Arts Today vol 6.5 print by Arts Today Ezine

LINDA D.

JONES FEAT. ARTIST pg #48

Vol 6.5

FEBRUARY 20 , 2022

COMMON GROUND: ANNIE MALONE'S PORO... HARRIS STOWE

View this and past issues from our website.

pg #10

FIERY TANGO...

THE RELUCTANCE...

STAY FROSTY...

pg. #28

pg. #34

pg.#142

SARAH THOMPSON

DR. MALAIKA HORNE

GAVIN DECANTALLON

Old Slave Road, Wild Horse Creek Road, Westland Acres...

Chesterfield, MO was very different in the 1800's

127 Year Old African American School House #4 to be moved to Faust Park

The Arts Today Ezine Celebtrates

2022

Black History pg.

Covid 19 Memo The Arts Today Ezine team would like to Thank You for your continued support, even now as many of us are being affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. Our hearts go out to those who have lost friends, family, jobs and other opportunities since the beginning. It is a situation none of us could have predicted or expected. But being a resilient peoole we believe that this too will pass. Until that time, we encourage you to continue being vigilant in your hand washing, maintaining safe distance and wearing face coverings. Remember to check out the local mandates for your area. We will do our best to keep you up-to-date on this and other situations that affect our community. With that in mind, we at Arts Today, attempt to provide information on resources and access to events that can be appreciated in a safe manner. Our magazine is offered online for virtual viewing, with the option to order paperback copies if you choose. Please note, if you order physical copies of our magazine, there might be a delay in receipt due to Covid 19. We thank you in advance for you patience and understanding as we all navigate these new ways of living. Take Care of Yourselves and Those You Love,

Arts Today Ezine

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

IN THIS

ISSUE:

...Listen people... Life is a giant, invisible scale with two sides; Good and bad You and your beliefs Are the weights The things you do each day Determine the balance Your conscience is a flawless Judge and jury; It only questions you when you're wrong...

The Temptations,

"You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth" (Regarding the last line of this quote from "You Make Your Own Heaven and Hell Right Here on Earth": "It only questions you when you're wrong" Sang by The Temptations on the recording. "The only question is what you want" Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD)

Established 2014 Volume 6.5 St. Louis, MO www.artstodaye.com/ Layout/Design www.bdesignme.com

NOTE:

As the publishers of The Arts Today Ezine we take care in the production of each issue. We are however, not liable for any editorial error, omission, mistake or typographical error. The views expressed are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of their respective companies or the publisher.

pg.

This Ezine and the content published within are subject to copyright held by the publisher, with individual articles remaining property of the named contributor. Express written permission of the publisher and contributors must be acquired for reproduction.

6 IN THE NEWS

INT. TRADE

Moline Acres Police Department College Scholarship Program in partnership with Infinite Scholars Program

The Moline Acres Police Department College Scholarship Program wishes to acknowledge some of the students in our city that have accepted the promise of a college scholarship for accomplishing the OTHER NEWS following criteria: 1. 2. 3. 4.

NEWS LINKS

95 percent school attendance 3.3 or better cumulative grade average 22 or better composite ACT score No major discipline problems

Through our mentorship program with Infinite Scholars, the Moline Acres Police Department wishes to help fulfill the hopes and dreams of families in our community wishing to send their children to college. The Infinite Scholars program uses it extensive nationwide network of 500+ colleges and universities to find a college scholarship for students who achieve the criteria above. The Moline Acres Police Department is committed to helping our students accomplish these criteria. The motto for this program is “Our Badges Create Scholars.”

COMMON GROUND:...

Moline Acres is located in North St. Louis County, Missouri. To learn more, contact the Moline Acres HARRIS STOWE Police Department at 314-868-2433 or Infinite Scholars at 314-499-6997.

14 INFINITE SCHOLARS

OP/ED

20 LIVE/WORK/PLAY

CALENDAR

28 TANGO ARGENTINA...

SARAH THOMPSON

34 THE RELUCTANCE...

Pictured are Moline Acres Chief of Police Colonel Ware, Police Officer Donaldson, and students Charmaine and Charles.

42 48

BLACK EGYPT

BLACK ARCHAEOLOGIST

FEAT. ARTIST.

LINDA D. JONES

COVER PHOTO: ARTIST: Linda D. Jones

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

IN THE NEWS

Export Opportunities in the Americas: Brazil, Canada & Mexico TIME | DATE | PLACE 8:00 am registration 8:30-10:00 am program Thursday, December 7, 2017 Please note NEW ADDRESS: World Trade Center St. Louis 120 South Central Ave. Suite 1200 St. Louis, MO 63105 REGISTRATION $20 REGISTRATION One-on-one appointments available following the program.

Learn about export opportunities in three major markets in the Americas region. Brazil is recovering from recent political and economic upheaval and reforms have seen growth in the energy and agricultural sectors in particular. Canada's economy has enjoyed greater than expected growth, outpacing all other members of the G7. Mexico continues to offer a wide range of opportunities for US exporters from industrial equipment and inputs to agricultural products. Speakers: Mr. Fabio Yukio Yamada Director, Missouri International Trade & Investment Office - Brazil Mr. Ludovic Ortuno Director, Missouri International Trade & Investment Office - Canada Ms. Gloria Garcia Director, Missouri International Trade & Investment Office - Mexico Click here to view speaker bios and learn more.

Contact John Hensley to schedule.

Otis BOYKIN - Inventor of the Pacemaker and Variable Resistor

pg.

Your Source for Art Appreciation

Volume 2.1 March 4, 2015

St. Louis Major Sponsor:

Proud to support the Arts & Cultural Scene in St. Louis. Click Here

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

CREDIT HEALTH | TAKEISHA BLEDSOE.......................................... pg. 78 STREAMING W/OTSTL | OPERA THEATER - STL ......................... pg. 82

Please support our sponsors,

many offer events or programs with an emphasis on the arts and creativity.

ART OF BEAUTY | BAKING SODA BATH ........................................... pg. 84 FASHION FORWARD... | A.T.E.Z. ...................................................... pg. 88 FEAT. COMIC ART | BLACK GOD COMICS ....................................... pg. 94 ART EXHIBIT | ALL COLORS ................................................................. pg. 116 STAY FROSTY... | GAVIN DECANTILLON .......................................... pg. 142 REVIEW: TANGO... | MARIAH L. RICHARDSON ............................ pg 150 FEAT. POET | KEVIN POWELL ............................................................. pg. 154 ART OF FOOD | VALENTINES TAKE OUT ....................................... pg. 160 ART OF HEALING | BARBERS JOIN THE FIGHT ........................... pg. 168 REVIEW: LAST STOP ... | MARIAH L. RICHARDSON .................... pg. 172 WHAT CAN YOU DO | BERNIE HAYES ............................................ pg. 180 OPPORTUNITIES | A.T.E.Z. ................................................................ pg. 188

#ArtsTodayEZ

CAREERS | A.T.E.Z. ................................................................................ pg. 190

Volume 6.56.5 Volume FEBRUARY 20, 2022 February 20, 2022 www.the-arts-today.com

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OTHER

NEWS:

AFRICAN PATRIOT...

ANDREW CYRILLE...

LOCKDOWN PLANNED...

MAN DIES AFTER...

SUPERBOWL HALFTIME...

SCULPTURE TO COMMEM....

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

NBC NEWS

THE GUARDIAN

WBGO

KMOV4

STL PR

TEXAS PARENTS DEMANDED A MICHELLE OBAMA BIOGRAPHY BE PULLED... THE INSIDER AUTHORS' PICKS... ENTERTAINMENT WKLY

JABARI ASIM...

THE BOSTON GLOBE

COLUMBUS WRITER...

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

THICH NHAT HAHN... WIKIPEDIA

pg.

MISSOURI COMMITTEE... KMOV4

BRIAN FLORES SUES NFL CLAIMING BIAS...

SNOOP DOGG BUYS... YAHOO NEWS

'BLACK CLOUD RISING'... NPR

ENSLAVED PEOPLE IMAGINE... NPR

SHA'CARRI RICHARDS ... ROLLING STONE

ANNOUNCING ...

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS

ART COMMUNITY REACTS... HAMMOND HOUSE... ARTS ATL

EAST ST. LOUIS...

ST. LOUIS POST DISPATCH

THE WISDOM OF MILES... YOUTUBE

BI-STATE AGAIN BEING ASKED...

THE BUSINESS JOURNALS

BYRON ALLEN PLANS BID... THE WRAP

BOSTON BRUINS TO RETIRE... HUFF POST NEWS

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

PRESS RELEASE Contact Person:

Linda M. Nance Founding President, Annie Malone Historical Society E-Mail: pianoharp06@yahoo.com Phone: (314) 229-0808

: d n u e o g r Colle GRO of sity

r n s O e d P one’s roun Univ malo on G tate M e eS m e c i o n On ow n C A ris-St r a H

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"My Journey With Annie Malone" PBS Documentary to air February 14th at 7:00 pm CST

For Immediate Release:

Common Ground: Annie Malone’s PORO College Once on Grounds of Harris-Stowe State University February 8, 2022 Sitting right at the front door of the Emerson/Bank of America Performance Center on the campus of Harris-State University, 3100 Pine Street, was the famous PORO College. It was Annie Malone’s 2nd St. Louis location. When she first came to St. Louis in 1902, she settled at 2223 Market Street, a part of the Mill Creek area. Not even 10 years after, the Pine Street location, near Pappy’s BBQ at Olive and Cardinal became the real launching pad from which Malone established her national and international presence. She planned and broke ground for her forth business expansion on St. Ferdinand Street in the “Ville” and cemented her status as the Pioneer in the African American Hair Care Industry. Harris-Stowe State University will host the exhibit entitled, MOVING FORWARD: Exploring the Legacy of Annie Malone presented by the Annie Malone Historical Society. Located on campus in the AT & T Library, the exhibit will run Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. “It will provide a glimpse into Malone’s responses to a few social issues of the day, said Linda Nance, Founding President of the Annie Malone Historical Society. It will also shed light on how her hair care business developed during that time in the Pine Street location and on Malone’s contributions as a philanthropist, community supporter and patron of the arts.” The exhibit will run through June 30, 2022 giving audiences the opportunity to view this wonderfully educational gem thru Black History and Women’s History Month. Visitors will love the opportunity to grab a photo with the life size image of Ms. Malone as they survey the exhibit. The Harris-Stowe State University campus is also home to Stars Park and the historic Vashon High School. It is a real honor to be part of the effort to recognize and preserve these histories. There is much historical value here. The exhibit is free and open to students of every age and the general public. Plan now to attend. For more about Annie Malone see us at: www.anniemalonehistoricalsociety.org Open to All Media

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

New Music by Mary J.

