Black Is Black

Yesterday, when I pointed out my daughter to a man at the christening (bear in mind this is someone I barely know) he looked shocked and said: "that's your daughter". Yes. "But how come she don't look like you?". Errr actually 99 per cent of people think she does. "Is her Dad dark? Like midnight dark?" "He's dark like you." I said to him: "What does it matter how dark or light she is?". In 2005 I am saying to black people. Can we please get over this shit already. It is tired and backward.

My daughter is dark-skinned, and I guess most black people would consider me 'light-skinned' or as Jamaicans would say 'browning'. It's not a term I would ever use to describe myself as, unless I was forced to give a detailed description and it couldn't be avoided. I don't accept 'browning' because it seeks to elevate lighter skinned women over their dark-skinned sisters. And ever since I developed an awareness of the politics of skin complexion, I would never describe myself as thus. I am black. That's it.

When I was in school, the black girl's used to love off the light-skin/mixed race brothers. I used to scorn them for being so narrowminded. Light skin boys were seen as more attractive, and let's face it 'less black looking', more European. African features were a long way off from being appreciated, so dark-skin brothers and sisters were routinely dissed. I just didn't understand that mentality.

Once, I was in a supermarket with a friends' light-skinned child and Clarke, and the woman on the till asked if she was my child. When I said no, and pointed to Clarke, she said no, that's not your child, and said the other child was mine. I wanted to knock her out. Yes, she could have been my child, but I had just told the dumb-ass bitch that she wasn't!

The sad thing is, children pick up on this form of discrimination from a very early age. As soon as Clarke was able to articulate how she was feeling, she asked why she didn't have the same colour as me? She'd noticed that black celebrities and pop stars didn't often share the same complexion as her. Kids at school teased her about her dark skin. When she spoke to me, upset by all this we talked about it. We sat down and went through magazines and made a collage of beautiful and smart dark-skinned celebrities. I pointed out the people she loved in her family that are dark-skinned, both my mother and her paternal grandmother. Her father, her cousin Jenine, and her godmother. Her godmother herself suffered abuse at school because she wasn't the revered lighter hue. She went through secondary school without a single boyfriend, while I was never short of a spotty teenage suitor ready to break my heart. Her goddie wrote her a beautiful letter, sharing her own experiences, and letting Clarke know that she is beautiful just as she is.

Although I don't recognised myself as being light-skinned, I have been judged because that's how other people see me. There's a stereotype that light-skin women think they're all that, so people expect you to be a bitch. And when you're actually friendly and pleasant (hey I can be on rare occasions) they seem almost shocked. Once a guy accused me of only dating light-skin men. The fact that he was dark, and I didn't like him brought him to the conclusion that I was not interested in all dark men. If only he knew.

When you look at the average black family, there are people of all shades within it. And even if there isn't, what's the big fucking deal? It's only motherfucking melanin! I love the fact that my daughter is not an exact replica of me. She has her own individual beauty. I know I may be sensitive to these comments, because they're referring to my child. But I don't want her hearing this shit from people. I don't want her developing a complex because of other people's archaic prejudices. Grown ass people should not still be comparing skintone. Don't we have more important things to worry about?

Living My Life Like It's Golden

All week I have been stressing because I didn't have an 'outfit' to wear to my friend's christening today. I bought a Zara winter white coat off ebay, it has a wide neck, which looks quite Audrey Hepburn-ish, but didn't have a dress or a frock short enough to wear underneath it that wouldn't peek out and fuck up the look. This is the kind of thing that matters to me (prob too much) and to very few other people.

SATURDAY AFTERNOON - We looked around, and even though usually clothes fly into my hands like iron pilings to magnets, nothing took my fancy. So I decided to 'llow it.

STILL SATURDAY AFTERNOON - I tried to buy a book called 'Rastamouse and the Crucial Plan' for baby Oscar Golden Brown, but Index, the black bookshop in Brixton was closed. Like, boarded up closed, and builders working on it. Please not another fucking weave shop. I was soooo vex. Of course Books Etc, had never heard of it and as I had a stress headache, no doubt due to nicotine withdrawal, I was not in the mood to trek to Borders in the West End. I rushed to a children's clothes store. It was closed. So not only did I not have an outfit, more importantly, I had nothing for the baby. Crap.

SATURDAY NIGHT - Searching for a default outfit. I scrap the white coat. It'll keep. I pull out the white cord flares, and a black wrap top with frilly cap sleeves from TopShop.

EARLY SUNDAY MORNING - I'm looking at the cords, and thinking, batty hugging = unwanted attention. So not feeling that today. Black top, skimpy and cold. That's blanked.

STILL SUNDAY MORNING - Pull out my old faithful gold sequinned full print Day Birger & Mikklesen skirt (store just opened on Sloane Street). Bought last year. In fact I bought two in different colours as I couldn't choose, even though I had never spent that much on one skirt before, let alone two. How much? More expensive than Karen Millen, but much less than Prada. Fling on a black ToSho v-neck (worn nuff), added a brown plaited belt around the waist, black Kurt Geiger boots (four seasons old), and my wool French Connection trenchcoat (three seasons strong) on top. Sorted. Clarke said: "Don't worry about how you look, it's not about you, it's about the baby." She can bloody talk, in her all new cream Edwardian style short-sleeved shirt, wool military shorts and bronze ballet pumps. She looked wicked!

