I've Moved! Check me out at: http://ladydoveslittlegirlblue.blogspot.com/

Please check out my latest posts on the "Odunde" African Festival, as well as my writing tribute to the recent "Summer Solstice." I'm at: http://ladydoveslittlegirlblue.blogspot.com/
Thanks!

I'm Moving to Lady Dove's Little Girl Blue!

Hello Everyone!
         I'm moving everything over to my Lady Dove's Little Girl Blue blog.
Please see my blog post on Odunde at: http://ladydoveslittlegirlblue.blogspot.com/
Asante Sana.
Peace and Blessings Always,
Pheralyn

Tribute to Julia Dingle Lemon ~ May 25, 1895 ~ January 20, 1978

Today is May 25th, my Grandmother’s birthday.  Julia Dingle Lemon was born in Manning, South Carolina in 1895.  Her mother, also named Julia, was a slave.  If Grandmother were alive, she would be 115.  She and my Grandfather, Charlie Dingle, had six children.   Charlie Dingle was from Davis Station, South Carolina.  His ancestors were Free Blacks, tradesmen who purchased their Freedom. Unfortunately, Grandfather Charlie was killed in a tragic accident somewhere around 1930.  Grandmother was left to raise her family during the harsh Depression era in the Jim Crow South.

Despite all of Grandmother Julia’s hardships and struggles in life, she did well. My Grandmother instilled Christianity and a work ethic in all of her children.  My mother has memories of rising before dawn and heading out to the fields where she would typically pick 100 pounds of cotton a day for a measly 50 cents. That money would be judiciously meted out toward household expenses.  My Grandmother bestowed all of her children with a love of reading and learning.  All six of her offspring graduated high school and went on to obtain a higher education.  In 1942, my Grandmother got remarried, to Preston Lemon.  They both passed away in 1978.  Two of my Grandmother’s children are alive today:  my Mother – Esther Dingle Dove and my Aunt – Rhoda Dingle.  They are both college graduates who have earned their Master’s Degrees, and they are both retired school teachers. 

Shown here is a photo of my mother (center) and her friends, Shirley (left) and another Esther, on the right. It was taken on Mother’s Day 2010 in Hampton, Virginia after church service at Bethel AME.  All three of these women are from Manning, South Carolina, all three have connections to Hampton, and all three went to Allen University, located in Columbia, South Carolina.   Amazingly, both Esthers were in the class of 1952 and Shirley was in the class of 1960.  Talk about ties that bind!  Talk about motherhood, sisterhood and friendship.  Talk about legacies that last!  Kudos to these beautiful women.  And peace and blessings always to my  Grandmother -  Julia Dingle Lemon. 

“Little Girl Blue” Triumphant Return!

Performance in Philly, Saturday, Sept. 12th


These past few months have found me extremely busy with my life as a writer and performance artist. Here in Philly it’s Fringe Festival time and that means “Little Girl Blue” is back for a command performance. I am honored and humbled to say Bassist Warren Oree will join me with original music on his acoustic upright double bass. Once again I will reprise the role of “Little Girl Blue” as I portray 17 characters in this gut-wrenching, twisting tale of a Black woman’s sojourn across the modern American urban landscape. Experience the highs, the lows, the good, the bad, the ugly and the humorous. Everything gets underway Saturday night, Sept. 12th, 8 p.m. at the Community Education Center’s Meeting House Theater located at 3500 Lancaster Avenue, Phila., PA 19104. The evening’s MC is Radio Personality J. Michael Harrison, host of “The Bridge” on WRTI-FM, 90.1. By the way, this new performance photo was taken by the amazing photographer Hannan Saleh. Tickets @ the door; $15 each. Call (215) 877-5165 for more info. Please come out and support us. Asante Sana. Peace & Blessings Always.

WE LOVE YOU MICHAEL JACKSON

Beyond the shock over the sudden death of Michael Jackson, my thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones, especially his mother, Mrs. Katherine Jackson. Michael has ascended to a better place; he is out of all the tremendous pain and suffering he endured in this world. What a huge sacrifice and debt he paid for his musical genius, extraordinary showmanship, business prowess and marketing savvy. He left an astounding legacy and will always be remembered as the best of the best in a category all his own, in a universe all his own. Despite personal problems and scandals, Michael Jackson will always be loved. Even in death, his huge contributions continue to reverberate the world over.

Without a doubt, this week will go down in history as “The Week That Was.” Innocent Civilians shot down and killed for protesting the Iranian election, which was surely no more than a farce; unprecedented bloodshed in Iraq; the tragic fatal DC metro crash, where nine precious souls lost their lives (may they rest in peace); the unsavory exploits of South Carolina’s Governor and the ensuing personal and political debacle; the death of Ed McMahon (may he rest in peace); the passing of Farrah Fawcett (may she also rest in peace) & Oh My God! The King Is Dead!!!!!; The King of Pop is Dead!!!!! Michael Jackson Dead at 50 apparently from Cardiac Arrest!!!!; Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson; Rest in Peace. We love you and we will miss you.
Asante Sana. Peace & Blessings.

Thirty Five Years Later

“Claudine” Revisited

Diahann Carroll was a sexy lithe Little Mama and James Earl Jones was a buffed fine hunk of a Big Daddy when they starred in 1974’s timeless urban romance, “Claudine.” The feel, the verve, the utter magic of this film was captured and preserved not only through the screenplay, but also through the classic music and lyrics for the soundtrack that was conceived and composed by Curtis Mayfield, and performed in stellar fashion by Gladys Knight and the Pips.

In the movie’s top five chart topper, “On and On,” Mayfield, through the keen voices of Gladys Knight and the Pips reminds us we have to “Keep on Movin,’ Keep on Groovin.’ I totally loved revisiting this movie 35 years later. Seeing the fashions of the 70’s: platform shoes, loud prints, tube tops, all stylishly worn to compliment huge Afros’ and do you remember sideburns? Yes, the men looked so manly and sexy with those thick sideburns! An urban romance, where the man was a man, always treated the woman like a lady – opening doors, pouring drinks, buying ice cream for her children, bringing new appliances for the household, and helping Little Mama pay her pay rent and handle those rough boys.

All these years later, with Curtis Mayfield’s strings welling up in the background and Gladys Knight’s sultry contralto vibrating in the foreground, I love hearing the words uttered by “Claudine’s” leading man, Rupert P. Marshall, portrayed by the acting monolith James Earl Jones: “You’ve got to make the best of each day ‘cause when you’re dead life isn’t worth living.” Enough said.

HOLD FAST TO DREAMS

Far away there in the sunshine
are my highest aspirations.

I may not reach them, but I can look up
and see their beauty, believe in them,
and try to follow where they lead.

Louisa May Alcott