1. family and parenting
2. children

3
Word from The Culture
4
Hot Topics
10 The Arts
13
Health & Beauty
16
Healthy Receipes
18
The Community
4
VIEW POINT
20
7
ENTERTAINMENT
COVER STORY
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
1
B
y Culture we are referring to the total harvest of thinking and feeling, Culture therefore encompasses the pattern of inherited meaning and sensibilities encoded in rituals, law, language, practices and biblical narratives
that can determine the sum total of which influences inspires and guides the behavior, thoughts and affection
of a people. Culture refers to the overall way of life of a people. Culture involves the values, norms, institutions,
and modes of thinking to which successive generations in a given society have attached primary importance.
Our Culture is reflected in the: businesses we own, services we provide and products we sell and utilize our self;
the meal we eat as well as those we serve to others , the entertainment we prefer or expose others to. Culture
is about our entire way of life.
Realizing there are only two Cultures: one that brings life and one brings death; then it must be realized and understood that there is a death dress code, diet of death, and an iniquitous standard of performing arts that has
become globally acceptable. Your culture is a reflection of what you believe; the way we dress has to say who
we are, what we eat if we want life has to be life, the art’s we patronize and allow in our life and in our hearts
has to bring life if we want life.
THE CULTURE MAGAZINE will bring a dietary discipline appropriate for providing the proper nutritional needs
of society(HEALTH); a clothing industry appropriate for the values and morals of our society(BEAUTY); an entertainment (inner attainment) component for the recreational and inspirational needs of the society(ART).
Our true culture must spiritually,
psychologically, and emotionally
elevate us and give us grounds to be a
confident and proud and special people.
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
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3
HOT TOPICS
creating distance between African Americans and
their right to defend themselves. An 1831 Virginia
gun law explicitly stated “Guns banned for free
Black persons.” Early gun laws also prohibited
both free blacks and enslaved from owning weapons. Another law stated “…and if any Negro shall
presume to carry any arms he shall be whipped
with 21 lashes.” A 1906 Mississippi law even reAmerica has a history of creating distance quired sellers of firearms to keep records of buybetween African Americans and their right ers, indicating race. In 1941 Supreme Court Justice Buford speaking to an 1893 gun law stated
to defend themselves.
that “The 1893 Act was passed for the purpose of
disarming Negro laborers... The statute was nevCostas quoted a Kansas City based writer, Jason er intended to be applied to the white population”
Whitlock who strongly condemned gun ownership
and America’s gun culture. “Our current gun cul- Today the method of distancing law-abiding blacks
ture ensures that more and more domestic disputes from practicing their second amendment rights has
will end in the ultimate tragedy.” Costas’s com- taken on a new form. Black criminal culture, that
ments were immediately condemned by proponents is popularized by today’s rap music effectively creof gun rights and supporters of the second amend- ates a Black criminal class who, after any form of
ment, yet the fact remains that irresponsible use of felony incarceration, become second class citizens
guns has always caused supporters of stricter gun who no longer have the same rights as full citizens
control to rally against what they see as America’s and definitely do not have the legal right to bear
arms.
obsession with guns.
When Kansas City Chiefs linebacker, Jovon Belcher
made the tragic decision to take his own life after
murdering his girlfriend, it sent ripples through the
sports world. Yet, the tragedy itself was overshadowed by the comments of veteran sports caster,
Bob Costas.
For African Americans, however, this debate takes This criminal culture also creates in the collective
on many facets and is a topic that very few have mind of many blacks an attitude that guns are for
been willing to address. America has a history of “bad” people. The proponents for stricter gun laws
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
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an air of wantonness by those who have no regard
for any semblance of a community. “There are no
communities.” Said Dr. Ben Yehudah “There just
people living next to each other.”
True gun control, especially in urban areas can
only be obtained through the resurgence of a strong
black community. The second amendment provides
for the rights of a united law-abiding citizenry to
defend their own. The fact that it is usually disorganized and disunited communities that turn to
looting and lawlessness is also a symptom of this.