SUNDAY AFTERNOON - After the church service with an excellent female pastor, the same one who'd married the new parents, we went straight to the reception. I saw women in skimpy dresses (which I'd ruled out as not appropriate), laced up open-toe sandals (in sub-zero temperatures), and all manner of bashment raving gear. WTF had I been getting so worked up about.

STILL SUNDAY AFTERNOON - Unfortunately, the caterer was running on BPT (black people time), and instead of arriving at 10am, turned up five hours later. Shame and grace. Thankfully, because black people don't like to run out of food at a christening (that would be big shame) they'd some of their own, which they served to keep the natives from getting restless. J was so vex, she couldn't even talk.

My sister came too. A rare occurence as we don't go out much together. We got chatting to some of J's relatives. I'd met one of her cousins before and his other male cousin was basically trying to set us up. This guy doesn't live in London, but near the seaside on the south coast. So I said I'd go visit him there. In the summer. His cousin was incredulous at my lack of keeness. Well what the hell am I gonna do in the winter by the seaside? I don't even want to travel to east London at the moment, let alone outside it.

There were plenty of kids in attendance. And although Clarke aka 'The Heathen' had to be talked into going to the church, not like she really had a choice, but as the comedians who entertained us said, our generation allow their kids to 'express themselves' and she 'expressed' that she didn't want to go. And I 'expressed' that I wanted her to. Once at the reception she disappeared and played with the other kids. But for once, no complaints about badly behaved kids. All of them were gorgeous, and behaved brilliantly.

SUNDAY EVENING - The moment of the night was when they played Cameo's song Candy. Now, most black people know the deal when Candy is played. Everyone does the Electric Slide, a formation dance from the 70s. I was on a hen night once, in Spain, where the wedding was taking place. And taught everyone to do it, including a couple of white women in the party. I mention this only because it highlights my expertise at The Slide, as one of them said she had absolutely no rhythm, and had never managed to even master aerobics. Seems that the problem was really, that she had no black friends to show her where she was going wrong.

When I heard the intro strike up, I went into the main room, and saw my daughter dancing to Candy next to a boy about her age (she later told me his name was Alex and he was 13). Is it that time already? Clarke, come and dance with mummy.... Kids and adults were dancing side by side, everyone smiling and laughing like a Black Hollywood popcorn movie. Clarke has a trip to Canterbury tomorrow morning so I had to drag her away after 9pm. But catering slackness, and clothes trauma aside, it really was a fantastic day. Bless up Oscar Golden Brown, long awaited, much loved, you have arrived.

Barefaced Is Not Chic

Have you ever hid your face when the lights went on in a club? Because your make-up was no longer runway fresh, and your hair wasn't still in the style you arrived in because of the heat inside the club? I remember this ritual from my younger clubbing days, the girls would rush outside as soon as the lights came up. Men would be left standing alone on the dancefloor as the woman they were holding onto made a sudden urgent dash for the bathroom. It works both ways though, as some of the men, let's just say, we're no oil painting under the harsh glare of a 100 watt bulb.

I've had the 'make-up' debate with so many of my boyfriends, and male friends. They say: "You don't need to wear it" I say: "I know. But I like to". Never mind that the women they fantasise about wear enough slap to keep Mac going for years, when it comes to their women, less is nothing. But let me explain for those that don't understand.

To me, make-up is like clean panties, a bra, or a freshly waxed top-lip. Es-sen-tial to the final look. Not in a ridiculous way, like the woman who used to attend my step aerobics class wearing a tube of pillar box red Constance Carroll (see cheap) lipstick lacquered onto her marshmallow fat lips. Unless I've just come back from a country where the temperature was in the 90s every day for a week, and my face is burnt creme caramel with a J-Lo 'Glow', I'm wearing make-up when I go out. Even with a tan, I would still wear mascara, and sheer lipgloss. I usually wear make-up when I go out, or in a business setting like a job interview, but on a daily basis, less so.

Why do I wear it? Because make up = polish. As a woman, you're raised to take grooming very seriously, and to me make-up is a part of that. It is a cosmetic enhancement which does not involve cutting yourself, or paying through the nose for a new nose. A little mascara to open up the eyes, some lipgloss, and blusher, TA DAAA. A fresh-faced look is yours.

I know I look different with make-up. I look BETTER. But I wouldn't say that without it I look hideous, or that I'm falsely representing myself. Women of all cultures, ancient and present have worn something which is recognised as make-up. It is not a European thing that black women have adopted, but it is something which has been a part of African culture for centuries.

When I'm going out, make-up adds a sheen and a polish which completes the look. It's not worn to cover up, conceal (ok - sometimes the dark circles) or to fool anyone (see man). Make-up is fun, and it's a big part of fashion. New looks come in and out, and if you're fashion conscious you want to try them out. I particularly like smoky eyes, and black eyeliner, which I believe is the look men like least because the make-up is so obvious. But, hey, they're entitled to their opinion. If a man decides he doesn't want to approach me because I'm wearing black kohl, it's not a problem for me. I would hope that someone wouldn't just like me because of how I look, but also, amazingly, because of what's going on inside my head.

Obviously there are women who are guilty of crimes against make-up, tarring those of us who indulge with the same lipbrush. Those that just wear the pillar box red lipstick. And line the lips with a black pencil. I would love to know who started this non-trend. Sadly it can still be spotted in parts of south London. And the women who wear the Tango orange Fashion Fair foundation. An inch thick. It get's on men's shirts and NEVER comes out. Not a good look if that man ain't yours. And finally, there are the women that draw in the eyebrows they no longer have. Jamaican and Nigerian women particularly partial to this one. Overplucking is an illness, get help.

