The 2010 HCC Black History Gala Friday night was a elegant affair, the ballroom was filled with guest dedicated to raising scholarship money for over 75,000 students at HCC. (I've even taken a class or 2 there.) It was mentioned that this year was the first time that the Gala was sold out. Bravo!
The Joyce M. Reynolds Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients Jodie L. and Sonny Messiah Jiles.
The Silent Auction kicked off with a bid on a Computer package of which a HCC Employee won. That's dedication to the cause! Here are some of the other items... a sporty golf package at a luxurious country club, exclusive top notch weekend stay at the Hilton of Americas. 2 week lease of a new Cadillac while your vehicle is being serviced complimentary. First Class flights on Continental Airlines. Melanie Lawson won a framed and autographed piece of art created by T. Ellis.
Sold to the highest bidder!!!
Melanie Lawson bid on this beautiful piece of art created by T. Ellis.
I felt like a SISTER not a SISTA as I watched the video montage of Spike Lee's achievements. Each frame brought me back to a place and time of hope. I remembered how I felt when I saw "She's Gotta Have It." To see YOUNG, HIP BLACK people in a movie was MAJOR. (Youngsta's take stuff like seeing black actors on the movie screen for granted.) School Dayz. Watching the black collegiate experience was so inspiring to me... It made me feel so proud and cool to be a black young woman attending college. (Remember the scene WAKE UP! ) Mo Betta Blues is my all time fav movie period. That movie introduced me to jazz music, black love and most of all made Wesley Snipes and Denzel Washington bona-fide sex symbols. Think about it... Denzel rarely played in love scenes he was always known for his serious roles. Who could forget Wesley Snipes scene? He brought the dark skin brotha's back! lol. Do The Right Thing. A neighborhood riot was started with one question...Why aren't there any black people on the Wall? Spike Lee is so responsible for the success of so many actors... Samuel Jackson, Halle Berry, Rosie Perez and so many others. Can you tell I am a fan?
We all know that Spike Lee is controversial, anything could fly out of his mouth. So why was I shocked when he addressed how stupid SYRUP is. Or how about when he shared what his friends said to him when he announced he was going to be a film maker "Nigga, Please. I heard that from a lot of my friends and family." However there was one person that was instrumental in Spike's success and that was his grandmother who saved years of Social Security checks so they he could attend Morehouse. It was also his grandmother that invested in his first film because it was his dream. Spike said that although parents have the best intentions when encouraging their children to choose a degree that would generate the most money sometimes they are the biggest dream killers. If your child is a painter, or a singer don't force them to be an accountant just because it makes money. Lee shared "I know a lot of folks with good paying jobs and they are the most unhappy people I know."
Many good things were said but the one thing that stands out to me is that it only takes one person to believe in you and that's YOU. The second thing is all it takes is ONE person to support another person's dream. Whether it be a kind word at the right time or money to get the process of progress rolling. Spike Lee's grandmother invested over 50 years of hard work into her grandson and look at how many returns her seed money has given the world. Bravo Grandma Lee!
Pic 1>T. Ellis presented Spike Lee with a portrait and a heartfelt speech about how inspired he was by Spike Lee's work. Pic 2>Melanie Lawson and Spike Lee
Sheila Jackson Lee
Pic 1>Bryce Kennard Pic 2>Freddie Floyd Pic 3> Curtis and Angela Flowers
Pic 1> Dr. Freddie Wade III Pic 2> Dj Silent Killa and guest
*Picture me in one of those signature scenes where the character is standing still and everything around is moving.* ;>K. Anntionette
Sheila Jackson Lee
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment