Heels, Heels, & More Heels

It’s 6 a.m. and there are at least 100 people waiting in line for the doors of a sneaker shoe store to open. Yes, you got it! They are all waiting for the new shipment of air Jordan’s to arrive, and as the shoes are handed to the customer you can see their eyes light up. They have just paid over $175 dollars for a pair of sneakers that come out every year.

On the other hand there are those who get a high off of wearing high heels; you can purchase almost four pairs of heels for $175. I’m one of those people who owns only four pairs of sneakers and more than 40 pairs of heels. I’ve been wearing stilettos since 10^th grade in high school and I haven’t stopped since. Now I’m a junior at Johnson C. Smith University.

Stilettos allow you to stand out from the crowd and walk differently, like a model on the runway. The infamous question is, “Do they hurt?” the answer is, yes, they hurt like heck and sometimes my feet even go numb. With that said, its only right that I enlighten the students of Johnson c. Smith University on the history behind those high stepping stilettos.

Stiletto heels first appeared in the 1800s and they were used to increase the height of women and men. You heard right. Men wore stiletto heels in the 1800s to seem taller than they actually were. Overtime stilettos shifted from a height fetish item, and became associated with things that were deemed erotic.

Stilettos faded in the 1960s, because the pressure to produce such shoes became too much and supplies for the heel of the stiletto became hard to come by. However they reappeared in 1974, by a man named Manolo Blanhnik, who dubbed the new heel of the shoes, a needle. The needle became popular and was referred to as the needle high heel.

But it wasn’t long before the needle disappeared and the stiletto came back, although in the 1990s the stiletto heel faded again because of the new invention of the thick school girl high heels. The school girl look only lasted for about 10 years; the stiletto resurfaced in 2000 and became a major must have shoe.

Stilettos give an optical illusion of longer, slimmer leg, a smaller foot, and greater height. They also alter your posture, flex your calf muscles, and make the bust and buttocks more prominent. There are some disadvantages to wearing such high heels. The heel of the stiletto transmits a large amount of force into a small area of the foot causing pain.

Ultimately this can ruin your feet and have lasting effects for years to come. Stiletto heels are here to stay. The fashion world has adopted them by storm and some of the biggest names in fashion have some of the baddest heels in their lineup. Stiletto heels give you a rush and that extra pump in your stride. They make you feel dangerous, so can you handle whatever pressure that comes your way?

Politics Vs. Talent

Politics Vs. talent some would say is a no brainer as to which of the two would win that battle. Yet, we all know politics effect everything around us from; our jobs, households, to where ever money is involved. So it shouldn’t surprise you that money and politics runs all the way down to high school sports and the recruiting process for college athletes.

 I often wonder if we could call college recruiters, “drug dealers in suits”. Selling you a dream and promising you so much, giving you so much without telling you that this life style could come to a halt immediately after college.

Others argue that given this chance you should work hard enough to secure your spot, but what happens when politics beats talent, even when talent works hard? In 2004 and 2005 Woodside High School won back to back State Championships, with some of the best talent this city had to offer.

After digging through my high school numbers, I was able to track down the Daily Press Player of the year in 2005, Calvin Bake. Along with the domination of all-state and all-district team member Stefan Welsh, and Willie Bell, all three which were members of that winning squad both years.

Bell seems to understand what the game of basketball is about, but he also understands the opportunity he was given as well. “Politics runs everything in basketball it’s all about who you know,” Bell said, when asked which weighed more.

 Looking back at his high school and college career as a basketball player one can only wonder what happened, but Bell remains optimistic. “I don’t regret anything towards my career. I got everything I wanted out of it, a free education, and it allowed me to coach basketball,” said Bell.

Baker feels the same way about his education, his high school, and college career even after transferring from William and Mary College to the University of Virginia. “I don’t regret anything either, once you get to a certain level politics holds more. Everything is about money, and once money is involved, who cares about talent,” Baker said. Calvin appreciates his free education and is also looking at becoming a coach as well in the near future.

Stefan Welsh some would say has the best chance out of the three of them, but with a college coach who sometimes didn’t understand welsh’s style of play things seem to have went astray. Welsh even played in Israel and Canada after college and while in Canada had one heck of a game where he scored 25 points.

