African American Holiday Association

Kwanzaa
Black Love Day
Ancestor Honor Day
Ritual Of Reconciliation

Holidays/Celebrations/Rituals

NEWS & RELEASES

Kwanzaa

Black Love Day

Ancestor Honor Day

Ritual Of Reconciliation

Valentine's Day Movie Prompts No Valentine for Me- Love Haiti Initiative for 17th Black Love Day Contact: Rashida Thomas, Publicist, AAHA: 202-667-2577

On February 12, a new feature-length movie, "Valentine's Day", will show some of the relationship challenges that couples go through around the holiday/ Ayo Handy-Kendi, founder of Black Love Day (BLD) - Feb. 13th has been speaking about relationship challenges and real public and mental health issues around Valentine's Day, for over 17 years, offering BLD as an alternative. Black Love Day is the 3rd national, commemorative African American holiday (wholyday) observance of atonement, reconciliation, celebration and 24 hour demonstration of love showing, at best, 5 Tenets (specific acts) of love - towards the Creator, for Self, for the Family, for the Black Community and for the Black Race. Also in the same 24 hours, Whites show "love in action" towards Blacks, atonement or introspection of their racial attitudes, behaviors and fears. Black Love Day gives everyone 24 hours to focus on healing relationships, to increase peace and to stop violence. This year's Black Love Day theme "No Valentine for Me - Love Haiti " is based on a new song that Handy-Kendi has created . This theme underscores this year's BLD's love for the race 5th tenet to be demonstrated by not purchasing hearts and Valentine's Day tokens but instead give of our hearts to Haiti by sending material support .

Handy-Kendi described, "I applaud the Valentine's Day movie for its' comic honesty in showing couples making up and breaking up based on the pressures and expectations of Valentine's Day. However, other concerns like depression, suicide, domestic violence and substance abuse also increase during this holiday. I was inspired in 1993 to create BLD as a more wholistic, healthier alternative to the commercial Valentine's Day. This day's focus on packaging romantic love mainly through gift-giving, serves only a small segment of people. As founder/director of the African American Holiday Association (AAHA) and a Wholistic Practitioner specializing as a Breathologist/Stress Manager, I also recognized that many of the love needs in communities of color are not been met through Valentine's Day".

The BLD annual theme around one the BLD tenets, will present the Valentine's Day movie as a chance for people to look at themselves and consider the relevance of Valentine's Day. The theme' s goal of helping Haiti instead of spending money on Valentine balloons, candy and flowers , will better spread the humanitarian power of love.

After the Haitian catastrophe of such magnitude, we are reminded that life is not promised to us and that we must dig deeper for a greater reverence of life, and the environment. So, on Black Love Day, February 13, Handy-Kendi and AAHA enjoins the Nation to consider demonstrating an outpouring of love to Haiti and to approach all or our relationships as sacred and precious. For Black people who have been hurt by oppression, who transfer their internalized anger to others who look like them, resorting in Black on Black crime and Black self-hatred - - use BLD as a time to heal such pain. For gangs, estranged couples, domestic violence offenders -- take part in BLD and its' Ritual of Reconciliation to put aside the differences. Use this day of atonement to ask for spiritual forgiveness for the violence inflicted upon another or upon self. For Whites such atonement can be expressed through an act of charity, or by giving back to those who've suffered because of the inequities of racism and White supremacy.

If we use this year's BLD in this way, we will perhaps start a domino effect where we will practice the 5 tenets of Black Love Day everyday, beyond Feb 13th by returning to love to affect all of our relationships, Haiti and the planet. For further information, on Black Love Day; for media interviews of Handy-Kendi; to inquire about her speaking engagements, relationship or self-love workshops, contact, Rashida Thomas, publicists for AAHA at 202-667-2577 and on-line www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org

D.C./ METROPOLITAN AREA MEDIA ADVISORY. Theme: "No Valentine for Me - Love Haiti"

BLACK LOVE DAY (BLD) is the 3rd nationally, commemorated African American holiday (wholyday) observance of atonement, reconciliation, celebration and 24 hour demonstration of Black love, showing 5 Tenets (specific acts)- towards the Creator, for Self, for the Family, within the Black Community and for the Black Race. Also in 24 hours, Whites show "love in action" towards Blacks, atonement or introspection of their racial attitudes, behaviors and fears

BLD was founded in 1993 by Ayo Handy Kendi, founder/director of the African American Holiday Association (AAHA). BLD is an African-centered, alternative to the commercial Valentine's Day with the spiritual goals of: encouraging: 1) Black self-love instead of self-hatred; 2) increased peace to stop violence; 3) racial healing to stop White supremacy/racism!

