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Editor's Note: Tiya Miles is chairwoman of the Department of Afro-American and African Studies and professor of history and Native American studies at the University of Michigan. She is the author of "Ties That Bind: The Story of an Afro-Cherokee Family in Slavery and Freedom" and "The House on Diamond Hill: A Cherokee Plantation Story." She is also the winner of a 2011 genius grant from the MacArthur Foundation.
By Tiya Miles, Special to CNN
When Gabby Douglas stood on the Olympic podium Thursday, a bright smile on her face and gold medal around her neck, she made history as the first African-American woman to win top honors in the all-around gymnastics competition.
Many African-Americans watching Douglas shared a flush of pride at the accomplishment, noting her joy, her poise, her grace and, apparently, her hairstyle.
I heard about this latter preoccupation from my sister, who swept into town for a weekend visit and opened with, "Have you heard that mess about Gabby's hair? Type in 'Gabby Douglas hair' on Google; you'll see." I was dismayed to find a string of posts by African-American women and men debating Douglas' hairstyle and the perceived imperfection that while her hair was straightened, parts of it had turned visibly kinky during her performance.
The fascination with natural African-American hair
Twitter and Facebook commenters and callers on black talk radio shows questioned whether her hair was too straight or too kinky, whether it was over-gelled or under-tamed, and what she should have done with that floppy bun. My sister, who thought this barrage of criticism was a "mess," threw in the final comment: "All right, I admit if I was her mother, I would have put a headband on the girl, but really, who cares?"
A significant number of people, if the list my Google search returned is any indication. Why were some African-Americans fixated on hair at a moment that should have been set aside to savor a grand achievement?
For African-Americans and black women in particular, hair has long been troubled terrain. The natural kinkiness or curliness of most black people's hair places it outside the bounds of mainstream American beauty standards, which emphasizes straightness, length and the bounce and flow of tresses in motion.
Reporter's Notebook: Viola Davis keeps it 'real'
Historically, the difference of black hair texture has symbolized the inferiority of black people in the minds of some whites and even some blacks.
Naturally kinky hair was viewed as dirty, unkempt and unattractive into the mid-20th century.
In the 1960s and later, as blacks began to reclaim natural styles, Afros, braids and dreadlocks were associated with political radicalism in dominant American culture to the extent that some black women were threatened with the loss of their jobs for wearing braids to the workplace.
Over the years, black women (and men) have turned to numerous products and processes in an attempt to tame their locks into looks more fitting for American society – from twists and ties to pomades and gels to straightening combs and chemical relaxers.
It is no wonder that the first African-American female millionaire, Madame C. J. Walker, earned her riches from selling hair lotions and perfecting the use of the straightening comb.
For African-Americans, smooth, straight hair has been a symbol not only of beauty but of acceptance in broader American culture. And while black women wear their hair in myriad creative ways, one underlying orientation from this cultural history of hair oppression remains: the view that a black woman's hairstyle is important and even symbolic, so she had better get it right. This is in part why Angela Davis' Afro became iconic, why Beyoncé's blond tresses are a signature of her look and why Nicki Minaj made a splash with a twirling carrousel of cotton-candy colored wigs.
Praise pours in for Viola Davis' natural 'do
African-American women feel that we have to "represent" through physical appearance. We know that when we step outside our doors, people do not only see and judge us as individuals, they see and judge our entire community and racial group.
For our own self-esteem and for the dignity of our group, we strive to appear our best. And to do so, we have often tried to replicate the aesthetic values of mainstream American society — including straight hair.
These acts of replication have been internalized such that we often do not distinguish between mainstream standards of beauty and what might have traditionally been our own way of looking at and loving ourselves.
The public reaction to Douglas' appearance shows that this preoccupation with hair in the black community has gone too far.
In the black culture, a richness of hairstory
After her stunning win, tweeters who publicly demanded "why hasn't anyone tried to fix Gabby Douglas' hair?" and charged "gabby douglas gotta do something with this hair!" distracted the nation's attention from what really mattered in the moment.
Defenses of Douglas posted by black women emphasized salient points: that she was an athlete who necessarily worked up a sweat, that sweat naturally affected one's hair and that she had just accomplished something none of the "haters" could even dream of. A Facebook page called "I Support Gabby Douglas and HER HAIR" has collected 220 likes.
But overall, the chatter about Douglas' hair has been insensitive and unproductive. Instead of criticizing this teenage girl for her appearance, black women and men could have been using those 140 Twitter characters to celebrate the skill of an Olympic champion.
The wise black feminist author Alice Walker spoke and wrote about the constraints of hair and beauty ideals in black culture in an essay titled "Oppressed hair puts a ceiling on the brain."
When we engage in petty talk of perms and gels in the wake of a great triumph, we diminish ourselves and limit the potential of our young women and girls by sending the message that how they look overshadows what they think, imagine and accomplish.
Instead, we should be telling our girls that beauty is as beauty does. So what if 16-year-old Gabby Douglas doesn't meet an unrealistic black hair-care standard?
She can swing and flip on parallel bars as the best all-around woman gymnast in the world; she can leap through the air like a shooting star.
We should all aspire to lift our heads so high.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Tiya Miles.
I am tired of hearing all the criticism regarding "African American" women talking about Gabby's hair...somebody read some stupid website in which a few black women commented about her hair and have judged all black women to be fickle and vain! Just stop with the criticism! Most black women did not think there was anything wrong with this girl's hair...the media told you that the people complaining were black women and people have just ran with it....I am black and beautiful and I think Gabby is too...the majority of black women are not criticizing this kid's hair and honestly I think she knows that!
Gabriel is 16 and performing under the worse personal conditions possible and all people can do is nit pick her hair... People please get a life.... Let's see if you can win Olympian Gold and look any better... Let see if you can make it through the day and look any better. What no takers I thought not...
Congrats to Gabby Douglas! Outstanding example of what hard work and dedication will get you. Forget all these D.A. people with the crab in a barrel mentality. Only those people would focus on something as petty as ones hairstyle.
I am enraged that Insensitive People, are judging this Lovely,Gifted,Hard working young lady for whatever. That Gabby is Gracious,Thoughtful and Intelligent should mean way more, than these insults, coming from small minded people.
There we go again. Insensitive and fake media. Appearance is everything, success is nothing in this country. This is why millions suffer from anorexia and millions have self image problems. Can't you people just enjoy her success and be supportive for this young girl and be happy for her. And where ever this bs come from please try to flip in the air 4 times and fall on your feet with the speed of free fall and look at yourself in the mirror what you look like. Of course her hair will be like that. And all those successful young girls have the same hair style. Why she is the one getting judged by? Sometimes it is very hard to understand people.
