Amy Nicole – Page 2 – The Double Scoop

I Forgot To Live In The Moment

Author: Amy Nicole

Life shifts so quickly from one moment to the next and at times even though we may be present in the moment, we may not be living in the moment. Social media doesn’t help with this because we are so busy trying to capture our life through photos or videos that we are actually robbed of really enjoying that time.

A few days ago I was looking at old pictures on my phone and I came across one of me and my sisters at the beach in Destin, Florida from two years ago. I laughed looking at the photo because I remember asking my brother’s girlfriend to take the picture of us literally like 20 times so that I could post the perfect picture on Instagram.

Looking back on that moment I realize how much I was missing out on making a great memory with my sisters instead of being focused on a picture that we don’t even look at anymore. That was actually the case for most of the pictures in my photo library and I thought about how many moments in life I actually missed out on. Another issue that I have that prevents me from living in the moment is being a compulsive thinker LOL! Even when I’m out having a good time I either find myself dwelling on situations that have happened in the past or I worry about things that I have to do in the future which causes me not to be present in the moment.

Over the last two to three years I’ve either lost a family member or someone that I know has lost someone close to them. This has definitely changed my outlook on life a lot. Death always puts life back into perspective because it makes you realize just how temporary and short life can be and it also makes you appreciate every day that you have to be alive.

Aside from the promotion of my blog I don’t share too much of my personal life on social media anymore and I’m enjoying life so much better now. Life is nothing but moments in time and I want to really enjoy these moments while I still have my family and friends around and while I have the opportunity to do so!

Photo Credit: FOTF

Author: Amy Nicole

Power has become one of my favorite shows on television. The show is so unpredictable and it’s packed with suspense, action, and drama! When season two ended viewers were left with several cliffhangers. Ghost and Tommy seemed to have ended their friendship and the biggest surprise of the season was the revelation that Kanan had survived the basement fire.

In season 3 Ghost and Angela decide to take their relationship to the next level by moving in together but they both struggle with trusting one another because of their lifestyle differences. Ghosts’ relationship with Angela causes a riff in his family which creates tension between him and Tasha. It also causes his son Tariq to develop animosity towards him. Because of Ghosts’ absence in the household Tariq begins to act out at school and is disrespectful towards Tasha.

Kanan takes advantage of Ghosts’ damaged relationship with Tariq by stepping into his life as a sort of father figure and exposing him to criminal behavior. The return of Kanan puts Dre in a tough situation because he works for Ghost but Kenan still demands his loyalty.

(Sidebar) As much as I would love to see Ghost work things out with Tasha I think she deserves better than him. What woman would be eager to take back a husband who left his family to pursue a relationship with his high school sweetheart!? But on the other hand I try to keep in mind that Tasha was not supportive of Ghost getting out of the drug business.

I think the biggest question on everyone’s mind for season 3 was whether or not Tommy and Ghost would be able to reconcile their friendship. Tommy doesn’t want to let the drug business go but Ghost is adamant about leaving the game for good which causes major conflict in their relationship.

After Tommy discovered that Ghost tried to pay Holly off to leave town it seems as though their friendship would totally be destroyed. The loyalty of their friendship was tested when Lobos ordered Tommy to kill Ghost. Tommy however when presented with the opportunity to kill him couldn’t bring himself to pull the trigger on a childhood friend that he considers to be a brother.

Because of Tommy’s slow response to getting the job done Holly takes action into her own hands by paying someone else to kill him. When Tommy discovers what Holly has done he chokes her to death in a fit of rage without knowing that she was carrying his child. Ghost helps Tommy get rid of her body reconciling their friendship and the two decide to work together to take down Lobos.

Ghost finds out the transportation route for Lobos which allows him and Tommy the opportunity to take him out. The murder of Lobos causes an investigation into the police taskforce where Angela works prompting an internal search by detectives to discover who in the company leaked Lobos’ whereabouts.

