The District Chronicles

Issue date: 2/12/07 Section: Cover

Media Credit: Freddie Allen

Wearing long hair locks colorful garbs, Ayo Handy-Kendi eases into a chair in the corner of her living room, surrounded by African artwork and sculptures, wind chimes, plants and musical instruments. She picks up a glass of water and this DC native is ready to muse about the holiday she founded, Black Love Day.

"When we act, we actively bring love in our community," said Kendi. And that is exactly what she did on February 13, 1993. On a warm New Year's Eve day 14 years ago, after watching Spike Lee's film, "Malcolm X," Kendi received her calling.

"When I watched the movie version of Malcolm being riddled by bullets by a Black man, tears just came to my eyes," said Kendi. "I was speaking out loud to myself saying, 'Lord, Lord, we have so much violence in my community, how we just killed Malcolm like that.' And I remember saying to myself, 'Lord God, what can I do to stop violence and increase peace?'"

It was in that moment that Kendi focused her energies to the creation of a new holiday for African Americans and for everyone around the world. For 24 hours, Kendi, and her organization, the African American Holiday Association, charges everyone to take time out to show love on February 13, the day before Valentine's Day.

"Those 24 hours should be defined," said Kendi. "We should look for five specific acts of love." Love to the Creator first, then love for yourself, your family, your community, and your race. Handy-Kendi disdains the common expressions of love associated with Valentine's Day such as gifts.

Instead, she offers numerous substitute recommendations. "Offer forgiveness, bond, be mindful, sit down and have a family meal, send a letter, visit a gravesite to express love for them or set up an ancestral alter.

"Make that call that you haven't made in a while. Have a group discussion about how to make decisions of how to transform into a better working system. Think, 'what can I do to better my community?'"

But Kendi has not always loathed material things. Going back almost 50 years ago, her mother, Doris A. M. Thomas recalls the entrepreneur that has always existed in her daughter's soul. "She has always been an entrepreneur," said Thomas.

As young as eight years old, Thomas said her daughter would find ways to do things on her own. She made pot holders to sell. She even made toasts, put them in a basket, and went door to door to sell her toasts.

Continued...

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