Editor's Edict
I’m sitting here with my five-month old kitty, “Iris” in my lap. I’ve wanted another cat since my family had to leave “Sylvester” behind with neighbors when we moved from Wisconsin to Texas when I was twelve. This cat is a long time comin’ and, for me, is a personal sign of Growth, which is this month’s topic.

Growth can present itself in many forms, like the Devil, as my Grandma Gordon used to say – Ha! Hopefully you’ll find plenty of good, rather than evil with “Father Knows Best” where my dad tips you on how to grow personally even after receiving a Pink Slip and Life and Business Development coach Sidney Gaskins offers insight on how to achieve a fulfilling life in, “Enterprising Bettie”. My mom parallels how she has grown through life with a poem entitled, “Original Bitch” for "Momma Said"…if you can tell us who the Original Bitch is at newsletter@brownbetties.com, we’ll send you a Brown Bettie gift!

Our featured March Brown Bettie is actor, artist and mom, Rachel Matos. You’ll find her words will inspire you to continue in your own journey with conviction, passion, and focus!

What’s life’s journey without a “Bad Boy”? This month’s featured Bad Boy Joe from our cabaret is the wonderful Thom Scott and if you’re having troubles with Bad Boys when searching for romance, don’t forget Tip #6 from the forthcoming “Brown Betties Guide to How To Look For Love In All The Wrong Places”.

Keena Ferguson was in the right place in January for President Obama’s inauguration. We continue with Day 2 of her three-day journal experience in “Brown Bettie Beautifully”.

Get your dose of literature in the tenth fiction installment of "Harlem's Awakening". Things are picking up with Harlem. Its tax-time, and this can hurt like the devil, but our resident accountant, Baadja Lyne-Ouba, helps by telling why you should file on time…then, mellow out with poetry from Cecilie Davis Carter, Tanya Alexander-Henderson and introducing our newest Brown Bettie, Chloe Williams with her poem I Am Woman.

Have a wonderful rest of the month and continue to GROW!

xo
The Hot One

peppur@brownbetties.com

Bettie Beats Random
Rachel Matos
Actor. Mom. Artist

When "random" is not "random" is when you meet an amazing woman like actor, mom, artist, Rachel Matos.

Rachel and I met "randomly" through our crazy, passionate friend from Philly, Melissa Madison...whom I met online in a chat room. Sounds random, sounds out-there, but we met in 2003 on Backstage.com which was/is a forum for actors who are trying to feel their way out of a paper bag into this random industry called Acting.

Mel and Rachel attended an acting class at New York's "Black Nexxus" run by Susan Batson (coach to Nicole Kidman, among others) and her bad-ass director son, Carl Ford. I'd been studying there for years and begged the girls to come experience the rawness that I had been experiencing. (Rachel adds: Susan is the reason why I pursued acting so hard-core. She was very encouraging.)

They came, we saw, we tried to kick gritty acting ass.

Now, fast forward several years and we've all since moved to Los Angeles where we continue to kick-ass...but Rachel Matos is firmly stepping on every rung of the ladder as she clearly moves herself up, out and over that old paper bag.

This Bronx Babe who is part Ecuadorian (on her father's side) and part Puerto Rican, has not only managed to move to LA and audition and book regularly, but she has also maintained the balance of being a mom and a damn-good artist.

Do you remember your first piece of artwork? My mother was a young college student when I was toddler. She would take me to class with her, and all I did was draw the whole time so I don't exactly remember my first artwork. However, I do remember one of my crayon drawings getting into a children's art show that viewed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was about 5 or 6 years old. It was a sillouhette of an island during sundown.

What do you think of the current art scene in LA versus the one you left behind in New York? Naturally, it's different but I try not to compare. NYC is a museum town. However, LA has lots of great stuff too ... many great galleries. You have to know how to follow the shows. It's not as convenient as New York. I have seen some amazing work out here too.

Where is your favorite place that your art has hung?

A few years ago I was a part of an art show at the Colombian Consulate in NYC. That was my favorite place. I remember feeling very connected to the latino community ... a part of all the moves they were/are making culturally and artistically.

