Kalisha Madden, Raven Kimbrough, Jahessye Shockley and Mishell-Nicole Green are just a few of the African American women who have gone missing recently, and received no major media attention. Since their disappearance, their families have been begging and pleading, with their local newspapers and news stations, to run their missing person’s posters and photographs on television.

Today it’s had to find a good African American book to read. In most bookstores, the African American section doesn’t have the selection as far as quality or quantity, compared to other sections. The most popular topics you’ll find are fast girls trying to live the good life, drug dealers trying to be the next kingpin of their neighborhood or city, or crimes many people will commit trying to gain respect from people. Trying to break into the urban book industry can be a challenge.

We all have those times where we are constantly questioning our relationship with our boyfriend. Why won’t you talk to me? What did I do wrong? Can we please talk? Pick up the phone when I call! When you get no answer from him, you call your best friend. You know your friend, the one you always run to when you’re having relationship issues. Sometimes she will tell you the truth and other times she’ll sugar coat her words. By sugar coating, she’s not telling you the truth, only what you want to hear.

Church plays a big part in the African American community. When you are a child, your parents take you to church every Sunday and Bible study on Wednesday nights. Church has always been the place to bring people together.

For as long as I can remember, there has always at least one conflict within the African American community: skin tone. As much as we may not want to admit it, this conflict still exists.  What’s even more disturbing is that some people find joy in entertaining this hate, by having dark-skinned vs. light-skinned parties. The worst part is that many African American women attend these “parties.

Each year, millions of schools get budget cuts. Some schools have to let some teachers go and drop after school programs. Many parents find themselves fighting with the school boards, trying to keep their children’s school open. If some schools are failing with grades and test scores, many school officials will say the school needs to make some changes or close the school down. Chicago, New York, Texas and Los Angeles are the popular city that experience large budget cuts each year.

The 2008 presidential election will always be known as a historical election. I remember the day I was standing in Grant Park in Chicago, waiting to see who the next president of the United Stated would be.

This winter, you don’t have to wear those old plain black and gray sweaters. You can add some bright colors to your winter wardrobe. Let’s not forget to talk about the shoes—no one said you have to wear ugly boots during the cold winter months. Every season your wardrobe will change. Here are a couple different ideas you can use to add to your winter wardrobe.

Living in a recession means you have to cut back on many things like fashion. Looking fabulous and having stylish clothes doesn’t mean you have to overdraft your checking account. You can still have the designer’s clothes for a low price. Shopping online has become a new trend for many people.

Making my way down the magazine section, looking at the glossy covers, each celebrity looks so perfect: flawless makeup, every hair stand in the right place, wearing designer clothes. I can take five magazines and line them all up.