Features

The Ru Report #127

Phenomenal Woman
Yasmin Shiraz Soul sister Yasmin Shiraz has knack for delivering just what the doctor ordered.

And the youth market, too.

In the mid-nineties, she single-handedly brought her forthright and empowering messages to the masses via a hybrid of in-your-face information and urban entertainment via the popular magazine, Mad Rhythms, which was widely circulated on college campuses around the country. The hip periodically picked up where the defunct, BET-powered ysb left off, subsequently reaching over four million students.

From her grassroots foray into publishing, this Superwoman spring-boarded to a mature demo and began garnering freelance writing gigs with major publications such as Black Enterprise, Upscale and other notable outlets.

A self-proclaimed empowerment speaker, eloquent entertainment journalist, bona fide entrepreneur, and in-demand author, Ms. Shiraz is a graduate of Hampton University and Morehead State University, who uses her sociology training to empower young people through her writings and workshops. A resident of Washington D.C.'s outer suburbs, she currently runs her own marketing and management firm, The Signals Agency, which specializes in entertainment marketing and youth event programming.

Two years ago she delved into self-publishing with a true labor of love, a paperback book titled The Blueprint For My Girls: How to Build a Life Full of Courage, Determination & Self-Love. Last month, Simon & Schuster's Fireside Publishing imprint re-packaged and re-released the book to a broader audience and received rave reviews.

"When I started the Mad Rhythms "How To Get Into The Entertainment Business" tour in 1997, I started visiting thirty college campuses per year," Ms. Shiraz explains to The Ru Report. "At every stop, no matter if I was at Florida A&M, Temple University or Howard University, several young women would come up to me and ask me questions about life.

"Their questions would involve issues like being in an abusive relationship for the first time, being away from home and feeling isolated, roommate problems, dealing with their professors and the like," she continues, "I started taking notes on the questions that they asked me, and compared them to the diaries that I kept from the ages of fifteen to twenty-two. Then, a light went off in my head to write The Blueprint for My Girls to address girls all across the country."

Within the book's 215 pages, the author sends out a gift of understanding, support, and motivation to all of "her girls." Drawing on her own earlier journals, she shares her most painful, shameful, sobering, and also triumphant experiences to serve as a roadmap and moral compass through the terrifying and thrilling transition into womanhood. "Learn from my mistakes," Ms. Shiraz urges her young readers.

But she's nobody's preacher. She remains open-minded. And she continues to learn valuable and important lessons through her day-to-day.

"I'm learning that girls nationwide--old and young--need to be cheered on," she adds. "They need to be encouraged, they need to be protected and cared about. I'm learning that many parents are struggling to connect with their daughters but that my book gives them some hope. I'm learning that problems in our community like bullying and taunting at school is depleting self-esteem in a horrible way and that our girls feel powerless to change it. I'm learning that our girls need to be heard on their issues and they feel that no one is listening."

Multiple Grammy Award-winning neo-soul singer/songwriter India. Arie is a fan of the author's, and the book project, raving: "This book is a beautiful tool for the continuation of the restoration of pride into our young women--I love Yasmin Shiraz for having the courage to tell her real life stories."

"India.Arie read [the book] and was so moved that she wanted girls to know what she thought of the book," Ms. Shiraz explains. "She represents hope to girls who are different, who may not look like the girl you see in a magazine or video. She is successful despite what other people may have wanted to limit her to."

As a sought-after lecturer, she has traveled the world and spread her empowering messages to a number of inner-city communities and countless college campuses. When we caught up to her, she was in the midst of a east-coast book-tour. "The best part of the tour is meeting people who are reading the book and being able to inspire young people to feel good about themselves and to know that they have what it takes to be successful," she shares. "Girls today have many opportunities to improve themselves and better their lives."

The Blueprint couldn't have been released at a better time; February is known the world over as Black History Month and March is considered Women's History Month. But outside of the confines of marketing plans, the book should be shared and read throughout the entire year. Throughout, girls as young as twelve, and as old as twenty-two, will find inspiration in the words of wisdom about self-respect, personal integrity, courage, achievement, and perseverance.

Looking ahead, this spiritual soul sister is keeping the faith. "Some of my dreams have been fulfilled and some are still to come. I live my life by faith and so God continues to reveal things to me that I have not even dreamed about. So, I must say, I don't know what lies ahead, but I bet it's gonna be good."