During the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, many
Caucasian communities united and armed themselves, even in some instances, shooting blacks
are quick to quote the gun crimes of major inner who were looking for help because they were percity areas as a symptom of America’s gun culture ceived to be looters.
gone wrong.
The flip side of this is when those who support the
right to bear arms distance themselves from the
Black community. It’s no secret that many gun
fares and gun shows also feature tables with racist and anti-Semitic literature. In effect, many progun circles also focus on the Black criminal class
albeit for different reasons. To them the “looter”,
the “robber”, the “rapist” or “attacker” is subconsciously a Black male and it’s against this criminal
class that they should arm themselves against.
The scourge of Black homicides perpetuated by
other blacks has the effect of both tearing communities and vilifying the armed Black man whether
he is a law-abiding citizen or not. Until black people come to grips with the proper way to deal with
illegal guns in the community, gun control will
nevertheless mean an unarmed black populace and
in the words of Ralph W. Conner, Chairman of the
Congress of Racial Equality, “By definition a slave
is someone that is disarmed.”
The fact is that no one is affected by the Black
criminal class more than Blacks themselves. 93%
of Black murders are committed by another Black
person. The Department of Justice has placed the
number of Black murders at about 9000 annually.
The supporters of stricter gun control refuse to face
the fact that criminals don’t care about laws, especially gun laws. “Criminals are the ones who carry
any gun they want and are empowered.” says, Donna Major the Boston Field coordinator for Second
Amendment Sisters.
The mentality of law abiding Black citizens that to
be a good citizen, one must rely solely on the police
to protect and serve their community also facilitates
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
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COVER STORY
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
7
Frenchie! The Grammy nominated
soul singer turned pop artist who
loves to laugh, sip good wine, adores
the Arts and treasures SPANX! In
or out of them, she can belt Jennifer Holliday’s “You’re Gonna
Love Me” or Ella Fitzgerald’s “Our
Love is Here to Stay” with uncanny
ease but Frenchie aims to make you
dance. And honey, Frenchie gets
what Frenchie wants! Think Donna
Summer, Gloria Gaynor, Whitney
Houston, and you’re on the right
track.
The California native began her
career at Howard University. First
as an English major in 1997 then
switched to Music, with a plan to
teach the subject professionally. Finally, after landing the lead in the
school’s presentation of jazz musical play, “Ain’t Misbehavin” she
found her niche in Musical Theater.
Her fellow Bison scholars were
forever smitten. With their support
(and that of SPANX of course) she
set her sights on Broadway.
By the time many of us caught up
with Frenchie it was 2003 and she
was the infamous American Idol
Season II contestant, removed from
the show for a racy modeling gig
she took as a minor. The five-yearold images were never circulated
though knowledge of the job was
enough to cost her a chance at actually competing on Idol.
In the same year that she exited the
LA based TV show she debuted
on Broadway in Pulitzer Prize and
Tony Award-winning musical, Rent
in NY. Her Broadway career ran
four years including a break she took
to star in yet another Broadway hit,
Dreamgirls as Effie White. Oh yes,
did we mention she also earned a
Grammy nomination for her
professional
Broadway
performance
in Ain’t Misbehavin? Full
circle, baby!
Frenchie has
the pedigree
of Hollywood
Royalty; classic
beauty,
fine tuned vocals, live theatre tutelage,
a sprinkle of
scandal, raw
talent, and a
West Hollywood address
to boot. It is no wonder then that
when she reappeared almost ten
years later on Season I of NBC’s
new vocal talent show, The Voice,
lyricist, singer, song writer and producer, Cee Lo Green of the Goodie
Mob recognized her. But it was rival judge, actress and recording artist, Christina Aguilera who snatched
the gem up, assembling her own
team of 8 vying vocalists.
Under Aguilera’s coaching, America watched Frenchie sing and strut
her way into the finals. She did not
attain the competition’s grand prize;
$100k and Universal Republic Records contract but her talent didn’t
need the win, only the showcase.
