Sibrina Speaks

We all know that hair has always been a very big deal in the African American community. Finding the right beautician is just as important as finding the right shoes to match an outfit. It really does matter. Today, I decided to try a new beautician near my home for a quick blow dry and curl. When I arrived at the salon--on time--the salon was closed. I decided to call the beautician on her cell and she informed me she was about 10 minutes away. She actually showed up about 20 minutes later, but I was trying to give her a "pass" because the weather was a little nasty outside. While waiting, another young lady was waiting to see a different beautician who was also late. She an I chatted for a minute and she told me that her appointment was at 10:00am, but it was pushed back to 11:00am. (It was about 11:20am at this point.) My beautician finally arrived and apologized for being so late. She actually did a decent job, and I did accept her apology. She tried to convince me to get

Yes, it has been quite a while since my last blog entry! As you know, there has been a lot going on in the news. President Obama announced that 30,000 more troops will be sent to Afghanistan in the next 6 months, the debate about health care continues to be real challenge, Tiger Woods and his early morning car accident, and the return of the Soul Train Music Awards. (Honestly, the only reason I watched was because Chaka Khan was being recognized for her contributions to the field of music. However, after watching the show, the Soul Train Music Awards really should remain on hiatus.) Now, instead of focusing on those topics, I wanted to share my thoughts about a recent visit I had with 300 ninth grade students. One of my passions is helping our students reach their full potential in the chemical sciences, so I am trying to attract young people to the chemical sciences drawing analogies between hip hop and chemistry. I have given a powerpoint presentation to students several times on thi

Well, this Halloween, I had the opportunity to attend an NBA game featuring the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Charlotte Bobcats with a good friend. The game was a bit slow at times, but I did enjoy seeing Lebron and Shaq lead their team to victory. I also enjoyed watching the Cavalier Scream teams' reenactment of Michael Jackson's Thriller video. My friend was cheering and dancing in her seat. However, I do have one complaint about this evening. Before tip-off, I decided to get a little something to eat, specifically some pizza, milk duds, and a bottle of water. (Yes, I know this is NOT healthy and my teeth and gums are VERY uncomfortable at the moment, but this is not the point.) Anyway, when I received my bottle of water from the cashier, she told me that she had to remove the cap because "that is the law." First of all, this is not a law, but a rule put in place by the NBA. Secondly, I didn't like this at all because here she is handling dirty money, but it is ok

Recently, I had a couple of days off from work and I decided to spend my break visiting some of my dear friends. The drive took over three hours, so I listened to several CDs including the new one by Maxwell. (I do love the song “Bad Habits.”) I finally arrived at my destination—thank goodness for GPS navigation—and rang the doorbell. My friend opened the door and she didn’t say hello! Instead, she pointed at me and said, “You were speeding!” All I could do was laugh. I do love my friends! My friend and her husband have two adorable kids, ages 12 and 7 and they kept me entertained during my stay. While my friend was cooking dinner, some other friends stopped by and we helped the 7-year old with his math homework. The first part of the assignment focused on counting and learning the value of pennies, nickels, and quarters. However, the second part was actually a game where you throw out some dice and count out money. Subsequently, you would then need to figure out the money you can exch

I wanted to take the time with this blog entry to celebrate our Black men. I know we are facing enormous challenges in our communities, but our Black men are passing on knowledge and helping the next generation “be all that they can be.” I recently chatted with three professional Black men representing various fields such as architecture, academia and the military. I specifically wanted to know what they learned from their fathers, grandfathers, and other male role models on what it really means to be a responsible man. More importantly, I wanted to know what they are doing to help the next generation of young Black males. Brothers, this one is for you! Here are some comments from the conversation: William (Military) “Well, I must say that I never really knew my father. I met him once. Can you imagine the effect that had on me? My grandfather died before I was born. However, I did have uncles! Some taught me about the value of having money, and some played a disciplinary role in my lif

Well, classes are now back in session and of course my life is slowly becoming hectic once again! Every semester, I try to figure out the best strategy to engage my chemistry students. This is a real challenge for all educators, but I do try to use humor when appropriate. Recently, I gave a lecture focusing on atomic orbitals and I informed my students that I really like to ‘think of orbitals merely as a place where electrons like to hang out, just as I like to hang out at DSW because I like shoes.’ Immediately after I say this, the students (especially the young ladies) in my class began smiling and giggling. Ok, with this analogy, we can think of DSW as an orbital and myself as an electron, but that is not the point. The goal was to get their attention, so they will focus on the important stuff. Developing effective teaching strategies is not easy. It takes time, patience, and a lot of hard work. You also must keep in mind that every class is different. What worked for one class may

