The more this debate rages on, the more sick and tired I am of Black and Brown people displacing their anger. This is a snippet of a piece I wrote about it for The BVX (Spinoff of AOL Black Voices):

There were some buxom women spotted on 42nd street recently. They were wearing gaudy jewelry, long fingernails and baring their wide hips and ample breasts via midriff tops and tight jeans for passersby to see. However, they weren’t prostitutes. They’re part of Sofia Maldonado’s vision for a mural created to represent females she describes as “brave, strong and tough,” but her oeuvre got “community organizers” angry.

The 26-year-old Puerto Rican-Cuban artist was commissioned by the Times Square Art Alliance to paint the mural on 42 Street between 7th and 8th avenues. Activist Tony Herbert told Fox News that the opus was an insult to Black and Latina women, insisting they should be seen holding brief cases and cell phones while another interviewee, a Black man, called the women “ghetto.” The New York City Black Professionals organized a protest demanding the artwork be taken down. But don’t we face bigger battles, like the fact that NYC school children could lose the free Metrocards they use to take public transportation? Or how about working toward eradicating disproportionate HIV/AIDS rates?

You can CLICK HERE to read my whole piece but my assessment of the situation is that I think it’s disgusting that people are protesting this mural by a young Latina woman, saying that the women look like ghetto trash. Yet, women like Gwen Stefani, Fergie and Ke$ha get away with dressing like this and in the cases of some of their music, promoting materialism but the same protesters are no where to be found. We got to do better. Really.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dig Deep Hits Harlem THIS WEEK NYC!!!!!!!

Thursday, March 18th Dig Deep hosts
Classic Afterwork at Talay Lounge from 7:00 PM-12:00 AM
701 West 135th Street
2 Hour Open Bar Baybreeze & Food
DJ Tyboogie

Sunday, March 21st Dig Deep is on Display and will have
Vintage and Fashion jewelry pieces and demonstrates Ardyss Reshaping, Nutrition and Beauty Products at the Women Supporting Women Brunch
Haakon’s Hall from 12:00 PM- 5:00 PM
1187 Amsterdam Ave (bet 118th & 119th St)

Women Supporting Women started simply as a brunch with benefits. An event where women can let their hair down from a month’s worth of work and enjoy themselves around like-minded women. It has since turned into Unique demonstrations by Exclusive Vendors, Networking and a Delicious Brunch prepared by World Renowned Chef James Lenzi right before your very eyes. He also gives tips so that you can recreate it for your loved ones. Also let’s not forget our favorite pastime… SHOPPING!!! There will be incredibly unique finds in Clothing, Beauty and Entertainment!!! Also tons of Take home ideas to simplify your life and make your world a little Brighter!!! So come Enjoy yourself and Shop or Eat till you drop!!!!

$10 will include Admission, One Free Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic of your choice, and a Goodie Bag!!

$25 will include Admission, One Free Alcoholic or Non Alcoholic Beverage of your choice, a Goodie Bag and Brunch

Alcoholic Beverages would include Bloody Marys, Mimosas, Screwdriver and Frozen Margaritas!!!

Brunch Menu- Choose one of the Following:
-New Orleans Open Face Omelet- with Andouille Sausage, Potatoes and Swiss Cheese
-Salmon Croquettes- with a Dill Vermouth Sauce and Norwegian Grits
-Belgian Waffles with your choice of fruit (Strawberry,Banana and/or Apples) with Fresh Whipped Cream
-Chopped Rotisserie Chicken Chopped Salad with your choice of dressing
-Famous Burger with Cheese and all your Favorite Fixins’
-Yogurt Parfait with Fresh Fruit and Granola

There will also be Bread, Muffins and UNLIMITED COFFEE!!!

Stay Tuned for the launch of the OFFICIAL website!
ABOUT MISS DEVORA OF DIG DEEP INC.

Dig Deep, Inc. believes that if you look your best on the outside it can only build confidence on the inside. By providing exclusive, one on one personal attention, a strong eye for detail and an in-depth working knowledge of fashion and jewelry, Dig Deep, Inc. is redefining personal styling, health wealth and accessories marketing. Whether for everyday wear or that special occasion that requires special attention, Dig Deep, Inc. is available when the client is available, works with a resourcefulness that can accommodate any budget and, working with a keen sense of the personality of an individual, executes with an unmatched standard of professionalism.

Dig Deep, Inc. was established in 2007 by Devora Wooden in the fulfillment of a dream. Upon graduating from Johnson C. Smith University in North Carolina, the future founder of Dig Deep, Inc. began working as an Organizational Consultant and styling her close friends for evenings out and special events. Always the fashionista, one day Ms. Wooden had an epiphany, to take her love of fashion, styling and eye for detail as an Organizational Consultant and combine it with what she was already doing part time for close friends..and **Dig Deep, Inc. **was born!

Dig Deep, Inc. is expanding the perspective of what personal styling means. Ms. Wooden and Dig Deep, Inc. are making a name for herself throughout the New York City fashion community, already having done photo shoots for Hype Hair Magazine and the 2010 Rip the Runway fashion show for BET, as well as consulting and/or styling for funk/soul singer Raye 6. As Dig Deep, Inc. continues to build a reputation for having unique, signature pieces to choose from, Ms. Wooden is actively cultivating relationships with independent designers to not only help to establish these artists but to ensure Dig Deep, Inc’s clientele have a variety of one of a kind pieces that reflect individual personality. In the future keep an eye out for Devora Wooden and Dig Deep, Inc. as it continues to grow; Enhancing Beauty one client at a time.

**Dig Deep, Inc **is available for:
*Personal Jewelry Styling and Consulting for every occasion
*Wardrobe Consultation
*Personal Grooming Consult
*Jewelry Sales & Rentals (Music/Film/Arts Project and Events, Private Parties, Accessory Displays at events, etc)

One of the things that stood out about her was how laid back she was. Plus, she didn’t trip about being on camera. She was straight chillin with her hair in puffs and rocking sweats. She was mad cool and a lot more soft spoken than I thought she would be. She’s also tiny. Not short, just little, smaller than I anticipated (nothing wrong with that, just an observation). Her aura was amazing too.

Props to Steven Duarte for shooting and editing!

Guess what? He has a teenage daughter who can sang…

She remade Maxwell’s “Pretty Wings.” The video is a little random but it doesn’t take away from her voice.

I can’t stress enough how great Fela! The Musical is and…how much I want to kick myself for being too scurred to audition when my colleague (who is now in the play) invited me to go with her. D’oh!

But anyway, big ups to Vibe for the interview.

I get goosebumps every time I hear the first cadence of “Water No Get Enemy.”

Surely you remember…

That she won my “Roc Your 16 Bars” contest with Roc 4 Life right?

Cymarshall Law Accolades:

-Has toured Europe several times.
-Featured on iTunes’ hip hop page.
- Recently featured in MTVU’s “Hot Seat.”

MySpace.com/CymarshallLaw

Here are some tracks he sent me:

And here’s the video for “Hood Life:”

Thoughts?

Follow him @EDaney

Professor X was the son of legendary activist Sonny Carson, who I featured for Blaxploitation Friday #56.