Blige

pg.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

OP / ED SECTION

Moline Acres Police Department College Scholarship Program in partnership with Infinite Scholars Program

95 percent school attendance 3.3 or better cumulative grade average 22 or better composite ACT score No major discipline problems

Pictured are Moline Acres Chief of Police Colonel Ware, Police Officer Donaldson, and students Charmaine and Charles.

pg.

Editorial

Rebeccah Bennett TRUTH:

ghr hr mns sgd rs sh d sg s ntms g r addm tm a ah hr mns sgd rs sh d sg s vd g dwod hdm dc on hsh hrn shn rn h did shnmFounder and principal of Emerging Wisdom LLC.

nd it is not the first time that we have had to figure out how to metabolize our grief and fear in ways that did not immobilize us, but caused us to actualize our power to change the world.

PERSPECTIVE:

lived through horrors that were generational in scope and scale. They persisted through times when there was little chance of a better tomorrow, much less a better life – not even for their kids. Yet they responded to their lot in life by creating resistance movements, aid societies, educational and religious institutions, banks and co-ops, art forms, innovations and spiritual practices that continue to make our lives better today.

Remember that their blood is our blood. Their strength is our strength. They are the ROOTS and we are their FRUITS.

PRAYER:

We call upon our ancestors, those upon whom the sky fell. We call upon our ancestors who experienced all manner of degradation, humiliation, violation and death. We call upon our ancestors, people who swung from trees and were forced to live on their knees. We call upon our ancestors, many of whom persisted, survived and endured without destroying themselves or others. May whatever it is that nourished and sustained them come more fully alive in us. Ashe.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

AMKE "Wake Up" Newsletter February 2022 pg.

Mother Wit by Malaika B. Horne

Yes! Please send me Mother Wit by Malaika B. Horne $16.00 • ISBN: 978-1-4809-4550-0

Ship ___ at $16.00/book $ SUBTOTAL $ ** Shipping and Handling $ TOTAL DUE $

* Please add $3.99 shipping & handling for the first book ordered and $1.00 for each additional book. Shipping is USPS First Class.

Order from your bookseller or direct from:

DORRANCE PUBLISHING CO BOOK ORDER DEPARTMENT 585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103 Pittsburgh, PA 15238 ! Please add me to your mailing list. To order call

1-800-788-7654

or visit our website at

www.dorrancebookstore.com or cut along dotted line and mail to address listed above along with credit card information or check or money order.

NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: PHONE: EMAIL:

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Yes! Please send me Mother Wit by Malaika B. Horne $16.00 • ISBN: 978-1-4809-4550-0

Ship ___ at $16.00/book $ SUBTOTAL $ ** Shipping and Handling $ TOTAL DUE $

* Please add $3.99 shipping & handling for the first book ordered and $1.00 for each additional book. Shipping is USPS First Class.

Order from your bookseller or direct from:

DORRANCE PUBLISHING CO BOOK ORDER DEPARTMENT 585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103 Pittsburgh, PA 15238 ! Please add me to your mailing list. To order call

1-800-788-7654

or visit our website at

www.dorrancebookstore.com or cut along dotted line and mail to address listed above along with credit card information or check or money order.

Visa [ ] MC [ ] AmEx [ ] Disc. [ ] Signature

NAME: ADDRESS: CITY: PHONE: EMAIL:

STATE:

ZIP:

Exp. Date

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

“ “

An artist's duty, as far as I am concerned, is to reflect the times. (Nina Simone)

I choose to reflect the times and the situations in which I find myself. How can you be an artist and not reflect the times? (Nina Simone)

pg.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

LIVE WORK PLAY

Volume 6.5 February 20, 2022 St. Louis Major Sponsor:

Proud to support the Arts & Cultural Scene in St. Louis. Click Here

I hope that you are doing well. Marc Parent said that if January is the month for change, then February is the month of lasting change. January is for dreamers and February is for doers.

We have an exciting month ahead as we honor Black History this month and welcome the Olympics!

If February is for doers, let's get out and do something positive and help those around us. Let's also do something for ourselves and take advantage of some of the offerings that my beloved St. Louis brings to the table this month.

All the best. –Nate

Local Events February

Tomorrow night I may check out Thursday Nights at the Museum over at the Missouri History Museum. This week they are featuring “THISTORY:” An Evening with Corey Black. Corey will take us on a journey through soul, jazz, and poetry as he performs music from his forthcoming EP, The Black Odyssey.

FEBRUARY

thru

A while back, Sauce Magazine highlighted some Black-Owned Restaurants in St. Louis. Check ‘em out!

FEBRUARY It’s almost First Friday again! I might head over to the Foundry Art Centre for A Very Rad Palentine’s Day. This is a special installment of its First Friday series and features Foundry studio artist Jessie Schoenrock of Rad & Sad Art. You’ll see a demonstration of the basics of throwing clay and have the chance to make a bud vase or wine tumbler. First Friday over at 31Art Gallery features guest

pg.

artists Kelene Monsterlove, Travis Tanner and Andrew Throm on Friday night. If I feel like a little comedy on First Friday I may head to Das Bevo for their Comedy Night featuring host Prince Jigg, and some of St. Louis’s best comedians for a night of laughs. This is a free show and they will have food and drink specials all night.

Morpho Mardi Gras is going on this month over at the Butterfly House in Chesterfield. This family-friendly carnival will have you immersed in “the blues” as the Butterfly House floods the Tropical Conservatory with a sea of blue morpho butterflies. Learn about legendary blues musicians as you stroll through the tranquility of the tropics. Join the party with the “Bugs on Parade” floats, make a masquerade mask, and help inaugurate the season with these majestic creatures.

Saturday is national Ice Cream for Breakfast Day and St. Louis› Clementine›s Creamery is offering a special ice cream breakfast at all of their locations from 9am until noon. Pajamas are encouraged as fun photo opportunities will last throughout the morning and there will be special flavors of the day. Also on Saturday, Galentine’s Day Market and Happy Hour is happening over at Das Bevo. Shop for unique gifts from beloved St. Louis vendors and enjoy food and specialty cocktails. Come for the shopping in the historic Bevo Mill during the day and stay for happy hour after 4 in the Bierhall. The Bevo Mill is a world famous landmark so if you haven’t checked it out yet add this to your list. I you feel like heading to St. Peters on Saturday night you should check out the MTV 80’s Party at Diamond Music Hall. There will be Duran Duran, Talking Heads and INXS tribute bands and plenty of big hair and neon.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

LIVE WORK PLAY

Tuesday and Wednesday night I’ll definitely plan to check out Anita Jackson Sings Nina Simone over at the Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz. Anita lends her multiple gifts to paying tribute to the legacy of the legendary Nina Simone: singer, musician, and activist whose artistic and personal journey is historic, brilliant, joyful, turbulent and ultimately groundbreaking.

It’s Thursday Night at the Museum over at the Missouri Historical Society. There will be games, drinks and performances along with extended hours and a special presentation. This week they are presenting Missouri Emancipation and the St. Louis African American Community. From churches to civic and social organizations, this presentation will explore how those institutions supported the African American community both before and after emancipation, as well as how emancipation affected individual lives.

FEBRUARY

thru

13 FEBRUARY

Friday night we might head over to the Grand Center Arts District for Jazz St. Louis› early Valentine›s Day with Erin Bode. Bode’s angelic voice and endearing stage presence make for the perfect Valentine’s celebration in the intimacy of the Ferring Jazz Bistro. Another great spot for music on Friday is over at The Pageant for the Dogs of Society: Elton John Tribute. They will blow you away with their authentic rock ‘n roll tribute to the one of the most celebrated musicians in rock history. Welcome Neighbor STL’s Drive-thru Supper Club is serving lunch on Saturday. These meals help rebuild lives and rebuild hope for the cooks who share their talents and culture. Saturday’s lunch is a 4 course, Syrian feast that will be brought directly to your car. Saturday afternoon there is a Cajun Cook-off over at Soulard Market Park. This is another one of their events celebrating Mardi Gras. Talented amateur chefs from across the area face off, preparing their best dishes for a panel of hungry and highly discerning judges. Attendees will get a tasty, Cajun lunch, live music and drinks. There will also be cocktail and cooking demos. On Saturday night I’m going to dust off my dancing shoes for Cherokee Street’s inaugural Brass Band Blowout. They’re kicking off Mardi Gras season right and bringing you the best St. Louis brass bands; Red & Black Brass Band, Saint Boogie Brass Band and the Funky Butt Brass Band. It’s a great chance to check out their new music venue, The Golden Record. \ offers a great brunch option at Urban Eats in Dutchtown. They are having a Sweetheart Brunch with live music by J. Sterling Brown. You›ll have a chance to sample from each vendor from the Urban Eats Food Hall who are all local vendors looking to share their culinary delights. The Metro Theater Company is presenting Last Stop on Market Street this month with in person as well as virtual performances. This kid and family friendly performance is a Motown/hip-hop musical adaptation of New York Times bestselling and Newbery Medal-winning picture book Last Stop on Market Street.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

LIVE WORK PLAY

The Broadway musical Mean Girls is coming to St. Louis beginning Tuesday. This hilarious hit is over at The Fabulous Fox Theater through February 27th. Friday night Tyler, the Creator will be performing at Chaifetz Arena. His highly anticipated tour follows on the heels of his critically-acclaimed album, Call Me if You Get Lost, which debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 charts upon its release. If I’m in the mood for some laughs I may check out funny man, Rob Schnidier at The Factory in Chesterfield. If you haven’t visited this newer concert venue yet it’s worth checking out.

