I'm Touched by The Real!

Hey Byrds! Happy Labor Day!

I don't know if you all have heard of this talk show The Real or not. It's a daytime talk show that aired on Fox channels in a few cities during the summer in the hopes that it would be picked up in the fall. The hosts are actress Tamera Mowry-Housley, singer Tamar Braxton, comedienne Loni Love, stylist Jeannie Mai, and singer Adrienne Bailon. Did I mention that it is a diverse multiracial cast of women???? Black, Black and White, Vietnamese and Chinese, AND Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian! I LOVE THAT!

The hosts from Left to Right: Jeannie, Loni, Tamera, Adrienne, and Tamar

Picture of (Left to Right) Adrienne, Tamar,and Tamera

I've never watched an episode of this show; just a clip now and then. However, seeing this video was one of the most touching things I've seen in a long time. I've grown up with Tamera (Sister, Sister, Twitches, Seventeen Again) and Adrienne (Cheetah Girls, 3LW) and have learned and connected a lot with Tamar (The Braxtons, Toni Braxton's youngest sister) over the past few months so I had some background into their journeys.
This video was real. Not faking. Not TV. They were saying their truths.

I'd like to note that Tamar is often seen as loud, boisterous, fake (weaves, wigs, eyelashes, plastic surgery), etc. but she didn't get that way just because. Life is tough and life as the youngest sister is NO JOKE. If doing and saying the things she does and altering her natural appearance makes her more ok with herself, then I say YOU GO GIRL! In a Q&A, she's mentioned that she's been dropped from every record label she's ever been signed with. People have told her she should just find a new occupation. Have any of you heard her voice?? I'm a die hard Beyonce` fan, but I recognize talent when it appears. Tamar has a beautiful, beautiful voice. Also, people judge her and say she's a gold digger for being with Vince. They don't take into account the hardships a person goes through in the dating game and if that man came up to her, was respectful while courting her, and made her feel like she was worth it just for being who she was, then you can tend to overlook something as shallow as his physical appearance. In fact, his "imperfections" can grow on you and become what you love the most about him.

He's a teddy bear!

That's a sign of real maturity, so I definitely respect her relationship with Vince. He's a real dude! Like he's legitimately a nice guy. What more can you ask for?

Another quick point, Tamera has gone through all sorts of backlash for marrying Adam Housley because he's White. People have said that it shows that she doesn't accept her Black roots and a whole bunch of other crap like that. Love is love. Point blank period. It doesn't see race.

So often we (Yes, I'M included in that group) judge people for their actions, especially women without knowing them or knowing what they might have been going through. I'm struggling with that but my college years have been a BLUNT wake up call showing me that we are all more alike than not and have our own stories for why we are the way we are. It's so easy for us to talk about someone's hair, who they're dating or how they danced at a party but when it's flipped on us, its somehow different. (It's really not.) I hate to sound preachy, but Jesus really did say it best: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone [at her]." We all make mistakes! Who are we to judge others?

Some things that are making me slow to judge as of late are my own actions these past few years. How can I judge people who do drugs when so many of my peers smoke weed and the teens I mentor are recovering from substance abuse issues? How can I judge women for their actions at parties when I'm no angel either, I just do it classier ??? Yeah, no. It has to go both ways. 

Anyway, I'm off my soap box, but, if you could, just take a little time and watch this heartfelt clip from The Real's last airing.

CAUTION: This video contains LOTS OF TEARS!!!