Wednesday Round-Up:Selena Gomez, Really?, “The Burden of Being Black,” & Babygirl’s Birthday!

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

Today is a special day in the Kinky Gazpacho household. It’s babygirl’s birthday! I can’t believe she’s two already! I can still remember the day I found out I was pregnant with her, yet interestingly, I hardly remember the whirlwind that was the first 24 months of her life. Luckily, I write things down, so I can always go back an re-read what really happened. Here’s a re-cap of her birth story, if anyone else wants to trip down memory lane with me.

And even though I’m in a celebratory mood, what with planning a big family birthday bash for all three of my kids – who were all born in June & July – I am still reeling from the Zimmerman verdict and all of the subsequent race conversations happening in cyberspace and offline as well. I was really impressed with this essay on Racialicious about the ‘burden of being Black.’ I really identified with the author, and not just because she spent time in Spain. Check it out. What do you think?

And finally, are your kids into Selena Gomez? Her new song Come and Get It seems to be on the radio 24/7 these days. Personally, I’ve never really paid much attention to the songstress because I didn’t find her all that talented or interesting. But one of my college students, who happens to be of Indian descent, clued me in to the fact that many Hindus are annoyed that Gomez has been wearing a Bindi when she performs this song at various live events. She’s been asked not once, but twice to stop wearing the Bindi as decoration as it is disrespectful to the Hindu religion, but she apparently could care less. I find this extremely troublesome. As if there isn’t some other way Gomez could decorate her body that didn’t involve appropriating another culture’s religious symbolism. Really, Selena? Really? Is fame so important to you that you will denigrate a religion to sell records? Really?

Peace!