Rochelle Metcalfe
“I HEARD THAT”: LOVING BLACK WOMEN!
by Rochelle Metcalfe‚ Feb. 18‚ 2009
Review it on NewsTrust
When celebrating BLACK HISTORY Month, we must to discuss the Black family, BLACK LOVE - RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE BLACK MAN AND BLACK WOMAN! BROTHER LARRY UKALI JOHNSON-REDD, Bay Area Educator, Spoken Word artist, author “Loving Black Women” coordinated the recent Saturday afternoon “4th Annual African-American Spoken Word Festival” held in the Social Hall of THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH here in the City. The cultural enlightenment event, cosponsored by The Conversations on Africa, followed by a He Said/She Said dinner and Relationship Forum that asked the question “IS BLACK LOVE GONE? ARE WE AS A RACE DYING OUT? Mistress of Ceremonies San Francisco educator PAT WOMACK-CLARKE, moderated the dialogue between Johnson-Redd, and flying in from L.A., PEARL, Jr., author of “Black Women Need Love too!”
Third Baptist Senior Pastor REV. AMOS BROWN was to have blessed the food and as a participant, focus on African-American History from slavery to PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA, but arrived too late. NOTICEABLY dressed in an Obama jacket!
Celebrated Spoken Word participants (clean mouth, no profanity), included: both Johnson-Redd and Pearl, Jr.; SHAKEEL ALI, and from Sacramento - Lady Poet LaRUE LORETTA DUNCAN-FOWLER, PARADISE FREEJAHLOVE, Sacramento SLAM KING TERRY MOORE and JASMINE the JAZZIEST. The 4-hour Festal ended with a marvelous dinner catered by the “Best Cuisine West of the Mississippi” SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY CHEF LESTER CLARKE got it going on - of course Southern fried chicken was served - loved his CREOLE CORN and his wife, Moderator PAT’S SWEET POTATO PIE WAS TO DIE FOR!!!
The occasion was well organized! Brother Ukali, former Announcer on radio station KPOO, launched his journey through the many layers of Black Spoken Word poetry in praise of “our SISTUHS’ that also speak well of our Brothers”. Loving Black Women pages filled with Black Love Spoken Word poetry to all women he has loved all of his life - mother, aunts, sisters, cousins, girl friends of the past and his late wife CHINWE. Words of Commitment, praise for the Black woman - RESPECT! To uphold and embrace them NOT stray away, to strengthen the race - family - COME TOGETHER!
Among guests on the scene were a family of togetherness - Artist/photographer EUGENE AND LYNNETTE WHITE and their two beautiful well mannered teenage grand kids( children of daughter TRACYE TAYLOR) NATASHA TAYLOR and GRANVILLE TAYLOR (football linebacker/running back at George Washington High School here in the City - he wears his dad’s No. 34 (rain or shine the couple are always at his games to support and encourage him).
Felt great warmth to observe the family seated at a table together enjoying the meal and talking. Eugene’s artistry and Lynnette, author of several inspirational books, that day both works were for sale. I was moved to purchase one of Eugene’s prints, seen several years ago at a gallery showing, entitled “The Princess of the Blues” scene captured several of my favorite musicians on stage at BOOM BOOM ROOM - the late LOUIS MADISON on organ, trumpeter Oscar Meyers, saxman JULIEN VAUGHT, and THE STAR vocalist Princess the central figure in the print. Never met the lady but told she performs in Third Baptist choir. THRILLED to add Eugene’s work on my wall of musicians!
The couple travel extensively throughout the South in particular, and stop at their respective home town - Eugene, Ozan, ARK., and Lynnette -Galveston Island Texas. The couple settled here in late 60s where they met and married. August will celebrate 37 years. Eugene’s paintings are impressive, capture life images in Urban America and small towns, back southern roads - the haves and have not - paintings on their apartment walls, images of family.
During two week writing hiatus during the holidays, enjoyed Christmas dinner at their home in the quiet Haight Ashbury neighborhood near Stanyan, enjoyed Lynnette’s good cooking - AH, HER DRESSING WAS TO DIE FOR!
LORRAINE HANSBERRY THEATER GOT IT GOIN’ ON! A BLOCK BUSTER stage performance, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA PREMIER, “WAITIN’ 2 END HELL” a comedy/drama by noted PLAYWRIGHT WILLIAM A. PARKER of Sacramento, directed by renown BUDDY BUTLER, featuring actor ALEX MORRIS of L.A. The acclaimed drama is an ANSWER TO TERRY McMILLAN’S “WAITING TO EXHALE” which examined men’s foibles (minor failing or weakness in character and behaviors)! Checked out the BOLD performance Sunday afternoon within the beautiful, comfortable environment of PG&E auditorium, within the building located on Beale Street, near Market and BART.
The play REDEFINES the Black Man’s place in society - “WHO DA MAN in the household - what it means for the Black family. BRIEFLY - would describe as SHOCKING, RAW, DEEP...BROTHERS TELLIN’ LIKE IT T’IS! Profuse use of the N-Word! Profanity. Music of James Brown - “It’s a MAN’s WORLD”...wouldn’t be nothing without a woman”..The question - WHY DOES A WOMAN NEED A MAN, OR FOR THAT MATTER A MAN NEED A WOMAN....Lennie Williams’ lyrics heard “Cause I love you!”
In Essence “Waitin’ 2 End Hell” is about a husband (Dante portrayed by Alex Morris) who loves his wife of 20 years, showered her with anniversary gifts; she tells him before friends she was TOO BUSY to shop for him! She’s a powerful advertising executive, he a Parole officer. As the play proceeds learn she has an outside affair - hubby true blue - waiting, begging for intimate LOVE - DENIED!!!
TOUCHÉ to STANLEY WILLIAMS, LHT Artistic Director to bring this BOLD PIECE to the stage - a discussion for TODAY, that will get couples to start talking to each other! The play ends March 1! BE READY TO EXHALE, BUT DON’T LEAVE THE THEATER UNTIL IT’S OVER - The outcome will leave you questioning and discussing it among theatergoers, your mate, for days to follow!
PARTY NOTES ON THE RHYTHM AND BLUES CLUB ACTION! Founder/Producer BOB GRAHAM CELEBRATES HIS BIRTHDAY this Sunday; rarely does he let his hair down! Stopped in recently for Acquarius Birthday celebration to join A SPECIAL LADY celebrating her birthday - BRENDA ADAMS, a courageous woman who had been ill for months, missing at the club, there Sunday sharp in red leather, flashing a pretty smile, surrounded by handsome husband PHIL ADAMS, NORMAN BROWN, JANET THOMAS, BEVERLY BREAUX. Brenda’s favorite band REED FROMER & FRIENDS OFF THE HOOK, GOT MY GROOVE on the smooth dance floor!
Also those who celebrated birthdays included: RUTLAND “DOC” HODGES, DOROTHY JONES, HORACE SPIKES, LINZLEY SYKES and ONIE WASHINGTON. HANGING out in the lounge two HOPE TO DIE BUDDIES - R&B Club dancer AARON DUNN AND CELLPHONE MAN JULIUS BANKS - Boy, you’d think he’d want to party with the good looking ladies on the scene - NAW, he’d rather talk on his CELLPHONE! Hey my brother, YOU CAN DO THAT AT HOME!!!
HEY, IT’S NICE TO BE NICE AND TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE...LOOK FOR ME...I’LL BE THERE...
E-mail Rochelle at iheard@earthlink.net
HELLO MY FRIENDS!
ROCHELLE’S ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR - February 18, 2009
DON’T MISS ‘I HEARD THAT’ FEATURED EVERY WEDNESDAY @WWW.BEYONDCHRON.ORG -- SIGN up for DAILY headlines:
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?catid=0
SCROLL to bottom of page. Enter your E-mail. Subscription FREE!
EVERY Wednesday Rochelle guest appearance (11:30a), BLUES/w NOEL, 9-noon, radio station KPOO 89.5 FM.
GET YOUR GROOVE ON! CHICAGO STYLE GENTLEMEN STEPPERS EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT @ LAKESIDE Lounge, 338 East 18th St., Oakland. INFO: (510) 452-2254.
EVERY MONDAY VELMA’S BLUE MONDAY BLUES JAM, 7 p.m., Host: Ed Ivey and Johnny Domino, 2246 Jerrold Ave., San Francisco.
HOT! HOT! Currently through March 1, LORRAINE HANSBERRY THEATRE Presents the Northern California premiere of William A. Parker’s uproarious comedy/drama, “WAITIN’ 2 End Hell,” in response to Terry McMillan’s “Waitin’ to EXHALE” at PG&E Auditorium, 77 Beale St., San Francisco. INFO: (415) 345-3980. * * *
February 21 - MOTOWN 50th Birthday Celebration with TWO DJ’S ON ONE STAGE - LADY BLUE BIRD and SILKY SMOOTH, 9pm @ VELMA’S LOUNGE, 2246 Jerrold St., San Francisco. INFO: (415) 505-8604.
February 21 - JACKIE PAYNE & Steve Edmonson Band, 8 p.m. BISCUITS & BLUES, Mason & Geary St., San Francisco.
February 22 - RHYTHM & BLUES Club MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION @ VERDI CLUB, 2424 Mariposa St., San Francisco. INFO: (415) 330-9994.
February 24 - BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO ACE WASHINGTON, BACK ON THE CASE!
February 24 - GUITAR SHORTY, 8 p.m. @ BISCUITS & BLUES, Mason & Geary St., San Francisco.
February 27, 28 and March 1 - RANDY WESTON’S AFRICAN RHYTHMS TRIO @ Yoshi’s San Francisco.
February 28 - SOULFUL EARL THOMAS, 8 p.m. @ BISCUITS & BLUES, Mason & Geary St., San Francisco.
February 28-March 1 - JAZZ LEGEND alto saxophonist LOU DONALDSON @ Yoshi’s Oakland.
March 7 - HAPPY 60th BIRTHDAY TO MUNI’S FINEST- AARON DUNN of San Francisco! JULIUS BANKS AND FRIENDS are throwing Aaron a party tonight! INFO: (415) 240-6525.
March 9 - BIRTHDAY GREETINGS TO JAMES CALLOWAY of San Francisco.
March 13 - The WHISPERS, STEPHANIE MILLS, HOWARD HEWITT
8 p.m., @ The Paramount Theatre, Oakland. Ticketmaster 1-800-745-3000.
E-MAIL your event to iheard@earthlink.net or FAX (415) 586-6737.
