Ayo Handy- Kendi speaking at an event

“In alignment with President Obama’s inaugural vision of a more peaceful America, in alignment with the evolutionary New Age -Black Love Day, Feb. 13th -celebrates its’ 20 year impact on the climate of violence and gears-up for new challenges to increase peace”, stated Ayo Handy-Kendi, founder of Black Love Day (BLD) Feb.13th. BLD is the 3rd nationally, commemorated African-American holiday (wholyday) observance of atonement, reconciliation, celebration and 24 hour demonstration of Black Love through 5 tenets (loving acts) - for “The Creator”, for Self, for the Black Family, the Community and the Race.

BLD also encourages Whites to "show love in action", in the 24 hour period towards Blacks, by working on their own racial attitudes, behaviors and reconciliation towards Black People.  BLD’s goals are to increase peace, stop violence and end racism along with providing a spiritual, African-centered, alternative to the commercialized, Valentine's Day. 

While the Nation pauses at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Feb 13th to visualize a peaceful, non-polarized country, without gun violence, the official 20th Black Love Relationship Ceremony will be held at Howard University’s Blackburn, Center Gallery, 2397 6th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. from 7 – 9 p.m., open to the public.

In commenting on the successes of Black Love Day, Handy-Kendi said, ”Today, evidence of how BLD has positively impacted an un-estimated number, are seen in the many colleges and universities, like Howard U and FAMU, who host BLD ceremonies;  the 1,520,000,000 BLD Google results and numerous books, articles, and social network mentions; the products and greeting cards developed by artisans; and the many community-based leaders who encourage BLD instead of Valentine’s Day activities and events.  I’ve been a frequent guest on radio, t.v. and in print, sharing the tenets of BLD and the commemorative rituals, inspiring millions. We have actually experienced couples who met or re-united at BLD relationship ceremonies and we’ve had murderers atone for their crimes”.

Lovingly called Mama Ayo, this native Washingtonian asked “The Creator” what she could do to stop Black on-Black violence after seeing Spike Lee’s movie version of Malcolm X on New Year’s day, 1993.  When she heard “the message Black Love repeated over and over”, she believes that she was chosen to establish a Black Love Day from this inspiration, due to her tenacious climb from childhood sexual abuse, drug addiction and substance abuse, domestic violence, homelessness and the murder of her teenage  son.  Her compelling story of returning to self-love and embracing forgiveness is chronicled in her "Black Love Book - the how-to guide on celebrating BLD- the Wholyday".  

Mama Ayo is also the founder/director of the non-profit, African American Holiday Association (AAHA), and CEO, PositivEnergyWorks, founding the concept “Breathology”, a transformative healing practice for stress release, trauma, conscious-raising, physical and interpersonal development.

Mama Ayo affirms, "Love provides the highest vibration for the greatest healing power.  By spending 24 loving hours on BLD, we galvanize a chain reaction in the climate of violence, racism and polarization to increase peace.  To evolve in ALL communities - Black on Black, Whites towards Blacks-  WE return to love to heal ALL of our relationships”. 

For further BLD activities, view www.AfricanAmericanHolidays.org or contact, 202-667-2577. ###.  

One thing that Black people need is training on how to have proper relationships. We have not yet learned, as a whole, that there is a science to procreation that goes well beyond misplaced emotions and "sex appeal."

I have seen a promo or two about this show on TV One called Love Addiction and wondered if it provided real solutions to people's relationship problems.

Click here for more info about the show.

We got a news release about an upcoming episode featuring Dr. Alduan Tartt.

When Dr. Tartt, a psychologist got a call from Brian Puterman of Mike Mathis Productions and Nikki Webber of TV One Cable Network to perform "love interventions" for people trapped in toxic relationships on national television, he thought the idea was crazy; crazy enough to actually work.

"The idea of using reality TV to do something positive, fix toxic relationships and showcase the healing power of therapy to millions was too tempting to pass up on," Tartt states.

Dr. Tartt (www.drtartt.com) is joined by fellow therapists, Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis (www.drthema.com) , & Hasani Pettiford (www.hasani.com) to form a diverse team of healers for TV One's new hit show Love Addiction which airs Wednesdays at 8pm & 11pm EST and replays Friday at 10am EST (www.tvone.tv/on-tv-one/shows/love-addiction).

The show has only aired four episodes and has viewers already begging for more. Love Addiction has addressed

1) Dating Unavailable Men

2) Dating Older Women

3) Dating Users and

4) Dating Playboys.

However, this week's show (check your local listing) is poised to be the most emotionally charged one yet because it covers Dating Verbally Abusive Men. Tartt says, "Viewers will connect with this topic because relationship abuse is a community problem that silently affects thousands of men and women daily."

"TV One & Mike Mathis Productions took a chance to do something positive in an age where reality television has been very irresponsible," Tartt states. He continues, "Love Addiction is healing millions by showing them how and why we enter toxic relationships and how to break free. Love Addiction can serve as a resource to debunk the myth that therapy is for crazy people and encourage them to get the help they so desperately need."

In fact, follow up counseling is provided for each week's featured guest. "How cool is it that people can be encouraged to seek therapy for their own toxic relationships and finally heal from the comfort of their couches? God is so, so good," Tartt lauds.

Dr. Tartt serves as this week's Love Addiction host and is a frequent contributor to CNN and HLN. He's been featured on ABC's Nightline, MTV's Made, VH-1's Fantasia For Real, BET's 106 & Park and TV One's Black Men Revealed.

He serves as the go to psychologist for the nationally syndicated radio shows Rickey Smiley, Michael Baisden, & Tom Joyner Radio Shows. He is currently speaking around the country and hosting relationship and parenting classes that provide life-changing solutions to having the relationships we all want and deserve.