10 Lessons I Learned from "Bloggers and the Beat"

Photo Credit: Tierra Carpenter

"Bloggers and the Beat" was a five panelists discussion, sponsored by SPC Lectures at SIU. 

It was moderated by Madeline Smith, a graduate assistant at WIDB student run radio station and SPC TV.

The speakers on the panel included the following people: Karen Civil, Brandon "Real T@lk" Williams, Tyece Wilkins, and Tha Shipmates. 

Karen Civil is an entrepreneur, and manager to rappers YG and Nipsey Hussle. 

Brandon "Real T@lk" Williams is an artist, motivational speaker, and SIU alumnus. 

Tyece Williams is the author behind the website, Twenties Unscripted which she started in 2012. 

"Tha Shipmates" is the name for the music production duo, Breeze and Matcy P.

All five of these panelists had extremely insightful things to say regarding how they managed to turn their passion into their career.

Here is a list of ten things I learned from them.

1. Don't be afraid to network, and make use of your contacts. 

Real T@lk explained how important it is to follow up with your contacts.

He gave a great example of how he was able to use his contacts when he was struggling financially, his first two years after graduating college.

"When I was going to different cities and I didn't have hotels, I was following up with frat brothers, sorors, and people who I met who were like, 'When you come to DC, follow up with me.' I'll call you and I'm going to be on your couch," Real T@lk said.

2. Use your on-campus resources to your advantage. You're already paying for them.

Breeze had the resources to learn music production the entire time he was in school, but he didn't start until after he graduated college.

"There are three or four different recording rooms in the comm building, but you don't realize that until you're out of college and studio time is fifty- dollars an hour, Breeze said. "It may not be to the quality you want, but at least you're still practicing your craft."

3. Don't let anyone underestimate the value of your time, talent, or services.

Breeze said if you have a skill that is worth money, you should be charging for it.

"If somebody who wants to work with you can't get with that, then that's not somebody you need to be in cahoots with," he said. That's somebody who's not really serious about work, somebody who doesn't invest in their career, and somebody who doesn't care about being too successful with what they're doing."

4. Don't stop, or even slow down what you're doing, just because other people may not understand it.

Civil said her mom didn't fully understand her career until she bought her an eight-bedroom home.

"Of course after I bought my mom her eight bedroom home, she understands 'Oh, my daughter's an entrepreneur.' It's unfortunate, but it definitely takes time for people to understand, and to see the vision," Civil said.

5. Social media is not a true representation of anyone's life. Don't feel like you have to rush your success because of what you see everyone else doing.

Civil described how the use of social networks affects people starting careers in media today.

"Now when you wake up you're seeing what everyone else is doing and you're thinking 'I need to move quicker. I need to know what's happening.' ... There's no set time on when you're going to be successful. Oprah had her first big break when she was 30 or 31."

"I sleep for like two hours, then I wake up and check my email, because I don't want to miss anything."

Matcy P explained that sometimes work has to be nonstop.

"The minute you stop and take a break, you miss out on so much. The more you keep going and learning, the better your outcome will be," he said.

6. Sometimes with success, also comes sacrifice.

Civil said one of the biggest misconceptions about her job is that people underestimate how hard it is, especially because social media only shows the good moments.

She recently had surgery and is supposed to be on six weeks bed rest but isn’t, because she has to work.

She described how hectic a day in her life could be.

"I'm usually in an office working six or seven hours,” she said. “Then I have to go to meetings. Then after you go to meetings, you have to go to studio. Then I have to work on personal things and just so many different projects. It's a lot."

She also sleeps in two-hour increments, because her clients are on the east coast, while she is on the west coast.

7. If you want to give back to the world, sometimes one of the best things you can do is provide a good influence.

Breeze used his fraternity background to show how leading by example can be an effective way to give back.

Before he joined his fraternity, the members made him want to emulate them, because they were always dressed nice, going to class, and looking cool.

"I think that was a part of their giving back," he said. "Their mentorship was just upholding themselves in this light, where I would never let anybody look at me in a negative form."

He took on a similar form of mentorship in his life.

"If it's not me directly giving something back, it's more of me just upholding a positive image," he said.

8. Sometimes as a black woman, you may be looked at as something you are not. Therefore, it is your responsibility to present yourself as a professional at all times.

Civil described what challenges she faced as a black woman in her field.

"I felt like I had two strikes against me which were being a woman and being a black woman," she said.

Civil said she had to dress and act a certain way to train people to take her seriously and show her respect.

"Before I would leave my house every morning, I would do a mirror check," she said. 

