Living Roots Magazine April May 2012 by Deona Smith

April/May 2012

Plus

Spoleto, Bottle Trees and Shoe Trends

Shanola Hampton

is Shameless

Telling Her Story Journalist Kerri Forrest

Angie Stone

on Music, Health and Life

P.O. Box 689 3627 Maybank Highway John’s Island, South Carolina 29457 (843) 559-3190

Serving Charleston County Since 1972

Providing Quality and Compassionate Service

Home Health Care Senior Care Services Adult Day Care Services

Offering: Skilled Nursing • Home Health Aides • Personal Care Aides Medical Social Worker • Physical and Occupational Therapy Pediatric Care • IV Therapy / Wound Care - and more Tell your doctor to call “Sea Island” for your health care.

Presents

LIVE IN CONCERT Dr. Wilfred Delphin, Concert Pianist and

Dr. Wilfred Delphin

The Charlton Singleton Ensemble April 13, 2012 • 7 p.m. Memminger Auditorium 56 Beaufain Street Charleston, SC For ticket information: www.sichcc.org (843) 559-3190 2

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

Charlton Singleton

Sections

Contents Letter from the Editor ......................................... 2 By Deona Smith

STYLE

Natural Hair .................................................... 4 A Cultural Renaissance

Our Contributors ................................................. 3

By Deona Smith

Features

Reﬂections African Jewelry ............................. 8

We Are Every Woman ..................................... 18

A Driven Young Woman

A Glimpse at Sisterhood in the Lowcountry

She’s Got Game – She Knows Shoes ............ 6

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT Spoleto Sneak Peek ......................................10 By Kristen Gehrman

From Small Town to Tinseltown .....................14

By Kristen Wright-Matthews

The Soul of the South .................................... 20 Angie Stone Remains at the Top of Her Game By Kristen Wright-Matthews

By Kristen Wright-Matthews

CULTURE The Bottle Tree ..............................................16 By Portia Cobb

Kerri Lyn Forrest ............................................ 24 Returning Home to Charleston By Donna Maria Smith

The Driving Force Behind African-American Studies at the College of Charleston .............26 By LaQunya Baker

MONEY Save By Budgeting ........................................29 Thinking About Your Financial Future

GIVING Jennet Alterman and the Center for Women ..30

By Kristen Gehrman

HEALTH 5 Reasons to Know Yoga...............................32 By LaDawn Frasier

TYING THE KNOT A Look at Lowcountry Weddings ....................34 FOOD + DRINK Geechie Red Rice .........................................37 By Terrie L. Burns

CITY SCENE A Look at What’s Happening Around the Lowcountry ..................................39

18 20

April/May 2012

Plus

Spoleto, Bottle Trees and Shoe Trends

Shanola Hampton

is Shameless

Telling Her Story

��

THE COVER Angie Stone, a musical icon for more than 30 years, gets up close and personal about her career, health, family and her Southern roots. April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

YOUR LETTERS

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

interview, a reporter asked if I thought black women are strong – I replied that I couldn’t think of us in any other way. It’s an innate characteristic, not just of black women but of all women. We all are strong and powerful. In a world where we still earn less than our male colleagues and often are restricted in our corporate climb, we are a force to reckon with. Able to control the boardroom in 5-inch stilettos while keeping our home and family in order, women provide the stability, compassion and drive to move our communities in Deona Smith and her son, Joseph. the right direction. In anticipation of Mother’s Day, this issue explores the wonders of womanhood. We chronicle our power through talented ladies in the arts, esteemed businesswomen, dynamic educators and advocates for female empowerment. We caught up with Grammy-nominated singer Angie Stone to learn of her rise from a young girl in Columbia, S.C., to the top of the music charts. She openly and honestly discusses her triumphs and challenges in the recording industry, as well as her personal life. Like Stone, Summerville’s Shanola Hampton understands the struggle of living in the spotlight. The actress on Showtime’s hit show “Shameless” has succeeded in crafting an acting career in spite of the obstacles. Living Roots contributor Kristen Wright-Matthews spoke with Shanola of her Southern pride and dedication to fulfilling her dream. You can’t speak of women and dedication without mentioning the subject of our Giving column. I don’t have enough space to talk about Jennet Robinson Alterman and the strides she and her staff at the Center for Women have made on behalf of women in the Lowcountry. Like many others, when I started my entrepreneurial journey, I found a home overflowing with sisterhood at the Center for Women. Alterman tirelessly works to educate and empower women and motivate them to take control of their destiny. And finally, we end this issue with the words of Pulitzer-nominated poet and activist Vivian Ayers. A Chester, S.C., native and mother, she raised two strong women in Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashad. She graciously allowed us to publish her poem dedicated to Mrs. Lyndon “Lady Bird” Johnson: “The Woman with Family.” It sums up all that is. This issue is for my sisters and the men who love them. Happy Mother’s Day!

Deona Smith Editor-in-Chief 2

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

photo by Darrin Todd Little

URING A RECENT

Jack “Jackie” McCray I enjoyed the article about Jack McCray in your publication Living Roots. I am a family member of his. His grandmother and my grandmother were sisters. He is fondly remembered as “Jackie,” and we were terribly shocked by his sudden passing. Thank you for paying tribute to him. Jackie was an amazing historian, and my husband and I made sure that our two sons were aware of his amazing talents and bountiful knowledge of the history of jazz and music in general. I know that Liz and Ellis, his parents, and Terry, his younger brother (predeceased), had a heck of a homecoming. Thanks for what you do. I look forward to future editions. Vanessa Admiral • By Email Great Magazine Great job on the magazine. It’s a welloverdue addition to the Lowcountry. Your publication is well-written and looks great. Thank you for showing the black community in such a beautiful and respectful way. Alicia Bivens • Mount Pleasant, S.C. Clyburn and Scott Your coverage of Reps. Jim Clyburn and Tim Scott was balanced and fair. I learned some background information about both men that revealed another layer to their political views. Thanks for a great article and magazine. Thomas Drake • Columbia, S.C. An Inspiring Example Without your magazine, I would have never known that a black man was the U.S. ambassador to Iceland and that he hailed from Charleston. Mr. Gadsden is inspiring and an example of what you can accomplish with hard work. Thank you for writing the stories that others won’t. Carl Jenkins • New York, N.Y.

SHARE YOUR COMMENTS With your name and contact info to: deona@livingrootsmag.com.

CONTRIBUTORS

Vivian Ayers A native of Chester, S.C., Vivian Ayers is a renowned poet, playwright and publisher. In 1952, she received a Pulitzer award nomination for poetry. In 1972, her work, “Workshops in Open Fields,” was hailed and recommended to the nation as a “prototype of grass-roots programming” by the director of the National Endowment of the Arts. Comments from Ms. Ayers regarding her poem, “The Woman With Family”: Dedicated to Mrs. Lyndon Baines A Los Angeles native, Kristen WrightMatthews moved to Charleston seven years ago. She has been a publicist, freelance writer and magazine editor for 16 years. She’s worked with countless celebrities, but Kristen’s love for children led her to a higher calling. She was a middle school teacher for two years, and she was widely recognized for her contributions in bringing awareness to community issues. An aspiring children’s writer, Kristen is a newlywed and mother of a 4-year-old boy, who she considers to be her most extraordinary accomplishment. Portia Cobb is a documentary ﬁlmmaker, multimedia artist and professor of ﬁlm, video and new genres at the University of WisconsinMilwaukee. Notions of home, place and memory

Johnson, who chaired the celebration of “A Hundred Women Who Did ...” along with Professor Ada Anderson, director of LEAP, The Leadership-Educational-Arts-Program, and a committee of African-American women. A wonderful day of honors for women who had done outstanding work ... with little recognition or press attention. The event was held in the lavish Lyndon Baines Johnson Library in Austin. Many such women were meeting for the very ﬁrst time. Such was Texas! And I meant it when I ended this poem saying, “This is a moment of grace!” It was written overnight. ... after a call from Austin saying I would be the only one allowed to speak in my category of awardees. So much for Lady Bird Johnson, myself and other women with families. She was thrilled. I was humbled. are the central themes in her creative inquiry, and she draws great inspiration from her Gullah-Geechee heritage. She is currently working on two documentaries about South Carolina Lowcountry culture and life: “The Way Showers‚” a portrait of 12 contemporary AfricanAmerican women fabric artists, and “Yonges Island‚” a documentary about family, land legacy and loss. Her interest and documentation of bottle trees developed during a yearlong sabbatical in Charleston in 2009 and 2010. Kristen Gehrman is a freelance writer and high school French teacher living in downtown Charleston. Her favorite writing assignments are those that begin with a nice long interview, like the one she had with Jennet Alterman, director of the Center for Women. This issue also features Kristen’s second Spoleto sneak peek, an assignment that leaves her counting down the days until May. “I’ve been listening to Virginia Rodrigues non-stop since I wrote the piece. I think of all the shows, I want to see hers the most.”

