Sitting with Phoenix Eden was a very beautiful experience. She spoke candidly about love and the manner in which the strength of black women influenced and nurtured her. Phoenix lives life in duality, honoring both her masculine and feminine energy, never once denying or hiding either. Watch as she tells her life story and the interweaving of love of self and for others. Advertisements
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From Love Is
Love stories as told by Black storytellers.
Love Is: Dr. Cornel West
Yesterday, Dr. Cornel West gave a lecture at Tulane University for the Black Student Union’s Black Arts Fest. I had the chance to ask him in what way he believed Black music and artistic expression aided Black liberation efforts. He responded by discussing the way artists like Coltrane, The Isley Brothers, Curtis Mayfield and James Brown made Black people feel good spiritually. That you could go to a four hour Brown concert and if you didn’t hear him play something, all you had to do was yell that out and he’d play the song. He said, “Oligarchs have made it…
Christina
Name: Christina Age: 29 Hometown: Columbus, Ohio Love Is: An intense appreciation for another, an unexplainable connection. It is multifaceted. Beautiful and ugly but powerful. Last month I attended a brunch hosted by Blavity during Essence Festival. It was an event full of young, black women who all were there to network and learn one…
James Harrison
Name: James Age: 17 Hometown: Baton Rouge, La (Scotlandville) Love Is: Love to me isn’t really a specific, defined thing. It’s something that you actually have to get through to a connection with somebody. Love and hate, you actually have to tough it through with somebody , be with somebody, with all their quirks and actually understand and work through even if you can’t stand it at [some] times. It’s not just about giving up, it’s also about that connection that you have to have with somebody and it’s not always in a positive way. [Because] some people claim that…
Samiya McCullam
Name: Samiya McCullum Age: 9 Hometown: Baton Rouge, La Love Is: I think live is an affection. . . um… when… you…love somebody, maybe? That’s it!
Reverend Victor White II
Last night Baton Rouge’s Eclectic Truth Open Mic and Poetry Slam, Forward Arts, Inc., the Poetry Alliance and the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge held a special reading called Voices for Vic in dedication for Victor White III. If you are not aware, Victor White of New Iberia, Louisiana, died in police custody. The official…
Marcel “Fable the Poet” Price
Name: Marcel “Fable the Poet” Price Hometown: Lansing, Michigan residing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Age: 26 Age You First Fell in Love: 21 Love Is: A best friendship with the opposite sex. And that means it can be a mother that’s a best friend, that’s the opposite sex. It could be a sister, it could…
Big Sant (MFxOG)
Big Sant. Smithe’s Old Bar. Atlanta, Georgia. 2014. Name: Big Sant Hometown: Meridian, Mississippi Age: 31 Age You First Fell in Love: 15 Love Is: Ah. Love is, (laughs), I don’t know love is, I don’t know. Love is putting whatever you got- love is putting whatever it is above you. Above your own. .…
Amaris Diaz
I was lucky to catch poet Amaris Diaz, as she was in Baton Rouge for a reading. Of course I had to speak with her about love! Read our conversation below and check out some of her work here. Name: Amaris Diaz Hometown: San Antonio, Texas Age: 20 Age You First Fell in Love: 19 Love Is: Love is love (laughs). Um, I would say in a sentence love is- let me not overthink this. Love is two people or more people accepting each other and offering affirmation for whatever someone wants to be. Amaris: The first time I…
Kennedy
Name: Kennedy Age: 5 Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia Love Is: I don’t know! I recently visited Houston, Texas and was able to spend time with my good friends Lauren and Josh. This was my first time seeing them in almost three years. Ours is a friendship that, no matter how much time has passed, is always pleasant and we…
