Just My Opinion by Yasmin Shiraz

My blogs are at www.yasminshiraz.net

2009-05-27T21:03:00.002-04:00

Hello there,
My blog is being held at www.yasminshiraz.net See ya there.

**There will be no more posting to this blog.***

There's Hope by India Arie

2006-08-08T13:02:00.001-04:00

Today, I was parking my car and heard "There's Hope" a new song by India Arie on the radio. Oh my goodness, it's one of the hottest songs that I've heard in a while. I immediately went on I-Tunes and purchased the song and I got it playing on my computer. I encourage everyone who would like to be uplifted to go and buy her album and support her as an artist. India Arie's music is timeless and beautiful. Much deeper than relationship songs, India taps into the human condition, the world condition, your condition, my condition. She listens to her heart, her spirit and the universe. Listen to "There's Hope" and I'm sure you'll feel the same way that I do about this young lady as an artist. Peace, Love and Much Success to India.Arie AND TO YOU ALL AS WELL.

Signing books in DC

2006-07-28T10:50:00.001-04:00

Yesterday I was signing books in Washington, DC. I had a great time. I was on the street vending with my main man - Carvellas. What's up playa?

I met a bunch of beautiful people, a family from Japan, my girl Wanda with two daughters, Paula - the avid reader, and Katina, the aspiring novelist. I feel good when I get the opportunity to really connect with people. It was a blessing yesterday. I hope to do more events with my man - everybody loves him!

Now, it was about 100 degrees outside. Every time I would say, "Man, it's hot." Carvellas would say, "Think about the slaves. They worked in heat hotter than this and at the end of the day, there was no pay." I just looked at him. The sun was beating down on my face like a tribal drum and the history lesson wasn't as appreciated as it would have been in a cooler setting. After a few minutes passed, Carvellas told me how hot it was and I told him, "Think about the slaves. They worked in heat hotter than this and at the end of the day, there was no pay."

Mychal Bell - Freed on Bail!

2007-09-27T20:24:00.002-04:00

One of the Jena 6, Mychal Bell was released from jail today. The prosecutor confirmed that he will not seek to try Mychal Bell as an adult in the beating case of a white classmate. This is really a victory because the prosecutor was literally trying to get this boy to be behind bars for 15 years or more.

I'm happy that Mychal Bell has been freed on bail because it shows how much positive can come from standing up for what's right. I personally sent email to legislators in Louisiana, I wrote about it in my e-newsletter and encouraged others to write in, protest and wear black--anything that we help send the message that we knew that Mychal Bell was being treated unfairly and that we were going to do something about it.

Though I know the fight isn't over, I feel happy that the struggle has seemed to move just a bit.

We R One - Barack Obama Concert

2009-01-18T23:37:00.001-05:00

I went down to the We R One Concert. There were lots of people there. It was great to simply be in the environment. People were so happy. I hadn't really thought about going. I told myself it was too cold, it'd be too crazy, too crowded, my kids wouldn't enjoy it, etc. Basically, every excuse I could think of... But when I finally decided to go, man I decided let's do it. And, it was like I felt a positive vibe pulse through my body. I felt alive. I took pictures of people, of the capital, of the signs... It just felt good to be there. This time will never again come in my life, but I'm glad that I didn't miss it.
Peace & Love,
Yasmin

MLK & BaraCakes

2009-01-19T23:42:00.003-05:00

Most people don't realize that I have two kids. For the most part, I'm an ultra private person and I don't broadcast my business. Today, I feel compelled to share. My daughter is 12 and my son is 5. I love my kids. But I haven't always taught them about history the way that I should have. So today as part of our Martin Luther King Day Celebration, we colored pictures of Martin Luther King at our dining room table and we discussed how our lives would be different if he hadn't lived, if he hadn't preached, if he hadn't believed, if he hadn't fought, and dreamed. The four of us, (my husband, included) sat there and colored and talked about history. We mentioned things like riding on buses-something my daughter surely takes for granted. We talked about voting something that both of us did, but I got to take the kids with me and I got them "I voted" stickers. We all colored Dr. King's pictures differently and we told why we used the colors. I colored my Dr. King in a blue suit because blue is calming. And I put him in a red and blue tie because red is a power color and because blue is an American color. And Dr. King was an awesome American. I colored the frame of his picture with a gold color because gold is the color of the sun and Dr. King reminds me of the sun. When I look outside and see the sun is shining, I am hopeful. Dr. King was the sun dawning on a new era. Because I am a writer, I also wrote a skit today in which my son portrayed Dr. King. He had four lines. They were as follows:

I may not get to the mountaintop with you.
But we are going to get there.
My name is Martin Luther King Jr.
And I see Barack Obama on the mountaintop.

After that we had a prayer and thanked the Lord for Martin & Barack and all the people who fought, dreamed and believed. And we ate dinner. We finished our dinner with our BaraCakes--which are Barack Cupcakes -swirl on the inside for obvious reasons,and blue icing for patriotic reasons with a big ole "B" on the top.

Though I didn't play my MLK/Stevie Wonder Happy Birthday song. I felt good about what I did with my kids on this MLK Day.
Peace & Blessings,
Yasmin

2007-03-01T14:02:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, March 3, 2007, I'll be visiting Howard University's campus and I'll be a panelist at the Cover 2 Cover conference. It's a conference that networks young people who want to get into the magazine industry. That's just awesome! I wish I had that back in the day! Anyway, I'm planning to share some of my Mad Rhythms tales. And, boy I have some!

