Bubblelicious Silhouette

Olivia is always a willing participant in my photographic experiments.  She usually goes with the flow, gives me ideas & sometimes she improves & it really works out.

This is a shot that I did the other way in an attempt to practice working on silhouette shots.

I took me about 25 tries but I think I nailed it.  I plan on practicing a bit more with this photo motif I picked up a new toy to kick up the bubbles a notch. 

Stay tuned for some bubblelicious photos!

Pudding Time

Amelia has a very interesting personality.  She neither acts like me or Suite Suzy, and very much unlike Olivia.

My little Boo Boo is sporadic, emotional, dangerous & lovable all at the same time but like most 3 year olds, she can drive you to that I wish you would point.  And just as you say, I wish you would, she does & that's when all hell breaks loose!

Gotta love it!

2 Girls, 2 Beauty Tales

Part 1: I hate when my kids are right & I am wrong about anything!  This evening when I got home, I had a photo session with Olivia & she begged me to le her put on some lip-gloss for the photos.  I told her no & she pouted until I threatened to cut her lips off.  As some point Sade came out side & handed Olivia the lip-gloss & I said don’t even.

After 10 minutes into what we were doing, she asked again & I said go ahead because I got sick of her asking.  So with the quickness, she put on her strawberry lip-gloss & seconds later her lip-gloss was popping all over the place.  We took a few more photos & called it a wrap., as I put up my camera, she tanked me for letting her put on the lip gloss & I thanked her for modeling for me.

Call me protective or whatever but I want my girls to stay little!

So anyway, earlier tonight I was processing my images & could not help to notice that all of the photos that I took of Olivia with the lip-gloss looked so much better than the ones without.  I guess it added that something special that she only she knew about.

After I finished working on a few images, I called her down to see how things turned out & she was excited about the results.  Before she left to go back upstairs, I told her she was right about the lip-gloss & apologized for being an asshole it.

Part II: Last Sunday Sade went to get her hair twisted, but before then she was rocking 2 old school style Afro puffs & I thought she looked really cute but she did not.

When I washed her hair 2 weeks ago, she was like all of the kids on the school bus (summer school) were going to tease her etc.  After her whining, I went into my love your beauty sermon but she was not feeling it AT ALL.  Well, the bottom line is, no matter what she had to wait 2 weeks for her appointment because my loctician was booked like a mutha & her cornrows were busted.

So Saturday night before the appointment I ceased the moment to get a few photos of Sade in her puffs, which is normally hard because she all but runs from the camera.

I took a few photos & that was that.

On the way to her appointment Sunday, I told her how much I love her puffs & she said that she did too.  That was the 1st time I heard her say that.  Most times when she is between braids she wears puffs for at most 2 days, so the 2 week wait was just to much for the chocolate diva.

She now has her twists in & we cannot tell her anything.  She has been dressing up all week & rocking her little dangly earrings.

What is it with Black girls & their hair???

Dance Boo Boo, Dance...

A few weeks ago Boo Boo started kinderdance at the rec center.  She says that she likes it but on parent watch day she clamed up & did not perform with the other kids.  She was not the worst offender of the little dancer wannabees.  There were a few cry babies calling for their mama, a few doing their own dance & a few who were making it happen.

It was kinda funny watch her in the middle of everyone dancing around her.

Suite Suzy wants her to stat back up in the fall with it but I think not, unfortunately, I have no say in the matter.

Mixed Bag of Entertainment

Last Friday Sade & I hung out for the day for some brother/sister ("Brother/Sister" is my favorite Brand New Heavies Album!) time.  We started with that voter registration drive that I mentioned below.  After the voter registration piece, we did a little lunch & then decided to go to the movies to see “Hancock”.  After seeing previews of “Hancock” I was not all that thrilled to see it but Sade seemed pretty excited about it, so we hit it up.

I walked into the theater with no real expectation to be entertained but I was open minded (I guess).  The movie kinda started off with some of the stuff that was played on TV for press but started to take off after the 1st thirty minutes.

The ending story line was a trip (in a good way) & unexpected.  I left the theater feeling satisfied that my 13.50  was well spent/  I also walked away wondering when I will see a Will Smith movie when he has a BLACK love interest.  “Enemy of the State” & “Independence Day” is not enough IMO.