Let me be honest with you—I absolutely hate to exercise. But, I am truly proud to say that I have committed myself to exercising at least three times a week. I believe the only reason I am motivated to do this is because I listen to my iPod while riding my exercise bike. The 30 minutes seems to go by much faster when I listen to some really good music and I do work up a sweat. However, the sweating has now created some challenges for me to maintain my chemically treated hair. I recently decided to do an internet search to find some tools and tips for maintaining my hair in between my visits to the salon. To my surprise, there were many links on this very subject. Last year, there was a survey conducted at Wake Forest Medical School that targeted over 100 African American women specifically asking about their exercise habits. Half the respondents considered changing their hairstyles so they could exercise, so hair care is a real factor. Back in the 1990s, researchers at the Harvard Scho

My recent trip to New York City started off a little frustrating with one particular airline that shall remain nameless. Several travel delays along with a very uncomfortable landing was not a pleasant experience. Moreover, my taxi driver appeared to be very upset before I even got in the car, but I must admit I found it quite amusing when he gave an obscene gesture to a nearby taxi driver that jumped in front him. By the time I reached my sisters place, I was really tired but smiling. You just have to love NY! I always enjoy spending time with my sister and brother-in-law in NY and as usual they both kept me laughing during my stay. But, one highlight of my trip was seeing the one and only Mr. Chico DeBarge perform at a local NY spot. Trust me, the brother still can sing. The opening act was a new artist named Rachel Brown who is clearly a throw back to the 1990s. Remember Karen White or Meli'sa Morgan with the big hair? Well, that’s the sound of Rachel Brown. She wasn’t bad, but

Yes, this blog entry is partly about my passion for buying shoes and why I seem to have a religious experience every single time I walk into my favorite DSW shoe store. Believe me, I feel like I am truly in heaven every time I go! Sometimes, when I find the right shoes, I feel like God himself made them just for me. Ladies, do you notice how we will walk up and down every single aisle picking up as many shoes as possible? We closely examine a pair of shoes like it is a fine piece of art and only then will we try them on for size. We take a close look at the sole, stitching, color, and heel as if we made them ourselves. If we decide we don’t like them, we follow the same routine with the next pair of shoes. (Fellas, don’t feel left out here. You follow a similar routine when you purchase shoes.) Now, what if we use the same strategy for buying shoes and apply it to the other aspects of our life. Think about that and the choices you have made in your career and personal life. Should

Let me begin by saying that I love Detroit, Michigan. I truly do. There are many things about this place to love. You already know the history of Motown Records, which is celebrating the 50th anniversary this year. Everybody has a favorite Motown artist or song they love. And, yes Motown records created jobs for young people in the community. (I know that was 50 years ago, but I’m trying to make a point here.) Let’s not forget that the Big Three has kept the economy going and helped create the Black middle class. There are tons of auto factories all over the world, so if I hear another person say the federal government is bailing out Detroit, I will scream. Recognize that the Big Three are global, not local. Moreover, the stadiums for the Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers are top notch, and the Fox Theatre is doing big things showcasing today’s top artists. Now, although I truly do love this city, honestly, I am embarrassed by some of the recent nonsense. This city has taken a national

I’m sure everyone has heard the news of Harvard Professor Henry Louis “Skip” Gates being arrested at his own home for disorderly conduct, which now brings the issue of racial profiling back to attention of the media. The 911 tapes have been released along with the police report of the arresting officer Sgt. James Crowley with the Cambridge Police Department. Now, there are always two sides to every story, and then there is the truth. As one of my friends recently said to me, “I think the truth is somewhere in the middle,” and I do agree with my friend. Last week during his press conference focused on heath care reform, President Obama was asked to weigh in on the arrest of his friend Professor Gates. He admitted he didn’t know all of the facts and he is biased because of their friendship, but went on to say that the police “acted stupidly” in arresting his friend. Now, he also went on to say that cooler heads should have prevailed. Even Gen. Colin Powell gave his opinion last night

As I sit here writing this blog entry, I am watching Black in America 2 hosted by CNN Reporter Soledad O’Brien. I watched the first CNN special last year and although I thought it was good, it primarily focused on the problems that plague our communities. However, the current special is focusing on solving problems. The program begins with Malaak Compton-Rock and 30 kids from Brooklyn, New York traveling to Johannesburg, South Africa, through her program “Journey for Change,” with the goal for the kids to see the daily struggles of others. The point being is that when you see folks worse off than you, it can make a serious impact on you personally. They met young people dealing with HIV and AIDS, hunger, and the desire just to attend school. The impact was immediately felt by the kids. At the end of their two week trip one student said quite frankly, “I can’t complain with what I got.” However, when Soledad interviewed Malaak and she broke down crying saying that she only “can give the

By now everyone is likely aware of the ongoing debate in Congress focusing on how to fix our heath care system, specifically how to reduce the rising costs. Health care reform is certainly a high priority for President Obama. His foot is on the accelerator to get something done, but I do wonder if speed is what we need to fix a very complex system. Don’t get me wrong, something has to be done, but there are a LOT of stake holders sitting at the table too. Yes, the American Medical Association (AMA) is “on board,” but there are 47 million Americans that do not have access to health care. It is time we do something. But even if a solid piece of legislation is passed by Congress, all of us will have to sacrifice in order for every single person to have access to quality health care, which I do believe is a right not a privilege. However, we also have another responsibility as stake holders too—we all need to be proactive about finding the right information when we do seek medical advic