She is beautiful and she is successful. Don't be jealous people. Were you successful like her when you were at her age? Did you accomplish what she just accomplished? Yeah thats what I thought. So people. Shushhhhh. Just be supportive. She made a history. Conrats Gabby Douglas!
Why should a talented and beautiful young woman worry herself over something so petty? Black women do not need to imitate white women to look beautiful. They should be proud of who they are – show some pride for god's sake. Most of those tweets were probably from middle aged harpies; they spent their youth obsessed with making their hair look like Jacqueline Smith. Gabby Douglas projected nothing but strength and confidence throughout the Olympic meet, but these holdovers from the disco age could only see her hair? Pathetic.
"Why focus on Gabby Douglas' hair?"–Because the Media has nothing better to do, is completely insensitive to anyone feelings or the just don't care/–take your choice.
Middle aged white male here. LOVE ME SOME GABBY DOUGLAS! Who CARES about the hair! People, black and white, need to concentrate on what really matters.
Thanks for your comment!! I agree with you, she has spent years in getting to this level of gymnastics why would you constantly worry about your hair. She has reached her top and we all wish her GOOG LUCK in maintaning it. Professor stop the hair debate. Why would anybody worry about her hair!!!!!
Why is there such a debate over Gabby's hair AFTER she wins a gold medal? She has worked SO VERY HARD to get that platform for anyone to even think about about her hair. Her hair goes with the fact that she is her own person with a personality, feelings, etc.
When my kids were young, I taught them that everyone is their own special person. I guess not everyone learned that same lesson, given to the adults in their lives when they were young!! That is, if the parents taught them to not be racist and/or stupid.
Women of all colors and ethnicities must learn to accept that there is no such thing as perfection. We must embrace the good with the bad. maybe gabby has "bad hair" but guess what, she's got a strong athletic physique and beautiful skin that won't wrinkle. and bonus round: it looks like she'll have a lucrative career ahead and can do whatever she wants with her "imperfect" hair!
Having to put up with relentless comments of "Awww, she's just as cute as she can be" coming from my wife, I can honestly say that neither my wife, nor I, noticed anything wrong with Gabby's hair. The kid's gorgeous, does what 99% of us will NEVER do, and accomplished this before she turned 18. People just need to leave her alone.
If your hair is relaxed, white people are relaxed. If your hair is nappy, they're not happy.
I"m a white person who has nappy hair – and "black" straightening products don't do a thing except break it. No-one has ever faulted my accomplishments because of my hair. As if any of us have a choice about our genetic inheritance. Foolishness!
Sure you do.
Gabby, you are a winner...Ignore the ignorant. They will be wishing they were attached to your hair when the money starts rolling in
SHE IS A WORLD CHAMPION!! Why in the h*** are people talking about her HAIR??? It doesn't change or diminish one iota the fact that she is among the best gymnasts in the world, and embodies the American spirit of hard work!!! GO GABBY, WE LOVE YOU!!!
yes, this is a waste of time... Gabby is an awesome person and has been taught to be very professional... She might not have straight hair, but she's got her own... She's got the gold and she feels great about herself. I'm glad to see this young lady not hiding under fake hair. Awesome sweet person.
That's right!!!!!!!
The whole of the US should be praising and congratulating and putting Gabby on a pedestal for her achievements in the world class of olympic achievements NOT CRITIZING HER HAIR GABBY PLEASE DO NOT LISTEN TO THESE IGNORANT IDIOTS You are a credit to the USA
Ms Miles, and you are perpetuating the useless debate. WHO CARES?? I didn't even think about her hair until you said something. Don't even go there...ignorant people are going to say whatever, the most important issue is that the rest of us lover her no matter what. She is such a gift from God, don't give people a platform for their ignorance and jealousy!
true that!
I just hate that the haters received enough attention to turn this non-issue, into a bigger non-issue. I'm quite sure that the majority of black americans could care less about her hair, and are very proud of her!
It is petty to talk about her hair, but worse was Gabby mother comment that it was "the white family "that did not know how to work witj black hair, the white family gave Gabby free room and board, treated her like a daughter, the mother drove her all over, at 16 she should know how to comb her hair.
The mother that gets for years "long term disability" should thank the family that took her daughter in.
Put focus on her deeds, her drive, her accomplishments, her medals........not her hair, cmom people be human for once.
This is such a shame that black America instead of honoring that girl for her accomplishments choose to focus on her hair. She did not win this metal for her hair. No one has ever won any metal for great hair, and believe me weave wearing chemically straightened hair would not be at the top of the list. When will people ever stop being ignorant!
Get off of it CNN. THis is crap journalism.
I have locked hair and everybody loves it.... This type of reporting is SICK... please report on scholarly matters.
I didn't think a thing about her hair. She had it up just like the other girls on her team. I don't see why it should be different b/c she is black. Maybe I am just not understanding something.
I don't understand it either. I'm black and didn't think anything about her hair until I saw this artical. People are just wierd like that, huh?
Who cares about her hair? She has a head full of hair, just like the white athletes. So what? What matters is that she did something that the ones "hating" on her can't, couldn't, or just plain won't do. Plus, she got a medal out of her very hard work. She ranks up there with the rest of her team...outstanding!! Keep doing what you're great at Gabby! We love you!
Who cares about her hair??!! That girl is an amazing gymnist and should be so proud of herself. People always have negative things to say. Just tell them to shut up. 🙂 Hang in there Gabby-girl!
I don't think that this is a race issue at all. Women, on the whole in America have become so totally overwhelmed with themselves that it's a huge JOKE.They need to stop picking on themselves and others when they feel that they don't measure up. Things such as hair, nails and the latest shoe style aren't really ALL THAT IMPORTANT.
Who cares about her hair? She's an athlete, she doesnt have time to worry about her hair. Shes worried about being successful and accompling things in life! Something that other people havent even done for themselves in life. We should be happy about who she is and what she has accomplished, not many teens now in days accomplish what she has. Many are worried about going to parties smoking drinking and looking cool. Society now in days is freaking ridiculous, its sad we live in society like this. Im glad that at her age she accomplished ALOT in such a short period of time.
Gabby.......you make American's PROUD!!!!! You are a very beautiful and talented young lady, head to toe. You concentrate on your accomplishments and not what a bunch of idiotic morons have to say. Keep that beautiful head up and a smile on your face.
who cares about this childs hair? she could be bald for all i care, and still be more talented and a winner in my book. wow what this world is coming to... i'm shocked this drama was started by her own people, black women. now thats really sad...
CNN, shame on you for even putting this B.S. on your site. You all are responsible for starting this mess in the first place when you had Isha Sesay report on this. With everything happening in the world right now, do you really consider scrolling through Twitter posts to be journalistic research? Do you realize that on any given day,there are millions of people who randomly talk about any and everything? Some random tweets about hair is not worthy of being reported on a global news network. Maybe this is one reason why your ratings are so low. Get back to reporting on real stories and maybe your ratings will improve.
