The recent heated debate over immigration in the United States has left me worried:  Arizona was one gavel-bang away from being the only state in the US where cops could stop and detain you for lack of “papers.” Granted, there is nothing new about the desire to reform the country’s immigration laws and policies, just as there is nothing new about its current unfairness.  Right or wrong (cynical or on-point), I’ve long held the idea that the individuals that mainstream America want coming to this country have light (read: fair) skin.  I grew up in Florida where the wet foot-dry...

Sassy, moody, talkative. She is that sista that the makes the scene and leaves an impression. MoreEssence will get in you face and engage you. Upbeat and full of  ‘tude, she is that earthMother who watches out for her own. MoreEssence makes her own way and commands proper respect. This earthMother is a loving soul who has had her share of difficulty and pain; difficulties that leave those little nicks and cuts on your spirit. But when you see her, you see a woman enjoying life, exploring self and building a bright future for herself and her loved ones. She is a lioness with vision. And she’s...

Photography courtesy of Brandi Pettijohn Photography and the National Black Arts Festival Anticipation mounts as I wait to see the show.  I have the most amazing feeling and I wish someone was here to share it with me.  Like…I’m about to experience greatness.  Magic.  I’ve never gotten into Curtis Mayfield–not because I never wanted to or didn’t like him–no, not at all.  I love his voice and his music but I’ve just always felt it related to something I didn’t know about, some part of history or time my parents grew up in and therefore not for me.  But it is a...

Hi, I’m PhysiqueAE1, also known as Angela!  I began my personal training career in (1999) in Macon Ga, at Golds Gym where I attained my first certification in personal training from Nedita. After moving to Atlanta, GA, I continued my career in personal training by working at L. A. Fitness from 2003-2006. There I acquired my certification from  National Federation of Personal Trainers. I learned how to work with people with many ailments and disabilities including high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, pre- and post- natal pregnancy, elderly, and joint and muscle injuries, etc. From...

by earthSista Kire Na RepJA could not have chosen a better set of models. The ladies and gentlemen of Pangea’s Garden were up early that Sunday morning in June to grace the internationally expressed fashions of RepJA! This vibrant and colorfully cultivated and edgy clothing line blends into its style the language, music, and dances of Jamaica with an American twist.  The models were up for the task of showcasing the Pangea’s Garden natural essence, while accentuating RepJA’s Caribbean flair in fashion. RepJA is young, hip, and up-to-date, yet speaks to the tastes of fashion lovers. Spanning...

The Sol ex-PEER-ience sol (sōl) n. 1) Roman Mythology the sun god 2) the sun personified experience  (ek spirˈē əns) n. 1) the act of living through an event  2) anything observed or lived through 3) a) training and personal participation b) knowledge, skill, etc. resulting from this -from Webster’s New World Dictionary and Thesaurus Hello and welcome to the Sol Expeerience.  This is an exploration into my world where art forms collide and take you on a physical journey through spiritual spaces and intergalactic travels through mental stimulation. Sorry if I go too deep.  This is just...

The earthSistas have caught the attention of Zora&Alice. Zora&Alice is an online community that provides a fresh, smart voice for young black women. The site covers a range of topics, with special focus on career, culture, sexuality and women’s issues. Recently they contacted Tafakari, Pangea’s Content Director and interviewed her, mostly asking questions about the earthSistas. Check it out!

What’s Going On? If you haven’t heard about this fiasco yet, then let me catch you up. Before vetting anything or performing the most cursory of investigations, the USDA Secretary, Tom Vilsack, recently decided to can federal appointee Shirley Sherrod for making allegedly racist remarks at an NAACP banquet.  The NAACP went in on her, then White House officials went in after them.  Who was behind the video’s outing?  Why, Fox News and conservative bloggers. Smell a rat?  Me, too. So, it turns out that the rat (also known as Andrew Breitbart) posted an edited video and touted...

Cultivating the Garden for you… A couple weeks ago, I said that we-the-people at Pangea’s Garden were hard at work making the site better for you in creative ways.  Thanks for all your helpful suggestions! We really want The Garden to grow into a fully collaborative effort, so keep sending us your comments and requests for discussion topics. I’m excited to announce that, over the next few weeks, we will start rolling out regular blogs by our new contributor panel! Without further ado, let me give you a sneak peak of the awesomeness coming up: What’s Going On? by tafakari. ...

by vincent & tafakari (WHAT ?! I wasn’t even there!) It all started when we did the T-shirt shoot for RepJa.  It was a fun Sunday afternoon and my girl Tara showed up to film the behind-the-scenes (she thinks she’s an auteur or something).  We were having so much fun that, on an impulse, we decided to have a get-together at her shop, The Crochet Fashion Gallery.  Tara and I didn’t know what we were going to do or what it was going to be about, but we knew we were going to do it in a week (because it was the last week of free parking).  Finally, we decided to go with The...