Photo of the Day: Old U Street

Ben's Chilli Bowl on U Street in Washington, DC (Photo: S Bess 2006)

Forget about the present situation, these were the Pre-Obama days in DC. Gentrification had not fully enveloped the U street corridor at this point. Ben's alley wall was blank and there was nothing happening "Next Door." There were still a few business left from the post-riot days; however, everyone knew that it was coming. The one hundred year cycle was over! The place was changing. DC was changing. My life was changing. Things are very different now in 2017. 

~ Peace

Blues Houseparty

Very nostalgic. The conversations and the way they people interact reminds me of my grandparents generation in North Carolina. I would visit every summer around this time in June when I was a little boy. These conversations give me ideas about language and it ultimately inspires much of my poetry. 

Photobooth---The Half-Happy Couple and Poem

2009 Top One Hundred Countdown # 20: Photobooth---The Half-Happy Couple, a photo by mrwaterslide on Flickr.

20 minute poem I wrote for photo:

One Mo' Payment

I almost got enough to call this woman my wife

What I mean is, I’m fixin’ to buy this fine woman here a ring to seal the deal.

Yeah, I heard that when I was in the Army

she had this ol’ slick-head hipster over in Rocky Mount 

grinnin’ and showin’ all his teeth every time he sees her in town,

and I hear he's been

asking to sit with her some Sundays after supper.

But 

there’s one thing that ol’ sport coat don’t have that I got—

that is this here woman,

at this time,

in this picture-booth,

for this moment—

warm,

smiling,

and in my arms.

Hmph!

I betcha he ain’t grinnin' now.

Fort Dupont Park Summer Concert Series 2012

Every year I look forward to the concert series at Fort Dupont Park in Washington, D.C.  It has become widely popular and it tends to be very crowded.  However, there is nothing like the visual of a huge crowd [mostly African American] of people from the DMV getting together to celebrate music from the soul.  It is really a celebration and expression of culture -- American culture.  This years promises to be a nice one.  I hope to see you there this summer.  Concerts are free and opened to the public.

Note:  Shows are every Saturday as indicated below and usually start around 8:00 pm; however, get there before the time because places on the lawn fill up fast.  This is especially true in front of the stage. 

Check out the 2012 lineup:


July 14

• American Noiz': A celebration of American Music featuring a Motown review by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington; Accompanied by Joel Coleman, Dr. Guy Ramsey, Juliet Jones, Victor Provost & Scott McCormick  

July 21:

• Heatwave
• Nu Era  

July 28:

• ROY AYERS
• Secret Society  

Aug. 4:

• DC' Best Funk 'n R&B Night
• In Gratitude: A tribute to Earth Wind & Fire
• Featuring the Graingers, Jared, WaWa LaGrande, Gene McBride
• Mousey Thompson & James Brown Experience
• Jeffrey Walker  

Aug. 11:

• DC's Legends 'n Soul Night
• Al Johnson & his A Team
• Peaches & Herb
• Skip Mahoney & the Casuals
• HALO

 Aug. 18:

• KLYMAXX featuring Bernadette

Sources:  http://www.nps.gov/; i.ebayimg.com

JET Magazine: Celebrating 60 Years

Today in African American history, JET magazine launched its first issue featuring the wife of boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson on the cover. JET magazine was founded on Thursday, November 1, 1951, by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois. November 1, 1951, marks a historical day in African American history because a kinship began that would last throughout the 20th century, and it’s doing very well in the 21st century. I cannot think of any other magazine that speaks to the Black experience in America like JET magazine. The magazine’s coverage of the everyday lives and historical events surrounding the lives of African Americans and Africans in the Diaspora continues to be unparalleled.

In fact, besides Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, all of Stevie Wonder’s music, and Ebony magazine (also of Johnson’s Publishing) I equate growing up as an African in America with JET magazine. Furthermore, JET magazine has also helped to shape my perception of black women with the much anticipated “Beauty of the Week.” As the poet, Langston Hughes, described so eloquently in his poem, Harlem Sweeties, the “Beauty of the Week” featured every woman from a “…Brown sugar lassie” to a "Peach-skinned girlie.”


