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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 10, 2016)
Page 4 Black History Month February 10, 2016 After Olan and Frederick Williams tied the knot, they shared their story for the #BlackLoveMatters campaign. “The moment we said “I Do” our lives were changed for the best,” they said. “Our love is an example of pure black love.” Tell Me Who You Love A famous Creole proverb reads, “Tell me who you love and I’ll tell you who you are.” The people we love say a lot about us, and we say a lot about the people we love. That’s why this month, the PFLAG Portland Black Chapter, a local LBGTQ group, is hosting a new #BlackLoveMatters campaign. The community is invited to submit shots of your loved ones to represent black love in all its shapes, forms and sizes. Pictures of couples, children, sib- lings, parents, friends and mentors will be shared to show the world that loving ourselves comes in a variety of meaningful relationships. To share your story, visit plagpdx.org/wordpress/2016/02/01/ blacklovematters. Also in time for Valentine’s Day, Black Lives Matter Portland is hosting a free “Blackentine’s Day” celebration at In Other Words Bookstore, 14 N.E. Killingsworth St. It will begin at 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 14. There will be music, dancing, and light refreshments. Focus on Black Women Feminist reading group celebrates Advertise with diversity in The Portland Observer Call 503-288-0033 or email ads@portlandobserver.com This Black History Month, the community will have the chance to enjoy a multigenerational read- ing of local black women writers thanks to a local feminist literary collective, Unchaste Readers Se- ries. The free and open-to-the-public celebration takes place Wednes- day, Feb. 17 at 7 p.m. at the Ceri- mon House, 5131 N.E. 23rd Ave. Ebony Oldham For black women, nights like this are “a vital necessity of our existence,” said poet Audre Lorde. “The farthest horizons of our hopes and fears are cobbled by our poems, carved from the rock experiences of our daily lives.” The readers scheduled to ap- pear include Portland Youth Poet Laureate Sekai Edwards, celeb rated playwright and poet S. Re- nee Mitchell, Black Lives Matters activist Ebony Oldham, Black Portlanders’ founder and photog- rapher Intisar Abioto, along with Kiki Nicole, Jewels Harrison, Ka- limah Abioto, Wanda Abioto, Ro- chelle Hart, Darlene Solon-Rog- ers and Turiya Autry. Oldham is a womanist, writer poet and singer. She is an organiz- er with Black Lives Matter Port- land, an advocate at New Avenues for Youth, and a graduate student at Portland State University ex- ploring how colorism impacts leadership for black women and other women of color. Black History Gospel Fest First A.M.E Zion Church, 4304 N. Vancouver Ave., will host its irst ever irst Black History Month Gospel Celebration, on Saturday, Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. This is a free event open to all. First A.M.E Zion Church is rich with history and traditions, and as the oldest African Amer- ican Church in Oregon, the con- gregation decided it was vital to establish one event in our commu- nity that celebrates the culture and roots of the church and the African American community. Music through the ages will be featured, from the Negro spirituals to today’s contemporary gospel, featuring choirs and praise teams from local area churches. For more information, email Maria Council at Mariaxxxvi@aol.com or call 503-516-5765.