14 FEBRUARY

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20 FEBRUARY

Saturday afternoon Laumeier Sculpture Park continues their Family Workshops with Intuitive Painting. This family friendly event has you working as a team to create an amazing painted masterpiece. Multi-generational workshops are a wonderful way for families to spend quality and creative time together. Saturday and Sunday the great, Taste of Soulard returns! I›m looking forward to this self-guided tasting and pub crawl and the many Cajun flavors that you will find throughout Soulard. If we make it to the Taste on Sunday we are definitely going to check out the Weiner Dog Derby. These cute pups will square off in Lumiere Place Stadium Stadium at Soulard Market to determine the dashingest dachshund in all of the land. Saturday night the Voodoo Players present Voodoo Paul Simon: Graceland performed in it’s entirety at Delmar Hall. Saturday and Sunday night Shen Yun returns to The Stifel Theater. Featuring one of the world’s oldest art forms, classical Chinese dance, Shen Yun brings to life the enchanting beauty and profound wisdom of ancient China. Though Shen Yun cannot perform in mainland China today, this precious heritage is being revived around the world.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

LIVE WORK PLAY

On Tuesday the St. Louis Speakers Series continues at Maryville University with guest speaker Platon. Platon is an award winning photographer as well as a communicator, storyteller and activist. He founded a non-profit foundation named The People’s Portfolio which aspires to create a visual language that breaks barriers, expands dignity, fights discrimination, and enlists the public to support human rights around the world. Wednesday night Imagine Dragons is bringing their Mercury Tour to The Enterprise Center. They self identify as “genreless” and artfully blend rock, hip-hop, pop and folk music.

21 FEBRUARY

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28 FEBRUARY

Friday evening the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra will celebrate Black History Month with Lift Every Voice: A Black History Month Celebration. Come together with the SLSO and IN UNISON Chorus to celebrate music of African American and African traditions, and their influence on St. Louis and the world. This annual evening of reflective and soulful music is one to remember. There are a couple of events to celebrate Mardi Gras on Saturday. I may head over to Soulard for the Bud Light Grand Parade. This event is the crown jewel of the Soulard Mardi Gras season and is the biggest parade outside of the Big Easy. After the parage you an head over to Ballpark Village for the Mardi Gras After Pardi. There will be live music, food and drink specials and more! On Saturday night St. Louis Classical Guitar presents an Evening with Thomas Viloteau, at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, as part of their Great Artist Series. Thomas is a French phenom classical guitarist and also a writer. Tickets can be purchased for the live event on Saturday or to stream the concert after the live event. I love trivia so I might have to check out the 8th annual Young Friends Trivia Night at the Missouri History Museum on Saturday night. This year they are offering the choice of attending live or virtually so everyone can participate comfortably. Monday evening the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis presents Suites, Spirituals and Dances celebrating Black History Month with music by African American and Afro-Caribbean composers. You have the choice to attend this live event or purchase a ticket to see the recording virtually on March 8th. Let’s all stay safe & support local! I look forward to seeing you soon. All the best. -Nate P.S. Here is the latest housing report for your review. Let me know if there is anything that I can do for you. -Nate

Nate K. Johnson

314-575-7352 Direct

ABR,AHWD,CIPS,CRS,GRI,SRES

314-514-9600 Office

Real Estate Solutions Group

nate@livingstl.com

Redkey Realty Leaders

www.livingstl.com

pg.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

PRESS RELEASE

ALLURING.

SENSUAL. STUNNING.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tickets are $40-$65 and available via MetroTix at 314-534-1111 or https://www.metrotix.com/events/detail/dsl-tango-argentina.

DANCE ST. LOUIS CONTINUES 56TH SEASON WITH

TANGO ARGENTINA

AT THE TOUHILL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5

A special 4-pack offer is currently on sale for $150 with no ticketing fees. The special offer applies to all seating except for orchestra center and must be purchased directly through Dance St. Louis at 314-534-6622 or via email at boxoffice@ dancestlouis.org. PRESS MATERIALS – VIDEO & PHOTO

St. Louis, MO (January 21, 2022) – Dance St. Louis, one of the country’s oldest and few remaining nonprofit dance presenters, continues its 56th season with Tango Argentina, Saturday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the Touhill Performing Arts Center. Eight acclaimed dancers and a quartet of musicians perform live on stage in this stunning new production that explores tango through the combination of unique choreography and improvised elements. Tango Argentina takes audiences through the different decades of Argentine Tango from its origins to the present, combining tango music and dance with humor, parodies, and heartfelt performances from a multidisciplinary cast. Audiences will be thrilled at the sensuality and charisma of the dancers’ movements and the intensity of the music. Tickets are $40-$65 and available through MetroTix. Tango Argentina features the Argentine Tango star duo Guillermo De Fazio and Giovanna Dan. Both dancers have Argentine roots and joined forces after bonding over their shared experience of being raised by artistic families, with childhoods spent immersed in music and the unique expressions of Argentina’s culture. Performing under the name GD Tango, the pair have been showcasing their talents around the world since 2015. They have also choreographed commercials and TV projects, and dance frequently on Spanish-language television, including Telemundo and Univision. Fabrizio Mocata, one of the most innovative musicians in the global tango scene, is the musical director of Tango Argentina, and leads the quartet of international musicians in a live onstage accompaniment. More biographical information about the performers is below and online at https://www.dancestlouis.org/tango-argentina.

Tango Argentina press images and video are available via Dropbox. The Tango Argentina video promo is also on YouTube. COVID-19 HEALTH & SAFETY Dance St. Louis has been approved as Missouri ArtSafe Certified. Dance St. Louis’ highest priority during the coronavirus pandemic is the health, safety, and peace of mind of its patrons, performers and crew. Dance St. Louis, in a collaborative partnership of 16 St. Louis-area performing arts organizations, is currently requiring all patrons (over the age of 12) attending Tango Argentina to provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test. Masks are also still required for all audiences. Full requirements and information can be found at https://www.dancestlouis.org/ covid-safety. SPONSORS Dance St. Louis is grateful for sponsor support to continue its mission to bring world-class dance to St. Louis. Major sponsors of the 2021-22 season include Ameren, Edward Jones, Emerson, Kranzberg Arts Foundation, Drs. Susan and Dan Luedke, Missouri Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, Regional Arts Commission, The Shubert Foundation, Mary Strauss and Whitaker Foundation. Bayer Fund is the education outreach title sponsor. DANCE ST. LOUIS’ 56th SEASON Dance St. Louis continues to be recognized as the leading

TICKETS

pg.

FIERY IERY NIGHT OF F

Tango.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

TANGO ARGENTINA... cont.

dance presenter in St. Louis and the Midwest. The remaining

MORE ABOUT TANGO ARGENTINA’S LEAD PERFORMERS Guillermo De Fazio is a world-renowned Argentine tango performer, choreographer and teacher. Born to a musician mother and raised in Buenos Aires, Guillermo and his brother studied tango and other popular dances from an early age. He became famous worldwide as part of the performing sibling duo, Los Hermanos Macana. In 1995, Los Hermanos Macana made their tango debut, and by 1998 they had invented the choreography for “Mala Junta,” a project that would lead them to dance in the most prominent theaters and events worldwide. The brothers found success in various artistic ventures, such as the Robert Duvall film “Assassination Tango,” a shared performance with Placido Domingo, and an invitation from famed ballet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov to dance at an art festival. In 2012, Los Hermanos Macana founded their entertainment company, Tango Macho. With the original sibling duo on center stage, Tango Macho expanded to feature skilled dancers and tango musicians from Argentina. Tango Macho brought the brothers to Los Angeles, where Guillermo now resides. Since his professional partnership with Giovanna in 2015, Guillermo has focused on producing and touring with GD Tango.

2021-22 season presentations: Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo The World’s Foremost All-Male Comic Ballet Company Saturday, April 16, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. Touhill Performing Arts Center 14th Annual Emerson SPRING TO DANCE® Festival 2022 Friday – Sunday, May 27, 28 & 29, 2022 at 7:30 p.m. Touhill Performing Arts Center For tickets or more information on the Dance St. Louis 2021-22 season, please visit the Dance St. Louis website.

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Giovanna Dan

Dance St. Louis

was raised in Los Angeles with Argentine tango flowing through her veins. As the daughter of legendary dancer and Forever Tango star Zita Gonzalez, Giovanna inherited a passion for dance, beginning her formal education at the age of four. Giovanna stayed close to her cultural roots by dancing Argentine folk, eventually deciding to follow in her mother’s footsteps and pursue tango. With the goal of preserving and promoting Argentine culture, Giovanna took a special interest in Argentine folk dancing and became one of the first women to specialize in the boleadoras gaucho act. With extensive training in various dance styles, Giovanna expanded her knowledge into the realm of dance theory by earning a bachelor’s degree in dance studies from UCLA. Giovanna has performed globally in various tango and folklore productions with Master Gaucho Productions, Tango Macho, Tango Buenos Aires, and Tango Under the Stars with the LA Philharmonic Symphony. Giovanna’s current work is dedicated to developing projects with GD Tango, performing, and teaching around the world.

Founded in 1966, Dance St. Louis has been bringing the greatest dance of the world to St. Louis audiences for more than 55 years. Dance St. Louis is dedicated to the enrichment of the cultural landscape and artistic reputation of St. Louis by presenting world-class dance and educational opportunities that make dance accessible to everyone. Dance St. Louis also conducts a broad range of education programs for the St. Louis community. Each year, the Bayer Fund Education Outreach Program introduces schoolchildren to the magic of dance through in-school residencies and mainstage performances. For more information, please visit https://www. dancestlouis.org.

For media inquiries, interviews, press images and/or video, please contact Sarah Thompson at sarahtproductions@ gmail.com or 314.884.8306.

Fabrizio Mocata is a Sicilian-born pianist, who graduated in classical music and jazz from the Music Conservatory L. Cherubini in Florence, Italy. In 2000, he played Piazzolla music for the first time and found his best way to express his poetics in tango music. Today, he is considered one of the most innovative musicians in the tango scene. He has performed as a soloist and composer in the most important tango festivals, including Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Medellin, Granada and many others. He performed and recorded with several leading artists in tango music like Sandra Luna, Marcelo Tommasi, Fabian Bertero, Guillermo Fernandez, Mono Hurtado, Olga Del Grossi, Martin Alvarado, Marcelo Boccanera, Aquiles Roggero, Julio Cobelli, Raul Jaurena and many others. ___________

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Jacqueline Thompson is the director of Last Stop on Market Street! She is a brilliant actor, director, and educator. As an assistant professor of theater at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, she is passionate about providing students opportunities to explore their creativity and embrace their individuality.

actor,director,andeducator. pg.

