a poem for thought-langston hughes

if i had a choice of what time period i could go back and take part in, it would be a stiff competition between the rebellious sixties and the roaring twenties harlem renaissance era.  but for this post, lets go with the latter.  and if i had the choice of who i would want to hang out with during the harlem r., it would be zora neale hurston, madam c.j. walker and langston hughes.  langston was the cool cat of the times.  he made being black en vogue.  in fact, these talented trendsetters made harlem THE place to be.  i can see myself now, dressed to the nines in my flapper dress, cute hat, and fingerwaved bob, pontificating on race relations in america across the table from mr. hughes in his spiffy suit at a blues set.  later, we'd head over to one of those rent parties to dance and eat. 
ok... i got a little carried away with my dream sequence.  the point is langston hughes was one of our greatest and most respected poet/writers.  and he went to my alma mater.  #lincoln love  enjoy one of his most celebrated works "mother to son."

Mother to Son by Langston Hughes


Well, son, I'll tell you:
Life for me ain't been no crystal stair.
It's had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I'se been a-climbin' on,
And reachin' landin's,
And turnin' corners,
And sometimes goin' in the dark
Where there ain't been no light.
So, boy, don't you turn back.
Don't you set down on the steps.
'Cause you finds it's kinder hard.
Don't you fall now—
For I'se still goin', honey,
I'se still climbin',
And life for me ain't been no crystal stair.

                                                                    besos jenna pearle*

The Met: American Woman: Fashioning a National Identity

well, while on my summer holiday, i ventured out to the metropolitan museum of art on 5th Ave. currently, there is a phenomenal exhibit you may be interested in. its called "american woman" and it celebrates its namesake. i so enjoyed my time there. fantastic clothing from the gibson girl days, breathtaking flapper gowns with the perfect accessories, curve embracing pieces from the 40s and 50s. then there was my favorite part: the montage of american women that make us proud from the 60's on. if you get a chance to go visit, i doubt you'll be disappointed.

just remember...the price ($20) is a suggestion; you can pay less.

ta ta xoxo jenna pearle*

fine art

i love this piece by dawn okoro. don't know much about the artist at the moment but that will change soon. isn't this stunning?

xoxo jenna pearle*

jenny from the block (east siiiiiiiiiiide)

you know how i feel about gossip girl. can't wait for it to return this month (i hope). in the meantime, here are a couple of pics of taylor (aka jenny bka lil j) playing dress up. the first look is a glammed up sophisticated flapper girl. the next is another favorite look of mine, blazer with short shorts. they even incorporated a touch of plaid for that added sass appeal. in both images, the red adds an unexpected burst of excitement. good job, jenny!

the one and only jenna pearle*