It’s been a very very long time since I updated this blog with something related to my travels. I’ve been trekking across Brasil since September 2011, with the desire to actualize my dream of living in the country while pursuing my writing career. I’ve probably changed my plane ticket three times, had way too many almost-homeless scares, and certainly enough financial struggles to even make a broke college student blink twice. But finally, things are turning around and the universe has proven that it once again has everything under control.

I arrived in Rio de Janeiro almost 30 days ago with a little more than 20 U.S. dollars to my name and 4 months of Bahia memories. I attended a Vipassana silent meditation course for 10 days in Rio’s countryside (yes, it’s not all a city), received some much needed peace/clarity, ventured out into Rio de Janeiro the city when it was done, and began a journey that even my most well-connected friends and family members in the States are dumbfounded to explain. Without even trying, I’ve met some major artists doing groundbreaking work in Rio’s arts scene. I’ve had lunch with Black Brasilian activist legends. And I’ve met some incredible friends who have adopted me like family. After almost a month of craziness, hostel living, and so much uncertainty, I have finally achieved some balance in my traveling life. And I have made a huge decision.

I am staying in Rio de Janeiro…indefinitely. Meaning, I have no plans of going home and every intention of staying in Rio as long as possible.

The truth is that I had been on the fence about when I would return due to pending film festival applications for my film Bideology back in the United States. But as I have yet to receive a compelling offer, I’ve decided to truly pay attention to what all the signs seem to be telling me. The time and right opportunity will come for Bideology. It may not be a film festival premiere. It’s not something I should worry about. I need to focus on writing and Brasil is the place to do it.

That being said, I recently moved into a beautiful apartment in Rio that I’m sharing with an amazing young couple from Brasilia. And I’m steadfast building my writing portfolio, Corset (my magazine), and my consulting business to achieve a higher level of success. Opportunities have been flying out of the wind, allowing me to truly feel comfortable and confident in my progress here. And now that I’m feeling more financially secure, it’s looking like I’ll be able to prolong my love affair with Rio for as long as I please.

I want to thank everyone for all of your support and love during this process. Your messages have been very encouraging on Facebook, your emails have made some heavy transitioning days much lighter, and your donations have made the road smoother.

I made New York City my personal home almost five years ago. And now, I’m happy to say that Rio holds my next chapter.

I love you and if you’re ever in Rio de Janeiro, please let me know. I’d love to see you!

Until the next time we meet again…

Keep in touch,

Arielle Loren

I have some great news! Two months ago, I received an exciting email from the Women’s Media Center saying that renowned group of feminists, including Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda, and Carol Jenkins, had selected me as a nominee for the Women’s Media Center Social Media Award. The nominees represent a diverse group of journalists and bloggers that use the Internet and social networking to make sure that the voices of women and girls are visible and powerful in the media. The winner will accept the award at the Women’s Media Center Women’s Media Award show alongside special honorees: Soledad O’Brien, Lara Logan, Yanique Richards, and Maggie Wilderotter. I am humbled to say the least.

Here’s what I need you to do:

Go to this website: http://action.womensmediacenter.com/page/s/social-media-award-2011 

(If you want to see my picture/bio, scroll your mouse to the right over the pictures until you see “Arielle Loren”)

And vote by scrolling down, filling out the form, and selecting Arielle Loren from the list of nominees. It takes less than 180 seconds to do the whole thing and I’d definitely appreciate it!

In addition, if you really want to help (after you vote), please post on Facebook or Twitter “My friend Arielle Loren is up for the 2011 Women’s Media Center Social Media Award. Vote for her! (it takes less than 2 minutes) http://action.womensmediacenter.com/page/s/social-media-award-2011” 

And one more (very important) thing:

I’ve launched a fundraising campaign to cover the remaining costs of my travels, film, and new magazine. As many of you know, I have self-financed all of my projects in the past and the majority of my travels. But now, more than ever, I really, REALLY need your support, even if it’s only $15. If you’ve ever enjoyed one of my articles or been inspired by what I do, I’d appreciate a donation. I can’t do this alone anymore.

Click here to go to my fundraising page: http://www.gofundme.com/arielleloren

I mean it when I say that no donation is too small and have some great rewards to offer for your support!

I know this award and even the reasons behind this campaign would not have been possible without your support. And for that, I am thankful and look forward to taking my work to the next level to empower more people interested in women’s issues, sexuality, health, and traveling the world.

Onward and upward!

Sending you hugs from Brasil,

Arielle

Last week, Raynard Jackson penned a critique of Essence Magazine for losing its core mission of empowering black women and showcasing us outside of the mainstream spotlight.