Agent Greg Knox spends the majority of the season compiling evidence to incriminate Angela as the leak and Ghost as the killer. After Greg has all the evidence to convict Ghost he arranges a meeting with Agent Mike Sandoval to share his new found knowledge about the Lobos case. During their meeting Greg receives a phone call from Mexican county authorities which makes him realize that agent Sandoval is actually the leak. Greg confronts Sandoval about being the leak which ends in Greg being shot and killed. (Dang I was annoyed by Greg’s interference in the case but I hated to see him go out like that!)

It looked as if Ghost would finally be able to get out of the drug game until he realizes that his security guard Milan is a drug dealer for a Serbian gang. Milan coerces Tommy and Ghost to sell drugs for him otherwise he threatens to harm their families. (Although I love the bad boy drug-dealing side of Ghost I also sympathize with him because I know how badly he wants to live a life free from crime).

Fortunately with the help of Dre, Ghost and Tommy are able to take out Milan and his crew freeing them of his control. However little does Ghost know Tommy is secretly taking over the Serbian drug supply and plans to sell drugs in his club.

Things seem to be smooth sailing for Ghost by this point; his upscale event for Truth is a success and he manages to reclaim the club partnership with Karen. It looks like Ghost will get his opportunity to start a brand new life until Angela shows up at the club and surprises him with handcuffs and charges him for the murder of Greg.

One huge mystery this season left us with is the whereabouts of Keisha! The season ended without any kind of indication of what happened to her. Tasha convinced Keisha to work with her so she could help expand her hair salon as a way to bring in more of a profit for the both them. In actuality,Tasha was using the salon as a way to clean Ghost and Tommy’s “dirty money” from the drug business; similar to how they used the laundromats. After overhearing a conversation between Tasha and Milan, Keisha finds out the truth and feels hurt and betrayed that her best friend Tasha would lie and involve her into that type of situation. Milan tells Tommy that Keisha needs to go “bye bye” and the last we saw of her was Tommy walking into her empty salon at the end of the night. It left viewers wondering did Tommy cancel Christmas on Keisha or did he pay her off to leave the area.

The season ends with Tasha receiving a photo of Tariq unconscious with Kanans’ burned arm around him. Obviously this is a warning sign to Ghost that Kenan is back with a vengeance. Season 3 was definitely epic! The writing is amazing and I’m so looking forward to what season 4 has in store! What did you guys think of the season 3 finale?

Greenleaf Season1 Review

Author: Amy Nicole

When I first saw the preview for Greenleaf I wasn’t sure what to expect but I was certainly intrigued by the storyline. A mega church in the south becomes disrupted by family scandal, secrets and lies. You hear about church scandals all the time so I was excited to see how a script would play out on television. Religion is such a sensitive topic for most people so I think it’s good to have a show that doesn’t sugarcoat the topic.

The show centers around the Greenleaf family; a prestigious, wealthy, black family in Memphis Tennessee. Bishop James Greenleaf(Keith David) is the patriarch of the family and Lady Mae (Lynn Whitfield) is his devoted wife. They are the pastor and first lady of Calvary Church. The show also follows the lives of their three adult children: Jacob, Charity, and Grace. Oprah Winfrey has a recurring role on the show as Lady Mae’s sister but they have an estranged relationship which can at times get volatile.

Each family member has their own unique story which unravels more secrets and scandals.

Just to give you an idea Charity discovers that her husband is struggling with his sexuality and Jacob is having an affair with an employee of the church. (Yasss honey it gets real LOL!)

Grace is the central character in the show. She returns home to Memphis with her teenage daughter Sophia after being gone for over 20 years to attend the funeral of her sister Faith. After coming back home she makes the decision to stay and return to the ministry. Grace no longer considers herself a very religious person but she does have a relationship with God. I can relate a lot to Grace in this aspect because I don’t consider myself to be religious anymore. I definitely have a strong relationship with God, but I don’t feel like I need a title to define that relationship. As the show progresses you learn what turned Grace away from the church and her family.

I grew up in Mississippi which is a huge Bible belt state, and I think the depiction of the southern church and congregation is very accurate! From the women wearing the big church hats to the overzealous pastors it was very on point .

