South Florida On the Go! December 2022 Edition

Published by South Florida's Black Professionals Network PO Box 971372

Boca Raton, Florida 33497

Our Mission is to connect and engage South Florida's Black professional community. Our Vision is to build bridges between our Network and the business community at large through our networking and marketing resources.

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South Florida's Black Professionals Network is honored to be featured among Discover The Palm Beaches, Black-Owned Group Tourism Businesses!

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As another calendar year comes to an end and a new one begins, it's a great time for the media to start reflecting on past national and global highlights and ponder the future. But each one of us also has some personal recapping and pondering to do.

That's the motivation for two of the opinion pieces in this issue. Steppin' Into Tomorrow is all about maintaining focus and priorities in a world full of colors and symbols. All of the glistening options and shapes, like candy, can be so mesmerising and distracting!

Black! To The Future! on the other hand, is about the current dilema Americans find themselves in as a result of integration. It asks the question, "Are AfricanAmericans trying to be too Black??"

You sure couldn't have told that to anyone at the Florida Classic last month! I don't talk about all the Black people representing the culture in this month's featured escape article, but if most of them weren't wearing some FAMU or BCU gear, they were in something with a pro-Black message.

A little closer to home is this month's restaurant review. I had originally planned just to have dinner out on beach as the sun set, then head back home, and write a review. But when you're eating out on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, you can't just eat and leave!

Same for Dania Pointe, this month's Nights Out review. There's so much going on there, you can't just go laugh it up at the Comedy Club and head back home. Or just see a movie in their 4DX theater, or just eat in one their world-class restaurants.

At least I can't!

Ken W. Burrough

CEO & Publisher

Thursday

January 5, 2023 @ 8:00 Pm

R&B Legends bring the Philadelphia Soul Sound to one of South Florida’s best venues!

The Spinners: 12 gold records with hit songs including “Could it Be I’m Falling in Love,” “One of a Kind,” “Games People Play,” “Mighty Love,” "I'll Be Around," "It's A Shame," "Sadie," "The Rubberband Man," and many others. They were nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, garnered six Grammy nominations and have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame!

Sonny Bivins The Manhattans: 16 Top 100 pop hits, 45 charted R&B hits and eight Top 20 R&B albums. Their biggest hits were “Kiss and Say Goodbye”, “It feels So Good to Be Loved So Bad”, "Shining Star", "There's No Me Without You," "I Kinda Miss You," and several others!

The Trammps Featuring Earl Young: Their megahit “Disco Inferno” was featured in the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, and won a Grammy award. “Disco Inferno” is also in the Dance Music Hall of Fame. The Trammps, featuring original member Earl Young, continues to bring the party to the people!

The Light We Carry Overcoming in Uncertain Times

By Michelle Obama

Following up on her record-breaking #1 New York Times bestseller

Becoming, Michelle Obama dispenses practical, insightful wisdom on how to remain optimistic amid life’s challenges and uncertainties ..

Steppin' Into Tomorrow

When I was in the Marine Corps, our Drill Instructors taught us that the only color that really mattered in America was green. And since I've been out, I've adopted that same philosophy in life. All of the other colors and symbols in this country have only served as distractions, dividers and placebos. Green has always been what puts food on the table and pays the doctor bills.

Green is what pays the tuition too. It makes us mobile. It opens doors. It brings ideas to life. It changes minds. It's also edifying. Green makes a bad day better. It makes people try even harder and do even better. It makes our loved ones happier. And it's something great to look forward to.

That's what tomorrow is all about; something to look forward to. And as serious as that is, none of us can afford to be distracted, divided or put to sleep by all of the other colors and symbols. Tomorrow is coming and no one can afford to go stepping into it haphazardly. Praying and hoping for food. Hoping to step on a $50 instead of a banana, or worse!

That's what prompted Martin Luther to say, "Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree." Said another way, no matter what's happening today, you better make sure you've got tomorrow covered.

Just as I Am A Memoir

By: Cicely Tyson, Michelle Burford

"Just as I Am is my truth. It is me, plain and unvarnished, with the glitter and garland set aside. Here, I am indeed Cicely, the actress who has been blessed to grace the stage and screen for six decades.

Nubia: The Awakening

By: Omar Epps, Clarence A. Haynes

From beloved actor and producer Omar Epps and writer Clarence A. Haynes comes the biggest epic fantasy of the year. A powerful saga of three teens, the children of refugees from a fallen African utopia, who must navigate their newfound powers in a climate-ravaged New York City.

Nights Out @

Dania Pointe

There was a big wooden rollercoaster where Dania Pointe now sits when I first moved to Hollywood, Florida. And every time I passed by it, I wondered why it was never running, until one morning I saw it being taken down. Then every time I passed by after that, all I'd see was construction fences.

