October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

You may have heard a story about domestic violence, been a victim yourself or just don't understand why women stay, whatever your reason for being interested in Domestic Violence Awareness, you are at least making an attempt to educate yourself and possibly help someone else and that's all anyone who once was a victim and those who are now deceased would want, but for those people who want to do more, the following are tips to help you get started.

First, conduct research about domestic violence. You should be able to answer some of the why, how, when, what, and who questions related to the subject. Also, read about others' plights. Even though many of the stories have similar patterns, there is always something new in each that may stimulate thoughts of " I never knew that."

Second, be sure that you are sincerely empathetic and not judgmental about those who have been in violent relationships. You will know if you have resolved your own issues about women who stay, by how you react when listening to their stories. If you find that you are pushing down negative feelings and trying hard to refrain from making harsh comments, then it would be best that you don't attend any events or visit places where people are sharing their traumatic ordeals until you can get a command over your own feelings. The last thing that any victim or survivor wants is another person telling them "how stupid" he or she is for staying.

Third, conduct research in your community of existing events about domestic violence awareness. Are there any groups hosting a vigil for the deceased? What about workshops and seminars? Are there any advertisements, public service announcements, fliers, or some other literature readily available and widely seen in your neighborhood to call attention to the problem.

Fourth, find out from local police how they respond to domestic violence calls and what you should do if you hear or witness someone being abused.

Fifth, create a list of ways you may be able to let people know about domestic violence. You may want to distribute information and trinkets with a hotline number and/or create a fund-raiser and give the proceeds to a local women's shelter. Take out ad space in your local newspaper. If you are affiliated with a church, find out how leadership handles domestic violence cases and offer to speak about the issue. You can also work with schools and local colleges to appear as a guest speaker.

Sixth, pen your experience in a form of a book or record your story on audio. Let people know how you overcame your own situation. Then offer your book or audio to individuals or organizations who might be interested in your subject matter. A local theater may be interested in performing your life story in play form.

Lastly, be a good listener. Know what to say and how to say it when someone shares details of their life. Be ready to provide advice. You can obtain information from any women's shelter or simply type in "domestic violence" along with your state's name in your search engine window. A list of organizations are already established with free information to help you.

Nicholl McGuire, Author
Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate http://www.amazon.com/Laboring-Love-Abusive-Mate-21-year-old/dp/1434818306

Watch the video about Laboring to Love an Abusive Mate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtUMok1h1cE

African Americans Have Taste in Movies -- Believe it or not!

So I am in the shower the other day, you know sometimes that is where your best thoughts come to your mind. Sometimes I am thinking so fast I will still have soap on my body, fighting with the shower curtains, and standing naked with a pen in my hand at the sink trying to write a thought. (Yes, I know what you are thinking I use to bring a pen and paper into the bathroom with me, well that's when I had large counter space, now I have to memorize my thoughts while showering, but I digress.) Anyway, I was thinking that it's time for me to step out of the black cinema for a time and check out other movies. For a long time prior to getting my hands on black film, I was often watching films without any person of color being in them (not even an interracial character.) Then it suddenly dawned on me that day in the shower I have been watching black cinema for years and eventually faded out everyone else. Well, neither extreme is good and so I was thinking in the shower that day, I need to be more balanced. So when I start back to watching television again I will. Too busy with other things in life right now. But the following writer, in this blog entry, has made plenty of time for some great movies whether black, white or otherwise, take a look at her list:

The Top 50 Inspirational Movies
By Wadzanai Nenzou

This is my list of the movies that inspire me the most. I am a movieholic and hope you guys find inspiration from this list. Enjoy the show

1. PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS- A rages to riches story about a man who goes for his dreams and wont let his circumstances get in the way

2. Remember The Titans- In the 1970S a black and white high school are closed down and blacks and whites are mixed together. Through all the racial tension a black coach is chosen to head the newly segregated football team

3. FOREST GUMP- The story of a man with a low IQ who rose above his challenges, and proved that determination, courage, and love are more important than intellectual ability

4. THE COLOR PURPLE-Its based on the life and trials and tribulations of an African American woman in the early 1900's

5. RUDY: A big football fan who always had the dream to play for the Notre Dame football team. He is told he is too small for the game but he perseveres

6. ALI-Based on the true story of great boxing champion Muhammad Ali

7. LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL-It's the story of a funny and carefree Jewish man who uses his comic talent to protect his son from the realities of Nazi occupation

8. BRAVEHEART-Story of William Wallace a peasant who unites the 13th Century Scottish in their battle to overthrow the English rule

9. ERIN BROKONVICH- About an unemployed single mother who becomes a legal assistant and almost on her own brings down a California power company accused of polluting a city's water supply

10. THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION- Two men in prison bond over a number of years, they find eventual redemption through acts of decency

11. REDEMPTION: The Stan Tookie Williams Story- About the founder of the street gang the crepes and how in prison he found redemption. On death row he is able to find redemption

