Wyllisa Bennett

CALL ME WYLLISA

IT’S OFFICIAL! I’M A MEMBER OF #BLACKTWITTER

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Artwork by John Ira Jennings on Twitter @JIJennings

There I was, minding my own business on Twitter, and watching the first GOP debate on FOX News, offering live commentary via my tweets on everything from Donald Trump’s views on immigration and “stupid leaders;” to trying to understand why Dr. Ben Carson is running for president, and not in an operating room; and wondering how many bundles of weave was in moderator Megyn Kelly’s hair. (Because I’m so obsessed with hair, I was really mesmerized by her long, shiny blond hair all night long.)

But, I digress! I was part of the seven million folks engaging socially on Twitter with tweets about “The Donald Trump Show” – I mean, the GOP debate, featuring a bunch of guys who dressed and talked like men on an episode of AMC’s “Mad Men.”

And lo’ and behold, what a treat it was to be feature in a story by “Tea and Breakfast,” as part of its coverage on Black Twitter. I’m so honored to be inducted into this fabulous fraternity of African American social media influencers. Check out the story below.

http://www.teabreakfast.com/black-twitter-best-gop-debate-moderator/2/

My lovely colleague, celebrity publicist Dominic Friesen was so kind to share the news with his followers.

In other news, my hair story, “If You Ask Me, I’ll Let You Touch It,” got picked up on a couple of websites, like CurlyNuGrowth.com (Arts & Entertainment section) and the Hair Lovers Digest. I really appreciate the love! 

Don’t worry! I’m going to keep on ranting from the red carpet! After all, this wittiness can’t be wasted! 🙂

 

“With hair, heels and attitude, honey, I’m through the roof!” — RuPaul

If You Ask Me, I’ll Let You Touch It!

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If you ask me, I’ll let you touch it! I’m talking about my hair! Well, it’s been 4 ½ years since I went to a Dominican hair salon to BC (that is, “big chop” in natural hair lingo) my relaxed hair. Like so many, I’d been addicted to the “creamy crack” like, forever. I accidentally became a kinky-coily-curly Type 4a naturalista, purely out of necessity.

After going to a new hairstylist for a relaxer and trim of my signature bob, 30 days later, my hair was falling out like I was undergoing chemotherapy treatment or something! I was loosing my tresses, strand by stand, until finally I HAD to cut it all off!

I wasn’t mad about the loss of my hair; but it really perplexed me about what caused it. I knew it wasn’t alopecia, since there were signs of hair growth. Anyway, it’s hair, and my hair grows fast, like a weed; so, I didn’t fret. I saw my BC as a fresh start, and I was inspired by the Afro of activist, scholar and author Angela Davis along with memories of my mother and aunt wearing the style in the 1970s. Because the styling of Black hair can be so labor intensive, I gave myself permission to embrace a new sense of freedom with my hair. My goal was to grow it out for three or four months, then get a relaxer for a short Halle Berry ‘do. That was January 2011. I haven’t had creamy crack in my hair since! Two years later, I met Davis, the ultimate soul sistah, at the Pan African Film Festival, and it was such an honor to take a picture with her, ‘fro to ‘fro.

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TOP FIVE REASONS WHY “I CAN’T BREATHE!”*

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Looks like we’re having a “Selma” moment. While the entertainment industry awaits the much-anticipated historical film, directed by Ava DuVernay, the country is already up in arms, and marching about incidents that have taken place in the last 90 days. With recent historical films like “Selma,” and the critically-acclaimed “The Butler,” Millennials are getting a flashback to the Civil Rights Movement, and kind of scratching their heads, wondering “if this really happened in America.” Well, now the Millennials have awaken to a cause – that is, #BlackLivesMatter because police brutality and the beatings and killings, specifically of young, Black men, continue to make headline news: Oscar Grant. Trayvon Martin. Michael Brown. Eric Garner. Tamar Rice.

Who needs #TGIT (Thank God It’s Thursday) on television with uber-producer Shonda Rhimes, when you can just turn on MSNBC, CNN or network news to find out “How To Get Away With Murder.” It’s looks easy, if you’re wearing a badge: Illegal chokehold. Check. No grand jury indictment. Check. I call that a “Scandal!” Wanted: gladiators.

Lhow to get away with murder artwork2ast year, the industry was buzzing about the performance of award-winning actor Michael B. Jordan (“The Wire,” “Friday Night Lights”), and his portrayal of Oakland shooting victim Oscar Grant in the award-winning indie “Fruitvale Station. It opened a dialogue of conversation about police brutality and the gunning down of African Americans boys and men. Then, the Trayvon Martin case hit, and all hell broke loose. And thankfully, Black America hasn’t been the same since. No justice, no peace!

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.” – The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 

 

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#BlackoutBlackFriday

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Did you shop Black Friday? I didn’t. I joined directors Spike Lee, Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler along with Russell Simmons, Nate Parker and David Oyelowo and others across the country for a National United Retail Boycott on Black Friday, November 28, 2014. Looks like it worked, sales were down 11 percent.

The Time Has Come

Artwork and Video courtesy of Blackout for Human Rights. Visit www.BlackoutForHumanRights.com

Featuring the Turfeinz
Produced by Ephraim Walker + Chanelle Pearson
Executive Produced by John Burris
Written, Directed, and Edited by Terence Nance
Photographed by Evan
Edit and Sound Design by Raphael Mora

“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
– The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

The Dirty, Little Secret of the BET Awards

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Legendary photographer Bill Jones shares a moment with Oscar winner Halle Berry

Sometimes, you have to do the right thing, and let the chips fall where they may fall! I’ve been meaning to share this post with you, but my day job got in the way!

Anyway, in my last post, I wrote some funny commentary why I was glad the BET Awards show was over –that is, the constant need to suck in my stomach and wear shapewear to look good in all of my dresses, posing next to twentysomethings!  Read it, here. I’m happy to report that since the writing of the post, I’ve begun my workout regimen! A girl can only suck in so much! Plus, I’m eight months away from being the BIG 5-0, and I want to be fit and fine! But again, I digress.

Anyway, the dirty little secret that I didn’t tell you about the BET Awards was how the powers-that-be didn’t credential Black press to attend and cover the awards show. Yes, you heard that right: BET brass denied access to Black press to cover a show, whose demographics target Black people. Did I mention that the “B” in BET stands for “Black.” And yes, this is beyond cray cray!

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Thank you for reading my rantings from the red carpet! xo

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