Celebrating the Rhythm of Malcolm X's Life

Lighting struck across the dark gloomy skies. Rain had been on the forecast all day. But the thing about that is the weatherman perdicted the wrong sorts. The thunder cracking the silence of the streets of Northwood wasn't from the much anticipated
downpour but that of upliftng vibes! The djembes roared in unison to fast paced patterns as barehands beat life into existence. On this night, there was only one rain. The reign of greatness.


Abasi Hanif's Livin' the Rhythm drum cirle is coming on 6yrs strong. A feat anyone in Palm Beach can admit is unfathomable in and of itself. And one of the reasons you can atrribute to it is the fact no two nights are ever the same. And on this night, it was a celebration of the life of one of our greatest leader... Malcolm X.

The scene could not of been more perfect. From the documentary of Malcolm X's speeches being projected in the background to the table filled with the kind of soul food that comes with a recipet for the itis with each rich and delectable bite. Oh and what's a birthday without cake? How about homemade freshly baked chocolate and vanilla cake?!!! All as an mused Visualist began creating live his latest painting. The community came together as one to kick back and reach higher levels.



Under the moonlit skies, you can't help but to ask yourself if there is in fact  a rain dance then would it not be logical to assume that the beating of the djembes sent the clouds packin?!. By the time it had come for the "heartbeat" (a round robin of sorts that signals the closing of the circle) the sky was the clearest it had been all day. One could say the spirit of the honorable Malcolm X was simply pleased by all that occured.

The Livin' the Rhythm Higher Viberations Drum Circle happens weekly very Thursday from 7p-10p at Harold's 509 Northwood Rd, West Palm Beach. Free admission and open to all. Don't have your own drum? Not to worry, the circle generally has djembes on deck!

Please be sure to visit www.gofundme.com/livintherhythm to continue to support the movement.

And  make sure you save the date of May 29th as the RBG's of South Florida bring you their 5th "Family Funday & Mini Market".

Author Yantha Desourve brings the Suspense with "To Whom Much is Given"!

The ability to make words move at your command to convey tales and thoughts so deep and intriguing is a gift author and poet Yanatha Desourve has in spades. Born in Port-au-Prince, yet raised on the stoops of Brooklyn and Philly Yanatha has travel many a roads and has used his mastery of the pen to turn his experiences in this life as almost a guide. Now making his home in Miami with his wife and three lovely daughters, Yantha is a man of many talents and skills.

With a Bachelor's Degree in MIS and Marketing from Drexel University, as well as a MBA in Marketing and Mass Communication including Media Management from Lynn University, Yantha is a truly a season IT professional. So much so that he's even gone as far as creating several mobile apps such as "Proud Haitian", "Pre-K Math", "Proud to be Jewish", "Kids Eat Free HD", "Pocket Poetry" and more.  To best describe is mindset you be to quote a selection from his poem "Imagine This, Imagine That":

No matter who you are or what you’ve been through, realize in this life there is nothing that you cannot do. You simply have to work hard and believe, believe me you can say it, you will do it. There is so much you will achieve. You just have to acknowledge the struggles of the past that led you to this path and realize, it’s not where you’re from it’s where you’re at, Imagine this Imagine That”

 

A best selling author, who has written already 8 books (one of which was his #1 best seller children's book "Big Sister, Little Sister"), is now back with his own 9th wonder "To Whom Much is Given: A Grayson Goodman Novel". The first book in the chronicles of Goodman, it's been described as "James Bond meets Luther; with a dash of Marvel's X-Men and Mission Impossible with Haitian hot sauce!"

Plot Synopsis: 

"Childhood friends Grayson and Amara, along with Dominique, Amara's closest friend join together on a dangerous pursuit to rescue Amara's nephew Jason. Little do they know where this quest will take them and how dangerous are the forces behind this kidnapping. The darkness of the past haunts these brave friends as they embark on this journey. Will they be able to save Jason in time?" 

As a renown motivational speaker, Desourve has a great sense for the essence of humanity and what
sparks and distinguishes us. Yanatha effortlessly does so by creating characters that you'd be hard press not to recognized from our own real world; characters that reflect the flaws of complexity within all of us and thrusts them into a action packed world! The thriller will leave you suspense-fully turning every page in what's describe as "a pursuit against time" in a crazy rescue mission.

"To Whom Much is Given: A Grayson Goodman Novel" is available right now in paperback,  hardback, Kindle and Ibooks! You can even order an autographed copy as well!

For more information visit: www.yanatha.com 

Heroes in Black Arts History: Novelist Ernest J. Gaines

Heroes in Black Arts History: Author Ernest J. Gaines 

At the "We Got Dat LIT" book drive, Visualist handed me a book he thought I would enjoy plunging into. It was called "Words to Make My Dream Children Live". A compilation of quotes by various African Americans. For what ever reason the first page I turned to lead me to Ernest J Gaines. After reading the quote "There will always be men struggling to change, and there will always be those who are controlled by the past." I got a itch to learn more about him and it spark a idea.

So under the article title : Heroes in Black Arts History we will explore the legends in all forms of black arts, Beginning with African American Novelist... Ernest J. Gaines.


"Ernest J. Gaines was born on January 15, 1933 at a plantation in Pointe Coupee Parish near New Roads, Louisiana, which is the Bayonne of all his fictional works. He is professor emeritus at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. In 1993 Gaines received the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship (the genius grant) for his lifetime achievements. In 1996 he was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, of France’s highest decorations. He and his wife, Dianne, live in Oscar, Louisiana.

A Lesson Before Dying won the 1993 National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction, the most

recent of numerous awards that Gaines has received. A Wallace Stegner fellow in 1957, a recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts grant (1967), a Guggenheim fellow (1971), and a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation fellow (1993), Mr. Gaines has steadily been recognized for his achievement as a master of the novel and short story. His novel, A Lesson Before Dying, is regularly included in high school English classes. In addition, one of his novels, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman (1971), has become an undisputed classic of twentieth-century American literature and gave rise to the immensely popular, award-winning TV-movie adaptation starring Cicely Tyson. " 

From ernestjgainesaward.com 

From the pages to the screen to the stage : A Lesson Before Dying 

Every legend has their signature piece. And while Gaines created a plethora of amazing art. It's his Oprah Club stamp of approval novel "A Lesson Before Dying" that sets it off! 

 A Lesson Before Dying, is set in a small Cajun community in the late 1940s. Jefferson, a young black man, is an unwitting party to a liquor store shoot out in which three men are killed; the only survivor, he is convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Grant Wiggins, who left his hometown for the university, has returned to the plantation school to teach. As he struggles with his decision whether to stay or escape to another state, his aunt and Jefferson's godmother persuade him to visit Jefferson in his cell and impart his learning and his pride to Jefferson before his death. In the end, the two men forge a bond as they both come to understand the simple heroism of resisting—and defying—the expected. 

A Conversation with Ernest J. Gaines by Lawrence Bridges  

"I try to create characters with character to help improve my own character. And maybe the character of the person who might read me. And I just hope that that book helped me become a better person and anyone else who has read it might become better than he was before they read the book. That's what I try to do." 

 Hearing him say those words touched something deep within me. It made me reevaluate the stories I've loved and those characters that inhabited the pages. 

Ernest J. Gaines journey is a treal one, without a doubt. I encourage to read his works and share it with others.  

If you happen to have any of Ernest J. Gaines work that you'd like to donate to our community library, or any other forms of literature please email: exhibittreal@gmail.com