What makes you love acting? When I was child, I would do little skits for my family. I loved to make them laugh, especially because they all worked so hard. Laughing and joking around was a big outlet for my family. I also grew up watching telenovelas with my grandmother and was completely enthralled by the latina actresses (like Patty Manterola). I had a secret desire to pursue acting ... but it never seemed like a reality. It just seemed like something "other" people do for a living. So my love for acting goes deeper than the craft for me. Every audition I get is like a personal achievement and a big thank you to my family, especially my grandmother, who I later found out had a secret desire to be an actress.

What similarities do you find in your approach to painting and to developing a character, if any? The approach is similar in that I have to work hard to get focused. That's the first step. I have so many things going on, it can be challenging to find the silence needed to be in the moment and to commit to the moment. Meditation helps me get there.

You mentioned on your blog entitled, "'Cause I Feel Like It" about an audition where you had to yell at another actor...a perfect stranger. What exactly did you yell at her?The director said to start off with "You don't understand .... " and take it from there. Well, who doesn't feel misunderstood from time to time? That day, I had a few things on my mind about the industry and the perception some people have so I said ... "You don't understand what goes into every job I get. You don't understand that for every booking an actor gets, they auditioned dozens of times. You don't understand the type of endurance and thick skin needed to be in an industry like this."

You are in a project, "I Heart Hollywood" about the stories of 14 working actresses in Hollywood produced my friend Mashari Bain and includes two other friends J Nicole Brooks and Jamie Burton...what did you learn most about working on this project? Well, I learned that I had a story to tell that people could relate to. I was just living life, doing what I felt was right for me at the time. When the director, Rebecca Hu, asked me questions about my life, I found myself having many moments of self discovery. We all have obstacles, open doors, successes, and failures in life, you know. We handle it differently. As I spoke, I realized how much I had learned in my journey ... how much I had grown. It was pretty powerful for me.

It seems like there is an interesting movement among Women and Art...do you see this? Is there a name for it? What do you think about it? I have definitely seen the progression women have made in the art world, but we have a way to go. I am not sure if there is a name for it. I certainly don't give it a title or label. I tend to follow the careers of individual artists, particularly from those who explore their cultural identity. Some of the women I find extraordinary are Rina Banerjee, Renee Cox, and Shirin Neshat.
Editor's note: I took a moment to view the work of each of these women...really vivid, wonderful work. Thank you Rachel!

This is a corny question, but, what is your dream role? Every role I accept is a dream role, because the dream is to be an actor. However, if I can script it right now, I would love be a series regular as a lawyer. It's another field I am fascinated with. If I had it my way, I would be a likable lawyer though. Wait, are there any? I would like to be the Claire Huxtable of the law field. There, a corny answer to go with the corny question!

You site a quote by Walter M. Schirra, Sr.: "You don't raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they'll turn out to be heroes, even if it's just in your own eyes." How is your son your hero? You know, children have such an innocent perception of the world. My son sees the green in the grass, the fluffiness in a squirrels tail, he savors every bite of mom's grilled cheese sandwich ... he feels the awesomeness of our universe and has a zest for life that I think many of us lose as we get older. Having him has taught me how to love and how to see the world through his eyes ... And for that, I say he is like a little hero to me.

From where do you draw your confidence?

When I was in the second grade, my little crush liked someone else. I remember telling my mom how the girl he liked was taller, had longer hair, better grades, and was prettier. I remember my mom saying "Rachel, in life there will always be someone prettier, taller, thinner, smarter, fatter, shorter ... you cannot compare yourself to others". That simple sentence stayed with me and I learned to not take things so personal (see parents, sometimes kids do listen). Years later, my acting coach at Stella Adler started off class with "Guys, you are all a character in your real lives. Don't try to be a character that is not you. We are all different and have something to offer. Be you in the situation at hand. Be who YOU are and just go with it". It's just in my head that I have something to offer ... that my life experiences will bring something to the table. When I walk into an audition, I just do me, and if they like it, great. If not, then I move it along. It's not personal for me.

What's next for you?