I think the biggest issue with the the church is the fixation with church leaders. Most people that attend church look up to church leaders as if they are perfect when in fact they are far from it. They make mistakes just like everyone else which the show depicts. The biggest scandal on the show this season is when the family discovers that Lady Mae’s brother, Mac McCready had been sexually assaulting young girls in the church for years including Bishop Greenleaf and Lady Mae’s deceased daughter Faith.

The season concludes with Mac arriving at the Greenleaf mansion escorted by police officers. Mac kisses Lady Mae on the cheek before entering the house to confront the bishop which in my opinion signified an act of betrayal like when Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek before he betrayed him in the Bible.

Some people might get offended by the series and say that it is disrespectful to the Christian religion but I would definitely disagree. The show is real and it highlights relatable issues. Growing up I was taught to just pray about my problems and everything would be okay but as I became an adult I realized that life was not that simple. Greenleaf exposes the reality of the church. Going to church doesn’t erase your problems and it doesn’t make you any better than anyone else. The show focuses on flawed human beings who are all trying to figure out and navigate through life the best way they can by having faith.

I really enjoyed Greenleaf and I’m very excited to see what type of drama season two will bring!

Photo Credit: Variety

Photo Credit: GreenLeafOwnTV

blond review

Author: Amy Nicole

I have been a fan of Frank Ocean since he dropped Channel Orange back in 2012. His sensual vocals and unique sound definitely make him a standout in the music industry. After a four year hiatus I was starting to wonder if he would ever make a return to music.

When Blond dropped last week I was excited to hear the project, however I was also skeptical if he would be able to match the same level of success as his first album.

I would describe the album as a beautiful maze. With a lot of Frank’s music you have to listen to the songs several times before fully grasping the concept. Initially I was confused by the meaning of the lyrics in some songs but after listening to the album a few times I was able to apply my own personal interpretation to the lyrics.

In the song Nike which is one of my favorites off the album, Frank sings about the obsession of materialism and money. He references this obsession as wanting to have Nike shoes. In the song Frank also briefly touches on the loss of black lives. In one line of the song he says, “RIP Trayvon, that nigga look just like me”.

In typical Frank Ocean fashion he reflects a lot on love.

Some of my other fave songs from Blond are: Ivy, Nights, White Ferrari, and Godspeed.

In the song “Ivy” he reflects on a past relationship that didn’t work out. Based on the lyrics it seems as though the relationship didn’t last because the couple grew apart.

In the song “Nights” Frank again reflects on a previous relationship that has run its course.

In my opinion “Godspeed” is the most beautiful song off of the album. My interpretation of the song is that it’s dealing with being in love and although the relationship doesn’t work out you can still have love for that person. Frank adds a religious touch to the song when he adds background vocals from gospel singer Kim Burrell.

Overall I was pleased with Blond. Frank stays true to his sound. The album is filled with soft gentle instrumentals, mixed with deep metaphors and analogies.

Photo Credits: TheQuietUs; HypeTrack

Miss PhaShunta

Author: Amy Nicole

I think most celebrity media contributors will tell you that their dream is to make it big; they want the opportunity to be able to walk red carpets and interview the top celebs in the entertainment industry. Well in only three short years PhaShunta Hubert has done just that. She created her blog MissPhaShunta.com in 2013 and started off interviewing radio personalities, rising music artists, and local businesses in her city. After studying how to brand and market herself she later transitioned into interviewing celebrities such as Keke Palmer, Justine Skye, and even legends like Pattie LaBelle. She has also been seen on TVOne, RevoltLive, MTV, and VH1.

As a blogger with a growing media company I wanted to get success tips on how to excel in the media industry so I reached out to PhaShunta for an interview.

Amy Nicole: How did you get your start in the media/entertainment industry and was working in the industry a passion of yours?

