Out & About

New York end of summer happenings

The Hon. Inez Dickens hosts a birthday cruise in support of her campaign.

The National Association of Each One Teach One presented a community forum on policing and the rise in gun violence. NYC Chief Rodney Harrison was guest speaker at the forum and was also joined by electeds Inez Dickens, Mark Levine, Gale Brewer and community members. The forum was moderated by Bob McCullough Sr., national president of Each One Teach One, and Nina Norwood. It was held at The Church of Our Lord Jesus Apostolic Christ of the Apostolic Faith, Harlem.

(Bill Moore photo)

Noni’s Fashion Show celebrates African fashions and fabrics

From African lace, brocade, Kente and Ankara, Flatbush was the scene on Saturday, Aug. 28 for yet another tremendous show of culture, class and talent.

Designer Noni dressed her grand models in her varied big African styles at her outdoor fashion show in Brooklyn.

A captive audience delighted as the models showed off 40 outfits announced by the always entertaining and engaging Mistress of Ceremonies Sharon Gordon. Noni Styles brought out the casual, the formal to the regal, made-to-order or off the gorgeous rack. More style and fashion on www. nonistyles.com

(Nayaba Arinde photo)

Shenseea blessed on an upward trajectory

The aftereffects to a Summer Jam appearance/performance have historically shown to project said artist’s career on an upward trajectory towards super star. Well, that’s not a proven fact, it sounds correct so for the sake of poetic license the statement will remain in the affirmative, that way the following news would make perfect sense. A week after the summer’s biggest concert, Dancehall princess Shenseea, born as Chinsea Lee, finds herself with a historic buzz. Granted her earlier work shows this should come to know surprise. Through her career so far, she has collaborated with Vybz Kartel for “Loodi,” Sean Paul on his single “Rollin” and Christina Aguilera in her song “Right Moves.”

Additionally, in early 2019, she released a track called “Blessed” featuring Tyga that garnered over 2 million YouTube views in its first 48 hours and has since risen to over 31 million views to date. The song reached No. 2 on the Billboard reggae charts. This week, however, she finds herself on the hottest project of the year thus far. While we hear major artists griping about their contributions being voided, Shenseea is featured on “OK OK Pt 2” and “Pure Souls” from the 27-track Kanye West long awaited new album, “Donda.”

Shenseea shared her gratitude via social media for being not only picked to be on the album but being coached by Kanye West, who is regarded as a genius in the music and fashion industry.

“People will say they support me but SHOWING that support is what counts! @kanyewest I can’t thank you enough for it all! The insight, the exposure, opportunity, support etc…You could’ve picked any other female artiste, but you chose ME! As you said ‘this is only the beginning’ #DONDA… not 1 but TWO songs on this amazing album. God is great I know the Caribbean proud a me!! Which is your fave?? 1or 2????” she asked her fans on her official Instagram account.

Da Baby came into the Summer Jam appearance as an embattled artist, having come under heavy scrutiny for comments made onstage at the July 25th Rolling Loud festival in Miami. After multiple apologies Da Baby took more measured steps to make amends when he met with Black leaders from the Black AIDS Institute, Gilead Sciences COMPASS Initiative Coordinating Centers, GLAAD, the National Minority AIDS Council, the Normal Anomaly Initiative, Positive Women’s Network-USA, Prevention Access Campaign (U=U), the Southern AIDS Coalition, and Transinclusive Group. The nine HIV organizations announced a virtual, private meeting to discuss HIV facts and share personal stories of living and thriving with HIV. The leaders called for a meeting with the artist in an open letter on Aug. 4 to which DaBaby affirmatively responded. The organizations provide HIV education and direct services to people most impacted by HIV/ AIDS, especially Black heterosexual men and women and LGBTQ communities across the southern United States, which account for the majority of new HIV cases. This meeting followed the open letter to DaBaby from these and other organizations earlier this month which asked for a meeting after harmful and inaccurate comments at the Rolling Loud Festival.

In the letter, the HIV advocates wrote: “At a time when HIV continues to disproportionately impact Black Americans and queer and transgender people of color, a dialogue is critical. We must address the miseducation about HIV expressed in your comments, and the impact it has on various communities.”

After the meeting, the collective issued a statement that read, “The open letter to DaBaby was our way to extend him the same grace each of us would hope for. Our goal was to ‘call him in instead of calling him out.’ We believed that if he connected with Black leaders living with HIV that a space for community building and healing could be created. We are encouraged he swiftly answered our call and joined us in a meaningful dialogue and a thoughtful, educational meeting.

“During our meeting, DaBaby was genuinely engaged, apologized for the inaccurate and hurtful comments he made about people living with HIV, and received our personal stories and the truth about HIV and its impact on Black and LGBTQ communities with deep respect. We appreciate that he openly and eagerly participated in this forum of Black people living with HIV, which provided him an opportunity to learn and to receive accurate information.”