The More Things Change

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We had really been looking forward to the birthday celebration of our good friend. To mark the occasion of this particular birthday, he and his partner decided to host a black tie affair complete with big band, Australian pop star, mystery entertainer at 10 o'clock and carriage rides through Central Park at midnight.

I decided to wear the black, sleeveless Dolce and Gabbana with the black Christian Louboutin pumps rather than the short sleeved Marc Jacobs dress and the gold reptilian boots. Better to play it safe and err on the side of elegance. Auguste opted for a Ralph Lauren Tuxedo.

"Dad, you've got cat hair all over the back of your jacket," Gussie scolded Auguste, while zealously overseeing our preparation.

"Now stay away from Claude," she continued, punctuating every word with each swipe of her lint brush. Then, having successfully convinced me to lose the false eyelashes in favor of a few extra coats of mascara, she conducted her final inspection before giving us a thumbs up and sending us on our way.

The black town car was waiting for us when we stepped outside.

"63rd and Park Avenue," Auguste reiterated to the driver.

We settled into the back seat and I opened the window. The warm air brushed across my face and I allowed myself to finally exhale.

"I wonder who the entertainment is," I asked in anticipation of what I was sure would be a fun evening.

"Liza Minnelli," Auguste guessed, without giving it much thought.

"Too cliché," I decided, factoring in, however, that he does have this uncanny ability to figure these things out.

About fifteen minutes later as we began our approach, I made a quick call to Gussie to remind her that dinner was in the oven and to tell her that I'd check in with her later on.

"Just pull up here to the right," Auguste directed.

The driver stopped right in front of the stairs leading up to the front door, where men dressed up in kilts were standing at attention and holding bagpipes. The valet opened the car door.

Auguste grabbed my hand to help me out of the car. I waited while he put his jacket on again and then, together, we headed toward the door.

"You need to use the side door around the corner," the doorman insisted authoritatively as he pointed us in one direction while looking in another. Had I missed the part where Auguste says to the guy "We're here for the Reynolds party?" And maybe he had simply forgotten, because he was so busy, to say, "Good evening. Welcome. Have a nice time."

His curt instruction didn't make a lot of sense to us but I was navigating a pair of four inch high heels, Auguste was adjusting his black tie, the bagpipes were signaling our arrival-there was so much to pay attention to that we unconsciously obeyed his command.

Walking quickly because we were running a little late, we both slowed down to a halt after we turned the corner because men in white uniforms and little white caps were huddled in groups to catch a quick smoke. Truckers with dollies were wheeling boxes of food up dirty wooden ramps that led to the side door. Garbage lined the wall along the side of the building.

The men in the white uniforms and caps looked up at us and stopped talking as if to acknowledge that we were somehow misplaced; that we were, in fact, intruding. That is when it became crystal clear to me exactly where we were and exactly why, and I was momentarily transported back to that Sunday morning...

A friend had invited me to attend a brunch at Sotheby's for the unveiling of a collection and one of the staff assistants, who was also a host, turned to me over the poached eggs and caviar and asked,

"So, how long have you worked for Mrs. Eastwood...?"

And now here I was again-- in my black, sleeveless Dolce and Gabbanna dress, standing with Auguste wearing a Ralph Lauren tux at the back door--having been mistaken for "the help".

"You have got to be kidding me...," I inadvertently blurted out.

"Can I help you folks?"

The man walking toward us looked like someone who might be in charge.

"Uh, yeah. You can," I snapped, eager for the opportunity to unleash my righteous indignation.

"Apparently there's been some kind of mistake," I made sure to turn up my nose at the cigarette buts and the limp lettuce leafs that were surrounding my high heels. "Or is this the entrance that you're asking all of the guests to use tonight," I added without any interest in or consideration for diplomacy.

"I beg your pardon?" He seemed very concerned.

"We were told by, I presume one of your doormen, that we were to use the side entrance; you know, 'the back door'."

"Who? Who did that," he demanded.

"I'll tell you what," Auguste said, stepping in and leaning gently toward him, still adjusting his tie. "I'll point him out to you and then I'll let you take it from there".

"Folks, I'm really sorry. We've got a gospel choir performing at the party tonight and I'm sure he just thought that you were..."

"With the band?" I quipped. "Right, right. Because that's what we do. You know, when we get dressed up. We entertain."

Auguste just kept biting his lower lip.