Then one day, I was Googling BBQ spots near me, and I saw a Dickey's had just opened up. I GPS'd it and before I knew it, I was in Dania Pointe for the first time. The complex was still under construction, and there wasn't much else open, but I could tell whatever the plans were it was going to be comprehensive.

And sure enough, Dania Pointe is almost a city within a city. Today it has high-end retail, restaurants, entertainment and events, complemented by two Marriotts and luxury apartments. So far, I've attended the Wine and Food Festival and I've been to the Improv a few times to see national headliners. Next thing I plan to do is see a movie in their new, immersive theater. I've heard both good and bad about the 4DX experience so I've got to see it for myself! I hear the food isn't that great though, so I'll likely have dinner in one of the better restaurants nearby.

Before I head home I'll be looking to see what's happening out on The Lawn. Some weekends there's an open-air Night Market, and some there are live performances. With all of these options, it won't be long before I just book a room some long weekend and enjoy it all!

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.

Out of My Heart

By Sharon M. Draper

Melody faces her fears to follow her passion in this stunning sequel to the acclaimed, New York Times bestselling middle grade novel Out of My Mind.

Escape 2 the Florida Classic II

Well, I finally made it to the Florida Classic!! And yes!! It was definitely everything I had hoped and prayed it would be .. and so much more! In fact, I hated to leave! To me, even the short walk from our parking garage to the free shuttle was exciting. Just seeing all those beautiful Black people, young and old, in line waiting patiently for the next bus was edifying!

The day of the game it was overcast outside, so it was dry and cool as we waited at the pickup spot near the Mayor's Office. The buses were rolling in and out like clockwork and they were big and comfortable, so in no time at all we were onboard and headed to Camping World Stadium.

I'm not sure which street we crossed before the neighborhood changed, but it wasn't long before I started seeing sidewallk vendors here and there, and small groups of people walking in our direction. Then, before I knew it, there were cars parked everywhere!

When we arrived, there was so much going on outside the stadium that I didn't even want to go in! Off to the left was the first of many fried fish and wings vendors we'd see that day. Straight ahead were two big luxury RVs parked side by side with a group of OGs lounging around each, grillin, drinkin', and playing some old school music. They didn't even need to see the game!

Off to the right was a sea of Black ..

Manifesting for Black Women

By B. True

Open up your mind to this audiobook, and you'll be sure to take in its many lessons to help improve your life and yourself as a whole. The only question is—are you ready to step fully into your power through mastering manifestation?

Dining Out! Hollywood Beach

I couldn't have picked a better day to have dinner out on Hollywood Beach as the sun set. I had wanted to plan a getaway there for the longest and now was my chance to finally check out a few of the oceanfront, boutique hotels. So I parked a few blocks north of the restaurants and we started strolling down the Broadwalk.

Along the way we passed more than a few nice spots, but the one I liked most had a pool out front. Another one had full length windows with a patio deck facing the ocean, and we both agreed it could work too!

As we approached the bandshell there was a Classic Rock band setting up so I didn't figure we'd be out too long. But by the time we got to Margaritaville, we still hadn't found an open table out on the Broadwalk anywhere so I was getting concerned. Then we saw one at The Taco Joint.

I got excited when I saw they sold Pina Coladas in a pineapple but it turned out to be meh! Thankfully, the tacos were better than expected and the prices were right, however the view was what we paid for anyway, so after we finished eating we just sat until the sun set and did some people watching.

By then not only the band was rockin' but so was the Pina Colada, so we decided to stay and end the night out rockin' with the crowd!

In fact, we enjoyed the band so much, we're considering returning for their New Years Eve performance! It was that good!

Nothing Personal

By: James Baldwin

Nothing Personal is both a eulogy and a declaration of will. In bringing this work into the 21st century, listeners new and old will take away fundamental and recurring truths about life in the US.

people out on The Yard. The music was bumpin' out there too, and everybody was just kickin' it and vibin'. Fraternities and sororities had tents setup in the crowd and they had everything our people like to eat and drink under it with them. A few young frats were out stepping, but it looked like we missed the main show. Beyond them was a row of food and drink trucks with people waiting in line at each one.

As we approached the stadium we passed a group of Black Muslims and two groups of Black Hebrew Israelites out proselytizing. I couldn't help but think they were each out capitalizing upon Kyrie's exposure.

Once we got to the gate we saw another sea of beautiful Black people coming from the other direction! And among them was a friend out with his family! The road they had walked down had a row of Food trucks on it too, and each one of them had people in line waiting as well. Had the event planners provided enough garbage cans or hired a trash crew, it might have been the perfect tailgating experience.

