blackgirlgrown

I Hate Cancer

I can’t put it any simpler than that. Whenever I hear of a friend, loved one, or even a complete stranger battling cancer or having lost their battle it stops me in my tracks. It shakes me to the core. I lose focus. It makes me angry. It opens old wounds. It makes me feel [...]

Race-Talk: Putting this Year of “Firsts” in Perspective

Written by Race-Talk’s Kira Hudson Banks. I know the Oscars happened a week ago, but I’m still nagged by some of the larger implications of the event. The general controversy has been covered here and elsewhere. What I would like to do is highlight the limited scope of people of color throughout the history of the [...]

Good News in Chicago

The Chicago Tribune reports a charter school in Chicago gets all its seniors into college: The entire senior class at Chicago’s only public all-male, all-African-American high school has been accepted to four-year colleges. At last count, the 107 seniors had earned spots at 72 schools across the nation. Mayor Richard Daley and Chicago Public Schools chief Ron [...]

That’s Ms. Coach! Heels and Helmets Football Update

Our resident sports expert, Shavannia Williams, writes on recent changes in football on her Heels and Helmets blog: There are tons of changes going on in the world of football. Jake Delhomme is changing his jersey to the Cleveland Browns. Tim Tebow is changing his throwing motion. LaDainian Tomlinson is changing his home to the New [...]

Advice for Young Girls Looking for A Way Out

Life Isn’t Fair: It’s a statement of fact. And while you should fight for fairness and equality, you’re best served personally by understanding this truth. Whether because you’re black, Latina, a woman, physically challenged, or poor, there will be reason for people to root against you. Commit Yourself to Excellence: Given life isn’t fair, commit yourself [...]

March Happiness Project: Work It!

March’s theme for blackgirlgrown’s 2010 Happiness Project is WORK IT! That’s what we’ve been doing over here at blackgirlgrown. Happiness Project author Gretchen Rubin notes: I’ve become increasingly convinced that the atmosphere of growth is far more important than generally recognized. Studies show that novelty and challenge—though they can make us uncomfortable, frustrated, uneasy, etc.—are keys to [...]

What Do Lobbyists Actually Do?

blackgirlgrown is excited to feature Kimberly A. Woodard, also known as the Accidental Lobbyist, to the blogosphere. Kimberly just debuted her new blog, the Accidental Lobbyist. Kimberly has been lobbying for close to twenty years and is using the blog to demystify and humanize the profession. In one of her inaugural posts Kimberly explains what is [...]

This Week in Washington: March 15, 2010

All hands on deck this week on health care reform. The White House: President Obama used his weekly address to discuss his blueprint for an updated Elementary and Secondary Education Act to overhaul No Child Left Behind, the latest step from his Administration to encourage change and success in America’s schools at the local level. This week, President [...]

The Week That Was: blackgirlgrown on Twitter

Reading –> RT @ForbesWoman How to find happiness (yes, real, TRUE happiness) at work. http://bit.ly/c1Llnb # Reading –> Selma 45 years later: How Bloody Sunday changed America http://bit.ly/agMmP1 /via @theGrio # Watching VH1's I love the 90s but will never admit drinking Zima! # Ethics clouds over Rangel and Paterson produce New York moods ranging from anger to [...]

Health News: Glaucoma, Alzheimer’s Disease, HIV/AIDS in Women and Girls

World Glaucoma Week People of African descent have a 3–8 times higher risk than other people to develop open-angle glaucoma. Not only is this group at increased risk, but glaucoma is 15 times more likely to cause blindness in those of African descent between the ages of 45–64 than in Caucasians of the same age group. [...]