The Snob's Sister Baby Snob Had A Baby, So I'm A Little Distracted

The Littlest SnobThe Snob became an aunt the other day to her little sister, Baby Snob's, first-ever baby who I haven't come up with a nickname for yet. He's a boy. He's 8 lbs and adorable. So I totally meant to write this thing were I went in on Mittens for his comments after he bombed at the NAACP. But then I got distracted by the pint-sized new edition to the family. He's the first baby in our immediate family SINCE my sister was born. First grandchild and my first nephew. I LOVE babies and children and adore my little sister, so ... um ... this site might be slightly neglected as I settle into my new role and Clutch and make googly-eyes at ol' cute, soft and squishy over there.

I apologize in advance. BUT HE'S SOOOO CUTE. Just look at that squishy face! *coos* *makes baby noises*

Happy Veterans Day!

From Texas Beyond History: "The Redoubtable Sergeant" by artist Don Stivers depicts Sergeant Emanuel Stance (second from left) and troopers of the 9th U.S. Cavalry—part of the famed Buffalo Soldiers—at the Battle of Kickapoo Springs against Apache Indians north of Fort McKavett in 1870. It was one of many bloody clashes between the vastly different cultures that vied for control of the Texas Hill Country. For his valor, Sergeant Stance was awarded the Medal of Honor, the first given to an African-American soldier. Read orders for scout along Kickapoo Creek. Image courtesy of Don Stivers

It's 11-11-11! For most of you, that means its Veteran's Day here in the United States, one of our holidays to honor those who fought and served in our Armed Forces. It's also the day my parents got married. So I consider Nov. 11th to be a pretty lucky day, and with it being 11-11-11 (and me writing this in the 11th hour at the 11th minute) ... well, that's pretty darn lucky sounding! So, celebrate our Veterans! (And happy 39 years of marriage, Mama and Papa Snob!)

Jalen Rose, Grant Hill and 'Authentic' Blackness

Via Jalen Rose on TwitterRecently in an ESPN documentary pro-basketball player Jalen Rose, when talking about his days as part of the famed Michigan "Fab 5", recounted how he much he disliked black players from Duke University as a teen, seeing them as "Uncle Toms" and adding some barbs towards fellow pro-baller and Duke graduate, Grant Hill. While Rose apologized to Hill on Twitter and went on to explain that his comments were coming from a place of hurt and jealousy as a teen who came from tough circumstances, Hill wrote his own response that appeared in the New York Times. Hill defended himself and other black Duke players, arguing that the term "Uncle Tom," normally used for "sell-outs" was now distorted to include black people from middle class, two-parent families. But what was really going on here is something far more hurtful and complicated. 

More after the jump.

Click to read more ...

Mystery Solved!

Click to enlargeOn Veteran's Day I republished this photo from my father's albums, but had lost the information that was on the back of the original photograph. Well, as fate would have it, one of my readers has the same photo as me!

More after the jump.

Click to read more ...

Honoring Our Veterans

Remember those who served today. To learn more how to support our vets and wounded service men and women after they return home, check out this video here. (YouTube)

The Case For and Against "Maturity" (On Twitter)

By all accounts, I was born old. Like Benjamin Button. Only I looked like a normal baby and somewhat acted like a normal baby (being pre-verbal, the crying, the pooping, the eating, the sleeping, etc.), but for the most part of my youth I was unnervingly serious to the point of sometimes being morose. Sure, I had some normal kid emotions. It was really easy to make me cry. I had a ton of phobias. (Loud noises, camera flashes, the dark, dogs, insects, heights, etc.) But I was ... how can I put this? Not fun.

More after the jump.

Click to read more ...

Parents, Children Need To Dream A Bigger Dream

Little girl and woman at Fair (Belton Family photo) My mother taught me about sex when I was nine-years-old. Nine. Years before my first period or puberty. Years before I was interested in having sex. Years before peers and television would try to feed me misinformation.

She wanted me to hear it from her first because she knew the truth. She wanted to give me the choice that only knowledge can bring.

More after the jump.

Click to read more ...

In Tribute To the Baddest Snob Of Them All

This is my baby sister. Recognize!It's my baby sister Deidre, aka "Baby Snob's" 30th birthday today. Along with being the best dancer, actor and slam comic in the family, Deidre is among my best friends. This post is for her.

More after the jump.

Click to read more ...

Michelle Obama Makes It Look Easy

Photo from AP via Huffington PostFirst Lady Michelle Obama and daughter Sasha arrived in Spain yesterday and Michelle, per usual, was just the right amounts of "OMG!" and "fierce." The other day I was talking to my friend SavvyBroad about the Obamas, specifically Michelle's mother, First Grandma Marian Robinson.

Like the First Lady, I come from a family of "Robinsons." That's Granny Snob's married last name. And like Marian, Granny Snob has a "favorite" and "only" son-in-law, who happens to be my father. I don't know Marian Robinson, so I don't know how she reacted to being Grandmother of the Free World, (I heard she took it PRETTY well) but I know my beloved Granny Snob and her favorite hobbies are "collecting grandchildren" (she had nine kids and they all had kids and their kids have kids = she's lost count) and "bragging." Suffice to say, if my mother was First Lady and Papa Snob was President, the Grandma-in-Chief game would never be the same. Oh, the hats she would wear and the smack she would talk. The rank she would pull and the chins she would check. Newport, Arkansas, STAND UP! (For more pictures check Huffington Post)