Civil made sure her clothes weren't fitted too tightly and that she was not presenting herself too sexually.

Even doing all of that, some men still did not respect her as a business woman. 

She was asked out on dates which she had to decline, because she knew her career would go farther than a romantic relationship.

There was also one studio engineer who completely ignored her presence, while he proceeded to greet both her business partner and artist.

9. Don't let people know every detail of your personal life, just because you're a personal blogger.

Wilkins explained one of the most common misconceptions she receives from being a personal blogger.

"People read your work, and then they think they know your entire life," she said.

She made a suggestion to anyone that may want to have a personal blog.

"Have boundaries about what you're willing to write and not write, but also with people," she said.

Wilkins said you should set your boundaries with people by letting them know what you are not willing to talk about outside of your blog.

10. There are so many female bloggers out right now, and that may make it harder for women to gain and keep a following.

Wilkins described the current state of the female blogging community.

"I think that living in this sort of very over saturated blogosphere, and over saturated writing community right now is amazing," she said. "It also makes it that much harder to make yourself unique and to make your product something that people are going to pay attention to. I think that's kind of a minus for me in the blogging community. As a woman the same things that are working for me are sometimes working against me."

Clearly I took a lot away from "Bloggers and the Beat". I have no doubt that what I learned from these five creatives last night will help me become more savvy in my media career.

This was another great event provided by SPC Lectures. I am thoroughly looking forward to any events they present in the future. 

Read Tyece Wilkins' Bloggers and the Beat Recap here: www.twentiesunscripted.com/bloggers-and-the-beat-recap-you-cant-be-afraid-to-fly/

Sisters Not Haters

A group on campus is trying to bring the sisterhood back to African-American women on SIU’s campus.

Sisters Interacting Successfully, a program for first-year African-American women that provides them with mentors, held an event entitled, “Sisters Not Haters: The Evolution,” Feb., 10 in the Student Center’s Illinois room.

SIS was started in August 2013 by the Center for Inclusive Excellence. 

Lanel Love, Black Resource Center program assistant, said she started SIS after Dereck Williams, BRC coordinator, brought her the idea.

This was the second part to a previous “Sisters Not Haters” event held last November. 

Danielle Graham, student coordinator for New Student Programs, helped facilitate both events.

Graham, a sophomore from St. Anne studying biological sciences, said the last event was an opportunity for black women to think about the ways they interact.

“They came to the realization that what they are doing everyday doesn’t have to be that way just because everyone else is doing it,” she said. 

“The change is needed.”

She said Tuesday’s event compared what black women have done in the past to promote sisterhood compared to what they do now.

When describing the event Graham said comparing time frames is important to understand black women's interactions with each other.

“It is kind of like a tribute to African-American women in history who worked together as sisters,” Graham said. “Then we’re going to come back to what we previously talked about and try to find where we lost our connection as African-American women.”

Graham said she thinks the media and the way African-American women are portrayed on reality shows are to blame for a lot of women’s negative behavior and attitudes.

She said when women see their favorite reality stars looking and acting a certain way, they want to imitate them and sometimes that does not make the most humble or friendly person.

“We are looking up to the wrong role models,” she said. “Today, in society, we have positive black women role models, but they will follow Rasheeda and K. Michelle before they follow [Michelle] Obama. We are losing focus of what actually matters.”

Crystle LaCroix, a senior from Crystal Lake studying English, was one of the few white women in attendance and said the event was a good exercise in togetherness.

“The larger world oftentimes tears black women down in a lot of different ways, so creating that community among black women is really important and necessary,” she said.
Graham said she wants the events to broaden black women’s outlook.

“I feel like I hope to accomplish the un-accomplishable,” she said. “I’m hoping that maybe if we can even just touch the few women that come here tonight that it’s something that can spread, because we all feed off of each other.”

The group’s effect does not end once its events do. SIS also has a living learning community on the first floor of Bowyer Hall in Thompson point.

Taelor O’Bannon, Black Resource Center coordinator, said the community helps students gain knowledge on what the group is doing, including trips it may take later in the year.

“Being a part of our living learning community gives you a direct line to SIS, so that means if you need tutors we connect you to faculty members in your major,” said O’Bannon, a sophomore from Plainfield studying information technology.

Students can get involved with this organization by either staying in the living learning community, or attending the events and workshops that the program offers, which can be found on the SIU website’s event calendar.

Graham said the event mirrors the efforts of SIS.

“Sisters Not Haters is a reflection of what we hope to accomplish here at S.I.S. on campus,” she said. “We hope for these black women to come together and interact successfully, and we’re doing everything in our power to make sure that happens.” 

