Week 2: Sunday Service Announcements
Last Sunday, Sisten Karen asked about food being serviced in the basement and somebody tried to start a food fight but Brother Ason finished it. Today after service we will have light refreshments...
Can everyone give a warm welcome to Sister
in the back from Canada joining us for today’s service. Also a warm welcome to Sister and Brother for visiting again and Sister for joining the church family at last week’s service!We are so honored to have all of you a part of this community.
Over 500 views on the first newsletter within just one week is amazing and we couldn’t have done it without each one of you!
That’s how you show up as a community, to build and grow together.
Now we are expanding into writing together. We’ve been thinking about our energy and how much it takes at times to show up for ourselves to write. So maybe once a week might be too much, we can grow into that if needed, but we feel once a month is a great starting point. The time we spend together will be intentional and we can have more people participate to make them meaningful and impactful.
We will meet on First Sundays1 but the time was a tie so we need to narrow it down this week.
The last few service announcements so we don’t hold you too long today, we have a real treat scheduled for today’s service.
Our building fund has been set up for our plans for the expansion of the community hub. The building fund will pay as our paid subscriptions which will cover the cost of hosting our Writers Circle sessions via Zoom, and serve as grants for our community by becoming a paid subscriber each month to a new community member’s publication.
Over time we would love for the opportunity to offer bigger grants for book publications, self-funded book tours, or solo writer retreats.
Who knows maybe we will be able to host our own BlackStack Writers Circle Retreat in California.
Brother
mentioned a collection plate in the comments of our last newsletter and sparked some ideas, to say the least. So this week we are incorporating our first collection plate if the words from the service touch you and you wish to bless the community or the guest speaker.
Opening Message with our very own, Prophet from Chronicles of Change
Today I want to talk to you about a topic that I know many of us would love to receive and sometimes get lost fantasizing about what we would do with the promised 40 acres and a mule. Let’s be honest, the reparations are so dated the 40 acres seem desirable to break free from the constant struggles of living in America, but it’s not enough in today’s society.
I’m Tired of Little Life Boats by
expresses the impact of those daily struggles beautifully and it got me thinking about my life. If you have visited the Chronicles of Change you understand my most current battle was securing a home for my family. The journey was long, we started getting clear on our path at Myrtle Beach, SC. How many of y’all know about Myrtle Beach? If you do then you know it feels like you time-traveled into slavery and you are a run-away slave. The energy of that place is taxing, but this particular trip was my level up.I call it reparations.
The ocean speaks to me so clearly that I no longer second guess my thoughts, and the way the sand feels in my hands and between my toes makes me feel grounded and in flow. No human can take that from me. I started my book at the beach, I took a leap of faith in my life at the beach, I lived in a different Airbnb for three months at the beach because the prices were cheap enough for my family to escape homelessness. I fed my family with $157 in food stamps at the beach. I presold my first author-signed copy of my book at the beach. I created my dream life by looking at my situation from a new perspective.
I call it reparations.
As Black people, we get our reparations through our joy.
We get our reparations through our creativity.
We receive reparations through our flowers give me my flowers now while I am alive to enjoy them.
I got my reparations at the beach when I came broken and fearful of the unknown, but left confident and excited about the unknown. Forty acres and a mule is not reparations, and to be Black in America we have to take it for ourselves when the opportunity presents itself. Brother
told us last week quiet vacationing2 might have been our closest chance to a work-life balance but now that’s becoming a trending topic. That’s why I call it reparations. If they don’t like it because it’s benefiting me then I love it and I need to do more of it.I call it reparations.
The way the ocean sounds as the waves crash into each other brings my body to ease instantly. Feeling the warmth from the sun on my skin makes my worries melt away. The beach is healing for me, therefore any time I spend at the beach is a form of reparations for me. Because there was a time when our ancestors didn’t get to go to the beach with the same experiences I get to enjoy. So I don’t take those experiences for granted. My ancestors guided me to the beach to start implementing the life I desired and making adjustments along the way, leading me to home in East Bay.
I call it reparations.
The more I show my daughter that when you go after your dreams they work out for you, I am healing my bloodline. I get to experience the life of my dreams, but the internal fights of feeling worthy of it will always be the silent battle I face alone. However, my daughter is experiencing a lifestyle that has put her on airplane flights, and traveling the country, all while proofreading my drafts as reading time in exchange for Minecraft time.
