Excerpts from the Diary of a Diva

As we celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Martin Luther King today, let's not forget about our own dreams. I have a dream... That one day, men will realize that marriage isn't a life sentence to misery and boredom. It's the basis for economic success and stability. I have a dream... That women realize that we're not in competition with each other. If we work together, we can change our world. I have a dream... That both men and women will come together to educate the children. If we teach them to love and respect themselves and each other, maybe they'll be too busy to engage in the foolishness that makes their lives miserable later. I have a dream... That one day, we won't see one body type, or facial type, or ethnicity as beautiful. Instead, everyone's beauty will be celebrated for its uniqueness. I have a dream... That we'll learn to celebrate the diversity in humanity. And we'll learn that we can love each other in spite of o...

It's been a minute since I weighed in on current affairs, but as I listen to all the flack Beyonce is getting over her $50 million-dollar endorsement deal with Pepsi , I feel that I must. To all you naysayers, leave that woman alone! We all know that Pepsi isn't the drink of choice if we want to be healthy. We all know that Beyonce probably isn't kicking them back on a daily basis. And the people who want to drink Pepsi -- or any other kind of soda -- will do it whether or not Beyonce is on the commercials. And let's be real clear -- if they gave you $50 million dollars, you'd shake your groove thing to the music of anything, too. At the end of the day, obesity isn't something that's thrust upon any of us. It doesn't hunt us down and overtake us while we're not looking. It's the result of active neglect. Contrary to popular belief, there's not one food or drink we can blame for being fat. And if we really want to lose weight, we know that...

I crossed a line. After six years of fighting, I crossed a line with a friend. It's not like I didn't know it would happen. It was always a matter of when...and how. When I first met him, I wasn't overly attracted to him. For one, he's really not my type. And honestly, he reminds me of every chauvinistic guy I've ever met. He insists on being "The Man" in every situation. Which would be fine...except he's too impatient to wait on all the information before he acts. That particular brand of impatience explains why he had his first baby at 15 with the woman who'd later become his wife. He couldn't wait to grow up and get educated like normal teenagers. Instead, he got married and raised three kids...and became a grandparent at the tender age of 36. Now he's playing catch-up on the life he should've had. He just got his degree last year. And now he wants to date. Here's what's wrong with that -- besides the obvious. This near...

Dear Republicans, Yes, you lost the election. Yes, your message didn't resonate with women, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians. And yes, the stupid members of your party really helped those on the fence decide to vote against you. Mitt Romney is running around saying that the Democrats basically bought specific voting blocks with 'gifts' like affordable health care and student loan forgiveness. For a party that prides itself on taking personal responsibility, you're playing the blame game like a champ. Did it ever occur to you that your willingness to let the auto industry tank would come back to haunt you? Did you think that endorsing (for all intent and purposes) a member of your party who told women that they couldn't get pregnant from 'legitimate' rape would be okay? Honestly, how did you expect people to vote for you when you wrote off 47 percent of Americans as freeloaders who're looking for a handout? You know, this isn't a time in h...

Today is such a weird day. It's a cold morning in Los Angeles. My east coast family is under siege from 'The Perfect Storm,' and I'm recovering from my first half marathon. Yes, you read that right...I, MackDiva, being of questionable mind and out-of-shape body, actually participated in an athletic endeavor over the weekend. What made me do it? The initial reason was to be with my cousin. She runs marathons as a tribute to beating cancer a couple of years ago. She was the one who told me about it, and I said I'd sign up, too. Well, she changed her mind because she had some other family obligations. Of course, by the time I found out she wouldn't be coming, I was already committed had already paid. Horrid, right? I thought I'd be able to make the best of it. At first, I was trying to train. I would update my Facebook and Twitter regularly with my exploits. Then reality set in I got bored with the concept. So I stopped. Honestly, I would've dropped o...

One day... I'll express my feelings to you Without fear crowding out my words. One day... I'll know what it's like to hear your whisper In the still of the night. One day... The love we feel for each other Will overtake us in ways we never imagined. To-day... It's all a fantasy that you may or may not share.

Am I too sheltered? Have I protected myself too much? I find myself wondering about these things lately. Especially when I see my Facebook friends happily hooking up with one person, then another. Each time their faces reflect the joy that can only come from love, both giving and receiving. In my quest to protect my heart, have I missed out on that? Although I've had my fair share of lovers, I haven't really dated much. And the guys that I've chosen to spend my vertical time with haven't always been sweet to me. Most times, they start off wonderful. I start seeing forever in their eyes. And then the sex comes. That's usually about the same time the clouds hit their countenance. Suddenly the funny jokes start to have an edge to them. Then, "Call me when you get home so I know you've made it," turns into "See ya." I let a few of them hang on after then, but not many. And now I wonder...is it necessary to hold on a little longer to get the...