Author: Zakiya N. Jamal

Zakiya N. Jamal was born in Queens, raised in Long Island, and currently resides in Brooklyn. In other words, she’s a New Yorker through and through. She holds a BA in English from Georgetown University and a MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School. She has been published in Romper, BuzzFeed, People.com, Thought Catalog, and more. Her non-fiction essay about her "Cuban Impostor Syndrome" can be found in the Latinx anthology, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed. You can find her on Twitter at @ZakiyaNJamal.

Maria V. Snyder: From Meteorologist to Novelist

Posted on February 22, 2014May 21, 2015 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Author Spotlights

Source: www.mariavsnyder.com — Source: http://www.mariavsnyder.com

If you told Maria V. Snyder 20 years ago, that she would be a New York Times best-selling author, she probably wouldn’t have believed you. Snyder’s dream was never to become an author but instead to be a storm chaser. It wasn’t until she got her degree in meteorology and became an environmental meteorologist that she began writing. It was then that she realized she loved writing more than studying meteorology and went back to school to get her Masters of Arts degree in fiction writing from Seton Hill University, where she now teaches.

I recently had the opportunity to get to know Snyder, learning more about the start of her career, love for writing, hobbies, and what she’s got planned next.

Zakiya N. Jamal (ZJ): How did you first get interested in writing?

Maria V. Snyder (MS): Boredom! I was working as an environmental meteorologist for a consulting firm and I was either crazy busy or bored. During the slow times, I jotted down story ideas and possible plots.

ZJ: When did you write your first novel?

MS: I started my first novel in 1996. I wrote about a chapter a month and submitted the pages to my critique group for feedback then made revisions. It was a slow process, but I finished the novel in 2001.

ZJ: What was the transition from being a meteorologist to novelist like?

MS: It was a slow transition. When my son was born, I went from working full time to part time, then, when my daughter was born two years later, I quit working as a meteorologist. Writing at that time was more a hobby – something to do that was creative and fun. When I finished Poison Study [my first novel], I thought the book was pretty good so I submitted it to agents and publishers. After 57 rejections, I received an acceptance! [In total] the transition spanned eight years and instead of going back to work, I kept writing.

ZJ: Where do you get the concepts for your novels?

MS: Everywhere! I get story ideas from books, magazine articles, TV shows, movies, the theater, from something my kids say, from my travels, or from the people I meet. Life is [a] fodder for my stories.

ZJ: Almost all of your series are trilogies except the Outside In/Inside Out pair. Is there a reason why you write your series in the form of trilogies? Can readers expect a third Outside In novel?

MS: I don’t really consider my books trilogies. What happens is, after I write three books about the same characters, I’ve had enough. I want to move on to new characters and new worlds with a whole new set of problems. In my opinion, trilogies are just one huge story broken into three parts. As for another Insider book, there are no plans for a third book at this time.

ZJ: Are you working on any new projects currently?

MS: I’m working on a new set of Study books with Yelena and Valek. There has been enough time from the original three books for me to be excited about the characters again and I [came up with] a new idea. The first of them is tentatively scheduled for January 2015 release.

ZJ: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

MS: Lots! I have a number of writing advice articles on my website that they can read but my biggest piece of advice is always persistence! I’d been writing for 10 years and submitting for eight before I sold anything. [You should] learn the craft of writing as well as the business of writing and attend writer’s conferences and classes if you can; consider that time an apprenticeship. Get feedback on your stories from fellow writers before submitting. Joining a critique group is very helpful. I also find that if I let a story sit on my desk for a few weeks I can pick out all the problems, typos, and inconsistencies easier. I agree whole heartily with Stephen King’s advice: ‘If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.’ And don’t give up!

ZJ: The worlds of the Study and Glass series and the Healers series seem to be similar. Is there a connection between the two worlds at all or is that just a coincidence?

MS: There isn’t a connection; they are two separate worlds. However, I will admit there are many similarities between them. In both worlds there is magic and a lack of technology – no electricity or modern machines. I just think it’s more fun and challenging to have characters [that] ride horses, fight with swords, and don’t have instant communication. Many fantasies are set in medieval times, but with my worlds I didn’t want to be restricted to what words I could or couldn’t use and those times were not the best for women and my ladies are strong, smart, and independent.

ZJ: What is your writing process like? Do you start writing as soon as you come up with an idea or do you do a lot of research first?

MS: I don’t do that much research before writing. I’m a “seat-of-the-pants” writer; I discover the story’s events as I write so I never know what I’m going to need as far as research is concerned. As I’m writing, I’ll encounter things I need to research so I’ll make a list as I go and just put a comment in my story and move on. However, that doesn’t work for things that propel the story and are integral to the plot. For example, in my Glass books, the main character, Opal, is a glass artist and I needed to take a number of glass blowing classes while working on those stories.

ZJ: What do you do when you’re not writing?

MS: I enjoy playing volleyball and I love to ski. I also dabble with photography and make jewelry plus I read and love to travel.

ZJ: Who are some of your favorite authors?

MS: This is always a hard question to answer and I’m glad you [only] asked for ‘some’. Some are Rachel Caine, Illona Andrews, Mindy Klasky, Jeri Smith-Ready, Kate Elliott, Gail Carriger, Harlan Coben, Sebastian Junger, and Dick Francis.

ZJ: If you didn’t choose to be an author what do you think you would be doing?

MS: Before I started writing seriously, I always thought it would be fun to work in a bookstore or be a librarian. Now if I had to change careers, I would become a criminal psychologist – I find the criminal mind fascinating!

ZJ: What has been your greatest accomplishment/experience as an author?

MS: This one is easy to answer. A teen girl who was contemplating suicide was inspired by the actions and courage of Yelena (my protagonist from the Study books) that she decided to keep living. That is without a doubt my greatest accomplishment as a writer – better than any award or being on a bestseller list.

Snyder would like to thank her fans for their loyalty and support and for inspiring her to be a better writer. She hopes that you continue to support her as she continues with her writing. If you’re interesting in learning more about Snyder’s works you can read the first chapter of all her books on her website and read a few of her short stories there, as well.

Switched at Birth 3X06 Recap

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in TV

(Warning: This post will contain spoilers. Read at your own risk)

This week on Switched at Birth Bank shippers got what they’ve been all waiting for: the kiss! Yes Bay finally recognized that she does in fact have feelings for Tank and we all know Tank had feelings for her, that was a given from the get go.

However, what was a surprise is Tank’s fraternity’s “dog fight”. Bay learns about the party from Mary Beth who was invited to attend by one of the guys in Tank’s frat, which leads Bay (in classic Bay fashion) to ask why she wasn’t invited.

The truth then comes out that the fraternity (Omega Psi) has planned this “dog fight” in which each guy is supposed to bring an ugly girl. This is of course ridiculous because Mary Beth is gorgeous, which Bay points out. This leads to a fight between Bay and Tank because although Tank disagrees with the frat’s idea he still wants to be a part of it. Bay then storms out, not knowing if she can date a guy in a frat like that.

Although Tank tells her not to, Bay of course tells Mary Beth which she has every right to do (sisters before misters always). Later, Tank goes back to the Kennish house and apologizes to Bay and tells her that he anonymously told the Inter-Fraternity Council about the “dog fight”. Though Bay is hesitant she decides to give Tank a chance.

Even though I am still a die hard Bemmett fan I have to say I’m glad this Bank ship finally set sail. I think Tank is a really sweet guy and as Bay said herself, that’s what she needs right now.

Meanwhile, Daphne is dealing with her love-triangle. Though she is technically dating Jorge she clearly still has feelings for Campbell and everyone knows it, including Jorge. This becomes especially evident when Daphne decides to throw Campbell a surprise 21st birthday party and invites all his snow boarding buddies; even Campbell’s (hateful) ex-girlfriend comes.

Daphne’s feelings for Campbell become explicitly clear when Campbell wants to go snowboarding with his body that could lead him to have a irrevocable brain injury if he gets hurt. Campbell and Daphne have a fight (in front of Jorge) in which Daphne says, “I care about you!”. Campbell initially chooses to go but then quickly comes back realizing it’s probably not the best idea. Daphne is ecstatic which finally leads Jorge to ask if she has feelings for Campbell. Thankfully, Daphne is honest and says she has feelings for both of them and she needs to make a choice. Which led Jorge to leave, telling her to let him know when she came to a decision. Basically:

Daphne better figure it out soon before she loses both guys. I, for one, am on team Jorge but that’s just my personal opinion.

In parent world, this one was all about the Kennishs as both parents were keeping secrets. Kathryn was hiding the truth about what her novel was really about and John was neglecting to mention that Janice, Toby’s mother-in-law, kissed him. Talk about awkward.

Of course as it goes with all secrets, both of these secrets are revealed, leading to John being kicked out of the house and staying with Toby who’s not happy about it at all. Though we all know it was Janice that initiated the kiss I think we can all agree that John has been acting like a dick (more than usual) lately and hopefully this time away will teach him a lesson like his heart attack did with Regina. Only time will tell.

Next week’s episode looks like it’s going to be major. Bay might lose her ability to do art (at least with her right hand – possible story line?) which would be a huge bummer considering she wants to go Pratt and art is her life. Also the drama between the Kennish parents will continue and Regina might have to figure out what’s more important: her morals or her job. Also, Daphne seems to be in a pickle that could lead to someone’s death? Watch the preview below and comment your thoughts. (Side note: Why do these previews always have to be so overly dramatic? Or is it just me?)

How I Learned to Love My Hair

Posted on February 17, 2014June 12, 2018 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

When people ask me why I decided to go natural I always give a simple answer: “It’s better for my hair” or “I wanted to try something different.”

Although both of these things are true the truth comes from a much deeper place: my insecurities. When I think back to the reason I wanted to get my hair relaxed in the first place it wasn’t because I thought it would look cute or I wanted to try something new. It was because I wanted straight “white girl” hair. I wanted hair that wouldn’t break combs. I wanted hair that people wouldn’t make fun of me for.

I was tired of trying to think of creative ways to tame my hair; I wanted to fix the “problem.” That was my real issue, that I thought my hair was a problem. That I felt like my hair had to be a certain way. That was wrong.

I also had this idea that my insecurities about my hair would go away if I got a perm. I thought if I could just make my hair like everyone else’s I wouldn’t feel ashamed of it anymore. That wasn’t the case. The truth was my hair will never be like “white girl” hair no matter what I do to it.

I couldn’t just go to sleep with my hair anyway and have it look nice when I woke up. I had to wrap it and put a scarf on it before I went to sleep, which of course led to questions like, “Why do you do that with your hair?” or “What is that on your head?” The worst would be when people would take pictures thinking it was a funny style that needed to be shared.

Or when I washed my hair it wasn’t as straight as it was before I washed it. Then there’d be the questions like, “So what does your hair really look like?” or “Do you have to straighten it everyday?” There’d also be the people that thought it would be funny to take pictures of that “style” as well.

Though I think questions about my hair and what makes it different could be fine, I don’t believe my hair should be an exhibit for people. It’s not something you need to take pictures of because you think it’s funny or amusing. However, what I’ve also learned on my hair journey is that there will always be people who don’t understand “black hair.” They won’t understand that we all have different textured hair (even within the black community) and it can sometimes be hard to manage but what I’ve also learned is if someone has a problem with my hair that’s their problem.