Publisher / Editor-In-Chief Deona Smith Copy Editor Brian Sherman Art Director Dana Coleman Graphic Artist Angela McMillan Style Editor Angie Ravenel Fashion Stylist Theresa Spann Contributing Writers Vivian Ayers, LaQunya Baker, Portia Cobb, LaDawn Frasier, Kristen Gehrman, Donna Maria Smith Kristen Wright-Matthews Photographers Darrin Todd Little Angie Ravenel, Jeffrey Villafane

LR Marketing and Development Director Greta Thomsen Advertising Otto S. Riley, Kristen Wright-Matthews Administrative Support Hope Manigault Interns LaQunya Baker, Sara Daise Bianca Flowers, Tiffany Hughes D’yanis Samuel Living Roots Magazine 1150 Hungryneck Blvd., Suite C-351 Mount Pleasant, S.C. 29464 (843) 937-9600 Living Roots magazine, Vol. 1 No. 3, is published bimonthly, six times per year, by DeJo Communications Group, LLC. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2012 by DeJo Communications Group, LLC. All rights reserved. April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

l a r u t a N Hair

STYLE

H E R E S E E M S TO B E A C U LT U R A L R E N A I S S A N C E I N natural hair. Once the pride of the ’70s, more and more women of today are choosing to embrace their natural texture. The move to “go natural” has been the catalyst for new websites complete with how-to videos, local meet-ups to discuss the latest hair products and expos, all centered around natural hair. Whether styled in an afro, locs, twists or allowing your hair to free-form and take its own shape, Lowcountry streets are teeming with beautiful women sporting their natural dos. We asked these ladies why they choose to wear natural hairstyles when many black women are still opting for relaxers. GINA GREENIDGE Miami, Fla. • A native of Mount Pleasant • Age: 35 Occupation: Counselor “I decided to wear my hair natural 12 years ago when my mother passed away from cancer. I like the easy maintenance and love that non-women of color want to talk about my hair. We talk about the diﬀerent hair textures and how it’s the natural way our hair should be. And men love it.”

BELINDA PALMER Goose Creek, South Carolina • Age: 36 Occupation: Sales “I saw so many women doing it, and they looked beautiful. My sister was natural and inspired me to do it. It feels so empowering. I’ve been natural for ﬁve months and I love it.”

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

STYLE

LADAWN FRASIER Johns Island, South Carolina • Age: 37 Occupation: Wellness company owner “I wear my hair in a natural style because it enhances my natural beauty and complements my holistic lifestyle. I’ve loced my hair for 10 years now, and it’s been a wonderful and empowering journey.”

MATTISE DEAS NELSON Awendaw, South Carolina • Age: 60ish Occupation: Retired “After many years of chemicals and the damage they cause, I thought it was time for a change. I also spend less time dealing with my hair in its natural state.”

TERRIEL MUNGIN Moncks Corner, South Carolina • Age: 16 Occupation: Student “I wear my hair natural to express myself. I am a unique person, and I don’t like to blend in with my peers.”

YOLONDA WILLIAMS JOHNSON North Charleston, South Carolina • Age: 42 Occupation: Director of ﬁnance “The relaxer was making my hair ﬁne and limp. I never liked super straight hair, so I discovered my natural curl pattern and love it.”

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

STYLE

She’s Got Game F OR 12 YEARS, CATHRINE WARING HAS

styled ladies with the best footwear at Bob Ellis Shoes in downtown Charleston. The preeminent Charleston shoe store for more than 61 years, Bob Ellis is known for its couture shoes, offering one style per size and the personal service of a dedicated associate who cares for you from the moment you arrive until you BY DEONA SMITH leave. And Waring’s ability to provide superior service while understanding the needs of her clients has made her the preferred associate for many Lowcountry ladies. Living Roots sat down with Waring to discuss women, their buying habits and why having a “mean shoe game” is so important. LR: It’s no secret that women love shoes. Are you ever surprised at the importance we place on them? Waring: I really didn’t realize how important shoes are to women until I started working in the industry. Women love shoes. When new shoes arrive and I want to suggest something to a client, I’ll often call them at their home or office. I’ve known women to have their assistants hold all of their calls, but when I say, “It’s Cathrine at Bob Ellis,” they put me right through. LR: Do you find that ladies are more interested in the style of a shoe or the label? Waring: Certainly it’s a combination of the two. The style will grab their attention and make them pick it up, but often the label is a deciding factor, particularly at Bob Ellis. Women come looking for a shoe they’ve seen on the red carpet and they know they can find it here. More than ever, labels are important to women. A woman’s shoes and handbags are a status symbol, and for many it’s a necessary purchase. 6

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 201 2

Cathrine Waring.

LR: What label is the most popular? Waring: Christian Louboutin or “red bottoms,” as they are called, are very popular, especially with the younger ladies. It’s the hot shoe. You can’t miss those red soles, and everybody wants at least one pair. Jimmy Choo and Manolo Blahnik are also sought-after labels. But age also plays a role in a woman’s buying decisions. As women age, we tend to buy shoes for comfort. And while the style is important, an older woman is less likely to sacrifice her feet for fashion. LR: So is it simply the label that accounts for the difference in price point? Waring: The label is definitely a part of it, but it’s really about the difference in craftsmanship. There’s no question that Nine West makes attractive shoes. Often they are styled to emulate a high-end shoe. But the handmade qual-

STYLE ity of a Gucci or Stuart Weitzman shoe makes it more appealing for some buyers. And I’ve found that once women become accustomed to the quality of a high-end shoe, there’s no turning back. LR: But not all ladies can aﬀord a couture shoe. What do you suggest for those women? Waring: I always recommend quality over quantity. Buy the best quality shoe that ﬁts in your budget. It’s better to have a few shoes made of exceptional quality than a hundred shoes in your closet that you’ll probably never wear. Your feet support and move your body. Take care of them by purchasing great shoes. LR: So what are you seeing as the spring and summer trends? Waring: Neon is certainly making a big splash. You’re seeing more vibrant colors, but nudes are a necessity for every closet. A lady

should have a nude shoe that pairs well with everything. And gone are the days that we wear matching shoes and handbags. It looks dated. Women are more daring to mix and match their styles and colors. Peep-toes are also still in fashion, along with jeweled shoes. Women no longer reserve jeweled shoes for after six. They are wearing gold and silver shoes or shoes with jewels or sequins with jeans at any time of day. LR: So what do you think about white shoes? Some women loathe them while others will wear them all summer. Waring: It’s certainly a personal choice, but the runways have been ﬁlled with white shoes of late. And the notion of not wearing white after Labor Day seems a bit passé. We live in a resort destination, so folks are going to wear white, especially the many visitors we attract. If it’s 90 degrees on Sept.30, I’m sure white is acceptable.

GOOD FUN, GOOD FRIENDS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT FOR HEALTHY LIVING FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Cannon Street YMCA... Celebrating 146 Years of mission service to the Charleston Community

When kids experience YMCA Summer Day Camp, they experience something new every day – like the power of a good mentor, the conﬁdence that comes from trying and succeeding and the importance of healthy, long-lasting friendships. Of course, campers don’t know this; they just think they’re having a whole lot of fun. WHEN: June 4 – Aug. 13 • Monday - Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. (One-week specialty camps • Monday - Friday, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

WHERE: Cannon Street YMCA, 61 Cannon St., Charleston, S.C. WHO: Ages 3 - 12 years old and Youth Achievers Camp, 13 - 15 year olds COSTS: $50 Registration Fee, $90/week, ages 3-12, $60/week, Youth Achievers, ages 13 - 15, $100/week, Specialty Camp, (ABC vouchers accepted and ﬁnancial assistance available)

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

STYLE

Sheinata Carn-Hall’s

Reﬂections African Jewelry

IVING ROOTS SAT DOWN

with Sheinata Carn-Hall, owner of Reﬂections African Jewelry, to learn more about this driven young woman and her business. 1) HOW DID YOU LEARN THE ART OF JEWELRY MAKING? I actually taught myself how to make jewelry. While attending the University of South Carolina in Columbia, I began making jewelry and selling my designs as a way of making cash for gas and groceries. It was also during that time when I began appreciating my African and Cherokee culture and heritage, and I wanted to share it with the world. 2) WHAT TYPE OF STONES OR MATERIALS DO YOU USE? My pieces are created from a variety of natural and recycled elements. I use chipped ostrich egg, chipped coconut, recycled cow bone and sea glass, terra cotta clay and carnelian stone, just to name a few. My jewelry pieces have been dubbed gifts from the Earth. It is an honor to be able to work with living elements every day and share them with customers. 3) WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A FULL-TIME BUSINESS? Well, to tell you the truth, it was not because of the best circumstances. I had just graduated from 8

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 201 2

the University of South Carolina. My husband and I decided that we were going to move to New York, but I needed to save money to move. I lost my job and was devastated. I remember opening the phone book to call around to see if anyone was hiring when I heard a voice in my head ask, “Why would you look for a job when you have created one?” I was already selling my designs in the night market, so I decided to get my name on the day list. For 12 years I have been blessed to live oﬀ of my business, and the rest is history. 4) WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST TRIUMPH SINCE OPENING THE BUSINESS? My greatest triumph has been to be able to communicate with my customers what I have to share with them and to see them totally embrace and love it. To know that there is a place for me and my spiritual gift in this world is a good feeling. 5) TELL ME A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF. ARE YOU A CHARLESTON NATIVE? Yes. I am a Charleston

Sheinata Carn-Hall.

native. I grew up right here in the Lowcountry. It is joy to call it my home. I love to travel, but there is no place like home. There is something about this city that always reminds me to embrace my heritage. The customers that I deal with every day remind me that as long as I love myself, my culture and my ancestors, I will always be blessed with all that I need.