Since the show her single “Love’s
Got a Hold On Me” dropped in September. It shot straight to #3 on the
iTunes Dance Chart. In the midst
of fame, everlasting vocal lessons,
motivational speaking, launching her own label; Frenchie Davis
Music Group, family duties and
creative ventures, Frenchie takes a
brief intermission to check in with
The Culture on some of her less circulated dish.
JW (Jonelle Whitlock): What was
the first record you ever purchased?
FD (Frenchie Davis): Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation and NWA’s
Niggaz for Life. I purchased those
on the same day.
JW: What would you advise 21-yearold Frenchie if given the chance?
FD: Don’t take things so seriously.
When you are artistic you are more
sensitive and feel things deeply.
Feel how you need to feel and move
on. Don’t waste the day.
JW: As a star of the 21st century
what have some of your toughest
professional challenges been?
FD: Remembering why I do this in
the first place. Removing the fluff.
(Continued on page 19)
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
8
THE ARTS
W
hen most
people think of
Reggae music
they recall the inspirational
sound of Bob Marley, Peter
Tosh, Gregory
as a music genre born from the hardships of the Jamaican ghettoes. One can argue that the infectious beats and aggressive
lyrics would make the toughest gangster rapper sound like an
R&B crooner. The violence that stemmed from Jamaica’s political turmoil in the 70’s and 80’s would
naturally produce a music genre
that reflected the tougher side
of Kingston streets, where close
knit garrison communities run
by politically connected dons
and gunmen are a reality.
Dancehall artists are today,
the voice of Jamaican music.
They book more interna
international shows than their roots
Reggae compatriots and
cities like New York, Miami,
Tokyo, Toronto, and London are
major tour destinations for these artists. Roots reggae
which developed from genres like SKA and Rock steady, was the
Isaacs and other
dominant form of Jamaican music in the 70’s but it soon became
legendary artists but very
few would be able to quickly more globally popular than it actually was at home. In poorer parts
name contemporary Reggae of Kingston the dancehall became the place for party goers who
couldn’t attend the more exclusive establishments uptown.
artists and contemporary
Reggae acts would be hard
The music that evolved from the dancehalls was more geared
pressed to find the kind of
international appeal of the towards local consumers and although Roots Reggae was a heavy
cultural influence, dancehall was markedly more sexually explicit,
legends who came before
aggressive and even promoted violence against anyone who
them. Many complain that
it’s due to the popularity of violated Jamaican cultural
moors. Soon artists like Mad
another form of Jamaican
Cobra, Bounty Killer and Ninja
music expression named
Man came on the scene with
“Dancehall” which some
might still label Reggae but is lyrics that praised the “Badactually more like a wayward man” a word used to describe
child to Reggae than actual someone who is proficient
with firearms and didn’t think
Reggae.
twice about using them. The
Dancehall can be described 90 was an era of great achievement for the genre with artists
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
10
like Shabba Ranks,
Patra and Super Cat
topping the charts
internationally.
In recent years
some dancehall acts
have come under
fire in America and
the UK for their
anti-gay lyrics. Artists like Buju Banton, Capleton, Bounty Killer and Beenie Man were
banned from Britain and were refused Visas to work
in the US due to the influence of gay rights activists
who labeled the art form “murder music.” This has
prompted many artists to shy away from lyrics that
promoted ending the lives of homosexuals and
even apologies from others, due to the fact that
being banned from these major tour destinations
had a significant effect on the pockets of these artists.
Vybz Kartel. The level of violence between the fans
on both sides prompted many to compare it to the
JLP and PNP political conflict in the 70’s. The situation had such a profound effect on Jamaican society
that it forced the Office of the Prime Minister to call
both artists into a meeting that culminated with a
news conference of both artists asking their fans to
stop the violence. They were even urged to promote
a paint-out day for the graffiti that backed Gaza or
Gully as well as a peace concert.
It goes without saying that no peace concert was
ever needed for Roots Reggae artists. The fact still
remains that Dancehall has become more lucrative
than Culture and has even caused many Culture
artists to make crossover songs over a Dancehall
“Riddims”, a Riddim being a beat that is shared by
various artists. Reggae is still without doubt a profound art form and has given birth to more than just
Dancehall. Many music historians trace the roots
of Hip Hop back to Reggae and like an up and coming Culture artist, Chronix, has stated, “I always tell
Dancehall has had a major effect on Roots Reggae
people that the darkest hour is next to the morning
or Culture Reggae as it’s called today. Culture Reggae and the most pain a mother feel during labor is right
has actually taken on a more moral dynamic than
before the baby born, so Dancehall and Reggae muDancehall. The Rastafarian religion has been cement- sic is going through its birth stage right now.”
ed into Culture Reggae and many of its artists have
refused to apologize for any music deemed anti-gay.
Culture artists also do not flinch from criticizing their
Dancehall brethren for promoting the “Badman” culture in Jamaica. “Reggae music has been established
as message music and that message is still needed.”
Said a Culture artist named Luciano who is famous
for uplifting and positive lyrics. “What we see happening is frivolousness and the profanity we see
taken up in the music is also taken up in the minds of
the people.” He goes on to say.
Many blame the popularity of the music for the high
rate of murder the country. “Music is a mission, not
a competition.” Is a popular phrase used by Culture
artists who oppose Dancehall’s more competitive
spirit in which artists and sound systems “clash.”
Many sound clashes and artist rivalries in Dancehall
have indeed lead to gang violence and deaths. One
recent rivalry that took place on and off since 2006
between two very popular Dancehall artists was
the Gully vs. Gaza conflict between the Mavado and
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
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HEALTH & BEAUTY
Winter Hair Care
Caring for natural hair during the winter months
is different than that of the warmer seasons’ regimen. It requires extra care and more attention
should be paid to the types of weather that can
harm your Hair.
Blowing Wind
Wind can blow your hair into a tangled mass especially if it is wet wind. Make certain your hair
is conditioned and moisturized before going outside. It should be covered with a hat until you get
to your inside destination. If you are afraid of your
winter hat attacking your curls, coils or twists,
place a satin bonnet over your hair beforehand. In
addition, be sure to carry trial sized Hair Butter
with you to be applied as needed when you are on
the go. If you leave the house with wet or damp
hair due to your wash-n-go or refreshing your
previous day style with water, you can potentially
freeze your hair. When this happens, it becomes
easy to break.
To counter breakage invest in weekly or bi-weekly
deep conditioning treatments to help keep your
hair conditioned and less prone to breakage. When
you deep condition try covering your hair with a
plastic cap and wrap it in a towel for about 30 to
45 minutes. Another option is to sit underneath a
hooded dryer for about 45 minutes with the conditioner or hot oil treatment.
Try wearing protective styles such as twists, buns,
braids etc. If you must wear your hair out, style it
at night and allow it to air dry while you get your
beauty sleep. Seal your ends with Hair butter or
Naturals Hair Oil. In the morning, style your hair
and apply a little bit of Naturals Moisturizing
Cream or Hair Butter to your entire head of hair
before you walk out of the door.
Indoor Heat can be the Enemy
Indoor heating methods can be harmful to your
hair and skin. Furnace heat, for instance can remove the moisture in the air. You can typically feel
your hair and know if it is dryer than usual. If so,
condition more frequently. Keep the skin moisturized with Body Butters or Body Oils,
Quick Tips:
• Take hair butters/oils along with you
• Seal your hair
• Wear protective styles
• Moisturize and condition regularly
• Avoid products with drying agents in them
(mousses, sprays and gels) such as isopropyl
alcohol.
THE
THE MAGAZINE
MAGAZINE FOR
FOR THE
THE NATURAL
NATURAL EXPRESSION
EXPRESSION OF
OF HEALTH,
HEALTH, BEAUTY
BEAUTY AND
AND ART
ART
13
13
VIEW POINT
W
e were all united. All
of us: that includes
my immediate family along with my cousins,
aunts, uncles, grandparents,
community and as a people.