What I’ve learned is yes my hair is different and sometimes it can get on my last nerve, especially when I’m trying new styles and it doesn’t come out the way I wanted it to. But it’s my hair. It’s what God has blessed me with and more importantly I love it. I love that I’m learning more about what I can do with it. That I don’t have to just wear the same style all the time because it’s “easy.” I’m finally going to learn how to french braid and cornrow my own hair. I’m trying all these new products that I’ve never heard of before. I’m doing something different not just because I think it’s healthier for my hair but because I’m curious about what I could do.

Most importantly, I’m learning now that there’s this whole community of people who understand the struggle and that I can ask for help and ask questions. I don’t have to be ashamed about not knowing how to do twists or a fancy braid style because there’s a YouTube video about it. There are people who know what it’s like to go through the deep conditioning process and actually know how to use a diffuser to your advantage.

I’ve also learned that although I’m choosing to go natural there’s nothing wrong with having relaxed hair if that’s what I want. There’s nothing wrong with having a weave or locks or twists or braids because the truth is everyone’s hair is their own. You can do what you want with. It’s your choice and no one and nothing should make you feel insecure or ashamed about it. Just make sure you’re doing what’s best for you and your hair.

I’d also like to thank my mom and my friends who have gone natural and have been so bold and inspiring with their hair journey. I don’t think I would have the courage to do what I’m doing now without seeing people go through their own journey before me. So thank you. I hope my journey can be just as inspiring to someone else.

10 YouTube Videos I’ve Forgotten About

Posted on February 15, 2014February 17, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

I don’t remember the specific moment when YouTube became so popular but I do remember being in high school and our friends would come running in telling us about this hilarious video they just found or they’d post it on our Facebook wall.

Well today I went back into the archives of my Facebook and saw all these videos that I’ve completely forgotten about that were hilarious to me back in the day. An eclectic mix of the strange, funny, and awkward these videos still make me laugh today.

1. Charlie the Unicorn

About three years ago, FilmCow was killing the YouTube game. Almost all of these gems were made by FilmCow. I wish they would come back but my guess is they’ve moved on to bigger things by now.

I’m not 100% certain but I believe this may have been their first video and it definitely had me and my friends rolling for days. Although it’s sequels didn’t have as much appeal as the first this one will always make me laugh.

2. Charlie teh Unicorn

Rather than a sequel this was more like a remixed version of the original. I actually find this one to be funnier than the original but I’ll let you decide.

3. Shoes

I honestly don’t even know what possessed this person to make this video. I’m assuming their obsession with shoes. I for one love this video because I also love shoes. This one’s a keeper.

4. Buy You a Drank (Acoustic Version)

Honestly, this video wouldn’t have been funny at all without the addition of, “Pepsi!” For some reason that just killed it for me. I still find myself singing Pepsi when I hear this song sometimes.

5. A Depressed Whale

FilmCow had a knack for making videos that literally made no sense but were still hilarious. This was one of their best. You honestly have no idea where this video is going and truthfully neither do the characters. Awesome.

6. Llamas with Hats

This one will always be a classic to me. My friends and I would quote this in school all the time. “Carl,” became one of our best exclamations. Unlike Charlie the Unicorn, these sequels were still pretty funny. Not as good as the original by any means but still pretty good.

7. Adventure Time

Before the TV show, there was the original Adventure Time that was actually a random cartoon on Nickelodeon. This is another one me and my friends would quote and even get the paraphernalia from Hot Topic after school. This is still my favorite Adventure Time episode to date.

8. Hot Pockets

Jim Gaffigan is a hilarious comedian and this was one of me and my friends favorite routines by him. We would sometimes find ourselves singing the “Hot Pockets” jingle at random times and cracking ourselves up. Great stuff!

9. Can I Have Your Number?

Sadly, MadTV is now no more but they had some good sketches back in the day. This is probably their most well known one. My friends and I still quote this one to this day: “The back of your head is ridiculous!” Classic.

