Revenge of the Curves

Soul Food Junkies & Nikki Giovanni

2011-07-10T23:22:09-04:00

Byron Hurt, the filmmaker who is probably best known for the documentary, Hip Hop: Beyond Beats & Rhymes, has started an online fundraising campaign to complete his latest project, Soul Food Junkies.

Nikki Giovanni on beer, government secrets and the first black woman in space. And food:

We are foodies, my family and I. My grandmother was an extraordinary cook. Her miniature Parker House rolls have been known to float the roof off a flooded house in hurricane season. Grandpapa made pineapple ice cream so rich and creamy, with those surprising chunks that burst with citrusy flavor. My sister, Gary Ann, made spring rolls so perfectly the Chinese complained to the State Department, and my Aunt fries chicken just short of burning that has been known to make the Colonel denounce his own KFC. Mommy was the best bean cooker in this world—and still is, I’m sure, in the next. I do a pretty swell pot roast myself. We are, in other words, dangerous when it comes to food.

Secret Weapon: MD SolarSciences Mineral Screen Tinted Gel SPF 30+

2011-04-04T19:36:38-04:00

I am still surprised by the number of people who need to be convinced to use sunscreen in this day and age. We are more likely to die of melanoma (like Bob Marley), the deadliest form of skin cancer, because it is more likely to develop undetected.

Cancer worries notwithstanding, my vanity has made me a regular sunscreen user for the better part of twenty years now. I have my staples, but I am always happy to try something new. I usually avoid any sunscreen that contains titanium dioxide (aka "black girl's kryptonite) but I was pleasantly surprised with the selection from MD SolarSciences. I was introduced to the brand and its creator, Dr. Bob Friedman, at a luncheon a few weeks ago, and I immediately took a liking to the smooth, non-greasy formulas that had the added bonus of not making my chocolate brown skin ashy. The secret (especially with the tinted formula) is to apply with tiny dots and rub in carefully and slowly with your fingertip. I followed with Bobbi Brown's new Extra Repair Foundation SPF 25 and was able to go out in broad daylight without the dreaded "mask" look. I've also been dabbing a little bit of the Mineral Screen Tinted Gel (below) on my hand and arm as I drive since the sun is showing signs of sticking around. Finally.

MD SolarSciences Mineral Screen Tinted Gel SPF 30 $24.00. Mineral Screen Gel SPF 30 $29.50.

Has Jennifer Hudson lost too much weight?

2010-12-31T08:26:00-05:00

In my opinion, no. It's not like she's walking around looking like Skeletor.

I am getting a little weary of all of the critics who feel the need to take Jennifer Hudson to task about losing weight in the first place. The critique is, more or less, how dare Jennifer Hudson (or anyone else) talk about how happy they are about losing weight. You know what? Some people ARE happier when they lose weight! I don't think it's fair that everyone that loses weight (celebrity or non-celebrity) have to pay lip service to the P.C. Police with all of the "I just wanted to be healthy" talk. Who is to say that they don't want to lose weight to be healthy and happier? Another tactic I'm getting tired of - holding up Queen Latifah as a glowing example of someone who only loses weight to be healthy.

That may very well be true. It may also be true that, at this point, Queen Latifah would lose money (and fans) by losing weight. Her size is a part of her brand now. I don't believe for one minute that she wants to get down to a size 6 or 7 - but if she did for any reason - she would be messing with her bottom line. I know that Jennifer Hudson and my fellow Jersey Girl are Oscar-nominated/winning Black actresses in Hollywood - but you can't throw them in the same boat here.

I am currently a size 16 and I would like to lose weight. I am already pretty healthy thank God, I just want to look better and, yes, have more choices with clothes. Will losing weight make me happier? Probably not. I've tried and failed before. And, I am a moody writer and a Scorpio who has been known to struggle with depression and (I think) ADD, so I won't hold my breath. I have lost a large amount of weight before (50lbs in my 20s - I am now 41) and let me tell you - you ARE treated differently/better by men and women. I have also noted differences in treatment when I've worn short hair vs. long hair, braids vs. weave, natural short hair vs. relaxed hair - hell, glasses vs. no glasses. People are judgmental - and some of these people can affect your job prospects and your bottom-line. Therefore, I have a hard time sitting back and judging people like Jennifer who decide to lose weight for reasons outside of just being "healthy." It's okay to want to lose weight for health reasons and to look good.

Jennifer Hudson's Extreme Weight Loss. How Much Is Too Much? {Jones magazine}