But I reckon, the majority of us, use just enough to add that sheen which gives you a sleek, polished look, and a bounce in your step when you're heading out the door. The litmus test for me is, if the shoes I'm wearing are 3 inches or over, the lippy comes out.

Dress Update: Disappointment

Like I said in my original post: "This is one dress where the high street copy won't do." And I was right.

Travelled to Kingston (Eng-er-land) to pick up the dresses I tracked down . First of all, the trains were buggered, due to a fire at Clapham Junction. None were coming when I was at the station at 10am, so I went home, and came back later after lunch.

When I arrived at the store, the dresses I'd put on hold were nowhere to be found. Someone had put them back on the shopfloor, even though I had impressed on the sales assistant I'd spoken that she should store the dresses in a secure place so this would not happen. She was very apologetic. Stop apologising bitch and go find de dress dem!

While waiting for them to locate the dresses, I came across one in my size on the shopfloor which I grabbed. I felt the other shopper's eyes on me as I wandered around the store so went to the changing room to escape them and try it on.

The Verdict?

Ummmmm. There was no 'TA DAAAA' moment. No, 'THIS DRESS LOOKS BANGIN. ON ME!' moment. No, 'ME AH DE MAN DEM GIZZARDA' dancin' in the changing room moment. Just me looking at my reflection and wishing I had all those feelings, and knowing I didn't. I went onto the shopfloor and tried on a pair of stilettoes with it. The extra inches helped (don't they always) but the dress is a couple of inches shorter than I would like. Probably due to fact that a lot of the fabric is used up covering my ass. It's on the knee, and due to the tightness of the fit rides higher when you walk. The fabric is very thin, and basically screams 'CHEAP KNOCKOFF'.

Even though as I was examining my rear in the mirror on the shopfloor, I got the double look of 'damn your ass is phat' approval from a homeboy walking through the store, for me, the TopShop dress nah mek it.

My Smoking Life

'Bout time I wrote something sensible, instead of this dress and hair obsessing I've been doing of late. And they say blondes are dumb. I'm a brunette now!

Yes, today is the day I made a committment to give up the evil weed. A half a lifetime addiction, which never should have started. I mean, what person in their right mind does something that they know can lead to life-threatening illness, and death. Aside from Mossy's paramour, Pete 'The White Flava Flav - Crackhead' Doherty. Yeah me, that's who.

I smoked my first cigarette aged 10 in the 'bogs' at primary school. Me and my friends were 'grassed' up by some big mout' girl, and my teacher (the PE teacher no less) stood us in front of class and gave us the Alex Ferguson hairdryer treatment (stay with me my US cousins). I had to intercept the letter he sent home to my mum, as beatings were still in full effect back then, and I wasn't trying to feel the tennis racket, badminton racket, or a shoe in my head.After that, I was vehemently anti-smoking for a few years.

What was it that made me start to smoke, and continue until now?

I was around 17 when I started going to clubs regularly and people were always offering me 'erbs. I had never tried it - but thought 'lightbulb moment', 'I know I'll try a cigarette, and if I like that, I'll try the weed'. Not one of my better ideas. I was moving into the hip-hop scene at that time. And even though I'd been clubbing for a couple of years. Hip-hop was a more intimidating scene. Everyone, seemed so confident and acted like they belonged. I was new to it, and I guess I just wanted to fit in. A guy I started seeing was a dancer and actor, he smoked. He was friends with Rodney P of the London Posse, we all hung together, and went to parties. They all smoked weed. I puffed on it like I knew what I was doing. Of course the choking gave me away.

It wasn't a massive surprise that I started smoking. My mum and dad smoked cigarettes. I grew up around weed smokers - my mum, until she gave up years ago, her friends, and my stepdad. My mum said she always knew I would smoke, because I used to enjoy inhaling the aroma created when she and her friends were partaking in the 'erbs. My mum tried to put up a fight, but knew she was losing the battle when I got my step-dad to roll my spliffs for me before I went out. He said it was better that he did it than someone else, and I wouldn't know what they'd put it in. Logical I thought.

I was welcomed into the hip-hop world with a spliff and a smile, and cigarettes soon became my default smoke of choice. All the guys I went out with smoked, weed and cigarettes, up until the Bobo Dread. He hated me smoking, but I wouldn't be told by him.

From 16 until 26, I hadn't had a serious relationship with a non-smoker. Smoking in our teenage, young adult world was cool. All the cool bad boys smoked. You had a cigarette after sex. Shared one at the nightbus stop. On the bus. On the tube on the way to my Saturday job (who remembers that). Smoking and drinking in the studio during all-night recording sessions. Newport Lights in NYC. Philly blunts and Rum and Raisin Haagen Daz in Harlem. Smoking a spliff with Todd Terry in the studio and then driving from Queens to Coney Island head hanging out the car feeling green. Sharing a joint on the night I hung out for the first time with the man that would become the father of my child.

I quit smoking weed regularly around 10 years ago, when I begun studying for my first degree. It just didn't agree with me anymore. Too many responsibilities, I was driving, and the two don't mix when you have a child in the back. But the cigarettes have been harder to kick. They became my stress crutch, and there's plenty of stress in life for them to be a crutch for. But for three weeks I've been attending a Smoker's Quit Clinic. Today is my Quit Day, and since 10.45am, I've been wearing a nicotine patch, and I haven't had a cigarette.

