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THE CRYSTAL NEWS
Winter, 2016
Volume XXIII Issue I Circulation... Plenty! |
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Happy 2016!!!
This year, Pledge to: Be Your Best Self! Keep the Promises You Make to Yourself and Others! Encourage Your Loved Ones to be Their Best Selves! Keep Peace in Your Heart! Pray for Your Enemies and Those That (Wish to) Do You Harm! Pray for Your Loved Ones When Disappoint You! Be a Positive and Active Member of Your Village! Speak Up Against Injustice! Support Justice, Progress, and Positivity! Enjoy Your Life! Go Out of Your Way to Help People! Go Out of Your Way to Love People! Be Kind to All Living Things! Accept Help When You Need It! Accept Love Always! Laugh Whenever You Can! Love and Forgive! Be a Part of the Solution!
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This issue of The Crystal News is dedicated to afrocentrist, psychiatrist, author, researcher, speaker, and mental liberationist, Dr. Francis Cress Welsing (March 18, 1935 – January 2, 2016). I first read her seminal literary masterpiece, "The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors," twenty-some years ago, while creating my solo show, "Some of My Best Friends." She is one of the people to whom the work is dedicated. If you have not yet read "The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors," I suggest that you do so. (http://www.afriware.net)
This issue of The Crystal News is also dedicated to the memory of every person who made their transition last year and to every person who will make their transition this year... to every Black man, woman and child who walks daily in fear (or in peace), in a society that knows how much our lives matter and is therefore continuing the systematic practices of our genocide... and finally, to the hope that one day, the fear that perpetuates these practices will be overwritten by the realization that to harm someone is to harm oneself. There will be a reckoning. Let us all hope, and pray, and meditate and work for a peaceful one... |
Keymáh Promotes FAMU Day of Service
In 2013, coinciding with the Presidential Inauguration, President Brarack Obama asked Americans to celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, by joining him in participating in a National Day of Service. Also recognizing that Dr. King spent his life in service to others, Florida A&M University (FAMU) President Dr. Elmire Mangum initiated the FAMU National Day of Service, January 15-18, 2016, and is urging FAMUans to
join the effort in honor of the work and legacy of Dr. King, FAMU
alumni chapters and individual alumni members across the country are
organizing and participating in services projects in their
communities. FAMU Alum T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh serves as
the Honorary Chairperson for the FAMU National Day of Service, January
15-18, 2016, and will be speaking, as well as reading to children in an
elementary school in Washington DC. For more information, visit http://dayofservice.famu.edu.
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Keymáh Salutes the General
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January takes me happily to DC to celebrate the promotion of my big brother, William J. Walker to Brigadier General!
His distinguished and decorated United States Army career includes a
recent command of the District of Columbia National Guard Land Component
Command and active duty with the International Security
Assistance Force, Afghanistan. His military awards
include the Bronze Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendaton
Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Joint Achievement Medal, and many
more. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Young Marines. Gen.Walker retired
in 2014 from an impressive civilian career with the Drug Enforcement
Agency (DEA) as a career special agent where he served in diverse
positions of increasing responsibility nationally, abroad in diplomatic
posts and in joint duty assignment. Promoted to Senior Executive
Service rank in 2003 and appointed a Senior National Intelligence
Service Officer in 2009, his last position was Deputy Assistant
Administrator, DEA Intelligence Division, Office of Strategic
Warning. We are all very proud of him. (Top Photo:
- 2016, Brigadier General William J. Walker. Bottom Photo: Associate
Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration's New
York Field Division William J. Walker announcing the takedown of a
two-year investigation that resulted in the arrest of 26 narcotics
traffickers and the dismantling of four major heroin and cocaine
trafficking groups.