10. Bon Qui Qui

Lastly, this is another MadTV favorite. Bon Qui Qui represents the server at ____________ (insert your favorite fast food chain) that you can’t stand. Best line: “Welcome to King Burger where you can have it your way but don’t get crazy!” Hilarious.

That’s all the one’s that I could think of but if you have any old YouTube videos that you still love, feel free to comment them below.

My Favorite TV Couples of All Time

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in TV

In honor of Valentine’s Day tomorrow I would like to take a look back at all my favorite TV couples. From the Huxtables to the Beasleys, here’s my top 10.

1. The Huxtables (The Cosby Show)

When I think about a couple that got the married with kids thing down I automatically think of the Huxtables. Cliff and Claire were partners and friends, loving and supporting each other in everything they did. I still love watching them parent together on The Cosby Show and can rewatch episodes ’til the end of time.

2. The Scotts (One Tree Hill)

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I have always loved Nathan and Haley’s relationship. Yes, I do believe it is crazy to marry someone in high school but the idea that you could find your soul mate at this age is just awesome and made for a great love story. We got to watch this couple grow together as they both tried and did reach their dreams. We also saw them become great parents to two great kids and watched their love for each other grow and change into something deeper over time. The best.

3. The (Other) Scotts (One Tree Hill)

These two drove me crazy over the years because everyone knew they belonged together except them. It was so frustrating! I loved them together from the first day Lucas helped Peyton when her car broke down. My favorite moment was at their wedding when Haley was the minister and she told the story of how when they were all younger, before Lucas even really knew Peyton, Lucas said he was going to marry “that girl”. And then he did. Yeah, it might not be realistic but it’s still cool to think about. I love it.

4. The Kyles (My Wife and Kids)

I always viewed this family as a modern version of the Huxtables. I loved Jay and Michael’s relationship because as much as Michael was a clown and did stupid stuff he was a great husband and father and she was a great wife and mom, acting just as crazy as him sometimes. I thought their dynamic was hilarious and they handled serious topics (like when Junior got his girlfriend pregnant) very well. I miss them!

5. The Matthews (Boy Meets World)

Who didn’t love Cory and Topanga’s love story? From their middle school days everyone knew they were meant for each other, especially Shawn and Mr. Feeny. I loved watching them grow up together and fall in love. It was classic girl likes boy but boy doesn’t know he likes girl but then he figures it out and . . . sigh. It was amazing! I can’t wait to see them as a married couple with kids on Girl Meets World.

6. The Eriksens (How I Met Your Mother)

Besides wanting to know who the mother was, these two were the main reason why I got into this show. I absolutely love them together. Meeting in college they’ve been through one or two hiccups along the road (the biggest being when Lily left for San Fran) but they’ve made it, working out their problems as a team. As the only married couple in their group it’s always great to see them act as a unit among their friends and being proud of their marriage. Plus, they made a very cute baby. They’re the best.

7. The Bings (Friends)

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People always say you should fall in love with your best friend and these two make it seem like a solid idea. I didn’t get to watch the show and see how this friendship truly developed into a relationship when the show was on air so I knew what was going to happen when I finally did sit down to watch the whole series and even though it’s subtle they always made hints about a relationship between them. For example they both agreed that if they were both single when they were 30 they would get married. What I really love about Monica and Chandler is that neither of them truly expected that their best friend was “the one”. What started as a friends with benefits situation evolved into such much more, that surprised them both.

8. The Shepherds (Grey’s Anatomy)

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These too have a had a hard go of it. First, there’s the fact that Derek was still technically married when he started hooking up with Meredith. Then there was the whole “Choose me, love me” thing. Then the Meredith’s drowning, the bomb, the shooting, and Meredith messed up the Alzheimer’s experiment. Yeah, it’s been a bumpy ride. However, these two have survived it all becoming a strong couple with two kids who love each other despite all the crazy. Definitely one of my faves.

