Washington, DC — The 22nd Black Love Day 2015 national theme “Black Lives Matter, All Lives Matter – Time for Truth” challenges Black communities to get “real” about Black self-love and Black on Black violence along with white communities to get “real” about anti-racism, directed efforts to end White supremacy, racism and privilege.Nationally, both communities are encouraged by Doctah Ayo Handy-Kendi, founder of Black Love Day (BLD), Breathologist and founder/director of the African-American Holiday Association (AAHA), the non-profit organizational steward of BLD, to hold actions, like relationship ceremonies, atonement forums, conflict resolution workshops and violence prevention programs to create peaceful solutions. At 12 noon, Handy-Kendi is calling on a collective focus on “Love to heal ALL relationships, especially sending this vibration to police”.
Black Love Day is the 3rd nationally, commemorated African-American holiday (wholyday) observance of atonement, reconciliation, celebration and 24 hour demonstration of Black Love through 5 tenets (loving acts) – for The Creator, for Self, for the Black Family, the Black Community and the Black Race. BLD also encourages Whites in the 24 hour period to “show love in action” towards Blacks by working on their own racial attitudes and behaviors. The goals of this day are to increase peace, stop violence, end self-hatred/ racism, and offer a spiritual, African-centered, alternative to the commercialized, and sometimes violent, Valentine’s Day. Since 1993, the first BLD, Handy-Kendi, has shared with millions on radio, TV and in print, the BLD tenets and their higher love vibrations.
In the local Washington D.C. Metropolitan area, AAHA will host the 22nd National, Black Love Relationship Ceremony on Fri, Feb. 13, 2015 at Galbraith A.M.E. Zion Church, 1114 Sixth Street, N.W, W.D.C, 20001 from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. (2 blocks from Mt. Vernon Square, Metro Yellow/Green Line). This official ceremony is co-sponsored by Reverend Frederick Massey, pastor of Galbraith. It is open to the public, offers music by Earth Love Tune-Up Crew, poetry, dance, the Ritual of Reconciliation to heal relationship pain and the 5 Black Love Tenets (loving acts).
Handy-Kendi underscores the importance of truthfully, demonstrating this BLD by taking the 2014 rallying call, “Black Lives Matter” to the next level. She comments, “We moan the deaths of all Black people who died due to white police brutality. But we must be truthful about reinforcing Black love to replace Black self-hatred that spikes the statistics of Black on Black violence amongst ourselves, And yes, White allies must begin to atone for their privileged behavior which perpetuates White supremacy and racism so that real change is seen in the prevailing society as well as in the police. BLD gives us all a chance to examine and confront ourselves on better relationships. We have marched and protested, but we now must honestly admit that we have to take direct action to change and grow.”
To schedule Doctah Ayo Handy-Kendi for an interview; to acquire The Black Love Book; to host a Black Love Relationship Ceremony or “Ritual of Reconciliation”; to inquire about “Breath Conflict Resolution”, or to learn more about BLD, please contact, Rashida Thomas, publicist, 202-667-2577, www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or email: info@AfricanAmericanHolidays.org