Celebrities- bad role models for teens?

I am writing this post to comment on Fran's blog written March 22nd, 2011 named,  "Demi Lavato- In rehab for cutting". I TOTALLY agree with Fran. I still can remember the era when Brittany Spears was at her highest. "Oops I did it again" was number one on the charts and her song "Lucky" played at least 20 times a day in my house. I wanted so bad to go to one of her concerts, but my mom wouldn't allow me. She said I was "too young" to see such a "grown-up concert". Granted I was only 9, a little young to see Brittany, however, I was so angry. I didn't understand why my mom wouldn't allow me to see her at that age.

Now, I completely understand why she didn't let me, but look at young celebrities now! Seeing Brittany Spears dancing half-naked to "Oops I did it again!" would be the LEAST of my moms worries if i were a child growing up today. Demi Lavato is a popular Disney channel star in rehab for cutting, Lindsay Lohan is in and out of prison, and just a short time ago stars like Miley Cyrus and Vanessa Hudgens had nude "sexting" pictures roaming around the cell phone of teenage boys all across the country. 
My mother protected me from the "provocative" concerts of Brittany Spears, but parents today have to do a lot more than that. Teenage stars are dressing raunchy, drinking in clubs, and getting their first mug shots taken before then even get their drivers license. 
It makes me wonder what I will be dealing with when my own girls (kids that I wont be having for a VERY long time FYI) when they are teens. What will teen Women role molds be like then?

Jessica Care Moore Comes to Michigan State University.

Jessica Care Moore: Her bio reads,  internationally renowned poet/ publisher/ activist/ rock star/ playwright and actor. She is a five-time Showtime at the Apollo winner and was a returning star of Russell Simmon's HBO Series, Def Poetry Jam. 

After her legendary win on the Apollo stage, jessica Care moore was approached by several book publishing companies, but in 1997, she paved her own path and launched a publishing company of her own – Moore Black Press.

But what does she have to do with my, "Women in America" class at MSU. Well, today Jessica Care Moore came back to the college where it all started. Yes! Moore started her career off right here at Michigan State University and today she stopped by her old campus to give us kiddies a reading of her poetry.

I was quite surprised when she took the stage. Normally when someone important comes to give a speech they always act so formal, dress formal, and most certainly speak proper. But she didn't and someone it worked for her.

She immediately grabbed the crowd in. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind. She talked what you could call, "teenage talk", or maybe even a little "ghetto" and periodically swore and cursed. She was funny in an odd, blunt kind of way!

Her writing is obviously about African American life and although I am white Caucasian, I still could very much relate to it.

I've never ever heard of her before today and, therefore, had never read a piece of her work. Today she read us a dozen or so of her poems. Some of her poems talk about blacks and white and how we are all completely the same. After today I kind of conceder her to be a modern day equality activist.

When she reads her poems, she just transformed. To me it sounded a little like rap or something. It was really quite miraculous to hear her read it like that.

Overall, It was a once in a lifetime experience.

If any of you ever get the chance, I highly recommend you see her!

Or. . . If you never get the change to see her, at least go online and google her name and check out her website at: Mooreblackpress.com

National Women's History Month!

Its March! You know what that means? It's national women's history month.I'm excited about this, seeing as how my class is named, "Women in America." 

It all started out of a small-town school event in California, now, Women's History Month is a celebration of women's contributions to history, culture and society. The United States has observed it annually throughout the month of March since 1987. The 2011 theme, “Our History Is Our Strength,” pays tribute to women’s tenacity, courage and creativity over the centuries.

I received an email about The Niagara Foundation. They cordially invites anyone interested to the panel discussion on “Celebrating Women as Community Builders; Perspectives from Three Women Leaders" in commemoration of Women’s History Month.

In this panel, the panelists will share their opinions with us on the role of the women as community builders, discuss the contributions of the women to society in different fields and talk about the challenges that they encounter. They will also share their views on how to make women realize their full potential and encourage them to fulfill this potential.

Sounds like an interesting event & for those of you who are interested here is some more information:

PANELISTS:
Sheri L. Jones; WLNS -TV 6 News Anchor

Paulette Granberry Russell; Senior Advisor to the President of MSU for Diversity; Director of the Office for Inclusion & Intercultural Initiatives

Dr. Elizabeth Simmons; Dean of the Lyman Briggs College, MSU

DATE: Thursday, March 17, 2011
TIME: 6pm-8pm
VENUE:  East Lansing Hannah Community Center  Executive Conference Room
ADDRESS: 819 Abbot Road, East Lansing, MI 48823
FEE: Free of charge



Further more, In honor of women's history month, I've been watching some short videos on the History Channel's web site.
Most of them are short, less than a few minutes, so they won't take long to watch. Take a look, the one about the first ladies is my favorite!!!!!
CLICK HERE TO GO TO VIDEOS


CHEERS!

EXCLUSIVE: Tyra Banks to Launch New Fashion and Beauty Website, typeF.com

Tyra Banks has yet another pet project in the works–a new fashion and beauty website called typeF.com. Debuting on March 15, Banks hopes to form an online community that will appeal to all types of women. “We’re celebrating diversity with hair color, skin color, hair textures,” “Every woman will see a reflection of themselves on this site.” Along with features on topics from make-up to clothes, Banks will also contribute to typeF.com: “You’ll see a very strong connection with me on the site.” And as for the website’s name–what does the mystery “f” stand for? “I connect to fierce–that’s what it means to me,” says Banks. “But it allows for women to define themselves. It can mean fashionable, fashion-forward, feisty.” 

When registering for the site you will give information about your hair color, body type, style, personality and more that will personalize the site for you so that you get a site that is full of information that you would want.


I found this article after seeing Tyra Banks on the Ellen show Wednesday, March 10th. She spoke of her new site and how she hopes it will embrace individuality and self expression.


Tyra has been known to promote inner beauty and I thought this post would go great to expand my post from two weeks ago.


Check the video out and come March 15th, check her new website out!