As long as we are expressing opinions: I don't think yours has any merit. CNN.com has many departments and this article is appropriately placed. I learned something from the article and from people's responses to it. Just because you can't relate, doesn't mean others can't.
This is just bizarre. She's an athlete, not a fashion model. Does her hair interfere with her performance? Is it getting caught in the equipment? Are the judges deducting score points for hair? Jeez.
REALLY! I know we can talk about some petty stuff here but her hair.... and I thought we couldn't get any lower. Lets the tables be turned and she had a full weave put in, people would talk about that. She is in a sport that is majority white, she came in a did the best job IN THE WORLD and we are going to sit and talk about her hair. This little media bit is outragous and they need to focus on the positive of this young, beautiful, hardworking, determined, all around – best gymnist in the world, young women. What happened to if you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all! Go ahead Gabby, you did great!
I am an African American Woman whose history isnt tied to my hair. I was taught that my history is tied to Integrity, Self-respect and intelligence. I suggest everyone who has this "HAIR Hangup" to listen to indie arie "i am not my hair." Now that's Words of Wisdom.
Seriously?? Her hair?? She is a beautiful, hardworking AMERICAN. I didn't see black or white. I saw Gabby. white people get perms, black people get hair straightener.... the grass is always greener on the other side. 🙂
I love the natural look of curly or straight. Natural is best, but good heavens, who cares?The girl flipped and twisted herself to a gold medal!
this is what happens when people don't remember their history..like when people of color from the US didn't even know what the uneven bars were.....by all means lets find something to tear down this incredibly hardworking your American girl because god forgive her, her hair was not neat enough for the couch potato do nothings in America. God bless you Gabby and thank you for making the USA Proud.
Petty issue. Way to go Gabby.
Hair is a problem for everyone – unfortunately African girls have a curl root problem. God Bless them – they are stilll GORGEOUS!
what?? "hair is a problem for everybody"?? speak for yourself. And since when the issue is about a curled root?? and why you call it a "problem"?? I love curls, big or small. It is just the way people perceive it. Stop making it a bad thing or a problem!
Gabbyis precious, adorable, an example to ALL young girl son this earth
Gabby is totally adorable – who cares about her hair – she was Born with the Africnan hair – so wha! She is the most precious of adorables. Who the he- cares about the hair!
Honestly the media has done a great job of propelling absolute nonsense pretty far into the public realm of concern but this one is pretty amazing. Stop attempting to connect everything with race and don't promote menial useless topics such as this one on a national news channel. By doing so you give validity to divisive and convoluted notions that only ignorant and racist individuals care about. My wife is African American and it really doesn't matter what her hair looks like. This girl was doing flips in the air and your gonna sit there and comment that she is trying to deny African American culture by straightening her hair. Maybe she just likes her hair straight. Maybe there is nothing behind this but everyone else wants to make it an issue. Everyone needs to come together and get over dividing each other by what certain races should do or shouldn't do. Its ridiculous. Please report actual news, thanks.
I returned to write another post after seeing a group of 3 young Black girls (looked around Gabby's age) on the subway comment on how "nappy" her hair was in response to a magazine cover she is now on. I am 46 years old and long for the pre-perm 60-70's. Blacks for a short period accepted their texture and color and even had their own hair & lots of it! Even educated black women have a fixation on FRIED, DYED and LAID to the side FLOWING hair to their detriment and to such a degree that they don't have any as a result a la Naomi Campbell. Black people talk a great game (Al Sharpton) about pride but are so full of self hatred.
Really people, you are worried about this amazing girl's hair over her gold medal, give me a break. I am white and sit at a desk all day and can't keep my hair from being straight, wavy, curly and frizzy all at the same time. She's doing slips and flying through the air. When did our society get so focused on image that it now outweighs people's accomplishments and who they are? When you can go flip around and do gymnastics and win a gold medal, then you can start talking about her hair, until then, shut your mouths and get a clue. She's beautiful, talented and she's a child representing our country to the best! What are you doing for America?
Seriously, I am so with you on this one...this girl is amazing! I think it's just jelousy...i can only wonder what they would say about me and my frizzy hair! People need to get over themselves, petty...so petty EH!The person who started all this is probably some fatso sitting on the couch and can barely move their arm to shove another fistful of chips in their mouth...
Agreed, it is sad that people over look her acomplishments and talk trash about her hair, that is not bad at all. Amagen if she had an afro what all the haters would say.
What is wrong with all of you who focus on such meanial stuff. People need to focus on Gabby's ability, her determination, her hard work and everything else that she has done to accomplish and achieve what she has at the Olympics. I am proud of her and what she has done representing the United States. I am not an African-American female but I am an American female who thinks that Gabby is one beautiful young woman with a beautiful smile! There was and is nothing wrong with her beautiful hair. Keep it up Gabby!!!
First of all that is a child & the GROWN folks should be ashame. Like Gabby said in one of her interviews she over there winning GOLD MEDALS & yall over here talking about her hair. People get a LIFE! read a book, go take a drive, do something with your life.
Why is CNN even putting this on their web site? IF the stupid media would stop giving it attention, noboby would even be thinking about it. Shut up .
16 years old? This is the age during which most young people do seek approval from their peer. This is the age at which some teenagers develop eating disorder when they are criticized to be fat! At this age (16), most, it not all teenage are hyper sensitive to any criticism regardless of the source!
Obviously, the assault launched at this young woman, Gabrielle Douglas, by multi billion dollars news media is directly responsible for her poor last performances. THERE ARE young people BEING TAKEN TO COURT AND JAIL FOR BULLYING OTHER KIDS. The recent case was in New Jersey. The assault on Gaby's hair by the news media was a colossal BULLYING event intended to permanently erode this young woman's self esteem in gymnastics;And the outcome is unmistakable. The media participating on this saga is now pretending that the onslaught was started by African Americans! Since when does major media take cues from ignorant African Americans, particularly, when it intends to assault a young person whose only crime is to excel in a particular sport? What exactly is the motive of ganging on 16-year old kid from a poor family?
I am a middle aged, white, obese, & balding male. Pick on me...not her. Gabby is a blessing from God! We are lucky to have her represent the USA!
A lot of blacks (not all) will spend the rest of their lives in misery. Not fulfilling their dreams and missing out on a lot, because they are too busy watching someone's hair.
Particularly, the fake hair imported from India and Far East! These are self loathing African Americans who cannot stand the fact that God gave them hair texture and skin color different from other ethnic groups! Having said this, there is no sensible justification as to why major media networks jumped on this pathetic story!!
