Cummer Museum and Gardens October 2020 events

It’s been awhile since we’ve reported any events on “Around Town With Ms. “V”, nonetheless there are areas in town where you can feel safe during phase three of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Cummer is looking out for you and your family as you take steps towards a new normal.  Here is a list of activities assist you in a little entertainment.

Friday Night Picnics: October through December from 4 to 9 p.m. Registration required.

Shop the Sale: Oct. 15, 16, 17, 18. Save 50% at the Shop on past exhibition merchandise, books, décor, jewelry, scarves and more.

Virtual Envirofest: Saturday, Oct. 17 Check online for details.

Virtual Conversations with the Artists: Dustin Harewood, Crystal Floyd, and Lili Yuan - Friday, Oct. 23 starting at 7 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Member Virtual Opening, Cross Pollination: Thursday, Oct. 29 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Free to Members only. | Registration required.

Private Onsite or Virtual Exhibition Tour for 10 Guests: Booking by request; call (904) 899-6023.

Petal Pub & Parks: Private Tour for 15 Guests: Booking by request; call (904) 899-6023.

Education - My First Art Class: Color Science: Ages 3 through 5 with an adult. Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Members $80 pair, Non-Members $100 pair. Registration required, limited class size.

Think Like an Artist: Space: Ages 6 through 8. Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31 Virtual Class from 10:30 a.m. to Noon. Members $100, Non-Members $120 | Registration required.

Art Perspectives: Space: Ages 9 through 12. Oct. 10, 17, 24, 31 Virtual Class from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Members $100, Non-Members $120 | Registration required.

Virtual Educator Art Nights: Tuesday, Oct. 13 starting at 5 p.m. Free | Registration required.

Virtual Family Exploration: Native American Perspectives Friday, Oct. 16 starting at 6 p.m.
Free | Registration required.

Family Open Studio: Native American Perspectives Sunday, Oct. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m. Free with admission.

Art Experiences: Acrylic Painting: Ages 18+. Six-week class on Wednesdays
Oct. 21, 28; Nov. 4, 11, 18, 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. Members $270, Non-Members $360
Registration required.

Membership provides you with access to dynamic programs, free entry into all ticketed exhibitions, and valuable discounts to events, the Café, and Shop —all while supporting their efforts to make the Museum accessible and fun for everyone in Jacksonville. Make your Museum, your community, and your world a better place through art and gardens—join or renew today! You'll fit right in.

To minimize touch points and monitor onsite capacity, all visitors must reserve tickets online in advance of their visit. Tickets can be purchased by clicking here.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857
   Hours of Operation & Admission

Jon Pardi and Friends add another performance in JAX

Adams Entertainment, ASM-Global Jacksonville and Bold Events announced today that due to popular demand, a second date has been added to A Night at the Drive-In with Jon Pardi and Friends. In addition to the Saturday, October 10 concert already on-sale, fans now have a second chance to experience Jacksonville’s live Lot J drive-in concert on Friday, October 9. The newly added concert is on sale HERE. Tickets for both shows are available to purchase per car, with a maximum capacity limited to the number of seatbelts per vehicle.

Guests will be allowed to bring chairs, food and drinks to party in their private tailgating zones next to their cars. Parking will be first, come first served within each price level and patrons will be shown to their designated tailgate area where they can park and enjoy the show. Face masks/coverings will be required by all patrons when they are not in their car or designated tailgate area, located adjacent to their driver’s side door. Physical distancing measures will be enforced. For more information, please visit Daily’s Place or Jaxevents.com.

Adams Entertainment, ASM-Global Jacksonville and Bold Events announced that Award-winning singer/songwriter/producer Jon Pardi will headline the first-ever live drive-in concert experience in Jacksonville, with special guests, Jillian Jacqueline and Jordan Fletcher.  The drive-in concert will take place in Lot J, adjacent to TIAA Bank Field and Daily’s Place on Saturday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m.

