Singer Monica Brown recently shared that she has been dealing with endometriosis and recently underwent surgery for not only that disorder, but to also take care of a few other serious reproductive health issues.

“May 30th I had an almost 8 hour surgery to remove my endometriosis (which I didn’t know I had until two weeks prior) , 2 cysts, fibroids & a hernia that all were making me very sick,” she wrote on Instagram. “I’ve known something was wrong but I also knew victory & better health would be near again!! Thank you Dr. Ceana Nezhat & Northside Hospital Staff.”

In a new interview with PEOPLE about it, Brown stated that she revealed her issues with the painful, chronic disorder in the hopes of helping other women see that they’re not alone.

“My reason for sharing is because we, as women, are built to be warriors and we will ignore something that seems so simple that can be so complex,” she told the publication. “Your uterine health is very important. I spoke up about it so people out there who are going through the same thing know that they’re not alone.”

For the 36-year-old, it wasn’t pelvic pain that sent her to her doctor and eventually gave her a heads up, but instead, it was being hospitalized more than once for “debilitating migraines.” Studies have found that migraines and endometriosis are comorbid disorders, meaning they are conditions that happen simultaneously but exist independently of one another. Realizing she was dealing with both taught Brown an important lesson about taking her health more seriously and using the resources available to her to do just that.

“One thing I’ve learned throughout this particular journey is that you have to listen to your body, and you have to listen to your doctor,” Brown said, “which means you have to know, respect and understand them; it’s a relationship that’s very important.”

The post Monica Revealed Endometriosis Diagnosis To Help Other Women Stop Ignoring Their Health: “Listen To Your Body” appeared first on MadameNoire.

Image via WENN

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of watching an advanced screening of Girls Trip. It was hilarious. From the previews, I didn’t quite know what to expect. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be corny and predictable. And trailer didn’t exactly show as much as I wanted it to. But, after seeing the movie, I can understand why they didn’t want to lay it all out there and take away from the funny.

But I digress. While the film is full of some of our stars and faces we’ve seen over and over again on the big screen, it’s newcomer Tiffany Haddish’s character that is thee most memorable. She kilt it.

So it comes as no surprise to me that more doors are going to be opening for her. And quickly.

According to VH1, Haddish is set to star in her first stand-up special titled Tiffany Haddish She Ready! From the Hood to Hollywood. As you might have guessed from the title, she’s telling her coming of age story. And if you watched her interview with “The Breakfast Club,” you know that it’s fascinating.

The special will premiere on Showtime on August 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

In addition to the special and the upcoming film, Haddish has appeared on “The Carmichael Show,” “New Girl,” “Real Husbands of Hollywood,” alongside Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele in Keanu, and with Tracy Morgan in The Last OG.

We’re happy for her. She has quite a bit to say.

The post Tiffany Haddish To Get Her Own Stand-Up Comedy Special On Showtime appeared first on MadameNoire.

I know Wendy Williams was practically salivating at the thought of getting La La Anthony to sit down on the couch with her. While there was no way she wasn’t going to answer questions about her role on the hit show “Power” and a couple of other things. All people really want to know is what’s going on with her marriage to Carmelo.

And if there’s anyone who was going to ask the messy questions, it was going to be Wendy Williams.

Things started off light enough. When La La mentioned that she brought her son Kiyan to be her date for the BET Awards, Wendy asked if she wanted more children.

La La: No. One and done. One was good enough for me. I’m not knocking anybody else but one is way more than I can even handle, sometimes.

A bit later, Wendy was ready to get down to her love life.

Wendy: Are you divorcing Melo?

La La: Not right now. I’m not. You know, marriages are tough. You know that, we all know that. It’s filled with ups and downs. We’re just going through a time right now but him and I are the best of friends. And our number one commitment is to our son Kiyan. We have to set an example to Kiyan and that’s the most important. I would absolutely never say a bad thing about my husband. That’s my son’s father. And he is an amazing dad. I could not ask for a better dad.

Wendy: But he seems like he wants you back.

La La: Why wouldn’t he?

Wendy: How long were you guys married?

La La: We were married for seven years, together for 12.

Wendy: Do you think there’s a chance that maybe you could work it out?

La La: Listen, if I could predict the future, we would all be multi millionaires. I don’t know what the future holds. I just know that we are doing an incredible job, again, being parents to our son. We are the best of friends. I’ve been with Melo since he was 19 years old. You’re not with somebody for that long and it just goes out the window. I love him with all of my heart and we are the best of friends.

Wendy: Are you dating?

La La: Yeah. I’m dating. I’m dating myself. I’m trying to get myself in order. I’m in the gym everyday. I’m eating right. I’m taking out all the bad stuff out of my life and just really dating and focusing on myself which is something, women, we need to do more often, put ourselves first.

Real classy, real cute.

You can watch the full interview in the video below.

The post Wendy Asked La La Anthony If Carmelo Wanted Her Back, She Said “Why Wouldn’t He?” appeared first on MadameNoire.