And as far as the state of Black youth, she is keeping it real. "Black youth--both female and male, need our love, unwavering support, determination, and guidance. Black youth need to be put first in our lives. Black youth need to know that their well being is our priority. This applies to parents, teachers, coaches and the government. Contradictions, hypocrisy, and just ‘BS' have led Black youth astray. It's time for us to get up or shut up."

Holla!

Doing It For Herself
Sister friends never cease amazing me.

I recently received a fabulous care package from someone I never had the pleasure of meeting. Yet, it was still greatly appreciated--containing a gang of goodies such as bath products like paradise balls, essential oils and specialty sea salts. What made the package stand out from others was a pretty special touch of love coming in the form of self-penned mantras and a poem accompanying each product.

The woman behind this therapeutic treat is Sabrina Collins, creator and proprietor of the Los Angeles-based start-up, Face Your Body Aromatherapy--Healing for the Mind, Body and Spirit.

"I'm blessed to come from a long line of creative women," explains Ms. Collins. "My maternal grandmother was a Cherokee Indian who was always in the kitchen, while my paternal grandmother was from The Carolinas. My mother was a hippie-leaning art school grad who made all our clothes while we were growing up. Creating is in my blood."

The dread-locked native New Yorker has been concocting potions since the tender age of twelve. She says her first successful remedy was oatmeal, comfrey, honey and her mother's Nature's Gate conditioner. The winning preparation cured her teenage acne and made her a neighborhood wonder.

"Women have always been the healers of the planet," she continues. "My products are simply the follow through on a long line of the tradition of women who have utilized the kitchen as their personal laboratories for healing. In today's crazy world, so many of us don't have the time it takes to do it for ourselves. I'm blessed to be able to spread the magic that Mother Nature so unselfishly shares with us."

The all-natural line of body products also includes black sugar scrubs, seaweed baths, and body butters, all promoting overall healing. Other body treats include Vegan soaps, foaming baths, salts, gels and clays. For more information, log onto Faceyourbody.com

Etc
Queen of hip-hop soul Mary J. Blige--fresh off the success of her Off-Broadway debut in the critically-acclaimed play, "The Exonerated"--has routed a tour jaunt for the spring. Kicking off on April 11 at Miami's James L. Knight Center, the four- week outing will trek from coast to coast. Sunglasses-clad neo-soul crooner Musiq Soulchild will open for her royal highness.

Legendary all-around entertainer Della Reese is on a mission to help save lives. The Touched By An Angel actress serves as the national spokesperson for an educational awareness campaign called "Della Reese: Stronger Than Diabetes." From her hometown of Detroit, she recently conducted a series of televised interviews with stations in major U.S. markets to discuss the campaign and her personal experience with type 2 diabetes. "Since being diagnosed, I have learned that I have the power to make meaningful changes in my life by committing to following a healthy routine with my eating habits, exercise plan and medication for type 2 diabetes," she says, "I encourage others to be stronger than diabetes." Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, the campaign is designed to help people learn to live with type 2 diabetes. A free booklet and CD are available by calling 866-463-6342 or by visiting Delladiabetes.com.

Black America's favorite women's magazine, Essence, has something very special for the ladies with their April edition. What the magazine editors refer to as ‘hot Hollywood men' such as Blair Underwood, Idris Elba, Delroy Lindo, Carl Lumbly, Michael Ealy and Mathew St. Patrick all grace the cover. And sisters aren't overlooked. A feature inside takes a look at the growing number of African-American actresses on television in "Sitcom Sisters," featuring TV's "First Wives Club": Tisha Campbell-Martin (of ABC's "My Wife and Kids"), Kellita Smith (of FOX's ‘The Bernie Mac Show") and Elise Neal (of UPN's "All of Us"). The April issue hits stands, nationally, next week.

Notable/Quotable
"That's what MTV is: a strip club with better music.'"
--"Politically Incorrect" talk-show host/comedian Bill Maher on the sign of the times.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me.

Coming Up
The Ru Report celebrates Women's Herstory Month with our annual "Phenomenal Woman" series, throughout the month of March.

Message Karu F Daniels or email him directly at therureport@aol.com

©2003 The Ru Report™. All Rights Reserved~~P.O. Box #25 Bushkill PA 18324

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