BLACK LOVE DAY SUGGESTIONS

Annual Activities for BLD

1. Every Feb. 13th on BLD, People of African Descent show love for 24 hours
2. We demonstrate the 5 Tenets of Black Love and recommit to the Nguzo Saba, principles of love and unity for the Black Diaspora
3. We display the "Akoma" an Adinkra symbol of love, patience, goodwill, faithfulness & endurance
4. We give the greeting, "Nya Akoma" (N-yah Ah-Coma) which means "get a heart, be patient!"
5. We celebrate with personal love rituals, couple love-ins or community relationship ceremonies
6. We buy conscious love gifts from Black merchants to recycle Black dollars to love our communities
7. If possible, attend a BLD Relationship Ceremony, hosts an AAHA/BLD presentation, Ritual of Reconciliation or Black History story
8. We read the all NEW, 4th edition of "The Black Love Book" to inspire us toward love's healing power with many suggestions on activities to increase love . Special limited time offer - $5 purchase of the Black Love E-Book thru February, 2010. Includes added pages for journaling and love enhancement tips to increase love based on the 5 Tenets of Black Love.
9. Sing the new songs for Black Love Day created by Ayo Handy-Kendi and teach them to your children.
10. Beyond Feb. 13, we practice the principles of Black Love, returning to love everyday to heal ALL our relationships and better the planet! !.

AROUND THE NATION: SEE THE BLACK LOVE BOOK FOR RELATIONSHIP CEREMONIES THAT YOU CAN START FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR COMMUNITY. Call AAHA for consultation. 202-667-2577

Demonstrate love for 24 Hours in these 5 loving ACTS

Tenet 1: Love for the Creator

In these days and times, life is not promised. Write an "attitude of gratitude" list of the wonderful blessings you receive from the Creator. Put it in a place that you see it and refer to it often. Helps you count your blessings

Tenet 2: Love for Self Get

The updated, "Black Love Book" filled with suggestions on self love.

Go to www.breathepositive.com for workshops: Relearn how to Breathe, Increase the Self-Love Response or Breathe Life into your Relationships. Changing the way that we breathe is the easiest thing we can do to make the most critical change in our Spirits, Minds and Bodies.

Use the monthly techniques in "Art of Extreme Self-Care - Transform Your Life One Month at a Time" book by Cheryl Richardson. Excellent book of techniques and lots of resources. I highly recommend it.

Tenet 3: Love for the Family

For you mate - Do your relationship work through the Breathe Life Through Relationships workshop over the telephone, through the internet and in direct workshops. www.breathepositive.com or 202-667-2577.

Have a family meeting . Ask the question, "how can we increase the love in the family?". Even the youngest child who can speak will offer suggestions which must be respected and included in the family love plan.

Don't analyze any suggestion- write them all down . Back away from the ideas and then revisit them later. Post the plan somewhere for all to see. Evaluate its' progress monthly, adding to it when needed.

Purchase the new "African-Centered Songs for Holidays and Celebrations", by Ayo Handy-Kendi, and sing along with the family using the sing-along sheet. Includes "No Valentine for Me", "Black Love Song", Kwanzaa songs, "The New Afrikan Birthday Song" and "Freedom, Freedom" for Black History Month. www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org

Tenet 4: Love for the Community

Friends are part of your community. Time to get closer to those who nurture you so reach out and touch them.

Those friends who are toxic to your life, use BLD as a great day to send them your love as you write them off of your friends list.

Promise yourself to be a more involved person. Plug into civic associations and community meetings. Identify your community resources.

Knock on some doors of people in your neighborhood. Get to know your neighbors. Knowing your neighbors can be a survival necessity, as you never know if and when you will need them.

Mark your calendars now for a regional organizers meeting for Mumia in Philly on Saturday, February 13th. Place to be announced. Support political prisoner, Mumia Abu Jamal as we stand ready to rally in Philadelphia, as the courts attempt to put the death penalty to journalist, activists/humanitarian, falsely accused of killing a policemen. If you have not done so, please sign the petition below. The petitions we will be circulating all on U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and President Obama to immediately launch an investigation into the long history of civil rights and Constitutional violations in this case.

