Articles by: Yolanda Sangweni and Bobbi Misic

40 Reasons to Love Our GirlfriendsWhy We Love Our GirlfriendsSure you could live without your girlfriends, but would you really want to? Who would you shop, workout, talk trash or watch reality TV with? Who would you tell your deepest, darkest secrets. Who would you cry to or celebrate with? Let these 40 reasons we love our girlfriends remind you why life is way better with good friends by your side.They're all-knowingA good girlfriend knows everything about you... everything. Yep, even the things you wish nobody knew, and she loves you anyway.They're our favorite fashionistasYour girlfriend's closest are filled with fashionable pieces that you can't wait to borrow.They're with us through the best of timesGood friends are by our side through births, weddings and even job promotions....And the worstLife isn't always a bowl of cherries and our best girlfriends don't disappear when the times get tough.Oh No They Didn't!A good girlfriend will curse out anybody for calling you out of your name without you even asking her to.They make the best travel companionsReally, nothing beats a relaxed getaway with good girlfriends.They help us choose the right menLife is full of tricky relationship situations, but an honest gal pal will remind us of what we need, not want, most in a man.They're our best cheerleadersOur girlfriend is great for when we need to have someone in our corner cheering us on.They have unconditional loveNo matter what happens in life, we can always count on our girlfriends' unconditional love.Our bond remains strong despite distance and timeIf we don't speak for weeks or even months at a time and then we do connect it's as if we never lost touchThey're the best sounding boardsIt seems all we have to do is think of her in a time of need and she is already on her way to help.Sometimes they even look like usEver had a stranger ask whether you and your BFF are related? It's the best feeling.They make the best dessert buddiesWho else can enjoy a really good piece of chocolate cake better than your girlfriend?They party better than anybody elseFew people can make you have a good time quite like your girls.They make us laughA good girlfriend knows how to make us laugh so hard until we cry. Her sense of humor is refreshing and always keeps a smile on our face.They're the best hairstylistsGirlfriends are always down to hook up your hair and makeup before you head out for a night on the town.They take one for the teamA good girlfriend never complains about being your wing woman and will gladly chat up your guy's strange friend, just so you can have some extra flirt time. Just don't expect her to go on a date with him. She's got to draw the line somewhere.Girl, Change that OutfitA good girlfriend tells you when that outfit is all wrong or your weave needs a touch up.Check Yourself Before You Wreck YourselfGirlfriends tell you when you're being shady and need to come correct.They're the best remedyThey're the only ones that'll get within 10 feet of you when you are running a high fever to bring you cough drops and chicken soup.Thyey're the best matchmakersGirlfriends always have a Rolodex of eligible bachelors to hook you up with.We have the best conversationsTwo-hour long conversations feel like 5 minutes with good girlfriends.We swear they have psychic powersGirlfriends know when you say, "I don't want anything big for my birthday," that you really want a surprise party and that guy you have a major crush on better be there.They don't rub it inEven after telling you that he was no good, girlfriends doesn't say "I told you so" when he shows his true colors.They chow down...Girlfriends won't let you eat that tray of hot wings and jalapeno poppers all by yourself.They're always a couch awayYou know that if you and your guy split up or have a major fight and you need a place to go and clear your head, your girlfriend's couch already has your name on it.They throw down in the kitchenA good girlfriend makes the best gumbo you've ever had (aside from your mom's, of course).TV QueenGood girlfriends are always down to come over for cocktails and a "Sex and the City" or "Soul Food" marathon.Dancefloor DivaA good girlfriend is always ready to sweat out her relaxer on the dance floor with you.They make the best workout buddiesGirlfriends get out of bed at 8 am on a Saturday to meet you at the gym.They are supportiveIn any phase of life, true girlfriends will always have your back.They embrace our differencesWe have enough in common to love being together, but we also appreciate our uniqueness and differences.They bring us joyFrom cooking a meal together to enjoying a movie at home in our pj's, we can always count on a good time when we're with good girlfriends.They inspire us to dreamWe love to dream big and our girlfriend is just as ambitious and admirable as we are.We balance each other outLike yin and yang, hot and cold, there is always the perfect balance between true girlfriends.They are a shoulder to cry onLife's hardships can bring us to tears sometimes, and the comforting hug of a true friend is invaluable.They pray for usOur girlfriend's spirituality is a precious gem. She knows when to get on her knees or when it's time to go to church.They can help us sort out relationship dramaEvery woman goes through hard times in relationships. Having a girlfriend that will hear us out is definitely a good thing.They're always there to talk shopNothing says "best friend" like accompanying you to find a new pair of skinny jeans. Your girls are there to talk you off a ledge when you have to go up two sizes to fit into those European designer duds. They'll also convince you not to spend $200 on denim and try on the most eccentric of outfits just to make you laugh.They remind us that Black is beautifulOur girlfriends are the epitome ofstrong, black women.We are always reminded of that when we think of our bff.

