Thursday, October 16, 2008

October UPDATE

All is well and there have been several major changes with Sisters~Nineties Literary Group (S~NLG). S~NLG now has a web site that includes pages of the Yari Yari Writers' activities and poetry. We are at web.mac.com/mywriteword.

As many know, our grassroots literary review ended with the 2007 Kwanzaa edition. After 18 years bedtime arrived. No regrets. My rewards came with each edition when at least one person would say that they learned something new of our African past in reading the publication.

A new addition to the scope of Yari Yari is the Internet radio program "We Are the Future" on WRBG. WRBG is our host station manned by the dynamic Brothas Keepa in Memphis, Tennessee. N'Dea Collins-Whitfield hosts "We Are the Future." This 14-year-old Yari Yari writer has been with the group since she was seven years old. For seven years we have watched her develop into a wonderful writer. N'Dea recently completed her chapbook Trying to Become--a lovely collection of poetry and art she has created. If you want to know what's on the mind and in the heart of teens with missions, you will discover that and more reading N'Dea's chapbook.

The final major change with our literary group is the 2008 Sisters~Nineties Annual Kwanzaa Celebration. We have decided to return to our original format from those early days in Madrid, Spain. Those were far less commercial--much more intimate. Friends of S~NLG will receive invitations to our observance at the beginning of December. More than likely we will post photographs on the web site from our 19th annual Kwanzaa observance.

Peace,
D.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008




BEYOND THE DREAM TO THE MOUNTAINTOP
S~NLG presents
as readers theatre
"I've Been to the Mountaintop"
by
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.


directed by Fannie Belle Lebby



musical accompaniment by Dennis Lebby




The performance featured Antoinette Crayton, Chris Hayden,
D. Morrowloving, and Bush Ra.
All photographs from rehearsals and performance are by Wilma Potts.

Yari Yari Writers participated in
BEYOND THE DREAM TO THE MOUNTAINTOP.
In addition to representing the April 3, 1968, Memphis audience,
Yari Yari Writers recited their poetry following
the presentation of "I've Been to the Mountaintop."







About 50 people attended the performance of Dr. Martin Luther King's last speech ("I've Been to the Mountaintop") as readers theatre at the Julia Davis Branch Library in St. Louis on Sunday, January 27. Writes Marie Chewe-Elliott, "Debra, The performance was phenomenal.It was inspirational to revisit the themes of unity and economic boycotts and realize how relevant they still are to our community. I meant it when I said the show should tour. My family members loved it because it provided us another 'teaching moment' with our children."

Wilma Potts delivered a powerful "Marching with the White Folks" to close the program. Ms. Potts' photographs from BEYOND THE DREAM TO THE MOUNTAINTOP are above and below.

Asante to all who attended and those who helped promote the Sisters~Nineties program BEYOND THE DREAM TO THE MOUNTAINTOP.









Tuesday, January 15, 2008

A Sisters~Nineties Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King delivered his last speech on April 3, 1968. He spoke in support of the Memphis sanitation workers who were on strike. In his "I've Been to the Mountaintop" oration, Dr. King emphasized the necessity of unity among the Black people of Memphis. He called for cooperative economics and named the companies from which people of Afrikan descent should withdraw patronage.

Come out to hear the nationalistic concepts of Dr. King as members of Sisters~Nineties present "I've Been to the Mountaintop." This is the speech for which Dr. King should be best remembered.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated the day following his delivery of "I've Been to the Mountaintop."