Dating politics: Wise Diva goes to Washington
On Friday, I flew to Washington, DC last week to attend a really unique conference called the Blogging While Brown conference. I did not know what to expect because I had never been to a blogging conference. I knew it would be interesting when I received a cryptic email that some conference attendees would have a chance to speak to White House staff members at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. I pretty much became a basket case from that moment.
We had a chance to meet with Corey Ealons, Director of African American Media and Coordinator of Special Projects and Jesse Lee, Online Programs Director. They were both very kind and engaging and we had a great discussion about politics, education, technology, etc.
They talked about the need for people to become more involved in the political process and the national discussion using various forums and platforms online, especially through whitehouse.gov. A lot of people don’t feel as if they have a voice or influence on what goes on in our country. This site provides an outlet to engage and interact with the policymakers.
It made me think about how much our politics make up who we are. I certainly learned a lot about myself and my friends in the last presidential election. I think it definitely becomes a part of how we view potential partners as compatible or not.
Do you think the politics and dating relationships should mix? Would you be brave enough to bring up a hot button political topic when you are on a date?
I can recall being on a date with a white guy who made some pretty provocative statements about black women and politics. I have to admit that it made me gun shy for a long time about dating outside my race. Do you think that our politics have to match in order for us to date successfully?
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241 comments Add your comment
mqew
June 22nd, 2010
4:18 pm
Hey Ev’1! Slow day hunh?
Leggs – You should go to Dugan’s and have a F Me in the Graveyard for me
You’d only need one……
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:19 pm
@Randyt say we just stuff joran van der stoopid.
@Leggs you are right, I can see that mess running down the cone and me trying to keep up and drive. I don’t want any spots on my suit, but man I want that ice cream cone.
@Dig that, you might as well train her and enjoy the
viewlooking at the girls while doing so. j/kMelo
June 22nd, 2010
4:19 pm
I think this black and light skinned stuff is mostly in america among black pple..i dont hear it in africa among black over there..its more arab versus black africa over there
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:22 pm
@mqew what’s in that drink it sounds like it will leave you walking sideways?
@melo you are probably right. We started that mess in the cotton fields and never let go.
Leggs
June 22nd, 2010
4:22 pm
@Prof ~ Then stop at Brewsters. They ice cream is solid and doesn’t melt as fast. Just don’t pile up the icecream.
I think I’m going to stop at this mexican restaurant and have a nice cold frosty, strong margarita…no eye candy in there!
For Real (The New Style.. 4 and 3 and 2 and 1)
June 22nd, 2010
4:23 pm
What up Blog Fam! Lets see what the happs are:
1. Skin color – All I know is I give thanks to Wesly Snipes cause a brother was tired of dippin, divin, and jumpin out of WINDOWS POW! Nobody now!
2. Folks that can’t say words beginning with STR – Slim, Slimmy-Slim hook a brother up with your cousin I can help her with her lisp or fat tonsils.
3. Training dumb folks – I got two pet peeves (a) Stupid people and (b) not squeezing the toothpaste from the bottom.
4. Loose tracks – I make it my business to covertly tell any chick I see with a loose track or loose fake eyelashes and then I stare at them and then count how many times they go back and forth to the restroom trying fix themselves cause I’m staring and they know that I know what they know.
free to be (F2B)
June 22nd, 2010
4:26 pm
wow, that’s a lot of phone calls Demi.:( and just in case you were wondering who i was…it’s me kinderbabe.:) i adopted a new moniker about a month ago.
Mark
June 22nd, 2010
4:26 pm
Well your first mistake was dating a white guy. Yuck!! Then the second was discussing politics on a date. When are you sistas going to learn that white boys are not the answer !!!!!
mqew
June 22nd, 2010
4:27 pm
Prof – I wanna say Rum 151, but it’s been soooooo long since I’ve had one I don’t really recall. I do recall that it was very good and very potent
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:28 pm
@Leggs, IdontwantBrewstersIwantchick-fil-a, said in my snotty nose kid voice. I might tell them to give me a cup and just drive extra fast home…now pouting.