9. The Bishops (Nikita)

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Speaking of having a rough go of things these two have definitely had it rough, but trying to take down an assassin organization can do that to a couple. These two have both faced down death multiple times giving each other heart attacks. Thankfully, they both survived all the way to the end of the series where they finally got married. What I love about these two is that they’re both strong and stubborn individuals who sometimes have very different views on things. However, rather than let these things tear them apart they work together as partners.

10. The Beasleys (The Office)

Ugh, these two. I can’t even. Just thinking about the finale makes me tear up. First, the fact that Jim waited so long for Pam is amazing. That’s just pure dedication and when he talked about that in his wedding vows? Amazing. Then they had two kids and had their house and then we got scared it was all going to end in the last season but of course they worked it all out. I just love these two so much. Adorable!

If I missed any of your favorite TV couples, feel free to comment them below!

Book Review: The Guard

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Books

This is going to be a short one because this isn’t a full book, it’s a novella. Either way there may be spoilers so beware!

First, if you haven’t read the first two books in The Selection trilogy this novella is going to make no sense to you. Therefore you should stop reading this right now and go read those books and The Prince novella while you’re at it.

If you’re all caught up you know that this trilogy is (sadly) coming to an end and one of the greatest appeals for getting this novella was the sneak peak of the last book in the trilogy, The One.

Before you get to the sneak peak though you have to actually read the story (well you don’t have to but why wouldn’t you?). This short story documented parts of the second book in the trilogy, The Elite, but from Aspen’s point of view. Let me just say from now, I’m team Maxon. That being said I wasn’t too excited to read this, I really just bought it for the sneak peak.

Even so, I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Kiera Cass so far so I figured it would only be fair to give Aspen a chance, and I was glad I did. I loved this short story and it made me like Aspen a little bit more. I’m still team Maxon but now I feel like I wouldn’t be completely angry if she ends up with Aspen. I won’t be happy but I’d accept it.

Anyway, with this novella we get more insight into why Aspen let America sign up for the selection in the first place and that he really does love her which is good. Also, it was interesting to see so much behind the scenes things with the guards that we don’t see with America. For example, we get a peak into the sketchy going ons of the King. Though we still don’t get all the answers about the clear corruption that is happening in the kingdom it does make you hate the King even more.

Also, the Aspen/America love scenes did make my heart swell and I forgot how much I first liked them together. It was also interesting seeing America through Aspen’s eyes. I wish it had gone further so we could see how he felt when he saw America (SPOILERS) show the secret book to the whole kingdom but sadly it ended before that.

Even so, I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I did not enjoy it as much as the special sneak peek at the end. I’m not going to say anything because I don’t want to ruin it for anyone and truly nothing major happens but still it’s pretty good. It’s also strange because Kriss and America’s friendship/competition is clear from the beginning of the novel so you know that’s going to be a major part of the book which will be interesting. Also, we can see early on that although America is willing to fight for Maxon’s heart there’s still a (big) part of her that wants Aspen.

Oh, these love triangles. This is why both of these books made my list for books I can’t wait to read this year.

If you haven’t purchased The Guard yet definitely get it soon unless you’re concerned you’ll just become way more anxious for the release of The One, as I am now. If that’s the case then maybe you should wait.

You can purchase The Guard online as an e-book or you can get both The Prince and The Guard novellas as a paper back book. The One comes out on May 6. Pre-order it now!

Stars: 4 out of 5.

Borrow or Buy: Borrow. If you can get this from the library I say borrow it. I enjoyed it and I don’t regret buying it just because I know it would’ve been a long wait from the library and it was cheap. However, I could live without owning it. It was good but it was OMG-amazing.

The Black and White PLL Episode Was Pointless

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in TV

Although I’m sure we could all agree last night’s black and white episode of Pretty Little Liars was entertaining, it didn’t get us that far in the storyline. Though I understand the writers are going to try to stretch this storyline for as long as possible to keep the show going, this episode was truly a waste of time.