We all know that the month of February is designated for Black History Month, but we actually celebrate Black History Month everyday. One great online resource celebrating our contributions is Blackpast.org. Blackpast is a website that is truly a one-stop shopping resource focusing on various aspects of African American history. Developed by Dr. Quintard Taylor, a history professor at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA), this website focuses on three main areas—African American History, African American History in the West, and Global African History. Blackpast has over 3,000 pages of information focusing on people, places, institutions, organizations and events, such as the March on Washington in 1963 and the Detroit Riots of 1943 and 1967. In addition to being a fan of Blackpast, I had the opportunity to contribute a few descriptions of African American chemists, including Dr. Nathaniel Oglesby Calloway, Dr. Percy L. Julian, and Dr. Saint Elmo Brady, the first African Americ

Let me be the first to say that I used to love me some MJ! When his album “Off the Wall” dropped in 1979, my mother purchased it for me and I wore it out on my record player. That is one of my favorite albums of all time. During that same year, I had a chance to see the Jackson’s perform live in concert along with my favorite cousins who loved MJ too. The opening act for the concert was the one and only Jeffery Osbourne and L.T.D. Trust me, Mr. Osbourne had a massive voice that seemed to “float” across the packed Cobo Arena in Detroit, Michigan. He really didn’t need a microphone. Eventually, the Jackson’s stepped out on stage with their bright silver suits and put on a show! I remember screaming at the top of my lungs hoping Michael would hear me. That was truly one of the best concerts I attended in my life. Like many others, I was shocked about his untimely death at the age of 50. It really didn’t seem real. The media is going absolutely crazy about his passing, and we all know t

Last summer, I served as a chemistry instructor for a program specifically for high school kids entering the 12th grade. One of my students asked me to review an essay she was working on for an English class, and I gladly accepted this task. She was doing very well in my course, and I wanted to support my students as much as possible. As I recall, the essay focused on issues of race and politics and I thought it was reasonably good. During the next class period, I returned her essay with my comments and asked her if she was aware that the House of Representatives had passed a resolution apologizing for slavery, and that maybe she could mention this in her essay. Another student sitting close by politely asked me to repeat what I just said. I replied, “Well, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution yesterday apologizing for slavery.” The class became very quiet, and the student responded, “What is an apology going to do?” Now, at that moment I admit I was a little unc

Recently, a friend and I decided to go to the movies and see “Pelham 123,” starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta. After buying the movie tickets and paying a ‘grip’ for popcorn and candy, we walked into the theatre to find some seats. The theatre was only about half-full at the time, so we had an opportunity to really get comfortable while waiting for the movie to begin. Shortly after, one of the ushers walked to the front of the theatre to welcome everyone, which I thought was nice. But then, she begins to ask us for donations for some program. I don’t recall what exactly the donation was for because quite frankly, I was annoyed that she was asking for money. I was really shocked by this because I have never been asked to give a donation right before seeing a movie. She then tells us to shut up. Well, ok, she ‘politely’ tells us to turn off our cell phones and refrain from unnecessary talking or we would be escorted out of the theatre. Subsequently, the theatre lights were turn

Do you remember your first car? My first car was a burgundy-red 1979 Chevy Impala with a 350 engine. It was a big automobile and I literally had to sit on a pillow to see over the dashboard when I drove the car. My father purchased the car from a fire chief in Canton, Michigan for himself and later gave it to me when I was ready to drive. It was a little rusty and had faded yellow letters on the driver side door that read “Canton Michigan Fire Department.” Let me tell you, this car was a REAL “man magnet” for me because I received a lot of attention from some really cute young men as I drove around town. At that time, Seattle-based rapper Sir Mix-a-Lot had a hit song called “My Hooptie,” which was the appropriate song for that car! If I hit a bump, the entire car would vibrate because it badly needed a front-end alignment. Ah, yes I did love my hooptie. But, the point is when everyone thinks about their first car, it is a great time in our lives to reflect on our youth and new fou

Well, now that the NBA Finals is currently in full swing, I am having a serious flash back! Remember the movie “Love and Basketball” starring Sanaa Latham and that absolutely handsome Omar Epps? Remember how you cheered when Sanaa finally got her man in the end? She never gave up and she kept on fighting for what she truly wanted—her true love and her desire to play professional basketball. The game of basketball is really about the trials and tribulations of everyday life dealing with friends, family, and yes our career. It doesn’t matter if you work in corporate America or a chemistry laboratory, if we want to win at anything—you have to play the game. Ideally, you shouldn’t have to play the game to be successful. Why can’t you just be a good team player, work hard, and be rewarded for your efforts? Maybe you don’t wish to be a starting point guard. Maybe you just want to come off the bench and score a few points and help your team win! As African American professional women you