “They want to be white“. I wanted to grab his ass out of that television set and pimp slap him a few times! Damn Chris Rock, is that really what you think of all black women? It was at that time I wondered if most black women watching this movie caught that as well. After watching the movie I started thinking about only one thing: “Have I become addicted to the creamy crack“? Like most black women the perm helps me to manage my hair. Doing without it, I don’t even want to think about it. But hmmmmmm, could I really go natural?

One of the beautiful things about being a black woman is our hair, if we not happy with our own hair we can just add more! It’s just not a black women's thing anymore! Most of my good friends of all races are wearing braids, ponytails, tracks, sewed in and clip on etc….. BOY HAVE TIMES CHANGED!

Thank you Tanisha for allowing me to share your story and leading me to my natural way!

Is Tiger Woods a PIMP? By: Miss Tee

Before I go on a rant, let me start with a disclaimer:

In no way do I believe all men are born cheaters, but they damn sure come close to it!

I have received various text messages, e-mails and Facebook request polls, on what I think about Tiger Woods and the scandal. Come on people, because Tiger is a celebrity, athlete, role model (to some) and let’s not forgets a billionaire, he is still a man. It just shows me cheating men with or without money is just alike! From what I have been reading, hasn’t Tiger slept with over 7 or more women? Of course they were all white women with blonde hair and reportedly included a white trash chick that he was allegedly seeing for over two years and first met her here in Atlanta? Don’t ask me which one because they all look like trash to me! What I don’t understand is how long did he think these chicken heads were going to keep their mouths close?

See how it only took one chick to open her month then all the rest of them started to pour out from everywhere! From what I’ve been reading and seeing on the news, in their 15 minutes of fame interviews, these chicken heads were all blown away that Tiger was playing them all the whole time! Shit, even that took me off guard that he would even play anybody other then golf. I really didn’t think the kid had it in him!

I’m not too sure on the time line that all this happen but just like everybody else, I saw that HELL was about to unfold! I do remember standing in the bank and hearing the news broadcast about Tiger being in a car crash in front of his home. I started to shake my head because something told me it was going to be more to this story. Especially after the news broadcasters made a statement that Tiger’s wife had broken the car window with a golf club to make sure he was okay? As soon as I heard that part I knew no matter how white Tiger Woods wife is, she is not a dumb white chick!

After I heard the 911 call from some man (O yeah, not Tiger Woods) I knew he was a dead man FOR REAL! Of course it didn’t take the media 2 hours to get the real scoop! Can you imagine what Tiger must’ve been thinking; lord knows he knew that this was going to “BLOW THE FUCK UP”! I know most people are talking about his wife and how she must be feeling and we all know, that this chick is getting ready, to get PAID! It’s a shame that is what my first thought was about! With so many millions at stake I’m sure, (Tiger not knowing what color I am self) is worried to!

This story is no different for me than Pee Wee and Bokeisha, fighting last night because she found out that his broke ass was cheating on her! See the only different is Elin, (peep the game girl), Bokeisha kicked his ass again then waited to whip his mom’s ass too!

Tip of the day: Don’t make someone your propriety while you’re just their option!

Tell me what your thinking?

Single Dad Raising a Girl

By: Jim McCallan

I'm a single Dad and have been for the last five years. I have a beautiful little six year old girl.

Now, I'm sure I'm not the perfect father. I try to do the best I can, but I've come to terms with that too. I mean, I don't play Barbies as often as she'd like and sometimes after I've been working all day it's hard for her to understand that Daddy just wants to sit down and rest. But we do like to play board games and talk about just about anything under the sun. She is a girl though and she's caught me off guard quite a few times in the last three years.

We only do her hair in braids about, hmmm, maybe once a year if that often and the rest of the time we watch football together. Not all too sure if I'm doing okay with what it's like to be a girl with her not getting much input from her mother. But we try and if it's sporadic, well, I just hope it's not completely skewed when she gets older.

