remembering the radiant child

greetings,

This should have been written weeks ago. Actually it should have been written over 20something years ago. Let me explain. As strange and weird as this must sound, I remember the day that Andy Warhol died (Feb 27 1987...who the hell is Andy Warhol right?) I remember the strange white haired dude, he looked like my Adv. English Teacher, I can quite vividly recall the imagery of his strange body of work, that blended perfectly with the culture of the pastel 80's. The Multi-colored Marilyn Monroe with six images, oozing with pinks, turquoise, yellows, purple and whites, with the oval fire-truck red lips puckered up and ready to kiss the young black teenager. A recent suburban transplant from North Side St.Louis, I was dizzy being amongst all the young white girls 1 out of 4 looking like a young Elizabeth Shue from the original Karate Kid. It was a trip. I remember his painting of the Campbell Soup Can, his films, as well as his social networking with many celebrities, a successful career spanning nearly three decades . His eccentricity was perfect for my introduction into to the world of the suburbs, white girls, alternative and classic rock. It was the year of discovering Hendrix. (Indeed I had met the father of Prince!!! )
Watching the news reports of the passing of an obvious cultural/artistic icon, I did not know that in a quiet loft in New York, filled with future, present and past artistic masterpieces, an estranged friend of the late Warhol deeply mourned the death. The two were not on speaking terms when Warhol suddenly passed, so the news hit him devastatingly hard. His name was Jean-Michel Basquiat, who in five years had shot to stardom in the Art World. He and Warhol had developed a familial relationship, which culminated in several collaborative works between the artists. While Warhol was well renowned the world over, the young Basquiat (Haitian and Puerto Rican descent) faced the obvious racial and cultural attitudes within a stiff and euro-centric art world. He had received a great deal of world-wide recognition in a very short time , however, Basquiat was looking for greater artistic clout that collaborations with Warhol was sure to offer him. Unfortunately, the collaborations were met with negative reviews, which in turn alienated the young, immensely talented, confused, "exceptional black man" (look up Dyson's definition). Basquiat struggled with Heroin, identity and the haunting duppy's that celebrity status methodically brings, to torment and entice the fragile artist. Jean Michel tried numerous times to kick, but ultimately lost his fight a year and some moths later August 12, 1988....on that day I can't recall hearing anything on the news about his career nor his death....remembering the radiant child...to be continued.

Peace and Blessings All,
It is with great excitement that I write this blog. I am here in Dimona, Israel with the Black Hebrew Israelite community and I must say that I am overwhelmed with what I have witnessed thus far. I arrived here Sunday at 5:30pm Israeli time, which was roughly 11:30 am our time. I took a two hour drive from the Tel-Aviv airport to the southern, small town of Dimona. Upon my arrival, I entered into what we would consider to be a modern day African village.

The story of this particular group is so unique. The leaders of this group came to Israel from Liberia by way of Chicago in 1969. They were unwanted by the Israeli government, who refused to believe what the leaders confessed to them, which is they, according to the bible, are the original people of this land. Opposed to their truth, the Israeli government gave them the worst plot of land they had in an effort to discourage them from staying. Unfamiliar with the plight of the Black man, the Israeli government was in for a rude awakening.

The leaders and their followers of roughly 120 people began to build and build until they created, what they refer to as the "Place of Peace". In this place of peace, the people of the community have built homes for their families and they live in a communal living environment. No one has locks on their doors. They also built their own school system, however they now go to school with other Hebrews in a public school right across the street from their community. They have a health spa, a community store, where they sell community produced, from their organic or divine garden as they call it, vegetables and fruits. They also sell rice , bakery goods and other items. They also have a factory where they make, package and sell tofu, vegan deli slices and vegan burgers. These products are sold to local grocery stores. They have a hair salon and factory where the sisters sew the clothes for the Saints of their community and others in the Israeli community.

The children are bilingual speaking Hebrew and English. They play without the fears that most American children in the same economic conditions play in. They have a freedom and a peace that is rare in these times of confusion and destruction. They are 100% healthier that most African American. Their lifestyles call that they exercise three times a week, maintain a vegan diet, enjoy a trip to the spa once a month for it's health benefits, drink plenty of water and get plenty of rest. Their skin is flawless, the elders are more active than most American teenagers and they are still striving to find the key ingredient to everlasting life.