Welsh stated he looks back on Woodside and Boo Williams AAU as some of his most memorable and fondest moments in basketball. “I appreciate more than the game; I appreciate the discipline, the hard work, and my teammates. I got a free education as well, most people never win a championship and we’ve won two back to back before we were even 18 years old,” said Welsh.

“I believe politics plays a major role, either you have the votes or you don’t. I still believe hard work beats talent, when talent doesn’t work hard and although there’s politics, I’m never going to give up,” said Welsh speaking about his career.

Bell now works for the government and also coaches junior varsity basketball at Denbigh High School. He says his own basketball career is out of the question, but he loves coaching and he does it every day. “I love coaching and that’s what I want to do for the rest of my life,” said Bell.

Welsh on the other hands believe hard work pays off. “I rather not speak on what tomorrow may bring, but I’ve fought through the politics of basketball all my life, and this time isn’t different,” said Welsh. He’s currently in Virginia working out and will soon be making a major move, stay tuned.

“I may become a coach, but I’m not ruling out my own career just waiting for a chance, the right chance. I can’t change the politicking, I can only over come it,” said Baker. He also resides in Virginia as well and  is currently looking into coaching.

Three very young men all on another course due to the politics and money in this sport, the same sport that once promised so much hope for a better life then the one they grew up in. Politics or talent, we see it for ourselves in almost every sport and life aspect.

R.I.P Fantastic Four... A legacy, that will continue...

For the past few months, I have been
trying to figure out just what happened on Friday, April 16, 2011; what went
wrong and what were their last moments like? Yet, all I get is questions and no
answers and I won’t ever get those answers because no one is around to tell
me...

There are some people who still
aren’t aware of this tragic situation, so before I began my story let me
enlighten you. On April 16, 2011 Clarance Hill the driver of a 2000 Lincoln
proceeded down interstate 64 eastbound driving at what witnesses described at
100 miles per hour. Along for the ride were his good friends; Brian “Swerv”
Herrmann, Jarrell Rainey, and Terrell Cherry, reports say Hill lost control of
the car, went into a slide, ran into a ditch, and hit a tree.

Killing Hill and Cherry at the scene,
Herrmann died early Saturday(17) at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and Rainey
on Sunday(18) surrounded by his family and friends.

It was “horrific”, not because I saw
the accident first hand, But due to the affect it had on myself, my city, and
most of all my friends. See, some of these guys closet friends, were my closet
friends and I got to see the impact it had on them emotionally and physically.

April 16 changed my life forever, I
know everyone dies, but for some reason I never thought it would come a time
where four guys I knew; would die in a car crash, speeding… yes, it happens,
but not to “Swerv”, not to Clarance, and not to guys who are just starting
their lives. They were in the midst of their primes. It leaves me wondering, if
that had even crossed their minds.

I feel as though after death we all
change for a moment and then after time passes we’re back to living normal
lives and cherishing everyday right? Though, for me this time it’s different,
something is different about this time and this situation, something is
different in the minds of our young people, and something is different about my
city.

I entered the funeral home in
Williamsburg almost a week after the accident, and when I saw Brian “Swerv”
laying there I instantly thought, “oh, God how is Mrs. Herrmann dealing with
this and will she ever be okay again?” She loved him and he was her world, and
my next thought was; “Did Brian consider his mom, team mates, and friends
before they drove down 64 speeding?” I said to my friend, “this isn’t right, this
isn’t fair, that’s little “Swerv” right there, and he isn’t supposed to be dead
right now or ever.”

That Friday, which marked a week
came fast I don’t think any of us were aware that this tragic incident had hit
its week mark, but I did.

And on that day I entered another
funeral home to visit my high school friend Clarance Hill.

When I got to the door a woman said,
“Are you here to see Mr. Hill?” 

I just nodded and proceeded to view
my friend for the last time. I looked over him and he was as handsome as I
remember, he looked good in blue, but then I looked around at all my friends
from high school, shaking their heads in disbelief and crying.

As I stood there, I went into deep
thought; “Clarance would always hit me up on facebook chat, “when you come home
for a break from college, make sure you hit me up, I miss yall mane.” And I
would always respond back, “Okay, I will.”

Then a few months would pass and he
would hit me up saying, “for real and I’m proud of you for sticking it out
“crazy Martia’.”