Miss PhaShunta: I created MissPhaShunta.com in October 2013 in Ypsilanti, Michigan to broadcast my many talents to the world. I always had an eye for communications, media, and theatre and wanted to share my love of the entertainment industry with the world. MissPhaShunta.com is committed to creating great interviews for its viewers. I started off interviewing some of the most popular radio personalities in my city, rising music artist, businesses etc. After studying how to brand and market myself daily I then over time transitioned to interviewing some of the most popular celebrities such as Mona Scott Young, Keke Palmer and Justine Skye. I have also interviewed legends such as Rev. Al Sharpton, Pattie LaBelle and so many more.

Amy Nicole: It’s often times difficult to be successful in the entertainment field because the industry is so overpopulated. What advice would you give to aspiring writers and journalist trying to excel in the field?

Miss PhaShunta: I would say just stay true to yourself because you are your own identity and that alone will make you stand out. Also, when times get tough persevere through it and focus on the main important goal.

Amy Nicole: You started your blog just three years ago and have already landed interviews with big name celebrities like Patti Labelle; what would you say has contributed to your success?

Miss PhaShunta: Being consistent has definitely contributed to my success so far. Also, reading different material daily to better myself and brand has helped as well. I always tell people reading is very fundamental.

Amy Nicole: Your blog mostly focuses on celebrity news; what about celebrity news interests you the most?

Miss PhaShunta: I just want to be able to make a difference when it comes to reporting and getting the latest information from celebrities in a positive light. I feel that correspondents can still get the latest news without bashing celebrities. They have feelings like everyone else and deserve respect when it comes to their personal life.

Amy Nicole: You recently interviewed at the 2016 Bet Awards and you were also a featured blogger on Revolt TV. How were those experience?

Miss PhaShunta: Both experiences were amazing, I am glad that I was able to be part of them. I am always grateful for every opportunity. I hope to interview P. Diddy one day he is such a phenomenal person and excellent business man.

Amy Nicole: What is the most exciting part of your job?

Miss PhaShunta: The most exciting part of being a correspondent is being able to communicate with different people. I learn so much and get more inspired even more from the people who I am interviewing.

Amy Nicole: Are there any media correspondents that you look up to?

Miss PhaShunta: Yes, I really love Wendy Williams and Robin Roberts they are super amazing!

Amy Nicole: What direction do you see your career going in the next 5 years?

Miss PhaShunta: In the next 5 years I see myself working for a network such as E News and making great music. I sing as well and I am also a rising actress. With that being said I see myself being in more films and eventually winning awards for my craft.

Amy Nicole: How can people reach you?

Miss PhaShunta: People can reach me on social media Instagram/Twitter @missphashunta and I can also be reached through email on my website www.missphashunta.com

It was great getting to know PhaShunta. Her success story is a testament that if you work hard and stay consistent, you can be successful!

The Definition Of

Author: Amy Nicole

It’s hard to believe that Fantasia has been in the music industry for over 12 years now. She was introduced to the world at the age of 19 when she became the Season 3 American Idol winner. Over the last decade of her career she has been through a lot of ups and downs. A few years ago she was involved in an extra-marital affair that went public and in 2010 she attempted to commit suicide. Fantasia has also admitted to being involved in abusive relationships with men.

Her new album “The Definition Of” represents healing from her past and it shows her growth and maturity. On this album she has definitely come into her own skin. The album is very diverse; it combines elements of gospel, soul, r&b, jazz and even country.

In the song No Time For It Fantasia declares that she has no time for petty drama anymore and that she is focused on her career and happiness.

When I Met You is a beautiful love ballad which I assume is dedicated to her husband Kendall Taylor whom she secretly wed last summer. In the song Fantasia describes how previous bad relationships helped her to appreciate the love that she has now.

Sleeping With The One I love is a soulful, bluesy song that shows off Fantasia’s unique, soulful and raspy vocals.

Other faves on the album are, So Blue, Wait For You, and Stay Up. Stay Up is a very positive song that encourages people to stay strong despite going through hardships.

“The Definition Of” reflects on the singer’s ability to overcome adversity and reveals a new found confidence and strength that she has acquired over the years. In my opinion this is her best album to date.