For more information call: 215-476-8812 or www.freemumia.comfor more details

Purple/Lavender Hijab Day in Memory of Asiya Hassan, a Muslim sister who was killed by domestic violence by her husband on Feb. 13th. Please sign the petition to ask that area domestic abuse in Islamic communities be given more attention. Rallies are being held in several communities and wear a Purple/ Lavendar Hiijab to draw attention to this issue on Feb. 13th. . "Reminder please sign the petition at http://www.facebook.com/l/95ac9;change.org/end_domestic_abuse_in_the_islamic_community this is also a part of this event."

Tenet 5: Love for the Black Race

AAHA's "No Valentine for Me - Love Haiti" Initiative

The disaster in Haiti will take a long time to correct itself. Keep giving financial support. "Spend your money where it counts" and don't buy Valentine hearts, candy, flowers, jewelry, but instead send those dollars to a responsible Haiti relief effort.

Here's some that are recommended

American Red Cross - AAHA does not recommend giving to the Red Cross due to previous relief abuses
Doctors Without Borders
Operation USA
Americares
International Medical Corps
OXFAM America
CARE
International Rescue Committee
Partners in Health
Catholic Relief Services
Haitian Ministries
Save the Children
Convoy of Hope
MADRE
UNICEF
Direct Relief International
Mercy Corps
World Vision Int'l
LIB Haiti Relief Fund www.LIBRadio.com or www.LivingInBlack.com
http://www.yele.org/ Yele Haiti movement led byWyclef Jean from Haiti who is passionate about his home and people
http://www.transafricaforum.org/ (Danny Glover Board Chairman, Nicole C. Lee President) -
www.ibw21.org Dr. Ron Walters - [(Haitian Support Project) - Haitan Heritage Benefits Cruise ]
Material Support Needed Go through your closets for clean clothes that can be donated: Tee shirts, light weight jackets, thongs, caps, baby clothes, diapers, are desired;
Purchase new underwear, socks.
Donate blankets, sheets, towels, tents.
Items purchased from the Dollar Store: toothbrushes, tooth paste, soap, cotton balls, Hydrogen Peroxide, bandages, Aspirin, etc.
Battery Operated flash lights, tea candles, battery operated radios, etc. .

OFFER PRAYERS OF INTERVENTION AND GRATITUDE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE MADE IT AND FOR THE ASCENSION OF THE SOULS WHO HAVE NOW BECOME ANCESTORS

BRIEF BLD HISTORY: Yearly, Black Love Day has grown in popularity similar to Juneteenth and Kwanzaa. It has become quite popular with many college campuses, notably FAMU, Morgan State and Howard U. Black Love Relationship Ceremonies have been hosted by AAHA annually in D. C. since '93, and other notable ceremonies have been held in St. Louis, Mo, Richmond, Va, Los Angeles, Calif and Benin, West Africa, with Handy-Kendi's consultation. Black Love Day has been included in the Smithsonian Institute's "Multi-Cultural Calendar, Black Seeds Calendar and The United Black Community Calendar.
BIO: Ayo Handy-Kendi, is the founder/director of the African American Holiday Association (AAHA), is the founder of Black Love Day, is a 30 year community activist and a wholistic practitioner, CTBF, CSM, specializing in transformative processes such as Breathwork, Reiki, Visualization, Stress management, Relationship and Self-Love Response, Aroma and Laugh therapy. She is the author of a play and three books, including the newly re-issued,4th edition "Black Love Book" as the definitive "How-to" observe Black Love Day guide and anthology of love with essays, self-help information, journaling and the history of Valentine's Day

As an inspirational speaker, an authority on African-centered holidays, a storyteller, and an entrepreneur, Handy-Kendi, has also made numerous, appearances connecting the dots between culture and health. She has been featured on many radio talk shows , notably Voice of America, CNN, Tom Joyner's Morning Show, Bev Smith, Retirement T.V., Verizon's Internet Profiles, Steve Harvey's Morning Show and Blog Talk Radio. She has also appeared in numerous newspaper articles and in publications, such as The Washington Post, Target Magazine, Associated Press, the National Newspaper Association (NNPA) and Black Psychology Magazine.

For further information, on Black Love Day; for media interviews of Handy-Kendi; or for her speaking engagements, relationship or self-love workshops, contact, Rashida Thomas, publicists for AAHA at 202-667-2577 and on-line www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or www.breathepositive.com