For Real (The New Style.. 4 and 3 and 2 and 1)
June 22nd, 2010
4:29 pm
Dig: Well since she has some nice fun-bags I would start each new training section with some jumping jacks and then some wayyyyy-backs!
Melo
June 22nd, 2010
4:32 pm
whats loose tracks anyway??
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:33 pm
mail call
Leggs
June 22nd, 2010
4:35 pm
I believe Professor gets what Professor wants. Go get your ice milk and enjoy licking it from between your fingers. Girl, that’s just as bad as texting and driving. Get it in a cup and refreeze when you get home (uugghhh)!
SlimCutty
June 22nd, 2010
4:36 pm
mqew – that’s the drink i normally get whenever I go to Dugans…it does have 151 in it…WHew!!!
For Real – I think it’s more of a fat tongue issue, and less of fat tonsils issue. But hey, what do i know….I don’t have either.
SlimCutty
June 22nd, 2010
4:38 pm
Reading “Ice Milk” is making my stomach upset….it’s too darn hot for that. Milk just tumbling in the tummy waiting for an inopportune time to ACK UP!! Be riding in the car sitting sideways, sweating like a 400lb dude in a Festiva with no a/c….
Melo
June 22nd, 2010
4:40 pm
the comedy chics doing that comedy show with Wanda Smith were on frank and wanda this morning and were very funny….if only Uptown was not that slimmy, i wld go.
Those tables leave u with grease/slime on ur elbows…like ure in the gulf region.
mqew
June 22nd, 2010
4:41 pm
Slim – They have a few drinks that are tasty and skrong/shrong made with Rum 151. That is on my post-preggo list
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:43 pm
Girl, that’s just as bad as texting and driving.
@Leggs not it’s not
Be riding in the car sitting sideways, sweating like a 400lb dude in a Festiva with no a/c….
@Slim
that’s nasty LOL
if only Uptown was not that slimmy, i wld go.
Those tables leave u with grease/slime on ur elbows…like ure in the gulf region.
@melo you are crazy! LOL not the gulf region.
Dig That
June 22nd, 2010
4:43 pm
@For Real- Believe me they are jumping up and down all day. For a min I thought they were jumping when she was sitting down. She is a real trip but definitely wasn’t hired for talent orrrr maybe she was. I will keep you posted.
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:48 pm
@leggs, back in the day I believe “ice milk” was in the stores I think it was the low calorie, easy on your pockets generic ice cream. Am, I right or wrong?
SlimCutty
June 22nd, 2010
4:49 pm
The thing I don’t like about Uptown is how they try to pack you in like sardines…your chair may be at one table but your drinks and shyt will have to rest on your neighbors table cuz it’s just too dayum tight in that sumovabytch!!!
Leggs
June 22nd, 2010
4:49 pm
I’m with you SlimCutty!
@Prof ~ driving and eating an ice cream cone is a sticky mess. You trying to get any spots on your suit will have you looking down too often. Remember when we use to walk to the ice cream store…wait, wait, where am I???? Sorry, wrong crowd!!!
Dig That
June 22nd, 2010
4:51 pm
Yep. Packed up in there and they got to be funny to help you forget you wanna smack the person that is invading ya personal space.
Leggs
June 22nd, 2010
4:52 pm
@Prof ~ I was so skinny back in the day I didn’t look at anything generic or low in fat!!!!
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:52 pm
Leggs I want that ice cream so bad that I am not going to worry about this suit. I might put most of the ice cream in a cup to eat with a spoon for later, but the cone is my fav part. Please answer my question on the ice milk thingy.
DreamsMaterialize
June 22nd, 2010
4:54 pm
Although, I’ll admit that I thought most people that are color struck were older (50+)
mqew me too. It’s not the thinking I’d expect from a 29 year-old.
I think this black and light skinned stuff is mostly in america among black pple..i dont hear it in africa among black over there
Melo Is not the concept of “coloured” in South Africa analagous?
@melo you are probably right. We started that mess in the cotton fields and never let go.
Professor “we” didn’t start it, but “we” need to address it and get over it. It’s just Willie Lynch at his best. Now come have an ice cream with me.
