WELCOME!!!

 Now, with that said, I would like to get down to business…

 Anyone who knows me well can attest to the fact that I am something of an oxymoron if you will. Externally, very quiet…reserved and mild mannered…but at the same time, so impassioned and outspoken…and very proactive…when it comes to the things that matter to me. I am not one to talk the talk if I am not prepared to walk the walk. UBM was born of that….strong convictions that have compelled me to take action.

 How many of my beautiful sistas out there have ever dreamed of or taken steps toward starting a modeling career, only to have the door shut in their face? Too short, too thick, too brown…you name it. And the only opportunities coming your way require you to be on display, in a thong and pasties, instead of on a runway in Milan, rocking fabulous couture, or gracing the cover of a top magazine, looking beautiful and sexy with CLASS instead of just showing your ASS. Hate to say it like that, but thats real talk. It is also the sad reality for the overwhelming majority and, its not right. The clothes that we spend all of our money on obviously come in our size and, obviously they don’t have a problem accepting our money …thats why they’re rich! So, in that case, start making samples in a size 12 and stop playing! We are beautiful too!

 Unfortunately folks, we can not wait on the fashion industry to change…it may never. We have to create our own platforms and stop accepting the status quo…stop settling for less. And, those of us in positions of power within fashion and entertainment need to make a greater effort to include the Urban Beauties of the world that look like you and me. Put us in your fashion shows, ads, commercials, and videos, etc., but where videos are concerned, just don’t put me in a bikini while you’re wearing a fur coat! Thats all I’m saying… *smile*

 So, that’s part of UBM’s mission….showcasing the beauty and versatility of women of color through imagery. Now on to the second part of mission.

 How many of my beautiful sistas out there have ever done things that weren’t so beautiful? Or been on the receiving end of that from another woman and, in the midst of it all, said to her, yourself, or someone else, that “that” is exactly why you don’t have female friends; that women are catty, jealous, untrustworthy, etc. I know I’ve heard that from almost every woman I know and, I’m sure most, if not all, of you can relate. But is it just me or doesn’t the fact that we all say that about one another beg the question of who or what the actual problem is? It just doesn’t make any sense to me and, I am so passionate about changing that. I want us as women and particularly, women of color, to be unified. There is strength in numbers and, it is time to let go of the silly issues that keep us divided; Time to start acting like the queens that we are. UBMag will be very proactive in combating this problem….through our articles – which we hope you will find compelling – and other initiatives, such as workshops, etc. Together we will be unstoppable!

 And then lastly, but certainly not least, UBMag wants to continually, tackle the plethora of other issues that plague women of color and thusly our families and communities. We will address the counterproductive things that we do to keep ourselves pigeon holed in the very circumstances that we may fix our lips to say we want out of; The contributions we obliviously make to our own unhappiness without even recognizing it. We will make sure our readers know that their black is beautiful and we will take the journey with them to their best selves.

 At the end of the day, self love is key. If you do not love or value yourself, how or why is someone else expected to be compelled to do so? A woman without self love is like the man who stands for nothing and falls for everything. Recognition of self worth is what guides us and helps us to make choices in life; we set standards for ourselves and those we allow into our lives because we know what we are capable of as well as what we deserve as women and as human beings. Low self esteem, to the extreme of self loathing, is a crippling disease permeating through the hearts and souls of so many of us…on different levels and for different reasons…but in all cases, continually perpetuating a cycle of ignorance, apathy, and bad decision making…with reverberating effects.

 It’s very easy to get lost in your circle of the unaffected “successful” woman of color and forget about whats happening in the rest of the world around you…and maybe you don’t care…but I do. And this is what I do when I care about something…I take action.

 Are we going to say things that may be hard to hear? Absolutely. Is everybody going to agree with everything we have to say all of the time? Absolutely not. But at the end of the day, we are speaking truthfully, honestly, and with love…sister to sister.

 Now, with that said, I just want to thank you again for showing your support of the UBM vision! Get ready ya’ll…we takin over! 

Jazz