Joyce E. Davis's Blog, page 10

Wordless Wednesday: Literary Love at Hurston Wright Legacy Awards-Eatonville Restaurant, Langston Hughes Way, D.C.

Ninth Annual Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards Ceremony and 20th Anniversary Celebration
Eatonville Restaurant, Langston Hughes Way, Washington, D.C.

Ingrid Sturgis, Assistant Prof., Journalism, Howard Univ. / Web Editor, Heart & Soul Magazine; Me; Yanick Rice Lamb, Associate Prof., Journalism, Howard Univ. / Editorial Director, Heart & Soul Magazine; Terry McMillan, Awards Host, Author, Hurston/Wright Foundation advisory board member

Me and Felicia Pride, author, speaker and founder of the wonderful BackList.

I've Done Some Good Writing Lately

In the last few weeks I've written some interesting pieces - interesting to write - and now that I look back - interesting to read - for Inside Spelman, the college's monthly online publication, which I edit. If you get a chance to check them out, I'd love to know what you think. Here are some excerpts to whet your appetite:

Creative Writing Series Features Award-Winning Poets

For this piece I got a chance to connect with two amazing writers, Pulitzer Prize winner Natasha Trethewey and Kyle Dargan, editor of cool literary journal, Post No Ills Magazine. Hearing them read from their work and engage with students as Spelman launched their first creative writing series was stimulating.

"Dargan and Trethewey let attendees into their personal spaces by reading from works that revealed how they used writing to work through painful events from their pasts. The Pulitzer Prize winning Tretheway, who holds the Phillis Wheatley Distinguished Chair in Poetry at Emory University, read searing and sensitive prose from her most recent book, "Beyond Katrina: A Meditation on the Mississippi Gulf Coast." Dargan's selected readings of his works about his family and relationships were affecting and at times humorous." Check out the rest of the article.

The Video: Spelman Creative Writing Series: Natasha Trethewey & Kyle Dargan



The Will to Serve

"For some, the military is in their blood. For others, service is their calling. For all, balancing the demands of being a full-time Spelman student and a member of the armed services is an impressive challenge to undertake."


I learned a great deal interviewing Spelman students who are also in the ROTC programs for the Army, Navy, Air Force and the Marines. Yes, they have rigorous schedules, many up before 5 a.m. daily for training and studying for the eight extra classes they must complete as part of their requirements. And their ambition is impressive.

There is a dual-degree, physics and nuclear engineering major who wants to use her military experience working on nuclear reactors on ships to improve energy in U.S. power plants. When the Navy opened up submarine warfare to women in March, another was named one of the first 36 women in the country selected for submarine tour duty.

I was proud to get to know these women who have the will to serve.

DVD Giveaway: Win Raven Symone's Disney Tinkerbell Adventure

I had the pleasure of chatting up Raven Symone recently for Heart & Soul magazine. The young entertainment mogul, who started out as the precocious Olivia on "The Cosby Show," and went on to immense fame via "That's So Raven," shared about upcoming projects, including a cookbook that will hopefully include her delectable-sounding Brie and strawberry- brandied apricot jam quesadilla.

Symone is also Disney's first African-American character as the voice of Iridessa, lighting the way for other fairies with her intelligence in the Tinkerbell film series.

Win one of 10 copies of the DVD of her new film "Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue" by posting on Heart & Soul how you keep the little girl in you alive.

Literary Jones

Yesterday, 3:30 pm:

My intention was to just read maybe 10 pages while I enjoyed my lunch. But 10 turned to 15 and I wasn't done yet. After lunch was consumed, I retired to the restaurant's outside seating on a glorious sunny, yet breezy day. Finding just enough shade, I settled in, feet propped up for what I told myself would only be five more pages-just to the end of the chapter.

I'm on page 106 of Ntozake Shange's Some Sing, Some Cry, a succulent and mammoth - 576 page - multigenerational novel about a recently emancipated family in Charleston, South Carolina. The writing has such depth and the characters are so rich that I'm intellectually full and emotionally drained after a chapter or two. If I read too much, I'm almost upset because I feel greedy about devouring the heart-wrenching and satisfying prose.