A multi-faceted entertainer, award-winning artist/songwriter/producer Jon Pardi’s latest album, Heartache Medication, was nominated for ACM Album of the Year and CMA Album of the Year (2020) and produced his #1 single, “Heartache Medication” as well as his current critically acclaimed hit, “Ain’t Always The Cowboy.” Heartache Medication followed Pardi’s Platinum-certified album California Sunrise (Capitol Records Nashville), which dominated the top of the country music charts with consecutive #1 hits including 2x Platinum-selling songs “Dirt On My Boots” and “Head Over Boots,” as well as the platinum-certified hit “Heartache On The Dance Floor.” Called a “hero in the making” (Variety) that “proves Country is still thrillingly alive,” (Rolling Stone) Pardi recently released Rancho Fiesta Sessions-a tribute to legendary artists that inspire him-and will be releasing Heartache Medication, the Deluxe Edition, on October 2nd, timed to his 1-year anniversary headlining shows at Nashville’s famed Ryman Auditorium.

New CEO of Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens announced

After an extensive national search, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens (Cummer Museum) is pleased to announce the selection of Andrea Barnwell Brownlee, Ph.D., as the institution’s next George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  Brownlee has served as the director of the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art in Atlanta, Georgia, for nearly 20 years. She will begin her new role in December 2020.

“Since our search process began, the Board sought candidates who shared our vision for the future of the Cummer Museum. Dr. Brownlee is widely known for her impactful leadership and significant exhibition agendas. We are eager to work with her to ensure the Cummer Museum continues to serve our community and beyond to the very best of its ability. We extend our warmest welcome to Dr. Brownlee, an esteemed museum leader who represents all that the Cummer Museum has become — and what we are actively becoming through the broadening of our collection, programs and initiatives,” said Pam D. Paul, Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees. “Her commitment to strengthening engagement with our current stakeholders and future partners, as well as her thoughtful approach to enhancing the Museum experience for all in our community, stood strong as we focused on the strategic goals set forth by our Board of Trustees.”

Brownlee earned her Ph.D. in Art History from Duke University in 2001. As an undergraduate at Spelman College, she earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in English and Art History. She is an alumna of the Getty Leadership Institute.

“I am honored to lead the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens — a forward-thinking institution that is prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges of this unprecedented time,” said Brownlee. “I anticipate working in collaboration with a variety of partners and stakeholders — both existing and new — to expand its footprint as the jewel of Jacksonville and an exceptional cultural resource for the region, the nation and the world.”

Brownlee, an award-winning art historian, curator, educator and writer, is recognized for her wise leadership, ambitious vision and influential publications. She was an instrumental member of the leadership team that piloted the Curatorial Studies Program at Spelman College, which was funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In 2019, she expanded her efforts to educate the next generation of museum professionals by assuming a dual role as the Senior Strategist for the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective. Prior to her arrival at Spelman College, she was a MacArthur Curatorial Fellow at The Art Institute of Chicago’s Department of Modern and Contemporary Art (1998-2000). She is also a recipient of the Future Women Leadership Award from Art Table (2005), the President’s Award from the Women’s Caucus for Art (2005), the inaugural Nexus Award from the Atlanta Contemporary Art Center (2010) and the David C. Driskell Prize in African American Art and Art History (2013).

In addition to her work with Spelman College and the Atlanta University Center Art History + Curatorial Studies Collective, Brownlee is a member of the Association of Art Museum Directors — a role that has shaped her international perspective on issues-driven museum leadership. She has served on numerous boards throughout her career, including the Hambidge Center for the Creative Arts and Sciences and the Metropolitan Atlanta Arts Fund. In 2008, she served as the Vice Chair of the City of Atlanta Arts Funding Task Force.

Susan Towler, Vice Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees, led a search committee that comprised eight Museum trustees. “Our search committee had the opportunity to meet several excellent candidates, and it was clear that Dr. Brownlee was the most qualified with the right experience, passion and enthusiasm to accelerate the Museum’s position as a world-class destination,” said Towler. “Her strategic vision for the Museum aligned with ours, and we are confident that her arrival will mark a period of dynamic growth.”

