Ms. Teena Marie---I will miss you girl!!!

I've be a Teena Marie fan since Square Biz and Casanova Brown. But, one night at Nassau Coliseum over two decades ago, Ms. Teena walked on the stage to sing with Rick James and amid the boos, the tough crowd embraced this tiny woman whose skin color had nothing to do with her powerful voice and homegirl presence.

I have her music on permanent rotation and will forever love this woman. Goodbye sweet Vanilla Child....you will be missed.

Merry Christmas

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye-Artist

Lynette Yiadom-Boakye is a Ghanian born, London bred artist with a penchant for portrait art. The heavy rotation of art dealing with people of African descent has propelled this young artist to new heights. Having solo exhibits around the round, Ms. Yiadom-Boakye's work has come to the Studio Museum in Harlem. On view from November 11,2010-March 13,2010, Any Number of Preoccupation will feature works created between 2003-when the artist completed her postgraduate work at the Royal Academy Schools and 2010. The total works are twenty-four of fictional portraits in oils on canvas. Enjoy the exhibit and tell me what you think?

"Summerdreams" a poem by Charles Pouncy

I read in Walter Mosley's book on becoming a writer, that potential writers to be should take a poetry class to help with their writing rhythm. I haven't taken a class as of yet, but I found this poem while reading,"Freedom in this Village" Twenty-five years of Black Gay Men's Writing edited by E. Lynn Harris and it goes like this:

One of those D.C. nights in the summertime.
Either damp or soggy
at 2:00 a.m.
but always hot
mist cloaks the street lights
no animals on the street
because it's too hot outside
but the men are out.

The air is limp
a membrane of dust, moisture and pollen
incubating anger and violence
witness, the sirens through the night
communicating lust and passion and immediacy
as i walk into Malcolm X Park
and smell the heat
strong like ripe fruit brewing in a trashcan
do you risk a taste?
still the smell compels
drawing you closer and deeper
into the rhythm of the heat
the shadows and instinctive movements.

I walk up the stairs bounding the downward watercourse
my eyes lingering on the forms
positioned along the path
I touch my face
fingers slowly tracing the sweat on my brow
my eyes
searching their black wet faces
for their eyes
(it shows in the eyes)
and I'm hot and keep walking.

Ahead someone walks towards me
an outline
an image with long black limbs
stuffed into tight white shorts
and a shirt open to the waist
set against the thick darkness of the night
but the darkness recedes before him
there is not doubt that I am staring
our eyes touch
a spark flies between us
leaving the smell of lust
lingering in the moist air
I inhale
and it settles in the pit of my stomach.

He stops before me
too close to ask for the time
or a light
he stops
just one hot, damp breath away
sweat drips down the side of his nose
and disappears in the corner
of his mouth
he embraces his lips with his tongue
there are words
hard and provocative and we know the deal.

We turn and climb the stairs
leading to the park's upper level
we stop on the landing
there are words
a joint is produced
we smoke
inhaling each other's breath
he leans back into the shadows of a corner

I lean forward following
he is thin and firm but pliant
he welcomes my arms
and I am lost in his ahs and his sweat
our torsos disengage
but we remain locked below the waist
grinding, groping
I put my hand inside his shirt
the hairs on his chest
sizzle
another spark flies
and I feel his dick pressing into my stomach
I think about assault with a blunt weapon
he widens his stance
he smiles
it's time to go home
I wake up.


This poem brought back strong memories of living in Washington D.C. during the height of it's Black Gay Decadence---late 1980's-mid 1990's. It was a time of freedom of sexual expression and wanting, longing and going to the parks late at night and finding release from the summer heat.

Jupiter Hammon, America's First Published African American Poet

Jupiter Hammon, the first published African American Poet came out in Hartford, Connecticut in 1760. Mr. Hammon a slave on Long Island in New York was a preacher as well. His first work: " An Evening's Thought: Salvation by Christ, with Penitential Cries", was an 88 line broadside poem. The poem was, "A Winter's Piece" published in 1761 and several other works were published throught 1787.

Mr. Hammon didn't want to be a freed slave, because of this deep connection to his slaveowner's merchantile business. But, did not judge others that wanted to be free.

Belle da Costa Greene--Chief advisor to J.P. Morgan

Belle da Costa Greene or Belle Marion Greener was the director of acquistions for J. P. Morgan during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Ms. Greene a graduate of Princeton University was recommended by Mr. Morgan's son for the position of director of art for the Morgan Library. Ms. Greene who is of African American heritage was put in a position of power. She travelled the world buying art treasures and making deals on Mr. Morgan's behalf. Vivacious, intelligent and shrewd describes Ms. Greene ascent to the top of her game. For a black woman to pass as white during this time period was incredible.

Recently, the Morgan Library was renovated and the office where Ms. Greene conducted business is open to the public for the very first time. Viewers will revel in the restore marble and original details of the office that holds some of this country's treasured art.

