Tell us what you really think!

"I think Jill Scott has a poodle on her head. Looks like the dog @Oprah used to have. #NAACP Image Awards." - Jawn Murray

"Jill Scott's braids are TIGHT. She's got crazy beautiful skin. She's on the end of the row. Another winner?" - Honey Magazine






Ok...so let's talk opinions. Those two quotes showed up in my Twitter feed back-to-back during the taping on the NAACP Image Awards last night. I cracked up. I hadn't seen the awards or Jill Scott yet, but the commentary got my attention.

1st, let's look at the the sources...Jawn Murray and Honey Magazine. Jawn Murray is an entertainment columnist that posts lots of stories and interviews about Black Hollywood, appears on various clip shows and on the radio on the Tom Joyner Morning Show. Honey Magazine is a recently relaunched (online) urban magazine that focuses on fashion, entertainment and lifestyle. The major difference in the two if point of view. One, Jawn, seems to lean towards an older, sometimes gospel tinged, frame of reference. He'll cover everything from black TV to the Stellar Awards. The other, Honey Mag, is younger, fashion forward and cutting edge. They'll were front and center during Fashion Week last week covering all the new trends.

Is either better or worse? No. Not in any way. The fact is there is an entertainment/lifestyle journalist for every sensibility. What caught my attention is how two people in the same room PUBLICLY offered their opinion on someone. It happens all the time and that is the world we live in. The TMZ era made it normal to intrude into the lives of each and every person with even a whisper of fame. Twitter has upped the ante by making it "necessary" for people with a free account (like everyone else) to comment on the style, look, product or even life of anyone they want. That's just what it is. Opinion is the new business model.

People have based their entire careers on offering their opinions on websites all over. Why have a real job when you can use the existence of others to make people laugh (or even cry) and make a name for yourself. You don't need talent to do that. A good deal of the people you make your name off of have actual talent, but you don't. Optioning the talent of others to get yourself ahead. It's the American way. Ask Diddy.

The thing that I'm hoping these artist start realizing in that now, more than ever, you have to find your self esteem internally. You have to. People are dying in this industry left and right. A great deal of the issues they've deal with started with a self esteem problem. A lack of self esteem makes people seek fulfillment in all kinds of ways. Cheering crowds, plastic surgery, drugs, lots of women/men, anything and everything to make yourself gain the attention of other and feel better about yourself.

But, how do you ever gain self esteem in a world where you can be praised and criticized in the same 30 seconds, anywhere at anytime? You don't. That's something you have to do on your own. Someone may not like YOU because it's not THEIR preference. Maybe they don't get what you're trying to do because it's it's beyond their capacity. You really never know. Some people are just assholes because they're bitter. Some are critics because they can't do the work themselves. Not everyone is a journalist with credentials, education and the experience to back up their opinions. Andre Leon Talley might weigh in on your red carpet look, but so will Perez Hilton, one or more Kardashians, a comedian or two and every morning show from Los Angeles to Lansing.

Can you make everyone happy? Hell no! And why would you want to? It's exhausting making everyone happy. And you always end up forgetting the most important person. YOU! The fact is style is a part of the entertainment puzzle. You are a walking business card. I can't stress that enough. Sending a message that supports the career you're building and propels you forward is essential. But you won't live and die on the opinions of others. People that don't understand that are normally the ones who allow this business to kill them or at least, make them crazy. Do your best, step your game up, feel your best, make sure you are confident in what you're ding and how you look doing it. If someone doesn't like it, fuck em! At least you're happy...

Now if you refuse to even try, that's a whole different story...