Now, it feels as though we
have become a divided nation
almost similar to the conservative and liberal battle that
plaques this country where
more time is spent on personal agendas than what is beneficial to the whole. However,
what is it that we are fighting
for? Is it opportunity? Is it
nationalistic prosperity and
wellbeing? Or is it the fact that
we cannot get along or seem
to enjoy the same interests
anymore because our value
system and culture has been
tainted. We have lost the innocence of being a connected
family; a connected people
who shared the same love for
the same things.
We were once a tribe and genuinely knew it and functioned
like one. Now we are scattered
nomads who philosophize on
anything that we can judge,
agree or disagree with or anything we hold valuable. Whatever happened to unity? Have
we become more like those who
have historically oppressed us
and continue to some degree?
How can you live amongst the
ones that you claim to love
and look like without engaging in a traditional respectful
“how are you?” or the repetitive “I miss you” to express
that love? Is it all based upon
self interests? Are we inspired
by self-indulgence and lust for
something sinfully painful? If
someone cannot reach, help
them with support be their
ladder so that they can grow
or at least move from the pit
of life to a new starting point.
Like an interventionist government, we must be an interventionist family. We aren’t
open to progressive change
that benefits us. The mindset
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
14
is; it’s either tradition, the way
it’s always been done or nothing at all. If you don’t go with
tradition “to hell with you”!
Assistance and support is paramount for the foundation of
a family. We should not have
to ask “how am I going to
make it;” but we should ask
ourselves, “How are WE going
to make it?” How are we going
to work together? How can
we love each other as we once
did? How can we come together under the same house
and define something meaningful of our culture? I am not
speaking about culture as everyone individually perceives
it to be; but our culture as a
family and a people. Our culture consists of the people we
love and share the same blood
with the same people we can
laugh and cry with. The same
people who are willing to hold
out open arms to support our
loved ones. They are the ones
who you share the same values
and history with. What have
we done to ourselves? How
can we make things work?
Shamefully, we have become
separated by religion, beliefs,
self-motivation,
misguided
values, hatred, stress, poverty, materialism, and many
others. We can never prosper
if we are divided. The present
reality is that we have different beliefs. This is a byproduct
of the diaspora. Returning to
our true culture will help remedy this. However we are not
meant to be the same. Each
and every one of us has a different purpose and perspective of everything whether we
like it or not. We are NOT perfect. Being alive with a right
mind in this country is a big
enough task in itself. We are
very complex and complicated individuals which distinguishes us from any other living organism on the earth. All
we have to do is love.
We have to love one another.
We have to support each other regardless of how we think.
No one should have to worry
about what “he said” or what
“she said” or the reasons behind someone doing something. Are you really that surprised? Do you really sit and
ask yourself “HOW COULD
HE/SHE HAVE DONE THIS”
or “What impulse caused this
situation?” without recognizing that humans make mistakes? We need to learn to
be the better person. Being
the better person makes the
world go around rather than
being set at a standstill. We
as a people share a “motherland bond” that should not
be broken. This motherland
bond spreads to where we
were originally captivated
and forced away from: Africa.
However, we as a family share
a bond that should be stronger than any other. Here is a
real question; has the culture
we’ve embraced in America
which includes the dominate
religious choice brought us together or done a tremendous
job of keeping us apart from
one another and being reconnected to our true heritage as
a family and as a people?
The grandeur of being family
means that we have the ability
to repair our bonds whenever
and however. Our bond can
never be permanently broken because there is always a
way of connecting it back together. The binding piece for
our family is LOVE. It is up
to us to reconsider our current thoughts and redevelop
a sense of reconstruction. If
we can go deep into ourselves
and find some sense of architectural legislation, then we
shall surely prosper. We must
reunite our love as a family.
We have fallen. So when will
we rise?
