This year I had for graduations to attend, one was in Atlanta, and the others were here in Michigan. In May, my cousin was graduating from Clark Atlanta University. So, I thought it was the perfect time to finally travel to Atlanta. When the finally arrived for me to travel to Atlanta, I did not go out on my first chosen flight. Bumped all the way til 12, but I knew it was going to happen. I spent 3 days in Atlanta and the graduation was on the day we were leave for home.

Unlike any ceremony this was a long one almost three hours long with a graduating class of over 700 students. To also add it was out in the sun with a possibility of rain. Luckily it didn't rain til after it was finished.

Later in the month my next three graduations were my little sister from Franklin High School, my sister from Baker College, and my close friend my Oakland Community College (OCC), With each one different from the next, OCC was the quickest of all of them.

Antoinette

Jaida

Jessica

Ahshanta

One whole year has passed since last years Noir Night. For those who don't know Noir Night is an art and history lesson for those willing to learn something different about the city of Detroit. Not many know about the rich history of Detroit that had many jazz musicians that started or came through the city.

This was brought about that the founder of International Black Burlesque Company (IBBC) Rachel McCollough a.k.a. Sinnator Charlotte. She wanted to give people a history lesson of Black Bottom and Paradise Valley. Not to bore you with all the details here's the link for you to read.

Black Bottom was a predominantly black neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, that was demolished and replaced with Lafayette Park in the 1960s. The Black Bottom–Paradise Valley area on the city's east side became known for its significant contribution to American music including Blues, Big Band, and Jazz from the 1930s to the 1950s.^[1] It was located on Detroit's near East Side bounded by Gratiot Avenue, Brush Street, Vernor Highway, and the Grand Trunk railroad tracks. The entire district was razed in the early 1960s.

The French gave the Black Bottom area its name because of its fertile, dark topsoil. The name is not a reference to "black people".^[2]

Black Bottom was a predominantly black neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan, that was demolished and replaced with Lafayette Park in the 1960s. The Black Bottom-Paradise Valley area on the city's east side became known for its significant contribution to American music including Blues, Big Band, and Jazz from the 1930s to the 1950s.

What Sinnator Charlotte also does is also give info to those who would never believe coexisted together, and that's burlesque and jazz. Sinnator Charlotte states is that during that time of Paradise Valley during the 1920's two styles worked extremely well together.

As many people don't really understand burlesque, as many see burlesque as only stripping. As it is stripping but it's more than that it's an art form. It can tell a story to go along with that music that they are dancing to. When most think of burlesque they think of the movie Burlesque but it's much more that. The movie on glorify one type of female body type, but it's women of all shape and sizes that participate in burlesque shows.

By introducing Detroiters to this particular art form not only does this opens their minds but also truly inform everyone like hey she can do than maybe I can do it. All the ladies who performed are beautiful, talented, and showed so much confidence that you can not tell I they were nervous at all. The all the ladies performed extremely well, and the audience showed love and participation with every performer. As with any event of this caliber there is always one heckler in the audience that gets a little too drunk for themselves.

For all those who missed out, you missed a wonderful show. I was happy I was able be bring family and friends to this, and introduce them to the things I love to enjoy. I can't wait til the next show and I hope to bring more people with me. I will continue to support IBBC with all that they do. Well enough talking time for some pictures.