Race Relations 2007- A journey backward

2007-09-26T21:20:00.000-04:00

Everyday that I turn on the radio, look at tv or check news stories on the internet, I see more indicators of racial inequality and insensitivity. I feel that the nation is becoming more and more separated as it relates to race issues. Americans are losing their humanity and are instead focusing on the race card. America has never been a Utopian society but the last couple of months have been real indications that the Great Race Divide still thrives in America.

Some recent observations:

**The big to-do made about Bill O'Reilly's comments after he had dinner with Rev. Al Sharpton at Sylvia's Restaurant. Apparently on O'Reilly's show he said that he was surprised that this black establishment was run and the patrons were enjoying themselves the same as he would see at a typical Italian restaurant. Someone captured his comments from his show and sent them out over the black media networks as if this was the most racist thing Bill O'Reilly has said. Being truthful about what your perceptions are is necessary for individual growth. I thought it was great for Bill O'Reilly to confront his own misperceptions and acknowledge to his listening audience that he was wrong about black patrons and service at a black restaurant. But, instead of making this a somewhat enlightening moment, it was turned into a racially divisive comment.

**Megan Williams, an African American alleged torture victim in Logan County, WV. In the article in the Charleston Daily Mail, the majority of the case focuses on Ms. Williams having been charged with writing bad checks. There is no anger put on the alleged acts of her torturers making her eat rat feces or holding her captive. In fact, her being a torture victim was merely a footnote of this story. I do not want to make light of the bad checks that she wrote which amounted to a little over $500. But, I think her being a torture victim is the bigger story and should have been treated as such. I wonder if this article about her writing bad checks was written to make her a less sympathetic victim. I wonder. See for yourself:
http://www.dailymail.com/story/News/2007091957/Torture-victim-charged-with-writing-bad-checks/

**The Jena 6 case in Louisiana. Many whites didn't see the inequality in charging black teens for attempted murder in a fight even though white boys in the same town who committed the same kind of act against a black teen weren't charged at all. Additionally, many mainstream news outlets didn't even carry the story until famous black radio personalities "sounded the alarm."

What do we gain as Americans by turning against each other? What progress do we make? We continue to fight each other over matters of race instead of reaching toward each other to triumph over issues of humanity.

The Jena 6 - I will be wearing black

2007-09-18T09:41:00.000-04:00

I will be wearing black on September 20th in my support of the Jena 6. I know that the 6 black boys in Jena, Louisiana could have been related to me. They could have been one of my cousins or a child from my neighborhood. That is why I will be wearing black. That is why I will be dressing my children in black.

If it’s the JENA 6 today, it could be 6 of your friends tomorrow, 6 of your relatives the next day, 6 of your cousins the day after that, and 6 of your children the day after that. There are 6 black boys in Jena, Louisiana who are in for the fight of their lives because they are facing life in jail for a school yard fight. It’s ignorance at its worse and racism at its best. The time is now for everyone to stand up for justice, no matter your color. The time is now for all of us to rally behind the JENA 6 and get the people out of office for what they’ve done and what they’re attempting to do. It is an American embarrassment and an American tragedy. How can the wealthiest, most civilized, most industrialized society in the world lower itself to such brutal, arcane, unforgivable practices? Who are we Americans? Who do we want to be?

I urge everyone who can travel to Jena, LA on September 20th to do so. The Jena 6 need our support. Visit http://www.freethejena6.org/ to learn more and to be urged to act!!!

Radio personality and author, Michael Baisden is urging all of us to wear black on September 20th in support of the Jena 6. Visit http://www.michaelbaisden.com/ for more info on his work.

I urge you to wear black and tell somebody why you are wearing black. If you don’t know what to say, feel free to use this script:

“I am wearing black today because 6 black boys in Louisiana are in the fight for their lives against a corrupt criminal justice system who doesn’t value their lives. I would never want my children, my family, or my neighbors to lose their freedom over a school yard fight. It’s not right and so today I am wearing black. I am mourning civil rights that the criminal justice system in Jena, Louisiana is so easily trying to kill. If you enjoy your freedom, you, too, should be wearing black.”

Additional Blogs!!!

2007-04-30T23:05:00.000-04:00

Hey people, I'm taking this Yasmin Shiraz piece and getting specific with it. I have two new blogs. One that deals with hip hop culture and one that deals with youth issues.

The hip hop culture blog is: http://politicsofhiphopculture.blogspot.com

The youth blog is: http://blueyouth.blogspot.com

Check them out when you get a moment!

A Reflection Inspired by Gerald Levert

2006-11-18T08:02:00.000-05:00

Gerald Levert passes at the tender age of 40
There is a lesson in here for all of us

Gerald Levert, singer, songwriter and producer: born Philadelphia 13 July 1966; (three children); died Cleveland, Ohio 10 November 2006. Gerald was a member of the 90's R&B group, Levert; a member of LSG with bandmembers Keith Sweat and Johnny Gill and of course, recognized as a powerful solo artist. He was the son of O'Jay's singer, Eddie Levert.

Having sold millions of records and having built a fanbase worldwide, many are left wondering why Gerald, why at such a young age? But it is not his youth that should be our focus, but our own lives.

