When the Village Chief calls you answer. The call came Friday AFTER he text to inquire about whether I could attend the National Black Theater Festival’s (NBTF) Gala. I knew my window of opportunity was brief, but I couldn’t respond until I confirmed I had something to wear AND that I could get my hair done. When I returned his call, he and Ms. Sarah replied with a loud, “GIRL PLEASE!”, among other things, but aye, I couldn’t be in the streets looking like what I’ve been through 🤷🏾♀️.
When I accepted the invitation, I didn’t understand all of what yesterday and last night would mean…
The day began with a Trauma Resilience training where I was one of the trainers. I was introduced to the material by Kellie who, along with others, introduced the material to the city. One of the “others” was one of my tablemates last night and we sat at the table hosted by one of the people who has consistently encouraged me to use my voice.
As I got dressed, I thought about how I was able to wear some HIGH heels for the first time in years because Michai was going to be transporting me. I also thought about how I volunteered at the festival as a teen, and now I have a teen doing for me what I used to do for my mother. A teen who was scared (I was scared for him) to fall asleep with fear of leaving me stranded downtown.
The Benton Convention Center staff was very accommodating. I was not expecting much when I asked for a vegan meal option, but boy was I surprised! My food was incredibly colorful and tasteful. I don’t have a picture, but know that others were gazing at me and another tablemate as we discussed our meal choice, and it caused another tablemate to return her partially eaten chicken plate to request the vegan option. Now, she was too late and ended up with something else, but that’s not the point 🤭.
It’s something about hearing the first drum beat from the Otesha Creative Arts Ensemble that not only confirms the NBTF is back, but also allows you to feel the ancestors pushing you out of your seat and MAKING you move! The full circle moment here is that the Otesha founder passed away and his son, who is my high school classmate, continues to lead the organization while another high school classmate’s daughter is a dancer!
The founder and the “African Stilt-Man”, as he was affectionately known, both passed since the last festival, and BOTH continue to be missed. The program was great and became intensely emotional when all the artists and supporters we’ve lost since the last festival were recognized. 💜💜🖤💜💜
We made our way to the Stevens Center to watch Chester Gregory play Jackie Wilson for the last time after premiering the play 20 years ago. The full circle moment here is I’ve seen the play before and it’s just as incredible as it was then. The band is now full of local artists. Chester is almost 50 years old (~10 years older than me) and I remain mesmerised by what his knees can do 😳🫢😩.
*Thanks to the WSPD and FCSO for stopping traffic so my HIGH heels and knees could slowly make it across the street. 🚶🏾♀️🚶🏾♀️🚶🏾♀️*
I’m no longer excited about being out after midnight, but I’m trying to get Michai and his friends to go to the Midnight Poetry events. I’ll be attending Candid Yams on Wednesday, will go back to see Jackie on Thursday, to the Vendor’s Market on Friday, and will be somewhere downtown on Saturday after the vlog. For more info about events download the NBTF app, go to nbtf.org, and Kijiji Winston-Salem’s Facebook page for info.
Breonna Taylor Earbobz (also pictured in the cover photo) we’re created by Janel Brown and were my 💜🖤 representation
Dress was purchased from Random by YoChi. She loves animal prints. I don’t, but the dress was a hit last night. Oh, and you don’t see my hands because it has pockets 😍😍😍
Last-minute hair by Studio L Hair and Beauty Bar. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
If you are a resident of Winston, please consider participating in SOMETHING! Events start at free, so you should be able to find a price that works for you and your family.
That includes you too white people. Some of y’all don’t know what to do, what to say, or how to act when you’re the minority in the room and it shows. You get to talking loud, saying out-of-pocket things you think are cool, and making sure to talk to Blacks you think are important. One white man, who had to be blocked because he got way out of line in my text messages, was shocked when WSSU’s AD ended their conversation when she saw me waiting to talk to her. I’m sure he was also shocked I didn’t speak because most people have had to continue speaking to him for professional reasons despite their feelings. I WANTED to make it a full circle moment by reiterating to his face what I text him a while ago, roll my eyes, and wave to him from my seat that was a few rows in front of him, but as a friend text, it’s “Happy Black Week”, so although we see y’all 👀 we simply stop caring for these six days. Also, refer to the pictured Bobz.
The night ended with me circling back to the Village Chief who waited with me until Michai came…
💜🖤
…and he completed the night with a full circle moment. “We’ve gone from his feet dangling off the chair (Michai was 3 or 4 years old when they met at Sweet Potatoes), to picking you up, and getting ready to leave for college in a few days. 😌🤗
