Two weeks until Salute. If you’ve been paying any attention to me, you already have your calendars marked for 6 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1, at America’s Center for the St. Louis American Foundation’s 38th Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship and Awards Gala. And you probably are wondering how my 30-day challenge is working for “Operation Zip This Gown!” I will have y’all know that it’s only been two weeks, and I’m already seeing results. It’s like night…and later that same night. Thanks to everybody for keeping me accountable. I can’t wait to be amongst the folks that slay the game as we turn America’s Center into an epicenter of Black excellence! But for real, I know it seems subjective when I say it, but the Education Salute is one of those “Black bucket list” items that you have to experience at least once in your lifetime. It’s a bold statement, and I will stand on it. I’m talking ESSENCE Festival, the NAACP Image Awards, American Black Film Festival and a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. You can ask anybody if you don’t believe me. Or you can come see for yourself! Visit www.stlamerican.com or call 314.533.8000 for tickets or more information.
Credit: Photos by Taylor Marrie | St. Louis American
An urban drama at the Alamo. I got my whole entire life when I put on my Salute dress from last year and moseyed to the Foundry region to catch the world premiere and red carpet experience for Brenda Hampton’s and her Black Girl Powerhouse Productions original film, “Who Ya Wit? 2.” We had the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema on lock! It was super cute. Y’all, after rubbing elbows with some of my favorites and sitting down to watch a movie made by people from St. Louis, filmed in St. Louis, set in St. Louis and starring some folks from St. Louis had me feeling all tingly. I was like, “The girls might not have to move to Atlanta, or her dusty cousin Houston, to further their entertainment careers after all!” Speaking of careers, KiKi The First Lady is in her vixen era as a radio personality and blacktress — and I’m not the least bit mad. I wish I could say the same for how Desa Rae folded for Roc again in the film. I know we need the drama for the sake of the movie, but girl. If you said to yourself that you know you are getting played, it’s time to change the game. Yes, I know it’s a movie! If I had to hear my big granny holler at Victor Newman and Mrs. Chancellor every weekday as she watched “Young and The Restless” like they could hear her through that black-and-white TV, y’all can put up with me doing the same thing for “Who Ya Wit? 2” this one time.
Credit: Photos by Taylor Marrie | St. Louis American
RIP to a music master. My heart broke in a million little pieces when I learned that D’Angelo passed away on Tuesday. That hit me like a freight train. And he was only 51. For those of y’all who didn’t come up in his musical era, just understand that in R&B, there is BD (before D’Angelo) and AD (after D’Angelo). The genre was never the same once he sprinkled his “Brown Sugar” on it. And my love for him was deep. It was so serious that my college boyfriend still accuses me of derailing his career when I forced him to get “D’Angelo braids” at the same time he was interviewing for internships. But seriously, it feels unreal to put RIP and D’Angelo together in the same sentence. I want to send a special set of condolences to the son he shared with the late great Angie Stone. That poor child is probably going through it right now.
Fly high, Doug Eason. I don’t want to turn Partyline into the obituaries, but all would not be well with my soul if I didn’t give proper tribute to St. Louis radio legend Doug Eason, who passed away last week after some health challenges. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that if it weren’t for him and the other greats during the heyday of Black St. Louis radio, there might not be a Partyline. That’s what got me interested in entertainment, and passionate about keeping my people informed — even if it’s with the tea.
Credit: Photos by Taylor Marrie | St. Louis American
The Ambassador is at risk. Since we are on the subject of St. Louis legends, I thought I would mention news surrounding another one. By the time y’all read this, it might be too late for The Ambassador. I would have told you sooner, but I just found out myself. According to an emergency plea by The Real JR four days ago, they needed to raise $15,000 by Thursday, Oct. 16, to keep the doors open. I’m not throwing shade, just stating the facts. I’m hoping for the best, because The Ambassador — both the old one and the new one — has given me Partyline gold, platinum and diamonds over the years. I would need five Partylines to do justice to a historical overview of how the venue has served me. Because I am not allowed to provide Cash App links and things of the sorts for people soliciting donations, I won’t list it. But for those who are compelled to give, it’s not hard to find out how on social media. Try Facebook. I will be sure to keep everyone posted on its status as it unfolds.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
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