It is always death that makes me appreciate life so much. What did I do today to show God or to show myself that I am happy to be here? Did I quarrel with some friends? Did I gossip about some unnecessary mess? Did I sleep too long, thinking that next week was promised?

Whenever I pick up a newspaper, I often find myself reading the obituaries. I read about people’s lives. What did they do? Did they accomplish anything? Did they create fond memories with family members? Will they be missed? Was their life cut short, too short? Did they lead a long, full life? Are people glad that they are gone? I ask myself all types of questions while I’m reading. I guess I’m drawn to obituaries because it reminds me that no one knows how long they have to be here. No one knows. No one knows if they’ll live to 15 or 50. No one knows if they have until tomorrow to make a change. No one knows if they’ll have another day to apologize to their mother, to make up for lost time with their father, or to tell their brother that they forgive him. No one knows, but most of us continue to take chances.

We take chances hoping that we’ll be given another day --given another day to procrastinate, another day to not do what we’re supposed to do. We want another day to be angry, another day to playa-hate, another day of self-loathing, another day of someone else defining our joy. But when another day doesn’t come, what happens then?

Imagine yourself lying in bed. You’re totally relaxed. You inhale deeply, but realize that your heart has stopped beating. There is no air to fill your lungs. You have raised your right hand to your chest. You have formed a fist, hoping that your heart will jumpstart again. But it doesn’t. Your eyes are open and glassed over as death becomes you. In those final seconds that your brain continues to transmit thoughts, what are you thinking? Did you miss telling someone that you loved them? Did you miss too many of your child’s important days? Did you forget your dreams while you became the wife, the girlfriend, the husband, the boyfriend, the mother, the sister, or the daughter? Who did you forget to apologize to? Did you allow someone to make you a prisoner in your own life, when now you can see that God wanted you to be free? What are those images that your brain is flashing before your eyes? Do you like what you see?

I dedicate this writing to people like Gerald Levert, Aaliyah, Florence Griffith Joyner, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Leslie Pitts and so many others who died younger than I would have ever imagined. In their deaths, there is a lesson for all of us. In our own lives, do we like what we see?

In lieu of flowers, The Levert family would like donations to be made to: The R&B Foundation and forwarded to Andy Gibson c/o Trevel Productions, Inc., 13816 Cedar Road, University Heights, OH 44118.

Piracy, Promotions & Prison: Is it worth that much to get paid?

2006-11-02T16:58:00.000-05:00

I am the first to say how much I love street vendors, especially my book vendors. Book vendors go the extra mile to get books on the street. There are lots of vendors who sell everything from body oils, hats, and t-shirts, etc. You name it and a street vendor got it somewhere in America.

When DVD’s first became popular, my brother showed me my first illegal DVD. I can’t remember the name of the movie, but the person who recorded the movie apparently had a handheld digi-cam. The screen shook the hold time that I tried to watch the story unfold. After rubbing my eyes and shaking my head, I finally asked my brother where he got such a bad copy of the movie and that he should get his money back. He told me that it was an illegal copy and with the dirty DVD’s you never know what you’re getting.

That was at least 10 years ago. During that time I was seriously writing screenplays and wondering how much money writers were losing when people purchased “pirated” movies. Whenever I would be in the presence of my brother and he would tell me of a new movie he purchased from a vendor, I would tell him, “You’re killing my royalties. Every time you buy a dirty DVD, you’re inviting the likelihood that someone is going to cheat me out of my movie rights.” He would just look at me like I was crazy. But was I?

10 years ago I was focused on writers making money, black actors and black producers making money off of their product. As hard as I know it is to get a black movie done, I was pissed off every time I saw ANYBODY pushing an illegal DVD. I really believed that dirty DVDs hurt the black artistic community MORE than anybody else. Now, in 2006, I’m still supporting the black artistic community but I work very closely with street vendors. So much, in fact, that a vendor that I was scheduled to work with was recently jailed for selling pirated DVDs. Whoa!

Unbeknownst to me, there is a nationwide crackdown on illegal DVDs. Furthermore, being convicted of selling pirated DVD’s now can have felony charges attached to it. Yes, felony charges over a MOVIE. People with priors can jeopardize their probation and their freedom for infringing on the copyright of these DVDs. Is it worth it? I don’t think so.

I like a sale as much as the next person but I think we should let our vendors know (if they don’t already) of the real threat of going to prison for selling pirated DVDs. For the people who want to continue to buy DVDs on a discount I have two suggestions: 1) Go to Wal-Mart and 2) Buy a book instead. If you are encouraging your vendor to get you the next Tyler Perry movie before it hits the theaters, you are a traitor to the very art form that you “so-called support” and you need to realize that black men don’t need to be encouraged to engage in behavior that could send them to prison. Despite media hype, their lives are worth so much more than that.

Question: If you buy dirty DVDs, will you stop now that you know that people are going to prison?

Yasmin Shiraz's Politics of Hip Hop Culture Tour

2006-10-10T15:13:00.000-04:00

Yasmin Shiraz, Author of two hip hop culture novels EXCLUSIVE & PRIVACY and former Mad Rhythms Magazine publisher is embarking on a series of book talks on college campuses and bookstores discussing the behind-the- scenes politics of hip hop culture. Drawing on her twelve years involved in the entertainment industry as publisher, marketing consultant, journalist, and researcher, Shiraz has crafted two breakout novels, EXCLUSIVE & PRIVACY, that drip of realism, dramatic storytelling and backstage incidents that you won’t see on television.