I am working on a series of paintings and I booked a webisode called "The Devil You Know" directed by P. David Ebersole. It's a novela, which you now know has a little special place in my heart. More importantly though, I am the mama of a very athletic little guy, so as much as I love working, I am full-time sports mom with a knack for making the best fry bread in town ... and watch out for the documentary coming out this summer.

Rachel Delilah Matos
http://www.rachelmatos.com/

http://www.rachelmatosblog.wordpress.com/

The less you open your heart to others, the more your heart suffers - Deepak Chopra

Father Knows Best

I'm Roscoe Chambers, the proud father of (you guessed it) Peppur Chambers. Our family has been in the Human Resources and owners of an Executive Search firm for several years. And because “FATHER KNOWS BEST”, I’ve been asked to provide pertinent information pertaining to employment search strategy for job seekers, various employment articles, and postings of open job opportunities nationwide.

Dear Readers,

Growth!...A powerful word!

With the economy rapidly sinking, a number of us have or will in the near future receive a pink slip stating that your current organization no longer requires your services. If you haven’t as of yet received this familiar pink slip document, be grateful and work as if Friday is your last day of work. But for those who have …..Dad has a tip far yah! …

But before I start, let’s talk about counter offers. If you’ve resigned for a better opportunity, in most cases never accept a counter offer from your current employer no matter how sweet the figure and here’s why: First, it’s insulting. Where did all of this money surface from as a sign of appreciation for my services and professionalism? Second, why didn’t I receive it early on when I so desperately needed and asked for a raise?

Here’s where that money comes from:

If you have not received your salary increase or bonuses for performance of the current year, most companies will move it forward disguised as a counter offer package or if you have already received your performance award for the year, the average performance award is calculated for the subsequent year and moved forward again disguised as the counter offer. Either way statistics reflect that 87% of those who received counter offers are gone within a year or less…. The goal is to keep you on board until another candidate is identified and hired.

Now for my tips….I want to share with you what signs to look for that indicate you are about to receive a Pink Slip for termination and what to do about it.
1) When you are no longer asked to have lunch with your manager
2) When your manager can’t look you in the eye
3) When your manager is walking in the same isle toward you and immediately turns into someone else’s cube until you pass hoping to not engage in any type of conversation
4) When your login and password all of a sudden don’t work and tech support can’t explain what is wrong
5) Your name is no longer in updated company directory
6) When you are no longer in charge of the company picnic
7) When your name is conveniently omitted from the email that announces the annual company benefits enrollment meeting
8) While discussed by colleagues, you are referred as “what’s her/his name”
9) No longer asked to have Chi- latte, donuts, cringle, croissants or finger sandwiches in the break room
10) When you know you kicked everybody’s ass in terms of performance and meeting your goals but your manager still rates you as…… “Slightly meets goals; needs improvement!”
11) Or the ultimate insult is when that one stupid ill-informed colleague who didn’t received the email ( there’s always one in the office) states “ it’s been wonderful working with you….Good luck in your new endeavors and don’t hesitate to call if I can be of any help in your JOB SEARCH”….. Of course the problem is, you are still physically working in your office……Where is my pistol?

Nevertheless here are additional tips to adhere to in the event the Pink Slip slips your way.
* Reflect on your gaffes at work, but do so briefly. It’s a good idea to think about what lead to your termination. Doing so will help you not repeat the same mistake again. But don’t dwell on it. By obsessing over a certain mistake, you’ll only make yourself crazy. Everything in life is 50-50. You made the best decision you could at time.
* Look at it as a new beginning. Sometimes we feel tied down at work. We enjoy a stable paycheck, but don’t enjoy the other aspects of the job. Getting terminated can be a blessing in disguise in that it allows you to go about doing something you really enjoy.
* It might not be your fault. Most companies hire and fire based on how good the economy is. There are a variety of factors aiding in corporate downsizing. Advertising agencies, for example, will terminate some of their employees if they lose a certain account. It has less to do with how well those employees executed their tasks, as it does with luck of the draw. Such might be the case in your situation.
* Think about your happiness first. Like I said in Step 2, you may not have enjoyed your old job. Your unhappiness might have lead to a poor performance that, in turn, led to your termination. Sometimes it really isn’t a good fit. That’s not any more your fault than it is whoever it was that hired you.
* Don’t let your termination consume you. We, as humans, typically work for 8 hours a day. Yet, for whatever reason, we associate our entire humanity with what we do for a paycheck. This is unfortunate. You are so many other positive things aside from a waiter, bartender, manufacturer, or manager. Why let one part of your life impact the other, more important parts?
*Look for a new job immediately. It’s best not to sit around and dwell on your firing. Instead of wasting time thinking about how unfair life is, you should refocus yourself on finding a new job.

In closing, if you received the pink slip, please don’t go postal, curse everybody on your way out or flip the bird. Remember, the working community is small and quaint; one can never determine who your next manager may know from your previous employer. Instead, with dignity, hold your head high, stand tall and hold those tears. Take all of the family and pet photos off your desk, credenza and computer tower; then with class and style place your coat over your arm grab your briefcase and proceed to walk out like you walked in ……Oh, and don’t forget your USB memory stick with all of your folders, contacts, and company proprietary information downloaded on it. Just jokes! :) Right!

Happy Job hunting!

Roscoe Chambers II is also the President of The Kennedy Group, LLC, an executive search firm that takes a broad approach in the staffing of various industries and disciplines covering levels from middle- to upper- management. Please contact him at Rchambers7@tx.rr.com

Enterprising Bettie

Get to Growing!
By Sidney Gaskins

At the beginning of this year, in the column “Love. Hate. Want. Need”, I implored you to make this the year of “Boldness, Freedom, And Having It All”. Then, last month the call went out to find your passion in life and to live your Life passionately. Both of those articles point to one thing: Growth. When you are being challenged in your Life, essentially you are being confronted with who you are; or a demand has been made upon you to show your skills or qualifications; or you’ve been summoned to take action and reach within further than the norm to stave off defeat. When the battle, game, or in our case, “the challenge” has been completed you are left with nuggets for growth. To begin growing beyond where you are, it takes challenging yourself and finding the passion for your Life. “How do I begin?” you may ask. Great question. Take on the five following steps daily for six weeks and you will witness tremendous growth in your Life.

1. Be Attentive: Pay attention to what you want and the things you see; observe those around you and those you are around; and take note of your daily routine.
2. Be Open: Who have you never talked to at work? How can you make a difference in the life of someone else regardless of your circumstances? It may be a smile, a phone call, or asking someone to lunch. Do not forget that you never know where you might get your “break”. Be open to speaking to others and open to listening.
3. Be Engaging: No man is an island, so involve others in what you are up to in life. It may take sharing a dream, a project, or a hurt. Turn the table and be involved in the life of another person – it is all engagement.
4. Be Active: The Universe loves energetic motion: take time to rest; plan activities that are worthy of your time; and involve the others.
5. Be Grateful: There is no substitute for taking stock of all the things you have and appreciating them. The grass is not greener on the other side if you are tending to your own lawn. Daily, write down 5 things for which you are grateful. Begin to build appreciation for what you have; this will allow your Life to grow immediately.

In business, love, family, and friendships these tools can be applied to all areas of your life to foster growth. Take this toolbox with you, use it for one week and the results will amaze you, then continue for the next six weeks to make it part of your life. It is all just a little water to help you grow.

Copyright © 2006-2009
Enterprising Life, LLC. All rights reserved.
Enterprising Life, LLC. is a professional coaching and consulting enterprise that helps individuals, families, and businesses create fulfillment in life and the workplace, while achieving prosperity and productivity.

Contact Info:
www.EnterprisingLife.com
unstoppablelife@gmail.com

Brown Bettie Beautifully
Our Brown Bettie Keena Ferguson traveled to President Obama’s Inauguration in Washington, DC and kept a small diary. Here is Day 2 of her travels with boyfriend, Ajamu:

Day 2:
We had a few hours of sleep and were up early to have a little breakfast and we were off on the subway to pick up our tickets from the Senator’s office. The subway ride was quick and easy and I assumed it would take us all of 15min to pick up our tickets because it was the day before the election. Clearly everyone else was early and prepared and already picked up their tickets. Well, we walked up and there were hundreds of people in different lines around the building. I couldn’t believe it…why weren’t these people prepared and early?! I thought I was the only one waiting ‘til the last minute. Needless to say, there was no charm that could work to get me in front of the line so we waited, but still in good spirits because what…we were picking up tickets for the Inauguration! So we waited and met some nice people in line…get this a Black couple from North Dakota. Wow I didn’t really know there were Black people there, (I mean I did but only a handful) anywhoo, they were originally from Chicago but moved to N Dakota and they had 3 kids. They said they both received full scholarships to get their BA and their Masters because they are trying to promote diversity. They confirmed that there aren’t many of “us” there and that this cold DC weather was nothing for them because it has been -60 degrees there. “Are you freaking kidding me?” I said; negative 60 what in the world, how do they ever survive? Ok I digressed…so after a 45 min wait we finally got in and went to our Senator’s office and picked up our tickets and we were on our way. With tickets in hand we went to a great dinner and then headed home to prepare for the ball with Stevie Wonder performing. My girl Kwanda got us the hookup on this ball and so we decided to drive into the city instead of taking the train. (We were staying in MD) We got there and it was fabulous. It was open bar, free hors d oeuvres, and a performance by Stevie Wonder and another set by his band. We had a wonderful time and the energy of hope and inspiration was in the air of what was to come the next day. Just to give you an idea of how many people were in DC from all over I ran into a good friend of the family’s from Jefferson City, MO. I mean everyone was there in DC with a great attitude and a sense of, “it’s a new day.” Once it was time to leave we got back to the house but on the way back we passed the metro station and there were already cars lined up trying to get in for people to head downtown. “Oh my gosh!” I was thinking we are going home to go to sleep and these people are already going to stand in line for the ceremony. We slept for an hour and got up at 4:30am to head downtown.

In My Solitude

A Life Without Passion
By Cecilie Davis Carter

Without Passion
Life stands still
Nothing to fulfill
Absent
Stagnant



Without Passion
Dreams don’t exist
Nights of emptiness
Gloomy
Hollow

Without Passion
Love passes by
Blind in both eyes
Lonely
Cold

Without Passion
There is no desire
No fire
Dry
Brittle

Without Passion
Affection is grey
Darkness is the day
No light
No fight

To be Without Passion
Is to be without life

LIVE
LAUGH
LOVE
PASSIONATLEY

The Spotlight

The It Factor

by Tanya Alexander-Henderson

Poetry does a body good, no, a soul, twice a spirit.

It clears the mind, inspires the heart, frees the worries and conquers the fears.

It keeps me sane.

It encourages my insanity and makes it alright.

It loves my pen and adores my paper.

It speaks my mind to me.

It whispers my dreams and shouts my soul.

It glows.

It bounces a cool breeze off the hot of my mind and calms me.

It quenches my thirst for passion and freedom by drenching my intentions with the flow of words.

It makes me smile and think about me in the center of all this wonderfulness.

It is love.

Love on paper and spoken out loud.

It is marvelous, fantastical and magical--marfastical! Ha!

It makes me make up words.

It makes me laugh and feel as deep as I can without tears.

It is a gift of the utmost pleasure, an orgasm from God!

It is...it is the shit. It is.

Poetry is me.

Pieces of Tanya...A Spoken Word Project - Available Now!
"1 Out of 10" Music Video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLGjn6j6d-0
Download:

iTunes - http://www.apple.com/search/ipoditunes/?q=pieces+of+tanya
Hard copy: www.cdbaby.com/cd/tanyaalexander
Website: http://www.supernovaproductiongroup.com/

SuperNova Production Group
It's Time to Shine...

Unzipped

Don't get Unzipped this tax season, IRI Tax Tips help you through.

“It’s worth your while to file on time.”
-Baadja

You may have heard horror stories from people who owe back taxes. How can you reduce the odds this will happen to you? File your taxes on time, no matter what, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service advises. Even if you can't afford to make the full payment that you owe, it's worth your while to file on time. If you wait to file until May or later you'll have to pay a 5 percent per month penalty on top of other penalties. The yearly interest rate on unpaid taxes is 6 percent. Late payment penalties are another 0.5 percent per month. These can add up quickly.

Here's the IRS link to set up an Online Payment Agreement, so you can pay your taxes in installments: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=149373,00.html

When you do this, you reduce the late payment penalty to 0.25 percent per month.

Ideally you'll want to pay your taxes in full. If you decide to take out a loan to pay your taxes make sure you compare interest rates so you're not paying more than you would with the standard government options.

The information contained in this site is of a general nature and should not be acted upon in your specific situation without further details and/or professional assistance.If you would like more information on anything in "IRI Tax Tips," or if you'd like to be on our mailing list to receive other tax-cutting information from time to time, please contact our office. We're here to help.

IRI TAX/NOTARY

Bankruptcy

PassPort Photos

320 E. South Street

Long Beach, CA 90805

ALL SERVICES ARE BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

562 422-1603 (ofc)562 422-5010 (fax)

www.1040.com/iri

Year around service (24hr Answering Service during off tax season)

Baadja-Lyne OubaOwner/Operator

I Am Woman
By Chloe Williams

I heard a voice within me last night,
And with waking, gleaming eyes, I rose to face it.
“I am woman”, it said, and then …
“But I am so much more”.
I reached out to touch
That chorusing sound,
Light and lithe with its simple phrasing
But the possibility of it was much too great.
With shattering promise,
It rose above me just out of reach.
It said, “You must claim this, you must earn this, you must transcend this
To keep this truth safe
Within your grasp.”

On pages of magazines, newspapers and
Timely gossip
That voice becomes a trite reprise:
A reminder of a hollowed and empty shell facsimile.
That voice blares on like a radio wave,
Produced for the masses
Tinny and thin.
On the painted lips, conformed to move and frozen
In brilliant technicolor, sound comes, but the
Words
Have no weight.
These words do not resound like the voice
Does within me.
Its genuine and triumphant noise cannot be so.
“I am woman,” it said, and then …
“But I am so much more”.
Under misrepresented guise, and broken vestiges
Of hard and tireless work,
What have we earned?
What have we claimed; disclaimed?
What have we become?

You see, I rose in that night
With a sound of my own,
Prepared to meet its calling like so many before.
I cast the paper thin images aside
And deep within me knew that I could fulfill
What was asked of me,
And not deny.
And with a voice that was strong and clear
And so wondrously mine, I chose to reply:

I have the capacity to give life,
to heal the sick and change societies.
I have the will and the right to speak up and be heard
And the ability to be quiet, waiting, watching and wanting with sage wisdom
I have the capacity to love whomever and accept love in return
And the ultimate, yearning drive to be fearless, boundless,
Legendary:
“I am woman,” I said, and then …
“But I am so much more”.

Brown Bettie Knows Best
by Peppur Chambers

You, my sister, have seen the lows, you’ve rolled around in the ashes of scorched heartache ready to hang yourself with a wet rope soaked in lonely crocodile tears, and yet no one has applauded you on how well you are doing at doing something wrong. Well, because I’ve been through it too, and because everyone needs a pat on the shoulder, I salute you with these tips that will remind you whole-heartedly that you are doing everything absolutely wrong to find love. I hope these little morsels of loveless encouragement will coax you down from that painful chair of desperation, give you the strength to remove your noose and smile through your snotty haze as you nod and say, “Hey! That’s what I do!”

Ready? Let’s begin. And remember, you are not alone, my dear:

TIP 6
Since you’ve already decided you don’t like good guys, and have made it a point to spend a lot of time chasing a guy that doesn’t want you, now it should be perfectly OK to really take control of things…that is, if you haven’t already. One way would be to crawl on the hood of his car in the middle of the night and scrawl this love letter on his windshield in MAC lipstick and/or drink a fifth of Jose’ Cuervo and shout these words out front of his apartment:

Bad Boy
Come and play with me
Bad Boy
Show me your bad toys
Bad Boy
You’re no good for me
Bad Boy
Let me show you how bad I can be

Wrong Advice. Take it or leave it:
If you’ve already come undone from being unzipped by your Joe in your non-relationship relationships (NRR’s), now may be a good time to invest in the notion that you can learn to be happy by yourself.

Bad Boy!

Each month we feature a previous "Joe" who has guest-starred in our cabaret.

Thom Scott II
What makes you a Bad Boy?

The gifts God has blessed me with make me multifaceted…so, through Him, I'm a
“BAAAAAD” boy.

Thom appears in:

BLACK ANGELS OVER TUSKEGEE

MARCH 28, 2009 – MAY 2, 2009

Saturdays ONLY @ 8:00PM

WHITMORE LINDLEY THEATRE

11006 Magnolia Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601
You Tube Trailer

Represented By:
The Wallis Agency (Theatrical)
818-953-4848
Commercial Unlimited (Commercial)
310-278-5132

Links:
http://www.thomscott2.com/ (under construction)
www.myspace.com/thomscott
http://www.facebook.com/
www.myspace.com/blackgents

Harlem’s Love Story…
For your reading enjoyment, find the ninth installment of “Harlem’s Awakening”…This is the “True Hollywood Story” (as it were) behind the love affair between Joe and Harlem that plays out in the cabaret, “Harlem’s Night” performed by the Brown Betties.


Chapter 10 – A Manor of Speaking

Harlem ran up the freshly-swept concrete stairs to her Brownstone. Before she could turn the key, the door flew open and there was little Tilda full of smiles and jumpin’ with excitement.

Tilda was tiny and looked much younger than her eighteen years. Her smooth coconut skin glistened as the sun kissed her forehead. Her fingers moved quickly as she tried to tell Harlem something.

“Slow down!” Harlem signed back to her. Tilda had been deaf since birth, but had just learned sign language only eight months ago when Harlem enrolled her in St. Augustine’s School for the Deaf.

Tilda said, “The new costumes have arrived!” Now it was Harlem’s turn to jump with excitement. She and Tilda had spent weeks designing the beaded bodices of the new corsets that would debut with the new numbers for the Brown Betties’ performances.

That reminded her. She had to come up with a plan, or a really good excuse that would not only explain to Cora how Harlem was the owner of a brownstone that took up half a block and was formerly known as Lady Magdalena’s Manor…and how she and Tilda were the outfit behind the sultry Brown Betties who were quickly becoming the hottest dancers outside The Cotton Club.

She and Tilda headed for the drawing room where she could see the corsets laid upon her long maple table surrounded by several high-backed chairs upholstered in dark purple satin – Harlem’s favorite color. Rich magenta curtains complemented the room in a way that always made Harlem smile. She was about to pour herself and Tilda a brandy and soda when the doorbell rang.


Both women looked at each other with hunched, questioning shoulders as neither of them was expecting a visitor this evening. They both walked to the great oak door; Harlem waited while Tilda swung it open. Both their mouths dropped as they stared into the hazel eyes belonging to Honey. She carried two suitcases, a baby, and announced oddly, “I’m home!”

(c)2007 Pen and Peppur LLC

Momma Said
by Vicki Rogers (my momma)

Original Bitch

I started thinking about “Growth” as this month’s topic and several things came to mind: Over the years I have grown in height as illustrated by my 5‘1 frame. I’ve grown in maturity in that I don‘t “moon” people anymore. (With cellulite--it‘s just not charming.) Along with growing long in the teeth, I have grown my credit limit and the amount of hair covering my body. I’ve grown senile and a bit blind (because I can’t remember shite without it being written on a sticky; plus I can‘t read shite without glasses). I have also grown stiff in the joints. According to my colleagues I’ve grown into “bitch” quite nicely (I think my five-year-old granddaughter thinks that too). So I wrote this:

Original Bitch

Somewhere
In the garden
I looked into the blinded eye of heaven and heroes.
I whispered into the deaf ear of gods and goofs.
I smelled the honeyed breath of priests and poets.
I licked the twisted fingers of angels and assholes.
I took innocence for a walk and left it
Somewhere.

Somewhere
In the sunset
I squint at the cable channel as
I sweat drops onto the table as
I melt ice between my fingers and mingle both as
I flash to hot from cold as
I feel menopause unfold.
I took the innocence from life when
I took my first bite
Somewhere.


If you can tell us who the "Original Bitch" is, we’ll send you a Brown Bettie gift. Email newsletter@brownbetties.com