Kerrie Slattery, who has served as interim director during the search process, will resume her position as Chief Advancement Officer when Brownlee arrives to assume her position full time. “Kerrie has skillfully led the Museum during one of the most challenging periods in modern history. Her dedication and stability were critical to our navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as helping guide us through the social unrest facing our nation and community. We are thankful for her steady hand leading the Cummer Museum throughout this time,” said Paul.

The George W. and Kathleen I. Gibbs Director and Chief Executive Officer position is endowed through a gift made in 2017 of $4 million from The Disosway Foundation of New York. The foundation was established by Dudley D. Johnson, a former Museum trustee whose grandfather, George W. Gibbs, influenced the development of Jacksonville during the first half of the 20^th century. Gibbs was an inventor and shipbuilder who founded the Gibbs Gas Engine Company, which became the Gibbs Corporation. Gibbs is noted for championing the building of the Main Street Bridge, connecting Downtown to the Southbank of the St. Johns River. Proceeds from the endowment fund the Director and CEO position in perpetuity, and additional funds the endowment raises in its future growth are earmarked for Museum operations and programs.

About the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens:  For more than 50 years, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has been committed to engaging and inspiring through the arts, gardens, and education. A permanent collection of more than 5,000 objects and historic gardens on a riverfront campus offers nearly 150,000 annual visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast. Nationally recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities. For further information, including hours, visit www.cummermuseum.org.

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens
   829 Riverside Avenue
   Jacksonville, Florida 32204
   (904) 356-6857

Part II - Health care during a COVID-19 pandemic

Have I got a praise report for y’all.  If you don’t know what I’ve been experiencing, please read my first Blog on my health.  On Oct. 5, 2020 I went to the Nephrology (kidney) Doctor.  When the doctor entered the room, she asked me how I felt.  Well, I told her that I originally went to the doctor’s office with symptoms of a UTI, and now other things are exposing themselves; no offense to her, but I didn’t want to come to her office.  I appreciate her profession, yet I needed one less specialist.

Well, she had my bloodwork in her hand and God had gotten my lab results down to normal.  I’ll just be checking back in 6 months before being completely dismissed. I gave God the glory right there in the office.  He is so faithful!  May I say that I was apprehensive about having a Physician Assistant tend to my needs due to the fact that it was a PA who prescribed the antibiotic that weakened my kidneys in the first place, but you shouldn’t assume that all PA’s are negligent.

Before getting that great news, I did go to do some errands and walked more than I have in weeks.  Still feeling a little weak, nonetheless, I’m not dizzy any more.  When you’ve changed your eating habits and diet, it’s difficult (but not impossible) to redirect your body to gain weight.  Since my hospitalization on September 10th, I’ve managed to gain 5 pounds.  Also, the Hepatitis C is still cured and not a threat.

On Tuesday (10/6/2020) Van & I went to the outpatient part of a local hospital to get a Bone Marrow Biopsy.  The test wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated it to be and I only needed a couple of Tylenols (can’t take anything with aspirin) for leg pain from my hip area after the anesthesia wore off.  The specialist wanted to see why my blood has some clots and why some other blood levels are off.  I’ll continue on the blood thinners, that the Oncologist prescribed, for another 2 months.  And guess what, the Bone Marrow Biopsy was done by a Physician Assistant.  I was praying hard and heavy before I had that mild sedative.  I was awake for most of the test - I think (lol).  It only took about 10 minutes to extract the marrow.

I am believing God that all things will be in order, in Jesus name.  My hopes are that my blog posts will be a blessing to someone who may be tested in their faith, may be fearful, or may disbelieve what God can and/or will do for them.  I continue to keep my faith strong as I follow directions from Holy Spirit.  Let me also thank everyone for their prayers.

OBTW, I am still very conscious of the Coronavirus, and so are the establishments where I’ve been visiting.  All places require masks, maintain social distancing (especially in chair seating) and constant hand sanitizing.  I will also get back to the gym in the near future, but I’m not rushing.

