From the desk of Ella

I have struggled with topics for a few days now and found it tough to just sit and focus on one. I am the type of person who reads many articles, stories, and books and just to find one topic is hard. I was having a conversation with a friend the other day and we were discussing black female role models and the lack of women who are there for todays young black girls. Then our conversation shifted to what working black women have to go through on a daily basis. I was laughing becuse it is so true. We have one persona when we are in the office, one persona when we are with our friend, and a truly different one with our children. We have to shift who we are based on the environment that we are in. Does it change who I am that you cannot distinguish my race based on my telphone voice? No, it just means that I can adapt. Does it change who I am that I am stern with my children when I need to be? No, just means that my children will grow up with the example that I have set and will be able ...

Last month there were some news stories that were rather disturbing. Rape is never an easy subject, but to hear claims of rape that were later retracted in an attempt to maintain a relationship were upsetting. Ladies, please know your value. Realize that God closed the door to that relationship for a reason. Why put yourself through the trouble of being arrested on a misdemeanor charge that you may have to explain when you are applying for a job? Is the man really worth that much trouble because he doesn't want to be with you anymore? I don't believe so. Let it go and say thank you God for removing that distraction to your plan for my life. I can attest to this because there were times when I questioned why a relationship ended. Now, I just say that wasn't the one for me. I have learned that some men don't mean what they are saying and they are only saying it because they want to make you happy.