Rosewood

The end of Rosewood is supposed to be assertive considering the massacre that occurred in the film. Yet why is it that the movie makes it seem "okay" when Fanny Taylor gets beat by her husband for telling the lie which started the masscare. Yes she is responsible for initiating the attacks and killings of blacks in Rosewood, Florida in January of 1923. Because one of the men she cheated on her husband with beat her, she blames her attack on a black man to protect herself from explaining what happened to her husband and the members of the small town. One her husband realizes that Fanny has lied and a whole town has been killed because of it he comes home and beats her. Would the movie had of been as much powerful without this scene? Or was it needed to make the audience aware that she faced "punishment" because of her actions. I guess because it's a true story it is important to incorporate what actually happened to all of the main characters affected by the story. I just didn't like the image of the audience leaving with the image of her being beaten by her husband with a "that's what she gets" type of attitude. I know this movie was set back in the 1920's so its hard to imagine what the outcome would have been without using visuals.

VIRGINITY FOR SALE AUCTION!!!

So I'm sitting here watching the Tyra Banks show and there is a guest 22-year-old Natalie who is actually auctioning her virginity off. Hmm??? Isn't this prostitution yet in a different form? Her reasoning is so she can pay for her education. Whatever happened to scholarships, grants, loans or financial aid? Here's the kicker-she's not looking to "give it up" to the highest bidder, it's all based on chemistry. So now it sounds like she is dating online? I'm confused. She calls it selling her virginity. I would have more respect for this woman if she just went on one of those Tila-Tequila reality-type TV shows. I guess she's taking "being original" to a whole other level. Dennis Hof of Carson City Nevada, who is owner of the famous Moonlight Bunny Ranch, is helping Natalie to reach her goal. In fact once the deal is complete the "event" will take place on the ranch. He will also receive 50% of whatever offer she receives. So not only is she a prostitute but she's being pimped and won't even reap the benefits of her decision. Like the audience I just sit here and shake my head. Hopefully some young virgin girl is not sitting at home watching this thinking I want to be like Natalie. Natalie feels her actions will empower women-but why ask for money? And what message is this sending to other women? Young women in particular since most virgins are young women are under eighteen. One of Natalie's bidders just came on-stage and he looks like weird creepy old guy. Seriously he is about as old as Colonel Sanders. Poor Natalie! If only someone would talk some sense into this woman. Once she auctions off her virginity for a large sum of money, what are the odds she won't become a prostitue for a living? Will she be satisfied with just the money made from her virginity? Is this just a plea for attention? What do we think?

Random

So today in my Interviewing and Performance class we had a guest speaker, media image consultant Gail Hayden. She was teaching about what clothing fabric and colors look good on camera and how to apply on camera makeup. She pulled a couple members from class to do a demo of how your everyday makeup looks completely different from how it appears on camera. First she picked a white guy from the class. Next a while female and just to show a variety she picked a black female last. We were all watching and listening closely as she explained that black people may look ashy under the lights so you must use makeup with yellow undertones to bring out the brightness in the skin. Ok so the funny part was when a guy yells out from the back of the studio-"so what color makeup do black people need to use?". LOL!!! Okay I know its not funny but it was funny at the moment. But then I felt bad because he was actually serious. He even got up and moved his chair up close to watch her apply the makeup. I just thought to myself-who asks something like that? Especially since there are 5 of us in the class and not two of us are the same complexion. It was just a bit shocking.

Limitations of Art

Has anyone else seen this? I for one watch the news religiously and didn't come across this until my mom sent it to me in an email. This is just crazy. Its sad to see in 2008 racism is still at its highest peak in the mind's of some people. Clearly Yazmany Arboleda, the artist who designed this exhibit, had way too much time on his hands. He declares it as "character assassination". He even had the audacity to think that his racist views were protected under the Constitution because was expressing himself through art. Luckily he was arrested by police for interrogation.

Race and Hair care

Why is it that there's such a huge difference in the cost of hair care depending upon your race? I work at a high-end retailer and this subject came up a few weeks ago in one of our "water cooler" discussion (in our case we were surrounded by $150 bottles of eau de parfum). A white gentleman I work with said he stopped dying his hair at salons and decided to just go gray because the cost was so expensive. He said he normally pays between $75 and $125 for hair coloring and a cut. I thought this was absurd considering he's a guy without much hair. Then another coworker who happens to be white and female said she pays up to $200 sometimes just for highlights. To me these numbers were piercing my ears especially since I've never paid more than $50 for hair coloring. So why is there such a big difference in cost? Then I got to thinking maybe its the type of salons. Yet still it doesn't make sense to me. My roommate for instance pays the exact same price as I do for a cut and style. She goes to the Tony and Guy salon and I go to Skillz Salon. Both salons are a part of a franchise and pretty trendy-based. About a year ago she stopped getting her hair colored at Tony and Guy and started having me do it. She said that when she gets her hair colored she always ends up spending about $100. So again where is this capitalization coming from? Speaking with several friends outside of my race (I'm black) it appears that they are paying a much higher cost for hair care across the board. The salon I go to is an all black salon and most of my friends go to white-owned salons. It just seems like where all getting the same thing done yet different cost.