Honey Mag

Having an orgasm is one hot topic power journalist, Jacque Reid has yet to cover. Beautiful, accomplished, and single by default, the media mainstay is on the look for a Mr. Right to remedy her dry spell and the solitary confinement that has become black female success. But this time around Reid’s not reporting the story- she’s living it.

Reid costars with long time friends Hip Hop matriarch Sandra “Pepa” Denton, former model Joumana Kidd, and radio personality Kali “Kittie” Troy in VH1’s forthcoming Let’s Talk About Pep, a chocolate-coated Sex and the City that upholds the term “Manhunt” with grave efficiency. While she admits that the gig is a brash deviation from her 15 year career in broadcasting, anchoring for CNN Headline News, BET Nightly News, and a regular correspondent for ABC’s The View, Reid has learned that time waits for no woman and what she needs is frustratingly time-sensitive.

The crew supports Pep in her return to the dating life after serving a 5 year bid of celibacy. Press-collard and polished, Reid naturally wafts the “Miranda” moments; reality checkin’ the flighty expectations of her giddy homegirls, all while summoning and dismissing her own roster of potentials. None of which have brought the multi-media powerhouse to her peak (of satisfaction)… not yet anyways.

Honey: You’re just about done with shooting Let’s Talk About Pep. Fingers crossed, have you had that “O” yet?

Jacque Reid: I have not had an orgasm yet.

Damn. We take it that finding “Mr. Fix It” has not been easy?

I just had a crappy date last night! He was just aloof and strange. We had a great first date and then the second was going well until he just kind of stopped talking and checked out. I started, as most women often do, checking myself: What did I do? What did I say? And then I realized, that I’m not going to fix this. If he wants to be quiet we’ll both be quiet. I’ll go home and that will be that. I’m tired of trying to come up with conversations when I don’t know what’s going on with you.  Like, I’m the woman you’re supposed to be taking care of me! Especially on the second date!

Is that a common experience for you and the cast, Hell Dates?

Yea, it’s real life stuff. What I go through, what my girlfriends go through in the search to find a man. It’s only natural for women to try to find a companion, somebody to share her time and life with. It’s hard to find a good fit: someone compatible, not crazy, a habitual cheater- just a good guy, someone that can be a friend and a companion. So with this show, we’re really showing what all women are going through and laughing at ourselves and hopefully giving women who might be depressed by the lack of dating prospects out there, something to laugh at. We can all just laugh together.

Dope, an urbanized Sex and the City! With both shows being taped in New York, do you think the man drought is regional?

Girl, its nation-wide (laughing)! It is all over. For black women especially it’s an epidemic. I keep telling my girlfriends, my sorority sisters, whether they are in their 20’s, 30’s,40’s, 50’s, it is hard out here. Whether your drop dead gorgeous, over-weight, long hair- don’t matter.

Why do you think this “Man” epidemic has been such a problem “Black woman” problem? Are our standards through the roof?

Well you know black women are not a monolithic group. We are all so different. All of us want to be with men, but we want relationships for different reasons. Personally, I don’t think anybody’s standards can ever be too high. I know in my personal experience when I lower my standards and give the guy who lied another chance or the guy who’s not working- not because the economy gave him a tough time and he got laid off, I’m talking about the guy that doesn’t want to work; it’s always a headache and I always end up kicking myself. So the choice is lower your expectations or wait to get what you deserve, or stay single. And I’ve decided to wait and find a way to be happy being single. That’s it.  And it’s all relative, it all depends on what you want and what you can live with.

You are all professional women of color ranging between the ages…

I can’t say because I don’t want them getting mad at me…Let’s say “mature”, because we definitely ain[t 30.

The best thing about going through the dating life with your girlfriends is peeping their game and swag-jacking successful ways to deal with men. Has that been your experience?

No, because we’re all so different. Kitty is the craziest. She’s definitely a handful. She keeps the conversation interesting and definitely inappropriate. The things that come out of her mouth- I just don’t know how she thinks. You can’t help but love her, but she’s crazy. Joumana is the sweetest person, but she’s at this phase in her life where she married for 11 years, divorced, got 3 kids, she just wants to release and has some fun and date until she finds what she’s looking for. I don’t even think she knows what that is, but she’s just trying to not get caught up in the same old thing as before. And Pep, is definitely looking for a relationship. It’s been about 5 years since she’s been in one or had sex! She’s ready to have sex but she’s not just trying to go out there and get laid. She wants to find a meaningful relationship.

And what about you? You’re known in media as a voice of reason. Is that your role?

I’m probably the most serious in the bunch. I wouldn’t say I’m the nicest, Joumana’s probably nicer than me.  I kind of say what needs to be said: “What are you thinking? Leave him alone!”  in a more practical way. As opposed to Kitty who will say the wilder thing, you know the thing that doesn’t need to be said! I’m the most traditional. I’m not kissing on the first date. I’m definitely not letting anybody suck on my toes on the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth date! And I’m not having sex for months, you gone’ wait! All the rest of girls think I’m crazy but that’s my comfort level.

So how long do you typically wait before you give him a test ride?

I think you should get to know a man. I was dating this guy for about 5 months and I hadn’t had sex with him. About the 4^th month he started to reveal himself.  Child, I was so glad I didn’t sleep with him!

They say we can date like men but we can’t. When we have sex its like we’re giving away a piece of ourselves. And I don’t want everybody having a piece of me, especially when you don’t respect me or appreciate me.

How are you dealing with the transition from your professional image on camera to this now more personal one?

In the beginning, I was very anxious, apprehensive in the beginning. I didn’t know what to think and I didn’t want my credibility to be slaughtered. I still have to go out here and make a living doing what I do, so my reputation means everything to me. I’m busy all around. I’m doing two radio shows, DL Hughley Morning Show on Mondays through Fridays from 6am -10am and then Joyner Show, segment called “Inside Her Story” where I talk about women and women’s issues. Then this the reality show. And I maintain my website jacquereid.com. So I’m just running. Journalism has evolved so much. Now it’s about the journalist being a personality and being a part of a story. And here I am, putting my story out there. My expectation and hope is that it enhances what I do as journalist.

Once we started doing it, I realized much to my surprise, the producers were not out to edit and manipulate us, but to really tell our stories.  We’re four women that are different, but we’re still girlfriends and are really just trying to get through this dating thing. It’s not about drama, and I like that. It’s different. It is reality- my real life.

What’s 2010 looking like?

More radio shows, beef up my website, by making it more interactive. I really just need to build my brand. I want to write a book, a documentary, and do as much as I can until I’m ready to have my baby and then everything else will change.

Is that an innuendo?  Are you pregnant?

(Laughing) Oh wow! They would kill me if I answered that question! It’s part of my story and I can’t even talk about it. You got to wait to see.

VH1’s Let’s Talk About Pep debuts tonight, January 11th.

-Guerdley Cajus

Photo courtesy of Piotr Sikora for VH1