The level of excitement that my husband and I had for the Season 4 premiere of Power on Sunday night was unmatched. We waited for the kids to go to bed, heated up our dinner, sat on the couch and gazed at the television as we watched Ghost’s life continue to unravel — with help from his former mistress, Angela.

As we watched this show, and even as I thought back to seasons prior, I couldn’t help but think about Ghost’s wife Tasha and how she’s been affected by everything. You have a woman who has been with her husband for many years, understands “the game,” helps him with the business deals, takes care of his children and is the true definition of a “ride or die chick.” However, our protagonist has been emotionally removed from the relationship for quite some time.

Even though it’s fiction, I’ve always wondered why Tasha continued to stay. She’s tried to move on before (remember when she was supposed to run away with Shawn?), but it was an unsuccessful attempt, so she went back to her husband, back to being the ever-slighted Mrs. St. Patrick. Has she stayed to ensure their “business” continues to thrive? Did she always believe things with Angela would fall apart and wanted to be there to pick up the pieces? Or does she simply love him and want to remain loyal?

While watching the premiere, I couldn’t help but wonder what it would take for a woman in such a situation, fact or fiction, to say enough is enough. When does it not pay to ride or die?

Recently, Atlanta rapper T.I. and Xscape member Tiny announced their split. It seems like they’ve been down this road several times, though — publicly falling out and then getting back together. With cheating allegations aimed at T.I. over the years and rumors about his controlling way, I would think that Tiny would have long become sick and tired. However, it’s comments like the following that give me insight, albeit the foolish kind, into why she’s stayed thus far. “So how can a man…they keep throwing it and keep throwing it,” Tiny said during Essence’s Yes, Girl! podcast. “Like, how are they supposed to stay normal and just faithful when this is going on all day, all night? It’s a lot.”

I can’t say that I would be surprised if she decided not to continue with the divorce this time, but I would continue to wonder if she’s happy. And is she, as well as other women in similar situations, proud to be a ride or die chick even if it doesn’t earn her the respect she deserves?

Making the decision to marry someone shouldn’t be taken lightly. A person should understand that marriage is a lifetime commitment and not have the “let’s see how this goes” mentality. With that being said, I completely understand that a married couple is a team and both a man and a woman should stick by each other through thick and thin. However, I don’t think that a woman’s pride, self-worth and respect are worth the cost of staying with a man whose actions wreak havoc on the home and family unit.

A woman should only “ride or die” with her man if he is worth riding with and if he’s doing right in the relationship. If that’s the case, then hit cruise control and ride all day long. But if he’s not, why continue to pretend that he’s some sort of prize? Why be a “ride or die” when you’re the only party in your relationship who is riding for it?

The post When Do The Tasha St. Patricks Of The World Get Tired Of Being “Ride-Or-Die” Chicks? appeared first on MadameNoire.

You’ve told them the worst

They’ve seen you in terrible shape over him

They have to keep your rebounds a secret

He messed around too

They talked a lot of sh*t about him

Did they sacrifice for you for nothing?

They can’t listen to the same problems again

They got drunk with you for nothing?

They were your wing women

They invested in the new guys

You made them hate him

They wonder if you even listen to them

They probably yelled at him for you

They can’t be all ra-ra about it

They care about you

The post Why It’s Hard On Your Friends When You Get Back with An Ex appeared first on MadameNoire.

Images via WENN

Quiet as they like to keep it, Black women are thee best support system. If you’re a Black woman, you know this to be true. From our grandmothers, mothers, sisters, friends, to strangers on the street, Black women will ride for you and it’s a beautiful thing.

Sadly, when we’re portrayed in the media, in pop culture, in entertainment, that’s not always the image we’re shown. And while we don’t need the validation, it would just be nice if people told the truth about our experiences.

So it’s nice to see Black women go out of their way to support one another. Which is why I really like the way

Taraji gassed Cardi B. up recently on Instagram.

The reality star turned rapper made sure to share the moment with her fans and followers.

Shiieeettt this means sooo much yoooo :’)On some emotional shit .Thank you soooo much @tarajiphenson This gone make me go harder and harder .I can’t wait till one day to meet you !!!naa Yall I’m wild hype and gassed

A post shared by Cardi B Official IG (@iamcardib) on Jun 27, 2017 at 11:27pm PDT

Warm fuzzies all over the place.

Much love and continued success to both of these ladies.

The post Taraji P. Henson Shares Words Of Encouragement With Cardi B. appeared first on MadameNoire.

Image via WENN

Earlier this year, we reported that artist Pharrell Williams and his wife Helen Lasichanh welcomed a set of triplets to their family of three.

When the news was announced, the producer kept quiet about all of the details. He didn’t discuss the gender of the babies or names or anything. He just let the people know that the children and his wife were “happy and healthy.”

That’s really all we needed to know.

Well, now that the triplets have been around for around over five months now, Pharrell is, perhaps, a bit more comfortable talking about the latest additions to his family.

He’s on a media tour of sorts, promoting Despicable Me 3, and he’s sharing–still no names and genders though. During a recent sit down with Jimmy Fallon, he explained how a team of people are working together to take care of the three.

