Letters To The Editor - Brief Article - Letter to the Editor

Hats off to Juanita Jordan, Jada Pinkett Smith and Tracey Edmonds on the importance of family that they relayed in your article, "New Faces Of Celebrity Wives With Lives And Careers Of Their Own" (March 2000). These positive views must be heard throughout our communities! Thanks, ladies!

LORI BATES Hazel Crest, Ill.

After reading the article, "New Faces Of Celebrity Wives," especially the piece on Jada Pinkett Smith, it makes me really hold my head up, be proud and stand tall because she values her roles as wife and mother as No. 1. And I agree with her 100 percent. No matter what I do in this lifetime, nothing will be more important than raising my children and loving my husband. It would be even better if every single woman who brought a child into this world felt that way. Will Smith should be proud. Thank you, EBONY, for such a positive article.

MS. JADE C. WOODSON River Rouge, Mich.

I really enjoyed the article on Tracey Edmonds, Juanita Jordan and Jada Pinkett Smith. These are true Sisters who are taking charge of their lives and careers. I really respect them for that. This article really touched me.

PAMELA GULLY Loxely, Ala.

BIG BOOM IN BLACK WOMEN WRITERS

I am writing in regard to the article, "What's Behind The Big Boom In Black Women Writers" (March 2000). I found this article very refreshing. It's about time that everyone realizes that Black women have a voice. Because I am currently pursuing this field, it's invigorating to see that people are realizing that we are more than just mothers, wives and lovers. We have feelings, a soul and thoughts that do not necessarily pertain to our regular roles. It is also time that people know that it's not only Black men who can be successful, but Black women can, too. It gives me so much pride in my race to see that we are supporting Black authors. I am also glad that we do not feel pressured any more into reading White authors (exclusively) whose lives and cultures are so different that we cannot identify with them.

SHARON SIMMONS Arlington, Texas

WHY SO MANY BLACK WOMEN ARE OVERWEIGHT

After reading the article, "Why So Many Black Women Are Overweight--And What They Can Do About It" (March 2000), I must disagree with certain portions of it. For instance, Dr. Hickman stated she would like to choke the person who created the title "full-figured woman." Has she ever stopped to think it could have been a woman who was frustrated with hearing terms such as "big," "fat," "large," etc., etc.? Or it could have been created by a full-figured woman who was very confident and content with her life? With society being attracted to petite women, the full-figured woman should make herself happy as best she can. Recently, there was a discussion on television about models who are 20 years old being considered "too old," and now the look is for younger models.

As for the medical concern, I cannot disagree with there being some health risks related to obesity, but there is a question as to who is right and who is wrong. What should a full-figured woman (or anyone) believe when it comes to all of this conflicting information? Even within the article there is a difference over medical opinions.

BRUCE GAYNOR Dillwyn, Va.

MAXWELL

In the March 2000 issue of EBONY, Maxwell's mother was identified as "an American-born African American" when, specifically, she is of West Indian descent.

Thank you very much for making this correction.

KATE ANDREWS Shore Fire Media Brooklyn, N.Y.

Thank you, EBONY, for featuring Maxwell in the article, "Maxwell: Hottest Hunk Of The New Millennium" (March 2000). However, I didn't agree with the title of the article. Maxwell is attractive and a talented musician, and I feel even "he" would not have wanted that "label." Thank you, again.

STEPHANIE M. JORDAN Fort Myers, Fla.

Maxwell, the pleasure was all mine when I first heard "Fortunate" on the radio. You are truly loved by African-Americans. Your music has inspired me to love myself. I want you to know that you are the bomb, and thanks for still loving your people enough to play what you know.

FELICIA JOHNSON Minneapolis, Minn.

BLACK COLLEGE QUEENS

Editor's Note: Leah Cooper is the campus queen of Sojourner-Douglas College in Baltimore, Md.

WHY SO MANY WOMEN ARE CHOOSING TO HAVE CHILDREN WITHOUT A MATE

Do we not have enough problems with children being raised in single-parent households? Take one look around and you can see that this is one of the biggest problems that faces our race. Children of single parents tend to live in poverty more often than their two-parent household counterparts. The one parent has to work, which leads to children being raised by day-care providers instead of a parent. In today's society, it takes the efforts and time of two parents. Please do not insult our intelligence by saying that one loving parent is better than two awful ones. Our selfish wants and needs should not be put ahead of an innocent child's. We should not make a conscious effort to bring a child into the world without the benefit of a father for them. It is not fair to the children and not fair to society.