Wives of Iconic Black LeadersBehind Every Great Man......There is a great woman. These are women who have sometimes sacrificed their personal ambitions not only for their husbands, but for the greater good of us all. As we celebrate Black History Month, we take a look at the women behind some of our most iconic leaders, from Coretta Scott King to Michelle Obama.Betty ShabazzAlso known as Betty X, Betty Shabazz was married to prominent civil rights activist Malcolm X. The two met at a dinner party and Betty was instantly impressed with her future husband. They had six daughters together — Attallah, Qubilah, Ilyasah, Gamilah, Malikah and Malaak.Betty Shabazzfter her husband's assassination in 1965, Shabazz made a life-changing pilgrimage to Mecca. She earned her doctorate in 1975 and became an associate professor of health sciences at Medgar Evers College in 1976. Throughout her life, Shabazz was an active volunteer with the NAACP and the National Urban League. She also served on an advisory committee on family planning for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Coretta Scott KingCoretta Scott King is the widow of America's most prominent Civil Rights Leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. The two wed on her mother's lawn on June 18, 1953. Together they have four children, Yolanda, Martin Luther King III, Dexter and Bernice.Coretta Scott KingMartin Luther King, Jr. often thanked his wife for the sacrifices she made for the Civil Rights Movement. Coretta participated in the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and worked diligently to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964. After MLK's 1968 assassination, she continued to lead the fight for racial equality and became a prominent leader in the Women's Movement.Winnie MandelaSouth African activist, Winnie Mandela married Nelson Mandela in 1958. She would spend most of their 34-year marriage alone because Nelson was imprisoned for 27 years. During those years Winnie fought to keep the legacy of her imprisoned husband alive, earning her the moniker, "Mother of the Nation."Winnie MandelaWinnie Mandela continues to work with the African National Congress' Women's League. She continues to campaign against poverty and oppression.Myrlie Evers-WilliamsMyrlie Evers-Williams married civil rights leader and Mississippi NAACP field secretary Medgar Evers in 1951. The couple had three children together before Evers was assassinated by the Ku Klux Klan in 1963.Myrlie Evers-WilliamsAfter her husband's assassination Myrlie Evers-Williams earned a degree in Pomona College and continued her work as an activist helping to found the National Women's Political Caucus in 1971. She served as chairman of the NAACP from 1995 to 1998.Hazel ScottClassical pianist Hazel Dorothy Scott married Harlem politician Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., then the first Black congressmen in New York, in 1945. Their marriage would last 11 years.Hazel ScottOn her own, Scott was known as a brilliant musician and a fierce campaigner for civil rights. She was also the first Black woman to host her own television show in 1950.Rachel RobinsonRachel Annette Isum married Jackie Robinson -the first Black Major League Baseball player - in 1946. The two met at UCLA in 1941 and had three children, Jackie Robinson, Jr., Sharon and David. After her husband's retirement, Rachel pursued a nursing career and be came an Assistant Professor at Yale School of Nursing and the Director of Nursing at Connecticut Mental Health Center.Rachel RobinsonWhen Jackie Robinson died in 1973, Rachel founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation to empower minority youths to succeed through scholarships. She received the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award in 2007 and the UCLA Medal in 2009.Michelle ObamaAn Ivy-League educated lawyer, Michelle Robinson, met Barack Obama when she had to mentor him during their tenure at a law firm in Chicago. They married in 1992. What a long way a little mentoring goes.Michelle ObamaAs America's first Black First Lady, Michelle Obama brings much esteem to the position. She has selected childhood obesity as her cause, and is a vocal advocate of educational rights. Here's what you had to say: Christenlle commented via Facebook: "This really outlines what we have achieved and have the ability to achieve." Selena wrote via Facebook:"Coretta Scott King and Betty Shabazz were great women with different qualities."