BrownGirlsFly

It’s pretty exciting for us to see Michelle Obama showing her daughters the world. Last year they vacationed in southern Spain and this year a good will trip to Africa! What an amazing way to grow up!

It’s Mother’s Day in the US. What a great reason to celebrate motherhood around the world. Here are a few short films highlighting mothers and other nurturers we find inspiring.

One of our missions is to encourage women of color around the world to spread their wings and fly. So it was painful for us to see this video about the inflated value of men in some cultures and the consequences for women who don’t bare a male child.

For someone like me who’s been obsessed with the window seat for as long as I can remember, I was excited to hear Erykah Badu’s ode to wanderlust, escapism and return. Indulge me as I muse about her “Window Seat” lyrics and what they say to my traveler’s soul.

BrownGirlsFly has been celebrating Women’s History all month. Among other things, this means we’ve been “vibing” to songs highlighting women’s collective strength, courage and wisdom. Think Indie Arie, Christina Aguilera, Queen Latifah, Tina Turner and other soulful women who’ve faced and overcome great challenges.

Have a listen and enjoy. Any good ones missing from the list? Be sure to let us know.

By 1911, International Women’s Day became a global institution which nearly 100 years later still serves as a strong vehicle for women’s rights protection. This movement has shaped my life as a women in America, and I want all women to experience the same freedoms. But, there’s a fine line between protecting an individual’s rights and respecting (and thus protecting) a culture and its practices. And, quite frankly, I don’t know which side of the line I fall on. Do I challenge a rite of passage because of its physical and emotional impact on a women? Or do I accept and embrace it as a cultural tenet? There are more questions than answers, but the resolution begins with dialogue and desire to understand. Join us in the conversation.