12. THE HURRICANE- The story of a talented boxer who is wrongly convicted of murder and his fight for his innocence

13. Billy Elliot- A young boy decides to become a ballet dancer and he gets some resistance from his family. He faces many trials as well triumphs as he perseveres to change his family's narrow minded set ways, inner conflict, and standing on his own feet

14. A BEAUTIFUL MIND-A bio of the rise of John Forbes Nash Jr., a math genius able to solve problems that baffled the greatest of minds. And how he was able to overcame years of suffering from schizophrenia to win the Nobel Prize in 1994

15. GANDHI-True story about Mohandas Gandhi a prominent Indian leader

16. Chariots Of Fire-About athletes who compete in the Summer Olympics about their perseverance and triumph.

17. PHILADELPHIA- Is a movie dealing with HIV/AIDS and homosexuality and it highlights the homophobic and stigma of the two

18. FRIED GREEN TOMATOES- Its a recollection movie where an older lady recalls the story of two women their trials and tribulations and lifelong friendship

19. RAIN MAN- About a selfish man who finds out his father left his millions of dollars to an older brother he didn't even know existed

20. THE NOTEBOOK- A beautiful love story which lasts decades

21. TITANIC- Is a movie set on the ill fated Titanic ship and its about a love story that develops on the ship

22. SEA BISCUIT- True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation

23. RAY-True life story of Ray Charles and his amazing story of overcoming the impossible

24. PAY IT FORWARD- About the miraculous story of how a young boy changes the lives of many people through the simple act of good deeds

25. THE BUCKET LIST- About two old timers who decide to do all the things they have always wanted to do before they die of their terminal illnesses

26. MILK- About the life of Harvey Milk the first openly gay man elected to public office in America in the 70s. It is about his impact on the gay rights movement. One of the best movies I have ever seen.

27. Coach Carter- A basketball coach at a high school works hard to change the bad attitudes of his students.
28. RADIO- About a shy mentally challenged man who inspires a community

29. FREEDOM WRITERS- About a teacher who teachers rough inner city kids who fights to make a difference in the students lives and set them on a better path

30. NORMA REA- About a mill worker in a southern textile company who stands up for the better working conditions of her workers and herself.

31. THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK- Based on the life of Anne Frank who hides from the NAZI during the invasion
32. GLORY : The story of the first company of black soldiers in the American civil war

33. LIFE SUPPORT- the story of a mother with AIDS who overcomes crack addiction becomes an AIDS activist in her community

34. BABE- A pig which is raised by sheep dogs learns how to herd sheep

35. WHATS LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT- The amazing life story of the great entertainer Tina Turner and the amazing obstacles that she overcame

36. HOTEL RWANDA- The true life story of a man who sheltered thousands of Rwandans during the Rwandan genocide from danger and death

37. G1 JANE- Is about the first woman in allowed in the navy seals and huge obstacles in her way

38. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD- Based in racially torn 1939 Alabama and its about the hearing of a black man accused of raping a white woman

39. GLORY ROAD- Is based on the true story of the first all black basketball line-up for the 1966 NCAA national basketball championship title

40. SARAFINA- About the Soweto youth riots against apartheid in South Africa

41. AMISTAD- Is about an 1839 mutiny of slaves on a slave ship

42. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE- The story of a slum kid who grows up and plays the Indian version of Who wants to be a Millionaire

43. AMERICAN HISTORY X- A reformed Neo-Nazi comes out of prison and tries to stop his younger brother going the same path he did

44. THE PIANIST- A pianist tries to survive the Nazi invasion

45. SCHINDLERS LIST- Based on the true story of the business man Oscar Schindler who saves thousands of Jews from the Nazi machine during world war 2

46. BOYS DON'T CRY- A story about the courage to be who you truly are in the midst of horrible opposition

47. CHOCOLAT- About a mother and daughter who move into a conservative narrow minded French town in 1960 and shake things up

48. MALCOLM X- The true life story of Malcolm X an influential black human rights activist

49. OLIVER TWIST- Based on Charles Dickens movie about a young orphan boy and the troubles he finds as he tries to survive in a harsh world

50. THE JESSE OWENS STORY- The true story about Jesse Owens the African American athlete who proved Hitler wrong about the Aryan physical superiority
I love these movies. If you have not seen some of them check them out you have nothing to lose. To your life!

Wadzanai Nenzou Is An Internet Marketer Who Has Worked In The Finance Industry For A Number Of Years. She Is Addicted To The Topic Of Inspiration And Personal Development. For More Inspiration Go To Her Inspirational Quotes Website
http://www.inspirational-quotes-change-lives.com

Stress Management - High Blood Pressure and the African American Woman

I am an African-American woman who was born and raised in the south. My family, like many other southern families, idea of having a good meal is eating smothered pork chops, home made mashed potatoes with gravy, collard greens with ham hock and jiffy cornbread with butter on top. In the south, we love to eat the hog and all of its parts. Southerners are known for eating chitlings, pork ribs, chopped barbecue, ham sandwiches, pork sausage, and bacon.