Some things that may be interesting to you is that the Hebrew Israelite community lives by the Old Testament. This is why they have chosen a flesh free, live diet. This is also why they are allowed to have more than one wife. All of the clothes that they wear are 100% cotton or 100% silk, no synthetic fabrics are allowed. They have a system in place that consists of leaderships roles such as Minister of Information, which is in essence their historian and public relations person, Crown Sisters and Crown Brothers, are the ones the sisters for the Crown Sisters and the brothers for the Crown Brothers, go to for clarity about something in the community, help with relationships or help with the drama that can arise. They system also has disciplinary consequences for those who disobey the structure that is in place.

They are making history and under the leadership of Ben Ammi, the Hebrew Israelite community has accomplished their goal. Though resistant to their presence, the Israeli government granted permanent residency to many of the Saints in the community and some have their green card. They are adamant about creating a heaven on Earth and they are slowly but surely manifesting a world, in their small community, of peace and life.

As my journey continues, I will keep you informed and please stay tuned for the live footage that I have of this journey.

Shalom.

Shante

S.H.E.R.A.H. TV

S.H.E.R.A.H. (SISTERS HELPING EACH OTHER REACH A HIGHER HEIGHT) is a women's organization created to empower ourselves as women so that we can assist in the rebuilding of our communities.

She was founded March 6, 2004 in St. Louis, MO and has served more than 200 sisters through sister circles, healing tea parties, pampering parties, sister showcases, youth programs and more. Her passion has always been to empower the sisters by presenting them with practical steps to begin their journey of self-love and self-discovery.

As we all know this is not an easy journey for any of us, but it is an important journey nonetheless. We can only be to others, what we are for ourselves. I can not be a good sister, friend, wife or mother, if I am not good to myself. It is imperative that we take time to learn ourselves and manifest our uniqueness and greatness in this lifetime.

S.H.E.R.A.H. believes so firmly in the progression of the sisters, that she created a visual platform for the sisters to obtain information needed for this journey. We present to you S.H.E.R.A.H. TV.... a place where a sister can be her best self, with no compromise, and share it with the world.

We invite you to check out the first episode of the show and please visit us at www.sherah.webs.com. and please let us know what you think.

S.H.E.R.A.H. TV
http://www.blip.tv/search?q=sherah+tv

Love and Empowerment,
LIFE

Esperanza Spalding: Winner of Best New Artist and Most Slept-on

The first time I heard of Esperanza Spalding was in February 2009 as she graced the White House during a ceremony to honor Stevie Wonder. Her rendition of Stevie’s classic, “Overjoyed,” blew me away. I have been a fan ever since. Well, maybe fan isn’t the best word for my level of support for the young jazz singer and musician. I mean, I’m not Justin Bieber-deface Esperanza’s Wikipedia page mere minutes after the award announcement-fanatical but I think it is important that someone who has bought three of her albums and keep each in his regular rotation to lend a voice to her budding brilliance. 

I sometimes think about what it must have been like for fans of jazz to experience an up and coming Miles Davis or Nina Simone. I know when I first heard hip hop at a young age, and I performed my first freestyle at seven years old, I was mesmerized. I still hear LL Cool J’s “I’m Bad” in my head at the mention of my first contact with the musical art. Years later, I could hear hip hop on a late night radio program over my pop’s house or I could see it on the Arsenio Hall show. At that time, I had BET to introduce me to LL and hip hop.  But there’s no BET for Spalding, only YouTube clips of her performing on Dave Letterman or Jimmy Kimmel Live and, of course, the White House. 

The excitement I feel for Spalding or Roy Hargrove and others is what I felt for A Tribe Called Quest or Eric B and Rakim. Being exposed to various members of the Native Tongue family or the Digging in the Crates crew made me want to become a DJ, which never happened but it did foster my love of music. I would dig in my parent’s music collection to find beats to sample and would come across Curtis Mayfield, Al Green, Stevie Wonder. Those finds expanded and deepened my appreciation for music created or performed by black artists.  Stevie’s album Talking Book grabbed me in a profound way. It made go on a quest to buy every album of his. I would cringe when artists would cover his classics or deep cuts. Ironically, it was because of my love for Stevie Wonder’s music that I stumbled across Spalding.  