“It’s a full on assembly line.”

Then he gave a demonstration.

.@Pharrell Williams has his hands full with his new triplets! #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/EcZeI3ZbxW

— Fallon Tonight (@FallonTonight) June 27, 2017

“I have to say, man, my wife carrying those babies and all of ’em are fine and healthy. I cannot say enough about women and all kinds of burdens that they carry and the gifts that they carry. I love you, baby. You’re the best.”
And back to the babies, Pharrell said that the triplets “harmonize when they cry…Chain reaction is a real thing in our house. One cries, two cries, three cries. I have to just…Dad. Dad being dad because I’m super dad.”

On the Today Show, he did acknowledge that he doesn’t change the diapers though.

The couple’s eldest son Rocket, who Pharrell says is an amazing big brother, is into architecture now and plays Minecraft. He tells his father, he constructs “modern beach houses.”

The post “Our House Is An Assembly Line” Pharrell Williams On Raising Triplets appeared first on MadameNoire.

While sitting down with Teen Vogue editor-in-chief Elaine Welteroth at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, Halle Berry talked openly and honestly about everything from growing up biracial and raising biracial children to her thoughts on activism and Black Lives Matter. But one topic from the conversation that stood out was hearing Berry’s thoughts on the progress Hollywood has or hasn’t made in terms of diversity since she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002.

More than 15 years since her win, Berry remains the only Black woman to take home that award, and when she thinks about that, along with the recent #OscarsSoWhite drama from 2015, 2016, Berry gets sad. And a little pissed off.

“It’s troubling to say the least,” she said to Welteroth. “And a few years ago, when we had the Oscars and there was a complete blackout for us, it was one of my lowest professional moments.”

According to the 50-year-old star, when she gave her moving speech after her history-making win for Monster’s Ball, it wasn’t something she had prepared. The desire for more inclusion when it comes to the roles being offered was on her mind when she said her win was “for every nameless, faceless woman of color that now has a chance because this door tonight has been opened.” There have indeed been more chances, as just this year alone, Viola Davis won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for Fences, Ruth Negga was nominated for Best Actress for Loving and Octavia Spencer and Naomie Harris were given Best Supporting Actress nominations as well for Hidden Figures and Moonlight. Not to mention that quite a few men of color, including Mahershala Ali, director Barry Jenkins and Denzel Washington, either won or were nominated for an Academy Award in 2017. But for Berry, there could be and should be more chances every year.

“I sat there and I remember that speech and I remember how I don’t even know where that speech came from because I didn’t have a speech,” she said. “I was pretty sure Sissy Spacek was going to win. That just was what was ruminating in my spirit.  So two Oscars ago when we had that blackout, I sat there and I thought, ‘Wow, that moment really meant nothing. That meant nothing! I thought it meant something but I think that meant nothing.’ I was profoundly hurt by that and saddened by that.”

But she’s not just going to sit around and kick up a fuss about it. The actress said she’s now motivated and has also started to make the opportunities that she wants to see — for herself and others.

“It inspired me to try to get involved in other ways, which is why I want to start directing. I want to start producing more. I want to start being a part of making more opportunities for people of color,” Berry said. “I have conversation more deeply with Academy members in trying to figure out how to help and add more diversity into the Academy, this group which chooses who wins every year.  These kinds of groups have to start changing and we have to start becoming more conscious and more inclusive. And I think Black people, people of color, only have a chance to win based on how much product we’re allowed to put out. That says to me we need more people of color writing, directing, producing — not just starring. We have to start telling stories that include us, and if stories don’t include us, we have to start asking ‘Why can’t that be a person of color? Why can’t that White male character be a Black woman?’ We have to start pushing the envelope and ask these questions.”

The post Halle Says Her Oscar Win “Meant Nothing” Based On Roles People Of Color Still Aren’t Getting appeared first on MadameNoire.

Actress Gabourey Sidibe recently stated that after having bariatric surgery and losing a great deal of weight, she started receiving all sorts of compliments from people, and she wasn’t really comfortable with it. As she told Refinery29, “My body actually has nothing to do with you. I don’t really need your support for it. It seems ill-placed.”

She’s not the only woman to go through a weight-loss transformation and be unsettled by the sucrose-sweet things people have said to her only after dropping the pounds. Queen of TV Shonda Rhimes revealed that people have started treating her in a way that makes her feel as though she came into her own solely after losing weight — which she knows isn’t true.

“Women I barely knew gushed. And I mean GUSHED. Like I was holding-a-new-baby-gushed,” the 47-year-old Scandal creator wrote in her new Shondaland newsletter. “Only there was no new baby. It was just me. In a dress. With makeup on and my hair all did, yes. But…still the same me. In one of my same dresses (cause why am I gonna buy a NEW dress when I can take this to a seamstress and she can just make it smaller? Who am I, The Crown? No, I’m from the Midwest, baby, and I come with coupons). Women gushed anyway. And men? They spoke to me. THEY SPOKE TO ME. Like stood still and had long conversations with me about things. It was disconcerting. But even more disconcerting was that all these people suddenly felt completely comfortable talking to me about my body. Telling me I looked ‘pretty’ or that they were ‘proud of me’ or that ‘wow, you are so hot now’ or ‘you look amazing!'”

