On the Dock for this Snippet

Raising Him Alone Campaign Start April 18

Raising Him Alone, an annual conference focused on empowering single women who are raising boys, will focus on creating a safe space for single mothers to discuss parenting strategies, personal development, managing finances on a single income and a variety of other topics determined by single mothers. According to Kim Armstrong, a single mother in Baltimore, MD, "Raising a son alone is perhaps one of the most difficult things that I have ever done. The daily struggles of managing life and being a single parent can be overwhelming."

Historically Black Coppin State University, 35 West North Ave Baltimore, MD 21216 will host a full day of workshops hosted by Heal a Woman, Heal a Nation. The panelist includes: Dr. Brenda Greene, Professor at Medgar Evers College and mother of Talib Kweli; Dr. Mahalia Hines, Retired Chicago Public School Principal and mother of actor/rapper Common; and Sheron "Umi' Smith, mother of Grammy Nominated actor and rapper Mos Def. The panel will be hosted by mother/actress/comedienne Meshelle.

The conference is Saturday, April 18 from 8a until 5p and sponsors include by the Urban Leadership Institute and Heal Women, Heal a Nation. Coppin State University, 2500 West North Avenue, Baltimore will host the event in the Tawes Center.

The Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum presents a forum in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the NAACP. The museum is the first African-American maritime museum in the United States.

Dean Kurt L. Schmoke, dean of Howard University School of Law; Dr. Ira Berlin of the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland and author of several books including The Free Negro in the Antebellum South; Bettye Gardner, Professor of History at Coppin State University; and Dr. Dianne Swann-Wright, Director Douglass-Myers Museum director and founding curator of the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park and Museum, will participate in a panel discussion on the Early Struggle for Civil Rights in Baltimore: Lessons Learned From the Past.

The forum is Saturday, April 18, 10a-2:30p. The cost is $8 and includes lunch. The Museum is at 1417 Thames Street; Baltimore, MD 21231. For more information and tickets call 410.685.0295.

There has been an international blue-eyed soul revival with stellar artists as far away as Finland to the UK, the latter recently dominating imported blue-eyed soul with Adele, Duffy, Jamie Lidell, Joss Stone, and Amy Winehouse. Yet, America, the originators of a cultural phenomenon that began with the Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” has been strangely quiet since the caricatured heyday of Michael Bolton. Well, all of that may be coming to an end with the critically acclaimed release of Peak Records artist Leigh Jones.

An L.A. blonde bombshell discovered by the son of Berry Gordy, Jones has since been rubber stamped by the Motown founder as “the next great star” and produced by Stax Records icon, Al Bell, among others. On her promising debut, Music in My Soul, the sultry alto avoids overdosing on the stereotypical melisma of other blue-eyed divas who mistake gospel runs and jazz riffs for authentic soul. With blues flashes, smoky ballads, and a bevy of original jazzy soul material, Music in My Soul, harkens back to the R&B chanteuse era of Miki Howard, Regina Belle, Stephanie Mills, and Teena Marie. Listen to iTunes snippets of “Music,” “Goodbye,” or “FreeFall” for a taste. Then, go hear Jones harken the return of American blue-eyed soul at Washington, DC’s famed Blues Alley during one of two shows on May 5th, featuring DC native and fellow Gordy protégé, Cienna Rose.

A DC public relations firm is seeking men and women to participate in a focus group where participants, like yourself, give their opinion and feedback on an HIV/AIDS advertising campaign. Participants will help shape a new campaign while getting financially compensated.

To participate you must be between the ages of 21 and 55, live in Washington, D.C. wards 1, 5, 6, 7, or 8 and of African descent. The participants will meet at the Columbia Heights Community Center at 6:30P, Tuesday, April 21. For more information contact Georgette Walker, 202-232-2211 ext. 13.

“Like many other small businesses trying to survive during these challenging economic times, Artmosphere Cafe has had a difficult time staying afloat,” writes Dyrell and Andaiye Madison from the Mt. Rainier eatery and entertainment center.  Artmopshere will have its liquidation sale Monday- Thursday, April 27 - 30,10a-10p at 3311 Rhode Island Avenue, across from the Washington, DC/Maryland line.

Snippets Readers Win Hampton Attractions Tickets

• Paulette Garner
• Cherry A. Kenney
• Lloyd Marcia

Each won a pair of Hampton Day Pass Attractions tickets. Each ticket is a combination pass to six Hampton attractions. Each ticket is valued at $16.50 to $31 for ages 12 to adult, and $12.50 to $21 for youth ages 4 to 11 depending upon the season they use the tickets.

Each won the tickets by e-mailing us with the answer to the following question:

What was the name of the forgotten explorer that C.R. Gibbs wrote about in the Feb - Apr 2009 issue? This person was the first Black man in recorded history to cross the American continent north of Mexico in the early 1800s.

The answer: York

By Wayne A. Young

In this age of reality TV, Antebellum, now playing at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, is an antidote for the expected. At its start the play focuses on the 1939 premier of Gone With the Wind in Atlanta, GA when Sara Black Rock "just happens" to stop by the lovely home of “Simple” Sarah, a woman who marries into a business-owning family.

Creatively using the same set, the play smoothly transposes to 1939 Nazi Germany where a Nazi officer receives English instruction from a Black captive. What ties Atlanta to Germany is the act of oppression, but any lessons intended by the playwright ends here.

Before the intermission, playwright Robert O’Hara breaks from the “typical” and reveals the bizarre, but imaginative love drama to a thunderous audience applause. As the play continues, the mystery unfolds, pants literally drop to unclothed bodies, and Antebellum ends as an unlikely, but creative story the strongly defies convention.

25% off Tickets!

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company is pleased to offer a 25% off discount to friends of Port of Harlem Magazine.

• Purchase your discounted tickets by creating an account at https://tickets.woollymammoth.net/account/ and entering Promo Code 377. This discount is good for all performances, except Saturday evenings.

• You can also call 202-393-3939 to purchase discounted tickets.