I call it reparations.
Sister
told us about how our bougie Aunties were just protecting their peace. I call it reparations. And Sister told us about finding balance in our lives by living our best lives, being our better selves, and accomplishing the greater good. I call it reparations. Especially when we choose to rest over the hustle culture like told us last week. All of these little moments of you choosing to do what’s best for you I call it reparations.3This week I want you to find your own little “I call it reparations” moments and share them in the comments.
Our nails as Black women have always been our basic standard of beauty. A Black woman with her nails done is unstoppable. The way a full set with just a basic French tip can book the confidence in a Black woman should be the written prescription in our therapy sessions covered by our insurance companies. We can write it off as reparations if you will.
Reading Experience Tip: Hit the play button on ‘Wade In The Water’ while reading through OUR Story for extra flavoring!
O•U•R Story with Sister
What better way to spend the weekend than to head to the beach with family!
It’s ironic that Sunday’s are still the most segregated day in America. Whites have their churches and we have ours.
Imagine if when we wanted to head to our local beach back in the day we may have to wonder if it is safe to go.
Then if we did have our own community beach then that itself would lead to the white community may try to sabotage all of your hard work due to jealousy?
Thankfully, Ocean City survived all obstacles that came their way from man-made trouble to natural disasters such as hurricanes (Hurricane Hazel in ‘54 & Fran in ‘96) that can cause damage to the East Coast from June ‘til October-November.
The Ocean City Jazz Festival is scheduled to take place on the July 5th-7th. This event revolves around the celebration of African Americans who were able to purchase land to make their own beach homes and communities.
In the future I plan on attending the festival to experience the music, vibes, and taking in all of the historical sites that show; that in spite of everything black folks are truly magic!
The Ocean City Beach Community (OCBC) was established in 1949 on North Topsail Island. The idea stemmed from an Edgar L. Yaw, a white attorney from the city of Wilmington. He shared the idea with a client of his, an African American physician, Dr. Samuel J. Gray.4
Dr. Gray wasn’t against the idea, but he wasn’t sure if he could invest in this project without neglecting his medical practice. So, he shared the idea with his friends, the Chestnut family.
Eventually, the Chestnuts’ & Dr. Gray purchased the land along with the white attorney and his brother who invested in shares. Making this an interracial investment. The Chestnuts became the first family to own a beach house in this newly found community. The plots were sectioned between residential and business properties.
By 1953, there were two additional buildings established. Ocean City Terrace, a restaurant that was constructed from an abandoned Navy missile observation Tower, now recognized as Operation Bumblebee Tower 6. Then a motel, called Ocean Motor Court. Streets in the community would bear the names of community family members and famous Black Americans.
The town of North Topsail Beach installed commemorative street signs to mark the historic community in 2012. The Ocean City Community was inducted to the Jacksonville-Onslow Award African American Heritage Trail in 2014 and to the North Carolina Civil Rights Trail in 2022. 5
Historical Black Beaches In The U.S. of A
Additional N.C. Black Beach Communities:
Chowan Beach was an African American playground founded in 1926 when Eli Reid of Winton, in Hertford County.
Seabreeze and Freeman Beach (now Freeman Park), close to Wilmington, were two pioneering beach resorts for Blacks established in North Carolina in 1922 and 1951.
Shell Island Beach Resort, north of Wrightsville Beach. Lived a short life of 3 years because the Klan was not having it!
Our Understanding of Reality (OUR) Story focuses on black livelihood and the history behind it. Exploring origins from Africa aka the Motherland and the Diaspora (including South America & the Caribbean) .
June was Black Music Month and I enjoyed writing about the history of Hip Hop and a music legend of the genre.
& now a word from Guest Speaker Shadé from The Church of THE BLK PRSPCTV
The Church of THE BLK PRSPCTV is a sanctuary where the brush, the pen, and the lens are honored, spreading the essence of Black creativity.
Today’s Reflection:
Freedom Remix: Independence Day Unplugged
Forget the Sparklers, Embrace the Spark of Change!
This Fourth of July isn't just about lighting up the sky but igniting minds. Let's serve up a Freedom Remix.
Sunkissed Folk,
Let’s revel in the glory of the beachfront pew, riding the waves of fellowship, fun, and freedom! Soaking up today’s reflection….
Picture it, America, 1776…
The artwork above goes beyond flag-waving; it's a mixtape illustrating the ongoing struggle for freedom. The figure depicted embodies defiance, paying homage to the unforgettable Frederick Douglass and his 1852 speech, What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July? (long but essential read). It exposes the hypocrisy of a nation celebrating freedom while condoning the enslavement of Black people.
He declared,
This Fourth [of] July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice; I must mourn.
Douglass’s speech challenges us to confront exclusion and inequality, resonating like a powerful anthem.
The Fourth of July marks the birth of a nation. However, Pecou's canvas paints a different narrative. The "Nope" on his shirt isn't merely fashion; it's a statement, a mic drop in wardrobe form.
As the great Prophetess and Bx Princess, Ice Spice, once said, “You thought I was feelin' you? (Nah)………… “
Douglass's words remind us that impactful statements reverberate through streets, adorn walls, and echo through speakers—they're experienced, not just read.
And now, let’s turn the page to another superhero saga, where the Harlem hero uses fashion instead of canvas to make a bold statement…
red, white & blue realness, he’s no Captain America
When Juelz Santana draped himself in the American flag, it wasn’t just a fashion statement but a declaration. Like a modern-day superhero, he donned the stars and stripes with a Harlem twist.
This wasn’t your average Fourth of July barbecue get-up.
Naaaah, this was a full-fledged, red-white-and-blue, “I’m here to liberate more than just your sense of style.” It was as if Uncle Sam took a detour through Harlem, got inspired by the vibrant culture, and emerged with a new mission. He wasn’t just hitting the town with Cam’ron and Jim Jones; he was marching in the African American Day parade, draped in red, Black, and green, ready to rewrite the narrative.
This ensemble wasn’t just about looking sharp at a barbecue. It was a statement piece, a sartorial tribute to the journey of Black liberation. It said, “We’re here, we’re proud, and we’re still fighting for the promise of what those colors represent.” It was a fashion-forward salute to the past, present, and future heroes who wear their heritage like a badge of honor.
As we reflect on Dr. Fahamu Pecou’s “Declaration of Independence,” let’s celebrate the Fourth by embracing our cultural heritage with the same pride Juelz Santana showed when he wore his American flag outfit—a bold expression of identity and belonging. Our festivities extend beyond the typical barbecues and fireworks; they are a profound contemplation of our collective journey toward true freedom, woven with stories of perseverance and triumph.
Therefore, as we gather, let’s proudly showcase our histories, resembling Santana’s flag display, and let the art of visionaries like Dr. Pecou inspire our thoughts. Let’s challenge established norms, redefine the essence of freedom, and continue shaping the narrative of a nation striving for genuine liberty and justice for all.
Dr. Fahamu Pecou around the web: IG | WEBSITE
Shadé is the sole curator of THE BLK PRSPCTV, a newsletter celebrating Black art, history, and culture. It’s a platform where readers can immerse themselves in the richness of Black creativity across various art forms. Each post features the work of Black artists to enlighten, inspire, and provoke thought.
While Shadé typically relies on visuals to convey messages, she is now exploring more writing, embracing the vulnerability that comes with new beginnings. Your understanding and encouragement are greatly valued as she navigates this fresh chapter.
Outside of substack, you can find me on Instagram or X(Twitter)
Don’t forget,
Support BLACK Living Artists!!!!!!
Support BLACK Living Artists!!!!!!
Support BLACK Living Artists!!!!!!
&&&&&
Stay bold, stay brilliant, and remember, as Jay-Z says, You could be anywhere in the world, but you're here with me. I appreciate that!
❤with love & creativity❤
Look to your neighbor and tell ‘em, ‘embrace that inner child’
Written by: Sister
Recently, it dawned on me that the films I gravitate towards are for a reason. These have been messages from the universe telling me to wake up and live a life worth living. When we are in sync with our intuition, I wholeheartedly believe that our decisions are signs from the universe pointing us toward our destiny. A couple of years ago, I discovered the film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," starring Cate Blanchett and Brad Pitt. The film takes place from 1918 to 2005 and chronicles the life of Benjamin Button, played by Brad Pitt, who has a rare genetic condition called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS). This condition causes one's body to age rapidly. However, the twist in the film is that Benjamin is born old and ages backward, eventually dying young.
