MAMA AYO Handy-kendI
founder of african american holiday association (AAHA) and black love day
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 1, 2024:
31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024 Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health Crisis, While Making History, Expanding Into the Black Love Movement Month (BLMM).
AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION (AAHA)
Perpetuates and preserves culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebration & rituals
www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org Rashida Thomas, publicist, (202) 667-2577, [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2024:
31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024 Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health Crisis, While Making History, Expanding Into the Black Love Movement Month (BLMM).
31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024 Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health Crisis, While Making History, Expanding Into the Black Love Movement Month (BLMM).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2024
31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024: Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health, Then Makes History with the NEW Black Love Movement Month (BLMM)
Celebrating its 31st year, Black Love Day (BLD) remains a powerful force for healing and community connection. Sponsored by the African American Holiday Association (AAHA) and led by BLD founder Ayo Handy-Kendi, this year's theme, "Breathing Solutions to Increase Love in Black Families," addresses the urgent youth mental health crisis, including rising rates of suicides and depression.
Annually, AAHA highlights one of the BLD Tenets for its’BLD theme. With 9,510,000 Google searches, BLD encourages participants to demonstrate the five loving acts (tenets) for 24 hours: Love for the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Black Community, and for the so-called Black Race. So-called White people are urged to exhibit "love in action" for Black people, and reflect on their own racial attitudes and behavior.
On February 13th, from 6 – 9 p.m. EST, Live Holistically Balanced will host the 31st Official BLD RELATIONSHIP CEREMONY at the Harlem Theater in Baltimore to be broadcast via the African American Holiday Association Facebook page and Ayo Handy-Kendi’s YouTube channel @AyoMeansJoy1. The Ceremony includes inner-attainment poetry, drumming and
the Ritual of Reconciliation, a restorative justice practice to heal love pains and conflicts, facilitated by Handy-Kendi.
Post-celebration, participants can continue engaging in the healing power of love during the new Black Love Movement Month (BLMM), featuring events organized by the Black Love Coalition; an event with actress Taraji P. Henson’s The Boris L. Henson Foundation; and breathing solution events at Elife Restaurant in Maryland on Feb. 10, and a virtual summit on Feb. 24.
Black Love Day (BLD) is the 4th oldest commemorative African American holiday, emphasizing observance, celebration, reconciliation, atonement, and the demonstration of love through at least five loving acts (Tenets) within 24 hours. The 5 Tenets of Black Love, serving as a 365-day value system, aim to heal relationships, increase peace, foster self-love, stop violence, and address issues of Black self-hatred and White racism. BLD offers a spiritually rooted, African-centered alternative to the commercialized and often violent Valentine's Day.
Ayo Handy-Kendi, known as “Sekou Mama Ayo,” a Native Washingtonian, breathologist, speaker, author of the "Black Love Book," and founder of AAHA and CEO of PositivEnergyWorks, was spiritually inspired to co-create BLD in 1993 in Washington, D.C. The event serves as a platform for the Ritual of Reconciliation, a restorative justice practice using love’s healing power to reconcile differences and conflicts. Handy-Kendi initiated the formation of a Black Love Coalition to establish ‘a breath and love movement’ addressing the ongoing need for healing within a community historically taught "not to love and take care of themselves" during times of oppression.
Addressing the significance of expanding Black Love Day into a month focused on love and the 2024 theme, Handy-Kendi stated, “In our 30th anniversary year in 2023, I saw the need to bring together a Black Love Movement Month (BLMM) to better share ‘love solution” activities, similar to how Professor Carter G. Woodson’s 1926 Black History Week grew into Black History Month by the 60’s. As a certified Breathologist of 50+ years, I have also played a part in the resurgence of using ancient breath techniques as a healing tool for modern times. Now, with Feb. 13th as a day of transformation and another month of black love programming, we can address the spike in Black youth mental health, suicides, and depression. Racism is a key factor in disproportionate Black family mental health issues and access to mental health treatment. With the U.S.A. polarized, election year looming, we offer breathing solutions as the simplest tool, that costs nothing but impacts the greatest self-care, to increase self-love in Black families, strengthening them from SLE’s (stressful life events, such as racism, violence, economic disruption, conflicts, and substance abuse) through Black love 365.”