Please continue to pray for the persons affected by: Hurricane Delta, the California fires, racial injustices, those who have succumbed to COVID-19 and their families, & the upcoming election.  People must continue to be wise as they maintain their health.  Keep your mental health intact.  Stay positive as you surround yourself with positive people.  Stay active and accomplish some tasks each day.  Remember, You Are Your Future!

Health care during a COVID-19 pandemic

Where in the world has Ms. “V” been?  For those of you who like details - here it is.  It has been awhile since I’ve been on social media and it was a little difficult getting back; but I’m alive and getting better every day.  The devil tried to take me out, but God has many more great years in store for me and mine.

Our Granddaughter came to visit for the Summer this past July.  We have been surrounded in a “Bubble of Protection” (Job 1:10) that God has for us.  It wasn’t until August 20th that I began to feel chills and fever from a UTI.  Because I’ve had so many of these, I had an antibiotic on hand, but it had no effect.  I packed to go to ATL for that weekend, feeling a little better, but still was weak and not myself.

It took me a week and wanting to sleep all day that I got a virtual conference with a doctor on the base.  A urinalysis confirmed that the infection was still present.  The antibiotic that was prescribed for me was wrong.  I became weaker, lost my balance a couple times and fell to the floor.

God gave me enough strength to enjoy our Grandchild although I wish that I was feeling 100% instead of 35%.  Well, things were getting worst instead of better.  When you’re nice to people and talk as if you have sense, you will obtain favor.  I called the base and got an appointment on Sept. 9 with a doctor who would be saving my life.  This same doctor called me the next morning at 6:30 a.m. and told me to go straight to the nearest emergency room; that the base is not equipped to handle AKI (Acute Kidney Injury).

Van and I were in the ER from 7:15 a.m. as they started IV’s for my dehydration.  My veins were so small that I now look like a ‘pin cushion’.  Talk about being tested for FEAR, before I went to my semi-private room, my blood pressure had risen to 175/98.  They took it twice and I prayed that I wouldn’t stroke out.  It came down immediately after that.  God is so faithful and always there.

More testing came to my Faith as my room was right next to the Kidney Dialysis room.  I was asked so many questions and was given a Sonagram of my Kidneys and Liver (to make sure that the Hepatitis C was still cured and no harm was done in that organ.  The CAT Scan didn’t reveal anything, yet one examination and a Sonagram of my legs indicated that I have a blood clot in my left leg.  I had Thrombophlebitis over 40 years ago when I was a nurse, and got treatments just as I’m getting blood thinners now.  I am gaining my strength daily and slowly gaining the 13 pounds that I’ve seemed to misplace; nonetheless, I miss going to the gym and my lack of muscle tone needs help.  I was discharged from the hospital on the 14thh and will be seeing an Oncologist for the blood, and a Nephrologist to follow up and make sure that I continue to heal.

Thank you to those who inquired about my wellbeing and for the prayers and thanksgiving to God.  Sometimes you just need to be alone with close family and not a lot of questions.  #TBR

Safety at the Alhambra during COVID-19

It has literally been a month of Sundays since we’ve had a review on “Around Town with Ms. “V” due to the pandemic shutdown in March; nonetheless we thank God that we are alive and well.

Florida has only reached Stage 2 of carefully reopening some businesses with social distancing and having patrons don masks, yet we are proud to report that the “Alhambra Theatre and Dining” has complied to safely protect its patrons and their employees.

Masks are not required during your meal, but you are requested to mask-up when going to the restrooms.  Some people chose to have on their masks during the show’s presentation, but that’s entirely up to you.

Space between tables has been designed so that only you and people who are in your party, are sitting together.  Plexiglass is positioned throughout the showroom in order to separate one layer of tables from the next level of tables.  All servers are protecting you with their facial coverings and gloved hands.

Yes, you can still get your favorite alcoholic beverage brought to your table, and don’t forget to get your professional 5x7 framed photo taken with a themed background to commemorate your visit along with a memorable key chain.