I don’t ever remember if I told him
I loved him or thank you for pushing me through, I don’t remember if I told him
I was proud of him, but I do remember not hitting him up when I returned to
Virginia.

Just because I was too busy, but
time is of the essence and I thought I had all the time in the world.

Standing
there I was brought back to reality realizing, not one, but three guys I knew
were gone and one I had never met, but the pain filled my body and I left.
Driving all the way home in tears.

By Sunday, facebook and twitter were
over flowed with messages to the fantastic four, and still two months later
individuals are shaken up over what has occurred.  Two months later and nothing about this
situation had gotten any easier, it’s like we all had just found out yesterday.

But, as long as the accident
remained in the minds of my friends, that meant they would be more careful and
really see how short life can be.

Swerv’s motto was, “Cherish
Everyday” however cherishing everyday goes beyond drinking, being at every party,
and being seen everywhere you go, it’s about having fun, ceasing every
opportunity, and never forgetting that whatever you do make sure you live to
talk about it.

A good friend of mine and some of
yours as well, began a blog after this situation occurred, “Live Fast, Die
Young, #IChooseLife.

The words he writes has helped me
cope with this to an extent, however it’s up to me to cherish everyday and
decide will we let our lives go back to normal until we have to lay to rest our
next young black man, or will we speak out along side Davon, and choose life.

When Swerv talks about cherishing
every day, he was talking about really appreciating what life has to offer,
taking advantage of opportunity, and remembering to hug more, laugh more, and
be more grateful of life because before you know it, that life can be over.

Our
city is in mourning and we are forever changed, this is a tragedy; one that
some of us will only see once in a lifetime… Think about that for a moment…

While they lived their lives to the fullest,
and touched so many lives, we must never forget to slow down and take a minute
to enjoy the smaller things in life, the things we often take for granted.

I don’t want to continue attending
funerals for young black men who I’ve known for years.

I don’t want to continue reading
about it in the news, I don’t want to continue to see it on television; I want
you guys to wake up and SEE it for yourself; and choose life.

No matter what you’re doing or where
you’re going we all have to slow down and cherish every day, every minute,
every second, and everything.

I will support Davon in his choose
life campaign, and I will never forget the individuals lost that day or days
before that.

Rest
in Peace…

Brian
“Swerv” Herrmann

Clarance
Hill

Jarrell
Rainey

Terrell Cherry

Rason S. Mitchell

Javon “J Roc” Johnson

Joe Miller

Tommie “Black” Canty, Jr.

Shawn Williams

Tyrell Ward

Chris Johnson

Robert “Coop” Cooper

Ryan Richards

Choose life, understand what it
means to cherish every day, they left their mark, where will you leave yours?

Hardwork beats talent when, talent
doesn't work hard." This is the slogan Stefan Welsh has decided to live by in
his young life.

Since Welsh can remember he has always
been an athlete. He started his career as a football player playing for the
Yorktown Patriots, his home town little league team. It was then that his own city
realized a talent was among them and was about to break
loose.





And breaking loose is exactly
what he did. Welsh was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia, he was born to
Yolanda Welsh and Troy Swinton.

Under any other circumstance Stefan wouldn't mention
his dad, but in a story about your life and a ticket to stardom one must visit
their past in order to appreciate their presence.

When
asked sports fans often differ whether they believe Welsh was better at football
or basketball. Some would say Welsh's chances at stardom are better on the
football field as quarter back, others say his point guard skills and jump shot
are his key to success. However Welsh took his skills to the basketball court in
high school winning back to back State Championships in 2004 and
20005.

He was being heavily recruited and decided to choose Arkansas Razorbacks as
his choice to make a career. After the recruiting coach decided to leave Coach
John Palfrey came
in and single-handily changed basketball at the
University of Arkansas. Stefan Welsh stuck it out as long as possible and made
some major decisions in his life.

With that said
college coaches recurit players and promise them the dream of a lifetime to play
Division 1 college basketball and finally land a career in the NBA. What happens
when that dream is slightly changed, when the hardworks no longer matters, when
popularity beats talents. when true talent and hardwork doesn't even
matter.

What happen in the 2010 NBA draft, who were
those guys? Can real talent be over looked due to politics? Standing in the mist
of the game, I myself can say that some talent does go over looked, but thats
the motivation to keep pushing to work that much more
harder.

