Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Queen Hollins

There is no blog, no post, nor is there tweet that can do this sistah justice... Smh. Visionary, warrior, healer, mother, sister, friend... this doesn't even scratch the surface, although those who know her KNOW how MUCH those few words translate into. Giving thanks for this one right here! My kindred, Queen Hollins.

Queen Hollins is the Principal Steward of the Earthlodge Center for Transformation. Through the Earthlodge, women and queer communities have not only healed and transformed individually but the healing has shifted lineages of suffering by reconnecting to nature. In addition to stewarding the Earthlodge, Queen delivers the medicine of Mama Earth through African dance philosophy and  instruction, poetry, shawomanism, spiritual counseling, herbal permaculture, monthly Queer full moon ceremonies and sacred ceremonial crafting. 

Follow the links to learn more about Queen, the Earthlodge Center for Transformation and the Nu Legacy Project.

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Iyatunde Oshunade Folayan

OhKay, this one right here!???... She on a mission, this sistah put the 'ack in Black (as in 'ack like you know'). She ain't playin' and she ain't scared... leaving her mark everywhere she go, and comin' to a liberation near you. It is my pleasure to present this daughter of Detroit, the fierce, multi-talented, non-stop, Ms. Iyatunde Oshunade Folayan.

The proud granddaughter of cotton pickers, singers and farmers from Alabama, she is the loving rebel daughter of a retired GM auto worker/former cotton picker and a school administrator. Iyatunde's given name is LaTrice Annette Dixon. 

A Detroit native, she was the first in her family to graduate from a university. As a student at the University of Michigan in the late 80's, Iyatunde remembers being politicized by a lone, Black Lesbian protester outside her dorm room window. Soon thereafter, she joined the United Coalition Against Racism (UCAR), a student group that led the historic winning campaign to increase Black student enrollment at U-M, setting a pro-affirmative action trend at universities nationwide. After obtaining her degree in Political Science, Iyatunde moved to New York and took classes in video and film at Third World Newsreel and the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe. The universe aligned so that she would get an opportunity to work as a producer and music researcher on the PBS documentary of her hero called A Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde. 

After obtaining her MFA from the first graduated class in Media Arts at City University of New York in 1999 and received Best Screenplay for her film short The Book of Ezekiel. Before leaving the East Coast in 1999, she returned to Detroit and co-founded S.P.I.C.E., Sistahs Providing Intelligence Creative and Empowerment, a nurturing and supportive organization to serve the needs of Detroit's Black Lesbians. 

A passionate supporter of independent media, Iyatunde co-founded the South Centeral Radio Collective and birthed the first Black women's radio show on Los Angeles' KPFK (90.7 FM) entitled Some of Us Are Brave. While living in Long Beach, Iyatunde collaborated with Dorothy Randall Gray and programmed A Burst of Light, Long Beach's first Black Lesbian film and poetry series, founded The Here To Stay Coalition with Yardenna Aaron in 2008 and organized the first Black, queer contingent to march annually in Los Angeles' Kingdom Day Parade. Under the tutelage of Queen Hollins, Iyatunde is honored to be a gatekeeper at the EarthLodge Center for Transformation and the Queer Full Moon Circle in Long Beach.

Iyatunde has been unceasing in her efforts to address the issues, celebrate the achievements, and  support the creation of healing spaces, within the Black/Queer community intersection locally and globally; reaching out to, raising awareness around and standing in solidarity with our queer brothers and sisters on the continent.

Based in Detroit, Iyatunde works closely with Black LGBT community there and is completing her screenplay Who Saves Brown Girls Who Don't Holler?

Follow Iyatunde on Twitter @IyatundeF to see what she's up to.
 

 

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Afia Walking Tree

The first time I saw this sister she was walking with her Djembe like she was born wearing it, the first time I heard her play I knew it wouldn't be the last. Shortly there after I found myself packing up, saying farewell to my folks in L.A. and heading to the Bay to study with her... That's some kind of inspiration, my life -and drumming, haven't been the same since. I bring you Afia Walking Tree.

Percussionist, Instructor, Lead Facilitator, Ritualist, Afia Walking Tree, M.Ed is a world-class percussionist, cultural ambassador, spiritual activist, empowerment facilitator, leadership development advocate and trainer. Born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, she is currently based in the California Bay Area.