Written By: Tierra Carpenter

Shonda Rhimes, Creating Black History

           Black History Month has been nationally recognized for less than forty years. Now I am speaking up and asking, why should February be the only month we acknowledge innovative African-Americans? Also why do we often only speak of the same people, e.g., Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and Madam CJ Walker? I am not saying people today are more significant but they are at least relevant. The accomplishments of our favorite African-American activists and inventors will forever be notable, but we should remember that years have passed and African-American's levels of success increase daily. We as people should start acknowledging people who in forty-years the next generation will be calling their successes "black history", who are accomplishing great things, today! This is where I would like to recognize well-known screenwriter, Shonda Rhimes.

While attending USC Rhimes was a diamond in the rough among her peers. She even received the prestigious Gary Rosenberg Writing Fellowship. Similar to most of today’s recent college graduates Rhimes had a tough time finding work in her field. Two years after graduating she finally had an opportunity to get her name out there. Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith were interested in producing her short film, Blossoms and Veils. Then later down the line they wanted to produce another one of her films, When Willows Touch, but when Omar Epps chose to depart from the film so did the distribution company. The film was never completed and according to Rhimes, "Apparently there wasn't a big market for black films set in the Jim Crow South about a body rotting in a cornfield."

This setback made Rhimes begin to question her career choice. She had even considered going to medical school. What put her back on track was a job in the research department of Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream, a HBO documentary. In her time away from the documentary Rhimes was writing a script called Human Seeking Same, which was purchased (but never made) by New Line Cinema. Word of this is what began to open the door to Rhimes in the film industry.

Her first offer was to write the HBO movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge in 1998. The movie was about the first black actress to receive an Academy Award. The movie itself earned Halle Berry an Emmy and a Golden Globe. Rhimes next big project was Crossroads. When she first got the offer to write Crossroads Rhimes did not even know who Britney Spears was. Then when she attended her concert in Chicago she realized some things about Spears, “I suddenly found her fascinating–that kind of power [Spears wields] with young girls, the amount of devotion they had to her, made me see the possibilities in a movie.” Then In 2004 Rhimes Wrote The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement. The sequel did not do as well in theatres as the original, but Rhimes does not regret working on the film just due to the fact that she got to work with Julie Andrews.

Rhimes became inspired to write for television after the adoption of her first child. She watched a lot of television while she was at home taking care of the baby. Rhimes enjoyed watching real life surgeries on TV and had been thinking about her time as a candy striper. This is what gave her the idea to write the medical drama, Grey’s Anatomy. The show started in 2005 and since has been nominated for and won many awards, including a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy. Making Grey’s Anatomy the critically acclaimed show it is today gave Rhimes a voice people were willing to listen to at ABC studios. When speaking about Rhimes being a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, Scandal enthusiast and well known blogger, Luvvie Ajayi said, “Shonda Rhimes is currently one of the most powerful women in Hollywood. I was at an event where she was being honored and the head of ABC presented her an award. She said ‘we usually give people a seat at the table. We gave Shonda the table.’ That’s power and it’s amazing in that position.” Rhimes went on to create two more shows for ABC, Private Practice and Scandal. Private Practice was cancelled after six seasons, but today Scandal is currently one of the most watched shows on television and is definitely the most talked about on Twitter with a record of 713,000 tweets about the show the night of the season three premiere.

With a career as a writer you are rarely known by your face or name. You perform your job with your writing speaking for you. You are often not seen or heard as yourself. What sets Rhimes apart from other writers is that she makes her voice heard. She is not afraid to express her opinion outside of her shows and movies. When watching the ABC Family premiere of BunheadsRhimes shared her opinion of what she saw so far on the show tweeting, “Hey @abcfbunheads: really? You couldn’t cast even ONE young dancer of color so I could feel good about my kid watching this show? NOT ONE?” Rhimes did not make this statement in a rude way but in a way that would not only open the eyes of viewers but also the people of the entertainment industry.

I think Rhimes is making black history because she is all about equality and diversity in the entertainment industry. Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal showcase cast members of different minority backgrounds including Asian, African American, Latino, and homo-sexual. She writes her shows to include characters like this because those are the people we see in the real world. She branches out and does not just write shows about black women just because that is who she is. Rhimes also did not feel the need to make any of her shows “black shows”. When she first wrote the script for Grey’s Anatomy she did not give any of the characters last names. All she told her casting director, Linda Lowy was “Linda, I want you to cast it the way you see the world.”