Ok enough of that….

After the movie, I decided to head to the Detroit Taste Fest or City Fest, whatever.  Sade did not want to go but, guess who had the car keys boo!

So 45 minutes later we arrive at the Taste Fest & make our rounds to the various vendors, did some people watching & chit chatting with random friends.  We chilled for a couple of hours then it was time to go & I was getting tired.

As we were walking out, I spotted the concert schedule for one of the stages & it said Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 performing @ 530.  I was like Sade, we gotta see this, which resulted in her doing some eye rolling & teeth sucking.  I could not be mad at that because I felt her.  It was a long day.

We had like 20 minutes before the show started & managed to get seats up front which were cool because I did not have my 70-200mm lens.

It’s now 530 & the show is actually starting, then Egypt 80 (Fela Kuti’s original band) walks out to energize the crowd.  They performed a few songs & were JAMMING!  They sounded so damn good!!!

So after a few cuts, Seun was introduced as he walked on stage with these tight ass wrinkled angel flight pants with a coordinating polyester shirt.  I was thinking to myself, I know this nigga did not come all the way here with no damn iron. If the pants were ironed he would have looked more together.  I’m just saying.

Anyway, Seun put on a great show & had the crowd going.  His vocals almost made it seem like I was listening to his father.  The song themes were similar if not the same and still empowering.

During the performance Seun danced his ass off & so much that it seemed like his pants got tighter.  Eventually the polyester shirt came off & the ladies were like take it off baby!  Minutes later, I think we all got more than we bargained for.

After the shirt came off the next song that he set off was a cover of Fela’s ”Suffering & Smiling”.  During the instrumental intro, Sade was like didn’t we just hear that in the car,  then she said, I thought he was dead, which made me laugh.  “Suffering & Smiling” is my jam so I joined the crowd by dancing, singing, & cheering on the band.

Half way through the body of the song Seun started doing this weird booty thrust dance move & next thing you know his dick was hard & popping up & down.  The ladies were really geeked now.  I could not believe that I was watching a skinny, singing, shirtless nigga with a hard dick popping around on stage in the middle of Detroit.  I was like I gotta get out of here because it was a little too much & I was with my child.  The last thing I want to expose my kids to is light pornography.

As I was leaving the area. I ran into a friend/local international celeb who knows Seun & Femi Kuti & he said that Seun is good but cannot compete with his brother.  Apparently, Femi is more energetic, has better looking girls & a little more original.  And according to this friend who I will call AF, said that Femi is not as nasty & horny on stage.  I laughed & we parted ways.

So catching up to the other day, I posted a comment about me seeing Seun on the “Black Cool” Blog’s  “Happy 4th Everyone!” post:

“Ooooo you know I love Fela! I saw his son Seun perform in Detroit on the 4th.

He covered Suffering & Smiling & set it off. The women in the crowd or up least up front where I was were very excited especially when he got a spontaneous erection.

I was so turned off & pissed off. I was with one of my kids.

Anyway...
Bygbaby”

Then the Invisible Woman followed my comment by saying “Love it! and I am referring to the video and not bygbaby's comment...lol!” 

Then the Invisible Woman came here & called me out with the following comment:

“Hey yo....why didn't you write about seeing Seun Kuti? I was lmao at your comment on Black Kool---I told you I went to see him too...want to hear about your perspective....I wrote about mine on my blog.

Dude does seem pretty horny tho--those tight ass pants were the first indication!”

She cracked me up with that last line because I was thinking the same damn thing miles away.  So then I go peep her post out & read the following

“…Seun is an entertainer, but what caught my attention more was the fact that Mr. Kuti looked like he'd been raiding his father's 70's closet. He had on a bright polyester floral shirt unbuttoned down to his navel, and the tightest white Angel Flight pants one could ever witness in their life. I haven't seen anything like it since "Saturday Night Fever". Tho admittedly, but the end of the show, he was half-naked, which seems to be some sort of trademark of his….”

I guess the bottom line is ladies or gents, if you are into hot dick & nuts along with some ass popping, check out Seun when he hits your town.  No seriously, he did put on a good show but homeboy is mos def hot in the pants!

Oh and by the way, speaking of hot, his new album "Many Things" a must have for the Afro Beat lover.