What is the point of this article? A great majority of Blacks (worldwide) take some shame in their physical attributes. it is evident in women who will spend their last dime on wigs, weaves and straighteners that in no way resembles a natural look for them. NEWSFLASH: That Indian texture does not compliment you nor look remotely like it's yours. BUT...Black men also demonstrate a shame as evident by their disdain for women whose physical traits are Afro-diminished or mates who are other anything other than Black. This is so deep rooted in the Black self image and has been since Blacks (and other minorities of color) encountered White people millennia ago. It will never change because Black men and women are now hard wired to loathe their nature to attain what cannot be attained.
GABBY will read some of this media soon and this programming will be reinforced and the cycle continues as it has for thousands of years. So this author has wasted her time attempting to spark change and acceptance of Black nature.
What do the black women think is wrong with Gabby's hair? How do they think it should have been styled or fixed? It looked fine to me.
Same here. nothing wrong with it...and quite frankly her talent out weighs anything people can think of to talk about.
I didn't even think the term "African American" until Bob Costas said that, and then I was pretty disgusted. She's an American gymnast. There was an AA gymnast on the team that won gold in Atlanta, 16 years ago. Aren't we over this yet?
As for her hair, every girl on the US team has the same style - someone called it "deconstructed." It looks like all of them are trying to tie knots with their tresses. Perhaps because hair isn't their concern. They just want it out of the way so they can concentrate on doing their best, showing the world what they can do. People from all over the earth are represented at the Olympics...we need to get passed our petty comparisons.
High insecure heels,
Digging into their self esteem
Walking on their self respect
Stomping down in the dirt their dignity
In order to have long weaves
Long nails
Long eyelashes
to their self hatred
Ignore your achilles' heels
Stand on your toes
Golden girl gabby
Your hair is more beautiful than your swing
Your smile is more adorable than your floor exercise
Your dismount cannot be discounted by those who criticize your hair
You are not your hair
And if you were
You would be even more beautiful
If that's possible
Well said!
I am very proud of Gabby and the rest of the team. Period.
Worrying about her hair is total nonsense. Very superficial of all of you who are making the rude comments. This young lady has worked harder than most of you will EVER work. Has accomplished more than 99.9 % of us will EVER accomplish. Focus on what she has done. Not her hairstyle. How shallow can you get?
Gabby is a child, and no child deserves to be attacked by adults the way that she has. I am sure this wounded her. Not only did they talk about her hair, they started in on her Mother and Father. These attacks were meant to destroy her. I am sure that these individuals have friends with like minds, and can celebrate beating her down. But, Gabby has other outstanding talents, a great personality, tenacity, and endurance. We have not seen nor heard the last of her. She will not be defeated, she will continue to maintain her proper place at the top. Gabby is a winner.
I don't think her hair looks so bad. How about Condoleeza Rice? The most powerful woman in the world and she couldn't control her hair! She always looked like she was wearing a helmet. And what about those teeth? With all of her money you'd think she could have found a good hairstyle and got her teeth fixed. Just sayin'.
A sixteen year old has just become the first black female to win two gold medals in a sport that has been predominately white and all some folks have to say is complain about her hair? Matter of fact, I can't believe CNN had the nerves to write about this on their website. Instead of blogging about Gabby's accomplishments, some selected to comment on her hair, really? I pray that Gabby and all the future black young female athletes she has inspired will not read about this insignificant matter. Keep on reaching for the stars, Gabby and God has blessed you with beautiful hair!
It's just plain ignorance to focus on her hair. She's there for country not a fashion show!
I am stunned by this article! I noticed she had her hair pulled back into a pony tail like the other girls, but nothing negative. I am a white woman who saw nothing but a remarkable young lady putting on outstanding performances and having the time of her life! I saw talent and beauty! How could you not see anything else when you look at Gabby? Those eyes, cheekbones and smile are fantastic! America should be proud of Gabby! She is remarkable!
This is PURE BS!! Those in the black community, who have access to the newspapers, TV, internet, etc., SHOULD be condemning these comments all over the place! It is totally disgusting, and even WORSE, coming from her black sisters and men! YES, this 16yr. old, just made history! LET her enjoy it without stupidity! She is young, her story & family are a tribute to what YOU CAN DO, if you put your mind to it I am WHITE, yet I am SO PROUD OF HER!!
Maxiiscott sound as if she is troubled by her own idenity. I have been natural (hair) most of my life and its people like her who would think my hair was a mess. I'm thankful that people like you dont' define my self esteem. I feel sorry for you that you don't have the freedom to live comfortablely with who you are.
I'm sure that Gabby will not have a problem spending all those millions she's earned due her hard work. Her hair will not be an issue at the bank.
Not trying to be funny. She will boost black hair products. i love it go Gabby.
What you said is not funny, it is rather silly and immature. Gabrielle is a winner, she is going to sign with Fortune 500 companies, and not spend time worrying about black hair products. She has already made it clear that she does not have a hangup on hair. Kelloggs is one of those companies, their products are sold all over the world, to all races of people.
You are so hung up on hair that you have not noticed that there are no commercials for black hair products on primetime TV, the academy awards, or the Super Bowl?
I am a dark-skinned woman that carries the African-American label. I have hair that attracts a lot of attention from men and women of all races. People are constantly complimenting my hair. I don't dwell on it, in fact, I don't see anything special about it, I don't spend a lot of time in the mirror messing with it. To me it is just hair, and in my mind, it does not look any better than anyone else's. Other people trip on it. I don't see anything wrong with Gabby's hair. To me, it looks just as good as anyone else's.
When my husband told me about the comments about Gabby's hair I knew right away it was from our own - African Americans. It is truly sad commentary that her hair was the takeaway from all she has worked hard for and accomplished. We are so quick to put down our own that it still boggles my mind. I was an athlete and tomboy growing up played soccer, ran track and I certainly didn't care how my hair looked out on the field, I cared about winning. I was so proud of Gabby I cried and not once did I care about her hair style. Also, I bet if you took a poll of the stupid people who criticized her hair they are fake hair wearing, fat couch potatoes who can hardly walk and haven't set foot in a gym in ages. Grow up people and get a life!
What I dont understand is how black women can AFFORD all that expensive hair treatments. Isn't the black population being particularly hard hit with the current economic times? Some of the most basic of hair care for the black community can cost a minimum of $200.
i wonder the same thing about whites,spanish, and orientals that sell that stuff.
They rely on Sugar Daddies or extortion from baby daddies (threatening more expensive child support claims). Or they sell food stamps. Not all, but some do.
Thank you for saying "some of them".
It is these kind of comments that got this started in the first place. People such as you that can't mind your own business, and feel the need to try and judge what is going on in someone else's life that you don't even know. Stop tripping about African-American women.
My aunt was critizing Gabby and her mom for their horrible hair. I couldn't believe it. What a stupid thing to confirm: that as a group of people, all we care about is how a person looks. It doesn't matter how smart, sweet, funny, or caring a person is, if she doesn't care about her appearence, what's wrong with her? It's sad really.