Yes, Rhimes lost nearly 150 pounds, and that’s amazing. But the attention paid to her body, according to her, has been a bit too much.

“I discovered that people found me valuable,” she said. “Worthy of conversation. A person one could look at. A person one could compliment. A person one could admire.”

“You heard me. I discovered that NOW people saw me as a PERSON,” she added. “What the hell did they see me as before? How invisible was I to them then? How hard did they work to avoid me? What words did they use to describe me? What value did they put on my presence at a party, a lunch, a discussion? When I was fat, I wasn’t a PERSON to these people. Like I had been an Invisible Woman who suddenly materialized in front of them. Poof! There I am. Thin and ready for a chat.”

But as Rhimes would go on to say, “being thinner doesn’t make you a different person. It just makes you thinner.”

This isn’t the first time Rhimes has spoken about people who treat her differently since slimming down. As she told Variety in 2015 while promoting her book, The Year of Yes, while she feels better since going on her weight-loss journey years ago, she still feels like and is the woman she’s always been.

“That has been a fascinating journey to watch other people deal with,” Rhimes said. “To me it’s just the outward example of everything else. You’re still exactly the same person, but to other people, it’s this huge thing that is very big for them. But for me, it’s the same thing. Except maybe I have a ton more energy.”

The post “When I Was Fat, I Wasn’t A Person”: Shonda Rhimes Didn’t Like Being “Gushed” Over After Losing 150 Pounds appeared first on MadameNoire.

Rihanna couldn’t handle a strong black king ....

— Andrew (@C_obain47) June 27, 2017

Rihanna choosing to date a non black man is detrimental to young black men across the world. She singlehandedly ruined their self-esteem.

— ️ (@Med2Cold) June 27, 2017

Black men reacting to finding out Rihanna's dating a white guy pic.twitter.com/NNXeql8735

— malcolm young (@yiggityyoung) June 28, 2017

Rihanna is out here dating white men. She's cancelled. ♂️ your fav artist is a self hater and problematic pic.twitter.com/UoA1LSGUe8

— Big Baller Brand VP (@Krieg_La_Flare) June 27, 2017

This all Chris Brown fault, fucked it up for the sane black men out there and now Rihanna messing with Fez from "That 70's show"

— bigmike (@mikeLowKey) June 27, 2017

Rihanna don't appreciate faithful black men? Smdh

— Tay (@NichyTay) June 27, 2017

The last black king nearly killed her.. let's not forget

— Kryse (@iKryse) June 27, 2017

Y'all can't swim. https://t.co/AlxykWBSut

— XX (@StassDoll) June 27, 2017

Black Men: *drag black woman everyday*

*rihanna gets a white man* Black men: pic.twitter.com/z94gUZyIDT — Gina (@ActuallyGina) June 27, 2017

Rihanna has NEVER publicly or behind closed doors attack or belittle Black men while only uplifting white men. Sit down. https://t.co/ww7CkumIbn

— Ᏸecca (@MJStarLover) June 27, 2017

"Rihanna’s new lover is Saudi businessman Hassan Jameel. His family own one of the biggest companies in the world." The Sun pic.twitter.com/4gXWuOLZtM

— Rihanna Diva (@RihannaDiva) June 28, 2017

Hassan jameel is fine as hell and wealthy pic.twitter.com/4VN1QbfTTg

— kierra (@selfishfenty) June 28, 2017

The way my baby ended ISLAMOPHOBIA . Hassan jameel is her new man!!!!!! #RihannaHasAManParty pic.twitter.com/eVjfuwjiVl

— Shantanu Singhal (@legendaRIHFENTY) June 28, 2017

#RihannaHasAManParty pic.twitter.com/KjEr5Ept9X

— B L O O M (@TrulyCrystal_) June 27, 2017

The post Black Men Were Big Mad When They Thought Rihanna Was Dating A White Man appeared first on MadameNoire.

This year the Black American buying power is expected to reach a whopping $1.3 trillion. With a figure like that you may ask yourself, why do most Black-owned companies seek to appeal to a broader base? According to branding and PR expert Karen Taylor Bass, CEO of TaylorMade Media, the answer is pretty simple: “It is the ultimate goal of an entrepreneur to increase their market share.”

“Black companies should absolutely outreach to the general marketplace to grow their business and brands,” she stated. “However, understanding and appreciating their core customer is rule number one.”

Looking beyond a niche market is actually a smart business move, said Jacqueline Rhinehart, founder of Organic Soul Marketing. But expanding to the general market also has to be done in a smart way. “Black-owned and serviced products should include a mainstream campaign when their products organically reach that audience — but never at the expense, literally or figuratively, of their initial core audience. The ‘reach’ should not be manufactured (by altering the brand or the product), or sought in a way that besmirches the original customer base.”

