fLoWeR pOwEr!

OMG! Today is the 27th day of February, which means that we only have one more day to pay homage to Black/Negro/African-American History..or is it? Speaking of this short month dedicated to persons of the African heritage, It seems as though this month isn't as big of a deal as it used to be. Perhaps, it is for the fact that I am no longer a school aged child, where learning about our culture was force fed to us, via plays, homework assignments and a gamut of videos and films shown to us in our classrooms. I will give BET and MTV2 kudos, they have made mention of this commemorative month through commercials,and an occasional Black history/Rap History fact or two.

I would like to take time out to acknowledge and introduce a moment in Black History that is not known to many. An all Black women's Social Club, Club Kamelya, was founded in 1953, in Atlanta, GA. The name Kamelya, was a spin on the flower Rhododendron "Camillia's Blush",commonly known as an Azalea. The founders chose this flower as their club's symbol, as a representation of the beauty of the women and the flower.

There were twelve (12) founders of Club Kamelya, two (2) of which are my relatives, one, my paternal grandmother, Doris T. and a great aunt, Emma T.This all Black Women's club was founded on the premises of advocating traveling abroad for African American women and providing civic duties for underprivileged black youth. Club Kamelya's founders and members not only traveled and aided the less fortunate, they hosted numerous socials and affairs, some of which they called "barn dances", throughout the year. These soirees were thrown all over the "colored sections" of the city for all to attend. The monies raised from the parties, were to go towards helping the underprivileged youth with food, clothing and other necessities.

In February 1963, the women were aware that their popularity had grown, therefore, they took a chance and made a request to have their Annual Anniversary affair in a downtown Atlanta hotel. What's the big deal you may ask? There had not been any other Black women's clubs to host an event in downtown Atlanta. A Black male social club preceded them in the act. However, Club Kamelya became the first Black women's social club to have a social event in downtown Atlanta, at the Americana Hotel. The event was a huge success, paving the way for other African Americans to host events in Downtown Atlanta.

Club Kamelya represented aesthetics in more than just the physical sense, the women epitomized charity, love, grace,camaraderie and unity. The 12 illustrious women remained a family throughout the years. Unfortunately, due to natural causes related to aging, the trendsetting group of women dissipated their Club in 2005.

Perhaps..I will be able to carry the legacy on.......Thanks for the pOwEr, you beautiful fLoWeRs..Club Kamelya!
(btw...I now understand why Ray used to always have azalea bushes in the front yard!)

Therapeutically correct?!?!

I believe in shopping and exercising as forms of therapy. Being a therapist, by education and credentials,at least, I am a huge advocate of the traditional, one on one, sit down and talk-it-out type of therapy. However, I am not opposed to people choosing various forms of expression to cope or work through their personal life stressors. Besides most therapists' goals are to help people identify their emotions, gain insight and develop some positive and healthy coping skills....... Therefore, am I wrong for using fashion, creativity and shopping as a form of catharsis? Of course, we should all emote and look within ourselves and identify the sources of our woes, but we should also have various outlets as a means of coping.
Now,I don't believe in coincidences, just divine intervention.......the topic of shopping/fashion vs. therapy was on my mind prior to blogging. When I began to read my daily bread this a.m., the topic was about "The new religion" and you guessed it, shopping was identified as the new religion(for some people at least).......talk about divine intervention! Perhaps this was GOD telling me that shopping, music, exercise or any other hobby should not take precedence over meditation, spirituality or therapy. Balance is key in this journey we call life! To be a holistically healthy person,there should be balance between spirituality, career, family, friends and hobbies. Of course GOD/spirituality should be at the head of the balance beam and everything else should fall in place. This does take some work. I encourage every person to strategize what they imagine their life to look like and make it look that way. GOD knows that I am...... which leads back to the subject at hand........
I feel excited, refreshed and motivated after I have eaten a good turkey burger, prayed and created a fly outfit via shopping (a good sermon totally rocks my socks too!)! So after expressing myself creatively via a mini shopping spree, I have emoted and used catharsis to the max! I only think it is a problem if it causes significant impairment in my daily functioning and livelihood(can you say addiction?!). Now, if one chooses to use shopping as their only means of coping..uh ooh, watch out! There is a therapeutic faux pax on hand, and that person will need an emotional makeover..so find a local therapist, if you have to, find a friend, cousin, or sibling to talk it out with...nothing wrong with a little bargain shopping for a therapist. If one of those persons aren't suitable,let go of the stigma attached to being involved in therapy and jump right in, it's an enlightening experience!
Find a happy median in being spiritually, emotionally and fashionably correct! Start looking good on the out side, then work your way on the inside or vice versa,whichever is in most need of a makeover for you! Nobody likes a "dressed up garbage can"!

~peace, blessings and couture!

Whatever happened to optimism and hope

As I was watching the news this morning(2 mornings ago),I became disgusted and aggravated.What brought on these feelings of pessimism you may ask? A segment on the '08 Presidential Race came on. The topic was in reference to the possibility of Barack becoming President, so some random reporter saw fit to poll random black people of their thoughts of Barack taking office. These persons of the same ethinic background as me, mind you, chose to make comments such as "America isn't ready for a Black president, I'd rather have Hillary in office,That sounds like a good idea, but it wont happen.". I became flabbergasted, as they voiced their opinions. I then had to remind myself, that these are these peoples views, they are entitled.
It would be nice for our people to unite, stick together, and have the Audacity of Hope (big up Obama). Sure, there has never been a President of the African heritage, but what about hope and optimism? Is that too much to ask for? At one point in history,water fountains were labled colored & white only, but somebody had the audacity of hope. Somebody took a chance, and something phenomenal happened....we were not isolated because of the hue of our skin.
I'm not oblivious to the fact that racism is alive and well.I'm not ignorant to the notion that this race would be a long and hard road for Mr.Obama, however, I am not giving up hope in the ideal that he can do it.Besides, anything worth having is worth working for!
GOD given optimism can rebuild what pessimism has torn down! Let's rebuild, restore and have some mustard seed faith, if nothing else!..