I mean there's a meeting in the church where Denmark Vesey planned his revolution and a book party for Ida B. Wells at the home of a "high-toned," upper crust black society hostess, where conversation is about the literacy poll tax and the loss of black senators at the end of Reconstruction. All this is set amid the horrifying brutality against my ancestors, the tracing of the roots of black music from spirituals to jazz, and at this point in the book, the touching story of a berry-skinned talented seamstress conflicted about her suitors from different classes and her desires for acceptance into the mulatto world. For a lit chick, who's drawn to many things activist, historical, musical and based in the richness of people of color, well, Shange's book is just irresistible.


And I only get to check in with these friends, these adopted family members, these well-written characters like once every 10 days or so. At this rate I probably won't finish the book until this time next year.

So 15 pages turned into 20 and it wasn't until I'd gone past 30 and realized an hour had slipped by that the guilts finally got me. It's Saturday. My daughter is with her father. And my To Do list is like a toilet paper roll long. The times of lingering in a park, a cafe, or the bed and reading for fun until my eyes were bleary is so long gone. I pray it returns in about 15 years when my baby enters college.

I did manage to press on, intent to check things off my list. I'd already accomplished one - made her soccer game this morning. Now off to a bookstore, where I'd work on some overdue magazine assignments, write pitches for more, and continue research for the infernal elementary school search I launched in the fall.


But any reader-writer-literary fiend knows that bookstores are more seductive than lovers. I have no idea what I was thinking. I tried to put blinders on and make my way directly to a comfy chair where I could get straight to work. I didn't even stop for my usual coffee with the raspberry flavoring.


I'd put myself in a trick bag. Of all the book displays to be sidetracked by, the one labeled "Required School Reading," diverted me from my path. As I perused the fare, authors like Edgar Allen Poe, Homer, Toni Morrison, Judy Blume, Zora Neale Hurston, and C.S. Lewis transported me back to a time when reading was required - and I SURE didn't mind.


I was almost giddy thinking of how I'd re-read all these favorites - the one's that spurred my imagination and creativity and laid the foundation for my chosen career - and the new classics when my daughter had to read them in school. I got so caught up that I whipped out my cell phone and started taking photos of the books I loved and those I'd heard about and thought I'd love.


I pray to God all the time that my child enjoys reading as much or more than - if that's even possible - I do. She can enjoy other stuff, too. That is totally fine, Lord. But please God, let her find the endless joy that is good story telling. Pardon me for that quick prayer, but I had to get it in. Because the To Do list is calling.

And I'm getting back on it. Right. Now.


In five more minutes....

VIDEO: "The Rent Is Too Damn High" Candidate For NY State Governor

I'll admit there is a bit of the comical here, but I feel NY gubernatorial candidate Jimmy McMillan on some of his ideas. And if you're from the Atlanta area, you have to admit that his cadence and forthrightness is similar to the late local activist Hosea Williams.

I think it's always good to have a layperson up in the political mix during election time. And if he's slightly entertaining, well..there's nothing wrong with getting a giggle and a different perspective at the same time. Enjoy and make sure you vote for your chosen candidates on Tuesday, November 2.

VIDEO: The Rent Is Too Damn High Party's Jimmy McMillan at the NY Governor Debate



VIDEO: NYS Gov. Candidate Jimmy McMillan Explains Why 'Rent Is 2 Damn High'

Kisses for God

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8:25 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19

After prayers were said - "Now I lay me down to sleep" - and I read half of "The Five Chinese Brothers," to my four-year-old, she requested that we say one of our "special" prayers.

Sharing a pillow, we faced each other and she started:

"Dear God."

I repeated:

"Dear God."

And we went on, with her leading the way:

"I will obey tomorrow. I will listen to my teachers tomorrow. I will pay attention tomorrow. I will go to ballet tomorrow. I will obey all my teachers tomorrow. Thank you God. I love you God. Amen."

I was too proud of my daughter, who'd gotten in a bit of trouble earlier in the day for disobeying at school. After I explained to her that it was extremely important to keep promises made to God, she surprised me again:

"Mommy," she said, laying on her back and looking up at the ceiling, "I wish I could give God a kiss."

"You can," I said. "Just close your eyes and blow God a kiss." I demonstrated by kissing my hand and raising it up toward the sky. She did the same, but was not quite satisfied.

"I wish I could give God a hug," she added.

Thank the Lord that my quick thinking and lifelong religious teachings didn't fail me.

"You can, baby," I said. "God is inside of everybody. So God is inside of you. If you give yourself a hug, then you're giving God a hug."

She loved this idea and squeezed her little self so hard, I thought I was going to have to rescue her.