I wasn't angry really. I was irritated at the reality check that never fails to suggest that I don't get to enjoy the luxury of being able to assume, that when people look at me they actually get who I am. I was resentful of the reminder that "we" don't benefit from certain automatic presumptions of honesty, competence, legitimacy and belonging that White people do. I was confronted by the fact that, I'm Black, and even I don't want to live next to, sit next to, be next to "the Black person" before they've proven to me that they're "okay".

I was regretful that we had unfortunately let our guard down.

We turned the corner heading back toward the front entrance and Auguste gestured toward the perpetrator as promised to the man in charge, and went inside. I lingered just long enough to watch him being pulled aside and then I hurried to catch up with Auguste recognizing, once again, that there is not a Dolce and Gabbana sleek enough or a Ralph Lauren Tuxedo slick enough to erase in an evening what history has so deeply ingrained.

Dana

Have a great week!

 

Oscar Award winning Actor and Author, Louis Gossett, Jr.

Born May 27, 1936 in Brooklyn, NY, Lou has a flair for projecting quiet authority and has scored well personally in astring of diverse and occasionally challenging roles.

The aspiring actor caught a break at his first Broadway audition for “Take A Giant Step” (1953), where, beating out 400 other candidates, the then 16-year-old landed the lead.

His acting career soon flourished and his work in the stage and film versions of the groundbreaking drama about African-American family life in Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun” (1961) proved a watershed. This led to numerous appearances on network series in the 1960s and 70s culminating in 1977, when he picked up an Emmy for his eloquent portrayal of Fiddler in the landmark ABC miniseries “Roots”.

Meanwhile, his big screen reputation grew with critically acclaimed work in such comedies as “The Landlord” (1970) ”The Skin Game”(1971) with James Garner, “Travels with My Aunt” (1972) and the film adaptation of the Tony Award-winning drama “The River Niger” (1975). A riveting performance as a drug-dealing cutthroat stalking Nick Nolte and Jacqueline Bisset in “The Deep” (1977) catapulted him to wider popularity, but the tough by-the-book drill sergeant in “An Officer and a Gentleman” (1982) won him a Best Supporting Oscar that consolidated his place in the Hollywood hierarchy.

Following his Oscar, he made numerous big screen and television appearances ,being singled out for his work as Egyptian president Anwar Sadat in “Sadat”(1983), the sci-fi adventure “Enemy Mine” (1985) where his lizard-like makeup won kudos, and in the action adventure series “Iron Eagle” (1985,1986,1992,1995) which introduced him to a whole new generation of moviegoers.

The recipient of every known acting accolade, including multiple Golden Globes, Emmys, and People’s Choice Awards, Lou’s performance has connected him with his fans on a global scale.  Organizations such as the NAACP, CARE, and the United States Armed Forces have used his likeness to add validity and integrity to their causes.

Lou has also developed the Eracism Foundation, a nonprofit organization aimed at creating entertainment that helps bring awareness and education to issues such as racism, ignorance, and societal apathy.

I remember his Emmy Award winning performance as Fiddler in the mini series Roots as life altering and his acceptance of the Oscar for his performance in An Officer and a Gentleman as a proud and historical moment.

Lou Gossett, Jr. is an American treasure and his stories as captured in his new book An Actor and a Gentleman are generously revealing and a reflection of a life well lived.

It was an honor and a pleasure to talk with him.

DR: Tell me about your new book An Actor and A Gentleman.

LG: I had to get stuff out of my system to be able to get new stuff in there. That took a lifetime. I was full of information; fragments and pieces of things that I have done in my life that informed who I am today.

I guess it was during prayers, or whatever, that it came to me that maybe I should just get this stuff out. People kept saying that I should write my memoirs because I had lots of stories to tell. It takes a lot of courage to tell the truth and so I had to think about it.

It was time to get it out. It was time to talk about my life...

I told my story by becoming rigorously honest - things that I might have been guilty of or proud of and the book has been very well received

I had the greatest ghostwriter there is, Phyllis Karas, who is a little-housewife-looking-little-tiny-thing. She just has this gift of listening to the man writing the book and after a couple of intense sessions, becoming that person. I wrote the book orally to Phyllis and she got my voice and started putting it on paper...

DR: That’s interesting because the feeling that I had when I was reading the book is that you are talking to a good friend. I felt like I knew you intimately and that you were sharing a few stories after a nice long dinner together.

