A Little Brown in Your Burlesque

The sultry and sexy Dr. Sunyatta Amen's Belly Dancers of Color are gearing up for the annual BocaFest in Silver Spring this weekend from May 27-May 29, 2011

Instead of belly dance, I plan on taking the provocative "Brown Girl Burlesque" Workshop by Chicava on Saturday at 3pm. The workshop claims to "help you unveil your sultry diva and put her on display."




Burlesque is typically a comedic, variety-based performance art that has been co-opted by everyone from Cher to some chicks from Brooklyn. The BOCA Fest will feature 3 opportunities to work with professional Burlesque dancers and find your inner secret sex kitten! If you can't catch the Burlesque workshop, try the Black Madonna Dance with Greg or the belly dance powerhouse Rachid Alexander.

Try to squeeze in some exercise between Memorial Day cookouts and catch the one and only Boca Fest with over 50 classes and options to choose from.
http://www.bocasupport.com/BOCA_Support/2011_Class_Grid.html

Boca Fest with Dr. Sunyatta Amen
Register Here http://www.eventbrite.com/event/1435931911/eorg
May 27-May 29, 2011
Crown Plaza Hotel
8777 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring 20910

Causing a Ruckus on Captiol Hill

One of DC's most imaginative artists, Aniekan Udofia, will show at Long and Foster's "Capitol Canvas For A Cause" this Friday, May 20, 2011 from 6-8pm. Aniekan Udofia will showcase his urban art collection and donate 50 percent of the proceeds to support the college access non-profit "The Posse Foundation".


I became a groupie of Udofia's work after I viewed his exhibit "Can You Dig It?" at the Studio Gallery back in December 2010. His art blends technique, hip-hop, and history with a global social message.

Friday's show will be great and a rare opportunity to decorate your walls while supporting a meaningful organization The Posse Foundation in Washington D.C.

Check it out:
Capitol Canvas For a Cause ( directly across the street from Eastern Market Metro)
721 D Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Maceo Thomas Long and Foster- Capitol Hill
Friday May 20, 2011
6:00-8:30pm


For more info contact:
Maceo Thomas
Sales Associate, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
721 D Street, SE
Washington, DC 20003
www.maceothomas.com
c: 202-285-4529

Ward 8 Environmental Roundtable

A DC Water rep will be on hand to answer and account for the current state of Anacostia's water and a "Long Term Control Plan". Basciallly, we need to find out what can the residents of Anacostia can do to improve the quality of our water.

Ward 8 Environmental Council with George Hawkins, Director of DC Water

Wednesday, May 18, 2011 @ 10:30 am

SE Office of Councilmember Marion Barry

2100 MLK Jr. Avenue, S.E.

3rd Floor Conference Room

Washington, D.C. 20020

RSVP by calling 202-698-1668
or email: brendarichardson7@yahoo.com

Overworked and Overwhelmed: Blogging Break

Due to a ridiculous amount of work and travel, this yogi is taking a temporary blogging break. But, look out for a full report of East of the River summertime activities!

A Dream Deferred...

It's the aftermath of Bin Laden's death, I am on a plane out of DCA and the airline pilot reminds us that the security alert is high. He implies that anyone acting out of line will be reprimanded, by any means necessary.

Later on that day, I touch down in Atlanta, Georgia, the stomping grounds for the American Civil Rights movement.

I am sitting in Ebenezer Baptist Church, the same church pew as Coretta Scott King as she heard her husband Dr. Martin Luther King belt out divine words of non-violent rebellion and preserverance.

Coincidentally in the same pew, she sat with her children as they listened to King's eulogy. Mahalia Jackson's voice echoes of watchful spiritual eyes.




I walk to Dr. Rev Martin Luther King's Eternal Flame.

I am emotional and decide to update my facebook and I see posts like "Fuck Yeah Merica, put his head on a stick". I look at the King's tomb and whisper, "don't turn over yet."


While crossing the street to view the American-tax payer funded museum, a man asks me for money. Oh the irony. There is a poster on the museum door reminding me not to give my money to panhandlers. So I distract myself and gaze at an amazing 15 foot mural of Dr. King's journey. A white family walks by and I think, "isn't this the DREAM that you died for?"


By now, I am just overanyalizing everything. It's time to see the inside of the museum. While watching the short movie vignette, I notice a group of Asian tourists. They react emotionally as the film compares the civil rights movement to Tiananmen Square. The tour also reminds us of King's global quest for insight by visiting Ghandi.

I whisper to myself, "FUCK YEAH,'MERICA, we are good people who do good things around the world, right?"


I close out the tour with Letters from the Birmingham jail, the mobilizing of sanitation workers and his meetings with Kennedy.





Yet, tokens of his life, his words, and his legacy haunt me.



Back at my hotel, the tv screens and the background conversations are celebrating, debating, and contemplating a victory for America. Fuck, America?

What's happened to the dream?