BLACK LOVE DAY, FEB. 13 was not a made-up holiday ('wholyday'). It was delivered to Sister Ayo Handy-Kendi as a Divine "download", upon asking the question out loud, "How can I help to stop violence and increase peace?", as she rode, sitting in the sunlight of a bus, after seeing the Spike Lee movie version of Malcolm X. She heard the Creator speak to her in the sunlight of the bus, and answered, "We need love, more black love." The voice repeated and continued to repeat the same message for the next 40 days, by which time Sister Ayo said, "I got it. Maybe, I should start a Black Love Day for us to love ourselves and take care of ourselves." This birth was January 1, 1993 in Washington D. C., and the first Black Love Day was launched at the Mayor's Office on 3rd Street, N.W. as a wholistic health fair and alternative to Valentine's Day.
EXCELLENT INTERVIEW FROM WPFW - FM RADIO ON BLACK LOVE DAY AND AYO HANDY-kENDI

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SOME TRADITIONAL THINGS TO DO ON BLACK LOVE DAY:
·** It's NOT WHERE YOU GO for Black Love Day (BLD).. it is WHAT YOU DO to demonstrate (show) love on this day. Demonstrate the 5 Tenets (Acts of Love) on BLD to transform on this 'wholyday', and then practice these tenets every day, to maintain the higher vibration of love!
Events and activities are held in honor of, to celebrate, or to commemorate Black Love Day. For example: Black Love Day is not the Black L.U.V. Festival or the Black Love Relationship Ceremony, both held in D.C., or the many Black Love celebrations, nationwide.
Instead, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, is commemorated for 24 hours, personally, locally, nationally, and internationally by demonstrating or showing the 5 Tenets (Loving Acts: Love for the Creator, Self, the Black Family, the Black Community and the so-called, Black Race. On this day, so-called White show "love in action" ato) are the guiding tenets or principles on which to base your demonstration of loving acts.
For example, a Community act of love can be spending money with a Black-owned business or vendor. The Black Love Book has over 100 examples of how to use the 5 Tenets to transform in love on Black Love Day and beyond.
SOME TRADITIONAL THINGS TO DO ON BLACK LOVE DAY:
·** It's NOT WHERE YOU GO for Black Love Day (BLD).. it is WHAT YOU DO to demonstrate (show) love on this day. Demonstrate the 5 Tenets (Acts of Love) on BLD to transform on this 'wholyday', and then practice these tenets every day, to maintain the higher vibration of love!
Events and activities are held in honor of, to celebrate, or to commemorate Black Love Day. For example: Black Love Day is not the Black L.U.V. Festival or the Black Love Relationship Ceremony, both held in D.C., or the many Black Love celebrations, nationwide.
Instead, Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, is commemorated for 24 hours, personally, locally, nationally, and internationally by demonstrating or showing the 5 Tenets (Loving Acts: Love for the Creator, Self, the Black Family, the Black Community and the so-called, Black Race. On this day, so-called White show "love in action" ato) are the guiding tenets or principles on which to base your demonstration of loving acts.
For example, a Community act of love can be spending money with a Black-owned business or vendor. The Black Love Book has over 100 examples of how to use the 5 Tenets to transform in love on Black Love Day and beyond.
*** Display the Akoma, an ancient African Adinkra symbol of love, patience, goodwill, faithfulness, and endurance. This open, heart-shaped symbol was re-named and co-opted as a “Valentine.”;
*** The greeting is Nya Akoma (N yah Ah comah) means get a heart, be patient.
On Feb. 13th, lead from the heart -- be more kind, loving, caring, self-compassionate, tolerant, peaceful, patient, show unconditional love....Feel how wonderful and transformative one day of the highest love vibration can be....then replicate that behavior and feeling from then on.
***Wear the colors Purple and Black – purple for spiritual growth and royalty; black for the color of the people and freedom from evil (Psalms 7 or 12); also black is the blend of all colors;
***Buy BLD conscious-raising gifts from Black merchants, practicing the tenet of love for the so-called Black Race . Consider buying healing products or food, inspirational, spiritual gifts, or hand-crafted gifts, made from the heart. Avoid buying and giving the usual Valentine’s trinkets, stuffed animals, jewelry, diamonds, candy, etc.;
***In-gather the people at a Black Love Relationship Ceremony, including in the Ritual of Reconciliation;
***If there is no local community BLD Relationship Ceremony, feel free to start one by contacting us, here at AAHA.
***And, you can create a BLD Relationship Ceremony, right in your own home space. The Black Love Book offers a complete guide in setting up the ceremony, offering all the official practices;
***Need suggestions on “how to demonstrate love?” Read the “Black Love Book”, for over 100 or more "acts of love" that can be demonstrated for so-called Black and White communities!