He writes:

The impetus behind the founding of Essence was to show a side of Black women that was never portrayed in the mainstream media. Images of Black women were controlled by white media outlets that had little to no knowledge of the Black community. Most of these images were very stereotypical and lacking substance…

Now, Essence is just another Hollywood rag (focused on Black women), sprinkled with a few substantive, positive stories; but, that is no longer their focus!

I’d agree that Essence’s content primarily focuses on Black Hollywood. But I wouldn’t necessarily call that a bad move. What other publications are paying tribute to black female entertainers? Where else can we read feature interviews and view covers of Jill Scott, Laila Ali, Taraji Henson, or Sanaa Lathan? The truth is that print is a different world than online media. Point blank, celebrities sell rags faster than ordinary black people and social commentary. It is what it is, not what it should be.

Does Essence’s celebrity focus need some expanding? Certainly. As Zettler Clay of Clutch Magazine pointed out, there are enough Essence covers of Beyonce, Gabrielle Union, Monique or Mary J. Blige to last a lifetime. Why not showcase some new talent on the front page? Personally, I’d rather read a cover of Cathy Hughes on how she built Radio One and became an international powerhouse. Or why not pass the torch to Mara Brock-Akil or Ava Duvernay, two black female filmmakers changing the game?

Not everything Hollywood is bad, but it does take some creativity to make celebrity covers relatable to regular folks. In high school, I remember telling my journalism class that I wanted to be the next Angela Burt-Murray. And when I finally met her, I literally was speechless. I have nothing but respect for Essence and its editorial team. And before any of us pass judgement, until you know what it’s like to sell a print publication and increase circulation every year, be respectful with your comments.

How can Essence step up its editorial content? Speak on it.

On Friday, I penned a commentary piece for Clutch Magazine, asking the question: Is Beyonce the Face of Contemporary Feminism?

Of course, I expected backlash for putting Beyonce and feminism in the same sentence. But truthfully, everything written in that article represents a shift in identity for many women across the United States.

It’s not that Beyonce is the next Gloria Steinem or Angela Davis. Simply put, she represents a brand of feminism in which women are tired of suppressing their sexual selves in exchange for being labeled a powerhouse for all of their other multidimensional qualities.

I find it interesting that many women claim to love Beyonce for “superficial” reasons, but clearly identify with her music in some capacity. As listed in the article, Beyonce represents many aspects of womanhood between the success of her career and her sexual confidence. The question remains:

Why does her sexuality (in terms of public expression) conflict with feminism?

Is feminism not about empowering our whole selves?

I find it interesting that traditional feminists conveniently forget that black women have been hip dipping and gyrating for centuries. Beyonce isn’t the queen of anything new, but she is representative of a staple in our ancestral dance culture.

Why is it now “hypersexual” in the context of mainstream media? Because white people are watching? I’m more concerned about finding ways to incorporate our culture and sex-positive discussions into the feminist movement. Frankly, “they” are the last priority on my list of concerns.

It’s one thing to complain that there are too many Beyonce’s in the media. I’d agree, but suggesting that she isn’t about the empowerment of women is blasphemy. Too many Destiny’s Child songs and black female karaoke sessions have proved otherwise. And there’s a reason why our First Lady can publicly state that she loves Beyonce.

Beyonce plays her role in feminism and admittedly, she’s not the spokesperson for “the pay gap between men and women or the degrading lyrics of hip-hop,” as my writer-friend Bene Viera argued. Her brand of empowerment definitely focuses on women stepping outside of the realm of shame for being sexually confident, independent, and driven in their careers.

I am disappointed in feminists that simply label Beyonce, tits and ass. Her multi-platform success has proven otherwise, she’s not just “another video vixen.” Until feminism stops becoming a clique and something primarily exclusive of the Academy, it will continue to lose power and fail to connect with a new generation of women.

Does Beyonce represent every woman? Absolutely, not. She caters to a particular feminine side of our gender and those who aren’t afraid to wear sexual confidence on their sleeves.

Many women relate to rocking freakum dresses, graduating from prestigious universities, building powerhouse careers, and loving their families, all at the same time. Regardless of whether or not you agree with Beyonce’s body performance politics, we ought to inspire young women to be confident in every aspect of themselves…not just the non-sexual characteristics.

Identity is a gumbo.

Powerful. Intelligent. Career-driven. Family-oriented. Feminine. Masculine. Sexual.

