SUAVV Magazine: The Fearless Issue by Rashod Davenport

SUAVV May 2021

RZA The Truth of

A Black Mens Lifestyle Magazine

Tribute to DMX

Post -Katrina New Orleans

Cynthia Bailey-Hill Turning her Housewife Peach into Wine

Anthony Dalton

This SISTAS Star is Redefining Manhood

PLUS: Vairrun Strickland Jazzie Belle Joshua DelaCruz Chelsea Harris Carlton Daniel Jr.

go behind the curtains with

Don B. Welch

May 2021

CONTENTS

DMX Tribute

Do Black Lives TRULY Matter ?

Interior Therapy

Daryl and Jessica sharpton have given interiors a little African flare.

The Power of SAX

My Vision and My Lens

Suited to Win.

Forged in Fire

Pump Up The Volume

Conductor of Her Own Lane

Behind the Curtains

Entrepreneurs Kara Sax and Tamara Keller, The Sax Agency, a marketing, branding and advertising firm.

Carlton Daniel, Jr.is addressing social and racial issues in his new film HOMEGOING.

Miguel Wilson is Atlanta’s go to Suit Tailor. But there”s more to this fashion guru than clothes.

Vairrun Strickland from TBS’ hit reality show Lost Resort is much more than a pair of biceps.

Jazzie Belle is being crowned as the next queen of media. How did she do it?

Chelsea Harris has paved her own path in Hollywood. Now she’s plowing through the artic on the TNT’s Snowpiercer.

Don B. Welch has made a name for himself as a Playwrite in Los Angeles. Now, he’s telling his story his way.

It’s a Clue’s Thang

Nick Jr’s Blues Clues Host Joshua DelaCruz on being a broadway actor, how his career started, and the pride of immigration descendants.

Redefining Manhood

Tyler Perry’s SISTAS Star Anth Dalton speaks on what he lea from this new role and how it’s reshaping him as a man.

hony arned ’s

Your Ad Could Be Placed Here.

Enter the Mind of The RZA Wu-Tang Clan’s Powerhouse Producer and Rapper turned actor has now turned director and is shining light on the aftermath of Hurrican Katrina and the city of New Orleans.

Turning her Housewife Peach into Wine

The REal Housewives of Atlanta star Cynthia Bailey-Hill chats with us about her career, her past, and her future.

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THE FAMILY Rashod Davenport | Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief ***

Michael Letterlough, Jr. | Co-Founder /Director of Photography ***

Kym Oglesby | Executive Editor ***

“The Swag Master”| Fashion Editor ***

Andre Jones | Movies Editor ***

Syreta Oglesby | Executive Editor Assistant ***

Rodney Jon | Makeup and Male Grooming ***

Davana Jones | Editorial Assistant The Editorial Team Matt Molina, Conner Cheney, Chanler Brown, Paul Marsh, Noah Wade, Sarah Sadik, Ebony Davis, Meraki, Bruno Ugaz

Special Contributors Allison Kugel and DS Willl

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Rashod Davenport Editor-In-Chief / Publisher @iamsuavv

Editor’s Note Fear of the unknown is one the biggest obstacles that we face in life. Of course there are things like poverty, and health that can also be obstacles. But, just about everything else is generated from fear. Everything from chasing dreams to racism is rooted in fear. Racism is based on not knowing or understanding another’s culture. That fear has created systemic barriers and injustices. Cops will say they “fear for their lives” when dealing with people they don’t understand. It’s a bullshit excuse when kneeling on George Floyd’s neck, shooting into Breonna Taylor’s apartment, or shooting Rayshard Brooks in the back. However, when the “Karen’s” of the world see Black people in their neighborhoods, they “fear” we will take over and change their way of life. That mentality has been fed by the same media forces that we work within. That’s why we tell our stories our way, we humanize our featured people so that you can understand who they are. RZA created a movie to show what happens when you apply financial injustices into an already poverty stricken community. Chelsea Harris has a character in SNOWPIERCER who thrives on the fear of survival. Don B.Welch overcame his fears to pursue a dream. DS Will brilliantly explains the fear of Black Lives Mattering. Jazzie Belle and Anthony Dalton show us what fearlessness can bring while chasing dreams. Finally, Jessica and Daryl Sharpton show us how a piece of furniture can start a conversation about being proud of your culture. These are our stories and this is our culture. We’re not a people to be feared, we are a community and a culture that should be celebrated and revered. This magazine will never play on fears. We strive to educate, empower, and entertain our readers. Because that’s what the media should always do. No community, culture, or race is without its flaws. But those flaws should never give anyone the mental right to hate another community, culture, or race. Not only are we better than that, we are much more powerful together. So, let’s always strive to be better. Start meeting new people, ask uncomfortable questions, and become more culturally aware. Break the mental stereotypes that you may have of others. Don’t cancel someone because they speak in ignorance. Talk to them and see what you can teach them. We never stop learning. That’s my challenge to you with this issue. Let’s grow together. Until next time, Spread some love and Stay SUAVV.

Rashod

R.I.P DMX

“Though I wasn’t coming without mine, you put

rollercoaster of experiences that prove we have to

me on the front line” was the first lyric I ever

find “meaning in our suffering” in order to achieve

heard from you. That line blasted through the

true survival

speakers of a random boombox as I practiced

I hope that you have found peace and fully under-

jump shots at Jersey City’s Terry Dehere Court.

stand that your attempts to fly have provided so

At the time, I could not make out that voice filled

many with the pattern to soar. We’ve always rooted

with such gusto. Little did I know, that same voice

for you. Through your art, we gained the tenacity

would play a pivotal role in shaping my, and so

and permission to be ourselves unapologetically.

many others, love of hip hop.

Even if it wasn’t palatable for others.

I never encountered an artist whose masculinity was defined by his vulnerability and ability to

Rip King,

be forthcoming with his setbacks and flaws. In a world filled with individuals attempting to mask

RIP to Our Dog

their insecurities with flashy bravado, hollow conquest, and meaningless attempts of maintaining self-importance, it was your transparency and raw authenticity that shined through. Your songs provided the gruff, kinetic, and comforting soundtrack to my formative years Whether it was memorizing your verse on Pull It, spending hours at The Wiz listening to Money, Cash, Hoes (on repeat), or allowing your audible pain on Slippin to guide me through my darkest peaks, your presence has always been apparent. I know you sought many ways to halt the internal conflict of good vs. evil. But at the end of the day, we are only ordinary. With some of us having the ability to perform extraordinary feats. You’ve motivated, shocked, encouraged, and

Words by DS Will

sometimes mortified me with your expression. But that’s exactly what human nature encompasses: a

SUAVV

Do Black Lives TRULY Matter ?

Words by DS Will

out on the world’s stage before? One can just point to Eric Garner back in 2014 who also pleaded for his life

Raise your hand if you currently have over thirty shows,

with the phrase “I can’t breathe.” Maybe it’s the fact that

movies, and documentaries lying dormant in your Net-

the COVID pandemic has eliminated many of the ac-

flix queue. Great! I am not alone in this quagmire! You

tivities that may have distracted us in the past. Or were

can put your hands down now. (Unless said hand-rais-

these signs of solidarity for more nefarious reasons such

ing is a part of your daily quarantine work out.) Face it,

as exploitation, greed, and patronization?

we all have spent hours perusing an endless selection of titles that serve as the gateway for unabashed escapism.

Wherever your belief lies, one thing was for certain: Black Lives Now Matter!

However, on one fateful day in May, I noticed some-

And they continued to matter as protests raged on, and

thing a bit different about my home screen. There was a

jerseys were plastered with the names of those slain by

paragraph plastered across my tablet. Amongst the sea

the police. Zoom meetings were conducted, hashtags

of letters, one phrase floated to eye level: Black Lives

were created, and moments of silence were held. Golden

Matter.

Girls episodes were removed, master bedrooms were renamed, and voice actors were replaced by individuals

Before a sense of anything remotely associated with

of color. They even canceled COPS!!!

pride could develop, I felt astonished and then confused. Was this the same mantra that was often demonized

But despite all of these efforts, black lives are still being

now serving as a welcome mat to my favorite streaming

lost at the hands of the police, systemic racism remains

service? (Sorry Disney Plus).

interwoven in the fiber of this capitalistic society, and

Shortly after my discovery, I noticed CNN was high-

the leader of the free world refuses to denounce white

lighting protests from across the world all in defense of

supremacy.

black lives. Yes, that same castigated phrase had now become a

Perhaps the most debilitating blow to recent activism

rallying cry for the downtrodden across the globe.

was the failure to effectively indict the officers who mur-

Soon, major corporations began to throw their hat in

dered Breyonna Taylor. In no way am I endorsing that

the socio-political arena by pledging millions of dollars

we cease the fight against racial inequality and injustice.

to the once ostracized cause. Celebrities flooded twitter

Quite the contrary. Now is the time, more than ever, to

streams, sports organizations began to backpedal, and

be resilient in our resolve. I’m just going to need more

Sesame Street was preparing to air a special on racial

than a commemorative cup and Juneeteenth off to be-

injustice in the coming days.

lieve that black lives truly matter.

For me though, it was all too much too soon. Why did black lives all of a sudden “matter”? One can easily point to the horrific murder of George Floyd as the catalyst for such fervor. But had we not seen black lives snuffed SUAVV

Photographer: Tim Schaeffer Photography @timschaefferphoto Makeup & Hair by Charlee Brown @museinspiredmua

Add a Little “SALT” GG Towson Words By: Davana Jones

When it comes to acting, singing, or dancing many people would be proud to secure a career in any one of those departments. For GG Towson singing and dancing while acting have become her norm. Her capabilities in each one of these areas are what allowed her to embody the role of “Salt” on Lifetimes Salt-NPepa with such poise. Born in Los Angeles, California she began to discover what was within herself at an incredibly young age. She states, “I was just one of those children that wanted to entertain playing dress up, singing and dancing”. Even though GG didn’t grow up in the midst of the Hollywood scene she was blessed to grow up sharing a strong connection with her grandfather Ronald Townson who was one of the original members of the musical group The Fifth Dimension. When she expressed to her family that she wanted to be an actor they were very supportive. Her grandfather introduced her to his first agent to help began her journey. She landed a guest spot on Joan of Arcadia and also showcased her talent in a recurring role on Nickelodeon’s Zoey 101, alongside Jamie Lynn Spears. Townson was also seen as Stella in the hit Bounce TV sitcom In The Cut, opposite Dorien Wilson and John Marshall Jones. Stella is the daughter of the main character Smitty who falls in love with Kenny and endures their tragic breakup. Other memorable television appearances include Everybody Hates Chris, Cory in the House, Children’s Hospital, 30 Days 2 Life, and Like Family. She was able to display some of the peaks and valleys of sisterhood relationships with her Co Star in the “Salt N Pepa Movie” Laila Odom. The two women knew each other prior to film therefore it was easy to connect during the filming. Although she was

nervous to portray a real-life music icon, Townson was grateful to have Cheryl’s support during filming. Executing the scenes of the movie could have taken a physical toll on Townson if she was not into fitness. Fitness is something that she says her some of the women closest to her hold each other accountable with. We can look forward to her being as a household name as she continues forward in her career GG will be bringing more amazing characters to life. She will be making more appearances on the CW’s hit TV show “All American” She has a movie coming up called “Welcome Matt” where she will appear alongside Tahj Mowry. She plans to accomplish much more. She says she would love to act in more comedic roles and names Vince Vaughn as one of her favorite comedians she would love to work with in the future. Whatever roles she takes on GG Townson will continue to captivate audiences with her talent, down to earth energy, and girl next door charisma. Outside of acting, Townson is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment. She is currently working to start an organization which aims to inspire and motivate young women with educational, artistic, and social-recreational experiences that nurture all aspects of their health. She makes sure she is vocal on topics surrounding women’s empowerment. She especially keeps younger women in mind. She acknowledges how important it is for them to have opportunities and outlets to express what it is they are truly feeling. She feels women should have more safe places to express themselves whole heartedly and she believes sisterhood is a vital part of that.

SUAVV

By Davana Jones

HOLLYWOOD’S HAIR SLAYER

TRACEY MOSS

Take some time to think of our favorite movie. Think of your favorite character. Surely you can recall what you loved about that character. Something about them seemed to just naturally stand out. Think of their look. Think about their wardrobe. Lastly let your mind rest on their hair. Most of our favorite characters had great hair. Whether it was just got out of bed hair, or hair that blew perfectly in the wind. Behind that perfectly tapered cut, or those perfectly teased tresses. There is a cosmetologist who puts in hours and hours of work to create an essential part of the character you have grown to love. Beyond your favorite character. Cosmetologist become invaluable in our personal lives. Over time they become some of the people who are most acquainted with us. We consider ourselves blessed when we find someone who is willing to take the reins on such a pivotal part of our self-care. We had the pleasure of speaking with Celebrity hairstylist and recently turned author Tracey Moss about some of her most memorable experiences on and off set. She shares that each character and each movie require something different. It’s a fact that Tracey’s creative passion for cosmetology allowed her to encounter many celebrities. She’ has also worked on the set of “Bad Boys 3”, “The Hunger Games”, and “Black Panther” featuring the amazing Chadwick Boseman. Just recent wrapped up work on National Geographic’s “Genius: Aretha Franklin” starring Cynthia Ervio. She has created amazing looks for commercials, photoshoots, and guest star appearances. SUAVV: How often do you get to incorporate your personal flair into the looks you create for television and film? Tracey Moss: It depends on the film or the period of the show. They will give us an idea of the character, but they rarely have a specific request on how they want it, so I would say 60% of the time I can add my own flair to the style. SUAVV: What was your experience working on the film “42”?

never knew I had. My mission was not to be an author. I just wanted to be someone who documented my life. A lot of the documentation of my life came from social media. I took a lot of pictures and created a lot of videos, but it was the memories of those moments that were created and shaped that I wanted to write about. It’s very important for me to share. There is so much that I can share with other hairstylists, and entrepreneurs. Things that they can use to create their career, so it was imperative for me to bring those moments together. SUAVV: In your book “Styling by Faith” you spoke about betting on yourself, how important is it for a creative person to believe in themselves? Tracey Moss: It is very important to believe in yourself. It is everything in my opinion because you can get the job, or get the opportunity, but you need to believe in yourself. This is not just with hairstylist or makeup artist. You have to believe in yourself in any profession. You can have the experience and the talent but sometimes you only get one opportunity. You may not have that opportunity to do whatever you do again. So, you can’t focus on trying to please everybody or mimic the way someone else does it. You have to have your own path and your own journey. So, it is very vital to believe in yourself. Have the confidence your way will be good, and you can do it. However, she didn’t limit herself to only being in front of or behind the styling chair. She attended college and received a degree in business. She emphasizes that even though she’s having such an amazing time pursuing her passion she is so happy she went to college. She felt going to college gave her something that was timeless. She feels like no one can take that away from her. Going through her courses and finishing college gave her a different type of discipline. Her latest accomplishment has been writing her book “Styling by Faith”. The book is basically a written documentary of how she was able to become and remain so successful throughout her career.