But not all Black companies know how to expand their base without leaving behind or insulting their core customer. This was the unfortunate situation the makers of SheaMoisture found themselves in earlier this year with they launched their “Hair hate” campaign which all Black women hated due to its attempt to equate white women’s hair issues with our own.

It had long been of dream of Sundial, the makers of SheaMoisture and Nubian Heritage, to reach a bigger market. Back in 2015 the CEO of Sundial talked of expansion with MadameNoire. “As a kid growing up, one of the brands I thought was tremendous was Karl Kani…and I don’t see Karl Kani today. I want to see SheaMoisture tomorrow,” declared Richelieu Dennis. “Once a company develops out of its consumer base you will often see a well-funded multinational company come in and take over that space. The Black-owned company either stays a niche company or just disappears. This is something we don’t want to happen…Now with this investment, it allows us to make moves that will keep this company in the family for another four generations and beyond. My goal is to have my children take over and their children and so on.”

Unfortunately, the most recent misstep by Sundial, valued at $700 million with annual revenues of about $200 million, wasn’t their only one. “SheaMoisture began market expansion back in 2015 and this is not the first controversy perpetuated by that decision. In February 2015, they faced a public backlash for featuring a Caucasian baby in its ads. That lesson should have been considered in future marketing strategy,” said Linda F. Williams, COO and founder Whose Apple Dynamic Coaching Services. “The company ignored lessons learned.”

Besides learning from failed promotions, companies should also learn from their core consumer. “No matter who owns a company, if and when they deem it time to broaden their target market, they should listen,” explained Thembisa S. Mshaka, award-winning advertising campaign writer and author of Put Your Dreams First, Handle Your [entertainment] Business. “Listen to their core market or make sure their communication doesn’t convey that they are being abandoned. Listen as they select agencies of record, to make sure they understand the nuances of making the choice to expand before they retain them to create and deliver a campaign.

“This is not ‘a Black thing,’ she added. “This is a business thing. We saw it with SheaMoisture and Pepsi’s Kylie Jenner ad. We saw it with Starbucks when they tried to discuss race with their ‘Race Together’ initiative. It is tone deafness that stems from ignorance, ego, isolated conversations that lack diversity of thought, an inability to listen before taking action, or some combination of all of the above.”

While Williams pointed out “Market expansion is fundamental in order for a company to thrive and remain relevant, she said companies should be more mindful of the old adage, ‘It’s now what you do. It’s how you do it.'”

The key is to be inclusive, Rhinehart added. “A great example of an advertising campaign/product integration activation, is the Carol’s Daughter ‘Mother/Daughter Makeover’ which included white women. Their TV spot included first the Black and POC (people of color) models and ended with one white model.”

There’s also an order companies need to follow when attempting to broaden their base and the first step is making sure their core audience is always remembered, recognized, and involved. “Key stakeholders must always think about the following: what is the brand? who is the target audience? how can we grow the niche and not offend our core consumers? As a Black woman entrepreneur and public relations expert, I am extremely thorough and thoughtful with the language and visuals used to promote a brand/business regardless of color/gender. I always ask for a seat at the table to brainstorm with the marketing team as it relates to the messaging of the product,” Taylor explained. “I over-stand that companies like SheaMoisture want to broaden their base, however, it is imperative that Black and brown marketers are involved in key decision-making as it relates to tier 1 branding, messaging and storytelling. No one understands the sensitivity of hair, skin, history like someone who has lived it first hand. A general market agency dropped the ball on that campaign and alienated the core base of Black women.”

The second step is to remember customers are only as loyal to you as you are to them.“Customer loyalty is an area in which SheaMoisture miserably failed,” noted Williams. “It led to what appears to be a mass exit by their core customers. Market expansion is achievable by developing a well-designed strategy that maintains company loyalty to its customers without appearing to abandon them in the process.”

Third, the expansion market strategy needs to be phased in.”In the case of SheaMoisture, a branding strategy should have been devised to diversify the product line to include products for different hair types. Even among women of color, textures differ. This expansion of the product line would have formed a transitional foundation for the market shift without alienating the customers who contributed to the company’s success,” Williams explained.

The bottom line is when consumers emotionally connect to products and companies, business is no longer just business, it’s personal. And no one likes to pushed aside for someone else.

The post Want To Expand Your Business Beyond Black Consumers? Don’t Forget Loyal Customers appeared first on MadameNoire.

So um, this topic is a bit strange but it is a thing…for Black women so I feel this is the place to talk about it.

Yesterday, I noticed that my sister retweeted this:

RT this if you’re a black girl with this scar on your knee…trying to see something. pic.twitter.com/HsYkPP0vx2

— Hoesaphine Baker (@jadoreadjones) June 27, 2017

When I saw it, I didn’t think much of it. As a child, my sister, the “wild” one of the family, who’s not really all that wild, always managed to find herself involved in some type of accident. There was the time she was rushed to the hospital after she flew off the tire swing and we thought she’d broken her leg. There was the time she was scratched petting a “stray” cat in the neighborhood, the time she broke her hymen climbing the ladder to our bunk bed. (I can still hear that blood curdling scream.)