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pg.

The Reluctance to Support NATIONAL The Reluctance to Support National Childcare Malaika Horne, PhD

A few years back, an education professor was giving a scholarly presentation embalming the audience with words about the state of the art of one of our most cherished societal institutions:

education,

particularly public education -- elementary and secondary. The presentation was fraught with obvious problems of evisceration of the public school system. One of the definitions of this high-falutin term (evisceration) is: to disembowel or destroy.

Issues ran rampant from woefully underfunded school

budgets, gutting popular programs such as music and sports, to under-valuing and of course underpaying teachers, a profession that is near the bottom of the professional pay scale. Afterwards, an older adult woman went up to this very knowledgeable and quite astute intellect and said: “I don’t think this country cares about children.” Stunned by her forthrightness, the professor remarked: But perhaps it is true.

“Oh! I hope that’s not true.”

The U.S. Senate has stalled on re-enacting the Childcare

tax credit which cut child poverty by almost half.

According to the IRS, since last

July, around 35 million families have received the monthly tax credit of up to $300 for each child under age 6 and up to $250 for each child ages 6 to 17. money went directly into the bank accounts of these needy families.

The

The last

deposit, part of President Biden’s Build Back Better domestic spending, was December 31, 2021.

Many families said they used the money to pay for childcare.

Some

senators claim that the program is too expensive and that it contributes to inflation. Yet government reports clearly state that domestic spending brings down the deficit and is a combatant against inflation. Congress also seems reluctant to expand the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act for workers to care for their children and others.

It’s important to note that the

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RELUCTANCE TO SUPPORT... cont.

1993 Act is unpaid leave. While the pandemic shows minimal signs of receding, it’s critical that families – many of them essential workers -- are financially compensated to better protect and care for their children when they’re sick. Workers on the frontline are particularly vulnerable to the virus, putting their children at greater risk of infection. Crimes committed by juveniles could land them in adult prison.

While the crimes

children commit should be punished but putting them in the bowels of the beast appears to have no rehabilitative factors.

Even more disturbing is police murders

of unarmed children who are usually African American. Mothers, particularly Black mothers, are portrayed in the media: film, TV and the like, as unfit, unworthy, sometimes uncouth, on welfare with children by different estranged daddies – Baby-Daddy as they’ve been called. But not just in the media.

In 1976, President Ronald Reagan seemed on steroids

in stereotyping mothers as “welfare queens.”

He claimed that a Black woman in

Chicago had 88 names, 30 addresses, 12 Social Security numbers and to boot, collecting Social Security, Medicaid, food stamps and veterans’ benefits from four non-existing deceased husbands, totaling $150,000 a year. It was later found to be a hoax. Shockingly, the U.S. president demonized mothers -- a group of citizens -- for political expediency.

Anti-mothers and children policies dashed the hopes and

dreams of a large segment of the population. such as the end of welfare as we know it.

Welfare payments became a target,

Jobs were promised but mostly at low-

wages and at the mercy of an economic downturn. As a result, these families have been seriously hobbled; a major contributor to the “Feminization of Poverty” which also impoverishes children. It should be noted that media images have improved due primarily to organized Black protests. The NAACP has had a long and contentious battle with Hollywood to change these negative stereotypes, including getting black face banned from movies. And don’t forget in 2016 #OscarsSoWhite, led by none other than Jada Pinkett-Smith and Spike Lee, who boycotted Hollywood’s biggest night, protesting the dearth of Black awards.

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These depictions of Black women go back to slavery or even further.

It should

come as no surprise that enslavers not only sought to dehumanize Black men, but also women and children.

In many cases, women had quadruple duty:

sex was

usually forced upon them; they carried and birthed sometimes more than a dozen children (and these were natural births without much medical care that can be quite painful) then they typically had the sole responsibility of childcare.

Childbirth on

the plantation didn’t spare them other labors -- back-breaking work in the fields as well as caring for White children and even nursing White babies. In Zora Neal Hurston’s book, Their Eyes were Watching God, she aptly wrote: "De [n-word] woman is de mule uh de world so far as Ah can see." Nanny said this to Janie.

In Nikole Hannah-Jones’ 1619 Project, she noted the enslaved were worth more than the railways and factories combined.

Yet enslavers perpetuated negative

images of Black women, thus devaluing their personhood. As Jamelle Bouie in her January 30, 2022, New York Times article:

“Quantifying

the Pain of Slavery,” about how Black women were treated in Barbados -- quoting Marisa J. Funetes in her book, Dispossessed Lives: the

Archive:

“(They

were)

spectacularly

Enslaved Women, Violence and

violated,

objectified,

disposable,

hypersexualized and silenced.” Childcare is expensive; the cost varies across the country. “On average, infant childcare costs $216 a week, which is 17.1% of the national median household income,” according to Trevor Wheelwright, The Top 10 Most Expensive (And Least Expensive) States for Childcare. South Dakota is the cheapest (10.9% of median household income) and Washington, D.C., the most expensive (26.3% of median household income). So how can minimum wage workers afford childcare? In two words: They can’t. But even women who are middle income are vulnerable to the pesky unequal wages that continue to exist. Hence, they also face undue childcare hardships. At the same time, programs are closing. For example, the University of Missouri-St. Louis recently announced the shuttering of its University Child Development Center. Lately, there has been a new slant in films and novels regarding motherhood, that is, mothers who abandon their children. scenarios or at the very least ignored.

Fathers seem to be phantoms in these In the film, “The Lost Daughter” and the

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

RELUCTANCE TO SUPPORT... cont.

novel “I Love you but I’ve Chosen Darkness,” both make you wonder when mothers give up their children, how will the children fare? Not that these mothers should be vilified, but could there have been a better way? When mothers bear the brunt of childcare, domestic chores and trying to work or daresay have a career, who rallies to their support?

Women still do the

overwhelming majority of domestic drudgery whether there is a man in the house or not. Studies also show that fathers in the workplace are typically rewarded with increased pay while mothers are penalized with unequal pay. With the right-leaning justices on the Supreme Court scheduled to rule on Roe v. Wade, legal abortions could be a by-gone era. The changing role of women in society has disrupted the family structure. • • • • • •

More women are heads of households. More women are enrolled in college and completing most of the college degrees. African American women have the highest college-going rate. An increasing number of men are no longer the breadwinners or they’re making less than their spouses. Women are paid less than men doing the same work. Women tend to go in and out of the workforce to give birth as well as to care for children and older relatives.

These are just a few of the changes in women’s roles that require a reexamination of the role of parenthood for men and women.

Child care looms large and will

continue to have serious consequences until it’s resolved on a national scale.

the meantime, support women and have their back. Said Jada Pinkett-Smith: “I just think, as women, we have to give ourselves room to be individuals. So, when a woman makes a decision for herself, we as women shouldn’t set those hardcore boundaries for another woman. Just like we don’t want men setting hardcore boundaries for us.” ~~Malaika Horne, PhD, is a political and cultural commentator and author, Mother Wit: Exalting Motherhood while Honoring a Great Mother.

pg.

“

WE CAN NEVER WALK IN OUR OWN GREATNESS. IF WE KEEP SKIPPING BEHIND OTHER'S MEDIOCRITY! Mark A. Howard

”

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

IN-PERSON

Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays: Free COVID-19 Testing Feb. 3: Free Vaccination Clinic Feb. 10: Free Vaccination Clinic

DROP-IN ALL MONTH:

ONLINE:

Feb. 17: Storytime: Growing Green Feb. 19: Mitigating Medical Mistrust Feb. 20: A Conversation with Elle Simone Scott Feb. 21: Urban Gardening Feb. 23: Eating Healthy in a Food Desert Feb. 24: Storytime: Little Sprouts

Wellness Kits: Sensory Bottles Words of Wellness

Feb. 26: Storytime: Family Food

ONLINE:

IN-PERSON

Feb. 23: SLPL Community Blood Drive with ImpactLife

Feb. 1, 8, 15 & 22: ELL Virtual Conversation Practice Feb. 2 & 16: Cabanne Writer's Group Feb. 28: Who is the St. Louis Queer+ Support Helpline

ONLINE:

IN-PERSON:

Feb. 19: Outdoor Storytime at Steinberg Ice Skating Rink

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Feb. 14: Valentine's Day Yarn Love Bugs Feb. 14: Monday Storytime: Valentine's Day Feb. 16: Bilingüe y listo para leer Feb. 17: Dungeons & Dragons for Teens Feb. 17: Get Get Into Graphic Novels! Feb. 21: Monday Storytime: How Does Your Garden Grow? Feb. 28: Monday Storytime: Dance Party!

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Black Archaeologist

New

od s i p E

Black Egypt pg.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Shop Online Today at NOrepublicansNEEDED.com

Wear Your Disgust on Your Tshirt

N e w s .T s h i r t s . C h a r i t y

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Available -

NOW!

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Featured

Art

pg.

Submission

Linda D.

Jones

WRITER | CREATIVE ARTIST Submitted By: Annetta Vickers-Bentil "All Colors" Art Exhibition

[

BIO

I am a writer and creative artist based in St. Louis, Missouri. My works are shared throughout the region, nationally and internationally. Poems, excerpts and words of inspiration have been presented at events, community and private gatherings. Simply stated my writings, books and poetic messages are designed to inspire, entertain, and celebrate life's special moments. In them we find a foundation for expanding our pathways open to new opportunities, challenges and goals. At this stage, I am journaling life experiences and sharing them with colleagues, youth, and families of today. I enjoy using my creative talents and motivational messages to build bridges in the community and inspire others to new heights. I have found that learning occurs when education is intertwined with impactful experiences, personal interests, and talents. www.ldjcreations.com ldarnece@hotmail.com

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Credit Health Let's Talk About it!

ello, my name is Tekeisha Bledsoe, also known as "Keke the Credit Boss". I’m a child of God, a wife to Thomas Bledsoe and a mother to two handsome sons. I attended Columbia College in Columbia, MO for 4 years but had to return home due to family emergencies. I later received my degree in Digital Marketing at Cornell University. My hobbies are shopping, party planning, reading, and traveling.

