FOR THE BROTHAS: AN INTRODUCTION

It must have been about 20 years ago when I first began thinking about creating a "Cultural Salon" as a reaction to the mundane social circles In Washington D.C. The richness of intellectual and artistic interchange had died, college friends had moved, the internet had not yet become the phenomenon it now is... I romanticised about the Salons of the mid to late 1800's in Paris, London and Berlin and the cultural dynamo of the Harlem Rennaisance. I was fortunate enough to meet a gentleman, an artist who lived and traveled with James Baldwin... Jimmy he affectionately called him, and he spoke often of their small cottage in southern France and of the many Artists, Poets and Luminaries that dropped in to chat and relax. Well, the impressionists, cubists, modernists, etc. all hung out together famously in those days and shared their ideas with one another creating a creative greenhouse in a world that was rapidly changing. I longed to have lived in those times, to have met Cassat, Rodin, Ellington, Fitzgerald, Baker, Balwin, well I did finally meet Baldwin and others purely for the joy of intellection upon the arts. This was in the late 1980's and by the mid 2000's I happened to run into a friend of mine from Hampton University who had been living in New York since he graduated in the early 90s. Well, I was surprised to hear him comment that in all of the wonder that is New York he never met anyone who ever really had anything interesting to say about art, literature, architecture, science, fashion or anything... I was so surprised to hear this since it had also been my experience. Well here I am in 2011 attempting the Virtual Salon...

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

THE STATE OF BLACK MEN 25 YEARS AFTER "SHE'S GOTTA HAVE IT"

Spike Lee's legendary 1986 film, "She's Gotta Have It," was one of the first serious examinatons of the real psyche of African American men to gain popularity in mainstream America.  Aside from popularizing the creative use of candles as a keepsake boudoir skill, the movie exposed the often one-dimensional character of black men and encouraged them to become well rounded.  Nora Darling was compelled to bed three men simultaneously in order to combine artistic creativity, humor and friendship, and refinement with econmic stability.  Then as now black men as well as all brothas are challenged to "Upgrade" themselves. 

What do we men really bring to the table in our relationships?  Here are some general qualities I feel all gentlemen sshoud bring to the table:
  • Interest in and knowledge of Art including painting, sculpture, architecture, literature/poetry, and landscape
  • Interest in and knowledge of Performing Arts including theatre, dance, opera, music and cinema
  • Interest in and knowledge of history, science, economics, technology, philosophy and cosmology
  • Interest in and knowledge of sports, health and personal hygene, spa and theraputic aids
  • Interest in and knowledge of business principles, personal finance and investment strategies
  • Interest in and knowledge of charitable endevours, animal husbandry, sustainability and green theory
  • Interest in and knowledge of culinary technique, food, wine and spirits
  • Interest in and knowledge of personal style, mens fashion trends and standards, basic etiquette and protocol
  • Interest in and knowledge of other cutures, languages, communities, sexual diversity and socioeconomic stratification and issues
  • Interest in and knowledge of sexulity, sensuality, eroticism, sexual techniques, toys, games, human interaction and communication strategies
Well, I think I covered it all or at least its basic macro-categories.  How do you fare against this impressive agenda? Do you feel that you are a well rounded gentleman?  Do you feel that most men score high in the areas listed above?
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