South Florida On the Go! November 2022 Edition

Published by South Florida's Black Professionals Network PO Box 971372 Boca Raton, Florida 33497

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Greetings

This issue I thought I'd try to put a little different spin on the season that so many of us are looking forward to spending traditionally. In doing so, I actually learned a few things that I'm excited about experiencing during holidays to come!

Like, there's a national Black ski club! The National Brotherhood of Skiers is hosting their 50th year Summit in Vail, CO. this coming February, and in addition to skiing, they've got a lot of Grown Folks activites scheduled!

If that doesn't make you want to do something different for the holidays, then maybe the article I call A Different Way to Holiday will. I'll let you decide for yourself if it makes sense or not. But before you knock it, you really ought to try it!

For the reviews this month, Dr. Mary @ Check This Out SOFLO recaps an “In Person” panel discussion on Caribbean Music, Culture and Influence that she moderated at the Adrienne Arsht during Miami Carnival Week last month.

For our Night Out, we review Firt Lauderdale's Blue Jean Blues, and our Escape is the upcoming Florida Classic Orlando. I've ben looking forward to attending way before I moved to Florida.

The featured place to eat this month is the Taco Shop Mexican Grill in Hialeah. If you think you've found better Mexican food in South Florida, pleeease let me know!

Lastly, we congratulate Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq. Shareholder at Becker, for being selected the first Black woman to lead the Miami-Dade Beacon Council's Board of Directors in it's 37-year history!

W. Burrough CEO & Publisher

Call Us What We Carry: Poems

By Amanda Gorman

The breakout poetry collection by #1 New York Times bestselling author and presidential inaugural poet Amanda Gorman Formerly titled The Hill We Climb and Other Poems, Amanda Gorman’s remarkable new collection reveals an energizing and unforgettable voice ...

Unbroken and Unbowed: A History of Black Protest in America

By Jimmie R. Hawkins

In this compelling and informative volume, Jimmie R. Hawkins walks the listener through the many forms of Black protest in American history, from pre-colonial times though the George Floyd protests of 2020.

Grown and Sexy On Ice

The idea of spending the winter in the cold might make little to no sense to those of us who grew up in sunny and warm climates. No matter how beautiful or romantic anyone says it is! And having lived in a few areas where it's snowed, I can understand why. The black ice is what turns me off most.

However, I've also taken a few day trips up to ski lodges around the country, like Lake Arrowhead in Calli, Mt. Hood in Oregun and Breckenridge in Colorado, and each one of them was in fact beautiful and romantic, but the thought of spending days at any of them never crossed my mind, mainly because I viewed them as spaces for White folk.

Then I stumbled upon a video that featured a bunch of Black people, young and old, not only skiing but partying and having the time of their life up in the mountains, and almost immediately my paradigm shifted! Suddenly, I could see myself all bundled up in some ski wear, kicking it with them!

Not on skis mind you! But definitely partying, and sledding up and down somebody's snow-covered hill on a skidoo!

Then at night cuddling up with the Mrs. beside a fire listening to some Luther or Leroy Hutson!

Never Caught: The Washingtons’ Relentless Pursuit of Their Runaway Slave, Ona Judge

By Erica Armstrong Dunbar

A startling and eye-opening look into America's First Family, Never Caught is the powerful narrative of Ona Judge, George and Martha Washington's runaway slave who risked it all to escape the nation's capital and reach freedom.

This Is How You Lose Her

By: Junot Díaz

The stories in This Is How You Lose Her, lay bare the infinite longing and inevitable weaknesses of our all-too-human hearts. They capture the heat of new passion, the recklessness with which we betray what we most treasure, and the torture we go through ...

Night Out @

Blue Jean Blues

Three things can either make or break a great night out on the town for me. The venue, the food or the entertainment. And if all three of them are great, then I'm definitely coming back. But if at least one is, then I'll try to make adjustments to improve my next trip.

That's what I'm gonna have to do at Blue Jean Blues. The entertainment was that good! The night we attended, Dottie Kelly and the Darrell Raines Band were definitely rocking the house. However, it was those guitar solos by Raines that really did it for me!

First, a tune by legendary Bluesman, Howlin'Wolf, according to my wife. Then one by Jimi Hendrix, I believe. I think it was Voodoo Woman. But whatever it was, that man is gifted and I'd pay good money to see him again!

To improve my next trip though, I'll be reserving a table first, because the place is small and it's easily packed. And secondly, I'll be ordering a different dish from the menu or eating before I arrive. I'll leave it at that. I'll also return on a Tuesday or Thursday night most likely, because I'm dying to see Joey Gilmore and Valerie Tyson. And lastly, I'll be paying in cash. That way I'll avoid paying their credit card surcharge and weekend upcharge!

Like I said, the music is that good!

Miami Carnival 2022

By Dr. Mary @ Check This Out SOFLO!

Miami Carnival week proves to be a week of many events for the Caribbean community! It's usually celebrated during the first week in October with the Miami Broward Carnival being the last main event.

This year The Adrienne Arsht Center got in on the action. The Heritage Committee began their 2022-2023 season with an “In Person” panel discussion on Caribbean Music, Culture and Influence.

The discussion was moderated by Dr. Mary Leonce founder of Dr. Mary Media Services, a social media company that amplifies Caribbean events in the South Florida community.

Dr. Mary was joined by a prestigious panel of guests including Tanto Irie, a Jamaican radio personality at Hot 105, who gave an in-depth history of Caribbean music in America and what it took to become and remain a radio personality.

DJ Killa Mike, who is of Haitian heritage, is a prominent DJ in the Caribbean community who made the switch from playing Hip Hop to mostly Caribbean music. He spoke about playing music in New York and Florida.

Mr. Dony Felix spoke about music crossing over in America. He was born in Haiti and grew up in Guadeloupe. He's not only a musician, he also teaches music for MDCPS.

Lastly Giselle, “The Wassi One” who is from Trinidad and Tobago, is a radio personality, mass camp leader, and a cultural ambassador among other things. She discussed how hard it was to get Soca music to play in clubs and radio.

Project presents

INFLUENCE AND CULTURE

Panorama 2022! Metro Steel Orchestra

Caribbean Music, Culture and Influence Mark A. James, PhotographerCaribbean and Influence Panel

Mark A. James, Photographer

South Florida's Black Professionals Network is a proud member of ICABA, a member-based, global business network assisting professionals and entrepreneurs of color to attain their career, business and lifestyle aspirations.

Because of You, John Lewis

By Andrea Davis Pinkney

Ten-year-old Tybre Faw is obsessed with history and the civil rights movement, and he devours every book he can find on the subject. When he learns of Congressman John Lewis's harrowing and heroic march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge ..

Escape 2 the Florida Classic!

Before I moved to Florida, The Florida Classic was on my bucket list. Having lived in Oregon during most of the It's A Different World days, I was dying to see some HBCU culture up close and personal. And since I'm no sports fan, I was more interested in enjoying the vibe, the bands, and the fraternity, sorority dances.

Years later I'd find myself working in Central Florida and stumbling upon the stadium as the event was happening! And I couldn't believe what I saw as I drove by! It was like the whole neighborhood was involved in this thing! Black folk had their grills out in the frontyard sellling plates, music was blasting from everywhere, custom cars and trucks were cruising around, and the crowd was thick.

Hopefully, the event hasn't gone downhill because I'm finally going this year, and I'm super excited!! Over a four day period we'll hit Eatonville, home of the Zora Festival, Parramore, one of Orlando’s oldest historically black neighborhoods, and Hannibal Square, neighborhood of AfricanAmericans who worked in the groves, hotels, homes, and as carpenters and farmers during the development of Winter Park.

Eating spots on my list include Nikki's Place, Chicken Fire, and Oley's. And for entertainment, it's going to be Jazz Tastings and the Sunday Jazz Brunch at The Boheme. Maybe we'll check out The Alley too! I'll let you know!

From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century

By William A. Darity Jr. and A. Kirsten Mullen

Racism and discrimination have choked economic opportunity for African Americans at nearly every turn. At several historic moments, the trajectory of racial inequality could have been altered dramatically.