I'm done with the Eau de Ashtray fragrance, smelly hair, clothes and breath, and dry skin. I'm shake this monkeyfucker off my back, and take back my lungs from the nicotine demon. One day at a time. Wish me luck.

"Girl You Know It's True"

brownbfly
Originally uploaded by Butterfly Jones.

On a totally frivolous note. What else. Here's a pic of the transformation. Ta Daaaa! I have two boxes of blonde hair dye sitting in the bathroom, please cast your votes, to decide if I should return to blonde by the weekend.
Also if I look half-crazed in this photo, it's because today is the day that I quit smoking. For ever.

Dress Update: Obsession

Fashion Butterfly has been busy. Was browsing on ebay (as you do) and saw the dress I want being auctioned for over double its original price. Called TopShop straight away. The one they've ordered for me hasn't arrived. Fuck this for a game of soldiers, I cannot miss out on this dress. I start calling TopShop branches all over London. No joy. Then I call a branch in Kingston, my default shopping zone when things are sold out in the city. They have two, in black satin. YES.YES.YES. I'll take them both. Ebay here I come.

Praying the satin won't be cheap and nasty or reveal 'dimples' on bottom. Ok it's cellulite, I'm a woman ain't I? We all have it, even the 'skinny bitches' (copyright Monique).

Oh the excitement. In the absence of copulating (or is that copulation Galatea), this is the next best thing. If that dress looks good, I'll be feeling myself, with no need for a member of the opposite sex for assistance. Rrrrrrrr.

Super Model

Supermodels
Originally uploaded by Butterfly Jones.

Naomi don't get much good press. But have to big her up for her part in organising Fashion Relief (hopefully no assistants were injured during the staging of the event). They raised a $1million dollars for the survivors of New Orleans.

Loving the re-appearance of the fabulous Veronica Webb. She shoulda been Mrs Russell Simmons, not that wannabe ghetto trashulous he-she Kimora Lee. Me hate she. Glad I got that off my chest.


p.s - That's Beyonce holding her own on the left.

Blonde Transition: Update

Oh.My.GOD! My first thought on seeing my newly coloured locks is I look like one of Milli Vanilli. I need a drink.

Blonde Transition

I have blonde dreadlocks. I've been dying my locks blonde for around eight years now. I've dyed my hair blonde when it was permed straight and natural. And was heavily influenced by Queen Mary of Blige, and my girl Suzie Wong who first rocked it back in the 80s. But lately, I've begun to think about trying something different. Hence I am typing this while sitting with a headful of dye developing.

Vanity being my default mode, I've stuck with it for so long because someone said to me once that my natural hair colour made me look older. It's okay, it was my sister. Sister's can say those things to each other without causing offence. But that one little comment stuck in my mind, and has had me reaching for the Nice n Easy to hold back the years ever since. Of course, if I was being rational, it can't just be due to a box of dye why people almost faint when I tell them my real age? Can it?

But as the years fly by, I've been wondering, how long am I going to keep my hair this colour exactly, and how will I look with my natural hair colour after eight years of Nice n Easy Golden Lightest Blonde (extra lightening)? So I picked up a box of something different this month when it was time for the touch up. As I look at the colour sitting on my head, I feel a sense of dread. It looks very dark. I'm not sure I'm going to like it. I'm not sure if it will suit me. WHAT THE FUCK HAVE I DONE???

Calm down Butterfly. *Lights cigarette and hopes head doesn't go Michael Jackson on me*. The dye has stained my forehead and the side of my face. A dreg of a memory forms which prompts me to use my cigarette ash (not the hot stuff) to rub it off, I'm sure I read that somewhere. Anyway it seems to work. I usually smell like an ashtray anyway, so no change there. I feel like a contestant on Stars in Their Eyes: "Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be...I don't know." Well, I guess I'll still be me. But I won't be the girl with the blonde dreadlocks anymore. Until it's dry, I won't really know how it looks.

Gotta go rinse. Crumbs.

Hunting Season: The Dress

Sorry, no tales of all night drinking and dancing, fabulous frocks and killer heels. I decided to keep my ass quiet this weekend due to a combination of a cold, and fedupness with the whole raving ting. Why? Well last Friday I was in yet another over-filled club (see bar), heaving with badly dressed women, and men drinking the bar dry of champagne (who are they trying to impress). I sat down most of the evening, and on one of the two occasions I graced the dancefloor got into an argument with a heffa trying to grind on me while I was waiting to go through the crowd.

She seemed to find my objection offensive. Sorry bitch, I ain't that way inclined. Meanwhile her BFF (Big Fat Friend) threatened to 'glass me'. Obviously I'd been watching too much of the Mitchell's return to Eastenders and screamed at her Phil Mitchell style: " Come on you slag, don't talk abaht it, DO IT!". A flicker of fear betrayed itself in her rum soaked eyes, and she just stood there, all six foot tall and 14 stone wide of her. Looking at me. I escaped from that one, unscathed, but it seems like trouble with feisty women be following my ass. See in a situation like this, someone's got to give way. When the girl was grinding on me, I could have let her continue and said nothing. But quite frankly, I didn't really enjoy feeling her bony vagina pressed into my bottom, so let her know. But why do people have to be wrong and strong? She knew that she was out of order, so just apologise and let it drop. But no, she has to start shouting at ME, like I'm the one assaulting her with my punnany. Focus men please.

