Ruby Dee - Thank You!

Ossie Davis & Ruby Dee ~
Cannes Festival,  for Spike Lee's film, "Do The Right Thing" (1989)
photography - David Lee 

Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis were married for 56 years. Solid as a rock. That is truly the kind of love that warms my heart and lets me know that that generation of men and women? They knew how to work things out with love and mutual respect for one another. Like my grandparents, who were married for 51 years, love and mutual respect, was the glue that kept them together.

Ruby Dee was Mother, Wife, American Activist, actress, playwright, screenwriter, and journalist. Ms. Dee won an Emmy, Grammy, and an Obie Award. 

Most noted for the roll of Ruth, in
 Lorraine Hansberry's
"A Raisin in the Sun" Screen Play -1959)
and the film, "A Raisin in the Sun "(1961)
Director Spike Lee's  

"Do The Right Thing" (1989)
"Jungle-Fever"(1991)
Ruby Dee also received the National Medal of Arts and the Kennedy Center Honors.
At the age of 83, she played Mama Lucas in "American Gangster", where she played Denzel Washington's character's Mom, and received a Screen Actors Guild award for Mama Lucas. Nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, next to Gloria Stuart, in the movie, "Titanic" - at the glorious age of 87!
Well, Alright!

In an interview with NPR, Ruby Dee mentioned how she'd like to be remembered:

"In those little flashes of moments...that picks up from some moments of despair."
Rest in Peace, Ruby Dee.
(Ruby Dee - Oct 27, 1922 - June 11, 2014)

Thank you, Ruby Dee, for being a trail blazer for generations to come - as a Mother, Wife, Activist, playwright - and a woman of worth. True to your life, we must value our selves. 

Happy Father's Day!

Today is one of those days that, in my opinion, should be celebrated everyday.
I remember as a little girl, my Father would pick me up and put me on his shoulders, and our entire family would take walks through Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco, and I could touch the tree branches.
I thought to myself, "My Daddy is as tall as the trees!"
My Father use to say, "You're the apple of my eye!"
My matrilineal Grandfather would pick me up, kiss me on my forehead and always said,,
"Baby Doll, I love you!"
Those very words from the two men that I knew as my rock, my tall tree = my super-heroes still warm my heart today.
My father, Albert, and Grandfather, Stokes, made a world of difference in my life.
Both men told me that I was born at the right time.
My Father said, "You were planned and you were wanted!" He would say,
"I now have a son and a daughter!"

Baby Doll
(Beth Strong Photography, LA,CA)

I was the first Granddaughter. I remember the earliest reflections of my Grandfather.
I must have been around 18 months old, and he was sitting on the couch and I jumped off of the couch and was running around, and my Mother was trying to take a photo of both of us. My Mother picked me up and sat me down next to my Grandfather, and I was so tickled! I laughed so hard, and my heart felt so full of love!
I ran across that photo, and I told my Mother that I remembered that day. She said, "What did you remember?" I said, "I remember what you had on that day, what Grandfather had on that day, and the lay out of the house."
 My Mother was amazed. She said, "You must have remembered that, because we've never discussed it, and your Grandparents moved out of that house before you turned 2 years old!"  I had to remember those moments in my early childhood. Those wonderful childhood memories have comforted me, even carried me through some difficult times over the years.

Both men have laid down with my Ancestors many years ago.
My Dad passed exactly one week after 9/11 - 9.18.11.
My Grandfather passed 1.20.'83.

But to me?
They're in my heart (figuratively- and DNA(literally.)

So for me, everyday is Father's Day!....Enjoy!

#BethStrongPhotography #Father #Grandfather #BabyGirl #AppleofmyEye #Family #Love #TeamBH 

Juneteenth Festival Celebrations - LA and San Francisco Style!

There is so much to see and do this weekend! If you are in Los Angeles, stop on by Leimert Park and celebrate their 5th Annual Juneteenth Festival! (Emancipation Proclamation) And San Francisco's 64th Annual Juneteenth Festival!

Historical Perspective:  President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Juan 1, 1863 - abolishing slavery in the United States.  It was during the month of June, 1865, that commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States of Texas
(2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Why? Because Texas wasn't having it.)
After the war ended, news traveled very slowly through the Southern parts of the United States of America, African Americans were indeed,
F-R-E-E-.

African Americans were freed from 

 captivity - 15 generations of a people - human beings, classified as human capital, chattel
(cows, horses, pigs)
 These human beings, held in captivity, were used as labor, building what we now know as this beautiful enterprising country called America.  Come, celebrate Emancipation Proclamation - in Los Angeles and
San Francisco this weekend!
Truly, Carla 

Jazz in Beverly Hills ~ It Don't Mean A Thing, If It Ain't Got That Swing!

Did you know that there's a series of Concerts on Canon Drive? Conveniently located in the
Beverly Cañon Gardens , every Sunday....Oh yeah.....

Next Jazz Session? Thursday, June 12, 2014, 6:00 pm - 7:15 pm ~
Don't miss Jazz vocalist Amanda Castro, of The Amanda Castro Band,
featuring New Orleans style Jazz,and Blues, from 1920's and 1930's ~ With some Latin influence -
In Full Swing!

Jazz Vocalist Amanda Castro 

"The Amanda Castro Band is not just a performance, it's a show!" ~ One of a myriad of The Amanda Castro Jazz Band Fans!

Smooches,
Carla

The Beverly Canon Gardens, located at 241 N. Cañon Drive, adjacent to the Montage Beverly Hills Hotel ~ 225 N. Cañon Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Photograph taken from Amanda Castro Band's Facebook Page - Please "Like" 

Sunday Mornings in Beverly Hills

It's Sunday morning, and it's high time to get up and take an early morning walk throughout the city of
Beverly Hills. Make sure to stop by the Beverly Canon Gardens, located at 241 N. Canon Drive -
It's so beautiful!Next stop? Head North on Beverly Drive, and walk on over to the historic Lily Pond,
one of the City's first landmarks - which is located at 225 S. Canon Drive...lovely.

Beverly Canon Gardens, adjacent to the Montage Beverly Hills -
Absolutely beautiful!

Beverly  Gardens Park - Lily Pond 

Enjoy your Sunday!
Love & light,
Carla

(photos credit: City of Beverly Hills website)

WKRP in Cincinnati - Thirty-Fifith Anniversary ~ Re-Union in Beverly Hills @ The Paley Center For Media



WKRP in Cincinnati! Do you all remember that T.V. Show? I use to love it!
What are you all doing this evening (6.5.14) @ 7:00 pm)?
If you're in the Beverly Hills area, please stop on by The Paley Center For Media, and become a part of the WKRP in Cincinnati
Re-Union in Beverly Hills ~ We are delighted to welcome the entire cast to the City Beverly Hills!
 


Hugh Wilson, Creator/Executive Producer,
"WKRP in Cincinnati"

In Person Tonight @ 7:00pm

The entire cast of "WKRP in Cincinnati"

Howard Hesseman, "Johnny 'Dr. Fever' Caravella"
Loni Anderson, "Jennifer Marlowe"
Tim Reid,
"Venus Flytrap"
Jan Smithers, "Bailey Quarters"
Hugh Wilson, Creator/Executive Producer

Loni Anderson, "WKRP in Cincinnati"


It's going to be such a lovely evening! I hope that you can join in on the fun!
For tickets and information - 465 N. Beverly Drive| Beverly Hills, CA| 90210
+The Paley Center for Media | 310.786.1000