I got the same squeeze before I bid her goodnight. But she stopped me. She had one more gift for the One above.

"Mommy, I wish I could give God a cookie."

Quick thinking didn't save me here.

"We'll have to think about that one," I said, trying to banish the image of leaving cookies for Santa from my head. She nodded and slipped under her covers, as she shared one more thought:

"I love you, Mommy."

"I love you, too, baby."

I know...I know...this is so sweet it's cavity producing.

Right now she's in there doing her nightly play-in-the-bed routine. The rule is that she doesn't have to go to sleep, but her feet cannot touch the floor. So there's singing, shrieking, play-acting, talking, rolling and often wall-beating.

She just transitioned from some Cuban song she's learning as part of her school's upcoming International Day to "We Had a Great Day," by Nick Jr.'s Fresh Beat Band.

Dear God, I love my creative child. Thank you God. I love you God. Amen.

HOT & Creative - Willow's Whip My Hair

Love this confidence and creativity - a powerful mix!




Can't see the video? Check out the link.
Thanks to my girl Vanessa and to B Scott for the heads up about Miss Willow's video.

Whip it, ya'll!

Please Vote for New Media You Need & My Dynamic Friend, Journalist Yanick Rice Lamb

Friends, Family and Enjoyceinglife Followers,

My mentor-turned-sister friend Yanick Rice Lamb is in the process of launching an amazing new space in the digital world. Please check out her video entry to win seed funding for Fully-Connected.com - you'll know immediately that you should cast your vote for this visionary journalist, author, editor and teacher.

More info below. Thanks for your support!


New Media You Need!

Please take a second to vote for Yanick Rice Lamb to help our team secure seed money to launch http://www.fully-connected.com, a new vision in digital media. Fully-Connected.com connects dots and connects people from Atlanta to Accra through engaging journalism and social networking. We will also provide training and opportunities for journalists, students and citizens who want to tell stories about their communities and global roots. Allow us to help you get fully connected! Start by casting your vote for Yanick Rice Lamb and passing the word, since voting is open to the public until Sunday, Oct. 17.

You can also watch her short video under the NABJ logo on the top right at http://www.unityjournalists.org/NewU/index.php, and check out the prototype for Fully-Connected.com. In the spirit of Unity, vote for one person at National Association of Hispanic Journalists, Asian American Journalists Association, and Native American Journalists Association, too. Thanks!


Qualifications for Success

Yanick Rice Lamb's team includes some of the youngest, brightest and most experienced minds in journalism. Yanick loves to quote Howard University colleague Paula Matabane, who says, "We teach what we do and do what we teach." She has the best of both worlds as an associate professor and coordinator of the Print/Online Journalism Sequence at Howard, where she earned an MBA in 2005. The former president of the New York Association of Black Journalists is also associate publisher and editorial director at Heart & Soul, the leading health and fitness magazine for African Americans.

She has worked everywhere from Essence to The New York Times, gaining invaluable experience in launching and repositioning new ventures and winning numerous awards along the way. As founding editor of BET Weekend, her editorial vision led to the popular magazine becoming the second-largest publication targeted to African Americans with a circulation increase of nearly 40 percent from 800,000 to 1.3 million in just three years.

In addition to being an entrepreneurial fellow through the New U program co-sponsored by Unity Journalists of Color and the Ford Foundation, Yanick is writing about delayed hospital discharges as one of four journalists in the Health Performance Fellowship sponsored by the Association of Health Care Journalists and the Commonwealth Fund. Vote for Yanick Rice Lamb. Allow her innovative team to help you get fully connected!

First Day of Fall & School Picture Day!

Before she even said," Good Morning," the first thing out of my baby's mouth when she rolled out of bed was, "Today is fall, Mommy!"

Yes it is! And not only that, it's School Picture Day! So even though the temperature will reach 90 degrees on this first day of fall in Atlanta, I had to dress my big girl in something representative of the season. The nearly 40-year-old crochet standout of this lovely ensemble is courtesy of my talented mother, who crafted this piece for me when I was a...

Love Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls Movie Posters......

I don't know how the film is going to be, but these posters are HOT! If you don't know what movie I'm talking about, it's the Tyler Perry-produced adaptation of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf by the incomparable Ntozake Shange.



I've been deep in Ntozake-land and this weekend, transcribing an interview I did with her a few weeks back and writing an article about her that will appear in an upcoming issue of Heart & Soul magazine. Her life story is nothing ...