It started with hearing about the White House honor bestowed upon Wonder. Then I looked up the musical ceremony in hopes that it was online at PBS or YouTube. When I found it on PBS, Esperanza was called to the stage with her beautiful afro and then she got behind an upright bass as though she was about to play it. I thought that she was only going to sing but then she played it to the melody of “Overjoyed.” I was astounded, particularly when she sang and played. I can do neither so I’m easily amazed by such acts of artistry. I wondered who she was and how come I never heard of her.  

Like I imagine Bieber fans to act, I was all over the internet trying to get more information about the 26 year old and learned that she released her second album, Esperanza, in May of 2008. It is considered her first major but it is also a minor repackaging of songs from an earlier album titled Junjo, released in 2006. I soon bought each of those works and followed her career ever since.  Her latest album, Chamber Music Society, has a different vibe than Esperanza but it’s worth checking out.  

Last night, I didn’t get a chance to watch the Grammy Award show but I knew that Spalding was up for best new artist. When I got a text saying that she won, my responded with three letters: wow.   For a woman who could have stepped out Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues as character competing against Wesley Snipes’ Shadow and Denzel Washington’s Bleak Gilliam, she beat out some popular music icons with huge followings.  That makes her slept-on. Although I still love hip hop, I don’t own any music by Drake or Usher’s protégé, Bieber.  Esperanza is a jazz artist who is just as hip hop to me as A Tribe Called Quest. The only difference is that Esperanza Spalding won a Grammy for best new artist when few of my favorites have. Hopefully, this is a sign that music lovers are beginning to wake up to her talent.

Welcome to Skyy's FLY FREE FRIDAY

Today's post is about women embracing each other without defacing each other!

Are you a friend or a FRENEMY?

Too many times we fault the woman over a man and let him ride without so much as a time out.

Here are a few questions I raise at the Ladies Night Out Events that I host, all of these answers are viable answers...mull these over sista's

1. #1 definition of a frenemy?
a. Someone you call a friend, but in truth they drive you crazy.
b. Fair weather friends that only want to hang out with you when their single
c. Friends that would rather hear about how miserable you are than about success in your life

2. What are the top three reasons why women hate on each other?
a. Low-Self Esteem, Stress & Misery
b. Mis-education, Other friends & Different personalities
c. Because of a man, Ignorance & Jealousy

3. #1 way sistas have learned to be their own worst enemy?
a. We grasp at whatever we can at each other’s expense.
b. We gang up on each other and bully each other.
c. We’re so protective of our own turf that we become a hindrance to other sistas

4. Top two traits possessed by woman that maintain positive female relationships
a. Put their needs 1st & knows how to have a good time
b. Defend them against gossip & respecting their point of view
c. Approachable & tell them what you honestly think

5. Top definition of a female PlayaHata?
a. They will look at another woman and say, 'I can't stand her, she thinks she's all that.'
b. All they do is sit around gossip and scheme.
c. They purposely like and go after men that are already taken.

Here is a piece I have posted on facebook as well ;-)

Sister My Sister

Sister my Sister, can I speak with you for a minute?

No, I don't want to hear your business,

cause I ain't trying to be in it.

I'd just like to talk with you if I could

and share my views on the lack of “real” sisterhood.

You see I'm guilty and maybe you are the same,

of judging my sisters without even knowing their name.

I look at their shape, comment on their hair

and talk about what they really should or shouldn't wear.

I roll my big eyes, I put my hands on my hips,

and not a kind word comes out of my “got the nerve“ lips.

Why can't I just smile, wave and say “hey,

I'm down with you sister, have a nice day“

We need to stick together, it would be great if we could,

To promote unity, understanding and “real“ sisterhood.

Without it we have nothing, why not go for it all,

for sisters united we stand, divided we fall.

So let's seize the moment, before the moment is gone.

Grasp this message Sister My Sister and PASS IT ON

Join me next Friday

Peace & Infinite Blessings

Skyy

Lauryn Hill circa 2000

Urban Murals....

Please take some time out of your busy life to check out 13 crazy, dope urban mural projects. In my opinion, this is indeed art on a totally different scale. This is a true representation of street art!

http://weburbanist.com/2010/12/13/incredible-urban-mural-projects-and-street-art/#respond