Stefan Welsh has a dream and the only way to
wake up is to make that dream a reality. Welsh says, "I won't stop here and
nothing will ever stop me from working hard to beat a
"talent."

This isn't the last of a hardworking talent,
he will prevail... This blog is just the beggining of following true talent on a
road only few will ever travel.

If you can't be real with yourself, then who can you be real with? As a
journalist, it's your job to be as real as possible. In 2010 a lot happened, a lot changed, and history
was made yet again. There are several things I want to address. After going over
many questions in my head, I decided to ask..

Why was Micheal Vick ripped to shreds for
dog-fighting? When Ben Roethlisberger rapped yet another girl again
this year, and he sat out two games. In my opinion, Vick took all his wrongs and
made them right. He showed the world the type of individuals the 'ghetto"
raised... Survivors.

Barack Obama became the 1st black president in
history on paper,
the 2 nd black
president in history. It's honestly not that Obama is doing a bad job, he's just black
and that's bad enough. How can you expect a human to fix all the wrongs in one
term. You don't, but because he's black this is his only shot.

I can
continue to be real right?

Why do we allow our daugther's to believe what Kim Kardashian does is right? Is the only way to
stardom literally on the bottom; on your back? How many times will we show her
chasing a new athlete?

Why doesn't Pheadra just say that baby isn't her
husbands... Enough Said...

Why have we stopped raising money for Haiti
and New Orleans, yet we're raising money for PETA? Why are we fighting a war to
save another country from what they believe? Who are we to strip someone of
their Divine Rights and beliefs, because it doesn't seem right to us? Someone
may think what we do in America isn't right, but their not over here bombing us.
Why are we fighting to save others, whose going to save us?

Okay, stay
with me...

Michael Phelps smoked some weed, never mind the fact that he's won 16 Olympic medals, and
totally dominated the Olympics as well. He's young, young people
smoke weed. he's human, let him live. He isn't cheating, taking steroids, or
abusing women... He's swimming and smoking.

Miley Cyrus... drugs What did you expect'
Disney turns sugar into shit every time they get their hands on a child
star. it's not being a young celebrity they can't handle. it's the not being
able to be young and make mistakes. Kids have to make mistakes to become
adults.

Disney stop turning kids out...

Reggie Bush, by the way go
get your Heisman Trophy back. Taking gifts has nothing to do with
what you did on the field from pure talent. Most athletes have never experienced what
stardom brings, if you give someone who started with nothing a gift, he's going
to take it. Penalize the people giving the
gifts.

16 and Pregnant is not a chance at a reality show, it's a reality
check. it shouldn't be flaunted around all over t.v.
16 year old girls sleeping at their parents house with 18 and up guys... it's
sad, pitiful, and a shame. Just be real about life after having a baby at 16.
Then you show, "Teen Mom". I know a 16 year old girl whose story after having a
baby is nothing like what MTV shows.

So let's reward you with stardom and
interviews for having a baby at 16.

And why are Terrance and Rosci still hosting 106
and park? BET, I'll wait for an answer...

Oprah honestly, do you like
being black?

Kim house wife of Atlanta stop singing please, and dancing.
Khandi, how dare you
allow her to make a mockery of you and the art.

Nancy Grace and Monique
stop yelling at the camera. Monique get a mic, it's hard to watch your show
because you yell too damn much, Nancy stop trying people in the court of
public opinion.

Wendy Williams is a mess, she reads off her cue cards, doesn't
have good speaking skills, and you as viewers embrace and entertain ignorance.

Why
do we pay taxes on cars that are paid in full? If I pay my car payment, plus
taxes, then when my car becomes paid off, why am I still paying taxes? It's paid
for.

Why are teachers allowed to degrade children using words that they
can't understand?

When did we become such a violent society' Martin Luther King Jr and
Gandhi fought
without violence. However, we as a society solve every issue that way. War is the
prime example.

As blacks we are not free, we are told we can have one
month to celebrate a lifetime of achievements. If BET stands for Black
Entertainment Television, why are they becoming MTV Part 2?

Why should
someone who doesn't have kids get majority of their check taken? Yes, you get it
back, but why should someone who chose not to have kids pay for the government
to take care of lazy
women who have kids, but don't want to work. The system...

Macy's department
store in 2011, stop following black people around your store. racist asses.

