Sibrina Speaks

On the drive home this evening, I was listening to the Michael Baisden Radio Show, and his special guest was Mr. Dick Gregory. Many folks called to talk about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King. One caller in particular believed that what we need now is another Dr. King. However, Dick Gregory believes that we don't need another Dr. King because there is "only one per customer." Now, I do agree with Mr. Gregory that don't need another Dr. King, but I started asking myself 'what do we really need?' Things are certainly better and we have made progress regarding race relations in this country. However, the problems facing the African American community are enormous. From teen violence to the HIV and AIDS epidemic, we are facing serious challenges. But, what is our strategy moving forward? We have elected the first African American President and some African Americans are leading fortune 500 companies. Moreover, some African Americans hold key positions in indus...

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 ...