The show “Grease” is fantastic.  When I asked if I should watch the original movie with my Granddaughter, it was suggested that I wait until after viewing the show, and she was so right (but it really didn’t matter).  A couple of the songs were different and of course, some of the scenes have been changed under the excellent production of Mr. Tod Booth.  The actors (some of whom you might have seen before), are seasoned participants as they act, sing and dance with the upmost precision.

The Alhambra Theatre and Dining is a small business that is doing everything that they can do tin order to maintain quality while presenting the best three course meals by Executive Chef DeJuan Roy.  Also, please be kid to your servers because they work hard to give quality service.  Tipping is allowed and recommended.  The only negative of my evening was the coffee that tasted like a weak tea, nevertheless, there’s still a Starbucks still open somewhere on the way home.

“Grease” may be sold out (even with the addition of three extra weeks); but in order for experience live theater, you may want to join the Alhambra’s Royalty Partners.  These Season Ticket holders, who have purchased tickets before the onset of the Coronavirus, get first preference to available seating.  Want to get out and continue to enjoy life?  Get your Alhambra Theatre & Dining tickets today.  Give them a call!

LOCATION: Alhambra Theater & Dining
       12000 Beach Blvd.
       Jacksonville, Florida 32246
       (904) 641-1212

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens to reopen for phase II

The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens today announced its second phase of reopening, which restores community access to the Museum’s indoor galleries and exhibitions in a limited capacity, will begin on Tuesday, July 21, 2020.

This announcement follows the safe and successful first phase of reopening that began on June 20 with the historic riverfront gardens, light bites and beverage service through the Cummer Café and two pop-up locations of the Museum Shop. The Museum will continue to limit daily capacity across the campus for the foreseeable future.

“Since the Museum closed to the public in March, we have been diligently working toward the day when we could safely welcome the community back to our galleries to find comfort, inspiration and respite during this challenging time,” said Interim Director and Chief Advancement Officer, Kerrie Slattery. “We are grateful to be able to open our doors so that everyone can once again experience art, culture and connection, in a safe and socially distanced setting.”

To celebrate the reopening of the galleries and honor Northeast Florida’s military community, VyStar Credit Union will sponsor free admission for active duty service members and their families on July 25 (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and July 26 (12 to 4 p.m.).

"VyStar Credit Union has a deep appreciation for our military, and we are proud to partner with the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens to sponsor free admission for service members and their families," said Brian Wolfburg, President/CEO of VyStar Credit Union. "We hope this provides a meaningful experience that celebrates the rich art and culture found in our community."

Members and guests are required to reserve a timed ticket in advance of their visit at cummermuseum.org/admission. Tickets are available in two-hour time increments, with dates and times for the upcoming week updated every Monday.

The Museum has implemented many safety and sanitation measures, including hand sanitizer stations throughout the campus, plexiglass guards for the front desk area and expanded daily cleaning and sanitation policies for all common areas and surfaces according to the Centers for Disease Control and Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines. All galleries now feature routes to direct the flow of movement and support social distancing. Transitioning to a timed ticket model provides additional time for cleaning and disinfecting throughout the campus, including high-touch surfaces. Museum staff, members and guests are required to wear masks.

The Cummer Café will fully reopen on August 1. Art Connections, the Museum’s interactive education center, will remain temporarily closed for remodeling.

For information about the Museum’s permanent collection, internally curated gallery spaces and special exhibitions, visit cummermuseum.org/visit/art. The Museum’s digital gallery experiences, virtual tours and online resources remain available to the community at www.cummermuseum.org/engage.

‘Cummer Museum’ helps special needs students through virtual program

“The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens” and “Connecting Thru Music” (CTM) have partnered to provide a unique learning opportunity for children with special needs enrolled in Duval County Public Schools’ Extended School Year (ESY) program: a three-week virtual series, “Live from the Cummer: Connecting Art and Music.” Music therapists from CTM’s partner, First Coast Music Therapy, along with Cummer Museum educators, will host two 30-minute classes, twice weekly.  During each class, these students and their families have the opportunity to explore the Museum’s artwork and galleries through lively and fun music interventions.