Behind-the-scenes of Hip Hop Culture --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sexism Exposed!
Shiraz will expound on some of the sexual exploitation issues that were raised in the best selling book, Video Vixen by Karrine Stephens. Though Yasmin Shiraz’s experiences are often compared to that of Ms. Stephens, Shiraz notes, “As an entertainment executive my experiences were different because I had money, power and respect in ways that the video vixen did not. That doesn’t mean that I was treated better, it means that our experiences differ but both of our stories need to be told.”

Capitalism Detailed!
Working directly with record labels such as Interscope, Universal Music Group and Def Jam Records, Shiraz was often negotiating promotional opportunities and creating publicity awareness for hip hop artists. Within these circumstances, in their precarious cutthroat glory, Shiraz received experiences that became the foundation of her novels, Exclusive (Rolling Hills Press, 2005) and Privacy (Rolling Hills Press, 2006.)

Racism Examined!
Though the majority of hip hop's recording artists are people of color, the power structure remains a Eurocentric white male domain. But why? The answer will shock you.

Tour Dates:

October 5, 2006, 7pm, Georgetown University, Walsh 396, Washington, DC

October 6, 2006, 12pm, Borders, The Gallery Mall, Philadelphia, PA

October 6, 2006, 4pm , Black & Noble Books, Philadelphia, PA

October 7, 2006, 2pm, Waldenbooks, Owings Mills Mall, Owings Mills, MD

October 7, 2006, 5pm, Beyond the Pages, Owings Mills Mall, Owings Mills, MD

October 21, 2006, 1pm, Waldenbooks, Regency Square Mall, Richmond, VA

October 21, 2006, 4pm, Waldenbooks, VA Center Commons, Glen Allen, VA

October 26, 2006, 6pm, Hampton University, Martin Luther King Bldg, Hampton, VA

October 27, 2006, 6pm, Waldenbooks, Military Circle Mall, Norfolk, VA

November 4, 2006, 1pm, Waldenbooks, Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream, NY

November 4, 2006, 4pm, Borders, Kings Plaza Mall, Brooklyn, NY

Is Janet's Nakedness Gonna Make You Cop That Album?

2006-09-17T10:57:00.000-04:00

Janet...

I’ve been in a lot of bookstores over the past 6 weeks. And I’ve seen a lot of almost naked pictures of Janet Jackson. I’ve seen the cover with the white stripe over her boobs. I’ve seen the cover where she’s squeezing a breast. I’ve seen at least 2 midriff baring covers, one with the cutesy “JD’s” belly ring even. I’ve been around for a minute so I know that Janet has not always bared this much when promoting an album. She’s literally taking her clothes off for this one. I’m not here to say she should dress like an old school marm or Jenna Jameson, I’m here because I wonder how much these photos are impacting YOUR LIKELIHOOD of COPPING that album. I want to know if all of these pictures has you itching to go to the local music store, or wherever you purchase your online music. Does it?

I was a Janet Jackson fan before all the pictures. I’m probably still one underneath my disappointment with all the photos. One photo, okay. Two photos, okay. But now when I go to the store with my daughter, the image is that Janet Jackson isn’t a music talent, she’s a woman who likes to be pictured practically nude on a BUNCH of magazine covers. Hey, it is what it is. My daughter hasn’t been around 20 years.

I’m sure the music industry engine has revved up this “Almost Naked” Janet Jackson campaign in hopes that it’s gonna make US so ready to buy the album on the day it drops. Problem is: A beautiful body doesn’t make you forget some lackluster tracks. Have you heard the first two tracks that they’ve released to the public? The whisper song with Nelly? Come on, that record sounds old as hell. Even the second song, the one with JD in the video, I’m not feeling it. I’m not feeling the songs so much, I can’t even remember the song names. And, I’m a music lover. Does some marketing genius think that photos are more important than the music? If so, they need to produce a Janet Jackson calendar and not an album.

Y’all know that I love music and so as painful as it is for me to feel that Janet Jackson’s new album isn’t going to be hot, I feel overwhelmed to say so. An artist of Janet’s caliber doesn’t have to reduce herself to boobs and azz on a ton of magazine covers in order for us to notice her. Her talent is what made us love her in the first place. In 20 years, has Janet forgotten that? Has Virgin Music forgotten that?

In closing, I want to say, that I hope I’m wrong about Janet’s music. I hope that she has some headbangers on the new album; something that will make me nod my head like “Son of A Gun,” something that will excite me like “Got “Til It’s Gone.” I’m standing by the radio and searching the internet waiting to hear that Janet Jackson headbanger from the new album. And, I truly, deeply, hope that it’s coming.

And I still want to know if all the photos got ya’ll running to the store to cop the album or are ya’ll like me waiting for some new hot music from Janet. Let me know. And, if some of you internet junkies got some hot singles that I haven’t heard, please email me!

The Music Industry Needs A Mechanic

2006-09-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

When I first started my career as a writer, I chose to become an entertainment journalist out of my sheer love of music and culture. Imagine what it was like to grow up listening to and loving KRS-One and then see him do a live-show and then be sitting down with him across the street in the hotel lobby kicking it. And were not talking about sex, or money, were talking about music- real music.The BlastMaster

I have memories of Will Smith battling Steady B in a radio studio LIVE. And Will won. I saw LL Cool J perform I need love on a maroon couch while standing next to my Dad who was trying to ignore the weed smokers who were standing next to us. This was 19 years ago. These experiences injected my body with such a love of music I was high when I turned up the radio. These experiences were the reason that I chose to write about music and culture.

I came into the music business as an idealistic journalist. I thought the majority of the people that I would run into would be music lovers. I thought the people that I would come across would be living to uplift the culture. But the reality of the music business is so much different. People are drawn to the celebrities, people are drawn to the money, people are drawn to the spotlight, they forget about the music and the culture. Their only concern is getting paid or being in the spotlight.

The music industry needs people that genuinely care about the industry. Like a car needs a mechanic to make sure its running properly, the music industry needs people, who are not trying to be bought, to make sure that the industry isnt becoming wack! And Im not saying that these people cant make money, Im saying care about some good music. Allow the industry to move forward. I dont see anyone raising their hands to be the mechanic, so Im going to raise my pen in the air.

Right now we need a mechanic to tell some of the fellas to stop glamorizing strippers in every song. I mean lets be real: strippers dont have the best life and yet every other song on the radio is talking about the stripper. Reality check: The stripper is really struggling. More than likely, she hates her job, got some cash flow problems, and possibly a guy whos dogging her out. And if it wasnt for the money that some of the funny-faced guys were giving her, she wouldnt be smiling at dudes pretending to be happy. Is she really happy?

Every stripper Ive never met wished she lived in some posh palace, a nice Allen Iverson type dude to take care of her, a phat ride with some Funk Master Flexxx rims, and knot in her $3,000 couture purse. The stripper doesnt bend over for fun. She bends over because its the best way that she feels that she can make a living. Folks who are rapping about strippers, need to rap the realness about that lifestyle. Talk to a stripper and get a clue. Right now the music industry is producing so many stripper songs that its making girls who have good jobs wonder if they should be wrapping their legs around a steel pole. Come on now, mechanic check. If the girl with the good job quits and becomes a stripper, what job is the stripper gonna have?

Again, I love the music and the culture, but if you need some suggestions for stripper songs lets talk about how the man is going to help her so that she doesnt have to strip anymore. Lets call it, My Girl Dont Strip.

If you want to know how I really feel about music and culture, check out my hip hop novels- EXCLUSIVE and PRIVACY. Theyre everywhere, just like TI.

www.yasminshiraz.net

Yasmin's Personal Prozac Testimony!

2006-08-02T14:08:00.000-04:00

I never thought I'd have a prescription for Prozac, but look out Mom, I've got 2!

For the past three years, I've visited various doctors in an attempt to get an explanation on a decrease in the amount of energy that I have on a daily basis. One doctor told me, "You're getting older. So, you're just gonna be more tired." Two other doctors just looked at me like, "Being tired is no real medical condition so what's your REAL problem?" I took tests for anemia, calcium deficiencies, and all sorts of things that could possibly explain my lack of energy. Everything came up negative. All of the doctors recommended that I exercise. Well, I was already doing that but I was still tired.

Being someone who works out and drinks water, and sleeps 8 hours a night, I expect NOT TO BE TIRED. I started doing some research on being tired and so much of the literature touted the benefits of exercising. Well, I was already exercising. Toward the end of this 3 year period, I started to feel that my exercising was not refreshing me like it used to. In fact, I started to get pissed off that I was so tired and I began to be in a REAL BAD MOOD.

I went to my primary care physician and told him that I was tired and was feeling bad about being tired. He gave me a written test which graded me to be mildly depressed. "Hmm," I thought to myself. "Now that this test has said I'm depressed, am I gonna be helped about being tired too?" I thought.

Well, long story short the doctor gave me a prescription of Prozac. That's right. I wrote it. PROZAC. And when I asked him if there were any side effects, he said there weren't any. Okay then. He assured me that I would feel better and it would help me not to feel tired. Now, for 3 years I've told doctors that I was tired, but not until I was "depressed" could they remotely offer me a solution.

My primary care physician also said that women have a lot of hormonal fluctuations that can explain moodiness and even tiredness, he suggested that I also talk to my gynecologist about my condition and see what she says. For the first couple of days, I took the 10 milligrams of Prozac, the doctor assured me that it was a low dose but we should carefully monitor if it helps me.

About 1 week after I started taking Prozac, I had an appointment with my gynecologist. I explained my tiredness and moodiness to her and told her that my primary care physician gave me a 10 milligram dose of Prozac. She looked at me and
said, "That's nothing. You should be using at least 20 milligrams." I asked her, "Will it help me with being tired?" "Definitely," she responded, "The longer you take it, the better you'll feel."

Now, I take the prescription from her, but I'm really ANTI-DRUG. So, I'm not feeling that great about the possibility of taking 20 milligrams of PROZAC. Remember, I'm someone who believes she is in overall good health. But all of a sudden thanks to a 10 question test and admittedly being a bit itchy, I've become a part of the PROZAC NATION. I wasn't feeling good about that. Drugs sort of scare me.

For 31 days, I took 10 milligrams of Prozac. I experienced the first migraine I ever had in my life during that time in addition to becoming sexually dysfunctional. (I refuse to explain that on this blog.) Anyway, on the upside, I lost a couple of pounds, I did feel happy, but overwhelmingly I kept feeling like there were air bubbles floating through my brain where my emotions were supposed to be. I felt like I was in a Quentin Tarrentino movie without a sword. And you know that's dangerous.

Well, thanks to my two birdies, Steve & Stella, who encouraged me to do research on Prozac and natural alternatives to deal with my lack of energy and moodiness, I actually found a woman's herbal supplement at the health food store and I'm back to being me without the bad attitude and without the bubbles. Bye, bye Quentin.

The reason that I'm sharing my personal story with you is because I believe doctors are over prescribing harmful drugs and we are under-researching alternative solutions for ourselves. My research on PROZAC found numerous testimonies of addiction, sexual dysfunction, and long term mental health issues.

I'm fearful of us entrusting our well-being to people who seemingly aren't really interested in helping us. I would have much rather taken a herbal supplement than a potentially addictive pharmaceutical. Wouldn't you? This world is outta control.

Much love and health,
Yasmin

Killer claims 49 murders???!!!!

2006-07-28T17:27:00.000-04:00

A Colorado killer who is already serving a life sentence for murdering a child recently admitted to killing 49 people. In the articles that I've read, it seems that the killer didn't think much of women and killed them after having met them at motel bars, apartment complexes, convenience stores and the like.

This story reminds me that women must be careful of everyone that they meet. Just because he's cute and charasmatic doesn't mean that he isn't psychotic with homocidal tendencies. We can't be so quick to call someone a friend and allow them into our inner circle. Who are we letting in?

Remember this: Strangers are called "Strangers" for a reason: We don't really know them like that!

Peace

Conceiving, Writing, Expelling

2006-06-01T17:17:00.000-04:00

Hello People!
I've been gone too long. I've thought about writing on my blog, but I've been busy and pulled in 100 directions. Here's the low down:

Today, I'm in the middle of a two week period in which I've had an onslaught of story ideas. Everything from novels, to autobiographies, short stories, etc. You name it, I've had an idea for it lately. I feel somewhat overwhelmed with all of the ideas. I mean I don't know what piece to write first. So, I sit collecting, jotting, researching and not knowing where to start.

I've already written 2 novels, and 3 books of non-fiction, you would think that I would know where to start. But I don't.

I'm not particularly fretful, I realize that it's a blessing to have ideas spewing from you like a faucet. I do realize that the pass two weeks represents my cup running over. Now, if only I could find another cup to catch the spillage...

Peace & Love...

Whoa! Black Rob gets 7 years in prison!

2006-04-04T17:40:00.000-04:00

According to recent news reports, Black Rob, the successful rap artist of the hit single, "Whoa!," was recently sentenced to 7 years in prison for grand larceny in connection with a November 2004 hotel robbery. I'll say it again, "Whoa!"

Arguably in 2000, "Whoa!" was one of the hottest songs on the streets and Rob was the manifestation of ghetto dreams that had come true. He was signed to P-Diddy's Bad Boy Record label, on the VIP list at the hottest parties, and had groupies who would do anything to get a piece of his blackness. Fastforward six years later, Rob is donning a prison jumpsuit and for what? Rob was caught on tape stealing a woman's purse and according to authorities, he scored more than $6,000 from the incident.

How many people dream of being famous, look on the television and wish to trade places with the current celebrity of the moment? In 2000, many a brother wished they were in Black Rob's shoes--shoes that they thought were rich, fortunate, and going to desireable places. Do they still?

Celebrity - with all of it's bright lights and fast cash- is never what we think it is. Celebrity, itself, is an illusion. Who would have thought 6 years after having one of the hottest singles in the US, Black Rob would be in prison? It's something to think about.

22 yr old kills girlfriend's mother at church!

2006-02-27T10:36:00.000-05:00

According to various news reports, a 22 year old male went into a Detroit church this Sunday wanting to know the whereabouts of his 19 year old girlfriend. When he asked his girlfriend's mother and she refused to tell him, he shot and killed her.

Though I don't know any of the people involved in this tragedy, I believe this is yet another wake-up call to dating people who show signs of mental instability, controlling behavior and violence. What kind of person kills his girlfriend's mother because she wouldn't tell him where her daughter was? I would guess that he was a violent, abusive, and possessive person prior to this incident.

It's troubling to me when I hear young women talk affectionately about their boyfriends possessive and psychotic behavior. "He loves me that's why he wants to be with me all the time and that's why he be trippin' when he doesn't know where I'm at..." "He hit me because he thought somebody liked me and he didn't want us to break up. I understand that..."

We're are lying to ourselves when we say it's "okay" to be with a guy who is trying to control every minute of our days, flies off the handle for every little thing, threatens to hurt us, and occasionally hits us. The mistake we often make when we accept their bad behavior is we say, "Well it's my life and I have to deal with him. It ain't nobody else's problem." But if you've been watching the news lately abusive, violent boyfriends/husbands have been killing their girlfriend's/wive's mothers, brothers, fathers, cousins, daughters, sons, etc. When you allow a violent, abusive person into your life you put everyone who knows you and loves you at risk.

As I wrote in Rule #32 of The Blueprint for My Girls in Love: 99 Rules for Dating, Relationships & Intimacy - "A boyfriend that hits you isn't worth keeping."

Life happens... Jesus & Coretta Scott King

2006-02-14T23:12:00.000-05:00

So much has been going on in 2006. At the beginning of any new year, I work like a crazy person to make sure I'm productive. This year has been no different. I'm working hard but I'm enjoying myself at the same time. And to be truthful, I really feel good about life. I feel good about lining my ducks up in a row. It seems that we have to stay focused on what we want to accomplish and what we want to do. Since the last time I really wrote something serious on my blog Kanye West posed as Jesus Christ on the cover of Rolling Stone and Coretta Scott King died.

Someone told me that many folks were offended by Kanye posing as Jesus Christ. So many actors have posed as Jesus Christ and not one of them wrote a song called "Jesus Walks," and folks weren't outraged. So, I ain't feelin' being outraged about that. What is this? Some people can pose while others can't? I smell a double standard.

Coretta Scott King died and I was and will always be moved by the way she lived her life and the torch that she carried. Many folks don't understand but for Mrs. King to have carried the legacy, and continued to breathe life into Martin Luther King's dream even though it was also her dream, it was a tremendous thing to do. So many people's visions die with them. Mrs. King made sure that didn't happen. And, she was such a regal woman. Looking at her just made you want to hold your head up high.

Let's say a prayer for Mrs. Coretta Scott King. May she rest in peace.
Much love.

Crips Co-Founder Executed 12:35 PST - What do you think of the death penalty?

2005-12-13T19:48:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me, I mean really know me, know that I wrote a thesis on the criminal justice system when I was in graduate school. (Ahh! You're shocked!) You probably thought my writing started when I was interviewing rappers. Not.

Anyway, I wrote a thesis that was entitled: Streetism vs. Elitism in which I compared the treatment of street level drug pushers to white collar criminals who were embezzling millions for American companies. In my research, I concluded that street level criminals were always more severely punished than white collar criminals though the damage caused by white collar crimes was almost always more far reaching.

Prior to writing my Master's thesis examining Streetism & Elitism, I studied the punishments meted out by the criminal justice system by race. I examined white murderers, latino murderers, black murderers and I looked at their punishments. In most cases, blacks and latinos received far worse punishments even when their crimes were the same as a white murderer's. Why? That was the question that I asked.
In many cases, blacks and latinos were given the death penalty when white offenders were given a life sentence. Why?

My sociological studies of the criminal justice system extended beyond murder, and I looked at rapes, robberies, drug possession and the like. All across the board, in most cases, blacks and latinos were given more severe punishment that their white counterparts. Why?

It appeared to me that the criminal justice system did not equally apply punishment to all offenders. It's the essence of Life not being Fair but played within the prison system.

If punishment is not equally applied to all offenders, how can we with good conscience allow the death penalty to be applied at all, knowing that the inequality surely leads to death?

I used to be a proponent of the death penalty until I realized that some people will get it and others won't. I just don't think it's fair. And, yeah I know life isn't fair. But, when we're sending people to die, because we feel that it's just, should the criminal justice system be atleast impartial in its application of the death penalty?

It's easy to sit back and say, "An eye for an eye, no one has a voice for the victim." I get that. But there has to be some real changes made within the criminal justice system and within American society before we can even begin to THINK that the death penalty is an equitable punishment. It isn't.

Before DNA tests were proving that innocent men were being put to death, and going to jail, a lot of minorities were killed for crimes that they didn't commit. A lot of minorities were sentenced to the death penalty. Now that DNA is in effect and can prove that those men didn't commit those crimes, how do we give them their lives back? The death penalty leaves no room for error.

Let's scratch beneath the surface and see what we'll find.

Peace & Think.

What happens to the kids whose parents are in prison?

2005-11-21T13:56:00.000-05:00

Ever wonder what happens to the kids whose parents are in jail? Who cooks 'em dinner? Who buys 'em birthday cake or presents when they turn a year older? When the holidays come around - who creates traditions with them? Who helps kids feel that their parent's mistakes aren't their fault?

Yesterday I went to church and upon entering there was a table and a small Christmas tree filled with tags that had the names of kids on them. My daughter and I stopped at the table to find out what was going on. We were told that we could adopt a child for the holidays and purchase gifts for them. On each of the tags was a gift or gifts that the child wanted. My daughter picked a girl's tag, I picked another girl's tag and I filled out the paperwork. I thought it would be fun to look out for someone else. As my daughter and I sat in the church service though, I thought about the empty Christmases that I've had over the past 6 years. Christmases in which I feel that I do too much for my own kids and not enough for the other kids of the world.

At the end of service, I went back to the Christmas tree and picked two more kids to adopt for the the holidays. My family tree expanded by four more in a matter of hours and I didn't even have to give birth. I was so excited to be helping someone else that I drove immediately to the store and purchased the gifts. While I was looking at the name tags, I noticed that the tags had "Angel Tree - A Ministry of Prison Fellowship" on them. I was pleasantly surprised. When I signed up to adopt kids, I didn't realize who I was helping. I was just glad to be giving something to someone who needed it.

My daughter read the tag and asked me what a "Prison Fellowship" was. Instead of answering her directly, I asked her what happens to the kids whose parents are in prison? She looked at me with a blank face and replied, "Both parents?" My daughter and I had a discussion about life, decisions, and incarceration. But most importantly our discussion focused on the children and what must happen to kids whose parents can no longer look out for them.

Like other kids, my daughter is used to her mother being there for her, she's used to new clothes and food when she's hungry. She's used to her own room and her own bed. But I explained to her that her situation isn't everyone else's situation. And, when you're blessed with many things, you gotta learn how to share. Well, my daughter went to the girls section of the department store and picked up a cute pink and yellow outfit for her adopted sister. She picked out socks, underwear and said, "Mom, do you think we should get her a bra?" I had to shake my head no on that one, but my daughter seemed really interested in looking out for somebody else.

So, next time you wonder: What happens to the kids whose parents are in prison?
Look up the Angel Tree network and be giving.

Peace & Love
Yasmin

Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico - Puerto Rico

2005-11-20T17:31:00.000-05:00

Hey folks!
I've been gone for a minute. 17 days actually. I was in Puerto Rico for 7 days. I had never been there before. It was off the chain. I stayed in a hotel right off the beach. So every day I would go out on my chaise lounge and look at the ocean. I'm one for shark duty. I'll stick my toe in the water but I ain't venturing too far out into the ocean. There's a reason that human beings don't have gills - it's because we don't belong in the ocean! Anyway, I loved Puerto Rico and the fact that it was hotter than DC in November. Everyday was like 84 degrees or better.

In recent years, I've read about the discrimination in Latino countries among white latinos and black latinos. In fact, a native of Puerto Rico recently informed me of a white weekend at the beach and a black weekend at the beach. Apparently, at atleast one beach on the island of Puerto Rico, the lighter skinned Puerto Ricans go to the beach and mingle and the next weekend the darker skinned Puerto Ricans go the the same beach and mingle. What happens to the Puerto Ricans that fall in the middle. Say you're neither a "white" latino or a "black" latino which day do you go to the beach?

It constantly annoys me of how easily it is for people to discriminate against each other along the lines of skin tone. Nothing about a person's color makes them good or bad. I guess this is an issue that will continue to plague mankind until the last of our days.

I read an article a while back in which an Afro-Latino (dark skinned person of spanish heritage) commented that darker skinned latinos were not given the same jobs or opportunities as white latinos. The article reminded me of the mulatto days in America - the days when black dancers couldn't dance in clubs unless they could practically pass for being white. Well, while I was staying in my hotel in Puerto Rico, I didn't see one Afro-Latino who worked there in any capacity. Everyone that I saw was fairly light and the ones that were darker were like a 1/2 a shade darker. I wonder if this is what the woman was talking about in her article. Probably so.

It's a real shame. The latinos who are engaging in skin color discrimination against their own only have to look as far as the African American plight in America to see how pointless it is. The house negroes and the field negroes were pitted against each other and often to the detriment of them both. In many cases, light skinned and dark skinned African Americans have held biases against each other, and it hasn't brought either group any particular success, happiness or joy. So, what's the point?

My latino brothers and sisters, please ask yourselves: Que es el punto? (What's the point?)

Adios, Mis Amigos.
Tu hermana,
Yasmin Shiraz

Get Rich or Die Tryin' but not on a billboard

2005-10-30T15:12:00.000-05:00

50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin'

Paramount Pictures, the company that is releasing 50 Cent's biopic on November 9th, has caved to pressure by community leaders demanding that billboards advertising the movie be taken down. For community leaders, 50 Cent's life glorifies violence, guns, and a bunch of other negative issues that are harmful to young kids. The community rallied and was able to have the billboards removed from school zones, particularly zones that have high gang activity.

It's an interesting argument nonetheless because 50 Cent stopped selling drugs and became a rap artist. He turned his back on gangster living and turned toward music. It seems that 50 Cent's story could be utilized to bring a young man from gang violence, to bring young people from wanting to gang bang, but in this most recent protest, community leaders are arguing that 50 Cent represents gang violence. It's a complex issue. It's complex also because to my knowledge, 50 Cent has never been a member of a gang and yet there are artists out there who are former and STILL gang members who I'm sure have had billboards (in the same city) and I don't quite remember hearing a protest. Is this a double standard? Bias? Discrimination? Something ain't right...

I'm not one to say that 50 Cent's music doesn't talk about guns or violence. I ain't going there. But what a particular 50 Cent song represents and what a movie on 50 Cent's life represents seems to be two DIFFERENT things. If we did a movie on Will Smith's life and focused on his early days of rapping and when he admittedly spent too much money, we wouldn't be doing his entire life story any justice. If we focused on a less mature Will and all the faults, we wouldn't be seeing the whole picture. When a person looks at 50 Cent's entire life and focuses solely on the time that he sold drugs and used guns, is that doing his life story justice?

I think the real issue is that folks don't like 50 Cent, some of his songs, what he says in the media, and his business acumen. And instead of being upfront and real about what their issues are they are hiding behind this biopic. I think if people said what was really on their minds we could see the issues a whole lot clearer. But until then, you cannot judge a man for one part of his life while ignoring the rest. I think I heard that from Spike Lee years ago. Your life is not one thing, it is a series of things. Sometimes we spend so much time focusing on the negative that we cannot see the positive. And sometimes there is no positive.

Peace!!!