Photo Credits: Sophisticates; Just Jared; JonAli

SPEAK LIFE TOUR

Author: Amy Nicole

Last weekend I had the opportunity to attend the “Speak Life Tour” in Charlotte, North Carolina. Speak Life is a performing/visual arts tour consisting of youth and young adults. In order to be selected for the tour participants must undergo an audition process. The tour was founded in 2013 by Catherine Trotter, who is also the founder of the non-profit organizations “House of New Beginnings” and “New Beginnings Youth Academy”. Both programs are geared towards the professional development of young people.

Catherine came up with the idea for the tour while working with youth under her organization House of New Beginnings; the umbrella organization for the Speak Life Tour. After youth in the program complained about not having an open mic platform for teens Catherine started having open mic mixers for youth in the Baltimore area which eventually led to the creation of the tour. The tour originated in Baltimore and gradually expanded to other states such as DC, Maryland, New York, Philadelphia, and Atlanta. It will soon include Florida, Dallas, Texas, and Virginia Beach.

Founder: Catherine Trotter

Attending the Speak Life Tour was an amazing experience. Some of the performers included dancers, singers, poets, visual artists and rappers. In addition to youth being involved on the tour there were also local members of the Charlotte community who were included. Joan Randall who is the founder of Victorious You, (an organization created to help female victims of domestic abuse) gave a presentation to attendees. Also author and motivational speaker Eddie Love gave advice about overcoming adversity and pursuing your dreams.

Speak Life Tour is an amazing organization, and I think it is a very creative and positive platform for youth to express themselves. With all the turmoil taking place in society today young people need an outlet to shield them from the negativity. If you would like to support the Speak Life Tour you can make a donation here.

Check out my interview with Catherine and see footage of the show below.

TEMI

Author: Amy Nicole

I wouldn’t be the first to say that the state of R&B music has become stagnate. I like some of the music played on the radio today but I don’t think the newer artists are as innovative with their lyrics or sound compared to prior artists. I recently came across the profile of an artist named Temi (pronounced) Tay-Me and his music was a breath of fresh air. Instantly listening to his sound I was reminded of the old school soul music from the late 90s and early 2000s. I wanted to learn more about the talented artist so I reached out to him for an interview.

Amy Nicole: We get a lot of music submissions but your music really stood out to me. I really like your sound.

Temi: Thank you, I appreciate that.

Amy Nicole: You have like an old school R&B sound similar to the music of the late 90s and early 2000s. When I heard some of your songs it reminded me of artist like Joe, Tyrese, and Avant. Have any of these artists influenced your sound?

Temi: Yes they have. It’s funny that you mention Tyrese because I try to mimic his singing but with the vocal ability of Tank.

Amy Nicole: So you grew up in Toronto but you live in Atlanta now?

Temi: Yes I grew up in Toronto; I’m actually here now working on some music. I travel back and forth between Toronto and Atlanta. I definitely want to tap into the music scene here, Toronto is a big mecca for music especially with the success of artist like Drake.

Amy Nicole: You were actually in a group called “Untitled” and were signed to Ludacris’ record label DTP. How was that experience? Were you able to collaborate with any of the other artists on the label?

Temi: It was a great experience and I learned a lot from the group. I’ve performed songs with Ludacris, Lil Scrappy, and a few other artists.

Amy Nicole: You know a lot of people complain about the kind of music that is out now. What are your thoughts on the state of R&B today?

Temi: I respect all music but I do feel that there is a gap in soulfulness. I think just like with the Trey Songz and the Ushers, the music will eventually resurface itself. People want to hear talent.

Amy Nicole: I really enjoyed your singles: “Love It”, “Alright” and “Fire”. What was the inspiration behind these songs?

Temi: I was talking to an A&R one day and he asked me “Are you going to make the ladies fall in love?” So with my music I’m trying to make the ladies fall in love again.

Amy Nicole: Are you working on any new projects?

Temi: Yes I’m working on my second EP which will soon be released called “Stellar Evolution”.

