Under Construction!!!!

If you’ve ever driven down a District of Columbia street, you’ve probably noticed yourself a little more upset than usual. A tendency to ignore the blinking turning signal from the car in the next lane. Even an occasional side eye or vulgar exchange between you and your traffic mate. Why? My guess is that one of the main reasons are because the roads are always under construction. Always! New York Avenue, under construction. 295, under construction. You name it, and there are set of cones and idle (sometimes even non-existent) set of construction workers to go along with the barricades.

So if you’ve visited the shop lately, you may have noticed some changes. Similar to the DC streets we all hate so much, we would like to consider ourselves a work in progress. The AOI team is currently working to make the store, blog, and website one seamless work of art with the hope that the result is a better customer experience for you. So if things have been seeming a little slow on our end, don’t worry; we’re just doing the behind the scenes work to make sure our AOI followers are happy. Summer time is almost here and we have some very special things planned. Just wait and see.

HOWEVER! our SHOP IS FUNCTIONAL as well as the discount code for the graduation season!

Code: GRADUATION

 

Can I Live?!? Food: Makes Cynts

Hamhocks and greens, fatbacks and sweet potatoes purring under heaping spoonfuls of sugar, cornbread, potatoes, white rice, bacon slabs, and the pig. “California mix” veggies maimed via water abuse (if they’re even on the plate), until the broccoli’s green is pukish, the cauliflower gray, and the carrots the color of a sun on its last leg. Starchy good times. In the black community, for so long (practices rooted in slavery), we’ve made meals that would stick to our bones, with carbs that would go the long haul—and it’s killing us.

Overcooked Veggies

Unhealthy eating, certainly. The practices of not including enough fresh (not overcooked) vegetables and fruit in our diets, loading the included veggies with sugar and butter—all contribute to obesity and increased rates of heart disease and diabetes in brown communities. We gotta remix what “flavor” and “tradition” mean to us.

Part of the challenge is access to fresh foods—an economic/geographical problem that manifests as a racial disparity. In my neighborhood, if I walk north (where I work) there is a Whole Foods and a farmers market or two. Popeye’s is the only fast-food restaurant in the entire area, situated among a bevy of pubs and restaurants. If I go south (which I hardly do, because there’s nothing there) I come across a McDonald’s, then a Wendy’s, another Popeye’s, Papa John’s, and more fast-food restaurants, along with the “Super” Wal-Mart, which doesn’t sell fresh produce in these parts, only canned goods. Goes without saying which neighborhood is more affluent and, coincidentally, white.

All Bad Everything

Once you get access (some might say in order to get access), you have to demand the products—through dollars. Wal-Mart is not stocking big portions of boxed Chimichangas because of a conspiracy to kill us but because it flies off the rack. And Wal-Mart orders what sells. Instead of buying Doritos or Nabisco’s never-ending menu of 100 Calorie options, the collective has to opt for oranges, pears, and—yes—watermelon.

That requires a change in thinking, for our hard-hit communities and the entire country. The task before us is to exercise power over our choices and not accept what is “given” to us regarding those choices. Not a small job. Studies have shown that processed foods trigger dopamine in the brain, giving you a high that makes you want more of the same. Couple that with the realization that many preservatives and ingredients in processed foods are distilled in much the same way as cocaine, and we’ve got some bad habits to shake.

Cliché as it may be, “all politics are local,” evidenced by actions in DC (moratorium on establishing new fast-food operations) and Chicago (initiative bridging disconnect between Muslim neighborhood store owners and African American patrons—with healthier fresh food options) of folks taking the reins to make neighborhood changes. It is critical to address the obesity epidemic from both sides: access as well as mindset/knowledge. One might say these initiatives take away individuals’ freedom to choose. Another might argue that these people and organizations are working in the public interest. We must wean our stomachs and our minds from selecting these foods, almost as if on autopilot. But whose responsibility is that?

Dating with Unconscious Complexities: Makes Cynts

“Some say we are responsible for those we love. Others know we are responsible for those who love us. —Nikki Giovanni

News pundits recently went hard at Jill Scott for writing in Essence magazine about the mosquito bite–like sting she felt when hearing that a brotha is in a relationship with a white woman. While I’d be lying if I said most times I walk past an interracial couple involving a black woman or man and had no sort of internal dialogue about it, I attribute this more to questioning the narrative I grew up with: who loves who, and why.

I agree with Nikki G (in the sense that one isn’t obligated to date certain men because they are of the same race as she and that you can find love anywhere). I am also ambivalent about interracial dating, can’t help bouncing questions around my mind. What I have to say here is no theory explaining 100 (or even 5) percent of interracial dating (discussed here only as black and white)—just food for thought while waiting on Hump Day.