For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by Ntozake Shange

Ntozake Shange powerful choreopoem about the struggles of women of color and the loves,joys, betrayals, tragedies and the ultimate rising from the throes of life as told by seven characters is a classic. Mr. Tyler Perry in the modern age has decided to direct, write the screenplay and produce this powerhouse poem for the worldwide movie audience. Mr. Perry has made movies that a certain genre of the population would appreciate, that being said, he continues to tap into these resources as a means to seal in his base and make a pretty dollar doing such. Mr. Perry's work is superficial and debasing, but the box office is no lie, when it comes to support of his work. To take on this challenging work by Ms. Shange, Mr. Perry wants the world to view his as a serious director. Well, it remains to be seen. I will attend the opening night of this movie and give you my feedback, but, I'm a little taken aback by the early reviews and some of the choices of his leading ladies.

Note: I saw the movie without paying any attention to the critics and was blown away by movie, the actresses and the modern day approach to the same old problem most women endure. This timeless poem was treated with respect and the dignity that it deserve. This was truly a teaching point for me and that would be," take some of the blame, for the way your life turned out". It opened the flood gates in my life and I've set to resolve and find an immediate solution. But, I digress: Tyler Perry put this vehicle out there and he can't have it back. I must admit, I've never been a fan of his plays or his movies, but this movie has changed my thinking of him as a promising and maturing director. I want to see more!!! I crave an outlet for our men and women of color to see themselves on the big screen and be proud that our race can reach a wider audience. After seeing this movie, I read two reviews and the NY Times gave a glowing epilogue and the Gay rag here in NYC gave it the thumbs down. I wonder why some white critics didn't seem to grasp the complex poems and how the characters interacted with one another or perhaps some of these critics couldn't fully understand what the poem was conveying in the early 1970's and is still somewhat relevant today. I  will shoot off a letter to the reviewer and ask the question," Did you read the choreopoem before you saw the movie?". I reread this classic that is performed in high schools and colleges across the country and what Mr. Perry brought to the screen was purity and wonderment for each character and even through the poem was passed around to the different cast members, nevertheless the dialogue in between was interwoven seamlessly.

I would say RUN, don't Walk to see this movie, it's truly a masterpiece!!!

Varnette Honeywood-Artist Passes

Varnette Honeywood dies at the age of 59. Ms. Honeywood's work was first introduced on the Cosby Show. Viewers tuned in and saw the colorful artwork displayed over the fireplace. Mr. Cosby presented numerous African American artists on his show. Ms. Honeywood bright colors and simplified forms were influenced by Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence. A graduate of Spelman College, she drew inspiration of life around McComb, Mississippi.

Ms. Honeywood paintings and prints presented a warm, upbeat picture of African American life. I remember seeing numerous lithographs at the Black Art Festival here in New York City. I was engulfed in the beauty and the myriad of colors. Ms. Honeywood will be missed!

March on Washington DC

One Nation Working Together.Org is sponsoring the March on Washington, October 2, 2010. I will be attending this march dedicated to communities of people coming together. By bringing people together that were hit hard by the economy and education in our country on the downturn, this our chance, our voice, our right to be visible and heard by our government leaders in Washington to counter to our grievances. I plan on meeting friends and making friends on the march. I will be leaving New York on Saturday morning with members of the NAACP--local chapter. I would like to see you there!!

Bishop Eddie Long Controversy

I was going to reserve my opinion on this story, until further investigation into the allegations of the four young men involved in the Bishop Long controversy. Here's the long/short---Bishop Long is a pastor of a mega church on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, over the years of ministering past presidents, diplomats and distinguish congregation parishioners, Mr. Long was allegedly having sexual relations with young men of his flock. All the while, Bishop Long was denounced homosexuality on his pulpit for all the world to hear.

Now, you may ask, what's wrong with this picture---well, Bishop Long is married and has 4 children and a confirmed heterosexual. But, as he said in a press conference in front of his congregation, "I am not a perfect man"..denoting the fact that we are all infallible to some degree and shall not be persecuted for our indiscretions.

I'm not going to kick a brother while he's down, but when you preach hate for a segment of the population you find fault with on a consistent basis--there is always something behind this. Always!!!

Gays and Lesbians have be victimized by bully pulpit baiters...with their relentless rhetoric and dire need to make them feel masculine and worthy of the opposite sex attention. This perceive bravado not only cost them their livelihood, but the very trust of their parish.

Bishop Long, I wish you the best and in all honesty---I don't want a HATER on my team.

Michael Jackson's Birthday Celebration in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, NY

To celebrate Michael Jackson's birthday, Spike Lee is hosting a party in Prospect Park, Brooklyn on Sunday, August 29th, 2010 from 12-5pm. Mr. Jackson's music will be played the entire time. I plan to be one of the countless revelers that enjoyed and  continue to enjoy Mr. Jackson's music on this very day. Come on out and celebrate!

