First Corinthian Baptist Church Senior Pastor Rev. Michael A. Walrond, Jr.  held a book signing for his new tome, ‘Searching for Agabus,’ at Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) in Harlem. Dozens waited to speak with the nationally popular cleric, affectionately known as Pastor Mike, as they purchased his work, which offers to help folk with “Embracing authenticity, and finding your way to you.”

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* This article was originally published here

On Sunday, July 23, the Malcolm X Commemoration Committee (MXCC) will host a moving virtual teach-in on “The Faith of Malcolm X.” The forum starts at 2 p.m.

It will feature pioneering Islamic Women’s Rights champion and archivist Aisha Al-Adawiya and Schomburg Scholar- in- Residence Yannis Mahil.

Al-Adawiya, a pioneering champion of women’s rights in Islam, is the founder of Women in Islam, Inc. She is the recently -retired coordinator of Islamic input for the Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Documentation Project at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, has appeared in numerous international forums, and has served on a number of boards,  including that of the Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center.

Yannis Mahil is winding down his stay at the Schomburg Center as its scholar-in-residence. He is a native of Morocco and is currently working on his own book on Malcolm X.

Beloved elder freedom fighter and cultural worker Bilal Sunni Ali will also be a special guest on behalf of  Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, the gathering’s political prisoner spotlight. Coming from a Garveyite family, joining NY chapter of the Black Panther Party, surviving being targeted by the state, and performing with the late Gil Scott Heron —, what has Bilal Sunni Ali not done?

Al-Amin is fighting for his release after having been framed for killing a police officer in Georgia two decades ago. Best known as H. Rap Brown from his legendary presence in the Civil Rights Movement, Imam Jamil has endured and continues to face serious health issues, including cancer and a stroke. A full-fledged campaign to secure his freedom is in motion and is coordinated by the Imam Jamil Action Network (https://imamjamilactionnetwork.org/).

Please register for this moving talk at this Eventbrite link:

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* This article was originally published here

New York is far from the verdant, rolling hills of Hobbiton—the fictional village author J.R.R. Tolkien created for his fantasy novels The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. But not too far outside of New York City, fans can get a taste of the cozy, hillside home by staying at one particular Airbnb.

If you’re a fan of Tolkien’s rich universe like me and wish to live like a hobbit—the fictional race of food-loving, meade-drinking and pipe-smoking people that are only about half of the average height of humans—then you’re in luck because there’s a getaway less than two hours from NYC that will let you do just that. You don’t need to travel to New Zealand’s Hobbiton movie set!

RECOMMENDED: The best weekend getaways from NYC

If you live under a rock, Hobbits essentially live in underground “holes,” or homes underneath hills. As The Hobbit says, “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

An Airbnb in Pawling, New York offers a private getaway—a whole house built under the earth with a domed ceiling—for wannabe hobbits. For $500 a night, you can stay with five other guests in this two-bedroom home that has “Ring Quests upon request at time of booking.”

Pawling is actually located in the foothills of the Berkshires, so it’s not so far off from the rolling landscape of Middle Earth.

It’s not just aesthetically hobbit-y. It’s cozy with king-size beds, walk-in showers, three patios, an outdoor grill, a hot tub, two hammocks, two fire pits and an indoor fireplace to read (or write) your novel by. It’s also a passive house, which means it uses very little energy.

Those who have stayed at the hobbit hole say it’s peaceful with the sound of running water and birdsong. The details are impressive and full of film props to pose with. 

Up for the journey? Check it out here. 

* This article was originally published here

Come to Downtown Newark’s iconic Halsey Street on Saturday, July 22nd from 12 noon to 5 p.m. for the Halsey Festival, a free, open-to-the-public  outdoor celebration. The BrownMill Anniversary Block Party x Halsey Fest will be a full day of curated cultural experiences for children and adults under the backdrop of Newark-based artists, creators, and small businesses selling one-of-a-kind goods.

Children will have empowering, quality hands-on experiences to channel their innate curiosity and creativity. Adults will have the opportunity to be inspired by the community organizations, makers and businesses that fuel Newark’s unwavering creative energy.For more information, visit: www.halseyfestival.com  

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* This article was originally published here

Jazz lovers packed Grant’s Tomb for Summerfest and Jazzmobile concerts to hear and see 88-year-old Jazz Master Houston Person. The beloved jazz performer and his group delighted the crowd as they kept the music playing.

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* This article was originally published here