Avid Gardener

I used to wear gardening gloves all the time when working in my gardens.  I used to hate having dirt embedded in my finger prints & stuck under my nails. 

Over the past few summers, I stopped wear gloves because I wanted to be closer to the earth, I wanted to understand it, feel it anoint it with my green thumb.  The only time not wearing gloves has a draw back is when I get splinters from mulch.  Ouch, I hate splinters!

I have seen similar images to this one on some of my favorite stock sites & just love the concept.

Today, I decided to take the theme into my own hands.  Well at least Sade's hands. I am finding that my kids come in handy (no pun intended) when it comes to setting up certain shots that I want to create as well as assisting me when necessary.

Stolen Moment

I don't take a lot of photos of my youngest daughter Amelia because she runs from the camera. Now I catching her whenever I can. When she sees this in a few years, I will be in trouble!

Go Baby, Go Baby: Follow-Up

My kids have us on the grind! Today Sade had a regional pom dance competition & her team can in 3rd place for her division. She was bummed of course but they did great! Well at least Sade did. A few of her crew jacked up but hey, they are just kids.

After the competition was over, she mentioned that she wanted to join one of the bigger better teams, which Suite Suzy think would be a good move but them meet many times per week a short distance from where we live. We have to investigate the option & based on that I will have to get my money right cuz that shit ain't cheap. I was hearing like 300 per month & of that is the case, well, ummm.........

In other kiddie news, Olivia scored 6 of 8 points in her basketball game today. My baby is doing quite well! Although I cannot follow what happens in many sports or really care, I am excited for her. Last week she was recruited to join a league after this little rec center season is over.

These activities will keep a niggas pockets & gas tank empty but it's worth it.

Snow Day

I am sick & fucking tired of this mutha fuckin’ snow!!! I had to pull the snow blower out twice this week & from the sounds of it, I will have to whip that bitch out again by Sunday.

The snow fucked up my plans with the kids today & forced me to come up with a plan B since I took the day off work to hang with them. We planned to go to the Detroit Science Center to have some fun, then get into some lunch @ Union Street. Well since the snow was off the hook up until like 12, we had to squash that plan. The new & weaker plan was to go to the movies & the lunch @ Red Robin (they chose).

So now it’s 12, the sidewalk & driveway have been cleared, I had my 2 bowls of cereal & we out the door headed to see the 1230 showing of “The Spiderwick Chronicles” (I chose). I had been wanting to see this movie for a few weeks but Olivia & Sade were reluctant & finally gave into to avoid staying home all day cleaning. I was happy they caved, because I did not want to see this one by myself as I did not want to look like a pervert pedophile at a kids movie.

“The Spiderwick Chronicles” did not disappoint at all, in fact I loved it & so did the kids! I love those fantasy/monster/creature type flicks.

After the movie, we did lunch & some quick shopping & made it home by 4 to only see that the work I out in clear the snow was a waste because it started piling back up. Damn!

The kids are off again next month for a week & we are planning to make that trip to the Detroit Science Center happen & hopefully follow that up with a trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Dont Look @ Me That Way

Today, Olivia & I had a ghetto style but fun photo shoot in the dining room. She was a very willing model & listened as I told her to “work it”, “give me fierce”, “smile with your eyes”, “too much chin” & “no pouty lips” all in ANTM fashion.

Soon, Olivia, Sade & Amelia will get sick of me asking them to strike a pose.

Go Baby, Go Baby

Sade had a small dance competition today & the instructor did the make up for the girls. She went a little overboard on the glitter, but once we got home little glitter was & I thought it looked great for a photo op.

Oh BTW, her pompon team won 1st place in her division! In 3 weeks she is going to regionals & if they win this, they are off to Orlando for the national competition. Sade is excited about the possibility but doubtful they will make it all they way. Suite Suzy & I are trying to convince her to be more positive so that she can focus on making it happen. After all, we need a vacation!!!

My Avid Learner

In my house, my children learn about Black history & beyond daily, not just the month of February. In addition, it is important for my children to know that Malcolm X, Frederic Douglas, MLK, Rosa Parks, Thurgood Marshall, Harriet Tubman, Mae Jemison, and a few chosen others are not the only figures that were important in terms of Black & current history.