By the time we decided to go inside the stadium, the game was almost at half time, so almost everyone was already seated! Since we weren't there for the game, we made our way to our seats up in the nosebleed section and settled in. Not long after, halftime was called and FAMUs band hit the field with all the energy and excitement of the football team itself. Although I couldn't tell what tunes they were playing, the formations they were making were extremely ..

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You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty: A Novel

By: Akwaeke Emezi

A New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist, and “one of our greatest living writers” (Shondaland) reimagines the love story in this fresh and seductive novel about a young woman seeking joy ..

To Purge This Land with Blood

A Biography of John Brown

By: Stephen B. Oates

Since its publication, Professor Oates's work has come to be recognized as the definitive biography of Brown, a balanced assessment that captures the man in all his complexity.

Black 2 The Future

Integration has put both Black and White Americans in a very conflicted space these days, and the future shows no signs of it dimishing anytime soon.

This parody of the movie Back To The Future illustrates that dilemma all too well. As hard as the country attempts to create a society where everyone respects each others differences, racism just seems to morph.

Even though we can in fact now rise to be the President in America, we still can't be too Black. Not to the Police. We might get shot. Not on the job. We might get fired. Not on TV or the movies. We might get blacklisted. Not in our books. We might get banned. And not on Social Media. We might get fined and intimidated. Even though we can now legally celebrate Black History Month, Dr. King Day and Juneteenth in the country, we still can't be too "woke". And even though everyone loves our athletes, musicians, and movie stars, they still regularly refer to us as the n-word. So then how do you think we should be going Black to the Future in America? By being the people the country says we should be? Or by being even Blacker?

If we are to continue following the advice of Dr. King, then we must respond as he did in 1967 when he spoke to an auditorium full of young, mostly black students. "And so every Black person in this country must rise up and say I’m somebody; I have a rich proud and noble history, however painful and exploited it has been. I am Black, but I am Black and beautiful."

impressive! One of them was a hammer that came down and busted up something! The other appeared to be a bumblebee. BCU's band, while equally impressive in their formations, seemed to rely on some oversexualized dance routines to take them over the top. But it didn't. We stayed until the 4th quarter started then made our way back to the shuttle bus to avoid the crowds. Getting back to the parking garage was as quick and seamless as it was getting there was. In no time at all we were headed to our hotel to finish out the weekend.

To this day I regret not buying some BBQ or fried fish to take back with us, but I didn't. So we had to head back out for dinner after we finished checking in and regrettably we chose Bahama Breeze. Even though the service was excellent, the vibe and the menu didn't work for me. The next day the rain started, so I didn't get to swim in the resort pool, nor did I get to visit any of the neighborhoods or restaurants that were on my list, but I have no complaints. We were next door to the Vineland Premium Outlets, so we spent some of the getaway shopping, browsing, and people watching. Another trip highlight was our dinner at Mr. and Mrs. Crab. I didn't realize it was a franchise, but their Seafood Boil is worthy, and there are a few locations down here!

Otherwise, in spite of all the bad weather and the horrible Orlando traffic, we agreed we'll definitely return to see another game. But to improve our experience, we'll stay downtown next time, and we'll try to hit some of the spots on my list again!

Last month Boward County welcomed more than 1000 attendees to the 7th Annual Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo (FITCE) at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/ Broward County Convention Center!

This was a great opportunity for our local business community interested in doing business globally to engage in dialogue with international dignitaries from more than 60 countries around the globe while enjoying world class entertainment!

Don't miss FITCE 2023! It promises to be even bigger and better!

The History and Future of Black People

A Realistic Assessment

By: Roderick Edwards

A realistic and honest assessment of historical events and situations as it relates to first and indigenous people of Africa, Australia, and other regions of the planet Earth.

December 18, 2022 at 5:00 PM

Knight Concert Hall – Free!

Three-time Grammy Award winners, Soweto Gospel Choir celebrates the holidays with their powerful blend of African gospel, freedom songs and international classics, as well as Christmas songs.

Black Girls Must Be Magic

by Jayne Allen

In this highly anticipated second installment in the Black Girls Must

Die Exhausted series, Tabitha Walker copes with more of life's challenges and a happy surprise--a baby ...

Racial Innocence

Unmasking Latino Anti-Black Bias and the Struggle for Equality

By: Tanya Katerí Hernández

The first comprehensive book about anti-Black bias in the Latino community that unpacks the misconception that Latinos are “exempt” from racism due to their ethnicity and multicultural background.

Your Next Level Life

7 Rules of Power, Confidence, and Opportunity for Black Women in America

By: Karen Arrington

Give a gift of confidence: For anyone looking for inspirational gifts for women in their lives, Your Next Level Life is unlike other self-help ..