For Dreamers, Thinkers and Achievers
By Cheryl Mattox Berry It’s that time of year again when mothers and daughters hit the mall in search of the perfect dress for end-of-the-year school dances and prom. Racks of the latest styles in neon colors popped up in stores a few weeks ago. I was probably the only one paying attention to them. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry It looks as if soulful British singer Adele has lost more than 25 pounds over the last several months. That came as a surprise because in an interview on 60 Minutes, the Grammy-award winning artist said she was fine with her full figure and didn’t want to be one of those skinny […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry One of the most powerful things to emerge from the tragic shooting death of Trayvon Martin is a new level of activism among young people. From participating in marches to staging walkouts at dozens of Miami-Dade high schools, students have been moved to take action. Social media – specifically texting and […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry A few months before her 18th birthday, Shavonda asked her mother if she could get a tattoo. Her mother said no. She got her name framed by wings and a halo tattooed on her arm anyway and hid it from her mother. Within two months, Shavonda also got a butterfly tattooed […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Whether you’re a white student driving through a black neighborhood or a black or Hispanic student walking around a white neighborhood, you’ll stick out and make folks wonder why you’re there. It’s assumed that the white kids are looking for drugs, and the minority kids are burglars. That’s the plain, ugly […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Viola Davis ditched her wig for the Academy Awards and walked the red carpet sporting a short, copper, curly natural. Solange Knowles replaced her extensions with a big ‘fro. Rihanna has rocked extensions, cropped hair and flowing styles. Natural. Relaxed. Curly. Straight. ‘Fro. Weave. Braids. Locks. They’re all good. I would never […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Would you open the front door to your house and invite strangers into your bedroom and ask their opinion on your hair, makeup, clothes and weight? That’s exactly what some middle school girls are doing on YouTube. They’re making videos, which show not only their faces but also shots of their […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry The second semester is well under way, but are you? It’s time to evaluate how you’re doing at this point in the school year. If your grades are not what they should be, chances are you’re not setting aside enough time to hit the books or you need a tutor NOW. […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry Apple, Audio Science, Banjo, Pilot Inspektor and Reignbeau, you have a new member in your tribe of celebrity offspring with eccentric names. Add Blue Ivy, the daughter of Beyonce and Jay-Z, to the roll. Some people think a name like Blue Ivy is no big deal. It’s just a name. They […]
Continue ReadingBy Cheryl Mattox Berry The holidays bring out the best and worst in people. I’ve seen bad behavior everywhere – grocery store, mall, gas station, parking lot, roads, you name it. I’m not talking about just adults. Lately, groups of middle school girls behaving badly have crossed my path. Let’s start with the movie theater. […]
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