I own a company called TnT Elite Credit alongside my husband Thomas. We have been in business going on 6 years now. Over that time, we have helped over 5,000 consumers increase their credit scores. While going through college we had debt challenges of our own, and after having no knowledge and no real help from companies to fix our situation, we researched and did it ourselves. This allowed us to purchase our 1st home at the age of 27. Our mortgage company saw how we increased our own scores and began to send customers our way. We later developed a partnership with them. That’s how TnT Elite Credit started. Word of mouth got us far, then we later partnered with realtors, other loan companies, car dealerships, and even some out of state businesses.

to fruition and have their 1st 5-figure month, I’m happy. Those things keep me going and let’s me know that I’m doing God’s will. In the near future, we plan to open an office in Texas, Las Vegas, and Florida. To date, we have successfully serviced clients in 32 different states. Our goal is to travel and speak across the country this year. We always get asked, so I believe it’s time to branch out. We also want to speak at high schools to the senior and/ or junior classes about debt and credit. This is something I wish was offered back when I was in school. We had little to no knowledge of credit, but once you graduate, credit card offers fly to your mailbox. So my goal would be to speak for free just to spread knowledge to keep young adults from falling into debt. I’m excited to see what the future holds for both of my financial businesses. Please contact us to learn more about living Debt Free and Scaling up your business. TnTEliteCredit.com 314-925-7550 tbledsoe@tntelitecredit.com IG: tntelitecredit FB: TntElitecredit

We stay on top of all laws and changes to be sure we are giving the best service to our customers.

want to help change lives.

We truly

I also have a company called Elite Lifestyle Brand. Through this, I help businesses build business credit, I’m a startup business coach, and I help scale businesses through marketing. I have a Facebook group of 2,000 women as well called Elite Lifestyle where I provide a lot of “free” information about credit, paying off debt, business foundations, health. Just about anything you can think of. The women also make connects and get help from other businesses within the group.

My goal as an entrepreneur is to help as many people live a happy, stress free life as I can. Debt can have you depressed and I’m a witness. I want to be that help that I didn’t have. We

have many testimonials of our clients closing on homes that were once homeless, or of them being approved for little to no interest car rates after using their checks to Uber and catch rides everywhere. When I see someone who dreamed of being a business owner and actually bring it

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Denise

THIMES

Vocalist Denise Thimes makes her long-awaited return to the Jazz St. Louis stage!

FEB. 25 & 26TH

Nancy’s Jazz Lounge at the Harold and Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz 3536 Washington Avenue | St. Louis, MO 63103

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STREAMING

w i t h

If you need a little pick me up during your cold and quarantined winter, we have just the thing for you! Opera Adventures: The Barber of Seville is guaranteed to put a smile on your and your child's face. You have one week left to stream this hilarious, family-friendly rom-com! Order Your Stream

Opera Theatre promotes diversity and inclusiveness and affirms its ADA compliance.

pg.

Did you know...

Learn more about our digital production

• The Barber of Seville is originally based on a play by the French playwright, Beaumarchais. He wrote 3 plays about Figaro and his friends, titled The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Guilty Mother. The Marriage of Figaro was also written as an opera, composed by Mozart. • The overture of The Barber of Seville is famously known for being featured in Bugs Bunny: Rabbit of Seville. • On the opening night of The Barber of Seville in 1816, there were so many theatrical mishaps (a stray cat ran on stage!) that the audience booed at the end of the performance. Thankfully those mishaps were quickly fixed, and Barber became an instant operatic classic. Made possible with generous support from the Engelhardt Family Foundation and the Bayer Fund. Presenting Sponsor of the 2022 Festival Season:

Free school access for Opera Adventures is supported by Leigh & Jean Mason.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

ART OF BEAUTY

Baking Soda

Bath

A few reasons to add a cup or so of baking soday to your next bath.

aking soda has been one of those things we've all had around the house for many years. It has so many uses from speeding up super glue bond to cleaning and deodorizing. There was always a box of baking soda in the fridge and by the washing detergent. We even used it to brush our teeth if we were out of regular toothpaste. I still add it to my toothpaste in between dental cleanings for a deep clean that regular brushing can't touch. Baking Soda is a mixture of sodium ions and bicarbonate ions (sodium bicarbinate or bicarbinate of soda) often found in evaporated lake beds. It's also called a natural mineral or salt. One of the main healing properties of Baking Soda is it alkalizes ph and is a neutralizer. Like Epsom Salt, adding about a cup of Baking Soda to bath water has healing benefits, though they treat different conditions. Epson salt baths treat circulatory health, blood pressure, and nerve functions. Baking soda baths are normally benefical for skin issues. Some of these benefits are:

Soothes itching and irritation Calms hives Relieves tension and pain Boosts circulation Encourages healing pg.

Fights skin fungus Detoxifies body (add epsom salt) To prepare for the Baking Soda bath, drink plenty of water. If skin is healthy and does not have damaged skin (excema, psoriasis or other rash), dry brush (starting with feet and brushing upward toward your heart, when you get to your arms start with your hands and brush inward toward your heart). Run warm bath water and swirl about a cup of baking soda into the water. Soak in the bath for 10 to 40 minutes. Rinse off with clean water, dry off and moisturize. Then drink more water. Note: Check with your physician if you have high blood pressure, are pregnant or nursing. Try a skin patch test if you have allergies to certain chemicals.

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KECKLEY Elizabeth Seamstress and Confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln, Author, and Entrepreneur

The Arts Today Ezine Celebtrates

2022

Black History pg.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

A F SHION O F RW FASHION FOR

pg.

RWARDtoto METAVERSE METAVERSE l a 2022irtu Fashion Week v hired to contribute to the building of this virtual universe. Right now the different realms are: Some current Metaverse platforms are:

Remember Mark Zuckerberg’s announcement that Facebook would become Meta several months back. Remember? It was during the investigations into COVID Misinformation. It was pretty random at the time, and did not provide much information, but it seems this name change was to usher in the new Metaverse. Which is timely since 2020 has taught us how to pivot and still get work done while quarantined and/or sheltering in place. In the past year, meetings and doctor appointments happened over Zoom, work was transferred over the internet and shipments/packages where coordinated online and via phone. Dance parties and learning also became virtual ways to connect socially. Metaverse: a collection of 3d virtual worlds where virtual avatars connect for social events, work, school, travel, and entertainment. We’ve also been hearing about NFT’s (Non-Fungable Token) and digital artwork being sold for thousands with the original creator receiving royalties each time their artwork is sold. Justin Beiber just bought a Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT for $1.29 Million. These NFT purchases occured virtually. NFT: (Non-Fungible Token)- a digital asset that represents real-world objects like art, music, in-game items, video and more. Blockchain technology is used to create something unique in the digital world. The unique codes attached to each piece identifies the true artist/creator establishing authenticity. A few months ago we started hearing about virtual “land” being sold in the Metaverse and creatives looking to be

Decentraland (oldest platform/occupant - 3D virtual reality world powered by Ethereum blockchain) Users can create buildings such as homes, galleries, malls, concert halls, or theme parks and charge other players who visit them.) CryptoVoxels – Project was inspired by Minecraft. This platform is being collaborated on with CryptoArtists from all of over the world. There are many art galleries and the community is active. Roblox - Metaverse platform where users play games made by other users. The Sandbox – Players can build, own and monetize their gaming experiences in the Ethereum blockchain using NFT’s and $Sand (the platform’s utility token) Somnium Space – For those that have high end VR devices. It has its own somnium builder which is similar to the SIMS builder. Stageverse – Social VR Platform that features virtual venues, digital content and interactive experiences. It allows multiple viewers to experience concerts together through 360 degree 3D footage captured from multiple angles around the venue. WAX (World Asset Exchange) – one of the best platforms on the Metaverse for crytpo projects on the market. Spatial – Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) collaboration platform that turns any room into a 3D workspace There have been concerts performed virtually, (April 23, 2020) Travis Scott had his first performance on Fortnite where about 12 million live viewers attended as he debuted

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FASHION FORWARD... cont.

his latest track "Astronomical". His avatar interacted with the digital world and the avatars of the viewers during the performance. Recently, The Foo fighters announced they will perform virtually in the Metaverse for Superbowl Sunday (February 13th), as the Los Angeles Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at 8pm PT. Did you know that fashion has also crossed into the Metaverse? Nike, an apparel and sneaker giant, recently purchased a virtual shoe company RTFKT Studios. In November of 2021 Nike started quietly filing trademarks and around December of 2021 announced Nikeland on Roblox. Why would digital fashion be important? As mentioned above 2020 has changed how a lot of us work. Metaverse itself is now actively hiring for people to work virtually. These employees, teachers, engineers, artists, executives, models, etc create Avatars who will be a stand-in for themselves during meetings and work. Of course, these Avatars will need clothing. In many video games we played in the past we had to pick an avatar and purchase accessories or clothes for it, this is the same concept. Today, Avatars can become the digital fashion extension or expression of a person. The fashion world has taken note and many companies are vying for locations within the Metaverse to grow beyond traditional fashion. The first Fashion Show will be held in the Metaverse in March of 2022. Decentraland will host the four-day event on its platform in the Metaverse. It is set to take place from March 24th through March 27th, 2022. There will be virtual shows, parades, stores, and events featuring dozens of global brands and thousands of visitors.