So to help with their learning process, I make sure they attend exhibits, read books, & do independent research reports on random Africans across the Diaspora. Once my girls finish their researching, they present their information to the family and then we do a Q&A session, as we all have something to learn.

The last report given was tonight by Olivia on Angela Davis & she did an awesome job! I assigned her to do Angela Davis because last week, she was in a feminist rage telling me that I needed to take out the trash because she, her mom, & aunt Sade were strong women. After she finished letting me have it, I asked her if she was Angela Davis all of the sudden. She then asked me who Angela Davis was & from there a 2 page written paper assigned.

I also told her that she had to were here her like Angela did in the 70’s which she was excited about. She did such an awesome job with her vocabulary, that I could not help but to smile during her 10 minute talk.

I think in a couple of years, we will be doing a works cited page in the MLA format. Gotta prepare for the future, right???

Up next is Sade, this coming Friday & she is reporting on the Black Panther Party, because she asked Olivia questions about them & Olivia did not know, so another lesson is on the way. I am excited to here what she pulls together for us.

Spank My Monkey

So I had a great but exhausting as fuck weekend. My photo shoot was great, I have 70 jars of Quench Essentials on the way to LA. It’s Monday night & I still have not started my paper that’s due Wednesday & I am spinning out of control with all of these commitments. This week will be less intense as I have decided not to photograph any events/people so that I can have some family time, clear my gardens & catch my damn breath.

In a few, I have to get off the damn internet to get my mind right to pull this paper together. But before I go, I want to introduce you to a new friend I meet Saturday while shooting a Detroit Institute of the Arts FJC party at the ultra hip & chic furniture store Mezzanine.

My new friend’s name s Chiba & he is a real cutie. When we made eye contact, I knew we would be pals forever. After I paid for him, the relationship was cemented.

Chiba may look familiar to you if your parents purchased expensive Danish toys for you as a child and you will remember that he was/is known as a Rosendahl Monkey originally made by famed silversmith & toy maker Kay Bojesen. If you on the other hand grew up broke living the Ghetto life like me (or kinda) then Chiba is something new & a great toy adults who love toys or bourgeoisie YBP who loves to floss & flaunt bullshit.

After I negotiated down to a more Negro friendly price, Joe, the owner of Mezzanine told me of the story of this little throw back to the 1950’s & I was more excited about the purchase.

So after Chiba was bagged up & I was out the door, the only thing I thought about was like what am I gonna name him & what would I say if Suite Suzy asked how much I paid for him. Well last night she asked & I blew it off the way I always do when I spend foolishly. After no good response from me, she was like I know you & I know you paid some money for that! Then I turned the conversation to the kids & was hey like kids, who wants to help me name my monkey (she was still looking at me with that look).

It was funny hearing their responses but we came up with nothing. Tonight during dinner, Olivia & I brainstormed & we came up with Chiba. I like it & it’s fun just like him.

The name that I came up with originally & only shared with Suite Suzy was Spank…. Get it; Spank, the monkey…….. Suite Suzy was like hell no; do not name him that! Now we are all settled on the name now I think Chiba needs a friend, so you know what that means. Not sure if I will get another but I am thinking, which is not always a good thing.…

On a final toy note, I am going t trip you out with my next toy friend photo. I’m waiting for him to arrive any day not. I will give you a hint. My latest in real life had you Hypnotized in the 90’s baby BAY-BAY! Uhh.

Am I alone in this toy thing. Do you have any & sex toys do not count!

Falling [Track] Star

Like most Negroes I know, I defended Marion Jones & lifted her up when she denied abusing steroids during the Sydney Olympics & after. In my eyes, this sister just could do no wrong & she had the best Nike commercials!

Over the last few years, I was proud of how she stood her ground & was never proven wrong by way of physical evidence of being hopped up on performance enhancers.

So over the past few weeks, the controversy popped back up in the media & then the big surprise admission that she was doping. I remember I was driving home from work listening to NPR the evening when the news dropped. I was so fucking shocked that I peeped on myself a little bit.

Lately, I have just been so disappointed in her as a viewed her as a powerful black woman , role model, super athlete & a symbol for triumph. Today I view her as a liar & junky & my feelings got a little more intense when I heard her little admission first hand on NPR's Fresh Air.

