The Walk of Fame

Last week I went to California with my mock trial team. We participated in the Opening Round Championship Series hosted by University of California at Irvine. We won second place and qualified to go to Nationals in Minneapolis, MN. Here's a picture of our trophy.

But that's not the important part... I mean it's wonderful but not pertinent.

On our last day in LA, we were the ultimate tourists. We hit the beach, the Walk of Fame, the Kodak Theatre and the Chinese Theatre. It was amazing. It was one of those things where I didn't realize how cool it was until I was there. I took pictures of so many of my favorite TV icons. I was like a kid in a candy store. 

JULIE!!! I love Julie Andrews. I watch The Sound of Music regularly. I continue to faithfully support her films. 

Ms. Gabor, there are no words. None... I just... 

Charming Charlie

For the last few weeks I was home in Chicago for my Christmas break, the last one I will have -- by the way. While there, my good friend took my shopping and recommended a store she thought I'd like.

Turns out she was right, the place is called Charming Charlie and my life has not been the same since. The cool thing about the store is they specialize in accessories, jewelry, hats, and my favorite... scarves. Did I mention that I'm addicted to scarves? They're my favorite accessory.

The store is organized by color, yes, color. So if I need a pari of orange earrings to go with a new floral skirt I know exactly where to go. It is a dream to someone who is borderline OCD, like me. Anyway, I wanted to buy everything in the store, literally. I finally settled on a functional blue wallet and gorgeous floral scarf. To further my addiction, I ordered their Yala Boot in brown online the following week. 

My new scarf = happiness. Charming Charlie is enabling my addiction to them. 

I'm officially in love. Charming Charlie can expect to receive lots of my money in the future.

Click Stop: Susan Taylor!

Earlier this semester, editor emeritus of Essence Magazine, Susan Taylor, visited Howard's campus. She was the keynote speaker for an event sponsored by an organization called Women as Change Agents, or WACA. They pronounce it Waka like Waka Flock Flame; yeah, they thought it was cute.

Our first lady, Dr. Paula Whetsel- Ribeau, the leader of WACA

Anyway, I can only describe my behavior in two words, restrained groupie. I skipped my political economy class to go wallow in this woman's immense glow. She is truly amazing.

Mrs. Taylor was at Howard to speak about living fearlessly. She talked a lot about being change agents in our community. We each have a commitment to others who do not have as much as we do. She showed a video about her program National Cares Mentoring Program, formerly called Essence Cares.

All this semester I have been taking a photojournalism class. I am very interested in new media and felt like learning to take decent pictures was the first step. So, I took this opportunity to take some pretty decent pictures I think. Check them out!



The dynamic Susan Taylor herself



I took a million pictures that day. If you'd like to see the rest of them check out my picasa

Tim Burrell and Shirley Sherrod Visit HU

Throughout the school year my school, Howard University's School of Communications will be celebrating its 40 year anniversary with a series of events. One of which was a book singing with author and advertising Hall of Fame inductee, Tom Burrell. His new book, "Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority," Burrell raises questions about the phycological "propaganda" that keeps many Black people still thinking and behaving like slaves. Burrell spoke to a small gathering of students, faculty and guests about the responsibilities of blacks and whites both to heal the damage of slavery, discrimination and racism. His intelligence and wit captivated the audience.

After the lecture Burrell participated in a question and answer session with the guests mediated by Jannette Dates, the Dean of the School of Communications. Most praised him for his bold critique of society and purchased several copies of the text. Burrell ended the session by speaking to and signing the books of all those that purchased them.

Later in the day, Shirley Sherrod, a civil rights activist and victim of unethical journalism, spoke in the moot court room in the School of Law. Sherrod was working of the Department of Agriculture when she forced to resign after a blogger posted a video of her speaking at NAACP luncheon that he had altered. Sherrod told the audience of the whole ugly ordeal from start to finish, including why she didn't take her job back. She said that everyone involved was so quick to say something negative. That's was why no one stopped to check if that was right tape. She said she still felt that, "it's still my job to help as many people as I can... We need to learn how to exist together or else another Shirley Sherrod will pop up somewhere." Following her speech there was a reception and Mrs. Sherrod took time to talk to attendees and also take pictures.

I really enjoyed attending both events. It felt like I was getting to participate in a piece of history. However, I covered the events as a photojournalist this time so my stories as they usually are. Their just a compilation of what I noticed while I was moving around taking pictures. My camera is old so I had some lighting issues in the beginning and a lot of my pictures came out fuzzy but you can view all my good pictures on my new picasa.
Dilane's Picasa

What is your take on Mrs. Sherrod's story? Do you think that the blogger or the journalists are at fault? How would you have handled the situation if you were Sherrod?