Glenn Martens ( Y / Project and Diesel ) collab with Jean Paul Gaultier Barbie and Olivier Rousteing de Balmain. Kim Bekker will take over from Isabel Marant Virtual Avatars will walk the runways in items that are for purchase. Some are for purchase virtually for your avatar (D2A = Direct to Avatar) and physically for yourself IRL (in real life) which is the model we are most familiar with, D2C (Direct to Consumer). That magic place where physical and digital meet has been called Phygital, real-world experiences with digital components. We mentioned NFT’s previously, the virtual items that you purchase during fashion week can also be sold as NFT's. Anyone can attend the Metaverse Fashion Week, but to make purchases you might need either a cell phone/ computer to scan the QR codes in virtual shops, and an Ethereum wallet. Cash is used to purchase Ethereum which is a digital currency that will be stored in the Ethereum wallet. The excitement, elaborate runway sets, and creative fashions attract people every year, IRL. Fashion powerhouses have been working with creatives to further push their artistic styles beyond physical into digital. To reach consumers virtually, old and new. Decentraland.org ~Shontel

Large fashion brands are seeking collaborations with game developers, consoles, and esports teams, or launching on their own in certain game worlds. Picture this, you’re in the front row viewing the latest fashions in showrooms, perusing and purchasing from stores, attending talks and other events from the comfort of your home. And yes, some purchases and swag acquired during this event in the Metaverse can translate to the physical product being shipped or mailed to your house. No need to make a trip to Paris or New York! Note: Keep an eye on Decentraland to see when VIP access becomes available for purchase if you want front row spaces. Hugo (part of the newly rebranded Hugo Boss) was one of the first brands to announce its participation in the upcoming fashion show. Other designers/brands that are expected to present are:

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Featured

Comic

Submission

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Black

“

God Comics

My name is Alan Gray Corujo, known on social media as @Blackgodcomics and I'm a self taught illustrator/ storyboard artist who also writes. LOL, i was a military brat, so i moved around from puerto rico, baltimore, north carolina, and georgia while never ignoring my craft. I dont even remember when i started drawing, its one of those things that was always the focal point of my pursuits. My goal is to create great comics/manga for black kids who can see awesome characters that resemble them. The power of strong imagery is my greatest motivator!

Follow me on all instagram and facebook @blackgodcomics

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Black Girlhood Studies Lab in Conversation with Dr. Nazera Sadiq Wright In this conversation, Dr. Wright will discuss her manuscript, Black Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century and recent digital humanities project, “DIGITAL GI(RL)S: Mapping Black Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century.”

THU 2.17.22 2:30PM (CST) Register Here Funded by the Center for Race, Ethnicity, and Equity and co-sponsored with African and African American Studies, Institute for Public Health, American Culture Studies, and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

DR. NAZERA SADIQ WRIGHT is Associate Professor of English and African American and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky. She is the author of Black Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century (University of Illinois Press, 2016), which won the 2018 Children’s Literature Association’s Honor Book Award for Outstanding Book of Literary Criticism. Her Digital Humanities project, DIGITAL GI(RL)S: Mapping Black Girlhood in the Nineteenth Century documents the cultural activities of black girls living in Philadelphia in the nineteenth century. In 2019, she was elected to the American Antiquarian Society. Fellowships through the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and the Bibliographical Society of America funded archival research for her second book, Early African American Women Writers and Their Libraries.

Department of African & African-American Studies at Washington University in St. Louis | One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1109, St. Louis, MO 63130

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All Colors Art Exhibit Curated by: Robert Powell January 21, 2022 - February 26, 2022 All Colors is a St. Louis based fine art destination event featuring invited African-American artists from across the country. Our goal is to create an exciting event that attracts a national audience. Th event will include an art exhibit with associated sales, workshops for the artists, the general public, collectors and art professionals, plus other special events. The mission of the Portfolio Gallery & Education Center is to educate, enrich lives, and foster a greater awareness of American artists of African American heritage. 12 North Jackson Avenue Clayton, MO 63105 Click here to learn more.

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All Colors Art Exhibit

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Honoring Mill Creek Valley: Mother Wit Virtual Book Discussion February 23rd 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm CST

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John Mercer LANGSTON Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia's 4th district

In Office: September 23, 1890 – March 3, 1891

The Arts Today Ezine Celebtrates

2022

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

STAY FROSTYBLADES O on to discover would lead him to create one of the most interesting projects I’ve come across in recent memory: a concept album that is as unexpected as it is well crafted, as easily enjoyed as it is provocative, and as educational as it is subversive. Blades of Steel opens with its title track featuring the legendary Lo-Lifer, Thirstin Howl the 3rd and begins with a vocal sample recounting the history of the Colored Hockey League of The Maritimes. Founded by the sons and grandsons of escaped slaves who fled the states to Canada and built communities in Halifax, Nova Scotia, it was active from 1895-1925. The league has been credited with the 1st use of the slapshot, and goalies dropping to their knees to save shots. Based around the church, the league expanded into 8 different communities with over 400 players. It is with this revelation that the album proceeds to go about its business- beats, rhymes, and blocking the puck while staying out of the penalty box. That, and carving up thin ice with a roster of voices who have all showed up in shoulder pads ready to body check production.

Shamon Cassette and I first crossed paths at Computer Jay’s creative compound, The Space Hatch, a little over a year ago while I was recovering from a broken leg. He was there recording an Acid House anthem

The tip of a blade dug into ice anticipating the puck’s drop. Smooth, clean strokes over a frosty surface. Blood stains worn as badges of honor from repeated fist fights. The crunch of plastic and flesh driven into one another over frozen water molecules. These are the images that come to my mind when I think about ice hockey. Black faces? No. Hip Hop? No. Punk Rock aesthetics? Absolutely not. Nat X’s Top 5 Reasons Brothers Don’t Play Hockey:

5. It’s cold out there! 4. They scared to get their gold tooth knocked out 3. Don’t want to be around white guys with sticks 2. Don’t want to be around a white guy with a MASK!

titled Raver’s Holiday; I was there for the atmosphere. We bonded over beats and leopard print hats. He had a great voice and an impeccable flow, but there was no way of knowing that after that first meeting he would soon set about creating a true school inspired concept album that Prince Paul would be proud of. That, and the fact that it’s accompanied by a fully envisioned fashion aesthetic born out of a psychedelic fever dream that would make George Clinton jealous. There was no Covid (that we were aware of yet), and Quarantine was still a few months away. If necessity is the mother of all invention, then it’s definitely the artist’s muse. We all have found ways of coping with the isolation of quarantine. Shamon decided to search for buried treasure. While looking through boxes, Cassette came across a complete set of 1990 Score NHL player cards. Upon opening it he discovered that none of the players looked like him. Not a single one. Surprised? Hockey has always been a dominantly white game, but not knowing the current state of racial diversity in today’s league, he decided to do some research. What he went

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number one reason Brothers Don’t

And, the Play Hockey:

Don’t feel the need to dominate yet another sport (See track 14) I grew up in the south and never had an understanding of the game. We had a couple of teams in the region, but the sport never captured my imagination. It was the stuff of Disney movies, Canadians, and angry white New Englanders. For me and other hip hop heads, our

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STEEL

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STAY FROSTY... cont.

relationship with hockey had very little to do with what happened on the ice but rather what was worn while they were slapping shots at the net. Pac rocking the Detroit Red Wings while spitting at reporters. Pimp C in the Mighty Ducks. Snoop sipping Gin and Juice in the coldest of Penguins. Jason Vorhese in the goalie mask. And, perhaps most importantly... Ghostface in the Jason Mask sippin’ rum out of Stanley Cups. “Unflammable!” Shamon Cassette’s most recent release, Blades of Steel, both honors this tradition while propelling it forward using everyone’s favorite reason to piss off their best friend in ‘87 cause you won’t stop interrupting the game to punch Gretzy in the face. Cassette has been a citizen of the world since his inception. Growing up in Japan, he started rapping in his teens and was immediately embraced by the local Kanagawa Hip Hop scene. He’s bounced between New York, South Africa, Ireland, and Los Angeles creating music and art wherever and with whomever recognized his talent. Along his travels he amassed a network of like minded creatives that he has worked with in a variety of capacities over various points in his career. Enlisting the help of San Antonio based producer Jaz Infinite, Cassette set about assembling an international group of wordsmiths to actualize his vision of an album that uses the language of a traditionally white dominated game- that has yet to see the integration of other sports on any significant level and has a notoriously racist fan base to address and confront the contemporary global black experience. South Africa shows up in the form of Spoek Mathambo. The Sub Pop signy, documentary filmmaker, and founder of ‘township tech’ appears alongside legendary Freestyle Fellowship founder Myka 9 on ‘Shoulder Pads’, a floating, up-beat, head knodder of true school production. Pugz Atomz, founding member of the legendary Narcobats and Chicago’s Englewood Arts Collective, Buddy Leezle, and Memphis Reigns play wings and defender to Cassette’s center on Penalty Box, the first track to fully expound upon Blades of Steel’s broader theme. ‘Behind The Mask’ features a verse from Slow Like Whoa, who is also an energy worker/healer/fragrance alchemist, that feels like she’s channeling Noname and Lauren Hill on The Score. There are repeated shout outs to Canada, especially Nova Scotia and Tim Horton’s, but it’s Annie Sama whose vocals help turn ‘Skate’ into a funky icecapade that fully brings our cousins from the north to the rink. And, of course, Los Angeles had to play an integral part seeing as this is where Blades was conceived. I was really happy to see verses from Like (Pac Div) and Myke Bogan on ‘React.’ I don’t really have anything more to say about that other than I’ve always fucked with pretty much everything either of these dudes have put out. If not the most important, the most interesting and influential guest appearance is Chill E.B. The unfortunate collateral damage of the term “Rap Rock” is the obfuscation of when rap and punk rock were actually once very closely aligned. Chill E.B. is a raptivist who was signed to Jello Biafra’s

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(Dead Kennedys) Alternative Tentacles label, the original home to preDisposable Heroes Of Hiphoprisy outfit the Beatnigs, who performed alongside Michael Franti & Spearhead. Chill E.B. was a cross-genre political activist in the same vein as Public Enemy and Paris, collaborating with and participating in the West Coast’s counterculture movement before Rage Against The Machine became the face of the sound. It is also purported that his song, Menace To Society, was at least partially, if not entirely, the inspiration for the movie of the same name. He is also Cassette’s uncle, and the inspiration for his personal aesthetic. While his fashion sense is an ever evolving, nebulous endeavor, Cassette points directly to his close relationship with his uncle as an inception point. The place where the stitched on patches met the bucket caps. While most of today’s contemporary rap artists are channeling a stylists’ idea of a rock-n-roll (especially grunge) presentation, Cassette is creating the Nebula Hockey Legion marrying decades of anti-establishment sensibility with acid soaked wigs, horned facemasks and true school jerseys. As with the rest of the project, the entirety of Cassette’s experience- from his time in Japan to his relationship with his uncle to his world travels to his time in Los Angeles - is infused and then expressed through his creative process. In this case, it’s custom TUK’s Creepers fitted with roller skates and modified donated hockey gear instead of army jackets, berets and ninja boots. Blades of Steel is all at once immediately listenable while holding depths and an afro futuristic reclamation of a hidden history that is channeled into an extended metaphor for what it means to be Black in America. By subverting expectations, both sonic and visual, Shamon Cassette has opened up a space that both challenges and invites. What could easily be dismissed as a gimmick bears weight upon scrutiny. He, Jaz Infinite, and their international cadre have created an alternate reality parallel to our own and invited us all to come skate with them. This is not thin ice. ~Gavin DeCantillon

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”

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. -- Charles Mingus

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Would you like a printed copy(s) of an issue mailed to your home? Send your request to us by email **Remember to include the volume/issue** Cost may vary per issue.