The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois

by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers

In Honorée Fanonne Jeffers’s “The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois,” a young Black woman has to figure how to craft a life that is joyful and whole against the backdrop of the American South, where the land is a minefield of treasures and tragedy.

Dining @ Taco Shop Mexican Grill

The best Mexican food I've eaten since I've lived in South Florida has been at Ernesto's Taco Shop in Cutler Bay and the Taco Shop Mexican Grill in Hialeah. The Taco Shop now has more locations in Miami-Dade County, I believe. Personally, I'm hoping they don't expand up to Palm Beach because they are definitely my weakness!

Having been raised in America's Best City for Mexican Food, according to the Daily Meal website, I consider myself quite experienced in this area. Quote, ".. Los Angeles is nearly 50 percent Hispanic and Latino, and they've contributed an astounding array of Mexican restaurants to the city, which has more Mexican eateries than any other."

The Taco Shop isn't the kind of place you take a date for dinner, instead it's a great lunch spot. Personally, I like the bright, colorful menu hanging above the counter, and the tables that are imprinted with some interested cultural facts.

No, the food isn't healthy nor is it for vegans (unless you order it without meat, maybe?!) .. but it is fresh, authentic and it's damn good! Plus, the service is great and the prices are very reasonable. If you want a free meal, they have a Death By Fire Burrito Challenge. If you finish their hot burrito in time, your meal is on the house! But good luck!

The Tradition

By Jericho Brown

Jericho Brown's daring new book The Tradition details the normalization of evil and its history at the intersection of the past and the personal. Brown's poetic concerns are both broad and intimate, and at their very core a distillation of the incredibly human:

The event was fun, well attended, and an instructive experience on Caribbean music. A big thank you goes to the Heritage Committee! We're looking forward to seeing what you have in store for the next Carnival season!

Panorama 2022

Miami Carnival's Panorama 2022 kicked off at the Panorama Carnival Village in Broward County last month. With the sweet sound of melodious pan flowing from Central Broward Regional Park in Lauderhill and a nice October breeze blowing, Panorama had it going on!

One of the highlights this year was the WaiWai, a steel orchestra band from Japan that showcased their skills as guests of the show. Who knew this was a thing in Japan!? A Trini who was asked what he thought of the band said, “They are good.” And if a Trini gives his stamp of approval, it’s good!

Special guests included the international band, Roadblock Steel and Newtown Playboys Steel Symphony from Trinidad and Tobago. Other guests included DJ Cleve and Emcee Mike Andrews. And you can’t have a carnival without Broward Stilt Dancers!

The competing bands this year were: Elite Pan Stars, Lauderhill Steel Ensemble, Melo Groove Steel Orchestra, Metro Steel Orchestra, and New Generation Branches. And the winner was .. Lauderhill Steel Ensemble! Congratulations to them all on a job well done!

Not everyone liked the show though! Kenny said “this is a joke.” And when asked why, he said just because. He sounded like a die-hard Trinidadian to me. Anthony said, “It was okay,” and Gillian said “it was great.” Which just goes to prove you cannot please everyone!

You just have to do you!

Know Your Price

Valuing Black Lives and Property in America’s Black Cities

By Andre M. Perry

Noted educator, journalist, and scholar Andre Perry takes listeners on a tour of six Black-majority cities whose assets and strengths are undervalued.

Who's On The Move!

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, the County’s official public-private economic development partnership, announces their newly elected 2022-2023 leadership including Board of Directors, Officers and Committee Chairs.

Yolanda Cash Jackson, Esq., Shareholder at Becker, has been elected Chair of the 2022-2023 Board of Directors; this is the first time in the organization’s 37-year history that it will be led by a Black woman. An active Beacon Council Board Member, Jackson chaired the Urban Initiatives Task Force (UITF) – an initiative focused on providing Black Miami opportunities for greater impact, influence and access within The Beacon Council and its stated value proposition. Serving as Chair-Elect over the past year, she also worked very closely with The Beacon Council’s late President & CEO, Michael A. Finney, praising him as a visionary leader committed to elevating diverse Miami-Dade business and driving equitable opportunities for growth both within and outside the Council.