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Projects in the Works... Ben Kadie's timely period piece Bail is completed and entering the festival market. Look for it at a film festival near you soon...William Leon's sweet, sentimental, youth produced short, Attached at the Soul. is also in post production... Candice T. Cain is shopping her feature film What Happened Last Night? and
is getting much interest from major studios in Los Angeles...In it, I
play Beverly, a voice of reason for Sarah, one on the film's leads,
played by Alix Kermes. The film, which centers around a pondering, party-filled college weekend, also stars Clayton Snyder, Jake Thomas, and Shelley Regner. ... I am still working on the second edition of my book, Natural Woman / Natural Hair,
as well as a book of poetry and meditations that will include the piece
I recently wrote in honor of my nephew Jonathan's wedding. Although there is interest in my newest solo stage show, "Don't Get Me Started," I have recently put it on the back burner once again to work on a new variety show, under the umbrella of the newly reassembled Majique Movement Dance Theatre (M&M). I co-founded M&M with Minister Amina Fola Rose and Angela Robinson, when we were students together at Florida A&M University. For details on those projects and more: Stay tuned...
Bail: Eli (Blake Alexander) and Bobby / Gladys (T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh)
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Attached at the Soul: Off set with my mom, "Young Margie" (Aliyah Royale)
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Attached at the Soul: Off set with "Dad" (Don Moss) and present day "Mom" (Efé)
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Read my "WHERE THE ACTION IS" posts on my new "Action" page, ...right after you read the rest of The Crystal News! :-)
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Keymah Serves as Honorary Host at 8th Annual Young Literati Toast
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Young Literati Eighth Annual Toast - An evening of literary readings, music, and comedy celebrating and supporting the Los Angeles Public Library, Saturday, Feb 20, 2016 | 8:00pm AVALON Hollywood
This year’s Toast will feature performances by Kenna, Andy Richter and Sarah Thyre, Randall Park, Kristen Schaal, Jenny Slate, Catherine Reitman, Jason Reitman, Charlyne Yi, and more. Live DJ sets by Shepard Fairey and DJ Francesca Harding, and music from Buyepongo, with a VIP After-Party DJ set by BadKnews. Hosted by Busy Philipps. Honorary Hosts: Donick Cary and Kim Huffman Cary, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Gillian Jacobs, Josh Kun and Ceci Bastida, T’Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Courtney Lilly, Zoe Lister-Jones and Daryl Wein, Attica Locke, Moby, Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne, Susan Orlean and John Gillespie, Andy Richter and Sarah Thyre, Paul Scheer and June Diane Raphael, Joel Stein, John F. Szabo and Nicholas Kuefler. The Young Literati raises funds for the Los Angeles Public Library, and has the second largest adult literacy program in the United States. http://lfla.org/event/eighth-annual-toast/ |
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In Dining With The Ancestors, I imagine dinner with some of my historic heroes and sheers In The HBCU Experience Book,
I describe one of my first experiences at Florida A&M University
while still a Business major, but in the theater where I would come to
spend the bulk of my time on the hill: HBCU Experience - The Book
www.BlackCollegeBook.com; HBCU Experience - The Book celebrates the rich
legacy and experiences of those who attended HBCUs.
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I'm So Glad I'm From FAMU!
As usual, I had a fine time during FAMU's 2016 Homecoming last October!! My friend and FAMU roommate, gifted Broadway and television star Angela Robinson, (Tyler Perry's The Haves and the Have Nots, Tuesday evenings on the OWN Network) gave a stirring and heartfelt Convocation speech that no one there will easily forget. You know I sat there crying for most of the speech. I was proud of her, and glad to be watching it and cheering her on with my FAMU buddies. As I mentioned in the last issue, that's the FAMU spirit. When one of us succeeds, we rally to celebrate. When one of us falls, we rally to support... FAMU President Elmira Mangum and Rattlers across the country are rolling up their sleeves in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For FAMU's first National Day of Service, January 15 - 18, for which I am the Honorary Chairperson, our service projects include speaking to youth groups, reading at schools, visiting and bringing care packages to youth centers cleaning our communities, mentoring, collecting clothing and much much. All this Rattler service makes me so glad I'm from FAMU! Please support the HBCU of your choice with your time, talent, treasure and input. I strongly encourage all FAMU alumni to participate in our day of service and to support our school, our president, our alumni organizations, the individual school(s) from which you graduated, and of course, The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Endowed Theater Scholarship at Florida A&M University!!! If you are not a member of an alumni association, join one today!