She was sobbing & shit & noted that she will be returning each medal that she won blah, blah, blah. During all of her rambling on, I blurted out, YOU ARE A FUCKING LIAR! WHAT I AM I GOING TO TELL MY DAUGHTER WHO ENJOYS TRACK & FIELD? What will I tell Olivia?

Now that I calmed down somewhat, I really feel sorry for Marian. She is losing everything because she decided to cheat (she made her own bed). Her image is forever tarnished, she has let down so many in the track & field community & she is facing at least 6 months in the slammer. What will I tell Olivia?

Well I know I am possibly being a little dramatic but I hate, hate, hate liars & cheats. During Marion's admission statement she mentioned that she loved track & field, which I now think is a fucking lie. If you love something or someone, you would not do anything to tarnish, abuse it & run around telling bold faced lies.

During dinner tonight, I will lead a discussion on being honest in all you do & staying true to yourself.

Lastly, as I get older & see so many Negroes fall from grace & get busted doing some foul shit. I am no longer going to defend them & wind up looking like a fool by the time all is said & done.

The 1st photo is of Olivia doing the long jump & the 2nd is of her with her 4th place medal. Suite Suzy & I are so proud of our little track star. The funny thing about her win was just before she won, she hoped that she was at least in the top 5th place.

You Never Know Who You Will Meet

This past Saturday, my oldest daughter Olivia (click this link) & I hung out at the Peoples Art Fair in Detroit. The goal of the day was for us to both take some awesome pictures, chillax, people watch etc.

The art fair was awesome & there was so much to see, actually some of it was too much to see but you know how art is.

So we are making our way around slowly & I notice someone trying to get my attention, then when I was with it & looked up, I saw it was my blogging/online friend & fellow photographer Dr. Lester K Spence. He was there with the same purpose as us.

This was an awesome surprise cuz I hardly meet or see online friend in the flesh.

We had an awesome time chatting about people, life & photography, I wish I could do this more often with other like minded people. My new love (photography) is such a bridge builder!!!

While at the Art Fair, I notice several local photographers peddling there photo wares which gave me a shot of confidence cuz now I know I can do it. So next summer, watch out Detroit, I am coming to sale my shit!

Lester, how was that reunion??? Olivia wants to know!!! LOL

Anyway, here is my one of my favorite shots of the day which I think had a subliminal message.

What does this piece say to you? My first thought was like, wow, a black child holding the key to the future.

You can see my other shots from the art fair on my Flickr page here & you can see Lester's shots here.

Olivia's shots are coming soon & she cannot wait. For now, I need to do this damn paper!

A View from the Top

I finally went through all of the pictures on my camera & uploaded to my online photo album. Check out the new family snapshots @ the links if you are interested in a sneak peek into my ultra fabulous life.

• Olivia & Sade B-Ball
• Amelia & Her Oatmeal
• 2006 Kwanzaa Party
• My Recent Surgery

Enjoy,
Bygbaby

How I Spent My Saturday

This weekend my little sister Sade got the chance to showcase her pom pon skills at the Great Lakes Cheer Competition with her team from the Ypsilanti Township Recreation Center.

Sade is a dance natural & is usually at the head of the pack in her little teams & this time she really set it off. I would love to share with you some pictures from this joyous moment in my baby’s life.

To celebrate her victory, Sade decided to buy an outfit at the Osh Kosh outlet store while Suite Suzy & I X-mas shopped. What better than a new outfit to make you feel even better!

Dancing with my Daughters

Last night I was lucky enough to take my daughters to see the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater perform at the Detroit Opera House. Fortunately for me, the AADT was able to add additional shows in Detroit after they had already left several weeks ago. When I got this 2nd chance I immediately purchased my tickets & decided to surprise my girls with this wonderful gift.

The evening started off by leaving home @ 530 to make our way to Union Street Saloon (Detroit) for dinner, where the meals are always good & the service is almost always bad (in my opinion, my friends beg to differ). We got to Union Street about 615 & it was not that busy, so I knew we could get out within a hour (the show started at 730) so that we could park & get our will call tickets.