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HEALTHY RECIPES
Be sure to pick through your lentils
carefully. You may often find pebbles
or clots of dirt hiding in their midst.
Better to catch them on the front end,
before you chip a tooth. You can use
some chopped avocado in stead of the
vegan cheese which would be a good
alternative.
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 shallots, chopped
1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
6 cups good-tasting vegetable stock (or water)
1 1/3 cup red lentils, picked over and rinsed
1/2 cup brown rice, picked over and rinsed
as much fine grain sea salt as you need
slivered almonds, toasted
black oil cured olives, chopped
vegan cheese, crumbled
In a big soup pot, over medium heat, combine the olive oil, onion, shallots, and red pepper flakes. Let them
brown, and caramelize a bit, stirring occasionally.
Stir in the broth, bring to a boil, then stir in the lentils and rice. Simmer for about 30 minutes or until the rice
is very tender, and not at all toothsome. By this time, the lentils will have collapsed into a thick slop of sorts.
If you need to add more water/broth at any point do so a splash at a time, until the soup thins out to the
point you prefer.
Unless you used a salty broth, you will likely need to salt generously, until the the soup no longer tastes flat.
Serve each bowl topped with almonds, olives, feta, and a slight drizzle of olive oil if you like.
Serves 4 - 6.
Prep time: 10 min - Cook time: 30 min
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THE COMMUNITY
Nsoroma Academy for Holistic
Thought, a one-year-old African
and African-American culture
centered, Baltimore-based private school, serves as a catalyst
for upward mobility in a city rich
with Black entrepreneurs, professionals, and their children.
The attraction? It’s the curriculum. Director, Kenyatta MaconMoon’s watoto (Swahili for students) are educated through
hands-on experiential learning,
rhythms & patterns, and culturally relevant teaching methods.
Nsoroma Academy for Holistic
Thought is the structure that
brings the original theme into
the modern millennium.
It was this introduction to holistic education in tandem with
majoring in Early Childhood Education at Sojourner Douglass
College, studying works such
as Amos N. Wilson’s Awakening the Natural Genius of Black
Children, and her own children’s
need for socialization and appropriate education that led MaconMoon to found the ideal school
Children delight in vegan meals, that existed within herself. “Baldaily meditation, and practical timore has a core conscious
life skills such as washing dish- community that is very strong,”
es, setting tables and learning to notes the Director, “Historically,
sew. In addition to the individu- this community has thought outalized mathematics, language side of the box in educating their
arts, history and science ses- children.”
sions, Swahili, Spanish, Yoruba
and French phrases and num- Nsoroma (a Twi term for chilbers are weaved into their daily dren of the heavens) Academy
lessons. The academy also offers for Holistic Thought has become
weekly boxing, piano, African the anticipated next step for wadance, drumming, chess, yoga, toto aging out of its early learnand martial arts classes.
ing program, Nsoroma Holistic
Daycare. It is also a reprieve for
Macon-Moon’s vision for the parents and guardians in the
school was inspired by the edu- community looking to transfer
cation she received as a student their children in from various
of Maarifa Shule, the longest other childcare providers and
running, independent, African- schools.
centered school in Baltimore,
grown out of the 1960s Pan-Af- When asked her secret to sucrican movement. If self-aware- cessfully running the school, her
ness and infusion of African cul- immediate answer is always “the
ture were Maarifa’s foundation, families.” Children are not ad-
mitted based on academic performance. Instead, the family
structure is reviewed for an assessment of the support they will
provide their attending student.
The families must be committed to the academy. “It would be
detrimental to have families not
believe,” Macon-Moon remarks.
Her staff is a diverse cluster of
well read, travelled, educated
and open-minded lovers of children. They hold various degrees
in Early Childhood Education,
Fine Arts & Theater, Psychology,
Journalism and others. With the
support of the staff and families, the treasure of Nsoroma’s
uniqueness is gaining popularity.
The school seamlessly fosters
an ongoing marketplace of multiple cultural outputs. Many of
Baltimore’s successful Black
businesses are affiliated with
the school. Proprietors of Cultured Naturals, Dr. Gordshell’s,
Grind House Juice Bar, Oyin
Handmade, and others connect
with local politicians, published
authors, public school administrators and artists as children
are picked up and dropped off,
events are sponsored, products
are sold, and services are provided. The support of the community and attending families allows
students to feel they belong to a
greater network of family. Wa-
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
18
toto have played and chipped in
to help as parents and teachers
work to paint their schoolhouse,
clean the front yard, and host
community events.
storm, the Director’s eye is always on future enhancements
for the school. More immediate is the landscaping and playground development goal. “We
have the space; now we just need
Conversely, families who do not to cultivate it,” explains Maconuphold their dedication to the Moon. The vision is to have a
school can cause major damage playground area for the wide
to its progress. The academy is age-range of children Nsoroma
completely independent. It is reaches, including a space for
self-funded, as each family has a running and athletic drills. Her
tuition commitment. Discussing plan is also to ensure each classbreach of contract with a small, group will have a garden bed so
community-based
business children will “truly embrace the
can be like blowing on an open laws of nature and learn to live
nerve. However, Macon-Moon sustainably.” Eventually more
delicately explains, “As a com- property will be purchased to enmunity business, you are vilified large the school and add a comfor collecting debts. You’re not munity center.
supposed to go to ‘The Man’ to
get help with collecting what’s The dreams are large in order to
owed. We don’t have the major- match the equally large need for
ity of people walking away from creative approaches to educating
financial obligations but it does the community’s children. That
is what most attracted Maconhappen and it does hurt.”
Moon to infusing the Montessori
In spite of unpredictable chal- Method into Nsoroma’s curriculenges like the occasional lapse lum, “The Method allows teachin tuition payment or physical ers to reach children on so many
damage to the school by a harsh different levels. It easily blends
with our school’s educational
foundations and practices.” The
expectation of the academy is
that watoto retain their study
habits and cultural foundation
as they further their education.
The plan is to develop a process
by which the school can monitor its matriculating students to
see how they are developing and
offer support for continued success.
To fellow entrepreneurs with
community-based goals, Macon-Moon offers a critical list of
insider advice that she has developed along her journey, “Research and prepare well before
taking on the task. Make sure
you have a solid support system.
Clearly identify sacrifices that
will need to be made. Prepare to
get a bit caught up in the process.
Create balance to avoid being
overwhelmed at all times. Long
hours will come with it. Be willing to “trim the fat” or let people
go gracefully who are not willing
to support the effort.”
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
19
It gets easy to lose focus. Easy to
feel discouraged. Fans compare you
to others. People around you try to
define your priorities for you. Hollywood has an obsession with Bar-
FD: You’ve got to get control of
your tribe.” It really takes a village.
I am heavily involved with helping
my sister raise her two teenagers. So
many parents defend their children
‘til the death and their kids
can be dead ass wrong. Parents should be caring, loving
and no nonsense.
JW: How would you say
your diet impacts your vocals?
bie imagery. I signed up for this
to sing. Everyday I remind myself
“Girl, you do this cuz you love it.”
JW: Who are your top three strongest supporters?
FD: My younger sister, Vernell, my
best friend, Celebrity Make-up Artist, Terrell Mullin, and my very supportive girlfriend of two years.
JW: What are some of your current
pet projects?
FD: Starting an undergarment line.
Fashion has become so much fun
for big girls! Umm, preparing holiday music and the release of my 2nd
single, and doing more songwriting.
JW: In reference to a recent social
media post:
“Honey, when my niece walked in
and saw my face...chillin’ and chit
chatting with the school dean, her
whole face melted...eyes started
watering immediately...BUSTED.
Lies crumbling...the bullshit ends...
starting now.”
What is your message to parents?
FD: Not eating dairy helps
to avoid lots of vocal issues.