To learn how to observe BLD, access the Official Ceremony broadcast links, and explore the NEW Black Love Movement Month calendar, visit www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call (202) 667-2577. “Nya Akoma” the Black Love Day greeting as we invite you to join us in returning to love, to increase peace, stop violence, and help Black youth and their families heal. ###
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31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024 Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health Crisis, While Making History, Expanding Into the Black Love Movement Month (BLMM).
AFRICAN AMERICAN HOLIDAY ASSOCIATION (AAHA)
Perpetuates and preserves culture through traditional and non-traditional holidays, celebration & rituals
www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org Rashida Thomas, publicist, (202) 667-2577, [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 7, 2024:
31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024 Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health Crisis, While Making History, Expanding Into the Black Love Movement Month (BLMM).
31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024 Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health Crisis, While Making History, Expanding Into the Black Love Movement Month (BLMM).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 6, 2024
31st Black Love Day, Feb. 13, 2024: Focuses on Black Families and Youth Mental Health, Then Makes History with the NEW Black Love Movement Month (BLMM)
Celebrating its 31st year, Black Love Day (BLD) remains a powerful force for healing and community connection. Sponsored by the African American Holiday Association (AAHA) and led by BLD founder Ayo Handy-Kendi, this year's theme, "Breathing Solutions to Increase Love in Black Families," addresses the urgent youth mental health crisis, including rising rates of suicides and depression.
Annually, AAHA highlights one of the BLD Tenets for its’BLD theme. With 9,510,000 Google searches, BLD encourages participants to demonstrate the five loving acts (tenets) for 24 hours: Love for the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Black Community, and for the so-called Black Race. So-called White people are urged to exhibit "love in action" for Black people, and reflect on their own racial attitudes and behavior.
On February 13th, from 6 – 9 p.m. EST, Live Holistically Balanced will host the 31st Official BLD RELATIONSHIP CEREMONY at the Harlem Theater in Baltimore to be broadcast via the African American Holiday Association Facebook page and Ayo Handy-Kendi’s YouTube channel @AyoMeansJoy1. The Ceremony includes inner-attainment poetry, drumming and
the Ritual of Reconciliation, a restorative justice practice to heal love pains and conflicts, facilitated by Handy-Kendi.
Post-celebration, participants can continue engaging in the healing power of love during the new Black Love Movement Month (BLMM), featuring events organized by the Black Love Coalition; an event with actress Taraji P. Henson’s The Boris L. Henson Foundation; and breathing solution events at Elife Restaurant in Maryland on Feb. 10, and a virtual summit on Feb. 24.
Black Love Day (BLD) is the 4th oldest commemorative African American holiday, emphasizing observance, celebration, reconciliation, atonement, and the demonstration of love through at least five loving acts (Tenets) within 24 hours. The 5 Tenets of Black Love, serving as a 365-day value system, aim to heal relationships, increase peace, foster self-love, stop violence, and address issues of Black self-hatred and White racism. BLD offers a spiritually rooted, African-centered alternative to the commercialized and often violent Valentine's Day.
Ayo Handy-Kendi, known as “Sekou Mama Ayo,” a Native Washingtonian, breathologist, speaker, author of the "Black Love Book," and founder of AAHA and CEO of PositivEnergyWorks, was spiritually inspired to co-create BLD in 1993 in Washington, D.C. The event serves as a platform for the Ritual of Reconciliation, a restorative justice practice using love’s healing power to reconcile differences and conflicts. Handy-Kendi initiated the formation of a Black Love Coalition to establish ‘a breath and love movement’ addressing the ongoing need for healing within a community historically taught "not to love and take care of themselves" during times of oppression.