So on Friday while the girls went to New Nations 100 Batchelors Party (how could I resist), I was at home with Clarkie and Suzie Wong's son watching Jonathan Ross.

I'm going to a Christening in two weeks, and 'need' something to wear. Well that's what we women say when want to 'buy' something new. So on Saturday, I went to buy a frock I saw on TopShop's website, a copy of the Roland Mouret 'Galaxy' dress on the last post. Well, it couldn't hurt to see if the copy was any good could it?

It was a beautifully crisp and sunny day, perfect for some shop-trawling. I'm in TopShop in Oxford Circus for just five minutes when Britney Spear's younger and uglier sister (how is that possible) pushes me out of the way. I coulda left it. I said: "An excuse me would suffice." She said something back which included the f-word. I left it. I was with my child, and it's not about rolling around on the floor of TopShop trying to bitch slap a feisty teenager. I guess it doesn't matter where you are, rude people are fucking everywhere. And boy do they love me.

The Oxford Circus ToSho were sold out of The Dress. So we jumped on a bus to the Kensington branch. Had to treat Clarke to lunch at noodle spot Wagamama's as the face was getting long due to the search for The Dress. I almost choked on the first spoonful of ther lemongass, chili and coconut noodles I'd ordered. Damn, the chefs use pepper like my mum. Without measuring. Clarke ate her noodles very nicely, and we chewed the fat like two old friends. I almost forget her age sometimes.

Kensington had two dresses left, but the size 16 was too big. Don't you love it when that happens? So two shops later the perverse thing kicks in that happens when I can't find something that I like. I begin to want it more. So it becomes a matter of fashion pride to locate the dress. It's not the label, or how much it costs, but it's the thrill of the chase. I guess like men who bug women for their phone numbers. The more a woman says no, the more they want the number. Although unlike these men, I will actually use the dress. Y'all know who you are, triflin ass niggas!

Stopped in Kazza Mill (Karen Millen). Saw a beautiful black, halterneck, satin, fishtail gown. Fit for Beyonce or a drag queen, completely over the top. So I tried it on. I fit the size 14 (US 12 - I think they should rename anything under an 8 Size NE - Not Eating). It looked fantastic. I know this because Clarke told me. My ass looked hella big. Excellent. If you squinted, I almost looked like Beyonce. If you stood fifty paces away. And looked at me from behind. Cheap at £250. I'll wait for the sale.

Then we went to M&S for some cakes (best supermarket cakes in London), and a free range chicken. Fuck me they're expensive! I could eat the whole bird in two gulps. But better safe than sorry.

Pushed Clarke onto a bus to Victoria kicking and screaming to check one final TopShop. They also were sold out of The Dress. Fuck. But said they could order me a size 14 from the warehouse. RESULT. I felt so good I almost started that post-orgasmic shivering on the shopfloor. Yessssss! There are no 12s left at all in the warehouse. Note to self: Must be strategic about where I wear said dress over the Christmas party season.

Let's just hope that after all this effort the dress looks bloody good.

Girl Talk

Beyonce in the Galaxy Dress
Originally uploaded by Butterfly Jones.

B is wearing the hell out of the hottest dress of the A/W fashion season. Roland Mouret's 'Galaxy' dress. Go head with your bad self. It's perfect for her curvaceous figure. Not sure about the earrings though.
If I had a spare £800, you done know I would be squeezing my phat ass into one. This is one frock, where the high street copy just won't do.

It's been said that women don't actually dress up for men, but rather for other women. Well, judging by the nightmares before Xmas I saw at the bar last Friday, I would disagree. Cos none of them women were dressing for me.
The popular look of the night was a corset, with a 'greyhound' mini-skirt. You know, a skirt so short you can see the hair. Boom, boom. Never tire of that one. Unfortunately most of these women don't seem to understand the concept of a corset. Dem tings are supposed to hold you in and create a waist. They never said they could create MIRACLES. If your waist is like a darts player, girlfriend, please step away from the corset. It ain't right.

The great thing about Beyonce's dress is that it is sexy without having the chest and batty spilling out all over the place. Now I ain't gone lie, I've worn my fair share of 'slutty' clothes, chest revealing dresses, and mini-skirts. But there comes a time when you've got to be real with yourself. Or your friends (if you have them - which I don't think these women do) will be.

No one's saying you have to be pencil thin to wear a short skirt, but there is a simple rule, if you're wearing the mini, don't have the chest out of doors. And vice-versa. Try to have a lil decorum. I'm sure the brothers will disagree with me on this one! But from the amount of women that I saw leaving on their own, the corset-mini look wasn't working it's magic.

For some women, there is a distinct gap between how they dress and they're actual personality. I know women, with great figures, so yes, they can wear the shorts and the chest-baring tops and look good, but they are actually really shy, and would never approach a guy, and guys hesistate to approach them. I figure it's because the guys think twice about approaching someone who looks really sexy, as men can be pussies when it comes to stepping to women. Rejection is a dish served cold.

It's good to wear clothes that make you feel sexually confident, but how about trying something that just makes you feel confident, and serve the sexuality as a side dish. Just a thought.