Well last night was no exception to the bad service @ Union Street, our server Aaron was nice but slow as hell, I had to keep flagging him down for water, he only checked on us like once on his own & took forever to bring the bill & accept my payment. After all was said & done at the restaurant, it was 730, so yhea, we are late.

I made a mad dash past the Crack Heads panhandling outside the restaurant to the car &made it downtown, parked & got our tickets by 745 (I am out of breath by now from rushing). As we make our way into the Opera House, we were told that there was no late admittance to the show. Naturally, I had to talk my way out of this & was successful ads we got temporary seats in the upper balcony (yes the nose bleeds).

We walked in as the company performed “The Winter in Lisbon”, which was a poly-rhythmic emotional & dramatic piece. This piece was in four parts, the “Opening Theme” (which we missed), “San Sebastian”, “Lisbon” & “Manteca”. “Manteca” was definitely the crescendo in this piece & as it ended a massive image of Dizzy Gillespie appeared on stage which made the crowd more excited. The lights dim as the curtains close & the kids need to use the restroom.

At the intermission we went to look for our seats, and then I noticed that we actually had shitty seats. Since the show was not packed, we took it upon ourselves to get much better seats in the lower balcony. When the curtain came up, I was like hell yeah; our new seats were the bomb! The 2nd set was/is titled “Ife/My Heart”, which started off with an African prayer & solo dance performance that was very engaging, THEN the company performed to “My House - To My Father's House” by Nikki Giovanni.

I had never heard this song/poem before & immediately fell in love with it as I watched the dancers leap like Gazelles on the African pains. I mean, the performers were so graceful & dynamic, that they did not even seem real, a figment of my imagination. My daughters where in awe during this segment, then it transitioned to a very urban tone as they were now dancing to Ursula Rucker’s “Release”. This segment was truly off the hook & symbolic as they appeared to me to be simulating the World Trade Center attack & urban life/plight all at one time. I think I shouted out “YES” as I was wrapped up in the moment. The lights dim as the curtains close & I catch my breath.

So after a brief pause, the show started back up with the “Solo” segment, which kinda reminded me of the Nut Cracker (actually this is a double-entendre because this segment was just the guys & they were in these skin tight pants & all you saw was nuts). I think the entire crown tripped on this piece as I listened to the whispers around me. The guys were doing this penguin-esque type maneuver that made me and many others laugh. Each performer had the stage to himself for several moments then another performer danced onto he stage as the initial one made a dramatic exit, time & time again.

The crowd applauded several times though this piece as the performers were making these intense moves, jumps, turns, twist, gyrations. The lights dim as the curtains close & I need to use the restroom.

The final piece was something I actually saw on video last year in my AA Lit class taught by one of my She-roes: "Revelations". When I saw it in class, I was like wow I would love to see it on stage & almost a year to the date later here I am. This piece to me was tribute to Negro spirituality & how we have overcame adversities & will face the future using our faith as our guide. “Revelations” was developed in 1960 by Alvin Ailey Himself & is a staple of the Dance Company. My favorite segments in “Revelations” were “Processional/Honor, Honor” & “Wade in the Water”.

Seeing the dancers make such a dynamic statement with simple stage props was simply amazing. “Wade in the Water” was really dramatic as one of the dancers appeared to be floating across the stage with a soft flowing umbrella with her flowing white dress as men carried around these poles with waving feathers, & then there was the water itself. The water (blue fabrics) moved as though they were actual something Gaia made herself. Another highlight of “Revelations” was “Sinner Man”, which depicted a lone man trapped in hell, running from the Devil as he looked for a way out.

Revelations consists of the parts:

• Pilgrim of Sorrow - 3 song/dance parts
• Take me to the Water - 3 song/dance parts
• Move, Members, Move - 4 song/dance parts

As things came to an end, the company jokingly took just about 8 bows. Fist in couples, then the men, then the women, then all again, then the main performers… The lights dim as the curtains close, I catch my breath & dread the long drive home.

As I do with any cultural event etc, I charged the kids to draw a picture about their favorite part of the show in addition to writing a journal that corresponds with their picture.

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Alvin Ailey Bio

Born in poor, rural Rogers, Texas in 1931, Ailey was the child of Lula Elizabeth Cliff, and the handsome Alvin Ailey, whom she married at 16. She gave birth to Alvin Jr. two years later. He was, according to biographer Jennifer Dunning, "a big baby," reluctant to walk on his own until he was more than 18 months old.