And then there was the accident that resulted in the scar on her knee. From what I can remember, we were in middle school. She was inside for a recreation period because it was apparently raining outside, where her class would have been had weather permitted. Inside, there just so happened to be a treadmill. My sister was running on it and then slipped, skinning both of her knees in the process.

I remember that even with almost daily applications of Coco Butter, it took forever for the skin to grow back, let alone for it to begin scarring. And when it finally did scar, the mark remained, dark at first and then fading slightly. But like I said, in my mind, my sister was just more clumsy than most people. Even today.

What I didn’t notice was the number of retweets, likes and comments the original status received.

26,000 retweets.
17,000 likes.
622 comments.

Black women were astonished to look down at their own knees and find that they, like Logan Browning, also had a scar on their knee.

If you delve into the stories, many of these Black women, like my sister, will tell you that they acquired these scars when they were young.

If you hadn’t gathered from this introduction, I don’t have a scar on my knee. And now that I think about it, it’s something I’m very proud of. And while that’s nothing to be proud of at all, I know where the feeling originates.

My mother and my grandmother.

Growing up, both my mother and grandmother warned my sister and I about keeping our legs unscathed. If we wanted to have pretty, smooth legs when we grew up, we were not to scar them up as little girls because the scars would remain…forevah (in my Cardi B. voice.)

Even as a child, I recognized that my mom and grandma were more dramatic than they needed to be; still, I took their words to heart. I enjoy my fair share of outdoor activity and sport. I ran track in middle school, played volleyball in high school etc. But I was careful.

Now, that I think about it, it wasn’t just because of my foremothers’ words, I saw proof of their warnings manifest.

One day, running down our cul-de-sac to a friend’s house, I tripped or stumbled or something and my body, propelled by my own speed, went sliding across the concrete. The incident resulted in three different scars, one on my wrist, one above my elbow and a much smaller and less severe one on my leg. Not my knee mind you. I was probably around ten when I collected those scars. And today, at nearly 30-years-old, you can still see remnants of the ones on my wrist and above my elbow.

The skin is flush with my own but the marks from that day remain.

This is what my momma and ‘n’em were talking about. They knew from experience from their own rough and tumble years that these things don’t go away. I know my mother has a deep gash in a back from some type of incident with a glass table. And my grandmother, who died in her eighties had a body that also bore marks of her journey on this earth.

I lied. This is not just a Black thing. White kids were just a rough and tumble as we were growing up. They too have scars…I just don’t recall seeing any of them. Perhaps our scars stay around longer or show up more prevalently on our darker skin. I’m no dermatologist and I can’t call it.

BuzzFeed wrote about this story and the reaction it received. And in the comment section, one person argued about the importance or necessity of the story. Like what was the point and purpose. There isn’t a large, life-changing one, other than unification.

We all know that our scars tell stories. For me, I know they remind me that some of those childhood memories really did happen. (I don’t know about you but my childhood memories can seem like a land of fantasy and make believe sometimes.) But this picture, the tweet and the response to it, also can serve as yet another way to unite Black women across a variety of regions and experience. And that’s also pretty cool.

Veronica Wells is the culture editor at MadameNoire.com. She is also the author of “Bettah Days.” You can follow her on Facebook and on Instagram and Twitter @VDubShrug.

The post On Black Women With Childhood Scars On Their Knees appeared first on MadameNoire.

Toya Wright

Tameka "Tiny" Harris

Reginae Carter

Kenya Moore

Zonnique Pullins

Tammy Rivera

Cynthia Bailey

Rasheeda Frost

Karlie Redd

Mimi Faust

Towanda Braxton

Trina Braxton

Sheree Whitfield

Quad Webb-Lunceford

Adiz "Bambi" Benson

Jasmine Burke

Shirlene "Ms. Juicy" King Pearson

The post Check Out The Best & Boldest Fashion From The Bossip On WE Party In Atlanta appeared first on MadameNoire.

Kobe Bryant

Wanya Morris

Usher

Mase

Robert Smith

Quentin Richardson

Flo Rida

Terrence Jenkins

Ryan Press

The post Did Brandy Split From Her New Man? 9 Other Times She’s Tried Her Hand At Love appeared first on MadameNoire.

Your room is too cold

You wake up before 8

You’re coming off a stimulant

Sleeping with the windows open

You snore

A change in weather

You use the wrong pillow

You can’t sleep

You oversleep

You grind your teeth

You sleep with an air freshener

You only relax on the weekends

You argue before bed

You eat aged cheese and cured meats at night

You don’t eat enough at night

The post Why You Wake Up With A Headache appeared first on MadameNoire.

You stop catching up

Why you can’t stop

You over-prioritize your career

If you’re valuable, they will wait

You simply fail to look at calendars

Take the time to schedule date night

You stop taking vacations

Never stop taking vacations

You always rush

Those five minutes can save your relationship

You’d rather not fight

Your relationship is worth fighting for

You’re suppressing your own dreams

Each individual needs to be happy

You keep your hobbies separate

Better to be bored than disconnected

The post Why Couples Slowly Drift Apart appeared first on MadameNoire.

