NUBIAN KNIGHTS NETWORK: Tuesday, August 23, 2011

QUOTATIONS OF "BLACK"

"Whenever I use BLACK it relates to some history of Africans in that particular place. It’s the idea of the color BLACK as a metaphor, or as a representation of African-Americans. It’s the notion of BLACK- BLACKNESS - and all its other meanings in relation to the history of race..."

- Fred Wilson

"Most of my fortitude to continue doing the work comes from the moral outrage I feel about the injustices that Black people endure disproportionately daily."

- N. Abdul-Wakil

"In the end, what matters is not skin shade but pan-African consciousness. Loving your complexion, your nose, lips, hair length and texture, no matter what the politics or trends decide, and simply be. That's the problem with us (African folks). We're still learning how to love ourselves. So used to glorifying others and putting others first..."

- Dredlocks Tree

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

ROD's Summer Trip To Michigan (2011) - Part II
DAY 3: The Motown Museum / KICK's 2nd Annual Boat Ride

I'm on the road late at night with my friend going from Ann Arbor to Detroit. I was just fooling around with light and shadow pics using a slow shutter blur on the highway...

All Photography

The next morning I was treated to breakfast in big by my good ADODI brutha and friend Yes. What more could a brutha want to start off his morning in Detroit?...

This time I got to do the Motown Museum Tour, DAMN IT!! Growing up with Marvin Gaye as a kid we played his albums all the time in our household. As awesome and memorable as Marvin's 1976 album "I Want You" is because of the artwork by African-American artist/painter Ernie Barnes, it's his socially conscious 1971 album "What's Going On" with his qool stance in the raincoat that stands out for me...

I Really Like This Picture:

Because Of The Iconic Picture Of Marvin In The Raincoat
And Then The Irony Of The Cloudy Overcoat Day
To The Left And The Motown Sign
Which Compliments This Shot Pretty Well

My Friend Calvin

The Outside Of The Motown Museum Has Marvin Gaye
Featured This Time Around

NEXT... After the Motown Museum we go to the 2nd Annual KICK Boat Ride (A Pre-Black Pride "Hotter Than July" Celebration) later that evening...

Official Website: e-kick.org

KICK
The Agency for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender
African-Americans in Metropolitan Detroit
A Michigan Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization
Serving the metro Detroit community since 1994

41 Burroughs Street
(between Woodward Avenue and Cass Avenue)
Suite 109
Detroit, Michigan 48202
GOOGLE MAPS

Phone: (313) 285-9733 | E-mail: info[at]e-kick.org

Official Website: e-kick.org

Mission Statement

To increase awareness of and support to Detroit's dynamic lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, culture through education and advocacy with integrity and pride.

Friends Walter, Stephen And Calvin
Sharing A Laugh

ADODI/KICK Brutha Anthony And
KICK Executive Director Curtis Lipscomb.
Curtis Does Some Outstanding Work in Detroit
And KICK Is The Largest Black SGL Advocacy
Organization In The State Of Michigan

Walter

Sistah Alfreda.
She Is So Sweet And Very Good People

Alfreda

Friends Yes and Sangoma

I LOVE How The Glow From The Industrial Plant
Glowed Orange On The Exhaust

Yes And Calvin

Levar And Ja'briel.
Too Great People I Met On The Boat Ride

Beautiful...

Brutha Levar

My Great Friends Calvin, Alfreda And Yes

Friends Sangoma And Calvin

SEE PREVIOUS
ROD's Summer Trip To Michigan (2011) - Part I
DAY 1: 1917 American Bistro /
Dabl's African Bead Gallery / Ruth Ellis Center

SEE NEXT
ROD's Summer Trip To Michigan (2011) - Part III
DAY 4: The Charles H. Wright African American Museum /
Traffic Jam Restaurant

ROD's Summer Trip To Michigan (2011) - Part I
DAY 1: 1917 American Bistro / Dabl's African Bead Gallery / Ruth Ellis Center

DETROIT! DETROIT! DETROIT!

Say whatever want about the economic climate of the country, and most especially Detroit with the fall of the car industry, BUT BABY, LET ME TELL YOU, THERE IS PLENTY TO CELEBRATE IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN! After having an awesome time at the 25th Annual and Silver Anniversary of the ADODI Summer Retreat in Hamilton, New York, I drove back via Canada (with passport in hand) in our van with some friends to Michigan. I spent the next 7 days, mostly in Detroit, but also in Ann Arbor and Canton, Michigan as well. I had an AWESOME time and wanted to share my adventures and some of the really nice Black businesses that I patronized throughout this summer trip.

So... in my mind there are some compelling reasons to visit Detroit; and if you live in Detroit, there's some places to (re)visit.

I will be posting my trip over multi-part segments.

DAY 1: Monday, July 25th, 2011...

All Photography

Chillin' In The Wee Hours Of Monday Morning
With My Friends Louis, Calvin and Curtis

Curtis' Beautiful Art In The House

My Friend Yes Looking at Michael-Christopher's
Newly Published Coffee Table Book Called
MAN: BLACK
- And YES! The Book Is Available For Sale
At Michael-Christopher's Official Website:
michael-christopher.com

NEXT... later in the afternoon Curtis suggested we go to 1917 American Bistro (aka 1917). I have to tell you: the food was phucking outstanding as well as the customer service...

