EXTREMELY ROUGH PORTFOLIO

Caution: Societal Dilemmas Revealed In Response to Pepsi

http://bgr.com/2017/04/05/pepsi-ad-kendall-jenner-tone-deaf-commercial/

           To whomever reads this, I hope you will postpone doubt and judgment to read the following post. When you are finished, I hope you will have understood my message for all that I meant to say, and nothing of what I didn’t. This post will be blunt, but I promise you, it will be honest.

In the last week, Pepsi has been the focus in social media controversy. In their latest ad featuring Kendall Jenner in a ‘Pepsi Protest’ they made a few too many mistakes. However, there are many people who are looking at the commercial as being insensitive ONLY toblack people and the Black Lives Matter movement. As a black person, I find this to be ridiculous.

              As black men and women we do not hold a cornerstone on protests, nor do we have a right to categorize everything to being about race, which is often done and referred to as pulling the ‘race card’. 

http://jax1776.deviantart.com/art/Race-Card-505362227

In an attempt to gain equality, black people have also segregated themselves and often equate racism as being something that only affects black Americans. There are even some who have the misconception that black people cannot be racist which isn’t true either. While I do believe that police brutality and the plight of black people has been systematically engrained into the culture of America, I do not think that the way we are reacting to these issues will take us forward. Instead, I’m very worried that these reactions only hold America back from the progress it should have made a long time ago.

              The real issue regarding the Pepsi commercial is that it downplayed what a real protest is like and what injustices are inflicted on people during one. Protests can be very stressful and can often end in violence. Many people have been arrested for protesting in America in the last 3 years which should be illegal since it goes against our first amendment rights: “Congress shall make no law respectingan establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; orabridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the peoplepeaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress ofgrievances". And the police are given an overabundance of riot gear for an event that is peaceful in nature and should never advance that far.

Lately, protests and riots have initiated often all over America and the results have been dismal. I will never say that these protests and riots were useless or unnecessary because they were needed to show America that we still have deeply rooted issues. It is time for America, as a whole, to face the injustices that have been dealt to those who did not deserve it. I have said it once before and I’ll say it again that America is a bastard nation that has done the worst possible things to generations of people over its entire lifetime. But it is also a nation can thrive when we all work together. The real problem that we have is that we look at things personally and after becoming jaded refuse to see the truth for what it is. We refuse to connect the dots and DO something that will make a lasting change.

              Since high school I could feel a war brewing. I felt deep in my soul that America would become a battleground once more and brother would kill brother; sister would betray sister; and couples would abandon each other for differences that do not matter. If we continue the way we are, war will be inevitable. I, who am not close to God at all, will be praying that before that happens we see what needs to be done so we can avoid this fate.

Poster Final

Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival

This past Saturday, rather than participate in local bar crawls or door parties, I spent April Fool’s Day partaking in my favorite things. Food & good alcohol.

The Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ Festival held at the Cow Palace at the Timonium Fairgrounds is a yearly tradition of southern taste. Starting on March 31^st, the down-home fun began at 2pm each day & end at 6.

Based on my experiences from this weekend, I can only dream of the fantastical plans they have for next year! Attending the festivities with me was my friend Megan Shrewsbury, we entered the event around 4pm because I was running late (it says you need to have the printed-out ticket but you can just use your phone). Because of this we were limited by how much we could eat but Kolby’s Smokehouse made a very good impression!

In preparation for this long-awaited day, I did not eat at all beforehand so I felt comfortable enough to order a ½ rack of pork ribs &a Jar-B-Que (layers of BBQ sauce, pulled pork, baked beans, & coleslaw). The ribs were served dry but they had 3 of their BBQ sauce options there for everyone to choose: Original, Carolina, & Chipotle. Not being particularly fond of spicy foods, I decided not to risk the chipotle & tasted the other two instead. Kolby’s Carolina BBQ sauce was the best sauce I had ever tasted on a rib! It had a peppery note to it that offset the sweetness of the BBQ without being overbearing. Megan ordered a BBQ pulled pork sandwich.  Both of our meals disappeared in a matter of minutes! After eating we helped ourselves to a few different beers. With the tasting cup, (included in your general admission ticket price of $39) you get a free sample from each liquor vendor, & they aren’t afraid to fill your cup!

Whilst socializing, we were given a tip from a man named Jim Corcoran that the best drink there was the Saranac Coffee Lager. With a name like Corcoran we of course listened to him & went off to find the vendor tent. Unfortunately, by the time we got there, all the coffee lager was gone! Next year we will have a plan of action in place to try everything they offer! But based on how fast it went, the lager must have been good!

During the festival, a live band was playing everything from classic bluegrass to modern pop. The lead singer of Lost In Paris, Randy Major said that their, “booking agent has been putting bands,” at the Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ events for a long time. They put on a terrific show & many people took to them quickly. On bass is Vinny Derenzis, Jeff Gerowsky on guitar, Josh Allen on keys, & on the drums, Brandon Johns. Major reported that it was a “fun crowd, everyone was enjoying themselves, everybody had some spirits in them,” (literally & figuratively)! You can find out more about them at lipband.com or follow them on Twitter, Facebook, & Instagram! Megan & I truly enjoyed their performance as did many others who were there.

One thing I wanted to know was what the purpose of the event was. Why did people go to the trouble to create this yearly event? Luckily, I made some new friends who were more than willing to help me figure it out! A friend of mine Dwayne Trawick worked at the Arcadia vendor that day. He offered up Battle Creek & Sky High Rye for consumption & jokingly said the purpose was, “to get people trashed” the festival prides itself on making sure each person drinks responsibly, but they still know how to have fun. Nick Silverson, from DC, & his cousin Noe, from Connecticut, came to the festival to connect with each other for the first time! When I asked them what they thought the purpose of the event was, they had a few ideas. Silverson first said it was to, “get drunky,” but after taking another moment he then said that the, “higher purpose is comradery”. Agreeing, Noe stated that it was all about, “bringing people together around a shared interest in alcohol.” Both answers were right on the money.

At the end of the event, I managed to meet Greg Nivens, the owner of Trigger (the company that produces the Drink. Eat. Relax. events) &he could enlighten me. For 11 years Beer Bourbon &BBQ has attracted over 12,000 people to the festival each year. He says that Beer, Bourbon, & BBQ, “was invented to celebrate all the things I miss,” elaborating that good food produces good feelings & he wanted to create an event that would bring those feelings back.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the festival with Megan & I met many people who enjoyed themselves as well! If you are reading this post, I urge you to attend this event next year. And the year after that. And the year after that… but you get the picture. Take the time to slow down with this new savory tradition!

Off the Runway, Onto the Beaten Path

Everyone everywhere wants to travel. Some people want to spend endless lazy days on the beaches of the Caribbean, while others would prefer to climb mountains in knee deep snow. But we all want to feel good while doing it, and a part of feeling good is looking good. Now we all can’t be America’s Next Top Model, I know I’m not, but there is a way to for us to find a style that works for us no matter where we go or what we are doing!

Make-Up

              Alright ladies, let’s break it down. When you are traveling you do not need cake on concealer and smear lipstick on every single day or at all. That takes away too much time when you could be exploring! You need 2 simple things: Noxzema and chap-stick. Noxzema is facial cleanser than I and my whole family swear by. In the mornings I actually mix a small amount with water to use as a facial lotion. I suggest the Moisturizing Cleansing Cream in the blue jar with the purple band for your traveling needs. If you can’t stand not to have make-up on, then limit it to waterproof mascara and a tinted lip moisturizer like Vaseline Rosy Lip Therapy.

              Guys, I know you don’t wear make-up; kudos if you do though; but you need chap-stick and Noxzema too! Try Carmex Original Lip Balm, it has no fruity smell and it won’t look like you’re wearing lip gloss.

Hair

              With all the different hair types in the world and the confusion as to which hairstyle is best for that texture, we sometimes forget that the simplest way, is the best way.

Ladies!

• Long straight or loosely waved hair: I suggest the fishtail braid. It’s attractive flirty and EASY!
• Long curly hair: Stick to a messy bun. Super simple but also endearingly cute.
• Mid-Length straight hair: Go for that high pony! If your hair is just a little too short for that, try a low pony or see the next bullet.
• Mid-Length waved or curly hair: Grab a stretchy headband and hit the road. As long as it isn’t in your face so you can clearly see the world, you’re all set!
• Short straight/wavy hair: go for gold with a layered pixie! This look has sass written all over it.
• Short curly hair: This is my texture and I suggest finding a curl enhancer to boost your coils. My personal favorites are OGX Quenching Coconut Curling Hair Butter for a looser curl and As I Am Coil Defining Jelly for a tighter kink like mine.

Gentlemen!

• Long hair: Please, please, please give in to the man bun! Man buns are, dare I say it, downright sexy! If you don’t feel you can rock that, braid it. No harm, no foul!
• Mid-Length hair: Low Ponies will always be your friend. Soulful in a way, they are also practical with a capital ‘P’.
• Short hair: Wear it the way you always have. It works best for you!

If you have the capability, I also highly suggest letting the beard take over. Shaving is a pain! Just keep it combed and clean and everything will be A-OK.       

Clothes

              There is only one rule in dressing for travel. Layer Up. Think about it. You’ve never been to these places so you don’t know what the weather will be like. Pack so that you are prepared for anything! Bring:

•        A light weight, water resistant jacket
•        Tops of all shapes, textures, and sizes
•        Bottoms that make you comfortable. I suggest Leggings for the women and sporty shorts or pants for the men
•        Bathing suit/swim trunks
•       Basic underwear and socks, nothing fancy. Sports bras are a must if they aren’t already an addiction ladies.

Try to wear clothes that transition through the day. For example. Let’s say Minnie and Mickie have traveled to New Zealand. They’re day starts with a rugged hike, to a picnic in a meadow, and onto dancing at a nearby club that night. The easiest way for them not to make multiple trips to their hotel to change is to have a quick change of either the top or bottom portion of the outfit on hand.

• Minnie: She should wear the leggings throughout the entire day but change her shirt. Hiking, wear a short sleeved shirt and keep it on for the picnic. Hit the bathroom and change into a dressy tunic for that nightclub.
• Mickie: Should change his bottoms. Keep a short sleeved shirt and bring along a pair of his favorite jeans to change into after those sports shorts are drenched by sweat.

If the thought of changing into clean clothes after a sweaty hike freaks you out then good. Because it should. I suggest bringing a packet of cleansing wipes with you to wipe down with before the change. Nobody likes a stinky dance partner.

Shoes

              One thing that is always a pain to pack are shoes. They are bulky and take up space which is why you should only ever carry 2 pairs of them on any trip. You know what activities you plan to do. If it’s an active trip go for ankle high hiking boots and a pair of running shoes. If it’s a casual trip full of lounging and sightseeing, go for laid-back shoes; like ballet flats for women/casual sneakers for men; and sandals. If it’s a mix of both, go with casual shoes and running shoes.

              We all have an idea of what our perfect vacation should be like but the truth is, no vacation is perfect! Flights are canceled, or delayed, that cooking class was postponed, and luggage gets lost! Luckily everything listed above can be replaced without destroying your vacation savings. Things happen all the time to get in the way, but at least when it comes to looking good, you know you’re ready! So go find your new happy place! Enjoy it and your new traveling style.

Inside The Mosque

Since 9-11 Middle Eastern men and women have been placed under a microscope, but examined with clouded lenses. People have made many assumptions about Islam that are very racist in nature. The biggest problem (aside from the prejudice) is that people do not actually know what the religion of Islam is about, what the Quran says, or what the main principles of this religion are. Originally, I planned to visit a mosque, a synagogue, and a Buddhist temple, but I felt the misunderstandings people have for Middle Eastern men and women was more prevalent. Instead of trying to convince people that being racist is wrong, providing information on what a typical weekly service is like at a mosque should provide honest information for people to reference.

I decided to visit the Diyanet Center of America in Goddard, MD, a beautiful Turkish style mosque that acts as a safe-haven for Muslim families to flock to when practicing their religion. There’s not only a mosque, but a cultural center, a restaurant, and even a bathhouse! 

People are even able to live on-site permanently in their residential housing options! All-in-all, the Diyanet Center of America is a central place for Muslim people to come together and feel comfortable being who they are and carrying out their religious practices.

Jumu’ah services normally begin Fridays at 1pm. When you first walk up the stairs into the open-air courtyard, you are in awe of the spectacular architecture that makes you feel as though you stepped out of Maryland and into Turkey. 

The understated blue and gold against the white walls promote calm serenity. It is respectful if you are female to cover yourself and your hair before entering the sanctuary so wear something long sleeved and floor length if you are female and intend to visit.

The first step is to wash your hands, face, arms, legs, and feet before entering the sanctuary Wudu. At this mosque, there is a fountain in the middle of the courtyard that people use to complete this task. 

Before stepping on the carpeted area, people remove their shoes as well so bring a pair of socks to be polite. The inner temple is just as incredible as the outer courtyard. 

At this point the men file in towards the front of the mosque, nearest the speaker and the women towards the back on either side of the room.

While people are still filing in, young boys are up front singing scripture from the Quran one at a time, these snippets are called Nat. It does not matter what time people arrive, the first thing they do is complete the traditional bow and pray. When 1:30 rolls around, the speaker begins a nat of his own then moves on to give his sermon, first in Arabic and then in English. Once his sermon is over he sings another nat. At the end, everyone stands up and completes the traditional bow as they follow along with the prayer. The men would occasionally respond to what the speaker said. Afterwards, people leave or continue to pray on their own terms.

That is all that happens during a typical Jumu’ah. The sermon was very like sermons I have heard in a Christian church. Preaching on righteousness, honesty, and right vs wrong. There was nothing sinister or suspicious about it. The Nats were beautiful and it must take strong vocal ability to be able to sing them the way they do which is impressive at such young ages.

At the end of the day, a Jumu’ah is the same as any other service. The only difference is the language its spoken in. hopefully, this will provide insight for those curious enough to research the truth before inventing it.

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