|
|
Making Natural News
|
June 2009
|
I'm no astrologer, but the stars must have predicted a non-stop mode for the month of May. Not only was I extremely busy, it seems everyone I know was caught up in pleasant or necessary May-hem!
And what about this wacky weather?! Summer one day, winter the day after - in the next life I'm going to be a meteorologist! I must admit though, I was grateful for two days of lovely weather: May 19th, the day of our bridal shoot, and the weather was gorgeous again on May 20th, the night of our very successful Heads Up celebration! Read below to see how the stars aligned to offer us a brilliant day and one magnificent night!
|
|
Maitefa Angaza
|
Twenty years ago in 1989, journalist and author Maitefa Angaza, asked me if I would loan her a few of my hair photos to accompany her story on African hairstyles that she was submitting to Essence Magazine. And as they say, the rest is history. From that submission I was granted a two page spread which lead to a very fruitful business relationship with Essence. Later, Maitefa became my dear friend and spiritual counselor. Not to mention she edits and contributes to this monthly newsletter. How fitting, that the timing of our Heads Up celebration, culminated on the 20th anniversary of our first collaboration!
I Thank you Maitefa, from the bottom of my heart!
|
Spa Day -July
|
As we mentioned in our last newsletter, our Spa Day was a great success and we're already planning our next one. It will be on Sunday, July 19th. Book your appointment, mark your calendars and prepare to be transported. Aaaaah! |
| Sheila Prevost |
A special thanks to graphic designer Sheila Prevost of SLPD Studio for our fabulous Heads Up logo that seemed to speak to people and draw them to the Kumble Theater.
And speaking of The Kumble, many thanks as well to Rodney Hurley for his belief in our "little project" and for his generosity, professionalism, and for lending the services of his excellent staff.
| |
Heads Up: HAIRitage
Some of our audience- Photo by Stephanie Brooks
Heads Up - by Maitefa Angaza
We made HAIRstory! We hope you were there, but in case you weren't - ask anyone who was. They'll tell you that Heads Up! A Soulful Celebration of Our HAIRitage was AMAZING! The Kumble Theater was lit all the way up with people smiling so hard their faces were hurting. It was informative, fun, fabulous and free of charge - what more could you ask?!
When Melba Tolliver called Anu to share how inspired she felt after reading Anu's blog post about "Good Hair' she also wanted to discuss how we could continue this dialogue. And with the collaboration of Melba, Anu and Maitefa, Heads Up HAIRitage was born.
The Kumble Theater holds 325 people. The ushers accommodated standing-room up to 400 and there were still another 50 people in the lobby watching the show from a TV monitor and laughing. Because it was funny - and fierce! First-segment host Rev. Malika Lee Whitney was simply hilarious and our second-segment host Phyllis Yvonne Stickney was funny as well. Our panelists Farah Jasmine Griffin, Ademola Mandella, asha bandele, Micheala Angela Davis and Mireille Liong were both funny and serious, Most importantly, they were honest, insightful and courageous in telling their personal stories or sharing our traditional hairstory in touching and thought-provoking ways.
Journalist Melba Tolliver brought the house down while reading from her heartfelt and funny reflections on the absurdity of being taken off the air at Eyewitness News because she wouldn't cut her new afro. She gave props also to Elombe Brath, now ailing in a nursing home, who led the indignant protest that resulted in her reinstatement. Environmentalist Majora Carter opened eyes and minds as she told of the damage that hair-relaxer chemicals do to the environment, and asked us to imagine how much more harm they do to our internal environments. Filmmaker Kathe Sandler was interviewed by Fashion and Beauty Editor of Heart & Soul Magazine, Julia Chance after a clip from Kathe's film "A Question of Color" and audience members were captivated.
Anu interviewed Nana Camille Yarbrough about the 30th anniversary of her ground-breaking book, "Cornrows" and did such a good job that she was invited to be on Nana's cable TV show that weekend! Dancer Fatima Friday wowed everyone with a Hip Hop/modern piece choreographed to India Arie's "I Am Not My Hair" and Dominique Morisseau read a poignant original dramatic piece. Mten Halsey did a blazing drum solo and then played background for the four beautiful Khamit Kinks natural brides who modeled their hair styles, their Cassandra Bromfield gowns and their hair ornaments made by Sherri Hobson.
There was a brief Natural Myths and Legends video presentation and refreshments at intermission, with lots of lively talk. We've received nothing but compliments following the evening and many requests to do it again - and soon. We're not so sure about the soon part, but we'd be crazy not to consider doing the program again, seeing as it was such a success and made the impact that we'd hoped it would. Messages are still coming in, saying: "This is the new way to start the season, right before BAM!" "I've been on a high!" "It was phenomenal!" and "I'll never again be ashamed of my hair!"
Speaking for the co-producers, we were awestruck by the turnout, thrilled that our hard work was so well-received and happy to be in the presence of so many beautiful Black people with beautiful natural hair! Wow! If you weren't there, ask anyone who was! See the photos
or view the montage on You Tube
Heads Up HAIRitage
|
Client Profile - Jacqui Farmer
by Maitefa Angaza
Our featured client is a globe-trotter who produces and reports on news stories that broaden our views of people down the street and across the ocean. Jacqui Farmer is an independent news writer and broadcast journalist working in radio, television and historical documentary. She's lived in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm, covered Somalia and Haiti and witnessed both the last days of apartheid and the early days of South African democracy. This was while she served as a producer for "The McNeill-Lehrer News Hour" on PBS, working primarily with the wonderful Charlayne Hunter-Gault. Jaqui relishes the challenging and life-changing nature of her work. READ MORE
|
The Natural Bride
It had been six years since our last bridal shoot! My, how time flies! Because ours was an outdoor event, it was postponed by a month, due to the cold weather in April. The day before our shoot it was frigid, damp and overcast. But the very next day the temperature raised to the 70's, the clouds parted and Mama Nature and the sun smiled on our brides, who were magnificent! Check out our stunning Natural Brides! View more bridal images or see the YouTube montage.
|
International Arts Festival
Although it doesn't open this month, we thought we'd give you an early reminder to catch New York's fabulous annual cultural family reunion. Brooklyn's International African Arts Festival will celebrate its 40th anniversary. In its early days it was known as The African Street Carnival and later, the African Street Festival. In its new location, Commodore Barry Park, (practically around the corner from Khamit Kinks) the Festival has space to grow, room for the kids to play and even a pool in which to cool off. Khamit Kinks will be participating along with many other natural hair care salons in the IAFF's Natural Hair Show 2009 "Legacies and Visions of Natural Hair" on Sunday, July 5th at 5:00 pm. You don't want to miss it!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