The Kid's Alright

Had an academic review at school for Clarke, which gave an indication of the effort she was putting into her studies. I was glad they were doing this just two months after she started school, because quite frankly I was getting worried after hearing too many times how much she 'loved' school. My mum's words ringing in my ears, "yuh nuh go ah school fe socialize, you go fe learn yuh school book".

As we turn into the school, we pass the bad-breed child that was starting beef with Clarke. She's with her screw-face mother. Our eyes lock, but I ain't opening my mouth, and neither does she. So she gets the insincere smile, meanwhile, her daughter walks with head looking down at her feet, she won't make eye contact. I'm guessing from the vex look on her mum's face, that her grades were nothing to talk about.

I collected the achievement grades just before I sat down with Mr. Turner, assistant head of year. Mainly As and Bs, a few Cs, and one D. She got the higher grades for effort in the subjects that really matter like English, Maths, History, French, Geography, and IT.

The D was for Spanish. I tried not to zero in on that poor result (as my mum would have done), and Mr Turner said that he would be speaking with the Spanish teacher to re-do the seating plan as there was a problem with students distracting each other in the class. So all in all, I was pleased with the results, its not even been a full-term yet, she's happy at the school, even wanting to go in despite being off sick all week, and she's keen to learn. I let her Dad know, and of course he was really pleased too.

I recently had a beef with a blogger who calls her blog "No Bastard Kidz". I had to take issue with that, even though I do agree with her personal choice of not having any kids before being married. However, women do fall pregnant and once you find yourself pregnant, what you gonna say, no wedding planner, no baby? Her neo-conservative stance blamed all the ills of the world on 'minority' women who have babies outside of marriage, and her whole attitude when I raised the issue with her was hostile and offensive. It's quite funny to read (email me and I'll give you the link).

She said I was lessening my daughter's chances in life, and exposing her to poverty, and the ills of the world, because I chose to have her while unmarried. What did she want me to do, push her back in when she'd enlightened me? I'm glad women have the choice of abortions, but I chose not to, and I don't regret it. My daughter is fantastic, and what me and her father can't do, our families will.

Everybody's proud of their children of course, but I am really proud of my daughter because of the way she's handled growing up and living with only one of her parents. She enjoys a very close positive relationship with her Dad. We split up when she was 2, but when they're together, it's like they've never been apart. Once she told me that she was going to go and live with him - is it really? "I carried you for nine months, and until you've finished studying for your degree your ass is mine!"

It's unfortunate, but a lot of families that have split don't maintain good enough relations, and yes the children do suffer because of it. All children need both their parents. And parents need to make more effort to keep the lines of communication open if they are not living together. But I know from some of my friends experiences, that some partners are ignorant, there is nothing they can do.

My daughter is not a bastard, a stereotype, and she is going to be nobody's statistic. As for the rest of the much pilloried unmarried parents accused of bringing down our race, if there's anything you can do to improve your relations with your babymama, babyfather, please do it. Do it for your kids. As Jill Scott sang, they need you.

As we left the school, we passed a girl who said: "Mum, that's the girl I was telling you about." Her mum explained that her daughter said she had met a nice girl on the bus. That would be Clarke. I guess that's another A, for social relations.

Plantation Mistress

I watched open-mouthed at Madonna's recent video transformation into a Studio 54 slash Farrah Fawcett diva. How could I fail to, when she's prancing around flexing her muscular coochie for all it's worth in a high-cut leotard revealing her buns of steel. Frying pan bottom aside, no doubt, the bitch looks amazing. For 47. And for a minute, my superficial side took over and applauded that. But then the cerebral fought back.

I was discussing the video with a group of black women last night, and it was clear that Madonna would never occupy the same pedestal of privilege within the black community as she does within the mainstream. But why? Well for a start, the bitch can't sing. And I don't care what anyone says, she can't dance either. That is some choreographed nonsense she rehearses over and over again and thinks looks funky. But you know, funky don't mean what it used too. Ask her black child (she ain't white) Lourdes.

The video is the same old cultural appropriating nonsense that Madonna has been doing since she started her career, and brings to mind one of cultural thinker 'bell hooks' essays, 'Plantation Mistress or Soul Sister'. Hooks wrote of Madonna in the seminal work 'Black Looks: Race and Representation' (1996): 'White women "stars" like Madonna, Sandra Bernhard, and many others publicly name their interest in, and appropriation of, black culture as yet another sign of their radical chic. Intimacy with that "nasty" blackness good white girls stay away from is what they seek. To white and other nonblack consumers, this gives them a special flavor, an added spice. After all it is a very recent historical phenomenon for any white girl to be able to get some mileage out of flaunting her fascination and envy of blackness. The thing about envy is that it is always ready to destroy, erase, take over, and consume the desired object. That's exactly what Madonna attempts to do when she appropriates and commodifies aspects of black culture.'

Obviously this essay is slightly out of date cos we know that lots of good white girls is loving it up with some of that nasty blackness ah night time, hence the reason many black girls is loving it up with the Rabbit. But I digress.

In the video for 'Hung Up', Madonna wholesale jacks the style of David La Chapelle, and the 'Krumpin' dance scene he documented in his film 'Rize'. Maddie's video takes a group of dancers from the streets of LA, and transports them to London where they achieve their dream of dancing alongside Missy Madonna. Blink and you miss 'em, they serve as the props she needs to make herself seem relevant to a new generation. No one can shine brighter in Madonna's ray of celebrity light, and the dancers serve only to beef up her rep as an 'innovative' artist. Don't worry homies, the streets will be waiting to welcome you back with open arms when she's done with your asses.