“Models should look more like you”

“Finally a woman who can eat like a man”

“I love that you don’t care what society thinks”

“You’re not uptight like skinny women”

1. A) Why are you dissing skinny women now? B) Don’t assume that a personality trait is tied to a body type. Your thick woman is probably uptight sometimes, laid back at other times and—you know—the full spectrum of human behavior! But when you say this sentence, you make a thick woman feel like she isn’t allowed to be uptight. Ever.

“It’s so sensual to watch you eat”

“Your face is gorgeous/so cute/stunning”

“Don’t diet”

“You carry your weight well”

“You know how to dress for your body”

“I like a big girl”

“I bet you’re a freak in bed”

“I, personally, appreciate a real woman”

“Thick women are making a great statement”

“I like all shapes and sizes”

“Don’t worry; I don’t like skinny girls”

The post Things Men Need To Stop Saying About Thick Women appeared first on MadameNoire.

Creating a diverse workplace has been a much-discussed issue in Corporate America, but some companies complain they can’t find qualified candidates. Responding to that claim, a new micro job site called Black Girl Group, founded by freelance SEO copywriter and columnist Stephanie Caudle, serves to perfectly match diversity seeking employers with a wide range of candidates.

Black Girl Group was born just eight months ago in November 2016 but already Caudle has major plans for how the platform will help create diverse workplaces. Here, Caudle tells us how she turned her literal dream into a reality.

MadameNoire (MN): Why did you start Black Girl Group?

Stephanie Caudle (SC): Black Girl Group literally came from a dream. I remember it very clearly. I was working at a super stressful job in PR that commanded more than 12 hours of my time each day. I remember going to bed that night asking God how I was ever going to be able to survive in this workplace and balance being a mom and a wife. That night I dreamed the words Black Girl Group and had no clue what it meant. I remember writing it down and saying if the domain was available then I was going to buy it and hold on to it until I figured out what it meant. Sure enough, the domain was available so I took a leap of faith and purchased it. That night, I asked God if this was really a dream from him I needed to know what Black Girl Group meant and literally the next day I dreamed the entire picture which revealed it as “Black Girl Group Where Black Girls Create” and saw the entire vision unfolded. It was in that dream that I saw that it was a Micro Job Site.

As a part-time freelancer myself at the time creating the site felt like I was giving back to a community that had done so much for me. As fate would have it, literally two weeks after launching the site I received the shocking news that I was being laid off from my stressful job in PR. I know God foresaw that I was going to lose my job soon and allowed Black Girl Group to become one of my sole motivations for pushing through my job loss.

MN: How does Black Girl Group work?

SC: It’s a micro job site. A micro job site is a temporary, task-type job of all types, often booked through the Internet. Work may include online or in-person jobs, such as writing blogs, virtual assistant, handyman, nanny, website design, dog boarding or errands, etc. My site specifically connects Black women freelancers with companies struggling to hire diverse talent. It works two ways. If you are a freelancer you simply sign up and create a profile that showcases your expertise (i.e. writer, designer, developer, etc.). Once your profile is complete, companies who need your expertise will have the chance to hire you for any of their open jobs.

On the employer side, you sign up and post a project/job and instantly a call will be sent out to our plethora of freelancers to ensure you receive the best freelance talent at a rate that is mutually beneficial to the employer and also the freelancer. The employer will pay the freelancer directly through the site so neither the employer or the freelancer has to worry about a client flaking on them without paying (which is definitely a major problem in the freelance community).

MN: What can your service offer job hunters that they can not find elsewhere?

SC: For employers, my site offers the opportunity to connect directly with Black women freelancers without having to ask for race/ethnicity which I think is a super awkward question to ask on a job application.

For job hunters, it allows them to: a) no longer have to fear they are going to be turned down for a job because they are African American;  b) they don’t have to worry about discrimination as a freelancer because employers know what they are signing up for; c) my rates are guaranteed to be  mutually beneficial. I will not accept any employers on my site who are coming just to nickel and dime freelancers for hard-earned work like many sites sadly do; and d) a community for Black freelancers to vent and help each other out!

MN: What were some challenges you faced in building the site?

SC: Some people felt that the site was “racist” because it was called Black Girl Group. Once they saw that it was actually inclusive and also a great way to promote diversity they became more open-minded. My other challenge is obviously like many other startups, I struggle with locating funding.

MN: So, how did you fund the startup?

SC: Right now, I am fully funding my start-up myself. I also won a pitch competition sponsored by my church and local government which actually helped me a lot with my new website development.

MN: Why do you feel companies are having a hard time finding Black female employees?

SC: I think companies are having a hard time hiring freelancers because they aren’t trying hard enough. The Black women freelancers are out there, employers just have to open their eyes and realize that they have a lack of diversity problem.

MN: What do you feel is the biggest obstacle facing Black women looking for jobs?