That as a group, we complain of not being treated fairly yet here a girl has achieved something great but some in her own community are hung up her hair which anyone who actually plays sports or excercises will tell you will become pretty damaged due to sweat. What Gabby accomplished was truly commendable. It's just sad that some people won't accomplish much for getting hung-up the simple question "How does my hair look?"
That being said... I was more concentrated on her smile. Gabby would benefit greatly from braces.
Wow, your comment was great until the end, when you completely undermined everything you said. ::smh::
Do you, your Mother, Aunt and sister have million dollar contracts with Fortune 500 companies because of your hair and teeth?
Beauty is a depreciating asset. In other words, as people age, their looks will fade.
Gabrielle is not only a star, but she has personality, is intelligent and can hold an intelligent conversation.
I love Gabby and we as Americans should feel very proud of her. Good for her, i like her hair just the way it is.
and I love you for giving her the credit that she deserves.
Does anyone have anything to say about Serena Williams hair in the gold, singles tennis medal round. I don't because they are both very talented and gifted people.
That is because Serena is ashamed of her natural her and is unbe-wig-able. I wish someone would write an article about the overuse of wigs and weaves from India as if Indian hair represents Black women's ideals of themselves. When I was young only old women wore wigs now it is 9 year old Black girls. Black people instill this mindset in their young girls from infancy so why be shocked when they take to the airwaves?
Compared to health, love, family, food, shelter and clothing, hair is trivial. Serena looks like she is healthy. Hopefully she will have a long and prosperous life regardless to how she chooses to wear her hair.
I have read articles about how black women are supposed to wear their hair. I don't subscribe to that because it is that person's opinion, and I don't have to go along with that person's opinion. The problem is that too many African-Americans are insecure, and hate themselves, so they lash out at others.
Serena wasn't wearing a wig - she had a headband on. Looked like she was just getting it out of the way.
you do know that Williams has a pretty sevier medical condition dont you? Im sure that has a lot to do with what people are talking about.
Venus is the one with the autoimmune illness, not Serena.
I have no complaints about anyone's hair.
Woman's beach volleyball is sooo much more interesting and fun to watch, luv what they wear.
But they are not nice looking women so the bikinis are not a good look for them.
Gabby is fabulous, and Americans of all colors should get behind her for what she is – an Olympic champion! Everything else is superficial nonsense!
This is sick.
The black women criticizing Gabby Douglas' hair could probably learn a thing or two from Gabby Douglas about priorities, dreams, and hard work. It's not an accident that Gabby Douglas is on the podium in London and the haters are sitting on their couches munching on potato chips. If the black community had more Gabby Douglas, they'd have a lot fewer problems. There is no doubt about it. Great job Gabby Douglas! America in general is very proud of you.
I agree. What does her hair have to with her accomplishment. The topic of her should have never been made a topic. As a black person sometimes I wonder why so many blacks worry about insignificant nonsense. The ignorance that I hear at so many times is unbelievably unnecessary. I am happy for Gabby and I will promote positive words about of my mouth for her instead of petty insignificant nonsense.
Seriously.....Enough already.
Also one more thing, do you realize the publicity that this girl is getting from this controversy and the amount of money she will be earning from endorsements, far more then if this whole thing had not taken place, It makes you wonder who really threw the wood onto the fire.
I'm a white woman who came of age during the Carnaby Street, swinging London era in the mid- to late-sixties when that stick-straight hair look was everything. I ironed my hair, of course, and had blistered burn marks along my forearms to prove it. At the slightest breath of mist or sweat, my hair reclaimed its look anyway. I hated myself. It's difficult to express to others how this can frustrate even the smart kid that I was. I was a girl, and I felt ugly. That's not trivial or shallow. It's emotion. I graduated and got my first job in Oakland working with mostly African American girls. At last I had friends who understood. At first we would shop for wigs together, which were very popular at that time, but as the Black Is Beautiful movement arose, more afros and natural looks, braids and creative do's appeared. I got the support and courage to let my hair be itself. Magic! I looked gorgeous, who knew? People stopped me and asked what I did to my hair to get it that way. But it was much more than hair. It was about seeing and accepting the beauty innate in yourself; not comparing yourself to Grace Kelly or hating yourself for not being smooth-haired and blonde. I felt so close to my African American girlfriends that it changed my whole life from then on. And that was 45 years ago! For Gabby, that sweet and brilliant princess, I could wrap her hair into a ballerina bun in about half a minute with a pretty jeweled snood pinned over it - and it would look gorgeous. But she is focused on her moment now; that's what is important. She'll learn all these fashion tricks eventually. For now she has to live for her art.
Drop the conversation about Gabby's hair. The black community should be celebrating her tremendous achievement. My goodness how stupid is this nonsense. You should be riding around in cars with bumper stickers that say "GABBY IS THE GREATEST". Shame on you.
She has so much to be proud of in and of herself! She is just a child so leave her alone! This world is going to hell and you want to gripe about someone's hair....... so sad!
How come nobody ever mentions Serena and Venus Williams' obvious use of steriods. They look like men in skirts – yuk!
Saying that Serena and Venus Williams look like men in skirts is an insult to men!!! Can you say GO-RILLA???
So when two black women basically own a sport it's steriods?? Let me guess hmmmmm "WHITE" stop hating and tell your girls to practice LOL
How come you are signaling out African-American women athletes for criticism? This is racism.
Those who criticize a 50% African-American president are also racists.


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Last week we saw a BMW 135i that had the V8 from a BMW M3 under the hood. We very much thought it'd move at the speed of light. Well, we should have said it depends on who is driving, because here it is getting eaten alive by a 150 horsepower Ford Focus at the Nurburgring.
Reader Julien sent this video in via Facebook after our post on the yellow speed demon went up. Basically, we asserted that the car was a guaranteed rocket. We didn't add in the caveat that it had to have a driver with iron balls behind the wheel. Julien saw this, called shenanigans, and we ate a large amount of crow.
Watch from around 8:00 as the 135i V8 is systematically eaten up and swallowed by the little Ford Focus as if it's a scooter racing a land speed record car.
Poor little guy. If only he could go as fast as his potential.


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CLERMONT, Fla.--UMass Boston (4-1) handed Minnesota-Morris their first loss of the season 11-2 behind a career game from Erika Vecchiet, before dropping their first game of the season to SUNY Fredonia by a 12-3 score in six innings.
In the first game, Vecchiet went 4-for-4 and added three RBIs and two runs. The sophomore second baseman recorded career-highs with the four hits and three RBIs in only her second start of the season. She finished just shy of the cycle, with a single, two doubles and a triple in the five inning contest.
Senior first baseman Lisa Polsonetti (Revere, Mass.) went 1-for-2 and added a triple and two RBIs of her own.
