AnythingUrban - by R Eldridge

Get To Know: Crystal Washington-Martin

Never underestimate the power of associating with positive and inspiring people. 

Today, let's get to know someone who completely embodies this.

Crystal Washington-Martin is a virtual Queen - she fuses beauty and style with knowledge to bring a unique  style of quality to her craft. Crystal is a marketing consultant, speaker and owner of crystalwashington.com, a Houston-based marketing firm. Crystal’s passion is empowering small business owners through sharing effective marketing strategies.

A Beautiful Welcome Message To Share

I am so proud of my friend Traci.  Let me tell you about her.

I met Traci without actually meeting Traci, but we connected in a really cool way. We connected through our writing. I am more than 1,000 miles away from her, but as I read her great blog, I felt as if if I met my sister. Passion lives in her pen, and she shares her emotions like a butterfly.  She conquers, despite hers ups and owns, and with a spirited tone she flows freely.

Traci L. Lee shared her dream with me - and now her dream is a reality.  She is Founder, Editor-In-Chief and Publisher of BabyGirlz Magazine.  Her first edition published this Sunday. My opinion? It was worth the wait - her style is one to take notice. Traci is a game changer.  Please enjoy Traci's welcome message to you... and please welcome yourself to her beautiful world. Take a moment to see BabyGirlz Magazine here.

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A Message From Traci L. Lee

My niece was born Fri­day, August 24, 2007…2 months ahead of sched­ule. You see, her actual due date was Octo­ber 27th. She is a beau­ti­ful lit­tle thing that was born at a very low birth weight — 1lb. 8oz.  As small as some of your hands!

With her entry into the world, we learned some­thing new as we gath­ered at the hos­pi­tal to await her fate.  While wait­ing to see her for the first time, one of the staff nurses turned to us and said:  “The baby will be fine”.  At first, we fig­ured that was some­thing she was say­ing to keep us hope­ful and in pos­i­tive spir­its.  How­ever, she con­tin­ued with: “Do you know what you guys have? You have a Black GIRL.  She has the high­est sur­viv­abil­ity rate of all pre­ma­ture babies no mat­ter race or gen­der”.  Tears welled up.  None of us had ever heard this before.

About Ron Eldridge

,,.

Tell us something about you.

Raised in Queens, but Brooklyn dude through and through Current projects: 1. getting it together 2. raising kids who will contribute to mankind 4. striving to attain enlightenment and to master life, in my current life time . 

What do you like to write about?

I just write about things that we think about, but may be uncomfortable to talk about. We live in a viral world so it's easy to find a wide range of topics, but I tend to think of myself as a horrible blogger.  I am not a subject matter expert per se, and I don't stick to one topic as most leading bloggers do.  Call me a "non-conformist,"  but at the end of the day, I only want to impact thought... in other words, how can my words impact?  That is my ultimate mission.

Aiiit.  Cool.  Now tell us more about you.

I hate questions like this, only because I hate to talk about me. I grew up in Queens, NY and have lived most of my adult life in Brooklyn, NY.  I'm now living in Houston, TX. I am single as well. I have an entrepreneurial spirit, from new web technology to gadgets, I enjoy finding ways of using the web to streamline life. I also love purple skittles, blueberry pancakes and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  As far as hobbies, I love all types of fitness, traveling, writing, being a complete fool - and I love blogging of course.

Cool.  So tell me a few things about The MANChild Swagga that most people would be surprised to know?

Hmmmm... let me see.  Well, I think that most people are surprised to learn that:

* As a youngster I enjoyed rock - I actually wanted to be a first Rock-Rapper.  I hung out with a group of Black rockers growing up and aspired to live the nafarious life. Living Colour, Rage Against The Machine, Led Zeppelin, Scorpions, Def Leppard all that.  Weird huh?

* My non-traditional habits aften left me with strange books in my hand... I grew up reading works by  Erma Bombeck and Hunter S. Thompson... oh yeah, I also read Danielle Steele (don't ask me why).

* I am a hip hop junkie frozen in time.  The Wu Family, Nas, Mobb Deep, Rass Kass, Gangstarr, De La Soul, PE, and others from the early 90's - they stay on auto play.

* My dream is to resurrect Tupac's "Thug Life" idea into a manual for living  designed for young Black men.  Actually, this would simply be a continuation of Tupac's dream.  Why?  Check this out.