First, the whole premise of the black and white episode was that Spencer was having a dream where in the end all she learns is that she need to “look at the pages” of Ali’s journal rather than the book at the whole. It is then, when she wakes up, that she see’s that “A” changed some words in the journal. So in that whole hour long episode all we learned was there are changes in the journal that means the journal can lead them to Ali. But didn’t we kind of know that before?

Also, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer finally figure out that Aria is back with Ezra and it becomes clear they really need to tell her the truth. Basically, it was revealed to them what we already knew. Great job ladies!

Also, there was a lot of progress made in the episode yet none of it matters because none of it was real. Let’s go down the list of what could have been resolved but wasn’t:

Toby calls out Spencer on her drug problem. She hopefully gets help for said problem.
The girls find Ali and finally get to call her out on her BS.
Aria learns the truth about Ezra (and so does Toby).
Emily asks Paige about her relationship with Shana (though this doesn’t lead to anything at least the question is out there).
It is pretty much confirmed that Ezra and Mona are in fact working together and can’t be trusted.

Therefore, we basically saw a preview of what’s going to happen in the rest of this season.

Truthfully, I love PLL. I think it’s a good show filled with drama and romance and some mystery. However, the mystery part of it is getting a little ridiculous and it seems to me that last nights episode was only a ploy to stretch out this “Ezra is ‘A'” storyline until they figure out what to do next since they were renewed for a fifth season last year.

Honestly, I am ready for this mystery to end. How many different “A”‘s are we going to go through. What else can happen? I know they want the show to last as long as possible but this is starting to get a little ridiculous. I’m not sure how long I’ll keep watching.

How did you feel about the black and white episode last night? Vote below and click here for the promo for next week.

THERE’S STILL TIME!

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Listen up, folks! There is still time to get that free week of Uber for Georegetown. We can do this Hoyas, I believe in all of you. We still have until 11:59 PM EST to get this done. Although we have a long way to go I believe in us!

If you don’t remember from last time this is what you’ve gotta do:

Download the free Uber app on your smartphone.
Sign up using our unique promo code (DCUberXtraCredit3)
Receive $20 off your first Uber ride.
Tell all your friends to do the same.
Win a FREE week of uberX for everyone on campus!

It’s that easy you guys! Seriously we can do this. And you don’t have to be a Georgetown student to get this deal. Anyone can use the code so tell you brothers, sisters, parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, your third cousin twice removed, etc. Tell everyone!

Even if you already have Uber spread the word anyway. I mean really, who doesn’t want a week of FREE uberX? I know I want it. So let’s band together and get it done.

Ready,

10 Black Women Killing the Game

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

Black women are truly a group of amazing people to behold. From Beyonce to Kerry Washington to Oprah Winfrey these women are doing amazing things and looking good while doing it. This Black HERstory Month let’s praise all the black women who are doing great things today.

1. Oprah Winfrey

Known as the “Queen of Media” Oprah Winfrey has greatly changed the face of media. Starting with her own talk show on ABC she now owns her own network (called OWN of course). She is currently the only black billionaire in North America. Talk about doing big things.

2. Beyoncé

Besides having the ability to release an album in the dead of night without any promotions and still making it to #1 on the Billboard Music Charts and iTunes, Beyonce is one of the greatest female powerhouses of all time. Earning herself a total of 17 Grammys both on her own and with Destiny’s Child, she is the third most honored female vocal artist. Outside of her musical accomplishments Beyonce has turned herself into a very successful brand with deals with Pepsi and H&M, her clothing line with her mom, and the start of her own fragrance line. Get it girl!

3. Kerry Washington

Many people forget that Kerry Washington starred in Save the Last Dance but she was there. Washington has been acting for a longtime now but it wasn’t until recently that she’s been recognized as the phenomenal actress she is. As Olivia Pope on the ABC show, Scandal, she has become very well known worldwide. Washington is not only a great actress but also a philanthropist supporting Woman’s Cancer Programs and V-Day, a global group that promotes awareness of violence against woman and girls. Amazing!