Addressing the significance of expanding Black Love Day into a month focused on love and the 2024 theme, Handy-Kendi stated, “In our 30th anniversary year in 2023, I saw the need to bring together a Black Love Movement Month (BLMM) to better share ‘love solution” activities, similar to how Professor Carter G. Woodson’s 1926 Black History Week grew into Black History Month by the 60’s. As a certified Breathologist of 50+ years, I have also played a part in the resurgence of using ancient breath techniques as a healing tool for modern times. Now, with Feb. 13th as a day of transformation and another month of black love programming, we can address the spike in Black youth mental health, suicides, and depression. Racism is a key factor in disproportionate Black family mental health issues and access to mental health treatment. With the U.S.A. polarized, election year looming, we offer breathing solutions as the simplest tool, that costs nothing but impacts the greatest self-care, to increase self-love in Black families, strengthening them from SLE’s (stressful life events, such as racism, violence, economic disruption, conflicts, and substance abuse) through Black love 365.”
To learn how to observe BLD, access the Official Ceremony broadcast links, and explore the NEW Black Love Movement Month calendar, visit www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call (202) 667-2577. “Nya Akoma” the Black Love Day greeting as we invite you to join us in returning to love, to increase peace, stop violence, and help Black youth and their families heal. ###
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DOWNLOAD THE AAHA OFFICIAL BLACK LOVE DAY 31 NEWS RELEASE
| official_black_love_day_2024_news_release.pdf |
60 SECOND NATIONAL/LOCAL PSA for RADIO OR FOR CALENDAR
60 SECOND PSA
For 31 years, we have asked this question: What would happen if around the Nation and the World, for 24 hours on Black Love Day, February 13, everyone in the Black community performed at least 5 specific acts of love – towards the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Community, and for the Black Race, and at the same time, everyone in the White community put “love in action” towards Blacks?
This is what happens on Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, the 4th nationally-observed African American holiday (wholyday) of atonement, reconciliation, celebration, and 24-hour demonstration of Black Love in 2024, celebrating its 31st year. To increase peace, self-love, stop violence, end Black self-hatred and White supremacy/racism, Black Love Day encourages us to return to love to transform and heal all of our relationships.
Go to www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org to get the links for the Official BLD Relationship Ceremony, the NEW Black Love Movement Month activities and to learn how to celebrate Black Love Day, a more spiritual and less commercialized alternative to Valentine’s Day.
30 SECOND PSA or CALENDAR FOR GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
31st BLACK LOVE DAY 2024: “Breathing Solutions to Increase Love in Black Families”
For 24 hours, on Black Love Day, Feb. 13, heal all your relationships by demonstrating love in 5 Tenets. In 2024, in its 31st year, Black Love Day local and global activities will focus on the theme: “Breathing Solutions to Increase Love in Black Families.” For details view: www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call (202) 667-2577.
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60 SECOND PSA
For 31 years, we have asked this question: What would happen if around the Nation and the World, for 24 hours on Black Love Day, February 13, everyone in the Black community performed at least 5 specific acts of love – towards the Creator, for Self, for Family, for the Community, and for the Black Race, and at the same time, everyone in the White community put “love in action” towards Blacks?
This is what happens on Black Love Day, Feb. 13th, the 4th nationally-observed African American holiday (wholyday) of atonement, reconciliation, celebration, and 24-hour demonstration of Black Love in 2024, celebrating its 31st year. To increase peace, self-love, stop violence, end Black self-hatred and White supremacy/racism, Black Love Day encourages us to return to love to transform and heal all of our relationships.
Go to www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org to get the links for the Official BLD Relationship Ceremony, the NEW Black Love Movement Month activities and to learn how to celebrate Black Love Day, a more spiritual and less commercialized alternative to Valentine’s Day.
30 SECOND PSA or CALENDAR FOR GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
31st BLACK LOVE DAY 2024: “Breathing Solutions to Increase Love in Black Families”
For 24 hours, on Black Love Day, Feb. 13, heal all your relationships by demonstrating love in 5 Tenets. In 2024, in its 31st year, Black Love Day local and global activities will focus on the theme: “Breathing Solutions to Increase Love in Black Families.” For details view: www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or call (202) 667-2577.
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