All of these adjectives can exist simultaneously. And that’s the feminism that will inspire a revival in the movement. I’m ready for the fourth wave.

It is rare that a film invades my imagination to the point of insomnia. After seeing Tanya Hamilton’s Night Catches Us starring Kerry Washington and Anthony Mackie, I felt a sense of deep pride wash over my body and nudge my mind into continuous thoughts about the potential for independent productions to rebalance diversity in black film. Based in Philadelphia, Night Catches Us tells the story of two former black panthers trying to re-establish life after leaving The Party and the death of a fellow panther years ago. While the central plot revolves around these two characters’ lives, Hamilton integrates into the film historic footage of the Black Panther Party. As this era of black history often is pigeonholed to radicalism, Hamilton truly humanizes The Party through several scenes of police brutality, corruption, and community gatherings. For instance, Washington’s character, Patricia, would raise money to pay the legal fees for her less fortunate clients and feed every child on the block even when she couldn’t pay her light bill.

This sentiment of “community first” is the history with which I identify and the one that I wish we could spread to more mainstream screens. While watching this film, I saw my reflection. From Washington’s afro to her desire to serve her community, I felt hope again for the half-baked images rummaging through mainstream black film. Night Catches Us only is playing in select theaters, BUT you can rent it on iTunes and On Demand via Comcast. Thus, there’s no excuse not to support this film; we’ve got to support the films that we want to see in the mainstream. I hope Night Catches Us will be nominated for an Oscar and brought to larger screens. As a first time director, Hamilton has left me quite impressed and I can’t wait to see what other stories she will bring to life during her career. Additionally, I am truly proud to see my reflection in her too.

Check out the trailer Night Catches Us below and if you haven’t seen the film, view it on iTunes.

Tell me, how can we get more films like this onto the big screen?

If you haven’t been following the news, Israel’s parliament voted over the weekend to construct “massive detention centers” for illegal African immigrants in order to preserve “Jewish culture and character.”

Yes, you read that correctly. Despite European Jews and many elderly Israelis experiencing similar treatment under the early stages of the Nazi regime, Israel has decided to build ghettos and round up illegal African people like cattle. As the U.S. government spends millions of dollars funding Israel’s defense budget, I have a SERIOUS issue with the U.S. giving another penny to a state that clearly has no interest in human rights.

An Israeli official has stated:

And the center, where the migrants would be housed, fed and receive medical care, would be a “humanitarian solution” for dealing with them until they are repatriated or sent to a third country, he said.

Read the full article here

Yet, Israel’s Cabinet minister of prisons already stated that the country is ill equipped to run this type of facility. Thus, it is bound to be another ghetto. There is no way that any type of “refugee” facility rooted in “preserving Jewish culture and character” (i.e. ethnic cleansing) would be humane. If anything, we can just look at Israel’s construction of Palestinian ghettos if we want a lighter preview for what’s to come. I expect this facility to be very similar, if not worse.

Moreover, how does Israel plan to “fill” these facilities? Racial profiling of any brown person walking the streets? Random door busting of “prospective” illegal African homes?

We’re about to witness the first comings of the Israeli “Gestapo” using the same ruthless tactics as their former German oppressors, not even a century after recovering from the Holocaust.

Let us be clear. Many “illegal” African immigrants arrived in Israel LEGALLY. They were employed, visas expired, and many of them continue to work for Israeli employers.

Israel, did you really expect people to respectfully repatriate themselves after being given meaningful employment in your country that better serves their families? Not to mention, how many European Jews (some illegal) “took” employment from the “white” race back during the WWII era? Was that not the same justification that Hitler used to throw your people in ghettos like the ones you are about to build?

It is the year two thousand and ten. Is it impossible for governments to establish comprehensive immigration reform that doesn’t threaten human rights?

Another thing, I’m sure that Africans are not the only illegal immigrants in Israel. I find it so interesting that these facilities specifically are being built for them.

As the U.S. government often fails to have a backbone in dealings with Israel, it is likely that we are about to witness the beginnings of a second Holocaust. As the good poem by Martin Niemoller goes …

When the Nazis came for the communists, 
I remained silent;
 I was not a communist. 

When they locked up the social democrats, 
I remained silent; 
I was not a social democrat.

 When they came for the trade unionists, 
I did not speak out;
 I was not a trade unionist.

 When they came for the Jews,
 I remained silent;
 I wasn’t a Jew.

 When they came for me, 
there was no one left to speak out.

Between legalization of racial profiling in Arizona a few months ago and Israel’s continued shenanigans, I’m almost speechless.

What are your thoughts?…