A few months later his father fled the marriage, returning some years on, but this time it was Lula who took off, moving herself and the child to Wharton, Texas, where the two of them picked cotton.

Alvin developed an early interest in art. In 1943 Alvin and his mother moved to Los Angeles.

It was in Los Angelas where Alvin's eyes were opened to the world of contemporary art. Initially, he took dance classes from choreographer Katherine Dunham and later studied under Los Angeles dance teacher Lester Horton. While studying with Horton Alvin pursued college courses in the Romance languages. At various times Ailey was enrolled at UCLA, Los Angeles City College, and Berkeley. He studied authors like James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and Carson McCullers.

Alvin's appetite for academics was probably why he was attracted to Horton's choreography which consisted of theater pieces based on pictures by Paul Klee, poems by Garcia Lorca, music by Duke Ellington and Stravinsky, and even Mexican themes. When Lester Horton died in 1953, twenty-two year old Alvin was chosen to fill the shoes of his mentor. Alvin became the director and resident choreographer for the Lester Horton Dance Theater. Within one year Alvin choreographed three original dances for Horton's company: Creation of the World, According to St. Francis, and Mourning Morning.

Alvin Ailey was gay and was a longtime lover of David McReynolds in the 1950s.

Ailey started his own dance company in 1958 featuring primarily African American dancers. He integrated his dance company in 1963. He also directed; one notable production was Langston Hughes's Jericho-Jim Crow (1964).

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater popularized modern dance throughout the world with his international tours sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Because of these tours it is theorized that Ailey's choreographical masterpiece Revelations is the most well-known and frequently seen modern dance performance.

Bio Source I, II

About Yesterday

Saturday 02/04/06, I took my kids to the Motown Winter Blast so we could partake in the festivities of Super Bowl XL as DETROIT was the host city this year. First & foremost I want to tell you that I am not into being cold or wet, so I had to make a serious exception to this yesterday because it was pretty cold & raining when we made it downtown.

Because parking was horrible, we parked 7 city blocks away & hoofed it to the Winter Blast which was pretty intense considering the weather conditions. As we got closer, the crowds & traffic got thicker so we were starting to get excited. While waiting to cross our final intersection I happened to glance over & noticed a Pro Life mobile billboard which has a 2 huge pictures of some aborted fetuses, which totally took me by surprise, I first was nauseated by the site, then I got somewhat angry because I did not want my kids to see that crap. I was just way too much to try to explain, but when they saw it that were grossed out & did not ask so we moved on.

Once we actually entered the heart of the Winter Blast, I was so surprised so see so many damn people on the streets of Detroit. I mean they were everywhere & it was great, even though I was soaking wet. The kids & I wandered the Winter Blast for close to 4 hours with little breaks to warm up & for some snacks. Surprisingly there were several food choices & fortunately everything was on a cash basis, usually in Detroit, you have to purchase food tickets, which can be pricey & you always leave with 3 tickets that you could not use because just a bottle of water was 5 tickets.

Sprinkled thought the Blast were Jesus Freaks (offensive Christian based inappropriate sign carrying picketers) carrying sings with some stupid message & quotes from the Bible. My thing was I am hear to have fun with my kids, not hear that everyone how was not save was going to go to Hell forever blah, blah, blah. I actually approached one while at a stop & told him that I like sin & he told me that I needed to pray, how wack!

After all of the people watching, snacking, rain, snow, & picking up freebies, we made our way back to the car, so after walking for hours on end in a huge circle, the girls & I were tired not to mention bitching all the to the car. Cabs were nowhere in site & I most defiantly would have caught one back to the car. All in all the Winter Blast was great & it was so exciting seeing visitors enjoy Detroit as well.

Now that the Super Bowl XL is over I just hope that Detroit can continue to move forward as it tries to become a world class city, I don’t think it has that far to go. As several friends & I have said recently, it is such a shame that it took this major event to come to town before much needed changes occurred. Although there are several new shops & restaurants downtown, I am sure that by the end of this summer, one could spend the whole day downtime shopping eating & partying (some of my favorite activities).

C-my pictures