Junior shortstop Sue Killilea (Abington, Mass.) continued her hot start with two hits and two runs. While Maria Nasta (Andover, Mass.) went 2-for-3 with an RBI and one of the team's season-high six extra-base hits.
In the circle, Willis moved to 3-0 on the season behind five strong innings. Willis scattered two runs on four hits and struck out three Minnesota-Morris batters.
UMass Boston jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one, and 10-0 after two innings. In the first, six straight Beacons reached base before the team recorded an out, as the team knocked out three hits and Minnesota-Morris committed two errors.
The second inning was more of the same, as the Beacons knocked out seven more hits en route to a new season-high (14 hits). UMass Boston added four of their five stolen bases in the inning as well.
The second game was much closer in the first few innings, with the Beacons holding a 1-0 lead, before SUNY Fredonia scored four runs in the fourth and eight in the sixth and final inning.
Freshmen catcher Amanda Perry (Worcester, Mass.) crushed her fourth home run of the season for the Beacons lone RBI. It was a rough contest for the Beacons, who were limited to just seven baserunners in six innings.
Freshmen pitcher Michelle Zullo (Everett, Mass.) took the loss with eight runs allowed in five innings. Willis came on in relief and allowed four runs, two earned, in one inning.
The Beacons will finish up their Florida trip with a doubleheader Thursday. The squad will play the University of Scranton at 1 p.m. and then St. Joseph College (Conn.) at 3 p.m.


text: For You Another Way of Looking at Love (2015-2018) explores the interconnectedness of all life forms and supports a renewal of human relationships to each other, and to the natural and the spiritual worlds. For some images, I create points of connection with elements from the same species—Japanese barberry or burdock, for example—while for others, I combine multiple species, such as golden rod and pokeweed or burning bush and pine trees. Points of connection create spaces, which represent areas where new realities can be envisioned. The depiction of unity, together with color and light, show the beauty and magic of the natural world. Another Way of Looking at Love follows the belief that in our organic and spiritual essence, we are inextricably linked to each other and to Mother Nature. We are hardwired for connection and our elemental sameness unites us and transcends our apparent differences. Our wellness and the well-being of the world depend on healthy connections to each other and to the earth. Another Way of Looking at Love is borne of awe for the power of nature, and seeks to reimagine our connection to one another, to the planet, and to the generative possibilities of the moment.


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Welcome to the student section of the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (CLASS). This section has been designed to guild you and your needs here at CLASS. This section provides you with services that students need, including academic advising. This section also provides you with the different departments and academic programs that CLASS offers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Students and/or prospective students who would like to learn more about the College's undergraduate programs are invited to contact the faculty members by clicking here.


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Fake Diploma Seal & Emblem FAQ
Samples of seals on various fake diplomas.
Don't be tricked by sites which phony seals that say "SEAL OF THE SCHOOL" instead of the actual school's name. We are the only site capable of making seals that resemble the real thing! Other websites will only offer you clip art such as three torches and a star or a regional state seal. We have the option of embossing seals, applying composition leaf, etc. See some samples of real seals below.
Seals & Emblems for Diplomas and Certificates!
Shiny Gold Seals including Foil Infused & "Puffy" Embossed!
Seals Featuring Gold Foil & HD-Quality Inks Blended Together
Printed Seals using Electrostatic Digital Printing Process!
There can often be a number of reasons why somebody has interest in investing in transcripts and fake diploma that look real. It's often because either they need a quick replacements or lost originals or they want to fool somebody into thinking they graduated. There is a countless number of data that backs up those two claims.
Still, with the advantage of sophisticated graphic software and high dollar professional grade equipment, diplomas and transcripts can now be precisely replicated with pinpoint accuracy. A product that you may find sold online such as a fake high school diploma with transcripts can now be so closely duplicated, that it is often very difficult for the average person to tell the difference from them and originals.
Diploma Company is the leading phony diploma site. We take pride in our line of fake diplomas, degrees and transcripts. We set high standards in our seals, emblem and school logos. We also offer the ability to take our seals to the next level with gold foiling for better authenticity. Please the view the photos above to get a better idea of what sort of schools are common on most diplomas.
It is not uncommon for many websites, like this one, to show off samples of actual diplomas and certificates on pages like this to inspire our clients. What you will notice is that some of the images do not mention school names or institute information on the seals themselves or that information has been blurred out and removed. This is often because of copyright regulations and what details the website is allowed to showcase on the actual website. The images in this gallery are also displayed with the words Diploma Company across them, to prevent phonydipoma competitors from stealing the images and passing them off as their own. Your own document from us will not arrive with the words Diploma Company anywhere on it.
The gallery is a great way to get a general idea of what kind of seals and emblems may be possible on your document. Make sure to compare the seals you see in the photo, including how the gold shines, with actual documents from schools that you may have spotted in the past. Try to find differences although many people can not. A well made fake certificate should be visually close to what is handed out by schools to students.
Although there are a number of sites that produce fake diplomas, fake university degree and college diploma duplication services, you can read actual reviews from our customers to be sure you are making a wise investment by buying from us.


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Momentum Grows for Push to Expel Junk Food from Schools
WASHINGTON—Foods sold in schools will get a long-overdue nutritional makeover if legislation introduced today by Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) gets wrapped into this year's updates to the child nutrition programs, according to the Center for Science in the Public Interest. The group says that the pizza, sodas, so-called "energy drinks," chips, and candy abundantly available in schools are helping to fuel an epidemic of child obesity and diabetes.
Harkin, long a proponent of getting more fresh fruits and vegetables into schools, wants to update nutrition standards for the foods sold alongside school meals in the cafeteria, as well as foods sold in vending machines and school stores. Narrow nutrition standards were last set during the Carter Administration and only apply in the cafeteria during mealtimes. Harkin's bill would apply everywhere on campus during the whole school day.
"In all but a handful of cities and states, junk food is still out of control in schools," said CSPI nutrition policy director Margo G. Wootan. "The federal government spends billions on the school lunch program, but that investment is undercut by the sale of soda and other junk foods. Parents want to know the money they send their son or daughter to school with will be spent on healthy foods, not disease-promoting junk."
Current law only prohibits the sale of "foods of minimal nutritional value" in the cafeteria during meal times. But standards for those foods, crafted in 1979, were drafted with an eye toward ensuring that school foods had a modicum of certain nutrients, such as protein and calcium. As a consequence, school's can't sell calorie-free seltzer water, but pizza, doughnuts, and cheeseburgers can be sold without limits on calories, saturated or trans fat, or sodium. And because the nutrition standards only apply in the cafeteria, most vending machines can sell virtually anything. Two-thirds of states still rely on the outdated national standards.