For over 14 years, Walking Tree has served her destiny as visionary director of her brainchild, Spirit Drumz, an international organization that prioritizes women and youth of all cultures to utilize African Diasporic drumming, dancing, and storytelling to activate empowerment and healing. She has served in the capacity as mentor, coach, director, and performer across the US, Europe, Canada, and West Africa, spearheading integrative, expressive, cultural arts education programs such as: Drum-Talk-Story, Transformative Leadership, FunDRUMentals, and Drum Our Souls Free.

Walking Tree's drumsongs are prayers of gratitude for the generosity of spirit. Her lyrics are evolutionary teachings, addressing present day issues of social justice, freedom, healing and self-love.  

To get more information and her first solo CD, entitled Soul Affirmationz check out www.spiritdrumz.org.

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 NIA Collective

Truly an example of Black Love in action, many sistahs over the past 26 years have worked together to create a safe, nurturing space that has become a haven for healing and finding community. I am so grateful for these women... Big up NIA Collective!!!

NIA Collective was created by and for Lesbians of African descent.  The organization was founded in 1987 during the Black Caucus at the Lesbian of Color Conference in San Francisco.The word “NIA” was chosen for its meaning, purpose, in the Swahili language. African Americans are familiar with the term as the fifth principle of Kwanzaa, the Winter Harvest celebration.

The “purpose” of NIA Collective is to collectively build a network through self-definition, self-acceptance and acceptance of each other as lesbians, as people of African descent and as women.
The NIA Collective’s main project has been an annual gathering. Recently they have enlarged the vision and scope to meet the needs of lesbians of African descent throughout the year,  committing to excellent social, political, educational and spiritual health for us all!

NIA is a nonprofit organization for lesbian & same gender loving women of African descent, they  also support other groups that address the needs of lesbians & SGL women of African descent. An Oakland-based, global community celebrating same-gender loving women of African descent and the allies who support them!

 

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Dr. Herukhuti

If you are fortunate, as I am, there is someone in your life who knows some thangs about some thangs and will check you, uplift you, make you laugh, think and love harder than you ever thought possible around the liberation and culture of Black folks... So if you can handle that, I know you gonna dig

 DR. HERUKHUTI

Dr. Herukhuti is a clinical sociologist, cultural studies scholar, sexologist, and traditional African shaman who focuses on sexuality, gender, and spirituality themes within the African Diaspora (i.e., Black folks all over the world) and other marginalized communities (e.g., polyamorous, BDSM/kink, and fetish). Rooted in community, he works in and with Diasporic communities and other marginalized communities as a scholar-practitioner dedicated to and driven by the goals of liberation and social justice.

Dr. Herukhuti is the founder of Black Funk: The Center for Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality and editor-in-chief of http://www.blackfunk.org/. Through Black Funk, he provides individuals and groups information and education for sexual empowerment, decolonization, and liberation. He is a faculty member at Goddard College, one of the nation’s oldest institutions for progressive education, where he works with undergraduate and graduate students.

Dr. Herukhuti, author of the book Conjuring Black Funk: Notes on Culture, Sexuality, and Spirituality, Volume I (Vintage Entity Press), holds a PhD in human and organizational systems with a concentration in transformative learning for social justice and specializations in sexuality and cross-cultural studies of knowledge. His work has been published and anthologized in various academic and popular contexts including Sexualities, Journal of Bisexuality, ARISE Magazine, and Ma-Ka Diasporic Juks: Contemporary Writings by Queers of African Descent.

To arrange for Dr. Herukhuti to speak or offer a presentation/workshop, please email speakersbureau@blackfunk.org.

Twitter: @DrHerukhuti
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/DrHerukhuti

Great 28 -Black Love 2014 Imani Tolliver

I don't have the words or the time to share the impact this sister has had on my life. An ally, even when we have different view points and ALWAYS bringing the love, it is my absolute pleasure to introduce Imani Tolliver...

Imani Tolliver is a poet, visual artist and educator. 

She has been a consultant for several museums, educational institutions and has been honored with a Certificate of Appreciation by the City of Los Angeles for her work as a promoter, host and publicist in support of the literary arts in Southern California.  She also served as the 2007/2008 Poet Laureate for the Watts Towers Arts Center in Los Angeles, California.

She has been a featured poet across the country, including the Smithsonian Institution, Beyond Baroque Literary Arts Center, The World Stage Performance Gallery, University of Southern California, California State University at Long Beach, California State University Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Central Library.

Imani also volunteers, marches, and pitches in whenever she is able, in support of the vibrant and beautiful LGBT community of which she is wholly and happily a part.

Learn more about Imani at ImaniTolliver.com