Celebrity Hairstylist, Author, daughter, and mother makes up who Tracey Moss is. She doesn’t fail to give some of the credit to the huge role her mother plays in Tracey Moss: “42” was really fun because it was a periher life. She highlights that her mother has been her od film. We definitely had to do our research to make sure we were in the right year and period. It was in like number one fan. Having the love and support of her mother is how she is able to accomplish all that she does the 40’s. Any little thing can change to the hairstyle can while caring for her 5-year-old little boy. As we continchange the period. Like if you are doing finger waves, ue to follow her journey, we are certain she will continue doing them too big or too small can take you into the next period. So, it was really exciting doing the research to wow audiences and readers through her work. She is a true inspiration to us all that whatever you face at and creating the looks for “42”. the next level if you have faith you can accomplish great SUAVV: How does it feel to add “Author” to the list of all things. you have accomplished? Words By Davana Jones Tracey Moss: I feel like it brought out a side of me I SUAVV

INTERIOR THERAPY DARRYL & JESSICA SHARPTON 16

SUAVV

ALBANY PARK OFFICIALLY LAUNCHES NEW WEST AFRICAN-INSPIRED FURNITURE LINE, THE EKÁÀBO COLLECTION. Albany Park, a hip-chic furniture brand founded by former NFL linebacker Darryl Sharpton and his wife Jessica, officially announce the launch of The Ẹkáàbọ̀ Collection, a limited-edition furniture line inspired by Ankara, the vibrant and electrifying West African wax prints. Following the successful release of the Akwaaba and Koyo prints last fall, Albany Park is debuting two more - Ademi and Idowu. Beginning tomorrow, Thursday, Feb. 18, the bold and welcoming patterns are available in both their Albany Collection and Park Collection models and currently available for purchase at www.albanypark.com. Albany Park’s latest furniture line was borne out of Darryl’s learning – from a DNA test in 2019 – his roots originate in Nigeria. Eager to integrate more of the West African culture into the world around him, Darryl set out to bring a slice of Lagos - the excitement and vibrance of this city - home with him. In creating this new line,

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his ultimate goal is to transform the rhythm & soul of the culture into a unique statement piece. Whether enjoying a cup of coffee or just sinking into one’s couch, Darryl wants this new collection to represent its namesake - Ẹkáàbọ̀ [eh-ka-bō] used by the Yoruba people across West Africa - to make others “feel at home.” “As African Americans, our ancestry has been completely cut off. We’ve had to create our own culture,” said Darryl Sharpton, Albany Park’s Co-Founder and CEO. “Now, through this discovery, I’m able to retroactively add my heritage to the American melting pot and infuse it into my company and my products.” The Ẹkáàbọ̀ Collection is a noticeable departure from the existing aesthetic in the home furniture space that focuses on trendy and affordable furniture with traditional textiles and colors. Incorporating Ankara prints, Albany Park’s new line

brings all of the electrifying energy of West African cities right into living rooms. Ankara prints carry a variety of distinct meanings, from nods at pop culture, to messages of good fortune; often a hidden message or wish to convey to the world. It’s a taste of tradition remixed with a contemporary design, waiting to welcome people all over the world home. Darryl and Jessica aren’t strangers to the e-commerce furniture business. The couple launched Edloe Finch, a modern furniture brand born out of their love for furniture and for each other, in 2017. Much like their flagship brand, Albany Park is radically changing the way people shop for sofas with only three models that satisfy everyone’s needs, free delivery via UPS, and packaging that’s apartment-friendly and space conscious.

of their flagship furniture brand, Edloe Finch, the Sharptons continue to disrupt the industry with contemporary sofas, sectionals, loveseats, armchairs, ottomans and more. Introduced in 2019, Albany Park is radically changing the way people shop for sofas with only three models that satisfy everyone’s needs, free delivery via UPS, and packaging that’s apartment-friendly and space conscious. Albany Park and Edloe Finch are estimated to complete $18 million in sales in 2020; up from $3.9 million in 2019. More information about Albany Park is available at www.albanypark.com.

Albany Park is a remarkable furniture collection that’s stylish, super comfortable and perfect for relaxing. For more information about The Ẹkáàbọ̀ Collection, visit Albany Park’s website and engage in online conversation by tagging @albanyparkhome and #EkaaboAlbanyPark on Facebook and Instagram. ABOUT ALBANY PARK Albany Park, co-founded by former NFL linebacker Darryl Sharpton and his wife Jessica, is a hip-chic furniture brand offering high-quality timeless designs at an affordable price. Following the success

Click photo to visit the instagram page

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BILLIARDS NEVER LOOKED SO GOOD!

11 Ravens Stealth R-11

20 SUAVV 20 MAGAZINE

While playing pool can be relaxing and competitive, Playing on the new 11 Ravens Stealth R-11 places you in another world. Named after the iconic Stealth aircraft, this pool table is the luxury car of billards. Ravens will be unveiling a showroom at the Pacific Design Center this year. The official opening date is to be confirmed/announced. The showroom will be an immersive experience worthy of the 11 Ravens name, and is expected to highlight a number of best-selling 11 Ravens items as well

as offer 11 Ravens tequila and chocolates from previous collaborations. While the table was being exclusively sold to the WHISPER group of Rolls Royce Owners, when it hits the market, you may have to decide between this table and a new car. With a ping pong table top addition, you can have some fun with anyone in the family. However, this is DEFINITELY a table that you better not put your drink on. Luxury has its name for a reason. Click on the table below to visit the 11 Raven Website.

MAGAZINE

WORKOUT WISH LIST MaMask

Going back to the gym seems like more of a hassle than a benefit. YOu have to take clorox wipes, towels, some gyms have schedules that you have to sign up for, etc. However, one rule that is in place in many cities across the country is wearing a mask. Well, MoMask has one of the best fitness masks that I’ve work thus far. Its lightweight, breathable, stays in place, and washable . If youre going to workout, try one of these and you can thank me later.

ydration is key. Thats what everyone has alwas said when it comes to working out and staying healthy. However, finding the perfect water bottle is always a pain in the butt. I personally can say I have at least seven bottles in my house. Thats not including the regular everyday water tumnblers. This bottle by HydroJug is a different level of great. First, it has a huge opening that you can dump ice cubes anbd fruit in. Imagins not having to dig out lemons from your water. Second, you can upgrade the purchase with a sleeve that has two pockets and a shoulder strap. Never worry about sitting your phone and keys on the floor in the gym again. THird, its a breezr to clean...you can literally put your entire hand in the bottle and wash it with a cloth or sponge if youd like or just throw it in the dishwasher. Hands down, this bottle is going to be with me for as long as i can keep it.

HYDROJUG WATER BOTTLE 22

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Photo by Jonathan Petit

BATTLE OF THE BEARDS

entlemen’s, how many of you have ever grown a beard or currently have one? Over the last several years, the notion that beards are a passing trend had been debated, debunked, and discussed again. When 2020 got all weird, we thought it was an end to the beard era. Some believed that those with beards were at higher risk of contracting Covid-19. In contrary, others believed that beards were an advantage creating a tighter seal when masks were worn. Unexpectedly, the beard trend continued.

Beards give men a sense of masculinity and boosts their confidence. As we roll into 2021, the beard game remains rooted and is still the most popular facial hair style. So, the real question now is how have you been looking lately? And no, I am not referring to your clothes or your swag. How have you been styling your face? Have you been dressing it up or down? Regardless of where you are on your beard journey, there are many styles to sway. We teamed with our friends at BEARDOHOLIC.COM to sharesome beard style trends to attempt in 2021!

THE STYLES The Five O’clock Shadow Also known as a stubble beard it is classic and timeless. Men who can grow beards evenly without patches will be the best candidate for this style. Women also find this to be the sexiest on a man. Goatee Another classic style: the goatee is a piece of several popular beards together. It is grown on the chin and does not go back the corner of one’s mouth. Some even pair it with a mustache. There are also many variations so have fun with it. Van Dyke A spinoff from the Goatee, you can grow a separated mustache to pair with the goatee. The beard however is narrower.

Corporate Beard Men who can successfully grow a natural beard will be able to sway this look. It is well shaped and tamed suitable for professionals. It is essential to keep it well groom and tidy. Invest in a good beard trimmer while you are at it.

Ducktail Beard This style is considered medium length full beard. It starts at the cheeks and come down to a point extending 2-4 inches long. Again, just be sure to keep it trimmed and groom. Hollywoodian Another easy style is the Hollywoodian. All you need to do is let your beard grow to its natural state. Then, shave off the sideburns and that is it. Pretty easy uh?

Mutton Chop If you like Wolverine, from X-men, you might like the Mutton chop. It connects the beard, which only grow along the jawlines, with the mustache. There is no hair in the chin.

Chin Strap Finally, the chin strap. This style wraps from your sideburns tracing your jawline to your chin. You can keep it thick or thin. It is more suitable for those that have challenges with growing a beard.

Ultimately, regardless of what you choose to sway, own it and rock it. That is most attractive and satisfying. Which one is your favorite?

SUAVV

THE POWER OF SAX Kara Sax & Tamara Keller

ntrepreneurs Kara Sax and Tamara Keller, who are partners in The Sax Agency, a marketing, branding and advertising firm. These two dynamic, thought provoking, business savvy, African-American, young women came together in November 2012 and in eight years have created a multi-million dollar marketing and branding agency that crosses over in all aspects of the field, which consists of entertainment, corporate, universities, political and government clients. What makes this company unique is that it is a multifaceted organization that knows no boundaries, just creative, out of the box thinking that sets it apart from all of its competitors. An unorthodox creative agency and experts in multigenerational and multicultural marketing, The Sax Agency has a nationwide roster of top-tier clients from the realms of sports and entertainment to education, government and the nonprofit sector. The agency is a multidisciplinary design, marketing, advertising and event production firm that exemplifies its company motto, “Strategy/Engagement Execution” by blending structured business acumen, fluid creativity and bold innovation. On the corporate side, the company represents such top tier clientele as Howard University, The D CCC, Medcare Farms, the Memphis Grizzlies, Cal HFA, The Golden State Warriors and Colgate University to name a few. On the talent size they represent fashion model Jeremy Meeks for which they recently closed a multi-million dollar deal for (https://www.businesswire.com/ news/home/20190927005188/en/Fashion-Concept-GmbH-Jeremy-Meeks-conquer-fashion). Also on the talent roster is Kwalon Rogers, the award winning comedian and social media influencer that

fans know as “Blame It Kway” (@blameitonkway – 4.6M), entrepreneur and social media influencer Tori Brixx (@toribrixx – 3.2M) and TV personality, Ryan Henry (@ryanhenrytattoo – 1.5M) to name a few. SUAVV: Tell us about yourselves and your company? We are purpose-driven individuals, we consume purpose driven brands and therefore needed to build, a purpose-driven agency. We are polar opposites in many ways except in the areas that our baseline for partnerships to thrive; respect, integrity and work ethic, those are the things that we have in common. We’re a neo-corporate, multidisciplinary branding, marketing and advertising agency that merges structured business, fluid creativity and cutting-edge innovation. SUAVV: How long have you been in business? 9 long, fun, emotional, roller-coaster-like years. SUAVV: How did you connect and partner? A mutual friend’s birthday weekend is how we met, now how we ended up partnering is a much more complicated story. The short version includes Kara’s only sister being diagnosed with terminal cancer and passing away, Tamara moving cross country for her boyfriend at the time which ended up not working out, both stories led us to California, to help each other transition, blossom and discover our purpose. It had a lot of twists and turns but ultimately the universe was aligning us to be life partners. SUAVV

SUAVV: How does your personal experience as Black Female Business Owners inform your business practices?

relation to the upcoming election?

This year, this vote, we ALL need to vote like our lives depend on it. Because they do. It is truly that simple. Supporting the DCCC with ensuring that message resonates in the black community is an honor and it Our personal experience as black female business owners have influenced our business practice in many is this legacy building work that we are most proud ways. We wear being black female entrepreneurs like of. Additionally, our work with the California Housing Finance Agency affords us to the opportunity to a badge of honor recognizing that we are walking, advocate for people who look like us in such a handsliving, breathing proof of the educational progress on way that feels less like work and more like passion. and economic necessity of diversity and inclusion in We take a lot of pride in having even just a small this country. We recognize that being black female hand in contributing to something larger and greater entrepreneurs means that we have to be more proacthan just ourselves. tive to get access to opportunities. We have needed to advocate harder for ourselves, have more grit, be SUAVV: How has Covid-19 changed your business more agile, and certainly more strategic. We encourso far? age brands to have representation that looks like the people it serves, and therefore it is a business practice A lot of stretching, trusting, risk taking and pivoting. to educate people on that positive impacts of that. We are proud to say that we will double our income Black females run tight ships, that is the culture of from last year. our company, that is the culture of black excellence. We have never felt that we needed to be better than SUAVV: You have a wide array of clients ranging our white counterparts because that theory would from corporate, to cannabis to talent like Jeremy suggest that is the bar! We believe that we go toe- totoe with the top companies in the Nation. We are the Meeks... what attracts you to clients and how do you decide who you target as clients? front runners of excellence in our innovation, solutions and our ability to drive results. What attracts us to clients is a like-mindedness. We love working in a vast array of industries and with inSUAVV: Can you tell us about a particularly challenging or monumental deal that you have secured spiring people. We feed off of positive, results driven people. recently for a client? We were able to secure a double digit 7 figure clothing deal and a 4-picture movie for a client who is rather unorthodox. The client is Jeremy Meeks. Securing deals for him is always feels great because people have counted him out because of his prior mistakes. But he is actually one of the hardest working, kindest, compassionate souls on the planet. To witness the universe, return the greatness he puts out into the world ten-fold makes us proud. He deserves it. SUAVV: Why do you feel it is an important business decision to be certified for government contracts and grants as a marketing company? It gives an additional level of access, credibility and opportunity. It separates you; it propels you and it is intended to level of the playing field of privilege. Businesses should position themselves to secure any and all certifications that can accelerate success. SUAVV: Can you talk to us about your work with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the California Housing Finance Agency in SUAVV

SUAVV: What is one deal you’ve each made in the last 3 years that you are really proud of and why? A recent deal that we made that is a far departure from the typical deals we do was with each other. We did a handshake deal to finally write the book we believe will be life changing to anyone who reads it, it is on self-sabotaging behavior and how to get out of your own way to achieve success in business, relationships and ultimately self-happiness

A MULTIFACETED PERSONALITY TANISHA LONG Words By Xavier Griffin

I have always loved to laugh and that is why comedies are my first choice when it comes to movies and television. Laughter is a necessary human emotion and the television shows and movies that make people laugh, should always be celebrated. The most important part of a comedy is the actors and actresses who bring the jokes written in a script to life. I grew up laughing at people like Whoopi Goldberg, Martin Lawrence, Mike Epps, Bernie Mac, Eddie Murphy and others like them. These comedic actors are remembered because they make the audience feel like the comedy being presented is organic. The audience forget that they are watching scripted enter30

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tainment and become apart of the very show they are watching. When I think of the next generation that can do this well and will be remembered for their talent to bring their audience into the fold, Tanisha Long is a name that comes to mind. As a fan of her work, it is easy to see that she has made her mark on the industry and that mark will continue to grow as time goes on. I got a chance to interview her and her presence shined through the phone immediately. Tanisha Long is a naturally energetic person with a personality needed in this world. Tanisha Long told me that she was born and raised on the Westside of Philadelphia. Naturally the “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” theme song came up but she made

it clear that she didn’t get to enjoy the playground. Her mother was strict and most of Tanisha’s day was spent watching TV shows like SNL, In Living Color, and The Simpsons. She didn’t realize it at the time but her talents were being developed. Having a strict mother didn’t stop her from enjoying the best Philly had to offer. Philly Cheese Steaks. Boo’s Philly is the only place Tanisha has found that has cheese steaks that compares to the ones made in West Philly. The other great thing about growing up in Philly was that Tanisha was always around family. No matter where she went in her neighborhood she was most likely going to see a family member at some point. Family is always good to be around. Tanisha’s dream job was not becoming an actress but instead she grew up wanting to be a dancer. She admitted that she had no rhythm and had no idea where this dream came from but it still was her dream. Tanisha didn’t go to school for acting and the push to act came from those around her. In the beginning, she wasn’t even taking her career seriously. Here and there she was doing improv and sketches in people’s basements, wherever and whenever anyone allowed her to work. She was also submitting audition tapes online because everyone kept telling her that she should pursue acting, since she was a comedian. Tanisha didn’t take acting serious until she saw Kerry Washington in Scandal and Viola Davis in How To Get Away With Murder. Always being inspired by the non-stereotypes played by black actresses, Tanisha loved seeing black women being multifaceted on the television screen. In her interview, referring to black actresses, Tanisha states, “why don’t we get to make mistakes, why don’t we get to be quirky.” The more she saw these type of roles the more she saw beauty in them, because she saw herself in these roles. After taking improv classes, one of her improv instructors put her in a MTV show pilot. MTV took interest in Tanisha and they began inviting her back for more work. She then got booked by an agent and at that point she still didn’t consider herself apart of the acting business. It wasn’t until she was on set going over lines with Tina Fey and Paul Rudd, that she realized herself that she was a actress. Tanisha realized in that moment that she did not have to have an acting background in order to pursue an acting career. She is surprised even to this day that she is a actress, even with credits attached to her name. Tanisha could now sew herself as an actress. “BIGGER” on BET is Tanisha Long’s latest acting gig. Her character Layne Roberts is a young black woman who lives in Atlanta, Georgia. The show follows her and a group of her friends as they try and deal with life, all while being young and black in the south. Tanisha’s character, Layne, is dealing with most of the problems which always is a result of her own actions. Juggling her love life and business ventures, she is always dealing with some type of obstacle. These group of friends also deal with everything from job security, living arrangements,

social media, relationships, race, gentrification, & a long list of other problems. “BIGGER” gives an insight into a group of black friends, a group that was for a long time overlooked on the television screen. Tanisha pointed out that more shows have become inclusive but for a while, shows only had one or two black friends. I have always believed that having an ensemble of black people on one show is always refreshing. Every time I watch “BIGGER” I can see my friends in each one of these characters. Each character is perfectly crafted and developed, making each character unique but still realistic. Each character can and does exist in the real world. Tanisha and I both believe that a show like this is needed right now. As Tanisha states, “ I just want to see black joy, because every other place I look, I am not seeing that, I am just seeing violence and fear.” Seeing black joy is always a great thing to see. Tanisha Long is a actress with talent that will push her to great heights. She has worked hard to get her career to the place it is now. Tanisha has accomplished a lot and as her career has grown, she has also learned things about herself. One of those things is realizing that drinking liquor is something she can do without. Being sober was something Tanisha decided to do after a show in New Jersey where she was extremely drunk. Seeing pictures of that night on Instagram made her want to see how it might feel to be sober. In her mind, she simply wanted to see how being sober might effect her until she wanted another drink but as time passed, she realized that her urge for drinking was disappearing. Tanisha looked up and next thing she knew it was a year since she had her last drink. She began experiencing pushed down emotions and being forced to face her problems head on. Sobriety allowed her to end a relationship that made no sense, cut old friends off, & stop doing stand-up because she didn’t enjoy it. Tanisha’s life was changing before her eyes and she was changing for the better. In March, Tanisha celebrated her fourth year of sobriety. One of the best things about Tanisha is the fact that she has a personality that can’t be compared to anyone else. Her unique personality shines through in whatever she is doing and I’m glad I got a chance to interview her. Her laughter is contagious and defining her as an open book is not a stretch. I can’t wait to see what is next for Tanisha as her acting career continues. Maybe we will see her in a sci-fi or horror show or movie. For now, we can see her on season 2 of “BIGGER” streaming now on the BET+ app. I will keep following her career because what ever she decides to do will be worth seeing.

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MY VISION AND MY LENS Carlton Daniel, Jr.

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hen I met with Carlton Daniel, Jr’ at the Cam Kirk Photography Studio in Atlanta, we instantly clicked. Carlton is a soft-spoken guy with a large drive for creating content that hits home and sparks a conversation. I’m a huge lover of short films and movies with a message and that’s exactly what he gave me. We are sitting in a small room and talking about his newest film “HOMEGOING”. Generational Wealth, Entrepreneurship, Grief, Sexuality, and Identity are all of the words that can describe HOMEGOING. I watched the film seven times (yes, I counted)and noticed something different every time. The film revolves around a young man who is in line of owning the family-run funeral home and mortuary that he is currently working at with his father, the owner. However, the son wants something more out of life. Something that he will enjoy rather than feel obligated towards. But, as the old folks say, doctors and morticians are two professions that will always be in demand. The Cleveland-born and Los Angeles-based film director wanted to create something that would speak to generations of viewers. He wanted to address social and economic issues that face the Black community. When that happens, I know that someone else watching it once misses a lot of small details. When I tell Carlton that, he laughs and says, “Yeah, that’s what I want a viewer to do. Watch it and say, ‘wait a minute..’” (laughing).

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Carlton is no “fly by night” film director. He holds an M.F.A. in Film and Dramatic Writing from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School under its College of Visual and Performing Arts. The Hollywood Reporter has ranked Syracuse University No. 16 on its 2020 list of Top 25 American Film Schools. So it’s safe to say, I see something special in his work. One of the most powerful moments of this film has nothing to do with the storyline. Carlton was able to secure The late great hip-hop titan Tupac Shakur’s nephew, Malik Shakur, in his first film role as well as Tupac’s first movie castmate Khalil Kain. We all remembered the classic scenes between Khalil (Raheem) and Tupac (Bishop) in the coming of age film Juice. It was the first film for most of the cast and the film that put many of their names on the map. In a full-circle moment, this was Malik stepping into an arena, where his father, mentor, and guiding character would be the person who was a part of Tupac’s 1992 debut. So we spoke with Carlton about his decision on this film, how he wanted to make sure certain messages were placed in the movie, and why he felt those were important. Ultimately, I want to know what he is looking to do with not only this film but every film that comes under his name.

Click Below to Watch the Interview

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IT’S A CLUE’S THANG Joshua DeLaCruz

Words By Rashod Davenport Guest Video Host Luke Caleb

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& You” on Nickelodeon, which has also been nomi-

Joshua was taught and saw traditional roles in a differ-

his new project, “American Morning,” a full length

orn in Dubai, Joshua and his family moved to

New York City when he was 6 years old. Growing up, ent light as his father gave up his career to be a stayat-home dad to care of him and his two sisters, while his mom kept her job as a nurse. It wasn’t until the 8th grade that Josh was first introduced to the theatre through his older sister, and it soon turned into a love that he wanted to pursue into a career. In high school, he earned a full ride scholarship to the prestigious Paper Mill Playhouse, and then went on to study theatre at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Following graduation, Josh went straight to work on Broadway where he was cast alongside Lou Diamond Phillips in a production of “The King & I.” In between booking theater gigs, Joshua would work in restaurants and other odd jobs to survive. Josh soon landed the understudy role of ‘Aladdin’ in the Broadway production of the musical, before then taking the stage for two years in the lead role. Having already solidified himself as the breakout star of 2020 with the wildly successful series “Blue’s Clues

nated for 2 Daytime Emmy Awards, actor, singer and Broadway star Josh Dela Cruz is now ready to discuss musical that tells the story of two immigrant cab drivers. We would love to arrange an interview with you and Josh to discuss his new project with the musical soundtrack out now. Josh is also available to discuss the relevance of the musical as it features multiple Asian-Americans as the leads of the project, as well as his other projects including “Blue’s Clues & You,” as well as the current COVID-19 climate having already been featured on WebMD and USA Today. Inspired by the New York Times article “Night and Day” by Corey Kilgannon, American Morning is a full-length musical that tells the story of two immigrant cab drivers, Chin (Raymond J Lee) and Eng (Josh Dela Cruz), who share opposite shifts off the same medallion. While Eng slowly climbs the ladder of success by day, his partner Chin, falls short by night, suffering disappointment after unforeseen disappointment. The two men’s fates become intertwined as forced competition drives a wedge between

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them that culminates in a single, desperate act that

and digital animation. With each paw print, the

leaves one dead and the other brutalized. American

viewer is inspired to interact with Josh and his pup-

Morning was the recipient of a 2016 Richard Rodg-

py Blue to figure out what Blue’s clues leads to, per-

ers Award, a 2015 B-Side Theatricals New Ameri-

fectly blending education and entertainment. Every-

can Musical award, and an official selection of the

one’s favorite colorful dog ‘Blue’ is back and better

National Alliance for Musical Theater’s Festival of

than ever, and the series is joined by both familiar

New Works in 2015. The musical and soundtrack

and new faces. Following a rigorous national audi-

also features Raymond J. Lee, Arielle Jacobs, Thom

tion process and countless callbacks, Joshua landed

Sesma, Troy Iwata, and Will Roland, to name a few.

the coveted role as the new host of “Blue’s Clues & You” with original host Steve Burns’ help who played

After premieringin November 2019 and already

“a part of the search for the new host.”

being picked up for a second and third season, one of Nickelodeon’s most iconic children’s series to date “Blue’sClues & You” is back and better than ever with new host Josh Dela Cruz. Rebooted from the original 1996 series “Blue’s Clues,” the all-new series invites its viewers to join in on collaborative, clueled adventures to solve puzzles that mixes live-action

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Click Below to Watch the Interview

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SUITED FOR THE WIN! Miguel Wilson Words by Rashod Davenport

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From Custom Suits to Polo Matches, and Black Tie Galas on the Baltimore pier. This man has style!

My grandmother used to say “OOOOOOO that you’re looking casket sharp.” Now, (laughing) it was a compliment that you wanted and at the same time didn’t. There’s an unspoken feeling when a man puts on a suit. Everything about us changes with a suit on. We walk differently, we look at folks differently. We know, at that moment, we are the shit. I mean, let’s just call a thing a thing. One man who knows the impact of what a suit will do for a man is Miguel Wilson. Miguel owns the upscale Miguel Wilson Collection located inside of Phipps Plaza in the Buckhead section of Atlanta, Georgia. Surrounded by Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, and Michael Kors shops to name a few, Miguel’s shop in the high-end mall is not a mistake. Miguel’s father and grandfather are meticulous dressers and were the initial inspiration and guiding forces of his impeccable style. He grew into his fashion sense in high school and knew he had a knack for putting together a flawless outfit. However, it would be that first custom-made suit with his name on the inside that would set him off. He was 26-years-old, working a corporate job, and wearing all of the major labels to work. It was when a friend of his presented an opportunity that would take Miguel from employee to business owner. With stores now open in DC, Atlanta, Miami, New York, and Kansas City, Miguel is well on his way to being a national brand. SUAVV: When did fashion start for you? How did you become interested in it? How did that happen? Miguel: I worked a corporate job at the time, Pillsbury food company in corporate sales. I sold biscuits. People don’t know that I worked for Pillsbury selling biscuits and green giant vegetables. But I love suits and I like the dress, but I had a couple of suits made man. And my name was on the inside. It was just such an experience, man. But what happened is the guy who made my suits was a good friend of mine. He was working for a company and decided to start his own business, asked me to be a partner because he knew how much I love clothes too. So he and I started a custom clothing company together and making suits. And during that time that we specialized a lot in the religious sector, we did a lot of pastors in the nineties such as TD Jakes, I was doing Jamal Bryant’s suits when he was in college at Morehouse, and a lot of top pastors around the country. We made a name for ourselves being one of the first ones focusing on the pastoral markets. So that was kind of how I got started. SUAVV: Okay. And then when, when that takes off and you’ve now built this name for yourself at what point do you, I guess, separate the business or did you separate, are you two still kind of partners at this point?

Miguel: Oh no, no, no. Our partnership didn’t last too long, as most don’t. But, it served its purpose. I got my foot in the door, learned a lot, and I sold my share of the company to him. I went back to school and got my MBA. Once I graduated, I kept thinking about what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do something entrepreneurially and I really enjoyed what I was doing within fashion. However, at the time, I had a non-compete clause from when I sold him my shares of the company. So, I had to pay him, I think it was like $15,000 so that I could get back into the industry on my own. And that was a great investment because I was able to get back into doing what I loved, I did it on the side for several years. I worked my corporate job. I started with Pillsbury then I went to work for Marriott for a few years and before I just branched out and decided, I’m going to do this full-time. The funny thing is, I never thought fashion was my landing place. I never saw this as my long-term thing. I’ve always been an entrepreneur, a business-oriented and business-minded person. So this what I was doing at the moment. I’m easily distracted, so, I tried a lot of other things in addition to fashion, but fashion is the only thing that stuck, that stayed, and I was able to maintain and grow from. There’s a lot to be said about that because you have to go through a learning curve in a business so that you can apply what you learn to become successful. So my decision to focus on the one business was one of my best decisions ever. So I had to not allow myself to be distracted by other things and other opportunities and situations and just say, “stick to this, stick to this, stick to this, and not be swayed by potential money and potential success from other things. I just stayed the course. SUAVV: Nice. I think that’s the challenge that most people face when they branch off and decide to go into business for themselves. There are so many different distractions that you go through and all of the questioning aspects, especially when you have the bad months. So when you branch off and you hit those rocky months, how do you stay focused in this industry? Miguel: Well, I’m gonna take you back. I remember when I quit my job and I decided I’m going to go full time in fashion, keep in mind, I had a “good job” for seven years. So I never had the financial pressure to be successful in the fashion industry. I made money, but you know, it’s different sell when you’re selling something with no pressure than when you selling it with the pressure of eating, paying rent or mortgage, whatever, you know what I’m saying? When I quit my job, this became not just my passion or my hobby per se, it’s now my livelihood. And honestly, the passion kind of went away a little bit at that time because there was so much pressure. You’re not enjoying things, you get a little desperate and you start SUAVV

self to eat. Like, you know, It takes the pressure off when you understand it’s a numbers game and I just got to put myself in the right places to meet the right people. Let me go ahead and create a process of meeting people, create a process of developing relationships, and that’s why I know half of Atlanta right now. I remember my first little showroom over on Piedmont Road. It was 300 square feet. And a lot of the guys who have known me for a long time knew me from back then. You have to create a certain level of discipline within yourself. And discipline is simple. It’s just creating a good habit that you repeat every day. SUAVV: Yeah. And it’s, it’s kind of wild. When you explain that story and for somebody like me, I come in at the point where Miguel Wilson is a known name. So how did it feel to go through that? And then now knowing that your name carries weight just in itself?

having to wheel and deal more and do stuff. Whereas before it was like, I don’t care if you buy something or not, I’m eating either way (laughing). It’s different when you have to start negotiating and hustling because that’s your only source of income. I had to go through a period of really trying to figure that out, man. Learning what hustling was. Because you think you’re a hustler until you have to hustle. Honestly, at the time I played a lot of golf and I was able to supplement my income on the golf course a little bit (laughing). But the thing was, I knew that it wasn’t sustainable. I needed to figure out whether I’m going to go back and get a job or figure out how I’m gonna make this thing work. I had to instill certain discipline in myself to do that. And I remember, one of the things I did was make a goal that had to meet 20 new people a day. That’s 100 people a week. From that 100, I have to able to sell to five of them. That was my business model...that was the hustle platform I created for my42

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Miguel: It’s crazy because I still feel like I’m in a struggle. I think from perception, everyone thinks you’re doing it big. I’m grinding. I’m hustling harder than ever. Social media has a way of making things seem one way and reality is very different. To no fault of the people, you know? I just put stuff out there. And of course, you just internalize things. But, I put out the good, bad, and ugly. I was in Cabo on vacation a little while ago, at a little cigar bar. A brother walked up and he was like, “Hey you, sir, you’re the suit guy.”And he’s from California. So it’s always surprising to me that people recognize me. It happens quite often. And, and I get a lot of love from people who meet me that way. I don’t feel like I made it because I’m still enjoying the process. You know, I’m not rushing to get to this place or that place. I’m just focused on what I’ve been doing and focused on the business. It’s a process. You go through things, you elevate, and you continue to build. SUAVV: So we interviewed one of your employees, Tiana, and she said that when she first asked to work for you, you told her absolutely not. And she stayed on you to a point where you just pulled her in. How important was it for you in that moment to just give back to somebody that you saw had that hunger?

Miguel: Well, I’ll tell you this. I mentor many people. Those who make an effort to do their own thing and so forth. The difference is when you want to come work within my space is where it’s more challenging for me. I’m not so open to just anybody coming and working with or for Miguel Wilson. It’s a brand and people have a certain expectation. I know how easy it is for you to mess up your name, your reputation, everything. So you have to protect that. And the people that stick with me are the people who go through a process with me and the process is they have to prove themselves on a certain level. I had a kid Darion, who worked for me. He just started his label. He came on with me under the same situation. I didn’t want to hire him, but he just hung around. And every time he saw situations and things I needed help in or he saw opportunities to improve my situation, he helped me. And he’d say “Hey, I did this for you. I did that for you.” And I’m like, “Oh, snap, that’s nice. That’s good.” He was around enough to recognize where my weaknesses were and recognize areas I needed or help. I’m not technologically advanced like that, so having millennials around and so forth, they have a different skillset. They have a different understanding. They see technology differently. To have that energy around can’t do anything but help me.

SUAVV: Absolutely. Now just kind of throw things out a little bit, you play polo. One, how did that start? And I mean, the Miguel Wilson Polo Classic is the go-to event of Atlanta. Those tickets sell out quickly. How did that start? Miguel: It’s becoming a country-wide event. We’re doing a DC polo classic, LA polo classic, Chicago, etc. I want to take this around the country. The event came about because I was playing one day and another brother, he worked at the farm, and said, “You’re playing?” I said, “Yeah.” He said, “Man, I’ve never seen any Black guys out here playing polo.” From that conversation, it led me to think, you know, he’s right. I’m exposed to something, I’m doing something that a lot of people just don’t have access to and don’t have the opportunity to see. I have a great opportunity to really do something. The polo classic was the idea I came up with to do that. Being able to create a Black event, that is typically white... Think about that for a second, A Black luxury event. (he pauses for a second) You very rarely see Black and luxury in the same venue. That’s a rare commodity. We have a certain level of giving to each other or spending money with each other on a low-tier level. So when it comes to clothing, we’re fine with giving each other the t-shirt money. You know, the $5 t-shirt, $10 t-shirt, but the $300 t-shirt money goes to Gucci. I wanted to do a SUAVV

luxury event and I wanted to use polo as a marketing tool, but also as exposure. I was able to secure Bentley as a sponsor, which gives it a certain luxurious feel as well as validation. I realized, being able to associate my brand with polo, with Bentley, with luxury, people will see you differently. I also wanted to make sure everybody associated with my event is seen differently as well. So I attached Black brands to it. There’s RedMont Vodka, Uncle Nearest Whiskey, Wifey Wines, Stella Rosa, and more. I feel like that makes it different. It’s luxury, but it’s black-oriented. Plus, timing is key. I think people are ready to see something on that level where we started to give each other more value, more credit, more benefit. On May 22nd, in Baltimore, at the Harbour, we are doing the first-ever Miguel Wilson Black Tie Experience. Which will be a formal gala out on the water with a full fashion show, orchestra, and band. SUAVV: And I think that’s an important aspect to point out. When you give people an elevated level experience, it makes you step up and you walk away wanting more. If you give people a birthday party kind of event, it’s going to just make them appreciate birthday parties. But if you put folks in tuxedos and gowns and travel to a pier, you’re mind will be blown and you’ll want more of those luxury/upscale types of events. Miguel: They want something that is not typical. They want something special, you know? That’s what I focused on doing. But again, this is operating within my space. I do luxury. I think about things the way I want them done. I don’t want to do basic events. I want to dress up. I want to put a tuxedo on. I want to look fly. I want to feel good. I want to have fun, helicopters flying, and champagne pouring. Whatever I can do to help create that environment, that atmosphere, that feeling, is what I want to do. You walk up and you see the helicopters landing and the Bentleys rolling in. You realize this is not your everyday party. This is not your typical situation. You walk down here on the water and you see the orchestra playing and you see all Black people with tuxedos on, sipping champagne. You that’s not typical. I want that experience. It’s amazing. SUAVV: It’s definitely a luxury event and there is nothing like seeing all of these Black folks, dressed up in Kentucky Derby-style clothing, drinking fancy cocktails, and watching a polo game. It was an experience. However, there was a social cause for this as well. Then to top it off, you recently helped create a polo team for Morehouse, which is an HBCU first. Miguel: The Miguel Wilson Polo Classic raised money for our foundation, which is Ride to the Olympics. We named it that because there’s never been an African-American to ride on the United States equestrian team. The concept is to be able to give inner-city kids 44

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the opportunity to ride, be exposed to horses, but also be exposed to the people. Success in life is around exposure. Most of us can credit who we know and some level of exposure to things that take us to where end up being in life. So we’re taking kids, who don’t have access to millionaires, business owners, and corporate executives and introducing them to build relationships. These are the people that own horses. These are people that play polo. These are people that do showjumping. So now you’ve got these kids in these environments, around the people they would have never met. Because these people are not going to the hood. We started focusing more on polo to create inner-city teams with the idea and that if a kid from the hood learns to play polo, his confidence level and belief in himself is such that he believes he can do anything in the world. There’s a certain respect that people give you when you do certain things, he plays golf, plays polo... you’re a different type of brother, you’re automatically elevated. In this country, bro, people meet you, they want to know what you do, who are you, whatever. And then you get categorized on a level. Every kid can’t play basketball or football. There are kids in the hood that could be professional polo players and professional polo players can make a million dollars a year traveling the world playing. So it’s a lot of potential opportunities, but if nothing more than to gain exposure to people, that’s life-changing within itself. The opportunity came to create the team with Morehouse because we had a kid who played polo and he was an entering freshman. We had a meeting one day and we jointly decided, let’s just try to start a team there. So my foundation funded the team. We wanted to give our kids, our inner-city kids, mentors at a college level so that they can look and say I want to be like him. He’d go to college. He played polo, you know, versus, looking up to the drug dealers or looking up to just the ballplayers, you know this now you’ve got somebody who looks like you that exposes you to something different. Morehouse is the first black college polo team in history. Making history wasn’t the goal when we did it, it was, it was to help the foundation and giving kids exposure and mentorship. SUAVV: And I think thats what’s Interesting. It’s rare for us to see a horse as inner-city Black kids. So just seeing a horse in itself blows our minds, but, seeing someone black with a horse is almost unheard of at this point. It’s which is crazy because, in our history, we’ve owned horses. Miguel: Yeah. Did you know that, in the twenties, there was an army core of blacks questions that taught horsemanship at West Point? Before all the money, the early Kentucky Derbies were won by black jockeys. We have a rich history when it comes to horses but, we don’t know our history a lot of times, so we don’t get exposed to that place. SUAVV: Absolutely. What do you want the legacy of

Miguel Wilson to be? Miguel: I’m not trying to find my legacy. God creates opportunities for me. I just do what I love to do. I’m going to write a book about things, just the facts, I want to tell my own story. I want to be able to be a positive impact on those around me. I want to take my family to a higher level while utilizing my talents, my resources to make a difference. We all have something we meant to do. I’m just trying to do what I’m meant to do.

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FORGED IN FIRE Vairrun Strickland Words By Rashod Davenport

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Vairrun Strickland may be recognized by TV viewers as the chiseled eye candy on TBS’ hit reality show Lost Resort, however, the increasingly popular cast member is much more than a pair of biceps. Vairrun, a Chicago native from West Englewood is on a mission to increase awareness of the mental health challenges often faced by black males. In Lost Resort, nine cast members come together in the jungle of Costa Rica as they try to overcome personal challenges with the help of mental and spiritual healers. Strickland, a long-time firefighter, shared how extremely long hours, fighting fires, and encountering traumatic life or death situations had hindered his ability to process his emotions and communicate effectively during romantic relationships. He often bottled everything up. “In my line of work, you can’t show emotion. You have to be able to do chest compressions on a young boy with a straight face, while his family is crying next to you asking if he is going to make it, and you know he probably won’t,” he said. “Then, one day you just lose it and you’re emotional and you feel depressed, but you don’t really understand what is going on. “ “Fortunately, I took the step to seek therapy, and luckily I got a therapist who was an ex-firefighter. That started me on the road to wellness and self-care. “ Strickland stated that in the fire service, very little attention is given to mental health and wellness for employees. Very rarely are men encouraged to seek counseling, although suicide is more frequent among firefighters than people realize. In fact, a 2018 study by the Firefighter Behavioral Alliance found that first responders die from suicide much more frequently than on-duty police officers, and they are five times more likely than the general population to face depression and post-traumatic stress disorders. “It took me 11 years before I ever sought therapy,” he said. “Thankfully, I had friends in the mental health field who encouraged me to do it, and helped me to get over the embarrassment of feeling something was wrong with me.” Working as a firefighter has given Strickland a unique vantage point into another troubling, yet related issue in the black community – the tumultuous relationship with law enforcement that has resulted in widespread killings of unarmed black civilians by officers across the country.

One afternoon in April of 2017, Strickland was doing community work with an organization called New Era, which involves neighborhood cleanup and formulating positive relationships with residents. On this day, like every other time the group was busy at work, they were followed by police officers who claimed to be looking out for their safety. However, this time was different. After Strickland and the group finished cleaning up, the officers got out of their vehicles and a physical altercation ensued that resulted in injuries and the arrests of Strickland and other members. Strickland was charged with obstructing a police officer and resisting arrest, and other members of New Era were charged with felonies and trumped-up charges like aggravated assault on an officer. Eight months later, the case was dismissed, with the help of video evidence that showed the officers executing a wrongful arrest. Still, the damage had been done. Strickland ended up suing the city of Chicago and the four officers involved in the altercation. Reflecting on the situation, he felt the weight of being a black man who, despite being a public safety officer, educated, and doing positive things for his community, he was not immune to police brutality, discrimination, and racism. Strickland, in an unusually calm manner, described SUAVV

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the rage he felt from the encounter during a segment on the show’s second episode where cast members participated in an exercise to free them from anger. He believes that moment was a very important step in his mental health journey. “Ensuring your mental health is so important. I think a lot of credit needs to be given to black women for leading the charge in mental health. They are more open to therapy and seeing doctors than black men,” he said. “That needs to change. For me, it was getting over the hump of vulnerability and embarrassment and the feeling of needing a doctor or needing help. Once you get over that, it is easy. As black men, we have to exercise our mental

the same way we exercise our bodies. It is just like going to the gym.” Check out our video interview with Vairrun by clicking the first photo below, If you would rather listen to our podcast with him click the SUAVV Sessions Photo, and keep up with Vairrun Strickland on Instagram at @vairrun and catch Lost Resort on TBS Online.

Click Below to Watch the Interview

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Pump Up The Volume Jazzie Belle T

The new Digital Media phenom, Jazzie Belle, knew at an early age that her life would somehow revolve around music and entertainment. Now how she would go about that would change a few times over the years. She grew up in a house that was dominated by masculine energy and during an era of hip-hop where women were telling the industry to After auditioning to be the replacement host on BET’s 106 and Park (after the years of AJ and Free), going into radio, and doing everything she could in the industry, Jazzie would still feel like she wasn’t gaining the ground she wanted. What do you do when everything that you try to do fails? It’s not that you are not able to accomplish anything, but when you approach specific goals in life, you find that the more you push for this “dream” the more you hear “no” or nothing at all. In the movie Hustle & Flow, there’s one line that has always stuck out to me. DJ Qualls’s character (Shelby) and Terrance Howard’s character (DJay) were on the back porch talking about how hip-hop is just an evolution from the blues. Qualls told Howard, “You’ve got to get what you got to say out because you got to. Every man, you know what I’m saying? Every man has the right, the goddamn right ...to contribute a verse.” While this may seem far-fetched, it’s true. Some verses correlate with our lives and songs that we feel were written directly to us. That’s what makes Jazzie Belle’s book “48 Verses of Power”, that much more profound. These are 48 Verses that spoke to her life directly. Jazzie started “Inside Hollywood” in the summer of 2020 as a means to encourage people to reach for their goals while taking the audience behind the curtain with some of Hollywood’s elite to converse about their rags to riches stories. Jazzie hopes to send a powerful message that the road to realizing your dreams comes with its adversity that you can push through! I wanted to find out where that hustle from Jazzie started and how growing up as a child in Detroit helped influence her drive as an adult. There’s always a backstory. Today, we are sharing the Jazzie’s. SUAVV: Okay. Did you, did you ever want to be a hip-hop artist? Like, was that ever in your mindset? Jazzie Belle: It was. Early on while I was in Detroit, where I grew up, my love for hip hop came from watching the women do their thing. SUAVV

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noisy, but it was always active. There was always something to do, you know? We all had our separate lives, as far as our friends. So when they would come to the house, it would just be fun on top of fun, people on top of people. So it was always something going on. That was our norm and I wouldn’t change it for the world. It was a blessing. SUAVV: I will say, it was an amazing childhood and it teaches your how to deal with people and survive. This is also something that you had to do because when you decided to leave home at 19, you picked New York City to test your survival capabilities. I lived in Brooklyn when I was 26 (after taking a baby step stop in Philadelphia). What was New York like for you at 19?

The Lil’ Kim’s of the world, the Foxy Brown’s of the world, Queen Latifah, et cetera. It just resonated with me. Being one of 10 siblings (seven brothers and two sisters), being the youngest girl, and having to grow up in such a male-dominated household, hip-hop resonated with me seeing the women thrive and do their thing in a male-dominated field. So as I got older, I wanted to be a rapper. SUAVV: Wait, let’s circle back...10 kids in the house? Now, I always say my house was LIVE because my younger cousins stayed with us for a while but at the height, there were 5 kids in the house and it was INTENSE. I can only imagine doubling that. Jazzie Belle: It was really hella fun. It was great for me. I see children and they don’t have any siblings. Which means they have to have imaginary friends. I didn’t have to worry about having imaginary friends. I had nine other great friends that were in the household with me every single day, up until I moved out at 19. People can’t imagine it because they’re so used to their way and they either don’t have any siblings or one. They can only imagine it being noisy. It was very 52

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Jazzie Belle: It was a culture shock, seriously. (both laughing) It was scary. It was scary. Coming from a very structured household, having both parents, and a bunch of siblings, to now being on your own at such an early age, I was very ambitious. Probably too ambitious. To be 19-years-old and think you have it all figured out and trying to take on the world; and not just a normal world, New York City. Being from Detroit, we didn’t have that many different cultures out there as far as ethnicities, you know? We had black and white, which was our norm. The Asian community is heavy out there, the Middle Eastern community is out there, but I didn’t know what a Dominican was. The only representation I knew for Puerto Rican was J-Lo on the sixth album and Big Pun. You meet someone and they say “I’m Trinidadian” and it was like, ‘What? Where is that?’ I was very ignorant to a lot. But, I’m a people person. I’m very social. So being able to have that experience and meet all of these different people... I was in awe of that. So I always say I was born and raised definitely in Detroit, but New York matured me. You know? It educated me a lot. That’s what I called my college. Like you went to college. Yeah, the streets of the hard-knock life of New York. I remember going out there with probably $5,000 that I saved and I just knew I was rich. I was like, ‘I’m out here, I’m lit.’ And it was like, you ain’t lit. That lasted maybe three months I was super broke (laughing). Five grand. It was a wake-up call. But, the people... still to this day, even though I’m in LA now, I miss the people. I miss the realness and the authenticity of the city and the people that come from there.

dark. And I was just going down that rabbit hole of mourning. So to try to take myself out of that hole, I had to start creating something. I thrive and I feel alive when I’m working and creating. I was doing interviews in New York for my podcast, Women in Hip Hop, but, and I was doing that in conjunction with VIBE Magazine when they became an online magazine. So, with me trying to get back into the swing of things, I reached out to the editor-in-chief, over at VIBE and said, “I’m out here in LA. Now, if there’s anything you got going on out here or you need a correspondent for anything, just call me up.” Jazzie Belle: Speaker 1: For me to create a podcast He already knew what I was going through personcalled Women in Hip-Hop is so direct as to the mission, you know what I mean? But it spoke to me, ally. And that’s what he did. it spoke to my heart. I had no clue that I would be SUAVV: Depression and grief are REAL. So, I’m interviewing Wendy Williams and then, later, her glad you were able to recognize that and find a way inviting me onto her show and seeing my Podcast to adjust your life to process differently. I think it’s logo, national TV. The only reason I’ve accomalso important to recognize that relationships are plished so much with the podcast is that there was important. You were able to make a connection love and passion behind it. It was something that with a former employer and re-enter the field that spoke to me. I didn’t think about impressing anyyou enjoyed. one. I didn’t think about what would work or the strategic tip, as far as what the people want. You have to start with you because, at the end of the day, Jazzie Belle: Absolutely. I was always told that you never burn bridgyour project is your baby and your creation and you have to love it first before you worry about how es. He hit me up and told me to sell it to the people. Later, it will resonate with about the Dolopeople, but it’s going to resonate with the people mite is My Name, because it resonates with you so much. I try to just red carpet, movie stay focused on that. If I’m not going to do somepremiere. And thing I am passionate about, I can do anything and that’s Eddie Murjust be famous and do it for the coins. But it has to phy’s movie. And fulfill me in some kind of way. they reached out to him and said, “Do you have SUAVV: Absolutely. You have to have a passion for anybody out here what you are doing. If not, once it’s hard, you’re in LA that could going to give up. But anyway, your trajectory in interview Eddie moving is almost the same as mine, your, having a Murphy?” And certain level of success in NYC but you decide to he was like, “Hell leave New York and end up across the country in yeah, I got someLos Angeles. How did that happen? body.” And then he called me, he was like, “Do you want to interview Eddie Murphy?” I’m like, “Hell Jazzie Belle: Initially, I came to Los Angeles for yeah. (laughing) I want to interview him. Are you a fresh start and new beginnings. My mom just nuts?” Like, no one in their right mind would say passed away from breast cancer and I just really no. That’s how I got into interviewing Hollywood wanted to make a shift and a change. I didn’t have A-list celebrities. And I still had my podcast going any family in New York. I have a brother out here on. However, being in LA...being in Hollywood, it in Los Angeles and the rest of my siblings, that I just made sense for that transition to happen the talked about earlier, are all in Detroit. I refused to way that it did. And then that’s when the opportuallow Detroit to be an option. I was already playnities started to flow in from the movie studios and ing with the idea of Los Angeles before my mom VIBE wanting the coverage and needing a correpassed away. So after she did, my brother told me, spondent. That’s where it all started. ‘If you want to, you can come out here and stay with me for a couple of months just to feel it out.’ SUAVV: Now you’re now doing your podcast, as And I did that. But at that time, I was really, really depressed. I was in a dark place...really, really, really well as the celebrity interviews, which you can SUAVV: Yeah. I always say New York is the most REAL city I have ever lived in and it will make you mature very quickly. But it’s the same reason I would never want to raise my kids there. However, in the grind of NYC and the struggles that come with it, you start creating your career as a writer, as a media personality and then you launch this podcast with a dope concept that nobody else was tapped into.

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start pulling from the interviews into your podcast, everything starts clicking. What do you feel at that point? Jazzie Belle: I feel alive. I feel like I’m slowly crawling out of that hole that I just described to you. I was starting to get my wings back and it felt good. Dolomite was in September 2019 and then Bad Boys for Life dropped in January 2020 and I got to interview Will Smith and Martin Lawrence and I’m such a huge fan of both of them. And I just remember thinking, wow, this is really happening. You know, I just really started to feel the wave and get into my vibration. And then COVID hit. (laughing) and I was like “NOOOO.” And as we know, COVID hit and lockdown down was in March. I said to myself, what you can’t do is go back into that dark place, like you can’t, you know what I mean? You have to stay consistent with what keeps you alive and what keeps you driving and what keeps you happy ultimately, you know? That’s when I created Inside Hollywood. My motto in life is CREATE, don’t wait, you know, that’s how I got to where I am in life. SUAVV: When Covid hit. I was like “You’ve got to be kidding me… And we were like “Okay, we’ve got two weeks to just simmer down and then we can get back to it.” WRONG. Jazzie Belle: (LAUGHING) RIGHT!!! And at first, it was a series that was living on Instagram Live or for 54

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Instagram TV series. And I remember reaching out to Bentley Kyle Evans, who’s the showrunner and executive producer of the Martin show. I met him on the carpet and slid in his DM. It wasn’t like we were friends or anything, but you know, you get familiar with these faces. We see them all the time and I’m like, “Hey, it’s COVID, everybody’s freaking bored, do you want to go on IG live and just talk to you about your career to motivate the people, to keep going. Cause everybody needs motivation right now. They need to be inspired. Just share your stories, your obstacles that you’ve overcome, because you’re still in the business doing your thing, and let’s go.” He was like, “let’s do it.” And a similar thing happened with the director From Dolomite is my Name and Coming Too America, Craig Brewer. We met on the red carpet of the premier and I was on the elevator in my building one day and he was there which was crazy because we lived in the same building at the time. So, I was like, “HEEEEEY, do you want to go on IG Live with me and we’ll talk about your, your coming to fame story or whatever, and motivate the people?” And he was like, “yeah, let’s do it.” I was getting these great guests and that’s something that I’m so proud of being able to create during a pandemic and giving these people the opportunity to share their story. I’m just happy to serve the people at some type of entertainment to give people some inspiration and you know, fulfill my creative juices and my peace. Like it really gives me joy to do what I do.

SUAVV: It’s just like you said, you, you have to go out and you’d have to just create your lane. And I think would happen as people get so sidetracked trying to get into someone else’s lane to try to fit in that lane. And it doesn’t work that way. This is a perfect segue into your book, 48 Bars of Power, Let Hip Hop Inspire You to Find Your Voice. What made you want to write that book? Jazzie Belle: I wanted to inspire young black girls, honestly and truly. Not to say the young white girl can’t buy the book, please, please buy it and be inspired. But, it started with me wanting to inspire young black girls. And although the book is still, it’s not quite finished yet. It’s something like 80% done. It breaks down 48 of my favorite bars from my favorite female rappers or female rappers out there to help inspire people to get through adversity. 16 of the bars pertain to you dealing with self-esteem and your self-confidence. Then 16 of my favorite bars to relate to love and relationships. And rounded out with the final 16 bars to help relate to faith and spirituality. SUAVV: That’s dope! I think people outside of hip hop don’t necessarily give hip hop the credit that it deserves when it comes to relating to people’s lives. There are so many lessons and truth and mental evolutions that are spoken to and grown through hip-hop. It’s like someone is speaking to you directly. And when you find those artists that connect with you, it’s more of a, “someone who understands me” or “They put how I feel into a melody” kind of a moment. Jazzie Belle: And that’s exactly what it was. And that’s why it was so important for me because I grew up with self-esteem issues and feeling insecure because of the societal standards of what beauty is. That whole “European standard of beauty” was instilled in us so early on in life and things that we were taught in school, wasn’t the truth just about who we were as a people. It’s just not talked about enough. And fortunately for me, I grew up with a father who didn’t play that. I grew up watching Farrakhan’s lectures listening to his tapes. I grew up in a public school where a teacher took the history book, threw it out the window, and said, “This is bullshit. Christopher Columbus didn’t discover shit. I’m going to tell you the truth about yourself, your people, and where you’re from. I’ve taught what you have to know from that book, but we are going to tell the truth about what history is. You guys are descendants of Kings and Queens. This is your people. This is where you come from. You guys are royalty. You guys built pyramids. This is really what it is. And I was blown away like, “Wait, you mean to tell me we weren’t created with shack-

les around our ankles and wrists.” That’s just what they told us in school. Like you guys were slave period. Then from there, y’all made it happen. It was like, what? So that when you get to the things that are inside the book, and you start with this Black Queen Revolutionary moment and Queen Latifah is demanding your respect, it makes sense. But I’m also balanced because my favorite male rapper growing up was Snoop Dogg. Literally, the antithesis of what Queen Latifah is talking about, “don’t be calling me no Bitches,” and I’m over here singing “Bitches ain’t shit but hoes and tricks,” I’m singing all of that. But it’s like, whoa, the rebuttal is over here and it sounds good and it feels good and I’m with it. She’s talking about domestic violence, relationships, respect, and how I’m not your punching bag. Then when Lil’ Kim came with the whole sexuality-infused music. It made it even greater for me because it showed that there’s not just one way you can do this, you know? Yes. I was a fan of MC Lyte and Queen Latifah, but I was also a fan of Salt and Pepa. When Lil’ Kim came wearing a skirt, demanding respect in a different way, she just wearing heels with it, you know? No woman is one-dimensional. I may want to rock sneakers one minute and want to wear heels the next. So, when I say 48 Bars of Power, what I do, with each bar, is give a personal experience of mine that relates to that bar. It’s my story. This is how this bar, came alive in my life. That’s personal to me to let you women know that this is what I’ve been through. This is probably what you’re going through, and this is how I got out of it, or this is how I dealt with it. And maybe you can deal with it that way too. And maybe this book or one of these 48 bars can help you because they helped me.

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REDEFINING MANHOOD Anthony Dalton Words By Rashod Davenport

Anthony Dalton didn’t have the aspiration to be an actor. Like most of us 80’s babies, he had a streetlight curfew and like most boys growing up in the inner-city, he was focused on sports. Indiana, at that time, was an area where the crime was big, his mom just wanted him to do something bigger. He was the only boy in the house and his mother decided that she was going to wear him out with activities so that he didn’t have the energy to get in trouble. Football became his passion. He would play football through college and was doing great. However, there would a shift in his life that would bring acting to the forefront. As a communications major, he talked to his sister’s friend who was working in the broadcasting department for the Cleveland Browns. The friend told Anthony that he had 3 NFL Superbowl rings and

never took a single hit. Anthony thought that would be a pretty cool career and started taking broadcast communications classes. After sitting through a series of courses and not seeing the fruition of the plan, he started focusing on his minor, theater. Soon after, he would step on stage for his first play, August Wilson’s “Fences”. Being on stage with a professional actor who confessed that he didn’t know who Anthony was, but he was extremely gifted in the craft. His mother, 100-year-old grandmother, and aunts showed up to support his play. While she knew he was a silly kid, she didn’t know he could act. After she finished watching her son perform on stage, she told him, “You’re going to make more money from acting than football.” At the time he thought his mom was all talk but later realized that she was speaking life into his mission. He switched his major of communiSUAVV

educating tomorrow’s leaders. He took a bold move and told the kids his dream and encouraged them to While watching a documentary on tight rope walkers, find and pursue their own. When he finally made it Anthony was captivated by a man who was practicing on his first television appearance, the kids called him cheering him on. with a net under him. He would be focused, wobble, and fall. He did this over and over again. But by the “I saw people getting degrees in things that they hate,” night of the show, they took the net away. The man Anthony says as we talk via ZOOM, even though we was not only focused but determined. He knew that if he fell, it may be death. He made it across that rope are both in Atlanta (I mean it is still a social distancing situation).” You might as well get a job that you and to the other platform. Anthony associated that love instead of chasing money. Because Sallie Mae documentary with life. He knew that in order to be successful, he would have to lose the net. He dropped wants their money regardless.” the communications minor and put all of his energy into acting. Anthony’s dream became his reality. There were tests and trials along the way, but a conversation with his After graduating from college, Anthony took a turn and became a high school teacher. Something that we mom led him to Atlanta when he is now the star of laughed about for about 5 minutes. While he knew he Tyler Perry’s SISTAS. Dreams can come true when would be a great teacher, (it’s in his lineage) it was the you start pursuing them with the understanding that hard work will get you there. 15-year-olds that were making comments that made him double-take at the career choice. Nonetheless, he buckled down and kept pushing for his dream while cations to his minor and theater became his major.

Click Below to Watch the Interview

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ENTER THE MIND OF

The RZA

As the leader of the legendary multi-platinum selling rap group, The Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, or Bobby, as he is known to close friends and colleagues, had a particular way of putting beats to razor-sharp lyrics that made you feel part of a song’s creative process. Fans feel RZA’s music, both from Wu-Tang and his solo and collaborative efforts, on a cellular level. An urban-bred intellectual who expresses through a mic or camera lens, RZA is considered prophetic to his community and perhaps a unicorn to mainstream culture. With a penchant for Eastern philosophy as is evident in the name Wu-Tang Clan and lyrical nods to Shaolin Kung Fu, RZA shared, “One thing I’m looking forward to doing in the near future… I’ve never been to India, and I have to check that one-off,” referring to the top item on his bucket list. I recommended he connect with Indian author and yogi, Jaggi Vasudev, also known as Sadhguru, when he makes the trip. RZA is so well-read and well-versed, it felt novel giving him someone and something beyond his scope to Google. As a film director, RZA paints complex portraits with colorful multi-faceted characters that inspire engagement and empathy. His latest directorial effort, the allegorical Cut Throat City (streaming on Netflix) features an all-star cast and examines the lives of people living in New Orleans’ economically depressed Lower Ninth Ward in the aftermath of 2005’s Hurricane Katrina. The historically disastrous storm broke through poorly constructed levees, flooding out the city’s most vulnerable residents, and leaving them with little hope or help from FEMA. Much like our current pandemic, Katrina shone a light on shameful racial and economic inequities. Though the film’s story is a sobering one and the lead character’s decisions are morally ambiguous, he insists the film portrays “a story of redemption,” with parallels to his own life. “No one [in this film] is completely bad, and no one is completely good. They were all flawed. It exemplified their humanity and it comes down to a choice. The theme of [Cut Throat City] examines the importance of dreams against a backdrop of survival.” Reflecting on his early days in the spotlight, RZA denounces some of his youthful bravadoes as he recites a trademark Wu-Tang lyric for me, “Wu-Tang Clan ain’t nuthing ta fuck wit,” and laughs out loud at an ego-driven existence that took center stage early on. It’s now tempered, he says, by a need to serve something greater than himself. Throughout our conversation, RZA’s words are prophetic, culturally provocative, and spiritually centered. We talked about a life lived outside the matrix of material trappings; a topic initiated by him and encouraged by me. Allison Kugel: Do you believe anything is possible, or

that circumstances dictate our destiny? RZA: Wow, that’s a strong question. I think that persistence overcomes resistance. Therefore, every possibility is actually expressed in our children’s wishes. The things we wish for as young minds and things we thrive in our spirits for, I think they make that which seems impossible, possible. The whole Greek study of Icarus and the idea of men flying… that seems like it would be magic or some other thing. We fly every day now in many different variations of flight, for example, flights that leave our basic atmosphere and travel across the whole world. So, what seems impossible, I think positivity and possibilities are probably boundless. Allison Kugel: What lessons can be learned from poverty, and what lessons can be learned from wealth? RZA: Poverty and wealth are two very different circumstances, but those are physical circumstances. I think we have to be conscious to not have the physical circumstance truly shake our spiritual and our personality. I grew up in poverty, but I was never unhappy. Joy and love were in our household. My mother was a single mother, but joy and love made up for the lack of food and shelter. The point I make in saying that is, of course, in a capitalist society our freedoms are compartmentalized. Therefore, you could be physically free and not spiritually free. You can be spiritually and physically free, and not economically free. Since economic freedom is a requirement for proper food, clothing, and shelter, it can become something that transcends the physical, and bleeds into the spiritual. If life was simple, everything we want is already provided for us by the planet. There is nothing on this planet that we eat, ingest, take, dance with, fly with, that is not from the planet. It’s just that when you are dealing with certain [economic] systems, they take control over us. Even in some religious traditions, they have ways of controlling what is naturally ours. I’m out here in New Jersey in the woods right now, and I just saw some deer walk by. A whole family [of deer] eating whatever they ate and they keep walking. Allison Kugel: I had a similar moment when I looked at a family of birds outside my house, and they don’t need anything. They’ve figured all of it out for free, on their own. RZA: Yes! There is a beautiful verse in the Holy Quran that speaks on that. I’ll paraphrase it. It says something like, “The birds and the bees are taking care of every day with no worries. Do you think Allah would do less for man, his greatest creation?” Everything they have access to, we have access to. It’s that we grabbed control over it and denied access to certain people. That’s playing into the theme of my film (RZA’s latest directorial effort, Cut Throat City, streaming on Netflix). SUAVV | 61

“The thing about separation of

people who are of color or [lower] economics, it has existed for a long time in our country and there is no relief and no delivery from the situation.”

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Allison Kugel: Yup! That’s why I’m asking about it… RZA: One of the biggest issues of the situation in this film that I hope the audience catches is that Blink (played by Shameik Moore) goes in with his wife (played by Kat Graham) and child for help from FEMA and they ask, “What is your salary?” She says, “About $32,000.” Not a bad salary and not a great salary… Allison Kugel: It’s a hard salary. It’s a salary that would be very challenging to raise a family on. Would you agree?

RZA: Yes, I would agree. And within that salary, she’s paying a third of that in taxes. Her tax money is paid into a system to protect her when the time comes that you need the protection. Now here it is, I’m in need of what I paid into and I’m being denied because of my community or because of my race. That is the equation we overlook in our capitalist society. The money that they spend every year is not their money, it’s our money that they are controlling. Allison Kugel: After watching your film, Cut Throat City, which depicts the lives of people living in New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward in 2005, post-Hurricane Katrina, I researched and read that in 1965 there was also a catastrophic hurricane in the area. The same thing happened, where the levees were not maintained properly and they broke. They already knew there was a strong possibility it could happen again, and yet they did nothing to protect these people. RZA: The line that Ethan Hawke gives in the film, talks about how it also happened in the early 1900s, but it was more intentional. They let the levees break so the water could flood the lower land and it wouldn’t spread up to the white districts. The thing about separation of people who are of color or [lower] economics, has existed for a long time in our country and there is no relief and no delivery from the situation. Even if the Lower Ninth was built to be low income, as your city is growing and your tax dollars are coming into your city, those resources should be used to ensure everyone’s safety and security. At the beginning of the city’s history, I understand. I started in a small apartment when I left my house. I was nineteen years old and my mother said the time had come to go. I started in a small apartment and (Wu-Tang Clan member) Ghostface [Killah] was my roommate. We had another roommate, my cousin Rob. We lived there, three guys in a one-bedroom, and we stayed there until we raised enough money to get a two-bedroom (laugh). You know what I mean? Allison Kugel: (Laughs) Yes! I do know what you mean. RZA: We kept going, and it even got to the point where one of us could move out and one of us still stayed, and that lasted until we hit it big. The point is, it’s okay to start at the SUAVV

bottom and struggle, but when there is no relief from the struggle, that is when it becomes insidious, evil, and oppressive. Like I said, the money that FEMA was giving in 2005 for Hurricane Katrina Relief was the money that came from the people. It wasn’t [FEMA’s] money. Allison Kugel: I’m assuming you spent time in New Orleans prior to directing Cut Throat City? RZA: I traveled there many times and spent three weeks studying the city. This film wasn’t just about these four guys in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. It was the fact that this was a story about what happens when your aspirations turn into desperation. That I know, that I’ve felt, and that I’ve lived. I come from a single mother household and so does my whole crew. Seven of the nine members [of Wu-Tang Clan] are that. In this film, Blink (the film’s lead character) was a nerd, in all reality. He was an academic and went to college. He had a talent, you know? Allison Kugel: That is what is so heartbreaking about this story. Here is a guy who went to Tulane University, who has an extraordinary talent for drawing and storytelling, and it’s wasted talent. It’s a squandered life. But then at the end of the film, there are two different endings. Explain that… RZA: A lot of people have been tweeting about that and asking what’s going on. The artist in me left it up for interpretation. If you go back and look at the film closely, you’ll see that there is an egg in there that should answer the questions. Maybe people missed it, but the reason why I did that is because, in life, very few of us get second chances. But, what happens if you give a man a second chance? I, myself, am a second chance-er. When I read this story,

I felt the character Blink all in my system. I felt his pain. Then I realized I actually was an artist and a smart guy who got caught up in gangs, in the streets, and ended up facing eight years in jail, but I won my trial. When I won my trial, I changed my life. I focused on study and making myself better, looking at my creativity, and I formed The Wu-Tang Clan. I became a success story, because I was given a second chance.

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Allison Kugel: Sometimes a single decision can change everything… RZA: And I wasn’t bad. A lot of people are not bad, they just made a bad decision. [I wish] the criminal justice system could look at it that way. Most of the guys in the Wu were the same. We were all arrested felons or something like that, and we had a second chance. I wanted to express that in this film. In the original screenplay, though, I have to be honest, he dies. But as a director, I get to tell the story and I get to shape it. I wanted to shape it with optimism. I said, “I’m going to leave some optimism there and let the people who watch it decide, which pill would they take?” In the film, the detective tells him, “A pen will get you further than a gun.” I’m living proof. It was a pen that got me further than anytime I was trying to do something foolish with a gun. Allison Kugel: Speaking of which pill to take. You strike me as a guy who operates outside the matrix. I know you’re part of the Five Percent Nation. Do you sometimes feel like you don’t quite sync up with the everyday person? RZA: No. I don’t feel like I don’t sync up. I feel blessed that I see the beauty of what I see. Whether anybody else sees it or not, it’s okay. It’s not like, “Man, wow, they’re missing it.” Even as a vegan and never having a yearning for steak, never having the idea in the back of my head of the pain I’m inflicting on someone else; it’s a very liberating feeling to not be the cause of pain and turmoil to any living thing. I actually feel more required to do what I’m supposed to do, so that if there is positivity in what I’m doing, may others see it. They’ll see it in their own given time, and I’m okay with that.

“...And as a fan, it was a joy to have Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes and Isaiah Washington come and work in my film.”

Allison Kugel: Do you want to explain what the Five Percent Nation is? RZA: I’m going to tell you something they taught us in studying the lessons of The Five Percent, and it is sometimes misunderstood. What they are trying to say when they say, “Five Percent,” is they took a number of 100% and they separated it into the different types of people in the world. They say that 10% of the people know the same things that the five percent know, but the 10% use it to control other people. They know that there’s falsehood. They know it’s a game, they know the rules of the game. They aren’t playing it, but they’re making everybody else play it. They say 85% of people are easily led in the wrong direction. The 10% will lead them in the wrong direction even though they know the right direction. Then there’s 5% of the people who know the right direction and they strive to teach it. Scientists who deal with quantum physics and the measurement of space, they say all the atoms in the entire universe only represent five percent of the universe. Allison Kugel: And the rest is space. RZA: The rest is space. It’s a mathematical equation. They taught us that we should all strive for the Twelve Jewels of Life which are: knowledge, wisdom, understanding, freedom, justice, equality, food, clothing, shelter, love, peace, and happiness. If you have that, you’re rich. I honestly feel I have that, and to me, that is more valuable than anything that is out there. In my art, I try to express those qualities.

Allison Kugel: In the film who would you say was the most fun to direct, who was the most challenging, and who did you vibe with artistically? RZA: Wow, it’s hard to separate such a great cast and great talents. Every one of us had our moments, like an all-star team. I can say that Kat Graham really shows that it’s not just beauty in her, but it’s her strength and expression. I’m glad that she became the anchor of that family, and she did it beautifully. She could have played it pretty and sexy. Even though she was beautiful on screen, it was natural. She was strong to go and fight for her man. Ethan Hawke, I felt like we were on a natural high working together with the way the ideas were flowing back and forth, and his choices of emotions. And as a fan, it was a joy to have Terrence Howard, Wesley Snipes, and Isaiah Washington come and work in my film. Allison Kugel: Did you originally think Kat Graham was too pretty for this role? RZA: No, that wasn’t a thought. I got lucky to get Kat. We had developed her role for another actress who became unavailable about two weeks before we were shooting. Then our agent said that Kat Graham read the script and was interested, and would I be interested to talk with her? We did a FaceTime call and she said exactly what I needed to hear. Allison Kugel: Which was?

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RZA: She said to me, “The strength of this woman is in the pages, Bobby, and I want to bring you that strength.” It wasn’t about bringing beauty; it was about bringing me strength. Then when you look at T.I., he totally shocked me and blew my mind. T.I. also came into the cast late. I had been developing the film for five years, and I always wanted Method Man to play the role of Cousin, but he told me he wasn’t into the bad guy roles right now. Allison Kugel: What do you want people to take away from the film, Cut Throat City, beyond being entertained? RZA: I would like to think the people who see these four main characters in the film as criminals can now understand that they are a victim of circumstance. If we can walk away and understand that some people who are in bad situations are victims of circumstances, we can prevent the circumstances. I don’t know if that makes sense to you.

Allison Kugel: Hello! (laugh) RZA: Exactly. But it’s good to understand that there is a universe out there. You can be a sun, but there’s other suns. But I do think what I’m destined to teach, if anything, is that you can be a living example of your own ideas. Through my art, I’ll be able to inspire and that’s the best thing. I think I was brought her to inspire. I was born to inspire. RZA Photos Courtesy of CAA, Film Stills Courtesy of Well Go USA Entertainment/Netflix Cut Throat City is currently streaming on Netflix. Follow RZA on Facebook and Instagram.

Allison Kugel: That makes sense. RZA: How do we prevent the circumstances? Before I started the movie, I met with a guy who was locked up and he told me he read an article about me and he agreed with what he read about me. I asked him, “Which article was that?” He said it was an article where I said I was a nerd. And I was like, “Yes, I am. I like comic books. I like video games. I like chess.” He said, “I loved reading that about you because I’m a nerd too!” This guy was serving 15 years for armed robbery. He was saying that really, he is also a creator, but there was no outlet for him. So he got caught up in a hustle. There was another guy that was in the cell with him who ended up fixing all the computers inside the jail, but he’s in for murder. I’m not justifying a murder, but he said that he was bullied and bullied and bullied. He was forced to fight, and once he fought it was like he became a cowboy. Allison Kugel: Here is the question I ask everybody. What do you think you came into this world to learn, and what do you think you came here to teach in this lifetime? RZA: Wow, that is a beautiful question. What did I come to learn? One thing I am learning is humility. Even though I may appear, on the surface, to have it, it was something that I think I lacked. I was pretty conceited, really coming up. If you listen to my old music, I acted like, “I’m the greatest and everybody else is beneath me (laughs).” Allison Kugel: Well, you were in your twenties, right? RZA: Yes... SUAVV

conductor of Her Own Lane Chelsea Harris

Words By Rashod Davenport

Chelsea is so far disconnected from the personality flaws and traits of her character Sykes in the sci-fi thriller series “Snowpiercer,” which began airing season 2 this week on TNT. She grew up in Columbus, Georgia and to her description, was an extremely shy child with a borderline social anxiety disorder. Her mother was a doctor and her father a marine. So when they were thinking of ways to help her “discover her voice and self-worth” they figured getting her on stage could be the trick. This was interesting, now that Chelsea looks back at it, because “creativity” was not something that held a big presence in the house. Nonetheless, she would come to discover a sense of freedom in the arts. “There was something really beautiful that I found in performing because it didn’t feel like I had to share myself with the world, I was sharing something that was coming through me,” Chelsea reflects. “I still remember the very first time that I performed on stage. It was the middle of my first week of theater camp and we’d been practicing these monologues all week. At the end of the day, we would sit on the stage in front of everyone and perform. And that feeling...it feels like lightning has struck your body. It’s like, imagine like all of your cells are popping and you feel so extremely alive. I was like, “Whoa, what

is this? I want to feel this all the time.” And that’s when I dove deeper.” And dive she did. On the eve of her 16th birthday, she and her older cousin presented Chelsea’s parents with an inconceivable idea. Her cousin was twenty-four-yearsold, had been performing off-broadway, attended The American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City, and was preparing to move to Los Angeles to continue her acting career full-time and was willing to take Chelsea with her to pursue her passion. At the end of a lot of conversation and stipulations, Chelsea’s parents agreed to let their child take a leap of faith. The blessing in that decision, for Chelsea, was that her youth allowed her to be more ambitious without the fear of failure. Though she was shy, she wasn’t self-conscious enough to think she couldn’t make it. “I think what I discovered at a young age was the beauty of saying “yes”,” Chelsea explains. “When you say “yes” to something, you have no idea what’s on the other side of it. Because everything is possible on the other side of “yes,” right? But when you say “no,” all you have is your current reality. So it was such a blessing to begin to practice that at such a young age. I think there is even more in being SUAVV | 69

a black woman or a black man and saying, “yes” to yourself because the environment that we live in, right now, produces so many no’s, so many blocks, so many obstacles, so many closed doors. And so, in saying “yes”, to myself, that is the first piece of liberation.” The initial liberation of relocating to Los Angeles was what Chelsea would describe as being like a fairy tale. There were people of all cultures, languages, and religions. She was excited about the difference between Fort Benning in Georgia and the vastness of Tinsel Town. She landed her first professional acting role on Disney Channel’s popular show, “Hannah Montana.” While taping her first episode, she was also signing a series regular contract for “Just Jordan,” the Nickelodeon sitcom starring young comedian Lil’ JJ, which would later air on BET. In such a quick turnaround, she had already accomplished a major goal of working with Disney and Nickelodeon. Nonetheless, the young actress had new plans and new dreams. Chelsea would go on to book job after job while establishing herself in the industry. However, Hollywood can be tough for a young Black female actress. There can be a lot of obstacles from within the industry as well as outside of it. The critiques from our own community can be harsher than those in the industry’s decision-making positions. Understanding the importance of positivity, she made a commitment

that would impact the foundation of her career. “I can tell you that I have surrounded myself with a group of other black female actresses and we’re very close,” Chelsea explains. “And we talk about these things. A lot of us didn’t have that Black female support growing up. So, we’ve created this intentional space where we encourage each other.” It would be a new role that would require that positive circle to be placed on task. When auditioning for the role of Sykes for “Snowpiercer,” Chelsea knew the character would be built from the ground up. It was what the industry calls a “wildcard” role. That means it was open to whoever best fits the part. While written for a male, she took the casting with a single intention... being the best Sykes they could find. To her amazement, she landed the part. Nonetheless, Sykes is a dark character and Chelsea’s most burdensome role. The challenge came with the depth of where this character would take her. The story of Sykes would be one riddled with anger, unresolved trauma, and a difficult life. Her mere existence and the tension she carries would create an intense psychological battle. So how does someone so joyous and kind become ruthless, vindictive, and cold? “It’s gonna sound kind of dark,” Chelsea says with a pause. “I looked at Nazi soldiers. Wilford (played

by Sean Bean), who is the creator of the train, is a very charismatic leader. He needs order. He doesn’t necessarily believe in justice. Much like some figures of the past and those that we see in the present. And so I, being his right-hand woman, had to figure out how to get into the psyche of someone who can go along with this and stand for it? How do I walk that walk and obey marching orders that are devastating and inhumane? And so, as we’re talking about that extremism, that’s where I had to allow my psyche to go in order to be inside of Sykes. And I had to give myself full permission to do the things that I, Chelsea, would never agree with or allow myself to explore the inside of. And I had to do that to give this character justice because as an actor, you have to be fully convicted.” With a role that complicated advice on how to “tap out” of the depth of Sykes was extremely important. We’ve seen how dark roles can take an actor with it and hold them hostage. Chelsea had an acting coach whom she worked with on set and told Chelsea, when she is done shooting, to go back to her trailer to meditate and think of anything that would make her happy. Playing with puppies, eating ice cream, a beautiful garden, anything to help Chelsea feel human and normal as she comes down from the hangover of acting. As Chelsea laughs, about being as normal as possible, she says her humble demeanor will always keep her balanced. Joking about the normal human consequences of morning breath, not wearing deodorant, and still having dry skin, she fully understands that she is a human first and an actor second. Her human side really showed itself when Chelsea arrived at the Naval Base Coronado in San Diego, one of the filming locations for Paramount Pictures’ highly anticipated sequel Top Gun: Maverick, starring Tom Cruise, which opens in theaters on July 2, 2021. Realizing the major pressure of filming on a multi-million dollar set, with government clearances, huge special effects budgets, and a major production team was heavy enough. And then the star of the movie showed up. She would say that the filming of Top Gun: Maverick was the most that she has been “on 8” up until this part of life. But she couldn’t be starstruck too long, because “...when Tom Cruise comes on set, you better be ready!”

near and dear is to work with Viola Davis, to have the chance to rub some of her artistic presence on herself, has not yet happened. Nonetheless, the rising star is not counting it out. She is working hard to not only create her own opportunities but creating an atmosphere where all girls and all women who may come behind her can create their own lane, live their lives, and chase their dreams more physically and mentally authentic. Going from the shy girl on a stage near a military base in Georgia to being on a multi-million dollar film set with Tom Cruise, Chelsea is living the dream of so many. So, I decided to end this conversation with the perception of legacy. After learning more about who Chelsea is, I’m not surprised at how she wants her career to impact the lives of others. Her biggest goals are bigger than her. “I want my legacy to be a pathway that helped to liberate women...that’s what I want,” Chelsea says passionately as we wrap up our call. “Not just women of color, but all of the women who are walking behind me, where they feel that they can stand in their truth, that they don’t have to conform to societal or patriarchal views of who they’re supposed to be and where they can allow themselves to live in their own divine creativity. I tried to conform and to fit in and to be what I thought this industry wanted me to be. And it wasn’t until I decided, for my own journey, to cut off all of my relaxed hair, took off my hair extensions, and began to dress in whatever felt good, that I began to pursue the art that I felt was interesting, not placing myself in a box that people felt I should fit into. It wasn’t until I did that, that I felt free within myself, within my industry, and within my career. So, forge your own lane. There is no reason to try to fit in anymore.”

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“You know, I remember going to an industry party with

Freda Payne,” Los Angeles-based playwright Don B. Welch recalls. “She was introducing me to people and an actress came over and Freda said, ‘Oh, this is my friend, Don Welch. He’s a writer.’ And the actress said, ‘Oh, television or film?’, and I said, ‘None of those, theater’. And she laughed and said, ‘Well, good luck on that because this is a film and television town.’ and walked away with her drink. I remember standing there, looking at her, and Freda looked a little embarrassed, like, ‘Oh my God’, and didn’t know what to say. And I remember thinking to myself as she walked away, ‘I’m going to make you respect theater and you’re going to work for me.’ and she did. I never said anything to her. You know why? Because it wasn’t necessary.” Don B. Welch is the first name that is spoken in Los Angeles when you bring up theater. His sold-out plays are flooded in attendance with the who’s who of Hollywood. His casts have included Loretta Devine, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Tatyana Ali, Essence Atkins, Kenny Lattimore, Ginuwine, Kelly Price, Marla Gibbs, Flex Alexander, Shanice, Ernest L. Thomas, the late Mary Wilson, Ledisi, Malinda Williams, Darius McCrary, Eva Marcille, Dawnn Lewis, Dorien Wilson, and Jackée Harry to name a few. Nonetheless, it’s the early years that we want to reminisce about. When our zoom call connects, Don is sitting on his sofa with all kinds of memorabilia hanging on the walls behind him. The autographed ‘Waiting To Exhale’ movie poster may just be my favorite. He spends the first 10 minutes checking on me and asking how I am, how my transition from Los Angeles to Atlanta is going, how my mother is, and what’s new in my life. Then he wraps up by telling me to stop playing and start auditioning for acting roles. That’s the Don that I have known for the last 15 years. For myself, like a small circle of actors in the Hollywood scene, Don is like a big brother; not afraid to tell you like it is and always pushing to see you succeed in whatever you do. It’s a quality that he says comes from his parents. Don was a charismatic kid who grew up in the Wynnefield community of West Philadelphia. He was the one who was summoned to stand on the stairs and perform when family or friends would come over. In his mind, he was on the road to becoming the next Michael Jackson and have penpals write to him in Right On! Magazine, like Michael. No really, that was his aspiration. He loved to sing, dance, and make people smile. He didn’t know what he was doing was called entertainment, he knew that it was what he wanted from his life. Those staircase performances would lead him to sing “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling” at his church’s Easter Service. The applause and cheers of the congregation led to church members greeting a young Donald and his family after service. As they poured out their praises of his talent, his ambition to repeat that reaction grew. Don would go on to enter and win singing competitions all around the city. At 15 years of age, he would win a Philadelphia singing competition, the Pennsylvania state competition, and was flown to New Orleans where he ranked in the top 3 for the National Vocal Scholarship Contest. With the victories still fresh in his atmosphere, 5 record deals were on the table as well. However, none of these allowed his authenticity to exist as an artist. He turned them all down. He knew at

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BEHIND THE CURTAIN Don B. Welch

Photos by Michael Letterlough , Jr.

We had that kind of a household where we were encouraged to do and be who we wanted to be.”

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a young age that if he was going to enter this arena, it would be on his own terms. His ambition would never outweigh his integrity. Then in a turn of direction, his love for theater would land him on stage in a play called ‘Miss Lizzie’s Royal Cafe’ written, directed, and produced by legendary singer, Adam Wade. SUAVV: This was your break into the theater world. What was that like for you going from singing and performing to stage performances and acting? Don: I was one of the leads and it was at the Kornacopia Dinner Theater in Philadelphia. I wasn’t familiar with his music. When I got the role, my mom said, ‘Oh, I know who Adam Wade is. He was known for the song “Ruby”.’ I’m like, ‘Yeah, well, he’s the writer and director and he just cast me.’ One night, I was on stage and I looked out at a packed theater. My scene was coming up next. But before I did my scene, I remember looking around and watching all these eyes, from the audience, on the cast, and knew they were about to be on me as well. I looked over and I saw Adam Wade, watching us. And I said to myself, ‘Ummm, Adam wrote, directed, and produced this. I can do the same thing.’ That was the light bulb that went off in my head, and I said, ‘well, why not?’ SUAVV: And that “Why not” mentality came from your parents as a kid. Having parents and a circle that is supportive of your goals and ambitions is extremely important. That was something my mom was really big on. She was super supportive of whatever we wanted to do. Don: We had that kind of a household where we were encouraged to do and be who we wanted to be. My brother, Vernon, chose a different path. Everything with him has always been mechanical and technical. I was always musically inclined and loved entertaining. My parents, (my mom, my stepdad, and grandmother) were very much into letting my brother and me do exactly what we wanted to do in the world. It was a great foundation to have and it allowed me to have this innate ability about myself, I felt as though I could do anything. What they did was co-sign it. ‘Oh, you want piano lessons? Oh, you want voice lessons? Well, let’s get a teacher. Let’s go take private lessons. Oh, you want to be a boy scout? Let’s do that. Oh, you want to lead the youth fellowship at the church? Okay. Go for it.’ With all of those things happening at a very young age, my family never really said no. I’d just went for it. I did not wait for opportunities. SUAVV: Even for you now, how you treat people 74

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who come up under you, you also give them that same encouragement. You’re quick to say ‘Don’t wait for an opportunity, take control.’ And that feels like how you push everyone else around you. Don: That’s right! I try and I tell actors, singers, dancers, and models, all of them that come to me, I say, “Listen, you want to be bigger than me. Just go for it.” The opportunities that the younger people have today in the industry are completely different than what I had when I started out. So I’ve always said, “No! You gotta go for it.” There are a lot of times people have the talent, but they don’t have anyone to say to them, “Seriously, you can really do it! I will help you without you having to pay me back in any kind of way.” SUAVV: And that’s rare. Especially in Hollywood. It’s rare to the point where it makes people unsure and uneasy. Donald: I get it all the time. When there’s a new actor, male or female that come into my life and ask for advice. I give it to them. They’re thinking ‘Okay, this guy is TOO nice. Is he trying to make money off of me? Does he want to take credit for my career?’ My answer to all of them is, “I don’t want any of that. I’m just trying to show you that everybody in this town ain’t full of shit.” There are some people who really, really want to see you succeed. But the problem is most people don’t want to put in the work. SUAVV: I noticed when I was there acting, I would say to myself, “You have to get past yourself, Rashod.” You always talk yourself out of opportunities and out of potential work. You find yourself focusing on the negative and you start making excuses like: “This is going to cost too much and it’s going to take up too much of my time!” You start setting your own limitations and boundaries without realizing it. Donald: Yeah. And when that happens, if you don’t have the right support circle around you, you begin to feel, maybe this is not for me. Maybe I can’t do it. But you gotta have someone to be your cheerleader other than yourself. I’m my biggest cheerleader. But I still realize that I need a cheerleader who will “check me” when needed. When Don took that leap of faith and put on his first production, ‘Take it to the Lord or Else’, he was able to hire his first Hollywood actress; the fiery Sanford and Son star, LaWanda Page, better known as “Aunt Esther”. She would become his first Hollywood cheerleader and dear friend. He knew at

The opportunities that the younger people have today in the industry are completely different than what I had when I started out.”