Hurricane Katrina-5 years later

The great city of New Orleans is reemerging as its former self. Hurricane Katrina all but destroyed this city of pure decadence. But the kind people of New Orleans banded together and funding from the government rebuilt houses and lives. I volunteered for Habitat for Humanity immediately after and stayed for a month, working on rebuilding homes and counseling numerous people during this time of need. And what struck me, during my time, was the enduring qualities of the people. They tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves. They appreciated the volunteers during this time of need. I was there during CNN presentation on TV, and was elated that the coverage never ended. Spike Lee completed a documentary for HBO and numerous others have contributed to spreading the word that this situation is not over and we should do our upmost to help this wonderful city come back to its hey day.

Abbey Lincoln--Goddess of Jazz

I was introduced to Abbey Lincoln's music late in life. I was a junior in college and heard her music and played it for one of my classes as some sort of jazz presentation. I didn't know the voice or the format and one of my peers kindly informed me that it was the great Abbey Lincoln. I was hooked since that day. Ms. Lincoln passed away this month and left a huge void in the jazz world. Ms. Lincoln was committed to her art and it showed in the 1999 album, "Wholly Earth", a true mastery of music and lyrics sung with verve and realism. A true storyteller, Ms. Lincoln provided the jazz community with music ranging from avant garde civil rights era recordings to the equally powerful but more introspective work of her later years. Ms. Abbey Lincoln, I will miss your musical stylings and that voice of love, yearning and regret.

Searching for Luther Vandross---Musical Genius

My father would drag( and I mean literally drag my brothers and I) to Westbury Music Fair to see Mr. Luther Vandross every time he came to Long Island. My Dad would talk incessantly about the musical genius of Luther, vocal styling, riffs in music, backup singers, arrangement in music and the ultimate showman Mr. Vandross turned out to be. I was very young and didn't quite understand what was going on, but I enjoyed the music and perhaps knew the song lists a little to much. But, not as much as my father--because it never grew old with him. Now, as an adult, I so appreciate his music and every time I hear a tune--I think of my deceased Father. It brings back so many good memories, I didn't have the heart to tell my Dad--that his music icon was a Gay Man--just like me. I'm not sure if this would have crushed him or maybe he knew and this helped him resolve his feelings towards me. Anyway, Mr. Vandross has influenced millions of listeners with and along the way created a new generation of babies.

Sadly, Luther is no longer with us, but his life and music lives on. Why is there no biopic on Mr. Vandross? I would pay good money to see it and sing along with all those songs--just like Dad did for all those wonderful years.

Billy Strayhorn-Musical Legend

Mr. William Thomas Strayhorn

Recently, I attended a Lena Horne tribute in my community and the guest vocalist mentioned that Billy Strayhorn was Lena's best friend and according to legend Ms. Horne died with a picture of Billy clutched to her bosom. Wow, Ms. Horne a heterosexual woman loving an closeted Gay Man was truly a deep friendship without boundaries. I have to admire Mr. Strayhorn, whose sexuality seeped through his soul while producing some of the best music in history for an audience that didn't care about circulated rumors of his homosexuality.

Mr. Strayhorn was an accomplished pianist, composer, arranger and the ultimate side kick of Duke Ellington.

Mr. Ellington hired the young Strayhorn and didn't exactly know where to place him, but eventually Mr. Strayhorn became a vital member of the band. The similarities of their styles soon begin to manifest and it became difficult to discern where one's style ended and the other's begin.

The jazz composition, "Take the A Train" was both a hit with audiences and one of the best collaborations in jazz. It was often said the Mr. Strayhorn didn't receive his just due. Why is it always the Gay Man that gets the shaft or maybe many audiences weren't ready to deal with a close knit friendship between a straight and gay man in the world of music. My, the times haven't changed much.

Why haven't we seen or heard of biopic of Mr. Strayhorn and all of his endeavors? I'm ready to hear the full story and not just pieces of it--in other peoples biographies. Mr. Strayhorn thou art in jazz heaven, send us a sign of your enduring qualities and let us tell the magnificent truth about your incredible life. Amen!

Eunice Johnson-I'm going to miss you!

The Ebony Fashion Fair Show extravaganza was the first fashion show that I attended. What color? What beautiful men and women modeling the couture collections found only in Europe? What a grand looking crowd encompassing the set up runway? I was just a mere adolescent who understood style and color, but was naive to think I could accomplish such a feat. I wanted to model, then I wanted to design. At that tender age, I was all over the planet with my thoughts. But, Mrs. Johnson brought her lovely and lively caravan to my town and I was set on fire. I couldn't wait for my mom to purchase tickets and getting the right outfit was the most important feat in my life at the time. My mom and I was polished, debonair, sophiscated and styled. I sat on the edge of my seat and saw the runway light up and the music would cue, then the announcer would speak at ease of the outfits and the models strumming down the runway. I was enamored, I was in lust, I was meant to be in the fashion industry, because of you, Mrs. Johnson. Your passing has touch my soul and my heart. Today, I wore an outfit for you; conservative yet chic with a touch of pastiche. Thank You!!