I remember with great certainty that history class was by far the subject I truly disliked studying the most.  Reason being, I never felt a connection with any of the stories I read in the provided textbooks.  What was deemed by the school board as standard for teaching guidelines, left the students lacking and void of their history which is rich in culture and holds centuries of legacy. 

James Baldwin stated,  “I began to be bugged by the teaching of American history, because it seemed that history had been taught without cognizance of my presence.”  

The thoughts of Baldwin would be echoed by many before and after him.  Half a century earlier, when Carter G. Woodson, a scholar whose dedication to celebrating the historic contributions of Black people led to the establishment of Black History Month, set the foundation in 1976 for what would become today’s national Black History Month, observed each February.

History has said to have a bad habit of repeating itself.  The good, the bad, and often times the ugly.  Rewriting the past is impossible, however, helping shape the future is a task we are all faced with and should be concerned with.  As times continue to pass me by, the importance of Black history is forever in my mind in hopes that it is never lost.

Knowledge is one of the keys to life, and with it comes a treasure far more precious than any rare gem you could ever find.  As we enter into this month long celebration of Black history we are in no way shape or form saying that the other 11 months of the year shouldn’t reflect on the history lessons that are forever there, it is just giving our culture a special moment in time to celebrate and add to the legacies before and long after us.   

There are many ways to celebrate Black History month and learn more about the culture, life and legacy of those past and present.  A history lesson is not just taught in class, it extends far beyond into your home life, the work that is done in the community, and the ways you can help to continue adding to our rich history.

• Gather old magazines and make vision boards.  You would be surprised how much inspiration you can find.
• Support local black owned businesses.  Call ahead and ask if they have any special events planned for the month of February, but if not, support them anyway.
• Educate yourself more on the Black Lives Matter movement and find out ways to get involved in your community and spread the word to your friends, family and on social media.
• Visit museums dedicated to the history and legacy of Black leaders who have paved the way for our continued fight for freedom and equality.
• Have an activity lesson at home every day for the month of February or once a week that is interactive and fun for the entire family.
• Research and read the work of Black authors.  The literature that is available is quite extensive.
• Enroll in online or in person courses dedicated to the teaching and learning of African American history.

The more you get involved, the more you know.  The more you understand, the more you are able to teach and share.  Nothing worthwhile comes easy, it takes time and patience to truly educate yourself on the important facts of our culture.  The beautiful thing about history is, once you know more about the past your eyes are now opened to the possibilities of the future.  Keeping the stories alive, sharing our life experiences, learning more of our heritage, are all reasons this month is so important and will always be.

“With our future ahead of us and the ancestors beside us, THERE’S NOTHING WE CAN’T DO!”

~AJ

​
​~AJ

I believe that the energy you put out into the universe will come back to you in many ways.  How has music changed your life? 
​Music has changed my life in every imaginable way. One of my favorite mystics said “music is the dream of silence”. I mean, what a thought. I believe music is our greatest contribution to the planet as human beings. Throughout the ages, music has been that invisible expression that speaks to our souls in a universal language. We are all connected through song. Music has provided me with a tool to share my story and connect with the stories of others. It reminds me of the power of the unseen. The power of beauty. It’s a tool I can use to influence my mood and that of others. Music is my love language in every sense.

As a writer, I love the freedom to create from scratch, however, it doesn’t flow unless I’m in a certain head space.  When you write a song, where do you go mentally?  
When I write, I don’t go anywhere mentally. In fact I need to get out of my head and into another zone completely. It can’t be intellectual in the beginning. It’s best to tap into a trance like state and to grab whatever floats to the edge of my subconscious and conscious mind. My mood is more important than my mind when it comes to writing and creating. After I get the gist of the story I want to tell, I can then bring in my more analytical mind. That’s when I can start to think about things like structure and form. That’s when I can embellish. 
​
The world of music is always changing, however, good music will always resonate in the souls of those who truly love the craft and creativity behind the magic.  What do you feel is most important in keeping music honest, real, and from the heart? 
I think the most important way to create truthfully as an artist is to live one’s life. When you are immersed in your own life, you have real material to draw from. When you live authentically, you can create authentic music that’s an embodiment of your soul. 