STYLE

6) WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE PLANS FOR REFLECTIONS AFRICAN JEWELRY? My future plans for my business are to continue selling at the Charleston City Market, and wholesale to trendy boutiques in New York, Los Angeles and anywhere consumers will appreciate and enjoy wearing my unique works of art. I attended Nolcha Fashion Week in New York in September 2011. It was a wonderful learning experience. They loved my work. It led me to many other opportunities. My video and jewelry made the landing page of their website for Nolcha Fashion Week 2012. In September 2012, they are going to pair me with a designer to

get the jewelry on the runway. I am totally excited. 7) IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH OUR READERS? I would like to share my latest project. It is called Fashion Camp CHS. I came up with the idea in December 2010, and it is ﬁnally manifesting itself. This camp will debut in June 2012. It will be operated at the YWCA at 106 Coming St. Fashion Camp CHS focuses on 13- to 18-year-old teens. It was designed to share a variety of aspects of the fashion industry. A few of the stores and boutiques on King Street are going to participate. I sometimes

collaborate with teens during photo shoots for my jewelry, and they are always so excited to work with the makeup artist and photographer and model my jewelry. Young people are very much intertwined in fashion today. That is what inspired me to create this camp. It is a great way for teens to build self-confidence and share their natural talent for fashion. Fashion industry professionals also have the opportunity to give back to the youth of the Charleston community. To learn more about Fashion Camp CHS, please visit www. fashioncampchs.weebly.com. You can find Reflections African Jewelry in the Charleston City Market or shop online at www.reflectionsafricanjewelry.com.

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

Spoleto T SNEAK PEEK

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

By Kristen Gehrman

HE 2012 SPOLETO FESTIVAL LINEUP PROMISES A FEAST FOR the senses – dazzling, world-class performances with a distinct celebration of AfricanAmerican culture in almost every genre. “It is important for the Festival to feature a wide-ranging program,” said Nigel Redden, Spoleto’s general director. “We want to truly appeal to the many backgrounds and perspectives of the Charleston community.” Whether you book your tickets for every evening May 25 through June 10 or choose just one show, be sure to relish the privilege of being a Spoleto local.

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

answers to the things I want to know. So for now, we’re on our own, and we have to go to the Lord. He’s the only one who knows.” Staples started singing gospel in the 1950s with her father and siblings. The Staples Singers blossomed in the 1960s, singing gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues to the tune of the civil rights movement. Powered by Mavis’ bright, bluesy voice, the group recorded with major artists such as Bob Dylan, Prince and Ry Cooder. Now at 72, Staples is recording

“You talk to this one, listen to that one, pick up the paper, but you can’t get any answers. The White House, the church – I can’t get any straight

Rebirth Brass Band.

again with Wilco’s Jeﬀ Tweedy. She continues to produce songs close to her heart, speaking directly to the black experience of past and present. Already a recipient of lifetime honors from the National Endowment for the Arts and an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, you won’t want to miss her Spoleto debut.

onto the world’s stage. The ensemble combines traditional big-band brass music with New Orleans style funk, jazz, soul and hip-hop. Prone to live improvisation, the band cultivates its original sound with classic brass lines, Latin-inﬂuenced grooves and rollicking Mardi Gras stomp, blasting trumpets, trombones and saxophones in performances known to bring down the roof. Even with their growing international popularity and Grammy glory, Rebirth maintains its Tuesday night gig at the Maple Leaf Bar in their hometown. A band deeply committed to its roots and ready to take the recent revival of brass music by storm, Rebirth’s banging Spoleto debut will leave you wanting more.

Gaillard Auditorium Wednesday, June 6 $25-$75

College of Charleston Cistern Yard Friday, June 8 – Saturday, June 9 $30-$45

REBIRTH BRASS BAND You might have seen Rebirth Brass Band on the stage of the 2012 Grammy Awards, where they took home the prize for Best Regional Roots Music Album. Formed in 1983 by the Frazier brothers and several

VIRGINIA RODRIGUES When Virginia Rodrigues sings a samba, a supernatural hush settles across the audience. Something about her ethereal voice, as delicate as it is mighty, transports listeners to another world, taking them to her Brazilian

Mavis Staples.

MAVIS STAPLES Mavis Staples may be a legend, but she is also a voice of our times. Her 2011 Grammy-winning album, “You Are Not Alone,” is proof of that. While recording her hit single “Only the Lord Knows,” she shed tears making what she called a political song for our times:

former high school band members from New Orleans’ Tremé neighborhood, Rebirth has marched from the streets of the French Quarter right

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT homeland and beyond. Hailing from Salvador, Bahia, a Brazilian city famous for its African roots, Rodrigues sings both in Portuguese and Yaruba, the sweet African language of her heritage. Her songs, accompanied by guitarist Alex Mesquita, tell divine stories, calling on Yarubian gods for sustenance and lamenting the oppression of her people. Growing up in poverty in one of Brazil’s infamous favelas – shanty towns – Rodrigues learned to sing in church, with little vocal training. After joining the polytheistic Afro-Brazilian Candomblé cult in her youth, she started performing with a street

ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER In 1958, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed for the ﬁrst time at the 92nd Street “Y” in New York City. From humble beginnings, the modern dance company has dazzled more than 23 million people in 71 countries with a rich culture of blues and gospel-inspired dance. The company’s 32 dancers, all African-American, are world-renowned for their athleticism and artistry, combining impeccable modern technique with exuberant, unpredictable choreography. “I believe that the dance came from the people and that it should always be delivered back to the people,” said the company’s founder, Alvin Ailey, before his untimely death in 1989. Since then, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has maintained this conviction, delivering performances that are emotionally profound and accessible. Under the artistic directorship of Robert Battles, AAADT opens the 2012 Festival with a program of new works and beloved classics, including “Revelations.” Performed since 1960, this spiritual Virginia Rodrigues. piece tells a story of faith from slavery theater. She was discovered in 1997 by to freedom, concluding triumphantly Brazilian legend Caetano Veloso, who with the famous “Yellow.” Be sure to found her voice “celestial,” dubbing seize the chance to see what The New her the missing link between the clas- York Times called “the most successsical Brazilian music and the masses. ful modern dance company on the Since then, Rodrigues has toured planet.” This is a performance that you worldwide and produced several and your family will remember. albums, including 2000’s bestselling “Nos.” Back by popular demand after Gaillard Auditorium her Spoleto debut in 2001, Rodrigues Friday, May 25 – Sunday May 27 is sure to leave Charleston spellbound $20- $75 once again. CÉCILE MCLORIN SALVANT Gaillard Auditorium At only 22 years old, Cécile Monday, May 28 McLorin Salvant has garnered $15-$65 highbrow attention for her sweet, 12

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

husky voice and fresh take on classic jazz. Those brows include the likes of Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater and Kurt Elling, who awarded her

Cécile McLorin Salvant.

ﬁrst place at the Thelonious Monk International Vocal Jazz competition in 2010. Since then her career has skyrocketed, landing her on stages across the United States and Europe, notably the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, Jazz à Vienne and, most recently, New York City’s Lincoln Center. From behind her white cat eyeglasses, the French-American singer is known to stare her audience down with piercing eyes that are wise beyond her years. She wears raw emotion on her face and trills eﬀortlessly from intense verses to powerful crescendos, devoid of scatting or vocal frills. Growing up in Miami with her French mother and Haitian father, Salvant’s talents for piano and voice were recognized at the age of 5. She later studied at the Aix-en-Provence Conservatory for Jazz, where she started her professional career. This newcomer to Spoleto promises a night of emotion, passion, power and Old World artistry. College of Charleston Cistern Yard Friday, May 25 – Saturday, May 26 $30-$45

From Small Town to Tinseltown: SHANOLA HAMPTON IS HAPPY TO BE A SOUTHERNER

IKE THE MANY VARIETIES OF AZALEAS THAT prosper in Summerville, the “Flowertown in the Pines,” Shanola Hampton’s career is deeply rooted in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. “I knew I wanted to act when I was 3 years old,” said Hampton, who recalls imitating Diana Ross in a talent show at Rollings Elementary School – now Rollings Middle School of the Arts – in the charming, historic town of Summerville. “From being the captain of the junior varsity cheerleading squad at Summerville High B Y KRISTEN WRIGHTMAT THE W S and competing on the debate team, to playing Charlotte in the TheatreWings program’s production of ‘Charlotte’s Web,’ everything that I did helped to pave the way for what I am doing now.” After 10 years of hearing the word “no” over and over again, Hampton persevered and has blossomed into the talented actress that those around her always knew she could be. “I kept trying until I got a yes,” she explained. 14

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Among her fans is Julian Wiles, founder and producing artistic director of Charleston Stage, the Holy City’s professional theater company. “Of the 300-plus students who have participated in the TheatreWings Apprentice Program, Shanola was certainly a shining light,” he said, adding, “What I remember is her smile, big bright eyes and the way she always jumped into learning things. She was interested in all we did and wanted to know the ins and outs of live theater, onstage and oﬀ.” As Charlotte, her dynamic personality lit up every scene and delighted the thousands of school kids who came to see the show. Now in full bloom, Hampton is planted in the second season of the hit Showtime original series, “Shameless,” in which she plays Veronica, the sassy, sexy neighbor of an audacious Chicago family that will stop at nothing to survive. Veronica is a go-getter with a long list of jobs and quirky pastimes, including running her own X-rated home webcam. An edgy role for a preacher’s daughter, her charisma leaves viewers wanting more. Her innate ability to eﬀortlessly bring life to an unorthodox character is a testament to her talent, not an indictment of her own values. “It is easy to play Veronica because we are very similar,” Hampton said. “Veronica is a little more street than Shanola, but we are similar in our love for life and people. Our energy never comes from a nasty place.” Both actress and character sport over-the-top personalities, Hampton said, pointing out that “Shanola is more humble. Being from the South, I am more grounded and not self-centered.”

Hampton’s television credits include recurring roles on “Miami Medical” and “Related,” in addition to appearances on “Eli Stone,” “Pepper Dennis,” “Scrubs,” “Strong Medicine” and “Reba.” She has been in movies such as “The Mostly Unfabulous Life of Ethan Green” and “The Hanged Man.” She also appeared in the Touchstone feature comedy “You Again,” and this spring she will play her first leading role as Kalindra Stepney in “Things Never Said,” a story about a woman’s quest for self-worth and purpose as she deals with domestic violence and struggles to find meaning in her life through spoken-word poetry. A stage-trained actress, Hampton earned her undergraduate degree at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., where she met her husband of 12 years. She went on to earn her master’s in fine arts from the University of Illinois. Hampton and her husband currently live in Los Angeles, but she proudly expresses, “I’m from Summerville.” You can catch Shanola Hampton on “Shameless” on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. and in an upcoming episode of “Criminal Minds” on CBS.

A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SHANOLA: Fondest memories of home: walks in Waterfront Park and The Battery, the Flowertown Festival, the food and the people. Hobbies: working out (ﬁve to six days a week), watching obsessive amounts of television (about 40 hours weekly), eating desserts and traveling. Words of wisdom: “Do not let fear rule you! Just step out and do whatever it is that you want to do. The ones that don’t make it are the ones that give up.” Her father’s reaction to her role on “Shameless”: Entrepreneur and pastor Gralin N. Hampton, said, “We know the diﬀerence between what is work and what is reality, so if you want to do it, I support you.”

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

The Bottle Tree:

Color Blue

HE BOTTLE TREE IS

a “loaded” image. Blue bottles upside down on bare branches of crepe myrtle and cedar trees summon all the contradictions, anxiety and emotions B Y P O R T I A CO B B about past and present history and the human condition. By all description, the bottle tree is a protective barrier. Its cobalt/indigo blue glass bottle fruit are presumed to evoke mystical powers that mesmerize, attract then trap and ensnarl the negative energy of spirits, ghosts and haints before they enter a home. This image recalls the tale of Aladdin and his magic lamp, in which a genie – or spirit – is trapped in a bottle. South Carolinians are familiar with images of door and window frames painted blue, a tradition ﬁrst practiced by Africans working on indigo plantations in the 18th century. Roger Pinckney, author of “Blue Roots: 16

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

African-American Folk Magic of the Gullah People,” suggests that the color blue is associated with ghosts, spirits and haints. And according to celebrated poet and author Amiri Baraka, for AfricanAmericans, the color blue is associated with sorrow, pain and loss. THE BLESSED MEMORIAL The bottle tree that now stands at the front entrance of the Avery Research Center at the College of Charleston commemorates the 20th anniversary of “Daughters of the Dust,” a dramatic ﬁlm by Julie Dash about Gullah/Geechee culture. This is probably the ﬁrst bottle tree many people have seen. The bottle tree is often described as a kind of talisman, amulet or charm by folklorists and cultural anthropologists. Art Historian Dr. Robert Farris Thompson has traced it to Ba’kongo visual cultural practices of the Congo and Angola, where its metaphysical

and healing attributes were thought to neutralize and overpower negative forces. Apparently, as we are often captivated by the splendor of the bottle tree, so are other intangible energies. In rural areas of the Lowcountry and throughout the state of South Carolina, you might notice shiny objects placed in yards – mirrors close to a road leading to a house or aluminum foil pans hung from tree branches and along fences. These are commonly used to protect the home, gardens and ﬁelds from intruders, and they, too, originated with the Ba’kongo. This is why I say the bottle tree is a “loaded” image – because of its visual reference to Africa. REASONS TO HAVE A BOTTLE TREE In my quest to locate bottle trees and record stories about them, I discovered that for some people, they are simply an adornment for the yard or garden. Some collectors – or stewards – acquire fabri-

CULTURE

cated metal trees from garden catalogs or commission blacksmiths to make them. For others, they resonate a respect and love for all things African. One bottle tree steward stated that she just likes them because she was told they were African. I like to think of indigo artist Arianne King-Comer, whose vision and eﬀorts brought the bottle tree to the Avery Research Center, as a bottle tree gifter. She has fabricated iron trees with branches pointing to the heavens on a number of occasions as gifts of remembrance. One recipient on St. Margaret Street in Charleston described her bottle tree as a “blessed memorial” and embraces its connection to Gullah/Geechee and Ba’kongo heritage. She remarked that for her, it serves to attract good spirits. In the world of bottle trees, African spirituality and Christian faith co-exist. Those who profess to fear God also acknowledge a belief in ghosts and

spirits. Another steward who lives along Huger Street in Charleston captured that

Perhaps the Avery Research Center’s bottle tree will welcome the good spirits back home. SIGHTINGS OF BOTTLE TREES IN THE CHARLESTON AREA: 436 Huger St.; 56 Kennedy St.; 67 St. Margaret St.; Ebenezer AME Church • 44 Nassau St. • installation by Martha Jarvis-Jackson, visiting Spoleto artist in 1997; 5 Points Road, Summerville; Gullah Ooman Shop, Pawleys Island • Artist - Bunny Rodrigues; North Charleston • at the home of artist Arianne King-Comer; North Charleston Navy Yard • studio of artist Cookie Washington.

sentiment with her statement that “Spirits have never been an issue. They are always welcome back home.”

Portia Cobb, media artist and ﬁlmmaker, is an associate professor of ﬁlm at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Will 2012 be your year to... Control your spending? Increase your credit score? Create your “emergency fund”? Reduce your credit card debt? Invest in your future? Purchase your home?

Finally get ﬁnancially FREE?!

Heaven Scent Est. 1999

Importers of Pure 100% Raw Organic Shea Butter and Pure African Black Soap

April 14, 2012 • 10am - 3pm

Mt. Moriah Family Life Center 7396 Rivers Ave. • North Charleston, SC 20406

Our pure imports have shown to treat many skin disorders including acne, eczema, psoriasis, dry skin, ﬁne lines, stretch marks, burns and skin discolorations.

Makers of our own organic skin care products and scented soaps.

Located in the City Market 73 North Market St | Charleston, SC | 843-478-9945

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

WE ARE EVERY WOMAN: story by Kristen Wright-Matthews

A GLIMPSE AT SISTERHOOD IN THE LO W COUNTRY

ROM THE TIME WE ARE LITTLE GIRLS UNTIL WE REACH WOMANHOOD and beyond, we count on our girlfriends to share our secrets, discuss our problems, enjoy plentiful laughs and giggles and help us make lifelong memories. As women, we know how much we rely on friends during good times and bad and how important it is to share experiences and learn from each other’s perspectives on life. Friendship transcends age, race, religion and economic status. Helen Keller once wrote, “Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.” Most women would agree that from childhood to old age, a good friend is precious treasure. Living Roots took time out to learn about organizations around the Lowcountry that foster social, emotional, spiritual and professional support for women of all ages. Let the good times roll with Low Country Women of Color ... Started through an online network for local groups by photographer and military veteran Kim Alston-Craven in 2009, the Low Country Women of Color serves as a catalyst for women to meet other women for friendships, activities and more. “My intent for starting the LCWOC was to help me meet people while adjusting to my return to Charleston from more than 20 years in the Army, but it has become so much more than that for me and for so many other women,” Alston-Craven said proudly. “Lifelong friendships have been formed, and we have unadulterated, drama-free fun with one another.” The group currently has more than 275 registered members, including single and married women from 18 to 69, who range from working professionals and students to homemakers and stay-at-home moms. Meet-ups generally include from ﬁve to 50 ladies for activities that vary from shopping sprees, to movie and game nights, to spa days, to book clubs and girls’ nights out. They also enjoy organized annual events such as family day, a holiday party and anniversary celebration. The fun is never-ending with this high-spirited group of ladies from across the globe. “Most of our members are locals looking for people with like interests, Charlestonians who have left and come back and those who are new to the area,” said Alston-Craven. You can register to join the group at www.meetup.com/ 18

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 20 12

Low Country Women of Color.

low-country-women-of color. Membership is $5 per year. Live your life like its golden with Seniors On The Move ... Vanessa Richardson, a member of Greater Goodwill AME Church in Mount Pleasant, developed Seniors On The Move with the support of former pastor Herbert L. Temoney. Designed to create a comfortable atmosphere for seniors to socialize and share their golden years with friends and neighbors, the program has proven successful, increasing from 15 to 78 members since its inception four years ago. “I started Seniors On The Move because I believed that the seniors in the church needed the fellowship, and everyone just loves the opportunity to spend time with their peers,” Richardson said.

CULTURE

Seniors on the Move.

The group, which meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon at the church, enjoys a variety of activities, including games, arts and crafts, outings to movies and elsewhere, luncheons, historical tours, and long-distance trips. In the past, the group has traveled to various sites in South Carolina, such as Daufuskie Island and Myrtle Beach, as well as to The Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Fla. In May, they will head north to the Hershey factory in Pennsylvania and the Martin Luther King National Memorial in Washington, D.C. Additionally, key experts and vendors visit Seniors on the Move meetings to discuss health issues and other topics. Membership is open to anyone over 60, male or female, in the Tri-county area. Monthly dues of $5 support outings and donations for members in need. For more information, contact Richardson at (843) 884-0903. Take care of business with South Carolina Women’s Business Center ... The South Carolina Women’s Business Center was founded in October 2011 as an afﬁliate of the Center for Women, a nonproﬁt that has actively served the women of Charleston since 1990. Designed by women to help women do better business, the organization is innovative in its approach in helping entrepreneurs at all stages of business development. The Busi-

ness Center brings business expertise to the entrepreneurial women of South Carolina through training programs, community resources and loans and offers services including one-on-one business counseling and mentoring, as well as networking opportunities. The organization’s Entrepreneurial Readiness program helps women determine if they are ready to be business owners and guides them through the process of becoming their own boss, from developing a business plan to applying for a loan. Monthly networking events provide new and existing

business owners with a chance to connect with other entrepreneurial women in the area, share stories and promote their business. The SCWBC is funded in part by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more information and event listings, log onto www.scwbc.net.

affect women from all walks of life. Founded in 2006 by Barbara Gathers, MSW, LISW, The Women’s Resource Project has done a spectacular job of promoting health awareness while fostering economic, political, cultural and spiritual empowerment among women. Throughout the year, the organization sponsors a variety of events to support its mission, including health and wellness fairs, book signings and its annual program and luncheon in honor of Women’s History Month. Over the years, this event has featured special guests including veteran Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile, authors Akeba Maat El and Yvonne Bondurant, retired African-American teachers and, most recently, philanthropist and Tony Award-winning actress Phylicia Rashad. (An interview with Rashad appeared in the February/March issue of Living Roots, thanks in part to the efforts of The Women’s Resource Project, Inc.) With health at the forefront of its mission, The Women’s Resource Project also sponsors an annual “Go Red for Women” program to help raise awareness about heart disease, the number one killer of women, especially those of African-American descent. This event provides women with information on maintaining health and preventing disease and encourages them to become health advocates for all women. To learn more about The Women’s Resource Project, visit www.womenresourceproject.org.

Get empowered with The Women’s Resource Project ... The Women’s Resource Project, Inc. is a nonproﬁt, community-based organization that targets issues that

The Women’s Resource Project

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

The Soul of the South

AFTER 30 YEARS, ANGIE STONE REMAINS AT THE TOP OF HER GAME

T ’S NO SECRET THAT CONTEMPORARY MUSIC IS CONSTANTLY changing, but for more than three decades we have been able to rely on the creative consistency of Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter, producer and actress Angie Stone. While there’s no doubt she can go heads up with the best of today’s newest talent, she has not wavered in giving us the distinctively soulful sound that we have come to know, love and BY KRISTEN WRIGHTM AT T H E W S expect. Whether belting out tunes on Broadway or harmonizing over infectious rhythm and blues tracks, Stone evocatively delivers every time, seamlessly fusing her artistic inventiveness with vigorous soul. Born in the Southern gospel tradition, Stone’s personal musical journey began in church. She was unquestionably inﬂuenced by the soul icons of the 1960s and early 1970s, 20

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 20 12

citing the likes of Aretha Franklin, Ann Peebles, Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayﬁeld as her inspiration. However, since the beginning at First Nazareth Baptist Church in Columbia,

FEATURE S.C., Stone has built a repertoire that encompasses rap, neo-soul, hip-hop, rhythm and blues, jazz and more. Though many have tried, she can’t be pigeon-holed into one genre. She’s a game-changer, hitting us with something new every time. “I watched other artists get stuck on one sound,” she said. “I refused to become a one-hit wonder, and so I kept myself in the loop of what was going on in all areas of music.” When Stone’s career took off in the late 1970s, at the tender age of 16, rap music was in its early stages, and she and a couple of girlfriends formed a trio called “The Sequence.” They went to a “Sugar Hill Gang” concert, where Angie’s innate beauty caught the attention of the group’s road manager. By the end of the night, Stone and her friends were performing in front of Sylvia Robinson, founder of the famed Sugar Hill Records – and landing a record deal. “The Sequence” recorded two singles in the early 1980s, including “Funk You Up,” the second single released by the famed label – the first was “Rapper’s Delight” by The Sugar Hill Gang. Knowing she did not want to be a career rapper, Stone joined “Vertical Hold,” which veered away from rap and toward melodic neo-soul. She reconditioned her singing voice and developed her harmonization skills and eventually launched a solo career that ultimately led to a meeting with Arista producer Clive Davis and the 1999 release of “Black Diamond,” her first solo album. Two subsequent albums, “Mahogany Soul” in 2001 and “Stone Love” in 2004 – both on J-Records – charted well, but her momentum slowed when she developed sarcoidosis, a disease that attacks the upper respiratory system. “There were times when I could barely breathe,” she said. “I was taking steroids just so I could get air into

my nose and my lungs. But my career never took a back seat to my health problems. I was going to stay alive because I knew that’s what God had planned for me.” She brieﬂy removed herself from the public eye until she could get her health issues under control, returning in 2007 to release her Stax Records debut album. “The Art of Love & War” was her ﬁrst album to top the Billboard 200 R&B/hip-hop chart, selling 45,000 copies in week one. Its

When Living Roots spoke with Stone, she had just completed her sixth and latest album, “Rich Girl,” which is scheduled to be released in September. Featuring collaborations with various artists, including Stone’s daughter, Diamond, and spoken words by Malcolm-Jamal Warner, it promises to reveal a real and raw Angie Stone. “I am a rich girl, and I want to share that with my fans,” she said, now in a comfortable place in her life. “I’m not talking about rich in material possessions, but in love, life and spirit, I have everything.” In a phone interview with Living Roots, Stone got up close and personal about her career, health, family and Southern roots. LR: What are your fondest memories of growing up in South Carolina?

lead single, “Baby,” featuring Betty Wright, debuted at number 18 on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles, later peaking at number three, while also charting on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles at number 20 and jumping to the main chart at number 73. Many critics thought it was her best album ever. Despite the success of “The Art of Love & War,” Stone sought new areas to explore with her release of “Unexpected,” on the Stax label in 2010. “I didn’t want to make the kind of neo-soul record I had made in the past,” Stone explained. Named when her father suddenly passed while she was recording, “Unexpected” was just that – with quick and funky fun tracks, it was unlike any other Angie Stone album. “I just wanted to do something fun,” she said.

AS: I loved the schools I went to, playing sports and spending time with family. I grew up in a great town with a great energy. My upbringing was solid. I just loved everything about growing up in the South. I have a lot of great memories. LR: Do you feel that your Southern upbringing has contributed to who you are today and how you have handled your situation? AS: Absolutely. How I grew up has a lot to do with my standards as an individual – how I carry myself. It also aﬀects how I represent my community and my people as a whole. Yes, it has deﬁnitely been a positive factor in molding who I am today. LR: You are an icon in so many aspects of your life. Your fans look up to you, not only for your voice. Some may identify with you because April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

FEATURE

you have natural hair or because you are plus-sized. How does this make you feel?

sure to include God on every level of my life. LR: Did you ever imagine that you would have the success that you’ve had for this long?

AS: Overwhelmed. I am a typical black girl, with full lips and nappy hair. The odds were against me. I wasn’t supposed to make it. I think that’s one of the reasons that people have been drawn to me. But I made it because I never quit. LR: Many South Carolinians have never left home, for whatever reason. What is the best advice you can give to young women who would like to leave to pursue a career in entertainment? AS: It is not an easy road to travel. There is a lot of despair and disappointment that comes with it, so you have to

have tough skin. You can ﬁnd yourself and lose yourself in a moment, so what I have done is keep sight of who I am, where I came from, where I want to go and where my gifts come from in the ﬁrst place. I stay focused on Jesus. If you do that, you can make it, too. He gave us our gifts to uplift, and I make

AS: I always sang in church and in local shows growing up. But I actually wanted to act more than I ever wanted to sing. I never knew what level I would get to, but I never thought that I would be famous. Singing was just something I enjoyed doing. LR: How did the people around you feel when you decided to purse a career in music? AS: I am an only child and my parents were devastated. I was an Upward

SHOPPING FOR CAR INSURANCE? CALL ME FIRST. AVERAGE ANNUAL SAVINGS:

336

DRIVERS WHO SWITCHED FROM Geico

saved $440

on average with Allstate

Progressive

saved $332

on average with Allstate

182

on average with Allstate

State Farm

saved

Save even more than before with Allstate. Drivers who switched to Allstate saved an average of $336* a year. So when you’re shopping for car insurance, call me ﬁrst. You could be surprised by how much you’ll save. Dan Martin (843) 763-2007

1405 Ashley River Rd. Charleston, SC 20407 Annual savings based on information reported by new Allstate auto customers for policies written in 2008. Actual savings will vary. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company: Northbrook, IL. ©2009 Allstate Insurance Company.

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 20 12

FEATURE

Bound student with three or four college scholarships on the table. I had to make the choice between my diploma or singing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sign with Sugar Hill Records and I took it. LR: You started out in rap. How did you make the transition into soul? AS: I started out in church, but I loved all kinds of music. Soul music is rooted from gospel, and it was something that I had all along. This is what I did naturally, and I just stayed consistent, so the transition was easy for me. LR: If you had decided to stay in high school to get your diploma, what career path would you have taken? AS: I would have gone to college and studied business administration. Everyone was doing that. LR: Let’s talk about your health problems. At the peak of your career, you suﬀered with sarcoidosis. What type of eﬀect did this have on you? AS: It was a very emotional time. I was so afraid to lose my deal that I had to hide the condition from the label. They wanted me to go under the knife to get liposuction and I couldn’t. I was judged and ridiculed for things they did not understand. They were cruel. LR: How is this condition today? AS: I no longer have the disease in my body. God gave me back what the devil took away from me. I look and feel like I am in my youth. LR: But since then, you have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, correct? Does it run in your family?

AS: I was diagnosed with diabetes 15 years ago. My mom was diagnosed one year prior. My diabetes was prednisone-induced. LR: Have you made many changes in your lifestyle to manage your health? AS: I don’t stress myself. I have changed the way I eat and cook. I make sure that my children are knowledgeable about it and take care of themselves. LR: Do you do a lot of exercising? AS: No ma’am. I never formulated a love for exercise, so, by force of habit, I do not, but I am going to start walking soon. LR: What is your role in working with the FACE (Fearless African-Americans Connected and Empowered) diabetes campaign? AS: FACE aims to help AfricanAmericans manage their diabetes more eﬀectively and improve their health. I speak to the community about my experience with the disease and encourage people to educate themselves. LR: What information would you like to share with those facing diabetes? AS: Read and find out how you can make life easier for yourself. Diabetes is not a death sentence. It can be managed. LR: I am glad to hear that you are managing your health well. I know our readers will appreciate your candor in discussing your health because it aﬀects so many of us. AS: No problem. It is very important that we are informed and that we

take care of ourselves until a cure is developed. LR: You mentioned your children. Do they have an interest in entertainment? AS: Yes, my daughter Diamond, 27, sings, and my 15-year-old son, Michael, acts. My kids are very smart. They are both 4.0 students (Diamond can be heard on the albums “Unexpected” and the upcoming “Rich Girl”). LR: I hear that you’re a grandmother. AS: Yes. I have been in the music business for over 30 years. It is time that I have grandchildren. I have a 3-year-old grandson, and Diamond is expecting. LR: You are now managed by Kevin Black, one of the industry’s promotion powerhouses. What are your hopes for this new album? AS: Kevin is incredible. I know his history. He has re-emerged into the industry with a vengeance and with a new, hot project like “Rich Girl,” we are killing two birds with one stone. I am very excited. LR: We’ve seen you on Broadway as Big Mama Morton in “Chicago,” and you co-starred with NeNe Leakes from “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” in the stage play “Loving Him Is Killing Me.” Can we expect any more acting from you in the near future? AS: Yes. Please stay tuned. I am working on quite a bit of projects right now. I am truly grateful for this interview, and I hope that we can talk again after the album comes out. In the meantime, I hope that my music continues to touch your soul. April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

Kerri Lyn Forrest TWO-TIME EMMY AWARD WINNING TV PRODUCER RETURNS HOME TO CHARLESTON

T ONE TIME IN KERRI FORREST’S busy young life, traveling aboard the exclusive transportation of the president of the United States was nothing out of the ordinary. “My friends would ask me, ‘Where are you now?’ and I would tell them ‘I just departed Air Force One’ like it was no big deal,” the B Y DONNA MARIA SMITH James Island native recalled. Not yet 40 years old, she has accompanied George W. Bush on numerous trips, enjoyed lunches with Barack Obama and traveled to more than 12 countries. But after a media career that spanned 16 years and included running the Washington, D.C., oﬃce of the “The Early Show” at CBS, the former senior TV producer gave it all up to return home to Charleston. A graduate of Bishop England High School and Clemson University, Kerri left a high-powered, well24

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 201 2

paying job in the nation’s capital to move back home and “do something very diﬀerent.” She is a freelance writer, consultant, adjunct professor and director of institutional advancement at the American College of Building Arts. Though she no longer arranges interviews with renowned politicians and leaders, she insisted that “I’m still cool – I think!” Still busy meeting interesting people, now at the local level, she is excited about dreamers “working their gigs and going for it.” She is not waking up at 4 a.m. and going to bed at midnight, isn’t constantly on her smart phone, doesn’t have to deal with correspondents and isn’t constantly getting the “beat down.” As a result, she is much more relaxed. “There is a lesson there,” she said. “Life is not all about the money.” For Kerri, it’s more about finding balance and satisfaction in what she is doing.

FEATURE

So how did this Emmy Awardwinning TV producer get her start? Her parents owned a construction business; her father built homes and her mother was the accountant. Kerri said she got her workaholism from her dad and her brains from her mother. “Nothing much gets past my mom,” she explained. Her parents wanted her to be well-rounded, and they stressed education and a strong work ethic. They traveled a lot when she was growing up. Her father was a Shriner, and they often took long driving trips with other families. Her mother visited other countries, bringing back pictures and great stories, which, along with working at a library while in high school, is how Kerri’s love of storytelling developed. “My folks are neat! My family is strong and smart,” said Kerri, recalling stories about her heritage. “It’s so important to understand your background.” Kerri’s connection to slavery and the history of Charleston is her paternal great-grandfather, who was left in charge of McLeod Plantation when its owner went off to fight in the Civil War. Her maternal grandfather was an entrepreneur who owned a boat transport business that carried workers from Cainhoy – Berkeley County – to Charleston during a time when cars were not readily accessible, and segregation was the law. “I do identify as Gullah,” said Kerri. “It’s my heritage. We have nothing to be ashamed of, and it is important that we embrace all of our surroundings that influence who we are.” Kerri doesn’t buy into the old perceptions of what blacks should and should not do and really believes the sky is the limit. She recognizes that her parents grew up during a time when race framed much of their lives

– but that time is not hers. She also appreciates that her formal education at mostly catholic schools, integrating early with people of all races, helped shape who she has become. “Many people still live in subconscious segregation,” Kerry lamented. “I always hope I can encourage people to know that anything is possible.” Kerri is proving that notion of possibility and reaching for the sky. She “fell into” her TV career through college radio. While she was a pre-med/biology major at Clemson, Kerri was introduced to programming through her cousin, drummer Vince Rivers. “I loved radio,” Kerri exclaimed. After college, she moved to Maryland with her sister and got a job as a page at the NBC News Washington bureau, delivering mail and running errands. She spent time talking to various people and learning about their jobs. She became a researcher for the “TODAY” show and ultimately a producer at MSNBC. “Television is a hard lifestyle for women,” she said. “I enjoyed my career but realized that setting boundaries was diﬃcult as I made my way through the ranks. When you try to put up barriers, after a while, you either run the stigma of being labeled the ‘angry black woman’ or something else.” Kerri won two Emmys for political producing at NBC News before moving on to CBS News. With her outgoing personality, the connections gained from 16 years in the industry and her ability to conduct extensive research, Kerri said her main job now is to help others. Her success, she said, is in “my ability to connect people to where their goals are. I want people to realize their potential.” Writing, teaching and working

with the ACBA are all a part of that mission. The American College of Building Arts is a four-year liberal arts college that focuses on teaching the traditional building trades, not only for historic preservation but also for contemporary construction. “My dad was a carpenter, so this is a good ﬁt for me,” Kerri said. She hopes to help bring more minority students to the school, to show them that this type of work is necessary, not menial. “Mr. Philip Simmons gave workshops here. African-Americans helped to get this school started. There is money to be made doing this work. I will help get the word out,” she promised. Still living the lifestyle of a jetsetter but enjoying the Lowcountry landscape, Kerri can be found on the beaches, at the piers, perusing downtown businesses, enjoying the Charleston night life or walking the parks with her sidekick, Neubie. Comfortable and free, Kerri Forrest is described by her musician cousin as “wearing Charleston like a yellow sundress.” DONNA MARIA SMITH is a poet and writer from Awendaw, S.C. The author of “Self Acceptance, Poems by Donna Maria Smith,” featuring “He Go Trippin,” Donna is also a recipient of the Achievers Award, presented by Africa’s International Media Summit (AIMS). A contributor to the book “Go Tell Michelle – AfricanAmerican Women Write to the New First Lady,” her writing is featured in other anthologies and magazines. Donna is the mother of one daughter and resides in Maryland. April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

AfricanAmerican Studies “I DON’T KNOW ABOUT

white churches. Can y’all tell me about the white churches?” Joy Vandervort-Cobb, associate professor of African-American theater and performance at The College of Charleston, asked her class. Vandervort-Cobb swung her dreads around her shoulder and waited for her students to open up to her about the diﬀerences B Y L A Q U N YA B A K E R between predominantly white churches and predominantly black churches. “You’re safe here,” she added as one senior, Casey Chubb, hesitantly began to critique his experience as a Southern Baptist. Other students, black and white, chimed in and gave their approval or expressed their dismay with their own Protestant or Catholic religion. It’s hard to fathom how this conversation

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

sprung from the roots of a lecture about Negro theater and AfricanAmerican playwright James Baldwin.

Joy Vandervort-Cobb

Vandervort-Cobb has a way of facilitating her African-American theater class so that one question leads to a series of

comments that then leads to students providing anecdotes to relate to each other’s experiences. Words such as minstrelsy and pickaninny were thrown up in the air and caught by open minds, then, somehow, conversations were brought full circle by Vandervort-Cobb, who tried to draw the connection to events including the slave trade and the emergence of Negro performance. Her lecture, her class and the topic of African-American theater itself are unconventional, but her class is a must-take at The College. She’s unconventional in a way that makes students such as communications major Hunter Watson say, “She’s better than everybody else.” Her class is unconventional because it touches on topics of racism, slavery and Jim Crow – topics that many in academia still try to avoid. Katie Hladky, assistant professor at The College, concluded that what

photo by Darrin Todd Little

THE COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON’S DRIVING FORCE

FEATURE

makes courses in the African-American Studies Department seem so raw and the topics so taboo is that people are simply “scared.” Hladky, unlike Vandervort-Cobb, who has been with

photos by Darrin Todd Little

Katie Hladky

The College for 17 years, is in her first year at the school and is just one example of how the AAST Department is expanding. With 35 declared minors and 400 students enrolled in AAST courses, the department is rallying support and praise from the women who teach the courses and the students who have taken them. The department has existed at The College since 1994, and, according to Dr. Conseula Francis, its greatest achievement so far is the “increase of visibility of the program in the last five years.” Francis has been with The College since 2002 and has served as the director of the AAST program since 2007. When she’s not teaching about black women writers or African-American literature, she’s teaching her favorite courses on comic books and graphic novels. As she sat in her office, surrounded by black romance novels, feminist paraphernalia and mounds of paperwork, she delved into what’s most important about the AAST program. “If people really stopped to take a

look at the AAST Department here,” Francis said, choosing each word carefully, “they would be surprised at the dedication the students, faculty and administration have to the study of African-American culture.” Senior Garry Hamrick is not an AAST minor but is currently enrolled in his ﬁfth AAST course. He was fascinated by Introduction to AAST, African-American Literature, African Dance, African-American Politics and now African-American Theater with Vandervort-Cobb, but he stressed that while the classes were interesting because he enjoyed the topic, what made them most enjoyable were the women who taught the courses. “They are all very diﬀerent,” Hamrick said as he tried to compare and contrast his professors. “My interest is piqued when there is a good

Dr. Conseula Francis.

combination of an interesting topic and an effective teaching style.” Hladky pointed out that establishing an effective teaching style can be difficult for her. She must get past an obvious barrier: she’s a white woman teaching about African-American religion. But Hladky doesn’t let the hesitation she gets from some students stop her from feeling like she’s “a part of a new generation of white folk.”

Even though Hladky is new to The College, she has high hopes for the AAST Department. For Hladky, diversity among the people she teaches is important. She would like to see more white students in her classes. She said it’s gotten to the point where it’s imperative – “an obligation” – for white people to learn about AfricanAmerican culture. With hiring new faculty such as Hladky and increasing its visibility on campus to the point where its progress is a talking point for The College’s provost, George Hynd, the program is expanding globally. The ﬁrst of what Francis hopes will be regular trips to study abroad is scheduled for Maymester of 2012, when students will visit Barbados. Visiting Assistant Professor Roneka Matheny will teach Barbados and the Black Atlantic, while Caribbean Social Movements and Immigration will be taught by Dr. Robert Chase of the Avery Center. This trip is just one of the many opportunities that have blossomed out of the growth of the program in recent years. Despite new opportunities and increased support for the program, what’s most important to Francis is that students can come to The College and have “the ability to do AAST here the way they can’t do it anywhere else.” Across the board, the women of the AAST Department just want to see success for a program that thrives on the history of a city that practically requires a full study of the African-American culture in the Lowcountry and how it shaped the entire country. With one earring dangling in her ear and her dreads rapped up tightly on top of her head, Vandervort-Cobb thought about what she wanted most for the department. She leaned forward in her chair and said, “My biggest hope is that all the naysayers are proven wrong.” April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

��

Simply Swanky PR, Parties & More . . .

Creating Memories of a Lifetime Flowers & Day Dreams by James Denmark

Other Side of the Fence by Hank Herring Amazing by Patricia Wells

May 25–26, 2012

Sea Island Best Western 1015 Bay Street, Beaufort, SC Also featuring ��

��

May 25 ART SHOW

12 pm - 8 pm with Reception 5 pm -7 pm

May 26 ART SHOW 10 am – 6 pm

Happy children become happy adults! www.simplyswankypr.com

Charleston Natural Hair Expo

Saturday, June 2 10:30am-4pm

Registration begins at 10am Doors open at 10:30am

General Admission

Sunset Bluff by Claudette Humphrey

for Expo & Evening Soiree

Presented by

Bcbcc.org

843-986-1102 28

-theme parties -custom goody bags -centerpieces -tons of ideas

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

$25.99/Advanced • $30/Door “All White” Soiree from 9pm - 1am Sponsored Giveaways • Natural Hair Workshops Music • Great Vendors • Networking • Mingling www.CharlestonNaturalHairExpo.eventbrite.com Harborside East • 28 Bridgeside Rd Mount Pleasant, SC 29464

MONEY

Save More by Budgeting

XAMINING WHERE your money is going and then creating a household budget will allow your family to save a great deal in a relatively short period of time. By creating a feasible household budget, your family can keep on top of bills and payments and, most importantly, identify areas where you can decrease spending to save money for the future.

Find where you can save Unlike your mortgage and car payments, there are some areas of spending that are more variable. Cutting $10 from your grocery budget each week saves you $40 a month. Reduce your fuel bill by attempting to ﬁll up every 10 days instead of every seven. Take a look at the record you’ve kept of your spending and identify areas where you can cut down. Budget accordingly.

Document exactly what you spend To create a budget that is geared toward saving money, it’s important to recognize where your income is going. Take one month and document each paycheck, bill and all miscellaneous spending. Don’t overlook anything. Everything from a soda at the gas station to trips to the grocery store can help paint a clear picture of your spending habits.

Remove leftover money from your weekly budget immediately Once the week ends and you recognize that you have money to spare, congratulate yourself. But don’t

simply roll that money into next week’s allowance. If you’ve budgeted well, any money that you have left at the end of the week shouldn’t be necessary the following week. Place it in a savings account. Do the same with money you have saved from your new budget. Never borrow money from different accounts If part of your salary goes directly into savings or investments, never borrow from these accounts to reconcile your household budget. Instead, cut corners next week. You’ll never save money if you always recognize that you have money saved. Once money is in a savings account, pretend it’s gone for good.

Identify areas of spending that are constant Some areas of your budget will remain the same from month to month. This includes your mortgage or rent, your insurance and some of your monthly bills. Begin creating a new household budget with these bills ﬁrst. April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

GIVING

Jennet Alterman

ITTING DOWN WITH Jennet Alterman, director of Charleston’s Center for Women, is like meeting up with an old girlfriend. Her office in a Spring Street single house is more of a homey Lowcountry living room, decorated with memories from her fascinating life, BY KRISTEN GEHRMAN than the work space of an influential activist. Alterman’s light, sisterly spirit, mixed with her ability to intellectually convey the seriousness of issues facing women today, is what makes her so good at what she does. She hardly embodies the stereotype of a hard-edged, career-focused feminist, exuding an approachable warmth that draws in local women from diverse backgrounds. “Our mission at the Center for Women is to help all women succeed personally and professionally. Growing up in Charleston in the 1960s, I was a victim of gender discrimination,” Alterman explained. “I don’t want any woman, from any racial background, to suffer the inequalities that I and my sisters of that era faced.” Born to relatively progressive parents, Alterman learned at a young age to value art, culture and free thinking. Her father, the founder of the Dock Street Theatre, taught her about ambition and perseverance, while her mother, a playwright and unconventional domestic, inspired her to take control of her life and always maintain a sense of humor. In 1971, Alterman and three other women enrolled at 30

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 201 2

Davidson College as part of a trial to see if females could, as Davidson put it, “handle the academic load.” “Going to Davidson was my first bout with blatant gender discrimination,” Alterman remembered. “At first they weren’t sure if we were smart enough, but none of us earned under a B average.” After graduating from college in 1973, she joined the Peace Corps and was stationed in Afghanistan. Despite her experiences with discrimination at home, serving in a remote, conservative Islamic country Jennet Alterman opened her eyes to the Shortly after she returned home cruel injustices women face around from Afghanistan, she was sent to the world. Swaziland, this time as a Peace Corps “I worked with women who were coordinator over all the volunteer absolutely powerless. They had no initiatives in the country. After three vote, owned no property, had no years of service, she returned to personal bank account, no control Washington, D.C., where she worked over their reproductive health and at the Peace Corps headquarters for no education. They were completely several more years. When her mother at the mercy of their male relatives,” fell ill, she returned to Charleston Alterman explained. with her husband, Jack, and took her In her office at the Center, the haunting, green eyes of Steve McCurry’s current position. Today, Alterman’s work at the “Afghan Girl,” famously pictured on a Center for Women draws from her 1985 issue of National Geographic, still diverse international experiences and watch her as she works. deep conviction that women hold the “Her eyes remind me how bad it key to solving many of our social and can be and how important it is for economic problems. women to be empowered,” she said.

photo by Jack Alterman

Center for Women

GIVING

“Generally, women are the ones who manage households. They are often the ones who spend the most time with children, are most involved in the schools and make day-to-day economic decisions for the household,” she said. “Yet, on average, women still make only 79 cents for every dollar a man makes in a similar position. African-American women in South Carolina make only 64 cents.

In the year 2011, this is absolutely unacceptable.” The Center for Women helps women, particularly young professionals and those interested in entrepreneurship, take positions of economic power in the community. In addition to oﬀering aﬀordable counseling and mentorship programs, the Center hosts seminars on topics such as starting a small business,

online marketing, negotiating a pay raise and assuming power in a maledominated workplace. The Center also hosts regular networking events, where women can introduce their business to other professional women in the community. “It’s all about women helping women,” said Alterman. “We help women create coalitions that will hopefully one day lead to economic equity.” April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

5 HEALTH

Reasons

WOMEN SHOULD YOGA

IGHT YEARS AGO, as a fledging full-time massage student working two part-time jobs, I discovered yoga. I was overwhelmed with work and school, and the stress of it all would often leave me feeling deflated and worn down. I B Y L A D AW N F R A S I E R took a fourweek introductory course in yoga, and it literally changed my life. My family and classmates noticed an immediate change in me after my first class. Many commented that I looked “well-rested” and “peaceful,” two adjectives that truly described my state of being after attending yoga class that day. I was amazed at how quickly I was able to tap into myself and find some serenity in my life just by doing some yoga postures and focusing on my breath. It was such a profound experience for me that, three years ago, I became certified to teach an ancient African form of yoga called Kemetic yoga. Through Kemetic yoga, I have discovered many reasons why women should incorporate yoga into their lives; here are the top five: 1. It increases your flexibility. We all have heard that the stretches (called asanas) associated with yoga help increase the flexibility and strength of your physical muscles, but they also teach you how to become more flexible

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

with how you approach challenges in your life. If, like me, you are juggling motherhood, a career and family activities and trying to deal with the current economy and the growing uneasiness in this country, yoga will give you a creative outlet and help you learn to survive your hectic schedule. 2. You breathe better. In yoga, you learn to control your breath in a timed and seamless fashion that promotes greater lung capacity as well as mental calmness. I have found that steady, monitored breathing leads to instantaneous relaxation and increased physical stamina. Through yoga, you become

more mindful of your breath and learn to work through life’s stressors by utilizing and focusing on calming the breath. Remember this the next time you hear the words “Mommy, Mommy, Mommy” in succession. 3. You learn how to meditate. Meditation is the process of training your mind so that it can easily slip into a state of ease. To me, yoga is meditation through movement, but it also enhances your ability to be still and focus on the moment. Meditation is essentially the ability to open your heart and mind. There is no one true way to meditate, but yoga oﬀers you the

HEALTH

ability to still your mind and focus on your thoughts. Many believe that you only have to be still to meditate; this is simply not true. There are walking meditations, meditations while driving and even meditations while shopping. Use your womanly intuition to discern the type of meditation that will suit your needs, and allow yoga to enhance the experience for you. 4. Relaxation. In today’s society, we are constantly bombarded with messages of fear and distress. The stressors we face on a daily basis have multiplied throughout the years, and we now have to ﬁnd solutions to help us seek peace in these turbulent times. Yoga provides such an outlet. It is extremely eﬀective at calming the nervous system and helping you get a good night’s sleep.