"Poor diet and physical inactivity contribute to growing rates of chronic disease among children. One-third of American children born today will develop type II diabetes at some point and rates of obesity are skyrocketing," said Harkin. "Our legislation requires common-sense nutrition standards for the foods and beverages that are sold in school vending machines and similar outlets. Otherwise, junk food will continue to undermine the $11 billion that taxpayers pay for nutritious school meals."
Similar legislation was introduced in the House in March by Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and is cosponsored by 128 other House members. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has voiced support for healthy school food. And advocates for improving school food are confident that they have another ally at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue: As a senator, Barack Obama introduced his own bill to get junk food out of schools.
"It's a myth that schools have to rely on junk-food sales to balance their budgets. Happily, schools that switch out junk foods for healthier drinks and snacks don't usually lose revenue," said Wootan. "Given the ability of schools to make money selling healthy foods, the political shifts in Washington, and the childhood obesity epidemic, the time is ripe for strong national legislation supporting healthy food for healthy kids."
Contact Jeff Cronin (jcronin[at]cspinet.org) or Ariana Stone (astone[at]cspinet.org).


text: Arts & Life No One You Know By Don Noble • Jul 6, 2008 This novel may seem at first to be genre fiction, but it is in fact literary fiction, the best sort. Richmond explores the devastating effects of grief and survivor guilt. She demonstrates how little, really, we know about even the people closest to us. By Don Noble Oh Don't You Cry for Me: Stories By Don Noble • Jun 30, 2008 The rednecks in this volume are sweaty and petty and frightening--not attractive or romantic, nor salt of the earth types, at all. And they seem to favor the Dodge Ram truck, for what that's worth. By Don Noble Philip Shirley, native Alabamian, has been successful in the advertising and public relations business for many years, but, almost as if he were a lawyer, has had an irrepressible desire to write fiction. Oh Don't You Cry for Me is Shirley's first collection, and it is a perfectly respectable debut. Portraits and Observations: The Essays of Truman Capote By Don Noble • Jun 23, 2008 Many of these pieces are ironic, somewhat scornful, but many are not. Capote has sympathetic words for Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor, and absolute encomia for Isak Dinesen and Capote's favorite American author, Willa Cather. By Don Noble Comeback Season: How I Learned to Play the Game of Love By Don Noble • Jun 16, 2008 These memoirs are sociology, anthropology, like Margaret Mead's Coming of Age in Samoa, or travel narratives of distant and exotic places. Except that, of course, the time is now, the place is here, and the mysterious creatures speaking and under discussion are American women, friendly and intelligent and utterly un-understood by the mass of American males. By Don Noble Racing in Place: Collages, Fragments, Postcards, Ruins By Don Noble • Jun 9, 2008 The other mainly Alabama essay is "Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Moon Winx," which is just that?a meditation not on the nearly defunct Moon Winx Lodge, but on the neon sign in front of the Moon Winx Lodge, which was supposed to be in service to the lodge but has now surpassed it. By Don Noble In the Path of the Storms: Bayou La Batre, Coden, and the Alabama Coast By Don Noble • Jun 2, 2008 This degree of cruelty at the hands of government was not to be matched again until 2005, when the citizens of Alabama looked to FEMA and other government agencies for aid after Katrina. By Don Noble Our Former Lives in Art By Don Noble • May 28, 2008 The day in which a story collection such as Nine Stories by J. D. Salinger could create a major stir is, alas, long gone. Maybe that's too bad. These are very clever and satisfying stories. They deserve some readers. By Don Noble After finishing her MFA in fiction writing here at the University of Alabama, Jennifer Davis went on to win the prestigious Iowa Short Fiction Award with her collection Her Kind of Want, published by the University of Iowa Press in 2002. Trail of Crumbs: Hunger, Love, and the Search for Home By Don Noble • May 28, 2008 This honest and clearly written memoir does begin in misery. In 1973, Kim Sun?e, at the age of three, is abandoned by her mother on a bench in a South Korean marketplace with "a tiny fistful of food" which was reduced to the crumbs of the title. By Don Noble Poor Man's Provence: Finding Myself in Cajun Louisiana By Don Noble • May 14, 2008 For years, Johnson, who was raised in Montgomery and studied journalism at Auburn, wrote four columns a week for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Unhappy with Atlanta traffic and that grueling pace, Johnson left the AJC in 2001. This has given her more time to write in a thoughtful, more leisurely way, and the result is Poor Man's Provence. By Don Noble Like Trees, Walking By Don Noble • May 14, 2008 This is a remarkable first novel, impressive and sophisticated. The subject matter presents a big temptation to be hyperbolic, melodramatic, but Roy's voice is calm, reasoned. The story is told mainly in simple declarative sentences and is all the more powerful for it. By Don Noble The Prince of Frogtown By Don Noble • May 14, 2008 And in terms of empathy, maybe I am not the best reviewer for this volume. Bragg's people are, emphatically, not my people. But then again, maybe I am the right one to review this volume, because Bragg makes these people come alive for me, and in fact through some of the most beautiful writing you will find anywhere, makes me care about them, feel for them as individuals. By Don Noble Wicked City By Don Noble • Apr 22, 2008 In Wicked City, he fictionalizes actual events in the Phenix City of 1954, a place so awful, Atkins writes, "no author could ever exaggerate the sin, sleaze, and moral decay of Phenix City, Alabama, in the fifties or the courage of the people who stood up to fight it." By Don Noble Ace Atkins' career has tacked this way and that over the years, but has never strayed very far from crime, especially murder. Family Bible By Don Noble • Apr 22, 2008 This is not for the most part a volume full of blame or revenge, although there are more than enough guilty parties. This is Delbridge's own story, her very particular growing-up story, and while it is comical at times, these essays are laced through, as many memoirs are, with real pain. By Don Noble Man Food: Recipes from the Iron Trade By Don Noble • Mar 31, 2008 The book closes with a recipe for "Cornbread Southern Style." Besides the obvious ingredients, this recipe calls for one tablespoon of sugar. Since "Pig Iron Rough Notes" was edited by an Alabamian and published in Alabama and the recipe came from J. M. Brown of Edgewater, Alabama, I take it to be the last, final, definitive word on cornbread. One tablespoon sugar. By Don Noble Work Shirts for Madmen By Don Noble • Mar 17, 2008 Singleton has published three collections of stories, mostly funny, and then had only a semi-success with Novel: A Novel, in which he made fun of writers' colonies. In Work Shirts for Madmen, he has adjusted to the longer form, and this novel is a treat. By Don Noble Tartts Three: Incisive Fiction from Emerging Writers By Don Noble • Mar 10, 2008 Tartts Three is a collection of twenty-three stories. One-hundred-seventy story collections were submitted to the third annual Tartt First Fiction Award contest. After choosing the winning