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LABOR DAY SPECIAL!! ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS FOR WEEKLY MEAL PREP, CONTACT INFO BELOW!

Meal prep plans, personal chef, and health coaching services available. Plans starting as low as $75.00- For limited time only!! For more information contact fabulouslyveganme@gmail.com and visit fabulouslyvegan.com!

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REVIEW

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Dance St. Louis –

Tango Argentina

[

Review by Mariah L. Richardson

My first exposure to the seductive dance of tango was while watching Gomez and Morticia Adams dance a tame version of it in their living room on the 1960s sitcom, The Addams Family. Gomez extolling his love to Morticia while she held a long stem rose in her mouth. Even though as a kid I understood that the dance was about desire and seduction, it paled in comparison of what I witnessed last Saturday night.

there is joy and romance in being close, heart to heart, lips almost touching, mask less, free, with only the dance on our minds. Founded in 1966, Dance St. Louis has been bringing the finest dance of the world to St. Louis audiences for more than 55 years. Dance. Dance St. Louis also conducts a broad range of education programs for the St. Louis community. Each year, the Bayer Fund Education Outreach Program introduces schoolchildren to the magic of dance through in-school residencies and mainstage performances. For more information, please visit https:// www.dancestlouis.org.

For media inquiries, interviews, press images and/or video, please contact Sarah Thompson at sarahtproductions@gmail.com or 314.884.8306.

Dance St. Louis, continuned their 56th season with Tango Argentina at the Touhill Performing Arts center, February 5, 2022. Eight sensational dancers and a quartet, led by Fabrizio Mocata, lifted a pandemic weary crowd, here in St. Louis. The two-hour show went by in a flourish. Starting with a dance featuring all eight dancers. Then we were enthralled by lead dancers, Guillermo de Fazio and Giovanna Dan. The speed and the tangle of legs and you can see how this feels like a forbidden dance. The precision, the beaded backless dresses added to the heat of each dance. The dancers spin and dip and all the while looking deeply and lovingly into their partner’s eyes. Their desire made you want to blush as if you are a voyeur secretly witnessing the pair’s exchange of physical pleasure. The troop consist of dance couples, Marcos Pereira and Florencia Borgnia, Andres Bravo and Arita Apel, and Maximiliano Alvarado and Paloma Berrios. Their names alone suggest the exotic to us plain spoken English names alike Bob and Jim. The band; Diana Seitz on violin, Moshe Shulman on bandoneon, Dominic Martinez on bass, and Mocata on piano. The music was the foundation for the dance, but the band also coaxed and cajoled the urgency of tango in their instrumentals that played when there were no dancers. The show not only sizzled with dance they also injected humor to round out the show. Dance St. Louis gave us a night of hot, delicious delight on a cold, snowy evening. As we watched, boosted and masked, we were transported to a time and space where Copyright © 2017 - All rights reserved.

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slso.org

Digital Concert Streaming pg.

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THE CHAIFETZ ARENA FEB 25TH AT 8PM

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Featured

Poetry

Submission

BIO

Kevin Powell is a poet, journalist, civil and human rights activist, filmmaker, and author of 14 books. His 15th book, from which this poem, "i am magic" is taken, will be published this Fall. His 16th book, a biography of Tupac Shakur, is coming in 2023. Kevin is a longtime resident of Brooklyn, New York.

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Kevin

Powell

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In honor of Women's History Month

i am magic (for Bridget L. Moore)

my momma and me had to rock and climb our ancestors’ bloodied backs to find ourselves what matters

~By Kevin Powell

is that black girls chocolate-brown and true like me

i am magic

make music with our

i can do anything

movements

i can moon-walk

before we even kiss

my bare feet on fire

the universe hello

and taste sunrise

because

when others

for months of sundays

cannot taste at all

i am my momma’s

i was born the year

only child

diane mcintyre

i sit in a chair

un-buried freedom

next to my imagination

from below

and i ego trip

an ohio underground railroad

and draw

and made new york

for-coloreds-lonely poetry

her power-to-the-people

like nikki giovanni

dance partner

for months of sundays

i was given breath amidst

i am my momma’s

super fly afros

only child

tent-wide bell bottoms

i sit in a chair

and soul-trained symphonies

next to my imagination

with tightened fists jabbing

and i protest

and counterpunching

and wait to exhale

red-white-blues-song tomorrows

slavery and four women like

i was cornrolled

nina simone

where cowboys

for months of sundays

are dusty-eyed gladiators

i am my momma’s

slow smoking the ghosts

only child

of devil he-men

i sit in a chair

who took jfk away

next to my imagination

don’t matter my momma

and cause blind rebels

had me at 18

to explode inside their heads

don’t matter

like eartha kitt

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

i am magic

un-knotting nooses

i can do anything

with their necks

i can moon-walk

lifting traumatized eyes

my bare feet on fire

with their legs

and taste sunrise

and reviving

when others

sandra bland

cannot taste at all

and breonna taylor

i have no name

with their hips

like woman or girl

because

dancer-warrior

black women

stolen from herself

black girls

through african doors

so dope

of no return

we can

i choreograph

sing and dance

art at the bottom

and sew and paint

of them boats

and act and mime

i braid escape

and cook and write

routes in my hair

rhythms for a nation

while swallowing

of billions

a trumpet full of cotton

like janet jackson

in them fields

or the lady school janitor

i can sing

who taught me to

and i can dance

dance

lawd knows i can sing

at age six

and i can dance

because momma

ain’t had no money

big momma

for me to take dance

like marilyn cox

classes

like “tootha”

i understood right then and

like wilma dews

there

like linda hines

that

like the way

art

pearl primus and

dance

katherine dunham

learning

sang with their bodies

black girl magic

reversing slave ships

be like

with their fingers

cicely tyson

burning plantations

sarah vaughan

with their elbows

ella fitzgerald

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2Love

lorraine hansberry angela davis be making a way out of no way be black women and black girls strutting through the sky even when our wings are barely taped together because ain’t no love no families no communities no possibilities no church no holy ghost no get-out-the votes if we ain’t here

"For You" by Kevin Powell

because we are magic

"Love" by Kevin Powell

we can do anything we can moon-walk our bare feet on fire and taste sunrise when others cannot taste at all

Thursday, May 13, 2021 7:11am

Poems www.the-arts-today.com www.the-today.com

Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

ART OF FOOD

RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE 315 Chestnut Street (Inside the Hyatt Regency- St. Louis)

SQWIRES 1415 S. 18th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104

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5 Restaurants that offer Valentine's Dinner Take out

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5 RESTAURANTS... cont.

BONEFISH GRILL 8780 Eager Road Brentwood, MO 63144

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THE OLIVE GARDEN 3552 Pennridge Drive Bridgeton, MO 63044

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5 RESTAURANTS... cont.

WHITE CASTLE

(any participating location near you)

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George Washington

CARVER Agricultural /Innovator /Inventor /Scientist

The Arts Today Ezine Celebtrates

2022

Black History

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Shirley Sh irley LEFLORE Performing Artist, Educator, Poet Laureate

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2022

Black History pg.

166

Miho Kinnas REVIEW: Reading Lenard Moore's 'Long Rain': Tanka Has Always Been a Perfect Form for Love

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ART OF HEALING

Barbers join the fight in erradicating mental

health stigma

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Richard PRYORthe singer?

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

Last Stop on

Market Street Review by Mariah L. Richardson

he first thing that you take in when you walk into the theater of this production by Metro Theater Company, is the colorful set, designed by Peter and Margery Spack, of a street scene that will be our world for the next hour. Reminiscent of another street that many grew up on, Sesame Street. Then you hear a familiar sound, the pulse of bass that is soundtrack of urban living. That contagious beat that tells you that you are about to experience something fantastical and amazing.

In, Last Stop on Market Street, adapted for the stage by Cheryl L. West and book by Matt la Pena, seven-yearold CJ has been dropped off at his nana’s house while his parents have a much-needed vacation. Most likely from raising him. He is quite a handful, with his insatiable need for his electronic devices and his phone. So, he finds himself at his grandmother’s house where there are no pets, and she cooks meat. “I’m a vegetarian!” CJ wails. The day has not started off well because everything around CJ is different from what’s at his house and his neighborhood. He finds that were Nana lives is noisy and dirty and there are scary strangers. Then the worst thing in the world that could happen. Nana takes away his precious devices. He protests as loudly and as politely as he can to get them back. Afterall, Mommy told him to be a good boy. But how can he when he’s stuck in a place where the couch is covered in plastic and the walls are painted in all kinds of patterns and colors and worst of all, there’s nothing to do? Biut, Nana has a surprise for CJ. They take an adventure through the city on the bus. CJ has never ridden a city bus. There he encounters people like he’s never seen. And he must confront his own pre-conceived notions of who people are based on how they look. The musical numbers on the bus speak to looking beyond the surface and accepting people right where they are. CJ is having a great time dancing and singing until they reach the last stop on Market Street, and he discovers that he has left his backpack on the bus. The backpack filled with all his devices that he “stole” back from Nana. Then all the new lessons go right out the window. He is back to pouting and being a brat. And on top of that, the surprise that Nana has for him is an even dirtier part of town and a soup kitchen. CJ is having none of that. Until Nana, in old-skool style, checks his attitude and tells him he better get his life right. She tells him to look around and find beauty.

