Yejide The Night Queen/ Storm the Mamawize is many things. She is an entrepeneur, a renowned underground hip hop & spoken word artist, a technically trained dancer, model, a writer & producer, natural hair stylist & jeweler, a college graduate and most importantly MY HERO- and my AMAZING MOTHER!

In the month of February- BLACK HISTORY MONTH- we are reminded to reflect on our heroes. Immediately the likes of Nelson Mandela, Cicely Tyson, Tyra Banks, Sidney Portier, Barack Obama and the like come to mind. But when I think of my mother's unconditional love, how she always knows what I need, her superb listening and understanding, the new age yet old school approach she has to parenting (seriously- she needs to write a book!) and her many talents and accomplishments- there's really NO COMPETITION!

She is the quintessential strong black woman. She graduated the prestigious Brooklyn Technical High School in 1988 and gave birth to me her first semester of college. She was STILL able to attain a bachelors in criminal justice from John Jay College and attain a paralegal certificate from L.I.U. some time after. By this time I had a little brother, so she was managing single motherhood, 2 children, pursuing higher education AND her performing arts endeavors, keeping a roof over our heads, food in our mouths, clothes on our backs and our heads in our textbooks!!

In addition to her many talents & work ethic, her spiritual background played a tremendous role in my upbringing. She follows many Muslim & Rastafarian traditions and never forced my brother & I to pick a religion. My father is a devout Christian so that would've been very overwhelming. Instead she taught us about many different cultures and allowed us to formulate our own opinions, and our own relationships with the most high. My brother and I have always been well rounded, cultured, conversational, fun loving people. We pride ourselves on being exceptional students with open minds and that is a direct reflection of our parenting. Our mother led by example. We were always encouraged to explain ourselves if ever we were in trouble, to be honest at all costs, to be friendly and courteous to each and every person we encountered, to call our family to check in every now and then, to protect each other, and other seemingly small but amazing things that helped to make us very tolerant, loving, amicable people.

I brought a son into the world 2-28-08 and I'm glad that he has the opportunity to get to know my amazing mother, his grandmother and to share a home with her for the first couple years of his life, while I follow in her footsteps and finish college the CUNY way =) My little brother, Koyami is a Senior at Concord Academy applying to colleges now.

WE ARE PSYCHED !!!!!!!!

This is just one of many ways I plan to honor my mother for all she's been through, all she's done, and to honor her for all I know she WILL do.

I Love you Umi !!!!