What's up Young World? I am your original Detroit Girl and Live Lady of Lit, Tracie "T Elice" Christian! Thanks for taking the time to check out a real DETROIT artistry story. Know that this blog will explore the positive, shining artistic treasures that are alive and kicking right here in the Motor City that you may or may not know! If more of the degrading, negative spin on a city that is surely in the trenches of survival is what you're looking for...this is NOT the Blog for you! However, if you seek uplifting, inspiration and encouragement of a genuine kind...Welcome HOME. This is about Artistic Empowerment in a city many have chosen to give up on. Here we're interested in the GOOD while creatively putting the NEIGHBOR back into the HOOD! Ya Heard ME? Good.
The year 2011 has been good to the local entity known as the Live Ladies of Literature (LLOL) not necessarily because of our individual and collective accomplishments. It is mainly because of the artistic talent we have been blessed to become acquainted with already and it's only April...month number four! Let's start with Baker's Keyboard Lounge or shall I say the "RESCUE" of the nation's oldest African American owned and operated jazz club. Just days before it was slated to close in late January, I was blessed with the opportunity to grace the stage by popular Detroit radio personality Angie Starr of Mason Radio (airing on WGPR FM 107.5 6am-10am M-F) to be the Featured Poet for her Girl Talk Tuesday show. Now while I was elated to be on a stage that has been graced by the greats of Jazz, my performance that night was just the beginning of an artistic dream night in the making. The talent I was exposed to that night was amazing. The neo-soul, R and B band called Street Soul Experience rocked the housed filled with music lovers old and new. This band played music that had old school appeal with a vocalist that could not just "sing" but "SANG"! That notion alone is a rarity these days. Moreover, Street Soul Experience also had a true lyricist that reminded me of the "essence of real hip-hop" with relevant subject matter that left you wanting more once the set was over. I had never heard of them before but thanks to Ms. Angie Starr for taking a chance to give GLORY to another Detroiter's artistic story, I was creatively blessed.
Just when you may have been content in believing the much publicized hype that Detroiters are mean, cold, selfish opportunists that treat each other like Crabs in a Barrel in the urban land of decay, we get a real DETROIT story to the contrary. One Detroiter making moves in radio gave TIME to SHINE without profit to a undiscovered poet in me and a great group in Street Soul Experience. Tell me people, is that a "WINNING" scenario or what? Sounds to me like even in the aftermath of the Charlie Sheen shameless rant on my city after the poorly planned show he gave Detroiters... we still SHINE!! It is my hope that this story enlightens all of at least one more local that is totally willing to do the Humanity Workout by reaching down and lifting up someone else. Ms. Angie Starr if I didn't say THANK YOU loud enough that night...NOW HERE THIS! From one Real Detroit Girl to another...."Many Thanks". If you have dreams and you BELIEVE others will hear your PLEAS!!! This is the GLORY of a REAL Detroit story...Giving Back, without Giving Up! That is DETROIT! See You all again same time, same sandbox...until next time...I wish YOU Motor City Blessings!
Written By: Tracie E. Christian
Authoress - The Black College Sabbatical Book Series
Host/Producer - Creative Enticement Radio
www.tracieechristian.com
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