While the post-slavery legacy is different for every black family, I do feel that, as a collective, having this heritage weighs on blacks in America—sometimes manifesting itself in battles with abrasiveness toward each other, ability to show gentleness or vulnerability or sincere emotion (other than anger or tough love), self-hatred. Much is made about the current (perceived or otherwise) disconnect between black men and women. This didn’t “just happen” with Generations X and Y, and now that our world is wider, we have dating options previously unavailable (because of racial, geographic, and economic limitations).

bell hooks, in Rock My Soul, speaks of economic gains and the civil rights movement and how “caring for the soul” was put on the back burner:

“Black folks have been . . . ‘hurt to our hearts,’ and the deep psychological pain we have endured and still endure affects our capacity to feel and therefore our capacity to love. We are a wounded people. Wounded in that part of ourselves that would know love, that would be loving.”

Am I saying that black folks can’t love? Hell no. We love romantic and familial, up and down, left, right, and through—but we love in this context that hooks lays out. And for some (often unconsciously), they may seek a place of love where this context doesn’t look back at them through the eyes of a brown-faced partner. A place where one can let down her guard in a perceived “white standard” of “healthy” (read: “Leave It to Beaver”) relationships, or at least those where one partner isn’t struggling with an oppressed history and the constant self-definition / re-definition that comes from existing as a “minority.” In short, they think, on some level, being with white romantic partners is easier.

Or maybe I am internalizing media hype. Even if that is the case, I think the development (or stunting) of our capacity for love and outward emotion is a convo worthy of taking up. Little brown babies are counting on us to do the needed work.

“A white face goes with a white mind. Occasionally a black face goes with a white mind. Very seldom a white face will have a black mind.” –Nikki Giovanni

Do you have strong feelings on interracial dating, or do you “live and let live”? What do you think is the next step for the dialogue on black love–or do you think there even needs to be one?

Oldies but Goodies: Makes Cynts

“They don’t make ’em like they used to.” We hear it regarding cars, shoes, Snickers, boxers, prosthetics. Name any item, practice—even category of humans—and someone inevitably pipes up with this refrain. “They don’t make ’em like they used to,” the phrase, apparently, is the only thing they make like they used to.

Besides references to the Model-T Ford, I hear this most when talking about music. Many folks think of the ’50s through ’70s as this bedazzled age of R&B music, while stereotypically discarding “that new stuff” as unintelligible gooble-dee-gop. I’ve done it myself.

Whiners change the refrain’s object. When the Temptations and Donny Hathaway were hot, you heard, “They don’t make ’em like B.B. King and Sarah Vaughn.” During the prime of Whitney Houston, Anita Baker, Luther Vandross, New Edition, you heard, “Man, they don’t make ’em like Marvin Gaye, the O’Jays, the Tempts, Aretha.” Now, in the age of Chrisette Michele, Jill Scott, Maxwell, Dwele, you hear, “They don’t make ’em like Brian McKnight, Gerald Levert, Boys to Men, En Vogue.” (En Vogue was tops, though.) Even the writer of Ecclesiastes, in all his world-weariness, warned not to yearn for yesteryear. Sheesh. Take a breather folks.

Romanticizing that 30-year period as a time when ten or so platinum- or gold-worthy—legacy-producing—singles filled every album just creates a fantasyland every generation needs to box in their memories. Think about it. How many CDs are issued a year? How many songs on a CD? Once we get past the Aretha, Al Green, Curtis Mayfield, O’Jays, Marvin Gaye, Temps, Supremes, Isleys, Whispers—a couple good thangs from Ashford and Simpson, Betty Wright (I know there are more), we’re probably all talking about the same 50 or so artists/groups and 150 or so songs—in a 30-year span. Golden Age, indeed.

I love these artists and am not being dismissive. But every song that came out of the 1970s is not a golden oldie. Some of that stuff was junk, as are some of the songs released in this new millennium. I love me some Sammy Davis Jr., but I am not checking for his “Candy Man” rendition. Nuff said.

But folks’ll still complain, if not about the quality of the sound, about the content. They’ll say what’s hot right now is too sexually explicit, too depressing regarding relationships, too “women vs. men.” Just direct them to Womack’s “If You Think You’re Lonely Now.” Point out that we knew what Teddy P was turning the lights off for and that the Isleys’ “Making Love between the Sheets” isn’t as subtle as they think. (I mean, the title says it all—even children, without knowing the birds&bees, know what they’re talking about!) As for depressing relationship outlooks, anybody heard of Billie Holiday (God love her, but I need anti-depressants to get through My Man)?

