MTV recently announced a casting call for Black women ages 15-28 for its reality show TRUE LIFE. The subject: Black Women Going Natural. The series seeks to document the black woman’s journey of transitioning to natural hair. The natural hair aesthetic is a popular trend now as it has gone from being an underground notion to now being seen on CNN and Fox. On this subject, Claudio E. Cabrera of TheRoot.com says that, “throughout the last few years, black women’s dependence on what many call the “creamy crack” has declined as many find the advantages of going natural....

It is the end of  the 7th, and final, day of KWANZAA. Today we celebrated IMANI (Faith). Today we renew our BELIEF in God, our people, our teachers and our leaders, and the virtue and victory of our struggle  - IMANI! When we speak of faith as it relates to the principles of the Nguzo Saba, one way we can practice Imani all year ’round is to always, always, always search for common ground amongst the desires and struggles of our peoples. This search is grounded in a FAITH that we all seek create a more community for our legacies. However, there are so many things that separate people in...

2011 was a tumultuous year in the Garden. We have gone thru a lot of changes, growing chaotically, organically along the way. Some folks have moved on while others have joined us followers and cultivators and we were fortunate to share some exciting times and provocative adventures along the way. One of these exciting experiences was Yemi Toure’s Midnight Erotica. It was an evening in late summer and a few of the images from Pangea’s UdoU Series were included in an Afrocentric erotica art show featuring paintings, drawings, sculptures, photography and spoken word. Nobella body painted...

I want to start this post by saying that Love & hip Hop is a disgrace to all things Hip Hop but I have to at least acknowledge the superficial nature that does exist within the new Hip Hop Culture. I can’t help that in seeing the name “Love & Hip Hop”, I actually expected to see a show of real artists showing their love for the music and community, expressing how Hip Hop has inspired them, showing their influence on hip hop. I expected to see a few battles, hear some good beats, see some records spinning, and be taken inside the studios. I wanted to see some dude in dirty jeans kicking...

EXCERPT ”How to Build A People’s Army” by Kalonji Changa (www.ftpmovement.ning.com): Everything that exists within the universe has an order and anything that doesn’t have an order is chaotic. Whether we are dealing with reproduction, how we breathe, how we eat or how we walk, there is an order as to how things work. Taking on the task of being a community organizer, a freedom fighter, a revolutionary or what have you is no different. You must organize yourself, your immediate family, your extended family and then the masses. You start with your house, your community, your...

Signature: The Dandettes One of the most important accomplishments you can make as an artist is to establish a fingerprint for your work that is signature to you. SirReal Photography debuts photography series Signature. Signature is an organized display of some of Dex R. Jones’ most signature past and upcoming pieces that is unmistakably signature to SirReal Photography. Originally shot as a follow-up to the Dandy Lions collection, the first installment to Signature will be The Dandettes. The creation of this image collection is captured in this documentary of the behind the scenes of...

Down by the Riverside… It was a day spent in reverence and appreciation by Keepers of the Way with BlaqButtaply… The sun was bright and the breeze was cool. The wind whispered through the trees carrying the beats of drums and the praises of ancestors honored, elevated and remembered for all they have done for us. Earlier in the day, workshops were held, teaching the importance of honoring their ancestors while others learned Egun songs and dances. (Egun is another name for Ancestor.) It was a day of remembrance; a celebration of humble graciousness. The Keepers of the Way are a collaboration...

It’s not unusual for people to express an interest in cultivating the Garden nor is it atypical for those of here to reach out. We want everyone interested to join us and we actively seek out folks whose works and activities would be great features here. In the Atlanta, we had a couple of informal get-togethers. We called them Pangea Meet & Greets and we were able to find a couple of unique locales to host these gatherings, this summer. One of the locations is a beautiful waterfall that I did not know about but earthSista SUCCESS, Pangea’s Fitness Guru, discovered. The other is...

Stress Reducers Increase Quality of Life… This is a personal favorite of mine. Scottie has always been that sista who pushes the envelope to make think about how we view ourselves and our sexuality. However, I have always seen a philosophy of living as an authentic individual unencumbered by the societal stereotypes and inhibitions that, in the end, can lead to disfunction just as much as over indulgence and recklessness can. Scottie strives for betterment of the whole individual; not just the parts. So when everybody else ONLY remembers her sexy stuff, I remember this as well. Bookmark...

Called the fashion diva, B. Breezy, to check in; wanted to see what she was up to lately. Busy, as usual, the photographer/model and model’s role model shared a few recent images, courtesy of The Studio Concept. When asked what she was up to, B. Breezy had this to say: “Ok, let’s see…I currently have a site (TheUltraModel.com) that features inspiring models and female role models. It’s about the positive things they are doing in their communities as well as their goals and dreams they have for their business. Each model or role model has a picture gallery (shot by...