Chick Chat

In October 1984, my 16-year-old mother, Charmaine realized she was pregnant. A lot of decisions as a mom would have to be made on my behalf, and the first would be my name. She thought about Taylor for a bit, but that lost momentum. She dug the name Adrien because a woman named Adrien Arpel […]

Recently, I had to come to grips with the fact that the once 13-year friendship/sisterhood between a childhood friend and me is no longer existent. There’s a bitter tension stemming from only God knows where and why. I first noticed the separation when we went to different colleges. CHICK CHAT: Do All Men Who Like […]

“I like my girls with a little something extra.” “I like all of that there.” Or even the simple, yet ineffective, “I like big girls.” Each and every time I get one of these pathetic, I-can’t-believe-they-actually-think-this-will-work lines, I cringe, smile awkwardly and keep it moving. As I walk away, my mind works overtime, wondering why […]

“Oh Father,” was my immediate response when I received the text: “Ummm… so who gave Jackie Christie permission to release a single?” Just to double check, I text back: “Are you sure?” The one from ‘BBW’ (Basketball Wives: LA)?” Within 30 seconds, “YES!!!” flashed on my screen along with a link where I could hear […]

Recently, my gal pal and I were chatting about everything from cocktails that give you the best buzz for your buck to relationships and dating. This led to a rant about the sister’s slim pickings, which eventually led to her dusting off the good old Black-men-don’t-like-Black-women record that’s on constant spin. Ughhhhhhhh, here we go […]

Blame (or thank) Lena Dunham for inciting what feels like a recent onslaught of feminist writing tackling the complexities of singleness, fertility and prolonged adolescence.  The feminist–or post-feminist–communities seem to be torn on whether to embrace or shun Dunham’s depictions of young women today as entitled party girls who accidentally smoke crack, dabble in anal […]

It was a Friday night in Detroit. (I know, just keep reading) Me and the homie decided to take in a bit of the nightlife in ‘the D’. (I KNOW! Just stay with me on this one) So, there I was.  Standing in the middle of a packed “club” (in my head I just used […]

Chick Chat

My mother was one of those moms who swore her kids were extremely exceptional and any who begged to differ just had to be jealous. She’s still like this, smh. This loving environment with positive words constantly floating throughout the atmosphere birthed and developed my confidence. I believed I was beautiful and smart and that the world […]