We know the legacy of MJ, what will your's be?

Two years ago today, Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, died. Most of the radio stations I listen to will be playing his music all weekend long and taking calls from listeners to share their best memories of him. Michael's passion for music, dance, and philanthropy undoubtedly inspired others to follow in his footsteps.

A little over a week ago, I attended a memorial service for Ms. Angela Mills, a woman that was like a second mother to my sister and I while we attended Howard University (HU). Ms. Angela as I called her was a seamstress from Ghana who made the most beautiful clothes out of Kente for her clients. Once my sister and I even got to model her clothes for some photographs that were used as a part of her Master's thesis. In addition to being a student at HU, she also worked in the Medical School and in Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel.


Last week close to one hundred family members, friends and colleagues attended Ms. A's memorial service in that same chapel. During and after the service people shared how Ms. A's  warm smile always made their day a bit brighter. People also explained that wearing her clothes literally made them like African royalty.


I was very lucky to have Ms. A in my life. I know now  that my sister, those that were close to her and myself have an angel watching over us. The other realization I've had since her passing is "What will my legacy be once I depart this earth? 


Ms. A was a seamstress and clothing designer who made people feel good about themselves and their history.


Most of you reading this never knew Ms. A,  but you do know about a man named Micheal Jackson. A musician whose dance moves brought enjoyment to our lives.  A musician whose songs will always get the party started. A musician whose words inspired others to create a better world if they did not like what they were seeing. This is Micheal's legacy.

What will your legacy be once you depart this earth?   

                                            

Do not let fear, lack of planning, lack of money or societal expectations prevent you from creating your legacy NOW.

Here's some inspiration for the both of us. The following is an excerpt from my favorite Micheal Jackson song-"Man in the Mirror." 


I'm Starting With The Man In The Mirror  

I'm Asking Him To Change His Ways

And No Message Could Have Been Any Clearer

If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place

(If You Wanna Make The World A Better Place) 

Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change 

(Take A Look At Yourself, And Then Make A Change) 

Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Hoo! Na Na Na, Na Na Na, Na Na, Na Nah (Oh Yeah!)

Gonna Feel Real Good Now! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! Yeah Yeah! 

I've Got To Make That Change, Today!                                                

Courtesy of http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/michaeljackson/maninthemirror.html

In memory of Ms. Angela A. Mills: August 31, 1950 to May 28, 2011. Thanks for all the LOVE.

Alvin Ailey at BAM

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre recently finished a run at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music). Before they left Brooklyn I got a chance to watch a performance.

As soon as the house lights dimmed, I had a flashback to the first time I saw this company. Immediately images of toned women dressed in yellow floor length dresses and sculpted men in gold vests with Black ties and slacks came to my mind. For those of you that are not familiar with Alvin Ailey’s work, the attire that I just described is worn in one sequence that goes along to the song “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham” from “Revelations” portion which was choreographed by Alvin Ailey back in 1960. Something about the music and the jubilation of the dancers in that sequence always makes me feel…well, joyful.

“Revelations” is usually performed at the end, so first I had the pleasure of watching “Mary Lou’s Mass” which was also choreographed by Alvin Ailey in 1971 and then “Dancing Spirit,” a new piece choreographed by Ronald K. Brown just in 2009.

Since I saw Alvin Ailey on a Sunday, “Mary Lou’s Mass”—which was based entirely on scriptures and included old spirituals with words like “For our lack of Faith…For our lack of Hope…Lord Have Mercy”— was appropriately placed at the opening of the program. My favorite sequence in “Mary Lou’s Mass” was done to the Bible story of “a selfish rich man and a beggar man named Lazarus.” The rich man stood tall and proud in his purple robe throughout the sequence always admiring his gold rings and jewels; while Lazarus wore a dark colored cloak and constantly begged the rich man for food or money. By the end of the sequence, the tables had turned. The rich man was begging the Lord and Lazarus for forgiveness when he realized that he would not be entering heaven since he was so selfish to Lazarus. Now it was Lazarus’s time to stand tall and proud. Yes the scripture says that “The meek shall eat and be satisfied, they shall praise the LORD… (Psalm 22:26)

I also enjoyed “Dancing Spirit” which had drum and flute infused music. Or so I thought, the program says that “Dancing Spirit” included music by Duke Ellington, Wynton Marsalis, Radiohed and War. So now I’m a bit confused but the fact remains that the dancers moved to a different beat for this piece. There was a lot more jumping, movement of the waist and use of the hands. “Dancing Spirit” has this great energy.