The virtual explorations, which launched on July 7, are presented live through Microsoft Teams at 11 a.m. and again at 11:30 a.m. for two different groups of ESY students, based on their ages and abilities. Each session includes a brief curated art tour (approximately five minutes) led by a Museum educator and information about the themes presented in the museum gallery. The music therapists engage the ESY students for approximately 20 minutes with songs connected to the theme and artwork. Additionally, these students receive art-making ideas that their families can work on together at home.

“We are focused on the need for a flexible and creative approach so that the children will have this unique opportunity to learn during these challenging times,” said Karen Demuth, Executive Director of CTM. “The added benefit of their parents being present because it is virtual adds a positive experience and promotes learning, bonding and fun.”

For many families, the summer break is a critical time to maintain the gains students have realized during the school year. “During these uncertain and stressful times, it’s more important than ever for the Cummer Museum to support the diverse needs of our local community,” said Kim Kuta Dring, Director of Education for the Cummer Museum. “This partnership provides students with differing abilities and their families with access to high quality artworks and experiences that promote self-expression, wellness and family stability – all important aspects of a child’s healthy growth and development.”

About the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens: For almost 60 years, the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens has been committed to engaging and inspiring through the arts, gardens, and education. A permanent collection of more than 5,000 objects and historic gardens on a riverfront campus offers nearly 150,000 annual visitors a truly unique experience on the First Coast. Nationally recognized education programs serve adults and children of all abilities. For further information, including hours, visit The Cummer Museum.

About Connecting Thru Music: Connecting Thru Music is a 501c3 that partners with First Coast Music Therapy to provide music therapy with board certified music therapists and related music services which enhance the cognitive, social, emotional, physical, development growth of the children with special needs throughout Duval County and the Northeast Region of Florida. For more information, visit connectingthrumusic.com.

Florida Theatre welcomes corporate partner Bowing Oaks

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre welcomes “Bowing Oaks” as its newest Corporate Partner.

Owner of Bowing Oaks, Jim Efstathion, has a deep connection to the arts in North Florida, having moved to Jacksonville over 50 years ago to begin working with Ted Johnson and the Alhambra Dinner Theatre.  During his years in Jacksonville, Efstathion and his family have become familiar and welcome faces at the Florida Theatre.  “Each Christmas season for over a decade, The Florida Theatre became our second home as our daughters and their friends rehearsed and performed in the Nutcracker. Music, dancing and celebration have always been a part of our family’s DNA,” said Efstathion.

It was Jim Efstathion’s family that led him to create what has now become Bowing Oaks.  “Seven years ago, my wife Cheryl came up with an idea.  When most people were retiring, we designed and built a venue in a natural setting for one of our daughters to have her wedding. Bowing Oaks was born,” said Efstathion.  “Our booking manager Heather Canada Randall remarked, ‘If you build it, they will come.’  And boy did they.  With over 450 events held to date, Bowing Oaks is considered one of the premier wedding and events venues in north Florida.  In addition to weddings, Bowing Oaks is home to 1 Vibe Dance, an internationally acclaimed dance studio with thousands of participants attending classes over the last four years.”

“I know Jim has a long history of involvement in the arts and theatre as a practitioner and also as a supporter.  He knows the importance of the arts to business and business to the arts,” said Florida Theatre President, Numa Saisselin.  “The Florida Theatre earns 85% of its annual budget from its business activities, and support from the business community, like our new Corporate Partner Bowing Oaks, helps to close that small budget gap every year and keep the Florida Theatre and its programs something special for our community.”

The historic, nonprofit Florida Theatre is sponsored by Community First Credit Union.  For a complete list of upcoming events or to buy tickets visit the Theatre's official web site floridatheatre.com.