A Side Wall Mural at 1917. BEAUTIFUL ART!

Click Images To Enlarge

The Manager Brought Out Our Food.
The Blackened Fish, Salmon, Sauteed Spinach
And Smashed (That's What They Call It) Potatoes
Were So, So Good Smiley Teeth.gif

Yes And Calvin Were In "Heat" Over One Of The Waiters.
We Found Out His Name Was Robert...

Yes And Calvin were real serious when they insisted I take pictures of him. They were like, "Get some damn pictures!". He's physically gifted, yet (and in all seriousness) was very attentive to his customers he waited on. A very cute brutha all the way around (no pun intended) and nice personality it seemed...

Okaaaaayyy...!

1917 has 2 floors: the main/ground level was where we ate; later on we went upstairs where there is more seating and an outdoor deck. The decor was really nice. There is beautiful art hanging throughout the establishment...

Yes And Calvin Looking Around
At Some Of The Hanging Artwork

The upstairs area, though open to customers, was being improved and a carpenter brutha was working on what appears to be another bar..

Calvin And Yes At "1917" Upstairs On The Outdoor Deck

GO Visit A Black Business Y'all!

1917 American Bistro
19416 Livernois Avenue
(Between St Martins Avenue and S. Outer Drive)
Detroit, Michigan 48221
313-863-1917
GOOGLE MAP

Official Website:
1917americanbistro.com

&

While In The Car,
I Took A Photo Of These Kids Walking Around In Detroit

Detroit In Known For Their Massive Chains of "Coney Island"
Stores. They Specialize In Hot DOgs...

According to Wikipedia: Coney Island hot dog (also Coney dog or Coney) refers to a natural casing beef hot dog, topped with an all-meat beanless chili, and diced or chopped white onions with one or two strips of yellow mustard. The variety is a fixture in Jackson, Flint, Detroit, and southeastern Michigan. Despite the name, the "Coney Island" preparation style has little direct association with Coney Island, New York itself, beyond a recognition of the birthplace of the original hot dog.

I'm from Coney Island, Brooklyn, and so... WE ARE THE ORIGINAL CONEY ISLAND, Baby! I LOVE YOU Detroit, but you bitin' (aka copying) y'all!

NEXT... we went to Dabl's African Bead Gallery/Mbad Museum. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SO MANY BEADS IN ONE PLACE IN ALL MY LIFE..

MBAD'S African Bead Museum
6559 Grand River Avenue
(between W. Grand Blvd and Dexter Avenue)
Detroit, Michigan 48208
(313) 898-3007
GOOGLE MAPS

Official Website: mbad.org

Bead Gallery Hours: 12pm to 7pm Mon-Sat.

We are a major repository for African artifacts- including sculptures, textiles, pottery, and bead works dating back hundreds of years, from countless cultures throughout Africa.

We also carry the finest selection of beads for sale.

We offer guided tours (by reservation) and have 3 outside Public Art installations:
- Iron Teaching Rocks How To Rust
- The N'Kisi Iron House
- African Language Wall

We look forward to seeing you!

Calvin, Yes and Myself (Not Pictured) Were Greeted By A Brutha
(DAMN! I Forgot His Name - Sorry Bro!) To The Gallery

THIS BRUTHA WITH TH AFRICAN MASK
CAN PLAY FOR PHREAKIN' DRUMS!!!

It Was A Little Tempting To Purchase That
Walking Stick/Cane!
Beautifully Designed/Crafted!!

These Are The Drums Out Back On The Side Of The Building.
The Brutha In The African Mask Playing Them Said
He Positioned Them There On Purpose
Because It Makes The Drum Sounds Travel For Blocks
When The Sound Bounces From The Brick Wall

I Figured It'd Make For An Interesting
& Artistic Self-Portrait Mirror Shot

I LOVE THIS SHOT!!!

This IS A Wall Much Further Out Back
As Part Of The Mbad Museum.
I Thought I Caught The Sun Nicely

A Little Lens Flare Is Good For Ya!

Well, there's only one original "BIG ROD" so I think someone co-opted my name and changed it around. I'll take the flattery...

NEXT... we stopped off at the Ruth Ellis Center. Ruth C. Ellis was a Black same gender loving woman. She was an activist who transitioned and believed to be the oldest SGL sistah at 101 years old.

The center is a safe haven for Black SGL youth in Detroit.

Ruth Ellis Center
(Founded: 1999)
77 Victor Street
Highland Park, Michigan 48203

GOOGLE MAP

Ruth Ellis Center Overview:

The Ruth Ellis Center is one of the nation's three, and the midwest's only agency dedicated to serving homeless LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-atractional, Transgender and Questioning) youth.

The LGBTQ population is overly represented in the runaway and homeless youth population. The needs of these young people include shelter, food, clothing and healthcare and may also include addressing the problems of addiction, alcohol abuse and sexual exploitation. LGBTQ street youth also face the added burden of dealing with internal conflicts and social ostracism.

Official Facebook Page: