MySpace not cutting it? Tired of getting poked on Facebook? That’s where Ning comes in.

A few years back, “King of Motown”, Smokey Robinson, graced the stage of Def Poetry Jam highlighting a dilemma that many of us in the Diaspora struggle with: What do we name ourselves and why?

This Week: A 5-year-old saves the lives of his mother and soon-to-be born sister; Tameka J. Raymond talks about her attempted aesthetic surgery gone wrong and how all shades are equally beautiful; and thousands receive free health services in California.

Maybe he/she has an accent; or cracks a joke and has an inviting laugh; or his/her tone is simply seductive. It can be anything that makes you imagine this person on the other end being sexy as all hell and consider not getting off the phone.

“The ‘uppity Negro’. You may not have committed a crime, but you know what? You’ve got a big mouth.”

I’ll let you know from jump that my boyfriend and I are random and have a tendency to be competitive. So it’s no surprise that one night, while hanging out on the couch, we ended up having a battle to see which one of us could YouTube the illest and most obscure music videos from our childhood.

While the U.S. media has us distracted by the supposed down-low phenomenon, the real reason why the HIV infection rate is high in our community is because systemic racism and the stigmatization of the virus has our lips sealed and eyes closed.

This week: Ron Artest sings for Michael, Haiti battles the HIV epidemic and more.

Twenty years ago today, Mookie, Da Mayor, Mother-Sister, Radio Raheem, Mister Señor Love Daddy, Buggin’ Out and Smiley entered our lives.

“Words carry power because of the power dynamic and personal history of the people who are involved in the conversation. If someone seems offended by what you have called them, you must ask why and apologize.” – Staceyann Chin