They can KEEP Maxwell!

I just finished reading the March issue of Ebony magazine. Of the several magazines catering to black women, this is one of the better ones. The March issue is featured as The Annual Women's Issue. Ready for the tour?

The mag begins with a regular department called Speaking of People. It features photos and bios of 3 people holding upper echelon jobs: Erika L. Alexander (vice president of TownePlace Suites by Marriott), Jerome L. Davis (president of Maytag's Commercial Solutions Group), and Pamela Thomas-Graham (executive vice president of NBC TV and president and CEO of CNBC.com)

The next few pages also contain monthly features such as letters to the editor and "House Call," which contains expert advice on health and fitness. "Bookshelf" is Ebony's column of book reviews. Being that this issue celebrates black women, they pay tribute to the Sister with a list, and brief description of books written by and about black women. Some of the books are: "For Freedom's Sake: The Life of Fannie Lou Hamer" by Chana Kai Lee and "Jump Rope Magic" by Afi Scruggs.

Next is "Sisterspeak," one of my favorite departments. In this issue, Laura Randolph Lancaster talks about a phenomenon known as "Daddy Stress," which is the pressure men are feeling over career-family conflict.

Next department is "Sounding Off" which is reviews of currently released music. Being a huge Snoop Dogg fan, I was a little miffed that the column only gave brief mention of "Snoop Dogg Presents Tha Eastsidaz."

Next comes the travel guide. Feel like going to Atlanta? OK, how about Detroit? The column tell us about the events going on in these and other cities.

Here is another of my favorite columns: "For Brothers Only" by Kevin Chappell. I know it's supposed to be for Brothers, but Playboy is supposed to be for men, and I read that too. Anyway, this month's editorial is called, "Are We In The Midst of The Black Man's Spiritual Awakening?" Chappell discusses how it's not unmanly to be have religious beliefs.

The first real article in the mag is about the "big boom" in black women writers. It's an interesting article explaining how Terry McMillan (of Waiting to Exhale fame) led the way and opened the door for other black female writers. I've read several of McMillan's terrific books and this article made me want to delve into the books of other black female authors who until now, I've never heard of.

Next up is "Sex and the New Sister: Dating in the New Millennium." Advice given here: Carry condoms, don't date married men, don't act desperate, and pain does not equal love. Nothing new or original.

After that is an inspiring 8 page article featuring pictures and bios of 21 successful Sisters. One an astronaut, one a Marine lieutenant, one a corporate executive, etc. Each success story was a joy to read.

Is there room for black female boxers in the big-time ring? That's the question asked in the next article, which discusses the pros, the cons, and the controversy.

Did you know that 54.3% of American are obese? It's true, and black women comprise the most overweight segment of the US population. That's the topic of the next informative article, which gives 6 steps for a healthier life, revolving around proper nutrition, exercise, and realistic goals for weight loss.

The following article tells why so many women are choosing to have children without a mate. The article stresses that just because a woman can't find a man she wants to spend the rest of her life with, doesn't mean she should be deprived of having a child whom she can love and make a good life for.

Now we come to more columns: first beauty, then relationships, and then fashion. The clothes are absolutely striking and gorgeous but I can't imagine anyone really wearing them. Know what I mean? A little too fancy for the average woman. I also can't imagine anyone being able to afford them!

Wow! Recipes! Now you're talkin' my language. Oops...they're all for catfish. Sorry, I'll pass.

Ahhhh....Ten ways to feel like a woman. I always love these types of articles because nobody enjoys self-pampering more than I do. It's just the usual stuff here, though: a facial, a romantic night at home, a night out with the Sisters, bubblebath, makeovers, etc. Boring.

Now we arrive at "Hunk Of The Month." Puleeeze! Maxwell?? Give me Denzel. Give me Snoop. Give me Treach. But Maxwell? Sorry, but he's a little too pretty for me. Oh well, I guess that's a matter of personal taste. Their choice might have been poor, but the article was very in-depth and even interesting.

Here's a really good article about America's youngest Lt. Governor: Colorado's Joe Rogers. Great article about his life, politics, and family. A true success story.

The final article in Ebony is called "10 best cities for black women" which lists the 10 best cities for black women as far as living conditions and career choices go. There is a brief synopsis of each city and this article would probably be very helpful to a black woman seeking a change of locale.

All in all, I enjoy Ebony and think it's an interesting mag, not just for Black women but for women of all races.


WOW! I JUST GOT MY BONUS! THANK YOU EPINIONS!!!!!