collections, the editors went on to select the twenty-three best individual stories from the hundreds of stories entered. There is not a loser in the bunch. Blonde Faith By Don Noble • Mar 3, 2008 Blonde Faith is the tenth Easy Rawlins mystery. The character, based on Mosley's own African-American father, was born and raised in Houston, saw fierce combat in the European Campaign in WWII, especially the Battle of the Bulge, and returned home to find he could not live in overtly bigoted Houston, so moved to make his life in LA, where the prejudice was more subtle and somewhat less lethal. By Don Noble The Race Beat: The Press, the Civil Rights Struggle, and the Awakening of a Nation By Don Noble • Feb 18, 2008 This is not another general history of the civil rights movement but rather a focussed study of the role played by reporters, newspaper editors, radio reporters, still photographers, and, finally and most importantly, television reporters and their crews: cameramen and sound technicians. By Don Noble Gene Roberts and Alabamian Hank Klibanoff have won the Pulitzer Prize for The Race Beat, so it is not risky for me to say it is terrific. But it really is. The Entitled: A Tale of Modern Baseball By Don Noble • Feb 11, 2008 This is an insider baseball book, and this is the perfect month for baseball fans to read The Entitled. Since the World Series, fans have survived on the methadone of football. Now that the Super Bowl is over, there is nothing. By Don Noble Capote in Kansas: A Ghost Story By Don Noble • Feb 4, 2008 Capote in Kansas is not a terrible novel. Things happen. Truman has a lover, a married air conditioner repairman. He sends ghoulish collages and tiny handcarved coffins through the mail. On the phone, Truman and Nelle reminisce about their childhood in Monroeville. The characters are believable; the plot moves. It's not a terrible novel; it's an offensive novel. By Don Noble Great with Child: Letters to a Young Mother By Don Noble • Jan 28, 2008 The letters, warm, smart, loving, honest, useful, are now a book, and well worth anyone's time, pregnant or not. (I suspect that Fennelly's agent thought, as I do, that this is a book that could have legs, as they say in publishing, and sell for decades.) By Don Noble All Guts and No Glory: An Alabama Coach's Memoir of Desegregating College Athletics By Don Noble • Jan 21, 2008 This memoir is more cameo than epic and Elder's story might have been told better. But it is fascinating to see how he was determined to put his experiences on the record and name names. And we should bear in mind this all happened in the 1970s, not the 1930s. By Don Noble Southern Belly: The Ultimate Food Lover's Companion to the South By Don Noble • Jan 11, 2008 Organized state by state, this is a guide to the finest . . . what shall we call it? Down home cooking? Country cooking? Soul food? Traditional southern fare? This is a guide to BBQ, fried chicken, fried catfish, sausages, oysters raw and cooked, crawfish, hushpuppies, Brunswick stew, smoked mullet, collard greens and pot likker, and a dozen different kinds of biscuits, cornbread, and rolls. By Don Noble Southern Belly New Stories from the South: 2007?The Year's Best By Don Noble • Jan 11, 2008 Short story anthologies are stepchildren in the publishing world. First, they are, I think, unfairly associated with the classroom. That's always too bad. And one is more likely to read a collection by an author one already knows and admires, say John Updike or William Gay. People also favor collections that are thematically based?hunting stories or stories set on Cape Cod, or stories about dogs, although there should be a moratorium on those. By Don Noble Revenant By Don Noble • Dec 31, 2007 There are certain venues?times and places?that are problematical or, alternatively, rich for a novelist. If, for example, a novel is set in Honolulu on Saturday, December 6, 1941, any conversation between characters about what they plan to do tomorrow, go on a picnic, say, is fraught with meaning?to the reader, not to the characters. The same holds true for New York City in early September 2001, and so on. Carolyn Haines sets her new novel, Revenant, in August of 2005 on the Mississippi Coast, in Biloxi. By Don Noble The Far Reaches By Don Noble • Dec 24, 2007 This is an action-adventure novel, a thriller, a yarn, and needs to be taken as such. In the first chapters Thurlow is part of the Marine landing on Tarawa, one of the nastiest battles of all the nasty battles of the Pacific. The Marines went ashore on the wrong tide, the Higgins boats got hung up on the reef and shelled to pieces, and many Marines drowned trying to walk to shore in battle gear. The defending Japanese marines either died in combat or committed suicide. There were nearly no prisoners. By Don Noble Supreme Conflict: The Inside Story of the Struggle for Control of the United States Supreme Court By Don Noble • Dec 17, 2007 Supreme Conflict is more than a history of the findings of the court for the last fifteen or so years. Based on interviews with nine justices, over a dozen federal appeals court judges, scores of officials from several administrations, and years of research in the Library of Congress and the Reagan and Bush presidential libraries, this is a reliable behind-the-scenes account of how the court's decisions got made and, more importantly, why and how the new justices of the last decade have been chosen. By Don Noble The Bellmaker's House By Don Noble • Dec 10, 2007 But the novel's great strength is in the freshness of the material, the subject matter. As a number of us have been saying for some time, there are more stories in Alabama than high school football, losing your virginity, and the relationship between the races. This, like Roy Hoffman's fine novel of the Jewish-American experience in Mobile, Chicken Dreaming Corn, is another piece of the Alabama mosaic By Don Noble The Bellmaker's House The Holiday Season By Don Noble • Dec 4, 2007 Michael Knight, of Mobile, has written a pair of novellas about the holidays. One, the title story, covers Thanksgiving and Christmas, and the other, "Love at the End of the Year," New Year's Eve, the party that always disappoints. By Don Noble Ah, the holidays. Family. Food. Good times. We look forward to the gatherings and remember them fondly. Sometimes maybe more fondly than they deserve. Often, they disappoint. Expectations too high? King of Country By Don Noble • Nov 30, 2007 The real king of country was, of course, Alabama's Hank Williams. To make sure the reader understands that his protagonist Bobby Lee Butler is not a thinly veiled Williams, the first scene in the novel is young Bobby Lee attending Hank's famous funeral in Montgomery. Bobby Lee is also from Georgiana, knew Hank, has the music in his blood, and is a skinny, poor, white boy with no power or connections in this world. Life will be hard. By Don Noble Pages« first ‹ previous … 725 726 727 728 729 730 731 732 733 … next › last »


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Main Content
EMO Requirements
The ICSB requires all schools that intend to contract with an educational management organization ("EMO"), or plan to make modifications or amendments to an existing contract with an EMO, to meet several requirements which are outlined in Exhibit K of the ICSB's Charter Agreement. To review these requirements, please click here.
Please note that, if a charter is awarded to an organizer that seeks to contract with an EMO, the ICSB must approve the services agreement before the organizer and EMO can execute the contract. Charter school applicants are encouraged to carefully review ICSB requirements for EMO contracts and ensure these requirements are reflected in any relevant documentation submitted with the application.