The camera focuses gratuitously on her derriere, almost like a challenge to the Queens of Phat Booty, Beyonce and J-Lo. White girls with small bottoms all across the land rejoice, and vow to continue with their borderline eating disorder diets to maintain the slightness of frame still so ridiculously desired by European women.

Madonna is filmed in the streets of London, confidently striding like a woman who is not received as a visitor, but as a resident. Whether in LA, New York or England, she fits in, in her uniform of black leather jacket, jeans, and boots. Whereas when the black dancers turn up from LA in their garishly coloured outfits, they look like brothers and sisters from another planet, aliens out of place in a new environment.

As much as I like listening to some of her tunes, I can't ever give Madonna the props she gets from the mainstream, because she's ridden the backs of many a trend that once she's rinsed, she remains the only one getting paid from it. She has a talent for spotting trends that the mainstream miss, mainly because for so long the mainstream weren't trying to see black or gay creativity that flew under the radar. But nowadays its different. Faster than you can say Grime, there's an article in a national newspaper. And why considering all the plaudits, awards, and platinum albums do you feel that you have to get your coochie out to make the front pages, at the ripe old age of 47. Toni Braxton this is relevant to you too. This is no longer innovation, what it is, is tired. So, the jig is up Missy Madonna, we sees you.

Brenda Had A Baby

A mother abandoned her baby in a black bin bag in a block of flats in Brixton. They ran a picture of baby in The Guardian. She is so beautiful. The tears started flowing and I was gripped by a sudden urge to call the police and beg to be allowed to bring her home.

It's not so difficult to understand what compels young women to dispose of their babies in this manner. The obvious scenario is that of a young woman who hasn't told her parents, and is extremely afraid. If her mum is anything like mine, I would be too. The young women don't see the baby as real, and are just intent on hiding any evidence that they have given birth. Even if it means dumping a baby naked in a bin bag.

On the one hand it makes me angry, but I don't want to judge what I know nothing of, and I just think it's so sad. But if you are going to abandon a baby, why not wrap the poor mite up properly, and leave it somewhere like a church, or outside a hospital? This is becoming such a problem, not just in the UK that countries in Europe are putting systems in place for women to drop off their babies. 'The systems have names like “babyklappe” (baby slot) in Austria and Germany; “babyfenster” (baby window) in Switzerland; “babybox” in the Czech Republic; “culle per vite” (cradles for life) in Italy.' Two cases of babies being abandoned in rubbish (trash) bins, so outraged Italy that ministers are pushing for greater attention to the problem. I'd like to know, what is being done here?

When I was 24 and found myself 'up the duff', in typical blunt Jamaican fashion my mum said: "Couldn't you have waited a bit longer." I understood though, as it wasn't exactly in my plans, but I'm so glad that Clarke's here now. My daughter is so brilliant, and as hard as I've found it sometimes, I'd like more kids. We have fun together doing the simplest things, she has a wicked sense of humour (not sure where she got that from), and has me rolling up with her tales of the kids in school. She teases a white boy she said smokes 'weed', imitating him drawing hard on a spliff. When he was away for a few days, she asked him "how was rehab". The things kids say. Raising a child is a huge responsibility, one that may seem impossible to a young mind. We are doing something wrong in our society when women think the best way is throw a life into the trash.

In Jamaica, one of the greatest sins you can commit is to 'dash weh belly' - have an abortion. And although some Jamaicans do seem to have a laissez faire attitude to having lots of children despite many living below the poverty line, culturally, having children young was the norm among my mother's generation, and among the working classes was not seen as shameful. Despite the oppportunities and education that exist for young women in England, so many seem intent or fall pregnant at a young age. We have the highest teen pregnancy birth rate in Europe, and women are abandoning their newborns on a 'regs'. Something is going very wrong here.

My daughter says we're more like sisters. Obviously I discourage those thoughts. And when she's upset and says: "I'm not your friend", I say: "That's right, we're not friends. I'm your Mum." But I do encourage honesty and debate between us. Sometimes. Unlike my generation, she is allowed an opinion at home. I truly hope that if she were foolish enough to get pregnant, despite her ongoing education on relationships and birth control which started age six, that she would talk to me about it first, and not endure that kind of stress alone.

The beautiful abandoned baby is now in the custody of social services, unless her mother comes forward. I really hope that she does come and claim her baby. Even then she will have to prove that she is fit to look after her. Having a child young doesn't have to ruin your life. But if she doesn't, I hope that Baby X gets the parents or parent she deserves.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

A track by British producers The Kray Twinz featuring US rapper Twista, UK grime artist Lethal B, and dancehall DJ Gappy Ranks plays on my mobile phone. Even with the tinny, no bass sound emitted by my phone, the record has hit written all over it. It's not strictly hip-hop or grime, but it's definitely a British underground sound, excellent rhythm, and lots of bounceability. What really struck me about this tune was how well the three MCs rode the tune. That's probably due to the fact that Twista's style of super-fast rapping is a direct derivative of Jamaican reggae DJs toasting, and the same for Lethal B. Each MC is doing their rhymes in the accent from the country where they were born or settled, but it is all a style which drew its inspiration from reggae.

By naming themselves after the notorious East end gangsters, The Kray Twinz (how did I know that they would have a 'z' instead of an 's') follow in the tradition of Jamaican reggae DJs such as The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Dillinger. Man's fascination with gangsters and violent reputations continues. But these artists are not Jamaican, they are Asian.