Peacefulness in the mind and body, coupled with a physical exercise such as yoga, helps you fall asleep more quickly. In addition, it’s the only form of exercise I know of that allows you to take a nap when you’re done. 5. You become stronger. No matter what type of yoga you perform (Hatha, Kemetic, Bikram, Kundalini) or how physically demanding the postures are, you will see better muscle tone and lose fat. Even with a simple 20- to 30minute daily routine, you will develop the ability to hold postures longer and master the more physically challenging postures with ease. You can then transfer this ability into your personal life, because through your yoga practice you have established how to keep strong and ﬂexible even in hard times. Your yoga practice may even allow you to see a challenge as an opportunity for positive change. The beneﬁts of yoga are numerous and far more important than the notion that it allows you to fold your

body up in a pretzel configuration. Yoga gives women confidence, peace of mind and a lean and toned body, as well as a sense of well-being. Even a simple five-minute session first thing in the morning or before you go to bed at night can provide you with a sense of calm, increased flexibility and a general peaceful state of mind. I suggest attending a yoga class so that a qualified teacher can provide you with guidance in the proper positioning and breathing techniques. Yoga gives you the tools to calm your mind and your body. Namaste! LaDawn F. Frasier, LMT, CKYT, CHHP, is a native of Johns Island, S.C., and is the owner of A Soulful Touch Wellness, LLC, where she provides massage therapy, Kemetic yoga instruction and holistic health consulting with a touch of soul. Visit www. asoulfultouch.net, @soulfultouch on Twitter or www.facebook.com/asoulfultouch to learn more. April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

Alexis Bowers-Archer and Terry D. Scipio II

A CAROLINA CONNECTION Former USC students add style to the rustic charm of Pepper Plantation. Clockwise From Top Left (this page): WISHING TREE: Guests oﬀered well wishes on adorable love tags as an alternative to a traditional guest book. WALK THIS WAY: The bride wore Nina bridal shoes in antique pink. LAKESIDE ROMANCE: The couple exchanged vows under a rustic, draped arbor while guests sat on custom farm benches from Ruth’s House Rentals and Designs. BLISSFUL BLOOMS: Ruth’s House designed the bouquet consisting of roses, ranunculus, hydrangea, hypercium berries, calla lilies and veronica. SUGAR AND SPICE: The bride was breathtaking in this Martina Liana creation in deluxe dupioni silk. 34

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

Clockwise From Top Left (this page): ALL TOGETHER NOW: The Pavilion offered an ideal setting for a reception filled with family, friends and fun. A PIECE OF CAKE: There was nothing simple about this masterpiece from Wedding Cakes by Jim Smeal, featuring Italian butter cream with layers of coconut-pineapple, orange triple sec, chocolate chip and pecan praline flavored cake. ONE LOVE: A tender moment captured by Couture Photography/ Ben Eckles. FRESH MIX: On the Fly caterers paired Lowcountry favorites shrimp and grits and crab cakes with vegetable spring rolls, prime rib, linguini pasta, meatball empanadas and fresh fruits. The chocolate mousse spoons with berries provided a sweet treat.

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v in g Ro o t s

{

�� RENTALS | DESIGN

��

}

��

FOOD + DRINK

Geechie Red Rice courtesy of Terrie L. “AuthenticGeechieGurl” Burns

I will tell you this: If my grandmother didn’t have anything to offer, she could offer you a meal. There was always “cooked” in her kitchen, and everyone knew it. My grandfather was confined to a wheelchair, and even Reb, the reverend of our church, would make sure my grandparents’ house was last on his list of the sick. My grandmother would always say: “We ain gut much but we gut food. A stomuck full ain nutin but a stomuck full.” That’s Southern hospitality at its finest. I can remember my grandmother’s regimen: fried whiting fish on Fridays, lima beans on Saturdays – it was finished right before wrastlin’ came on. Sundays, it was whatever seven-course meal she could put together. I enjoyed those foods back then but will admit that I was more active as child and better able to get rid of those calories. Now, as a 35-year-old, I have to be conscious of what I eat, so I decided to cook those same savory dishes with healthy alternatives. Here is my recipe for Geechie red rice.

Terrie L. “AuthenticGeechieGurl” Burns

GEECHIE RED RICE 3 cups of parboiled rice 1 cup of water 2 to 3 cups of spaghetti sauce 1 medium to large onion 1 bell pepper 1 teaspoon of minced garlic 3 tablespoon of olive oil 3 spicy beef sausages (from Murray’s Meat Market) Bacon optional If you are using bacon, use a cookie sheet to cook the bacon for approximately 10 minutes at 400 degrees. It should be crispy. If you want the old school, unhealthy version, save your bacon grease and add after the rice goes into the baking dish. Chop and slice the onions, peppers and sausage. Place the olive oil in large pot, allow it to get hot, then add the sausage. After cooking the sausage for a few minutes, add the onions and bell peppers, then stir in the garlic. Once the sausage is brown and the onions are translucent, add the rice. Stir everything together and add one cup of water. Allow the rice to steam for a few seconds, then add the spaghetti sauce and bacon. I said two to three cups, but you can basically eye the amount needed. The rice should not be swimming in sauce, but there should be enough to mix everything together. Add seasonings to taste. Turn the heat to medium. Stir the mixture for about ﬁve minutes, then put it in a greased glass dish. Place aluminum foil or a top over the dish. Place it in the oven for 45 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees. Stir occasionally during the time it’s in the oven. Calories, fat, carbohydrates – I can’t tell you those amounts, but I can tell you “dis ya eat gud!” Your mouth-watering recipe could be here. Send your recipe and photo to recipe@livingrootsmag.com, and we may publish it in our next issue. April /May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

April/M ay 2012

Shanola Hampton

Plus

Spoleto, Bottle Trees and Shoe Trends

is Shameless

Telling Her Story

��

visit LivingRootsMag.com

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

��

CITY SCENE

The 2012 Beaux Affair

HE BEAUX AFFAIR PROGRAM RECOGnizes high school juniors AND seniors for their accomplishments, encourages them to set goals and creates a network of support among them. The program seeks to give the participant a sense of becoming a man, a clearer sense of self and of purpose and a sense of responsibility to his roles as father, husband and mentor to others. The Beaux Aﬀair Program seeks to further develop and enhance attributes of character, leadership and awareness through training. The Beaux Aﬀair Program encourages the attendance of post secondary education and vocational institutions and provides scholarship opportunities for the young men who successfully complete the “Rites of Passage.” Since 1990, more than $100,000 has been awarded for scholarships and other awards of recognition.

Black Expo 2012 Trivia Contest

HE CHARLES A. BROWN HIGH SCHOOL Alumni Association participated in and won the Black Expo 2012 Trivia Contest at the North Charleston Coliseum March 10. The purpose of the game was to pair active alumni associations of predominantly black high schools in a contest to give them an opportunity to raise funds for their organization. The winning team walked away with the grand prize of $1,000. Their opponents were the Bonds Wilson Cobras. C. A. Brown proved that they are still the Mighty, Mighty Panthers by coming from behind for the win against the Cobras. They congratulate the Cobras and look forward to seeing them again next year. Left to right: Sharon Coakley, Virgie Green, Joey Washington, Blondelle Gadsden and Nathenial McKnight.

Katrina McClain 70 Years of Bliss Foundation Gala W

ATRINA McClain with featured speaker and author Rose Rock. U.S. Olympian Katrina McClain is a 2012 Basketball Hall of Fame nominee.

ILLIAM and Betty Murray of Pawleys Island, S.C., celebrated 70 years of marriage in March.

April/May 2 0 1 2 | L i v i n g R o o t s

FLOW

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M ay 2012

Ms. Ronnell Freeman/CEO Investigator

JMP Investigations

PO Box 51334 â&#x20AC;˘ Summerville, SC 29485

843 709-1097

jmpinvestigation@aol.com www.jmpinvestigation.com

For advertising information call, (843) 937-9600 or email, advertising@livingrootsmag.com.

L i v i n g R o o t s | A p r i l / M a y 2012

2012 Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Festival

Baskets by Lynette Youson

June 1st - Taste of Gullah June 2nd - Sweetgrass Festival 99 Harry M. Hallman, Jr. Boulevard � Mt. Pleasant Waterfront Park www.sweetgrassfestival.org ��

��

Billy Swails