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This what this lively musical is all about. Finding beauty and feeling gratitude for what you have and empathy when you find that some people just don’t have. This is a big lesson for CJ, but he comes through with flying colors. He finds it in his heart to share and learns the meaning of what real friendship with real people is like. Now CJ is serving up love. The show is directed by the incomparable, Jacqueline Thompson. The great musical talent, Denise Thimes, makes her return to acting and playing Nana. She is a no holds barred granny that reminds you of how grandmothers ruled back in the day. Daniel McRath is the perfect choice for CJ and his voice is angelic. The ensemble: Robert Crenshaw, Valentina Silva, Cameron Tyler, and Tyler White all bring the community to life. Tyler White is especially great as the street philosopher bus driver. “Be good, like you know you should.” Christopher Page-Sanders put the whole cast through the motions as Choreographer/Movement Director. The idea of the moving bus was genius. This cast can really move. Music Director, Philip A. Woodmore, Ph.D. had all the sounds, and the score was perfect. Rounding out the show were the fun costumes by Felia Davenport. Last Stop on Market Street, is a beloved children’s’ book written Matt de la Peña and Illustrated by Christian Robinson. It was adapted for the stage by Cheryl L. West. Music and Lyrics by Lamont Dozier and Paris Ray Dozier. Digital Recording and Underscoring by Paris Ray Dozier Originally commissioned and produced by Chicago Children’s Theatre and the Children’s Theatre Company. Runs: February 6—27, 2022 at the Grandel Theatre 3610 Grandel Square, St. Louis, MO 63103 The production is approximately 75 minutes with no intermission. Ideal for ages 5 and up.

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REVIEW

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W E N

Author: Jabari Asim Narrators: Adam Lazarre-White, Imani Jade Powers, Janina Edwards, JD Jackson, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Lamarr Gulley Release Date: January 11, 2022 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Unabridged Audiobook ISBN: 9781797137759

Audio

Hardback

chirpbooks.com pg.

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The Arts Today Ezine Celebtrates

2022

Black History

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DID YOU KNOW??

February is National Heart

proclamation 1964 pg.

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Month

Wear Red Day! While this should be done daily, this month is the time for everyone to focus on their cardiovascular health. Specifically, Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a leading risk factor for heart disease. Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. These conditions are: Coronary Artery Disease (Blood Vessel Disease) Arrhythmias (Heart Rhythm problems) Congenital Heart Defects (Heart defects you’re born with) Heart Valve Disease Disease of the Heart Muscle Heart Infection (Mayoclinic.org) Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, even during the pandemic, and is often unnoticed in many women. Which makes it the number one killer of women, higher than all forms of cancer combined. Men normally develop blockages in their coronary arteries (CAD – Coronary Artery Disease), but women more frequently develop heart disease within the very small arteries that branch out from the coronary arteries (MVD – Microvascular Disease). Cholesterol build-up occurs in different areas in men and women. The presence of Estrogen in women and differences in how women deal with stress are also reasons why heart disease might go overlooked in women. Some of the most common signs of heart disease are: Men: Chest pain/tightening (can also be a squeezing sensation) Upper body pain in the arms, left shoulder, back, neck, jaw, or stomach Rapid Heartbeats Women: Unusual Fatigue lasting several days Sleep Disturbances Anxiety Lightheadedness Shortness of Breath Upper Back Should or Throat pain Jaw pain Pressure or pain in the center of the chest which may spread to the arm

Smoking Diabetes Family History Metabolic Syndrome High levels of C-Reactive protein In women some risk factors can also be: Relatively high testosterone levels prior to menopause Increasing Hypertension during Menopause Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis Stress and depression Lack of knowledge of risk factors Healthy lifestyle choices can prevent some heart-related issues: 1 Stop smoking Health weight control Eat Healthier Exercise Get a good amount of sleep If you think you’re having a heart emergency Call 911 – Don’t Ignore Your Symptoms Take an Aspirin – Early intervention is key to limiting the amount of heart damage a heart attack can cause. Aspirin dissolves the blood clot that blocks the heart’s artery which may cause a heart attack. Chew the aspirin for faster absorption. Whether male or female, pay attention to your body and ask questions if you do not “feel right”. Especially if you’re experiencing symptoms like difficulty breathing, persistent nausea, or abdominal pain. Always seek advice from your physician before starting or stopping any exercise, medicine, or other treatment. Make regular appointments/checkups as preferred by your physician to stay on top of your body’s changes. ~Shontel

Some of the less common signs of heart disease are: Indigestion Shortness of breath Back pain Dizziness Cold Sweat Risk Factors: Obesity

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Mother Wit by Malaika B. Horne

Yes! Please send me Mother Wit by Malaika B. Horne $16.00 • ISBN: 978-1-4809-4550-0

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* Please add $3.99 shipping & handling for the first book ordered and $1.00 for each additional book. Shipping is USPS First Class.

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Yes! Please send me Mother Wit by Malaika B. Horne $16.00 • ISBN: 978-1-4809-4550-0

Ship ___ at $16.00/book $ SUBTOTAL $ ** Shipping and Handling $ TOTAL DUE $

* Please add $3.99 shipping & handling for the first book ordered and $1.00 for each additional book. Shipping is USPS First Class.

Order from your bookseller or direct from:

DORRANCE PUBLISHING CO BOOK ORDER DEPARTMENT 585 Alpha Drive, Suite 103 Pittsburgh, PA 15238 ! Please add me to your mailing list. To order call

1-800-788-7654

or visit our website at

www.dorrancebookstore.com or cut along dotted line and mail to address listed above along with credit card information or check or money order.

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

What Can You D0?

Welcome back. Once a week I am on a conference call with Bob Law and several activist and freedom fighters from all over the country. And I suggested we return to the theme “Black Is Beautiful”, a phrase I have not heard for a long time. The mission of the call is to renew our faith in the African American community, and support all things positive for Black people, and the community-at-large, but with the primary focus on Black lives and our quality of life. I wrote the following column in August, 1998, because I saw and felt hope in our village. Now, with our youth slaughtering one another, and our voting rights threatened, among so many other negative things that keep setting us back, I decided to let you read what I wrote 24 years ago. I saw and felt hope, so that is why I joined Bob Law and others to again make positive changes for us all. Read the column and decide what you can do to reverse the negative spiral we seem to be in. After reading it, decide on your next moves. Here is the column:

“When the author once taught in a school with a mixed faculty the white women connected with the institution would bow to him in a patronizing fashion when on campus, but elsewhere they did not see him. A white president of one Negro school pg.

never entertains a Negro in his home. Another white president of a Negro college maintains on campus a guest cottage which Negroes can enter only as servants. Still, another such functionary does not allow students to enter his home through the front door. Negroes trained under such conditions without protest become downright cowards, and in life will continue as slaves in spite of their nominal emancipation.” Dr. Carter G. Woodson “Mis-education of the Negro” 1933-Associated Publishers.

“No More Fears! After viewing videos on BET, MTV, VH1 and other musical outlets, I wrote several articles condemning ‘gangsta rap’ and the way young African Americans’ males and females are portrayed. I do not understand the compulsion for beautiful young women to exploit their sexuality, and for young men to denigrate and disrespect them. I felt that the next generation of African Americans would be lost. Now I do not feel that way. Last Saturday at the Wilson Community Center, I noticed some young men and women painting the outside of the building. I recognized them from attending the Sunday forum and community meetings. Upon questioning them, I was informed they were assisting their parents by volunteering their time, energy and paint. All of them. Inside, there were students studying current events and geography, led by African American males and females of the Im Hotep Academy, who devote their weekends teaching African American children. In another room at the center were members of the Frederick Douglass Institute also offering their

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

WHAT CAN YOU DO?... cont.

assistance to the adults who were conducting a fund drive. That is when I thought of the other organizations who are hard at work building and creating opportunities for future generations. Jamala Rogers and the Organization for Black Struggle’s Youth Group; Malik and Deborah Ahmed’s Better Family Life’s youth component; Keith Antone and St. Paul Saturday’s; Kateeb Waheed, Veronica Banks, and members of Caring Communities; St. Louis Community Schools; Lov-a-Nary family values; Storman-Stuflin School; Sister Clara Muhammad School.

I do have hope. We have lost Clifford Wilson and a few others but people like Michael McMillan have stepped up, and Jamala and Percy and Malik and Deborah, Ira Jones, Veronica Banks, Johnson Lancaster, Kateeb Wahid still on the job, and my hope has been restored.

Help Me Please! Happy Black History Month ~Bernie Hayes

These are merely a handful of the hundred’s agencies, clubs, groups and organizations devoted to the welfare of African American children. I hope that you and I remember and support them, and when I see the negative images in Charlie Chan and Tarzan movies, and watch the stupid clowns on shows such as the Wayan’s and DEF Comedy Jam I know that my future is not in their hands. When BET, MTV and VH1 allow the self-destructing representations of African Americans, I know this is not the way most young people are. Let the Hollywood moguls continue to produce “How Stella Got Her Groove Back” and “Colors.” It does not matter because we have strong black teachers and leaders who are keeping most black children on the right track. Do not think the next generation is lost. Visit one of the groups mentioned above, or check out the young adults who attend The Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists training sessions. We are in very good shape despite what the television news programs and the daily newspapers illustrate. I was worried but I am not worried anymore. No more fears. Hotep!”

pg.

182

To: ibj1960@aol.com Subject: Join us to learn more about aﬀordable housing!

Join us for a discussion on affordable housing in St. Louis. Learn about the Affordable Housing Report Card and provide feedback for improving access in the region.

Registration required

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Volume 6.5 FEBRUARY 20, 2022

JOHN BERRY

MEACHUM Pastor, Businessman, Educator and Founder of the First African Baptist Church in St. Louis. Meachum also created the Freedom Floating School on a Steamboat on the Mississippi to teach black people. At that time teaching blacks was banned.

The Arts Today Ezine Celebtrates

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Black History pg.

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The Never Ending Story

Mural Defacement

Donate Now!

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OPPORTUNITIES

The Bernie Hayes Show Talk and interviews about affairs of the day with a St. Louis slant. The Bernie Hayes Show can be seen: Friday’s at 9 A.M. Saturday’s at 10:00 P.M. Sunday’s at 5:30 P.M.

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CAREERS

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Arts Today vol 6.5 print

Articles inside

FEAT. POET | KEVIN POWELL

FASHION FORWARD... | A.T.E.Z

STREAMING W/OTSTL | OPERA THEATER - STL

REVIEW: TANGO... | MARIAH L. RICHARDSON

REVIEW: LAST STOP ... | MARIAH L. RICHARDSON

STAY FROSTY... | GAVIN DECANTILLON