Everything Good To You Is Not Good For You
My mother cooked and fed her children pork because her parents cooked and fed their family pork. My mother died from too much stress on her heart, as did her mother. They both had high blood pressure and they both died young. I am forty years of age and I have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. Do you see the pattern? Is this a pattern in your family as well?

Eat Healthy
The way that you can manage the stress that is being placed on your heart is by preventing it before it happens. When you eat fried foods and pork products you run the risk of clogging up the walls of your arteries. If your arteries are clogged with build up from grease then you are putting stress on your heart because your heart has to pump extra hard to get the blood to your vital organs. Managing stress starts with your diet by limiting the amount of pork, salt and fried foods that you intake and increasing the amount of fruits,vegetables, whole grains and fiber that you eat. Before you change your diet, you should consult with your doctor. There are also many books out there about healthy eating as it relates to African-American women.

Exercise
You can also reduce the amount of stress you place on your heart by exercising. Your heart is a muscle that is connected to valves which are connected to your arteries. When your heart is pumping blood it moves the valves and when you are inactive there is not enough blood flowing to keep your valves working properly. Walking for about 30 minutes a day is a great exercise for strengthening your heart and keeping your blood flowing properly. You should consult with your doctor before you start a new exercise regime.

Statics show that African American women have a high risk of being diagnosed with high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a disease that can be passed on from family to family but you can also have high blood pressure because of controllable variables such as being over weight, inactivity and having poor eating habits. High blood pressure is a silent killer and can lead to strokes and heart attacks. If you have not done so already, get you blood pressure checked and work on controlling the amount of stress that you place on your heart.

Antionette Tate enjoys helping people to discover their inner peace and joy. She invites you to visit her blog "Inner Peace and Joy: Tips to Help You Maintain Inner Peace and Joy Daily" http://howtohaveasuccessfulday.blogspot.com/ or email tonietate1@aol.com

The Best African American Dating Sites Are Not Very Hard to Find

Nowadays, there are a lot of African American dating sites available for African American single men and women all over the world that it's becoming a whole lot easier and convenient for the entire community. In fact, one of the most popular sites that is constantly growing in number with regards to its memberships is Cupid Online Dating's African American dating service. It has become so popular and well-liked by the African American community that it has experienced much active participation from its members. It is not only easy to use, but safe, fun, and secure that you can instantly find your match in just a click of a button.
But before signing up for a particular membership, here are some important reminders to take note of before joining a particular dating website:

The first thing you should take note of is how the website is done. Check if it is really organized, well-designed, and monitored actively by the administrators. If the website you've landed on has too many pornographic ads for example, it's best you leave that site and look for better ones online.

Next, check if the website requires you to pay for a membership. Though some websites do this for funding and maintenance, you have to consider the price of the membership and the payment method as well.

See if the personal profiles are personally done by real people and not by posers who only want to expand their dating service with numerous personal ads and profiles. See if the profiles contain unreadable characters or the info doesn't make sense. 

African American Girl Doll - The Sweetness of Addy Walker

If you date yourself back less than 25 years ago, the idea of having an African American Barbie or any other ethnic style doll was unheard of. Every doll had long, flowing blonde hair and blue eyes and little girls of a different ethnic race was just made to accept that fact. Luckily, times have changed and there is a doll for every race, color and creeds, making a little girl's dream come true. Enter Addy Walker, the adorable African American Girl doll from The Pleasant Company. This company has a different doll from all different time periods and all different places from the United States. Addy Walker is just as cute as can be, but her looks are not the only thing great about this doll. Her story is one of bravery and courage in the times of slavery and bigotry, making it a lesson for all to learn.

Addy Walker's story begins as she escapes the peril of slavery with her mother and they begin the long journey of searching for her father and brother who have been sold to another slave master. To make matters even more frightening, Addy and her mother are forced to leave her baby sister behind because the risk of getting caught because of her cries are too big to take. Never fear, even though there are definite lessons to be learned from any story in the American Girl collection, all have a happy ending and Addy is reunited with her family. This gorgeous doll comes with a large variety of true-to-period clothing as well as furniture pieces that are very realistic.

There are two ways that you can purchase these dolls. There are three different American Girl stores located in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York. These stores should not be missed. It is every little girl's fantasy with dolls, doll clothes, furniture, a show and a café, complete with a booster seat and place setting designed for your special American Girl Doll friend. You can also order your doll through the American Girl Doll catalog as well as online. If you are not near an American Girl Doll store, give your daughter or that special little girl in your life a catalog and a pen, and have her circle some of the things that really capture her eye. This will give you great ideas for birthdays, Christmas or any other upcoming special celebration. When your little girl opens the beautifully wrapped package of her sweet African American Girl doll, you will be introducing your daughter to a doll with a story which will give her a sense of self confidence and bravery that she may not even know she had.
By Matt Murren