As usual, I had a fine time during FAMU's 2016 Homecoming last October!! My friend and FAMU roommate, gifted Broadway and television star Angela Robinson, (Tyler Perry's The Haves and the Have Nots, Tuesday evenings on the OWN Network) gave a stirring and heartfelt Convocation speech that no one there will easily forget. You know I sat there crying for most of the speech. I was proud of her, and glad to be watching it and cheering her on with my FAMU buddies. As I mentioned in the last issue, that's the FAMU spirit. When one of us succeeds, we rally to celebrate. When one of us falls, we rally to support... FAMU President Elmira Mangum and Rattlers across the country are rolling up their sleeves in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For FAMU's first National Day of Service, January 15 - 18, for which I am the Honorary Chairperson, our service projects include speaking to youth groups, reading at schools, visiting and bringing care packages to youth centers cleaning our communities, mentoring, collecting clothing and much much. All this Rattler service makes me so glad I'm from FAMU! Please support the HBCU of your choice with your time, talent, treasure and input. I strongly encourage all FAMU alumni to participate in our day of service and to support our school, our president, our alumni organizations, the individual school(s) from which you graduated, and of course, The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Endowed Theater Scholarship at Florida A&M University!!! If you are not a member of an alumni association, join one today!
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twg@thewalkergrpllc.com rwalker@thewalkergrpllc.com
(708) 868-2545 |
The Walker Group, LLC (TWG) is
a Certified Public Account & Consulting firm concentrated primarily
in performing audits for not-for-profit organizations, local
governments and municipalities, and entities regulated by the US
Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Our professionals
take a risk-based approach to each engagement, insuring performance and
operating efficiency. We go beyond traditional fundamentals to add
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productive role in today’s corporate governance environment.
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Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!! Thank you!!!!
Thank you to: FAMU President Elmira Magnum, for asking me to be the Honorary Chairperson for FAMU's first National Day of Service; all of the Rattlers who participated in the Day of Service, especially Tommy Mitchell Sr., Amina Fola Rose, John Michael Lee Jr., Vernon Bryant, Carmen Cummings and everyone else who helped spread the word, and to Artisha R. Polk, Danielle Alexander, Yvette Pugh, Dr. Artie L. Polk, Keneshia Grant, Dwayne Simmons, Yvette Pugh, Ashley Milton, Leslie Addison, and all of the
other DC Alumni chapter members who facilitated and/or participated in
an additional service project just to accommodate my schedule!; all of the families who are registering on the National Afrikan Amerikan Family Reunion Association (NAAFRA); Belvit Jordan for the private tour of the wonderful African American Research Library and Cultural Center in Fort Lauderdale; all of the facilitors wonderful participants and amazing instructors at my first MICHA workshop especially (I love, love, love the Checkhov work!); performer, writer and artist Margaret Laurena Kemp for recommending MICHA to me; everyone who has or will donate to my charitable endeavors, The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Endowed Scholarship at Meharry Medical College, The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Endowed Theater Scholarship at Florida A & M University (Under the ‘Please direct my donation to’ drop down menu, choose ‘College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities,’ then, under the ‘Funds’ drop down menu, choose “I Crystal Keymáh Endowed Scholarship (1328)”)), and / or The T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Fine Arts Room at St. Sabina Academy! MUAH! And I mean it!!!!
KUDOS KODUS KUDOS
Congratulations to: Stage Aurora Founder Darryl Reuben Hall on his recent grants including one from Community Foundation for recording the music for his next original show; Gregory L. Clark and Charles R Lewis III, the new FAMU National Alumni President and Vice President; and to Julianna Richardson on getting The HistoryMakers Digital Archives permanently placed in the U.S. Library of Congress! Go on Woman!!!
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The Crystal News respectfully acknowledges the life and transition of:
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Adrienne Archia, Alfredo "Chocolate" Armenteros, Natalie Cole, Bettie Jones, Marion James, Quintonio LeGrier, Meadowlark Lemon, Windell Middlebrooks, Ozell Sutton, Allen Toussaint, Dr. Francis Cress Welsing, and too many beautiful children (lost on the streets of Chicago and other places) to name...We are blessed to have known their warm heart, bright smiles and good works. We are inspired to follow their brave and noble examples.
Have You Hugged Someone You Love Today?
Stay Tuned...
Natural Woman / Natural Hair II - Summer 2016
(I know, I know, but for real this time.)
Natural Woman / Natural Hair II - Summer 2016
(I know, I know, but for real this time.)
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