LG: Absolutely. I couldn’t type fast enough. It took extensive long distance phone calls from California to Massachusetts. Sometimes Phyllis would have to force me to speak because it was so painful. I would get tired and I’d want to get off of the phone and she’d say, “We have to do another hour. We have a deadline”.

DR: She did a fantastic job. It is clearly your voice.

LG: Yes. I began to trust her and I started revealing more and more and more stuff to her, stuff that I thought I would take to my grave.

DR: And what did that feel like?

LG: It was like taking a bath, honey. It was like taking a bath. It was like an exorcism like Roots was. Roots was an exorcism.

We find in our lives that there are some things that we would just rather...

 

Read the rest of the interview! Click here.

A life and a legacy that inspires courage and continues to humbles the heart...

Nelson Mandela: Free At Last

NELSON MANDELA'S ADDRESS TO RALLY IN CAPE TOWN ON HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON

February 11, 1990

Friends, comrades and fellow South Africans.

I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all.

I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people. Your tireless and heroic sacrifices have made it possible for me to be here today. I therefore place the remaining years of my life in your hands.

On this day of my release, I extend my...

 

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Beauty Secret

In my opinion, the key to leaving people inspired:

Elegance and authenticity

Keep it simple. Tell the truth.

That's my two cents (for whatever it's worth),

Auguste Roc
auguste@danaroc.com

 

Read more of Auguste's Two Cents! Click here.

100 Years From Now - Laura

Name:

Laura

Age :

21 Years Old

Occupation:

I am an assistant to a make-up artist and I go to The Fashion Institute of Technology for fragrance and cosmetics marketing

Where do you live:

I live in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

100 Years from now what do you want to be remembered for:

I want to be remembered for the work that I do in the beauty industry for either marketing or as a make-up artist.

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DiamondOrganics.com

Why I am recommending this website:

Eating fresh and eating organic is fundamental to living well. But, not everybody has the luxury of easy access to farm fresh, organic food. Diamond Organics delivers what you want, anywhere you are - fresh!

From the Website:

Since 1990, Diamond Organics has been the nation's premier source for farm fresh all-organic food, with guaranteed nationwide overnight home delivery, fresh from beautiful Monterey County on California's central coast.

Why Organic?
Organic farming practices build sustainable soil fertility which deeply nourishes plants, giving them more concentrated, intense flavor and nutritional power. When you buy organic, you support a growing family of people whose goal it is to provide the tastiest and most nutritious food available, now and for generations to come.

Freshness, Flavor & Convenience. Guaranteed.
Every day we work directly with organic farmers along California's Central Coast, which is renowned for its mild year-round growing climate and deep, rich soil. When possible, we try to expand the season for our organic produce by working with certified organic growers in Mexico and South America. Our farmers often harvest produce the same day you place your order - whether you do so by phone at 1-888-ORGANIC (674-2642), fax (888 888-6777) or online. We then expertly pack your order and send it out for next day delivery so that you receive food that's unsurpassed in freshness and flavor, all-organic, and totally guaranteed.

Browse through the web site as if you were grocery shopping. Order online using our secure server shopping cart, or call or fax our friendly order department with your organic grocery list before 1pm Pacific and we'll send your order out that same day for next day delivery.

» Visit DiamondOrganics.com

 

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Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression

Why I am recommending this book:

Because we can learn valuable lessons from those who have come before us and survived - brilliantly.

Click here to purchase this book.

First published in 1970, this classic of oral history features the voices of men and women who lived through the Great Depression of the 1930s. It includes accounts by congressmen C. Wright Patman and Hamilton Fish, as well as failed presidential candidate Alf M. Landon, who recalls what it was like to be governor of Kansas in 1933:

Men with tears in their eyes begged for an appointment that would help save their homes and farms. I couldn't see them all in my office. But I never let one of them leave without my coming out and shakin' hands with 'em. I listened to all their stories, each one of 'em. But it was obvious I couldn't take care of all their terrible needs.

The book includes also the perspectives of ordinary men and women, such as Jim Sheridan, who took part in the 1932 march by World War I veterans to petition for their benefits in Washington, D.C., where they were repelled by army troops led by General Douglas MacArthur. Or Edward Santander, who was a child then: "My first memories come about '31. It was simply a gut issue then: eating or not eating, living or not living." Studs Terkel makes history come alive, drawing out experiences and emotions from his interviewees to the degree few have ever been able to match.

Click here to purchase this book.

 

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Interested people are the most interesting people...Get curious!

 

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