I was always proud when the model was from the Washington, D.C. area. It was great because JET didn’t highlight the “traditional” Western standard of beauty; instead, it featured the “real” beauties or the quintessential "girl next door."

As JET magazine celebrates its 60th year in publishing, I pray for its continued success as an excellent resource about African American life and culture. I also pray that it continues to present news from an African American perspective; it’s more valuable than many of us may realize. Keep on flying JET. God bless. Peace ~


Sources:  jetmag.com, theblackgirlnextdoor.com, blackfacts.org, and Wikipedia
Photo:  Jennifer Baszile, author of The Black Girl Next Door.

Headed South to Montevideo

In November, I will visit the country of Uruguay in South America. This is not a planned trip or vacation; I was invited as part of an effort to introduce students in Uruguay to African American culture. Specifically, I will teach students about the African influence in American culture as it pertains to music. This comes easy to me because it stays near the front of my thoughts; however, my challenge is that most of the students speak limited English. I’m attempting to brush up on my Spanish in an effort to communicate as effectively as possible. Otherwise, I will depend on the universal power of music, and the supreme power of God, who will lead and guide me on this venture.


You may giggle, but I took my time to inform the Morphological Confetti community because I wanted to make sure I had my plane ticket. This entire trip is funded by the arts council, but I had to be perfectly certain that my ticket was in hand. I truly give thanks to God for this opportunity, but I would also like to thank one of my readers in Uruguay (Analia) for mentioning my blog to a group of teachers. She mentioned that my blog, Morphological Confetti, focuses on African American culture and language and the rest is…me getting on a flight to Uruguay in November.

As for Uruguay, its population is mostly of European descent. According to Wikipedia, 95% of Uruguayans are of European ancestry from Spain and Italy. There are nearly 4% of Uruguayans who are of African descent. They are my West African cousins who were brought there as slaves around the 16th century. It is estimated that 30 million Africans were shipped to the Americas, and the 6 million who survived the journey entered mainly through ports such as Buenos Aires, and Montevideo, Uruguay.

I will also enter Uruguay through Montevideo under much better circumstances. I won’t be there long enough to experience the fullness of the culture, but I will soak up as much as possible. I’m particularly interested in Candombe, a rhythmic drum sound that arrived in Uruguay with the Africans. I will give you more once I return – God willing. Peace~

Sources:  unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com, candombe.com, wikipedia, and youtube

Marvin Gaye 'What's Happening Brother' Soul Soldiers video

"The Singing Slave" - Brother Gene Martin

DC Black Arts Movement: Harlem Connection

Are you aware of the significant contribution that Washington, D.C. made to the Black Arts Movement (Harlem Renaissance) of the 1920's? It was 1923 and the wounds of slavery were still infected. A movement to showcase the resilience and creativity of a people was just the thing to help in the healing process. Two Washingtonians come to mind when I think of Washington, D.C. during the Renaissance and they were composer, Jazz pianist, and bandleader, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington and writer, Jean Toomer. I am especially proud of Duke Ellington because he formed a group in 1923 called the Washingtonians that stormed Harlem that year. The name of the group was not especially creative, but it certainly showed that the Duke's heart was still in Washington. Duke and his band eventually landed a gig in the famous Cotton Club on December 4, 1927. Their popularity soared afterwards and secured them a place in Jazz history.

In 1923, Jean Toomer impressed the literary world that year with his publication, Cane. This mixture of poetry and prose based on his experiences in Georgia and Washington, D.C. had instant success. There was also a young lady at that time by the name of Gwendolyn B. Bennett (1902-1981). She had also spent a significant time in Washington before moving to Harlem. Her poem, Heritage was published Crisis magazine.  I came across her name after doing a search on "little known writers of the Harlem Renaissance."
I found her poetry to be heart felt and very lyrical. This is my favorite:

To A Dark Girl
by: Gwendolyn B. Bennett

I love you for your brownness,
And the rounded darkness of your breast,
I love you for the breaking sadness in your voice
And shadows where your wayward eyelids rest.
Something of old forgotten queens
Lurks in the lithe abandon of your walk
And something of the shackled slave
Sobs in the rhythm of your talk.
Oh, little brown girl, born for sorrow's mate,
Keep all you have of queenliness,
Forgetting that you once were slave,
And let your full lips laugh at Fate!

Photo:  Heritage Trail poster on U Street by S. Bess

Sign O' The Times: Fort Stanton Park

Frederick Douglass (c. 1817-1895)

"Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, neither persons nor property will be safe." -Frederick Douglass

Harriet Tubman (1820(?)-l913)
"I grew up like a neglected weed -- ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it."

Bethune, Mary McLeod (1875-1955)

"The whole world opened to me when I learned to read."

Vick (198_-2006)

Teddy Reads: Rest In Peace (RIP) Vick, we love u.

Note: The teddy bear is a makeshift memorial to someone who was killed near or on that very spot. I've never met Vick, but he represents so many young black men who are murdered on the streets everyday of any city, USA.

Top 20 sites to learn African American History

I have great news for Morphological Confetti!  It was chosen by onlinedegree.net as one of the 20 best sites to learn about African American History.  I have so much passion for the history of Africans in America, so this is quite an honor. To God be the glory.  Peace~

Photo source:  bowdoin.edu
Pictured above:Romare Bearden, American, 1911-1988, Heavy Freight (from the 12 Trains Suite), 1974, photo etching with hand coloring, Art © Romare Bearden Foundation/Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY

Natural Beauty

This passage has to do with courtship in the slave community of the Antebellum American South. I find these women creativity fascinating and very intriguing. So natural...so beautiful:

“They [slave women] used sweet-smelling flowers and herbs as perfume and often kept the good dress packed in the flowers and herbs so that the clothing would absorb the pleasant fragrance. Hoops were made out of grape vines and were worn to make the dress fall neatly away from the body. A bright-colored hat or headwrap made for the finishing touch.”
Source: (excerpt from Aren’t I a Woman? Female Slaves in the Plantation South, Deborah Gray White,1985.
Artist: Susan Lyon

Old Window: A Look into the Past

This is a photo I took of a window in the back of my grandfather's childhood home. I was brave enough to step into that old house that felt like it was about to give in to the weight of my body. It made every sound you can imagine as it moaned with my every step. I can remember when the house still had a strong life force.

It was 1979 -- the year before my grandfather's mother died. Back then, there were still farm animals about the house, an old dog, and scattered remnants of the fall harvest when I looked across the field. great-grandma Alice was suffering from Alzheimers. From her window in the back of the house, she saw me running and playing with the various farm animals. She called me over to the window and asked me, "Who boy are you?" I told her and she smiled, "You a good looking boy." I said thank you and smiled shly as I ran off to play more.

I came across her window a second time and she called me over to ask the same question. I answered as if it was my first time hearing it. I was pre-warned to do so by my aunt. After great-grandma Alice asked me the same question for a third time. I ran off to play only in the front of the house. I was 12 years old.

*See more pictures on Flickr*

A Hard Head Makes a Soft...

It was always a similar speech before momma left to go to work.



“I want this apartment cleaned up before I come home from work tonight. If it ain’t clean, y’all can forget about going outside this weekend. Calvin, I want you to cook tonight – just throw on some hotdogs and beans and don’t eat the whole pack. You get two hotdogs a piece. Stevie, it’s your turn to do those dishes tonight. I want my kitchen cleaned! Maurice, I want you to get in there and clean up that back room. It don’t make no sense how nasty it is. You should be ashamed of yourself.


After that, I want you to vacuum in the living room, and stay out of my living room after you finish. I don’t want y’all playing around in this apartment either. I mean no running, jumping, sliding, and especially no crashing! If I come back home tonight and find anything cracked, I’m cracking some butt. If I find anything chipped, split, or cut, I’m doing the same thing to your butt. You got me! I said, you got me!


“Yes, momma,” we all said with bowed heads as we walked her towards the door.


“Go ahead and get started on what I told you to do. When you finish y’all can go outside, but I want you back on this front when the street lights come on, you hear me?”



By this time, momma was two flights down as her voice echoed in the hallway.



We echoed back, “Okay, momma. See you tonight.”



Afterwards, we all looked at each and thought about everything momma said.



“Well, we better get started if we want to go outside,” Maurice said. “Shut up momma’s boy!” Calvin and Stevie shouted as they chased Maurice around the apartment with the sofa pillow.




Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mommas and Big Mommas. We love you. Enjoy your day. Peace~

Photography: Spring Fashion

One cool brother on H Street

(Click photo to Enlarge)

I haven't posted any of my photos recently, so I decided to share this one today. This is the Washington, DC I know. Perhaps you have seen this photo before, but it is worth showing again. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Peace~

Warm Thoughts: Summer of 1975

"Looking back on when I was a little nappy headed boy,
then my only worry was for Christmas, what would be my toy.
Even though we sometimes would not get a thing, we were happy with the joy the day would bring...I wish those days could come back once more, why did those days ever have to go?
I wish those days could come back once more, why did those days ever have to go? Cause I loved them so." ~ Stevie Wonder

By the way, I am the taller of the two little boys. I remember that day well. I also remember that the shirt I was wearing was new and my grandmother purchased some flip-flop sandles to keep my feet cool. It was the Bess Family Reunion in the Summer of '75. Stevie Wonder's hit song, I Wish, would not become a hit until 1977, but it was so appropriate for this photo. I mean, just look at that image of me, little Stevie; life was so simple then. Peace~

Happy Thanksgiving Southern Style

Use halves of drained (canned or fresh) apricots, pears, and pineapple spears or slices. Use as many pieces as will fill a deep casserole or approximately 4 pieces of fruit per serving.

Pour over a mixture of
½ cup melted butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon curry powder
Bake 40 minutes

Serve this dish with a baked ham, Porkchops (pictured right), chicken, tofu, or just some rice for a delicious all time Southern and Caribbean favorite. However, in the Caribbean the list of ingredients is longer and even more delicious.

By the way, if you celebrate Thanksgiving I wish you a wonderful holiday. Otherwise, we all have something to be thankful for. So, as brother Geoffrey would say…give thanks. Peace~

Source: The Southern Cook Book of Fine Old Dixie Recipes, Culinary Arts Press, Inc., 1965

Photo: Cooksrecipe.com

Akuaba, Jena and Me

This image is a replica of the Akuaba doll of Ghana. The Akuaba is found among the Akan people and represents fertility. As a matter of fact, a woman would carry this doll on her back to assure pregnancy and to assure the attractiveness of the child. This is my own Akuaba doll that acts only as a model for my photo. Besides, my wife has not agreed to carry it on her back.

I've been working on a few things lately and they are all keeping me busy. Teaching is great. I learn so much as a teacher. Actually, I would be better described as a "lead student." I hope that you all are doing well. My prayers go out to the six young men and their families down in Louisiana. I also pray for all who went there to support them and for their journey back home to be a safe one. Peace~

Photo credit: Stephen Bess

Sources: wikipedia.org and democracynow.org

Historical Photo and Haiku

I am nobody:

A red sinking autumn sun

Took my name away.
Haiku By: Richard Wright (Author of Native Son)

Photo Source: http://historymatters.gmu.ed/ Washington (southwest section), D.C. Two African American boys

Dancing Memories

I want to share with you today my memories of dance. It must have happened when I was an infant watching my parents dance. No, I don’t remember seeing my parents dance, but I can just imagine how beautiful the moment must appear to a child. For the first time, the child is witnessing the movement of limbs and hips in harmony with the beat of the music.


As older children, my brothers and I would play for most of the day in front of our apartment building, but sometimes my mother would gather us in the house with our friends and turn on her record player. The song that comes to mind in memory is “Car Wash” by the R&B group, Rose Royce. I remember we would all take turns dancing in the middle of the circle. When my turn came up, I would close my eyes and just allow my body to flow with the rhythm of the music. I remember the exhilarating feeling and laughing as my mother cheered me on, "Go head Stevie!" The moment left an indelible impression on my mind. It influenced how I interpret movement and music. It helped me to understand the marriage between the two and the beauty that it can impress upon a child's mind. "Happy music! Music on my mind..." ~The Blackbyrds

Painting: William H. Johnson Jitterbugs Series ca. 1941