What my Hair has to do with Ferguson

Tomorrow is a very important day for me. This time last month, after my big chop on 10/24, I didn't think I would ever be able to do this, but tommorow is the day... That I go to work with my natural hair. See, y'all know me. I care A LOT what people think and say about me. And I know this is a HUGE deal, especially for the people who don't really know me. My closer co-workers, they will love and praise it and be proud of me. But those who are in those other meetings, the people walking around the agency, they won't recognize me, they will make unnecessary comments. They will ask questions and those... Those are the people I fear most.  

Feared. I guess.  

I'm going to do it. But I definitely went through a lot in my mind to deal with it.  

Recent events in Ferguson have rocked my world a little bit. And I don't like talking about it. Hell, I don't like thinking about it. But I do... A lot. And I read... A lot about it. And I form my own opinions. Most of all, I hate politics... A lot. But I live in this country and I can't technically avoid it, since voting and learning about them are the only way to change the world. And I do believe that. Kind of. 

I digress. 

The biggest thing I've been wrestling with since the August tragedy, is this theme of 'under-education' and it runs deep in the white community. And it's clearly not by choice, it's by experience. No matter how much they think they know, they have no idea. I read something today about the progression of our country -- 'don't raise racists' is the basic idea. It was also accompanied by the fact that only about 10% of white people associate with people outside of their own race as opposed to 40% of blacks. It's not because someone is a racist, it's because they just live in their own world -- again, not really by choice, but because that's just what they know, and they don't really NEED to expand outside of that, at least not in the way Asian-Americans, Spanish Americans, or Black Americans have to.  

Majority rules. For years and years and years, we have been conforming as much as possible to their way of living in order to literally, live. For example, we have to 'update' the way we dress if our pants are too low, to turn down our music if the volume is too high, and the way we wear our hair... 

No black person has naturally straight hair. In order to style it that way, we chemically process it to be straight,  permanently. We do it to be considered more 'beautiful,' to make it 'easier' to manage. That's what I have always known, and the way I've always chosen to wear my hair.  

But you know what the craziest part about it is? The education. 

Most of white America doesn't. Even. Know that. But then again, why should they even care?

How are the unfamiliar supposed to be okay with someone or something they don't know about? People fear what they don't know. And that's the number one reason why I'm in advertising. And the reason I MUST go to work tomorrow with my natural hair worn out, proudly.  

I will educate, slowly. And maybe someone will learn something new tomorrow. About me. Maybe if one person learns something about me, then maybe they will learn something about us; and maybe they will become more educated, and so their children will become more educated, and maybe one less black child will die. 

It's dramatic and far fetched but if I can make even one attempt... at an ounce of change, then I'm going in head first. 

"What better way to get motivated than to surround yourself with people who are already doing what you're trying to do?"

#socialmediawin

This is cute I'll accept it. ☝️😌

Published!

Well look at me; SheKnows published something I wrote. I signed on with them to write a series of articles about hooping and starting to get into it. Check it out; it's pretty awesome if I do say so myself.


http://experts.sheknows.com/post/health-and-wellness/7-reasons-you-should-hula-hoop

Ode to an Emo (cross post from LJ)

Tales Told By Dead Friends is my new jam. Mayday Parade's first EP. It's pretty much everything. And of course, the Mayday fans ride this one out for that reason. But after listening to it thoroughly, I realized that the lyrics are just so. Circling. It's like - a 6 song EP but it's so done. And all of the lyrics are very compelling and just damn good. The story told can be told in so many different ways. And THAT'S what makes a good album. 

These songs have taken me back to a place or maybe a feeling I've had before. It gives me... a Taking Back Sunday - Where You Want to Be kind of feel. And I like it. 

I've actually been emoing it out for over 10 years now. It's hard to believe that this would cross over into my adult life and I would still be so passionate about it. And so into it. Like, I literally feel like I'm swimming in a pool of it when I listen. 

I think that emo music fills some type of hole in my heart. Not only do I like the content, but I LOVE that I'm the only person that listens to it. In my circle anyway. I know I can find people online with similar interests. But these are MY songs. These emo songs I have on my side are no one else's. Therefore, I'M the only one who can make the memories and the references for it. That has always been an amazing perk to my emo self - the fact that I am almost alone in that way.

I've never looked at it as a bad thing. It's just... something that has always set me apart. It's silly that I can remember me as a young teen. 13/14 and just getting into bands. And the 15/16 year old version of myself finding Motion City and Matchbook Romance. The 18/19 year old college student discovering Get Up Kids and Taking Back Sunday. The early 20's me rocking out... And now here I am. A mother/professional. Still just as emo as ever...

I think about the Further Seems Forever, Hawthorne Heights, Dashboard Confessional, everything days - they've never been amazing. But they are there... And this music; it helps me get through whatever it is I have on my shoulders. It makes me happy... in an emo way. 

Mobile.

"This is the year if mobile" said everyone for the past 5 years. And they will keep saying it for the next 10.

I, for one. Have never really paid attention to mobile ads until I started working at an agency and the fact is. It's pretty damn important. 

I never really even noticed how much work is put into the fact that these placements are meant for mobile. Take this McDonalds as above. When you click through to this thing, it prompts you to put in your zip code to find one. 

Usability. Meh. 

Creativity. Nah. 

Mobile is a growing platform for many brands, but to me, McDonald's did this pretty much because they could. Some big wig guy said: "Let's do mobile because.. That's what the hip kids are doing; and we have like a gazillion dollars to spend on advertising." 

Moral of the Story: McDonald's -- If you're going to do this, do something engaging. The click through for mobile advertisements isn't an amazing number; but who says it can't be? Like -- I already know where my nearest, next nearest, and next city's Mcdonald's is. How about trying to show something about the sweet tea itself. Tell me who the came up with the recipe; how fresh it is, how there's 5 cups of sugar in every serving. Whatever. Why in the hell do I want to hop in the car and go get one? Why am I going to click through? Sweet tea has been on the dollar menu for YEARS. What's going to get me to go there right now?

Okay I'm done with my rant. 

#socialmediawin