Lalah Hathaway posted an all-star lineup on November 28th and fans went crazy trying to determine how to purchase tickets until we all realized it was a fantasy.  If this was to come to fruition, how amazing would that be? 
That was so cool to me. After all,  she is one of the greatest vocalists ever. I had no idea Lalah even knew who I was, much less enjoyed my music. I love affirmations like that from the universe. Hey Lalah, I’m ready to open for you or collab whenever you have time.

​You are taking a cross-country road trip.  Who’s on your playlist for this long ride? 
Oooh, that’s a hard one to answer, but I would say at this point in my life my road trip playlist would include Joni Mitchell, Sade, Cocteau Twins, Stevie Wonder, Harold Budd, Laraaji, Alice Coltrane, Bob Marley, Antonio Carlos Jobim … demos that I’m working on. There are so many other artists I love that I didn’t include, but I think their music best fits other situations in my life right now.   

Music is an important part of so many lives.  Without it, I most certainly would be lost.  What do you want your fans to feel when they listen to your music? 
​I want them to feel that life is absolutely worth living. I’ve called it “life affirmative” music in the past and that still feels very true. Life is worth loving and opening your heart to. Even in the midst of challenges. As long as we are feeling people, we have hope.
 
When you are not writing and creating new music, what do you like to do to unwind? 
​I love to hike to unwind. Moving my body outside is so good for me. There’s that getting out of my head again. Communing with nature heals me every single time. I also love to read a good book. I know I’m in a good place when I’m reading a lot. 

Is there anyone in the industry you would love to collaborate with? 
Oh yes. I’d love to collaborate with John Mayer, Kevin Parker, Frank Ocean, and Esperanza Spalding.

Can you give us a glimpse into what’s next for Sidibe? 
New music and live performances. Hopefully some sweet collaborations too. ​

How can your fans connect, follow, and most importantly support you?  
Fans can find me on all of the socials. I’m most active on IG. They can support me by playing and sharing the music! If you’re feeling extra generous, you can go to my Bandcamp page and buy the music there.

In closing, leave us with a bit of positive inspiration.  
​Don’t get too caught up in the visible. Remember that the most important things are invisible to the human eye. Use your imagination and prayer to make contact with the divine spirit that is always present. Trust in the mystery and allow it to be. 

Get your digital or print copy of Issue 32 at Groovmagazine.com

~AJ

I am a firm believer in surrounding myself with those who inspire, motivate, and uplift me.  Without those three things, honestly, what is the point?  I was drawn to Anthony 'AJ' Joiner from his daily 'make you go hmmm' kind of questions.  He is an author, entrepreneur, radio personality, and founder and CEO of BLOOKSY.COM - the SaaS platform that uses artificial intelligence to help authors and academics write and publish faster.  Wow!  It's the perfect beat I needed to accompany the melody that has been playing in my head for so many years!  Awarded as Entrepreneur of the Year by the Future Successors.  AJ also hosts Tips & Tool every Tuesday on the #1 drive-time radio show!  I could go on and on, but that would take the joy out of reading for yourself.  So, sit back, relax, and get to know AJ.  You will be so very happy that you did!

To the most beautiful girl in my world... Here's to you!

Here we are once again.  That special day, significant, and absolutely blessed day.  Your day!  Life couldn't get any better if I planted this story into a fairytale with the perfect happy ending.  

There are material things that a person might receive for their day of birth.  Cards, flowers, jewelry, clothes, etc., but there is no gift more treasured than the gift of life.  You are 81 years young on this day.  Wow!  I can only pray as time goes on that I am graceful, elegant, and beautiful as you are.  A true gem in full living color.

I have always loved celebrating birthdays.  So very important and so worthy of the praise given to the special person on their truly special day.  On this day may you smile a bit longer and harder than you did the day before.  May the well wishes from those near and far fill your heart and flow through your soul, and may God continue to bless you, keep you and protect you for years to come.

Happy Birthday, Mom!  I love you so much!  From the moon and back and then all over again for as long as I live.  🎁

~AJ 🫶🏾

I noticed on the day of Thanksgiving that my refrigerator was acting weird.  The things that were supposed to remain frozen were melting, and what was supposed to remain cool was now at a nice room temperature.  Of all days for this to happen!  I must admit I cooked absolutely nothing so there was no worry, however, I knew I needed to fix the problem before it escalated into an even larger mess!

As I began to empty my freezer of the frozen blueberries, perfectly pink raspberries and a grocery store supply worth of frozen veggies, I was thankful that my meat was still frozen.  To the chest freezer we go!  

I digress, per usual, because I am not here to talk about my silly appliance!  However, in hindsight, the broken appliance is the reason that brought me to the conclusion that I needed to write this post, so in short the non-working appliance is to thank for this enlightenment you are about to experience.  Don't mind this run on sentence, I tend to do that when I have had more than the suggested dose of caffeine for the day.

This past Sunday I awoke hungry.  It was early, around 7:30 a.m. and I decided I was going to take myself to breakfast.  There is a very nice and friendly breakfast/lunch cafe a short distance from my home, so I showered, got dressed and a bit reluctantly I might add, I walked in.  

Hostess:  How many?
Me:  One
Hostess:  Would you like to sit at the bar?
Me:  No.  In the back of my mind I am thinking 'do I look like I need a drink?  Or is this the place where all singles are seated for breakfast?!'
Hostess:  Follow me

As I am seated at a table that is clearly designed for four I smile and remember the times when this used to be my norm.  Venturing out and eating alone that is.  There is a certain peace that comes along with the delicious meal I was preparing to have.  I'm a people watcher, and I enjoyed every bit of it.  I enjoyed the noisy silence.  The conversations from the tables before and behind me which were somehow muted out to the point where it seemed as if I was in a world all by my lonesome.  

That's just it.  I was far from lonely.  The reluctance I initially felt when walking into the cafe was the thought that someone would wonder why it was a table for one.  Where were my friends or loved ones?  That feeling soon left as I cozied into my chair and enjoyed the creme brûlée latee that I knew I would have to exercise off later.  Not to mention the steak, potatoes, eggs and fluffy pancakes!  But hey, no one is counting calories here!  The food, the energy, the service, all amazing!  

Life doesn't always allow you the comfort of company or a companion, however, that doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy the simple things.  

This is by far my last solo adventure.  Stay tuned!  I'm kinda in the mood for something spicy and delicious!  

If you are in the area check out Toast and Jam Cafe!  I have always had a truly exceptional experience.

~AJ ☕️

The year was 1997, I was 24 years old and had recently moved to Atlanta Georgia.   A friend asked about my dating life.  Single at the time, I said well I prefer to date someone really old, like around 35.

We are still laughing about that conversation to this day.

Throughout the years as I have grown, learned lifes lessons, aged a bit, a few aches and pains here and there, I have a new level of appreciation for aging gracefully.  It's not someting that you ever wonder about until you actually have to.  Birthdays have always been very special to me.  The planning of the birthday dinners, the gathering of close friends and family, the laughter and good cheer.  It simply makes me happier and happier as the years continue to go by.   

I am officially a member of the 50 club!  A half a century old.  Wow!  Does it feel different?  No, it feels just the same as it did when I said the final goodbye to my 40's.  I feel as young as I did all of those years ago when I proclaimed that anyone past the age of 35 was archaeic and old enough for me to date.  Thankful for my evolution.

This birthday was special.  A milestone if you will.  A coming of age and a firm grasp on what life is all about and what matters to me.  Finally, I feel as though I have arrived into that magical space.  And this arrival didn't magically happen when the clock struck midnight, this has been in the making for some time.  There is no turning back.  Full steam ahead and open to whatever this next chapter has in store for me.  I wanted an intimate gathering with those I hold close to my heart and that's exactly what I got.  The cake planning took on a life of it's own and it's safe to say I completely fell in love with it.  It was as important as my outfit choice for the evening.  Simply beautiful.  

Thankful to God for another year of blessings.  His grace and mercy that continues to keep me and cover me is never taken for granted.

This... is 50!
​

~AJ 🎂

He's your favorite new author and I can certainly see why.  Writer of Urban Fiction and Urban Fantasy with a sprinkle of erotica for your reading pleasure.  What I love most about authors who aren't afraid to write Erotica is the ability to release boundaries and allow the fantasies to take flight.  When Synx is not writing, he is hosting his new podcast show, 'You're on The Mic W/Synx'.  Show some love for this talented and amazing author and find out what makes him tick!