She's much more outgoing than I have ever been so I'm pretty sure her friends and other acquaintances will help fill in the gaps when it comes to the make-up and hair things. But I can't deny the more private aspects of a young girl's life, and it seems that I might be a little intimidated as well as very concerned about her knowing the truth. She needs to be able to separate school-yard myth from fact and when it comes to most of that, and well, let's just say when I was in 5th grade they had a separate film for the boys on that day.

I have literally been single for the last five years so she's never had much of a female role model to go by. Somehow, I feel that's a failing on my own part. But that's more my issue than anything else. I just never trusted much to allow another person in and the fact that I do have a little girl makes it quite a bit more difficult in meeting someone. Talk about the ultimate baggage, especially for a guy.

Anyway, there are times I actually sit here and think about what it is that's missing for her. Dance class, fingernail polish, watching mommy put make-up on in the mirror, and maybe even a less critical shoulder to lean on once in a while. I'm not overly strict, but whenever it came to minor wounds I usually tried to tell her to be tough, rub some dirt on it and walk it out. Not particularly a womanly reaction, but she's a lot tougher for it. Believe me, this girl's had both of her pinky nails literally ripped of her little fingers at two different times by a door and a man-hole cover and she had less of a hard time with it than I did!

Have I stayed single? You bet. Not that I'm proud of it or anything. Believe me there are times where I feel so alone. But it's just more of a concept of self and having done it for so long that you just can't imagine putting your own problems off on anyone else.


If you like this story you can also find other single fathers story at http://www.fathermag.com/

I found this article to be very interesting and I wanted to share this.

What Research Tells Us about Strong Families

In the past, most of the research on families focused on what was wrong with them, rather than what was right. Today, the research field is shifting and beginning to examine what makes a family strong. Search Institute, along with organizations such as the Harvard Family Research Project and the Family Strengthening Policy Center, is breaking new ground in the research area of strong families.



Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets framework focuses on some of the key aspects of family strengths, such as family support, positive family communication, and family boundaries. Many families use the asset framework not only to raise successful kids, but also to create closer families. For example, families that engage in service to others and spend time together at home find that these experiences strengthen their family life.

What makes a family strong? Search Institute conducted an in-depth report on building strong families and discovered five key findings:

Most parents surveyed had little outside support.

Most parents lacked a strong relationship with a spouse or partner.

Most parents felt successful as parents most of the time.

Most parents faced ongoing challenges as parents.

Many things that parents say would help them are easy for others to do.6

The study findings focused on what those interviewed suggested would strengthen their families. The parents interviewed in this study clearly showed how job demands, overscheduling, financial pressures, and single parenting make it harder to build a strong family.



Search Institute has also studied families in distressed communities, learning what they need to have a strong family. By interviewing families in lower-income neighborhoods, researchers discovered five key findings:



A family strength-based approach is powerful.

Families said their “real” neighborhood was vastly different from their “ideal” neighborhood, one where there were safe streets and green spaces for children to play.

Informal networks of support were essential for strong families.

Having caring, supportive relationships with trusted individuals in schools, places of worship, and health-care institutions were helpful supports for their family.

Every neighborhood should have programs and activities for children and youth.7

The research clearly showed that strong families need strong neighborhoods. If families are afraid to venture from their homes due to a lack of safety and security, they’re more likely to become isolated and disconnected. Strong families are part of strong communities, and strong communities typically foster strong families.



Before: Traditional Family Problem Focus Now: Family Strengths Focus

Changing roles: As problems arise, family members find their roles changing and becoming unclear. Clear roles: Family members have clear roles and expectations.

Competition: Family members compete for attention and value. Cooperation: Family members work together and appreciate each individual family member.

The problem of individuality: Family members are accused of “being too independent” and “rocking the boat of the family” when they try to develop individually. The promise of individuality: Family members are encouraged to develop and express in their individual, unique ways.

Problem-focused communication: Communication dwells on the difficulty in the family and how problems seem to repeat over and over. Solution-focused communication: Communication is open and honest. It focuses on preventing and solving problems.

Reactivity: The family reacts to situations and problems. Proactivity: The family creates a vision of what it wants to become and works to build a strong family.

Sporadic family time: Family time is sporadic and unpredictable because other priorities (such as a job or a problem) take precedence. Shared family time: The family is intentional about spending time together on a regular basis.