Amy Nicole: It was great speaking with you.

To find out more about Temi visit his website and follow him on his social media sites below.

Instagram/Twitter: @temi_music

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/temimusicrnb

Temi- “Love It” Video

It’s Beauty In The Struggle

Author: Amy Nicole

Two years ago I wrote a blog post called “Pursuit of Happiness” regarding my decision to quit my decent salary paying job with benefits to set out on a journey to find my purpose in life. I didn’t expect my journey to be easy but I also didn’t expect the struggle to be so real. Initially when I left my job I didn’t have a plan in place; I just left on a limb. Shortly after I found myself living in South Carolina with my older brother working at a call center barely making enough to pay my bills.

While living in South Carolina I managed to get a film internship and I also created a joint blog and business with my twin sister called “The Double Scoop”. I was happy that I was beginning to follow my true passions but at the same time I was also very depressed because I wasn’t happy with my financial situation or where I was in life. Although I was enjoying my internship opportunity, it wasn’t paid and I was struggling financially. I was starting to see other people my age making progress in their careers and starting families and I felt like I was getting farther behind in where I was supposed to be in life. To make matters worse over the course of a year I had been on over 15 job interviews but wasn’t selected for any of the positions. I was starting to feel completely broken and questioned if I made the wrong decision by quitting my job. Although I wasn’t doing well financially my blog was starting to do great and I was beginning to make amazing connections with artists and filmmakers. At the time I couldn’t appreciate the opportunity that was given to me because I was too busy comparing my success to where other people were in their life.

After living with my brother for a year I ended up having to move back home with my parents in Mississippi. While at home I went on several more interviews and I still couldn’t get a job in my field. I was at my lowest point and I questioned if I was being punished by God for taking my career for granted. But then I thought why would I be punished for trying to pursue what I love and what makes me happy. I disappeared from social media for a while and I became more reclusive. I felt like my confidence was gone.

Four months ago I got a job offer in Charlotte, North Carolina at a small university similar to the school that I worked for two years ago. If I could describe the extreme feeling of appreciation that I had it would be the scene in the movie “Pursuit of Happiness” when Will Smith’s character was offered a job after completing his internship. It’s surreal how much things have changed over these last two years. I went from being broke, jobless, and living at home with my parents to now living in a new state with a new job, having a new place, and having my own media business.

office in Charlotte — In my office at my new job in Charlotte.

Although I’m not at the point where I can live completely off of the income that I make from my business I am proud of all the things that I have accomplished since starting it. I have been able to interview artist and filmmakers, attend entertainment events, help co-write a script, and host a music podcast. If I wouldn’t have left my job two years ago I probably would not have accomplished any of these things.

Sometimes when we go through struggles in life it’s not necessarily that we’re getting punished but I believe God and the universe is shaping us into being better versions of ourselves. My struggle has definitely changed me for the better. I’ve matured a lot, I’ve developed a stronger work ethic, and I have definitely been humbled. I realize how much your circumstances in life can change and how quickly you can lose everything that you’ve worked for. I don’t take anything for granted anymore and I try to live each day like it’s my last. My goal within the next 2-3 years is to be able to work for myself and I believe I’m well on the way to accomplishing just that.

Photo Credit: Free E-Consultation

SOCIETAL DESPAIR

Author: The Double Scoop

(Amy’s Thoughts):

Last week was very tough for many people especially for people of color. Alton Sterling and Philando Castile were added to the rapidly growing list of black men killed at the hands of police officers. A few days after both men were killed five police officers were murdered in retaliation for their deaths. It’s so hard to believe that incidents like these are actually happening in 2016.

Sometimes I can’t bear to watch the news because it seems like there is always something tragic going on in the world. I was at work when I heard the news about Philando Castile. I was scrolling through social media and came across the video clip of his death. I watched the video at least three times and each time I got angrier. I was upset because the police officer who shot him didn’t seem to have any remorse for the dying man and I was disgusted by the way the officers treated the girlfriend of the victim. The officers rudely asked Diamond Reynolds to get on the ground and never once asked her if she was okay or apologized for murdering her boyfriend in front of her. In my opinion they were treated like animals.