◆ How are you doing on this amazing day?
Just thankful, it has been rough the last few weeks.

 ◆ You are an author, writer, & the host of ‘You’re on the Mic w/Synx’ Podcast.  Tell me more about your writing journey, your podcast, and how you got started.
I started out writing back in elementary school. I even won a young authors contest one year. But of course, like most, by middle school I discovered reading books and writing wasn’t the coolest thing if you wanted to be in the in crowd. Like so many, I gave into peer pressure, and like that the nerd in me was dead.

In 2019 one of my friends posted that they had just written a poetry book and was selling it on Amazon. I was astonished and if we weren’t really friends the conversation could have come off as condescending in how I was asking how he was able to do it. He explained the self-publishing process to me with Amazon and just like that the fire was reignited. Prior to that moment, I wrote small things here and there as a stress reliever or something to spark the mood with my wife, but nothing serious. After that conversation, I started writing my first book, which was a collection of erotic short stories, till this day I hate the book because it lacked everything a good book needed to have, from the structure of it to the format. But after that, things got better especially after I discovered the importance of having an editor.

◆ As a writer I have found that my creativity comes from everything around me.  What inspires you to create the characters in your books?
Music and life are my biggest muses.  My book Power Circle: Family, Friends & Killas was based on the song Power Circle by Rick Ross and MMG.  If I'm writing something that is more on the erotic side, I'm listening to R&B.  Listening to music causes my mind to create a movie in my head then I try my best to translate that movie to paper.

◆ Black fantasy and urban fiction with a sprinkle of erotica.  The world of erotica is often looked at with shrugged shoulders, however, it is one of the biggest sellers in books today.  What do you like most about writing fantasy and erotica?
​I love fantasy because it literally has no limits to what you can do. If you want to write about a stripper who was murdered and came back to life with the powers of a phoenix, you can do it, and no one can say anything about it. Lol, as for erotica who doesn’t love sex? I try not to overdo it in my books, but sex is such a real part of life that if you try and omit it, you take a part of realism away from the story in my opinion. I could be wrong though lol.
​

Film and music are two amazingly beautiful elements that come together to create something quite magical.  Actors and singers have been granted the most glorious platform that allows their undeniable talent to shine bright like a diamond for the entire world to see.  Cynda Williams has known the gift of song since she was a little girl.  Growing up in a family of singers, it would be her move to New York which would spark the beginning of her professional acting and singing career.  Her debut film Mo’ Better Blues was an unforgettable journey that showed the world she was more than just an amazing actor.  Her song Harlem Blues went #1 on the R&B charts and will forever be a classic.  Cynda has acted in numerous films and television roles and she has no plans to stop anytime soon.  As an actress, singer, producer, screenwriter, songwriter, author, and inspirational voice, Cynda continues to show the world she has a beautiful voice in more ways than one.    

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, you also spent part of your early childhood in Indiana, where you sang in your grandfather’s church.  What do you remember most from this time in your life?
I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago up to about fourteen years old and then we moved to Muncie Indiana.  My father stayed in Chicago, and my mother, my brothers, and at that point, my first youngest sister all moved to Indiana because the crime was getting quite bad where we lived.   It was what they call The Wild 100s now.  It was beautiful for the time we were there, but then the drugs and all of this and gang activity were starting to take over.  

I was so excited to go to Muncie because that's where my grandfather Reverend J.C. Williams was pastor of the Trinity United Methodist Church.   Methodist churches are known quite well for, you know, orthodoxy and stuff like that but our church was very different than that.  It was a mixed congregation which was not very often seen in those days.   We were a very creative church, there was a lot of music, a lot of dancing, acting, and writing.   We did at all.  I was very excited and throughout my childhood, I'd gone there every summer.   I was a part of the choir and everything but unfortunately when I moved to Indiana things kind of fell apart in my family.   My parents ended up divorcing, my grandparents ended up divorcing, my aunts and uncles.  It was like everything fell apart, the church fell apart, so it was a difficult time in my life, so that's when I really started focusing on school primarily.   