SC: In full transparency, I think there is a misconception that Black women aren’t hard workers. I don’t know how many Black women I have heard being turned down for jobs once employers find out they are African American. I’ve heard even more horror stories since the election of our most recent president. Not to say it’s his fault, but I think the current state of America makes it easier for employers to be more openly discriminative.

MN: What do feel is the biggest mistake Black female job hunters make?

SC: Not knowing their worth. I’ve been there. In my early days of freelancing, I literally used to write a 500-word article for $5 because I thought that’s all people could pay me. During those days, I stayed up all night and day just trying to make ends meet. It wasn’t until a freelance friend of me pulled me to the side to say “Girl, you’re worth so much more” that I realized that I could be making almost $200-300 more per article. Since that day I’ve never turned back.

MN: You are juggling two jobs, how do you?

SC: So right now I am juggling Black Girl Group and full-time freelancing writing. I often find myself preaching the message that freelance isn’t free because so many assume that freelancing means I don’t work at all. In fact, on most days I work more than anyone I know. Freelancing literally means you work contract to contract or on a need-basis which can be a gift and a curse. There are some days I can barely swim above water because I have so much client work to do. On other days, I may be spending my entire day refreshing my emails hoping a new assignment will come through.

Sometimes juggling both is hard because I provide a service for people who are literally wearing the same shoes I wear every day. It can be overwhelming in my freelance business but I have to remind myself that God put me in this position so that I could be a true blessing to the freelancers on Black Girl Group.

Sometimes the only way you can help people is to get on their level and I see losing my job as God putting me on another level so that I can adequately serve those who need my service the most.

The post Black Girl Group Connects Content Creators With Companies That Actually Care About Diversity appeared first on MadameNoire.

With rumors swirling that she might be single again, there is no time like the present for Brandy to get in the gym and work up a sweat.

The 38-year-old singer is doing just that and she’s started documenting her work with a trainer on Instagram. After she appeared on stage with what looked like a baby bump in May, many believed the star was pregnant, including her fans. But she joked in one of her new workout posts that she’s back at it so that people can stop assuming she’s carrying more than just a little extra weight:

In both clips, Brandy is hard at work with trainer Corey Morgan doing some boxing, but she’s not a novice to it. The singer has been doing boxing as a workout for years and even gets her celebrity friends, like Angela Simmons, involved. Check out this video from 2015 of the pair in the ring:

And in an interview with The Huffington Post from that same year, Brandy talked about her fitness regimen, which included a lot of boxing then. When she was getting ready for her role as Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway, she cleaned up her diet and worked out daily, changing up her routine.

“It differs every day, but consistently I box,” she said. “I box three or four rounds every day. I love that cardio.”

“[When I can’t get to the gym] I do a lot of pushups,” Brandy added. “They’re a good way to get your body warmed up and it works every part of your body. I also do squats — about 30 of them for three sets. Jumping jacks are also good when you’re by yourself and not doing [sic] to the gym. Those are my go-tos.”

And for the record, the singer is also a pretty great tennis player. She hits the court from time to time as a form of both exercise and fun with friends and daughter Sy’rai:

Add to all that her performance schedule and it’s safe to say that Brandy is pretty active. She can do it all! That includes getting us all motivated to be more active, too.

The post Brandy Heads Back To The Gym “So Y’all Can Stop Saying I’m Pregnant” appeared first on MadameNoire.

Image via Getty

Pastor Jamal Bryant’s private life has gotten him in all types of public trouble. His promiscuity ended his marriage, led to allegations that he impregnated a 17-year-old girl and, most recently, involved him in a custody and child support battle with Latoya Shawntee Odom, the mother of his youngest child.

In 2015, Odom sued Bryant demanding child support. Bryant acknowledged that the child was his and said that he had been paying child support, in an attempt to handle matters outside of court. But when Odom kept harassing him, he stopped making payments and left it up to a judge to decide.

Naturally, Odom took issue with the lack of support and found it particularly insulting that Bryant was living a life of luxury.

In November, the two reached a settlement. Odom was awarded primary physical custody and Bryant was given visitation. The amount of child support was sealed from the public but he was ordered to pay $13,500 in Odom’s legal expenses.

Last summer, I asked whether or not Pastor Bryant should take some time away from the pulpit to get his life back in order. Since that time, I really haven’t kept up with his whereabouts.

But last night, there was a bit of an update. According to The Jasmine Brand, Odom raised claims stating that Bryant had failed to pay child support on time, failed to provide medical and life insurance and failed to pay 75 percent of the uninsured medical expenses as he had been ordered to do.

As a result, she asked that Bryant be held in contempt of court.

Bryant responded pleading with the judge not to throw him in jail, saying he did not disobey the court order.

The judge found that he was in contempt, ruling that while Bryant did pay child support in a timely manner, he did not obtain medical and life insurance for his child and did not cover his portion of the uninsured medical expenses.

The judge ruled that Bryant pay $3,258.31 to purge himself of contempt.

The post Jamal Bryant Held In Contempt Of Court, Ordered To Pay Son’s Medical Bills appeared first on MadameNoire.