June 2022 Edition

Culture & News

Our Wedding Day

June is known as the most popular month for weddings. It’s a wonderful time for a couple to pledge their love and union to each other. The online magazine: Black Bride.com has ideas for planning, inspiration, and examples of real weddings. The magazine features Shaira Howard and Ricky Grinstead who plan to wed in October 2022. Their photo session: A Nautical Engagement Session in Gulfport, MS has absolutely beautiful images. Congratulations to the lovely couple!

When planning for this special wedding occasion there are many things to consider: premarital counseling, best venue, the menu, guests, and the scrumptious wedding cake. After the wedding there are also things to consider, such as learning to grow together in good times and bad. The movie: “A Fresh Start – A New Beginning With God” (2021) introduces newlyweds, Elijah and Renelle (their real names by the way). The young couple are excited for their wedding, but not quite aware of a storm brewing on the horizon. Will they learn to grow together and sail the turbulent waters? This indie film delivers a realistic look at some challenges in marriage and was very enjoyable to watch. The film is posted at the end of this newsletter.

Congratulations to all the couples for a blessed union!

The Inspired Bride: June Wedding Facts and Statistics

June Wedding Facts and Statistics

💖Essence: Black Wedding Moment: This Couple Eloped On The Beach In San Diego (2020)

https://www.essence.com/love/black-wedding-moment-this-couple-eloped-on-the-beach-in-san-diego/

*Notice: See the November 2019 Edition that features the article: “Marriage in Color” for African American marriage statistics. To view the full edition click here

Art/Film/Literature News

Fiber Art

Renée Fleuranges-Valdes is a textile artist and quilter. She owns the fiber art business: Quilted Artistry by Renee in Charleston, South Carolina. Her upcoming exhibitions include: North Charleston African American Fiber Arts Festival: From Chaos to Beloved Community, Envisioning Social Justice. North Charleston City Hall Gallery, South Carolina May 4 – June 17, 2022 and Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West; The James Museum of Western and Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg, Florida, Opening September 2022.

There are other fiber artists whose talents are deserving of recognition: Ruth Miller who provokes strong emotion with her hand-embroidered tapestry portraits, Michelle Drummond a contemporary mixed media fiber artist, whose use of vibrant colors is quite magical, and Freddy Moran an author, teacher, and the mother of five boys, who creates beautiful quilts that wonderfully capture the heart.

Black News.com: Meet the Black Artist From New York Working to Bring Fiber Art to the South

Meet the Black Artist From New York Working to Bring Fiber Art to the South

Textile Artist.org: Ruth Miller: Life-sized storytelling in stitch

Ruth Miller: Life-sized storytelling in stitch

Arts United Florida.com: Michelle Drummond

Michelle Drummond

💖Jennifer Sampou.com: Freddy Moran. Bright Light, Bold Artist

https://www.jennifersampou.com/my-blog/freddy-moran-bright-light-bold-artist

“Ruth Miller ~ Fiber Artist”
Mississippi Arts Commission on YouTube

“Introducing Michelle Drummond, Contemporary Mixed Media Fiber Artist”
Michelle Drummond on YouTube

“Freddy Moran! Alex Anderson in Freddy’s House”
The Quilt Show on YouTube

Business/Non-Profit News

Bobby Q’s BBQ

Bobby Ford is a police detective and owner of Bobby Q’s BBQ restaurant. He wants to bring good food to his community and has seen a loyal customer base, even through the Covid pandemic. He states: “My belief is that soul food is international.” Well said and Bon Appetit!

ABC 7 New York News: Restaurant owner by day, police officer by night – see how Long Island’s Bobby Ford does it (2021)

https://abc7ny.com/bobby-qs-police-officer-new-york-chef/10286658/

“Police officer turned chef runs successful BBQ joint to bring quality food to his community | Bite S”
Localish on YouTube

Book Review

An Audience with the Former Queen of Madagascar

The book An Audience with the Former Queen of Madagascar by Frank G Carpenter (16 pages, originally published in 1907, kindle edition May 2015) is a brief interview with Queen Ranavalona III of Madagascar (an East African island) when she was 45 years-old. She was deposed from her throne by the French and put into exile after a war between the two nations. The success of French barbarism made her homeland its colony.

The reader should be aware that the main perspective of this book subscribes to a European worldview. Hence, the article was published in 1907 by the Omaha Bee Newspaper of Nebraska.

The book has good writing, a few typos, and photos of the Queen. It’s a good example of why the voices of indigenous populations should be explored in world studies, especially for Africans and the African Diaspora. The idea that African nations did not fight back against European colonialism and the Transatlantic Slave Trade is inaccurate. And their side of the story needs to be told more often.

Unfortunately, for Queen Ranavalona while in exile in Algeria (North Africa) she was assigned spies and a female guard Madame Depret to monitor her activities. The guard informed the newspaper reporter that the Queen was not allowed to discuss politics or her own country- essentially, a gag order. And probably carried with it deadly repercussions for the Queen.

Overall, a very interesting read!

💖Book Quotes:

“She promised to protect her country and stand up like a man with her people against anyone who might attempt to take even a hair’s breadth of it.”
(kindle loc. 47)

“War ensued, and at a cost of many million dollars the French were finally victorious.”
(kindle loc. 52)

“In fact, her every act was that of a well bred society woman, and her soft, low voice during my stay that of the drawing room.”
(kindle loc. 96)