Following the riots between blacks and asians in Birmingham a few weeks back when a black man returning home from the cinema was murdered on his doorstep, there has been a lot of talk about relations between blacks and asians. The one comment that really stuck in my craw, heard on television and read in newspapers is: "Caribbeans have not really prospered since they have been here." Well, in my experience it's not for want of trying.

I found this to be such an offensive statement, although in essence if you are talking in strictly economic terms, then there is some truth in it. No, we don't have a shop on every corner. Yes, I buy my hair grease and the cocoa butter moisturiser from an asian man in Brixton market. But I would dispute that we have not prospered since we have been here. For some reason, mainstream media have been reluctant to report our successes preferring to report our failings. Journalism 101, a shooting in Brixton is more important than a story on a successful black restauranteur.

We have made a contribution to the societies that we have lived in which has resulted in a billion pound hip-hop industry worldwide, and our collective failure is that we haven't managed to keep hold of that which we create, and prosper from it. We routinely create new music and fashion trends. Our sportsmen reach the highest levels, and there is a thriving business if not so visible business community across the country, but we are also quick to share what we create, and involve other races. Asians tend to keep their businesses strictly family-run operations, no outsiders. This tends not to be the case with black businesses or entrepreneurs.

The recent riots were all the more sad, because we are two minority ethnic groups who took a lot of a shit back in the day. When I was at school, my best friend was routinely abused by skinheads on a daily basis walking back from school. This was in the 80s. But the West Indian boys stood up to the skinheads, at a time when Asians were routinely getting beaten up, and didn't fight back. The take no shit attitude we projected and backed up began to be adopted by them and everyone else. Along with anti-racism groups West Indians fought for equality, an equality which was for all minorities, not just for one race.

As a youngster, I remember the treatment I received at the hands of Asian shopkeepers, who wouldn't put change in my hands, preferring to dash it on the counter, such was the lack of respect for black people. Following me around the little shop expecting me to steal the overpriced goods. The same thing used to happen in the west end shops, always being followed by store detectives. Things have got much better, but the people of Birmingham say not much.

So because we don't own businesses, does this mean that we have not prospered or contributed to this society in some way? Tell that to the fashion designers who sell in America and Japan. Or the producers and songwriters whose songs are in the Top 40. Or the people that are working in media, law, design, IT. They may not own their own companies yet, but like me, many of them were the first in their family to attend University, or to work as something other than an indentured labourer like their parents doing the work white people long decided they were too good to do any more.

This kind of criticism must motivate black people to prove their critics wrong. We have have prospered, but instead allow our prosperity to feed our hunger for material goods, rather than investing in the necessary items which we consume. What would black women be without weave, or hair extensions. We don't sell our own food anymore, the food which we have grown up eating. Our biggest passion is clothes - here is an area which of late has seen more progress with black people opening stores in Brixton, Peckham, Islington and the West End. But we need more. It's not about racial economic segregration, but it's about progression. For ourselves and our families. Let this be the generation that makes the commentators eat their negative words.

I'm not jealous of Asians because they have prospered, or because the white establishment lauds them more than they laud my people. But I am jealous of the fact that they have a level of respect in this country, that is not accorded us collectively despite our many achievements. It's a kick in the teeth for people that are trying to make something of their lives, and for their parents on whose blood, sweat and tears this empire prospered. "Know what I mean 'arry."

Mad, Sick, Head Noh Good

The reason for the lethargy that has afflicted for the past few days has become clear. I am getting a cold. At first I thought it was mild depression. No job, no funds, no sex, it's a recipe for wanting to sleep your days away. But the lethargy came over me so suddenly that I suspected the lergies were trying to penetrate my defences (about the only thing that is right now).
I cancel a visit to see my newborn god-daughter, and get in the kitchen to make some soup, sweet potato, carrot, spinach, laced with garlic, onions, and chili powder. It's not as good as my mum's fish tea, or Grandma Oseh's pepper soup (pure fire), but it will have to do.

There's never a good time to be sick, but this sure as hell ain't it. I have job applications to do, and a full social schedule come Friday. I know it wouldn't kill me to keep my ass quiet for one weekend, but there's nothing I hate more than lying around looking awful, coughing up phelgm, and blowing my nose until it's red raw. It fucks with your exercise routine, your social life, and means I can't kiss my daughter until it's gone. So I'm relying on the soup, and a handful of vitamins, water and fruit to keep the sucker at bay. The only plus side of being sick, is the hope that you lose your appetite and in the process some weight. Food poisoning is the best for that one. Not saying I actually look food to being poisoned by food, but hey, I'd say a few pounds weight loss is adequate compensation for a night spent hugging the toilet bowl.

Last night daughter ran into my bed after a nightmare. I'm not exaggerating either. Who told her to watch the documentary about The Omen last week. And at five in the morning the weather was positively apocalyptic. No surprise considering the Indian summer temperatures of last week. Rain and wind were lashing the street, and for a minute I feared the end were nigh. As the wind raged outside my window, I kept looking at the trees in the front garden fearful that one would fall on us as a few years back a storm upended a tree which fell across the pathway at the front of the houses where we live.

I have absolutely no incentive or necessity to leave the warmth of my house today. So I'm gonna eat my soup, turn off my computer, and go back to bed.

N.B - The pic is of the charismatic dancehall DJ, Elephant Man.