8 Tips on How to Do Your Makeup without a Mirror

If you are anything like me then you may have found yourself in some odd, maybe even high paced situations where you feel the need to do your makeup without using a mirror. You could have been on your way to a date, school, or anywhere you might meet someone and do not want to risk being seen without makeup on. This is perfectly understandable. I always hate ending up in a situation like this because applying makeup without a mirror is risky. Whenever you attempt it you have to take the chance of it looking like you got ready in the dark, which you might as well have done! Although if you follow my tips written below, or in the video above, applying your makeup without a mirror will be a breeze, and not a disaster.

1. Know your face before you apply your makeup. You can do this by at least looking in the mirror once that day so you know where any of your flaws or blemishes are located.

2. Use your hands and imagination to locate the parts of your face you need to apply your makeup. Especially feel for the different parts of your eyelids, cheeks, and lips since those are the parts of your face you can mess up the easiest.

3. When you apply your foundation or concealer use a blending sponge, stippling brush, or foundation brush. Any of these three tools will help you to quickly give your skin a flawless and airbrushed look.

4. To set your face makeup lightly apply a translucent powder. You should used a translucent powder instead of a colored powder to guarantee light coverage. Remember it is very easy to overdo your makeup when you can not even see what you are doing.

5. When it comes to your eye makeup you should keep it simple using colors similar to your skin tone. They will be easy to blend and hard to mess up.

6. Use a retractable eyeliner instead of gel or pencil. This way you do not have to worry about dipping into your eyeliner jar or sharpening your pencil. Also make sure to use smooth and good quality eyeliner. Doing all of this will quicken the application process.

7. Also keep it neutral with your lips. Use a light pink or peach toned gloss, not a lipstick. With a lipstick you never know how the color will turn out, but you apply your lip gloss without a mirror on a daily basis.

8. Lastly finish your look by setting your eyebrows with a clear mascara. You may not have noticed but your eyebrows frame your face and set the tone for your whole look. If they are neat and polished then so is the rest of your look.

Your finished look may not turn out absolutely perfect, but I know it will be perfectly wearable!

Thanksgiving on Instagram

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Valentines Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Birthdays, and all of the holidays we barbecue for, AKA the days people like to most frequently post on Instagram.

I have been noticing lately that around holidays social networks like Instagram start to get really intense. Basically everyone's tolerance for seeing good things happening in other people's lives starts to get extremely low.

On Thanksgiving everyone has to post about their multiple plates of food for the "SlamCam" or that they're bout to "Smash". Then all of the Thanksgiving downers get mad. Why, because you aren't eating that good?..  Oh you are.. Then stop being mad and post your food! Now y'all are enjoying Thanksgiving together and you aren't even in the same room. Oh you actually aren't eating that good?.. Then how about you make that move to someone's house who is? If they're sharing their food on Instagram, they should be willing to share in person too!

I just don't understand why people get offended about these Thanksgiving food pictures in the first place. Now people are going as far as saying they will unfollow anyone who posts pictures of their food. One, why are you so mad? Two, why do you think we care? We all have "the app". You can be unfollowed just as fast, and I will care even less.  Many of us post subpar, one star, microwavable food year round, but when someone post a pic of a plate of that good stuff that their grandma put her foot in, that's a problem.

Usually no one cares what you post, but when everyone starts posting about the same thing, I admit it can get a little annoying. The way I feel is that, why can't we all just be happy for one another? We should all be able to enjoy the season and holiday by sharing what we love with our followers, whether it be: food, friends, or family. What's your opinion of posting Thanksgiving food pics on Instagram?

You have been warned if you get on Instagram this Thursday, you will be bombarded with family pictures and plates, so if you don't want to see them stay off of Instagram!

Inspired by Ebony Fashion Fair: Past, Present, and Future

Photo Credit: Tobie Loomis
Video Clip Below!

I am a part of a journalism program called Global Girl Media, and on November 21st I received the unique opportunity to interview Linda Johnson Rice. Rice is a media mogul and the Chairman of Johnson Publishing Company. I was very excited for the opportunity to meet her, because her life is a dream to me.

From the age of six Rice would accompany her mother Eunice Johnson to different couture fashion shows throughout Europe. She served as a second opinion for her mom, and since she typically did not have a seat in the audience, she would watch the show from backstage, and sometimes assist the models. As a child Rice also had the opportunity to spend time at the Johnson Publishing offices . It was actually fun for her to get an early start on learning the family business; she never felt any pressure from her parents to follow in their footsteps. She had the advantage of a career waiting for her when she finished school, and the opportunity to meet many celebrities that passed through the offices of Johnson Publishing Company. 

