by Inez Woody

When asked to join VASSARMagazine.Com's staff, I was excited to bring forward my insight on controversial and informative subjects from a woman's point of view. After all, VASSARMagazine.com creates cross-READERLIZATION. Our intention is to reach everyone's lifestyle, including gender, culture, race, and sexual orientation, and thus far that is exactly what we have done. We deliver! And we will continue to do just that.

As a contributing writer and Editor-at-Large, I've written about some racy topics and submitted my share of controversial articles since VASSARMagazine.com took off like a bat out of hell last year back in September. However, I've invoked some heavy emotions in our readers. I've brought you articles such as "What Women Really Want" (Sept 2007), "How to Know If You're the Other Woman" (March 2008), and "I Am Not My Hair" (Oct 2007--- an article that touched on African-American women's views about how other cultures are infatuated and curious by our diverse hairstyles and how we are viewed in Corporate America). When you guys read my articles, sometimes they hit too close to home, while other times you may feel I am clearly in left field. I was told by one reader that the latter article should be posted in every HR manual in every corporate office across the country. However, in the same day, I was labeled as a feminist.  Yikes! Some days it can be very encouraging to have such positive feedback, while other days the feedback can be quite harsh. This comes with being a journalist. Just as I have an opinion when writing, you guys also have your opinions when you respond.

Although many of my subjects are related directly to me being a woman, some have been related directly to me being an African-American woman. As a co-founder of a women’s organization (J.U.S.T. - www.embracingJUST.com), I always seem to have the woman’s point of view at the tip of my tongue. It's not to offend you.  Trust me, it isn't. But if I can't invoke emotions from you when I write, then I'm not doing my job. This month I decided to switch gears. I wrote two articles entitled Special Report: A Not So Simple Plan to Keep African Girls in School and Why Higher Education Is So Important. I told Maurice McCormick, Editor-in-Chief, that I wanted to back up from the kitchen because it was getting a little too hot by writing on different subjects other than my usual, and he rightfully told me that I was losing my edge if I traded in my sassy views simply because someone gave their opinion. "Never let another man's opinions become your reality," is what Maurice told me. As my friend and boss, I appreciate his words of wisdom. Although April's issue gives you another insight into my views on education as I discuss very crucial subjects, it's Not Too Much Honey---but don't think y'all ran me off just yet. There's much more to come...