Reactive values: Family members talk about values when a problem appears. For example, the family will emphasize honesty after a theft. Intentional values: The family is intentional about teaching and communicating about positive family values.

Lack of humor: Because of the view that life is difficult, the family tends to be overly serious. Sense of humor: The family has a view that life is good but sometimes surprising, which lends them to having a sense of humor and a more flexible perspective.

Chaos: Family members tend to turn away from each other and cope in their individual ways (without much guidance in healthy coping) during difficulty. Resiliency: Family members work together through difficulty, honoring each person’s individual process.

Isolation: The family tends to deal with its own issues without seeking the support and help of others. Strong connections: The family is connected to extended family, neighbors, friends, community, and other sources of support.

Should I not still have HOPES, DREAMS and GOALS? By: Miss Tee

Isn’t life a funny thing with all its twist and turns with no time to catch your breath! Whether it’s rent or mortgage, boyfriends or girlfriends, family or friends, your job or being a part time student. All of that isn’t anything in comparison to being a parent and on top of that a “SINGLE PARENT”!

We now have a new President and hopefully this will call for “new changes” for our country! Still, other than a New Year and a new President, what else is so new about it? I still have to pay all my bills, I still hate my job, I’m still fighting with my “EX”, (hoping he may become a better parent rather than an absent parent), I’m still trying to find some “ME TIME” and maybe get lucky meeting someone or Mr. Someone, right now!

Have you ever noticed when you have worked the entire 5 day work week and during that time you put up with clients, co-workers and a slow running computer etc…? Even at work you’re still thinking about your bills, and hope to GOD there are no surprises during that day, the kids getting sick at school and you have to go and pick them up. You know your boss couldn’t care less if your child is sick or not! And you know it doesn’t matter because you are leaving no matter what your boss says! That entire week the only thing you can think about is Friday! Now that’s only if you are lucky enough to have a job with weekends off.

When that Friday comes you just can’t wait and you finally make it home and the kids are complaining about being hungry, one of the kids didn’t do there chore and wash all the dishes in the kitchen stink. Your Ex called to say that his “BROKE ASS” can’t pick-up the kids this weekend because he nothing better to do then to be an asshole!

You can’t wait to run to your room, and just lay your head on the pillow, and cover your head with the extra pillow to scream your head off! Your mind is racing, and the only thing you can think about is running away! HOW IN THE HELL DID I GET HERE!

With all of that being said, I still have HOPES, DREAMS and GOALS! Because I’m a single parent should I not still have HOPES, DREAMS and GOALS?

After a Working Day By: Miss Tee

I’m now on my way home and before I walk through that door I have to get my mind ready! Once inside that door, I’m going to be hit with a lot questions and of course know one is going to ask me this question:

Mom how was your day?

I did my homework, do you have a couple of dollars so I can meet my friends at the store?

I bet this child of mine didn’t even wash the dishes yet and got the nerves to ask me for some money!

Mom, don’t forget I have a book report due Monday and I have to go to the store to get a couple things. Of course this child of mine didn’t tell me about this project until today!

Mom the lunch lady said I owe $10 dollars for this week and if I don’t have it next week I don’t get any lunch. I just gave this child $10 dollars last week, "wait did I"?

Mom do you remember you promise me last week to buy a pair of shoes this weekend, when you get paid?This child has a closet full of shoes, she is tripping if she thinks she is getting another pair and why did I tell this child in the first place she was getting another pair of shoes, knowing she has more shoes then me!

Mom my teacher wrote you this letter but first let me tell you what really happen before you read it.O Lord, that’s all I need this evening is to have to kill this child of mine before I take off my shoes!

Mom, I was going to clean the living room but then the phone rang, then there was someone at the door and then I had to finish my homework etc... The whole time this child is saying this to me he is looking down at the floor, he knows he is three seconds away from me picking my shoe up and throwing at his head!

My father told me to ask you for the money for my school trip because he doesn’t have it. NOW THIS IS JUST TAKING ME OVER THE EDGE!! This whole time I'm thinking about saying something really bad about my child's father or doing something really bad to him too!

Must I go on?