When her mother, Eunice Johnson went to these different couture fashion shows her mission was to find spectacular ensembles to feature in her charity fashion show known as, Ebony’s Fashion Fair. This was not an easy mission because Johnson was challenged to go to the biggest fashion houses in the world (located in Europe) where no one knew of herself or Ebony Magazine. She had to get them to learn and understand the African American Market, the mission of her magazine, and her fashion show. This way they would allow her to buy their clothes, which should have been just one written check away. There is currently an exhibit at the Chicago History Museum entitled Inspired Beauty: 50 Years of Fashion Fair. This exhibit was created to remember the fashion show that impacted the lives of many African American people by exposing them to couture fashion they probably could not have seen anywhere in the U.S. 

My whole night consisted of learning about the history of Johnson Publishing Company and Ebony Fashion Fair. After Rice was done with her onstage interview with Laura Washington, she took some questions from the audience. It was then that I learned not only did Fashion Fair impact the show’s audience but the models too. Two models from the historical Fashion Fair Shows were in the audience that night. They shared how walking in Fashion Fair helped them gain long lasting careers in high fashion modeling. Also working with Johnson Publishing Company they learned a lot about their presentation. Whenever Mr. Johnson entered the room they stood up a little straighter and walked a little stronger.

I was most inspired that night when I asked Rice, “What is your mission or goal for African-American women and girls that want to be successful in the fashion or media industry?” and she replied, “Education is key. You also have to hone your craft, make things to the possible highest standard, and believe in yourself.” She gave the example that her mother had a degree in tailoring, so when young designers would show her mother their clothes she would turn them inside out and check the stitching from every angle. If it was not perfect  she would send them back to fix it. I love that the advice she gave in her answer could go for a job in any field. If you are truly passionate about something you will put your, heart, mind, body, and soul into it just to make it happen. That is what being successful is all about.

I really wish I received the opportunity to experience one of the Ebony Fashion Fair shows. It was more than just looking at the clothes like a typical fashion show. The commentator made the show by setting the different moods, sewing the whole show together. The show also featured some of the most beautiful African-American women in the world. I would have loved to see all of that beauty in one room: from the clothes, models, and audience. According to Desiree Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, there is still hope that myself and many others who never saw one of the shows will get our chance. Rodgers has said that she is bringing back the show, although Rice has not yet made any official public statements agreeing to this. Even if the show does not come back it will still live on forever along with the legacy of Eunice and John H. Johnson through: Linda Johnson Rice, the memories of people who experienced the shows, and the various memorabilia.

The exhibition Inspired Beauty: 50 years of Ebony Fashion Fair featuring 67 designer garments from shows of years past will continue its 10 month showing until January 4, 2014, so be sure not to miss it!

Also checkout the organization that made this interview possible for me and stay tuned for the full interview on their site, http://www.GlobalGirlMedia.org

10 Fashion & Style Dos & Don'ts

1. Don't wear two revealing clothing items at one time. The temperature outside is not an excuse to be overly sexy. Guys will appreciate you leaving some things to the imagination.

 2. Don't wear leggings as pants, unless working out. Just because you have a nice butt does not mean you have to showcase it in leggings. Also if you aren't in love with your lower half but leggings make your outfit, you can hide it with a long flowing shirt.

3. Don't pair different animal prints together. You don't want to step out of the house with the whole jungle on your body.

4. Don't wear too much jewelry. Let your clothes do some of the talking. Don't let your jewelry over power it.

5. Don't wear jeans that don't fit. You'll make your but look saggy just because your jeans are baggy.

6. Do DRESS FOR YOUR BODY TYPE! Sucking it in and poking it out can only do so much. Wear clothes that flatter You.

7. Do wear a camisole under any see through top so your bra doesn't show. Unless you're Rihanna, I am guessing showing the world your underwear (or even less in her case) through see through clothing is not on your "Things I Don't Give a F*ck About" list; so be aware of see through tops.

8. Do always wear black or your skin tone underwear under white clothing. *Refer to the joke in #7. Also always check yourself in a well lit mirror before leaving the house.

9. Do match your accessories to any buttons or bling in your outfit. The hardware on your purse should match the hardware on your shoes, which should match the jewelry on your neck, wrists, ears, and fingers. If that's complicated just remember, "All Gold Everything"!

10. Do step out of your comfort zone, and try new things with your personal style. Fashion is all about seeing what does and does not work and taking risk no matter what others think. Take a leap you just might fly!

Thanks for reading! Help the cause and leave some more fashion & style tips in the comments below.