Benjamin speaks many soul-searching phrases. After all, he's very wise after living many lives. One worth noting is, "For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be…. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you can start all over again." This line is very profound. Time is not necessarily on our side, but the dreams planted in our hearts are. I am beginning to believe that not only can we change trajectories when we are unsatisfied, but maybe by chasing our curiosity, it is easier to pivot. I used to think if I had a passion and purpose, I would follow that for the rest of my life and succeed. That is no different from working a monotonous corporate job, 9 to 5, or any other job for 20+ years. Having this singular objective restricts one to a box and demands that you devote your breath, time, and energy to this one project. It depletes energy, which is the life force for unlocking thresholds in our imagination. Maya Angelou says, "You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." Incredibly accurate, we can infinitely access our creativity at any time. There is no such thing as after completing this project, I am no longer creative. But if we squeeze ourselves into these pockets and containers because it's the "right thing to do," eventually, we put ourselves on a shelf and make it challenging to access our abilities and creative energy.
We are supposed to and meant to follow our curiosity. Think about it. If you are a human being who has lived for many decades and seen different things, you have changed multiple times and, therefore, are multidimensional. What sense would it make to force yourself to do one thing for your entire life if you haven't been one thing your entire life? Benjamin Button's aging backward was more profound than a fictional condition; it was a symbolic message. If we follow our curiosity innately, we are following our childlikeness. If we remain tapped into our youth, we are more inclined to live life like it is the first time in every moment. Kids are so exploratory and intrigued by everything. You can give a kid a high-five or spin with them in a circle, and they will be excited. Often, individuals think their infectious joy comes from their lack of responsibility or understanding of the world when it has everything to do with the life and joy within us oozing to get out.
Adults tend to say, "I wish I could stay a child." You can stay a child, and you will if you choose to tap into your curiosity and eagerness. Conventional society demands that we abandon the inner child, but Benjamin reminded us that that inner child never left because of responsibilities and adulthood. Spiritually speaking, age is not a label or thing; we are forever evolving and ageless.
Prayer Hotline
This week’s Sunday Service Announcements are brought to you by ‘community.' Over the past week, this community has continued to form and build, creating a second newsletter, and a new series of monthly pieces we are planning to share starting the end of July on Black hair stories. The love and support y’all have shown is unmatched and we appreciate every single one of you!
The subscriber numbers mean nothing if there is no engagement within our community, so this has been a beautiful experience.
I pray we continue to grow. I pray we continue to heal part of each other through this community. I pray you feel confident in yourself to show up for your community. I pray that you set into your calling in life for your community. I pray you are comfortable enough to be your authentic self with our community. I pray you open up to receive the love poured into you from our community. I pray you feel at home.
At times we long to belong within a community and we fail to open our minds to how a community will look and feel for us. I had to pull back a little this week to reunite with my first community, my family. Sometimes it’s about us focusing on the people that make up our home. What do you need to do for yourself to better show up for your home-based community? How are y’all operating as a unit or is everyone moving independently? When I focused on my family things started falling into alignment and I can come to this community without depleting anyone’s energy because I lack fulfillment. It’s okay to be in that place, but once we recognize it we have to take control of it.
We could call the union of this community our reparations.
The term ‘First Sundays’ is referencing the first Sunday of each month. Our Writers Circle sessions will be on the first Sunday of each month starting July 2024.
Read Week 1: Sunday Service Announcements to elaborate on Quiet Vacationing in
’s section.Read Week 1: Sunday Service Announcements to understand the connections to the pieces written by
, , and .https://www.onlyinonslow.com/african-american-heritage-trail/
https://www.northtopsailbeachnc.gov/community/page/historic-ocean-city-beach
 | A guest post by
|
 | A guest post by
|
Thank you for the opportunity!! & for allowing me to be my authentic self. BX ALL DAY 🙅🏾♀️🙅🏾♀️🗽🗽
I am forever grateful for this space created for us, by us. Thank you for everything ♾️💡✨.