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:56 pm
@Leggs according to wikipedia I am right on the ice milk…I remember hearing the word before. Man I had to be little bitty girl when ice milk was out.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_milk
Leggs
June 22nd, 2010
4:56 pm
@Prof ~ I answered it just above our post. I never paid any attention.
SlimCutty
June 22nd, 2010
4:58 pm
Dreams – now that you mentioned it, I think having an ice cream date is sort of nice. Something about licking a new cool tasting flavor together brings out the kid in you as well as help you to relax.
I like the brown sugar cones over the vanilla traditional cone…does that mean i’m prejudice?
It's me....lurker
June 22nd, 2010
4:59 pm
Although, I’ll admit that I thought most people that are color struck were older (50+)
mqew me too. It’s not the thinking I’d expect from a 29 year-old.
It’s not the young generation, it’s those folks that thought light skin and long hair was the key to happiness. Heck it’s the thing now if you can snag a dude black as tar..esp for the white girls and those “light skindid chicks”
Melo
June 22nd, 2010
4:59 pm
Is not the concept of “coloured” in South Africa analagous
@Dreamz??
colored means a cross tween white and black…
when white and black sex and have offspring..the offspring was called colored..
By product of apatheid/segregation.
colored enjoyed 2nd tier priviledges..blacks third.
u know who on first base??
professor
June 22nd, 2010
4:59 pm
@DreamsM you already know I am more than familiar with Willie Lynch, however even when we gain a little bit of “freedom” and worked as sharecroppers in those fields we kept that mess going. Would you not agree? Even today we have so-called classy and educated folk still talking that jive mess looking and sounding like fools. In this year of the census they don’t have a light-skinned/dark-skinned column to validate this mess.
Now, lets eat this ice cream before it mess up my clothes
Lady J-Baby put the work in like a champion......
June 22nd, 2010
5:02 pm
professor cold stone creamery (Vinnings) it is a great place to have a great date!
good night folks!
professor
June 22nd, 2010
5:03 pm
melo thanks for that fo’ fif-ty nine (4:59) said in my swats voice.
DreamsMaterialize
June 22nd, 2010
5:04 pm
Dreams – now that you mentioned it, I think having an ice cream date is sort of nice.
Slimmy Ice cream dates are still cool in my book.
professor
June 22nd, 2010
5:05 pm
@Lady J thanks chick! Now let me see if DreamsM will meet me over there…LOL
Ok, I am out like a pinto sitting on rally’s!
DreamsMaterialize
June 22nd, 2010
5:09 pm
u know who on first base??
Melo I have a few good friends from South Africa. We’ve had many discussions about these sorts of things.
Even today we have so-called classy and educated folk still talking that jive mess looking and sounding like fools.
Prof that was my whole point for telling the story and initiating the discussion. I can’t believe that people are still perpetuating that nonsense. Now, based on our discussion, vanilla ice cream is out right? lol
Leggs
June 22nd, 2010
5:10 pm
“When a friend is in trouble, don’t annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do. Think up something appropriate and do it.” ~ Edgar Watson Howe.
Leggs
June 22nd, 2010
5:12 pm
Good night, I’m spent!!!!
anonymousella
June 22nd, 2010
6:19 pm
returning way late to the conversation. i like how some folks just can’t allow for hyperbole. that said …
@stirrin-itup do i really need to say that no, i wouldn’t *actually* throat punch someone for being a conservative? (they’d probably shoot back, just sayin’.) but i might engage in some loud arguing with lots of incredulity expressed on my face.
(fwiw, i’m “way left” but not, IMO “intolerant.” i actually grok conservative ideology pretty well and understand its appeal. i just really, really have issues with the ways in which conservative policy affects people — particularly ones like myself — when practiced.)
@dreamsmaterialize would i be wrong to say yeah? … lol. honestly, i’m marrying someone who has my back and brings me joy. that he is not broke is certainly a point in his favor. we couldn’t have this relationship if either of us weren’t pulling down dough. but the things that bind us are non-monetary (similarities around interests, politics, religion, education, family background, etc).