Acid reflux affects lots of singers. This can be controlled by food
combining. It’s better to eat a protein and a vegetable or a carb and a
vegetable rather than a protein and
a carb. One of my closest friends
from my Broadway days was
diagnosed with Colon Cancer
and died within a year. This
was a skinny girl in her 30s.
She appeared to be in perfect
health but it was her diet. Had
to be…I eat chicken and fish
but my girlfriend and I enjoy
vegan dishes as well. My personal trainer and his wife are
both vegan so we are cognizant
of their diet when having them
over for dinner. We really enjoy the
recipes. I also juice.
JW: What are your favorite beauty
products?
FD: Carroll’s Daughter. Love their
body oils and butters. Dove soap
bars and body milk. Oil of Olay
make-up wipes and facial cleansers.
Let me just say, I love the Cultured
Naturals body butters; the mango,
tangerine, and warm brown sugar
spice are the best. My girlfriend
and I are running out of the Lemon
Grass Body oil. I definitely need to
re-up.
JW: Thank you so much for taking
the time to talk with me! One more:
what message would you like to impart on today’s youth?
FD: You are so welcome. Thank
you! To the youth of today I would
say be willing to work hard. Many
of us come from non-ideal circumstances and education is the only
JW: What benefits are you getting way that leads to a path out for good.
from juicing?
I grew up in Inglewood, California
and wound up all the way in West
FD: Girl, it makes my skin glow, es- Hollywood with hard work and uspecially from the green juices. Plus ing education. It wasn’t easy and it
it keeps the stomach small (laughs). still isn’t easy. You have to have
I call my favorite blend Berry Lem- tunnel vision. Focus.
onade: kale, which is cruciferous,
beet, green apple or carrot, lemon Learn more about Frenchie’s upand ginger. And I learned to carry coming appearances and musical
snacks with me because girl, airport releases at www.frenchiedavis.org.
food is just horrible. I snack on raw
almonds, raisins and lemon-water.
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
21
ENTERTAINMENT
The singer/songwriter known to the Philadelphia soul circuit as Bethlehem is a fast rising star in this city
known for its soul, and it’s the soul that she brings that is specifically the reason
for her success. To this artist music is more than just singing words into a
microphone, music is a mission and she treats it as such.
In her debut a cappella album, “Bigger Than Music” she treats her
listeners to a mosaic of sound, culture and lyrics that brings them
to a time and place that are both reminiscent and new all at once.
There are many artists in the music industry today who have become
so dependent on beats and background music that they could never
pull off such a grand a cappella album.
Bethlehem’s artistry never ceases to amaze. Her voice echo pure and
soulful throughout this album but it’s the potent and touching words
that take “Bigger than Music” to majestic heights. On her track “You”
Bethlehem speaks to a lost generation, attempting to remind them of
who they are. On the eighth song “When Will the Cycle End” Bethlehem
speaks to the black community in a song that is eloquent and smooth
but the words
reverberate in the listeners conscious.
Every song on the album is a work of art; true
Any listener would be hard pressed to decide whether it’s Bethlehem’s voice or
songwriting that should be her claim to fame.
Bethlehem was born and raised in the soulful city of Philadelphia. Her father
and uncles were steeped in the tradition of gospel music and live perfor
mance. Bethlehem grew up in a house filled with the sounds of Sam Cooke,
Aretha Franklin and Marvin Gaye. The soulful missions of these artists
were not lost on her. Bethlehem sang publicly for the first time at the
tender age if seven. At an early age she would leave churchgoers in tears.
Bethlehem has a unique ear for music and a unique voice to match. That unique ear
for music and song arrangement was held back s she searched for the right band of musicians
to play the music in the way that she imagined. Refusing to be held back Bethlehem began to tap her
feet, clap her hands and even top her chest to bring to life the sounds she desired. Audiences loved it.
Bethlehem is an artist beyond comparison. She is the new sound of Philly soul. Labeling her as a singer is
a disservice. She is an artist with a mission.
THE MAGAZINE FOR THE NATURAL EXPRESSION OF HEALTH, BEAUTY AND ART
23
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