About Bowing Oaks: Located on five acres in the Bayard area of south Jacksonville, Bowing Oaks is the city’s premier wedding and event venue, with just the right blend of rustic elegance and modern convenience.  Bowing Oaks’s 3,200 square foot ballroom can accommodate up to 200 guests with an unparalleled sense of rustic elegance.  The venue is fully handicapped-accessible, has two spacious lounge/dressing areas for wedding parties, and a large catering kitchen.  Bowing Oaks also has two unique outdoor ceremony sites, and numerous locations to take amazing photos.

Being Black in 2020

This was on someone’s Facebook page, and I post this cautiously because I didn’t want to “stir the pot”, yet all people need to be reminded that the following things happened to Black Americans. After MLK died, Black folks got quiet, nonetheless with the “Black Lives Matter” movement we shall rise for equality. Remember, you can help to make a change in ALL the 2020 elections. You must VOTE! (some words have been changed or omitted by this writer) - VTP

“Black People can’t..."

Dear Social Media Friends,

I am about to say some harsh things and you may not like it. But I pray that you will pause your life and hear me. 

Black people in America are, ONCE AGAIN, grieving. We are hurting because YET AGAIN, this country sends the message loud and clear that we will never be equal. And a lot of you…my friends…don’t know about it, don’t care about it, don’t believe it, refuse to see it and at the very least, you aren’t willing to take a stand against it. How can you love me if this is where “we” stand? How can I walk hand in hand with you knowing that I will ALWAYS be treated differently? How can I worship with you, when I know that we are only one political FB rant/post away from you disregarding my life and the lives of those who look like me?  So yeah, I’m tired. Downright exhausted. But today I want you to pause, and if you are willing to go on a journey beyond yourself, beyond your interests, beyond your privilege…then keep reading. And if you don’t know these names, GOOGLE THEM! LEARN! Get a better understanding of why Black people, in and out of different circles, are NOT OKAY!  We have been murdered by white people in this country for CENTURIES!!!! And believe it or not, it’s still LEGAL to take our lives! So read, educate yourself. See why it’s downright TRAUMA to live in this nation as a black person…thinking about our every word and step, wondering if someone will feel so threatened by it that they take our lives. READ! And after you’re done reading…tell your friends, tell your family, tell your neighbors, tell those cops… And maybe if YOU speak up enough, maybe if you stop tolerating it, they will #STOPKILLINGUS! 

BEING BLACK IN AMERICA:

We can’t go jogging (#AhmaudArbery).

We can’t relax in the comfort of our own homes (#BothemJean and #AtatianaJefferson). 

We can't ask for help after being in a car crash (#JonathanFerrell and #RenishaMcBride). 

We can't have a cellphone (#StephonClark). 

We can't leave a party to get to safety (#JordanEdwards). 

We can't play loud music (#JordanDavis).

We can’t sell CD's (#AltonSterling).

We can’t sleep (#AiyanaJones)

We can’t walk from the corner store (#MikeBrown).

We can’t play cops and robbers (#TamirRice).

We can’t go to church (#Charleston9).

We can’t walk home with Skittles (#TrayvonMartin).

We can’t hold a hair brush while leaving our own bachelor party (#SeanBell).

We can’t party on New Years (#OscarGrant).

We can’t get a normal traffic ticket (#SandraBland).

We can’t lawfully carry a weapon (#PhilandoCastile).

We can't break down on a public road with car problems (#CoreyJones).

We can’t shop at Walmart (#JohnCrawford) .

We can’t have a disabled vehicle (#TerrenceCrutcher).

We can’t read a book in our own car (#KeithScott).

We can’t be a 10yr old walking with our grandfather (#CliffordGlover).

We can’t decorate for a party (#ClaudeReese).

We can’t ask a cop a question (#RandyEvans).

We can’t cash our check in peace (#YvonneSmallwood).

We can’t take out our wallet (#AmadouDiallo).

We can’t run (#WalterScott).

We can’t breathe (#EricGarner).

We can’t live (#FreddieGray).
We can't serve our country (#VanessaGuillen)

We’re tired. 

Tired of making hashtags.

Tired of trying to convince you that our #BlackLivesMatter too. 

Tired of dying.

Tired, Tired, Tired.