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...we were neighbors with megastar Will Smith and his family. He and his dad were very instrumental in my decision to move.”

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that point, there was no turning back. He presented his play at the same theater he was hired as an actor years before. It ran for 2 months. The play was sold out every weekend. When it came time to renew the contract at the Kornacopia Theater, he looked at the money the theater was making from his show and decided to rent theater space at a legitimate theater in Downtown Philadelphia. It was the famous Walnut Street Theater on Broad Street. Don himself, paid for the insurance, hired the actors, and ended up selling out the production every weekend that it ran. Also, at this time, he continued working his corporate job at The Wall Street Journal newspaper office in Philadelphia. When WSJ decided to close the Philadelphia office, they made Don an offer that seemed too good to be true. They wanted to relocate him to New York City so that he could continue working for the publication and produce his plays in the Mecca of Theater, New York City on the weekends. Once again, Don refused what appeared to be a “golden goose” offer. Instead, he took the severance package and continued producing his plays in Philadelphia under his newly established company Don B. Welch Productions. The production company was a new level of business that Don didn’t fully understand. So knowing that he would have to develop the legalities of a production company, he turned to a business owner whom he knew for help. This is where he learned another life lesson in business.

people that are starting businesses very often. I tell them, sometimes, you have to look outside of what’s comfortable and talk to people who have already done it; regardless of their persuasion. You’d be surprised that there will be some people receptive of what you’re seeking. Donald: Yeah. I don’t understand that, but then again, I do understand it. We come from a people that were placed in the line of oppression and pitted against each other for control. People like the guy I spoke about earlier, had no idea of the potential damage he could have been inflicting upon me. If I weren’t strong enough, there’s no telling what I would have done or even if I would have opened up a company at all. And I want to be careful how I say this because I don’t want anyone reading this to feel that I’m saying only Black folks do this. No, no, no, no, no, no. I’m giving you an example of what was done to me. SUAVV: Which leads to my next question. Why did you relocate to Los Angeles when you were doing so well in your hometown of Philadelphia? How did that happen?

Donald: Let’s be clear, this guy’s company had nothing to do with entertainment. I think he was selling hats and scarves. He was African-American. I said to him: “Hey, I’m trying to open up my entertainment company, and I don’t know how to go about getting the TIN# (number) for filing this paperwork.” He said, ‘Ooh, are you sure you want to do that?’ And I’m like, ‘well, yes I am. I know you have your own company. So, if you could just give me some pointers, I’ll be good.’ He hemmed and hawed and found every excuse not to help me. So, I went to someone else, another persuasion, and this guy sat down with me and opened up his book of knowledge and showed me everything I needed to do in order to open up my company. No questions asked, he just did it. All I could say was “Thank you!” I realized at this moment that sometimes, your own people, won’t offer you assistance. You see, SOME are so worried that you may just pass them on the way up, that they can’t even give you simple advice or information. Isn’t that sad? I knew, at that moment, that I would never be one of those persons. But that shit angered me! I had to go out of my own community to seek the information that I needed to start a company.

Donald: Well, first of all, there was a little thing called “fear”. But we were neighbors with megastar Will Smith and his family. He and his dad were very instrumental in my decision to move. He said to me: “Don, when you’re ready to move into areas of television and film, come to LA, I got you.” People say things like this all the time, so, I wasn’t so sure he was serious. But he was. I thought it over, took my time, and in 2000 I made the move. I also wanted to wait and make sure that my mother was taken care of. I gave up my apartment on Rittenhouse Square in Philly, but, I didn’t stop doing the theater productions. I said, ‘No, I’ll fly my ass back and forth until I get settled in LA.’ You see, I stayed booked! I traveled from New Haven, Connecticut all the way down to St. Petersburg, Virginia, show after show, week after week. I even rented Greyhound buses to transport the cast, crew, and musicians many times. The money was crazy! However, I was ready for a change. So, Hollywood, here I come. I’ll tell you something I never told anyone else. The day before I moved out of my apartment, I sat by myself and looked around in this empty apartment and I got so emotional and broke down. I asked myself, ‘Are you sure this is what you want, Donald Welch? Are you doing the right thing?’ And then that inner voice said, ‘Yes, you are.’ It was frightening. But, I knew I had to do it. I actually ended up living with Lawanda Page, in her home, for 8 months. She didn’t want me to leave, but it was time for me to get my own spot.

SUAVV: I find myself having these conversations with

Thirty-two productions later, and that Right On! SUAVV

Magazine dream under his belt, Don B. Welch has cemented his name in the Los Angeles Theater Community. He now has his hands in television with several filmed projects on Netflix, Hulu, and most recently broke through another glass ceiling. After meeting film producer Brett Dismuke of Allblk.tv and WE tv, he believed so much in Don as a writer and director, that he greenlit 5 productions from 20092020. The latest being ‘Love On A Two Way Street’ starring Vanessa Williams, Dorien Wilson, Amin Joseph, Kelly Price, Kiki Haynes, and others. Don became the first playwright to stream a production on Pay-Per-View. Don was also signed to Random House Publishing in New York and after his first two novels, The Bachelorette Party and In My Sister’s House, he began working on his third book, “All Things in Time”, the autobiography of his life. It’s easy for one on the outside, looking in, to say “Don is doing the damn thing”. But those peaks didn’t come without valleys. Three years ago, Don lost his biggest cheerleader, his confidant, and his leading lady… his mother, Gloria Welch Pollitt. I’ve met Ms. Gloria and spent moments with her numerous times over the years, so I knew how close Don was with his mother. When I heard of her passing, I actually hesitated calling him. I had no idea what to say. I knew she had been ill for quite some time and he had been traveling back and forth monthly to assist in her care with his brother. When he began writing his memoir, he decided that he would open the book with the passing of his mother. He felt getting this moment in his journey out of the way first, would be the only way he could complete the book. Don: When you’re writing an autobiography of your life, someone may ask, ‘Well, why now?’ I say, “Well, why not now?” Besides, I don’t want anyone else trying to document my legacy or my story when I’m dead. Also, I’m old as shit. (laughing). SUAVV: (laughing and shaking my head because that’s Don) That’s the thing, I know you did, Don. But, Let me say this, your loyalty is impeccable. You’re loyal to those who are loyal to you. And you’re loyal to those who aren’t loyal to you. I’ve always recognized this about you. I know when you’re speaking, there’s a point and a purpose behind it. I know, personally, it’s not malicious. Donald: You’re right. It’s never malicious. I could tell you stories of disappointments I’ve received from people that I thought, for years, had genuine love for me, only to find out I was being used. But it’s all good. Because I know a man who sits high and looks low. Besides, it ain’t my job to show no revenge. I just sit 78

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back and rock a while. SUAVV: That’s a big thing. Especially in LA; how you treat people is so important. Because as fast as you go up, you can fall back down. Donald: And this is a town about relationships. You better understand and know this. Right before the covid pandemic happened, the legendary movie director, producer, and actor Bill Duke had been attending Don’s plays for years and when he approached Don with the idea of turning screenplays into feature films and creating a partnership, Don talked it over with his business partner Chris Dabney, and the trio created an Atlanta-based film company, GLO-MAR Films (a combination of Don’s mother and Grandmothers names). Don has had amazing opportunities because he has always played the Hollywood game correctly. Also, he treats his actors and staff with respect and dignity. Now, don’t get me wrong, if you are in a Don B. Welch rehearsal and not performing to the best of your ability, you will definitely hear about it. There will be some fussing and a few choice words, but no personal name-calling. Even after being chewed out, when rehearsal is over, he would act as if nothing happened and invite you out to lunch. He leaves the work at work and the personal relationships outside. Don is a coach and he finds the method that his actors need to “get into character”. And that’s the thing, it takes this, because people go to LA with the mentality of their image. And when you get into a production, your image doesn’t matter. No one cares who you are. It’s about the character that you’re portraying and how you bring that character to life. Sometimes, you have to step out of yourself and your comfort zone. Donald: At the end of the day, when you choose this industry as your profession, understand this; It ain’t gonna be easy. You’re going to receive more no’s than yes’. You get out of it what you put into it. No matter what. Just do the work. And for those who believe in God, lean on your faith. He will pull you through every time. I am a walking, breathing witness to this. And always treat people the way you want to be treated. What’s next for Don B. Welch? A film called BabyGirl which explores Black and Brown girls who have been abducted and sold into sex trafficking.

“When you’re writing an autobiography of your life, someone may ask, ‘Well, why now?’ I say, “Well, why not now?”

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NO TIME WASTED TIM TIMBERLAKE

Words by Rashod Davenport

ecall the conversation that you had with your closest friend or family member yesterday. What if that conversation was the last time you spoke to that person? How would you have changed that interaction? Now that you have that thought in your head, what will you do differently the next time you speak to that person? These are the questions that I had for author and pastor Tim Timberlake. Being the son of a preacher, Tim’s tragic and painful personal story surrounding the sudden loss of his father when he was eighteen-year-old, eventually led him to follow a calling that he initially didn’t want to answer. Tim is now the lead pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, (the 10th biggest in the nation). His sense of humor, combined with his in-depth Bible teaching, gives the listener and reader the tools to transform their lives from the inside out. And not just to get through it, but to exhaust every opportunity of potential of that day, moment by moment, fulfilling his God-given purpose. Tim began his journey toward seeing the benefit and blessing of each day and inspires others to do that same through weekly sermons, focusing on new ways of understanding and handling the hardships of life. His teachings can best be summarized, as he says it best, “Win some, learn some . . . but never lose.”

No stranger from putting pen to paper, Tim’s successful first book “Abandon: Laying Aside Your Plan for God’s Purpose” released in 2015 encouraged readers to choose, challenge, and change for a deeper relationship with God. Since then, Tim’s teaching trajectory has changed to adapt to a wider audience. You can currently purchase Tim’s book, “The Power of 1440: Making the Most of Every Minute in a Day” at Barnes & Noble as well as Amazon. Servolution and ARC are currently partnering with Tim and The Power of 1440, to use it as a resource to encourage church planters and in turn, those church planters and churches will be able to use it to resource the communities they are in. Convoy of Hope is also an official partner of the book, and they are using the proceeds from book sales to provide disaster relief to those in need, and to help feed the communities that they are working in.

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TURNING PEACHES INTO WINE Cynthia Bailey-Hill Words by Rashod Davenport 82

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Supermodel, actress, businesswoman, “Real Housewives of Atlanta” star, Cynthia Bailey is an Alabama-born beauty who, newly married to FOX Sports host Mike Hill, is proving that you can find true love again and have it all...while looking amazing doing it. At 53, Cynthia’s illustrious life is the reward of her hard work leading successful business ventures including The Bailey Agency School of Fashion, wine bar The Bailey Wine Cellar, and event space The Bailey Room. After the success of her signature drink, ‘Peach Bellini’, she has also partnered with Seagram’s Escapes for an initiative that supports Black-owned businesses. At the age of 18, Cynthia was scouted by Wilhelmina Models and moved to NYC after signing a 5-year contract with the agency. Her first booking was the cover of Essence magazine, but that was only the beginning. From walking in Fashion Week runway shows in New York, Paris, and Milan to modeling in Vogue, Glamour, and Elle, her career began to skyrocket. In 2001, famed photographer Annie Leibovitz shot Cynthia alongside other Black supermodels Iman, Beverly Johnson, Naomi Campbell, and Tyra Banks for an iconic cover of Vanity Fair. While breaking out as one of America’s top models, Cynthia also got her feet wet in the acting world, with her first co-starring role in the film WITHOUT YOU I’M NOTHING, opposite Sandra Bernhardt. From there she booked roles on “The Cosby Show,” FOR LOVE OR MONEY, “Star” and “Tails”. However, there is no acting assignment in her past that could have prepared her for what she was going to endure with Bravo TV’s hit reality show The Real

Housewives of Atlanta. Cynthia learned quickly that the word “friend” may be used a little more loosely than she has been used to. Also, Friend and Friendly are two very different things. Cynthia still works as a successful in-demand model and with her own model agency, The Bailey Agency School of Fashion dominating many hours of her day, she continues to seek out and inspire Atlanta’s most promising talent. Busy as ever, Cynthia is ecstatic to continue building her entrepreneurial empire, opening Bailey Wine Cellar and event space The Bailey Room for all Atlanta wine enthusiasts. After a whirlwind romance with Mike Hill, she’s on cloud nine after recently marrying him in a beautiful service in Atlanta and looks forward to celebrating this next chapter of her life. With a season wrapped, she can settle down and focus on her endeavors instead of the drama or reality television. We were able to sit down with Cynthia on the Virtual SUAVV Couch and talk about all of these things and more. Joined by our friend and reality television connoisseur, DJ Richie Skye from Reality Talk with DJ Richie Skye, we get to ask all of the great questions and learn more about how this Supermodel has turned into a Superwoman.

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MAGAZINE

SUAVV Magazine: The Fearless Issue

Articles inside

Suited to Win

Do Black Lives TRULY Matter ?

Pump Up The Volume

Conductor of Her Own Lane

Behind the Curtains

Forged in Fire

Interior Therapy

The Power of SAX