4. Gabby Douglas

Leaving the 2012 London Olympics with two gold medals (one for team and one for the all-around in gymnastics) Gabby Douglas practically became famous overnight. Douglas is also the first African-American to win the all-around gold in gymnastics at the Olympics. Lifetime recently released a biopic about the young Olympian where we get an inside look on who Douglas really is the struggles she and her family faced to get to where she is. Now preparing for her next Olympics Douglas is in full training mode. Good luck in 2016!

5. Allyson Felix

Speaking of the Olympics, Allyson Felix was also a star at the last one. Leaving with one gold and two silver medals she dominated the track. She is also a four-time recipient of the Jesse Owens Award from USA Track and Field that signifies the athlete of the year. She is the only woman to win the award four times. She is also training for the 2016 Olympics. Go girl!

6. Sasheer Zamata

Saturday Night Live is probably the most well known variety show on TV right now and yet for six long years they lacked any representation of a black woman on their show. Hence, they held a a national showcase to look for a new black actress to come onto their show and they found one: Sasheer Zamata. She is the first black actress on the show since Maya Rudolph left in 2007. Zamata has been included in many sketches on the show since introduction onto the show including being a part of their Black History Month skit which was phenomenal. I can’t wait to see where Zamata goes from here on the show and here’s to hoping SNL adds more color to their show in the future.

7. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Most well known now for her poetry on feminism in Beyonce’s song, “Flawless”, this Nigerian writer is in all senses of the word “flawless”. Receiving over 10 awards for her writing she also does multiple talks (including TED talks and talks with the Commonwealth League) worldwide. Her latest book, Americanah, was selected by the New York Times as one of The 10 Best Books of 2013. In summary, she’s a writing phenomenon that we’ll certainly be hearing more from.

8. Quvenzhané Wallis

At the age of nine, Quvenzhané Wallis became the youngest nominee for Best Actress in a Leading Role in Academy Awards history for her role in Beasts of the Southern Wild. Though she didn’t win the Oscar Wallis won 13 awards for her role in the film. Wallis will be playing Annie in the upcoming remake of the film/musical. She’s so young and doing such amazing things that I feel a little ashamed. Dang!

9. Nicole Beharie

Black women are getting more screen time on TVs these days and it’s fantastic. Nicole Beharie stars on the new FOX, sci-fi drama, Sleepy Hollow. Beharie plays a Lieutenant who is the sheriff-detective in her small town and she is the Second Witness of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I’m not entirely sure what that means but I think she plays a BAMF. Awesome!

10. Lupita Nyong’o

Most well known for her role in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong’o is a Kenyan-Mexican actress and film director. So far she has won 29 awards for her role in the film and has been nominated for an Oscar. In a world where sometimes dark skin is seen as a negative, it’s wonderful to see a beautiful black woman proving everyone wrong. Keep doing you girl!

As we all continue to celebrate Black History Month let’s not only look at all the amazing people from our past but also celebrate all the amazing people who are doing great things today.

10 Nail Designs to Celebrate the Olympics

Posted on February 8, 2014February 8, 2014 by Zakiya N. Jamal in Blog

The Winter 2014 Olympics in Sochi is now in full swing. To celebrate the occasion here are my top 10 favorite nail designs to show your Team USA spirit (or just love for the Olympics in general). Some of these are from the summer Olympics but they’re still relevant. To get the links to these awesome nail blogs just click the photo. Enjoy!

1. Look at Her Nails

2. Sensationail Gel Nail Art

3. Blanket Print Nails

4. Klo’s to Me

5. Diva Polish

6. Olympic Nail Art

7. Fancy Phalanges

8. We Heart It

9. Nail Art: Entertainment

10. Meghan’s Nails

All these nail designs are amazing. Check ’em out and show me your own nail designs for this Olympics in the comments. Go Team USA! And the Jamaican bobsledding team!