Dreaming

The best part about being a kid is the innocence that your brain only knows, for
example believing in Santa brought so much anticipation and joy on Christmas
that you lose as an adult. For the past few months of my life, I've yearned for
that innocence to come back. When I didn't see black or white, and didn't have
to experience being a "Black woman" in a racist white man's world, when I had no
idea what violence was, and when people cared honestly cared.
You
dream of so much as a child, what you want to be, who you want to marry, where
you want to live, and how much money you will make. However, when you wake up
you don't realize that those dreams might only be just that...
Dreams....
My mom use to tell me, "nobody is going to give you
anything, you have to work for everything." I know that now and at 23 years old
I know that hard work pays off. The problem I'm having is when does it actually
pay off? Sometimes you want things to happen in your life that aren't meant for
you, but you are blinded by your own dreams so you never realize, that God has
something better.
Don't get me wrong for the last few months, all
I could think was what can I do to make quick money to pay back the 85,000 I owe
in college loans. How will my mother be able to afford $600 a month paying back
my loans? Hasn't she done enough? I feel bad, because it's nothing I can do or
so I thought. I gave up on just trying to be rich, be on television, or invent
the next big creation.
And started to realize, I could make a
difference, I'm a writer I can inspire people through words, I can write books,
own magazines, I can stop dreaming and make it a reality. I can complain about
my innocence being gone, but then I won't be able to appreciate my eyes being
opened. I haven't lost my innocence I lost my way, I thought that being somebody
meant being famous, but I'm somebody and to a lot of people I'm somebody
great!
To my family and friends I made it, I graduated college.
It was myself who felt that wasn't enough, because if I settle for just that
then my innocence being gone has only made me scared to see the real world for
what it's worth. Although, at times I feel unaccomplished, discrimnated against,
and forced to be somebody.
I didn't get where I'am following
anyone's foot steps because then you have to walk with your head
down....
Don't worry see the best thing about dreams are they
inspire you, so sometimes I have to sleep. But when I wake up, you better watch
out. See I've been fighting all my life, because I was and looked different but
I fought and that's what matters. Everyone has a story either you can tell it or
keep it a secret and shame the world of finding out how you
overcame.
At night I have to face myself in the mirror, and
that's it. So if I try and fail then I can look that same face in the mirror and
say< "get up girl, you better dust that butt off and keep it moving." I've
made it from the bottom and although the top isn't far I can't get comfortable
now because the bottom is never that far from the top.

Just Writing

See someone once said, "in order to be a good writer, you must have
experienced things, seen things, and know something." Well when you have all
three you become one hell of a writer. I've seen a lot more then my eyes can
bare, which is probably why I wear glasses. I've experienced enough to write a
book or two, or three, and I've learned enough to school anyone.

I usually only blog when I have something important on my mind, but today I
just felt like writing to see exactly what would come to my mind. And...
Nothing, I got nothing, but a sad case of writers block. However for some reason
I know people will read this, because it's still interesting.

See writing is a skill not everyone has, you have to enjoy it, be able to
step outside the box, cause a debate, and paint a mental picture. I love to make
people see things my way, or no way at all. If people aren't talking about what
you wrote, then you didn't do your job.

Over the last few years I've started writing a novel, which I think is
great, and then something hit me recently that said, "write a book of thoughts."
So that's what I plan on doing, keeping it real never paid so well.

Pain... What is it?

 

Pain carries so much negativity just hearing the word, however if one stops
just for a second and appreciates their own, then it would mean
so much more then what society associates it with. See pain can cause so much
anger in us, but pain is actually progress, because you must suffer and order to
accept what is to come.

In my own life, my pains and my struggles have made me stronger and on my
bad days, its the pain from the past that's motivates me for the pain that is to
come in the future. Had it not been for the pain i endured, I don't know if I would
be the person that I'am today.

Have you ever heard of a narrative? Well, it's a story or part of a story that one must
tell, and use descriptive words, one must paint a picture
for the mind. See, we all have a narrative to tell, and we probably could paint
a million pictures, but if we keep the canvas white then we have succumb to pain
and our future will be dark and cloudy.

See me... I'm going to embrace my pain, so that when it comes again I'm
ready for it and I know how to deal with it. A great peacher one told me,
"trouble will come no matter what, it's just how you deal with that pain when it
comes..."