Or you can just tell them to get off it and put on some Philly Jill, Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Raheem Devaughn. They can take their pick.

Who’s rippin’ up R&B (in a good way) these days—or are the best R&B songs in the past?

HELP! AOI Survey Participants Needed

Yep, it’s t-shirt time in the AOI lab again! We’ve been cooking up some new designs for our summer release for quite some time now and we’re finally ready to hit the presses. Problem is, we’ve got too many designs so we need your help narrowing them down a little. Who better than to help us out than our readers.

And sorry, no, we don’t ship you a shirt and let you wear it out for a few weeks (although that would be cool), nor is there any free food for completing this survey, BUT, you do get to see a sample of what we’ll be releasing pretty soon. If your interested in helping out, send a message to info@artofficialshop.com and we’ll take it from there. Thanks in advance.

AOI Supports Servathon 2010

This Saturday, AOI will be volunteering our efforts to Great DC Cares along side the M.A.D.E. for America team put together by our great friend and supporter Jessica Jackson. Greater DC Cares is an 18 year initiative that brings together thousands of volunteers for two days of service. Volunteers who participate have an opportunity to truly make a difference at non-profits and schools in our region.

Forunately for us, we were invited by Jessica to help support and sponsor her team. Rather than just give a little dough, we decided to pledge our time as well. Unfortunately, her team is closed for registration, but there are many others to get involved in. Sign up closes tomorrow! If you have time, make sure you don’t miss your time to make a difference.  Registration is only $25 and it goes to a great cause. See you there.

Wide World of Blogs

We over at AOI are constantly looking at websites and blogs for sources of inspiration, cool tips, insider knowledge, and just plain curiosity. Blogging has become a common thing to many individuals as well as clothing brands and companies. It makes a person/brand become more transparent to their friends/followers/clients. And since there is really no standard rule to blogging it allows people to express themselves without rules and regualtions and actually use their so-called freedom of speech. So in the spirit of blogging we wanted to share some of the sites and blogs that help get us (AOI) through our normal work day.

www.thehundreds.com

The Hundreds is  clothing brand based out of California. They are a pretty big deal when it comes to street wear brands. But their blog is amazing. You can definitely get a feel for the people behind the brand though their blog. Great photos and great daily entries. Very consistant in their posts and great brand transparency.

www.abduzeedo.com/

Abuzeedo is a design/inspiration blog started by Brazilian designer Fabio Sasso. Another blog updated daily with multiple posts. Great insight on design, architecture, cool gadjets, tutorials, and interviews from designers all over the world. If you don’t get inspired by this blog then you might have a problem.

www.verysmartbrothas.com

Verysmartbrothas.com is a blog thats speaks more on relationships, theories, race, politics, andetc.. Its one of those funny but true type of blogs. The duo The Champ and Panama Jackson are the main writers of the blog and they give out a lot of advice like: “Ya Unnastand: Things Black Folks Do That White People Don’t Understand “, “10 Reasons Not To Date Dimes” and “3 completely practical reasons why he’s with a white woman“. Definitely a good read.

www.okayplayer.com

Okayplayer is a portal into all things in the hip-hop culture. They review new artist’s, albums, hip-hop news, and more. This is a site for the more alternative hip hop focused person. A breath of fresh air when it comes to your normal hip-hop/rap sites.

www.huffingtonpost.com

We have to get a daily dose of news. Huffington post is a internet newpaper/blog that talks about breaking news and articles that not every site covers.

www.johnnycupcakes.com

Johnny Cupcakes is the man so ofcourse we follow his blog. He gives updates on what he’s doing around the country and also makes his brand more transparent. Always a good look when we go to this blog.

www.webdesignerdepot.com

Webdesigner depot is a blog more about graphic design and web design information and inspiration. They give a lot of cool tips and great articles for the aspiring designers out there. A wealth of information for anybody interested in design.

www.planetgreen.com

Plant green discusses pretty much everything “green”. Since we are environmentally conscious brand we like to keep up with “green news” and awareness.

www.espn.com

Ofcourse we cannot forget espn.com. Pretty much the whole AOI team are sports junkies so we have to get our weekly dose of good ‘ol sports highlights and news.

Also here are some of our close friends blogs check them out.
www.pathologicaldesigners.com
www.officialstylesociety.blogspot.com
www.naturallyleslie.blogspot.com
www.broccolicity.com
www.hbcudigest.com
www.singlebubblepop.blogspot.com
www.mylifestylemude.com

I hope i didn’t miss anybody but if I did just leave a comment with your blog. We appreciate all the support from everybody. So I hope yall check out some of these sites because they all are good reading.