The VSB Files — Episode 003: Black Woman Down? A Conversation with Helena Andrews

Hey young world. Today we bring you a discussion with the woman that seemingly launched a thousand ships with a Washington Post profile article that made it to the far reaches of Negronia and beyond. Helena Andrews (aka Big H, as we affectionately call her), author of the forthcoming book Bitch Is The New Black, has been the subject of many a blog post and article in the past few weeks (including here at VSB) and we figured that we’d reach out to her and see if she’d be willing to chat with us. Lo and behold, she accepted our offer and what followed was a long, yet interesting discussion about the WaPo article and her characterization in it, dating in the urban professional community, East vs. West Coast rap debate, Tyler Perry, and ultimately her book and what it intends to bring to the table.

Enjoy.

Podcast Notes: This was taped in December before Christmas so all references to last week are to December. Also, because Panama decided to participate while out Christmas shopping, there are some minor spots of sound distortion and he sounds like a doof. Forgive him people for he knows not what he thinks half the time.

Download: (right click > save as)

-VERY SMART BROTHAS (aka Big C and lower.case.p)

how helena andrews (and every other successful and lonely young black woman) can improve her luck

helena_cartoon1

i’ve never met helena andrews, and i most likely never will.

but, after reading “successful, black, and lonely” and watching the corresponding video, i can say that i’ve known, dated, slept with, talked to, discussed, consoled, admonished, sympathized with, and theorized about her my entire adult life.

i also know that her washington post profile will probably spawn a nation-wide discussion about the perpetually single successful black female of the saks fifth serengeti, and that ms andrews and her upcoming memoir (“bitch is the new black”) will be dissected, debated, and dichotomized more times than drake’s appeal.

admittedly, i don’t know exactly why ms. andrews herself is single. her lonely lot could be due to anything from bad choices, bad luck, and bad timing to haughtiness, hopelessness, and halitosis. but, i’ve known enough of her doppelgangers to have a pretty good idea of a few things she might be able to do (or stop doing) to improve her fortune: Continue reading