The murder of innocent people is becoming so normal in our society that people are becoming desensitized to it. One of the most ignorant comments that I’ve read from people who are not black is that if the victim would have just obeyed the officer they would still be alive. It also irks me when media outlets dig up criminal records of the victims to help justify their death.

We are supposed to be able to trust our judicial system but instead we have to live in fear. I don’t know about anybody else but I’m not excited about this upcoming presidential election. I haven’t been keeping up with the election coverage like I should because none of the candidates give me much hope about improving our country. With everything that is going on in the world today I find myself often in a state of despair. Prayer and meditation helps but it still doesn’t make the hopelessness go away.

Like most people I vent my thoughts on social media and I attend rallies to support change but when the smoke clears I return back to my regular life. After every tragic incident we rally and march but I’m not seeing any change come about. I recently read two great articles on ways that people can continue to advocate for change in their communities. One article was from XoNecole and the other one was from Blavity. Some of suggestions from the articles included joining local advocacy groups, writing local representatives about issues you want to see addressed, or even boycotting certain businesses. I definitely want to do more to help bring about change in the best way that I can.

I believe that everyone was created with a specific gift that they can use to help better society in some type of way. My gift is writing and through my words I hope that I can help someone in a positive way. Even with this post although it may seem small compared to what other people are doing I hope it can encourage or uplift someone who is experiencing similar thoughts.

(Ashley’s Thoughts):

Moving Beyond The Hashtag

Three years ago I wrote a blog post called “Will We Still Remember Trayvon” in response to the murder of a 17 year old African American teenager named Trayvon Martin who was shot and killed by a police officer. During the past three years I lost count of the victims that have been killed under similar circumstances following Trayvon’s death. Last week videos surfaced online of two young black men being shot and killed by police officers in separate incidents.

One of the recent victims was a 37 year old black man named Alton Sterling. The video showed him being tackled to the ground and pinned down by 2 white police officers and then later shot over 5 times. I watched the video several times and each time I am unable to see where Sterling’s actions warranted him being shot to death. The other victim was a 32 year old black man named Philando Castile. Castile was shot by a police officer after being asked to show his identification. When Philando reached for his ID the officer shot and killed him.

I feel like we are on the verge of a modern day Civil War. Racial tension is extremely high right now and some have already retaliated with the murders of the 5 officers that were killed a few days ago in Dallas in response to the deaths of Sterling and Castile. Rallies and protests are taking place across the US because black people as well as other ethnicities are fed up with black lives being undervalued. Personally I do feel that all lives matter and I have sympathy for the officers who were slain because I know all officers are not corrupt and many put their lives on the line every day to serve and protect people of all backgrounds and ethnicities without hesitation. I also know a lot of black officers personally that are fighting a double battle; being black and being an officer of the law. I’ve also heard the continuous argument that black people kill each other every day at an alarming rate and no one rallies or protests until a black life is taken by someone of another race.

I understand these sentiments but as a black woman I can clearly see that even today black life is not valued or viewed the same compared to some other races. Equality for all is still something yet to be achieved in our country. I’m at a point now where I’m tired of hashtags and social media rants especially if there is no action taken beyond those platforms. Every time a death occurs there is outrage and protests, another name added behind a hashtag and after a few months the momentum wears off and we are back at square one until it happens again. It’s easy to feel hopeless because a lot of us want to help but we’re unsure of what exactly can be done or where to start. I’m ready to do my part and I’m ready to see a change. As a black woman not slighting any other race I want to do my part to replenish and strengthen the black community and I’m willing to collaborate with others to strategize ways to make that possible. I’m ready to work towards changing the stereotypes and perceptions of how many black people are viewed by others and even how we view each other.

If you would like to contribute to the Go Fund Me Campaign for Alton Sterling’s family click here. The money raised will go towards a scholarship for Alton’s children.

Photo Credit: StarTribune; TheBklynSocial; Daily Mail