I had some wonderful teachers in high school that really encouraged me and it was a huge departure from my Chicago experience where I had primarily black students, and teachers, but now it’s almost all white.  There was quite a bit of racism.  My teacher Nancy Krause was an English teacher and a theater teacher and she did all the shows.  She made so many opportunities open up for me against the will and wishes of many of the other parents, and of the students, but she didn't care and I will never forget her for that and that saved me.  The music that I sang, I sang in the choirs and that really got me through that time of division in my life.  It was one of the most difficult times in my life but it changed me and sent me in a direction. 

As a lover of music, I lose myself in the way a singer is able to deliver a song and make it unforgettable.  I am mesmerized whenever I hear Harlem Blues.  As perfect as perfection can be, you have an amazingly beautiful voice and to put it simply, you sang that song!  Did you have any idea this song would have such an impact on shaping the culture of music? 
I have always been a singer and that's where I began before acting, before writing, before anything else, I was a singer.  My uncle, James Williams taught me how to sing when I was a very little girl, he was a professional singer at the time and so he really knew what he was doing.  More importantly to me, it wasn't just about the vocals because my parents both sang, a lot of people in my family sang, my grandmother sang, she sounded like Billie Holiday.  Had a lot of singers, but what he taught me that was so important was how to perform, how to perform that song, and how to interpret the music.  When I got the opportunity to do Harlem Blues I was very blessed by that because it was such a beautifully written song and it was originally by W. C. Handy.  Raymond Jones came in and took the lyrics from that turn of the century song, put a more contemporary sound on it, and changed the melody, but they stuck true to those lyrics and it was impressive to so many people.  To be honest, I really wasn't thinking about the impact that it was going to have, I really didn't know, it didn't even occur to me.  I was just singing like I’d always been singing.  I'm very thankful that people love the song.  I look forward to the day when I can do more music that they recognize and love. 
​

A world without music is far too hard to imagine.  Imagine going through life with no melodies to snap your fingers to, no rhymes to memorize and recite throughout the years, and no special ballads to celebrate the good times.  Music is without a doubt as important as the air we breathe. The artists who we love and adore, the producers who work to bring the magic to life, and those who discover some of the greatest superstars of our time.

Bryant Reid, a native of Cincinnati Ohio has always had a love for music and his 20+ year background as an entertainment industry executive proves just how deep that love really is.  Bryant has held the positions of Senior Vice President of Artist and Repertoire at both LaFace Records and Atlantic Records and was the mastermind behind discovering Grammy award-winning superstar Usher as well as assembling the team of writers and producers to create mega-star Toni Braxton’s multi-platinum selling debut album.   Reid has worked with Atlanta-based Grammy award-winning trio TLC, the best-selling American girl group in music history, selling over 65 Million albums worldwide as well as working with the Grammy award-winning rap duo Outkast, ranked No. 7 by Rolling Stone on its list of the 20 Greatest Duos of All Time.  Wearing many hats as a television producer, fashion designer, consultant, businessman, and philanthropist, Reid founded The Reid Foundation for Lupus in 2018 and continues his legacy of hit-making with his launch of the HitLanta brand which started with a modern collection of high-quality, men’s and women’s casual sportswear.  

An outstanding career for a truly creative and inspiring genius.  The ability to make hits is a gift and Bryant Reid shows us just how gifted he truly is. 

Born and raised in Cincinnati Ohio, you were in the top 10% of your graduating class, a member of the National Honor Society, and voted the most outstanding male senior.  What was your driving force to aim high and achieve your goals and did you always know you would one day work in the entertainment industry?
My mother was my driving force. She was the most loving, supportive mother a child could have. She just had this unique skill at making me feel that I could excel. She always supported my extracurricular activities which included academics, music, sports, and fashion. She fully supported me when I chose to take the college English 101 course during the summer of my junior year in high school. I passed the course. The camaraderie with my classmates was certainly a factor too. 
    
I've always loved music. When I was a child, I wanted to be like Michael Jackson, but I was not a naturally gifted singer. While playing percussion in my High School marching band I became a serious consumer of music, purchasing every genre and spending countless hours during the summers making compilation music cassettes. Later, I promoted music parties. One of the biggest was an after-concert party I threw for Bobby Brown during his "Don't Be Cruel" album tour and it was a huge success. I had the bug. Eventually, my brother, L.A. asked me to come work with him as an A&R executive at LaFace Records.