Very interesting.  Anything else?

Ummm, well:

* If I could marry a celebrity, I would marry Nia Long.  Megan Fox would place a close second. 3rd place?  Oprah.

* I consider myself to be one of the best undiscovered hip hop freestylers this side of Jeezy (jk).

* My dream second career?  I aspire to be a 65 year old Yogi that shares wellness tips to young nubian cougars in the confines of my fortress on the island of Niihau.  Until then... "do you want fries with that burger homie?" Oh, I did I share that I rap too?

Ok Mr. Undiscovered Freestyler, give me a sample of something lyrically.

Well, since Nas is my favorite, this is my prototype (so to speak):

"Swag is like.." Sex to a nympho, but nothin sweet
I'm like beef, bustin heat through your windows
I'm like a street sweeper, greenleaf reaper
Like Greeks in Egypt, learnin somethin deep from they teachers
I'm like crime, like your nine, your man you would die for
Always got you, I'm like Pop Duke you would cry for
I'm like a whole lot of loot, I'm like crisp money
Corporate accounts from a rich company
I'm like ecstasy for ladies, I'm like all races
combined in one man; like the '09 summer jam
Bulletproof Hummer man
I'm like being locked down around new faces, and none of em fam'
I'm the feelin of a millionaire spendin a hundred grand
I'm a poor man's dream, a thug poet
Live it, and I write down and I watch it blow up
Y'all know what I'm like, y'all read it on your computer every night
Now.."

I like to write about things that normally don't surface in traditional media, with an emphasis on cultural awareness and pursuits of a better life. My work has been published by ESSENCE.com, Rolling Out Magazine, and a few other  publications.

My professional background is in technology and eduction, where I have consulted and spearheaded enterprise-wide training projects for The World Bank and several leading financial firms. I have also worked directly for a few international companies based in Ireland and Japan.  I am also an Army veteran.

If you enjoy the blog, please feel free to post comments, share with your friends, and please SUBSCRIBE to stay updated.

Get to Know... Yirser Ra Hotep (my future Yogi)

My Journey Into Delf is inspired by a need to live with purpose both physically and spiritually.  As I continue on my path, I will share the greatness of those that inspire me to grow.  As you may know, I practice yoga.  In my studies, I found the foremost leader in a style that is truly one in which I will learn to master - Kemetic Yoga.  I'd like you to meet Yirser, my future Yogi. 

Cosmopolitan Swag

In 2002, Brooklyn native Yvette Jarvis became the first Black American elected to public office in Greece.  She was also the first immigrant elected to office in Greece, a country that has struggled to assimilate hundreds of thousands of foreigners who call Greece home.  I recall that she was also amongst one of several dignitaries that greeted athletes from all around the world during the Olympics of 2004 in Athens, Greece.

Samata Angel, clothing designer, author and public speaker, her clothing label creates stunning, unique pieces of clothing for women and since its launch in 2005 has already been recognized for its work by awards and nominations such as the UK Urban Fashion Award “Best Couture Line 2006”, Aristoc Ultra Woman of 2007 and British Female Inventor and Innovator ‘Exceptionally Creative’ Award.  In 2008, following participation in the Nolcha New York Fashion Week, Angel received a letter of recommendation from Prime Minister Gordon Brown to become an ambassador for the national campaign 'Girls! Make Your Mark'.  She was also a finalist for the ‘Future Fashion Star of 2008 award’ with Cosmopolitan magazine.

Beatrice Achaleke In 2008 she was the first Black Woman to stand for parliamentary elections in Austria. She is formal President of ENARA - European Network Against Racism Austria.  She was honored with the MIA Award 2008 for her Humanitarian and Social Engagements. In September 2008 she received the Official and Honorary Decoration of the Federal Republic of Austria for her interculture activities and in March 2009 the Miriam Makeba African Diva Award for her Engagement in the Empowerment of Black Women in Europe.

Beatrice is the initiator of several Award wining projects in Austria. She is author of several articles on the above-mentioned topics and frequent keynote speaker in Europe and on Austrian TV.

She is the publisher of the book “voices of Black European Women 1, challenges, reflections and strategies from the Vienna Congress”.  Her next book, titled “100 Black European Women in Leadership” is due in October 2009.

Read more great articles and stories about Black women in Europe here.