The Lost Eleven: The Forgotten Story of Black American Soldiers Brutally Massacred in World War II

By Denise George and Robert Child

Their story was almost forgotten by history. Now known as the Wereth Eleven, these brave African-American soldiers left their homes to join the Allied effort on the front lines of WWII.

A Different Way

Holiday!

Not everyone celebrates the season the same old ways anymore. Although many of us are still either excited or obligated to be back home with our "loved ones" during this time of year, there are also those of us who, for any variety of reasons, have no desire to participate in all the consumerism and pagan traditions.

However, holiday culture is so pervasive that it's almost impossible to escape. That's one of the reasons I believe God made mountains. That's where we can always find refuge, spirit and truth! Plus it's a great place to reflect on the years past and those to come. Somehow, being literally a lot closer to the Creator does something to you.

I grew up under the San Bernadino Mountains in Los Angeles and frequently took rides up them just to chill and reflect. So did many others. However, during the holidays those mountains grew some snow on them ! And as I've already said, they were beautiful, romantic and serene .. but it was cold up there!

That's why I believe God made some mountains in the Caribbean and Mexico too!

People need to be able to escape on a regular basis in order to regroup, reconnect, and recharge. And even though there are more than a few good mountains in the Caribbean, there are twice as many in Mexico where the Cost of Living is a lot cheaper!

The video clip turned out to be a promo for The National Brotherhood of Skiers 50 year Summit being hosted this February in Vail, Colorado! The NBS is a nonprofit focused on organizing and supporting AfricanAmerican skiers. Their Summit is scheduled to be a 7 day event, and includes a Gospelfest, Bar-BQue, Fashion Show, Happy Hours, Regional meetings, Competitions, etc. They also have a 4 day prelude to the Summit being held in Breckenridge this December. It includes a Grown & Sexy Gallery Walk, and an ABC (Anything But Clothes) Party, in addition to plenty of skiing and meetings!

The NBS was founded by Art Clay and Ben Finley who were introduced to each other in 1972. It consists of dozens of mostly black ski clubs in the USA. Over 80 clubs were members in the early 1990s, and the 1993 summit saw 6,000 participants. Current membership levels are at around 3,500, and about half of the members are over the age of 50!

Now that I know that we've have been regulars at some of these ski resorts around the country, I'm starting to look at my winter holidays a whole lot differently! The only question now is whether I want to spend it with a group like the NBS, with my family, or just with the wife!

If I don't go to party, I'll be going for the snow ball fights, hot buttered rum by the fire, sliding and tubing down the slopes, building a snowman, chillin' in the hot springs and maybe even hopping on a ski lift, just for the ride!

In spite of all the bad press the country receives, Mexico also possesses some heavenly locations that are neither on the coast or the beaten path. Two of the many that don't grow any snow in the winter include Grutas Tolantongo and Chiapas. Grutas Tolantongo is one of the coolest outdoor sites near Mexico City. The layered turquoise man-made pools along the mountainside are it's signature feature. It's way up in the mountains, in a box canyon, surrounded by hot springs and underwater thermal pools that heat the waters in the caves, tunnel, waterfall, and river. There's also a swing bridge that allows you to walk above the luscious landscapes and much more to enjoy!

Chiapas on the other hand, is further South of Mexico City. It's a state with a rich history and culture dating back to the Mayan civilization. Even though it's one of the poorest states in Mexico, it has everything from ancient ruins and colonial towns to stunning waterfalls, lakes, and rivers and plenty of amazing wildlife. It's cultural capital is San Cristóbal de Las Casas. From here you can take a day trip to the towering Sumidero Canyon, a showstopper that's on a par with Yosemite's El Capitan. Although places like Grutas Tolantongo and Chiapas are obviously excellent options for adventure seekers at any time of the year, the mountains also play a role in Scripture. They're where important things happened, particularly theophanies, manifestations, or appearances of God. To me that makes them one of the best places on earth you could go to truly celebrate and honor life.

The Talk: Conversations about Race, Love & Truth

Edited by Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson

This powerful collection of short stories, essays, and poems is a call-toaction that invites all families to be anti-racist and advocates for change. Thirty diverse, award-winning authors and illustrators engage young people in frank discussions about racism, identity and self-esteem.