I loved the entire performance but I couldn’t help to notice that most of the audience did not match the color of the primarily African-American company of dancers. Why is this?

My community has long been associated with the performing arts since the Harlem Renaissance but yet we only represent a handful of the patrons in the audience. This has been my experience whenever I go the theatre. Do you notice the same thing whenever you go to the theatre?

Intro

My name is Shari Logan and with this blog I intend to cover everything from Christianity TO spirituality TO food TO health issues related to the foods such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol TO mental issues like depression TO cultural events TO entertainment TO race relations TO local news TO whatever else catches my interest.

Here are some truths about me and why I write:

1.) I’m a Christian woman who believes in God and the fact that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross for my sins. But at times I become very impatient waiting on the “Word” to fulfill itself. That’s when I choose to disregard everything that I read in the Bible and then unfortunately I follow the way of the world. Am I Christian or a sinner? Both?



2.) I’m finally ready to do God’s work even though I’m unsure of what exactly that task is, but I know this much: I was born to tell stories. So with the scripture of 1 Timothy 4: 14-15 in mind which says: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. 15 Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress,” I have created this blog but pray for me since I struggle with consistency.

3.) I have caramel colored skin, dark brown almond shaped eyes, and dark hair that I wear natural. I was born and I still live in Brooklyn, NY, USA. So this country considers me African-American. But my mother and father are from the islands of St. Vincent and Jamaica respectively. So am I Caribbean –American? I think so but my mom says there no such thing. She is a naturalized citizen now and she says that both of us are African-American. My mom thinks the category of African-America is just fine for every Black person living in America regardless of where they were born.

4.) Now that you know who I descended from, I must let you know that I love to EAT. My favorite breakfast consists of fried bakes, smoke herring and cocoa tea. But by lunchtime I’m craving for an all beef burger and seasoned French fries and an ice cold coco-cola. As I write this, it’s a Thursday, and I’m reminded of my college days. On Thursdays at Howard University in Washington D.C. lunch consisted of fried chicken, Mac and Cheese, greens, sweet potato and occasionally black eyed peas. Nothing but comfort. Or is it?

The Office of Minority Health says that in 2006 African American men were 30% more likely to die from heart disease, as compared to non-Hispanic white men. Also, African American adults are twice as likely than non-Hispanic white adults to have been diagnosed with diabetes. http://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/templates/browse.aspx?lvl=3&lvlid=23



5.) I am a proud Black American who will not deny any part of her ancestry starting back from the West Coast of Africa where my people were forced on to large ships and packed like sardines to advance the capitalistic greed of European men. To the islands of the Caribbean where my people worked in the blistering sun to harvest a land that still isn’t theirs even in 2010. To the lunch counters of the South where young men and women like myself were spat upon or sometimes beaten to death because by ignorant White people that felt a Black person should not be afforded the same opportunities and privileges as they had received. So I wonder if America will ever be able to fit me into one of their nice boxes that appear on the census form every 10 years? I doubt it.

6.) I also love the performing arts, trips to the museum, documentaries and movies. With that said I equally love the thought provoking works of Spike Lee and Tyler Perry, even though many educated people like myself call his work buffoonery. I love to laugh, so am I a sell out? I don’t think so. I just understand that both of those men have a gift. One man has gift to educate while the other has a gift to entertain.

7.) Last but not least. I told you that I was born to tell stories. Therefore, I’m attracted to people that tell compelling stories. My two favorite books are “Banana Bottom” by Claude McKay and “The House of Mirth” by Edith Wharton. However my favorite author is Pearl Cleage. Some of the best musical story tellers I have come to know are Tupac Shakur and Scarface. My other favorite artists include Michael Jackson, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, Chrisette Michelle, Whitney Houston, Yolonda Adams, Donald Lawrence, Buju Banton, Bob Marley, Beres Hammond, Sanchez, Lucky Dube and countless others.

I hope you will enjoy stepping into my world and my mind. As this intro comes to a close I would like to leave you with some words from Jamaican poet Staceyann Chin. “I’d like to be that girl that never ever cries. I want to go down in history in a chapter marked miscellaneous because the writers could find no other way to categorize me in this world where classification is key. I want to erase those straight lines so I can be me. ”